[Kamen Rider Die]

KAMEN RIDER DEN-O EPISODE 9 - "MY STRENGTH HAS MADE YOU CRY”




Just a fun episode, you guys. A real lark.

There's definitely some thematic stuff going on, though. It's an episode that's concerned with strength, and using it to protect the people that are important to us. That sentiment is all over this episode, from Hana's frequent dedications to shield Ryotaro from danger, to Axetaros' partnership with Honjou... it's even in the scene where Airi makes Ryotaro drink that disgusting-looking sesame seed juice! (Which: horrifying. I can see why Ryotaro's love for his sister is not enough to drink a full glass of that poison!) There's a lot in here about how physical strength is used in service of others, and how folks without access to that strength (like Ryotaro) can feel frustrated and depressed.

But, like, I don't really care about that? I'm glad there's something holding this story together, but I can't say I spent a lot of time during the episode making these connections. As I'm sitting down to write, you know, sure. I can see how these scenes are all talking about one thing. But, in the moment? I'm just having a blast watching Axetaros be adorably destructive.

It's that embarrassment he gets when he breaks something. That's what won me over. It tells you that this is a monster who revels in its strength, but longs to be gentle. He's always breaking things, but it's never intentional. Even when he's brawling with Momo, it feels playful and joyous. There's a Gentle Giant quality to Axetaros that already has me rooting for him, and it's only been one episode!

Strong episode pacing-wise, too. I just like a story where Hana and Ryotaro get to do some amateur sleuthing (very amateur), and we can see what their friendship is starting to look like. Ryotaro tries to get Hana to open up some about her past, her family, her motivation, but nothing she's saying makes any sense yet. It's all the type of cryptic toku (cryptoku?) nonsense we've seen a bunch, where a character says something ridiculous that is also factual, but we don't get the context until way down the line. Still, I'm not too put out by Hana's weirdo backstory, since she's so awesome right now. A great episode for her extremely energetic approach to monster hunting.

Overall, just a fun episode of Den-O. Not super dramatic or cacophonously wacky, just an entertaining installment of a superhero show. I would watch a hundred of these.



THE BAGGAGE CAR

-Can we talk about Hana's outfit in this for a second? What is going in with it! Did she think the DenLiner was dropping them off in the 1970s? Between the scarf she's using to tie her hair back and the groovy design on her top (and the white go-go boots!), I was glad Airi called out her name when she walked into Milk Dipper or I would've had no idea who was walking in with Ryotaro. That outfit! I would love to know why the costumer went with that outfit!

-The Airimirers were as off-putting and anti-comedy as usual, but at least there was some plot use for Ozaki, so points for that. Points deducted, however, for them both being radioactive creeps to and around Hana. Like, there was a sliver of a moment where I was cool with Ozaki, and then he Airimired all over it. Just, stop being such horny creeps! For one scene!