I liked how Kouta slowly but steadily learned more how to use his arsenal in his debut fight, but if that subtle growth doesn't get shown off, Not to mention how not showing it off would just leave more questions for the audience

Yeah, it was pretty touching!

As long as they present it in an interesting way, I'm fine with either. It was nice to see Eiji's progress as a rider and learn about the Greeed with him, but it was also intriguing to learn what made Shotaro a Rider and what inspired his way of fighting and thinking. Just to name some examples to explain what I mean.

As long as they explain it later I am fine with a rider already used to things. Bottom line, I like both.

I feel the same way. But in my eyes they have to have a genesis episode somewhere, that episode that explains why things are the way they are. It doesn't have to be the first episode. It could be the 5th, 6th, 10th, for all I care. Just have it in there somewhere. :lol

*sprays wizard water*
THE POWER OF MAGICAL GIRL BEAST COMPELS YOU! :lolol

I don't think either way is inherently superior or anything, but out of the ones I've seen I'd say the ones where the main Rider was already a Rider from the start made for some of the more interesting first episodes. Maybe Blade excluded. Who knows.

I may just be thinking that due to their relative rarity though. Shrugs.

I really do think it just comes down to the kind of story the show wants to tell. Blade was trying (and I do mean trying) to create an element of suspense with its first episode for example. The reasons you'd want to do the origin are obvious enough I think.

Here's a great example of each style working well for different reasons:

- Wizard creates an element of mystery around Haruto by having him already be a Rider, which sends the perfect message about the kind of character he is. The viewer does NOT just know everything about him from the start. Dude's got all sorts of traumatic (and not so traumatic) backstory he tries to keep buried as best he can that comes up throughout the show. He's hiding stuff, both from the characters and the audience.

- Conversely, Gaim spends upwards of 18 minutes with Kouta to establish he's just an unremarkable yet good-hearted kid. The show is all about his journey and the audience is very much taking it with him, unlike with Haruto. It's important we take it from the start.

I like it when the Rider already has his powers by the start of the first episode. It adds this air of mystery for me, having to guess what lead to him getting his powers and eventually finding out what actually happened is great. It definitely feels like we have to work a little harder to know our main character and understand what drives him.

Right, it's definitely a more unique flavor than just having the first episode be "the origin story" and I think it also lets you tell a story right out of the gate that'll get people hooked, rather than just going through the motions, as it were.

I don't think Blade really needed to do things the way it did, and I straight-up think it was a mistake for Kiva (even though that first transformation IS really cool) but it was perfect for Hibiki and Wizard.

I already explained Wizard but with Hibiki it really puts the viewer in Asumu's shoes. Both him and the viewer are having the same questions. This mysterious dude shows up and transforms into a demon-looking thing to fight a monster. Who is he? How can he do that? Why does he do that? It really wouldn't make sense for it to be written any other way.