[DreadBringer]

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Thankfully, resolving the Kitaoka/Shinji/kidnapping thing is really all that happens in this one. It’s an all-hands-on-deck episode, with every single currently active character putting in a little something on this plot. It feels like everything’s pulling in the same direction on this one, moving characters to where they need to be to keep the plot moving organically. Like, Shimada getting discharged from the hospital just in time to run into Kitaoka (literally, and god bless him for knocking her plush doll, just gonna call it Smooch, out of her hands, staring at her for a few seconds, and then just walking away) so we can find out that he’s terminally ill. That could’ve been info conveyed in a dumber way, a more distracting way, but it came at just the right time in just the right way.

And, hey, we get another piece in the puzzle that is Kitaoka. He’s terminally ill, and he clearly expects to be made immortal should he take out the other Riders. There’s a thing he brings up, that I’m super into exploring, and that’s the Power of Selflessness versus the Power of Selfishness.

Well sorry but, it's your fault Shimada, you covering yourself with your huge doll, you can't really see what you're bumping into! Kitaoka's talk about immortal life and his dedication to Rider War came on full circle.

Another running gag also with Ren not only bringing up Shinji's debt, but also raising them up! If this one's not funny enough, it'd be even funnier if you know the reason why Ren raised it up later. Other than that, as previously Yui told Ren to stop being hostile to Shinji...now it's the reverse. I wonder why Ren didn't place the debt into Yui who was the one broke the mirror, with "preventing him to win the Rider War by killing another Rider" as an excuse, which is ironic that he sided with her to gain advantage on War, but she prevents him doing things what Riders are supposed to do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Riders, traditionally, exhibit their heroism through self-sacrifice, through saving others at a potential risk to themselves. Ren is fighting on behalf of someone else, presumably. (I figure girlfriend, but maybe it’s something else.) He’s willing to do whatever it takes for that other person. Kitaoka’s fighting for himself, his survival, and he makes the excellent point that fighting for himself makes him stronger than Ren. I don’t think he’s wrong on that? Fighting for another person you care about, like Ren does, or fighting for strangers, like Shinji does, that’s a high-minded goal. That’s choosing to put others ahead of yourself. That takes effort and drive and dedication, as Ren has tried to drill into Shinji’s head. Fighting for yourself? That’s the default. That’s baked into nearly every person on the planet. It is natural to want to live, it’s difficult to choose not to for someone else's sake. Kitaoka can fight harder because it’s his life on the line, the most precious thing to him. (In all fairness, Kitaoka’s life is currently the most precious thing to me, as well.) Ren, Shinji, they might hesitate to save someone else, might not go to the lengths they need to. Kitaoka will do anything to save himself. Self-preservation is the strongest thing on the planet. But what Kamen Rider shows presuppose is, what if it isn’t? I can’t imagine a Kamen Rider show ever suggesting that heroism is naive and we owe nothing to others, that’s… why would you even make a Kamen Rider show, if that’s what you’re trying to say? I’m sure we’ll see Kitaoka’s Everybody Wants To Live viewpoint tested in the coming episodes, and I’m excited to see how the show disputes it.

Tfw, Ren got mocked relentlessly by Kitaoka, with little way to fight back, not even talking back at the end. Plus at home he lays on bed, thinking about Kitaoka's words, about how you shouldn't befriend another Rider (means Shinji)....tsundere detected! He even is the one to suggest to change lawyer, while if he truly didn't care about him, he should pretend to not know anything regarding Kitaoka (as a Rider), letting himself do his plan to take out Shinji while he tells Yui and Reiko it's gonna be ok that Kitaoka's the best lawyer, but when Shinji got guilty at the end, feigned surprised expression that he didn't think he's actually guilty. Also btw, before Ren also made a point about being stronger in fighting when you have a stakes to fight, a good reason to live, like his girlfriend for Ren, which he criticizes Shinji for not having one (and he responds by the 30,000 yen debt to drive him forward). So I think it's not about fighting for yourself but about what drives and motivates you to keep fighting?

Also even if it's misguided, can we talk the cool human moment where Shinji catches Ren's punch to punch Kitaoka himself?!?! Because Shinji deserves to punch Kitaoka more for almost indirectly killing him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I guess I maybe got a sneak preview tonight, though, as Masked Rider Ryuki deploys its most sinister weapon yet: an adorable child with a shattered homelife who can only depend on a good-hearted manservant. Goro and Cub, man, great stuff. Low-hanging fruit, who could say no to those cute cheeks and sad eyes, and the kid generates plenty of sympathy, too, but it’s stupid effective. The show does a great job of getting Kitaoka to a place where he’d agree to pay for the surgery to help this kid, but still framing everything as a) just as much about getting this shit out of his life as it is about helping a stranger, and b) something he’s so mad at himself for doing. That bit in the parking lot as Team Ryuki confronts Kitaoka over his vague plan to swindle Ren/Auntie and leave Shinji to be monster-devoured while they try and figure out why he'd pay for a stranger's surgery, he wants to leave so bad. He doesn’t want to be around some kid, or angry Riders, or crusading journalists, any of it. He completely regrets getting involved and feeling emotions other than self-satisfaction. He’s so mad at considering the needs of others. I love it. I love how the show has him perform two heroic acts and he’s mortified at them. It’s like Kitaoka murdered Kamen Rider Scumbag and he doesn’t know how he’ll live with himself.

Unfortunately for Shinji and his group, Yukari (that child), prefers Kitaoka group to Shinji's group because of one good Kitaoka act, which is sympathy only for people as ill as him. Yukari only speaking to Goro, but not to any of Shinji's group who are also protective (even Reiko just holds her in her arms!) when Kitaoka kicks her out again (and Shinji who gave her thanks at the hospital). Why I also feel that Yukari seems doesn't mind to lose his father (in exchange of his mother's surgery)...? I know she wanted Kitaoka to bail out her father but, didn't seem to worry further about him at the end of episode.

I also like how when they confronted Kitaoka, there's a balance there that everyone had something to say to him, Ren, Yui, and Reiko. Ren was as hostile as the latter 2 regarding Kitaoka's behavior and how he treats Shinji, now now don't deny it Ren you're a tsundere . Goro also fights back more, he insists to say Yukari's request to Kitaoka now even knowing before, and I guess Goro also tried to protect Yukari when Kitaoka kicks her out? (but still far from her). Same goes for when Shinji's finally freed, everyone had something to say to him too. I just hope that there were full team there, with Okubo and Shimada there too (and them saying something to Shinji too for sure).

Shinji's injury from episode 9 comes as an important plot point here, when Shimada and Okubo accuses him again as the kidnapper because that's the same spot where Shimada bit the kidnapper's hand, but Shinji reveals it's a huge bruise to convince them otherwise. I guess it's a good thing he kept his pride up against Yui and Ren regarding this injury before when he came home late this time.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Heavy stuff. This ended way more somber than I’d’ve expected, leaning way more on real anger, real guilt, and real personal growth. I’m a huge fan of the previous parts of this story, where snarky assholes verbally spar, but they 100% landed this ending, making every character choice seem right and every story beat add up. (No fat on this one! Every scene told the same story, and every character was necessary. Even Smooch needed to be there to get knocked out of Shimada's hands so she'd see Kitaoka!) Just a great, great arc.

Regarding Kitaoka, as my post here said, I have to also talk about my favorite Final Vent at ALL time! That is Zolda's End of World!! The point of finisher is to use everything you have in devastating result to make sure you totally win. Zolda's Final Vent is definition of that, firing EVERYTHING he has in his arsenal, be it guns, cannons, missiles, lasers, etc. no matter who or what the opponent is. Unfortunately, Knight and Ryuki was only hit by the explosion radius instead of the actual attack (missiles, guns, etc.) due to the Final Vent's slow start time. Still Ren and Shinji should've been careful of what they wished for....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Sure, okay. For Auntie, maybe she doesn't think Yui smiles because Yui absolutely doesn't smile around Auntie. For Shinji, it's weird, for sure.

Yui was the one described it as "just her personality"/"kind of person she is" when Auntie asked her to smile in that episode.