[DreadBringer]

Keiwa's tor-mentor meets his end.

Kinda wish that there'd be more regarding Michinaga apologizing, and as said, for many things he caused which may refer to his overall actions like JGP or traits like hating all Riders. Obviously Sara will forgive him, as the nice morally upright sister that is also a mini-tradition in KR shows, but it's other people's reaction, not Michi himself. This episode makes an effort to be mainly Keiwa-focused by making all Riders inactive, with Ace being sealed, also Sara and Daichi not being Rider anymore, but all Riders being turned into an animal plushie, as Kekera said so that Keiwa would be the only Kamen Rider to prove that he can't save people alone. It seems comedic, while also highlighting Tsumuri's change compared to Black Tsumuri which was like her at the beginning (albeit with opposite quote), such as now calling Riders by their civilian names, but that'd be another one of Kekera's crimes even if temporary, other than him holding civilians hostage, as I've seen these kind of crime in, Power Rangers SPD.

I guess it's the most "consistent" way to change horrible people like Daichi, through outside means, like shown, as I personally won't believe that it can't come from he himself, regarding how horrible and that horrible people tend to look down on morality and never convinced by it (other than the benefit he can gain), thus it has to be forced upon him by the memories he gained. It also doesn't feel like he's actually redeemed yet (though him becoming sort of better now can disqualify him from pure evil status...), because his motivation to protect Sara isn't some kind of genuine care, but because there's something that finally intrigues him regarding her and Keiwa, about how to be happy, which is an ulterior motive. A kind where if something serves his interests, Daichi can be less of a dick for now. If it's the case, yeah I'd not be happy if Daichi gets elevated by irl audience only because his actions benefit others here, including him controlling the Jamato to free people, unexplained, or to get even at Kekera using him? (I guess even Orteca has similar moment like this in Battle Familia, still not redeemed for that which is good)

Daichi also hasn't lost his obnoxious personality in deeming the Sakurai sibs' life as boring, even though it's what he's learning at the moment. It's my hope for now that he's not becoming a good man, just more chilled like Masamune or Evolt, still only cares about pursuing intelligence, and seemingly with how he stands still while Keiwa fights Kekera, and of course the Tree of Knowledge stuff. Though make him more unearned regarding the good treatment he got from the good side like Keiwa here to have him also becoming amicable with him (-kun suffix...), and him likely getting away for what he's done (of which Revice actually had Aguilera seeking to be punished for her crimes). As what I liked about Takahashi's shows was the cast still being bitter with the horrible villains on their "side", like Kuroto (who isn't actually redeemed) in Ex-Aid and Gai in Zero-One. Albeit this is still better than ep. 36 one, where this one is like Sougo and Heure's moment to acknowledge the previous atrocities, instead of "Michinaga did nothing wrong", but (Keiwa suggesting to) stop their further crime onwards.

Otherwise, this takes me to, the memory/identity altering shenanigans before. Such as, the DGP itself, of which them taking away people's memory and drive for said desires are likely some ways how they can reform horrible people like Kanato, so that they won't cause harm, albeit they'd live as an empty shell that won't strive for happiness. Similar thing in non-Takahashi series is Rook in Kiva or Tsukasa as Destroyer of the World. Despite Ace and the gang striving to create a world where literally everyone can be happy, it's the total opposite if what it takes to probably tame Daichi is a great amount of dead bodies (though it can be restored). Though of course, forcing other people's identities, worldviews, etc. upon someone isn't only done through murderous means, like Emu reprogramming Poppy in Ex-Aid after she got corrupted. This can be purposely done as a way to tame or outright redeem scumbags without violence, but it'd may conflict with Ace never forcing something upon people and reverted people's memories from said DGP who took them.

Other than the usual display of heroism by being concerned about the civilians, Keiwa makes active defiance to Kekera's teachings, and follow Ace's. Now Keiwa rejects making a DGP wish, against Kekera insisting that you have to sacrifice some people's happiness to fulfill the other. With Keiwa promising to Ace to take part in creating a world where everyone is happy, being heroic is of course, not viewing good in statistics, but strive for everyone, unlike him only caring for his family in his heel turn before. Though it's not shown how to deal with you can't save everyone route, but my personal thinking is that, it's ok if you fail, but only due to your limitations, not deliberately offing the unlucky few. Though Keiwa now swears off DGP, he'd still need the Creation powers to fix the world, but in how Ace and the gang use it by not sacrificing others. The episode title of Kamen Rider meaning is shown with the typical Kamen Rider theme, of which no matter where your powers come from, including from evil, you have the control of your power and use it for good... the one thing Keiwa thanked Kekera for.

Now it does feel that Premium form isn't exactly stronger than the supporter Riders, but more of pseudo-Rider status, with Tycoon Ninja being able to actually put up some fight to Premium Kekera, with Bujin Sword being used only for finisher. While Buffa Zombie wasn't able to against Kamen Rider Beroba at all. Though it still doesn't diminish Na-Go Fantasy's beatdown against Beroba as it seems that Bujin Sword is what's needed to can kill off Premium for good, base Buckles like Ninja or Zombie against Premiums are like unmorphed human Riders against Jamatos (can put a fight but not truly beat). There's also Marrella Jamato's fight against Premium Kekera, and Marrella lost. Now it does feel all over the place regarding Marrella Jamato's power of Ninja being unable to put up a fight before, but now Ninja puts up better fight to the one that beat Marrella, is Daichi still held back by his injuries?

Ace once again eliminates the stakes that is built up upon him by breaking off the chains (spoiler opening) due to him using his Creation powers. Though it's established that willpower can cancel their petrification, but turns out that the penalty of using Creation powers won't slow down someone that can keep going for 2000 years to look after Mitsume. Zitt was able to fight both Ace and Win at once albeit with baton, but their fight in Rider forms, Regad vs Geats IX, has Geats IX eventually winning. So Zitt's skills still inferior to Ace's, as Regad has slightly higher stats than Geats IX. It's also quite ironic that, with Ace being similar to Tendou, he's the one facing Clock Up instead of having it. Despite Geats usually having good fight choreography though (I think Geats IX vs Suel Gazer is flashier though), I feel that Tendou's way of dealing with super speed in Kabuto ep. 1 is better than Ace's here.

Suel returns, with him revealing that Zitt is only a remote body controlled by him. Though Zitt is Suel's active attempts in restarting the DGP, I don't know why Suel refuses to directly get involved though, choosing to stay away from it using a doombot like Zitt to do so, when Suel would eventually make an announcement to the humanity anyway with one last DGP, with Black Tsumuri as the Navigator, or either his injury actually lasts for him to sit away temporarily. Even more than the Gang Riders.. now they have only 2 episodes to stop Suel's next DGP plan....