[Sh Ranger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER KIVA EPISODE 45 - “WITH YOU: THE LAST TRANSFORMATION”

It’s also a somber episode, and a ton of it feels… preordained? Inevitable? There’s a fatalism to it, exemplified by Otoya’s insistence on killing himself for Maya/Taiga/himself. (The previous episode, where Wataru was trying to negate his own existence, managed to be a fun lark by comparison.) Otoya’s always been devoted to his own whims, to the exclusion of common sense or basic decorum, but here it comes off as frustratingly obstinate. Otoya is going to become Dark Kiva to save Taiga, even though a) it’ll kill him, b) it won’t even defeat King, c) Wataru is more than willing to pitch in to defeat King and keep Otoya alive. It’s a suicidal plan that won’t even succeed, but the show treats it as laudably heroic, a testament to Otoya’s belief in self-determination.

Otoya becoming Dark Kiva is an event that was actually foreshadowed way back in Episode 20, when he possessed Wataru and told Kivat how he knew his father. This was in the original timeline where he never knew Wataru in his present, which means Otoya presumably did defeat King on his own, maybe possible with the help of his Arms Monster friends either alongside him or in their weapon forms but that part's just my speculation.

Even though Otoya is the least biologically compatible with Dark Kiva, I still consider him its true user. He gets the most use out of its finishers, it's symbolic as Wataru's and Kivat's fathers are teaming up and as Androzani pointed out, he has his own version of Supernova. Just like how he was destined to create Bloody Rose, I think he was destined to become Dark Kiva as well. The fact that he survived henshining twice is proof of his strength and determination as a human. He's still iconic as IXA Save Mode though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

It tries to make it seem bittersweet, what with the hushed Maya/Otoya scene, where he asks her to be strong enough to let him sacrifice himself. Both actors imbue the scene with so much love and sadness that it’s easy to forget, for just that one scene, how unnecessary it all is. But for the rest of the episode, it’s just this grim march towards Otoya’s fate, and it’s maybe a dumber, less-fun version of his own son’s rush to destroy himself. It doesn’t feel like a hero accepting the cost of his love for people. It feels like an egotist throwing himself headlong into a dangerous situation, when there’s a more powerful hero willing to join the fight.

But Otoya isn't against Wataru joining the fight, he's against being left out of the fight, against letting his son poach his destiny. Their motivations aren't comparable either. Wataru wants to be erased from history, while Otoya wants to be immortalized by it. Dark Kiva is a symbol of Otoya's pride and the apex of his strong feelings, the same way Emperor is for Wataru. That's why Maya couldn't stand in his way, since she knows this is something he has to do. Wataru sees him the same way he sees Mio, as somebody who needs to be saved. But that's wrong. Mio chose how to live. Otoya chose how to live. It's not Wataru's place to deny that, despite his good intention. You mentioned before that staying true to your identity is generally a good thing, so shouldn't Otoya's authenticity be encouraged as well?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

(this was one of the few CG finales I really enjoyed?)

I'm glad you enjoyed the last CGI monster fight of the show! Maybe it has something to do with the clever way Flight Style was used as transportation to get Kiva on the brainwashed Castle Doran for the Zanvat Sword finisher.

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Originally Posted by Androzani84

My one hing with this episode: Bishop is an idiot.

My King, it was I who killed the girl you loved. There is no need to thank me.