I was thinking that, she's probably not the only one who misses her dad like for example, Haruka. And for "if she thought there was a monster in there"....
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...95004/brat.png
Also for Kenzaki and Kotaro poking around for a few minutes, well, she trespassed without their consent and as her caretaker obviously they would have no choice but follow her around.

He's fountain of memes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX1yUmZp_wI

As for the part hoping Tachibana never gets better, oh well don't hope for that because, this wreck may not be his default state, unlike charaacters such as Takumi. Also, not liking a double standard by others (not you), that the types of character like this gets free pass; if they don't change (getting better) you get to keep his good qualities, if they change it's good development, while the other kind of character, the non-scumbag one, if they don't change they got labeled as static, if they change, if the change isn't about becoming meaner they still would be considered exactly the same without changes.

Disparaged all of humanity.... monster species alert! We've seen that he bleeds in pale green. And for saving Amane part, it's obvious, this is seen multiple times in the franchise, in many anti-heroes, but he's also one of those that only shows compassion to a few person, and only cares and acts soft regarding them; just because he acts like that to Amane doesn't mean he'll do the same to others. Though even apart from Kenzaki gaining a glimpse of hope regarding Hajime here, there's also a good reason to question him, that in opposite to approaching him and gaining new ally as he first attempts, he's also afraid that Hajime is truly sinister and had hidden agendas (you're my enemy phrase) that has to be dealt with quickly before it escalates.

Yeah I know, the realistic and relatable approach are apathetic, indifferent, selfish, Not Everyone Wants To Do Things, etc...like Faiz. Those that are considered as relatable and human traits are all toxic traits, such as moral failures, hypocritical beliefs. Which sets up a grimdark trend and characters being morally ambiguous at best. Where those aren't part of it, like positivity, especially Rider sensibility which for example most of the main Riders, are treated as unreal and alien as it's harder to relate; things like being so strong in their moral beliefs, or doing something earnestly without hidden agendas, like fighting for justice. Though still, I don't want for them to corrupt each characters that doesn't have them, with toxic traits to fulfill that like how people sometimes want morally ambiguous characters or villains to stay the way they are. And like here, I think sometimes people actually forget the more realistic and non-tragic/dark part in fiction, despite the claims that it's a drive for realism, or the fact that, speaking about flaws, some are conflating "not a scumbag = flawless = unrelatable and boring" (the reason those above are considered realistic? "humans are flawed"), but non-toxic flaws exist like lack of confidence, fearfulness, inflexible thought, over-honesty, etc.

Something Hirose ironically opposite from this episode also had thrown to Kenzaki a few episodes before; where because Kenzaki isn't responsible within the BOARD's mistake of releasing Undead, he doesn't need to fight it off. But he still goes off and used that moment as a chance to make her his 2nd friend. Kenzaki's way is obviously the best way to cope, to learn and do better, but still...

I wonder if the longtime devotion Kenzaki has for Tachibana, was that they went good in the past (Blade is a series where it starts with the characters already being Riders), but something drives them apart in present time here, but isn't shown for now. Though for this one, Kenzaki hasn't really given the alternate solution to save Tachibana, whom body is breaking (by just saying that the Undead has been sealed, when he planned to do it himself for curing hims), albeit of course, later on the cause isn't what the cast thinks. Tachibana thinks Kenzaki has inadvertently doomed him by denying a chance to cure himself, is this what you meant by not recognizing the importance of his pain? (even if plot mechanics isn't main concern.... it shouldn't be ignored, obviously in series like this, it often plays a part).

As he said, it's only psychological. What you described here is exactly what the cast thinks it's wrong that being a Rider plays a part in your body breaking down. If it's psychological it would mean that anything Rider related wouldn't play a part. It's just that Tachibana will have self-fulfilling prophecy, thinking about destruction would make it real within himself. Saying the Rider system is not defective would mean that it wouldn't be caused by the belt, but probably something within Tachibana's body (his warning to Kenzaki before was as said before, all his and the cast mistake, he accuses Karasuma and BOARD as the cause but it's not the case) that isn't shown yet, like Hajime bleeding pale green.

Isn't this a part of "plot misleading and lies" where Tachibana's freak out was all for nothing because the true cause of his mortality was something else other than Rider system?

Hirose has a super strength. And at the end, it seems that Blade is the show that features mooks in those armies after the previous Rider series where all the monsters are solo MOTW bosses, without any lackeys (well, possibly lackeys only to the uber powerful final boss, but those standard MOTW packs a punch rather than fodders exist to be mowed down by heroes like Build's Guardians).

Yeah, but, they didn't, like, drag her out of there or anything. They caught up to her and then just poked around the caves for a little bit. It's not like they assumed that venturing outside of their home would get them nearly killed by a monster. I mean, this isn't Kuuga.

There's a non-zero amount of hyperbole when I talk about my enjoyment of Tachibana's Tachibanality. I mea, yeah, I totally hope he gets better as a person. I think him being some meme-generating failure is hilarious now, but I can't imagine it being as fun for another 20-some episodes. (Although, I'd be happy to be proven wrong!) I think they've got to find some way to show new looks at Tachibana, some way to grow his character. I want everyone on a show to evolve.

I was more reacting to her taking personal responsibility for something her dad did for her mom. She wasn't anywhere in that equation, but she's devastated by guilt. I've never felt that way about my family? Granted, I don't think I've got an uncle or whatever who may have freed an army of monsters, but I don't know how much I'd feel like I needed to atone for that if I did.

To be fair, Kenzaki definitely does want to help Tachibana! He's tried on numerous occasions (and in numerous beautiful locations) to get Tachibana to come back to the team, to work with them to figure out what's going, to just open up about what he's doing. Tachibana's the one who keeps running away, threatening Kenzaki, and trying to do everything himself. I feel like Kenzaki would be thrilled to try and figure out a way to help Tachibana, if Tachibana would ask for help.

Unless he was speaking metaphorically (possible!), Karasuma specifically tells Dr Ladyfriend that Tachibana's fear is causing feedback with the Driver, making him go crazy with fear. It's specifically the Rider System that's causing his weird Turning Green And Exploding nightmares. So, yeah, it's all psychological, and it it's all being generated by Tachibana. But it's being amplified by the Rider System.

Yeah, but it a) wasn't around for more than a couple episodes as a premise, b) only really mattered to Tachibana, and c) was a way better solution than what was originally presented. Definitely a best case scenario for a swerve!

KAMEN RIDER BLADE EPISODE 08

This time on Kamen Rider Blade: Hajime splits! Kenzaki fumes! Hirose hides! Tachibana resigns! And Karasuma exposits!

https://kamenriderdie.com/images/kr/blade/blade08a.png

I have an intense fear of flying.

It started years ago, and I'm not even certain why. I flew a lot as a kid, and as a teenager. Trips to California, trips to Florida, trips to Tennessee. A trip to London, even.

And then, one day, it's like my brain just flipped to Terror. A flight was a nightmare, but the anticipation of a flight was a hundred times worse. Just sitting in a chair at a departure gate would make me nearly paralyzed with anxiety. It got to the point where I stopped flying for years. Just avoided it entirely. Flights to Florida, to visit my mom, became multi-day road trips. Short business trips were avoided, begged off with excuses. My life became reoriented around Does Not Fly, some psychological quirk that I knew was solvable, but seemed so unimaginably difficult as to be not worth trying.

And then, one day, I decided I didn't want to live like that anymore. I didn't want my life to be shaped by my fears. I went to my doctor, explained the situation, and got a small batch of anti-anxiety pills. I bought a ticket to visit my mom, and I went. It was still terrifying. The pills helped a little, smoothed some of the edges, but it's not like they turned my brain off. I was still aware that I was doing something that my brain was very adamant that I not do. But I did it. And I've done it since then. Not a lot. I'd still prefer not to fly, if it's a choice. But I haven't let myself be limited by my fear of flying.

All of that is a way of talking about how much I appreciate what the show is doing with Tachibana and, to a lesser extent, Hirose.

Tachibana's story is all about how difficult it can be to overcome fear, how knowing you're afraid doesn't ever keep you from feeling afraid. The solution to his debilitating pain is simple, according to Karasuma: stop being afraid. But that's not something you can just do. It's hard, it's uncertain, it's intensely personal. It's easier to make your peace with your shortcoming, and just think of yourself as unfixable. Tachibana isn't afraid, a state that can be removed or ignored. He's a coward, in the same way he's a certain height or blood type. It's an innate part of him, even if it's only now been discovered and cataloged.

You can't... you can't live like that indefinitely, though. It may allow you a few moments of relief, just giving up on yourself. But eventually you realize that you're not escaping from anxiety, you're indulging in shame. That bargain you made with yourself becomes a prison, a way of resigning yourself to feeling limited, reduced. No matter how much you're afraid of something, there comes a point where the detrimental effects of avoiding that fear become too great. For me, it was getting sick of making excuses for why I wouldn't fly. For Tachibana it may be a rampaging Zebra Monster with hoofprints over its nipples. (Bonkers design!) But there's a point in every fear where you get to decide if you're more comfortable feeling ashamed than you are feeling afraid.

And that's a fight you never really win, can't ever vanquish for good, which is what I like in Hirose's story.

In some ways, it's a retread of the story that led to Kenzaki giving her his But Why Heroism speech, right before he got kidnapped. Hirose feels as though her father's actions are a cloud over her. She can't stop thinking about them, feeling guilty about them. Karasuma tells her that there's no reason for her to feel that way. Her father didn't decide to unseal the Undead on his own. On top of that, they'd've been unsealed eventually anyway, even if he had never been involved. She needs to stop focusing on horrible things that happened in the past, and start concentrating on the good she can do in the present.

It's, like I said, a bit of a retread. (Karasuma gives a little more background, but his advice is the same as Kenzaki's.) But the guilt that Hirose feels, it's like the fear Tachibana feels. They both know it's there, they both know they're the ones making themselves feel this way, and those aren't feelings that can just be banished. It's a struggle, always. Hirose is going through this again, needing that speech again, because she will always feel responsible for what her father did. She ekes out a victory each time she takes those feelings and overcomes them, just like Tachibana hopefully will.

hey also there are riders in this show maybe it would be okay to talk about them real quick

The Chalice/Blade fight at the end is fantastic. Chalice feels the walls closing in around him at home. Amane is angrily (and reasonably!) demanding answers for why Hajime knew that there was a bomb in the restaurant. Haruka is less angry, more nurturing, trying to make him feel comfortable enough to talk if he wants. But he runs, instead. He can't bear the vulnerability necessary to be a human, so he abandons that humanity and whatever hopes went along with it.

Kenzaki has been given a ton of information from Karasuma about the Undead, the battle royale, how the stakes might be nothing less than the fate of humanity. But that isn't what's motivating him. His motivation is Hajime coldly watching him from an observation room window. It's the memories of Chalice, sneering with contempt at the very idea of humanity. It's Hajime being right under their noses this whole time. Chalice isn't a misguided hero, to Kenzaki; he's a world-destroying villain that's been laughing at them the whole time, abusing their trust.

And that's how they meet, zooming past each other on their bikes. Kenzaki, ready to reassert his heroism and work out his rage. Hajime, desperate to forget what he's given up and aching for a fight. There are no recriminations or threats. They just pause, Henshin, and fight. It's a fight that starts at sundown and continues into the night. It's not heroic or villainous. It's just rage. It's another emotion that's always there waiting, if you aren't strong enough to contain it.

https://kamenriderdie.com/images/kr/blade/blade08b.png

Next time on Kamen Rider Blade: Garren back in action! Hajime can't control his anger! And late-night Rider Jousts are in season!

That was an exceptionally thoughtful post, Die. Seeing you find so much to take out of a stretch of a show often brushed aside as being rough, or boring, or whatever else people say when they're insisting Blade takes a while to get good, it's been a real joy, as usual.

Which is why doing this shtick is starting to make me feel more than a little guilty, but, hey, it's important to step back and just laugh sometimes, too, right?

Learning Ondul the Easy WEEEEEEI! (#6)

Today's lesson covers a couple different things again, so let's get right to it!

https://i.imgur.com/oVViIrJl.png

I have a feeling this one has a particularly hard time coming across the language barrier, but Chalice getting cut off saying "It's time we (settled this)" is weirdly hilarious. He's doing fairly stock rival dialogue and trying to sound tough, but on top of being interrupted, the two words he manages to get out are smashed together into gibberish (kecchaku wo -> kecchako), severely undercutting his cool factor. I wish I could give a more thorough explanation, but that's really all there is to it. kecchako just sounds funny. Like an embarrassing name for a pet or something. I love it.

https://i.imgur.com/Sl7MvSrl.png

The true Ondul gold in episode 8, however, lies in more melodrama with Dadi, and his further interactions with Karasuma. The latter's "However, I will not apologize" (daga, watashi wa ayamaranai) isn't properly a part of the language, but nonetheless is highly associated with Blade meme culture for the hilarity of it being said directly after Karasuma admits he's at fault for Tachibana's problems, and directly before it becomes apparent he thinks he's being reassuring.

Tachibana himself has a few lines that aren't slurred at all, but seem to be accepted as Ondul on the grounds that they're still wildly over the top in delivery. "Chief!" (shouchou!), and "What the hell do you know!" (omae ni nani ga wakarun da?!) being quotes that see a lot of use.

Aww! Thanks!

Look, this is some heavy shit, but there's a also a moment in this episode when Tachibana wakes up from his fear-induced unconsciousness long enough to croak out "A new Rider?", and it's said with such a specific mix of Oh Thank God Please Take My Belt relief (Mihara, eat your heart out) and groggy confusion that I laughed for about 15 seconds straight.

It is okay to have fun with even the serious ones, and I, as always, appreciate your knowledge and insight.

Yeah ok, you clarify there's a hyperbole, but like I said before, I also wasn't talking about you, but about fandom, was infuriated with this kind of double standard they gives where people like this are given free pass where others aren't.

I was talking about, people merely intervening and helping to solve other's problems, like I said in other reply which is brought out by her, Kenzaki fighting off Undeads even if he's not related nor responsible of their release which is apparently done by BOARD, where she wants to stop the Undeads, though she's not related nor responsible of them which is apparently done by her dad. What if it's just heroism, but for the latter, it happens to be a member of family causing the trouble? Like you said there that you won't feel like that regarding a family member that does that, but probably, from my ramblings before in relatable things; other people probably won't turn into a hero that wants to save others after witnessing a life victim to others, preventing anymore of that.

Ofc he did, the point I was trying to make was how Tachibana thought Kenzaki inadvertently doomed him. He wants to seal the Undead by himself to take a shot of curing his condition, but Kenzaki stopped him, and denied his chance with the Undead being sealed by Chalice instead. Tachibana thought he had to seal the Undead by himself to cure himself, but Kenzaki prevented that, and thought he was doomed with no other Undeads around there. And Kenzaki assuring him that the Undead has been sealed, Tachibana thought Kenzaki didn't understand his problem at all (he thought he had to seal an Undead by himself and Kenzaki prevented that).

It's ok, even it's a broken record in the show itself, as per the video I gave you. TACHIBANA-SAN!! TACHIBANA-SAN!! TACHIBANA-SAN!! .... The broken record is one of the Blade's memes.

Tachibana thought even if Sayoko is his most trusted friend, he won't be convinced until he heard it himself from the very person that told him that..... P̶r̶o̶b̶a̶b̶l̶y̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶w̶a̶t̶c̶h̶e̶d̶ ̶F̶a̶i̶z̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶s̶a̶w̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶a̶s̶k̶i̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶o̶t̶h̶e̶r̶s̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶i̶n̶f̶o̶r̶m̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶c̶a̶n̶ ̶l̶e̶a̶d̶ ̶i̶n̶t̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶m̶ ̶m̶i̶s̶i̶n̶f̶o̶r̶m̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶K̶e̶i̶t̶a̶r̶o̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶K̶a̶i̶d̶o̶ ̶d̶i̶d̶?̶!̶

Well, with the moral center failing, I'd like to see Tachibana get a bad consequence of this act, as not all the unhealthy coping mechanism many characters in the franchise did, which Tachibana also did, has an actual good effect, despite the audience (in the grimdark trend especially) thinking otherwise (and hailing those moments as cool to do or something). Kotaro's speech is the usual Kamen Rider inspiring part, as per formula in each series. And like others said, even if Tachibana is embarassing to be taught that, it's also a good excuse to teach the audience about this, and that, there are many people like this in reality, the "insufferable assholes" character types, those that are not fully developed. Like what I also talked about in Faiz back then, people who inflicts their pain to others like Keiko did, as a non-child too, and my point was that they're a total wreck of still possessing a childish mentality to do that.

But the writer's point is about Battle Royale as it've been pointed out. Though this also proves the statement of Karasuma that Tachibana's only problem is psychological. Though you're also right that the Rider suit amplifies it (so that's what they meant of the fusion), but it's still safe, it only affects you when you;re in Rider form, giving you more power with those emotions but also potentially destroying you, at least for Tachibana. It's not that Tachibana is running short of his life, it's just that when fighting in Rider form you should let your fears go and you're totally safe.

Blade in distress, but he's back at the end when a monster "freed" him. Again not talking about the Battle Royale? Also for the Chalice stuff, wasn't his story here also deals with Trenchcoat Mastermind that also gives the Battle Royale and scientists gathering data?

And now it’s time for my job.

Gemini Zebra

An Undead with the ability to clone himself.

* Suit: Heart
* Number: 9
* Effect Name: GEMINI
* Card Name: Gemini Zebra (ジェミニ・ゼブラ Jemini Zebura)
* Consumption Points: FP 1400


https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/...20121110142908

Next time: I finally get to talk about a monster that isn’t a guy in a suit voiced by Toei’s resident Frank Welker and Dee Baker equivalents.

I've just finished a degree in science (go me!), and can confirm, numbers going up is a good thing. Except when it's a bad thing, but that's still science!

EDIT: Oh yeah also a new episode! Yeah, what they do with Tachibana, as much as we laugh at just how inept he is, he has a point. It's easy to say "Oh yeah, just stop being scared", but actually doing that, even when you *know* you're being irrational, isn't easy. Especially when you have the background pressure of 'Battle Royale, fate of the world, etc etc' pressing down hard on you, making you feel like even more of a failure for not getting over your own fear. Oh Tachibana, what a guy.

Congratulations!!!

re: new episode and the ground it's treading WRT fear - there's absolutely a lot to be said for the process of facing fear and anxiety, and that it's not just a matter of Well Get Over It. (Mental health, it's actually a thing, who knew.) Without making either positive or negative commentary as to upcoming episodes, I really appreciate at this point how the narrative around Tachibana's terror is unfolding.

And, you know, the first time I saw this, it was also nice to get some exposition that frame more of the underpinning plot. As much as I love character-driven work, I also enjoy when the (ridiculous? lol) plot-driven aspects of these shows drives some of the action. (Tho, to be fair, Blade's plot at the moment is essentially just an excuse for the animal-themed MOTW to show up in leather and studs and get its ass kicked by the Riders. Not that I am making any commentary whatsoever about how it may or may not affect future episodes.)

I think some of it is also that, by making it purely (or mostly) psychological, it makes what's happening Tachibana's fault, and he'd rather not believe that. It's easier to think that Dr Ladyfriend is wrong than that he's not about to turn green and explode. It's really no different than when she told him there was nothing that came up in her tests and he threw a little tantrum.

The Battle Royale doesn't really get brought up until the next episode. Or, Karasuma spells it all out in the next episode in a way where I got what was going on more.

why does he have hoofprints over his nipples tho

Congrats on your science degree! I hope some part of the curriculum was devoted to how best to communicate rising numbers to a supervisor.

NUMBERS WENT UP A LITTLE: Act interested, but not too interested. Announce the numbers clearly, but not loudly.

NUMBERS WENT UP A MIDDLE AMOUNT: Slight disbelief. Make eye-contact with your supervisor to ask if you should stop the experiment. Brace yourself for a loud answer in the negative.

NUMBERS WENT UP A LOT: Use your Outside Voice. Scream each number, if you can. Declare, at least once, that this shouldn't be possible.

NUMBERS WENT DOWN: Run.

Yeah, I wasn't really looking forward to Karasuma's exposition that much, but I thought the show handled it well. There's some funny stuff from Kotaro, who's just so excited about the possibility of other lifeforms supplanting humanity. Kenzaki, Hirose and Tachibana all get a moment to ask questions and get some of the spotlight. It's a good way to move the show forward and still be entertaining.