[FreshToku]

The end of episode 40 is probably one of the most memorable visuals of Faiz, having all three Riders in one place and standing side-by-side. It's also the moment Takumi truly comes back into being Faiz, doing his whole proper transformation pose for the first time in what, a months worth of episodes? It still sticks with me to this day, especially since they played the special version of the theme song to make you as hype as possible right before the episode end. These cliffhangers are too cruel!!

I'm not entirely fond of how we got to that point though. I already had some minor issues here and there with Takumi's crisis, but having the last step that pushes him all the way towards being a hero again being Sawada's 'tragic' death? Eeeeeh... If you're going to have that, maybe rearrange events so it doesn't feel like it was the clincher to this whole arc. Like, have Mari and Takumi's really sweet talk come after Sawada's death, and it would feel a lot more like both of them had come to a conclusion about themselves from the event. As it is, Sawada's death kinda overtakes the previous scenes and it almost gives the impression that Takumi is rushing into battle in honour of him.

Plus Mihara's reason to be there is not compelling and almost nonexistent. Plus plus in the back of my mind, I was still waiting for Kusaka to be confronted by Takumi (or anyone, really) over his mountain of misdeeds. What I'm getting at is that the big moment of 'All the riders are finally together to fight the bad guys!' even if it is just an isolated moment, has so many caveats. ...But I still get really hype about it!? Both the first time I saw it and even now. It makes you look forward to them wailing on Orange Kitasidy!

Faiz Blaster is cool. He gets a briefcase-shaped machine that unfolds into a big gun and sword. Eat your heart out, G3-X.