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11-06-2020, 06:01 PM | #571 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
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I feel like Asumu gets shoved more and more into an apprentice role at this point because that's what people assume his story should be. I don't just mean the characters in the show, I mean the new production staff and the viewers, too. Asumu eventually taking up his own tuning fork and following in Hibiki's footsteps seems like a natural direction that a show like this would take and what the audience would expect. It doesn't surprise me much that a show that's trying to improve its ratings would go for something more standard in its narrative direction.
I just don't think the show has come up with a compelling reason to pursue that concept beyond some weird shrug of Maybe That's What People Expected To Happen. It's okay if they think the audience would prefer a more active Asumu, but they need to create something within Asumu that feels real. I don't feel like they have?
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11-06-2020, 11:28 PM | #572 |
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KAMEN RIDER HIBIKI VOLUME 40 - "APPROACHING OROCHI"
KAMEN RIDER HIBIKI VOLUME 41 - "AWAKENING OF TEACHER AND STUDENT" "So don't think of this as sacrifice 'Cause it's something much less dignified But you'll be alright" -Parenthetical Girls, "Alright" Mixed feelings on this one! Structurally, I think it worked gangbusters. Thematically and character-wise... some concerns! Let's talk about Akira quitting first, since that's what these two episodes are leading up to. There's a part of me that really loves how the whole dilemma is that her heart just isn't in it anymore. There's a smallness to that idea that resonates, that creates an obstacle that Akira and Ibuki can't overcome. It's that Hibiki thing of making it personal, unexpected, honest. I love how the Kodama forest works as a metaphor for that problem, how it seems vast and foreign but it's really just the one basic thing that's easy to miss. There's no fixing Akira, because there's nothing wrong with Akira. She changed, and now she's leaving that part of her past behind. It's a great story to get to that point, with some of the best work of that actor's run on the show. The problem is... I defended this show for interrogating Akira's beliefs, for treating her decision as something weighty and important. I don't think the show deciding that being an Oni isn't her passion anymore (if it ever should have been) is the wrong choice. But, god, when you have her quitting and her last request is to make Kiriya and Asumu the next Oni? Because they both have what it takes? That... it at the very least taints Akira's story, and I wouldn't argue with anyone who thought it ruined it. It's a big turn in the story, and it's fundamentally not a great look. (Her transforming into an Oni and then immediately being knocked out is such a standard bullshit Inoue move that I'm not even disappointed. At least it wasn't two women in a row, like on Faiz!) And that's on top of the fact that, man, her quitting is a bummer. It's always going to be a hard sell to have a great character quit the narrative (if that's what's happening), and there's just no way around that. Seeing her story end by her walking away, no matter how well I thought the story explained and supported it... it just doesn't feel good to watch. Altogether, Akira's story... I think I respected it more than I liked it. What I did like, though, was how quickly this story disregarded the previous one. The Todoroki/Zanki nonsense is mostly ignored, with a line from Zanki restating that his goddamn job is to support Todoroki, rendering the entire last two episodes even more idiotic. Hibiki is right back to calling Asumu ‘boy', all to get us to the big moment at the end where he finally (again) calls Asumu by his name. With it coinciding with Asumu becoming Hibiki's official apprentice, it's a way better point in the narrative for it to happen. It's also not a garbage episode, so that helps, too! I really enjoyed all the stuff with the kids, but naturally, it's the AsuMum scene that worked the best for me. I like that her advice to Asumu's eternal uncertainty was For The Love Of God You Are Fifteen Years Old It Is Okay To Try Out Different Jobs. It created a real smart way for the show to move forward with Asumu becoming an Oni, to stop treating it like Asumu's entering the priesthood or something. It's okay to try it, to see if it works for him, and then quit if it doesn't. People quit jobs all the time! This whole story is about how it is okay to quit a job if you don't think it's right for you anymore! Instead of the show needing a 15-year old boy (whose voice completely sounds deeper in this episode) to dedicate his life to something, I don't know, maybe just treat it like an internship? It's a more interesting way, I think, to approach Asumu's new apprenticeship. The Kiriya stuff worked great for me, of course. He's resolutely terrible in this (Ibuki seems about a breath away from punching him in the face for disrespecting Akira, and rightly so) and he's so reflexively insulting that no one even seems to bother acknowledging it, like it's some verbal tic. But there's a sense that he honestly does want to make something of himself, even if it's for stupid reasons, that makes him stand out from Asumu's innate goodness and chronic indecisiveness. That said, it's obviously an inherently stupid idea to make Kiriya an Oni (unless you're just counting the minutes until Ibuki is ordered to kill him), but this story managed to create a little cover for why he'd be worth a tryout. Yeah, the kids really came through in this one. I've always felt like this show worked better the more it focused on the kids, and this (final?) outing of Akira, Asumu and Kiriya really made me feel good about that assumption. Really fun episode, despite Akira's resignation.
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11-07-2020, 02:05 AM | #573 |
I have a problematic type
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Man, I hated what these episodes did to Akira. Like I said earlier, this is something that's been building since Shuki and I cannot look at it without seeing (or at least imagining) some "this is men's work" bullshit lurking in the subtext here. I hate it and I hate that Kiriya is directly involved in badgering her into it then gets rewarded by becoming Hibiki's new apprentice.* It's an awful waste of Akira's potential and easily the worst derailment of a pre-transition character. The show can try to justify it all it wants, but it's still bullshit.
*Kiriya becoming Hibiki's apprentice does actually lead to the one and only Kiriya moment that I actually enjoy. We aren't there yet, but it's coming soon. |
11-07-2020, 02:15 AM | #574 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
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Location: Chicago, IL
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Man, I hated what these episodes did to Akira. Like I said earlier, this is something that's been building since Shuki and I cannot look at it without seeing (or at least imagining) some "this is men's work" bullshit lurking in the subtext here. I hate it and I hate that Kiriya is directly involved in badgering her into it then gets rewarded by becoming Hibiki's new apprentice.* It's an awful waste of Akira's potential and easily the worst derailment of a pre-transition character. The show can try to justify it all it wants, but it's still bullshit.
*Kiriya becoming Hibiki's apprentice does actually lead to the one and only Kiriya moment that I actually enjoy. We aren't there yet, but it's coming soon. The one thing I'll push back on is Kiriya "badgering her into it", which, I just don't see that here? Kiriya says dumb stuff, and he maybe vocalizes some concerns that Akira was ignoring, but everything Akira does in this story (and the episodes preceding it) are her decisions. Kiriya at most pushed a domino, and even that's just, like, a story's got to start somewhere.
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11-07-2020, 03:07 AM | #575 |
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Laying in bed, more thoughts about Akira's storyline.
Honestly, the more I think about it, the more I like her quitting the Oni. I think it's way smarter and more interesting than her rededicating herself to Takeshi. One of my favorite comics is "Spinning", by Tillie Walden. It's a memoir of her early-teen years, moving from New Jersey to Texas. She was a really good figure-skater, really dedicated, and then she just got tired of it. It meant everything to her, until it didn't mean anything. She grew out of it. And that idea, that you can grow out of something you're good at, that is an incredibly important lesson for kids to learn. It can feel earth-shattering, that moment when you realize you're going through the motions. Taking time on a show like Kamen Rider to say it's okay to change your mind, that just because you used to like something doesn't mean you've failed if you stop liking it... I think that's huge? I think that type of lesson is perfect for Hibiki to explore. And, narratively, it's exactly the right time to do it, because you've got Asumu and Kiriya who are also changing their minds about what they want to pursue, also growing out of their previous identities. They're deciding to become apprentices while Akira's deciding not to, but it's still just three kids making new choices on who they want to be. Anyway, yeah, I'm now 100% on board with Akira quitting, and I've started to see some of the value in her putting in a good word for the boys. It's not some zero-sum thing where they're taking her spot, it's her honoring the time she spent as Ibuki's apprentice, and trying to put the organization she's leaving in the best position. It's the mature thing to do, to say This Wasn't What I Want Anymore But It Can Be Something To Someone Else. She respects the Oni too much to leave them shorthanded, and she's got no shame in letting someone else be the next hero. It's a testament to how good a job Ibuki did in training her, that not only can she walk away, but she can walk away with dignity. It's late! I don't know if this made sense, but I really needed to say it!
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11-07-2020, 04:38 AM | #576 |
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Yeah, I like Akira’s arc in the second half. I just wish her one big moment as an Oni got something better than “Danki with all the trimming removed” as a costume.
In terms of what to call her Oni transformation, it’s a bit uncertain. Bandai themselves call the transformation “Amaki” (Heavenly Demon), but the S.I.C states that it doesn’t have Shumei (succession to a professional name), implying that it would’ve been called “Ibuki” (implying a legacy character situation). The show’s production notes just call it “Akira Henshintai”, like they did before Todoroki got his name. So, you have free reign to call it what you want. And Orochi, the big “end of the world” scenario. I have no idea if there’s any connection with the Makamou from the movie also called Orochi. Both refer to a dragon that can bring the end of the world if not satisfied in Japanese mythology. I haven’t found any lyrics to describe next time, so I’ll get back to you on that. Last edited by Androzani84; 11-07-2020 at 05:32 AM.. |
11-07-2020, 10:59 AM | #577 |
Standing By
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KAMEN RIDER HIBIKI VOLUME 40 - “APPROACHING OROCHI”
KAMEN RIDER HIBIKI VOLUME 41 - “AWAKENING OF TEACHER AND STUDENT” Mixed feelings on this one! Structurally, I think it worked gangbusters. Thematically and character-wise… some concerns! Let’s talk about Akira quitting first, since that’s what these two episodes are leading up to. There’s a part of me that really loves how the whole dilemma is that her heart just isn’t in it anymore. There’s a smallness to that idea that resonates, that creates an obstacle that Akira and Ibuki can’t overcome. It’s that Hibiki thing of making it personal, unexpected, honest. I love how the Kodama forest works as a metaphor for that problem, how it seems vast and foreign but it’s really just the one basic thing that’s easy to miss. There’s no fixing Akira, because there’s nothing wrong with Akira. She changed, and now she’s leaving that part of her past behind. It’s a great story to get to that point, with some of the best work of that actor’s run on the show. The problem is… I defended this show for interrogating Akira’s beliefs, for treating her decision as something weighty and important. I don’t think the show deciding that being an Oni isn’t her passion anymore (if it ever should have been) is the wrong choice. But, god, when you have her quitting and her last request is to make Kiriya and Asumu the next Oni? Because they both have what it takes? That… it at the very least taints Akira’s story, and I wouldn’t argue with anyone who thought it ruined it. It’s a big turn in the story, and it’s fundamentally not a great look. (Her transforming into an Oni and then immediately being knocked out is such a standard bullshit Inoue move that I’m not even disappointed. At least it wasn’t two women in a row, like on Faiz!) And that’s on top of the fact that, man, her quitting is a bummer. It’s always going to be a hard sell to have a great character quit the narrative (if that’s what’s happening), and there’s just no way around that. Seeing her story end by her walking away, no matter how well I thought the story explained and supported it... it just doesn't feel good to watch. Altogether, Akira’s story… I think I respected it more than I liked it. At least now Ibuki can stop tormenting himself. I think this has been harder for him than for Akira. Ibuki's still young so he can eventually take a new apprentice under his wing when he feels ready. It's not that Akira was a failure like Kiriya believes, she would have been a great Oni if she hadn't lost her motivation. It's definitely a bittersweet ending. Ibuki loses his student and Hibiki gains two. The sad part is that Akira was in a better position than Shounen and Kiriya to become the next generation of Oni. Now she's in the same place as Shounen was at the start, aimless and unsure what she wants to do with her life. There's also the fact that she can't forget about her parents' death and who knows where her relationship with Ibuki goes from here now that they're no longer fighting together. Regarding the two girls on Faiz, are you referring to Mari and Rina VS Kitazaki? I can't defend Rina's incompetence but Mari at least had a good reason for not being able to fight. Quote:
I really enjoyed all the stuff with the kids, but naturally, it’s the AsuMum scene that worked the best for me. I like that her advice to Asumu’s eternal uncertainty was For The Love Of God You Are Fifteen Years Old It Is Okay To Try Out Different Jobs. It created a real smart way for the show to move forward with Asumu becoming an Oni, to stop treating it like Asumu’s entering the priesthood or something. It’s okay to try it, to see if it works for him, and then quit if it doesn’t. People quit jobs all the time! This whole story is about how it is okay to quit a job if you don’t think it’s right for you anymore! Instead of the show needing a 15-year old boy (whose voice completely sounds deeper in this episode) to dedicate his life to something, I don’t know, maybe just treat it like an internship? It’s a more interesting way, I think, to approach Asumu’s new apprenticeship.
But yeah, Shounen's mother is very encouraging and a good influence in his life, not being too possessive and scared for his safety like some parents. I don't think Shounen really wants to be an Oni though, more like he's worried Kiriya apprenticing himself to Hibiki will replace him as Hibiki's favorite high school student. He doesn't want to lose Hibiki's attention and guidance so he feels like he as to compete with Kiriya, the same way Kiriya competes with everybody, to hold on to what he has. That's not the case at all though, since Hibiki sees being a mentor and being a friend as two different things. There's no need to feel like his relationship is threatened by Kiriya. It happened before with Mochida, who he didn't even know he thought about as anything more than a friend, so it seems to be recurring problem that Shounen has with feeling undermined by others. Quote:
The Kiriya stuff worked great for me, of course. He’s resolutely terrible in this (Ibuki seems about a breath away from punching him in the face for disrespecting Akira, and rightly so) and he’s so reflexively insulting that no one even seems to bother acknowledging it, like it’s some verbal tic. But there’s a sense that he honestly does want to make something of himself, even if it’s for stupid reasons, that makes him stand out from Asumu’s innate goodness and chronic indecisiveness. That said, it’s obviously an inherently stupid idea to make Kiriya an Oni (unless you’re just counting the minutes until Ibuki is ordered to kill him), but this story managed to create a little cover for why he’d be worth a tryout..
Quote:
Yeah, I like Akira’s arc in the second half. I just wish her one big moment as an Oni got something better than “Danki with all the trimming removed” as a costume.
In terms of what to call her Oni transformation, it’s a bit uncertain. Bandai themselves call the transformation “Amaki” (Heavenly Demon), but the S.I.C states that it doesn’t have Shumei (succession to a professional name), implying that it would’ve been called “Ibuki” (implying a legacy character situation). The show’s production notes just call it “Akira Henshintai”, like they did before Todoroki got his name. So, you have free reign to call it what you want. Quote:
And Orochi, the big “end of the world” scenario. I have no idea if there’s any connection with the Makamou from the movie also called Orochi. Both refer to a dragon that can bring the end of the world if not satisfied in Japanese mythology.
I haven’t found any lyrics to describe next time, so I’ll get back to you on that.
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11-07-2020, 11:10 AM | #578 |
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I completely forgot Orochi was even in the series, wow. That's quite something.
As for this episode... yeah, what Switchblade said. Don't know if this was the original plan for Akira but either way, way it's pulled off, just; ugh. No. Dislike it. Especially dislike that the catalyst is the only female oni ever seen who ~became evil and is just like Akira~. There's apparently a snow-based female oni in the show's notes elsewhere, so, that's cool I guess?
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11-07-2020, 12:07 PM | #579 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
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Yeah, I like Akira’s arc in the second half. I just wish her one big moment as an Oni got something better than “Danki with all the trimming removed” as a costume.
In terms of what to call her Oni transformation, it’s a bit uncertain. Bandai themselves call the transformation “Amaki” (Heavenly Demon), but the S.I.C states that it doesn’t have Shumei (succession to a professional name), implying that it would’ve been called “Ibuki” (implying a legacy character situation). The show’s production notes just call it “Akira Henshintai”, like they did before Todoroki got his name. So, you have free reign to call it what you want. Quote:
I think I respected it more than I liked it as well. It was executed just fine, but it's not something I wanted to be executed at all and the show's first half definitely seemed to be setting her up to become an Oni. Feels like Kiriya was introduced to usurp the development that was originally hers. I guess this is another reason why he's such an unpopular character, not that I resent him for it though.
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At least now Ibuki can stop tormenting himself. I think this has been harder for him than for Akira. Ibuki's still young so he can eventually take a new apprentice under his wing when he feels ready. It's not that Akira was a failure like Kiriya believes, she would have been a great Oni if she hadn't lost her motivation.
It's definitely a bittersweet ending. Ibuki loses his student and Hibiki gains two. The sad part is that Akira was in a better position than Shounen and Kiriya to become the next generation of Oni. Now she's in the same place as Shounen was at the start, aimless and unsure what she wants to do with her life. There's also the fact that she can't forget about her parents' death and who knows where her relationship with Ibuki goes from here now that they're no longer fighting together. I do, in retrospect, appreciate how Akira and Ibuki are trying to make lemonade out of lemons by telling Hibiki that it's important to be a parent, even if your kids don't follow the path you expect. Like, objectively, Akira is a good person, and a lot of that is down to Ibuki's parenting. He's hurt that she didn't become an Oni like he expected, but he's pleased to see her happy and comfortable in her choices. A lot of his arc in this is to see things like Hibiki, where Raising A Child isn't just about teaching them to fight monsters. Quote:
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But yeah, Shounen's mother is very encouraging and a good influence in his life, not being too possessive and scared for his safety like some parents. I don't think Shounen really wants to be an Oni though, more like he's worried Kiriya apprenticing himself to Hibiki will replace him as Hibiki's favorite high school student. He doesn't want to lose Hibiki's attention and guidance so he feels like he as to compete with Kiriya, the same way Kiriya competes with everybody, to hold on to what he has. That's not the case at all though, since Hibiki sees being a mentor and being a friend as two different things. There's no need to feel like his relationship is threatened by Kiriya. It happened before with Mochida, who he didn't even know he thought about as anything more than a friend, so it seems to be recurring problem that Shounen has with feeling undermined by others.
I really like the simplicity of that as a motivation, how it's not asking a teenager to have an undying dedication to something he's never done. Quote:
I think putting Kiriya through training is something that needed to be done. He wasn't going away until someone at least gave him a shot to prove himself. Hibiki rejected him many times until now, without giving a reason he could understand. This way, he can understand first-hand what the job means. Either he fails and can at least move on with his life or he changes for the better and succeeds in becoming an Oni.
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I completely forgot Orochi was even in the series, wow. That's quite something.
As for this episode... yeah, what Switchblade said. Don't know if this was the original plan for Akira but either way, way it's pulled off, just; ugh. No. Dislike it. Especially dislike that the catalyst is the only female oni ever seen who ~became evil and is just like Akira~. There's apparently a snow-based female oni in the show's notes elsewhere, so, that's cool I guess?
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11-07-2020, 12:10 PM | #580 |
Showa Girl
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The Shuki thing... I think it works as a cautionary tale for Akira? (Lord knows it doesn't work as anything else.) This woman telling her to Be Angry Forever is a piece of the puzzle that makes her realize that she doesn't want that life, doesn't see the value in it anymore. She loves her friends, she believes in what the Oni are doing, but she worries that Shuki is how she'll end up if she keeps trying to be angry enough to be effective. But it's also about the only two women in the show who are Oni in any sense. And much as the show doesn't exactly gender it, it's impossible in my eyes for it to not be; and this is something that isn't out of place with Inoue's work. (or Drive; it bugged the hell out of me there too)
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