REVIEW: Ninninger 19
All right, who’s ready for some ninja goodness? Ninninger 19 is an interesting episode in many ways. For the most part, this seems like setup for some stuff to come, but we do get some good humorous moments and some interesting action, as well as strengthening character and continuing storylines through from earlier in the season. Those of you who read my ToQger reviews know how much I love all of these things, so you can bet I found the episode enjoyable. Let’s jump right in!
The episode begins with the Ninningers trying to convince Gramps to take on Kinji as a student. Needless to say he doesn’t take this well. He vanishes in a puff of smoke after telling them that he won’t let them dictate terms to him unless they actually manage to surpass him in some area. Oh boy, we might be here for a while. Despite Takaharu’s surprisingly lucid argument that Kinji and Kyuuemon are two different people and thus can’t be expected to act in the same manner, Gramps won’t repeat the mistakes of his past. I can sort of see Gramps’ argument here, but for the most part I think it’s kinda bogus, and just serves to move the plot along. It’s sort of a necessary evil, and at least it’s not completely out of character, but this was probably one of the two places where I was pulled out a bit.
The team decides to mull that one over, while Kinji, who has heard the whole thing, huffs off in...maybe not a fit of pique, but probably less cheerful than he was when he arrived, especially since Takaharu assured him that they’d win Gramps over. When he’s accosted by Kyuuemon in the forest and she asks him for his answer regarding the team-up she proposed, I actually say “I got your answer right here” about a second before he does. Well, maybe I said something else that pretty much boils down to the same. In any case, they fight until she taunts him with the knowledge of a secret Flying Ninja Ally who also didn’t want to work with Gramps, I guess as a way to legitimize her decision to turn on him. Well, also as a way to conveniently drop a plot gift in their laps, because--surprise!--now they can outdo Gramps at something. I mean, I don’t think this was out of character either, but it was a bit much to have her coincidentally tell Kinji about this right as it becomes relevant. Unless plot twist: Kyuuemon is actually Gramps in disguise...nah.
After the opening, Masakage asks Kibaoni to make a special youkai to take down the Ninningers. This creation, Nue, is actually much more powerful than the previous youkai, smacking away their attacks like nothing and retaliating by destroying their weapons and gear. I’m actually impressed by his tactical knowledge, because it’s that that allows him to wreck the ninja more than his brute force. He takes out Cloud and Kasumi first (along with their shuriken), then messes up Takaharu and Nagi’s gear before the ninja have to run off. Kinji suggests that they ask the guy who built the Ninja Allies to help, a machine-smith named Saika Tetsunosuke at the Lion Temple. Not only can he rebuild their stuff, but he possibly also could help them find the Flying Ninja Ally. I don’t object to this, because it’s not contrived, but a good way to kill two birds with one stone. And it makes sense that he’d think in this direction. Unfortunately, they have no idea what he looks like, since Kinji only communicated with him over email while in America.
On their way to find Tetsunosuke, they run into a hobo-looking fellow with a crazy mane of hair and a taste for sake, who proceeds to objectify Kasumi and Fuuka, distract them from finding the machine-smith, steal their shuriken, and pound them into the ground without breaking a sweat. Of course, breaking a sweat isn’t this guy’s style, he prefers to break wind instead.
Yeah.
Just so we’re clear, this whole sequence is hilarious. I have no problem with slapstick gags or fart humor, though that visible cloud is a little disturbing, so I found it funny. Drunk!Hobo also points out all the things that we’ve been saying about these characters, but he does it in a nicer, more helpful fashion: Takaharu has power, but no brains; Cloud and Kasumi are smart but overthink things; Kinji’s still new to teamwork. He’s more charitable with Nagi and Fuuka by saying that they’re too used to relying on the others to make decisions, but I think he means they’re dimwits. Kasumi thinks he’s a hell of a fighter, and Cloud thinks he might be Tetsunosuke himself (which I also thought, for the record) but it’s actually the kid who they meet earlier while dealing with Drunk!Hobo. I have to hand it to them; practically every guy of a certain age seems to be JUST THE DUDE WE’RE LOOKING FOR, so it was a nice change to turn that a bit sideways. As it is, Nue has tracked them to the Lion temple anyway, and grows huge to take out the ninja and their Allies.
Since Takaharu and Nagi are down and out without their swords and shuriken, Kinji and the others head out, while Tetsunosuke reveals himself. As I said, he’s the kid, which is surprising until I remember that Kinji corresponded with him over the internet, while Drunk!Hobo behind a computer is an image that is pretty much hilarious. Since he’s fixed Takaharu and Nagi’s weapons, they form the big boss King Shurikenjin and face Nue once more, with about as much success as Take 1. They’re doing pretty poorly this time, which is good since it shows off the power of the Greater Youkai. Drunk!Hobo--his actual name is revealed to be Shishio here--steps in to give them a hand, as the spirit of the Flying Ninja Ally Lion Ha-Oh, and compels Nue to retreat. But when he asks them what they’d do with his power, Takaharu’s answer is the same as Gramps’, which is that he’ll become the Last Ninja and protect everybody. Shishio’s answer is, thus, also the same. I liked this, because not only is Nue still out and about, but they have to work toward somehow convincing Shishio to help them. It’s like they have different levels of convincing they have to do.
Other than two areas of the episode, I pretty much loved this. Like I said before, I know that some people were disappointed when Megaforce, for example, kept the farting bit in Last Laugh, but I and my inner 12-year-old am still easily amused. Also, I always love when a story continues in a somewhat serial fashion. We had callbacks to the history between Gramps, Kinji and Kyuuemon, and a pretty interesting story going forward as the ninja will try to figure out how to convince Shishio to help them. It also showed how similar Takaharu is to Gramps. I haven’t gotten a handle on his character yet, and what motivates him to help or not help, but I’m willing to see where this goes. I don’t think anyone was surprised that Kinji turned Kyuuemon down, although after last year I suppose it could have gone either way. In any case, this episode helped me find my inner Sentai fan again, so let’s look forward to Episode 20.
