Kamen Rider Zi-O Episode 11- "ZiO On Parade 2018!" Discussion
 

A famous dance team has suddenly gone missing. Could the Another Riders be at work again?

So pumped to see Kouta & Kaito again

Does anyone know if those clock masks are just a prop for Zi-O or are they popular/ common in Japan? They're the ones worn by the ladies with Ora

I know its artistic license but why does Kaito look exactly the same in Helheim after being there for 5 years? There are a lot of weird bits in this episode if you think about it. Gaim disappearing did not get rid of Helheim and the Invess, which kind of makes sense since they are from a separate world. But in the plot of Gaim, the hostile takeover of Earth by Helheim was speeding up which is why Yggdrasil was planning on deploying the Scalar system asap. Wouldn't the cracks have only gotten worse in 5 years unchecked? Unless Gaim's disappearance and therefore the erasure of the Armoured Riders changed that. There's also the fact that Kaito was in Helheim for that long and did not consume the Forbidden Fruit. But these are all minor gripes.

The episode was fine. If anything, I really appreciated it as a visual and auditory tribute to Gaim. They brought back that weird alien effect for the Forest and Invess were present as well. They also revisited locations like the main stage that made it feel particularly nostalgic. Then we have the classic Team Baron dance (5 years later and that's still the only dance they know lol) complete with returning OST so that was a really nice touch. And the "Soiya!" sound when Kouta's face was revealed at the end.

The plot is interesting this time around too. We get to see Gaim Armour in all its ridiculousness right off the bat as the episode starts in media-res. And then the interference of Fruit Jesus Kouta himself... this seems to imply that Kouta can exist independently of the time changes as he is a god. It's really cool and makes him seem so much more legendary than some of the other cast returns, but I kind of hope there is an explanation for it.

And then we have the bulk of the episode, which is the mystery of the two Sougo's. It was actually pretty fun and unique. The side plot with Geiz and Kaito was cool too, it was definitely fun to see him again acting like an edgelord like always. And Another Gaim looks awesome, and while his host isn't a returning character like last arc, they wrote him into the lore of the Gaim universe well enough.

The .5 episode was little more low-key, more revealing of behind-the-scenes stuff, but it was cool to see the different Zi-O helmet concepts. And I did not know they had different props from other Rider shows in the clock shop as well. Very cool.

Until episode 12 comes and if theres more explanations, it seems like Over Lord Kouta can temporarily stave off the alterations to time by the Time Jackers (and by extension, Another Gaim). The world he created was on the verge of being destroyed/erased, and Kouta himself seemed to leave shadows/echoes of himself when he walked/talked (similar to Mai as the Woman of the Beginning). You could see it as another reference to Gaim as when Mai tried to use the Golden/Forbidden Fruit's powers to go back in time and change everything, DJ Sagara told her that despite the power it possesses, time is too strong to be manipulated and as a result, Mai's attempts to change time didnt work (what she she tried to say became cryptic and her movements/speech echoed) and temporarily trapped her in an alternate future/world.

Haven't finished the full episode yet but Woz gets fleshed out a bit, he reacted pretty panicky about his book not containing his celebration of Gaim Armour, which is interesting for possible developments. Especially next month teehee

Hey everyone, guess what time it is!

https://i.imgur.com/6bn7bTK.jpg

Time for me to have a new favorite episode of Zi-O, evidently.

This was just awesome. Fitting for the arc paying homage to the show that ended the era of repetitive two-parters, the story here gleefully messes with the established formula by starting us towards the end, and then having Sougo go back in time to mess with the events of an episode we haven't actually seen yet.

It's just brilliant, and on top of that, it continues the trend of Sougo becoming more and more creepy, which I'm getting more and more convinced is entirely intentional. Episode 10.5 joked about the inconsistencies between writers, and it definitely seems like Nobuhiro Mouri has a much crazier vision for Zi-O, but once again, Sougo does strike me as the kind of dude who would do something like this. Even in the Wizard episodes we starting seeing him mastermind schemes that leave everybody else shocked how competent he is when he puts his mind to something, so this is about right. Extra points for managing to thoroughly confuse Woz, though. For someone I initially had pegged as a generic, boring high school protagonist, Sougo has become pretty fascinating to watch. But then, I guess that's the point.

Yeah, not feeling Zi-O honestly

It's fitting that the first Rider that truly interrupts the formula is Gaim purely because Space God.

I'm curious if we'll get more of God Kouta or if this was his only appearance in the arc. I'm also interested to see what his plan is, what with Kouta wanting Geiz to save himself instead of Sougo doing it.

Still it's a good way to shake up things tremendously to where even Woz is confused, fitting considering the details we've heard about the next arc, looks like we're going to be in shake up mode constantly from here on out in terms of Quarter 1.

It'd be pretty funny if Woz in the intro for the next episode is just like "Yeeeeeah....I've got nothing this time. Let's just watch."

And agreed on that sentiment that Sougo is entertaining to watch. I think someone described Sougo as the little scrawny kid who says he's going to drop 20 on you in basketball, then you play a match against him and it turns out he actually meant 20 3-pointers, and then after he beats you, he just smiles and goes "That was a great game. I'm looking forward to playing you again" and then just walks off.

I think that's the perfect description of him.

Is this the same writer as the last episode? Cause I want to keep him, he fleshed out the characters more and more than the other did

We speculated these for a lot of toku alumni. I imagined decade, deno, and maybe even kabuto can withstand the persona retconing. looks like we will only get two more another riders according to villain watches from PB, so maybe we can get otoya back since he just filmed build specials. Zio did a lot if things better than decade and a lot of things worse as well. Zio tried to have a in depth plot, but we are not exploring until q2 and the whole time travel/paradox will always be a messy retcon. Zio still seems like a over confident and compentent airhead having fun like Light in toqger before he matures.

It's not really very clear, and I think there was some lack of communication with the director of these two episodes (The invess weren't affected at all when Gaim lost his powers in the flashback), but according to the official site, the monsters in this episode are just "Invess-like monsters", not actual Invess. Another Gaim also has control over them and the cracks, which is presumably why the Helheim invasion didn't advance at all. The whole system seems to exist for Another Gaim now.

Really liked the episode. The allusions at the beginning with the broken clock with Woz really helped set a tone for the rest of the episode too. How essentially time is getting broken now. That since Sougo crossed his own timeline, things aren't as clear cut as even Woz thought it was as he points out with his confused why he doesn't know of this either.

Also found it interesting in Sougo 2's more affectionate reference of Tsukuyomi in phrasing, and the callback to that in other ways that heightens how Woz did that, but hasn't since. And even how Sougo 2 seems to lean on it more, but Sougo 1 doesn't as much. Never noticed it used as much until Sougo 2 showed up. And it almost sounded like his first interaction didn't use -kun, but instead used -chan for even more friendlier connotations(unless I misheard it). But then in the .5 we're back to -kun, which isn't something Sougo had noticeably been using for her before either. Woz hasn't either except for that once. Makes me want to rewatch to see if I'd missed when that started.

Overall, very interesting episode and some great character building as well as interesting details to help make this feel like a fresh start and new beginning while continuing on the story. The callbacks to episode 1 in that regard were perfect, and works really well with the other themes present in Gaim itself to compare to that original episode 1 time visit, and how even Sougo points it out as familiar.

Really loving how the writing and directing is fully bringing this series together more and more and how the characters are growing and we see those bonds form, some even one sided, though it is interesting how Woz pointed out the inconsequential nature to Oma Zi-O, but also said nothing of Tsukuyomi, and many ways compared to their previous interaction, Woz seemed borderline walking on eggshells towards Tsukuyomi.

Also in the side details, it was interesting how it seems Woz is becoming more part of the team to play Sebastian to Sougo's Ciel, while Geiz and the Time Jackers finally started to have their talk about crimes of changing time. But then it seems the only one to actively actually commit that crime now, has been Sougo himself in rewriting his own history. Which really brings us back to other themes of the show about forging one's own destiny and the power of self to do that.

Absolutely loved this episode and cannot wait to see how more developed, and the action scenes are getting more and more fun with each episode too.

Also on the .5 got a giggle out of Woz having to clear his throat. And avoiding explaining the eye writing. xD

Were likely part of that scene itself for emphasis on Geiz and the Timejackers discussion about time. Their discussion and positioning was as much interpretative dance as the two with the clock masks dancing. Which was likely the intended symbolism point on posturing... :D

Rider shows tend to be artsy like that, which is what makes them such a rich art form even though they are trying to sell toys. The artsy aspects are what elevate it to more than simply a 30 minute toy commercial, and help allow for fantastic creative outlets and ways to experiment with toku as an artform itself. Because while the intent is to sell toys, there's no reason they can't make art in the process. In fact, it's encouraged. Grants more and more rewatches and depth to a show.

It's like the stuff with the Greeed from OOO when their different-colored cloths would just drop outta nowhere.

Was looking forward to the Gaim episodes so glad to see this one was actually quite good. Granted, the whole two Sougo's thing seems to be quite confusing but understandable given the time travel nature of the show, the big question is that at what point does Sougo go back to create this paradox?

I wanted to also draw attention to the .5 episode because they are doing something I never even noticed, the "main set" in the clock shop has items from every previous Heisei Rider series and they pointed this out here, the clock in the Cafe from Build is part of Zi-O's set.

I freaking loved this episode. I'm a sucker for plots that play around with time travel and this episode absolutely had fun with that (I especially loved Woz's "oh, for fuck's sake" body language in the background when the second Sougo showed up). I liked how the show is using Gaim, too, although I was a bit bummed out that we just left Geiz and Kaito at the halfway mark and never went back to check up on them. I know we'll get more next week, but I'm impatient, dammit.

Also the random between time and space thingy and how that person knew nothing of what being king means was really interesting, and really highlighted why Sougo is important in that regard. His empathy towards others. The fact he cares. Which also really makes it curious how this Sougo eventually became Oma Zi-O. But really found it interesting how that 'between person' did not understand simple founding principles of what being a king meant, and carried hues of pure ego and selfishness. Really helps sell the point to kids and an audience, and I love the subtle commentary interwoven in like that with this as a moral foundation type show.

It was fricking brilliant. Down to even the body language. So much good.

Yup. And so much scattered throughout every year. It's like poetry unto itself. One of the many reasons I love the genre so much. They really work hard to elevate scifi itself to such pure art, carrying on much of the 60s and 70s cinema artistic nuance and evolving it that Hollywood has lost over the years.


Toei and other companies, as well as Japan in general are absolutely amazing like that. One of the most passionate areas about the arts in any medium. I was talking about this the other day, but it tends to be true, the most artistic areas I've ever seen that truly show passion to the arts in all its forms tends to always lean on the UK, Spain & Mexico(and a good chunk of Latin America itself too!), South Korea, China, Japan, and sometimes France & Germany. How detail oriented they are, how not afraid to experiment with genres and the art form, and their willingness to redefine old concepts in new ways is always a joy to watch and see.

Is it me or gain going to be paradox as gain a god now and can still be a god while time like changes reminds me of madoka

Gods do not follow the rules of mortals, I assume Gaim works on a similar level as neither he or Mai are fully locked to time and space, they have limits but still.

I am assuming riders like Kabuto and Gatack will be able to have anothers and be able to fight as well, Decade is likely immune to the Another mind wipe effects etc. It is hard to say, we will have to wait for how the story goes.

As for paradoxes, we do not fully know how they work in this series, people have a habit of using Doctor Who rules on it which is a bit of a flawed argument.

Flawed is putting it mildly. xD