Last I watched was Kamen Rider Shuki arc (episode 36 I think?) but I already watched the show knowing that it'll be disappointing so it ended up lessening that impact.

Needless to say from what I've seen in the retool so far, it was your standard Kamen Rider series, but the sight of Oni fighting in the city is very jarring to say the least.

You can tell why they retooled the show heavily. The toy sales are low, and the show is expensive due to majorly filming in forests. Not only that but the early Hibiki is very artsy, there's some scenes where multiple shots are used I imagine they took a whole day to film a simple scene.

Does that mean no Yuuto if Kyosuke is showing up here. If so, who are they gonna get for the Den-O tribute.

it was always going to be imajins anyway. That's the easiest option they had.

I just remembered, maybe they could get New Den-O for the tribute ep.

We~ll, just because he comes back as Kyosuke for the Hibiki episodes doesn't mean that he ONLY has to do that though. I mean if the writers decide to not focus on Zeronos that is totally fine, but they can always pull a Kenji Ohba with the episodes like they did with the Gokaiger winter movie where Gavan, Battle Kenya, and Denji Blue made an appearance together(who are all played by Kenji Ohba btw). Same with Rina Akiyama. She made an appearance on the Agito episodes but she can always appear as Naomi as well if they want her to cause at the end most of us are always open arms with those kinda meta fan service. But bottom line, I would like it either way if it was only Yuuto and Deneb or Kotaro and Teddy or just the main 4 Imagins.

I absolutely hated Kyosuke Kiriya, but...

This is honestly perfect. Asumu chose to abandon the path of Oni to become a doctor. Hibiki accepted that. "Being an Oni isn't the only way to follow in my shoes."

But we know Kiriya continued down that path. We finally get to see where he ultimately ended up. It seems he has inherited the role of Hibiki. We'll see if he has improved as a person.

Todoroki was a junior under the eye of Zanki. Hibiki's theme was passing down knowledge through generations. This works extraordinarily well on a thematic level.

Also, it's a very clever workaround regarding actor situations. Hibiki's actor has bad relations with TV Asahi after a scandal and Asumu's actor has retired from the industry. So this is the best we could've gotten regardless.

And at least it means we get to see the Hibiki suit in action as well (though I wish they made a new suit for Kiriya).

Also, I wonder if this means we won't be getting Zeronos in the Den-O tribute? Or will they end up double dipping for the same actor?

Episodes 1-29 are the show as intended and are some of my favourite toku ever. Post-staff-change, 29+ is a different, less thoughtful and rather bland affair. 29 has a satisfying conclusion, though, so it's quite easy to pretend that the show finished there! :D

They did. There was reportedly an Asumu suit too but it was cannibalised to improve Kiriya's when they changed the plan for the last episode.

Decade route zio going. The remaining tributes will be playing a bigger role with alumi vets. If asumu returns as hibiki it would be legendary, but he retired to take oer his family business and hibiki himself is busy prime time. Ironically, zeronos and naomi are back, but for their lesser roles not better known deno roleas. Heard hoppers are replacing tendou, so not even swasword, gattack, drake, or bee system. Maybe decade and dark kiva/ixa will be back with ghost Grease. Curious if final form, ginga, and summer movie will be alternate ohma zio plan and what involvement it'll be with the rest of the tributes. 4 more left. Drive, deno, kabuto, and kiva. Seriously, deno and drive can be done already because of Christmas movie and brain specials.

I was surprised the full supporting cast didnt return like decade dneo and hibiki arc. I saw a few months ago they did some reunion as well.

Zio look so short compares to his costars as well as returning riders. I didnt expect diend was that tall. He's even shorter than chalice.