[SPLIT LIP]

Yeah. But to the show's credit, the visuals told the story of the episode very well. Really I just need subs to understand the specifics and exposition. Like obviously Yggdrasil is explained, but without dialogue it's not clear what it is besides the "ruling" corporation looming ominously in the distance. Also, I have no idea who or what the girl in white is.

Though regardless, that was an excllent first episode, simply because of Gaim himself. He was pretty cool. He's not aloof or ramrod rigid, he's just a cool guy who's a good person. His first outing as Gaim was really well done and full of good bits. Like how he doesn't realise how high he can jump and ends up slamming in a railing, then when he falls down opts to take the stairs instead. It's not super goofy or campy, it's literally just as I explained it. Yet despite those bits of breaking in, he still fought the monster off well and was competant in his use of his weapons. His final attack was really awesome, with a double-blade energy strike capped off with a swift bisection of the enemy, and that sword/gun is fucking sweet. And that Henshin was really dramatic and cool. Especially the almost haunting chanting as it built up to it.

Really impressed. If I had to pick something I didn't like it'd be that I'm not sold on the dancing (it was barely there, though. I don't think it'll be as focused as, say, samba-ing before and during every battle. We saw one group of kids do it once) and the secondary characters didn't leave much of a mark at all. Maybe that will change with subs, but they just kinda hung around while Gaim went to work/helped people/fought the monster. Also, that's another cool thing, we actually see him have a job, and not an especially endearingly quirky of flattering one. Construction, manual labor. Stuff that builds character. Neat.

And finally, that suit. Man, that's one of the most thoughtful, awesomely designed and fabricated Rider suits I've seen. It looks really good in motion, and I love the different finishes.