[DreadBringer]

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER ZI-O EPISODE 8 - ?BEAUTY & BEAST 2012?

The entire tone of the show changes without Tsukuyomi around, starting immediately with Geiz blaming everything on Sougo?s weakness. He?s furious that Sougo?s lack of decisiveness ? his tentativeness ? has let Tsukuyomi get hurt and Hayase escape. Geiz vows to solve this Time Mission by doing what he does best: wandering around Tokyo until he runs into one of the three people that are related to these unfolding events.

Regarding let Tsukuyomi getting hurt and Tsukuyomi being time mom, it'd be Tsukuyomi's own action to willingly to step up to the plate when needed. She tried to stop the Another Wizard herself when needed. For now she felt like Yuri/Megumi from Kiva fighting wise, someone equipped with weapons but normal human albeit a competent fighter thus still won't do something worthwhile to MOTWs. It being Sougo's fault is more of Geiz' hatred of him, albeit understandable but it had reached irrational territory. It's like that for now he's the Narutaki of Zi-O ("for now", further talk about this would be spoiler).

Woz is a helpful fan to Sougo, but he would be at odds to Geiz and Tsukuyomi's goals. The setting being about someone who's a cheerful hero in present time but tyrannical villain in the future creates a quite interesting premise that various people of different alignment can "flock" around Sougo, like how Woz is a villain for now but he's a constant help to the protagonist due to him trying to groom said tyrannical villain. But being a villain would make him an enemy to other major casts like Geiz and Tsukuyomi. Woz is affable to people like Geiz though, albeit in troll-ish way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

The lack of Tsukuyomi?s peacemaking tendencies should force Geiz and Sougo to collaborate, to put their differences aside and work together, but the show goes a different, stranger, smarter way. It?s not a story about Sougo?s sweetness overcoming Geiz?z sourness, or the two of them becoming the teammates Tsukuyomi hoped for.

It's a story about adding Sougo's depth, in his surprisingly manipulative and cunning side.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

It?s a story about the allure of power, and the ways we lose ourselves when we think we can do anything.

Sougo has a really strong outing, from one perspective. He harnesses the knowledge of Woz and the power of Geiz to bring hope to Hayase. Another Wizard is defeated, but Hayase is saved through Sougo?s bravery and empathy. Woz and Geiz are both surprised by Sougo?s inventiveness and knack for leadership. He's confident in his abilities, and willing to argue for his sense of right and wrong. It?s a solid win for our Good Despot.

Yeah, this was the capabilities of Sougo I talked about before. Despite his apparent outwardly stupidity and delusion. Sougo. Is. a. Cunning. Manipulator. This is what both anniversary Riders have in common, what Sougo is similar with Tsukasa. Sougo can control other's actions to benefit him (or just everyone in general, for what he thinks as the best outcome), like here, he uses Woz' vow to help him to goad him into giving him the explanations as well as Geiz's black and white worldview to do his bid by inadvertently making himself seek more power.

This is quite a nice reversal of usual stereotype that someone who's em-pathetic and puppy dog like Sougo is usually portrayed as the one that is easily manipulated, and that someone morally questionable like Geiz is portrayed as the one that is more sensible and mature. But for this series, it's not only that Sougo's kindness isn't weakness, but it's Geiz who is the one easily manipulated (by Sougo here) exactly due to his black and white mentality. Being someone fueled by hate and pragmatism can have them being easily manipulated too, not only the one who is empathetic and kind. Unfortunately, this competence of Sougo would convince Geiz more that he's a threat.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

The idea that Sougo?s relentless optimism and cheerful empathy isn?t the detour from the road to Oma Zi-O ? but the direct route to it ? is a fun idea. Hayase was someone who took power to protect the people he cared about, until that turned into rage at being overlooked. He was fine working for others, to bring them hope, until he resented their ingratitude. The Sougo we know in Episode 7 could never become that type of character; could never lose his empathy.

I guess they want to make both primary and secondary Riders fight threats at once, but though there's time paradox established, I don't quite understand of fighting 2 versions of Another Rider in past and future or... Geiz being the one assigned to fight in the past while Sougo's in present. It's not like for the series premise, there are people dealing with Sougo in the past and the Ohma Zi-O in 2068. It's only in the past one with both Geiz and Tsukuyomi time travelling. You said there about Hayase protecting the people he cared about. But "he cared about" is really literal here as people he doesn't care about? Just a stepping stone like before. Unless you mean overlooked rage as him attacking Kaori too. It can hurt (though how you convey it can help like being a creep or not), but for love lessons here, telling your love interest your actual feelings can create a better outcome that even if they got rejected, they won't be left hanging or led into eventual dangerous scenario like Hayase's futility of his actions up until now regarding the stage.