Happy Halloween, Riders! This week, Kamen Rider Gavv serves up some sick dance moves, hard candy and a truly big brain plot. Join us for another sweet offering of The Ride Review.
Recap
It’s pretty clear, by now, that we are in the standard part of ongoing Rider series, where stories are told over two weeks but, with Gavv, until the dramatic secret identity reveal, probably at Christmas, Shoma and Hanto will mostly be in there own plotlines ’til they converge for the battle. As such, the recap will reflect this going forward. Without further ado, let’s tuck in to the episode, starting with Shoma’s point of view.
Shoma’s Side
After learning about Halloween and doing some trick or treating of his own, Shoma is saddened to learn Halloween lasts for one day only. It’s then he tries some of his candy from his time trick or treating, a tasty lollipop and hard candy. This is interrupted by an Agent; as part of Shita and Jeebh’s big plan they promised Lango they would deal with Shoma and get a tonne of product in ten days. With their jobs on the line, Shoma follows the agent to a warehouse but it’s a trap. Shita and Jeebh reveal they are going to have the one agent fight Shoma while backing him up with turrets that melt Gavv’s chocolate, gummy and marshmallow forms. However, turning into his new hard candy form, Shoma makes quick work of both turrets and one Agent guy.
Hanto’s Side
After overhearing two little girls discussing how a classmate from their dance class has disappeared, Hanto chases one down and questions them, thinking it might be a Granute. After giving the little girl he made friends with a pep talk (that, honestly, really resonated with me) after their latest dance class and promising to meet her in the park, Hanto sees the dance teacher following a student into the tunnel the missing girl is said to have disappeared in. The teacher is innocent, though, albeit a little under the weather, and he hears a Granute already attacking a child. Transforming, the pair fight, but the Granute ultimately escapes… to be defeated in episode 10, I’m sure. The episode ends with the Granute standing behind Hanto’s new friend, about to strike.
My Thoughts and Conclusion
If it wasn’t clear from my comment during the Hanto section about his “don’t give up on your dreams and don’t compare yourselves to others speech” resonated with me. I really liked this episode; its emotional core was very good and the twist about who the Granute actually was did take me a second to workout myself. The biggest negative I had was Shita and Jeebh’s big anti Gavv plan. It was a little underwhelming.
I thought, myself, the fact Gavv’s forms share properties with the food they are based on and wondered if all of them could be melted. I figured that would be a plot point they would save for a summer episode but it’s nice to see it being acknowledged here.
All in all, Gavv has kept the momentum going and I hope it never stops! I can’t wait for next week’s episode. Great stuff all round.
What do you think? Did you like the episode? Do you think Hanto will get to the park in time? Do you think they acknowledge he has, I think, only one white choco left? Let me know down below! As always, I’ve been Ethan: Writer, reviewer and dance teacher for The Toku Source and I’ll see you next time!
