[Mesnick]

Great episode. It looks like Gotchard's winter movie ended up having a lot more influence on the current show than usual. So many changes to the status quo, while Clotho still hasn't recovered from her defeat. Although, if we consider the episode as a holiday one, then Christmas is more of a background than a theme.
I like that Gotchard doesn't aim to overturn the entire franchise, but rather just subtly changes small details. For example, usually at this time the rider has already forgotten about his activities outside of heroism. But here, on the contrary, Houtarou is so busy during the holidays that he doesn’t have enough time for Chemies. But, of course, the Dark Alchemists don’t care about this at all.
I also liked that despite the fact that it was only thanks to Gotchard Daybreak that he was able to win, Houtarou doesn't seem weak or useless. Moreover, there is no doubt that in the future he will become stronger and will be able to cope in such a situation without support.
Rinne's speech that she would no longer be a "helpless princess" smacked of metamodernism. I should also say that I liked how it was clearly established that becoming a rider weakened her as an alchemist. It's nice when a show sets the rules of the game up front rather than in a specific situation. Also, I think this is one of those rules that can be broken.
Valvarad seems to have lost confidence in himself and is in dire need of confirmation of his own coolness.I think the driver from Professor Kyoko will help him with this. Kyoki herself reminds me of a mix between Ozawa from Agito and Sawagama from Drive.
Gotchard Daybreak will seemingly act as a mentor and helping hand for Houtarou until he surpasses him. I wonder who it is. Hotaro's father? Fuuga, who, as it turns out, is definitely alive? Hotaro from the future (better not)?
Also the appearance of Geryon. As Zolda predicted, he knows how to inhabit other people’s bodies, although he has his own. Also, Clotho and Lachesis are simply terrified of him. I can say that Geryon seems like a promising villain who could take an interesting twist to the plot.
I also want to speak about Orochi. Although created using CGI, it is clearly meant to resemble crafted kaiju from the past. More likely, even himself from the film Yamato Takeru '94, with a cloud instead of fog. I liked that nostalgia.
In short, it was an interesting episode, designed to make viewers eagerly await the continuation of this story from last year.
P.S. It seems to me that Majada was not shown so that those who did not have time to see the winter film would rush to the cinemas.
P.P.S. By the way, the performer of the role of Geryon is married to Yuria Haga, who is Mari in Faiz.