Kamen Rider Drive Episode 5 "What are the Steely Thieves After" Discussion
 

Okay, show, make or break time: resolve this in one episode or confirm that we're officially backsliding into two-episode arcs again.

How is that backsliding exactly? Kamen Rider has proven that kind of formula can work well. I think it's pretty obvious this is a two episode format series after the first four episodes, and I'm completely okay with that.

It can work, but by the time Fourze and Wizard rolled around it had really started to stagnate. Gaim shook things up and was the most engaging series in years. I don't relish the idea of regressing from fully serialized storytelling back to monster- and victim-of-the-fortnight.

We are sliding back in to two-parters. It was confirmed by the writers that the show will be unlike Gaim in the sense that there will be plot points and story lines that are concluded in "one to two episodes".

Atleast I apreciate that they are trying to shake things up a bit in the sense that we get one or two destroyed Roidmudes per episode. Unlike Wizard, Fourze etc. were you new the heroes will not win a fight until the next episode.

Yamamoto Kouhei (Hurricane Yellow) will be in Episode 5.

http://i.gree.jp/img/80/26/27988026/1.jpg?40c1

Thread updated.

Because of Daylight Savings Time Superhero Time airs an hour earlier.

The report I'd heard ws that they were going to be moving to standalone episodes and an overall more episodic approach. I'm fine with that; a series full of good done-in-ones would be a lot of fun. I just didn't want to see the show slide back into the same format we got from W through Wizard, which is what it appears we might be getting.

Enjoyable episode, was nice to see Chase's gimmick. One highlight for me in this episode...was the opening, when they showed Movie Footage X_X

Good to see Yasuda Circus(the comedians who were the Roymudes this ep) in toku again since Rescue Fire where they voiced the bad guys.

The final scene when Brain inject poison into Drive is really something. Wonder how can Shinnosuke still survive after that. Maybe Kiriko save him?

Nice episode, I like the plot and the Roidmudes are funny. I hope they do some more character build-up with Rinna, this show needs more actual characters besides Shinnosuke and Kiriko.

Machine Chaser stole the show for me, again. This dude's just too cool. The voice and sounds of his gun are brilliant, and I love his new weapon and the Viral Cores behind it.

I hope the Viral Cores aren’t just lifeless husks and Chase uses them like little spies or something, like the spider one could sit in webs and act like a spy-camera, that kind of stuff.

Quite good. Nice to get some movie footage, although I wasn't expecting it this soon.

Crush and Chaser Spider continue with the pretty sweet monster designs. Wasn't too fond of Chaser Spider from scans but it's better in action.

Also, while we technically got Speed Dump, no Wild yet. Anticipating that, it's a cool design.

The slowdowns seem to be the only thing protecting Tomari's identity at this point. He wears the changing bracer and toys with the shift cars when everyone else is right there. Kind of hoping he eventually tells them that he's Drive and at least one of them already figured it out.

That was pretty good. I like the plot this week, but overall something about the show still isn't quite clicking for me. I think it's the characters - most of the supporting cast is still really flat and, honestly, kind of boring. I don't even know the captain or the doll guy's names yet. I only know the other inspector's name because it was mentioned this week, but I suspect I'll forget it by next Sunday. Compared to shows like Fourze or W, where the whole cast was really well done, this show is letting me down a lot in the characterization department.

The other thing that's bugging me is the Tire Change powers. It feels like we're back into Astro Switch territory: new powers every episode and most of them look and/or function really stupidly.

I want to like this show more than I do - the premise is cool, the suits are great, and honestly the show isn't doing anything wrong - but I'm just not getting that into it.

Oh, but the Type Wild car is Alternators Dead End, and that is freaking awesome.

The one thing I loving about this show since episode two is that Shinnosuke is pretty much Peter Parker. As soon as he starts wearing his suit and maske he is always making fun of his enemies. The line about not being the Pizza Delivery Boy or Chase getting an Autograph cracked me the hell up xD

Sorry but Shinnosuke made a damn good point here: why CAN'T the Special Unit know about Drive?

Wouldn't it make more sense for the police force to have an asset on call to fight off imminent danger to civilians?

I think I know why. As seen in Episodes 1 and 2, Roidmudes can take on any form. Presumably, they've infiltrated the police force.

Yeah secret idenity and what not.

Which is weird…because Shinnosuke has no problem henshining in front of his enemies.

I do hope the unit learns of Shinnosuke being Drive later on. HE needs all the help he can get besides just Kiriko and Mr. Belt.

And is Drive KR's Spider-Man?

I think he does that because he knows he may defeat so it wouldn't matter if they knew his identity or its because that's what kamen riders do.

No, that'd be Leangle.

Oh yeah man. Instead of having a full-on case, we have the special unit investigating attacks on supply trucks instead, and that allows for more tighter pacing. Loved every second of the episode. The directing was fantastic, the action was amazing and the character interaction was fun to see. Plus the Ichigou reference

Also the viral cores for Mashin Chaser look so badass.

Shinnosuke was in top form in this episode in the beginning he reminded me of The Flash or Spider-Man which makes him completely awesome. I enjoyed Chase's new weapon and how he thinks humans are bad; I also definitely think he is Proto-Drive because how he could use the shift cars. I am intrigued with Brain's attack on Drive I didn't see that coming I glad they are getting more involved Heart and Brain I find them to be very intriguing villains. I really enjoy where this going so far.

The company (Font R right?) reminded me of Yggdrasill - both appear to be as something harmless but is involved with such bad things.

I'm surprised that Chase can use Shift Car powers, that's very awesome. And Shinnosuke with his remarks... if this goes on for the rest of the series I'm going to have a good time! Glad they made use of Chase's metallic and clunky's design with his new weapons too.

Not just that, but surely eventually someone is going to click that Drive and Shinnosuke drive exactly the same car.

I mean, there can't be that many Triderons around can there? :lol

It IS japan but yeah, modified talking NSXes prolly don't show up much

My question for today is Why would a health food company carries an explosives weapon?

I am point out at Barricade64's comment about "Is Rina a traitor"

First for all, How Rina would betray Special Investigations Unit? I saw this week's episode and she just helping Poilce Force about Kamen Rider Drive.

I think the answer to that is more that Belt seems to have alot of secrets we dont know about yet. As soon as they make Drive public the police force would try and not only use the technology as they see fit but also might learn more about how Belt and Drive are connected to the Roidmudes. Something Belt has never really talked about not even with Kiriko and Shinnosuke.

Kamen Knight Rider still entertains. The overall plot is a little thin, but it was more to show off the new toy...er...form. There needs to be a little more build up, but Brain is so far my favorite baddy of the series.

I would agree, the intro credits was possibly the best, but that's because it had fruit included.

5 episodes in, and I still can't help being annoyed by the shift cars, it's such an impractical and cheap gimmick. The fact it conveniently brings new powers as the story demands that's... just lazy.

But that doesn't ruin the show for me, because everything else is ok. Chaser is more and more interesting.

There's also the fact that the story is trying to make them into endearing characters...

Well, this was pretty good. Chase continues to be a badass, Shinnosuke is entertaining to watch, and I continue to like the special squad. Especially Computer guy and his Ticket.

Probably my favorite episode yet - although, admittedly, that's not saying a whole lot as I've been pretty lukewarm on the series (outside of Machine Chaser) thus far. A large part of that, I think, is due to Drive getting more of an in-suit personality - even if that personality is basically just Spider-Man. lol.

Okay, I'm just going to say this: I'm generally pretty cool with the toy gimmicks and never had a problem with them in the past, but for some reason, I'm really loathing them in Drive. They just feel a bit clunky and cumbersome to me, like they slow things down rather than help to accelerate the action. Actually, thinking on it more, it might be the wrist brace that's more of the culprit for the clunkiness....regardless, this is the first time that the gimmick has interfered with my enjoyment of the program. And that's counting Fourze's Astro Switches lol.