Kamen Rider Revice Episode 32- "Lost Place, Queen's Pride" Discussion
 

Sakura has a surprising encounter after joining the Weekend group.

Gotta say this was an interesting start to our two-parter dealing with Sakura and Aguillera.

That being said, time for a joke. But no seriously Revice if you do this...

Next Week: Hero-San and Former General-San, is that you?

I just wanna throw out there that I wish the Queen Bee Deadman looked cooler. She reminds me of the Claydoll Dopant... Also while it's on my mind, I've been thinking this ever since it debuted, but Revice (Thunder Gale) while ostensibly a fusion of Revi and Vice... is really just Revi, but sometimes Vice's voice chimes in for a line.

So this was once again very much the first of two parts... Looking forward to next week's big fight with Revice's own version of 'Will save us' and the 'add some red ginger' scene!!

The Sakura vs Aguilera conflict is really boring in my opinion.

To be honest, I am not interested about their conflict since beginning....

Probably this one of weakest Revice episode.

The most annoying thing from this episode is when Sakura trying to protect Aguilera from Revice's Rider Kick attack. If Sakura wants Aguilera to become normal human again, she doesn't need to protect Aguilera from Revice's Rider Kick attack.

As we know, Revice can make Deadmans become normal human again, just like Julio in episode 18. So, I personally prefer if Aguilera are become normal human again because Revice's Rider Kick attack.

I still think the conflict is between Julio and Aguilera can become more interesting if their relationship is more explored in the show.

The most interesting from this episode is about Akashi as antagonist.

Overall, this Revice episode is a mediocre episode.....

I really want Gifu are started his actions in the battle in episode 34....

I honestly stopped caring what Aguilera and Sakura were up to, so it pretty much just became background noise for me here. But, I will say, I liked Masumi's quote about a person's righteousness being correct or not.


Sakura protected Aguilera from the rider kick because she finally realized that Aguilera is her responsibility. She's forcing her "righteousness" onto Aguilera via Ikki. Being removed from her demon is not what Aguilera wants, and Sakura shouldn't leave her responsibility to someone else. Aguilera wants to go out in some form of glory and she wants Sakura to do it.

Okay, so I'll start with the things I actually liked about this episode.

I like how Aguilera is adding more red to her wardrobe, since it's a nice medium between her original elegant red dress and the black outfit she wore last time.

Daiji benefits from being outside the main plot of this episode, as it gives him the opportunity to be proactive by investigating Akaishi, even though it seems he might be too late to save Akemi. Nice to see Holy Live looking cool fighting those Giftarians.

The rest of this episode, honestly, it feels like I'm watching a different show, titled Kamen Rider Jeanne.

Julio's finally making an effort in pursuing Aguilera, except he doesn't have to try very hard. His plan is simply to follow Sakura around (stalker count: 3) until she shows up. It works flawlessly, as expected, but that also kind of highlights the hopelessness of his current situation. He still has to rely on someone else to get even a little of Aguilera's time, before she promptly ignores him.

There's no gratification in watching this happen over and over again and based on the very unsubtle next time preview, I doubt it's going to improve anytime soon. I may end up just watching the Vail and Gaga spin-offs and putting the show on hiatus, since it's actually making me unhappy.

Really enjoyed this one. There's a lot of thematic heft to it that I've honestly felt Revice has been slacking on a bit lately. We've got an interesting dilemma to think about that we witness through Sakura, where it comes into question whether or not doing the "right" thing for somebody is actually doing right by them, and those are the kinds of conflicts I think fit this show best. Even little moments in this episode often have a nice weight to them, like giving Ikki that second to connect the situation Aguilera is in to his own fears about his future if he keeps fighting as Revice.

Or heck, probably my favorite thing in the whole episode was right at the start, with Vice drawing on that picture to begin with. It's just this really cute moment where Vice is doing something that's dumb and pointless, but also so genuine in how he wants to cheer Ikki up, and it really reflects the dynamic they've built up over time.

I'm a sucker for Daiji too, so I also enjoyed the whole idea of him being on his little sidequest at Fenix where he gets to do cool hero stuff. Although admittedly, it feels like the writing there is noticeably less sharp than the rest of the episode. Of course, that plotline is still cooking right now, so maybe that's to be expected when it's put against a major turning point for a rivalry that's been ongoing since the show's early days.

Plus, Sakura and Aguilera throw each other around in water, just so you can instantly tell Morota was the director here. It's as predictable as Aguilera following Sakura around at any given moment, and no less amusing, too!

Soooo they are actually going with that hu...I feel like Tamaki is completely useless and served as a way to make the Aguilera and Sakura "couple" work.
I hate that honestly. The guy has been mistreated ever since he stopped being Julio x)

The preview seems to hint that something's going to happen to Aguilera in the upcoming episode.
To be honest, I was way more interested in what was happening in Fenix than what we saw with Sakura.

I'm still enjoying the show so far.

I honestly thought this was a great episode. Not only does it pose an interesting moral dilemma (is it the better choice to "save" someone or give them what they want?"
) but it lowkey ties in with what Ikki learned earlier this season about allowing people to save themselves and make their own choices.

It's also a great way to foreshadow Ikki's own potential fate with Aguilera not having a home or identity without the Deadmans. The episode for me is kinda pulling double duty as developing Sakura as a character while also setting up the themes that will likely carry us into the Endgame. And I believe the big thesis of Revice is going to be what was always stated to be the theme; family. That family is what gives us identity and meaning. Whether that be a literal one like the Igarashis, or a spiritual family like the Deadmans were for Aguilera.

The y̶u̶r̶i̶ ̶p̶a̶i̶r̶i̶n̶g̶ are going at it again, likely for final time.

I guess one thing that I appreciate a bit was that despite Aguilera leaving Deadmans, she retrains her bratty and haughty attitude, she still regularly gave Tamaki the cold shouder at best, her flashbacks of her time as a child being utilized to avoid his hug, and abuses him physically at worst. By this I never view Aguilera as 100% or close to it for treating Tamaki well, she does but not 100%, she regularly abuses him just that at the end she would ensure he's not killed. Regarding her backstory, so far here her backstory doesn't seem to be a tragic one, she had happy time as a child of the Deadman, though obviously being raised by them would give her warped worldview. The preview had her finally confessing that she "loves" Sakura, but don't know if it'd be finally her end, and would leave her childhood, which seems to be the basis of her character not touched upon much, and it means another poorly handled thing of Revice ._.

Other than that, I do appreciate that the show finally addresses on what the Igarashi family wants to do with Aguilera, as previously both Ikki and Sakura wanting to turn Aguilera back into human, but what Aguilera wants previously was to resurrect Giff, and as it's not what she's hoped for, she still had a not noble but different goal this time, to keep her pride as a former evil queen going by probably having herself go out as a powerful threat. Ikki's problem previously was about forcing what he thinks is good upon others, his busybodiness, of which he now asked Sakura if she's certain about turning Aguilera back into human, of which would not make her a threat anymore (if her evil queen pride is about being that).

Other than that, Sakura also received some progression in how she had to come to terms with her hesitation, and weakness again, as it's something that power-ups Lovekov's influence on her and thus weakens her and eventually damaged her belt. I guess it makes more sense about how she can't henshin earlier, Lovekov's influence was preventing herself to henshin at the beginning, while here as Jeanne already she got forced out of it. But at the end she decides to act on her own and cleared her doubts that she'd do what Aguilera actually wants instead of forcing what she thinks to be right and 'sensible' for Aguilera by living as normal human. And in this case. she's the one who insisted Ikki to turn Aguilera back as well, but she changed her mind later. The Weekend didn't do direct action here, but probably they also helped in making Sakura change her mind with Tasuke asking if human life would be compartible with Aguilera, and Masumi stating about how any choices can have their own regrets, as there’re risks to everything, and consequences for any decision you make.

I guess this confirms that Tamaki is fully redeemed now (at least for me who doubts it before with him having no power), as he now admits that what he and the other 2 did at Deadman before was unforgivable. And other than Aguilera and Sakura, he now gets along better with the other Igarashis too, in him cooking for dinner and is approved by Yukimi, and Ikki being concened about him when he looks after Aguilera. This part is kinda like Vice, of which though Yukimi chewed him out here, it was not out of her previous grudge but about underestimating the bond between Igarashi Family (of which what Vice would hope for now). The part of him talking about the other Deadman members who needed Aguilera despite their atrocities, I actually hope that the members' state would be touched upon, though I don't believe it'd be done or executed well...

For another part that seems to be in the center stage more Fenix, and here, after spending his time more in the backseat behind others for his dirty work, Akaishi finally directly committed a real evil deed, and it's an actually nasty one and kinda gives some interest to look for within Akaishi, he brutalizes Akemi, who investigates his schemes, directly along with revealing the Giff eye in his arm, and then sends Giftarians after her, with her fate currently unknown. As Daiji finally goes upset over the treacherous director, he implies that Akemi was held hostage, though she also can be finished off for bad here, given how Revice sometimes set up someone as a major player, only to be shortly killed off, so far previously it had been done for villains like Haitani and Chigusa, but now it happens to someone at hero side (only Akaishi seems bad now in Fenix) instead in Akemi. I guess this gave Akemi some comparison with Chigusa too, both are ladies who are a part of Fenix and watched its true nature via Akaishi talking about his schemes and are offed earlier than their significance would suggest, but Chigusa went rogue and ironically becomes someone no better than Fenix was by joining Olteca, while Akemi keeps her conscience and acted by investigating Fenix instead. I was at first a bit annoyed with Daiji's 'chivalrious' move towards Akemi before, but it seems that he's right this time.

Good thing though? :p That means the show can kinda turn around regarding someone who was kinda forgettable and uninteresting before in Akaishi. And Fenix is never background part of Revice anyway so this one's not about inadvertently making smaller things more interesting.

They seem kinda living up though then for keeping Sakura significant and living up to the hype of her potential compared to her 2 older brothers. Many complaints about female Riders are them getting shafted, often are killed, but there are those that can get shafted without being killed like Yua.

Interesting how polarizing this episode seems to be, personally I really liked this one. Of course, Sakura and Aguilera have long been some of the most interesting characters in the show for me, so I always enjoy episodes focused on them. I really enjoyed the whole conflict between what is righteous and what is the right thing to do, it was a very personal conflict that felt very classically "Kamen Rider" to me. I'm honestly glad Ikki didn't hijack the episode and "save" Aquilera, but he still had some good moments, from his interaction with Vice and the photograph to how his loss of memories related to the main conflict. Heck, even Daiji had some interesting build up! Looking at the next episode preview and judging by how this episode went, it seems likely that Jeanne is going to bring Aquilera closure by killing her, which at this point is probably the only appropriate choice. I hope Tamaki is there to watch just so the poor dude can get some closure though.

is it bad I DON'T want them to kill Aguelia off YET if only because Griff is a generic bad guy and I DON'T Want them to either kill off(Olteca who I GET that you can only keep a villain in the show for so long but IMO killing him off when they did is looking like a bad idea) or more or less kick the other villains out of the story(Julio and when is Vali going to do anything)

I mean, I agree that the subplot is interesting, to see how Daiji is going to cure FENIX. But Akaishi is still kind of just some generic evil dude, except now he just happens to be related to Gif. I'd at least want to know more about his backstory and motivations.

This is too far a swing in the opposite direction though. She's keeping other characters from reaching their potential, due to the show making her the center of the conflict. Aguilera's entire personality at this point is her obsession with her. Julio uses her as a go-between to reach Aguilera and the one time he does it himself in this episode, she shows up anyway. I feel like Sakura getting shafted and/or killed would be an improvement!

A good female Rider can also bounce back from being shafted, as long as they can do it on their own terms. For example, Mayu was robbed of her chance to avenge her sister, due to Wiseman betraying Medusa (so Mayu is like Julio in this scenario). But Mayu eventually found a new reason to be a Kamen Rider, giving that awesome speech (in Episode 51, I think?) that perfectly underlines the themes of Kamen Rider Wizard.

That's the least I can hope for, since it would put an end to this arc for good and maybe give Julio some more autonomy. I imagine that will bring guilt to Ikki and Daiji though, since they made a pact to share the burden of killing Giftex between them.

It's not Sakura's fault that the show doesn't care to prioritize fleshing out supporting characters like Tamaki, or the Weekend guys (or Daiji...) beyond the one basic purpose they all currently serve.

You know, I'm actually fine with Ikki, but for some reason, maybe it's because he's sort of mellowed out as the season progressed, but I think I like Vice the best out of everyone still alive, him, Daiji, and George.

I don't think what they're aiming for here is bad, but it's not great either. For one, Revice is practically a one-man Rider for most of the season, not a huge disappointment, and not one I wasn't expecting, but since we all thought the two becoming one would be a perfect Final Form for them (the real Final Form is probably, maybe even hopefully, going to be for both Revi and Vice), but it takes away the show's dynamic they were leaning on a bit. Again, this is more of a nitpick, as my real problem is the villains. Akaishi is too obvious (and now he's got Evangelion mutation hand), and yet past villains like Dr. Maki and even Gremlin had more to them, and Gif hasn't really done much besides slap his would-be wife, leaving Vail, who I would say is the best current villain.

I don't mind Tamaki too much here, but he's kind like Gentoku (in how he was once a bad guy) but less cool, as I actually love Gentoku, but maybe more like Grease without the cool. I don't really mind how they might be ending Aguilera, but it should have waited for later perhaps. But hey, we might be getting stuff for Hikaru(?).

Next Episode: Hasta la Vista, Aguilera! And Hola, Red Vice!

I'm honestly HOPING Vail usurps everyone Akashi's way too obvious as a main villain Giff is too boring (at least Sotorious by this point had the fairy tale thing going for him and Issach was such a delightful scumbag you couldn't help but smile with glee everytime his plans backfired especially when Xross Saber debuts and spends 3 episodes beating the shit out of him) MY biggest issue with this show is how they're basically wrapping up storylines that IMO should have lasted WAY LONGER then they are only to do a predictable obvious thing that OOO already did a decade ago(Akashi betrays the demons to become the main villain himself) Otelca was an enjoyable hatesink and Kagerou was the only thing at this point Daiji had to make him interesting and Sakura doesn't really have much beyond her rivalry with Agurelia. Also I am SICK of them doing the "Is ViCe AcTuAlLy EvIl insert shocked pikachu face" with Ikki and Vice this show feels like the opposite of Saber where Saber's beginning does suck(and it's plot twist was blindingly obvious) but ince you get past the first 23 episodes it's gangbusters this once you get to Holy Live's debut fizzles out(I do think there's potential with Ikki it's just I'm annoyed because they always go out of the show's way to make Vice look like a bad guy then have Ikki and Vice realize it's a misunderstanding when they could be doing way more hell Ryotaro and Momotaros's dynamic was more compelling by this point because it constantly changed it eventually got to the point where Momotaros is ok with being erassed from existence if it means saving time itself while Ryotaro doesn't want to lose all his new friends)(I do with Den-O did more with Ryotaro overall but what they did towards the end was pretty neat) George is the best character in the show but he's a comic relief character and they can't carry a show(other than Kuroto actually he's the best worst thing to happen to Ex-Aid because yes he has a nasty habbit of ruining dramatic scenes once he comes back(Actually that's a problem with Ex-Aid in general how many dramatic scenes get derailed/ruined by jokes) yes Ex-Aid pulls so much bullcrap out of it's ass to justify his redemption but on the other hand the show's first half just had this energy and feeling to it that it lost after his first death and got back when he returned)