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11-05-2020, 08:01 PM | #561 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
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Quote:
Yeah, this is the crux of why I really hate this arc of the show. I get that Kamen Rider is a boy's franchise/toyline, but at this point it's record with giving women anything approaching equal footing is abysmal. We're at three female Riders with a mortality rate of 100% and the main premise of the last one is to tell Akira that this job isn't for her, either. I'm not going to discredit Inoue by saying that he was being intentionally sexist here, but it's a really bad look and it's part of a negative trend that the show wouldn't break out of until Wizard.
The main thing to me as that the show isn't coming at it from the perspective of Why Should A Girl Get To Be A Hero. It's working from the assumption that Akira is a hero, is going to be an Oni, and then digging into why she might or might not want that future for herself. So much of what I love about the story is how the various Oni view her misgivings as something that will adversely affect Takeshi, and how important it is to help her. It doesn't seem like the show is diminishing Akira's character? Otherwise, I think the expectation that Akira shouldn't be challenged because it reflects poorly on the show's treatment of female characters... I mean, one, it'd maybe be more disappointing if the show needed to treat her with kid gloves, to make sure she's a resolute bad-ass who never needs help and has it all figured out. That'd be boring! I like that she questions herself, that she has some growing up to do, that there's a crisis she needs to overcome. Having her lack flaws because she's a girl... I'd rather she had them? Finally, I don't think this show needs Akira to be strong all the time, since the show has a variety of other women who are strong and dedicated. If Akira quits, it doesn't mean Women Can't Do The Hard Work, because you've got Midori and Hinaka and Kasumi. Shit, you've even got Shuki, briefly! Akira doesn't have to represent Women, because the show has plenty of compelling women as well. It can let Akira just be Akira, and I like that she's complicated right now.
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11-05-2020, 10:56 PM | #562 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
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KAMEN RIDER HIBIKI VOLUME 39 - "YOUR BEGINNING"
"You're in the Carolinas and I'm going to New York And I'll be much better there Or that's what I'm hoping for And we will never speak again" -Waxahatchee, "Noccalula" Oh, god, where to start? The Todoroki part was the absolute worst. If I was ever going to quit a Kamen Rider series, that Todoroki In The Rain scene would've done it. I'm not sure I've ever felt more defeated than I was watching that scene. But, since I got through it and am writing these words, I guess I'm living up to the episode's theme of persevering after defeat. This episode destroyed me emotionally, shook my faith in the innate goodness of humanity, had me wondering But Why Kamen Riders... and I got through it. I won by getting back up. That Todoroki scene is the stupid culmination of the stupidest plotline, so I guess it's at least consistent? It's trying to say something in the end about how Todoroki needs to stand on his own, that Zanki is pushing him away to make him stronger, except... no? No, that's not at all their relationship? Zanki isn't a crutch that Todoroki's leaning on, he's his appointed assistant. (A concept this story seems weirdly unaware of, considering Hibiki was out in the woods without Kasumi for some reason to start this all off.) Zanki isn't holding Todoroki back, he's following Todoroki's lead. They literally already did the story where Todoroki stops depending on Zanki. It was the first Todoroki/Zanki story this goddamn show did. If it weren't for the out-of-nowhere insistence from Todoroki that Zanki fight with him as an Oni (despite him retiring months ago to zero complaint from Todoroki), this plot would have nothing to build off of, which makes it abundantly clear how forced and unnatural this story is. So, yeah, Zanki wandering up to a defeated Todoroki, Todoroki tearfully telling Zanki that he can go it alone, Zanki watching him walk away... idiotic. Stupid. Massively unearned. Totally divorced from everything these characters have ever stood for. Should've been laughed off of the script's first draft. The Akira/Ibuki stuff... not substantially better! I almost just want to say This Is A Story About Akira Where Akira Is Not Allowed To Talk and just leave it at that, but... actually, no, screw it, that's where I'm going to leave that one. Finally, there's the Asumu/Hibiki plot which... y'know, it's not the worst part of this episode. The idea that Asumu needs to have the courage to start walking down his path, it feels way more relevant to what his character is going through than the weird Clear Your Mind stuff from last episode (which does end up helping Asumu help Hibiki, so there's that), and it's tied into the episode's (stupidly applied) theme of kids needing to make their own choices. It is coherent and not insulting, which is the highest praise I can give anything in this episode. It's not exactly great, and I wish Hibiki calling Asumu by his name had happened in literally any other episode, but it's not frustrating and disappointing like the rest of this episode. I hated this! So much! The only thing that can ease the pain is being reminded of the only Oni out there who didn't let me down, who could never let me down:
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11-05-2020, 11:01 PM | #563 |
Showa Girl
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 9,064
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At least they never ruin Sabaki in Hibiki part 2. Spoilers that he doesn't suck in the next 8 episodes I guess but you can always rely on him!
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11-05-2020, 11:08 PM | #564 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
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Hand to god, if it wasn't for Sabaki in this episode I might've ended this thread at Episode 38. This thing was dire, and only the presence of The Hardest-Working Oni kept me from losing all faith.
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11-06-2020, 02:15 AM | #565 |
I have a problematic type
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 10,424
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Man, I do not remember any of this and that makes me so happy.
Also, I'm going to cut the writer some slack here. I know for a fact that this isn't the worst thing Yonemura has ever written because I've seen the Super Hero Taisen movies and these episode can't possibly be as bad as those. |
11-06-2020, 04:09 AM | #566 |
Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 2,553
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Not much to say here. I remember nothing except Hibiki finally calling Asumu by name and like I said back in the early days of the thread, I actually missed that when watching and had to be caught up by the SHT bumper.
And now, I’ll just skip to the running gag of the lyrics. Ninety-nine decision street Ninety-nine ministers meet To worry, worry, super scurry Call the troops out in a hurry This is what we've waited for This is it, boys, this is war The president is on the line As ninety-nine red balloons go by - Nena, Neunundneunzig Luftballons |
11-06-2020, 11:05 AM | #567 |
Standing By
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: USA
Posts: 2,105
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Just like how Episode 29's title, Kagayaku Shounen, referenced both Kagayaki and Shounen Yo, Episode 39's title, Hajimaru Kimi, references the new OP, Hajimari No Kimi E. I thought that was interesting.
Quote:
Finally, there’s the Asumu/Hibiki plot which… y’know, it’s not the worst part of this episode. The idea that Asumu needs to have the courage to start walking down his path, it feels way more relevant to what his character is going through than the weird Clear Your Mind stuff from last episode (which does end up helping Asumu help Hibiki, so there’s that), and it’s tied into the episode’s (stupidly applied) theme of kids needing to make their own choices. It is coherent and not insulting, which is the highest praise I can give anything in this episode. It’s not exactly great, and I wish Hibiki calling Asumu by his name had happened in literally any other episode, but it’s not frustrating and disappointing like the rest of this episode.
I would also like to talk about Kiriya infiltrating Midori's lab and his failed henshin. He has the drive to become an Oni and acts on impulse to accomplish that goal but due to his selfish motivation, Hibiki doesn't acknowledge him and refuses to teach him. It's also shown that despite his academic success, Kiriya isn't naturally athletic, he's untrained and has cowardly traits such as a fear of darkness and lack of initiative when his life is in danger. These are problems he will need to work on for Hibiki to ever accept him as a candidate.
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11-06-2020, 12:34 PM | #568 |
Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 2,553
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Since Sh Ranger brought it up, I’ll point out that Hibiki is the second Rider show to have a theme to its episode titles (namely, when written in Romanji, the first word ends in a “u” sound). The first was Kuuga, who’s theme was that every episode had two syllables in the title (eg. Rebirth). It doesn’t become a regular thing for Kamen Rider until Kiva, after which every season has a theme.
Kiva has the first half of their titles be a music reference, and the second half is a statement relevant to the plot (eg. When the Saints Go Marching In: I will Be King). Decade has its episode titles in the style of the Rider who he’s teaming up with (eg. The Kuuga team up is Transcendence) W has its two parters share an overarching title, which is then followed by individual titles, with the overarching title containing a letter relevant to the episode (eg. The W Search, with the W indicating both the main rider and “word”) OOO’s episodes are in the form of three things relevant to the episode. (Eg. Medals, Underwear and the Mysterious Arm) Fourze’s titles are 4 syllables, all enunciated. (Eg. Youth! Full! Switch! On!) Wizard’s titles are written in Kanji and Hiragana (eg. 指輪の魔法使い Yubiwa no Mahōtsukai) Gaim’s first few episodes insert a fruit (eg. Transform! The Orange from the Sky). Drive’s episode titles are in the form of a question that gets answered in the episode (eg. Why did my Time Stop?) Ghost has two short sentences that are filled with exclaim action marks. (Eg. Kaigan! Ore!) Ex-Aid’s titles are half-Japanese, half-English (eg. Tensai Futari wa No Thank You). Build’s titles are much the same (eg. Best Match no Yatsu ra) Zi-O’s titles are statements relevant to the episode, followed by a year relevant to the episode (eg. Century King 2068), with episodes focusing on past Riders having that statement be a reference to their show (eg. 555 913 2003). After the halfway point, the year goes first in the title (eg. 2001 Awaken That Soul, 2019 Apocalypse). Zero-One’s titles are written in katakana and often include a pun (eg. AIなアイツは敵?味方? AI na Aitsu wa Teki? Mikata?). Episodes beginning a new arc will be titled “I am the x and a Kamen Rider”, with the I being written as “ore” with heroic characters and “watashi” with villainous characters. Saber’s episodes are referred to as “chapters” and are written in the form of descriptive sentences (eg. In the Beginning, There was a Flame Swordsman). I’d go into the theme naming for Super Sentai episodes, but then we’d be here all night (and I doubt you have the time or interest for that). |
11-06-2020, 03:05 PM | #569 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
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Quote:
Yeah, this is easily the better part of the episode, which we can both agree is below average even by the show's new standard. It's the most impactful Shounen has ever been to the Oni side of the story, saving both Midori and himself from a sticky situation and thinking of the tactic for Hibiki to defeat Yobuko. Takeshi could use good supporters like him, especially with the gap left in the organisation by Akira abandoning Ibuki, who is stuck in a tragic limbo where he has no idea whether or not she intends on returning to him and doesn't know what to do with himself.
I don't know. I'm just not seeing what the show wants me to see, maybe? Quote:
I would also like to talk about Kiriya infiltrating Midori's lab and his failed henshin. He has the drive to become an Oni and acts on impulse to accomplish that goal but due to his selfish motivation, Hibiki doesn't acknowledge him and refuses to teach him. It's also shown that despite his academic success, Kiriya isn't naturally athletic, he's untrained and has cowardly traits such as a fear of darkness and lack of initiative when his life is in danger. These are problems he will need to work on for Hibiki to ever accept him as a candidate.
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11-06-2020, 04:37 PM | #570 |
I have a problematic type
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 10,424
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Quote:
Yeah, I never really thought Asumu would be bad at being Hibiki's apprentice (he's a good kid who's excited by what the Oni do), but I'm still not sure why Asumu would want to be? The show is pressuring Asumu from multiple angles, most specifically Kiriya and Midori in these episodes, but there's still nothing in the performance that makes me think that future is one he wants.
I don't know. I'm just not seeing what the show wants me to see, maybe? |
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