[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

For the half I enjoyed, man, a lot of it was Shinji.

Like I said before, Shinji has to return the favor with all of his friends' loyalty (even Ren) in episode 10 against Kitaoka, this time to Ren, now it's time to show his loyalty to Ren. This one's actually what I talked about the previous episode (corresponding to the Ren gag), as a countermeasure to Ren's reckless actions. This time Yui gotta believe Shinji that his injuries aren't monster attacks.

Also JDM cars chasing them! Nissan Skyline GTS Type M (R32) and Nissan Silvia S13.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

The resolution of the whole Secret Science Club thing, I liked how it affected the characters more than I liked it for what was happening in the plot. It’s nice to have one beat hit two characters, to intertwine Ren’s grief and rage with Yui’s guilt and shame. This episode, it does a lot to explain their stakes, to make it feel more personal for both of them. Yui, her wanting answers about her brother, the need to know the truth no matter what, it’s a strong motivation. But now that we know her fate was wrapped up in Shiro’s choices, it makes that truth feel weightier, more dangerous. And Ren, seeing that he’s forced to work with the monster who destroyed his happiness, that’s not only very Kamen Rider, but it explains his motivation in a way that humanizes his struggle. Every time he Henshins, he has to draw on the power of the monster who hurt Eri, he has to harness that power for good. For both Yui and Ren, that’s bleak, and dramatically rich. It’s a solid reframing of the supporting cast of this show.

Well it's not more about the lab, but more about Shiro (seemingly the main villain as seen in previous episode, and that he's scientific), what he's done like making Eri in coma (Ren's main drive in Rider War, which would make sense later in context of the war for him regarding Eri), and causes problem to others (Yui's main drive, her idol being an evildoer, also others being troubled as well esp. Shinji and Ren). A big irony of Ren, having to work with the very monster that causes his problem aka Darkwing. Ren IS truly self-destructive person (especially to do something to those he loves), not only in previous episode where he's reckless to go to places despite his injury, but also on where he tortures himself to work with Darkwing, especially when he summons him.

And no Yui doesn't have actual guilt (other than people going "ONORE YUI"), it's just her self-blaming tendency (comes within a good-natured person) as Shiro was implied to create catastrophic events for her sake "If only I didn't exist the others wouldn't be this troubled".

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

My biggest gripe over these two episodes is that the show isolates the two characters who have the most skin in the game, plot-wise. A few moments of Yui and Ren processing the events of Secret Science Club together, even if it's just Ren's declaration of heroic vengeance and Yui silently hiding her guilt, I think that would’ve done the conclusion a world of good. Or, better yet, having their search for answers take place at the same time, with Ren’s anger increasing at the same time as Yui’s alarm. I don’t know, I don’t want to backseat showrun, it just feels like a missed opportunity.

And, it's not like there wasn't time for Yui to get involved with Shinji/Ren plot. Shinji takes the lead on that one, and she just acquiesces. It's a choice she makes.

I mean I'm talking about this logically. Ren and Shinji (chasing him) left Atori in previous episode by their bikes. No way Yui can chase after them without any kind of transportation (Ren won't take her as he forgot about her and Shinji's bike is only 1 seater), she even has to take a cab (
m̶e̶a̶n̶s̶ ̶a̶l̶t̶h̶o̶u̶g̶h̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶K̶i̶t̶a̶o̶k̶a̶ ̶l̶e̶v̶e̶l̶ ̶s̶h̶e̶'̶s̶ ̶s̶t̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶r̶i̶c̶h̶ ̶a̶f̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶t̶a̶k̶e̶ ̶a̶ ̶c̶a̶b̶ ̶w̶h̶e̶r̶e̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶J̶a̶p̶a̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶y̶ ̶a̶r̶e̶ ̶v̶e̶r̶y̶ ̶e̶x̶p̶e̶n̶s̶i̶v̶e̶) to go anywhere, and obviously cabs won't immediately appear when you need it, they appear random.

Though I don't think Ren cares about knowing about the Ejima Laboratory events, he only wants to win the Rider War (and he's done his objective, regaining his memories), while Yui wants to stop it....like Shinji, only that she has family relation with the person behind it unlike him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Still, I don’t know if that was all worth these two episodes. The Ejima stuff, I’m just not that invested in a guy I never heard of before, wandering around pointing a Yu-Gi-Oh card at reflective surfaces? It’s fine, in that the monster plot can be about them trying to corner and kill this one dude. That’s something that feels more exciting and comprehensible than the previous episode. The Reiko plot is just about her becoming open to the possibility of new explanations to the mysterious disappearances she’s been investigating, which, okay. (That conversation she has with the train conductor, where he’s just People Disappearing Is Unusual and Reiko’s just Huh That’s True, it was killing me. Some eagle-eyed analysis from Masked Rider Ryuki! Thank you for spelling it out for those of us watching at home!) It’ll likely move that plot more into the Paranormal Investigator genre, so Reiko might get more of a shot of interacting in the main story. Into that idea, for sure.

Ejima isn't meant to be a major character, just to show a consequence of Shiro's actions. Ejima is on the same page as Eri and Nakamura (they were on same lab after all), as the survivor of Shiro's actions. Also btw, keep remembering Nakamura, because for later part of the show... And what makes you worked up of "pointing a Yu-Gi-Oh card at reflective surfaces"? That's the Seal card, the same card Shinji ripped up at episode 2. Also lowkey Nakamura seems as abrasive and violent as Ren. And you're selfish to only think about fixing what happened to your clique, ignoring someone's pleas to prevent that disaster to escalate even further. It's like criticizing Shinji for not being able to prevent a death of a little girl's mom in ep. 2 where then he tried to prevent more of that deaths by becoming a Rider.

ORE (as for Reiko) seems to be the only one trying to investigate the disappearences, without any help of those knowing about Rider stuff (like the main trio) so, ofc they gotta need more clues to be a help to citizens, who are skeptical about the disappearences. The train conductor must trust Reiko's explanation as he has experienced that, unlike the other skeptical, and it would probably do something if Reiko asks for the train conductor to help ORE in alerting the others too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Androzani84

In all honesty, Ren left such a bad first impression on me that these episodes did not make me sympathise with him. If anything, it made me hate this show more for not introducing these elements sooner. I could understand delaying it if REN was a villain, but he’s touted as one of the main protagonists. It strikes me less as a humanisation for an underdeveloped character and more of a “too little, too late” example.

Many second Riders have this trait too tbh, but yeah I do think Ren is a thug, with his violence and temper, just that he's a loner instead of travelling in a gang. Well Yui was there to be his moral compass... (like Goro to Kitaoka), even breaking a public glass.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunred

And next, episode 13. That one person I think was important in Ryuki finally debuts.

Not actually important, but an extreme rarity in Ryuki that they stand out.