[Androzani84]

Boy, we’re in for a long one.

First off, though I liked this episode decently, I remember Fish’s review suggested a way for Hana’s big moment to be better and more emotionally resonant than a speech from Jason Vorhees.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

Okay, I've been holding off on this for a while, but... I'mma just vent about Revice for a bit here, okay? I really, really loved what this episode did with Aguilera, but I can't stop thinking about how Revice keeps placing its emotional weight in the wrong spots. Having Aguilera realize she doesn't need to be ashamed of her past and deny it, but instead work to redeem those failings, that's a fantastic way to characterize her turn as a Rider! It's exactly why she should be with Weekend, and I'm really glad the show explicitly brought that up.

But this episode could've been so much more, if only they'd realized Tamaki's potential worth to it.

Having Daddy tell Aguilera not to be ashamed of that name is weightless, compared to what they could've done instead. You literally already have Tamaki refusing to call her Hana, and it would've been so easy to turn that into something meaningful. If Aguilera needs convincing that name can be more than just the name of all her mistakes, who better to inspire that change in perspective than the literal living proof Aguilera can bring hope to people too? This was such a missed opportunity to present this same theme in a much more complex and character-driven way, where you could recontextualize and redefine the relationship between those two characters. Tamaki's obsession becomes more than just a joke if you give him the chance to explain himself, and Aguilera would have the chance to maybe even rethink how she views Tamaki. And I'm not even asking her to fall in love with her stalker here! What I'm saying is that, if the episode had bothered to more genuinely explore the motivations behind why Tamaki is in a rush to grab a Rider belt and protect someone who matters to him, it could've ended up being a really touching turnaround when Aguilera resolves to be the one doing the protecting instead.

...But that whole notion is consigned to one throwaway line at the end that immediately gets undercut with a gag about Tamaki still wanting to transform, and I'm sorry, but it feels like a waste.

In other talk, Aguilera becoming a Rider was not planned. They were doing an all-female spin-off and decided to make her a Rider to justify her inclusion there, and rather than bog down that project with an origin story, they decided to use the show for one. Which is partially why I don’t agree with the wiki’s arbitrary placement of Girls Remix after 46 (that, and what little we hear of the current status quo in that special doesn’t match that point in the series)

One thing that was planned was the siblings increasing gulf. Though it was meant to be a three-way thing, they changed it, and now Weekend has become the “place where everyone goes to discuss advancing the plot”



But while KR Aguilera wasn’t planned, someone did manage to predict it last week in this negative reaction to Hikaru (they avoided showing the suit in anything until it leaked three days before broadcast. People still figured it out due to the bee-like patterns on the Driver, Tamaki’s chosen Vistamp being a Legend Rider Vistamp and Nana Hyashimoto being on the cast list for suit actors)



Hana: What’s Sakura’s stalker doing going out and transforming? Make my driver soon.

Karizaki: Of course. You must look cute when standing next to Jeanne.

And as mentioned, Aguilera’s suit is modified from Kanon Specter (which leads to a funny handwave in Girls Remix), while her weapons are modified from Gaim Ichigo Arms’ Ichigo Kunai. She was also shown in magazine pictures to have a second set retooled from Ryugen’s Kiwi Geki-Rin.



And we have Akemi telling Ikki he needs Giff’s DNA to defeat him, which confused me on both watchings, since Ikki already has Giff’s DNA. That was established a few episodes back. As do Daiji and Sakura.



And Donbrothers debuted the robot toy that week, but I was more interested in what was going on the next week.



And now, here’s the cast’s reactions to this episode from Twitter.





And just so you know, others noticed the whole “vaccination” subplot, and I think it might’ve coloured perceptions of the show, given I’ve seen it referred to as “the anti-vax” show a year on.



And finally, the Hiromi fans were just plain getting restless at this point, even with a vague hint from a magazine that “that man” would return.





And after this long rambling string of information and thoughts, here’s our highlight.

Tamaki: It’s Tamaki’s… Stamp Navi.

(George pokes his head out, it seemingly being where Tamaki’s pecs are)

George: We gave him this as an apology for his failed transformation.

Tamaki: Which means today’s Vistamp is… this one.

Buffalo!

Assault Guy! Prepare for a Shock! Buffalo! As Long as I have Tomorrow’s Guts, I’m Good!

George: Daddy tells me that Buffalo is a Genome that can unleash a powerful charge attack. It can also pierce through things thanks to some tech stolen from Yggdrasil after it went bust.

Tamaki: Ahh! I can’t believe I failed to transform with it.

George: Don’t be too sad. Be like today’s Legend and look on the bright side of your desire not working out.

Desire Driver: OOO!

Eiji: Henshin!

TaToBa! TaToBa, Ta-To-Ba!

George: Kamen Rider OOO, Eiji Hino. Using a belt inherited from a medieval king, he fought against the Greeed using the power of desire, Core Medals.

Eiji: As long as I have underwear for tomorrow, I’m good.

(Suddenly, light emerges from the side and Yukimi pops her head in, at a roughly equal height to Tamaki’s. The lighting now reveals that George is sat down on a toilet)

Yukimi: You may be staying here now, George-kun. But would you mind keeping your LARPing volume to a minimum? You’re disturbing the customers.

George: One, this is not LARPing. Two, I have a schedule for making these things that just so happens to coincide with me needing to take a crap this week. And three, can you pass me some toilet paper?

(A mysterious hand appears, with a bog roll)

???: Here you go.

George: Why thank you… Ankh!?! OOO’s partner who gave his life to ensure Eiji lived his? What are you doing here?

Ankh: Didn’t you see that 10 Years movie? Eiji died so I could live my life.

George: I’ve only seen the trailers. Thanks for spoiling the ending.

Yukimi: We hope you enjoy the next instalment. And that it doesn’t get my family business shut down.

Self production note: with the Skybase sunk, my plan was for every instalment afterwards to take place in increasingly absurd locations. But I couldn’t think of anything more absurd than Ikki’s toilet, so I nixxed the idea and avoided referring to where each instalment took place after this.

I also originally planned for George to respond to Yukimi’s complaints that he was annoying the customers with “what customers?”, resulting in Yukimi hitting him with a frying pan. This was nixxed as too over the top