[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

Clearly they were saving that for a big occasion, but I think they hit a wall figuring out how to break down that trust this late in the game. To the point they probably should've realized we didn't need to see them fight at all. Tendou has to be pointlessly silent for it to happen, and while I appreciate Kagami's shock horror at Kabuto killing Natives, and think his general gullibility is reasonably in-character, it's fundamentally not the most compelling axis for the drama to turn around. There's so much stuff I legitimately love about the duel, itself, too! Kabuto outright refusing to use the Hyper Zecter as a show of respect, especially, was by far the most true the episode was to the relationship between these characters. I just wish it hadn't felt so forced getting here.

The need to get them to this fight... I think it ends warping this entire story in really unfortunate ways? Like, for the story to push these two characters into conflict, the following things need to happen:

-Tendou and Kagami need to be kept apart as long as possible, not counting open conflicts, because if there's even a single free moment, they'll talk about the plot and then they team-up to stop the Natives/ZECT. That means that for basically two full episodes, we don't get any of the relationship that is arguably this show's biggest strength. That tool in the toolbox? Gone.

-Tendou has to keep Kagami excluded from what's going on, non-stop. Tendou takes this entire plot on his shoulders for almost no reason. It's not some personal vow he made, or a thing only he can do. He was in charge of an entire ZECT division! He was pretty good at delegating! To people who owe not that much allegiance to ZECT as an organization!

-Kagami has to get sick of Tendou's bullshit now, despite realizing months ago that Tendou isn't ever the guy to act capriciously. After everything they've been through, Kagami has to choose this weird moment to want to kill Tendou.

-Tendou has to care so little for Kagami that he won't extricate himself from a fight that's mostly down to a misunderstanding and poor teamwork.

It's a ton of massively dumb/out-of-character things, all of which are actively unpleasant to watch as a fan. (It's pretty much two full episodes of the three main characters barely interacting!) And it all ends up being in service of a fight that, while technically impressive (I liked the ZECTroopers actually contributing), is just emotionally incoherent.

This episode! Hooooo boy!