[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

As others have pointed out, this episode is an important turning point for Takumi and features his iconic line about protecting dreams. He's scared of hurting people and has no self-confidence. But this responsibility of Faiz gives him purpose and the means to help people. It's exactly the boost he needed and that's why he's starting to take it more seriously. It's selfish, which is just like Takumi, but it's not wrong. A superhero deserves to feel some pride.

I also like how it's making Takumi okay with not having all the answers, with allowing him to be uncertain. It's something I really liked from Ryuki, the way the show seemed to value asking questions, and it's cool to see a version of it here.

More than that, I think it shows a real bravery for Takumi. He doesn't feel this connection to dreams that anyone else in the story does, but he's going to trust that they're being honest with him, and fight to give them a chance at seeing their dream through. Like, I think it's more heroic to have Takumi fighting for something he doesn't understand, than something he feels deeply.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

The guitar is symbolic of Kaido's "curse", the burden he carried from the dream he's unable to fulfill on his own. Having passed the curse on to his protege, he has created a legacy that will ensure his dream will become reality in the future and thus ending the curse for good. That doesn't mean he's going to embrace being a monster.

I just feel like there's a read where he's, like, throwing the baby out with the bathwater. (Not out a window, but figuratively.) The freedom of no longer having a dream is... maybe not a great thing? The show makes a great case for Kaido being smothered by his old dream, but I'm not sure it's super healthy to deny yourself an outlet that you feel like you aren't great at anymore. That feels more like a surrender than personal growth.