[Locke]

Rewatching Dragon Knight 01 - skipping the unaired pilot as it had a different cast and take on the story. Maybe I'll watch it at the end to see how things could have been.

The Wing Knight design has been jokingly dubbed 'Kamen Rider Batman' and it's sorta fitting as Len is introduced as a man who patrols the streets, protecting people from the shadows (well sort of) from Mirror Monsters. Toku seriously needs more proactive heroes. Most people say his early acting is bad, which it kinda is to be fair, but just like Arnie in the Terminator Len's actor has a lot of presence and as these earlier episodes just need to paint him as a nonsense badass he does the whole 'look I'm big and scowly' routine well. I really do like Wing Knight a lot, especially as I know what is just around the corner.

Honestly, minus some slightly goofy dialogue 'don't be afraid of the dragon, Kit!' - but it's fucking shooting fireballs at us?! This whole episode sets solid foundation for plot, character and the world. When it changes over to the side characters, you roll your eyes, until you find that they fairly competently act as disguises for dumps of exposition, even if I don't understand the logistics of Kit's living arrangements at all.

Sadly, although there some impressive set pieces and imagery, the effects of the series really are starting to show their age. And seeing Mullins do his own stunts only makes it stand out more just how obvious Lunsford's stunt doubles are. The low point of the action in this episode is where Wing Knight sheaths his sword so he can use Sword Vent...to summon a lance? That was so dumb.

Still, they played the balance of the badass and experienced Wing Knight off of the complete novice Blank Dragon Knight for HILARIOUS results. It seemed like it was just starting to get fun, as the episode ended...