[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

I think Misaki's constant frustration with the plot happening is critical to why I feel the episode works overall. It's pretty clear to me she's meant to be the audience surrogate, essentially giving a voice to all those aforementioned kids who were big Sasword fans (and all his other fans too) by asking all the questions they naturally would, such as "Wait what are you doing Tendou?", and "TENDOU SERIOUSLY WHAT THE F*** MAN". She's not exactly feeling great by the end, even after getting an explanation, and I think that's the viewer's cue that you aren't necessarily meant to be looking at this like it all worked out for the best, or even that Tendou made the only possible "right" choice. I feel like the episode is deliberately shooting for a certain degree of ambiguity, which is one of the things I like about it. Just my perspective, of course!

I see what you're saying, but I feel like Ambiguous is maybe the worst note to aim for in a story that a) kills off a beloved comedy-relief character, and b) asks the title character to execute said comedy-relief character for reasons that amount to He Was So Disgusted With Himself That He Wanted To Die And The Hero Respected That. It... I don't know why you want to take a story that is going to be actively upsetting to huge swathes of the audience (young and old alike! At Christmastime!), and then try and end it with a note of confused ambivalence. I don't know how or why a writer could Both Sides suicidal depression.

There's just not nearly enough thought or relatable emotion put into Tendou's actions to make me think he's got anything resembling a compelling argument in this one, and them potentially hanging a lantern on it by Misaki being apoplectic doesn't excuse some incredibly disappointing story choices.

...is what I would say if the entire middle section of this episode actually happened, instead of being a nightmare Tsurugi had after he ate too much takoyaki during his date with Misaki. It's weird that no one seems to have picked up on how none of the Tsurugi Wants To Die stuff actually happened, considering the episode ends with Tsurugi falling back asleep. It's too bad he needed to go back to France to reestablish his family's dynasty, but I'm sure we'll see more of his romance with Misaki down the line in a V-Cinema or something.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

(I will say, though, thinking about it, it's kind of transparent how Kagami, established audience surrogate AND best friend to Tsurugi, needs to be kept at arm's length from the plot the way he is, as though Inoue stopped long enough to realize Gatack's presence would utterly break the climax, but not long enough to realize what that says about the admittedly somewhat forced and/or rushed nature of how the episode gets the narrative where it wants it.)

Total bummer that Kagami never got to make a case for Tsurugi in this one. He briefly mentions that Tsurugi should be afforded the same chance at life that Hiyori and Tadokoro have been given, but Tendou just shouts him down and sentences Tsurugi to death, and Kagami sheepishly acquiesces. Our heroes!