The only way Kamen Riders know we love them -- and choose not to punish us -- is if we keep buying merch.

Interesting! Thanks for the possible context!

Yeah, this is basically your standard stage show, but with a slightly bigger budget. Though compared to some I’ve seen or read about (there’s a whole category on the wiki for stageshow monsters), this seems remarkably tame in terms of plot.

I had never actually watched this until yesterday.

I think it was because I could never even find any raws for these things until like waaay after they apparently came out? Honestly, I'm only sort of sure what they are either, but yes, virtual stage show is about right, and honestly... I think that's pretty adorable? And I don't mean that in a patronizing way or anything. This is such a very specific, very Saber thing to exist, right at the end of 2020, that, considered in the whole context of why it (probably?) exists, it's a little neat. I'm not sure if it'll be as neat when there's like a bunch of them continuing even into Revice, apparently, but I appreciate the novelty of a little blue-screen dramatic skit where viewers like you get to literally be the extras who help Saber save the day. (And indeed, on the subjects of "why it's like this" and "what it's for", giving TTFC subscribers a chance to send in videos to be in a Kamen Rider thing seems to be the primary gimmick.)

Well there's only so much focus they can fit in an episode already filled with so much content. Sure, the focus is on Kamijo's betrayal here, but the window is still open to eventually learn more about the Megid trio, other than just being evil book gangsters.

Also, uh, "drug money"? 0_o

This is the first time we get to see Ren's dark side, as he tries to cut Mei, a civilian, to get to Touma. It's not like there wasn't enough time to abort the attack, Ren just didn't give a damn about Mei. Even if a Swordsman declared traitor is a fair target, I doubt SOL can justify any of their Swordsmen cutting civilians who get in the way. Good thing Yuri was there or else it could've been a lot worse.

Rintarou's in a difficult position as well, since this isn't just a blasphemy against the faceless organisation, this is Rintarou's family that Touma's accusing. Regardless of whether Rintarou sides with SOL or Team Saber, he still has to take a side in that family and be prepared to fight people he cares about. Poor guy only recently picked himself up after losing Kento and now he has to deal with the fear of losing another.

Touma was right and brave to stand up for himself and trust his gut that SOL was out to get him, but with Reika leveraging everything she can about the historical correlation of "Saber + big book = betrayal", it's even more sad that this painful conflict between friends had to happen.

Yuri is an enjoyable character though. After Lazer became the first Bike Rider (excluding form change like Accel), Saikou became the first Sword Rider! As all Swordsmen are named after a word relating to swords, Saikou, a Seiken Sword rather than a Swordsman, is of course named after.... Himself!

Personally, I think TV-Nihon's "prodigious" is the most prodigious way to translate that phrase. It's a word seldom used in casual speech, which makes Yuri sound more like a man of his age.

You're right. Okay, I guess I should've called them mild antivillains instead. Even though their actions benefit only themselves at the expense of everybody else, I think the fact that they do have a (twisted) sense of morality might be barely enough to qualify.

Now I wish there was a comedic scene like the montage of Robo Knight asking about emotions. Like, Reika passes by Ren as he's training with a creepy smile on his face and flatly comments, "I don't need to persuade this guy."

I cannot take that word seriously. A bad Legion of Super-Heroes comic from the 90s permanently ruined it for me.

I'll get back to everyone else soon, but I have to call out this insane deep-cut reference to Jamm, from a terrible Bloodlines tie-in Legion Annual. Thank you, and get out of my brain.

Huh, obscure reference.

Because my mind immediately wanders to Digimon when I hear the word prodigious.

Yes, this is a small optional filler created on the principle of "rider + monster + new beauty for each episode +/- extra guests." Nevertheless, the story itself seemed to me very sincere, Saber, even without Toma, remains Saber and the Grasshopper revealed himself as a villain much brighter than in the main series. In addition, Toei should be commended for giving the audience the opportunity to participate without violating the quarantine. And scold them for not using it more often considering how many fans riders have outside of Japan. So I'm happy with this episode and the mini-series as a whole. Let him not tell anything new about our rider, but for that he allows him to be a hero, and this is always a plus.
Also, while I call this project a "optional filler", the rule I've already stated that all extra content is more important to Saber than to other shows applies to TTFC Theatre. In fact, I even envy you that you watch this show after it ends and therefore get to know this story in the order conceived by the creators (in general terms), and not imposed by external circumstances.

Your comic knowledge is incredible and a little horrifying Die.

Anyway Saber 16! I actually remember really loving this episode basically for the reasons stated already. Also I think I'll try to begin my rewatch here cause I am super behind.

I am so sorry that you?re able to understand that.