[AkibaSilver]

Yeah, the Primitive Dragon arc is just so good, and also so Saber with how it manages to come to its conclusion. As Fish already beat me to because he's got that speed, while 3 series in the last 4 years have done Beserk forms (Sougo doesn't get one because, lets be honest, that kid is too much of a dork to be angry for more than five minutes), all of them resolve in different manners that none of the other heroes could manage.

Sento is trapped into seeing Blood Stalk's own manipulations as truth, that the Build system (and, in turn, his very person) exist in their purest forms as weapons best for killing others, until he's able to use his technical genius skill and the power of his allies who believe in him to be a saviour without destruction (and he, of course believes in them, because he keeps TankTank in the wings for Sawa to rescue the family I love that episode so much), and surpasses it. Of course, the Hazard Forms are still dangerous, a sign technology can still go wrong if used unrestainedly, but Sento himself is proof it can be better.

Metal Cluster Hopper is the full wailing rage and despair and malice of the Ark, lashing out at humanity (and especially Gai) for what it sees as unforgivable crimes. And Aruto doesn't overcome it alone, because one man can't. The respite comes from the Humagears, all the people Aruto has touched and helped and been a one-man supportive arm for, come to his aid. One man cannot alone overcome that hate, but with the wishes of an entire people behind him? He can.

And then there's Primitive Dragon. A scared, lonely child - and I think the fact it's a child matters all the more when this is like the 3rd child Touma has saved, and his bookstore is made for them, we know Touma has that empathy for a child in need - and Touma literally writes them a new end. I'm not a huge fan of power ups in Kamen Rider that characters create out of nowhere, through sheer anime will, but this isn't that. It's only through the bond Touma makes with this one kid, understanding them, and showing them a way out of their tragedy, their loneliness, can the rage be quelled. Even if Touma isn't physically there, his story will resonate. Because stories matter. They change how we look at things. And, having made that emotional connection, they can work in harmony.

None of these three, despite the superficialities, are the same, and none of the protagonists would solve it in the same way. It's not that Aruto or Sento are unempathic or anything, but their empathy is different. Aruto would tell a corny joke, show the kid that even in the darkest time there's smiles to be had. Sento would probably assume the dragon was Ryuga being sad and offer to make him a noodle pot. But that's the beauty of a series like this, in that we can see our hero's strength shine through. (And I also love that Kento isn't moved by this! That would both be too easy, and Kento knows Touma is the king of this kind of empathy for his own show! That doesn't change how Touma can't empathy away the unspecified apocalypse he's real worried about!)

I love the Primitive Dragon arc. Not just because of the ending, but the ending is just the cap on it, you know? A fumbled ending can turn a story-arc sour, but here, it works great.