[Switchblade]

So, I mentioned that I have one gripe with this miniseries and it shows up at the very end of this episode. I actually went and double-checked it just now and it's actually more or less the post-credits scene. Out of show, I'm going to chalk it up to the fact that Girls Remix was written by someone who only worked on one episode of the show and the Mystery miniseries, not one of the show's main writers. In-show, I like to pretend it was just a case of Sakura teasing Hana and everyone else having only known them for a couple of hours. Either way, this is the one and only time that Revice plays the "sister" card on Sakura and Hana, and that frustrates me. The show was, apart from this one moment, really good at being consistently implicit with their relationship being romantic, not platonic. I think the biggest misfire of this miniseries was that it just has that one scene of queer erasure. It doesn't feel malicious, just that the writer didn't know the show or characters that well and included that bad reading on them in the script.

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

The show was, apart from this one moment, really good at being consistently implicit with their relationship being romantic, not platonic. I think the biggest misfire of this miniseries was that it just has that one scene of queer erasure. It doesn't feel malicious, just that the writer didn't know the show or characters that well and included that bad reading on them in the script.

Yeah, it... I don't really want to invoke Death Of The Author too often when discussing the text of the show. Fair game when we're examining subtext and themes, but less so when we're disregarding scenes and lines that don't fit our perspective or desires.

But in this instance, I'll quickly and happily make an exception.

I didn't bring this scene up before because I find it almost criminally misguided and noncanonical, as though Ikki had an episode stinger where he said he hated his family, or Hiromi had an episode stinger where he succeeded at something. This writer can say they're just Kamen Rider Gals being Kamen Rider Pals, but I am happy giving that interpretation as much weight in the narrative as an Oronamin C commercial. No thanks, and we're moving on.

(If you're feeling especially charitable, you could read their specific energy as Bickering Siblings, while still observing their relationship as romantic. It's weird, but in the world of Kamen Rider, saying They're Like Siblings does not preclude long-running and semi-reciprocated romantic tension. Just ask Kanon!)

[Sh Ranger]

I think the best thing to come from this special that I totally didn't watch and don't intend to was the knowledge that Ohata Shieri was okay. Not sure if you were aware, but a lot of us were concerned about her at the time, since she'd been inexplicably missing from social media and people were thinking maybe something happened to her.

[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER JEANNE & KAMEN RIDER AGUILERA WITH GIRLS REMIX - EPISODE 2

I ended up liking this episode more than the first, mostly for how nicely the focus stayed on the fight Hana and Sakura are having. It?s both a minor error ? Sakura misspoke, rather than purposefully insulted Hana ? and majorly indicative of the imbalance within their relationship. Hana?s lost everything, and built her world around her girlfriend. The organization she?s in is because Sakura?s there; the goals she has are the ones Sakura taught her. Hana?s life is a testament to her love for Sakura. But Sakura? she?s got more than Hana in her life. Weekend is part of her journey to improve herself. Her family is still a huge part of her life. Even her karate training is something that?s just for her. Sakura?s got a rich, vibrant life, while Hana is mostly existing in Sakura?s orbit. It?s easy to feel like things are tenuous when you need someone more than you think they need you.

As Sakura has said in the episode 1, she's a nosy girl that runs in the family. And... the series only gave Ikki hard time for being that, with her and Yukimi not being given similar treatment (so far for episode 2 one), in how her being like this is what sets up the conflict and ruins Aguilera's mood. So I do think that Sakura cutting Aguilera off was something wrong, albeit small, but it does get addressed as the main problem then. Regarding Sakura having a rich, vibrant life, it's something that is a complaint to Kinoshita of his supposedly bias to her that she acts like primary Rider despite not being one, with how she seems to get much constant shilling from characters like Weekend scouting her, etc. that can lead into her being accused as mary sue (no this is just another misuse of the term).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

So, yeah, easy to see why Sakura?s casual mention of Hana?s ?real? family would feel like a dismissal of everything Hana feels for Sakura. Hana thought Sakura was her real family, and now it sounds like Sakura?s diminishing what they mean to each other. But it?s a misunderstanding, and swiftly resolved once the two of them talk it out. This isn?t a massive arc that sprawls over a few months of a show, it?s a TTFC special: We?re only ever a couple Acts from getting closure. It?s a sweet story, though, and one that?s refreshing in its need to make Sakura tell Hana how she feels. We?d gotten plenty of Revice subplots about Hana?s feelings, so it?s nice to have one where Sakura has to make things right with her long-suffering girlfriend.

Guess the main antagonist here, outside of the platoon of guards, are still also women, thus it doesn't invoke the 'men are natural enemies of women' sthick for this special then. Can't talk yet but Yuriko's just the usual two-faced kind of wanting to help the resurrection of Black Satan by duping Aguilera as her sibling, though the mother talk is a truth. Though in previous one Sakura does try to talk it out to Aguilera, only to get brushed off consistenly. I thought it means that trying to talk it out isn't really simple, how to get them to actually talk and not ignore you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Solid second episode, with an increase in Legend Riders (Kanon! SAWA!!!), action (Reika and Sakura just brutalizing a platoon of guards), and emotion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Beyond that, it was nice to see all these Legend Riders take on an enemy base? We?re not really utilizing Girls Remix as a team in any big thematic way ? they?re mostly just here to be a fun sideshow ? but I will never say no to Poppy internet-teleporting into a security room and leveling guards, or Izu rapidly sidestepping thugs into unconsciousness. Even Akiko gets in on the fun, refusing to let her role as leader of Girls Renix keep her on the sidelines, and immediately needing to be bailed out by the returning Kanon and Sawa. Kanon?s a fun inclusion, after her Saber tie-in stuff, but the real surprise for me is Sawa?s role.

Regarding the talk about women being treated like shit in the franchise, these fight scene actually has given way more than male's out of suit actions, tbh, like for example Gaim's Kouta/Micchy/Zack vs the thugs. Poppy's a Bugster which explains how she's significantly tougher than normal humans to have no problem KOing grown men. Though Poppy being a pacifist would be done in a move Izu did which she didn't throw any strike to them. Surprisingly Reika using her sword doesn't leave as much of a brutal impact to the guards, despite how it's horrible of her attempting to do so to Mei (after she's supposedly a part of the main cast). It's good for Kanon to retain her fighting skill as Kamen Rider before, to not only exclusively display this in brutal, aggressive ladies, but the reason she's no longer Kamen Rider is patronizing one. Sawa's consistent as she can take out guards in Build before.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

I mean, Mei's not a Kamen Rider and Koyomi is dead, so I think they made the right choices here.

I guess the crossover has to take into account for canon stuff then (initial 'c', ok), to not take Koyomi. Because I thought crossover stuffs aren't canon with returning stuff like Ryuki characters for example.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

I think the best thing to come from this special that I totally didn't watch and don't intend to was the knowledge that Ohata Shieri was okay. Not sure if you were aware, but a lot of us were concerned about her at the time, since she'd been inexplicably missing from social media and people were thinking maybe something happened to her.

Unfortunately, the special was filmed in February 2022, while Ohata disappeared from social media in April 2022.....

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

I think the best thing to come from this special that I totally didn't watch and don't intend to was the knowledge that Ohata Shieri was okay. Not sure if you were aware, but a lot of us were concerned about her at the time, since she'd been inexplicably missing from social media and people were thinking maybe something happened to her.

Oh gosh! I was not aware of that. I'm glad she's maybe doing okay?

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadBringer

Poppy's a Bugster which explains how she's significantly tougher than normal humans to have no problem KOing grown men. Though Poppy being a pacifist would be done in a move Izu did which she didn't throw any strike to them.

I'm not sure I think of Poppy as a pacifist? Asuna, sure, she's a serious and professional nurse. But Poppy's an excitable video game mascot from a music game! I think she's okay with walloping a few dudes in a wacky way.

[Kamen Rider Die]

KAMEN RIDER REVICE MOVIE SPIN-OFF NET DRAMA: BIRTH OF CHIMERA



Good lord, was that ever dull and nonsensical. It’s a TTFC special that’s half ludicrous exposition, and half rote and predictable origin story. Far from getting me excited for Battle Familia, it’s maybe killed most of my interest? It’s all trepidation now, you guys.

It doesn’t help that Azuma/Daimon makes almost no sense in this. He’s a different Giff acolyte from the ancient past that we’ve somehow never heard of until now, until Hiromi AND HIROMI ALONE stumbles upon him after 80 years in the jungle, at which point he goes back to civilization for basically the exact opposite reasons he left in the first place. Nothing he’s doing makes any specific sense (and he gets three costume changes in this one goddamn special!), except for the parts that just come off like a less-interesting Akaishi. I do not like this movie villain, and the movie hasn’t even started yet.

Sadly, Nozomu isn’t much better! His main laudable attribute is having his dad played by Takaiwa, and I can’t think of anything else I liked. The plot for his story is a drawn-out Aspirational Heroism > Mad Science > Collateral Damage > Revenge thing, and it did not endear me to this bland protagonist. I hope he gets his revenge against Azuma in the title sequence of Battle Familia, so I can forget about this whole episode as soon and as completely as possible.

And the Chic/George scene… ha ha, nope! You can’t make me talk about it! I’m not getting paid enough!

I wish I hadn’t watched this!

—

KAMEN RIDER REVICE THE MOVIE - BATTLE FAMILIA



But this? This was okay.

Don’t get me wrong, there’re a million things I could humorously complain about from this film: “Game On”; Area 666; Science Tassel; Chic; Giffamilia Reunion; whatever Nozomu’s story was supposed to be. It’s a dumb movie – relentlessly, thoroughly, astoundingly. Nearly every scene is dumber than the one before it, and the movie ends with Ikki and Azuma fist-bumping in front of an explosion. The scene-to-scene continuity is absolutely insane, and most background details invite no small amount of pity. (One of the best is the reveal of the CGI Fenix jet that is too large to enter or exit the hangar it resides in.) This is, on one scale, maybe the worst summer movie I’ve ever seen.

But it’s also maybe the best one, because it’s the one with the Igarashi family in it.

This whole movie succeeds – to the degree that anything in this pratfall of a film can be considered a success – whenever the power of the Igarashi family is on display. That’s it. That’s the one thing this movie has going for it, beyond Geats. (So glad to see Geats! Even if his appearance here doesn’t technically work in the rules laid out for the Desire Grand Prix!) The Igarashis are, collectively, the absolute perfect mix of wacky, warm, heroic, and dramatic. This movie is 100% about leaning into that brilliant dynamic.

I loved that part of it, and am happy to forget about anything that isn’t that. (So long forever, Nozomu and your vengeance!) Best part of the film is Fifty Gale, the upgrade that Yukimi maybe generates by drawing power from her desires and the DGP’s Desire Deity? (Not… super clear on this, despite cheering for it.) Like, the Revice Trinity Form is something their mom makes them do. PERFECT. I love it, and I’ll always love it. The chemistry of these five actors – alongside any number of girlfriends, Work Dads, puppets and voice actors – forgive any deficiencies in plot or premise. I just need Genta to get flirty with Yukimi, or Yukimi to tell Science Tassel that he just effed up, or the kids to support each other against a dual-language eternal executioner. The details of this movie are beyond clarification or defense; the characters are beyond reproach.

So, yeah, I think I really liked this one, by the end of it. This family works in any setting, under any restrictions. They definitely tested my patience in this one (do not like Grown-Up Lovekov!), but it all worked out okay in the end. It’s the best worst summer movie yet!

[Layton13]

Oh, that is funny. Until very recently, this was by far the best piece of Revice by a country mile for me. xD

Mostly because it works.

No overexplaining, the cast isn’t annoying and no glaring issues that you can’t overlook. It’s the definition of bog standard decent. And achieving that level of standard is quite impressive for Revice, at least for me xD

So, hearing you complain about it is hilarious.

I love the Rider fandom, you can never expect what people will like ^^

The movie is a dumbsterfire though. Confused, overstuffed, with two climaxed and nothing really works together. I have no idea what they were even going for here given that Daimon seems to be written sympathetically and has 0 redeeming qualities.

The way it’s shot is also unpleasant and makes even Geats less cool, which is feat alright.

Awful, awful movie to me.

[Androzani84]

Yeah, I thought Birth of Chimera was a fairly alright special, considering that it was written by newbie writer Shunito Nishi. The main issue is that the cast is overstuffed and, based on his other works, he’s not so good at darker tones.

As for the movie, I have a laundry list of things I liked and things I didn’t.

I’ll start by discussing what I did like about the movie:
* Azuma. The guy is basically Akaishi if he was actually threatening and competent, rather than a fairly weak character who only won because the heroes acted like morons. Though his motivations seem somewhat vague, and his eventual redemption somewhat half-baked, overall he was a notable presence.

* Daiji. Unlike the show, they actually seemed to be making an effort with him here, given that he’s the last of the three siblings to go down in the first fight and is the one who defeats the Big Bad, even if he does need help.

* The Chimera Driver. What can I say? I’m a sucker for that belt.

And now, onto the bad.
* Most of the show characters. Other than Ikki and Daiji (and arguably, Yukimi), none of them have much to do in this. Sakura spends most of the final battle beating up mooks, until the other heroes (and Olteca) show up to help.
* Olteca. He’s basically shoehorned into the movie and him wearing a Chimera Driver, something that the advertising played up, amounts to nothing in the long run.
* Apparently, Yukimi can just create a giant Bakugan Attribute/Faction emblem that can undo brainwashing and change Thunder Gale into a different Vistamp.
* The other villains. Chic basically exists purely as part of a retcon, and the movie doesnt really expand on him beyond that, beyond a generic evil plan to create an immortal army. The henchmen aren’t much better, since they exist purely to turn into generic demons and get killed off, before the first half of the movie is over.
* Kamen Rider Igarashi. It suffers from the same problem as the Legend War from Gokaiger and Ultimate Revice’s debut [namely, it gets wasted on the same generic mooks the heroes regularly take down with their base forms, or untransformed], and even more damningly, its gone after the one fight scene early on.
* Chimera. Despite how they made a whole special about him, which gets vaguely alluded to, he contributes nothing to the action one of the regulars couldn’t do and his whole arc gets dropped halfway through, leaving him doing nothing for the majority of the movie.
* The pregnant woman. She’s a bland character who’s painfully shoehorned into a movie she doesn’t offer much to. Also, all the stuff she gets put through should’ve killed that baby, long before it popped out without any obvious midwife on the bus.



So, would I recommend you watch this? If you want to watch it for the action, then yes. But if you’re here for the story of the characters, then hell no. There’s a reason I expected more enjoyment out of the Donbrothers movie, and watching this reminded me of it.

Anyway, between these opinions, the lengthy casting trivia the fact I have two skits to present. (Was really banking on you watching these separately), I’m going to present the first of the skits and end on a cliffhanger until next time.

George: Hey, hey, hey! Yo, George Karizaki here. With Ikki driving his parents to the airport, Daiji and the Karate Girl having been put on my blacklist and Hiromi trying to apply for government backing, I’ve called in some special guests for this edition of the Stamp Navi. First up, is the Trump Hero and the founder of the Ondulish language himself, Kamen Rider Blade Kazuma Kenzaki!

(Enter Kenzaki!)

Kenzaki: You’d better have a good reason for dragging me back to Japan. I left for a very good reason.

George: Relax. I just need you to discuss your super exciting battles for the audience at home, while I discuss the Vistamp I modelled on your wonderful Rider suit.

(Kenzaki slams George against the wall)

Kenzaki: Listen here! Being a Kamen Rider has been nothing but a curse. Nothing about it was “wonderful” or “super exciting”. (He lets him go) My Undead instincts are kicking in. Let’s get this over with before Hajime shows up. He’s already sensed my presence.

George: Alright, we’ll start with this Vistamp.

King Crab!

Latest! Near Soon! Sparking! King Crab! Category King’s Club Mark!

George: This King Crab Vistamp has access to incredible cutting power, that can pierce through anything. Now then, Kenzaki-san, it’s your turn.

Kenzaki: Ok then, I suppose this shouldn’t be too hard.

Desire Driver: Blade!

Kenzaki: Henshin!

Turn Up!

KenzakiVO) I was selected as Kamen Rider Blade at the end of 2003, to test BOARD’s Rider-System-02, utilising the Category Spade Rouze Cards to seal away the Undead. However, the last Undead we hadn’t sealed would have their species take over the Earth. And that last one was the Joker Undead, embodiment of death. In order to stop him, I deliberately overloaded my own fusion rate so that I could become a second Joker and lock the Battle Fight in a stalemate. But then, I had to leave the country, fighting my Undead instincts and avoiding my friends. As you can probably tell, it’s eroded my patience and goodwill.

Karizaki: Thank you very much. This next guest was one we spared no expense in acquiring for this segment. Straight from the dissolved Special Crimes Division of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, the creator of the Drive System, Krim Steinbelt!

(Two workers emerge with a wooden box, which George pries open to reveal Mr. Belt)

Mr. Belt: What the-? How did I get here? The last thing I remember was someone infiltrating the Drive Pit…

George: Explanations later. For now, let’s get down to talking about this.

Octopus!

Touched from the Back! Depart without Delays! Octopus! Let Me Take You Out For a Tangle!

George: The Octopus Vistamp gives the user tentacles to attack with, allowing them to attack from great distances. Now then, onto this Legend.

Desire Driver: Drive!

Mr. Belt: Ok, start your engine!

Shinnosuke: Henshin!

Mr. Belt: Drive! Type: Speed!

Mr. Belt: (VO) Kamen Rider Drive is Shinnosuke Tomari, an officer of the Metropolitan Police who’d lost his drive following the Global Freeze six months prior. However, with my guidance, he fought and defeated the Roidmudes, unlocking his true potential and regaining his glory. (Realises) Oh no. You tricked me into talking, didn’t you?

Shinnosuke: Let me take you out for a ride.

Now then, it s time for our first living guest, Kamen Rider KickHopper, ZECT’s former captain Sou Yaguruma!

(Enter Yaguruma)

Yaguruma: Have you… laughed at me?

George: No, no, no! I have my own loser to laugh at. In fact, I’m celebrating you by giving you a chance to talk about your rival, after I’ve talked about this.

Oomukade!

In the Soil! Got it! My Jaw Has Evolved! Giant Centipede! 100! Rider Kick!

George: Oomukade gives the user enhanced jumping and attacking powers with the skillset of a centipede. Now then Yaguruma, if you’d please.

Desire Driver: Kabuto!

Tendou: Cast Off!

Cast Off! Change: Beetle!

Yaguruma: That bastard… he showed up out of nowhere with his own Rider belt, and took possession of the Kabuto Zecter. I tried to neutralise him as TheBee, but I ended up losing it in my obsession. And when I tried to start again, my soldiers abandoned me and threw me into prison. From there, I embarked on the path of hell, trying to find new ways to suffer.

1, 2, 3, Rider Kick!

George: How… colourful. Not particularly relevant, but let’s move on. And finally, our last guest straight from the Ganma World is… Yurusen!

(A cat is escorted in on a leash)

Yurusen: Meow.

(Suddenly, the Toucon Boost Eyecon flies in, manifesting into Ryu Tenkuji)

Ryu: I think I’d be a better choice to talk about this last Legend. Don’t you think, Mr. Karizaki?

George: Yeah, whatever. Let’s do this.

Kurosai!

Pulverised with Horns! Long Live the World! Black Rhino! Batchiri Tsukina! (Perfect Stab)

George: Kurosai gives the user a powerful punch that can pierce through any defence. I was inspired by this Legend with this one.

Desire Driver: Ghost!

Takeru: Henshin!

Kaigan: Ore! Let’s Go, Kakugo, Go Go Go Ghost!

Ryu: My son, Takeru Tenkuji. After his unexpected death at the hands of the Ganma, he became Kamen Rider Ghost to gather the luminaries’ Eyecons and come back to life. Ironically, it was in death that Takeru was able to shine his brightest as he saved the worlds of both Humans and Ganma.

Bacchiri Miina (Watch Out)

(Cut back to the present. All except for Yaguruma are wearing harnesses)

Kenzaki: Death. If only I could experience that. No matter how many times I try, the Undead’s influence keeps me alive.

Mr. Belt: And I only persist in this state due to my own fear of my possible dem- (he has a realisation) What are these harnesses?

(The three are then electrocuted, as energy flows through wires connected to the harnesses into a machine with a bright yellow Vistamp held within.)

George: Sorry, everyone. I only brought all of you here so that I could harvest the fusion factor that all of you generate. Blade’s Jack and King forms, Drive’s Type Tridoron, Ghost’s Toucon Boost: All of these give off the energy. And with it, I can create my masterpiece.

Yaguruma: And what about me? Why did you bring me here?

George: Oh, I just needed a fourth guest to do Kabuto. (He bursts out laughing)

Yaguruma: (enraged) Oh the audacity!

(As a scuffle breaks out, the stamp begins to gain the images of familiar animals, all over its main chassis)

Rex! Megalodon! Eagle! Mammoth! Ptera! Lion! Jackal! Kong! Kamakiri! Brachio!

To be continued…

And now, we’ll end off here with Daimon’s transformation and finishers.

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Layton13

I have no idea what they were even going for here given that Daimon seems to be written sympathetically and has 0 redeeming qualities.

I think what they're trying to get at with Azuma is that his lack of a family/support system made him lose his way, while Ikki's moral center is shaped and protected by his family. Azuma's speech at the end is a lot about his loneliness, and how a separation from humanity leads to him viewing it as a failure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Androzani84

Olteca. He?s basically shoehorned into the movie and him wearing a Chimera Driver, something that the advertising played up, amounts to nothing in the long run.

The biggest disappointment to me in the movie was Tamaki being like Hey Wouldn't It Be Fun To Reform The Toxic Cult That At Least One Of Us Had An Entire Arc About Escaping? I was furious at him opening that suitcase and proudly showing off the remnants of psychosis and alienation that he saved. Huge thumbs down to making Tamaki and Hana dress up like the Giffamilia again!!!

But thanks for the fun skit!

[Switchblade]

Haven’t seen the movie, but I would imagine that the last thing anyone would ever want to do is to go back to that bowl cut.