[Fish Sandwich]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER HIBIKI VOLUME 20 - “PURIFYING SOUND”

Right off the bat, I can't let this one go by without mentioning that, after a brief sneak preview in 17, it features the real debut of one of the coolest Rider weapons ever:



I have to wonder how much better this show would've done if they had been selling it on this kind of visual from the start. A hero with a blade made out of fire seems like an easier sell than "so this guy plays drums or something, I guess?" It's sort of surprising to me they didn't come up with this idea earlier. I mean, Hibiki... with a sword! How could that idea go wrong?

Anyway, this was a touching enough little story about Todoroki growing into his own, and I like the idea it lands on that Todoroki finding his own path as an Oni doesn't require losing Zanki's support. It's more of that mutual teacher/pupil kind of deal where it's actually both of them who are trying to redefine their status quo, and, as Die pointed out, it isn't simply a matter of Todoroki not "getting it" or whatever. It adds a lot of dimension to the plot.

There's also a touch I love in both these episodes that does a great job showing how overworked and overexcited Todoroki is, which is him dumping his Disc Animals haphazardly out of the case when he's tracking down Makamou. It's such a stark contrast to all the previous scenes of characters setting up these elaborate thumbtack grids on maps and sitting around politely drinking tea while they wait; a single little gesture that speaks volumes about Todoroki as a character, and where he's at in life.