そんなこと、今さら気づいたのかよ、お前？

Why else would my process for writing about Kamen Rider episodes include two entire steps dedicated to self doubt?

Hey, been a while since I've gotten to do this!

Kusaka actually specifically says it's great that you two have found the resolve to fight, before telling Mihara he doesn't trust that resolve will stick, and following that up with telling Takumi the thing you already mentioned. I don't think that initial line is sarcastic so much as it is just plain old dishonest. It's the least passionate "congratulations" imaginable, which, still, classic Kusaka!

I remember the subs starting to get pretty spotty again around this point? Off the top of my head, a glaring example in this one is Keitarou telling Takumi he's not afraid of him anymore getting translated as him saying he doesn't want to worry about Takumi. Which makes it a complete non-sequitur when he tries to prove it the next moment with playful roughhousing.

Remember, the Kaixa belt will kill you in short notice unless you happen to be one of the worst human beings alive. It's like the Delta Gear, but for pure scumminess.

I probably should've phrased it not as "sarcastic", but... disingenuous? Kusaka's compliment is very much in the vein of Nice Of You To Finally Show Up, so, yeah, nothing to feel great about as the recipient!

Why are we all still pretending that it's not just that the Kaixa Gear only works if you've got those eyebrows.

Because Saeko was able to use it with no problems like 15 episodes ago.

https://kamenriderdie.com/images/kr/...o_Kageyama.png

SHE GOT THOSE EYEBROWS, THO!

That legit cracked me up.

I'm glad you're able to still enjoy what Kusaka brings to the table, he's the worst but he's the best at being the worst. I don't forgive him either, though. In fact, Kusaka is the "Only one I'll never forgive" in Faiz. (I'm not sure if you've actually run into that phrase in Kamen Rider yet, but it shows up a LOT)

Happy to help!

Yeah, Kusaka. Now that everyone in the cast has his number, his dickish behavior feels so impotent that it's funny again. It seems like the show has put him in a cage, left him to keep throwing shit but having it mostly hit a glass partition. It's awful, but no one's getting covered in shit anymore.

It's definitely still a little weird for Mari to keep him around, but as long as he's at arm's length I can tolerate his presence.

With Sawada dead we're basically done with the Ryusei school storyline. Mari has her memories back, Kusaka knows exactly what happened and who was responsible, and those two plus Mihara and Rina are the only survivors left. From here on the show is moving into its final major story arc.

Yeah, as someone said above, the fear about bringing up those, especially for something underrated, is summed up here, and I guess I've talked about this hypothetical scenario too before:

And the jokes with "you're takumi", "you've taken all this negativity and thought yep, sounds about right", "you're a victim here too" apart, these all are real cases, which will make.... "Takumi is (or rather, predicts) netizens" instead.

It's crazy yeah.... Minami IS Truegami?! I thought he's someone significantly older than that. And it's crazy for an actor to play a such contrasting role in different series. Here, he plays Minami, one of the worst person to exist in the show. Basically, Kusaka without being in the protagonist side.

What's the difference to you between this Yuka spotlight episode compared to episode 15 (which is mixed bag) at the past? But for Kitazaki on the shelf, he's already a recurring member of Lucky Clover so no point for looking for new member (because it's to make it 4, which assumed brings luck on Lucky Clover). In the past probably they just see Yuka as an ordinary Orphnoch, just like every MOTW, but Murakami researched her further to be convinced that she's a good candidate. Also wdym by powerful? About fighting wise, Takuma whooped her's ass with Yuji and Kaido together. With the cops knowing about Orphnochs, I guess that can be chalked up to Minami above.

Also with Takuma taking some revenge to Kitazaki with him being wounded.... lol, wouldn't you actually get it? Kitazaki offering the handshake that you replicated here only works for him because Kitazaki's ability to turn things into ash. If you handshake Kitazaki even if he's the one wounded... you are STILL the one that gets hurt. Also did they forget about Kitazaki's ability (yeah, I sort of always think his ability can be detrimental like in this scenario, except when for some reason, the ability is forgotten) carry Kitazaki with their shoulders.

Nooo... Yuka, don't turn into like that! Don't turn into the stereotypical snobby girl who treats any "peasants" like trash like those that bully you! Anyway yeah, what's with Keitaro moving on (like Kaido) previously if he only got "rejected" now? Also Mari third-wheel? Yuji is the only man she likes and the scene is her together with him too!

You won't be mad and tolerate more if it's not directed at you (you aren't Takumi or Mihara so..). But also, you can tolerate this one because Kusaka's dickish behavior is impotent (again)? Dunno if you'll get what I'm saying, but with someone that's great at running people down verbally being tolerated and considered funny, that'd make many dickheads and assholes, or even villains get away because they want to see more of their behavior to get laughs! Which would make their behavior opposite of impotent.

I concede. That is totally his thing.

Now there's a guy with an interesting redemption arc!

Yuka's much-anticipated conclusion arc starts here and this episode is a welcome breather after the recent melancholy revolving around Takumi and before the show prepares to plunge back in to the sea of darkness for its home stretch. The happy, innocuous and humorous scene at the theme park is completely detached from the main plot which is awesome since it's a reminder of why these characters are so great and that's all it needs to be. It's to the merit of the show that they have lives beyond the plot and actually get to hang out and have fun and we get to have fun watching them.

Unfortunately, Yuka's murders have finally come back to haunt her as both Lucky Clover and a secret science society want to bring her in for different reasons. I was surprised that she blipped on Murakami's radar considering she hadn't actually killed anybody since the Kaixa arc but he's right about her potential. The OP already foreshadowed that she could become an advanced Orphenoch and if she wasn't such a kind and generous person, she would have been the perfect candidate for Lucky Clover's vacancy.

And now she has killed again but this time it was in retaliation to the cops shooting her. She didn't want to kill them but they left her with little choice. What matters to her though is that Kiba saw what she did and knows that she isn't as totally innocent as he thought she was. She feels like she betrayed his trust in her. Team Faiz is back together again but now it's Team Orphenoch's turn to get shaken up and Yuka is at the center of the conflict. I have a lot of feelings about this arc since Yuka is one of two characters I find especially relatable, the other being Takumi, and it's the perfect balance of comedy, drama and romance. I've said that at least twice before but especially here, it's a rollercoaster of emotions, starting with an episode that happens to feature a literal rollercoaster.

I'm so glad to hear that your interest in Kusaka has been restored! I love how committed he is to being an a**hole to Takumi and Kiba that he showed up at the theme park incognito just to casually insult them. It's easy to take for granted how much he contributes to the comedic value of the show when his actions are inconsequential.

The dynamic between him and Takumi is so unique as well. It's neither the first nor the last time the Primary and Secondary Riders have been rivals but they seriously don't get along even out of combat and yet they still have some kind of twisted camaraderie between them while being as passive aggressive as possible. Kusaka would never consider another Orphenoch a comrade but he made an exception for Takumi even though he would rather kill him. Takumi respects Kusaka for being generally competent and unhesistant which in turn helped Takumi to become more assertive in his principles. It's intriguing how their perpetual rivalry and mutual dislike can actually be beneficial for development.

The theme park looks like the same one from the first Faiz vs Crocodile and Kaixa vs Crocodile fight scenes. Maybe?

Speaking of, Kaixa Day is a few months away.

It's so nice to have a story that feels relevant to everyone again, that feels drawn from their experiences, that's looped into the show's themes. Real cool to see.

He seems very excited about bringing a giant grey monster to life, so, probably not a great guy!

(I had to go back and see which one Episode 15 was, and how I felt about it.) It seems like I really ended up enjoying that episode, so this one is sparking some of the same excitement.

Yeah, I wasn't suggesting that Yuka'd be taking Kitazaki's place, just that it's probably more important to have that 4th member when Kitazaki isn't reliable.

I think a lot of Yuka's limitations, as far as previous losses go, are self-imposed. Kageyama specifically criticizes her in this one for holding back in the fight.

Good point about Minami!

I honestly don't think Yuuji and Takumi even knew Mari was sitting at that table.

He really does! I don't have anywhere near enough time to go into it (I'm definitely doing this post when I should be working), but the Adel stuff largely worked better for me because redeeming him is the theme of the show, while redeeming ("redeeming") Sawada is something that is at best of reflection of the other characters' struggles, and at worst a distraction from more interesting thematic work.

Like, redeeming Adel is what Ghost is about, while the Sawada storyline never felt as integral to me.

Yeah, I think it's super important to have their Big Day Out, and not just for catharsis. It's important to see Yuka as a human teenager, since she's about to be objectified by numerous parties as A Dangerous Orphnoch.

I think they sincerely hate each other? I feel Takumi is okay hanging around jerks because he's been a jerk to tons of people (which is to say he doesn't care even a little bit if Kusaka hates him), while Kusaka knows he's going to need more Riders if he wants to bring down Smart Brain.

I don't know if I think they even grudgingly respect each other? Like, I think they view their actions as Riders as The Mission, and that exists in a strata so far above emotions that things like respect or camaraderie don't even enter the calculus. Fighting together... it's like they're both in the same fight, but they aren't fighting together.

I've already started growing out my eyebrows in anticipation!

Also btw can you respond to my reply about Yuka's behavior (the romance hijinks one) that I don't advocate, or Kusaka's jerkassery?

I would agree on Die for this one with them sincerely hating each other (though if want to be more specific, more one sided on Kusaka), and not like the usual primary and secondary Riders. Also like I said before, I don't want for people to see any characters constantly being hostile to each other but is inseparable, as friends deep down who just acts as worst enemies outside. There are certainly those who are like that, but don't consider all characters who are like that the same.

Also with the argument of Kusaka being good (anti-hero is still that, though admittedly you still consider him extreme one) because of him killing Orphnochs (out of pure racism, just that the target species happens to be mostly malicious one), I've been holding it back until now, where Minami appears.

This is a smart way to put a monstrous character on protagonist side without portraying them in a better light, like Kuroto in Ex-Aid, but I'm onboard with the hatred being genuine and the only reason they "work together" is some mutual gain, not even grudging respects, or camaraderie. Also forgot to talk about this but.... it's not Mari's decision to keep Kusaka around because both her and Kusaka live in Keitaro's laundry which would make for Keitaro to decide Takumi, Mari, and Kusaka to live there or not?

Can you give it to me one more time? I guess it wasn't clear to me. Sorry!

Huh! I hadn't considered that. Yeah, I gotta assume that Keitaro isn't going to be able to get Kusaka to leave. That is not an argument Keitaro's going to win.

Leave it to Kusaka to prove it's possible to be an even worse roommate than Tezuka. :p

He's awful in every aspect, but, no, he is not a good roommate.

One of my favorite touches over the previous arc was whenever there'd be a Team Faiz meal. The lighting would be dim or non-existent, there'd be rain outside, everyone would have their heads down, no dialogue, just a miserable mood... except Kusaka, who'd be clearly having a super normal meal, unconcerned by everyone's suffering.

It... it's so perfect.

Perhaps camaraderie was too strong a word for their relationship. They definitely hate each other but there's something that works between them that's hard to explain. Kusaka doesn't really "respect" anybody, not even Mari. Everybody is on a spectrum of least to most contempt and Takumi falls somewhere in the middle between Orphenochs and humans. Takumi has to respect Kusaka on some level in order to have felt inferior to him when they first met. They're aligned by their goal to protect humanity, albeit for completely different reasons. Takumi is a hero of justice. Kusaka is on the side of justice, but he's not of justice, definitely not a hero. He wants to spite the Orphenochs and protect Mari. Everybody else is second to him. He's an antihero, the worst of the worst. But when they fight together, however begrudgingly, they're a pretty effective unit. They're professionals, I guess.

Yeah, I think "professionals" gets to the heart of it, at least for Kusaka. I think his two axes for charting out his relationships are "USEFUL" and "CONTEMPT". Someone like Mari is Least Contempt/Most Useful, for example, while Takumi gets plotted at all different points depending on what episode you're watching. (Right now, I think Takumi slots in at Medium Contempt/High Useful.)

And then they killed him five minutes later anyway!

So Kitazaki would be Most Contempt/Least Useful, the one he would destroy in a heartbeat, the opposite of Mari. Yeah, these axes make a lot of sense.

Well, there's what's necessary thematically, and then there's what's necessary dramatically.

Kusaka is someone who... I don't want to say his relationships are transactional, but the more useful you are to him, the more he can choke down his contempt. Like, Kusaka was okay keeping Sawada alive when he thought Sawada might get him the Delta Gear, and Sawada was a Lucky Clover Orphnoch at that point.

KAMEN RIDER 555 EPISODE 42

https://kamenriderdie.com/images/kr/faiz/faiz42a.png

--1--

I'm sure I've mentioned this before on other threads, but I always get a little melancholy at this point in a Kamen Rider series. I look in my folder of video files, and notice that there're so few left. A handful, and that's it forever. No more new stories with this cast. Save for a few Legend Rider appearances, that's it for the story of Kamen Rider Faiz.

It's a little like graduating, I guess. You spend all this time learning about people, getting invested, caring about them, and then just... done. Gone. There's memories, hopefully more good than bad, but that time is over.

It's... yeah, melancholy. I love that Kamen Rider stories end, but I hate that they end.

--2--

And, shit, that's probably a good emotional state to be in for this episode! It's a darker one! Lots of emotions! As expected from the last cliffhanger, it's centered on Yuka's newfound status as a fugitive, and what that does to the status quo.

Team Faiz reacts pretty much how you'd think, and they're mostly in the background for this one. Kusaka doesn't shed any tears over one more hunted Orphnoch, Keitaro tosses out a conversation-starter that propels a fascinating subplot for Mari, and Takumi has some feelings about Orphnochs' right to exist.

It's Team Orphnoch that, naturally, gets a little bit more weight behind them, and I love the choices the story made. It hits the beats I'd want it to, and lets each character in the group do precisely what they've been designed to do.

Kaido immediately tells Yuka to turn herself in, which, yeah, smart decision. Things got out of control, he definitely doesn't want any trouble with the cops, let's get this all shut down. It's casually cruel to Yuka, suggesting she's brought danger into their lives, but I feel like that's a Kaido move? He's incredibly self-centered, and he's one of the least empathetic people on the show. Him wanting to bail, to abandon Yuuji and Yuka the second things get dicey, I can see it.

Yuuji's reaction is, again, totally in-line with where he sees himself within Orphnoch culture. He views himself as a leader, a revolutionary. He's trying to carve out a place in the world for Orphnochs to hold onto their humanity. If this is happening to Yuka, it's because she's an Orphnoch. He can solve it by proving to the police that she's done nothing wrong, that Orphnochs can be peaceful and human. He never once asks Yuka why the cops might've attacked her, of all people. He's so high-minded, so Big Picture, that he takes on her burden since she's an Orphnoch.

And of course, these decisions by Kaido and Yuuji are killing Yuka. This is her nightmare. Kaido is anxious and scared, and it's her fault. Yuuji is going to sacrifice his safety for hers, and the guilt she feels is immense. Her life, her stability, it's all been demolished.

There's a very sweet callback the show does, where Yuka emails Keitaro to tell him about her dream. It's the same thing she did when the walls were closing in on her back in school. She longed for isolation back then, for solitude. Here, her dream is of connection, of affection. She deserves love. She deserves family. She's grown so much. And, to prove it, she makes the decision to turn herself in. There's an element, maybe, of the martyr complex she's always had. She wants to make everyone happy, even if that makes her miserable. And, maybe, it's because Kaido rejects her when she most needs support. Maybe it's a choice she makes because she feels alone, abandoned.

But, I don't want to see it that way. I like thinking of it as a maturity, as a realization that hiding in crushes, hiding in someone else's sacrifice, it's just another cage. Here, she gets to wipe the slate clean on her own terms. To not let Yuuji or Kaido wrest her story away from her, but to do the right thing, even if that means her dream is gone. It isn't the cowardice of subsuming her hopes in order to follow someone else's path, it's the bravery to move forward by herself into uncertainty.

Yuka's story... I love how many interpretations you can pull from it. I love how nuanced and poignant it gets to be. Yuka's story, it's the least showy, maybe? But it's the saddest, and the most interesting to me.

--3--

Mari's story this episode is no slouch, either. Man, some fun moves in that one this time out.

Keitaro's casual mention of Hey What If One Of Us Becomes An Orphnoch has a little bit to it that I liked. It's just a little slice of story, nothing huge, but there's an idea that I think is a huge, huge part of the series' themes.

Basically, Mari freaks out because she's scared she might turn into an Orphnoch. With all of what Sawada went through, maybe her and Kusaka are next? Kusaka tells her that it probably won't happen, because it likely would've already occurred. (I mean, Mari's died once since her previous resurrection, so it doesn't feel likely.) He does say it in a very suspicious way, so who the hell knows for sure.

But it's the end part that I think is fascinating. When Kusaka tells her she's probably not going to become an Orphnoch, she's relieved. And then she's incredibly guilty for feeling relieved. Kusaka tells her it's fine to be relieved, because (basically) Kill Them All, but the way the show even allows for judging Mari, of Mari wondering if it's fair to feel relieved, it's amazing.

It ties in with the idea of acceptance that the show spent a long time interrogating. Mari reflexively others the Orphnochs, feels grateful that she doesn't have to exist as one of them. And it exposes a prejudice that, despite knowing some of The Good Ones, she hasn't really examined in herself. She was terrified that she'd be a monster. Not that she'd be hunted, like Yuka, or reviled, like Takumi. But that she'd be something worth being hunted or reviled. That she views that as the baseline for an Orphnoch, while Yuuji and Takumi are exceptions.

It's something that I really, really hope the show spends a few more scenes on.

--4--

And, I mean, I guess it does, because the other (no pun intended) half of that story is in Takumi's stuff.

It's not a lot, but it does set up another Faiz vs Kaixa fight. Kusaka is still steadfast in his belief that all Orphnochs should be killed, but Takumi has seen too much to believe in that kind of reductive morality. He's started to understand that, unlike Mari's initial thought of Orphnochs as inherently monstrous except for a few Good Ones, maybe it's not something that Orphnochs should have to prove to people? The Orphnoch who saves Yuka from torture and experimentation, Shambles, he's not doing it because he's human, he's doing it because he cares that she's in pain. Orphnochs aren't some horrifying adversary that need to be shown the light, they're emotional creatures capable of grace and beauty, creatures who should have the same right to exist as humans.

Of course, that kind of nuanced argument goes over super duper great with Kusaka, who was clearly having a blast pummelling the mostly-dead Shambles. That frustration already found a great release valve in Faiz's face, so things are probably going to be a little rocky amongst the Riders going forward.

--5--

This episode really drills into the idea of prejudice, of othering, of the ways marginalized cultures are constantly made to defend their right to exist. It's... man, it is not something I expected a Kamen Rider show to examine this thoroughly or deftly!

Not exactly the most dynamic episode, maybe. Not one that had me leaping out of my seat. (Although, I got very happy seeing Soeno typing out his police report on the goddamn Ore Journal set!) But a real thinker of an episode, with some very interesting looks at its characters.

I really hope this worked for other fans!

https://kamenriderdie.com/images/kr/faiz/faiz42b.png

Her story arc's definitely what I enjoyed (*uhh not sure if it's the right word... it's the part I considered the best anyway) the most in this final stretch. Also, from the very beginning you added so much with your character analysis of her and the rest of the Orphnoch team, man; I already like them but it felt like I understand them even more after your break-down. Gotta be a little sad too when this thread ends~

I'm happy to say Faiz is one those Rider shows that get's alot of love and cameos later on when crossovers become more frequent again.

Aw, thanks!

Not to get too far ahead of what'll probably be in a series recap post, but every single strength of this show is in the characters. Every smart choice is one that's borne from what we know about the characters. The more time they spend on people learning, changing, growing, the better the show is.

...wwwwwhich is why it feels like such a bummer when some outside force hogs the spotlight, or something external acts on the relationships. Just let these kids have the stage!

Oh sweet! I feel like Takumi only shows up in maybe one Phase 2 movie (at least that I remember), so hopefully I'll get some appearances in other Phase 1 movies and specials.

Speaking of Phase 2 specials! I've been wondering where those kind of things will fall into your rewatch, since I assume you'll want to rewatch them now with the greater context of these old shows in mind.

In case you weren't already thinking of it, my own personal suggestion would be that you continue watching 'as they air' as you've been doing. So like, once you finish Decade, you just go on a little marathon on your own time of all the Spring and Winter (and maybe even the Summer) movies. That way, you'll also have refreshed on modern rider before jumping into the next anniversary series in the form of Zi-O.

In case y'all missed it, this was the person behind the voice of the Crab Orphnoch.
https://i.imgur.com/E6egbcA.png
Not convinced? Google Satoshi Matsuda and check his filmography.

That is actually... one-hundred percent what I was planning on doing?

please get out of my brain

there is barely room for me in there

also you're going to get a lot of unfiltered thoughts about many many different faiz pairings we never saw and how i think they'd go

like can you imagine what a yuuji/keitaro plot would be like

or kaido/kusaka

it just keeps going like this

Whoa! I didn't get that at all! Thanks!

Super weird that when they were looking for a voice to sell Pure Selfless Goodness, they were like REN. Definitely not the voice from Ryuki I'd've picked!

(Goro.)

That's precisely the best part of thinking about shows. I know I spend all my time asking myself questions like 'who among these people would win a fight?' or 'how would these people behave if they had to decide on what pizza to order?', and so on...

TEAM FAIZ: Mari picks, for sure. Kusaka won't overrule her, and Keitaro is happy just to share a pizza with his friends. Takumi puts his slices in the fridge, to eat cold the next day.

TEAM ORPHNOCH: Kaido picks. Or, they vote, because Yuuji wants things to be fair, but Yuka just votes for whatever Kaido wants.

LUCKY CLOVER: There were no survivors.

Nooo... Yuka, don't turn into like that! Don't turn into the stereotypical snobby girl who treats any "peasants" like trash like those that bully you! Anyway yeah, what's with Keitaro moving on (like Kaido) previously if he only got "rejected" now? Also Mari third-wheel? Yuji is the only man she likes and the scene is her together with him too!

You won't be mad and tolerate more if it's not directed at you (you aren't Takumi or Mihara so..). But also, you can tolerate this one because Kusaka's dickish behavior is impotent (again)? Dunno if you'll get what I'm saying, but with someone that's great at running people down verbally being tolerated and considered funny, that'd make many dickheads and assholes, or even villains get away because they want to see more of their behavior to get laughs! Which would make their behavior opposite of impotent.

I think she's reasonably frustrated with Keitaro here. She's trying to spend time with a guy she likes, and this other guy keeps trying to butt in. She's not very tactful about it, but Keitaro's being a little too aggressive here.

His message to Email Yuka, I think it's that he finally came to terms with IRL Yuka's disinterest. Or, y'know, you probably have to break up with Keitaro a few times before he gets the hint?

I guess it doesn't bother me if it's funny to the audience, as long as it's ignored by the characters. Does that make sense? Takumi just rolls his eyes at Kusaka's behavior, which sends a signal that Kusaka's antics aren't anything to emulate. It's not cool. Which, in turn, allows us to laugh at Kusaka being an asshole. It's not empowering or excusing him, it's making his childish petulance something to laugh at him for. We're not laughing with Kusaka, we're laughing at him.

Heisei Vs Showa, Super Hero Taisen GP, and Kamen Rider 4 kinda of creates this nice little trilogy that acts like an epilgoue for Takumi story. Imo.

One of the things that you miss out on with using DVD rips instead of the original TV airings is that near the end of the series you would start getting promos for the next show. I always liked that when I originally went through this era; one show is ending, but you start getting teased with the promise of the next one.

So hey, if it'll help cheer you up:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkOF1H2SnH4

I loved the stuff with Takumi and X Rider in Heisei vs. Showa. That was definitely the highlight of that film for me.

I remember when I saw this a long time ago I was surprised too because Atsushi Ogawa appearing I could understand since he was previously in a Inoue-centric production two years ago that we lovingly call Kamen Rider Agito at the time. Of course, Inoue participated in Ryuki too so there is that but cameo stuff like this at the time was usually reserved for summer movies. But yeah, Matsuda making this cameo was totally outta left field. After learning about it I kinda hoped we could see a glimpse of Matsuda maybe reverting for a second to human form and stuff.

If you're trying to say you wouldn't pick that actor because you have a preconceived notion of what a "proper" role for him is, I think maybe the casting choice here was less weird than you might think. :p

Thanks! It feels a little strange getting hyped for the next series before the current one is finished. It's a little like hitting on girls at a college visit before I've broken up with my high school girlfriend. Like, I gotta let the first one end before I can move on, you know?

I always like to think, when stuff like that happens, that maybe the show runner and the actor became friends? Like, maybe Inoue called him and said, "Hey, Ren," because he also calls him Ren, "come in for a day and do this heroic monster voice." Just friends helping friends out.

Fair enough!

Yuka's story is indeed the most interesting and most tragic. Maybe it's for the best in a way that she hasn't been involved in the plot recently. Out of all the characters, she really needed an escape from her terrible human life, a chance to be happy. Unfortunately, her happiness is temporary as now she finally has to deal with the burden of being an Orphenoch in a world where she isn't accepted. To paraphrase the theme song, she can't run from her dilemma anymore.

Kaido's reaction was insensitive but totally in character. It's reasonable that he wouldn't want to get in trouble with the cops. Yuka is a liability to him right now. It's also hypocritical that the guy who boasted several times about wanting to kill humans loses his cool when someone else actually kills humans. He's a hedonist with a conscience which means as much as he wishes he could just kill humans, he can't go through with it. He's all talk.

It's sad to see Yuka reach out to Kaido only to have her feelings crushed. She wanted to redeem herself to her friends. Turning herself in to the cops was an act of courage, a last resort, but she unwittingly ended up right in the custody of the secret science society. They experimented on like a lab rat to "cure" her mutation. It's such a terrible thing to attempt to do to someone, to deny their right to be who they are, to strip them of something that makes them unique. They don't even care if she survives.

Wait, that sounds familiar....

You called it, Die, I guess this show is basically Japanese X-Men now. :p

It's pretty crazy how Keitarou brings up the possibility of them becoming Orphenochs like it's no big deal. Come to think of it, he's one of the few people in the show who has no experience of being dead, so he doesn't really understand what he's talking about. It's true that anybody with the right genetics can become an Orphenoch, either on their own or as a result of being sired by another, but would Keitarou be okay with that?

Like most of the Ryusei School guys, Mari doesn't have any compatibility despite dying twice, while Kusaka has been safely using Kaixa Gear with no symptoms of change. Sawada was the only member to revive as an Orphenoch so what Kusaka says here does seem consistent. For him, Mari becoming an Orphenoch would be the worst case scenario, as we previously speculated. He's clearly the most knowledgeable guy when it comes to the reunion incident so I think it's okay to take his word for it this once.

The show is getting dark now but there's still a lot of comedic intervals to lighten the mood.

Yeah, this is a good idea. I totally have stuff I want to discuss about Kamen Rider 4!