|
Community Links |
Members List |
Search Forums |
Advanced Search |
Go to Page... |
|
Thread Tools |
04-16-2022, 11:56 PM | #701 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
|
KAMEN RIDER ZI-O EPISODE 28 - “OUR GOAL 2019”
This one… hmm. As someone who only really cares about these shows when I can invest in the characters and their relationships (even if it’s just some random one-off story with guest stars), the epic conclusion to this story about Sougo and Geiz’z really real friendship was delightful. It’s a hard-fought effort to stop looking at haunted pasts or doomed futures, but to focus on the support and value of the present. There was a semi-healthy friendship that Geiz was blowing up because of what might happen in the future, and that’s a terrible way to live your life. It’s also a great way to get yourself killed, if you think so little of Right Now that you’re willing to use a deadly power-up just to save an uncertain future. Everything with the two of them in this episode worked for me. A lot of that is just… it’s two really fun actors? Geiz’z almost performative frostiness, obscuring a lonely boy’s need for friendship. Sougo’s loudly-stated need for friendship, clearly communicated and now thoroughly unstoppable. It’s massively vulnerable, and both actors nail the strange mix of emotions that need to stabilize into something warm and sustainable. Where this episode lost me, naturally, is in the Time Nonsense. Up front: I don’t care about it, but it doesn’t ruin this episode. At worst, it keeps this episode from greatness by diluting its focus. There’s a bunch of time spent adding more mysteries, to take the place of the few resolved mysteries from the last couple episodes. All of that time, honestly, would’ve been better spent on longer scenes for Geiz and Sougo, even if it meant less Tsukasa. (I love Tsukasa! But he added nothing to this episode! Other than helping to set up Diend’s arrival! Sort of! But not really!) It’s this episode trying to do Big Plot Stuff and Big Character Stuff, but doing it separately instead of simultaneously, so it feels like the two sides are fighting each other. There’s not a lot of flow to this episode, and that’s a drawback. The other drawback is more slight, but I found the resolution to Tsukuyomi’s crisis of faith to be hilariously obtuse, with her basically saying that they should believe in Sougo because the Time Jackers might be up to something. This is– this is not new information! The Time Jackers have been up to something since literally the first episode! We still don’t know what, exactly, Swartz is up to, so Tsukuyomi reverting to Episode 24 Tsukuyomi as the result of more questions than answers feels hopelessly insufficient to the recent shift in the status quo. (I mean, there’s also Tsukuyomi seeing an 8-year old Sougo use his Time Powers to save lives, but: also not new information.) I probably laughed harder than Geiz and Sougo at her 11th-hour arrival to defuse a defused situation, since she might as well have arrived from an earlier, better point in her character arc. Another Zi-O didn’t really become anything worth caring about (the show never found any nuance to his grudge that’d help it cover four episodes), but he certainly allowed for an epic battle! The fire of Geiz and Sougo’s reaffirmed friendship (shut up, Geiz, you were already friends) was so hot it melted a snowy parking lot, which is pretty goddamn special. Their teamwork through the Another Rider battle royale was exquisite, with them coordinating attacks and sharing power-ups. Just a great front-to-back action sequence of two Rider Bros overcoming the odds for a well-deserved victory. I’m more excited for the future than I am for this episode, which is maybe the exact wrong lesson to draw from it. (Sorry, Sougo!) I love that Team Zi-O is back together under one roof, and that Woz is officially part of the team, and that Geiz hates it. The road to get here was bumpy, though, so I don’t love that part. The Time Jacker stuff is still nebulous, Hat Woz is still vaguely untrustworthy, Tsukasa is still the Wild Card who coasts on charisma in lieu of a coherent strategy, and the last four episodes of Tsukuyomi’s arc is something I am going to erase from my brain at the end of this sentence. But Geiz and Sougo’s friendship! Boy, that’s worth at least four uneven episodes.
__________________
Currently working on: Go-Busters is next! Archive of previous shows on KamenRiderDie.com! |
04-17-2022, 12:11 AM | #702 |
Precure enthusiast
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: Amongst the Cosmos
Posts: 304
|
Episode 28!
-Swartz is behind everything! ....Or something like that? There's like, this weird unease I have to have Sougo's inital motivation for being King being "The villians set it up!". On one hand, I guess some people might be interested in whatever Swartz is planning. But on my end, it's a frusturating answer to such a deep desire? But the show has kinda moved on(?) from Sougo's "I'll become a king" to focus more on his relationships and whatnot (very good move), so it doesnt sting as bad. -But who cares about all that because Sougo and Geiz were so good this episode!!! This episode is such a perfect display of their relationship and how much they've grown(Geiz calling Sougo his friend and how he the nicest guy he knows!!!!!) -The tie-up for Hiryuu....it's fine? Still feels like a bit of an afterthought. I liked how the solution to defeating him was just working together, because Revive can go beyond both Zi-O's future sight. -Tsukuyomi's heelturn ends as abruptly as it started. I'm kinda upset it has to do more with finding Swartz's plans, and not like, idk, believing in the other kids??? It could've been a cool character moment.... -Technically, this current arc is episodes 17-30. I totally get that why it ends at 30, but like. This totally feels like a arc's end? *A lot* happened in these last 4 episodes! The kids make up, we get Sougo's backstory, Woz moves in(Woz and Geiz being roommates is like, the funniest decision ever), we get Geiz Revive and Black Woz gets the BeyondDriver. |
04-17-2022, 12:15 AM | #703 |
Alias: ZeroEnchiladas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,570
|
I'll be honest, Hiryu is such a nothing character that I expected you to get this reaction? He doesn't really do anything special in this arc and is mostly just there as a third party to help wrap up Sougo and Geiz's stuff which is like... this is when I fell in love with their dynamic?
It's a shame about Tsukuyomi btw, really didn't like where the past several episodes took her. It really didn't add anything and you could've easily had her stuff in here without any of the "I want to kill Sougo now" stuff and I feel like it would've been better? Also I'm a fan of the time nonsense so consider me interested and I'll get back to April of 2009 at a later date cause uh... I had some theory crafting going on about stuff. Anyway back to Sougo and Geiz, yeah, this episode really cemented their true friendship and I loved it. This whole four part arc is probably my favorite because of that. And just... the entire bit of them swapping rapidly between Ride Armors, fighting off the opposite opponents to give themselves space. Just real good stuff! Team Zi-O is now fully together in one roof, and that'll make the 9-5-DO Segments even more hectic. Next episode though... we've got Diend and we've got a new Legend Rider. So we've got what I assume is Blade's first Preview Theme and then Diend's theme I think as our second one? Both good, but you know I have to go with the first one. Feels nice to get back to kind of standard music. Zero's Legend Episode Previews Corner - EP 29 Preview: Last edited by Enchilada645; 04-17-2022 at 12:18 AM.. |
04-17-2022, 12:17 AM | #704 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
|
My favorite nonsensical part to Swartz'z reveal is that THIS ONE TIME he changed his outfit when he tried to meddle with history, because the show had already established that Sougo's dream had a guy in a hat telling him he'd become king. Every other time we see Swartz, purple sleeveless coat. This one time, when he's going to kill all the witnesses anyway, he goes in a disguise. What?
__________________
Currently working on: Go-Busters is next! Archive of previous shows on KamenRiderDie.com! |
04-17-2022, 12:21 AM | #705 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
|
Quote:
It's a shame about Tsukuyomi btw, really didn't like where the past several episodes took her. It really didn't add anything and you could've easily had her stuff in here without any of the "I want to kill Sougo now" stuff and I feel like it would've been better? Also I'm a fan of the time nonsense so consider me interested and I'll get back to April of 2009 at a later date cause uh... I had some theory crafting going on about stuff.
__________________
Currently working on: Go-Busters is next! Archive of previous shows on KamenRiderDie.com! |
04-17-2022, 12:39 AM | #706 |
take me to space
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,406
|
I'm glad the only imporant parts of this episode of Zi-O landed so well with you!
As it happens, my favourite episode of Build is episode 22. It became a favourite of mine across the whole franchise the very first time I saw it. After several episodes of Sento struggling with the weight and burden of his power and all that good stuff, it all ends with an epic clash with Cross-Z Charge where Banjo saves him, overcoming his own struggles with his power through sheer force of will. The episode as a whole was a really, really good climax and showcase of the two leads' dynamic and their relationship. I never in a million years would have thought this weird, bizarre, barely-coherent show about time-travel and some doofy kid who wants to be king would ever come out with anything that reached a similar height, but episode 28 of Zi-O absolutely does and even surpasses it. Wow I really loved this one, and I loved it even more when I rewatched it like, two or three times that following week after it aired. Obviously it's all because of Sougo and Geiz, and everything from the ten minute or so mark onwards is just about perfect. Them both arrivin at that conveniently empty carpark to keep their horribly sacrificial promises with one another, and Sougo admitting he's fine with all this because this way he gets to see Geiz... Aaghgh! (< good anguish). Anyway, Another Zi-O doesn't stop being pretty weak as a villain but I'll give him thanks for being the one to drive the very next most iconic moment in the whole show for me. Geiz saving Sougo and shouting out how he's the kindest, greatest guy he knows and calls him his friend while Sougo watches in shock. Folllowing right up is one heck of an extended action sequence featuring a whole gang of Another Riders and a thorough showcase of nostalgic alternate forms. Once again, the music plays a large part in this scene, an awesome track that not only works in Toki no Ouja (and thus firmly establishing it as a consistent, recurring motif in the soundtrack from this point onwards [especially when that sad piano version plays after the fight is over]), but it also brings back those old, goofy instruments from Zi-O's regular fight music for a very dramatic return. Loved it from start to giant sword finish. And again, while I'm not particularly invested in Hiryu, Sougo's words to him (accompanied by that aforementioned piano piece) is also a really good moment for him, so I'll thank this villain for that again : P I know I'm just describing things scene by scene at this point but it really is just hit after hit, because Sougo and Geiz's conversation after it's all over is just such a great conclusion to these troubles that's been plaguing both of them for several real-time months. Sougo asks Geiz to come back to the clock store, and Geiz agrees. I guess the only thing I would change is just have Geiz himself explicitly drop all notion of having a 'final battle' at this point, which would have made Tsukiyomi dropping in begging them not to fight even more funny, and even more sweet as they laugh at her (okay that's rude, I know they're not literally laughing at her, but still!) Honestly? As much as I have never cared about any of the larger plot stuff in this show and always found it actively detrimental to my enjoyment of it, all those previous scenes left such a good impression on me that I was feeling mighty generous. White Woz is potentionally scheming something with Swartz? I decided "You know what, the show has earned me being a little interested and optimistic" so I honestly found myself looking forward to whatever that may be, alongside whatever a certain thief with a shiny new P-Bandai gun was going to get up to. I mean how could I not look forward to a bright future, after that wonderful scene of Geiz and Woz bickering, and all four of them reunited with a mostly common goal? |
04-17-2022, 12:45 AM | #707 |
Reiei
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,691
|
I liked this episode just for that confrontation between Sougo and Geiz. But I don't like that Hiryu got in the middle of it, at least the previous forms got used just to end the 2nd arc.
Next episode, Kaito!- KENZAKIIIII!!! |
04-17-2022, 01:53 AM | #708 |
New Member
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Evanston IL.
Posts: 95
|
Hiryu sucks
|
04-17-2022, 03:35 AM | #709 |
Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 2,546
|
“Oh no, that guy we didn’t need is here” - Masahiro Inoue’s Twitter after Diend was announced to return. (More on that next time)
So the most I remember about this episode is that it was the subject of TV-N’s annual “4.1” edit, where they replace the dialogue from part of the most recent episode with something comically wrong (such as Kyuranger’s theme song having the lyrics “We will bribe kids watch our show”, or Esparza declaring you can by his clothes on Premium Bandai (and the price)), in this case we got this for the last scene. Woz: I love you. Geiz: Come at me, you sexy bastard! And we find out that Schwartz has been backing Sougo to be his king, which explains how low effort his choices have been compared to the other two (Heure goes for people in situations where they don’t have a choice, while Ora prefers people too grief-stricken to think it through): he already has an ideal candidate, the rest are just fertiliser. “Thank you for watching Kamen Rider Zi-O. It’s okay not to watch next week.” - Inoue’s Twitter after this episode. |
04-17-2022, 11:25 AM | #710 |
Kaiju or Hero?
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Even I Don't Know Anymore.
Posts: 1,397
|
The last batch of the Another Zi-O/Geiz Revive arc.
Definitely did enjoy seeing the Zi-O cast join forces again, and really liked the scene where Sougo and Geiz reunited. And of course, seeing True Woz nab New Woz's driver (which along with just about everyone else, I didn't think there was going to be another Woz, so I naturally was led to believe Woz just became a Rider to put Sougo back on the road to Oma Zi-O) was fun. Do have to agree about time shenanigans involving the bus accident, which I was wondering what the heck was actually going to happen, the result was underwhelming, for lack of a better word. They made it seem like something big was going to happen, but then it just went a route that felt almost predictable, also adding holes the Swartz and the Time Jackers' plans (why didn't they do that in the first place?). It's also unfortunate how Decade felt like he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, while Hiryuu didn't leave as much of an impact as he was being built up for, and Tsukuyomi, while I can see what they were going for, just missed the mark for me. Not a bad arc, but probably not one that even qualifies as "okay," lots of buildup, with somewhat unsatisfying results, but I guess it's good that these past four episodes weren't Rider tributes. And wouldn't you know it! Next episode is Blade's tribute, along with our favorite Treasure Sniper! |
|
TokuNation News & Rumors |
Figuarts/Seihou GRIDMAN |
SH Figuarts BoonBoomger Red |
Hasbro Licenses Power Rangers Toys to Playmates Toys |
Discotek Media Licenses Mobile Cop Jiban |
What's going on with CSM? |
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:10 PM.
|