[Enchilada645]

So I'll comment on the next two episodes once we get to them... but...

Let's talk about Kirihiko's Swan Song episodes, because they really were a fantastic closure to his character (in which I'll be very annoyed later on for certain reasons) and while I wish we could've spent more time with this version of Kirihiko, it's still a incredible end point for him.

This really is our major turning point in the show, even more so than the Arms/Fang episodes. We see Kirihiko while part of the Sonozaki family, is still sort of just there when it comes to the more intimate matters. So him slowly discovering things, like Shotaro as W alongside him trying to "earn his place" was fun to witness build up. And of course we get the climax of that where we see him confront Ryubei.

It also really says a lot on how Wakana seemingly didn't care for Kirihiko, and yet they probably have one of my favorite conversations in the show. The two leave on rather well-liked terms! There's just something so nice about him telling her that he loved her show and her just genuinely smiling after that.

I am sad that Kirihiko had to go so soon. My thoughts aren't even on a 'Kamen Rider Nazca' as everyone was one to jump for back in the day and even now. I just thought it would have been fun to see Kirihiko as Nazca appear occasionally every now and again while being a Dopant ally. He'd only show up sporadically, whether it be hiding or the fact that his body's failing him, before he'd end up more than likely succumbing to Nazca's side effects. Nazca's such a good suit, and it's a shame that it gets shelved this early given it's my favorite of the Sonozaki commander Dopant suits. Smilodon's a close second though.

The Bird Dopant plot was rather nice, while it didn't grab me as much, it was the main connecting tissue for this story about Kirihiko. But also it's incredible to see just how more wild Gaia Memories are able to get. We've seen it with Virus, but now we get something wilder with Bird and its multiple users alongside evolution mid-battle. The emphasis on Gaia Memories being drugs though does let me bring up a point I never brought up but thought was a cool thing. And that's how usually when a Gaia Memories ejected, the user has shadows underneath their eyes as if they haven't slept in weeks. Always thought that was a neat touch.

That being said, it's time, well, not to ask questions but to witness our Secondary's Debut. And speaking of him I honestly forgot at how built up he was. Like not even taking into account Movie War 2010's cameo, we get the Kabuto Phone, which I forgot existed, alongside mentions of a new hotshot joining the police. It's small little hints, but it's honestly fun to see.