[Sh Ranger]

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER KABUTO - EPISODE 41

My favorite exchange in the episode is a really quick Tendou/Kagami one, and I think it gets to the heart of how those two see the world differently. Tendou sees the world as a series of manipulations that can be turned to his advantage. Everyone wants something, which he can leverage to get what he wants. People keeping secrets isn’t breaking the rules, it’s how the game is played. Finding out that Kagami has been manipulated gets him saying Yes And, not reacting with commiseration or anger. (It helps that Tendou was also hiding some of this from Kagami!) Now that Kagami knows the truth, Tendou thinks he should accept it and find a way to use it to his advantage. The mission is still the mission.

For Kagami, why you do something means as much as what you do. Success isn’t just about achieving, it’s about finding a reason to achieve. To learn that everything he’s done, every choice he’s made, has been orchestrated by ZECT to get him to this point… it’s like nothing he’s done has mattered. He’s achieved nothing. Worse, the people he looked up to, respected, they’re the ones who took it all away from him. He’s got all this power, but any use of it feels fraudulent. The Rider who was defined by his Very Big Feelings, now he only feels betrayed.

It’s a fun idea, seeing how a dispirited and disillusioned Kagami processes his betrayal, but a lot of the execution is him sort of acting like a baby? I’m not saying he’s wrong to feel upset at someone like Tadokoro, or especially at Outrageous, but what’s presented is him basically throwing tantrums, and it wears a little thin. It’s like, I was on Kagami’s side! And then by his final scene, I said out loud, “Quit being such a baby.” I don’t usually talk to these episodes! But that performance really brought it out of me!

With the introduction of time travel and Natives, the prophecy of "Kagami Arata will be Gatack" becomes a lot clearer. It also relates to the theme of destiny, with Kagami being predetermined by ZECT to become who he is now. For a simple guy like Kagami, maybe that makes him feel like his existence is unmerited, but like I said before, a chess pawn is easy to underestimate and dangerous when it promotes. While predetermination is certainly a factor, it's Kagami's own strength that has carried him this far and that's why Tendo respects him.

Tendo is more complex than Kagami but he also has better understanding of the world around him, how it affects him and how he affects it, so he doesn't see any need to worry about things outside of his control. For him, being the chosen one is an honor he earned through his own strength and he has faith in the path of heaven to guide him towards the outcome he believes is right, regardless of how frequently that plays someone else's tune (hmm, tune, red shoes, could be some symbolism here).

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I cannot give two shits about Worm Widower kicking Hyper Kabuto out of his Hyper Cast Off

That's a shame cause I just have to talk about Cassis Worm's bad*ss debut! Kicking Hyper Kabuto out of Hyper Clock Up (that's what you meant right?) means he's not only the fastest Worm, but fast enough to make someone faster than time itself freeze in place. Think about that. He can outpace the past that has already happened! I was surprised when I saw that for the first time. It means that Cassis Worm is imperceptibly fast to someone who is already beyond imperceptibly fast! Have I convinced you that this is worth caring about yet?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

A QUESTION

Tadokoro’s big reveal here was both surprising, and something I sort of didn’t care about. I have some vague questions I’m not sure if the show plans on answering (Is Tadokoro’s entire family Natives? Did he kill the real Tadokoro at some point and take his place?), but it didn’t really make me reconsider Tadokoro as a character or anything. It did make me wonder if I’d missed a ton of clues along the way, so I’m curious if y’all were as surprised as I was when you watched this episode. When did you figure out Tadokoro was a Native?

I never predicted it. Considering his age, I think he was one of the first Natives who flew in on the Meteor of 71.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Sometimes it's really bittersweet, where you feel like your time with a show is running out. (Faiz and Ryuki? I think those were ones where it was tough to leave those casts behind.) Sometimes it's a thing I'm just sort of ready to be done talking about it. Not because I don't like it, but because I feel emptied out by the process. (Kuuga and Hibiki, those are two where I remember feeling like Hi I Don't Want To Talk About This Show For A While.)

After all that hype put in to Hibiki's letdown final arc, I understand your lack of excitement. Hopefully with Hiyori returning soon, Kabuto's should land closer to the bittersweet side of the spectrum.

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Originally Posted by Androzani84

I will say, I wasn’t quite sold on the idea that the Natives were supposedly good all along, considering Tendou’s backstory has his parents killed by Natives.

Just like humans, Natives aren't inherently good or evil. They're people with individual life and motives. So Hiyori's parents were just bad people, especially since they not only orphaned Tendo but abandoned him as well. Those that started ZECT aren't exactly good either since they brought humanity in to the crossfire between them and the later Worms to force an enemy of my enemy situation. The later Worms are more generally evil, with exceptions being those like Tsurugi and Rena due to the strong personalities of the people they mimicked.