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06-29-2023, 12:07 AM | #591 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
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KAMEN RIDER REVICE EPISODE 47 - “KARIZAKI’S REBELLION, THE PRICE OF TRANSFORMING”
We’ll probably talk about this more in the Series Wrap-Up post that’ll land… Sunday?, but this episode is kind of a perfect distillation of everything that works and doesn’t within Revice as a series. There’s an escalation in the plot that feels barely motivated and almost absurdly lurching in its tonal shift, and there’s an escalation in the character development of the Igarashis that’s heartbreaking and fascinating. The plotting fails, but the character work succeeds. Like, the George thing. The crew of this episode does heroic work making Kamen Rider Juuga a terrifying threat, and George a tragic villain, but it barely feels tethered to the series thus far. It’s yet another random shift in George’s portrayal and goals, with only a couple episodes of C-plot to connect this version to the one that aimed for supportive heroism over a few dozen episodes. This one’s maybe had a mental break after losing his dad to a lifetime of devil-related sciencing, and seems to view the survival of the Igarashi family as a slap in the face. (Just my read, since we don’t really get a firm answer on George’s true motivations here. There’s a cover story, but it barely survives the first encounter intact, let alone when things get real serious.) But now he’s the Final Boss, and it feels as lackadaisically plotted as if Tamaki became the unstoppable threat of the last few episodes. But, whatever. George is the Final Boss we have, even if it’s not the Final Boss we might’ve wanted. The most important part, as anything with Revice, isn’t really the details of the plot. The villains and obstacles are just ways of testing and enhancing the bond of the Igarashi family, and that shit is golden. Like, look at this shot of Sakura realizing that her and Daiji are going to have to fight on their own to save Ikki’s dwindling memories of their family: GORGEOUS. That shot is such a goddamn bullseye that it forgives any number of poorly-motivated heel turns. The world turns to darkness as Sakura considers the consequences of Ikki’s condition. It’s the perfect encapsulation of what Ikki means to the rest of his family, and vice versa. This episode manages to extract its greatness from Ikki’s polite and well-meaning obliteration of the same love and warmth he’s fighting to protect; the pyrrhic victory as endgame adversary. Juuga’s some guy in a suit, and it could basically be any guy in a suit. What will always work on this show is how the Igarashi family has to protect one another in times of crisis. That part… so good. Every scene in Happy Spa was as tense and affecting as most other shows’ imminent destruction of the planet. I don’t give a shit about a million people in peril, but my heart breaks for a Yukimi and Genta who realize that their eldest child has forgotten them completely. It’s been a weird ass plot over the last 46 episodes, but it leveled me here. Ikki’s been sacrificing himself to protect his family, but that sacrifice is killing them emotionally. It’s putting Ikki’s gut instinct to give up his own happiness for family up against the reality that he’ll be left isolated from that same family, and breaking their hearts for that isolation. It’s impossible, and inevitable, and it’s the best possible way for this show to work towards its finale. So, yeah: Revice! Plots that bounce right off me, and character work that hits like a Rider Kick. I am still on the edge of my seat for this final arc, though.
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06-29-2023, 03:32 AM | #592 |
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So by this point… remember how I quoted MST3K in my noughts on the last episode? Well by this point, several people were evoking their riffing on “The Wild World of Batwoman” (“End, EEENNNNDDDDD!”). Mostly because George going evil and the prominence of Ikki’s amnesia appealed to near enough no-one. I did know one person suggested that Juuga might have worked if they’d used him in the 30s of the show to transition George from shady to good in an organic fashion (especially since the plot with Akaishi and Gif is generally agreed to have not needed to go on for that long), rather than at the tail end of the show, after they’ve been saying he’s a paragon of heroism, which makes the idea he could be malicious come out of nowhere.
And in lieu of any opinions (tbh, all discussion I had of this episode was how much of a fanfiction OC concept Juuga was), I’ll move on to the pictures and the skit, which I planned way in advance of most of the ones from the last 30 something episodes. Ikki: It’s Ikki’s,… Daiji: Daiji’s and… Sakura: Saku’s… All: Stamp Navi! Ikki: It seems strange to be doing this without Karizaki-san, but let’s get on with this. Todays Vistamp is… this one! Juuga! Ten genes! A powerful ambition! Great! Amazing! Wonderful! Kamen Rider! Over 9… Daiji: It’s a strange stamp, to be sure. It has the likenesses of every one of Ikki-nii’s main 10 Vistamps. Sakura: Such a power… I’ve never seen anything like it. Ikki: I have. It was the first upgrade to the Revice System Karizaki made. This stamp is like… (The video then gets interrupted, replaced with this) George: Hey, hey, hey! Yo, George Karizaki here! I’m here today to give you a sneak peak at a special item. Here it is! Behold… 10 Vistamps. I’ve succeeded in combining their powers into one. This is my new invention: the Juuga Vistamp and Juuga Driver. You’re getting a special viewing of my great transformation! Juuga Driver! Juuga! Rex! Megalodon! Eagle! Mammoth! Ptera! Lion! Jackal! Kong! Kamakiri! Brachio! George: Henshin! Scramble! Ten genes, A powerful ambition! Explode, Howl, Transcend! Kamen Rider Juuga! Go over… ! George: This is the product of the 10 Vistamps I picked especially for this! Furthermore, by scanning the Vistamps… Brachio! Absorb: Zi-O! George: … I can use the Riders’ powers. Octopus! Absorb: Drive! George: It’s truly wonderful! Eagle! Absorb: W! George: Aamazing! And the gallant lion with the Kuugalike powers… Lion! Absorb: Kuuga! George: Behold… my brilliance! Lion Mighty Attack! George: Yeeees! I’m incredible. This is a masterpiece! It’s truly exciting! Let’s try it together! Self production notes: So yeah, the second half of this is basically a translation of the second video, courtesy of TV-Nihon. If the YouTube video had been privates, I’d have replaced it with a Google Drive upload of the subbed version. Last edited by Androzani84; 06-29-2023 at 05:44 AM.. |
06-29-2023, 05:53 AM | #593 |
Ex-Weather Three leader
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 10,558
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Quote:
And Nozomu was portrayed by Issei Mamehara, J-pop boy band member and rider geek in real life. He auditioned in a survival show and became part of the group he is in now, but the real kicker is that he auditioned with the Kamen Rider Ex-aid theme song.
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Last edited by Sunred; 06-29-2023 at 06:04 AM.. |
06-29-2023, 10:56 AM | #594 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
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But I'm okay being one of the weirdos who likes how this show treats its characters! Thanks for the fun jokes and skit! ...I take back everything bad/dismissive I said about him. Best actor!!!
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06-29-2023, 04:36 PM | #595 |
Ex-Weather Three leader
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I was just dropping trivia did not mean to sway your opinion like that. Didn't expect that. But yeah it's true, he really did audition with that song.
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Last edited by Sunred; 06-29-2023 at 04:39 PM.. |
06-29-2023, 08:37 PM | #596 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
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KAMEN RIDER REVICE EPISODE 48 - “PROOF OF RESOLVE! THIS IS JAPAN’S BIGGEST BUSYBODY!”
If Revice 47 succeeds over its plot by leveraging my bottomless love for the Igarashi family, Revice 48 fails by asking me to extend the same faith and goodwill to the misbegotten melodrama of the Karizaki family. Like, the only part of this episode that worked for me, emotionally, was Ikki’s need to show George that his relationship with his father ended up being a positive for the world, and brought out the best in George. The way that it becomes Ikki’s personal responsibility, as one half of Revice, to show that Ultimate Revice is the superior technology because it was produced by father and son? That’s a fun hook for this show, and it helps make Ikki’s sacrifice more integral to the plot. It also lands a gut-punch of a climax, just off of that continuing need of Ikki’s to insert himself into any problem where he might even minimally be of use. I love that, just like the cast of this show loves it. Best part, by a mile. I mean, mostly because the rest of this episode is devoted to mining pathos and sympathy from the Karizakis, which is as foolhardy a crusade as any Rider endgame has ever embarked upon. Nothing in their idiotic backstory has ever even transcended I Hate It But I Can Ignore It. Karizaki abandoned his son to do mad science, but he felt so bad about it you guys. He stuck a devil inside his son to “watch over him”, despite the best case scenario circa 20 years ago being that it’d be a homicidal lunatic like Vail, and there’s literally no reason for Karizaki Sr to think that what he was doing would yield anything better. (It also, hilariously, never amounted to anything other than Chic popping out for a Summer Movie? Thanks, Daddy!) George has been motivated by his Daddy's legacy occasionally, but the show rarely seemed to make it a focal point of George’s motivation. (George’s character and motivation being a perennial moving target for this series did not help things!) Surpassing Daddy as a coping mechanism… it’s fine, but it’s Around Episode 36 Fine, not something that needs to occur over two of the last four episodes. It’s just… I do not give a single shit if George forgives a man who was absent by choice, and regretted it on his deathbed. I think it’s healthier not to hang onto hate, but I don’t think George is harming himself by telling Ikki that one positive outcome doesn’t mean everyone needs to let parental abandonment roll off of their backs. Karizaki Sr loving the son he abandoned by choice doesn’t absolve the trauma of abandoning that son by choice. It’s such a shitty story to tell, even if this episode had miraculously found a way to tell it with sensitivity and nuance. (Which it did not, for me at least.) Why in the world are we supposed to care if the flip-flopping mad scientist gets over his Daddy/daddy issues with his deceased deadbeat father? Beyond serving as a way to further illuminate Ikki’s character, which was incredibly welcome, why did this particular story need to be told? Why hinge Ikki’s greatness on the most reprehensible characters? Why not create a better story for Ikki to lose everything in? Because that ending! So good! The polite smile on Ikki’s face as he wonders why these two strangers are calling him Brother and crying! HOLY SHIT! Gangbusters finale, and it walloped me in a way that George’s histrionics resolutely did not. Well, whatever. Hopefully this Karizaki shit can now be done with forever, because I cannot tell you how invested I am in the Igarashis’ dilemma. One of my favorite endgame storylines of all time, no joke.
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06-29-2023, 08:51 PM | #597 |
I have a problematic type
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 10,426
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I think that the idea of George being motivated by his relationship with his father is a good idea at its core, but the legwork to make it work just did not exist.
Also, as someone who's followed these threads from the start, it's really interesting to see you get this invested in a plot that centers around amnesia, of all things. |
06-29-2023, 08:52 PM | #598 |
Veteran Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,290
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Quote:
KAMEN RIDER REVICE EPISODE 47 - “KARIZAKI’S REBELLION, THE PRICE OF TRANSFORMING”
Like, the George thing. The crew of this episode does heroic work making Kamen Rider Juuga a terrifying threat, and George a tragic villain, but it barely feels tethered to the series thus far. It’s yet another random shift in George’s portrayal and goals, with only a couple episodes of C-plot to connect this version to the one that aimed for supportive heroism over a few dozen episodes. This one’s maybe had a mental break after losing his dad to a lifetime of devil-related sciencing, and seems to view the survival of the Igarashi family as a slap in the face. (Just my read, since we don’t really get a firm answer on George’s true motivations here. There’s a cover story, but it barely survives the first encounter intact, let alone when things get real serious.) But now he’s the Final Boss, and it feels as lackadaisically plotted as if Tamaki became the unstoppable threat of the last few episodes. But, whatever. George is the Final Boss we have, even if it’s not the Final Boss we might’ve wanted. Now George takes the anti-villainous path of accusing the demons as the root of the world's problems, thus trying to get rid all traces of Giff and demons. I do think that superpowers in real world can cause more trouble, and that he's basically removing any superpower/supernatural (other than himself as Juuga, purely human work) aspects in the world, but yeah, despite the dangers superpowers can create, eradicating anyone/anything with a trace of that supernatural aspect is extreme and bigoted in a world with superpowers. Though, there are still bits of George's older character here, where before George can frequently act like a manchild especially in his shady portrayal, such as pettily pouting against Vice's criticism to his Jackal design despite the impending danger. And his manchild traits are something that drags on the conflict here, like how he rejects solutions like Daiji handing him the other Rider's Drivers or burying the demon's works, he simply says it's pointless if he can't beat up the demons (e.g. Igarashis). It's similar to a child making unreasonable demands out of pettiness and a lack of restraint, with how he's sidetracked by the need to spite the demons and proving his creation, putting it ahead of the 'greater good'. Quote:
The most important part, as anything with Revice, isn’t really the details of the plot. The villains and obstacles are just ways of testing and enhancing the bond of the Igarashi family, and that shit is golden. Like, look at this shot of Sakura realizing that her and Daiji are going to have to fight on their own to save Ikki’s dwindling memories of their family:
Quote:
GORGEOUS. That shot is such a goddamn bullseye that it forgives any number of poorly-motivated heel turns. The world turns to darkness as Sakura considers the consequences of Ikki’s condition. It’s the perfect encapsulation of what Ikki means to the rest of his family, and vice versa. This episode manages to extract its greatness from Ikki’s polite and well-meaning obliteration of the same love and warmth he’s fighting to protect; the pyrrhic victory as endgame adversary. Juuga’s some guy in a suit, and it could basically be any guy in a suit. What will always work on this show is how the Igarashi family has to protect one another in times of crisis.
Quote:
That part… so good. Every scene in Happy Spa was as tense and affecting as most other shows’ imminent destruction of the planet. I don’t give a shit about a million people in peril, but my heart breaks for a Yukimi and Genta who realize that their eldest child has forgotten them completely. It’s been a weird ass plot over the last 46 episodes, but it leveled me here. Ikki’s been sacrificing himself to protect his family, but that sacrifice is killing them emotionally. It’s putting Ikki’s gut instinct to give up his own happiness for family up against the reality that he’ll be left isolated from that same family, and breaking their hearts for that isolation. It’s impossible, and inevitable, and it’s the best possible way for this show to work towards its finale.
It's the bare minimum of what they should do with the MC, not making his presence small like Revice juggling many arcs at once before, but then again, there can be another way Ikki's stakes can be established other than creating a new, sudden conflict (and another one of new, likely half-assed arc of someone), like someone else that is already established stirring up conflict, or doing this before Akaishi or Giff is defeated instead of focusing on multiple other arcs (use Daiji and Sakura in their weaker Rider form for this stake). There's also, only 4 episodes to properly establish the very MC's arc, being finally known what's the problem of Ikki forgetting his memories (forgetting his parents here). Revice being a wasted potential had double meaning, in the series after strong start, and the titular Revice IMO, in Ikki, as his potential for both family happiness here or solving Rider sensibility problem of turning people busybodies, something not addressed often.
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06-29-2023, 09:03 PM | #599 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
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Quote:
Quote:
Seriously, though, the thing I like about this Narratively Convenient Amnesia is that it isn't some dumb pre-show detail that'll come back to haunt our cast at the most narratively-convenient time -- maybe right before the Winter Crossover. It's the consequence of a year's worth of storytelling, robbing our hero of what he cares for the most, and making the people he loves suffer for it instead of him. The irony of that! Delicious. Quote:
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06-30-2023, 02:00 AM | #600 |
King of the Rolex
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Digital World
Posts: 452
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God I wish George just stayed as amoral mad scientist kamen rider fan and maybe he could've less of a dick through character development instead of whatever the fuck they did here
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