[VoidinToku]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xtreme RX

Thankfully, it seems that Inoue's Kiva tribute was a one-off thing because we've returned to Mouri's fantastic format. This episode was a loving homage to Kabuto and nudged the plot forward a little as well.

As a tribute to Kabuto, I am highly satisfied. I love that there is a lot of focus on the returning guests - Kageyama and Kagami are featured quite frequently, starting right from the cold open, and Yaguruma gets to be Another Kabuto. The fake-out opening card was genius. I honestly thought "Next Level" was going to play in its entirety.

The characterization is on-point too. Kagami is still the serious guy we know from the post-Gattack episodes and Kageyama and Yaguruma are both still downers. I love that they played with Yaguruma's "you guys are lucky" dialogue; a part of the character which made him so popular back in the day. It's also kind of cool that, while Yaguruma still hasn't aged, Kageyama and Kagami look pretty different from 13 years ago but the core of their characters have not changed in the slightest. It's nice that they are writing around Kageyama's death by using the original show's lore. And interesting that Kagami notes that Shibuya is looking eerily fine despite being destroyed by a meteor back in the day. By the looks of things, this won't just be a throwaway line.

Action-wise, high-speed battles return. Seems Toei has found a new way to counter clock-up with the Zi-O characters but it's still fun to watch. I'm super happy that we get to see the original enemies return with the Worms in both base and molted form. Seeing Gattack's armoured and Rider forms made me happy and the use of music from the Kabuto OST really helped make this feel authentic (hopes are high for Decade OST when the time arises!). PunchHopper had a decent amount of screentime and Another Kabuto moved just as well as you might have hoped.

Stand-out scene was when Woz defeated Another Kabuto only to have him revert to Kamen Rider KickHopper. Standing in the flames, lamenting himself... and then unexpectedly performing a Rider Kick. So badass.

As for the Zi-O stuff, things are getting interesting. Tsukuyomi has finally questioned the oddities happening in the series since the Blade episodes, including the change in rules regarding Rider powers. Integrating it organically into the show is a good move and it feels less artificial than just chalking it up to production reasons. I think it's great that we're finally exploring Tsukuyomi's past in more depth and with Tsukasa tagging along, I have no doubt it will be worth the wait. Time will tell if we will see how the displacement of Time-Space affects future tributes as well.

It's also nice that they haven't simply forgotten about Ginga's odd appearance in the last two episodes and are tying it into the meteors from Kabuto. Ginga Wakusei form has one baller finisher and I like how they are taking it slow with the reveals instead of blowing it off in one episode.

The end of the episode is pretty intense. Sougo goes Fourze and stops a massive meteor, only to come face-to-face with an even larger one. God Speed Love reference aside, this is really upping the stakes and that makes the cliffhanger all the more effective.

Pretty stoked to see the Kabuto Zector return next episode. By the looks of things, Kagami will finally become Kabuto, which I'm fine with. It's been a long time coming, honestly.

Rider time subs is quick on its game on par with chinese subs and build overtime times. I've seen people joking that they let ginga the space and strongest rider so far to stay behind instead of sending him off the space to take care of the worms. I hope there's references to Tendou. I honestly didnt expect yaguruma is another kabuto and they didnt do the whole exposé thing at the end whee they surprisingly find out. Yaguruma's actors looks the best despite being the oldest i think. I really want kabuto to return in suit to take care of everything like he always do back then in 06. Stock audio or hiro guest voice over would be fine. Kagami was never meant to be kabuto like hibiki. He forgave thebee to gain gattack. Gattack was the superior and most powerful zecter before hyper.