[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER DOUBLE EPISODE 9 - ?TREMBLING BEFORE S - I SAW THE MAID DETECTIVE!?

Both of them are necessary and organic at this point in the series, which is nice. It?s not like a switch suddenly got flipped and Akiko couldn?t stop pressing Shotaro for details on her dad ? it?s sort of natural that, after a couple months of him not being around and no one talking about it, she?d feel like Shotaro was being a little less than forthcoming. Still, she doesn?t drastically alter her behavior for the sake of plot expediency or drama, she?s just, like, letting him know that she can see he?s hiding something, so he doesn?t really have the moral superiority to tell her how to do her job. It?s a nice alternative to the typical histrionics of this sort of Terrible Secret plot, to have Akiko just think that Shotaro?s being a secretive jerk, and now she can respect him a little less, so they?re even. Remarkably specific to this show?s terrifically weird dynamic!

Their debt is also caused by Shotaro buying hard-boiled novels. And there's a different slipper use, she rubs her slipper into one of his novels. Again, good thing that Akiko doesn't actually wear them, albeit it still can tear a page off. Shotaro treats them, obviously, as detective/life manual. Relatable excuse when someone is forbidden to follow your favorite medias (can be from parent) or if those are criticized, that they'll excuse their favorite media as something teaching. Shotaro does retaliate for once, by throwing Akiko's slipper away without her looking. Now Shotaro encounters Asuka's situation again relating to Akiko's father. It's lucky that they suddenly get many clients

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

The Sonozaki stuff is equally smooth in its deployment, where Shotaro doesn?t even realize the significance of the family he?s accidentally investigating. It allows the show to draw the two groups closer together in more oblique ways, which maintains the possibility of absurd character interactions, instead of the usual head-to-head confrontations that end in tears. Like, very fun to get Wakana geeking out over Akiko?s high-energy buffoonery! And excellent to have Kirihiko corner Shotaro just to spill his entire romantic history and goals, since he?s such a superpowered Wife Guy that he doesn?t have anyone else to share this stuff with! (It?s the best scene in the episode, Kirihiko starting off trying to be a stern influence on a wayward youth, but then he?s like Holy Shit Dude I?m Going To Be So Powerful Because Of My Awesome Wife.) Even Ryubei gets into the act, being old-guy-charming with Akiko. It?s the calm before the storm, but I like that this show opted for this kind of lead-in to a more overt Double Vs Sonozakis story.

Even the show lampshades about people hiding truth from girls in Shotaro not telling Asuka and Akiko. Phillip brings up this too that he may have to tell her about how they become Double, but Shotaro is revealed to have guilt complex, blaming himself for Sokichi's death. And about being undercover and Ace Detective.... Akiko stays loud in her undercover, being hyperactive (also being fine after jumping from heights), forcefully feeding Mick, and acting starstruck against Wakana, also not even hiding her identity or behavior. Akiko also openly exposes Mai in front of the family, potentially putting both in danger, considering there's missing pastry chefs and Mai's in top 6. Sonozaki family seems to have good public reputation as Mai sees it as a honor to become their chef.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

DIE-A MEMORIES

-Are pastry chefs the most endangered culinary profession in Kamen Rider? It seems like every season has an imperiled patissier somewhere in it ? sometimes as part of the cast! I assume it?s because kids love cakes and treats and the like, so it?s easier to explain why this person should be saved from a monster, but it?s seriously the most dangerous profession in Heisei.

After dancing 2 parter before, now there's patissier, with the one admiring being named Mai (here it's the daughter, but still).