Ha ha, again, not quite how I'd describe a character (I feel like "Mary Sue" isn't really engaging with either the character or the story?), but I get that Sakura does not have 100% of the Kamen Rider fanbase on her side.

My problem isn't that Sakura's strong my problem is she on numerous times does things the show at one point or another demonstrates to be impossible

I am pretty sure you're describing heroism!

I think that is a good point but my issue with that episode is that we're told that if you sign an advanced level giff contract (BTW I HAVE ISSUES WITH GIFF TOO BUT WE'LL GET TO THOSE WHEN WE GET TO HIM, THE SECOND HALF OF THIS SHOW WAS ROUGH TO WATCH WEEKLY like it might be reccency bias but I genuinely think the second half of Revice(Save for the episode where Genta defeats Vali, I had the usual second half Revice problems with last episode but the fact we didn't have to put up with Akashi anymore made it all worth it) is worse than Ghost) and are defeated your dead or get turned into a Gifftarian(so still dead). Their are numerous times where Ikki and Daiji and Hiromi try and fail to do this. Sakura feels pitty for Hana and wants to save her so badly so she literally pulls a weapon out of her ass that let's her do this

So episode 43. Neither Akaishi or Karizaki Sr. were actually perma-dead last time, but this time, it seems to stick. Now normally, I’m not a fan of resurrecting bad guys with perfectly serviceable deaths to give them more generic deaths (see my thoughts on Hurricaneger 36-37, my thoughts on Go-Busters 43 and 47 whenever I get around to writing those up, and next episode of this show, when we get there). But given how anticlimactic Akaishi’s previous end was, I’m much happier to see Hikaru do a full Genomix to cripple him. Even if I wished that had killed him, rather than Daiji coming in to shoot him.

And before Karizaki Sr. dies, he adds a DIFFERENT retcon for George!s behaviour to the “just following orders” explanation. It’s about as popular (read: not at all) as the previous debut, especially since the idea that demons can be transferred like crypto has never been brought up before, and this seems like an even more blatant explanation for the sudden shift. Especially with Karizaki saying “It might’ve influenced George’s earlier behaviour”, even though that isn’t how any of the demons in this show, Igarashi-born or otherwise, have worked that way.

Ikki: It’s Ikki’s…

Vice: And Vice’s…

Both: Stamp Navi!

Ikki: And today’s stamp is this one!

Komodo Dragon!

https://youtube.com/watch?v=2MWqrQTkIyM

This World! Oh my God! This World’s Dragon! Komodo Dragon! If You Don’t Fight, You Won’t Be Alive!

Ikki: The Komodo Dragon Vistamp grants a Neo-Burst for the Demons System in the form of the Komodo Dragonic Heat, allowing for a burst of fire to be unleashed.

Vice: Jesus Christ! And I thought the Lion Vistamp was super hot.

George: Speaking of things that are “super hot”, today’s Legend is… this one.

Desire Driver: Ryuki!

Shinji: Henshin!

George: Kamen Rider Ryuki, Shinji Kido. A journalist who stumbled into the Rider Battle in the Mirror World and contracted with the monster Dragredder. He fought to end the battle once and for all, but only managed to make it worse by dragging it out. But he won out, as the whole thing was wiped from history when the Mirror World was closed.

“If you don’t fight, you won’t survive.”

Vice: Hmm, if the Mirror World was closed, then how come you know so much abou-? (Zoom out to reveal George is now dressed in 18th century styled clothing) What the? When did that happen?

(Enter Tsumuri, wearing a red and black Lolita dress, with her hair worn down)

Tsumuri: (presenting a pair of Mission Boxes, one Bikkuri, one Hatena, to Vice and Ikki) Congratulations. You’ve been accepted into the Desire Royale. Starting today, you’re a Kamen Rider.

Vice: B-but, your show hasn’t started yet. And we’re already Kamen Riders…

(But Ikki has already opened the mission box, and donned the…)

Desire Driver!

Ikki: I’m boiling up now. Henshin!

(He inserts his I/D Core)

Entry!

He transforms into a DGP Rider, with Revi Rex Genome’s usual head, sans teeth.

Ikki: Vice! You too.

Vice: (clearly confused and distressed) We’re not supposed to reference the Geats Movie War until we’re living it. (Takes his own Desire Driver out of his Bikkuri Box and inserts the I/D Core before donning it and taking out and inserting the Raise Buckle in the Hatena Mission Box) Let’s Henshin!

Monster! Ready, Fight!

Ikki: Right. Let’s do this. (He takes out and uses his own Raise Buckle to transform)

Beat! Ready? Fight!

Announcer: What will Ikki and Vice do with their new belts? What does this have to do with Ryuki? Find out in Kamen Rider Geats/Kamen Rider Revice: Movie Battle Royal, coming soon in this watch. But for now, we hope you enjoy the next instalment of Stamp Navi.

Yeah, there's a vague Sins Of The Father thing going on, but the fact that even the guy doing the confessing can't clearly articulate why this ever seemed like a good idea (A DEMON AS A PARTING GIFT?! WITH EVERYTHING YOU'RE GOING THROUGH WITH NOAH?!) renders this revelation more comedic than dramatic. At least it made me laugh?

Oh, and thanks for the fun skit! It was a real highlight!

Yeah I'd also consider her one of the best parental figure characters in the franchise. But still though, the non-mom female characters that has maternal traits...

Regarding the Karizakis, Masumi had spent most of his time trying to atone for what he did, and it seems that actually despite his constant self-depreciating, he had won the others' approval, like Aguilera (who Masumi forgot, was someone worse than him) for giving her a place, and even from Sakura too, who now see the good in him injecting Genta with Giff cells while Masumi still saw that as despicable, the opposite of their first encounter. Though of course it's because he hadn't tell others yet about what he considered his biggest sin (and probably it really is), of injecting his own demon into George, which claimed here to be influencing his personality. And probably his relationship with George is strained again though others would support George at his behest.

The explanation, man, now this seems like an asspull, because George has no supernatural indicator at his mad scientist days, and this created further plot hole that when and how George did lose Masumi's demon inside him (must be on the late 20s of Revice when he became an ally)? Granted, the previous explanation wasn't good either like him being 'forced' under Akaishi's will, when he gleefully throws everyone under the bus for his research instead of being someone like, Yua to Gai in Zero-One, but this is also contradicting to the previous explanation where this one implies George has no control, while previously George had control by being 'forced'.

So Deadman Aguilera had a competitor in whose the biggest Giff simp, Akaishi himself. He too, had his downfall being desperate for Giff's further assistance (slapped for Aguilera, contract terminated for Akaishi). Akaishi had been implied to be biased against Giff before, but it's now clear here that he's only serving Giff, fuck with anyone else. Like, if Giff wants him to keep humanity, then he does so like before, but if Giff wants to eradicate humanity as for now, then Akaishi would also do that. Akaishi's misantrophic and dunno if he wasn't fully agreeable with keeping humans before of which he sees as the real demon to his object of worship Giff.

His new form Gigademos doesn't really return him to his grace before, though it finally had Over Demons (other than Hikaru's training) showing its proper ability, in combining the Genomixes to overwhelm Gigademos. It's finally there, though after Demons (both base and Over) successor came in Destream. Perhaps what makes it inferior is about how utilizing its power takes the toll to the Rider and its user. Akaishi still held Daiji in high regard even when Daiji is killed, looking forward to his next moves. Actually that's something like Steven Armstrong too, to die, but still proud of finding who he can view as successor.

Daiji's still like before, Genta's word only made him conflicted to the extent, still not an instant step in bringing him back. Or it seems that his situation is irreversible even if he listened to Genta, that Kagerou had died. Him killing Akaishi is the same move as what he (attempted to) does to Ikki, offing anyone who can't save humanity. Only that Akaishi is a valid target unlike Ikki, but still doesn't mean Daiji is redeemed here, as he attempted to make a deal with Giff. He's an (anti-)villain killing another villain. And Giff himself doesn't seem to be much superior than Ultimate Revi/Vice too here! Hiromi once again, finally loses his cool and breaks down like at Wakabayashi's death, for Daiji's decision. Not much for Ikki here other than his memories losing again that he's apparently ok if others still remember him, and about him having big bro approach to Hikaru.

To be fair, this is just Daiji's take on the situation; whether or not Kagerou can be brought back seems like the sort of thing that would take actual investigation by an expert, rather than Daiji just deciding that Kagerou's gone for good. Daiji is not the most reliable judge of what's possible on this show!

KAMEN RIDER REVICE EPISODE 44 - “DEVOTING IT ALL, THE RESULTS OF HIS DETERMINATION”

https://kamenriderdie.com/images/kr/.../revice44a.png

If there’s a throughline to Daiji’s character, it’s his almost pathological inability to take responsibility for his actions. I could point out specific instances, but, like: we both watched this show. Nearly every Daiji storyline is shifting the blame onto someone else, or refusing to allow for alternate viewpoints, or doubling down on misguided choices until he’s pointing a revolver in his brother’s face. He’s a guy that can’t see why everyone is screaming at him to stop being such a screaming lunatic about things. He’s… he’s this, for virtually the entire second half of the series:

https://kamenriderdie.com/images/kr/revice/daiji.png

And yet, there’s something sort of charming about Daiji’s fragile ego and almost instinctual self-sabotage. He’s got all of Hiromi’s penchant for screwing up, but without the self-awareness and sheepish warmth that makes Hiromi such a lovable loser. (Hiromi's fan-favorite catchphrase, now retired, is all about how each fight almost killed him!) Daiji’s got a prickly dismissal of anything even approaching a good reason to stop being a weirdo, and his insistence on staying the course – even when the course is The Giant Monster Just Said He Was Definitely Going To Destroy All Of Humanity, That Is What You Are Agreeing To Assist – is one of the most infuriating aspects of this series. I love this show, and I love Daiji, but it’s a fair criticism at this point in the show. Daiji refuses to change.

But, yeah, I like that? I like Daiji getting to the deadest of dead ends and being completely bewildered about how to turn around. Like, that’s his one and only flaw, if you want to get back to it: Daiji doesn’t know how to say he screwed up. (And he studied under Hiromi! Hiromi screwed up teaching Daiji to be okay with screwing up! AMAZING. Hiromi!!!) Everything that comes after that initial mistake – killing Kagerou or joining Akaishi, take your pick – is just rationalizations to keep from having to own his mistake. He pushed away his family, when all they wanted him to do was admit he was wrong, because that’s impossible for him. They tried to give him space to figure things out on his own, but that only led to him digging a deeper hole.

So of course it’s a weepy Hiromi speech that turns Daiji towards self-analysis and admission of guilt. Hiromi’s a guy whose whole outlook is that he’ll screw up and try to do better next time, even if he technically hasn’t screwed up yet. He’s the guy that’s going to root for Daiji to acknowledge his error, because Hiromi knows that true strength comes from seeing your flaws, owning them, and using them for good.

As such: Kagerou.

Not a great episode, arc-plot wise (I do not want to talk about Giff this time), but a thrilling conclusion to Daiji’s series-long mental breakdown. I don’t know that I love the idea that Kagerou was waiting for Daiji to hit rock-bottom before giving him a hand up, but it’s a return delivered with so much charm and swagger that I sort of don’t want to be skeptical about it. I just want to appreciate this story of a boy who realized he needed the worst part of himself back, because the best part of himself wasn’t capable of compromise. The strength in Revice characters is all in weakness: Vice’s boisterousness, Lovekov’s cuteness, and Kagerou’s self-loathing. Daiji needs that to even himself out, just as his siblings need their own counterbalance. Kagerou’s disgust offsets Daiji’s conviction, creating a mindset where uncertainty is healthier than self-righteousness. Kagerou lets Daiji see where he’s going wrong, and that’s just as valuable as a new form change. (Which I do like!)

Can’t imagine this episode’s gonna be for everyone, because I remember the last few months of Daiji discussion, but I thought this one wrapped up his story in a nice, coherent way. A few odds and ends that I don’t care a ton about, or didn’t matter to the main plot – the death of Karizaki Sr! WHO CARES – but a very solid Daiji story that (I thought) successfully laid out his psychology, and firmly redeemed his character. I’m sure you’ll let me know if you disagree!

https://kamenriderdie.com/images/kr/.../revice44b.png

So, gonna comment on the last two at once.

First of all, I reiterate. What was their goal with Akaishi?

Because somehow he ended up the personal antagonist of two characters and it feels like no one noticed till his exit and they scrambled to give both closure and screws it up in the process.

Hikaru gets to beat him and fight him to take his revenge, but gets undercut by Daiji who skips all the interesting steps off beating him, his goal for pretty much half the show.

It’s maddening how this is the worst of both worlds.

As for Daiji‘s final to his arc.

Kagero? You do know this entire mess was YOUR idea? You can’t just show up again and complain Daiji took so long when this entire thing goes contrary to you last actions!

What a mess of an arc that feels like they shifted gears several times and the result is a character that’s both sevirly undercooked and massively overstuffed.

As for the George retcon, laughably bad. It raises so many questions, doesn’t really work as an excuse for what it’s meant to smoth over and just puts into question who George even is.

George was fine as a careless scientist and even if that kind of character has no room in the show, it’s just another sign of not planning things through.