[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER KABUTO - EPISODE 27

I mean, GON IS BACK, which alone had my heart expanding like the goddamn Grinch as all the Whos in Whoville sang out. I honestly never thought she’d be back? With Daisuke being such a Special Guest Star these days, I didn’t dare dream that we’d get another Daisuke and Gon story. But here we are, and it’s great. Gon’s connection to Daisuke, rekindled through the Proustian attributes of strawberry milk, sets off a heartwarming tale of Gon needing Daisuke back in her life. Not because she’s scared, or abandoned, or lonely. (She actually is doing pretty well with her mom, which is nice!) It’s just because she wants Daisuke back in her life.

I really love the simplicity of that, the emphasis on it not being Gon in danger from ZECT or the Worms or whatever. It’s actually Daisuke in danger, which is a pretty fun way to invert that story. He’s been framed for murder, and Tendou’s affection for Gon allows him to put aside his absolute loathing of Daisuke to pitch in on his defense. (Although, come on, he was never going to call the cops on Daisuke. One, he doesn’t really care about human justice. Two, he would’ve beaten up Daisuke and then handed him over in person. Tendou’s just screwing with him.)

You. Could. Hang. This. Shot. In. A. Gallery. Look at that framing! Look at how the focus is on Gon! Look at how the focus on Daisuke never resolves, because he is absent from Gon’s life! This whole sequence is great, Gon waking up from months as Yuriko, combining the happiness of a normal girl with the adventurous mentor to Daisuke, needing to find him again. But these shots are… they are so considered, so able to take a one-person scene and fill it with enough details that you are 100% clear on what’s going on with Gon. Plus, just, like, aesthetically… so beautiful! This shot!

Such a great shot to emphasize how isolated Daisuke is without Gon, how hollow things are by himself. It’s beautiful, but no one’s happy. I love it.

Yes, Gon is a recurring character, not a guest star, but of course none would talk about her returning before, if it's spoiler to you (judging by your reaction here). And about your remark here regarding Gon doing pretty well with her mom (, that's the reason why I thought you'd have that kind of reaction in GSL's Hiyori. Some KR series have been engaging in amnesiac and some of them are without clear reason (there are clear ones though like Build's Sento), and Gon's (and Hiyori) a case of this, I mean that's where Yuriko's Gon name came from, where she first had an amnesia of her mom, then after regaining her memories of her mom, then she also suddenly forgot those that are in present like Daisuke, what would you say regarding that, memories only? Gon wants Daisuke back because she reads a magazine featuring him and she remembers him again. And right, Tendou doesn't really care about human justice... that means when there are no Riders or Worms in Kabuto world... well that's why people shouldn't limit heroism as only those that beat up bad guys (and saving lives in the process).

But, above and beyond the killer storytelling, this thing is gorgeous, from curtain to curtain. There are about a billion things from this episode I want to shout out as being gallery-worthy, so let’s get started:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

This sequence of Kageyama and the Worm Widow (I’ve honestly forgotten her name, sorry) really sets the stage for an energetically and innovatively designed episode. The entire scene of the Worm Widow talking to Kageyama, she never moves. She stands there, threatening him, slapping him around, and she does it all stationary. Even beyond how cool an idea that is (she doesn’t even need to move to whip Kageyama’s ass), the episode tops it with this awesome in-camera form change. The Worm Widow is in her Worm form when she’s closing her pincer on Kageyama’s arm. He shakes it off (as she releases him), and then the camera spins left to see the Worm in Widow form. It’s a simple trick (the actor is in Widow costume and probably has the Worm claw lowered below the lens of the camera), but in the moment it’s thrilling.

So much of this sequence is about how Goro and the Worm Widow are the same. They’re not the top dogs, but they are confident in their abilities and willing to do whatever’s necessary to accomplish their goals. So we start their scene with this shot of the two of them on a rooftop, same black suits, same body language. This isn’t the usual bullshit where ZECT is in a dark warehouse with, like, one chair. This is bright, this is exposed. There’s no fear of discovery with these two. They do what they want.

Even these little reaction shots: the same height, focused on their eyes and words. It’s casual. There’s no subterfuge or posturing. All of that cityscape in the background, it’s reemphasizing that this is their world. They aren’t monsters at the edge of humanity or a militarized organization of nebulous authority: they are the structure of this world. The time for feints, for mystery, that’s over. This meeting is a flex, for both sides.

Love love love the rack focus on this shot. It’s such a ballsy trick, changing the focus depth until it looks like the Worm Widow is right behind Kageyama (who has clearly already forgotten his lesson in humility from earlier this episode), and then cutting to her hand on Kageyama’s shoulder, literally right behind him. It’s another one of those relatively simple shots that, edited together this well, makes the Worm Widow feel suitably monstrous. (Although, punking out Kageyama, it’s not the toughest feat? Always appreciated, though.)

And then Goro ends the scene by forcing Kageyama to move out of his way, just like the Worm Widow did earlier. It’s a scene that’s all about how similar Goro and the Worm Widow are, from start to finish. (She even quotes Goro to her underlings in the next shot!)

And then she ends the scene by continuing her walk along the ledge, forcing Kageyama to move out of her way.

Name's Rena Mamiya. Yeah.. they really are the same, and not for this reason alone, including how this is their world (if you're mad with GSL, in the part where Mishima's endgame being shown, then..). Can you explain better what's for you if this scene isn't about ZECT in dark warehouse, but bright and exposed? Personally I think Rena here gives me Ra-Baruba-De vibes, of her just standing there, threatening others, while stationary, with the expression that I think is similar. And you're wrong for stating that they aren't the top dogs, if anything, they're the closest ones to it; Rena's the first executive leader Worm. And actually, you can't say that punking out Kageyama is not the toughest feat; Kageyama previously was able to knock out Hiyori with a punch in the gut as human form, that's something someone like Asakura did in Ryuki (to Reiko, in similar fashion), but well, non-fodder monsters punking out any human isn't the toughest feat in general (even Tendou and Kagami has mostly shown to take on fodder Worms only iirc).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I love this dumb gag. It’s Kagami suggesting that the name “Kagami Arata” on the 35-year old Masked Rider Project files was a typo, and not some indication that he and his family are central to a global conspiracy. He’s so pleased with his ridiculous theory, and he’s smiling like he’s solved the Murder on the Orient Express. Tendou tells him, basically, that he’s too simple-minded to figure this one out. And Kagami turns, smiling, still not processing how Tendou just insulted him. SMASH CUT end of scene. It’s a joke that exists a little in the camerawork (the same shot holds on the two of them from Kagami’s glee to Tendou’s insult to Kagami’s “Huh?”) and a lot in the editing. Just that brief moment of Kagami retaining his pride, right before it’s dashed when his brain (eventually) catches up, and that’s the end of the scene… so funny.

I actually think this is a clever gag. Japan words/letters sometimes aren't separated by space, so grouping different letters can make for a different meaning, so Kagami just assumes based on that; where both the surname (as Japan's naming order is surname-Kagami then personal name-Arata) and the personal name is 2 kanji letter - making it Kaga Bishin. But of course Kagami is dumb for instantly jumping to the conclusion without thinking it through further.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

It’s a very fun story, and that’s not even counting the Tsurugi Is Broke subplot, which is… again, it is a gift, just for me. It’s perfect, top to bottom, not least because it also incorporates Gon, who is treated in such an A-List way that I’m assuming she was the original actor for Kamen Rider V3 and y’all just never told me. (If this is true, I will truck with Showa.) She is utilized as though every minute she’s not onscreen is a waste, and I get that appraisal.

I can’t do it justice in this screencap, but this shot of Jiiya collapsing from exhaustion and his feet shoot straight up in the air… it’s cartoonish, and I mean that as a total compliment. The Tsurugi/Jiiya plot in this one is the most insane yet (more insane than when Tsurugi thought ramen was a French dish called La Men, so understand how bonkers this is going to get), and the show needs to calibrate our expectations early. Jiiya fainting like he’s in a Looney Tunes short, yes, perfectly applied to this story.

Oh, the look on Gon’s face. It’s this perfect mix of confusion and revulsion, all while Tsurugi is permanently locked-in on his I Am Killing This face. I can’t believe how seamlessly Gon fits into Tsurugi’s world, but maybe I shouldn’t be? Her whole dynamic with Daisuke was beng in charge of a man who is too weird to exist in the regular world, so her being “babysat” by Tsurugi is a decent warmup for when she reunites with Daisuke.

What can I even say about this joyous nonsense? Look at them. Look at Jiiya being soothed by Gon, Gon being “soothed” by Tsurugi, Tsurugi wearing his I Am Killing This face, and Tendou wondering if any of them will survive if he leaves. If they made a statue of this scene, I’d buy it.

And then it goes exactly where you’d expect, with Gon having to run everything. The idea of all of these bill collectors harassing a child for outstanding balances is maybe too ridiculous, even for this episode, but I‘ve got to assume that the sort of vendors who are enabling Tsurugi’s lifestyle by extending him credit are probably not easily shamed. You’ve got to be pretty goddamn weird to have an ongoing financial relationship with Jiiya and Tsurugi. (Or maybe normal business owners in Japan are good with payment in silverware?) We are probably talking about a fishmonger who won his business by outwitting a water spirit or something. These are not accredited businesses, most likely.

I don't know if cartoonish isn't a compliment for you, it'll be a compliment word for these places. If Tsurugi wants to be the top of babysitting, then he had to work with his asocial and elitist personality, because he needs to tend someone, likely those that are much lower status than him, and the top of that field should give full compassion for them! Tendou would blow him out of water in this for sure, because Tendou already had soft spot for little girls like Gon. I don't understand yet the bill collectors assaulting Gon with various outrageous bills...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Look at the intro this dude gets! He is in about two minutes of this episode! He exists to be a potential rival, and is murdered by the Worms to frame Daisuke! And they give him this over-the-top-even-for-Kabuto intro! It’s funny, yes, absolutely, but it does serve an important purpose in the narrative. You give a guy this type of opening, I think he’s a new Rider, or some recurring character. I do not think he’s going to be murdered two scenes from now.

This fight! Having two make-up artists duel like they’re samurai, it is fantastic. The camerawork on this one doesn’t for a second treat this as anything less than a dramatic battle between two skilled warriors. It is so committed to the joke that it almost transcends being a joke. It’s ludicrous until I’m like Oh Thank God Daisuke Won. I am totally in the bag for this dumb rivalry!

The rival isn't important for overall story, but he's important for Daisuke, as his position as the definitive make up artist is challenged, so in Daisuke's perceptive. Audience perception isn't completely the same as the in-universe character's perception (primary example: dead loved ones for certain characters, those dead characters may be posthumous but it's forever for those characters who lost them). As someone who had played games like Climax Heroes and followed which Rider (not the story) in most of the series, it's already known to me that he's not another Rider. So while the cooking rivalry with Tendou against Yaguruma is just done by the participants cooking as usual with someone (Hiyori) as a jury, then the (earlier!) make-up rivalry with Tendou against Daisuke, with them just doing make ups on Misaki, and altering things that suit them better, then the sports rivalry with Tendou against Tsurugi is watching 1-on-1 sport matches, which means physical rivalry is physical (sports) and the non-physical rivalry (cooking, and previous make up) is just the participants doing the thing they're asked for by themselves. This one though, I wonder too how would they settle their rivalry if there are no subjects for make up (I'd expect for them gathering, likely the previous female Daisuke tended, for her to see by herself whose make up is better), but this one's a combat make-up rivalry (although sorry, but I'd probably prefer the make up scene not to be done in flurry hands, just to see the choreograph in make up combat with more detail, but I understand the purpose; it's parodying pummel duels usually done in combat with fists), and they're giving make ups to each other males instead.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Another great gag, where the camera holds on Tsurugi as the weight of his bankruptcy forces him to his knees. It’s unbelievably dramatic, but: Tsurugi! Unbelievably dramatic is actually him toning it down from jaw-droppingly dramatic!

Everything in this premise is brilliant. Tsurugi needs a job, so he becomes a delivery man. He keeps Daisuke’s change (oh, Daisuke, a fugitive from justice, orders food that Tsurugi delivers, not a bizarre development at all) because he needs to rebuild his fortune, as though that is something everyone in the world would want to happen. It’s that standard Tsurugi thing, that nobility thing, where his success is something everyone in the world should feel grateful to assist. It’s a nice inversion of Tendou’s philosophy, where individual greatness improves the world. For Tsurugi, it’s more like he’s the world, and his greatness improves individuals. Anything that makes him more great, makes the world more great. So when Tsurugi realizes he’ll need more money than he’s keeping from Daisuke’s change, he grabs Daisuke by the shoulders and demands more money. It… Tsurugi doesn’t know how jobs work! How did he get hired? Who sat down with Tsurugi and said This Guy Should Be Representing My Business? Why was that interview scene not in this episode?!

Another gag that’s all about keeping the camera still as the joke escalates. The cops are at the motel to arrest Daisuke. Daisuke closes his door. Tsurugi’s just standing there, confused. Daisuke opens the door, pushes Tsurugi out of the way, and then closes the door again. Then the cops rush in. I don’t know if it’s a shot where Tsurugi’s actor forgot to get out of the way so the cops could move to the doorway or what, but it’s hilarious that Daisuke pushes this random delivery person out of the way so the cops have a straight shot to his door. It makes no sense? If it was a lady delivering his food, sure, absolutely. But why does he care that this dude is in the way? It feels like a blown take that someone in the edit bay was like Oh This Is The Take.

Perfect gag construction, perfect camera placement. Tsurugi’s in the hallway, blissfully/typically unaware of what’s happening around him as Daisuke bursts out of the hotel room. He’s followed by the cops, covered in the noodles Tsurugi delivered. And the last cop stops to politely hand the empty bowl back to Tsurugi. I was dying at that last shot.

What happened to Tsurugi's ramen business previously? And I mean, Tsurugi's someone who's Tendou 2.0, and he wants to be at top of everything right? (quoted as replacing the gods with a slash of his sword), well yeah this one's cooking too with him delivering a ramen, and he did too with the La Men restaurant (which I asked here), but why wouldn't he pull a Tendou and apply in multiple job fields, but for Tsurugi, it's more serious work instead of temporary like Tendou did only to figure out Worm disguises. I would like to see that. And again, shows Worm's disguise as catastrophic where disguise can frame someone innocent to ruin their lives (and like where I said that saving lives is only a part of heroism instead of the only form of it, your lives being ruined without a fault of your own is a big problem either, it's not just someone being killed), and Worms have started to disguise someone still living, and both of them are after Juka, previously WorMisaki and then the Worm Daisuke here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

A QUESTION

So many outstanding images in this episode. What was your favorite screencap from this one?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I'm so glad everyone else loved this one, too! It is nice to know that I am/we are not just locking onto things that may not be there for other people. It's one of my favorite things, being able to flip out over these shows and have other people flip out as well. Fun feeling!

Well it just seems that nearly everyone thinks the same way as you do in those posts. And not talknig about the good ones like this, but also when something isn't really good. There are really a hivemind thing that goes in groups, including internet, and people like you would hold the biggest influence here. People agree to those that influences the most in the group, and those that doesn't, are treated with scorn. except likely those that are as much influental.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreshToku

You should go drink some strawberry milk too! Who knows what kind of hidden memories you'll suddenly unlock.

But I do drink box milks almost everyday, and that includes strawberry milk too! Nothing happened to me regarding memories, can you back up your claim?!