[SPLIT LIP]

So I've FINALLY got the episode list up. (I've been doing other things so I never got the playlist open) The first four eps, yes, I'd say are skippable. You've seen the first episode, and you've seen the retelling of it in Begins Night, so you should be good. That episode's all just setup, explaining how Akiko got there and how W goes about business. (and of course tells us that she doesn't know her dad is dead until Begins Night)

Episodes three and four are "money" and while decently enjoyable, are ultimately on the chopping block as nothing groundbreakign happens, and the Money Dopant is a literal big fat sack of loose change, and hardly an exciting foe in battle. Five and six, however, are "Papa is a Kamen Rider" which is decent Shotaro growth. (but features of the few giant CGI-fests. Like Matrixbeast said, it always confused me that Revolgarry had decent effects, but the MOWs rarely did)

Seven and Eight are Heaven's Tornado, but nine and ten are "Sweets." Now the Sweets Dopant is pretty silly, but that arc is REALLY good at establishing Akiko as useful. She's truely an insane person, and a BIG change from the bland or do-nothing leading ladies that normally populate Kamen Rider. Check it out I'd say.

Eleven and Twelve are virus, which is a good story. Thirteen and Fourteen are where plotlines and themes start developing, specifically the villains.

So yeah, that's all I can say for the first fourteen. However after that, every episode is worth watching, IMO. Looking back through the early eps, which even as a hardcore fan I don't consider amazing, I realise one of W's strengths is that it embraces it's aloof nature, but never parodies it. It has fun, but never makes it out to be stupid. It helps taht a lot of the messages it preaches are really good messages. One of my beefs with Den-O is that it occasionally dropped a really weird message, like a frustrated man who yells at, scares and almost assaults his wife should be pitied for his problems? Uh, no? It's so easy for these shows to just phone in the morals, but W never does. Hell, it takes a common phrase "Nobody's perfect" and really makes a statement out of it. (as well as an awesome song)

Also I'm knackered as shit, and I'm not sure if my ramblings are now going in circles or not.