Well I’ve seen it said in a video that in order to get a show out across the world, permission from the broadcaster is required. Not sure if that helps.

Did you just get me work for Christmas?!

(Thank you for the heads-up, though! I wouldn't've even thought to check for that one. I'll probably do that during the break between Kabuto and Den-O, if I can even remember anyone beyond the main character of Houjou. If you see any other pieces of newly-subbed Phase 1 footage - my fondest wish is for more of the stageshows to get covered - please send them my way!)

I’d recommend Kiva’s final stage for when you get to that point, but it’s taken me over a month to download the torrent and it only started a few days ago. For comparison’s sake, I managed to get a Sentai movie and three episodes of Saber downloaded using the same software in two weeks during that period.

Look out for ERankedLuck on Nyaa.si and TripleS Fansubs for more stage show content!

So are you going too do a review on the Kuuga Novel? Personally I thought it was pretty good and had as much nuance as the show. But there one detail revealed that is mixed for me. But overall I think it an engaginig read showing how the world has changed and hey more Ichijou content and the Police from Kuuga is always good in my eyes.

Looking around, it's apparent someone did in fact do a translation for it, which I didn't know until now and is awesome, but I still probably won't be taking a look at it any time soon. It definitely seems like it'd be an interesting read some day though! Especially since it's written by Arakawa himself.

Which reminds me of a fun anecdote from a discussion he did with Takatera at an event to promote the Blu-ray release of the show where, when on the subject of the love people seem to have for it all these years later, he mentions that the publisher eventually stopped getting on his case about him not meeting deadlines with an attitude that was basically "well, it's Kuuga..." Not anything important, but I don't know, it got a chuckle out of me and I'm glad to have an excuse to bring it up.

The novel ended up coming out half a year late, by the way.

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

I never realized that "Please watch my Henshin" was a callback quote until this video.

Hey, I'm sorry to bump this years later, but I just wanted to comment my appreciation for this thread. Kuuga is my favorite Rider, season, and probably even media of all time. Seeing you guys get into and dissect every aspect of this show gave me an even higher appreciation for this work than I already did, as well as put into words the feelings I had while watching.

I especially love what Kurona said a while back about how each form is symbolic of Godai in their own ways, and the nuanced re-reading of Pegasus' themes put it at the top of my favorite forms.

There's a lot I want to say, but overall I am so, so happy to see what everyone had to say whether it was good or bad. Kuuga feels unique and like no other modern Rider show will be similar to it again.

Don't be! I'm extremely grateful to hear after all this time that there's still somebody out there getting something out of this thread. Especially when the thing you chose to single out was something Kurona said, because I can't begin to tell you how many times things she had to say about Kuuga in here made me wonder why *I* was the one who started it.

I can only hope I was that insightful anywhere in what I wrote myself, because I don't think I really understood just how special Kuuga actually is until I went back through it for this. It is both my pride and my honor to have created this little corner of the internet dedicated to acknwoledging that.

(Also, seeing this thread bumped reminds me I should probably go and fix up all of those random typos I made at some point...)

I found your introduction to discussions very insightful! One of my favorite facts I learned from you was the story of Amazing Mighty's debut and its behind the scenes decision. Another thing was Chouno's knife -- I didn't have much appreciation for the character but the whole thread has changed my opinion on him.

On the topic of forms, while I don't think we ever had a concrete idea on the symbolism of Dragon, I have some half-baked thoughts regarding it.

Kuuga is a lot about change. The change in rebooting Kamen Rider for the Heisei era, the change in society when Grongi commit mass murders, the changes to individuals as their close ones are killed, the change in Godai as he slowly becomes more violent (out of necessity, and he is painfully aware of that), and the last but most obvious is his changing of forms while progressively getting stronger.

Godai's evolution from Growing to Mighty is the start of his acceptance of his role as Kuuga, but I think Dragon solidifies it. He recognizes he needs to change, and unlocks the ability to grow beyond just his hands and feet to fight. He doesn't just get a neat staff, he unlocks his adaptability allowing for room for other forms.

Additionally, I saw it as an extension of his desire to help others in a more tangible way. The way Xu-Vazuu-Ba drops his victims is pretty on the nail -- Godai literally can't get to them in time. His need to physically reach people he wants to save before harm befalls them manifests in Dragon form; he gains heightened agility and a long weapon to extend his effectiveness.

Now this is totally out of left field, but Dragon is heavily associated with water, which itself is harmonious with life as it is simultaneously the softest substance yet erodes even the hardest rock with time. It flows freely, and gives while asking nothing in return.
I feel like Dragon reflects this in some way, with its softness shown in its physical weakness without the Dragon Rod, but also how Godai himself is easygoing yet finds his way into anyone's heart. Rather than breaking them like a rock, it's more about gently wearing down their apprehension allowing people he talks with to open up to him. Of course, this may overlap into the themes of Pegasus and Godai being a good listener, so take that with a grain of salt!