Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich (Post 779042)

Yeah, this is starting to come back to me a bit; I'm pretty sure I kinda hated these episodes? I've long resented Armed Hibiki for how it symbolizes Hibiki having all its unique flavor torn away, and if the episode it debuted in was this fun, it makes sense I'd have those feelings.

Because it is, admittedly, a very cool design in its own right, and for that matter, it was definitely part of the plan for the show even if certain Big Changes hadn't happened. Kurenai was already a deliberate ploy to appeal to kids, and Midori (who is not the same character as Hitomi!) specifically has a line of dialogue in one of the last pre-retool episodes mentioning how she's making Disc Animals that can turn into armor.

So I feel bad that I hate Armed Hibiki, but yeah, when the thing I remember most from the episode is the dumb gag leading into the ED playing (did you figure out who's playing Kogure yet?), it's maybe not a good sign?

Originally Posted by GrandComplete (Post 779043)

And here in lies my problem with Kiriya. His realationship with Asumu is incredibly one-sided with constantly mocking and antagonizing Asumu and Asumu just takes it. He dosen't get mad or anything he just feels bad slightly and that's it. There never really a boiling point for Asumu and it's likes if your going to subjegate both the character and audience with this crap. At least let be building to something. The only time I feel Kiriya antagonism works happens way later and even then I feel like writers backpeddled on that.

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die (Post 779044)

(thank you for the early tease)

Originally Posted by catwhowalks (Post 779054)

I've always thought that the usually power up forms thing actually made no sense for Hibiki in the first place. Both of the ones that Hibiki gets seem obviously tacked on because Toei insisted on it for toy sales.

Armed is probably the worse though. The entire concept of the Oni, is that they fight monsters through music. Having a sword that is just a sword and not some kind of musical instrument completely breaks that. It just goes completely contrary to the lore.

Originally Posted by Switchblade (Post 779060)

I am loving this thread tonight. :D

Also, say goodbye to Shounen Yo, Die. This special highlight performance was the last time the show will feature the closing theme before the finale. The opening is gone after this one, too. The show gets a new, terrible opening but the ending credits/theme are just gone.