[DreadBringer]

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

To be clear, the thing that Akaishi is proven correct about isn't that humanity is doomed or that Giff is all-powerful or that reverse evolution (???) is the key to survival -- the thing he's proven correct about is that the heroes as they're currently configured (and with Daiji coming with the plans) are of no consequence. He doesn't actually have a point, unless the point is You Guys Are Real Bad At This.

And even the story painting those as not actually proven correct will still have some audience insisting otherwise and pull any kind of mental gymnastics over this.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER REVICE EPISODE 36 - “HUMANITY STANDS AT CROSSROADS, TO EACH THEIR OWN RESOLVE”

(Quick sidebar: The villains doing an evil vaccination program while the steadfast heroes team up to stop people from being vaccinated… not great optics on that in 2022! Maybe in 2032, but last year? Too soon! Poor taste!)

Fenix's plan now apparently is about ViStamp mandate to remove demons from their bodies. Masumi's original plan, I hope the next episodes will flesh this out more, likely showing the consequences of Masumi's original extreme methods if fully done, especially if this is Akaishi's scheme. Or not as Daiji was actually doing his Fenix job here by guarding a Stamping site, and fought against what Akaishi actually did again by driving people away from Giff Juniors and also fighting against a Hell Gifterian, who apparently can speak. Daiji got heavily injured again, this time as a jobber to newer threat that can punch out Holy Live quickly, and has similar regeneration as Olteca in his final fight. Likely that'd be the one to spark Revice's final form. But overall despite a destroyed base, and George now residing in Happy Spa, Fenix's still operating. Regarding George, like above former Deadmans, Ikki accepts George here without (justified) doubt and animosity anymore, with George's change too now, hence 'everyone' being buddies now.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Hana’s metamorphosis from Deposed Queen Of Evil to Sakura’s Concerned Girlfriend is… it’s not the most robust character arc on the show, despite it being the one I most look forward to. We hear a lot from Hana in this episode’s climax about how much she wants to atone for her sins as part of the Giffamilia, but it never really got any screentime before now. Hana quit being Aguilera because being Aguilera was a dead-end: she was the queen of a cult that no longer existed, in service of a creature that never cared about her. Joining Weekend always felt like a way to stay in her girlfriend’s orbit, and nothing more. Like, “defeating Giff”? When has that ever been anything Aguilera or Hana professed to care about? I’m not saying I can’t illustrate an emotional line that would connect those two characters, Aguilera and Hana, but I am saying that the show hasn’t really bothered to do that.

At first, Aguilera was still a cold bitch towards Tamaki, even if Tamaki's behavior to be overprotective for someone stronger than him can be grating. I guess the episode fleshed her more with how she's the type to run away from the past at first, using her Hana identity to forget the atrocities she has committed in the past. I wonder if she acted bitchy towards Tamaki before was partly due to this too, to reject anything related to the past (still no excuse). But the fact is, she did commit all those atrocities, and it can't be undone (as there seems to be no time travel in Revice for now, unknown if George can create it) what you'd do is not only claiming to change and atone but also proving it. It'd be better and more benefical to help out rather than being inactive due to being sealed or killed, if they have the capacity of redemption.

And she herself admitted now that she did those evil acts as a evil queen, like Tamaki before, so that shows that it's not that Aguilera did nothing wrong before as a Deadman and that all of the blame can be deflected away to others due to how there's a victim status in herself since Olteca betrayed her. Better than leaving her only being around I guess (even Kimiko appeared here!). Other than her debut as a Rider to help out, by taking back her old alias Aguilera as per Masumi's suggestion (I'd always call her that anyway due to Hana name already being used before as Den-O's female lead), and regarding you depicting Aguilera treating Tamaki as just sibling stuff, she actually starts treating Tamaki better in this episode as well, addressing her superiority to him by resolving to protect him instead, and even to Vice, she acted playfully towards him, not haughtily, now also integrating with the other main cast.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Still, I liked the debut of Kamen Rider Aguilera quite a bit. My favorite part was Karizaki tying together Hana’s shameful past with the various Demons of this show; a thing to use for good, and nothing to be eliminated or obscured. As much as the leap to Hana as a warrior for justice feels minimally motivated, I do appreciate the thematic coherence of her new outlook. Also, I like the suit! The stinger out of the mask is a good touch, and I like how the shoulders are doing a lot of the same stuff as the Jeanne suit. They’ll make a good fighting couple!

I didn't expect here that even Aguilera wasn't an official member yet here at Weekend and this was her final test, and it seems that Weekend still carries some extreme methods, to have Tamaki in his human form being plunged into danger as his test to become a member. Less so for Aguilera as an actual Rider (her shooting Vail wasn't a test but done on her own volition). Even Sakura here still calls them out on this to put Tamaki in dangerous situation, though she quickly submits on Hikaru's explanation of this being Weekend's test. She'd still later defend Tamaki when he passed. I guess if she's fully affectionate to Aguilera and stands up for Tamaki against a friend she knew longer, she'd also better view Masumi in better light, as she did bring up about how him trying to atone isn't enough to erase his previous sins, but said Aguilera or even Julio was more malicious than Masumi in her evil queen actions.

Other than Aguilera beating Vail in a fight here due to Vail not acquiring Aguilera's ViStamp yet, which is apparently based on Muhammad Ali's "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" fighting style (from what I catch, she targeted lower body parts a lot, and her finisher includes trapping their legs too), it's quite satisfying for me to have Vice get back at him, to mock his demonic life boast with Vail running away from Aguilera. Otherwise, as usual, Vice is still an attention whore despite that he cares more about people around him now, though not helped as Ikki joked about Vice being useless now in the face of Aguilera. Ikki pulled quite brutal joke right there still. His previous fight with Revi against Akemi showed a Deadman that can't be instantly cured, only temporary, but probably Akemi's brief conversation does show that Akemi is brainwashed, or likely went undercover against Akaishi. Either way, someone much more upstanding than Chigusa. Probably that'd also be used to show off Revice's upcoming final form's capabilities, with said using Giff power she claimed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

It’s weird to have an episode where the main plot is a thrilling, cathartic bit of adventure that feels like it’s paying off a plot this show never broadcast, and a subplot of a character making just ABYSMAL decisions for perfectly established and ingrained reasons. Confusing feelings at the end, but I’m still gonna say this one worked for me. But please remember to get vaccinated!!!

Other than her, to a smaller extent Tamaki too undergoes a change here, not as in successfully 'change' in 'henshin', but his goal and motivation now. They made use of Tamaki being forced to smile, in his bullying days and Deadman days, as a stock Kamen Rider goal of making everyone smile. This being Tamaki though, probably this is played up in parodic way, albeit this is one of his bigger role after being separated from his Giftex role, albeit at first was about his repetitive motivation again to join Weekend (yeah, at the early part of the episode both the former Deadman generals acted like previous self), And as expected, he failed to henshin, due to the Kamen Rider motivation boast leading to Vail acquiring his ViStamp. Still a derp.... or perhaps what 'realistically' can happen when the opponent acts against someone posing for a fight. He's also was useful as a hostage and bait here, quite as expected. Actually because he's joining Weekend, he should re-take karate practice again with Sakura and Hikaru, like he did when he tried to deceive Sakura before, but no two-faced stunts again anymore.