[Kamen Rider Die]

KAMEN RIDER REVICE EPISODE 41 - “THE FATHER’S TRUE MOTIVE, AND THE SON’S DETERMINATION!”



It’s an episode more about digging into the last episode and setting up the next episode, rather than feeling like a compelling story of its own. I just finished watching it, and most of the middle section is already sort of escaping me, like I borrowed a demon’s power and I’m left blissfully ignorant of what it cost me. Let’s see if anything comes back to me over the course of this post!

Like, a whole lot of this episode is spent delineating the various feuds and stakes of this late-series arc: Ikki vs Daiji, Vail vs Genta, Weekend vs Fenix, Hikaru vs Akaishi, and Hana vs Anyone Who Would Make Sakura Sad. Toss in Tamaki’s desire to be a Kamen Rider, Karizaki Sr’s deteriorating health, Hiromi’s new/old job as commander, and you’re going to find yourself in an episode that struggles to move any one element into a spotlight position. It’s a lot of stuff happening, but no room to sculpt all of that into a compelling or memorable episode. Certain series-wide themes are touched on, and character traits are exhibited, but it feels almost like a clip show. We’re talking about Kamen Rider Revice the TV show, instead of saying anything new or different about our cast of characters.

That said, it wasn’t like I hated this episode, because I still like that cast of characters a whole lot. Ikki talking to his mom and dad about the cost of being a Kamen Rider isn’t new information in any way, but it’s still a touching and well-acted scene. (Genta and Yukimi! Always! They make this whole show so much better!) It also ends up slightly altering the trajectory of Genta’s character, pushing him to confront Vail, and I’m cautiously optimistic about where that’s heading. There’s a way it’s all phrased – “I can’t afford to lose anyone in my family” – that makes me feel Genta’s version of settling things with Vail is more about reintegrating Vail into Genta as a way of honoring the life that Vail helped Genta gain, rather than Karizaki Sr’s whole thing of I Must Defeat My Original Sin. Not sure that’s where we’ll end up, but after an episode that also brings up Kagerou’s mistaken execution around Genta, I am hopeful.

Beyond that, I thought this episode was entertaining, but not really anything to love or hate. It’s another assault by a bunch of Giffterians and Giff Jrs and whatever, it’s another assault by Vail, it’s another evacuation of Weekend bases, it’s another etc etc etc. A lot of the same set pieces and action sequences. Competently done, but nothing that’s emotionally engaging. Hikaru gets a scene where he’s trying to process Weekend Dad’s sacrifice, but it’s Hikaru, and asking me to care about that kid’s emotional turmoil and shaken resolve is asking too much of just about any viewer. (Again: Mihara from Faiz. Do not spend precious minutes of an episode late in the series asking me to care about the youngest, dopiest Rider! It will never be time well-spent!) We’re setting up for a whole string of shocking developments and final battles, but none of ‘em are happening yet.

Still, yeah, had an okay time with this episode. I liked all of the little bits we got with the cast, even Sakura’s side of the Hikaru stuff. They’re all interesting characters, and they’ve found so many weird angles on their interactions. Not the best episode, but still a decent enough transitional installment of Revice.