Now this is what I'm talking about!

Although I'm not sure how much I actually like the Energy Rider designs, I can't deny how completely badass they are. I was kinda worried that it'd be boring having them all fight with the same weapon, but those bows are just awesome. I can see Sid developing into one of my favourite villains.

Seeing Kouta and Kaito work together to fight against them was really enjoyable as well, even if their escape wasn't quite as epic as I perhaps hoped it would be. But if it is true the Energy Riders are holding back, this is gonna get real crazy in the best possible way!

This episode also set the groundwork for lots of stuff for the future as well, like who...and what is DJ Sagara? And whose side is he on, any way?

And also, even more new Drivers on the horizon? We seem to know this months before it's revealed in the show, but I don't think I've seen any one mention that.

Hmm, I saw it differently. I remembered Hase not being able to get even a single blow on Zangetsu. Perhaps I misremembered. :lol

To be fair, the only reason that Kurokage got anything on Zangetsu was that Zangetsu was trying to get back to the base camp. Kurokage was defeated rather quickly as soon as Zangetsu went on the offensive.
Gridon, on the other hand, seems to get off by just avoiding fights in general. I don't doubt that a few good hits from a stronger rider would take him out instantly, hence his need for alliances.
And when you factor in that the higher-leveled Lock Seeds definitely summoned stronger Invess, I'd say that the levels do have something to do with power.

This is a subliminal message from Bandai : "Hey kids, start saving money for the upcoming wonders we're already baking for you!!"

Anyways, another great episode this week.
I like the Kurokage Troopers, they have a nice Star Wars feel to them.

I'm still not convinced there are new drivers coming, merely that the picture's and Ryuoma's words imply some new developement with Lock Seeds. The pictures showed forboding, almost twisted imagery around a rough lock shape.

Perhaps Ryouma is attempting to create a controllable human/Inves hybrid? Maybe Ryouma wants to create an organic belt that can accept raw locks based on data from the Sengoku and Genesis Drivers. One that literally lets humans turn into Inves or control ones power?

Maybe it's to try and tap into the power the monster invess display? When they eat a lock seed and grow big.

Rider power + that effect = :(

I'm never doubting any kind of guessing you do with the show.lol.Excellent story episode.Not tons of action,but just enough.Just one thing to say...

Dat Episode 16 preview!

That was my thought

except

Every Invess thus far has gotten its ass kicked, even the bigass one in the warehouse was crushed by Shin Zangetsu

For this theory to play out believably, they should introduce more powerful Invess that actually threaten even Energy Riders.

Plenty of time for that though

That's why I said rider power PLUS the invess power. Effectively doubling a given rider's strength.

I'll give you plot holes and bad acting, but I really don't see how you can call Shinji a pussy. Gaim really is basically Ryuki V2 though, except it's so good that nobody is calling "betrayal!" anymore.

Also, Kouta totally blocked the spiky handguard on Bravo's sword a couple episodes ago with his bare hands too. Maybe this is why Ryouma is so dead-set on making better belts.

How the God damn was Shinji a pussy? Or the ending garbage? (Actually, yeah, the actual ending sucked. But the REAL ending halfway through the last episode was the best)

Well, it is C-class.

So what I want to know is if someone uses one of the all purpose belts could we see a Strawberry rider?

Also, anyone else catch that Ryoma said that Takatora is a 'project director'. This tells me that there's someone much higher up than him and I'm guessing it's Sagara. Yes I think that the DJ is going to be the real villain of the series.

So was miichi using some kind of Lock Seed with stealth capabilities or something?

Cause I'm finding it a little hard to believe that he can get around with sneaking around Yggdrasail HQ…a place filled with cameras and long, hall ways with open windows and not get spotted until he decided to spring Kouta and Kaito.

Hey, Gaim may be perfect, but it's not perfect.

Holy shit.

This show is badass.

That's all that needs to be said.

He's small, and Metal Gear is pretty popular over in Japan.

I think the best part of this episode is how they established the Energy Riders. They all fall into a different place morality wise, which makes me believe that there's going to be some trouble for them down the line.

Takatora is definitely the most moral of the group. Even though it'd be easier to kill the kids, he'd rather find alternatives to doing so while still accomplishing the goals of the company. He probably has a good heart, but still has the conviction to see things through.

Ryoma doesn't care either way and only seems concerned with his research.

Marika just follows orders.

And quite obviously, Sid is a bloodthirsty psychopath and the polar opposite of Takatora.

Also, seems to me like Kamen Rider Knuckle will be Team Baron.

And also, anybody else think the show is leaning towards the Forbidden Fruit angle? I find it very odd and curious that we still haven't gotten any confirmation of an Apple Lockseed, even when upon hearing the word 'fruit' one of the first fruits you think of is Apple. It leads me to believe that, if there is an Apple Lockseed, it'll hold a role of extreme importance.

Holy crap, I feel bad for not realising Ryouma was Aguri in GARO :lol

Why does it bother me so much that they're translating Sengoku now. >_< Oh yeah, because it's a man's goddamn name...

Anywho, another great episode for sure. Definitely still feel like we're learning a lot.

Oh shit.

Yup.

That'd be like if you translated... well, if you translated someone's NAME! You don't translate names, that's what makes names different from words.

It's like translating robo names in sentai. Never makes sense to me.

It sorta makes more sense than that.

Since "Sengoku" in Gaim isn't spelled with the same kanji as Sengoku Era, there could be a disconnect between people's common knowledge of the word (Warring States Period) and its meaning in the series.

In order to differentiate from the common meaning from the series-specific meaning, and in order to imbue the author's intention behind the specific naming choice, the translation is, if not appropriate, justified.

I'm not sure how much I agree with the choice, but I can't argue that it's not a well-reasoned one.

Or they could just do what they did with "Warring" and put a little accent somewhere.

Afterall, they never explained why "Warring" had an accent, so either way they're not explaining something. Or, better yet, just not translate it because this isn't a history lesson it's a TV show and these are online subs.

I like Magenta's translation of Warring. Here's his reasoning, from his translation notes on episode 2:


So, yeah. A controversial choice, but a reasonable one. I, personally, like it -- and it doesn't hurt that “Wärring Driver” is just a badass sounding name.

EDIT: Zeo's link above has even more in-depth explanation.

Don't; I didn't see it until it was pointed out to me.

This is exactly why Duke's finisher needs to be him bundling a bunch of arrows in his hands and smashing them against a monster :p

In the video, I mean.

I do remember the little thing they wrote up, the guy on youtube was kind enough to add it to the video description, but in the context of the subtitles? Never explained. Watching just the subs I'd have no idea why they randomly put an accent on the word. (which, btw, accents are NOT like "K" or "X" in combat or extreme. They actually change the way the word is pronounced)

Also, changing the name of the driver? Doesn't really bug me. Hasn't so far. But would it really have been so controversial and awful to put (Sengoku = Warring) at the top of the screen? They've now changed a characters name. Again. Except rather than a moniker, it's his real name that he is always known by. They took what was already a stupid move in the show (having the drivers be named after him, thus in reality HE is named after the drivers because "Sengoku" was clearly thought up for the belts first) and slapped giant, glowing arrows pointing out exactly why it's so dumb.

And regardless of even that substancial reasoning, "Rouma Warring" sounds horrific. Again, they're translating shit they don't have to because... because I don't know why. To not be like TV-Nhion? Dudes the moment your sentences were properly structured and there wasn't distracting little animations on screen, you topped them. :lol They've just... they've done a dumb. They're incredibly intelligent, diligent, thoughtful, wonderful people doing an excellent service and made two really dumb mistakes that they've locked themselves into.

It's an umlaut, not an accent mark. They're specifically referencing the Metal Umlaut, made famous by bands like Mötley Crüe. A Metal Umlaut doesn't change the pronunciation of a word, it's purely stylistic.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_umlaut

When it comes to the belt, I don't think the translation of Sengoku to Wärring is dumb in the slightest. In fact, I think it's really clever. Though, I do agree that Episode 15 is an instance where on-screen TL notes are preferable to the localization of a character's given name.

The whole sengoku-warring thing is weird sure but it doesn't bother me that much.

Though having your last name be Warring doesn't really inspire a lot of confidence does it?

So, they really didn't accomplish anything then, did they?

But apparently I do? Even though I said...

...but I guess now I do?

They accomplished... uh... style...? :lol

My bad. Misinterpreted your statement. Thought you were referring to the belt as one of two dumb translation mistakes, and I thought you were saying because of that "mistake" they were "locked in" to localizing Ryouma's last name.

I actually thought I was mostly agreeing with you. ;)

that I can totally believe...There is much more to the DJ than is shown...

I do like the flying bikes...and I was about to start troop building some Riot Troopers, but I'm really liking the Acorn brigade a bit more...

Y'know, I couldn't help but be distracted by how often they zoomed into Marika's legs this episode.

Even when they weren't zooming I was distracted by them. Absolutely beautiful and badass woman. Glad to see she doesn't look like the typical throwaway character they make female riders out to be.

Something just came to me after re-watching the episode, but since the Sengoku Drivers that the Kurokage mooks use don't lock in with a person, what are the chances of Kaito stealing all belts that were on the Kurokages he stayed behind to fight?

Very possible. We know he escapes, and although he respects Kouta he recognized their alliance was only temporary. He could have seen this as an opportunity to get more riders on his team for future fights. And I think it's pretty clear that Knuckle will be one of his boys. Time will tell if he got more than one driver.

Well, it'll explain all the Kurokages riding in the Watermelon arms in Kaito's Army in the prologue.