[Kamen Rider Die]

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Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

It wasn't only Garulu Form I was thinking of when I wrote that, but yes, it's pretty great that I'm still eagerly finding any excuse I can to praise Kuuga's foundational nature, and you're also over here going That's Cool But It Reminds Me More Of Something From An Inoue Show. Like, man, what a completely unpredictable surprise that these are the connections we would each choose to make.

It's always best if you and I knock these things out early, so anyone new to the thread knows what to expect. We're not predictable, we're considerate.

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Originally Posted by 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.

There's definitely a feeling like Wataru loses himself in the Kiva identity... maybe on purpose? I can see Kiva being an outlet for someone who's as closed off as he is. It wouldn't surprise me if the aggression of Kiva (vs the timidity of Wataru) was a decision from the production team/Takaiwa.

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Originally Posted by FreshToku

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!

I laughed incredibly hard (in excitement!) at Garulu Form's debut. The whole sequence is lunacy, which is aesthetically appropriate. Kiva shoves a plastic ampule into Kivat's mouth, and the next thing you know Zanki is racing across a dining hall to scratch at the floor, transforming into a werewolf sword. After that it's a feral Kiva that eventually locks his werewolf sword (that has a debilitating howl attack!) into his non-mouth, careening through the moonlight to detonate a Fangire. It's bonkers. Delicious, delicious bonkers. A series high-point for action sequences. (Best of four! Only the highest of praise!)