Unqualified King
- Original Airdate: September 17, 2023
Written by: Minato Takano
Directed by: Kazuya Kamihoriuchi
Summary
Thanks to Hillbill's powers, the aides of the kingdoms have attacked the monarchs. Hillbill then uses her powers to manipulate the populace to "attack the monarchs' enemies", leading to worldwide chaos. In order to quell the people's rage, the monarchs decide to give up their thrones, but Jeramie has other plans...
Tropes
- Big Damn Heroes: Before the royals officially announce they're abdicating to take the fall for the attack, Jeramie intervenes and webs their mouths so he can take the heat instead.
- Bittersweet Ending: Jeramie and Gerojim take the blame for the entire attack, which means the peace between humans and Bognaarok is no more. Jeramie, however, doesn't regret it, stating he can wait a bit longer for peace.
- Curb Stomp Cushion: While Hillbill manages to hold her own against the monarchs for the most part, their combined teamwork and unabashed rage let them gain the upper hand on her.
- Divided We Fall: To an even greater extent than in #9. Hillbill's compulsion causes the citizens of the five kingdoms to turn against each other, causing chaos across the lands.
- Et Tu, Brute?: The episode's premise. The aides seemingly turn on their monarchs, leading to diplomatic tensions.
- Foreshadowing: After the servants come to their senses, there's a brief cutaway to a road with the sun shining down on it. After Jeramie relinquishes his dream for Tikyu's sake, he and Gerojim end the episode walking on it.
- Genghis Gambit: Jeramie hijacks the monarchs' attempts to relinquish their thrones to save relations, choosing to portray Bognaarok as the mastermind behind the chaos to keep things together.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Jeramie takes the blame for the entire attack, giving up his dream of peace between humans and Bognaarok for the rest of the team.
- I Regret Nothing: Gerojim asks Jeramie if he regrets taking the heat. He says no, so long as Tikyū remains safe.
- Irony: The episode ends with Jeramie feigning an attempted coup on the other monarchs to shatter Hilbill's control over the populace, putting him in the same social position Gira was when he defied Racules. In this case however, both parties are firmly heroic and the whole thing's a big act.
- More than Mind Control: Hillbill states that her manipulation ability works by amplifying a person's fears and doubts through her Compelling Voice. The only known way to break out of it is to obey her commands to the letter.
- Out-Gambitted: Jeramie and Gerojim's decision to take the fall for the attack on the monarchs not only forestalls the monarchs' own plan to take the blame for the whole matter, but also for Hillbill's plan to divide and conquer Tikyū.
- Rule of Symbolism:
- After Gira informs Douga that he and the others are resigning, he takes off his mantle, while the others' royal symbols are seen next to their now empty thrones.
- The song that plays during the fight with Hillbill is "The Prophet", which previously played during Spider Kumonos' debut fight. This symbolizes that the others are doing this in honor of Jeramie's sacrifice.
- Sixth Ranger Traitor: Jeramie poses as one.
- Slow Clap: The other royals do this in light of Jeramie and Gerojim's sacrifice. Hillbill thinks it’s for her, but Gira clearly states that it clearly wasn't for her before he and the other monarchs lay on the beatdown.
- Spanner in the Works: Jeramie does this twice over the course of the episode.
- First, he blocks Douga's attack, allowing him to get away unscathed and allowing the retainers to get hold of their senses.
- Afterwards, he and Gerojim decide to take the heat on behalf of the other monarchs, painting themselves as the masterminds behind the attack in order to unite everyone behind a common threat and causing Hillbill's enthrallment to wear off.
- Status Quo Is God: Invoked. Once more, peace between man and insect eludes Jeramie; who sacrifices Bognaarok's reputation to keep the others in power, effectively putting him right back at square one.
- Taking the Heat: In response to the diplomatic tensions, the royals decide to give up their thrones and take the heat for everything. Jeramie and Gerojim decide to do it instead.
- Throw the Dog a Bone: Whereas Hillbill interrupted the Kingohgers' attempt to finish Goma last episode, she just barely manages to teleport out of a string of fatal blows, and even then not unscathed.
- Time Skip: The start of the episode establishes that a week passed since the aides attacked the monarchs.
- Tranquil Fury: Jeramie and Gerojim's sacrifice cause the monarchs to go into this against Hillbill.
- Walking Shirtless Scene: Yanma spends the entire episode bearing his chest for some reason, wearing only his jacket and bandages around his midsection.
- Wham Episode: Jeramie and Gerojim decide to take the heat for the aides attacking the monarchs, relinquishing the peace between the Bognaarok and humanity so that the monarchs can continue their duties.
- Worth It: Gerojim asks if Jeramie has any regrets about what he did. Jeramie confirms he had no regrets doing so as he watches the monarchs and their retainers sleeping after all they've been through.
- Zero-Approval Gambit: Jeramie and Gerojim decide to sacrifice two years' worth of goodwill between humanity and Bognaarok and go into exile in order to heal the divisions between the other five kingdoms and to give the King-Ohgers a fighting chance against Hillbill.
