Recap / Mashin Sentai Kiramager Ep 25 That Cute Shrine Maiden

That Cute Shrine Maiden

Original Airdate: September 27, 2020
Written by: Naruhisa Arakawa
Directed by: Kyohei Yamaguchi

Summary:

With Mabushina's curse out of the way, Takamichi is intent on using the Kanaema Stones to restore Crystalia. With Juru and Tametomo coming with, Takamichi finds in Oradin's notes that there is a shrine where a phoenix resides. The maiden of the shrine comes by after sensing a great power, which confuses Juru and Takamichi while Tametomo becomes fixated on her.

Tropes:

• Bokukko: The maiden of the shrine, Shuka (later revealed to be Yodonna) is one, referring to herself with the traditionally masculine boku and using masculine pronouns. Juru even names her the "Bokukko Miko" (tomboy priestess).
• Cliffhanger: The episode ends on a very dark note about Yodonna's plans to open up a wormhole between Yodonheim and Earth.
• Curb-Stomp Battle:
  • Takamichi gets pretty beaten up by the Energia-powered Monstone.
  • The other Kiramagers get thrashed by Yodonna's powered-up Bechats.
• Foreshadowing: There are quite a few moments alluding to Shuka's true identity.
  • When she disappears, the sound of a crow's call follows.
  • Shuka says that she likes humans rather ominously.
  • She awkwardly stares at the trio when they're fighting (or when they're really doing anything), only really getting riled up when Takamichi shows off his Shiny Kiramai Changer.
  • She questions why the trio were laughing, having Tametomo needing to spell it out for her.
• Mood Whiplash: The episode ends on a dark Cliffhanger due to the revelations explained in Wham Episode. Then it whiplashes to Juru's energetic and happy-sounding character song. It's not the Dancing Theme, but still it is very jarring.
• Oh, Crap!: When Takamichi is fighting off the Monstone, he accidentally lets it absorb Energia, which makes it grow to giant size. The others' reactions pretty much spell it out.
• Pop-Culture Pun Episode Title: The episode title is one to the 1965 film Kawaii Ano Ko (可愛いあの娘/"That Cute Girl").
• Special Edition Title: As part of the "Kiramai Music Festival", we have Juru singing his character song Hiramei-king! Kagayaking! for the ED this time.
• Wham Shot:
  • Shuka whips up a Yodon Changer and directly communicates with Carantula, which raises huge red flags for Tametomo.
  • If that wasn't enough, we have Shuka using said Yodon Changer to transform into her true form Yodonna.
• Wham Episode: Turns out that the mysterious shrine maiden Takamichi, Tametomo, and Juru met at the beginning is actually a Yodonheim general by the name of Yodonna. If that wasn't enough, the reason she came to the shrine is so that she could open a wormhole between Yodonheim and Earth to let Yodonheim wreck havoc.