So I have to say, after so many episodes of Kyuuranger disappointed me in some way or another, this is the first episode I can wholeheartedly give a 5 to. Important things happened, there were plot twists, and the Naaga problem wasn't quickly resolved in one episode. All of a sudden, this show has a real plot with real stakes! Hell, this episode even kept Lucky's annoying tendencies to a minimum.
I really can't say enough nice about the first fight. I don't know why every fight can't be like that, but whoever the action director was for this episode, they were on top of their game. They made perfect use of the first-person camera, and the faked long take with the individual Rangers transforming was excellently done. Combined with the actual proper(!) use of shaky cam, and it sells the fact that this is a hectic battle, and not a prearranged duel between sides where everyone gets a chance to first setup (as Sentai usually is). And how Nagaa treated Balance was genuinely heartbreaking.
What I wasn't in any way expecting (and perhaps I should have) was that we'd find out that Balance had been a bad influence on Naaga. While it's kind of obvious that thieving was more Balance's thing, taking advantage of Naaga to escape actually adds a wrinkle of complexity to this. Naaga wanted to know more about emotions, and to Balance's credit, he held up his end of the bargain in as much as he did what he could. But Balance is also indirectly responsible for the current situation, both by getting Naaga into this mess and by fueling his desire to learn more about his emotions (which we've now learned is a bad thing). It's complexity!
The back-half of the episode was equally good. Again we get some nice shots (especially rolling down the steps, of all things) and a good fight. Lucky even makes tactical use of his power-ups for once. Otherwise, it's how that fight ended that was the most interesting part. Beating your teammate senseless to bring them back to their senses is a Sentai staple. So Balance holding Naaga down while they both on the receiving end of a finishing attack was dramatic enough. But then, defying the tropes,
it failed, and now Naaga is angrier than ever. It again subverts expectations, but it also means that this isn't a problem that was solved in one episode. Which is fine by me, because I'll take a dozen more episodes like this, please! Heck, this episode was so good that I can even overlook the fact that they're once again abusing the Gemini Kyuutama. (Also, stupid heroes, why would you believe the villain is telling you the truth about how to fix Naaga?!
)
On a side note, I'm really digging the Dark Seiza Blaster's jingles all being in a minor key. Yeah, it's a very basic trick, but it works well here. Dark Change really does sound sinister. I do wish however that the Silver suit was more dramatically altered, especially as this is going on for a few episodes. Throwing some drapes and some vinyl stickers on it is okay, but doing a new chest-piece - say, making the eye a permanent fixture and adding some purple stripes - would have looked all the better. Also creepy: Naaga's actor in drag to play the women of his species, especially when there's a female voice over as well.
Oh, and I can't forget the B-plot with the other half of the team. So Don Armage really was destroyed in the past; Tsurugi didn't fail. But more importantly, we finally get to meet Orion, whom the series has been teasing for a while. Quick show of hands: was anyone here
not expecting Orion to be evil?
Finally, what's that Stinger movie ad I saw in the CMs? Has this been announced before? I don't recall seeing it (though I do recall the High School Wars), but I'd think a spin-off movie would get a little more fare? Sentai has never had a spin-off movie released during the series proper like this before, so I'm very curious as to what's going on.