[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

Regarding 3 though, denial as a coping mechanism for guilt is an intriguing thing for the story to focus on for sure. It's easy to become a prisoner of your own delusions when the reality is so difficult to accept and that's reflected in all the chains on his suit, showing how his role as a Kamen Rider isn't giving him purpose but keeping him from his purpose. Part of being a sportsman is accepting when you've lost and acknowledging your opponent's merits and it was clever and visually impressive for the movie to use the Rider Grand Prix as a way to frame that conflict, with Shinnosuke, as someone who wants to atone for his part in Hayase's injury, being the one to try and knock some sense in to him and get him to own that past, even though it's ugly, so he can restart his engine and start to become a better and stronger person.

That's a really good point about using sportsmanship to get at Sangou's deeper emotions! I hadn't made that connection, and it's a smart one. Thanks!