[Kurona]

Kamen Rider OOO Episode 12




One of the things I was really looking forward to about this rewatch was rediscovering moments that made me smile.

And that scene right there? It's one that stood out to me a lot in my original watch despite being such a small moment, and even if it was just for structural reasons. It was just really nice to see a small scene dedicated to Eiji being very, very willing to hand over the OOO driver if he came across someone who was more suited with more skill and resources -- he's just doing it because he's who's available after all, and despite the martial arts skills and swordsmanship Toku heroes magically seem to pick up once receiving their henshin device; he's clearly not that fit for battle. It's well-timed, too; as from the last half a dozen episodes you'll easily have gleaned by now that Eiji is very very very far from a selfish person, so you can't possibly read him passing on his driver as a self-motivated move. Rewatching now? Yeah, I think much the same! It's a little more interesting in retrospect realising how all of this fits into Eiji's psyche and state of mind (he and Takeru should probably share notes at therapy, come to think of it) and how this is something OOO is really good at; setting aside small little scenes and lines of dialogue that build details on both the characters and the world around them. It's a great way to let everyone breath and everything feel so much more natural and grounded.

Moral in this episode's a bit more basic than I'm used to with this season (you gotta put in the work to reach your goal), though I... kinda get it. It certainly helps that both our character of the week and Gotou are being pushed by something else and beyond the Greeed's influence aren't portrayed as selfish or anything; Tsukuba mentions a fair bit of goading and bullying in his past while Gotou is literally trying to save the world. I like Gotou a lot in this episode, by the way -- "I've just been acting like I'm saving the world, but I wasn't doing anything!" might not work that well for me within the confines of the episode itself, but it's a pretty perfect way to demonstrate the difference between him and Eiji and finally make him come around and start respecting him. Seeing that happen and he and Eiji finally teaming up is one of those "Yes yes YES FINALLY!!!" moments that you often get from two rival riders; so it's impressive to me just how well it's pulled off with a single Rider and a guy who's got nothing but a lot of determination (and a bazooka). Man, I REALLY hope he gets that medal system they're hyping up; I'm rooting for him!


(Sagohzo was also in this btw)








Kamen Rider Ghost Episode 8





I think this one could very easily have been one episode.

Just, strictly speaking, not a lot actually happens in it that didn't happen in the previous episode beyond a bit of exposition. What we get is the same -- character of the week runs in and says his friend's missing, the gang all looks for him, he's found Doing Some Ganma Stuff, Takeru arrives and beats an adorable bee kaijin with Billy the Kid. Not an awful lot to talk about, here!

What it DOES do differently is have Makoto learn a thing or two about Takeru's father that does not paint him in the best light, before promptly confronting Takeru in a very emotional fight. And it hits, honestly! They really made me feel something when Makoto just assumes his henshin pose right after Takeru asks him if he's his childhood friend, and the whole fight is a desperate plea from Takeru as it seems like his world is once again about to fall apart. The poor kid's been through revelation after revelation that leads him to depression after depression; it's no wonder this is getting to him this much! It doesn't clearly affect him right until the end, but... damn it's a good fight.


Really think it could have been in the last episode, though. I dunno, really felt like the writer accidentally made 26 minutes of content and had to double most of it to pad it out.