[DreadBringer]

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I don't know, I think this is in line with how Ryuki treated Wanting To Be A Hero, where that character is best served by having that dream denied. It's easy to imagine a version of the story where Keitaro takes over and is either a) just the wrong hero for the mission, or b) immediately killed by a monster because he's got a good heart but weak muscles. Keitaro getting what he wants from stealing the belt and assuming he knows best... that would not be a great lesson!

What makes him the wrong hero for the mission? I think as you said there, Ryuki is the one where the Rider protagonist archetype is wrong for the mission (dealing with human villains), typically with monsters as the primary villains, they have no dilemmas. Also weak muscles? I don't think most of the Kamen Riders are fighters by default, especially when they first turn into tem, but they obviously can pack a punch because of the Riders' superhuman traits regardless of who you are.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

One of the things I was curious about was how exactly the show could balance the unique hilarity of the nebulously-motivated Team Faiz with the need to, y’know, actually progress the plot.

Now both sides (Team Faiz and Orphnoch) will likely come together, with them approaching Smart Brain.... Keitaro is again kicked around here though... with him being left alone several times. And Keitaro lets Mari stay on his laundry... doesn't she have home? Takumi is also even rude to the one told him Mari's dad cannot be visited. Would decision-making part also consist of Takumi... speeding so that they have more work to do by helping Keitaro out? And speaking of decision-making... you won't see the last one (or even the tolerant ones) of this.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Growing Takumi’s character was another thing I was sort-of skeptical about, since the more you humanize him, the more you start to define his antisocial tendencies, the more I feel like he’s less fun?

So yeah here it's shown Takumi's hidden depths that he's the type who pushes away people so that himself and them would be better off. That would actually make more sense if Takumi adopted that after he knows about the Orphnoch attacks, where a chance of people dying is easier. But it's never known the root of Takumi acting that way. He's apologizing partly because they potentially can die, with the belt at the time being out of their reach in Keitaro's laundry. Takumi should apologize more to Keitaro as he has done no real fault (except stealing the belt but... it's probably better for him at first) to him. It seems that the cafe owner was one of the few people who Takumi is gentler to? Ren has no hero's journey though as he was more like struggling and coming up to terms with his friends being the obstacle between his fiancee. And coincidentally you mentioned secondary Riders from Ghost... one of them being Makoto, with similar motivations as Ren at first (though the difference is Makoto wasn't a dick before his sister was taken away unlike Ren, means if his problem is gone he would... revert back).

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

The Orphnoch plot… it was okay? It’s a lot of information delivered by a brand-new character who immediately died. It’s okay at imparting context, but there’s not a lot in there that I cared about.

Then who would give the exposition other than that guy? Yuji and Yuka doesn't know and wants to know. Orphnochs are the evolution of humans, survival of the fittest (and really shows with those not fitting just die, and not worth surviving). They say humans are winning because they outnumber them, but I wonder how they can beat him without using any belt? They can survive a fall from skyscraper!

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

You’re an adult! If you want to say something, just say it! All of that is to point out that I am 100% on Takumi and Mari’s side for not asking Keitaro why he’s sighing. Just say what you want to say! It’s so annoying, Keitaro!

"Just say what you want to say". Ah this also counts as poor decision-making? Well, just prepare yourself. Though as you said before, Keitaro wants to make those terrible people less terrible right? What about assuming he was just testing their concern to him? Then call out if they're being terrible like being uncaring (and guide them too, even if they likely won't listen)? So Keitaro (dunno about Yuka) really claims that they're dating, instead of just being pals.