[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER W EPISODE 33 - ?Y?S TRAGEDY - THE WOMAN IN SEARCH OF YESTERDAY?

It?s kind of amazing to think of how little has changed since he was killed. An episode like this should feel like dredging up the forgotten past, but instead it feels like you could?ve done it the episode after Kirihiko got, uh, forcibly divorced. Isaka?s no factor in this one. Terui?s here, but only really in an Additional Kamen Rider way, not in any sense that affects the trajectory of the mystery. Wakana?s pissy about Saeko, which is a thing from practically the debut episode. And Shotaro is in full-on Cosplay Detective mode, ready to play up his deductive skills for a pretty girl. The show hasn?t really budged an inch since Kirihiko left, which is either a testament to Shotaro honoring Kirihiko?s memory by preserving Fuuto in amber (or at least the amber light of a sunset), or it?s this show not really having distinct phases of aesthetic/structural design. You choose!

Yuuko's cat is named 'Kinou' which is the Japanese word for 'yesterday', and hilarously gets translated to local language too in my airing. Shotaro apparently have learned a thing or two from Bitou, to finger snap Akiko for underestimating the case, as the cat also had precious memories for the owners (really Akiko, for someone who previously won't make dolls cry?), so Shotaro had something to counter against Akiko's slipper (and appreciate balanced slapstick between men and women). About Wakana reporting about Saeko's event being targeted, Saeko and Isaka are just nonchalant reaction as it's a habit of Saeko's work. It's like Miyabi's challenge in ep. 5-6 of being hated as a politician and that they have to take it to be accomplished, but taken to a dark degree here (not that Miyabi was clean) due to the target being a supervillainess and thus can outright eliminate threats.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

But here?s Kirihiko?s sister, arriving in Fuuto to trick Shotaro into trying to murder Saeko, and all for reasons that demand a second part to this mystery. What looked at first like a simple story about revenge, actually turns into? a try-out for the Museum? I don?t really understand the Why yet (Yuuko is actually a fake identity designed to manipulate Shotaro, so it?s hard to say if what Yukie actually wants is to be a Museum officer), and the How is equally mystifying ? why doesn?t Saeko get out of the way of the attack? There?s showing strength by not canceling an event after a threat, and then there?s standing there while a Maximum Drive is being targeted at your face. I can see why Yukie would assume taking out a top Museum lieutenant could be a power move, but why does Saeko just stand there? Weird sequence.

Yeah true, don't know what's the deal with Saeko here, brushing off Wakana who tries to pull her and didn't move a single inch in human form. Accel forces W outside and Phillip uses Xtreme to neutralize the Yesterday brand. The Yesterday Dopant arrives, and luckily W retains his Xtreme form, and as a final form, easily gains the upper hand as Yesterday escapes. But Accel stops her as they've figured it out. Yesterday reverts to human form, revealing her true identity (and true name being Yukie Sudo, Kirihiko's little sister) in front of the main cast. Though Shotaro assumes that she wanted revenge to the Museum, apparently what she wants is to become a member of the Museum and surprass her brother. As she turns into Yesterday again to bombard W, Xtreme shows off his power by not just blocking all of them with the shield, he can even prepare his Maximum Drive which slots 4 Gaia Memories uninterrupted. Though funnily (or it's further show-off), he uses the close-ranged Bicker Charge Break instead of the far-ranged Bicker Finalusion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I did like the episode overall, though. Yuuko and Shotaro have instant, charming chemistry ? the two of them playing as cats was really sweet. The low-hanging fruit is pointing out that OF COURSE Shotaro would fall for a woman who wears a hat well, but he really seems to enjoy her willingness to embrace absurdity in the pursuit of an objective. She?s fun, in the same dumb, embarrassing ways that he?s fun. They?d?ve made a fun couple, if she actually existed.

For this one, I agree that the mockery of Shotaro's detective work is warranted. Shotaro applies Sokichi's teaching to think like someone you're looking for.. of which Shotaro pretends to be a cat here. It's a literal-minded take and just making yourself look like a fool, and Akiko hits him with her slipper for this as Sokichi's advice can only be applied to people. However, Yuuko agrees with Shotaro's approach, to try all the possibilities, of which Akiko, being the sane one for once here, sarcastically remarks that they're a perfect team. After fighting the Yesterday Dopant in the conference hall, Yuuko retrieved Kinou by herself, but still thanked Shotaro. Shotaro warns her to go home for safety as Akiko tries to charge her. Seemingly a typical happy ending and case closed right.... but this is still (sorry Shotaro) half of the episode, not to mention Yuuko claimed about tomorrow being interesting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Really, though, this isn?t an episode for delving into Yuuko/Yukie?s relationship with her late brother, or with her employment goals. It?s an episode for a pretty appealing action sequence? or is that two action sequences? The gimmick of running the fight back a second time, with Shotaro accidentally going on a rampage, is incredibly fun to watch. Keeping all the same choreography and dialogue is disconcerting, with a kind of hilarious inevitability that gets more tense as it goes along. As far as Dopant powers go, this is one of the most compelling and cinematic. Not sure what Yuuko/Yukie?s whole deal is yet, but I like her strategy! It?s honestly smarter than Isaka?s stuff so far!

After being marked, Shotaro unwittingly mocks Terui due to repeating his words from last day. Akiko is obviously puzzled again by Shotaro's actions, which aren't even sane to begin with last day, as Philip informs her about his situation. When Shotaro jumps from high building previously as W, but now in human form, Akiko had to inform Phillip to henshin to save Shotaro from heights. So this shows that Kamen Riders can take fall from high places, but Yukie might fail here if Akiko doesn't intervene, no one to attack Saeko. Their fight at the end, obviously a final form like Xtreme would prevail by not just blocking all of them with the shield, he can even prepare his Maximum Drive which slots 4 Gaia Memories uninterrupted. Though funnily (or it's further show-off), he uses the close-ranged Bicker Charge Break instead of the far-ranged Bicker Finalusion.