[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

The question the show asks is less "Is Shinji a hero?", and more "What good is Shinji being a hero doing anyone?", which is infinitely more clever and interesting in my book.

That's a really good way of putting it. There's an interrogation the show is doing, and it's a nice outgrowth of how the show started with Shinji. In the beginning, we were seeing a Kamen Rider built in real-time. The choices Shinji made, the things he learned, the definition of his heroism, we got to see it all come together. Now, in the next ten or so episodes, we get to see that construction tested, challenged. That earlier work, as fun as it was to watch... this is the pay-off. This is why you tell a story this way.

Riders fighting... I mean, I like it, it's fun. I like seeing superheroes and supervillains fight. I got simple tastes. But this, with Riders having fundamental but valid disagreements about the value of heroism, with Riders demonstrating the worthiness of self-examination and the difficult necessity of empathy... it's what I maybe watch Kamen Rider for?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

Also, just for Die's benefit, since he's not using those subs, I should probably explain that if anyone ever talks about Asakura and his habit of being "vexed" by things, it's because that's how TV-Nihon translated his catchphrase, and it kind of left an impression on a lot of fans.

Thanks! I did not get that meme! (My subs have him saying "pissed", which, way more natural to read, but way less funny.) It's a good meme, though. Thanks, AkibaSilver!