[DreadBringer]

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

The thing is, it's not even that you shouldn't tell stories about perfect characters. It's that hinging a cliffhanger on the perfect character's surprise or ignorance... that is maybe the thing you shouldn't do. Like, Tendou can absolutely be perfect, but then you need a cliffhanger that's about literally anyone else being in peril. (I mean, you've got Gon being captured! Just end on that!) Trying to make an audience who has seen Tendou flawlessly foil every single attempt on his life think that this time he didn't see it coming... I don't know, I don't think it works.

Well yeah, also looking for more insights regarding perfect characters other than, although with good reason, the tip of writing story in several that have been written is avoiding this.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER KABUTO - EPISODE 18

Daisuke is fully committed to Gon in this episode, and while I could quibble about the show doing a pretty huge 180 from how shitty he was treating her last episode, I can honestly see why he’d change his mind.

The thing about the guitar being the motif for Daisuke and Gon representing warmth and melody didn't cross my mind because I thought guitar isn't the exclusive thing that represents that...And for this one you've changed your mind (something you'd think won't be able to do as it's art) as well? With you previously saying Daisuke suddenly didn’t give two shits about Gon’s obvious terror, but here it’s just him getting worse and worse until WAIT HE DOES CARE; Of Course Daisuke Actually Cares About Gon. The previous episode was about how Gon repeatedly tells Daisuke that she's in danger. Daisuke never believes anything Gon said that time, until Kageyama personally threatens him. I'd like for the show to address about every single thing Gon said to him at ep. 17, with how she warns that someone's stalking her, etc. For this one, you said that it's impossible not to be on Gon's side for here (I know this refers to her bond with Daisuke), but as this is about her being kidnapped, isn't this one also about characters being blameless in their predicament? The part where People Have Bad Shit Happen To Them, which irks you?

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

You can tell how much Gon’s abduction has rattled Tendou, because (for maybe the first time?) we see him eat breakfast with Juka.

I forgot to tell this, but Kageyama kidnapping a little girl is horrible for sure, but in real life, most of kidnappings, at least for what has been taught to me, was directed to kids (I even thought at that time, kidnap only happens to kids). Most kidnapper victims are kids, which means Kageyama is something.. (horrifically) usual, even what's standard for kidnappings? If Tendou didn't eat breakfast together with Juka the other time, then what did he get for morning breakfast and where was it done? Or somehow Tendou doesn't need to eat like humans usually are and can eat whenever he wants?? Tendou having a soft spot for little girls like Gon does come from his care to Juka.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

The rest of the cast takes a backseat in this episode, and rightfully so. If this is the last time we get to spend with Daisuke and Gon together, let them have all of the screentime. Little bits of the rest of the cast is all that’s required.

And I guess for Hiyori being curled up like that for something she relates (and emphatizes by that and trying to keep her safe) and the danger coming to her, she joins this particular team to save Gon as she'd also want to feel safe by seeing something suffering like her such as Gon safe too, which gives her hope to likely survive this big and cruel world by proxy. By that likely, it all works out because Gon is all well? And yeah, it's not like it didn't happen to her too, with her being KOed by Kageyama previously, and also how she'd be victimized if Worm's around her; and that's one of the things that decided Tendou to become Rider.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I don’t want to make it sound like this episode’s all bittersweet loss and traumatized young adults. There are also laughs!

Tadokoro is a drone for ZECT. Tadokoro seems to have moral compass from what I know regarding how he treats Misaki and Kagami in early parts of Kabuto, but if he justifies what ZECT does as everything having a reason... then there's some twisted part of him, he could be a Machiavellian for that. So to complete Gon's character it revolves around food again like Hiyori and Kabuto's murder part.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Kageyama is so the worst that I’m going to officially start calling him TheWorst. He’s cartoonishly awful in this one, clearly enjoying making both Gon and Daisuke suffer, and visibly thrilled to make that suffering last indefinitely. There aren’t a lot of layers or shades to his performance, but TheWorst’s suit actor does something I got a kick out of.

You aren't the only one with nickname for Kageyama; an analysis site of KR series called Kageyama "Not-Rapey Kusaka". While Kageyama is obviously horrible, I also want you, or just anyone, to acknowledge other character's horrific part of them, even if they're someone enjoyable. Like Kageyama is horrible for what he did, but don't overlook horrible things did by a character like Sengoku in Gaim or consider people like him better morally just because he's someone enjoyable (and no offense, but I think if someone, even if rightfully, talk about character's horrible behavior but rationalizes those that they enjoy even if they're as horrible, I don't think they have a right to talk about morality). I have a tight rating for Rider's fight and action scenes, and I do want to talk too about this one, this one's outstanding yeah, this is one of the benchmarks for good Rider fighting scenes. The part where Drake's energy ball operates both in and out of Clock Up, and that it being strategically redirected towards what the fighters want.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Obviously, all of those little things (and several big things!) are only in service to this episode’s inevitable, heartbreaking ending. Daisuke saves Gon, reunites her with her mother, but loses her for good. She’s happy with her mother, back to being Yuriko, her time as Gon forgotten. It’s tragic, for how much they both once needed each other. This wasn’t just some story that could end with Daisuke, fine on his own. He needed that little girl. She was his partner. She may not know what she’s lost, but Daisuke is acutely aware of what he’s missing. He strains to explain what she means to him, to put it into words, but the only one who’d know the right words was Gon.

But he lets her go, because of course he does. He wants what’s best for her. She means enough to him to see himself diminished if it means she’s safe and happy. It’s probably impossible for him to figure out how he came to care so much for her. He once saw a little girl, confused and alone. He bought her a strawberry milk. It was a little thing, a tiny detail. But it led to so much more for both of them.

Well, I can't speak for the next part, but this won't end here, but if it does, it'll be real life stuff.