Kamen Rider Revice Episode 42- "Fierce Battle! Crimson Vail & Destream!" Discussion
 

With the power of a new Driver, Genta sets off to confront Vail in his new Rider form.

I slightly regret my comments in the past about Jeanne and Aguilera being this season's equivalent of Kenzan and Desast, because wow this episode reminded me a lot of those two's final battle, with the slow ballad song and the dramatic scenery shots. Vail even has the exact same black and red colour scheme!

Now there's only one villain left before doing whatever the show might do with Giff (unless Daiji does something unexpected? 🤔 )

OMG this episode, Mama the MVP! :cry

The dialogue was insanely good. I started screencaping some stuff, only to realize I was basically putting the entire episode in picture format :lol

This is where it's at with Revice for me, this is family. Not just the Iagarashi's, but the Karizaki's too.

And the action - dear lord, if they distilled my thoughts of an ideal Kamen Rider design and put it into a glass container it would need to labeled "Destream". What an insanely awesome Rider suit, backed up by an excellent character. Papa-san rules.

This is what I was sticking around for; I knew Revice wasn't done with giving me what I wanted. I had to wait a little, but it was worth it.

You know a fight's really good when they cut out everything but the insert song for the final hit.

I think this is another Build Hazard moment for me.

I can recognize the craftsmanship that went into it, from the stunt choreographers, the camera crew, the effects team, the actors, and the editors, but...

It leaves me feeling absolutely nothing. And that is the most frustrating bit about this. I desperately want to love this, as much as the similar moment last year, but... I just can't. It just doesn't hit nearly as much.

On a side note, they really should have had the Vail/Kagero parallel be a thing far before and tie that better together instead of crowbarring it in here right at the end.

Huh? An episode that wasn't garbage? It's been 5000 years.

I liked that this episode drove home the idea that your inner demons are a part of you. Daiji's loss of Kagerou let his righteousness go untethered. He no longer questioned himself. So Genta defeated Vail, but also rejoined with him.

The second is that you have to learn to forgive yourself. Genta has forgiven Vail, but we have to see if Daiji will get that message, too.

The fight was rather nice. The scene of Genta and Vail talking to each other as everyone else was battling all around them was pretty fun. Dramatic fight with nothing but a few impact sounds and a melancholic score. Neat.

Wonder how in the hell Akaishi comes back after being turned to dust, as well as which side he'll be playing for.

If siblings can't settle a fight between themselves, what do you do? You bring in Dad, of course.....

That was...pretty solid, honestly? Let's get into it:

-Akaishi takes a hard backseat in this episode, and honestly good. It's real fun to see him lash out and squirm like a headless chicken, trying to cope with his eventual demise. He can't even find solace in his creepy little "family" roleplay with Daiji, who's clearly Had Enough of the old man.

-I've been critical of Weekend in how passive/purely reactive their planning can be, but honestly good on Masumi for his scheme this episode? Giving the weakened and desperate Vail a chance for new powe/final gambit for revenge, which is actually a covert containment scheme? It's good. (Oh hey, another Kuuga reference for this family in that their special symbol was a thumbs up, lol)

-Oh, Yukimi......I love her bits in this episode? She and Genta are so cute. I was thrown a loop when she said "He's already transformed three times in the past" only for the flashblacks to start playing and a smile curled up on my face. She really is the Igarashis' anchor.

-It's time for the main event. Somehow, it feels really....back to basics, in a way. Good ol fashioned grudge match, its in the quarry, there's a little body of water. Let the insert play, and the fists to fly. It's a damn good fight too, with Genta and Vail being nearly evenly matched. Literally started bouncing around in my seat once they started showing Genta punching Vail in the fiery ruins of the bathhouse.

-Vail's been acting out of spite and envy for his partner scorning him all the time, so for his arc to end with Genta taking him back, *forgiving* him, and telling him to rest up? It's an solid conclusion, far more interesting than letting him die or just shoving him back into a Driver. It's not certain when or even if Vail will ever wake up again, but if he does, I hope he'll learn to accept the rest of the family.

-I like Destream quite a bit, actually? I haven't been a fan of recent Revice suits lately, but I adore Destream's colors, aesethics, etc. Good suit!

-And now its time for: I Think This Is A Really Solid Way For Daiji To Exit His Joker Arc, Personally. Let's dissect all the pieces, shall we?

1) We all know the obvious parallels between Daiji and Akaishi, right? The show even stating that Akaishi sees himself in Daiji n shit, iirc. Well, I'm pretty sure Daiji is aware of that too, which makes what Akaishi goes through that much more interesting. Daiji gets to witness Akaishi's downfall up close, the way his convictions are greeted by nothing but scorn and the growing shadow of death. I'm sure that'll get the gears in Daiji's brain turning about what he's been doing now.

2) Dude's been hurting inside for a good while now. He's made some bad mistakes in the past and couldn't get the results he wanted following his ideals, so he's essientally in a state of licking his own wounds. The sheer hatred he has for Ikki in these recent eps, how he screams his actions will only get people hurt and killed, hm.....I want to say just a tiny smidge of that is (unconciously) directed toward his past self, he can't forgive himself. And that's what propels himself forward on this dark path. The loss of Kagerou also adds in, their dynamic inherently centered about suppression. You can't simply supress or "earse" all things about yourself you're not fond of, sometimes you gotta face them and then start moving forward. Destream vs Vail perfectly symbolizes this for him.

3) The simple language of "Holy shit, we've actually got a chance?" always tends to work. Yeah sure even if Daiji purposely ignored Ultimate Revice deflecting a direct shot from Giff back, he can't possibly ignore both Akaishi and Vail going down in succession. The stance Daiji is taken is partially done out of desperation from impossible odds of beating Gifu, but if the "impossible" turns to "possible", well........

-While we're not fully out of it yet, I think this episode did well in creating a prime scenario for Daiji to reflect on, and maybe finally come back to his family in the next episode?

-I've been praising this episode quite a bit, but there are undoubtedly some hiccups in it here and there. Most notably, the emotions for the main fight might not come across properly to some viewers. Perfectly understandable, as 90% of their backstory is in Revice Legacy (I didn't even finish it...) and they've rarely had time to share the screen together. It worked well enough for me, but I am aware it can come across as a little weak to others.

HOLY CRAP did they nail this one! I uh, I kind of went into this episode placing expectations on it I was prepared to find out were unfair. Like, I just thought the way the Genta/Vail plotline resolved was absolutely critical to Revice's thematic throughline, and if they even slightly messed this up, I would've been super grumpy about it?

As it is, the worst thing I can say is that it's painfully obvious they couldn't find an actual spot to play LiveDevil.

See, the episode lays it out so thoroughly I probably don't need to explain this much, but the whole key to Revice, thematically, it's about accepting yourself, if I had to boil it down to only one thing. That's what the demons are here for, and it's why Ikki is the main hero. As much as I make fun of his egotism, that's always been a very pointed bit of characterization. The fact that him and Vice became best friends after the first quarter, too, it's all part of the show's thesis statement. Ikki loves himself enough to accept his own faults, and in that acceptance, he's found a strength and clarity that tends to exceed anyone else in the series.

So having the endpoint for Genta's arc be centered around him finally resolving to live alongside Vail, after decades of running away from him? Finally accepting that his traumatic past is a part of him, specifically to cement how he's moved beyond it? It's everything I could want. In hindsight, I don't even know why I thought the show would fumble this at all.

And they really just did it way better than I was asking for, if anything, by tying that central drama so flawlessly to so many other characters. Once again, making George and Masumi's tense relationship a part of the Igarashi drama is just a super smart choice that works better than ever in this instance, and bringing in Daiji, the guy who has never truly accepted who he is, as the spark for Genta to get serious about things, it's both great thematically while also keeping the overall plot momentum of the show totally on-course. This doesn't feel like a detour at all, when it could've easily gotten away with it if it was going to be this good anyway. Even my worries that they'd assume you've watched the Vail spinoff were unfounded, as while, for example, people who have seen it will probably think of Yukimi pretty differently, her role on TV as the eternal voice of wisdom and reason is more than enough to justify the material she has here. They aren't just like, referencing things that weren't on TV constantly, and that really helps the episode out, as obvious as that sounds.

And to top it all off, it's just a great episode visually? Destream continues the proud Revice tradition of all the Riders looking totally different, and even that matters to the story. Genta's Rider identity looks nothing like Vail, because Vail was Junpei, and that's not who Genta is. And because it's Sugihara directing, you even get that stylish blue lighting replacing the flames at the precise moment Genta makes that declaration.

Just... a real winner, any way you slice it, this one. I have a feeling that when people go to preorder their DX Vail Drivers from P-Bandai now, they won't even be getting them for Vail, you know?

This is the best episode Revice has had in a LONG Time

Is the mom going to get a suit? A whole family of riders?

The continuation of... Revice Legacy: Kamen Rider Vail! No wonder this one's so good. As that bit is one of the last good Revice stuff lately. Though that also opens up the series fault for putting those in separate media instead of being in the main series.

The family, of which what Revice should be about, took center stage again. Due to how all families are involved, this had Yukimi actually taking a stand for Genta, directly praising his worth to others instead of just showing that she treats him nicely compared to the others ("she spoiled him too much"), though for this one the children don't look down on their father, but actually was concerned. And it seems that, Yukimi is just mandatory for events that actually involved whole family in this series, always had something to say that is, while small, it's impactful. Now her latest bit is about how everyone had different kind of life, and thus it's not set in stone and there's no such thing as definitive normal life. What's important is living the life that makes you happy, which Genta does for her. This can be applied on more than just how you live your life, there are far more stuff that is deemed as objective in being "good" or "bad", but is actually subjective. Like how you'd want to write something lighthearted or dark. Though doesn't mean this is limitless though, like if something is poorly written then it is (and that should be the one used to evaluate something being "good" or "bad") though still not 100% certain, like how in life, if you live your life purposely at others' expense, that'd be the wrong one to do. Not that she's completely perfect though, like one time in her overprotectiveness to Sakura, and this also shows that parents can learn from child too like Genta's solution below...

And later about Genta's debut as Destream to settle things with Vail, other than the even match and a nice use of his powerset (which sadly wouldn't be done again later, like Akaishi), at first was pretty bummed about just forgiving Vail like that and overlook his atrocities he had done before (perhaps the 2nd worst person behind Orteca so far in the series), but later it's actually more meaningful and well-thought when he approaches Daiji later. Continuing on how demons are inseparable part of yourself, Genta had to forgive himself, and it's done here by forgiving Vail, due to how, even if he wasn't malicious like Vail, Junpei was still someone with dark traits that he only desired revenge, and was someone destructive and unstable as a result. Forgiveness actually should be applied on yourself too, which is self-forgiveness, and it's important to do so for mental health, such as someone like Genta who did have empty life as Junpei, and his life with Yukimi and the Igarashis are probably only temporary escapism from that, it's a matter of time until Vail returns, unless Genta finally make amends with himself, and thus includes Vail as another part of himself, and finally letting go from his past tragedies and dark traits which is the way to live a more fulfilling life he seeks. And don't know if Vail can be actually redeemed, entering the body of Genta who had forgiven himself despite his parting words, of which that'd mean for Genta too, the solution is as usual, is literally accepting the demon as a part of yourself, and likely would explain too how Vice became malicious at the beginning of Revice, of which Ikki was in a resentful and self-loathing phase, making Vice more untamed and selfish compared to childhood.

The men behind that fight (and pretty much any supplies as toku scientists), the Karizakis, other than them benefiting one another, is practically having their scientific abilities tested too which George wins, and is given a flashback about how they were like in the past as a parallel to their current situation too. Despite him being surpassed though, Masumi had improved himself too to create something that can seal Vail better, despite that it'd make Vail a stronger fighter, finally atoning for his vailures as he collapsed. So apparently Masumi was a good dad to George (with George returning it), encouraging him for his science's failures and successes. Still unknown how Masumi parted away from George that led for George to hate him, but this can mean there's unreasonable part in George's side, as no way he'd hate him for what he did in NOAH, as George only cared about his researches and violence or chaos before, and the hate continues after he's no longer shady. Still though the part of George being KR fanboy is still forgotten... give something on how he became KR fanboy too (and as usual, him rehashing KR's lessons as he became a better person now). Regarding George's past, it seems that there's some parallel to Sakura's too, who used to adore Genta in the past, but at the present series became mostly condescending towards him until crisis came.

Daiji had really few lines this episode, but it seems that finally the others rubbed off on him, with him having stronger reaction to Akaishi caressing him. Quite the parallel here that Akaishi is being the creepy dad that got rebuffed by Daiji, while the actual dad Genta is more welcomed by Daiji, and actually had his points considered. Probably because of how Akaishi and Vail are trounced by Ultimate Revi/Vice before with less problems than expected (and Revi/Vice doing it again to Akaishi here), which'd mean Giff's enforcers' opinions and views are less valid in how they're not the 2nd to Giff like how they see themselves as. Still kinda might makes right view, the process on how Ultimate Revi/Vice got on that level should also be acknowledged, when facing defeat. This part continues about Akaishi's downfall, including being turned into dust at this episode, and Giff finally making his move cements Akaishi ending his role as central antagonist, though likely kept around by Giff in the previews. There has been some mockery of Holy Live being weaker than Jeanne due to the latter being writer's favorite, and... this is proven true in this episode in Jeanne besting Holy Live. This can be inconsistency (and bias for favorite) as before Holy Live swats away the girl Riders, or Daiji losing his will to fight (Holy Live still not invulnerable to attacks from weaker Riders). Good stuff for Jeanne using her fences at her henshin to block Holy Live's way though.

Well he was hurting himself pre-Akemi death, by being reckless, and if you're talking about it being directed towards his past self with Kagerou, yeah he was insecure. But after Akemi's death he's more firmly on Akaishi's side and he's shown the capacity to hurt anyone who is in his way he deems as obstacles, displaying with us or against us mentality. So he's not merely about making mistakes lately tbh. There's a difference between making mistakes or intentionally causing harm, either maliciously or out of self-righteousness. The former would be Ikki being unintentionally overbearing to others.

I don't know if Daiji willfully ignored Ultimate Revi/Vice reflecting Giff's blast, or that he never saw it? If you refer to Ultimate Revi/Vice videos that are uploaded, then I don't know if such a brief scenario like them reflecting Giff's blast made it to the recording....

They clearly remembered that one Saber episode and thought "we should do that again!"

And you know what? It worked.

The Genta vs. Vail fight was great, especially with that song, really hit the emotional levels. Sure, I think we could have not added those background Revice and Sakura vs. Akaishi and Live fights, but they added a little flair to that one-on-one before the fight, even though they really weren't necessary at all.

Destream looks fantastic, even if it cost us Century's suit in the process, Crimson Vail is the same, though in his case the extra color to Jack Revice add some spice and work for him being a red Vice.

Lots of nice scenes, a great song, and a great fight. All in all, a good episode for me.

Next Week: "Oh. I thought you died pathetically."

Good episode. The beginning, of course, is somewhat hurried and it seems to me that it was worth finishing the 41st with Masamune giving the driver to Vail. But in everything else: very emotional, beautiful battle, good message. And Daiji was finally returned to the family. But, perhaps, this episode looked even better somewhere in the second half of the 30s, otherwise the Battle Familia trailers slightly reduce the degree of excitement for Genta. But I definitely liked it. The next episode teases us with the finale. At a minimum, there will definitely be an epilogue episode, but how long will the battle with Giff be? I hope he, using the example of Evolt and Storius, will prepare something interesting for the heroes.