[Kamen Rider Die]

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Originally Posted by FreshToku

One is I don't get why this is happening. Well mean, I know narratively it is to show Sougo and the audience that the way to beat his evil future self is not just by becoming super powerful and beating him up. It would be ridiculous if that was ever going to be the actual solution. But why did the characters decide to do this here and now? I think this would have flowed better if Sougo was the one who decided to head right to 2068 himself in order to foolishly challenge his future self in an attempt to finally prove he is 'better' than what destiny says about him.

I thought it worked okay here? From Sougo's side of things, the last stretch of a dozen episodes was all about obtaining the power required to defeat Oma Zi-O, and now he's categorically done it (citation needed). If Oma Zi-O brought him to the future, it makes sense that he'd try and finish the dude off pretty much immediately. Sougo's a sweet kid who can see the best in everyone, but we've already established that there's a massively self-loathing part of him as well.

For Oma Zi-O... he thinks this rebellious Eff You Future Me version of himself is adorable. Of course he's going to bring that version to the future ASAP to congratulate him on taking the remaining steps towards ensuring their destiny is fulfilled!

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Originally Posted by FreshToku

But no, they seem pretty isolated and just happen one after another, which feels off to me.

This one also worked for me? Narratively, it's necessary to think that all of this is happening because of his failures on the Misery Fields of 2068. If he instantly figures out that the Time Jackers are screwing with him, there's really no introspection necessary. He needs to dwell a little bit on how his solo campaign against Oma Zi-O robs him of his greatest weapons: his relationships.

Also, it sort of makes sense that the Time Jackers would pull their scheme now, since they're sweating bullets over Grand Zi-O. Swartz says as much, I think. It's super convenient, storytelling-wise, but I think the show makes it believable.

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Originally Posted by Enchilada645

Like how we're teasing the last two Another Riders we haven't seen yet via that really bad statue that Hiryu had set up. Man that was very pathetic looking, just like Hiryu, and that's why I love him.

It is extra lame! Just like Hiryuu! Speaking of...

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Originally Posted by AkibaSilver

See, I get what you're saying about Hiryu being pathetic, but, and I say this in the Fishist of ways... I kinda like that about him? To have the supposed ultimate rival of the King to Time to be some whiny teen who hates Sougo for such a silly, petty reason that even he doesn't know, but by God he really hates Sougo, the odd kind of anti-charisma so powerful I don't think anyone else has defended him? Yeah, that's the perfect counter to our lovable kid who can befriend the people whose lives he will/already has ruined in 50 years time.

I am anxiously awaiting the return of Fish's signature Lame Thing Is So Cool Because It's Lame rhetorical defense, now that we've returned to the story of Hiryuu.

And, sure, I too have loved a character who exists to be the Shitty Version of a hero. The thing about Hiryuu that bothers me is that it wouldn't take much to turn him into early-days Tsurugi, or latter-days Yaguruma: some guy who was our hero, and then became so much of our hero's neuroses and idiosyncrasies that they became a fascinating disaster. But it's either the performance or the conception of the character that keeps it from being weird enough to love, or pathetic enough to pity. It exists, for me, in this liminal space of recognition, and nothing else. I get that he's some twisted outcome of Sougo, but then it's like the show just points at that in unearned pride and goes Mission Accomplished.

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Originally Posted by cosmicrescend0

It's good to Tsukasa doing his thing, dishing out advice in a way that gets you moving but also pisses you off a bit? After a series of eh-ish appearances, it's nice that this episode feels like it knows how to properly insert Tsukasa in Zi-O's narrative without being a glorifed "get to the next plotpoint" button.

It's easily the best usage of Tsukasa to date. Tsukasa's whole thing is being an aggravating/effective/aggravatingly-effective life coach for Kamen Riders. Having to rally some kid who the whole world has turned on? While all of his friends abandon him? Who wears pink in his costume? This is Tsukasa's moment.