[Matrixbeast]

Hibiki Volume 19
It seems Todoroki is a little excitable, as, after getting 3 Makamou kills, he starts rocking out on the guitar, all while a disc animal records it. Well, I guess he's doing his job right? Hmm...
Well, Asumu officially starts his first day at Tachibana's, and it's going smoothly. There's a brief introduction between the two (I think Todoroki only met Asumu's mother beforehand...), and we see Todoroki is super awkward in casual situations, especially with Hinaka (Though it seems her father would totally be fine with him dating her). He quickly eats and departs, and shortly afterwards, Zanki finally returns, having left to recuperate at a hot spring for a few days. He decided to stay with the group as a trainer, so that's cool. However, he and the old man aren't quite proud of Todoroki's little rock out session with the guitar post battle.
Todoroki rushes off to his next battle, encountering the monsters by a stream and after saving a family, engages, killing the Douji and Hime, but ended up getting caught by the crab Makamou.

This episode was alright, but a little fast paced. We see the return of Todoroki (Who was out of commission the last two episodes due to a physical) and Zanki, learning that he left for a hot spring to see if it might help soothe his body some. The episode begins with Todoroki on a Makamou killing montage, axing them off quickly, and then having a post battle celebration on the guitar at the 3rd. I think if they put a little more time into showing him showboating after all 3, it would make a little more sense for the old man and Zanki to be so disapproving of his actions.
We also see Hibiki learning to ride a motorcycle. That's cool. He's not as bad as before, thankfully, managing to avoid a lost dog on the track as well as not crash it.
Asumu's story here really isn't that important, basically telling us that his accidental volunteering at the restaurant last episode has led to a part time job there now. He meets Todoroki and learns he's Hitomi's cousin (Awkwardly leading to a conversation where they desperately try to avoid telling her that he's a demon. Also, I'm surprised they haven't used the "Oni" (Demon) and "Onii" (Brother) joke sooner).

[Matrixbeast]

Hibiki Volume 20.
This one was rather straightforward, but one part confused me a little, but I'll get to that in a bit.
Zanki starts by leaving for Todoroki's location, wanting answers for his shredding on the guitar after every battle. Someone isn't very happy...
So Asumu is working hard at his new job, but life catches up to him and he fumbles a bit, dropping a tray and shattering a tea cup. It's not too bad, considering his last downer event...It's here that the old man entrusts the shop to him should he and Hinaka be indisposed helping the Oni, quite a hefty responsibility...

Anyway, we cut to Zanki offing two more crab demons and the Makamou, and he engages in his little rock session once more, but this time Zanki arrives and catches him in the act. We get an explanation that he's doing it to ward off any evil energy in the area, and I'm unsure whether or not that's an excuse, but Zanki accepts it.

Then we see the cloaked man insert a vial containing something into his staff, then planting it into the ground (He also did this in the last episode, but I don't think it amounted to anything, unless I didn't realize it), and here is where I get a little confused. Two demons and a Makamou appear before him, and they say it's thanks to him that they have life, implying that he revived him. But they're not very similar to the monsters Todoroki killed earlier, having stingers on their arms and now being able to fly (The crab Makamou, too), and Hibiki's conversation with the old man seems to imply their different. So did the cloaked man revive the recently killed monsters and upgrade them, or are they unrelated monsters with a Makamou that just happen to resemble a crab?

Anyway, Hibiki and an untransformed Zanki arrive on the scene to help Todoroki, and we see Hibiki use his new ability to create a flame/energy blade from his Ongekibou, cutting off one of the crab's wings, stopping it from flying, and Todoroki gets the kill. Zanki says he's going to come back, but as a supporter for Todoroki, and he starts rocking out once more.

Nice episode, nothing too special, but it was good. Todoroki's talk with Zanki was nice, and having him decide to un-retire and aid Todoroki is cool. Asumu just got a boatload of responsibility dumped on him on his first day, so...Sorry kid. Hibiki using that fire blade thing in a fight was neat, too.

I think, right now, the only problem I have is the cloaked villain. I know I'm only 20 episodes in so I shouldn't be antsy, but it's just so confusing to follow when he's involved, now. First he was feeding demons rambutans that gave them power ups, but stopped after one went berserk. Then he encountered Akira on the bridge, but that was so confusing I have no idea what actually happened since all we know is that she passed out. And, recently, he's been putting vials of science juice into his staff and planting it into the ground, with demons seemingly reviving, except when they don't and the scene just ends with no idea of what the result was.
I'm getting a little frustrated since he's been showing up for the past 8 or so episodes now, and there's just far too many questions concerning him at the moment. All we know is that he's apparently high up on the rankings, since other demons bow in his presence, but beyond that...Nothing.

No, I'm not looking for the show to just remove the cloak and tell me everything, but his constant machinations and "Experiments" with no rhyme or reason behind the scenes is just getting weary.

[Sunred]

Kamen Rider Shin for the umpteenth time during late nights.

[GoldenXtreme]

Watched the first two episodes of Kuuga. I have no real opinion yet, although the 90s-ness in killing me.

[Switchblade]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matrixbeast

I think, right now, the only problem I have is the cloaked villain. I know I'm only 20 episodes in so I shouldn't be antsy, but it's just so confusing to follow when he's involved, now. First he was feeding demons rambutans that gave them power ups, but stopped after one went berserk. Then he encountered Akira on the bridge, but that was so confusing I have no idea what actually happened since all we know is that she passed out. And, recently, he's been putting vials of science juice into his staff and planting it into the ground, with demons seemingly reviving, except when they don't and the scene just ends with no idea of what the result was.
I'm getting a little frustrated since he's been showing up for the past 8 or so episodes now, and there's just far too many questions concerning him at the moment. All we know is that he's apparently high up on the rankings, since other demons bow in his presence, but beyond that...Nothing.

No, I'm not looking for the show to just remove the cloak and tell me everything, but his constant machinations and "Experiments" with no rhyme or reason behind the scenes is just getting weary.

I'll tell you right now: you're never going to get a satisfying answer to the cloaked figure and the ones who are sending them out. You will see some more development on that front soon, since I know the Man and Woman will be appearing soon. The staff change happened before they could be fully explained, though, and the replacement staff never gave a concrete explanation for them either (in fact, what you do get just frustratingly complicates things).

The most you'll ever really get is that there are two people who look a lot like the Douji and Hime and they're experimenting on making the Makamou stronger. Their ultimate goal is never revealed.

[Matrixbeast]

Goddammit. I was afraid of that...As new plot threads are brought up and the story slowly begins advancing, the constant, looming shadow of episode 30 and the staff change is leaving me quite worried.

[Switchblade]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matrixbeast

Goddammit. I was afraid of that...As new plot threads are brought up and the story slowly begins advancing, the constant, looming shadow of episode 30 and the staff change is leaving me quite worried.

I know. It sucks, but this is the unavoidable fact about Hibiki.

[KyoryuGreen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matrixbeast

Goddammit. I was afraid of that...As new plot threads are brought up and the story slowly begins advancing, the constant, looming shadow of episode 30 and the staff change is leaving me quite worried.

You'll either not like it or enjoy what you get with it. Hibiki is one of my favorite series of Kamen Rider (Yes as I enjoy everything I watched I do favor some over others lol) including lots after episode 29. I know of people who actually enjoy the entirety of Hibiki myself included it's not as rare as it sounds like.

[Matrixbeast]

I'm just most worried about the affects it'll have on the story, now.

[Matrixbeast]

Hibiki Volume 21.
This was probably the first episode where I can accurately say I have no idea what was going on.
Ibuki and Akira encounter the cloaked figure communicating with the monsters, but he tosses them into the water and the Makamou and the monsters make a break for it. Todoroki is also hunting a different Makamou, but they, too, run away rather than try to kill him.
Then we find out that both monster families are converging onto the same location, cloaked figure waiting, of course, for some strange reason.

In the meantime, Asumu and Hibiki are off to deliver some tea for a ceremony, where they stumble upon Hitomi. On arrival, they find the old lady writhing in pain. Hibiki runs off to find somebody (Who turns out to be an old man fishing).

This episode clearly ties into the next episode, but alone, it was so confusing...