[Kamen Rider Die]

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Originally Posted by Enchilada645

The most I can remember is slightly popping off when Foundation X was revealed to be the main bad guy behind it all. But then I remember it not going anywhere and then I slightly remember realizing "Wait was this supposed to hint at them utilizing Bugster tech in Heisei Gen Final?" and am like "Okay I guess."

Yeah, having Foundation X show up, when they will not factor into the plot ever again, is just the cherry on top of a sadistic sundae.

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Originally Posted by Androzani84

I mostly remember this for a gag dub that, among other jokes, had Hiro?s nurses dying from internal injuries and lack of screen time, Hiro?s award that he initially sets off to receive being for ?worst catchphrase? and the Foundation X man at the end succinctly summing up the twist ?This goes nowhere?.

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Originally Posted by GrandComplete

So I guess your skipping over Gorider then. Also the scene where Asakura is eating the raw mackerel is a reference to Changerion who's main character is played by the same actor. Also Inoue wrote it. And shockingly this isn't written by Inoue. Apparantly Ouja is Hiiro actor favorite Rider.

Gorider is going to be a three-night event next week! It's maybe the thing in this project I'm most excited to revisit!

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Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

For the very first ever Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club special, I just don't understand why they went with something that limits its own appeal this much? The best theory I've got is that they were actively trying to do a "you won't see THIS kind of thing on Sunday mornings!" approach, but honestly, even putting aside the issue of how much Asakura clashes with Ex-Aid's world and tone, seeing him here doesn't at all give me the same feeling I get from him in Ryuki? I can't totally put my finger on it, but nothing about his appearance in this satisfied me as someone immensely fond of that show and its characters. And then as an Ex-Aid story, it's just a zero nuance version of Hiiro's basic arc (to the point that, as you mention, it comes off as weirdly toxic), and I checked out at the exact same moment you did.

There's an On Paper way of promoting this special that sort of explains what the producers might've been thinking. Like, on paper, a more "mature" (read: childish obsession with gore/violence) take on Ex-Aid for older fans, at the same time Amazons was in production, makes sense. Launching a fan club service with the return of one of the most beloved Phase 1 characters who is not Scissors, that's an exciting concept. I can sort of see why they thought this would work, even if the actual nuts-and-bolts of the story should've clued them in that it wouldn't.

And, yeah, some of why it doesn't work is because of Asakura's steadfast refusal to engage with the premise of Ex-Aid. Say what you will about his intransigence (harsh, but hopefully fair) on Ryuki, but that dude was a game day player. He was always ready to TATAKAE. Here, while he's terrorizing nurses and humiliating doctors, he 100% does not care about the Gashat he's supposed to be... stealing? Defeating? Just plain getting killed by to Collect Data? (It's not clear what the villain scheme even is, which is another problem!) He doesn't want to be a part of whatever story is being told, which is nearly the exact opposite of the way he helped propel the plot in Ryuki.