[Kamen Rider Die]

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Originally Posted by GrandComplete

Saber a show I really vibe with. But yeah even I agree the pacing for this episode once the action starts was really wonky. I remember sitting their watching this live and thinking "Man Covid really did a number on this show I hope it gets better."

And for me it did.

That's great to hear! While I much prefer a striking and immersive debut episode (Geats just had a pretty terrific one), these shows are a marathon, not a sprint. Shows can stumble out of the gate - I remember having a rough time with Blade's premiere - and slowly move themselves into being a real delight. There's tons of precedent, and I'm glad to hear that my optimism isn't misplaced.

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Originally Posted by Deepsea

Honestly I dont mind the headswords, but that may be a me thing.

I feel like headswords are going to be a 50/50 thing? I've seen enough people praise them over the last couple years that I'm not expecting a groundswell of support for my hot take.

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Originally Posted by Layton13

Touma and Mei immediately just grabbed me as insanely likable characters. They seemed so... hugable that my cheeks hurt from smiling after the episode. I had a blast with episode 1!

That's the main reason why I'm optimistic about this show's potential: the core actors/characters are really enjoyable. You can correct pacing issues fairly easily (it honestly just takes airing a few episodes before professionals say Oh God We Gotta Fix That), but if you've conceived of your characters badly, or cast the wrong actors, the series can only ever get so good, so fast. (Zi-O kinda took a few minutes to figure out how to best portray Sougo's... well, to portray Sougo.) I liked so much of the chemistry between Touma and Mei, though. Definitely the right ingredients for an entertaining show.

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Originally Posted by Kiwami

I think your threads are among the best this forum has to offer, but due to me being a lazy bum who cannot be bothered to keep up with much over an extended period of time, I feel like I could never follow one of these adventures to the end, and just hopping in and out seems disrespectful to me so I stay outside most of the time. It's okay, just leave me be.

Ha ha, oh god, thanks! And don't ever worry about just dropping in when the mood strikes! Much like Touma's poor time-management in Episode 1, it's absolutely fine to only contribute when the muse makes itself known.

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Originally Posted by Kiwami

"Is Kamen Rider Saber's helmet design inspired by Chainsaw Man?"

God knows I don't read enough interviews with the producers to ever know what their inspirations were for the many decisions it takes to make a Kamen Rider series, but, boy, it sure seems like this is a real possibility. The timeline works out (the manga had been underway for over a year by the time Saber debuted, so it could've been an influence in the planning stage), and the usage of a headsword is so weirdly specific that it's maybe the best explanation for the recurring motif. If anyone knows the definitive answer, please share it!