[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER ZERO-ONE EPISODE 25 - “I WILL SAVE THE HUMAGEARS”

It’s basically a clip show, something that leverages tons of old footage (including, sadly, a bunch of content from the Reiwa First Generation movie) to recap the surprisingly complex and sprawling plot of this series, as well as the journeys of individual characters. In a lot of ways, it’s an extended, less funny version of some of those recap HBVs. There’re weird, almost non-sequitur exchanges where characters get way too introspective and verbose in their responses and analyses (why in the world does Aruto stop to ask Fuwa about his dreams???), and a whole bunch of graphics that illustrate the various power bases of the series. Two-thirds of this episode is people standing around having things explained to them, and it’s mostly just clarifications.

I don't know what's wrong with Aruto asking Fuwa about his dreams. Gotta realize that this is the stage where Fuwa's character is developed further, regarding his vengeful tendencies before. Previously Fuwa has blamed all the Humagears for his tragedy and vows to exterminate every last of them, but now, Fuwa is sensible enough to at least redirect his grudge to the real perpetrator. Kamen Rider is usually about using powers from evil sources for good, and for more modern series, frequently had people coming up to terms about it (though dunno if you're not into this or such), like for example Sento learning about him being a pawn to Soichi/Evolt or Sougo learning him being a pawn of Woz or Swartz. For Zero-One, it's done here of Fuwa learning about how AIMS, and fighting as Vulcan, is only a pawn for ZAIA's dirty business. There's usually character progression after that revelation, but Aruto invoked that by asking Fuwa after this revelation.

For other parts, this is the part that explains how Gai is not only about toxic egotism, his goal (or something more ambitious than just stroking his ego), is shown here in how he wanted to use Kamen Riders as weapons to gain profit. Previously too in ep. 25, he openly admits that the return of the terrorist group would be good for ZAIA since they could make more money selling weapons to AIMS. So what Gai wants to do is to launch war so he can gain profit from it, this'd be the real stakes of him gaining Hiden, and to me this makes his goal have resemblance to Namba's goal from Build. This part does show why Jin calls Horobi a father, he's literally made to be a father-type Humagear, and it's clear that Gai is also the reason behind Horobi's rampage. Horobi also had another opposite to Gai here, who looks 24 but is 45 year old, in how Horobi looks 20 but is actually 12 year old (as Humagear production). So Gai looks younger than he is, Horobi looks older than he is (as a robot).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Jin’s literally broken the chains of Humagear servitude, in look as well as in function. He doesn’t have to hide his identity from anyone anymore. He proudly displays his former bondage, to emphasize that it’s former. When he talks to Aruto about his future plans, it’s confident and clear: to free Humagears from humanity’s grasp. He’s going to save his people as Kamen Rider Jin. He’s not a villain, he’s a freedom fighter. His motivation is a twisted form of Aruto’s own heroism, and it’s incredibly intriguing. Horobi’s nonsense was always too smug and sinister to feel like it was a legitimate ethos, and Gai’s whole thing is about toxic egotism as a singular vision, so it’s nice to get Jin back as a sort of empathetic terrorist. Time’ll tell if he just degenerates back into a giggling psychopath, but I’m totally into this version’s point of view.

Doesn't mean he's not a villain by this time. He's still an anti-villain, as he'd still retain misantrophic views to humanity in general except to Aruto, but now he had redeeming quality in, actually taking Aruto's anger into account and learning from him (which is why he's an exception), which now means he genuinely cares about Humagears and treats them as his friend, not misusing the word friend to treat them as disposable tool like before, he's no longer psychopathic manchild at this point, he's now much more mature and mellow (regarding evolved Humagear, it's a topic already talked before, Singularity). Jin of course has improved, but for now he still goes from straight villain to anti-villain by gaining real redeeming qualities (thanks to Aruto teaching him the hard way) while still being an invader to humanity. Though other than genuine compassion for Humagears now, Jin also has become more individualistic as well, to make a decision on his own on what to do for himself and Humagears. Individuality seems to be a good trait for Jin (better than before) to learn here, though dunno for the trait in general. Tbf for Horobi though, he hasn't got his turn yet, Jin's real character arc started now (still quite late).