[Kamen Rider Die]

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Originally Posted by Androzani84

And now, the Undead Information Kiosk (yes, that’s the name I decided on).

I love it! And I love all of the info! You've really got your work cut out for you, since we're now getting so many Undead each episode.

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Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

This is probably as good a time as any for me to gush some more about how much I love everything about Blade's aesthetics and gimmicks. I cannot describe the level to which year after recent year of everyone having a million different finishing moves has made me grateful that Blade valued the idea of Riders actually Kicking things so much, even when the main character is literally named after his weapon. Like the prominence of the bikes, and being only the second one to use the name in dialogue, it's one of those things that shows Blade was a lot more openly proud of being a Kamen Rider show than its early Heisei contemporaries, which might be harder to appreciate now.

Faiz had quite the variety of ways to finish off monsters, which was fun too, but in Blade, it's this really consistent routine I just find never gets old. Kenzaki fanning out those trading cards, doing that cool thing where he slams the sword into the ground, the simple little somersault in mid-air. It's all super visually interesting to me, as is the whole idea of throwing trading cards at the monsters with the most satisfying whooshing sound ever instead of them just exploding, which subtly helps give the show a distinct identity.

The card thing is very cool. I like the idea of a monster having more to offer the narrative than just blowing up real good. Being able to weave the monster's abilities back into the fight scenes at a later date, I really dig that. It's economical, you know? It's using every part of the monster.

The Rider Kick is extra cool because the show takes time to construct it using the tools they've already defined. Blade doesn't just suddenly having a flaming kick that detonates monsters, he uses two cards that give him a flaming kick that detonates monsters. It's built up in the language of the show, and I think that's awesome.

That said! A little mystifying that Blade's finish isn't sword-based? Not saying it'd be better, but... he's a sword guy? And he doesn't use his sword to finish off monsters? Surprising decision for the show to make, is all I'm saying.

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Originally Posted by Sunred

Indeed. And while Kamen Rider was more of an inclusive term in Ryuki amongst those with the decks, it was definitely more used in Blade as a common jargon for card-flicking armored vigilante/urban legends who fight anthropomorhic zombies and then seal them away.

Yeah, we've reached the point where If You Wear A Mask And Rider, You Are A Kamen Rider. I think I said earlier in this thread, but I really like how much of a public utility Kamen Riders are treated as on this show. Jin's just like Oh A Kamen Rider, no debilitating confusion or anything.