[Sh Ranger]

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Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

(is Desast actually the single most popular Saber character?)

Pretty much.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER SABER EPISODE 43 - ?THEY CLASH, SEEKING VALUE IN THEIR EXISTENCE?

The camera?s mostly on Ren for Desast?s death scene, which is probably just how Desast would?ve wanted it. We?re here to see how Desast?s lessons have changed Ren, and how this scarred-up swordsman is able to process what?s going on. It?s all very closed-off and quiet, which is always the smarter way for these deaths to go, I think. Touma pawing at a dying Kento, I sort of bounce right off of. But Ren staring down at a dying Desast, honoring his friend by letting the fight just be a fight, that?s a gut punch if this show ever threw one. It?s these two weirdos having only swordfighting to connect them, but letting that be a relationship as resonant as a million conversations.

I appreciated Kento's death scene (mostly the fake-out one from Episode 12), but Desast's is a different type for how there's a feeling of inevitability and acceptance. Ren and Desast both know what's coming and they're both trying to get the most out of the situation. Desast wants a climactic fight worthy of closing his exciting life, while Ren wants to understand what makes him so strong yet so different from the other Swordsmen, which Desast also wants to help him see before leaving him. Honestly, I just love honorable fights to the death, so this fight scene in the ominous dimly lit warehouse with the simultaneously melancholic and glorious Will Save Us by Kawazu Asuka definitely sold this episode for me.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

A SISTER?S SOCIAL AGONY

If this all worked out, they were even going to love him like they loved her.[/I]

(shiver)

Wow, I didn't need Reika to be more creepy in this episode. If that was your intention, then you nailed it.

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Originally Posted by Androzani84

This is also the last episode to be written by Takuro Fukuda, in the rare instance of a Toku show having a different writer do the finale (with Metalder, B-Fighter Megaranger and Wizard being the others I can think of). In this case, it?s because the producer saw how well received the V-Cinema for Ghost was, and told him to focus all his energies on the one for Saber, to try and make it even better. Given the reactions on Twitter, I?d say it was worth it.

Unfortunately for Fukuda, a lot of his critics were out of loop about the actually sensible reason for his absence, so they jumped to the conclusion that he had forsaken the show and started talking even more trash about him. Makes me feel bad for that guy always getting scapegoated for circumstances beyond his control.

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Originally Posted by Mesnick

A very powerful and tragic episode. It's actually impressive how the writers made the viewer sympathize with a kaijin without a human form, without giving him much extra attention or even giving a tragic backstory. I would even say, making the lack of backstory his tragedy.

Nicely said, that his lack of backstory is his tragedy. Desast wasn't a man who cowered from danger or difficulty. He embraced the full spectrum of life, all its pleasures and pains. He didn't waste time dwelling on things he can't control or change. He didn't complain about how hard his situation was and met every challenge he faced with bravery. He lived in the present and turned his dying moments in to the most exciting moments he's ever lived. He wasn't a good guy, but he was a good mentor and more important than that, he was always true to himself and let his life burn bright until the end.

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Originally Posted by DreadBringer

From previous talk, though Reika became comparatively better, would say she's still a jerk here, regardless if what she did is meant for laughs. It's still an expected, but violent reaction for her to attempt slashing Mei off Ryoga. I kinda think that Ryoga may be more approachable than Reika for him at least the one started making attempts to get more open... which got exploited by Mei.

Reika is totally at her most toxic and obnoxious here. If some people thought the infamous Sophia slap wasn't severe enough to call her out, then I'd like to hear their defense for trying to cut Mei, or harassing Touma mid-fight for using Kaiji, even though he literally just saved her beloved big bro! She demands gratitude, while refusing to earn it or give it back. All her behavior here was infuriating for me to watch, as she's a serious liability and could've potentially caused so much more harm for such deranged petty reasons.