[Kiwami]

Yeah I'm mad in love with this show. It scratches every itch a Rider show could potentially scratch for me. I absolutely adore how old-school the approach to setting up the story is, yet how modern the adaption is handled.

"Stranded outcast from another world travels around the country, finding new people every week and learns about new things while protecting the people who call him a monster in secret" is so Showa it hurts, but in a good way. All of this pepped up with ridiculously fun designs and visuals. This is how you make a candy-theme work. By not letting the wackiness overstay its welcome.

I really enjoyed the plot of this week, I'm not sure it is intended to be an overarching theme, but this show is very thoughtful about not dealing in absolutes. Sachika wants to make "everyone" happy, Shoma asks every Granute if they would rather drop evildoing and stop, this week's plot character was a criminal, but on with a heart who had good intentions, but chose the wrong path to make them reality.

I was surprised to see Shoma's gentle nature being taken advantage of this fast and how well it was handled too. In fact, the crimes were not even brushed under the table, even though the money wasn't taken and the Minions cleaned the place up, it seems the crimes were confessed, if I understood the dialogue at the end correctly. So he didn't even let himself off the hook when he easily could, he admitted and wants to make up for it, that's a great lesson.

I'm also glad that they sprinkle in some reality checks when it comes to eating sweets, last week had the toothbrush, this week that snacks should be eaten in measures, and that proper meals are necessary for getting energy. On one hand they don't have to do this, but as a kids show I'm happy to see they address it, on the other hand I'm glad it isn't ham-fisted and not done like an educational advertisement. Just a simple reminder.

Top all of this with a super fun action sequence. Man those "fizzy" water effects were so clean, what an awesome way to use practical and CG-effects together, I love that. Also, the use of sound effects is super clever (and I'm dumb), because I didn't even realize before that Gavv can use his "squishiness" to propel himself off of surfaces, that's how he achieves his version of the trademark "Rider Jump"-ability

Interesting that they introduce a new character who researches Granutes? He took the chocolate Minions so I assume he will be responsible for creating Valen's transformation device?