I really think a lot of viewers overestimate the importance of the belt to women and characters in general.
Firstly, there are now more rider characters than civilian ones, so the belt is not of particular value.
Secondly: the fate of the tertiary rider, starting with Gills, is a series of suffering, and most often even without much reward in the final. In principle, Kento is a vivid example of this (if I don?t spoil the Saber finale).
Thirdly: the best female characters in the franchise were either not riders (Akari, Ozawa, Sawatari, Hirose, Akiko, the entire Fourze Rider Club), or they were loved for things not related to being a rider (I don?t think many here can name a favorite fight Poppy, right?)
And fourthly, no matter how ridiculous it may sound, for the first time we got a woman of a tertiary rider back in Faiz. In fact, it seems to me that at the beginning of the 2000s, the situation developed quite well for female riders, slowly, but in the right direction. And then something stalled on Kabuto.

I made Sokichi Shotaro’s dad for my adaptation, thus making Akiko Shotaro’s sister. XD

I think the main difference between them is that Ryouga is loyal to the letter of SOL, while Rintarou is loyal to the spirit of SOL. Ryouga follows orders without question, as he believes that Master Logos' will is inherently just and doubt is weakness. Rintarou was also conditioned by his upbringing to believe that, but as brought up in Surprise Future, it's a contradiction to think that having no doubt is the same as believing more. That's merely subservience. Rintarou's doubt gives meaning to his belief, since he cares about SOL for the principles it stands for and that makes his actions more honest.

I agree that some fault lies with the viewers who infer however they want through their own biases. We're probably all guilty of that, to varying extents. However, the work also has a responsibility to depict characters and morals carefully, to prevent spreading misconceptions about things that could be potentially harmful IRL (which I think Kinoshita is especially problematic for this). Of course, yeah, when it comes to deviant shippers, they're probably going to do it regardless, if they already have the bias for it. Nevertheless, the work inadvertently validating that behavior doesn't help though.

Yeah, my experience with the Neko episodes is kind of similar to what you're describing here. Like, what you said before about the Yeti episodes, where the best MOTW plots are those that impose a choice on their hosts, I think that's even more noticable here now that it's one of the main characters and one who is otherwise very proactive in how she forces herself in to SOL's business and proves to be an invaluable asset to the team. Honestly, how did Zooous even get in to the Northern Base infirmary to throw a book at her?!

Considering the prominent knight motif of Kamen Rider Saber, I guess it's not surprising that the stereotypical Save Princess From Castle trope would come up eventually, with Neko being the figurative castle. While it's definitely doing some smart things with Rintarou, like how he's approaching the task of saving Mei with the same obsession that Kento approached defeating Kamijo and how he's ignorant to how much Mei values his life that he considers so expendable. The downside is that Mei doesn't have much autonomy here. Not a totally bad episode, but yeah, could've been handled a little better.

Weirdly, the Nekomata episodes of Ninninjer were some of the worst in that show as well. I love cats, but damn, Tokusatsu's really trying to make me hate them sometimes. :p

I mean, would I like Mei to be a Rider? Sure, I was always hoping for MeiEspada to be a thing. But before being a Rider, I agree that it's more important to be a good character. Which is why, despite being the exception to the Reiwa Rider heroines, she's still my favorite. Being a Rider is more like a bonus, but what she contributes to SOL as the brave and resourceful Sudo Mei, that's what I care about the most.

There's always a risk of decanonization when it comes to writing fanfic for ongoing works, but you know, I think it's a risk worth taking!

A lot of it is that Mei's actor is just incredibly clever, though. There're times with the show where Mei's contribution to an episode is Asking The Doctor To Explain The Plot (to put it in terms of another franchise), rather than anything that highlights her skillset or perspective, but the actor manages to give it enough fun angles that you don't really notice how unnecessary the character's inclusion is. Like, she's got this great way of cheerfully asking for clarification, when she really wants to be yelling at some of these dopes for their unhelpful rules and lack of cohesion. She's an actor that's consistently finding fun stuff to do to plus up her scenes, and it's a shame that this episode sort of left her out to dry for a big stretch.

Terrific pun!

Yeah, I think it depends on how much of the benefit of the doubt you want to give the producers. I choose to think the writers are hanging a lantern on how much Rintaro makes this dilemma about his own need to improve, but I can understand if others just see it as the episode falling prey to some disappointing stories about women as prizes/goals/objects.

Ha ha, I love it! Akiko works way better as Shotaro's sister.

The last time we see her in this episode before she's a Megid is when she's at the bookshop, which isn't covered (I believe?) by Sophia's shield. I assume that Zooous just nabbed her there.

I just verified it and yeah, you're right. I must've got those two rooms mixed up, as I don't recall seeing Fantastic Kamiyama from that angle before, so it kind of looked similar to the infirmary at first glance.

Fish Sandwich also watched Kamen Rider Saber Episode 30

Rintarou is like, the absolute least Rintarou he's ever been in this episode, and that made it a pretty interesting chapter as the thing right after he's finally joined back up with everyone. There are a lot of really clever things this episode does with how much it deliberately calls back to earlier versions of the status quo, only to emphasize how things are still very different right now anyway. Yuri bails on the story early on, seemingly making way for a classic Saber/Blades team-up that just is not happening today, and of course the whole Megid plot is right out of that period early in the second quarter. Which, you know, was the formula they started busting out when they wanted to slow things down and really take their time making it clear where everyone stands at a given moment, which I think was well warranted here. I appreciated how Rintarou reintegrating himself into the dynamic doesn't just happen overnight, and the very inward-focused drama combined with Ishida being the director meant this episode about an agitated, screaming Blades ended up being shockingly enjoyable for me.

When Rintaro rejoined the cast, actually I'd hope that the cast forgives Rintaro by explaining that they want Rintaro to see the light but they're glad now he listens to it, as they try to explain the truth of SoL for his own well-being, not to win arguments or something. Ren continues to display his terrible trait here by attacking Ogami who convinces him to join them, and his rejection shows that he doesn't really care about SoL's spirit, only about Kento. The Megid plot has a chance for the remaining 2 for getting better story treatments, unlike Legeiel who already died. But well, there's a new incoming villain in Master Logos.

Yeah, this kind of story mei have toxic implications, but sometimes, the view to counteract that is a woman being portrayed as anythlng less than the impossible image of "strong" where they can't ever show any kind of weakness or vulnerability (Reika pre-Ryoga, and many other female Riders tbh) is the only way of portrayal that acknowledges their worth as equal. Thus I'd think that, any kind of character should be permitted in story, including the ones who are more normal thus can't contribute more (outside of this too, there are handful who deem Mei as useless).

The idea that a female character (or any character period) that aren't physically strong and does not physically fight means they're treated like shit should stop. The notion that women should never need saving, even in war and crime fiction is ludicrous, it swings the pendulum too far in the other direction and creates the problem of only showcasing women who are physically fit, or butch, or masculine.

The “damsel in distress” trope is only harmful when that aspect of the character is all there is to the character. If the writers take into account for their backstory, feelings, struggles, and development, that doesn't mean she’s a faceless prop just being used for male empowerment. she’s still a person who happens to not fight. People come in all shapes, sizes, temperaments, and ideologies.

Actually, this is what's contradictory about Rintaro in previous part, where he chastises Kento for getting too emotional and thus he's not worthy to be an SoL member. You think that Rintaro's current state is conditional, but as Rintaro's someone who can't socialize well, Rintaro's also someone who can't handle or express his emotions well. Though at the very least, Rintaro doesn't buy on Mei-gido, a.k.a Neko Megid's gaslighting on him by playing Mei as someone who won't acknowledge the worth except for those who are perfect, I mean in his view of Mei, but it does make him view himself as a failure. Obviously for Mei herself, she doesn't like the fact that she's the one directly hurting people, and her not being ok is not due to her current situation, but what the situation makes her do something she's unwilling to do.

Yeah, it's a disservice about Reika being reduced to only Ryoga worshipper. But though, it seems that female Riders at this point are mostly only made up by the ones who exhibit stereotypical "tough" personalities like being cold, aggressive, aloof, ruthless, etc. Straight-up good females like Poppy and Tsukuyomi aren't significant Riders even if they're significant characters.

Not dismissing her charms, but well dunno about if this'd seem as if that everything be very wild, wacky, overtop, larger than life, exaggerated, laugh out loud, in your face wide-angle lenses. Like, characters being more normal and grounded are also ok.

I genuinely was not expecting that to work. I could have details on the next series In the OOO adaptation, the Izumi siblings (Shingo survives the first episode, and is changed to female for reasons) both get Rider forms, using two Medals each, and sharing the same belt design. (Ankh also has his full Greeed body from the start, and can take human form like the other Greeed can, without needing a host [I don’t know how the other Greeed take human forms that suit them tho])

The sisters both use a predatory animal for the top half, and a prey animal for the bottom half.

Fem!Shingo’s default is a fox and a rabbit, and is blue on a black bodysuit (With the addition of white, it would match the Rabbit Miraculous watch, amusingly enough)

Hina’s default is pink on white, but I have no idea which pair would be used for that one.

My clue is "Violent Predators and Violent Preys for Hina, Rational Predators and Rational Preys for Shingo"

Tsukuyomi is a Rider from the start of the Zi-O adaptation as well (I also introduced another female Rider for contrast, lol)

It's an episode where the entire cast is like PHEW and Rintaro's like UMM, which is bound to generate some compelling drama. Rintaro's warmth and stability is a thing the entire cast sort of takes for granted here, and the only one who'd normally pick up on Rintaro's emotional deterioration -- Mei -- is taken off of the board. This show really doesn't like shortcuts in its emotional developments, which is nice!

Yeah, it'll be interesting to find out what the show wants to say about Ren. Lot of different directions that kid could go in!

Sounds very fun! Thanks for sharing!

KAMEN RIDER SABER EPISODE 31 - “THE STRENGTH TO BELIEVE, AND THE STRENGTH TO BE BELIEVED IN”

https://kamenriderdie.com/images/kr/saber/saber31a.png

Secondaries, am I right?

It’s the toughest gig in Kamen Ridering, probably. You have power, and goals, and sometimes a touch of ambition, but the entire narrative is oriented to diminish what you accomplish. You’re a sidekick at best, a late-stage adversary at worst. The story is only about you to the extent that you complement the main character’s journey. It can never really be your story.

But, like, that’s life? We all feel like the main characters of our stories, but this is a world with billions of main characters. Sometimes our story is about helping other people, letting them attain their true potential, and giving the support necessary to excel. It’s okay to be the person in the background sometimes. Not everything has to be about us.

It’s a nice lesson, in this concluding chapter of what would otherwise be Rintaro’s heroic self-actualization. He’s a happier, healthier version of himself for acknowledging the strength of the other two characters in this story: Touma and Mei.

From Touma, he learns to never give up on himself, even when it seems like he’s pretty much there to eat shit while someone else gets the win. Setbacks don’t mean you’re weak; giving up after a setback means you’re weak. As long as you’re willing to put in the effort, there’s still a chance for victory.

From Mei, he learned that having a good attitude is a multiplier for any group. Everyone does their best work when they’re in the trenches with friends, so providing a friendly atmosphere is a strength that even a non-swordsmen member of the Sword of Logos can provide. Mei’s just as strong as the rest of the team, because she helps them all stay positive and happy. There’s strength in that kind of positivity.

It’s a very sweet little story about positive thinking, and accepting the support of people around us, which is a neat recurring topic for this series. This thing could’ve easily been a story where Rintaro gets strong and Finds His Conviction and single-handedly saves Mei while Touma cheers him on from the sidelines… but it just refused to take the easy way out. Instead, we get this fun three-hander about how the effectiveness of any team is down to how much they can lift each other up, rather than how strong each member is. Such a great twist on this sort of traditional Secondary story.

—

KICK JUMP TWIST

https://kamenriderdie.com/images/kr/saber/saber31b.png

This stupid guy. Of all the villains that she could’ve been abducted by, it had to be the worst one.

Legeiel was a smug jerk, but at least he was sort of cool about it. Handsome, too. Sure, he was weirdly obsessed with Touma; and sure, he got turned into an immolating version of himself thanks to forbidden magics; but there was at least a professionalism about him in the early days. 3 out of 5 stars.

Storious… okay, the long strand of hair is not great. It’s super distracting, and it’s… it’s just sort of there? He could braid it, or put some jewelry in it. Just, something, instead of hanging there limply. Otherwise, he was fairly innocuous as apocalyptic villains went. Goal-oriented, which was easier to deal with mentally.

This guy, though. God.

Zooous was her least favorite, by a mile. Putting aside all the crap he’d pulled with Rintaro – which was a major mark against him, don’t get her wrong – he was just a complete tool. The stupid sleeveless vest, even in the dead of winter. The goofy hair. And the parkour.

God, the parkour.

He’d never take two steps forward if he could take two flips backwards and three flips forward instead. It was bad enough that she was being slowly devoured by a magic book, forced to live in eternal suffering as a link between the real world and an alternate dimension of storybook magic… but this guy was just making it torture.

He flipped through the alley again, after his most recent nonsensical threat (oh, he was also an idiot, she forgot to mention that), and she watched him cackle like a doofus at his own theatricality. It was a nightmare, hanging around this guy. He’d already destroyed her sense of optimism at being saved by Touma and Rintaro; now, he was destroying her will to live.

She hoped that she could be saved, but she was praying to be put out of her misery.

Zooous saw her pain, and did another backflip.