[ZeoRangerV]

Just finished the last episode of Black (still got the movies to watch, but I'm guessing they'll be throwaway stuff) and yeah this show just went up and up as soon as Shadow Moon was introduced. The last few episodes have been absolutely relentless and some of, if not the, best Kamen Rider stuff I've seen. Great action and there are some really emotional moments like Battle Hopper's death and Shadow Moon's dying words. Wasn't that impressed by the Creation King, but it was never really about him so who cares. RIP to the Whale Mutant too, I hope you're chilling up there in kaijin heaven with Mogura from Amazon.

Final thoughts? I can certainly see why Black was so popular, but I don't think it fully lives up to the hype. If the whole series was like the last 18 or so episodes than sure, but the first 33 are far too episodic and detached from each other. While for most older series this isn't such a bad thing, Black OPENS with Kotaro knowing Gorgom have Nobuhiko and are brainwashing/transforming him yet proceeding to do absolutely NOTHING about it until Shadow Moon pops up.

I don't recommend marathoning this show by any means, but if you can get through the first 33 episodes the remainder will reward you greatly.

Out of the Rider shows I've seen, I currently rank them as:

Fourze
W
Ryuki
Amazon
OOO
Black
Decade
Wizard