[StardustWhip]

- I like that Baku is starting to ask questions of Zero, even if he does ultimately comply with the assassination orders once Zero orders him to just focus on the mission. Between this and the subsequent flashbacks, it seems like the recent revelations are starting to get to Baku, as much as he wants to keep on being the heroic (and obedient) CODE agent.

- Feels weird to see Zero in the bedroom part of Baku's bedroom...

- New theory based on this bizarro cram school is that CODE has been grooming lucid dreamers to be potential future agents; of the sleeper agent variety where they lay dormant until activated.

...I was about to comment on the pun until I remembered this show is Japanese...

Anyway, now I'm wondering if Baku would've even wanted to be a secret agent had it not been for the CODE Cram School. Like, did CODE mold Baku into the secret agent superfan he is now? Or was his adoration of secret agents just something that made him even easier for them to manipulate?

- Nox's shadowy formless Nightmare definitely feels like it's either the thing keeping him comatose, or the thing that'll grant him full-on Rider powers once defeated. Or both. Both is an option.

- I like the idea that, if Capsems are the power of bad dreams, Baku is getting his first ever Super Form via harnessing the power of his own bad dream; his very first bad dream, even!

- Baku seems like he's in a darker place this episode... both literally and also figuratively. Besides the aforementioned assassination orders, there's how he shoved aside Nem and Little Baku after declaring he'll "use anything" to put an end to his bad dream, and now once he's in Nox's dream he just dismissively tells Nem to play the role she was given. And barely smiling or expressing any emotion after he gets his order from Zero. It's a far cry from the happy-go-lucky nice guy Baku of before.

- Anyway, as for that Super Form, I must say I quite like Zeztz's Plasma Form. The golden suit looks cool, and I really like the lightning and super speed powers; in general, and including here. I was gonna compliment it on being a Super Form that doesn't come with a shiny new toyetic weapon, but then he broke out the bow. That said, I do also really like bow weapons, so that's just another win! And I am glad that he relies on fisticuffs just as much as his shiny new toyetic weapon.

- Nox give a clear answer to literally any question challenge (IMPOSSIBLE)

- Minami is definitely (rightfully) a lot more suspicious about Zero than her brother is, and willing to stand up to him. The way she's demanding to know what Zero has him doing, and then straight up slapping Zero before telling him off for trying to make her kindhearted brother into a murderer. Honestly it made my jaw drop when she did that, more than anything else in this episode. Like, cool as the Plasma Form fight was, it takes some serious guts to walk up and slap a big strong secret agent robot.

Though, Zero's not technically wrong that these kinds of dirty missions are just a part of the secret agent world that Baku loved so much...

(That said, I am still 100% on the "CODE is evil" train, and even more than I already was after this episode.)

[Sunred]

Quote:

Originally Posted by StardustWhip

(That said, I am still 100% on the "CODE is evil" train, and even more than I already was after this episode.)

Given that Toei tried it before somewhat in Kamen Rider Build (in this case, the mentor being evil), I don't mind the idea being revisited.

[Mesnick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by StardustWhip

Anyway, now I'm wondering if Baku would've even wanted to be a secret agent had it not been for the CODE Cram School. Like, did CODE mold Baku into the secret agent superfan he is now? Or was his adoration of secret agents just something that made him even easier for them to manipulate?

Considering that lightning strikes him while he's carrying a spy manga, I'm leaning toward the second option. Although it's unknown how long he attended prep school before that, so it would be good to see some other agents/students for comparison

[DreamSword]

When it comes to the situation around CODE, all I'll note is that I'm not convinced that they're entirely evil. Shady, sure. But I'm willing to wait before an eventual big reveal rather than call anything about them outright.

[ThirstMcGurst]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

When it comes to the situation around CODE, all I'll note is that I'm not convinced that they're entirely evil. Shady, sure. But I'm willing to wait before an eventual big reveal rather than call anything about them outright.

I can definitely understand that. Maybe they are not entirely evil, but are about "the end justifies the means", similar to Nox.

I really enjoyed this episode and seeing Baku finally questioning everything is a weird relief? I don't know how to explain it at this moment, but I'm glad that he actually somewhat gave himself time to really consider the situation. And sure, it came at the cost of him going deep into his subconscious via black hole, but it also gave us a view of his childhood.

Could Baku be a sleeper agent that is awakened when CODE needs a job or two done? Perhaps. Could his designation as Number 7 indicate that there were prior agents, other than Odaka? I could see that. I can also see Baku pushing back enough where Zero has another agent waiting to take over the missions.

[Mesnick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThirstMcGurst

I can definitely understand that. Maybe they are not entirely evil, but are about "the end justifies the means", similar to Nox.

Speaking of NOX, I'd like to expand a bit on my theory about the three once-united, now-separated entities. Nightmare-Darkness, briefly shown in the episode, is the main fear and enemy of Odaka?the main, human, and emotional part of the trinity. Zero, on the other hand, is pure logic, and after separating from Odaka, he begins to fight Nightmares without regard for the consequences, focused solely on completing missions. NOX, on the other hand, is a practical agent whose job it is to protect Odaka by carrying out Zero's missions. But when the trinity broke apart, he became completely focused on awakening Odaka, which was necessary to save him from the Darkness. That's why he's willing to literally destroy the world if only he could awaken Odaka and thus save him from the Darkness. This could also explain the reluctance to explain anything, since the agent is supposed to learn information, not share it. It's entirely possible that, as a created personality, it knows little itself and is guided only by simple axioms, such as: "Darkness is evil," "Zero is a traitor," "We must wake up at any cost."
Of course, this is just a theory, and it doesn't explain why NOX himself is #4. I'm probably wrong in making Zero part of the trinity and he is an external force. Still, if NOX isn't identical to Odaka and only vaguely understands what he's doing, it could explain his extremely contradictory actions.