[Kamen Rider Die]

KAMEN RIDER ZERO-ONE - “SHOOTING SPECIAL”



Definitely a step down from the Presidents Specials, in a bunch of ways.

The biggest problem is how the special reuses footage to provide a framing sequence for the flashbacks. The Aruto specials used a little bit of establishing shots – mostly dialogue-free clips of Aruto looking around – and then built their story out of voiceovers. This time, we’re treated to a whole bunch of repurposed footage from Episode 34, and the distracting mixture of redubbed dialogue (especially egregious when it switches between original lines and new lines) and out-of-continuity characters (not sure they'd be hanging out with Jin at this point!) robs this special of any sense that it’s canon.

There’s also the problem of how this abbreviated look at the Shotrisers’ arcs kind of doesn’t do them any favors? Fuwa, in particular, just comes off as a comically-dense lunatic, mostly operating as either someone’s pawn or his own worst enemy. Yua’s ostensibly trying to restore Fuwa’s confidence by recapping his victories, but when she puts it all in a row, it only invites mockery and concern. I like this guy, and I like his arc, but watching this special made me think I’m rooting for a madman.

(Yua’s arc is hilariously waved off, just a couple Oh You Switched Gigs asides that feel incredibly in need of elaboration.)

It sort of doesn’t help that the Shotrisers spent so much of this show at odds. Yua’s trying to help Fuwa, but she can’t resist a) busting his balls, and b) pointing out that they aren’t friends, and they’re barely even teammates. I don’t know if I’d’ve picked these two for a Fuwa-focused special? Their chemistry is… it’s not great! Naki would’ve been a better pick, maybe!

Kinda surprised at how this one let me down. It’s still laudable that the producers were able to put anything at all together, but this special’s sloppier and dumber than I’d’ve hoped.