[GoldenXtreme]

Revice has this cynical edge to it that keeps catching me off guard. I really didn't expect Yosuke to just DIE like that. In general, the villains in this show are probably the highlight for me so far. Julio and Aquilera in particular both get a lot of focus so that the viewer can understand their mindsets better, to the point I'm really rooting for both of them to be saved in the end! Between Julio getting emotionally steamrolled and Aquilera's genuine attempt to cheer him up and rescue him, there were good moments for both of them. It is really unusual for me to like villains this much, so props to the show on that front.

On the side of the heroes, I think the bits with Hiromi and Sakura were good this episode too. Hiromi is getting absolutely physically destroyed by the Rider System, so I'm excited to see where they go with it next week. Sakura trying to reconcile Yosuke and Julio was a nice scene, even if it had devastating consequences, and I liked the little knowing look her and Aquilera gave each other at the end. On the other hand, even though this episode had a a heavy emphasis on Ikki, I just... don't particularly enjoy him as a character for some reason. I'm inclined to agree with Fish that I don't like how whenever it seems like he might change as a character he just kinda defaults back to his comfort zone instead. I might warm up to him more later, but I find him a bit forgettable as a Rider protagonist so far. Daiji is also at a point where I think he desperately needs more attention, since he hasn't done much since the Kagerou arc.