[Kamen Rider Die]

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Originally Posted by Switchblade

I'm wondering how much input Inoue had into Daisuke's character. He seems to have been in charge of the major Daisuke focused episodes so far and a major factor in how incredibly goofy the character is and his episodes really ratchet up the sillier characteristics.

It really feels like Inoue called dibs on Daisuke! And (so far) like he called not-dibs on Hiyori! Daisuke's inclusion in this story is... it doesn't feel particularly motivated by anything? He's treated like he's always around, despite being in none of the last story but randomly showing up at the cliffhanger to fight Kabuto. It's like Inoue wasn't told that that Daisuke stopped appearing after his last two-parter?

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Originally Posted by Switchblade

So I've mentioned a few times now how much Kabuto failed to stick in my long term memory. Well, this episode has one of the few things that I really did recall long after the show ended: the drunk doctor's specific drinking ritual and accompanying noises. Not sure why that endured where Kageyama's freaking name got lost, but it did.

In fairness, that drinking ritual isn't constantly a smug asshole to beloved characters, so it's worth remembering in a way that Kageyama isn't.

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Originally Posted by Androzani84

The most I remember from this episode is someone commenting “Good god, is there anything Tendou can’t do?” I had to check the wiki to find out one of the guest stars was also the Liar Dopant in W and the recurring science guy who helped Takeru’s Dad build the Ghost Driver(I forget his name) in… um, Ghost.

I’ll have a bit more to talk about next time, especially with how arguably important it is for future crossovers. I’ll explain why afterwards.

Huh! I don't remember that scene. I'll have to dig around for it. Thanks for the info!

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Originally Posted by DreamSword

Typically I'm the friend who's energetic and annoying most of the time, so during the rare times that I'm feeling down, I tend to shut myself off and lock myself away in a cave so to speak. That said, in my own personal experience, having someone reach out to let me know that they care does wonders, and it's almost always been just the thing I needed to get me going again.

Tip for those who prefer to be left alone though; If you have friends like me, be sure to let them know that it's not a personal knock against them that you need time to yourself. Even though my brain knows the situation has nothing to do with me most of the time, it still hurts that all I can do is sit back and do nothing whenever it happens. So if you have friends who are very affectionate, then they'd probably appreciate the heads-up, I imagine.

Yeah, it can be tough sometimes to be appreciative for a friend's show of support, while still being honest about your own emotional process. It's no good to ghost your friends to protect yourself, but getting across I Value You But My Brain Needs You To Back Off is... god, it can be stressful. Definitely worth doing, though.

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Originally Posted by LeviathanBlossom

Tendo and Kagami's relationship developing throughout the show is my favorite non-Hiyori part of it. I'm not always fond of Inoue's writing, but this is where I felt like he really hit his stride and balanced all of the aspects of the characters and story in a way that resonated with me. Best moment for me in this one was Kagami's expression as Tendo-the-ZECTrooper pulls out his "Grandmother always said" line.

The climax (which I really couldn't talk about yet) is both exquisitely done (just that slow ratcheting up of Boy That One Trooper Is Talking A Lot > Wait I Know That Voice > "My Grandmother Always Said" > OH SHIT WHAT) and something that I'm actually upset that they ruined in the preview. Of literally all the things in the episode you'd want to withhold, the last five seconds of the episode should be at the top of the list. Kills me that I knew it was Tendou before his helmet came off.

But, yeah, I think Inoue had a stronger grasp on how antagonistic the relationship should be between Tendou and Kagami, without having it tip over into parody or cruelty...

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Originally Posted by LeviathanBlossom

I had a lot of sympathy for Kagami there, partly because there was this half-second at the start of Tendo's insult where he could conceivably have been insulting Kageyama, and then it becomes blindingly obvious that he's stamping all over Kagami's ego instead. Poor Kagami, even though he should know better than to expect overt sympathy from Tendo, lol

...except for the opening, which is laughably broad. It needs to be there to establish stakes, but having a grown man run off in a tantrum... not a lot of nuance there! I actually think it reflects worse on Kagami than Tendou, since it mostly proves Tendou's point that Kagami's been too thin-skinned, too trusting, too naive. If someone's like Why Are You Being Such A Gigantic Baby, and your response to run off, bawling your eyes out? I mean, yeah, neither side comes off great, but I feel like the side that can be soothed with animal crackers and a juice box is the bigger offender.

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Originally Posted by LeviathanBlossom

This thread is a bright spot and I love that you're doing it. I will repeat this FOREVER.

You are very kind! Everyone's been very un-Tendou-y in volunteering their thoughts and time, which makes me feel like none of you are actually paying attention to the show. Where is the closed-off snark? Where are the seven competing threads, to show dominance? The only reason everyone would be so generous on a daily basis is... wait, am I Juka?!