[Kamen Rider Die]

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Originally Posted by DreadBringer

Well yeah that's the way, it's still, the part that I talked about before of role model being outwardly perfect sets up too much expectations for the "protege", giving insecurities, the solution is to let them know that the role model isn't perfect as you made them out to be and approach them in a more realistic manner, which is well for here, used to have flaws similar to Asumu himself.

You're right that finding out about Hibiki's similarities to Asumu's troubles both humanizes Hibiki in Asumu's eyes, as well as making Asumu feel less critical of his own failings. But! I really, really wish the way the show chose to dramatize that was telling Asumu that the exact same thing he's going through happened to Hibiki. A bit of metaphor, or a slightly different failing, and I'd've been more on board. As it is, I found it too on-the-nose.

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Originally Posted by DreadBringer

The room's content... I wonder if the toy collectors arrange their toys like the one in the room, it looks something like it.

Sure! Definitely gave me some Collecting Goals.

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Originally Posted by DreadBringer

It hurts Asumu though unintentionally... and passing it off as comedy... it's the "disregard of the hurt's feelings that they don't matter for the comedic or entertainment value in those behaviours" mindset I fear.

Well, that's the "cringe" part!

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Originally Posted by Androzani84

Someone hasn’t seen Shinkenger, since they have Origami as their mecha. (Though given the show’s focus on Kanji, the “gami” is changed to mean “god” instead of “paper”).

Ps, Die, remember the name “Shinkenger”. It’ll be important 4 threads from now.

I will remember it!

(I will definitely not remember it. I won't even remember the name of the Kamen Rider from this show by the time I'm on Den-O. Please remind me when we come to the appropriate time.)

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Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

I find the whole black robes and silly staff a bit hard to take seriously, if I'm being honest? Or heck, really anything about their shtick is that way for me. It makes me feel a bit disconnected from the show, because it's clearly shooting for creepy, but feeding the monsters of the week sea urchins or whatever, I don't know, just not my style I guess.

I think Clockamou ended up working better for me because of how much I wanted the monster plots to pop more, and it definitely did that right away. The aesthetic, it's not a lot, but the Shoving An Arm Down A Monster's Throat is a hell of a memorable move for me.

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Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

Hi! Yes! That's me!

I knew that when I was criticizing it. I'm like, This Thing Is Indefensible OH RIGHT Fish.

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Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

To be a bit more serious, though, I honestly do find the giant monster showdowns one of the most interesting parts of the show. They just fit so much more with Hibiki's identity as a series than the more typical hero tokusatsu fare with the Douji/Hime in each story, and the effects are like... I mean, we're probably never going to come to a real understanding on this, but I'd probably like them less if they were better? I have to imagine this one was particularly rough for you; those floppy pool noodle antennae are aggressively Showa.

The thing is, I do like the idea of Hibiki taking out these giant monster from mythology. Having to consistently defeat a monster that's as big as house, that also sometimes is literally a house, that's pretty damn unique for a Kamen Rider show. It's the execution where I feel like the show can't quite reach a level where I can enjoy what they're doing. The CGI is too weirdly composited, where I can never lose myself in the illusion. The physical effects in this one were worse to me, where I was actively laughing at how dopey it was. That's why, seriously, so grateful for the show doing new twists on the Douji and Hime. That's where my disbelief gets suspended!