[Kiwami]

I'm up to episode 23 of Faiz and I feel like I've gone completely numb and I’m just accepting whatever is happening at this point. Like, I can't even channel enough energy to properly rage about how Faiz Axel is without a doubt the laziest and most pathetic introduction to an upgraded form I've ever seen.

I mean don't get me wrong, I'm not mad that Faiz immediately knew how to properly use the form. That's a toku trope and one we kinda need to accept because it's not going to change. They won't have a Rider train to use his stuff, it takes too much time. A little bit of slapstick or a "I can't control this power"-kinda situation is the best we're getting.

But that's not the point. Let me explain why by taking a jab at my own name: Kouta get's the Kiwami Lockseed, immediately uses it and fights like a god. No testing or getting used to a forms power or anything. That's stupid, yes, but at least the Lockseed itself, and thus the form, had built up. Kouta was troubled with the choice he needed to make to progress and so on. Now, what happens in Faiz you might ask? What ingenious way have they found to introduce the Axel Watch? This:



And yes, after this Faiz just transforms into the Axel form and kicks ass immediately. This is what I can’t tolerate. It’s the combination of a completely lackluster introduction of the device followed by a run-of-the-mill fighting scene that disappoints me. It could’ve been so, so much better. But hey, Faiz in a nutshell, huh? Also let’s not forget that this scene follows one where Kaixa gives Takumi the Faiz belt back after it was stolen by an Orphenoch. How did Kaixa get the belt back? I don’t know, they didn’t show it. I kinda assume that tidbit will be resolved later when we learn that Kaixa made some deal with that Orphenoch or something, but do I expect an explanation as to where that watch came from? Of course not.

Thanks for listening, that was my report on how Faiz slowly but surely drives me nuts.