[FreshToku]

Too bad this one didn't hit for you. I actually am a big fan of this two-parter, specifically for everything it's doing to introduce the new stuff. It's White (Hat) Woz's introduction, so I'm fine with everyone taking a backseat this time.

First off, episode 17 was such a nice and flashy way to start off the new year. A ninja rider from a show that doesn't exist, an Another Rider that does exist, and most importantly the arrival of a new time-travelling Rider with funky shades. (I don't think they ever released that green version of the Time Mazine though).

It's all set-up but I really like every idea they're introducing. That there is now an alternate possible future besides the one ruled by Oma Zi-O, where Geiz defeats Zi-O once and for all and saves the world. And that message is brought by an alternate Woz who is on Geiz's side. You've already gone into it yourself, but it puts such a nice spin on things, as if there wasn't enough reason to root against Sougo already!

Episode 18 just does more with that, and the stuff with Sougo and Shinobi is nice, plus Zi-O puts on a really good showing in his fight. But I kinda really just want to talk about Kamen Rider Woz. I think it took several more episodes after this one for me before I had fully formed my opinion on him, but I really, really like him.

His rider suit is just really cool, getting across the sleek futuristic aesthetic in contrast to Zi-O's ornateness and Geiz's utilitarian feel. The jingle from the BeyonDriver is one of the best ever and his gimmick item being called MiRidewatches is amazing. My only nitpick is that the words on his visor spell out Rider in the same format as Zi-O's instead of doing its own thing.

As for the character himself, I like him a ton? His whole deal as being someone who wants to bring about a future where Geiz wins does make him, in the grand scheme of things, more of a 'good guy' then Zi-O. But at the same time, he's also such a jerk about it? It'll show more later on I think, but he is not a nice guy despite having more ultimately altruistic goals than the sweet and dopey Sougo does right now, and I find that irony so funny and compelling.

(This is with the assumption that everything he claims about his future is completely true, of course. Granted, the show may throw in a twist that it isn't, but for just this episode, I totally took it all at face value and was excited at the implications.)

It genuinely helps a lot that his theme music is absolutely awesome. Zi-O's soundtrack as a whole is a fave of mine for some select tracks and their use in the show, and Kamen Rider Woz's rocking and pretty techno beats are definitely a big standout.

Oh yeah, his very presence potentially shakes up original Woz's character, who desperately needs some fleshing out. That's a bonus too.