I liked this episode. Ghost hasn't made a huge impact on me as a show, so far, but it definitely looks like the plot is starting to move a bit more. I've been avoiding spoilers so I don't know much about Spectre or Mystery Dude, so I'm very curious to see what their collective deals are, especially since they're apparently connected somehow.

I really liked that Takeru didn't immediately find a wellspring of self-confidence and defeat Spectre in their rematch. I kind of hope that this lasts for a few episodes as Takeru gradually gets his shit together and learns to be a better Kamen Rider from his conflicts with Spectre (which I think is what Drive wanted to do with Machine Chaser but ultimately just used his fights with Drive as filler).

I'm giving this episode top marks - in part because of the plot developments, but mostly for the cinematography. There were some really nice shots in this episode. I'm not sure who directed this episode, but I want to see them do more.

This was the first Episode that really had me hooked all the way through. I love Specter as a character and he fits perfectly into this show. He is a nice balance to the more goofy main characters and a really good opponent for Takeru.

Really interested in his backstory and how he is connected to the scarf dude.

Plus Nobunaga Damashii is officially my new favorite form in the show.

Not going to lie, aside from the suit, Spectre didn't really impress me. For the moment he just seems like a generic "I'm strong you're weak my way is better" type of Rider. Now true we've had them in the past, but Spectre just seems a little too into that character type. Hopefully he gets something as the show goes on.

His introduction did give the episode a nice story however. I actually like that Takeru at the end of it still isn't sure about himself. This is a plot thread I would very much enjoy seeing throughout the show, or at least for a couple more episodes. But the whole school and mom thing was really pointless to me. They didn't really do anything with it and it pretty much just became set dressing for the Takeru/Spectre stuff. In the end, it should've probably just been cut or saved for later and just have the two meet over a random Ganma attack. I also didn't like that Tut appears and was collected apparently before the series starts. This will probably happen again, but it is irritating since with these being gotten by finding objects and what not, it makes it fun to see them discover the item and meaning and whatnot. Not just magically appear.

Spectre's henshin is pretty cool though. Really digged his henshin phrase. His weapon is utterly stupid looking though. But I'll give it Nobunaga's finisher, that was pretty cool. Ironically though, the Tut weapon is rather decent looking and has an ungodly shitty finisher.

Overall it isn't a bad episode, but I think it needed some tightening up.

I think it makes sense, that since Specter has probably been working on his own stuff for a while, he would already have gotten at least one Eyecon prior to this. If he didn't that would really raise some questions, and the fact that he does have Tut shows he's not just a jerk stealing other people's stuff. (he still is that, though).

That, but I'm also super ok with it because all the "random people super admires random historical figure" plots are super contrived. I don't need another episode of some random guy going on about how much they want to be like King Tut, the stuff with Nobunaga was dumb enough. The less we actually focus on the Eyecon finding the better, imo.

Did you miss the parts about how Alan was manipulating the whole situation to turn the school-ground into something greater for the Ganma while the place was vacated? And how because the mom was hurt, Specter tipped the kid about the temple so that it would lure Takeru into the area as well?

Instead of just providing a setting for the events to take place, it also built things up toward the future. The plot threads weren't self contained in this episode, but that doesn't make them pointless. I'm sure it'll lead somewhere later down the line and I'd much prefer that over "a random Ganma attack."

I saw them, but again, I don't think they were needed. They could have easily done it in another episode that wasn't focused on introducing a new character. They could have easily had Takeru and Spectre meet some other way. Yes it may lead somewhere, but it provides too much here because, again, this is an episode that is the introduction to another main character. I'd rather in this case they have focused more on Spectre than "Okay here's Spectre, wait we need a Ganma attack/plan. Ummm attack vacant school and civilians for reason that won't come up for a while."

Hmmm, alright then. To each their own. :p

It feels incredibly bizarre that an entire month passed between episodes 4 and 5.

Seriously. What the hell were they doing for 30 days there?

I really enjoyed this episode. It's really shame that he lost Edison. I just hope that Specter and Ghost become friends later on. Their rivalry is kind of annoying although it just started.

Takeru was probably just crying about the Nobunaga eyecon.