Best Showcase Rider
 

No, auto correct didn't screw up "Showa."

I'm curious which Rider is the best at showcasing what Kamen Rider entails for the purposes of introducing new viewers to it. I'd assume Decade might work action-wise with the whole "I can do it all" thing with the Decade Powers, but it apparently has hiccups with story that could seriously make or break it (hi Matrix).

What do you think?

Well *cracks knuckles* I find there a two options for the two extremes of fans, those two being those who prefer serious plot driver shows and those who prefer and more lighted character driven pieces.

Firstly with the latter option there is W, a series that (coming just off the tails of Decade) was tailored to bring a new audience and thus was required to explain the basics of what the franchise was about. Fortunately though the series isn't just a basic Kamen Rider for Dummies series and stands on it's own as well realized show with well done action, a satisfying amount of drama, hilarious comedic moments and unbelievably likable and memorable characters.

As for the other extreme, for that I'd say go with Gaim. A series that by this point time shouldn't need an explanation as it is universally agreed to be one of the best written and structure kamen rider seasons to date.

I think Kabuto is a good one, actually. Just because it retains the bug motif.

I'd have to say either W or Den-O. Possibly even Fourze.

Black. He perfectly sums up everything that's great about Kamen Riders and their mission to thwart evil. The show captures the classic 1- to 2-part format of classic Rider, but includes enough ongoing storylines that help keep the audience focused and engaged. It also has a fantastic lead character, highly memorable villains, great monster designs, top notch action, and the best damn soundtrack in the history of KR. There are probably shows that are objectively better, but there is no show that more successfully captures the spirit of "Kamen Rider."

I actually feel Gaim is one of the worst series to showcase what Kamen Rider is. The vast steps taken to make sure everyone is a horrible person beyond Kouta, the needlessly dark setting in the second half (KR gets dark, but Gaim kind of blots out the sun during the last 15 episodes), and the ending is kind of jarring, especially for first time viewings.
Just because a series is good doesn't mean that it should be shoved in the face of a newcomer. Often times, especially in a franchise based around tradition, the change of pace is why it's heralded as amazing (Good writing helps, too). But being the exception might actually detract viewers.

As for the question at hand, OOO I feel is the best Rider to showcase what KR is.

I wouldn't recommend Gaim for the same reason I wouldn't recommend Amazon or Hibiki (or Nexus to curious Ultraman viewers). It's a good show, but it is not representative of what Kamen Rider is as a franchise. If someone decides they don't like it, then they're writing off the entirety of Kamen Rider because of a show that is very different from normal. If someone absolutely loves it, you then have to explain that there's no other KR series that's going to be like it.

Well I have managed to get several people interested in the franchise from showing them Gaim so... guess I'm a tad biased with that opinion. :lol

I'd probably only go with Gaim if the people I'm wanting to have check KR out happen to find Gen "Happiness is a Terrible Thing" Urobuchi's works to be amazing. I'd probably also only go with Kiva if I'm banking on Vampires or Violins.

But then again, Violins are best instrument. :D

Clearly you have never encountered the gentle, dulcet melodies of the bagpipes.

There are two options.

Kamen Rider Fourze and Kamen Rider OOO. Fourze has this delightful childishness throughout the series, but still delivers the feels. Has good stories throughout and some better characters. OOO delivers heavy on the story, heavy on the characters, heavy on the villains, and perfection from start to finish.

Well, it depends what period of Rider you want to showcase, because the series are so different from each other.

W, OOO and Fourze are all very good examples of modern Heisei riders, they set a trend in tone and writing that only Gaim really broke so far.

Early Heisei is a bit harder to pinpoint, because they were all pretty different. Though Kabuto and Kiva feel very representative for that era...
Blade would be fine too, but it might set the expectations in certain points too high.

As for the 90's movies, I think they're all fine, but J and ZO do feel more like typical Kamen Riders, so I'd rather go with them.

Can't say much about Showa series, because I've only seen Amazon and 4 episodes of Stronger, but I guess the Showa rider shows are very similar in style, so I guess they'd all be fine.

I think one of the best shows to represent the franchise as a whole is actually Blade. The show has some typical Heisei elements, but also has some more Showa-esque elements like the conflict of riders being kaijin (Hajime, Mutsuki), the rider's own happines being sacrificed to protect everyone (Kenzaki, Tachibana) and also a sort of heroism that I find very interesting to watch (mostly seen with Kenzaki).
OOO is very similar to Blade in some points, so I would say it's kind of like a lighter version of that, but with a less Showa-esque touch.

This is correct. Well said. :thumb:

Kuuga. Because some people don't care about Showa.

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the best ones are probably W or OOO. but you should never attempt to bring someone into the fandom through den-o, I tried that and now all my friends think that is what Kamen Rider is.

I say W is a pretty good series for showcasing what Kamen Rider is.

Depends on which time period we're talking about.

Showa: Black

Early Heisei: Agito

Mid-Heisei: Den-O or Decade (yes, I know, we all hate Decade, but it's hard to deny that both he and Den-O have become the 'faces' of this whole era, if only because they're the two Riders that have made the most noteworthy appearances after their shows ended).

Neo/Later Heisei: W. Slightly edges over OOOs just because W is the one that set the formula for later shows (minus Gaim, which, while probably being the best written show in this entire era, is too much of a deviation from the rest of the franchise).

Sometimes I think I'm the only person who doesn't hate Decade. It's flawed as all heck and really feels like the middle of a series more than anything, but I can enjoy it for what it is. In particular, I like the design aesthetic of the series and it has a hell of a Driver. It may help, in my case, that I saw Decade before any of the series reflected in the AR worlds. :shrug:

Edit: Also, Narutaki is awesome. :D

Those people need to watch Kamen Rider Black.

I did, too. I still hate it as much as possible.

They tried, but almost fell asleep watching it and on the parts they do were awake they were afraid of getting a seizure whenever Black Bugman does his thing.

Showa is on the very end of Rider-shows I'll force myself to watch.

Agreed on all counts :D

While I can respect you wanting to leave the Showa stuff till last, I just wanted to come in and say V3 is ten times the show Black is.

I've actually watched a few episodes of V3 and it was generally fun. Once I do get around and enter the land of Showa, I'll visit V3 first. Or last, so I can remind me that I still have something to look forward to.

I need to find an appropriate high five GIF for this. :lol

As far as Showa goes, I loved Kamen Rider X. It is bizarre and fun and ridiculous. I don't know if it's a great series by any means, but it's entertaining.

X is one of my favorite Showa series. I really loved the monster designs and Apollo Geist is one of the best Rider villains ever.

X is actually the only Showa series I've seen, that's why I can't really grade it against any others. I love it, too, and wish there were some better subs floating around so it could get more viewers.

Decade is a pretty fun show I merely joke because that series is Kinda the redheaded stepchild of the franchise. So is Wizard but nobody makes fun of it lol

I thought Shin occupied that role? :lol

Love you Shin <3

And then there's poor J who everyone forgets about. Which is weird, because he was Tyranno Ranger AND Tuxedo Kamen. How can you forget that guy??

Especially considering he's the only Rider to ever pull an Ultraman and grow.

Poor J? I'm pretty sure it's poor ZO. I think Doras has more appearances than ZO at this point :p

Decade's had more ambition and its flaws were more pronounced. Wizard was just boring.

The original pretty much is the best way to go, especially when read with the Ishinomori manga, which gives further social and political background and establishes what Rider exactly is fighting for and against.
Its hard to argue against the original that set the standard for everything.

After that its pretty much either Shin and ZO or Kuuga/Agito.

Shin and ZO were Riders of the 90s and establish two ideas of it. Shin does the shady people in charge and body horror and tragedy of Kamen Rider and the idea of him being a monster who fights other monsters, and ZO the idea of Kamen Rider as the hero of nature.
Kuuga of course modernized how Rider shows work and how characters work, with Agito going even further while also really cementing the anti-authoritarian ideals of Ishinomori as well as his themes of new humanity and evolution. Not to mention how it still has not one but two tragic loner of horrible circumstances as the monstrous heroes.

I'll be honest, I prefer Black RX. I keep meaning to revisit Black, but there were times it felt like a real grind to watch until Shadowmoon finally shows up. The opening episode of Black is superb though. Just wish most of the rest of the show was like that.

I know that's not the "cool" answer but Black RX just held my attention better throughout.