[Sh Ranger]

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER HIBIKI VOLUME 18 - “UNRELENTING HURRICANE”

So, we can end the series here, right? I can’t imagine why you’d need any more of this show. It’s perfect, and beautiful, and prolonging it is just diminishing it.

This one… god, what can I even say?

Ostensibly an Ibuki spotlight, this episode casts its net far and wide, giving every character (except Todoroki, who is busy with a physical) a chance to demonstrate their worth to not just this narrative, but the entire concept of Kamen Rider Hibiki. This episode is a love letter to everyone who considers themselves a fan of this show. While the last episode felt like something made just for me, this one feels like an episode for all of us.

I'm glad you enjoyed it as much as I did! I wasn't aware how popular it was until now and this thread is useful for getting rarely heard consensuses like that. This episode is peak Hibiki for me, it really does so many things right.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

There’s some time spent narrowing down its location, but it’s not just eating up the clock. It’s time where Kasumi gets to see Ibuki in his element. Far from the flirty, deferential boy she’s known all her life, Ibuki’s positive attitude and helpfulness inform his heroism, allowing him to bravely face the unknown. All of the times he’s asked Kasumi for her advice, it was because he knew that she was more knowledgeable about those things. When it comes to fighting monsters, that’s his job, and he’s good at it. He doesn’t, like, Find His Spine or anything. He knows where his strengths lie, and he’s able to feel confident in his skills.

It’s a slightly weird story, since it succeeds or fails based on how much you can put yourself in Kasumi’s shoes. 95% of the time we’ve spent with Ibuki has been as an Oni, frequently on active assignment. He’s never seemed to be incapable, or childish. But that’s how Kasumi remembers him, not as some resolute hero. Her gradual realization is what gives the final act its turn, and I think it managed to work out great. It’s tough, though. The series doesn’t do a terrific job of building up to this, basically giving us an episode and a half to hear about Ibuki as something other than a kick-ass superhero. If any part of this episode comes close to not working, it’s that turn.

But, shit, worked on me! A lot of it is how the actors played it. Kasumi never seems to treat Ibuki like a screw-up, so it’s more her seeing where he feels confident, than anything else. And Ibuki never loses that kind smile, never loses his admiration for Kasumi, but once he knows that he needs to take down the Makamou, he’s very clearly in I’ve Got This mode. It’s not huge shifts to either character, but subtle recalibrations towards greater understanding.

I want to talk about how nicely Ibuki talks to the kids they caught sneaking around in the abandoned area. Kasumi starts by scolding them like a mother and telling them what they did was wrong without explaining why, but Ibuki tries appealing to their feelings, admitting he thought it would be to have a cool lair as well, before explaining why it's actually dangerous and they should have fun somewhere else. The kids listen to him cause they appreciate his respect towards them. It's the same reason he's such a good mentor to Akira. He understands people emotionally and knows how to encourage them to be better people, the same way he tries to better himself as an Oni. He's very sympathetic like that.

The other Ibuki moment is just before he enters the stormdrain. He doesn't have his weapon and is about to confront a monster he doesn't know how to deal with. Kasumi thinks he should wait for Hibiki and Akira but Ibuki feels responsible for protecting the city from Oonamazu and waiting would just increase the risk of more losses. His speech to Kasumi before entering is very heroic in a way that hasn't been explored in the show yet, due to the lack of urgency in sparsely populated rural areas. Ibuki has the burden of a whole city to protect and he needs to act now, since that's what a hero should do. It's a great way to prove to Kasumi how independent he is, despite seeming less competent in social situations. It's this moment that allows her to see him a new light and respect him more.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

That final sequence, with Ibuki and Hibiki versus the giant anglerfish, it’s a winner. The score as Ibuki walks through the wreckage of the final episode of Faiz (such a great set), it makes this battle seem climactic, not just for the episode but for his character. Him triumphing over the monster almost entirely on his own, short a brief save by Hibiki, it's the perfect finale for this story. Not a ton of moves to it, but what’s here is fantastic.

Kamen Rider Stormdrain can add a climactic feeling to any fight and when you combine that with Hibiki's attention to being as scenic as possible, it really feels like Ibuki is venturing somewhere mystical and dangerous, despite being completely manufactured.

The fight itself is even better and says a lot about Ibuki, this time as a fighter. Having Oonamazu's stomach act as its own MOTW, in addition to the Makamou itself, is a great way to have both a regular size fight and a giant monster fight in the same scene. When Hibiki arrives to back him up with Reppu against the stomach, Ibuki insists on finishing the Oonamazu himself, despite a Percussion Oni being better equipped to deal with it. It's a matter of his pride as an Oni and diligence that convinces Hibiki to step aside and let him handle it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

It’s that final scene that made this episode feel unbeatable. That moment where everyone’s safe and happy after a rough day. Not the usual Kamen Rider thing where they’re happy to have survived a war, but the simple pleasure of relaxing with friends after you worked hard. There’s no trauma to overcome (well, maybe later for Akira), just camaraderie and comfort.

I loved this whole episode. It was so pure and joyful, brimming over with good people and kindness. I haven’t even watched the Next Episode tag yet. I just… I want to hold onto this feeling for a little bit longer. This is the Kamen Rider Hibiki I’ll always try to remember.

The last scene is a heartwarming way to cap off an already awesome episode. If you remember anything good about Kamen Rider Hibiki, it's this episode. Despite the problems in the second half, I can always look back fondly on the show this way.

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Originally Posted by GrandComplete

Oh yeah trivia time! This location is the Metropolitan Area Outer Ubdergroubd Discharge Channel and it actually off limits to the public for most of the year but there select times throught the years that tourist can enter. It's a really cool location and gave a great contrast to our usual Hibiki fights.

Thanks for the information! I didn't realize Kamen Rider Stormdrain was such a popular tourist attraction. It would be cool if the wiki had pages for recurring sets like this. It was even a level in the Battride War series.

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Originally Posted by Switchblade

Not sure I could stand as close to the gigantic hole as Ibuki did, though.

Good thing the water will break your fall.