has it? hated Kabuto and didn't really notice it in Den-O, Decade just kinda seemed to be working that against it's premise, W was the first one that it really stood out to me, but looking back I suppose your right!

Den-O did have one or two stand-alone episodes toward the very end, though they mostly tied in to the on-going plot.

I do believe the original Kamen Rider did the always-2-parters thing first. Eitherway, I'm not a fan of it. I'd much rather have a continuous or episodic story than Kamen Rider's stop and start format. One of the reasons I have a hard time finishing any of the shows.

PS Dropped Fourze around episode 6. Might pick it back up when it's done so I can get rid of the stop and start pacing.

Now that I've caught up, I have to say the shining moment of this entire series is Ryu/Meteor. He adds the seriousness that Gentarou/Fourze lacks. He also seems to be more badass every episode we see. I'm hoping when he finally does reveal who he is, it's one of those moments where the entire group is watching Fourze get his ass kicked and he finally realizes he's part of the group, that what Gen is doing is the right thing, and henshin in front of the group to save Gen.

Huh. I really feel like adding seriousness to Fourze will be it's downfall. It's been straight comedic sans the Ryu/Meteor bits. If it turns serious out of nowhere I think it'll be like Den-O and Kai...

The original series had a lot of two-parters but was (at least of the twenty plus episodes I've seen so far) still mostly made up of done-in-ones. V3 started off doing exclusively two-parters but eventually started sprinkling in more and more single episode stories as it went on. The consistent two-episode arcs format is pretty much a Heisei thing and, as best as I can remember, if started becoming most apparent in Hibiki. The shows before that (especially Kuuga and Agito) were more serialized and it usually felt more like one long, ongoing story. That's not to say that the "monster of the fortnight" approach wasn't used back then, just that the early Heisei shows usually had so many ongoing plots and subplots going on at once that the shows didn't break down into clear plot arcs as easily.

Man I need to get up to Meteor, Theres always trouble accepting a new sentai/Rider right after a REALLY good one ends, but I had a lot of trouble after W ended.... so I'm just now powering through Fourze to get caught up. (Ep. 13...tomoko in a cheerleader outfit.....) but I'm liking what I'm seeing a lot. of course now they've started showing the movie previews in the opening and seeing W again doesn't help.

I have to keep reminding myself "It is almost over... thank god"...

Its so-so, I personally think OOO was so much better.

OOO was good, but I felt the middle of OOO meandered on worse than Fourze is doing right now...