[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

To me, Faiz is exploring some of the same themes as in Agito, but in a more nuanced way. Agito was largely about how we react to change, and that was dramatized through a new species. They fought for their survival against a humanity that would sooner obliterate them than understand them.

Faiz uses the Orphnochs in a similar way, but it’s largely avoided the fight for survival against humanity; instead, exploring deeper, more relatable themes. How does a disadvantaged group argue for its right to self-determination? How does an in-group coexist with an out-group? How does society better relate to new ideas? All of that’s in the show, and the metaphorical way it’s approached is almost always impressive.

Now, do you talk about Renegades and Team Faiz within this episode, or the series as a whole? And other than this, each member of the teams are actually different in approach, individually that you know.... though they're modeled after each other's counterparts. And other than Lucky Clover, what would you view for Smart Brain (other than Murakami, Hanagata, and Minami)? For Minami your take seems tame for him to seem justifaizing him... I don't approve of it. And this should be taken objectively for me, but what do you mean that Team Faiz are heroes because they try to get better at being people? And for Teruo here, did you only speak about him as a character instead of his other stuff?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Dramatically, though, it’s a huge misfire. Huge. It’s about zero percent fun to watch, save for a really excellent fight scene.

You talk about how it's about Orphnoch King's machinations, and Team Faiz being in secondary, and you don't realize he's a potential threat to others (unlike what I think for Hanagata now), and moreover, Team Faiz are spending time with Teruo? And I'm sure Yuji not having dialogue meant something here, to add tension on what's going on with him, and it's probably in character for him to run Smart Brain the first time, how he treats the others there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

It’s all plot, and it all feels like it’s happening to the characters without trying to make it about the characters.

I support Kaido getting acknowledged here! (Mari just saying Keitaro saving him, probably out of spite) This act is actually performed by him (although he's not doing it earnestly), he's a dick but it's not like he's trying to take credit from others or exaggerate what he's done here! There's also more of Kusaka's racism to Orphnochs to just attack Kaido without provocation. And for Teruo and Orphnoch King all important to Murakami.... isn't this... coincidence?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

That fight at the end, though! That was no joke.

But for some reason Auto Vajin doesn't join the party to complete the set!. This does utilize ED-209's multi passenger vehicle to carry both Faiz and Kaixa..... and the fight yeah it's noteworthy that this combines both the Rider combat and motorcycle clash for Faiz (previously it was only about the motorcycle... in a less choreograph than Kuuga's one other than being flashier).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

It's true that I consider Kusaka an extreme antihero with a few redeeming qualities, but that doesn't mean I can't hate him as well. However, he never killed anybody I care about, which is why Saeko gets most of my hatred.

Those who hate him's reasons are all his cruelty, and because of that they can't see him as anti-hero either, because they acknowledge he does more harm than good overall even if he kills Orphnochs. Though like you said before, people like Kitazaki and Minami are even worse (they're listed as pure evil). But having few redeeming qualities doesn't absolve you of evil alignment (caring for Mari - caring for a single person is seen in some of them, and that even what drives their villainy), more villains are on that category - Kitazaki and Minami are just in special worst category that is even too evil for villains (other examples for this in other Riders - Daguva, Ouja, Dr. Maki, Banno, Masamune, Evolt, etc.).