[Sh Ranger]

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Originally Posted by Zolda

UFO X manages to escape confinement in The Sisters' hideout, yet was able to be easily captured by Clotho without her breaking a sweat. And funnily, Clotho and the other 2 sisters don't even attempt to recapture it. They just stand there freezing as it escapes. Atropos says that it's due to a Chemy rule that states that Level 10 Chemies dislike being dominated. If UFO X is a proud creature (like hippogriffs) that dislikes being dominated, then why did it allow itself to be easily captured by Clotho at the end of episode 10? Moreover, Isaac states @ 11:11 that Level 10 Chemies are the strongest one in each category. The logic just doesn't add up. It's also able to create a dimensional portal to teleport itself to a different place. Can this ability be used by Houtarou to visit the worlds of the previous series? It has a great potential for crossover stories.

I guess a Level 10 Chemy can be temporarily captured using a stealthy approach, as Clotho did from offscreen, but will always flee when alerted. Seems like Atropos only needed a little Level 10 essence to complete the DreaDriver anyway. Sabi mentioned that Houtarou might be capable of capturing one effectively, as he respects UFO-X's sense of individuality rather than only seeing him as an errant tool. If Houtarou succeeds, this might be enough to make Kugimiya see the error of his ways.

Regarding the hypothetical use of UFO-X's teleportation to visit other worlds, I don't think that's necessary for crossovers, as the actions of Decade and Build basically put most Riders in the same world. Maybe for Sentai, as Twokaizer's crocodile spaceship has this ability.

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Originally Posted by Zolda

She says that she has never had any interest in humans before, so Rinne is very probably the very first human that piques her interest. She also raises a very important question @ 17:03 about who is influencing the change, and immediately states that her pondering makes her wants to destroy "it". Who and what is she referring to? What is the change she's pondering about? Does she mean she's pondering about who (or what) controls the life, the death, the fate of humans? It sounds like she's speaking quite metaphorically, although I think she's asking an open question about the nature of life, death, fate, and change. It seems like her nihilistic response to humans inability to control fate is by destroying lives through chaos. It seems like the questions about life, death, and fate is beyond anyone's understanding and thus a final, satisfying answer will never be found, so she responds to those questions by destroying lives altogether. Her nihilistic mantra for getting up in the morning is very probably "If I can't control it, then I destroy it" or "If I can't make it perfect, then I destroy it with chaos", haha, which is kinda paradoxical, as the intention to destroy is actually identical to the intention to control, only mirrored.

I think the "it" Atropos wants to destroy is referring to the natural order, represented by the Ouroboros. Alchemy is the science of transmuting one thing to a different thing, but this is limited by the natural order, hence why the failures of alchemy are more common than the successes, why there are still blanks in the periodic table and why some elements combust no sooner than they're synthesized. Seems like there are things that only dark alchemy can manifest, things that break the order, but also things that would be potentially beneficial to Rinne, such as turning death to life.

Therefore, I wouldn't be so quick to peg Atropos as another nihilist, despite her resemblance to Storious. She seems to have some kind of twisted ideal for the future, albeit one with severe consequences for humanity. Similar to how Alain was scared of his mortality, since he had lived a long time with an immortal Ganma body to survive under the harsh red sky of Ganma World, so he had to learn how to be okay with being human and weak.

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Originally Posted by Zolda

If you rotate the number 8 90 degrees, it becomes the symbol of infinity (∞).

Proof that humanity has Infinite Potential!

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Originally Posted by Zolda

Oh, and is Dread actually a puppet Rider, albeit a very powerful one, similar to KR Leangle when Mutsuki was a weak-willed teenager? Is Dread somehow connected to Glion through Atropos? Given that mind manipulation is Atropos' forte, and her christening Dread's new "character" (and thus name) the destroyer of darkness @ 23:13, it could very likely be the case. Hmmm... Noice. Very very noice.

If Sabi isn't in control, then maybe Dread's pilot is actually the new Chemy, Darkliner, presumably using his own Ride Chemy Card to access this form, considering the title of next episode.

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Originally Posted by Mesnick

Also, is Sabimaru a UFO-X fan?

Yep, his favorite Chemy.

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Originally Posted by Mesnick

By the way, in the topic of the last episode, many were worried about his relationship with Hijiri. At the very least, this episode shows that the show is definitely not going to forget about her.

For sure, good to hear acknowledgement of Hijiri to show that even offscreen, Kajiki is still in regular contact with her.

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Originally Posted by Mesnick

The twist that Malgam turns out to be the benevolent Harima is predictable. Honestly, this story should have been made into a two-parter because the plot is rushed again. However, she is effective in a villainous role and her ability can be very annoying for Gotchard. It also turns out that all the conscious villains in the show so far presented are women.

The good cop in a good cop/bad cop routine secretly being evil cop does feel like a cliche here, so at least they didn't drag it out. Based on her creepy arm, Harima looks like she's also a practitioner of dark alchemy, thus no longer human. Could've been an interesting hint at Catchula Malgam's identity if she merged with a second Chemy like Lachesis does (maybe Bakuonzemi as a reference to Tarantula Knight), which should be easy to obtain with her ability to Connect Please any Ride Chemy Cards in her line of sight.

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Originally Posted by Mesnick

And given the rumors that Dread will be a puppet of Atropos, as well as Rinne's recruitment attempts, this gives the Abyssal sisters a resemblance to a witch coven, as opposed to the more fantasy-magical alchemists. I wonder if Gilion is also a woman?

Reminds me of some Showa and early Heisei Tokusatsu that have many female villains, like Sun Vulcan, Spielvan and Jiban.

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Originally Posted by DreadBringer

Probably the start of a new arc.

Confirmed by Producer Minato.

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Originally Posted by DreadBringer

Kugimiya is Supana, but even worse, both share the belief that Chemies are only tools, and look down on Hotaro for having different belief. Hotaro's companions do care enough for him to stick up for him. Him being worse than Supana is shown in even Supana calling him out, to not focus on looking on the spy. This time, it seems that the fanbase don't take authority's words at face value of Hotaro being incompetent, usually the boy scouts got viewed as incompetent while being carried by plot armor, though this can lead into writing complaint about what's the deal with Kugimiya.

Since we know Houtarou as a person, whereas Kugimiya only knows Gotchard and judges him based on skill alone without trying to get to know him better. Unlike Spanner, Kugimiya doesn't even bother to explain his reason properly, only telling Houtarou that he sucks at being Gotchard rather than suggesting advice for improvement or even an alternative user to replace him. Totally justified why the other alchemists and even Isaac angrily call him out for his snobby behavior and misplaced priorities.

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Originally Posted by DreadBringer

Or this may be caused by the show deliberately showing Hotaro utilizing the Chemies like Ghost throwback with BountyBunny + PanpakaParka

Premium Bandai even made merchandise for BunnyParka. You can now wear a Kamen Rider if you want to!

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Originally Posted by DreadBringer

The actual spy is Harima though. Now I'm getting Revice vibe with this, in the middle Fenix arc, if Kugimiya isn't a bad guy, feels as if Kugimiya would be Tatsuhiko, who looks down on the hero (Hotaro, Hiromi), though he's well-meaning, while Harima would be like Chigusa seems to be kinder and more reasonable, to be more concerned about others' well-being, but they're the two-faced ones.

Kugimiya's and Tatsuhiko's actors have both portrayed Rider villains as well: Isaka and Unicorn Zodiart respectively.