[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Androzani84

As for me, I think the main issue with Hikaru is that the show wanted to promote him to a main character, without actually giving him any buildup. And what little he shows (wanting to protect Sakura, who?s spent 24 episodes trying to prove how capable she is with some success) makes him come off as an entitled chauvinist, which does nothing to make him likeable to the audience.

Yeah, I think that about covers it. Hikaru having a triumphant moment where he proves his value and saves Sakura would only really work dramatically if:

1 - Hikaru had been given any conceivable spotlight before this episode (and the spotlight scene he does get is almost entirely carried by Tamaki; Hikaru's in the background, literally out of focus!)

2 - His character wasn't trying to protect a character that clearly didn't need his protection in any of the preceding episodes

3 - Hana and Tamaki somehow didn't exist

But who knows! Maybe Hikaru won some sort of yet-to-be-revealed Kamen Rider Make-a-Wish program! It's nice to let some of these kids feel good about themselves!

And thanks so much for the fun skit!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

Things I always forget about Revice: Hikaru has a name.

Remembering his name feels like I'm letting him win, and I dislike it.

[DreadBringer]

This episode also apparently solved Vice's existensial crisis of being a demon, and this pulls the "Vice is Vice" reassurement seen in numerous Rider series like Inoue written ones. About how Ikki reassures Vice that he only needs to act according to Vice's wishes, to fight alongside Ikki and/or having fun by enjoying his freedom (including being free from demon's expectations too), not what's expected of a demon. While this is good for Vice and that acting outside of other's expectations can be used, this kind of invalidates other demons, as there are other demons that aren't malicious like Lovekov (though she's an asshole too like Vice). While this part of the story helps Vice, this won't help other demons against, for example, Masumi's racism towards them (also suggesting that separating Ikki from Vice is the best outcome regardless of their friendship now), as this is about differentiating Vice to other demons and thus, other demons still has the expectation of being evil and manipulative like Vail expects them be.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Hana treats Tamaki about the same as Sakura treated Ikki originally, or how Daiji treated Sakura originally: like a sibling. It can come off abrasive or even cruel, but it's someone who is such a huge part of your life, and that can sometimes be a nuisance. Hana treats Tamaki like shit because he's pissing her off, and that's how brothers and sisters can behave.

I get where you're coming from here, but I'd also like to differentiate better here between which one is actually a banter or if someone actually mistreats others.... including regarding when they regularly mistreat those they have personal connection with but can occassionally help them at peril, which can still only mean that they draw some lines in mistreating them. I thought this also based on Aguilera's general behavior to others (sans Sakura ofc) like how she reacts to Ikki attempting to save her, not strictly Tamaki, though it's mostly during her villain stint that, she does spent most of her time in that role, just recently redeemed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER REVICE EPISODE 35 - “THE UNKNOWN THREAT AND ROAD HUMANITY MUST TRAVEL”

It is a bold strategy to start an episode with a villain belittling the effectiveness of our heroes, and end the same episode with the villain being proven correct. It’s not… y’know, it’s not great, as far as watching these episodes to see heroes overcome insane odds and cleverly defeat terrifying threats goes. On that level? Sort of a miss. But its commitment to making our entire group of Kamen Riders look like ineffectual chumps is actually kind of neat!

Seems that this is the most appreciated plot for many people, to make the villain being proven correct, which will fulfill the favored "both sides have a point" plot they want (though I feel that many are just biased towards villains for this), and that these kind of plot will be considered a trend-setter that "tries something differently from usual cookie cutter generic shit", and many do think that realistically heroes will never win, and it'd be like, and bad guys getting ahead is what's realistic and reasonable outcome, thus making the story like that is the right way. If the villains aren't proven correct, people'd actually criticize the writings for being incompetent in handling them, instead of their actual actions or acknowledging the holes in their views.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I liked how much this episode nailed down its conception of Daiji as a guy whose inflexibility and righteousness is starting to become a drawback. He’s destroyed the part of himself that doubted himself, and now he’s a guy fighting to retain the honor of an organization that never did anything good for anyone. He’s always saying he’s going to get Fenix “back to what it was”, and it’s all anyone else – myself included – can do not to laugh in his face. Fenix was comically inept until it was hopelessly corrupt. There’s nothing in it to save, if there ever was. But Daiji lacks the flexibility and self-esteem to abandon the literal sinking ship of Fenix. Ikki’s in a story about Vice needing to look past a label that doesn’t apply to him in order to see the strength of his uniqueness, and here’s Daiji, clinging to his honor and duty when the guy who founded Fenix is laughing at his despair. Daiji’s so desperate to make things conform to his own sense of right and wrong – with Fenix being Right – that he can’t see how hollow and pointless those labels have become. He’s trapped himself in his own righteousness.

Daiji now specifically doesn't want to sit and watch, but now acting on his 'righteousness', but not that it's a good stuff, as Daiji went completely reckless, acting without thinking, despite being told by various characters like Ikki to stick together as a family, or George to balance his 'good' and 'evil' side on his own without Kagerou. He ended up only playing into Akaishi's plans, though at least he realized. Contrary to popular opinion regarding Daiji and Hiromi, for me Daiji shows some similarities to Hiromi here, but about his flaws, Hiromi's someone who tried to act dutiful and composed, but is actually emotionally fragile and breaks down easily. While here, Daiji's someone who is the uptight, stern, and taciturn one in the family, apparently portrayed as the 'mature' one to the wackiness of other Igarashis (Sakura as the other exception, that she regards Daiji the highest), but turns out here that Daiji is more impulsive than outwardly and if pushed into a brink he'd be the most irrational. Ironically, it seems that the Weekend has similar case to Daiji for their inaction, to have Masumi announced that Weekend would move from its shadows this late.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Alongside that, the whole Akaishi Hypes Giff battle was pretty entertaining, if only for how over-the-top Akaishi’s cowardly plea for humanity’s capitulation was. (In much the same way that Fenix’s military power and reach seems to ebb and flow alongside the budget for an episode, I sort of don’t understand its political power? How is Akaishi given carte blanche to commandeer live TV and beg all of Japan to surrender their free will to a mute deity? Seems like there should be someone in the Diet that’s like Could You Run That By Us First.) Akaishi has, appropriately, zero respect for the transparent stratagems of the Igarashi family, and he’s clearly having a blast watching Daiji get impotently apoplectic as the trap is sprung. It’s a dumb plan from Daiji, and it probably took Akaishi about eight entire seconds to figure out how to spin it in his favor.

As his plan was to plunge humanity into despair to make them submit to Giff, the only way he see for humanity to survive, expectedly it'd involve broadcasting Kamen Rider's failures to fight Giff or his henchmen (including Vail). But other revelations about it was that, Akaishi seems to be fine killing anyone else for his schemes other than the Igarashis, as seen in the unnamed Fenix soldiers. It's now explained fully here that Akaishi won't kill those he considered "family", where the Igarashis are Giff descendants, even threatening Vail to sever their partnership if he did that. So the Igarashi's special status, other than how they're the ones who can become a Rider, extends to even the current baddie as technically their family. But as for now, Akaishi acting to be hopeless here is too forced, has too much overreacting. And seems that, reckless as he might be, Daiji doesn't notice about Akaishi's obvious forced overreacting. I hope that there'd be more on Akaishi's overreacting other than just Revice declining in quality and treating Akaishi's acting as actual darkest hour situation, in-universe explanation btw, like for starters, about how Akaishi never felt hopeless (as Giff's partner) so he doesn't know what it actually feels like, or it's also a part how Daiji didn't notice as he went reckless.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

It sort of helps the team that Hikaru shows up as Over Demons, and all of this plotline felt undercooked even by Weekend standards. Hikaru has never felt like anything other than a distraction in the Sakura/Hana storyline, so him proving his worth by taking two good suits and turning them into one okay suit… who was asking for this? This is a real Mihara Is The New Delta-level shrug of a plot, where the least-relevant character becomes the powerful new Rider. I’d rather it be Tamaki! Or Buu! Or Mom Igarashi! Hikaru is a weird imposition, and now I’m going to have to begrudgingly pay attention to him. I even had to learn his name this episode! That sucks!

Hikaru becoming a Rider, and a strongest one at that, does give me a Mihara-Delta vibe too (but it's Faiz so...), for someone who doesn't stand out being given one of the stronger Rider forms (though Over Demons only has slight increase to regular Demons). IIRC, the speculation of Over Demons before was about Hiromi's comeback or probably George, but it turning to be Hikaru instead seems to be purely done for a shock value. Though not fully as Hikaru does want to become a Rider before, but probably not something that seems to be really plot-important like Over Demons that has Vail motif in its design too, while Hikaru is nowhere near as plot important. Tbf, George too was someone who had one-time stint as Demons (so far), so Hikaru can be like that too as Over Demons, but it was also an important event to display George's change. And that Hikaru wasn't using the Rider form too bad, albeit not beating anyone in a fight but just saving anyone (and Akaishi won't kill them anyway). Tamaki now realizes about how useless he is so far, and the preview apparently has him transforming.... earlier than Aguilera, someone who has shown to be a fighter before does (still admiring her girlfriend, is she ironically the new Tamaki now but to Sakura only despite her disgust?).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

All that said, I did enjoy this weird episode of Hiromi-esque failure and fumbling. I like the way Daiji’s decision to execute Kagerou – a thing I never enjoyed or agreed with – is now exposed as an error with dire ramifications for the entire world. We’ve got no real avenue to fight the evil running rampant, and the only glimmer of hope is that a group of revolutionaries with a troublingly large budget for gaming chairs and fishnet can find a way to emerge from a shadowy basement and protect humanity. I’m not feeling great about those odds, but I’m feeling pretty good about this show.

Regarding George's ad-vice here to balance good and evil as rightneous alone isn't enough to overcome evil, I'd disagree to elevating evil (not literally) personally, as this can be (mis)used to further glorify cynical and cold-detached traits, disguised as right belief, strength, and effectiveness when it's probably spite and vindictive-based. You've said before regarding how you disagree with Hiromi's recklessness, which I do too, and, there are some people who claim at this point Daiji becomes "too heroic" here for his self-destructive approach and that gets on my skin. Even though it's true that Kagerou is needed here to balance out Daiji's traits, but if it's about Kagerou being calm and calculating, then it'd not be an evil trait, it's just using rational thinking, good or evil depends if it's used for strategy against bad guys or to scheme. And if it's about finishing off the necessary bad guys, killing a bad guy that has no other way out is different to killing innocents or even someone bad that isn't enough to justify killing, such as normal human criminals. It's actually one of the misguided takes that can be used to villify heroes to make villains look good with the reason that "they're also killers or such".

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadBringer

Seems that this is the most appreciated plot for many people, to make the villain being proven correct, which will fulfill the favored "both sides have a point" plot they want (though I feel that many are just biased towards villains for this), and that these kind of plot will be considered a trend-setter that "tries something differently from usual cookie cutter generic shit", and many do think that realistically heroes will never win, and it'd be like, and bad guys getting ahead is what's realistic and reasonable outcome, thus making the story like that is the right way. If the villains aren't proven correct, people'd actually criticize the writings for being incompetent in handling them, instead of their actual actions or acknowledging the holes in their views.

To be clear, the thing that Akaishi is proven correct about isn't that humanity is doomed or that Giff is all-powerful or that reverse evolution (???) is the key to survival -- the thing he's proven correct about is that the heroes as they're currently configured (and with Daiji coming with the plans) are of no consequence. He doesn't actually have a point, unless the point is You Guys Are Real Bad At This.

[Kamen Rider Die]

KAMEN RIDER REVICE EPISODE 36 - “HUMANITY STANDS AT CROSSROADS, TO EACH THEIR OWN RESOLVE”



Daiji, as a character, is an example of that classic expression “Thirty-six wrongs make a right.”

The key to liking him, I think, is to just withstand his dedication to a binary and inflexible justice that renders moral complexity anathema to his worldview. The first few times, you’re like Okay. The next dozen times, you’re like Uh, Okay. The next dozen times, you’re like Ugh OKAY. But then you round the corner into your third dozen times where Daiji held fast to his belief that the evil inside all of us can be expunged and doesn’t need to be analyzed or embraced because that is the little death that brings oblivion, and you’re like Huh! Okay!

It makes perfect sense to me that he’d take point on the city-wide task of vaccinating everyone against Giff, as a way of preserving humanity. It’s a terrible plan, obviously terrible – but that’s not a factor in Daiji’s decision making. He’s out here all alone, the weight of the world on him, and he’s always believed that the Demons needed to be expunged. He’s the one who “solved” Kagerou. He’s the one that’s usually telling people to murder Demons, no matter the cost. Just like killing Kagerou was probably a bad idea from both a metaphysical perspective and a psychological stability sense, stamping all of Japan because a lunatic in a leather tie appeals to your sense of duty is a transparently bad idea. But it fits neatly into Daiji’s worldview of Demons as a thing to expunge, as well as his desperate need to buttress his sense of self-worth with unquestioned duty to Fenix. It’s a terrible decision, but it’s also absolutely a Daiji decision.

(Quick sidebar: The villains doing an evil vaccination program while the steadfast heroes team up to stop people from being vaccinated… not great optics on that in 2022! Maybe in 2032, but last year? Too soon! Poor taste!)

But Daiji’s the subplot to this episode’s big deal Get Outta Here Hikaru fancy new Kamen Rider: Aguilera!

Hana’s metamorphosis from Deposed Queen Of Evil to Sakura’s Concerned Girlfriend is… it’s not the most robust character arc on the show, despite it being the one I most look forward to. We hear a lot from Hana in this episode’s climax about how much she wants to atone for her sins as part of the Giffamilia, but it never really got any screentime before now. Hana quit being Aguilera because being Aguilera was a dead-end: she was the queen of a cult that no longer existed, in service of a creature that never cared about her. Joining Weekend always felt like a way to stay in her girlfriend’s orbit, and nothing more. Like, “defeating Giff”? When has that ever been anything Aguilera or Hana professed to care about? I’m not saying I can’t illustrate an emotional line that would connect those two characters, Aguilera and Hana, but I am saying that the show hasn’t really bothered to do that.

Still, I liked the debut of Kamen Rider Aguilera quite a bit. My favorite part was Karizaki tying together Hana’s shameful past with the various Demons of this show; a thing to use for good, and nothing to be eliminated or obscured. As much as the leap to Hana as a warrior for justice feels minimally motivated, I do appreciate the thematic coherence of her new outlook. Also, I like the suit! The stinger out of the mask is a good touch, and I like how the shoulders are doing a lot of the same stuff as the Jeanne suit. They’ll make a good fighting couple!

It’s weird to have an episode where the main plot is a thrilling, cathartic bit of adventure that feels like it’s paying off a plot this show never broadcast, and a subplot of a character making just ABYSMAL decisions for perfectly established and ingrained reasons. Confusing feelings at the end, but I’m still gonna say this one worked for me. But please remember to get vaccinated!!!

[Switchblade]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Daiji, as a character, is an example of that classic expression ?Thirty-six wrongs make a right.?

The key to liking him, I think, is to just withstand his dedication to a binary and inflexible justice that renders moral complexity anathema to his worldview. The first few times, you?re like Okay. The next dozen times, you?re like Uh, Okay. The next dozen times, you?re like Ugh OKAY. But then you round the corner into your third dozen times where Daiji held fast to his belief that the evil inside all of us can be expunged and doesn?t need to be analyzed or embraced because that is the little death that brings oblivion, and you?re like Huh! Okay!

I'm very curious to see your take on Daiji's journey at this point of the show with your daily (except on Tuesdays) episode viewings because oh boy, was this part of the show rough on a weekly pace.

Quote:

(Quick sidebar: The villains doing an evil vaccination program while the steadfast heroes team up to stop people from being vaccinated? not great optics on that in 2022! Maybe in 2032, but last year? Too soon! Poor taste!)

Yep, that sure is a thing they did.

Quote:

But Daiji?s the subplot to this episode?s big deal Get Outta Here Hikaru fancy new Kamen Rider: Aguilera!

Great suit, especially for this late in the series. Nice repurposing of Gaim's strawberry knives, too.

[Androzani84]

Boy, we’re in for a long one.

First off, though I liked this episode decently, I remember Fish’s review suggested a way for Hana’s big moment to be better and more emotionally resonant than a speech from Jason Vorhees.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

Okay, I've been holding off on this for a while, but... I'mma just vent about Revice for a bit here, okay? I really, really loved what this episode did with Aguilera, but I can't stop thinking about how Revice keeps placing its emotional weight in the wrong spots. Having Aguilera realize she doesn't need to be ashamed of her past and deny it, but instead work to redeem those failings, that's a fantastic way to characterize her turn as a Rider! It's exactly why she should be with Weekend, and I'm really glad the show explicitly brought that up.

But this episode could've been so much more, if only they'd realized Tamaki's potential worth to it.

Having Daddy tell Aguilera not to be ashamed of that name is weightless, compared to what they could've done instead. You literally already have Tamaki refusing to call her Hana, and it would've been so easy to turn that into something meaningful. If Aguilera needs convincing that name can be more than just the name of all her mistakes, who better to inspire that change in perspective than the literal living proof Aguilera can bring hope to people too? This was such a missed opportunity to present this same theme in a much more complex and character-driven way, where you could recontextualize and redefine the relationship between those two characters. Tamaki's obsession becomes more than just a joke if you give him the chance to explain himself, and Aguilera would have the chance to maybe even rethink how she views Tamaki. And I'm not even asking her to fall in love with her stalker here! What I'm saying is that, if the episode had bothered to more genuinely explore the motivations behind why Tamaki is in a rush to grab a Rider belt and protect someone who matters to him, it could've ended up being a really touching turnaround when Aguilera resolves to be the one doing the protecting instead.

...But that whole notion is consigned to one throwaway line at the end that immediately gets undercut with a gag about Tamaki still wanting to transform, and I'm sorry, but it feels like a waste.

In other talk, Aguilera becoming a Rider was not planned. They were doing an all-female spin-off and decided to make her a Rider to justify her inclusion there, and rather than bog down that project with an origin story, they decided to use the show for one. Which is partially why I don’t agree with the wiki’s arbitrary placement of Girls Remix after 46 (that, and what little we hear of the current status quo in that special doesn’t match that point in the series)

One thing that was planned was the siblings increasing gulf. Though it was meant to be a three-way thing, they changed it, and now Weekend has become the “place where everyone goes to discuss advancing the plot”



But while KR Aguilera wasn’t planned, someone did manage to predict it last week in this negative reaction to Hikaru (they avoided showing the suit in anything until it leaked three days before broadcast. People still figured it out due to the bee-like patterns on the Driver, Tamaki’s chosen Vistamp being a Legend Rider Vistamp and Nana Hyashimoto being on the cast list for suit actors)



Hana: What’s Sakura’s stalker doing going out and transforming? Make my driver soon.

Karizaki: Of course. You must look cute when standing next to Jeanne.

And as mentioned, Aguilera’s suit is modified from Kanon Specter (which leads to a funny handwave in Girls Remix), while her weapons are modified from Gaim Ichigo Arms’ Ichigo Kunai. She was also shown in magazine pictures to have a second set retooled from Ryugen’s Kiwi Geki-Rin.



And we have Akemi telling Ikki he needs Giff’s DNA to defeat him, which confused me on both watchings, since Ikki already has Giff’s DNA. That was established a few episodes back. As do Daiji and Sakura.



And Donbrothers debuted the robot toy that week, but I was more interested in what was going on the next week.



And now, here’s the cast’s reactions to this episode from Twitter.





And just so you know, others noticed the whole “vaccination” subplot, and I think it might’ve coloured perceptions of the show, given I’ve seen it referred to as “the anti-vax” show a year on.



And finally, the Hiromi fans were just plain getting restless at this point, even with a vague hint from a magazine that “that man” would return.





And after this long rambling string of information and thoughts, here’s our highlight.

Tamaki: It’s Tamaki’s… Stamp Navi.

(George pokes his head out, it seemingly being where Tamaki’s pecs are)

George: We gave him this as an apology for his failed transformation.

Tamaki: Which means today’s Vistamp is… this one.

Buffalo!

Assault Guy! Prepare for a Shock! Buffalo! As Long as I have Tomorrow’s Guts, I’m Good!

George: Daddy tells me that Buffalo is a Genome that can unleash a powerful charge attack. It can also pierce through things thanks to some tech stolen from Yggdrasil after it went bust.

Tamaki: Ahh! I can’t believe I failed to transform with it.

George: Don’t be too sad. Be like today’s Legend and look on the bright side of your desire not working out.

Desire Driver: OOO!

Eiji: Henshin!

TaToBa! TaToBa, Ta-To-Ba!

George: Kamen Rider OOO, Eiji Hino. Using a belt inherited from a medieval king, he fought against the Greeed using the power of desire, Core Medals.

Eiji: As long as I have underwear for tomorrow, I’m good.

(Suddenly, light emerges from the side and Yukimi pops her head in, at a roughly equal height to Tamaki’s. The lighting now reveals that George is sat down on a toilet)

Yukimi: You may be staying here now, George-kun. But would you mind keeping your LARPing volume to a minimum? You’re disturbing the customers.

George: One, this is not LARPing. Two, I have a schedule for making these things that just so happens to coincide with me needing to take a crap this week. And three, can you pass me some toilet paper?

(A mysterious hand appears, with a bog roll)

???: Here you go.

George: Why thank you… Ankh!?! OOO’s partner who gave his life to ensure Eiji lived his? What are you doing here?

Ankh: Didn’t you see that 10 Years movie? Eiji died so I could live my life.

George: I’ve only seen the trailers. Thanks for spoiling the ending.

Yukimi: We hope you enjoy the next instalment. And that it doesn’t get my family business shut down.

Self production note: with the Skybase sunk, my plan was for every instalment afterwards to take place in increasingly absurd locations. But I couldn’t think of anything more absurd than Ikki’s toilet, so I nixxed the idea and avoided referring to where each instalment took place after this.

I also originally planned for George to respond to Yukimi’s complaints that he was annoying the customers with “what customers?”, resulting in Yukimi hitting him with a frying pan. This was nixxed as too over the top

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

I'm very curious to see your take on Daiji's journey at this point of the show with your daily (except on Tuesdays) episode viewings because oh boy, was this part of the show rough on a weekly pace.

I mean, I get it! I would not say I'm having the easiest time with it myself! Nearly every storyline is missing a dialogue scene (or two) that would help better illustrate why so many characters are doing what they're doing -- Daiji's dedication to a corrupt organization that is committed to beating the shit out of him, Hana's alignment with Weekend, Hikaru's... just, Hikaru -- but instead, we get scenes with Akaishi at Kamen Rider Stadium, mugging for the camera, or Vail fight scenes that go on forever, and I'm left wondering why no one making this show seems to know how to correctly budget their screentime for all of the characters it wants to service.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Androzani84

One thing that was planned was the siblings increasing gulf. Though it was meant to be a three-way thing, they changed it, and now Weekend has become the ?place where everyone goes to discuss advancing the plot?

Ha ha, yeah, Weekend's dungeon seems to have a fairly Open Door policy to it, doesn't it? Folks just wandering in at all hours of the day to recuperate or exposit or request help... I miss the days where all of that would happen in the much more fun set of Happy Spa! At least George knows what's up!

[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

To be clear, the thing that Akaishi is proven correct about isn't that humanity is doomed or that Giff is all-powerful or that reverse evolution (???) is the key to survival -- the thing he's proven correct about is that the heroes as they're currently configured (and with Daiji coming with the plans) are of no consequence. He doesn't actually have a point, unless the point is You Guys Are Real Bad At This.

And even the story painting those as not actually proven correct will still have some audience insisting otherwise and pull any kind of mental gymnastics over this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER REVICE EPISODE 36 - “HUMANITY STANDS AT CROSSROADS, TO EACH THEIR OWN RESOLVE”

(Quick sidebar: The villains doing an evil vaccination program while the steadfast heroes team up to stop people from being vaccinated… not great optics on that in 2022! Maybe in 2032, but last year? Too soon! Poor taste!)

Fenix's plan now apparently is about ViStamp mandate to remove demons from their bodies. Masumi's original plan, I hope the next episodes will flesh this out more, likely showing the consequences of Masumi's original extreme methods if fully done, especially if this is Akaishi's scheme. Or not as Daiji was actually doing his Fenix job here by guarding a Stamping site, and fought against what Akaishi actually did again by driving people away from Giff Juniors and also fighting against a Hell Gifterian, who apparently can speak. Daiji got heavily injured again, this time as a jobber to newer threat that can punch out Holy Live quickly, and has similar regeneration as Olteca in his final fight. Likely that'd be the one to spark Revice's final form. But overall despite a destroyed base, and George now residing in Happy Spa, Fenix's still operating. Regarding George, like above former Deadmans, Ikki accepts George here without (justified) doubt and animosity anymore, with George's change too now, hence 'everyone' being buddies now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Hana’s metamorphosis from Deposed Queen Of Evil to Sakura’s Concerned Girlfriend is… it’s not the most robust character arc on the show, despite it being the one I most look forward to. We hear a lot from Hana in this episode’s climax about how much she wants to atone for her sins as part of the Giffamilia, but it never really got any screentime before now. Hana quit being Aguilera because being Aguilera was a dead-end: she was the queen of a cult that no longer existed, in service of a creature that never cared about her. Joining Weekend always felt like a way to stay in her girlfriend’s orbit, and nothing more. Like, “defeating Giff”? When has that ever been anything Aguilera or Hana professed to care about? I’m not saying I can’t illustrate an emotional line that would connect those two characters, Aguilera and Hana, but I am saying that the show hasn’t really bothered to do that.

At first, Aguilera was still a cold bitch towards Tamaki, even if Tamaki's behavior to be overprotective for someone stronger than him can be grating. I guess the episode fleshed her more with how she's the type to run away from the past at first, using her Hana identity to forget the atrocities she has committed in the past. I wonder if she acted bitchy towards Tamaki before was partly due to this too, to reject anything related to the past (still no excuse). But the fact is, she did commit all those atrocities, and it can't be undone (as there seems to be no time travel in Revice for now, unknown if George can create it) what you'd do is not only claiming to change and atone but also proving it. It'd be better and more benefical to help out rather than being inactive due to being sealed or killed, if they have the capacity of redemption.

And she herself admitted now that she did those evil acts as a evil queen, like Tamaki before, so that shows that it's not that Aguilera did nothing wrong before as a Deadman and that all of the blame can be deflected away to others due to how there's a victim status in herself since Olteca betrayed her. Better than leaving her only being around I guess (even Kimiko appeared here!). Other than her debut as a Rider to help out, by taking back her old alias Aguilera as per Masumi's suggestion (I'd always call her that anyway due to Hana name already being used before as Den-O's female lead), and regarding you depicting Aguilera treating Tamaki as just sibling stuff, she actually starts treating Tamaki better in this episode as well, addressing her superiority to him by resolving to protect him instead, and even to Vice, she acted playfully towards him, not haughtily, now also integrating with the other main cast.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Still, I liked the debut of Kamen Rider Aguilera quite a bit. My favorite part was Karizaki tying together Hana’s shameful past with the various Demons of this show; a thing to use for good, and nothing to be eliminated or obscured. As much as the leap to Hana as a warrior for justice feels minimally motivated, I do appreciate the thematic coherence of her new outlook. Also, I like the suit! The stinger out of the mask is a good touch, and I like how the shoulders are doing a lot of the same stuff as the Jeanne suit. They’ll make a good fighting couple!

I didn't expect here that even Aguilera wasn't an official member yet here at Weekend and this was her final test, and it seems that Weekend still carries some extreme methods, to have Tamaki in his human form being plunged into danger as his test to become a member. Less so for Aguilera as an actual Rider (her shooting Vail wasn't a test but done on her own volition). Even Sakura here still calls them out on this to put Tamaki in dangerous situation, though she quickly submits on Hikaru's explanation of this being Weekend's test. She'd still later defend Tamaki when he passed. I guess if she's fully affectionate to Aguilera and stands up for Tamaki against a friend she knew longer, she'd also better view Masumi in better light, as she did bring up about how him trying to atone isn't enough to erase his previous sins, but said Aguilera or even Julio was more malicious than Masumi in her evil queen actions.

Other than Aguilera beating Vail in a fight here due to Vail not acquiring Aguilera's ViStamp yet, which is apparently based on Muhammad Ali's "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" fighting style (from what I catch, she targeted lower body parts a lot, and her finisher includes trapping their legs too), it's quite satisfying for me to have Vice get back at him, to mock his demonic life boast with Vail running away from Aguilera. Otherwise, as usual, Vice is still an attention whore despite that he cares more about people around him now, though not helped as Ikki joked about Vice being useless now in the face of Aguilera. Ikki pulled quite brutal joke right there still. His previous fight with Revi against Akemi showed a Deadman that can't be instantly cured, only temporary, but probably Akemi's brief conversation does show that Akemi is brainwashed, or likely went undercover against Akaishi. Either way, someone much more upstanding than Chigusa. Probably that'd also be used to show off Revice's upcoming final form's capabilities, with said using Giff power she claimed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

It’s weird to have an episode where the main plot is a thrilling, cathartic bit of adventure that feels like it’s paying off a plot this show never broadcast, and a subplot of a character making just ABYSMAL decisions for perfectly established and ingrained reasons. Confusing feelings at the end, but I’m still gonna say this one worked for me. But please remember to get vaccinated!!!

Other than her, to a smaller extent Tamaki too undergoes a change here, not as in successfully 'change' in 'henshin', but his goal and motivation now. They made use of Tamaki being forced to smile, in his bullying days and Deadman days, as a stock Kamen Rider goal of making everyone smile. This being Tamaki though, probably this is played up in parodic way, albeit this is one of his bigger role after being separated from his Giftex role, albeit at first was about his repetitive motivation again to join Weekend (yeah, at the early part of the episode both the former Deadman generals acted like previous self), And as expected, he failed to henshin, due to the Kamen Rider motivation boast leading to Vail acquiring his ViStamp. Still a derp.... or perhaps what 'realistically' can happen when the opponent acts against someone posing for a fight. He's also was useful as a hostage and bait here, quite as expected. Actually because he's joining Weekend, he should re-take karate practice again with Sakura and Hikaru, like he did when he tried to deceive Sakura before, but no two-faced stunts again anymore.

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadBringer

I didn't expect here that even Aguilera wasn't an official member yet here at Weekend and this was her final test, and it seems that Weekend still carries some extreme methods, to have Tamaki in his human form being plunged into danger as his test to become a member. Less so for Aguilera as an actual Rider (her shooting Vail wasn't a test but done on her own volition).

It's very funny to me that this episode's plot hinges on two characters needing to go to dangerous lengths to become full-fledged Weekend members... when Weekend members sit in a basement in gaming chairs while unaffiliated characters are coerced or bribed into doing the actual dangerous work. When did anyone other than Hikaru ever leave the basement? And Hikaru mostly gets yelled at for trying to leave the basement. This whole Dangerous Mission thing is new information, and it makes me feel like they were more or less just trying to get Tamaki and Hana killed.

[Kamen Rider Die]

KAMEN RIDER REVICE EPISODE 37 - “INEVITABLE CLASH! THE DO-OR-DIE DEMON RECAPTURE MISSION!”



I don’t want to jinx it, but I feel like this Daiji story is working out pretty well?

We finally slow the story down a bit, with a few deeply-needed dialogue scenes to nestle in alongside the now fairly standard wall-to-wall fight scenes. (This show really loves its action, way more than it likes providing context or nuance to that action. Sort of a big problem for the series!) Specifically, we get to spend a couple scenes delving into Daiji’s humiliated and hollow embrace of Akaishi and Giff. After a few episodes where Daiji’s seemingly-absurd dedication to being a Henchman With A Heart Of Gold to the show’s big bads was gaining clarity, it’s only here where it finally snaps into focus.

Basically, it’s because DAIJI.

For all the ways Daiji’s changed and grown over the last 30-odd episodes, what this story presupposes is: Maybe he didn’t? The destruction of Kagerou is emblematic of Daiji’s dramatically-rich failings in this storyline; namely, that he’d defeated his own self-loathing, jealousy, fear, resentment, and pessimism. The thing is, as literally every other character has learned over the course of the series, that’s not stuff you defeat, or destroy. It’s stuff you carry around with you forever, and treating it like some invasive organism that’s tricking you into being bad or weak – that’s just self-deception. It’s refusing to take responsibility for your shortcomings, and therefore refusing to examine the triggers that increase their potency. Daiji hasn’t grown by defeating Kagerou; he’s actually avoided the personal growth that everyone else has fought for over the course of the series.

Even joining Akaishi in service to Giff… it’s the exact same shit that led him to Fenix! It’s someone giving a structure to his imposter syndrome by telling him how to make the world comprehensible, so long as he fully buys into whatever he's told; it’s rules and morality that exist in their own continuum, where outsiders are simply unaware of the real threats; it’s crucially a thing that lets him feel power and authority over Ikki, because that rivalry never ever ever went away. All of the weird pragmatism Daiji leans on in this story is just the same mixture of righteousness and resentment that colored his character when the show started. Literally nothing’s changed, which is sort of great?

I can see that regression being a bummer for folks who either didn’t like the earlier version of Daiji, or really liked the newer version of Daiji. It can feel abrupt, or poorly-motivated, mostly because (as noted earlier) this show is not super great at budgeting enough time for scenes that enhance and/or explain character motivations. But I feel like it’s all there, his reasoning and recriminations? He’s weak, and his weakness was papered over by no one asking too many questions about the self-loathing, fratricidal psychopath’s sudden self-improvement. He’s tried following in the footsteps of this show’s former Fenix commander, by giving up everything to safeguard innocents, but he’s forgotten the last thing that dude told him before getting detonated off of a cliff. I don’t recall it myself either, exactly, but I’m pretty sure it was something about not trusting Fenix?

I don’t know, maybe we can ask Hiromi himself in the next episode.