[Kamen Rider Die]

KAMEN RIDER BLADE EPISODE 44

This time on Kamen Rider Blade: Anyone could be an Undead! Hajime might be a lost cause! And Tennouji sits in a dark room staring at a sculpture and I guess I'm supposed to be impressed or something!



I'm not, incidentally. I don't have any feelings about Tennouji at all. He's just another in a seemingly uninterrupted string of boring Blade villains. I haven't started thinking about the Series Recap post yet (well, I think I know what I feel like the series is about, thematically), but one of the big flaws of this show is basically zero compelling villains. There've been a couple good one-offs (Meet-Cute had a neat arc), but Trenchcoat Mastermind, U.N.D.A.D., and Tennouji are all huge snoozes for me. (Leangle is... I'm not sure if I'd put him in as a series villain, but you maybe could. Even still, he's only half compelling?) I don't care about his scheme, and I don't care for his dumb aesthetic at all. I'm more interested in the Sealing Stone than I am Tennouji.

But, y'know, Tennouji isn't really a big deal in this episode. (He's only ever in his tiny room staring at the Sealing Stone.) He doesn't interact with any named characters, and his plan is basically up to Titan to execute. Honestly, I'm not sure what even is a big deal in this episode? It's got some fun character moments, and there's a bit at the end that's super duper relevant for the endgame, but... yeah, just a fun episode with some really enjoyable character work, and not a whole lot else.

It is fun, though. Hajime acting as Kenzaki's shadow, all the Riders getting more and more annoyed at each other, it's some fun irritation running through the first half of this episode. It's nice to build the story of this one around how shallowly their various insecurities and resentments are buried. It doesn't take a lot for Kenzaki to lose his temper at Hajime's suspicion, or for Tachibana to let his unearned feelings of superiority cause friction with Mutsuki. These men are at their most cohesive, and they are still this close to brawling.

The second half is where it really comes together, at least for me. Like, the first half lost a step because I thought it was fairly obvious what was going on, and the show hadn't made the reveal yet. (Not that I thought the characters would've figured it out, but I thought the show would've revealed it to the viewers already.) So it was definitely some waiting for the other shoe to finally drop. Once it did, it made for some very enjoyable character work, as everyone has to be their most Themselves to convince the rest that they aren't an Undead in disguise. (Weird rules for Titan's disguises, though. I don't think it ever says anything when it's impersonating a Rider, which would be its weakness, but then it gives a whole little speech when it pretends to be Amane? So that one time it could or would talk?) Kenzaki gets away with just showing his injury, so we're robbed of what attribute of his the show would've highlighted. (I would've gone with Kenzaki forgetting everyone's birthdays.) Mutsuki and Tachibana both get super morose and self-pitying, which immediately, hilariously, establishes them as the real deal. Hajime starts convulsing and bolts for the door, which, yeah, that's Hajime all right!

So, it seemed like this episode was going to deal with Hajime's barely-suppressed Joker side, at least based on the previous Next Time trailer. But, ha ha, that was all a narratively-appropriate ruse, with Hajime pretending to be the Joker in order to draw out Titan. (I have no idea how long it would've taken Hajime to text that convoluted plan to the other Riders on an old-school flip phone. An hour? Two?) From there it's a big ol' Rider team-up, with a goddamn FOUR OF A KIND finish from Blade, all four Riders contributing to make that victory possible. It's a great beat for the story to end on, them all working in unison to defeat one of their toughest opponents yet. It's a solid, optimistic ending.

Except, it isn't. Tachibana, the doomscrolling that walks like a man, realizes that with only one Undead left besides the Joker, it is time to seal Hajime. They can't take care of that last Undead as long as Hajime exists, or it's the end of the world. Just as all four of them are working as one, it's time to seal Hajime.




Next time on Kamen Rider Blade: Kenzaki is broke! Mutsuki wonders if humans and monsters can live in peace together, but Hajime tells him that this isn't Faiz! And I try and do two episodes tomorrow since I'm going to be booked on Sunday!

[Mmicb0b]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Thanks! This is... maybe a little more than I wanted to know, but I appreciate your feelings about the ending. There'll definitely be a lot of space after the ending to talk about how it all worked out. It's maybe a week away!

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreshToku

Oh no wonder I misremembered. There were multiple instances of evil dopplegangers going on! Combined with that switcheroo with Taiyaki Master, it's becoming like a trademark of this series



There'a no need to give warnings or hints about the ending (especially when the first post specifically asks for no spoilers?). Just let Die see it as it comes.

yeah sorry for posting this shouldn't have posted this

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mmicb0b

yeah sorry for posting this shouldn't have posted this

Don't stress about it! I appreciate your interest in Blade and your enthusiasm to talk about it. It's the kind of thing that makes this site so much fun to take part in!

[Mmicb0b]

also just wondering where do you watch these cause my main source for watching these got yeeted a few years ago

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mmicb0b

also just wondering where do you watch these cause my main source for watching these got yeeted a few years ago

Purely legal sources, I assure you!

(Everybody here suggested EXCITE for Blade, so I just went to their subbing group's page. Other than that, TV-Nihon or Nyaa.)

[Mmicb0b]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Purely legal sources, I assure you!

(Everybody here suggested EXCITE for Blade, so I just went to their subbing group's page. Other than that, TV-Nihon or Nyaa.)

I watched the TV Nihon subs (which I'm told was riddled with translation errors so you get the idea)

[Androzani84]

I think I should reveal that the Four Card attack has an equivalent with the same 4 cards in the Blay Rouser

* Extreme Shot (エクストリームショット Ekusutorīmu Shotto)
* Cards Required: Thunder Deer (♠6) + Fire Fly (♦6) + Tornado Hawk (♥6) + Blizzard Polar (♣6)
* AP Cost: 4800 (♠6=1200, ♦6=1000, ♥6=1400, ♣6=1200)

And while I’m at it, I’ll show off other unused combos with the King Rouser.

* Straight (ストレート Sutorēto)
* Cards Required: Bullet Armadillo (♦2) + Screw Mole (♣3) + Float Dragonfly (♥4) + Kick Locust (♠5) + Thunder Deer (♠6)
* AP Cost: 4200 (♦2=400, ♣3=600, ♥4=1000, ♠5=1000, ♠6=1200)
Also known as Straight Tempest Crash, this is Blade's Rider Kick in King form. However, this is never seen within the series.
* Full House (フルハウス Furu Hausu)
* Cards Required: Any 3 same number cards + 2 other same number cards
* AP Cost: Depends on the card
* Flush (フラッシュ Furasshu)
* Cards Required: Any 5 random cards of the same suit
* AP Cost: Depends on the card
* Three of a Kind (スリーカード Surī Kādo, lit. "Three Card")
* Cards Required: Any 3 same number cards + 2 other random cards
* AP Cost: Depends on the card
* Two Pair (ツーペア Tsū Pea)
* Cards Required: Any 2 same number cards + another 2 same number cards + 1 random card
* AP Cost: Depends on the card
* One pair (ツーカード Tsū Kādo, lit. "Two Card")
* Cards Required: Any 2 same number cards + 3 other random cards
* AP Cost: Depends on the card
* Five of a Kind (ファイブカード Faibu Kādo, lit. "Five Card")
* Cards Required: Metal Trilobite (♠7) x 5
* AP Cost: 8000 (♠7=1600 x 5)

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mmicb0b

I watched the TV Nihon subs (which I'm told was riddled with translation errors so you get the idea)

That was the consensus, yeah.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Androzani84

And while I’m at it, I’ll show off other unused combos with the King Rouser.

Awesome! Thank you!

[Fish Sandwich]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER BLADE EPISODE 44

...and this is where this two-parter definitely feels a little more worth it. I appreciate having one last breather before the final stretch, as well as the simple irony of Inoue writing a plot where the heroes turn a forced misunderstanding against the bad guys by revealing they already figured it out like half the episode ago.

I don't know if it's just from thinking about it coming right after Faiz, but episodes like these have a very straightforward superhero fare feel to them that it kind of seems like only Blade was really doing in that little era of Rider? A plot structured around the bad guys specifically coming up with a plan to defeat the heroes, and how the heroes react to that, I don't know. Kuuga, Ryuki, and Faiz were definitely all concerned with "destroying" the image of Kamen Rider to some extent (Agito maybe wasn't, but was still stylistically similar), and while I might just be forgetting something here, "evil doppelganger fools the protagonists" seems like it would be more at home in Super Sentai than it would be in those shows. It's very classic plotting, and Blade makes it the entire focus rather than a mere backdrop for more human drama.

I don't know. This is one of those things where I'm mostly thinking out loud. But I feel like I'm realizing from this thread that Blade's proudly classic flavor extends to more than just some of the design elements, and how much I love it for that. Faiz especially probably would've been outright ashamed to have an episode like this, making it all the more hilarious this an Inoue script.

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

...and this is where this two-parter definitely feels a little more worth it. I appreciate having one last breather before the final stretch, as well as the simple irony of Inoue writing a plot where the heroes turn a forced misunderstanding against the bad guys by revealing they already figured it out like half the episode ago.

I don't know if it's just from thinking about it coming right after Faiz, but episodes like these have a very straightforward superhero fare feel to them that it kind of seems like only Blade was really doing in that little era of Rider? A plot structured around the bad guys specifically coming up with a plan to defeat the heroes, and how the heroes react to that, I don't know. Kuuga, Ryuki, and Faiz were definitely all concerned with "destroying" the image of Kamen Rider to some extent (Agito maybe wasn't, but was still stylistically similar), and while I might just be forgetting something here, "evil doppelganger fools the protagonists" seems like it would be more at home in Super Sentai than it would be in those shows. It's very classic plotting, and Blade makes it the entire focus rather than a mere backdrop for more human drama.

I don't know. This is one of those things where I'm mostly thinking out loud. But I feel like I'm realizing from this thread that Blade's proudly classic flavor extends to more than just some of the design elements, and how much I love it for that. Faiz especially probably would've been outright ashamed to have an episode like this, making it all the more hilarious this an Inoue script.

Yeah, it's definitely what I'd call a Meat And Potatoes story, where any thematic elements are around the edges at best.

Inoue is clearly having some fun with it, though. That living room scene where Mutsuki goes I Have Problems With Self-Worth and Tachibana goes I Too Have Problems With Self-Worth and Kenzaki goes Welcome Back? Come on. Come on. That's a beat that only someone willing to write unlikable, weak characters could not only attempt, but land.

The rest of it, though, yeah. Very entertaining, but with a simplicity that tags it as a somewhat less than essential. That big team-up to fake out Titan is something I'd never have expected on the last four Rider series. (Doing this on Ryuki would've just led to Ouja murdering the guy acting as bait, and letting the Mirror Monster get away.)

There's one continuity thing I can't quit explain, though. When Hajime starts his freak out at Team Blade's living room, he goes to the restaurant first for water, before going to the river to draw out Titan. Why? Narratively, it's so Amane would see Hajime freaking out and then there'd be a reason for Titan to pretend to be her, but why would Hajime go there for his plan? Isn't it scaring Amane for no real reason? Why not just go right to the river?