[Sh Ranger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER KABUTO - EPISODE 44

But, man, a pretty great second half, right? I thought it was.

Having Tendou go off to convince Hiyori to come home while Kagami just gets his ass kicked forever, that’s those guys! That’s how they operate! Tendou is the one who figures out the way to win, the secret to victory. Kagami’s the one who never quits, absorbs the punishment, supports his friends. If the strategy depends on those two acting that way, there really is no chance of failure.

So much of the second half of this episode, it’s like the fan-service version of heroism. It feels like there’s no way there could be five more episodes, because everyone in this one is at Maximum Rider Power. Tendou is giving speeches to Hiyori to welcome her home. Kagami is holding off an entire army by withstanding non-stop attacks. Tsurugi is seeing Misaki as a person, not just as an ideal. Kageyama becomes TheWorst again, just long enough to embarrass himself. And Yaguruma remembers that Looking Cool In Front Of His Underlings is his main motivation for doing literally anything ever.

It… it is wall-to-wall awesomeness, and I can’t imagine where you go with any of these characters afterwards. Show’s over!

While I prefer early Kabuto, I cannot deny that this episode wins in both heartwarming moments and having an awesome fight in Area Z which is basically a warzone with an army of Worms.

Kageyama temporarily reverting to his former self as The Bee (and promptly getting beat up like his former self as The Bee) is set up to be some kind of heroic redemption but of course, nope, it's Kageyama after all.

Tsurugi accepts that he should love Misaki as her own person and not a replacement for his dead sister. I feel like I haven't talked about Misaki as much as I should. I thought she was really cool as Phantom Thief Shadow and Tsurugi should definitely acknowledge her for that.

Finally, there's the most memorable scene of Hyper Kabuto using his Maximum Hyper Cyclone to annihilate like a hundred Worms and Cassis Worm Gladius. Seriously, this episode has everything!

Honestly, I remember the finale but most of the stuff that happens between that and this episode, yeah, not much. It feels like this is peak quality for late Kabuto.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Which is why Another Tendou is here to tear it all down.

Do you pity him like I do? He just seems so broken seeing Hiyori choose Tendo over him. Unlike Hiyori, who despite her loneliness has a lot of people who care about her, the other Souji has been completely alone for so long and now that he finally found someone who made him feel loved, who he could dedicate himself to being a better brother and the authentic Kusakabe Souji that Tendo isn't, Hiyori still abandons him for Tendo which leaves him to be alone again. It's pretty sad, to see how ZECT totally ruined this one man's life and mental state.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

A QUESTION

Just a billion big-ass hero moves in this episode. What was your favorite heroic moment?

Same as you, Tendo convincing Hiyori to come home is such a rewarding moment after her long absence and a return to the status quo with their relationship closer and stronger than before. This arc challenged Tendo as a person, forced him to take a look at himself and realize that Hiyori's previous rejection of him was due to him obsessing over what she "needs" instead of listening to what she wants and how it was resolved with him learning that Hiyori shouldn't just be protected, she should be allowed to have a life as well.