[TheRaizin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER SABER EPISODE 26 - ?ENVELOPED IN DARKNESS, HIS SWORD IN HAND?

Heyy, just dropping in after someone told me there was a Saber thread in here. And it happened to be in one of my absolute favorite episodes of the show and is one of the reasons why I maintain Saber as one of, if not, my favorite Reiwa Rider show.

This episode occurred on my birth month, I was struck with COVID and confined to an area by myself as I watched this episode. So, this episode was really special to me and Kamihoriuchi's a masterclass in directing this episode!

The lack of music in many scenes to sell the isolation Kento feels, the many flashes of the future that ring in his head. It's all so well done. I love how this reveal of Kurayami's powers recontextualize Kamijou and why he wears a glove when using Kurayami. I really felt for Kento as he sat in the void of darkness just rehashing the same scenarios albeit differently every time to the point of apathy. He's succumbed to the worst of his impulses back in the first arc, Yuji Nakata portraying Calibur this time gives the suit a much more dangerous feel as it's no longer their enemy, Kamijou, but now their friend Kento who flips around and styles on everyone as per his swordsman ship as Espada.

And Touma... Damn..

He's already having trouble reaching the boy within the Primitive Dragon book, but now his best friend has returned, alive, but no longer the same person he saw back then. The pain that's inflicted on him as Kento utters the same words he was JUST about to say. When Primitive Dragon came on and started screaming, it really blurred whether that was the form screaming or Touma screaming out of pain (also cuz Naito voices the Primitive Dragon screams anyway). And then Kento's convictions are reaffirmed when he's right yet again when Touma de-transforms without hurting anybody, just like he said before.

And then there's Daishinji's blood-curdling scream, all the suffering it's also wonderfully done to really set how bad things have gotten for the heroes.

I love Kamen Rider Saber.