[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

Die already took the "I am who I am" quote, so please accept this more random screencap of Gatack as I celebrate Gatack now being in the show.

If the second half of this episode didn't go the way it went, the two screencaps were going to be Hiyori asking Jiiya if he was trying to pay with a fork, and the shot of the fork in the cash register. It's probably embarrassing to admit, but that insert shot of the fork in the cash-tray is my favorite part of 22, full-stop. Such a great punchline. I love that choice in the editing and direction so, so much.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

That's really the heart of Kagami's growth here, and yes, I'm going to disagree with Die's initial post and say this is very much a story about Kagami growing.

Yeah, I came around a bit on that idea. I guess what I'd refine my statement to be is that it's not a story that suggests there's anything wrong with Kagami. While he does learn self-acceptance at the end, and he's able to partner/tame/control/embody/snuggle the Gatack Zecter, it's... it's like the Kagami version of Tendou's Walking The Path thing, where if you believe enough in the rightness of your actions, the world will move from your path. He's not any different, really, than in the first part. But he's got a clarity of purpose, along with the knowledge that he's willing to sacrifice anything, including his own life, for his ideals. It's less about learning a lesson and more about realizing you don't need to learn a lesson, if that makes sense?

This maybe sounds like splitting hairs, where we're both saying the same thing in different ways? I don't know! It's fun to think about Kagami, though.