And yet it's Faiz that gets derided as the show with too many misunderstandings!

also why am i not asleep yet

So I’ll discuss that like the Trial Series, Titan is modelled after a Showa era villain. But it’s NOT the guy I “accidentally” wrote about when giving it’s profile. In fact, it’s not a specific monster at all.

Titan is based on the monsters created by Gel-Shocker, which were hybrids of two animals, resulting in mashups like GaniKomori (Lit. CrabBat), MukadeTiger (Mukade - Centipede) and HiruChameleon (Hiru - Leech).

... Blade's ending is considered divisive? Huh???

I'm sure you can find someone who hates *every* Rider ending!

But yeah, the clone episode is a good time, but I wonder if being slep deprived makes it more or less fun. Especially since (and Fish will correct me if I'm wrong) this is Inoue's final duo of episodes for the season.

I’ve never been a big fan of this episode and the next (plot-wise; the acting and directing is fine). Mutsuki finally has his shit together, everyone’s on the same page and ready to face the next threat as four united heroes, so the show’s response is “Now make them all fight each other!”

Really? We’re going back to this well? Again?

It honestly feels a lot like filler to me. The show is just stalling for time before we get on to handling the real threat of Planet Man Dan and his modern art sculpture.

Neat! Thanks!

I've learned that, not only can the quality of any ending be debated, but the location of the ending can also be debated! I remember back in Ghost that some people missed that the ending was when Takeru used his deep connection to humanity and his superpowered empathy to halt an interdimensional genocide, not the point after that when he fought some dumb CG robot. Opinions are everywhere in this fandom!

Being sleep-deprived probably always helps with an Inoue episode. The only time it hurts is for deep, emotional episodes (that's when they're less likely to work for me, when I'm too drained to care), and then the next day when I'm still exhausted.

I didn't touch on this, but the finale, where Mutsuki and Hajime vow that they are going to kick the ever-living shit out of their friends because they care for them so much, it's actually really funny. There's this juxtaposition of Hajime's stoic heroism, Mutsuki's reclaimed inner resolve, and Tachibana and Kenzaki's perplexed terror that makes the whole sequence seem very very on purpose funny.

But, yeah, the joke of Everyone's On The Same Page NOW FIGHT, it's maybe not the time or place for it? I can see that.

And I remember just now, when Die missed that Ghost actually had multiple amazing endings, including but not limited to:

- when Takeru used his deep connection to humanity and his superpowered empathy to halt an interdimensional genocide.
- when Takeru defeated the giant CG embodiment of cold, unfeeling logic using the literal power of love.
- when Takeru did a victory lap and kicked the crap out of the regular sized practical suit embodiment of cold, unfeeling logic by ganging up on it with notable historical figures for funsies, and then rejected omnipotence to go eat some onigiri instead like an absolute boss.
- when Takeru passed the legacy of Kamen Rider onto a new hero, then hugged a small child and told him of the importance of the connections we make with one another, and how those bonds empower us to change our futures for the better.

So, yeah, opinions really are everywhere! I've even seen some people say they don't like Grateful Damashii! Can you even imagine? :p

--

Oh, right, and these Blade episodes. Yeah, these are indeed Inoue's last little pair. It'll kind of be easier to talk about them after that second part though, so I think I'll just hold off on saying anything for now.

I really think it's great that two people who love Ghost can still argue about it, while everyone who hates Ghost is on the same page. Fascinating. This fandom!

Mutsuki and Hajime inexplicably treating Tachibana like a reasonable competent adult is the part of the episode that gets me. The doppelganger storyline landed with me first time around more than I think it did with you - or anyone else who saw the HBV right before this ep - because I didn't get my hands on it until after the series ended and didn't have a comparison to make in my head.

I did absolutely love Mutsuki and Hajime both Very Determined to help Tachibana and Kenzaki by beating the shit out of them, to the absolute bewilderment of both of our BOARD Riders :lol Such a fun scene :D

Tachibana as the wise sounding board for someone as troubled as Mutsuki will never not be funny to me. I cannot imagine that any advice Tachibana were to give Mutsuki about atoning for failure or jeopardizing relationships would be of any help whatsoever. Mutsuki overcomes his trials and feels ashamed of his actions. Tachibana overcomes his trials and has a You Can't Make A Delicious Tachibana Omelette Without Breaking A Few Friendships perspective on everything. And they still let him talk to Mutsuki!!!

It's a slightly fun reversal, how we're supposed to be terrified of what these possessed Riders could be doing to our beloved Mutsuki and, I guess, Hajime, but then it's clear that Kenzaki and Tachibana are maybe in more danger than the other two. It's pretty entertaining, I thought.