[AkibaSilver]

So, Wizard arc - yes, I know I'm late, I was busy living in the outside world for the weekend.

Wizard was my first ever Rider show, so I have a lot of love for it. While the specifics are a little wonky in my memory, the themes of the show, about holding onto hope, and if you can't maybe someone else can help you out of the Darkness, they mean a lot. So what is Another Wizard? A guy who held out hope that eventually, he'd be noticed. His hard work would pay off, and he'd get his reward, and all would be well. And that hope backfires, drives him to become a monster. Too much hope leads to crushing disappointment. Plus, even without all that thematic parallel I can draw, it's a good hook anyway? Nice guy becomes a monster when rejected, what a thing that never happens in real life.

Nitoh's cameo is minor, sure, and doesn't add much, but I'm glad to see him for the first time since the Wizard/Gaim movie I think? Secondary Riders often feel lost in the shuffle once their show ends, and while him and Geiz probably wouldn't have much to bond over (his soultion to the Zi-O crisis would be 'Don't think about it too hard', then mayo covered chicken at Junchiro's), I appreciate how he doesn't just roll over and give the new protag the watch.

And yeah, it's just all round a solid episode! Direction is good, plot is solid, the old bed fakeout is brilliant, and the twist it puts on Sougo's character - how yes, he's kind and empathic but also scarily good at playing people without even properly realising it - I'm a sucker for it all. Plus plus, Another Wizard is A tier design. The "Add shouldrpads" Rider armors aren't my favourites, but the bulkier madcap ones go hard, and Wizard Armour is Geiz's finest. Plus, Geiz's method of wandering round till he finds the problem is the most Wizard thing you can do. I'm so glad a series that means so much to me ended up as it did, ya know?

Oh yeah the episode everyone else is talking about... Uhh, yeah, Sougo decided to go become Kuroto's understudy is on the less believable end of things, but on the other hand, Kuroto. I have a vague meta-reading that Sougo is just acting like the Kuroto fans from Ex-Aid time, not caring about his evil deeds because he seems cool, but I also admit that's contrived as heck. Away from Sougo making very questionable choices, I appreciate them again mixing together Heisei stuff as Kuroto is a perfect return, Eiji is pleasant to see back, and OOO Armour also looks sick. Don't remember many of the details on this one.