[Kamen Rider Die]

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Originally Posted by Androzani84

Ah yes, the episode where we learn why Wataru’s budding career as a chef never took off (turns out people aren’t keen on liquified crayfish).

But they loved the taste before they knew the ingredients! In an episode all about honesty, Wataru learns there can be such a thing as too much honesty.

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Originally Posted by Androzani84

That aside, can I say how much I love the Zanbat sword. Maybe it’s the Wake Up standby music, maybe it’s the ascending/descending blade (which I’m also finding as a reason to love in Xross Saber), maybe it’s the simple but elegant nature of its design, but I think it might be my favourite final form weapon.

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Originally Posted by Kurona

I have to throw out my love for the Zanbat sword here too, it's... beyond cool, man! The way he slides the Zanbat up the blade to power up has such a feeling of power to it, the thing in general just looks cool... and one of my favourite parts is that narratively, it fulfils the purpose a new form usually would! I can't think of many other instances in Kamen Rider where that's the case; where a new weapon gets to carry this kind of importance to it without a new form attached to it? All that comes to mind is Necrom's gangun catcher, and maybe Kabuto's hyper sword and something you'll be seeing later in 01... but god, this is just so sick. I love it

I talked a little bit about how much I enjoyed the thematic relevance of the Zanvat Sword (this goddamn franchise and its many translation choices: ZanVat or ZanBat? My subs say Zanvat, but I'm seeing people use Zanbat. Help a Cubist monstrosity out, y'all), and how much time the episode devoted to its arrival, but there're a couple other more simple pleasures that I liked.

The first is how interactive the sword is. I love when Kamen Rider weapons get toyetic and tactile (I love how Drive reloads his gun by opening and closing the door), so a sword that needs to constantly be manipulated hits me right in the sweet spot. It makes it more than just a powerful device, it makes it integral to the fights scenes, and I'm a fan of that.

I also like how it starts off as a dangerous upgrade, and those are my faves. A power source that the Rider has to tame in some way, or has to abandon because power means less if it hurts you, I love those. Having the Zanvat Sword overpower Wataru and require the help of his Three Weird Uncles (I also love how much the show has built out Wataru's ridiculous family in the second half) in order to make it a viable weapon in the war against the Fangires? Yeah! Love it!

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Originally Posted by DreadBringer

Comedic parts aside here... Nago should realize that he's another human and thus, he's obviously another sinner too, including his methods to fight crimes.

Oh, man, he definitely definitely won't! That sort of self-awareness and humility is antithetical to Nago's character! When he thinks God is punishing him, his instinct was to think that God had screwed up! Nago is not a guy who is able to take responsibility for his life falling apart! That is some Day 1 stuff from Nago!

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Originally Posted by Switchblade

And, of course, we get the full debut of the Zanvat Sword. Let me say this to start: I like the Zanvat Sword. It's a cool design, especially with the crazy bat cross guard. As someone who really hates it when Rider weapons just look like big roleplay toys, I also appreciate how hefty and metallic it looks, too. That being said, I would love to have been in the room when Bandai was brainstorming how it would work. Somebody had to have realized it, right? There's a reason why this weapon had a very specific nickname among the fanbase, after all. #FapSword

Look, we don't have to make it dirty. The Zanvat Sword is simply the manifestation of Wataru's love for Mio, and he moves the cross guard up and down its length until it becomes inflamed with his passion, leading to -- uh. Hmm. Definitely curious how intentional this weapon's design was! Any other Kamen Rider, I can maybe see it being accidental (pretty big accident, though), but an Inoue show? That's all about romantic love and steamy erotic metaphors in its second half? Not sure it's an accident!