[DreadBringer]

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Too often, Yui stories barely even guest-star Yui. I don't need it to only feature her (although, Jesus, that would be a start) but I need to feel like it's about her, how she changes or grows as a result of a story.

Well yeah, my point was that if it only feature her, there's a potential "sidelining her to a less important part" thing, because being separate from like main cast.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

One of the reasons I stopped talking about two episodes at a time during Agito was that, a lot of the times, I just ended up talking about the second episode because I could barely remember the first

Separate the first and second episode review, don't unite it (ex: 11-12 then talk only about the 2nd).

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I’m pretty sure I liked it! It does a good job exploring the various values of heroism in the cast, how a concept like heroism is largely subjective, how anyone can create a justification to think of themselves as a hero. Some of it’s a little repetitive (Shinji’s 8th or 9th I Don’t Know What To Do/It’s Better To Do Something Than Nothing story beat), but nearly everyone shows up to the party, and it’s a fun little watch.

Yep as stated before, others are maybe new and fresh, but they would also be stuck in the loop sooner or later, considering the kind of universe this series is. As for the battle itself (2nd full Rider War after ep. 19!), Knight clones are fragile here? Dying in one attack each by Alternative Zero and Tiger. And Alternative is somehow a Rider with Survive-level Final Vent, it has 8000 AP, clashing with Knight Survive's equally big AP Final Vent. Forgot to cover Ryuki Survive's Final Vent, as seen here it's really effective that it can cover AoE while still having Final Vent's one-hit-kill properties. I think the attack (Dragon Firestorm) showcase is hindered by a mediocre effect though; the fireballs doesn't seem to blend with the environment, moreover with the monster seemingly unflinched by the attack, making it seems that the flames are in the background instead of hitting the monster. And Ouja being manhandled by Ryuki Survive nonchalantly.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

If the plot’s ever in danger of stagnating, that’s a good time for Shiro to stir things up, and boy is he ever all over this one.

The plot stagnats because they're powerless against a man who can do... like what I talked about before, yes Shiro has full control over all Riders/monsters (didn't you admit here that he has special powers?). He didn't simply create a calamity and leave them be like Banno with Roidmudes. He can control the monsters if he wants, so probably mostly it's indirect murders (mostly he let Mirror Monsters operating on their own eating humans as primary needs, the direct ones are like eating his American professor) but definitely he's still guilty, as he can control the monsters to prevent them eating humans if he wants, and the aim of people like Shinji, Yui, Tezuka, and presumably SSSS by going directly after him to stop the Rider War, which would mean him doing that (and deactivating Rider's powers, possibly closing Mirror World) so Mirror Monsters would starve to death. The outlook talks about how despite all the creepy qualities he has above, and his ghostly presence, Shiro still touches aspects of human nature. Even a powerful cosmic being like Shiro isn't exempt of humanity concept Ryuki clashes with.

And also from previous post, yeah I don't really advocate giving sympathy due to a bias towards someone related (Close friend, relative, etc. Also what bad decisions of Shinji?). But I gotta say this one's closer to Shinji's view to Asakura instead of Morimoto's I guess; I feel like Morimoto just straight wants Asakura to be cleared of all charges, completely freeing him, ignoring everything bad about him, unlike these 2 who acknowledges they're bad and they can't give them leeway. Shinji still had a sliver of sympathy of Asakura due to him being human, like not wanting him to die, but he still won't let him get away with his deeds, insisting him to go back to jail, and personally did so in ep. 36 (he saves him from Mirror World, but still hands him over to police). It's a little update that she's concerned about Shiro's state but Yui still wants for Shiro to stop what he's doing for the sake of everyone (not just her friends), that part didn't change.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I mean, he definitely sent a monster to kill Professor’s wife and child, so, yeah, not exactly too concerned about Shiro’s emotional well-being. It’s a good tactic, though. Professor’s whole thing is about necessary sacrifices, so forcing him to live that creed, it’s a great threat. It also completely doesn’t work, as he chooses to stay and fight Knight with Tiger, rather than save his family. That decision, it’s the crux of the episode, and leads to the one thing I really liked about Shinji’s role in the story.

Yeah, Kagawa's ideal is really tested here, if he truly lives up to it. And he truly does, though it had heavier weight for him to do so (his family). But it's also very risky for Kagawa, for sure his family will die, but there are no guarantees that his mission will be completed, with obstacles like Shinji or Ren, or the fact that his theory can possibly be wrong (for starter: Shiro has Time Vent, as we already know in ep. 28). Hilariously I just talk above about how some good-natured characters can still have a bit bias that can be a flaw and hindering, but if you have completely none of that, you are Kagawa, quite a messed-up person (as Ren remarks when he joined the fight).

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

In general, I’m kind-of done with Shinji’s crises of conscience. Forty episodes in, I think we’ve got a pretty good read on Shinji’s character.

It's a good thing that Knight Survive left the previous battle (thank Kagawa for telling his plan in motion mid battle), because it also inadvertently saves his other friend Ryuki, by having Alternative Zero stop Tiger from dealing the final blow. Dunno why, I feel like even if it's bad for him with Tiger's betrayal, Shinji already had it worse with previously worse Riders like Scissors, Gai, Ouja (and that time, the devastating part of him is finding people that evil and irredeemable). I think that's the reason Shinji gets over it, he's in process of development of turning from idealist into realist, that that the world isn't all right or wrong. Which would be a shame that the next 4 episodes are written by Inoue.

This is one of my favorite Shinji moments in terms of warming, him saving the enemy's family. How did he know about the family being hunted though? And after the attempt failed, Shiro doesn''t continue hunting Kagawa's family (as he did to Yui, in an ironic reversal), either by the same Mirror Monster continuously hunting the humans he failed to eat, or just sending monsters if the family is unguarded?

Other than that... a missed chance for his friends grouping up (Atori & ORE) with Shinji in hospital like in ep. 9-10, possibly in coincidental visit. Okubo is the one truly concerned and minds his derailing workers. The 2nd time a camera captures Mirror stuff at ORE, a monster this time. So cameras can expose Mirror stuff here for some reason.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

But, you know, it’s all self-justifications on this show. I love that. I love how everyone’s right and everyone’s wrong.

Ren confrims here that Shinji's ideal is impossible, with him.. somewhat agreeing with that. Also speaking of Kitaoka, this episode is also my personal favorite moment of him. With Asakura finding out that his arch-nemesis is again representing him as his lawyer. Kitaoka trolling Asakura with the harsh truth that the blindly good lawyer Morimoto can't represent him and potentially free him (unfortunately though) due to Goro poisoning him (wtf? another morally questionable moment of him), and Kitaoka announcing his plan to make Asakura guilty, and therefore won't escape prison and potentially eaten by his Contract Monsters for good. Asakura can do nothing but reduced into throwing a tantrum, kicking the screen as he waits for his impending doom. I like this moment specifically for how (rightfully) hopeless and suffering Asakura is here, and Kitaoka is the one instigating most part of this. A shame he can't show off his Final Vent though.