[Kamen Rider Die]

KAMEN RIDER SABER EPISODE 36 - “WIDE OPEN, THE OMNISCIENT POWER”



Isaac is a nepo baby!!!

It’s the funniest, best possible Boss character for a show whose template is Workplace Dramedy. Some dude who inherited a position he never wanted, grew to resent it, and is now going to harness the power and authority it bestowed upon him to do horrible things to average people? I mean, it’s - by far - the least fantastical thing this show has ever presented, but I’ll allow it.

It’s a nice prelude to the endgame arc of this series. Isaac has utterly and irrevocably pulled the mask off, telling the entire world to TATAKAE for his insane pleasure. The Shindai siblings have exercised the Serves Master Logos Specifically loophole in their contracts to embrace the heroism that the Sword of Logos subverted. Ren’s starting to realize that he isn’t running towards a future, he’s running away from his past, so maybe this whole friend-avosion thing is not super sustainable. Even Kento’s finally getting some solid advice from similarly big-picture characters like Yuri and Sophia (eventually), instead of the emotional pleas from Touma to which he’s grown impervious. It’s an episode very much about trying to get all of these disparate swordsmen to figure out a way to coexist, and a giant floating madman telling everyone to kill each other for his enjoyment is a pretty good start.

We’re in a real fast-moving plot phase of the series, where there aren’t a ton of new revelations about our main cast (Yuri’s speech to Kento is just a longer, less-deathbed-y version of his appeal to Kento from a few episodes ago), but it’s very cool to see everything start to line up emotionally and narratively. There’s an undeniable thrill to Touma and Rintaro showing up to save Ryoga and Reika, and for the four of them to form an uneasy truce to take down Solomon. Isaac makes for a great villain, because everyone in the cast wants to kick his ass. Even Falchion seemed to have a brief moment of Eff This Dude!

The Solomon suit and sword, though… not my fave? The suit looks real kitbashed, but I’m not conversant enough in this show’s costumes to pick out where all the pieces might’ve originated. That sword, however! Dude is just swinging around a repainted King of Arthur sword, which does not exactly scream Important New Villain. There’s a real cut-rate approach to the Solomon suit and weaponry that feels a little disappointing, even if it’s (maybe?) not the final form for this goofball.

So, minor complaint about our bad guy’s new getup, but otherwise? Very entertaining and fleet episode of teamwork that constructs a hilarious criticism about inherited wealth and how unearned power creates a gnawing hunger that can’t ever be sated. Real fun times!

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WAGE WARS GET RICH DIE HANDSOME



Isaac, the floating sky man, had made his orders clear: Wage wars in his name. Fight. Now Junki just had to figure out how to actually do that.

Junki was, sadly, used to bizarre proclamations from superpowered beings upending his life. It had only been a few months since Kamen Rider Saber had demanded that people like Junki cheer for him, and now his home was filled with mountains of branded merchandise. He’d hoped it was enough to either power or placate the masked swordsman. Now, he feared he’d gotten an answer.

He wasn’t sure if Saber had abandoned him to this new deity, but he also couldn't ignore this new demand. Junki would continue to cheer on Saber, but he’d also have to find some way to battle on Isaac’s behalf.

He’d briefly considered a campaign of terror using the various Saber-worshiping products he’d procured, but disregarded that almost immediately. The plastic toys might raise a welt, or irritate, but they’d be no use in an actual fight. Maybe… maybe if he threw them at someone? No, that wouldn’t be much better; plus, then they’d lose some of their collectibility, and that wasn’t NOT a concern of Junki’s.

As he struggled to form a plan of action, Junki admitted to himself that Isaac’s demands just weren’t in his wheelhouse. He wasn’t the war-waging type, which would normally go without saying or regretting. Now, he’d need to find some solution to a problem with both moral and practical concerns.

He’d wondered if maybe Saber could save him. He’d seen how effective the superhero had been in that monster fight, where he saved the broadcaster. Maybe there was some way Junki could empower Saber, without risking Isaac’s wrath? Looking around the room of Kamen Rider merchandise, he found his answer. Perfect. This would save him, and hopefully save everyone.

He put the disc for Kamen Rider: Climax Fighters into his PS4, and prepared to wage war online in Isaac and Saber’s names.