[FreshToku]

I want to say about the Hibiki two-parter that I liked and still like those episodes and think they're decent and well-done. I never cared for Kiriya or most things from the second half of Hibiki, but it makes sense to me for this tribute to use the elements it did, and it resulted in a perfectly servicable MOTW plot. I go back and forth on whether I like it more than the Agito one, because 31-32 had a lot of above average action that hit all my nostalgia buttons, but 33-34 actually had, well, a story.

As for this 35-36, uh... It definitely made me think of Kiva, for sure. Between really awkward and verging on uncomfortable 'romance' tropes, and zero attempt to integrate the new toy. I actually wouldn't be surprised if Inoue wasn't intentionally trying to invoke the theme of Kiva, but rather he was just doing whatever he wanted as always, and this is the result. It rather appropriately felt similar to watching the latter parts of Rider Time Ryuki as well except more PG and with mostly OCs instead of returning characters. (I mean Sougo is basically a completely different person in this two-parter).

Just a stray thought, but I feel like if it was possible, Inoue would have had Yuri's actress take the role of Another Kiva and have the audience wondering if she was the same character, before 'tragically' revealing otherwise!

But yeah, these episodes were pointedly ridiculous. They're memorable for sure, but I'm not feeling any particular desire to like, analyse or think about them once they're done airing.

Oh yeah, and Kamen Rider Woz has a new power up! I actually don't blame Inoue at all for its nothing-debut here, but rather I blame the fact that the show is so committed to having these Legacy Rider two-parters in the first place : P Also the fact that, Inoue here is a guest writer. So like, why should he be expected to write around the new toy?

But I still can't help but be wistful a different world where we got a stretch of episodes that was actually about Woz, and Ginga, and probably brings in the other Future Riders one last time, for a new form debut that meant anything.