[DreadBringer]

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER FOURZE EPISODE 38 - “AND THE WINNER IS…”

Like, I admire an episode that wants to position Yuuki’s role in a group as the one who never quits, the one who has the personal resolve to overcome any hardship, and the brightness of spirit to rally everyone around her to tackle the impossible together. I completely agree with that! I’m pretty sure I mentioned it in the write-up for last episode! But we’re also in an episode that can’t stop comedically depicting Yuuki as a psychologically-drained anchor, who loudly and repeatedly exclaims her inability to proceed in the contest, needing to literally be dragged along by her more able teammate. This is kind of attacking your core premise, Episode 38! You are not exactly fortifying anyone’s sunny appraisal of Yuuki’s theoretically indefatigable inner strength! You can do an episode where a hapless Yuuki is a wacky problem for the rest of the cast to smile and shake their head at, and you can do an episode where an underestimated Yuuki consistently summons her (alleged) natural charisma and sense of personal pride to push through the walls that would stop any sane person, but you sort of can’t do both in the same episode, often in alternating scenes.

About what the camera is hidden, this is about a newer show, where I watched this older one more recently, but it reminds me of Neon's DezaStar stint in Geats. About a female competitor being instructed to sabotage, and both cases involve cards even (I really wanted if Geats gave more about complete list of cards Neon got). The series already have Gentaro insisted that Yuki would never do it on purpose, but Neon also is unwilling to really hurt or sabotage the other participants, doing bare minimum of the tasks and is shown hesitating, with DGP upping the ante of the consequences later. Otherwise, though Yuki didn't know at first that Erin injured her, Yuki still knows that Erin was hostile to her and tried to bring her down when she's promoted, but Yuki still tries to get Erin to just leave her and win the race.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

And if that were the only problem, fine, whatever, I got other stuff in here to enjoy. Erin and Gentarou continued to be a charming couple, exhibiting enough chemistry to fuel an actual rocket. Erin’s arc in this one is a compelling exploration of how finding the best in someone can still not get you what you want, and Erin’s character-defining dedication and commitment gets a melancholy finale, pitting her allegiance to Gamou against her newfound supporter in a rain-soaked duel. It’s sad, and inevitable, and avoidable, and sweet, and beautifully shot. It’s Erin’s whole arc, concluding perfectly, after two episodes of growth and examination.

Their final duel rather reminds me of W vs Makoto/Jewel Dopant before, where despite the MOTW's apparent invincibility (Jewel's toughness and Aquarius' regen), they're given weakpoints that instantly defeats them after it got hit. W still uses his Prism Break finisher to do that, but Fourze simply uses Claw for more hitboxes to hit both shoulders at once. No new combination, just simple Claw, albeit it seems that Claw has advantage for being used with Barizun Sword than in base form of being big. Erin directly thanked Gentaro for defeating her as a Zodiart onscreen, where Tamae and Ritsuko was only later stated as being grateful for that to initially ask Gentaro for prom.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

So, you know, OF COURSE they wipe her memory, making sure that we end this story with an Erin who doesn’t remember Yuuki and Gentarou, and presumably doesn’t remember her cathartic confrontation over her traumatic resentment of her father’s deferred dream, so she’s just bubbly and friendly, and fine with two random strangers saying they’re her friends who are going to support her no matter what. It feels pointless, relative to how hard Erin had to work to earn her defeat. It’s like some other character is the beneficiary of Erin’s personal growth, and it all feels kind of dumb; unworthy of the effort of most of the actors in this episode.

Yeah, this is rather like Ryuki or perhaps also Build ending, but applied on only one person. Erased memories, means erased development for the character (like for Erin to not jump over conclusions in why the camera was hidden). I can accept this for something like Ryuki as it's about the world being made better without war (and it's Shinji's achievement), though yeah the development for people like Kitaoka would be canceled, but it does feel rushed to have Erin instantly being besties with Gentaro and Yuki at the end unlike this 2-parter process. It should be inevitable that the villains would displease us, not only for killing off characters, but also erasing Erin's memory, but perhaps the outcome should be like Nadeshiko in Megamax where she just walks past Gentaro and the other KRC where this can seem to be forced happy ending. Albeit, for part of being fine with two strangers saying they're her friends part, it rather have happened to me too, dunno if this counts as stranger, but a beautiful co-worker in different division that I never interact before, having her consistently greeting me when I come pass, despite me never interacting with her that time. When I later asked why (first time I directly interact, btw), she said it's because we're friends and she claims she wants to befriend anyone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

And then, and then, even if you disregard how Erin’s story collapses at the end, or how Yuuki’s story tells us one thing while showing us another, there’s just way too many narrative shortcuts and counterintuitive reveals, even for a toku franchise that is normally too fun to care about said details: Why are half the KRC invited along for the final test alongside three of the judges? Wouldn’t it be considered cheating for Gentarou and Ryuusei to turn up with four competitors? Isn’t a test where you tell two competitors to sabotage their teams’ efforts in secret not really about how to overcome unexpected problems on a space mission, and more about how to deal with sabotage from your crewmates? Did none of these kids bring an umbrella to the rain-soaked duel? (The last one… it was just a snowstorm! Don’t make these kids stand around soaked for hours in the cold! That’s how you get sick!)

Guess Ryusei, despite well, being forgiven after murdering Gentaro (proving that Gentaro's method worked on him), or well, he himself choosing to trust Aries to cure Jiro, can still think Gentaro was naive for trying to help a Zodiart. Though obviously, as Ryusei already fully developed since ep. 32, he can easily accept that Gentaro can tame Erin at the end of the episode, where secondary Riders who are still assholes may dismiss the main protagonist's achievements. And for cheating part, Gentaro screams at his friends to stay back during his duel with Erin anyway. Dunno if it's the KRC being invited for the final test, I feel it's just Gentaro or Ryusei following them up to fight off Zodiarts. The test was all just Zodiart plan anyway to find suitable Horoscopes.