[DreamSword]

Episode 19: Paradise

Carved Seal of Flames did it better.

Between this, the Kiba movie, and what little backstory we got on Rei in the first season, I'm starting to think that Amemiya just doesn't do exposition well.

Because really that's what this episode amounts to: Explaining the origins of Leo and his twin brother, Sigma. And while I didn't think it was awful or anything, I was very unengaged throughout most of it.

It didn't help that certain details didn't make sense to me, just as the situation surrounding Mio's' death. If destroying Ganon's' corpse was always an option, why not just do that to begin with? Alternatively, if the idea was to stop Sigma directly, why not just attack him? Why wait for him in the cave?

Mio's' internal logic really isn't at all clear to me because she's barely a character. The girl doesn't even speak! She's basically just a plot device like how Cross-Z's' girlfriend was in Kamen Rider Build. Combine that with how little I give a crap about Red and you have an episode that I just really couldn't get into. Atleast it's only a standard length episode, unlike with Kiba.

I also didn't really see the point in adding in the bit about Rei essentially giving up, as it felt rather out of character ontop of being unfulfilling to the narrative.

So, yeah. I didn't care for this one. Sigma is so lackluster compared to Kiba and Mendoza. I'd have to think about if I find him the most lackluster GARO antagonist in general, actually.