Damn. Pretty good episode. If this was any other Rider show, this would be endgame level shit.

Goodbye Sid! But Rosho is powerful enough to completely dissolve the Genesis Driver and the lockseed? *shudders*

Was it just me or did Rosho's lover look like Yoko? This episode especially plays up the parallels between the Riders and thier Overlord counterparts. Watching Reduye interact with Micchy was like seeing two of Micchy working together and wanting to betray the shit out of each other. I'm still sticking to my,"The forest world was inhabited by people with similar personalities to the Zawame city counterparts" theory.

People said that he is in stage performances for the next few weeks so we just might only get him in-suit/voiceovers.

At least they showed a reason being in the suit, I was rewatching the episode and it looks like Duke's suit was linked up to the super computer from a wire going in chest.

I don't think anybody's motivations have been unclear, just that when new plot developments come into play, new allegiances are formed.

For example, Takatora was all for killing off 6/7ths of the world's population because he thought it was the only way to save humanity, then Kouta tells him they can save everybody by getting the Overlords to side with them.

The only one that's really hard to get a grasp on is Micchy, who from what I gathered, is a massive control freak and Yoko, who seems to be developing her own character separate from Ryouma as of this latest episode.

I find the shot from next week's preview of her with the Beat Riders fairly interesting. I'm wondering if she's on the verge of joining their side, or at least Kaito, over Ryoma and Yggdrasil.

Speaking of, what's the in-story reason for the bad doctor to spend the whole episode in-suit?

Remember the Sid Lockseed?
http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs70/f/20...60-d7d6uej.jpg

What was the point of that?

Hopefully it'll crop up again. I'm wondering if it was at all related to the MIS.

It did control 2 watermelon lock seeds... So.. Who knows?

It had a S?

Anyway...this episode was pretty good, and dang Sid. I find it really interesting how the monsters, or at least the leader of the monsters of this series isn't (or at least doesn't seem) to be a bad guy. I think it's a nice breath of fresh air having a Kamen Rider show be so different from ones of the last few years.

Oh shit, I forgot! Did that lockseed get destroyed too when Sid died?

It may come back later. But its just to sell toys, even if its a premium item and in one episode.

…to make people buy the web exclusive DX Sets? :lol

I was trying to avoid specific examples but whatever.

Takatora is a good example of the failings of the characterisation in this show, at least for me. When first introduced he was just entirely there for the purpose of 'shit got real' but as the series developed it turned out he was actually a misguided man with a lot of heart and honour - basically a hero.

This is all fine, albeit very clichéd, but with so many Riders in this damn show pretty much all of Takatora's most important character moments happened off screen so each time he actually did appear on screen he was basically another character entirely. Everything that has happened to Takatora has been more profound for him, than it ever has for the audience.

We were forced into filling in the blanks ourselves. Your own imagination has probably made you believe Takatora is a better character than he actually is, and if you go back and watch it from the start you'll see just how many leaps his character arc has, rather than smoothly playing out.

Micchy is as unclear as Kaito at this point, who is my favourite piece of irony as the man obsessed with strength is the character who gets his ass beat most often.

I just did that last night. Takatora's character development is in my opinion expertly handled. You are allowed make connections but what those connections are is actually chosen for you by Urobochi. I think its a wonderful idea to introduce this fundamentally good person, but show him at the end of a journey into a darker road, and then show how much he wants a way out but can't see one. The series is peppered with the truth of his personality from around episode 11.

So yeah, I think as a character Takatora is kinda amazingly well handled

Overall, the personalities and motivations in this series are more show don't tell. You are gradually introduced to the characters but because it's often forced, nothing is outright explained. It is up to you the viewer to interpret things. Which I find tremendously engaging. For instance, I feel Micchy's motivations are now blatantly obvious and that's based on the sum of the evidence not the individual parts.

No screens. No captures. Only two words.


Mind. Blown.

I think that's a strength for Gaim, not necessarily a weakness. Like the poster above said, Gaim is very much show, don't tell and I feel like Takatora is expertly handled since he still maintains this kinda mysterious, badass presence but you see that he's less of a straight up bad guy, and more of a good guy who's making the wrong decisions. Plus I think it helps in making the characters not too predictable.

In the case of Kaito, I think that's the whole point of his character. He's obssessed with strength, but has a flawed perspective on it. I mean it's telling that probably his strongest moments occur when he's working alongside someone. And to be fairly honest, only a few Riders seem objectively stronger than him at this point.

We'll agree to disagree then as I still don't like it. Being this late into the show and barely knowing a thing about the characters, minus pencilling in stuff myself is bad writing in my opinion. It's the writers job to flesh out the characters, not mine.

A lot of people have been saying Gaim is the best Rider series and blows every other one out of the water. Your thoughts?

I'm just interested to see someone who doesn't think all smiles and roses about Gaim talk about it.

For me Gaim has a lot of great ideas, Kouta is a fantastic protagonist, Yggadrasil are great villains and I love any series that doesn't immediately crumble into a status quo like so many other toku shows.

However I also feel most of Gaim's good ideas stay on paper. I think the fights are awful, the gimmick was forgotten and despite having enough Riders to actively stump character growth, it isn't even worth it as the "everyone is an Energy Rider" business got boring after about two episodes, it's been about twenty since.

Well, that's 3 riders down and it was well deserved. Meanwhile, my continuing annoyance at Ryouma grows bigger, and my confusion over Kaito's character grows bigger. Why save a character by taking the blow yourself if you believe in strength? Also, I got round to translating what the overlords call themselves, and I was right!

He respects Kouta. He's said that much. I look at Kouta and Kaito's dynamic in much the same way as Sonic and Shadows; despite the rivalry, despite their very different approaches and beliefs, they're ultimately on the same side and out to do the same thing. Kaito is a realist who understands that sacrifices must be made; Kouta is an idealist who refuses to even think that so much as one person needs to die to stop Helheim.

On some level Kaito respects that and actually wants Kouta to succeed in a way he never can. Because of Mai, maybe? Hard to say.

That makes sense. Better than Sid being stupid enough to fall for that obvious trap.

I'd say it's because Kaito now sees Kouta as being strong and only worthy of being defeated by Lemon Kaito.

And what's the term the overlords describe themselves as?

Yeah, Kaito is definitely the Kamen Rider version of Kaiba. :-p I made jokes about it before, but his episode just cinched it.

Another great episode, especially after the meh from last week's interruption. However, I doubt Sid is dead. After all, there isn't a body to confirm he is dead, and without a body, there is no guarantee. If he really is gone, then that sucks as he was one of my favorite characters in the show and I expected him to be the main bad guy.

There's no body because there is no body; Sid is, at best, a kind of thick jelly now.

I think the best part was Micchy Micchying it up by letting Sid go through the trap while he sits back comfortably. Such a devious bastard.

He kind of got literally squished between a wall of rock, the Overlord split the thing open, threw Sid in it, and slammed it shut. Its not like Takatora being thrown over a mountain where he could safely fall, albeit some injuries, this was straight up juiced. Strangely, he became what his driver does. :lol

Sid's actor got those flowers they give to actors who have finished filming and won't be back. Sid is dead.

No, there's a body. It's just hard to see from all the flatness :p

Sid is dead dead dead. To speculate otherwise at this point would be foolish. His lock & driver were obliterated so that means there was no last second henshin to save him. And two halves of a damn mountain sandwiched him like so much peanut butter and jelly. He dead.

You see Sid is another good example of what is in my opinion "too many Riders".

His death was great but he was initially presented with so much mystery, and then the show shifted to suggest he might become the next major villain and then he died. And if he really is gone, then for a character who began with so much build up he basically achieved nothing at all, was utterly pointless and could have been cut all together.

And before someone says "but Hase", I think the last time that was even brought up was in that Gridon Bravo filler episode and the last time it was important was never.

Yeah, Gaim is overloaded on riders. That's why I'm happy Sid's gone. Trimming the cast now hopefully means everything will balance out sooner rather than later.

One of the things that I think Ryuki did right with its multiple Riders was that it didn't have them all around at the same time. Scissors, Gai, and Raia were all long gone before Tiger and Imperor showed up, meaning the show never had more than six Riders on at a time. With Gaim you have to deal with so many active Riders at once that some get underdeveloped or just straight up disappear for long stretches.

Everyone keeps telling me Ryuki is a show I won't enjoy but I'm still intrigued.

Yeah the show has so much damn baggage, I'm grateful even when a character I was interested in is cut, just in the hope the show becomes more focused.

Sid was just another obstacle for Kouta, he also was the reason Micchy is an Armored rider. He served his purpose as an overall mid-boss. and also a grunt, his death reflects that, like Hase he was frustrated with his weakness and lack of achievement and wanted to "prove" himself, to the point where he rather die, than go back to his lowly life and accept defeat, it shows just how much of a grunt Sid was. Someone who never grew up into a "proper" adult. Still liked him though, his interactions with Micchy were fun ! :lol

You're talking about personal character analysis and not tangible things achieved by the character in the narrative. I wasn't speaking about meta, I was speaking simply on his achievements which boils down to "killed a character no one cared about in a moment that was forgotten within episodes and had as much of a ripple effect as dropping a stone in an empty bath."

Well yes, Sid didn't accomplish much and wasn't much of a threat, his presence in Gaim is just like having a bully and an obstacle for Kouta. and that's why he was offed so callously, he wasn't important at all. but that's also part of his character, or at least to me.
He served his purpose early on, and I wouldn't say removing him completely would make the show any better.

Considering he was introduced with so much mystery around him, and then eventually was seemingly moving into main villain status I would say he was wasted. And as they had no intention of actually doing anything with him, I'd rather he was cut out entirely with characters like Kaito or Takatora getting his screen time to be better developed than they are.

That's an interesting idea, I always knew Sid wouldn't amount to anything, and that ominous aura he had going on, only foreshadowed the fact that he's a scumbag who's willing to bully kids and murder one. If i have to guess, Micchy will probably be the final boss.

Who do you suggest can replace Sid ? he did kill Hase, tried to stop Kouta multiple times. You would need an obstacle for Kouta. I guess Minato or Duke could fill that role, but there might be some complications.

I disagree however about Takatora though, he's SO easy to understand, and he had ample character development.

You don't need Sid, Marika, Ryouma AND Takatora and even less so now we have the interesting Overlords. Zangetu was fine on his own when he was throwing his shield like Captain America and the problems only started when all the Energy Rider crap started. I at least enjoy Ryouma, but Marika and Sid could both be cut and no one would notice.

Takatora's had a lot of development, but not nearly enough on screen.

I think if you cut Sid, you would notice some differences, maybe minuscule, but you would still need another character to fill in the gaps.
I agree about Marika, she's so far VERY bland, to the point where it's suspicious and I actually think she's hiding something, If proven wrong, it will be pretty disappointing. We'll see :lol