[Fish Sandwich]

Well that was pretty much fantastic.

I'm really not eager to see how Ex-Aid is awkwardly jammed into the last 2 episodes because Ghost is on the fast track to becoming my favorite Rider show period. Depending on how these next episodes go and we'll see but as it is I'm really feeling it. This baton-passing crap is getting a little out of hand though. For reference:

Having an epilogue episode to Drive with Ghost in it: Fine.

Shoehorning Ghost into a pointless scene in the actual finale to Drive: Bad!

I could say a whole bunch about this episode but I think it'll get real rambly so let's just stick to a couple major thoughts.

- I've talked a lot about how Ghost's greatest strength is its thematics and this episode really brought a whole bunch of stuff to a brilliant closure.

- Seeing Takeru consumed by rage for a bit was great and a shining example of how his characterization is WAY more complex than just being a generically nice hero.

- The way they handled Makoto's plotline was great and I'm glad they pulled another twist on the familiar forumla to clone plots like this. Last episode they had Fake!Makoto save Kanon in a way that assured everyone (including probably the viewer for a second) that he was the real one and in this episode they have Real!Makoto save Takeru in a way that assured the audience he's the fake one. It's some genuinely clever role-reversal.

- I'm really glad Adel is actually dead because I think that really was the best way to do it. He gets his redemption but karma still catches up to him. Everybody's happy (including Adel!).