[Fish Sandwich]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER KABUTO - EPISODE 44

I mentioned way back in this thread that I've started to make a habit out of pouring over the Japanese Wikipedia pages for Rider shows, which are a veritable fountain of great information. I read Kabuto's right around when this thread started, naturally, and this quote from Tendou, which is mentioned under Hiyori's summary, has been stuck in my brain for just about this entire rewatch.

This will be tricky to explain right, since its so personal, but it's kind of been the symbol of this whole endeavor for me. I just... something about those words struck me immensely. I thought that was an absolutely wonderful encapsulation of Tendou's motivations, perfect in its simplicity. I adore how small a scale that puts things on – how humble it is. Tendou just wants to protect the world because the people he cares about live in it. It's basically everything I want out of a superhero story in one sentence?

I've also touched before on how Kabuto's whole creative conception was about creating the strongest Rider. It's reflected in things like the premiere's title, or how many early ads for the show called him a hero who was the "real deal". I think what specifically they meant by that is a bit of an enigma, maybe on purpose, but when I first saw that line again, I almost started to believe the hype. Here was this quote I had completely forgotten, from a show I've left buried in the back of my mind for years, and I found it such a beautiful sentiment I'm now probably hyping it up way too much.

But like, it got me hyped. If Kabuto could have just a simple line of dialogue I loved that much merely reading it, what other gems might be waiting to be rediscovered? How many great moments and episodes had slipped my mind entirely? I held that quote up to myself as this beacon, reminding me how great a decision it actually was diving head first back into this show now this way. I knew it was a line from right near the end of the show, too, which made it all the better. I'd get to watch most of the show, with those words in mind, reevaluating Kabuto as I finally, inevitably, worked my way all the way back to this moment with Die.

And I gotta say, this episode kills it, man. I mean, WOW is this ever a good one. Do you know how many other great lines Tendou alone has in this one? His hero energy is off the charts here, even taking the time to elaborate very poignantly that he defeats Worms not because they're monsters – because of the circumstances of their creation – but because of their actions, mercilessly stepping on people's hopes and dreams, which is about as Kamen Rider as you can get. Like, I suddenly understand why Yonemura has written so many crossovers and anniversary things now! And that's this episode all over the place. Kagami, too, is just amazing, cementing his strange but unbreakable bond with Tendou by showing some classic heroic grit. They straight up bump fists when splitting up to handle their respective problems!

This episode is so awesome, you guys. It's even the one with the Triple Rider Kick from the main duo plus KickHopper, which seems to be a rather iconic moment. It is just winning moment after winning moment here. It is... yeah, Maximum Rider Power. It's that. Leave it to Die to sum it up better than I could hope to. I'd love to do some complex analysis or whatever, but all you need to know is just how undeniably cool this one is. You'd have to be made of stone to not find at least a little excitement somewhere in there. You're certainly spoiled for choice in those 24 minutes.