Recap: No.1 Sentai Gozyuger, Episode 17 – Shine Brightly! No.1 Sports Day!

Hoeru cheers up when Aoi comes down for the morning. But Aoi is not in such a good mood. After he leaves for school, Mama Soari tells them about Sports Day coming up and is worried since Aoi isn’t really into sports. Not only that, some troll has been going around disrupting school sports days.

Mashiro stumbles upon a sad Aoi at the park and introduces himself. Aoi asks Mashiro to cancel the upcoming sports day if he is really a god. Aoi says he doesn’t run fast enough and hates other people watching him. Mashiro tells Aoi to pray to him and he’ll help him out.

Just then, the sports day troll Undokai No.1 approaches them. BearKuma tells Mashiro to be careful as the NoWan transforms the park into a sports day setting, bringing the other Gozyugers over as well.

Undokai No.1 challenges them to a sports day.

The others are a bit surprised when Hoeru seems particularly energetic about sports day. Aoi, however, sits it out.

The first game has them scoring the most baskets. But referee Gogu Lugo ignores the Aryees shooting at the Gozyugers to keep them from getting more sacks into the basket.

Mashiro calls GoodeBurn who comes swooping in and smashing the basket into the ground. Now the Gozyus can easily get the sacks in.

But Gogu Lugo disqualifies the Gozyus for cheating. Mashiro says that’s too bad and they now have to pay him eight million yen for his helping fee.

Meanwhile, TegaJune tells Bouquet and Mr. and Mrs. ShiningKnife that she’ll be sure to have all the rings and check her fated pilot before making her next move.

TegaJune asks Bouquet to continuing helping the NoWans. Mr. and Mrs. Shining Knife tell her to take over monitoring Undokai No.1 for now.

Back at sports day, the second game is a three-legged race. Hoeru and Rikuo go up against Undokai No.1 and an Aryee and another pair of Aryees.

In the meantime, Mashiro summons a lunch table and invites the others to join him. He puts honey on his food and Sumino is attracted to his fancy taste. She asks how old he is. Mashiro says 26… or 10,026. He explains that in the Universe War, his wish came true and he saved the world. But then he got caught in the gaps of space and time and was trapped for 10,000 years.

GoodeBurn was the one who woke up from his deep sleep. He sought Mashiro upon his birth. But he found the world was still as warped as ever. He will not tolerate sadness and sorrow being taken away as that is part of any world. And so he has vowed to make a world that will stick forever.

The three-legged race begins.

Mashiro says that’s why became a god. And so he will color all the Rings in his color and take that power to become a power even greater than Tega Sword.

Ryugi will not stand for such blasphemy against TegaSword. Mashiro tells him to focus on not getting his ring swiped.

Meanwhile, Hoeru and Rikuo have trouble tripping over each other. Rikuo asks Hoeru why he’s so into sports day. Hoeru says growing up in No One World, he never got a chance to participate in sports days. Rikuo understands and the two of them henshin to be in better rhythm with each other.

They are able to run straight to the finish line and claim number one.

The referee, however, disqualifies them again because they have a red tie on their legs instead of white.

The next game is a Chicken Fight. Knowing the game is fixed, Mashiro tells the others to leave this to him. He henshins and says Aoi will be his partner. Mashiro gets a reluctant Aoi on his shoulders.

Mashiro and Aoi battle against three other quartets of Aryees and the NoWan. Mashiro encourages Aoi to not be afraid and he enjoys a fly in the sky. Mashiro tells him that it’s okay to not like sports. But he should enjoy life in new and interesting ways when he can. Aoi understands.

Together, Mashiro and Aoi are able to eliminate one of the teams. Mashiro tells Aoi to leave the rest to him.

The others henshin and Mashiro hops onto Hoeru’s shoulders with Rikuo and Ryugi supporting them. Kinjiro uses his new Ring and uphenshins to Kiramai Red. He has a Hirameking and draws two extra GozyuEagles. Sumino hops on.

The game continues. Everyone uses whatever is in their arsenal to gain the upper hand. Sumino and Mashiro are able to swipe the bandanas off the NoWan and Aryee, winning this game.

Undokai No.1 is sure he has won already. But Mashiro had already bribed the referee with a nice hammer. The NoWan is upset about the dirty gameplay. Mashiro laughs and is able to save the little boy the NoWan had fused with.

Mashiro asks Aoi to help bring the boy to safety. The NoWan explodes and they are all returned to the real world.

Bouquet arrives in Calendius and gets Gogu Lugo to help her. Mashiro hops into GoodeBurn. They all take part in a steeplechase race through the city. Bouquet and Calendius end up falling in the water and Mashiro and GoodeBurn end up with the wind.

Mashiro and GoodeBurn finish off Gogu Lugo with a Blizzard Crusher Goode Finish.

Mashiro proclaims himself number one at sports day.

Back on the ground, the little boy wakes up and explains he had been practicing for sports day when he was taken. Aoi asks if he is not good at sports and asks if they can practice together and make it fun. Aoi and the boy run off into the field, ignoring BearKuma attempting to collect payment.

Mashiro takes the bill and rips it up, much to everyone’s surprise. He tells BearKuma that they work for free sometimes.

The Gozyus watch as Aoi and his new friend run around the track.

Episode Thoughts

I definitely needed this episode after Gavv. lolol A fun, feel-good episode of Gozyuger.

It’s a great episode to take a breather after Mashiro’s great debut. And like the season has been so far, it has no problem integrating Mashiro into the shenanigans. And I think that’s great. There’s already an immediate connection between us and Mashiro. But also Mashiro and the Gozyu Gang as well. And it’s nice to see.

Like I’ve mentioned, I very much appreciate how the show can keep things light and fun while maintaining that competition aspect of the Rings. Like, they’re not forgetting they are supposed to be rivals, but they’re also not being nasty or overly competitive about it, you know?

I mean, there are other seasons of both Sentai and Kamen Rider where the heroes are unnecessarily cold to each other for no narrative reason. (*cough*Donbros*cough* lolololol) No, but seriously, the vibes of Gozyuger as just so positive. And I think when you can be that positive and upbeat while still providing good story, that’s a winning combination.

The episode had some little character moments. Hoeru talking about his time growing up No One World. Rikuo being understanding of that experience. Sumino being attracted to Mashiro’s luxurious life. Ryugi being the most devoted Tega Sword disciple. Kinjiro being his youthful self when teasing Sumino in the beginning about the Ring and then being his mature self fainting at the expensive bill. Lol

We of course saw a bit of Mashiro’s personality too. And we can see he’s a good guy even if he does overcharge his customers. Though perhaps that’s more on his chief financial officer BearKuma Lol Plus a good rundown of where he’s come from and the fact that he’s been frozen for 10,000 years.

The show also did a simple little scene with TegaJune acknowledging she maybe jumped the gun a bit. Just a way to kind of move past the whole world ending thing and basically go back to where we were before that. Which is fine.

Also great to have some story with Aoi and Mama Saori as well, making them fully a part of the season.

The drone action when Aoi and Mashiro played in the game of chicken was awesome as well.

Overall, just a wonderful episode. A very welcome feel-good episode after the emotional torture of Gavv. lol