[Kamen Rider Die]

KAMEN RIDER DEN-O EPISODE 27 - "SCHEDULE-DISRUPTING FANG"




Hey, remember when Deneb tried to shout a catchphrase at an oncoming train during the summer movie? That was fun.

Well, we're in the third consecutive episode of Den-O that's all about the summer movie, and this one is all about the summer movie. It's basically fifteen minutes spent setting up the first ten minutes of the film, and then six minutes spent showing us parts of the first ten minutes of the film. There are maybe three scenes spent on something other than People Saying Gaoh A Lot. Beyond setting up the movie (in ways that kind of ruin the beginning of the movie???), there is not a lot here to discuss.

Like, first of all, there's nothing going on thematically in this episode at all. It's not about anything. It's farce, and farts, and it exists to hopefully create enough goodwill to both forgive its inconsequential nature, as well as maybe get kids to beg their parents to go see the movie. The one robber is a total joke, and the other one technically doesn't even appear in the episode? (He's masked at almost all times, and the only time you see his face is when it's footage from the film. Could they not get that guy back for a couple scenes of the TV show?) There's no real intrigue with them, and there's nothing humanizing. They're just someone wacky to frustrate the heroes, and set up the slumber party at Milk Dipper.

Which, obviously, best part. Seeing Kin, Momo, and Ura threaten Ozaki for getting too familiar with Hana? Hard to call an episode a total failure when that happens. Bonus points for bringing back the mascot suits for the DenLiner Imagin, which is a visual gag I will never, ever get tired of.

The rest of the episode was pretty much a wash for me. Way too much screentime for the Airimirers, there's no heart to this story, and the only fights in it are to set up the machinations at the beginning of the film. This didn't feel like a Den-O episode, it felt like a preview for a movie I just watched. Ready to get back to Den-O adventures on this show!



THE BAGGAGE CAR

-Was this the first time we've seen a non-Henshined Ryotaro riding the Den-O bike? Feels like it was. Unbelievably weird to see, actually. He looks completely wrong on that bike.

-Third best part of the episode was the irritated look on Yuuto's face when Hana and Ura ditch him to go stop the jewel thief. He's so annoyed that he can't go with them to fight monsters!

-Second best part of the episode was, of course, Deneb making himself a watermelon helmet (as a disguise???) and running through a field. Why is Deneb so extra weird in these movie tie-in episodes? It's a little concerning!