Recap: No.1 Sentai Gozyuger, Episode 6 – The Final Battle! The Great Adventure of Tokonatsu Castle

Hoeru is growing plants on Tega Sword and thinks he should just live here since there’s no rent to pay. Ryugi will not take the disrespect and drags him back to the café.

They arrive just as the others are watching the Breaking News that PM Tokonatsu has been forced to resign due to controversy over his use of Don Momotaro’s weapons.

Just then, an Aryee comes to deliver a message. They open the card to reveal a video from Mr. Knife and Mrs. Cake who introduce them to the newest member of the Buraidan: Prime Minister Tokonatsu! He announces that after his ouster, he has joined forces with NoWans with the intention of ruling the world with the Rings. He demands the Gozyugers surrender their rings at the provided location.

Hoeru declares Tokonatsu his prey.

Tokonatsu manifests a castle using his Boukenger Ring and declares that his wish will finally come true.

The Gozyus go to the castle and learn they will have to get through several trials in order to face Tokonatsu for the Rings.

They head in and the first Trial is a game of Tag in which they have to tag all the Aryees in the classroom. Hoeru and Kinjiro henshin and they are able to tag them all out.

Meanwhile, Fire Castle questions Mr. Knife and Mrs. Cake welcoming a human into their ranks. They say Tokonatsu’s competency will be very helpful to their cause. But they can always discard him if needed. Fire Castle does not like this at all.

Back at the castle, the Gozyus face Trial 2: dodgeball. After playing against the Ayrees for a while. Ryugi henshins and easily takes care of the last one.

Finally, the last Trial is Playing House. The Gozyus must dress up as a family and play house together. Rikuo is the father, Ryugi is the mother and Kinjiro is the grandfather. Sumino and a reluctant Hoeru are the kids.

They think Hoeru is embarrassed by the whole thing and they try to get him to go with it. Ryugi asks Hoeru to call him “Mom” and he seems to have trouble even saying the word.

But just then, Fire Candle arrives with Ayrees and Denjishu Park. While the others go to face them outside, Tokonatsu stops Hoeru and says he has to clear this last Trial first.

Tokonatsu takes over the Mom role and serves Hoeru the pretend hamburg steaks. This triggers a memory for Hoeru of his own real mom doing the same thing. Tokonatsu encourages Hoeru and asks him to talk about his feelings right now. When Hoeru refuses, Tokonatsu threatens wrestling time with mom until Hoeru gives in.

They sit and Hoeru explains that he was from an average family of four, his parents and older brother. But one day, he and his brother were playing in the forest when they suddenly wandered into a strange world. This was the No One World where NoWans live. And the two of them had to run for their lives alongside other kids who found themselves here.

No matter where they ran, they could not escape. Until ten years had passed and Hoeru found himself back in this world. During that time in No One World, he lost his brother and other people dear to him that he had met along the way. And back in the human world, he found his parents had long since moved on with two new kids.

“The hole I left had already been filled,” Hoeru thought. And there was no point in him going back to them now.

Tokonatsu laughs cries and says he understands that kind of loneliness. He grew up alone too. Ever since he was little, he was so outstanding that everyone around him doted on him. But all he wanted was to play simple things like tag or dodgeball or playing house with everyone else.

Tokonatsu says he never thought he would have something in common with Hoeru. But he believes they can still get back what they lost and even what they never had. As long as they continue living.

The words seem to reach Hoeru and he puts his hair back on and they play house. He even calls Tokonatsu “Mom”.

But they hear the commotion outside. The others are losing to Fire Candle. They hurry out and their deep convo has motivated them for this moment. They both Engage and henshin.

The other Gozyus pick themselves back up and they all battle Fire Candle who vows to draw blood from Hoeru.

Mrs. Cake is sad to see this as she had been rooting for Tokonatsu. Mr. Knife decides to embiggen themselves to cheer her up. Sumino hops into Tega Sword to take them on. She has a bit of trouble getting the hand of piloting Tega Sword Black. But she is able to activate Rush Mode and deliver a Unicorn Drill Attack to drive Mr. and Mrs. back down to size.

Back on the ground, Tokonatsu says this is the first time he has had the joy of having someone to lean on. This is what he has been searching for.

Tokonatsu says they are neither better nor worse than each other. They’re just people. His new wish is to have just one true friend. He says he is strong enough that he will never leave Hoeru behind.

Hoeru and Tokonatsu finish off Denjishu Park and drive Fire Candle, who vows to wipe Hoeru out next time, away.

Now it’s time for Hoeru and Tokonatsu’s battle. The other guys arrive to watch. And with one slash, it is Hoeru who comes out on top. He wins the four Rings in Tokonatsu’s possession. Tokonatsu accepts his defeat and officially withdraws from the competition.

Hoeru says Tokonatsu’s wish has come true though and declares that he is his Number 1 best friend. Hoeru helps Tokonatsu up. Tokonatsu says he is surprised to hear that, but he now believes that you cannot sulk forever. Now he has a beloved sunshine friend and is motivated to work hard for the next election.

Tokonatsu bids Hoeru farewell. Hoeru does not think he can keep up with Tokonatsu’s energy though.

Suddenly, Mr. and Mrs. embiggen again and they shoot at Sumino. But another Ring competitor arrives to shield her from the attack.

Episode Thoughts

A very nice episode! Similar to last week, I wasn’t sure about how it started. But I very much enjoyed how it went on and eventually finished. This is the kind of tonal balance I like to see and enjoy when done well. Goofiness with heart. And that’s definitely how these last three episodes have been.

I certainly didn’t expect to learn about Hoeru’s past this early. Though circling back to him for a focus episode after we’ve met the other Gozyus is definitely not a surprise either.

Very interesting backstory for Hoeru that adds to the mystery of the NoWans. Were they kidnapping people? What the hell were the people doing in No One World all this time? Just running from the NoWans? Did the parents just move on from their missing children? Were all the missing people replaced by copies or something? And what happened to the missing missing people? Like Hoeru’s brother. They’re dead? They disappeared a second time? What’s going on?!?!?!?!?!

Lol So definitely a welcome insight into our mysterious antagonists for the season.

But most importantly of course is learning where Hoeru is coming from as a character. I definitely hope and expect we will learn more about his time in No One World and then his years back in the human world too. We have another season with a Sentai Red and a lonely childhood. 😢 Very sad. But of course one of the quintessential Sentai stories is how different people can come together, not only to save the world, but to become friends and even a family too. So I look forward to hopefully seeing the Gozyus become that.

I definitely like their dynamic so far. They’re of course in competition with each other for the Rings. But they’re not, like, actively antagonizing each other or doing selfish-seeming things. Stuff like that. It was very nice actually seeing them all hanging out at the café at the start of the episode.

So that’s another balance I hope the season can maintain. It’s a competition between them, but they also recognize their shared responsibility. They’re not going after each other or isolating themselves from each other all year. (I’m looking at you King-Ohger! lol And I’m looking at you too Donbros! Even though I love all you wacky goofballs lololol)

The way the show also tied Hoeru’s story with Tokonatsu’s story coming to an end was really great. I think Hoeru and Tokonatsu’s scene talking about their similar feelings of loneliness is one of my favorite of the season so far. Really sincere emotions from both characters that helped to really endear them and honestly, endear the season more to me.

It was also a great example of the kinds of wishes and dreams that people who enter the Desire Grand Pri… I mean, the people who enter into the Ring Contracts may have. Most will have some meaningful and emotional reasons like finding missing siblings or getting to feel what it’s like to grow up with loved ones. Others will certainly have nefarious and evil ambitions.

I think seeing how the season will vary those wishes and find ways to connect them to the seasons that they will be paying tribute to each week will be fun.

Again, the first three episodes were okay. But these last three have been very good. And they have definitely instilled a more positive and exciting feeling for this year than I had at the start.

So overall, a really great episode. I think maybe it is my favorite so far of the six. But certainly, a good positive momentum now. Let’s root for the season to continue that!