Recap: Kamen Rider Gavv, Episode 26 – Angry Pudding

Rakia, angered by the Granute mocking his brother, henshins and they battle. Rakia demands the Granute take back what he said about Comeru being a coward. He was just too kind for his own good.

The Granute again mocks Comeru saying that’s why the Stomachs killed him to make an example out of him.

Rakia flashes back to when Comeru had said he had done something unforgivable. This slight pause for Rakia allows the Granute to get away.

At Hapipare, Kouji explains to Sachika and Rakia that he had created the YouTube channel to share his love for sweets. As he was slowly gaining more viewers, it was hacked and someone else started streaming in his place. What really bothered him though was when he read comments about people going missing after meeting with Helmet Boy. So it pissed him off knowing his creation was being used for crimes. That’s why he wanted to get that meeting with whomever took his channel.

Rakia says he should’ve told them that in the first place. But Kouji wants to keep his identity a secret. All he wants is to get Helmet Boy back and he wishes them to accompany him. Rakia says it’s too dangerous for him, as a human, to go anywhere near. Kouji refuses and says he would rather die than see Helmet Boy be used for crimes.

Kouji says he will go on his own then. Sachika tries to catch up to him and notices Rakian is quite grumpy when he doesn’t care.

Meanwhile, Hanto has another check-up with Suga who says he will take back the choco Gochizos for some tweaking. In the meantime, Hanto can use Shoma’s Gochizos. Hanto says he’ll just keep using these choco Gochizos instead.

Shoma returns to Hapipare and Sachika sits him down with some ice cream. Sachika asks if she should let Hanty know, but Shoma says it’s okay

Sachika tells Shoma about what happened with Kouji and Helmet Boy. Shoma has some Gochizo look for Kouji’s location. Sachika adds that she felt something was off with Rakian. Shoma says the situation probably reminds Rakia of his little brother who died because of Stomach Inc, Sachika understands now.

They find Rakia at the park and ask him to help look for Kouji. Rakia says what happens to some human is not his problem. He’s not going to listen anyway, so they should just let him be.

Sachika says they’ll do it like this then. Rakian is still an employee of Hapipare and as his boss, she orders him to find Kouji. She explains that she created Hapipare to help make people happy. And Kouji’s not going to be happy until his request is fulfilled. Worst case scenario is Kouji will end up as a Dark Treat and she knows Rakian would not be happy about that.

Sachika says not to wait until it’s too late and he ends up regretting it. She wants Rakian to be happy too.

A Gochizo arrives with Kouji’s location. Shoma and Sachika are about to go, but Rakian says he’ll do it. He took this job and he’ll see it through.

On the other side of town, Suga is working on coming up with a new Gochizo for Hanto. But Nyelv pays him a surprise visit. He says it’s been a while since he’s been busy cleaning up. Suga understands since Vram backstabbed him. “It happens,” Nyelv says.

Nyelv notices the chocos and Suga says he’s been developing artificial Gochizos for Valen. Nyelv says he doesn’t see what makes Suga so fond of Valen.

Suga says he thinks he has the makings of a potential savior.

Nyelv shows a tiny curiosity at the idea. Suga smirks.

Meanwhile, Rakia finds Kouji enjoying some pudding. Kouji says he just wanted to share his love of sweets with people through his streaming. And it made him happy to see people enjoy his content. It was a community full of joy and it meant the world to him. But now he’s considering to just let it go.

Rakia says he shouldn’t do that. He will help him because he knows what it is like to have something precious taken from and then be laughed at for it.

Kouji gives Rakia a bottle of his favorite pudding because he’s helped make his day. This reminds Rakia of Comeru sharing some of favorite rock with him.

Rakia gives the pudding a try and he says it’s pretty good.

At Hapipare, Sachika and Shoma see the announcement of an exclusive Helmet Boy fan meeting. They call Rakia who knows this is just a trap for him. But he will take the bait.

Rakia arrives at the fan meeting just as the Granute Presses all ten fans who had been enjoying the sweet treats. Rakia demands the Granute hand over the Presses. But Agents suddenly appear to ambush Rakia.

Rakia henshins and they take the battle outside. The Granute again mocks Comeru.

Shoma arrives and henshins to ice cream. With some cake power, Shoma is able to summon Ice Hoippu-hei. Together, they focus on the Agents while Rakia takes on the Granute.

Rakia says Comeru did something foolish, but he realized his mistake and tried to turn himself around. He asks the Granute if he’ll do the same. But the Granute says there’s nothing for him to turn away from. They should be grateful for Stomach Inc’s existence. Not even death will deter him from his loyalty.

Rakia says fine. He uphenshins to jelly.

As Shoma and the Ice Hoippu-hei finish off the Agents, Rakia finishes off the Granute for good. Shoma picks the Presses up from the ground.

Back at Hapipare, they get ready to watch Kouji’s stream. Rakia, meanwhile, enjoys some custard pudding. Sachika says he bought it with his salary after Kouji recommended it.

As Kouji starts his stream, Rakia says him working for Hapipare helped him realize humans have their own stories as well and that this world isn’t that bad after all.

Meanwhile at the playground, Hanto has chest pain and has to sit down. He thinks actually using the Gochizo will help suppress the pain. But he stops himself and realizes it might be making him worse.

Hanto goes to Suga and is shocked to see two of the Dark Shomas with him

Episode Thoughts

Mr. Toei, you spoil too much in your previews! Lol Well, hopefully in two weeks, I’ll have forgotten it by then. Lol

Anyway, just focusing on this episode; it was awesome of course! A great wrap-up of last week’s story and a wonderful step forward for Rakia.

Like I mentioned last week, it is very effective how the show tied everything together. That is, having Kouji remind Rakia of Comeru. Using Kouji’s situation to help Rakia find something in humans to relate to. Just a perfect example of character-driven story that also furthers the plot.

Seasons that have trouble juggling good development for characters and the plot without having one or the other suffer will definitely struggle. Seasons that can handle that have a strong enough foundation that can help carry other parts that may be lacking.

There’s not much, if anything, where Gavv is falling short so far. So that has made these 26 episodes so enjoyable.

This was another great Rakia focus episode, but we also still got great stuff for everyone else too. Smaller moments for Shoma and Sachika, mainly as support for Rakia and his story. A quick visit with Nyelv as well. And somewhat bigger steps for Hanto and Suga, especially at the end of course which sets up the next episode.

But the focus was definitely on Rakia and the great way the season was able to almost bridge that gap between humans and Granutes. It was a slowburn in a sense. The Stomachs and all the druggie… I mean, Dark Treats addicts definitely gave the Granutes a bad name for us the viewer in the earlier episodes.

But through Rakia and Comeru, culminating in this episode, we now understand that many, if not most, Granutes are just innocent “people” trying to live their lives as well. Lives that sadly can so easily get ruined by something like Dark Treats/drugs and crime and all that.

The moment before Comeru’s death, expressing his regret to his older brother. It was already an emotional moment the first time they showed it, but flashing back to the moment here was even heavier. Knowing how Comeru just wanted to be able to buy delicious food for him and his brother. Getting himself into something unknowingly evil and then trying to right his wrongs, only to get killed for it. Like, WTF! Heartbreaking! But the show has done an amazing job in making this such an effective story.

And seeing Rakia finally smile thanks to Kouji was a great moment to contrast with the sadness he has felt so far.

Of course, there’s also the fact that humans themselves have been affected greatly by the Stomachs and other evil Granutes. So it also helps to highlight the ongoing danger and threat. Which in turn builds up our heroes’ mission.

Also helps to continue to make the Stomachs that much more irredeemable. Lol I mean, Suga has a long way to go to match the horrible things the Stomach Sibs have done, directly and indirectly, to be a truly menacing and contemptable villain big bad final boss lol But I wouldn’t be surprised if he not only did match them, but surpass them lolol

Overall, this was simply just another great, awesome episode of Gavv. Wonderful focus on Rakia. Doesn’t shortchange our other main characters. And effortlessly sets up the next episode!