[Sh Ranger]

Somehow, in an episode titled "Mari Dies", Die finds absolutely nothing to say about Mari's death....

HUH?!

Androzani84 and I were looking forward to your reaction.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I think I might interpret it a little differently.

Takumi's guilt is maybe pretty justified? He made a few bad decisions, and his friend got hospitalized because of it. Sawada was a bad dude, with plenty of evidence to support that view. Takumi wanted him to be not a bad dude, because that'd mean Yuuji wasn't a bad dude. So Takumi went in wanting to be swayed, and that got a friend seriously hurt.

So when Yuuji shows up blaming him, I think there's a part that wants to punish Yuuji because he couldn't punish Sawada. But I think there's a part of Takumi that wants to be punished. He messed up, and he needs to pay for that. If that means he gets beat up by someone he hates, all the better for his penance.

You're actually not too far from the truth. Takumi wasn't quite at the "I want to be punished by my arch enemy" stage then, but now he's not just responsible for putting Mari in a hospital, he's responsible for putting her in an early grave and it doesn't get much worse than that. Imagine how vexed Kusaka's going to be when he finds out.

I think we interpreted it mostly the same way, except my take is that Takumi's change of mind is something that happened gradually from wanting to punish Kiba for deceiving him to wanting to be punished. He saw Mari die in front of him and there was nothing he could do about it. That was the trigger. He didn't just screw up, he failed his purpose as Faiz and that takes his self-loathing to a whole new level where his hatred for himself surpasses his hatred for Kiba, even giving up on being Faiz since he feels unworthy of it.

I said Takumi's guilt was excessive since his attempt to redeem Sawada wouldn't have been so reckless if only Kusaka hadn't intervened in his friendship with Kiba, screwing up his whole opinion of Orphenochs in the process. Kusaka can't see it but he's indirectly responsible for Mari's death by catalyzing Takumi's change in behavior. It's good that Takumi accepts the blame for his role in her death but the problem is how he deals with his guilt. He mopes, beats himself up and gives up on being Faiz and none of that punishment is helpful to anybody, least of all himself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

--3--

But, y’know, fine, it’s here, let’s talk about it.

The Ryusei School alumni (“Go Meteors!”) have gathered to visit Mari in the hospital, as she lays dying from Sawada’s attack. They mostly end up more useless than normal, a shadow made of four humans that follows Kusaka around, but there’s one part I loved. There’s one dude who, right away, wants to bail. He’s got work, and she’s in a coma, so maybe he should just split, if everyone’s cool with that. One dude blows up at him, accusing him of being heartless in abandoning Mari. But he’s just like, I Did Not Sign Up For This To Be My Life. And I get that! That is a real human emotion to have about all of this!

I love the idea of how the Ryusei School alumni seem to this one alumnus. He got a job, he’s building a life, and these assholes keep dragging him back into Belts and Gear and Orphnochs and then this one girl he hasn’t seen in years is in a coma now? And he’s got inventory on Monday, and he was going to take his car in for an oil change today, and, like, no. You guys.

The other students are like those high-drama high school friends you had who think you’re still friends, while you’re living an adult life and trying to escape their depressing gravity. This guy, I kind-of wish we could follow him more. But, I mean, he’s almost definitely going to get killed next episode?

It was so weird watching GoGo V after Faiz (both of which have 555 in the name!) and being surprised by how autonomous, confident and un-Mihara-like Shou was compared to Mihara! It's like the difference between Smart Lady and Shimada. I'm also surprised that you find Mihara so remarkable. Or perhaps it's just remarkable how unremarkable he is compared to virtually everybody else in this show, almost like he doesn't belong. He's definitely some kind of average guy for sure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

--4--

The rest of the plot, I’m straining to remember. This one was… not a great episode.

The Takumi/Yuuji stuff, despite an awesome intro, gets such short shrift it is criminal. They fight to a draw, which frustrates Kitazaki so much that he gives up the Delta Gear to Sawada, who views it as a crutch and gives it up to Kusaka. Meanwhile, Takumi once again feels so trapped by indecision and guilt (can’t kill Yuuji, can’t get killed by Yuuji) that he gives up the Faiz Gear to Keitaro, who can't use it so he gives it up to Kusaka.

Kusaka has every belt at the end of this episode, and he mostly got them because everybody else thinks they’re lame.

This episode 75% didn’t work for me, but that being how the Belts are treated? I love it. It’s the ultimate Faiz thing, no one giving a shit about the main weapons of the show. (Houjou is so furious when he thinks Kitazaki threw the Delta Gear away, since they were killing themselves to get it!) It’s such a fun, backwards way of moving pieces around, having it all happen through apathy and boredom rather than concerted effort. Brilliant.

Kusaka really lucked out here, getting all three Gears given to him on a silver platter since nobody wanted them. It's such a turnaround from the Delta arc where everybody wanted to be Delta and now Kitazaki's like "meh" after Takumi and Kiba don't let him play with them and he gives it up just like that. Shows how lame and small-minded those Ryusei School guys were for making such a big deal out of it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreshToku

Why.

It wasn't even "Shin" in the title. It was "Shisu". The joke about Shin Dan Kuroto Kami-sama was all for naught!