|
Community Links |
Members List |
Search Forums |
Advanced Search |
Go to Page... |
|
Thread Tools |
10-26-2020, 07:19 PM | #451 |
Some guy. I'm alright.
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,423
|
Quote:
But nah in serious talk, it'll be interesting to see where your mind goes as the show does.
__________________
|
10-26-2020, 07:52 PM | #452 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
|
KAMEN RIDER HIBIKI VOLUME 31 - "SURPASSING FATHER"
"Blame yourself blame your mother blame the sea Blame a lover blame psychiatry To never know what kind of man your father'd be How you'd wished he'd kept a diary" -Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, "Man O, War" My dad died when I was two. I never really got to know him, not in any way that'd make sense to an adult. I've always lived without that experience of having a father. It wasn't really something I thought about, growing up. It didn't drive me, or haunt me. Not having a dad was like not having a swimming pool or not having a dog. I knew that some people did, and I knew that it was something that I didn't. It was just... a fact, something neutral and indisputable. No emotional weight. It was me and mom, and that was fine. It was enough. Until, one day, it wasn't. I don't even remember the first time I started to wonder what it would've been like to know my dad, to have been raised by him and my mom, together. Early 20s, probably. It just happened, this What If. We'd've never moved out of Virginia. He had a government job, and that wasn't going anywhere. I'd've gone to different schools, had different hobbies, followed different paths. Idle speculation, you know? A million things in your life could've gone differently, so it's nothing to really dwell on. But it never really goes away, that curiosity. It builds, and grows. More often now, it's this thing of wondering if my dad would've been proud of me, if we'd've gotten along. It's not a given, from what I know of friends and their dads. But maybe we would've had a good relationship. We're similar, I've been told. My mom frequently tells me how much a mannerism of mine reminds her of my dad, or how the way I'll explain something is how he'd've done it. It's weird, feeling this echo in your life of someone you've never met. It's reassuring, at times, to feel like some part of them lives on in you. Other times, worse times, it's like something's been taken from you; some part of you that you're owed, that you've been robbed of. It's like a phantom limb, this loss that's still with you, forever. All of which is to say, yes, I feel this Kiriya plot intensely. I like this slightly different direction for Hibiki, one where it's doing less from the perspective of parents (Hibiki, Ibuki, Ichiro, Zanki) and really really really drilling into the idea of boys who need father figures. There's some very hand-waved monster fighting in this one (Dogwheel is a great suit with zero going on narratively), but the bulk of the storytelling is about Kiriya and Asumu feeling this absence in their lives, and how they try to fill it. Asumu's story is the better of the two, if I'm being honest. It's more complete, for one, and Asumu's just easier to care about. The things it's tapping into, the abandonment, it's not really as relatable to me as the Kiriya parts of this episode, but it's so well-told that I bought it. I bought all of it. I get why people might miss the earlier era of this show, and how pleasant it was. The Asumu plot from this episode is rough. It's this kid who feels scared of learning who his father is, and then learns that he's an awesome dad... to his new family. It's Asumu finding the strength to live with feeling like he wasn't good enough to make his dad stay. It's an irrational thought, as though his dad leaving was anything to do with him as a child, but you can see on his face at the end that it's going to be something he thinks about for a long time. He had his moment of proving to his dad that he was worth loving, worth respecting, and that's no small victory for Asumu. But his face at the end. Him sitting in the back of his mom's cab, realizing that this man lived a better life without him in it... that is a rough story. That is a sad story. It's great, though. I loved watching it. (Real quick, though, huge praise for AsuMum in this episode. She's always always great, but she nailed the single mom energy in this one. She clearly knows that Asumu is going to learn things about his dad that are going to break his heart, but he deserves to know the truth, so she has to let him get hurt. Her handing him the dad's address without looking him in the eyes! Her showing up to drive him home! Her being like It Is Okay To Have Positive Feelings About A Man Who Abandoned You! Her taking him out for junk food! That is 100% how single moms make only children feel better!) Kiriya's story is more open-ended, and occasionally Very Weird (he immediately challenges Hibiki to any contest whatsoever), but I get it. I get where Kiriya's coming from. There's this thing inside Kiriya that... it's like he doesn't know how he works. He's this collection of skills that mean nothing, in a life that he can't quantify. It's like he's taking a course that has no final exam. He needs to be measured, because he needs to show that he deserves his father's love and respect. But he can't ever get that, so he's looking for some dad, any dad, to feel like he's good enough. I mean, it's weird. Hibiki is just, like, some guy that Kiriya fixates on. But it's also maybe something I'm surprised to see the show commenting on, which is how possibly detrimental it is for boys to find father figures in TV show superheroes. It's maybe a subtle critique of the earlier Hibiki phase's mission statement, that perfect heroes like Hibiki (for an approachably weird value of Perfect) are not doing young men any favors when it comes to providing examples on how to live. Now, a) I don't agree with that, and b) I don't think the show agrees with that. But. I think it's a question worth exploring, if heroes like Hibiki create unattainable standards in the minds of the children watching them. It'll be interesting if the show continues to comment on it through Asumu and Kiriya. Anyway, I loved this episode. I thought it was poignant and touching, for the ways it used absent fathers as an eternal wound in children. I get these two kids. I get what's driving them, and I thought the show did a phenomenal job telling their stories. I mean, this is an episode that juxtaposed Hibiki detonating a monster with Asumu building a doghouse to reclaim the sense of self-worth his father shredded by abandoning him, and the doghouse stuff was the more compelling climax. Really into this era of Hibiki so far!
__________________
Currently working on: Go-Busters is next! Archive of previous shows on KamenRiderDie.com! Last edited by Kamen Rider Die; 08-18-2023 at 06:18 PM.. |
10-26-2020, 08:09 PM | #453 |
Veteran Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 2,481
|
This is not relevant to anything but I love how much older Kiriya looks then Asumu. The actors are only 2 years apart in age, but Kirya looks like a 20 something as opposed to Asumu looking 14 to 15.
(also that was a really good post die, like holy crap)
__________________
|
10-26-2020, 08:15 PM | #454 |
Some guy. I'm alright.
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,423
|
Sorry if this comes across way douche-y, because I really don't want it to, but I really have no idea how else to word it. So, really sorry in advance, and I understand if you get upset.
But, considering how much this episode spoke to you on a personal level, it spoke to me on a personal level too! ...Except in the exact opposite direction. I won't go into detail since I'm kinda walking on thin ice as is(maybe at the end of the thread or when I rewatch Hibiki myself sometime in 2021), but I will say that I am atleast glad that this episode managed to reach you in a positive way, even if it gave me the exact opposite feeling. From someone who grew up in somewhat similar circumstances, sorry about the feelings you had to go through in the past, and I hope things have overall gotten better for you in that respect.
__________________
|
10-26-2020, 08:47 PM | #455 |
The Immortal King Tasty
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Every diner you've ever been to.
Posts: 3,833
|
Hey, so, time for a ~super~ embarrassing confession – I went years somehow having it in my head that this was final pre-retool episode of Hibiki.
Like, I think I forgot Kiriya was in it, and in retrospect, there's no way this would be the plot the old show ended on, but what I didn't forget about it, and why I think the confusion happened, is because I remember adoring this one, and only Real Hibiki was ever any good, right? I don't have some deep personal way to relate to it, and I can't recall details, but that scene at the very end with Asumu and his mom in particular, this exact frame and line, are burned into my brain more than just about anything else in Hibiki. There's a real weighty mood to that whole scene, where it's just kinda processing the drama and emotions of the past 20 minutes, each little line saying more than it seems like at first, that I found myself so invested in. I don't know if I would think this episode holds up on a rewatch or anything, but, at the time at least, I was way into it, and I'm glad Die found so much to love in here too.
__________________
|
10-26-2020, 10:07 PM | #456 |
I have a problematic type
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 10,424
|
|
10-26-2020, 10:17 PM | #457 |
Veteran Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 2,481
|
Bad joke incoming
And here we see a preview of the parental issues of neo-hesei Bad joke concluded.
__________________
|
10-26-2020, 10:28 PM | #458 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 320
|
|
10-26-2020, 10:32 PM | #459 |
I have a problematic type
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 10,424
|
I can definitely relate to Asumu's situation here, too. My dad is alive, but he's never really been part of my life and being around him has never felt comfortable. I remember this episode definitely hit a bit close to home at the time. Now, though, it just feels like another element that doesn't work with the show's pre-Inoue continuity.
We don't learn a lot about Asumu's dad in the first 29 episodes. He taught Asumu drums and he's estranged from Asumu's mom. The only other things we get is that both Hibiki and Ibuki initially remind Asumom of him. From that I've always assumed that he was meant to be an Oni, possibly one who went off into the field and never came back. That's just an assumption, though. I'm pretty sure the plan wasn't for him to just be a neglectful dick. So, the monster. I said I'd say my piece yesterday and here it is: I don't like the new Makamou we get here. It's not an awful design, but it is definitely not a Makamou. It feels like a lot of the monsters from here on out are just things that Toei had lying around that got repurposed to be a cheaper alternative to giant CGI crabs. |
10-26-2020, 11:00 PM | #460 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
|
Quote:
And thanks! Quote:
Sorry if this comes across way douche-y, because I really don't want it to, but I really have no idea how else to word it. So, really sorry in advance, and I understand if you get upset.
But, considering how much this episode spoke to you on a personal level, it spoke to me on a personal level too! ...Except in the exact opposite direction. I won't go into detail since I'm kinda walking on thin ice as is(maybe at the end of the thread or when I rewatch Hibiki myself sometime in 2021), but I will say that I am atleast glad that this episode managed to reach you in a positive way, even if it gave me the exact opposite feeling. From someone who grew up in somewhat similar circumstances, sorry about the feelings you had to go through in the past, and I hope things have overall gotten better for you in that respect. To your final thought, thanks, but I don't want that post to make it seem like I'm haunted by my dad's memory or anything. My point was more that it's not something that ever really gets better or goes way, but it's also not constantly on my mind. It's one of the biggest What Ifs you can have as someone who lost a parent when you were a child, but it's just a What If. Like, I can't really mourn someone I never knew, but I can occasionally mourn the fact that I never knew him. I'm not sure what your situation is, so I'm not sure if that's been your experience as well. Quote:
There's a real weighty mood to that whole scene, where it's just kinda processing the drama and emotions of the past 20 minutes, each little line saying more than it seems like at first, that I found myself so invested in. I don't know if I would think this episode holds up on a rewatch or anything, but, at the time at least, I was way into it, and I'm glad Die found so much to love in here too.
I don't know, I think this episode (and a bunch of Agito and Faiz stories) are great at summarizing their morals and themes without insulting the viewer's intelligence. Quote:
Quote:
I can definitely relate to Asumu's situation here, too. My dad is alive, but he's never really been part of my life and being around him has never felt comfortable. I remember this episode definitely hit a bit close to home at the time. Now, though, it just feels like another element that doesn't work with the show's pre-Inoue continuity.
We don't learn a lot about Asumu's dad in the first 29 episodes. He taught Asumu drums and he's estranged from Asumu's mom. The only other things we get is that both Hibiki and Ibuki initially remind Asumom of him. From that I've always assumed that he was meant to be an Oni, possibly one who went off into the field and never came back. That's just an assumption, though. I'm pretty sure the plan wasn't for him to just be a neglectful dick. I do think it fits in with the overall sense of getting Asumu to confront his fears and move forward with his life. Hibiki basically tells him that he's running away from dealing with his dad. Having his dad be someone who's not a bad guy, just someone that won't be a part of Asumu's life... like, it's a sad story, but it's not a mean story? Asumu's dad is just an idea floating through this episode. He doesn't yell at Asumu or tell him he's worthless, because the point isn't that Asumu's dad is what matters. What matters is that Asumu needs to confront his feelings about his dad, not necessarily confront his dad. There's a great point near the end where Asumu says that he didn't see his dad, but he feels like he met him. What Asumu's dad has to say to his son... I don't know, I feel like the smartest thing this episode did was skip that confrontation. So, yeah, I guess what I'm saying is that tonally, this fits right alongside the shoplifter story or Asumu's entrance exams. Quote:
So, the monster. I said I'd say my piece yesterday and here it is: I don't like the new Makamou we get here. It's not an awful design, but it is definitely not a Makamou. It feels like a lot of the monsters from here on out are just things that Toei had lying around that got repurposed to be a cheaper alternative to giant CGI crabs.
__________________
Currently working on: Go-Busters is next! Archive of previous shows on KamenRiderDie.com! |
|
TokuNation News & Rumors |
ToyRise RyuKenDo |
Alternative Cut of "Day Of The Dumpster" Released |
Shodo SUPER Kyoryuger Teaser |
Figuarts/Seihou GRIDMAN |
SH Figuarts BoonBoomger Red |
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:55 AM.
|