Ozama, to me, seems VERY "tryhard." She does a lot of irrelevant stuff that I guess would be endearing if she had any personality besides crusty support-role. Like, drinking a lot of beer doesn't seem cool to me, even though I bet the show thought it was hysterical, because I don't get what it means. She's not an alcoholic, nothing comes from it. She just, apparently, can drink a lot like it's nothing. Yay? It's a throwaway gag that forgot to be a gag.

But dear sweet lord, she is the picture of humanity next to Mana, quite possibly the worst "leading lady" in all of Kamen Rider. She was utterly terrible, and the way she said Souichi's name may actually be the most annoying noise in the world.

Plus, I find more and more with later series, that the suits really look like suits. Maybe this is just what happens when HD reveals all your warts.

I think it is, because when you see the old monster suits come back in modern movies, they look much more cheaply done.

Also, another factor may be that they could put more matrials and convincing aspects into older suits because they didn't do as much, action-wise. But as the action improves and becomes more complex, the suits need to hold up more, and be made of tougher material. All the little jewelry on the Unknowns may look nice, but in a serious fight it's the first thing to go. Plus, they need to be safer, and easier to wear.

Reading around, Ozawa's not much of a beloved character, but between her pounding beers and kicking Hojo in the junk, she won me over. Plus I know a couple of really smart people that act very similar and I think that's part of the reason I like her so much.

Shouichi-kun. Shouichi-kun. Shouichi-kun. Shouichi-kun. It's insane how Mana's inflection never changes. Never. And she says it over and over again. That's one of my picky problems about the show. That and how superfluous to the story Ryo appears sometimes.

Excellent point. I hadn't even thought about the SD/HD thing.

I don't get why Ryo is in Agito. I really, really don't. G3, I get. I totally do. Gills? Nope.

I personally like to think Ryubei loves the Godfather movies and tries to run Museum that way :lol.

:lol He's so cuuuuute~

Faiz 02.

Man this show has some really fucked up imagery, but as it's actually creative and not just DUUUR DEAD KIDS DUUUUR like Kuuga I actually kinda appreciate it. Plus, it balances it with really beautiful imagery as well, it's a really stylish show. Also the cast are so pretty. It's just a shame they're doing that blacked out visor thing as well.

Also, it usually annoys me when Riders don't make transforming a big deal, so I like the inversion of that with Faiz, making it a big deal that Inui doesn't make it a big deal.

The fact that Rider CGI hasn't really moved on really works in Faiz's favour. Considering it's six years older than W, and ten years older than Wizard, it actually doesn't look it when the CGI monsters start running around. The action is pretty great, especially when you consider Blade comes after this and that looks hell of a lot more dated.

Really my only criticism right now, is the pace. The show seems to find time to be meandering.

How does a show have pacing issues two episodes in?

Also, could anybody tell me what episode Dark Kiva shows up? I kinda want to give it anotehr chance, but I need something different. I can't stand the monotonous nature of the show, and IXA was a major letdown.

It's hard to give away, without spoiling everything but let's just say there are some very long scenes which work, but seem unnecessary in their length with the abruptness of how the second episode wraps stuff up.