[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER W EPISODE 30 - “NIGHTMARISH H - WHO IS THE PRINCE”

It’s an episode committed to a lot of setup for storylines to come (the Xtreme Memory in particular, and Shroud in general), alongside a mystery plot that requires you to care about two hilariously unlikeable characters. I sort of remember where the Shroud stuff is going, and I still found it all to be a total drag – she shows up out of nowhere and forbids Philip from being friends with Shotaro, and it’s just weird. She’s weird! She’s got zero credibility, and instead of providing a single compelling argument in favor of dismantling the entire premise of the show, she just acts even more mysterious. It’s dull, and the dramatic appearance of yet another Deus Ex Memory doesn’t exactly help make things feel more tethered to basic storytelling concepts like Cause And Effect.

So this'd be the standard of villain complaining that you do, Shroud and Isaka (the second one). About Shroud forbidding Philip to be friends with Shotaro, it'd be something important later, in my favorite 2-parter of W. Shroud is established as thorn on the Sonozaki family's side, that Ryubee knows Shroud has made her move with that Xtreme Memory. And currently she's directly interacting with Phillip who's still inside Xtreme Memory, but healed fully, claiming that Phillip can't die for being too important (indeed, other than this he hard carries the cast in most of the cases, poor Shotaro being seen as useless compared to him). Thoughh Xtreme Memory also saves Shotaro later. There are still some W forms that haven't revealed their Maximum Drive yet, and LunaMetal is one of them, so W performs it here, the Metal Illusion where W forms several golden rings with the stretching Metal Shaft as projectile attack. Though still not that spectacular, I like that the attack is a bit different from usual ability unlike Metal Branding.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

The Himeka mystery is slightly better, in that it at least tries to sketch in two completely insane characters, but it leaves a lot to be desired. The culprit’s exactly who we all thought it was from the first part, the one living dude from her research group, and he’s doing this to punish Himeka for being sort of endlessly flirty. It’s a good villain for Double to fight – a guy who thinks he’s righteous, but is really just an entitled, possessive creep. The problem is… Himeka’s also sort of terrible? Definitely less so than the guy who terrorized a half-dozen people (and counting!) into comas, but she’s a depressingly deluded woman who treats every guy like he’s her knight in shining armor, despite not being interested in any of them. It’s funny in the first episode, but in this one… like, yeah, let these two self-centered jerks be happy with each other, I guess. As a friend used to say, at least then they’re only ruining one relationship.

Shotaro figures out that Himeka calls every one of her research partners as destined prince, which Himeka admits, to anyone that treats her nicely. Other than another reference to Snow White and Seven Dwarfes, this is a case of someone who really needs to get over themselves in love situation, and I suspect naivety for Himeka to assume that being nice = being in love. But Himeka's not only one who needs to get over themselves, as Shotaro warns that there are those who take Himeka's words to heart, and also turning into a monster and tries to get rid of his rivals with sleeping sickness. And after Hajime got arrested... Himeka didn't really learn her lesson as well, still continuing on her declaration of love to those sleeping sickness victims, or she tries to convince them that she favors no one to prevent another fight for her like what Hajime did. And for Terui, he's more gentle in his approach to a criminal here (even compared to Makura who tries to block Himeka).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

But, again, that middle Akiko section… it’s the best. Seeing that her instinctual refuge is Osaka, where she has autonomy and everyone exists at her cadence. Her desire to be treated as a hero, so she Henshins into Double with Shotaro. (And Shotaro’s her dad! Because of course that’s how she secretly sees Shotaro! And would never ever admit out loud!) The whole sequence is like the best kind of HBV, where it’s all a joke until you realize it’s true. I wish this whole story had been as smart and funny as the Akiko dream sequence.

Dunno if it's related to Osaka stuff, but Akiko's established as someone who talks in her sleep. Shotaro attempts to lucid dream again, but Akiko reminds him that Nightmare won't enter his dream again. Apparently Akiko's voice didn't only reach him, she's aware of what Nightmare said earlier. Akiko's sleep-talking is proven in her try with Shotaro getting engaged to her plan. Due to her sleep-talk being clear, Shotaro can contribute as well to remind Akiko about her objective (irl wise, shouting to her sleeping self). It's lucky that Akiko doesn't only come across Nightmare, but also have protection with a Double Driver on Akiko. Another female Rider! But Nightmare just punched her once.. and Akiko dehenshins, whining that it hurts. That's what expected from fighting as Rider y'know, it's not always you who got the upper hand. It refuted my feelings that Nightmare boasts that everything other than him is illusion in a dream, so he apparently lets others gain upper hand to toy with them.