[DreadBringer]

Going back to Ikki as the main focus of the episode. And so they're actually saving Kudo for this, a new Deadman human ally. I guess he's the one that'd be expected if the Deadmans pull this shit, as Kudo was the most evil among the contract holders before (he also looked really different... significantly younger).

Indeed Ikki hasn't let go fully of his overprotective behavior to his siblings, where they're Kamen Riders now, even if Ikki's in worse position that he can't use his Revice Driver and his siblings are the ones who can fight. And I think Ikki not fully learning his lesson is the reason why Kagerou manifests back in this episode, with Daiji still being babied by Ikki that he worries too much that Daiji can't be independent out there as Rider, thus his resentment to Ikki resurfaces as Ikki goes back to his old habit, where of course as usual Daiji is subdued by only pointing out that the siblings aren't weak anymore, but not for Kagerou. Really Ikki should stop as it has proven to have unfortunate consequences, or probably if he learns that Kagerou can come back. Though it can be Kagerou taking over when he's beaten up from battle or Olteca directly releasing it with his tentacles. Ikki's new upgrade Barid Rex Genome, focuses on ice, and it has a theme revolving it like Ice Age (the era where dinosaurs were dying).

Sakura seems to be more relaxed dealing with her family after dropping her edgy act, dismissing Ikki and Daiji's concerns in more funny and lighthearted way (though I guess pointing out Ikki can't henshin is a bit of a payback, albeit Ikki too storms into the Skybase as regular human), though dunno if (she did ask for overcompensation at the end of last episode) she also hadn't fully learned her lesson like Ikki.

Turns out that Yukimi has something to learn too herself, despite acting usually as a guidance over her sons before, that she's even more overprotective than Ikki is against Sakura, despite that she'd let her sons fight as Riders, and Sakura already being trained to fight. A trivia that 2 of her ViStamps Kujaku and Turtle had their Rider bases ZX and V3 dealing with dead sisters and avenging them.

For once, Genta's the one to be sort of useful here, being the one to solve over this overprotectiveness by pointing out that it takes more courage to trust than worry, leading for Ikki to act fully friendly to Vice for the first time. With the 'trust' being shown by Vice punching a Deadman behind Ikki where Ikki didn't notice. I'm still not fully onboard with trusting morally dubious beings to be released which Ikki does to Vice, though it's true that there are also positive moments Vice did to him which Ikki overlook like trying to protect him from Kagerou, but I'm fully onboard on the more innocent side, on how you should trust others to handle problems by themselves instead of holding them back. Better try and mitigate problems (if not successful) than not trying at all due to over-worry of being injured. And not trusting others to handle problems is quite an innocent version of putting others down, viewing them as weak or incapable...

Hiromi's the other one that has his Driver taken, for his physical health, and the episode does show that he will perform heroic deeds even without power, it's regardless required as Jeanne has inherent escort mission for Lovekov, if she's not used as weapon. Now Happy Spa's the one to lend a hand on Fenix by having Hiromi take a bath there. There's now a hook of Wakabayashi being actually a traitor and is Chameleon Deadman, but I guess it's just Chameleon's ability to shapeshift into others, and guessing from how Revice had some evil twist hook before, but actually not (Daiji's envy, but it's actually Kagerou, and Sakura at preview of ep. 12, but it's actually Seiko). George would still take pot shots at Vice for his criticism to Jackal design. Finally the mid-season upgrade Barid Rex Genome comes, which is George's big project at this moment. Vice did have his payback as the skateboard, but at this point, George's own pettiness and spite will just hinder Fenix/Kamen Rider's progress that Vice will be stuck on his weaker base form, hindering Revice's overall battle power still. This shows how cold traits can instead be detrimental, and storytelling-wise, it's probably an effective one to handicap a scientist's contribution. Though he's able to get over Sakura, only focusing on the sender.