[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Androzani84

And this episode also features the debut of Sabaki (I haven’t looked up what that means yet, I’ll get back to you on that one). As someone I follow on Twitter pointed out, he must’ve been someone on the crew’s favourite, since he appears in more episodes than the other non-regular Oni (even after the staff turnover mostly drops the minor Oni in favour of more focus on the main ones) he appears in the HBV and a post-show stage show. All he hasn’t received is an appearance in Decade and a Ridewatch in Zi-O’s toyline.

I'm very into Sabaki being the Oni who always needs saving, but is also constantly tasked with fighting the largest Makamou single-handed. All the other Oni showing up, shaking their heads, that Sabaki, and he's like SCREW YOU GUYS THAT MONSTER WAS AS BIG AS A VILLAGE. Hibiki, all pleased with himself for defeating a 20-foot ant, while Sabaki's trying to bring down a monster that has its own postal code and municipal government.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

Okay, so I said wind instruments are Toshihiko Sahashi's thing, and I stand by that (Ibuki is still awesome!), but guitars aren't exactly outside his skill set either. Die will already know this if he still remembers his favorite track from Kuuga. Or, heck, I guess just anyone who's watched Kuuga would know.

Zanki and Todoyama are great. Going back to that idea that Ibuki and Akira are like, the baseline, ideal mentor/student combo, it was super interesting to introduce this grizzled legend past his prime and his apprentice who's maybe become a bit too comfortable standing in his shadow despite having talents of his own. It's a cool dynamic, and just as Riders, I mean, come on. It baffles me to think sometimes the merch for this show didn't sell like hotcakes. How did every kid on the block not want a monster-slaying axe/axe?

This is also Ishida's next set of episodes, which is very apparent not only when Clockamou's scene here straight up brings back the evil TV static effect from Kuuga, but from the impeccable timing of all the gags. I also like to think other directors probably wouldn't have been insistent on having those practical explosions mixed in when Zanki and Todoyama transform (both times!), which adds a lot of weight and impact to the scene. Again, these guys make a strong first impression.

I really think the show did a great job in casting Zanki, because, like, I would be okay living in that dude's shadow! I'd feel like a Sabaki-monster-sized asshole if I told Zanki that I didn't need him anymore. While it's slightly embarrassing for Todoyama to, basically, throw a tantrum when Zanki says he's retiring, it does manage to feel inconceivable after just a couple scenes of Zanki at work. He's way too cool to stop fighting!

Plus, I mostly just love how this extra information about how the Oni training program works is something we get to see in action, probably right before it's about to be relevant for Hibiki and Asumu. This isn't just some weird thing Hibiki might bring up out of nowhere, or some talk Ichiro has with Hibiki. We get to see how their world works, so we understand the moves they make in it. I really love that way of telling a story!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Androzani84

Meanwhile Hibiki wasn’t offering anything more impressive than a couple of transforming CDs… which 75% of the items designed to work with them couldn’t read in any way.

So, obviously, money left on the table by not having Hibiki go with origami helpers, but... I don't think the CDs are that bad? I like that in the show you can just spin them and listen to some random noises to get information. That seems designed to get kids playing around with them in imaginative ways. I think I like them a lot more than some later series' plastic monster helpers.