[Androzani84]

Yeah, this episode doesn’t have much for me to talk about. The most I have is the Demons Troopers and Karizaki with a Driver and Vistamp (which no-one believed would really happen, except for one guy). So I’ll go for the first one.

The Demons Troopers? Surprisingly, despite being a mass-produced variant of the most popular Rider and belt in the show, not a lot of people like the concept, and have said that if they were doing the show/toyline, they would not exist. Ironically, the discord community I’ve been pulling screenshots from actually came round to the idea of them, if not the design. Me personally, I’m split between annoyance they didn’t go with the Week Endriver/Kuma Vistamp troopers, and slightly understanding that this was easier to pull off with reused parts. Though there’s not much reason they use the Demons Driver, given that none of them display the ability to Genomix and use the same weapons as Revice.

Hiromi: It’s Hiromi’s… Stamp Navi! With the help of a few of my old college buddies, fellow FENIX trainees and Weekend members. Come in and introduce yourselves.

(The two who demonstrated the Demons Trooper transformation appear)

Jun: I’m Jun…

Oiwa: And I’m Oiwa.

Both: Nice to meet you. Today, we’ll be looking at these two Vistamps.

Spider Trooper!

Kuwagata Trooper!

Leadership! Entangle!/Scissor! Perfect Harmony! Spider/Kuwagata Trooper!

Jun: The Trooper Vistamps are modifications of the Spider and Kuwagata Vistamps, created for mass use along with the Demons Driver.

Rise! (Rise) Rage! (Rage) Requiem! (Sadness) Kamen Rider!

Oiwa: Spider Trooper boasts a stronger punching power, while Kuwagata Trooper is better at using kicks. However, they’re unable to Genomix and are very weak physically, requiring both prominent use of weapons and large numbers to be of any use.

(Enter George)

George: Hey, hey, hey! Did you really think you could do this without me? My daddy invented the Vistamp System and I improved on it.

Jun: Yeah, and because of that, you’ve only helped speed up Giff’s revival.

Oiwa: So we thought, we’d show you guys the door. (He slams the door into George, rendering him unconscious) I’ve always wanted to do that.

Jun: Maybe, but it was a bit of a jerk move, wasn’t it?

Hiromi: (clearly uncomfortable) We hope you enjoy the next instalment.

Oiwa: Yeah, we should probably take him to a hospital.

Self production notes: Jun and Oiwa are named for their actors, Jun Watanabe the action director and Hisanori Oiwa, better known as Eitoku, the suit actor for Vice.

[Deepsea]

I dont have much to add atm, but here's some fun Hiiromi art
https://twitter.com/hazardleveI/stat...528256/photo/1

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Androzani84

The Demons Troopers? Surprisingly, despite being a mass-produced variant of the most popular Rider and belt in the show, not a lot of people like the concept, and have said that if they were ah doing the show/toyline, they would not exist. Ironically, the discord community I?ve been pulling screenshots from actually came round to the idea of them, if not the design. Me personally, I?m split between annoyance they didn?t go with the Week Endriver/Kuma Vistamp troopers, and slightly understanding that this was easier to pull off with reused parts. Though there?s not much reason they use the Demons Driver, given that none of them display the ability to Genomix and use the same weapons as Revice.

I'm okay with it? They exist to be a bulk army that can fight Giff Jrs -slash- get murdered by Akaishi and/or Vail, so they don't need an especially ornate or clever design. They reuse the Demons helmet that Over Demons discarded, and add in a boring vest. It's a suit that's useful to the narrative, but it ain't like Bandai's going to be rushing out the Figuart. I sort of don't even think about it as a design, because they're just bulking up the Weekend side of the battle.

Oh, and thanks for the fun skit!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deepsea

I dont have much to add atm, but here's some fun Hiiromi art
https://twitter.com/hazardleveI/stat...528256/photo/1

Neat! Thanks for sharing it!

[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER REVICE EPISODE 41 - “THE FATHER’S TRUE MOTIVE, AND THE SON’S DETERMINATION!”

Like, a whole lot of this episode is spent delineating the various feuds and stakes of this late-series arc: Ikki vs Daiji, Vail vs Genta, Weekend vs Fenix, Hikaru vs Akaishi, and Hana vs Anyone Who Would Make Sakura Sad. Toss in Tamaki’s desire to be a Kamen Rider, Karizaki Sr’s deteriorating health, Hiromi’s new/old job as commander, and you’re going to find yourself in an episode that struggles to move any one element into a spotlight position. It’s a lot of stuff happening, but no room to sculpt all of that into a compelling or memorable episode. Certain series-wide themes are touched on, and character traits are exhibited, but it feels almost like a clip show. We’re talking about Kamen Rider Revice the TV show, instead of saying anything new or different about our cast of characters.

Turns out that Demons Army isn't the same as Demons, so at least Demons isn't nerfed. If George created it, disappointed that there are no in-universe Kamen Rider references from him like Riotroopers, Kurokage Army, Ride-Players or such. And about the assault on the shelter, Revice quite takes a spin that, the ones who are using guns here are also the major characters, like Tamaki or even Hiromi, and the Riders, even when 'fodders' are the nameless ones. Usually the ones using guns are shown to be ineffectively holding off monsters, and is restricted to nameless ones (though there's probably bodycounts in this scene too, even female ones). For this fight, actually I liked that Ultimate Revi/Vice used their magnet powers to take care of the hordes, so they can attack (use Giffard Finish) on them all at once. However later...

Turns out that Akaishi is not the biggest fish in the pond either. I guess it was a good reason why his Giffdemos form debuts against the other Riders, instead of fighting Ultimate Revi/Vice before. Ultimate Revi/Vice is clearly superior to Akaishi, perhaps as direct Giff power. Actually Akaishi can feel anti-climatic too to be one-upped this early, feels like W's final bosses, Terror and Utopia, of which was dispatched by W (and Accel for the former) without many difficulty after everyone gets their shit together, and here too, Ultimate Revi and Vice dispatch both Akaishi and Vail in a teamwork style. I wouldn't complain about Akaishi being one-upped this early, but the fight is disappointing, after Akaishi's previous showings, either as Giffdemos or even human, to make use of his powers, as per Sun Tzu's The Art of War quote, like invisibility, super speed, thunderstorm, duplicates, etc. As expected of KR fights, the power showings are often neglected including Akaishi here to rely mostly on hand-to-hand, augmented by energy for Revi/Vice. And Ultimate Revi or Vice can still trounce him like countering with their own duplicate powers. But actually, Aguilera's showing in this fight is quite good to try holding off Holy Live, with that high altitude fight, flight, and maneuvers.

Character wise, so now Akaishi has been valuing Daiji even more, after trying to constantly groom him up, he now changes his mind to instead finish off the Igarashi families. This is in line with his usual character, that he normally acts affable and actually not two-faced for that (other than Fenix's public reputation), but he'd be ruthless against his obstacles, but not necessarily. Akaishi also still helped Vail's deteriorating condition with the ViStamps, despite mocking him before, or more about shilling Giff... giffing Vail extended life. Only that his love for Daiji now has overshadowed even his sympathy for the other Igarashis. Turns out that even Daiji is a bit shook by Akaishi's treatment of him too, not only Vail, that he's only acting on what he thinks is right. That can be either Daiji still being relatively better than Akaishi or especially Vail, but also can be him refusing to be influenced by anyone, good or evil (but he's doing bad now). The good thing in the fight is Akaishi finally letting out his cause and motivation against Revi, even if obviously Revi would reject it, as it's heavily biased against Giff. An actually benevolent force of nature would endure the misunderstood and not turning batshit crazy, like for example Kouta in Gaim still trying to help even knowing that him becoming an Overlord could have the world rejecting him.

The other one with deteriorating condition is Masumi, probably due to his burn injuries, yet he later jumps into the fight. Seems to be the most irrational decision he can make, as he's all about scientist, contributing in creating devices, and isn't about fighting, probably not in his youth too (unlike George who did work out), and now he has been even in worse condition physically and going fighting? But let's see what happens next.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

That said, it wasn’t like I hated this episode, because I still like that cast of characters a whole lot. Ikki talking to his mom and dad about the cost of being a Kamen Rider isn’t new information in any way, but it’s still a touching and well-acted scene. (Genta and Yukimi! Always! They make this whole show so much better!) It also ends up slightly altering the trajectory of Genta’s character, pushing him to confront Vail, and I’m cautiously optimistic about where that’s heading. There’s a way it’s all phrased – “I can’t afford to lose anyone in my family” – that makes me feel Genta’s version of settling things with Vail is more about reintegrating Vail into Genta as a way of honoring the life that Vail helped Genta gain, rather than Karizaki Sr’s whole thing of I Must Defeat My Original Sin. Not sure that’s where we’ll end up, but after an episode that also brings up Kagerou’s mistaken execution around Genta, I am hopeful.

One of the internal reveal is about how now Ikki's parents learned about Ikki disappearing on the photo. With Ikki telling the (almost) full story regarding his contract and memories to them right now, this'd be actually a good move considering now the family knows about Kamen Riders, Deadmans, and demons. Gotta tell them before Ikki fully forgets about his family, so that the family who isn't affected can act on this later. So they're continuing to work on Ikki being the one to lose his memories, instead of others forgetting Ikki. But even by that Ikki still strives for the best outcome, to keep fighting the world's threat, and also to ensure that the Igarashis are happy together. Unless Ikki feels confident that it can end soon with Ultimate Revi/Vice's power, how would the family being happy with Ikki forgetting them later? That'd be some contradicting from Ikki, unless Ikki doesn't discount the family's attempt to try getting Ikki back to them (of which it'd be problem, if Daiji returns), without threats ofc. The family is equally optimistic to Ikki's drive here, with Yukimi hugging him, but if the worst scenario came, wonder how they'd deal with this.

Another internal reveal would be Ikki realizing that Kagerou's existence is actually good for Daiji's balance, though George already said that before, but it's when Daiji's still good but reckless. Now there's nothing holding Daiji back to his twisted sense of justice added with his inculpability. Not as in Kagerou being Daiji's moral compass or such, because Kagerou by himself is evil (literally too) and selfish (including only saving the person due to benefical to him personally), Daiji too is needed so Kagerou won't act on his schemes, or being restrained, and had Daiji make use of Kagerou's calculating traits for good, but Daiji with Kagerou would be inherently more conflicted and hesitant, making him one of the more cooperative secondary Riders before as there's some chaos inside him, not strictly order. This situation also pushed Genta to settle things with Vail, asking for George's favor, and probably him returning to fight as Kamen Rider.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Beyond that, I thought this episode was entertaining, but not really anything to love or hate. It’s another assault by a bunch of Giffterians and Giff Jrs and whatever, it’s another assault by Vail, it’s another evacuation of Weekend bases, it’s another etc etc etc. A lot of the same set pieces and action sequences. Competently done, but nothing that’s emotionally engaging. Hikaru gets a scene where he’s trying to process Weekend Dad’s sacrifice, but it’s Hikaru, and asking me to care about that kid’s emotional turmoil and shaken resolve is asking too much of just about any viewer. (Again: Mihara from Faiz. Do not spend precious minutes of an episode late in the series asking me to care about the youngest, dopiest Rider! It will never be time well-spent!) We’re setting up for a whole string of shocking developments and final battles, but none of ‘em are happening yet.

I thought as a part from Faiz you appreciated Mihara too (which'd be similar to Fish)... The dojo has returned, with Hikaru training and Sakura joining him, like the old times but without secrecy anymore. There's also Hikaru processing Tasuke as a person overall, between him saving Hikaru and his ruthlessness. But what Sakura said would be right there as humans don't always make sense, like contradicting themselves, no matter as much as someone like Tasuke tried to discard that, humans can be more complex than what's outwardly seen of them (though doesn't mean that the bad part disappears due to this complexity, or that complex is about having both good and bad part only). Though ironically, it's a waste that Ushijima family wasn't really elaborated before, unlike other families, to show how a fake family lives. Tamaki should actually return here, if he wanted to be Kamen Rider too, training with them but now without the two-faced approach, but still as white belt and "Sakura's junior".

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadBringer

I thought as a part from Faiz you appreciated Mihara too (which'd be similar to Fish)...

I definitely do not! I dislike all of those Ryusei School dinks!

[Kamen Rider Die]

KAMEN RIDER REVICE EPISODE 42 - “THE FIERCE BATTLE! CRIMSON VAIL VS DESTREAM”



Absolutely stunning episode, and maybe a series-best for this show.

Not perfect, unfortunately; despite the wall-to-wall runtime, there’s still at least one plotline that fits uncomfortably beside the main Genta/Vail stuff. Mainly, I don’t understand why we needed Akaishi in this one, and also maybe have him get killed? It’s a distraction from the main themes of self-care and forgiveness, with Akaishi unconvincingly playing Work Dad to Daiji and screaming about humanity's failures to Ikki and Vice. Like, there’s a little bit of thematic resonance to Akaishi’s fatalistic outlook on humanity being in opposition to this episode’s thesis – acknowledging and forgiving our weaknesses helps us become better people – but it’s given too little space to feel looped-in on what makes this episode special. And, boy, if Akaishi dies here? What a waste! To be bumped off midway through a completely different character’s spotlight episode? I’d honestly hope for more for that dude.

But that’s a very minor criticism, in light of this episode’s moving and rousing treatise on how we need to embrace and accept the parts of ourselves we don’t like, if we ever hope to turn those parts into something that can make us better.

Genta’s story is one that’s remarkably open to interpretation. He’s begun to see his life as a burden on those around him: children cursed, a wife robbed of safety, and a world imperiled. But Yukimi sees things differently: a loving and attentive husband, three healthy and vibrant children, and a home that keeps them all safe. The life that Genta feels like he needs to apologize for is the same one that Yukimi treasures. There’s no such thing as a normal life, because everyone’s life becomes something you could never expect. We grow and change and lose and win, and the end result is a life full of surprises. Valuing those surprises is healthier than regretting the expectations that went unfulfilled. It’s better to accept it all, than it is to force things to be a certain way.

That’s the story of Genta and Vail, as well. Vail wants Junpei, not Genta, and feels abandoned by the person who used to be his partner; Genta wants his family, not the vengeance he once sought alongside a bloodthirsty monster. Instead of finding a way to build a life together, Genta and Vail separated, weakening each other in the long run. Genta looked at the evil inside himself and saw it as foreign, alien, a nemesis. In doing so, he gave it additional power, and let it run rampant over the world. Separation was only prolonging suffering, and destruction would be mutual. The only hope for Genta and Vail would be to find some way to recognize how much they each needed each other. They don’t have to like each other, but they have to find a way to literally coexist.

That concept is so unique to this show, and I love that it was given an entire episode to express itself. Not just in the micro sense for Genta and Vail, but in the macro sense for how it applies to families. Daiji and Ikki are basically just Genta and Vail: they want fundamentally different things, and they can’t seem to make the other see how insane they’re being. But they’re family, and they’ll always be in each other's lives. They have to be able to accept their differences, and find a way to live together in peace. They don’t have to like it! But they do need to do it.

I thought this was a remarkable episode, in almost every way. The use of Yukimi’s love song over the Vail/Destream fight! Yukimi’s comparison of fatherhood to a Henshin! Making room in the episode for a quiet dinner between Genta and Yukimi! Basically everything Yukimi, always, forever! I adored this episode’s firm focus on Genta’s attempt to heal himself, and how that message spread out to his children, and then out to the series at large. An absolute bullseye of an episode.

[Androzani84]

Yeah, it’s an alright episode… in isolation. It basically relies on you caring for the showdown between a guy who’s barely been there and a card carrying villain with the same emotions as the Ren/Desast fight from the previous season. And I’m sorry, but It’s My Dream, thematic or no, does not work nearly as well as a tragic battle theme as Will Save Us.

And I’ll mention that Destream (and by extension KR Vail) were not part of the long term plans for these two. Vail came about because adults loved the Demons Driver, and so Bandai decided that lightning could probably strike twice, while Destream exists because Sakamoto wanted Genta as a Rider for the summer movie (which was filmed before this episode). One has to wonder what the endgame for these two was beforehand.

And in terms of recycled props, aside from the obvious with Crimson Vail, Destream reuses Century’s undersuit, while his three Neo-Bursts - Crocodile, Komodo Dragon and Kong - are reused from the Demon Digzon, Another Ryuki’s arm from Zi-O and Revi’s own Kong Genome.

And Giff finally gets off his throne to get involved.

Genta: It’s Genta and…

Buu-san: Buu-san’s…

Both: Stamp Navi!

(Giff floats in the air, looking on ominously)

Yukimi: Honey, you’d better hurry up and finish this talk, so you can battle that guy.

Genta: Right, right. Let’s go with today’s Vistamp.

Heracles!

It’s Golden! Hardness! Yes! Heracles! Hey!

Genta: This Vistamp is my second chance as a true warrior of justice. Like the ancient warrior who performed twelve labours, I will do what it takes. Starting with taking down Giff. Henshin!

Spirit Up! Slash! Sting! Spiral! Strong! Kamen Rider Destream!

(George comes running)

George: It's the figure of Genta Igarashi transformed using the Destream Driver and Heracles Vistamp! It has specs that further exceed the overwhelming power of Kamen Rider Vail. It is possible to deploy the raging strong power with 6 multi-purpose manipulators "Heraclaw" extending from the back, applying the ability of a Hercules Beetle, and multiple Genomix. Now is the time to make a true stream!

Yukimi: It’s super cool, isn’t it Karizaki-kun? (She tries to high-five George, only to slap him into falling off the cliff, sliding down the walls of the quarry) Oh no. (Quickly asserts herself) Go for it, Honey!

Ikki: (throws the Rex Vistamp) Dad, use this.

Sakura: (throws the Cobra Vistamp) Take my power as well, Papa.

Daiji: (with a look saying “I’m probably going to regret this”) Dad, let me help you as well. (He throws the Bat Vistamp as the Two SiDriver Blade mode’s laughter plays in the background, and the Holy Wing Vistamp in his pocket begins to crackle)

Genta: (catches the three) Thank you, everyone.

Yukimi: Honey, I’ve got something for you as well. (Throws something)

Genta: (catches the object to reveal that it is…) the Chameleon Vistamp? How do you have this?

Yukimi: I took it off that creep who tried to kill me. The green colour is so Awesome!

Genta: Alright. Giff, now count up your sins!

Next!

Dominate Up! Rex: Neo-Burst!

Dominate Up! Bat: Neo-Burst!

Dominate Up! Cobra: Neo-Burst!

Dominate Up! Chameleon: Neo-Burst!

(Genta summons up a pair of T-Rex legs, a pair of bat wings, a cobra’s tail on his left arm and a chameleon’s tongue on his right arm, using all of them to attack in sequence, with Giff not moving at all)

Genta: Alright, let’s go all out. (He presses on the Destream Driver once more, before taking out the Crimson and Kabuto Vistamps)

Destream Driver: Next! More! Rex/Bat/Cobra/Chameleon: Destream Nova!

Kabuto Vistamp: Kabuto!

Crimson Vistamp: Energy! (Genta presses the trigger on the stamp) Painting Finish!

(Genta once more attacks, but still fails to make Giff so much as flinch. The Destream Driver then begins to crackle, as Genta stumbles back to where he laid down at the end of episode 42, his transformation dispersing)

Ikki: Even Dad’s new Rider powers weren’t enough. And they’re supposed to surpass Giffard Rex.

Sakura: Maybe we can find something in the next instalment?

Buu-san: Maybe.

[Layton13]

Remember when I said that even if a scene is great, it can be brought down if it doesn't play well with what surrounds it?

Yeah, this is that.

This episode leaves me utterly cold. I can absolutely recognize the craftsmanship at work here and how well everyone pulled this off, but it doesn't change the fact that I do not care one iota for Genta and Vail. He was a fine comic relief character, but he just did never work as a tragic character for me; it mostly related to how nonexistent he was during the show and how bad the Vail special was to me.

On paper, all of this works well, supported by stunning imagery, but... yeah, on paper. This needed more build-up. Vail and Genta interact pretty much only in the Vail special, and that is just not enough to make me invested in any way. This feels very much like a repeat of last year, but where that had just enough meat to its bones with previous interactions to make me 100% fall in love with Ren, even if they hadn't the biggest focus, this just doesn't.

Every time I think about this, my mind immediately goes to how squandered it all is because it is a good conclusion to an utterly butchered arc.

This arc sums up my feeling about Revice the most. Bad setup, awful execution, and at the core, a great idea. It is a monumentally disappointing show in how constant that feeling was for me. I desperately wanted to love this show and tried my best to keep it open to course correct, but each time it looked like it, it drove itself deeper into what I consider bad...

So yeah... resounding meh from me.

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Androzani84

Yeah, it?s an alright episode? in isolation. It basically relies on you caring for the showdown between a guy who?s barely been there and a card carrying villain with the same emotions as the Ren/Desast fight from the previous season.

I guess I'd push back on describing Genta as "a guy who's barely been there"? He's a major cast member who has been involved in multiple integral storylines, several of which add up to this critical showdown. I feel like he's a large part of this show? And, geez, I think Vail's got some pathos to him? He felt rejected by Genta (correctly!) and lashed out. That's sort of tragic?

Either way, thanks for sharing your thoughts, and thanks for the fun skit!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Layton13

This needed more build-up. Vail and Genta interact pretty much only in the Vail special, and that is just not enough to make me invested in any way.

Huh! I think for me, the build-up was fairly solid. Vail's hunting Genta for most of the last twenty episodes, and threatening the family that he thinks stole Junpei from him. Meanwhile, Genta's falling into the trap Daiji did of ignoring his demon in hopes it goes away, until he follows Ikki's example of prioritizing coexistence over destruction. I feel like all of that was delicately and deliberately set up in advance?

[weedle013ZiO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Androzani84

Genta: Alright. Giff, now count up your sins!

Nice reference