[DreadBringer]

Kamen Rider W(atch)

Weather Arc

Episode 19-20: The I Doesn't Stop

I refers to Iceage (Dopant), Investigation and Intensity.

Written by: Riku Sanjo, Directed by: Hidenori Ishida

/That Guy's Name Is Accel

Shotaro is yet again trying to become hard-boiled, this time by playing billiard below the Narumi Detective Agency office, which he likens the gameplay of predicting ball's direction and hunting them one-by-one into detective work. But with the usual half-boiled gag, though I'd feel this is flanderization or escalation, Shotaro failed so much in a mere basics of billiard, with him slipping the cue stick away. Terui arrives at the place, and he's not called ace cop by Jinno and Makura for nothing... he's able to sink all the balls in a single break, surprising Shotaro (anyone would be likely as surprised too...) as the feat is hard-boiled as hell. Terui (with Shotaro finding this out as well) introduces himself as a police detective to Akiko, asking for a case to find culprit behind assaults that left the victim frozen. The hard-boiled stuff is the most sensitive topic to Shotaro.. so much that he succumbs to negativity here, to irrationally and pettily kicking Terui (someone hard-boiled) out due to refusing to play second-fiddle to authorities. But of course, Akiko's the chief and therefore she's the one to decide (along with dragging Shotaro who Terui asks to 'borrow'), especially after Terui pays and that she views Terui much more highly than Shotaro, expressing an interest in him, along with Phillip deciding to look up what bothers him about Terui. Much character shilling for Terui here, though personally I don't fully agree with the shilling with him considered much cooler than Shotaro right away by style or appearence; I mean Terui did have inhuman skills at billiard, but only Shotaro saw that.

As Shotaro and Terui arrive at the crime scene, they find a frozen apartment room, belonging to the attacked Shinya Ikeda. Shotaro finds out again about Terui being the one in charge, and Terui shilling continues from Jinno (who hypes him up as someone to establish Special Crimes Unit) and Makura (who had Terui as role model). Terui finds a blue chrysanthemum as a clue, and while Shotaro seemingly has put his irrational dislike of Terui away to cooperate with the clue, it's Terui's turn to be hostile to him, in greater extent than Shotaro before, showing great aggressiveness and confrontation to him while pushing him to wall, refusing to hear his questions. Ryubee and Saeko are talking about the freeze from Dopant's attack as well, while introducing Wakana to the basement of the museum, trying to get her into official Museum work. Shotaro and Terui finds the Iceage Dopant who is targeting Ikeda again, who survives but is in bad condition. Terui is revealed to have a sword named Engine Blade, which is so heavy Terui had difficulty lifting it and it damages the asphalt, walls, and cars when hit. Terui orders Shotaro to henshin into Kamen Rider, much to his surprise that he knows, and has everything figured out. A bit of delay with Phillip focusing on his new topic for a while, showing again the difficulty of 2-in-1 Rider. As Iceage uses, well, ice, W uses HeatJoker to deal with the ice attacks. Iceage escapes, with Terui vehemently pursuing it, and catches a glimpse of a woman running off with a blue flower left behind, and Terui is revealed to know Phillip as well, telling Shotaro to give the keywords to him.

They go to the secret base in the office, finding Phillip going into another one of his hijinks, wearing St. Bernard costume due to following Wakana's radio show. Shotaro finally had enough and forbids Phillip listening to Healing Princess. This gives a forceful parent to a child vibe in Shotaro and Phillip where parents can forbid kids to follow their interests (e.g. playing games) due to it being 'distractions'. It ironically also reveals Phillip's more 'human' side having his own hobbies and interests too, which is inherent in humans and can't be just taken away like Shotaro or those figures want them too - it can cause problems but the interest can be directed into positive path while still being kept. Terui reveals more of himself that the mechanical kabuto Phillip caught before was his gadget to spy on the protagonist trio. He also reveals an Accel Memory, as he wants to become Kamen Rider too, taking over W as they don't have what it takes, to the displeasure of Shotaro and Phillip of his behavior. This'd just be self-centered and detrimental to force only 1 'hero' fighting in the city, as Kamen Riders aren't omnipresent. To prove W, Terui tests Phillip to help with their case, and with additional clues from Terui, Phillip identifies the flower shop Cornflower Blue, while Akiko reveals the owner as Katahira Makiko (Akiko with M added ~), the woman who run from the crime scene earlier. Terui acknowledges W's capabilities, but same as previously in what Akiko and Wakana sees, Terui sees Phillip as the useful one. At the flower shop, Makiko's son tell the detectives that Makiko hangs out at Fuuto Park regularly, albeit is defensive to his mom due to her infamy due to her negative traits.

As they reach the Fuuto Park, Terui catches a glimpse of a woman with a hat, sunglasses, and mask (..!), where it's shown that Terui's true purpose is going after her, leaving Shotaro and Akiko to find Makiko. Terui identifies that woman as Shroud, who gives him the AccelDriver in a metal suitcase surrounded by a ring of fire. They really should've named it AccelRider instead, it contains bike's handlebar and not steering wheel! It's implied that Shroud 'worked' for Terui, this time to make him a Kamen Rider as he claims Shroud has finished my Driver. Akiko, as normal person would do in theme parks, won't waste this moment by actually enjoying the rides in the park, to Shotaro's dismay. But turns out that, having fun doesn't mean that you'd fail, as Akiko's the one to find Makiko, who is also.. riding a merry-go-round. That'd mean Shotaro's too serious either being confused of grown-up riding it or not approving Akiko having fun. Shotaro and Akiko approaches her, who tells them that she used to ride merry-go-round with her son. But as Shotaro questions her about the frozen victim, Makiko realizes that they're cops, and reveals her true cold and icy persona, ignoring them and leaving. Shotaro warns her that he'd make her pay if she makes the city cry, but she pushes Akiko to Shotaro to run, and both are confronted by Iceage again, which Shotaro thinks Makiko's the Dopant. Shotaro henshins into W HeatJoker right away, but Iceage is strong enough to freeze Heat, which means HeatJoker won't be advantageous enough.

Terui comes, and it's his debut in TV show (as his real debut was in Movie War, the first of secondaries) as Kamen Rider Accel, a bulky red Rider with engine properties in his stomach, using Engine Blade as his weapon. Accel can also rev the AccelDriver to release a fire from his body, freeing him from Iceage's freezing. Accel also can use Engine Memory in Engine Blade, turning it into flaming blade, which is based on one of the three engine types, representing jet type here (the other ones being steam and electriic). That'd mean Accel is stronger than HeatJoker, at least in their fire abilities (with W also shilling Accel's combat and Akiko throwing her catchphrase). As Iceage escapes, Accel shows another one of his ability, turning into a literal motorcycle in his BikeForm to chase Iceage down. After he catches up (and in reverse, Iceage releases a steam from its body to extinguish the flames on her like Accel before), Accel ends the fight with his Maximum Drive, Accel Glanzer, a spinning kick like Fang Strizer, but with skid-mark like trail. Accel was engulfed in flame before the kick, but it's not used at all in the attack...it suddenly disappears after he jumps. They then note that the defeated Iceage was a decoy created by Makiko, who escapes while carrying a Gaia Memory, as there are no Gaia Memory after Accel destroyed it. Accel chases her, and as she's cornered, Accel still tries to attack her, which W tries to stop, like usual to not give excessive beatdown to an already powerless threat. W now sees what it means to be hard-boiled in Accel...

/Kamen Rider Style

Accel is relentlessly brutal in trying to take down Makiko, the supposed Dopant, in her human form due to her taking everything away from him as W Memory owner, even rejecting and berating W for trying to reason with him, as per his usual refusal to questions - that'd be very dangerous mentality to have which this episode does explore. After he de-henshins, Shotaro calls out Accel (still in Rider form) for not following the values expected from Kamen Rider, which is to hate the criminal act, not the criminal itself - which means not killing someone after they no longer pose a threat. As expected in a hardass (-boiled?) and brutal character, for upholding moral and humanity values other than simply destroying enemies, Accel berates Shotaro as naive and attacks. Even Akiko, who shills Accel before, now instead jumps in Shotaro's defense, and Accel de-henshins, but declares his hatred against Fuuto again, claiming that the city and people there are rotten. If Terui refers to 'rotten' here as in people who object to him, including condemning non-toxic flaw like being "naive", then he'd possess self-righteous views, "with us or against us" mentality. Later Akiko too, laments that the 'cool, sharp, and capable' Terui have really violent side, reminding that in that kind of person, negative traits aren't the part of their coolness (e.g. "chad") and can't be played up as admirable like Terui's brutality, despite some audiences doing so. Phillip suspects personal connection between the freezing attacks and Terui, while describing hard-boiled as those who ruthlessly pursue their belief, having iron will, which refers to Terui. This one's not shilling though, more like talking about why being hard-boiled doesn't actually work, going against Shotaro's values - a deconstruction. I actually feel that other than a sigh, I find Shotaro not responding enough to the real consequences of being hard-boiled here, other than going to stop Terui against his injuries, making Akiko throwing her chief position to prevent him leaving as endearing this time which is worrying about his state. That alone also qualifies for iron will to stop potential danger despite his injuries.

Terui throws a bit of his anger to Jinno and Makura as well for failing to find Makiko (the "good work" seems sarcastic, opposite to treating those 2 as children in his mumble), and decides to work independently. While Terui follows after Makiko's son, Watcherman informs Shotaro and Akiko that Makiko's personal territory is Ayumi Park, and it's shown that Makiko visits the place and flashback of her playing with her son appears. Makiko meets her son in present day there, who is named Kiyoshi, and shown to be cold to his mother, ignoring Makiko's explanation to explain the reasons. Accel, naturally, jumps into the conclusion that Makiko is so despicable that the son won't defend her and resumes his attack. Shotaro and Akiko arrive to stop him, with Accel calling Shotaro out to not realize what he already did (likely the assumption that Shotaro let the supposed criminal continue her attack unprovoked, which'd be rotten in his eyes, and while it can potentially happen, doesn't mean one's own action is never wrong either like Terui's). Phillip arrives too with Fang Memory so that they fight Accel as W FangJoker, outright viewing Accel as insane. It seems that true Accel is stronger than base W, as he keeps up with FangJoker. Accel shows another one of his abilities, using jet variant of engine type to fire energy projectiles. Accel then uses electric variant of engine type to enhance Engine Blade's slashes with electric. W counters with Shoulder Fang, and restrains Accel, claiming that losing composure reduces his fighting effectivity. Contrary to popular belief that when someone is angered so much (except those that literally have anger as actual superpower) they can mow anything in their way, instead you won't be able to keep clear head. Accel claims he's doing his job as officer, but W figures it out that Accel was only fighting for vendetta, though Accel admits that as he reverts to Terui. Duty as officer? More like Terui knows nothing/being blinded about that, as murdering criminals constantly with no trial or conviction is a criminal act itself, especially that it comes from a cop himself, not from a vigilante. Phillip figures it out from the fact that the victims of Iceage Dopant attacks involve Terui's family after his search. Terui lashes out again for being a "know-it-all" regarding his feelings, but Phillip's rational is put in good use here, he acknowledges that, but is also why Terui had to tell them to actually solve the problem, the very reason he hired the protagonist trio...

Terui's impulsiveness is clarified again as Saeko (bringing Wakana along) is preparing to meet up a valuable ally of Museum which is said as the lead suspect in the freezing attacks lately, and the W Memory user. Which, as Shotaro pointed out, the consequence of revenge and violence is that being blinded by it so much that Terui almost killed the wrong person, after telling his story that his family was killed by a freezing attack and his father bringing up W Memory... and he had the nerve to tell the trio that they have no right to stop him after finding the supposed monster, viewing everyone but him as in the wrong. Talking about law where they work, it's the reason why death penalty is questionable as well. Like most of the secondary Riders, Terui's an anti-hero, as while he's a cop doing his job (not a corrupt one), he had several unpleasant traits like being driven by personal reasons like hatred and revenge, the brutality and violence in carrying his will, and the self-righteousness to reject reasoning until now, all which are needed to be kept in check. Especially in series like W where the Dopants are like Riders, only strong in their Dopant form, but is completely normal in human form which can be easily subdued. Unfortunately the consequences of those trait isn't always shown in other characters possessing those traits in other media, or worse, portraying actual morality as being ineffective (while thinking that being heroic/moral is simply destroying evil), which can lead into the audience thinking that heroes have to possess those traits to become 'effective', while bashing those who object as being "stubborn" and "naive" (like Terui himself). Regardless of it being 'effective' or not, doing the right thing means you shouldn't resign to the cynical perception of reality and only doing what is most 'effective' like pragmatism and the end justifies the means instead, which are morally wrong to do, to regards unlucky few with finite value like cattle, disregarding their individuality and feelings, and even if anti-heroes are subcategory of heroes, doesn't mean they don't have to work towards becoming better persons all-round.

Shotaro leads Terui into the real Iceage, which turns out to be Kiyoshi. Kiyoshi is dancing in a dance club, but kicks everyone out as the protagonist trio and Terui comes. Shotaro notices that Makiko's infamy is due to her son, not herself, who wastes her money and attacks people. Kiyoshi is borderline psychopathic, abusing his power to attack anyone who pisses him off, including Shotaro accidentally shoving him at Cornflower Blue, even enjoying inflicting pain to others, excusing himself due to others mocking him as useless son. While Makiko was actually a good mother, protecting him by spreading flowers in crime scene. It finally gets through Terui's thick head that he almost killed an innocent. Makiko tries to stop Kiyoshi once again, but he directly defies her mother to escape by pushing her to ground, enraging Shotaro. Shotaro and Phillip chases after him to fight as W HeatJoker, while Akiko takes care of Makiko and Terui is still disgusted but conflicted at Shotaro's "naivety". Akiko admits to him that Shotaro is half-boiled, but the scene plays it out as acknowledging it as endearing part of Shotaro instead, reminds me of Kagami in Kabuto being 'praised' for his idiocy due to him rushing to do the right things. In W's fight, Iceage has an ability to control nearby water as well, turning it into freezing projectiles. W changes into HeatTrigger to fight against it, but gets overwhelmed. Terui arrives and henshins into Accel, fighting against the freezing projectiles with steam ability in Engine Blade. Accel finishes the fight by launching Iceage with electric Engine Blade and Engine Maximum Drive A-Slasher, launching A-shaped concentration of energy. Terui almost kills Kiyoshi in his human form who is reduced to begging for help, as Shotaro and (M)akiko tries to stop him, but to their relief Terui handcuffs him instead. Though not fully as he'd only do it in Fuuto, Shotaro succeeded in making Terui change a bit to play by his rules (actually law rules are like that in the first place) there, with his half-boiled traits held in higher regard (even Shotaro only calmly denies it there.. well should argue about iron will being something that he had too). It feels wrong to me that all of Kiyoshi's aggression instantly disappears at this point though, even without power (or it should be the reason). Another twist comes that, the Memory Kiyoshi used wasn't W, but Iceage, so it means that Terui didn't catch his real target for now. Said real target is discussed by Saeko and Wakana as a real monster for his Gaia Memory usage, not following anyone, and that they're lucky he's not their enemy. After the case ended, Shotaro is back at being irrationally mad at Terui.. due to him acting like he owns the office making delicious coffee (even to Shotaro) and attempting to take over him as Phillip's partner (as usual, Shotaro being viewed as beneath Phillip), leading to Shotaro throwing pillow to him. Yes, Terui's change isn't full at this point.