[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER DEN-O EPISODE 16 - “LUCKY STAR, LAWBREAKER’S SURRENDER”

I loved this so much, and it’s down to how sublimely idiotic it was. It ends with the reveal that the cops were there for a hostage situation that was happening next door to the bathhouse, and no one inside was ever in any trouble, which is the best You Idiots Are Doing This To Yourself ending possible for an episode that could best be summed with You Idiots Are Doing This To Yourself.

It's dumb and comedic but a difficult situation yeah. The cops were actually arresting another suspect, but everyone is caught up on a police suspect. It's all the biker thief's fault, dragging from Ryotaro, to Hakamada, to Hana, to Airi there. Hakamada and the bike thief seems to turn themselves in at the end, although if they're redeemed, that's not exactly necessary (sentences are used so that the convict may redeem).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

That the contract monster is let loose by a drunk who threw away the money that he accused Hakamada of stealing, and that somehow a company found that money and, like, held onto it for a few years… what?! Insane. Insane to have this story be, like, the comedic version of Yonemura’s pointlessly dramatic story from 11/12. But this time, it totally works? I mean, it works because the president is like Holy Shit I Have A Huge Drinking Problem And It’s Destroying My Life, and the pointlessness of this plot kind of is the point? It’s a screwball comedy, and that requires a blisteringly dumb series of decisions to put its plot into motion. It's a story all about how we can be our own worst enemies (it's a series theme!), and about how difficult it can be to face up to our mistakes, but how liberating it can feel when we finally do. Having the missing money be because one guy drunkenly flung it off a bridge and then immediately forgot about… working as intended!

Aside from stupidity, what a dangerous position to have, that the president can be drunk, and overspent, and also unknowingly think that Hakamada is the one that is at fault. I mean, if you get a high position, even if you're the one doing something bad, it can be your subordinates that took the fall! The president's wish is to help with that drinking habit for that, which of course, in Imagin fashion is done in monster attack. As I said before, Ryotaro here becomes the one who is going on the Rider stuff here, even being the one who checked the date of where the Imagin was going and asked if the contract holder remembers the event in that day.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Like, the monster in this basically just pushes people over? The fact that it completes its contract by shoving a drinks cart operator and just goes Mission Accomplished is exquisite. It is my favorite gag in a story overflowing with great gags, and then it maybe tops itself by having the monster go back a few years to push over people in a park. That's how it chooses to destroy the past. It is the dumbest idea, and the fact that it doesn’t feel out of sync with this story is maybe the greatest compliment I can pay it.

I mean, a couple people got shoved, but they’re overserving a drunk and they maybe deserved at least a bit of a shove. I am not as forgiving as Airi and Ryotaro!

Not as forgiving for someone who did moral mistake for once here? (overserving) I thought you'd want for stories to give graces for those kind of people, like something written by Inoue, and take a shit on people who're annoying and lowlife, even if they didn't (or never) do something as bad as those who overserved the drunk. Which while those who did mistake should be treated as person who need help, kinda irrational view for this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

THE BAGGAGE CAR

-Hilariously, I think the best fight in this episode was the RyuRyoTaros and Momo fight? The nighttime finale was neat for the nighttime of it all, but the whole gimmick was that the monster sucked. The struggle to defuse Ryutaros was way more fraught, and way likelier to end in a homicide than some sluggish fish imagination monster from the end of time who pushes people over. Ryutaros was 1000% going to murder that guy, and it took Ryotaro's cleverness, Momo’s indomitable will, and Airi’s willingness to tell her brother in the bathroom to STOP. God only knows what she thought she was telling him to--

--oh, never mind. She’s a very kind sister!

Yeah, Momo's fight over Ryutaros is a blast to watch here, Ryutaros is probably currently the most lacking in moral between the 4 taros, resorting to kill for any problem, not only to monster, but also to those who gets in his way. Momo struggling to get into Ryu using his whole body, but resolved the situation by using only his hand to possess Ryotaro (so the mechanic of the Imagin is that they can focus on a hand) to get her to call. Well, for one thing, actually like Ozaki and Miura.... Ryutaros is also one of the Airimirers a.k.a Airi simp! He'll obey what Airi tells him.

And well, Airi being very kind is about her defusing the situation between the accused criminals there, more than her tending Ryotaro again here (already done before like tending on his back). I mean like before, to me morality is more judged by what will you do to people that is less related to them, caring about friends and/or family won't necessarily cut it (if they would care, apathetic, or cruel to others; overall), but treating strangers like that, especially people who are likely criminals like Hakamada and the bike thief....