Recap: No.1 Sentai Gozyuger, Episode 9 – Unbreakable Wolf

Hoeru is working as a waiter at a butler café where his bad boy act has all the ladies swooning. His boss praises his work and tells him to invite some friends over so they can enjoy a discount.

Hoeru says he doesn’t have any and is incapable of making some. He returns to work when a customer calls him over.

That customer ends up being Fire Candle. He orders a coffee and sandwich. But Hoeru thinks he does not recognize him. While waiting, Fire Candle flashes back to Kuon telling him about them being brothers.

Kuon says that’s exactly why he must defeat him because he pledged his loyalty to the queen who gave him his power. Plus, there’s no need to continue a battle you cannot win.

Fire Candle is very annoyed by the whole situation, but he still enjoys his coffee and sandwich. He tries to leave without paying, which he knows nothing about. But Hoeru stops him and threatens to call the police. Fire Candle has no problem picking a fight. But Hoeru’s boss steps in and says Fire Candle has a cute face. She tells him to work here to pay for his meal.

Fire Candle likes that idea and vows to become number one at it, especially to beat this annoying waiter who he doesn’t know is Hoeru and goes by the name Butler Lonely Wolf.

The boss officially starts their battle to become number one in sales. Both start charming the customers.

Back at Café Half Century, the others wonder what’s gotten into Hoeru when suddenly, Kuon walks in and asks them what they really know of him.

Kuon reveals to them that he is his brother. He calls Hoeru a pure angel that’s flown down to Earth. Rikuo laughs at the idea of Hoeru being an angel. But Kuon says there’s nothing funny about it. He says Hoeru is his love, hope, and… puppet. So he believes he must guide him and show him the way.

Kuon will choose who will be Hoeru’s friends and he has judged them all to be unworthy. He asks if they promise never to go near Hoeru ever again. Rikuo says they refuse and it is Hoeru’s decision alone.

Kuon says he will have to kill them then.

Back at the butler café, Fire Candle is about to get the sale that will put him over the top. But the customer has no money to pay. Fire Candle chases after the guy as he tries to run away. Fire Candle knocks him on the head and the police come to take him away.

Hoeru comes outside and asks why Fire Candle wants to be number one so much. Fire Candle thinks Lonely Wolf is scared. And Hoeru, taking his lace mask off out of sight from Fire Candle, says he is indeed scared. He’s scared of being betrayed by someone or lose anything ever again. He’s scared to get close to people and is better off alone.

Fire Candle says Hoeru is even lower than a loser dog. The fight for being number one is as important as being number one itself. He wants to fight that guy who feels the same way.

Fire Candle realizes that no matter how many times he loses, his flame won’t ever burn out. He thanks Lonely Wolf making him realize that and helping him to see clearly now.

Fire Candle happily walks away.

Just then, Tega Sword speaks to Hoeru through a billboard. He tells Hoeru to fight once more. Hoeru says he turned on the others who ended up not being his friends. But Tega Sword says Hoeru should not wallow in his fears. To fight is to confront those fears and make way for his own world. The others are waiting.

Kuon and the other Gozyus take their battle to the mountains. They henshin and battle.

Kuon summons DenziRed, Spade Ace and GekiRed to take the Gozyus on. Rikuo fights Kuon himself and uphenshins to Boonboomger armor. Kuon again turns the Warriors into weapons and manages to gain control of the Boonboomger Ring.

Kuon says they’re pretty stubborn considering they have no bond to Hoeru whatsoever. Just then, Hoeru appears and watches as Kuon again turns the Warriors against the Gozyus.

While fighting, the Gozyus speak to Hoeru. Ryugi says Hoeru hasn’t paid his tab at the café yet. Kinjiro says the manga he lent Hoeru is now overdue with a late fee. Rikuo says Hoeru has to pay for his smiles. Sumino says she hasn’t gotten her cut from the job she helped him get.

While they don’t have a “bond” per se, Hoeru has debts with them. And when you’re indebted to someone, you can’t just run out on it. Kinjiro wants to go to raves with Hoeru. And Rikuo adds that they’re lonely like they’ve lost a pet.

Kuon waves his hand and forces them to dehenshin. He tells Hoeru it is no use, he cannot do anything.

Hoeru remembers Kuon’s words to him about being unable to get back what he’s lost. And also to not be trampled on again. The others tell Hoerucchi to fight and they encourage him.

Hoeru howls and says he wants to do it too. He wants to give it his all and fight, together with them and the world.

Hoeru henshins and vows to open a world for himself. Out of his circle pops out Wolf Decalibur 50. He delivers a Wolf Calibur Finish at the Warriors before turning to Kuon and saying he won’t be holding back any more.

Both Hoeru and Kuon declare each other their prey and battle. Kuon says Hoeru has never beaten him before and calls him a loser dog. But Hoeru says no matter how many times he loses, he will always reach for the top. He is the number one loser!

Hoeru delivers a Wolf Decalibur Finish at Kuon and is able to take control of the Ninninger Ring. Kuon acknowledges Hoeru is not bad as he leaves.

Just then, Fire Candle pops in with King Candelor and Hoeru hops into Tega Sword DekaClaw. Hoeru says he is not running away anymore. Fire Candle is excited to see it.

They have a good battle and Hoeru delivers a finisher. Fire Candle is happy to have felt his rivals’ fighting spirit.

Back at the café, Hoeru apologizes for running off and the others happily welcome him back. But they will not be letting him off what he owes them.

Meanwhile back in No One World, Kuon rips his shirt off to reveal a huge X on his back. He vows not to let Hoeru escape this battle. He will break Hoeru and Hoeru will break him.

Episode Thoughts

Oh! An interesting episode! And a quick resolution to the lone wolf wandering off from the pack. Though it doesn’t really explain Hoeru’s sudden rampaging last week, I will instead just focus on the idea of him thinking he’s only meant to be a lone wolf. And that was of course thanks to Kuon’s, I guess, gaslighting him.

The lone wolf is certainly a very familiar Sentai story. So as an anniversary season, it’s very fitting to include it here. Even if it’s for an episode plot rather than a season-long arc.

I think this story really helped to conclude this introductory period/arc of the season and we now have our team together. Like I mentioned in previous weeks, I appreciate more how the season is able to maintain the Gozyus are rivals in a way, but not keeping them apart or making them antagonistic to each other.

So them not only coming together, but the others actively expressing themselves and wanting to bring Hoeru home, basically, was really wonderful to watch. In other seasons with similar “rival” dynamics, you would probably just have more flippant or cold approaches to bringing someone back to the “team”, however loose that word applies.

But for here with the Gozyugers, they are very much a team. And even in this short time, you can believe the bond and connection they have formed already. It’s not some strong, heartwarming, MAGMCM kind of bond just yet. But it’s a connection that helps to endear the characters as well as keep you engaged moving forward. Which is very important at this early stage of the season.

Meanwhile, that final scene with Kuon was really great to help fuel that plot thread as well. What’s going on with him? We’ll have to keep watching to find out. But leaving open many possibilities for big brother should be really good.

The other wonderful dynamic this episode was of course Hoeru and Fire Candle.

It’s funny though. Fire Candle kept mentioning Hoeru being a dog or whatever. (Translation dependent I guess). But whatever it was, why is Fire Candle more basically like a cute puppy who is all bark and no bite. Lolol. His personality that shined this episode was very fun. Now, unless he starts going around killing people, then that would be a different story. Lol But also another familiar Sentai story is that competitive fire soul like Fire Candle who just wants a good fight and a good rivalry to keep him going.

That it was Fire Candle, in his own giddy way, who got Hoeru to wake up was really awesome. And I loved that scene of them on the stairs. A nice, even sweet little moment that makes me excited to see how their rivalry will play out over the course of the season. I can already imagine how their climactic battle will play out. “I had fun fighting with you,” Fire Candle says to Hoeru as he explodes in King Candelor for the last time. Now that would be a MAGMCM lolol

Anyway, I would love to see him stay this way. As well as Bouquet too. And heck, why not Mr. and Mrs. KnifeCake as well. Have them be “light” villains as opposed to the purely evil Final Boss type. But it’s still very early of course.

And so far, this season has really been on a great upward momentum. Admittedly, I wasn’t sure what to make of it early on. Even despite Haruhi Iuchi being so awesome in that first episode. But since then, the season has developed very nicely. The characters have settled in well. The cast has been able to show off their charms through these nine episodes. Now that the introductions seem to be finished, it’s time to dive into the plot! And it should be very interesting indeed!