We ride again! Join me as I check out the latest episode of Kamen Rider Gotchard. This week, we have the conclusion to last week’s cliffhanger!
Summary
This week’s episode picks right up were episode 7 left off with Hotaro falling out of the sky because Saboneedle left, disengaging the transformation. Quickly changing into Spiclewhale’s Wild Form (accessed via the Ganvhale and Spicle Chemy Cards), Houtato makes an escape with Riku in tow. Having gotten away, for now, Riku, in a panic, asks where Sabosuke is? This reveals his nickname for Saboneedle as well as the fact neither of them know where the Chemy went. This takes us into the episode’s opening credits.
We then rejoin Rinne in the café as Atropos, the eldest of the Abyssal Sisters, approaches her, telling her she will reveal if her dad (who we saw her kill in the first episode) is actually alive or not if Rinne will play a game with her. In response to Atropos taking control of the other café goers, Rinne says to leave the civilians out of this and only attack alchemists. Atropos quips that she will remember that before disappearing. Renge shows up and lets Rinne know about the Malgam attack. In the church, the other two Abyssal Sisters are talking. One is offering to aid the sister that made the Dragonfly Malgam, should she need it. She responds by saying she will be fine, revealing she’s got the Happyclover Chemy Card.
Rejoining Hotaro, Riku opens up about his feelings towards Sabosuke. He actually does wish he could stay with him but his dad, the man who’s the Dragonfly Malgam, is making him get rid of it to focus on studies. Aided by Smaphone, the two head of to the park. We next see Rinne and Renge arriving back at the Academy, just in time for everyone to work out the identity of the Malgam and were Hotaro is. During this discussion, Spanner criticises Rinne saying its high time she stopped working with Hotaro.
Hotaro and Riku find Sabosuke, and Riku confesses that he wishes he could stay friends too. Hotaro says to leave it to him as that’s the kind world he’s working towards. Just then, Riku’s dad approaches, revealing himself as the Dragonfly Malgam and that his true targets are Hotaro and Sabosuke, When Riku steps into try and shield his friends, his dad goes to strike him. Sabosuke jumps into to defend Riku, knocking his dad back with needles. This gives Hotaro an opening to transform into Steamhopper Form. While doing pretty well in his base form, Abyssal Sister, Lachesis, transformes into the Luckyclover Malgam and wraps Hotaro in vines. This is until Spanner jumps in, followed by Rinne and the gang furnishing Hotaro with the Gutsshovel and Dokkirimajin Chemy Cards. Hotato uses them to turn into the Dokkirishovel form, freeing himself from the vines and knocking the Dragonfly Malgam out of the air. Gotchard finally turns into Needlehawk Form to deliver the finishing blow and capture Greatonbo.
We cut to the gang watching Riku and his dad making up and promising to take breaks from work. Saboneedle gives Riku a flower the bloomed out of their head as a sign of their friendship. While this exchange takes place, Mr. Minato scolds Hotaro that for trying to force Riku and Saboneedle to stay together, noting that he’s tarnished Riku and his dad’s relationship and thus disrupted the natural order. He will be deducting points from Hotaro’s grade but will be leaving Saboneedle’s flower with Riku, despite wiping their memories of the Chemies. Retaining other memories from the past days, Riku to ask if he and Hotaro can continue their game of kick the can, also insisting the other alchemists and his dad join too.
In the final act of the episode, we first return to the base, with Rinne returning the Dokkirishovel card to Spanner, who says he gave her the card because it was convenient but that he had business with the Sisters and that Rinne should expect a higher cost next time she wants to use one of his cards. Hotaro promises Saboneedle he will make a world were Riku and Saboneedle can play and be together, just give him time. Finally, we cut to the church where Atropos downplays their loss, saying it’s fine things played out this way because preparations for their next plan is already complete. Cryptic…
My Take
Another week, another Gotchard and this one was… alright. Events played out pretty much how I expected, even if the ending with Mr. Minato did confuse me a little. The reveal of Happyclover is interesting because it appears to match with the Chemy that Rinne is rumoured to transform with at some point. Between that and the scene with Atropos, it’s clear they are building to something with her which, honestly, I’m pretty excited to see. I’m looking forward to next week’s episode to, hopefully, learn more.
What did you think of this episode? Are you excited for the next developments? Let me know in the comments! As always, this has been Ethan, writer, reviewer and kick the can champion for The Toku Source and I’ll see you next time.
