[AkibaSilver]

Yeah, the start of this arc, it's not that I don't get it - Touma suddenly asking "Hey gang, I know Calibur was trying to cause the apocalypse and all, but maybe he had a point?" is going to get everyone's heckles up, from Ogami and Daishinji's more rational "Touma, put down your sword and lets talk this out", to Rintarou's "You would really accuse the SOL like this? HAVE YOU REALLY BETRAYED US?" to Ren's... I mean, Ren has probably been looking for an excuse to fight this new contender for the former-Kento's affections for 10 episodes now.

It just happens really, really fast? I get the argument all the speeches about everlasting teamwork from the last several episodes make this even more crushing when the fellowship does splinter in twain - if I were more unpleasantly cynical I'd say it's a scathing critique of Kamen Rider protagonist's tendencies to throw these out whenever - but the fact remains, this all goes down in about the same length of time they'd spend on a bike chase in Phase 1 Heisei. Plus, it always felt like a big leap to me Touma would just take Calibur's words at face value, especially when (minus one Ren), everyone he's met from the SOL has been genuinely decent? Maybe it's a worldbuildng thing, because even now, after having watched the entire show, I still have no idea how big or powerful this organisation is supposed to be. Covid restricions, I know. Maybe Touma had a dramatic confrontation with the person who restocks their magical library bookshelves and that's why he thinks the SOL is more shady that its letting on. It's not that I don't like the path the show wants to do - definitely more "traditional" Rider with a lone Touma and a bunch who distrust him - but how it got there is a little ungainly, and I think I let that colour my thoughts on this arc, which is kinda a shame.

But enough about that, cause here's Yuri! He's cool!