[Sh Ranger]

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER KIVA EPISODE 38 - “ERLKING: A MOTHER-SON REUNION”

It’s something that had been rattling around in the back of my head for the last couple days, the connection of Taiga to Maya and (possibly) Wataru to Maya, and the transitive property leading me to Secret Siblings. It’s a tough idea to even grapple with, since it comes maybe four seconds after Wataru and Maya meet for the first time since she left him as a child. (Like, I really hope the show at least nods in the direction of an adult who was responsible for a maybe six year-old Wataru. Jiro didn’t show up until last week! Shizuka was maybe four months old! Unless Shizuka is some sort of immortal pre-teen? Is she from some weird pixie race? Have I ruined Episode 39 by mistake?!) But it’s a firehose of reveals in this episode, so why not keep adding stakes and connections to this plot?

Yeah I noticed you once referred to Wataru as a Fangire sometime after the Time Door arc, so I figured you were taking that fact for granted after processing the new information about Wataru inheriting Nago's Lucky Button from Maya and Taiga being Maya's first son.

As for who took care of kid Wataru after Maya abandoned him for his own protection, since he's living proof of forbidden love between human and Fangire, I think Kivat raised him on his own as an adoptive father until Shizuka became old enough to take the mother role. Considering how Kivat is an adult who knows a lot of interesting facts about violins and art, that might be how Wataru got most of his education. Your math checks out though!

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

(You don’t need to have a skywriter spelling out 2008 when it’s a scene with Wataru and Mio! That’s the only year they’re ever in! Also, I can’t believe Maya was given a 2008-vintage wine! That is maybe more inhumane than her disfigurement!)

I dislike wine as well. I prefer other alcohol like beer and spirits.

So you believe that 2008 Maya is disfigured due to her eyepatch? Well that's a common assumption. But the show never brings it up at any point so I don't think it actually implies anything. As DreadBringer mentioned above, her outfit is just strange in general. Maybe she sold her boots to pay for the eyepatch? Who knows?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER KIVA EPISODE 39 - “SHOUT: TARGETED BROTHER”

Maybe my favorite final act for any Kamen Rider ever. I’ve liked Kiva as a series, but I love the show right now. Literally every episode is better than the one before it, and the one before this one was transcendent.

So much for you "ruining Episode 39 by mistake".

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Some of it is in the general approach of an Inoue Rider show, and some of it is in the specificity of the characters.

The general approach stuff… Inoue likes to talk about systems, and how they don’t account for individual choice. They provide a strict framework that can’t stand up to the messiness of existence. They’re good in theory, bad in practice. But we live in a world of systems, so what do we do about that? Do we destroy them, since they’re so ill-suited to our true desires? Or do we work within them to bring about change, risking becoming the very thing that was hurting us? Do we work towards integration, or do we try to win a war?

Inoue’s answer is frequently that you can’t think at that scale, or you’ll go crazy. You can’t think about your actions as something that would sway a society. You need to be true to yourself, just like everybody else, and hope that something positive will come from your example. Trying to control or destroy systems is a sucker’s bet. Living your life as a good person, and finding some way to wring a little happiness out of the endeavour, that’s the best any of us can ask for.

We may live in a world of systems, but those systems were constructed in a world of chaos by people who fear chaos. No good can come from extreme lawful actions like Taiga wanting to suppress humanity or extreme chaotic actions like Mio wanting Wataru to murder his own brother in a mutiny. Taiga and Mio feel closer to Wataru for their own reasons, but Wataru has never felt further away from them. He represents the space between the law of Fangires and the chaos of humanity, so his only inclination is towards neutral good actions that will benefit both sides. While that is unfortunately the most difficult road to walk, it's also what makes Wataru's heroism the most genuine and sincere. Not letting yourself be defined by your affiliation with a system, or inversely, your hostility towards it, is the only way to serve the ultimate good. Wataru shouldn't have to sacrifice either of the people he cares about. He shouldn't have to choose one side of himself over the other. He values freedom, for humans, Fangires and himself. That's the future he wants to create.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

And, god, to do it with this much precision, through characters this complex and compelling? You guys. It is not my birthday until November.

Kamen Rider Kiva Episode 39 aired on November 9th 2008. So you can consider this a birthday present which you are now redeeming almost 13 years later.

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Originally Posted by Androzani84

But enough of the Return of the Jedi s stuff and cannon fodder, this episode’s real highlight (for me) is the debut of Kiva of Darkness (闇のキバ Yami no Kiba), who is unique in that his official romanised name Dark Kiva (ークキバ Dāku Kiba) is not actually canon. Which is why I always go with the first name when discussing him (or I would if he ever came up in discussions). I just love the visual of him appearing against an ethereal green version of Kiva’s emblem.

Technically, "Kamen Rider" isn't canon either. Also, you missed the ダ. But I agree that Dark Kiva looks very awesome and intimidating! He's my favorite Dark Rider and I really like the concept of using the Primary Rider's Final Form instead of their default. No other Dark Rider has done that before or since and I hope Toei takes inspiration from this for future Dark Riders. It makes sense as well, since Tatsulot pointed out that Emperor isn't just Kiva's Final Form, it's also his True Form, unlocked by Wataru unconsciously tapping in to his dormant half-Fangire blood. Whereas Dark Kiva, being a full Fangire, already has total control of his power and doesn't need an inhibitor that's painful to wear. His suit actor is a lucky dude for sure.