[Sh Ranger]

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER ZERO-ONE EPISODE 45 - ?EACH ONE?S FUTURE?

The thing I liked the best was the idea that, when it comes to breaking a cycle of violence, it doesn?t matter who breaks it. Looking for who?s most at fault was dooming Aruto and Horobi to horrible futures for them, and probably the rest of the world as well. Aruto killed Jin, but Horobi killed Izu, but humans created the Ark, but MetsubouJinrai blew up Aruto?s dad. It?s blame all the way down the list, but that can also be their liberation. Everyone?s at fault, and everyone?s angry, and everyone feels sorrow, and everyone feels regret. If we can see ourselves in the people who wronged us, or that we?ve wronged, maybe there can be an escape from things like vengeance and hatred. The heroic thing is to be the one to make the first move.

Firstly, I'd like to show my appreciation once more for providing yet another thread full of constructive discussion and debate about this cool franchise.

This was the first KR finale that aired after I joined TN and I was excited to talk about it, but the corresponding episode thread had derailed in to such toxicity that I noped out without ever sharing my opinion. So thanks for giving me a second chance.

Now on to the episode:

I liked how Aruto and Horobi took a break from the fight to just have an honest conversation where they both connect over their mutual despair and finally acknowledge that their true enemy was the hatred inside their hearts. The final battle was a formality, a way to vent those feelings they were denying themselves, to find peace in the conclusion and hardest of all, forgive each other. By doing that, they were able to beat Ark's influence on them for good. It's one of the most touching final battles I've seen in KR and I hold it as a standard for villain redemption arcs.

Which is especially impressive, considering that I strongly dislike RealEyezing Hopper for how superfluous it is, how Soreo's ghost conjures it like he's some kind of magician and how it basically functions just like Zero Two but with a Zero One skin. It's my least favorite form of Zero One and I honestly feel sad anytime it shows up instead of Zero Two.

But hey, the emotion behind that fight scene was worth it.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I?m sure we?ll be seeing more of Izu?s journey/resurrection in REALxTIME, but I thought the scene she has with Aruto here was very sweet, for a couple reasons.

The first is that Izu was the one who was there for every step of Aruto?s journey from terrible comedian to hero of Humagears -slash- terrible comedian, and now he can be there for every step of her journey from blank slate to best friend. The opportunity to pay back help, to let the lessons you?ve learned be passed on to others, that?s such a core philosophy of this show. No one succeeds by themselves.

The other is that, like, Aruto?s her dad now. This episode?s overwhelmed with the trauma of lost children and lost parents, so the nice conclusion to that is Horobi having a future with his kid, and Aruto becoming a father to Izu. It?s a chance to let go of previous generations? guidelines and outlooks, and an opportunity to start a different cycle: one of respect and individuality, where everyone gets to jump towards their own dream. Like, this was a story about inherited biases and generational trauma, but here?s an ending where people are trying to atone for that and create a generation that doesn?t have to carry their baggage.

Sadly, I'm going to have to agree with the opinion that Aruto creating an Izu clone and calling her Izu feels wrong.

While you make a fair point about the parenting symbolism, I just feel uncomfortable with the concept of Aruto becoming a father to a clone of his aunt and treating her exactly the same way like she's the same character. Izu was unique, that's why her life mattered. New Izu deserves to be more than a replacement, she has the same potential as any other HumaGear to reach singularity, but how can she do that if she's trapped within Aruto's biased expectations of her? Aruto's just doing the same thing that Seiji did with Seine and I think it's a complete contradiction of his philosophy on the value of life. He's in denial and not moving on.

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Originally Posted by Enchilada645

Fun Fact: The Thouser Squad has names, Milly, Billy, Tri, and Quad.

How do we tell the difference between them though? OG Thouzer has the golden collar, but the others look the same to me.

They sure are cute though!

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Originally Posted by Frontier

And it's pretty nice that Aruto defeats Horobi but doesn't destroy him, instead saving him and connecting with him to end the fighting and finally achieve some semblance of peace. And it's always kind of cool when we get a win that doesn't end in a destruction. But it still ends in a Rider Kick, of course!

Pretty ironic as well, considering Horobi's namesake.

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Originally Posted by Daikaijuman54

Proceeds to sleep instead.

I'm virtually never online when Die posts a review. Oh well.