Let’s unleash our animal instincts as I review Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger Episode 2 – ‘Don’t Mess With This Planet‘!
Picking up where last episode left off, Amu, Leo, and Sela are down for kicking it at Yamato’s place but Tusk ain’t having no part of what he’s selling. He doesn’t trust this hooman and takes Yamato’s morpher, storming off into the woods.
After causing shenanigans on their way through town, Yamato and his menagerie make it to the treehouse he and his uncle Mario share. Yeah, deer suit Mario from before. The kids and Mario hit it off pretty well and he tells them that they can crash there for the time being.
Meanwhile, Tusk is off reminiscing about Zyuland and decides that he really needs to be on his toes around that human dude.
It’s been a long day for our zyuman friends, and as they get ready for sleeps, Yamato worries about going to find Tusk. Collectively, the other explain to Yamato that Tusk just has a stick up his butt and that he’ll be fine, which seems to appease him.
That is until they wake up the next morning, when Yamato is nowhere to be found. Mario explains that Yamato can’t just let something be, and he went out to look for their wayward ele-friend.
Tusk ended up camping out at the ruined Link Cube down by the river and was woken up by something splashing about in the water. He looks around to see a nice little campsite complete with breakfast before him. Yamato wanted to reassure him that he just wants to help the zyumans out because it’s passing along the kindness that he received from a bird-man when he was an injured tot long ago.
Interrupted by Zyuman Spidey Senses, Yamato runs off into the city where he encounters today’s Blood Gamer, Halbagoi. Yamato tries to take him on unarmed, and is knocked back easily. Luckily, Amu and the others show up just in time to save his bacon. They tell their new friend that they’ll fight Halbagoi as repayment for giving them a place to crash.
As they square off to transform, Tusk finally shows up. He hands Yamato back his morpher, a loan, because they’re connected and stuff.
Reunited, our team transforms and takes on Halbagoi 5 on 1. Together, they make quick work of the alien, forcing Naria to give him a Continue.
The Zyuohger call forth their Cube Animals. Cube Shark and Cube Lion keep Halbagoi occupied as Cube Eagle, Cube Tiger, and Cube Elephant become Zyuoh King. This variation of Zyuoh King is really good at kicking, and proceeds to kick the crap out of Halbagoi, finally destroying him.
After, the gang takes Tusk back to Atelier Mori and he tries to run off again after getting a whiff of the über stench of Mario’s homemade natto.
Thoughts
This was a cute episode. It was adorable seeing Amu, Sela, and Leo react to things in the human world. They were so precious, I hope we get more!
I’m praying I’m not proven wrong, because I really like Yamato so far? Granted, this is only episode 2, but I’ve watched it a few times, and with each time, I like him more and more? He just seems genuine and a caring friend, which is such a nice change from the string of Reds we’ve been getting. (I’m not getting my hopes up high just in case, though!)
Can we talk for a second about the fight footage? Oh my gosh, it was really good! Especially using drone cameras as Eagle’s P.O.V. as he’s flying through the battle. I believe this was the first time they’ve used something like this in a Sentai and as long as it’s not overused, it adds a wonderful layer of depth to the action scenes and gives them a little breath of new life.
I really can’t say too many negative things regarding this episode because it’s so early on, but if I had to name something, it’d be the Deathgalian? But that’s really stretching because it’s episode-freaking-two.
So, on that note, I also give this episode a 9.0 Champion Symbols out of 10.
This is Amber, signing off!
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