|
Community Links |
Members List |
Search Forums |
Advanced Search |
Go to Page... |
Kamen Rider Saber X Ghost
I may have been unreasonably hyped up for this thing, as anyone who has ever seen me express an opinion on either Saber or Ghost could easily guess.
I had a really good feeling about it, you know? It was glaringly obvious to me this wouldn't be some quick cash grab to bait people into buying a TTFC subscription, because I guarantee you there was not an overwhelming demand for this crossover from Rider fans. It really came off to me more as something Takurou Fukuda probably wrote on a whim, as though he were making fan-fiction of his own shows, that miraculously escalated to the status of real thing, with returning actors and Sakamoto directing and everything! Even the way this wasn't split into two shorter, staggered parts like most of these specials have been up to now speaks to how it's not really trying to command anyone's attention too hard. It's just like Toei randomly going "Here's Saber and Ghost together! Watch it maybe, we guess!" Well don't mind if I do! I loved pretty much everything about this, and it's the kind of straightforward team-up I wish more Rider shows could get. There's no huge crisis or melodramatic infighting, because -- especially with these two shows -- there doesn't need to be. You can totally have Takeru on some random case that Touma happens to get involved in, and that's more than enough. I'm here to see a fun meet cute scene between two of my favorite Riders where they pick each other's dropped collectable items off the ground, and that's exactly what I got! It seriously is just about everything I hoped for, especially in terms of Ghost fanservice. I mean, you've got Takeru's awesome BGM kicking in as soon as he makes his appearance; you've got Javert trying to waste another Gundari all these years later; you've got Takeru introducing himself to Touma with the show's most iconic quote, delivered with the exact same cadence as ever. It's not all here, obviously, as there are some huge limits on what you can do with only three returning actors in 22 minutes, but within that context, there's so much going on here that made me so insanely happy. Just little moments like having Takeru know Touma from being a fan of his book, too, are all so warm and delightful. I say this feels like Fukuda writing a fan-fiction because if it were me writing it instead, that is exactly the kind of stuff I'd be putting in as someone who loves both these series. Bringing in elements from the Specter V-Cinema to make this feel like a true continuation of the show's narrative from where we last saw it is also a nice touch, especially since that movie is something of a high point for Ghost, but of course, it doesn't amount to much... on its own anyway. The cliffhanger ending is something I can definitely take or leave, but then, it also comes after the credits, as though encouraging the viewer to take or leave it as they so choose. Isn't that generous of them! (And yes, I do praise Ghost *this* compulsively, apparently.) It genuinely isn't a huge deal though, as a simple plot keeps the focus tighter. I mean, most of it is legitimately generated entirely by Kanon wandering around saying onii-chan a bunch; I think Fukuda was pretty conscious of what he was doing here. It's just enough story to give proper context, which kinda proves how little of that you need to justify Desast doing anything. He's half the reason Touma and Mei get involved, and as ever, this is merely something he's doing to stave off boredom on that particular day. I'm poking fun, but it really is accomplishing everything it needs to, which is just giving that trim cast of characters some time to shine. Touma letting himself get beat to heck entirely to reach out to Kanon was especially great -- exactly the sort of climax I expect from either of these series. The action sequence wrapping everything up is suitably celebratory in its execution. I honestly can't hate the explanation for Saber's new form being that Takeru's family has apparently just always had a Wonder Ride Book specifically about Ghost sitting around the temple somewhere, and it was awesome that they thought to get Musashi Damashii in there on top of Grateful. And it was also awesome seeing Grateful! Sakamoto already directed a couple REALLY good fight scenes back in Ghost that ended with Grateful Damashii doing a Rider Kick too, so it's good to see that tradition carrying on here... and with Saber getting in on it! You guys! I can try and qualify this all day, but as you can definitely guess from reading the above disjointed rambling, I'm mostly just still really, really freakin' happy to see that this is a thing that exists that I actually got to watch? Like I said at the start, Saber X Ghost is NOT a special I think most fans will be fawning over, but for someone like me, basically the exact target audience, this was an amazing treat for something so simple. |
I've yet to see any subs go up but I absolutely agree with all these points in this opening post! It was a fun special. They really nailed the Javert stuff in this, I especially loved that they continued the gag from the Final Stage where he yells for Gundari's to come but he can't bring them out because, 1 he's human, and 2 they're all dead.
Though honestly compared to most TTFC endeavors and their teasing... this one feels like, more deliberate? Like the thing is we sort of solve the dilemma and everything in these shorts even if there's like the one off teasing but like... we didn't here? The fact that this isn't split into two parts immediately. That there's this hooded dude around the 1:23 mark that we get no elaboration on. That we only dealt with one of Danton's disciples with the other two making a getaway with Kanon, and the fact that Kanon is still messed up in the head. It makes me sort of confident that there's going to be a continuation to this compared to all the others. Especially given it had a post credits scene and these usually never do. |
I'm the kind of nerd who will nitpick that Takeru wrongly used his regular catchphrase during that finisher instead of Grateful's! : P
Anyhow, maybe that cliffhanger will get resolved in the Super Hero Senki film. Referencing events from a weird one-off crossover in another weird one-off crossover just feels fitting to me |
Jabel the menacing general reduced to comedy relief kisser. Kanon seems out of character with Fetish and cliffhanger. Though it might expand streaming service talk despite two bad decade vs zio. They might do a shinobi sequel with montage of what he been up to sort of like gobuster vcinemw tropes .
|
2 Attachment(s)
Quote:
Speaking of! I suppose that it's time to start my extended thoughts on this because subs just came out a few hours ago! So I guess Makoto walking alone on that path at the end of Specter's V-Cinema is an actual literal thing! I thought it was just him going for a walk but nope. It seems as though he's been MIA for quite a while given that Danton's disciples want to use Kanon to find Makoto. Guess the Specter V-Cinema shook him up enough to where he decided to go full hermit. And most likely in the human world too. Can I just say that I'm still surprised we're following up these plot beats. I do like how the Ganma World is considered too developed now to actually conquer so the disciples try to do Danton's plan with Earth instead. I also found it cute how Takeru see's this and is like "I won't let you make Chloe sad!" like bless his heart, he found love, and it's absolutely adorable. I also just love how they found the perfect way to bring Touma and Mei into this, a stroll to their chief editor ends up being derailed by seemingly a Megid plot. Desast was very much the perfect choice on the Megid side to bring Touma and Mei in. He's an established dangerous character, and he's the kind of guy who would do this kind of stuff. As twitter has established, he's a guy who just wants to live life and roam around. So of course he'd see someone not human calling out for their brother and be like, "Well I'm not being bored today", and jumping on that chance. I found it really endearing how Desast is like "Hey you and me, we're alike, let me be your brother." and then he proceeds to get the crap kicked out of him. Also just genuinely how wholesome Takeru and Touma's interactions end up being is something great. They meet up on accident, inspect their toys, and then come to the sudden realization later via yells they already met and that they're Kamen Riders. Again, it's a simple special, but it honestly makes use of the cast they were given greatly. But yeah no, there has to be a followup of some kind coming after this. There's way too much left hanging compared to the usual TTFC standards here. The fact that two of the three villains introduced just bugger off, and with Kanon too who's mind is still messed up. The fact this wasn't split into two parts like prior productions like this when they normally are, not to mention that it was a post credits cliffhanger which I'm pretty sure is a first. Oh and Mr. Hooded Man at the very beginning who, while I can't read Japanese characters, I'm pretty sure has a ???? credit when the credits roll. |
All I have to say is that I'm grinning ear to ear watching this. It's quite frankly the best TTFC content we've gotten imo. Ghost may get alot of flack but generally people really like Ghost side content. And on that topic the show I want next to get an official english release would be Ghost because it will let both new people who never seen it to give it a chance. And secondly it might even give peole who didn't like Ghost a 2nd chance.
Also Desast got surpisingly depth with his feelings of being an artifical being and how his persoanlity and emotions are fake. And how he hates innocence for some reason. Also Fish man you must freaked out over seeing Brave Dragon so much again. :lolol |
Quote:
|
I was surprised by how much this crossover focused on Desast. He's kind of like Rintarou, but without a sense of morality. They're both orphans looking for a family. Rintarou found his with Team Saber, now Desast wants to be a big bro to Kanon, relating to her as a fellow orphaned artificial lifeform. Like maybe what Desast needs in his life isn't more excitement, he has enough of that in his blogs, but to find some people who care about him. Maybe he's just secretly really lonely and tragically misunderstood. We finally get to see his alleged rivalry with Touma for the first time and it reminds me a lot of Ghost's and Specter's fights during the first 99 days deadline, with Desast mocking Touma for his innocence and not understanding what it means to live in Hell. That's a really clever parallel to increase sympathy for him and I totally need to start giving Fukuda more credit. This here, Takahashi, is how you write a crossover between your two shows! Desast needs a hug.
On the Ghost side, since of course this is also a crossover with my fourth favorite Heisei Rider show so I feel obliged to mention something about it, I thought it was great just to see Takeru and the gang again and Jabel trying to reason with Desast like how Onari did to him, even though it didn't work here. He probably just needs to train some more to get on Onari's level. I like how Takeru acted as a sempai Rider to Touma as well as declaring himself a fan of his book, they get along real tight as people who appreciate the wonder in the world and the stories of people who give them inspiration. Looks like my speculation about Danton's followers was correct. They're using Kanon to get to Makoto. He's the key to recreating the ultimate lifeform. I'm excited to see where the post-credits scene leads! |
Bahahaha, I love how everyone here just seems to agree that Desast was in a sympathetic position here. Even Desast's twitter post referencing it is him sadly going 'It's not like I need friends or anything, but I could have made friends with another nonhuman...' It makes his confrontation with Touma sorta come off as, geez Touma, no need for the personal attack about Desast's feelings >;P.
It's funny, for a wolf-beetle-skeleton monster, he just doesn't feel like he's actually evil in any serious sense. |
Quote:
It's why I hope he survives the series. |
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:03 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
TokuNation News & Rumors |
Kakuranger: 30 Years After |
ToyRise RyuKenDo |
Alternative Cut of "Day Of The Dumpster" Released |
Shodo SUPER Kyoryuger Teaser |
Figuarts/Seihou GRIDMAN |
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:03 PM.
|