Time To Save The Universe
- Original Airdate: December 17, 2023
Written by: Minato Takano
Directed by: Hiroyuki Kato
Summary
Following last episode's events, the team get out to strike back against the invading forces. In response, Racules decides to take action by placing bombs on the other kings’ thrones so he can challenge Gira to one final duel without interruptions.
Will evil or tyranny emerge victorious?
Tropes
- Actually Pretty Funny: Jeramie admits the fart prank is still funny.
- Bait-and-Switch: Racules says he has waited for this very moment as he’s about to attack Gira. Said moment would be the one where he betrays Dagded.
- Batman Gambit: The episode serves as a culmination of one that Rcules had planned for 17 years, biding his time and acting all in a bid to finally overthrow the Galactinsect overlord Dagded.
- The Bus Came Back:
- Racules transforms into Ohkuwagataohger for the first time since his return.
- God King-Ohger returns after 10 episodes.
- Grodie off-screen once again brings back a past baddie, with Daigorg returning after his last appearance in #23.
- Call-Back:
- Racules' usage of Toufu's zabuton to create bombs that emit a fart sound when sat on mirrors Yanma's attempts to prank him in #13 and #19.
- Back in #13, Shiokara ponders if Yanma's pranking would him get subject to Tickle Torture for three days as punishment. He gets that punishment here...at the hands of Shiokara thanks to Hillbil.
- Racules' plan to use Caucasus Kabuto Castle as The Ark for Shugoddam's people is the same thing Earth's people did to flee their own Civil War when the Galactinsects infiltrated their planet.
- Kaguragi's takes the OhgerCrownLance and presents it to the opposing party, the same way he betrayed Racules in #20.
- Cavalry Betrayal: Subverted. Kaguragi arrives with the OhgerCrownLance, with Gira assuming the former means to give it to him to turn the tide against Rcules. It turns out that Kaguragi meant to give it to Rcules, but with the full knowledge that he meant to use it to strike down Dagded.
- Character Check: This episode is one for Kaguragi, who betrays Gira at a critical moment the same way he betrayed Racules; by handing them the OhgerCrownLance. And just like the previous instance, it's for heroic reasons; giving Racules the means to attacks Dagded directly in a way the heroes couldn't.
- Defeating the Undefeatable: The Plan Racules and Kaguragi both instigated. By overwhelming Gira, Racules tricks Dagded into giving him an immortal-killing upgrade...upon which Racules promptly turns on him.
- Exact Words:
- When Kaguragi asks for the OhgerCrownLance, he claims he can be trusted not to betray his people. He never said he wouldn't betray another king.
- Kaguragi tells Racules to make sure he lands "the final blow". He meant the blow for Dagded.
- Foreshadowing: Kaguragi asks for the OhgerCrownLance from Gira, who capitulates despite his skepticism. He needed it to set both Dagded and Racules up for The Plan.
- History Repeats: Discussed and Exploited. Much like the original Earthlings that evacuated Earth's Civil War to colonize Tikyu, Racules plans to use Caucasus Kabuto Castle to migrate Shugoddam's citizens to a new world, whereupon the Galactinsects can start the Vicious Cycle of in-fighting between humans and whatever new race they encounter. However, this (and his duel with Gira) was an elaborate con meant to trick Dagded into granting him Immortal Breaker powers, whereupon he strikes at his new master.
- Immortal Breaker: Dagded upgrades the OhgerCaliber ZERO to give it the power to kill immortals such as Gira... or Dagded himself.
- The Migration: Rcules commanded the evacuation of a select group of Tikyu's people to take shelter in Caucasus Kabuto Castle, intending on having them colonize new planets once Dagded was done with Tikyu.
- Nice Job Fixing It, Villain:
- Hilbil compelling Shiokara to tickle Yanma inadvertently allows the latter to finish disarming the bomb within his seat cushion.
- Dagded granting Rcules a portion of his power to strike down Gira allows the elder Husty to use said power to attack Dagded instead.
- Not So Invincible After All: Dagded shrugs off everything the heroes throw at him at the start. Kaguragi and Racules dupe him into giving a villain the means to damage him.
- Rule of Symbolism:
- After being informed of Racules' plan to kill Gira's teammates, Dagded pushes a marble to sink five other ones colored like the rest of the Kings.
- Racules uses a bunch of small balls loading into a scale model of King Caucasus Kabuto to demonstrate his plan for migrating a group of Tikyu's people to another planet as the planet is destroyed.
- Skewed Priorities: Despite being faced with certain death by Racules' bombs, Hymeno's main concern is that she can't stand up.
- Solo Mission Becomes Group Mission: Inverted. The other monarchs are confined to their thrones thanks to the cushion-bombs planted there; meaning Gira has to face Racules and save the space-bound citizens alone.
- Strong as They Need to Be: Gira handily defeated Racules in their previous clash with skill alone (even taking the first phase of this new duel), yet is overwhelmed by KingOhKuwagataOhger's Finishing Move. Justified, as he was just tricked into taking a Lord Finish head-on.
- Take a Third Option: Racules and Gira duel again...only for Racules to strike Dagded with the enhanced ZERO instead.
- Takes One to Kill One: Rcules asks Dagded for the power to kill immortals like Gira, which given that Gira has a portion of Dagded's power means that it's also enough to actually hurt Dagded.
- Tickle Torture: Hilbil manipulates Shiokara to ruthlessly tickle Yanma to stop him from disarming the bomb. Somehow, Shiokara's tickling accidentally causes Yanma to find the right wire to disarm the trigger mechanism.
- Title Drop: The last line of the episode is Racules telling Gira it's time to save the universe as he confronts Dagded. This is accentuated with the episode's title appearing immediately after that line instead of appearing after the opening.
- Vicious Cycle: Discussed. Racules explains to Dagded that the people that take shelter in the Caucasus Kabuto are to be ferried to a new planet...whereupon the Jesters can start the cycle of violence once more using both Tikyu's people and whatever unfortunate race they stumble onto.
- Wham Episode: Racules betrays Dagded and reveals his real goal was to defeat him all along.
- Wham Shot: Racules turning his blade on Dagded with an empowered OhgerCalibur ZERO.
- The Worf Barrage: The monarchs are unable to hurt Dagded during their fight with him since they're still recovering from their use of the hidden command two episodes prior and don't want to risk it again so soon. Gira gambles on his immortality and achieves the powered-up state again to Dagded's surprise, yet without the might of the full team, it's still not enough.
