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Kamen Rider Gaim watch

The Forbidden Fruit Saga

Episode 35: Micchy's Ark

Written by: Gen Urobuchi, Directed by: Satoshi Morota

As Takatora is stunned by Roshuo's action to destroy the missiles, Roshuo clarifies that the reason he did it is to save Redyue's castle, her duty. This likely refers to the Yggdrasill Tower with the machine to revive his Queen inside, which can be hit by the missiles, but Roshuo didn't meant to save humanity. Roshuo releases Takatora for him to witness the destruction of his men as their 'leader'. Redyue gloats about the plan, while Grinsha turns out to be still alive, which Redyue protected before, and resumes his fight with Gaim and Baron. He makes use of his speed to ram Gaim and Baron, knocking them down. Then in a similar vein as Kachidoki Arms, Gaim Kiwami Arms makes use of something not normally used as weapon, his cape, using it as a flag to lead Grinsha like a bull, matador-style. Grinsha end up ramming a wall with audible 'ding' sound, knocking it down. So the high tier fighters here like Overlord cannot walk through human construction like nothing... Kiwami Arms then use Bana Spear, Kiwi Gekirin (one of the most rare form appearence), and Sonic Arrow as weapons. Baron restrains Grinsha, then Kiwami Arms uses Fruit Basket Charge, Pine Charge version to finish off Grinsha. Actually before watching, I don't know what differentiates between different Lockseeds used for Fruit Basket Charge, and now still don't.

As Kouta vows to save Akira, she's taken into the Yggdrasill Tower, the place Redyue's machine is built. Rat and Rica, who are also there, approach her to identify that she's Kouta's sister, which Akira gets to identify them as his friends too, realizing that the monsters took them too. They worry about the reasons they're taken and if they're ok, but Akira assures that there will be someone who saves but have to wait. So Akira knows certain Kouta friend, like Mai and probably Micchy, but not all of them... probably someone like Mai gets to know Akira as childhood friend of Kouta while Rat and Rica are probably newer friends that won't get interact as much or as intimately. Meanwhile Roshuo commits his biggest atrocity so far, though he claims he's doing humanity a favor, by opening cracks all over the world, literally raining Inves and the Helheim places all over the world. This emphasizes the villain part of anti-villain alignment that Roshuo has, as anti-villain is still a subcategory of villain, even if they're relatively more noble. Even if Roshuo has redeeming qualities and isn't a bloodthirsty psycho like Redyue and Demushu, Roshuo is still a nihilist, and the messed-up mindset can still lead Roshuo into doing malicious things like the world-scale invasion here, even if he bears no actual malice to humanity, and leads to think that speeding up their destruction is doing good for them.

For the missiles not exploding when Roshuo interferes with them before, it's revealed in the news that Beat Riders watch that, the missiles are actually teleported into North America, destroying that area (along with innocent people) instead. It's clarified the reason the missiles not exploding, and it lives up to Roshuo's aim to speed up the destruction of humanity. Mai thinks this is terrible, but Chucky reminds that they'll die if the missiles hit Zawame. Kouta questions the reason of it happening now, which Kaito explains as the Overlord who didn't care about the war joining now. Zack turns off the TV and laments about their fate. Kouta uses the news as a wake-up call moment that they have to do something, as it's not about Zawame anymore, but worldwide now. But doesn't mean that they have to go through impossible odds of walking the world, Kouta notes that they have the best position to be the closest to the source, the Yggdrasill Tower as Overlord's base, which Kouta plans to attack. Yoko continues that the armies of the world will defend the cracks themselves (but I doubt it'd be effective, seen in various KR series about human tools being ineffectual against monsters), not attacking and meeting the same fate as America anymore. Kaito reminds that the world will sacrifice them to stop the Overlords, thinking that it's not worth saving, but Kouta goes on to rescue the kidnapped people including Akira.

Takatora walks around a war zone, mourning about how Yggdrasill is all futile, likely especially the atrocities it has done for the greater good. Without Takatora, the Yggdrasill implodes on itself, the members betraying each other, making Redyue easily taking over the tower, along with Ryoma exposing Project Ark's intentions to the world, giving the Yggdrasill the same taste of medicine if gave to the Beat Riders, now being seen as terrorist cell. It seems that the heroes don't need to take fight to Yggdrasill (other than learning Helheim stuff), it practically defeated itself. Takatora then sees Kouta, but accompanied with Yoko and Kaito, which leads Takatora to think that Ryoma influenced Kouta's group too. So it's not only Kouta being suspicious of Takatora due to Micchy's manipulation before, Takatora undergoes this too, without any manipulation, but basing it on past experience. Of course the actual reason is Yoko confides to Kaito... Takatora never knew his underlings enough. Kouta, Kaito, and Yoko notes that the Yggdrasill garage is protected by an Inves army, thinking that they know the Yggdrasill's facilities, Kouta plans to break into the tower, which is stopped by Kaito reminding about the hostages if they charge their front door down. Kouta is frustrated about the lack of options, which Kaito insist to formulate a plan. Kouta suggests to ask for Micchy's help as he had scouted the tower alone, but of course those 2 has seen Micchy's true nature, pointing out that Micchy's never there when he's needed the most and that he's playing with him like a fiddle. Kouta still denies Micchy being evil, as a longtime 'friend', though now he acknowledged a bit that he keeps secrets and saying weird things, but thinks he's doing the best for him and Mai, thus they can't badmouth him. They'd just roll their eyes at this. They're interrupted by the guardian Inves and all henshin into their Rider forms, detonating them. Baron insists for them to regroup as there will be more of them inside.

Rat and Rica wake up, finding that they're in Micchy's office, with Micchy claiming that they're safe, despite Rica pointing out that the world will end. Micchy has changed his attire with a suit, attempting to help the audience to take him more seriously as villain if they don't before, and how he takes over Takatora to conduct even worse version of Project Ark. Micchy acknowledges that, but claims not humanity as some of them will survive and live normally, bringing out the story of Noah's Ark (my TV skips this part) that he applies this to Rat and Rica as some few chosen ones that would be safe as humanity will perish. Rat is confused about what Micchy said, and Rica points out about Akira, as Micchy leaves, assuring them to be safe. As Micchy's villainous, this is tiny bit of his redeeming quality to rescue his friends from Redyue's machine, but of course he's villainous for ignoring everyone else. Micchy visits Helheim, and glanced at Roshuo, who is talking with Redyue, showing that there are another machine that is connected to the Queen's coffin to transfer the human fuel absorbed in Yggdrasill lab. Micchy then interacts with Redyue, explaining how the machine works, and how Roshuo promises to relinquish the golden fruit into him after his love revives. Micchy assures Redyue that she only uses the humans he deemed unworthy to save, an example of how 'caring for your friends' (the only ones Micchy will save for his emotional satisfaction) doesn't necessarily make you a good person. Due to his hatred for Kouta, he's petty enough to leave Akira captive, even if she has nothing to do with his grudge to Kouta.

Mai is taking a handful of food and supplies at a convenience store, but even when the city including the store is empty, she still pays for what she took. It's a little insight into her character, either a display of integrity or keep doing Zawame City a favor via its local businesses despite it being dying now... or that she knows there's CCTV on the store that tracks people's activities. Micchy visits her, in his new suit which Mai wonders. They talk about the current world state, where Micchy proposes a world where humanity and Overlord can co-exist. At first Mai seems excited about this, but Micchy talks about the deal being helping them complete their goals giving mutual benefit, then insists to rebuild society where nothing can stand in Team Gaim's way, creating little paradise between them. Hearing about the mutual benefit, Mai's hype turns into disappointment that she realizes Micchy's up to no good, she questions his decision making a deal with bloodthirsty monsters. Micchy explains about how powerful the Overlords are, thus humanity has no chance even united, thus Micchy wants to ensure that the "worthy" ones survive in the end of the world. Mai points out that this is no different from Yggdrasill's actions, claiming that Kouta won't agree to this. This cracks Micchy that he claims Kouta's always wrong, blaming him that he involves everyone in the unwinnable fight (with flashback about Kouta rushing to save civilians attacked by Inves as Micchy holds him), deeming him as idiot who can't protect their friends, and claims to Mai that she's in danger due to Kouta. However, Mai reaffirms that she's not playing favorites between the friends, as the reason is that she believes in hope, and Kouta's holding unto his hope, aiming high to ensure triumph for humanity, and didn't do wrong in him fighting together with the others, Mai's someone hopeful and optimistic as well, thus it'd make her fighting with Kouta. She tries to persuade Micchy to not give up too, not bowing down to the Overlords to fight together, but Micchy just leaves. Unfortunately, just like her slap before, Mai's approach (and the opposite to the slap, not physical one) to Micchy here leads for him to think that to save her, he needs to get rid of Kouta, as he inspires hope in her and that's the barrier between him and Mai. This speaks about how little empathy Micchy has, and that he never understands about virtue and goodness, only being baffled about how Kouta brings hope to others, making not only Mai, but others to stand by him, thinking that only his schemes are the right way to "protect" (only) his friends. Siding with Overlords to ensure his safety, and certain people like his friends, is also the most cowardly move someone can pull, combined with utter immorality, it'll cause huge scale harm instead.

Rat and Rica returns to Redyue's machine, as they'd be worried about Akira and they think Micchy's acting weird. Other than Micchy's deluded view that he's protecting his friends and blaming Kouta for everything that happened to them if they for example "don't smile", the friends are the one to notice that Micchy's disturbing now, not only Mai above, but also Rat and Rica here, despite presenting his plan as benevolent, but only for the Team Gaim. I know that Kouta and Micchy are longtime friends, but it seems that the other friends at Team Gaim catches on Micchy's rotten nature better. The irony behind all the Micchy's schemes, he has the obsession to protect (only) his "friends", but his actions, blaming Kouta when it doesn't go his way, and how he intends to betray everyone to keep the emotional satisfaction for being together with his happy friends had alienated him from his friends for good instead. Rat and Rica noticed that the machine had worked, with Rat unsuccessfully trying to take off the device in Akira's face. Redyue arrives, watching their activities.

In Drupers, Kaito and Minato finish their meal and heads back to the garage, with Kouta not having an appetite. Bando warns him that if he doesn't eat, he won't be in fit condition fighting monsters. Micchy is spying on this, making his move as Kouta is now alone. Takatora also watches Micchy making his move here, and is being spied too. Micchy approaches Kouta to talk about something. Micchy talks about how Kouta holds into hope, wanting to save humanity without sacrifices, so that nobody ends up like Yuuya. Kouta acknowledges that it's not easy, but doesn't mean he shouldn't try. Like Takatora, Micchy thinks the hope is ridiculous based on how Kouta killed Yuuya to save Mai's life, like what Takatora brought up to Kouta before. But Micchy claims Kouta should be proud of killing Yuuya for that, as he kicks Kouta. Micchy's going full yandere here, to even dismiss about Yuuya's death if it keeps Mai safe, and about how he doesn't view his friends as person. He brings up Mai's well-being again to persuade Kouta as always, which is a real world emotional blackmail technique. As Kouta is confused by Micchy's move, Micchy claims that Kouta can be the hero humanity needed if he had the guts to make tough decisions, but now Micchy's respect to Kouta has gone as Micchy looks down on hope, thinking about how optimism makes one blind to reality and makes him do mistakes. Micchy has inherited Sid's traits for now as well to be a hope crusher and glorifying dirtying one's hands to get the job done, claiming it makes a hero. To show how little he understands, being a hero is about doing good deeds to others, having guts (not in morally questionable way) and being admired is just a bonus. And well, I guess Micchy's the one who's blinded here by his grudge against Kouta, how Kouta gets his power up aside, Micchy just complains that Kouta gets stronger and stronger, when he's the one that can take on Overlords that terrifies Micchy in their power. The irony about how Micchy looks up to Kouta and Mai, wanting to grow up become like them, but instead he becomes their antithesis. Micchy's take of using Kouta as his role model is also a dark variant, like what Takatora claims before that he only fights Yggdrasill to challenge him, not about emulating Kouta's best traits by fighting as a Rider, but about how Kouta is admired and respected by Mai, Team Gaim, and Takatora, which due to this, turns Micchy bitter and jealous instead if Kouta earns them. Micchy represents the worst and misguided take of picking someone as role model, when someone takes one as role model, it has to be examined the reason they idolize said role model. Micchy henshins using Genesis Driver, to Takatora's surprise that he had his belt, and Kouta realizing that his allies are right about his true nature as Micchy's Zangetsu Shin now, as Micchy deems hope as disease that Kouta spreads. Kouta questions Micchy about Takatora's fate, as Micchy claims he's dead, again blaming Kouta for that. As Kouta gets beaten up for a while, though confused, Kouta finally henshins into Gaim as Zangetsu Shin shoots an arrow to him, starts refering him by "Mitsuzane" for now, symbolizing Micchy not being the same self as the one that were Team Gaim's "friend" now. Note that Kouta henshins inch away the arrow's going to hit and possibly kill Kouta.