[Kurona]

Much as I was scared about watching OOO and the possibility of it not living up to expectations, I was also very excited to rewatch it to see what I skimmed or missed the first time around, or just plain forgotten. My first watch was quite a bit back and I was completely binging these, so naturally I didn't quite pick up on everything! Such as...

First off... I love Eiji's cunning at the start of this episode. It's something I like a lot about his character - how on the surface he's a very simple person, but underneath it all he's actually very clever and perceptive - but I don't always recall specific circumstances, nor do I remember all of them that clearly! So Eiji seeing Ankh about to kill Hina, and immediately jumping to holding the OOO driver over the river and essentially yelling "OH NOOOOO ANKH LOOK IT'S IN DANGER WHAT WILL WE DOOOOO OH NOOOOOO" is beautiful and amazing and hilarious. In many ways Eiji's early characterisation can feel very by-the-numbers, but in other ways you can clearly see a lot of layers shining through.

Second: I knew in the back of my mind that this was the case, just as like, a piece of trivia... but I never truly thought about how Hina's parents are dead. So that shot of their photo on the shrine, followed by Eiji thinking back to Hina calling Shingo's name... oof. Oof. It hit me real hard and it's already making me appreciate her character a lot more -- I always liked her, but rewatching these early episodes paints a picture of someone struggling between trying to find her own independence and path in life (through applying for a job), while also being completely dependent on the presence of the only person she has left.

Third: I do distinctly remember Ankh getting his product placement Iphone 4, but I didn't remember him straight up scanning and using Shingo's memories to the point that he now has at worst a very good understanding of both the modern world around him, and Shingo's personal life especially in relation to Hina. A lot of stories that go this route would have the 800-year-old ancient being not understanding anything about their host's situation (... granted, bit of a specific set-up now I say it out loud), but here Ankh does know everything, he just doesn't care. It's another great way of illustrating the type of character he is early on, with how cruelly efficient he wants to be.

Fourth: Sorry, breaking up this season's rule of three; but if it wanted me to follow that it shouldn't have given me so goddamn much to talk about! ... though this one is, um, "OOO's OST is so fucking good what the fuck". How did this battle theme ever leave my mind when it's such a banger.

Fifth: Me when I see any small animal



Sixth: Something I've always appreciated about this show is how nuanced a take it has on desire and how it really doesn't take a side beyond saying extremes are bad. This is going into a lot of late-game stuff, but it's a story that holds its greatest strengths in simply telling a story, painting out certain implications, and allowing you to come to conclusions on your own rather than casting judgements. And it shows this from even the first episode with the Yummy hosts -- all of them have their desires shown, but none of them are really judged for having them. In this episode in particular, we're introduced to a guy who's really gluttonous and eats a lot of stuff -- but the show never really judges him for that or says he's too greedy? Ankh sure as heck judges him, but... he's Ankh, and what he says - "If he dies fulfilling his desires, so be it" - is kinda fucked up, which is kinda the point! Not gonna say it's perfect, I'm not so naive I forgot what happens in the next episode; but there's certainly a theme going on even early on about desire being a lot more nuanced than "greed bad".

Seventh: So this might be a strange direction to take it in, but it's something I want to start recording because it's starting to interest me a lot. I've noted before how the Greeed's belts are strangely similar to the Arcle, and how alongside Agito; OOO and Kuuga are the only Riders that get their belt from an explicitly ancient mysterious source... and since I've now watched Kuuga and adore it with all my soul, I'm starting to see more similarities in this rewatch. You've got Eiji straight off the bat, who as I noted is quite cunning and smart underneath his simple smiles -- and that's sort of similar to Godai. I realise that it's a lot of general traits I'm conspiracy theory-style stringing together here, but even the way they carry themselves and the connections they forge and their overall optimism despite everything going on underneath is striking me as a lot more similar than I thought before. Then you've got the framing of the Greeed, where putting aside the killing game and their unique language - and, yes, that's a huge part of their identity to put aside - they feel in many ways like the Grongi in how their early scenes are shot, the style put on them, their antagonistic chemistry with each other and their disdain for humans and how they've changed since they were sealed away. Heck, Eiji is backed up by a non-Rider member of the police... kind of! All I'm saying is that there's a lot of parallels going on here and I want to see if I can spot more as I watch (and spoilers, starting to think a few things about a certain secondary). Maybe this was part of the whole 40th anniversary thing? I dunno, but OOO sure is feeling like a new hero, a new legend at the moment.


When Episode 3 alone is giving me this much to talk about... man. Man rewatching this was I think a good choice.