Let's Watch Wednesday - Kamen Rider W/Double Episodes 1-3
 

Kamen Rider W or Kamen Rider Double
From Wikipedia:
The Sonozaki Family sell mysterious devices resembling USB flash drives called Gaia Memories to criminals and other interested parties who use them to become monsters called Dopants, committing crimes with the police force powerless to stop them. After the death of his boss, the self-proclaimed hardboiled (actually half-boiled) detective Shotaro Hidari works with the mysterious Philip, who possesses the true Gaia Memory, to investigate crimes which involve Dopants. Using their own Gaia Memories, Shotaro and Philip use the Double Driver belts to transform and combine into Kamen Rider Double.

- 01 - Two Detectives in One
- 02 - Those Who Make the City Grieve
- 03 - How to Get to Heaven

Watch and discuss!

With the exception of the silly looking T-Rex dopant, these are some really strong first episodes. They establish the characters well without focusing solely on back story, and raise enough questions for the rest of the episodes to follow on with.

Watching 3 episodes is a rather odd number. W is all 2 parters until near the end.

So, you guys plan on including the movies where they take place in the show? I ask because, when correctly place, the movies actually adds to the show (the W part of Movie War 2010 and all of A to Z at least. Everything else is after the show).

Good point. Maybe we shouldve gone 2 at a time on W. If it makes you feel any better it just means we'll have a good cliffhanger each week.

The first episode is a very strong showing for a new series. It introduced everyone very well. Though it has been some years since I've seen W I did enjoy it alot.

This I have been looking forward to.

Episode 1 & 2 Thoughts

Now this is how you introduce a new Rider. Hail of Gunfire, Taboo throwing fire, and an apparent death. Leading into Kamen Rider W's Henshin. I love the Noire feel they were going for in this, I really do. But then the show goes off track when 'She' arrives. I know they needed comic relief, but they get those genuinelly charming moments from Philip. You don't need her. She's just... goofy.
The Magma Memory had such a nice design to. I don't much like the back parts, but the beard was epic (So Epic I wanted to try growing one, but my girlfriend said not if I wanted to ever see her naked again).
The T-Rex Memory.. was just doofy. So many better ways they could've made a Rex Memory without resorting to whatever that was. Her head in the center though? That was creepy as hell.
I love the Hard-Boiler can change forms. Well, half of it can anyway. Matches the over all aestic of the show. I even like that big monster-truck thing they use.

Episode 3 Thoughts

Money is a good idea for a memory. Shame they gave him a repainted Frog custume from that Toad in Gekiranger. Philip, I can see already, is going to be the joy of this series. I love him to death, and Hidari to. Though once again 'She' keeps getting in the way with slap-stick moments I don't like. Hopefully I'll warm up to her. Or spend every episode hoping a Dopant accidently kills her off.

One or the Other.

I just watched W back over Memorial Day Weekend, so I am good, but yeah, it was a really great series. I too found it odd that you said episodes 1-3. Why only 3 episodes though when you were doing 5 before?

Five episodes can be alot for people who have jobs, and things to do over the course of the week. So the decision was made to shorten it down.

Akiko gets better after the Sweets Dopant arc IMO. And yes, you'll love Philip and Shotaro so much that if you don't cry at the end of the series, I will question your humanity :lol.

I love them to death already!

On the first round we did 15 episodes split between 3 shows which was alot for anyone. Even 10 is alot for those of us with regular jobs or other obligations. 3 episodes each of 2 different shows seemed like the most logical thing. Gives everyone an easier time.

I guess that makes sense if you are watching all of the series, but I figured most would only watch one of them.

Sweets? You mean "SUHWEEEEEETSU!" :lol
But yeah, she does get better over time. I had exactly the same problem with her at first. Terui balances her out once he comes on the scene too.

Have I ever mentioned why this show's Theme song is Sooooooooo Good? ;)

Also the 2part stories were also pretty brilliant too. A Good mixture of Comedy & Drama!

Akiko did kinda spoil things at the start but she soon fleshes out pretty much better in later episodes & the events revealed of her Father being KR Skull. I kept wondering about what will happen when we reach Begin's Night, A/Z & the KRW Returns movies soon. Them & the other 2 Movie Wars.

There's something about this particular Heisei Rider series that makes me want to return there & equals with KR Black was for the Showa Era Riders. :D

After all, They're both on No.11! :D

It was crazy to see Marina be the human behind the T-rex Dopant. I found this series to be entertaining and with high production quality. Love watching it in HD. The premise is cool too, 2 people as 1 detective/rider. I am at the episode where Philip shows signs that he somehow knows about the Sonozaki family and has a random breakdown when family is mentioned.

It's funny to see Shotaru narrate the episode only for that one chick to interrupt him. The Gaia memory combinations are cool too.

WBX!!!!