[Locke]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

I agree with all of this, although I will say that the world's most obvious plot twist was handled pretty well. At this point it looks like the entire point of the whole Sabbat ritual wasn't to create Phantoms, but to find the people who could overcome the despair and become Wizards. So pretty much every Phantom attack since then has likewise been about creating new Wizards and not Phantoms. In a way it's kind of like Gamou's hunt for the Horoscopes in Fourze, except here it's not "I'll make you a monster in the hopes that you Digivolve into Champion" and more "I'll torment you in the hopes that you become a superhero - if not, you'll just die and a monster will walk around in your corpse." As someone who's missed Kamen Rider's darker side in the last few years, this kind of extreme "ends justify the means" campaign pleases me.

I can only assume that the four Wizards (Haruto, Mayu, Yuzuru, and Todoroki) are going to be some kind of mana batteries for whatever the Philosopher's Stone does that'll make Koyomi a real girl. I don't see Haruto or Mayu going along with that willingly.

And man, how great is Mayu? I'm really liking the way she's developing as a character. I'm glad the show is keeping her around and using her effectively as a flawed, but dedicated hero.

My favorite scene this week was Haruto talking to Mayu in Todoroki's house (as a side note, I wish they cast Akira's actress from Hibiki and Decade as his wife - that would've amused me so much). Haruto's whole "I'm freaking out on the inside, but I have to hold it together for Koyomi's sake" speech is a great encapsulation of why he's become one of my favorite Riders. Even if it was followed by the incredibly boneheaded decision to give Mayu the Infinity ring.

Plus - most surprising at all - is Wizard has actually paced something better than another show, never thought there'd come a day. Still if all of the his has lead up to making the philosophers stone, then it is ludicrously elaborate, I wonder if Golgom helped Fueki draft his plan.

Since Rinko is only allowed to be useful and badass in movies, and Medusa went from a great villain to standing around looking like a horses anus I'm surprised by just how well they have constructed Mayu, she really is a fantastic character, I think she makes a better secondary than Beast has, who is only just coming together for me.

I think Haruto giving the Ring across was an important aspect for Haruto's character, it was pretty dumb to be fair, but it's his thought process that is important 'I'm trusting you', after his whole escapade with his Teacher, Haruto is finally growing and letting people in. It's just a shame his trust is then shit on...