Maybe M was split into the M and Emu we have now?

To be honest, after seeing this episode and connecting it with ep 12, I kinda realized something. It seems that Emu's compatibility actually started 16 years ago. He got the Bugster virus or something like prototype of it at that time but the surgery 6 years ago actually was the one that split his personality. Remember, many sources and Dan's words last episode said that the operation was to made a new type of virus. So, what we could have for Emu is might be a prototype of the Bugster Virus. Seeing M's antic toward Nico in the past, Im' even pretty sure that his Emu and M's personality was one or rather made obvious after the surgery.

Anyway, it's a really nice episode for a Taiga's fan like me. This really cements that he isn't a really type of bad guy or an antagonist at all. In fact, I have a feeling that he is someone a Kiriya-like successor in the second arc of the story. Love Hiiro's interaction with Emu here and he actually cares about Emu as his junior. Pretty much, he has changed since what we saw in the first episode. And Parad... I got the feeling that he will be a wild card of the series. I don't believe he will become a good guy; just a guy who has his own agenda. One thing I'm sure is he might backstab Dan later in the story.

I hope that Parad will act like Heart throughout the series. I see him as an anti-hero with his own agenda.

But I would love to see Emu & Parad interact more. They both love games.

They probably did not think too much about it as long as they can get video game footage with hardly any hassles thus eliminating the need to make some faux fighting game footage which will take time, money, and manpower. Or another possibility is that they did consider it but Bandai Namco requested it as a way of subtle promotion.

so Taiga has soften up and Nico is made his morality pet/sidekick. Maybe with this, he will slowly stop being such a loner since he is not a bad guy and Hiiro showing he does care for Emu. Waiting for the day the three of them becoming buddies.

As for Parad, I can't see him becoming a good guy at all but he will probably be a wild card rider. Sometimes against the heroes and sometimes working with them for his own agenda. Who knows...maybe some sense will be knocked into him or he will become even more excited when Emu gets level 99 and beats him.

I can see a possibility of him going as far as Gremlin from Wizard or Mishima from Kabuto if they let him live that far. Or he can always be another Sid/Sigurd from Gaim.

Or, like every pretty boy from recent Rider, something'll happen to redeem him. He certainly hasn't shown himself as evil, just wanting to play games with M. I can see so many ways they'll use that to make him an ally, like Alain.

Didn't he say he wants to make the planet his play thing? I think Para-DX and Genm will still be villains but fall out

Oh, I'm not saying he'll turn good now, but I think it's highly likely he will eventually. I do kinda hope he doesn't though - all too often nowadays to riders show up as villains for a quarter of the show and then turn it around, only to job hard as the series goes on.

You're right, it's been a while since we've had a truly villainous Rider, which is why I liked Professor Banno so much.