[Kamen Rider Die]

KAMEN RIDER SABER X KAMEN RIDER GHOST



What is it about Kanon that makes so many dudes act like weird creeps?

This was definitely Movie War Against Weird Creeps, but in a more digestible Episode format. Desast is in it, representing the Saber side of the antagonists, and he's a repellant creep throughout. I could wave it away as him not caring about Kanon’s autonomy because he doesn’t see her as real enough to bother not dragging her away screaming, but the optics on it are still very not appealing. The Ganma Guys are a non-descript bunch of chuds; deranged cultists from the Specter movie that I am incredibly grateful (*wink*) that this episode decided to recap, since I barely remember any of it. (I mean, that Omega Drive, forever.) They’re similarly creepy, dressing up Kanon in Chloe’s Gothic Lolita outfit and getting way too close to her while singing some unsettling lullaby. It’s a full episode of Kanon being imperiled and possessed and maybe brain damaged, and it’s just… boy, it’s not a very fun way back into Ghost?

Luckily, the non-Kanon parts of this Ghost resurrection are delightful. I’ve never been a huge fan of Takeru’s post-show non-dyed hair, but I liked it here. He’s a fully-grown adult now, and he looks it. There’s still that bit of swagger he always had, but now it’s seasoned with a bit more calm and seriousness. He wears it well! Also, Javert is here to be Fill-In Onari, and I thought he acquitted himself as well as Onari ever did. I mean it as a compliment, but your mileage may vary.

The Saber stuff was fine, if not exactly what I’m most going to take away from this. I like anytime the spotlight can stay on Mei and Touma, so them kicking around through this story of distressed damsels and brawling monks was an effective representation of Saber’s chemistry. The new Legend Rider suit was, uh… I didn’t like it. Grateful’s never been my suit, and I super didn’t think the parka version added to Brave Dragon was a good look. Fun to see Saber and Ghost bust out synchronized Musashi moves, but I definitely don’t need to see that suit ever ever again.

This one was a real mixed bag! Didn’t love how they wrote Desast, and I am not thrilled with an entire plot of Kanon somehow being less of a character than when she lived in her brother’s pocket for a dozen episodes. But! The other Ghost characters were fun, and the humor was well-executed. Optimistic for the second chapter, despite it all!

—

THE GHOST OF YOU LINGERS



Ren looked up from his Cup Noodle, and saw Desast returning. “Where have you been?” he asked.

The devil swordsman slumped down against the wall, and sighed deeply. “It’s a long story. I saw this fake girl running around, and I thought it’d be cool if she hung out with us, but then Saber wanted to fight, and I kicked his ass, but then the girl kicked my ass, and I teamed up with some cultist, and I got my ass kicked by a ghost, I think. It was a long day.”

“Whatever. I ate your lunch,” Ren said.

~

Narita looked up from his sweeping, and saw Takeru returning. “Where did you go?” he asked.

The former ghost slumped into a chair, and sighed deeply. “It’s a long story. I tracked Kanon to some Danton cultists, teamed up with a Kamen Rider named Saber, and saved Kanon from some sort of devil swordsman. I think they said his name was ‘Deadass’?”