|
Community Links |
Members List |
Search Forums |
Advanced Search |
Go to Page... |
|
Thread Tools |
09-02-2020, 11:41 PM | #861 |
Some guy. I'm alright.
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,399
|
I'll save my final thoughts on the show as a whole for next time, but as for right now, yeah, one of the few points I can personally give Blade is that the final episode is absolutely fantastic, and makes all the issues I have with the second half of the show almost entirely worth it. Like you, I saw the last twist coming, but really, I wouldn't've had it any other way.
__________________
|
09-02-2020, 11:47 PM | #862 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
|
Quote:
I'll save my final thoughts on the show as a whole for next time, but as for right now, yeah, one of the few points I can personally give Blade is that the final episode is absolutely fantastic, and makes all the issues I have with the second half of the show almost entirely worth it. Like you, I saw the last twist coming, but really, I wouldn't've had it any other way.
I don't... I don't think this ending forgives the show's flaws. That'll be for tomorrow, where we'll dig into both the good (the thematic stuff! the characters!) as well as the bad (the villains! also the thematic stuff!). If today was a chance to sing the show's praises, tomorrow... that's more of an Are The Knives Sharpened situations. This episode was beautiful, though. It's still making me cry. It's all built on the pure heroism of saying I'll Give You My Turn At Happiness. Just... Kenzaki. Carrying that weight for Hajime.
__________________
Currently working on: Go-Busters is next! Archive of previous shows on KamenRiderDie.com! |
09-02-2020, 11:47 PM | #863 |
Master Procrastinator
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 367
|
The ending is one thing that Blade really nails. It's the perfect ending, really. Not a happy one, not entirely, but perfect for the show.
The good guys don't win the traditional sense. The bad guy isn't really beaten, because there really is no big bad. It's the way the universe works in this setting. They can't really win. But they can't stall things forever and there a special kind of heroism in how it's done. It was also well set up. This ending didn't come out of nowhere. I hate it when shows do that. The side effects of King Form were already established, in typical dangerous final form style. Using it in that way was very well written. |
09-02-2020, 11:53 PM | #864 |
I have a problematic type
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 10,411
|
I love this finale. It’s such a gloriously triumphant tragedy that you rarely see in this franchise. Most shows try to end on a more upbeat, “hero saves the day and most or all of the characters are happy.” Blade has some of that, but it’s all wrapped around this core sacrifice - Kenzaki is gone. Not technically dead, but effectively as far as his friends are concerned. He gave up his humanity and all the family he has, just to ensure that Hajime gets to lead his own life. It’s a beautiful ending.
One thing that I like about this era of Rider is that we don’t get the sequel movies yet. Other shows with down notes on their endings all have an asterisk after them. Ankh is gone at the end of OOO, but he still shows up two more times. There are still scores of Bugster virus victims lost as data at the end of Ex-Aid, but that gets resolved in a follow-up film trilogy. Even Black, the most Pyrrhic victory in Kamen Rider, gets a sequel series that walks back Shadow Moon’s fate. Not Blade. Blade’s ending gets to stand. There’s no movie or miniseries that walks this back. That really adds to its power. Yes, I know Zi-O undoes it, but I feel like that only lasts until the Ride Watches’ powers go back home. It’s a temporary reprieve, not a complete overturning. It was also 15 years later and on a show of highly dubious quality. |
09-02-2020, 11:53 PM | #865 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
|
Quote:
The ending is one thing that Blade really nails. It's the perfect ending, really. Not a happy one, not entirely, but perfect for the show.
The good guys don't win the traditional sense. The bad guy isn't really beaten, because there really is no big bad. It's the way the universe works in this setting. They can't really win. But they can't stall things forever and there a special kind of heroism in how it's done. It was also well set up. This ending didn't come out of nowhere. I hate it when shows do that. The side effects of King Form were already established, in typical dangerous final form style. Using it in that way was very well written. The Sealing Stone always being out there, I just love that metaphor. There's always something out there that you can't reason with, can't eliminate. Not everything can be defeated. But we can work together to keep the world spinning. That's heroism.
__________________
Currently working on: Go-Busters is next! Archive of previous shows on KamenRiderDie.com! |
09-02-2020, 11:53 PM | #866 |
take me to space
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,406
|
Did you already know that bench is an iconic shot even before you picked it as a screenshot, or is your knack for finding the right one just that good? Anyway, yeah, it's no surprise to me that this finale is exceptionally fondly remembered, both for how powerful it is and just how unique it is too compared to what's come before and after. I don't know if it'd make my top five or so ranking of final episodes, but it's definitely one of the most memorable regardless, especially since in this era without v-cinemas or winter crossovers, this was the absolute final note that Blade would leave on it's viewers.
Minor thing I feel like pointing out, but it sure was weird how Tachibana and, like, BOARD man just casually entered this episode but then didn't amount to much. You'd think the whole point of making us think Tachibana was dead would be to then have him make a dramatic reappearance, but nope, he just shows up and is like 'yeah i'm still alive no big deal'. I know you're not done with the thread quite yet, but this was another nice one! Blade arguably didn't give you as much crunchy and thematic meat as something like Faiz or Ryuki did (and hey, those two shows are probably going to remain exceptional in that regard), but I can kinda just tell from your posts how this show (and especially Garren) has just been a whole lot of fun for you. Last edited by FreshToku; 09-03-2020 at 12:07 AM.. |
09-02-2020, 11:55 PM | #867 |
Dr. Salt NEO
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 727
|
Since I watched Blade for the first time a few years ago, there's a lot of things about it that have stood out in my memory since then. The memes of course, the silliness that is so prevalent in so much of the show. The great suits, the fun characters. But above everything else, the one thing that has stuck with me the most is that single image of the empty park bench, and everything it stands for. The ending of Blade is, without a doubt, my favorite ending of any Kamen Rider season. None other even comes close. And I have to thank you for the great words you wrote about it, you so eloquently stated everything I love so much about it.
__________________
My Action Figure Photography |
09-02-2020, 11:58 PM | #868 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
|
Quote:
I love this finale. It’s such a gloriously triumphant tragedy that you rarely see in this franchise. Most shows try to end on a more upbeat, “hero saves the day and most or all of the characters are happy.” Blade has some of that, but it’s all wrapped around this core sacrifice - Kenzaki is gone. Not technically dead, but effectively as far as his friends are concerned. He gave up his humanity and all the family he has, just to ensure that Hajime gets to lead his own life. It’s a beautiful ending.
One thing that I like about this era of Rider is that we don’t get the sequel movies yet. Other shows with down notes on their endings all have an asterisk after them. Ankh is gone at the end of OOO, but he still shows up two more times. There are still scores of Bugster virus victims lost as data at the end of Ex-Aid, but that gets resolved in a follow-up film trilogy. Even Black, the most Pyrrhic victory in Kamen Rider, gets a sequel series that walks back Shadow Moon’s fate. Not Blade. Blade’s ending gets to stand. There’s no movie or miniseries that walks this back. That really adds to its power. This one, though, man. I can't stop tearing up when I think about it. You know why? Because you know that Kenzaki is happy. He knows that everyone's got a shot at happiness, and he couldn't be happier. Not just for them, but because of them. Oh, man, I've got to wipe my face off. Getting a little hard to see the keyboard and screen right now.
__________________
Currently working on: Go-Busters is next! Archive of previous shows on KamenRiderDie.com! |
09-03-2020, 12:11 AM | #869 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
|
Quote:
Did you already know that bench is an iconic shot even before you picked it as a screenshot, or is just knack for finding the right one just that good? Anyway, yeah, it's no surprise to me that this finale is exceptionally fondly remembered, both for how powerful it is and just how unique it is too compared to what's come before and after. I don't know if it'd make my top five or so ranking of final episodes, but it's definitely one of the most memorable regardless, especially since in this era without v-cinemas or winter crossovers, this was the absolute final note that Blade would leave on it's viewers.
Quote:
Minor thing I feel like pointing out, but it sure was weird how Tachibana and, like, BOARD man just casually entered this episode but then didn't amount to much. You'd think the whole point of making us think Tachibana was dead would be to then have him make a dramatic reappearance, but nope, he just shows up and is like 'yeah i'm still alive no big deal'.
Tachibana... I honestly never thought he was dead. We never saw a body! That's rule #1 in Kamen Rider deaths! There has to be a body! Quote:
I know you're not done with the thread quite yet, but this was another nice one! Blade arguably didn't give you as much crunchy and thematic meat as something like Faiz or Ryuki did (and hey, those two shows are probably going to remain exceptional in that regard), but I can kinda just tell from your posts how this show (and especially Garren) has just been a whole lot of fun for you.
Quote:
Since I watched Blade for the first time a few years ago, there's a lot of things about it that have stood out in my memory since then. The memes of course, the silliness that is so prevalent in so much of the show. The great suits, the fun characters. But above everything else, the one thing that has stuck with me the most is that single image of the empty park bench, and everything it stands for. The ending of Blade is, without a doubt, my favorite ending of any Kamen Rider season. None other even comes close. And I have to thank you for the great words you wrote about it, you so eloquently stated everything I love so much about it.
__________________
Currently working on: Go-Busters is next! Archive of previous shows on KamenRiderDie.com! |
09-03-2020, 01:04 AM | #870 |
Filthy SU/FE Trash
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 572
|
Quote:
EDIT Surprise surprise that last meme that I mentioned is the bench, some forums post it whenever something depressing happens in a rider series bonus points if it's the ending tbf I could have posted the image but not only can I not explain why it's a meme and/or the joke without spoiling anything but that might have been your queue that this is gonna have not a downer ending per say but quite possibly the biggest case of "good guy won but at what cost" ending I've seen not blade related but spoilers for a future show Gaim has a similar ending to this but 1. Kouta knew if he didn't become the man of the beginning someone like Kaito/Ryouma would so he felt like it was necessary to ensure the safety of the universe ok Kenzaki did feel becoming the Joker was necessary to save the world but for different reasons, and 2. Kouta does kill Kaito tbf Kaito has pretty much lost his shit and chosen to destroy/recreate the world in his own image at this point and it's made clear Kouta doesn't like doing this but understands it's the only way to stop him, plus Mai becomes the Woman of the beginning and Kouta magically gets to become a human again for the crossover movies every year/Zi-O so it's not as big of a cost Last edited by Mmicb0b; 09-03-2020 at 01:22 AM.. |
|
TokuNation News & Rumors |
Figuarts/Seihou GRIDMAN |
SH Figuarts BoonBoomger Red |
Hasbro Licenses Power Rangers Toys to Playmates Toys |
Discotek Media Licenses Mobile Cop Jiban |
What's going on with CSM? |
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:31 PM.
|