Thanks to the creation of Azazel, we know Rasputin is totally the kind of guy who prefers to take prisoners. Makes sense with his goal of siphoning Earth's natural resources that he'd be against wasting potential assets. Humans can also be considered natural resources, in a dark way. Literally dark in Azazel's case. Based on Randy's conjecture about this, it seems pretty likely that the two mysterious people in Parallel World are the Bramasaktis, or at least a vision of them, which would explain why they know Reza's name.

Right, they're both villains and their rivalry is essentially, "who's the better villain?". If either one were eliminated, the survivor would compensate by committing even more evil deeds.

This was easily my least liked episode so far.

The main issue is pacing. This is two different episodes glued together and played at double speed, making for a sharp contrast of what the show has been up to now.

There's the defeat of Iron Mask, with Bima gaining the Blue Power Stone, and then there's the return of Azazel, which at first is framed though he became his own entity, but apparently not? Oh, this also qualifies as a recap episode too, for some reason.

And while the extended action sequences are cool and all, shoving these two things back to back together not only doesn't allow much in the way of breathing room, but also in turn removes a key element from BIMA; And that's the introspection that came with nearly every step forward in the plot. The very brief conversation with Randy doesn't even qualify.

We never learn what exactly Iron Mask's' deal was. There's no period where Ray has to learn how to best utilize his new powers, and the bout against Azazel is almost entirely just that, a fight. Very little room is left for exploration or discussion. Both of the big events of this episode should be treated as major deals, but they're just glanced over for the sake of more fights, and that's a real shame in my book.

Also, they direct Ray to start having a deeper voice whenever he's Bima now, which is such an out of nowhere thing to do this late into things. I found it very unnatural sounding and distracting.

Just... yeah. It's not like this episode is outright awful or anything, but I wasn't much a fan of just how much it stood against the signature style BIMA had been going with up to this point.

So this displays the standard human traits of how, your loved ones being targeted will enrage them the most, among all the VUDO targets. Megalodon Monster would be more human version of Kamen Rider Abyss' Contract Monster. And now Ray reveals his identity towards Rena as Bima, using how "mochi gembul" is the only thing Ray would say as a family member. And the flashback seems to show that it's actually the adopted kid ("outsider") teasing the blood family here.

As Taranis doesn't seem to have abilities like Bima Blue Storm or Red Fire, I'd think it seems unnecessary to fold it into only a blade, using it in the "bow" mode will give more range to figtht.

Yeah, that's one of the surprising things in this series of the ship being blown up by Topeng Besi.

True, but I meant that, this should be remembered into many other clashes as well. Even including the parties with lesser evil, of which they're still evil (lesser evil after all).

Feels like the plot of Episode 16 was too small to fit two episodes yet too big to fit one and this is the result for Episode 17. An awesome climax at the start, followed by.... Stuff that I mostly forgot. So yeah, let's talk about that climactic fight between Bima and Topeng Besi, I guess.

In case you needed another reason for why Helios is half blue and half wind elemental, now we have Bima using Power Stone Biru in his new left gauntlet claw. Merah and Biru have special synergy that can gradually bring out more potential in Helios. Wind helps fire to spread and fire helps wind to rise.

But if the enemy manages to evade Taranis' ranged attacks and get too close, then switching to blade mode would be a practical choice.

It actually does. Black Thunder, which is its equivalent to Helios' Red Fire.

That makes alot sense. Not sure if that was the plan from the getgo, but either way, it ended up really working out.

I feel like even if I hadn't been told that there was a writer change, that I would've gotten the feeling of there being one once this episode hit.

It has alot of the usual telltale signs of such: The quick shooing out of old characters for new ones, the overall air and pacing being much different from the pre-established style, and a hard left turn in terms of plot focus.

Now, granted, BIMA's' already existing elements do lend itself to these things a bit more than most other Toku shows, what with the importance of the Power Stones already having been established and how there's only so many episodes of the show left, but even so, it's all there.

That being said... I did overall like this episode for what it was!

Don't get me wrong, the soap opera elements getting extremely downplayed for the sake of standard Toku high energy is a shame for me, as I rather liked BIMA's' signature style up to now. But, accepting the situation for what it is, I do still like the more standard Tokusatsu energy, and I really liked what they brought to the climax of the episode.

I think it helps that when it comes to Shadow Crisis, they started off with the Zacros Monster, wielder of the Purple Power Stone and my favorite design of the four. Not only does him being an illusionist make for some really cool imagery and a unique fighting style, but the guy just has some great charisma in not only how he presents himself, but also in how, while he does have a job to do in getting the Stones back, he also gets his jollies in messing with Ray's head.

Would I have preferred the change to have not happened? Yeah, most likely. Especially given the new style means less overall character focus. But if the rest of the show is as fun as the last third of this episode was? I think I'll still be in for a good time.

Yeah, I guess this part would be when Topeng Besi raises his threatening level a bit, after feeling that the MOTW put a better fight than the 2nd in command. Not that Topeng Besi was curbstomped before, but still.

The foreshadowing before of how Mikhail is the only one who can transfer his blood to Ray leads to this, that this is actually Secret Siblings revealation. With Ray's younger brother being named Reza, some also has nicknamed him overall, "Rezazel".

I find that to be a pretty funny nickname, not gonna lie. Though I suppose it's better than "Azazeza"

You have no idea how tempted I was to just make the thumbnail the Reverse Uno card.

Because it was such a fun turnabout, this episode. Not only in Bima threatening to rip out Zacros' Power Stone, but also in outright denying his notion that family and bonds amongst people are worthless.

Randy being the biggest surprise though, with him being more than willing to throw down in order to save Rena.

I'm really gonna miss Zacros though, as he's easily become my favorite of the Monsters in BIMA. Not only do his powers lend to some really creative energy and visuals throughout this two-parter, but the way the guy carried himself was really charismatic to me.

But uh, that said, Bima forgetting to claim the Purple Power Stone after his victory is a bit of a shame. Was really looking forward to seeing what new power and/or weapon that he'd gain after obtaining it. Though the prospect of Rasputin specifically filling them with hatred makes for a rather interesting plot hook, which I assume ties into the Grand Gator talked about last episode.

But yeah, the action, combined with the theme of how having those that love and support you can help get you through the toughest of times made for a very fun sit. Yeah, I'll forever be disappointed that alot of what was previously established in this show will now never be properly followed up on, but if the rest of the show manages to be anywhere near as fun as the majority of these last two episodes were, I think it'll make for it, in its own way.

And with that, I must now announce that updates to this thread will be going on a short hiatus, as I'm actually going on vacation tomorrow! So yeah, no episode posts for about a week, but I'll still of course respond to anything you guys have to say.