They do get to be happy, yeah! Just not for real long. It's nice to see Team Zi-O making a positive influence on people's lives.

Ah yes, the episode that got me to join this forum (mostly due to Tsukuyomi bringing up the biggest gripe I and a few others on another site had with the more recent episodes).

Also, Tsukasa is back again, this time for good, since Inoue’s schedule finally cleared up enough for him to be a regular. Which kind of works here, because he’s filling out the role of the absent Tendou

And speaking of absent Kabutos…

Armour Time! Change Beetle! Kabuto!
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...butoArmor.webp

(Fish Sandwich also watched Kamen Rider Zi-O - EP37)

My original post for this episode is fun and all, but you know, it's been a few years, quite a few of these threads, and as long as Die's reviving the lyrical gimmick from his Hibiki thread, I figure I might as well go ahead and revive mine from the Kabuto thread, and give these episodes a proper rewatch and reevaluation. After all, thanks to that thread, I've actually become a way bigger fan of Kabuto than I used to be. And with that newfound appreciation, there's no doubt I'll be able to really focus in on the tribute aspects of this one, and dig deeper into them in a way I wasn't able to before!

https://i.imgur.com/eTaXFJ0.png

Man, I sure do love the cast of Kamen Rider Zi-O! Like, part of this is probably just the fact that I'm hopping back into this show in the middle for a little visit, but pretty much right away, as soon as Geiz was getting all upset about having to team up with Woz, it really felt like coming home.

I've already talked a bunch in this thread about how episode 28 marked a big turning point for the series not simply in terms of the plot, but for the overall style of the show. Right after that, we get the introduction of Trinity and the return of Blade, the latter highlighting a more actively fanservice-driven kind of tribute to the past, and the former recalibrating he dynamic between the three Riders (arguably a little too quickly) to firmly establish the one true Woz as part of that heroic trio of buddies. That should probably have felt way more incongruous than it ended up being! Woz, initially, he was clearly set up as a shady mystery man who would probably betray anyone if it advanced his own goal, which was and nominally still is furthering the ascension of an evil king who will ruin the whole world. But along comes this stretch of episodes, and suddenly, Woz is adorably trying to celebrate Sougo's birthday, and his dynamic with Geiz has become some kind of old married couple bickering where nothing about their animosity ever comes across too seriously. And I love it.

I love it because it's fun, and regardless of how well that fits with whatever predetermined path the story might've seemed "meant" to take early on, here and now (well, then, but you know what I mean), that emphasis on upbeat entertainment gels perfectly with everything else about this stretch of Zi-O. Most of the episodes in this stretch, they are just all about pure gratification for the viewer.

Tell me, who are the three characters from Kabuto you'd most want to see back in a big guest spot for this show? I have to imagine most fans would pick exactly the three they ended up getting, and that already starts this two-parter off on a good foot. Kagami in particular, he was very much the protagonist of Kabuto in the most traditional sense. He was a guy with a lot of flaws and a good heart who worked to better himself throughout the show's run, and as such it's great seeing him here, wise enough from experience to tell Sougo off for falling for a Worm's deception. Which ends up being hilarious, because Sougo actually did take some precautions when he trusted Kageyama's words, which is a level of planning Kagami himself would definitely not have displayed back in the day! And that's one great beat in an episode that's full of them. Woz Ginga Finally gets a fight scene that goes almost pointlessly over the top in how much they linger on that big explosion, but it starts making sense once it becomes a way for Kyouhei Yamaguchi to give us some shots of KickHopper surrounded by fire that do Ishida real proud.

And then while all that's happening, we've got Sougo heading out into space to stop huge rocks from hitting the Earth, because this really is just the summer blockbuster arc of Zi-O. Big stars, big plots, big action, lots of banter between big heroes... seriously, what's not to love?

This is really funny to me, because it's sort of my TokuNation origin story, too? I was having a rough time with Ghost, to an I Need To Talk About This level, and TokuNation became my salvation. Weird how that can happen!

It's the most Kabuto thing about this episode, maybe, how fun every single character in the cast is. Even Uncle gets a great solo gag when he's like There Sure Have Been A Lot Of Meteors Lately! Kabuto was a series that could tell a fun story with anyone, and then amplify the entertainment by combining literally any two characters. Zi-O's got that same energy, and they can even loop in one-off Legend guest-stars to positive effect.

It's so great to be watching a show this much fun in its back stretch!

Man I wish I could see these TV show.

KAMEN RIDER ZI-O EPISODE 38 - “2019 - THE ONE CHOSEN BY KABUTO”

https://kamenriderdie.com/images/kr/zio/zio38a.png

One plotline aside, I felt like this was an episode where the fan service got away from the writer.

I don’t know that I buy Kagami becoming Kabuto. It’s vaguely reminiscent of the Hibiki/Kiriya thing from a few episodes back, but it lacks a lot of the weight of that story. Kiriya’s entire arc was about how basically no one wanted Kiriya to be Hibiki, so his redemption in obtaining the Hibiki Ridewatch has catharsis to it. Kagami and the Kabuto Zecter… like, no? He had his own destiny as Gatack, and he didn’t view Defeating Kabuto as some bucket list item. This two-parter doesn’t even bother to construct a motivation for Kagami to summon the Kabuto Zecter, beyond the twin possibilities of Why Not and It’s Nice To See That Suit Again. It all comes off as obligatory, rather than earned.

(That said, I love the idea of Kagami becoming Kabuto about sixteen times more if it’s just the Kabuto Zecter giving Kagami a pity henshin. Like, Kagami would be really grateful, and he’s sort of pathetic, so maybe that’s enough for a magic space beetle. If that’s where the show is leading the audience? Sure, you’ve got my vote.)

Tsukasa and Tsukuyomi – the Tsupergroup – with their trip to the Misery Suburbs of 2058… it’s the audience learning something instead of the characters, which I’m always less into. She learns that she’s from 2058 (the girl they got to play Young Tsukuyomi has the same GIGANTIC eyes, so good work from the casting department), but only the audience gets to learn that she’s maybe probably Swartz’z sister. It’s a neat concept, but one that falls apart if you think about it for more than two consecutive seconds. Like, she’s dressed the exact same way as Swartz’z sister, with the same gigantic eyes. He didn’t think that was worth thinking about prior to her busting out Time Powers? I assume there’s more to come on this, so I’m not too wound up about how ridiculous this Secret Sibling reveal is (hello Kabuto homage), but I don’t love how hard the show is going to have to work to make this twist make sense. Doesn’t seem worth the effort?

And it’s weird to see it fumbling with its own relationships, since it’s so smart in connecting the show’s dynamics with whatever series they’re homaging. To wit: did not even think about how much Yaguruma and Geiz overlapped before! Two grim Riders who have sworn to kill the person they’re closest to? And also completely can’t follow through on that because they care too much now? How did I not see it?!

The way Yaguruma’s inability to kill Kageyama exposes Geiz’z inability to deal with Zi-O is a great reminder of how much the show has evolved its cast. This episode has Geiz see himself in Yaguruma’s vow to kill Kageyama if necessary, but then it has Geiz see his real feelings in Yaguruma’s refusal to view Kageyama as a threat, no matter what. I don’t think we’re at some crisis of conscience with Geiz, though. Not any more. I think we’ve got a Geiz who realizes that he’s going to follow Sougo down whatever road he travels, even if it’s not one Geiz would’ve chosen. If there’s a beat the show wants to leave Geiz with this episode, it’s the idea of commitment, and how it can sneak up on you.

This episode… not my favorite? The action was STELLAR (that rooftop Henshin sequence!!!), but that’s the lowest bar I want one of these shows to clear. If my main praise lands on, like, the stunt team, someone did not write the best story. The Kagami plot never ended up justifying itself or its elevation of his powerset. The Tsupergroup plot was a trip that no one really needed to take after all. Only the Geiz/Yaguruma plot ended up being both surprising and relevant, and it’s maybe the third or fourth-most important plot in this episode. Fun to watch, all the way through, but not a story I’m raving about to anyone.

https://kamenriderdie.com/images/kr/zio/zio38b.png

Nah, I was asking a hypothetical question, because at this point it'd be spoiler to talk more, but just asking hypothetical reaction when Sougo got to see Time Jackers got victimized.

I don't know about humor or fan service being the 'solution' to make 'asking questions' good/better (the "more palatable" part), when it should be about putting actual effort in writing it well. Those 2 traits are different categories altogether. And many do seem to criticize slow pace but fleetness or not is just different style of writing. Other than that, Sougo's capabilities should be given credit here, again, with Sougo always giving an impression that he's an idiotic airhead (including him screwing up the phrase of Fourze), including how he's at first glance seem easily gullible (of which many blamed it on how kindness is weakness) by Yaguruma by walking into his trap. But Sougo had a purpose why he's 'agreeable' with Yaguruma's plans, he brings Woz along for his own surprise against the Hopper brothers, trapping Yaguruma with his black hole. Sougo knows that it's the trap set by Hopper brothers, but Sougo utilized the trap in his own way. Sougo also has shown his growth in fighting against Geiz Revive before as Zi-O II, with him not solely relying on his predictive powers, but also letting PunchHopper hit him to lure him into his blade (as he's off-balance).

It'd create a good outcome but Kagami's goal here seem to be about defeating Kageyama, and it sounds kinda personal like about settling their past or something. I forgot about this one but I'd wish if Kagami would talk about why he wants to beat him (including to stop him from harming others as reason) or his ZECT related occupation to (not merely the professionalism aspect but about he himself there). It's really simple here that the enemy is Another Kabuto, so the secondary Riders won't be affected for obvious reasons, would it be too easy if the enemy is Another primary Rider and that series tribute feature secondary Riders or the others to deal with the Riders, at least by fighting? (not beating them, but to make others' job easier to obtain the Ridewatches).

Yaguruma is utilized fully in the fight as both Kabuto and KickHopper. I guess as for above, Yaguruma is the manipulative one here to lure Sougo or Arata into a trap, but of course it's an awesome moment for Sougo. And nothing says regarding how Tsukuyomi's connection to her past is due to it hurting her or such here btw, it's not complete yet. About Swartz's connection with Tsukuyomi here it wouldn't be something about Tsukuyomi being victimized by him or something like, Sougo kinda in the bus. Here the role is also Geiz having a conflict with Tsukasa for his friend Tsukuyomi's sake, also considering to stop her when she goes to 2058.

Change! Episode 38!

-Something about Kagami calling Sougo "Your Highness" makes me smile....he's been around too many weirdos, he's just learned to roll with it, I suppose?

-On my first watch, I felt conflicted about Kagami transforming into Kabuto: its a cute fanservice bit, but I felt like it made light of Kagami's own struggle to come into his own path, as Gatack? But someone had to become Kabuto this episode, I guess. I'm not too pressed about it now, but it still leaves a bitter taste. (At the very least, it's fun to see Kagami's aggressive fighting style in the Kabuto suit, which usually rarely engages in any unnecessary movement.)

-Does the revelation in this episode imply that the dumpy hat and oversized jacket is just what Swartz likes to wear? Kinda hilarious,,

-Bizzare tangent: This episode ending with Uncle's pile of onigiri instinctively reminded me of a rather recent Toei heroine who also quotes her grandma frequently with an occasional point to the sky! I keep bouncing back and forth between "it's mere concidence" and "potenially referntial", Shōji Yonemura was also a head writer for a bit on that franchise, after all......

-Felt like I haven't shared an interview in a while, so here's this thing where Tendou's actor cooks a meal for Kagami's actor and they reminiscence about Kabuto for a bit, among other things! Part 1 Part 2

For the purposes of this episode and the fact that every single Another Rider Buster was basically occupied, I'm fine with Kagami becoming Kabuto. Which in a surprising display he becomes the second Rider to defeat the Another Version of themselves without any other issues. The first being Den-O in the Heisei Generations Forever movie. Also I recall Tendou's actor talking to Kagami's about the Kabuto bit and how he watched the episode and said something along the lines of "It really fits you" I just found it kinda cute that he basically gave Kagami his own blessing in a way after the episode.

Overall I'd say there's a lot of minor things I like in this episode. The cute use of the assist robots to attempt to bamboozle the hell brothers, Woz and Sougo shouting about space and their whole mission where Sougo learns the hard way that a drill does not negate the pain that comes with drilling through super hard rock. The cool side by side with Goretsu into Shippu and Put On to Cast Off with Revive and Kabuto. Zi-O Trinity basically showing itself as very much the big powerhouse form with seemingly no range limits in calling the necessary Riders where it kicks through a gigantic meteor. Oh and Uncle making a bunch of Onigiri to the point where Team Zi-O realizes they have a lot of rice to eat for dinner, lunch, and then dinner again. Just a lot of little cool things that made up for some of the oddities of the episode.

Anyway next time given the contents we've got both a Den-O Next Episode Preview BGM and Toki no Ouja making its reappearance in the BGM Swaps. As always with these types of setups I usually prefer the preview BGM over the Insert Songs.

Zero's Legend Episode Previews Corner - EP 39 Preview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63mw6-k1oeI

Having not seen Kabuto yet, I really felt like I was missing alot of context with this two-parter, which is a shame, because the past few did atleast feel as though they were written with newcomers in mind despite the change-up in the formula.

As such, I can really only judge it based upon what little context the episodes themselves provide, as well as comparison via the Kabuto tribute in Decade.

While I wasn't crazy about it, I did feel like it worked for the most part.

Like, it's basically no contest when it comes to these episodes vs the Decade episodes, considering not only were the plot of the latter outright nonsensical, but the moral(s) they tried to push were uh, baffling, to put it lightly.

As for the context of the story that these episodes in an of themselves(and again, haven't seen Kabuto yet so if I'm way off then whoops!), my read was that Kagami was once obsessed with getting the Kabuto Zector, and it was only through admitting to himself that someone else was better suited for it and not letting it hold him down anymore that he was finally able to grow as a person, and thus the Kabuto Zector allowed itself to be used by him. It's very basic symbolism, and allows Kagami be the one to finish the fight.

So yeah, both episodes ended up just being kinda decent for me. The action was great though, that's for sure.