For a series where the title character is an arrogant jackass, so much so that the previous episode had characters sussing out a Tendou imposter because he was nice and generous, and nearly every other Rider is introduced as an overly-competitive lunatic... here's this episode, where they're all working together (-ish, I mean: Kageyama) to detonate monsters and hold the forces of evil at bay. Such a fun surprise, you know?

that's my point, Tsrugi has been friends with the main cast after fully sliding into being a goofball while befriending Ka GAAA Mi so that's a given but the hot topic riders deciding to join in on the fun with Kageyama getting to try to redeem himself before remembering he's a failure and can't work with non edge lords. and Yagaruma getting to showboat and help Tendou save the day in a triple rider kick, one of the most iconic scenes in the endgame of the series

this 2 parter is probably one of the highest points the 2nd half of Kabuto has and I can even explain away them taking half an episode to figure out Hiyori might be lying, as it's been a good few months since they last saw her and she had 2 major revelations shatter her world view before being trapped with a major Simp who has her supportive friend/brother's face

https://i.imgur.com/JXE7SBF.png

I mentioned way back in this thread that I've started to make a habit out of pouring over the Japanese Wikipedia pages for Rider shows, which are a veritable fountain of great information. I read Kabuto's right around when this thread started, naturally, and this quote from Tendou, which is mentioned under Hiyori's summary, has been stuck in my brain for just about this entire rewatch.

This will be tricky to explain right, since its so personal, but it's kind of been the symbol of this whole endeavor for me. I just... something about those words struck me immensely. I thought that was an absolutely wonderful encapsulation of Tendou's motivations, perfect in its simplicity. I adore how small a scale that puts things on – how humble it is. Tendou just wants to protect the world because the people he cares about live in it. It's basically everything I want out of a superhero story in one sentence?

I've also touched before on how Kabuto's whole creative conception was about creating the strongest Rider. It's reflected in things like the premiere's title, or how many early ads for the show called him a hero who was the "real deal". I think what specifically they meant by that is a bit of an enigma, maybe on purpose, but when I first saw that line again, I almost started to believe the hype. Here was this quote I had completely forgotten, from a show I've left buried in the back of my mind for years, and I found it such a beautiful sentiment I'm now probably hyping it up way too much.

But like, it got me hyped. If Kabuto could have just a simple line of dialogue I loved that much merely reading it, what other gems might be waiting to be rediscovered? How many great moments and episodes had slipped my mind entirely? I held that quote up to myself as this beacon, reminding me how great a decision it actually was diving head first back into this show now this way. I knew it was a line from right near the end of the show, too, which made it all the better. I'd get to watch most of the show, with those words in mind, reevaluating Kabuto as I finally, inevitably, worked my way all the way back to this moment with Die.

And I gotta say, this episode kills it, man. I mean, WOW is this ever a good one. Do you know how many other great lines Tendou alone has in this one? His hero energy is off the charts here, even taking the time to elaborate very poignantly that he defeats Worms not because they're monsters – because of the circumstances of their creation – but because of their actions, mercilessly stepping on people's hopes and dreams, which is about as Kamen Rider as you can get. Like, I suddenly understand why Yonemura has written so many crossovers and anniversary things now! And that's this episode all over the place. Kagami, too, is just amazing, cementing his strange but unbreakable bond with Tendou by showing some classic heroic grit. They straight up bump fists when splitting up to handle their respective problems!

This episode is so awesome, you guys. It's even the one with the Triple Rider Kick from the main duo plus KickHopper, which seems to be a rather iconic moment. It is just winning moment after winning moment here. It is... yeah, Maximum Rider Power. It's that. Leave it to Die to sum it up better than I could hope to. I'd love to do some complex analysis or whatever, but all you need to know is just how undeniably cool this one is. You'd have to be made of stone to not find at least a little excitement somewhere in there. You're certainly spoiled for choice in those 24 minutes.

The only thing this episode is missing is Tsurugi trying to help KaGAHmin rescue his friend and constantly misremembering who she is because they barely had any scenes together.

"KaGAHmin! Let me help you rescue your friend Hiyori, the opera singer! I will be the man who stands at the top rescuing performers!"

"What? No, Tsurugi, that was Reina. Hiyori is Tendou's sister."

"Of course! The one who fed me takoyaki while I was at my lowest! I will help you rescue her, to repay her noblesse oblige! I will be the man who stands at the top of repaying debts!"

"N-- no, Tsurugi, you're thinking of Juka. This is the girl who works at La Salle."

"Renge, the master chef, is also Tendou's sister?! What a family of talented cooks! I will help you rescue her, and be the man who--"

"OH NO TSURUGI LOOK MISAKI IS IN TROUBLE... aaaand he's off. Phew! Crisis averted oh hell he was just almost murdered"

https://kamenriderdie.com/images/kr/kabuto/fistbump.png

He's so good in this one. If I can call out my favorite touch, it's how vulnerable he makes himself in this episode, pretty much across the board. He is begging Hiyori to come back home. He is wrecked when she leaves. He's resigned to defeat when he thinks she's going to stay gone. He tells Kagami that he's an invaluable partner. He admits that he's not perfect. It's an episode that equates Kabuto being the most heroic he's ever been, with Tendou being the most human he's ever been. I really love that connection the show makes.

Daw~ You're an interesting fellow too, Die.

It's such smart writing, isn't it? Kinda nuanced and clever? And here I was, assuming every episode of this show centered around some dumb ghost story or the nonsense logistics of ZECT's prototype armaments this whole time.

Oh, don't worry, this episode still had the Worms attacking a base for some reason (they're after the Masked Rider System?) that gets one line of Tendou saying Yeah That Would Be Bad without anyone ever explaining why exactly it would be worse than an immortal Worm general who can mimic Rider finishes and is backed up by an infinite Worm army.

It ain't all insightful character-based storytelling and memorable dialogue!

I'm going on the assumption it's a desperation attack to ensure that ZECT can't make any more riders going on the assumption that the data is only in the one location

Hell that's the way you selvage the previous 2 parter give a reason losing the final prototype is a bad thing. Make it clear they have no development data due to them keeping all data on their major projects in one hidden location and that back fired with it destroyed and the staff dead so without the final anti mimic missile it would take them an extremely long amount of time to start from scratch. I mean it doesn't prevent the other issues of that plot but it gives a reason to kill about the McGuffin of the week

So who would win, Bizarro or Kabizarro.

Die, it was located in Area Z. Area Z. That's like, TWO more letters important than Area X! What more could you possibly need to know to understand the stakes here???

Maybe! Any of that would've been better than what we got, which was mostly just It's Important Because The Worms Are Going To Kill Everyone To Get It. There's a tautology to the Worm plot that I don't love?

Fans of gleeful, childlike monsters.

If only ZECT hadn't overly committed their forces to Area Y! In retrospect, that was a bad strategy! As was having 26 bases in a demolished wasteland! When a ton of your employees only work part-time! And you still haven't even replaced the head of your elite tactical unit after you fired him a few months ago! Mistakes were made!