[DreadBringer]

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

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

It’s not the tightest episode, unfortunately. While 23 felt like it was coherent and focused, using the Ryoko/Shinji brilliance to let a bunch of other sweet love stories branch off, this episode is mostly about the costs of love instead of the rewards. It gets at that theme in a variety of ways, which is nice, but there’s some tonal stuff I wish they’d been more aware of.

Like, that scene where Riki flirts with Yuri using Otoya’s tips and tricks? Funny, but 1000% the wrong episode to have it in. It’s in a lighter part of the episode, but its ridiculousness runs in contrast to Wataru’s newfound self-confidence and the slow-motion tragedy of Shinji and Ryoko. It’s a gag that’s way too over-the-top for an episode whose central thesis is, as Superchunk once sang, "Everyone gets crushed/And every kind of love rushes out". This is one where we don’t need to laugh at the Frankenbury who thinks Yuri is pretty.

Didn't expect this reaction to the comedy part of the episode. I thought the inclusion of the over-the-top comedy will be considered a show of versatility that this episode can contain everything; be it comedy, tragedy, and growth. Also btw (dunno about the next one) at least here, Yuri only suspects of Otoya teaching Riki to do that, though Riki denied it. Riki seems to be easily fooled by Otoya's arrogance, offering to teach him, but doesn't take into account if it's successful or not.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Because, god, Ryoko and Shinji! Again! I don’t care about half of the other reveals and twists, because this episode creates an entire, indelible love story in just a few scenes.

Though this also shows a negative consequence for the choices, heartbreak, and satisfying the loved ones, that after Ryoko's death, Shinji snaps as he becomes a typical bloodlusted Fangire (after conversing with Wataru who remembers him as kind and tries to bring him back to his senses), venting his loss to others, especially to Mio, considering her reveal with something that is planted on her hand. Though I dunno if this is triggered by Nago transforming into IXA nearby too or not. Though this is all about your ties to loved ones, I'd also want for this to be used as an example of how those who aren't non-loved ones are also people who deserve to be treated fairly and has their loved ones as well, and that you can't treat them as insects due to not having affection towards them (unlike what Shinji, and Ryoko did to Otoya at first), like here, while Mio is not Shinji's loved one, she's still someone else's (Wataru). I'd think the actual toku aspect would enhance this part as the venting he does to others will be more horrific with Fangire powers. I know that Ryoko only knew Shinji's Grizzly Fangire self at her death, but that'd mean they never had a child? I'd also like to know how Shinji can escape punishment from Maya in 1986 to 2008; as Maya easily kills disobedient Fangires, though Shinji seems to be one of the stronger Fangire.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Because, yeah, we’re seeing real love develop between Otoya and Yuri, plus some very strong feelings between Wataru and Mio, and that isn’t going to always be blushing and flirting. It’s going to mean compromise. It’s going to mean sacrifice. It’s going to mean getting mauled or kidnapped by a Clawolve, or finding out that your new girlfriend is the latest incarnation of a supernatural executioner. Things are going to get complicated for Wataru real quick (and they already have for Otoya), and he needs to see what it really means to care about someone as much as Shinji and Ryoko cared for each other.

I feel for some reason Yuri's love declaration of Otoya feels sudden here, as if it's done just to keep Jiro away from her, dunno. I know the near death moment at the end had them truly hugging btw, but that part still feels that to me, it's not that different from Jiro's declaration to Yuri not long before. The compromise also can be formed in other way, like you said in toku world, it'll mean the loved ones being kidnapped or something, and to prevent that, another kind of sacrifice is done like cutting off ties with them.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

As for the rest of this episode… I mean, this show pretty much shot itself in the foot by having that big Ryoko death scene in the middle of the episode. Everything after that, Jiro’s insanity and Mio’s reveal and Kiva Emperor Form and Tatsulot, is going to feel like karaoke at a wake or something. It’s inappropriate, and vaguely offensive. It’s not reading the room, you know?

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.

Jiro's abusive boyfriend trait has been shown before, but for this part, this just serves as a reminder of how terrifying the behavior of someone with questionable morals are, and comedic parts doesn't mean those acts are not wrong (Of course comedy can make those characters bearable or outright entertaining to watch, but still a reminder). I don't know if the shift is also meant to be a tragedy for Yuri as we're expected to feel scared of what will happen to Yuri, or that you're saying sadness (Grizzly Fangire's mourning) and horror (Yuri being held by Jiro) wouldn't mix?

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

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.

While yeah we shouldn't root for Kiva or Mio to get demolished, doesn't mean that Grizzly Fangire's venting should be left unchecked. I knew that Wataru did try to bring him back to his senses. I'd think the solution that is likely more acceptable is successfully taming Grizzly Fangire's despair? Though or it's probably what he wanted to be reunited with Ryoko (though I don't know what happened to Fangire's souls after death)? Though the questionable moment aside, I'd think Emperor Form is also one of my favorite design of final form albeit with tiny problem of an all-red face to me, and the finisher is an enhanced. The explanation here that I read for Emperor Form killing Grizzly Fangire is that it's apparently based on a blind rage, which likely isn't exactly controlled, though likely blind rage beating would work better if it's given to an absolutely despicable monster (but doesn't mean it should be adopted as main way to deal with the ones that are bad, it'll turn someone into Nago).