Thats what I really love about this show. Everything in this show feels like it has a place and is going to pay off down the road.

The show is definitely impressing me with it's use of multiple riders. I was afraid it would become like Ryuki and introduce the latter ones far too late to be useful. I much prefer the non-stop intros we've been getting. And Bravo is by far the most interesting in both design and back story of all of them so far.

What I like about the riders in this show is that all of them really feel like characters. Most Riders in Ryuki or other shows with multiple Riders felt so one dimensional and almost like video game bosses. The only shows I thought did the multiple riders thing well before Gaim were Agito and Blade.

Ryuki really didn't characterize the last few well enough. To the point that I literally couldn't stand most of the final ones. Kabuto like wise did a poor job characterizing the outlying riders. Mostly because for any given episode they couldn't decided what those characters personalities actually were. And Hibiki had far too many riders for comfort.

This show so far has helped me believe these are real people who don costumes to solve disputes.

And all their motivations are believable. You never get the feeling they only do what they do beacuse the script said they had to do it.

I especially like Bravo. A guy as flamboyent as him, having been in the army and likely fought real battles would totally have some measure of contempt for kids totally abusing this wonderful power for petty little squabbles. So when the opportunity presents itself, he shows them how to really use this gift.

What sets Oren Pierre Alfonso apart from one dimensional nutjobs like Ouja and Kaixa is that to him what he does is not evil. Kaixa and Ouja always knew they did evil things and did them just because they were supposed to be evil.
Bravo sees fighting as something to be passionate about and like his bakery its an art form.

EXACTLY.

He's an artist in all parts of his life and seeing some schmuck kid waste rider powers would have killed him. So he decided to become a real warrior, which I'm guessing reflects the influence of the Roman Warrior motif he seems to have. The costume is dead sexy, love the mohawk, the textured armor, all the way down to the scarred side of the visor. It screams badass. I definitely wouldn't see him as evil either, just someone who knows better what to do than a bunch of damn kids.

And thats true about every rider in this show so far (well except zangetsu) nobody thinks he is evil. They all do what they do beacause they think it will benefit others.
Like Kaitos whole thing is that you can only become stronger when you work hard to reach your goals and do stuff instead of sitting around waiting for someone to help you out.
He is just not very social about it and while his views are in good spirit he tends to go overboard with it and comes of like an asshole.

In this episode though you can see that he slowly comes to terms with the fact that it might not be the best Idea to only rely on your own strength and work together with others from time to time.

I would bet that by the end of the series Kaito will be the vegeta to Koutas Goku.

I like Gridon and Kurokage for the fact that it shows what would happen if someone who has absolutely no idea how to use a belts power or should not have one gets one.

Agreed, of all the Riders in this show who think they're just playing a game, those guys really think they're just playing a game.

And they're awful at it.

Bravo was freaking fantastic. Definitely my fav of the season so far.

Oren Pierre Alfonso AKA Kamen Rider Bravo AKA Mr. Dangerous is so FREAKING FABULOUS!! I love his flair while doing the henshin. In terms of drag queen he's better than the manager of Donut Shop Hungry. Since he's not part of the Invess Games it'll be interesting to see how he will stir the pot of the Battle between the dance troupes.

loving the pacing on this show, not stagnant at all.

Gotta agree with everyone else, the buddy comedy between Guridon and Kurokage is really fun. I've said it before but, damn the Gaim suits are awesome. Not a single design I don't adore.Shame we don't seem to be getting Bravo in the AC line though.

Look forward to seeing where the series is gonna go now that all of the drivers are 'in testing'.

Mister Dangerous is some scary shit. Fighting. Just to fight. Because the game itself isn't pretty enough...

People are going to die. Many. Many. People.

THis episode was pretty good, but I'm really getting a Ryuki vibe from this show. There are just way too many riders already. I do like the change of pace, but I would like to see some more MotW already.

As for Pierre, you know, if it wasn't for the doughtnut cross dresser dude in Wizard, I probably would have no issue with him, but he seems no different than that guy, so I'm over it. And I'm also over the stupid dance battle crap. Can we move away from that shit already?

Negatives aside, I am looking forward to seeing where this show is going to go. It does seem like there is going to be Norse mythology within it beyond just the name Yggdrasil, so that is a plus. I just wished they would slow down on the rider count and develop the characters they have now.

The difference between this and Ryuki, obviously right off the bat, is that we're not seeing Gaim have to kill every rider he runs in to. I love that the entire theme begins with a bunch of dance groups competing in Inves games to determine who wins a stage, only to take it WAY too far with Sengoku Drivers and basically creating this uber dangerous situation where, now, a non-Inves Rider is here to basically destroy everyone.

It's a shame the ratings aren't that high, but this is the type of show that could revive a franchise. It's THAT good.

Personally, I like the fact that they're doing this Rider of the Week formula instead of a new monster.

It shakes up the status quo and makes it a MUCH bigger deal when one is summoned to the human world.

Bravo is freaking amazing! I hope he stays around.

Bonus- me and Kouta share the same birthday. I knew I liked him for a reason.

Honestly, I don't think ratings are even accurate enough these days unless they count how many people are DVRing a show, watching a show online, etc. Obviously, if it has good toy sales, it means kids are watching it. Or maybe it is time to move Super Hero time to a different time slot.

I just noticed Bravo has a scar over his left eye on his helmet. Dude is hardcore. He loses some serious muscle mass when he transfoms though. They couldn't have found anyone who lifts as much as his actor for the suit?

I noticed there's a seemingly very intentional juxtaposition between the rider forms and the outward perception of the riders themselves. Kota is a bit goofy, easy-going. Quite the contrast to his Samurai motif which calls to mind images of honour, restraint and the like. Micchy is quiet, reserved, and just all around "meek" yet he becoems a dragon-themed gun-toting warrior. Kaito is very vicious and single-minded in his rather extreme views of strength, depsite being a knight which calls to mind good nature and protecting of the weak. And Bravo... well, I don't think I need explaining.

Yet with Kota's serious edge showing, Kaito having his own morals despite being twistsed, Bravo being a vicious fighter and former marine/army, and Micchy maybe not being as innocent as he seems, I'm wondering if the rider forms represent their "true" selves.

Well, Gaim is the first Kamen Rider I've ever watched, considering I've been recently introduced to the show and all things Toku, but I love this show! It's funny and exciting and silly. I really enjoy the buddy buddy duo of Guridon and Kurokage...definitely hope to see more of them. And Bravo is so bizarre you can't help but love him. I can't wait to see where it goes.

Alfonso scares me o_o

Guys this is bad when something scares him!

It's just the way he looks. I don't know even how to describe it.

"Infatuating" is a good start.

This show really keeps the momentum going. There hasn't been an episode of Gaim I haven't enjoyed yet. I'll have to echo the love for Kurokage and Gridon's (seriously Aesie, one treanslator note wouldn't have killed you there)duo dynamic. And Bravo is turning out to be far more impressive than I thought he would be.

Finally caught up and watched this episode, I absolutely love Kurokage and Gridon their pairing is really really fun. I love how they beat Baron and were training. Really felt it was Karmic on Kaito because he was using Invess to fight with him and then gets double teamed. I love how serious in battle Micchi got, I love his tenacity, also his sneakiness to steal the Watermelon lock seed too. Oren Pierre Alfonso is magnificent, I love his perfectionist habits, and his skill, also their seems to be a lot more to him. I can definitely feel he is a layered character from some things you can spot in his room. I want to see more of Takatora though. I liked how Kota fought with Micchi, about how they shouldn't be like Kurokage and Gridon. Also I love how Kaito is developing more after losing, and as a bit of respect for Team Gaim. I really love these characters a lot.