[DreadBringer]

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER SABER EPISODE 8 - “THE ONE SEALED AWAY, ARTHUR”

I try not to ever roll my eyes at the toy commercial elements of Kamen Rider – something’s gotta pay the bills – but I don’t think this story 100% landed due to King of Arthur’s inclusion. First, all of this cooperation adds up to a weapon that only Touma can utilize, which definitely reframes this story of teamwork into something far less egalitarian. (I mean, Arthur was a monarch, so I guess that checks out!) It’s a story that needed a Trinity Form-esque power to tie up its narrative threads, but we got Breaking Mammoth instead. Second, why did they not save the Jack and the Beanstalk book until this episode?! It’s got a goddamn giant in it! That’s why you’d need to introduce a giant swordsman!!!

I gotta say though, it's hilarious that Kamen Rider Saber lives up to his name here, and that... the spiked points on his head wasn't just for show. He literally becomes the saber for King of Arthur. I'd also think that a human-sized Rider fighting a giant can be something interesting to witness on how they'd put that thing down, like Geats also has that stuff, though ofc I hope King of Arthur shouldn't be used only here and actually got used against other giants later. Though I also have to say that Touma's also strategic in this battle to not split his team which invites Medusa Megid to gather in one location allowing him to defeat both at the same time.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Beyond that weird bit of incongruent toy promotion, I thought this was a fine episode of Saber. It’s nice to get every member of Sword of Logos together for a big fight. I like how earnest and supportive everyone is, to an almost eerie degree. (The way everyone just says “Touma” to Touma at the end, I was sincerely expecting all of this to be a dream, and Touma to be woken up by Kento back on Avalon. Why are they each saying his name like that? It’s creepy!) I like that Ogami claims all credit, to his son’s delight. I like that Mei’s a core part of the cast, instead of some weird hanger-on that she’s been treated as, mostly. It’s a solid The Heroes Win By Being Heroic episode, a heartwarming conclusion to a baffling, largely frustrating series of bizarrely-plotted episodes.

Yeah, this is why they introduced the Sword of Logos too when they introduced Rintaro, it wasn't something that's merely a mystery in the past that doesn't exist now, it's to eventually integrate Touma and Mei to Sword of Logos! About the part of calling Touma's name.... yeah this is probably the bad indicator of how Touma would get similar treatment and shilling in series like Takeru before. So this shows Ogami hasn't removed his earlier traits entirely by stealing the credit, the others rightfully point out that he doesn't do anything (or if he did, only small part), but it'd likely be a negative influence for Sora, though Sora also has consistent belief in Touma, still believing in him even after his father got petrified thus he doesn't get moping.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Thinking about it more, I'm okay with this story's message if it's along the lines of Touma Needs To Be A Leader, or Touma Has To Learn To Work In A Group. I don't think either of those are where the story's landing (there's this weird sense of it trying to be about Touma accepting help?), but both of those make more sense to me in terms of the show's evolution of Touma from an isolated author to a collaborative artist.

I'd think that, Touma is obviously ok to work in a group, but doesn't mean others would be willing, thus yeah, he should learn to be a leader so that others would be willing to. Actually Ex-Aid also had Emu trying to get the other Riders to work together at ep. 10, only that it failed (and with not-so teamwork when M appears), but the attempt is still there. Ren probably is willing to work due to Kento, but yeah, that should be emphasized more in the story to have Ren making constant claims of it being done for Kento (then again they made Ren say Touma's name too...).

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Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

I will gladly defend Sophia from anybody who accuses of her being boring. Her role as a mystic to SOL may not be as spectacular as the Swordsmen's battles, but she's still invaluable for maintaining the security of Northern Base against the Megids and she clearly cares for the Swordsmen's emotional welfare. I was also surprised to find out her actress was 39-40, despite looking much younger than that.

BTW, Princess Shayla is actually from Wild Force, one of my favorite PR seasons. I don't mind her, but I prefer her Sentai counterpart Tetomu.

Yeah, I know she's from Wild Force (watched bits of it when little), how tf did I make a mistake in typing Time Otherwise, if your Saber love extends to Sophia too... I wonder if that'd be the hardest thing for you ever to do to try defending her from what you think undeserved criticism/hate, as she seems to be one of the most hated characters in entire franchise with practically near-zero fans (but I guess if you'd defend Mihara from Faiz, you'd have some experience for it too).