[DreadBringer]

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I really love that, after a few episodes of Kusaka being a complete tool, including giving Faiz a thorough beating in the first scene of this one, the crux of this episode’s like, Hey Does Kaixa Actually Have A Point? Bold choice!

Oh no! Don't let out of universe people like you also hooked up with Kusaka! Sure, Kusaka got some points right there, but grade-s-douchebags or villains can get a point occassionally while not being a righteous person. And even if Kusaka points out that Orphnochs are murderous and that Takumi's reluctance is dangerous, he also stated that he only fought to test his own skills, not for anyone, so why should Takumi actually fight in his point of view if no concern for greater good?

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Just, man, super smart writing for these two characters. It’s a little disappointing that Takumi didn’t whiff on every single pitch in the batting cage, but that’s the only real misstep the Yuuji/Takumi stuff had for me.

Yeah, blown off again the chance there. Mari and Keitaro still have some affection for him as shown here, that previously Sh Ranger thinks there's no chance to explain anymore, but here he does because they both recognize that the problem is that Takumi doesn't want to fight Orphnochs, and that this is the reason he attacked Kusaka. Though this one's finally actually solved. And Yuji being combo'ed with Takumi? Oh well, this actually just get started. Kusaka may be the secondary Rider, but Yuji is the deuteragonist of this series, like Ankh of OOO. Takumi/Yuji is just expected of that. Yuji talked about how there's something you should talk, but can't because they won't fix anything, but I think for this time, it can because Takumi's friends are concerned and not hostile again, though you think it's for their feelings.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

And, dang, not a great episode for Yuuji! It’s more with Morishita, who ends up being a perfect compliment to Takumi’s dilemma.

As Justifaiz plays here (though it's the 2nd chorus).... Dilemma wa owaranai! (The dilemma that wouldn't end) It's written on the song! I didn't think much of Morishita knowing about Yuji being the killer because of his Orphnoch qualities, but here actually I gave it more thoughts because, obviously, him getting Orphnoch powers. That way, he'd be an actual adversary to Yuji! Now it's shown about someone gaining Orphnoch powers without being in danger? (like Yuji and Yuka).

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

It all leads to a terrific double Faiz Fight, a fight so good it gets fight music AND the opening theme played over it. The visuals are so fun here, with Faiz and Armakillo fighting on top of cars, Faiz rushing Merderman (who returns just in time get immolated), Faiz getting two finishers, and Faiz getting his sword finisher through an exploding car.

It’s all insanely high quality, and it feels like a reward for watching Faiz completely fall apart for the last two episodes. It’s such an awesome fight that Mari and Keitaro consider it to be a sign that Takumi’s back on the side of justice, and ready to defend humanity against Orphnochs.

Once again, I sort-of like how the show keeps these characters in each other’s orbits without Takumi necessarily becoming, like, better as a person. He’s withholding to them in the beginning, and in the end it mostly just looks like he’s better and they’re okay with that. It could be a drawback, but I think it's a very unique kind of friendship. Some friends… it’s like you're friends, and it’s down to the core, but you don’t really talk about it. You know? There are friends that would never use that word. I feel like that’s Team Faiz and Takumi.

Faiz being maximum badass here to defeat 2 Orphnochs at once. And Sparkle Cut, the sword finisher, the wave.... explodes the car it hits (I've seen this scene before going to the series). So Takumi didn't have to talk about it to his friends, because he's just going back into fighting Orphnochs. It's a shame that Cucksaka didn't have a chance to witness this (though he wouldn't change). Well yeah, I forgot to state this before but, I do think the same as you, I wouldn't necessarily want for gruff and unpleasant character to undergo a major and total change after development like Takumi here, but the opposite goes true as well to me, I also don't want a personable characters to be changed into grumpy douchebags just because those are the ones viewers enjoy; fanservice (like, if they don't want the unpleasant character to change only because they like watching jerks and want more of them to change the "wimpy" personable character too). Doesn't mean don't want any development to either type, though I just think that it's not that easy to change 180 degrees.