[Sh Ranger]

I haven't watched Gag Battle yet, but I just RealEyezed that Tarou is an anagram of Aruto. That's clever!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER ZERO-ONE EPISODE 29 - ?OUR DREAM WON?T BE BROKEN?


We finally get Fuwa?s But Why Heroism here, and it?s nicely conveyed. It?s shades of Cross-Z, where Fuwa?s psychological inability to conceive of a future beyond warfare makes him more receptive to Aruto?s belief system. Fuwa doesn?t have a dream, but as long as he stays true to himself, maybe he?ll figure out a dream someday. It?s not Aruto?s big-hearted hope for uniting humanity and Humagears in a perfect future, but it?s more beautiful and optimistic than Fuwa?s previous dream of Killing Them All. These sorts of Buy Why Heroisms aren?t my favorite (I much prefer the specificity of almost any other Rider), but I think Fuwa comes by it so honestly and forcefully that it?s hard to say it doesn?t work.

"I know that I'll find a dream someday, something I define for myself. Until then, I'll keep fighting. (manly screaming) And I'll do it however the hell I want!"

Isamu's a master of epic speeches, but this is my favorite epic speech from the whole show, followed by my favorite fight scene from the whole show, from my favorite episode of the whole show. Not only is the Job Competition finally over, but the resolution is exactly what I was hoping for, my reward for crossing that desert and making it back to civilization. It was never about Aruto and Gai, but the people caught in the middle of their conflict, the normal people just trying to make the best out of their lives.

Autonomy. That's more important than any company or career. Isamu's way too hotheaded to be a normal person, but he wants to live authentically and he wants that for others as well, whether they're human or HumaGear, friend or enemy. He pities Yua for accepting her existence as Gai's tool and wants her to snap out of it. The only time Isamu has interfered in the competition was when a man's freedom was at stake, but otherwise, he doesn't care. He knows it's a sham, a publicity stunt and he's totally right. Gai winning isn't going to stop Aruto from fighting for his dream and nothing is ever going to stop a man as strong-willed as Isamu from doing whatever the hell he wants either!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER ZERO-ONE SO-DO AI 07: KAMEN RIDER VULCAN - RAMPAGE GATLING

Sorry, Fighting Jackal Raider, you?ll have to wait. Today, we talk about RAMPAGE VULCAN.

I mean, couldn't you have just reviewed Jackal in Episode 28, if there was nothing else you wanted to talk about?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Which is a fun choice, making this ultra-detailed costume for Vulcan. I like how it?s explicitly an upgrade for the Shooting Wolf design, not for the Assault Wolf design. It?s got that old Shotriser asymmetry, but now with regal gold detailing and a more outgoing multicolor fringe to half the helmet. It?s a suit that symbolizes the way Fuwa is pulled between different worlds, but has harnessed that struggle to create his own power. (I love how the Henshin is him just weathering this barrage of shots, and standing firmer because of it.) There?s more explicit heroism to Vulcan now.

I like this suit a lot. Just a phenomenal representation of Fuwa?s journey so far.

Rampage Vulcan is one of those suits where I thought it looked bad in the magazine, but turned out to be much better in action and ended up becoming my favorite Vulcan suit. I love how it utilizes all those Rider Models, with Shooting Wolf as the pack leader.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

That is a hot take. There's furniture in this arc that comes off better than Yua, if you ask me.

That's not a fair comparison, Switchblade. There was way too much furniture in the selling houses round of the competition.

Anyway, time for more of my critical analysis of the Job Competition arc. I appreciate that Gai won. After all that frivolity, there needed to be a change in the status quo to make it matter even a little. It's also his consolation prize for his recent losing streak in fights.

However, it does make the fireman round completely pointless. I get that Ohmori mandated the Job Competition arc, but it's on Takahashi for making it a best out of 5 and stretching it to all 5. I like the moral about conceding victory, it's important for self-improvement, which Gai lacks. But it wasn't Homura's victory to concede, he was acting on behalf of Gai, so his concession shouldn't have been legally acknowledged. All he did was drag out the competition for another fortnight. It's not like the lawyer round, where the stakes demanded that Aruto win for the sake of justice. Aruto winning the fireman round does nothing for the narrative.

Oh well, at least it's over. Zero One can only go up from here-

(sees 6 week hiatus)

For a few episodes anyway.