[Fish Sandwich]

I think what I found most interesting about this episode, in between all the thrilling raids on enemy bases and live-on-stage showdowns, is how it explores the idea of... perspective is probably the best word I can think of, at the moment?

Like, the reason Hanto ends up exploding at the end (not in the literal sense, for once) is really all down to his inability to see the full picture of what's going on. And it's not really through any particular fault of his own. Between the things he's experienced firsthand, the things he's been kept in the dark about, and the things he's been unconscious for, I don't find it unreasonable for him to make the assumptions he does. I think it's a little beautiful, actually, that the very first huge misconception he has here is seeing that photo, and immediately worrying about Shouma, fighting alone against four opponents, not realizing that while he was napping, the guy who put him to sleep decided to start fighting alongside Gavv. Because, like, why *would* Hanto think that? Granutes are the bad guys, and Shouma is not only an ally, but a friend, so he rushes out to help, only to arrive and discover that -- as far as Hanto's current worldview can process -- that friend has betrayed his trust, and maybe has been this whole time.

The flipside of all this is then seen with Lakia (which I guess is the romanization I'm going with until further notice!), who has a massive change of heart when he's directly confronted with the damage left in the wake of the show's villains -- damage he's contributed to -- and finds himself unable to avoid seeing himself in the all-too familiar pain felt by the victims. I think that's a lot beautiful. How Lakia actively tries to brush off humans like this world is less important than his own, only to instinctively feel the same sort of empathy Shouma does, and start turning that into the same sort of desire, not to merely avenge his own loss, but to prevent others from ever having to suffer that same sorrow. Kamen Rider Vram starts to become a hero because he simply can't force himself to be a villain after facing perspectives outside his own. It's a rather striking rebuttal of Hanto's preconceptions, and a scene I'm most likely going to be thinking about any time I'm thinking of what Gavv is *about*, in that broad sense of the word. Again, it's a little tricky to put my finger on it with any real precision right now, but I think all of this is speaking to very central themes for the whole series. It's a show about these Riders who have spent so much time alone, gradually forming connections and learning to share themselves with others, and standing against antagonists who refuse to look beyond their own selfish goals, so, so like...

I guess what I can say in this instant is that, despite the ending of this one promising some bitter developments in the immediate future, it's probably good for Shouma in the long run that the secrets he's been keeping are out in the open as early as they are. It might not be easy for any of these characters to deal with the emotions this is all going to kick up, but it seems abundantly clear this far in that Gavv is a show where the effort of getting to know and accept people for who they are ultimately leads to happiness more often than not.