[DreadBringer]

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Sure, but the point in this episode is that Kirihiko has a perspective that's not that dissimilar from Shotaro's; both men care about Fuuto. Kirihiko is more than just a sneering villain or haughty foil, he's a gigantic nerd that designed the city's mascot. That's arguably tougher for Shotaro to overcome than Nazca!

Bruh I already stated well-intentioned extremist, his atrocities are done for what he thinks is best for Fuuto, but cool motive still massacre.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER W EPISODE 18 - “FAREWELL TO N - FRIENDS IN THE WIND”

I can see why – I mean, this is the last Kirihiko story, so you’re better off using it to inform the remaining antagonists for this series. While it’s neat to see Kirihiko realize the limitations of his need for power and authority, albeit in service of what he deems to be the greater good, it’s more compelling to use Kirihiko’s burgeoning conscience and/or awareness of consequences to get a better look at Wakana, Saeko, and Ryubei.

W is a series where you can't criticize any aspect of it, so this'd be may be a hot take, but I'd think that either Kirihiko's redemption is the usual rushed type to only take some inspiring speech/tips/reminder from others, or that Kirihiko isn't really redeemed - he'd still agree on his philosophies like sacrificing some people like corrupt adults, albeit not supporting Museum and Gaia Memories anymore, but he'd also do something that benefits Fuuto if the option is available to him. Drawing some line in doing atrocities (not targeting children, "don't make children cry"... but adults are ok) doesn't equal them being good. Kirihiko just doesn't live long enough to showcase this, and I always think newfound goodness is more prevalent when they live rather than getting a redemption equals death.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

The Wakana scene is the best one, both for its easy charm (Kirihiko is rightfully surprised that Wakana treats him with any affection whatsoever) and the fun twist of Wakana spreading her introspection out to other people. She’s starting to see herself outside the structure of the Museum, and she wants to give Kirihiko the chance to do the same. It’s this nice moment of someone in the Sonozaki family actually treating Kirihiko as something other than an inconvenience or an entertaining failure, and it’s terrific to see that person end up being Wakana.

In this scene, I guess this does prove Philip's evalaution of Wakana becoming "kind again" by the influence of her younger brother, because for this case, her behavior change isn't fully restricted to only Philip, with Wakana aiding the hated black sheep of the family. As Kirihiko noted, he thought she hated him before, but is now gone due to Wakana showing concern to him after saving him. Kirihiko gains an inspiration from Wakana by his question to know what she would do if she got betrayed by someone she had faith, which is to know what her true self wants, and for Kirihiko, it's to take care of Fuuto, thus he decides to help W, before bidding farewell to her and tell her that he loves her radio show, keeping all of his potential demise secret from Wakana (though she'd probably find it later in newspaper). Wakana does give good impression and buildup from ep. 13-14 two parter to this, but unfortunately IMO this sets up for a disappointment.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

The Ryubei scene ends up being a bit more exposition than character work, with Kirhiko learning about the source of the Gaia Memories (the Earth itself – I mean, it’s right there in the name, guy) as well as his own role in the schemes of the Museum. He’s been a patsy from the start, just a useful idiot that can maybe be coerced or cajoled into unlocking the Nazca Memory’s abilities, nothing more. Now that he’s topped out his potential and is almost dead, he’s got nothing left to offer the Sonozakis. Ryubei tries to murder him, but in a gleefully half-hearted It’s The Least I Can Do For My Pointless Son-In-Law kind of way.

It's confirmed too that, the family purposely bend the rule to get children using Gaia Memory, due to getting more comprehensive data, giving accelerated evolution. Ryubee also has good intentions, but would give no regards to those children's death for achieving Museum's goals. thus has lower scruples than Kirihiko, who would be ok doing that to adults but not tolerate children, and his conscience defies Ryubee here, but it's a reckless action, despite that Ryubee still explains the way to save Akane, due to another truth that Kirihiko was just a pawn to the Museum as well to peel the secrets of Nazca, that while he reached level 2 in Nazca, it's his limit and he'll die soon, and him changing to the Dopant here shortens his lifespan further, thus they'd just dispose Kirihiko, especially that he's now a thorn on their side.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Saeko, however, goes the full Femme Fatale on him, shrugging off his pleas to join him on the run by pointing out that she never loved him anyway, and also here is a giant ball of energy as an alimony settlement. (She even personally sold the Bird Memory to Akiko, twice.) It’s the final nail in an episode-length coffin, and it comes with the tease that Saeko is not content to be a lieutenant for much longer.

Kirihiko is fully nonchalant throughout his last moments yeah, but I don't know if Kirihiko somehow can see the possibility of Saeko following him while he feels Wakana hates him before. Sure before ep. 13-14 Wakana had nasty traits, but Saeko had even more so and openly shows disdain to him for his 'failures' which he tries to make up, or he's making one final chance even if he knows that he won't get it, but it's worth trying (he started his plead with "if you love me"). Not to mention, Saeko was the one doing something Kirihiko disapproves of giving Gaia Memory to children. Kirihiko's death is made in such a contrast, where he's someone who loves Fuuto and enjoying its winds, a departure of a character, replaced with a new one who declares his hate for Fuuto instead for the nasty winds.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

DIE-A MEMORIES

-Meanwhile, there was also a Gaia Memory story happening, and I could not have cared less about it. It never really connects thematically with what’s going on with Kirihiko, and it’s just there to be a line that the Sonozakis crossed. Akane's addiction to enbirdening is hilarious for how unsubtle it ends up being, and none of the cast of kids felt completely fleshed out. (Touma's just A Jerk, and the other two... existed?) I definitely preferred what was going on with Kirihiko to what was going on with Akane and her need to become a bird again.

Toku gotta being toku to have Monster/Victim of the Week and stick to a simple formulaic format. Straying from that can be controversial even. Other than that, what can I say is that, for targeting Akane's rival in track and field, it's a bad consequence of genuine friendship to treat non-friends as lesser beings you can harm for friends' gain. The connection would be about Museum's intention for accelerated evolution, where it's shown that even as human, Gaia Memory users would receive some buff in physical stats, improving Akane's track and field capabilities. Shotaro shows more tolerance to the kids, by blaming the ones who gave her the Bird Memory utilizing youth's cluelessness with Akiko consoling her as well, then pitying her as she sleeps in the bed (with her boots taken off, good as usual for Japan media, unlike for something much later on you'd watch).