Remember episode 14, the one with the fake Ryukendo?

What if like, we did that again, only very slightly differently, to the point that we don't actually account for how the lead characters have grown since then?

This really does feel like a recycled script. There's Fudo getting mad at being called old, which hasn't been a thing for like 20 episodes now, there's Kenji's' abrasiveness which has been really toned down in recent times, and Koichi doesn't even show up in this one.

As a result, the whole episode feels incredibly out of place, transpiring during this part of the show. Sure, there's a few decent gags to be had, but outside of that, I just really couldn't get into this one. And it wasn't at all helped by the ending, which implies that the entire thing was an act on a part of Kenji and Fudo, despite that making no sense and feeling like an asspull.

There's also the premiere of the fourth and final ending song, which comes in to probably the most unfitting scene that they could've put it with? It's a more mellow and somber song coming in during an unfunny gag scene with the villains.

Both Kamen Rider Blade and Metallic Rouge did this whole thing way better, is all I'm saying.

Legit the best part because of how it points out despite the footage not showing it, the caster dagger has to have a key used for it because literally everything is summoned by the keys.

Anyway since I'm catching up more quickly let's go for a...

Ryukendo Catch Up Corner Part 4!

Episode 27: Remember kids don't click random icons that pop on your computer. This episode is like a mix between Gridman and Garo in terms of this being a digital world plot but with a surreal atmosphere. There's some real good directing and cinematography in this episode too. Of course this is also Fudoh's come back as Ryugunoh via his new Magna form, it's simple but really cool. I always dig it when you just make a gun a bigger gun.

Episode 28: Huh, so I guess Magna Ryugunoh is just our new default form for Fudo now, neat. Also nice to see the show spend a bit more time on his upgrade rather than just brushing it aside for the next. Though it looks like Ryukendo's up next time in regards to that.

Episode 29: Ngl, I thought it was weird they decided to pull out this odd sort of narrative hook on confidence and belief. I just didn't really see where they were honestly going with the confidence bit compared to the part about belief, so it stuck out in an odd way to me. This is still a real good episode for Kenji and Gekiryuken though, and It is interesting to see that God Ryukendo is also a permanent default change. Very interesting way of switching up with the new toys I suppose, though that means we kind of lose all the cool stuff from before.

Episode 30: Oh okay nevermind, the intro just reassured me that we'll get to use all the old stuff but as upgraded versions now, neat. This was honestly a fun episode in how our heroes had to make their way into the main area in order to fight the demon. We get some more character stuff for our supporting cast, and we get more showcasing of God Ryukendo. Overall and enjoyable time, oh right, the new openings pretty alright though I prefer OP1, ED3's really fun though, I'll need to listen to them some more though.

Episode 31: We've got a Setoyama focus this time around and it's really cool to see his determination in play. But this was also a fun Looney Tunes case of mistaken cargo which involves Lady Gold and her crew in new outfits, two robbers, and a door to door salesman. This is legitimately a fun episode where we just keep building more and more to the pile of chaos that's already been created, with a third case getting pushed into the mix alongside Koichi getting involved in a hilarious way too.

Episode 32: The Jamanga's plot this time was pretty fun to be honest, made for some interesting and funny moments. Ryugunoh basically sobbing the entire time while fighting was a highlight. Koichi's stuff was neat too, though it is kind of funny to get back to him after this most recent string of episodes where he's either not been around or been relatively minor. Random note though, I'm really loving the instrumental of OP2 whenever Ryukendo does his finisher, those trumpets rock!

Episode 33: Delta Shadow always had a bike-look to it so I was really confused by how Ryujinoh never used it in that form, I guess he just had to unlock it lol. It's interesting to get two kind-of Koichi episodes back to back or rather one for Zanryujin. It's a good episode for both of them. I also enjoy having a dapper suited mirror monster powered Jamanga even if it?s just a person wielding a scythe with a mask on, simple but effective.

If at first gun don't work, use more gun.

Yeah, I was surprised that these were actual upgrades and not just new forms. Gonna really miss the old suits though.

"In order to truly believe in something, you must have confidence in it as well." I felt like they got the point across well enough.

It did make for some fun character beats, yeah.

I imagine this made it one of Androzani's' favorite episodes.

It was so good! Bro was about to make a sweater out of his tears.

The sheer variety, ontop of the creativity of Ryukendo's' monster designs is really great, for sure. They're the first monster of the week designs that have really stood out to me in a long time.

I did it folks! Fully caught up!

Ryukendo Catch Up Corner Final(hopefully)!

Episode 34: We get an absolutely aesthetic and surreal intro into an absurd plot via an umbrella that makes a Space Odyssey reference for its entrance. Kobashiri was also a fun character to focus on this time around, him being the catalyst behind this event in the first place. Overall this was a good one-off and we get our evolved Fire Ryukendo/Kong finally introduced, Burning Ryukendo and Burning Kong.

Episode 35: This was a fun episode, we get to see the mayor's son again, some bits of Akebono world-building what with their demon safety stage event, and some really fun indoor action featuring a lot of the cast. I was curious why they kept Jack Moon as part of the villain intro in OP2 but it's only upon this episode that I realize the credits/lyric subs are covering him up so well that his portrait's been replaced by Mechani-Moon all this time. I figured Baron Bloody was up to something by taking that broken blade, but damn. To think this comes around something similar happening to another favorite General of mine in Boonboomger.

Episode 36: This was another good episode, though I feel like the messaging was all over the place with this one. But it was still nice to see Komachi again after she's been absent. Also hey we've got Blizzard Ryukendo and Blizzard Shark now! Now to see how long we'll be waiting for Thunder to get upgraded given how long it took for us to get that originally.

Episode 37: We get an Ichiko focused episode and Rock Crimson returns! I was not expecting a love story between the two, but sure, why not? It's an interesting and actual heartfelt episode at points despite the premise being absurd. I'm curious if this will ever be revisited or if it'll just be a one-off plot, but who knows given this is Ryukendo we're talking about.

Episode 38: A standard Jamanga encounter turned into a deadly trap by taking advantage of the fact that our heroes usually always purify and refine the keys they take from the demons they defeat. It's a pretty tense episode with Kenji having to escort Professor Mikurya to the closed off SHOT base that's threatening to blow up at any moment. The fact that Kenji can't transform due to the interference so he has to rely on Ryujinoh is pretty neat, and just adds to the tense nature especially when Mechani-Moon shows up.

Episode 39: Whoa okay, they just went full SA2 Space Colony Ark with the latest Jamanga plot here. If there was ever any way to upgrade Thunder into Lightning, I'm glad this is how we did it. I also like how this implies that God Ryukendo could utilize the old keys before, he just didn't have any reason to until they suddenly upgraded themselves for him to use. That said, we get some fun stuff from our three heroes here having to work together and also get a cool rallying scene of the townspeople towards the very end.

Episode 40: This was a weird one in terms of following up the past several episodes of either unique plot or rather tense/action packed episodes. A failed Jamanga creation pretty much causes chaos, Kenji and Fudo are feuding for some reason, Umi's back for some reason, but we get an interesting fight at the end out of it at the very least.

Burning Kong has one of the best finishers! Say it!

It does kinda raise the question of how he rebuilt Jack Moon off the sword alone. Like, Baron Bloody claims he reanimated Jack Moon's' corpse, but it seems way more likely that Bloody cloned Jack instead.

I don't blame you. It was kinda hard to tell what exactly this one was gunning for.

It really is anyone's' guess. We still haven't gotten the full context on Gekiryuken's' amnesia, afterall.

"Tense" is probably the best word to sum up the atmosphere of the episode, yeah. They really did capture the feeling of racing against the clock.

Ultraman style endings are always a treat.

I'm glad you found more to like out of this one than I did.

Toshiki Inoue has a weird backstory.

Okay, jokes aside, I've said it a couple times before, but I'll say it again: Koichi works so much better as a support than as a frontliner.

In this, he's here to offer a guiding hand to a kid named Toshiki; A bullied kid who's having confidence troubles. And while Koichi's' wording isn't exactly the best, his message comes across well enough: Stand up for yourself.

What follows is a fun chase episode wherein Toshiki does his best to protect a doll housing the soul of Ryujinoh(it makes sense in context), and in turn working on his own brand of courage and standing up for what he believes in. To the point that he even manages to ward off Baron Bloody(very temporarily, but still).

And while it's unfortunately played for a joke, I will also give this episode credit in that it portrays anxiety actually rather well. Especially the scene wherein Toshiki misunderstands the words and intent behind Kenji and Fudo asking him to cooperate with him. The scene wherein Toshiki hesitates to cross the bridge was another good example.

We also get the return of the Caster Knuckle! We haven't seen that in like 20 episodes! I honestly felt like the showrunners just kinda forgot that it existed. Regardless, the brutal beating of Baron Bloody that followed was fun, but something tells me that he's not gone for good yet. Maybe it was the little barrier effect that happened as he blew up, maybe it was the minion running off with his stave afterward, but I'm sure he'll be back.

I liked this episode. A good bounce back after the disappointment of last episode.

I enjoyed this episode as well.

When you give Koichi another named character to bounce off of, he can work surprisingly well when compared to him being on his own. Especially since after the first portion of the episode, he's entirely absent and its all Toshiki until he returns.

Speaking of I did like the little bit of Toshiki called out Ryujinoh's name and him completing the call out, it was a cute little moment. Another fun touch is hearing Zanryujin get really hot blooded in the announcements for the different attacks at the end. Really showed you how pissed both he and Koichi were after being freed.

Those were really nice to see for sure. Zanryujin is just as much out of blood against Bloody as Koichi is!

This one was... fine.

My boy Fudo takes the lead on this one; with him investigating a string of incidents happening around Akebono, and yet no demon in sight.

And while I get what the episode was going for, and it arguably does it well, I dunno, the overall thing just didn't sit quite right with me? It's another of those cases where I don't know if I can properly articulate what I'm feeling.

The general idea, from what I can tell atleast, is that while Fudo is an effective detective, he's still a regular guy in alot of ways. Having frustrations at how people judge him, and him briefly falling for the disguised Lady Gold's' charms to the point that he doesn't immediately raid the restaurant even though he should.

I'll also say that the episode does a good job at having an atmosphere of unease all throughout it; reflecting Fudo's' mind state all throughout the event. There isn't even a single comedic beat in this one to help reinforce this. The whole episodes comes across as being rather uncomfortable, and arguably in a rather good way in terms of execution.

But I think the main thing that keeps me from fully embracing it is, well, that Fudo ends up thinking with his dick. Sure, it's brief, and he keeps his wits about him enough to be able to move forward regardless. But on the other hand, Fudo's' been shown to be smarter than that plenty of times throughout the show. It sets a small seed of disappointment that the back of my mind just couldn't quite let go of all throughout the episode.

Sure, you can argue that it's a very minor complaint, or even that it shouldn't even qualify as one. But that's just how I felt when experiencing the episode. Again, the episode overall is fine, but for whatever reason, I just couldn't fully immerse myself into it. It's a shame, but it doesn't kill the inherent qualities that this episode does have. Not really.

I thought this was a pretty solid episode with Fudo at the forefront. I do find it funny though how we need Ryukendo to kind of do something so Kenji has to fight a giant frying pot ha ha.

I also find it funny how it took us like 13 episodes after his introduction, but starting with Episode 40 the show has to let you know that Ryugunoh's new toy can also become a short sword.