[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER SABER EPISODE 11 - “THUNDER CRACKS, AS DARK CLOUDS SPREAD”

I’m all for that? As previously stated (I think earlier today?) I really like how much this cast has to try and navigate the minefield of Kento’s mood swings, as well just, like, generally keep him from dying in a blaze of sword sparks and shouted accusations re: his dad, of which he’s only got the one memory. (It’s a good one! But, shit, I’d hope he’d interacted with his dad more than the one time!) Of the few recurring story engines this show has, Handling Kento is my favorite.

Daishinji just tries to stop these 2 due to his hate of infightings, this is likely not only something about him being peaceful but about how he's shy and quiet and thus won't like any loudness in his surroundings (more personal reason), but using 'good' reason to stop it in how fighting is bad. Sophia tasking Mei to guard the base with the key does show her entrusting her but, that still means that Mei feels as if she's relegated into mundane tasks anyone can do, though, unfortunately that no one sees, she executes three-point landing while discovering the projection from the key (though her trying to getting to know the key's function like that is a reckless move).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

The thing that makes this episode great for a Kamen Rider episode, not just a Saber episode, is how it reframes Rintaro’s original argument into him actually trying to appeal to Kento emotionally. To Rintaro, the Sword of Logos is his family; Kento is his brother. When Rintaro’s putting things in terms of how the Sword of Logos would be hurt by Kento’s actions, or how Kento risks expulsion, what Rintaro’s trying to say is that Kento is hurting this family. He doesn’t have any other way of saying it, because his story doesn’t include things like a father or a brother. He thinks he’s opening himself up to Kento, but Kento’s just hearing more office talk from an organization he no longer trusts.

I'd not like if something adds temporary negative side for someone just for drama's sake, but here while Rintaro does have well intention to keep Kento from going off the deep end, this seems to display Rintaro's actual negative side which can be more prevalent later, about how he can be too rigid and serious, towards anything that is Sword of Logos related and its view, I think, won't help Kento's issues, and instead can seem demeaning (worse consequence than him not expecting Touma's tactics, and can turn him into.... kinda typical edgy secondary Rider type) like forcing Kento to give up his position. Rintario seems to 'learn' in the end that he too can be irrational but well uh....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

It’s a type of miscommunication that’s really fascinating, and thematically appropriate for this show. Rintaro’s got a story he knows, about duty and responsibility and comrades-in-arms. Kento’s got a story he knows, about fathers and sons and guilt and shame. Those stories inform how they interact with the world, and how they view relationships. We get to see Rintaro eventually try and understand Kento’s story by the end, to his (physical) and Kento’s (emotional) detriment. Rintaro is able to see Kento’s need for answers through the lens of Rintaro’s own dedication to the other swordsmen, and how he’d risk his life for them. His sacrifice for Kento lets Kento understand that his bond with Rintaro (and Touma, and Mei) is something that’s more than just situational or professional, it’s familial.

I'd say this episode's stuff is mostly Kento's fault, but obviously it's intentional as his character flaw, and as someone already brooding before, it came to light for now, Kento's emotions really consume him as Rintaro warned, like outright making the worst assumptions about Sophia and Calibur and jumping in the conclusions for that. Kento's also someone who'd use other's suffering as comparison and competition, brushing off other's suggestion and advice due to feeling that their sufferings are not as big/comparable to his father issues. What Kento did in this episode costed Rintaro's well-being, and like Rintaro above, though Kento seemed to regret making Rintaro end up like that, doesn't mean it's the end.