[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER REVICE EPISODE 29 - “CRANK-IN! MEMORIES OF HIROMI!”

Hiromi’s alive, apparently! And he has amnesia, because this is Kamen Rider Revice, a show whose sign reading It Has Been X Days Since Our Last Narratively Convenient Amnesia is constantly being reset to zero! So we’ve got to bring him back to the team the only way our heroes know how: A good old-fashioned CLIP SHOW!

It’s basically an HBV, but with a little extra epilogue for the last arc around the edges. As hard as I laughed at the many brilliant gags, the part I liked best was how it all became a goofy blow-off for the Igarashi siblings, right before they split off into slightly-siloed storylines. Daiji’s got to reform/destroy Fenix, Sakura’s got to take her next steps with Weekend, and Ikki’s got to keep Happy Spa safe for them all to come back to someday. Sure, as Ikki notes, they’ll never be too far away from each other – they’re still family, and still teammates in the fight against Giff – but this does all have that sunset-lit feeling of a completed chapter, even if this group doesn’t really strike me as readers. It’s See You Soon, rather than Goodbye, but it still conjures up a wistful feeling.

Another trait of Ikki is revealed here, that he has zero understanding of technology.... which causes him to accidentally delete the footage (of which luckily was saved). And his role goes full circle. At the beginning he's the only one that can become a Rider at that time, of which he prioritizes protecting Happy Spa thus didn't commit to the Deadman fighting and earns him an ire from Daiji for that. He finally agrees to work within Fenix until it falls apart with the rotten reveal of it like Hiromi's fate, George's behavior, Giff research, and Weekend fighting against it. The siblings now go on a different path for those new reveals with Daiji staying at Fenix to cure it and Sakura joining Weekend, thus Ikki goes back into prioritizing his family and protecting Happy Spa.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

The basic idea, that the Igarashis and George decide to make a recap video to get Hirmoi to take up arms again, is sublime in its manic energy. (I like that they mostly pivoted away from Remind Hiromi How Cool He Is into just recapping the last 28 episodes, since there’s literally no way to edit previously-aired footage enough to make Hiromi look like a successful Kamen Rider.) The way each attempt at a video reflected the editor’s biases and failings made even dull original footage (or frustrating reminders of stuff I don’t care about) into entertaining explorations of the first half of Revice: Vice, turning his video slowly but surely into a hype video for him and Ikki; Daiji, making a somber and serious tribute to Hiromi that eventually becomes a vehicle for Daiji’s rage and resentment toward George/Fenix/Whomever; and George, mostly making a workout video so he can show off his physique and minorly flirt with Hiromi. Each segment is just recapping stuff we already knew, but the way it’s recapped kept cracking me up. It’s easily the best version of this show’s story to date.

Other than his comedic bits in tons of Engrish (what's his ethnicity? Masumi had Japanese name and no English aspect at all) and aerobic video (with henshin pose training!). I guess continuing from genuine concern for the Igarashis or also his declaration to jump on Riderhood, this does further confirm that he turned good. Including explaining about his "ultimate Rider" goal or his treatment of Hiromi, that he claims he was ordered by Akaishi to supervise the Demons Driver. As shown in Daiji reminding it and Sakura threatening to Rider Kick him if he does something suspicious again, that doesn't negate that George had committed wrongdoings opposite to what Kamen Rider embodies, but he showed remorse here while wanted to atone by helping his former guinea pig Hiromi. Daiji now shares mutual predicament to George that it roots from Fenix's corrupt core. Would like to see the bond between George and Daiji for likely potential infighting at Fenix now. He also even displays less narcissism compared to Vice, only getting angry at Vice for mistakes too rather than petty reasons, as he previously displayed Kuroto-like narcissism of boasting his capabilities after reverting Ikki and Vice's position back. George previously surely doesn't act like he's forced though (except when he gave the Crow ViStamp to Kagerou), reacting with glee to use Hiromi as guinea pig and discarding him, unless he's also forced to act malicious too that time.

Said director who is claimed to force George under his order, Akaishi, seems to be set up as the main antagonist here (or at least, further confirming he's evil) along with Giff.... or that he's the main antagonist to carry the story with Giff acting as unseen superior that he recapped the previous Deadman's feats to.... Akaishi seems to at least value Olteca as a companion that he genuinely mourns his death albeit he's still feeling uplifted due to Daiji as the replacement. This seems to show that Akaishi isn't as much of a bastard as Olteca.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Nothing bad to say about this one! All the old information was presented in a fun way, the “new” information (Giff at Fenix, Ikki disappearing from a photo) was either easily predicted or technically old information that just hadn’t been brought up in a while, and the use of all of this reminiscing as a way to give the Igarashis a feeling of closure was really sweet. It’s so fun, that I forgot until this sentence how angry I got at Hiromi having this show’s 11th or 12th case of amnesia! JESUS CHRIST! Everyone on this show should be wearing helmets at all times!

As usual, though he grew to become more caring towards people around him, Vice is still an attention seeker, seen in his fights after he became buddies with Ikki some episodes ago (#NiceVice), but this trait is still present until now, with him editing what's meant to be Hiromi movie into being focused on himself with the other Igarashi siblings as the side character. As Ikki noted, his editing is Kamen Rider Vice instead of Hiromi. It'd also appear later in likely what advances the plot in him and Ikki's fight against the True Giftarians, to put a new self-promoting hashtag in #NiceRevice (this'd involve Ikki too though).

Sakura's a physically tough girl (who still wants to seek more as stated here by joining Weekend) and she's also the harsh, stiff, and temperamental type though not perpetually (in reverse she's patient to Tamaki as usual after his turn), and it shines through in her stint as a director here, which'd put her above her older brothers and George, being someone controlling and mean to the crew. Though the other crews was really wacky and genuinely making it hard for them to complete the movie, so it's not fully unwarranted, albeit she's like this too to less severe mistakes like Ikki's directing.

Tamaki returns to his comic relief role, and an even bigger sobbing mess compared to before with Aguilera missing. Not to rag on Tamaki's predicament or overall life, but after previously having a more composed role, honestly, this got a bit repetitive now and that Tamaki seems to be unnecessary character/presence now, with the series likely don't know what to do with him but have to make him appear, from a previously one of the right-hand of the major villain, to assuming a role similar to Genta (pre-Vail reveal).