It's really weird seeing the main rider go through such a good episode that brings all his character development so far to a point, challenges his core ideals and points out the naivety of his claim to "save everyone," then makes him fight to prove the strength of his conviction and even mentions a special power lying dormant in his transformation item waiting to awaken...

Only to get eaten by the MotW so some other rider can save him and show off a flashy new form he got just by asking for it.

I mean come on, this was like the perfect power-up episode, except that it went to the wrong rider! Don't get me wrong, Touma has more than enough forms already and we know he's going to get even more, I'm not complaining that he didn't get yet another. It just feels like a miss, is all. Like they should have spaced out the three parts of Crimson Dragon more to give them more weight and saved Dragonic Knight for this episode. (And also spaced out Blades and Espada's three-book combos more, and saved King Lion Daisenki for when Rintaro actually earns a new power instead of just "hey Daishinji, give me the new toy.")

I don't hate X-Swordman? It's fine. It's funny. I wish Yuri had actually gone through character development and updated his ideas of justice, instead of just suddenly saying "it seems justice is different these days. Hey Tassel, give me the new toy."

I do like Tassel getting a bit more involved in the plot though, as annoying as he was at first I kind of like him as this mysterious, whimsical-but-sometimes-ominous figure somehow connected to the backstory. Speaking of which, finally, backstory! I'm glad they didn't go overboard with infodumping early on, but I was really waiting for this, and I still want more but I'm not disappointed with what we got, quite the opposite.

Well, they do still have to sell a toy. I actually liked that despite Touma being able to power his Seiken, he still lost, but was able to partially separate the Megido from the host. Kinda shows growth on his abilities but still a long way.

I don't wanna say that this is the intention, but I find the scenes Yuri playing around with the modern world to be the catalyst for X-Swordman. The comic book only set it in stone. The form looks ridiculous, still, but it's ridiculous enough that I forgive it. Much like Ex-Aid and Slash.

Also, Rintarou NEEDS to do something. We're almost the episode mark where Primitive will show up and a possible P-Bandai item for either Espada or Calibur (or both) and he's yet to transform more than once. I'm glad he gets to transform next week, but he better go through some shit afterwards.

Still waiting for Primitive Dragon to go on a psycho rampage!

X-SwordMan is impressive so far.

I really like X-Swordsman's motif, that being comic books. Also reminds me of how colors are actually just different wavelengths of light being transmitted to our eyes; something quite fitting for the sword of light.

I'm not too big a fan of the execution though but it could grow on me.

The subtle hint on Desast's origins was nice. I thought it was strange that all the Megiddos (except the generals of course) were based on existing stories or animals or whatever while Desast was a "huh? Whadda heck is he supposed to be?" thing.

Makes sense if he really was created from an amalgamation of books and could explain his twisted personality.

Ok time to shit on this episode . . . . . or at least I would but this was a better episode. Nothing really stand out to me to complain about.

Someone forgot the time in Gaim when Sid became pulpy cherry juice between two boulders. Also Calibur getting a sword rammed through his chest. Also in Gaim, a guy "killing" his brother, a girl "dying" from getting something harvested from her body. Also the countless people who became fertilizer for Helhiem after being scratched by an Ives. Hell Build even had human experimentation which did involve in death where they would turn people into Smash then kill them with flame throwers (go watch the Cross-Z V-Cinema for this one).

It doesn't happen as often now as it did before Neo Heisei but the show can have some "dark" moments for a kid show.

Don't trust her! She has people locked up in her basement with their eyes forced open Clockwork Orange/Robot Chicken style. Forcing them to watch so much shit till they agree with her opinions. Which is awful.

At least when I do it I am trying to corrupt them.

*hisses and quickly throws a blanket over her torture chair*

Don't tell them that! I'm all sweetness and light, promise. :p

I have reason to believe you have been giving people sweets spiked with horse laxatives.

Damn it, Saber, why did you have to make me start wondering about what exactly Tassel's deal is? I was perfectly happy to just fast forward through his sections like I do with the opening and ending credits. Now I'm genuinely curious about him and I am not cool with that.

So I'm starting to wonder if the show is beginning to pull a Drive on me: crappy first half, really good second half. I'm not sure it's there yet, but I am almost looking forward to new episodes now instead of dragging my feet before getting around to them.

I'm still completely uninterested in the villains, but I really liked the stuff with Touma and Daishinji this week. I like the pairing of Daishinji and Ogami, too, as the more veteran Riders in the organization. Yuuri's new form turned out better than I thought it would in action; I like the Climax Form style shifting of the color pieces on top of the standard black suit.

I haven't looked up who wrote this one, but I know it wasn't Fukuda because Mei is acting like a normal homo sapiens.

Looking forward to the 3rd Reiwa Rider series after this nightmare of a crapstick show is over