[Kamen Rider Die]

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Originally Posted by FreshToku

See, I enjoyed Den-O a lot and I just never cared at all about how much the time travel stuff might occasionally (or often) not make sense, and I was all ready to just roll with the nonsense in Zi-O too. But Zi-O's 2.5 kind of rubs me the wrong way because if you're going to acknowledge that it's all just nonsense anyway, then maybe don't spend so much screentime trying to make to 'explain' it or make it sound like it'll be a big deal? My biggest hope for the show from there on was that they didn't linger on that stuff...

Thankfully, these shows never seem to linger on the series arc mechanics. Between the main thematic goal of any of the franchise (To Sell Toys), the individual themes a series might want to talk about (history vs History; the ways we have to keep trying, even if things look bleak), the big guest-stars, the growing supporting cast... like, there's only a little time in the later series to even address Time Nonsense. It sucks now, today, but it's probably not going to be a huge chunk of an episode weekly.

It sucks now, though!

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Originally Posted by Androzani84

As for the whole Riders erased by Another Riders. I?ve seen some people complain about it, but I personally like it. It adds some actual stakes for the bad guys and some actual consequences for the heroes (Or did you think Geiz got the Ghost Ridewatch off the back of a cereal box?) and I much prefer it to how Gokaiger handled de powering it?s heroes (after spending 3 minutes beating up mooks, every Super Sentai decides that they?re losing and decides to do a combined energy attack. Which accomplished little in the long term, since the army that sent the mooks came back anyway).

I'm okay with Build being depowered for the middle of this story, but... is Build's power gone forever? As long as Zi-O has the RideWatch? Is that what's happening? I am honestly unclear!

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Originally Posted by AkibaSilver

Trying to write a defence of his character based on the first two episodes is tough, but I think there's value to be had in his childlike naivety making him justs come across as a child (without, you know, actually having an 8 year old Rider lik the last anniversary show). He wants to be a King much for the same reason a child might - because it's cool, and he'd definitely make people happy - and doesn't quite see how anyone could disagree. It's a point I feel's made better in future episodes (and as Switchblade said, the first episode is throwing enough things at you), but it goes some interesting places. It also has the side effect of making Sougo feel much, much younger than any other Rider for me!

I'm better with him in this episode, because he comes off like more of a bumbler, and that's a character trait I find more charming than Potential War Criminal But In A Good Way. Seeing him be not super great at anything he's asked to do in this episode (including remember Sento's catchphrase for four seconds!) was a more entertaining use of his character than the stuff from the premiere.

Also, Sougo's incredibly poor grasp of the mathematical formulas that power Kamen Rider Build reminded me of this sketch (since we're posting funny YouTube videos):

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Originally Posted by GrandComplete

The end of the second episode for me describes what I feel about what ZI-O is trying to say about legacy that these people are who they are no matter what even if it's impossible. That we'd rather focus on the person rather than powers. And also to reassure people that no the Heisei Riders are going permenatly deleted from existence that they will come back.

That is good to know! My reading on it was a lot less optimistic!

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Originally Posted by Layton13

The first six episodes all suck! Like straight up. They really struggle with the format and a lot of the character beats that are there are easily missed under all the exposition and weirdness. Even if they work way better on a rewatch since you are able to pick them up under all the... stuff, it doesn't change the fact I don't consider them good episodes.

Also, yeah, I had the exact same opinion of Sougo as you do at this time. A complete idiot who I'm surprised can tie his shoes in the morning with a dumb and stupid goal I could never take seriously.

So... Yeah, just wait and things will most likely change on that front

But I say this much, I feel like this is the reading of the character they wanted to push at this point... And it has a point.

I am excited to see a more positive version of Sougo! Although, honestly, I think his character in Episode 2 is leaps and bounds better than Episode 1, since they pretty much (for reasons of expediency or lack of time) choose to ignore the weirder choices they made with his character in the premiere. He comes across less delusional, and more as just some sorta-aimless, sorta-sweet kid. Worked for me!

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Originally Posted by Enchilada645

Yeah, I'll definitely admit the first set of episodes are... I wouldn't say terrible, but they are a bit rough around the edges because of what they have to do. Though I do feel as though things smooth out and get a lot more interesting in terms of episode plots when we reach a certain point. Mostly in them finally finding a handle on things despite the very, and I mean very fluid and unstable nature of how they handled this series.

Oh, sure. The people making the show are watching the same episodes we are. They can't feel like they hit a bullseye on these two. Stuff works on the page, but doesn't work on the day. Stuff works on the day, but gets ruined in the edit. A performer hasn't yet locked in on how they see their character. Premiere stories are really hard! It's often not until the fifth or sixth episode when a show really becomes itself, when the production team starts writing toward the actors (instead of the characters) and a better balance is found.

These thing, appropriately enough, take time.

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Originally Posted by DreamSword

In other words, I already like this show way more than Decade. It actually has a protag that I don't wanna toss into a raging river whenever he so much as opens his mouth. What a novelty!

I'm glad you're enjoying it! We... had very opposite experiences!

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Originally Posted by Frontier

We get our 2nd episode bike debut, and here's a picture just to remind you of Zi-O's bike which is totally a thing that exists:

Thank you for letting me mention that this wasn't just a Build tribute, it was a tribute to the very early Heisei Era when a Kamen Rider would ride a motorcycle for a scene or two in each episode. Fun callback! Deep cut!