[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

Yeah, I lied a little when I said episode 8 was my favorite. I mean, it's right under this one, but under it nonetheless. This episode has a lot more going on with its narrative, and the arc it concludes is the one where Faiz truly sets itself apart in my opinion. It took some some guts to do a plot that asks if the monsters of the week deserve to live, but it took some talent to resolve that in a way where things go back to "normal" without it feeling like the entire thing served no purpose.

What was especially helpful on that front is how that central question never really does get an answer, which is a perfect fit for the kind of themes and tone Faiz has. People having to make difficult choices about what they value and how they want to live their lives in a world that refuses to provide easy solutions is just about the raw essence of this show, and as much as I like episode 8, I think this one gets that across in a more nuanced and interesting way, while still somehow managing to land back at an awesome fight scene where you can root for Takumi fighting Orphenochs again. I feel genuinely sorry for anyone who doesn't get at least a little excited when Justifaiz starts playing.

Yeah, there's something fitting about Takumi's quandary being resolved with an It Depends answer. He was right to defend Yuka, but he was also wrong to spare Merderman. But more than anything, it's not even about actions being right or wrong. People are complicated, things are complicated, and sometimes the best you can do is the least bad thing.

There's an idea Kamen Rider floats occasionally, that it's okay to question yourself, but don't be paralyzed while you wait for an answer. Takumi's problems here are that he wants that clear, unambiguous answer. He feels like doing anything means doing the wrong thing, when the only wrong thing is doing nothing. It's a fun story to tell!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

Also, credit where credit is due, TV-Nihon deliberately played loose with 俺が背負ってやる here by making it "Then let me be damned!", which keeps the punchy dramatic emphasis a lot more than would be easy to do with a more direct translation (Although "Then I'll bear that burden!" would sound fine enough). I guess something about this scene really inspired them, because this kind of thing is highly unusual for a group that prides themselves on not straying too far from the original dialogue.

I cannot tell you how much I love the declaration "If fighting is a sin... then let me be damned!" It is so metal, so Kamen Rider, and so Takumi, all at once. If TV-Nihon came up with that, Inoue owes them a thank you.

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Originally Posted by Deepsea

Man skimming this thread, I can't really see why people think Faiz is bad. I can understand frustrating, but so far it seems to do a good job at what it sets out to do.

My thing is, I don't really like saying art is Good or Bad. I've tried to keep in mind how subjective experiences are. I'm more comfortable saying what worked for me versus what didn't work for me. Even stuff that doesn't work for me might have some value to someone!

The other thing is, I think the people who are likely to post in a thread for a series this old are those who liked it, and have positive things to say about it, which can make a series maybe seem better than the non-thread consensus would have you believe. The people who think Faiz is bad probably don't care enough about it anymore to criticize it in a thread.