[Switchblade]

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Originally Posted by EpsilonX

Just started episode 14 of the original series, the one where the second rider shows up. Been digging this series so far, but I REALLY haven't enjoyed the past 3 episodes where they've been phasing Hongo out. Hopefully this makes up for that.

Edit: Definitely better. I don't really like the way they wrote Hongo out (why couldn't they send the new guy overseas and just have Hongo stay in Japan? I get why they did it, because he got hurt, but it didn't really make all that much sense plot-wise. Oh well) but the new Rider seems like an interesting character so far. I dig how his suit is more colorful.

The episodes after Fujioka's accident are pretty awkward, yeah. The show was basically trying to figure out how they were going to handle the main character being absent. Their was no way to really put the show on pause given it aired weekly, so there are a few episodes where they try out different approaches to moving forward. The episodes with Ruriko and Taki doing the legwork and Kamen Rider just showing up already transformed were an early attempt to compensate, but ultimately it was decided that they needed a new character. Ichimonji was always meant to be temporary, though, and the actor basically took it on as a part-time job (you'll notice that Taki gets most of the un-transformed fight scenes and Ichimonji only shows up occasionally for his first several episodes - he does get more integrated eventually).

As for why he stays in Japan while Hongo goes abroad, well it's a lot cheaper to have the action set in Japan instead of to travel around the world. Especially for a fairly low budget kids' show.

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By far my favorite part of the episode though was the blatant racism. The goons were all wearing luchador masks, and the villain used a cactus as a sword? I can't handle it lol

Get used to the masks, they become standard Shocker mook attire from here on out.