|
Community Links |
Members List |
Search Forums |
Advanced Search |
Go to Page... |
|
Thread Tools |
10-11-2020, 11:40 AM | #241 |
Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 2,551
|
Quote:
Akira doesn’t ever go to school. They’re too damn busy fighting monsters, and she’s too damn good at it
I won’t spoil anything, but let’s just say this particular character trait is what ended up endearing me to Akira the next time it gets brought up. |
10-11-2020, 12:36 PM | #242 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
|
Quote:
I really enjoy when folks are able to passionately argue for (or just talk about) the parts of a show that, for some reason, I don't talk about. I love getting to hear other viewpoints, other analysis. It's the best part of a fandom. For me and this episode specifically, it's more that I really really wanted to talk about the romantic comedy parts, and didn't feel that into discussing the action-y parts. Not that they were bad! Or unimportant! I just didn't... it wasn't what was at the top of my brain. I imagine a lot of the stuff I didn't touch on (Ibuki's heroic attributes, the idea of the monsters appearing in the city) will be things that get a little more excavation in the second part of the story. Quote:
I actually imagine that Toei was more okay with this episode. Aside from the stuff at the beginning, everything is filmed in Tokyo. No having to haul an entire crew out into the mountains, no nighttime shoots, just a bunch of stuff in a normal urban environment. The accountants at Toei had to be real happy with this one.
Quote:
I've always considered this episode's Douji and Hime to be two of the most memorable. They're such a weird-looking pair of characters: the Hime looking proud and regal with her half-veil, the Douji crawling around on all fours with a giant mustache like he's about to go off and do narration for Saber. It really does kinda feel like two monsters who were asked to infiltrate human society and have no idea what humans are like or how to blend in with them.
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
It's the kind of simple but effective twist on the formula that shows would no longer be able to do so easily as hero tokusatsu moved more and more towards endless form changes and gimmicks. You take a Full Bottle away from Build, and he just pulls out two more. You take Ibuki's trumpet gun away, and it forces him to fundamentally adjust his entire style, relying on slick wind-powered melee moves that maybe don't move merchandise quite as well, but make for a supremely entertaining piece of television. Kinda the overall theme with this show, I guess.
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
A lot of what's happening before that big apprentice discussion in 16 is Asumu investing so much in Hibiki (a gifted compass becomes totemic), while Hibiki is out living his life and sort-of occasionally wondering whatever happened to that kid from the forest. There's a gigantic disparity between how Asumu looks up to Hibiki, and how Hibiki cares about Asumu. I can totally see Hibiki having to take a couple months to figure out if this kid is worth his time and energy. Quote:
This is my personal favorite arc and it's an Ibuki focus! I'm very invested in Ibuki/Kasumi. It's nice to see how much Ibuki values Kasumi's opinion and his determination to prove himself as an independent Oni and something even more important about his responsibility.
Quote:
Quote:
This is the first episode where Akira is shown going to school, and Ibuki calls her out halfway through. And this is after acknowledging that she should probably be in school more! (Although I guess a half-day is better than the no-days she'd been going?)
__________________
Currently working on: Go-Busters is next! Archive of previous shows on KamenRiderDie.com! |
10-11-2020, 09:07 PM | #243 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
|
KAMEN RIDER HIBIKI VOLUME 18 - "UNRELENTING HURRICANE"
"Honey we don't need that much: Flannel shirts and coffee in camping cups We'll use our hands to work and love Oh, the blessings that will come Honey we don't need that much: A winter fire, a summer swimming hole Just hold me tight and hold me close Through the seasons I'll watch you grow" -Mount Moriah, "Honey, We Don't Need That Much" So, we can end the series here, right? I can't imagine why you'd need any more of this show. It's perfect, and beautiful, and prolonging it is just diminishing it. This one... god, what can I even say? Ostensibly an Ibuki spotlight, this episode casts its net far and wide, giving every character (except Todoroki, who is busy with a physical) a chance to demonstrate their worth to not just this narrative, but the entire concept of Kamen Rider Hibiki. This episode is a love letter to everyone who considers themselves a fan of this show. While the last episode felt like something made just for me, this one feels like an episode for all of us. The arc is fairly straight-forward, considering the Douji and Hime got knocked off at the end of the last episode. There's a giant anglerfish deep beneath Tokyo, and the Oni need to track it down and explode it. Todoroki is undergoing that physical (which, my one regret is that the show didn't have at least one cut-away to whatever an Oni Physical looks like), and Hibiki is on his way from the forest. That leaves Ibuki, partially injured after getting acid sprayed on him, to face the beast himself. There's some time spent narrowing down its location, but it's not just eating up the clock. It's time where Kasumi gets to see Ibuki in his element. Far from the flirty, deferential boy she's known all her life, Ibuki's positive attitude and helpfulness inform his heroism, allowing him to bravely face the unknown. All of the times he's asked Kasumi for her advice, it was because he knew that she was more knowledgeable about those things. When it comes to fighting monsters, that's his job, and he's good at it. He doesn't, like, Find His Spine or anything. He knows where his strengths lie, and he's able to feel confident in his skills. It's a slightly weird story, since it succeeds or fails based on how much you can put yourself in Kasumi's shoes. 95% of the time we've spent with Ibuki has been as an Oni, frequently on active assignment. He's never seemed to be incapable, or childish. But that's how Kasumi remembers him, not as some resolute hero. Her gradual realization is what gives the final act its turn, and I think it managed to work out great. It's tough, though. The series doesn't do a terrific job of building up to this, basically giving us an episode and a half to hear about Ibuki as something other than a kick-ass superhero. If any part of this episode comes close to not working, it's that turn. But, shit, worked on me! A lot of it is how the actors played it. Kasumi never seems to treat Ibuki like a screw-up, so it's more her seeing where he feels confident, than anything else. And Ibuki never loses that kind smile, never loses his admiration for Kasumi, but once he knows that he needs to take down the Makamou, he's very clearly in I've Got This mode. It's not huge shifts to either character, but subtle recalibrations towards greater understanding. That final sequence, with Ibuki and Hibiki versus the giant anglerfish, it's a winner. The score as Ibuki walks through the wreckage of the final episode of Faiz (such a great set), it makes this battle seem climactic, not just for the episode but for his character. Him triumphing over the monster almost entirely on his own, short a brief save by Hibiki, it's the perfect finale for this story. Not a ton of moves to it, but what's here is fantastic. Beyond Ibuki and Kasumi, though, there's so much warmth spread around this episode. Asumu pitching in at Team Hibiki Bar and Grill, to everyone's congratulations. Hibiki and Midori getting very excited to ship Ibuki and Kasumi. Hibiki fishing for praise (topical!) from Midori, only to get a teasing Pretty Great Oni But An Okay Man from her. Akira hauling ass all over Tokyo and arriving in the nick of time. Asumu sharing his notes with Akira, as everyone besides me starts to ship Akirasumu. (They're a modern-day Ibuki and Kasumi!) And then everyone (except Todoroki) enjoying a celebratory meal, surrounded by friends and coworkers. It's that final scene that made this episode feel unbeatable. That moment where everyone's safe and happy after a rough day. Not the usual Kamen Rider thing where they're happy to have survived a war, but the simple pleasure of relaxing with friends after you worked hard. There's no trauma to overcome (well, maybe later for Akira), just camaraderie and comfort. I loved this whole episode. It was so pure and joyful, brimming over with good people and kindness. I haven't even watched the Next Episode tag yet. I just... I want to hold onto this feeling for a little bit longer. This is the Kamen Rider Hibiki I'll always try to remember.
__________________
Currently working on: Go-Busters is next! Archive of previous shows on KamenRiderDie.com! Last edited by Kamen Rider Die; 08-17-2023 at 09:40 PM.. |
10-11-2020, 09:33 PM | #244 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: World of Ataru
Posts: 857
|
Wow that cozy feeling is something I think really is something Hibiki first half nails spetacularly. More so when we get near the end of the first half. Hibiki is something really special and is easily a personal favaorite of mine.
Quote:
__________________
|
10-11-2020, 09:40 PM | #245 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
|
Quote:
Oh yeah trivia time! This location is the Metropolitan Area Outer Ubdergroubd Discharge Channel and it actually off limits to the public for most of the year but there select times throught the years that tourist can enter. It's a really cool location and gave a great contrast to our usual Hibiki fights.
I think the idea of all of this story happening in the city... I mean, you could interpret it a lot of ways, but I feel like the writer worked backwards from that ending. So much of what's special about this story can only really happen if everyone's more-or-less in the same place. If the monster's halfway across Japan and you've got move people all over the map, it's going to feel contrived. But if you start with How Do We Get Everyone In One Place At The End, the rest of the story locks into place. You start with everyone scattered, and slowly draw them all together. It's two episodes of work for that one final scene, and it's worth it.
__________________
Currently working on: Go-Busters is next! Archive of previous shows on KamenRiderDie.com! |
10-12-2020, 01:33 AM | #246 |
take me to space
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,406
|
I just want to say that being actually submerged and having to swim in water while in those suits looks like such a giant pain. All I could think about during scenes like that is 'gosh, those poor suit actors'!
It's been a long while since I've seen this episode, but when you started talking about the final scene of everyone coming into the restaurant, just hanging out as the scene zooms out with the music letting us know all is well... Well, it came back to me in a drum beat because it really encapsulates the kind of good feelings this show left on me. |
10-12-2020, 01:39 AM | #247 |
I have a problematic type
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 10,418
|
Okay, I was wrong about girl friend never showing up again. Pretty sure boy friend is long gone, though.
This is another arc that I really like and remember very well. The revisit to the final boss level of Faiz is definitely a highlight. It's not the last time we'll see this place (it's also where Alain's shitty brother hangs out in Ghost, for one), but this and Faiz are still my favorite uses of the location. Not sure I could stand as close to the gigantic hole as Ibuki did, though. I kinda love how gross the monster is, too. I'm sure that the stomach thing was at least partially a way to get more practical fighting in, but that thing was still surprisingly brutal for a red Christmas tree with tentacles and acid (oh so much acid). All the non-combat stuff was good, too. I especially loved Hibiki and Midori bickering like an old married couple and Asumu stumbling into a part-time job at Tachibana's. The bit at the end with Kasumi and Hinaka briefly talking about Ibuki was a highlight, too - the actresses really play well off of each other and you can really buy that they're sisters. Not to give too much away, but this won't be the last time you get to see the whole cast come together like this. You will get those warm fuzzies again. |
10-12-2020, 02:43 AM | #248 |
Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 2,551
|
Not to spoil anything, but I was looking up this week’s guest cast to see if they’ve done anything else and found that the actress playing the housewife actually shows up again in the second half of the show as a researcher. What that says about the difference between the two halves, I’m not sure and cannot day.
|
10-12-2020, 04:14 AM | #249 |
Showa Girl
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 9,064
|
Quote:
It’s that final scene that made this episode feel unbeatable. That moment where everyone’s safe and happy after a rough day. Not the usual Kamen Rider thing where they’re happy to have survived a war, but the simple pleasure of relaxing with friends after you worked hard. There’s no trauma to overcome (well, maybe later for Akira), just camaraderie and comfort.
__________________
|
10-12-2020, 11:57 AM | #250 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
|
Quote:
Quote:
It's been a long while since I've seen this episode, but when you started talking about the final scene of everyone coming into the restaurant, just hanging out as the scene zooms out with the music letting us know all is well... Well, it came back to me in a drum beat because it really encapsulates the kind of good feelings this show left on me.
Quote:
This is another arc that I really like and remember very well. The revisit to the final boss level of Faiz is definitely a highlight. It's not the last time we'll see this place (it's also where Alain's shitty brother hangs out in Ghost, for one), but this and Faiz are still my favorite uses of the location. Not sure I could stand as close to the gigantic hole as Ibuki did, though.
Quote:
(Also, is the monster goo white specifically because of how it contrasts with the Oni suits? It really pops off of the dark suits, and these monsters never "bleed" unless it can splatter the Oni.) Quote:
All the non-combat stuff was good, too. I especially loved Hibiki and Midori bickering like an old married couple and Asumu stumbling into a part-time job at Tachibana's. The bit at the end with Kasumi and Hinaka briefly talking about Ibuki was a highlight, too - the actresses really play well off of each other and you can really buy that they're sisters.
Quote:
Not to spoil anything, but I was looking up this week’s guest cast to see if they’ve done anything else and found that the actress playing the housewife actually shows up again in the second half of the show as a researcher. What that says about the difference between the two halves, I’m not sure and cannot day.
Quote:
This is what Hibiki’s all about and why I’ll always always cherish it. I haven’t been chipping in too much between only having my phone to type and everyone else surprisingly echoing my opinions regardless, but I love that you’ve been able to see in this show what I do. It’s not something for everyone, but if you get it, you get it. It brings a warmth and a homely feel to Kamen Rider like no other.
__________________
Currently working on: Go-Busters is next! Archive of previous shows on KamenRiderDie.com! |
|
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 08:07 AM.
|