[Sh Ranger]

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

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

Kento?s story, inevitably, is one of feeling like he doesn?t have any outs. He only saw one path for him, based on his father?s actions. Trapped in the Realm of Shadows, he lived out an endless string of emotionally-eviscerating apocalypses, where no amount of optimism or teamwork could generate a safe resolution. Now he?s back in the world, but he still sees nothing to do but whatever the most isolating path might lead him towards.

It?s easier for him to suggest that his actions are dictated by fate, or by necessity. It means that he can think of himself as a martyr, and ignore how safe that role always made him feel. His pessimism is a choice, and it?s one he?s always made. Even when he was surrounded by friends, he chose to push them away in the name of a vengeance no else ever asked for. He?s the same Kento he?s always been, even if his level of self-destruction is now measured in megatons.

He?s, if anything, the most natural character to put in opposition to Touma.

Touma?s having to grapple with the idea that a cheerful smile and a heartfelt promise might prove unequal to a world where sorrow lasts for millennia and power corrupts all bonds. What do we do when we can?t reach the people we love the most? How do we protect ourselves from the toxicity of that pessimism? How do we find a way to save people for whom salvation feels like ignorance? It?s asking Touma to level up in a way other than collectibles and form changes, which is the most interesting thing a show like this can attempt.

Best episode of this show, and one of my all-time favorite Kamen Rider episodes.

The most shocking moment was when Touma tried to convince Kento that they could change the future by working together as friends, only for Kento to finish his sentence, implying that he's already seen that option through to its hopeless conclusion. It's tragic that Kento was forced to see so many futures leading to the same end of the world and the only one where he can succeed, where he can save all his friends, is the one where he has to seal their Seiken Swords and sacrifice himself all alone as the last Swordsman. He may have been cursed by Kurayami, but he's choosing to stay cursed, by giving in to the darkness that consumed him.

This reveal explains Kamijo's line to Touma from before, "What would you do if you knew the world was destined to end, no matter what you do." Kamijo was chosen by Rekka for his strong will, so he found renewed hope in Touma's determination. But Kento basically has the worst mental state for dealing with Kurayami's visions, although I do think Calibur looks good on him. Make Might A Just No Matter Dark Joke. There's something in that Engrish line from Jaou Dragon's jingle that nicely summarizes the various Calibur-users' means of saving the world, at the expense of so much that's important to them.

It's high praise for you to call it one of your favorite episodes ever, but I can't blame you. This is a serious turning point for the show that manages to keep the uncomfortable status quo of Touma having to fight against his friends even after integrating most of his friends in to Team Saber. Kento is obsessed with following the cold logic in those visions, but Touma will continue to believe in the power of emotions, his promises and the ideal that he can create a future where everybody can be happy together. There's a lot of stuff to look forward to in the third arc!

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Originally Posted by Rei

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.

Oh Rei, I was wondering when you'd show up here. Always good to have another person to give Saber the praise it deserves. It's my favorite Reiwa Rider show for sure and when I compare it to Heisei, I think it's going to be hard to top for this era.

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Originally Posted by r4bbitdragon

So here you go?

Thanks! It's convenient to have them all in one place like that.

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Originally Posted by Androzani84

Next: It?s time to mashimashi

Time to Mashimashi and Shake Hands!

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Originally Posted by Mesnick

The difference is that this topic will be new to Kamen Rider Die, but you've brought it up multiple times in related and not-so-related threads. Yes, Gai apologized, he apologized a lot, and yet now in The Outsiders he repeats the path that led him to the need to apologize. But Grease and Three Crows didn't apologize for firing rockets at skyscrapers, but you're not drawn to talk about how terrible and disgusting people they are. While Bild is remembered more often than Saber, I would even say that he and Faiz are the most mentioned rider shows on the site. So, I think it's still a matter of dislike for a particular episode, and not an objective position.
For me personally, the most terrible woman in these shows is still Mai from Gaim. Apparently, for me, inaction is worse than any actions.

Yeah, I was definitely sitting on a time bomb. There was no way I could talk about Episode 25, without talking about that crazy scene. It's weird, I thought maybe it would be easier on a rewatch knowing what comes after, but nope, still grinds my gears. Feels like shock value that's just there to make me dislike a character I already dislike. It's not a completely bad episode though, I did enjoy the argument-to-love-confession between Touma and Rintarou that Mei helped to facilitate.

Interesting opinion you have about Mai anyway, I don't think I've ever heard anybody call her terrible before. It's true that she doesn't do much, other than boosting morale for the dance groups and generally being one of the few characters who isn't corrupt. Just another example after Zack that the most benevolent characters in Gaim are also the weakest. Even as Space Goddess, she doesn't do anything.