We finished the second part of Hibiki, and yet again, I feel as though there isn't really much I can say about it that hasn't been said already. Every critique I've ever read about it has basically been spot on, and as such I feel like anyone who reads this post is gonna feel like it's something they've read before. But as always, I'll try, and we'll see how it goes.

In short, the second half of Hibiki might as well be a different show entirely, which makes me wonder... why not just do that?

I feel as though Sunken Cost Fallacy was largely at play during the show's' production, because there were so many other avenues that Toei could've went down; Especially considering they were willing to axe the original production team in their entirety.

For instance, why not just tell the team that the show isn't working out and thus they have 3-5 episodes left to wrap everything up? Various other shows have done the same. Gundam, for example, has done it multiple times.

Or alternatively, if they wanted the show to be retooled in its entirety anyway, why not just replace the cast wholesale and focus on a different branch of Takeshi? Not only was it established to be a worldwide organization, but there were a ton of other Oni they could've focused on. Heck, outright killing Asumu off was on the table at some point, and apparently Kiriya was meant to outright replace him, so focusing on different characters couldn't have been an alien idea.

Incase I'm somehow not clear in what I'm getting at here, I am proposing that instead of turning the show into a hallow shell of its former self, just make a new show entirely but under the same name and assets. Yes, the ideal scenario would've been for the original team to be kept and have the show retain its artistic integrity; I am not disagreeing with that. But if Toei really saw the only option as a complete retool and not just axing the show in its entirety, then they frankly didn't go far enough with it. Because as it stands, the result was something that only serves to make fans of the original work angry, and that's not a good time for anyone involved.

Or, hell, at the very least give Inoue more of a frame of reference than the first draft of the first episode.

Because really, they were almost there as it was already. The kabuki influences? Almost totally gone. The musical theming? Barely there. Crimson Hibiki? Seen once for a split second. Oni other than Hibiki being allowed to do anything? Gone. The warm, welcoming atmosphere? Gone. The pretty cinematography? Gone. Characters who actually have well rounded personalities? Gone. The swift yet stylish action sequences? Gone. The really cool and creative opening theme? Changed out for something not nearly as good or artistic. Other Oni outside of the main four actually existing? Barely. The list goes on.

So with all that said, there were two major issues I took with this half of the show, if we're not counting all of the various retcons, which are also terrible but I can't entirely blame on Inoue.

Those being two of our leads: Asumu and Kiriya.

Now, I actually really liked Asumu in the first part. But man did they put effort towards making me dislike him in the second! I've seen some claim that he's the only character who remains consistent between the two halves, but I Heavily disagree on that front, and it's all due to one simple factor, really. His backbone.

Yes, Asumu starts the show off lost, depressed, and to be frank, a total wimp. But over that first half he found self confidence. He found courage. He found a job. Once the second half hits, all of that is entirely gone. He degrades into a complete weakling who needs his hand constantly held by others, to the point that he won't defend himself in anything at all. Remember at the end of the first half when he actually tried to fight back against the kid who jumped him? Well nevermind that I guess!

Not to mention the first half makes it very clear multiple times that he has no intention of ever becoming an Oni. Yet, the second half decides to make Asumu petty ontop of everything else because he completely reverses that decision up until the last second. Why? All because of... Kiriya, who challenges him to a dick waving contest over it with no real basis of doing so.

Oh yeah, here's where I get into the "star" of this whole mess, and boy, I almost feel like I don't even need to say anything given just how much people have torn into this guy already. But, I actually do have one aspect of him that I at the very least haven't seen anyone bring up before.

Now see, every critique you might've already heard about Kiriya is completely true: i.e. he's a toxic and entitled brat. And normally I'd be able to deal with that... except he has literally no basis for it, and the show itself expects us to sympathize with him over it. In other words, giving his outright awful behavior a free pass.

Because see, Kiriya isn't just some douchebag, oh no, he's also a blatant mouthpiece for Inoue. He constantly makes negative accusations of everyone in the cast, with absolutely zero basis or evidence and yet is 99% of the time treated as being completely in the right. Characters and plot actively bend over backwards to justify Kiriya's' awfulness to the point of insanity. Asumu desperately wants to be his friend for... no real reason given, and hangs around him despite Kiriya outright calling him worthless, boring, stupid, amongst many other things multiple times. Hibiki embraces their "friendship" by claiming "don't dislike him just because he's different" which, by the way, is a horrible moral in this context. Pro tip: Cut toxic people out of your life, do not embrace them. Heck, remember when Ichiro threatened to beat the crap out of the shoplifter who attacked Asumu? Where was that when Kiriya was on any of his bullshit? It's so dumb!

The only one who ever denounced Kiriya for his crap was Akira... only for her to have a complete 180 a couple episodes later with no reason given, no moment of respect, nothing. She just suddenly likes the guy and is totally fine with him being a dickhead.

As for the plot bending over for him, there's the time where he steals the Divination Band, and they try to give Kiriya a "positive" trait by showing he wasn't the one who set a student on fire, a Makamou did...

...Except he was 100% going to do so and it would've actually been completely in character if he had. Intent is everything!

His character isn't even consistent either. For example, he's at one point shown to be afraid of the dark, and yet he has no problem outright stalking people in the dead of night multiple times(with said scenes even being framed like he's the villain of a slasher movie). He's also shown to not have any real physical strength, and yet has no problem taking on two guys at once and beating Asumu in a straight up fight despite it being shown multiple times that Asumu is physically superior in every way.

I guess the simple way to put it is that Kiriya, neither as a person nor as a character, has any redeeming qualities, making me wonder just why in the hell anyone would bother to so much as interact with this guy outside of the plot forcing them to be near him.

Oh wait, I know of one reason why: His backstory, which some have used as a way to justify his terribleness.

Yeah, no, that doesn't fly here. Speaking as someone who lost his father at a young age, Episode 31 not only doesn't justify anything in terms of either Asumu nor Kiriya, but is infact a totally shallow look into the subject and, frankly, something I find outright insulting towards those like me who've had similar life experiences. Easily my most hated episode in all of Kamen Rider.

On the Asumu side of things, we never actually learn what the hell his father's' deal actually is. Asumu never actually meets him, and instead only hears utterly superficial statements from the strangers. Just because he does good for the public does not mean he does good in his home life, and not having him interact with his son at all only further diminishes this episode having any actual real meat to it. And maybe it's just my Latino heritage talking here, but one of the possible interpretations the episode leaves you with: "Oh, Asumu's' dad just doesn't want to be part of his son's' life, and that's 100% okay." Is out and out terrible and I don't like it. Your children should not be things you just casually throw away. Are there extreme circumstances? Certainly, but this episode gives us literally NOTHING to go on, and as such, makes the entire scenario a waste.

As for Kiriya, him losing his father in a fire is meant to justify his behavior, but again, I find this incredibly insulting towards other kids with similar experiences who, frankly, process the experience far better than any way that Kiriya has or ever will. Did the experience give him a fear of fire? No, he infact is ready to set a dude on fire later on in the show without a hint of irony. Does he remember his father as an honorable man and thus try to exemplify his positive aspects? No. Heck, even if we're meant to believe that Hibiki acts alot like Kiriya's' father and thus Kiriya harbors some resentment, he doesn't focus that on Hibiki nor grow from the experience. He takes it all out on people entirely unrelated. At this point I do not care that he lost his dad, that doesn't change the fact that he's a complete degenerate who never once learns any sort of lesson.

You know what he does kinda perfectly represent though? The annoying step-sibling who constantly feels the need to fight with their other sibling's' over who the favorite is. And no, this is not a good thing. Infact it makes things worse because, again, even once the final episode hits, Kiriya hasn't changed in the slightest nor learned anything because, hey, he was perfect already. Blow me.

I could go on, but I wanna give one other aspect to Kiriya that drove me crazy and I can't believe it was never highlighted because it was frankly RIGHT THERE.

Know what could've made Kiriya's' situation atleast slightly more believable, outside of you know, giving him atleast one positive aspect to his personality, of which he has none? Work the mother angle.

I'm serious. Asumu's' mother is consistently great, and we're outright shown that Kiriya doesn't get to interact with his mom much; essentially living all on his own at a young age. The time Kiriya essentially forces himself into Asumu's' apartment would've been a PRIME time to have Kiriya showcase his jealousy over the fact that Asumu has a parent who still very clearly loves him and is physically there for him. But no, that's totally ignored in favor of Kiriya throwing out more accusations on Asumu's' character that he has absolutely no basis for and yet Asumu, and the audience, are meant to take it as fact.

TL;DR: Kiriya, as well as the entire Inoue part of Hibiki, is completely shallow. Say what you want about the first half, but atleast it was genuine. Atleast there was a clear passion behind it. The second half however, has nothing of the sort, and it's easily one of my most hated parts of the entire franchise.

Take Switchblade's' advice. Stop after episode 29.

I enjoyed this post the way some people enjoy expensive wine.

Thank you. It actually came out way longer than what I was expecting it to, haha.

Just.. man, there were so many different ways the second part could've gone, and this was one of the worst. I just feel bad for literally everyone involved.

I don't take it well if a character's development gets regressed for more plot or drama (while Inoue probably isn't 100% at fault for the second half, I've seen that he can do this stuff to characters, to ignore developments), but I guess I want to say here that Asumu's writing is the one that did him dirty in the second half, like I don't want for weakness traits like being wimpy, not being confident, weakling, etc. to be rag on. But of course like you said in first half Asumu had developed by finding self-confidence, and the plot sucks for taking it away from him; it's forced OOC to make way for a drama/conflict. For people thinking he's consistent in the two halves, that's something I noticed in some people that they sometimes rely on status quo for characters, especially if a character isn't a jerk who changes to be nicer. If a character is a softie, they can feel the same for some people from their start and their end, due to having same demeanor, despite other changes like confidence, maturity, etc. This can make some people think development can only happen in jerk characters turning nicer, because the change seems more simple and noteworthy, and think that nice characters (including many Rider leads) don't develop.

This is for sure, can be frustrating part and for Kiriya to rub the audience the wrong way, it's plausible, he got the infamy for good reason. But, for douchebags who some part of the cast desperately wants to be their friend... isn't that a common part in KR seasons? Like for example, the primary Rider and some member of the cast with the secondary Rider (Kiriya's actor will later play.. Yuuto/Zeronos in Den-O, this time his character is well received though) or sometimes the tertiary Rider too, as usually secondary Riders and a good number of tertiary Riders are made as morally grey frustrating jerks. The execution is probably not done right, but probably Asumu trying to interact with Kiriya and get through him is Rider's common morally upstanding characters (Asumu isn't a fighter, but would be one) trying to soften the hardass hostile jerk. And that... these kind of characters like primary Riders won't cut those toxic people like secondary Riders in their life just because of the hostility they receive. While yeah it's a horrible moral that is employed by Hibiki, I feel like this is common stuff in many Rider series... I also hate it if characters like this gets free pass albeit it's expected for people like Takeshi cast (or that you knew that when Akira lashes out at Asumu, she gets a mild reprimand from the Takeshi and it's what you want to happen for people like Kiriya?), but Kiriya did get bad luck in moments like the video chat with his mother to cleaning toilets as punishment and being forced by Hibiki to re-enroll back to school when he initially dropped out.

The difference is that most secondary Riders at the very least have arcs. They often do get called out for being a jerk and learn lessons as time goes on. Not so much with Kiriya. He starts a total douche, remains a total douche, and yet is framed a someone we're meant to sympathize with and root for. Trash.

Too little too late. And again, Kiriya never grows nor learns from anything, much less the very minor punishments you listed.

Kamen Rider Gaim watch

The Forbidden Fruit Saga

Episode 35: Micchy's Ark

Written by: Gen Urobuchi, Directed by: Satoshi Morota

As Takatora is stunned by Roshuo's action to destroy the missiles, Roshuo clarifies that the reason he did it is to save Redyue's castle, her duty. This likely refers to the Yggdrasill Tower with the machine to revive his Queen inside, which can be hit by the missiles, but Roshuo didn't meant to save humanity. Roshuo releases Takatora for him to witness the destruction of his men as their 'leader'. Redyue gloats about the plan, while Grinsha turns out to be still alive, which Redyue protected before, and resumes his fight with Gaim and Baron. He makes use of his speed to ram Gaim and Baron, knocking them down. Then in a similar vein as Kachidoki Arms, Gaim Kiwami Arms makes use of something not normally used as weapon, his cape, using it as a flag to lead Grinsha like a bull, matador-style. Grinsha end up ramming a wall with audible 'ding' sound, knocking it down. So the high tier fighters here like Overlord cannot walk through human construction like nothing... Kiwami Arms then use Bana Spear, Kiwi Gekirin (one of the most rare form appearence), and Sonic Arrow as weapons. Baron restrains Grinsha, then Kiwami Arms uses Fruit Basket Charge, Pine Charge version to finish off Grinsha. Actually before watching, I don't know what differentiates between different Lockseeds used for Fruit Basket Charge, and now still don't.

As Kouta vows to save Akira, she's taken into the Yggdrasill Tower, the place Redyue's machine is built. Rat and Rica, who are also there, approach her to identify that she's Kouta's sister, which Akira gets to identify them as his friends too, realizing that the monsters took them too. They worry about the reasons they're taken and if they're ok, but Akira assures that there will be someone who saves but have to wait. So Akira knows certain Kouta friend, like Mai and probably Micchy, but not all of them... probably someone like Mai gets to know Akira as childhood friend of Kouta while Rat and Rica are probably newer friends that won't get interact as much or as intimately. Meanwhile Roshuo commits his biggest atrocity so far, though he claims he's doing humanity a favor, by opening cracks all over the world, literally raining Inves and the Helheim places all over the world. This emphasizes the villain part of anti-villain alignment that Roshuo has, as anti-villain is still a subcategory of villain, even if they're relatively more noble. Even if Roshuo has redeeming qualities and isn't a bloodthirsty psycho like Redyue and Demushu, Roshuo is still a nihilist, and the messed-up mindset can still lead Roshuo into doing malicious things like the world-scale invasion here, even if he bears no actual malice to humanity, and leads to think that speeding up their destruction is doing good for them.

For the missiles not exploding when Roshuo interferes with them before, it's revealed in the news that Beat Riders watch that, the missiles are actually teleported into North America, destroying that area (along with innocent people) instead. It's clarified the reason the missiles not exploding, and it lives up to Roshuo's aim to speed up the destruction of humanity. Mai thinks this is terrible, but Chucky reminds that they'll die if the missiles hit Zawame. Kouta questions the reason of it happening now, which Kaito explains as the Overlord who didn't care about the war joining now. Zack turns off the TV and laments about their fate. Kouta uses the news as a wake-up call moment that they have to do something, as it's not about Zawame anymore, but worldwide now. But doesn't mean that they have to go through impossible odds of walking the world, Kouta notes that they have the best position to be the closest to the source, the Yggdrasill Tower as Overlord's base, which Kouta plans to attack. Yoko continues that the armies of the world will defend the cracks themselves (but I doubt it'd be effective, seen in various KR series about human tools being ineffectual against monsters), not attacking and meeting the same fate as America anymore. Kaito reminds that the world will sacrifice them to stop the Overlords, thinking that it's not worth saving, but Kouta goes on to rescue the kidnapped people including Akira.

Takatora walks around a war zone, mourning about how Yggdrasill is all futile, likely especially the atrocities it has done for the greater good. Without Takatora, the Yggdrasill implodes on itself, the members betraying each other, making Redyue easily taking over the tower, along with Ryoma exposing Project Ark's intentions to the world, giving the Yggdrasill the same taste of medicine if gave to the Beat Riders, now being seen as terrorist cell. It seems that the heroes don't need to take fight to Yggdrasill (other than learning Helheim stuff), it practically defeated itself. Takatora then sees Kouta, but accompanied with Yoko and Kaito, which leads Takatora to think that Ryoma influenced Kouta's group too. So it's not only Kouta being suspicious of Takatora due to Micchy's manipulation before, Takatora undergoes this too, without any manipulation, but basing it on past experience. Of course the actual reason is Yoko confides to Kaito... Takatora never knew his underlings enough. Kouta, Kaito, and Yoko notes that the Yggdrasill garage is protected by an Inves army, thinking that they know the Yggdrasill's facilities, Kouta plans to break into the tower, which is stopped by Kaito reminding about the hostages if they charge their front door down. Kouta is frustrated about the lack of options, which Kaito insist to formulate a plan. Kouta suggests to ask for Micchy's help as he had scouted the tower alone, but of course those 2 has seen Micchy's true nature, pointing out that Micchy's never there when he's needed the most and that he's playing with him like a fiddle. Kouta still denies Micchy being evil, as a longtime 'friend', though now he acknowledged a bit that he keeps secrets and saying weird things, but thinks he's doing the best for him and Mai, thus they can't badmouth him. They'd just roll their eyes at this. They're interrupted by the guardian Inves and all henshin into their Rider forms, detonating them. Baron insists for them to regroup as there will be more of them inside.

Rat and Rica wake up, finding that they're in Micchy's office, with Micchy claiming that they're safe, despite Rica pointing out that the world will end. Micchy has changed his attire with a suit, attempting to help the audience to take him more seriously as villain if they don't before, and how he takes over Takatora to conduct even worse version of Project Ark. Micchy acknowledges that, but claims not humanity as some of them will survive and live normally, bringing out the story of Noah's Ark (my TV skips this part) that he applies this to Rat and Rica as some few chosen ones that would be safe as humanity will perish. Rat is confused about what Micchy said, and Rica points out about Akira, as Micchy leaves, assuring them to be safe. As Micchy's villainous, this is tiny bit of his redeeming quality to rescue his friends from Redyue's machine, but of course he's villainous for ignoring everyone else. Micchy visits Helheim, and glanced at Roshuo, who is talking with Redyue, showing that there are another machine that is connected to the Queen's coffin to transfer the human fuel absorbed in Yggdrasill lab. Micchy then interacts with Redyue, explaining how the machine works, and how Roshuo promises to relinquish the golden fruit into him after his love revives. Micchy assures Redyue that she only uses the humans he deemed unworthy to save, an example of how 'caring for your friends' (the only ones Micchy will save for his emotional satisfaction) doesn't necessarily make you a good person. Due to his hatred for Kouta, he's petty enough to leave Akira captive, even if she has nothing to do with his grudge to Kouta.

Mai is taking a handful of food and supplies at a convenience store, but even when the city including the store is empty, she still pays for what she took. It's a little insight into her character, either a display of integrity or keep doing Zawame City a favor via its local businesses despite it being dying now... or that she knows there's CCTV on the store that tracks people's activities. Micchy visits her, in his new suit which Mai wonders. They talk about the current world state, where Micchy proposes a world where humanity and Overlord can co-exist. At first Mai seems excited about this, but Micchy talks about the deal being helping them complete their goals giving mutual benefit, then insists to rebuild society where nothing can stand in Team Gaim's way, creating little paradise between them. Hearing about the mutual benefit, Mai's hype turns into disappointment that she realizes Micchy's up to no good, she questions his decision making a deal with bloodthirsty monsters. Micchy explains about how powerful the Overlords are, thus humanity has no chance even united, thus Micchy wants to ensure that the "worthy" ones survive in the end of the world. Mai points out that this is no different from Yggdrasill's actions, claiming that Kouta won't agree to this. This cracks Micchy that he claims Kouta's always wrong, blaming him that he involves everyone in the unwinnable fight (with flashback about Kouta rushing to save civilians attacked by Inves as Micchy holds him), deeming him as idiot who can't protect their friends, and claims to Mai that she's in danger due to Kouta. However, Mai reaffirms that she's not playing favorites between the friends, as the reason is that she believes in hope, and Kouta's holding unto his hope, aiming high to ensure triumph for humanity, and didn't do wrong in him fighting together with the others, Mai's someone hopeful and optimistic as well, thus it'd make her fighting with Kouta. She tries to persuade Micchy to not give up too, not bowing down to the Overlords to fight together, but Micchy just leaves. Unfortunately, just like her slap before, Mai's approach (and the opposite to the slap, not physical one) to Micchy here leads for him to think that to save her, he needs to get rid of Kouta, as he inspires hope in her and that's the barrier between him and Mai. This speaks about how little empathy Micchy has, and that he never understands about virtue and goodness, only being baffled about how Kouta brings hope to others, making not only Mai, but others to stand by him, thinking that only his schemes are the right way to "protect" (only) his friends. Siding with Overlords to ensure his safety, and certain people like his friends, is also the most cowardly move someone can pull, combined with utter immorality, it'll cause huge scale harm instead.

Rat and Rica returns to Redyue's machine, as they'd be worried about Akira and they think Micchy's acting weird. Other than Micchy's deluded view that he's protecting his friends and blaming Kouta for everything that happened to them if they for example "don't smile", the friends are the one to notice that Micchy's disturbing now, not only Mai above, but also Rat and Rica here, despite presenting his plan as benevolent, but only for the Team Gaim. I know that Kouta and Micchy are longtime friends, but it seems that the other friends at Team Gaim catches on Micchy's rotten nature better. The irony behind all the Micchy's schemes, he has the obsession to protect (only) his "friends", but his actions, blaming Kouta when it doesn't go his way, and how he intends to betray everyone to keep the emotional satisfaction for being together with his happy friends had alienated him from his friends for good instead. Rat and Rica noticed that the machine had worked, with Rat unsuccessfully trying to take off the device in Akira's face. Redyue arrives, watching their activities.

In Drupers, Kaito and Minato finish their meal and heads back to the garage, with Kouta not having an appetite. Bando warns him that if he doesn't eat, he won't be in fit condition fighting monsters. Micchy is spying on this, making his move as Kouta is now alone. Takatora also watches Micchy making his move here, and is being spied too. Micchy approaches Kouta to talk about something. Micchy talks about how Kouta holds into hope, wanting to save humanity without sacrifices, so that nobody ends up like Yuuya. Kouta acknowledges that it's not easy, but doesn't mean he shouldn't try. Like Takatora, Micchy thinks the hope is ridiculous based on how Kouta killed Yuuya to save Mai's life, like what Takatora brought up to Kouta before. But Micchy claims Kouta should be proud of killing Yuuya for that, as he kicks Kouta. Micchy's going full yandere here, to even dismiss about Yuuya's death if it keeps Mai safe, and about how he doesn't view his friends as person. He brings up Mai's well-being again to persuade Kouta as always, which is a real world emotional blackmail technique. As Kouta is confused by Micchy's move, Micchy claims that Kouta can be the hero humanity needed if he had the guts to make tough decisions, but now Micchy's respect to Kouta has gone as Micchy looks down on hope, thinking about how optimism makes one blind to reality and makes him do mistakes. Micchy has inherited Sid's traits for now as well to be a hope crusher and glorifying dirtying one's hands to get the job done, claiming it makes a hero. To show how little he understands, being a hero is about doing good deeds to others, having guts (not in morally questionable way) and being admired is just a bonus. And well, I guess Micchy's the one who's blinded here by his grudge against Kouta, how Kouta gets his power up aside, Micchy just complains that Kouta gets stronger and stronger, when he's the one that can take on Overlords that terrifies Micchy in their power. The irony about how Micchy looks up to Kouta and Mai, wanting to grow up become like them, but instead he becomes their antithesis. Micchy's take of using Kouta as his role model is also a dark variant, like what Takatora claims before that he only fights Yggdrasill to challenge him, not about emulating Kouta's best traits by fighting as a Rider, but about how Kouta is admired and respected by Mai, Team Gaim, and Takatora, which due to this, turns Micchy bitter and jealous instead if Kouta earns them. Micchy represents the worst and misguided take of picking someone as role model, when someone takes one as role model, it has to be examined the reason they idolize said role model. Micchy henshins using Genesis Driver, to Takatora's surprise that he had his belt, and Kouta realizing that his allies are right about his true nature as Micchy's Zangetsu Shin now, as Micchy deems hope as disease that Kouta spreads. Kouta questions Micchy about Takatora's fate, as Micchy claims he's dead, again blaming Kouta for that. As Kouta gets beaten up for a while, though confused, Kouta finally henshins into Gaim as Zangetsu Shin shoots an arrow to him, starts refering him by "Mitsuzane" for now, symbolizing Micchy not being the same self as the one that were Team Gaim's "friend" now. Note that Kouta henshins inch away the arrow's going to hit and possibly kill Kouta.

Kamen Rider Gaim watch

The Forbidden Fruit Saga

Episode 36: Brothers' End! Zangetsu vs. Zangetsu Shin!

Written by: Gen Urobuchi, Directed by: Takayuki Shibasaki

As Gaim fights Micchy as Zangetsu Shin in his Orange Arms, trying to reason with him first, he lost and de-henshined into Kouta. While Micchy tries to shoot an arrow to him, Takatora reveals himself, putting himself between Micchy and Kouta, surprising both that Takatora is still alive (to Micchy) and Takatora is his former best friend's big brother (to Kouta). Takatora never realized that Micchy would stoop so low, becoming someone more cold and evil than his brother ever was, including him carrying the Project Ark and donning a suit. Micchy blames others again, to Takatora, although this one has a point, where Takatora only ordered him around without seeing the big picture. Micchy rants about how he does all of this as only way to protect what he cares (and leaving what he doesn't care to rot) by himself because Takatora left him. While Takatora may be at fault for rising Micchy, doesn't mean Micchy is blameless and that he can pin all his wrongdoings to Takatora to blame. Kaito arrives, but Redyue also arrives, attacking him in his human form, and even causing a significant cut on his arm. Redyue teleports Micchy away by jumping and covering him with green mist as he's still useful to her. Kaito tries to get the fact straight to Kouta that it's real proof that Micchy is working with Overlords, while Takatora is at disbelief of what happened to his brother.

The Beat Riders at the garage hears that Micchy is the Yggdrasill overseer's little brother as well, realizing that he's a liter, but Kouta still had something to defend Micchy, that he lies to stay with them, with Mai continuing that his love for dance is true. Jonouchi is appropriately enraged that they may justify his other lies, but Kouta does acknowledge that Micchy has faults. Kouta did back up that keeping lies and secrets is the most hurtful part. It's proven as Kouta's someone who has kept secrets like Yuuya's death before, and he felt burdened about it before he tells others, while Micchy has done a number to his sanity by keeping those secrets until now, Micchy's an example about how keeping secrets, despite his claim of keeping others happy, isn't working well, as his friends knowing about everything that's going on is better for them in the long run, as well as making him bitter with everyone, since he's convinced that he's doing what's best for them and is angry that they're not going along with what he wants. Kouta would try to investigate Micchy further, thinking of him as a victim to Overlords. Kaito, who tries to cover his wound, understandably from what he sees on the surface, thinks Kouta's no longer naive, but insane now, as there's none of who Kouta fight can be reasoned so far while being enraged and grabbing Kouta's collar, and doubts about Kouta being willing to fight him if there's nothing good about Micchy. To Kouta's credit here, Kaito also thought Takatora betrayed Kouta, while he didn't, and it was Micchy's machinations, and he's basing it off from his own experience of keeping truth too, as for a while it did keep his friends from a distance a bit.

Takatora talks with Yoko outside of the garage, with Yoko reporting about how Ryoma dismantled Yggdrasill, and Ryoma's backstabbing nature to use everyone and everything for his research, using Takatora and her as example. I guess Ryoma's betrayal did teach a harsh lesson to Yoko, about how Takatora would feel when she betrayed him, and she gets a taste of that as well from Ryoma, likely making them able to reconcile here, with Yoko also asking if he hates her for that. Takatora's however serious, insisting to focus on fighting against Overlords instead of fighting each other or holding past grudges. Now Takatora claims to fight Overlords, even when he got Roshuo to talk with. So that means Kouta's plan is a failure in Takatora's eyes now and that Takatora can no longer rely on him? Or he also vows for one of them to get the forbidden fruit (by force from Roshuo) to save the world? As Yoko also ask about those who help the Overlords, likely refering to Micchy, Takatora declares them as enemies. The scene cuts right to Micchy, who asks Redyue if Femushinmu have family. Disturbingly, Redyue declared that she had parents and siblings... but she murdered them, for fun and satisfaction. Redyue's really utterly batshit insane, the killing whole family thing reminds me of Ouja from Ryuki. Urobutcher himself did compare Zangetsu to Ouja, but for what happens later in the series, fan theories suggest that he may refer to Micchy as Ouja, instead of Takatora, and Micchy's Overlord counterpart is Redyue. She even eggs for Micchy to experience that, claiming that it'd be more fun if a toy breaks and he'd be on her level by that. Micchy claims he can handle that.

Mai is practicing dancing alone, as Kaito walks by, asking the reason to practice. Mai claims that there's nothing she can do right now, so she has to move her body. Kaito tries the same thing he did to Kouta against Mai, to convince her that Micchy is their enemy without thinking much of it. Mai disagrees, but due to viewing giving up on friends as weakness, and notes that she and Kaito can have mutual agreement on that, and it's a first as well for Kaito to think of Mai as the right one. Mai keeping her grip to hope here, for Micchy, finally makes Kaito admit that she's strong in her own way. This shows a broader aspect of Kaito's social darwinist mentality, that he believes true strength lies in the moral and emotional, rather than influence to the surroundings, he uses his mindset to rally against the idea that people in positions of power are inherently superior to the powerless as well, indicating that he didn't really follow the philosophy, which is a reference to Kyoko Sakura from Madoka, another Urobutcher character with a selfish philosophy that she doesn't actually seem to follow. Though for Mai thinking of giving up as weakness that can't be forgiven... I guess that's not entirely true? Giving up also can mean that you're strong enough to let go and move on.

Kouta is at Drupers, with Bando again reminding him to eat or else he'll collapse, as Takatora comes. Both talk outside, as Takatora notices Kouta's lack of appetite, he gave him tips to keep him full by wearing Sengoku Driver and absorbing Lockseed's nutrients. Shows how far they've come from their first meeting, even if Kouta already knew about Sengoku Driver's function there. Takatora recounts about how he raised Micchy alone, as their parents were often overseas. Another similarity between them is that Kouta reveals he's raised by an older sister alone too, which Takatora remarks that Akira must be an amazing woman, as he thinks Kouta has been raised well, for someone Takatora looks up to now. Takatora talks about how he tried to be a role model for Micchy, but Micchy instead applies Takatora's poor aspect, like taking the part of Takatora being guilible pawn, which means he had to learn to be never as stupid as Takatora, regardless of moral, turning him into a ruthless, two-faced villain that focuses on using and influencing others. Kouta makes an assumption about Micchy struggling from all the lies he's told, blinding him to see which is the right decision or what he wants, giving him the hardest to overcome. Well it's good to discuss about the likely root of Micchy's problems, as understanding someone is needed to deal with them, though Kouta puts him in higher light and that he knows he can't do anything for him, but whatever goal Micchy currently had in his mind, he'll cross any line to see it through. Takatora admits that, if Micchy's big sibling is like Akira, Micchy wouldn't turn out like this, feeling responsible for Micchy's actions, as he recounts the time where he forces Micchy to cast aside distractions for his education, vowing to finish this as he prepares his old Sengoku Driver and Mango Lockseed, sending a message to Micchy in his office. While Micchy has turned into someone worse than Takatora ever was and his actions can't be excused by blaming Takatora, Takatora did have problems in raising Micchy. Shows that having best intention doesn't mean you're a good or righteous person (before now) that everything they did can be excused due to having good motivation. Not only his Project Ark before, but also Takatora's method in raising Micchy, with how he forces him to be at top in his education and viewing everything as distractions, which is a notorious type of education in Asia and can give bad consequences such as giving hard pressure from the expectation that develops mental or emotional issues, as well as Takatora's elitism to try passing his views on Micchy that looks down on Beat Riders as street trash, which is likely applied on Micchy on places like school to be condescending to others, and it won't make Micchy people's person (like what Takatora wanted) with that mentality. Takatora really needs to learn how to not be extreme in pursuing his goals.

In the garage, Mai and Zack checks out the Zawame map, noting that they've evacuated everyone that is needed, with flashback of Mai and Zack leading their respective group of people into safety, which means all that's left is the people on Yggdrasill Tower, making plans to rescue them too. All while Yoko is sitting around emotionlessly, likely highlighting her different approach to the Rider alliance compared to those 2. Kouta comes and asks where Takatora is, which Mai answers as not around here. Yoko suddently gets up and leaves the garage, which Kouta follows to ask about Takatora's whereabouts too. Yoko however insists for Kouta to stay out from this as this is familial matter. Her approach for the alliance is further showed here that she delays Kouta because of her thoughts about family matters, which'd kickstart Micchy's schemes as detailed later and the following episodes, setting up a stage for battle of the Golden Fruit, which is her goal to ally with the Riders above saving city.

Takatora faces Micchy, who claims that he's reviving Project Ark that instead saves half of humanity and claims that it's worth praise, but Takatora didn't budge and realizes that it's what Micchy "learns" from his example. I guess Takatora's really over the project now, as he tries to stop Micchy regardless, whenever Micchy is lying for the project here as he claims here to save half of humanity when to his friends he claims to save only his friends alone. Micchy's main motivation is based on how he feels that he lives under his brother shadow, and wants to break free from that to live freely, and here Takatora directly claims that Micchy is his shadow, but based on how he represents every mistakes Takatora did. The brothers both want to save people, but Takatora is the nobler side, trying to save as many as he can, despite the hard choices and sacrifices he takes to keep them alive. Micchy is the more selfish side, only wanting to save those who are close to him, leaving the rest of humanity to rot. Micchy being refered as shadow here refers to how he walks down the dark path, while Takatora maintains his noble traits and get better. Micchy comes to the conclusion that he has to kill his brother to step out from his shadow. Micchy henshins to Zangetsu Shin, while Takatora returns into base Zangetsu. It's clear why Gaim Jimber Lemon Arms was able to beat down Zangetsu Shin while Micchy's using it, and can't when Takatora's using it. Takatora's skill in fighting is on league of his own compared to Micchy that he can fight Micchy as Zangetsu Shin on equal terms even when using Sengoku Driver, as Micchy is grounded, Takatora calls him out for following his dark path, and not improving himself to be better than Takatora, as Micchy complains Takatora always pushes expectations to him. Then Micchy brings up about noblesse oblige, and complains about Takatora making himself be used by others instead putting his credibility into question, and uses the philosophy as an excuse to sacrifice Takatora as he's the most gifted. After an even fight, Takatora's skill allows him to put himself in position to finish Mitsuzane! However, Takatora's nobler traits compared to the 2 as he genuinely loved Micchy despite Takatora's misguided ways stopped him from delivering the blow, remembering their childhood when both of them are without fucked up problems. Micchy however has turned so much worse to not hesitate killing his brother off, using Melon Energy Squash to crack his helmet and knock him into nearby water, in similar fashion as Garren's fight with Kanai in Blade's end. Micchy has added another list of his crime, fratricide, without even feeling remorse for what he had done here.

Kouta tries to approach the Kureshima brothers, but is blocked by Redyue, who tells him to not spoil the fun. Kouta calls out Redyue's cruelty of being similar to Demushu, and henshins into Kachidoki Arms. His performance earns Redyue's "respect" that she views Gaim as fun too. Gaim questions Redyue about what she wants from Micchy, but like how she likes to betray who trusted her and watching their reactions, she's doing the same to Micchy, watching him pursuing his goals until he breaks under his own power, therefore Redyue don't have to interfere. Micchy is smart, but he tends to overestimate himself and sees himself as being able to control everything, neglecting the steep learning curve involved in manipulation, which'd cost him here as Redyue's one of those that can use him for her own needs instead, being more experienced manipulator. Though Gaim is enraged, Redyue points out that Micchy is his enemy now, but still only earns her a punch from Kachidoki Arms that knocks her down. Gaim upgrades into Kiwami Arms, enraged for Redyue using Micchy. But actually even without Redyue egging him to elevate himself on her level, Redyue himself admits that Micchy's so messed up himself, he's the one driving himself nuts. Kiwami Arms uses the weapons Ryugen had for the opening attack to "avenge", Budou Ryuhou (which shapes the energy balls in grape formation) and then Kiwi Gekirin. Redyue is surprised by Gaim possessing Fruit of Knowledge's power. Kiwami Arms then uses Kagematsu, of which Redyue manages to gain a little upper hand by shooting green orbs. This shows a scale between the 3 main Overlords, that Demushu as the lowest level one is effortlessly defeated by Kiwami Arms, but Redyue can fight evenly with him. Kiwami Arms then uses Bana Spear, and puts a nice usage of the weapon to form a banana projectile, but it latches on Redyue, throwing her around into a nearby building. Still I wish there's them utilizing banana in peeling its skin or banana skin's slippery traits though. Redyue tries to control Helheim plants, but it didn't do anything against Kiwami Arms. Kiwami Arms tries to finish her off using DJ Gun's Fruit Basket Charge, Orange Charge variant, but Redyue escapes by using controlling plants to shield herself using a nearby Toyota Hiace, exploding it instead. Though surprised, Redyue has another plan, she vows to make Gaim learn the meaning of gaining the power of Fruit of Knowledge. Kouta tries to approach the Kureshima brothers' fight, hoping to not be late...

I got to the HBV in my OOO rewatch... just imagine a universe where Tajador is made up of a rooster, a pidgeon and a duck

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Kamen Rider Gaim watch

The Forbidden Fruit Saga

Episode 37: Baron's Soccer Showdown Summer Camp!

Written by: Jin Haganeya/Nobuhiro Mori, Directed by: Takayuki Shibasaki

Another breather episode, with Urobutcher not writing it, a tie in to the movie Kamen Rider Gaim: Great Soccer Battle! Golden Fruits Cup!, which likely won't be aired in my TV too.

The canon part: Kouta tries to rush into the Kureshima brothers' battle, but is intercepted by... a horde of flying insects like ep. 9, but turns out that it's a component of Grasshopper monster. Kouta henshins into Gaim Jimber Lemon Arms, and realizes that said monster isn't an Overlord but is just as tough. The Grasshopper Monster using the ability to turn itself into flying insects awfully resemble Demushu's ability to turn himself into a mist, giving him mobility and dodging attacks, and the monster left the fight with Gaim wondering. Then Kaito checks his green wound inflicted by Redyue, as Sagara approaches him, talking about how Kouta left him in the dust, with the flashback of Gaim getting Jimber and Kachidoki Arms, but Kaito still wants to beat him, so Sagara opens a crack showing an alternate version of Zawame, with Gaim jumping from it, turning from Orange Arms into Kiwami Arms. Kaito henshins into Baron Lemon Energy Arms and expectedly, Kiwami Arms had the upper hand, with Sagara pointing out that's Kouta right now, citing his determination... eh you're the one giving him those power ups Sagara. Baron keeps going, realizing that he can be the one to take the world. Kiwami Arms uses DJ Gun to perform Kachidoki Charge, shooting a fireball point-blank to Baron and de-henshins him in the process...

..which suddenly sends Kaito into (almost) a goal post, as in Kaito becomes a failed goalkeeper from a ball shot (not by Rider Kicking but by weapon) by Gaim. Kaito also finds himself on a soccer field, with Zack and Peko helping him get up, with the return of Hase who Zack calls out as hitting him on purpose. Bravo argues that the soccer field is a battlefield, warning that they may fare worse against his pro team in France. Well, comparing something bad with something worse doesn't negate the existing bad qualities of the former. Kaito finds his wounds healed too. Hase throws the ball into Bravo (who is wearing the soccer shirt along with his Rider form!), with Zack's henshin into Knuckle as goalkeeper. Bravo shoots the ball with his finisher, scoring a goal as Knuckle isn't strong enough to stop the force. Team Charmant wins over Team Baron. Peko apologizes to Kaito, but Kaito only wants explanations, but is interrupted by Team Charmant, Bravo doubting their ability to compete in "All Riders Cup", and Jonouchi gloating that they can't stop them. Kaito realizes that this is alternate world as there's no trace of Helheim invasion.

The soccer game is hosted by... DJ Sagara again, talking about Team Charmant's 10-0 victory over Team Baron. Kaito hears that in Drupers, with Zack and Peko sitting by nearby. Kaito finally explains that he lost his memories, with both surprised. They think Kaito doing what they do currently will "jog his memories" as their solution. As Kaito asks why they're playing soccer, Zack explains that it's to win All Riders Cup and... get the golden fruit, which belongs to only 1 last team. So in this world golden fruit is done by sports....with Rider still being included of course. Peko and Zack laments that they're on top at one point but is on losing streak now. Kaito, hearing about how to survive they must play soccer, reignites his social darwinism philosophy and now agrees to train. In the training Kaito turns out to be not a good soccer player, with Zack and Peko being confused over this. But there's a cameo of Kengo Nakamura of Kawasaki Frontale, who arrives to help. He trains the players of Team Baron, and Kaito manages to improve himself. Kaito then comes across Lapis, who is seen earlier before, who claims Kaito's previous "inconvenient" memories are haunting him and will cause him problem, and Kaito gets attacked by Grasshopper Monster, which Kaito henshins into Baron. Baron insists for Zack to henshin and help him fight Inves, which instead gets them confused that Kaito henshin to fight monsters and the term "Inves". Baron drives away the monster with Spear Victory, Squash version. As Zack thinks it's awesome, Kaito realizes that there's no Inves either in that world.

As Kouta's still running around, he's being watched around by someone with a belt. Kouta then comes across Grasshopper Monster again, and after doing acrobatics in human form to keep up and avoid his attacks, he henshins into Kachidoki Arms to settle the fight quickly. He's interrupted by Sagara telling him that the dimension is warping, informing that something nasty is waking up in Helheim, opening a crack showing an alternate Zawame City, with a shot of Kouta handing a soccer ball to Lapis. Kachidoki Arms resumes his fight with the monster, upgrading to Kiwami Arms dual wielding Daidaimaru and a Duri Noko, then defending and attacking with Melon Defender, and finishes the monster off with Kunai Burst (Ichigo Arms' finishing move). Kouta eventually reaches the spot where Zangetsu fight happens, with Armored Rider Mars entering Lapis world, as the narration explains the fruit myths, especially Ambrosia, the fruit eaten by Adam and Eve, talking about great power bestowed by those who eat the fruit, but only single one will be chosen.

Bravo promises his fans that his team will win in All Riders Cup, but Jonouchi delivers the news hosted by DJ Sagara that Team Baron rises up in the rank, due to Kaito playing as Baron, and can redirect the ball's direction with a Banana Squash kick (soccer shoot, not flying Rider Kick), with DJ Sagara announcing that the next match will still be between Team Baron and Team Charmant. At Drupers, Zack and Peko are proud, but questions Kaito's decision to take up soccer, which of course, Kaito equates it to dancing that he'll also show off his strength and fight off the strong ones in soccer. In the soccer match, Team Charmant has called the cameo of real life soccer player on their own, Kosuke Ota from FC Tokyo, but Team Baron gets to keep Nakamura. In so far a normal soccer match, both Team Baron and Charmant score 1 goal, but Team Baron gains an upper hand by Kaito's henshin into Baron and doing a backflip banana-themed kick into Team Charmant's goal post. Grasshopper Monster is still not finished and appears on the field. Not even the Riders, both of the real soccer players Nakamura and Ota were able to turn the soccer ball into fireball with their tricks to attack the monster by kicking the ball into it! Baron then drives the monster out of the field to fight it, then upgrades with Genesis Driver into Baron Lemon Energy Arms, using soccer trick to bounce back an energy ball from the monster, then finishes it off with Cavaliend to trap the monster in a lemon projection, then kicking (a proper Rider Kick this time) it through lemon slices, similar to Pine Arms' Iron Breaker. Lapis comes, finally revealing more of him that he brought Kaito here to create his ideal world, but erases Kaito's memories, apparently sending Kaito back into his original world, as he wakes up in the previous park, vowing to stay true of his philosophy of showing off power.

This episode, there's a fanservice element either for the Rider followers like the return of Hase, or for those who are keen on soccer, especially on Japan's real life soccer scene, the cameo of Kengo Nakamura and Kosuke Ota. Another good thing that the episode have is actually... the monster battles as there's five Ending Themes playing during it; Ranbu Escalation during Baron's fight against Kiwami Arms, Never Surrender during Baron's fight against Grasshopper Monster, and Raise Up Your Flag during Kouta in Kachidoki Arms' fight against the same monster. Otherwise, this episode still delays the plot after a cliffhanger of Kouta finding out the fate of Kureshima brothers, and I enjoy this one less than ep. 30 with Kikaider (there's 'soccer element' there in Kikaider's kick on Kachidoki's Orange Charge too!), as this has less meaningful moments and feels more time-wasting to put this in the main series (it's also to promote Japan participating in the FIFA Cup in 2014). Currently for here, I also know little to nothing regarding Lapis, the boy who sent Kaito into his world, so nothing to say yet.

truly this was the answer to the ooo final form question all along

Just finished watching Kamen Rider G. It is an absolute trip and I highly recommend it, oh my god.

I actually liked Kamen Rider G! I probably would have preferred a show of that to a lot of Kamen Rider content in 2009! It's weird how it wasn't 100% parody as well, it was actually a bit serious in parts too!

Kamen Rider Gaim watch

The Forbidden Fruit Saga

Episode 38: The Return of the Professor

Written by: Gen Urobuchi/Jin Haganeya, Directed by: Kyohei Yamaguchi

Kouta reaches the place where Kureshima brothers had their fight...and is too late. He finds Takatora's broken Sengoku Driver and Melon Lockseed, as Ryoma, with his infamous shorts attire watches him. In Micchy's office, Redyue asks him about his feelings after committing a fratricide, she assumes that he had pain doing it, but Micchy laughs, treating her as stupid to think so as Micchy finally surprassed him and is free from his brother's shadow for now, or so he thought. He got interrupted by Takatora nearby, claiming that he won't ever escape him, claiming that he made Micchy the way he is now and never earned anything, mocking Micchy's sheer amount of pride that in reality he only utilizes Takatora's hard work, like literally taking his Genesis Driver and Melon Energy Lockseed to become Zangetsu Shin. Of course this would be just bruise Micchy's ego, and he yells around to shut Takatora up, being sick of his lecture. Micchy hurls Takatora's words back that he's the one that can't do anything, likely refering to how Takatora is used as a pawn by others. It's revealed however, by Redyue's question... Micchy's only talking to himself, so the "Takatora" he's speaking to was only his hallucinations. Micchy's insanity only has increased further that he's now lashing out and rampaging at basically nothing, even fucking Redyue asks if he's broken.

Mai is taking trash bag out of the garage, as Kouta approaches her, handing Takatora's Sengoku Driver and Melon Lockseed, mourning to the fact that he can't stop Micchy. Mai takes a hint that Takatora may have been finished off, asking what's the matter with Micchy. Kouta vows to snap out Micchy of his path, but explains the reason to not give up on him is because Micchy would have no one left (and probably can continue his crime unprovoked). Ryoma then comes, teasing them about bonds of friendship, and taunting them with the reaction to Takatora's death, pretending to be sad but then laughing about it. Kouta is enraged and attacks him, but Ryoma claims he's here to not fight (well, what is provoking them just now?) and dodges Kouta's attacks, including tripping him to the trash. This probably shows that Ryoma doesn't really need a bodyguard, despite hiring Yoko as one. But to collect data, Ryoma agrees to fight for a while as he henshins into Duke, while Kouta henshins into Gaim, with neat perspective of Orange Arms' entrance being shot at Helheim. I wonder if Riders can also move to Helheim by just henshin, not using Lock Vehicles? Jump into Helheim crack above them. As they fight, Zack comes out of the garage, joining the fight as Knuckle. Duke gains upper hand on both Riders, so Gaim finally upgrades into Jimber Lemon Arms, and keeps up with Duke better. Gaim and Duke.. dukes it out with their finisher attacks, canceling each other out. Baron also appears with Lemon Energy Arms, ready to shoot him from behind, with Knuckle getting back up into the fight. Outnumbered, Duke returns into Ryoma, putting his hands up, and claims that he wants to make an arrangement.

Ryoma knows that they attempt to save Overlord's captured people in Yggdrasill tower, but claims they can't get into the tower right now. Ryoma has rightfully earned the hatred from everyone, starting with even Kouta being livid at his presence before, and then Kaito having little patience to his words. Ryoma proposes to make benefical agreement between everyone involved there to lead them into the tower, as Ryoma is also in disadvantageous position himself. The hatred continues to Yoko who claims he's lying as every way into the tower is blocked, but Ryoma claims he has a secret entrance, outside of Zawame. Zack is next to show his hatred by deeming Ryoma as untrustworthy. Ryoma acknowledges that, but points out that they have no other option, asking them to think how long the victims will last in the tower, while displaying a lack of personal space by getting really close to Kouta, provoking him again while he claims he'll be back later. This highlights Ryoma's lack of social skills and creepiness, especially about how close physical proximity and physical contact are really inappropriate in Japanese customs, and he has openly displayed his trolling attitude, constantly provoking and taunting others to rile them up, while treating the others as not being gentlemanly or patient, displaying big hammy and over the top demeanor for the audience. Like how Micchy joins Yggdrasill to further his own agendas, here Ryoma "joins" the Beat Riders to further his agendas, the Beat Riders have to inevitably help Ryoma too while they go on their objective...

Redyue talks to Roshuo about the humans she collected being enough to revive the Queen, but Roshuo talks about how the Femushinmu are close to the extinction, with previous Overlords being killed. Redyue points out that the deaths are his own doing that he gave humanity a piece of Golden Fruit in form of Kiwami Arms, questioning Roshuo's decision to do that. Roshuo doesn't view humanity as enemy as they're like Femushinmu in his eyes, doomed to extinct, and claims he's hastening their demise, albeit he'll change his perspective if there's a human that can lead them into different path of future. Though Roshuo is saddened by fellow Overlord's death, Roshuo has become a full-blown misantrophe that he hates his own species for being malicious whenever weak due to being cowardly backstabbers or strong due to being vicious bullies, and thus he doesn't hold it on the humans for killing the Overlords, but he'll just let either remaining Overlords or humanity reap what they've sowed for their misdeeds, being so nihilistic that he views none of lifes are able to be saved, and won't bother creating another life with the Golden Fruit's powers. Redyue accuses of Roshuo being a lost cause due to a snake, but Roshuo is enraged and sends her flying for being insolent, reminding her that their final duty is this as their race is heading towards extinction. Micchy realizes that there are those who think like that too among Overlords.

In the garage, Yoko reminds that Ryoma will betray anyone without hesitation. Like his view against Sagara before, Kouta begrudgingly thinks they should take the offer as there are no option left before the victims are drained completely. Oren insists for him to cool his head, but surprisingly, Kaito's on board with taking the offer too as this is the only opportunity for them to strike back, regardless of Ryoma's plan, and cowering in fear of Ryoma isn't sensible either. The discussion leads to nowhere, so Kouta and Kaito continues about this in a park, of which Kouta claims they may be right that trusting Ryoma is too reckless, but Kaito will let themselves get used, they'll use Ryoma back (which is what Ryoma proposed... mutual benefit). Mai spotted them, and joins their conversation, asking if Kaito wears his belt all the time, as he had to prepare himself for any attack. This is like an aspect of humans to have a fight and flight responses to negative things, and Kaito does have cynical properties, albeit it makes sense for him to wear belt all the time and it does harm to no one. Kouta does that too, while absorbing nutrients from Lockseeds. However Mai warns him that he still needs to eat real food, with Bando worrying about him too. Mai suggests to throw a party at Drupers after their fight is over, with loads of yummy stuff to eat, while this is an attempt to be positive or raise morale, this is also likely an attempt to get Kouta to eat real food too by tempting him with yummy stuffs.

Kaito then asks Kouta that he still doesn't give up on Micchy, with Mai answering that they won't, likely abandon him as Kaito cuts her off, acknowledging that trait has her strength. Kouta claims that he's like Mai regarding that, but Kaito objects, as a social expert he knows how to differentiate them that not giving up on Micchy is Mai's strength because she faces her own future, while for Kouta, it's about him caring about everyone but himself, thus he won't even think of clear future for him. This is similar to Yoko's question to Kouta before in ep. 33 about his future. Hero complex is a flaw, and can be self-destructive. The important thing is, if someone wants to make everyone happy, well, "everyone" should include themselves as well. This also still goes on growing up theme that each of Gaim's arc have as well, which currently is about Kouta undergoing mid-life crisis, with the episode numbers that kickstarted the new arc being based on the age which started the development stage of someone as well, where before ep. 1-11 is about Kouta being an irresponsible child (which also stops at age 11), continuting to ep. 12-29 about Kouta experiencing the puberty harshness (puberty happens at age 12-19), then ep. 20-23 about Kouta taking first steps as responsible adult (age 20 is the time to live the life of an adult), then ep. 24-32 about Kouta changing to a new man and facing many new problems (24 is the age to kickstart a responsible adult), with age 33 continuing adult's journey into mid life, and the number of episode that starts The Forbidden Fruit Saga as well. Mai makes Kouta promise to tell her his future after the fight is over, but of course without the bickering in early part. Mai asks for them to head back, with Kaito looking over his Helheim wound.

Later, Mai is buying supplies from a convenience store, and again, pays for what she took. Peko accompanies her and asks if the supply is enough. I'd want to know what others like Peko there think about Mai paying an empty store, though still, it's either story coincidence or stupidity for 2 non-Riders (Peko becomes one, Kurokage Shin, but in special) of the Rider alliance to roam the town without anyone to protect them, as of course, as they plan to get medicines, Micchy greets Mai, trying to get her to come with him with a big smile, as Mai requests for Micchy to stop what he's doing as well. Being a narcissist, Micchy ignores her feelings, and sees himself in the right, dismissing Mai as only confused and doesn't know better, again pinning the blame to others. Even worse, he doesn't even get mad or make any effort to convince her; he just claims that she'll eventually see that Micchy's in the right, attacking her self-esteem and self-worth. The Beat Riders have come a long way from Peko shooting a rock to Mai's hand, to a mutual friendship, with Peko standing up for Mai, but this is how different Micchy's behavior towards what he considers his friends or not, like Peko for the latter, treating him as a scum, and sics another Overlord, Shinmugurun on Peko, beating him relentlessly. Shinmugurun is based on Genbu, completing the Four Gods theme. Micchy forces Mai to come with him, ignoring her concern for Peko and her pleas to make Micchy stop beating him up, further showing how how he doesn't actually view Mai as person. Micchy's blackmail here disturbingly resembles what real emotional abusers do to break down their targets. With Peko going to die, Mai has no choice but to comply to Micchy's needs, following her, with Shinmugurun pulling Mai away preventing her to check on Peko, who tries to reach his communicator to inform Kouta and Kaito that Micchy took Mai, which had Kouta speeding off, leaving Kaito who's still checking on Peko. While this situation is a damsel-in-distress type, ironically right before that, it's a dude-in-distress with Peko being assaulted by an Overlord, even more obvious with Peko being tangled in his tendrils helplessly.

Kouta confronts Micchy, with Mai being held by and Redyue wondering who she is. Micchy commands Shinmugurun to "keep Mai safe", another aspect to invalidate his deeds of practically kidnapping. Micchy then brings up about his Project Ark plan to Kouta, treating Mai as chosen one, but blatantly devalues the ones he not choose, like Kouta as not deserving to be near her as he henshins into Zangetsu Shin. Kouta hasn't done a henshin yet, trying to get Micchy to open his eyes about the consequences for what he has done, but he eventually does into Gaim Jimber Lemon Arms. But to his surprise, Micchy as Zangetsu Shin actually overwhelms Gaim in direct combat, with Gaim left to wonder if he's the same Micchy. Gaim upgrades into Kachidoki Arms and gain better upper hand, but unexpectedly, Kachidoki is knocked down too by Zangetsu Shin. This impresses Redyue as apart from entertainment, she may have met someone who may surprass her in craziness, despite of him being human. But as Zangetsu Shin walks to Gaim, hallucinations of Takatora appears again, warning him about how Mai will be likely someone Micchy attacked too, from how he lashed out at everything close to him", which enrages Micchy. Ironically, despite Takatora being cited as the reason for Micchy's current behavior, the hallucinations of him is actually his conscience, trying to keep a hold of him into what's left of his common sense, despite "Takatora" doing it in a condescending way.

Baron joins the battle too right after, with Zangetsu Shin grounding him but saved by Kachidoki Arms rejoining the fight. Kachidoki had the position to shoot Zangetsu Shin, but hesitates, which gets him shoved away by Baron to continue attacking Zangetsu Shin, warning Gaim that he'll get killed if he's holding back. Power is something that makes a villain dangerous, so Baron's advice can be applied here, but less brutal of what Baron thinks, if someone wants to give a chance, they have to put said person in a position where they can't harm anyone, such as making sure Micchy's not in Rider form. Nevertheless, Gaim upgrades into Kiwami Arms, using both of Baron's base weapon to fight, Bana Spear and Mango Punisher. At first Gaim and Baron gain upper hand again on Zangetsu Shin, but he bounces back, knocking both Riders down with a Melon Energy Squash, and even swats away a finisher from Kiwami Arms (with Mango Punisher) and Baron Lemon Energy Arms! Zangetsu Shin retaliates, using his finisher, as Takatora's hallucination walks in front of him. Zangetsu Shin declares that he decides his own future, vowing to take control of his life, shoots through "Takatora" and both Riders, knocking them down. Baron even thinks they have to retreat, with Gaim insisting to save Mai, but Baron notes that Zangetsu Shin's unbeatable at this stage. Zangetsu Shin however lets them go for some reason. After they return to human form, Kouta protests that he stopped him, but Kaito explains about Micchy's huge increase in fighting performance as a show of someone who has cast aside all his doubts and hesitation, symbolized by him shooting through the Takatora hallucination, which means Micchy as Zangetsu Shin turns strong enough to beat both Baron Lemon Energy Arms (another Genesis Driver Rider) and even freaking Kiwami Arms (a final form) at once. I don't know about this, while there have been those who rag on heroic side for winning through "determination/willpower somehow increases power beyond all logics", this is basically villain's version of that, Micchy becomes even more committed to his goals and thus is determined enough to achieve that, going through all odds and somehow surprassing Kiwami Arms and 1 other Rider for that despite Micchy being the worse fighter compared to those 2 before. Like when it happened on heroic side, I don't buy Zangetsu Shin suddenly growing up to be that strong, even if one turns off their doubts, despite villains getting this seem to be given more free pass due to likely valuing more of their pragmatic traits (It'd be double standard view tbh to rag only on heroic side). There are arguments about Kouta holding back, but even then, at least he should turn into tank for that due to Kachidoki Arms' and to a lesser extent Kiwami Arms' durability. I feel that it's better to show Micchy's upgrade by something that is revealed later in this part (I refer to Ryugen Yomi).

Kamen Rider G legit has everything. It's basically everything that most people love about Kamen Rider all summed up into one mini-sode, and man did they nail it. The writing was so incredibly focused and tight that I couldn't help by love it.

G is pretty fun!

Just finished watching the second episode of Kamen Rider Wizard and saw the first one last night and I’m definitely liking what I am seeing so far. Might be another KR series I'm planning to watch somewhere down the line.

I finished Zi-O about a week ago, and after taking some time to consider, here are my thoughts and feelings...

I liked it a lot! It has its flaws, but what Rider show doesn't? The cast is unusually great, and their chemistry really fuels the show, especially in the middle stretch where most toku starts to drag. The Another Riders were super cool. Sougo is one of the most compelling primary Riders of the last ten years (the kind-yet-sorta-sociopathic, sweet-but-megalomaniacal good guy isn't an archetype I've ever seen before, let alone cast in the roll of a loveable hero). The relationships are complex and heartfelt. The action was bombastic and fun. And the stakes are reliably HUGE. I probably would have gotten more out of the tribute arcs had I seen more of the early-Heisei series, but overall the returning-Rider stories were still very well-done (with a couple misses here and there).

IMO, this show does not deserve a fraction of the hate it gets. Do I understand why a certain type of fan dislikes it? Sure -- the rules of time travel are confusing and inconsistent, and if you're someone who enjoys tightly-woven and logic-driven plots, that's gonna ruffle your feathers. Even someone like me, who isn't bothered by logical inconsistency as long as I'm emotionally invested in the story, had moments where I was like "wait, that doesn't make any sense." The problem is that, by and large, no Rider series is free of plot holes or giant leaps in logic, and this criticism is only ever levied against the shows fandom group-think has arbitrarily deemed sub-par.

Ultimately, a lot of the plot holes and inconsistencies are explained... just not until the end. As a culture, we've gotten so used to being immediately spoon-fed answers to all of our questions by cowardly and feckless writers terrified to tease out a mystery lest they upset a mob of pedantic and demanding internet nerds desperate to prove their superiority to a piece of fiction by subjecting it to unrealistic standards it has never demonstrated a desire to meet. Obviously, I think that's a shame, and it's refreshing that Zi-O didn't fall for that bullshit.

Zi-O isn't my favorite Rider show, but it's better than many, and it's exactly the show I hoped Kento Shimoyama would spearhead after the ultimately-disappointing-but-still-amiable Ninninger. If your goals when it comes to watching toku are to have fun and feel big emotions, and you don't necessarily care about messy logic, then I suggest giving it a chance. If you're the kind of fan who needs to pick out all of the elements of a children's show to feed your own ego... well, steer clear.

Kamen Rider Gaim watch

The Forbidden Fruit Saga

Episode 39: The Do-or-Die Tower Break-In Strategy!

Written by: Gen Urobuchi, Directed by: Kyohei Yamaguchi

Though likely others can agree for saving Mai, the debate of using Ryoma's secret tunnel between the Beat Riders, Oren, and Jonouchi still present as it's madman like Ryoma proposing it, but Kouta is left with no choice to go along with it. The debate even increases with Kouta trying to stop Micchy. Kaito argues again about Micchy can't be saved now, using Takatora as an example. But that jumps into conclusion to assume that he's trying to save Micchy and claiming Kouta would be killed (as well as callously treating his death as a window for others to save Mai), though that may be a cold front, for something later), even if it's not 'saving', Micchy still have to be dealt with, not leaving him unprovoked. I guess Jonouchi still has a trace of his cowardly trait to complain that no one including him can stay behind anymore without being lame, or Zack's trace of his old personality to mock Jonouchi as lame, though this is probably gentle ribbing as Zack was concerned about Jonouchi when he used Suika Arms before. Note that Zack tried to object about Micchy too here, but quickly rushes for Mai. The silly stuff continues at injured Peko trying to wake up, but stopped by Chucky with his eyes popping out. I guess this succeeds in lightening up Kouta, thanking all the people there.

As Mai stays in Micchy's office, Micchy responds to Mai's plead for Micchy to return to his former 'sweet, kind' self and stop his cruel deeds, he talks about how kindness is a weakness, using himself as an example for being useless in Team Gaim before. Well, actually, power is the thing that extend your deeds, contributing more for heroes or damaging more for villains, while Micchy was useless, the team was being carried by Kouta, a noble hero, and he's certainly not useless too, like ep. 9 where he carried the team with his smarts! So that'd be his ego to look down on kindness and dismiss others, just being jealous of their achievements. Micchy channels Sid to make dirty choices and gashlighs Mai as being confused again, but Takatora's hallucination doesn't disappear, claiming no one will understand Micchy now. With Micchy going apeshit to snark back as Takatora being fool and dead, Mai witnesses Micchy's insanity directly in front of her, all with horrified expression, emphasized in her eyes, as it's Micchy talking and rampaging to no one.

In their way to the tunnel, Ryoma informed that the cracks are opening all over the world, thus changing SDF's objection into barricading themselves, which he admits, while getting up close to everyone there again. He purposely wants for Helheim to invade the world, in a display of similarity against Kaito before, but also narrates about what happened, like hinting an Overlord more powerful than Redyue from the missile attacks. Micchy now ditches Rat and Rica for not obeying him, letting them get sacrificed for Roshuo's Queen for sheer spite. Kouta's not the only one getting this treatment for defying his control freak aspects, telling Redyue that they got what they deserved, which intrigues her to be so cold to his "friends" It's incredibly petty too, as the disobedience is about them leaving Yggdrasill Tower against his wishes. Although she praises his cold-blooded traits after killing Takatora, as a more experienced manipulator, Redyue tries to give tips to Micchy, to not underestimate Kouta who is blessed by Fruit of Knowledge, using his resources right like using Mai as bait. However, although he doesn't treat her as person, this is his sole care for others, threatening to end his partnership with Redyue if she involves Mai.

Ryoma's actual purpose is shown when the group encounters a huge crowd of Inves in their way, as they fight them off to defend the van too after some bickering from Oren and Jonouchi, which is to further collect data by recording their fights. Bravo suggests Gaim and others to keep going as both him and Jonouchi take care of the Inves army, with Yoko driving. After they reach the secret entrance, Kouta suggests to help Bravo and Gridon, with Kaito insisting they have no time. But Ryoma thinks he can support Kaito's statement by devaluing those 2 as only dead meats now, which enrages Kouta that they can only reach there due to those 2 holding the Inves off so they can keep going... although of course Ryoma won't care if they don't make it or if the kidnapped people are drained completely. Although Kaito is focused on the mission, acknowledges the truth of those 2 might be dying, and has similarity to Ryoma, he won't stoop as low as him to dehumanize them and devalue their sacrifice, giving a satisfying punch to Ryoma, drawing blood from his lips, giving him a warning if he's going to be tactless. As they enter the building, they discover another of Ryoma's treacher other than his behavior, the security system of several Suika Arms and Tulip Hoppers, which Ryoma didn't tell. Kaito, Zack, and Yoko henshin into their Rider form, with Knuckle using Suika Arms midway, but not using the weapon, but punching the enemies with watermelon projection in his arms, while Kouta and Ryoma goes to Redyue's machine.

Roshuo watches the machine working on the coffin of his love, lamenting about how the golden fruit may not give his love back, hinting the limit of the power it holds. Micchy takes Mai to him, declaring her as the only valuable human for now, and entrusts Roshuo to take care of her, due to not trusting Redyue. Despite his condescending attitude, although he distrusts Redyue for good reason, his judgment seems to be clouded himself here by his possessive love for Mai, giving her to someone who thinks humanity isn't worth saving (inflated view for Mai there), and assuming the best for Roshuo to not let an innocent get harmed as a proud ruler, albeit will accept Roshuo's decision if she's not worth protecting. Roshuo even insists for Micchy to not act like he know him. Another irony between these "pairing" is that, without opposites attract in effect due to obvious reasons, Micchy has turned into an opposite for Mai too, with Mai being horrified by his actions while she's now the only person Micchy cares about now, at least in terms of keeping her safe, after ditching Rat and Rica. Other than that, Mai is caring and empathetic, wants to make people happy, and resorts to informing others about Helheim when she learns it. Micchy had no qualms constantly betraying anyone, only cares for his selfish goals, and focuses on keeping secrets from others. Both also undergo outfit change with Micchy's suit and Mai's dress.

Roshuo learns something likely out of his mind that what scares Mai isn't her current situation, but about the fear of her friends' well-being to risk their life to rescue her, putting his belief in humans to question. Roshuo nevertheless tests Mai, especially that one of the friends is someone who betrayed whole humanity and allied himself with Redyue. However, a group doesn't necessarily contain identical individuals, which is what Roshuo thinks to assume her other friends as the same, but can't assume anyone on the group as the same as one black sheep among them, with Mai pointing out that her friends are a team. Mai then continues with a quote that can really frustrate some of the audience that it sounds really stupid, the claim to not stop trusting someone after a betrayal, which refers to Micchy here to still believe in him after all what he did. Though to be fair for her, she still knows little about his gradual transformation, and she acknowledges that he did horrible things, but she deals with it by trying to get to know the roots behind it and get mutual understanding instead of axing him off. Other than that, Micchy is too multifaceted and changes too many times. Mai turns back the topic on Roshuo, assuming that Roshuo stops trusting anyone after 1 betrayal, which he confirms. Like Kouta to Demushu before, Mai delivers a comeback to Roshuo that she points out that's the reason why the castle is so lonely, means at least Mai has some foundation for her decision to not stop trusting. Being distrustful does have bad consequences too (and I also have to work on this), like how it can deprive one of human connection and authentic living, and not letting go of past betrayal can get in the way of current living (the bad consequence of dwelling in the past) or how one projects their feelings due to that. For what Kaito said before about Mai being strong, accepting the fact of someone's betrayal means one can withstand uncomfortable feelings from a BS someone pulls.

For building the base without telling others, like Mai to Roshuo above, Kouta notes that Ryoma doesn't trust anyone. As Ryoma doesn't see the value of connecting with people, he elaborates about his world view to be ruthless; abandon captured families, give up on friends who betray, feel no guilt for a murder of one's friend. By that someone will be free from stress, as he thinks Kouta suffers for being good to others, while Ryoma, disturbingly, is cheerful and upbeat because he couldn't care less for anyone. This marks how sociopathic he is, and this is "don't give a fuck" mentality taken to the extreme, literally doing anything without regard of what others feel about that including heinous things, and what I hope that mentality won't turn someone into. Kouta and Ryoma comes across Shinmugurun, where Kouta henshins to fight, but Ryoma stands by for a while before he henshins into Duke, showing off the Genesis Driver's ability, that he can gain an upper hand against even an Overlord, using Lemon Energy Squash to clone himself into 4 illusions, before he shoots Shinmugurun. Duke however leaves the Overlord to Gaim, continuing to capture data from Duke's scanning device. Gaim upgrades into Kiwami, and makes use of a neat ability of his ability, summoning 6 different weapons, using first 5 which are Bana Spear, Kiwi Gekirin, Donkachi, Ichigo Kunai, Kagematsu as throwing weapons, giving nods to Gates of Babylon, before finishing him off with Orange Charge.

The series in the TV has finished airing, and I haven't caught up with the writing even if I have watched it all on TV, so I'd post 2 episodes at once per writing for now to make it quicker, as after Gaim there'll be a new KR series airing (so quick), which is W/Double.

Kamen Rider Gaim watch

The Forbidden Fruit Saga

Episode 40: Awakening to the Over Lord

Written by: Gen Urobuchi, Directed by: Hidenori Ishida

Kouta learns some new info while walking through the secret entrance, namely about how Ryoma doesn't seem to care about the state of Yggdrasill's base now (his place for research), only pretending. I still wonder what's in store for Ryoma to be nonchalant that his work may have been damaged. Kouta also learns that among the captive, there's Rat, Rica, and Akira. Ryoma caught on the insight about how the machines work, but insists for Kouta to ask Redyue to save the people from the machine. Kouta is enraged to henshin into Kiwami Arms, while Ryoma puts smooth-talk demeanor to claim he wants to talk but waits until Kouta calmed down. While Kouta's compassion display is the one that some characters, or possibly audience, can find stupid, and enraged scenes like this seems to be more approved, I'd think Kouta being enraged here to fight is actually the rash one, though of course understandable, as beating the shit out of Redyue won't stop the machine. Actually damage the machine instead by the henshin... Ryoma also henshins into Duke, as Redyue spins creating whirlwind, taking all the fighters above ground. As a manipulator, and the best one, Redyue also tries to break Gaim's ideals, by questioning his reason to fight for other people, pointing out that he's tempted into power by the "snake" which means it's suspicious, as Redyue uses teleportation to distract Gaim. Though Gaim spontaneously claims he'll protect his kind, Redyue points out that Gaim no longer belongs in the world, but instead he's one of the Overlords, like how he can't enjoy human food anymore. Redyue then gives hypnosis to Gaim, which Duke deems as interesting (another data gathering I suppose), as he turns himself invisible, and escapes into his still-functioning lab, rebooting the Master Intelligent System, watching the recording for everyone, seemingly planning big something of the new data he got, at least learning that Roshuo's the one holding Fruit of Knowledge.

Roshuo shows and explains the Forbidden Fruit to Mai, about the compromise of (saving) the world or the king, either creating new world by destroying the old one for the king to rule, or saving the world from Helheim's invasion at the cost of leaving the king with no place to rule. Likely the first time Mai sees Sagara in his Helheim attire, Sagara adds up, similar to what Redyue claims against Gaim, someone with too much strength will naturally draw hatred, inspiring fear. I guess Sagara doesn't take into account for the part of saving the world from the forest, if he talks about destroying old world even if this refers to Kouta, despite Mai asking if Kouta would be hailed as a hero instead, likely refering to the part of leaving the king with no rule. Nevertheless Mai calls out Sagara for putting Kouta in suffering from being feared part, questioning his plans. Sagara points out that it's Kouta's decision though, already made too, with flashbacks of Kouta picking Kiwami Lockseed, which means Kouta already gained a bit of the forest ruler's power. Even a small part of the Forbidden Fruit gains Kouta a final form... imagine full fruit (I know this is public knowledge already ~). Sagara explains to Mai, as well as Redyue to Kouta (after relieving Hase's moment) about how if someone can control the fate of the world, they're no longer human but an invader, violating the law of the world, regardless of what Kouta does to them, because hating is easier than understanding. While as some Rider shows establish, that what matters is someone's soul rather than their form, this deals with other's perception of them, which can't be controlled as it's free will of individuals (or groups). Being a superhero won't guarantee you getting the deserved recognition, due to the nature of superpower despite their moral, those powers enable behaviors that human laws and norms have not evolved to regulate, causing risk and panic in society. At the end though, Sagara's exposition can be a waste of time for Mai, as she knows Kouta enough (and a trait she's worried about) that his choice is obviously protecting the world and destroying himself (with her truly saddened over this), over giving up the world to save himself, for a question Sagara presents.

The hypnosis for Gaim begins, which shows an illusion about Kouta's (his human mode) hypothetical future when he saves the world this way, following Sagara's suggestions to become Overlord that has the power to do it, albeit even now he had gained some part of it. In Kouta's vision, he finds people in a Zawame park declaring him as a monster and scared, fleeing from him. Other than that, the hypothetical seems to swap Kouta and Yuuya's place, with Kouta gaining a claw like Hase's, then mutates into Byakko Inves (the Inves form of Yuuya), and Yuuya being the one to become Gaim (as Yuuya found the Sengoku Driver at first). The difference is though, Yuuya as Gaim shows hostility towards Kouta as a monster, even gleefully attacks him withou regard, eager to turn him into 'fruit juice', and Kouta being the confused monster that feels this is all wrong, running away. Later, the hypothetical puts Kouta in Hase's place, visiting Drupers with claw arm, to the surprise of Bando, Rat and Rica (who are there when Hase visiits), and like Hase, Kouta can't hold himself back to stab Rat. Kouta also relieves Hase's moments in the place he was killed, causing scene there, but still has Byakko Inves as his monster form, including Yuuya as Gaim attacking him. Kouta though, sees a positive if he's the one being put in this situation, as Yuuya wouldn't be killed, only concerned about others (and he wants power for that) regardless of what happens to himself. This again shows how much Kouta values lives, even if it's only 1 death, like how if it's put in math, Kouta views any life as infinity, and 1 times ∞ still equals hundreds/thousands (likely the victim count of Helheim on Earth) times ∞.

The illusion after Redyue's monologue is a standalone one, with Kouta being attacked by Knuckle and Marika, but defended by other Inves, including Overlords like Dyudyuonshu, treating him as an ally, with later illusion Redyue and Shinmugurun intercepting him as Kouta tries to escape, and with the other Inves and Overlords, tries to convince Kouta to join them, destroy the world who reject him and replace it with a new world for himself. After Kouta as Byakko Inves battles, reverting Gaim into Yuuya, crisis of conscience happens with Redyue (pseudo devil) egging for Kouta to finish him, while Yuuya (pseudo angel) claims that his friends will get after him, of which Yuuya's words resonate with Kouta. At the end though, just like Micchy, she cannot understand virtue of goodness, not taking into account that Kouta might be, and is already is, selfless enough to put other people above himself, even lacks care of himself for that, or that goodness is exactly about this, doing the right thing even at great personal cost to themselves. Her temptation failed at the end just like Micchy's before with Kouta attacking the Overlords, turning into Kiwami Arms within the illusion (and fighting back to Redyue in real world), symbolizing him fully committed into throwing away his humanity for the sake of the world, without regrets, shown in him growing vines as human after Redyue ran away. Even Yuuya in the illusion watches this proudly, after he's confused on Kouta's decision to turn into the Overlords.

Kaito, Zack, and Yoko reaches the machine, with worried Zack trying to free Rica to no avail, but Kaito is being awesome here, he simply kicks the machine (in human form), damaging it and disconnecting the masks. Kaito is the most rational there, and this doesn't involve moral ambiguity, so this part of him can be used as an example, in solution-thinking. This as well reminds that, despite the greatness of humans to advance in technology like this, something Redyue acknowledged and learned, the technologies are still really damn fragile, with Kaito not needing to use Rider power to deal with it. Outside of the tower, Kaito runs into Micchy, informing that Mai's no longer in the machine room, though he sees it as a good thing to face Micchy without Kouta around, nothing would hold him back. Both henshin into Baron and Zangetsu Shin respectively, with Zangetsu Shin boasting his newfound strength by tanking an attack directed to his belt, but Baron insists that he's a fool as he's used as a pawn by Overlords, though Micchy's arrogance deludes himself into thinking he's the one manipulating Overlords. Though this probably is also related to Micchy's moral depravity, I wonder what would Kaito think about Takatora, someone who got mocked by Micchy for him being used as pawn, Kaito only thinks of Takatora as traitor due to Micchy's machinations.

Kamen Rider Gaim watch

The Forbidden Fruit Saga

Episode 41: Clash! The Over Lord King

Written by: Gen Urobuchi/Jin Haganeya, Directed by: Hidenori Ishida

A mid-climatic episode, culminating in the end of the Overlords, and Redyue's stint as the antagonist with Roshuo as most powerful mid boss.

So Sagara thinks Kouta can choose to save himself over the world, due to thinking that he can't be too stupid to let himself suffer that much for the sake of others. This, along with Mai acknowledging it being the reason he suffers so much now, seems to paint being good as synonymous as being dumb, though this comes from morally questionable character in Sagara, and continuing trend from moral characters being looked down upon, but Kouta's actually not stupid, he makes accurate deductions, asks the right questions, and thinks things through. Even without going through prolonged suffering like Kouta does, there are those in forces of good who sacrifices their lives for others, although it's only one out of a wide range of good morals, still would instantly ending their lives, regardless of their intelligence. And Micchy dismissing Kouta as an idiot is the reason for his undoings, which is explored from this part below. Though either way Sagara only observes.

As Zangetsu Shin and Baron's fight continues, Zangetsu Shin's rambling about him refusing to see Mai as the (only valuable human) princess with yandere obsession that only he can save is finally shut by Baron pointing out that Mai's strong enough to take care of herself, and while both are reverted into their human form, resuming their fight from there, that Micchy only sees Mai as a doll to play, his "dedication" to Mai is self-serving, like not even taking into account of her feelings for his desires. They're interrupted by Duke announcing that Mai is in Helheim, also warning about Roshuo. After Kouta rushes in and Bravo with Gridon arrives, Kaito also goes, leaving the fight into Bravo and Gridon. When Kouta regroups with Kaito, the previous episode makes Kaito even notice that Kouta has reaffirmed resolve now, likely putting Kouta on the same level as Mai in his view now. Micchy has the upper hand with Zangetsu Shin, but Bravo gains an upper hand with silly yet elaborate tactic by first throwing his Duri Noko at Zangetsu Shin, then returning Gridon to his Ride Wear mode for Bravo to throw at Zangetsu Shin, knocking him down and buying them time to escape. Micchy's narcissistic arrogance is turned on him yet again here, about how he really overestimates his intelligence, that Redyue points out that if Roshuo takes an interest in Mai, he'd ironically protect her from scums like Micchy, along with Takatora hallucination pointing out that no one trusts Micchy anymore due to heinous things he had done, despite his inflated ego to think that others will do what he wants.

Roshuo recounts to Mai about him trying to save Femushinmu like the humans now, but failed, the reason to not give golden fruit to anyone. He acknowledged that his castle is empty, but uses that as a consequences for his foolish attempts to save lives, making him lose everything including his beloved, and projects his cynical and generalizing view to others like thinking his beloved regretted giving the fruit to a fool like him. Knowing more about Roshuo issues, Mai continues about her views against distrust to point out that, trust is exactly the reason why his beloved gave him the fruit, believing she can rely on Roshuo to save his kind. Someone who is distrusted by others won't get assigned to roles like that, moreover noble ones. Roshuo just generalizes the humans in his view (like assuming other friends as the same as Micchy), and the act itself from the Queen contradicts what Roshuo did, not trusting anyone and kept the fruit from anyone. Like Kaito to Demushu, Roshuo to Takatora, and Redyue to Micchy before, this also gives Mai an Overlord counterpart in the Queen, who Roshuo realizes that she said the same thing like Mai does now, and due to that, he views Mai as being worthy to possess the golden fruit, inserting the fruit to her, giving her the same role as the Queen and sending her back into the human world.

Kouta and Kaito arrive at Roshuo's lair, and due to Kouta meeting all of the other bloodthirsty Overlords but him, and gaining little information regarding Mai's situation without much context (from Ryoma's announcement), he assumes Roshuo kidnapping her.. when it's actually Micchy handing her to him for safety. Roshuo assures them that he has sent her back to their world, though this would still give them the impression that Roshuo kidnaps Mai before releasing her. Others like Takatora and Mai have conversed with Roshuo and get into his reasonable, albeit nihilistic side, too bad that Kouta never get to do so before he assumes Roshuo to be the same as others, and this is actually how Kouta's plan to reason with Overlords can seem convincing. Roshuo still challenges both of the Riders to claim the golden fruit, and showcases many of his overwhelming power that puts him at big advantage as the previous Man of the Beginning, like his shockwave to keep the Riders (Gaim Kachidoki Arms, Baron Lemon Energy Arms) from touching him, striking him with electricity and blue fire, teleporting for mobility along with his swordmanship, redirecting attacks like arrows from Baron with force field, and Helheim plant manipulation. Roshuo claims that they can't face him without enough resolve. Roshuo knocks Baron, reverting him into Kaito, who struggles with his injuries, but Gaim saves Kaito from Roshuo's slash by firing it, and resumes his fight with Roshuo. Kachidoki Arms activates Taiken Mode of DJ Gun and slashes Roshuo, but Roshuo also had healing factor for that. Overwhelmed by various use of Roshuo's power, Roshuo points out that it's not Gaim at his best. As Gaim tries to use Kiwami Lockseed, Roshuo points out the difference between him and Kiwami, that Kiwami is merely a fragment of golden fruit and doesn't compare to golden fruit as a whole, like Roshuo himself who already ate it, and warns that he can futilely losing humanity without making actual change. Kaito witnesses another of Roshuo's power display to create lifes, a horde of Inves with the fruit. Like Redyue's illusions before, Roshuo likely makes sure that the ones with golden fruit power has enough resolve to shoulder the power, and is fully commited to the price at that power, as Roshuo's resolve wasn't the strongest, likely being the mistake in his role, his fight is a character test to Gaim and Baron. Gaim'd have no regrets and upgrades into Kiwami Arms, with the nice use of the bunch of Armor Parts shielding Gaim from the plants and destroying all of the Inves army. Roshuo still wins easily, proving the claim of Kiwami Lockseed being merely a fragment of the fruit being true, destroying the Kachidoki Lockseed on his belt, reverting him back to Kouta.

However, Roshuo is backstabbed by Redyue, which sooner or later will happen, due to Redyue's pride of backstabbing the ones who trust her, and that she creates the machine so Roshuo would give her the fruit, acting against him. Backstabbing Roshuo here is just another way for her to get the golden fruit. Roshuo being Takatora's counterpart involves... this betrayal (by Ryoma for Takatora), and before Redyue corrupts Roshuo too by creating war to humans to provoke them using the missiles, convincing Roshuo to end humans quicker. However, Roshuo doesn't have the fruit anymore, and the fruit Redyue took from him is only an empty husk. Redyue finally loses her cool compared to her usual composed self, and beats up Roshuo to death while forcing him to reveal the fruit's location now, but Roshuo accepts this as it's another way that he can reunite with his love, by having him die too, barely reacting to Redyue's rampage. This speaks further about how overwhelmingly strong Roshuo is, him giving away the fruit means he nerfed himself against Gaim Kiwami Arms and Baron Lemon Energy Arms, and still wins rather easily against them, though him giving the fruit away is the reason that he can be killed by Redyue via backstab. This actually enrages Kouta as unlike Sagara before, he earns his power by himself here, by recreating Kachidoki Lockseed to henshin into Kiwami Arms, acknowledging that he gives up his humanity by using Overlord's power to control Helheim's plants to gain upper hand against Redyuem in front of Kaito who realizes what is Kouta's resolve now. It seems that despite the hard beating he received, Gaim probably changes his stance about Roshuo a bit by taking his sword to further weaken Redyue to honor him. He finishes the fight with Orange Charge though. Micchy also watches that Roshuo didn't have the fruit anymore, which means he could've put it on Mai as he rushes to her, as the scene cuts into Mai collapsing and gaining red eyes due to her being an Overlord now. Another irony for Micchy's schemes, he thinks humanity is hopeless against Overlords and pulls cowardly move for that, but he actually caused them to lose, by giving Mai to Roshuo, Roshuo gives the fruit to her after a conversation, which weakens him that he can be killed by backstabbing Redyue, with Redyue being beaten by Gaim. Of course doesn't mean Micchy 'secretly contributes' to others, he did all of those with malicious intentions it's just his plans failing, but inadvertently giving good outcome. Another depressing part of Roshuo's death is that, as Roshuo reunites with his Queen, it's revealed that the Queen's coffin is empty, likely Roshuo's plan to revive her wouldn't have worked too, but it shows that she doesn't seem to regret betting Roshuo with golden fruit like Mai said.

Kamen Rider Gaim watch

The Forbidden Fruit Saga

Episode 42: Mitsuzane! The Final Transformation!

Written by: Gen Urobuchi/Jin Haganeya, Directed by: Satoshi Morota

Zack accomplishes his wants to evacuate the Overlord's captives, with Yoko going along with this to give supplies. For this Kouta reunites with Akira, Rat, and Rica. The reunite and hardship also probably changes Akira's decision to stay and help her brother. Kouta thanked all the alliance for this, but Oren knows the work has not been done, can't get too ahead of themselves. Kouta assigns Charmant workers to evacuate the people as hordes of Inves come, with the rest henshin into their Rider forms to fight them off. Meanwhile Mai is looked over by Chucky and the recovered Peko. What Redyue claimed before against Micchy for others to prevent Micchy getting into Mai appears here with Peko keeping him out, but Peko is pushed down for Micchy to check on her. The power upgrade Mai receives seems to be a deadly one, with her collapsing again, and Ryoma who suddenly comes, informing that she can't take that long and needs a proper place to treat her, despite that there are no doctors left in Zawame... this'd mean disaster actually, due to freaking Ryoma being involved, more than about no doctors.

After the Riders fight Inves hordes, Kouta noticed that Helheim doesn't stop even after the extinction of Overlords, realizing that he had to stop Helheim himself. Kaito however, still wants to let Helheim consume the world as per his social darwinist belief, to prove humanity's strength to evolve around it unlike the Overlords who are consumed by the world. For now, this is a nobler take of his social darwinism, albeit used as an extreme way to improve humanity, by forcing them into the deep end, instantly putting them into critical situation regardless of their success or not. This is a reason for him to oppose Yggdrasill, that they would deny human's efforts to evolve against the invasion, as they would kill majority of humanity via Project Ark. There's an indication that while Kaito does view the world under survival of the fittest mindset, doesn't mean he revels in it. He actually hates about the fact that social darwinism is real in his eyes, including his backstory for his life ruined due to him being weak; the strong can do anything as they please unopposed by the weak, and him still viewing himself as weak too now, which is the reason for him to fight off Overlords who brutalize others by their strength (and ruined Femushinmu by that as well). So far, Kaito would use his mindset to fight off villains, as their actions with their power represent what he hates about the nature of this world, albeit he'd have apathy for the weak, not interested in protecting; an anti-hero that focuses on defeating villains instead of protecting people. As Kaito leaves, Yoko chases after him, while Kouta informs Zack that Mai's in garage, going after her while asking Zack to take care of Akira. However Mai's already taken to the hospital as Kouta returns, with nobody on the garage.

As Kaito struggles against his injuries in a face of another Inves, Yoko hides him and herself, and like Mai before to Kaito, forcefully takes a look at Kaito's (Helheim) wounds on his arm. Later at night, Yoko calls him out for not telling anyone about his injury, which he dismisses as using Genesis Driver can hold back the infection, but acknowledges his limits if he'd die, despite Yoko pointing out that what he does with the Driver won't last forever. Though Kouta is the one that got called out on this, another similarity between them, but unpleasant one here is that Kaito also never tries to seek out help from others, like not asking help for his wounds, or tips, etc. Kaito's even hardheaded enough to not acknowledge camaderie as a key to survival and strength despite getting through many hard times due to that, like the "fight" against Roshuo before. Loner approach can hinder someone's efficiency like Kaito's here, despite him can coming off as more rational to the audience, like how he has rolled for 70 times in the whole series, and there are people who notices that too for Baron's losses. He actually views himself as one of the weak, but fails to properly help himself. As Yoko asks about Kaito's decision to let Helheim invade, he explains about it being related to his hatred of the current world above, about how survival of the fittest exist in the current world, that he'd rather see this world end, not valuing anything in the world with flashbacks of his past. Yoko decides to stick to Kaito, but even she actually had doubts of Kaito's choice and explanation, despite being another social darwinist. For now, this seems to be a positive effect a love someone had, opposite to what Micchy has for his yandere love to Mai, this is a case of terrible people helping each other to become less terrible, with Kaito humanizing Yoko in their interactions to show that she's more than a violent psychotic girl. Though I feel that if this is the supposed character direction that the writers want to do with Yoko, then it's not utilized enough that there's more of Yoko being a kingmaker before.

Something fishy already befalls Chucky and Peko, who is stuck on a room away from Ryoma and Micchy, with Peko already knowing that the creep isn't trustworthy. Eventually Chucky and Peko was able to escape from the locked hospital by the window with Peko tying bed sheets. For other Rider alliance people, believing that he has important position to keep the Rider alliances full, Bando forces Jonouchi, Oren, and Zack to eat when they feel down at Drupers, with Akira somehow working there as waitress, too. I wonder if she knows that's the 'job' Kouta got now.

Ryoma confirms that there's golden fruit on Mai's body. As they don't understand the reason for Roshuo to give it to her, Sagara confirms it that Roshuo did, and reveals that she's going to be Woman of the Beginning, confirming Mai and "Alternative Mai" as the same, that her role is to choose a champion to receive the goldn fruit. After Sagara's role escalation, between DJ, Yggdrasill worker, etc., as Micchy asks him, he finally reveals that his actual identity, which is the personification of Helheim itself. The snake that Redyue said before at ep. 40 refers to Sagara, as one of the terms to refer to him, also him making a snake projection before. Like Project Ark, this is another Biblical reference in Gaim to put Sagara in the role of the snake in Garden of Eden that tempted Adam and Eve to eat the Forbidden Fruit, which means he's literally Satan here. He's doing the snake's job in the series to tempt worlds with the immense power and knowledge that the golden fruit holds. And the reason that he refers to the golden fruit holders as Man/Woman of the Beginning is that, they act as Adam and Eve respectively, being the first male/female being in the new world that they'll create after overwriting the old one. In the series, Woman of the Beginning is the first to receive the fruit to give to the Man of the Beginning as Eve was the first to be tempted and eat the fruit, and then tempts Adam to eat the fruit too.

He tells the unconscious Mai in her head as well about her role, also claiming that the old world will be destroyed, but Mai wouldn't want to see the end of the current world. Worlds cannot be sacrificed for that end, such trade isn't right to be done. Sagara however insists for her to cope as the future is already set into motion. Even Micchy calls him out to destroy humanity. Rather than doing it as incarnation of evil though, albeit of course he still causes a lot of damage in nature way, he's doing it to test their true characters, and due to hating status quo, enforcing the cycle of death and rebirth that drives evolution in any world he visits, putting his duty above morality like good or evil, just that destruction can be a tool that he uses too. Micchy protests against him also for his personal motivation to save Mai too, seeing him as getting in his way despite refering to humanity right before. With newfound information, Ryoma claims that the only way to save Mai is to extract the fruit from her body, but deems Kouta as a problem as he'd likely want Mai as Woman of the Beginning if he needs the fruit to save the world. Micchy apparently still puts Kouta higher than Ryoma does, he thinks Kouta wouldn't sacrifice Mai to save the world, though Ryoma convinces Micchy otherwise, based on the fact that Kouta is willing to sacrifice his humanity as Overlord. Well of course sacrificing themselves and sacrificing others is vastly different, the former is altruism, the latter can be morally bankrupt approach to see no value in other's lives. However, due to Kouta's great power, Ryoma presents Hell Fruit Lockseed to Micchy for him to stop Kouta, a Lockseed that drains the user's life for power and is too dangerous, thus sealed away, but wants to know Micchy's resolve to undergo that... Kouta has done it before for resolve test, now it's Micchy's turn. Micchy got his deserved emotional breakdown after that, which he begs for Mai to smile again for him, not even remembering how her smile looks like, or what he's fighting for so far. Micchy has been tempting his dark side for so much, been involved in villainy too long, he's so far gone that everything about him deteriorates aside from the desire to 'save' Mai, about it possibly failing. Even when Takatora hallucination harasses him, pointing out about his actions to only betray people and that his life has no value, Micchy still shuts him up, but quietly, instead of going apeshit, but is ready to give up his life for Mai. He's also dumb enough here to trust Ryoma to save her, blinded by his love for Mai, or to consider the fact that Ryoma is also obsessed in obtaining the golden fruit, like what Kouta needs, which proves that he's the one used as pawn by others despite him claiming otherwise.

Micchy confronts Kouta, for Mai's sake, despite Kouta trying to convince him that there's no point of hurting each other. Kouta's right about Micchy being wronged by the lies he told, just for this once, in this case, about Ryoma's claim that Kouta will endanger Mai due to likely needing her as Woman of the Beginning, where Micchy has to save Mai by finishing off Kouta, so Mai no longer needs to hold the golden fruit anymore. Of course, Micchy is still evil at this stage, despite him putting Mai's life above his own, he'd still view other's lives as no value, will finish off others like the self-harm he did for Mai's sake, other than being dumb enough to trust Ryoma. He henshins with Hell Fruit Lockseed, with the Yomotsuheguri Armor Part coming from a black mist instead of a Helheim crack, giving him a new standalone upgrade in Ryugen Yomi, who looks like regular Ryugen, but painted mostly in red and black, giving grim reaper motif, as "yomi" means "underworld". True to what Ryoma said, the form is painful that it collapses him to his knees, making Kouta concerned. Seems that both Mai and Micchy receive deadly upgrades. Kouta tries to reason with Ryugen Yomi, but without a henshin yet. This can be either a stupid move to leave himself unprotected, or an awesome move to dodge his attacks despite of him being a normal human, particularly the Kiwi Gekirin; Ryugen Yomi can use both Budou Ryuhou and Kiwi Gekirin, the weapons of Ryugen Budou Arms and Kiwi Arms. The agony Micchy suffered as Ryugen Yomi proves to be a drawback though, as he can be left vulnerable mid fight from the pain. Kouta eventually henshins into Kachidoki Arms, and after a while, he took a Ryugen Kyaku rider kick from Ryugen Yomi, but again Ryugen Yomi pains Micchy that he cannot continue his assault to Gaim, turning himself into a not quite dangerous opponent despite the power it holds. Gaim tries to warn Ryugen Yomi about how the Lockseed is dangerous and his body can't handle it. However, Micchy has lost the meaning of his life, the previous events have turned him into a nihilist now, utterly suicidal. Due to Micchy's resolve though, Gaim is forced to use Kiwami Arms. Ryugen Yomi is the one I'd like to be used as Micchy's upgrade in ep. 38 before against Gaim Kiwami Arms and Baron Lemon Energy Arms before, particularly that Ryugen Yomi also revolves around Micchy's resolve, in which ep. 38 is about him not having doubts anymore.

Kamen Rider Gaim watch

The Forbidden Fruit Saga

Episode 43: Baron's Ultimate Transformation

Written by: Gen Urobuchi, Directed by: Satoshi Morota

Other than summoning the base Ryugen's weapons, Ryugen Yomi can also summon Overlord's weapons, in this case, he's using Dau (Redyue's halberd), though he's stunned by his agony again. This makes Ryugen Yomi sort of Kiwami Arms' counterpart, being the walking collection of monsters' (other than base Ryugen) weapons compared Kiwami's walking collection of the Riders' weapons, along with Ryugen Yomi being slightly stronger than Kiwami Arms power wise (really.. IMO Ryugen Yomi would be the one suitable to kick both Kiwami Arms and Baron Lemon Energy Arms' asses in ep. 39). Ryugen Yomi also uses Dimubu, Shinmugurun's axe in the battle. Ryugen Yomi vows to keep Mai away from Gaim due to Ryoma's machinations, and uses a finisher with Dau, cutting his surroundings to charge the halberd at Gaim. Gaim also tries to use a finisher with Musou Saber, but decides to throw away his weapon and let Ryugen Yomi impale him, as Gaim yanks the Hell Fruit Lockseed away from the belt, crushing it. Though other than it being the compassion, self-sacrifice, and forgiveness move (or lenient solution to villains) expected from most of lead Riders... is it really that hard for the characters in the franchise to target another Rider's belt? The franchise sets up as Kouta had to take fatal attack just to deal with a Rider's belt. Other than that, Micchy is hell bent on killing Kouta for his obsession, and this is really brave for Kouta to let that happen, to let Micchy feel if he's going to regret his villainous decisions or not. Thankfully, it seems is. Kouta's action here gives a hard truth to Micchy that all of his actions have done more harm than good, not accomplishing anything, making everyone either hates or distrusts him, and the people he cares most about are all dead, like Takatora, Kouta here, and potentially later Mai. For this, Kouta is the one in the position to call him idiot now, but continues his compassion and forgiveness to convince Micchy to turn back while hugging him, though like Kouta, Micchy also needs to forgive himself too, especially that his horrible actions are all total failures with him having nothing now.

Yoko treats Kaito's wounds in the garage as Chucky and Peko report to them about Mai's situation. To make himself feel worthy of Kouta's compassion, he tries to look after Mai, going back to the hospital, with Ryoma impressed at both Micchy being alive and Kouta being apparently killed. Micchy gets another deserved crushing moment, that Ryoma did claim that the operation is a success, but of course what Ryoma needs is only the fruit, to hell with Mai's well-being, as he realizes Mai's dead now. An idiot indeed Micchy, like the one you dismiss as an idiot for most of the series think about you recently. Micchy's desperate attempts to save Mai is ironically, the one that killed her. Moreover, he's too conceited that he mocks Takatora for being used as pawn and trusting wrong person, yet the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, Micchy does the exact same mistake by entrusting Mai to fucking Ryoma! For more creepy factor, Ryoma gets the golden fruit by taking Mai's heart (body organ). Ryoma even remarks about how he had no idea Micchy can easily trust his words. Other than that, as the prepared... and cowardly creator of the belts, Ryoma makes sure that he had the upper hand, by activating a kill switch to detonate every Genesis Driver possessed by other Riders when Micchy tries to henshin. Ryoma then proceeds to torture Micchy, beating him up and breaking him further emotionally, further giving him a reality check that he's merely a child way over his head, about how Micchy growing up bad is exactly the reason he's easy prey for bad adults, the reason Takatora wants to prevent him being naughty, yet Micchy only follows dark example of Takatora and turning worse than he is, while Ryoma chokes him. Though Micchy deserved it and that what Ryoma said was right, doesn't mean Ryoma's being good or in the right here, he just channels his insane sociopathic as always, just that the victim happens to be a deserving one. Even if this is an attempt to change Micchy to be a better person, this acknowledges how terrible Micchy is, if a character need to get the shit kicked out of them to become a better person, then they are a terrible person, most of the time.

Still conversing in her head, Sagara as DJ reports to Mai about the current events, the predicament Kouta, Kaito, and Micchy suffered with all of their aim to take Mai and her golden fruit. Mai obviously would be unhappy regarding this, as this is a miserable outcome for her and them. Just for this once though, unfortunately compared to the later, this is a moment where someone that veers towards becoming a plot device is being reminded of their agency, in-universe, as Sagara convinces Mai to take action, while floating around, as the reason they seek her would mean she had the immense power in her hands, as she accepts it to try to change fate. From outside perspective, Mai is seen as dreaming to Ryoma. After Ryoma tortures Micchy, though Mai's physical body is dead, her spirit lives on within the Forbidden Fruit, with it turning into her new body. I guess Roshuo is one step ahead compared to Ryoma at handling the fruit as its longtime holder, with Mai turning into Woman of the Beginning despite what Ryoma did. Mai consoles Micchy as she tries to use the power to change the past, by time-travel. However Sagara warns her decision is too much even for golden fruit, indicating the limits of its power, though Mai's still determined to try. True to the warning, the Woman of the Beginning's appearence previously had her giving vague words to Gaim, Baron, and Micchy (dream), which are not what she meant to say, therefore nobody listens. This also explains how those words seem uncharacteristic as the words are too pessimistic for her, the timestream preventing her to speak clearly. Other than things like the number of Riders, last man standing battle, and the main 4 Rider's parallels, this part is another reference of Ryuki, where a main character gets a chance to alter things in the past (Odin activating Time Vent to rewind time as Shinji keeps the memories), only for it to fail due to other circumstances, the outcome stays the same. It's even worse in Gaim as, Mai's actions actually give a clue to Sagara about the frontrunners on the Helheim invasion now, turning the outcome actually worse (at least for the trio), creating a stable time-loop and explaining his heavy focus on Kouta, while when Shinji successfully warned (as Shinji won't keep his memories forever, failing to warn others too before) Kitaoka in Ryuki about Asakura's Rider status in prison, he lets it be to increase the Rider count, the outcome is still the same instead of turning worse at least.

Kaito and Yoko visits the hospital Mai's taken in, remarking that it's Ryoma's secret lab, and a right place to do it. Yoko notices Mai's body, checking her pulse, confirming her death with genuinely sad expression, likely due to genuine care for Kaito that she knows she's one of people he respected, while Kaito notices a devastated Micchy. Ryoma gets his own breakdown too, as he loses the Forbidden Fruit, desperately trying to understand what's going on by scribbling tons of scientific calculations in the whiteboard in a similar manner as Philip from W, even ignoring Yoko and Kaito. Kaito tries to take revenge with Genesis Driver with Yoko assisting him, but their Drivers are disabled by Ryoma's kill switch too, forcing Kaito to use Sengoku Driver as Ryoma henshins into Duke. gaining upper hand. Duke also informs Baron that Micchy finished off Kouta, so the only one with incredible power despite using Sengoku Driver (Ryugen Yomi also uses Sengoku Driver..) is no threat anymore to Duke. Duke de-henshins, and though Ryoma claims Kaito's Helheim wound is too late that it's something for Kaito to still function despite struggling to henshin back, for Kaito it's nothing as he brings up his childhood, he has already felt this kind of pain since childhood, about how weak he is, and for his social darwinism belief, he puts himself as the weak one too. With the desperate situation Kaito is in now, the possibility of either Ryoma or the infection killing him, as well as the apparent death for both Kouta and Mai, Kaito decides to eat a Helheim fruit like Hase did, with even Ryoma thinking of this as insane, complete with Kaito's smirk. This seems to be a completely favorable act for Kaito, as he doesn't mutate into ordinary Inves, but an Overlord! The requirement for that is if the person is already on the verge of becoming an Inves, like Kaito's infection from an Overlord wound. Moreover, as discussed to Yoko before, the reason Kaito wears his Genesis Driver is to halt the infection, and it pays off as he retains his mind in his Overlord form, Lord Baron.... not that it won't be any good as Kaito realizes that he can remake the world in his image for his sheer power... Regarding how Demushu embodies Kaito's social darwinism without restraint, Lord Baron has a look resembling Demushu, including his weapon Guronbaryamu, but with it being also named Baron, it had a streak of Banana Arms' look as well with the strokes of yellow.

Ryoma is enraged about the fact that Kaito can transcend humanity without the use of his technology, treating it as the ultimate insult to his researches, as he henshins into Duke. Lord Baron is able to beat him easily, turning himself into a mist to attack like Demushu before and then barraging him with Helheim plants, removing his belt and reverting him into Ryoma. An irony that despite resembling Demushu, the weakest Overlord, Lord Baron is the 2nd strongest, yes, still weaker than Roshuo. I guess this also explains why Duke's debut before was more impressive than Demushu's, as non-Duke New Generation Riders like Baron Lemon Energy Arms can put a fight into Demushu, enraging him, unlike Duke who beats Gaim Jimber Lemon Arms without effort. As Lord Baron chokes Ryoma, Ryoma declares that his research is the truth that the world needs. Like Kuroto later in Ex-Aid, Ryoma's whole character revolves around satisfying his ego within his scientific brilliance regardless of what happened to others, making sure that it's utilized enough by humanity, to the point of pettiness like dismantling any alternatives. He's enraged when his tech isn't used for someone's growth, and his vendetta against Helheim is based on this very fact, being jealous of Helheim's ability to evolve humanity better than him, which is his end goal to surprass them. Proof of this is Lord Baron against Duke here, and how he loses Forbidden Fruit with the spirit of the corpse inhabiting it, which apparently is enough to make Ryoma suicidal, after Lord Baron declares the truth in his fists as he punches Ryoma to the nearby building, leaving an imprint of him, though before Ryoma declares Lord Baron's demise as fate. Another ability of Lord Baron is that, he can revert to Kaito, with his injuries healed, as Yoko picks the only functioning Genesis Driver.. Though his end highlights about how Ryoma still doesn't know everything about Helheim, I'd wish that Ryoma makes use for the huge and fascinating data he has claimed as per ep. 38, like the fight from Kiwami Arms, Overlords, or such, to make himself a threat rather than staying as Duke here, albeit he had an "effort", but was simply using kill switches.

Kamen Rider Gaim watch

The Forbidden Fruit Saga

Episode 44: Two People Aiming At the Future

Written by: Gen Urobuchi/Jin Haganeya, Directed by: Osamu Kaneda

Chucky and Peko come across a bloodied Kouta, who Peko convinced Chucky to still bring to the garage despite his conditions. I feel like the acting is off from Chucky here though, as she laments about Kouta's fate, her expression seems like smiling instead. Back at the garage, with Akira also staying there, notices that Kouta's wounds are gone, but that's due to him becoming Overlord. In Kouta's dream Mai visited him to apologize for her failure to change fate, that the 3 main Riders all suffer and she can only watch. However, Kouta notices that this is because of her mistake, taking all the responsibility alone, something Mai wants to help Kouta with after Yuuya's death. Despite her gaining godly powers from the golden fruit, she's still human in demeanor, and thus can screw up like this. Though of course if Kouta can forgive Micchy, he'd do it similarly here, returning Mai's words to not suffer alone, and that defying the series' prologue, Kouta invites Mai to forget about fate, as they have full control of their actions despite mistakes, and the future isn't set in the stone. Mai admits that this is the reason she approves Kouta.. but the bad implementation for her starts here.. ironically despite the speech, she decides to leave it to Kaito to change future though his future is different than Kouta's.. it's like the action that is only plausible when she stays human didn't gain any power. Though Kouta realizes this as he wakes up, vowing to stop Kaito despite the other's objections.

The war sequence that shows up in the very prologue of Gaim is actually one of the potential (apocalyptic) future outcomes, with Helheim Forest taking over the world and the inhabitants being forced into a war situation, the Sengoku Rider War period, with Sagara describing the Riders there (Gaim, Baron, Ryugen, Zangetsu) as the potential holders of Forbidden Fruit, and predestinated battle between Gaim and Baron. This is a parallel reality that Mai observes after she gets stuck there while traveling through time, and Mai is only able to return if the future there is decided, though other than the Kouta, the condition to return seems to be an excuse to keep Mai out of the battles right now, further diminishing the potential of the power can do, and later, practically turning her into a reward to be won as she can only be freed by one of the potential obtainers of Golden Fruit... As the result of this, her human body disappears, while Sagara informs the situation to Kaito, Yoko, and Micchy, with Kaito mocking Micchy's decision to give up unlike him who will keep moving forward.

Like Kouta at the garage, as another similarity between them, Kaito's wounds healed, and instead it turns into his power. Yoko feels ecstatic, with a few display of positive emotion coming from her that she made the right choice to use Kaito as Kingmaker. While true that not everyone wants to be in utter spotlight, like Micchy who refuses the power of god himself too, and being submissive is a choice someone is allowed to make, like others I do feel that there's wasted part of Yoko's characterization because they did imply something about her that may lead into something, especially for an actress that has notable achievement for doing the Rider's stunts too. Like about how Ryoma hypes her up as being unpredictable, just like Kouta. Though she'd be understandably beaten by Gaim Kachidoki Arms.. well, probably she's stuck in the treatment that non-relevant Riders get, about her stagnating in Marika, without elevating her game like someone similar to her here Kaito. Or about how Ryoma's separation from her implies a new path for her but it's merely used to prove that she's right for choosing Kaito over Ryoma, potentially elevating herself in pursuit of power too. The other thing known here is that Yoko wouldn't care if Kaito is the type of king who destroys the world, which is a similar aspect of Kaito that she holds power above morality, which also can make her constantly switching sides, like here she approves extremism as that's Kaito's intention, despite Kaito being able to humanize her before. Though the other, last great Yoko moment is her fighting evenly with Oren on their human form, showing off her expertise as a spy to hold off a trained soldier, after Kaito approaches Zack, Oren, and Jonouchi, where Oren notes his strange lifeless blue eyes now. Kaito summons Inves without Lockseed.

Oren and Yoko henshin into their Rider forms to fight each other, with Jonouchi fighting the summoned Inves. However Kaito helps his side by attacking Gridon and Bravo with Helheim plants, and then reveals his Lord Baron form. Kaito declares that he will destroy this world and remake it with the fruit. Though Kaito keeps his mind after turning into a monster, still doesn't mean it's a good outcome for others. Kaito is still someone who is morally ambiguous, and despite him actually hating the social darwinism the world has instead of reveling in it, it still results in a nasty outcome that he resorts to destroy the world that contains social darwinism. Despite the noble goal he had compared to Demushu's who is definitive social darwinist to trample on the weak, Kaito would still cause destruction as severe as him, due to his desire to remake the world that suits his image. Kaito keeping his human mind and hating the world injustice as a monster would make him an anti-villain, though not fully-fledged villain, still a big threat that has to be stopped, like Roshuo before; when Kaito gets a hold of the Forbidden Fruit at this point (or probably before), he'd become a second Roshuo about how he deals with the world. If only Roshuo actually met Kouta and Kaito in not a bitter tone... Zack however, gets a bigger role here, to stand up against his former leader's decision. He apparently 'betrays' the alliance to join Lord Baron, who welcomes him, throwing Gridon high up to the air while Marika destroys his belt with her arrow. Bravo takes on Lord Baron but is quickly beaten, with his belt destroyed too. Both Oren and Jonouchi cannot henshin anymore. Zack's action here is a bit brutal compared to how he's established as an upstanding guy after becoming Knuckle, ironically after he looks worse than Kaito at first being reprimanded for cheating, where later Kaito becomes (anti-)villainous as Zack becomes noble hero, though Zack may be planning for something actually good here.

Oren and Jonouchi reports about Kaito's state, confirming Kouta's suspicion. It seems that Oren's animosity with Kouta ends as he tried to stop Kouta due to his injuries, but his brushed off. Kaito, accompanied with Zack and Yoko, summons an army of Inves that floods the city. Kouta confronts Kaito about his actions, with Kaito, being genuine as usual, explains Mai's situation that she can only return if Golden Fruit is claimed, highlighting the parallel of the alternate world Mai's in, that Gaim and Baron's battle is predetermined too here, pointing out that only Kaito and Kouta can now obtain the Golden Fruit. Ironically, despite what Kaito calls out about Micchy regarding Mai, Kaito would had a faint objectification trait to Mai here, to obtain and save her, while also destroying the world in process. Y'know, something that Mai claims doesn't want to happen in ep. 42 before, which Kouta rightfully points out to Kaito. For the objectification Mai got, at least, it's treated in the wrong, as everyone who treats her like that are villainous characters like Micchy, Sagara, and the newly joining Kaito, while the good or neutral side does treat her as a person who has the right to do what she wants (regardless of her role here), Kouta calls out others like Kaito for this, and it's the action that is being portrayed in the right, and while Kaito quickly henshins into Baron, Kouta only begs for Baron to stop this madness while dodging the attacks in human form, actually taking Mai's wishes into account for them to not fight, but is eventually forced to henshin. Gaim upgrades into Kachidoki Arms for self-preservance, and midway, still begs for Baron to stop, but fires his finisher to revert Baron into Kaito. However Kaito reveals his Lord Baron form and reminds Kouta that he needs to take the golden fruit by force from him, though Kouta reminds Kaito that he'd let the fruit, but Kaito is never interested in saving the world and would let it get destroyed to get Mai.. regardless of her personal wants, Kouta misjudged Kaito, and changes his stance against Kaito to stop him claiming the fruit as he henshins into Kiwami Arms. Kaito's the secondary Rider that never changed his core personality despite being softened up too, and it actually turns himself worse as he gains more power, turning him into the secondary Rider that is the final threat instead, the ensemble of antagonists of Gaim's arcs circling back to him with him retaking the role he had in Beat Riders Saga. Lord Baron had upper hand, but this time it's not due to Kouta's morality, but due to his previous wounds. Seeing this, Zack steps in, fighting Kiwami Arms to back up Lord Baron, but whispers a surprising line to Gaim to fall back for now, reverting Gaim into Kouta, letting Kouta get away while he "apologized" to Kaito. As Kouta runs away, he remembers Zack's words, wondering his purpose, indicating that he's still doing good for now; he won't throw away his newfound scout boy-traits since Knuckle. Though still, this is a cop-out, to have Knuckle knock down freaking Kiwami Arms back into Kouta, this is some ep. 39 Micchy level of huge power increase out of nowhere, even if Kouta is injured, Rider forms should act as armor for that.

Kamen Rider Gaim watch

The Forbidden Fruit Saga

Episode 45: Baron's Ultimate Transformation

Written by: Gen Urobuchi, Directed by: Osamu Kaneda

Zack approaches the surprised Peko about the betrayal of the 2 Team Baron members, and assigns him to give a note to Oren... quietly. Peko is further confused but likely gets a hint that Zack is actually doing something good in secret and also asks for Peko to keep it secret too. As Kouta gets treated in garage including by Akira, the others discuss about what happened to Kaito, presumably eating a Helheim fruit, but points out if someone eats Helheim fruit they had to lose their mind, while Kaito keeps it. While Oren warns him again about facing Kaito in that condition, Kouta notes the similarity between him and Kaito with his wounds healing quickly, surprising others like Jonouchi, due to Kiwami Lockseed. Though Kouta knows that being a human or monster, it doesn't matter (as he gets over his potentially pariah situation for that), what matters is the soul. Peko gave the note to Oren.

Micchy is forced to acknowledge about how his actions are drifting everyone apart from him while still sobbing. Appropriate karmic situation as he never viewed them as person but more of an extension of himself thinking they have no right to act out on their own against his twisted schemes that is meant to 'protect' them. Takatora hallucination explains about Micchy's real situation, related to one of the show's theme about growing up, that Micchy is the triumphant example of the antithesis to this; he can never leave his comfort behind, his childhood (the dance representing this), unlike others who are ready to move forward and face their fates, such as accepting awful truths and working towards it. And he's the extreme example of trying to keep his childhood with all the schemes he's pulling throughout the series, like keeping them all in the dark while forcing Kouta to comply to him, to make each of them 'keep smiling', even directly stating that he'll betray everyone to keep the situation in the team like that. And Micchy still considers Takatora hallucination's words as mocking him.. I'd guess he's still bad here, not too genuine of admitting his mistakes, like how Takatora hallucination returns his question that he keeps clinging in his shadows, which'd mean him keeping himself in dark path, and the hallucination considers his pain as nothing compared to the ones that carry the fate of the world on their backs.

As Yoko insists for Kaito to rest, he also talks with Mai on his dreams. So for the new world where Kaito wishes only the strong survive, he'd lump those who trust only their strength and trample on the weak as the weak too because they'd be extinct if they went against those who are stronger, refering to the Overlords.... well Kaito'd be a 2nd Roshuo if he accomplishes his goals. Then Kaito goes creepy with his approach to Mai, forcing her to be with him, a case of objectifying as well to think it doesn't matter if she asks he wants her or golden fruit. So apparently because of Kaito turning heel, he or the writing (is it intentional as irony or just OOC?) has to make his approach to Mai ironically as contemptuous as Micchy does? Y'know, the person who Kaito calls out as not treating Mai as a person, or the woman who Kaito respects for her emotional strength; of which despite questioning his wants too (of which Kaito uses as a declaration of objectification), she folds quicker here, only lamenting that Kaito can do whatever he wants, instead of trying to object (not with '-ify') his wants like she did before to various people like that including Kaito, all for an excuse to keep the final battle (as well-choreographed as it is) and keep her away from interfering. While Kaito being the secondary Rider that never changed his core character and concluding in him turning extremist can flow well, I don't think his treatment to Mai here should be related to his goal of his ideal world, other than the means to accomplish his goal.

At Drupers, Oren seems to comply to Zack's note by creating a bomb, following his mercenary past (.. of which Bando slowly and seemingly forcefully salutes at him). Zack expects the bomb to be bigger, although Oren assures the bomb's capability. Knowing Zack's true intentions to secretly disable the enemy and help the alliance, Jonouchi praises him as tactical. Zack thinks of himself as a coward to exploit Kaito's trust on him, due to having no chance to stand up against Kaito or Yoko, but Oren assures him that he's heroic because he's doing it to someone who turned on humanity. Though this is consoling to Zack, I'd feel this still hints of Oren's brutal approach despite changing sides, to essentially encourage pay evil to evil when someone is evildoer. As someone who has been Kaito's right hand man, Zack tells more about Kaito regarding his character, he's always been worried about where will he turn his obtained power after fighting Yggdrasill and Overlords; as someone holding power above morality, he can do good as anti-hero by fighting off Yggdrasill and Overlords (of those the 2 is actually seen as weak in Kaito's eyes due to secrets for the former, and preying on the weak which leads to extinction for latter), but with no big threats left.. he'd turn it into the whole world he despises turning him into anti-villain; Zack knows Kaito better than anyone, and deduces his turn into dark path sooner or later. Peko is worried about Zack confronting someone like Kaito, but he taps him to assure him that he'll stop him.

Zack confronts Kaito for sending an Inves army to destroy the world, and talks about his growth that being a leader changes him, giving him reason to fight and making him learn to feel good for protecting people (which he did in episodes like 36). So they do address Zack's character change here and they did establish him as another altruistic guy since Knuckle, albeit he's already quickly amicable to the others right after gaining Knuckle that it feels too quick, but they do address it here though probably very late. Though this is revealed after he turns slightly worse to do pragmatic stuff to get the job done (Oren and Jonouchi's belt are destroyed as a result), albeit he feels bad about it. Still, Kaito is also always been like this on the Beat Riders Saga too, and as a major moment for him Zack addresses Kaito's behavior that it has never changed until now, I mean Zack also witnesses Kaito's nature at Beat Riders Saga especially as his right hand man, though Zack is still as much of an asshole as Kaito, even being the one Kaito calls out for cheating (along with Peko). Zack leaves, while also planting a bomb in an electrical box nearby. As a professional spy, Yoko notices that Zack's movement in his pocket is suspicious, and goes to assault Zack, revealing Zack holding a detonator. I refer to her skills because it leads to a disappointing next moment (I know female Rider death is a franchise-wide problem, but I want to explain the reason here, as I also wouldn't want for the opposite to happen like them not getting hurt only because of female) that Yoko gets an anti-climatic death, with Yoko not having any idea to protect Kaito other than running in front of the bomb (as Marika), and even acts slower than Zack did (approaching the detonator) after their tussle. That aside, the bomb seems to be strong enough to de-henshin Marika, as Yoko falls from the building. She should've been more composed and have more solution to this (or even successfully intercepted Zack I guess before, after she fought Oren on equal terms as human). Kaito and Zack then fight as (Armored Rider) Baron and Knuckle, with Baron seemingly killed Knuckle, but praising that Zack has grown strong despite the cowardly move. Kaito then approaches the lying Yoko, who indirectly declares her love to him, wishing if Kaito would've sought her like he did to Mai when she's the one with golden fruit, with Kaito giving some reciprocation though in different way to see Yoko and golden fruit independently. By this Yoko's death also seem pointless, what comes after this is only some romantic-lines.

For the better stuff, aside from Zack's above, there's Kouta living with the fact about how he lost his humanity, only being able to eat Helheim fruits, with Akira learning more of the state of her brother now. It's distressing to Akira too as for her it could be that Kouta can be suicidal for the despair he suffered, with her warnings before, but Kouta stays intact, he has fully turned into a monster despite outwardly looking human. The conversation falls back into Kouta wanting to change as different man for his sister's sake, with Akira telling him doesn't mean Kouta has to turn into this monstrosity, but assures her teary self that he's able to help others doing the right things this way, like how she views human job as (entertainment does help others in its own way too y'know though). True, gaining powers can make someone contribute far more to the society compared to the limitations of normal humans, albeit with consequence he had to acknowledge for him. For long last though, SDF actually didn't abandon Zawame, as Kouta later realizes, arriving at last to evacuate the Rider alliances, though at limited time so their objections about Zack, Akira, and Kouta isn't addressed. Kouta insists Akira to get on the helicopter, while assuring others he'll take care of Kaito and Zack.

Kouta goes to face Kaito, while again, Mai interacts with him to express disapproval of him and Kaito fighting, while Kouta tells her he had found his own future now and is fighting for both Kaito and her. The other thing that is told from this scene is about how Kouta doesn't view Mai as object unlike the bad guys, though it still doesn't change about how Mai's dumbed down into a prize when either one of them won, with little to no will against the current situation, only going along with the fight regardless of who wins or if the outcome is what she wants (she doesn't want the world to end, of course she's supposed to side with Kouta here), her ascension to godhood is played like if she's still a normal human. Kouta summons his own army of Inves. Kouta objects to Kaito's goal of replacing the world with a new one to dismantle social darwinism, with Kouta arguing that Kaito underestimates the current world to be unable to do that. Kaito argues that being strong automatically rips away their compassion, using his childhood as an example. This is a generalizing view of Kaito like other anti-villains such as Takatora (ironically not taking Yggdrasill workers into account) or Roshuo, as Kouta points out there are handful of strong and compassionate people; the ones who use their power to save the world, which got rejected by Kaito due to those people dying, using Kouta as example, likely from the fact that he (nearly) died before against Micchy. Though still in Kouta's argument, there are many morally good trait and deeds in addition to saving people, the really good ones do more than just superheroics, and Kaito didn't fully know the context of something like Kiwami Arms vs Ryugen Yomi fight. I guess despite Kaito being someone who doesn't give up and uses failures as lessons, like Micchy (adding up to his comparable traits), Kaito also constantly clings into the past/childhood which is the powerful Yggdrasill takeover of his family, though Kaito clings to bitter moment while Micchy clings to happy moment. Kaito refusing to move on blinds him from the surrounding fact, only constantly projecting his past to any situation and denying objections like Kouta did here. While Kouta, though he also underwent terrible moment in Yuuya's death, he grows out of it to move forward and forgiving himself. Both henshin into Baron and Gaim to fight while their respective Inves army also fights, with the fight between Riders moving into Lock Vehicles fight, then Dandeliner fight, then Gaim turning Jimber Lemon Arms to fight off stronger Inves, with Baron changing into Mango Arms who got overwhelmed by Jimber Lemon Arms. Gaim upgrades into Kachidoki Arms to fight off even stronger Inves as Baron turns into Lord Baron. While the fight is nice (..at the cost of Mai's role) like the transition to both of their bikes.. I guess I feel like some part is lacking to skip some forms, with Gaim's Pine and Ichigo Arms being unused (should be pitted against Mango Arms). Gaim Jimber Cherry Arms is also unused, though probably Peach Arms wouldn't gain advantage. I wonder too if the Riders don't care about friendly fire to the Inves army they summoned there.

As of yesterday and today, I watched the first two episodes of Kamen Rider Blade, the first two episodes of Kamen Rider Hibiki, and the first two episodes of Kamen Rider Faiz on YouTube.

Kamen Rider Gaim watch

The Forbidden Fruit Saga

Episode 46: Fate's Victor

Written by: Gen Urobuchi, Directed by: Hidenori Ishida

The last episode written by Urobutcher, as the next is another movie tie-in.

The fight continues with Kaito at his strongest (Lord Baron) and Kouta at his 2nd strongest (Gaim Kachidoki Arms), with the typical rivalry scream of "KAZURABA!" and "KAITO!". In the alternate world, the Gaim and Baron fight of its own in Sengoku Rider War also started, albeit it's them in base form, with Sagara describing the world as potential possibilities, determining which one can survive, and that both him and Mai can only watch, where the latter empathizes with Kaito's pain. Kachidoki Arms goes toe to toe with Lord Baron for a while, but would expectedly get beaten, as Lord Baron voices his true hatred for the social darwinist philosophy, though him doing something against it would still make him a big threat with the power he'd potentially gain. Gaim upgrades into Kiwami Arms. Kiwami Arms uses 2 main Rider's weapons at once, Daidaimaru and Bana Spear against Lord Baron, then the other remaining main Rider's weapons Budou Ryuhou and Melon Defender, though in both cases Lord Baron gains upper hand with his Guronbaryamu and energy ball (despite the shield). He then launches a Gates of Babylon-esque attack again, summoning Pine Iron, Duri Noko, Donkachi, Mango Punisher, Kiwi Gekirin, and Ichigo Kunai to throw all of them, only for Lord Baron to resist them all with a shockwave similar to Roshuo, and then destroy them. Kiwami Arms then elevates his weapon with Sonic Arrow, but Lord Baron uses his mist ability to smash Kiwami Arms around. Kiwami Arms then uses his final weapon DJ Gun, activating Taiken Mode with Musou Saber, but still got outmatched by Lord Baron. Lord Baron continues his assault towards Kiwami Arms, with the Sengoku Rider War version of Gaim vs Baron scenes interposed, eventually slashing Kiwami Arms' chest, leaving a trail of colorful fruits in place of blood. As Kiwami Arms fall into his knees with Lord Baron delivering final blow, Gaim blocks the blow with his hand, then snaps Lord Baron's weapon, and stabs Lord Baron with the shard of his weapon. Not the most flashy move, but it seems that as Kiwami Arms gets overwhelmed using each of its weapons by Lord Baron, then the one that can end Lord Baron is his power himself if Kiwami can't get through it, though Lord Baron's Guronbaryamu seems to be a glass cannon at least to Kiwami Arms, possessing enough offensive power to end Lord Baron, but is easily snapped. It's also meaningful about how despite Lord Baron wanting to crush the social darwinist philosophy, he had become the very thing he targets, by becoming someone who is bent on destroying the world, thus, he's ended by it.

Kaito finally acknowledges Kouta's strength, though he asked first for the reason, which is due to Kouta wanting to protect someone and not giving up. Well, Kaito does have those trait too so it's not wholly convincing, but Kaito had his shortcomings for never seeking help from others, not making bonds with others; which explains how many Lockseeds Kouta use compared to Kaito's, not utilizing the other forms of strength himself despite acknowledging Mai's, not properly taking care of himself, which makes himself hindered by his own fatal flaws. For Kaito to be killed regarding this, surely it's a rather brutal move by goody-two-shoes main Riders' standards, and it's not completely 100% morally good decision at that one few occassion (not regularly), though it's purposely made as likely inevitable decision as it's dealing with someone who has fully turned into a monster, unlike other Riders who can be disabled by wrecking their belt. Moreover, Kouta doesn't enjoy killing Kaito here, putting him in tears, which is ought to happen if a hero gets to put in a killing situation. Finally Kouta also acknowledges that he can be emotional like crying while still moving forward, unlike what he said at the first episode. I still wonder though if monsters can be KOed as a way of dealing with them non-lethally, or what are the fates of the victims infected by Helheim plants in the hospital before, if doctors can heal them or not, and if it can happen to Kaito too.

Kouta reunites with Mai, who laments that she can stop Kaito (in-universe acknowledgment of diminishing role despite gaining power), and Kouta talks about Kaito having the right goals, but wrong execution (and thus is an anti-villain, having good intentions don't justify your other traits), where they vow to accomplish Kaito's goals with better method. Typical of Urobutcher's work, the main protagonist ascends to godhood by Mai giving Kouta the Forbidden Fruit. Kouta's another case of his Overlord form still looking mostly human, Sagara appears and is happy about him completing the job of encouraging the cycle of evolution through natural selection, destruction and rebirth. For now, Sagara successfully tempts Kouta and Mai to pick and eat the fruit, just like how the snake in Bible successfully tempts Adam and Eve to eat the fruit. Kouta is suspicious of Sagara's side, if he's friend or foe, of which he claims neither as he's hand of fate, claiming it's inevitable for civilizaions to fall for next generation. Still despite Sagara's weird way of thinking of caring for only the end results, he's the cause of all the problems everyone faces albeit not the direct threat. The ending is a mixed bag, on the one hand, I like the 'another option' route here where Kouta refuses to destroy the world he protects to make way for the new world, despite Sagara persuading him to do so, warning that Kouta and Mai would have no future if they don't do so. They opt to use uninhabited planet as the place to make the new world, opening cracks to move traces of Helheim in the Earth there, and this would be a huge sacrifice for those 2, choosing to exile themselves in the darkness, as Sagara pointed out. This is what they can do best for the Earth for the power they hold. Kouta is confident in his power and that Mai is in his side, holding arms. This would be one of the cases where a couple in KR is made official, and for them facing painful future, this'd play up their vow to not make each other suffer alone. This'd mark a defeat in Sagara's case for his expectations to be foiled, though he encourages those 2, playing the God's role with him thinking it's not for once here to quote Genesis 1:28. Kouta and Mai's exile also play another part of Adam and Eve where they both are exiled from Eden after eating the fruit, while Kouta and Mai are exiled from Earth to their new planet. Ironic that they're actually exiled here due to their morality and decision to put others above themselves. On the other hand, the bad part is about how the resolution is incomplete with Sagara still being unopposed (moreover, Kouta parted with him by thanking him for everything, despite Kouta defying and calling him out moments ago), starting another Helheim trial in another planet inhabitated with aliens. None of the characters likely will notice this, which probably would mean Sagara would keep successfully doom other worlds without any repercussions. The godhood power should be used to combat against this, either if they can or can't against Sagara.

Timeskip happens for 3 months, showing Iyo being called over by Bando, Jonouchi looking for Hase by posting a flyer about him, among many of the missing people's flyers (the consequence of Sagara's sthick, right there..), Yggdrasill Tower being demolished, Zawame functioning again with its inhabitants (and a crippled Zack) returning, watching Beat Riders' performance (with Raid Wild joining for once). Zack surviving is a case of decision change, that he was intended to die, but is kept alive due to the popularity. Both shows that despite Yggdrasill boasting itself as the centerpiece of the city, Yggdrasill isn't actually as influental in the city it creates that Jonouchi and Oren talks about the city's state after Yggdrasill ends. As Jonouchi laments about Hase, Oren encourages him that it can't be changed anymore and better focus on present, which makes Jonouchi think of himself as lucky, but then brings up Micchy. Oren narrates about how Micchy is a victim for Overlords, but talks about him getting fitting punishment of living with the burden of his actions, with no one to understand him. This shows that even without characters like him being killed in horrible death, there are other kinds of punishment, he’s turned into a nobody who has nothing, losing everything all due to his actions. This shows that being a bad person does not disqualify someone from the victim status, and inversely, being victimized at some point in your life does not automatically make you a good person or preclude you from doing evil things. However, Zack extends a hand to Micchy, welcomes him if he wants to rejoin (Micchy would feel wrong to be there, rightfully so), and recounts about how the situation is happy again with nobody knowing that the world is going to end before, and vows to keep Kouta, Mai, and Kaito's memories alive. Micchy then visits Takatora... who again... survives the last encounter with his little brother and is being treated, but likely hopeless. In his head Takatora interacts with Kouta who reports that everythind ends now and encourages him to take care of Micchy properly, pointing out that people can change like Kouta himself, as he wakes up finally, again applying the theme that there's hope regardless of past, to a previously messed up sibling caretaker. Regarding Sagara's scene before though, while Earth may get better outcome now, the other worlds won't be necessarily, that's what I can't take my mind off after watching this sequence, seemingly Earth-bias if this is played up as happy ending.

Kamen Rider Gaim watch

The Forbidden Fruit Saga

Episode 47: Transform! And to the Future

Written by: Jin Haganeya, Directed by: Hidenori Ishida

Flashback of Kouta and Micchy still being together is shown, with Gaim fighting off Inves while they're accused as playing hero by the public due to blaming Beat Riders for the Inves. Micchy asks Kouta the reason to keep fighting despite not getting reward, which Kouta feels as responsibility to fight when you have the power. This was the thing that Redyue, Micchy's Overlord counterpart, tried to mind rape Kouta with, and failed, doing good isn't primarily seeking reward. There's a playful scene of Kouta headlocking Micchy that he still fought with him too despite the complaining. That'd seem like Micchy gets the influence of Kouta's hope there, at least in Kouta's eyes (as he'd lately know about his true nature), something that he despised about Kouta and that he was never on board with the hope from the beginning. Of course, this serves as a (currently) comeuppance to Micchy as all of it are things in the past, 7 months forward after Helheim left Earth.

Takatora talks with Micchy about his plans to atone, fixing the damages done by Yggdrasill, ascending into the cornerstone among the heroes now. The past deeds Yggdrasill did including Takatora's cannot be undone, but trying to fix it is the best he can do to try restoring things into normal, as a proof that he truly felt guilty including his burdens before, though still, it depends on what would he do if he's put in similar situation like Helheim at first again (I read he can be still manipulative at Gridon vs Bravo). While Takatora retains Micchy, he'd be understandably skeptical of Micchy's claims that he'll be fine as Takatora would be.. busy again, considering he turned even worse than Takatora did before. Again, Micchy is sulking in front of other Beat Riders dancing. However, here the reaction for the dancers to him are shown; Chucky, who apparently has assumed the role of leader tries to invite him back, supported by Rat and Rica, while Micchy aplologizes as he left. So the other dancers are also lenient to Micchy, likely due to the past time they shared together, albeit there's those who understandably won't forgive him like Peko. Zack convinces others to leave Micchy alone for a while due to it being hard for him, as an unnamed civilian girl is struck by a flying insect.

Takatora finally meets up with t̶h̶e̶ ̶o̶l̶d̶e̶r̶ ̶s̶i̶s̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶g̶e̶t̶s̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶ ̶h̶y̶p̶e̶d̶ ̶u̶p̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶t̶a̶l̶k̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶K̶o̶u̶t̶a̶ Akira at Charmant, talking about his failings as brother, with Akira consoling him that she doesn't know everything about Kouta too and that's normal for siblings. Takatora admits that he owes Kouta, while Akira thinks Kouta's state (and likely change) now is done on his own instead of relating to others including her. This seems to be couple set up between them, Takatora approaching someone with Kouta's ideals, but of opposite gender, as it makes Oren jealous (of Takatora as usual), though Takatora had a sick wife (like Roshuo's) in Soccer World. I'd think Takatora should ask for guidance in rising younger sibling other than admitting his mistakes, or that the impact of Kouta leaving to Akira should be emphasized more. Oren gives both of them cakes where both praised it as delicious, but Oren credits it to Jonouchi, who has completed his training (though Oren still slaps him), on par with Oren in cooking skills now (him gaining Oren's recognition when). They're swarmed by numerous flying insects, as well as some civilians, merging into Grasshopper Monster like the one on ep. 37. The possessed girl approaches Micchy who is surprised by her having Lockseed, revealing the identity as Kougane, a villain in summer film who wants revenge (haven't watched the movie he's in yet) as he henshins into Armored Rider Jam, while Oren, Jonouchi, and Takatora fights Grasshopper Monster as human. They're obviously outmatched without any power to fight off superpowered beings, with Zack also trying to fight off Jam and failed. Actually it's Zack's fault that Oren and Jonouchi lost their belts in situation like this due to him faking betrayal (though they likely won't win against Jam, despite Oren's skills).

At Drupers Bando suggests them to use the black Riders (Kurokage Troopers) belt from Yggdrasill. Actually would like to hear what Bando thinks of Yggdrasill being gone or what he thinks of them now after Ryoma exposed their plan, as a declared Yggdrasill fan. Takatora confirms that the Sengoku Drivers are disposed so other Yggdrasill can't use them for evil, and that Helheim has been taken care of, but he can still create Drivers with Ryoma's blueprints, but there still won't be Lockseeds available. Oren notes that the threat comes at very convenient time. Zack is outraged that they can only sit and watch. Later Jonouchi approaches Takatora, calling it that Takatora still had 1 Sengoku Driver, declaring himself as tactician. Takatora tries to prevent dragging kids into this matter, trying to atone his sins. Hm, probably a proof that Takatora has redeemed, to not think lowly of the 'street trash' here, though he seems to try to atone it himself, while Kouta gets/gives a lesson about not suffering alone. Jonouchi snatches the briefcase containing the Driver, asking Hase's fate. Takatora explains that Hase turned into Inves and is put down by Yggdrasill. As to show that it's not only Takatora's problem, Jonouchi admits that Hase's fate was his fault, and also wants to atone his sins too, by becoming the next Kurokage to honor Hase, with his henshin against Jam later being interposed by flashbacks of Hase and Jonouchi's henshin together. So Jonouchi got his closure on this episode.

Kurokage will of course lose to Jam, as Kurokage was weaker than Gridon before, but Micchy steps in, acknowledging that Kouta's no longer in Earth, therefore they have to take his place as the heroes, as he henshins into Ryugen, and becomes a significantly better fighter by gaining upper hand against both Jam and Grasshopper Monster at once, only hindered by Kougane using the possessed girl as hostage to make Ryugen de-henshin to Micchy, as he gets beaten up by the Grasshopper Monster, lamenting himself to Kouta that he can't achieve anything (other than questionable redemption handling, this can be something that proves him kindness will accomplish nothing as he backs off from shooting the possessed girl for Kougane), but Kouta consoles him about his effort, coming in golden apple projection to destroy Grasshopper Monster, and instantly exorcises Kougane from the girl with his godly power. Kouta and Micchy tag teams, with Kouta now being able to instantly henshin into Kiwami Arms by just saying the word as Just Live More plays. Kiwami Arms uses Musou Saber while he hands Ryugen Daidaimaru with Jam (separated weapons) using Daidaimaru Naginata Mode (united weapons). The tag team wins, with Jam boasting that he's the embodiment of golden fruit. Jam uses Apple Bullets, Squash version as he fires 15 purple energy apples, which got stopped by Kiwami Arms in similar manner as Lord Baron stopping Kiwami Arms' "Gates of Babylon" before, while saying a cool quote of no real gold in Jam. Kiwami Arms and Ryugen finish off Jam with combined Rider Kick, as Jam failed to counter with Apple Bullets Au Lait version. Kouta then bids farewell, telling Micchy to get along with Takatora. I don't know if this is the 'embodiment of golden fruit' being underwhelming in his performances against other Riders before, or Kouta's godly power being underwhelming one (or Kouta holding back to fight alongside Micchy again) to not instantly put down a Rider that goes toe to toe with Ryugen, especially that Kiwami Arms before was a sliver of golden fruit, but now Kouta has full power of golden fruit. Otherwise not as flashy as my suggestion for Kiwami Arms' finisher, but I also want for his Burai Kick to have him going through all fruit projection (like Burai Kick in base form going through multiple orange slices).

Micchy gets welcomed by the male characters afterwards and Takatora with him accepting it. Then at the now intact shrine tree (Kaito and Mai's place in childhood), both of the kids that Kouta and Kaito saved meet up, with the previously possessed girl, revealed as one of the kids' older sister, dancing in front of the tree, who she describes as sacred and a sign of good luck. Kaito's spirit appears, with Mai trying to convince him that it's the proof of humanity being worth protecting, with people being able to move on and looking forward, cementing their future. Kaito again tries to argue that they'll repeat mistakes and wage war, and Mai acknowledges that, but she thinks mistakes are just room of improvement to move forward. Kaito praises Mai's strength again for this, and Kaito's before someone who also learns from mistakes and not giving up, but in form of fighting enemies. Learning from mistakes of course can be applied to human morality too that Kaito's too cynical to learn, instead of just finishing them all off. Kaito disappears and Kouta and Mai return into their planet, which has turned into something resembling Earth outwardly. Like many would feel, if they want to redeem Micchy, they for sure rushed the hell out of it here, for someone as depraved as him before, it should be a long, drawn out process that took years or perhaps his entire life. It can't be done by merely several speech and Kouta coming to his aid in a fight (if someone at each other's odds is united for a fight, the alliance is mostly very brief and will crumble after the fight ends), terrible people usually needs shit kicked out of them to actually change. More punishment or sentence also might be required for Micchy for his change to actually make sense, probably they should play out Micchy's deeds here as a form of community service punishment? Actually this episode did give some good character closure like Takatora's or Jonouchi's, but to implement movie stuff in something that is a canon continuation of the characters, it feels wrong to me for this episode, which made me not really enjoying the episode, along with how the embodiment of golden fruit is implemented here (not to Kiwami Arms, but to other low-level Riders).

Just finished watching the second episode of Kamen Rider Drive and it looks like it will be another fun series to watch at some point. I seriously need to really start watching these shows outside of the first two episodes.

I actually forgot to mention this before, since I was too tired at the time, but I finished watching the original 1971 Kamen Rider recently. It was definitely a show that was more historically interesting that "good" usually. It was wild to see just how old certain KR tropes are, but the show itself was wildly erratic in tone, to the point it almost felt like an encapsulation of Showa Rider in general, the good and bad.

I don't know if I would ever recommend it to anyone besides a toku diehard, but I had a good time overall, even though the show totally lost the plot near the end.

Kamen Rider Saber: Episodes 29-34

We wrap up the Primitive Dragon arc, and move into everyone's favourite time - Secondary Rider upgrade period! And for his upgrade, Rintaro has to suffer. Poor kid has everything he's ever known torn out from under him, and does not react well. I'm reminded of Mach's little arc back in Drive, where he was frustrated that everyone else was ahead of him, but Rintaro isn't jeaous, he's full of loathing that he let himself get tricked and keeps having to get saved. But, of course, through the support of his friends, and his own desire for justice, he resolves his will, and pushes on as his best self.

And then the upgrade comes the next episode.

It all holds together fine, it's just an odd choice. Maybe it's just that, knowing the upgrade was coming, I was expecting it to be more tied into what he was going through, rather than what feels like a post-script reward?

Aside from that minor confusion though, I'm having a good time with Saber! New, edgier Kento's nihilism makes for an interesting despindent villain, and Genta is fine as an antagonist? He's evil, he wants the book of power, he's definitely gonna get stabbed in the back by Storius, good for him. Durandal is just boneless King Crimson, Sabela is getting the hints of a redemption arc, which is cool, and they even made Ren and Dezast kinda interesting!

I always found this part super interesting, but it also makes a lot of sense? I mean for as dire as the Neko Megid is with it being attached to Mei, it's just a standard Human Fused Megid that we've seen around the late teens/early twenties. So it would have felt kind of lame having Rintaro get a new upgrade to help when there's already a clear cut method of how he can help via glowy sword.

It also just makes a good send off for King Lion Dai Senki even though I seriously wished they paired it up more with Dragonic Knight.

I get what you're saying, but the personal stakes feel much higher since it's Mei in danger, and Rintaro is easily at his lowest point. Even if in-show it's just another fused Megido, it feels much worse. Which is odd, because you'd think the heroes having their home base attacked would be equally dire - I guess since we already did it with Sabela (and it *did* feel dramatic then), plus having the fights be in random backrooms we've never seen, it just doesn't quite connect? Idk.

I'l agree though, it's nice to have King Lion get one final show-off before it's replaced forever.

Also, something else I thought of in the last hour - very nice of them to bring back Falchion, a movie villain with absolutely nothing going for him, and tie him into Saber's ongoing themes of "Everybody betray me", as well as adding something more to Yuri's story. An unexpected surprise!

One of the best arcs in Saber, I feel, especially since it's Rintarou. One of my favorite parts of it is when Touma mimics Slash's deflection, it's a callback to how Rintarou spent most of the Q2 sitting around and Touma got the development, so seeing how Blades stagnated was great.

Also, I do think that Tategami's not really a post-development award, it's more to me as a sort of part 2. The first part being his development as a swordsman and his skills of it and the Tategami debut being more about his development as North SOL's family member. Like reaffirming that his new mission is not about the organization, but more so protecting those closest to him.

Also this sequence of his master greeting him again, him turning back into a child metaphorically as his master pats his head and fades back into him being all alone in the show is splendid

https://i.imgur.com/QFnrioM.jpg

Honestly I'd probably would have put Bahato as one of the least interesting swordsman (That honor goes to Durandel now) prior to him returning. Like I knew he had to return, we had the hints throughout various episodes that we'd need every single sword to progress plot, including his. But then he returned and he had a very nice spin to him now that we've expanded the cast to include Yuri since his first defeat. So he gains these layers that I really enjoyed.

I re-watched the first two episodes of Kamen Rider Kuuga last night and just started on its third episode through the Shout Factory streaming app on my Roku TV.

I apologize once again for the double post.

Just watched the first episode of Kamen Rider Gaim.

The airing of W in my TV isn't that smooth compared to Gaim before, with occassional delays for several episodes, and the schedule change to air from Monday to Friday, to fill in Ex-Aid (something I already completed) for weekends. But I guess, I can try to catch up for my W(riting) here then, I'll do it in 2 parter.

Kamen Rider W(atch)

Nazca Arc

Episode 1-2: The W Search

"W" stands for "Double/W" and "Word"; living up to the title to give the letter in each title double word meaning

Written by: Riku Sanjo, Directed by: Ryuta Tasaki

/Two Detectives in One

The opening, set 1 year before the series, had the Chief who along with Shotaro Hidari, someone with appropriate surname for something that soon happens, being shot by lackeys. The Chief appoints Shotaro as his successor by giving him his hat, while the man they save, Phillip, invites Shotaro to "ride with the devil" by showing a briefcase with Gaia Memory (USB-like device) as Taboo Dopant emerges, all while they're gunned down by nearby helicopter. turning into Kamen Rider W (Double), CycloneJoker form, using his wind powers to send the helicopter crashing to escape. This scene which highlights Double's origin, really quickly jumps into the action and the stakes the series had, with someone being apparently killed already, particularly that Shotaro and Phillip wasn't able to bid proper farewell to the Chief making the scene sadder, as his body was buried with Taboo Dopant's appearence.

The opening series. It contains currently my favorite opening song W-Boiled Extreme. Otherwise, the opening highlights the main theme of the series being coding, the Futo city along with windmill, and the detective theme, enhanced by scenes like Phillip showcasing Gaia Library, animated sequence of Shotaro strolling across the city and W posing ahead of windmills in his main forms, and photos with typings respectively. There's a shot of Akiko Narumi emerging from shadow to give a slap with her green slipper as well, with appearence of W's motorcycle HardBoiler, based on Honda CBR1000RR, and RevolGarry as well.

There's a meeting between Akiko and Shotaro in Kamome Billiards, which doesn't go too well for either of them. Shotaro strives to become a hardboiled detective, hence the name of W's motorcycle, but Shotaro can instead become too tryhard instead for that, as Akiko noted, where she's apparently his boss, and seemingly (ab)uses her authority to get Shotaro to comply for her needs like evicting him. However this behavior of Akiko also led for Shotaro to mistake her for middle schooler, which riles up Akiko further, and revealing that she's the daughter of the Chief that was killed a year ago. Further character reveal for them is that, Shotaro seems to not giving out hard truth by claiming the Chief won't be coming back, while Akiko is obnoxiously curious by shrieking something at something she doesn't know. Despite her bratty traits against Shotaro, Akiko doesn't seem to be all bad here though by her scene greeting some passerby before. The scene also establishes both of them as comedic, over the top expressive characters with Akiko's antics and Shotaro spitting water at revelations.

Then they got a client in form of Marina Tsumura, Shotaro's childhood friend, asking to solve her missing boyfriend Yosuke Togawa. As Shotaro boss however he also got unwanted supervision from Akiko. Shotaro got a clue about Windscale (on a hat) being the place Togawa used to work, but Shotaro is confronted by a cop named Shun Makura for interfering. Wanting to be hardboiled, Shotaro snarks back to him even refering to Makura as 3rd rate cop, escalating a fight. However it only makes them seem like cat and dog in front of Mikio Jinno, a senior detective. Shotaro got photos as more clues, while suspecting that it's related to Dopant, to Akiko's dismay of not knowing about it, even choking Shotaro with her slipper to force him to explain. To make it better for Shotaro there, so far it seems that Akiko doesn't actually wear her slippers, she wears sneakers. Shotaro calls Phillip for further investigation but the Magma Dopant actually appears, with Shotaro escaping and insisting Akiko to stay home for safety. Shows that Shotaro is equipped with detective gadgets like grappling hook.

The Sonozaki family are introduced, after the appearence of their limo on Shotaro and Akiko's way before, portrayed as the elites with luxurious lifestyle and the likely source of the Dopants with their talk about Gaia Memory sales and Magma type. also revealing the Taboo Dopant to be one of the Sonozakis, Saeko. As Akiko tries to evict Shotaro, she comes across Phillip in a secret room, who is scribbling across the board. Phillip is someone focused on explaining and gaining knowledge, asking for Akiko to not interfere while he's focused, and he's interested in learning new topics, but the ones he'd view as interesting, but not for those he already knows. He can get distracted to learn about takoyaki from Akiko's talk however, to Shotaro's dismay. Other than comedic moment there, so far Akiko holds back the case solving in 2 occassions in Shotaro and Phillip's (here) scenes and I get the division of her opinion comes from of her being hindrance. Shotaro finally explains about Dopants to Akiko, while confirming that there are sales about Gaia Memory. After very lengthy octopus explanation, it's revealed how the detectives work, Shotaro gives the keywords to Phillip, while Phillip searches for further information with Gaia Library, possessing seemingly endless information dump.

At Windscale however, Togawa is revealed to be the exact Magma Dopant, injecting the Gaia Memory in a spot of his body to change. Shotaro henshins into W CycloneJoker, using the pronoun "we", as he invites Phillip to get into battle. With the Riders being 2 person in 1, it employs both methods of using the Rider Belt the franchise is known; Shotaro wearing it manually (like Faiz), and the belt materializing around Phillip (original KR), and Phillip falls unconscious when they henshin, with confused Akiko taking care of his body. I also like about how the form's logo appears when they henshin/change forms, with W using CycloneJoker and then changing into LunaJoker (which can stretch right limbs like rubber) as Magma Dopant gains upper hand over his range. Shotaro supplies W's weapons, while Phillip supplies W's powers, and the weapon side is the left part of W, accurately referenced in Shotaro's surname Hidari, which means left. W ends the fight with Maximum Drive attack Joker Extreme, though not that flashy, still a neat idea of literally splitting W's body into both halves for.. doubled finishing kicks, double the damage. Dopants fight wouldn't kill the humans using it, it'll revert them back to human while wrecking their Gaia Memory. However, Togawa is then taken by a T-Rex Dopant, and RevolGarry from the secret room emerges, taking Akiko and Philip along.

/Those Who Make the City Cry

T-Rex Dopant's burrowing power gave W hard time, as it escapes with Togawa despite W trying to hold it using RevolGarry. As Akiko learns about W too with Shotaro trying to deny her suspicion about it being half and half monster, Togawa is reported dead by a radio airing. Marina apparently mourns for his death, which reveals Shotaro's motivation that he doesn't want for anyone to cry and tries to prevent it happening and lamenting about his failure to Marina, while reminiscing their childhood. This also seems to be the reason why Shotaro's attempt to be hardboiled fails miserably, as discussed by his informant "Watcherman", due to his emotional true self, but it's a sign of his altruism. He then comes across T-Rex Dopant, but he shows off his skills outside Rider by using Bat Shot camera and Stag Phone to electroute the Dopant, but it escapes again, however Shotaro found the other clue, the Windscale clothing line.

Watcherman then describes to Shotaro about the Gaia Memory salesman that Togawa bought himself one into, Kirihiko, continued by Wakana, the younger sister of Sonozaki, expressing admiration to him for surviving while courting with Saeko, and Saeko not taking it well of being seen as monster. Their father, plans to expand their influence by questioning if Kirihiko is suitable as one of them. Giving Phillip new keywords, Phillip suspects Marina as the killer, with Shotaro noting that she also had grudge against Windscale with her boyfriend, but manipulates Shotaro into killing him as Marina attacks weakened Togawa as T-Rex after he's beaten. The clash between Philip and Shotaro is also shown here with Phillip urging Shotaro to finish off Marina, as the emotional Shotaro believes in her and wants to reason, deeming Shotaro as halfboiled for not doing what's necessary, earning him a punch, and Akiko siding with him. At this point, Phillip is all about the knowledge, he exhibits thinking preference against feelings, relying on hard logic due to rationalize their environment, but it turns him cold and pragmatic by resorting to do what's "necessary". Despite Shotaro's inherent empathy, he still attempts to be hardboiled at this point, being enraged by those who call him hardboiled by punching Phillip.

Shotaro confronts Marina, cutting her bag with Stag Beetle to reveal a Gaia Memory, with Marina trying to get his sympathy by telling her sob story about the Windscale manager taking credit of her work and disposing her. True to Shotaro's goal, he's mad by Marina making the whole city cry with her crimes here (also destroying buildings) and had contacted the authorities, but still tries to be lenient by just urging for Marina to turn herself in, but as someone with superpowers, Marina would make use for it to try to prevent herself being captured by the cops (only having human level equipment), and her deterioriating sanity to resort to eat Shotaro due to her love. In dire situations though, Akiko does care, jumping into Shotaro as she's worried, but they're both struggling with the debris. Phillip arrives with RevolGarry, and due to his reliance on thinking, he can't understand why Shotaro hit him, likely a sign of him learning about emotions more. Shotaro reconciles with him and henshin into W, but didn't give proper answer other than asking for his help, while tasks Akiko to look after Phillip's unconscious body (done by her carrying him in her back). T-Rex's rampage corners Akiko and Phillip into a police car, which also got pulled around by T-Rex, as it's hopeless in tug of war situation against it as Akiko tries to move the car, with W trying HeatJoker to fight T-Rex who had assumed its big form. W also uses HardBoiler to combat the now big T-Rex, using RevolGarry to switch the bike with Heat. W then changes into HeatMetal, and defeats big T-Rex using Metal Branding... which tbh, I would say a really bland attack, just smacking the opponent with burning Metal Shaft (that I think should be standard attack of the form). Kirihiko joins Sonozaki family, being given a special Gaia Memory while Shotaro reports about the situation regarding Marina's arrest with manual typewriter. Akiko comes to establish Narumi Detective Agency's new sign, to Shotaro's dismay and Phillip's intrigue.

Kamen Rider W(atch)

Nazca Arc

Episode 3-4: Don't Lay a Finger on M

M stands for Money and Memories.

Written by: Riku Sanjo, Directed by: Satoshi Morota

/How to Get to Heaven

Wakana's other activity is shown here to host her radio show, refering herself as Healing Princess, telling about Million Colosseo casino during her Futo's Mystery Tour segment and its fantasy-like effects. Phillip is apparently held in higher regard for both Shotaro and Akiko, who defused their argument as Phillip tells them to be quiet as he wants to focus on the radio show. Shotaro's hardboiled is proven to be a tryhard act again with his fear against a dog named Dani, while Akiko insists for the pet to be returned, albeit using up her boss position. They then got hired by a couple to investigate their daughter for a case related to the casino. I like the gag here that they refer to "Narumi", and for Akiko, being the daughter with same surname is overexcited... until Shotaro reminds that the famous one is her father. It's something like Blade before where both father and daughter are refered by their family name "Hirose-san", only that it's addressed here in the gag.

The couple owns Izumi Confectionery, which is a pastry shop, where their daughter Yuuko Izumi is acting strange, turning into someone stuck-up who slaps a clerk in a shop for not meeting her impossible standards in their products. Shotaro and Akiko follows her, but an argument based on Shotaro showing off & trying to keep Akiko away and Akiko being defied happens again, this time causing them to lose Yuuko. The professional stuff (that Shotaro talked) is actually about putting aside your difference for important task, something both failed here, albeit I'd put more blame to Akiko (who slaps using her slipper) here. They meet up with Watcherman, who got introduced to Akiko, for answers. Akiko likes being flattered, like what Watcherman does while trying to take a photo with her, seems to be the way to get her to comply. Watcherman leads them to Goro Murasame, and as Shotaro informs to Phillip regarding Murasame's gambling, house, and family, he freezes upon the word family. However the casino owner Taizo Kaga/Money Dopant attacks Murasame. The difficulty of the Riders being made up of 2 person is highlighted here, with Shotaro being unable to henshin if Phillip wasn't ready, in this case, being frozen, forcing him to wait.

Kirihiko and Saeko wonders about the Dopant split into 2 different sides, likely refering to W. The approach between sisters seem to be reversed here with Saeko encouraging him to learn slowly, while Wakana scoffs at Kirihiko's praise of her radio show. Yuuko continues her hostile behavior, dismissing her parents' warning, while also physically pushes them. Shotaro tries to warn her about the casino being run by monsters to no avail, while Yuuko's behavior riles up Akiko enough to blow their cover, although it's a sign of her standing up to what's right with her treating family as less important to money. In the search of the casino's location, along with Makura and Jinno, Wakana seems to have good publicity, with Shotaro being starstruck giving funny faces, asking for her autograph. They then resume their search of the location with Phillip's search in Gaia Library, with Shotaro failing to keep Akiko away from the danger by going to the casino in a bus, teasing him with funny face, and as Shotaro henshins into W and later using CycloneMetal, the problem being revealed by Money Dopant absorbing the life force of the gamblers with Life Coins, due to his rule of replacing what gamblers had lost like money by putting their life on the line, and that beating him means he had to destroy those Life Coins, while the falk brings up family again that freezes Phillip, the difficulty of 2 person as 1 applying in battles too.

/Play with a Joker

The episode further reveals Phillip's trouble that he's amnesiac, as when he searches for family later in Gaia Library, the book's pages are torn out, which is the reason that the word family traumatizes him. Shotaro tolerates him, and supports him which Phillip suspects as him following Sokichi Narumi, the name of their Chief and Akiko's father. So Shotaro being hardboiled is emulating him, but being hardboiled involves supporting one another in Sokichi's eyes as well... Akiko tries to get Yuuko back home, despite Yuuko being condescending to her, while also infiltrating the casino and reporting to Shotaro with Bat Shot, showing Yuuko's loss and her being absorbed by Life Coins, enraging Akiko to slap Money Dopant with her slipper. It's endearing act to stand up against the client, but a reckless one to blow her cover again... after Shotaro is being forced to acknowledge her usefulness right before. Despite the bickering, the bond of the main characters seem to be reaffirmed here that, Akiko knows full well about the danger of her confronting a Dopant here, that if he does anything to her, then she puts her faith into Shotaro and Phillip that they'll pay her back. Although she hypocritically mocks Shotaro as useless after her reckless act although brave, while praises Phillip as super genius. So Phillip is Akiko's standard to be treated well and he does have pedestal among the 2. Nevertheless Phillip lives up to the claim, comprehends how roulette work, impressing Money Dopant too for his confidence, and searches for keywords related to roulette in the Gaia Library. I guess somehow some part of technology here is still held back here like Shotaro's manual typewriter, only Phillip can search out informations like we do with search engines like Google!

The head of Sonozaki family, Ryubee, reveals his aim that he feels Sonozaki family is destined to be mankind's rulers, and thus on the way of Kirihiko and Saeko's marriage, Kirihiko had to master Nazca memory first, and he's pitted against Wakana, who can henshin into Claydoll Dopant, and continues her contempt against haughty men to fight Kirihiko. Kirihiko apparently succeeds to meet Ryubee's expectations and he marries Saeko, apparently uninterrupted. While being concerned about Phillip's family situation, another ally is introduced, Santa-chan, who gives him.. useless present (Shotaro wondering what's the use of it) and treats it as Christmas despite that the time there is September.

Shotaro and Phillip arrives at Million Colosseo, to take the Life Coins, which the story uses 'settling things with tabletop game' resolution against Kaga. Phillip lives up to the hype, winning most of the lottery and the Life Coins by predicting the result of the roulette, but the trauma hits Phillip back with Kaga discussing about family, gaining himself upper hand as Phillip can no longer focus, on the verge of being turned into another Life Coins victim. However Shotaro steps in, challenging Kaga in an Old Maid game. However Kaga is an utter expert, being able to predict everything Shotaro does by his expressions, movements, etc. Phillip is skeptical about this, but now Akiko stands up for Shotaro (and whacks Phillip with her slipper), that Shotaro's doing that to save him. But the advantage of the Rider being 2-in-1 is played well here to win, as when Shotaro wears the belt, even before they henshin into W, their consciousness is linked, therefore Phillip can secretly participate too within Shotaro's body, Phillip's intellect is still utilized to win the game. I guess Shotaro participates to stall Phillip until he regains focus again. This sequence, personally reminds me of JoJo Part 3, for both D'Arbys with the resolution being gambling against predictive player who absorbs the losers in coins (Daniel) and it being won by the partner secretly participating (Telence). Kaga is enraged and fights them, with the duo henshin into W, no longer having the Life Coins on stake. They utilize CycloneJoker, then LunaJoker, and the first appearence of LunaMetal, being able to stretch the Metal Shaft in place of limbs. Kaga attempts to use the word family to his advantage again, but now it's Phillip's turn to reaffirm the main character's bonds, with him taking Shotaro and Akiko as his family for now, thus it no longer worked on him. W changes into HeatMetal and uses Metal Branding to put down Money Dopant. The Life Coins' energy returned, but it's not all good as the one returned still has crippling debut including the Izumi family, but Shotaro is optimistic that they can make it through when they stick together in his report. W also managed to catch the attention of Wakana, talking about them in her radio show.

Kamen Rider W(atch)

Nazca Arc

Episode 5-6: The Girl... A

A stands for Anomalocaris (Dopant) and Asuka (Kusuhara)

Written by: Riku Sanjo, Directed by: Naosuke Kurosawa

/Papa Is a Kamen Rider

A councilwoman named Miyabi Kusuhara announces the approval of Second Fuuto Tower, but also uses up her kid Asuka to get the appeal from the crowd, albeit she seems to genuinely follow her mother's cause by hyped up for the real tower. Nevertheless Shotaro, who (along with Akiko) is hired as bodyguard, still criticizes the move as shady. He's at odds with Makura again, but they're soon assaulted by bullets, which had Shotaro and Phillip henshin into W, and apparently Asuka sees Kamen Rider as her dad, while holding a doll... resembling Kamen Rider Knight. Phillip suspect the shots coming from a Dopant attack, but the Dopant is unseen, thus W can't fight back, focusing on defense with CycloneMetal. However W managed to catch a sample of one of the bullets. It's shown that the reason Miyabi hires Shotaro and Akiko is that, politicians have to deal with hatred and people's distrust, but she still has to perform to restore people's faith, but Shotaro agrees due to his goal of preventing anyone cry, which is seen in Asuka's fading smile. Shotaro asks for Akiko to hand the bullet sample to Phillip, to her dismay that the chief is being ordered (along with another slipper attack before and spinning it... like a revolver), which when she does, out of nowhere, an utterly wacky gag happens as Phillip got his butt stuck in a trashcan after falling over from W's henshin. Phillip is completely dedicated to his research though that he doesn't mind although Akiko does, with the trashcan completely sticking to Phillip's butt.

Miyabi calls out Shotaro for abandoning his job, which was him turning into W in secret. Shotaro insists for Jinno to take his place, but gag happens with Jinno making up his own excuse by holding a funeral for Makura (who only got shot in leg). Miyabi warns both as she's going to negotiate the land rights next, with Asuka drawing W which she thinks is her dad, assuring the others that he'll save them again. Later as they got assaulted by the Dopant again with the bullets, Shotaro uses the Bat Shot while Makura wants acknowledgement for his help. It's revealed that Ryubee is one of the "haters" for Miyabi's Second Fuuto Tower plan, as it stands against Fuuto's future he envisions. The Bat Shot failed but Phillip explains that the bullet isn't metal, but organism's tooth. Akiko gives Phillip a vinegar to free himself from the trashcan, with Akiko being revealed to be able to perform some acrobatics in a bridge position (not exactly a piece of cake to do from personal experience).

On their way to negotiate, Shotaro discusses Asuka's relation with the "dad" Kamen Rider, trying his best despite claiming to be not good with kids, but like with Akiko before, was being unable to go through the truth by claiming that he's friends with W (technically a truth as Phillip is his partner), due to already establishing himself as familiar with Kamen Rider. The land is owned by Genzo Takamura, who is playing RC car racing. He refuses to give up his private land to Miyabi, and moreover, he calls out Miyabi's for her manipulating her kid for her own ends, which is the exact reason of the hate for her, her words are transparent and she whitewashes those. This is a case of an asshole making a good point, kids aren't supposed to be a trophy to show off to other people, just typical dirty move from politicians to use their family to further their goals, her words also resemble the hollow "for the future" claims politicans can have. I'd think to enforce this more they should display Asuka in discomfort though, she seems ok that she shares the same dream too. Meanwhile Sonozaki family plans to get rid of 6th development team to assign the 7th, with Wakana warning Saeko that their father objects to Second Fuuto Tower. Kirihiko visits Takamura which is revealed to be partners.

Phillip informs Shotaro that the Kusuhara dad, Daisaburo, was assassinated. Discussing this further with Miyabi, her manipulations are further uncovered with her feeding lies to Asuka that she'll visit her dad again when she helps her work at council. Miyabi cares more of Daisaburo's dream compared to her daughter. It'd be obviously hard to take that a parent has died, especially when someone's still a kid, now this one's really distressing (and coming from the previous series I watched before..), the kid may be alright for now, but in the long term, secrets won't be kept forever especially that Asuka still has long time to live, she'd know that her dad died either way, Shotaro points out too that nothing good comes from lying. As Phillip pieces the clues together, despite her mostly overbearing way, Akiko managed to help by pointing out that the shooter isn't present in the pictures which means he's somewhere else, where Phillip deems her as genius, leading Phillip to figure out that he shoots underwater, and the Dopant is Anomalocaris type. Phillip warns Shotaro to make sure Miyabi stays away from water, and they henshin into W, using CycloneTrigger to shoot the lobster-like Dopant, finishing him off with CycloneJoker's Joker Extreme, but the beaten Dopant isn't Takamura, but his friend instead.

/The Price of Lying

W catches a glimpse of the real Anomalocaris Dopant in the water. I like that there's a twist of how the scene is iirc usually played for next, as Miyabi and Akira got caught and entangled in a stretching limb, but it's from W LunaJoker, not from threats, while the limb also shields them from the Dopant's attack. Asuka points out that Kamen Rider, her "dad" will come to save them as always like what happened there, while Shotaro thinks he should reveal the truth before it gets worse. Well yeah, another truth is also, Kamen Riders aren't omnipotent, he can't be anywhere and protect everyone, there are several near misses Miyabi and Akira had. Shotaro insists Miyabi to stop bringing Asuka along. Miyabi argues that Asuka also understands, but Shotaro points out that she can't even understand the lies of her father's actual fate, and that she abuses her parent privilege... the parent being the one that takes advantage of a child's innocence. AFAIK kids are sometimes told to stay away from strangers because of the fear of taking advantage of their innocence, but here, it's the parent doing it themselves to the child. Nevertheless Miyabi keeps her schedule. She has said that being hated is a part of politician, but while many hate can be irrational, sometimes there can be legitimate reason for the hate like that y'know where even Shotaro calls her out.. and they should instead work on improving themselves based on the feedback, not brushing it off.

Shotaro visits Asuka again, who draws W in different color, wondering in excitement again about the different color W can have. After explaining W's power within its halves, also.. half-heartedly, he learns the reason that she thinks Kamen Rider is her dad is the knight doll, that Miyabi lies to her that her dad is now masked due to scar on his face, and acts as the protector of the city, which only turns into convincing one for W's arrival. True though that while keeping hard truth is bad, hard truth also cannot be quickly delivered without regard. Shotaro backs off again from telling the truth due to the lie keeping her together, which got him mocked as halfboiled again by Phillip, in their talk that Takamura's friend use experimental model, and dealer would never sell prototypes to customer, which means they suspect that Takamura is related to Gaia Memory distribution, something that police investigation can't reach due to its limitation. Which is shown in the scene cutting into the place of Gaia Memory production with Takamura in charge, but he asks for cooperation with Kirihito, to deal with W, and confirms that Takamura is the real Anomalocaris Dopant. Akiko breaks up the bickering between Watcherman and Santa-chan over the latter's "present" in eating ramen.. the time when Akiko's shrieking is the sensible one compared to others here. Watcherman reports that there's mechanical underground sound in Takamura's property, which earns approval from Akiko and Phillip suspects that there's special facility there, and explains the true reason that Sonozaki Family is against Second Fuuto Tower, it'll disrupt their facility there. Phillip also learns about how Daisaburo says goodbye to Asuka.

Shotaro fails again to reveal the truth to Asuka, but she's kidnapped by Takamura as Anomalocaris Dopant shortly after. Shotaro places a tracker in Asuka, but is driven off the tall building's edge. Shotaro saves himself with a grappling hook however, and henshin into W with Phillip, but is pitted against Kirihiko as Nazca Dopant. While fighting Nazca with HeatMetal (so little fire except at Maximum Drive..), Phillip notices that Kirihiko wears Memory Driver, and W puts Nazca down with a pointblank HeatTrigger shot, knocking Phillip out as Akiko calls Shotaro for that. Another difficulty of the Rider being 2-in-1. A reused gag happens that, Akiko wakes up Phillip using vinegar like before, allowing them to henshin into W again in the nick of time as Anomalocaris tries to get rid of those that wants to take his property which is Kusuhara family. Miyabi tries to protect Asuka and insists him to target only her. Yeah this shows Miyabi genuinely loved her daughter, but she's showing it the wrong way. With W using CycloneTrigger, Anomalocaris puts Asuka in hostage situation, but W gets through it with the debut of LunaTrigger, which can control the direction of beams fired by it, making sure it only hits Anomalocaris, really good use of the ability in that situation and I'd say the best form debut so far. Its shots are slower than other Trigger forms. Anomalocaris assumes big form while W calls out HardBoiler and RevolGarry, finishing the fight with Trigger Full Burst, which IMO seems to have little difference (it's charged yeah) to standard LunaTrigger shots. For Takamura's failure, Saeko blows up the Dopant base. However the ending of the 2 parter isn't all bright that the Second Fuuto Tower is still postphoned indefinitely with Miyabi quitting the council, and W maintains the lie too by giving Asuka goodbye the same like her actual dad did, as Phillip learned, especially that W isn't actually her dad, and would leave them for good as a stranger, though Miyabi convinces Asuka to let go of W that her father has to protect whole city instead of only her, with Shotaro only being able to be optimistic that she'll tell the truth someday, while Phillip is distracted again, fascinated with vinegar and is doing research on it.

Kamen Rider W(atch)

Nazca Arc

Episode 7-8: Find the C

C stands for Cockroach and Client.

Written by: Naruhisa Arakawa, Directed by: Ryuta Tasaki

/Philip Can't Stand It

Phillip discovers a book in Gaia Library that he can't unlock, titled Heaven's Tornado. He's someone really disturbed by something locked, he's even more hellbent on learning it which leads him into a street dancer named Dango Inamoto, to the point of scribbling outside whiteboard, and doing it into the walls of the Narumi Detective Agency. Meanwhile Shotaro and Akiko got a request, but it's done in rough way by the apparent client tying it to a rock and throwing it through a window, with said request refering to Kazehana High School. It's an implementation of Chandler's Law to add new complication amidst a burst of violence, in this case breaking a window. This act justificably enrages Shotaro that he refuses to comply even with the payment and wants to chew them out, while ironically Akiko questions him to take the case that the thrower pay them up front. Shotaro visits the school for the someone said as suspicious, but instead got cornered by cops. Shotaro escapes and finds the principal being attacked by Cockroach Dopant. Shotaro henshins with Phillip to W.

Phillip and Akiko do find Dango. This episode has different writer, but I guess the reason Phillip's refered as little devil at the beginning, is due to this, he's extremely task focused, that he has tactless approach by forcefully turning on Dango's radio to test movements for Heaven's Tornado, while Akiko, childish attitude aside, still has proper etiquette to introduce herself to Dango (in pushy and loud way). Phillip's dance is praised by Akiko, but he still hasn't learned Heaven's Tornado yet, so he starts talking to Dango to show the move, but Dango claims he can't do it anymore, not by himself, and leaves. Akiko tries to convince him that she reveals it's her responsibility as the Narumi chief, but Dango, like others such as Shotaro, also find it ridiculous that Akiko's the chief, particularly that she trips off a can right before. So it's shown that Dango has a bit of shallow trait to judge someone by outer first impression with Akiko seemingly like a child. They run after him and end up in a bus, as Phillip insists Akiko to not lose sight of Dango.. yeah just like ep. 3 against Yuuko as Phillip henshins with Shotaro to W. I forgot to mention that sometimes when they henshin into W, the camera can show them both in split-screen, which is a neat way and can save time for showing both of their henshin separately.

The Cockroach Dopant views himself as a hero and claims Fuuto doesn't need 2 heroes at once, refered as Roachstar in Wakana radio show earlier. Well actually, hero doesn't attack principals like that and wouldn't be so self-absorbed that another hero means threat. The Dopant specializes in speed, that CycloneJoker and CycloneTrigger can't catch him. Using LunaTrigger, they managed to get some hit due to the homing properties. As they attempt to use Trigger Full Burst, Akiko calls Phillip that Dango's getting off the bus, distracting their fight as Shotaro insists him to focus, losing track of the Dopant. Akiko also takes off the bus, again while carrying Phillip on her back, also slowing them down, and Akiko releases him for that especially as W de-henshins. The Sonozaki family's cat, Mick, is also used by them in battle as Smilodon Dopant, to respond to the current Dopant, using it as a competition for Kirihiko. Shotaro meets up with another informant of his for school, schoolgirls Queen and Elizabeth, portrayed by AKB48 members. Queen is teasing, towards Elizabeth. They report that there's a website called Underworld Pest Control, which is related to the Cockroach Dopant's attacks, and someone at the site pissed off at Hoshino at the school. But like before regarding "Narumi" family name, this shows a consequence of refering to someone with family name only, that the Dopant mistakenly attack the principal of the school, as the schoolgirl informants point out that there's another Hoshino in the school, refered as cute.

Dango rushes into the school. which is covered by cops for attack on Takeshi Hoshino. Dango has an inappropriate behavior here as well to talk down Makura who tries to stop him, with Makura only laments that he's looked down by kids too, and Jinno instead claims it's the truth. As Jinno got confused by both of the Hoshino family name on the school, he unintentionally pisses off Akiko who slaps him with her slipper. Dango tries to call out for another Hoshino that the schoolgirl informants refer, a girl named Chizuru, who was his former dance partner, by dancing, but he gets kicked out by a teacher, who is mad due to him being a dropout, and keeps him away from Chizuru who he claims as focused on swimming. Phillip figures it out that, Heaven's Tornado is a couple move, and the key is to bring Chizuru together with Dango. On their way Smilodon confronts them, this puts them at odds with Shotaro, who is on the swimming pool and comes across Dango, and also notices Chizuru being attacked by Cockroach Dopant. It reveals more that Cockroach Dopant sees himself as hero because he wants to exterminate the town's pests, and Dango was the one that posts about Hoshino on his website. Well that's actually more of a work of contract killers, moreover without a filter about who to kill or not. Dango and Shotaro fends off Cockroach, and tries to explain to Chizuru, but of course this'd cause a further rift between them. This time, it's Phillip making things difficult for the team due to his search for Heaven's Tornado, that Shotaro already warned him to not wander around. Still, this is another difficulty of 2-in-1 Rider, but this establishes that both of them are individuals that are allowed to act on their own. Shotaro had to wait until Phillip and Akiko escape from Smilodon, by jumping into a nearby garbage carrying Dyna, um not Ultraman but a Toyota pickup before henshin into W to fight Cokcroach. In the fight, W catches a sight of Chizuru being devastated that Dango resorts to try killing her as Dango tries to explain, with Phillip on the verge of failing his mission too for Heaven's Tornado, giving an opportunity for Cokcroach to steal their Luna and Trigger Gaia Memories.

/Dancing Hero

W gets overwhelmed by Cockroach's speed, but they know that Cockroach will attack at him occassionally, and they made a good move to henshin into HeatMetal as Cockroach charges toward him, being hit by the burning Metal Shaft. However this doesn't last long as they only change form once in a while, and Cockroach steals Heat and Metal Gaia Memories too. More info is revealed that Dango's the one that throw the note through the window, and also the one that vents about Chizuru on Underworld Pest Control, as he thinks the site isn't real, due to being depressed for Chizuru leaving him as dance partner for swimming club without explanation. Dango really has terrible attitude problem man, lampshaded by Akiko too for him doing whatever he wants, albeit Chizuru isn't blameless either for not explaining. At least Dango has guilt over this that he realizes that the site actually does kill people, and tries to make it up by making the request to Narumi Detective Agency regarding the site, so he's not all heartless, albeit employing Chandler's Law due to being in doubt. However Phillip still has skewed priorities, only being concerned about Heaven's Tornado and making sure that Dango would perform it later, and tries to reconcile the pair with the Gaia Library.

Forced to look for the Dopant alone, Shotaro visits Santa-chan, who is promoting a manga sale about Roachstar, apparently being self-published by Cockroach himself and basing it on his murders with exact same location. He does have some precaution to have no detail in the publishing info, and he probably relies on the fact that people would think it's actually dark fantasy, or being overconfident that he's invincible as Dopant (there are much others), but the move of publishing manga is still not a smart one for him, it'd just exposing himself to the likes of Shotaro, like revealing where he lives. The Cockroach user, Ikari, calls Kirihiko that he can't use the stolen W's Gaia Memories, and Kirihiko instructs him to beat W to take their Driver. Ikari is a horrific take of a doujinshi artist, making use of blog and manga for his rotten activities like murder that he views himself as hero for that. Ikari continues his drawing, with uncannily accurate depiction of what happens to Chizuru, tired running, each panel capturing the exact same location the camera does to her, but instead of Cockroach capturing her, it's Phillip contacting her, with Akiko bringing Dango along to the secret base to lock them up in RevolGarry. It's apparently the solution Phillip finds to reconcile others, locking them in dark, cramped space, which Akiko claims as a cliche in school stories. It leads into heavy argument as expected, and yes Dango making it up by hiring those detectives doesn't fully absolve him from his mistakes. Though Phillip's method eventually succeeds as they're left with nothing to do, except make amends, by Chizuru revealing that she took swimming to get better, implementing synchronized swimming as she feels she holds him back. This'd be baffling to not talk it out regarding just that, including to Dango to ask the reason she hides it, where she doesn't want for him to go easy on her. That'd be a misguided take of being independent or pushing the limits, like Miyabi's dream chasing before. This is between 2-parter minors instead of major series conflict, but the problem is done via usual miscommunication that it escalates worse, this one's more overdone in the franchise compared to previous 2 parter. Nevertheless they finally make up, to Akiko's delight. Whatever works within the cold pragmatic view you had Phillip, and yes he still doesn't care about their state, only wanting to learn about Heaven's Tornado.

Shotaro "visits" Ikari's house, where he escapes while Shotaro sends Stag to keep track of him, which leads him to the place where Dango and Chizuru finally shows their Heaven's Tornado to Akiko and the overexcited Phillip, that Cockroach appears from sewers, sending a manhole cover to Chizuru's leg, injuring her. Dango directly takes on the Cockroach head on, but Cockroach doesn't allow anyone to take back requests. Phillip's concern over Chizuru there is only regarding if she can finish Heaven's Tornado, which earns him a slap from Akiko's slipper (who later carries Chizuru away), but gets a keyword for dance which is wave. Shotaro arrives and they henshin into W, implementing some dance-like moves in the fight that confuses Cockroach, which gets praised by Dango that he wants to join in, to Shotaro's confusion that they're in the middle of fight. Both of them confuse and overwhelm Cockroach with dance battle moves and a literal tornado move from W ending the sequence, getting their Gaia Memories back. This is an afaik rare moment of the bystander minor taking part in the fight, and the Cyclone form gets to implement literal Tornado move, the idea to confuse the opponent is a nice idea but the execution still wasn't fully convincing IMO that Cockroach was more acting like sitting duck in some open windows like W and Dango handshaking. W puts down Cockroach for good with LunaTrigger's Trigger Full Burst and Ikari gets arrested. Shotaro reports that Chizuru's leg wasn't hurt that badly... questionable logic here, and keeps his optimistic view of his clients that they may move into world competitions, while deeming Phillip as the real problem that he's hellbent when he wants to learn. Akiko thinks he's changed regarding his expression watching Heaven's Tornado, but actually no, Phillip remains the same, like usual he loses interest in topics he already learned by throwing away an invitation note from Chizuru and Dango Akiko presented, moving on into another subject to learn which is mt. Fuji.