Recap: No.1 Sentai Gozyuger, Episode 8 – Between Right and Wrong, the Ring Hunter

The mysterious shooter forces Professor Osai to dehenshin and grabs his Ring. He then shoots at the Gozyus before grabbing Osai and disappearing through a circle.

Over in No One World, Fire Candle is excited that King Candelor is finally repaired so he can settle the score with Hoeru. Mr. and Mrs. KnifeCake wish him well. But the queen suddenly wakes up, much to their shock.

The mysterious shooter walks in and Queen Tega June is happy to see Ring Hunter Garyudo. He gives the Rings he has collected so far. And the queen says she wants a groom.

Mr. and Mrs. KnifeCake explain to Candle that Garyudo is the queen’s secret weapon.

Candle says Gozyu Wolf is his prey, but Garyudo says he cannot possibly handle him.

Over at the Café, Hoeru complains to Kinjiro about his loud party last night. Kinjiro says he was having a moving in party since he has just moved in to the room next to Hoeru’s.

Ryugi gets a phone order and asks Kinjiro to come along so he can show him how to make deliveries. Kinjiro is excited to have a part time job after a long time. Hoeru wants the job instead, but Ryugi says he is too rude for it and tells him to stay behind and be the guard dog he is.

Kinjiro tells Ryugi to call him “Kin-chan”. Ryugi refuses.

Hoeru sits at the counter sucking on a flower when a mysterious man walks in. “Long time no see Hoeru. I’m glad to see you again,” the man says.

Hoeru can’t believe it. “You are my prey,” the man says. “Nii-chan!” Hoeru exclaims as he recognizes his brother.

“Tadaima and okaeri,” Hoeru’s brother says.

Hoeru hugs him and says he thought he was dead. He blames himself for them getting lost in No One World. But they are both happy they are now safe.

Hoeru’s brother says he also knows about their parents moving on with their adopted children. And that is a good thing. Especially as long as they have each other.

Hoeru calls his brother by his name Hisamitsu, but he says he now goes by the name Kuon. He describes it as the name of someone who can create a world where everyone’s dreams will come true. And to do that, he’s created the No. 1 AI company: Kuon AI Konzern.

Hoeru thinks that is so awesome. He had always been number one when he was younger, that’s why…

Kuon doesn’t let Hoeru finish his thought and instead invites him to eat some first class sushi which Hoeru has never had before. Hoeru is excited and Kuon says he can have this kind of food whenever he likes if he comes to work for him as his right hand man.

Hoeru likes that idea. But someone knocks on the door having been summoned by Kuon.

Kuon tells Hoeru to keep eating while he speaks with the man. They head to another room where Kuon chides the man for not meeting his quota for three straight months. And because of that, it is time for the man to face judgement and be issued his punishment. Kuon crosses his fingers and Xes the man as he screams.

Downtown, Fire Candle and Aryees pop up as he calls out Hoeru.

Ryugi and Kinjiro have successfully made their delivery and are on the way back. Kinjiro wants to buy a housewarming meat gift for Hoerucchi. But Ryugi reminds him to not get too close as they are still rivals. Kinjiro says all they will have left at the end of their lives are their memories of people. So even if they are destined to fight, they should still enjoy the road to get there. Ryugi understands.

They suddenly get a call from Rikuo as he and Sumino are already fighting Fire Candle and the Aryees. Ryugi and Kinjiro hurry over to help.

Meanwhile, Kuon brings Hoeru to the job site. Much to Hoeru’s surprise, it is where the others are battling. Kuon says the job is to slaughter those guys. Hoeru is shocked. “You’ve really been slow all your life,” Kuon says.

Kuon whips out a Ring and the weapon used by the mysterious shooter!

Kuon says he has changed. Hisamitsu is gone. And it’s all because of Hoeru. “Thank you,” Kuon says.

Hoeru does not understand what’s going on. Kuon says it pisses him off looking at Hoeru and seeing his old “stupid self,” a hero surrounded by buddies who protect the weak.

In the end, you’re just living in my shadow and that’s not the real you, Kuon says. Hoeru asks what’s wrong with that. Kuon says Hoeru does not have a wish. But Hoeru says he’s searching for one.

Kuon does not believe him. He is nothing. No cravings. No desires. He has already lost so much that he can never get back. “You will never be normal again. You will be junk for the rest of your life.” Hoeru can never have a wish and lead a new life, Kuon insists.

But that’s okay, Kuon says, since wishes can just tie them down. All Hoeru has to do is bare his claws like a beast and hunt the enemies nearby. He should show that he isn’t the same person he was back then.

Kuon says they are no longer the hunted, but the hunters. And if he doesn’t want to be trampled again, he must… do it. “Believe in your brother,” Kuon says. “I’ll decide your prey.”

Hoeru blinks and he howls. He henshins and attacks the Gozyus. They are shocked. But Hoeru says they are rivals and working together is weird.

Kuon is happy by his brother’s decision and he also henshins. “I’ve merely set my little brother free from the chains that bind him.” The Gozyus are shocked to learn they are brothers.

As Kuon/Garyudo battles the Gozyus, Fire Candle challenges Hoeru to their ultimate duel. They hop into King Candelor and Tega Sword.

Garyudo uses Ninninger and Goseiger Rings to summon AkaNinja and Gosei Red to take on the Gozyus. But he then transforms them into weapons and says they are merely his servants.

Fire Candle overpowers Hoeru and prepares a Blazing Heart Blade finisher. But Hoeru seems to merely brace himself for the attack. Fire Candle stops, saying he does not feel any flames from him anymore. So he believes it is not worth beating an empty puppet.

“Is it about time?” Garyudo says. He shoots at the Gozyus, sending them flying as he disappears.

Hoeru returns to the ground. The other Gozyus are ready to battle him fair and square and promise not to hold back if that is what Hoeru really wants.

But Hoeru says he has no wish, not now, not ever. He removes his Ring and tosses it on the ground.

“I quit the Gozyuger.” Hoeru says as he walks away.

Kuon declares his little brother Hoeru his prey.

Episode Thoughts

A very interesting episode. My little criticism up front, I would’ve liked to have eased into the introduction of Hoeru’s brother and into Hoeru’s past a little bit more. I guess on one hand we’ve gotten a steady drip on Hoeru with every episode, especially the one with Tokonatsu. On the other, the way oniichan just pops up out of nowhere, I almost felt like he’d be some kind of fake or something.

Well anyway, let’s see where they take us with this apparent new arc. Again, it is very interesting to learn about Hoeru this early. All his little quirks so far apparently have to do with his past and his time in No One World. It’s certainly a familiar “chosen one” or “chosen Red” dynamic. But with it coming this early, perhaps it isn’t something that plays into the endgame so much as it just help to build up Hoeru as a character and the Gozyus as a team and unit. But we’ll see.

The introduction of Kuon is great though as it gives us a more permanent character who uses Rings for perhaps truly nefarious purposes. How he became this way should of course be a story in and of itself too. And barring some red herring kind of story, it will be interesting to learn about that alongside learning more about what happened to Hoeru in No One World. Which is something I expect to be unfurled throughout the season and not necessarily in the next few episodes.

But who knows!

Fun to see Ryugi and Kin-chan out and about together after having Rikuo and Sumino get their moment last week. Kinjiro talking about the “people we meet along the way” was very nice and I hope it’s a sentiment they will continue through the season.

The mixing and matching of different pairs is always fun to watch. But I guess for now that will be put on hold as we work out Hoeru’s drama hehe

Speaking of drama, we meet Queen Tega June who wants to get married. I don’t know anything about her. So I have no idea what the “Tega” connection is with Tega Sword. But that’s another thing that we’ll learn more about soon.

I think the show has quickly established Fire Candle and Bouquet and Mr. and Mrs. KnifeCake as not-so sinister villains. Probably meaning the real threats are still to come. So that’s another thing to look forward to as well.

Overall, a very interesting episode that introduces a lot of things that I probably won’t be able to get a feel for until I see more and see where we go from here. But exciting, fun and definitely engaging!