[Kamen Rider Die]

MASKED RIDER AGITO EPISODE 43



After Hikawa gets messed up by the Manta Unknown in the opening, really thought this one was going to be about the risks to humanity as Agitos take center stage, the value of humanity in an increasingly superhuman world, all of that stuff. Nope! Instead, it's pretty much a Spooky Man spotlight episode.

I do enjoy Spooky Man as a season-long villain, though. His outlook is unique. I dig his whole hate-the-sin-love-the-sinner evil philosophy, the way he regrets killing potential Agitos even as he vows to kill all potential Agitos. He brings a different energy to his fights with Ryou and Kino than we've seen on this show before. He's trying to make the world a better place, he's doing all this to save the world, and it's a shame the heroes can't see it. That weary resignation, it's surprisingly fun to watch. It makes him feel above all of these conflicts, and it sells his power level in a way a ton of special effects or villain speeches just wouldn't. In the same way Shouichi's zen calm is unusual for a hero, Spooky Man's care and devotion is unusual for a villain. It's great to see him out and about after 30 episodes in a hospital room.

Other than that, I feel like there's not much to this episode? We learn Shouichi's real name, but the show smartly says Look We've Spent A Year Calling Him Shouichi, We Aren't Changing His Name With Two Months Left To Go. It starts off being a funny scene, where Uncle and Taichii stubbornly call him Shouichi multiple times in a sentence, but it does speak to the callback of Shouichi Is Shouichi, that his name doesn't reflect or determine his nature. It's a funny joke that highlights an emotional truth, which is the sort of high-level shit this show has grown incredibly adept at in the last bunch of episodes. (There's also a killer gag with Omuro wondering why Ozawa won't introduce him to the Agitos, and, you guys, I missed those two so goddamn much.)

Oh, and the big cliffhanger! Spooky Man blasts the Child Of Light (which represents the Agito Force bestowed by Agito Jesus, still looks goofy af) out of Kino, robbing him of his Agito-ness. Ryou's next, and, can I just say how great that moment is, when Kino tries to warn Ryou not to fight Spooky Man, that he can't win, and it's like, Oh, You Do Not Know Ryou. That dude has never met an unwinnable fight he hasn't wanted to throw himself into. He does not know the meaning of the phrase You Are Going To Be Murdered By A God.