[Kamen Rider Die]

KAMEN RIDER FOURZE EPISODE 16 - “GOOD STANDS AGAINST EVIL”



I’m just a sucker for any Kamen Rider story where a monster’s defeated through art, either psychologically or physically. That this episode manages to do both – Gentarou teaches Motoyama that the point of art isn’t perfection, but connection; also, Fourze uses a Pen Switch to counteract Perseus’s Medusa gauntlet – makes it a winner just on those merits, but it also brings in the whole club for a rousing Christmastime adventure, AND show off a mysterious new Rider. Truly, this is a Santa-worthy haul for any Fourze viewer.

Let’s start things off with the part I cared about the least: The mysterious new Rider who (I think?) goes unnamed for this appearance! It’s not that I don’t care about this comet-shaped hero, but I feel like we’ll get plenty of chances very soon to discuss his asteroid powers or whatever. His fight against Libra is good, but is also the typical Immediately Beats The Guy The Normal Rider Couldn’t secondary introduction, and that trope sort of wears on me a bit. It’s a combination of the Upgrade Form thing, where he’ll never be this powerful ever again, but also just the way it really gilds the lily of how unbelievably cool the new Rider is, by having him easily dispatch the guy who had (a one-handed, but still) Fourze on the ropes earlier in the episode. You make this guy look so cool, he actually becomes kind of uncool to me. Your mileage may vary on our new satellite-themed Rider!

But that’s all a minor distraction from what’s otherwise a super-sold conclusion to a very sweet little story. I like how Motoyama’s problem is all internally-generated – no one forced him to be a perfectionist, or mocked his art – because that’s hilariously true about making art. You are your own worst critic, as the saying goes. Motoyama’s problem is born from his success, where he made something that connected with people, so he wanted to make something better, to connect more, but in doing so he focused too much on making his work flawless, so he forgot that its value was in what it evoked from others. Art can never be perfect, because art is just… it’s like the Fourze handshake. It only operates with multiple people, and the point of it is to convey your feelings. A bunch of kids aren’t looking for high art, they just want something that engages their imaginations and inspires them to make their own art in turn. (Like a weekend tokustasu show!) Motoyama got caught up in his desire to be Better At Art, and in doing so he robbed himself of the desire to make art. By getting out of his own way, and reducing the pressure down to letting the process determine the result rather than forcing the process to generate the result, he’s able to get back the joy his art once brought him and others. It’s a sweet story.

And I loved how Gentarou’s the one to figure this out! Gentarou is fiery, and emotional, and I truly believe that he’s the one member of the KRC that would want to fight for the value of art by emphasizing imperfection. Art’s, again, about conveying feelings to others, and that’s Gentarou’s first and last move when it comes to solving problems. All Gentarou ever wants to do is express himself to other people while learning about them, so he gets what Motoyama’s overlooking. Gentarou’s art is passionate, if technically lacking, and that has value. Gentarou put his love into his childlike crayon drawing of Mt Fuji, and that’s what helped turn the tide against the machinations of Libra. I love that sort of stuff so, so much.

Then it all gets wrapped up with both an all-hands KRC battle against Perseus and Libra, followed by a charming Christmas party in the Rabbit Hatch. A cute little coda to a winning episode, even if Gentarou defaced the goddamn moon at the end. Kengo’s putting some coal in his stocking for sure!