I think the Dandeliner and Tulip Hopper will play a more significant role in the show in the coming months (since releases for those items isn't till Jan/Feb). I still think we'll end up losing Kurokage though, which sucks, as he's my favorite.

People speculate a lot of the causes of Kurokage's absence in episode 1's opening. Just hope he isn't "gone" gone but more incapacitated and held captive.

Also, I like him too, hence why I ordered my Matsubokkuri Lock Seed :lol. Now if only it would show up before Christmas...

The majority of the episode, but mainly the fight at the end. It was all 'I'm sorry Micchy', 'be careful micchy', 'here let me steal the spotlight Micchy.'

But Mr skyward, Kouta is just looking out for his friend, after all he did almost die/get the stuffing beaten out of him and he just doesn't want the same to happen to Micchy.

Maybe so, but the whole point of Micchy is that he wants to show he can defend himself and the team, and most importantly, make himself visible to Mai. And I just feel that Kouta isn't giving him a chance. It'd certainly tick me off.

So maybe not a baby, but Kouta came across to me like an over protective mother, and personally I hope it begins to grate on Micchy and either cause him to flip and head down the dark path or at least get a bit more ballsy around Kouta. We've seen him put his foot down with Sid so it's not impossible. Guess I just like and find Micchy more interesting than Kouta, and just wish he'd have a chance to be potentially badass (Cus I loves kiwi arms!)

Kouta has no idea what Micchy's goals are, Micchy hasn't TOLD anyone why he wants to be a rider.

Besides, Micchy sucks at fighting, Kouta doesn't. And they had a plan. Kouta wasn't "stealing the spotlight" from Micchy. Where the hell was Mai in that battle four Micchy to show off to? Kouta said he'd handle the invess so Micchy could go after the others as per the plan.

You seem to have forgotten the plan. Being that Micchy is going to distract Zangetsu while Kouta tries to find answers fom the workers. Micchy is taking the risk, a risk Kouta thinks is even greater since his only experience with Zangetsu is nearly being killed. That's a lot of faith to put into someone you're supposedly crapping on. You seem to be letting your character bias fabricate cicumstances. If Kouta was as over-protective as you say, would he for an instant let Micchy go against Zangetsu? No.

Kouta trusts Micchy a great deal. In my opinion, far more than he should.

Me having a different opinion and my own interpretation is a real problem for you ain't it split =p

Micchy doesn't have to tell anyone, we know why, and my problem is that he also lets Kouta treat him that way.

DJ's show? She could easily see it on there. I'd like to think Micchy is smart enough to think of that (presumptious I know, but I like to over analyse and speculate =p) Kouta is also becoming a lot more competent in battle, there's every chance Micchy could have trained offscreen. Again, I just feel like he hasn't been given the chance to show it.

Technically.. The plan, although Micchy's idea, was conceived as a way to make sure Micchy didn't have to deal with Zangetsu. Either completely or at least not on his own. Now I'm just being pedantic =p Although wouldn't Kouta beating the invess technically be cheating in the game too? It'd be interesting to see if that has any repercussions later when/if the others find out. But yeah, I can see your point but for me, this episode Kouta just didn't let Micchy have his chance to shine like he should have; repping the team and getting a form change. Bias? Yes. But I also feel like there's greater story potential there too. =]

Or maybe I'm just having a conversation?

It really kills my enjoyment of discussions when people just don't want to discuss anything. They make claims without evidence, expect them to go unchallenged, then when they are, hide insults behind smilies.

Dissapointing.

Because that's his character. He's meek, unsure, and kind of insecure around some people. That's WHY he wants Mai to notice him, because nobody does. And it's his own damn fault. Maybe he should man up and take charge if he doesn't want to be shown up, huh? Use that bad CGI mechsuit himself?

Assuming he trains offscreen is kind of flimsy basis for this statement.

No, the entire plan is to DISTRACT Zangetsu, who attacked Gaim for no reason, so there's no reason to think he wouldn't attack Ryugen. The only chance Ryugen had was maybe Zangetsu wouldn't be able to fight multiple riders at once. The entire reaosn the game was created was to encounter Zangetsu.

Sorry for disappointing you man, 'll try and make our discussions better next episode then.

Wasn't Kouta apprehensive about Micchy leading this whole thing until Micchy convinced him there was no other way? And even then, Kouta sat in frustration knowing he couldn't jump in to help Micchy because it would give away that they have a hidden agenda. But as soon as the coast was clear, Kouta dove right in to help Micchy.

The continuing plot I see is that Micchy is the thinker while Kouta is the achiever and thus gets nearly all the credit and praise. That will eventually grate on anyone, so I am curious to see when Micchy snaps from Kouta getting all the praise and glory for doing exactly what Micchy told him to do.

This, for me, is slightly more likely given what we know of toku story telling. The "Is he alive or isn't he or is he just lost" story line has been dragged out a little too far to preserve the pacing of the idea that he was dead all along (for me at least). 10 episodes is a stretch, 5 would be more comfortable.

The continued concealment of the truth behind Yuuya's disappearance is what they're counting on really. Which makes me think they won't just pop the bubble of growing tension saying "he died ages ago move on". Kind of deflates the power of it, don't you think? No, I think he'll be brought up at least one more time perhaps in inves form if nothing else, then killed off. If that is after all his purpose in the story.

Then again this is only the 10th episode, plenty can happen yet.

I kind of want Yuuua to come back grizzled, changed from surviving alone in Helheim all this time, with a driver of his own. (Perhaps Dopant style, if not full on rider style, I'd take either.) Then again most people I want to become secondary riders don't. Case in point: Birth. There was that guy who was set up for ages. I came round to the idea, then BAM! Date, happened. But the story line did play out in the end soooo I was half and half really.