[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

The big theme for this story is weight of power. Kenzaki has seen the cost of a Rider’s power, and would rather spare Mutsuki from that. Tachibana broke under the weight of Garren’s power, and he doesn’t know if he needs to be stronger, or just let someone else carry it. Mutsuki thinks power comes without a price, and realizes too late that he’s opened the door to something dangerous. And Kiryuu…

We spend a few scenes with Kiryuu, and we see what power means to him. Unlike Tachibana, Kiryuu is a man of ambition. He doesn’t view a Rider’s power as some solemn obligation, he views it as a tool he’s destined to wield. His goal is to destroy evil, and he deserves the power it would take to accomplish that goal. His determination, his will, should bestow that power upon him.

I wonder what's the criteria required for being a Rider here. That it seems to accept people like Kiryuu to be one of them. Though in Mutsuki's case, it seems that Leangle has its own will, therefore it's truly dangerous for others, but still Kenzaki thought it's dangerous before he knew about Leangle's other self....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

It’s maybe no surprise that Leangle would find that mindset appealing. Leangle is all about the unapologetic application of power. (I love that the belt says OPEN UP. It’s a demand, an instruction to let the will of Leangle inhabit the user.) Leangle and Kiryuu, it’s two warriors who’ve been held back by others, handicapped by misfortune, unable to fulfill their purpose. Together, there’s maybe no stopping them.

So that's the metaphorical meaning of open up. Don't expect same thing in Faiz to happen here of Riders constantly switching their form though even Leangle here....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Except for Tachibana, maybe?

Kiryuu is confident that he's better than Tachibana because of ego and lack of humility.... but that won't be. If we throw away all forms of restraint, we'd easily end up unhinged and trigger-happy at just about anyone, and that is definitely not good for others. Which seems to be Kiryu's thing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Meanwhile, Mutsuki slowly falls apart as he sees that Leangle’s power doesn’t have any limits, and it also doesn’t have any humanity.

Kenzaki just outright scolded Mutsuki when he's proven to be too obstinate in his eyes. This opens up for a character wedge, that is harder to explain that the belt moved to Mutsuki, not that Mutsuki stole it, albeit obviously easier to explain up between Blade's cast, unlike to Nozomi. Mutsuki at one point lied though....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Hajime’s back this episode, and there’s really only one thing about him that I want to talk about. I honest-to-god don’t know if it’s Inoue making a joke or not, but there’s a scene where Amane makes a cup of tea, a new recipe, and asks Hajime to try it. She says it'll warm him right down to his heart. He takes a sip, and then wonders what the warmth in his heart means. What it means. It’s such a bizarrely introspective thought to have when drinking tea that I couldn’t believe it. It is a corny-ass piece of writing, and I’d totally believe you if you said it was Inoue pranking the audience. I would also believe you if you said it was a corny-ass piece of writing from a dude who was worried that this episode of vengeful ghosts and humiliated teenagers somehow wasn’t melodramatic enough. I’m not certain how Hajime fit into this story, and that scene sure as shit didn’t make it any clearer.

On the other hand, I've seen a reverse part of this joke (in a commercial), where a heated up heart gets cooled down by cool drink instead.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I think it was because he was afraid he'd be in trouble, or that he'd lose the Leangle belt. And, that is exactly what would have happened, because that's exactly what did happen when Kenzaki learned the truth. Mutsuki just didn't want to lose being a Rider.

Hmm makes sense perhaps. Nice to get some audible explanations of this area.