[Sh Ranger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER ZI-O EPISODE 5 - ?SWITCH ON! 2011?

We get two of the mutant kids from the Fourze/Wizard movie, as well as Ohsugi, who will be in these things until the end of time. It makes sense in the continuity, since everyone?s long since graduated, but it's still a bit of letdown, compared to the Ex-Aid and Build stories. We?ve got whoever would return Toei?s calls, and that is going to make for some weird stories. Not sure I?d?ve devoted so much of this episode to movie-only and supporting characters?

While I don't have much strong attachment to Nezumi and Kong, they're both characters from my favorite Kamen Rider movie of all time, so seeing that referenced here makes me happy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

But who cares, because TAKUMI AND KUSAKA ARE BACK.

The last episode teaser sort of spoiled it (you see Them Eyebrows, it?s time to Open Your Eyes), but we are also in a Faiz tribute!

It?s minor (definitely going to be more of the next episode), but I loved every second of it. Like, the first thing Kusaka does in this episode is try to murder a teenage girl, so that?s some A++ Faizing. And then Takumi showing up, happy to rumble with Kusaka and just generally irritate him. Perfect. Perfect!

And it's only thanks to Time Nonsense that this iconic duo are able to appear in this story, since they're otherwise.... You know.

Of course, I care so much more that Takumi and Kusaka are here, than how they're here. It's awesome to see them again, together like this without one of them being a vengeful ghost. The first 4 episodes didn't sell me on Zi-O, I struggled to connect with the story that Shimoyama was trying to tell, but I think he did good with this arc. A story about friendship and loneliness is something that works great for both Faiz and Fourze. It's exactly the kind of novel stuff I'm here for!

This is also Murakami Kohei's first time returning as Kusaka after his new role in Zyuohger.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Which, boy, that?s a nice thing to do, for those of us who love both Fourze and Faiz. To do the Friendship tribute, and then immediately pivot it to the show that viewed friendship as both blessing and curse, with a Rider who fought for years to be worthy of both external and internal acceptance?

Very excited to see what happens next.

Faiz and Fourze are my favorite and third favorite Heisei Rider shows respectively (Build is second) and while the thematic connection between them isn't immediately obvious from the first part, this shared arc does do some really smart things with the Faiz cast utilizing the themes of Fourze. Like Rei, I am also waiting for you to watch the next episode so I can talk about them! It's also a reminder that friendship is still a major part of Faiz, but naturally it's depicted as way harder than the friendship expert Gentarou makes it look.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chasesinister

All I remember from this episode was my amazement at how deep Takumi's voice has gotten.

I recall I first noticed that in Kamen Rider 4. Takumi sure is deep now.