[Kamen Rider Die]

FUUTO PRESENTS: KAMEN RIDER W SPECIAL EVENT - SUPPORTED BY WINDSCALE



It’s like, yeah, that’s about all there is to say about this one. It’s an 18-minute live stunt show explicitly designed to promote a then-current Kamen Rider theatrical film. That’s it. That’s the brief.

For that mandate… it’s fine? It’s another one of those Kamen Rider stage shows where the Riders fight a Shocker variant, because Shocker doesn’t ever require setup or exposition, and there’s no risk of it interfering with the writers’ plans for the TV series. On the other hand, it means there’s very little aesthetic or thematic connection between the various monsters and the
heroes – they’re literally not built to interact with Double. It makes these shows feel even more ephemeral and thin than usual.

There’s an attempt to tie it into the movie – Skull shows up to menace Shotaro, and Boo the Combatman is trying to deal with his hero-worship for Zanjiro – but it’s basically window-dressing for a whole bunch of tumbling and sound effects. Shocker’s plan is basic, even for them, and Decade’s just like Hey I Was Passing Through (...which is his whole thing, so I’ll allow it), so that’s the whole plot. And, I don’t know, that’s fine! It’s an 18-minute stunt show – I shouldn’t expect a nuanced three-act structure. It is 100% executing on its intended story.

But it’s just sort of… I don’t know, it’s clearing such a low bar, I guess. Aiming low and hitting your bullseye is not the sort of thing I want to applaud. It’s not bad, but it’s nothing to be proud of. It exists, and it told everyone to go see a movie. I hope that’s worth 18 minutes?