[Kamen Rider Die]

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Originally Posted by DreadBringer

And I also have to say, in their first fight, there was a best and most appropriate usage of Cast Off; as Cast Off is breaking the Rider's shell, launching the remains of Masked Form in high velocity where the remains can act as projectile attack, it's best used when you're literally bound by an attack, you break free using Cast Off!

Yeah, that's a very tactical use of Cast Off. I'm also a fan of when Riders use it on advancing enemies to stagger them. Using it as a distraction, like chaff... it adds some complexity to the combat.

This episode also had a rare (first?) appearance of Put On, where the Riders, uh, put on some of their discarded armor. I love that shouted command from the belt, PUT ON, so much.

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Originally Posted by DreadBringer

Hiyori isn't comfortable around people, and it shows again here that other's existence is a bother for her, and she doesn't want Kagami or Tendou to follow her as she just feels uncomfortable around other people.

I'm not sure that'd be my read of her at this point? There's more nuance to it than that, I think. Hiyori would love to feel supported (as shown at the end of the episode), but the reason this is all so stressful for her is because Tendou and Kagami are being such horrible friends. She's going to these lengths to feel worthy of their friendship, and they are acting as obstacles to her healing. Tendou's giving her the most unconvincing bullshit, and Kagami's trying to talk her out of something he'd do himself. She wants her friends to support her, even if she can't say that. It's just, Tendou and Kagami are being terrible friends right now?

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Originally Posted by DreadBringer

With Tendou arriving at the most big damn heroes moment, by that, probably Tendou wouldn't be the one that is in the wrong? Tendou's the one that saves the day once again, and that proves that Hiyori shouldn't insist to go alone, which means Tendou was right in that, and also, his move of stalking Hiyori is in the right.

Well, he took forever to show up, and they likely wouldn't have been outgunned by Shadow if Tendou had made his mind up earlier. While he eventually made the correct decision to support Hiyori, it's only after two episodes of ghosting Hiyori and threatening Kagami.

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Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

Tendou is also sweet here, but it's naturally done through a very Tendou filter. You know he's serious about trying to be a good friend because he bowed to someone else's wishes at all, but you know he'd still rather not be here because he makes the ZECT Mizer do his heroic entrance for him. Tendou only busts that thing out when he's feeling real unenthusisatic that day. Still, it's nice to see everyone getting along!

He's such a dick during his big heroic arrival! Him exposing his identity as Kabuto, something that he outright lied to Hiyori about, is immediately followed by him going UGH FINE Yeah I'm Kabuto This Is All A Terrible Idea And I Wish You Were Smart Enough To Listen To Me But I'm Here Anyway. Even though he is humbling himself to do it his friends' way, he needs you to know that the only reason he needs to humble himself is because this was all a huge mistake that they're making. It's great to give Kagami the emotional reunion scene, and then to give Tendou the Let's Get This Over With scene. Such a fun trio of characters.