[ElConvoy]

Yeah they are not very good.

Yup now is the time the story really kicks in. With Kuuga getting his rising forms and them learning more about what Kuuag really is and how he relates to the Grongi.

[IndigoArms]

That's me seen 23 episodes of Blade, and, despite TV-Nihon subbing it, i'm really enjoying it. Right now, i'm liking Mutsuki's arc on trying to control Leangle. Like how it starts off like a drug addiction to him and then through Tachibana's mentoring and Kenzaki's words of wisdom telling him to find something to fight for, he manages to eventual control it in the end.

[barnstenchfartface]

I watched the Golden Fruits Cup movie earlier today.

So there's that one scene, where Kouta gets a bunch of lockseeds from the Riders that had been defeated. So he uses Donguri Arms and Durian Arms and Banana Arms, which, except for the last one, we never see him use in the show. And. Then. For the first time ever, Kouta has a Melon Energy Lockseed....and....and....he uses Jimber Lemon?

Just. What the hell? Here's a scene which pretty much serves no purpose other than being fanservice by showing Gaim in forms that he never otherwise would assume. And they skip out on the one Jimber Arms we never got to see? It's extra ridiculous because as form changes go, the Jimber arms are probably as easy and cheap to make as is possible. I just don't get it. It's really a mind boggling decision.

As is having Kamuro on screen for all of 30 seconds. As is the entire deal with Peko.(how? why? also, soooo cheap) But you know. These are pretty minor quibbles of mine.

The movie itself is pretty...alright, I suppose I would say. As distractions from the main series in the form of movies go, this one is by far the best one Gaim got. But it's not really a good movie, really. Ok. It is ok.

As far as Gaim itself goes, I'm 3 episodes way from finishing. So good. So good. I may post more concrete thoughts once I'm finished, but for now I'll just say I love it a whole hell of a lot.

[AgileSiamang7]

Quote:

Originally Posted by barnstenchfartface

I watched the Golden Fruits Cup movie earlier today.

So there's that one scene, where Kouta gets a bunch of lockseeds from the Riders that had been defeated. So he uses Donguri Arms and Durian Arms and Banana Arms, which, except for the last one, we never see him use in the show. And. Then. For the first time ever, Kouta has a Melon Energy Lockseed....and....and....he uses Jimber Lemon?

Just. What the hell? Here's a scene which pretty much serves no purpose other than being fanservice by showing Gaim in forms that he never otherwise would assume. And they skip out on the one Jimber Arms we never got to see? It's extra ridiculous because as form changes go, the Jimber arms are probably as easy and cheap to make as is possible. I just don't get it. It's really a mind boggling decision.

As is having Kamuro on screen for all of 30 seconds. As is the entire deal with Peko.(how? why? also, soooo cheap) But you know. These are pretty minor quibbles of mine.

The movie itself is pretty...alright, I suppose I would say. As distractions from the main series in the form of movies go, this one is by far the best one Gaim got. But it's not really a good movie, really. Ok. It is ok.

As far as Gaim itself goes, I'm 3 episodes way from finishing. So good. So good. I may post more concrete thoughts once I'm finished, but for now I'll just say I love it a whole hell of a lot.

Something I've learned about Kamen Rider over the years: There will always be one form they'll never show you or a finisher that's never done, just to tease you. They're punks for doing that, but it's a thing I'm used to now.

[barnstenchfartface]

And...I'm done. Gaim is done.

Dang. That was...a blast. A lot of fun throughout, and all in all a very enjoyable series--I finished it in six days, which has to be some sort of record. Took me weeks to get through the last few series I've watched. That I couldn't stop watching this is a testament to how well it hooked me (also to the fact that I had nothing better to do, but eh, that's another topic).

But yeah. I think it was just really great. Even just superficially, the designs were great, ridiculous and a lot of fun, the effects were great, the transformations were great, the Drivers were fun, the soundtrack was great...But of course even beyond that I think it's a very solid series.

The plot was great. Every part of the story was interesting either because of some mystery that was being explored, some revelation or other, character progression and interactions...it made sense, it escalated well. I liked it a lot.

But I think I liked the characters most of all. Kaito may be my favorite Rider character of all time (Sorry, Kitaoka). His motives, his actions, his entire presence and arc. Extremely well done, well acted. I love the way the last few episodes shed a different light on his actions throughout the whole series. Truly a great character.

Then there's Mitchy. Truly a despicable asshole and an unlikable jerk, he is also one of the best written characters in the series as well as one of the most enjoyable. His descent arc is truly a thing of beauty, and I really can't help but feel that Urobuchi was doing with him what he meant to do in Aldnoah.Zero with the character of Slaine (since he left that project shortly after it started to work on Gaim. Mitchy and Slaine have extremely similar arcs, but Slaine's is just done rather poorly). Whether that is true or not, a villain arc done right is always great to see. Reading about him prior to watching the series I had come under the impression that his becoming a villain was some sort of twist, but of course, that was not the case. The process he took was long, steady, and a great pleasure to watch. When he fully revealed himself in episode 35, I couldn't do much but pump my fist at the sheer greatness of it all. That kick. Oh so good.

Kouta was a lot of fun. I don't think he's as great a character as Kaito or Mitchy, but he was still a great protagonist and a true Kamen Rider. The spirit of sacrifice and standing up against incredible odds was strong with this one, and I am satisfied with his arc.

Takatora is interesting. If I didn't know he was supposed to be one of the four main characters I'd think he was as much of a side character as you could be...well, even knowing, he still definitely is that. I've hardly ever seen a supposed protagonist who did so little.

Not to say I dislike him, though. Takatora is great. I just wish the show had had done more with him. The way he was treated by the movies was particularly atrocious...I suppose the show as a whole needed to keep him on the sidelines for Mitchy's sake.

Mai is there I guess. I will admit to not really caring much for her either way throughout the entire thing. She was just...a little boring.

As far as other characters go, the Incredible Ryouma is probably my favorite. A cold, crazy, arrogant bastard, and completely entertaining to the very end. So many great moments came about from this guy. "Yes. And I have no idea why you believed me." Completely fantastic.

Most of the rest of the supporting cast was pretty solid. It's unfortunate that so many Riders ended up playing bit roles in the grand scheme of things, but they were all pretty entertaining and fun to watch. Last episode deserves some praise for its Jonouchi moments--as short as they lasted. Oren was great, Zack was pretty cool. Minato was...not really utilized to her full potential, and Sid was a (very entertaining) jerk.

I dunno what to say about it really, coherently. Lots of thoughts buzzing in my mind. But as I keep mentioning, I liked it a lot. I liked a lot of things about it a lot. It was a great story with great characters and a great conclusion. It was great.

It's certainly my favorite series in the Kamen Rider franchise that I've seen, but I wouldn't say it's my favorite Kamen Rider series. It's just...so different, and didn't really operate the way I have come to expect them to. Comparing Gaim to the rest of the franchise...it's like comparing Kouganes to Koutas. It's like that. But I loved it.

[Kiryu]

OOO episode 13:

Did Anhk just Rocket Punch himself at Gotou?

Oh man that scene was great.

[Matrixbeast]

Kuuga 18.
Wow. Kuuga dies. I didn't anticipate that...
I'm certainly curious to see where this goes, since I have no idea, myself.

The current villain (Whose animal I, once again, can't figure out) goes around in a sun hat biting people and injecting them with a super poison. I can dig it. Strange that he's considered a weak Grongi, though. I guess since his fighting ability is pretty poor, and basically relies on the bite...Well, he gets Kuuga and the rest is history.

[ElConvoy]

Hes a Mushroom if I remember correctly.

[Kiwami]

I remember these episodes being quite sad IMO because they really put some effort into the hospital scenes with Godai "dying" and people mourning and stuff.

Makes his inevitable return even more badass though.

@Topic: I watched the "A New Transformation!" Agito TV-Special today, I kept myself from watching it and the G4-Movie until the new Agito SHF comes around. I'll watch the movie once the figure arrives.

But anyway, the special was great. I felt right at home after having finished Agito months ago, and Dr. Higashi Kunieda is a great character. His chemistry with Shouichi is perfect, and the story with his son adds another great tone to the whole Agito story. I especially liked that Shouichi was unable to control Burning Form, which never happened in the show. It's a rather cheap plot device since Gills already fills this spot, but it was great for Shouichi to lose control in such a way and face himself afterwards.

The G3 Mild-sidestory is kinda nice, I liked that Omuro got some more action, even though he didn’t understand how he basically got the job just to show that the system works for everyone.

The Houjo sidestory is completely stupid. It fits in no way to the canon of the show, considering he learns about the identity of Agito in the Special, even arresting Shouichi because of it, but it's never mentioned in the show where Houjo finds out about Agito in a completely different way.

That's the only bad aspect about the special though, the story is cool, the fights are fun and I really like Scarabaeus Fortis, the Beetle Lord, with his way to turn people into ash and his funny beard.

I was happy getting some good Agito action once more, and now I can't wait to watch the G4-movie!

[Switchblade]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElConvoy

Hes a Mushroom if I remember correctly.

He is indeed a mushroom; one of nature's most ferocious animals.

(I still don't know why there's a mushroom Grongi - it's really out of place as the only non-animal monster, kind of like Mika Hijii's Orchid Undead in Blade)