[DreamSword]

Episode 33: Rexor's Secret Manuver

Episode 34: Iron Mask's Identity

The mystery of Iron Mask could've so easily gone wrong.

This sort of slow build up for a character I've grown to like... it builds a sort of expectation and anticipation, you know?

However, I'm happy to report that, in terms of my own personal tastes, these two episodes came very close to being perfect. And the mystery of who Iron Mask is concluded in a way that I was very satisfied with.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Befor we tackle what is very much the biggest highlight of this two-parter, I wanna take some time to give credit to various others aspects that shouldn't be overlooked. Because there's alot going on here, and it all comes together for a very enjoyable experience.

First off, Rexor has the best showing here that he's had all show. This is the first time we get to see him be very direct in his manipulation of his enemies, and he does it all while carrying a gravitas that makes him very enjoyable as a character. He's the one primarily responsible for pushing this story forward, and characters providing plot is how I tend to like things most of the time.

Next, the technicals of these particular episodes are surprisingly good. The score for episode 34 especially is rather memorable all around and great to listen to. And the action across both episodes is superb, with big highlights being stuff like Torga rebounding between iron pillars, and Bima-X Storm's' arrows being wielded as swords, which is one of the most badass things I've seen in a long time. Combine those with a moody and dramatic atmosphere and I'm locked in.

But now the big one. The very crux of the entirety of these two episode: Iron Mask's' backstory. As it turns out, both of Iron Mask's' bodies were made by Rexor. And Iron Mask is a Kamen Rider in all but name: Being a human who was experimented on and turned into a cyborg. And the entire plan set in motion by Black Lord was to fill Iron Mask with enough hatred that they would cause the Synthetic Power Stone in Iron Mask's' new body to evolve, and turn him into an Anti-Satria: Evil Torga.

Although while I don't think Black Lord fully thought out this plan of his, it does bring back an aspect of the Power Stones that we haven't seen in a long time: That being how they can absorb emotions. Remember, that was a whole part of Rasputin's' plan in building Grand Gator. But more than just thematic symbolism, there's also a very direct reason as to why Iron Mask is a Satria; And that's because he was one. Infact, he's the original Torga. And in ages past he decided he was beyond the very people he'd been chosen to protect, and had to be put down by Bima Legend. Which in turns helps explain his beef with Bima.

And if the absolutely stellar fight he has with Bima-X and Torga wasn't enough to sell you on the power scale that Evil Torga wields, it's established that he was almost equal to Bima Legend, who back in BIMA was absolutely insurmountable. Wielding Storm Mode's' Hurricane Blaster as swords? Yeah, Iron Mask is the one who does that. Other feats include creating his own pocket dimension, no selling Torga Ice's' deep freeze combined with Bima-X Magnetic's' binding field, and forcing Atlas to work for him alongside his own weapon; Titan. And there's no sudden Azazel showing up or any of the sort here either. This ends with our heroes losing.

It's all high praise, but I did say "almost" perfect earlier, didn't I? There's just two small things that I feel could've been done to make these episodes even better. First is one that we've already discussed prior: That the Orange Power Stone really should not have replaced the Yellow one. Keeping the Metal Stone around, and thus here having it be revealed as the original stone that Iron Mask used in the past would've been very thematically fitting given his cyborg nature. Heck, even saying that the Blue Stone was originally his would've been better. But no, it is still the Thunder Stone, which works alot less smoothly. The other apsect being that I wish it had been revealed that Rexor had used pieces of Grand Gator to create Iron Mask's' new body, as it would've tied into how Rexor mentioned gathering the scrap way early in the show and also would've been very thematically fitting, given the angle of filling Iron Mask with hatred.

In the end though, both of those are very minor complaints. I had a really great time with these episodes, and I really don't know if BIMA-X will be able to top these.