[Kamen Rider Die]

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Originally Posted by Androzani84

And as for the episode itself, all I can say is “Don’t you just hate it when someone puts random swords in your drywall?”

With how much apocalyptic shimmying Castle Doran goes through, those must be some load-bearing swords.

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Originally Posted by Mmicb0b

tfw I came too late to gush over Emperor form (The ONLY Ultimate form I like as much is Mugen Damashii from Ghost) and the best ultimate form theme BY FAR

Never too late!

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Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

I think this subplot was never really about her or the mad scientist despite them driving it, but rather Shima, who seems to be pretty strongly against working with Fangires. It's rare that we get to hear his opinion on stuff outside of managing Wonderful Aozora.

Maybe? But even then, it's mostly just him saying Please Stop Experimenting On Fangires, and there're really no levels to it.

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Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

I would like to talk about what Flight Style represents for Wataru's arc though. This is what I meant earlier regarding how Emperor Form isn't at its full power yet and this is another step towards reaching that potential, which was significant enough for Maya to detect it from her cave. It's thematically appropriate as well, since conventional vampires are capable of transmogrification in to bats. There's still more to see of Emperor Form!

Sure! I definitely appreciate the idea of Wataru finding resolve in his father's legacy, but turning it into something new that better represents his worldview, and then turning Kiva into something new that reflects his goals. That's great!

I don't like that CGI BatDragon, though. Just... I don't! I can't! I'm sorry!

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Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

I haven't really thought about it before, but I suppose the Bloody Rose story does seem a little tangential to pretty much everything about the Wataru/Mio/Taiga triangle, even if that was the catalyst for it. I think it's still a good story though, for how it allows Wataru to make more progress in getting closer to Otoya and understanding something new about himself. But yeah, I suppose it might be at the expense of the main plot, as you say, since even Wataru's confession to Taiga about his feelings for Mio is just a small thing that sets up the next part. Taiga's not going to step aside when he believes so strongly in his birthright.

It turns Wataru's heroic dedication to saving people into some incidental thing, a realization he made accidentally while he was trying to get over his break-up. I'm not saying that he couldn't rededicate himself to Kamen Ridering in the aftermath of heartbreak (in fact, I would love that story), but there's just not enough effort made in connecting the romantic melodrama with the heroic declarations.

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Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

BTW, what do you think of 2008 Maya's gothic hermit fashion sense?

Even with no makeup and an eyepatch: that face.

Other than that, I can't say her 2008 cavewear made much of an impression on me. Maybe next time!