Okay, first of all, I loved Aesir's commentary on the next episode title card. :lol

Second, I am officially over Micchy playing both sides. I want him to get exposed and I want it now. This shit is getting way too Faiz-y.

But yeah, this was a good episode. I liked the stuff with Takatora and the three-way battle was pretty cool. I was hoping to see Sid die or Micchy get unmasked, though; something to shake up the status quo we've been settling into with the characters.

I think that's pretty unavoidable. I kind of hate that Gaim is doing well enough that Toei keeps interrupting it to promote other projects.

I'm REALLY certain we are getting an Apple Lockseed at some point. That glowing fruit looked like an Apple.

Plus, not only is it a forbidden fruit, but Lord Overlord said "Fruit of Knowledge."

And if Agito ain't above heavy use of Judeo-Christian imagery...

Well I watched the episode and it was again pretty good. I loved learning more about the Overlords, and seeing how closly we got to see how "things will repeat again".

Now seeing the fight was great and seeing Baron swap the drivers was pretty great as well, makes me wish I were a Rider in their universe.

Now I guess that I'm sort of getting tired of these crossovers, but this Kikaider one better be good, or I'm just done. With crossovers.

This episode was dman near flawless except for two things:

1. Too many God damned sonic arrows, as usual. And 2. That horrid fight music when Zangetsu and Gaim fought.

But man, some serious revelations and forshadowing.

Please no.

Half-assed, hamfisted religious parallels is like anthrax to a good TV show.

^This. This right here I like.

Look, we all knew from day one that since they're making a show about fruits, a freaking apple, one of the most recognizable fruits, hasn't been used by anyone yet, it was going to be freaking important. Considering it's a golden apple like the Nordic myths, choosing to associate with only Christianity is your choice (as well as the AEsir subbers, who oddly enough choose not to go the Nordic route despite their group name).

God I love hearing Toki no Hana again, it's nice when the ending song for a Rider season actually plays during important moments, and isn't just taking up space on my iPhone.

There was tons of revelas this week, alongside with the introduction of the fruit that will most likely end up as the final upgrade, Takatora learning abou the failure of the Overlords plan was also a great moment.

Oh yeah, Kikaider's here, I wonder if he wouldn't fit better on ToQger.

Those previews for the Kikaider Reboot were more interesting than this whole episode. I think this is one of the closest things Gaim has had to filler, a lot was happening but not a whole lot was really gained. Meh. Probably one of the worst episodes in a while, only really saved by some decent action.

That might be because the Apple of Eden is more ingrained into Western culture than any other Forbidden Fruit, so having that come to mind is quite natural. It's sort of why Crispin Freeman likes talking about why the West has Superheroes and the East has Giant Robot Suits.

Apples have several different symbolisms in Human Culture. The Norse saw them as a source of Youth, eaten by the gods to keep them forever young (like how Lord Overlord remembers the fall of his civilization despite that happening AGES ago). But the Greeks had a particular Golden Apple of Discord, whose existance created one of the greatest wars of the ancient world. Kinda like how the Fruits of Helheim are causing this big Armored Rider war.
And if you don't really like people jumping into the Biblical Symbolism boat, some scholars suggest that the only reason it's considered the Apple of Eden is because Renaissance Artists just borrowed the imagery of an Apple fucking shit up from the Greek Apple of Discord. Genesis never said what type of fruit the Forbidden Fruit was...

Also, Genesis Driver. There HAS to be some reason for that beyond just "Because Fruit Series."