[TheRaizin]

What a ride, what a ride.

If I hadn't said it already, I LOVE Saber. And, in truth, maybe because personally I have an attachment to the fantasy theme in general, so it was pre-determined at the start that I would grow attached to Saber.

Admittedly, the show has it's issues. The weird direction of the first 15, the large cast whose screentime may dwindle in some areas, some suits not being up to my standard, most of Luna's entire deal, Ryoga being somewhat just there despite me really liking him, and this ONE little thing that I wish the ending did, but didn't.

But it never really took away the show from me, the show started improving after the 15 episodes, the large cast is its own disadvantage while also its own advantage. You still get the sense that they're a together thing and a family. Granted, I wish there was more time to them, like Ogami and Ryoga. These two really needed some screentime and something to justify them being there besides being riders themselves but oh well.

Like I said before, Touma is not the most unique protagonist, and I think that's okay. We had Aruto last year, someone who's basically a flat character (don't take that the wrong way) all throughout the show till the final arc twist. So, I think it's perfectly fine for Touma. He, actually, is as textbook as they come, he's by the book kind of protagonist. But Naito's improving acting and overall performance brought heart to his role. I think, I think, he'll be one of my favorite MCs now.

Rintarou's amazing, and Takaya Yamaguchi SELLS it, easily one of the best secondaries we've gotten. I hope he gets to have a V-cinema along with Espada, and I wish the actor well.

No, wait, the main three are favorites of mine now. I like the little tragic spin they were going for Kento, even if it has some slight issues. But the Calibur arc cemented my liking towards him, and I hope he gets the V-Cinema upgrade ala Yuujou burst. He absolutely nails the childhood friend trope whenever he's with Touma, and I think it helps because the two actors are good friends in real life.

Ren is a great one, too. I already liked him from the start, but he was killer in Saber's final moments. What a turnaround. I love how both his character and actor got to grow, and I wish the best in Togashi's goal in being an action director.

I do love that the Primitive kid gets to have one last hurrah here, not too often we see the mid-season form show up for the final battle.

As for the ending, it's surprisingly competent and somewhat bittersweet. We take a year later, so we can just have everyone already settling in, and Mei is presenting a new story. A new book by Touma, that was given the Keichii Hasegawa award! I swear, he's just screwing with Fukuda at this point, being the one who wrote the final parts! And there he is too, as a humagear! Easy to forget the Saber's secret start was Touma reading a news article about Zero-One. I think that's a neat way to tie that up.

Kento has also become a writer or a shopkeep of the bookstore, everyone's taking it easy as well. We still got the "Touma becomes Wonder Guardian" thing for a bit, but I think his character was all about defying fate, so he gets to do just that and also be able to leave Wonder World and return everyone. Funny, that Yuri was just reading his comics in the afterlife, what an absolute legend.

Touma goes back home, after taking a one year leave, along with his brand new magnum opus of a book, and everyone comes in to greet him. Even Ren, who was seemingly off somewhere. And the scene of Touma and Kento running around in their childhood spot gave such an enormous smile to my face. I say it's bittersweet because Luna never got to go back with everyone, so it's not a completely happy ending.

If there was one issue I got with the ending, is I wish it ended a little more bittersweet. Touma gets to become a Wonder Guardian, giving everyone the hope that he'll come back one day. And Luna gets to go to earth and live the normal life that she was robbed of. So, basically, the show ending, but Luna is with the others instead of passing on along with the other Originals. But this one is mighty fine enough.

Thank you, Kamen Rider Saber. I'll want to start throwing them yens when you make Xross' SHF.

Next week: the Saber x Revice special! This is looking great, I'm already liking how Revi and Vice interact. We are reminded that Rintarou wants to tell Mei something, but it seems that Ryoga has something to do with it, too!

Very interesting that it's Saber and Espada who gets to team with ReVice intsead of Blades.

What if it's because the Blades suit is being used to film the V-cin?