Agreed! It's a fun way to honor the franchise without making another Tribute season. It's them channeling the spirit of those shows, not slavishly imitating those shows.

KAMEN RIDER REVICE EPISODE 6 - “EVIL’S IDENTITY! A SHOCKING SHOWTIME!?”

https://kamenriderdie.com/images/kr/revice/revice6a.png

This one was okay! Which makes it about 1000% better than Episode 5!

It works by sticking to a basic formula: Ikki and Vice try to solve a mystery. That’s it. There’s a little bit of the Evil/Daiji/Kagerou stuff around the edges, but nothing that detracts from the simple pleasures of a funny team overcoming the odds to deliver justice for simple folks in need. The main plot is grounded in the same ways last episode’s Fenix plot wasn’t: we get to see how low-level folks are warped by demonic pacts in order to shortcut obstacles and feed their appetites at any cost, while the community looks to Happy Spa to make sense of otherworldly phenomenon. It centers not just Ikki, but the entire Igarashi family as the protector of the downtrodden, so that even a couple legal scumbags being taken down feels like a monumental triumph.

The Evil stuff around the edges… it’s okay? I mean, kinda hilarious to see Dark Daiji walking into the Giffamilia lair, painted fingernails and unconvincing bad-guy posture, like he’s cosplaying as Tobey Maguire from Spider-Man 3. That’s corny enough to be funny, just like in that classic Spider-Man flick, but I am not certain that’s what the producers were aiming for? Maybe?

It’s not a huge surprise that Daiji’s inner demon has possessed him, and is now wreaking havoc as the newest Kamen Rider. The last episode was pushing so hard in his boss’s direction that it was almost inevitable that Daiji’s mysteriously troubled sleep was an indicator of demonic shenanigans. There were only two real suspects, and the show spent an episode going ISN’T THIS GUY SUSPICIOUS at Hiromi, so here’s where we ended up. It’s an okay reveal, even if not a ton is done with it beyond revealing it. The idea of Daiji’s repression and envy creating room for George to see what would happen if a demon had a human host, there’s definite potential in that story. (I mean, I don’t love that Fenix is like Let’s Gather Data about the whole thing; that shit’s such a lazy part of Act 1 Kamen Rider storytelling that it feels like it should’ve come out of the Phase 2 Heisei Vistamp.) Daiji’s greatest flaw is that his reach exceeds his grasp, and he can’t recalibrate his desires in a healthy way. A version of himself that’s instantly successful at both becoming a Kamen Rider and kicking the crap out of Ikki? That’s a neat idea to explore.

But, y’know, not what this episode’s doing, thankfully. The lawyer plot manages to wrap in Daiji’s worldview – hard work sometimes doesn’t get you where you want to go, so it feels justified to take drastic steps – without losing its agreeably small scale and stakes. It’s just one guy that’s currently getting screwed over, and the show never really tries to grow the threat beyond that. We get to go on a frequently goofy plot with clever reversals, good use of the supporting cast, and a clean win for our heroes. It’s not a massive upheaval of the status quo, despite the appearance of Kagerou and Kamen Rider Evil. It’s a solid episode built around fun character work that makes the world of Revice seem a little more relatable. I’m gonna call that a win!

https://kamenriderdie.com/images/kr/revice/revice6b.png

This episode marks the point where Revice starts to slow down some in terms of its pacing, which is incredibly welcome considering that the Daiji plot being moved a bit more to the forefront. That said, the episode also gave me a bit of concern, given that this marked the second time the villain talked a bit too much sense, which was giving me Build vibes and I for sure didn't desire another experience like I had with that show.

Anyhow yeah, the episode overall was just decent. But if there's one things Revice consistently does well, it's its comedy, which always manages to get laughs out of me. Like, I made a shitpost with the Stream Chat subs of last episode, but the Line Texts attached here are also from episode 5, of which I enjoyed alot. None taken from Episode 6 though as they're very short and more hammering in the same idea as episode 5's': Ikki finding himself jiving with Vice more and more.

So when I saw the preview for this the first time, me and my friend were very hesitant given we did not care for Zero-One's attempt at a lawyer/court case.

Turns out it was a pretty simple mystery that Ikki and Vice got to unravel and then they got to detonate a kangaroo at the end of it all. Simple, but not bad at the end of it all.

There's some fun stuff here, like Papa getting to work only to find out Bu-San ends up pulling all the work. Admittedly it does make you wonder who Bu-San is to get all the deets on our motw generator. But hey, always fun when a minor character can contribute. I also find it a bit funny how Ikki had the Gundephone since Episode 4, but only now decided to introduce Vice to everyone.

That being said, the Kangaroo Deadman is another favorite of mine. This is purely because of the general shape and square boxing gloves it has. But also the bit with it punching against Mammoth Vice's shields like they're boxing pads is a quirky bit I'll remember more than most other minor fights in Rider.

Not much else to say but uh... yeah, Daiji's going through his goth phase. I like Kagero, he's a cool dude. Also Kamen Rider Evil's still a pretty sick design if I'm being honest.

So yeah, Kagerou. He’s a fairly popular character (he came third in a Japanese popularity poll, only beaten out by Aguilera and Hiromi), but I never cared much for him. Mostly because his personality can basically sum up as “hates Ikki”. I’d say a bit more, but I’ll let you watch the next few episodes.

Casting trivia: The guy playing the lawyer was previously the butler from Gaim Gaiden: Baron, while the judge was previously the cafe owner who briefly employed Takumi in Faiz. The latter is currently appearing as the butler Sebastian in King-Ohger.

Ikki: It’s Ikki and…

Vice: Vi- (gets knocked back by Kagerou, inhabiting Daiji, who will henceforth be referred to as “K-Daiji” to distinguish them)

K-Daiji: Daiji’s…

Both: Stamp Navi!

Ikki: A little unusual, but today’s Vistamp is… this one!

Kangaroo!

https://youtube.com/watch?v=pV8DPKOTDH8

Jump up! Psych up! Kangaroo! The punch of victory has been set!

K-Daiji: Kangaroo Genome has the full statistics of the famous marsupial. It boasts a tremendous punching power.

Ikki: Wow, Daiji. I’m surprised you know so much about it.

K-Daiji: I’ve been reading Karizaki’s notes. But I’ll let him do the explanations for the Legend Rider.

(Suddenly, from out of the Kangaroo Vistamp, comes a shape that knocks an entering George out and takes the shape of…)

Evolt: Pah. Why would you want to hear the story told by this geek, when I personally witnessed the whole thing, even contributing to some parts of it?

Desire Driver: Build.

Are you ready?

Sento: Henshin!

Hagane no Moonsault, RabbitTank! Yay!

Evolt: Kamen Rider Build. Originally the Devil’s Scientist Takumi Katsuragi, an unfortunate accident gave him a new identity as Genius Physicist Sento Kiryu. Using the Best Match abilities of his Fullbottles, he battled the attempts to drive his country into anarchy through warfare.

Sento: The laws of victory have be-

Sougo: BEEN SET!

Vice: ‘Devil’s Scientist’, huh? Sounds like my kind of guy.

Evolt: Yeah, Katsuragi was cool. Shame he got betrayed by someone who he trusted unconditionally. (He starts sniffing K-Daiji, before turning to Ikki) Tell me, Boy. Do you trust this man unconditionally?

Ikki: Sure. Daiji’s my precious little bro. He’d never hurt me.

Evolt: (laughing) I see. (He turns to K-Daiji) Good luck with your task, kid. Ciao.

(And with that, Evolt disappears as George wakes up)

George: What was all that about?

K-Daiji: (feigning friendliness) We hope you enjoy the next instalment.

Self-production notes: K-Daiji isn’t just an invention of this feature. It’s how the scripts for the show referred to him.

The rationale behind the dialogue for Sento’s catchphrase being the scene of Sougo screwing it up is that unlike, George, who makes his montages out of the Rider’s most awesome moments, Evolt chose either Sento’s most humiliating moments, or scenes of Katsuragi Sr. as Build’s awesome moments.

I mean, I always prefer it when the weekly villains have something relatable in their design, or at least a coherent point of view. It makes their stories more than just an inevitable victory for the heroes. Giving the lawyer and the kidnapper the same argument -- the world is designed with invisible rules that hold you back -- helps build out the metaphor of the inner demons, just in time for Daiji and Kagerou's story.

Yeah, it's a solid episode of mystery, humor, and action. This show's good when it sticks to the basics!

I will probably not care about the animal/show pairings for 99% of Vistamps, but it intensely bothers me that the fluorescent green Vistamp with the hopping animal isn't Zero-One. Zero-One even got a kangaroo Progrise Key for an HBV special!!! WHAT THE HELL, REVICE.

(And thanks for the fun skit!)

So, yeah, kinda already indicated that this was the first episode I actively disliked.

Primarily down to how badly they botched the MotW plot.

First thing first, never really was a fan of the "fixer" job Ikki and the bathhouse advertises because of the deadman. It never read more than a convenient way for them to get MotW plots, which, in and of itself, is fine, but I really question the kind of person who goes to a bathhouse for legal trouble. It's just a bit too out there, even for a Rider show, at least for me. But clearly, you see some thematic resonance here, so, very fair.

Second, man, these two were bad at being crooks. Like, laughably bad and a miracle that they weren't busted before.

I'll just quote myself from back in the day:

It doesn't make Ikki look smart; it makes the writing come off as contrived and like it bends over backward to make the heroes succeed, making me far less interested in rooting for them since they clearly won't have to struggle; things will just work out for them. Hilariously enough, kinda undermining the villainous outburst here since... clearly, hard work pays off with the world just making everyone else dumber for your sake, at least if you are the protagonist. Or does that underline his point? I'm really not sure, but it kinda pays havoc with the show's intended moral in some way.

Using this, this show has a real problem with making characters incredibly stupid, not when it makes sense for their character, but when the plot demands it. Mixed with a very low intelligence level in the show in general, Fenix being probably one of the stupidest organizations in the franchise, certainly made for a rather frustrating viewing experience from time to time.

Last criticism, the episode felt rushed. Things just wrap up far too neatly and quickly in the end. It really would have benefited from another episode just to make things just... flow better.

But yeah, the first bigger rant. Probably not the last, but I'll try to restrain those till good opportunities arise to not drag down the threat and taint your viewing experience of the show.

The thing that made me laugh the hardest -- in an Okay Sure Whatever way -- was the transposition of Ikki's magic trick with the candy, and the lawyer slowly and gleefully handing the Vistamp to the judge in broad daylight at a public place. That's not exactly stealth, Revice!

You know honestly that would've made too much sense.

But also I think what bothers me about Kangaroo though is that like... it doesn't match the coloration at all? And I think it's literally the only Legend Rider Vistamp that does not match a Rider coloration in the slightest. Almost feels like it was a last minute decision to make Build as Kangaroo.

Also, BANJO was the boxer, not Sento! WHAT THE ABSOLUTE HELL, REVICE.

Build also gave Cross-Z a sword as his primary weapon.

I don't think Toei is too concerned about toy coherence.

Happy Spa now serves as more than just an onsen... as Yukari Naruse visits it not to take a bath (at least not onscreen), but to request for their help regarding her aspiring actor younger brother Masaru who had a car accident but with the culprit Tsuyoshi Eguchi being declared innocent due to the changing lawyer and the crime details. Probably both Ikki and Sakura tolerate requests like that more as it's not a petty request like some of the questions before that can be done by themselves, despite that the request would be significantly more difficult to do.

The episode finally has another (almost) full family moments again. Yukimi's still in hospital, but it's indirectly shown in her not being present instead of a scene of her in hospital. Genta's actor Shigeyuki Totsugi claims Genta has untold secrets, and I thought it's done here with Genta being able to provide a vital information that the corrupt lawyer is Yasushi Kudo, but apparently it's still not, he's only riding on Bu-san's contributions. He's being easily impressed due to having so low standards that they regularly get dazzled by things both the other characters and the audience don't find too amazing. And that trait is commonly used in comic relief (which he definitely is) or childish naivety trait... which'd make Genta a manchild.

More new things for Sakura in her cooking being made extremely spicy... and her at the end admitting that she can only let herself loose, like to Yukari and she's welcoming to a 'new male karate student'...who is Julio in disguise, even accepting his "help" despite that she's much superior.

Ikki finally reveals about his connection to Vice to others via Gundephone, of which I'd hope he also explains that his random outburst is him interacting (get angry at) with the unseen demon. He really shines in this episode, of him having no problem in outwitting Kudo, and this shows how despite Kudo having superpowers to gain upper hand to others, it'd not be an immediate advantage to others having the same, and Vice's supernatural trait is really vital on investigation and is used in a smart way here that he can phase through hidden stuff that Kudo does have the ViStamp.. as well as the note of the next witness coming tomorrow 9, possessing her phone to record the conversation. Other than Vice's contribution, Ikki knowing better about Kudo deceiving him (with his associate) at the end is all on himself though, from his skills at sleight of hand before. Don't know what takes him that long to confront Kudo again though (at night), probably waiting for Fenix to check on Eguchi? His fighting skill was also genuine here (he was quite sloppy in his human fighting scene before) to put down the associate without problem.

Kagerou work differently from Daiji such as being able to possess him outright and that the Rider form Evil is only 1 instead of 2-in-1 like Revice. I do think that the episode does good job for the red herring, with the foreshadowing that Kagerou can eat extremely spicy foods without problem unlike Daiji himself according to his family, though of course it's quite inherent if the evil had the same look to the original.

I though George would have a path to learn actual reasons why Kamen Riders are seen as admirable, like currently he seems to value the chaos and violence (like his solution before being Rider Kicking) instead of the heroism value they (not all) display; done in a major character instead of a minor one. Though he felt like a counterpart of Aguilera, the technology counterpart of her.... both him and Deadmans give powers to questionable individuals that lets them be more unrepentant in their evil.

The corrupt lawyer Yasushi Kudo did a good job in his portrayal to get the character to be disliked/hated (subjective) I think in his slimy lying ageism bastard practices, nailing negative stereotypes of a corrupt authority figure, including a notoriety in lawyers changing the facts to “win” their case. And this isn't a case of an 'asshole being easier to hate than a villain' because he's an actual villain, albeit as usual, superpowers amplify his villainy's impact in the Kangaroo ViStamp (given by the Deadmans). He and his ViStamp also invokes a literal case of kangaroo court, which means an unfair and biased selection of judge and/or jurors specifically made to attack or rig a verdict for or against the accused, and he uses the ViStamp to rig his courtroom cases. As he's obsessed with winning cases (from his previously poor record), the "win" for now is when Egushi is declared innocent, but at the end he'd deflect the blame on Eguchi running with the ViStamp out of a cowardly move...

His excuse is that hard work doesn't pay off... but if he had poor record before, dunno about how much hard work he accomplished.... he's probably just isn't good enough of a speaker without using a threat by force, but worse he had a lack of moral to go as far as injuring the bunch of witnesses too.

I don't expect a lot, but I'm still allowed to be mad when Toei/Bandai miss the easy lay-up!

It's not something the show says outright, but I think we can assume that the lawyer wasn't good at his job, and used the excuse of The Deck Is Stacked Against Me to justify witness tampering and mild rampaging. It's a thing the show has circled a lot, the concept of meeting resistance with shortcuts rather than finding the resolve within yourself -- maybe even by letting out a part of yourself that you think people wouldn't like! Feels like a theme!

KAMEN RIDER REVICE EPISODE 7 - “THEFT!? SKATEBOARD!? I’M KAGEROU!”

https://kamenriderdie.com/images/kr/revice/revice7a.png

Just to keep me on my toes, this episode’s Ex-Aid-flavored Stamp Story ends up being a thin, boring drag with an abrupt and unconvincing conclusion, while the Fenix/Hiromi/Daiji/Kagerou stuff ends up being the best non-Buu parts of the episode.

(I just… I really like the investigation scenes at Happy Spa? They’re so characterful and specific. I’d prefer if it was with Mom and Dad, but I’ll accept Buu as the token Weird Adult.)

The Stamp Story… I mean, as an Ex-Aid fan, I appreciate the little touches: a career in medicine, a videogame being played over the episode's title, a gang of three people (sorry Kiriya). I don’t know if other episodes tossed in as many signifiers for their homage – I think the curry one was after the Kuuga stamp’s debut episode, even though the Kuuga stamp was used in the finale – but I liked seeing it here. It’s a nicely subtle way to homage these different series. But the story is dumb. It takes forever to get going, the kid’s backstory never comes across (He was maybe accused unfairly! But the principal says he’s definitely guilty! But then he for sure was robbing places! But for no established reason!), the dad makes a deal with a demon to get his kid back on track but only ever seems to harass cops and Fenix… it’s just a mess. This is probably the dumbest Stamp Story this show’s done yet. There’s no one to care about here! The kid and the dad have no dimensionality to them, no discernable motivation. The conclusion to this alleged story of helicopter parenting is the kid trying to atone for his criminality while the dad’s like Whoops My Bad, and I don’t believe either of them for a second. If you thought Ayaka’s mom deciding via flashback to repent her inattention was sudden and underexplained, this episode’s finale would like you to hold its beer. Neither the father nor the son exist as anything other than a bland stock character type to move through a dull superhero investigation. It’s barely worth writing a paragraph about, so let’s move on.

Hiromi! Kamen Rider Demons! A Spider-Man!

The Daiji/Kagerou plot is brought up again, and given a little more detail for those who were uncertain of the initial reveal’s dynamic (Kagerou is Daiji’s inner demon, an expression of Daiji’s resentment towards Ikki and desire to be a powerful hero), but it’s mostly just more of the same in his appearances as Evil. It’s the Hiromi of it all that salvages this episode from being a complete misfire, which is kind of a surprise to me? He’s not a dude who made an impression at all prior to this, even in the story where he was being teased as Fenix’s traitor. (Again: who in the world would care if Fenix had a traitor? They’re all assholes!) But this time out, he’s this intriguingly empathetic-yet-focused captain, committed to pulling one of his soldiers back from the brink of demonic-possession, even if he has to personally Rider Kick the demon out of him in a skate park. Hiromi’s reaction to Daiji’s possession and rampage has so many cool notes to it: embarrassment and shame at his Deadman outburst putting Daiji on the path to summoning Kagerou; fiery resolve at his responsibility to keep his men safe, no matter the risk; grim acceptance at what unlocking his own potential might result in. It’s a million miles away from George and General Fenix’s disinterest at Daiji’s plight, or how Kagerou’s existence might affect literally everyone they depend on. Hiromi’s point of view is not only dramatically compelling, it makes sense. (It's a the more interesting echo to the Stamp Story's version of protecting your children, that's for sure.) In a show that has a really weird time attaching recognizable/relatable motivations to more than one character per episode, Hiromi is a sign that we can maybe get two from now on.

Hope! It’s a nice thing to be to take away from this episode!

https://kamenriderdie.com/images/kr/revice/revice7b.png

Hiromi! Kamen Rider Demons!

This is basically when he actually stood out to me, and a lot of other people. Demons is a cool suit though I find Hiromi neat at most in terms of his overall presence in Revice. Granted, I think I did find him cool at one point, then mostly every fan of his I saw basically made him unbearable to me at a certain point that I just didn't care for him anymore with how insufferable they were/are still now. And now I'm like "He's cool". Nothing really in the higher or lower end with him nowadays for me tbh.

Anyway Demons is a cool suit, and a cool Driver, using LED Technology that for sure places him in the "I am not a Retail Rider" category. Also it's voiced by Seto Kaiba's Seiyu so you know, pretty cool points!

That being said Buu-san's the best and I'm glad you highlighted that as your one thing you enjoyed during the episodic plot. Dude is genuinely a fun minor character and his appearances these last two episodes have been fun.

It's an incredibly cool suit, and my favorite on the show thus far. It's a stunning asymmetrical design, creating motion and danger even when he's standing still. And all those eyes! VERY COOL!

Buu brings personality to rote exposition, and he's a great excuse to center more of the story at Happy Spa. Beyond just being a fun performer, he grounds the narrative in a fun environment. Literally every scene that's not at Happy Spa would be better if they'd staged it at Happy Spa.

Honestly I agree! There's a lot of fun quirks that Happy Spa has that you don't notice right away!

Like the strange dog statue that has a collar that's a banana holder? I'm not sure if you or anyone else has seen it, but it's such an oddity that I had to point it out!

Everything else in Revice's set design had to be uninteresting so that Happy Spa could be the best.

Fun fact about Hiromi/Demons. He was originally written as a disposable character who dies in episode 1. But the staff loved actor Junya Komatsu's dedication and delivery so much during his audition that they rewrote him as the man, myth, and legend we know today.

Him and Mom Igarashi, willing themselves into improving this show. I love it!

Actually, he was only ever PLANNED to die. His death is in no version of the script.

Anyway, the Demons Driver. I really don’t like this belt at all, mostly due to the fact it’s more focused on a fairly lame gimmick than on actually being a decent toy, or actually looking good. And it commits the cardinal sin of having fake interactivity with the gimmick for this season (I’ve seen a video where at least one person got it working without any Vistamp, which is pretty damning), with there being nowhere to store the Stamp when transformed (the holders don’t count, especially as someone who just tosses the straps in a box and forgets about them). About the only things that stop it from being my least favourite belt in the show are the voice (which I think is better than the actual Vistamp voice) and the fact there’s at least one belt I think is much worse.

And for more casting trivia, the guy who spends most of the episode voicing the Cheetah Deadman is Jun Hashizume, who’s something of a veteran in the Tokusatsu world, having previously played supporting roles in Godzilla vs SpaceGodzilla, Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy and Ultraman Z.

And enough griping and boring facts, let’s get on with what the real point of these threads are.

George: It’s Ikki and Vice’s Stamp Navi! But both of our stars are missing currently, so me and our new Rider Hiromi are temping.

Hiromi: I will lay down my life… to entertain and inform the children.

George: Quiet you. Anyway, let’s get on with this and bring on the highlight of this week.

Jackal!

https://youtube.com/watch?v=-eg_PzGkxJ0

(Ikki comes running in, with Vice hanging off him)

Ikki: Sorry I’m late, Karizaki-san. Daiji borrowed my bus money for a vocoder, so I had to hitchhike here. But I’m ready to start on this week’s Vistamp.

Technical! Rhythmical! Critical! Jackal! I’ll clear this without stopping!

Ikki: Jackal Genome grants Revice enhanced speed on par with a cheetah. It’s a super fast and radical Genome.

Vice: But why am I a skateboard? All I wanted was a cooler looking suit than “Native American tribal chief”. I didn’t want to be X-Games fodder.

George: Please, you could run circles around the likes of Ryan Sheckler. And talking of games, this week’s Legend is… this one!

Desire Driver: Ex-Aid.

Emu: Dai Henshin!

Mighty Jump! Mighty Kick! Mighty Mighty Action X!

George: Emu Hojo, also known as Genius Gamer M, was a medical intern who found himself fighting to face off against the Bugster Virus that brought video games to life.

Emu: I’ll clear this without continues!

(K-Daiji, transformed into Evil, breaks into the room. When he talks, his voice is now vocoded)

K-Daiji: So, this Vistamp grants it’s user enhanced speed? In that case, (removes his own Vistamp) I’ll be taking it for myself. (Inserts the Jackal Stamp into his belt) Genome Change!

Vs Up! Yahaha! Feel! A thrill! Spiral! Kamen Rider Evil! (Jackal)

(The Evil suit is surrounded with dark clouds, which clear to reveal that the bat insignia has been replaced with a jackal and the head is now a black and purple version of Revi’s Jackal Genome)

K-Daiji: A black version of a pink hero? If that’s the case, then no-one will mind me making this reference. IGARASHI IKKI! DO YOU KNOW WHY YOUR DEMON HAS MORE SAPIENCE THAN OTHERS?

Hiromi: Oh no you don’t. (Takes out the Batta Vistamp) I’ll lay down my life to use my own form change and fight!

George: You’ll want to push on the belt first.

K-Daiji: WHY YOUR DEMON IS ABLE TO MANIFEST WITHOUT A VISTAMP? ITS SIMPLE!

Demons Driver: Add!

(Having pressed on the sides of the belt, Hiromi presses the Batta Vistamp on top of the belt, before pressing it against the screen)

Demons Driver: Dominate Up! Batta: Genomix!

(Instead of gaining a new suit, Hiromi’s legs elongate to resemble those of a grasshopper)

Hiromi: (stumbling about) Whoah, my legs are loong!

K-Daiji: It’s because you are -(Hiromi accidentally knocks his leg into K-Daiji, propelling him out of the room)

Hiromi: I’m gonna have to practice using this.

Ikki: What just happened?

George: We hope you enjoy the next instalment.

Vice: Seriously, what happened?

Ah, yes, the episode resolved by overhearing a random conversation at the right time that hand delivers you all the info you need. Man, I was fuming at that back in the day. It's just... so goddamn lazy!

Seriously, this is awful, and would singlehandedly tank this episode if the rest of the material was any good, which it really isn't.

It's basic, stock, and just, like you said, doesn't hold up to the slightest bit of scrutiny.

This show simultaneously cares way too much for the MotW plots with how much of a focus they have been while not caring at all for them with how basic and stock pretty much all of them have been. Which kinda becomes a running theme with this show at times.

They try to make them emotionally resonant but just don't develop or give them enough time to even have a chance of being compelling.

As for Hiromi, yeah, I think he's fine. Really nothing stands out, minus a few scenes later that really grind my gears, but that is later.

For now, I never really got why he's so beloved, I mean, I heard the reasons, but still, he sure is there, and I don't hate him. That's really all I can muster for him. Glad for the actor, though!

I found this episode to just be... "Eh." Hiromi's' stuff was solid enough on paper, but due to the way Revice has gone so far, I barely know the guy and thus didn't feel too strongly about it. As well, if this episode was trying to have any sort of point or message, then it's incredibly nonsensical in its presentation. That said, I will happily take a father who fights for the life of his son out of blind devotion over Ayaka's' mom, who was the polar opposite, anyday.

No Line Texts this time, as all of them are actually combat focused. They all basically amount to "Boy this guy sure is fast! Hope this form we're going into can help!" However, this is an Anniversary thread, as well as the end of an era for Die threads, as such, I felt it only fitting to bring back a gimmick I did for the previous Anniversary, that being Zi-O.

https://i.imgur.com/BIBh5T8.png

This episode is the debut of the Ex-Aid Stamp, and as such I must highlight my favorite Ex-Aid character: The Emu-sexual himself, Parado!

Ex-Aid as a show is one that I felt had alot of problems, and while Parado was by no means unaffected by them, his presence was always one that I felt a total delight in. From his funny antics in the background, to his duality with Emu, and his Kikaider color scheme when transformed, the guy had alot of aspects to him that really just appeal to my personal tastes alot. Sure, his arc had alot of neat ideas where the execution part was either fumbled or forgotten about, but I just found him to be very enjoyable and one of the better characters in the show regardless. At the very least, he was never boring.

George is showing another unpleasant qualities here, though it's not about potentially villainy again albeit it's still petty. Granted Vice is being an asshole as usual with his loud, big mouth tendencies of mocking the Jackal ViStamp, George still directs it to Ikki too. He's a Kamen Rider fan and obviously his passionate creations being bashed wouldn't go well for him, but that... had some shades of the genius scientist's pettiness before (though currently significantly severe, but still perpetuated Cheetah Deadman's actions) like Ryoma, who's livid over Kouta having Kachidoki Lockseed or about his efforts being rendered futile when Helheim gives the last crushing card to him in form of Lord Baron, and Kuroto who attacked Emu as a child, Tsukuru, and Burgmon for "imitating" (where ofc plagilarism can feel like a disrespect.. but this is Kuroto) his creations (game design or gashat). Albeit, even George still answers to Wakabayashi, who is more subdued in this episode, including to Hiromi, now debuting as Kamen Rider Demons, albeit George still got his payback by turning Vice into skateboard. Though still, albeit a good outcome, the birth of Demons comes from another one of George's unpleasant quality (though supported by Wakabayashi as well), being manipulative to guilt-trip Hiromi that Kagero's creation is his own doing, which succeeds because of his sense of justice... people who are selfless are less to deflect blame on others and can blame themselves as it's putting others above themselves. George takes advantage of Hiromi's sense of justice, as well as keeping the secret of him being actually Kagerou.

The mockery Jackal receives resembles the controversy regarding the designs of the Rider series that form it's based on, Ex-Aid. I wonder if George knows the receptions and discussions of the Rider serieses if it's treated as a thing in Revice's world. Speaking of Ex-Aid stuff, another part of it is incorporated in this episode as well with the appearence of Tekken 7, played by Hitoshi Maezono. Other than Ex-Aid nod... I wonder if the inclusion of Tekken 7 is intentional as a contrast to this series' theme being a mostly harmonic family, in a game about a family full of violent feuds with one another, appropriately featuring said family members Kazuya and Heihachi in the gameplay, maybe symbolizing Koji's father dominating his life and future career in Kazuya losing to Heihachi. I think Cheetah's super speed isn't really conveyed well here, compared to some other series such as W's Smilodon, the Cheetah just mostly about dodging attacks but at normal speed. And as usual, though of course there's merchandising and that wielding skateboard as a weapon can produce unorthodox fighting (albeit the finisher's kinda uninspired by just a kick with skateboard), the hunt for Jackal's kinda unnecessary when Revice already got Ptera Genome, with Faiz Axel's super speed. This'd fall into my usual complaint of Riders forgetting their powers, and probably it will happen to Demons too... That aside, Ikki's criticism to Vice has softened that he only warns him to not blindly charge ahead, but Vice somehow doesn't complain about Ikki riding him as a skateboard...

I guess Sakura continues to show that she's more mean to her family but probably generally softer (not to criminals) otherwise, in apologizing and helping the male opponent she accidentally hurt in a sparring session, and tolerating 'newbie' Julio barging in awkwardly. Accidental injury aside.. is she portrayed as the best of her dojo? The intro did have her winning her match without problem, but there are several black belts as well there including her opponent, though ofc not all black belts are of similar capability. And at long last, Yukimi will return after a more 'realistic' take of an injury sustained by a monster victim to non-fighters. Buu-san somehow gets much closer to Igarashi family than just a regular customer to act as informant... but for now he's still secretive about himself, probably him volunteering to be Igarashi family's informant can be related to that.

Said Hitoshi and his suspended gymnastic team is another red herring Revice did after Daiji and Kagerou before for them being thieves, of which the true Cheetah Deadman being revealed to be his dad Koji, another one that made a contract, after the principal reveals that one of them went abroad for his parents, making the current gang only 3. The temporary characters this week again displays another family handled badly (just like the game Hitoshi played), with Koji being overprotective father that deflects his son's blame even if Hitoshi and his friends would turn themselves in, as well as forcing him to take up medicine just like him (another Ex-Aid nod, the father being a doctor), which is an authoritarian take of raising the children which isn't good way either. Though I think this episode didn't show much of the impact of the bad upbringing, only showing Hitoshi and his friends being thieves at the start (unknown if it's related with Koji's forceful attitude) and Koji forcing Hitoshi to take up medicine. In the opposite of the Oketani family (good build-up, sloppy resolution), I'd think this one's handled poorly in the build-up, but with okay-ish resolution. Koji shows other slimy qualities such as trying to bribe the Fenix members too who tries to detain him.

Koji is one of the reasons why I don't think that being caring about family (being forceful aside, he tries to make Hitoshi escape custody) makes one a good person, like the people who are victims of the gang, unlike ikki, who while prioritizes on his family, will come to the aid of others if he can. And Ikki in general utilizes familial bond as well to guide others into the right path, I admit that it somewhat convinces me more about the importance of familial bond, which of course, it has to be done right unlike some of the misguided family he had come across, not that you just simply 'love your family'. The episode had Daiji coming back to his senses, being confused and unaware of his actions as Kagerou... Kagerou wants Ikki to cease to exist, but while Daiji still has his coinscience, Kagerou has absolutely none of that, actually acting on those desires to get rid of Ikki. And now their relationship has been dented a bit again with Kagerou's hostile reaction to Ikki going after Cheetah Deadman.

As usual, a Rider's debut will be portrayed well with utilizing their power (I still think Brave's Taddle Fantasy is the best at that though), going full Spider-Man against Evil with the red/white/blue colored spider-motif design as well as web-shooting abilities including hanging upside-down. Wasn't the first time a Rider is based off on an influental superhero, where there's Knight from Ryuki who resembles Batman... with Dispider as his first seen enemy. Probably a meta twist as well to incorporate spider as one of the heroic force, as spiders are often featured as the monster in the first episode in many Rider series. A little more of the Deadmans, at least Aguilera is revealed more that she kinda have an 'Adam and Eve Plot' type of a goal of repopulating the world with her and Giff's descendants. Olteca currently only follows upon Aguilera's goal. Julio apparently sees his awkward barging in as a successful attempt on his scheme....

Thanks for the fun skit!

A lot of it is in trying to do single-episode Stamp Stories that have to sit alongside time with the Igarashi family, foreshadowing at Fenix HQ, and checking in with the Giffamilia. Trying to do all of that in twenty minutes generally means that your Stamp Story can't have too many moving parts, which keeps it from having much emotional weight. You can get away with a character-focused one-off, or even a comedic Stamp Story as a one-off, but it's incredibly difficult to have a deep and moving one-off mystery this early in a series. I do not recommend it!

I mean, it's sort of roughly about how fathers can fail troubled children, but it's not like we get enough with either pairing of characters to make that comparison land. The stuff with the dad and teenager is told, not shown, and Hiromi's relationship with Daiji is only a couple of scenes before this episode. There's no sense of history or whatever to either group, so it all doesn't really work, but I think the show's at least trying to bring up Hiromi's sense of responsibility toward Daiji. Still not great, though.

I think this show's actually done a really good job of making a sibling relationship that seems three-dimensional and realistic. There's a bond between Ikki, Daiji, and Sakura... but they can still get on each other's nerves at the drop of a hat. There's a nice amount of teasing that runs through their interactions (Ikki even does it with Vice, to show how ingrained this behavior is) that is very much how siblings will treat each other when they're all teens and young adults. It's one of the most unique parts of this series, and I'm impressed that the writing lets these kids all be a little prickly with each other.

Yeah, agree. One of the reasons I was ok with Saber's first arc having very basic MotW plots. It felt like a conscious stepping back and realizing that they wouldn't be able to do them justice.

That said, I like the Geats approach way more, where the MotW stuff is the main focus for the most part while the dominos are being set up.

KAMEN RIDER REVICE EPISODE 8 - “HEAVEN AND HELL BEFALL A FAMILY’S BREAK!?”

https://kamenriderdie.com/images/kr/revice/revice8a.png

Pretty much an across-the-board success, largely because the show decided to finally pick a lane.

We’re fully in the Kagerou/Evil storyline this episode, and it’s maybe the best installment this show has had since the premiere. The full cast is here, the action feels grounded in character, and there’s an overall sense of stakes that most previous episodes were lacking in. It’s an episode with real tension, real consequences, and real changes to the status quo. Kagerou’s going to destroy the thing Daiji loves most, and he’s going to use Daiji’s face when he does it.

It’s a plan that, on the one hand, is laughably minor. Kagerou isn’t subtly manipulating the Igarashi family until they’re defenseless against his machinations; he basically waits until they’re all smiling and then punches Ikki in the face. It’s not… like, this isn’t an Evol(t)-esque long game. Evil’s a Rider that is a sneering opportunist more than he’s a hardworking villain, which is fun to think about more than it’s fun to watch in action. Despite enjoying what came out of Kagerou’s strategy (it’s always really funny when a non-Henshined Rider decks another non-Henshined Rider, the actors just go for it), it’s hard to say the plot of this episode is leaps and bounds better than the laughably thin Stamp Stories of the last few episodes. We’re still in a one-off story realm of not really having the space for multiple twists, so it’s really just half of the episode waiting for Evil to act, and then the other half where he’s acted. Not exactly gonna need a flowchart to follow this plot, no.

But it all works, thanks to keeping the focus on the absolute best thing this show has to offer: the Igarashi family unit. I love that this episode let the first half sprawl some with the family; all these little scenes of them enjoying each other’s company, or goofing on one another, or feeling like an actual family. My appreciation of a Revice episode tends to coincide with how much of Mom and Dad Igarashi we get, so multiple scenes of them being excitable, flirty weirdos was enough to win me over. (I genuinely love how much it seems like the two of them have an active romantic life? They are both still young enough that, despite three grown-ish kids, I 100% believe they still bone on the regular.) The only way the Kagerou stuff in the back half works is if the thing he’s destroying has value to the viewer, and the show was right to center things less on Ikki’s happiness (a thing Ikki says that he doesn’t actively pursue, which is a nicely bittersweet character detail) and more on the entire family’s bond. Thanks to some deft acting and general warmth, there’s a real loss when Kagerou tears it all down.

Good work from the non-Igarashi cast as well, which is a nice bonus. All of the Giffamilia stuff, where they’re barely incognito at the resort, was cute. It’s not, like, villainous, which is an interesting choice. It’s cartoony, and I liked it well enough. Vice’s role as the only one who saw what they were up to got a couple legit laughs out of me, which is maybe the best Vice has worked for me thus far. I liked the episode using him as the frustrated and ignored voice of reason, because it totally makes sense that a) he’d catch on that Deadmans are around, and b) Ikki is so sick of Vice’s constant interruptions and nonsense that he’d completely ignore the devil. All that, and we even get Hiromi and George around the edges, being alternately stern executors of military responsibility, and someone to explain the new DX toy to the audience. Everyone has an important role in the story!

This was a lot of fun. If it misses out on the various familial themes and views on parenthood, it replaces them with coherent plotting and character-driven drama. I’m sort of okay with that trade-off right now?

https://kamenriderdie.com/images/kr/revice/revice8b.png

Kagerou's in-universe reveal is more devastating on the emotional side rather than the physical damage (like Genta only got plunged into the pool), with the Igarashis learning, which is what to be expected when Kagerou drags out the reveal so that it happens in the family's happiest times. Shown in Ikki, who may have Revice, but the emotional injury from Daiji's supposed betrayal in his eyes, made him all harder to fight back against him. Though even if Kagerou had petty sadistic qualms on Ikki, there are even some parts of him that is slightly better than Vice, ironically, that he didn't blindly attack the other Igarashis and is not a cannibal. But he quite resolves the conflict, pretty quickly, of him having no problem admitting that he's Daiji's demon instead of Daiji himself, even if not telling Ikki would cause a pretty impactful divide between the Igarashis. Good work for a villain, not making it any harder for the family than it already is . So Daiji-Kagerou struggle so far is made of who possesses the body, like something such as Mutsuki with Spider Undead, Emu with M (when he possessed him), o̶r̶ ̶Y̶u̶-̶G̶i̶-̶O̶h̶'̶s̶ ̶Y̶a̶m̶i̶ ̶s̶i̶d̶e̶s̶. I guess I'm looking forward on the different kind of human's struggle with their demons they can give, with Ikki and Daiji's being different.

An episode about finally another family reunion, for celebrating Yukimi's release from the hospital. So this series didn't only take the injuries for a civilian seriously, but didn't handwave her recovery too, with her release being a major plot point as this episode shows. I do like that there's something that is set up about the family members here outside of the most significant one in Ikki as the main character or Daiji with Kagerou.

Genta being set up as Ikki's counterpart here by Yukimi with both having similarity in them not taking care of themselves much, where it's actually the reason of her falling for him... hope this'd be one of Genta's secret according to his actor probably elevating him just like said Ikki, he did take a bold action here of trying to hold Evil in place, though of course a normal human would hold no candle to a Rider, being dropped into the pool... almost if he takes turn of being another Igarashi who gets hospitalized after Yukimi for 8 episodes. Another moral lesson from Yukimi (kinda good that they'd still involve her as much as they can even when hospitalized before, though words can be applicable whenever you're injured or not), where though Ikki already starts small with making a family happy first before going on others (and uses that to guide others as well) and obeys her guidance to walk the path of Kamen Rider, Ikki should start even smaller, making himself happy first. Hero complex is a flaw and it places unfair burden on yourself, where it can sacrifices their own happiness for the sake of others around, an important thing to note is that making people happy means it includes themselves, thus they have to adjust her approach so that they as well as others around can be happy..

Yeah Sakura's exclusive meanness towards the family members doesn't mean that she'd want her family members to suffer or die, including her father. Though still doesn't mean her attitude is ok just because they have 'hidden caring part' for them particularly parents. The parents too need to learn for how males and females can interact without building love, in her with "Tamaki", as she'd befriend the other males at her dojo too y'know... She did her own bold action as well in taking Aguilera head on for her family's sake, but as much as she's great in karate, she's still a normal human, which'd have Aguilera hand her ass, probably showing that she's superhuman in her 'human' self. Just like Baruba against the 'super cop' Ichijou before. I kinda expected Aguilera to step on Sakura after beating her, but she herself claims she'd 'play' with her later.

Now Ikki had to cope that despite constantly ignoring Vice, Vice is the right one this time of the family moment in the Minakami Onsen being suspicious, that Daiji's actually Evil and planned to ruin their moment. Though it's not only that, other than the Deadmans disguising as the employees with the staff working together with them, there are other potentially suspicious one, in one of Shiawase-Yu's regulars Ushijima family, who apparently planted a wiretrap on the desk where the siblings are discussing about the surprise for the family. The Igarashi family's deal to keep their land is to open up a freelance consultation service with the son's connection to Fenix, as I realized (the reason they take cases from Yukari or such), and Fenix offering the family their protection in return... even including George and Hiromi joining them in the Minakami Onsen as well.

George is back at his 'tamest' so far, like the ep. 1, acting as Revice's tips and tricks as well as fanboying over past Rider forms in Kong ViStamp, and tolerating Vice more, sort of giving him a guidance that he has to protect Ikki to keep himself from dying, which he does, but unfortunately his supernatural traits just phased through Evil, which is kinda funny too... now I wonder how he can actually eat people if him taking action leads into results like that. Personally, I think Hiromi here, despite becoming a Rider, is now a bit suspicious in jumping into conclusions too quickly that Daiji is evil... though Hiromi is already an impulsive person. This is also a result of George's manipulation on him though, albeit thanks to Kagerou himself (lmao), probably Ikki can clear things up to him as well.

The Deadmans reveal their disguise in front of the family far quicker than I expect, but anyway both Ikki and Daiji have come across the Deadman trio before. I wonder why both of them didn't have a deja vu when "Tamaki" greets them, like thinking that he resembles Julio or such (or Vice claiming that he is Julio). It's understandable for Aguilera as she had shorter hair. I think the episode cements that the Deadmans are falling apart; Olteca being the serious and orderly one, the most 'obedient' among the 3 with him reminding others about Kagerou's deal. Aguilera who is the egostical type who hates being ordered (really, this part of scene really feels familiar after recently completing Decade with the "I hate taking orders" bit) which is obvious that she's the 'boss' type instead of 'leader', being a control freak that wants everything to go her way, gotta find someone who actually takes on 'leader' role to contrast Aguilera's bossing around. Though Julio just fanboys at the other's schemes respectively, either Kagerou's (who takes his part in strangling Aguilera) or Aguilera's.

For Aguilera's henchmen fight against Demons... Demons got a new form Batta Genomix... and again... it's a Rider being given high-jump legs just like various phase 2 Heisei main Riders... and there's actually 2 of them in this series, both Revi Rex and Demons Batta. The finisher Batta Demons Requiem is one of the finishers with smallest amount of energy ehnancement... other than him going Mach in his kick. A bit of Spiderman vs Batman vibe before when Demons fought Evil, with Evil using bat sonars to repel him. For Evil fighting Ikki, Revice had new form in form of Kong with Fourze motif... and it specialized in tanky defense to caught up with Evil's super speed in his new form, also based on previous Riders like Revice, in Jackal with Genm motif... I guess Revice's Jackal using skateboard is a reference to Genm's biking too. Ironically, Evil displays super speed much better than Cheetah Deadman before, despite Jackal being said as 2nd fastest animal instead. The Kong's finisher ... launching their arms at the target. I'd like if that is used as their regular ability instead of a finisher, giving them ranged attack option. The AoE attack before was quite dope though. Kong can fight evenly.. but Evil is still not upstaged.

So, we get both our first transformation and our first form change for Kamen Rider Evil. I’ll just say that contrary to the Demons Driver, I love the design and gimmick of his TwoSiDriver, even if I’m not that enthused with the voice.

Also, I’ll confirm here that the aliases the three Deadmans use in their hotel and karate infiltration scheme (Hana Natsuki, Go Tamaki and Makoto Hiba) are their real names. Which I only assume is one of those plans so audacious there’s no way it can fail.

And now, we come to this.

Ikki: It’s Ikki and…

Vice: Vice’s…

Both: Stamp Navi

Hiromi: Guest starring FENIX Captain Hiromi Kadota. And today, we’ll be demonstrating this Vistamp.

Kong!

https://youtube.com/watch?v=WhNKhAzBFOw

Arm! Strong! Fighting gong! Ringing! Kong! Drumming Kita!

Ikki: Kong Genome is a form that combines enhanced punching power with incredible strength to unleash some real primordial power.

Vice: Now we can really go ape on that Kagerou bastard the next time we see him.

(Enter Kagerou, possessing Daiji)

K-Daiji: I’d like to see you try, ‘Onii-chan’. Now then, Karizaki. Isn’t it time for you to talk about today’s Legend.

George: I don’t need your cues to do my hobby. Let’s just get this over with.

Desire Driver: Fourze

3! 2! 1!

Gentaro: Henshin!

George: Kamen Rider Fourze, Gentaro Kisaragi. A Rider powered by the bonds with his friends, he fought the Zodiarts planning to send Japan into the Dark Nebula.

Gentaro: Space Kita!!!!

K-Daiji: Friends, huh? Too bad all you have to aid you is an old man, ‘Onii-san’.

Hiromi: Hey, I’m only 27.

K-Daiji: Whatever, Gramps. Even if there were more of you, none of you can stand up to the full power of the Evil System. Especially since I have Karizaki’s strongest Vistamp (he holds up a box, but doesn’t open it and quickly stows it away). I hope you enjoy your demises in the next instalment. (He turns and walks away)

And as a bonus, an award for big apes.

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...5/IMG_6198.JPG

Episode 8...

That was an episode I had no idea what to think of back in the day xD

It seemed like they were defiantly going for drama, with a family breaking apart, a brotherly fight to the death, and how serious it seems to take this.

But it stands kinda in stark opposission of the Giffamilia acting like larping costume shop employees and Kagero just being a teenager camping in a Hot Topic for a month, constantly screaming, "It's not a phase, mom!"

It all mixes together in such a way that any of their actions made me burst out laughing, even when I felt I wasn't supposed to at times.

It left me thoroughly confused, but I'd be lying if I hadn't fun.

So, yeah, I take it I guess xD

Oh hey, another sub difference.

https://i.imgur.com/j8vnKrr.png

This was an episode that, while alot of what it does is pretty cool in seclusion, in terms of series composition, I would've been way more emotionally invested had it happened later on down the line after getting to know Daiji a bit more. It also marked the point I realized that Ikki really doesn't have any sort of agency in the overall plot, and likely never will despite his mother's' push to have him do so via the Fenix contract. Vice is far more of a lead character currently, interestingly. It's also the first time we get a hint at George's' preferences, which is a nice little detail to have.

As well, episode 8 features one of the cooler Line Texts, wherein what is probably Ikki's' biggest flaw gets a major highlight for the first time.

https://i.imgur.com/xlgtMsb.png

Oh this was a rather fun episode.

Kagero is very petty, but given this is Daiji we're talking about, it's not very surprising that petty is one of Kagero's biggest personality quirks. But I also love that there is no real big plot with him, it's just "Let them enjoy their weekend and then ruin it at the best moment". It's so simple yet it works extremely well.

Also George I'd like to talk to you about your Driver aesthetics, because why in Fruit Jesus' name would you think "Eenie Meenie Miney Moe" is an acceptable Driver standby? I say this though I laugh whenever I hear it.

But yeah Die, you basically mentioned the reasons as to why I found the episode enjoyable. A lot of it is setup with the Igarashi's just enjoying themselves while things happen in the background, culminating in a big punch to the face from Kagero to Ikki. Then everything just spirals out of control into a bit of a downer note as we finally kick off the Evil Arc after meandering a bit with the various single episode stamp cases.

Something that did surprise me though was the second family that had been around since the first episode and sorta just vanished afterwards. It's interesting to see them again... and also odd given just what they were up to this episode.

Regardless, it was an overall fun episode. And also if you thought Revice was free from receiving a sword just cause he had a gun axe, then you're wrong. Our new hammer saw to that.

as usual I'm late I don't like Revice but these episodes are fine the issues I have with Revice don't become apparent until later

It's nice and weighty, yeah. They're not treating her like a teammate or co-worker, where she'll be gone for a month and then come back like nothing happened. She's their mom! It's upsetting to not have her around, and it's a big deal when she's back. I appreciate that the show took her injuries seriously!

It's a neat Henshin device, for sure.The Revice Driver is still my favorite of three shown off so far (of, from what I've gleaned, about 700 unique Drivers fro this series), mostly for how it makes Stamp and Stamp Pad so intrinsic to its mechanism. Evil's is cool, and I think Demons' is neat on the show, but the Revice one feels like it's the most conceptually coherent.

And thanks for the fun skit!

I think the Giffamilia stuff works in the episode's favor, though, because they absolutely don't care about Kagerou's strategy? Aguilera tries to poison Ikki because she got bored; this is not a serious story! There's absolutely drama in how this war between siblings (or sibling and another sibling's secret animosity) is kind of horrific to see happen, but it's still a demonic possession that's almost defeated by a DX toy. It's not irrevocable, and it's not especially brutal. The Giffamilia knows that, and goofs around through this episode accordingly.

Oh, for sure, to both points. Kagerou/Evil's debut is something I'd've maybe held off until after the winter movie. Daiji turns evil (or, Evil) about ten seconds after we first meet him, which sabotages the idea that This Isn't Really Daiji. It's a little rushed, despite it still being the best storyline this show had to elevate.

And I like that Ikki lacks agency, even though it sounds like you don't? I like the flipside of I Need To Protect My Family resulting in a sort of stasis for Ikki; an inability to see what individual growth or happiness might look like. I hope it's a thing the show addresses!

It is very funny to me that Kagerou's like YOU CAN'T MURDER IKKI AT DINNER! HE NEEDS TO GET PUNCHED AT POOLSIDE! Dude's got a very specific kink!

Good to know! Thanks for sharing!

Eh, it just is what it is really. Like, I very much understand why Ikki lacks agency, it was just that this episode made me go "Yeah I don't see that changing anytime soon."

If I can handle Harry Potter lacking alot of agency for like five movies, I can very much deal with Ikki lacking it for 8+ episodes.

KAMEN RIDER REVICE EPISODE 9 - “KAGEROU RUNS RAMPANT! THE IGARASHI BROTHERS… TORN APART!?”

https://kamenriderdie.com/images/kr/revice/revice9a.png

Great episode for exploring the larger themes of the series! Maybe not super great for giving a shit about Kagerou as a character or villain!

One of the big thesis statements of this show is that, by ignoring the parts of ourselves we dislike, we’re actually empowering them. The solution to inner turmoil and negative thinking is to draw that stuff out into the open, confront it, and find some way to make peace with it. Ikki and Vice are the hopeful outcome that prove the thesis, what with their Kamen Ridering for justice and family and busybodying and so forth, but Daiji and Kagerou are the cautionary tale that do the same. Daiji thought he could refuse to acknowledge his envy and resentment towards his older brother, but all that did was create a vengeful jealousy monster with naturally-occurring makeup and no particular strategy. Rather than accept his own emotional shortcomings – along with, uh, his psychological and physical ones; Daiji’s… not bringing a lot to the table yet – Daiji clamped down on his darker impulses until it was too late to address them. In lieu of self-examination and counseling, now he’s got a death sentence from Fenix and a brother who may end up Rider Kicking him out of a possession and into the afterlife.

And yet… god, Kagerou’s not much to talk about in the moment to moment of this show? He’s just a walking Stamp Story: causing chaos, getting beat, wandering off, repeat. Beyond emotionally torturing Ikki – which is, admittedly, his entire stated goal – he’s not really elevating the narrative structurally. Thematically, yes, absolutely, see above. But the shape of this episode isn’t especially appealing, even compared to some of the lackluster prior installments. It’s honestly, I think, down to how unimpressive the actor’s performance is for Kagerou. It’s just one-note, and that note is He Smiles Too Much. There’s no charisma or menace to Kagerou, no sense of anything lurking under the surface. When he breaks everything down for Ikki at the end – that Ikki’s positive qualities created a raging envy in Daiji – it’s the most animated and expressive the character has been to date… but it’s all under the Evil mask. This should’ve been the scene where Kagerou’s motivation blossomed into something complicated and tragic, but it’s all delivered as a jab at Revi from Evil, not an emotional bombshell from one brother to another. Kagerou never quite feels as threatening as an unhinged, resentful Daiji should be, and the Evil plots match that uninspired performance.

But it still works, because of how much the episode centers on the Igarashis’ response to Evil’s (repetitive, generic) activities. The whole point of the episode is about how a family solves problems internally, and how we need to see every part of the people we love in order to best care for each other. Ikki’s unable to stop Kagerou because he can’t see past his brother’s face, but even when he does, he can’t forget that Kagerou comes from something deep inside Daiji; Daiji isn’t possessed by some outside force, Kagerou literally came from inside him. The terror of Kagerou for the Igarashi family isn’t that Daiji’s trapped, it’s that Kagerou is the part of Daiji he never wanted anyone to see. When Ikki’s tasked with bringing Daiji home, it’s not because of Revi or Vice or stamps or Drivers, it’s because Ikki’s always been the one who most understood Daiji, even when no one else did. The problem in this one… it’s not a Kamen Rider problem, and that’s why the cliffhanger is Ikki trying to solve it as one: a cliffhanger only works if it’s making things worse. The solution isn’t to defeat Kagerou, it’s to save Daiji. Those are two different things.

We’ll see if Ikki figures that out next time!

https://kamenriderdie.com/images/kr/revice/revice9b.png

#NiceVice!

Gonna have to use that every now and again whenever Vice is a treat in an episode. I do like how while showboating, he does prove that he's a legitimate fighter against a Deadman if he really tries to. Helps that he has all those toys, but like, give him two more minutes and he probably would've gotten done with that Brachio Deadman.

Not much to say on this episode since it's clearly set-up episode and an exploration of the fallout that happened last time. Also I do find it funny how we decided to give Evil the Jackal Genome as like a standard form though because they for sure do not want to film anymore Revi skateboarding scenes anytime soon.

Though I will admit it's funny you mention how the portrayal of Kagero isn't the best... when people consider Kagero the best part of Daiji as a character. Just an amusing note is all.

Admittedly I think the one scene I enjoyed the most was towards the very beginning. Where Papa, Sakura, and Ikki are all gloomy, and then they slowly emerge into the main lobby of the bathhouse to see Mama Igarashi still working hard and acting cheerful because they've got a business and household to run so that there's something for Daiji to come back to.

I admit I barely remember this episode beyond Kagero beating some random shmucks and making them his minions and one of them wearing one of Banjo‘s clothes.

Besides that?

Yeah, got basically nothing.

This really didn’t leave any sort of impact on me, probably because of how little I connected to any of the characters yet. They all have been incredibly one-note and really not shown themselves as likeable yet. Including Daiji who this entire thing revolves around. He‘s been mostly envious of Ikki and not much beyond. And that is a problem I have with the show in general, it repeats instead of developing something but confuses that for depth. We rarely get new angles on things, we just get the same angle on repeat.

So, yeah, not exactly bad, but completely forgettable, which is kinda worse.

It's the best! She's the best! Literally any time this show can generate a story out of the Igarashi family dynamic in its entirety, I'm gonna dig it. I never even got to talk about Sakura's surely-unfounded fear that she might have a demon inside her, so she's even more motivated than Ikki to make sure Daiji still has a place in the family! The family is the best part of this show.

I mean, DreamSword-esque controversial hot take: I might be the only person who's more of a fan of Daiji than Kagerou? I love how Daiji's denial of his own jealousy and rage spawned Kagerou, and now he's denying that he spawned Kagerou. I am super dialed into this show's expression of our failings as ever-present, and something we manage instead of defeating. Daiji's way more fun to dig into than Kagerou!

So fun fact, Wataru Hyuuga, the guy playing Daiji, modelled his performance as “K-Daiji” on Tom Hiddleston as Loki in The Avengers (specifically, The Avengers, from what I can tell. Not any of the Thor movies or his Disney+ show, which give him a bit nuance).

And as a Sakamoto episode (feels weird we haven’t mentioned directors so far, but that’s what happens when Fish Sandwich isn’t a regular commenter. All I can say is that the guy playing George, Noritaka Hamao, got super excited whenever he worked with someone who directed Kuuga), there’s a lot of alumnus from older Tokusatsu shows.

The three scammers in this arc are respectively Hiroya Matsumoto, previously Tsubasa/MagiYellow in Magiranger, Jin/Beet Buster in Go-Busters and Hoshi Minato in Kyuranger, as the older male, Mizuki Saiba, previously Kakihara in the Yodonna specials (and as a recurring guest role beforehand in Kiramager) as the sole female and Tetsuji Sakibara, who was previously Spada/Kajiki Yellow in Kyuranger (there’s a lot of Kyuranger alumnus in later Revice media, owing to the producer having worked on that show. Heck, we already have one, since the guy voicing Vice was the narrator/mecha voice for that show) as the younger male. Those facts are being shared so I can segue into this.

Ikki: It’s Ikki’s…

Vice: And Vice’s…

Both: Stamp Navi!

Ikki: And today’s stamp is this one!

Kamakiri!

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Zd2coiMTVOk

Now, unbeatable slash! I’m a cross! Mantis! In the gang, on stage!

Ikki: Kamakiri Genome can use both close and long range attacks. The twin Kamakiric Arrow can combine to fire multiple shots.

Vice: In short, it lets us avoid that Kagerou bastard’s sword while being able to hit him ourselves.

George: You have truly obtained a power that would make you stronger. Truly worthy of today’s Legend.

Desire Driver: Gaim!

Kouta: Henshin!

Soiya! Orange Arms! In the Spotlight, On Stage!

George: Kamen Rider Gaim, Kouta Kazuraba. When he started out, he was just some punk kid who stumbled across a belt. However, through his battles and efforts to save the world, he was able to take the power to create a new world into his hands, becoming the Man of the Beginning who created a new civilisation using his own strength.

Ikki: ‘His own strength’, huh? I wish I could be like this Kouta.

George: Currently, you’re more like Taketora Kureshima, what with this whole Daiji business.

(Suddenly, the Older Male Scammer, Younger Male Scammer and Female Scammer all enter)

OMS: Excuse me, but do you need us for anything?

Vice: (points at YMS) Hey, Ikki. I’m sure I’ve seen that guy before. Something to do with being a good chef…

YMS: (thumbs upping) Grazie!

OMS: Oh shit, you broke character.

FS: Mou, Atsuta, why did I agree to this?

Vice: Alright you guys, this joke’s exhausted itself. Vamoose! Depart! Seiza Go!

(Taking the hint, the three leave)

Ikki: What was that all about?

Vice: We hope you enjoy the next instalment.

Production notes for this segment: The originally planned joke was for a bait and switch where when Kagerou appears to stir up trouble again, a woman with blonde hair and a white dress appears to give them a warning… it’s Sakura wearing a wig to prepare for her role as the mother in a production of Red Riding Hood. She then forces Kagerou to play Red to help her remember their lines. It was scrapped because I couldn’t figure out how to have it make logical sense.