[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

Episode 33: Rexor's Secret Manuver

Episode 34: Iron Mask's Identity

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

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.

By this, it can feel that said human who was experimented wouldn't be saved, or even have any of the Satrias learn about him or make an effort to free him. Guess there's a KR show that had this feature too, like the homeless people used as Odin's puppet in Ryuki.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

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.

Ep. 17 of OG Bima when Topeng Besi was killed (before his revival) had him being revealed as simply an animated armor, when he uses his duplication ability.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

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.

I do think that Evil Torga makes Topeng Besi really a big threat, which I never felt for Topeng Besi's previous forms. I always feel the OG Topeng Besi isn't really threatening especially for a second-in-command excpet a bit in ep. 17, but he got more intimidating in his new form after his revival, but this one he's really scary.