[DreadBringer]

Latepost due to being ill before.

This episode honestly to me, shows that people aren't pre-determined to be always/innately good or evil, everyone has a capacity of evil. Hijiri displays that. While in comparison to previous Malgams that are all horrible people (including Tsurugi) and are obvious targets for malice, good people like Hijiri can still harbor malice, in this case, due to rage that her brother turns out to be a real scumbag that directly went after her after having belief in him.

It's natural that those turning events will leave someone enraged over actual slight, so this shows that people shouldn?t get complacent just because somebody seems like they?re alright or has done visible good. Albeit it also shows about the dangers of putting someone in pedestal as well (Hijiri's view of Tsurugi, obviously, to not believe that a good caretaker can be a bad guy overall), for the opposite.

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Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

Seems like Chemy influence amplifies the worst side of humans, as I doubt either Hijiri or Tsurugi would've wanted to kill each other under normal circumstances. Of course, there are people who are unhinged even before they become Malgams, like the hosts for Venomdake and Gorillasensei, but I think this episode shows that even suppressed malice can be unleashed by Chemies, who sadly have no choice in the matter either.

I don't think that Hijiri and Tsurugi should be placed similarly (which is how I'm fed up of the treatment of dark shows, as in below). Tsurugi, though likely he doesn't start as one, is an actual scumbag like previous Malgams, even if the process of him becoming a scum is more elaborated than the previous ones, he only took care for Hijiri out of preserving his image and it's an explanation of him turning to life of crime overall. Hijiri is more of something like Yuusuke being so enraged to Jaraji and temporary succumbing to malice by that.

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Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

Weird how the memory loss spell actually made Kajiki and Hijiri forget about each other, since before it was only shown to affect people's memories of alchemy stuff. Fortunately, they were able to have their fateful re-encounter, but it's even more reason why Chemy law seems bad, now that it's capable of interfering in human-human relationships as well. Like, who else may have had their lives potentially made worse by Alchemy Academy?

Wow, even if the outcome for this one is good (and relieving), you can still find arguments on why it'd be bad (which I agree), and generally, people'd only care about lives being saved and not about how they live their life which is why people'd support extremist villain's plans that'd kill many for "greater good". I actually thought the opposite of where, the relationship may won't last even without Chemy law due to Hijiri likely being one-off, so there should be a reason for them to break off (I'd be afraid that it'd be just lowkey "loser" Kajiki not being on Hijiri's league.... for Faiz, I'd prefer if Keitaro heard about Yuka's death rather than acting as he's being dumped... at least it doesn't feel like it's Keitaro's fault for being cut off from Yuka), which'd explain about (albeit latest episode had Kajiki approaching Hijiri to talk about the UFO).

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Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

Anyway, since next episode marks the start of a new arc, I guess I'll use this opportunity to mention that, contrary to the criticism I'm often seeing from people (mostly Geats fanatics) on other sites, I'm actually enjoying Gotchard a lot so far. The plot is simple yet mysterious and the characters and action are keeping me consistently entertained each week. I'm intrigued to find out what happens next with those suspicious executive guys showing up at Alchemy Academy, like specifically how it might affect Houtarou's and Rinne's loyalty with the organization.

I already know that Geats fanatics who do that are those who subscribe to quite popular take that a show must be dark and angsty to be good, and lighthearted & "childish" stuff are bad. Though the ones who like Gotchard are also those who mercilessly dunk on Geats while also generally prefering lighter shows like Saber as well, typically the ones who bring up about "spirit of Kamen Rider" the most.

I know dunking on Geats feels more like punching up rather than being done on Gotchard, but honestly, might be a hot take but I'm also against the Geats hate by liking Gotchard, as perhaps those who complain about Gotchard not being dark already got people speaking up against those (and I agree with those that light or dark doesn't determine the quality of the show, also occassionally got involved but, no need for me to speak up as much, other than perhaps, children's show doesn't mean low quality or shallow - which is usually the reason people want their shows to be perceived as "mature").

I'm against the notion that moral and lessons can only exist in lighter shows where darker shows are just edgy and horrible for the sake of it, even if it's something appreciated for Gotchard fans who hate Geats. Like even if characters display similar behavior, there's a double standard view of different mediums, between lighter and darker stuff. They excuse bad behavior from the former as a "good moral" show and do everything they can to make the darker ones, "senseless depraved fantasy" look bad.

Like for example, about characters being pushed to do unpleasant things, there's double standards like, for actions like killing people in war in defenses, if it's done by superheroes (typically seen as "childish" light shows, unless if they're excessively edgy), it'd get overlooked (e.g. there's still complaints about superheroes "always pure innocence" regardless of that), but same actions done in darker show will have them being demonized as morally grey or equally terrible as others for doing that, even if he/she in said darker show are also very kind otherwise.

From above, typically lighter shows are seen as always/inherently black and white, while darker shows are always all grey, judging stuff only by stereotypes and preconceived notions. The cast can be seen as good or bad merely by if they're on the same page (typically on lighter shows) or at odds with each other (typically on darker shows) - like, seems that Woz can be viewed as good just for benefitting Sougo (and his schemes as his quirk), while for Geats, one can be viewed as bad just for being competitive and thus getting ahead of someone (not talking about underhanded stuff, but, as you said it's DGP's system of denying someone what they want), with the exception of Keiwa as to those, his wish is seen as the best and most worth winning. When, virtuous characters are present too in darker shows, and it's not rare occurence (for KR, the only one seen as such seems to be those of idealistic butt-monkey archetypes - like Keitaro is viewed as one but perhaps not many view Kiba as good in Faiz). There are also more morally grey/asshole good guys in lighter shows too, such as the Taros in Den-O (except Kin) at the start, and Philip in W also suggested pragmatic, extreme solutions at times.

Overall, The thinking that kindness and morality are only shows walking on eggshells, where the stereotype is that lighthearted works for general audiences tend to have simplistic plot and devoid of dark subject, and there's assumption that kind characters are made only to think of the children and/or keep tame ratings, but darker works tend to feature grim and uncomfortable subject, and either marketed for, or feels more mature - people are either inherent bastards and or the kind ones serving as victims, both to show the bleakness of the world. I feel like, ironically, those who hate Geats and like Gotchard can help the notion of kindness and morality as childish stuff to outgrow, particularly for those who are purists who seem to forbid any grim or uncomfortable subject on KR (not that I'd want for KR to always feature that, but it's still the opposite extreme to the Geats fanatics to force KR to be always happy, hopeful, and peaceful).

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Originally Posted by Daikaijuman54

Same here! As much as I loved Geats, I'm glad Gotchard is more light-hearted and simpler, since it feels like the previous Rider shows have been edging to dark and complex (some more than others, but you get it) a bit.

Though previous 2 Reiwa shows are actually lighthearted? Both Saber and Revice, though Revice had some brutal showings like Orteca's murders.