[Fish Sandwich]

(Probably don't need a whole separate thread for this if we're still using the same news thread.)

So, despite that cliffhanger, I honestly did not expect there to be a Kamen Rider Specter X Blades following on from it. Like, there comes a point where it has to be too good to be true, right? I have to thank Toei for announcing this thing like a minute before it was released so I didn't even have time to get hyped, because I don't think I could've handled this kind of anticipation a second time around. I mean, now I also get a spin-off starring Rintarou and Makoto? And Kanon is a Kamen Rider!? This just keeps getting better and better!

And that's pretty much the story with this one, because I think I liked it even more than I liked the first part. For someone with a not entirely undeserved reputation for clunky series plotting, I'm amazed by how tight Fukuda's script is here. There's such a natural flow to how every line of dialogue is moving the plot forward while smoothly working in all these fun quirky character interactions and bits of exposition and whatever else the story needs to be the best it can be. Mei especially is like the MVP when it comes to keeping the conversations light on their feet, and it's written in a way where you could approach it strictly as a fan of just Saber or just Ghost and not be too lost. Rintarou gets to mention his whole no family deal early on so you know how he's looped into the themes, and the way he discusses the subject with Kanon unaware of the literal plot machinations of the Specter movie actually works way better to make you feel the emotional stakes, because it makes things about more than sci-fi clones created by mad scientists. In contrast, you still do get informed about all those plot details, so if you didn't watch the Specter movie (which you definitely should!), you can still follow along.

It's honestly some top notch writing from Fukuda, covering all the bases in a way that is so overkill for a "mere" TTFC spin-off. The thing that especially elevates it a bit above Saber X Ghost for me, which is strictly personal preference because they're both great, is that it leans more into genuine drama rather than focusing on the straightforward fanservice. I absolutely did not see character development for Kanon coming in 2021, but here we are. It's kind of amazing to me that she actually feels like Kanon, too, and not just Sayo with an Eyecon. I feel like Kanon's whole character concept of being the cute kid sister means it'd be tricky to figure out what she should be like years down the line, but they seriously pulled it off, between Fukuda's script and Mio Kudou's performance. She's still got that specific sort of subdued kindness, but she's clearly more mature now (which is down to Kudou's talent), and her whole drive here is take more responsibility without relying on onii-chan so much (which is down to Fukuda's).

And then like, she gets to transform and fight bad guys??? Be still, my beating heart! The climax is spectacular. I mean, let's run down the list here. You've got a new form for Blades where he puts on a Specter coat, embraces his inner Makoto, and sheathes his blade to just start wailing on a Ganma with his bare fists, which, like, awesome! You've got Kanon Specter, an adorable design pulling from my beloved Mugen Damashii, and using a generic sound from the Ghost Driver for the transformation sound just so it's hypothetically possible to make that Eyecon for the DX toy someday, because they're just that nice (or already have plans), which, like, awesome!!! And then you've got the man himself, Makoto, coming back and using his Mugen-inspired look, my favorite V-Cinema form ever, Sin Specter, back in action for one more awesome Rider Kick when I assumed I'd only ever see the one, which, like, awesome!

I know I said this one was better because it didn't focus on the fanservice as much, but don't take that to mean the fanservice wasn't just as great as ever. I mean, they've even got Kanon using Alain's catchphrase instead of ripping off Makoto's, which is such a nice wink and nod to, uh, the novel, was it? See, I don't even totally get all the fanservice here! That's how deep it goes! And on top of all of that, it's still fundamentally a nice standalone adventure where Rintarou gets to be his heroic self, fighting for the simple and noble goal of keeping a family together, because nothing could matter more than that. It's the second time I've said this, but this was an amazing treat for something so simple.