Kamen Rider Revice Episode 17- "Deepening Betrayal; The True Value Of Buddies!"
 

Ikki needs to upgrade the Barid Rex VStamp, while Sakura begins to learn the history of the Deadmans.

Damn, Ikki failed


This can only lead to more suffering for Hiromi.

Edit: Seriously speaking, I have to leave out my thoughts. I kinda... disliked this episode? Mostly only because of irl circumstances that led to it. Mostly the fact we got a break before this episode which definitely raised expectations for me.

Sakura's ending stinger from last year was promptly ignored as she just immediately leaves. I don't care if it's "subversion", it felt kinda insulting to end the episode with that and then begin with subverting it.

But here's the real gripe. Volcano Rex.

I don't like this suit. Purple/yellow is good color scheme, but I do not like the plastic yellow they have for him, it should have been gold. The fire paint that's apparently hand painted does not work. I commend their work on it, but I would have preferred if it were a solid color instead of looking like that. I get what they were going for, but it doesn't work.

Next. We may have to wait for how this form goes next week, but it's seemingly useless now. So, Revice beats the monster, but wait, where's the old lady?! Turns out, the cultist was already dead prior to turning into the monster. She was killed during the process of creating the monster. This form was made to separate humans from Deadmans regardless of their phase. Now it's useless. I like what it does for the stakes, but it kinda made it so all the shilling on the toy was all for naught.

It's conflicting, should it be fine the form was useless because of what it means to the story? Or is it not fine because the toy took up a slot or budget that could've been someone else's new form? We're also supposedly getting the fist item that is said to be for Revice? It's all... convoluted.

Whatever the case is, I did not like that.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FIntyULX...pg&name=medium

Backstory time for Tamaki "Julio" Gou and we find out that his "Smile!" catchphrase comes from his former friend Yosuke and also Aguilera the first time he met her. Another look at how high school sucks sometimes, as Yosuke was peer pressured by the popular clique in to betraying Julio and tearing the super rare trading card he just gave him. And now he feels terrible about it, after realizing that his friendship with Julio was more important than being popular and how his action is what caused Julio to turn to Deadmans.

This is why Julio feels extra protective of Aguilera, since they were both betrayed by people they trusted. All the more reason for Revice to get their powers synced, since those two Deadmans still have their human hearts, figuratively speaking (and literally, unlike Genta). They definitely don't deserve to die for how they were treated by their alleged friends, they deserve the chance for redemption.

The 0 in the closing screen has been reset, which means more Vistamps coming soon!

She totally chickened out. I guess we'll have to wait a little longer to find out what's going on in the creepy basement.

If it can defeat Giftex without killing them, then it still has a purpose. The sad thing about those cultists is that they're giving their lives willingly. Even for the ultimate busybody, saving somebody who wants to be sacrificed isn't an easy job. It's another look at how Ikki is dishonest with himself, declaring to Daiji how he will be the one to carry the burden of killing the Giftex and then going to George for help cause he really doesn't want to be the guy who kills the Giftex. Ikki is motivated by helping people so he can feed his ego, but killing Giftex makes him feel bad about himself instead.

Remix and Machine parallel:

Revi Volcano and Vice Barid Rex Genomes are both still based on the tyrannosaurus. However, I kind of predicted the existence of a fire and ice based power several weeks before the Volcano Rex suit reveal. It's not for George and there are no bears here, but this seems like the closest we're going to get. Furthemore, the Fireclaw was first encountered inside the Yellowstone Caldera in Wyoming!

And guess what? The new cobra Machine which is much more intimidating than Lovekov has recently been named as Slitherfang, which of course is the parallel to Jeanne Cobra Genome. I'm so excited to fight it!

Really liked this one! Revice continues to be a good time, and this appropriately raises the stakes in every way after a new year's break. Direct character development and backstory for the villains, Sakura and Ikki continuing to have conflict, Hiromi potentially having a new source of Is-FENIX-really-good in the Director... it's all good stuff! I don't have much to say, it's just good! Watch it!

I completely sympathize with Julio here. Let me tell you, feeling betrayed and backstabbed by your best friend is the worst feeling in the world and bound to make anyone furious.
But anyway, this is definitely the next step for Ikki. He feels he needs to save everyone, as you know, being Japan's Nosiest Busybody, but you can't save everyone and sometimes there are people out there that can't or don't want to be saved.
Julio's going to be interesting next week, as whether he can be saved or not.

Okay, new year, new episodes... perfect chance to start giving at least some thoughts on this show again? After all, this episode is so good I'm feeling pretty fired up! Or maybe it's so cool I've just gotta talk about it?

https://i.imgur.com/rYcED7S.png

Pick your pun, I guess. At any rate, with Sugihara directing, I'm always more excited than usual.

So, most of you all had this conversation already, but one of the quirks Revice has developed is that it's trying to balance the actual Revi+Vice=Revice drama that's meant to be the core appeal with the whole sibling Rider shtick, which has kinda run the risk of making Vice feel like an extra in his own show. That is to say, the risk is there, but especially with both Barid Rex's debut and now this, I think the writing has been managing to do a good job still finding ways to highlight how the two of them need to Buddy Up to get the job done, and I'm happy about that.

It definitely helps that the writing in this show has generally been so darn slick. Like any modern Rider show, it's got an absurd amount on its plate, but there's a ton of strong theming in Revice so far that's allowed the plot to gradually escalate in a way that still feels focused and considered. There's a sort of ugliness to Revice's whole world, especially, that I'm finding really fascinating. The way the villains are cultists preying on everyday people in ways that go well beyond simply attacking them with monsters; the sort of hopelessness Ikki is finding in trying to solve that in a clean, ideal manner; even just the way the show has been subtly shading Ikki's own heroism with that lingering notion that you can't truly call him a selfless person. It fits the original Rider concept of a hero tinged by the very evil he stands against super well, and it's been super interesting to follow Revice in part because of that. It's stuff like Julio's role in this one, too. The themes lend themselves naturally to drawing out and exploring the humanity of the characters, and I always love when that's what drives a story.

Plus, you know, it's still a fun action show that doesn't get too wrapped up in itself, which is important. I also appreciate things like seeing Ikki and Vice doing VR training where they fight Revi a bunch, you know? Neat episode concepts like that are just as interesting in their own right. (And I always appreciate when a base form manages to keep getting meaningful appearances, too!)

As someone who plays with trading cards, I feel Julio here. Having someone rip up an ultra rare card, which are often expensive, hurts.

Would you say you would join an evil alien demon cult to get back at the guy who ripped your card? :lol

If I immediately gave it to someone as a token of friendship, only for them to immediately rip it, yeah, probably :lol

Dang, that episode just left me wanting more, this show is driving me a little crazy to watch weekly.

I'm definitely at a point where I'm pretty happy with Revice as a show. This particular episode I think hit me particularly hard, between Ikki's desperation to save people who are beyond salvation and Julio's backstory striking a chord with me. Seriously, it has been a while since we had a Rider show where so may civilians are just explicitly not getting saved, it is a surprisingly early-Heisei vibe, which I can really dig, and can genuinely fuel some great drama. I think I took the whole thing with Julio quite personally too, since I can recall lashing out at someone in a similar way to Yosuke once when I was younger. I always did regret it. I think the fact I could connect to the writing on that level shows how fundamentally good the drama is! I have a hard time holding a grudge against the aspects of the show I don't like when so much is done well.

You don’t think Aguilera is gonna abandon Julio next episode do you?

I would love to have a KR Demons 3-piece movie/video similar to Zi-O’s Rider Time series

At the very least, she's obviously using it by setting him on Olteka. In general, there is a sad irony that Julio became a Dead Man due to betrayal and ended up surrounded by those who constantly betray.

Speaking of Hiromi, given that his body is too weak for Rider, my guess is that he could be made a cyborg. This will be another reference to Showa Riders and add drama without killing the character.

Olteca saying "So it's him" when he saw the Demons Driver glitching out and then immediately trying to kill him makes me wonder if maybe Hiromi's body is actually being modified into a potential host for Gifu that Fenix can use. The Director was adamant about not destroying the vessel when Hiromi suggested it, and both he and George are definitely in on Hiromi's illness.

Speaking of the new Director, he gives off such HEAVY Foundation X vibes.

Sounds like it'll be heartbreaking. That's what I'm afraid of. Aguilera's gonna get a hard lesson soon if she's in need of redemption.

I mean, I don't think Aguilera was trying to intentionally sic Julio on Orteca at that moment. She wasn't angry like earlier, it seemed like she was just trying to relate/cheer him up, and it accidentally set him off.

So turns out Tamaki was really Julio's real name. Sakura had "known" him in her karate dojo by his real name. So far, the series have made me sympathize with Julio here, but not (yet) for Aguilera. I guess not only the newcomers Haitani and Kudo, or even the Deadman cult members, our antagonist cast are all originated like them too, for now Julio's shown to be that.

I did expect that someone will turn into Deadman cult out of miserable life, and turns out that it's one of the major antagonist's origin too in Julio, of him suffering high school hell by playing TCG with Yosuke (and him giving in into peer pressure as well). Wonder what makes Yosuke free from bullying unlike Tamaki. And actually Tamaki looks sharper with his glass and hairstyle compared to him as Julio now despite that it's something to make him nerdy along with TCG hobby. The origin of his "smile" came from Yosuke as well, of which him implementing that to Aguilera would mean despite denying Yosuke's existence at the end, deep down he still valued their time together. Albeit the betrayal makes traitors his trigger, and Olteca's the obvious target.

Julio had talked about Aguilera saving him, and I guess, the flashback shows that it's not really noble thing as I thought (and that's good, it's consistent with her character), it's Aguilera persuading others to join the cult as usual like she did on people like Ayaka (and Julio being one of those recruits like contract holders, only that he became general). Despite the backstory being set to establish their bond, this quite gives a dark implication that it's another way to show the influence 'selling soul to a devil' can give, outwardly giving people pleasure (for the despondent or hedonists especially), shown in how loyal Julio is to Aguilera for major character, and the Deadman cult members that Olteca leads (particularly Kanae Motomura, the girl who is eager to help him) for minor characters.

Julio though, backstory aside, shows how a trait that is normally viewed as good can bring out bad things instead here, Julio is loyal to a maniacal cult leader as she gave him what he wants, thus that'd mean he becomes nightmarish cult executive himself that dishes harm upon others, the exact something that worries Yosuke. Though sympathetic, I think Julio strengthens my argument about how being kind to certain loved ones doesn't make one necessarily good person. Yosuke's apology and the effort to make amends seems genuine and sincere here that he's not hateable despite his betrayal (still at fault).

Those are the negative influence a demon cult brings and how an admirable trait turned negative, and that should be stopped. Doesn't mean the way is strictly 'murder anyone who is bad' though, if there are other less violent ways that can be thought of, which Ikki is considering and looking for ways to separate demons without killing humans. This is expected if a Rider series made the main protagonist to be straight-up heroic, of which Ikki is made like that too (and him being focused on family is him taking small steps, not him neglecting others for family), at least for now (if the implications of his negativity via Vice comes later), that other than saving and (too much of) helping others, he'd try to go for more civil solutions and best case scenarios if able. Continuing from before, Daiji is relatively more pragmatic, but not in brutal and ruthless way that anti-heroes usually have on this, he accepts that Giftex can only be killed, but he's also a bit morose for this instead of being forceful to Ikki like a good number of secondary Riders that clashed with protagonists. I kinda feel disappointed that Sakura didn't reference Tamaki at her dojo before, as she does try to subdue Julio here for Yosuke, and that she had heard Yosuke's story, that he really was named Tamaki. Otherwise Sakura's quite considerate and understanding against Yosuke. Later time for the Ushijima's long stairs though.

Regarding Ikki, for now George proposes the Volcano ViStamp to separate demons from Giftex, of which requires him to level up his teamwork with Vice, done via a virtual reality fighting against Revi. I'd like to see the stakes there though (other than Vice freezing/Ikki burning), like what'd happen if they got hit, though probably it also shows that they've established teamwork (since ep. 13) before George puts them there. Other than the debut of Volcano Rex Genome with fire and ice power for Revi and Vice respectively (Ikki can get fired up against Vice's antics yeah, but don't understand yet for giving Vice with ice... e̶h̶ ̶w̶a̶i̶t̶ ̶V̶i̶c̶e̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶i̶c̶e̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶V̶), I guess we won't see the separating demon part that George claimed before, as the episode emphasizes Olteca's schemes more, with his new Giftarians that actually sacrifices the cult member and not leaving any body behind after its defeat. The scene of Giftarian's appearence was chilling, good job to show how horrific it is and, Olteca's stint now that Volcano Rex Genome's plan is instead to make Ikki angry, like Kouta to Redyue or... Sento to Evolt.

Replacing Wakabayashi there's Akaishi Hideo as the new chief character of Fenix. He suggests to focus on eliminating the Deadman generals... but they're primarily after Giff, so actually destroying the statue as Hiromi propose might be more benefical. Or probably Hideo is like "Wakabayashi" (Chameleon) before...

Honestly, this was one of my favorite parts. Sakura was already rapidly becoming my favorite character and I love that she just took one look at the creepy staircase and noped right the fuck out of there. That is the appropriate reaction to that situation and I am proud of her.

I feel like ushijima and Dad with no heart plot line is long game mystery for Revice, i also agree Sakura noped to go further down is very appropriate reaction well maybe later if turn out ushijima have something to do with either dedman or Fenix probably she gonna bring up again on table

As for Volcano... ok i apploud writer trying to make reason why this form Exist personaly i kinda hate double item form like this if not done on the last line like Gaim' kachioki or Ex-aid Lv99 because that means we will not see barid rex no more and its very similar to Shinning hopper in Zero-one... i prefer this kind of item on Super form tier

So far i satisfied on how Revice story however dedman as raw power is not much treat but the impact like the cult itself is what make dedman scary... its society if you will as a villain...

I really liked that too! She has clearly seen enough horror movies to know that wandering down some kind of haunted staircase is a BAD idea.

Oh yeah, I was going to mention that Julio must have switched to contacts after joining Deadmans.

I agree that Yosuke's apology seems sincere enough and his repentance is probably what allows him to see that Julio has followed a dark path. They're both guilty of "selling their soul to the devil", but I think Julio's motivation was more honest than Yosuke's, who wanted to get noticed by some mean popular guys despite telling Julio not to worry about them before, making him seem hypocritical and therefore not someone who can credibly deter Julio from his choice. School culture shunned Julio for loving a trading card game, so he had to turn to the Deadmans, as they were the only people who would accept him and it's unfortunate that those people also happen to be messed up in their own ways as well. I think redeeming Julio might depend on how Aguilera can help him with his personal problems, now that she's the only person he trusts and will listen to.

Akaishi can mean "red stone", so I feel like he's going to have something to do with Gif's monolith.

Personally, I don't think cowardice is an admirable trait. Not in a civilian and certainly not in a Kamen Rider. No matter how creepy that basement is, you just have to suck it up and keep going down!

Something else I forgot to mention, I enjoyed the new insert song for Volcano and Barid!

Maybe she's seen her fair share of horror movies and thinks "No way I'm I going down this creepy stairway by myself"