[TF RyuShin]

One of my favorite underrated episodes in this franchise is Kuuga's Ep 41. Even in my childhood, I used to rewatch that episode several times. There was a clear and strong message that Godai (and the show) wanted to tell for Nana ( and the audience by extension ). That scene was when Godai told Nana not to return a punch back with another punch, complete with a visual where Godai moving his fists back and forth. Returning violence with violence might sound be the easiest solution out there but... Wouldn't it be sad if there's an never ending chain of violence like that? It took roughly 20 years to finally see how strong Godai's message was as whole.

I don't have too much to say about this episode mainly because it's mainly a plot progression episode. Those words above just summarized my opinions. It's kinda saddening to see how Aruto sink so low in these episodes. As TheRaizin said maybe we all didn't imagine how mentally ill Aruto was until it was too late. Basically I see Aruto as Nana if she didn't get some pep talk from Godai. I'm pretty sure the only reason Aruto's fall into Ark-One and reciprocating the chain of violence was because no one comforted him until Azu did (Thanks, Fuwa) and no one gave him a strong pep talk like Godai was.

Aruto would have been stopped if someone had told him :

"Hey, dude, I know it must be hurt to see Izu exploded like that in front of your eyes. I KNOW you hate and despise Horobi so much. But, would it be the best solution for you to return the favor back to Horobi? If Izu was still here, she would tell you to use your fists to help human and Humagears alike. She wouldn't want you to sink your hands in bloodshed. She wants you to finish what she had started and failed to accomplish : Saving Horobi."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Sure! Aruto's grief over Izu;s death is, in isolation, enormously affecting and completely the sort of thing that would make Aruto lose his moral compass. It's just... I wish it hadn't started by fridging Izu. I wish the whole scene where Horobi kills Izu didn't feel so much like a plot machination, a sacrifice built specifically to make Aruto murderously unhinged. Like I mentioned in the episode post, there are elements I like metaphorically, and Aruto's turn is one of them. I just don't like how the show chose to get there.

I don't think the scene where Horobi killed Izu was a plot machination. I like how metaphorically, Horobi transformed to Kamen Rider Horobi to execute Izu. It was like Horobi himself, deep inside, didn't want to kill Izu and he only transformed back because he NEEDED the Kamen Rider persona to maybe hide his tears behind the mask. I don't think there was anything bad, idiotic, or OOC for either Horobi and Izu. Their actions in the last episode was kept based and grounded with their background and lesson.

Though, if we want to be fair, I don't like the inclusion of Jin in Horobi's murder on Izu. I also blame Jin because he DID save Izu from getting shot by Ark-Zero a few episodes ago in a superspeed fashion. To see him not having enough react time to save Izu was a bit BS in my eyes. The argument for Jin here is easy to debate but I wish they just get rid of Jin until the aftermath of Izu's death.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

I respect your opinion, but I have to disagree with you here. Isamu absolutely cares about Aruto and wanted to give him the space to grieve and work out his feelings, as that's exactly what Isamu would want if he was in that position. If not for Azu showing up, I'm sure he would've had a serious pep talk prepared for Aruto later when his head was clear, but he just never got the chance. It's nice that Yua's instinct was to console Aruto, but I don't think he would've been receptive to that when the wound was so fresh. Isamu understood that, so he figured that leaving him alone was all he could do for him at that time. There's no doubt in my mind that Aruto and Isamu have an unbreakable bond after everything they've been through together.

Sorry if my words to Fuwa was a bit harsh, I do like Fuwa as a character. I just wish there was more deep and intimate between Aruto and Fuwa as close as Aruto and Izu. Maybe if Fuwa actually approached to Aruto and say "Hey, President... I'm sorry for what you have to deal with" or something like that. If Aruto was unresponsive, that would be a good reason to leave him alone. This was the part that I felt more of a plot machination because Takahashi deliberately didn't let Fuwa or anyone else to approach Aruto so Azu could take the place. Fuwa's character might be so IN character for him but I wish there was more layer for Fuwa. Even Banjo, who was all muscle, still had his times to shine to keep Sento in check and brought him back from some funks.