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12-29-2020, 02:20 PM | #381 |
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KAMEN RIDER KABUTO - EPISODE 24
I could 100% spend this entire post talking about the Ramen Vs La Men battle that runs through the first half of this episode. It is suitably bonkers, with some outstanding comedy routines. (I don’t know that any Kamen Rider episode I’ve ever watched has been as funny for as sustained a time as Kabuto was for the opening of Tsurugi’s restaurant, into the TV coverage, into Juka getting the last word on Tendou’s speech, into the random bystander being Misaki who is not even there for any story purpose, into Misaki’s answer to Which Ramen Do You Think Will Win being buckwheat soba with zero hesitation or need for explanation. That whole scene was non-stop funny, and it kept finding ever more surprising twists. Gold standard for comedy on a Kamen Rider TV episode.) But, I just did that yesterday, so let me talk about what the whole Tsurugi/Tendou thing is doing for the more-important-this-time Hiyori story. Quote:
The point to the Tsurugi/Tendou story is that you need to support your friends, even when it makes you look bad. (Humility! It’s a central theme!) Tsurugi was so intent on proving his greatness, that he was making himself into a monster. His conflict with Tendou teaches him that losing gracefully is as important as winning, and he should be the bigger man and admit that he was bested.
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It’s a lesson Tendou needs to learn as Hiyori’s insistence on discovering the truth of her past becomes more and more unavoidable. He’s furious at Kagami’s reveal that Hiyori is planning a day-trip to Area X. (Area Eclipse was closed for visitors that day, so she went with her second choice.) He forbids Hiyori to go, and forbids Kagami to help her. It’s all a bit moot, though, since Hiyori isn’t around for these conversations. It’s all happening without her, since she isn’t exactly asking for volunteers to go with her. She never asked for the boys’ help, so she completely doesn’t give a shit when they object. It’s disappointing, but she’s lived with worse disappointment than that.
Which is why it’s so sweet when Kagami turns up to say that he’ll go with her. He fears for her safety (it’s not as dangerous as going to Area Baphomet, but it’s still pretty rough), but he believes her when she says she needs to investigate her past, to find some closure. Kagami gets it, the need to follow your instincts even when everyone else objects. What kind of friend would he be if he stood in her way? Quote:
But Kagami wasn’t the one who was in the wrong. This time, it was Tendou. He kept stalking Hiyori, brooding mysteriously as she set her mind to discovering the truth. Without knowing exactly what secret he’s afraid she’ll unearth, it's hard to say exactly what Tendou’s trying to do here. The most obvious guess is that he’s afraid she’ll learn something that’ll make her look at Tendou differently, something that’d end their friendship for good.
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A QUESTION
Was not expecting this one to be a three-parter! I figured there’d be another two-parter, and then the movie. This story is definitely sprawling on me, especially as it’s doing more and more series plot stuff. Meteorites and secret doors and I really didn’t have a question when I started this paragraph and I thought if I just kept writing one would come to me and it really really hasn’t so here’s an unrelated one that I was thinking about at lunch today: For the last good while, a new Rider’s collectibles include Legend Rider-themed trinkets. Gashats and FullBottles for Kamen Rider Gaim, Lockseeds and Eyecons for Kamen Rider Double, and so forth. What if they went the opposite way? What if the current Rider got old collectibles in their style? What post-Kabuto Legend Rider would you like to see get their own Zecter? In the same vein of keeping away the truth for good reasons, where it's about preventing spoiling stuff to those that still doesn't know yet, can only said that what happens in Kabuto later will be an ironic of "involved in Rider plots" here.
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12-29-2020, 08:36 PM | #382 |
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I really loved the direction in this episode, and the last one too. They're the work of one Naoki Tamura (TV Asahi), who is always credited as Naoki Tamura (TV Asahi), presumably because TV Asahi, the network that airs Kamen Rider, really wants you to know he doesn't actually work specifically for Toei. This is how they always credit their producers, too, and similar distinctions are made elsewhere in the credits where appropriate, so it's not actually unusual, but he's the only director it ever happens to, and I just find it hilarious that he alone apparently needs to be branded like cattle. Anyways, Naoki Tamura (TV Asahi) has a rather compact list of credits on Rider, all things considered, but it stretches all the way from Faiz to Zi-O, and some of those episodes were pretty big deals. Especially in Faiz's case, where he was responsible for handling episodes as pivotal as Takumi's big comeback in episode 17 of that show. I remember when rewatching Faiz thinking episodes like that noticeably above average visually, and while that was a little prior to me discovering my current abiding love for Ishida's work when it comes to early Heisei, I'm reminded by these episodes of Kabuto that I wasn't wrong about Naoki Tamura (TV Asahi) either. I can't define his style or what, if anything, makes it unique, but there are loads of super slick, super smart direction choices all throughout this one especially. The blinding white light of the truth that lies beyond the super secret door at the end isn't even my favorite example. Nor, amazingly, is it the decision to emphasize the awesomeness of the Kabuto/Gatack teamup by having them do simultaneous Rider Kicks where the "1!" is announced by Kabuto's belt in close-up, followed by "2!" from Gatack, before letting them announce "3!" together in a singular chorus of awesomeness. I mean, that double Rider Kick might objectively be the best thing in the episode, but naturally my favorite bit of great direction involved Hiyori. It's a scene towards the middle where she's staring at a picture of her and her parents, thinking over the past as she hardens her resolve to make her way to Shibuya, and... it's like I said, I struggle to even describe why find it so visually stunning, but it's just... it's composed of so many little individual shots, and it's way more elaborate and well put together than it really needs to be, and the end result looks fantastic. I appreciated the extra effort for a scene that's essentially the turning point for the whole plot in a way. So yeah, great work from Naoki Tamura (TV Asahi) on this show. This is actually his last set of episodes for Kabuto, following from 3/4 and 9/10, both of which also had some notably slick visuals in spots (4 is the big rain fight, if you don't remember), but I don't think I mentioned him by name back then, so I'm glad I got a chance to amend that. It's very important that Naoki Tamura (TV Asahi) gets the credit he deserves! The writing is of course very solid this episode too, but Die covered that at least as well as I could. I loved the vibe of the main trio actually trying to come together as one unit here. Hiyori visibly smiling a bit when Kagami says he'll be by her side is an especially sweet moment; a quick flashback to her sketchbook stresses that Kagami is basically making that fantasy of no longer being alone into a reality, and she appreciates the weight of that enough to immediately stop pushing him away. Tendou is also sweet here, but it's naturally done through a very Tendou filter. You know he's serious about trying to be a good friend because he bowed to someone else's wishes at all, but you know he'd still rather not be here because he makes the ZECT Mizer do his heroic entrance for him. Tendou only busts that thing out when he's feeling real unenthusiastic that day. Still, it's nice to see everyone getting along!
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Last edited by Fish Sandwich; 12-29-2020 at 10:57 PM.. |
12-29-2020, 10:12 PM | #383 |
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And I also have to say, in their first fight, there was a best and most appropriate usage of Cast Off; as Cast Off is breaking the Rider's shell, launching the remains of Masked Form in high velocity where the remains can act as projectile attack, it's best used when you're literally bound by an attack, you break free using Cast Off!
This episode also had a rare (first?) appearance of Put On, where the Riders, uh, put on some of their discarded armor. I love that shouted command from the belt, PUT ON, so much. Quote:
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With Tendou arriving at the most big damn heroes moment, by that, probably Tendou wouldn't be the one that is in the wrong? Tendou's the one that saves the day once again, and that proves that Hiyori shouldn't insist to go alone, which means Tendou was right in that, and also, his move of stalking Hiyori is in the right.
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Tendou is also sweet here, but it's naturally done through a very Tendou filter. You know he's serious about trying to be a good friend because he bowed to someone else's wishes at all, but you know he'd still rather not be here because he makes the ZECT Mizer do his heroic entrance for him. Tendou only busts that thing out when he's feeling real unenthusisatic that day. Still, it's nice to see everyone getting along!
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12-30-2020, 01:39 AM | #384 |
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Die! I finished Hibiki last weekend, immediately started Kabuto, and just blazed through it. I think I may be about 4/5 episodes ahead of you surprisingly.
Sounds like youre enjoying it ? I know I am. Great stuff all around and I'm very taken aback by how funny this show can be. I kinda expected this show to be edge-grim-dark for 12 years old but that's not really the case. So last EP's question: How about we cheat and give Build two Zectors: a tiny little hopping rabbit and a tiny little tank steamrolling from the horizon ( wait didnt his show already do that ? ) |
12-30-2020, 02:03 AM | #385 |
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Build's and Double's Zecters would definitely need to be two pieces, so that works for me!
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12-30-2020, 07:03 AM | #386 |
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Sorry I haven’t really commented on this episode. I just didn’t have anything to say. That should be rectified with the next episode (which introduces a new villain who defies your main problem with villains and riders in phase 1 Heisei shows)
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12-30-2020, 10:43 AM | #387 |
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Oh no!
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12-30-2020, 02:43 PM | #388 |
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He said "defies your main problem" so that's actually a good thing.
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12-30-2020, 08:46 PM | #389 |
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That's always been insane to think about to me, with how much both Rider and Sentai are generally all about keeping the show and the merch in sync with each other. Surely a lot of children in 2006 were extremely disappointed when they went to slap the side of their belts all cool like Tendou always does, only to realize nothing was happening because there aren't even electronics there? But then, those were still sweet toys anyway, so they probably got over it pretty quick.
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12-30-2020, 08:54 PM | #390 |
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Come to think of it, this reminds me of something I keep meaning to bring up – the fact that despite it being such an iconic part of the show, if I'm not forgetting anything here, none of the DX toys at the time actually said "Clock Up", let alone having a Put On sound.
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