[Locke]

W 34.

Okay, this wrap up wasn't nearly as strong as the opening but I think this is still overall one of my favourite arcs, largely because the twists and turns were seemingly endless, but rather than feeling shocking for the sake of shocking, or convoluted for the sake of being convoluted it seemed every twist had been carefully though out, with every twist clicking with a satisfying pang of realisation.

Plus Kirihiko was a character who I ended up falling in love with, right before he died, which seemed completely intentional but I was also sad that after one of the seemingly major villains, died very early on, long before he blossomed into exactly what you thought he was going to blossom into, he was never really mentioned again.

Not only this, but his death is violent, by the woman he loves and he actually goes down as a hero, not a villain. A left field, surprise, genuinely well played death like this surely seems like the START of a story, rather than the end of one but despite all the interesting details of his death, he was just replaced by Weather, I guess kinda like what they did with Phoenix and Gremlin and I didn't like it when they did it there, either. His death felt like a waste.

So I was really happy when this arc remembered he existed, and attempted to have repercussions for his death - something we sadly never got in Wizard's mess of an ending. If anything, despite what I said, I kinda wish this arc actually came LATER because I kinda knew from the get go, that as Taboo and Weather are more of the big bads than the actual big bad, and as we aren't on the final leg yet, the plot would never give Kirihiko's sister a break.

Plus the action really was great. I think the smaller budget really strains on bigger battles, because Weather completely schools the both of them but I never really feel his power, despite him kicking Sho and Ryu around the screen but still overall, it has very entertaining action sequences for a show that makes no attempt to hide the fact that it isn't really about the action.

Similarly, I don't like upgrade forms that get some flashy weapon and that is all they use - like the Goseiger super modes, where all the personal identity was stripped away and everyone fought the same, despite that making no sense - W was never a swordsman so it makes no sense for him to suddenly become one. As such, I enjoyed that he actually put down his sword and shield and relaxed into his more usual brawling style, and one of the coolest Rider Kicks he's had, and it's when he does that that he gets the upper hand on Weather.

Also, as an aside, ignoring the reversal thing, what is Taboo's power? Like Terror has that fear goo, Clay Doll basically can't die, Weather can control well...the weather. But Taboo can...shoot lasers and fly? Seems she got shafted almost as much as Nazca with his 'I can move fast and get a cool sword' Memory.