[Sh Ranger]

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

The Kamen Rider part, though! God DAMN!

First, they’re hitting that nostalgia button hard by having Ibuki and Hibiki meet up outside the decommissioned BOARD base from Blade, before transitioning to what looks like the big bike locale from that early Kuuga episode where Kuuga motorcycles all over a building, and then finishing at Kamen Rider Dam. It’s a very cool group of sets, more surprising for being on a show that’s largely eschewed old locations.

The team-up itself is a blast. It’s fun to dig into the themes and metaphors of these shows, but I am not immune to the charms of two superheroes working together to detonate monsters. I got those interests, too! And this episode doesn’t disappoint in that regard, with great teamwork leading to a rousing finale. Ibuki’s able to use his ranged attacks to bring down and stun Off-Brand Gamera, giving Hibiki the opportunity to finish it off with Blazing Dance Chain Style. (It’s the standard Hibiki finisher, despite the cool name.) There’s honestly not a lot to talk about with their team-up, since they immediately start working together and have zero friction, outside of Hibiki forgetting to tell Ibuki that he can drive a bike, but he can’t stop a bike. It’s a very cute moment! The rest of it is very awesome, though. Simple pleasures, sometimes.

This was maybe not the best two-parter Hibiki’s done to date. The Asumu stuff is a long way to go for a plot that needed to be more complicated to be worth its time, while the Rider stuff is competently (occasionally thrillingly) executed action that isn’t really saying anything. It’s an Asumu plot that needed to be more visceral, and a Rider plot that needed to be more thoughtful. Maybe if they’d bothered to link them up, this wouldn’t’ve been a problem!

I think Hibiki crashing Tatsumaki is the best part of this episode. It's humorous how subversive the show is about what Hibiki, as a Kamen Rider, can actually do and operating a vehicle isn't a talent he automatically has. This was foreshadowed in Episode 2 when he stalled the car all the way to the place where Shounen and his cousin were staying. Even Shinnosuke who doesn't have a bike can still drive a car competently. How did Hibiki even get his driving license like that?!

After defeating the Otoroshi, Hibiki attempts a high touch and the look on Ibuki's face when he leaves Hibiki hanging to immediately check on Tatsumaki like it's his wounded child is a very comedic way to end the arc! Although I pity Tatsumaki a little as well, good thing Takeshi offer financial support for accidents like that. Ibuki treats his bike a lot better than Takumi treats Auto Vajin at least.

It's also the first time we see how Hibiki and Ibuki work together in a fight with Ibuki stepping back from his solo focus in the previous arc to shoot down the Otoroshi for Hibiki to finish with his subtly different technique. Fortunately, Ibuki is still an independent Oni in his own right and you can look forward to seeing more of his solo fights later. Regarding what fantastic monster the Otoroshi resembles, I thought it looked like some kind of flying Adamantoise, which would be terrifying!