Because he's the only leading villain left I mean there's Igor but... he's Igor.

I'm now finishing up on episode 23 of Kamen Rider Amazon. Only one more to go and it will be another series of the franchise I managed to finish. I'll be watching more episodes of Dragon Knight after that.

Apologies for the double post yet again.

Two days ago, I managed to finish Kamen Rider Amazon. I am now watching the first episode of Kamen Rider Fourze which is the series I wanted to check out ever since I saw Linkara's review of the first four episodes several years ago.

You mean Saved By The Rider Breakfast Club. :lolol
Have fun. It is an interesting show in that you see all the American high school stereotypes in a Japanese show. It's got geeks, jocks(American football at that), goths, party animals, etc.

T-There's more...

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

I forgot that the Ganmaizers took Adel's human form with hilarious looking bodysuits.

As Ghost lover #4 on this forum it's undeniably hilarious

Kamen Rider W(atch)

Weather Arc

Episode 21-22: The T That Came Back

T stands for Triceratops (Dopant), Transfer and Traitor.

Written by: Keiichi Hasegawa, Directed by: Koichi Sakamoto

/A Melody Not Intended for Women

Terui and Makura are putting Himuro under arrest due to him leaking information to Gaia Memory dealers. However Himuro escapes while the dealers around him turns into Masquerade Dopants to take care of Terui and Makura, who henshins into Accel and falls by tripping respectively. I iguess Masquerade is the entry-level Gaia Memory, seemingly the easiest to be owned and the most mass-produced, but it's all quantity, the power-up is a letdown of only changing your head, so much that a gun can put them down too as Aya Kujo (no relation to either Kiriya or certain Joestar descendant), a female cop transfered into Fuuto PD Special Crimes Unit, did. They're not even safe from the body being actually destroyed (as shown in Accel's Dynamic Ace Maximum Drive, 3 slashes that form the letter A)... but that'd mean a main Rider killed several humans? At least the numbers should still distract Accel enough for Himuro to escape, his death was unrelated as it's him encountering Triceratops Dopant (another human bodycount). Makura approaches the Agency (I'd shorten it now) and is desperate enough to bow to Shotaro, with Shotaro declining police authority to be hard-boiled (so he too didn't learn yet), Akiko accepting if he pays 30% more than usual, and Phillip treating the case as extraordinary. Makura explains about the case being related to Aya, who he had a crush on, and the footage of her keeping up with Terui in hand-to-hand combat is shown, and she reports that Himuro was just an accomplice... and Makura's aim as Akiko claims is to outdo Terui to show off to Aya, where Shotaro finally accepts the case for a common goal to put Terui in his place too... with a handshake even.

They ask Watcherman regarding information leaker, but even he'd not know about that too. Shotaro switches the topic to shady cops, and Makura promptly gets physical by holding and pushing Watcherman to wall. Though Makura suffers from bad luck, he's also kinda a dick for a good amount of time, which sometimes makes those deserved - like the slipper slap from Akiko for his behavior there. Watcherman explains about Akutsu to them. Shotaro, Akiko, and Makura see Akutsu talking to Santa-chan, as well as Terui and Aya figuring Akutsu out too. Makura's incompetence is amplified by his crush to Aya to blow their cover by immediately putting Akutsu under arrest, where he flees instead. This'd get him appropriately reprimanded by his crush instead. At this point, Aya looks like someone who's extremely tense and aggressive, but her warning to him is much more subdued than I'd expect. Aya insists that her and Terui split up, where Terui catches up with Akutsu while using some parkour to beat him up, but Triceratops appears and interrupts Terui's henshin to literally throw him into dumpster. Triceratops' main target is however Akutsu, and he claims he's Mizoguchi who returned from hell. Shotaro henshins to fight Triceratops, abiding to the law to not kill even crooked ones. W uses HeatMetal to deal with Triceratops' solid body and gains upper hand (just whacking Metal Shaft without fire though..), but Triceratops escaped with a purple flame shot. Akutsu got away, but he dropped a clue which is a keychain with "Catherine" written on it.

As Saeko is investigating Accel and W Memory user, also scolding Wakana for bringing Mick to the office, Akutsu calls Saeko as he's now hunted by cops and a monster. All of the cast returned into the Agency, as Phillip notes that Aya's right leg is injured... the same spot that W HeatMetal attacked Triceratops in. As Terui mentions Mizoguchi, Aya explains about him, full name Masaki Mizoguchi, who was Aya's partner. Makura talks about Mizoguchi being a rotten cop with explanations, but Aya would deny that, as Mizoguchi was her inspiration, and claims he got falsely accused due to them trying to discredit and eliminate him, suspecting Himuro and Akutsu behind that. Makura claims Mizoguchi is still terrible for trying to get revenge and not abiding to law to only apprehend culprits. This was something that is similar to what W claims to Terui before.. though he's right, but he instead gets punched by Terui again, and Phillip explains that moral posturing can offend others. This'd show that, there are other things need to be considered when saying something other than what you said being right; moral posturing is done to gain some advantage (and not necessarily supporting that viewpoint), like an effort to have people like you or admire you in some way...as this can apply to politicians, this is probably also the reason Miyabi from ep. 5-6 got hate. Terui and Aya later have a conversation, and it seems that Aya is able to lighten up Terui. As Aya talks about her past with Mizoguchi and his whistling, Terui notes about his change to be consumed by revenge, which he likens to himself against W Memory user. There's another similarity between Aya and Terui that they're ace cops, for this time, probably how they can bond this time too.

Phillip searches for clues in Gaia Library, with Catherine keyword too. Shotaro acts flirty throughout "Catherine" with the female name, and twice he got slapped by Akiko's slipper. Phillip concludes that Catherine is a cabin cruiser where Akutsu hides, which Akiko notes that it's common to name cruisers with female names. As Shotaro, Terui, Aya, and Makura visits Catherine, Aya, again, insists that they split into groups. As Makura follows after Aya who is chasing someone on run, he suddenly got knocked down by something. While Akutsu pulls a gun on Shotaro, but there's 2 people.. Terui can knock him down to.. save Shotaro. Terui interrogates Akutsu where he's not ashamed to admit that the people who found work are used to test Gaia Memories, as a way to make money, targeting less noticeable people. So that's how he got a relation to Sonozaki family, but he's even more rotten than what he seems, on mad scientist level and even being proud of it. Well, it's shown that Akutsu is confident and proud due to him having a bodyguard, Smilodon Dopant. Dunno if Akutsu knows that those 2 are Riders, he seems to think that it'd be mere humans being powerless to monsters, but of course it's not the case, as both henshin into W and Accel. As Smilodon gains upper hand with his speed, Accel uses jet variant of Engine while W uses LunaTrigger, who Smilodon successfully dodged. Accel manages to score a hit by using steam variant of Engine to distract him while Accel attacks from above. Akutsu manages to escape.. actually not as Triceratops blows up Catherine. Accel claims that Triceratops isn't actually Mizoguchi, but it was Aya, which she admits. There're foreshadowings before that Aya insists for the team to split up several times, and as she's not seen again, Triceratops appear, as well as the beginning where Triceratops disappear, then Aya appears. As well as Aya's right leg being injured after HeatMetal attacks Triceratops there. However Triceratops has a completely male voice to keep the mystery alive... so being a Dopant can change your voice, at least for Aya's.

/The Man Who Cannot Die

The reason Accel figures it out that Triceratops is Aya is indeed, her right leg injury. Accel lets Aya get her revenge on Akutsu, but insists that she hands over the Gaia Memory after she got her revenge. Aya however marks a new target in the Museum, while Accel goes on to kill her in human form, but stopped by W. As someone who gains Accel's soft spot, now he claims he'd kill her for her own good, but Aya has escaped. After Akiko kicks (literally too in a feet stomp) a confused Makura out, there's a clash between Shotaro and Phillip again that the latter points out that Shotaro lets wild animal escape to the city. As Shotaro denies that (not in perverted approach for females thank you), Phillip reminds about the Gaia Memory corrupting the users, but Shotaro thinks that Aya intends to fight Museum by her own will and that she can beat the influence of Gaia Memory. This earns Shotaro the claim half-boiled again from Phillip. Well for this case I'd agree with Phillip here as, even if you'd want to treat them as human, they have to be made sure that they're put in situations where they can't harm anyone, other than quick optimism from Shotaro due to Aya's declaration. Even Phillip now claims that Akutsu and Himuro should've been taken to the court, it's not referenced but it's probably a development for him that before Phillip would prefer for criminals to be finished off. After this Shotaro takes action and heads off to find Aya before Terui does.

Terui discusses Cafe Kazefuki with Jinno, the place where Mizoguchi committed suicide. Terui leaves after Jinno reports that Shotaro asked him about the place too. Terui gets a call that talks about the screams of his family, which he suspects as W Memory owner, enraging him as he heads off to the place using his bike, looking for him to seek vengeance. Haven't talked about this but Terui's bike Diablossa has Ducati 999 as base model, one of the cases where a Rider bike takes an European bike other than Gas Gas bikes in Kuuga. Shotaro did find Aya at the site of Mizoguchi's death, which for once, Shotaro earns a compliment for being an ace detective from Aya, after mostly Phillip's the one who got compliments. Shotaro offers Aya to turn herself in, and warns that Gaia Memory is more dangerous than she knows, bringing up those that got their lives ruined by it. Aya claims that she had lost everything, therefore Shotaro won't be able to convince her, she'd have nothing to lose for abusing Gaia Memory, albeit she claims to wait until morning when she found the organization, where she'd turn herself. This'd be suspicious, though Shotaro buys into it anyway, but there's a possibility that she'd let the Kamen Rider avenge her in her place. Aya as Triceratops confronts the Sonozaki sisters, savvy enough to knock Saeko's Taboo Memory before she morphs, and actually corners her who is stuck in her human form. Wakana is concerned for her sister here, so she wouldn't hate her for the abuse in their childhood (as well as rough treatment last episode)? Aya then demorphs into her human form - turning it into 3 ladies with similar attire right there. Aya's intent however is to continue Akutsu's job. Another similarity to Terui is that, Aya wants a leader role, like how Terui doesn't want to be questioned and that he's in charge of Special Crimes Unit, as well as to hide her crimes by getting rid of the Agency trio. Saeko however tests Aya's loyalty to kill Jinno.

It turns into a big misinterpretation of Shotaro (who's spying with Akiko).. who thinks Aya visiting a police station means she turned herself in, therefore he slacks off instead thinking the case is over, singing karaoke with Queen and Elizabeth, with Akiko following along. Meanwhile Phillip learns that Aya staged a trap on Terui, and goes to settle things. Jinno is playing crossword puzzle while he sends Makura to get new tea stock. Aya arrives at Jinno's office, helping an answer in the puzzle, but quickly tries to kill the confused Jinno. I don't know how much fighting skills Jinno (and Makura) have, but he seems to be down in a single kick from Aya (shown to be on par with Terui) in human form. Phillip at first was blocked by a cop, but apparently is able to get in with Makura (on his way to buy tea) being there. They reach Jinno's office, witnessing Aya's true nature as she morphs into Triceratops (and Triceratops' voice is completely female now, dunno what made the voice male before her reveal). Phillip laments that Triceratops abuses Shotaro's trust, and he calls Shotaro, who fortunately responded in a distracting hangout time, to henshin as W FangJoker. Triceratops reveal her present motive that she'd expand her vengeance into the whole Fuuto itself, still related to Mizoguchi, due to him loving the Fuuto, but the city didn't return the favor. For all the similarities between Aya and Terui, she'd unfortunately take his worst trait too of being consumed by revenge in her personal agenda against the Museum while being on the police force, and she's actually a reminder about how Terui might end up had he, probably had he not met Shotaro despite his refusal for questions. The argument about "it's not what they want" isn't used here, and Mizoguchi did have hard time in his last moments of his life, but it's unknown how he feels about Fuuto at that point if he'd actually want revenge for the city.

Saeko explains further to the questioning Wakana that Gaia Memory's active ingredients react with negative emotions, transforming someone's mind into monster. Triceratops' deteriorating self is shown further about her trap to Terui that she pretends to be the one who slaughters his family, but Terui survived, and even someone like him laments about Aya being too consumed by revenge to save her, as he henshins into Accel. Triceratops plan to destroy Fuuto Tower and assumes her big Triceratops form. Aya would also bear resemblance to Marina, the T-Rex Dopant, as both seek vengeance, but also get a dinosaur Dopant form that can enlarge itself. Accel counters with his personal support Gunner A (as well as him turning into bike) to take down Triceratops, finishing her off with Gunner Full Break, an electrical beam. Aya's outcome isn't really told, though it's plausible that it'd be her downfall at that point, considering that Makura laments about her potential, if she didn't get herself the Gaia Memory, but she'd be his inspiration to work hard, before Akiko reminds him about his bill.

Kamen Rider W(atch)

Weather Arc

Episode 23-24: The L on the Lips

L stands for Liar (Dopant) and Lyrics.

Written by: Riku Sanjo, Directed by: Ryuta Tasaki

/Singer-SongRider

Nice pun on the episode title there. Queen and Elizabeth visits the Agency, but this time, as clients instead of informants. Those 2 claims their case isn't about Dopant, but about Fuuuuuutic Idol, a singing competition show. Well, it's not like that any other clients before directly referenced Dopants in their case, just that being a Kamen Rider show, every cases they had involved Dopants. The case is about them singing Love♡Wars (not taking their AKB48 stint..) but got eliminated by the judges (despite audiences loving it) after lasting 2 rounds (of which after 3rd round the singer can record their debut CD), which consists of guest stars related to music TAKUYA, Ichirou Mizuki (the only one with named role as Onuki Ichirota), and the W-B-X singer herself Aya Kamiki. One thing that makes this matter worse is that, they're eliminated not over a better singer, but to someone like Jimmy Nakata, a street singer who though he's good looking (according to Akiko), he's outright horrible and dreadful singer, and it's not exaggerated, his singing "Fuuto Tower" literally causes physical pain to its listeners (except for one girl who carries a bouquet, Yukiho Sumida) and knocks birds out of the sky, finally convincing Shotaro that there's something up within the show. For my experience, I've seen the gag of an artist being destructively bad in animations, but a live-action example in W here is no less wacky (including the shaking effect of the surroundings) compared to those. Jimmy explains his genre of song as "spilk", short of "spinning to folk". Yukiho then defends Jimmy's genre by comparing it to how when rock first started, and gave Shotaro and Akiko "homeworks". Akiko is bewildered that a loser like him can have a fan and Shotaro got pissed at Jimmy as he reminds Shotaro of himself... probably about how he's actually half-boiled despite trying to be hard-boiled. Dunno if it's a case of purely irrational hatred or about how Jimmy makes a big mess without acknowledging it.

As Saeko heads off to see the W Memory holder, Ryubee takes an interest to him in contrast to Wakana, while Wakana watches Fuuuuuutic Idol as well (makes sense as someone in entertainment field, who sings as well), which Ryubee thinks she still needs to grow up in contrast to what he thinks for Saeko as being grown woman. Ryubee's the kind of parent who restricts the child's interest if it's against their wants, albeit not really strictly here. I guess despite Saeko's jealousy, Wakana had her own restriction as well like her interests in 'distracting'/'childish' things here. The Agency trio directly watches Fuuuuuutic Idol as audiences, witnessing Jimmy winning the 2nd competition, getting praises from the jury while the audiences are pained. Phillip deduces that there's something wrong with the judges, but shortly after Ichirota steps up to the stage to call an audience member to perform, which is Shotaro due to him wearing a red clothing (higher probability). Phillip drags the reluctant Shotaro, still singing 2-in-1 as Kamen Singers, performing "Finger on the Trigger", W's insert song. Jimmy has enough of an inflated ego, despite the audience's reaction, to talk down Shotaro before they sing as well. Makura is with Terui and he got injured by the song as well, but refers to "Radiowave Clown", which after they find him, turns out to be Liar Dopant, and had a hand of rigging the show in Jimmy's favor by claiming that Jimmy's unbeatable as natural talent. Makura returns to the audience (who actually cheers for the Kamen Singers, and Wakana sees Phillip again), while Terui henshins to Accel to fight him, and learns that he uses "Love Memory". Accel destroys his Gaia Memory with A-Slasher, but the main body escaped. But despite that, the judge still declares Jimmy as the winner, to the audience's protest.

Terui reports to the Agency about the Liar Dopant Radiowave Clown (along with his smashed Gaia Memory), and the others suspect him being controlling the judges to make Jimmy win as well. Phillip however reveals that Terui was caught in delusion (the broken Gaia Memory was a junk), as the Dopant's still active. Another fight ensues between Shotaro and Terui for his failures before Akiko breaks it up (not using her slipper..). Shotaro tries to look for Jimmy due to him showing off despite having no sense, which got him subtly mocked as half-boiled again that Akiko compares that to Shotaro. Jimmy wasn't present in the streets, but those 2 are introduced by Santa-chan to one of the bystanders who heard Jimmy's song before, a poet and caligrapher named Sachio Sawada, who gave a caligraphy that mocks Shotaro (as half-boiled) and Akiko (as bankrupt). This'd be a foreshadowing about Sawada's true identity to know enough about those 2. As Jimmy's not there, Shotaro tries to track down Yukiho, which Santa-chan gives them a lead to a recycling plant, her workplace where she's seen dismissing other's warning to her heavy lifting, thus she's unconscious. Shotaro and Akiko takes her to a doctor, who at the end turns out to be Shinkuro Isaka, the W Memory user. Yukiho dismisses the warnings again to get back to work, but Shotaro confronts her, while suspecting her as the one who made Jimmy win, which she denies. She's shown to have a selfish trait right there that he needs Jimmy for her own sake. It's revealed to be true (as well as wrong reveal for audiences who suspect Yukiho to be the Liar Dopant) as Yukiho pays the Liar Dopant to make sure Jimmy wins, but this time, Liar violently rejects the payment as it's no longer enough, canceling their contract. There's another human action from Shotaro, swinging on a chain to kick Liar off. Accel arrives as well, telling Shotaro that he uses Liar Memory, from Phillip's results, and his power is making people believe what he says by stinging people with needles from his speech. Shotaro henshins into W and fights Liar with Accel, gaining upper hand as W uses LunaTrigger. However Yukiho steps in, begging them to spare the Dopant for Jimmy's sake, with her even actually acknowledging that Jimmy's so untalented that he won't win without the Dopant. As he no longer had a contract with Yukiho, Liar actually lured Jimmy there as well to let him hear the painful truth that he had no talent, freaking him out.

/The Liar Is You

Liar's power is demonstrated... in W himself, tricking him that Accel is a Dopant which makes W turn against him. Akiko tries to interfere with her dual slippers, both left and right, but got tricked by Liar as well to make her think that she's a tanuki... redirecting her into attacking a tanuki statue. I don't know about Liar deciding to trick Akiko as well, a normal human interfering in a 2 Riders fight which won't seem to be impactful, unless somehow the slipper slap will return W back to his senses. Jimmy pushes away Yukiho as her real view of him is revealed, while Liar reveals his aim, of just being a sadist by enjoying other's suffering, particularly youths, by gathering some of Jimmy's tears on a slip of washi paper. After ignoring Yukiho's one last plea and leaving, Liar's effects wear off. In the Agency Yukiho narrates her story about Jimmy being the one that brought joy in her depression, thus she wanted to return the favor, by asking Liar for help. I feel like this isn't enough explanation for her attraction to Jimmy and his music, she just listens and somehow being the weird one to get attached to that, I mean the scene doesn't seem to play it in parodic ways, so I'd ask for proper explanation in this. She somehow doesn't see anything wrong in this, even if she admits that it's for selfish desire (her sake) before, and that there are other people than loved ones who got the short stick from this, Jimmy undeservingly winning insults all the other competitors who worked hard as well. Shotaro lectures her as well to not toy with Jimmy's feelings. Terui realizes that the reason he thought he beat Liar was the Liar's ability as well, making Terui believed that he connected his A-Slasher and he shattered his Memory when he did neither. Phillip uses Gaia Library, with the aid of Terui to suggest Japanese paper as keyword, to identify that the Liar Dopant is Sawada. Yeah, explains about how Sawada knew Shotaro and Akiko's traits right away at their introduction earlier by mocking both for it (as well as Sawada "disappearing" when Shotaro approaches Santa-chan). Other than that, Phillip notes that Sawada uses phrases from Wakana's radio show as well.

Shotaro tries to approach the depressed Jimmy again, who plants his guitar in a beach, after he failed to at the beginning of episode. After catching up with running Jimmy, Shotaro figures it out that he'd be at beach due to him making melodramatic speeches, which means the cliche is, they'd staring out seas at the beach... which was based on Shotaro in the past as well according to him (another one of their similarities). Shotaro reminds Jimmy of his final performance, but Jimmy would predictably reject that due to feeling betrayed by his only fan, his "achievements" coming from a big lie (shown the consequence of "toying with his feelings"... but Shotaro still hides the truth of Sokichi to Akiko..). Shotaro points out that the big lie is caused by Jimmy himself, shifting blames and running away from truth despite knowing how bad he is, but he also notes about his real passion about music despite being bad. This'd show that admitting mistake isn't enough by its own, the behavior someone does to deal with those matters as well, like that you'd have to do self-evaluation as well instead of just blaming others, like for this case. Jimmy should take into account of the booing audience as well other than Yukiho and check if there's something wrong (all of them) in his singing. Shotaro convinces Jimmy to make his own decisions as well, which is what his mentor taught him.

Saeko's first onscreen interaction with Isaka goes, rather creepy with Isaka admiring Saeko's body as Taboo Dopant, withh Isaka explaining this as him being doctor specializing in Dopant body. Isaka hypes up Saeko as someone who can beat Terror Dopant and become the head of Museum as well which he'd help her out in that... nah, it's about your abilities, not about how your body looked/felt like, this is like those who downplay Kamen Rider final form's power due to looking worse than lesser forms. Despite the creepy approach, Saeko takes an interest in Isaka that he affects her like no man did in her life, which Wakana playfully reacts to this. Then Wakana gets a call from Phillip after noticing something from Liar to ask for her help. True she had not been contacting him for long time as it's what she said at the beginning, I guess it's due to her being too busy minding Museum business? Sawada, who puts Radioactive Clown in hiatus and reveals his collection of washi paper with tears from various people, is revealed to be a fan of Wakana's radio show again, which got aired after Phillip calls her, and that she'd plan to meet and interview Radiowave Clown. Coincidence one after another? I think not. I've been wondering about Wakana's behavior to non-Phillip folks, other than being playful to her sister before or helping Kirihiko. She's apparently waving at her fans while riding on a new Alphard (different one from ep. 13 one), but I still can't figure out if it's sincere or putting up an act now... eh this is what fascinates Phillip about her. The meeting takes place in empty theater, of which Sawada witness someone pretending to be the Radiowave Clown in a silly and low-quality manner (lives up to the term 'Clown' I guess) against Wakana. This enrages Sawada enough to reveal himself as the real one to Wakana.

However, it's a trap for Sawada, as Shotaro was the one pretending to be a Radiowave Clown. Terui and Akiko reveal themselves too as Wakana's minders. And as Sawada is enraged at Wakana agreeing to help those 3... even the Wakana in the theater was a fake as well... it was Phillip crossdressing as her, playing up his pretty boy qualities (a very convincing disguise, a live-action example of the anime term 'trap', literal example as well to trap Sawada). But Akiko turns out to not know about this, and is distraught about the fact that Phillip got picked over Akiko for female disguise. She's someone who likes being seen as beautiful, so it'd hit hard for her that the resident boy is 'prettier' than her. Shotaro/Phillip and Terui henshin into W and Accel respectively. Turns out that Jimmy makes the decision to show up at Fuuuuuutic Idol, this time decides to dedicate a song for Yukiho. His singing wasn't heard however, but instead the show plays Cyclone Effect while showing W and Accel's battle against Liar. CycloneMetal can be used with Spider to bind the opponent with a web. Then W gets knocked off a building, with Accel saving him by turning into Bike Mode, and helps boosting CycloneJoker's Joker Extreme to end the fight, with Sawada himself adding more collection of the washi with tears. The reason Cyclone Effect was played instead is because Jimmy's still terrible, as the judge speaks the truth now without the influence of Liar, but they admit that he's passionate and encourages him. Yukiho notes that it's a love song, and Shotaro reports that Jimmy now works in the same recycling plant as her. Is this supposed to be a message of focusing on those who love you and forget the ones who don't? Queen and Elizabeth finally gets their album released (and a real one but no relation to AKB48, in reverse way of Wakana's Naturally as it's planned for actual release), but they got jealous over the fact that Kamen Singers take the main spotlight in magazines with Phillip researching about enka. Akiko's still distraught and practices caligraphy to convince that she's a girl too. All of this frustrates Shotaro to put away music as he's a detective. He got mocked again as a not good one, and he can only be hurt from it. He doesn't feel that way to the audience, but Shotaro really does have loser position too as main protagonist..

Been watching Dragon Knight lately. It started off pretty boring, just a lesser version of Ryuki where everyone's Californian, following pretty much all the same story beats, just without anybody getting eaten, but I was quite surprised to see Not-Zolda die just 14 episodes in without ever getting redeemed. It was actually very unexpected, and makes me quite curious to see how his role will be filled instead

I am close on finishing up Dragon Knight myself with only four episodes remaining and I think this might be my favorite among a very small amount of Kamen Rider shows I have seen so far with Kuuga as a close second at least for now. It also is making me looking forward to eventually start watching Ryuki all the more. I also hope that I don't get the severe case of Hype Backlash when I finally get to it. Same goes with Den-O and OOO.

Ha, if you think Dragon Knight is the best Kamen Rider series, Ryuki will absolutely blow your mind. Unless the second half of the series manages to be a gigantic improvement, I feel pretty confident in saying that Ryuki is an improvement in every way. Especially the acting; Though I'll admit Xaviax's actor is a bit more entertaining the the guy behind Ryuki's Rider War, who's identity I won't spoil for you.

I never said it’s the best, I’m just saying it’s my favorite so far. When it comes to what I considered as favorite(s) whether it be Sentai or Rider or anything else, this is me being purely subjective. No more, no less. Things will most likely change once I watched more seasons of the franchise and I’m currently going through some seasons of Super Sentai at the same time. So, yeah, it’s pretty much going to be awhile until I get to that point. That plus I’m planning to watch Agito before this particular series. So, until then……….

While the show being compared to Ryuki is unfortunately unavoidable, I’m actually judging the show on its own merits which is no different than judging most seasons of Power Rangers in comparison to their original Sentai counterparts through their own strengths as seasons of the series in their own right. Who knows? There is also a distinct possibility where I ended up liking both.

No prob, I get what you're saying. Ryuki is one of my favorite Rider seasons, so it's pretty hard for me to not compare the two, especially since the two have followed a near identical path so far, aside from who's behind the war and that one death, or venting as they call it. It's uses the Japanese footage pretty well, and I'm impressed that the suit actor for Not-Ouja manages to capture Asakura's body language pretty well in the American original footage. Honestly, if the acting wasn't so bad I'd probably consider Dragon Knight a legitimately good show, but no one but Xaviax's human actor seem to know how to show much emotion beyond dull surprise

I'm... I'm speechless.

Edit: I'm almost done and I dunno whether to put my final thoughts or isolate it in a single thread

https://i.imgur.com/UjHLJY3.jpg

Sounds like you have a lot to say for sure!

Kamen Rider W(atch)

Weather Arc

Episode 25-26: The P's Game

P stands for Puppeteer (Dopant) and Parent.

Written by: Keiichi Hasegawa, Directed by: Hidenori Ishida

/The Doll Has Sticky Fingers

Phillip gets a package for him without return address, which would mean it's fascinating for him. Then Akiko is seen using many tissues due to crying for reading a book called The Girl and Her Doll's Home. I thought at first it's the flu topic in ep. 11-12 being brought up again, but otherwise, Akiko didn't live up to her words before for forbidding Shotaro to waste money in hard-boiled detective books, unless she meant that what she 'wastes' in that book is nowhere compared to Shotaro's. The package Phillip got is a pseudo-Memory and a guide for new Memory Gadget. Phillip suspects Shroud behind this and intends to build the gadget with Shotaro following him. Akiko gets another guest who is a little girl, introducing herself as Rika. Though Akiko thought she got lost, there's something strange within that girl, that she constantly tells Akiko to listen to the doll while acting hyperactive, even outright teleporting to different spots of the office. Though eventually Rika gives Akiko a note mentioning Kazebuki-cho area, which Akiko suspects as Rika having her doll stolen and that the doll is located there. Akiko asks a returning Shotaro for Rika, but again, Rika disappears, confusing Shotaro. Akiko goes to the location mentioned which is Wind Castle, asking a Karakita Yuki there who is a weird literature critic (living like a fortune-teller) about the doll Rika owns which she points out to Akiko (while eating, apparently). Akiko finds The Girl and Her Doll's Home book there too which Karakita views the book as nothing but a parent trying to get some cash and make their kid a big deal. As a fan of the book, Akiko would defend that the book conveyed parental love well. The doll was there, but it disappeared as well.. as well as Karakita.

Later Akiko finds out that the doll attacked Karakita as well, pushing her out of the window, then the doll stays dormant again in a box. Now Akiko's the one really got the bad luck, that she's accused of murdering Karakita, getting cornered by the main cop cast (Shotaro, Terui, Jinno, Makura). It'd be harder for Akiko's denial to sound sensible here (about her explaining that the doll killed Karakita and is cursed), that she's already weird from the first place. But still, this is a (albeit tech-involved) supernatural world, so other than this being a case of the weirdo being right, this should sound much more sensible compared to real world talk. Shotaro also denies her explanation as cursed doll sounding ridiculous (and too old playing with dolls... well that'd mean Shotaro sees Akiko in her actual age at least), though this can also be Shotaro rubbing it off on her for her annoying antics before. Akiko decides to head into another location on the note by tricking the cops with "look behind you" trick. Makura shows another jerk trait here, to abuse his authority here by excusing "obstruction of justice" (though resisting arrest is a misdemeanor) but also mocking Shotaro who stops him. In the 2nd address, Akiko spots a white Toyota Crown crashing into a wall, and then sees the address resident Senta Tama being attacked by previous doll. Pissed off, Akiko then picks some fight with the doll, kicking it and throwing trash bags at each other. I don't know if they're intending to make this one a pseudo-horror story, or these are intentional so this 2-parter won't be too scary, that the doll's attacks in silly manners, as well as comical sound effects around those. Terui arrives, and he with Akiko chase after the doll, ending up in a junkyard. The doll takes a wheel at a Merc A-Class as Terui henshins into Accel. Similar to ep. 11, the doll tries to weaponize the car by ramming Accel as he dodges (well, not that it will be deadly to KR, deadly to humans though), but not only that, the doll dismantled the car and throw its remains into Accel. The doll puts further fight by ordinary means.. spraying Accel with a water hose then tangling him with it. Akiko threatens the doll, which got the doll mad, but it served as a distraction for Accel to use electric variant of Engine to zap it. It reminds me of Kuuga, where someone else did a move that is ineffective at first glance, but turns out to be effective as distraction (in Kuuga's case, cops shooting Grongi with a gun). For believing her, Akiko becomes lovestruck to Terui, the first sign of the shipping, due to Terui already investigated cases similar to Akiko's before, though Terui suspects that a Dopant is behind the doll.

Isaka further examines Saeko's Taboo body, and claims that her body is not perfect that day. Saeko admits that and praises Isaka for his deductive skills, and the reason is Wakana doing whatever she wants, and suggests Isaka to 'cure' Wakana into a 'true' Dopant, which he does so by making Wakana leave her Memory on him (and deducing that with ). Phillip is working on the new gadget, as Terui and Akiko asks for his help for the case, with Akiko throwing her chief status this time (as Phillip's really busy), and constantly clinging to Terui (start of the shipping) as Shotaro noted. Terui mentioned another victims of the doll as well other than Karakita, all of them having unkind words to an author, which Phillip refers to Horinouchi Horinouchi... which is the author who wrote The Girl and Her Doll's Home, as well as proving the event of Rika (full name Rikako, she's in a picture with her dad) asking Akiko for a case. They suspect Horinouchi using a Memory on Rika. Though devoted to save Rika, Akiko pulls anoher mean and aggressive move to Shotaro by pushing him down the upper level (though Shotaro tugs her hand to save Rika), due to him not playing with dolls, but also shilling Terui again as the reliable one to help. Akiko and Terui tracks down Horinouchi at a book signing event, with Terui just straightforwardly confronting Horinouchi accusing him of various things, due to them having no proof. Though Horinouchi considers those as constructive criticism and will reward those 2 books.

As Akiko tries to take Rika into police station for safety (with her disappearing again), Terui explains that he purposely did it to bait Horinouchi, earning him another praise from Akiko (admittedly it's a 'smart' reckless trick). Meanwhile Shotaro complains to Jinno about Akiko clinging to Terui, despite that he still keeps his unpleasant behavior. Jinno dismisses Shotaro as being jealous however. I mean, what is Shotaro thinking? Jinno shills Terui as well. Makura carries the doll box to the office as Shotaro warns him that it's a Dopant. Makura however dismisses that due to the doll being tiny, but he's the one to learn the hard way, that the doll attacks him. Akiko and Terui arrive as Akiko trying to capture the doll under a cardboard box while Terui henshins into Accel (as well as Shotaro into W, after being agitated by Phillip stalling due to the gadget). Though Terui did bait the doll, he still caused some damage by doing it at the police station... The doll managed to even steal W's Trigger Magnum (as CycloneTrigger), but W got it back as Akiko distracts the doll again. Accel suggests W to use Spider Shock to capture the escaping doll which he succeeds, and Accel finishes the doll with Accel Glanzer (somehow the doll didn't dodge this one which has more start-up than W's basic attacks, moreover after the doll freed itself from Spider Shock's binding). But there's no Memory ejected from the doll, which meant the doll wasn't the Dopant (Makura's technically right then) but controlled by a Dopant (who W tracks with LunaTrigger), who's really Horinouchi, as the Puppeteer Dopant. Still somehow the doll is able to withstand multiple KR attacks unscathed.

/Akiko on the Run

After Horinouchi's identity is revealed, Akiko lashes out at him (no slapping him with slipper though..), calling him out that he didn't love his child thus doesn't understand what she wants. He won't even believe that what Rika wants is only for Akiko to get her doll back. I guess never meet your heroes then. Horinouchi lashes out in return, attacking her as Puppeteer again, but countered by W LunaTrigger. As usual Akiko is fearless in the face of a Dopant, like what's established at ep. 3, that the Riders will intervene. Suddenly a Weather Memory is used, creating fog around everyone, and Puppeteer disappeared through them. Akiko dtrives to save Rika by hugging the doll. Horinouchi is taken to Isaka's clinic to observe Puppeteer's effects, offering Wakana as a replacement for his puppet. Shotaro teases Akiko for staring to the doll as if it's gonna talk... which promptly happened. But it's actually the new Memory Gadget that Phillip had finished, Frog Pod, which can record and replay voices after modulating them to sound like someone else. Suddenly Akiko remembers more about Rika that she had met her along with the doll while leaving Osaka. Rika was crying when Akiko approached her as a stranger, helping her by picking up the dropped doll. The origin of Rika insisting Akiko to listen to the doll is shown here as Akiko 'talks' with the doll before returning it to her, convincing Rika that dolls can talk, before giving Rika her introduction card so she can come to her for help (this moments is a genuinely selfless gestures as that was a non-client work, but has advantage of raising the Agency as well), which Rika did in last episode.

Akiko (bringing the doll along) leaves to visit the place where she met Rika, and apparently did meet her. Akiko spontanteously tells her that her dad becomes Dopant. The doll she brought disappears again, but she attempts to take Rika to a police station to keep her safe. Wow, a contrast to Shotaro about how they deal with kids where he maintains the lie against Asuka while Akiko tells the truth right away here.... or not, as Rika turns "listen to the doll" thing broken record, Akiko finally confesses that she'd care more about a living being like her rather than the doll... and that she's only pretending to talk to the doll to make her smile. More like it's exactly the same as how Shotaro dealt with a kid before instead, lying for the same reason too to make them smile. Said Shotaro arrives as Rika runs away, but the doll appears again at the bench. Akiko's finally sick over the plea to listen to the doll and.. shoves the doll away. Terui calls Akiko where she and Shotaro then visits Horinouchi's house, a messy one as Shotaro notes. Terui narrates Horinouchi's story that Rikako died in a car accident, and to Akiko's protest, she learns that the doll, named Riko by Rikako as a present from her dad, is the doll assuming Rikako's appearance. Akiko feels guilty over the previous doll, and goes back into the bench, but it's too late as it's taken away by a garbage truck (I mean why garbage men? The doll isn't beat up.. even after taking Rider's attacks). Akiko comes across Watcherman with a new bike which he won from an auction. Akiko is forced to "borrow" his bike to chase after the garbage truck. Meanwhile Terui is baffled about Akiko's treatment of the doll, but though perhaps not fully understanding the situation, Shotaro explains about how Akiko's that way; she'd not let dolls cry too. This 2-parter is really Akiko-centric, giving her focus and fleshing her out more, and involves a good amount of moral, albeit to me her pushing Shotaro roughly sours it a bit.

Isaka has completed Wakana's Driver, as Puppeteer takes control of Wakana's body, which later, Claydoll Dopant attacks Phillip's secret base, tracking Akiko down, but Phillip got saved by Accel's Gunner A. Not only Puppeteer that is vengeful towards Akiko, but the subject under his control as well, Wakana swore revenge against those who puts her through this, confronting Isaka, but though Saeko as Taboo tries to stop her, Claydoll dispatches Taboo easily, which later explained by Isaka as him modifying her Driver so that it affects her like inserting Memory directly, as opposed to usual Drivers which limits true potential as Dopant. However the Sonozakis use extra-powerful gold Memories to circumvent that. After being freed, Phillip reports to Akiko that Puppeteer targets her. Akiko catches up with the garbage truck, makes a mess out of the trash bags to retrieve Riko, with Riko now requesting her to not make her dad cry. Now as Akiko goes after Horinouchi, he rants that he made the book so a part of Rika lives forever, but got criticized and they claim he didn't love his daughter (technically, making his kid seem to be a big deal is true, but not loving her part is false), accusing Akiko as one of them, refering to the early episode confrontation, though he didn't realize that Akiko was a fan of the book. Still Akiko's criticism of him that time is right about committing crimes in the name of his daughter, it's his problem of not being able to take criticism (Akiko one), the familial love may be true, but he takes too much pride in that he's the type to insists that non-families mind their business. Though I don't know what about Akiko's claim of the book winning awards or such, or Horinouchi only takes the negative side. Akiko brings up the doll which enrages Puppeteer further, binding her up to have her fall from heights.

W arrives to catch her, but to Shotaro, she's being mean again of complaining of being late, something that even Accel tells her to not be upset to Shotaro, as he understands her best. Puppeteer uses his another ability to control Accel. This is similar right away after Liar Dopant just in previous 2-parter, controlling Accel to fight against W. W tries to use CycloneMetal against an armed opponent to defend himself, but it failed as Accel gains upper hand. Phillip however, makes use of Frog Pod, using Akiko's recorded voice to distract Puppeteer so that W can hurl Metal Shaft to Puppeteer, freeing Accel and Akiko. W finishes the fight with CycloneMetal's Maximum Drive Metal Twister, which is multiple swings with wind aura. Like Metal Branding, looks like standard form ability. Horinouchi rants again about losing everything he had, of which Akiko convinces him as Riko being the one he had left, and Riko thanking Akiko at last. In his report Shotaro wonders about the deal with Riko, but decides that some things better be kept mysterious, while Akiko plays with the Frog Pod to her love for Terui.

It was very smart of you to post this while I'm distracted by Kurona calling season 2 of Amazons an "instant love" in another thread. :p

In all seriousness though, I hope you have fun with it. And hopefully I haven't like, hyped it up too much or anything!

What can I say? It's a good show!

Kamen Rider W(atch)

Weather Arc

Episode 27-28: The D was Seen

D stands for Denden (Sensor) and Disappearance

Written by: Riku Sanjo, Directed by: Koichi Sakamoto

/The Transparent Magical Lady

The Agency trio, along with Terui, are having a dinner at a fancy restaurant, due to Akiko getting 4 free tickets, which she spends the extra 1 on Terui to Shotaro's displeasure. I mean, what did Shotaro expect that she simps for Terui? And Shotaro's lucky that she wants to treat him, while the other 2, Akiko views them in high regard, albeit Akiko obviously cares about Shotaro, just not viewing him as good. The reason to invite Terui is actually a plausible one that he regularly helps them... without asking for return. This actually makes Terui realize that he can charge them, though it's a joke. Shotaro notes that Terui's able to make jokes too, with Phillip also noting that Terui has been accustomed to them. But still, for someone to point out that Terui can make jokes, Shotaro barely smiled too, albeit he has moral ground as high as most of primary Riders. The dinner contains a magic show as well, performed by Frank Shirogane (another one with non-Japanese sounding first name like Jimmy) who introduces his granddaughter Lily Shirogane, performing some acrobatics where she accidentally hits a confetti switch. The camera shot shows off her legs a lot. Akiko thinks she sucks for that... but still it's accentuating the negative too much for the clumsy part. Lily performs Frank's most famous trick, disappearing act. The next Houdini? She succeeded in performing so, though Phillip, like Akiko, thinks she's not star-material yet. Phillip has created another Memory Gadget, Denden Sensor, which detect changes in the light spectrum and alert its user to possibly cloaked targets. Coincidentally, the gadget worked that the office's door is opened and Shotaro bumps into Lily, who was invisible before she materializes...on top of him. Lily's abnormally cheerful as she's all wide smiles even while apologizing for that. Another slipper slap from Akiko as Shotaro's smitten with Lily.

Lily reveals that she's Invisible Dopant, using her power for the disappearing act. She's someone who's actually terrible at escape tricks (no next Houdini), but found Invisible Memory to solve that, yet finding another problem that it triggers itself on and off at random, of which she asks for the Agency to turn her back to normal. It's something that comes off as a mystery for the trio as the Memory doesn't turn her into superhuman but giving her invisibility, but also the fact that she didn't get the Memory from sellers, rather it was given to her when she's in distress. Nevertheless Shotaro accepts the case to prevent anyone in the city crying (to my relief and not mentioning 'dainty damsel in distress' or such for his flirting move before). Similar case of an uncontrollable Memory is seen in Wakana, who is being pissed off again that Saeko is interested in a man like Isaka, that she had a problem in a rampant Memory, as Ryubee notes. Wakana reports that Isaka looked into her Driver, which makes Ryubee suspicious. Shotaro and Akiko (along with invisible Lily) looks for the man who gave Lily the Memory. Lily then bumps again while invisible into Terui, whose introduction to him doesn't go as smoothly due to Terui commenting Lily as 'heavy', which continues the tension as she defends herself. Terui still possesses outwardly rudeness like usual without a shame. As Akiko have met both, she introduces both to each other as both ask her simultaneously. Knowing that she's a Dopant, Terui accuses Shotaro as being naive and instantly arrests her on spot. Though all of previous Dopants have been evil which justifies this, Terui seems to display a prejudice against Dopants here, further showing that he's still not fully tamed. But it seems that, this 2-parter had W's take of a good monster, like Ghost's Cubi or Ex-Aid's Burgmon. Shotaro stops him and insists to look for the man who gave her the Memory.

They eventually reach a piano bar where Isaka is seen playing a piano. Terui interrogates Isaka as Shotaro calls him to hold on. From that, Isaka recognizes Terui as the son of Yuji Terui and reveals his W (Weather) Memory. Now Terui has found the murderer of his family, and Isaka seems to be the type to be proud of his cruelty, openly revealing his atrocities to others. So yeah Lily would take the role of W's good monster, where Isaka would be the threat in this 2-parter. He changes into Weather Dopant and creates a thunderstorm, blowing everyone away. Shotaro henshins into W, failing to beat the tougher Dopant with either CycloneJoker or HeatMetal (of course, if Heat can't take on Iceage, why would it work on Weather?). W resorts to Maximum Drive Metal Branding, a variant that I liked a bit better where W releases a big gust of flame, which got countered by Weather's massive steam. As 2-in-1 Rider means they can't upgrade into mid-season upgrade in spot, Shotaro tries to resort into Twin Maximum, doubly-powered Memory Break, which Phillip tries to prevent as it's too dangerous. Accel joins the fight and prepares Maximum Drive, but Lily stops him as she wants to have Weatherexamine her body. Akiko's confusion plays up the scene as if Lily turns out to be evil here at first, but her true intention is to be in control of the Memory instead of being normal again. Weather agrees and he with Lily escapes, creating a stunning display of his abilities by releasing shaking thunders to distract others. Phillip notes that Weather Dopant's ability, as the name says, is to alter climatic conditions, including freezing temperatures. So Iceage is a complete discount Weather, as Weather can also create electroutions and drowning cases. Terui, predictably, had his hunger for vengeance fully restored, going on his revenge recklessly and ignoring/lashing out at the other's warnings. Shotaro intends to follow after him, with Phillip warning him to watch out for both Terui and himself, which though at first Shotaro dismisses due to acting like his mom, he accepts it with a brofist between the partners.

Terui's anger leads him to bump into Jinno carelessly, who narrates Frank's story that his son (intended successor) and wife died in a car accident, thus he grooms Lily to be his successor. A lost family case back-to-back after Horinouchi, and Frank doesn't seem to be maddened unlike Horinouchi, showing that Horinouchi would be in the wrong. On their way, Shotaro and Akiko come across Santa-chan who suffers terrible injury, and Akiko realizes that Isaka was Yukiho's doctor. Isaka is then examining Lily's body, which, earns jealousy from Saeko, complaining about how a failed Dopant can be more important than her. Saeko displays pettiness, by throwing a pencil holder into Lily as well. Though she's always unpleasant, the event seems to break her enough that she resorts into childish kind of meanness. Isaka succeeds in stabilizing the Memory and now Lily happily can turn invisible or visible at will, albeit the Memory's still inside her. Accel barges in into the lab which a hiding Saeko recognizes him as Accel. His view of Lily changed a bit that he now just tells her to go away, albeit still rudely. Isaka knows Terui's given name Ryu as well, and explains his murder that he merely kills for the sake of experiment, and that Yuji had the most success with Gaia Memory-related crimes. Isaka's a proud and unrepentant villain, with mad-scientist vibe to do things only for the sake of experiment. Terui henshins into Accel as Isaka changes into Weather to fight. Shotaro and Akiko arrive too to fight as W. So if it's merely to fight and back up Accel, dunno why Phillip wasn't the one to go to turn into FangJoker, he's not busy that time. Predictably, W gets attacked by Accel for getting on his way, as W insists him to work together. Again this shows about how individualism seen in harsh revenge-driven people is actually a hindrance. Weather then gives those 2 a beatdown, using fire, steam (Accel and W defends with jet Engine and HeatJoker respectively), and lightning (Accel and W defends with electric Engine and HeatTrigger respectively), ending with a tornado. Isaka displays that he's power hungry as well that he obtains Weather Memory due to not being satisfied with one, intending to take Lily's ability to become invisible as well, using Lily as a lab rat by locking her Memory inside her body so that she'll exhaust her lifespan and die. It's a case of bad samaritan, he seems helpful to Lily but really has villainous intentions. Weather then knocks Accel in Bike Form out of his transformation, and Shotaro resorts into Twin Maximum Drive despite Phillip's warning, setting W's body on fire as a whole and endlessly repeating "Maximum Drive" sound effect like a broken record.

/Twin Maximum Suicide

W HeatTrigger launches a fireball that leaves a huge trail with Twin Maximum Drive, and de-henshins into Shotaro out of sheer exhaustion, making him unable to get up. As expected though, it failed to injure Weather, rendering the risk useless. Akiko utters her catchphrase to not know anything about this while Saeko watches, complimenting the doctor. However, Terror Dopant arrives, apparently inviting Weather for a tea, with the heroes being saved from their situation (Phillip thought Terror helped them). Terui seems moved by Shotaro's risky attempt, explaining that it's due to Terui's anguish, and like what Phillip states at the beginning of previous episode, Terui is a part of the gang now, insisting him to save Lily as the city's Kamen Rider. Terui however still acts outwardly rude, claiming that Shotaro is to blame for getting in his way (and idiotic for worrying about Lily). That seems to be a tsundere move from the sudden change in reaction compared to the first question, but of course Phillip would still be mad at Terui for being (outwardly) hostile to Shotaro. Shotaro is now unconscious while Phillip picks a fight with Terui, as he explains to Akiko Shotaro's injuries cannot be treated by regular means. The reason he picks a fight is (instead or in addition to his outwardly hostility with Shotaro) because Accel is the only one who can save Lily from her situation (Isaka's trap), but he refuses to help. Indeed, Terui puts his revenge above everything and refuses any question like usual (Phillip too reminding Terui what it means to be a Kamen Rider), reacting violently to Phillip. Honestly, what'd revenge accomplish that everything else is put aside, selfish act for something rather useless. Though Shotaro was able to affect Terui in short-term, he didn't truly change for now, in contrast to what Phillip thought of him at the previous episode, and this episode shows his apparent prejudice to any Dopants too.

The effect of the Invisible Memory is shown in Lily feeling even more tired compared to before. Isaka finishes multiple dishes for a dinner, which corresponds to his power hungry-persona for seeking more and more Memories as Ryubee notes. But from Wakana's report previously, Ryubee notes that Wakana has been upset lately (criticizing Isaka as disgusting, well she directs her annoyance to someone deserving this time) and he won't tolerate any threats to the family, being suspicious to Isaka and Saeko's plan. A bit of redeeming quality to put his family's welfare above anything it seems, contrasting Isaka who had no qualms killing an entire family only for experiment. Isaka confirms Ryubee's assertion of him that he had many Living Connectors throughout his body, exactly 7 on his chest, as a reference for Fist of the North Star. He saves his face (which Saeko praises him again for that) by claiming his belief to the Museum by doing those to help him, even offering himself as guinea pig if needed too, earning Ryubee's approval. As Phillip concludes that Accel's the one that only save Lily, Akiko offers him to ask Terui again. But Terui wasn't the only one that is affected negatively by a grudge, Phillip as well that he refuses to ask him for putting Shotaro in his current state (not that Phillip will succeed if he did, but reasonings matter, he's turning into a bit of Terui himself too here), which finally prompts Akiko to do it instead. Honestly yes, Akiko's the one with best chance as Terui mellowed down the most around her, even he explained Akiko's protest in a more gentle way for Riko ("only a Memory Break"), and it's good for her here to throw a hand and not only ordering people around as a chief, like at the beginning. Akiko... interrogates Makura with her (dual) slipper as threatening device for Terui's information. The slipper's really a mighty weapon like the memes said as Makura submits.

Akiko visits Terui and claims that he actually cares about Lily (even more tsundere subject for him other than Shotaro), which Terui denies due to her being a criminal that uses Memory to perform something frivolous like performing magic trick, only using her as a bait for Isaka. I dunno what's the problem for that. It won't be something that hurts others like what real criminals do. He knows what are her actions but still tries to make her viewed as guilty. Suddenly Frank appears and invites those 2 in. Frank points out that Terui looks grim and resembles a.. monster for that. A casual talk, but this kinda reminds about how revenge can eventually turn someone into something as bad as their revenge target, if left unchecked, figuratively making them monstrous. Frank narrates his story about being magician that he, along with Lily, worked hard to make the audience smile as magician's duty, and reveals that he knew about Lily getting the Invisible Memory, but his main concern is about Lily's well-being. Lily arrives but runs as soon as she sees the cops, Terui chasing her off doesn't help matters. Lily has some fighting skills from her acrobatics to fend off Terui and then disappears, but Terui henshins into Accel and uses steam Engine to track her location. Terui de-henshins again after (in his debut Terui uses the Engine Blade by himself albeit it's very heavy, does he need to henshin for only tracking down Lily's location?), where Lily insists that she wants to perform. It's shown that Terui does care, he warns her that she'll die if she keeps using the Memory. So yeah a tsundere act, but still, doesn't mean that the harshness outside should be let be and not improved just because of the softness inside, the harsh facade here causes some problem that Lily runs away for a while which likely could've been prevented if someone's straightforward against her problem, though Lily still insists to perform due to it being Frank's final performance, not caring if she'd die. Terui inadvertently echoes Shotaro's words to him before that there are those who'd worry about her, which he realizes himself. So yes, it's consistent that Shotaro rubs off on him but doesn't completely change him yet, at least Shotaro's influence kicks in in pivotal moments. Eventually the performance is set to be done. This'd be a similarity that Lily and Terui shares as well to take into account of the surroundings if they'd risk their lives doing something.

In Isaka room, there's only Kirihiko's robe available for him given by Saeko, which is too big. then Isaka heads off to make his move. Frank performs his final magic show at a park, of which Terui finally asks for Phillip to cooperate to save Lily. Phillip accepts that, but not before punching him into submission first (of which Terui takes in stride this time), something he learns from Shotaro as a ritual of reconciliation (at the first arc). That'd be probably his bad influence that shouldn't be actually emulated... The performance starts with Lily not being clumsy anymore, but turns out that Isaka's move is visiting the park to take care of the Agency. Terui at last puts his revenge quest aside, prioritizing on saving Lily (the tsun side previously still have to be worked on though), and like Phillip claims, they're fighting Isaka here as a duty for a Kamen Rider instead of revenge. As they're focused on Lily, Gunner A is used to distract Weather. Lily successfully performs, but now the Memory takes a toll of her as she runs off, with Terui and Phillip catching up. Lily keeps on her decision to die for Frank's last performance, as she thanked them for letting her perform in her dissipating body, finally warming up to Terui to acknowledge him as cool despite being scary. Terui and Phillip began on their act, with Phillip using Denden Sensor to detect the actually still-standing Lily so Accel can kill her by stopping her heart (but with her body intact), releasing it from her body at last, as the Memory will eject if the user is detected as dead (as Phillip explains to Isaka later). Like Lily herself for Dopant powers being used for daily job, Accel then uses his superpower to perform mundane (but important) task, which is restarting Lily's heart, successfully saving her and crushing the Invisible Memory in his hands. I'm a sucker for superpowers being used for mundane task, to show that there are other uses for it other than fighting, and there seems to be nothing really wrong in this case. Though it's a dangerous method, but as usual Terui would got praise from Phillip later as bold for doing this.

Isaka gets actually enraged to have his pursuit of Invisible Memory denied, and another fight with Accel starts. Phillip henshins as well with Shotaro being awake, now properly turning into the strongest variant W has yet, which requires Phillip to be the controller, and Phillip's the one going out here. Weather sends a big tornado towards them, but with the strongest ensemble of Riders currently, they can beat Weather for the first time, by sending back the tornado into Weather by both Accel and FangJoker using their identical-but-mirrored spinning kick Maximum Drives, of which W insists to be refered as Rider Twin Maximum, as a symbolism about a better, safer method when 2 Riders are doing it instead of 1 Rider doing it like W HeatTrigger previously. Shroud watches that and notes that Terui and.. Raito had become stronger. With Shroud being the one to hand out gadgets to the protagonists, that probably explains about how the protagonists coincidentally get gadgets that are related to their case, with Shroud choosing the timing to hand out the gadgets. thatIsaka realizes that the Riders can't be underestimated, and a parallel to what Shotaro did, now Isaka's the one to get warned by Saeko to be careful about using his powers. Terui's treatment of Lily is shown further where he prevents Makura arresting her as she's Isaka's victim. Just at least Makura (who simps for Aya) would arrest a pretty woman regardless of her appearence. That's true, but I kinda want a better reason like explaining about Lily not performing actual crimes (like what he explained to Akiko of using it for stage magic). Lily then visits the Agency again, to thank... only Terui for saving her, to Shotaro's (who flirts with her again) dismay, as well as her falling in love with him as well. Akiko.. ships them both despite her crush on Terui as well. Poor Shotaro that the reason Terui saved her was actually his influence, this is a bit of a mean move for Lily tbh, where certain other Rider series like Ex-Aid teaches that behind one person that saves someone, there's a teamwork as well in others contributing with other things.

Decided to take a break from watching Ryusoulger for a while and started to watch Kamen Rider Agito. Well, re-watching in the case of its first two episodes onward. Hopefully, by the time I eventually finished this series, Ryuki will already be up on TokuSHOUTsu section of Shout Factory's streaming app.

I've now seen 11 episodes of Ghost, as well as the crossover movie with Drive.

I think the best way to sum up my feelings so far is that, while every episode of Decade fills me with rage, every episode Ghost instead fills me with confusion.

The pacing is definitely the biggest problem, as nearly every episode feels incredibly rushed; As if they were originally written as two-parters but were cut down at the last minute.

And I'm not complaining so much about the fact that they're one off episodes, moreso that the episodes in and of themselves don't have very much of a smooth flow to them and instead gun it at mach speed; Without much in terms of action, charisma, or atmosphere to compensate.

It's so off-putting to me that the show is clearly trying to have these big, emotional moments, but yet I have next to no feel of the cast at large because they barely get any focus nor much time for me to get attached. Like, Specter's' whole dilemma with his sister would have been interesting stuff... if I had at all gotten to know the guy beforehand.

That's pretty much all I got so far. Ghost isn't a show that's actively making me annoyed or anything; I more just kinda feel neutral whenever I'm not busy feeling confused over its pacing. Heck, even Onari, who is a character who is very divisive(atleast from what I understand), I just kinda go "eh" toward. If anything I was more annoyed by how the cast was constantly shouting all of their lines for the first few episodes.

Still having a better time with it than I am Decade, atleast.

Specter was definitely a bit lost on me, but I was super into Takeru's efforts to win him over

I finally finished rewatching Kuuga, and have definitely gained a new appreciation for it. It still isn't my favorite, but it is a unique show that I can enjoy for what it is.

I think I have to give a special shout-out to... well... Shout Factory for their subtitles for this. Not only did I find that subbing the Grongi made me enjoy the show more, but the translation quality was excellent and really helped the dialogue feel more natural. I want to see more Rider from them badly!

https://i.imgur.com/JDGp7vh.png

Found out Earthly Subs recently dropped their own scrub of Faiz and spent some time going over every translation error I complained about between my rewatch and Die's thread. (Since complaining about Faiz subs is apparently a hobby of mine, I guess.) A lot of them are still wrong, in nearly identical ways! Others are totally fixed, which is a nice surprise! Some were "fixed" in ways that don't stop them from still being wrong, which is always extra frustrating! But the errors are also minor enough not to be a huge deal on occasion, which means I'm aware I can get pedantic about this!

Not going back to literally rewatch the entire show, it's hard to speak to how the overall "flavor" of the new subs is (I imagine it's an overall improvement despite the issues, the same way Agony's scrub was), but to be as blunt as possible, I'm still waiting for the day someone does a proper ground-up new translation of Faiz, so it can finally get the kind of new lease on life Blade and Kuuga have gotten.

Currently up to episode 16 of Kamen Rider Agito and I'm already pretty invested in the show's story.

If you don’t continue this for Die’s and whoever it turns out to be’s(though I have my suspects), then I swear…

Started rewatching Fourze today, which is something I've known for a while I wanted to do for that big 10th anniversary. I'd talk about it – I'd maybe even have made a thread for it – but going back to those first two episodes, it's kind of confirmed something I've suspected: I literally can't talk about Fourze? Usually when I say "I don't have the words to describe" something, it immediately turns out to be a lie, but in this case... like, Fourze means SO much to me on a really deep, personal level, I seriously can't do it. So instead, this post will exist simply to mark that I am in fact watching Fourze through again, and am having a great time with it, because it's just that darn fun.

https://i.imgur.com/vqGv4RW.png

This is pretty much the best show ever.

My first Kamen Rider... man. I honestly think I'd do a Fourze rewatch myself if I hadn't just spent the past year rewatching two seasons weekly! Always meant to get back to it at some point; it really was such a wonderful gateway into Rider for me

Fourze always makes me smile, the show is so wholesome and earnest it makes what could otherwise be a rather shallow show into something special. Even just SEEING Gentaro makes me happy!

Fourze is such a fun show to go back to. It definitely holds up.

No matter what shortcomings, flaws, "could-have-been-better" moments, or some of the goofy suits. I just can't find any way to not love Fourze. It's such a fun show, and Gentarou is just the best.

It's one of the reasons Fourze became my second completed Rider Season after Decade. Also one of my top favorites, in show and character.

https://i.imgur.com/8p2Q1tD.png

Can't even get two minutes into the Saber HBV before Touma starts reading a magazine about Ghost, and then the actual plot is about a sympathetic monster and Yuri and Touma going LARPing. All with gloriously absurdist direction by Hidenori Ishida. Saber loves me, and I love it right back! :D

It is Toei's Breakfast Club after all. :lolol

Kamen Rider W(atch)

Weather Arc

Episode 29-30: The Nightmarish H

H stands for Himeka and (spoiler) Hajime Fukushima.

Written by: Keiichi Hasegawa, Directed by: Ryuta Tasaki

/The Melancholy of the Sleeping Princess

Akiko is currently tired at work, due to her newfound passion in a jidaigeki-genre DVD series, Kaze no Saheji: the Panic Revenger, which she marathoned until morning due to it being so good, explaining her sleepy state. Akiko even claims Shotaro will get hooked, albeit he claims he has no interest in historical stuff and would fall asleep within minutes. Coincidentally, they got a client with sleeping-related problem too, Himeka Yukimura who carries around an alarm clock who claims she can't sleep. Her entrance is accompanied with bright effects as if her and the case is really emphasized for some reason, in contrast to Akiko pointing out that she may come into the wrong place, that doctors are the place for sleeping problems, but she explains further that her case is about a dream monster making someone won't wake up anymore, thus she sets her alarm clock every 30 minutes (with it ringing on the office that time surprising everyone). She continues (with illustrations) about her study group friends in college lab being the victims of the monster, leaving them, except 1, in a coma with an ominous H mark on their heads. Akiko suspects that it's a Dopant that enters people's dreams, which Phillip finds fascinating; as an absurd concept (indeed less conventional ideas like that can affect the audience similarly, depending on them though). Shotaro finally agrees to take the case (while his flirting resurfaces again), which apparently made Himeka hug him and claims Shotaro may be the fated prince in her dreams.

As they visit Fuuto University, Himeka would be described as beautiful as Snow White, which plays into some part of her given name Himeka Yukimura. The Snow White play is true somewhat with her frilly outfit or such, though I don't necessarily agree with her beauty being exceptional like how the show says, but that's how looks can be subjective and an example of 'show, not tell' trait in a story. The resemblance to Snow White continues where her study group consists of her and 7 boys (and Himeka depicts them as Seven Dwarves in her drawings). They then meet Professor Akagi, who is shown to be really eccentric and quirky that he wears loincloth and lion hood, while researching lucid dreaming (controlling one's dream), using Himeka's friend that hasn't been victimized. As Shotaro tries to interrogate, Terui (with Makura) suddenly intervenes, to Akiko's joy as usual, by questioning Akagi. After admitting about those 6 students in sleeping disease being his and explaining how their experiment goes, Akagi claims that those students can't cope with the experiment. The student introduces the equipment that records their brain activity while sleeping. As Kamen Riders, Terui (with Shotaro following after) offers themselves to use that device to take the monster head on. Himeka, again, thanked Terui by hugging him and claiming that he may be the prince. Unlike to Lily, Akiko shows disdain to Himeka's behavior, though not for jealousy, but about how she does that to anyone. This is also not an usual "Shotaro loser to cool Terui" moment as the student clears up that it's the way of Himeka being nice. So Himeka's a cuddle bug. Naturally, Akegi would be suspected as a mad scientist who turns into Dopant for his research (at least by Akiko), covering rotten nature with his weirdness, though Phillip claims there's nothing wrong with the device, as Shotaro underestimates the case that he only needs to use the device, sleep, and then fight the monster in his dream. Terui starts his mission and assigns Makura and Jinno to wake him up when there's something weird as well.

Yup, turns out Shotaro can't even get a sleep, of which he'd try using his disinterest to historical stuff that he claims will put him through sleep within minutes, by watching Kaze no Saheji. Akiko was right all along, Shotaro actually gets hooked into the series. This is a Green Eggs and Ham kind of stuff, trying new things that isn't on one's interest but turns out they like it. As Makura and Jinno are playing shogi, Terui begins his dream, where he interacts with his little sister Haruko again to his confusion as she should've died, moreover that she's apparently married to Jinno (with Makura as the priest). Terui realizes that this is lucid dreaming, being conscious in your sleep dream, as the dream troublemaker Nightmare Dopant promptly appears. The scene continues to play up as if Akagi's the Dopant, as he appears by answering Terui's suspicion as well as admitting to put 6 students to sleep. apparently Terui still can henshin as Accel in his dream, and as expected from apparently the ruler of the dream, Nightmare can alter the dream to his liking like changing the scenery into a billiard hall, and also pranking Accel by pretending to explode after being hit by jet Engine attack. Don't know what limits of the reality manipulation he can do in the dream though, but Nightmare still defeats Accel by trapping him in dreamcatcher-like net. Terui's notably acting weird for this, but yeah Jinno and Makura is expected to be incompetent to be asleep when this happened, neglecting their duties to wake him up.

Not only enjoying Kaze no Saheji, Shotaro even marathoned it for a whole night, just like Akiko did, and she knows it by predictably teasing him (and playfully hit him with slipper) for being contradictory. Makura informs Shotaro that Terui is another sleeping victim with H mark now. Well of course... you neglected your duties. But for once, Terui who is usually played up as much cooler than Shotaro in the story is on the receiving one of the worf effect here, where the main protagonist would look better due to being the one to save the day. Shotaro intends to avenge Terui by sleeping (it should be easier when you've stayed all night) as Phillip, who is using Gaia Library, warns him to not rush in. It's touching for Shotaro to actually care for Terui, but true that'd be reckless as shit, Phillip's 100% right here (and it's basic warning), as there are no morally questionable actions involved here. Though Wakana can show her childish side directly in front of her family, this time, she practically turns insane, laughing all the time for no reason. Isaka confesses that it's due to high compatibility with her Memory.... which Ryubee already knew, and again, displays his protectiveness of his (apparently favored) daughter, warning Isaka that he'll make him pay if something happened to Wakana, the shot being done in a hole from pile of dishes. Another warning happens in Himeka, who eventually fell asleep, but Nightmare apparently only tells her to tell Shotaro to back off instead of taking her down, which she does to Shotaro. Of course, she'd think Shotaro's an ordinary detective, but he's a Kamen Rider. Shotaro declares to protect clients which earns him another hug from Himeka, and Akiko expressing disdain towards her. By this Himeka's probably the black sheep among Akiko's clients, the one she sees less favorably.

Phillip begins his strategy, having both him and Shotaro sleep while their consciousness are linked as they henshin into W, so that Phillip can enter his dream. A silly shot commences with a tough super-warrior only be called upon for sleeping, for real world perspective. As Shotaro has been engrossed in Kaze no Saheji recently, naturally his dream would be about him with the current cast Phillipachi, landlady Ooaki(ko), Ohime(ka), jidaigeki Terui, and Santa-chan, in jidaigeki-setting Fuuto, only that Shotaro's (hard-boiled okkapiki/edo-period cop) addressed as the boss here. I'd think the chonmage hairstyle fits Terui the best here, while it doesn't fit Phillip at all. Ooaki still slaps Shotaro with a (geta) slipper with kanji, and (luckily) still using another one for footwear. Santa-chan acts as the victim of Nightmare where he got shot at the neck before he spills the truth. Nightmare complains about Ohime's existence in Shotaro's dream and kidnaps her by absorbing her with flute, shrinking her to locate her in a jar. Like Terui before, Shotaro can still henshin with Phillipachi, where the Gaia Memories turned into painted wooden tablets as per the setting, with fully-Japanese name as well, so CycloneJoker is ShippuKirifuda. W chases down Nightmare, who makes better use of his reality manipulation, sending a building on their way, using bystanders as ninja logs after they almost save Ohime (apparently getting one who can't keep her hands off W) or just popping them out of existence (another W's deaths??), and turning W's HardBoilder into.. a bicycle. Midway, Nightmare declares himself to be Himeka's prince as well. Fortunately, the actual Phillip intervenes (somehow changing his hairstyle as well when he changes his outfit) where he's immune to Nightmare's powers (erasing or projectiles) due to him being another kind who appears in someone else's dream. A bit confused where, there'd be 2 Phillips then in Phillipachi (who's still works like real Phillip) and actual Phillip? As Phillip interrogates Nightmare as Akegi, he confesses that.. he had put Akegi to sleep too (means he's not).

Unfortunately for W (both Shotaro and Phillip), the Dopant of the week being dream based that they have to sleep to get through him means they're left in a very vulnerable state (Phillip's hole in his strategy, should sleep in a more isolated area), as Isaka arrives (likely knowing due to him trying to call Nightmare before) to take advantage of the situation to get revenge on those that disrupt his fun, with only a normal human Akiko (mere slippers as weapon) standing in his way, raining lightning as Weather directly to W, waking Phillip up. Phillip vanishes in Shotaro's dream, leaving Shotaro alone to fight Nightmare. Still Phillip's in far worse condition than Shotaro's, only having Fang to defend him against Nightmare's assault which isn't enough. eventually taking direct hit from Weather's lightning barrage, giving scorch marks all over his body, and Akiko can only cry over Phillip's unconscious body.

/Who Is the Prince?

While Shotaro is fighting Nighmare in his dream, Akiko's voice somehow figuratively reaches Shotaro in the dream as her dream projection, Ooaki, also warns Shotaro about Phillipachi being in trouble. Though interrupted by Weather, Phillip's entrance in Shotaro's dream was still impactful enough, as Nightmare deems Shotaro's dream to be too dangerous and he actually leaves for good, making Shotaro the first of Nightmare's victims to wake up and not succumb to coma, albeit Shotaro's too late as Phillip's already in critical condition, with Weather attempting to finish him with a lightning bolt. However, a sentient bird-shaped Gaia Memory successfully protected Phillip, but also absorbs Phillip's body. The Memory was so strong that it's able to 'beat' Dopants like Weather on its own, shrugging off his lightning barrage and sending back a tornado to him. Fortunately, Shotaro hearing Phillip's voice within that bird confirms that Phillip didn't die. Shotaro figures out that Himeka calls every one of her research partners as destined prince (while breaking off of Himeka's huge as a sign of him knowing that it's her habit), which Himeka admits, to anyone that treats her nicely. Other than another reference to Snow White and Seven Dwarfes, this is a case of someone who really needs to get over themselves in love situation, and I suspect naivety for Himeka to assume that being nice = being in love. But Himeka's not only one who needs to get over themselves, as Shotaro warns that there are those who take Himeka's words to heart, and also turning into a monster and tries to get rid of his rivals with sleeping sickness.

Shotaro and Akiko then visit Himeka's last standing friend, who claimed to be tired, but Shotaro gets to the point by interrogating if he's the Nightmare Dopant, but he apparently got hit by sleeping sickness too, earning the H mark in his forehead. Shotaro attempts to lucid dream again, but Akiko reminds him that Nightmare won't enter his dream again. Apparently Akiko's voice didn't only reach him, she's aware of what Nightmare said earlier. Akiko volunteers to be the one who lucid dreams now, claiming that she talks in her sleep. The Sonozaki family (with Wakana still insane) talk about Xtreme Memory (the bird-shaped one before) apparently rescuing a Rider, which alarms Ryubee that Shroud has made her move. And currently she's directly interacting with Phillip who's still inside Xtreme Memory, but healed fully, claiming that Phillip can't die for being too important (indeed, other than this he hard carries the cast in most of the cases, poor Shotaro being seen as useless compared to him). Akiko's sleep-talking is proven in her try with Shotaro getting engaged to her plan. Her dream is about Osaka, specifically Tsūtenkaku, where she runs a takoyaki stall (albeit her father is still the hard-boiled detective), with Terui and Phillip as customers. Due to her sleep-talk being clear, Shotaro can contribute as well to remind Akiko about her objective (irl wise, shouting to her sleeping self), of which the dream shows him.. in Sokichi's outfit (and Akiko mistaking him as her dad). Luckily for them Akiko quickly spots Nightmare in Tsūtenkaku.

Another surprise is that, Akiko invites Shotaro to... henshin. That's the real lucky actually to have protection after spotting Nightmare. Apparently it worked as a Double Driver materializes on Akiko too. Another female Rider baby! As in this case Shotaro's consciousness was transferred to Akiko's. As CycloneJoker, her main weapon would be, as expected, her slipper. She stays using Metal Shaft and TriggerMagnum for the subsequent HeatMetal and LunaTrigger forms though. As Nightmare uses his net to absorb LunaTrigger's beams, Akiko calls RevolGarry. As she seems to be in upper hand, and where I feel that Nightmare doesn't utilize his reality manipulation enough, Nightmare just punched her once.. and Akiko dehenshins, whining that it hurts. That's what expected from fighting as Rider y'know, it's not always you who got the upper hand. It refuted my feelings that Nightmare boasts that everything other than him is illusion in a dream, so he apparently lets others gain upper hand to toy with them. Akiko continues to interrogate Nightmare about his identity, but he actually complies due to thinking that there's no way for her to tell anyone... when in reality Shotaro praises her for it The identity isn't shown to the viewer at this point, but Shotaro commends Akiko's work and attempts to wake her.. as she got H mark in her forehead.

Phillip thanks Shroud as he leaves to help Shotaro.. but Shroud warns him to not to as Shotaro will bring misfortune on him. A new plot being set up here. Shotaro meets up with Himeka again, who explains that she suspects those who are being nice to her as her prince due to her constant dream of a prince saving her and tells her they'll be bound by fate. I think that's an extreme level of childlike and naivety to treat dream as if it's real life (anything can happen in dream including Phillip changing his hairstyle when changing his outfit). Himeka apparently finally realizes that her words causes troubles. Shotaro tries to reveal the truth to protect her, but once again it failed, but not due to Shotaro hiding/lying, but due to Himeka finally sleeping. Himeka got a dream about prince again, but this time, it's Nightmare chasing after her. However, Shotaro manages to invade the dream by confronting the real Nightmare Dopant, where Shotaro got projected as a matador in Himeka's dream. Nightmare is surprised, and Shotaro further confirms the suspicion by claiming that H in his victims refer to the initial of the true Nightmare identity - Hajime Fukushima. With no way out, Hajime finally morphs back to human, confirming that he's indeed the one friend who didn't get sleeping disease among Himeka's study group, and explains that H is both for him(eka). Though Hajime actually successfully tricked Shotaro and Akiko earlier where he pretends to get sleeping sickness, thus it shocks Shotaro, albeit the clue's still there of the hospital reporting him leaving the hospital alone.

So after Virus and Liar, this one's another case of a plot twist that was made misleading at first, in this case, Akagi was the first potential culprit, but it turns out to be Hajime. I don't think that this one's handled as good as the previous 2, probably either of it being repetitive or the clue being more obvious of Hajime being an anomaly that didn't get into coma. Hajime indeed explains about Himeka's words hurting others, like him, due to seeing her smiling to another men, thus he can't sleep for days and wants to let her know his pain. Hajime feels overconfident here due to seeing Shotaro as regular detective as he beats him up as Nightmare. Eventually after Phillip parts with Shroud, the Xtreme Memory saves Shotaro, and with Phillip's arrival both henshin into W, shocking Nightmare that he truly is a Kamen Rider, and shows him who's really the big man here. With it not being a dream, Nightmare can only run away, but got caught by W's stretching LunaJoker, and W continues the beatdown with LunaMetal while countering Nightmare's fireballs. There are still some W forms that haven't revealed their Maximum Drive yet, and LunaMetal is one of them, so W performs it here, the Metal Illusion where W forms several golden rings with the stretching Metal Shaft as projectile attack. Though still not that spectacular, I like that the attack is a bit different from usual ability unlike Metal Branding. Hajime got arrested, but somehow Terui is notably gentle in his approach to a criminal here (even compared to Makura who tries to block Himeka). Himeka witnesses his arrest but Hajime's lucky here that Himeka doesn't condemn him, and vows to wait for his return. Still, Akagi was never seen on how he reacts to this, either Hajime or the lucid dreaming project. Turns out that it's not only Hajime, but there are several sleeping sickness victims that approach Himeka and treat the fated prince declaration as love confession. What's with masses of people not getting over themselves in love topic? Moreover, to Shotaro and Akiko's dismay, Himeka didn't really learn her lesson as well, still continuing on her declaration of love to them, or that she tries to convince them that she favors no one to prevent another fight for her like what Hajime did... Phillip is thinking about Shroud's words, but now he too had a secret he can't tell, but for now brings up the incredibly obvious declaration that Shotaro's his only partner. Shotaro is puzzled by the obviousness but he blushes too as Akiko teases him for.

Kamen Rider W(atch)

Weather Arc

Episode 31-32: The B Carried on the Wind

B refers to Bitou (Isamu) and Beast (Dopant).

Written by: Riku Sanjo, Directed by: Satoshi Morota

/The Beast Pursues

An ex-convict Isamu Bitou gets to see the world again after 10 years, but apparently is still unhappy. A newspaper Bitou finds talks about the emergence of the "beast-man" which provokes a reaction from him. Another copy of the newspaper is handed by Terui to get Phillip who is thinking about Shroud's words (and laying on bed.. but with boots on..) to search about the beast-man. Shotaro notes that it's an urban legend that started 10 years ago and assumes that it's a Dopant. Bitou enters the office, and as Akiko get scared, Shotaro apparently tries to kick him out, which produces another slapstick gag like Akiko's slipper of Bitou finger snapping Shotaro between his eyes. Bitou claims he was a client of Sokichi and Sokichi told him to see him after he got released, but for obvious reasons, Sokichi's no longer there and there are no record of Isamu in the Agency's files. Shotaro changed his mind that he'll take the case as it involves Sokichi, but he earns another finger snap as Bitou dismisses Shotaro as rookie. While following Bitou, Shotaro explains a bit about Bitou's presence stirring him up, probably explaining how he acted mean to him before... but he mumbles out loud, thus gets spotted by Bitou (and another finger snap), albeit he allows Shotaro to follow. Bitou approaches a food stall to look for his employee (as he used to run a place there) Maruo Arima, which apparently gets the food vendors quiet. Meanwhile Shotaro comes across Watcherman, who explains about Arima being an owner of all real estate in that area.

It's Sokichi shilling time, with Terui getting to know about his hype for him fighting Syndicate, as well as Phillip recounting Sokichi saving and teaching him about life. Akiko suggests for Phillip to search about Sokichi. Bitou meets up with Suzuko Arima, who apparently had old nicknames for each other as Sam (from "Isamu") and Bell (from 'Suzuko'), while Bitou's co-worker got Maru from "Maruo". Shotaro got another finger snap for questioning this. As Suzuko talks about her playing shogi to lose gracefully for keeping her spirits up, Maruo appears, at first glance congratulating Bitou's release. But turns out that he holds animosity to Bitou for rumors he could bring in his house, and he even pushes Suzuko for defending Bitou. Bitou is enraged for Maruo's treatment to Suzuko as well and talks back about Maruo's rumor himself as beast-man. As Maruo brings up Sokichi, Shotaro reveals himself as Sokichi's apprentice, and claims that he knows about what he talked with Bitou and Sokichi before he leaves with Bitou. Using Gaia Library, Phillip narrates about Bitou turning himself in for 10 years sentence due to attempted robbery on armored car near Fuuto reservoir. Sokichi investigated the case due to lack of evidence; the armored car and 3 billion yen fell to the reservoir and never got recovered, along with a superhuman level wreckage, which Akiko suspects beast-man as someone involved there starting the rumor.

Turns out that Shotaro didn't actually know, but he did that to bait Maruo into making a move. But Shotaro gets finger snapped by Bitou again as he warns him about Maruo. But before Bitou does, Shotaro gets attacked by Beast Dopant, who interrogates Shotaro about "the bear". Shotaro henshins with Phillip, but notices power surge in the Cyclone Memory, albeit he goes anyway. The trouble is more prevalent in the battle as the power surge on the right (Cyclone) side made W's power imbalanced, hindering their battle where Beast already gains the upper hand at the first place. Phillip warns that Joker isn't powerful enough to be paired with Cyclone, but W tries Metal and it still fails to stop the imbalance. Accel arrives, thinking that Shotaro is sloppy. Assuming him as beast-man, Accel uses A-Slasher, but the Beast can regenerate at quick rate, negating the attack. Finally, Bitou stops Beast as Shotaro was bluffing, and turns out that Beast reacts to him, revealing that Beast is Maruo. However Maruo simply wants to get rid of anyone who goes against him as he escapes by vanishing as Beast. W de-henshins, but something strange happens to Phillip as he wakes up, but in an empty Gaia Library with W, but having a band of light down the middle of his body approaching, before he wakes up properly.

As Maruo goes into a hiding, Suzuko was interrogated by Terui and Makura about Maruo being Dopant, where the latter rejects Suzuko's denial, earning a finger snap from Bitou. Shotaro reports that the real culprit 10 years ago is Maruo, and ponders about his lead being "the bear", which Akiko assumes as resembling quaint bear carvings with salmons in their teeth, demonstrating it by.. biting her slipper in the mouth (for her too, good that she didn't use it as footwear). But that also reminds Shotaro that Sokichi did have a bear carving, at a little bungalow in the mountains. Phillip warns about W being troublesome, but Shotaro simplifies it that Phillip only needs to tone Cyclone down, kinda dismissing the warning. At a piano bar as Maruo complains about the cops, the nearby Saeko (with Wakana) warns him to calm down as the cops also have Kamen Rider (that's more like a bad news for him, can make it more difficult to calm down). As Wakana rejects helping Maruo due to him not being decent, Saeko introduces Isaka to Maruo, who wants to see the potential of his body. Shroud comes into Phillip's secret base, and tells him about his evolution due to Xtreme Memory, and again warns him that Shotaro won't be able to make him grow. Shotaro, Akiko, and Bitou goes to the bungalow. As Akiko goes upstairs, Bitou gets Sokichi's message that Maruo didn't clean up his act, and in the photo, it's revealed why Bitou stands up for Suzuko each time, that as Shotaro assumed, Bitou's still in love with her, and 10 years ago Bitou turned himself in Maruo's place for Suzuko, as well as Sokichi not saying a word to him for that. For once, Shotaro didn't get hit by Bitou due to him being right, albeit Bitou's still gruff about it (him overall after 10 years sentence). Akiko found the bear carving, but Isaka as weather comes along to attack them again. Shotaro invites Phillip to henshin, but Phillip delays it, but it's for him to arrive at the scene with RevolGarry so they fight as W FangJoker, as his proposed solution to get around the power surge. But it still failed, and they got knocked out of their transformation by themselves when they perform Fang Strizer.

/Now, in the Radiance

Weather tries to finish off both Shotaro and Phillip in their human form, but they're saved by Accel with Gunner A. As being W can't work, Phillip can only hand Accel his Cyclone Memory for him to use with Engine Blade, performing a Maximum Drive with green-wind slashes which are enough to keep Weather at bay, losing the bear carving. Now I wonder if the reverse can happen, with W using other Memories than the 6 they use, if W uses Engine then he'd got lighter grey side other than Engine's power? Terui actually thanked Phillip and praised the memory, while keeping his stone-faced expression. This also alarms Phillip about how Terui can withstand Cyclone's power, bringing back Shroud's words before that he suspects his true partner is Terui. Shotaro had a mental breakdown over the fact that he can't become W anymore, even ignoring Akiko's invitation to go back from the bungalow. At a phone, Saeko is upset over Isaka losing the bear carving, which enrages Maruo to kill the useless helper. However, even without being Taboo, Maruo is put on his place with Saeko intimidating him, that she too discards Maruo. Shotaro now realizes about Bitou's warning, losing something big now refers to Phillip, now he can only work as normal detective. Luckily for the cast, the Memory Gadgets find the carved bear, which Shotaro can reveal to the other main cast after Akiko apologizes to the hospitalized Bitou for losing the carved bear, asking them to give the carved bear and picture to Bitou like Sokichi intended. As Shotaro leaves dejected, dismissing Akiko's concern, it's soon revealed why to them, with Phillip asking Terui to become his partner. Even Terui would call him out on asking a stupid question, and Akiko, as what she did in ep. 4, calls out Phillip again for degrading Shotaro (as weak), defending him that Shotaro isn't merely a tool to fight as W, his... half-boiled persona also makes things work. Once again his half-boiled trait is viewed in a good light, and indeed, even though he can't live up to Sokichi, he can be impactful in different way, like his moral being something that kept Terui in check from killing an innocent. Luckily it gets through Phillip quickly.

Shotaro confronts Suzuko about Gaia Memory relating to her instead of Maruo. The bear carving's purpose is finally seen here, it holds Zone Memory, and Shotaro exposes Suzuko that she's a Dopant. Sokichi hid the Zone Memory there, where Suzuko used that while Maruo used Beast to attack. Shotaro insists for Suzuko to apologize to Bitou for sacrificing his 10 years seemingly for nothing, but obviously, being in position of power (this time's true as no W for Shotaro; either 'Double' or 'Win') Suzuko is ecstatic of getting her Memory back, turning into Zone Dopant to teleport Shotaro into heights outside the building in a chessboard motif. Another reason she plays shogi. Big mistake for Shotaro, revealing a Memory in front of its user without countermeasures as he can't be W. Zone leaves and drops Shotaro above a canal. This is kinda plot armor, don't see why she'd leave him in a relatively safer place from heights (albeit tbf fall from heights to water will still injure or kill), and she even claims he can grind his teeth in afterlife (indicates intent to kill). Meanwhile Ryubee invites Wakana to witness the Museum's valve being cranked open by Phillip/Raito due to Xtreme Memory. Terui also confronts Maruo, insisting him to hand over his Memory, but refuses for the sake of his boss... which is Suzuko showing up above as both morphs into their Dopant form. At first, Maruo was shown hitting Suzuko, but in reality, Maruo's probably a henpecked husband instead. Not only by the numbers, the Arimas gain upper hand due to Zone's shogi prowess used in that battle to teleport Beast strategically.

Phillip and Akiko retrieve Shotaro from the water. And though Phillip still criticizes Shotaro being lenient on the subject and missing Sokichi's message on the bear carving, those previous moments are tolerated due to said message, "Nobody's Perfect", intended to expose the truth to Bitou (about Suzuko being true culprit) but not emotionally hurting him, but it's intended for everyone like Shotaro believing in Suzuko. This is a reminder of how, as Sokichi said, humans aren't perfect and they can make mistakes, but that's something ok, they don't deserve contempt for it, either from others or themselves. It reminds Phillip as well that W needs Shotaro's kindness, as it's not intended to be a perfect killing machine. Being a Kamen Rider prioritizes helping others, there are wide range of morally good trait and deeds in addition to “saving people” (by beating up the enemy) that should be displayed (also why I like mundane utility trope for superpowers). Like what Shotaro remind Terui in his debut, being a Kamen Rider isn't about hating the criminals and exert overboard punishment, but only the criminal act. Nobody's Perfect song which is sung by the Chief plays, the lyrics reinforcing that strength comes from weakness. True as mistakes are the way to learn lessons, as well as despite that nobody is perfect, doesn't mean they should stagnate and improve themselves, like keep the moral approach but prepare countermeasures better.

The song plays as Terui is beaten up until Shotaro and Phillip henshin as W. Despite Shroud noting about their power imbalance again, Shotaro insists for Phillip to go all out despite his handicap. Fortunately for W, the Xtreme Memory arrives as it absorbs Phillip's body and inserting itself to the both Gaia Memory (with beaconing light to the sky) slots and opening to reveal a spinning X as W's middle section glows. Shotaro and Phillip are now united not only in soul, but their body as well, giving W's final form CycloneJokerXtreme, with its data burst going through the Museum as Ryubee and Wakana witnesses. The form is linked with the infinite knowledge of the true Gaia Memory as well, shown in W's Crystal Server, the iridescent band going down the middle of W's body. Due to said knowledge, W is able to analyze every aspect of the enemy... knowledge is power indeed, fight smart, not only fight hard (albeit all the knowledge are just handed there). W uses his new weapon Prism Bicker, a sword-shield combo, along with Prism Memory, and the knowledge to counter Zero+Beast's teleportation, as well as giving Beast a wound that he can't heal with Prism Break Maximum Drive. Blocking Zone's beam with his shield, W prepares freaking 4 Gaia Memories; Cyclone, Heat, Luna, and Joker for another Maximum Drive, Bicker Finalusion that shoots a colorful and spreading energy beams, destroying Zone. W uses another 4 Gaia Memories Maximum Drive for Beast, Bicker Charge Break which is a Rider Slash enhanced with energy colored in those 4 Gaia Memories, taking Beast down. I'd tolerate Bicker Finalusion better, but I'd wish that for hyped up 4 Gaia Memories usage, the Bicker Charge Break would be more spectacular. Probably showcasing each of the Gaia Memories ability, like creating fire tornado + thousand cuts using spiraling stretching sword. As Phillip shares a body with Shotaro as Xtreme, they appear together when they de-henshin. As Terui arrests the Arimas, Shroud acknowledges that Shotaro exceeds her expectations. In an unusual kind, Shotaro recounts the events, but not by typing. He notes that Suzuko's activities was discovered and the case was closed, but this can be troublesome for Bitou who's in love with her. Turns out that Bitou is content due to getting his food stall back, and chastises Shotaro for being gloomy. The food stall sells apple candies which the cast including Queen and Elizabeth (who expands their business other than selling CDs) enjoy. Bitou still finger snaps Shotaro, but it seems to be done in more playful way now as he encourages him to keep the Agency going.

Just finished watching the first episode of Kamen Rider Ghost and it already looks somewhat promising.

Apologies again for the double post

I am now up to episode 32 of Kamen Rider Agito.

Kamen Rider W(atch)

Weather Arc

Episode 33-34: Y's Tragedy

Y stands for Yesterday (Dopant) and Yukie (Sudo).

Written by: Kazuki Nakashima, Directed by: Hidenori Ishida

/The Woman Looking For Yesterday

A female client named Yuuko Fuwa, apparently gorgeous enough for Shotaro to fancy over her, asked for the Agency's help to find her cat named 'Kinou' (Japanese word for 'yesterday', and hilarously gets translated to local language too in my airing). As Akiko questions Shotaro to take a lost pet case, Shotaro apparently have learned a thing or two from Bitou, to finger snap Akiko for underestimating the case, as the cat also had precious memories for the owners (really? for someone who previously won't make dolls cry?), so Shotaro had something to counter against Akiko's slipper (and appreciate balanced slapstick between men and women). Yuuko is relieved that the Agency lives up to her hype as her friend told her to go there to ask for help. Phillip takes an interest about Shotaro's type of girl being Yuuko, from how Shotaro wears favorite hat for that case, while Akiko can only irrationally processing a half-boiled idiot 'hitting puberty', though the big problem for her is about Shotaro might not charging her. Well, at least before Shotaro forces Fuyumi from ep. 15-16 to turn herself in after her case. Meanwhile Terui, Jinno, and Makura ask Eisuke Nishiyama about his workers Takeshi Hirabayashi who purposely walked into traffic and someone else who was speeding at a narrow corrider, where both had hourglass-like mark. As a real estate owner, Eisuke would possess a lavish lifestyle where those got blurred on my airing; drinking beers, having beautiful servants serve him, and having a penthouse, of which he tell the cops that yesterday he was swimming in his private swimming pool. Turns out that Eisuke himself is a victim too like his co-workers, he went to do the exact same thing in the present, but by jumping on a top of a building. Terui at least now adheres to the cop's law to go save a suspect, and notices that Eisuke had a hourglass mark as well.

Shotaro, Akiko, and Yuuko are looking for Kinou around the Fuuto Hall, until Yuuko comes across a poster about an event organized by Saeko, but she claims to Shotaro as being interested in Fuuto-Kun mascot. Shotaro still remembers Kirihiko's last moments of giving him the Fuuto-Kun keychain, but he only agrees with Yuuko here. As they haven't found the cat yet, Shotaro applies Sokichi's teaching to think like someone you're looking for.. of which Shotaro pretends to be a cat here. It's literal-minded take and just making yourself look like a fool (this time the mockery of Shotaro's detective work is warranted), and Akiko hits him with her slipper for this as Sokichi's advice can only be applied to people. However Yuuko agrees with Shotaro's approach, to try all the possibilities, of which Akiko, being the sane one for once here, sarcastically remarks that they're a perfect team. Meanwhile Wakana reports about Saeko's (a speech for Museum's front Digal Corporation as its CEO) event being targeted, but Saeko and Isaka's nonchalant reaction as it's a habit of Saeko's work instead made Wakana mopey and leaves, thinking back about Ryubee asking only her to witness the burst of Xtreme's datas. Isaka even burns the threatening letter... using Weather Dopant's powers. It's like Miyabi's challenge in ep. 5-6 of being hated as a politician and that they have to take it to be accomplished, but taken to a dark degree here (not that Miyabi was clean) due to the target being a supervillainess and thus can outright eliminate threats.

In their search of the cat, Shotaro encounters a Dopant with an hourglass in the head. He henshins with Phillip as W and jumps from the top of a high building to the ground. W changes to HeatMetal... ironically when the Dopant keeps W at bay with ranged attacks. The fight continues into a conference hall, albeit they're closed for now, thus no people will be harmed. Potential collateral damage still can happen though. W tries to use CycloneJoker's Joker Extreme, but the Dopant dodges again, hitting the podium instead. But the Dopant ends the fight that time, escaping outside of W's reach. At the sunset in the same place, Yuuko appears, apparently having retrieved Kinou by herself, but still thanked Shotaro. Shotaro warns her to go home for safety as Akiko tries to charge her. Seemingly a typical happy ending and case closed right? Reminder that this is still (sorry Shotaro) half of the episode, not to mention Yuuko made a claim about the tomorrow being interesting. Tomorrow starts with Saeko inviting Wakana to join her speech event, and convinces the threat as a test of will to run their family's business. And for the Agency, Shotaro is acting as if Yuuko assigns him to find Kinou, which earns a mockery from Terui where Phillip's intelligence are the only needed help. Just after Phillip himself realizes that Shotaro's kindness is needed... After enjoying Akiko's coffee which she timed in the drip, Phillip and Terui talk about hourglass mark victims, which Terui reported that all of them survived, but are in coma. Saeko starts her speech, about the power of information and future of Fuuto, which was true as it was the reasons W Xtreme was more threatening in battle other than stats. Then it's shown that Yuuko was actually the Dopant W fought before, and her Memory name is Yesterday, which she uses to mark her victims with the hourglass mark, including Shotaro now.

After being marked, Shotaro began acting exactly the same as him in the beginning of the episode with the same words, and causes a misunderstanding from Terui who thinks Shotaro mocks him. Well, Terui kinda already mocked him before though. Phillip learns about Yesterday power of manipulating the memories from someone with a mark, named Yesterday brand, to repeat their activites from.. well.. yesterday, also explaining Yuuko victim's activities from previous day before they got into coma. Akiko is obviously puzzled again by Shotaro's actions, which aren't even sane to begin with last day, as Phillip informs her about his situation. Like Yuuko's previous victims, Yesterday's power almost doom Shotaro as he jumped from high building previously as W, which he repeats here in human form, where Akiko had to inform Phillip to henshin to save Shotaro from heights. Shotaro repeats his movements as W until the conference hall, and this time, W uncontrollably attacked the huge crowds of people who are listening Saeko's speech, though fortunately none are injured as they escaped. As Terui catch up, he suspects that Yesterday Dopant wants to assassinate Saeko, which W almost did with Joker Extreme he aimed at podium previous day. Terui henshins as Accel and deflects the attack, pushing W aside from Saeko. Don't know what's the deal with Saeko here, brushing off Wakana who tries to pull her and didn't move a single inch in human form. Accel forces W outside and Phillip uses Xtreme to neutralize the Yesterday brand. The Yesterday Dopant arrives, and luckily W retains his Xtreme form, and as a final form, easily gains the upper hand as Yesterday escapes. But Accel stops her as they've figured it out. Yesterday reverts to human form, revealing her true identity (and true name being Yukie Sudo, Kirihiko's little sister) in front of the main cast. Though Shotaro assumes that she wanted revenge to the Museum, apparently what she wants is to become a member of the Museum and surprass her brother. As she turns into Yesterday again to bombard W, Xtreme shows off his power by not just blocking all of them with the shield, he can even prepare his Maximum Drive which slots 4 Gaia Memories uninterrupted. Though funnily (or it's further show-off), he uses the close-ranged Bicker Charge Break instead of the far-ranged Bicker Finalusion.

/Brother & Sister

But before W's attack connects, Yukie reverts into human form, where predictably Shotaro would stop his attack for that. Yukie walks away laughing, and Terui calls out Shotaro for stopping, as Phillip confirms that she took advantage of Shotaro's mercy to humans, which means she's very sharp. So apparently despite Terui resorting to arrest some of the previous Dopants like Fukushima, he'd still prefer if Shotaro finished Yukie off here. Phillip continues his observation about Yukie that she was just testing the cast to see through her or not, and they failed. Yukie had used W to almost harm innocent people. However Shotaro still catches a hint of redemption in Yukie due to her carrying Kirihiko's bloodied scarf. Yukie confronts Saeko as Taboo Dopant, who discredits his brother as he threw away his opportunity at Museum due to pride, despite having a journal on his computer at Digal, and claims she can do much more at Museum. There's a hint of Taboo being someone who'd kill those who know too much like when Yukie talked about her brother's journal. Taboo would still not fully trust Yukie, but Yukie shows off her Yesterday capabilities to perform some sneaky stealth (and escape). Though afterwards, Yukie displays apparently warmer side when going to her old daycare center, amicably interacting with the landlady including her problems of land development people trying to force the land off them. The flashbacks show Yukie to be anything but hateful for Kirihiko as well, playing together happily, and Kirihiko was the one to tell her to go to Narumi Detective Agency for problems in his final phone call. Saeko was right to not trust her fully.

Nearby, there's... Shotaro interacting with the kids himself, teaching them to fly a whirlwind spinner. There's a rare smile from him as the wind blows as well. I guess Shotaro is more good with kids than he thought as in ep. 5-6 and it was more of the case of him not being good to tell (harsh) truths (as he's like that to Akiko too)? Shotaro was there due to actually waiting for Yukie, and figures out that Yukie spent her childhood there with Kirihiko and used W to cancel the land development project Saeko held, which apparently is going to take over her former school. If Saeko (or rather, Takamura/Anomalocaris) would be hellbent to keep her land (Dopant base, until Takamura's failure anyway) for your needs, then Saeko got a taste of others who'd be hellbent to keep their cherished land if she wants to take them herself. Although Yukie admits Shotaro's skills as a detective, she's still standoffish about this talk, strolling away, even brushing off said landlady. In the Museum, Wakana again teases Saeko for her presumed sentimentality to Nazca Memory despite her cold front, before Isaka claims that being hard to move on from the past is human trait. Isaka offers to experiment on Wakana again, but obviously Wakana flees, putting a happy facade. Isaka reveals that Yukie doesn't experience negative side effects despite not using a Driver which are benefical for offense and defense, which is fascinating for Isaka and he convinces Saeko to hire her, using it as a chance to improve Saeko's body for her goal.

Shotaro follows after Yukie, who does have cold detached traits to treat Shotaro's insistence to solve the case as foolish. A reminder that despite that she may actually love her big brother, she's still not a good person in general now. Shotaro questioned her decision to join Museum, especially as he tells her that Kirihiko eventually put his life on line to protect kids, he loved Fuuto like Shotaro. Shotaro suspects her as being the same too with her defending the past (daycare center, still put other people at risk too) and the drawing he got from the landlady showing her and Kirihiko. Yukie is fed up with Shotaro and his do-gooder antics, and due to him talking about the past, Yukie uses her Yesterday powers to make him relieve the past as an excuse to finish him off. Shotaro henshins as W, and as Yesterday escapes, he holds her with LunaJoker, but Yesterday once again exploits Shotaro's goodness by raining the whole city with Yesterday brands, and W is forced to let go of her to destroy those brands with LunaTrigger's homing blasts. Yukie escapes to directly confront Saeko and Isaka, with the former forcing her to swear loyalty to Museum and the latter offering Memories stronger than Yesterday, with his many Living Connectors as the proof. Yukie shakes her hand with Saeko to make a deal, but not without her changing into Yesterday in the blink of an eye and putting hourglass mark on her. Yukie's motive is really to avenge Kirihiko, and her method is letting the opponent's guard down. This reverse mole act, something similar to what Utsumi did to Evolt after Namba's death is kinda already obvious since the beginning of the episode with the flashbacks, and I think the part veers into more generic part despite at first it attempts to subvert the generic approach (the cast assumes she wants to avenge Kirihiko, which she denies, but it's actually the case), would like to see a different approach of a (killed) loved ones as a stepping stone to ascend instead of a fuel for revenge (already done multiple times like in Terui and Aya), and/or likely the reaction if she's doing worse than Kirihiko or such.

She's not necessarily good just because of her target being the ruthless Museum, as in the next day Akiko pointed out that it's terrible of her to spread Yesterday brands, albeit Shotaro still assumes that she limited herself so that W can intercept all the brand and that it's merely a distraction, but Shotaro's someone who puts his complete faith and trust in any clients regardless of their nature. Turns out Yukie is there too, confirming that she's after revenge from the beginning, and indeed Shotaro's deduction is right, that her bloodied scarf that she gave to Kirihiko as engagement present. But it's not her actually confessing to the cast, instead she's... under the effect of her own power, shown in the Yesterday brand in her body. Weather arrives to reveal that the Yesterday brand won't work on Saeko, due to Isaka's enhancement, and she sends back the Yesterday brand as Taboo to Yukie. Yukie changes into Yesterday to fight, thinking that she's fighting Saeko. Shotaro and Phillip henshin into W to fight Weather, but Accel also comes, still insisting to take on Weather alone, though this time it's benefical as W can deal with the still thrashing around Yesterday. A glimpse of her other motive is shown as she declares that she'd take Saeko down for the sake of Fuuto, like what Kirihiko wants. At least she takes a good example of her brother, having noble means even if she'd employ underhanded tactics. W uses Xtreme and its battle analyzing capabilities on Yesterday to free her from the influence of the brand with Prism Break. As Weather and Accel's fight continues, Weather is sick of Accel now as well due to his distaste of reminisching (and Accel's revenge would relate to the past), the hatred between them is now mutual. As Weather tries to burn Accel by choking him, Xtreme interferes, and his power is too much even for Weather, as he can shrug off Weather's blasts without the Prism Bicker's shield. Xtreme can deliver energy punches as well. Xtreme uses his kick Maximum Drive, Double Xtreme, which levitates him with a tornado before a dropkick to the target with the green wind. Though the tornado is grander than Joker Extreme, the finisher is less unique than CycloneJoker's, though obviously Xtreme can't split into 2 as there's white band in middle, but I'd wish that the tornado isn't just aesthetic. To Accel's.. relief, Xtreme didn't actually finish off Weather, as it was only an illusion, but Weather is still hurt by the attack, and acknowledges Xtreme's power before escaping by using lightnings as distraction. Yukie wakes up, and acknowledges that seeknig help from Narumi Detective Agency was a right move like Kirihiko said, but suddenly forgets about the cast, which Shotaro claims as the side-effect of Yesterday Memory, treating as it being figuratively the end of her revenge as her past is wiped clean, but is hoping for her to atone for her crimes when she can regain her past. Akiko's coffee is now terrible as Shotaro and Phillip spits it out, in contrast to the last one despite her insistence to time the drippings. Would wish for the man she fancies Terui to try that one as well.