[Sh Ranger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER W EPISODE 25 - ?P?S GAME - THE STICKY FINGERED DOLL?

-I really liked that this episode decides to tell an Akiko/Terui amidst easily its least-serious physical threat to date (those sound effects!), because I?ve always found Terui And The Chief to be a remarkably unserious romantic pairing in the past. It felt like the show just decided in the late run that they were a couple, and decided in the post-series film that they were getting married. I don?t remember ever feeling like they made any sense as a romantic couple, between Terui?s lack of outward emotion and Akiko?s *gestures to 94% of Akiko performances across fourteen years of work*. It was like he was married to an actual middle-schooler, and it was sort of embarrassing to watch.

-Now, though? I don?t know, man, I sort of get it. She?s ridiculous, but it?s hard not to find her insanity charming in an opposite way to how Terui acknowledges Shotaro?s prowess while bemoaning his demeanor. Akiko?s dopey as hell, but I can sort of see how Terui would be all in on that sort of lady. He?s not humorless, he?s just wry. I think he digs her high-energy pseudo-competence, not least because Shotaro sincerely does not. (Sometimes relationships start as a way to spite a third party! It?s not the weirdest reason to start dating someone!) Maybe it?s just a factor of me finding Akiko so much more enjoyable this go-around, but I can sort of see the chemistry between them two now.

While I praise Sanjo's experience in drama and occasional comedy, I think a common flaw with his works is his mediocrity in romance plots, yet he writes them anyway. In the case of Akiko/Terui though, I don't mind. The ship doesn't get the amount of focus it needs to warrant viewer investment, but the instant mutual respect between them is enough to make it believable for me at least. Terui's the way he is cause he's on a serious quest for revenge for the murder of his entire family, which would probably make anybody in his position a little screwed up. So he's lucky to have cheerful Akiko to bring out his softer side.