[DreadBringer]

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER FOURZE EPISODE 02 - “COME ON, OUTER SPACE”

First, I loved Yuuki and Gen showing up to get answers from Tomoko, because it’s so dumb. Gen is relentlessly bad at investigating things or just generally moving this story forward when he applies himself – furthering the idea that Kengo will be crucial in steering Gen’s nascent costumed heroism – but accidentally great at it because he’s this big, boisterous personality that people can’t ignore. His constant blundering and misapplied enthusiasm ended up being key to uncovering Miura, but mostly because Tomoko found him car-crash fascinating. And then he just screamed at her like he’s in some terrible cop show! It was great! Yuuki has her hands full with this dope!

As a first time Fourze watcher, so I guess it wasn't only Revice as an anniversary show, Fourze as 10 years before anniversary show has a Kamen Rider fanboy with actual references to IRL Kamen Rider shows like George in Revice as well in Tomoko showing the clips of Kamen Rider shows. Another school-theme KR show in Gotchard has Houtaro being the protagonist known as highly energetic (though not my cup of tea), but Gentaro seems to be more of a assertive hardass most of the time rather than being energetic honestly. Forgot to talk that his 'delinquent' traits other than fighting seems to be about him skipping classes or 'causing trouble' like constantly talking in class. He's consistent rule breaker.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Second, Miura… if I squint, I can see the parallels between him and Shun, and Gen and Kengo: the idea of chafing under someone else’s charisma, of not being able to live your dream, of being forced to play the back-up. But we only really get one dialogue scene with Miura, Shun Nopes out as soon as the action turns costumed, and the post-fight wrap-up is a chastened nod from Miura. While you could argue that there’s some thematic parallels between the hero plot and the villain plot, the show doesn’t really do anything with it, and it’s maybe just something I’m reading into it. I get that there’s not a lot of room in an exposition-heavy two-part premiere for a fleshed-out Monster Of The Week story, but Fourze works way better for me when there’s a teen trauma to really explore. This one was just That Guy’s The Bad Guy, and then we’re launching dirt bikes into orbit.

Guess the first one Gentaro successfully befriends is Miura, and seems that Gentaro wins people over by his Kamen Rider fighting, seems to be simple and really easy solution in an action-based show. Shun may also be humbled by two kids he dismissed as an idiot actually proving themselves right that they're Kamen Rider and MOTW respectively. Proving that fear and punishment seems to be the effective tool against unlikable people.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

So, Kengo. I think he worked for me in this one a little because the vibes on Fourze are immaculate, sure, but some of it is just… like, I get his point? Gen is a nuisance in this episode, to a degree that Yuuki has to drag him out to a lunar crater and go Dude You Used To Be Cool. Gen’s so insistent on beating Kengo that he’s making himself into a troublesome asshole, instead of anyone’s friend. Meanwhile, Kengo has this dingus coming in on his first day and saying I’ll Take It From Here, blundering through a situation he’s too excitable to sit still for. (Although, man, empathized with Gen for suddenly getting exposited at by Kengo! Not the fun part of early episodes!!!) This is an episode that doesn’t exactly walk back Kengo’s prickly nonsense, but – like with Yuuki’s backstory for him – tries to give it all a context that makes his mission feel like the motivation for this season, instead of Gen’s relentless protagonist energy. Shifting Gen from star (of the star of the stars) of the show into just one more member of a club somehow simultaneously justifies Kengo’s standoffishness and anger. It’s a fun trick this episode pulls, and it really worked for me this time out.

So you'd think that Gentaro feels like an asshole for insisting to beat Kengo, I thought that Gentaro, the supposed nice guy, was being an asshole here for immediately going violent and accusing on Tomoko. Something that, well Shinji in Ryuki (also someone who's against unlikable cast members) got called out upon for accusing Ren as child eater (albeit Gentaro did get restrained by Yuki). It's significantly easier to find what's mean about Gentaro than Eiji before. Otherwise, Gentaro's insistent on fighting as Fourze and finding the monster can be also the usual chronic hero syndrome of the heroic lead that also commonly portrayed as them being reckless and never ever backing down. And obviously Gentaro hates thinking, he just acts on impulse as the idiotic hero.

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Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

A version of Gentarou who held ill will towards others would be a severe threat, as he would use his talent for understanding others to determine the most effective way to torment them.

Man, this may sound like how kindness is a weakness to have them not/rarely becoming a severe threat due to their kindness. Like saying that Ryuga is when Shinji isn't restrained by moral compass, thus Shinji becomes weak due to being kind, so people like that don't live up to their full potential. Used to encourage people to stop being kind and consistently in that 'severe threat' mode all the time.

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Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

While I'm not going to disagree that Crimson Smash is awesome as hell, I love how Fourze's gimmicks are mostly just mundane heavy duty tools that he uses in creative ways.

I'd talk more about this when the show reaches Fourze's final form (obviously for this one, I already know from games). My point was more about how Drill stays the same Drill if used like, just regular kick with the Drill attached. And technically Rider Kick with Rocket can be done with Chainsaw too.