[Kamen Rider Die]

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Originally Posted by Switchblade

W Returns Eternal is probably not the best Kamen Rider movie, probably not the worst, but it is definitely the oiliest.

I am very glad I don't remember the context for this comment!

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Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

I like how there's a balance between showing Terui's weird approach to romance while still showing that he's fully committed to Akiko. Maybe he respects her a little too much with the continued "Chief" calling, but even that can be considered a charming and cute quirk. If this movie wanted me to end up supporting the ship, then it succeeded.

Yeah, as much as my memory was that Akiko always came off more like a little sister than a romantic partner, even for Kamen Rider (although... Specter), there's an element to Terui's ability to be emotionally vulnerable that kind of makes these two perfect for each other. They're both flawed, but in sort of complimentary ways?

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Originally Posted by DreamSword

And last, I did not much care for how the film's' final message ends up being "If you want redemption you need to find a lover." Not just because of my own disposition, but also because it's very forced, especially in the context of W as a whole. Terui's' whole "I was only able to change because of you, Akiko!" is total nonsense, as Terui's' growth was due to various different factors, and Akiko most certainly wasn't one of them.

I don't know if I'd agree that this is where the film lands its message? The whole Terui exchange about finding someone to believe in you... the first thing Aoi thinks of is her dad. It gets romantically complicated when Terui offers to be the person that believes in her, but that's Aoi misinterpreting the situation -- Terui very clearly is not offering to leave his wife! And in the end, it's Ohno who sort of offers to be the person who makes sure that Aoi stays on the straight and narrow. Aoi 100% thinks she's in a story about a handsome cop who sweeps her off her feet, but that's not what this is all about.

Because it's mostly about the loss of family, and what takes the place of that when you need someone to make you want to be a better person. Terui became a shadow of himself after the death of his family, but he fought to be a better person because of Akiko. But it's not about romantic partnership, because Terui's offering to be that person for Aoi. Regardless of how much the movie is retroactively portraying Akiko as Terui's guiding light (which they definitely are), the movie itself is talking about how the absence of support is detrimental to self-image; the support is as simple as a wife, and as complicated as a legal system that views criminals as inherently tainted.