Review by Corey

September 6, 2004

Two years ago, Guy was alone aboard a Space Development Corporation space shuttle, checking the equipment for abnormalities. A massive object came at the shuttle from nowhere, and despite Guy's best efforts, he collided with the object as it enters the atmosphere. As Guy floated motionless with his own blood around him, he saw Galeon flying toward him from space. When he woke up, he was in an operating room, and his entire body had been replaced with robotics. With them, he was faster and stronger than ever imagined. Back in the present, Mamoru begins a foreign chant, and EI-02's core turns into a strange alien before transforming into a ragged man. Before anything can be asked, Mamoru flits off and out of sight. Hyuuma picks up the man in Gunglue before GaoGaiGar returns to base, leaving the area in flames and Mamoru's classmates confused. Mamoru returns home, his mother happy to see him and his father arriving soon after. Once landed in the Aquatic Maintenance Vehicle, GaoGaiGar is forced out into its composite mechs, and the man who was so recently EI-02 is scanned under Hyuuma's supervision. Guy is pulled from Galeon and rushed to the operating room, Mikoto at his side. Back in the Main Order Room, Leo explains to Taiga that the damage GaoGaiGar received was from the combination, and the software isn't perfected yet. Hyuuma worries about what will happen if there's another attack in the ten days it would take for GaoGaiGar to be ready. Underneath Tokyo Tower, the alien face appears once again, recognized as Lord Pasder. He calls forth his Four Machine Kings: the pipe-smoking Polonaise, the ballerina Primarda, the vulture-like Pizza, and the miniature steamboat, Penchinon. They discuss the threat of GaoGaiGar. Penchinon volunteers to handle the next robot, stating that the next human will be "exceedingly brutal." In a packed arena, a blonde wrestler fights in a cage match, licking his lips as he beats on his opponent.

In class, Mamoru's friend Takayasu stands on a desk and tells the class about their adventure. Hana chastises the daydreaming Mamoru, and Reiko talks about how handsome Guy was. Sueo, or 'Ushi' as his friends call him, explains to them how Guy is a cyborg working for the Space Development Corporation. Mamoru continues to daydream, thinking about what he was able to do. Back at G-Island, the unknown man is identified as the manager of a construction company that went bankrupt. He spent the last of his money on a horse race, and with nothing left he lived as a hobo on the garbage island. Mikoto continues to watch Guy recover. The wrestler from before, named 'Bomber Death', fights in another cage match to defend his title, and is beaten soundly by the challenger. Penchinon appears on the top of the cage, and offers Bomber a chance at destruction. Mamoru's hair turns green as he lays in bed, just as the challenger stands up to see Bomber transforming into a machine. Bomber assimilates a wrecking ball, transforming into EI-03. The alarm in 3G base wakes up Guy, and he pulls himself out of his restraints despite Mikoto's pleas. Reaching the building where EI-03 is causing havoc, Guy uses the GaoBrace to call Galeon. Becoming GaiGar doesn't help however, as EI-03's barrier makes it impenetrable. EI-03 quickly begins to fight back, overpowering GaiGar with its wrecking ball fists. Leo notes that not only is Guy's adrenaline out of control, but the chance of Final Fusion is again slim without the upgrade. Taiga sends the GaoMachines anyway, stating that guts can make it 100%. GaiGar attempts Final Fusion, but it fails early on. EI-03 uses the time to break GaiGar's barrier and attack, but GaiGar mounts the DrillGao to his hand and splits the wrecking ball in two. The second attempt is successful, and GaoGaiGar quickly turns the tables by blocking the wrecking ball with Protect Shade, then linking it to a new attack, Plasma Hold. It allows him to throw EI-03 around helplessly, before destroying its fists with the Broken Magnum. The spinning fist keeps going, shattering EI-03's barrier, as well as its head. As it begins to regenerate, GaoGaiGar performs Hell and Heaven, destroying EI-03 (as well as the cityscape around them). Leo tells Guy not to crush the core, but he is in such a rage that he can't stop his attack. Mamoru appears and touches GaoGaiGar's finger, the wave of green energy calming Guy to the point where he stops crushing the core. As Mamoru stands on the core, Leo wonders who he really is.

Luckily, it didn't take the series long to drop the stereotype and focus on developing the plot. EI-03 really seems to be an afterthought, showing up late in the show to cause trouble for the 3G team. The focus is on destroying the image made by the first episode. GaoGaiGar isn't perfect, Guy goes through a lot of strain to function as GaoGaiGar, and even his cyborg body can be troublesome at times. The new move, Plasma Hold, shows up in this episode, but don't expect much; for some reason or another, it's never used again. Finally, the villains are really given focus as well. Pasder seems to in fact be EI-01, and his four humanoid 'Kings' do his bidding. They were the ones who showed up on the TV in episode one. Perhaps the most important of these villains is fan-favorite, Pizza. How his name fits is beyond me, but it just does. You can't help but wonder when a person's first line is "Pizza has arrived." A little unoriginality came through at the end, with this scene being nearly identical to episode one's, only Leo takes Taiga's line. The question is, will 3G be able to track Mamoru this time.

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars



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