[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

I thought Tycoon was kind of foolish to believe Ace again after being deceived twice before, especially in a situation where Desire Drivers are so coveted. But fortunately for him, Ace was telling the truth this time. The moral of this episode was the value of rivals helping each other out after all, so maybe Ace learned that while deception has short-term benefits, earning people's trust can have even better long-term benefits, as they're more likely to return the favor later, which he'll need now that he's in a position of imminent elimination.

So you too do actually view him as foolish at first glance when trusting Ace again. Also I honestly don't like it when people explain Tycoon trusting Ace again and giving him the Buckle as him just being good boy and staying true to himself, which just continues the notion of being kind equals stupid, naive, or pushover (of which it's just many portrayed them as such, not inherent traits), and also about how personally I don't see trusting others as a part of being good. Keiwa didn't become less kind when he stands up for himself against Michinaga who guilt-tripped him into giving him Boost Buckle in ep. 7.

It's true that, Ace seems to have become a better person since the Schemes/Conspiracy DGP, I suspected that too in the Labyrinth game that he seems to display more concern and emotional affect towards the problems other are facing like insisting others to escape while he fends off the Jamato hordes, but a similar situation where he acted differently displayed it more clearly that now Ace keeps his promise against Keiwa. Though still it doesn't change that Keiwa doesn't know that and he still made foolish decision regardless of the outcome, as if to show Ace's development, Keiwa has to be regressed. But also dunno if, for some arguments I got, this is actually about both Ace and Keiwa building actual trust between each other and that, Keiwa believes him because he knows Ace is more trustworthy now. Which is what I hoped, but hard to judge without clear thoughts from Keiwa here (too much 'show, not tell').

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

I still think that the stakes are high for next episode, as the combination of "double elimination" and "protagonist plot armor" suggests that someone is going to take Ace's place alongside Win as the eliminated party. My guess is that either Keiwa or Michinaga will be going next week (or both if Win's lucky), for different reasons. I'd totally be surprised if Neon went this early, as she's one of the more tactical and adaptive players.

Dunno about Neon being eliminated, but I kinda fear that they'd make Na-Go totally helpless against Buffa, as one of the screenshots for next episode is Buffa attacking her and it can be a possibility. Maybe it can be played off as her being caught off guard thus is more defenseless to fight back and some fanbase explaining that, but it can also potentially have the fanbase deeming Neon as another shafted female like usual (I also already dislike people claim a form known as strong losing against a new stronger threat as being "nerfed").

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mesnick

May be. Or Ace has fallen into the trap of "cool" riders suffering from a lack of character, and does what the plot tells him to do. We'll find out towards the end of the show.

It just seems that Ace is handled differently compared to Tendou or Tsukasa whom they actually give some development for him to change into a better person? While those 2 mostly stay the same and has only little, late struggle but doesn't leave them in a shape as bad as Ace's here and overall never an incentive to change.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mesnick

In that case, I bet on Michinaga. It seems to me that Cave will not be cleaned immediately after returning. Plus, Buffa in the last episode was that bastard (and, in fact, did what Win was supposed to do) and deserved to be punished. And, given his hatred of Geats, Michinaga's return is quite expected, while Tacoon needs a more or less convincing reason.

I̶ ̶g̶u̶e̶s̶s̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶b̶a̶b̶l̶y̶ ̶p̶e̶o̶p̶l̶e̶'̶s̶ ̶t̶y̶p̶i̶c̶a̶l̶ ̶b̶e̶t̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶w̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶g̶e̶t̶ ̶e̶l̶i̶m̶i̶n̶a̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶w̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶e̶a̶s̶i̶l̶y̶ ̶K̶e̶i̶w̶a̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶N̶e̶o̶n̶,̶ ̶o̶n̶l̶y̶ ̶b̶e̶c̶a̶u̶s̶e̶ ̶"̶B̶u̶f̶f̶a̶'̶s̶ ̶a̶ ̶l̶o̶t̶ ̶m̶o̶r̶e̶ ̶b̶a̶d̶a̶s̶s̶"̶ ̶(̶r̶e̶f̶e̶r̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶r̶o̶u̶g̶h̶ ̶a̶t̶t̶i̶t̶u̶d̶e̶)̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶s̶o̶m̶e̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶b̶a̶b̶l̶y̶ ̶h̶o̶l̶d̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶i̶n̶t̶o̶ ̶s̶t̶a̶t̶u̶s̶ ̶q̶u̶o̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶o̶s̶e̶ ̶2̶ ̶(̶t̶h̶e̶m̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶b̶e̶g̶i̶n̶n̶i̶n̶g̶)̶ ̶e̶s̶p̶e̶c̶i̶a̶l̶l̶y̶ ̶K̶e̶i̶w̶a̶.̶ Michinaga has some code of honor, but he'd do anything to win, as he says in ep. 6. Technically he did pay evil unto evil move to Morio in said episode by purposely going behind his back and kept him in the dark about his 'betrayal' team switch hindering his game too (though Tsumuri also didn't announce it until it's too late for Mary). Just saying that if it happens to someone not scumbags like Morio, it'd be really nasty. And Michinaga ofc hates Ace more than other Riders (though toned down here compared to before) and only views him as a stuck up snob.