No, I loved the flashback. It was well-placed. It really hit all the right emotions. And it wasn't just a flashback to what Takatora remembers - it's what he wanted to be. A supportive brother, rather than a harsh one.

Though I still have to say the episode itself was very poorly done from a production stand point, it definitely had an effect on me because I am still thinking about it right now. Every time I think about it, it hurts more. So they succeeded in that sense for sure. I definitely feel bad for Takatora. And the development of Mitchi is phenomenal.

I think this episode I would appreciate more a second time-around marathoning the series. Cause I said before - the pure writing and content surrounding it is fantastic.

So right now Micchy turned away anyone that may support him, in other words no one supports him now.

- Takatora (if he regains consciousness) will know about his "true" self after relenting and yet get slashed.
- Kota will know about what Micchy this and be more convinced that Micchy cant be forgiven.
- Redue? She is just a troll lol.

And this episode highlighted that difference. Takatora is older, and amongst other more obvious things, this is the reason he was able to hold back his sword. Kouta is young, and embraces the freedom his youth provides in his ideology - not trying to be pessimistic but if he was older, he'd be much more tired and wouldn't have such a sunny outlook on everything. Takatora is basically Kouta without his youthful freedom.

Micchy and Kaito want to both grow up too fast, but both are going in opposite directions and I like watching how each one develops they only grow further apart.

The only problem I had was the flashback at the conclusion of Micchy and Takatora's fight. From all that we've seen of Takatora's character, him thinking back to a good memory of Micchy actually should have pushed him to take that strike rather than hesitate. It should have given him that resolve to stop this thing he made that isn't his brother anymore. The Takatora we know wouldn't have stopped.

And maaaybe Kaito's wound could have waited and the Kaito/Mai stuff too... But it does just show a lot is going on right now.

But that wasnt the point of his Story Arc. The whole thing with Takatora up to this point was that he didnt want to be that person anymore. The old Takatora would have sacrificed Micchy in an instance the same way he sacrificed Hase.

The Takatora that lost against Micchy isnt that person anymore. He was done making sacrifices. In a way he became much more like Kouta in that in the final moments of the battle he saw what his Brother was before all this nightmare started. He remembered the humanity inside the monster Micchy had become so he couldnt finish him off.

That episode!
http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/...66/409/b76.gif
I know this is expected of Urobutchi but I'll still say "UROBUTCHI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Agreed.

One thing I love about Gaim so far is that it seems like the main four Riders all play off of each other in some way, where there's key differences in their ideology that set them apart from the other 3. It's an interesting dynamic.

I pray to the goddess Madoka that Takatora is still alive.

Fun fact: Just noticed that the "flashback" is not a flashback, but Takatora's realization of what kind of brother Micchi wanted him to be...

Yeah thinking back to that scene its pretty obvious that its not an actual flashback.