[Sh Ranger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Yeah, Zanki and Ibuki are... they're trying in this one, but I don't think they get it? Akira straight up tells Ibuki that his background means he can't relate to her dilemma, and while he's smart to get her to spend some time with Zanki (who voluntarily/"voluntarily" chose to stop being an Oni), even Zanki's not really in the right headspace to get across to Akira what it's like to be an Oni. You can see in this episode how much stepping aside is weighing on Zanki, and it's just not a great time for him to give a pep talk.

It's really great to me how the various Oni are aware of the stakes, that Akira could quit, but also hard-pressed to articulate something so innate to them.

Their different perspectives make it difficult. Ibuki and Zanki can see she needs guidance, they want to give it but her problem is so disconnected from them. Akira feels like they're being insensitive by telling her to get over her parents' death but it's the opposite and they're really looking out for her as a person and potential successor. Ibuki feels responsible as her mentor for failing her and it's destroying him that he can't help her. Even Zanki, who is no longer an Oni, is still living an Oni life with an Oni name. Being an Oni is more than being a Kamen Rider. But he doesn't know how to explain that to someone who is currently neither. Akira needs advice from someone who can understand her.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

True! And this episode sets things up as nicely open-ended. Like, I don't think Akira stepping back would be a terrible decision? It's a nice story to have, where there isn't one obvious Right outcome.

Depends on the circumstances. If Akira is unable to overcome her hatred then giving up the Oni path would be the only acceptable decision. She shouldn't be like Shuki. I want to see her move past it though since it would be a pity to throw away her mentor-apprentice relationship with Ibuki for a grudge that is never going to make her feel any better about her parents getting murdered. She deserves to be an Oni but these feelings are holding her back.

I forgot to mention earlier that Shuki's Oni face being the whole of her face rather than just on the forehead is a weird design and I don't understand why she looks so different. Maybe it's supposed to be symbolic of how becoming an Oni supplanted her humanity by giving in to the hatred.