[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

This movie also focuses on Takumi/Mari as a canon ship, which was only seldom teased in the show as Takumi and Mari each had their own romantic focus with Saya and Kiba respectively. However, 20 years is long enough time for platonic relationships to develop romantically offscreen and Inoue has been known to tactfully use time skip epilogues to leave events to the imagination. Like you said, Mari turning Orphenoch makes her closer to Takumi. Before, she could sympathize, but now she can empathize. Takumi's dilemma is now Mari's dilemma and they choose to face it together.

Mari and Takumi... I can't say it's something I ever wanted in the TV show (TAKIBA), but its appearance here felt weirdly right to me. Like you said, the 20 year gap -- and their incredibly vibrant connection in this film -- helps the two of them feel less like the Lovestruck Teens or Fated Pairing they might've been cast as in the original series, and more Weary Survivors who have grown into a mutually supportive romance.

Also, with Rena's death, Mari is definitely the only person alive who can deal with Takumi's historically infuriating bullshit, so he better find some way to make it work with her.