[DreadBringer]

Of course, after the previous episode, the series regressed back.

So Deadman Aguilera had a competitor in whose the biggest Giff simp, Akaishi himself. He too, had his downfall being desperate for Giff's further assistance (slapped for Aguilera, contract terminated for Akaishi). Akaishi had been implied to be biased against Giff before, but it's now clear here that he's only serving Giff, fuck with anyone else. Like, if Giff wants him to keep humanity, then he does so like before, but if Giff wants to eradicate humanity as for now, then Akaishi would also do that. Akaishi's misantrophic and dunno if he wasn't fully agreeable with keeping humans before of which he sees as the real demon to his object of worship Giff.

His new form Gigademos doesn't really return him to his grace before, though it finally had Over Demons (other than Hikaru's training) showing its proper ability, in combining the Genomixes to overwhelm Gigademos. It's finally there, though after Demons (both base and Over) successor came in Destream. Perhaps what makes it inferior is about how utilizing its power takes the toll to the Rider and its user. Akaishi still held Daiji in high regard even when Daiji is killed, looking forward to his next moves. Actually that's something like Steven Armstrong too, to die, but still proud of finding who he can view as successor.

Daiji's still like before, Genta's word only made him conflicted to the extent, still not an instant step in bringing him back. Or it seems that his situation is irreversible even if he listened to Genta, that Kagerou had died. Him killing Akaishi is the same move as what he (attempted to) does to Ikki, offing anyone who can't save humanity. Only that Akaishi is a valid target unlike Ikki, but still doesn't mean Daiji is redeemed here, as he attempted to make a deal with Giff. He's an (anti-)villain killing another villain. And Giff himself doesn't seem to be much superior than Ultimate Revi/Vice too here! Hiromi once again, finally loses his cool and breaks down like at Wakabayashi's death, for Daiji's decision. Not much for Ikki here other than his memories losing again that he's apparently ok if others still remember him, and about him having big bro approach to Hikaru.

Regarding the Karizakis, Masumi had spent most of his time trying to atone for what he did, and it seems that actually despite his constant self-depreciating, he had won the others' approval, like Aguilera (who Masumi forgot, was someone worse than him) for giving her a place, and even from Sakura too, who now see the good in him injecting Genta with Giff cells while Masumi still saw that as despicable, the opposite of their first encounter. Though of course it's because he hadn't tell others yet about what he considered his biggest sin (and probably it really is), of injecting his own demon into George, which claimed here to be influencing his personality. And probably his relationship with George is strained again though others would support George at his behest.

The explanation, man, now this seems like an asspull, because George has no supernatural indicator at his mad scientist days, and this created further plot hole that when and how George did lose Masumi's demon inside him (must be on the late 20s of Revice when he became an ally)? Granted, the previous explanation wasn't good either like him being 'forced' under Akaishi's will, when he gleefully throws everyone under the bus for his research instead of being someone like, Yua to Gai in Zero-One, but this is also contradicting to the previous explanation where this one implies George has no control, while previously George had control by being 'forced'.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mmicb0b

On one hand HOLY s--t has this "is Daiji evil or not" arc outstayed it's welcome (it wouldn't if he weren't so inconsistently written) on the other THE WORST VILLAIN IN THE FRANCHISE IS GONE

What's confusing so much about this? Is it because he killed Akaishi but later make a deal with Giff? Here's the thing, targeting/killing bad guys doesn't instantly make someone good, bad guys can target/fight other bad guys, and there are many other examples in KR too, like Kamen Rider Eternal vs Eyes Dopant. What Daiji did to Akaishi is the same as what he did to Ikki, killing anyone who gets in his way of saving the world. He's still the same self-righteous knight templar anti-villain for now who happens to kill a deserving target.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmicrescend0

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?

So, it seems that you're ok with the George's explanation of him being forced under Akaishi before? Because that wasn't so convincing either. If George is being forced under Akaishi, then I think he should act like, another Zero-One example, Yua under Gai more. He clearly thrives over the chaos he caused that time (unless somehow it's a facade). Actually yeah there's character redeeming themselves to become better, and there's split personality that is the only one doing shitty things (like Daiji before Kagerou's death, he had insecurity to Ikki, but genuinely cared about him, all the malice comes from Kagerou not from him), but this one's just inconsistent before weakening his redemption.