[DreadBringer]

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Well, one, I'd argue that Gai hasn't changed 180 degrees, he just has some newfound clarity about how his actions have prevented him from finding any happiness or contentment, and is working towards a better outcome. He's still an egotistical asshole, and he needs a lot of guidance in figuring out what the right course of action is. He's only started a path, not finished his rehabilitation.

So you personally think Gai has not changed 180 degrees, which is the reason for you to enjoy this, fair enough. You think Gai is not good yet here. But, had he suddenly gain conscience that all his actions are wrong? Going from someone who makes excuse to avoid responsibilities and continue his atrocities. As said here, there needs to be lot of guidance, and someone like Gai shouldn't suddenly realize that his actions are wrong? It had to be done with him going through extensive lesson of what's right and wrong, and especially for the difficult part, evil often cannot comprehend goodness, they often look down on virtue for quite good reasons (oftentimes kid's shows don't give good arguments to elevate good), viewing right/wrong as only obstacles in their goal, or something unappealing as they don't immediately get benefit for that, or even just weakness (an argument is, how Aruto fell to ARk here as you said), etc. How to make them not only understand morality, but also actually are interested in achieving that.

Not to mention he had dim view of humanity overall too, other than him, it gotta be like educating an extreme misantrophe. It's not about other's reaction (which is done well btw), characters or audience, but the mere part of Gai admitting he's wrong and genuinely trying to be better. I thought it's 180 that he can immediately admit he's wrong and, for me personally, he completely abandoned his negative traits here? (not being asshole anymore, more below)

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER ZERO-ONE EPISODE 39 - “UNPREDICTABLE OUTCOME”

If this’d just been an episode about Gai going on an apology tour, it’d still be a fantastic episode. His egotism and narcissism haven’t dimmed in the light of his newfound dog-based emotional healing, which is the best decision this show has ever and could ever make. Gai’s the worst kind of less-awful dipshit, where the move from Genocidal Capitalist to Just Sort Of An Asshole has him so in awe of his capacity for change that he needs everyone to know about his arduous journey of self-discovery. His revelations are saccharine and generic, but since they happened to him, he’s convinced they’re fascinating and unique. (When he tells Aruto that he’s the embodiment of Grampa Hiden’s dream!!!) He’s funnier as a changed man than he ever was scary as a villain, and I am eating his nonsense up.

Actually I don't know what kind of asshole deed he pulled up for now. The 1000% part Aruto is sick of hearing? I won't think that it's an asshole behavior, just uttering 1000% that is. If people'd think he's sincere in his attempts to be better, then the 1000% in this case is only to emphasize is certainity. Obviously, even someone's wrongdoings that are far tamer than Gai's can have people being an asshole against that, constantly rubbing it in their face or gloat at those who admit they're wrong, which can be done to as a way to "keep them in line", but actually can lead into people never admitting they were wrong, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy of attitudes. Or for those who still admit that they're wrong, behave extremely carefully, as any slightest mistakes can have them easily condemned. Even more for someone with gigantic atrocities like Gai. So it'd make sense for Gai to try being as polite and pleasing as he can (and that also can be accused as purposely groveling for favor), and thus I didn't get the part of his "asshole" part here?

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I love how Gai’s bid for redemption becomes 1000% less funny when Aruto’s involved. There’s weight behind Aruto’s anger, and it’s the weight of an entire series cleaning up Gai’s messes. Gai just being like I’m Happy Now is… I was going to say “it’s nice, but”, except it’s not even nice to Aruto. He ended up fixing Gai, kind of accidentally (when he saved the VPs from Hiden Intelligence, he was mostly just happy to have Gai out of his hair), but that doesn’t even start to make up for the shit Gai pulled. He created a humanity-hating satellite that is currently trying to exterminate humanity! Who cares about his goddamn dog! (I do. Forever.) Aruto’s righteous in his fury at Gai, demanding that Gai stop praising himself for his growth and start actively making a positive difference in the lives of people he’d hurt. And, yeah, bow better! 90 degrees!

But as I've said before, yeah I like how the other casts are handled here, that they're not making light of Gai's crimes including Aruto. Even if this is also personally to me, the part I view as an example not to do when redeeming characters, I don't agree if people'd think the cast forgave him too. It may deny the audience some satisfaction for the heroes not taking this advantage to go hard on him, but as some people said here, tolerating Gai may be a good move for everyone too, and the irony that he now is an useful "tool" for others to use. So other than it being a human rights to not gang up on someone defenseless (even if they're bad, like laws), it's the reason why empty vengeance shouldn't be done, and not going hard doesn't mean letting them off the hook. And though people are ought not to rub it in to someone who admits they're wrong, the one who is wrong is also ought to be genuine in their apology and actually act on it instead of faking it to escape from their responsibility and act on their desires, as all Aruto, Fuwa, and Yua attest.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Even the Ikazuchi stuff is just another facet of the theme of Progress, where his second Singularity is immediately mistrusted by Jin, but welcomed by Aruto. This entire episode’s hero plot is about how the only way to beat Ark is to collaborate in ways it can’t predict: by leveraging Raiden’s return, or by teaming up with Kamen Rider Thouser. Ark can’t predict that people would change or grow. His view of others is as tools, as something that can be easily quantified and harnessed. People becoming better than they were yesterday – more humble, more considerate, more generous – literally doesn’t compute for the Ark. The Ark’s strength is in the predictable.

I didn't talk about this before due to obvious reasons (you haven't reached this part), but yeah Ark is NOT someone simply made unbeatable, Ark's forte is his adaptive skills to gain advantage of any situation, even in unpredictable events. Ark isn't perfect though, as ihe accused Zea as the reason behind Aruto and Gai's cooperation, though it still can think quickly against anything including those 'mistakes'. Aruto always championed about Humagear's ability to learn and adapt... and now he had to face an enemy that uses that very ability to accomplish evil. But glad that a show can answer your demands even after this late, as you previously didn't care about Ark (and no he's STILL about personification of hate that goes against the plan of creating a safe world for Humagears after awakening), and sometimes first impression permanently sticks. I wonder what can be absolved from bad first impression and what can't to you (usually for people, it's when it's done too little too late at finale, not at middle).