[DreadBringer]

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I don't completely understand what you're saying here, so forgive me if I got it wrong (I also might not have made my points clearly!), but I wasn't trying to say that JK was bad if he'd really wanted to leave the KRC to be a musician -- I think his friends would've supported him? But JK wasn't leaving to pursue his dream, he was endangering others to try and assuage his own fear, and that's why Gentarou stood in his way. I hope this makes sense?

I guess, what gave me this vibe was this part of your review:

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With JK, it’s abundantly clear at all times that he completely gave up on the KRC in order to pursue his dream. We’re not in a densely-plotted story with additional layers, because JK is exactly as self-serving and cowardly as he appears.

It’s also what makes this all so poignant, because – much to his surprise and chagrin – he’s not as self-serving and as cowardly as he appears, even though JK himself isn't aware of that. JK’s made too many real friends to be okay throwing them aside for fame, and he’s sacrificed too much as a member of the KRC to be okay with a bunch of kids wasting away from cosmic shredding.

It rather reads as if what's bad is JK leaving the KRC to be a musician, as JK's described as self-serving and cowardly following "he completely gave up on the KRC in order to pursue his dream" or "throwing them aside for fame". Though dunno if I just miss out something like joke again or such which, sorry. And I know that you did write the following about JK relying on Capricorn Zodiart power and wanting to surpass reality before, which may be the explanation on the above on how JK is cowardly and self-serving, just that the "giving up the KRC" or "throwing friends aside" for fame part can feel separate.

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High school is about finding out who you are, and JK discovers that he’s not Gene, because Gene was the dream of a kid who wanted fame at any cost, and was desperate to escape the reality of his limits. But that was a long time ago, and holding onto that fear and desperation, it’s JK forgetting about how he’s grown, and the reasons he wanted fame in the first place.

It was about fame, sure, but it was more about being able to express himself, and be seen for what he could be, and connect with others… which is all the things the KRC is already letting him do. He thought he needed God’s Zodiart ability to reach people and be loved, but here’s Gentarou spending a day learning the song that made JK love music, just for a chance to let JK show his authentic self to an audience. JK missed all that in the rush to become a star, hollowing himself out just like his brainwashed fans. He tossed aside the goal for the dream, but luckily his friends were there to remind him of what he really had to offer.

It only works if you think that JK is shallow enough to team up with a horned cosmic guitarist at the possible cost of dozens of lives, but lucky for this show, JK is the worst, and so we can see it – but even more lucky for this show, we can see that JK is capable of changing for the better, and maybe he’s been changing this whole time without us even noticing.

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Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

The sad thing is that I think Elleen was sincerely offering Yuki helpful advice at first, but Yuki responded with even more ROCKET GOD which could easily be taken as dismissal. This does seem like an example of Yuki being rude, not only deranged. It's a plot that only works due to Yuki acting like this and hiding the camera parts for a reason she cannot explain. Gentarou and the audience know that Yuki isn't a bad person, but Yuki sure gives Elleen a lot of reasons to think poorly of her, all snowballing from that first impression.

Guess this can be like Yuki's take in early arc's two-parters involving KRC member provoking the MOTW like how Shun treated Miura or JK treated Nitta, albeit it can be harder to see as Yuki wasn't intending to be rude, though yeah she's flanderized as deranged here which can give unwittingly rude behavior. Flanderization usually favors rule of funny over character depth, consistency, or development, and this can be why I'm doubtful over having several different writers or other different staff members in production. Many people defend or justify openly jerkish and rude behaviors (and Yuki here is only subtle) from flanderization as it's just meant for comedy, which involves if a character constantly beats up others like Ran does in ep. 29-30.

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Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

Gentarou is a true friend for honoring Elleen's wish to settle her fight with Fourze, even though he knew it would be a heartbreaking conclusion. He always cares about people's feelings, even when they're misguided and I think this is a rare bittersweet yet important message for the show that sometimes the help your friends want isn't the help you want to give. As Fish pointed out, Cosmic States has the tears that Fourze's previous States don't, so this is pretty appropriate to show that Gentarou has moments of suffering like other Riders.

It's heartbreaking, but I felt (can be corrected though) that the heartbreaking part is canceled by the rushed bestie in the end part for Erin so all seems fine and happy and the heartbreaking conclusion and stake is canceled. I mean, obviously Gentaro or Yuki would want to be quickly friends, just that previously it seems to take 2 whole episodes before for Erin to truly bond with them, but the ending has it being taken for just mere seconds. Sento and Banjo retained their memories at the end of Build, while Shinji and Ren didn't recognize each other, though they stare at each other for some time.

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Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

Yeah, an extreme aversion to boredom is surely a weakness in many situations. If a tedious topic drags for too long, I start looking for tangents, which depends on how fast I can react. I also get irritable if my environment is too quiet or still.

I actually refer to how it's a weakness if one can only make friendships through having a common hobby, where they'd be not versatile in building relationship.