[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER SABER X KAMEN RIDER GHOST

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?

I feel that as this is the part of making Kanon the female lead of Ghost's subsequent appearences replacing Akari, perhaps due to her actress Mio Kudo's popularity, but also that Kanon's quite a hated character previously, they seem to reframe Kanon's character here to what they think will appeal the audience, without regard of her hated original characters.... (other than keeping her surface trait of her big brother worship). Thus they make Kanon here, other than her being turned into a fighter (as girls are often measured by how strong/useless they're), her personality is also turned into the standard cold and merciless type, like attacking Touma for trying to help her, to further frame her as "tough" and "competent" (I thought the gothic lolita outfit is meant to emphasize her "toughness" here particularly the boots). Basically making her like Reika (including her recent flanderization) because it's the type the audience likes.... though for me dunno what'd happen in the next specials yet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

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.

About Takeru using Grateful here instead of Mugen, it happens because one of the tie in novels has Takeru sacrifice the Mugen Eyecon to resolve it at the climax of the story meaning he no longer has that form. A display of Takeru fighting untransformed here, for prolonged time too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

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.

Though Mei'd step in to defend Kanon, even standing up against Desast, it seems that Mei retains her superficial traits here, as she kinda puts down Javert here for being useless and failing to help in his attempts. My suspect about how Mei treats people who aren't charming is sort of right here... Desast's antics here is pretending to be Kanon's onii-chan for unknown reason, of which Touma won't buy that, but wonder if that's actually the truth.