…to make people buy the web exclusive DX Sets? :lol

I was trying to avoid specific examples but whatever.

Takatora is a good example of the failings of the characterisation in this show, at least for me. When first introduced he was just entirely there for the purpose of 'shit got real' but as the series developed it turned out he was actually a misguided man with a lot of heart and honour - basically a hero.

This is all fine, albeit very clichéd, but with so many Riders in this damn show pretty much all of Takatora's most important character moments happened off screen so each time he actually did appear on screen he was basically another character entirely. Everything that has happened to Takatora has been more profound for him, than it ever has for the audience.

We were forced into filling in the blanks ourselves. Your own imagination has probably made you believe Takatora is a better character than he actually is, and if you go back and watch it from the start you'll see just how many leaps his character arc has, rather than smoothly playing out.

Micchy is as unclear as Kaito at this point, who is my favourite piece of irony as the man obsessed with strength is the character who gets his ass beat most often.

I just did that last night. Takatora's character development is in my opinion expertly handled. You are allowed make connections but what those connections are is actually chosen for you by Urobochi. I think its a wonderful idea to introduce this fundamentally good person, but show him at the end of a journey into a darker road, and then show how much he wants a way out but can't see one. The series is peppered with the truth of his personality from around episode 11.

So yeah, I think as a character Takatora is kinda amazingly well handled

Overall, the personalities and motivations in this series are more show don't tell. You are gradually introduced to the characters but because it's often forced, nothing is outright explained. It is up to you the viewer to interpret things. Which I find tremendously engaging. For instance, I feel Micchy's motivations are now blatantly obvious and that's based on the sum of the evidence not the individual parts.

No screens. No captures. Only two words.


Mind. Blown.

I think that's a strength for Gaim, not necessarily a weakness. Like the poster above said, Gaim is very much show, don't tell and I feel like Takatora is expertly handled since he still maintains this kinda mysterious, badass presence but you see that he's less of a straight up bad guy, and more of a good guy who's making the wrong decisions. Plus I think it helps in making the characters not too predictable.

In the case of Kaito, I think that's the whole point of his character. He's obssessed with strength, but has a flawed perspective on it. I mean it's telling that probably his strongest moments occur when he's working alongside someone. And to be fairly honest, only a few Riders seem objectively stronger than him at this point.

We'll agree to disagree then as I still don't like it. Being this late into the show and barely knowing a thing about the characters, minus pencilling in stuff myself is bad writing in my opinion. It's the writers job to flesh out the characters, not mine.

A lot of people have been saying Gaim is the best Rider series and blows every other one out of the water. Your thoughts?

I'm just interested to see someone who doesn't think all smiles and roses about Gaim talk about it.

For me Gaim has a lot of great ideas, Kouta is a fantastic protagonist, Yggadrasil are great villains and I love any series that doesn't immediately crumble into a status quo like so many other toku shows.

However I also feel most of Gaim's good ideas stay on paper. I think the fights are awful, the gimmick was forgotten and despite having enough Riders to actively stump character growth, it isn't even worth it as the "everyone is an Energy Rider" business got boring after about two episodes, it's been about twenty since.

Well, that's 3 riders down and it was well deserved. Meanwhile, my continuing annoyance at Ryouma grows bigger, and my confusion over Kaito's character grows bigger. Why save a character by taking the blow yourself if you believe in strength? Also, I got round to translating what the overlords call themselves, and I was right!

He respects Kouta. He's said that much. I look at Kouta and Kaito's dynamic in much the same way as Sonic and Shadows; despite the rivalry, despite their very different approaches and beliefs, they're ultimately on the same side and out to do the same thing. Kaito is a realist who understands that sacrifices must be made; Kouta is an idealist who refuses to even think that so much as one person needs to die to stop Helheim.

On some level Kaito respects that and actually wants Kouta to succeed in a way he never can. Because of Mai, maybe? Hard to say.