Lock Seeds still seem very hard to come by even in japan so yeah the Shift Cars have a though act to follow in that regard.

I'm with you there. I also watch every show to the end and then decide if I like it or not. Sometimes a show gets better or worse around the end, so it's better to watch it as a whole. Of course you have a general impression while watching it, but it can change once you've finished.

As much as I've liked Gaim, I don't think it's going to influence my enjoyment of Drive. It helps that Drive seems to be going in a very different direction from Gaim, with what looks like a more light-hearted tone and using episodic, contained stories instead of the more elaborate and nuanced plot of Gaim. I think differentiating itself like this from Gaim is the best way to avoid comparisons and let it just be its own thing.

In regard to the toys, though, I've definitely found my own interest in Drive affected by Gaim. I really liked the Arms Change line and Lockseeds, and the TK line and Shift Cars feel underwhelming after that.

I'm actually fearing I might personally lose interest in it just because it's bland compared to Gaim, which is how I felt about Wizard coming from Fourze. I don't think it could be any worse than Gobusters coming after Gokaiger, but this show doesn't seem to be taking any risks. I imagine it'll do fine with the kids though. Not sure about us.

How could Gaim ruin Drive? Unless Micchy is running around in Drive fucking things up Decade style, we're fine.

But seriously, I feel like after a show that most of the fandom considers amazing, the next one comes has two different hypes behind it. The "This can never live up to X" type of hype and the "Oh my god this is going to be the best thing ever" hype.

I feel like this forum has been relatively good in how they are keeping thier Drive hype separate from Gaim.

Honestly, I really don't think Drive can be even remotely as good as Gaim. As such, I'm going to try not to compare it on those merits, but we'll see if I can resist the urge. Fortunately, despite Wizard's short comings, Toei has not had a total stinker of a KR series since Decade, so there is something to be said about that.

For me, no. Gaim may very well be THE best Rider show for me, but it's still not perfect. It's never going to be the only Rider show I ever want to watch.

I, for one, welcome Drive. If it's good on its own merits, then it's good for me.

Gaim is a great show, but I'm starting to get why everyone's sick of the over hype when discussions like this happen. Just because Gaim is a great show doesn't mean Drive will suck. People saying Gaim is the greatest thing ever, and that nothing as good will ever happen again, are needlessly exaggerating. Yes it's a great show, one of the best, but it doesn't mean the franchise will be worse from here on.

Drive looks excellent in it's own right.

Honestly I don't know why people are already saying that Drive is going to suck and Gaim is the best because that's not true, even though it is one of the best Kamen Rider series. I personally don't judge and compare two Kamen Rider series, so I would say that Drive is in its own league just as Gaim.

Yeah, Gaim's over hype was fucking annoying. The "Every Rider series is trash compared to Gaim" mentality I was seeing pisses me off. If Gaim one of the greats? Yeah. The best? Up to you. A show so untouchable by Rider shows before it that it looks like god in comparison? Hell no.