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11-01-2020, 03:51 AM | #521 |
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Not much to say about these episodes. The new OP? I couldn’t sing along to the first one, so I’m not too frustrated at the change. The “next time” lyrics I had prepared for 35 were from Pat Benatar’s “Love is a Battlefield”
Speaking of next time lyrics, here’s episode 36’s (it was either this or the obvious Cyndi Lauper song. Both work) Looking in the mirror I don't like what I see I'm not the person I'd hoped I would be Always feels like people they're laughing at me - Laura, Alone Again from Jen and the Holograms episode 40 er… Alone Again. |
11-01-2020, 10:36 AM | #522 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
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Quote:
Not much to say about these episodes. The new OP? I couldn’t sing along to the first one, so I’m not too frustrated at the change. The “next time” lyrics I had prepared for 35 were from Pat Benatar’s “Love is a Battlefield”
Speaking of next time lyrics, here’s episode 36’s (it was either this or the obvious Cyndi Lauper song. Both work) Looking in the mirror I don't like what I see I'm not the person I'd hoped I would be Always feels like people they're laughing at me - Laura, Alone Again from Jen and the Holograms episode 40 er… Alone Again.
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11-01-2020, 11:18 AM | #523 |
Showa Girl
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 9,064
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Hey, sorry if my post last night was a bit too aggressive. Hibiki is one of those shows I feel very strongly about and this episode is very emblematic of the issues I have; but I feel I should have presented myself... slightly less passive-aggressively. I was being genuine when I said I'm glad you enjoyed it -- I'd rather that happen than not; but obviously it didn't come across that way.
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11-01-2020, 12:20 PM | #524 |
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Quote:
Hey, sorry if my post last night was a bit too aggressive. Hibiki is one of those shows I feel very strongly about and this episode is very emblematic of the issues I have; but I feel I should have presented myself... slightly less passive-aggressively. I was being genuine when I said I'm glad you enjoyed it -- I'd rather that happen than not; but obviously it didn't come across that way.
Honestly, it wasn't that big of a deal. It was a little surprising, maybe (the tonal swing of Kill It Burn It Salt The Earth So That It Can Never Grow Again and I'm Glad You Liked It Though was... it was something!), but it was still interesting to hear your perspective. And, really, I can't ever get mad at someone who's that passionate about Kamen Rider? Even if we don't agree (I'm not sure we'll ever 100% agree on something), I truly enjoy getting to see your insight and passion. I like that this is a space where folks feel strongly about these shows, and are interested in expressing those feelings to other fans. With that as the assumed goal, any bruised feelings are easy to chalk up to misunderstandings. It's all good!
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11-01-2020, 11:19 PM | #525 |
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KAMEN RIDER HIBIKI VOLUME 36 - "HUNGERING SHUKI"
"The same games that we played in dirt, in dusty school yards Have found a higher pitch and broader scale Than we feared possible, someone must be picked last And one must bruise and one must fail" -The Weakerthans, "Sounds Familiar" I really love how world-weary Akira is. There's always been a maturity to her, something that makes her more grounded and contemplative than Asumu or Hitomi (or is that Midori?), and certainly someone who has exactly zero patience for Kiriya's... just, Kiriya. She's someone who thinks before she speaks, and feels things deeply. She's serious, and she treats things seriously. The extra juice to her character in this one is that she doesn't know why she wants to be an Oni anymore. Her parents were killed by a Makamou, and she threw herself into being an Oni. She wanted to destroy Makamou, she was good at her job... it's a win/win. Except, she's getting older, and the hatred that powered her crusade against the Makamou is running out. The death of her parents is a healed wound. What's left is... you know, it's a job. She's good at it, but... if it's not going to make her feel whole, not going to quell that anger, why do it? Why dedicate your life to something just because you're good at it? So now, at Episode 36, we have the But Why Heroism episode for Hibiki. I appreciate how introspective this episode is, how methodical. Kiriya's only in a couple scenes, and Akira speaks for the audience by staring blankly at him and thinking Time And A Place My Dude. It's an episode that's treating Akira's doubt as a valid thing, a real concern. She doesn't just quit or whatever, she's still doing her job, but she needs to know why she should keep doing it. The fact that multiple characters are trying to work with her, to explain the reasons why you should or shouldn't be an Oni... I like that? It's not trying to steer her back into Full-Time Oni, but it's also an awareness of what Takeshi loses if she bails. She's not treated like the part-time help, she's treated like the future of the Oni. And then, on the other hand, we've got Shuki and Zanki. Hibiki makes a point midway through the episode, when Asumu wonders if maybe he should become an apprentice, that... shit, how did he phrase it? "Being an Oni... means you have to be an Oni." It's, I think, Hibiki's way of saying that people become Oni because they can't see themselves as anything else. The kind of dedication and commitment being an Oni takes, coupled with the life-and-death stakes of fighting Makamou and the sacrifices to your personal life... it has to be the entirety of your ambition, the totality of your desire. You only become an Oni if you can't not be an Oni. So, what do you do if you're Zanki or Shuki? What do you do if your body says No? Shuki had to quit being an Oni, and Zanki's told that if he ever Henshins again he'll probably die. Zanki was lucky enough to be kept on as Todoroki's mentor/assistant, but Shuki... god, what must it be like to have to leave behind everything you trained for, everything you were ever good at, everything you believed in? How much would that eat at you? Knowing the world is perpetually in danger, that monsters exist, and you're... what, arranging flowers? How could that feel like anything less than psychological annihilation? So we've got these two characters in the story, Akira and Shuki, as opposing examples of the drive to be an Oni. Akira doesn't know if she's dedicated enough, while Shuki is arguably too dedicated. (Ibuki is maybe onto something with this whole Work/Life Balance initiative!) Zanki exists in the middle, someone who isn't the hero he used to be, but can still be useful to the next generation. Which is the other thing I liked about this story, how it feels very generational. Zanki and Shuki feel like the old guard, desperate to feel relevant (Shuki) or mourning the end of their relevance (Zanki). Meanwhile you've got Asumu and Akira (and Kiriya, a little), trying to figure out their place in the world, what's worth their commitment. This push and pull of characters taking to the stage, versus those hogging the spotlight. I just... I really like the questions this episode is raising. I love that it's centered on Akira. She's one of my favorite characters on this show, and she deserves every bit of story the show gives her. I mean, she's no Sabaki, but who can be?
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11-01-2020, 11:37 PM | #526 |
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So trivia time! Hibiki in very early pre-production wasn't supposed to be a Kamen Rider show. Rather Takatera actually wanted it to another reboot of a classic Ishinomori hero. Henshin Ninja Arashi
this would of kicked off a shared Reboot universe about 3 years before the MCU. Sadly this was not to be however The Armor of Ogre is great reference to the Hibiki pre-production roots. The connection is strengthend in the Hibiki novel revealing that the armor was crafted by Arashi father after meeting Past!Hibiki from the movie.
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11-01-2020, 11:55 PM | #527 |
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Quote:
EDIT: also what is with Ishinomori heroes and feather eyebrows
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11-02-2020, 01:08 AM | #528 |
I have a problematic type
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 10,408
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I have a lot of animosity towards the Shuki arc - specifically the writing for it - that I can't really go into until we're through it and its fallout. I will definitely say my piece later this week, though.
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11-02-2020, 01:14 AM | #529 |
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Fair enough! I'm looking forward to it!
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11-02-2020, 04:33 AM | #530 |
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Yeah, I’ve made it clear this is one of my favourite parts of the second half. I didn’t really think about why in detail until recently.
I took notes of the first half and noticed that, aside from maybe Akira, most of the female characters in this show don’t do much, other than menial things, like be tech support (which never really factors in, since I don’t recall any James Bond-esque scenes where any of our main three or one of the minor recurring characters came in needing gear) or love interests. Akira fairs slightly better, since she does see action, but she’s mostly an assistant and Asumu being the one with the greatest screen time never gave her much room to expand on that. So not only does the idea of Akira getting a focus episode appeal to me, but so does seeing a female who’s actually a (albeit retired) superhero fighting the monsters is a welcome sight. (I also love that Shuki has a harp, since it stands out as unique among other strings Oni who use the guitar/axe thing I felt was pretty lazy as a visual gag) Etymology for this week: Shuki = Scarlet Demon. Shuki’s actress (I forget her name) was in a movie with the guy who played Ryubee in Kamen Rider W, which was directed by one of this show’s directors. Next time lyrics: Hokori takaki Wolf no sakebi wo kike... To keep alive Kemono no you ni ikiru tame dake ni honki ni nareru Get wild - Jiro (CV: Kenji Matsuda), Keep alive |
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