When I saw the title of Episode 18, I didn’t know what to expect. Strong! The Pudding Bodyguard sounded like a throwaway filler episode. Maybe some comic relief. A goofy enemy and a wacky form. Instead, I got one of the most emotionally layered stories yet, with a design twist and character arc that could have lasted a lot longer than one episode.

This episode proves what I love about Gavv: it balances ridiculous food-themed powers with heartfelt moments and real character conflict.

Lage9 and Valen: Two Spoons from the Same Dish

Let’s start with the two core characters in play here: Valen, the supposed enemy of the week, and Lage9, who’s been lurking in the background for a while now. Both are tied to dessert-themed devices—Valen to chocolate, and Lage9 to pudding. That contrast is already interesting. Gavv uses snack food. Chips, cake, candy. Comfort foods, the kind you grab without thinking. Lage9, with his smooth and soft pudding motif, carries a different weight. His design has always stood out, but this episode gave us more than a gimmick. It gave us a reason. Lage9 isn’t just another StomachStoogee. His motives are deeply personal. He’s not aligned with their goals because he believes in chaos or hunger, or domination. He wants revenge. And that revenge is rooted in something that happened to his younger brother. That kind of motivation hits differently.

The Turn Came Too Soon

As much as I enjoyed this reveal, I can’t help but feel it came too quickly. Lage9 had the potential to be a longer-term antagonist. He could have kept messing with the team, appearing trustworthy, maybe even saving them a few times. Just enough to sow doubt. Imagine the tension if we spent three or four more episodes wondering if we could trust him. Let him be the wildcard. Then, when he finally turns on the Stomach? That could have been a legendary moment. Instead, it felt a bit rushed. Not bad, just fast. Like we skipped the slow-cooked pudding and went straight for the microwave version.

Valen Deserved More

Valen, the chocolate-themed bodyguard, had potential, too. His design was sharp, his attitude had weight, and for a while, I thought he might be a new recurring threat. But the episode treated him more like a device—an obstacle for Lage9 and Shouma to overcome. Still, the parallels between his dessert type and Lage9’s can’t be ignored. Maybe Gavv is starting to layer in dessert "archetypes" to flesh out more than just the food gimmick.

When Pudding Carries a Plot

Despite my wish for more buildup, this episode still worked. It was fun, funny, and deeply revealing. We saw Gavv’s team dynamic in motion, and Shouma once again led not with brute strength but with empathy. That’s becoming his trademark, and I’m here for it. And can we talk about the visuals for a second? The pudding armor shimmered. The weapon animations looked smoother than ever. There’s a polish in these latest episodes that shows how confident the show has become.

Final Thoughts

Episode 18 might have a silly name, but its heart is all substance. Lage9 is now one of my favorite side characters in Gavv, even if I wish his arc simmered longer. Valen added flavor, even if briefly. And Shouma? He continues to prove that the best Riders aren’t defined by their belts or finishers, but by the choices they make. Until Next Time.