I'm kinda glad that Aguilera, although leaving Deadmans, she's still not tamed in the slightest. While she had gotten tons of sympathy for her condition before, she was still never a good person yet, and her instance of 'helping' the Igarashis was still about her goal of bringing forth of Giff in the world by taking Giff ViStamp. She's still as bitchy, bratty, and haughty as ever in interacting with others. The preview is about her lashing out for some reason (with Tamaki still speculating about her actions, likely about time he's not used as mere comic relief punching bag...). And as a fellow 'militaristic' organization and martial artist, yeah, gotta show off the capabilities and actions of Weekend's members too, like Hikaru here trying to protect Sakura, other than just monologuing in their HQ. About time, after nonending persuasion of inviting Sakura. Comedic bit for Sakura getting caught in the illusion and have her fighting Amahiko instead.

And regarding the soccer flashback, Vice is again, nice to Ikki like his current character after development despite that it's past, and he's now already an adult. He (ab)used his contract to help him as he apologized for that too. Still contrasting to Vice's portrayal to earlier series where Vice is vicious and selfish, and takes forever for him to half-heartedly apologize to Ikki, unlike that soccer flashback.

About the final fight with Rafflesia Deadman, I think that Revice's fight is done better here, than his debut fighting Olteca as Anomalocaris Deadman. So his element powers make sense now, his ability in Jack Revice was only the preview, Revice retrained that and is used to a greater effect here than previously as Jack Revice, namely to buff Holy Live a bunch of times. His finisher here is also one of the better ones to make use of the element paintings as a tornado that surrounds the enemy, so much power would be gathered, though a bit disappointing that Revice didn't go through all the marks. Probably quite clear that Olteca as Anomalocaris Deadman was far from the best of what Giff can do if a Phase 1 seems to take more effort to beat here.

Jiko's character seem to be ignored entirely in the last episode, that he just seems to be different in the flashback as well as he got reunited with Ikki later, compared to how cold he was in the last episode. In the past, of which Ikki's incident was kinda expected, about standard soccer stuff of him pulling a red card move by sliding and injuring Jiko in the process, thus hospitalizing him and ends his soccer career. But in the flashback Jiko, albeit he mourns his fate by crying outside of Ikki's sight, he was accepting of Ikki's mistake and remorse, and encourages him to keep going instead as their promise. I know that Ikki forgot his promise for now until Subaru resolves it in an extreme way, but it wasn't touched upon regarding Jiko's personality difference here and before. I mean I can speculate about forgetting the promise being the one that sends Jiko to edge rather than Ikki injuring him, or that Jiko played along with Subaru's schemes to get Ikki to remember, but that's not just speculation and won't fix the writing issue here.

Otherwise, I guess his conflict with Jiko is just a setup for a real Ikki plot, about answering his disappearence from the photos. Jiko is just one instance on how he loses his memories. I do think that it'd be an intriguing idea to have Ikki's punishment is something akin to damnatio memoriae (erasing all records of someone's existence), which can be also applied as a form of punishment in real life, but the explanation from Vice is about is about Ikki forgetting his family? Rather than for example, others forgetting Ikki? If it's about Ikki feeling as if he's nonexistent in the world, then it should be about others forgetting Ikki. If everyone still remembers Ikki with him forgetting, then there's still better chance of Ikki reuniting with the family, as the family won't ever leave him of course. If Ikki being the one who forgets and likely would have no way to recover his memories then it'd be may be harder.

The real culprit here, Subaru himself, for him here I'd appreciate his handling better than, for example ep. 23 before about everyone hiding their true feelings and getting condoned. Subaru does explain himself here and his explanation was clear, about using Rafflesia Deadman to resolve things between his pupils, and trying to use safer Deadmans as well, but as Ikki pointed out, he's still doing criminal stuff and has caused damage in the attacks, and Subaru admits he's wrong as well, albeit trying to not run away. So for this one, Subaru is put in the wrong here, while he genuinely cares about his pupils and want to resolve things he's still an extremist in his approach, though Giff also made it worse as Subaru told others with Rafflesia becoming deadlier and more uncontrollable.

I think the show makes it clear enough what's happening between Ikki and Jiiko. Jiiko saw Ikki giving up on their dream, and then Ikki rudely (albeit unintentionally) makes a thoughtless comment about Jiiko's former dream. It makes sense to me that Jiiko would think Ikki was being an asshole?

KAMEN RIDER REVICE EPISODE 32 - “LOSING THE PLACE YOU BELONG, THE QUEEN’S PRIDE”

https://kamenriderdie.com/images/kr/.../revice32a.png

Sakura and Aguilera! Hard to go wrong with that pairing at the heart of an episode.

Beyond the terrific chemistry the two actors have together, I like how this story is delving into a major theme of the show, which is how we need to be vulnerable as people; how we need to be honest and open with the people around us if we ever want to feel happy and fulfilled. The various Demons – Kagerou, Vice, Lovekov – are all expressions of the things inside our cast that they’d prefer not to deal with. Those parts, eventually, need to be brought into the light and treated with care and responsibility, or the characters are destined to live frustrating and unfulfilled lives.

So, hey, here’s Aguilera, desperately trying to live the life that she had before, even though it maybe was never worth living in the first place, but it’s all she’s ever known. She wants a final glorious battle with Sakura, because that would make everything in her life feel directed, warranted. The Queen Bee who’s defeated by a Kamen Rider is a fittingly tragic end for a regal monarch of evil; the girl who’s cast out from power and left to eke out a meager existence bereft of purpose or station is a humiliating finale.

It’s not a story that completely comes together here, though. Much like the last two-parter, Aguilera’s motivations and goals are kept irritatingly opaque, with only the arguably-accurate Tamaki to sketch in why Aguilera keeps randomly picking fights with a sympathetic Sakura. The idea that Aguilera is clinging to her tattered reputation makes sense, but there’s a specific outcome she’s after that is left just out of reach for the viewer. I mean, it’s a two-parter, we’ll get there, but it makes some of the fighting a little less impactful, emotionally.

Sakura’s side of things is given a little more spotlight, though, and that’s nice and clear. She wants to do right by Aguilera, but she’s imposing her own values and hopes, rather than trying to understand Aguilera’s specific dilemma. Like, offering Aguilera a gig scrubbing tubs alongside Tamaki?! TERRIBLE. INSULTING. That’s the wrong solution for a girl who was raised to believe she had a destiny, and now has nothing but scorn and pity. Sakura’s refusing to be vulnerable enough to let Aguilera lean on her, and even Lovekov knows that things are headed in the wrong direction.

Speaking of wrong directions! Oh boy, all of that Fenix stuff.

Akaishi is maybe my least-favorite Kamen Rider villain in recent memory. He’s so corny! He’s cackling maniacally in front of his troops, and everyone’s just like What Can You Do, back to work. It makes Akemi, George, and Daiji all look like helpless chumps (George acts like he’s nailed to his chair for this episode), and I’m not clear on why this dude gets to treat Fenix like his own personal Deadmans. It’s a very weird choice, writing and performing Akaishi in this way, and I’m not a fan.

Rest of this one worked okay for me, though. I’m looking forward to some clarity on Aguilera’s mindset in the conclusion of this two-parter, but I thought the kick-off installment was solid enough. Excited to see these two kids work out their problems!

https://kamenriderdie.com/images/kr/.../revice32b.png

Akaishi reminds me a lot of the dude from the tail end of Blade; the one who took over BOARD and wanted to turn himself into a monster. That is not a great benchmark to set for yourself.

But I will agree that any time Revice wants to focus its A-plot on Aguilera and Sakura it is 100% okay by me.

An episode where two people with a lot of subtext spend much of it fighting each other aired alongside the Donbrothers episode where two guys dating the same girl calmly and rationally discuss their relationships with her.

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...9D83BB582.jpeg

Also boy, the show sure made a big deal of Sakura going off on her own road, only to go back to Ikki really fast. The IRL reason of course, is that the writers changed their minds on the intended plot line for that route (that she’d become a revolutionary for Weekend, who’d come to blows with both of her brothers). But on the other hand, it turns out “ignoring the exact thing people want help with” in favour of offering them generic assistance runs in the family.

Karizaki: Hello, Professor Karizaki here, taking back the project I started, the Stamp Navi.

George: Hey, Daddy. I’ve been seeing this feature through to this point, so there’s no way you’re doing this without me.

Karizaki: If you insist. Anyway, let’s get around to discussing today’s Vistamp.

Tricera!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=S-V19EqXeE0&t=308s

Triple Horn! Tricky Battle! Tricera! Awaken! Three-horned Dinosaur!

Karizaki: With the aid of the latest weapons technology created by Namba Heavy Industries, Tricera Genome has a powerful charging attack that can break through anything.

George: Given that it announced “Awaken! Three-horned Dinosaur!”, I can guess what Legend you based this one on.

Karizaki: That’s right, I kept to your aesthetic. If it had been mine, this would’ve been based on Sharivan.

Desire Driver: Agito!

Shouichi: Henshin!

George: Kamen Rider Agito, the next stage in humanity’s evolution, manifesting in those with psychic powers. The current Agito, Shouichi Tsugami, awakened in the aftermath of his sister’s death.

“Awaken, that soul!”

Karizaki: The last good Rider.

George: What? Ryuki was right after him?

Karizaki: And that show sucked balls.

George: Just for that, the next new Rider I make, I’m giving him the Ryuki Vistamp. Talking of Vistamps, which Rider will use this one?

Karizaki: Well, given the factors involved, and which Riders are in need of additional abilities…

(Sakura pokes her head in)

Sakura: Please, he has a dead sister. You’re just going to give it to me.

George: You’re going to give it to Sakura.

Karizaki: (without hesitating) I’m going to give it to Sakura, alright? Are you happy?

Sakura: If it’ll help me save Aguilera’s soul, than yes.

Karizaki: Ah, we’ll have to leave that until the next instalment. We hope you enjoy that.

Random note: Some customiser on Twitter actually guessed that the Tricera Genome would be Agito-based months before this was announced. He even correctly guessed the phrase that would be used for the pun (though his pun was “Awaken Dino Soul!”)

I've been saving all my complaint energy for these two episodes. After a plot twist so absurd that it makes the Zeronos memory loss subplot look like a masterpiece, I was fast losing hope and I really needed to see a sign of improvement. But this is what Kinoshita comes up with.

Obviously, I don't like the premise, so I won't bother talking about that. I'll talk about the execution. While it's infuriating to see Sakura constantly toying with Aguilera's feelings of despair, which I'll have more to talk about next episode, the main reason I found this particular episode of the two so painful to watch was how much Tamaki gets punished for his earnest efforts to help. Being Tamaki is a thankless job. He's truly devoted to Aguilera, but he always has to compete with Sakura for attention, a battle he cannot win. And when he does manage to get a few seconds with her before Igarashi Invincible shows up, Aguilera treats him like dirt. Why would anybody want to watch Tamaki suffer like this over and over again? It's just depressing!

Okay, I'm glad we're actually on the same page about this part. While I don't understand why Aguilera is so obsessed with Sakura, I cared about her enough to accept that after all the suffering she endured, she at least deserves to get what she wants, that glorious final battle. Despite my own resentment towards Sakura, I can't imagine anybody else being the one to finish off Aguilera. The problem here is that Aguilera is a poor judge of character, as shown by her betrayed faith in Gif and Olteca, twice by the latter. Can she really depend on Sakura to honor her last wish?

I agree with your complaints that Akaishi is a lame villain, but your least favorite? I mean, one of the other villains in this show is a literal rock!

Que Bom!

He's a guy who -- in his first scene on the show -- shifted from Is He Evil to How Do People Not See He's Evil. It's incredibly weird to be in a phase of this show where Akaishi is openly murdering/kidnapping Fenix scientists, and Daiji and George are just, like, shaking their fists at him. Not how I would approach an antagonist role as either a writer or performer!

I'm okay with this? Weekend's her job; Ikki's her family. Sakura opting to get advice from the brother who cares about, after getting scolded by the organization she's skeptical of, that makes sense to me. She wasn't feuding with Ikki when she left, she just needed to have something outside her family as well. No reason for her not to bounce ideas off of her Kamen Rider brother that lives next door!

Ha ha, it's not great, no. I don't mind it a whole lot, though, honestly. Tamaki was never the most well-rounded character, even when the Giffamilia was a thing. He's devoted to Aguilera to a level that's creepy at points, but heartwarming at other points. He cares about Aguilera like a big sister, when she views him as a subject. The dynamic doesn't make him look cool, but I think it does make sense.

The show finally addresses on what the Igarashi family wants to do with Aguilera, as previously both Ikki and Sakura wanting to turn Aguilera back into human, but what Aguilera wants previously was to resurrect Giff, and as it's not what she's hoped for, she still had a not noble but different goal this time, to keep her pride as a former evil queen going by probably having herself go out as a powerful threat. Ikki's problem previously was about forcing what he thinks is good upon others, his busybodiness, of which he now asked Sakura if she's certain about turning Aguilera back into human, of which would not make her a threat anymore (if her evil queen pride is about being that).

Sakura also received some progression in how she had to come to terms with her hesitation, and weakness again, as it's something that power-ups Lovekov's influence on her and thus weakens her and eventually damaged her belt. I guess it makes more sense about how she can't henshin earlier, Lovekov's influence was preventing herself to henshin at the beginning, while here as Jeanne already she got forced out of it. But at the end she decides to act on her own and cleared her doubts that she'd do what Aguilera actually wants instead of forcing what she thinks to be right and 'sensible' for Aguilera by living as normal human.

And in this case. she's the one who insisted Ikki to turn Aguilera back as well, but she changed her mind later. The Weekend didn't do direct action here, but probably they also helped in making Sakura change her mind with Tasuke asking if human life would be compartible with Aguilera, and Masumi stating about how any choices can have their own regrets, as there’re risks to everything, and consequences for any decision you make.

Despite Aguilera leaving Deadmans, she retrains her bratty and haughty attitude, she still regularly gave Tamaki the cold shouder at best, her flashbacks of her time as a child being utilized to avoid his hug, and abuses him physically at worst. By this I never view Aguilera as 100% or close to it for "treating Tamaki well", she regularly abuses him just that at the end she would ensure he's not killed. IIRC there was a praise of how she cares for Tamaki (especially for ep. 23), and really I'm against it that it's ok for them to abuse someone as long as they don't end up dead (especially if you directly preserve them), again for schadenfreude comedy that usually happens between male and female in media ("she's just a tsundere to him!"). Regarding her backstory, so far here her backstory doesn't seem to be a tragic one, she had happy time as a child of the Deadman, though obviously being raised by them would give her warped worldview. The preview can leave her childhood, which seems to be the basis of her character not touched upon much, and it means another poorly handled thing of second-half Revice IMO ._.

Also I guess this confirms that Tamaki is fully redeemed now (at least for me who doubts it before with him having no power), as he now admits that what he and the other 2 did at Deadman before was unforgivable. And other than Aguilera and Sakura, he now gets along better with the other Igarashis too, in him cooking for dinner and is approved by Yukimi, and Ikki being concened about him when he looks after Aguilera. This part is kinda like Vice, of which though Yukimi chewed him out here, it was not out of her previous grudge but about underestimating the bond between Igarashi Family (of which what Vice would hope for now).

For you, Akaishi resembles Apollo Geist, so then it probably speaks for itself. For another part that seems to be in the center stage more Fenix, and here, after spending his time more in the backseat behind others for his dirty work, Akaishi finally directly committed a real evil deed, and it's an actually nasty one and kinda gives some interest to look for within Akaishi, he brutalizes Akemi, who investigates his schemes, directly along with revealing the Giff eye in his arm, and then sends Giftarians after her, with her fate currently unknown.

I guess this gave Akemi some comparison with Chigusa too, both are ladies who are a part of Fenix and watched its true nature via Akaishi talking about his schemes and are offed earlier than their significance would suggest, but Chigusa went rogue and ironically becomes someone no better than Fenix was by joining Olteca, while Akemi keeps her conscience and acted by investigating Fenix instead. I was at first a bit annoyed with Daiji's 'chivalrious' move towards Akemi before, but it seems that he's right this time.

In defense of the Sealing Stone, it's a very spooky rock.

It's also curvy and can be used as a convenient mirror. #NiceSealingStone :p