TFW2005
Hisstank
Thundercats
TokuNation
Toyark
Home
News
Garo
Godzilla
Kamen Rider
Metal Heroes
Power Rangers
Super Sentai
Ultraman
All News Categories
Forum
News & Rumors
Power Rangers
Kamen Rider
Super Sentai
Other Toku Series
Toys and Collectables
Marketplace
Creative
Galleries
Companies
Bandai Japan
Tamashii Nations
Saban Brands
Bandai America
Toei
Characters
Kamen Rider Ghost
Kamen Rider Specter
Kamen Rider Necrom
Mighty Morphin Green Ranger
Dino Charge Red Ranger
Toylines
S.H. Figuarts
S.H. MonsterArts
DX Mecha
Megazords
Legacy
Shows
Kamen Rider Ghost
Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger
Power Rangers Dino Supercharge
Power Rangers Movie 2017
TokuNation.com
>
TokuNation
Integration
User Name
Remember Me?
Password
Rules
Register
Community
Today's Posts
Search
Community Links
Members List
Search Forums
Show Threads
Show Posts
Advanced Search
Go to Page...
Thread
:
Kamen Rider Die watches Masked Rider Agito
View Single Post
01-19-2020, 09:41 PM
#
53
Kamen Rider Die
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
MASKED RIDER AGITO EPISODES 11 - 12
I realized, watching this episode, that I don't spend much time at all talking about the superhero action on this
sci-fi superhero action show
. Not cool, Kamen Rider Die!
Some of it's that there's not a ton of it to talk about. The Phase 2 Heisei shows, it seems like (in my memory) the action was all over the place, every other scene was a henshin and a monster fight. With Kuuga, and now Agito, it's entirely at the ends of episodes. A few seconds as an episode starts, a few minutes as an episode ends, that's all you get. I know it's down to different storytelling objectives (serialized drama VS
to sell toys
), but it means that there's a lot of non-action for me to talk about and think about, but not much action to touch on.
But, uh, I mostly
entirely didn't care
about the story in this one, save for a couple minor things.
First, there's a neat moment where Ryou and Shouichi have the nowadays-standard Rider debate of optimism versus pragmatism, aka "the world is beautiful and so is everyone in it" versus "uh, my life has been a neverending shitshow, so,
agree to disagree
". It's baked into the multiple-Rider formula now, but here it feels very fresh and welcome. It's doesn't feel reductive or didactic, it feels like two people with very specific views and life experiences looking at the same thing completely different. It's a debate that spins around how Shouichi views his amnesia as a freedom from pain and sadness (that thing from a couple episodes ago where he wishes he could have new amnesia every day,
super unhealthy
but very sweet), while Ryou views adversity as something to overcome, not ignore. It's an exchange that only lasts a minute, if that, but it was super strong.
Second, obviously, all of the stuff where Houjou throws
absolutely everyone
under the bus to make himself feel like he isn't a coward and a failure. That stuff is gold-plated brilliance. (I also love the low-key burn of Nijou making Houjou the getaway driver when the Zebra Unknown attacks. If there's one thing Houjou's good at, it's running away! Oh, and he
screws that up, too.
)
Other than those two things, a big shrug of a story for me. The Unknown attacks feel totally disengaged from whatever is happening with the heroes, a distraction from the episode's plot rather than an integral part. Most of the victims have no story, and no sense of stakes. It's a monster, the heroes eventually stop it, okay. And the other main element from this story, with someone who knows more than she lets on about Shouichi's past and Agito and the mysterious boating accident of six months prior but
oh whoops
she dies before she can reveal anything, lame. Very lame! It's not clever, it's just frustrating. I'm not at the edge of my seat, I'm flipping off my monitor.
So, the action. The camerawork is
pretty uneven
this time out. Some well-designed shots (that fight on top of the cop car was amazing) just a few minutes after nausea-inducing bouncing shots (the first scene where Shouichi runs to the lake to save Saeko, I honestly had to look away to keep from getting sick). The thing I like best, the thing I think is working the best for Agito's action, is how stoic Agito is. The very calm walk into and out of fights, the smoothness and simplicity of his attacks, it's a kind-of minimalist, sure, but it contrasts really well with Gills' viciousness (so much Amazons) and G3's, uh, ineptitude. Agito comes in, punches hard, kicks fast, Rider Kick, explosion, hero pose. It's a strong contrast, not just with the other Riders, but with Shouichi's normal self.
Does anyone watch New Japan Pro-Wrestling? One of my favorite wrestlers is Kota Ibushi. His moveset is fantastic, his athleticism is off the charts, and he comes across as a very fun, upbeat performer. Recently, they've been doing a thing where, as matches go on and he can't put his opponent away, he enters this, like,
fugue state
. In that state, he gets this blank look and starts brutalizing his opponents: punches are way stiffer, kicks are continuous and gruesome, it's all in service of hurting someone, not defeating them. It's unnerving, since it's cruelty dispensed by a sweet person. (Honestly, it's like he's using Hazard Trigger, but let's assume it's got a couple different Kamen Rider comparisons in it.) Agito has that feel to me, where I can't see what Agito does as what Shouichi does, because I can't see that violence in him. It's confident physical dominance from a wacky, sweet housekeeper. I think that juxtaposition is clever and intriguing. The action on this series is so specific and solid, the ways it's built around characters, and it's something I'm really interested in the show exploring further.
__________________
Currently working on: Go-Busters is next! Archive of previous shows on
KamenRiderDie.com
!
Last edited by Kamen Rider Die; 05-13-2023 at
02:45 PM
..
Kamen Rider Die
View Public Profile
Send a private message to Kamen Rider Die
Find More Posts by Kamen Rider Die
TokuNation News & Rumors
Alternative Cut of "Day Of The Dumpster" Released
Shodo SUPER Kyoryuger Teaser
Figuarts/Seihou GRIDMAN
SH Figuarts BoonBoomger Red
Hasbro Licenses Power Rangers Toys to Playmates Toys
More New Posts
Fixing Kamen Rider Revice story (maybe movies and spin-offs)
How is Everyone Today- New
Ultraman Discussion Thread
Thunderstrike's Wants
DreamSword Watches Unfamiliar Toku: Part 1 - GARO
What are you watching? (Kamen Rider Edition)
S.H. Figuarts (Toku Related) Thread
Kamen Rider Gotchard Episode 34- "Only One! All Roads Lead To Gorgeousness!"
Kamen Rider Gotchard Episode 33- "Legend Rider? 100 Years Too Early!" Discussion
Super Sentai minipla appreciation thread!
Current Poll
How Would You Rate This Episode?
Excellent!
Good
Average
OK
Poor...
»
View Poll Results
»
Comment On This Poll
»
This Poll Has 0 Replies
Search Forums
»
Advanced Search
All times are GMT -5. The time now is
07:41 AM
.
Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Powered by
vBadvanced
CMPS