[Sh Ranger]

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER ZI-O EPISODE 17 - ?HAPPY NEW WOZ 2019?

But then the episode goes PSYCH Dream Sequence, and we?re into a completely different Rider mystery. It?s still about Shinobi; but the 2019 Another Shinobi version, created by the Time Jackers.

Everything with Another Shinobi? it?s fine? It?s a cool monster, but there?s almost nothing to hang onto, narratively. It?s just some mystery for the Team to solve. Beyond Sougo?s prophetic dream, there?s no real emotional stakes to the Another Shinobi plot.

Something I didn't realize until later is the significance of the fact that Time Jackers are now creating Another Riders in the present (even though Another Shinobi's number is 2022 instead of 2019 for some reason). Remember all those girls Sakuma killed in the space of 15 years? They're fine now, cause none of that ever happened. But what about those guys killed by Another Shinobi? A consolation is that events in the past are preserved, so Rentarou can still become the true Shinobi cause he's not Shinobi yet. This show's brand of Time Nonsense can have dangerous implications if you really think about it.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

It immediately puts a rift in the Geiz/Sougo partnership, just after they became maybe actual friends in Episode 16.

Nah, I wouldn't call them actual friends yet. Maybe Sougo would, but Geiz sure as hell ain't going to admit that. As far as he's concerned, there's a possibility he still needs to murder Sougo at some point. What they have is an understanding. Geiz accepts that Sougo is going to try and become king no matter what and Sougo accepts that Geiz is going to try and kill him if he follows the path of the evil Oma Zi-O.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

There?s also the flip of Hat Woz writing the future, instead of Woz?z chronicling. It?s a fun way to look at history aficionados. Woz was someone who viewed history as a cool story, rather than people?s real lives. Hat Woz takes it one step further, viewing history as actual narrative, a story that he can bend to his uses. It?s sort of saying something about how people bend history to their own purpose (Woz), but sometimes they just rewrite it entirely if it?s more useful (Hat Woz). It?s not an idea that gets 100% fleshed out here, but I like that it exists.

I think the contrast between the two Wozes here could be symbolic of a larger contrast between the Riders of the past and the Riders of the future. I love this arc for many reasons, but I remember how intriguing it was to see these new "Miriders" in both concept and execution. So far, the show has been about the Legend Riders' legacy to Zi-O. But this arc is the first where we instead get to see Zi-O's legacy to the future. Kamen Rider Shinobi literally didn't exist until last episode where Sougo decided to become a king once more. The future is changing!

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Also, I really like that Kamen Rider Woz is a smartwatch. That?s a brilliant design choice.

The BeyonDriver has one of my favorite standby jingles!

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I gotta tell ya, I was THRILLED with this episode's opening sequence, and sort of resented the rest of the episode steering violently away from it. Kamen Rider Shinobi looks awesome (big fan of the purple and black, plus the very Rider scarf), the opening fight was acrobatic and colorful, and the whole I Became A Shadow To Protect The Weak credo is really evocative. I liked that intro! And then the show said Just Kidding!

Does it make you excited to watch Rider Time Shinobi?

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Originally Posted by gashatfreak

I know everyone keeps saying they want Shinobi for 2022, but honestly I'd like it better if they postposned it to 2023 so that Shinobi can be an experienced Rider and swap out that Shinobi Driver for a 'Neo Shinobi Driver' or something to let Shinobi have a proper gimmick instead of a kitbashed Ziku Driver.

Isn't Rentarou already an experienced Rider, like Haruto or Wataru? The time placement of Sougo's dream implies that he's been active since 2021 at the latest. However, we might not get the same Kagura Rentarou unless they can get Tawada Hideya to return.

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Originally Posted by Androzani84

?blade?(心) of ?heart? (刃)

Dude, you got the kanji mixed up!

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Originally Posted by Rei

I must implore everyone to see this video of Rentarou doing the Ryusoulger dance.

https://youtu.be/upy7Pua9zSU

He put a lot of enthusiasm in that performance for sure! His actor having previous dancing experience from Ninninjer's ED was very convenient.

Did you see the date on that video though? It's the Day of Oma!

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Originally Posted by Rei

You know, I can live with not getting Shinobi as an actual thing. But I would still want a sequel of sorts, they can't go around 2022 without mentioning him! Really his only existence in his own actual year, is getting a pin badge for TTFC! He needs more than that!

Same here. I don't expect a full-length season with Shinobi, but damn, we seriously need a sequel!