[Layton13]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Sticking to one level, "very serious sci-fi horror show", narratively, it's death. It creates a kind of suffocating self-seriousness, which will always sit uneasily next to the monster suits and form changes and Kamen Rider trappings. A full year of that type of show, I mean, shit, even Amazons only did 13 episodes in a season. I'm curious how/if Kuuga keeps it up all series.

Shows like Build excel at telling a lot of different kinds of stories: sad stories, happy stories, funny stories, horror stories, action stories, etc. That flexibility in conception gives them so many more colors to paint with, rather than the monochrome of Dark.

I'm trying to meet Kuuga on its own terms, and not judge it for what it isn't trying to do, but it's definitely not trying to do what I like in Kamen Rider shows.

Kuuga is a very grounded series without a lot of the zaniness even the next season will partially bring. A lot of its darker aspects have not much to balance it out really and the only thing that sticks out is when things get worse.

As violent and dark as Agito, for example, can get, it has a lot more to balance out the bad things, moments, not so much episodes, but there is just a stronger optimistic tone and message buried beneath it that makes it easier to stomach for me. Aka, it feels the show wants to tell a hopeful message told through the darkness, one Kuuga just didn't nail for me as much with its more grounded story and tone.