[Fish Sandwich]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER KABUTO - EPISODE 33

Well, the show is down a Hiyori for the time being, but at least it got me a Yaguruma to make up for it.

It's too bad I kinda hate this loser then?

I'm aware a lot of it is on me for shamelessly buying into Yaguruma's own hype back when he first appeared, but, to answer my own rhetorical question from when he left the show back in 13 – I genuinely didn't want to see him with an even bigger chip on his shoulder.

Kamen Rider KickHopper just makes me sad on so many levels. It's downright... unsightly to have Yaguruma trying this hard to try so little, and despite him being one of my favorite characters in the show, this new era he's entering into has never been a part of why. He's always been TheBee in my heart, but, of course, that's just how I remember it. It'll be fun seeing if I maybe enjoy Yaguruma's new and edgy persona more this time around, because I've always been acutely aware I don't actually have any good reasons to hate KickHopper?

First of all, on the meta level, there are some genuinely cool things about him. You can't beat a Kamen Rider with a grasshopper motif in my book, and that aggressively classic design has rightfully become a classic of its own. Love the old school droopy eyes, and the pronounced teardrop lines under them even fits Yaguruma's current state of mind, giving a meaningful reason for that retro throwback to be there.

KickHopper's suit actor is also the first major Rider role for Hisanori Ooiwa after being Zanki's second actor back in Hibiki. Ooiwa would start going by Eitoku around a year later, and quickly rose to become one of the definitive suit actors for secondary Riders. He's always low-key been one of my favorites right behind Takaiwa himself, with a similar talent for body language, and I think that's readily apparent even all the way back here, with the first Rider he got to mold for himself. I've recently come up with a theory that the key to expressive acting when you can't show your face is knowing how to use your neck instead, and he's got that game locked down here. You can even see a bit of it in the screencap I chose! (This is also a good spot to mention how great it is that Yaguruma hangs his head in shame and literally sighs when transforming, but I feel that might be the director at work. More on that in a bit.)

So all that knowledge has me feeling more hyped about KickHopper already, but, just on a plotting level, I mean, there's nothing wrong with him? Like, I remember not being enthusiastic about Yaguruma's return, but, on the other hand, I remember Yaguruma's return rather vividly, and I think that says a lot with how much I don't remember about Kabuto. But, yeah, my favorite prim and proper elite Rider coming back after 20 episodes as some emo dude dragging his boot spurs on the ground to kick sparks up certainly leaves an impression! I also can't hate how random his appearance is. It's classically brazen Kabuto style plotting. I like Die's read of how his reappearance factors into everything going on, although I don't know how much I believe it myself. At any rate, Yaguruma's back, and he's someone to keep an eye on. Especially if you're a therapist; the poor guy seems more than a little unsteady right now...

The episode that happens before those last three minutes is quite good, by the way! While I'm inherently not fond of losing Hiyori, I do like that this episode is all about how much it sucks losing Hiyori. Considering a lot of the plot right now is being generated by real world production issues, it's honestly handled pretty smoothly. It feels natural enough, and it lets the show do some very fun things with Tendou, having him be a big supervillain in that way only his unique characterization as a lead allows. Doing it all after showing him openly weeping at the very start adds some depth through contrast, as well, keeping things from feeling too shallow.

Carrying that strong plot along is more crisp direction from Tasaki, who delivers as always. The whole ZECT training exercise that introduces Renge is shot in a super clean, fun manner, and there are so many smart little touches that were probably his ideas throughout. Staying on the subject of Renge, there's a bit at the very end where Mishima runs his fingers through her hair like a total creep while getting a status update on Tendou from her. It's this great way to visually communicate that Mishima essentially thinks of her like a pet he happens to be particularly fond of, and really stands in contrast to Kageyama, who he actively avoids making eye contact with now, as though Kageyama were a stray dog way too eager to be taken in by someone. Which is, uh, pretty much exactly what Kageyama is by this point. Hm.

Crazy fun episode, and also a packed one. Even between this post and Die's, there's a ton we've only barely touched on.