[DreadBringer]

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER SABER EPISODE 30 - “FOREVER CONNECTED, EVEN WHEN APART”

The beats of the story… not that great? We’ve got our reformed SoL (minus a wandering Ren), complete with Sophia at her post, and it all gives an air of Q1 storytelling: the Book Club are doing some vague scheme, Touma and Rintaro are buddying up for the potential save, the Southern Base is nowhere to be found, and Zooous wants to brawl with Blades. It’s a little formulaic, basically mashing up an early episode’s weightless Megid plot with a more recent Megid Has A Grudge Against A Swordsman plot. There’s a little bit of additional juice from how much the cast is firing on all cylinders, but the structure here is nothing to rave about.

When Rintaro rejoined the cast, actually I'd hope that the cast forgives Rintaro by explaining that they want Rintaro to see the light but they're glad now he listens to it, as they try to explain the truth of SoL for his own well-being, not to win arguments or something. Ren continues to display his terrible trait here by attacking Ogami who convinces him to join them, and his rejection shows that he doesn't really care about SoL's spirit, only about Kento. The Megid plot has a chance for the remaining 2 for getting better story treatments, unlike Legeiel who already died. But well, there's a new incoming villain in Master Logos.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

The thing that makes it work, though, is how it’s both a story about two dudes needing to save some lady, and a subversion of that type of story. It’s about Rintaro Needing A Win, to the detriment of Mei’s actual personhood, but it’s also highly critical of stories about men needing to salvage their self-confidence while a woman is in peril.

Like, the thing I love about this otherwise-problematic story (Mei’s more or less off the table as a character after the opening, which, as a Mei fan? NO THANKS!) is that it’s hyper-aware of the optics on this, and leans into it in order to subvert that trope. The point of this story is that Rintaro, for all of his caring about Mei, is only thinking of himself here, and therefore can’t possibly be the hero this story needs.

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Originally Posted by r4bbitdragon

But... she /is/ in that more traditional supporter/helper role. And then times like this, when she gets damseled to further Rintaro's despair during this arc for him... Eh. Even Saber's Best Gal can't quite escape, huh...?

Yeah, this kind of story mei have toxic implications, but sometimes, the view to counteract that is a woman being portrayed as anythlng less than the impossible image of "strong" where they can't ever show any kind of weakness or vulnerability (Reika pre-Ryoga, and many other female Riders tbh) is the only way of portrayal that acknowledges their worth as equal. Thus I'd think that, any kind of character should be permitted in story, including the ones who are more normal thus can't contribute more (outside of this too, there are handful who deem Mei as useless).

The idea that a female character (or any character period) that aren't physically strong and does not physically fight means they're treated like shit should stop. The notion that women should never need saving, even in war and crime fiction is ludicrous, it swings the pendulum too far in the other direction and creates the problem of only showcasing women who are physically fit, or butch, or masculine.

The “damsel in distress” trope is only harmful when that aspect of the character is all there is to the character. If the writers take into account for their backstory, feelings, struggles, and development, that doesn't mean she’s a faceless prop just being used for male empowerment. she’s still a person who happens to not fight. People come in all shapes, sizes, temperaments, and ideologies.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Rintaro, from the first scene, is completely in his own head. He feels ashamed at his actions that inadvertently supported villainy, and longs to prove himself to his friends. He needs to prove himself. When Mei’s in danger, he needs to save her. When he begs Touma to save her, he needs to feel the worthlessness of not being able to save her. This is a story where Rintaro reframes Mei’s peril as a story about his own redemption and/or suffering, which keeps him from being either effective as a swordsman, or helpful as a friend.

Actually, this is what's contradictory about Rintaro in previous part, where he chastises Kento for getting too emotional and thus he's not worthy to be an SoL member. You think that Rintaro's current state is conditional, but as Rintaro's someone who can't socialize well, Rintaro's also someone who can't handle or express his emotions well. Though at the very least, Rintaro doesn't buy on Mei-gido, a.k.a Neko Megid's gaslighting on him by playing Mei as someone who won't acknowledge the worth except for those who are perfect, I mean in his view of Mei, but it does make him view himself as a failure. Obviously for Mei herself, she doesn't like the fact that she's the one directly hurting people, and her not being ok is not due to her current situation, but what the situation makes her do something she's unwilling to do.

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Originally Posted by r4bbitdragon

Which ends up not looking great for Saber, the notable exception. And it's not just lacking a female tertiary that clouds Saber's handling of women, but the actual female characters are largely... well. When we finally get Reika as a female rider, she immediately gets derailed to (weirdly) fawn over her brother. Sophia gets kidnapped (due to actor obligations, but) with barely an impact on the narrative for ages. Luna... is not a character! She really just exists as motivation.

Yeah, it's a disservice about Reika being reduced to only Ryoga worshipper. But though, it seems that female Riders at this point are mostly only made up by the ones who exhibit stereotypical "tough" personalities like being cold, aggressive, aloof, ruthless, etc. Straight-up good females like Poppy and Tsukuyomi aren't significant Riders even if they're significant characters.

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Originally Posted by r4bbitdragon

Mei, at least, breaks the doom and gloom by being generally a delight. She's got energy, she's got spunk! Love to have her around!

Not dismissing her charms, but well dunno about if this'd seem as if that everything be very wild, wacky, overtop, larger than life, exaggerated, laugh out loud, in your face wide-angle lenses. Like, characters being more normal and grounded are also ok.