|
Community Links |
Members List |
Search Forums |
Advanced Search |
Go to Page... |
|
Thread Tools |
02-23-2021, 08:47 AM | #141 |
Veteran Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,290
|
Quote:
I mean, if Airi felt more integral to the plotting, I'd be all over a quiet scene like this. As it is, it feels like I'm checking in with someone who doesn't have a ton to contribute.
And, no, I don't think Ryotaro needed a doctor. Momotaros and Hana were referring to Ryotaro's "injuries" as being more that he's completely out of shape and totally unprepared for strenuous activity. Some rest and probably some pre-fight stretching is all that kid needed. Quote:
KAMEN RIDER DEN-O EPISODE 5 - “WON’T YOU LET ME REEL YOU IN?”
It’s a funny story, but it’s not a Ryotaro story, and that just sinks it for me. Like, the main characters for this episode are one of the Airimirers (harrrrrrd passsssssss) and the newest Imagin, Urataros. They’re both slimy jerks, and I’m not rooting for either one of them. Ryotaro spends the majority of the episode unconscious, and the team of MomoHana are left cut out of most of the story, playing catch-up. There’re fun gags (that Ore Sanjou pose!) but it all feels like filler, and it’s happening so early in the series. Just a let-down, this one. Meanwhile, there’s the thing with the Airimirers trying to get in good with Ryotaro, to get in good with Airi, which just ends up being them getting played by Urataros. But, man, we spend so much time with those doofs, and I don’t understand why. They are aggressively unsympathetic, and I could not care less about their agenda. Any episode that spends time with them is going to lose points with me, and this one spends so. much. time with them. Do these guys have fans in the viewership? Am I missing some crucial detail that renders them enjoyable? Fill me in! Quote:
It doesn’t help that we’ve got so many unpleasant or half-baked threads to cling to. The soccer kid is a cowering mess for most of the story, and there’s nothing about him that’s really able to be dug into. He blew a big kick in a previous soccer match, and now he… something? We never get to hear what his wish is, but I’m betting the lesson he needs to learn is that sometimes the best thing you can do on a team is support another player, he says as he gestures towards Momotaros' inability to take down the Crab while the Brand New Imagin waits on the DenLiner.
(There is a moment that cracked me up in that kid’s story, though. He’s in bed at the hospital, and he looks under the covers at his bedsheets and sees something that alarms him, which made me worry Wait Which Coming Of Age For Boys Lesson Is This Story About To Be. Luckily, he only saw a puddle of sentient imagination monster sand, so we were saved from an intensely awkward story.) Quote:
That leaves the debut of Urataros, and his feud with Momotaros, which… this plot needed some sort of balancing influence between these two self-involved lunatics, and the lack of a Ryotaro or a Hana in their plot makes it too chaotic and broad to feel much connection with. Without Ryotaro involved in the struggle, it’s a comedic subplot stretched out to full-length. It’s two caricatures in a tug of war, and I don’t care enough about Urataros yet for a non-Ryotaro Imagin plot to work. I care about the Imagins because of their relationship with Ryotaro. An Imagin story that Ryotaro is largely absent from just fundamentally doesn’t work for me. Without that core, it’s just a noisy episode of people I mostly don’t care about, doing things I mostly don’t care for. There’s laughs, but no heart. Pretty weird for an episode with so many declarations of love!
-Urataros! He’s a non-stop schemer, and I definitely did not warm to him in this episode. Am I supposed to? Momotaros was instantly charming, with his high-energy idiocy, but this new guy is just a creep? Like, he’s a worse version of an Airimirer, and I can’t think of a more brutal insult than that. Bold choice to make him a central character of this story! Quote:
-Seriously, though, some quality gags in this episode. The thing with Airi calming an Airimirer by informing him of Ryotaro’s thrice-yearly examinations at a hospital, the gag where an on-the-go Hana explodes out of a cupboard, Naomi egging on Urataros and Momotaros to fight, that stellar gag about Momotaros needing more room to get his hero pose off… I mean, I didn’t like this story, but it’s still a pretty fun episode.
Quote:
-The Crab Imagin had an interesting exchange with Momotaros, where he’s confused as to why Momotaros is stopping him from murdering a child. That idea, of how the various Imagins get along… I do like it, and I wish there was a way to tell that story with Ryotaro more in the spotlight. Like, the Crab trying to talk sense into Momotaros is clever, and the feud between Urataros and Momotaros is clever, but it doesn’t feel like Ryotaro has skin in the game, even though he literally does.
__________________
The most complete non-wiki encyclopedias for Kamen Rider series (currently only found Ryuki and OOO's). |
02-23-2021, 10:28 AM | #142 |
I have a problematic type
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 10,410
|
|
02-23-2021, 10:37 AM | #143 |
Ex-Weather Three leader
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 10,506
|
Onari was the head honcho who gave us them memes. The two you are referring to are Shibuya and Narita. Kinda disappointed that was the best they could give them, surnames that happen to be an area in Tokyo(Shibuya) and either a city in Chiba prefecture or that one well-known airport(Narita). That's some Gargoyles type stuff.
Last edited by Sunred; 02-23-2021 at 10:40 AM.. |
02-23-2021, 12:12 PM | #144 |
Warrior of Delusions!
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Wait, you dont know either?
Posts: 5,825
|
Narita and Shibuya are more likable cause they aren't trying thir hardest to sleep with Akari; they sometimes even get to do Ghost Hunting! The pair here, I think I came around on the spiritual one a little for some reason, but the other one never quite hit anything beyond "Oh, you're still here."
As for Turtle Jerkle, yep, he's a slimeball! And I think he's 100% meant to be unlikeable right now, since we're stocking the team with a very unheroic hothead and a very self-absorbed sleaze. Of course, Ryotaro's meant to be the missing link, what brings the team back to the side of "Doing good for people"... but he sits this plot out, which takes all the wind out of it. Quote:
This kind of thing can happen pretty frequently. I remember TV-N had a ton of trouble with Next Level's lyrics, too, and slightly more recently, Over-Time changed up Wizard's at least once. Picking out the words in a song by ear can be tricky work! (And yet TV-N never changed "Is hope acute?" in Blade, did they...?)
__________________
Check out my occasional ramblings! https://akibamusings.blogspot.com/
Last edited by AkibaSilver; 02-23-2021 at 12:18 PM.. |
02-23-2021, 12:21 PM | #145 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
|
Any time we get a crab-themed villain, these threads seem to perk up. Hilarious!
Quote:
Urataros is based off the Japanese folklore Urashima Taro, a story of a fisherman who saved a turtle from a bunch of brats that was being mean to it. Turns out that turtle was Otohime, the daughter of the Ryujin(aka ruler of the Ryugujyo or Dragon Palace) in disguise. Taro went down there and spend the next few days with her. However he got homesick and wished to return to the surface world. Allowing him to go back, Otohime presented him with a box that must never be opened. Upon reaching the surface world, to his surprise what seemed like days were centuries later. Saddened that everyone and everything he knew were gone, he opened the box given by Otohime. The box let out a puff of smoke and Taro became old, the end.
Quote:
Mind if I feel you in with my next round of information about the VAs?
First off, we’ve got our blue button Imagin Urashima Taro Kōji Yusa Notable Anime roles: Shadow the Hedgehog in the Sonic series, Gin Ichimaru in Bleach, Zuo Ci and Xu Huang in Battle Vixens, Eiji Sasazuka in Majin Tantei Nōgami Neuro, Kyōsuke Hyobu in Zettai Karen Children, Demolishor and Thrust in Transformers Armada, Demolishor and Wing Saber in Transformers Energon, Atticus Rhodes in Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Notable Tokusatsu roles: Evil Agito in Kamen Rider Ryuki Hyper Battle Video, Hades Beastman King of Hell Yeti Zee in Mahou Sentai Magiranger, Kamen Rider Accel in Super Hero Taisen. Notable dubbing roles: Dr. Johnathan Crane in the Dark Knight trilogy, Harvey Dent in Gotham, Drew Lansing/Kamen Rider Torque in Kamen Rider Dragon Knight, Leonardo in Ninja Turtles: the Next Mutation, Elgar, the Phantom Ranger, Psycho Blue and Jayden Shiba/Samurai Red Ranger in Power Rangers, Iceman in X2, Prowl in Transformers Animated. And we’ve got our monster for this week, who totally does not look like KR Scissors as a monster. Kyousei Tsukui Notable Tokusatsu roles: Deputy Zelmoda in Gekisou Sentai Carranger, Trinoid 12: Yatsudenwani in Bakuryuu Sentai Abaranger, Engine Carrigator in Engine Sentai Go-Onger, Mugura-Roid in Ressha Sentai ToQger Vs. Kamen Rider Gaim Spring Vacation Combining Special. Notable dubbing roles: Acer in Cars 2, Inspector Gadget, Donald and Douglas in Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. Anything else I say about this two parter, I’ll say next time. Quote:
And, sort of disagree that you need them for customers, or any customers at all? Plenty of these shows have slid by with empty cafes, and A Cafe With Only Astronomy-Themed Books That Is Hidden From Public View feels like exactly the type of cafe that should be customerless. Quote:
Quote:
Lack of Ryotaro or Hana? Yeah but, Urataros joins as the major character just like Momotaros, he's not a guest star that is only central here. Urataros should be lumped together with Ryotaro, Hana, and Momotaros. If you care about Imagins because their relationship with Ryotaro, then Urataros is also one of them that you should look out for, because Urataros is on the same league as Momotaros in importance, he's one of the central character for the whole series. Urataros is made as a contrast to Momotaros, that while Momotaros is an idiot and hot-blooded (similar to shonen leads, also the spiky hair), Urataros is non-confrontational and is clever type, a trickster.
Quote:
Monster interactions happen again this time, here about how seemingly monsters should always behave the way that the monsters are for being malicious, like stooping so low to grant their contractor's wish, like just murdering a child. I don't know what will happen if Momotaros did smack the thugs that harass Ryotaro with the pipe or something, but Momotaros is currently turning into a better monster as per Ryotaro's plead on him to apologize for his morally questionable choices. Monster interactions had happened too before on phase 1, particularly for series like Kuuga, where the Grongi's point is that they lose because of them competing and trying to one-up each other, in contrast to the main cast's teamwork.
__________________
Currently working on: Go-Busters is next! Archive of previous shows on KamenRiderDie.com! |
02-23-2021, 12:22 PM | #146 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
|
Quote:
Narita and Shibuya are more likable cause they aren't trying thir hardest to sleep with Akari; they sometimes even get to do Ghost Hunting! The pair here, I think I came around on the spiritual one a little for some reason, but the other one never quite hit anything beyond "Oh, you're still here."
so he's still going to be here
__________________
Currently working on: Go-Busters is next! Archive of previous shows on KamenRiderDie.com! |
02-23-2021, 12:25 PM | #147 |
Showa Girl
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 9,064
|
Quote:
I guess slight spoilers for the themes of the next few imagin, but the first set of imagin we got here are little references to Ryuki riders by using the same themes! Just a bit of fun Quote:
Yeah, I think it's this weird thing of them being both creepy and inconsequential that makes me so mad at them, and the show for including them. If they'd been creepy but essential to the plot, fine. If they'd been inconsequential but charming and funny, fine. But they're weird creeps who are totally irrelevant to the plot of the show, and that's just infuriating.
And, sort of disagree that you need them for customers, or any customers at all? Plenty of these shows have slid by with empty cafes, and A Cafe With Only Astronomy-Themed Books That Is Hidden From Public View feels like exactly the type of cafe that should be customerless.
__________________
|
02-23-2021, 12:29 PM | #148 |
Warrior of Delusions!
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Wait, you dont know either?
Posts: 5,825
|
I'm sorry you had to find out this way.
Quote:
And, sort of disagree that you need them for customers, or any customers at all? Plenty of these shows have slid by with empty cafes, and A Cafe With Only Astronomy-Themed Books That Is Hidden From Public View feels like exactly the type of cafe that should be customerless.
(Also I'd totally go to an astronomy themed cafe, but that's just me.)
__________________
Check out my occasional ramblings! https://akibamusings.blogspot.com/
|
02-23-2021, 12:33 PM | #149 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
|
Quote:
This might be a good time to mention, actually -- this is completely intentional! Our first villain was a bat (okay, common Rider fare), but then we also got a chameleon, and now a crab...
I guess slight spoilers for the themes of the next few imagin, but the first set of imagin we got here are little references to Ryuki riders by using the same themes! Just a bit of fun Quote:
I think for this series though and the type of character Airi is, it is to Den-O's benefit to have milk dipper customers. Den-O in general is pretty slice-of-lifey and Airi isn't in the know about Rider shenanigans at all, so some recurring customers make it feel like a real and grounded environment that Ryotaro comes home to. It's essentially the backdrop of his real life beyond just his sister; replacing a setting like a job or school would offer. I just don't think Airi's simps are a fantastic execution of that!
__________________
Currently working on: Go-Busters is next! Archive of previous shows on KamenRiderDie.com! Last edited by Kamen Rider Die; 02-23-2021 at 12:56 PM.. |
02-23-2021, 12:55 PM | #150 |
Showa Girl
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 9,064
|
Quote:
Oh, that's awesome. Thanks for the info!
I see what you're saying, but I'm not sure the show even feels that way? One of the better Airi scenes so far is the one where Hana drops in to try and find Ryotaro, and that happens in an empty Milk Dipper. It lets the story keep moving, and retains a focus on the most compelling characters. I'm not sure the verisimilitude of that placing having customers outweighs the expediency of keeping that set free of distractions and dead-weight?
__________________
|
|
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 10:28 PM.
|