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08-01-2020, 10:17 PM | #381 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
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KAMEN RIDER BLADE EPISODE 20
This time on Kamen Rider Blade: Hajime can't tell his secrets to Haruka and Amane! Mutsuki wants to be a Rider but Garren says no! Kotaro has a meet-cute that's destined to end poorly for a variety of independent reasons! And Kenzaki squares off with Lazer But He's On Blade! There's something that cracks me up, the last few episodes of Blade. The opening credit sequence has all four Riders racing across a beach together, four champions of justice, working to protect people. Except that's completely not this show? Ever? The best team-up percentage the show has ever had was 75%, and that was when Blade, Garren, and Chalice all fought Leangle. Usually, they're between 50% and 66%, depending on the amount of active Riders. All four of them together?! What show is that opening supposed to be attached to?! It sure as hell isn't Blade! Case in point, Leangle. He's sending monsters after Blade in the cold open, and then he's trying to fight Garren directly after the credits. The rest of the story is Mutsuki trying to figure out if the belt hates him or what, and that lack of being able to actively harm our heroes is the only reason he's trying to work with Garren at the conclusion. I like where they've got Tachibana in this story, trying to be a mentor to Mutsuki. Team Blade is pretty boned as far as taking back the Leangle belt goes, since it can just run away when their backs are turned. (Maybe if Kenzaki actually slept with it this time?) That means that they're better off trying to control Mutsuki, and that's something Tachibana feels equipped to do. He's using his shame over, uh, basically the first 15 episodes of this show to reach out to Mutsuki, try and get him to see that power, that personal satisfaction, it's not worth harming others to obtain it. Not super clear if it's a lesson that's going to land with Mutsuki! He's in a weird Not An Antagonist, Not Yet A Protagonist zone, Mutsuki. He wants to be a Rider, but he doesn't want to do anything with it, really. He fights Blade and Garren because they want to take it away from him, but then he tries to get Tachibana to bring him along on the fight against the Undead. He sort-of vaguely wants to fight monsters, that's maybe his preference, but he's got the same view of power that the corrupted version of Kiryuu had: having power is more important than using power. He doesn't seem to care too much what he's using Leangle's power for or against. So he goes with Tachibana, claiming that he feels guilty about releasing the Undead that's currently terrorizing people, and... I don't really see it? I'm sort-of putting a pin in it, for now, since I'm not sure if Mutsuki's lying to Tachibana, lying to himself, or if this new motivation has come totally out of nowhere due to bad writing. (Feel like it's the third one, but I really hope it's not.) Nothing about Mutsuki has said Feels Guilt For His Actions As Leangle occupies a lot of space in his decision-making, but we'll see where it goes. I mean, where it's probably going to go is a big ol' fight with Chalice, since that's who Tachibana (whom Chalice remembers as almost murdering him a little while back) and Mutsuki (who, through Leangle, called him a coward and also almost murdered him) run into at the end. Hajime's story is a kind-of parallel to Mutsuki's, in that they're both about men who have secrets, and the women who want to help them. Hajime hasn't told Haruka and Amane that he's an Undead/Rider, and while they want to give him space to have secrets, it's causing a lot of unspoken friction. Not least of which because Kotaro does know, and wants explanations, and it's escalating the discomfort. Nozomi's going through the same thing with Mutsuki, where she knows he's hiding something, knows it's causing him problems, but all she can do is gently remind him that she's there for him. It's a neat idea to explore, the consequences of trying to let people keep their secrets. It's easy to say, in the moment, that you value someone's friendship more than you worry about their secrets, but it's never that simple. Once you know someone's hiding something from you, you can't just not think about it. You're biting your tongue around them, wondering why they won't share with you, and meanwhile everyone's uncomfortable. Hajime and Mutsuki are reaching the limits of their friends' patience, and something has to change. And change has arrived for Kotaro, and it's wearing a dress! The stuff with Kotaro and Meet-Cute is fine, some slow-burn Undead stuff that loops in Lazer But He's On Blade, the new cool-guy rockstar Undead. It's a series of possible fake-outs and red herrings (maybe she's an Undead!), but it's fun to see a story that puts Kotaro in a little bit more of the focus. Also, it gives Hirose and Kenzaki a chance to do some supporting-role comedy stuff, which kills. The part where Kotaro calls them freeloaders, and they're a little offended, but then they're both like Oh Shit We Totally Are, loved it. Great timing, funny joke. It's a pretty solid episode of Blade! Very much the first chapter in a story, with some question marks over some plots, but I had a good time with it. Doesn't maybe feel so much like the show is nailing down what Mutsuki is all about, but we're getting there. (Really liked his phone call with Nozomi.) It's a building phase, I guess. I'm okay with it! Next time on Kamen Rider Blade: Kotaro in danger! Kenzaki enraged! And Chalice fights at least Leangle, if not Garren, so a 75% team-up percentage remains the score to beat!
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08-02-2020, 01:26 AM | #382 |
I have a problematic type
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 10,410
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And change has arrived for Kotaro, and it’s wearing a dress! The stuff with Kotaro and Meet-Cute is fine, some slow-burn Undead stuff that loops in Lazer But He’s On Blade, the new cool-guy rockstar Undead. It’s a series of possible fake-outs and red herrings (maybe she’s an Undead!), but it’s fun to see a story that puts Kotaro in a little bit more of the focus. Also, it gives Hirose and Kenzaki a chance to do some supporting-role comedy stuff, which kills. The part where Kotaro calls them freeloaders, and they’re a little offended, but then they’re both like Oh Shit We Totally Are, loved it. Great timing, funny joke.
But anyway, on to the big guest star. Kotaro's new love interest, Meet-Cute, is played by model/actress Mika Hijii. About a year after this point she would turn up on Garo as that show's female lead/secondary protagonist Kaoru. She's a major part of the Saejima family branch of the Garo franchise and has reappeared in that role many times, as recently as last year. She is great on that show and has always been one of my favorite parts of it. I watched Blade long before Garo, so I didn't realize she was on both shows until my second time through Blade, which was a huge "Hey, it's that guy!" moment for me. |
08-02-2020, 02:59 AM | #383 |
Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 2,546
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Today at the Unded Information Kiosk, we have something rare. Two of the same rank
Absorb Orchid A cunning Undead, using others to get what she wants. She can summon vines to bind victims and fire a mist from the face on the back of her head. * Suit and Category: https://powerrangers.fandom.com/wiki/Karen_Mizuki * Effect name: ABSORB * Card name: Absorb Orchid (アブソーブ・オーキッド Abusōbu ōkiddo) * Consumption points: EP +2000 Absorb Capricorn. The Category Queen for the Spade Undead. He possesses a high pitch scream that can obliterate anything and the ability to drive a car. * Suit: Spade (♠) * Category: Queen (Q) * Effect name: ABSORB * Card name: Absorb Capricorn (アブソーブ・カプリコーン Abusōbu Kapurikōn) * Consumption points: EP +2000 |
08-02-2020, 04:53 AM | #384 |
The Immortal King Tasty
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Every diner you've ever been to.
Posts: 3,833
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Discussions about what constitutes freeloading and Tachibana creeping outside a teenager's window are funny and all, but I'd say the real comedy gold lies elsewhere in this episode.
Learning Ondul the Easy WEEEEEEI! (#10) The Capricorn Undead left quite the impression on a lot of viewers for his rather eccentric personality, but what really secured him a place as one of the true legends of Ondul was his habit of screaming in such an over-the-top manner, it gets written like this: フォ━━(0∀0)━━ウゥ!! Yes, with an emoticon right in the middle. I guess to "translate" it, it'd be something like "FOOOOOO(0∀0)OOOOHHHH!!" That's still not really why he's so popular though. You see, Yazawa having such a uniquely wonderful set of pipes means clips of him shouting are a mainstay of fanmade Blade remixes. He's so prolific it took me basically no time at all to find the perfect example video. Consider it my gift to everyone working hard right now to understand the insane, and often inane, world of Blade memes.
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08-02-2020, 11:30 AM | #385 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
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Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
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(As always, thanks for the memes!)
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08-02-2020, 11:40 AM | #386 |
Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 2,546
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To be honest, it’s been months since I watched this show (or indeed, any Rider series.) I’ve only recently got back in the game, by watching Hibiki, Agito and Black, with plans to start Build tomorrow. So some details about this show might be misremembered.
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08-02-2020, 11:58 AM | #387 |
New Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 71
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And change has arrived for Kotaro, and it’s wearing a dress! The stuff with Kotaro and Meet-Cute is fine, some slow-burn Undead stuff that loops in Lazer But He’s On Blade, the new cool-guy rockstar Undead. It’s a series of possible fake-outs and red herrings (maybe she’s an Undead!), but it’s fun to see a story that puts Kotaro in a little bit more of the focus. Also, it gives Hirose and Kenzaki a chance to do some supporting-role comedy stuff, which kills. The part where Kotaro calls them freeloaders, and they’re a little offended, but then they’re both like Oh Shit We Totally Are, loved it. Great timing, funny joke.
Hajime actively offering information to Kenzaki felt like a positive thing for Hajime, incidentally, even if he had to frame it as not wanting Kenzaki to interfere in Chalice chasing the specific Undead he has decided he is going to re-seal. Also potentially a positive thing for Kenzaki's social circle, haha. |
08-02-2020, 12:50 PM | #388 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
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Hajime actively offering information to Kenzaki felt like a positive thing for Hajime, incidentally, even if he had to frame it as not wanting Kenzaki to interfere in Chalice chasing the specific Undead he has decided he is going to re-seal. Also potentially a positive thing for Kenzaki's social circle, haha.
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08-02-2020, 01:46 PM | #389 |
I have a problematic type
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 10,410
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She's in this episode, but the show hasn't definitively revealed that she's an Undead yet.
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08-02-2020, 02:47 PM | #390 |
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Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,290
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Mutsuki is told by Team Blade that the Leangle belt is evil, and he has to forget about it. Kenzaki tries to console him with the enjoyable normalcy of the life he gets to lead, as opposed to the harrowing danger Team Blade has to face. Mutsuki mopes his way out to the front gate of the farm, while Nozomi is calling him. He can’t even talk to her, can’t say that his dream is dead, can’t say that he can’t live like he did before the Leangle belt. He gets to the gate, and he just sits down against it. He brings his knees up to his chest, folds his arms on top, rests his head, and cries. It’s not a big speech about what he’s lost, or how broken he feels. He just cries. He can’t explain what’s happening inside him, because the only one who’d understand is Leangle.
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It’s a death that’s a tragedy, despite Kiryuu only being introduced two episodes prior. It earns every tear the heroes shed, because it’s partially about how senseless a loss it is, but it’s also about how much Kiryuu really gave them in the end. It’s about how power isn’t worth dying for, and how easily you can be hollowed out in the pursuit of it. It’s about how power is finite but empathy is infinite. It’s about how living without power can feel like dying, but living for power can kill you.
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It’s all these little moments from Inoue that add up to so much more in the end.
It’s just a goddamn great Inoue episode. I haven’t… I don’t feel like I’ve been getting as much out of Blade as I was Faiz. They’re doing different things, trying to do different things, and it’s early days yet, but… There’s a lot of surface to Blade, a lot of fun fights and cool suits and engaging characters, but it doesn’t have the thematic depth that Faiz had. Or, if it does, I can’t find it as easily. There’s stuff about grief, and about death, but it doesn’t really come through with any regularity. Like, the series is about something, but I don’t always feel like episodes are about something. This one, man, it’s what I’ve been missing. Beautifully acted, intelligently plotted, magnificently directed, and all in service of emotional beats that hit like a train. Really loved this one, you guys. Inoue forever.
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