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Kamen Rider Stronger episode 39

This is it, the finale of Stronger and, at the time, at least, the last episode of Kamen Rider. Ratings had been on a constant decline since X, hit new show Himitsu Sentai Gorenger had taken over the traditional time slot, and Stronger's episode run ended up shorter than anticipated (according to vague memory of hearsay). So this episode was meant to send off the Rider franchise with appearances from all the previous main actors, a final showdown with the Great Leader, and a nice montage of highlights from all five shows. Did it work?

Eh, kinda.

It is so awesome to see all seven of the classic Riders together outside of their suits. There are only a few short scenes of it, but it's hard not to grin when Tachibana Tobei wakes up to see those seven familiar faces looking down on him. I just really, really wish the show had set aside a minute or two for an all-Rider transformation sequence, poses and all. I am a huge sucker for those. Still, it was great to see them all together and all fighting to take down the remaining Delza generals.

The fight with the Great Leader, though... it's hard not to see that as an anti-climax. The first part of the fight, where he's a giant rock monster is awesome. There's some great use of forced perspective and some decent use of props to create a giant fist, foot, and head to punch. I suppose the bits where the monster suit is obviously swinging around Rider dolls doesn't work that well, but I can accept that as a trade-off because we got to see Amazon jump on a giant rock leg and try biting it. The end of the fight, though... ugh. The Riders join hands, run through a tunnel, and then stand there while a brain monster babbles about returning to space then explodes. Not exactly a shining, epic victory.

Still, it was a good episode and the final montage of stills from the first five shows accompanied by first V3's and then the original series' theme songs was a great way to cap off the last episode of Kamen Rider ever...

Until 1979.