[Switchblade]

Okay, finally sitting down to discuss my thoughts on the last two episodes.

Episode 48 has some of the same problems as 47 for me, in regards to the Urataros stuff. It just doesn't feel like it carries the narrative heft that it wants to and, honestly, feels like it's killing some time before the finale.

As for the finale itself, I like it. Not my favorite in the franchise, not my least. I'm not sure what it is, but it feels oddly low stakes for me. It shouldn't, between the destruction of an entire timeline and the armies of Imagin taking advantage of the show's reduced Rider population. We get a big reveal about Hana, Yuuto permanently erases Sakurai's existence, there's a "cheers love, the cavalry's here!" moment with Sieg, of all people... it should feel bigger than it does. It's good, and that Sieg moment in particular was fantastic, but it still feels relatively low key. I think a lot of it boils down to how simple and straightforward the final boss fight is? The Gorenger style bouncing attack is cool and all, but it basically amounts to one shot, a dead Imagin, and then Kai just disintegrates. I don't know. Something about that whole element of the finale didn't really do much for me.

The aftermath, though, that stuff was gold. Even knowing it was coming, the scene with the Taros squabbling while trying to hide and thereby giving away their cover is hilarious. The Yuuto and Deneb scene is really touching and all of the Airi stuff is... there. I really love the last few minutes, though, with Ryotaro turning in his pass and then waving goodbye to everyone. It doesn't work as well as it would if I didn't know that there were going to be all the movies and specials and cameos and stuff, but it's still a really nice, touching ending.

Man, am I curious to know how all of this would have played out if Hana's original actress hadn't left. I don't know if there would have been any real difference, but I'm also not sure if having a child Kohana made it easier to work her in as Airi and Sakurai's child. Not sure.