[Battlizer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

Good luck on your journey into Rider! Mine is going a little slower than yours haha.

I'm not sure how I manage it either...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matrixbeast

Blade is a great series to watch!

Then you'll be glad to know I've decided to watch that one first, since the series came first chronologically. Not that it really matters, but still.

I probably should've re-watched the first episode, but I think I remember everything well enough: Blade and....uh, whatever Tachibana is called work for this BOARD group as Kamen Riders that hunt down monsters called Undead. Tachibana betrays BOARD, kidnaps it's chief, and blows up the base. Which is all pretty cool for a first episode.

This one picks up right after that. Kenzaki/Blade fighting an undead as the base explodes. These Rider suits/belts/weapons are elaborate as shit, I have to say. No wonder Kenzaki gets attacked twice before he can even henshin.

This might be the most Kamen Rider-y series I've watched yet. The suits are clearly themed after insects (and playing cards, but insects still) and they actually call themselves Kamen Riders. It's always weird getting used to a new style and tone of one Rider series after watching three billion episodes of another one, but it's always a nice change of pace.

Kamen Rider er...Heart-guy has green sludge for blood! And speaks the Undead's language! Huh...

So they capture Undeads by throwing cards gambit style into their chest and sealing them inside of the cards? Am I getting that right?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

Stop Hibiki after episode 29. The production staff changed and the show really dropped in quality.

Aw, really? That sucks, the series seemed pretty unique. I dunno, I might just stick around for a few eps to see if I still wanna watch it 'til the end.

[Dr Kain]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battlizer

Well, I started Hibiki and I had no problem with it so far, so I might as well finish that. I also might watch more of Blade. I saw the first episode and I'm interested to see how it goes on from there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

Stop Hibiki after episode 29. The production staff changed and the show really dropped in quality.

Yeah, Hibiki doesn't really have any ending to even begin with, so stopping at epsiode 29 will bring you no less closure than the actual ending of the series. In fact, the Decade cross over feels more like an ending to Hibiki than HIbiki's actual ending.

Blade is still one of the best, if not the best, Kamen Rider series ever. If they ever reissue the henshin devices like they have been doing with other shows, I'll definitely pick them up.

[Locke]

So the final stretch of Kuuga has been a weird one, whether it's weird narrative jumps, some of the first filler I've seen in the series or the fact they're still introducing new bullets for the police and a new form for Kuuga, I'm honestly unsure at this point how they plan to wrap all this up in six episodes. I mean hell it's episode 44, with only about three ULs left and NOW they've found their weakness. Hell I still don't know what the hell a Final Gegeru is.

Plus I'm still convinced Godai has special needs.

[Battlizer]

Blade 3

I forgot to mention this last time, but I really like how all of these battles are taking place in some kind of snowy mountain range. Nice change of pace from the city.

Rider with a heart face/the reporter guy called the other riders humans. I guess he's an undead then? Or something. He seems to know a bit about the girl's father's death as well.

Apparently the use of these Rider suits cause you to hulk out for five seconds before exploding. Sounds tough. I sort of just realized that the can use the power of defeated Undeads that they've already sealed. Cool ability.

Also that bit at the end was weird. All those photos being set on purple fire. Interesting...As is Tachibana's reveal/assumption that BOARD released the Undead to test their new Rider systems.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Kain

Yeah, Hibiki doesn't really have any ending to even begin with, so stopping at epsiode 29 will bring you no less closure than the actual ending of the series. In fact, the Decade cross over feels more like an ending to Hibiki than HIbiki's actual ending.

Still, I'd like to see. If I end up regrettign it, it's my fault.

Quote:

Blade is still one of the best, if not the best, Kamen Rider series ever. If they ever reissue the henshin devices like they have been doing with other shows, I'll definitely pick them up.

Yeeeaah, those things are crazy.

[Locke]

I've already been recommended OOO and Fourze but I feel like I should be checking out Blade as well.

[Matrixbeast]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

I've already been recommended OOO and Fourze but I feel like I should be checking out Blade as well.

You should. It's really enjoyable!
The biggest problem is that the video quality is crap (At least on TVN's side of things. I don't know if there's another sub group that has subbed Blade or not, though).

[Switchblade]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

What is the Kuuga episode listed 46.5 special?

It's a holiday special. If memory serves it's pretty much just a clip show. You can safely skip it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

So the final stretch of Kuuga has been a weird one, whether it's weird narrative jumps, some of the first filler I've seen in the series or the fact they're still introducing new bullets for the police and a new form for Kuuga, I'm honestly unsure at this point how they plan to wrap all this up in six episodes. I mean hell it's episode 44, with only about three ULs left and NOW they've found their weakness. Hell I still don't know what the hell a Final Gegeru is.

I'm glad you're noticing the jumps, because I should probably warn you that there is a BIG one between episode 46 and 47. It's a moment that a lot of viewers get very thrown and confused by (myself included).

It's probably worth mentioning that, like in most other aspects, Kuuga's ending is very atypical for a Rider show. I can't say whether or not it will work for you, but just keep in mind that it's not going to be like any show that came before or after it.

[Locke]

Yeah it looks like only TVN are doing it. I guess I'll wait til I'm done with Fourze at least to see if there are any new releases.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

It's a holiday special. If memory serves it's pretty much just a clip show. You can safely skip it.


I'm glad you're noticing the jumps, because I should probably warn you that there is a BIG one between episode 46 and 47. It's a moment that a lot of viewers get very thrown and confused by (myself included).

It's probably worth mentioning that, like in most other aspects, Kuuga's ending is very atypical for a Rider show. I can't say whether or not it will work for you, but just keep in mind that it's not going to be like any show that came before or after it.

Okay, skipping 46.5 then!

And yeah I thought I missed something when one episode Kuuga defeated that chick on the boat and the next episode literally opened with him locked in a battle with someone else. I assumed it would flashback but nope, he was dead 8 minutes in and that was the end of that. Okay then...

Oh God, I'm not looking forward to this ending.

[Switchblade]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matrixbeast

You should. It's really enjoyable!
The biggest problem is that the video quality is crap (At least on TVN's side of things. I don't know if there's another sub group that has subbed Blade or not, though).

According to one of the guys from GUIS there is another group that's going to be redoing Blade from the dvd rips.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

And yeah I thought I missed something when one episode Kuuga defeated that chick on the boat and the next episode literally opened with him locked in a battle with someone else. I assumed it would flashback but nope, he was dead 8 minutes in and that was the end of that. Okay then...

Oh God, I'm not looking forward to this ending.

It's very interesting in terms of symbolism and character, but if you're looking for the big budget CGI-fest final battle you're going to be disappointed.

[SideswipePrime]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battlizer

Kiva 46

Okay, so when characters kept on talking about how great an inspiration Otoya was, I could buy it, but I thought they were hyping his gift of speech up a little too much. Now, I think they were underselling it. It's worked too well.

He told Wateru protect the music in people's hearts and protect beautiful things like that. Wateru took it as: become captain badass. Seriously, he could beat Fangires with his bare hands UNTRANSFORMED now?! He causes them to run away like wusses by staring them down?! He could barely take a hit in his normal human form before!

He's not even protecting anyone! Nago and Megumi are trying to that, Wateru just up and challenged Taiga to a death battle.

Otoya's death scene was pretty fitting for him, I think. Playing one of the only two songs he ever plays. The show finally explains how the arms monsters got in the castle in the first place, and to be honest...I was half expecting it not to.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battlizer

Kiva 47 and 48

Alright, final stretch. Well, Shima's alive! And they actually explained how! Great! I'm really not sure Otoya's words had a completely positive effect on Wateru. Sure, he's stronger, but uh...he's acting like a supervillain now!Also, he stopped giving a fuck about Taiga and deciding he wasn't worth killing.

Now, uh....how did Taiga become chairman of the board for a rich company. Are they all Fangires? I'm not even sure now...He really did lose everything though. Well, not his mom, at least he...oh. Nope. Wait he killed her. And now Kivat Sr is going to help him? The whole reason Old McKivat turned good in the first place was to help Maya!

Alright, last episode. Seeing the arms monsters fight in the present day was pretty cool. Nago, still partially blinded finally slays Bishop and his creepy eyes. But Megumi restores Nago's sight with....THE POWER OF LOVE!

And I guess...Wateru got acting like a supervillain out of his system. I guess his reasons for becoming King are....good? I dunno. Anyway, resurrected past King is back...as a mindless monster. Wow, Bishop. Good job summoning a better King there.

And Wateru is saved by....Otoya's ghost. Alright. That works, honestly. The team up between Kiva and Dark Kiva was cool and all, but uh...guess Wateru forgot that Taiga KILLED THEIR MOTHER. Um...okay, no wait. Apparently he didn't.

And now Wateru and Taiga are full on martial arts movie-style rivals. Remember kids, it's okay to fight your siblings to see who's strongest, but only if your mother says so.

So, wedding epilogue. Glad...to see Yuri's ghost make it to offer Megumi some kind words before she gets married. I kind of wish they just had all the dead people just appear in the background of the wedding like Jedi ghosts or something. The arms monsters were invited...so I guess she or Nago got to know them or something.

Wait..what the...? Oh man. Wateru's son?! The Neo-Fangire Empire's invaded from the future?! TO BE CONTINUED---> ?! ...Eh, no, I guess not.

Anyway, weird decent series. Had it's share of massive flaws, the biggest of which was not explaining shit. Characters sort of grew on me, including ones I didn't particularly like at all in the beginning. Of course others, flip-flopped between being okay and unbearable, but whatever.

Comparing it to other series? Eh...All I've only seen one other, so...guess I'll just have to watch more!

Yeah, I thought the same thing when Taiga supposedly killed Maya. I also REALLY wish that they made a movie with Wataru's son. They seriously shouldn't have made a cliffhanger, and not acted on it.