[FreshToku]

Aw man, so many others already saying this feels more like Sentai, and I wanted to come in here just to shout that. I mean not only is the aesthetic, music and overall presentation reminding me of Ryusoulger specifically (Calibur is like a mix of Genm and Gaisorg), but I was also reminded of first episodes of sentai, specifically Zyuohger, where our humble protagonist's modest life is upturned but he's quick to don the red suit to save the day while the existing heroes (Blades in this case) just stand back and watch.

Not saying any of this as a complaint though, this was otherwise a standard and decent episode of a toku show, I just think it's really surreal! It's really making me want to put on my conspiracy theorist ha, though.

Toei/Bandai is no doubt aware of the kind of expectations people have come to have of both Rider and Sentai. A really wild part of my mind keeps thinking that one of two things might happen. Either everything about the established presentation of Saber is gonna get turned on it's head at the halfway point in order to surprise viewers... or this is a sign that Sentai is gonna get less and less prominent, with all it's usual profitable tropes being given to Rider!?

Well, that's just a wild tangent based on little to nothing. Here's to a year of magical fun and swordsmanship.