[Kamen Rider Die]

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Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

Yeah, this is easily the better part of the episode, which we can both agree is below average even by the show's new standard. It's the most impactful Shounen has ever been to the Oni side of the story, saving both Midori and himself from a sticky situation and thinking of the tactic for Hibiki to defeat Yobuko. Takeshi could use good supporters like him, especially with the gap left in the organisation by Akira abandoning Ibuki, who is stuck in a tragic limbo where he has no idea whether or not she intends on returning to him and doesn't know what to do with himself.

Yeah, I never really thought Asumu would be bad at being Hibiki's apprentice (he's a good kid who's excited by what the Oni do), but I'm still not sure why Asumu would want to be? The show is pressuring Asumu from multiple angles, most specifically Kiriya and Midori in these episodes, but there's still nothing in the performance that makes me think that future is one he wants.

I don't know. I'm just not seeing what the show wants me to see, maybe?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

I would also like to talk about Kiriya infiltrating Midori's lab and his failed henshin. He has the drive to become an Oni and acts on impulse to accomplish that goal but due to his selfish motivation, Hibiki doesn't acknowledge him and refuses to teach him. It's also shown that despite his academic success, Kiriya isn't naturally athletic, he's untrained and has cowardly traits such as a fear of darkness and lack of initiative when his life is in danger. These are problems he will need to work on for Hibiki to ever accept him as a candidate.

I think the bigger problem is that Kiriya is (currently, outwardly) a selfish asshole who constantly makes excuses and belittles everyone around him, which feels like a demeanor that Takeshi wouldn't look to kindly on, let alone someone who Hibiki would kick out on Day One.