This episode we're right back to the goofy. You'd think the more competent Baron Ashura we've seen in this show would give Kouji a little more trouble after capturing him and his robot, but it's just not to be. Instead, after putting Kouji away, Ashura sends all the men away and indulges a machine fetish, fondling the Hover Pilder longingly before taking it for a joyride. When an attempted docking with Mazinger turns into a comedy pratfall, Ashura gets all pissy and decides he doesn't need the invincible castle of black steel after all. Ashura was never much of a strategist. Also, there's an Ashura shower gag, about the same as the one in Mazinkaiser.
I didn't mention what happened to Boss and crew last time, but their "secret mission" from Tsubasa was actually to hide out inside the Pilder. Being omnipotent and all, she saw the kidnap coming and actually planted the guys in there to beat up some guards, steal their clothes and bust Kouji out. The guys then get an unguarded Sayaka, and then deal with the last Gamia before picking up Mazinger and getting out of there. As it turns out, Boss' lackeys are better in a fight than Boss himself. Who knew? The only use they've been up until now is in Super Robot Wars, where they supplied sweet extra SP for Boss Borot. Man, when is the Boss Borot reveal coming? There's got to be a whole episode where he puts it together from random junkyard scrap.
Aiding the escape is a backstab from Dr. Hell and Count Brocken, who, remember, never told Ashura to go get Mazinger and aren't thrilled about the prospect of leading Kouji to their secret island headquarters. So they decide to just blow him up! The unloved Go Nagai robot Groizer X is further degraded when Brocken dumps three more Groizers onto Saluud. Man, Groizer must have been a really bad show. In any case, Saluud is done for, it's gonna blow up, everybody out.
Unfortunately for Kouji and friends, the grounded Mazinger is having a hard time getting away from the impending explosion, and it sure looks like everybody's gonna die until the Mazinger Corps' flying-- but otherwise useless-- robots swoop in with the Jet Scrander. See, they figured out that their robots are useless, so they've committed themselves full-time to supporting Mazinger. By the same token, Kouji has realized that hey, maybe having friends isn't so bad after all. There's a big ol' team handshake at the end. Good job, gang!
Bonus Feature-- THE SAYAKA YUMI USELESSNESS WATCH: Before picking up Mazinger, Kouji finds himself in a fight with the last Gamia, Q5. Kouji drops his gun during the fight, and Sayaka picks it up. Gamia runs over to her: keep in mind that in the Go Nagai world, bladed weapons such as Gamia's hair have a different function against women than against men. Men die by swords. Women are just stripped by them. (See also Nanto Seiken.) With Gamia at point-blank distance, and Kouji holding her back by her cape, Sayaka... slides the gun on the ground over to Kouji, who dispatches the android with ease. This version of Sayaka doesn't even want to do anything cool.
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