[Sh Ranger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

--3--

There’s another thing they do that I thought was interesting, even if it’s not something I think has a ton of juice in it. Basically, what if Kusaka has been right all along?

The unconvincing speed at which Yuuji fell makes this one a tough pill to swallow, but maybe Kusaka was right to think that all Orphnoch will turn on humanity? It’s almost impossible at this stage in the series to see Takumi and Kaido as anything but the exceptions that prove the rule. They’re the Good Orphnochs, because when you just say Orphnoch you’re implying evil. You have to modify it for the two of them.

This episode at least considers that idea, with Orphan Daddy saying that Orphnochs all deserve to die and that stopping the Orphnoch King is a sacrifice that’ll save humanity. (Which, I’m trying to stay positive, but what in the hell was Orphan Daddy thinking, bringing Dark Yuuji into this scheme at this point?! The whole scheme depends on Yuuji destroying the Orphnoch King to save humanity, dooming all Orphnochs to an ashy demise. Yuuji, who just went through a massive emotional event that led to him loudly turning his back on humanity. Just… why would Orphan Daddy tell Yuuji that he’s doing this all for humanity?! Yuuji had just murdered the guy who was trying to save humanity right in front of Orphan Daddy! He’s turned his back on his friends because they want to protect humanity! WHAT IN THE HELL WAS ORPHAN DADDY THINKING, BRINGING DARK YUUJI INTO THIS SCHEME AT THIS POINT?!)

It’s a fun concept to play around with, even if I’d be shocked if that’s where the series landed on Should Orphnochs Exist. It’s neat to think that, much like the Sawada story, maybe everyone’s been projecting a humanity that doesn’t exist, and that Orphnochs who won’t kill humans are denying their nature. I don’t think that’s what the show’s been saying, but it’s a fun thing to entertain for a minute.

Considering how Hanagata attributes "kindness" to Kusaka, he's seriously out of touch with his grown-up adopted kids. If he can't even understand them, he sure as hell can't understand a complete stranger like Kiba. Now Kiba is doing the exact opposite of what he wants by aligning his goal with Murakami to protect and nourish the King.

Finally, I can go in to more detail on that thing I inadvertently mentioned way earlier that I hope you didn't examine too closely.

The Unstable Mutation of Orphenochs

It's like an inversion of that major plot twist from inFamous 2. Socially, it's proven that humans and Orphenochs can co-exist. Biologically, there's a problem, one that not even the Orphenochs fully understand. Their bodies are in a constant state of decay at a rate which is increased by prolonged use of their monster forms and Gears, which use their life as a power source. Guys like Kaido who seldom use them will probably be fine and still get to enjoy a long life as a human. Mihara's fine cause Delta's broken for humans. But Kusaka's artificial compatibility finally ran out and it's only a matter of time before Takumi, who also henshined many times, starts to feel the effects.

The King can complete their mutation but his awakening would mean the end of humanity. If the King is destroyed, future generations of Orphenoch would continue to decay at an unsustainable rate until eventually the gene goes extinct, ending their species instead. Both sides are locked in to a fight to the death and Kusaka was right about something, Takumi needs to choose a side cause a genocide is happening either way.

There's something I find very Promethean about the conflict. Orphenochs have both the fire of Zeus and the power of animals, making them anatomically superior to other organisms except for their decay. Maybe it's another curse from Pandora's Box (mythological, not Martian) to show that humans aren't supposed to get that close to perfection. The good Orphenochs are those who defy their nature and hold on to the inherent goodness in humanity, even if it means giving up on their life. It's fascinating to think about this symbolism and the philosophical question: Why are humans so special?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

--4--

Solid episode for Kusaka, maybe? Not sure.

There’s a thing I liked in it. I like that while you could view his actions as heroic, I don’t know that Kusaka got any more heroic in this episode. He’s always hated Orphnochs and wanted to protect Mari, and that’s what he died doing. I respect that the show never reformed him, or had his sacrifice be more than a consequence of his rage and selfishness. It’s a neat way to take objectively heroic acts (trying to save Mari, trying to stop a villain, dying in the process) and make them so subjective that Kusaka stays irredeemable. Tricky, but I think the show landed it.

Plus, being able to see Mari as he died without her seeing him? Perfect metaphor for Kusaka and Mari’s storyline, and a poetic end to my least favorite pairing on the show.

The title of this episode is called "Masato, Dying a Glorious Death" which I think is pretty apt. He wanted Mari for himself but he fought to protect her even at the cost of his own life. He had nothing to gain and everything to lose by going to save her which contradicts everything we know about him. He had it coming and it doesn't redeem all of his sins but I respect that in the end, he died like a hero and that's how his allies will remember him. We'll remember him as the a**hole he really was but Kusaka's Last Stand is why I cannot acknowledge him as anything worse than an extreme antihero and his death, however deserved, should be avenged.