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04-05-2024, 07:05 AM | #17741 |
Some guy. I'm alright.
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Michigan
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I'm now up through episode 43 of Gaim, including the Soccer movie.
My big takeaway from said film is that Kota pulls off the glam rocker look surprisingly well. With that out of the way, unless these last handful of episodes throw me for a total loop, I'm pretty sure I've got my final verdict on Gaim. With being that while I like the show, I don't find it anything super incredible. Don't get me wrong, I can totally get why viewers of the time would cling to it, as it does have alot going for it. Essentially being a fresh new take on handling a Rider show while still retaining many of its core elements. And the usual nihilistic elements of Urobochi, while toned down some, are still very much present. It's just that, for me personally, the show just doesn't really emotionally grab me all that much. I like a handful of the cast, some of the stunt work is rather neat, and the story, while having some pacing stumbles here and there, is overall structured well. But just, I dunno, the show hasn't really elevated past a level of "Yeah, this is solid" from me. I think what also might not help is that, given Gaim's' overall (in)famy, it's kinda hard to just sit back and watch it without considering alot of stuff I've read over the years? But I'll get more into that when the show itself is done and dusted. But hey, I am atleast appreciating alot of what the show does in comparison to say, Build, which in my eyes tried to imitate alot of what Gaim did and failed at it. Especially its handling of atmosphere. But yeah, solid enough time so far, but nothing mind blowing.
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04-05-2024, 08:43 AM | #17742 |
Warrior of Delusions!
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Kamen Rider Fourze Episodes 45 & 46 - Tipping of the Scales & The Ascension of Sagittarius
Oh wait hold on wrong show For the last few arcs, ever since his Supernova really, Libra's whole schtick has been worry over Gamou replacing him, so it's pretty smart to have him pull the traitor arc as a fake-out. In a show like Fourze, where friendship rules all, I was mostly ready to buy it, aside from the small part of my brain that did, in fact, think it was too nice and neat and Principal Tachibana is obviously a traitor I-mean-look-at-him. Also nice to bring back Ran and Fly Zodiarts for the final act; it's not much, but it does bump up the stakes slightly having this be characters we've met before, fresh out of reminding us of their existence and Junior Membership in the KRC from the movie, and again, makes AGHS feel like a living breathing school. As for Gamou's plan... I actually think it's pretty suited for Fourze? More buildup over the series would have been very welcome, and "The villain was letting the Kamen Rider win because it was GOOD for him" is a trope that can always feel a little cheaty, but the crux of his plan works for me. It's not a vague melodramatic "I want to rule the Earth / destroy all humans" plan like Rider seems to default to, he has a clear goal (Meet aliens) and clear motivation (Meeting aliens is cool). The difference obviously comes down to seeing himself as uniquely suited and chosen and special and Better, vs the KRC mechanism of being nice and supportive and building each other up. The fact that the collateral damage is all secondary, that his blowing up of Japan is basically an unfortunate side-effect but thats something he's willing to live with, again, pretty good. An Ouja would be a tough sell as the final villain here, but someonw who is less "actively malicious" and more "apathetic shrugs" flows nicer in the theming, A lot of it is coming from the actor's performance tbh, and how in his scenes with the kids he manages to come across as genuinely supportive, although we recontextualise that into a scientist basically making sure his lab rats are eating well before he injects them with Zodiarts juice. And finally, the reveal Kengo is an alien space baby. Genuinely, this was one of the things I knew about the series going in, but forgot to ever mention because it's unguessable. I don't know if this was planned from the beginning, or cooked up in the last arc - given discussion recently on the Double thread, with needing the non-human sidekick for the sweet 2010's formula, I'd guess the former - but it does add to the feeling that Nakashima was end-loading all the arc stuff to the last possible moment. I get that the 2-episode MOTW structure doesn't lend itself as well to these kind of revelations, but it's putting a lot on the last 2 episodes to resolve.
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04-05-2024, 10:43 AM | #17743 |
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Quote:
And finally, the reveal Kengo is an alien space baby. Genuinely, this was one of the things I knew about the series going in, but forgot to ever mention because it's unguessable. I don't know if this was planned from the beginning, or cooked up in the last arc - given discussion recently on the Double thread, with needing the non-human sidekick for the sweet 2010's formula, I'd guess the former - but it does add to the feeling that Nakashima was end-loading all the arc stuff to the last possible moment. I get that the 2-episode MOTW structure doesn't lend itself as well to these kind of revelations, but it's putting a lot on the last 2 episodes to resolve.
Last edited by Mesnick; 04-05-2024 at 10:45 AM.. |
04-05-2024, 10:45 AM | #17744 |
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Join Date: Aug 2021
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I would say that Build rather imitates Ex-Eid, which imitates Gaim, so the corruption of the formula is understandable.
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04-05-2024, 12:57 PM | #17745 |
I have a problematic type
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 10,430
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My biggest issue with Fourze is with the ending and the whole alien thing. It doesn't violate any of the show's rules or anything, but it still feels like an ass-pull because nothing about it was telegraphed before now. A few hints in advance would have made it feel much more organic.
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04-05-2024, 04:39 PM | #17746 |
Warrior of Delusions!
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Obviously the former, because this is what was hinted at by Kengo's illness stated back in the pilot (and in subsequent episodes, to establish that this is not just to give the driver to Gentaro). Also, regarding the idea: "non-human sidekick" Fourze should be given credit for being the first show to make it non-explicit (unless someone missed the winter W movie). And then the Wizard was the first to use a girl for this role, which means that all Takahashi's shows (well, and Zi-O) follow the magic show formula.
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My biggest issue with Fourze is with the ending and the whole alien thing. It doesn't violate any of the show's rules or anything, but it still feels like an ass-pull because nothing about it was telegraphed before now. A few hints in advance would have made it feel much more organic.
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04-06-2024, 09:01 AM | #17747 |
Warrior of Delusions!
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Kamen Rider Fourze Episodes 47 & 48 - Best Friends Part Ways & The Galaxy of Youth
We didn't even get to meet the Presenters, show ruined, 0/10. This is very much a finale of two parts, with the first devoted to Kengo's newfound directive to warp into space. It's the stronger part of the two, as it's blatantly obvious Kengo is faking being emotionless in an attempt to protect everyone's feelings, pushing them away so when he leaves they don't feel as awful. It fails almost instantly, as if Gentarou would let an emotionless space baby escape his friendship radius. This and the scene in Part Two where Yuki reads his letter to the group are the highlihts, as it focuses on what Fourze did best - the KRC dynamic. Kengo's message to the group even has me believing him and Shun exchanged dialogue at some point, it's uncanny. The Zodiarts stuff is good, but nothing spectacular. Leo wrecking the Rabbit Hutch is a clear sign this is for realsies the last ever episode, and it's an effective image, but Leo himself was never characterised beyond "Gamou's heavy", so his and Meteor's final showdown is nice and Sakamoto-y, but not deep. The faux-Graduation ceremony they put together for Sagittarius is way more Fourze-esque, and I think it thematically works. Gamou was so focused on himself, on being the special chosen boy who would go to space and rule the world, and he's defeated basically by the KRC thanking him, but letting them know they've moved beyond his influence. Because, at the end of the day, school ends. You go into the wide unknown of adulthood, and hopefully do better than those who taught you. And for all his protestations, Gamou wouldn't have made his new year soup if he didn't care just a little about his students (Love the shot of Gentarou eating it while everything goes to shit. I love him so much). Also if Fourze came out today, you know the Core Switch would give him Ultra Base States, don't deny it. As is, we get the perfunctory Kengo revival in the last 2 minutes, which I'm really mixed on. I don't think Fourze is the kind of show to aim for heartbreaking loss, but oh boy is it contrived. A weird note to end on, but I can't stay too mad for what is two weird minutes in an otherwise solid, if busy ending.
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04-06-2024, 09:10 AM | #17748 |
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Also if Fourze came out today, you know the Core Switch would give him Ultra Base States, don't deny it. As is, we get the perfunctory Kengo revival in the last 2 minutes, which I'm really mixed on. I don't think Fourze is the kind of show to aim for heartbreaking loss, but oh boy is it contrived. A weird note to end on, but I can't stay too mad for what is two weird minutes in an otherwise solid, if busy ending.
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04-06-2024, 09:15 AM | #17749 |
Warrior of Delusions!
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Personally, I would be interested in a version where Kengo disappears forever just to find out whether Fourze would then be considered the most fun and frivolous rider show or not. Although, considering that speaking about Den-O in this way ignores all the melodrama of Sakurai Yuto there, I will assume that a sadder ending would not have changed the perception.
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04-06-2024, 10:44 AM | #17750 |
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I managed to finish Drive two days ago and the show is easily among my top 10 favorite seasons of Kamen Rider. I also watched the V-Cinema movies centering around Kamen Riders Heart and Mach and I am now in the process of finishing the Kamen Rider Brain miniseries. I am planning to watch either Hibiki or Ghost as my next KR series.
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