[Switchblade]

I kinda like adding a third episode to each arc instead of the classic two. It gives the stories a bit more room to breathe and develop, although I did feel like the second half of this episode suffered a bit from being mostly just some extended denouement for the case.

Also, I've been debating whether or not to mention it, but I wouldn't mind if the show was less aggressively horny. I'm not a prude by any definition, but I feel like there's an appropriate time and place for everything and all of the bouncing tits and underwear shots just don't feel like they belong in Kamen Rider to me.

[DreadBringer]

Late here for previous occupants, but the last few episodes are 3 parts, instead of double parts, not like many Rider stories, but just how W is structured in the series of the double meaning letter titles.

Yeah Philip started out W as cold and abrasive, but I thought he had grown out of it in the end of the series (though I felt that his "mad scientist" vibe is finally addressed here by Shotaro, when talking about his fascination), thus I thought they're regressing him back when he mistreats Tokime. Though actually the TV series development sticks when he quickly apologizes to Tokime when he realizes his mistake after learning from Akiko, for his irrational disdain to her due to jealousy. He just didn't know all 100% social cues yet.

Akiko can be occassionally teasing in the main TV series, but here that trait of hers is much more significant here than usual, to solve Philip's problem above. It's instead used to assure Philip that he's gaining more humanity, even if it's a rather negative trait here (of jealousy), but that also means it can be understood and be dealt with. And here comes Akiko's slipper slap the first time... with the target being one of Meganeura Dopants' dragonflies instead of a human.

There was a red herring that Maji-P seems to be the main villain of this 3 parter in his aggressive and inconsiderate behavior to forcibly drag Monako into becoming Megu, which implies he only cares about his company's image (while also setting up the fight between Megu with Mihara), but turns out it's Midori which was the jealous one. And perhaps Maji-P being aggressive was him being desperate under the Maxsoft executives' behavior before he's finally fed up of their greed, not Maji-P's. To tackle the greed of Maxsoft (along with Monako)... there's a sacrifice though, in the Mon-Rado fanbase.

For once, compared to how Philip and Terui are often the one to be shilled, here, it's Shotaro who is valued the most by the client for opening her eyes of the positive side of her (and Shotaro's job) of making people smile. I'd wish Shotaro instead used his own phrase of "not letting others cry" instead there. But it's an irony in the end that despite Monako holding Shotaro in high regard while still valuing the others, Shotaro felt neglected to not be viewed as a Kamen Rider, as well as feeling useless in this case.... and others not really explaining how W works that Shotaro's consciousness is transfered to Philip (or vice-versa) that Shotaro's still fighting there. It's an irony too that, he didn't know that Philip (and Akiko) annoying him by implying a ship between him and Shotaro was (jokes aside, probably was Philip learning about LGBTQ)... how Tokime and Philip's beef was resolved.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPLIT LIP

Not sure how I feel about the resolution between Tokime and Philip... mostly because Philip was absolutely right. Tokime is just a random girl who showed up, got slotted into their dynamic, and then royally screws up at the worst time. She doesn't actually do anything, either. I would be a bit more sympathetic if she didn't then snap back at Philip with a nonsensical retort.

Sorry for replying to this for long time, but it's not about invalidating what Philip said, but here's the thing; honesty without tact is cruelty. Yes Tokime screwed up there, but anyone who screwed up doesn't have a right to be mercilessly verbally abused or such, or that anyone who makes right statements are immune to any further criticism (which can include outright villains, of which their right points doesn't justify what they did or can even be invalidated with their actions), of which it's also common for them to milk it to enjoy the brutality (instead of the honesty) and get away with it. There's a difference between constructive criticism and just being mean to put others down, and tact can be employed in being honest too, it's not always 'sugarcoating' something if it's not 'brutally honest'.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frontier

New outfit for Tokime! We get get to see her get dressed and a fabulous shot of her fine butt in panties as she puts her pants on! And her top isn't translucent anymore, but it accentuates her figure quite well all the same. They're also courtesy of Shotaro! Should we ask how Shotaro knew her size though.

A̶n̶d̶ ̶a̶f̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶p̶u̶t̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶p̶a̶n̶t̶s̶ ̶o̶n̶,̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶r̶e̶'̶s̶ ̶a̶ ̶s̶h̶o̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶z̶i̶p̶p̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶b̶o̶o̶t̶s̶ ̶o̶n̶.̶ ̶S̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶h̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶d̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶r̶e̶v̶e̶r̶s̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶z̶i̶p̶ ̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶b̶o̶o̶t̶s̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶s̶o̶m̶e̶ ̶p̶l̶a̶c̶e̶s̶ ̶o̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶n̶ ̶b̶a̶t̶h̶i̶n̶g̶.̶.̶ ̶l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶S̶h̶o̶t̶a̶r̶o̶'̶s̶ ̶b̶e̶d̶.̶ About Tokime dressing on though, with her being heavily guarded by Akiko (with threatening slippers that has anti-boy writings), maybe looking too much on it but that reminds of the double standards where girls get that protection even from any accidental or unwarranted mistakes, but it'd be ok for boys to be peeked on (or stalked, etc.), or even getting themselves beaten up for a girl accidentally peeks them...

[Frontier]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

Also, I've been debating whether or not to mention it, but I wouldn't mind if the show was less aggressively horny. I'm not a prude by any definition, but I feel like there's an appropriate time and place for everything and all of the bouncing tits and underwear shots just don't feel like they belong in Kamen Rider to me.

It feels like they're catering a bit more to a manga/anime audience now...

[Mesnick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

Also, I've been debating whether or not to mention it, but I wouldn't mind if the show was less aggressively horny. I'm not a prude by any definition, but I feel like there's an appropriate time and place for everything and all of the bouncing tits and underwear shots just don't feel like they belong in Kamen Rider to me.

As far as I remember, the manga was written with an older W audience in mind. Given that the show came out in 2009, and the comic in 2017, these are teenagers 13-15 years old. At this age, because of hormones, only boobs are thought of, and, apparently, all this erotica is just introduced to please their tastes. Although yes, I would rather expect that from Sakamoto than Sanjo.

[Daikaijuman54]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

Also, I've been debating whether or not to mention it, but I wouldn't mind if the show was less aggressively horny. I'm not a prude by any definition, but I feel like there's an appropriate time and place for everything and all of the bouncing tits and underwear shots just don't feel like they belong in Kamen Rider to me.

I'm not bothered by it, but I understand others ain't. There are nudes in the Manga, so this is not as graphic, but still.

I don't argue against the "For Older Audience," or the "Anime=Fanservice" angle, but another factor is W's inspiration from Noir Detective stories which are equally, if not, more loaded with that kind of content.

But to each their own. I understand the concerns, I'm not a fan either but I don't mind it either.

[SPLIT LIP]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadBringer

Sorry for replying to this for long time, but it's not about invalidating what Philip said, but here's the thing; honesty without tact is cruelty.

Honesty without tact is honesty. Nothing cruel about it. If she's going to be working as a detective investigating Fuuto's seedy underbelly she's going to need a thicker skin than that.

Quote:

Yes Tokime screwed up there, but anyone who screwed up doesn't have a right to be mercilessly verbally abused or such

He wasn't "mercilessly verbally abusive." That's very over-dramatic. Philip was a bit harsh, yes, but his demeanour was calm and he was factually correct. Tokime screwed up and got his partner seriously inured on top of compromising their investigation.

Quote:

or that anyone who makes right statements are immune to any further criticism

Except Tokime's retort wasn't criticism, it was transparent insults hurled back without any thought. It made no sense and she only said it because she was hurt and wanted to be rude right back at Philip in a blatantly childish way.

The fact that Tokime didn't even apologize just goes to show how the plot was favouring her over Philip and it's incredibly transparent. If it was really about tact and being constructive she would have also been humble and apologized for what she said to him. Instead her insults are still withstanding, and Philip is expected to just accept her words.

See this is the problem with Tokime that I'm remembering from my brief time with the manga: The story wants to validate her existence because she really doesn't serve any purpose besides TnA either in this show or the original manga. She has very little in the way of character or function in the story and is just a generic pretty anime girl because they can have one of those now. They weren't going to over-sexualize Akiko (than God) so they needed someone to fill that appeal slot because it's for an "older audience" now and we need that apparently.

I don't even dislike the character, but I dislike how the plot centers around her. When she's not in the forefront she'd quite tolerable but events centered around her tended to be highly contrived.

Quote:

There's a difference between constructive criticism and just being mean to put others down, and tact can be employed in being honest too, it's not always 'sugarcoating' something if it's not 'brutally honest'.

Considering that at this point Tokime had shown no level of professionalism or care whatsoever I don't see why she deserved sugarcoating or tact. She was quite literally getting a free ride, probational release despite being an opportunistic thief and she got to live at Shotaro's place for free. She had a very simple task and that was to not abandon the client and she did. (again, nobody knows that she was in a weird trance) From Philip's perspective his criticism was absolutely valid.

[Kurona]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

Also, I've been debating whether or not to mention it, but I wouldn't mind if the show was less aggressively horny. I'm not a prude by any definition, but I feel like there's an appropriate time and place for everything and all of the bouncing tits and underwear shots just don't feel like they belong in Kamen Rider to me.

It feels very... pandering? Like just, very shoehorned in where it doesn't add anything and it just gets annoying more than anything. I cringed so hard so many times in episode 1

[SPLIT LIP]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurona

It feels very... pandering? Like just, very shoehorned in where it doesn't add anything and it just gets annoying more than anything. I cringed so hard so many times in episode 1

I think the difference comes down to the fact that in a manga you can gloss over the shots of titties and ass as fast (or slow) as you want, but in an anime you don’t have a choice but to linger along with the show whenever it decides it wants to. (Which is way more often than I remember)

Again, it’s still toned down from the manga believe it or not, and I think I would cringe less if it wasn’t for the fact that it’s more or less all Tokime exists to do. We’ve gotten more gratuitous body shots than we have Henshin sequences in this Kamen Rider series.

[Frontier]

I mean, to be honest I don't think they're even focusing on it that much and the fanservice was shared between her and Monako in this arc, and this arc was really about Tokime proving herself and showing that she can commit to being a member of the Narumi Detective Agency when push come to shove, which is why she's accepted by everybody at the end.

Obviously the show isn't downplaying that she's an attractive woman but I think her character development and relationship with the other characters will be one of the shows' central arcs, especially since she's connected to the villains.

[Switchblade]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurona

It feels very... pandering? Like just, very shoehorned in where it doesn't add anything and it just gets annoying more than anything. I cringed so hard so many times in episode 1

Right? I thought episode 5 was doing really well about toning things down, then we get to the closing action scene and the Dopant just rips off half of Tokime's shirt for no legitimate reason.