[Fish Sandwich]

So, just in case there was any doubt left, this episode marks what I'm sure will only be the first of many episodes written by Keiichi Hasegawa, meaning the entire trio of Ghost writers is assembled once again, as if Saber needed any more help making people who weren't fond of how that series came out worried. Look, he wrote a lot of great episodes of Double too, alright? It'll be fine!

One very talented person who I don't believe ever touched Ghost, on the other hand, was Hidenori Ishida, who directs this one with some serious flair. I honestly thought it was even more stylish than Kamihoriuchi's episodes the last two weeks, and that blows my mind a little. I know that, thanks in large part to Die's watch threads and the one I did for Kuuga, I basically haven't shut up about the guy on this forum in, what, close to an entire year at this point? But I swear I'm not even actively trying to single him out. It's just that, ever since I started making an effort to pay attention to director names in Rider during Zi-O, I've quickly come to realize there are few directors who have worked on the franchise that are both so prolific and so readily identifiable in style.

And that brings me right back to that one word – style. The episode is positively dripping with surreal visuals and more impressionistic ways of portraying scenes I don't think would have the same impact coming from most directors. Calibur's demonic chanting with no background, the distorted unreality of Touma and Kento's initial entrance into Avalon, Rintarou's emotional training/flashback, heck, even just Mei's cartoonishly elongated almost fatal fall, the visual touches I loved in this one were almost countless. They look great, and benefit the story being told, which is all you can ever ask for.

And the story being told, for the record, is one I'm quite enjoying in its own right. I think the A/B plot structure especially works leagues better here than it has been so far, with the epic Rider-on-monster battle royale escalating in a way that underscores the urgency of Touma's quest to become Saber again. It's not the most meaty episode in terms of new revelations or development, though; there's a distinct "middle chapter" feel to the whole thing, but it's a very exciting way to bridge a gap.

The most genuine progression in the whole episode was probably wacky female lead Mei pretty blatantly crushing on skilled secondary Rider Rintarou, which is both 1000% Akiko from Double, and also something I'm excited to see have the groundwork laid down for smoother and earlier than Double did. I don't mean to diss the epic fantasy plot going on, because, again, I'm enjoying that too, but I'm honestly more excited to see if this goofy romantic subplot will go anywhere in the future.