[Androzani84]

Well, I don’t have much to say about the special itself, other than it’s nice to see Sin Specter again, considering how little reuse V-Cinema suits see (Black Parado and MBJR are the only other recurring ones). So, on to the books.

Specter Gekikou Senki: A certain big brother, with the violet flames of anger, and his history of battle.

You can tell this wasn’t planned, by how we get a random jingle for the book, rather than the Legend Rider one.

And then there’s my ultimate favourite in terms of jingles, the three History Ride Books, which were created as a tie in to Senki. Though there’s no actual story announcements anywhere for them, not even on Bandai’s website, so I’m leaving others to fill the blanks.

Showa Rider Henshin Shinwa:

Heisei Rider Henshin Senki:

Reiwa Rider Henshin Monogatari:

History Rider! Era Volume One! The history book gives more power to the sword!

The sword is empowered by courage! History Rider! Era Volume Two! The history book imbues the power of hope!

Three eras overlap! The sword is imbued with the power of hope! History Rider! Era Volume Three! The history is gathered in the sword of hope right now!

And finally, there’s this thing I’ve been waiting to share for a while.

[Mesnick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER SPECTER X KAMEN RIDER BLADES

This episode has something to congratulate the Fukami family on. Kanon debuting as a rider and Makoto with five sisters. Other than that, I have nothing special to write: a fun, pleasant, small crossover. It's a pity that Nekrom and Espada did not come out because of the employment of Hayata Isomura, but even without this it turned out very well. Your fanfic is also very good and right on target in describing Makoto and Kanon's relationship. But, I think, the reason to talk about this in more detail will still appear.

[Sh Ranger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I think that, with enough time, the fanbase has maybe come around a bit on ol' Takeru? The people experiencing the show now are coming to it without the baggage of being the year's new Rider show, so they can just dig into on its own (very weird) merits. I don't assume there's a ton of vitriol still, since who's still going to scream about a show they disliked from five years ago? Outside the seldom forgiving spotlight of being the main Rider show, I think people maybe elevated this one over time.

You're only seeing a small fraction of the fanbase on this forum. I still see a lot of people outside who complain about Ghost like calling it one of the worst seasons ever and calling Takeru a bad protagonist. It's not just a Rider problem either. Other unpopular Tokusatsu shows like Ninninjer and Mega Force also have to be defended regularly from people whose hatred hasn't lessened with time and those two shows are older than Ghost.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER SPECTER X KAMEN RIDER BLADES

Besides that bump in the road, yeah, I liked this one a lot better than the previous part. Having it be a story about Family both provides narrative cover for Makoto to bail out his sister, and for Rintaro to have a place in the story. Without that, it?d still be a solid story about Kanon trying to spare her brother from hardship, which would?ve been enough for me. I?m glad I got more than enough!

After Makoto left the palace at the end of Specter Rebirth to try and figure out who he is, he looks a lot happier and more confident of himself in his first new appearance here. He may have been created as the ultimate lifeform Leon, but he's still Makoto, his soul is still human and he can use his artificial powers to continue down his own path of protecting the people he cares about. I'm glad for him to finally be back with his friends and family where he belongs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mesnick

This episode has something to congratulate the Fukami family on. Kanon debuting as a rider and Makoto with five sisters. Other than that, I have nothing special to write: a fun, pleasant, small crossover. It's a pity that Nekrom and Espada did not come out because of the employment of Hayata Isomura, but even without this it turned out very well.

Makoto actually has six sisters including Chloe. Seven if you include Alia by Kanon's marriage to Alain. While it would've been cool to see Alain return, at least Kanon Specter said his pre-finisher catchphrase, so it feels like he was here in spirit!

[Switchblade]

So I didn’t watch this, but reading about it has made me decide that I’m going to ship Makoto and Reika now. He has a little sister complex, she has a big brother complex; it’s like they were made to be creepy together.

[Mesnick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

So I didn?t watch this, but reading about it has made me decide that I?m going to ship Makoto and Reika now. He has a little sister complex, she has a big brother complex; it?s like they were made to be creepy together.

Then there should be a double sibling date between Fukami & Shindai, during which Makoto and Reika compete in kin obsession while Kanon and Ryoga remain silent and look at each other guiltily.

[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I mean, Javert is useless here. He's comedically useless. That's the joke. It only has a punchline if Mei complains about his uselessness.

Yeah I know. But it's not the people who are the the Most anything positive (e.g. most handsome, smart, cool, charismatic, etc.) that deserves respect, everyone deserves to be respected even if they're leaning more on a "loser" side, not only being used for physical/mental/emotional slapstick for other's amusement (can happen irl), the latter 2 including being constantly insulting and belittling them for their shortcomings without regard.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER SPECTER X KAMEN RIDER BLADES

Besides that bump in the road, yeah, I liked this one a lot better than the previous part. Having it be a story about Family both provides narrative cover for Makoto to bail out his sister, and for Rintaro to have a place in the story. Without that, it’d still be a solid story about Kanon trying to spare her brother from hardship, which would’ve been enough for me. I’m glad I got more than enough!

Kanon being turned into an Eyecon was what turned Makoto ruthless, early on in Ghost, even turning against his childhood friends Takeru and Akari. But Makoto didn't have that level of rage against Kamiyu and Muller who victimizes Kanon. Or I guess it's not only that Makoto got what he wanted when Takeru used his wish on her, but that he still has improved as a person too. It's quite nice that the story had Rintaro pointing out that Reikanon punching the shit out of him was rude, it really is, regardless if it's done by female to male. For some reason Mei feels easier to annoy even by Rintaro. So Rintaro feels jealous against other family relationships for not having official one, though he doesn't take it out to them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

It’s not the, uh, best outing for Kamen Kanon here. She owns a substantial portion of this narrative with calm empathy and quiet power, but then basically chokes in the climax and needs Specter to help her save the day. (And, boy, it’s not even like he’s there for an extra push or anything: Kanon had pretty thoroughly bungled this one, and Makoto’s the one who saves the Non-Kanons and mostly defeats the villains.) We were always going to get Makoto showing up and superheroing, but it’s a little weird how quickly Kanon cedes her story to Makoto.

Yeah, this is what can happen for first-time watchers, so Kanon actually retains her previous character here, and that the Reikanons are just clones made for the baddie's schemes to become the ultimate lifeform and continue Danton's legacy. The story here seems to be about how Kanon addresses her "uselessness" previously of always being helped but wants to turn that around by fighting as Kamen Rider Kanon Specter. She actually got insecure when she failed the fighting at first to be unable to save anyone, but... that still applies as you said, when it's still about Specter who saves the day. The story doesn't seem to want to address people's shortcomings at the end to make it all happy but it probably would be good if Kanon still feels useless but vows to improve as Kamen Rider.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Still, fun to see Kanon get to be a Kamen Rider, fun to see Makoto get a small moment with Takeru, and fun to see Blades get the terrible Deep Specter pauldrons that inhibit his arm movements so much that he can’t really swing a sword. It’s a cute little reunion special, with a surprising amount of additional world-building to go along with the fan service.

Most of all, it’s not weird in any way that Makoto finally gets his dream of living alongside five adoring Kanons. YAY!

It's a wasted opportunity for Blades to not use his actual freezing power from his upgrades when the baddie orders Makoto to freeze. And, here it's yet another female Rider who is not the cold and merciless type (as Kanon turns out to retain her previous characterization), but at this period, being not really prominent Rider as they only make one brief appearence like in special (or for main series one, something like Poppy and Tsukuyomi, and also Necrom Pink for Ghost).

[Fish Sandwich]

Fish Sandwich also watched Kamen Rider Specter X Blades

There was no way it could actually happen twice... but it did, and the announcement for this one was on the same day it was available to watch, which made the surprise that much nicer. And this special as a whole then, perhaps, was somehow even nicer than the first one for me. It's got a narrative with a bit more meat to it, it's got Rintarou, and it's got Kanon as a Kamen Rider. What more could I want? Sin Specter. I could want Sin Specter, and hey, I got that too!

Really though, I'm willing to call myself Kanon's biggest fan (mostly to see if anyone wants to claim that title for themselves), so as amazing a surprise as it was simply to see these two shows crossing over in this fashion (I'll remind you guys Saber teamed up with Ghost before he did with Zero-One), it was an even bigger surprise to see Kanon discovering her own Infinite Potential™ after all these years.

Again, it's sort of hard for me to even dig into these two specials here, because seeing Die go through them is just reminding all over again how exciting it is to me that they exist. There was actually a bit of suit actor trivia I forgot to mention last time, which is that Ghost was played by Eitoku in it, while here we have Jun Watanabe reprising his role as Specter, on top of filling his usual Saber position as the action director. Neat for people who care about that kinda stuff (and I mean, I do), but it's just like, Kanon Specter, you guys! I can only get so analytical when I'm having this much *fun*!

(Also, the excuse to make the DX Yujou Burst Eyecon eventually led to Bandai finally making a Nadeshiko Driver, so that's one more dream these things made come true!)

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Androzani84

Well, I don?t have much to say about the special itself, other than it?s nice to see Sin Specter again, considering how little reuse V-Cinema suits see (Black Parado and MBJR are the only other recurring ones).

Y'know, it is nice to see Sin Specter again. Deep Specter is kind of everything I dislike about upgrade suits, but Sin Specter is everything like about upgrade suits. Bad news for Rintaro, maybe, but I like to see Makoto in that nice, sparkly suit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mesnick

It's a pity that Nekrom and Espada did not come out because of the employment of Hayata Isomura, but even without this it turned out very well.

I don't know the context for this, but yeah, kind of a bummer that we didn't get a third part for this Ghost reunion. I mean, I'd've stuck Alain with Tassel -- two rulers of alternate dimensions -- but I guess that's just me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

You're only seeing a small fraction of the fanbase on this forum. I still see a lot of people outside who complain about Ghost like calling it one of the worst seasons ever and calling Takeru a bad protagonist. It's not just a Rider problem either. Other unpopular Tokusatsu shows like Ninninjer and Mega Force also have to be defended regularly from people whose hatred hasn't lessened with time and those two shows are older than Ghost.

As always, I am happy that these threads maybe buck the trend! I think all of these shows have something in them worth celebrating, and it's very cool that y'all are willing to go on that ride with me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

So I didn?t watch this, but reading about it has made me decide that I?m going to ship Makoto and Reika now. He has a little sister complex, she has a big brother complex; it?s like they were made to be creepy together.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadBringer

But Makoto didn't have that level of rage against Kamiyu and Muller who victimizes Kanon.

Makoto has gotten a lot better about his rage since those early appearances!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

I can only get so analytical when I'm having this much *fun*!

I'm glad you had a good time with these specials!

[Kurona]

I really loved this one and Kanon is easily one of my favourite female Riders now. I love the idea of a side character who didn't do anything, years later growing into her own and having her own people to protect... like, it's maybe executed a bit awkwardly, maybe allow her slightly more of a win on her own; but Kanon becoming someone who carries on and represents all the themes of Ghost and everything it stood for? I love it, I love it so much.

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurona

I really loved this one and Kanon is easily one of my favourite female Riders now. I love the idea of a side character who didn't do anything, years later growing into her own and having her own people to protect... like, it's maybe executed a bit awkwardly, maybe allow her slightly more of a win on her own; but Kanon becoming someone who carries on and represents all the themes of Ghost and everything it stood for? I love it, I love it so much.

Ha ha, for sure, it's incredibly Ghost for this special to maybe not execute as smoothly as I'd like, while still overwhelmingly having its heart in the right place, to a degree where I still found it fulfilling. GHOST! It never changes!