Wizard Episode 46: "The Cracked Memory" Discussion
 

Interesting how the same three people always vote that the new episode is terrible each week. Usually well before the sub is up.

Yeah I know, they are pathetic ain't they.

I find that sad too. I dislike Wizard a lot but I know better than to vote before all of the story is revealed.

Maybe we'll have better luck with Gaimu since it doesn't look like Wizard 2.0 t first glance.

Maybe Mayu's rider form should have been a Kamen Rider Medusa looking. Medusa and Mayu are both twins so maybe the phantoms are very similar too? I dunno, I just want to see a female Rider with a unique suit and a non half assed belt.

And without even posting.

That's why I don't really like putting up polls in these episode discussion threads, people never say why they voted.

I'd give this episode an average. Gremlin finally making his move and the Koyomi story continuing was a nice touch, and Medusa in this episode shows that even if she hasn't been as active aside from fighting Mayu, that she can still figure out what affects the Gate the most. The Phantom's skill is sort of a cop out to me, makes me think of Gnome without the drill for a head.

Mediocre episode.
I found this episode to be so dull. I have no emotional investment in Koyumi, I'm simply tired of Gremlin, Fueki showing up to fix Koyumi's problem takes away from Haruto, making him seem like he hasn't grown and still needs the White Wizard to fix the problems, Medusa could probably be more tolerable if she uncrossed her arms, and Mayu still doesn't get to do jack.

Although not a "bad" episode it really does feel like all of Wizard's time wasting, and its lingering death is taking its toll on the series. This episode was rushed, messy and unfocused, and the choice to suddenly out of nowhere make Koyomi the centre of the Universe was a really...really bad one.

The show has made no attempt at making her anything beyond the doll she is in the show, and as so much is reacting off from a character no one is able to give a monkeys about, it's hard to care about basically anything that happens. I'd say you could swap her with a toaster and I'd have the same reaction but right now I'd actually be more emotionally invested if this was happening to a toaster, because at least I like toast. I think right now the characters are more emotionally invested than the audience. I'm sorta always left wanting to like it more than I actually do, especially the Haruto moments.

Really the biggest saving grace of the series at the minute is the action is absolutely fantastic, White Wizard man, what a badass.

While it's undeniable that the action in Wizard is great, the problem is that the story that leads to the action is so boring, weak, or just bad that, for some episodes, it doesn't even seem worth watching.

Wow, I think Koyomi had more lines in this episode than she has in the rest of Wizard's entirety.

Shame we're 46 episodes in and I simply couldn't care less about her story now.

I thought it was a pretty good episode, although it suffered from having the MotW being tacked on to what would otherwise be a great plot advancement episode. I get that the franchise has rules and all, but at this point we've got Gremlin and Medusa who are badass enough to run down the last few episodes until the finale, we don't need random Phantoms or, really, more Gate stories. Considering how this one was barely even included, I'm not really sure why they bothered.

But on the other hand, the new Gate is Todoroki, and that's awesome. Even if a big part of me is wondering why he was just standing there and whimpering instead of whipping out his Ongekigen Retsurai and kicking monster ass. He'd certainly make a better showing of it than Nitou.

And as far as the whole Koyomi thing goes, this would all probably be way more engaging if they'd cast an actress who actually had time to be on the show. As it stands now, it's hard to care about the chick who has three lines per story arc and never leaves the antique shop. I actually find the Golem Plamonster a more compelling character than her.

Having just finished Hibiki yesterday, when I saw this episode I was like " Is that Todoroki?" And when I was sure it was I was like pull out your guitar, man and make Zanki proud.

While this ep was average at best I just don't care. I have been given zero reason to give a damn about Kyomi. She is treated more as a thing than as a character. It's ep 46 and we still don't really have any idea what Wiseman's goal is. Gremlin has gotten boring and the conflict between Miyu and Medusa keeps getting dragged out for no reason.

At this point let's just put Wizard to bed. The premise was good but the execution has been pretty bad. For me, this has been one of the worst Kamen Rider series in years.

There's a part of me that always wants to instinctively leap to Wizard's defense when I see comments like this. I do enjoy the show and I think it does have easily one of the best main Riders of the last several years. But then I stop and think about it and remember how much the parts of the show that aren't Haruto have underperformed and/or failed miserably. And then I just stay quiet. :lol

This is pretty much how I feel. Wizard was my first proper Japanese Rider series, so it has a special place in my heart. Haruto is probably my favourite Rider minus Eiji. The action is great. Flame Styles and Flame Dragon at least are both really cool forms. The story, world, concepts, mythos etc are cool but it's just let me down so consistently for these last few months that it's getting harder and harder to jump to Wizard's defence.

The haters who hate the series because it's the cool thing to do can go suck a **** for all I care, but those who are giving genuine critiques, like how focusing on a bit of scenery dressing and pretending it is now a character is shit, I actually can't argue with because, yes it is shit.

I still find Shunpei to be one of the better characters of Wizard.

For once I agree with what you said. He's really grown from a manchild that was Hellhound's puppet to a man that serves as a strong moral anchor to both Haruto and "Dark" Nitoh.

As strange as this may sound I'm gonna miss him when Gaim rolls on by.

Rewatching the series some with my younger brother, I'm starting to come and appreciate Shunpei a lot more. His actions in the last episode helped cement in how much he's grown.

I'm so, so sorry. But as you said there are some good points to the series, it's just a shame some many good ideas were never followed through.

I'm not really bothered, it's pretty clear me and the Kamen Rider fandom are incompatible, Kuuga is my most hated Rider series so far but with the way the fandom treats it, you'd assume it was the only Playboy to survive a nuclear war.

So I'm gonna sit here and enjoy what I can of Wizard while everyone else finds every reason they can to rag on it.

You speak as if you have to look hard for a reason to decry Wizard.

I don't mean it like that, I just mean that Wizard is always spoke about in an assumed negative tone, no one seems to find the need to say 'but this worked dot dot dot' in the same way as say...the Gaimu thread, where if you dare say a single negative thing about the series you get leaped on like fresh meat to a pack of wolves. And before you say the obvious, yes there ARE stuff that work with Wizard, every week there is at least one thing.

Well, of course there's stuff that works with Wizard. If all of us hated it as much as we let on, we wouldn't even be watching it.
For me, it's a "One step forward, two steps back" situation with each other episode, doing something right before fucking things over in some capacity.

I do agree that Gaimu is getting too much of a free ride and they're going to end up overhyping the series for themselves and we'll have another subpar series on our hands, but if they want to ruin Gaimu for themselves by anticipating it'll be a perfect godsend, let them.

I agree, Wizard needs to work out what it wants to be. Dark urban fantasy? A goof ball comedy? An episodic of the week style action series? A character drama? A fantasy epic? Pick one, maybe two - even three but not ALL of them, all it means is your show is all over the place, it never adds up to a cohesive whole and you waste my time. There is a reason why you don't fill a team with aces. I know no one would care to do it, but I'd love a fan edit of the series that broke down the pieces of each episode and stuck them all together, so we can see how well Wizard would work with one tone, style, format and focus.

But fair shout on Gaimu.

If someone did that, I'd be curious how much Rinko and Shunpei would be involved :lol
I already know Koyumi wouldn't show up ever, and Wajima at least makes the rings, so he's important, even if he's not a major player.

Let's be honest Koyomi has had maybe one scene before these last couple of episodes, so not much difference either way. And I won't miss her weird bunged up nose line delivery.

Yeah, there are going to be a lot of disappointed people when the first episode of Gaim isn't the lovechild of Kyoryuger and Ryuki with people shouting "Juicy!" every five seconds.

Or the way she always looks like she's about to tantrum.

Dude, future-man! You know the future? Can you tell me if I ever achieve that perfect zen state of ignoring people who crap on other's fun by saying something they're excited for will end up "sub-par" and that they're ruining it for themselves by allowing themselves to have joy in optimism?

Holy crap dude. Dudes. There's a difference between "being realistic" and spoiling the fun of people just trying to hope for something good to come along.

Maybe if Wizard was generally more appealing we wouldn't be so anxious for a new, better series. I've made my views on Wizard clear and I try not to bring it up unless directly approached with the subject, but just mentioning Gaim for no reason other than to piss on it and make Wizard look better? Come on, there's having an opinion and bringing old grudges where they don't belong.

Ah, so I'm not the only one who finds her face really, really annoying.

But you kinda proved my point about Gaimu there, bro.

Usually I'll defend things people don't like (Seems like). Kyoryuger, Gaimu, Goseiger. But.. I'm going to finish watching Wizard wishing that Nitou was the Main Rider and Haruto was just there in the backround.

Nitou makes this watchable.

It's such a shame about this show. It's got so much potential wasted. I love the casting and all the ladies look great. Sadly the writing just isn't that good. I think there's a lot of dull moments and unexplained actions by the characters.

How was Koyomi up and about after being near death the episode before?

Why would Koyomi just left, without knowing where she's going? And why would she seeks out Gremlin?

How come Haruto didn't change to Wizard and instead, lets Gremlin just beat him up for no reason? If it's because Gremlin is holding Koyomi hostage, then I think Haruto was being stupid if he thinks getting the stuffing beat out of him will get her back.

How come White Wizard didn't show up until now? If he's truly cared about Koyomi he should've known about her condition long time ago and should have taken her away. The plot just don't make any sense.

I am tired of watching Wiseman still doing nothing after 40+ episodes. He's the most useless baddie in a KR show ever.

Howso? Was your point that bringing up Gaim where there's no logical reason to just to trash it and the people who like it is basically trolling?

Because that was my point. Really, every time I see you bring up Gaim I can't help but feel like it's just petty insults JUST to try and make Wizard not look as terrible as it is.

Like I said, I have no problem with people liking Wizard, and I try not to bring up my feelings about it, but mentioning Gaim when the show isn't even out to try and, fruitlessly, defend Wizard is weaksauce to the nth degree. You can't change people's minds about Wizard so you pick on an easy target (a show that has not even aired so your words about it are just as hollow, if not mroe than those of the people who are looking forward to it) to try and shift the focus off a terrible show.

Funny, because he's what made me give up on Wizard.

It really paints a picture of Wizard in my head if HE is what keeps the show worth watching.

I used Gaimu as an example, it's a good and recent example that perfectly fit what I was trying to say. If you can't face the reality then that ain't my problem. But your reaction proved my point so thanks.

Locke's allowed not to like Gaimu. Doesn't mean we all can't be friends, just means he isn't as awesome as the rest of us.

I kid, I kid :lol *Brofist*

I recognise I can never be as awesome as you V_V :lol

*Gentaro fist*

Wow, you literally just spoke entirely in canned responses.

I mean, what were you trying to say? What does any of this have to do with facing reality? I've proven your point how? What was even your point?

Nothing you said made any sense. It was all just whiffle to mask the fact that you are completely and utterly in the wrong.

That's not the point at all. The point is, basically, he's starting shit where shit isn't present. He can like or like whatever he wants, but he only mentioned Gaim to create discussion to shift focus away from Wizard. (which, well, this is a Wizard thread, not Gaim)

Well, finally watched it, and I didn't think it was too bad of an episode. The only thing that irked me was, really, the presence of a Gate subplot at all. It was such a minor part of the episode and I feel it really didn't need to be there at all. If they want things to be coming to a climax, then all focus should have been on the Koyomi/White Wizard/Gremlin story. And no Shunpei shenanigans.

I don't think it's too late to be making Koyomi so relevant, either. We always knew there was a big secret to her and it would come out eventually. But all of the main characters didn't know it either. So what were they supposed to do? Support for her has been shown in the past, and really that was all they could do for her.

I know, I know. No one can ever be has awesome has me, it's the curse I live with. *strokes Fedora brim*

He stopped a couple posts ago, the only one keeping it going and starting anything right now is you. So.. Onward.

Their posts are less than 10 minutes apart.
Not exactly "Stopped."