[FreshToku]

Yeeees... I've said before that I didn't remember too much about Blade to this day, mostly all just the biggest highlights in my mind. The thing that has stuck with me all these years ever since the first time I saw it though, was Blade episode 34, everything from Kenzaki and Hirose tracking down King, all the way until the next episode preview.

Kenzaki declaring himself a Kamen Rider and transforming right there and then to challenge King. It would maybe have a bit more impact if this was ever a show where having a secret identity was a thing, but I still think it's cool. No, the scene really starts with Blade and King standing apart from each other, preparing to face off while the guitar shreds it.

The ensuing fight is what I maybe consider the pinnacle of triumphant moments in this franchise? Blade losing his sword but then punching his way to victory because his determination is just that strong, dual wielding both his and his foe's weapons, and topped off by the epic drop slash he does.

And it doesn't end there! Both King and Trial D have been making Kenzaki's life really hard for a while now, and he pummels them both in this episode! He achieves an incredible new form, some exposition from chairman-man to let us know that this form is ultra-extra-impossibly-special because Kenzaki's just that awesome, and he swats aside the ugly robot before prepping his gigantic shiny new sword...

So I think I said before that 'Kakusei' is one of my favourite insert songs in Rider? Funny thing is after I finished Blade, whenever I think back to the scene of Blade beating up King, for the longest time I misremembered the music that was playing at the time and mistakenly attributed Kakusei to it instead of Take it a try. I mean, I think the version in my mind is better anyway because Kakusei rocks and Take it a try is supposed to be Chalice's song anyway.