One look at Kenzaki is all it takes to see that it is 100% enthusiasm. :lol

I'm glad both that Switchblade mentioned this, and that you already picked up on it anyway. I don't remember really catching on to the significance the first time I watched the show, but in retrospect, I think there's something very neat about them not showing that happening until directly after that scene of Chalice having his hand slapped away by people he was trying to protect. It specifically reminds you how little he fits among humans right before raising a bunch of new questions about what exactly he is at all. Just a cool little bit of structure.

No new Undead today. But I’ll be back with a new one tomorrow.

Also worth mentioning that this is the second episode written by Miyashita. After this episode, Imai comes back and he didn’t ask Miyashita back for more episodes.

The end of the Jin plot is definitely not the highlight of that whole thread, but I think it makes some sense? Like, Jin's whole life has come falling down around him, and he lashes out on the one thing he might have had left - Hajime. And, has this been another show, with another person, he might have had a chance to apologise, to try and repair that bond. But, as you say, Hajime isn't interested. If Jin doesn't want him, well, his attempt at making a friend just failed, away he goes. And Jin never gets the chance. It's sad, but life be like that.

I think there's also something to be said for the show having both Chalice and Hajime get rejected by people. It makes it bigger than just A Scary Masked Rider Is Scary, it makes it a deeper schism. There's a level of rejection here, where there's something innately wrong with Hajime (or humanity!) that can't be obscured by a different face.

Yeah, I can see that. It's... I don't love that as the end of the story? It feels too abrupt, for how much work was done bringing Hajime and Jin together.

Yeah, I'm with you. It's an ending, but it's not the most satisfying one, and I can't tell if that was intentional on the writer's part or not. It's a weird plot beat.

Perform for people, sing his songs, entertain... that's.... like what his father wants Jin to be, and he angrily lashes out that he doesn't want to be that. As for the rest, I'm gonna cover it in my reply to episode 12.

Total bummer for Kenzaki even if you appreciate the scene between him and Hirose that is considered cute? And the spelling is "Senpai", but in Japanese, "n" is pronounced "m" if it comes before a "p".

Well, as what've been displayed previously, Jin has inner (well, probably darkness isn't the right word) dysfunctional part of him. He's a misanthrope, and he has no one to depend to, except Hajime, which is also, someone whose relationship with humans are also like water and oil. His misanthropy is what drives him to be independent, and he also was taking Hajime's declaration literally, in which his way to express that is to get away from mankind by sailing to the sea. And at the end of the episode, Hajime inadvertently shattered his dream by ruining his boat, forcing him to return to his father, likely this being the reason that made him lash out at Hajime. Though he's shown previously that he can be courteous to those that likely doesn't bother him, though it can also be a society pressure to act like that, having no place to express his feelings. I even sometimes feel that way, and wonder if other people that acts normally is actually normal or nice, or they're expected to behave that way by society, but secretly, they have much inner problem, and cope by example like, vent their anger and frustration on internet. Other than that, well, probably now I got to see the consequence of fantasy truth on this series, where usually, it's assured to be fine to tell any crazy things that happen to others, where here, Hajime faces rejection and terror for being a Kamen Rider, from a civilian he saved for example.

Yeah, as I said before, this is far from being a good choice for Tachibana, or even the story itself, YMMV. He's told multiple times, by anyone (friends, girlfriend, mentor) that his problems are psychological, and it can be solved by conquering his fear. Then he decides he should probably just call it quits as a Rider, but he still can't stick to that. And like shown here, he still can't find his courage. Though if I may speculate, at least for Undead part, his fear probably comes from being unable to deal with Undeads, with it actually turns into a self-fulfilling prophecy where he actually gets his ass kicked by them. And with the new, stronger Category Ace, even after his accomplishments to regular Undeads, he probably will be unable to deal with the stronger ones this time, and thus his fear returns.

As the Spider Undead gains upper hand by taking away the card that they're going to slide, what happened to the taken card (esp. if they're damaged by Spider's attafck)? Would they be taken away by the Riders after the fight ends? Would they move into the Deck if the Riders take them again? Would the Deck forms other card, creating 2 of those? Also for the Chalice fight... they're fighting on the water tip right... as they can fight and walk comfortably there.

I think it's actually the opposite? Jin wants to perform for the public, sing his own songs. Jin's dad wants him to produce other people's music. Jin's dad specifically says he doesn't think Jin has what it takes to be an entertainer. That's the main source of their friction.

I did a Google search and it said there wasn't a difference, but okay! This is the main reason I immediately switched to Senior instead!

I think some of Jin's independence is also a desire to prove himself to his dad, is very very clear that he doesn't think Jin has what it takes. I'm not sure he's looking to "get away from mankind" as much as he is prove his dad wrong.

It's normal, probably, to wonder how much people's kindness or politeness is them abiding by societal expectations. I like to assume the best, but it's fair to be skeptical.

I definitely think Kenzaki had to spend a couple minutes after the first fight gathering up dropped cards. Tachibana's probably kicking himself, wishing he hadn't gone for the badass exit, since he'd end up leaving a half-dozen valuable cards behind.

KAMEN RIDER BLADE EPISODE 13

This time on Kamen Rider Blade: Uh, BLADE! Kenzaki is back in the spotlight! The hunt for the Category Ace draws Garren deeper into Trenchcoat Mastermind's web! Hajime has a ways yet to fall, emotionally and literally! A monster says "Leangle" a couple of times! All this, and it's Amane's birthday!

https://kamenriderdie.com/images/kr/blade/blade13a.png

Loved it. Loved. It.

This episode did basically everything right for me, and it moved like a goddamn rocket. Every story felt like it was pulling in the same direction, with Kenzaki and Team Blade directing the narrative. Just a top-flight Blade ep, any way you slice it.

The biggest positive change, for me, is how central Kenzaki feels to the story. He doesn't feel like one of several Riders, he feels like this story's Rider. Tachibana and Hajime, they've got their own perspectives and goals, but those are all supporting Kenzaki's story, and their value is in giving Kenzaki something else to react to.

It's like, I don't need everything to literally be about Kenzaki in this show. I don't need him to be in every scene. I don't need scenes without him in it to be Tachibana or Hajime asking "Where's Blade?" But I need the show to understand that, much like exposition doesn't matter unless the characters are invested in it, the other Riders' stories don't matter unless Kenzaki is affected by them. Hajime having an adventure is cute, but the importance of Hajime is to be in conflict with or in partnership with Kenzaki. That's it. That is the entire point of him. Kenzaki is the hub that every single thing in this show needs to radiate out from and feed back into.

For instance, Hajime's story in this one. It's mostly a continuation of his last few episodes, where he clearly aches to return to Amane and Haruka, but he can't admit it to himself. But the value in this installment is how Kenzaki is distrustful of Hajime, but slowly being won over by sadness he harbors. Kenzaki has his bold I'LL Protect Amane And Haruka thing, but Hajime doesn't rise to the bait. He just slinks off. When Kenzaki sees that, and understands that Hajime is actually hurting over being apart from Amane, it creates space in his mind for empathy, for growth. Similarly, Kenzaki's vow to protect innocent people like Amane and Haruka shakes Hajime out of his brooding and isolation, makes him try to prevent Garren from obtaining the Category Ace. Hajime's story ceases to be a separate thing, and becomes a Blade story.

Tachibana's got the same thing going on. All of the Tachibana stuff in this episode, all of the new information, is framed as a threat that Team Blade has to resolve. It's not about what Tachibana's going to do next, it's about what Team Blade is going to do about Tachibana. It's, again, spinning out from what Kenzaki wants to do, and treating the consequences as a Team Blade responsibility.

(That said, not thrilled with Tachibana's psychological instability and win-at-all-costs rage being because of, basically, prehistoric CBD oil. It's exactly what I was glad the original My Belt Is Killing Me plot avoided, where what's happening to Tachibana ceases to be his responsibility. Like, Trenchcoat Mastermind never gives him a choice, he just abducts Tachibana, juices him up, and then sends him out in the world. There's no informed consent by Tachibana, no personal responsibility. He's just a victim, and I find that a little dull. I mean, it's fine, it makes more sense than him just being a fight-obsessed lunatic all of a sudden, but it doesn't really mean anything, thematically. Not as interesting to me.)

So, yeah, the character balance is dead-on in this episode, and not just for the Riders.

The supporting cast all get little moments to add to the drama, or the humor. Dr Ladyfriend gets to hide her fear in order to try and save Tachibana. (Although, if he left that puzzle piece behind for her, he might be too far gone to be saved!) Kotaro gets to accidentally (?) pine for Hirose, until Kenzaki reunites him with his one true love: dozens of bottles of milk. Amane gets to withstand the rarely-displayed but always-welcome Kenzaki Forgetfulness, where he both forgets about her birthday party and forgets to get her a gift. (That "Next Time" note! It only would've been worse if he'd given her a bottle of milk!)

God, even Trenchcoat Mastermind had some interesting points in this one! Specifically, I'm really intrigued by how... humane he is? He threatens Dr Ladyfriend, when he could've killed her outright. Shit, he barely does more than frighten her! And, when the Category Ace test subjects all come up negative, he tells the scientist to wipe their memories and set them free. Like, he tosses them back. What mad scientist/immortal monster has ever been this decent?! It's really fascinating to me. I'm super curious about what this dude's deal is, what he's after, and why he's been so keen to avoid needless bloodshed.

Also, a pretty dynamic episode, effects-wise. Some new effects for when Garren and Blade use three cards to do a finisher now. I really like the beginning portion of that new sequence. I like the zoom-in on the cards, how the monsters animate. The way the Riders are framed with three cards lined up behind them, that looks appropriately heroic. It feels like a finishing move, you know? There's a finality to it that makes Blade and Garren feel more powerful.

The actual moves... not as into Garren's (he duplicates and one of the dupes gets a Rider Kick in on the opponent), but I love the lit-up spade in Blade's bootprint. Love it. The missing component of a very cool Rider Kick.

This episode was a blast. The fights were great (Chalice versus Blade did not disappoint), everyone had something to do, and it really felt like an episode of Kamen Rider Blade again. Very into this show!

https://kamenriderdie.com/images/kr/blade/blade13b.png

Next time on Kamen Rider Blade: Amane and Haruka at the mercy of Spider Monster! Dr Ladyfriend tries to appeal to Tachibana's humanity for the eleven-hundredth time! Garren faces Trenchcoat Mastermind! And Blade shouts TACHIBANA-SAN and then gets hit by Garren! The golden age of Blade is back!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJlMwmFCFpU I can now post this here If I haven't already(and we STILL haven't gotten to the most memed scene in the show)

Fun! Thank you!