I guess that's not too surprising if the last time you watched a show was over a decade ago? Assuming you haven't gone back to it since it aired, anyway. I've definitely rewatched a few Rider shows myself, with less of a gap than that, and still been surprised to see some story again that basically completely slipped my mind.

She does a great job in these ones! And really, seeing her here also makes me appreciate more in retrospect what a great job she did in Den-O too.

Something like Rinko showing up with info on Takagi is 100% there more for narrative convenience than for actual dramatic purposes, but also, like, I think that's entirely fair? You can broadly assume how she might've learned everything she did, and spending time answering that question would arguably distract from the real drama going on, whereas glossing over it makes *more* time for the characters and the conflicts that are meant to be at the center of the plot.

Until I rewatched W last year, Fourze was the only Neo Heisei show I?d watched again since it originally aired.

https://i.imgur.com/YBjPWhS.gif

Fun fact: This was one of the first Kamen Rider scenes I ever saw; back when the friend who I watch most of these shows with was trying really hard to get me into the franchise.

Oh how ironic it was when we finally watched Wizard, and this two-parter became his most hated in the entire show.

And while I myself come out of it mostly neutral, I don't entirely blame him?

Like, look, I'm not here to preach morality to anyone or anything, but the way the episodes flow, some might find it hard t not be totally on Manami's' side here. And for a show that's all about hope and redemption, the ending kinda comes across as really cruel?

It's probably due to subs, but the way Manami ends up having to go to jail, one could easily interpret it not as her turning herself in, but that Rinko was going to arrest her despite everything anyway. And even ignoring that, Haruto doesn't bother to tell Manami that there's no need for that, given that Manami has clearly learned her lesson in all this.

And that's not even getting into the real world context of how society tends to treat convicts, reformed or not. But again, not here to dive into morality and whatnot. So like, please don't.

On a personal note, perhaps it's me reading too much into things, but the impression I got about Manami wanting to buy the house was less about the house itself and more wanting her family to come back. We never get confirmation that her parents are dead, just that they're not currently in her life. And, sure, you could say that buying the house won't bring them back, but the entire situation being left ambiguous as it is means no hard confirmations nor any solid argument that Haruto can make to make the situation any better.

Finally, even worse than all of that...!

These episodes feature what might be my biggest pet peeve when it comes to subtitles. I really don't like when subbers translate "Yo" as "Sup" or some variant thereof. Atleast in my neck of the woods, "Yo" is still a phrase you can hear somewhat often, whereas "Sup" was only popular for a few years and is now very rarely ever said. You'd be more successful listening for anyone saying the full phrase of "What's up?" than the shorthand.

So, yeah. I myself wouldn't call this the definitive Wizard story, and in terms of physical objects holding sentimental value, I feel like there's a later set of episodes that does the concept much better.

I mean, you can interpret it that way, in the sense that as a human being with free will, nobody can stop you from viewing the narrative how you want, but that definitely seems like the most deliberately bad faith reading possible of what was happening in the episode?

I mention this a tiny bit in that post, but the script is written is a way often uses a light touch rather than being super direct about everything, which means it's a story that definitely gives the viewer room to interpret the exact specifics in whatever way they please. I'm not really sure why in a situation where a viewer has that freedom, they'd actively decide to pick the version of the story they like the least? The ambiguity that makes room to be upset about Manami going to jail is the same ambiguity that allows a person to imagine she ultimately didn't.

I mean, yes, but at the same time, being direct helps to remove doubt. Sometimes being unsubtle/unambiguous is the better play, ya know?

Probably in a lot of cases, sure, but I definitely don't feel like that's Wizard's vibe? I guess I'll have to see again as I go back through the show, but -- as you can imagine from me using the word "definitive" to describe these two -- I've always had it in my head that subtle and/or somewhat ambiguous storytelling is part of what I love about Wizard -- something I associate with it -- and even that the show refusing to beat the viewer over the head too much with what's going on is part of the reason a lot of viewers come away thinking of it as a series where not much happens at all.

Although that's also exactly the kind of sweeping broad statement I'm consciously trying to avoid making this early into this, so for all I know, I won't feel the same way at all by the time this is over.

Tbh I feel that works better? Cause assuming the parents are dead, it's a pretty melancholic ending, Manami doing her damndest to get that slight bit of comfort from back when she was happy, knowing it won't bring anyone back but it'd hopefully soothe her heart. Personally, my experiences with losing family and eventually a house made me feel more in pain as I was constantly reminded of what I had lost and only started to move on when I found my own place after a year, the ambiguity could have mean Manami's struggle against her own despair is long on going, but she'll at least have the comfort of when she was happy, like how I'm still a fan of stuff I liked as a kid. You can get that interpretation, but at the same time, I don't think the target audience could really get that unless they experience it themselves which christ I hope they don't have to

Another humanizing trait that Haruto shares with Ace, he's naturally a cool guy but when he tries to be cool, he becomes ridiculous (sans the forced animal metaphors, thankfully). The way Shiraishi exaggerates his usual performance while trying to impress a girl is humorous to watch and I agree that this episode makes clear that it's okay to laugh at Haruto sometimes.

I guess squares aren't as flexible for suit design as circles, triangles and rhombuses. But that's also appropriate for the land element, non-malleable and immovable, so it ends up working anyway. The motifs are limited to shapes and elements added to the same stylish black base suit, so it's pretty easy to make a good-looking suit with that recipe.

Makes sense that Wizard seldom fistfights outside of Land Style, since doing that with those large rings equipped seems like it would weaken the impact.

Same for EX-Aid, who has Fujita for the chubby Level 1 (which is weird since I'm pretty sure he's slimmer than Takaiwa) and of course Watanabe for the klutzy doctor green Level XX since Takaiwa is the genius gamer orange one.

Wizard is a true hero who values human life unconditionally. Even if Manami doesn't deserve being saved, she deserves the chance to find hope and change her ways, so Wizard will always fight to save a life in danger and guide criminals like Manami towards a better future.

:lol

Manami was so desperate to reclaim her house that she became the same evil that took it from her to start with. Haruto teaches her a good moral about the importance of not losing yourself in pursuit of a goal, or else the sentimentality will end up tainted. I like the show's pacing here as well, using the parallel to Manami to bring up Haruto's past in a way that will soon become relevant.

Reminds me of Rinne saying something like this in Gotchard Episode 4. While Haruto doesn't have the social aptitude that Houtarou does, it's interesting that the outcome is the same, as Haruto shows Manami his disapproval with his feelings rather than tactful sympathy. Honestly, I'd probably handle this situation like Haruto as well, since I'm usually pretty blunt when I feel strongly about something.

And Yamagata's kindness shows Manami that not all rich people are uncaring opportunists who take advantage of the poor. So Manami has learned a lot of important wisdom by the end of this arc, which she can put to good use after she's atoned for her crimes.

Agreed. Making this message more widespread and accessible outside of this forum is essential for reaching those people. Not just the haters, but also the undecided and indifferent who would be easiest to persuade.

It's annoying that many people think that pretentious edgy Yaguruma replacing her was an improvement, when this actually diminished my enjoyment of the show.

Then they should be complaining about the Sabbat or Wiseman, the catalyst for the limit on Koyomi's abilities. It's pointless to blame Koyomi for problems that she literally cannot control. As long as the in-universe explanation makes consistent logical sense within the narrative (looking at you Ikki memory loss), then it's pointless to blame the staff either. Anything else that happens in the plot is basically just personal preference, but some people can't think critically and will make out like it's an objective fault.

Incoming despair.

Hope is the power to believe in an uncertain future. If you remove doubt, then you remove hope. And that would not be this show.

Yeah, the target audience should definitely be kept in mind when it comes to these things as well. Keeping everything as one giant shrug probably isn't exactly going to inspire alot of Hope in kids.

Sorry you had to go through all that, by the way.

Except that there's a difference between Hope and Blind Hope. And Wizard tends to gun for the former more than the latter. And when it does do the latter it's usually in regards to punishing the idea; Like with Shunpei's' debut.

Yes, Hope is often derived from not being 100% certain of something, but at the same time, people often tend to have a basis for why exactly they're hopeful in the first place. Very rarely is it just Hope for the sake of it. Meanwhile with these episodes, the narrative kinda just shrugs and goes "Eh, it'll work out, maybe. Eventually." And that's not exactly going to inspire Hope in everyone who watches it.

Slimmer and shorter, which is presumably the relevance to playing the shorter version of Ex-Aid.

I guess that's just how strong the comedy in these ones is, that I've seen multiple people over the years share just that part of the scene as though Haruto's second line is the joke, because it's already funny by that point, even though that's still only the setup to the real punchline.

I feel like you're maybe getting a bit distracted from what the actual conflict of the story for Manami is? I think a huge part of the reason Koumura didn't feel the need to provide clear answers to questions like what exactly happened to Manami's family or what exactly atonement is going to involve for her is that those are things that are sorta beside the point?

Regardless of what you fill in those blanks with, nothing about the larger message of the narrative changes. Regardless of her specific motivations, Manami still begins the story trapped in a criminal lifestyle she herself would rather not be living. Regardless of how the situation with the house ultimately turns out, Manami finds tangible hope in the realization that her present is more important than her past. Regardless of how specifically she makes amends, her victory is in resolving to live in that present.