The story continues on. Last episode the Dairangers lost due to most of them not taking the threat seriously, and now it is time to redeem and repair. Click "read more" and let's keep this Chi power going.
Analysis
After the intro and a recap, we begin the episode with Master Kaku giving all the Dairangers a scolding. He reveals that he knew it was Key Jester after the doll attack was reported but kept silent on purpose because he believed they team would still work together and rise up. It was also a lesson on how dangerous the Gorma are and why they should never let their guard down. The Dairangers argue back, questioning if they are really qualified to be the saviors because of their lack of experience and are not fully able to control their Chi energy yet. Master Kaku it visably disappointed and leaves.
That is kind of an odd translation, I'm sure it was meant to be like "I don't want to advise you anymore" or "lead you anymore". More importantly, this is actually one of the biggest re-occuring plot holes in Super Sentai, the season's do not acknowledge the existence of any past team unless directly confronting them. Several past Sentai teams are implied to still have their powers and probably are more qualified to face the Gorma. But, it is easier to ignore the question than bring them up. I understand the need to make every incarnation it's own independent story, but any long time viewer will question this.
So it seems now the team is disbanded. The Rangers all try to go about their daily lives unsure of what to do and all looking depressed. Daigo visits the two kids from the last episode in the hospital and is probably the most upset of the 5 over how things went. Just as it looked like goodbyes were coming, the dolls reappear and go on a rampage throughout the city and an amusement park. Stealing food, attacking people and welding fire arms.
Of all the things Power Rangers will never adapt from Super Sentai, evil vampire puppet Santa with a machine gun is probably pretty high on the list.
And that is just mean.
Kazu and Shoji are at a restaurant when they happen to see the dolls and rush off to try and help the people. Sadly, their efforts aren't enough and they almost get killed by gun shots and bombs. The two of them rush back to the headquarters where they find Master Kaku and Daigo mediating. Ryo and Rin show up moments later and all 4 of them are confused but Master Kaku instructs all of them to sit down and join them, which they do reluctantly.
This is exactly what I expected to see with a Martial Arts and Ancient Chi themed team.
Master Kaku tells them all to focus on their Chi powers and before long the room starts shaking and all 6 of them begin to levitate. Soon, they all their consciousness in the depths of China, and out of body experience.
While there, Master Kaku tells the Rangers the history of the Gorma. It began thousands of years ago with the Daos Empire, the people lived in peace until a civil war broke out that was initiated by the Gorma tribe.
Not too far from how a few of China's ancient empires collapsed.
The Gorma had Yo Power which made them too strong to stop. A resistance was formed, but the war resulted in everything being destroyed. Now, they are back for round 2. Inside the ruins of the resistance's hidden base, they find murals of the 5 Chi Beasts revealing that Ryo is not the only one who has one.
You know, if they want to keep something hidden for a reveal later they really shouldn't showcase it in the theme song. Of course the other 4 would have Mecha as well.
Master Kaku gives the Dairangers a vision of the Earth if the Gorma wins, everything is destroyed and humans are enslaved. Everyone awakes back at HQ and the Dairangers have regained their will to fight. They rush off.
Back in the city, the dolls are still terrorizing the civilians and shooting at them. With no signs of any police or military intervention, the Rangers arrive on the scene and engage in one of the more silly fight scenes.
The dolls are slippery and dodge most of their attacks. One doll is cornered but makes a door appear out of nowhere and Daigo chases after it. This gets him teleported to a beachside where Key Jester is relaxing.
Lucky them, this location will look much better when filming a fight scene.
Once again, Daigo is alone fighting Key Jester, and the other 4 get attacked by the Cotpotros. Ryo uses his Chi Beast (Zord) to find Daigo and the other 3 Rangers also somehow end up at the fight.
With the 5 of them together, the traditional Ranger battle can begin. There are grunts to fight, sparks to fly, and the theme song plays. Daigo even gets to lead the roll call and show off his own Chi ability which involves warping enemies to a phantom world and fighting them there.
In a not so subtle way of mocking Key Jester, Daigo summons a phantom door to push him back, Key Jester proudly claims he can unlock any door, but when he does the door explodes. They warp back to reality, the Dairangers finish off the monster with their combined blast, and all the kids get their souls back.
Good thing there weren't any side effects from being soulless for days.
The episode ends without much epilogue except for the kids waking up in the hospital. The Dairangers walk towards the camera looking serious with the narrator explaining their new fresh resolve.
Final Thoughts
For the most part this was a good episode and what I expected to see from the follow up from last time. The problem with it is that most of the episode is exposition and not a lot of Ranger action. The other 4 Chi Beasts were teased, the villains got backstory, and the Rangers got a stronger resolve towards their Battle. But, it kind of forgot about the Kazu and Shoji subplot of their drag race and it felt weird that none of the Rangers, not even Daigo, went to check on the kids after they got their souls back.
I will sum up my take on this episode as such, I do not see it being anyone's favorite, but it was necessary for the overall plot. 3/5
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