[Kamen Rider Die]

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Originally Posted by DreadBringer

Well, the threat is worse than humiliation, it's death for Shinji (Dragreder card), and it's virus for ORE Journal computers, also death (of business) to them.

Okay, sure, but it's not so much the threat we're seeing in this episode, but the demands. And the demands are public humiliation. It's nothing but using the bullhorn of Ore Journal to deify this dink. And Shinji... sure, he could be killed if Shibaura destroys his card. But he doesn't really act like he's in mortal peril. He acts like he's frustrated and pissed off. The show's not really trying to sell the stakes of this one as much more than I Wish Someone Would Punch This Kid Already.

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Originally Posted by DreadBringer

And let's also talk about how Shibaura gets his comeuppance here in form of one of his underestimated slave Shimada, don't underestimate her weirdness (including how she came to Atori and her dramatic preparation for making the virus), she IS the computer staff of ORE for a reason who eventually stops the non-monster threat they investigate earlier. And she collapsed for merely...typing a program fast (resembling a computer's BSOD)? Where Yui is being overly concerned that time, do you really believe that just typing really fast can send you into near death situation? Also poor lil girl who Yui babysits (what earns you a privilege to get that specific treatment at Atori like headpats?), that Shimada moment won't be safe for a child to watch!

I was also very into Shimada's Henshin pose, the little way she psyched herself up for some heroic coding.

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Originally Posted by DreadBringer

For "superhero menaced by a child in an ill-fitting suit" though, both Shinji and Shibaura are in their human forms means Shinji isn't a superhero (and Gai in Rider form would mean he's a supervillain, on equal grounds with Ryuki), moreover we learned that a Rider will revert into Blank Form when they lose their contract card, where you know Blank Form is very weak and impotent.

But, like, Shinji's still a grown-ass man. I can't think he'd have a hard time beating up some nerd programmer.

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Originally Posted by DreadBringer

How about Sudo and (especially) Kitaoka there you left them out from the list for their take on the war? And for Shinji, something that comes into realization for the war, as displayed when he "accidentally" killed Zolda/Goro was that he also needs to save the Riders themselves too, not only the innocents. And most importantly (you never talked about Shinji and Tezuka's interaction), Tezuka co-operates with Shinji in this department.

So, for the other two Riders, they weren't in that scene so it didn't feel pertinent to bring them up. I imagine should Kitaoka get a chance to interact with Shibaura (!) or Tezuka (!!!!), it'll be a great place to contrast their motivations and views.

Shinji's thing... he really doesn't want people to die. It doesn't matter if they're innocent people being menaced by monsters, or people who've framed him for kidnapping and also shot a million missiles in his face. I don't think his desire to stop unnecessary conflict reaches the same Defining Trait that Tezuka's does. Shinji doesn't want to fight other Riders, and he doesn't want other Riders to fight each other, but he's not, like, shadowing Ren every minute of the day to make sure he doesn't Final Vent a person.

I guess I just find Shinji/Tezuka interactions not that memorable? I think it's cool to see them cooperate, but... the flavors are too similar. They're both different shades of Earnest Empathetic Heroes. I need contrasts, you know? Them two gotta be in different pairings for me.

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Originally Posted by DreadBringer

And Shibaura is also a murderer btw with his death games. The victims from previous episode may be some video game addict assholes, but the death games are solely made by him (not the whole Matrix), and he plans to spread it country-wide here. And for Die didn't you say you like how Gai's scanner is in his shoulder? Also his shoulder can be folded so it won't restrict your movements.

I guess I'm viewing Scissors' actual homicide as a little worse than plotting to spread a nationwide murder game over the internet. It's a sense of scale, to me. Scissors got his hands dirty, personally murdered people, so he needs to get monster-eaten. Shibaura orchestrated a situation where people murdered each other, so... less bad to me? I don't know.

The shoulder driver thing is very cool! I like how weird Ryuki gets with its role-play elements. This is a show that feels very toyetic to me, especially compared to the last couple. I gotta assume the merchandise sales were through the roof.