Excellent, excellent thread. While I don't agree with everything 100%, I have to tip my hat off to Kamen Rider Die for his steadfast dedication and pinpoint analysis of the entire season. Bravo!

So, on to the movie? That's one I'm really looking forward to! Also, just had my 30th Birthday Party and had a custom cake made based on the Faiz Gear Box! (^o^)

There's a prequel to Paradise Lost called Lost World, which might be worth reading the plot summary to understand some of the weirder parts of the movie.

Faiz Briefcake? I would eat that!

That Smart Brain Cake is awesome

Haha, thanks! The details, including the Smart Brain nameplate, handle, locks and hinges were lovingly and accurately recreated in fondant. The cake itself, was a mix of white and dark chocolate flavor, selected to represent the moral conflict of the Orphnochs in Faiz.

I really hope it works for you!

I might've said that? I honestly don't remember. (Everyone on this thread is way better at recalling my comments and takes than I am.)

For this one, I think the whole point of Takumi's story is to, not redeem him, but evolve him? He's an asshole when it starts, but the show adds so much context and specificity to it that he can only get better as a person.

On the other hand, there's Kusaka. He starts as a tortured anti-hero and ends as a villain. He never gets better, and he actually gets worse as you learn more about him?

So, I don't know. I think there's a benefit to not trying to turn everyone into a nice guy, but there's also times where you need to give a character an arc. Does that make sense?

Yeah, I wonder how kids took this series. It's definitely coming at its heroism from a weirder angle.

Oh, I mean, I have been? For two months? But they just feel differently, and that's cool. I appreciate them sharing their takes on these characters!

The Orphnoch King is definitely in the same category as Gamedeus and Sigma, yeah. They're metaphors, forces of nature, obstacles. They aren't villains that you can argue with, bargain with.

The Ryusei School bugged me because it was basically all flashbacks, all backwards-looking. It excluded the entirety of Team Orphnoch from its storytelling, and largely left Keitaro and Takumi on the outside. It was almost entirely a Kusaka story, by the end. That's too much time to explain Kusaka!

Adding more Orphan Daddy to the present-day storytelling probably wouldn't fix that, so for me it's a Damned If You Do, Damned If You Don't situation. As is, it's an Orphan Daddy who feels inconsequential and a Ryusei School story that feels poorly portioned. Adding more Orphan Daddy makes the Ryusei School story way way more of the series plot, and that feels like a huge mistake. I don't really have a way in mind for them to have fixed it!

Aw, thanks! I'm glad you were able to have a better time with the show!

I think maybe bingeing this one does it a disservice? Being able to spend a day between episodes, spending some time really thinking about, it helped focus on the themes and characters rather than just letting the plot wash over me for hours at a time. I'm glad that it was helpful for other fans!

Thanks so much! And happy birthday! That cake is amazing. I hope you said Standing By before you blew out the candles, Henshin as the cake was cut, and Complete after you ate your first piece.

Oh, also, yes, tonight is movie night! It's probably going to be a very late post, but I'm aiming to have it up tonight.

This is yet another one of the many joys this thread has given me. I've seen Switchblade say stuff along the lines of "Faiz's biggest problem is that it'd rather be a soap opera than a Rider show" for ages, and could never think anything in response except "biggest problem?"

It's nice to see that stance reevaluated in a way no amount of me saying "well, actually" could have accomplished, but beyond that, it's just always nice to see people... patching things up, I guess? I mean, it's just a TV show, obviously, but me going through the same process with Gaim resulted in my very first epic novel thread on this forum years back, so, speaking from experience, being able to find again those things you liked about something you've grown cold towards is a wonderful feeling.

Die, I'd love to believe you're saying this out of the goodness of your heart, but, as you just pointed out, we remember the comments you've made. This kinda sounds like an excuse to weasel your way out of that fight with Kurona over all your objectively awful opinions on suit designs. Cosmic States deserves an apology! :p

Although I'm still happy to see your character arc continuing to play out. Maybe by the time you catch up to currently-airing Rider, one episode a week will somehow sound perfect to you. That kind of development would put even Takkun to shame!

What's more amazing is that this thread has gotten everyone so jazzed about Faiz, nobody has even thought to make a Kougami joke yet.

...

Okay, actually, I lied. That cake is immaculate. Nothing can top that.

Haha! I did something better! I wore my CSM Faiz Belt to the party and did a henshin in front of my all my guests. (^.^')


Thanks... and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! (to me.)

I can admit when I'm wrong. Just don't hold your breath for me to revise my feelings on Ghost.

I'm totally gonna have to do a Kurona Rewatches Ghost thread at some point, huh?