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
Members List
Search
Today's Posts
Mark Forums Read
Thread
:
What are you watching? (Kamen Rider Edition)
View Single Post
11-14-2021, 05:33 PM
#
16942
Sh Ranger
Standing By
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: USA
Posts: 2,045
Kamen Rider Blade Q1
I've been putting this show off for a long time, for some reason. The last new old Rider show I watched was Ryuki, which was like 3-4 years ago now, while Build was airing. Maybe it's just that I haven't heard anything about Blade other than bench and kara miso soup, nothing was really standing out to me to in the intimidating presence of all the other Riders to choose from, but I had to get here eventually. So I have finally decided to start my quest to end the Heisei Era!
So what do I think of the first 12 episodes that I have currently watched? It's a very weird show, but definitely captures a lot of what is entertaining about Heisei Phase 1, with the exciting character drama and plot twists. This head writer, Imai Shoji, I'm mostly enjoying his style so far, although it's still too early to judge. I'm also told he mysteriously leaves halfway through, making his work with Toei a short portfolio, like a dazzling flash of lightning that appears and fades quickly in the night sky. A recurring theme in the show seems to be betrayal, suspicion and the importance of trust. I was surprised to see that BOARD pretty much becomes defunct immediately and from there it delves in to this crazy conspiracy revolving around the Rider System, the Undead and the lore of humanity's divine source.
I'm already finding a lot to relate to in the characters and their own personal problems. Like Kenzaki's backstory with his failure to protect his parents and hating how others patronize him, saying he couldn't have done anything. That just makes it worse! Feeling useless sucks and that's the big driving force for the protagonist. He's pretty balanced, with respect and admiration for others like Tachibana and Hirose, but doesn't take kindly to having his altruism exploited. At worst, he's got a short temper. It's intriguing to learn more about this Fusion Compatibility, since anger being used to grow stronger reminds me of Build's Hazard Levels. I'm curious to see how this show deals with the connection between emotional state and the power to fight.
Moving on to the Secondary Rider, I haven't heard the Kara Miso song in action yet, but Tachibana seems like the kind of guy you want to punch and hug at the same time. Like Kenzaki, he hates being used. Unlike Kenzaki, he's taking that hatred out on the world and indulging in self-destructive behavior, to the point where even his apparent impending death turns out to be just a physical hallucination of his fear being used against him as a side effect of the Rider System. Did I mention that he claims to have eaten a jigsaw piece out of fear of his girlfriend finishing a puzzle of them together? He's a source of a lot of black comedy from just how dramatically terrible his life and mental state has become, but I can't help but want to sympathize with him as well.
It's hard to get a handle on Hajime. He's needlessly antagonistic to virtually everybody but has a soft spot for kids and mothers, which is his most honorable redeeming factor. I feel like he's just putting up a front to make others leave him alone, something Kenzaki is more than glad to oblige, but deep down, he seems to want recognition for his heroism and to be accepted by humanity. It reminds me of Keisuke's first arc in Kamen Rider X, where he's suffering from the lonely mission of fighting to protect people while they ostracize him for being perceived as less than human. However, I think Hajime would help his cause if he was a little warmer and open to people, but I guess the main problem is that he doesn't fully understand human emotions yet. I want to see how he interacts with Tachibana, since they've only passed each other by once so far.
Team Blade consists of Kenzaki and his two friends. Hirose continues to provide TACCOM support to Kenzaki in battle following the destruction of BOARD base. She's very helpful and earnest, looks similar to Koyomi and carries her own heavy burden of responsibility for her father's part in unsealing the Undead. However, I feel like she's misguided in agreeing with Kanasuma's belief that unlocking the secret to immortality would somehow be a good thing for humanity. When has playing God ever not screwed over humanity? Go watch a movie! Fortunately, she seems to be realizing gradually that this is not the blessing she thought it might be. Kotarou is less useful, but he's letting them live under his roof in exchange for a scoop on Kamen Riders and even though he's a little too much sometimes, I enjoy how he lampshades the absurdity of every situation.
Fun Fact:
Did you know that there are three different Aikawas in this show?! There's Aikawa Hajime, the heart Rider with a hidden heart. Aikawa Shou, the head writer who's going to replace Imai. And Aikawa Nanase, the singer of the awesome OP, Blade Brave! Not long ago, I was pointing out all the Inoues working for Toei, but I'm guessing Aikawa was a popular surname in 2004? Hajime and Nanase share their first kanji, but Shou's is different. Their second kanji are all the same though.
__________________
心
と
刃
Sh Ranger
View Public Profile
Send a private message to Sh Ranger
Find More Posts by Sh Ranger
TokuNation News & Rumors
actor Minori Terada dead at 81
Seihou Gaim Figuarts
Kamen Rider Outsiders Ep5 with a new form for...
Gatchaman in America
Ride Kamens
More New Posts
Kamen Rider Die rewatches Kamen Rider W (and watches Fuuto P.I.)
S.H. Figuarts (Toku Related) Thread
How is Everyone Today- New
Ultraman Discussion Thread
What are you watching? (Kamen Rider Edition)
SO-DO, SO-DO Chronicle and Shodo Candy Toy Thread
Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger Episode 4- "A Voice Calling For A Hero!" Discussion
Kamen Rider Gotchard Episode 28- "Bero Bero Strange! Renge's Homecoming!" Discussion
Sentai King's Sales
Blade Raider's Big Fall 2020 Sales Thread
Current Poll
How Would You Rate This Episode?
Excellent!
Good
Average
OK
Poor...
»
View Poll Results
»
Comment On This Poll
»
This Poll Has 2 Replies
Search Forums
»
Advanced Search
All times are GMT -5. The time now is
01:06 AM
.
Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Powered by
vBadvanced
CMPS