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09-11-2022, 12:40 PM | #11 |
Suprise Gamma Future
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: USA
Posts: 2,852
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The battle royal concept is innately appealing regardless of how played out it might feel by now. It's a really good fit for the Kamen Rider world. I actually think Geats is easier to recommend to my non-toku friends as the wild suits and sound effects can be explained away with the game world- even more so than Ex-Aid.
Ryuki was an excellent show and I am enjoying the similarities in Geats. Ace being an established, somewhat overconfident protagonist might not be for everyone, but with Kabuto being my favorite Heisei show, I really like the characterization. Great start so far!
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09-11-2022, 04:11 PM | #12 |
New Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Outside Atlanta
Posts: 70
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09-11-2022, 08:36 PM | #13 |
Warrior of Delusions!
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Wait, you dont know either?
Posts: 5,825
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I am surprised they killed GinPen off this early. I mean, I was predicting someone would go to solidify the "Oh yeah Rider deaths are permanent till we hit the #30s" rule I knew was going to show, but I was calling Mary. I guess it makes sense - we do already know him, "kid with cancer" is a very easy tragic backstory - but still, strange all the same.
Episode was on the whole good though! Ace looks to be one of those guys who really wants you to think he's too cool for you even as he saves puppies in his spare time, Keiwa is hopelessly naive but is going to get that steely resolve as time wears on, and the others sure are there for now. Room to grow. And yeah, the theme. Better than Ikadevil, but not as good as Almight, nowhere near RealXEyez.
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Check out my occasional ramblings! https://akibamusings.blogspot.com/
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09-11-2022, 09:59 PM | #14 |
Veteran Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,533
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They basically already wrote a way to resurrect the dead Riders, but it's clear Keiwa is currently the only one who wants to do so.
They've found a pretty non-asspull-y way to temporarily kill off characters while at the same time managing to make death matter because the one guy that's willing to bring those people back is probably the least capable fighter in the group. It very much reminds me of Shinji's arc in Ryuki, with the most wholesome Rider being the worst fighter until realizing he needed to be stronger to help people.
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09-12-2022, 05:20 AM | #15 |
Veteran Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,290
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Yeah, would say this isn't as good as episode 1 overall, it does reduce some of this series' mysterious nature, but it's better in certain part. Other than that, this is really the definitive Kamen Rider Squid Game, as the game's seemingly not about killing off your competitors but instead various stages and missions.
It's rather quick that, now both Tsumuri and DGP have clear portrayal/explanation here. Tsumuri's someone that can contest Ace for the most mysterious character, but now she's clearly shown as someone who gathered Riders to fight against Jamatos, other than it being DGP's purpose, she's less fishy than what she's implied before, and seems that she's not a villainous scout like previous battle royale Rider series like Shiro and Sid (and thus one of the lead heroines, dunno if she or Neon is the primary), other than how she can put the Riders on danger as the game is a real war against Jamatos (with added difficulty of treasure hunting game, the players starting weak). She also seems to be no-nonsense, with her attitude against Ace's date, and among Poppy and Izu, other Takahashi's lead females, she seems to be the balance between the 2, she had some enthusiasm (and Ichigo's pose), but is still rather grounded in explaining DGP to the contestants. Outside of that, the DGP also has countermeasure like strictly prohibiting fightings in Lounge, so it had some effort to keep the well-beings of the contestants. Tsumuri and DGP still has uncovered mysteries though, like their overall origin. A contest that is about getting any of your wish granted would be bound to attract some morally dubious individuals (but no outright villains yet at this point like Asakura or Ryoma) regardless of if DGP staff has noble intentions (dunno what'd they do if the winner has dangerous wish), and Kanato Sumida/Da-Paan is a "don't judge books by its cover" scenario, but in a negative way. As a young student, Kanato has quite the "innocent" baby-faced look (with panda motif as his Rider too), but he's a cold-hearted man who brushes off anyone. But the DGP contestants are still varied though, there are those who are at least decent person, like Morio Koganeya/Mary, who accepted Neon's offer to teamup, and later... like Neon, got brushed off by Kanato too. So it seems possible that Shirowe was genuinely selfless too before, and his wish probably can be about for others' sake or such. Neon is relegated into another contestant here, but she seems to pick up the game quicker compared to Keiwa despite being another newcomer. Keiwa unwittingly gave Neon false hope though in baiting her when talking about Sara being her fan. Michinaga is also someone cocky, but as he's a meanie overall, he's the type who actually puts down others for that like Keiwa and Neon (it'd be mean regardless if they're deserving or not), while Ace is full of himself but defended them from said remark. Outside of the general episode quality, the lead characters are established well here though. Ace takes up more focus than before although Keiwa stays the POV. Keiwa's naivety shines here with him struggling to process what happened, being confused of what he should do regarding the game, or doesn't understand people enough like their desires and why would they risk their life to get what they want. Previously, Keiwa talked about people only getting married and be happy as ideal world, so here, he doesn't realize how living is more than just surviving, people can have more in their lives, something to live or work for, what they do to reach happiness. In a more morally questionable individuals, it can be those whose action save others' lives, but doesn't care if they're doing well or not (a type of anti-hero if they're good), but if Keiwa turned heel like some predictions, it can be probably him forcing others to their shell, practicallly reducing their free will as long they 'survive'. If not in a job interview, Keiwa gets along better with Takahito Taira/Ginpen, the job interviewer before. As DGP isn't a job where he had full authority there, Taira appreciates Keiwa's wish better, and due to already knowing him before, he becomes the closest to Keiwa's 'tag' partner. For Keiwa it's no question in him being the selfless one to look after other's well-beings. Despite getting along with Keiwa, he's the one that I'm a bit more suspicious of though, instead of Shirowe, as he seems to be pragmatic and business oriented in his talk about seeing the world as battlefield, just that he had soft spot for his family. Like, he can potentially act like Ren in Ryuki, regarding his desires and his worldview. Albeit, he didn't live long enough onscreen to properly get to know him. Likely due to him being a non-action businessman who can't fight well, and probably his death shows what'd happen if people like them didn't get broken Rider, unlike Masamune or Gai (at Thouser's early appearences for him) who also can't fight but can throw overwhelming power around. But yeah, he's portrayed as the character who died for other character's development, Keiwa in this case, so while his wish didn't change (for the well-being of others), he can understand the resolve to work towards that wish. Ace is a good example of how to write a mysterious character, he's still mysterious enough, but not to the point that the story gave him little to do so he remains "unknown". At the beginning, he seemingly had an utterly narcissistic wish to have him worshipped by others, though it's more of trying to test the upper limits of God of Desire's power. Dunno how intensive Ace had been testing various things in DGP. And it's kinda expected, but Ace turns out to be a douche type here like Tendou or Tsukasa. Of course the jerk with good heart type (inherent in characters that aren't meant to be made bad), but to fit his fox motives (his Rider name is, after all, "kits" from "kitsune" but replaced with "g"), he's someone manipulative and would trick other Riders to gain upper hand, worsening Keiwa's trauma, taking advantage of Keiwa's naivety that Boost only worked once too. Him donating for Taira's son's surgery shows that he's not a bad person and his story to Keiwa isn't a total lie, but if he keeps his stunt regularly, he'd be an anti-heroic type too. He seemingly can in his declaration to Keiwa that his wish doesn't matter before his victory, it may indicate he's cutthroat too (and probably it gave Keiwa false hope to think that he can try changing the world before). I have a problem though in this part, if Ace secretly fulfilled Keiwa's wish, Keiwa should've talked about Taira's son, especially after hearing Ace talk about helping children. The fights here are better too compared to previous episode, IMO. There are some neat moves pulled in the fights, like Buffa pinning a Jamato under his foot, because his Zombie Buckle pour poison downwards, or Ace using his Raise Water to whack Jamatos instead if it can't shoot water. For all his hypercompetence, seems that not everything is going on Ace's favor (especially flirting), like Raise Water not working at first. And when he uses Boost, there's sick combo too of pummeling the Jamato using Boost while also using Raise Water as surprise weapon by embedding it in tree. It feels better to watch for me than just going stylish while using a long-ranged weapon.
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The most complete non-wiki encyclopedias for Kamen Rider series (currently only found Ryuki and OOO's). Last edited by DreadBringer; 09-12-2022 at 06:03 AM.. |
09-12-2022, 05:27 AM | #16 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Tokyo, Las Vegas, & Honolulu
Posts: 180
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I have a feeling that a lot of animosity is there only to hide the riders working together against whoever is in control of the desire games. The concierge guy in the white suit is definitely a candidate for final boss.
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09-12-2022, 02:25 PM | #17 |
Dai Shogun
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Germany
Posts: 7,525
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Very interesting show so far, I enjoyed watching this episode. Very high stakes and drama already, damn. I'm kind of fascinated by a main Rider who can be a huge douchebag sometimes. I mean they nerfed his attitude a bit in the end by showing his caring side, which they kind of need to do so the kids watching still cheer for him, but I wish they left that side of him a bit more hidden.
Oh well, he's a fox, a trickster, so not just a bad guy. It needs balance. What I like about this show so far the most is probably that the enemies take a backseat which I think is good. You don't need to introduce the "generals" early on like - I think every Reiwa show so far did? Zero-One had Metsubojinrai.net (at least two of them) in the first episode; Saber the three evil guys whose names I've forgotten, plus Calibur, and Revice had all the Deadmans. So Geats just says "here's evil dudes just because" and uses that saved time on characters, world building and action instead. I like that. |
09-12-2022, 02:58 PM | #18 |
Rising above Dreams!
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: In the back of your mind
Posts: 1,059
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Quote:
I've decided not to follow this show weekly due to toku burnout but does anyone remember that drama here on Tokunation a while back when someone ranted on and on in a thread about how they wished tokusatsu was more mainstream in the west and started saying stuff like how Squid Game was causing people to shift more to k-drama and that it was causing the downfall of toku or something because people can't read subtitles?
Well, if the person who said those things is reading this, here you go. Kamen Rider Squid Game. I hope you're happy. |
09-12-2022, 05:07 PM | #19 |
I have a problematic type
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 10,410
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Man, if I had a nickel for every time tokusatsu pulled the "I don't think I can fight, oh wait, someone else got hurt so now I recognize the stakes and have personal motivation" card I could retire early.
I liked the action this week and some of the early character interaction, but the stuff with Diet Tendou and Kagami Zero Sugar left me a bit flat. It's not that there was anything bad about it, just that it's stuff I've seen before in other tokusatsu shows. I immediately knew, for instance, that Ace was lying to steal Boost from Keiwa because it's what any other morally gray Rider would do in the situation. I could feel Inoue and Yonemura's DNA all over that scene. It looked good, but it felt very much like something that was just reused from Faiz or Kabuto. I'm sure the show will do more to differentiate itself as it goes along, but a lot of this episode felt very "been there, done that" in terms of building Keiwa and Ace as characters. Theme song is okay. Not a total banger like Ex-Aid's, not audio diarrhea like Saber's. Quote:
The part where the enemies are carrying the power-ups that the Riders use to fight them, though? Getting some massive red flags from that. Not sure what the relationship is between them and the people running the game and break room, but no way it's as simple as trying to stop an invasion. |
09-12-2022, 09:13 PM | #20 |
Kaiju or Hero?
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Even I Don't Know Anymore.
Posts: 1,397
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Forgot to mention in Episode 1, but I loved how the Jamato do a Showa Grunt move surrounding Geats. (Yes, I rewatched the first episode)
Honestly, I'm liking Geats so far. It's got some good stakes this time around, but man, I wish Ginpei and Shirokuma stuck around longer. I also think the gimmick items this season fit perfectly with the theme, just having a scavenger hunt for items feels like a great way to use them, and I enjoy that. I knew Geats (The Star of The Stars of The Stars) was baiting Tycoon, and I kind of like how they made him a complete jerk in line with his Fox motif but has a side that actually does care deep down. I'm honestly wondering if he's in his own way granting other people's wishes, since he donated to Ginpei's (I know I'm probably getting his name wrong) kid. The Theme Song is... Not my favorite. I really do think I prefer the other three Reiwa openings over this. Like I said last time, it kind of does sound like LiveXDevil but not as slapping, it's okay, but it doesn't overtake the others. The visuals just scream Break the Chain at that one scene or a darker version of RealXEyes in others. Next Episode: Danger! Danger! Death the Crisis! Dangerous Zombie.
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