I'll say this about Decade Complete, kickass debut. Really good.

Also given we've gone through 12 years of Final Forms by this point? Incredibly modest and subtle compared to a lot of other suits down the line, especially Decade related ones!

She says she initially joined to find some fellow creative people to swap ideas with, only to be disappointed that she couldn’t find many.

To be honest, I can see where she’s coming from. The one time I tried asking for creative help on this forum, I only got two replies, one of which made it clear he hadn’t even read the request.

As for Decade complete? Well the title calls it a living photo album and it certainly gives us what’s promised. I’ve seen people call it uncreative or wishing they’d go with logos instead of cards, but I’m like “Way to miss the whole point of the suit.”

Besides, my least favourite finale rom is still Brave Legacy Gamer, since it’s just regular Brave with a cape and shoulder pads.

Was waiting but guess I was late instead here.

You'd mean personal as making up your own observation? Because yeah it can be good (for transformative fan purpose I think), though I think it's 50-50, while you can go beyond what the creators intended, but it can come in nasty way as well when you got something bad out of it for your personal observation of a series, and you constantly slander either the series or the creator by that, even ignoring the creator's explanation to set things straight or such. I mean I'd disapprove of the personal part being having everything in a series must be relatable to you, and that if they add values that feel more alien then it's bad (using subjective views as certainty), like something such as honesty, integrity, trust, etc. which can be seen as too clean for modern world.

So you say it's not helpful to have certainty, which is why I spoke up against claims like that in my reply here, or , which I feel like one. Though there are also actual certainty which people mistakenly claim as opinion (I thought you'd also view anything said as opinion..), probably to push their views and reject the fact only due to dislike, such as people's headcannons (i̶n̶c̶l̶u̶d̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶r̶s̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶T̶s̶u̶r̶u̶g̶i̶'̶s̶ ̶f̶a̶t̶e̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶K̶a̶b̶u̶t̶o̶), or keep using a wrong definition of something (like 'mary sue') and refusing to hear about others correcting them viewing it as opinion. I'd like to hear what do you mean that it's not easy (which turns it into a testament of your character), as you hold many weight in what you say here.

Actually at first the warring schools got me in the wrong note, that it seems to enforce about how (you'd probably agree with this but...) stories must add any prototypical melodrama and it "corrects a mistake of Hibiki phase 1 that has little of it", where I also want to enforce about how conflicts are not all about toxic characters childishly infight all the time, but can be any obstacles, struggles, and challenges a character need to overcome. But I tolerate it better when (sorry) the warring school is meant to be shown as an example of what not to do by the Onis, with the newer generations resolving to make a peaceful school instead (also with them being different people, I like a portrayal of people inherently against conflicts as well). Otherwise, mentors putting themselves above students just shows that there are varying amount of morality that people have and morally dubiousness can apply to mentors like that too, especially those that follows the saying of "never meet your heroes", when your mentor is in reality a terrible person or such.

I think that teamwork is one of a main theme (or really enforced) of Hibiki due to the humans work together in harmony, always valuing what every single person has to contribute (and even harsh criticizing like Akira got reprimanded). That'd be a very strong sense of teamwork like Kuuga, to the point that you'd want some reasonable disagreements between them as well. Even the secondary Rider of the series Ibuki never actually fight his series' titular Rider at any point, especially compared to his predecessors.

I̶ ̶g̶u̶e̶s̶s̶ ̶O̶n̶o̶d̶e̶r̶a̶'̶s̶ ̶b̶e̶g̶i̶n̶n̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶c̶a̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶a̶ ̶f̶a̶v̶o̶r̶i̶t̶e̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶a̶n̶t̶i̶-̶h̶e̶r̶o̶ ̶a̶r̶c̶ ̶d̶u̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶ ̶r̶u̶b̶b̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶p̶e̶o̶p̶l̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶w̶r̶o̶n̶g̶ ̶w̶a̶y̶,̶ ̶b̶u̶t̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶p̶r̶a̶i̶s̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶c̶e̶n̶e̶s̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶Y̶a̶s̶h̶i̶r̶o̶ ̶w̶h̶i̶c̶h̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶d̶e̶v̶e̶l̶o̶p̶m̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶a̶r̶c̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶.̶.̶.̶ A̶n̶d̶ ̶w̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶m̶e̶a̶n̶ ̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶T̶s̶u̶k̶a̶s̶a̶'̶s̶ ̶s̶c̶e̶n̶e̶s̶ ̶a̶r̶e̶ ̶n̶o̶ ̶b̶e̶t̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶s̶i̶n̶g̶l̶e̶ ̶K̶a̶i̶t̶o̶u̶ ̶s̶c̶e̶n̶e̶?̶ ̶A̶s̶ ̶T̶s̶u̶k̶a̶s̶a̶'̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶a̶n̶t̶i̶-̶h̶e̶r̶o̶ ̶t̶o̶o̶.̶ But though Diend had the "secretly sweet" (tsundere) part here, I guess people can also think of him that way (not looked much into what people think of Diend, but it can happen to characters of similar morality to him) even without his scene in this episode (I think a mistaken approach), simply due to him "fighting off evildoers", because of them conflating that heroes are all about the action (or about the stakes, and fighting powerful beings means guaranteed stakes), talking doesn't matter (only 'just preaching'), and your character doesn't matter if you are doing it for yourself or not (this can also be applied to Onodera before, though more specifically characters similar to Onodera but doesn't get the hate from Decade infamy). This applies even to villains who fight off other villains where people can glamorize the winner between those villains as heroes using any reason, when evil vs evil is a thing in media, like Daguva vs other Grongis in Kuuga.

Though due to Kaitou being an anti-hero, I'd have a harder time seeing him as a Hibiki on this story, albeit he does share some traits, but I can't say all. Hibiki would show about a mentoring that doesn't involve dubious shit, though Kaitou probably acted tsundere in the last part to brush off the kid thanking him or claiming that the kid's growth will be important to give him more treasure. But I think Kaitou can be not that ambiguous here with the "I Was Playing You then realizes that he cares.", the still present selfish part can portray the mutual benefit a jerk can gain when being helpful to others instead of putting them down.

Tsukasa's vanity being played up as a weak point here is good to refute the claim of confidence being the key to success or attracting people, more specifically, about how you are encouraged (or being ok to) be as conceited as you want due to that claim. I also approve of analyzing more of Onodera here (I'd want encourage more of transformative fans, though you'd better focus on things you like rather than unfairly putting down something you dislike), and probably true that the mentor Yashiro only urges for him to fight for others too, but it's not that just being told to complete an objective means you're able to do it, like if you're doing it the right way or not, like about room of improvements if you did a mistake or such, or especially if you.. outright resorted into extremist ways to help others.

Yeah, the actors are back, but they're not the same characters as the ones in original Hibiki other than look and name I guess, as they're significantly more hostile and selfish than what Takeshi lives for. They also seem to have some form of ageism to violently refuse the disciple's suggestion to join forces, with Tsukasa of all people being the one to put a stop on it. Todoroki did have a same personality, but he's in love to Akira instead (Hinaka's actress Miyuki Kanbe had passed away in 2008... very short lifespan), but I don't like the part of him gaining the portrayal of phase 2 one with him being completely out of touch in reality for the Akira crush scene. And yeah dunno if this is a fanservice, but the part had both Asumu and Akira becoming Riders (Akira's Rider form is named Amaki).

Yeah, would say that's an improvement from the original series of just multiple music-themed attacks.

Oh right, people wanting to protect someone and instead making it worse by, what you refer, building a wall around them (putting up an asshole act, even as a facade). But there are a handful people who'd just bring up the good intentions of someone acting like a jerk to drive them away for their sake, treating them as innocent and misunderstood, where others who criticize them are treated as lacking understanding or such. Those seem to think that the only way to distance yourself while keeping them safe is turning into a jerk, when it can be done in straightforward way as well. For the fanfic part... uhh... seeing themselves as misunderstoof destroyer archetype can be potentially someone who are edgy... they'd better improve themselves rather than being cathartic doing that or even continue with their bad behavior (if they have any) and being seen as fine not think anything about it.

The Evil Riders World arc. Honestly, I really like the idea of a world ruled by Evil Riders, especially how Tsukasa felt more at home here, which is funny since he did antagonize some of the Riders in the AR Worlds. It was also rather amusing how AR Kuuga had to pay ridiculous sums of money and such while Tsukasa was given the royal treatment.

The Evil Riders were pretty neat, despite me not having seen any of them (except for recently, being Ryuuga), and almost felt symbolic after Decade acquired the powers of the nine Riders and now has to fight their evil counterparts. And Tsukasa accepting that he doesn't belong in any world, but just a passing through Kamen Rider was honestly, perfect.

And then there's Decade Complete... Which I actually didn't mind. Sure, the cards plastered across his chest with his on his forehead was ridiculous, but the color scheme and what reminded me of camera film details were, aesthetically brilliant. And with the ability to use the Riders' Final Forms and abilities was a great idea for a Final Form for a Rider celebrating ten whole seasons back-to-back. I don't know, but I don't have any hard feeling towards this suit, heck, even the Complete 21 suit's not something I mind that much. Maybe it's bias or nostalgia for Decade as my first season, or it could be that I don't have any particular disdain for even the suits people consider "ugly," since I actually loved the Ex-Aid Riders, even if Paradox's first two forms weren't my favorite.

Now that you mention it, the age difference is the same as Taiga/Nico. However, compared to them, calm disciplined Akira and hyper enthusiastic Todoroki seem totally incompatible, like I just don't get how that could work. I don't think a forbidden unrequited love subplot is something this arc needed, especially when it already has so much.

Yeah, they're all lost and have no direction in life, but they're lost together, which gives them a feeling of belonging. It explains why Natsumi ended up on this journey with Tsukasa, probably seeing her past self in him and wanting to help him find where he belongs and prove that he can become something more than just a destroyer. While Yuusuke is usually the one who nudges him in the right direction, I think Natsumi has the most faith and hope in him and trusts him to make the right choices.

I don't think Tsukasa has completely (despite being called Complete now) become his own Rider quite yet, however, maybe this was the moment he finally realized the importance of his journey, which is to find out what being a Rider means to him. All the other worlds gave him tasks and clothes to match, making him an instrument of destiny, but here the world conforms to him. For Tsukasa, since the start, he's always had these mysterious hunches of what he should do, without understanding why. But that's enough to understand that something is very wrong, when this world isn't calling for his help. This is the first world that focuses on him solving his own problem (and Natsumi's), instead of just someone else's. He actually moves on his own to help fix this world, by attaching his own sentimental feelings from the other worlds. You can already be on a journey without consciously setting out on one, like what TG Club's advisor said, "this flunking was special education!", or something like that.

I actually like it. Not my favorite Decade suit, but I think it works aesthetically as Tsukasa's real reward, with Final Forms usually being symbolic of personal growth. The cards going blank again reflected the emptiness that Tsukasa was feeling, like gaining all those powers was for nothing and he was just back at square one. So Decade Complete is Tsukasa's proud statement that he's not going to take the easy way out and give up on his journey, which gives his cards their power back. The pink is still there, but moved to an accent and the eyes. The green is the real victim. The Decade card on his head gives a Droste effect. I think that's cool! I like Complete 21 as well, except for that awful card cape.

Oh yeah, I think I know which thread you're referring to, about fight choreography for adapting Kyuranger, since I was one of those replies. It's unfortunate that she couldn't find the creative discussion she was hoping for and yeah, I can also relate to that.

I understand her mindset, as someone who pretty much works alone on my projects. And due to how hectic my life's been going since I joined, I haven't had time to show off much. Heck, to be honest, I'm a little skeptical of showing off any of my works in their current state. But so long as our resident Yoddona fangirl is doing alright, that's nice to know.

Brave Legacy is kind of like the Reiwa Riders' Final Forms (of course, there's also Stronger's Final Form which is a slight recolor). Don't know if there's any Final Form on the bottom of my list, at least I can't think of one.

For me, it would be Armed Hibiki, Zeronos Zero Form, IXA Rising, Beast Hyper, Gaim Kiwami Arms, Build Genius and Zero One RealEyezing Hopper.

Wizard Infinity Gold All Dragon, anyone? :p

I don't typically dislike Final Forms. A lot of them are ridiculous and silly and over the top but frankly it's Toku, that's half the fun! Stuff like Decade Complete and Meteor Storm and Snipe Level 50... it naturally doesn't have the same appeal as, say, Tajador or Kuuga Ultimate or Ghost Mugen but it's beautiful and fun in its own way.

Same. I honestly enjoy some of the crazy looking ones like Build Genius, then there are the "definitive," for lack of a better word, like Drive Type Tridoron or Shining Agito, but I can't think of any that I don't like as much as others, hence why I say bottom.

In the end, it's always fun to see what their end point in the power scaling looks like.

It looks completely ridiculous, and I would never want it any other way. Complete Form basically set the precedent for how Toei would start designing a lot of main suits going forward, in that they were consciously aware it didn't look cool, but decided it was more important to leave an impact first and foremost. So they slapped a bunch of cards all over Decade, because he's the card Rider. Heck, they weren't going to have a card on his head at first, but Shirakura himself was like "we should totally slap a card on his head too if that's what we're doing", and then they put a picture of Decade on Decade's face.

And this is his big super form!

It's weird and dumb and yeah I miss the magenta and yeah I don't know what was supposed to be incomplete about the base form and yeah, frankly, I didn't like it that much either at first, but... all that being said? I really do think they made the right call with Complete Form, because weird and dumb designs being made to look cool became one of my favorite things about the franchise, and it was there to pave the way like never before. If they hadn't decided to push Decade this far back then, I feel like they wouldn't have had the courage to make any of the Ex-Aid designs later, you know?

(And the K-Touch is just plain cool. Love that thing.)

Anyway, yeah, this two-parter still isn't a favorite of mine. I guess fitting that spiel about Complete Form, it definitely sticks in my memory, at least, but I agree with most of your non-suit related opinions here. It's a shame, too, because that really is such a definitive Tsukasa speech! Just one of many solid pieces in these episodes that can't quite coalesce into something greater.