[Sh Ranger]

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER KIVA EPISODE 24 - “EMPEROR: GOLDEN FEVER”

The introduction of Emperor Form… again, not sure this is the best place for a hilarious new Henshin Monster! Tatsulot is, uh, a lot. It’s chipper and goofy and a man’s wife just died. The suit it generates is, like, Why Are You Wearing That To A Funeral. It’s a plot development that expects us to see more emotion in Mio getting knocked out (for maybe actual good reason, if she’s the new Queen!) than Shinji’s devastating grief, and that is such a total miscalculation. It ain’t like I’m rooting for Mio or Kiva to get demolished or anything, but I’m not feeling excited about some new duds for Kiva. Let me mourn, dudes.

I think maybe you're being a little unfair on Tatsulot? It seems like the only reason you're complaining about him is due to the circumstances surrounding his debut. Personally, I think he's an adorable little addition to Kiva's team and he's one of Wataru's biggest fans. He's so excited for him to become Kiva Emperor for the first time and with such an awesome suit and insert theme, I can't blame him! Maybe he'll grow on you so that you will like him almost as much as you like Kivat (actually, you haven't talked much about Kivat, so I presume you like him?).

I also think this is the perfect timing for Emperor's debut. It's unconventionally early for a final form debut, but there's a minimalism to this particular one that makes it seem like it's holding back. This is cause it's one of the few final forms that become stronger throughout the show. I don't want to spoil anything for you, but if this wasn't enough to excite you, then don't worry, there are way more awesome opportunities to appreciate this bad*ss form! Even at its most basic, I like how the original Wake Up leg design moves to the chest and then his Riderkick takes the shape of fangs!

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

The Jiro stuff, while being the Shout It To The Cheap Seats melodrama that the minor key Shinji/Ryoko stuff strenuously avoided, worked… I don’t know. It’s there to complement the 2008 story, to double-down on love as being something you don’t experience without at least a little pain. It’s full-tilt crazy, with Jiro screaming in Yuri’s face for her to love him, and the shift from Shinji feeling the weight of his dead wife on his back and just standing there, rooted to the ground just like that tree… the shift from that to Yuri getting strung up by some fake-looking vines while Jiro cackles maniacally, it’s not great. It is some tonal whiplash that this episode didn’t need.

There are two scenes from other Inoue shows that this climactic scene reminds me of. The first is Jetman Episode 32, where the cool antihero tries to save his distressed love interest, who finally reciprocates. The second is Faiz Episode 22 where Kusaka confesses his love for Mari but Takumi tells him they'll never be together. I love both of those scenes, so naturally, I really love this one!

I'm not going to defend Jirou's yandere behavior and his abduction of Yuri. However, I will praise him for doing what Kusaka was too pathetic to do. When Yuri confessed her love for Otoya, Jirou conceded. The sad part is that while Jirou claimed he only wanted Yuri to make more Clawolves, I think his love for her was actually sincere, or else he wouldn't have bothered with sparing their lives.

Honestly, I'm surprised how little you've talked about this and the Wataru and Mio developments, since I think I disagree with most of what you said about this episode. It's one of my favorites and I recall it very fondly! You remember who the actual main characters are, right?

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Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

Awwwwww yeah! It's finally time to talk about Supernova!

I mean, there's probably not even that much that needs to be said though, is there? I'm pretty sure the song for Emperor Form has a legitimate reputation among anyone who even slightly cares about Rider insert themes as being that god tier, grade A, greatest of all time material. The show certainly loves to play it at any given opportunity, at least!

And it isn't hard to see why, because it really is pretty much the perfect theme for it. It's especially interesting for how it contrasts with Destiny's Play to create this duo of themes that essentially portray Wataru prior to his character arc and after. Supernova is infinitely more straightforward as a song for a hero, with a rocking sound that would make Kengo proud and lyrics all about how much Wataru isn't doubting himself for once. It's pretty amazing. They took a character themed around night and the moon and stuff and then named his final form's theme song after the brilliant light of an exploding star. Supernova is maybe a favorite for everyone, and that's no less true for me. Again, I'd like to emphasize that I knew Kiva's cast entirely through the soundtrack for a good few years, and I was kind of predisposed to like Wataru going in thanks to character songs with this much character in them.

I was hoping you would give excellent praise to Supernova and you sure delivered, Fish!

I mentioned in the Den-O thread that it's in my top 5 KR insert themes, but thinking about that further, it's also my favorite final form theme and second only to Cyclone Effect. Seto is one of the best things to ever happen to a KR show.

I like how Supernova is used as metaphor for change. When a dying star is at its smallest and weakest, its most helpless, suddenly it becomes a powerful force stronger than anything it was before and that change has the power to affect everything around it and shape the events that revolve around it. That's why it's such a genius progression from Destiny's Play, which is all about the old Wataru's desire and courage to change. Supernova is the new Wataru, without his inhibitions, realizing all that potential he never knew he had. It may still be related to his moon motif as well, with the last lyrics:

"In the midst of this invisible darkness
As though creating a faint light"

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Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

And if meant Takaiwa got to feel just as unburdened as Wataru was, then all the better! I can't even begrudge the series for losing interest in the cool form changes at that point. You really can't go wrong with this suit!

Yeah, I think it's really cool how meta that is. It's Wataru and also Takaiwa breaking their chains, so they can both give everything they got to protect Mio!

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Originally Posted by Kurona

Was Emperor's debut really on this episode?

You bet!