[DreadBringer]

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER HIBIKI VOLUME 5 - “MELTING SEA”

Like, man, man. Basing so much of this one episode on how stressed Asumu is, such a great idea. It’s to the show’s credit that it never feels like you’re missing out on something, by following Asumu around. It’s as captivating to watch as any (two-move!) Hibiki fight scene. It’s a plot that doesn’t need a single supernatural thing to happen in it, because it’s already epic.

The supernatural thing is only the means to mentor Asumu through, developing him as a mentor can be done in various ways of giving an example, it's just that for toku, it happens to be a supernatural fight.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

That’s… I think that’s the secret to why so much of Hibiki works so well. The monster stuff, the Hibiki parts of Kamen Rider Hibiki, are all downplayed, made mundane. It’s funny and relatable to see Hibiki and Kasumi going through their routines, treating monster extermination like a sales call for a small business. But then the teen drama is made mythic by its dominance of screentime, with Asumu’s anxiety feeling as apocalyptic as any giant crab attack. This is a show that makes the heroic stuff look boring, and the boring stuff look heroic. Just a fantastic idea.

The "boring stuff" Asumu part is worth praising, but I don't think heroic is the right word for it. It's investing, but it's nothing heroic, it's only about you vs yourself. And for here, Kasumi refers to potential new important stuff yeah, in Ibuki and Zanki, and they aren't only throwaway names used to set up the horrors of their job! And as you see here, "Tachibana"(-san) is already mentioned here... it's Kasumi's surname!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

It’s a plot that’s bubbling under the whole time, likely to explode in the next episode. Asumu seems frantic to tell someone, anyone, that he feels underwater, but the words never come out. It’s like he’s taking the wrong lessons from Hibiki. He sees an upbeat, successful loner who preaches self-confidence, and decides that that’s all he needs to do to succeed. Just believe in yourself, and you’ll win! But that’s not nearly the whole story to Hibiki. He’s had years of training, and a support system that keeps him in strategies and disc animals. Hibiki succeeds because of all of the people that he can depend on, not because he can breathe purple flames. (Not to discount the purple flames! Actually a pretty big factor in Hibiki’s successes!) But the interactions that Asumu’s had with Hibiki keep him from understanding how much of a loner Hibiki isn’t.

Asumu's problem is about exams, potentially incapability to absorb it all enough to let him graduate, something common. And yeah, sadly, he's frantic about that, because all others can do so far is just encourage him or force him to do better (with some 'threatening' words that he'd be in bad position). It's easier said than done, and if his capability is still not enough, it's not too different from not talking to others and not being told anything. And... Hibiki has other people he can depend on, because there are no restrictions in his job! You can work together with Kasumi, converse with boss, increase your partners, etc! What Asumu did is an exam with tons of restrictions! You must work with only everything you learned, obviously no cheating/working together with others, at strict time limit!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I mean, even Hibiki isn’t clear on how much he needs people, so it’s a fair thing for Asumu to miss. In the same way that Asumu is trying to tamp down his anxiety, and failing, Hibiki’s trying to act all nonchalant about a kid he clearly sees as having the potential for greatness, and failing. Ichiro doesn’t miss it for a second, but he’s nice enough to (I assume) let Hibiki start to figure out on his own that he wants to take Asumu under his wing. He’s trying to be respectful of Asumu, let him live his life, but these two need that mentor/apprentice relationship like crabs need to grow to the size of a studio apartment.

Hibiki tries to be a role model, previously, and more conversed with Kasumi here. Hibiki tries to look perfect in front ot Asumu to inspire him, but probably, that one's setting up too high expectations for Asumu to fulfill, your capabilities can only take you so far, especially if you aren't as professional as Hibiki is. If Hibiki shows it clearly that he, also, has a weakness like needing people there that Asumu miss... how would that affect Asumu that, flaw and limited capability is inevitable.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

And, on the topic of the monster plot of the TV series where a superhero fights monsters… some good, some bad. I liked the rhythm of the search, as usual (it’s that Kuuga thing of We Need To Show You Every Single Step In Detail, but padded out with great dialogue and relaxing outdoorsiness), but the fight against the Hime, come on. It’s literally just some distractions by the disc animals, and then two moves by Hibiki. Come on! Give me a little bit more meat on that bone, show. The giant crab is… not my thing, but it’s fine for the few seconds it’s onscreen. Not really worth talking about.

Just because you don't really get it for Kuuga doesn't mean this one's definitive great dialogue one. The ones that like it find the character interactions, development, and teamwork fascinating for Kuuga. And...the giant crab is missing some thing. He has to flip it over and attack its weak point for massive damage!

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

It's a guy who turns into a superhero to defeat monsters, with a heavy emphasis on human connections and allegorical struggles for growing up. It's a Kamen Rider show. I get that it wasn't originally planned to be, but it definitely is now.

Like, if I start making a pizza, and halfway through I make a calzone out of the same ingredients, is it always and forever a pizza? Is it a calzone in name only? Or did I make enough of a conscious decision to change it so that it could be considered a different thing now?

It'd just mean it's a toku genre show then...