[Locke]

@DreadBringer - I would agree with your points about the Stomach Family if they decided to have a different type of villain, but choosing to have them so personally connected to the core cast, and then having them exist on an island for the entire show is just weird to me personally.

Like there are dozens upon dozens of examples through Toku of villain types that can function just fine as being largely in the background for huge chunks of the show, but the Stomach Family are not one of them. At least to me. They needed to be more present in the show, we needed to see more of them functioning as a unit.

I didn't know though about the changes behind the scenes though in terms of who were in charge of different sections of the show, that stuff is really fascinating to me and appreciate you sharing it. Knowing that now, you are right that you can see clear lines as different creative leads steer various episodes.

[Mesnick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

@DreadBringer - I would agree with your points about the Stomach Family if they decided to have a different type of villain, but choosing to have them so personally connected to the core cast, and then having them exist on an island for the entire show is just weird to me personally.

In fact, in my review of the show, I wrote that this is precisely why Philip, Koyomi, and Banjou Ryuga's connection to the show's villains isn't revealed until closer to the finale. At least, that's one of the reasons. Perhaps if Shouma was presented in the beginning as a Stomatch experiment rather than a relative, the siblings' passivity would have been more relatable. Yes, viewers likely guessed his connection to the villains early on anyway, but the show was in no rush to reveal Shouma and Masaru's obvious connection.

[Enchilada645]

I'll just be succinct and say that I pretty much agree with @Locke's points on the Stomach Family. While I think they're certainly memorable, their detachment from the story and Shoma despite what the narrative says, hurts them more than helps them.

That said, I will say, it is a bit funny to see people referencing directors changing as some big behind the scenes thing... when like, that's basically been how it is? There's a main director, but there's still a ton of guest ones brought on, especially when it comes to there being multiple writers to factor in as well. Which is why I think it's kind of disingenuous to prop it up as this big thing that happened. Like "left the production" feels like you're putting way more weight on it than there needs to be. It was just his last scheduled episodes, clearly.

[Locke]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mesnick

In fact, in my review of the show, I wrote that this is precisely why Philip, Koyomi, and Banjou Ryuga's connection to the show's villains isn't revealed until closer to the finale. At least, that's one of the reasons. Perhaps if Shouma was presented in the beginning as a Stomatch experiment rather than a relative, the siblings' passivity would have been more relatable. Yes, viewers likely guessed his connection to the villains early on anyway, but the show was in no rush to reveal Shouma and Masaru's obvious connection.

Yeah cause he does try to hide it early on, but then when the cat is out of the bag it is just kinda out there forever. If they were going to have the villains in the shadows they probably could have protected this reveal for longer. Especially as Shouma just straight up murders any Stomach who doesn't yield, too. It could have disguised his real connection to them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enchilada645

That said, I will say, it is a bit funny to see people referencing directors changing as some big behind the scenes thing... when like, that's basically been how it is? There's a main director, but there's still a ton of guest ones brought on, especially when it comes to there being multiple writers to factor in as well. Which is why I think it's kind of disingenuous to prop it up as this big thing that happened. Like "left the production" feels like you're putting way more weight on it than there needs to be. It was just his last scheduled episodes, clearly.

That is good to know too, I know almost nothing about how these shows get made, but I guess it does make sense if this is a common practice of why I often find in toku shows I really like clusters of episodes and then other stretches I like less, I guess it is like during a comic run when they switch artists or whatever.

[Mesnick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

That is good to know too, I know almost nothing about how these shows get made, but I guess it does make sense if this is a common practice of why I often find in toku shows I really like clusters of episodes and then other stretches I like less, I guess it is like during a comic run when they switch artists or whatever.

The same applies not only to directors but also to screenwriters. The funniest case I remember is Saber, where the main screenwriter is Takuro Fukuda, but Keiichi Hasegawa is the author for most of the episodes. So the similarities with comics are truly significant, since new teams are working with ideas that were sometimes conceived before they were even born.

[Sh Ranger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadBringer

You said focusing on Granute society.. of which I felt that the show didn't do that enough and I wished the show would do more in exploring the Granute World. Maybe like, the cast traveling there and maybe staying there for direct attacks or to learn more about Granute society or Stomach Inc. Maybe having the 2 parters done like the in the first half, but involving everyday Granutes instead of humans. After all, the Granute World shouldn't be exceptionally more dangerous than human world, as humans and Granutes are meant to be similarly sentient species (albeit Lango claims the Granute World runs on might makes right). The difference of the first half might be about some of the Granutes being hooked to human stuff and, perhaps having some systemic change, or such, to weaken the villains' influence (ruling their world), putting Hapipare in direct opposition to Stomach Inc as 'companies' that make people 'happy'. This applies to most Kamen Rider, but turns out it's just beat the big bad and everything is solved again by killing Bocca and Lango.

I'd have no problem with the show focusing on Granute society if it actually delved deeper like you suggest. All we get to explain the Stomachs' prejudice towards humans including their own brother is the might makes right line from Lango, the hypocrite who couldn't beat Bocca without relying on Gavv's strength. And Jeep, whose arc had the strongest connection to Shouma's, ended up getting finished by Valen without Shouma even being present. I think the Granute society could've been better, if only Komura had prioritized that more.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mesnick

The same applies not only to directors but also to screenwriters. The funniest case I remember is Saber, where the main screenwriter is Takuro Fukuda, but Keiichi Hasegawa is the author for most of the episodes. So the similarities with comics are truly significant, since new teams are working with ideas that were sometimes conceived before they were even born.

I'll add that Fukuda gets a lot of misdirected hate for his absentness, as Producer Takahashi is the one who told him to focus on movies. Arguably it was a good decision, as while Ghost and Saber are unpopular, many people love Specter Rebirth and Trio of Deep Sin.