[Kamen Rider Die]

KAMEN RIDER OOO EPISODE 15 - “MEDAL COMBAT, TRANSPORT, AND POTENTIAL”



MEDAL COMBAT:
This episode’s structure is what I think of the most when I think about OOO, despite its semi-unusual nature. There isn’t a person being saved, and it doesn’t split its focus into two parts, and the Yummy for the story is just Gamel’s backup. It’s not really a story where a person grapples with their own desires and is forced to accept limitations on their obsessions, despite also being 1000% about that. This one-off is mostly about people gaining and losing Core Medals, and that’s the most OOO thing in the world to me.

There’s the thematic value to it as a story driver, for sure – the lust for power, the need to feel whole, the way an object’s totemic qualities can drive people crazy, all exemplified by the year’s collectible. But it’s the way the shifting fortunes of hero and villain alike ramp up the story and turn every combat into a different tactical challenge that really makes this concept an iconic one to me. Like, just having Eiji try to figure out a way to survive a three-on-one fight with SaGoZou, which is mostly just used to lock a single opponent in place? Fun! Fun limitation to the stock fight sequence!

It’s an episode that feels fraught and dangerous at all times, coming off more as the penultimate episode of the series rather than the penultimate episode of the first act. There’s genuine danger as Eiji and Ankh whittle down their selection of Medals, and real triumph to Gotou’s bit of heroism by sneakily rescuing the other two Medals of TaToBa. It’s just a rich episode, for how much can change in a single scene, which is maybe fitting for the Heist episode!

TRANSPORT:
Which, it’s a Heist episode!

I love that it’s a heist with the laziest possible participants – Kazari basically saying This Is A Trap, and Ankh being like I Need Medals So What The Hell. Kazari is mostly using the lure of Cell Medals (and maybe a Core Medal) to draw all of his Greeed victims out into the open, which is the most relevant of OOO ways to plan a betrayal: he’s using their desires against them, up and down the roster. There are a bunch of moving pieces to Kazari’s scheme, and yet it’s also just distraction after distraction so he can get the drop on whoever is least expecting it at any given time. He’s sending everyone running, and then picking them off one by one. It’s not the densest plot, but it’s enormously effective at increasing tension and surprising the viewer.

Some of that tension is thanks to an actually pretty thrilling chase sequence? The Gotou/Uva car chase is one of the better vehicular stunts I’ve seen on a Kamen Rider TV show, using a treacherous mountainside highway to let the automotive mayhem do its work in giving the villains a pretty resounding victory. It uses some extended takes to keep the action visceral, using only a couple fakey interior shots to clarify the participants. It’s a solid chase sequence by any standard, not just TV Budget.

AND POTENTIAL:
Plus, we’re in an episode that’s all about leveling up out of tired ideas that aren’t working, so why not imbue the quick chase scene with that?

There’s so much to like in the possibility of Kazari deciding that being one of many Greeed isn’t interesting to him anymore, and in Eiji deciding that his dynamic with Ankh is keeping both of them from getting what they want. I like shows that can have characters in the story fight against the boring routines that a lesser show would build as its sturdy status quo. Kazari would rather risk it all on being the only Greeed than rehash his plans from 800 years ago, while Eiji reframes his existential battle with Ankh into the sort of mercenary terms that an avaricious avian asshole can understand. (A year’s worth of ice cream, and Eiji’s vow to help Ankh recoup his Core Medals, to get Ankh to help rescue Hina. And Hina says Thanks! And Ankh has no idea why because obviously he’s only doing this because there’s something in it for him!!!) This whole episode is talking about the ruts that people can get into because of their desires, and that breaking out of them can actually get you more than you might’ve landed ordinarily. Good for our heroes, but sort of bad for heroes too, thanks to Kazari’s successful gambit!