Recap: No.1 Sentai Gozyuger, Episode 1 – Savior No.1

The Universe War saw Super Sentai robos from every world and universe on the verge of defeat. Upon using their last bits of power to drive away the darkness, they fell into a deep sleep. And the last robo standing, Tega Sword, stood upon the robo graveyard awaiting the arrival of a savior.

Fast forward to the present day. Tono Hoeru works at a convenience store. His friend and co-worker Taiya Tsutsumi Natsume tries to get him to be more friendly when engaging with customers. Otherwise he could be fired.

Just then, a knife-wielding goon arrives to rob the store. He takes a very hot hot dog straight off the rolling grill and burns his mouth, tossing the dog into the air. Hoeru zips over to catch the hot dog before it falls to the floor.

The goon grabs Natsume by the collar and shoves him to the ground. Hoeru steps between them to say that the goon doesn’t understand that this hot dog is a luxury to him. He declares the goon as his prey.

The goon charges toward Hoeru with his knife, but slices the hot dog instead, squirting the burning hot dog juice into his eyes. Hoeru grabs the goon’s hand and points the knife right at his own forehead, saying if he’s going to do it, to do it right. The goon asks Hoeru if he doesn’t value his life.

Hoeru says he does not. But he will not let the goon have it. Hoeru bites the goon’s wrist and kicks him to the floor. Hoeru tells his manager that he will be taking three hot dogs as his bonus for today. But the manager fires him on the spot.

Later, Hoeru returns to the small room he’s renting above Café Hanseiki. Hoeru seems to be hearing a strange voice calling out “Number one”. But he finishes filling out another job application and heads downstairs where he shares a funny face with the son of café owner Iijima Saori. She can’t believe he’s lost another job and reminds him to keep up with his rent.

As he walks down a side street, Hoeru is confronted by the goon and his buddies. Hoeru just brushes them off, but they threaten to rough up Saori and her son if he doesn’t come with them to get beaten up.

After Hoeru takes the punches, Natsume arrives and catches him before he falls over. He had been looking for him and says Hoeru shouldn’t make a habit out of getting into fights or others will get sad. Hoeru laughs and says he’s just a stray. His life isn’t worth anything.

Meanwhile over in another world, Bouquet urges Fire Candle to collect all the Rings before Tega Sword, who they refer to as a god of destruction, wakes up. Bouquet also asks him to lay off the violence and being a show off for once.

Back in Tokyo, Natsume has bought a burger for the hungry Hoeru. Hoeru promises to repay him the 250 yen for it. But Natsume says he just wants to thank him for protecting him earlier. Hoeru says the robber was just pissing him off.

Natsume asks Hoeru why he started working at the convenience store anyway. For the food of course, Hoeru replies. Natsume says he’s working there to save money for a live performance. There is someone he wants to deliver his songs to (Shashiro) and to do that, he is aiming to be number one in the music world.

Hoeru is amused by Natsume’s ambition. Natsume says hopes and dreams are what keep people going. He asks Hoeru what his are. But Hoeru says he has none.

Just then, Fire Candle arrives “[in] the world that created us” and begins rampaging. An army of Aryee foot soldiers attack the peoples who cry out that the devil has arrived. Fire Candle says he’s no devil. He’s here to bring light to this good-for-nothing world. He declares himself Savior No.1.

Natsume and Hoeru get thrown to the ground. But Natsume suddenly stands and grabs a Ring from his guitar bag.

Natsume turns it, whips out a strange claw and Engages. He henshins into Kuwagata Ohger, much to Hoeru’s shock.

Natsume battles the Aryee and easily takes care of a group nearby. Fire Candle retaliates and shoots at Natsume.

Hoeru charges forward to join in the fight. But after getting shot at by Fire Candle, he gets sucked into a portal. He falls and is stopped just before he hits the ground.

Hoeru looks around at the ruins of strange robos when he suddenly gets a painful memory flash of the Universe War which he knows nothing about.

A bunch of Aryee arrive and grab a Ring from a hole in the ruins. But when one of them puts it on, the Ring sucks him in. Bouquet arrives and tells the Aryee to fall back. She explains that the Ring is said to be the heart of Tega Sword, the god of destruction. Therefore, it is a ring of destruction. So not something they could ever handle.

Bouquet introduces herself as No One World Buraidan’s technical officer. She demands Hoeru hand over the Ring, which he’s just picked up, so as to protect both of their worlds. The hole from which the Ring was taken broadcasts a live stream of the chaos back in Tokyo.

Hoeru sees Natsume struggling. He takes the Ring, wondering if it will indeed give him power. Bouquet warns him he could die. But Hoeru says he doesn’t care about the world or its destruction. But he still has yet to repay Natsume the 250 yen.

Hoeru puts the Ring on and he is transported to face Tega Sword. He had been the one calling out to Hoeru all this time.

Tega Sword says he grants the wish of those who collect all the Rings which represent a contract. He asks Hoeru what his wish is. But Hoeru says his wish was repeatedly crushed.

He flashes back to a rainy night where a woman warned him against having wishes and to suppress those feelings so that he would no longer be hurt.

Hoeru says he no longer has wishes. That’s not who you truly are, Tega Sword says. He believes Hoeru is just a field overgrown with weeds and is unable to understand the weight of the world as of now. So he must become number one. He must aim for the top in every battle the Ring will lead him toward. The world will unfold and his true desire will reveal itself.

“You will live once more!”

Thinking of Natsume’s words about hopes and dreams earlier, Hoeru thinks this could be interesting and he accepts the Ring and the contract.

Hoeru grabs a Tega Sword Changer and Tega Sword appears to break free of its frozen state. Fire Candle cannot believe a mere human was able to wear such a Ring.

Hoeru challenges Fire Candle to a battle to determine the true number one.

Hoeru jumps into a Tega Sword Red robo. He and Fire Candle are introduced in a ring before they begin their battle.

Hoeru and Fire Candle have a fiery battle across the city with Hoeru able to gain the upper hand. Fire Candle cannot believe he is losing to this guy.

Hoeru delivers an Outlaw Breaker Wolf Sword finisher. Fire Candle gets sucked back to safety as his robo explodes.

Hoeru shifts his focus back to the Aryee who are attacking the people on the ground. He Engages his Ring and he henshins to Gozyu Wolf. Hoeru howls and seems to be heard by four other people who also have Rings.

Hoeru easily takes care of the Aryee. He declares the ring of destruction is now the ring of a kyuseishu and he is the number one savior.

A woman with a black Ring says she will get that child back while a guy with a green Ring says the start of a dream is the end of a life.

Hoeru finds Natsume playing his guitar in the rubble and tells him that he has so much to ask him. But for now, he pays him back the 250 yen. Hoeru had to break his piggy bank open to scrounge up the coins.

My debt is repaid, Hoeru says.

“So you have that Ring,” Natsume asks. Hoeru says he doesn’t have a dream, but he’s made the decision to become number one so he can find it.

Hoeru walks away. But Natsume says he does not have a right to the ring when he doesn’t even have a dream.

Natsume henshins and charges toward Hoeru. Hoeru quickly henshins as well.

The other two ring bearers watch the battle.

Episode Thoughts

When you have the actor who played the Sentai Red in one of my favorite seasons, one that just finished airing last week and I already miss too, pop up within the first two minutes of the premiere episode of this new season, well, you’ve already scored major points with me! lol

Definitely awesome to see Haruhi Iuchi in the episode. Even though I was already spoiled to his appearance thanks to his Instagram post popping up immediately as I opened the app earlier (lol), it was still so fun to see him in that first scene. Of course, him playing a completely different character is great as well. And then him henshining to Kuwagata Ohger? Hello?! Now that was a complete shock to me! Thank goodness I wasn’t spoiled with that! The only way I would’ve been more geeked is if Natsume had henshined into ToQ-1gou or Red Buster. hehe

So that was a nice cherry on top of what was otherwise a fun and exciting first episode for Gozyuger.

Even after watching the little Episode 0, I still didn’t know what to expect from the season. I didn’t even know much of what its premise would be. But this first episode did a good job of setting the stage for someone like me who actually prefers just jumping in without reading or researching every single detail about it before the premiere.

I really like to maximize the impact of any and all story developments by just experiencing them while watching the episodes rather than reading spoilers or toy announcements. Especially since I don’t much care about the toys and will only splurge on a $100 figure if it’s a season or character I absolutely love. Hehe

So, this episode did a great job introducing us to Hoeru, his interesting personality and a quick glimpse at his past. (I don’t know if that lady was his mom, but Toei needs to lay off the Mamas and mother-figures! Lol They’ve suffered enough these last couple of years! lol)

Anniversary seasons can be hit or miss. You can either be a Gokaiger (amazing) or a Megaforce (eeek). So there’s definitely a tightrope to be walked in order to balance the fun nostalgia and fanwanky stuff with the need for the season to be able to stand on its own as well.

The Universe War as the basis for the season is a solid starting point and it leads in well to the idea of the Rings. It may be another Gotta Catch ‘Em All kind of premise. But Gokaiger and even Zi-O in a way as the template certainly showed how the concept can lend itself to an anniversary season.

It would be fun to have Sentai alumni pop in playing different characters and transforming into different heroes than their own. (Like Haruhi Icuhi did here.) But that also isn’t really necessary in determining whether this is a good anniversary season or not.

I think any anniversary-related stuff will just be something fun and extra. So long as the stories of Hoeru and his fellow Gozyugers are strong enough on their own. But of course we’ll have to wait and see about that.

So, we’re just getting started. But it was a very good start. Lots of fun, very exciting. And Haruhi Iuchi’s mere presence helped to make me feel even more positive about this first episode. (Bro, I’m starting to sound like Shashiro, you know what I mean? Lololol) But seriously, a great premiere! And when a season gives me a positive feeling like this right from the beginning, it bodes well for me for the year ahead. Looking forward to what this next year has in store for us!