[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

So here we are at last, the end of Kamen Rider Fourze. Yes, there's the Ex-Aid/Build movie, but that's more of a cameo and it's just Gentarou and JK; this is the last time we'll ever see most of these characters and the last time that Gentarou is the main focus of a story (poor guy doesn't even get his own Zi-O arc; he has to share it with Faiz). As far as grand finales go it's both good and a little disappointing.

There's a bit near the end from I can't remember who -- Kengo, or Miu, or Yuuki -- where they say that, like the Fourze Driver, they'll always be there when Gentarou needs them... and then we never saw any of them but JK and Ohsugi and the new kids ever again. It's a line that's supposed to be heartwarming at the time, but now it's a little heartbreaking; this promise of eternal friendship and then some of them got too famous to ever come back and we're still a few years out from endless V-Cins and TTFC specials and so that's it for the entire concept. If any show could've justified a full-fledged anniversary reunion special, it'd be the one set entirely at a high school, but again: some folks just got too famous (-slash- expensive) to do a Toei Kamen Rider film, so here we are.

[Androzani84]

All I remember about this is that the original pitch had Wizard getting pregnant and the assembled Riders playing baseball.

In all honesty, I wasn’t really a fan of new Inazuman, since he seemed a bit too unlikeable. And then I saw that the actor was in two Sentai shows Tsukada worked on, and I wasn’t keen on his roles in either show (to the point he isn’t getting the main feature, that’s how much I dislike the actor). That said, I did like him more in Taisen Z, mostly because they just wrote him as the original Inazuman, but he calls Fourze “Sensei”.

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Androzani84

In all honesty, I wasn?t really a fan of new Inazuman, since he seemed a bit too unlikeable. And then I saw that the actor was in two Sentai shows Tsukada worked on, and I wasn?t keen on his roles in either show (to the point he isn?t getting the main feature, that?s how much I dislike the actor). That said, I did like him more in Taisen Z, mostly because they just wrote him as the original Inazuman, but he calls Fourze ?Sensei?.

Yeah, he's a repellant little creep for most of this movie. The movie's trying to do that Kamen Rider thing of showing the heroism of the Rider by saying that a villain maybe needs the most love and support to feel safe enough to change their ways, compared to a victim who might just need to be rescued, and it's always a tougher sell for me than I'd like it to be. I want to be on Fourze's side, and say that bullies are just sad inside, and maybe you need to tell them that they're loved, and that'll give them the emotional safety to realize the error of their ways!

But I'm watching this movie, and there's a scene where Miyoppe calls him a monster, and Saburou's like SEE SHE THINKS I'M A MONSTER, and we're maybe supposed to take it as her judging his slimy carapace, but all I was thinking was about how he's loudly and repeatedly said he's going to blow up Yuuki's reentry capsule, partially to hurt Miyoppe emotionally, and I think it's sort of fair for Miyoppe to not feel like extending a ton of apologetic kindness to this kid right this second? I think it's okay for a sneering, homicidal creep to not be treated as the victim.

(My ideal for redemption stories is Gavv: You give a villain -- deranged or misguided or committed, whichever -- a chance to stop what they're doing, and reform their lives right now. If they take that chance to change, the fight's over and they can get the help they need. They keep fighting, then that's tragic, but they didn't take the next best step to get better, so this is the consequence of that.)

[Kamen Rider Die]

THREAD WRAP-UP



And that’s it for “Kamen Rider Die rewatches Kamen Rider Fourze”!

It’s like Tomoko says up there: it was really nice to spend a few months with the characters in Fourze. It’s a fun show, which is literally the first way I described it back in January when this thread started, and it’s still the best way to describe it dozens and dozens of posts later. There’s a youthful energy to this show and its cast that’s unmatched across 55 years (and counting) of the Kamen Rider franchise, and it made me feel young again to watch it.

It was also very fun to rewatch it here on the boards, alongside all of you. Fourze’s a show about friendship and support, and I will always appreciate the folks who took a moment or two over the last four months to share their thoughts on the show, or say some kind words about a post, or just goof around about things. I genuinely consider you all friends, and I like getting to hang out with you on the boards a few times each year.

Along those lines, this is going to be it for me for a little while until the next thread. This thread is yours to enjoy, so feel to continue chatting about the kids of Amanogawa High for as long as you’d like. I’ll be back in the late-summer/early-fall (August? September?) with my Magical Girl thread, “Kamen Rider Die watches Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon”!

(And… yes, I know that DreamSword has been watching this and writing about it for a few months. You should definitely go read that now, because it’s bound to be more thoughtful and distinctive than what I’m going to come up with. I hate for it to look like I’m stepping on any toes, but I planned in 2023 to be watching this show after Fourze, and I’m still really looking forward to it. I don’t know anything about the Sailor Moon franchise, and the Kobayashi of it all has me really intrigued. I’m sorry it’s coming so hot on the heels of DreamSword’s take, but rest assured that mine will be a pale imitation at best. Also, probably the exact opposite of DreamSword’s opinions!)

Thanks again to everyone who stopped by to chat about Fourze! Miu says it best, like she says everything the best:

[Fish Sandwich]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

(And… yes, I know that DreamSword has been watching this and writing about it for a few months. You should definitely go read that now, because it’s bound to be more thoughtful and distinctive than what I’m going to come up with. I hate for it to look like I’m stepping on any toes, but I planned in 2023 to be watching this show after Fourze, and I’m still really looking forward to it. I don’t know anything about the Sailor Moon franchise, and the Kobayashi of it all has me really intrigued. I’m sorry it’s coming so hot on the heels of DreamSword’s take, but rest assured that mine will be a pale imitation at best. Also, probably the exact opposite of DreamSword’s opinions!)

I'll go ahead and apologize ahead of time for making you write a nearly identical disclaimer when you get to the end of that thread.

I'll also apologize now for not being in that thread, since -- like 99% of anime DreamSword watches -- it's a show I'm not familiar enough with to contribute much to the discussion.

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

I'll go ahead and apologize ahead of time for making you write a nearly identical disclaimer when you get to the end of that thread.

I'm planning a slightly different disclaimer for the end of that thread -- namely that I would not expect Wizard fans to look to me as their hope for a warm reflection on that series, and that your thread is both better and kinder to the material.

(I don't want to jump too far ahead, but, I hope I'm wrong about that? Wizard's always been a show in my head where I remember the things I didn't like about it more than the things I did like, which is both not how I usually leave shows, and also a total bummer. I'd like to find more to love about it this time!)

[DreamSword]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I genuinely consider you all friends

gross

Quote:

And? yes, I know that DreamSword has been watching this and writing about it for a few months. You should definitely go read that now

super gross

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

I'll also apologize now for not being in that thread, since -- like 99% of anime DreamSword watches -- it's a show I'm not familiar enough with to contribute much to the discussion.

I have to let the people know about the lesser known wonders of the world!

Uh, I mean, yeah, that guy only watches shows that are clearly fake. Like, who's even heard of half the stuff he talks about? Jeez.

[Switchblade]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

(I don't want to jump too far ahead, but, I hope I'm wrong about that? Wizard's always been a show in my head where I remember the things I didn't like about it more than the things I did like, which is both not how I usually leave shows, and also a total bummer. I'd like to find more to love about it this time!)

Very much where I'm at on it. I remember liking Haruto a lot and that it had really good action scenes and music. Beyond that it's just a lot of frustration with some of the supporting characters and that one episode with the parrot that everybody really hated back when it first aired.