[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

Like most things, practicality is only good in moderation. Tsukuyomi's ability to express empathy is part of social aptitude, a means of keeping the peace. In her case, it's a necessary skill for steering Sougo in the right direction, in much the same way Sougo uses his innocent image to manipulate people. But her whole presence here was to prevent a bad future. She didn't befriend Sougo for the sake of being his friend.

When Tsukuyomi was telling Sougo she wasn't scared of his power, I think she was trying more to convince herself. I mean, you said yourself that she is scared. The whole moral of that Ryuki arc was accepting that everybody's capable of doing bad things. She can't plausibly claim that Sougo could never hurt a fly when she's already seen how future Sougo killed half the planet. The difference between the Time Orphans is that Tsukuyomi is concerned with what Sougo can do, while Geiz is concerned with what he will do.

I think we've just got two different reads on Tsukuyomi's thought process, which is totally fair. I see Tsukuyomi as someone who impetuously traveled to the past to try and be a positive influence on a future dictator, but was won over by his charming enthusiasm and guileless decency. She was someone who was scared that Sougo would gain power and use it maliciously, not just scared of him having power at all. The idea of her having any sort of distance from Sougo, and steering him more directly... yeah, not my take.

But I appreciate you sharing your view! Neat to get another person's take.

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Originally Posted by DreadBringer

This talk here seems to paint Zi-O II as something superior to even Ohma Zi-O to describe it as combination of it and Zi-O.

I don't see that in the piece you quoted? I've seen enough Figuarts to know that Sougo's got a few more upgrades coming. Sorry if there was some confusion!

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Originally Posted by DreadBringer

Sougo also later used the vision to help his enemy Heure to run, but that also shows further of Swartz's cruelty, he'd use him to test Another Kikai's power.

Yeah, it's part of this episode's theme of Trusting Someone Dangerous, where even the Time Jackers can't trust each other. Solid thematic work!

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Originally Posted by Kurona

I'm not regularly on this forum anymore aside from SHF news and such but I had to pop in to say the Zi-O II arc praise made me happy.

Welcome back! And, yeah, those Ryuki episodes were really terrific. I like when shows can treat emotional and psychological issues as something constant within us that we need to reckon with, rather than the cheap plot of Sougo's A Jerk This Week or whatever. Definitely makes for a more resonant, memorable story.

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Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

Toei only has five actors, and even fewer writers and producers!

Even more than All Dads Are Dead, the real legacy of Heisei Rider is Everyone's In Everything.

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Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

I mention how I was actively critical of Zi-O despite enjoying it a ton, and really, that was always all according to plan.

This might sound weird, considering I've written hundreds of pages of Kamen Rider criticism over the last few years, but I'm not that critical of these shows? Certainly not consciously. I just like watching these shows, and then my brain can't stop cracking episodes open, and then I've written a bunch. But the shows themselves? I like 'em all. I can't go in with a Don't Break My Heart attitude, because, honestly? They never could. I like watching Kamen Rider, the end.

(That said! There will always be moments that frustrate and disappoint me! I am okay with that, though! I embrace the darkness and the light, as I carve a path to Revice!)

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Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

It's basically the pet name I gave to this weird pattern of thinking I've noticed in myself, where if I feel the right sort of sustained apathy about a character or whatever else, it eventually becomes pity, and that pity in turn becomes genuine affection.

This is one of the most Fish Sandwich things I've ever read, so thank you for that. Not even a little surprised that you have a habit of eventually loving boring characters that a show never figured out how to use properly. That completely tracks. I'm so grateful for this insight into your psychology that I'm not even going to make a Jean joke!