Recap: No.1 Sentai Gozyuger, Episode 12 – Demon, Roar!!

Gaia demands the beast return his Luna. But he is forced to dehenshin. “I will not forgive you. I hate you!” Luna seemingly says from within the monster. The Gozyus shield Gaia from the monster’s attack as it disappears.

Seeing “it has happened,” Bouquet retreats even as she had the upper hand on Sumino.

TegaJune is pleased to see the “demon” has risen. She tells Mr. and Mrs. ShiningSweet, who are devising a plan now, to not let that NoWan get away. Kuon has never heard of a demon emerging from a NoWan. Bouquet says that was Oni No One.

Back at the café, Gaia tells the Gozyus his story. Luna was his fiancé. He was an animal preservation officer and she was a vet. Together they protected endangered animals. And when they were looking for an extinct Japanese wolf in the mountains, Luna fell off the cliff. That’s when he saw her getting captured by the beast.

Bouquet continues explaining to Kuon that NoWans are imperfect beings from their world and they capture humans to take on a full form. They are like parasites who latch on to humans who have wishes similar to their own.

However, Oni No One captured a human who died before it was created. It was no longer a NoWan, but an irregular creature full of resentment and malice. So she made Onigokki No.1 capture it and use its components. And the experiment was a success, making it into a stable NoWan.

Kuon is very intrigued by the idea of a NoWan created from a corpse and what wishes it might have.

Gaia says the beast disappeared after that and that’s when he found the Ring. He mastered the one song for one beast all to get Luna back, his ultimate wish. He vows to set her free from that beast.

“But she’s dead,” the Gozyus say. Gaia puts on a bright expression and says he just has trouble letting things go. Rikuo seems to relate to his words.

Rikuo meets Gaia on the rooftop. He sees a music sheet and says it is a nice, tender song even if a bit lonely. Gaia says it is Luna’s song. He says she was bright, cheerful and strict, but the kindest person he knew. And she gave him strength. Luna was the No.1 beast tamer.

Gaia again vows to free Luna from the beast. And Rikuo knows Gaia will die with her. He can hear that desire pouring out of Gaia. Gaia understands that he cannot bring Luna back to life. He believes he is the one that killed her as she prevented him from falling off the cliff when he slipped on some loose rocks.

Gaia’s wish was to be together with Luna forever. He cannot live in a world without her.

Meanwhile, the other Gozyus meet Kuon, flanked by Ayrees as Oni No One continues rampaging. Kuon will not allow them to interfere with the queen’s favorite. Kuon henshins.

But Gaia arrives and calls out to Luna. Rikuo joins the others.

Gaia tells Luna he will calm her resentment. He henshins and battles the Oni, The others henshin and take on the Aryees.

Gaia is unable to overpower the Oni. He hugs the Oni, and thus Luna. But the Luna inside pushes him away, forcing him to dehenshin. The Oni embiggens. Gaia is ready to die if it will ease her pain.

But Rikuo hops in TegaSword. He begins singing Luna’s song, saying he heard it from Luna himself. She doesn’t resent him. She is just being swallowed by the demon and acting out. Luna is waiting for him to tame the wild beast with his music.

Gaia plays his ocarina as Rikuo sings. The song reaches Luna and she is able to fight against the Oni. Gaia’s feelings reach Spirit King Gao King who lends his power to him. Teaming up with Rikuo, Gaia battles the embiggened Oni.

Hoeru lends Rikuo Deka Claw to use to split open the Oni, allowing Gaia to enter and meet Luna. He hugs her and she awakens from her stupor. Luna tells Gaia to live and promises to find him when she is reborn. Gaia says he will find her even if he is reborn over and over. And then they will be able to sing their beautiful music together.

Luna says goodbye to Gaia for now. Gaia and Rikuo deliver a pair of finishers at the Oni and finish it off for good.

Gaia thanks and says farewell to Luna.

Later, Gaia hands Rikuo the Gaoranger Ring, saying he deserves to be the No.1 Beast Tamer since it was he who sang Luna’s song.

Rikuo asks where Gaia will go now. He says he will go back to a wandering life looking for beasts to tame.

Episode Thoughts

Well my goodness, I didn’t expect to be in tears on this fine Sunday afternoon. lol

But oh boy. Gozyuger has really settled in and I am really enjoying how much the season has developed very quickly. Again, I was a bit iffy, but always open minded at the start. But the season has found its groove, I think, in almost all aspects by now. And that’s a very exciting feeling to anticipate what might be ahead.

At the start of the season, I wasn’t sure the season would be capable of delivering episodes like this. Or some of the other unexpectedly emotional and deeper episodes we’ve gotten so far. But the fact that the season has done so very well is such a positive feeling.

This was a great pair of episodes. I’m sure it’s a story inspired by Gaoranger somehow. Though I wouldn’t know since I never watched the season. But still, it’s hard not to be fully engaged with Gaia’s story even in this short amount of time. Again, pretty much every part of Gaia and Luna’s story should be familiar to any Kamen Rider or Sentai fan. But usually, it’s a story that probably involves one of the main heroes and lasts for a good chunk of the season.

Gozyuger told that story in two episodes. And it was so good.

I can imagine their story somehow relates to Rikuo’s backstory as well. So that is another interesting thing to look out for. But even without the consequence to the ongoing story, it was an emotionally satisfying pair of episodes that did so much in so little time.

Really wonderful!

Then you pair that with some great action of course. Love the Gozyus henshin while fighting off the Aryees! Very cool sequence!

Elsewhere, Kuon was very intriguing this episode. What if Kuon is also a corpse. Hoeru’s dead brother turned into some strange creature? Hmm…

I also appreciated Bouquet explaining how NoWans are made. It’s a good, clear explanation and reminder. I think I needed it. Lol

Overall, a really great episode of Gozyuger. Positive momentum is always exciting to have for a series and Gozyuger continues to have it.