Recap / Mashin Sentai Kiramager Ep 27 Great Pinch Runner

Great Pinch Runner

Original Airdate: October 11, 2020
Written by: Michiko Yokote
Directed by: Katsuya Watanabe

Summary:

Afraid of falling behind in her athletics, Sena joins up with SCRTC to monitor her training. However, when she starts to train, her gear announces that if she falls behind 15 km/hr, the gear will explode!

Tropes:

• Big Damn Heroes: Mach comes out of literally nowhere, bursting into flames, and singlehandedly destroys the Jamen Beast. Out of sheer jealousy.
• Chekhov's Gun: The Janspeak Miki and Natsume use in the beginning allows Miki to relay a message to Sena that allows her to get the bomb off, with Galza and Yodonna none the wiser.
• Chekhov's Skill:
  • Miki proves that she hasn't lost her touch in Wild Leopard Style, quickly fending off Galza long enough for Natsume to escape.
  • Natsume uses her dance skills to quickly dodge the Jamenshi's glue attacks.
• Curb-Stomp Battle: As soon as Natsume delivers the Kiraful Go Arrow-bike fusion, the Kiramagers instantly transform and blast the Jamenshi no problem.
• Deconstruction: Back in episode 2, Juru advocated that every continue with their daily lives rather than give them up, as is common in these situations. This episode shows why the trope exists and is important, as Sena’s lack of a Secret Identity means any No-Nonsense Nemesis, like Yodonna, can attack her in her civilian life and hold her hostage.
• Fanservice: Sena's fanserviest episode yet, as she spends the whole episode in her l track outfit and gets quite a few flattering angles and closeups.
• Mythology Gag: The entire episode is basically one to Gekiranger, even to the point of including archive footage of the Gekirangers themselves.
• Never Mess with Granny: Despite all the years since Gekiranger, Miki still puts up a decent fight against Garza.
• Palette Swap: Super Glue Jamen is just a repainted Glue Jamen. It doesn't go unnoticed, and he says they're brothers.
• Pop-Culture Pun Episode Title: The episode title is one to the 2000 film Pinch Runner (ピンチランナー).
• Shout-Out: The episode itself is one to the movie Speed, wherein the protagonist must keep at a certain speed lest they explode. In the movie it was a bus rigged to explode, in this one it's a wearable speedometer.
• Sidelined Protagonist Crossover: With Juken Sentai Gekiranger, represented by two of its supporting civilian characters. Like Gokaiger, it doesn't expect you to know all about the series, but luckily the episode gives a good enough recap for viewers who haven't watched Gekiranger.
• Special Edition Title: The ED this time is Winding Road by Sena as a part of the "Kiramai Music Festival".