[Locke]

Faiz 14.

I thought we may have finally had a focused episode - not a particularly good one but it was a start - until Kaidou decided that date gag from last week couldn't stay there. Kinda makes me wanna watch Shinkenger because at least there was none of this shit from him there.

There were some much better bits of writing this week though. I like how Takumi is a lot more perceptive than his bravado may suggest. He has this weird maturity that seems to stem from how insular and naturally defensive he is a person. It's an interesting inversion on the usual hero archetype even if at times they play it to such extremes I find him insufferable.

Similarly as soon as Masato said he didn't know his way around the belt, and kept reminding us this, despite what happened last week. This guy is fucking DODGY. What is he playing at, 'eh?

It's really distracting that Mr J's suit actor is WAY skinnier than he is. I've never seen someone get smaller, and weaker looking, when turning into a monster. Then again the glasses Lucky Clover guy has a really lame suit design as well, which is a shame because seeing him use his powers in human form was fucking awesome, especially when he was blocking attacks with a poetry book.

At least now Mr J has died twice he seems to finally be living up to the hype, and it's even better that Mr Glasses lived up to the hype immediately. I think he's the first genuinely awesome villain yet.

[NGW]

A bit off topic, but I had been contemplating getting into Garo, and seeing as you're a big fan of it Locke I think it may be a good fit for me. What do you think? Where should I start?

[KyoryuGreen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

Don't ask me to choose between Black, Hibiki, and Garo.

Quote:

Originally Posted by XW1n5t0nX

You could join me in my watching of Black.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NGW

Hibiki is pretty awesome.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

When I say it's my favourite, you know it must be fucking GOOD.

You guys are making this choice very difficult lol.

[Locke]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NGW

A bit off topic, but I had been contemplating getting into Garo, and seeing as you're a big fan of it Locke I think it may be a good fit for me. What do you think? Where should I start?

GARO is a show that gets gradually worse with each season. The first season is flawed as all hell, but does so many things right and so many things refreshingly that I just adore it. Each season that follows seems to try and attempt to 'fix' GARO but it's a classic example of what happens when you try and fix something that ain't broken. There are a fuck ton of films as well, which like Rider films attempt to expand on the main universe, but unpopular opinion I don't really like any of them.

So yeah, just start with the first season!

[Dr Kain]

Garo's first season is amazing. One of the best Tokus ever. THe second season is really good while the third season is utter garbage.

[Locke]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Kain

Garo's first season is amazing. One of the best Tokus ever. THe second season is really good while the third season is utter garbage.

I actually thought the third season was pretty good and hated the second season .

[KyoryuGreen]

I watched the first 2 episodes of the third season of Garo, and didn't like the 3D suits but I enjoyed everything else.

[NGW]

After far too many delays I finally got around to watching Episode 5 of Faiz (oh how tempting it was to say Episode 555 haha).

I need to stop watching these so late at night/early in the morning, it makes it a bit harder to do any kinda real in-depth recap like I'd rather do, and putting off writing it just makes me need to rewatch the episode.

That said, I think this was a pretty solid episode. We had some decent characterization, and got to learn a bit more about the orphenocs, how they work, what their goal seems to be.

There was some nice humor early on in the episode, with Keitaro texting with Yuka and Takumi giving him a hard time about it. Really just that opening scene was just well written humor. Props.

Not really sure why the need to have Takumi work part time with Keitaro though, he already seemed intent on taking on the role of Faiz so did they have to come up with some sort of excuse to make him stick around? This coming after Ryuki it just sorta feels like a cheap attempt at the same thing with Shinji owing Ren money for smashing the window, but that actually made for a genuinely funny running joke and in a way sorta symbolized their growing friendship, at least to me. Here it feels unnecessary.

Todo was pretty badass, but didn't care for the overall design of his orphenoc form. And I really am disappointed that he bit it so fast. Was hoping he'd last at least a bit longer since he seemed billed as someone at sorta important and would have a sort of mentorship for the new orphenocs.

Takumi having to call Keitaro for the driver was a nice touch. With Ryuki's riders just needing to keep their advent decks on hand to henshin. Wizard being able to, literally, pull his driver out of thin air, and other riders just always seeming to have what look like pretty damn bulky, cumbersome devices on hand it's nice to see a rider caught with his metaphorical pants down.

Oh and I liked seeing the police show up at the gym. Just something about seeing police competence in toku makes me kinda happy, it adds in a nice dynamic and makes the world feel a bit more realistic. Sure they're in over their head, but in the real world just because a super powered bug man is beating up the monsters doesn't mean that the police wouldn't be investigating incidents or not trying to..well, do their jobs.

[Locke]

Faiz 15.

I love the contrast between characters in this show. It's impossible to place who really are the real villains, just like real life. It's just a shame that any depth this show strives for, is lost, by being so god damn slow and unfocused.

For a show that has aged so well, there are moments of real shittiness. I will never understand why toku always seems to edit in CGI whips, even though a real prop exists, it always looks terrible. Then again a LOT of the Orphenoch powers look terrible, which is surprising considering how cool the exceed charges look but then to some degree lessso once you see Kaixa's bike abomination.

Worst of all though are the henshins, the actual subtle effect is neat, less so is the fact they never seem to be able to match the actors up properly.

[SPLIT LIP]

Locke, you ever watch Message from Skull and Accel Returns? Can't remember...