[DreadBringer]

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

This is all definitely possible. The problem is, none of it is shown at any point pre-Yummy. The first thing we're shown is her getting ready to operate and being told No. The next thing we're shown is her fighting for the chance to operate on her own patients, and being told No. I'd be way more into this story if we'd spent any time pre-Yummy showing Tamura to be reckless, egotistical, selfish, etc. It's just a bunch of dudes telling her she thinks too highly of hereself, though?

Though I agree highlighting those more'd work better, result/outcome-wise, Tamura'd still not fail even for having those qualities, because she'd still have those skills. It'd still benefit people and build a good rep for her, still making people want her for the operations. Rather like, Ankh protecting Hina in ep. 15 I guess. The "all skill" would still be there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

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

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!

Guess this'd be OOO's main theme, a 'battle royale' (wouldn't be noticed by people because it's not about many Riders - also Kobayashi brought Ryuki) among the Greeeds to collect the Core/Cell Medals. The Greeeds usually got their Medals stolen/returning back before they retreat from battle while the Yummies got destroyed. Though this format also can lead to pure luck without planning, like ep. 12 in OOO gaining SaGoZou by pure luck despite Ankh only ordering him and him jumping into a battle too much for him to handle. Seems Hina's super strength isn't enough to fight Greeeds, or at least Gamel (the brute/physical one). Eiji steps up further to use 2 combos in 1 henshin.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

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.

Kobayashi makes cat-themed fighters traitors who constantly backstab their teammates... first Tiger from Ryuki, and now Kazari. Some people have a tendency to view only the kind people as the one susceptible to manipulation, where their virtue is a weakness, and that they should dispose their morality to survive, like Eiji being seemingly deceived that Hina was kidnapped, but villains can be manipulated as well, as said there, them wanting something can be exploited to make them do something. Being manipulated is often used to deflect blames from the 'fundamentally good' victim (who for example, helped the villain's schemes) to insist that it's only the manipulator's fault ignoring said person's agency (e.g. "they didn't meant to commit that!"), while denying the fact that villains can be manipulated too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

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!

Not all the characters on the good side want to help/do good things for the right thing (and not about those who both want something, but does care about others and do right things), even in more lighthearted shows, where the fanbase seem to think only darker shows feature ambiguous morality, like Ryuki having most of the Riders only caring and fighting for their own desires, where here Ankh only helps for personal gain. People'd think villains who help/benefit the heroes for said mutual benefit 'redeemed', like Kuroto in Ex-Aid or Evolt in Build V-Cin. It'd be dangerous if these type of people get better offer from the villains' side, which can likely get them to switch side and make things harder for the remaining heroes.