[Fish Sandwich]

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Originally Posted by DreadBringer

I don't know what will you do to these kind of responses compared to Die's ones, but let's do this too.

I may not directly reply to some/all of a post if I don't think I have anything meaningful to add, but rest assured I'm definitely going to be reading through everything in here. It's the least I can do.

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I know this is a franchise trademark, but I find it hilarious that Godai opts for a henshin pose, instead of just punching the monster while simultaneously transforming into Kuuga.

I actually have a pet theory about exactly this!

I've always thought of the transformation pose as a meditative thing. Yuusuke's first transformation, it's total fight or flight. He's just lashing out at Gumun mostly out of the fear of being killed. The second episode, he's making a conscious decision to become Kuuga for the first time. He's not doing it half-hearted like Ichijou worries about. That's why he turns into Mighty Form instead of Growing. Because he's focused. What the pose is, in my mind, is basically Yuusuke taking a second to find a sort of inner clarity. To empty his mind of everything, except the desire to do what he must to protect people's smiles. No fear, no pain, right?

I don't think the show is trying to directly imply that, but that's always been my take on it. Either way, it's still my absolute favorite Rider transformation pose.