[DreadBringer]

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Oh, I see where the confusion is coming in. I was talking about the Wataru/Mami story, and you were talking about the Otoya/Mami story. Yeah, no, the Otoya stuff is zero percent Hibiki. If anything, it's more Ryuki, since I can see the exact same story happening with Kitaoka forced to teach some kid a lesson.

Yes, the 1986 story is like that part of Ryuki. "I don't like kids" and Kitaoka immediately jumped on my mind there. Both are also done by someone who constantly flirts with a hardass woman who mostly wears pants and ankle strap pumps as their primary footwear.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Seems like a weird oversight from the production team. I think this is the first time Kiva's done a finisher without it being at night, either natural or supernatural?

Probably the root behind my disappointment of many KR finishers, likely budget played a hand in Kiva's finisher right here.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER KIVA EPISODE 19 - “FUSION: AURA STORM”

(I am giving the Yuri And Megumi Freeze Up plot a pass in this story, even though the concept sets my teeth on edge. I desperately want to believe that they’re going somewhere worth going with this plot, so I’m holding off judgment until after 20. For this one’s part of it… I think there’s some value in showing a potential weakness for both women, especially if it’s a connection between them. I just wish part of that weakness wasn’t easy to read as Girls Shouldn’t Be Kamen Riders!)

No offense, but if you or anyone else is pulling this shit for shilling someone/something (Inoue in this case), I kinda will think that your credibility is reduced in your pursuit to give more "deserved" (if bias is involved, it can be kinda overboard instead, going likely to undeserved credit territory instead) credit to someone, not to mention of not knowing Inoue in side-medias (his TV contribution is kept on the leash by the TV production team). In this case, this is more regarding others not being given deserving credit where while what you said regarding Inoue may be right, this can be demeaning to the others instead, seemingly like personal agenda to degrade others to elevate who you defend instead of a defense (I like to hear plausible and nuanced defense of many things btw). This is something regarding clear bias before, which can happened on internet if someone has a love for something, where it can make someone be blinded regarding that, and those who had bias usually is not taken seriously (saying if you want for what you said regarding Inoue to be listened) for good reasons.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

It’s possible that my brain is too unbelievably jazzed at Otoya’s spirit possessing Wataru’s body, though. Because, THAT IDEA.

If there were no other great moments in this story, seeing Wataru play Otoya would make this episode unforgettable. The only real bum note in this episode is Otoya announcing his presence in Wataru’s body at the end, because Wataru’s actor nails Otoya’s delivery and mannerisms from the jump, and any announcement is unnecessary. The very first scene, where he’s swanning around the room and flirting with Megumi, it’s so on-point it’s deadly. I could’ve died watching that performance, and I wish the producers had been more careful in deploying it, so as to save lives. It’s as unexpected as it is excellent, and I did not know that kid had it in him. Seeing him hit those notes, after eighteen episodes of bashful anxiety, it’s epic.

The rest of the episode is full of tiny little moments of insanity, the overriding logic being What Is The Most Insane Thing That Could Happen Next. There’s a blinding pace to this story that never lets you dwell on the minor details (why were Kengo and Nago wandering through a forest?), because it’s always there to distract you with a terrific joke (Nago’s anguished plea to stop being called “Gramps” by Kengo, a man who is only one year younger than him), as well as some clever, character-based action.

I think, the new stuff of Otoya's hijinks that can be added by possessing Wataru is so far, him reacting to the new era of 2008, like being confused of people calling him Wataru, and realizing that Fangires still exist now. Otherwise it's him pulling womanizing moves so far? Like giving free pass to Megumi being accused as a thief in his house. Otoya not realizing that he possesses his son may be an indicator that Otoya... may not live long enough to raise Wataru. Before you ran into undeserved credit territory here, I'd say there are many other example in media where someone calls other who is much younger than they think as old people term like gramps or old man here, either because someone is rude or innocently insensitive. For the "dwell on the minor details", personally I'd clarify that I'm also into the part that didn't dwell on this, I think it's likely due to Nago and Keigo being more curious about Kiva that it ends with them on forest. What I don't like is spreading misinformation, and using joke as an excuse for it (like one of the ways meme is used).

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

The action in this one! So great! Yuri’s multiple stand-offs with Rook (who is also back, at least in 1986!) were tense and beautifully shot, with his passive demeanor ratcheting up Yuri’s fear. Kiva’s quick take-out of the Moth Fangire, where he just walks away because the Fangire drops BUT WAIT now he’s being attacked from behind because Kiva completely forgot to do a finisher. (My assumption is that Otoya is Kiva at that point in the fight, and since no one in 1986 ever finished off a Fangire, he didn’t think he needed to do anything special to kill it.) The breathtaking (and rocking!) Megumi/Nago team-up; a fight that’s so badass that Nago completely forgets to Henshin, he’s so into kicking ass.

It's an unusual take that deserves appreciation yeah, for Otoya as Kiva walking away from a fight, but due to neglect and thus the Fangire can resume their rampage. And for Megumi and Nago teaming up, this probably relates to the fact of how Nago can stop a car with his leg. For Kengo to praise the moment as rocking... I get the vibe that Kengo is (dark trait) bloodlusted instead, thriving on violence, while refering to great moments for him as rock.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Even the stuff I was initially not too thrilled to see eventually won me over. Like, man, was not hopped up for another story where Yuri wants revenge and the boys don’t let her! Even if we can see more of Jirou’s reluctance to part with the IXA Knuckle as being about his own selfish need for vengeance (plus some paternalism), it’s still tacky to trot this plot out again. But then the episode swerves away from theat, having Otoya hilariously lift the IXA Knuckle from Jirou (while infuriating him as a bonus) to give it to Yuri so she can get her revenge. It’s a huge moment of growth from Otoya, with him letting Yuri do what she thinks is best, while doing what he can to support her. It’s a genuine moment of kindness from Otoya, and it’s best punctuated by Yuri thanking him for his help and then punching him in the stomach because he completely had that coming after knocking her out before. It’s these weird people finding little moments of empathy amidst hilarious and poignant emotional struggles.

Well, this is something not only you that isn't thrilled, and that this episode being enjoyable has to do with the opposite of it for Otoya offering Yuri to become IXA instead., I guess the Kiva being sexist claims that others do, you need to consider what they say regarding this if you think you're not thrilled. Though for the Jirou having selfish need for vengeance and becoming IXA, I guess it's rectified some time ago for IXA being incomplete and can put burden as the real reason, and that a monster is more suitable to test out IXA without it killing the wielder. Still wouldn't glorify the moral too much here for Otoya doing this to women, as womanizers care deeply about women (including them not letting woman being put on dangerous stuff, it's misguided but a form of care), but not for the rest.