[Fish Sandwich]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER KABUTO - EPISODE 27

My screencap of choice was going to be that shot of Gon looking over her shoulder to the magazine with Daisuke on it.

It was, right up until I came in here to see that, not only did Die pick up on that and use it, his entire post on the episode is an extended art gallery dedicated to one of the most irreplaceable talents behind Daisuke – Ryuuta Tasaki.

Tasaki directed Daisuke's debut episodes, 11 and 12, which I noted had great direction, as well as Daisuke and Gon's initial sendoff in 17 and 18, which I don't think I made as big a deal about, but rest assured they were also quite gorgeous. It could be said these episodes mark a sort of conclusion to a Drake trilogy of sorts, and Tasaki pulled out all the stops for the visuals on this first half of the grand finale. It's stunning, to the point I'm not even worried about just reiterating things Die already said, because they seriously bear repeating.

Even with all those screencaps, I'm not sure you can totally grasp just how well shot this episode is without seeing it in motion. I knew from the opening credits what to expect, and it blew away even those high expectations. If you want to know what I'm talking about when I say Tasaki excels at clarity, do yourself a favor, sit down, and watch this exact episode, because I don't think there's a better demonstration of the things he can do better than any other director at Toei. The sheer amount of consideration when it comes to knowing where the camera will start in a shot, how it needs to move, where it will end up, and what's going to be where in the frame is staggering. Composition is the name of the game here; Tasaki is very conscious of how motion and framing communicate information to the viewer, and he brings that attention to detail to even the most minor of scenes.

Note that Die's massive gallery didn't include a single picture with a Kamen Rider in it. And since these things bear repeating, I'll say again: the exciting fight scene is one of the least impressive things in the episode. And it's still shot fantastically, too! Narratively, it's on the obligatory side of things; just a straightforward team up between Kabuto and Gatack at the end to take on some run-of-the-mill Worms, which is probably why it escaped Die's mention. But for how short it is, it packs in a lot of fun touches. A lot of good angles throughout, and even Tasaki's own take on the "1!2!3!" alternating between both belts leading up to simultaneous Kicks. It's cool action that will leave you perfectly satisfied, and yet it wouldn't even crack a top 10 list of most visually interesting scenes in here.

It really is in all the little things, you know? Small touches like being literally shown the kanji in Kagami's name on ZECT's files comically rearrange themselves (complete with a goofy sound effect) as he ponders his genius idea that they were maybe reading it wrong the whole time, or that bit with the cop handing the bowl to Tsurugi, which is the kind of minor thing I'm coming to understand is more likely on-set improvisation from the directors than a specific command from the script, so I'm cool just assuming that it was Tasaki's work too, rather than the writer's. This episode is, at the very least, a high-water mark when it comes to direction for Kabuto. Without a doubt. I was sure of that the second I saw Die's post, because that made it clear I wasn't simply imagining how mind-blowingly above average it was. I was thinking he'd maybe give a few shots a quick mention or two, before moving right on, leaving me a huge opening to do what's become my usual thing of praising Rider directors. And I mean, I did have a huge opening, in the end. Die got to say all he did, and I still had more than enough room to say what I wanted to – it's just that good people.

A huge part of why I wasn't expecting the huge gallery was because this episode also marks the return of one of the other most irreplaceable talents behind Daisuke – Die's potential archenemy turned eternal love, Toshiki Inoue, who starts a block of four episodes with this one. It's a solid script with a ton to compliment, with some of the usual caveats, such as that Hiyori's lines can be counted on one hand. But even then, her one scene allows her to be snippy with Tendou and react a tiny bit to Gon's return, so Inoue didn't totally leave me hanging on that front.

Everywhere else I look though, I mean, I'd have to stretch even harder for things to complain about. The episode does a great job building up Daisuke's current, rather melancholic status quo, easing him back into the forefront as Gon's quest to meet up with him again takes shape. There's a typical Inoue boldness to how quickly things swing back from the bittersweet note we last left these two on; a confidence the viewer will want to see that undone that I can't say is misplaced. The key is that, while Gon gets her memories back almost immediately, the crux of the drama is the work it takes to get them in the same place. They have to earn that reunion, and with how much Daisuke has on his plate being impersonated by a murderous Worm, things aren't looking great by the time the cliffhanger hits.

It's an engaging plot all around, and I also have mad respect for how it actively chooses to involve Tsurugi in a major capacity, even getting interactions with Daisuke and Gon, when in a lot of ways Tsurugi seemed introduced to be a sort of broad replacement for Daisuke as Tendou's rival, who could be in the show on a more permanent basis. Having Tsurugi be a part of the proceedings allows the show to demonstrate how unique his identity has quickly become. In a show about eccentrics, Tsurugi is, perhaps, the man who stands at the top of being eccentric, and he's a delight because of it.

Very impressive, very fun episode of Kabuto, any way you slice it. It's got a script that knows what it's doing, and direction that REALLY knows what it's doing.