[Fish Sandwich]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER DRIVE EPISODE 48 - FINAL STORY (SPECIAL EDITION): THE CASE OF GHOST

I don't remember this episode totally gelling together in a 100% smooth way, but the things I love about it, I utterly adore. And I mean, it's not like any of it is even outright bad, besides that accursed clunky edit of the theme song that was also used in the prior episode, which I still remember launching me right the heck out of the immensely emotional state I was in after seeing for the first time both the finales to a show that had been so engrossing for me over the course of a whole year.

But anyway, yeah, certainly a lot to commend about this one, especially considering it was the only episode of Drive that Nobuhiro Mouri wrote.

I think my personal absolute favorite thing about it is how it sets up the idea of Shinnosuke getting that one last miracle chance at transforming into Drive, only to have him make the choice to reject it. I'm not sure I can properly get across how immensely satisfying the lines "Even if I can't transform... Even if Mr. Belt is gone... I'm still a cop, and a Kamen Rider!" were and are to me.

First of all, "This man is a cop and a Kamen Rider!" was the show's tagline, so it's calling back to something that was a key part of the series from its very first ads, let alone the first episodes. And, going back to my whole personal connection to Drive, those trailers had me extremely excited for the show before it even started. So that was cool to see referenced in the finale. More importantly, that whole sentiment that it isn't a toy belt that truly makes Shinnosuke a Rider, that's something I always love seeing in superhero stories. It goes back to how many climactic episodes of Power Rangers I've seen that put the Rangers in a position where they still have to be heroes without, you know, Power, and I just think that's a great way to get to the core of what really makes characters of this sort inspirational.

In Shinnosuke's particular case here, one of the things I loved about him from the start was how his initial arc is all about him finding his drive to press forward in life again after getting stuck in a depressive rut, which I'm sure is an extremely relatable thing for a lot of people, and leaving the whole show on that last message from Belt-san – that it's never too late to get back up and Start Your Engine – I've always felt that was an extremely poignant resolution. (And coming after an episode that already had one of those, too! Drive really is something else!)