[Battlizer]

Ryuki 39

Ren finds out that he didn't, in fact, kill Kanzaki. I'm not sure why he's so surprised. I'm pretty sure if he killed Kanzaki the fight would be over. Kanzaki continued to tell him that there's someone he needs to take care of, Ren still refuses, until Kanzaki points out that Yui's the one in danger...which he should've said in the first fucking place.

Tiger seems to have forgotten all about killing his old ally, much to Shinji's surprise. Ren, meanwhile, wants to find the one responsible for attempting to kill Yui and Shinji talks to Ren about Kanzaki's possible goals. Meanwhile, this lawyer, who I suppose IS just doing his job, is playing right into Asakura's hands.

Tiger wants to go with Shinji to investigate Yui's old house, and...it might not be a bad idea to have him under supervision. Meanwhile, Ren visits the lead scientist, KAgawa. And...he's got a family, surprisingly. It sort of makes him seem a bit less of a villain. Still a pretty creepy guy though. It's a wonder he has a wife that looks that good.

Brief flashback to how Kagawa invented the alternate rider belts. Kanzaki Shirou looks completely unconvincing as a scientist. Kagawa also has the most unnecessarily long henshin pose ever. Well, at least in this show. Meawhile, Yui's being chased by a contract monster that powers Kagawa's belt, presumably.

Kagawa's a surprisingly good fighter, partially due to his photographic memory. And that piece of shit, Tiger. He tricked Shinji pretty well, having made up his reasons for killing his comrade before. Still in the name of justice, apparently, which I'm finding harder to believe is genuine.

Also, Yui and Kanzaki have been seen drawing as kids in flashbacks before, but I ever payed enough attention to realize that they were mirror monsters. I know something mysterious happened at that mansion, but how far does this stuff go I wonder. Kanzaki seems to have saved her from Kagawa's mirror monster by using am monster of his own.

Ad now a monster seems to be targetting Shimada. This won't go well...

Ryuki 40

Yui apologizes for breaking ties with Kanzaki but demands to know the truth. Shinji's saved from Tiger killing him by Kagawa thankfully. for being Tiger's teacher, Kagawa seems o have opposite morals. He's repeatedly stated that he'd rather not take more lives than necessary to be a hero, while Tiger is perfectly happy wit eliminating those who don't fit his fucked up ideals of being a hero. Yeeeah, I can't see this ending well for one of them.

Haha, Kitaoka's outsmarted Asakura again! This subplot with Kitaoka using underhanded tactics to prevent Asakura from even seeing his deck again, has been pretty awesome so far.

And Shimada wasn't attacked. The last episode sure made it seem liek it. And she's got a picture of the mirror monster (with all the talk about Blade now, I'm trying my hardest not to call it an Undead) that was about to jump her. It says a lot about Tiger that I'd think it'd be safer to sit and have a conversation with Asakura than him. At east Asakura's somewhat predictable. Like Shinji says, Toujou makes no sense (that coulda used a better translation though).

Toujou's attack really did a number on Shinji it seems, since he easily agreed with Ren that his idealistic view might be wrong. I was waiting for the moment, they put Asakura in full Hannibal restraints, and here it is. I can't hate his lawyer for being a lawyer who's a good person and not a sleazy one, but I sure can get pissed him being an idiot. Does he not read the news? There's a reason Asakura gets treated like this!

Looks like Shinji really has given up. He's pretty stoic about it too. He is right about every Rider is doing hat they think is right though. Asakura...is up for debate with him. Scicssors and Gai too.

Kagawa and Kanzaki meet face to face for the first time in a while and Kanzaki's placed Kagawa's family in danger. I can see where Kanzaki's coming form compared to his pupils...but he still won't abandon his principals even to save his family.

Now thanks to his idiot lawyer, Asakura's escaped yet again, this time in a business suit hilariously enough and back in the fight. And as he faces down Tiger it's psychopath vs psychopath. And Shinji's got his spine back it seems and Kitaoka's join the fight and he's got a point. He hasn't done his finisher in a while.

It's really becoming a battle royale of the remaining riders now, with Shinji having saved Kagawa's family along the way. Though...how did he know they were his family, did they tell him? Well it doesn't matter, Kagawa seems speechless while Tiger mocks Shinji for doing so.

The news team discovers that the mirror monsters do indeed exists and all these antler mirror monsters seem to work for a new rider, as they leap around cackling like Gremlins.

Ryuki 41

I can't state enough how much Tiger's a creepy motherfucker. I don't quite think the fact the Kagawa's main goal is to prevent more lives form being harmed is getting through to him. And there's Asakura goofily knocking on the door with his head. Alright...I see I was right! It IS easier to gave a conversation with Asakura then it is with Toujou!

Editor-in-chief continues to note Shinji's odd behavior as he finds Shinji doesn't seem particularly surprised about the existence of mirror monsters. But then he went into weirdo mode with Shimada and Megumi at Asakura's abrupt appearance in the office so. And Kitaoka follows Reiko in investigating Kagawa and Toujou's lab, though they're as secretive as ever.

Tiger is straight out of a horror movie right now...probably would've taken out Kitaoka if Ren hadn't jumped in. I think I can definitely say Shinji's way of thinking has definitely gotten into those two now. Like in the early days there was no way Ren would've helped out Kitaoka from Tiger's attack, despite their less than amicable words later. Speaking of Kitaoka, looks like his illness is catching up with him again.

So yeah, I wonder if tiger really believes this hero bullshit or if he's just using it as justification. Maybe a bit of both. And I already like Kamen Rider Imperer just for the whole business card thing. Him interacting with Kagawa and Toujou was probably the most comedic scene those two are ever gonna get. And Toujou's reaction wasn't' all too humorous anyway.

Of course, Tiger instantly goes to attack Shinji, geeze...Things are starting to heat up though. And Imperer feels like a character who should've been introduced earlier.