[FreshToku]

Over-time working overtime to get subs out so quick!!!

This episode feels really inspired in the way it's presented. Having us go through that initial worst outcome from Izu's perspective is a really surreal experience. Also seeing Izu break down and expressing, like, any emotion outside her usual range feels exactly like the big deal it should be, even though I do still think we should have seen her acting less machine-like much earlier.


The visualisation they choose to use of Zea creating the new progrise key and driver is certainly a lot more, uh, whimsical compared to how this show usually showcases the tech, but I think it works as emotional imagery. Aruto and Izu holding their hands out together, and the Zero-Two driver coming to them as a representation of the shared dream between Humans and Humagear. To be honest, I wish Zea wasn't involved at all? I wish Aruto and Izu just managed to build the thing on their own, with the limited tools at their disposal. If that sounds unrealistic, well... so is everything else about the tech in this show anyway.

Still no idea how Aruto, who has never been shown to be a technological wiz of any sort, managed to invent a system that's more powerful than anything Zea could do on it's own. I guess by that same token, they've never shown that he wouldn't be good with tech, so I guess I can't call it a contradiction!?

Zero-Two itself is cool though. Alongside a flashy new insert song, with lots of callbacks to Aruto's first fight as Zero-One, it's a fittingly spectacular debut for a final form.

Finally, this is getting into the preview but... I don't like that Aruto is apparently back as president of Hiden Intelligence. Didn't the show just make a big deal out of how he was going to surpass his grandfather by sticking with his own company, built with his own hands, and culminating with a Rider he conceptualised on his own. Since I'm already talking about the preview, I'm sure Horobi siding with our heroes is going to be about as well done as Gai and his robo puppy, but I already fully expect that we just gotta group up everybody on one side before we blow up the Ark sentai-styled.