[DreadBringer]

The Revice episode without the opening song... and it delivers even more bodycounts, and it gives the main Rider the most severe injuries yet, though otherwise focusing on Julio.

Now Olteca seems to have a potential turning into an irredeemable villain (he got similar contempt from the main hero as the likes of Redyue and Evolt), now he didn't only carry out his schemes like in first arc, but they emphasized his cruelty with his utter glee and satisfaction in killing humans for Giftarian as well as his psychological torture to Julio by killing Yosuke as they're in process of reconciling. Regarding Julio, seems that the blame isn't only on the traitor, but he himself has a share for not considering Yosuke's condition that, actually I'm wrong, he too was bullied. That's some good bait for them to make Julio say no to Yosuke's offer at first, thought as a rejection, but actually it's Julio blaming himself a bit. Yosuke's death here does raise points for Julio's sympathy, but there's still no redemption for him here (or he had some by asking for heroes' favor in rather civil manner, but pushed back by Olteca). In fact, it just escalates his threat, seen in him gaining much stronger Riot Form, as well as him rampaging in the city (he turns into Fenix' main attention). He does fight Olteca, but targeting evil person doesn't make you good, it'd be a case of evil vs evil. Riot Form has awesome showing here, back into Kuuga-like scale of nuclear-explosions? The trio are unlikely to get ever back together I guess, but Aguilera saving Julio shows that (other than Aguilera caring for him deep down) Olteca doesn't hold absolute power, despite Aguilera being played like a fiddle by Olteca before. Aguilera would still be a thorn on Olteca's side.

Ikki and Vice have gotten along since ep. 13, but this episode takes their bond to a further level as Ikki not refers to Vice as aibou. More about Ikki is shown here as well with him being someone that has existential crisis, with his current action of taking care of others but himself being the means for him to look for himself. Would see later on how existential crisis being handled, but for Ikki apparently, going for more ethical solution is selfish due to his failure there compared to just resorting into killing Deadmans. This shows quite harsh truth that being more idealistic can be more difficult and costly, that Ikki likely can end the potential victims Olteca can create if he finished off the Deadmans. That doesn't mean he's selfish for that though, or that he should give up on it (of which there can be bad consequences on other parts), your morals or goodness aren't necessarily determined by the result (including villains that created birth of heroes, many in KR of which heroes' powers can originate from villain's), that sometimes it's just your incapability instead of selfishness. For him being 'selfish' due to him dragging Vice into danger, it's the one that is used to reaffirm their escalating partnership, with Vice now acting as Ikki's emotional support despite the rocky start, and for this one, there are no Vice "corrupting" Ikki to console him. Vice seems to have changed for the better this time, with Ikki's faith of him (piggybacking him) paid off.

Ikki and Vice's fight and teamwork, despite the contradicting powers, is shown really well and it's one of the fight choreography in KR that impressed me. It shows a good use of ice and fire power, with Vice freezing Riot Form to hold him in place for Revi's punch. Another one I liked is Vice utilizing Revi's fire by creating ice sword handle to make a fire sword.

Daiji's reaction of Ikki literally being burned with rage is just reprimanding Ikki for his behavior again. So this shows further that Daiji can feel under Ikki's shadow but doesn't hate him, all his "feuds" with Ikki are only about Ikki's bad habits. Despite showing sympathy to Aguilera, Sakura still holds some grudge to Tamaki, of which while understandable, still Aguilera had done more harm to her compared to Tamaki (albeit Tamaki was a double-crosser). Their fights on Julio's Riot Form, this kinda shafted Sakura a bit that Live did a bit better, when Jeanne's the one that is considered having biggest potential.

I'd admit, George's portrayal here is mostly wholesome that he seems genuinely on good side here (still the more morally dubious type, but not evil). His suggestion for Ikki to save himself by not thinking about separating demon is done similarly to Daiji's suggestion, that it's not done to demean Ikki or his more idealistic approach, but out of concern. He also acts pretty much as a mentor to him by telling him about what's going on as well as guiding him on using the Volcano Rex, in a straightforward way. Albeit George has been mostly good to Ikki, like him allowing Ikki to keep the belt at first episode. The next episode will bring up more about Fenix in general it seems, with the setup of Hiromi being biologically 80 years old according to Mikoshiba Akemi, the female Fenix doctor. She seems to be someone no-nonsense and strict, but this is done for Hiromi's sake. Ironically, despite chastising Hiromi for his Rider activities, Akemi seems to be someone workaholic and pushing as well, with several energy drink bottles she drank. I guess probably it'd be revealed the consequences of Demons not unleashing Hiromi's inner demon. The director Hideo seems even more suspicious with him being enthusiastic to Giff's body.

Quote:

Originally Posted by IndigoArms

I think Revice is becoming hands down, the best Reiwa rider show by far. One of the reasons is that The main rider actually has development and times feeling conflicted about his actions compared to Zero One and Saber, who I feel hardly changed in the course of the show.

So within Ikki it also shows for developing or being conflicted, you don't need to make them morally ambiguous (well, at least so far for what's shown in Ikki, dunno about dark implications from Vice stuff later). Zero-One was the only case where main Rider that outright turned villainous though.

I think Ikki's appeal to me is that he still can screw up even if he's nice, well-meaning, and not doing anything morally questionable. He shows that flaws aren't only toxic traits and that can cause problems (well dunno about Vice relation later) thus there are other things one should fix other than moral/actions, and he's not made to be an utter idiot to do that (usually it's how they can cause trouble despite their morals).

Quote:

Originally Posted by nitraion

Its been Looong time that i give a shit to a Villain... the Julio stuff ia so good hell i even start worrying when Volcano beating Julio up with OP theme song because that usually wouldn't end well to Villain, and aqulera is really care for Julio that make me tear up

Still a reminder that though Aguilera would save him at times of crisis, Aguilera would usually abuse him and there's how Aguilera views and treats others.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yarlick

The focus on Julio was great. I wouldn’t mind have him as a Rider to counter what Olteca is plotting. Also, Aguilera being on the bench for once is surprisingly a thing I liked. I don’t see these two being villains at the end of the series.

Olteca,there’s no redemption for him, he is a pure scumbag and I see him dying miserably at the hand of Giff or something like that.

Yeah, a possibility at the end of Revice. Julio's still very much a villaiin though in this episode, despite him going through tragic times here. He's the main rampaging monster at the city and Fenix mainly tracks him. Aguilera also other than being victimized by Olteca before, so far had no redeeming qualities yet, at best has twisted approach to someone she's fond of like Sakura.