It depends though. I would rather have a reused plot line that is well written than a poorly written bs plot.

No, we did not. But Kamen Rider has to fill ~48 episodes ever year.

They're trying not to pigeonhole themselves by following one line of evolution, and if one seems to be either a dead end or drawing too much attention well... that what Chaser is/was for.

Me too.

My whole comment was based in the hypothetical situation were the plot of wizard is written good.

... Right, now I defintely need that TK Proto-Drive. To the internet!
(Also, they treated the reveal as such a big surprise... when it was pretty damn obvious...)

Still think this was mostly meant for the characters and not for the audience. Given how much obvious hints they made at it I dont believe they actually thought that noone would put it together.

I get that, and it was nice seeing Chase's reaction. I so want him to be redeemed...

After seeing Proto-Drive I want that too. Mainly because even as Proto-Drive he was still very similar in personality to Chaser, meaning he won't start being a lighthearted, joking hero once he get's his stuff back together. He will still be a butt, but at least one that isn’t controlled by the other Roidmudes.

My initial fear at the start of the show was that they would get rid of Mashine Chaser entirely and Chase would become a Kamen Rider with a completely different personality. From what it looks like now, he will get a new form and join the Riders against the Roidmudes, but he's still the same dude and I wouldn’t be surprised if he's still called Mashine Chaser.

Agreed. I can see him working to defeat the Roimude's by himself as 'atonement', not caring about anything but taking them out. Possibly with a new form, despite how badass the current suit looks.

Can I like Chase even though he's Leangle rehash? Because I do, and I don't quite know why. Maybe it's the cool suit.

Gou seems a little less jerky, and a lot more protective. I don't mind that.

Overall, while the Roidmudes are fairly underplayed over the slapstick routine and hard-boiled storylines, I don't mind it.