[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER REVICE EPISODE 13 - “FENIX ESCAPING CRISIS BY A HAIR’S BREADTH!”

I care about suits to the degree that they illuminate some evolution of the character, but that’s where it stops with me. Ikki still seeing Vice as the monster that tried to eat his mom, instead of the supportive and steadfast friend he’d become over the last few months? That’s awesome. I love that. There’s something innate in Ikki that worries about his family as the first choice in any interaction, and it can keep him from being as supportive as he wants to be. (We even get to see Ikki learn to stop rushing to his siblings’ aid at the drop of a hat, and let them fight their own battles!) He cares about his family so much that he’s been holding it against Vice, even when Vice clearly doesn’t deserve it anymore. We’re miles away from Ikki almost suiciding himself against Giff Juniors to teach Vice a lesson, and it’s starting to get rough watching Ikki treat Vice like shit. It was time to have Ikki realize that Vice isn’t a demon that’s haunting him, he’s his buddy. We’ve finally reached the point where Vice can stop being some humiliated apparition, and start being a part of the family.

For once, Genta's the one to be sort of useful here, being the one to solve over this overprotectiveness by pointing out that it takes more courage to trust than worry, leading for Ikki to act fully friendly to Vice for the first time. With the 'trust' being shown by Vice punching a Deadman behind Ikki where Ikki didn't notice. I'm still not fully onboard with trusting morally dubious beings to be released which Ikki does to Vice, though it's true that there are also positive moments Vice did to him which Ikki overlook like trying to protect him from Kagerou, but I'm fully onboard on the more innocent side, on how you should trust others to handle problems by themselves instead of holding them back. Better try and mitigate problems (if not successful) than not trying at all due to over-worry of being injured. And not trusting others to handle problems is quite an innocent version of putting others down, viewing them as weak or incapable...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

And while I didn’t get a full episode of Daiji and Sakura teaming up, I liked what little I did get. I really wanted to see what their dynamic was away from Ikki, you know? We haven’t really seen the two of them on their own yet, and I don’t really know what that relationship is like. There’s some fun notes so far, though. I like how they commiserate over Ikki’s helicopter brothering, and how hard they have to work to get him to back off. There’s a little bit of Daiji trying to be a voice of authority, and a clear indication that Sakura has never and may never see him as anyone to listen to. But, y’know, the episode very quickly pivoted to Barid Rex and Kagerou, and we didn’t really get the Daiji/Sakura spotlight I’d’ve liked.

Indeed Ikki hasn't let go fully of his overprotective behavior to his siblings, where they're Kamen Riders now, even if Ikki's in worse position that he can't use his Revice Driver and his siblings are the ones who can fight. And I think Ikki not fully learning his lesson is the reason why Kagerou manifests back in this episode, with Daiji still being babied by Ikki that he worries too much that Daiji can't be independent out there as Rider, thus his resentment to Ikki resurfaces as Ikki goes back to his old habit, where of course as usual Daiji is subdued by only pointing out that the siblings aren't weak anymore, but not for Kagerou. Really Ikki should stop as it has proven to have unfortunate consequences, or probably if he learns that Kagerou can come back. Though it can be Kagerou taking over when he's beaten up from battle or Olteca directly releasing it with his tentacles. Ikki's new upgrade Barid Rex Genome, focuses on ice, and it has a theme revolving it like Ice Age (the era where dinosaurs were dying).

Sakura seems to be more relaxed dealing with her family after dropping her edgy act, dismissing Ikki and Daiji's concerns in more funny and lighthearted way (though I guess pointing out Ikki can't henshin is a bit of a payback, albeit Ikki too storms into the Skybase as regular human), though dunno if (she did ask for overcompensation at the end of last episode) she also hadn't fully learned her lesson like Ikki. Turns out that Yukimi has something to learn too herself, which'd be why I softened up a bit against what she did in last episode, that it's not something seen as always right (though you may do) because she usually acts as a guidance over her sons before (or because she's the parent), that she's even more overprotective than Ikki is against Sakura, despite that she'd let her sons fight as Riders, and Sakura already being trained to fight. A trivia that 2 of her ViStamps Kujaku and Turtle had their Rider bases ZX and V3 dealing with dead sisters and avenging them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Not to say the Kagerou stuff was unwelcome! The episode included a lot of intriguing story teases around the edges on this one: Kagerou’s reactivation, however briefly; Hiromi’s reasonable and relatable vow to lay down his life to protect Lovekov; a(nother) traitor in Fenix; the impending activation of Giff, maybe, possibly, who really knows. None of the villain plotting got me thinking in new ways about their schemes or characterization, but I liked them going on the offensive. A “base under siege” story is always entertaining, and the brevity of this one kept the pace fast all the way through. It’s a quick story, but a solid one.

Hiromi's the other one that has his Driver taken, for his physical health, and the episode does show that he will perform heroic deeds even without power, it's regardless required as Jeanne has inherent escort mission for Lovekov, if she's not used as weapon. Now Happy Spa's the one to lend a hand on Fenix by having Hiromi take a bath there. There's now a hook of Wakabayashi being actually a traitor and is Chameleon Deadman, but I guess it's just Chameleon's ability to shapeshift into others, and guessing from how Revice had some evil twist hook before, but actually not (Daiji's envy, but it's actually Kagerou, and Sakura at preview of ep. 12, but it's actually Seiko). George would still take pot shots at Vice for his criticism to Jackal design. Finally the mid-season upgrade Barid Rex Genome comes, which is George's big project at this moment. Vice did have his payback as the skateboard, but at this point, George's own pettiness and spite will just hinder Fenix/Kamen Rider's progress that Vice will be stuck on his weaker base form, hindering Revice's overall battle power still. This shows how cold traits can instead be detrimental, and storytelling-wise, it's probably an effective one to handicap a scientist's contribution. Though he's able to get over Sakura, only focusing on the sender.