[Sh Ranger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadBringer

Perhaps it also can be that Mei's attempt is also half-hearted and isn't unnoticed where Mei finds Bacht scary (she can be shallow at least earlier, but this one's for good reason) and would be not anywhere near him and she stays as far as possible from him when trying to convince him. And that she only agrees to convince him due to Yuri's orders (albeit she did a fine job in that). About her role as the heart, not only Mei, need the defense for that in general as that role is often dismissed by the audience as useless or insignificant.

I think it's fair that Mei was a little skittish around Bacht at first, but the more she spoke, the more she got in to it. When she and Yuri showed off their pins, they got pretty close to him. Mei likes to feel useful, which Yuri tactfully uses to persuade her to help, but she sometimes underestimates what she can do compared to the Swordsmen. I think Yuri observed how brave and resourceful she could be when thrown in a sudden scenario and was right to place his faith in her, regardless of the outcome.

Even the heart can feel eclipsed by the heroes that shine so radiantly in battle, but it's important for people to remember that those heroes can only shine like that thanks to the constant support that heart gives them. It's an invisible superpower, which is why Ren who only seeks strength for its own sake fails to comprehend why he lost to a less experienced fighter like Touma. The reason why Elemental Dragon exists is that Touma finds strength beyond raw power in the heart he gives to others and the heart he receives from people like Mei.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Well - and I like Mei a whole lot - she's also one of the only non-swordsmen that Yuri knows. If he's trotting out a representative of humanity to convince Falchion that people have changed, it's basically Mei or Sora. I think Mei's the better choice, for sure, but it's not like the roster was very large.

If Yuri had picked Sora for the job of convincing his genocidal best friend not to commit genocide, I doubt Ogami would've been too thrilled about that. Although, Bacht did have a child of his own once, so maybe it would've had an effect on him. But yeah, Mei has experience being in dangerous situations and being an adult is a more credible representation of humanity in general.

[Kamen Rider Die]

KAMEN RIDER SABER EPISODE 38 - “RULING OVER ALL SACRED SWORDS, THE SWORD OF COSMOS”



Solid episode!

I don’t know that I loved this one. I did enjoy it, mostly without complaint. It’s awesome to see every Rider show up for a big battle against Solomon. I liked the finale, even if it leans heavier on Touma’s speechifiying than I really dig. (I… boy, I don’t love his speeches in this series? Too many of them to my ears are just the heroic Rider equivalent of NUH UH, where he’s insistent the universe will honor his effort, and faith will always be more powerful than whatever crisis is transpiring. It’s thematic, but it’s not a theme that’s ever gonna super resonate with me. Also, so much shouting!) Xross Saber – a form that autocorrect is going to fight me on every time, so I’m glad it’s only debuting now – is very pretty, and a testament to Touma’s thesis that only a united humanity can push back darkness and create a better future.

My favorite part, weirdly, was the stuff with Kento and his dad, Kaido. (I’m not double-checking to see if I’m right about that name.) Kento’s a dude who has always been looking for permission to feel even a modicum of joy, but he wouldn’t trust anyone who gave him that permission. If you thought he should lay down his burden, it just meant that you didn’t understand the depths of his guilt/pain/shame/etc, and weren’t to be regarded as trustworthy. There was only one person who could let Kento stop being a ghost of himself, and it was a literal ghost.

That would be his dad, Kaido. (Not a literal Ghost, mind you; that’s Takeru, and I believe we’ll be catching up with him tomorrow.) Luckily, Kaido was only just now able to gather enough of his ethereal Wonder World energy to intervene in his son’s slow-motion suicide, a plot development that practically begs you not to ask WHY ALL OF A SUDDEN INSTEAD OF ANYTIME OVER THE LAST FIFTEEN YEARS AS KENTO’S LIFE WAS SPIRALING INTO DESPAIR, so we will honor those wishes and refrain. It’s a touching scene, because Kaido’s actor is one of the best to ever do it. There’s this captivating mix of stern authority, playful banter, and bottomless regret that makes all of the structural nonsense of the plot fade away, leaving only a scene of a father begging a son to stop trying to atone for someone else’s past and just go be happy already.

It almost shouldn’t work, after how many times Kento’s pushed back on similar requests from literally everyone he’s ever fought alongside, but Kaido sells the ridiculousness of Kento’s obstinance, and cuts through it like a sword. Kento’s always wanted to be the stalwart friend, but he kept thinking of what his dad did, or how his dad suffered, or what his dad was hoping to do; he never let himself do what he wanted, even if he always knew what that was. It’s a single scene of his dad saying Just Go Be Yourself, and you can see how quickly Kento’s weight evaporates. It’d feel cheap, if it didn’t feel so true.

That’s the part that landed for me, not all of the pyrotechnics at the conclusion, or Isaac’s non-series-finale mandated escape. (He gets blasted off like Team Rocket or something? Not the smoothest plotting!) It’s an episode that – Kento’s memorable Bring Your Ghost Dad To Work Day outing aside – delivered the beats I was expecting, in about the configuration I assumed. I don’t know that Touma’s big speech was anything too special to me, because at this point, I find most of Touma’s big speeches to be not super exciting. (Elemental Dragon, yes, for sure.) But the smart character work with Kento, and the warmth of the rest of the cast? That carries this show pretty goddamn far.

—

LOVE STEALS US FROM LONELINESS



Despite everything, it was nice to come back to this roof.

It was all right where Kento had left it, which was a surprise. The stage, the wagon; even the inflatable globe was still rolling around the fenced-off platform. It had been difficult to think, these last few weeks, and it was a relief to go back to the place where he always found clarity.

Which wasn’t to say he often (or ever) found happiness here. Just clarity. As he looked to the glowing book in the sky – its pages disintegrating the city below, he considered a future that was becoming less certain by the minute.

It was Touma that his thoughts turned back to, like always. He was doing all of this for Touma, after all. The sealing of the Sacred Swords. Being an outcast from the people he loved. Even trying to eliminate Solomon at the cost of his own life; all for Touma. Either one of them could save the world, but only Kento could save Touma.

Touma wouldn’t allow that, though. Kento should’ve known better. Ever since Touma became a swordsman, became Saber, Kento was reminded anew of how alike they’d always been when it came to protecting their friends. Kento was trying to save Touma, but Touma would never stop fighting to save Kento. It was ridiculous. It was aggravating. It was the kindest gesture.

Kento found it hard to stay mad at Touma, even if Touma was making everything so much more dangerous. Touma just couldn’t accept the truth of the situation, couldn’t accept the certainty of the future. It always came back to Touma’s belief that a better solution could be found, or that the impossible could be made real if only enough people could see it.

Kento was even starting to see it.

There’d been too many unexpected victories lately for Kento to deny. One might’ve been a fluke, or merely irrelevant. This many Touma victories, though… it was starting to feel like a pattern. It was starting to feel more like fate than the thousands of futures that Kento had experienced. He wasn’t sure which to believe anymore: a defined future, or a desperate hope? He needed there to be some sign out there that could give him the clarity he expected from a trip to this roof. He needed something to believe in.

He heard Touma approaching behind him.

Well. That might do.

[Enchilada645]

I'm glad you enjoyed the Fukamiya Family Reunion for as short as it was. Definitely a highlight in the episode if I'm being honest. I was really wondering if this was going to land for you or not given your apprehension towards Kento last episode.

That being said, Xross Saber. Our first Final Form since Wizard to give us a Final Form exclusive weapon (thank you Saber's toyline for basically forcing that upon us) and it being rather simple all things considered. I do like that though, given of course the sword's only going to do an aesthetic change and not a full change if it's only using Brave Dragon.

Xross is pretty cool in that it basically takes what people said was the secondary gimmick (The Seiken) and makes it the "all in one form" technically. I like the idea that he can just call upon other swords and do cool combos with them now. But I also just really love how the suit looks? They basically had to hand-paint the entirety of the suit so if that doesn't scream dedication then I don't know what does. Also hey, we've got an insert song sung by Touma, Rintaro, and Kento's actors! Always a great time!

Anyway while Bahato is toast, don't think we're done with Falchion yet... especially given that final shot of the episode.

The short story was nice, always a fun time to revisit the brooding roof and also a nice summation of Kento's potential thoughts before Touma shows up.

Next we've got... a video. Turns out someone managed to put this up on Youtube too.

===Zero Presents: Desast Walk===

Desast Walk #16:

"Hello, humans.

“I'm Dessert.

You know how there's always a shadow behind the sun?

If the light is too strong, then the shadows turn completely black.

It's like hell."

[Enchilada645]

What, you thought I was done?

Because if I'm reading the schedule right... we're not moving to Episode 39 yet... thus... it is time for a TTFC Teaser Tweet courtesy of Desast.

===Zero Presents: Desast Walk===

Desast Walk #12:

"Hello, humans.

I'm Dessert.

In spring, many flowers bloom, don't they?

They all bloom by burning their limited lives.

Maybe that's why they're so beautiful.

Hey.

Something's supposed to bloom tomorrow."

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enchilada645

But I also just really love how the suit looks? They basically had to hand-paint the entirety of the suit so if that doesn't scream dedication then I don't know what does.

The suit is GREAT. The sword... it's very toyetic, which only appeals to me if I like the toy. I don't, so I'm going to focus all of my affection on what's basically Cosmic Brave Dragon. It's such a fun way of illustrating not just his godlike power, but how he creates universes as a writer. And, as Mei, pointed out, it's glittery and gorgeous!

[Switchblade]

So I haven't been commenting much because a lot of these episodes blur together in my memory. I will say that I was never a huge fan of Xross Saber because, I mean it's just Saber's base form painted blue with some glitter mixed in, isn't it? It's a very nice and sparkly blue, but it always felt to me like something that was thrown together on the cheap - especially compared to the Dragon suits (Primitive, Elemental, Emotional, -ic Knight). I tend to dislike it when final form suits get too busy, but this one swung too far in the opposite direction for me.

[r4bbitdragon]

This was another of the 4th saber writer, Hiroki Uchida's episodes! Which was always really funny to me, that the last writer to join the team was given Both of the final form power up episodes. I think both are good, but they both do kinda give me the feeling that they are considering things from an angle that wasn't quite what anyone before shared.

Ghost x Saber time! Honestly, as someone who hasn't seen Ghost myself, I found a lot I enjoyed about those specials... it's great they were able to leverage a returning writer in this way too. And also...?

also my favorite wolfbugskull guy got himself a new sword <3 love to see it

[Androzani84]

Alright, I promised you big, and I mean big.

We get our final form item, the Xross Saber. And unlike previous final forms, which lock the Rider out of using a form changing gimmick (the only ones that don’t that I can think of are Deadheat Mach, Deep Specter and probably Brave Legacy Gamer). The first suit we see, Xross Saber is a homage to the original final form Stronger Charge Up (which considering that was a few blobs of silver, whereas this has an entire constellation image painted by hand because computers are incapable of creating this detailed an image), I think there’s a clear winner here)

But enough gushing, here’s the toy video, which is once more made personally.

Supreme King Sword, Xross Saber! The Genesis Cross! The shining stars lend a miracle as aid! Noble power, flames of bravery! Xross Saber, Xross Saber, Xross Saber! Link the 10 Swords!

Wonder! Xross! Wonder! Multiply! The escalating two books’ super power! Hy-! Hy-! Hy-! Hy-! Hybrid Saber! Saber! Suggested Reading!

Crimson Saber! Emerging from the edge of space! Expand upon the cosmos! Revive the world once more! Light, truth, love, hope, and long-gone space-time! Rock on! Xross Saber 3! Luxury Volume 3!

Dra! Dragon! Lion! Senki! Ah! Alangina! Bonds will guide the way to the promise of victory. Collaborative work! Featuring Saber! Three volume special edition!

3 things to note:

1. The official books for Hybrid Saber are Brave Dragon and King of Arthur, but I didn’t have that at the time.

2. The reason certain parts are bolded is because they’re the shortened versions that you can switch to by holding down the trigger as you turn it on (which you can see an example of below).

3. There’s another jingle, but I’m waiting ‘til next time to show that off.

And now, for some relevant miscellany.

[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER SABER EPISODE 38 - “RULING OVER ALL SACRED SWORDS, THE SWORD OF COSMOS”

I don’t know that I loved this one. I did enjoy it, mostly without complaint. It’s awesome to see every Rider show up for a big battle against Solomon. I liked the finale, even if it leans heavier on Touma’s speechifiying than I really dig. (I… boy, I don’t love his speeches in this series? Too many of them to my ears are just the heroic Rider equivalent of NUH UH, where he’s insistent the universe will honor his effort, and faith will always be more powerful than whatever crisis is transpiring. It’s thematic, but it’s not a theme that’s ever gonna super resonate with me.

I mean, Touma is generally one of the most disliked/hated main protagonists (not here but in general fanbase). Yeah this'd be one of the reasons to hate him, like his speeches. Or that he's the one who embodies the "generic" complaint of goody two shoes the most like his vows to protect everyone, or keep holding on hope, or his friendship speeches (yeah, this episode is power of friendship kind. one of the most mocked concept in media for good reason, also in this episode with Touma harming Bacht untransformed with his Rekka). I'd think that for this episode, it seems often that series won't differentiate between people who are just dour (I'm not into Mei telling people to just smile either, but there are acceptable ones like Luna telling she'd see Touma again), or people who use their sadness as an excuse to do bad things. Bacht is the latter, but this part frames him like the former. It'd probably be better if Touma's speeches is about Bacht venting his sadness in a less destructive way, especially to others.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Also, so much shouting!) Xross Saber – a form that autocorrect is going to fight me on every time, so I’m glad it’s only debuting now – is very pretty, and a testament to Touma’s thesis that only a united humanity can push back darkness and create a better future.

Though I'd say that, Xross Saber is one of the better final form debuts, fighting wise, and so far would be my favorite for Reiwa's. Albeit yeah, that performance is set out for disappointment IMO, even though the series established that honing your swordsman skill is important, as usually they'd only show off the Rider's actual powersets in their debut, but going with good-ol-fashioned way in their subsequent appearences (even in final fights...), such as Ex-Aid's Brave Level 50 debut. As shown here, Solomon using Arthur's sword is simply his choice, as he reveals more of what he can do with his power such as summoning robots which gets overwhelmed by Xross Saber.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

That would be his dad, Kaido. (Not a literal Ghost, mind you; that’s Takeru, and I believe we’ll be catching up with him tomorrow.) Luckily, Kaido was only just now able to gather enough of his ethereal Wonder World energy to intervene in his son’s slow-motion suicide, a plot development that practically begs you not to ask WHY ALL OF A SUDDEN INSTEAD OF ANYTIME OVER THE LAST FIFTEEN YEARS AS KENTO’S LIFE WAS SPIRALING INTO DESPAIR, so we will honor those wishes and refrain. It’s a touching scene, because Kaido’s actor is one of the best to ever do it. There’s this captivating mix of stern authority, playful banter, and bottomless regret that makes all of the structural nonsense of the plot fade away, leaving only a scene of a father begging a son to stop trying to atone for someone else’s past and just go be happy already.

So what it takes to finally get Kento to snap out from his fatalism is his own dad, of which at first Kento brushes off his apology. I guess as Kento tries to carry Hayato's will, while also 'correcting' his ways, though Kento still doesn't accomplish that in his extreme ways too, thus what's needed is her father's opinion and advice on this. It's a relief that Hayato manages to be saved and appear to snap Kento out, but that'd mean it's a nigh-unsolvable solution otherwise if anyone else can't get through him, even the beloved childhood friend. Or that perhaps they still can, if they remember that Kento tries to carry Hayato's will, and have the others learn about Hayato more especially from his former comrades Ogami and Daishinji, making Daichi's will progress for a bit longer. About Hayato mentioning his height, people may not notice this (while people notice the shorter Ace from Geats...), but Kento's one of the tallest Kamen Riders, standing at 188 cm like Touma.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

That’s the part that landed for me, not all of the pyrotechnics at the conclusion, or Isaac’s non-series-finale mandated escape. (He gets blasted off like Team Rocket or something? Not the smoothest plotting!) It’s an episode that – Kento’s memorable Bring Your Ghost Dad To Work Day outing aside – delivered the beats I was expecting, in about the configuration I assumed. I don’t know that Touma’s big speech was anything too special to me, because at this point, I find most of Touma’s big speeches to be not super exciting. (Elemental Dragon, yes, for sure.) But the smart character work with Kento, and the warmth of the rest of the cast? That carries this show pretty goddamn far.

Kenzan joins the fight, with others as usual assuming he'd help them, but obviously Kenzan only joins them to prove his strength. That way I'd think the cast perhaps should acknowledge Ren's might makes right philosophy better, while not banishing him due to that view, but there can be better way to convince him to help them, like making a point that conflicts with his view such as not beating someone strong yet in a common enemy, which can lead into him fighting them and unwittingly helping them. Albeit Kenzan still has limits in how he recognizes that Solomon's strength doesn't represent justice. The Shindai siblings acknowledge their duty to protect the world as swordsmen, which either had them on midway for redemption path here or just also their limits which is revealed now after focusing on blindly following SoL's orders.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

I think it's fair that Mei was a little skittish around Bacht at first, but the more she spoke, the more she got in to it. When she and Yuri showed off their pins, they got pretty close to him. Mei likes to feel useful, which Yuri tactfully uses to persuade her to help, but she sometimes underestimates what she can do compared to the Swordsmen. I think Yuri observed how brave and resourceful she could be when thrown in a sudden scenario and was right to place his faith in her, regardless of the outcome.

Even the heart can feel eclipsed by the heroes that shine so radiantly in battle, but it's important for people to remember that those heroes can only shine like that thanks to the constant support that heart gives them. It's an invisible superpower, which is why Ren who only seeks strength for its own sake fails to comprehend why he lost to a less experienced fighter like Touma. The reason why Elemental Dragon exists is that Touma finds strength beyond raw power in the heart he gives to others and the heart he receives from people like Mei.

I thought that the heart role is eclipsed particularly because there are Riders in the group who can fight as well as acting as the heart of the group, such as many of the main Riders, due to their want to take care of others' emotional needs too, making the heart in normal people just an unnecessary "discount"/"bootleg" of that. But I guess the heart means more about uplifting the team's spirits high, and Mei's the one who is incurable optimist, more than Touma too, as said in ep. 31 and the flashback of dour Touma meeting her. I'd think that Touma simply beat Ren because of his upgrades outclassing base Kenzan, like Blades beating Sabela in his upgrade, though how Elemental Dragon existed is from the heart. It can be dismissed as just the plot favoring the MC by some people too though (including them always getting all the upgrades, for KR), especially with how Touma can fail to convince others with his speeches.

[Mesnick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER SABER EPISODE 38 - ?RULING OVER ALL SACRED SWORDS, THE SWORD OF COSMOS?

As I said, Kento can only be convinced by someone who has experienced the same thing as him. The most interesting thing is that if my memory serves me right, the appearance of Fukamiya Sr. was hinted at in the show itself, albeit very vaguely. In general, I remember the conversation between father and son with its touching and soulfulness.
Also, the debut of Xross Saber! This final form caused a lot of controversy at the time due to the fact that this repaint, even if more effort was spent on it than on some new costumes. Also, since it's a sword and not a book, it makes sense that only the color of the armor changes. Be that as it may, the shape is very beautiful, the functionality is chic, swords flying into space are something.
And also the song performed by the three main swordsmen is the best in the show. At least in the main show.
Isaac was beaten but not defeated. I don't think the show should be angry that they didn't finish off such an interesting villain right away. Solomon's defeat should be dedicated to him, and not used to demonstrate the coolness of the final form.