[Fish Sandwich]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Friend, you are very good at what you do, and I think we could all stand to tell that you with both greater frequency and greater clarity.

I appreciate the sentiment!

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadBringer

I feel only Ryuki had the explosions actually being deliberately exploited.

Well, Hellhound deliberately exploited an explosion to fake his death back in the second episode, so at the very least, Wizard can go on that list too.

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Originally Posted by DreamSword

While I'm sad to say I wasn't nearly as emotionally invested in these episodes as you were, seeing Phoenix and Haruto go at it was more than enough for me, so I'm overall satisfied.

I certainly don't want to downplay how much these ones satisfy just on that basic pro-wrestling kinda level! The emotional investment is something that's grown over time, but the initial spark was absolutely just how insanely cool and tough Phoenix is here. I ended up writing more about the stuff going on under the surface, but the actual physical conflict between Wizard and Phoenix had me completely on the edge of my seat, and it's from there that I was able to start really connecting with Haruto. Obviously as a viewer, I'm more excited than terrified about the whole thing, but despite knowing Wizard is obviously going to win eventually, the way it's all portrayed is so effective that even *I* was doubting his chances going into episode 9.

Obviously I've put way more thought into what I like about this story over the years, but the whole turnaround factor of the fights is one of the most immediately powerful things about it, and a big reason I call it a "definitive" power-up story. It's stupidly entertaining watching Phoenix stomp all over Wizard, and that makes it that much more entertaining when it inevitably becomes Wizard's turn to stomp all over Phoenix.