[Kamen Rider Die]

Couple extra random things about this episode that I thought up while eating dinner.

The main one is that Kagami's arc in this one really feeds into the theme of Humility, and I didn't see it at first. He's a guy that wants to be exceptional, wants be helpful, and he just doesn't measure up to the Riders. He keeps failing because he's not them. His success comes from accepting his limitations, and owning his flaws. He's never going to be Tendou, but he can still be a great Kagami. In fact, being a great Kagami might even be just as good as being Tendou. (Not really, but let's let him have this one.)

The other thing is that, with Kagami as a Rider, it really spotlights how the show split the traditional Primary Rider character in two. Tendou is all the skill, all the coolness; Kagami is all of the empathy, all of the kindness. It's like someone took Kuuga's thing of Protecting Smiles, and gave Protecting to Tendou, and Smiles to Kagami. Tendou is someone who will fight to keep you safe, while Kagami is someone who'll fight to make you happy. Interesting to me how the show managed that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurona

G3/X/Mild - Yeah, uh, literally the weakest Rider in Agito despite Ozawa's genius. Barely wins any fights, always gets completely wrecked.

It's also incredibly dangerous to use, what with the physical injury and psychosis. Maybe don't pick to be the stag beetle hero, if you can avoid it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

Finally, I'd just like to note that we've started reaching peak Kagami's dad here. I don't remember if he ever gets more nonsensical than the Mozart speech, but this is up there as one of his more memorably bonkers scenes.

This was maybe the episode where I loved Kagami's dad's theatricality and propensity for portent. He is offering his son up as a sacrifice to a divine being, like he was talking about last episode. It's maybe the most reasonable time to play the cello and compare your son's uncertain future to the death of a famous composer?

And, really, contrasting Kagami's everyman character with the most unhinged performance on the show (so far!)... I love it? I love that his dad is so bonkers, since Kagami's so average in every way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeviathanBlossom

Not that this is much in the way of analysis, but strong Aliens vibes in the factory story, in which Kagami is Sigourney Weaver. One of the reasons I was more inclined to give the first half a pass, which isn't exactly a ringing endorsement But even so, this is another pair of episodes I've really enjoyed rewatching.

Yeah, it really does. All those rows of unhatched Worms... so creepy!