[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

Ah, Rintaro. One of my favorite homo sapiens on this entire cast. He is a great character and makes a really good counterpoint to both Touma and Mei. I still find it a little odd that he's Kamen Rider Blades, though. The name makes sense, but it still feels too close to Blade. It also feels a bit bland since most of the other Riders on Saber are named after specific kinds of swords and this dude is just rocking a really generic name for part of a sword.

He also only has ONE SWORD. His name is PLURAL SWORDS. I can't tell you how much that has always bugged me!

[Mesnick]

Rintaro is perhaps the most unusual secondary rider of all, precisely because of how usual person he is. And as for the Grasshopper and the Ant Queen... I won't spoil it, but I've seen your Saber`s watch list and it will still give you a chance to remember these Megids. Also your story is beautiful.

[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mesnick

I wouldn't say that, especially on this site. There were claims against Tukeru for being a crybaby, but Touma doesn't have that. No, he's clearly not a fan favorite, but the biggest complaint about his character is that he's a "boring good guy". And he shares this claim with Aruto and Ikki, and unlike them, Touma has an excuse that he is the main character in a fairy tale, and not an office or family drama.

But does the magic knight need more, especially if he is surrounded by other knights? Oh, and in general, "the guy who just wants to do good" is literally Kuuga, that is, the one who brought back the Kamen Raiders. So it's not surprising that the type is popular.
And in any case, it's better than Tendo, whose whole character consists of listening carefully to his grandmother.

"boring good guy" is the stock criticism/outright insult to put this kind of character down anywhere. For Kuuga part, yeah I know about seemingly different reactions towards similar type of characters, especially for other example, Gentaro which seems that nobody hates (similar to characters like Kuroto) and had his kindness admired instead of being put down. Seems that characters who have gigantic ego and can back it all up is commonly seen as charming, with Tendou as an example too... probably the ones who are acknowledged as badass are the unpleasant braggart ones, unlike the ones who don't, even if it's like Touma who so far can perform great feats.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER SABER EPISODE 2 - ?THE SWORDSMAN OF WATER, AND HIS BLUE LION?

That was almost the entirety of my post about this episode, because that?s sort of all there is to it? There?s a little bit of exposition about the Sword of Logos, and some boilerplate-ass This Masked Villain Betrayed Us mystery about Calibur, but I can?t really care a lot about that right now. (I honestly never care about these types of mysteries? I am always more interested in the ramifications of a resolved mystery than I am in speculating about an ongoing one. It?s just not what I?m here for.) The only thing of any substance in this episode is the introduction of Rintaro, and his interactions with Touma and Mei.

I'd think it's not a mystery in this case, it's not something that is a relic in the past that doesn't exist anymore. Sword of Logos, and by extension Sophia (the girl in robe), are smaller cast introduction in this episode with this focusing on Rintaro first, but it's part of the present cast, the rest of the cast like Touma and Mei would be more integrated to it as more Sword of Logos member are introduced and they're involved in Megid (the MOTW name) war.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I?m pretty happy with how they swerved away from the semi-obligatory The Secondary Is A Gigantic Humorless Asshole Who Wants To Fight The Primary, regardless of how much I?d eventually come to embrace your Geizez or Fuwas or Hiiros or Makotos. It?s nice that Rintaro?s difference from Touma isn?t in how dour or cruel he is, but in how little ego he has. Touma?s a writer, and that requires a belief in your ability to create something on your own. There?s isolation in writing, which leads to a faith in your own instincts and point of view. (On the flipside, it also leads to an almost fatal dose of Imposter Syndrome, but we?ll see if that gets dealt with down the line.) Touma?s central trait isn?t the strength of his heroism, but the amount of faith he has in himself.

The thing is yeah, The Secondary Is A Gigantic Humorless Asshole Who Wants To Fight The Primary is also quite semi-obligatory for KR franchise, but it's not acknowledged as much of the "protagonist being goody two shoes". Which I find quite double standard-y. But perhaps it'd be risky for series quality (or harder to write) to create "wholesome" dynamic, and thus can seem to make the series conflict-free (at least what it seems for now between these 2). This is not the first time though, Hibiki and OOO also did this with the secondary getting along from start. I gotta see in the future though, from what I know, Saber isn't that well-received at least outside here, but dunno if Rintarouma's relationship is one of the reasons or actually a series advantage. This perhaps can further give Sentai vibes in Saber (cmiiw) for the companionship.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

With Rintaro, there?s humility in his nobility. He comes into the episode with a quiet politeness, the perfect compliment to Touma and Mei?s constant mugging. (I like them both, but this was very much a Wacky episode for our bookstore cast.) He?s trying to gently explain that Touma is in over his head, and gets adorably flustered when his logic is rebuffed by an emotional decision. Rintaro?s reaction isn?t to berate or threaten Touma, but to assume that he?s just explaining himself badly. A deteriorating situation isn?t a cause for blame, but a need for reexamination and conversation.

So this series feature a mentor to guide the MC fighting, and this time they use the secondary Rider, instead of other figures like Edith in Ghost (Tassel gives similar vibe to him IMO). When dealing with the Megid, Rintaro has immense knowledge in it (so yeah, as a person he's intelligent), so he can try to mentor Touma just fine. Just that Rintaro on the situation outside of monster detonating, he has absurd social tact, though it's what used as the main entertainment for him. He just seems to live on different world from the current civilization (literally too, likely), like insisting to call humans with its scientific name, riding on a lion to follow a rule of no shoes in the house (Mei +1), and of course, his smile (Mei +2). What makes him seem suspicious is his problematic social tact.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

The problem is, it doesn?t really leave this episode with much else to say or do, beyond showing off bikes and form changes. Those are cool, but they?re only worth watching when they?re in service to an actual story. Here, it?s just two Megids trying to destroy a neighborhood, but without even the child-saving stakes of last episode?s plot. This is barely a step up, narratively, from the Henshin Lesson toy marketing videos we usually get at the beginning of a series. Great for tie-in sales of WonderRide books, maybe not so awesome if you?d like to invest in a story.

I'd say it's not merely emotion regarding Touma. Here Rintaro tries to mentor Touma, but turns out that Touma has his own path in fighting. Because of Touma's knowledge of stories as bookstore keeper and also child storyteller, like him telling the solution of killing the glowing ant. Knowledge is power indeed. Or is this a talk meant to show one of the advantages of emotion, making you get creative (as in passion) to Rintaro's rigidity? The part of Saber riding through the vines remind me of something else in a 'merchandise-based series'. Otherwise, yeah the name Blades also bugs me. Like, it's too similar sounding to another franchise in Blade (with Saber already kinda a synonym); it'd be better to use the speculated "Blaze".

[Enchilada645]

In regards to Blades' design, I totally get what they're going for with the Lion head. Honestly you don't need a reason for like an animal head as the center chest piece.



But with Blades... given how like forms work and stuff later on, it ends up becoming more of a hindrance than a defining feature at points.

Also I kinda find it funny how we were getting everyone's names during like the pre-show era and people thought that Blades' name was Blaze because why would he be named Blades? That'd be silly. But also Blaze doesn't fit with his theme or one of the name themes that goes on in Saber.

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mesnick

Rintaro is perhaps the most unusual secondary rider of all, precisely because of how usual person he is. And as for the Grasshopper and the Ant Queen... I won't spoil it, but I've seen your Saber`s watch list and it will still give you a chance to remember these Megids. Also your story is beautiful.

Aw, thanks! It was a fun one to write.

And, yeah, I like how basic Rintaro is. He seems like he'd be the guy everyone liked working with, but when you hung out with any other coworker you'd be like What Is Rintaro's Deal. I think we've all worked with someone like that?

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Originally Posted by DreadBringer

I'd think it's not a mystery in this case, it's not something that is a relic in the past that doesn't exist anymore.

I think, to me, the mystery is less in how Calibur betrayed the Sword of Logos (although I'm sure that has some wrinkles we have not been privy to), but that Calibur is a masked villain in a group of unmasked villains, which means there's something about his identity that the show doesn't want us to know yet. But, honestly, I'm not terribly invested in either mystery.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enchilada645

In regards to Blades' design, I totally get what they're going for with the Lion head. Honestly you don't need a reason for like an animal head as the center chest piece.

I bought a Titan-class Predaking! I do not need to be convinced that a lion's head for a chestplate is a good idea! Full agreement!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enchilada645

Also I kinda find it funny how we were getting everyone's names during like the pre-show era and people thought that Blades' name was Blaze because why would he be named Blades? That'd be silly. But also Blaze doesn't fit with his theme or one of the name themes that goes on in Saber.

Ha ha, yeah, that's my second-favorite pre-show Tokunation Saber anecdote, when folks were like It's Obviously "Blaze", and then they got furious when he was a water guy, doesn't Toei even know what Blaze means, etc etc. Incredibly funny nerd drama.

(My favorite pre-show Tokunation Saber anecdote was when some guy showed up, claiming insider knowledge about the main suit and the Henshin device, leading to a couple weeks of badly-drawn sketches and amateur Shotaros trying to debunk it all... until it turned out this brand-new member was 100% right, and we all got a sneak preview of exactly what the gimmicks and drivers and suits would be. Literally the only time in the history of the internet where someone dropped out of the sky claiming insider knowledge who actually had it. What a time to be alive!)

[Fish Sandwich]

Fish Sandwich also watched Kamen Rider Saber Episode 2

Once again, I don't think this is necessarily any sort of all-time great episode of Kamen Rider. You can even see in my initial post about it that I inevitably went for the Kuuga comparison I always immediately jump to with second episodes of Rider shows, and didn't think it lived up to that (admittedly high) standard. I think Die's pretty on the mark here about how it's sort of a dramatically inert story in part due to that otherwise enjoyably fresh lack of interpersonal conflict.

But once again, I don't consider any of that to be a huge sin in of itself. There's a ton I enjoy about this one, the overall experience of watching it was incredibly fun, and while it doesn't do the job with the same gripping tight construction of the all-time greats, it does more than accomplish the usual goal of establishing a lot about the world, characters, and just the overall style of the series going forward. Rintarou is an immediately lovable character, and it really can't be overstated just how much he flips the usual secondary Rider tropes on their head. It's not just that he's nice; cooperation and camaraderie is everything to this man. It's the exact polar opposite of the typical grumpy loners often associated with the position. As far away from someone like Fuwa as you can possibly get. I definitely view Saber as something of a curveball Rider show, and Blades' introduction feels almost like a conscious declaration of that intent on the part of the staff.

Plus, you know, Blades is also the blue water guy, so I like him just on that front too. The lion head on the chest is, as ever, supremely fashionable, and the shape of the mane gives a very clear example to point to of something you can see in quite a few places on the suit designs in this show -- the overlapping flat layers are apparently invoking pages of a book, which is quite neat. I see it pointed out occasionally that Saber's designs don't seem to push the book theme to the forefront that much, but it seems like it was just much more subtle about that part than the swords jutting from everyone's helmets.

Anyways, yeah, I definitely have a really great time with this episode. One thing that makes it even more enjoyable on a rewatch (and this is true of quite a bit of early Saber) is that there are a lot of little moments of foreshadowing and stuff that will make you appreciate how cohesive the show actually was in retrospect... but of course, that's all in retrospect, so for Die's sake, I'm going to avoid getting into any of that. I guess something to say in the moment, random as this is, is how much I particularly like that moment where Rintarou gets confused about why Touma is shooting at the ground with Dragon Jakkun? It begins something of a running thing about Touma that I love, where he fights using his understanding of the stories that give him power, and contrasting it upfront that way with a trained swordsman failing to have that same level of intuition makes that concept much clearer through contrast.

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

I guess something to say in the moment, random as this is, is how much I particularly like that moment where Rintarou gets confused about why Touma is shooting at the ground with Dragon Jakkun? It begins something of a running thing about Touma that I love, where he fights using his understanding of the stories that give him power, and contrasting it upfront that way with a trained swordsman failing to have that same level of intuition makes that concept much clearer through contrast.

This is a truly great moment. The beginning of it is fairly standard - the primary Rider sees the path to victory that the other Rider doesn't, leading to the other Rider's horrified reaction and expectation of imminent, avoidable defeat. But the twist afterwards, where Rintaro becomes both contrite in his underestimation of Touma's abilities, and like, a big ol' cheerleader for Touma's monster detonation.. pretty great! Not as quintessential and iconic as Rintaro's whole Oh I'm Not Explaining "This Book Is Too Dangerous" Well, Let Me Try Again thing from his introduction, but still pretty unique to this series.

[Kurona]

Rintarou cheerleading Touma is so cute -- just how quick he turns as well. He's so fascinated by his world expanding!

[Sh Ranger]

Bonne Lecture!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER SABER EPISODE 1 - ?IT ALL BEGAN, WITH THE SWORDSMAN OF FIRE?

A show about a bookseller? Who is also a Kamen Rider? And wants to protect the magic of storytelling? In a show about how fiction is both a way to give context to adolescence and a refuge from the harsh realities of adulthood, but not always the best way to deal with either time in our lives? This is a show that has my name all over it.

Whether a bookseller like you, or a creative like Androzani, Weedle, En-chan and I, many of us can relate to Touma and that's what makes him such an easily likable protagonist. Outside of combat, he still has to tackle normal problems like meeting deadlines and writer's block. I feel like I owe credit to Kamen Rider Saber for motivating me to return to the fanfic scene after a hiatus of about 3 years. This show is all about the power of stories to inspire others and nobody embodies that belief more than Touma.

His philosophy about keeping promises could be founded in this, one that I also share. I have little tolerance for people who throw around promises like spare change without the will to follow through on them. Words have power and like any weapon, it's important to wield them wisely and with honor. While Touma does make a dangerous amount of big promises that I would probably feel uncomfortable with, he definitely risks his life to see them through. Fukuda managed to write yet another protagonist after Takeru whose heroism really shined for me. Easily my favorite Reiwa protagonist so far!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

(If I felt especially generous, I could try and explain some of the shift in storytelling by speculating about Touma?s ability to lose himself in stories of heroic fiction. It sort of tracks that the guy who firmly believes in connecting people with uplifting stories of epic heroes might himself jump at the chance to do something poetic and insane, like rapidly become a superhero in order to detonate a book monster in a fairytale world. But I feel like I?m doing the show?s work for it? That?s all there, somewhere, but it?s not exactly presented as a way to understand Touma?s super-quick decision to become Kamen Rider Saber.)

Yeah, that was my take on it. Some people thought Touma's instant mastery was too sudden, but considering his profession, his experience choreographing epic fight scenes of his own, I think it makes sense that he'd be able to apply theory to practice with a little heroic willpower.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

After that lurch in the episode, I kinda didn?t click with the rest of the episode. The action was fine. Aggressively fine. I don?t know that the CG was great, but it didn?t hurt me or anything.

The CGI seems to be a point of contention among fans, praised by some while criticized by others. Personally, I'm with the former. That scene with Saber fighting rocks was the part of the trailer that really got me excited to see the show and experience the cool fantasy world.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

The thing is? man, I like a lot of what this show?s made out of. I like how it?s exploring how retail can be its own type of beneficial human connection. I like the concept of finding the stories that help us be the better versions of ourselves. I like how it?s such a thinly-veiled discussion of what tokusatsu shows and tokusatsu audiences give to each other. I like all of the things it?s talking about. And, man, I like Touma and Mei! I think Touma?s slightly embarrassed laziness works great against Mei?s wacky bossiness, and their dynamic was warm and funny throughout.

Mei is my favorite Reiwa female lead so far as well! Not only is she cute and full of vigor, but she's dedicated to helping the Sword Of Logos however she can and proving that a "normal homosapien" can stand equal alongside the experienced Swordsmen, not through might but rather through her strong intuition and deductive skills that comes with being an editor.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

MISFITS AND MISTAKES

Maybe Touma should tell Shoutarou, Mondo and White Woz about this place. Do they stock Windscale hats?

I remember how you once said there were two kinds of fan, the Decades who pass through stories and the Diends who take stories with them. I think maybe you've started to move towards the latter. For your first story, I can't find fault with the prose and I think you definitely have the talent. You should consider uploading your collection of one-and-dones to a reputed site like fanfiction.net or AO3.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadBringer

Well yeah, I think Saber's design is the best/coolest IMO among the main Reiwa Riders.

Revi for me, but Saber is a solid second. I used to think Brave Dragon was overdesigned, but I gradually grew to love it for its own merits. The dragon looks kind of derpy with its tongue sticking out, but in an adorable kind of way that reminds me of Go-Onger's Engines. My only main complaint is how the Wonder Ride Books stand out too much on the Seiken SworDriver, unlike the Progrise Keys that were neatly stored inside the Zero One Driver.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

Like, for starters, who else but Fish Sandwich would've been out there clamoring to give the producer and writers of Ghost another shot at a Rider show?

Me! I loved Ghost and I was among the few who were sincerely excited to see Fukuda's name on the Saber staff. Nevertheless, welcome back Fish, I'm glad I have another person to help me preach the qualities of this underrated show.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER SABER EPISODE 2 - ?THE SWORDSMAN OF WATER, AND HIS BLUE LION?

I really like that? I like the sense that Rintaro is used to working within an organization, and has a basic grasp on interpersonal skills. That?s a huge step up from our normal Loose Cannons and their troubling tendencies to escalate minor disagreements into death-duels. Rintaro comes off level-headed and egoless this episode, and I found that choice from the production team to be fascinating. He?s just some guy, trying to do his job well, and willing to reexamine his biases and assumptions when they prove to be incorrect or unhelpful. That?s actually really cool?

For sure, Rintarou the Eclair Man is my favorite Reiwa Secondary Rider so far! Like, even without the superficially edgy coolness that brooding antihero types have, Rintarou isn't some pushover to be taken lightly. His politeness and affability arguably makes him look more impressive, since he lets his skill and discipline as a Swordsman speak for itself. He's like a competent version of Tachibana in that way, with how he strives to be a good example and sempai to Touma. It's not surprising that Mei is so impressed by him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

The problem is, it doesn?t really leave this episode with much else to say or do, beyond showing off bikes and form changes. Those are cool, but they?re only worth watching when they?re in service to an actual story. Here, it?s just two Megids trying to destroy a neighborhood, but without even the child-saving stakes of last episode?s plot. This is barely a step up, narratively, from the Henshin Lesson toy marketing videos we usually get at the beginning of a series. Great for tie-in sales of WonderRide books, maybe not so awesome if you?d like to invest in a story.

The second episode is usually where they turn up the action, probably since it's usually where they dump basic premise exposition as well. This second episode is no exception and while the stakes are mostly mentioned rather than seen, I have to talk about how awesome this fight scene was. My favorite fight scene of 2020! Saber and Blades riding their bikes through an apocalyptic city and fighting giant ants was like something out of a video game cutscene and it was an awesome debut for Jackun To Domamenoki (Toei changed the names to get around copyright), which is actually the one of only two times Saber ever uses it, similar to Drive Type Speed Shift Spike.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

(Not a fan of the theme song, unfortunately.)

Maybe it'll grow on you like Warera Omou Yueni Warera Ari did? Unsurprisingly based on the pattern of my opinions in this post, ALMIGHTY is my favorite Reiwa OP so far!

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadBringer

I'd say it's not merely emotion regarding Touma. Here Rintaro tries to mentor Touma, but turns out that Touma has his own path in fighting. Because of Touma's knowledge of stories as bookstore keeper and also child storyteller, like him telling the solution of killing the glowing ant. Knowledge is power indeed. Or is this a talk meant to show one of the advantages of emotion, making you get creative (as in passion) to Rintaro's rigidity? The part of Saber riding through the vines remind me of something else in a 'merchandise-based series'. Otherwise, yeah the name Blades also bugs me. Like, it's too similar sounding to another franchise in Blade (with Saber already kinda a synonym); it'd be better to use the speculated "Blaze".

Yeah, there's a clear difference between Touma's and Rintarou's fighting styles. While Rintarou has trained his whole life to become a Swordsman, Touma loves books and he uses his creativity and knowledge to compensate for his general lack of field experience. We have Touma as the master of the pen and Rintarou as the master of the sword and I think that makes them a good team, since they can learn a lot from each other. They both do things by the book, but in different ways.

Blaze doesn't make sense for a water-elemental Rider though and breaks the convention of sword-based naming. If we read Blades in Japanese phonetics (Bureizu), it actually sounds closer to Brave (Bureibu) than Blade (Bureido).

EDIT: I'm also rewatching along with this thread, as I love Saber.

[Deepsea]

Heya, what subs are y'all using? I want to watch along too, but I'm uncertain which to download.