KR Den-O Episode #16: "Star of Happiness, Criminals' Surrender"

There was an improvement on the silly bits over last week, so generally what was supposed to be funny was really funny. Hana toned down the goofy faces, the writers remembered that Momotaros is the funniest part of the show, and even Ozaki & Miura were pretty amusing (proving that they always work best together.) There's also another big dance number, and as much as the "Climax Jump!" remix makes me long for the days of Sawada's "AH KILL YO HEAD!" antics, backup dancers out of nowhere = always wins.

Spoiler Warning!, okay?

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Higuchi escapes, and Gun Form gives up the chase. On the Den-Liner, Ryuutaros emerges from Ryôtarô's body to tick of Momotaros, who is frustrated that he can't just beat the dragon out of Ryôtarô without harming the main man as well.

Ozaki & Miura go crazy and wrestle for the control of a newscaster's microphone (complete with the "technical difficulties" cutaway.) Ryôtarô goes back into the bath house, but reluctantly reports he wasn't able to learn anything from Higuchi. Hakamada is looking glum, but at least Mogi (the other guy who got our hero mixed up in all this) expresses genuine guilt and a desire to see things work out in the end. Meanwhile Higuchi finds to his horror that Whale Imagin is still alive and intending to fulfill the contract...

As the police barricade continues, Ozaki & Miura manage to slip by the cops and enter the bath house. Hakamada is ready to give up, but a little quick thinking (and dancing) from RyuuRyôtarô saves the day. This is so goofy. Nice to see Ryuutaros' backup dancers are still around and ready for action.

I also need to point out Kintaros in this episode. He doesn't really do much, but I love how he continually collapses back into hibernation. I swear, he seemed a lot more active a few episodes ago though (similarly, Urataros seems to have been shot down by Naomi, and has resigned himself to explaining the plot whenever he can get a word in.)

While eating more of Airi's bizarre cuisine, Ryôtarô takes the initiative with the old "ZOMG LOOKIT THAT!" routine and slips back out to find Higuchi. As he does, he asks Momotaros to help him out, a remark which piques the big, red one's interest (not like they've giving him much else to do right now.) Confronting the surly boss once again, Ryuutaros takes control of Ryôtarô and attempts to finish what he started, but after repeated efforts by Momotaros to drive him out, the red Imagin manages to take control of one arm and dial up Airi, texting her to call him and tell him to "stop". Airi's words quell the beast within Ryôtarô, and he goes with Higuchi (who explains he simply wanted to find out who stole the company profits, and has no idea as to whether or not Hakamada is the thief) to stop Whale Imagin. But the slow-talking dude goes into Higuchi's past, so our heroes must follow him back to 3/31/2004.

It turns out Higuchi just chucked the money bag in a drunken stupor, and only then accused Hakamada. Whale Imagin emerges and attacks people out on Ohanami (cherry blossom viewing) and Ryôtarô arrives, transforming into Den-O Sword Form, who makes short work of the monster with his Hissatsu Waza Part 3.

In true Den-O style, everything works out in the end: Higuchi calls up Hakamada, admitting his error (the money landed on a truck under the bridge on which Higuchi had been standing in the past, and yeah, I guess it just sat around for 3 years.) Honorably, Hakamada & Mogi decide to turn themselves over to the police, although things aren't quite what they seem. I won't spoil the twist ending, because you have to see it to believe it, but let's just say it's the last thing I saw coming.

Meanwhile, the mysterious watch-wielding man (who once again appeared in the past) enters a subway station...

To Be Continued...

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What We Learned This Episode:

• Ryuutaros' 3 Secrect Weaknesses: 1) Airi, 2) AMININANSLZES and 3) The Opening Credits.
• Kintaros has a bendy horn too! ... Um... yeah...
• As glimpsed last episode, RyuuRyôtarô can just pull that hat and headphones out of his ass Magic Rider Space™!
• That scene where Ozaki & Miura fell? Yeah, they should realistically be dead now.
• God, imagine if Urataros had Ryuutaros' mind control powers? Scary.
• Those early Den-O rumors about "Naomi not being able to make coffee" apparently actually translate into "Airi's cooking will make Renge look like a master chef".
• Ryôtarô = smarter than he looks. Everyone else = pretty much as dumb as you thought.
• Ryôtarô & Airi have personalized cellphone rings for each other. Awwwww...
• Airi thinks Ryôtarô is in the toilet the whole time he's gone. Um...
• 16:33 minutes in- look at the frozen person under the bridge!
• Once back in the past, Imagin will either do two things: 1) cause complete and utter chaos, ruining lives, destroying the future, and altering the space-time continuum or 2) just kind of bumble around and push people over.
• Sword Form wa STRONGEST.
• Criminals in Japan? Yeah, still pretty incompetent.

Screenies:

Next Week:

Some girl who was an old friend of Ryôtarô's appears or something, but who really cares about that? Plat Form is back! In the past! Fighting Big Red Bad Riding Wolf Hood! And he meets the watch guy! Plat Form, yay!