[cosmicrescend0]

Hey, 42 was such a pleasant episode, let's see what 43 has in store for us-Oh.

-The George bit.......Why? Just, why? Granted, the show has been actively pushing back aganist George's early characterization of the morally ambigous scientist (saying that Akaishi forced him to do X and Y, making him feel bad for the condition he's put Hiromi in [nevermind that he giggling n shit over it early on]) once it was decided he was a pure ally character around the late 20s, but *this*? Not only does it read as a bizzare retcon that at worst is trying to handwave George's early actions as "lol, Masumi's demon was influncing him", it makes George's attempts at redemption feel weaker overall? A similar thing happened with Fuwa in 01, with the whole "implant memories to make him a human weapon", but at least happened at arguably the major end of his character arc, actually tied in to him finding his new resolve as a Kamen Rider of Yua's design, not Gai's, and as while I still didn't like that twist, was properly teased during the show and feels better executed as part of the narrative and its themes? This is just a weird bit that doesn't add anything other than "Masumi is a guy who made A Lot Of Mistakes", but we already knew that???

-Heyyyyyyy, Hikaru did a Thing! Bit sad we bulit all that up for him to not even be the one to finish off Akaishi, or even do a double finisher with Revice, but oh well!

-.....I forget if it was established before, but Vice has kept all of Ikki's memories that he's forgotten, huh. Why do I get the feeling that the end of Revice will not necesarily end/focus on beating Gifu, but more about returning Ikki's memories to him, somehow through Vice. I mean, think about it? When's the last time Rider has bulit up a "dynamic duo" and hasn't tossed them one final sorrowful twist/obstacle in their show's endgame, right? The show is practically screaming it's gonna go for a "Gifu's defeated, but at the cost of all of Ikki's memories" thing, so I wonder how things will work out....

-Daiji...so because he thinks Kagerou's gone forever, he thinks he can't turn back from the past he's chosen? The choice to make a new contract with Gifu to protect humanity is interesting.....if it wasn't the episode where it seems Gifu has completely given up coexisting with humanity, and is in favor of all-out destruction. I wonder what will happen....

-Yeah, its a standard set-up episode for Revice (has thing that I really dont like, lots of little things I'm disappointed by/nuetral on, but not to the point where I can say it was a bad episode because I know the payoff episode will give me something.) Idk why was expecting the show's standards to be upped a bit after 42, guess not.