[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Boy, we are at a point in the show where there’s just not much for Kenzaki to do, aren’t we? I mean, he’s helping out, and he’s interacting with the rest of the cast, but he’s not really doing anything right now, which feels incredibly strange.

It’s not like this episode lacks incident, though. There’s obviously a ton of movement on Tachibana’s storyline, as well as some cute moments with Hajime, Jin, Amane, and Haruka. But, like, the character in the title is a sidekick in every story, except when he’s imperiled.

And, sort-of been this way for a few episodes now? There isn’t a lot of momentum to Team Blade, if I’m being honest. I love seeing them all hang out, and I love the way the decision-making feels more democratic than Whatever The Hero Says Goes, but that somewhat lackadaisical approach to monster-fighting means that any plotline that’s more emotional, like Chalice or Garren, is naturally going to pull the spotlight.

I assume this is just a minor turn in the story, letting it ebb towards our supporting cast so it can be more powerful when it flows back towards Blade. It’s just weird how fully Blade has receded to the background, and how early it’s happened in the series. I want to spend more time with Kenzaki! I was just getting to know that kid!

Not a fan of the Jin eating scene (the Kurihara family part) personally. Also for Kenzaki being treated like this, it's just because not everyone is dysfunctional like Tachibana or Hajime? (you even said it himself that it's embarassing for Tachibana to be told by Kotaro, something that is given to kids). Kenzaki as shown early, also was displayed about his wreck, but his morality should be used to help out people like Tachibana to be better (or restoring him back to normal).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

The Tachibana story takes up the most screen time, and it’s a very fun, action-heavy story for him.

Lol yeah, in this series, the brooding Kamen Rider was the one that gets his ass kicked all the time, so others need to stop thinking that kind of behavior as strength (and that, at least here, by shedding it, he got to win). Though it feels that Undeads are tough against Riders. Though keep in mind, as you said Kotaro knows Tachibana for thirthy minutes, so Kenzaki and Hirose's opinion on him are more plausible, they seem to think that Tachibana is back to normal. Meanwhile Sayoko takes Kotaro's approach, I mean she knew him for the longest perhaps, and Tachibana is at his best towards her.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Trying to sublimate your feelings rather than actually feeling them is going equally swimmingly for Hajime, who is officially a Kamen Rider thanks to his wacky sidekick, Jin.

I̶'̶v̶e̶ ̶e̶x̶p̶l̶a̶i̶n̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶S̶h̶i̶n̶j̶i̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶t̶r̶u̶l̶y̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶t̶a̶g̶o̶n̶i̶s̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶R̶y̶u̶k̶i̶ ̶d̶e̶s̶p̶i̶t̶e̶ ̶s̶o̶m̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶n̶k̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶R̶e̶n̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶b̶a̶b̶l̶y̶ ̶d̶u̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶ ̶g̶a̶i̶n̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶u̶p̶g̶r̶a̶d̶e̶ ̶f̶i̶r̶s̶t̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶S̶h̶i̶n̶j̶i̶ ̶d̶y̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶b̶u̶t̶.̶.̶.̶ ̶"̶s̶i̶d̶e̶k̶i̶c̶k̶"̶?̶ Hajime is someone that has no clue of his motivation and questions himself constantly as his driving point. He's not human, yet he's genuinely confused of doing humane things, like Amane and probably also here of his interactions with Jin like protecting him before (he also had avoidant thing with Amane too). He questions himself on what family is, after he hears her defend him in front of her uncle. He thinks everyone is his enemy and attacks Blade because of that, but he lets him go. And what's the line between cartoonish or realistic? Because a good number of folks only prefer one while dismissing the other completely.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I am rooting for the Riders! Maybe Garren finds the strength within himself to triumph, briefly, over a more powerful opponent. Maybe he holds his own long enough for Blade to help out. Maybe the Hayabusa satellite drops from the sky, crushing Trenchcoat Mastermind, and Yuji from Fourze jumps out to give her principal a pep talk. I want to see the heroes find a way to win!

Yeah, it should've the Riders triumph (and this not being the case of Faiz is likely the reason the ending is considered bad by many), and have them struggle and find a way to win. I too rooting, but... it doesn't mean that suddenly turning the fight around because of plot is a plausible outcome. It's one of people's main complaint of protagonist side, the one famously called "plot armor" (though it can be used as buzzword now), where for almost no logical reason, someone made to win against others, just because of plot. Riders have many forms, and no one had that yet, and here, they're fighting basically the final boss level of an enemy. And for me, rooting aside, I also want the story to play it out consistently, someone had to win/lose based on their established power, not alignment (good shouldn't beat evil because of them being good and uplifting despite the good being weaker unless they gained something to even out, also vice-versa, evil shouldn't beat good just because evil gets you more ahead or something despite the evil being much weaker).