[DreadBringer]

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Don't be sorry! You're entitled to your opinion! I just wanted to give some space to the notion that a kid character is maybe allowed to be awful in a way that's a lot more situational or temporary than an adult character. It's totally fine if Keiko still bugs you. She's not easy to like!

I have to say this, talking about a character's flaws and bad traits isn't the same as being bugged or disliking them. You can like character while admitting their flaws - the best characters always do. Actually that makes real fans stand out, unlike those who defend aimlessly, like calling favorite character an asshole.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Yeah, boy, Houjou's clearly the smart one! Instead of some long battle, he's all Yoink and that's it. It's a good strategy!

I never got the feeling Yuuji suspected Takumi was Faiz. Yuuji sees Faiz as a Smart Brain enforcer, so Faiz being some young guy who works at a dry cleaners (and is a total failure of a human being, per Mari's cover story) wouldn't make his list of suspects. So, yeah, it being Houjou is exactly who he'd think Faiz would be.

Apart from that, this also attributes to the Riders' weakness here, the belt is easily removable (it's NOT attached to the Rider form it transforms!).

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Hey, so, more thoughts on why that Yuka/Mari scene was so great.

A while back, I said that I don't think Yuka is really in love with Kaido or Keitaro. And, y'know, after this past episode? I still don't.

Yuka's lived an intensely traumatic life, and her views on romance have been warped by those traumas. She viewed Email Keitaro as an escape from pain, not anyone she was truly connected to. She viewed IRL Keitaro as a distraction from complicated feelings, a way that she could ignore her confusion. She views Kaido as a way to define herself, as a way to feel useful. And feeling useful is the core of Yuka's self-worth, how she knows if she's allowed to feel happy. The things she mentions to Mari in this episode about Kaido, it's about how useless she feels and how he'd like her better if she could do more for him.

All of those things, they're intensely unhealthy. These are not pure emotions, they're someone trying to paper over a lifetime of abuse. It's running from tragedy into a completely different identity, that of Someone's Girlfriend.

The thing that makes me love the Mari and Yuka scene, then, is how much that doesn't happen. How we don't see Yuka contorting herself into a shape that's more pleasing to someone else, but how she's comfortable, happy, accepted.

Yuka's probably never had a friend, let alone a friend that was a girl. Her relationships with men are all based in supplication, in deference. She follows Yuuji's lead, she accepts Kaido's judgment. With Mari, all of that is off the table. Mari doesn't make any demands on her. Mari doesn't judge her. Mari allows her a space to be open about her fears, to feel joy in her dreams. It's simple friendship, and it brings out Yuka's happiness in a way that I'm not sure anyone else ever has.

She doesn't need a man to attach herself to, she needs a friend like Mari. That's why I'm glad we got that scene.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

There’s this great feeling of these two completely different men finding a core that’s the same. Maybe that’s it?

Not talking about how this is your dream fanfiction of them actually working in pizza place? Besides, how were their friends got sick in the first place there? While both of them here are fine so far.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Or maybe it’s the way they innately care for one another?

Both Takumi and Yuji are superpowered beings who are targeted and think the other ones are just ordinary people caught up in their trouble, which is plausible to blame themselves as they think the others are just poor powerless victim who can't fight back against the monstrousity like they can. While Takumi can't transform... I think there shouldn't be much problem for Yuji to fight back and transform into Horse Orphnoch, like what Yuka did, though admittedly that'd be troublesome, but not in a way that Takumi would be scared, but that it just further cements to Takumi that Orphnochs can be human with his own problem of not wanting to tell this to others. I wonder what Kamen Riders are viewed among the public here if you think this is the one makes Takumi "care" by not telling about his secret identity. Probably not the noble inspiring hero they usually considered as, because telling that can actually give hopes.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I liked the conclusion, but it’s still the weakest part of the episode for me.

Faiz Axel, opening up the chest to reveal the core! It's power is sound level speed, but it can only be used for 10s. I thought he's known as a "fragile speedster" type, but was the speed actually also helped up his attack momentums to defeat those Orphnochs? And yeah like a certain series before, Kusaka just winning the fight without it being revealed? (I guess it's just to make it shocking with no result and Kusaka just casually walks up to Takumi) And Takuma dying? Uh... there's Takuma's beating of Takumi before.... Takumi didn't die, just taking the Faiz belt. It could be the same too for Kusaka that he only succeeded to take up the Faiz belt, but screwed up on Takuma. And Yuji thinking Faiz is Takuma.. man sure it's actually suck that this is a world where there's multiple Rider user.

And asking "Why didn’t he answer his phone?".... I suppose even you here are talking about how usually people talk and question about Faiz.

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Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

I agree that Mari is a good friend for Yuka and now that you bring it up, the first girl she ever bonded with. However, I must continue to disagree with your perspective of Yuka's motivations.

Oh well yeah, don't overlook the morality part of a character and thought each of them (except Kamen Rider protagonists) as all for themselves. I don't think I really like that much that people assumes that anyone caring to others (except Kamen Rider protagonists) as just wanting something from them like shipping or such.

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Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

I think Faiz and Jetman are Inoue at his best. They have drama, comedy, romance, action. I mean, what don't they have?

Not about which series is his best or worst, but what people think of him in general. Looking by this thread, it seems that people should actually hail Inoue, but we know about his infamous reputation.

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Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

I made sure to mention this in my first post in this thread.

That's just like every Phase 1 not just this one. In general Phase 1 just seems fairly obscure too, not as much as showa, but to Phase 2 on the internet. In various forums there are just more posts made Phase 2 related, even someone posting a scene from Phase 1 has them be questioned it's from what material. And for the informations, let's just say common sites like wiki or TVTropes contain so little for Phase 1 compared to Phase 2. Phase 1 only contains common summary for the plot , characters, etc. while Phase 2 contains many breakdowns to little details. This even extends to those loving Phase 1, they only gave remarks about how the series is good and must-watch, without actually discussing or knowing the contents from them, unless watching those yourself. There's also obviously those that just can't stand the special effects in Phase 1....even if KR effects usually aren't perfect even in newer ones.

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Originally Posted by Switchblade

Still not a fan. I've seen Kiva, a show I will definitely not be re-evaluating my opinion of.

My point was that I thought Inoue should be given a break with actually measuring how much good or bad he gave, which seemingly, only Kiva for bad? Then for his involvement in Kiva, treat it as just a downturn for a period of time.