The Weekly Ride Review with Ethan: Kamen Rider Gotchard Episode 19

What’s up Riders! It’s time for another Weekly Ride Review ! Join Ethan for doggos, meat cream puffs, and Kamen Rider Majade!

Before we jump into the the review, I’d like to first draw attention to the fact this episode was written by Akiko Inoue. This is notable, not because of who her father and grandfather are, or because her joining Gotchard’s writers room marks the third era of Rider an Inoue has written episodes for, or because this is her first Rider episode credit… well, it is notable for all of those reasons, but I’d like to draw attention to the fact that the last time Toei let a women into the writers room was during Kamen Rider Drive, which is turning ten this October. Congratulations to Akiko Inoue, I look forward to more great stories from you in this franchise. As for right now, let’s take a look at your TV Rider debut!   

The Recap

The episode opens with the Gotchard gang in good spirits having formed the Kitchen Ichinose Alliance but Rinne is conflicted whether or not these are the “rules” she should be following, having been raised by her dad to value following the alchemist’s rules above all. After the intro, we rejoin the episode with Geryon seeing another Abyssal brother waking up, just as the sisters return with their newest captures. Among them is Yoacerberus, whom the Brother takes an interest in and is soon turned into the Cerberus Malgam by Geryon. This Malgam can only be controlled by a flute which Geryon gives to Atropos before instructing her to take her new dog for a walk. 

Elsewhere, Rinne has a run in with Mr. Minato which only leads to her being more conflicted. Hotaro shows up and has a small scuffle with Minato but the teacher leaves just as quickly, not wanting to face Fire Gotchard. In conversation after the fight, Hotaro tells Rinne what he learned during his time heist last episode. Rinne is ecstatic to learn her father is not, in fact, a traitor. They talk a little bit more with Hotaro more or less saying he believes Rinne’s dad was more following his own personal rules rather than strict Alchemist law. They are then called by Sabi and informed of a Malgam attack.

Arriving to battle the Malgam, Hotaro is quickly restrained by the Malgam before using Fire Gotchard to breakout, causing the form to overheat. The late arriving Sabi and Renge to use some Chemies to try and cool it down. Atropos commands the Malgam to go after Rinne. The Malgam splits itself into three to avoid perishing and Rinne leads a third of the monster into a parking lot, closely followed by Hotaro who, in Super Gotchard X-Rex, holds back like two of them. During this fight, a blast is deflected towards Atropos, breaking the flute and turning her arm to gold. Rinne steps in to defend her and explains the reason she can’t just leave Atropos alone: she thinks there might be more with her then her just being evil, she reminds her of herself when she was little and that, from now on, she’s going to make her own rules!

Transforming into Kamen Rider Majade with her reawakened powers, Rinne does battle with her third of the Malgam. Hotaro uses a freshly cooled off Gotcharignitor to turn into Fire Gotchard Appareskebow to finish of his part of the Malgam, forcing them to reunite. Majade ends the fully formed Malgan with a Rider Kick and Chemy Capture. Turning Atropos’ arm back to normal, the Abyssal Sister tells Rinne she’s going to regret this and leaves.

Back at the restaurant, Rinne is now on board for the plan to raid the old classroom and the gang eat some well earned cake. Elsewhere in the episode, Spanner and the professor had a meal out and watched Rinne’s Rider debut from the shadows. 

The Bad?

Honestly, and this is completely subjective, I don’t really like Fire Gotchard Appareskebow as a form. It’s neat the Ignitor can be used with other forms but the chest plate and painted fire goggles just don’t look as good as normal Fire Gotchard by a long mile and just clash too much with the other suit parts to really look good to me.

The Good?

While it’s tempting to just say everything else and tap out for lunch, this was a really good tightly focused episode that achieved exactly what it set out to do. Some stand out moments for me were the meat cream puff joke, particularly when the Malgam threw away the smack Hotaro lovingly made and Rinne was just nodding in agreement. I laughed harder than I expected, to be honest. Rinne’s arc this episode was great as well and the arm block moment was, I think we can agree, badass. The Majade suit is also fantastic. I love the little sun reactor in the chest and her Ex-Aid Hyper Muteki-ish Rider Kick is also just really cool. 

I also love how this episode subtly establishes the new elements with the status quo with everyone helping in the restaurant, keeping an eye on the message boards for when, inevitably, Kajiki runs into a new Malgam. It all does make me wonder… Did we miss the gang explaining everything to Hotaro’s mum? They don’t seem to be doing anything to hide it from her.   

Before wrapping this up I’d also like to give a little praise to this week’s Malgam suit. I really loved the complementary gold undersuit to the purple Cerberus and the normal hand holding the chain leashes. I think it all just came together really well.  

The Conclusion

Bringing this review to an end, a very strong debut episode from Gotchard’s newest writer and also series debut for Kamen Rider Majade. When the biggest complaint I have is “I don’t really like the suit someone that wasn’t the main focus this week used” you know you’re doing something right. Just great stuff all around. Next week, we get the long awaited Spanner focus episode and it seems like he’s really being put through the ringer. I’m wondering if he might end up turning into Dread before his own proper Rider debut? Either way, it looks interesting.   

But what did you think? Did you enjoy the episode? Did Majade live up to your expectations? Either way, let me know in the comments below! I look forward to reading them. As always, I’ve been Ethan: writer, reviewer and maker of my own rules for The Toku Source. See you next time.