[FreshToku]

My biggest and most positive takeaway of these early episodes, is that I love the way Kiva fights. Just short of being a wild monster, he goes in on the Fangire like a super-aggresive wrestler. It's kind of like that trope of a hero in a kung-fu movie or something going all-out against the villain when they have been pushed past some breaking point, except Kiva is like that at all times.

Al that extends to the form changes courtesy of the Arms Monsters. Garulu Form's sword is wicked cool with that curved blade, and how he sticks low to the ground like a wolf. And then finisher where he puts the saber in his 'teeth'? It's so anime but also so awesome in... you know, I'm not even gonna say in a 'cheesy' way, I just genuinely think it is amazing.

I'd never get tired of the usual kind of martial arts you get out of these toei toku shows, but these episodes of Kiva stand out so much in terms of cheography and aesthetic, that I can't help but wish the franchise would spice it up more often!