Recap: Kamen Rider Gavv, Episode 28 – Chocolate Frappe of Bonds!

Back at Hapipare, Shoma is on the phone giving an update to Sachika. She tells him to have some ice cream and also suggests not to agitate Hanty considering what’s happened.

While listening to Shoma on the phone, a teary-eyed Hanto thinks about Sachika explaining Shoma has some emotional troubles, making him sick. He leaves without Shoma knowing.

Over at Uncle Dente’s, he continues working on the new Driver while Sachika and Rakia help clean his home. Rakia tells Sachika about the two mad scientists before deciding to go and destroy Suga’s lair.

Meanwhile, after running into some drunks who beat him up, Hanto heads to his mentor’s old office. He holds his mentor’s broken Press in his hand as he recalls their conversations together, especially regarding finding answers to his mother’s disappearance.

Hanto apologizes to Mentor Soji. If Hanto had not been out chasing monsters, Mentor Soji would not have been on the stake out that resulted in his Pressing.

Shoma arrives as Hanto starts slamming his head against the wall. Hanto tosses Shoma aside and says to leave him alone. Hanto lets out all his frustrations as he cries and screams.

Next morning, Sachika has finished tidying up Uncle Dente’s home. He tells her that he’s doing all this for Hanty because he has always been there for Shoma. And also to make up for him being a Stomach as well.

At the park, Shoma buys Hanto a choco frappe, saying ice cream can be very comforting. Hanto says he doesn’t really have a sweet tooth, but also, a frappe doesn’t really count as ice cream. He adds that humans usually get hot drinks at times like this. Shoma says he’ll remember that for next time.

Shoma takes a sip of the frappe and he thinks it’s delicious. He tells Hanto that it is not his fault as he is also a victim of Suga’s exploitation. Hanto still blames himself for letting Suga exploit him. Shoma understands wanting to blame yourself for something.

You can’t help but think it when others tell you it’s not your fault in the first place. You are made to look back and wonder if you could’ve done something differently. That’s why you need to try and avoid wallowing in your own agony. Instead, move forward and that way, they can make up for what they’ve lost or what they’ve done. Hanto agrees.

Meanwhile, Suga is telling one of the Dark Shomas about his research on creating the strongest lifeform to ever exist. One that will live long and strong and healthy with no chance of death.

Rakia arrives and calls Suga the worst of the human race. Suga orders Bitter Gavv to take are of Rakia as he leaves, taking a USB drive with him. Rakia and Dark Shoma henshin and battle.

Suga finds Hanto and Shoma. Suga tries to get Hanto to come back to him, but Hanto refuses and says he will no longer fall for his temptations. He will no longer rely on Suga for anything.

Suga says he is not backing down. He’s gone through so many test subjects until he met Hanto. Suga henshins. As does Shoma. Shoma tells Hanto that he is still recovering, so he should get himself to safety. Shoma brings about Vrocan bike so Hanto can escape safely.

But Hanto goes to Uncle Dente’s. He sees the new Driver and Uncle Dente says he was able to make it so it wouldn’t stress his heart. Hanto takes it and returns to the city and to the battle.

Hanto tries to henshin with the new Driver, but nothing happens. Uncle Dente forgot about filling the jelly cup Gochizo.

Suga forces Shoma to dehenshin. Hanto runs over to Shoma before he decides to go punch Suga with his bare hands.

Suga says Hanto will be the foundation for his ultimate life form. But Hanto does not give a shit about that. Suga tells him to stop being so pathetic. Hanto says he has had enough of all of Suga’s misdeeds. “I will never forgive you!”

Hanto headbutts Suga, but he gets tossed aside instead. He tells Shoma now is not the time for crying or regrets. He wants to focus on stopping Suga’s insanity from affecting anyone else ever again.

Suga is about strike down Hanto for good, but Shoma pushes him out of the way. Shoma and Hanto try fighting Suga raw. But Suga has no problem handling them. He just swats them to the ground.

Just then, a frappe pops out of Shoma’s stomach. He gives it to Hanto who is then able to henshin to Frappe Custom.

Hanto and Suga battle.

Meanwhile, Rakia fights Dark Shoma and they end up in a lab where there are a dozen naked Shoma clones floating in a tank. Rakis destroys the entire room, getting rid of all of the clones. He sees a baby sock and picks it up, not knowing what it is.

He leaves without seeing a photo of Suga with a baby.

Back at the other battle, Suga says Hanto has the potential to transcend humanity and together they can reach it.

Hanto refuses to be a horrible human being like Suga. They continue their battle through a library before returning outside. Hanto wants to gets stronger in his own way.

He delivers a Frappe Vortex finisher at Suga, sending him flying into the air and explodes.

Shoma carries Hanto on his back as they head home. Hanto says he wants to make clear that there is a lot of baggage between them. And there’s most likely still more to come. But at the end of the day, “I’m definitely fond of you.” So they should keep it that that.

Shoma says Hanto can count on him.

Shoma’s stomach growls so Hanto feeds him some of the candy he took from Uncle Dente’s earlier.

Meanwhile, a near-death Suga is singing a lullaby while sitting in an alleyway. Humans are strange, fragile little things aren’t they? he asks himself. Suga remembers rocking a baby to sleep.

Nyelv arrives and tells Suga not to worry, “I’ll take it from here.” He laughs.

Episode Thoughts

Okay come on. That wasn’t just some simple bromance moment. That was full on romantic K-drama. Or dorama, to make it more applicable to Japan. Lol I see what you’re doing Mr. Toei!

But seriously, a really great episode. And a fitting and suitable midseason climax. I will say right off the bat that I don’t think the episode was as huge or explosive as other midseason climaxes of the past, even in seasons I ultimately did not like. But that said, this episode very much fits in with the pacing and continuous forward momentum of Gavv. It was a climactic episode with proper build up and it was emotionally satisfying and impactful nonetheless.

It’s also rare in the sense that many of the main characters’ own stories were able to come together to really make this episode possible. Shoma, Hanto, Sachika, Rakia, Uncle Dente, and Suga’s own individual stories helped to craft the episode as a whole. And that allowed the episode to land safely and be able to handle all of its moving parts with ease.

First, I don’t know if Suga lives or dies. I don’t know if he got flowers. I don’t really care to know at this point since I prefer to just watch everything play out in the episodes. But it’s a very unique situation. An actual human antagonist who could have very well been defeated and killed by one of our title heroes.

Nyelv popping up and saying that he’ll take it from here certainly suggests that Suga is going to be left to die in the Toei alleyway. But there’s also plenty of loose ends for his character as well. Not the least of which learning about the little baby with him in the photo. Which I’m sure could easily fill a TTFC special. But even better if told in-series and connected to other stories as well.

So we’ll see if his dead child motivated him to create an immortal human being. I have no idea lolol But we’d also want to learn how he got wrapped up with the Granutes too. So since there’s still plenty to do with him, I hope he sticks around longer.

Next up, it was great to see the scenes at Uncle Dente’s. Especially Sachika and Rakia helping to clean-up. Simple and straightforward scenes, but fun and helps to fill each character and their dynamics with each other.

Aside from Sachika continuing to be supportive of her boys, it was great to have Rakia’s greater understanding of humans help drive him going to confront Suga as well destroy the clone factory. The moment where he picks up the baby sock wondering what it was also helped to remind us that he still has lots to learn about humans as well.

Finally, I think the best two parts of the episode were from Shoma and Hanto. Actually three because the first was that phone call between Shoma and Sachika and Hanto crying thinking about everything that’s happened.

Then, that emotional scene of Hanto breaking down at the office. Hino Yusuke was absolutely amazing. All episode actually. But especially in this scene. I don’t think I’ve seen a character on Kamen Rider be that much in despair and in such a low point before. It was a very emotional moment. An emotionally-charged moment that was very much a culmination of Hanto’s turbulent journey to this point in his life.

I think even more than that piggyback ride with Shoma, this was the moment that truly is the climax of the tension in their relationship. Just Hanto letting everything out. All his frustrations and suffering and pain. Originally placing blame wide on all Granutes, including his new friend, and having to come to terms with what it all means. But in the end, trusting this bond he’s made with Shoma. And because of that, he is able to try and finally move on and be hopeful.

The other moment was the whole sequence of Shoma and Hanto battling Suga. Some amazing direction and choreography for that sequence. And perfect as well, narratively speaking, in terms of helping the climactic moment of Shoma popping out a frappe and allowing Hanto to henshins to his new form.

The way the battle with Suga was truly knock-down, drag-out and without henshining too. Really helped to elevate the emotions of that moment.

Finally, that romantic piggyback ride at the end was just so obviously enemies-to-friends-to-boyfriend-coded. They even literally had Hanto feeding Shoma food. Longing longs. Shy smiles. Mr. Toei knows exactly why that final scene even exists. And I respect their hustle. Lol

It at least fits with the narrative of the season as well has Shoma and Hanto as characters and not just some obvious cash or attention grab like other seasons might do with other questionable story twists.

Overall, a really great episode and a fitting midseason climax for this great season.