[Kamen Rider Die]

KAMEN RIDER DEN-O EPISODE 20 - "I'M WARNING YOU NOW”




I sort of can't believe that an episode almost entirely devoted to showing off the Cool New Rider ends with the show going Yeah But Den-O's Cooler. Like, you guys! Hell of a swerve!

I think it works, though. It works because it's totally underplayed. It works because Yuuto has a bunch of incredibly valid points, but the show just goes So? at the end. It's an ending that only works if you value Ryotaro more than you value being right, and I guess I do!

I mean, this episode is all about showing you Yuuto's process and hearing his side of things. We get to see him interact with Deneb for the opening scene. We get to see him run down Ryotaro verbally, to question the effectiveness of a Den-O that doesn't put Defend The Timeline first. We get to see Yuuto question the story's victim, only hearing at the end of the story that the guy already told it to Ryotaro. Everything in this episode is putting us in the headspace to agree with Yuuto. This becomes his show, and Den-O is the unreliable Secondary.

Even when we're into the second-half of the episode, with Sword Form trying to stop a monster in 2006, Ryotaro is still doing the Wrong Thing. Instead of chasing down the monster, he puts Momo on hold to check on the stunned couple. He's more invested in saving these two than he is in stopping the monster.

And then it's the first appearance of Zeronos: a stunning sequence of Henshins, catchphrases, form changes, hilarious non-boasts (Deneb doesn't want that monster to think the Vega chestpiece is a functioning head! He doesn't want to deceive the rampaging Jellyfish Imagin), and badass finishers. In an episode built to say Yuuto Is Right, that whole fight was the goddamn exclamation mark.

But he's not right. Or, he is, Yuuto was more effective than Ryotaro, but it doesn't matter? It's not about Most Effective or Least Effective. It's not a contest. It's about personal responsibility, and being the best version of yourself that you can be. Yuuto's metrics for success aren't Ryotaro's, and that's fine. Ryotaro is going to keep doing what he feels is right. He might do it badly, but as long as he's doing his best he can be proud of himself. He's going to help that couple. He's going to save Sakurai for Airi. Because that's what he thinks is right.

And Hana knows that Ryotaro's heroism being rooted in empathy, in the small picture of a grieving would-be husband looking for closure, that's what gives Den-O the power to save the day. The two of them digging up that time capsule and delivering it to that guy, to viewing that as the real victory of the episode, such a fantastic ending. To do a whole story about a new, better Rider who you then immediately see as second-best… surprisingly great story to tell.



THE BAGGAGE CAR

-The past-portion of this story took place fifteen years ago today! Happy Zeronos Debut Day, I guess! Let's all celebrate by getting mad at the people who care about us!

-Love that Zeronos suit, by the way. Super glad I ordered that new Seihou before I watched this show, 'cause I'm definitely going to want him on display. It's a little funny that he needed to be green, since that's about the only color that Den-O didn't end up using, but I think it works. I mean, I'm sure it's accidental, but having the envious Rider be green is a nice touch. The giant sword is great in Altair Form, and the Reassuring Shoulder Guns of Vega Form crack me up. Very cool suit, and a terrific fight sequence to introduce it.