[DreadBringer]

Kamen Rider Gaim watch

The Overlord Saga

Episode 28: The Betrayal of Zangetsu

Written by: Gen Urobuchi/Jin Haganeya, Directed by: Takayuki Shibasaki

The episode does not fuck around if the opening is done almost instantly as the episode starts.

As Kouta returns to the garage, he's relieved that Micchy is ok. Although Kouta told them the Overlord got away, delaying his plan, he excitedly informs the good news that someone from Yggdrasill, Takatora/Zangetsu will work together with them. Mai cheers up hearing this news as well, despite her claiming to hate Yggdrasill, Seems that she doesn't blindly hate Yggdrasill like hating anyone associated with it, though still no skepticm for it being someone from Yggdrasill. Peko notes too that the cavalry has arrived, but well, Peko seems to know less about Yggdrasill overall unlike Zack who confronts Kaito about it previously. Kouta is confident that they won't lose now. At his apartment, Akira is short on money, and thus can only give fish fillet for dinner, and vows to get more shift. The job part between them is brought up again here after some time as Kouta asks if he still had to find a job, especially for the tight money she had. But Kouta's development has been acknowledged by Akira here, even caught on Kouta's expressions, even able to read from his face that he's actually dealing with bigger problems instead of being irresponsible, and by that Kouta doesn't need to rush. Akira is not that uptight and is reasonable here to let Kouta do what he needs to do currently.

However Kouta's desire to get a job isn't about obeying her sister's advice anymore as he feels he needs to take care of her too, so he still does it anyway. But he's stopped midway by a couple of Inves attacking civilians, which had him drop his resume and henshin into Gaim to fight them off. After beating both Inves with Pine Arms (using what I think the most bland version of Iron Breaker, just bind the opponent and kick them with little fruit motif), Kouta realizes that he dropped his resume, and sadly for him, it's already been ruined and teared off. What do you expect if you drop it in the middle of streets? I thought Riders can keep some of the device they hold like phone or tablet...

In Yggdrasill base, Takatora has a presentation about Overlords, explaining about how they know Helheim more and can potentially find a way to halt the forest's spread for safer solution to save humanity. Takatora notes that Ryoma doesn't have any reaction, and finds it odd for him to not be happy for this. Of course, Ryoma and others (who answer to Ryoma more than Takatora, revealed in ep. 20 as them being like-minded) had been trying to keep Overlords secret from him, so he already knew about this for some time, but Ryoma covers it up with his 'scientist logic' that he had to see for himself, which convinces Takatora that he's logical and he waits for his conclusions. In a similar vein as Kouta's news above, Takatora also goes as far to declare that Kouta isn't their enemy, which means their partnership is mutual (and if only Micchy isn't fucked up psycho, this'd be completely ideal situation for him to continue hang on with his friends without repercussions). Micchy is on the room too, and questions Takatora that he's too optimistic given how vicious the Overlords are. So despite Takatora's realist cynic view, him agreeing to follow in Kouta's plan is in character after all, relating to his poor character judge flaw which Micchy talked about before. Takatora did realize this and which is why, like Ryoma to him, Takatora hasn't made this public yet, but this is their first option that doesn't lead to despair. The camera then focuses on Micchy up close, hinting that he had another sinister plot against this.

In the Helheim Forest, talking in their language, Demushu kneels to Rosyuo while Rosyuo knocks him with a shockwave. It seems that Rosyuo leads the pack. Kaito is walking around the forest and notices Micchy creeping up on him. As Micchy is someone secretive, Kaito figures out that he plans to silence him as Kaito had seen Micchy's dark side without Kouta knowing (as he was unconscious), but Kaito assures Micchy that he won't tell Kouta, as he can see no wrong about Micchy. Another trait that Kouta shares with Takatora that both places too much trust into Micchy, though it's partially Micchy's own doing to put cheerful persona around Kouta and their previous close friendship, and it's familial for Takatora. While it makes sense for Kouta to keep his trust to Micchy for their longtime friendship and that there's only 1 fall-out which is Micchy shoving him after he ruins Mai's plans to alert the city (it'd be treated as occassional squabble in friendships), from this point it'd act as Kouta's flaw instead to keep trusting him, as though Micchy acts like he fights for justice or cares for the friends' happiness, he had been trying to give bad influence to Kouta.to go along with his selfish plans, but due to his longtime friendship to Kouta, he'd see that as him being misguided and needed to be corrected (likely he thinks Ryugen's help at for example ep. 20 is him realizing that he needs to fight off Inves). Kaito however lets Micchy go, despite his declaration that he's his enemy and someone he wants to finish off.

Mai and Kouta are eating in Drupers, talking about Kouta's another failed attempt to get a job (I don't know if his conversation with Akira is brought up too, as it's more important for that topic now), as Bando puts a help wanted sign as he needs part-time help. As the duty written there includes protecting Zawame City, Kouta is overjoyed and fills in, acting as if like Bando saves him from the end of the world by holding him, as well as Mai thinking it's perfect for Kouta.

In Yggdrasill lab, Takatora directly talks to Micchy about how Kouta inspires him as unlike him, he remains steadfast in his belief to save others unlike Takatora who had given up on hope and resorts to the end justifies the means method. By this now Takatora understands what draws Micchy to him.. so Takatora did know about Micchy's friendship to Kouta, but doesn't know about his true animosity to Kouta inside, as he blames Kouta for 'ruining everything' instead, due to him dismissing Kouta as a mere idiot (for not obeying him, the 'smart one' for Team Gaim), and thus him influencing others equal turning others into idiots as well. Takatora assigns Yoko to take care of Micchy while he goes into Helheim with Sid. Both henshin into Zangetsu and Sigurd, but as for Takatora further strays away from the other Yggdrasill member's true goals, the inevitable betrayal happens as Sigurd attacks Zangetsu, all while the latter is puzzled by Sigurd's actions. However, Sigurd is not much of a fighter compared to Zangetsu, which leads for Zangetsu to subdue him. As Marika arrives, Zangetsu asks for her to subdue Sigurd, but turns out that she's on Ryoma's side as well to betray Zangetsu, overwhelming him with numbers with Zangetsu acknowledging they're conspiring all along, with Ryoma turning into Duke to finish the job. Both are puzzled at each other not following their true intention each (reach new heights for Duke, saving humanity for Zangetsu), with Duke claiming Zangetsu never understands what he wants. Zangetsu is knocked back into Takatora, and is cornered by Sigurd into a nearby cliff. As Micchy watches what happened, Takatora urges him to report to Yggdrasill HQ and finally, lets him associate with the ones he once called distraction and 'street trash' in Kouta to save humanity. But Micchy's psycho nature further escalates here as he only stands idly watching his own brother going to be killed, driven by jealousy due to Takatora being another one to look up to Kouta. It also shows Micchy's hypocrisy further, that despite him judging Takatora harshly, he himself is a ruthless son of a bitch who is even worse. Sid notices that Micchy is cold for letting Takatora be killed, in a complimentary way, as Micchy picks up the Genesis Driver Takatora had.

Kouta visits Yggdrasill to meet Takatora, but as for the previous moment, the receptionist claims that they're never associated with TAkatora. Back at Drupers, Kouta is confused over that, but Kaito is one of the customers there and harshly demands Kouta to serve him, mocking him for his attention span. Before Kouta counters, he gets a task from Bando to deliver fruits. He delivers by pedaling a bike... He could've used Jimber Cherry Arms to deliver at high speed though.. power can be used for more than fighting or destroying (from DJ Sagara's talk) like him at ep. 2. As he reaches the destination, Zangetsu Shin appears, but he attacks Kouta, much to his confusion, thinking that Takatora is there. Kaito also arrives there and noticed that it's a trap. Kouta tries to stop Kaito fighting him as Takatora is not an enemy and explaining that they did understand each other before, to no avail. Eventually, Kouta henshins into Kachidoki Arms to block their way, with Zangetsu Shin summoning Inves to distract both Riders. For this apparent betrayal, this shows another patience limit in Gaim that he beats up Kamakiri Inves with only bare hands. As Kaito mocks Kouta's trusting nature, despite Kouta's explanation, it's revealed that said Zangetsu here was Micchy. He had resorted into stealing his brothers name and identity and used it for first degree attempted murder done to spite both Takatora and Kouta. The scene is also done reminiscent of a slasher movie as none of the fruit powers are used to mitigate the shock factor as he tries to beat up Gaim to death with bare hands. This doesn't only apparently destroy Kouta's bond with Takatora, but also made Kouta look stupid for wrong reasons as he's ridiculed by Kaito for making a deal with Takatora when he didn't actually betray him. Micchy's manipulation here is the one that is reminiscent of Kusaka's in Faiz, utilizing the fact that Riders (except for the first 6 Sengoku Drivers) can be used not only by its main wielder, the lesson here is to know that, Riders can be used by anyone.

Another betrayal happens in the Yggdrasill base as Sid had destroyed Ryoma's lab, likely killing the researchers here, as Sid only views Takatora as a threat, thus the inner circle of Yggdrasill would fall apart after they no longer have mutual focus on Takatora. Sid even closes the permanent crack in the Yggdrasill lab as he enters it. It's unknown if Ryoma would do the same to Sid given a chance, but Sid's the one with more severe backstabbing traits compared to the other inner circle, which can make Sid even more despicable compared to Ryoma, like how Sid enjoys his heinous actions compared to the other inner circles who see those as a means to an end.