SPOILER WARNING for episodes 5 and 10. Rated 14+ for Nudity, Sexualized Imagery, and Violence
The battle rages on between Azir and Team Togo! With the power of the warrior Amen at his disposal, Azir seeks absolute dominion. Togo struggles against his powers, but where one may fail, five can win. The fight reaches its climax!
Azir’s Origin Story Unfolds
In this episode, additional light is shed on Azir’s backstory and we learn how he received a mana seed. Ever since his father was killed in a revolt, he was left to shoulder the burden of ruling the people. Tension between humans and elves grew, further complicated by Shau’ha’s strict governance of magical tools. I appreciated how layered this conflict was, because it emphasized the dilemma and stress Azir had to deal with. It also highlighted how the desire for control opened his mind to manipulation. It’s safe to say that Vidan, the self-proclaimed butler, is another Royal Demon using mana seeds to produce negative mana, like Abudabi from episode 5
The Battle Rages On
The fight with Azir, while fun to watch, wasn’t spectacular. Stiff motion and repeated animation held it back. That said, there were several standout moments. Early on in the episode, we witness Azir and Togo constantly shouting special attack names, a common trope in tokusatsu media. It gets annoying quickly, and is comically called out by the other characters.
Yihdra and Lowji counter Azir’s time-stop magic, which is great to see. They both step up and prove they can do more than just provide quippy commentary on Togo’s antics. The mark of a strong ensemble is when the supporting cast can steal the spotlight, especially during a battle.
Transformation
Finally, we get the long-awaited five-man robot transformation! When Azir succumbs to the mana seed, he transforms into a raging sandstorm. To prevent further destruction, Togo, Yihdra, Teltina, Lowji, and the newest addition Raniya board Maximum Kizuna Kaiser. Now at 100% bond power, our heroes prepare to face the storm head on!
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