[Kamen Rider Die]

KAMEN RIDER FOURZE EPISODE 06 - “FULL BLOWN ELECTRIC ASSAULT”



This is a tough one!

I think it largely works in a few major ways. Gentarou’s point about the people who are terrible needing friends the most is exactly the sort of generous, optimistic, and self-sacrificing way that Gentarou would look at the world: good people are easy to be friends with, but shitty people only get to become good people with the help of their friends. Telling a story about how Gentarou’s naivete is more of a dedication to modeling behavior for folks that don’t understand the value of friendship makes this story more grounded and nuanced than the first part indicated, and pushing the crux of the drama to the Kengo/Gentarou side of things – losing the Elec Switch puts stress on their friendship, and Kengo grudgingly appreciates the lengths Gen will go to in order to help his friends – makes Gen’s choices reflect better on a relationship I’m more invested in as a viewer.

Because, man, JK is a total piece of shit in this story.

It’s mildly commendable, the way this one follows the Miu route of refusing to rehabilitate the character, because friendships shouldn’t be about fixing someone, they should be about accepting people so they can find the more empathetic and happy versions of themselves. But JK’s awful here. He never really apologizes to Nitta, or shows any real contrition. He’s aware of all of his friendships being transactional and hollow, but his behavior at the end of the episode is… transactional and hollow. (He’s dragged into the KRC as a kind of community service -slash- rehabilitation program, which doesn’t say much about him forming any healthier bonds in the aftermath of nearly being monster-murdered after literally everyone he knows besides Gen would rather abandon him than risk themselves for his safety.) Where Miu’s story was about someone who looked awful being revealed to be confident and highly-motivated, with a genuine interest in other people standing on their own and reaching for their dreams, JK’s just a weird, selfish jerk who someone believes in now, despite all evidence to the contrary. It’s a story where Gen comes off as noble and compelling because JK isn’t worth the effort. That’s great for Gen, but sort of not great for the show.

(Honestly, after this episode, it feels like Nitta’s the one who should’ve joined the KRC? Nitta’s story is him being manipulated and betrayed by someone he thought was his friend. What better person to bring into the KRC, to show them that friendships still matter? Also, man, JK’s story here is him stealing the Elec Switch, and Gen going I Don’t Know I Guess Sometimes Friends Steal From You – is this a guy Kengo wants around all of his dad’s stuff?!)

Again, I still think this episode largely works. Gen’s viewpoint sticks the landing, especially since JK in no way deserves Gen’s grace. The Elec States stuff is fun in the final fight, even if I sort of don’t get the thematic link between the Switch and the JK plot. (I don’t feel like the two Elec Switch scenes did enough work to sell the idea of Gen needing to be okay with being electrocuted or whatever in order for the Switch to stop electrocuting him?) Making the second part more about Gen and Kengo than Gen and JK was a smart move narratively, even if it kind of exposes how irredeemable JK is here. Miu subtly pushes Kengo to do the right thing and support Fourze, even if he can’t support Gen, which shows how good she is as the leader. The principal’s moon chair is neat, and his foreboding monologues about space are great. The direction uses a few killer shots, like that hillside scene in the top screenshot. Tomoko gets an A+ weird scene. There’s good stuff here!

But, yeesh, JK. I don’t know that you gotta let a manipulative scumbag into your life! I don’t know if that’s a great choice!