[Kamen Rider Die]

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Originally Posted by DreadBringer

Possessive literally means protective, in an extreme manner. Not only for Hiyori but it applies to Juka later as well. It just that the person spotted by Tendou happens to be someone who deserved it here.

It... I don't think possessive and protective are synonyms? Protective has a connotation of care, of valuing someone or something, and it can be used positively. Possessive is about selfishness, and it's almost always used negatively. You can be protective of someone while still allowing them autonomy and independence, like Tendou has done with Hiyori. (I don't recall Tendou trying to box out any other potential suitors?) Being possessive... that's just not Tendou? That we've seen on this show so far, anyway. It's... it's basically the opposite of how I'd describe Tendou's views of other people?

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Originally Posted by DreadBringer

Well, you wished that, but, it won't happen, well for Tendou. Tendou has established his independency, and he wouldn't want to affiliate himself with any organization like ZECT, so he's less likely to be involved in stories like this. And Yaguruma or Kageyama are another major characters anyway. And how Shadow dissolves is not resolved yet for this episode, so can't talk yet other than apparent Kagami fault. And also, with your previous view of responsibility part, now you want characters to have responsibility issues in Kagami?

I think you can do Tendou/ZECT stories without Tendou joining ZECT, though. I mean, the show's already done a couple! As long as Tendou has the Kabuto Zecter, there's a natural in for him on a ZECT story.

I don't 100% understand your question about responsibility issues (I don't remember what I said about them that you're referring to), but I think the show missed out (so far!) by not exploring Kagami's responsibility for abandoning Shadow. His actions were previously framed as him valuing the bond he had with Tendou over the ugly work of being TheBee, but the result for Shadow is that he left them all to twist in the wind while he cozied up to his new friend. That seems like a thing the show could reckon with for a minute!

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Originally Posted by Switchblade

This show really does feel harder to talk about when it's between character introductions and interesting guest stars. It's interesting.

I actually feel the opposite? It's fun to see new Riders and big-name guest stars (or Truegami), but I'm way more dialed in when the show just makes time for a Tendou/Kagami/Hiyori plot. I love thinking about those characters and watching their incremental evolutions. Stuff like Daisuke and Kageyama, it feels like an unwelcome distraction? I don't mind it if it's either super fun (Daisuke) or looped into the examination of a main character (Yaguruma's debut), but I'd almost always prefer a smaller story that exhibits something new about our core trio.

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Originally Posted by Switchblade

Honestly, I have a lot of trouble even remembering Kageyama's name when he's not on screen.

The thing I dig about him so far isn't the performance (which is pretty generic), but the backstory of his grievances. Dude has believed in people, and those people have not valued his belief! That's going to create something within someone that needs to be addressed!

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Originally Posted by Switchblade

There's also the debut of the, um... ZECT Rider System Hot Wheels Launcher? I assume it has a name, but damned if I can remember it. This was something that was a result of Hibiki's bad toy sales: Bandai wanted to make sure that new toys got lots of focus on the show so kids would bug their parents to go out and buy them. The ZRSHWL? is one of the more egregious examples of forced toy integration. Where did it come from? Why does Tadokoro have it? What exactly does it do? Doesn't matter! 2000 yen at your local JUSCO!

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Originally Posted by Kurona

It was so funny to me that FRS Kabuto included the ZECT Mizer. I mean, it's of course awesome that it's as complete as possible; really showing up SHF there and it's great to have more options, but it was hilarious to me given just how. Nothing its appearance was. I'm not sure it even shows up again after this?? I definitely don't recall it!

As someone who came in on Ex-Aid, you are probably never going to hear me dismiss any part of Kamen Rider for being merely toyetic. I love the random new weapon, because it's so random. I don't think Tendou needed some hot new ZECToy to wipe out a few lumbering Worms, but I appreciate him at least trying out the BugZapper. (And then he just goes back to his normal gear, like nothing even happened!)

Also, let me take a moment to sing the praises of the actor playing Tadokoro. He is always one impassioned plea from Kagami or Misaki away from just shouting Look I Know This Is All Bullshit But I've Got A Mortgage So How About You Stop Busting My Balls For Like Five Goddamn Seconds And Just Do Your Jobs. He knows ZECT sucks! He gets that they're horrible people! He is fully aware of how capricious and poorly-reasoned their strategies are! What do you want him to do about it?! He's not Zachariah Zect, the founder of ZECT! He's just some middle-management dude who has an hour-long commute to make twice-daily because he can't afford to live in the city! And his dishwasher needs to be replaced! Leave him alone!