[Kamen Rider Die]

KAMEN RIDER REVICE EPISODE 44 - “DEVOTING IT ALL, THE RESULTS OF HIS DETERMINATION”



If there’s a throughline to Daiji’s character, it’s his almost pathological inability to take responsibility for his actions. I could point out specific instances, but, like: we both watched this show. Nearly every Daiji storyline is shifting the blame onto someone else, or refusing to allow for alternate viewpoints, or doubling down on misguided choices until he’s pointing a revolver in his brother’s face. He’s a guy that can’t see why everyone is screaming at him to stop being such a screaming lunatic about things. He’s… he’s this, for virtually the entire second half of the series:



And yet, there’s something sort of charming about Daiji’s fragile ego and almost instinctual self-sabotage. He’s got all of Hiromi’s penchant for screwing up, but without the self-awareness and sheepish warmth that makes Hiromi such a lovable loser. (Hiromi's fan-favorite catchphrase, now retired, is all about how each fight almost killed him!) Daiji’s got a prickly dismissal of anything even approaching a good reason to stop being a weirdo, and his insistence on staying the course – even when the course is The Giant Monster Just Said He Was Definitely Going To Destroy All Of Humanity, That Is What You Are Agreeing To Assist – is one of the most infuriating aspects of this series. I love this show, and I love Daiji, but it’s a fair criticism at this point in the show. Daiji refuses to change.

But, yeah, I like that? I like Daiji getting to the deadest of dead ends and being completely bewildered about how to turn around. Like, that’s his one and only flaw, if you want to get back to it: Daiji doesn’t know how to say he screwed up. (And he studied under Hiromi! Hiromi screwed up teaching Daiji to be okay with screwing up! AMAZING. Hiromi!!!) Everything that comes after that initial mistake – killing Kagerou or joining Akaishi, take your pick – is just rationalizations to keep from having to own his mistake. He pushed away his family, when all they wanted him to do was admit he was wrong, because that’s impossible for him. They tried to give him space to figure things out on his own, but that only led to him digging a deeper hole.

So of course it’s a weepy Hiromi speech that turns Daiji towards self-analysis and admission of guilt. Hiromi’s a guy whose whole outlook is that he’ll screw up and try to do better next time, even if he technically hasn’t screwed up yet. He’s the guy that’s going to root for Daiji to acknowledge his error, because Hiromi knows that true strength comes from seeing your flaws, owning them, and using them for good.

As such: Kagerou.

Not a great episode, arc-plot wise (I do not want to talk about Giff this time), but a thrilling conclusion to Daiji’s series-long mental breakdown. I don’t know that I love the idea that Kagerou was waiting for Daiji to hit rock-bottom before giving him a hand up, but it’s a return delivered with so much charm and swagger that I sort of don’t want to be skeptical about it. I just want to appreciate this story of a boy who realized he needed the worst part of himself back, because the best part of himself wasn’t capable of compromise. The strength in Revice characters is all in weakness: Vice’s boisterousness, Lovekov’s cuteness, and Kagerou’s self-loathing. Daiji needs that to even himself out, just as his siblings need their own counterbalance. Kagerou’s disgust offsets Daiji’s conviction, creating a mindset where uncertainty is healthier than self-righteousness. Kagerou lets Daiji see where he’s going wrong, and that’s just as valuable as a new form change. (Which I do like!)

Can’t imagine this episode’s gonna be for everyone, because I remember the last few months of Daiji discussion, but I thought this one wrapped up his story in a nice, coherent way. A few odds and ends that I don’t care a ton about, or didn’t matter to the main plot – the death of Karizaki Sr! WHO CARES – but a very solid Daiji story that (I thought) successfully laid out his psychology, and firmly redeemed his character. I’m sure you’ll let me know if you disagree!