[Locke]

Decade 02.

What the fuck, why does Decade know everything about the Grongi to the point where he can speak their language fluently? They ask him multiple times to confirm how he knows so much and he just ignores them, is Decade really this frustrating so early on?

It's disappointing, because other than Decade himself, I actually really liked this episode. Sure this new Yusuke is such a dick he almost makes me miss Godai - ALMOST - but it turns out Kuuga might have been pretty awesome if it had a budget. I may not openly admit it, but Kuuga's first wave of forms were really enjoyable, I actually liked the first twenty or so episodes of that show.

The designs were simple, but detailed, and Kuuga's power set were some of the most fantastically realised in the whole franchise. Each form had a clearly defined purpose, and a specific context. Dragon increased his speed, agility, range and jump height but it reduced his raw strength and power capabilities so it functioned as the perfect balance with Titan, which massively increased his defence and raw power but greatly reduced his speed. Likewise Pegasus was so powerful it was a one shot and that is it kind of deal, so having something like Mighty which was utterly balanced, not too taxing on the user but packed with a weapon that could topple pretty much anyone - the Rider kick - Mighty was the best kind of form to fall back onto. They all had their place.

They ruin this from the Rising Business onwards, but that first wave is something that has clearly inspired every Rider show onwards and I don't think they've ever been able to capture it ever again, in the precise way Kuuga did. If I was to get a power set, I'd much rather his, than all the Riders where each form makes the previous one redundant or each form comes with poorly defined powers and purposes.

Plus the action was just nuts in this episode. The best kind of nuts. From the flashback - forward? - to the Rider War to where Yusuke drains the power - life? - from the other Riders to reach his final form and him and Decade punch each other and it's like a nuke went off, to seeing Yusuke leap from form to form as he battles Decade, and then the Hoppers appear because why the fuck not?! JUST HOLY FUCKING SHIT THIS IS AWESOME.