Now that you mention it, we got a double Rider Kick with Aruto and Jin too.

And Nachi Sakuragi himself who had talked about how he wanted to make Gai as hated as possible, surpassing Kusaka, who was his inspiration. So they're on the way to make an irredeemable character, and honestly yeah, how Gai was handled was why some (including me here) would prefer KR letting villains stay evil, especially the more depraved ones, while the one who'd get redeemed are the characters who actually are planned to be redeemed, like Alain or probably Parado and Gentoku. Though yeah, those villains are also not close to be as terrible as Gai. In Ex-Aid, someone who did many atrocities like Kuroto was not made redeemed too, just happened to have mutual goal with the heroes, and he'd return to his old ways in alternate endings.

I mean, I do like how Aruto and the other cast handled him, as they don't immediately give him an easy time and would want for him to actually prove it and no BSing. While you have talked about horrible people not coming from nowhere before, but, didn't you say that people don't change 180? I'd think Gai's "redemption" here is a case of changing 180, after the series tried to write him as someone who'd stoop at any low to achieve something consciously without ever considering of others, even those that work closely with him, he just suddenly realizes what he did is wrong here. Much better people (well, almost anyone would be) like Fuwa or Yua would make use of a therapist to get themselves lifted off the burden. Gai's father is a stereotypical Asian strict parent, and I do think it'd suck to live with him, but still, Gai's crimes are just disproportionate compared to how he went through in his backstory. His dad is annoying, but didn't pull real atrocities that Gai would put others at far more miserable state than his dad did.

I'd not stop Kamen Rider trying to rehabilitate someone and not destroying them, but, I also don't want for rehabilitating someone to look bad or BS. Because if rehabilitating someone is done badly, that can encourage the destroying path more for people due to rehabilitating people being proven stupid. The stupid one can come in some forms like letting villains go completely and have them backstab or continue their rampage, or for Gai's case, a case that is so unbelievable, it's be something seen as stupid to attempt that it's basically suicide realistically, some can swore off rehabilitating altogether.

I'd've been okay with that, Aruto slowly turning all the villains against the Ark, but I can't say I'm bummed it's not happening. There's something so perfunctory about that type of story, where it's gratifying but predictable. It'd feel like a checklist, where Aruto goes through four different two-parters until he's got, like, the full set. Better to make it more strategic, or at least more unexpected.

Never beat yourself up if/when you don't get the same thing out of a show as anyone else. We all process art differently, and it's no big deal to think a show is passable entertainment that you're not in love with.

To paraphrase a wrestling commentator cliche, The Ark's not out here getting paid by the hour. It makes sense that he'd attack the weakest points, to create the optimal conditions for victory in the shortest span of time.

Sure, but the key difference is that Kuroto wasn't trying to be redeemed. Gai's asking for forgiveness, and is willing (so far) to putting the work in to obtain it. Whether or not he deserves forgiveness is up to the people he wronged, as well as the viewers. He may not get what he's after! That's one possibility!

Well, one, I'd argue that Gai hasn't changed 180 degrees, he just has some newfound clarity about how his actions have prevented him from finding any happiness or contentment, and is working towards a better outcome. He's still an egotistical asshole, and he needs a lot of guidance in figuring out what the right course of action is. He's only started a path, not finished his rehabilitation.

And, two, that's the thing about redemption: it's an incredibly long process, and not guaranteed to end to anyone's satisfaction. It... I mean, we are in a Kamen Rider discussion thread, not a philosophy thread, so I'm not gonna write a few thousand words on my beliefs regarding human morality and societal judgment, but Gai's not instantly Good just because he feels bad about his past actions. That's not how redeption works. It's not up to Gai if he's been redeemed, it's up to everyone but Gai. All he can do is try to be better than he was yesterday, and try to atone to the people he harmed.

Finally, I think the show is absolutely leaving it up to the viewers to decide how much forgiveness they want to offer Gai's character. I don't think anyone's saying Gai Is A Hero And You Have To Love Him And Forget About His Villainy. You don't! Gai can still try to be better without anyone's forgiveness or support! His self-improvement is not dependent on anyone else's authorization! Things are allowed to be complicated!

So you personally think Gai has not changed 180 degrees, which is the reason for you to enjoy this, fair enough. You think Gai is not good yet here. But, had he suddenly gain conscience that all his actions are wrong? Going from someone who makes excuse to avoid responsibilities and continue his atrocities. As said here, there needs to be lot of guidance, and someone like Gai shouldn't suddenly realize that his actions are wrong? It had to be done with him going through extensive lesson of what's right and wrong, and especially for the difficult part, evil often cannot comprehend goodness, they often look down on virtue for quite good reasons (oftentimes kid's shows don't give good arguments to elevate good), viewing right/wrong as only obstacles in their goal, or something unappealing as they don't immediately get benefit for that, or even just weakness (an argument is, how Aruto fell to ARk here as you said), etc. How to make them not only understand morality, but also actually are interested in achieving that.

Not to mention he had dim view of humanity overall too, other than him, it gotta be like educating an extreme misantrophe. It's not about other's reaction (which is done well btw), characters or audience, but the mere part of Gai admitting he's wrong and genuinely trying to be better. I thought it's 180 that he can immediately admit he's wrong and, for me personally, he completely abandoned his negative traits here? (not being asshole anymore, more below)

Actually I don't know what kind of asshole deed he pulled up for now. The 1000% part Aruto is sick of hearing? I won't think that it's an asshole behavior, just uttering 1000% that is. If people'd think he's sincere in his attempts to be better, then the 1000% in this case is only to emphasize is certainity. Obviously, even someone's wrongdoings that are far tamer than Gai's can have people being an asshole against that, constantly rubbing it in their face or gloat at those who admit they're wrong, which can be done to as a way to "keep them in line", but actually can lead into people never admitting they were wrong, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy of attitudes. Or for those who still admit that they're wrong, behave extremely carefully, as any slightest mistakes can have them easily condemned. Even more for someone with gigantic atrocities like Gai. So it'd make sense for Gai to try being as polite and pleasing as he can (and that also can be accused as purposely groveling for favor), and thus I didn't get the part of his "asshole" part here?

But as I've said before, yeah I like how the other casts are handled here, that they're not making light of Gai's crimes including Aruto. Even if this is also personally to me, the part I view as an example not to do when redeeming characters, I don't agree if people'd think the cast forgave him too. It may deny the audience some satisfaction for the heroes not taking this advantage to go hard on him, but as some people said here, tolerating Gai may be a good move for everyone too, and the irony that he now is an useful "tool" for others to use. So other than it being a human rights to not gang up on someone defenseless (even if they're bad, like laws), it's the reason why empty vengeance shouldn't be done, and not going hard doesn't mean letting them off the hook. And though people are ought not to rub it in to someone who admits they're wrong, the one who is wrong is also ought to be genuine in their apology and actually act on it instead of faking it to escape from their responsibility and act on their desires, as all Aruto, Fuwa, and Yua attest.

I didn't talk about this before due to obvious reasons (you haven't reached this part), but yeah Ark is NOT someone simply made unbeatable, Ark's forte is his adaptive skills to gain advantage of any situation, even in unpredictable events. Ark isn't perfect though, as ihe accused Zea as the reason behind Aruto and Gai's cooperation, though it still can think quickly against anything including those 'mistakes'. Aruto always championed about Humagear's ability to learn and adapt... and now he had to face an enemy that uses that very ability to accomplish evil. But glad that a show can answer your demands even after this late, as you previously didn't care about Ark (and no he's STILL about personification of hate that goes against the plan of creating a safe world for Humagears after awakening), and sometimes first impression permanently sticks. I wonder what can be absolved from bad first impression and what can't to you (usually for people, it's when it's done too little too late at finale, not at middle).

Oh, I just mean that he's still sort of a pain to be around. He's an asshole in the more pedestrian sense, where you definitely don't want to be stuck talking to him at a party. He's still pretty stuck-up, even if it's in a less insulting way.

KAMEN RIDER ZERO-ONE EPISODE 40 - “TOWARD MY DREAM AND MY DREAM”

https://kamenriderdie.com/images/kr/...zeroone40a.png

This is one where I sort of don’t know if the ends justify the means?

I really liked where this episode ended. Beyond the catharsis of seeing Aruto humiliate the Ark via some absolutely jaw-dropping action choreography (I’m particularly a fan of using a bunch of Zero-Two doubles to pop in and out of frame, to make Aruto feel impossibly fast), I love how this ending reinforces the series-long notion of interconnected fates. Aruto’s argument in favor of human/Humagear coexistence is that things like happiness, or success, or contentment aren't – if you’ll pardon the expression – zero-sum things. Someone else doesn’t necessarily succeed at someone else's expense; we can all succeed together. Aruto empowers Izu to be better, which in turn empowers Aruto to be strong enough to defeat the Ark. We can win by helping others win. I love that message.

But the road to get there? Man, I don’t know.

The first ten minutes of this episode had me riveted. I 1000% bought into the idea that the Ark murdered Aruto. I was like, Holy Shit. What a bold turn, to leave Aruto’s dream in the hands of the people who looked up to him! What a great demonstration of this show’s themes and theories! And, god, Izu’s performance! Heartbreaking and vulnerable, it got me entirely on this show’s side.

Until they murdered the rest of the cast, and I was like Oh It’s Just A Dream. The stakes basically evaporated, and I was just biding my time until the twist was revealed. Which somehow got worse, as the twist was that Aruto was psychologically torturing Izu (who consented?) until she hit her Singularity Point and coughed up an upgrade that could beat the Ark. It’s… boy, I don’t love it? It takes something enormously affecting, like Izu crying over the body of her dead friend, and turns into some sort of Heroic Prank, and that’s a kind of a horrible way to evolve the core relationship of this show. It shortcuts it in ways that may help the heroes succeed today, but at the cost of a more honest and thoughtful story.

Still, that ending! I do like that ending. Bonus points for Izu being super mad at Aruto. Me too, Izu! Me too!

—

KAMEN RIDER ZERO-ONE SO-DO AI 09: KAMEN RIDER ZERO-TWO

https://kamenriderdie.com/images/kr/...zeroone40b.jpg

Much like the episode that introduces it, I’m sort of torn on this suit.

I generally like it. I think it cleanly communicates Upgrade Zero-One form, even if it doesn’t really nail Designed With Izu. The decrease in COLOR and increase in red and silver keep the suit itself firmly ensconced in the Zero-One aesthetic, and the blocks of color are pleasant to look at. (I know the red gloves and Two of it all are Showa references, but I don’t truck with Showa. Feel free to gush over that aspect if you’d like.) There’re some in-universe aspects to the new Driver that I feel like are too over-thought – I’m not sure we needed to define the central emblem as a link between Aruto’s family, considering this suit already has to shoulder the thematic weight of humans and Humagears working in unison on a dream – but the Driver itself is solid in design. Which, yeah, that’s sort of my whole thing about this suit: I don’t know if it’s hitting all of the beats it wants to, but I like looking at it enough to not really care.

Befitting a new Aruto form, this figure really goes all out. Well-placed stickers help shape the colors of the legs, while paint and molded plastic cover the torso and head. This is a figure where you can definitely see the budget being dumped into it.

A little conflicted about some of the story elements around this suit, but it’s still awfully pretty.

And so we get to my favorite suit in Zero-One. There's a reason I've had it as my main icon and as the holder of "Zero" out of all the other Zero's in Toku. I just really love the suit in that it represents a clear upgrade from Shining Hopper specifically. Cause like, both Assault and Metal Cluster were Ark related inventions. The fact that we basically went back to the beginning, all the way back to base Zero-One aesthetic was really nice. I love it as an evolution to Zero-One's design, and this starts the Reiwa Trend of wanting to slim down/make the Final Forms a bit more simple in terms of look.

And I think they managed it pretty well. A lot of people were sour on it when it first dropped and I get why, but I still love it. Also it has an energy scarf? Like duh, if you remember me gushing about Ichigata then of course I'm going to love it!

Anyway to get the nitty gritty of how we got to this point out of the way. Yeah I totally see why you wouldn't like the method of how we got there. Even I'm not the happiest about it, but I do feel like Izu being rightfully angry about it helps offset it by just a bit. But like, desperate times call for desperate measures, you know?

So let's talk about Zero-Two's debut fight and how wonderfully it's setup and choreographed. Just the very beginning where you think it's going to be a repeat of Shining Hopper, Aruto gets one up on Ark and but then Ark manages to predict things and declare the form as useless. But nope, Zero-Two "Nothing Personel's" Ark and immediately start's laying the smackdown.

http://cdn.discordapp.com/attachment...5283546e15.gif

This specific moment is one I love, you can just feel the raw intensity in Aruto's counters. And I love the idea of 02's "headspace" being represented by floating 02 numeric code which of course does not exist in standard 01010 code and further exemplifies how Zero-Two can just break any conceived system or planning.

Points to the very practical "We have two suits, we're going to utilize both of them and sound effects to show how fast Zero-Two is" where you just have Zero-Two exit the frame before coming in from another not even missing a beat.

Also Zero-Two Big Bang is a really cool callout and it was nice to see Ark just so thoroughly defeated. We've had them match and overwhelm the Ark before, but just barely and usually with multiple people. This time it was just one Rider with the hopes and dreams of Humagears and Humans.

If you cant' tell I really loved this episode and consider Zero-Two to have a place among my favorite Final Form Debut's.

I love the Zero-Two suit. The pops of silver and red really add a lot to a design that was already one of the better base suits. Even better, it's an upgrade that manages to stay as sleek and stylish as the base suit. I will always appreciate a design that doesn't go overboard with stacking on more armor, accessories, and miscellaneous pieces of flair.

If it’s not clear by now, I’m in this more for the belt jingles than the suits, but dear god, I did not love 02’s jingle at all.

Zero-TwoRose: road to (Glory Has to) lead to (Growing path to) Change 1 to 2! Kamen rider zero-two. It’s Never Over!

https://youtube.com/watch?v=mBC-zcj5eSQ

(Admittedly, I like the idea that the belt sounds change when a hidden button is pressed, but I think later products used that conceit better).

Also, I’m not keen on the in-universe origin being Is just… pooping it out of her ear. Especially since it seems way sillier than the usual 3D printing method.

And since Aruto was able to create this, I’ve got a joke prepared, by the same guy as my last meme.

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...7D7D59022.jpeg

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...0F84A5E35.jpeg

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...55A5B40D5.jpeg

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...2937F3B5A.jpeg

We're at that point now. I'll get these out of the way, Zero-Two is a fantastic debut, I love use of practical effects and just how overall minimal in VFX it is, it's a stark contrast to a certain sword-based rider's final form debut next year who goes to the other extreme side of the spectrum in dashing colors. Zero-Two is an amazing suit, it was weird at first how it was simple initially in the magazine leaks, but I fell in love with it immediately. I pre-ordered the SHF already!

NOW, we're here, THIS was something I want to share going forward from this point of the show here on out.

https://www.facebook.com/bakanki/pos...ubNwrwSPQvYgYl

These are short doujins done by @10pperance on Twitter, please follow them, they're an amazing artist. They've done some great in-between stories for Zero-One, this one in particular would be right after Zero-Two's debut fight. It's absolutely adorable and their work is one of the shining gems of this series.

https://scontent-hkg4-2.xx.fbcdn.net...0Q&oe=6322A10B