[Kamen Rider Die]

KAMEN RIDER FOURZE EPISODE 06 - “FULL BLOWN ELECTRIC ASSAULT”



This is a tough one!

I think it largely works in a few major ways. Gentarou’s point about the people who are terrible needing friends the most is exactly the sort of generous, optimistic, and self-sacrificing way that Gentarou would look at the world: good people are easy to be friends with, but shitty people only get to become good people with the help of their friends. Telling a story about how Gentarou’s naivete is more of a dedication to modeling behavior for folks that don’t understand the value of friendship makes this story more grounded and nuanced than the first part indicated, and pushing the crux of the drama to the Kengo/Gentarou side of things – losing the Elec Switch puts stress on their friendship, and Kengo grudgingly appreciates the lengths Gen will go to in order to help his friends – makes Gen’s choices reflect better on a relationship I’m more invested in as a viewer.

Because, man, JK is a total piece of shit in this story.

It’s mildly commendable, the way this one follows the Miu route of refusing to rehabilitate the character, because friendships shouldn’t be about fixing someone, they should be about accepting people so they can find the more empathetic and happy versions of themselves. But JK’s awful here. He never really apologizes to Nitta, or shows any real contrition. He’s aware of all of his friendships being transactional and hollow, but his behavior at the end of the episode is… transactional and hollow. (He’s dragged into the KRC as a kind of community service -slash- rehabilitation program, which doesn’t say much about him forming any healthier bonds in the aftermath of nearly being monster-murdered after literally everyone he knows besides Gen would rather abandon him than risk themselves for his safety.) Where Miu’s story was about someone who looked awful being revealed to be confident and highly-motivated, with a genuine interest in other people standing on their own and reaching for their dreams, JK’s just a weird, selfish jerk who someone believes in now, despite all evidence to the contrary. It’s a story where Gen comes off as noble and compelling because JK isn’t worth the effort. That’s great for Gen, but sort of not great for the show.

(Honestly, after this episode, it feels like Nitta’s the one who should’ve joined the KRC? Nitta’s story is him being manipulated and betrayed by someone he thought was his friend. What better person to bring into the KRC, to show them that friendships still matter? Also, man, JK’s story here is him stealing the Elec Switch, and Gen going I Don’t Know I Guess Sometimes Friends Steal From You – is this a guy Kengo wants around all of his dad’s stuff?!)

Again, I still think this episode largely works. Gen’s viewpoint sticks the landing, especially since JK in no way deserves Gen’s grace. The Elec States stuff is fun in the final fight, even if I sort of don’t get the thematic link between the Switch and the JK plot. (I don’t feel like the two Elec Switch scenes did enough work to sell the idea of Gen needing to be okay with being electrocuted or whatever in order for the Switch to stop electrocuting him?) Making the second part more about Gen and Kengo than Gen and JK was a smart move narratively, even if it kind of exposes how irredeemable JK is here. Miu subtly pushes Kengo to do the right thing and support Fourze, even if he can’t support Gen, which shows how good she is as the leader. The principal’s moon chair is neat, and his foreboding monologues about space are great. The direction uses a few killer shots, like that hillside scene in the top screenshot. Tomoko gets an A+ weird scene. There’s good stuff here!

But, yeesh, JK. I don’t know that you gotta let a manipulative scumbag into your life! I don’t know if that’s a great choice!

[Sunred]

I love how Elec States has mitsudomoe-looking turbines on its front straps. My guess is they're inspired by the depictions of the Raijin, the thunder deity from Japanese mythology/lore.

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunred

I love how Elec States has mitsudomoe-looking turbines on its front straps. My guess is they're inspired by the depictions of the Raijin, the thunder deity from Japanese mythology/lore.

Neat theory!

[Fish Sandwich]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

The direction uses a few killer shots, like that hillside scene in the top screenshot.

So, before I even knew you'd actually bring it up yourself in the text of that post, just from seeing the screenshot before reading anything, I instantly knew I wanted to comment on how much I like that framing against that dialogue? It's fairly basic stuff, but just maximizing the literal physical distance between Gentarou and JK in that moment, that's such a great way to emphasize the difficulty of them making an actual connection. JK's even on the lower ground, because he just can't stop being the lowest of the low!

...Which, yeah, I can understand why every now and then I'll see fans who kinda can't stand the guy. It's one of those things where it's really important to the point of the show that this character exists the way he does and everything, but it's also kinda a show about hanging out with these fun characters you'd want to be around, so...

I feel like JK is meant to give off more of a "oh, that lovable rascal" vibe, at least later on, but obviously the whole audience isn't liable to be as generous as Gentarou.

Heck, even I'm barely sticking up for the guy out of the gate, because I'd much rather talk about something else in this episode! Which is the insert theme that debuts here:

Giant Step might be my actual favorite Rider insert theme ever? I'm both naturally terrible at ranking things and also just plain don't like to, but when I try to think of other Rider inserts that mean this much to me, the ones that immediately come to mind can still be counted on one hand, all these years later? (It's like, Destiny's Play, Just the Beginning... probably some other ones but it's already hard to say definitively...)

On the surface level, I just love the overall sound of it, of course. It's super energetic and has the electronic vibe and everything to make it fit perfectly as something that pumps up the excitement for a fight scene in Fourze specifically. But how well it fits in a scene is only sorta half the equation, because part of the idea of even doing insert themes like this is that fans get to listen to them outside of the show whenever they want to bring that same energy into their own lives, and Giant Step absolutely crushes that part. It's to the point where it's a song that's almost more directly for the audience than the characters?

The title is obviously an allusion to Neil Armstrong's famous quote contrasting how the literal small step he took onto the moon represented an enormous accomplishment for humanity -- something that would've been thought impossible not that long prior to it happening. What the lyrics of the song do is spin that into something more personal in scale, encouraging the listener to keep taking those small steps in life even in the face of frustration and uncertainty, because they'll turn out to be much bigger leaps than you'll realize at first. It definitely loses something when I talk about it like this (as I always insist -- I'm not anywhere near the wordsmith Shouko Fujibayashi is!), but despite not literally just being Gentarou singing about friendship or something, I think it does a brilliant job of representing Fourze as a whole. It's got the space stuff in the sound and language, it's got the high school stuff in the themes of finding your future and all that, it's got the teamwork because it's a duet, it's got the optimism of a show designed to make people smile... what more could you ask for?

Well, actually, in my specific case, I also have to thank Giant Step for introducing me to May'n, but honestly, that's like a whole separate rant at this point, and I've already gone on longer than I expected to. Suffice it to say "got me to watch Macross Frontier" is not something most Rider songs can brag about.

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

...Which, yeah, I can understand why every now and then I'll see fans who kinda can't stand the guy. It's one of those things where it's really important to the point of the show that this character exists the way he does and everything, but it's also kinda a show about hanging out with these fun characters you'd want to be around, so...

I feel like JK is meant to give off more of a "oh, that lovable rascal" vibe, at least later on, but obviously the whole audience isn't liable to be as generous as Gentarou.

JK's story here is one that, if he were just a one-off student, I'd probably think was Fourze making some incredibly unique and smart choices with its storytelling. Gen being all gung-ho about trying to show a jerk what friendship really is, especially when he doesn't in any way deserve it, is such a great Gentarou story to tell.

But then JK's still there afterwards, and it reframes the previous Gen Is A Guy With A Code story into an origin story for why JK is now part of everyone's friend group, and I just sort of think you can't do both of those stories at the same time? You can't do a story about a manipulative, scheming jerk AND have that story be about everyone making a new friend. Those are two very different stories! Putting them together is so weird!

(That said, I will probably forget all about this in maybe two or three episodes, once JK is just part of the gang, and he bails Gen out of some random situation. I am willing to not dwell on this!)

[Switchblade]

I think the show is going for JK as a character who needs to learn the value of real friendship, hence the contrast with all of the shallow dirtbags he usually hangs out with who are completely content to let him get murdered by a guy doing his best Horse Orphenoch impression. It doesn't entirely land, though, because JK doesn't seem to really learn anything from the experience. I guess you could argue that the KRC is like a "friendship training camp" program, but I don't think anybody is especially devoted to working with JK (or that he'd be particularly receptive to it).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

Fourze 5-6:

Man, it was nice to see one of my most beloved Heisei era supporting characters again... that sidewalk on the hill! That spot used to show up so frequently, but it feels like we haven't seen it in years now. Really nice to revisit it.

Anyway, this was JK's arc, wherein he goes from being kind of a douchebag to... kind of a douchebag who's in the KRC. He gets better, of course, but man the guy is such an asshole during this part of the show. I liked how Gentaro handled him, though, and how he sympathized with the villain for wanting to kick the crap out of JK.

So, not only did I forget that Elec States existed, I forgot how nice it looks. Probably my favorite of the special forms, just ahead of Fire and well ahead of everything else.

This was a really weird arc for Nozoma. We still have a few episodes before Amane from Blade tries to kill her and she joins the crew, which leads to her fulfilling her contractual obligations with a couple of really weird scenes. Shun at least got a scene with Miu that felt relevant to the plot, but Nozoma's big contribution to the arc was dumping natto on Yuki's lunch.

Finally, since apparently I am going to share my thoughts on these arcs, I'm introducing a new feature. I'm calling it "Has Yuki Gone Insane Yet?" and I'll be using it to figure out exactly when in the series she finally inhaled too many cosmic radiation fumes.

So, has Yuki gone crazy yet? No. No, she's still a fine, normal character.

I think I tended to view JK as being less of a dick because of his appearance with Gentarou in the Ex-Aid/Build movie. I don't really remember much about that, though, and I think his role was actually pretty minor. Going back through the show, JK is not a character that benefits from getting a lot of narrative focus.

I will admit here that I did forget Tomoko was responsible for getting Gentarou back to the Rabbit Hutch, which is more of a role than I remembered her playing in the story. It still feels like the show is really stretching to fit all of the main cast in before they fully sign up with the KRC.

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

I guess you could argue that the KRC is like a "friendship training camp" program, but I don't think anybody is especially devoted to working with JK (or that he'd be particularly receptive to it).

Gentarou doesn't even ask anyone! He just inflicts JK on them! This is not doing wonders for making JK seem like less of a weird obligation!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

Man, it was nice to see one of my most beloved Heisei era supporting characters again... that sidewalk on the hill! That spot used to show up so frequently, but it feels like we haven't seen it in years now. Really nice to revisit it.

I wanna say it just showed up again for some Gavv stuff? It's a really pretty hill.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

I think I tended to view JK as being less of a dick because of his appearance with Gentarou in the Ex-Aid/Build movie. I don't really remember much about that, though, and I think his role was actually pretty minor.

I think him and Ohsugi being in that movie was because they were officially The Ones Toei Could Book, the most crucial attribute of any returning actor to a movie or TV show for this franchise. (See also: Ohsugi in Zi-O, and Zanki for like five straight years.)

[Sh Ranger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Well, my list of anything is heavily shaped by a combination of recency bias, IRL distractions, and free-floating but comedic spite, so a ranking for the KRC from my original viewing is lost to time, and my new ranking isn't complete yet. I hope to be more engaged and appreciative of the various characters that annoyed the hell out of me last time -- I'm already liking Kengo substantially more than I remember from last time, for instance. Here's a tentative ranking, just to put this someplace I can maybe reference it later:

Miu
Tomoko (I'M SORRY!!!)
Gen
Yuuki
Shun
Kengo
Ryusei
JK
Being forced to watch the Tsurugi Goes Back To France episode of Kabuto on repeat, for eternity
Ohsugi

Wow, yeah, your opinions changed a lot in only a week. Curious to see how this ranking will look by the end of the show.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

The one positive to never quite getting onboard with certain characters on Fourze is that there are so many characters -- as long as you at least like Gen, anyone else you dislike is probably not a big enough part of the show to detract from all of the other characters that probably work better for you. On the other hand, if you're watching Gavv, and you don't like one of the main protagonists, you are kind of screwed.

(I'm just picking a recent small-cast show at random! I loved Gavv, and all of the protagonists!)

Liking the main characters isn't the only important thing though. If they're poorly balanced, then it can hurt the group dynamic. I think Kamen Rider Fourze, being a show about the magic of friendship, is excellent at making everybody feel like they matter, which Gavv struggles with after the halfway point.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER FOURZE EPISODE 06 - ?FULL BLOWN ELECTRIC ASSAULT?

Again, I still think this episode largely works. Gen?s viewpoint sticks the landing, especially since JK in no way deserves Gen?s grace. The Elec States stuff is fun in the final fight, even if I sort of don?t get the thematic link between the Switch and the JK plot. (I don?t feel like the two Elec Switch scenes did enough work to sell the idea of Gen needing to be okay with being electrocuted or whatever in order for the Switch to stop electrocuting him?) Making the second part more about Gen and Kengo than Gen and JK was a smart move narratively, even if it kind of exposes how irredeemable JK is here. Miu subtly pushes Kengo to do the right thing and support Fourze, even if he can?t support Gen, which shows how good she is as the leader. The principal?s moon chair is neat, and his foreboding monologues about space are great. The direction uses a few killer shots, like that hillside scene in the top screenshot. Tomoko gets an A+ weird scene. There?s good stuff here!

But, yeesh, JK. I don?t know that you gotta let a manipulative scumbag into your life! I don?t know if that?s a great choice!

This arc might be the weakest of the introductions, as it establishes JK as this problematic dude who might betray you if you give him the chance, yet all of his most deplorable traits pretty much disappear after this. On my first watch, I thought it was simply another great win for Gentarou, but like, that was a long time ago, before I could really understand Nitta's perspective.

Maybe that makes me sound a little cynical, which I don't want to be, but there are surely people similar to JK who even after learning right from wrong will continue to do wrong to their friends if it benefits them in the short term. Seeing Gentarou go so far for this guy (saving his life is a given of course) after learning how many times he's conned people is harder to accept now and it seems like the show was afraid to show the danger of bringing a wildcard like JK in to the KRC, or rather it couldn't do that without contrasting too hard with the friendship theme. Fortunately, JK is genuinely redeemed here, so I guess we can move on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

Giant Step might be my actual favorite Rider insert theme ever? I'm both naturally terrible at ranking things and also just plain don't like to, but when I try to think of other Rider inserts that mean this much to me, the ones that immediately come to mind can still be counted on one hand, all these years later? (It's like, Destiny's Play, Just the Beginning... probably some other ones but it's already hard to say definitively...)

I wouldn't call Giant Step my favorite Rider insert theme ever, but it's surely in the top 10!

Totally a fitting insert to hype up Fourze's first big form change as well. Elec States is a great suit with the shiny gold texture and the turbines and I like the plug and outlet gimmick of Billy The Rod.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

Well, actually, in my specific case, I also have to thank Giant Step for introducing me to May'n, but honestly, that's like a whole separate rant at this point, and I've already gone on longer than I expected to. Suffice it to say "got me to watch Macross Frontier" is not something most Rider songs can brag about.

May'n will also be performing Love Is The Strongest, the OP for Gavan Infinity!

Question for Die, what is your opinion of the upcoming Gavan Infinity, as a non-Metal Hero fan?

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

Maybe that makes me sound a little cynical, which I don't want to be, but there are surely people similar to JK who even after learning right from wrong will continue to do wrong to their friends if it benefits them in the short term. Seeing Gentarou go so far for this guy (saving his life is a given of course) after learning how many times he's conned people is harder to accept now and it seems like the show was afraid to show the danger of bringing a wildcard like JK in to the KRC, or rather it couldn't do that without contrasting too hard with the friendship theme. Fortunately, JK is genuinely redeemed here, so I guess we can move on.

Yeah, there's a pretty big difference between saving JK's life while modeling better behavior for him (good!) and putting yourself and your friends in the position of being hurt by a guy with a history of duplicity and theft that hasn't really committed to changing his ways (bad!). I'll be happy to stop thinking about this part of JK's story real soon!

[Kamen Rider Die]

KAMEN RIDER FOURZE EPISODE 07 - “A REALLY CRUEL KING”



This is the first episode that really felt like full-force Fourze, you know?

It’s an episode that is, beyond an alternative teacher to maintain discipline and a Zodiart monster, completely handled by the entire KRC, even if they aren’t all on the same side yet. (It’s… I find it sort of difficult to maintain an air of credulity and obliviousness as to whether Shun will overcome his raging narcissism and unchecked privilege to join the gang on the moon, since he’s been in every single episode's opening sequence on the moon with the gang.) Where previous stories would slowly fold in one member at a time, and pad out the remaining dialogue with Ohsugi or Sonoda or someone’s sidekick, this one’s the full KRC bouncing off of each other while getting in and out of trouble, and it’s kind of perfect.

The bulk of the cast is off doing a low-stakes Breakfast Club, so lemme first talk about the bit with JK and Miu – my least-favorite KRC member teaming with my (current?) favorite KRC member. It’s incredibly fun, and a great early example of the toolbox this show has at its disposal. Miu’s the hardest working member of the club, and JK’s sort of got nothing else going on (see last episode’s nearly-fatal abandonment!), so while the rest of the cast is stuck in a John Hughes homage, Miu and JK have to handle the various superhero confrontations and investigations. Really think about that for a second: the self-centered party animal and the terrifyingly-motivated princess are responsible for the main tokusatsu storytelling for this episode. But, it works, and it works great. Just seeing Miu try to tell off a dog-shaped cosmic monstrosity before JK lets his unwavering self-preservation wind things down to a more survivable level is worth the price of admission, but the two of them genuinely carry the connective tissue necessary to keep this thing in the realm of Action/Adventure through multiple scenes. And this is the most random possible combination of club members!

Meanwhile the remaining active KRC members – Gentarou, Kengo, and Yuuki – are forced to spend a Sunday doing remedial work alongside a scene-stealing Tomoko and a permanently-enraged Shun. We’re in a story that’s trying to reveal what makes Shun tick so that the audience and the KRC members can try to see him with a little more empathy, so of course Shun is fighting that tooth and nail through his performance. He’s traded Miu for Reiko after Miu expresses interests he doesn’t like (as well as not making him the center of her world), and he views the world as his birthright, thanks to his supportive but enabling father. The disobedient chaos and easy charm of the KRC drives him up the wall, and he becomes more and more unhinged until a climactic sequence where he throws a football at Fourze’s head and basically screams NNNEEEEEERRRRRRRDDDDDDSSSSS until the screen says To Be Continued. He’s angry and entitled, for the whole episode.

Which is maybe the only slightly bum note? Maybe? Shun’s adamant that things work out the way he wants them to, but we’re kind of missing the psychology that explains why he’s losing his mind over Kengo going off to fight a dog-shaped cosmic monstrosity in a suit of power armor. (That’s, like, in one of the main equipment sheds! Have other students seen this thing behind racks of athletic gear and next to the groundskeeping machinery? Is anyone asking questions about why a high school has a mech?) Shun is going bonkers in this episode, and what we’re told is clearly half the story, so we’re just randomly watching him be more of a disciplinarian than the actual teacher, who wanders off constantly. It’s antagonism that’s waiting for explanation, beyond just Shun Is Mean, and it makes Shun’s scenes not as effective as they could’ve been.

But that’s super minor! I loved the rhythm of this one, and how the full cast allowed for fresh angles and exciting interactions. Watching this cast work off of each other is the most reliable pleasure of this series, and this episode ably proves it.