[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

And if the story is really meant to be about "assumptions" towards Sogo, not only has that already been done much better(see: almost the entire rest of the show), but it also feels like a backhand to the audience who was jiving with him: "Oh what, you thought Sogo was an all around decent person because he showed you words and actions that made you think he was? Ha HA GOTCHA!"

I think this right here is where we differ, because I think a lot of the point of this story is that the standard Geiz is holding himself to -- that Sougo would NEVER think of sacrificing someone, even for a second -- isn't real. Sougo doesn't need to be a permanent saint to be a good guy, or to be a Good Guy. He doesn't need to see his darker side as Not Him; that's what's causing problems over this story!

He's no less decent for acknowledging his shortcomings. If anything, he's more decent?

And as far as telegraphing Sougo's darker impulses more explicitly... I can't believe I didn't think to point this out earlier, but Oma Zi-O. Like, a ton of this episode is the Time Orphans saying Sougo Could Never Be Oma Zi-O, and then the show saying We Have Told You For Twenty-Two Episodes That Sougo Is Oma Zi-O Did You Think We Were Kidding. The calculating and manipulative parts of Sougo are definitely there, because he met the future version of himself that's all of those things.

Anyway, I get that this development is not going to work for everyone! I'm probably in the minority here! But I thought the show took a more nuanced and realistic approach towards sketching out Sougo's darker side than I'd've expected.