[Kamen Rider Die]

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Originally Posted by BagJo

Your sig or Mari just being completely over it is perfect.

Faiz is a great for how it manages to be as dark and serious as Kuuga at times, but can get nearly as light and hopeful as Agito.

I'm really glad you're enjoying it so far.

When I was new to the boards, doing Ghost, I switched up the signature picture all the time. Every few episodes there'd be a moment I liked, so I switched it out. I did it less as time went on, and I started covering different series. By the time I hit Ryuki, I'd grab an early screencap and just leave it.

I thought I'd find something super representative about my Faiz feelings in the first half-dozen episodes, but I wanted something right off the bat, so I grabbed that Mari shot in the first episode. (My favorite shot in the premiere, incidentally.) It was supposed to be temporary, but I'll be goddamned if I don't laugh at it every time I see it. It doesn't really say anything about my feelings for Faiz, but her sour expression sandwiched been two smiling, pushy dudes, I love it.

And, yeah, I find the tone to be... pretty unique? Like, the second episode is both one where two of the main characters have a charming Dude Where's My Driver comedy plot, and one where the other main character feels a deep, irrevocable existential despair and throws himself off of a building. And yet it all works!

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Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

I only started rewatching Faiz a few weeks ago, which means I can talk about this with a fresh perspective. First time was 2015 which lined up pretty nicely for Kamen Rider 4. You might find it surprising to hear, it's actually my favorite KR show!

That's neat! I'm excited to get your thoughts!

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Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

I think the suit looks best when the Photon Blood lights up in darkness, such as the last shot in the OP.

Light-up elements on Rider suits are a constant delight. I get that they're difficult to accomplish practically, and it can sometimes not turn out great if they add it in post, but it's so fun to see.

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Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

I totally didn't recognize Smart Lady as Shimada from Kamen Rider Ryuki. It's the glasses. It's like Clark Kent all over again. There's a serious contrast with their characters as well which may have contributed to the dissociation. Speaking of Smart Lady, I like how cheerful and upbeat she is about advocating genocide of humanity. I think this is the first time the villains had their own mascot and it's definitely a good publicity move for Smart Brain.

Like, everything about her character in Ryuki is different from her character in Faiz. The lack of glasses, the shorter hair, the theatrical delivery, the upbeat energy, the costuming, the makeup... they couldn't have made her more obscured than if she was inside the Faiz suit.

Having the villainous (?) group be more public is a nice switch-up from Ryuki's hidden battles. I like sci-fi stories where the villains have a public powerbase, where they have a more insidious way of achieving their goals than just defeating the hero or attacking with monsters. I like that they've got a diverse toolset, you know?

I didn't mention it before, but I like the semi-subtle touch of putting Mari's bike, the one her dad sent along with the Driver, in the Smart Brain commercial. It's a good way to keep tying together these plot threads.

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Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

A good example of this tonal balance is the juxtaposition between the comedic scenes with Takumi and Mari as they begrudgingly work together to find their constantly missing identical bags and the dramatic scenes with Yuji like when he was chasing the scarf representing his longing to return to a past that no longer exists.

Yeah, that scarf scene really sells that Yuuji (Yuuji? Or Yuji? First episode had it as Yuuji, second had it as Yuji.) can't get back what he lost. It's a great visual, and it landed that part of the story for me in a way that Chie's hysteria sort-of threw me on. Like, I have a hard time pinning down what she wants in the episode, but I 100% get what Yuuji wants, and how he comes to terms with the realization that he can't have it. There's a grim acceptance that that scarf shot encapsulates, and it's a thing where in a few seconds they do a better job than a couple dialogue scenes did.

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Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

Thanks for making this thread and attracting so much active discussion. A show as groundbreaking as this warrants it. Even though it's been 17 years, it doesn't feel like it's aged at all!

Oh, man, my pleasure! I'm thrilled that people have stuff they want to talk about from Faiz. I never know if one of these threads is going to be on a show no one cares about, but I'm glad it hasn't happened yet. (I feel like if it happens, it's going to be Blade or Kabuto. I hope I'm wrong, though!)