[Fish Sandwich]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Seriously, maybe a perfect episode of this show.

Yes.

Like, you have no idea how much I love this one. I don't think final form debuts come much better than this, and it's pretty specifically because King Form is basically just a cherry on top of an episode that would be a huge winner anyway.

All the thematic stuff, it's great, obviously, and you covered all that, but oh my god that fight between King and Blade. Top 10 Kamen Rider moments material, right there. Every aspect of it is just perfect. First of all, and I think this will be hard to appreciate for a lot of people nowadays, but that "I'm a Kamen Rider!" from Kenzaki? I'm pretty sure that was the first time since 1989 the lead of a Kamen Rider series had said that name with that level of pride. The only Heisei show to use the term at all prior to this was Ryuki, which deliberately mangled the meaning as part of its story.

Here, Blade says that, and the show rightfully treats it as synonymous with being a hero. Of course Kenzaki is going to stand against King to protect people, and of course, he'd never give up even if loses all his powers. And he doesn't give up, and he doesn't lose, and it's one of the most hype things I've ever seen. Blade legitimately pummels a late-game boss character while handicapped, and in the process puts to shame every Rider before and after who needed a new form prior to defeating the big scary enemy.

It's just an intensely satisfying scene, and a fantastic episode for Kenzaki. Even Hajime's fight against Mukki, you know, he's able to avoid becoming Joker there in large part due to what Kenzaki has done for him, both literally by giving him that Jack card (makes the bike episodes almost worth it!), and just, like, emotionally, as someone who refuses to stop believing he can be more than just another monster. It really is like you said. Pretty much the perfect episode.