[DreadBringer]

Dunno if this is redundant for Ondul lesson, but also found this video regarding the memes too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

It’s all pretty much character driven, which wins me right over. I mean, it’s… it’s like character-driven plot-oriented storytelling, if that makes any sense. It’s not about the characters per se, it’s about how they’re processing and responding to the plot.

Like, prime example, that early scene with Kenzaki and Genius Barb. It’s them reacting to Garren attacking (“attacking”) and kidnapping (“kidnapping”) the CHAIRMAN of the BOARD. It’s not specifically about either of them, but it’s a huge scene for displaying what Kenzaki’s dealing with, and how he processes the betrayal.

Genius barb... you mean Hirose? Also if you describe as "character-driven-plot-oriented"..... would that mean it's absolute best for every party? Where other than learning about the characters with the reactions, you get to also learn the nature of BOARD. Also yeah I'm not the one who prefers either plot or character as long as it's not formulaic, but probably the character overstuffing in previous episode actually makes it easy to get on them here (though Riders aren't highlighted here).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I really love that, how much the show is saying that it’s hard for Kenzaki to be a Kamen Rider. Not in the usual ways. Not that he’ll get injured, or that he’ll die. But that he’s failed, and he’s torn between feeling hurt forever and trying to heal.

I do think that I no longer have anything to say regarding Kenzaki's dilemma, where it's detailed by others with him having self-depreciation in his acts. Other than heroism, there's also something regarding him and people where he gets betrayed, many times according to him, and by that, personal issues Kenzaki have is that he's colder and more aloof than the standard Rider protagonists, not having friends, and it's also hard for him to comprehend that someone actually actually cares about him too as evident by his confusion when meeting Kotaro or Hirose's concern.... So yeah, probably it's more of his inner issues for him brushing off Kotaro, though still Kotaro wasn't exactly introducing himself in a comforting manner before, but they get along quickly here (but Kotaro still treats Kenzaki as subject!). Also, for him easily getting attached to other people and wanting to protect, you haven't gotten into what makes him that yet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Just a super solid episode for Kenzaki. All of the supporting cast was great in bringing things out of him.

Don't you realize that, the Rider settings in Neo-Heisei all resembles BOARD's offices more with the all the science fiction toys all around you? Would you think that, it's nice for newer Riders to have a mundane setting resembling something like Kotaro's house? Kotaro's drawing... I can do that too , and Hirose slaps Kenzaki but Kenzaki stays still? Not knocking him around the room? (I know, if you don't understand this yet, ok then).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Hey, Hajime’s the new Kamen Rider! I felt like it was coming, but I didn’t think it’d be this fast. Thought it would be in a few more episodes. Nope! Amane’s in danger, so he heads up to the Observatory to save her.

With I'm also adopting the hot take Switchblade described above, yeah, I also love Chalice's suit. Easily my favorite among Blade's... though I have to say in an unpopular opinion, I'm not into Blade's design that much. But Chalice is my favorite not only from being different but also in general of Rider designs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I guess it maybe suffers from the sin of being Unoffensive? Like, it's maybe better for a show to be divisive than just be The One That's Basically Fun?

Isn't it actually better for those that's basically fun because there won't be feuds of talking about them? L̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶w̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶s̶u̶f̶f̶e̶r̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶F̶o̶u̶r̶z̶e̶ ̶C̶o̶s̶m̶i̶c̶ ̶S̶t̶a̶t̶e̶s̶.̶ And Blade is not divisive (though the flaws aren't ignored like here it's acknowledged the beginning part is not as good as the later).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Sure, there are times where it's a solid way in, but like I said, not my favorite. I like seeing the Rider get their Driver. I like seeing the process of building out the hero, you know? That's maybe a reason I really loved Faiz: it's an entire season to get to Takumi being a real Kamen Rider!

I mean, to "get others being a real Kamen Rider", isn't it being something you wish it wouldn't always happen like for both secondary Riders you mentioned in Ghost? Also Takumi is one of the few scumbag, anti-heroic Rider leads the franchise have, but I also don't want to force every other Rider series to have his type as the protagonist... or every single characters (there's the trend of the switch to anti-heroes because of that), like I said before I want fair treatment for characters (if traditional heroes don't change they got labeled as static but if anti-heroes doesn't it's welcomed), for traditional heroes; their staticness are actually a result of undergoing many trials and challenges, and refined their mental resilience refined and sharpened.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Every time I go into the SH Figuarts thread and see that 60% of people preferred Cosmic States to Magnet States, it's like a punch in the face.

̶M̶a̶g̶n̶e̶t̶ ̶S̶t̶a̶t̶e̶s̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶I̶ ̶t̶h̶o̶u̶g̶h̶t̶ ̶u̶g̶l̶y̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶u̶i̶t̶.̶ And I'm starting to get fishy regarding you threatening others regarding their interest for Cosmic States because it's not what you like.... unless it's another joking part.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurona

Kenzaki definitely feels like the most... real person to be a Kamen Rider so far. Like, looking at our last four; Godai and Shouichi are saints, Shinji's maaaaybe a bit too dumb, and Takumi's too apprehensive. I need to emphasise these aren't bad things -- Kuuga and Agito are some of my favourite shows, and at the end of the day these are fictional shows for kids! I just say it because it makes it stand out all the more how normal of a person Kenzaki feels. It seems strange to say that because he clearly is motivated by Justice To Do The Right Thing; but beyond that he really does feel like an average guy going about this. It's really, really charming!

Well, putting away the dislike bias, you won't consider Takumi as normal one too? Because for Faiz having someone that is reluctant to take responsibilities as a hero, or having that kind of tensions between strangers, as the real (realistic/normal) approach to a hero genre, as not everyone wants to do things.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShyGuy

This is a fantastic summary of why I like Kenzaki so much. He's not some perfect hero, he's got a lot of struggles and, as you said, tends to sometimes wallow in his own self pity a bit. But he recognizes that about himself, and pushes himself to do better because he knows it's right. And when others call him out on it, as Shiori does in this episode, he doesn't get defensive about it at all; he realizes "oh yeah, she's right" and immediately sets out to go help the people at the observatory. These characters living in this house together is really the best thing possible for Kenzaki, because now he has friends that will both reframe his perceived weaknesses about himself intro strength, and push him to move forward when he feels overwhelmed and paralyzed by his own negative feelings. It's a really great dynamic.

On another note, one thing I was reminded of when rewatching this episode is how cool it is that Blade's transformation isn't just a fancy visual, he uses the transformation process itself as a weapon. It's an awesome moment when he's getting choked by the Undead's vines, but manages to get the belt on and the blue rectangle projection literally just smashes into the Undead and forces it off of him. That's such a unique and clever feature that I like a lot.

Also I agree 100% about the Chalice suit. Easily one of my favorite suit designs in the entirety of Kamen Rider.

Who is actually the perfect hero the franchise have? Just saying that, being morally perfect doesn't mean you're a perfect/flawless character. There's other flaws like lack of confidence, naievety, fearfulness, inflexible thought :eyes: , over-honesty, misplaced trust/credulousness, etc. Not all flaws have to be a toxic ones, like how some people make it up to be where they think "not a scumbag = flawless = unrelatable and boring".