Three, three episodes.

I'm not saying one episode will ruin a series.
I'm just saying that a series/franchise having a multi year legacy won't protect it from getting cut if the higher ups keep making bad choices.
The worst problem that can happen to a 22 minute toy commercial? No one decides to watch it.

I stand by my rating of this, it was okay. I mean it kinda did nothing for the current plot, but it did help by focusing on Kaito more than we have been getting.

So? It's a great way to get kids to see these movies, and it's not like rider hasn't had filler before.

You seem to miss the main point.
It's not the filler's existence, it's the placement of it.

Cliffhanger ending on whether or not a main character died? Next episode is a movie ad.

^This. Damn it This. That's the exactly the damned problem and, if my memory works, that's what happened during Kikaider to.

Here's what I think: Will the target demographic really care? As far as I imagine, the majority of kids will just want to see their favorite riders fighting monsters and each other. As long as the action is good (I think it was excellent in this episode) nothing will change. On top of that, I personally doubt we'll get a solid answer to whether Takatora is really dead or not for another few episodes.

So just pretend that the show is on break. Because, really, it is.

This is my least-favorite episode so far, but it was entertaining.

I enjoyed the Kikaider episode, but watching this one now...maybe if I gave even the slightest damn about soccer I might have a tiny inkling of caring a little bit here but..well, it's freaking soccer. I think the only soccer related anything I like is Shaolin Soccer.

Okay, so I do respect how the show tried to tie this into the actual story and wasn't just full-on AU. And Kaito was pretty cool in this episode.

It was still stupid and pointless.