[Pineapple924]

For starters, this episode went a completely different direction than I thought it would and I actually like that it did! I went into this episode under the assumption that it would be another dark one, with Emu having to accept the fact that there are some people he just can't save.

And then... He did.

I was initially put off by this because well... They were dealing with cancer, a very real disease that kills thousands of people, and yet they just say "nope, Hiiro cured him, Ex-Aid beats Aranbura. Happy ending everybody! Yaaaay!" seems really bad. But then I realized that a happy ending is exactly how the episode needed to end.

Kamen Rider Ex-Aid's main message/theme (so far) is about trying to fight fate to save peoples lives. Having the Emu accept Dr. Shirakawa's fate and not try to find a way to save him would completely go against that message.
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On the less serious side:

The Mighty Brothers finisher is insane. Seriously, the entire critical strike includes:

- A double kick.

- Spinning around while kicking.

- Another double kick.

- A flurry of kicks.

- A double upperkick (an uppercut with kicking).

- Transform back to chibi mode and uppercut the monster into the air.

- Jump up and split back into two riders again.

- And one final supercharged double kick.

If this were any other series, the director would have just picked one of those options and I would have bought that as a decent finisher, the fact that they went with all 8 is jaw-dropping.

[TokuChris]

Only thing that bugged me about this episode is that Pancreatic Cancer is nearly impossible to operate on - it's death rate is like 99%. My grandfather died of it so that brought back some feelings ... not the show's fault, but it is what it is.

Still love this show. Watch the RAW's. Haven't done that since Gaim. So take that as you will.

[Helios]

I think when Emu splits in Level XX, he's splitting into the real Emu and M, a bugster version of himself. M could be a bugster personality that takes over him when he plays games.

[LockonStratos]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helios

I think when Emu splits in Level XX, he's splitting into the real Emu and M, a bugster version of himself. M could be a bugster personality that takes over him when he plays games.

Except, judging by, admittedly only one line, Nico's description, M's most likely the original and Emu is the Bugster.

Which raises all kinds of questions, especially about how they'll be dealing with this in the long run.

[MarsHottentot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kickback

Only thing that bugged me about this episode is that Pancreatic Cancer is nearly impossible to operate on - it's death rate is like 99%. My grandfather died of it so that brought back some feelings ... not the show's fault, but it is what it is.

Yeah, I thought of young kids with family suffering from pancreatic cancer maybe getting confused from this episode; fairly irresponsible, though the alternative might have been difficult to do and possibly worse.

[Helios]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LockonStratos

Except, judging by, admittedly only one line, Nico's description, M's most likely the original and Emu is the Bugster.

Which raises all kinds of questions, especially about how they'll be dealing with this in the long run.

But the M personality developed later in his life so wouldn't that make M the Bugster though?

[Annuga]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helios

But the M personality developed later in his life so wouldn't that make M the Bugster though?

My guess is that the M part was what Nico dealt with, and that she never had any discussion with Emu, the kinder one

[DecadeW Climax]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pineapple924

For starters, this episode went a completely different direction than I thought it would and I actually like that it did! I went into this episode under the assumption that it would be another dark one, with Emu having to accept the fact that there are some people he just can't save.

And then... He did.

I was initially put off by this because well... They were dealing with cancer, a very real disease that kills thousands of people, and yet they just say "nope, Hiiro cured him, Ex-Aid beats Aranbura. Happy ending everybody! Yaaaay!" seems really bad. But then I realized that a happy ending is exactly how the episode needed to end.

Kamen Rider Ex-Aid's main message/theme (so far) is about trying to fight fate to save peoples lives. Having the Emu accept Dr. Shirakawa's fate and not try to find a way to save him would completely go against that message.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On the less serious side:

The Mighty Brothers finisher is insane. Seriously, the entire critical strike includes:

- A double kick.

- Spinning around while kicking.

- Another double kick.

- A flurry of kicks.

- A double upperkick (an uppercut with kicking).

- Transform back to chibi mode and uppercut the monster into the air.

- Jump up and split back into two riders again.

- And one final supercharged double kick.

If this were any other series, the director would have just picked one of those options and I would have bought that as a decent finisher, the fact that they went with all 8 is jaw-dropping.

I disagree with the first part. They just introduced the fighting fate theme so if the guy died, Hiiro would learn the thing about fighting fate. He would not be so cold to Emu's feelings about Lazer's death and maybe start sympathizing with him more. His gf's death was out of his hands, but this guy's life was. The last part was right though, that finisher is amazing.

[LockonStratos]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helios

But the M personality developed later in his life so wouldn't that make M the Bugster though?

Did it really? All we've seen of child Emu is him right after his major surgery. Not exactly a situation to show off personality.

Even then, it becomes a question of whether he's showing his true colors to the world at large or when he's investing himself in his favored hobby.

I don't about how you guys deal with the world, but my money's on the latter.

[Helios]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LockonStratos

Did it really? All we've seen of child Emu is him right after his major surgery. Not exactly a situation to show off personality.

Even then, it becomes a question of whether he's showing his true colors to the world at large or when he's investing himself in his favored hobby.

I don't about how you guys deal with the world, but my money's on the latter.

That's true. I just made the assumption that he was himself when he was young and that when he got that game after the surgery that's what created M.