[Sh Ranger]

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER FOURZE EPISODE 24 - ?THE MOTIVATION FOR HEROISM?

The main thing that worked for me was the Tomoko/Ryuusei date stuff. (And it?s a date! I don?t care how grumpy Ryuusei is! This was their first date!) Tomoko?s whole Manic Goth Dream Girl approach instantly snapped their scenes into focus, while Ryuusei?s typically dismissive judgment became a compelling kind of grudging indulgence, and I could?ve watched another 20 minutes easy of him standing around while she kicked her legs while laying on the ground and trying to sense Cygnus Vibes or whatever. Adorable, and my preferred wavelength for this episode?s story about how heroism is more about being there for people ? like Ryuusei wasn?t and Meteor was ? than it is about acclaim or adulation ? like Ryuusei has to take it on the chin in order to protect Meteor?s identity and effectiveness.

For sure! I totally don't mind watching this kind of flat arc as it still develops one of my favorite ships! I do like how the cult stuff actually contrasts how Ryusei and Tomoko don't want to get sucked in to that kind of thing, which becomes a connection for them. KRC is kind of like Ugly Ducklings for Ryusei, at least how he currently sees it, so a free spirit like Tomoko is a good accidental ambassador to help Ryusei see the benefit in their friendship, as a way to support individuality rather than supplant it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

(Also, man, remember when Ryuusei didn't want to detonate Zodiarts because he was desperately trying to find the one that'll evolve into Aries so he can save Jirou? Well, Ryuusei clearly doesn't remember that, since he just up and Limit Breaks Cygnus all on his lonesome. I guess his pride was pretty wounded by looking bad in front of Tomoko, which is relatable, if still wildly out of character.)

I'd argue that this is actually totally in character and highlights one of Ryusei's flaws. Like with the Gentarou punch in Episode 18, the usually cool Ryusei will lose his temper and act against his own interest if he can get short-term gratification. In Cygnus' case, it's not just about making him look bad in front of Tomoko (first as Ryusei and second as Meteor), the way Cygnus calls himself a hero while imposing his twisted sense of morality on others is something Ryusei hates. Ryusei may lie to others, but Cygnus lies to himself, so at that point I think Ryusei simply decided for himself that Cygnus wasn't even worthy to become Aries Horoscope. Like Meteor always says, "I'll decide your fate."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

My favorite non-date thing for Episode 24 is Kengo going to pains to explain the physics of Giant Foot's cosmic energy, and Gen just being like GIANT FOOT STOMPY STOMP. I appreciate the writer trying to give a little bit of pseudoscience cover to a preposterous Switch, and then realizing afterwards that literally no one besides Kengo cares.

My favorite part of this is how Giant Step plays, after being absent for several episodes. They knew what they were doing.

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Originally Posted by DreadBringer

The Pen Switch being on the leg reminds me of a joke that only applies on my language, about an elementary school lesson in drawing isosceles triangle, which when literally translated from my language to english is "drawing triangle with legs".

And yet the Pen module goes on the X leg. What a missed opportunity.