[Fish Sandwich]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER KABUTO - EPISODE 24

I really loved the direction in this episode, and the last one too. They're the work of one Naoki Tamura (TV Asahi), who is always credited as Naoki Tamura (TV Asahi), presumably because TV Asahi, the network that airs Kamen Rider, really wants you to know he doesn't actually work specifically for Toei. This is how they always credit their producers, too, and similar distinctions are made elsewhere in the credits where appropriate, so it's not actually unusual, but he's the only director it ever happens to, and I just find it hilarious that he alone apparently needs to be branded like cattle.

Anyways, Naoki Tamura (TV Asahi) has a rather compact list of credits on Rider, all things considered, but it stretches all the way from Faiz to Zi-O, and some of those episodes were pretty big deals. Especially in Faiz's case, where he was responsible for handling episodes as pivotal as Takumi's big comeback in episode 17 of that show. I remember when rewatching Faiz thinking episodes like that noticeably above average visually, and while that was a little prior to me discovering my current abiding love for Ishida's work when it comes to early Heisei, I'm reminded by these episodes of Kabuto that I wasn't wrong about Naoki Tamura (TV Asahi) either.

I can't define his style or what, if anything, makes it unique, but there are loads of super slick, super smart direction choices all throughout this one especially. The blinding white light of the truth that lies beyond the super secret door at the end isn't even my favorite example. Nor, amazingly, is it the decision to emphasize the awesomeness of the Kabuto/Gatack teamup by having them do simultaneous Rider Kicks where the "1!" is announced by Kabuto's belt in close-up, followed by "2!" from Gatack, before letting them announce "3!" together in a singular chorus of awesomeness.

I mean, that double Rider Kick might objectively be the best thing in the episode, but naturally my favorite bit of great direction involved Hiyori. It's a scene towards the middle where she's staring at a picture of her and her parents, thinking over the past as she hardens her resolve to make her way to Shibuya, and... it's like I said, I struggle to even describe why find it so visually stunning, but it's just... it's composed of so many little individual shots, and it's way more elaborate and well put together than it really needs to be, and the end result looks fantastic. I appreciated the extra effort for a scene that's essentially the turning point for the whole plot in a way.

So yeah, great work from Naoki Tamura (TV Asahi) on this show. This is actually his last set of episodes for Kabuto, following from 3/4 and 9/10, both of which also had some notably slick visuals in spots (4 is the big rain fight, if you don't remember), but I don't think I mentioned him by name back then, so I'm glad I got a chance to amend that. It's very important that Naoki Tamura (TV Asahi) gets the credit he deserves!

The writing is of course very solid this episode too, but Die covered that at least as well as I could. I loved the vibe of the main trio actually trying to come together as one unit here. Hiyori visibly smiling a bit when Kagami says he'll be by her side is an especially sweet moment; a quick flashback to her sketchbook stresses that Kagami is basically making that fantasy of no longer being alone into a reality, and she appreciates the weight of that enough to immediately stop pushing him away.

Tendou is also sweet here, but it's naturally done through a very Tendou filter. You know he's serious about trying to be a good friend because he bowed to someone else's wishes at all, but you know he'd still rather not be here because he makes the ZECT Mizer do his heroic entrance for him. Tendou only busts that thing out when he's feeling real unenthusiastic that day. Still, it's nice to see everyone getting along!