[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

Yeah, some people just get that way about certain Rider supporting cast members, unfortunately. Be honest, Die, this isn't that different from how you felt most times Jean was on screen back in Kuuga.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadBringer

Yeah no, just that this actually quite resembles darker series more like Emu going against other unlikable doctors/Riders, or Kagami in Kabuto against other jerk Riders.

Is... Ex-Aid considered a "darker series"? The video game doctor show? And the Riders in neon-colored bike shorts?

[Kamen Rider Die]

KAMEN RIDER FOURZE EPISODE 16 - “GOOD STANDS AGAINST EVIL”



I’m just a sucker for any Kamen Rider story where a monster’s defeated through art, either psychologically or physically. That this episode manages to do both – Gentarou teaches Motoyama that the point of art isn’t perfection, but connection; also, Fourze uses a Pen Switch to counteract Perseus’s Medusa gauntlet – makes it a winner just on those merits, but it also brings in the whole club for a rousing Christmastime adventure, AND show off a mysterious new Rider. Truly, this is a Santa-worthy haul for any Fourze viewer.

Let’s start things off with the part I cared about the least: The mysterious new Rider who (I think?) goes unnamed for this appearance! It’s not that I don’t care about this comet-shaped hero, but I feel like we’ll get plenty of chances very soon to discuss his asteroid powers or whatever. His fight against Libra is good, but is also the typical Immediately Beats The Guy The Normal Rider Couldn’t secondary introduction, and that trope sort of wears on me a bit. It’s a combination of the Upgrade Form thing, where he’ll never be this powerful ever again, but also just the way it really gilds the lily of how unbelievably cool the new Rider is, by having him easily dispatch the guy who had (a one-handed, but still) Fourze on the ropes earlier in the episode. You make this guy look so cool, he actually becomes kind of uncool to me. Your mileage may vary on our new satellite-themed Rider!

But that’s all a minor distraction from what’s otherwise a super-sold conclusion to a very sweet little story. I like how Motoyama’s problem is all internally-generated – no one forced him to be a perfectionist, or mocked his art – because that’s hilariously true about making art. You are your own worst critic, as the saying goes. Motoyama’s problem is born from his success, where he made something that connected with people, so he wanted to make something better, to connect more, but in doing so he focused too much on making his work flawless, so he forgot that its value was in what it evoked from others. Art can never be perfect, because art is just… it’s like the Fourze handshake. It only operates with multiple people, and the point of it is to convey your feelings. A bunch of kids aren’t looking for high art, they just want something that engages their imaginations and inspires them to make their own art in turn. (Like a weekend tokustasu show!) Motoyama got caught up in his desire to be Better At Art, and in doing so he robbed himself of the desire to make art. By getting out of his own way, and reducing the pressure down to letting the process determine the result rather than forcing the process to generate the result, he’s able to get back the joy his art once brought him and others. It’s a sweet story.

And I loved how Gentarou’s the one to figure this out! Gentarou is fiery, and emotional, and I truly believe that he’s the one member of the KRC that would want to fight for the value of art by emphasizing imperfection. Art’s, again, about conveying feelings to others, and that’s Gentarou’s first and last move when it comes to solving problems. All Gentarou ever wants to do is express himself to other people while learning about them, so he gets what Motoyama’s overlooking. Gentarou’s art is passionate, if technically lacking, and that has value. Gentarou put his love into his childlike crayon drawing of Mt Fuji, and that’s what helped turn the tide against the machinations of Libra. I love that sort of stuff so, so much.

Then it all gets wrapped up with both an all-hands KRC battle against Perseus and Libra, followed by a charming Christmas party in the Rabbit Hatch. A cute little coda to a winning episode, even if Gentarou defaced the goddamn moon at the end. Kengo’s putting some coal in his stocking for sure!

[Androzani84]

One thing I always forget from this is JK’s reference to PPAP. Probably because the actor is fluent in English, it doesn’t register to my brain.

I do like how the resolution was Gen teaching the guy that passion for art is more important than quality.

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Androzani84

I do like how the resolution was Gen teaching the guy that passion for art is more important than quality.

It's a great message, delivered by the one character who does not have the attention-span to really shape his art into anything more than an immediate impulse. (If Kengo was not refining Switches for Gentarou to use, Fourze would be screwed!)

[Sh Ranger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadBringer

Man, so late because of obviously no schedule. Fourze is a first watch for me.

Welcome back!

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadBringer

Obviously, this'd change later as Gentaro would befriend everyone, but I wonder about audience reaction if the main character that goes through this isn't someone who wants to befriend everyone, like, maybe they'd want for those students to be lynched or such or hoping for the main character's later revenge.

A version of Gentarou who held ill will towards others would be a severe threat, as he would use his talent for understanding others to determine the most effective way to torment them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadBringer

Fourze's finishers are created (I already know this from Climax Heroes though) by making use of more than 1 Astroswitches, like both Rocket and Drill for the Rider Kick, but the items are still ordinary items. Faiz is much better in the drill kick finisher, full stop.

While I'm not going to disagree that Crimson Smash is awesome as hell, I love how Fourze's gimmicks are mostly just mundane heavy duty tools that he uses in creative ways.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Is... Ex-Aid considered a "darker series"? The video game doctor show? And the Riders in neon-colored bike shorts?

I mean, fruit samurai and snack aliens don't sound dark either, but that's a poor way to judge the tone of a show.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER FOURZE EPISODE 16 - ?GOOD STANDS AGAINST EVIL?

Let?s start things off with the part I cared about the least: The mysterious new Rider who (I think?) goes unnamed for this appearance! It?s not that I don?t care about this comet-shaped hero, but I feel like we?ll get plenty of chances very soon to discuss his asteroid powers or whatever. His fight against Libra is good, but is also the typical Immediately Beats The Guy The Normal Rider Couldn?t secondary introduction, and that trope sort of wears on me a bit. It?s a combination of the Upgrade Form thing, where he?ll never be this powerful ever again, but also just the way it really gilds the lily of how unbelievably cool the new Rider is, by having him easily dispatch the guy who had (a one-handed, but still) Fourze on the ropes earlier in the episode. You make this guy look so cool, he actually becomes kind of uncool to me. Your mileage may vary on our new satellite-themed Rider!

As a debut fight, like, yeah, it has to share focus with Fourze finishing the brainwashed Perseus and it's a shame that Libra runs away before the mysterious sparkly black Rider can do his Limit Break. As an introduction though, it's amusing how his first dialogue is taunting Libra about his failed operation, like, you just know he's got a cunning grin under that mask. Maybe his overconventional coolness makes him uncool to you, but I think he commits to the coolness so much that his effort warrants respect!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

And I loved how Gentarou?s the one to figure this out! Gentarou is fiery, and emotional, and I truly believe that he?s the one member of the KRC that would want to fight for the value of art by emphasizing imperfection. Art?s, again, about conveying feelings to others, and that?s Gentarou?s first and last move when it comes to solving problems. All Gentarou ever wants to do is express himself to other people while learning about them, so he gets what Motoyama?s overlooking. Gentarou?s art is passionate, if technically lacking, and that has value. Gentarou put his love into his childlike crayon drawing of Mt Fuji, and that?s what helped turn the tide against the machinations of Libra. I love that sort of stuff so, so much.

It's a fitting escalation for Gentarou's friendship streak, from befriending a traumatized ex-Zodiart to befriending an active one. With Hayami being a charismatic bad influence on students, it's definitely the right time for Gentarou to start focusing on how he can help these students before it's too late for them. Good thing Motoyama was introspective enough to consider Gentarou's advice before he attacked the kindergarten and didn't use his full power to petrify Gentarou.

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

I mean, fruit samurai and snack aliens don't sound dark either, but that's a poor way to judge the tone of a show.

I don't want to spend a lot of time talking about other shows, but: Ex-Aid is not a dark series. That was my first Rider show, and I love it, so I'll goof on it for being a video game doctor show about neon-colored, bike short-wearing superheroes. I was making a joke, but I could've just gone with It's Not A Dark Series if that's a less poor way to judge it.

[Sh Ranger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I don't want to spend a lot of time talking about other shows, but: Ex-Aid is not a dark series. That was my first Rider show, and I love it, so I'll goof on it for being a video game doctor show about neon-colored, bike short-wearing superheroes. I was making a joke, but I could've just gone with It's Not A Dark Series if that's a less poor way to judge it.

The joke wooshed over me, but I didn't mean to insinuate that EX-Aid is a dark show, just pointing out that Rider is full of dark stories dressed in ridiculous motifs. I started with Decade and I love that show, but like you, I want to talk about Fourze, not the pink and pink-ish Riders.

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

The joke wooshed over me, but I didn't mean to insinuate that EX-Aid is a dark show, just pointing out that Rider is full of dark stories dressed in ridiculous motifs. I started with Decade and I love that show, but like you, I want to talk about Fourze, not the pink and pink-ish Riders.

Fourze is a show worth talking about!

[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER FOURZE EPISODE 02 - “COME ON, OUTER SPACE”

First, I loved Yuuki and Gen showing up to get answers from Tomoko, because it’s so dumb. Gen is relentlessly bad at investigating things or just generally moving this story forward when he applies himself – furthering the idea that Kengo will be crucial in steering Gen’s nascent costumed heroism – but accidentally great at it because he’s this big, boisterous personality that people can’t ignore. His constant blundering and misapplied enthusiasm ended up being key to uncovering Miura, but mostly because Tomoko found him car-crash fascinating. And then he just screamed at her like he’s in some terrible cop show! It was great! Yuuki has her hands full with this dope!

As a first time Fourze watcher, so I guess it wasn't only Revice as an anniversary show, Fourze as 10 years before anniversary show has a Kamen Rider fanboy with actual references to IRL Kamen Rider shows like George in Revice as well in Tomoko showing the clips of Kamen Rider shows. Another school-theme KR show in Gotchard has Houtaro being the protagonist known as highly energetic (though not my cup of tea), but Gentaro seems to be more of a assertive hardass most of the time rather than being energetic honestly. Forgot to talk that his 'delinquent' traits other than fighting seems to be about him skipping classes or 'causing trouble' like constantly talking in class. He's consistent rule breaker.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Second, Miura… if I squint, I can see the parallels between him and Shun, and Gen and Kengo: the idea of chafing under someone else’s charisma, of not being able to live your dream, of being forced to play the back-up. But we only really get one dialogue scene with Miura, Shun Nopes out as soon as the action turns costumed, and the post-fight wrap-up is a chastened nod from Miura. While you could argue that there’s some thematic parallels between the hero plot and the villain plot, the show doesn’t really do anything with it, and it’s maybe just something I’m reading into it. I get that there’s not a lot of room in an exposition-heavy two-part premiere for a fleshed-out Monster Of The Week story, but Fourze works way better for me when there’s a teen trauma to really explore. This one was just That Guy’s The Bad Guy, and then we’re launching dirt bikes into orbit.

Guess the first one Gentaro successfully befriends is Miura, and seems that Gentaro wins people over by his Kamen Rider fighting, seems to be simple and really easy solution in an action-based show. Shun may also be humbled by two kids he dismissed as an idiot actually proving themselves right that they're Kamen Rider and MOTW respectively. Proving that fear and punishment seems to be the effective tool against unlikable people.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

So, Kengo. I think he worked for me in this one a little because the vibes on Fourze are immaculate, sure, but some of it is just… like, I get his point? Gen is a nuisance in this episode, to a degree that Yuuki has to drag him out to a lunar crater and go Dude You Used To Be Cool. Gen’s so insistent on beating Kengo that he’s making himself into a troublesome asshole, instead of anyone’s friend. Meanwhile, Kengo has this dingus coming in on his first day and saying I’ll Take It From Here, blundering through a situation he’s too excitable to sit still for. (Although, man, empathized with Gen for suddenly getting exposited at by Kengo! Not the fun part of early episodes!!!) This is an episode that doesn’t exactly walk back Kengo’s prickly nonsense, but – like with Yuuki’s backstory for him – tries to give it all a context that makes his mission feel like the motivation for this season, instead of Gen’s relentless protagonist energy. Shifting Gen from star (of the star of the stars) of the show into just one more member of a club somehow simultaneously justifies Kengo’s standoffishness and anger. It’s a fun trick this episode pulls, and it really worked for me this time out.

So you'd think that Gentaro feels like an asshole for insisting to beat Kengo, I thought that Gentaro, the supposed nice guy, was being an asshole here for immediately going violent and accusing on Tomoko. Something that, well Shinji in Ryuki (also someone who's against unlikable cast members) got called out upon for accusing Ren as child eater (albeit Gentaro did get restrained by Yuki). It's significantly easier to find what's mean about Gentaro than Eiji before. Otherwise, Gentaro's insistent on fighting as Fourze and finding the monster can be also the usual chronic hero syndrome of the heroic lead that also commonly portrayed as them being reckless and never ever backing down. And obviously Gentaro hates thinking, he just acts on impulse as the idiotic hero.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

A version of Gentarou who held ill will towards others would be a severe threat, as he would use his talent for understanding others to determine the most effective way to torment them.

Man, this may sound like how kindness is a weakness to have them not/rarely becoming a severe threat due to their kindness. Like saying that Ryuga is when Shinji isn't restrained by moral compass, thus Shinji becomes weak due to being kind, so people like that don't live up to their full potential. Used to encourage people to stop being kind and consistently in that 'severe threat' mode all the time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

While I'm not going to disagree that Crimson Smash is awesome as hell, I love how Fourze's gimmicks are mostly just mundane heavy duty tools that he uses in creative ways.

I'd talk more about this when the show reaches Fourze's final form (obviously for this one, I already know from games). My point was more about how Drill stays the same Drill if used like, just regular kick with the Drill attached. And technically Rider Kick with Rocket can be done with Chainsaw too.