[Enchilada645]

I honestly don't have much to say about this other than... I really enjoyed that Aruto spared Horobi, which is something that the show crew was talking about prior to the episode as "Something never before done in Rider" and that is true I feel. It's been a while since I've seen a lot of series but I feel like Horobi's the first final opponent that's been spared?

Overall a pretty cool fight, not my favorite, but I love how it mostly just devolves into two grief filled people trying to sort out their feelings and I love that? Also I know a lot of people don't like Realizing Hopper but I dig it for a few reasons, none too important but I dig it.

Fun Fact: The Thouser Squad has names, Milly, Billy, Tri, and Quad.

Also one thing that I absolutely hated about talk surrounding this episode was how "I can't believe they pulled a Decade!" and like. I don't know... I don't feel like it's even on that level? Like Toei can't do that again, they've gone on record saying that they got hounded by people for doing a stunt like that. The main story that wanted to be told was finished this episode, Azu is basically just our person who'll allow further spin-offs. Like how our Mr. Paradise guy is just a tease that there's still more to come for this series that got cut short due to outside complications. More specifically a certain summer movie that had to get delayed and released in the Winter.

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nokination

So I guess Fuwa did somewhat get through to him, but apparently not enough for Aruto to not still go and fight Horobi and start an entire war, but I guess it's fine since Horobi is supposedly the only one who can stop him (clearly he still has some control of his body, so couldn't he just throw away the Progrisekey?) Horobi manages to defeat Aruto (and destroy the Ark driver too), and we see that Aruto is doing this to try and 'show Horobi what the heart is' which is a sentence that doesn't really make much sense when you think about it, and also sounds very cheesy, but it does sound like the kind of thing I'd expect to hear from Zero-One, so I guess it's alright?

I think it's less that Aruto doesn't/didn't have control of his body, but more that he didn't have control of his emotions. There's something broken inside of him, and if Horobi doesn't kill him, he's just going to keep hurting people. He's fighting Horobi so that Horobi can end his suffering.

But the larger problem is that that's saving Aruto (from his pain, at least) at the cost of saving Horobi. By abandoning his suicide run, Aruto has a chance to save both of them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nokination

We finally end off with Aruto making a new Izu, who has none of the memories and merely looks the same and acts the same as pre-Singularity Izu, which I know some people really don't like, but I personally don't mind it. And that's it for the show, it's a bit weird to know that it's over, I've left messages here since episode 17 and so even though there's still more side content left, it's a bit melancholic to see the show go.

Ha ha, I always feel that way in these threads. I get so used to the routine of watching episodes and talking about them, but then I lift my head up and: it's done. Show's done. Like you said, more content still to be covered (so much content), but there's a bittersweet feeling to reaching the final TV episode.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enchilada645

Also one thing that I absolutely hated about talk surrounding this episode was how "I can't believe they pulled a Decade!" and like. I don't know... I don't feel like it's even on that level? Like Toei can't do that again, they've gone on record saying that they got hounded by people for doing a stunt like that. The main story that wanted to be told was finished this episode, Azu is basically just our person who'll allow further spin-offs. Like how our Mr. Paradise guy is just a tease that there's still more to come for this series that got cut short due to outside complications. More specifically a certain summer movie that had to get delayed and released in the Winter.

Yeah, I... people really think this show didn't have an ending? It has an incredibly definitive ending! There's an acknowledgement that these people will have further lives and adventures (and new villains will arise), but, like, the point of everything Aruto fought and suffered for is to create a future for all of these people. Why would you never want to see this cast again? What was unresolved from this 45-episode story?

Toku viewers! I sometimes dislike them!

[TheRaizin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER ZERO-ONE EPISODE 45 - ?EACH ONE?S FUTURE?

So, they've never established or rather set in stone what 'Kamen Rider' actually means in the show. Everyone just kind of has their own definition of it. However, I still had a dumb smile on my face when Aruto said "We're Kamen Rider, aren't we?" because saying those that in any kind of hopeful way always just gives me the happy feelings.

It was nice to see them give the Rising Hopper suit back in action as the ultimate end to this conflict, however I feel as though it's not quite right for it be the suit that beats Horobi. I think it would've been more thematically powerful if Aruto used Zero-Two or used Realizing Hopper with the Zero-Two driver to signify that this by Aruto's own will.

Also, Zero-Two is Zero-One's final form. No, Realizing isn't, Metal Cluster isn't either, Zero-Two is the final form for Aruto. Realizing and its successors are in their own subcategory.

And then the final piece to end the show on left me scratching my head and attempted coping. After everything Aruto went through, after endlessly claiming that Humagears are their own people, that they are irreplaceable. He... Builds another Izu?!

I was dumbfounded. This is so wrong in so many levels. I would have been fine if he made another Humagear secretary so long as it wasn't a literal duplicate of Izu, Shesta doesn't even help either, basically uttering what is so wrong about it and then he just smiles like nothing is wrong with it. Morally reprehensible from Aruto.

[Kamen Rider Die]

[QUOTE=TheRaizin;836393]So, they've never established or rather set in stone what 'Kamen Rider' actually means in the show. Everyone just kind of has their own definition of it. However, I still had a dumb smile on my face when Aruto said "We're Kamen Rider, aren't we?" because saying those that in any kind of hopeful way always just gives me the happy feelings.

Yeah, I like how everyone considers themselves a Kamen Rider so long as they're willing to fight for their beliefs. It doesn't take a Driver or whatever. You just gotta fight for something bigger than yourself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRaizin

And then the final piece to end the show on left me scratching my head and attempted coping. After everything Aruto went through, after endlessly claiming that Humagears are their own people, that they are irreplaceable. He... Builds another Izu?!

I was dumbfounded. This is so wrong in so many levels. I would have been fine if he made another Humagear secretary so long as it wasn't a literal duplicate of Izu, Shesta doesn't even help either, basically uttering what is so wrong about it and then he just smiles like nothing is wrong with it. Morally reprehensible from Aruto.

So, I sort of didn't like it at first, either. It seems disrespectful. (Fukuzoe sort of calls it out as such.) But then I thought about who was doing it, and why.

Aruto had a dad. That dad died, and he got a new robot dad.

The idea of replacing a loved one with a robot, and forging a new connection off of that... I think that's how Aruto first learned to deal with grief? It's not him replacing Izu; it's him honoring Izu. He names his new secretary after Izu. It's a chance to forge a new bond, and a chance to give this Izu the future the destroyed Izu never got to experience.

Like, it's maybe not healthy! But I think it's within the reality of Aruto's life.

[TheRaizin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

So, I sort of didn't like it at first, either. It seems disrespectful. (Fukuzoe sort of calls it out as such.) But then I thought about who was doing it, and why.

Aruto had a dad. That dad died, and he got a new robot dad.

The idea of replacing a loved one with a robot, and forging a new connection off of that... I think that's how Aruto first learned to deal with grief? It's not him replacing Izu; it's him honoring Izu. He names his new secretary after Izu. It's a chance to forge a new bond, and a chance to give this Izu the future the destroyed Izu never got to experience.

Like, it's maybe not healthy! But I think it's within the reality of Aruto's life.

We don't even know if Aruto's dad was present at all in his life, I only ever recall him talking about his Humagear dad. And he never brought him back, it'd be tarnishing the sacrifice he's done for Aruto.

It'd be more morally sound if he made another humagear, a different person, someone else to experience the life Izu-One never got. This is a really horrible move on his part. I can't agree with any of this.

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRaizin

It'd be more morally sound if he made another humagear, a different person, someone else to experience the life Izu-One never got. This is a really horrible move on his part. I can't agree with any of this.

Fair enough! I'm sorry it didn't work for you!

[Frontier]

I think there's something very simplistic and powerful about a Rider finale that's ultimately just one big clash of ideals, action, and FX between the hero and the final boss, especially when it's been so built up and is so poignant to the series' central conflict. It kind of makes it so the rest of the cast doesn't get as much to do, but the show is called Kamen Rider Zero-One.

Speaking of which...Realize Hopper! Such a last-minute "Final Form" which is basically just an excuse to bring back the base form one last time, and really the kickstarter of a trend, yet at the same time...it is nice to see the suit again, what it symbolizes of Aruto retaking his dream and ideals to become a hero once more, and the connection between him and Is that is the core of the story.

And it's pretty nice that Aruto defeats Horobi but doesn't destroy him, instead saving him and connecting with him to end the fighting and finally achieve some semblance of peace. And it's always kind of cool when we get a win that doesn't end in a destruction. But it still ends in a Rider Kick, of course!

Also, just the acting of Horobi when he talks about how much he hates Aruto after what happened to Jin but realizing that that must have been what killing Is felt like for Aruto...just the pure, raw, emotion, was great.

Also, I like how it's in the final episode and when basically telling off As how badly she underestimated him that Jin finally calls Aruto by his name instead of Zero-One.

And as we resolve the main conflict (for now) we get everyone moving on to the next legs of their journey after taking in all the lessons and experiences they gained through the show...Yua leading a newly refurbished and proper AIMS with Naki, Fuwa going full vigilante, saving people when they need saving no matter the rules, Gai starting from scratch with Thouser in tow, Horobi auditioning for a Demon Slayer stage play and making it a father/son trip, and Ikazuchi back with his bro.

But we can't forget about Aruto and how he brings back Is. She's not the same Is and she might never be, especially since she's starting from scratch, but just like Is was there for him throughout his journey and helped him become the man he is today, he's going to be there for this Is and help her become the person he knows she can be, because Aruto still needs her.

Oh, and here's some Summer Movie teasing!

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frontier

Also, just the acting of Horobi when he talks about how much he hates Aruto after what happened to Jin but realizing that that must have been what killing Is felt like for Aruto...just the pure, raw, emotion, was great.

Horobi was really great in this episode. I think the bit that hit me the hardest was when he was screaming about how his hatred of humans was because they cursed him with a heart. It's a vulnerability to Horobi that he's been trying to keep hidden for 44 episodes, and now he can't do anything but feel things. Very strong scene.

[Androzani84]

And that’s all she wrote. (Ok not really, but I’m not a fan of the post show movies. the Genm/Thouser TTFC stuff however…). And I’ll end it with a look at the exclusives from the Memorial Progrisekey set: HIDEN Intelligence.

Progrise: Initialise! Realising Hopper! A rider kick to the sky turns to take off toward a dream.

Progrise: I leap toward a dream with a President. Secretary: Is.

Or alternatively:

Cannot Read.

So overall, I liked the resolution being Aruto becoming Zero-One once more, and that there was a reason for once that the base form manages to overpower the final villain that gave the strongest form a hard time (Ark-One counts as a Zero-One form both for his page on official websites and for this example). My one downside to this is that I’m a little too cavalier with the spoiler (it’s a miracle I didn’t mention it at all throughout this thread before now)

[Daikaijuman54]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I'll see you in about half an hour!

Proceeds to sleep instead.

But seriously, if I'd known beforehand, I'd have stuck around. No worries.

So, we've now reached the big turning point in the show. ARK Gets beaten with the "help" of Metsuboujinrai, then Horobi proceeds to inherit the ARK's will anyway and kills Izu. I'm sure we all knew Izu was going to bite the dust at some point, moreso given that she has no backup, meaning she's one of the few Humagears who get perma-killed.

And then ARK-One is born, with Aruto now inheriting that power, and like with the previous ARK, he flexes his power on everyone, until Naki gives Fuwa some extra firepower to oppose him. And while a recolor of Assault Wolf with Naki's colors, it's still a nice-looking suit, maybe even like this color palette better than Assault. While ARK-One looks like a zombie Zero-One, which is a neat idea, it still retains its mish-matched machine monster look from old ARK, but with some of Zero-One's design being mixed into the machine.

I also want to take a moment to appreciate Fukuzoe and his companion (whose name escapes me at the moment). These two, while were more like comedic characters in the early, who did a good job on entertaining me, Fukuzoe, who does indeed deserve to be a boss, has an incredible role in the ARK Arc (that sounded more redundant than in my head) showing how great he is as a president, even accepting Aruto's views of Humagears which shows how Aruto, while just thrown in because he's the founder's grandson, he still made an impact on them all, and he really makes this arc worthwhile.

Now we have the final confrontation between Horobi, now given an ARK Makeover, and while not as mixed quite as well as ARK-One, I actually love ARK Horobi's look very well, as it looks more like Horobi has more control of the ARK than Aruto, giving more Horobi to the ARK suit, and Aruto/ARK-One. Which is quite a setup for their battlefield, with a bunch of weapons strewn about for them to pull out and fight with, it was a neat way to set it all up.

Then finally, we get that Deus-ex Machina to bring Aruto back to Zero-One and once more, take off toward a dream and the true final form is revealed, Realizing Hopper! It's just Rising Hopper, but they wanted it to feel special, which I won't complain about, since Rider usually finishes off the season with their base forms anyway (with some exceptions), and boy! The fights throughout the ARK Saga were amazing! Even with current events, they pulled some amazing fight scenes in this arc, and made the best with what they got.

I'd say much more about this, but I also just woke up, so my tired brain likely messed up in places, but I'll have an extra post to cover some other details (which will probably focus on how the "Pandemic" Arc fared and some other points I'd like to mention), but for now. Zero-One set up Reiwa's most unique trait so far, and that's it's fantastic action scenes.