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Thread
:
Fish Sandwich rewatches Kamen Rider Kuuga
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05-23-2020, 02:02 PM
#
254
DreadBringer
Veteran Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,290
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fish Sandwich
Daguva cannot be stopped by Kuuga. Not the way he is now. The beginning of this episode wastes no time in establishing that. The initial fight between Amazing Mighty and Daguva is nothing short of a disaster. It barely qualifies as a fight, especially with how the decision was made to film it.
Think Gadoru isn't enough? Yeah then, this is the way to build a threat! Like you said all the horrors are really emphasized here, with the series unafraid to cause mass murders and many victims thrown around (oh well, Kuuga already got many victims in various Grongis, but this one's on much bigger scale), in the perceptive of Godai, the person who wants nothing of these, helpless to prevent any of this escalating in front of Daguva himself, with him enjoying every moment of it. But one thing... how didn't the fire extinguish in the middle of
rain
? The only thing missing was the fight itself though it's maybe pointless to show. Surely, Daguva curbstomps Amazing Mighty, but how severe did Daguva beat Kuuga up? That Yusuke seems to be fine in the next scenes (he can walk, or riding bikes fine), but with damages on Amadam.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fish Sandwich
For half the series, we've heard about how the fearsome warrior will bury the sun in darkness. For the
entire
series, we've seen how much Yuusuke hates solving things through force.
So, the translation tips about the sun that we've heard throughout the half-series, was the tips for Ultimate Form that comes up very slowly, at the end here? If Rising was something that is tampered with the modern day technology and thus wasn't included in the translation, so the past reincarnations of Kuuga would instantly jump from 4 main forms into Ultimate? More specifically, if Rising form is gained by willpower and defibrillator, it uses Yusuke's pent up rage to become Utimate form?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fish Sandwich
One thing that is the same between the preview and the episode? The choice of ambient noise.
I understand the use of rain for the symbolisym, downbeat, and no escape, but this is also... another part of Daguva with him having weather control. I wonder if that can be useful in fights.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fish Sandwich
Yet the episode is also about the bonds that keep these people looking forward.
Yusuke's that impactful to the cast, that him going back to the adventure is treated like a forever farewell? Just on the outside he seems to have no fear!̶ ̶n̶o̶ ̶p̶a̶i̶n̶!̶ or hesitation on his next plan to defeat Daguva, just full on optimism that Daguva will be defeated and everyone will be safe, either that or it's just to reassure others (he does succeed, but still). Though yeah it's implied by this time Yusuke has become a stepford smiler, noticeable in Kanzaki scene, when, seeing more reports of Daguva's carnage, we get a close-up of his fist on his side, clenching in rage.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fish Sandwich
For Yuusuke, that's the relationships he values so much, and he ends the episode continuing his farewell tour by working up the courage to head into Pole Pole. For Ichijou, it's the dedication of the police force, and he ends up investigating a Grongi hideout, stuffed with encyclopedias and whatnot that I believe are meant to imply how the woman with the rose tattoo caught up on human culture so thoroughly. What Daguva is willing to bet on is the simplest of all. Whatever happens next, it's going to be so much
fun
.
The cops are the one Yusuke hasn't met up yet here.... or even call them up like he did at episode 40. With Baruba and other Grongis caught up on human culture indicated by encyclopedias, I actually wonder how will they utilize the human culture? Something Jaaza did to a plane? It's fun.... for the audience, not for Kuuga's cast!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fish Sandwich
Yuusuke warms up inside Pole Pole, sharing some more casual banter and good times with Pops and Nana before announcing his intent to leave on an adventure, which sours the mood a bit.
I mean Kazari realizes that Yusuke is Kuuga... but he never said anything about Kuuga being #4 to Pops right? So probably Kazari only knows that Yusuke is #4.... but if Yusuke talks about "Kuuga" again Kazari may still misinterpret that as some celebrities because he doesn't know the true name of #4 is Kuuga!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fish Sandwich
Over at the Grongi hideout, the woman with the rose tattoo stops by for what will turn out to be her final encounter with Ichijou.
With the nerve-breaking bullets, the encounter becomes the standard police to criminal interrogation! But being used to dominating humans like shrugging off guns, obviously Baruba wouldn't know about her impending doom (shooting Grongis with nerve-breaking bullets being like shooting regular humans with any guns), though she remarked that Linto has changed. And their status as arch-enemies are truly cemented here with Ichijou practically shouting and Baruba recognizing him. So you love that you never see her monster form throughout the series? Because I wonder how strong she is in fight. It's fitting for the second most important antagonist to be killed by the second most important character - the deuteragonist Ichijou, by also building up animosity between them with each encounters, but still wonder. Getting killed by nerve-breaking bullets shouldn't be an anti-feat for Ra-Baruba-De as Dorudo was also killed the same way... though Gadoru survived that, faking the dead.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fish Sandwich
Yuusuke heads to the last two stops on his tour.
What if Yusuke visits Sakurako while Jean's still there? Oh and also didn't you mentioned Jean is the only one who brofists with Yusuke? And not only Jean, Yusuke didn't interact with any of the cops except Ichijou too, so he's not alone. For Sakurako, wasn't that her translation of sun in darkness that gives Yusuke his Ultimate form, but only coming to terms now? And as Yusuke rides on TryChaser, why he no longer uses BeatChaser? AFAIK the cops didn't ask to return BeatChaser.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fish Sandwich
Once they reach their destination the next morning, there's a little more time to talk before heading up the mountain.
For Yusuke asking Ichijou to shoot him at the dmaged Amadam area if he goes out of control... would that mean... one of the strongest Final Forms in Kamen Rider franchise has a quite ordinary achilles' heel (like worst weakness, tbh) in a specialized
bullets
due to Yusuke's inherently human body, for all the raw power it provides like destroying whole planets? And so the scene previously in episode 38, the one where Ichijou dreams about possibly Yusuke and talks about it to Tsubaki (who encourages Ichijou to "find his love!") only implies about it, but throughout the series, Ichijou still holds up until now that he still doesn't want Yusuke to put up the cops burden in maintaning safety, just not in hostile way like he did at the first 2 episodes.... even if Yusuke already proclaims that dying Grongi is his way of working towards his goal, that Yusuke really puts others above himself, even if Ichijou insists of Yusuke taking care of himself, and making others smile is his way of taking care of himself.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fish Sandwich
This is one of the most monumental showdowns in Rider history for a bunch of different reasons. Much as Ultimate Form is only truly first seen here, this is the first time we've gotten a clear glimpse at N-Daguva-Zeba's true form. It's a direct mirror to Ultimate Form, with a matching four-horned stag beetle motif, spiky bits in similar places, and the notable contrast of being primarily white, which also happens to match his human form's taste in clothing, just as Yuusuke himself has started wearing more black lately. The inversion of stereotypical good/evil colors was almost certainly deliberate, although there's room for debate about how much that's really meant to imply. What's for sure is that there are a lot of very effective parallels between these characters, and while Daguva has only properly been around for this last stretch, he's made every bit of screentime he's had count towards building himself up as the polar opposite of everything Yuusuke represents. I tend to be fond of villains with these kinds of setups, and Daguva, man, he's as good as they come. Going into the fight, there's a brief phase where the two basically test out their incredible powers, with Daguva lighting Kuuga on fire again, only this time, Kuuga returns the favor. This supernatural duel doesn't last long. The two quickly start pounding into one another the traditional way, and the whole time, Daguva is just ecstatic. He lives for combat, and nobody has given him as good a time as Kuuga in forever. He's laughing all through the fight. Even once his belt, as well as Kuuga's, are broken, reverting them to their human forms, he's still laughing. No matter how bruised he is, no matter how many hits he takes, he wouldn't trade this experience for the world. Fighting is what gives his life meaning. It's what makes him feel happy. But that's only his perspective, and there's a question here that needs to be asked. How does Yuusuke feel?
And of course, he feels like absolute garbage. He despises every second of this. He's
always
despised it. This is what that mask has been hiding an entire series. All the pain and misery, not simply at taking all these wounds, but at being forced to deal them back in kind. The heartache of this whole miserable, pointless cycle where a punch to the face is all that decides who's right and who's wrong. That look on Yuusuke's face, how he sounds almost like he's crying as the blood rolls down his chin before he strikes the final blow on Daguva, I can't even begin to describe the impact this had on me. It's a moment I won't ever forget. Kuuga was a show that had a lot it wanted to say, and this climax says everything louder than any amount of words ever could. It is intensely powerful, and without question my favorite final battle in all of Rider. It's the pinnacle of a series-long trend of asking you to reexamine everything you think you know about hero tokusatsu. By stripping away the fancy powers, all the special effects, the costumes, the music,
all the spectacle
, it implores you to take a second to truly think about what exactly you're rooting for. Watching larger than life characters sort their problems out through violence, it's ingrained in pretty much every form of storytelling there's ever been. That kind of physical conflict is primal and easy to dramatize. We all want to see heroes defeating villains. But why exactly do we want to see it? What exactly is it we should be idolizing about those kinds of characters? Kuuga was a show that often aimed for realism, and, in real life, what is trying to solve things exclusively through force more likely to result in? Will it lead to a thrilling showdown, with the fate of the world at stake, filled with exciting colors and fantastic abilities? Or will it just be two men, beating each other to death in the snow, savage and senseless?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fish Sandwich
Is that how that came off? I probably should've specified I don't think it's inherently a
bad
thing either, then? I do think it's a perfectly apt description of Kuuga, which is one of the other things about that term that I think gives it a bad rap sometimes: being applied a little too liberally.
But man, the final showdown being anticlimactic? I just can't buy that. If Yuusuke went up that mountain and had a fight with Daguva as Kuuga where he threw fireballs at him until he won and then walked back to say "I did it!" to Ichijou or something... I mean,
that's
the anticlimax, in my book. That kind of ending would be so generic
and
horribly inappropriate for the story, I wouldn't know whether to be angry, or just fall asleep.
OK, the time has come, now I want to talk about my favorite portrayal of Final Form in the whole Kamen Rider franchise, ever. That unfortunately the next portrayal of it butchered. Oh well, then again, the games make sure to separate Godai's Kuuga and Onodera's Kuuga. Firstly, Kuuga Ultimate's finisher, the Ulltimate Kick, is said to be able to destroy the whole planet, living up to its position as the Ultimate form. Obviously Yusuke wouldn't want to use the finisher to destroy the planet he loves, or already considered the risks from his weaker form's mass destructive finisher that it once put a distrust in Kuuga and the cops' new job was to ensure the safety of people with Kuuga finishing off their enemies. But that's no big deal, because the huge stats Kuuga Utimate has, which corresponds to his planet-busting powers aren't only for show. Kuuga Ultimate only needed regular punches and kicks to get the job done against even the final boss, no need for finisher or stronger regular attacks! No spectacles? This is Kuuga's Ultimate Form's
speciality
, at least in his home series, that his ordinary-looking attacks packs much bigger punch than your usual spectacles and fancy colorful abilities, finishers included. And this is the Final Form that retains its full dignity, just in my opinion (because other may measure their dignity based on how many screentime and killcounts the final form has), the Utimate Form fulfills its supposed position as the Final Form, aside from the risks to use it where it may corrupt Yusuke and bring the world to darkness, it's only obtained in the very final part of the series, at the climatic darkest hour (with the risks and burden too), and only used to fight against one foe worth fighting against the final form, Daguva. Ultimate Form's usage is necessary to put an end against otherwise impossible odds. Unlike other Final Forms which is obtained more casually, becomes the main way to fight any foes, essentially turning it into regular Kamen Rider fighter (not having that significant power difference also helps), and the one grates on me the most, if the Final Form struggles a bit against a regular monster of the week or even the grunts. The final fight may not be flashy, short, and seem anticlimatic (the horror and brutality takes the center here), but IMO, it's necessary to have it play out like that with the power the 2 displayed (except Ultimate Kuuga's stated ability to use weapons Dragon, Pegasus, and Titan have, which he may do if he's given any object, and probably Daguva too?), and Godai's character, which leads to the best portayal of Final Form to me, and also my favorite final fight too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fish Sandwich
Refusing to give the audience what they wanted, in this case, I firmly believe to be the best possible choice this story could've made.
About the glory of fighting and it being ugly and repulsive? That's Daguva's goal, to make the human race as violent as his. And particularly in his battle, no matter what outcome, it seemingly will be in Daguva's favor. If Daguva kills Kuuga, then simply, the villain wins without any obstacle. If Kuuga kills Daguva, Kuuga can potentially become his successor to bring the ultimate darkness with him being corrupted and becoming as evil and violent as Daguva was. And I think, the cancellation of their plan to make Yusuke Godai, uh,
go die
, serves to emphasize Yusuke's
rea
l strength throughout the series as the next episode attests. Also it really hits home with Ichijou being in total anguish, shouting his name in despair seeing the outcome of the battle.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fish Sandwich
Yuusuke. Just "Yuusuke". It may seem like a lot of nothing, but when you put it in context of how the previous episode, called "Kuuga", was so downbeat and violent, that simple, peaceful shot of the clouds starts to make a lot more sense.
More of explaining the meaning of titles like this! Previously iirc these were only done in first episodes about every title being 1 word, but not for each next sepisodes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fish Sandwich
Three months after the showdown with Daguva, Ichijou is getting a bunch of files and whatnot in order, now that the Unidentified Lifeform task force has served its purpose.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fish Sandwich
In fact, everybody seems to have nice things to say about Yuusuke after everything he's done.
Even if it's counting from #0 to #48, there were something like B0, B1, and B9 right? With everyone having nice things to say, it's a bit of bummer that Yusuke didn't contact them previously. And yeah with the (why short haired now) Sasayama talking about Yusuke, it's evident in previous episode with him staying optimistic about beating Daguva even with all the horrors he had witnessed and the risk of the final form. But as Matsukura pointed out, the cops have worked hard too and even killed Grongis at the end, it's mutual teamwork. If the Kamen Rider universe are interconnected... Matsukura will see a
bunch
of men like Yusuke.... aka most of the main protagonists.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fish Sandwich
The structure of this episode has clearly taken shape now. It's about following everyone around to see how they're doing now that things are finally peaceful again, and their thoughts on Yuusuke's impact, with a particular emphasis on Ichijou heading around Tokyo to say his goodbyes before he transfers back to Nagano.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fish Sandwich
Back at Pole Pole, Pops has received a few customers looking to drink Yuusuke's own special blend.
Yeah noticed that too, this is Ichijou's turn to visit everyone like Godai did before. Was Enokida's workaholic problems established as already there before Grongis attacked? Then how can she be significantly more free without Grongis running around to spend time with Sayuru, she would still do other works right? Or the cops are given special breaks to celebrate the Grongi's defeat. I thought that Jean going to Disneyland is just a coincidence (and would like to see what happened if he met Enokida and Sayuru there), but that's actually him proceeding with Enokida. So that's the reason you actually refer to him as Pops because "Tamasaburou Kazari" is a bit of plot twist for anyone at Pole Pole, where he's the one to give Yusuke the coffee recipe.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fish Sandwich
Ichijou stops by Tsubaki's place, where Tsubaki is remarking on how incredible Yuusuke was to soldier on for everyone's sake, in spite of the frightening changes his body was undergoing the whole time.
The total opposite of Yusuke and Grongis summed up here... Yusuke wants others' smiles, Grongis want their own smiles. So that's actually the point of Chouno... he's a part of Linto Baruba talks about to become like them, and a step for Daguva's goal. But with Yusuke, even the bad side of humanity can be redeemed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fish Sandwich
And what do we find out his very first skill was here, thanks to Kanzaki? It was smiling, of course. It might not sound that impressive, but like Yuusuke said back at the start, there's nothing cooler than someone who can keep smiling no matter how hard things get. It's safe to say he lived up to that standard.
I see your point about everything Yusuke's doing in the series as skills.... because the skills Yusuke has isn't necessarily something special that is very hard to master... where the 1st is simply.... smiling. Though as you pointed out here, to smile like Yusuke does, if that's the criteria to consider that as skill, is another thing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fish Sandwich
Ichijou's next stop is the preschool, where Minori thanks him for looking after her brother for so long.
The world without #4 would mean, the world without any supernatural terror to make living there harder than it already is! #4 wouldn't be needed because there are no superpowered monsters that threaten human lives and almost impossible to stop. Humans can live peacefully and safe, and even if there are evildoers, they will be only regular humans that are much easier to stop, like Ichijou did at episode 44.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fish Sandwich
After this, Ichijou heads over to the university to see Sakurako, who shows him a bit of the ancient text saying Gouram is supposed to crumble to sand if Kuuga's "holy spring" ever dried up and he became the fearsome warrior.
And yeah this is what truly defeats Daguva and Grongi from this scene. Sakurako saying that Yusuke did become a fearsome warrior without using hatred as fuel and turning into black-eyed Ultimate Form. Yusuke's real power in the series is his kindness and purity, which allows him to control Kuuga at the first place, and not succumbing into darkness as Kuuga Ultimate. Daguva's plan ultimately fails because he was incapable of understanding that Godai could destroy him and end the bloodshed without becoming just as violent as he is. Anyone other than him, if they don't give up, if he defeats Daguva, will be the next Daguva to carry the ultimate darkness.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fish Sandwich
This is Yuusuke, obviously. After all that buildup, we finally see him again, but we still don't see his face yet.
Angrily shoving one another? I thought they were only playing, but they're actually fighting....
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fish Sandwich
The superhero show that rejects violence as something to be glorified, putting its money where its mouth is, and doing an entire episode where the hero never, ever transforms. Where there's not a single fight scene to be found. No costumes. No bloodshed. Just all the people we've grown to care about over the past year, finally able to live out our hero's dream of a world where everyone can be happy. And it's still every bit as interesting. It's as perfect a finale as a Rider show could have, and they did it all without ever feeling the need for any grand final action scene.
The fight with Grongi is just one of Yusuke's ways! But it's not the only way as Minori realizing what Yusuke means by becoming Kuuga, she does in her own way. Yusuke can use other ways to make others smile this time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fish Sandwich
In all seriousness, I legitimately found it interesting that we had that little spat about our opinions on vegetables, and, after ALL this writing, the thing I eventually landed on was basically that Kuuga
is
vegetables. It's okay Die, I understand. Kuuga was just too much of a shift for someone who got into the franchise with the premium layer cake that is Ex-Aid, it can't be helped that you don't want to eat healthier, and I get that now.
But hey! Parado, aka Shouma Kai is a
massive
fanboy for Kuuga, which he made abundantly clear in most of his answers during a post-Ex-Aid cast interview. His own game in Ex-Aid, aka Kamen Rider Chronicle, is inspired by Gegeru! A game where Bugsters (Grongi) kill humans. And in a way, Baruba never showing her monster form is also kinda like Parado (dunno if he has a Bugster form) never showing his too. A̶n̶d̶ ̶G̶o̶o̶m̶a̶/̶G̶r̶a̶p̶h̶i̶t̶e̶ ̶g̶a̶i̶n̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶ ̶p̶i̶e̶c̶e̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶a̶ ̶f̶i̶n̶a̶l̶ ̶b̶o̶s̶s̶'̶ ̶p̶o̶w̶e̶r̶ ̶b̶u̶t̶ ̶s̶t̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶f̶a̶l̶l̶s̶ ̶f̶l̶a̶t̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶p̶a̶r̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶f̶i̶n̶a̶l̶ ̶b̶o̶s̶s̶.̶
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fish Sandwich
To be fair, cops generally don't have access to stuff like that, and Kuuga liked to be as realistic as possible with them.
And I guess the realistic approach also applies to the science too right? Because even if they don't have superpowers, if the scientists are as super-genius as the ones in other series, I feel like they will defeat Grongis easily with what they can create in a quick span of time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fish Sandwich
What I mean with that part is that I haven't personally seen a lot of tokusatsu that takes the time out for something so...
domestic
, I guess? There might be one out there, and some of the other early Heisei Riders have a few elements of stuff like this, but the Enokida plotline would feel more at home in a daytime soap opera than a superhero show, and that's exactly why I love it.
I feel like, moments like Ryuki's Kagawa taking care of his son, or Build's Sento enjoying Kyoka's cookings at her house which hits home to Takumi Katsuragi as some that in similar category, domestical moments.... but dunno.
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