Recap: Kamen Rider Gavv, Episode 32 – Cup on the True Feelings

Rakia realizes this Granute might have been the one that fatally wounded Comeru. While Hanto asks the Gochizo to go search for the Granute, Rakia calls Sachika and asks her to find the Granute immediately. Sachika says it’s not like she can magically do so, but Rakia yells at her to just do it.

Hanto and Sachika are both taken aback by Rakia’s sudden emotional outburst.

Hanto tries to get Rakia to calm down, but he stumbles once he realizes he has a deep wound on his ankle. Rakia scoffs at how fragile humans are and tells Hanto to stay out of his way as he pursues the Granute. But Hanto points out that Granute get injured too and lifts Rakia’s sleeve to reveal a wound on his arm as well.

Over in his lab, Nyelv continues work on a mysterious device. An Agent comes in with a report and Nyelv is pleased they have finally found the traitor to the family.

Back in Tokyo, Liselle has Shoma hostage for a pancake date. She ruins the toppings on her aesthetic pancake order to make it cute for her standards. But she believes their chef back home makes much better treats.

Liselle introduces herself to Shoma as Stomach Inc’s new CEO and husband Jiip is her VP. Shoma is shocked and asked why she would marry his brother. Liselle says he was so adorable and cute grieving over his sister. Originally, she thought Shoma was awful for killing Shiita. But now she is grateful for him.

Shoma says he is not out for revenge against his siblings, he’s just protecting humans from being turned into Dark Treats. Liselle asks why he would do that for such meek little things. She is about to shoot at other humans enjoying an afternoon treat before Shoma stops her.

Shoma vows to strike her down too if she dares to rob humans of their happiness as well.

Liselle is excited to hear that Shoma would keep roughing her husband up if they continue making Dark Treats. She warns Shoma about reacting here in public and she leaves, looking forward to their next meeting.

Over at Suga’s-now-Rakia’s place, Hanto finds the first aid kit. He jokes that he knows his way around since he was here a lot while Suga yanked him around all that time, as Rakia puts it.

Hanto asks Rakia about the Stomachs also taking someone he cares about and says Comeru must have meant a lot to him. Rakia grabs Hanto’s collar, “What the hell would you know?”

Hanto says he knows a lot, actually, since they are in the same boat. He tells Rakia about the Stomachs taking his mother one day and had been searching for the culprit ever since. It took him 18 years to find out she had been turned into Dark Treats.

That’s a long time, Rakia says, now understanding where Hanto is coming from.

Hanto has Rakia sit to help clean and bandage up the wound on his wrist.

Rakia opens up and explains Comeru was his younger brother and how he became a part-timer for Stomach Inc. Knowing how kind his brother is, Rakia believes his conscience won out over his addiction and that’s why the Stomachs had him killed.

Rakia has been looking for his brother’s murderer too and that slash wound is his only lead. That’s why the Granute earlier might be the culprit. Rakia puts himself down, saying he had made Hanto look like a fool earlier and look at him now.

Hanto says that’s not a big deal. What is important is that Comeru really must have been a great person to have overcome his addiction when all they’ve seen so far are those that succumb to it. Hanto previously pegged these part-timers as just irredeemable bastards, not realizing they must also have loved ones too.

Hanto realizes humans and Granutes have a lot more in common than he thought. Especially with the way Stomach Inc are robbing both of their happiness. That’s why they must put a stop to it.

Over at Uncle Dente’s. Nyelv surprises him, wanting to ask about the new Driver in Valen’s possession. Nyelv knows the only one who could replicate his work would be his mentor.

Nyelv invites Uncle Dente back to the company, saying his talent and abilities should be used for Stomach Inc. Uncle Dente refuses and says his place is by Shoma’s side to help him find his happiness. Besides, he does not get any joy from working on Dark Treats.

Nyelv leaves a Dark Treat box, acknowledging his invitation has been rejected. After he leaves, Uncle Dente decides to prepare knowing that he might soon be taken care of by his evil family.

Next morning, Hanto and Rakia head out when the Choco Frappe Gochizos come to relay the Granute’s location. They find the mantis Granute and henshin.

As they battle, Rakia confronts the Granute about Comeru. The Granute has no idea what he’s talking about, but taunts Rakia by saying he might get answers if he defeats him. Rakia will not allow him to mock his brother’s death.

Hanto jumps in to shield Rakia, telling him to calm down and not do anything reckless. Rakia tells Hanto not to do anything stupid either considering he’s just a mere human. But Hanto says being human or Granute does not matter. He will help Rakia avenge his brother.

Hanto pushes forward against the Granute’s mucus attack. Rakia calls Hanto an idiot, but admits he is one too.

The Granute has run out of mucus. Rakia jumps on him and the Granute says he knows nothing about his brother. “Sucks to be you!” the Granute says before Rakia blows him up.

Hanto and Rakia dehenshin just as Shoma arrives to report he’s saved all the kidnapped people.

Back at Hapipare, they enjoy some pudding from the pudding shop owner they were able to save. Hanto says the Granute wasn’t Comeru’s killer after all. Rakia vows to keep searching. Hanto says he can lend a hand if he needs it, but Rakia says whatever.

Both Hanto and Rakia smile to themselves, but Shoma is excited to see it. Shoma asks Rakia if they talked it out. Rakia says Hanto is still an idiot, but idiots can be handy at times. “I heard that!” Hanto says. Shoma goes over to calm him down.

Sachika approaches Rakia to thank him for the puddings. He apologizes for yelling at her yesterday. Hanto wants to know why Sachika gets a sincere apology and he does not. Shoma and Sachika laugh at the two of them going at it again.

Meanwhile, at the presidential palace, the president continues getting Magen addicted to Dark Treats and says they will become difficult to acquire soon. Magen says he will help to take care of whatever is causing the problem.

The president introduces Magen to Nyelv whose form shocks him very much. But he has the plan they need.

Episode Thoughts

Phew! When they cut to the palace at the end, I thought they were going to ruin the cute ending with a scene of Liselle and Jiip or something. Thankfully they did not. Lololol

But maybe even if they did, this was still a great episode. Perhaps one of my favorites of the season simply because of that scene with Hanto and Rakia.

Gavv has done these heart to heart scenes so well this season. And that was definitely the case with that scene between Hanto and Rakia. Just pitch perfect all the way. From the way Hanto calmly and delicately broaches the subject to Rakia slowly understanding where Hanto is coming from and then him opening up to him about Comeru.

Similar to how the show was able to bring Shoma and Hanto together to their shared experiences and connected pasts, so too were they able to draw upon and tie together Hanto and Rakia’s pasts. And they did so in a way that addresses those backstories while furthering them as characters, their relationship, and the story moving forward.

Whether it’s the growth as individuals of both Hanto and Rakia to seeing them coming together in a sincere way to fleshing out how humans and Granutes continue to have more things in common than possibly not; the show did so much in that one scene. And that one scene was made possible because the show was able to properly lay the foundation across many episodes leading up to this one. Not just throw something in randomly to use as a quick and hollow payoff. Which is what other seasons unfortunately try to do to no success.

That last scene of the Hapi4 together enjoying pudding is the kind of moment that feels even more meaningful after great story like what was accomplished in these two episodes with Hanto and Rakia.

I will say though that I was a little 🤨 with the no reaction from Shoma and Sachika as Hanto and Rakia were talking about Comeru. As if they didn’t even care. Like, thanks a lot. 🤨 lol

Anyway, in other lesser developments this episode. I was applauding when Shoma vowed to end Liselle if she harms humans. I will hold you to that Shoma! You were able to strike down your sister. You should be able to take care of Liselle with some chips and a frappe, okay? Lol

Plus, ewe to Liselle thinking Jiip continuing to be tortured about his dead sister is cute and adorable. What a wacko!

I liked the scene with Uncle Dente and Nyelv, though perhaps I wanted a bit more. I would’ve liked to have seen them talk a bit more about the past. Maybe more about how Uncle Dente mentored him. And how he has seen the error of his ways, something like that. The kind of subtle confrontation or something.

That said, while Nyelv is still my “favorite” (as loose as I can use that term for horrible, evil characters lololol) non-human Stomach Sib, if he does anything to hurt Uncle Dente, let alone kill him, Nyelv will officially be dead to me. Lolol Don’t you dare hurt Grandpa Dente sir!

Finally, with Rakia relating the story about his brother and then the president getting his business partner addicted to the Dark Treats, this episode again highlighted the scourge of drugs and the drug industry on families and on the world in a Sunday morning-appropriate way. Really so interesting. And another example of how both Toei tokus can touch upon very real world topics in a very unique way.

Also, I must highlight the excellent battle between Hanto, Rakia and the Granute. I love all that choreography on the scaffolding during that sequence. Exciting and refreshing action. And it’s really awesome how both Sentai and Kamen Rider have found new and refreshing approaches to their action in recent years.

Overall, a really great episode with an excellent scene that will be one of my favorites of the season. Great character moments that move the story forward. That’s easily a winner in my book.