I liked this episode a lot, but I'm still partial to episode 9 for being a little less serious. The fight between Ryugen and Zangetsu was pretty cool, and showed the personalities of both the riders really well. And I guess that's the end of Kurocrantz and Gridonstern. I'd like to see more characterization for Gridon, especially after losing the controlling figure of Kurokage. I expect more to come later on in the series at least, so I'm not putting the show at fault.

That is fantastic.


But really, just another great episode and I can't say anything about it that hasn't been said already.

I do wonder though if Kouta and Michy will tell the other riders what's going hope. Going off the end of the end of the episode, I can definitely see Sid becoming an energy rider. His cover as a lock dealer is pretty much blown and it would be the most logical way to keep the character around and doing something purposeful.

It hasn't topped Fourze for me, because Fourze's friendship theme is extremely strong and its characters fleshed out, but there's a very real chance it will. This is pretty impressive for a show with only 11 episodes so far, and if they keep up the momentum, it'll definitely be my favourite show.

Gaim and OOO are the only 2 series I've followed to make me wait for more.

The show is already better than W for me and it's pretty even with Fourze.

Gaim is handling the story way better, but in terms of characters Fourze's were a little more fleshed out.

Simplicity was Fourze's greatest strength, it was less so that the characters were more fleshed out but there was less to the characters which means they could focus more on what they did have, to make them appear more three dimensional. I don't mean that in a bad way, I liked how they got across what each character was about very early on and then were able to just run with it.

Gaim's problem is that every character is almost too rich, with so many complex personalities and unique motivations to explore it almost feels like it's slowing down the character arcs because they have so much to do. I'm not complaining, I love how intricate the characters are but I'll always much prefer an approach to character like the one Fourze used.

At this point the show is leveling right out with my two other all time favorites, Ryuki & Den-O. Can't believe only 11 episodes in I feel this way but this show just keeps coming full force and doesn't stop for a damn thing!

I always have a hard time listing which are my favourites, because they're never my favourites for the same reasons.

I love W for the strong story, emotion, character arcs and just badass moments. I love Den-O for it's razor sharp wit and humour. I love OOO for a both those reasons, even if it doesn't surpass them in either regard. I love Gaim for being rock solid in every regard.

I... can't... CHOOSE.

I like Gaim quite a bit, but best Rider series ever? Nah, I can't go there yet. Not after only 11 episodes.

Even then, it will never be Hibiki. Or Black. Or Agito.

I'm still not sure where I rank Hibiki myself. It's off to a very strong start, but I think it is just a testament to the quality of the series (or at least the seasons that I've watched) that it becomes difficult to place them aside from the clear best and clear not best.

Ryuki being far and away my favorite season. Wizard being my least favorite, despite being what got me into the franchise.

Fourze was just plain fun, it was incredibly lighthearted but in a way that just made you feel good and that just kinda worked. It even managed some really good, genuinely sad moments.

W struck a nice balance and had some fantastic characters and interesting story arcs.

Hibiki has incredible cinematography, again some great characters that play off of each other wonderfully, and the use of sound and music just feels good to me.

Gaim is still ongoing and in the very early stages of its run, but the story seems to be at a point where it really can just go anywhere, the characters are great, with Bravo being my favorite rider since Zolda, and it actually makes its absurdity work. Doesn't hurt that aspects of it really remind me of Ryuki.

As with Split Lip, I like them all for some rather different reasons, with the primary similarity being the characters, and that just makes picking one over another tough.