:lol

No.

Pretty much, although it was after he'd been traveling around and fighting off-screen, if I remember correctly. So it was at least implied that he found it between episodes. Faiz had crap explanations - the Faiz Blaster was literally sent to Mari in the mail - but it generally had explanations for things that weren't the Jet Sliger.

Yes he does. :D

I think they say he went off to look for it, and he disappeared for an episode or two, to show up and bean Faiz in the head with the Accel watch.

In fact, somebody recently posted the gif in the gif thread, so I'll snag it to post here.
https://38.media.tumblr.com/c57f8eb6...o325o1_250.gif


Because MERCHANDISING!

I'd like to know why Smart Brain didn't just shut down its own satellite that's giving Faiz Blaster its power...

Finished Hibiki, or as I like to call it, "How Toei filed down a square peg to fit in a round hole". This might be the fastest I've ever finished a series. (~2 weeks, although I think I finished Double pretty fast, too) Major spoilers to follow.

I enjoyed most of it, and I loved it's unique approach to a Kamen Rider Series. But there were some problems, namely with the second half. (No surprise there)

Things I liked:
-All the Oni had very nice designs, and I liked that they were similar a la the Ryuki riders
-Very unique style during the first half of the show
-Kagayaki was a really good opening that also contributed to the show's style
-Soundtrack was pretty good
-Likable characters
-All the acting was very good; the episodes with Todoroki in the hospital and Zanki's death both had some very good emotional moments
-Even though they stopped using them, the first opening and ending songs are still kept as instrumental background music

Things I didn't like:
-Kiriya "Zeronos, what are you doing here?" Kyousukue. Absolutely hated his character and the way he influences the series, especially when they try to make him sympathetic/less of a dick, presumably so we'll accept his transformation into an Oni more
-Akira and Asumu quitting their Oni training, especially when you can tell they were supposed to continue based on their alliterative names
-The second opening, which isn't bad, but it just feels generic, and it has no discernible chorus. The only thing it really has over "Kagayaki" is the brief shot of all the oni. Other than that, the first opening is much better.
-The removal of "Shounen Yo!" as the ending
-Never showing us the whole purification ritual. They end it on a cliffhanger and just skip to one year later. Not cool.
-They introduce a new major plot thread in the last episode, which of course means we'll never learn about it.
-We only get to see 3 or 4 Oni regularly. I would have really liked to see more Oni in significant roles. (Other than Sabaki continually showing up just to get his ass kicked)
-The final episode doesn't have any satisfying resolution for the supporting cast. I think Ibuki and Todoroki only get a couple lines each in the finale
-Shuki's design. It's so different from the rest of the Oni, and it really feels like they did that to say "Look, this one's a girl! You can tell because she has a skirt!"
-Akira only being an Oni for all of 3 seconds, and we don't even see the full design
-Giving Hibiki a bike, even though he never had one and it's established that he's a terrible driver

Things they should have done:
-Made Asumu into an Oni and let Akira become a full Oni
-Introduced Eiki and Shouki as main characters as originally intended
-Not changed the production staff. That would have made the show infinitely better. At the very least they could have kept Inoue away from it.
-Kept the original opening.
-Had the final episode be instead a very powerful rare Makamou (or something similar) that they need to assemble all the Oni (Including Asumu) to defeat
-It also would have been nice to see more variety in instruments among the auxiliary Oni

Overall, I think they actually did a decent job bedding in the new storyline with the old one. The only real problems I had were the introduction of the new Douji and Hime, who then erase the Puppets/story that were being set up. Felt like a big middle finger to the previous staff. and the fact that they never explain the plot, or why the new Douji and Hime disintegrate, and who the people in the traditional clothes really are and their motives. Why do all Inoue shows relish never explaining what's going on? However, I was okay with the lack of a final battle, as the series didn't feel like it really needed one.

Overall, I give it an 7/10, mainly due to the exceptional first half. The show's second half took away a lot of its individuality and felt like the studio trying to make it into more a conventional series, which prevents it from being the 9/10 it could have been.

See, I actually liked the conclusion of Asumu and Hibiki's relationship. The whole "just because you've decided not to be an Oni, doesn't mean I'm not your mentor" thing would have been a nice revelation and a brilliant message to end on. If only they had planned to end on that note from the moment the production changed, and had properly built things up to that point. It could have been great.

Yeah, that's part of what I don't like about it. It just felt a little forced, which is because it went through so many rewrites and the final was the only one with him not becoming an Oni. And it looks like it contradicts with the original intentions. I can live with the ending as is, but it just doesn't feel right. I would love it if they released a summary of what the original endgame was supposed to be. (Unless they have already, in which case I should find it)

Not fire Shigenori Takatera and Shinji Ooishi

I used to give Hibiki a split ranking, too. But I eventually decided that it's not fair to hold the Inoue era against the real show. So I just make it my personal head canon that the show was cancelled after 29 episodes and replaced with Faiz reruns. And that allows me to happily consider Hibiki my favorite Rider show.

And if you liked the original version of Hibiki, I strongly recommend checking out Daimajin Kanon, which was made by Hibiki's original producer and writer. It's very similar in tone and I can't recommend it enough.

Yeah, aside from it's problems it's actually a very good show; I think it's might be my second favorite so far. I'll see about checking out Daimajin Kanon.

In other news, I watched the first four episodes of Amazon. It's pretty good so far, and it's the oldest Kamen Rider show I've watched. I do think it's kind of funny how for the first two episodes the faces on the Ten-Faced Demon aren't painted red, which makes him look extra goofy. :lol

They kinda explain that a bit later by showing that the faces aren't red until he's consumed enough blood. And by explain I mean sorta make up for some extra goofiness.