[DreamSword]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadBringer

Other than Nico enduring hits from the cloned Karax later, seems that the toku monsters don't have super speed beyond human level, at least (how toku fights tend to be), so if they're skilled enough to fight and avoid attacks, they should do fine against monsters.

Whatever the reason might be, it's cool to see sometimes.

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Originally Posted by Enchilada645

Honestly I legit thought Dimas was going to go on the Rena somehow buying a ring despite being kidnapped and not "she has an aura of bloodlust" which I mean, he does mention the ring discrepancy briefly when he actively confronts her about it in the first part. But it's weird that it's not the first thing he makes note of in telling the others.

Yeah, I just kept on waiting for literally anyone to ask "When did she even have the opportunity to buy the ring?" but it never came.

[DreamSword]

Episode 44: Vudo's Deadly Assault

This episode is written and directed by newcomer Shinji Tomita.

And if you have no idea who that is, don't worry, because I barely do myself. The most info I could find is that he's also been a director for BIMA-X.

Given past trends, you might figure that this episode will serve as our fourth and final recap episode, but actually, Tomita ends up delivering one of the darkest and most unique episodes I've seen in tokusatsu, let alone in BIMA-X.

The angle in itself is great: A Rexor hands over Mossa's' battleship to a legion of Gladions and lets them loose on Jakarta; resulting in an all out siege of the city, wherein and unsuspecting Ray is caught in the crossfire and thus is knocked for a majority of the episode.

As such, he, Rena, and a little girl named Cinta end up trapped in an elevator that's due to come crashing into the ground at any moment. Dimas is busy fighting off the horde of mooks, and with the city in widespread panic, no one is coming to save the three who are trapped anytime soon. As such, it's all up to Rena to figure a way out of this mess.

This is so cool for so many reasons. The fact that the mooks get to be a legitimate threat for once is great to see. Their danger not being in their might like most monster of week, but rather their out of nowhere attack ontop of just how frikken many of them there are. By extension of that, we get a look into something that not many other toku talk about: That the heroes can't save everyone at once, and that off screen, people are suffering and possibly dying.

It's also great to see Rena take the lead for once. The result was not a only a highlight in Rena's' own unique way of handling things, but some rather unexpected callbacks. There's a brief callback to the crush she had in the original BIMA, and as it turns out, Cinta is actually tied directly to episode 12 and 13 of BIMA too! You know, the two-parter that featured the Gills Monster as well as Bima pulling a Batman on the CEO of a gas company? Yeah, Cinta is the sister of the kid from those episodes.

The episode is capped off with just how important Bima has become to the people of Indonesia thanks to his heroics, with accompanying montage set to the opening song to boot! And as cool as it was to see, I'll admit that, had I been watching this show as it aired, I would've straight up assumed that BIMA-X had been cancelled or something, given how Rena's' lines at the end very much lend themselves to a "And the adventure continues!" sort of vibe. Thankfully though, this is a decade later, and we all know better as a result. Perhaps the montage was done just to fill in run time?

Anyway, I was super into this episode from start to finish, to the point that I think it's gonna go down as my favorite of the season. If this was any indication at all of the type of stuff that Shinji Tomita is capable of, then I really hope he returns to the world of tokusatsu production someday.

[Enchilada645]

What happens when you give a bunch of Kranions the orders of "Go wild"? Well all out chaos, that's what.

It's an interesting situation we find ourselves in, with Dimas having to step up as the main fighter throughout the entirety of the episode while Ray's unconscious and trapped in a precarious situation. This episode is also just really good Rena focus for her, in which she ends up keeping a fairly calm head as best she can throughout the whole episode.

I was honestly worried about this being another recap episode, but surprisingly it ended up not being the case. There's like a couple of flashbacks and callbacks, and the montage at the end, but it's such a different style from the other three. Now was it made to fill time? Absolutely. But what we ended up with was a surprising hit of an episode I think.

Like honestly, the chills I got when the theme started playing as Bima-X Magnetic began to rise with the power stones circling behind him. Him stopping the elevator and reaching out to Rena and Cinta with Torga coming in shortly after? That's real good superhero imagery right there.

[Sh Ranger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

Episode 41: Reza's Fight in the Parallel World

Switchblade is now legally obligated to watch the BIMA franchise.

I recall Switchblade is a fan of Black, so yeah, he'd probably enjoy this cameo more than, uh, somebody who mostly knows about Black from Decade and SHWGP.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

The setup for this episode is that Reza ends up getting himself caught in a trap while raiding a Vudo outpost, and it's here that he meets Kurata and his thief apprentice. One thing leads to another, and soon enough things escalate into an all out war between the Satrias and a miniature army of Vudo's' soldiers. And man of man is the action spectacular in this one.

It's pretty cool that we get a whole episode checking up on Reza's spooky adventure in Parallel World. The staff get to go crazy with the CGI for stuff like big army fights and a dragon. It's exactly the kind of setting and action you'd expect to see in a movie, like, Azazel V-Cinema or something and yet it's just another week for Bima-X.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

Episode 42: The Suspicious Rena

Episode 43: Bringing Back Rena

And if it sounds like I'm about to tear these episodes a new one, I'm really not. Sure, they have flaws, but in the end, Ishibashi had to've done something right, because the emotional climax of it all really did work for me. From Rena's' nearly fatal injuries, to Randy rushing Lady Mossa, I was super into the soap opera aspect of it all(in Mossa's' own words). It helped that the musical score was really good too.

I guess I don't recall too much about the specific dialogue, but I was also impressed with the overall result and I think this is proof of the actors' talents. Stella Cornelia got some great fight scenes here as brainwashed Rena and the climax with the family coming together to bring her back was memorable. Even Lady Mossa seemed kind of sympathetic at the end.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

Episode 44: Vudo's Deadly Assault

It's also great to see Rena take the lead for once. The result was not a only a highlight in Rena's' own unique way of handling things, but some rather unexpected callbacks. There's a brief callback to the crush she had in the original BIMA, and as it turns out, Cinta is actually tied directly to episode 12 and 13 of BIMA too! You know, the two-parter that featured the Gills Monster as well as Bima pulling a Batman on the CEO of a gas company? Yeah, Cinta is the sister of the kid from those episodes.

Poor Rena getting thrown in more danger pretty much immediately after they got her back. She handles the dilemma with courage though and Cinta's backstory is an important reminder that even though a lot of people might be dying outside as Torga fails to reach them, just like Ricca's family during the Grand Gator incident, there are still a lot of people who are grateful to the Satrias for saving them and their loved ones. So Rena will continue to believe strongly in Ray to save people and this is a good source of hope for Cinta.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enchilada645

Like honestly, the chills I got when the theme started playing as Bima-X Magnetic began to rise with the power stones circling behind him. Him stopping the elevator and reaching out to Rena and Cinta with Torga coming in shortly after? That's real good superhero imagery right there.

For sure, this is what heroes look like! I guess you could say this scene really elevated the episode, haha.

[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

Episode 33: Rexor's Secret Manuver

Episode 34: Iron Mask's Identity

First off, Rexor has the best showing here that he's had all show. This is the first time we get to see him be very direct in his manipulation of his enemies, and he does it all while carrying a gravitas that makes him very enjoyable as a character. He's the one primarily responsible for pushing this story forward, and characters providing plot is how I tend to like things most of the time.

Next, the technicals of these particular episodes are surprisingly good. The score for episode 34 especially is rather memorable all around and great to listen to. And the action across both episodes is superb, with big highlights being stuff like Torga rebounding between iron pillars, and Bima-X Storm's' arrows being wielded as swords, which is one of the most badass things I've seen in a long time. Combine those with a moody and dramatic atmosphere and I'm locked in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

But now the big one. The very crux of the entirety of these two episode: Iron Mask's' backstory. As it turns out, both of Iron Mask's' bodies were made by Rexor. And Iron Mask is a Kamen Rider in all but name: Being a human who was experimented on and turned into a cyborg. And the entire plan set in motion by Black Lord was to fill Iron Mask with enough hatred that they would cause the Synthetic Power Stone in Iron Mask's' new body to evolve, and turn him into an Anti-Satria: Evil Torga.

By this, it can feel that said human who was experimented wouldn't be saved, or even have any of the Satrias learn about him or make an effort to free him. Guess there's a KR show that had this feature too, like the homeless people used as Odin's puppet in Ryuki.

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Originally Posted by DreamSword

Although while I don't think Black Lord fully thought out this plan of his, it does bring back an aspect of the Power Stones that we haven't seen in a long time: That being how they can absorb emotions. Remember, that was a whole part of Rasputin's' plan in building Grand Gator. But more than just thematic symbolism, there's also a very direct reason as to why Iron Mask is a Satria; And that's because he was one. Infact, he's the original Torga. And in ages past he decided he was beyond the very people he'd been chosen to protect, and had to be put down by Bima Legend. Which in turns helps explain his beef with Bima.

Ep. 17 of OG Bima when Topeng Besi was killed (before his revival) had him being revealed as simply an animated armor, when he uses his duplication ability.

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Originally Posted by DreamSword

And if the absolutely stellar fight he has with Bima-X and Torga wasn't enough to sell you on the power scale that Evil Torga wields, it's established that he was almost equal to Bima Legend, who back in BIMA was absolutely insurmountable. Wielding Storm Mode's' Hurricane Blaster as swords? Yeah, Iron Mask is the one who does that. Other feats include creating his own pocket dimension, no selling Torga Ice's' deep freeze combined with Bima-X Magnetic's' binding field, and forcing Atlas to work for him alongside his own weapon; Titan. And there's no sudden Azazel showing up or any of the sort here either. This ends with our heroes losing.

I do think that Evil Torga makes Topeng Besi really a big threat, which I never felt for Topeng Besi's previous forms. I always feel the OG Topeng Besi isn't really threatening especially for a second-in-command excpet a bit in ep. 17, but he got more intimidating in his new form after his revival, but this one he's really scary.

[DreamSword]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enchilada645

Like honestly, the chills I got when the theme started playing as Bima-X Magnetic began to rise with the power stones circling behind him. Him stopping the elevator and reaching out to Rena and Cinta with Torga coming in shortly after? That's real good superhero imagery right there.

He rose up to be the exact hero that Cinta saw him as. Very cool.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

I guess I don't recall too much about the specific dialogue, but I was also impressed with the overall result and I think this is proof of the actors' talents. Stella Cornelia got some great fight scenes here as brainwashed Rena and the climax with the family coming together to bring her back was memorable. Even Lady Mossa seemed kind of sympathetic at the end.

Oh yeah, the actors have certainly come a long way from the start of the franchise. And all of their hard work certainly pays off.

Quote:

Poor Rena getting thrown in more danger pretty much immediately after they got her back. She handles the dilemma with courage though and Cinta's backstory is an important reminder that even though a lot of people might be dying outside as Torga fails to reach them, just like Ricca's family during the Grand Gator incident, there are still a lot of people who are grateful to the Satrias for saving them and their loved ones. So Rena will continue to believe strongly in Ray to save people and this is a good source of hope for Cinta.

For sure. As dark as this episode got, there was always the light of hope at the end of it. Both figuratively and literally.

Quote:

For sure, this is what heroes look like! I guess you could say this scene really elevated the episode, haha.

Oh you~

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadBringer

Ep. 17 of OG Bima when Topeng Besi was killed (before his revival) had him being revealed as simply an animated armor, when he uses his duplication ability.

So, here's the thing. You are technically correct. Although the line you're referring to comes from episode 16 specifically.

While you can take Iron Mask's' boasts that he's "living armor" literally, given the context of both that episode as well as the next, it's more likely he's just being theatrical. Because his duplication ability very clearly comes from the Power Stone; Hence why Bima is able to do the same to counter him.

Alternatively, given how he really didn't have any sort of backstory in BIMA, his backstory as explained in BIMA-X offers a different take: That he honestly thought he was a full on machine due to his missing memories.

So like, is it a retcon? Yeah, technically. But it's not a major one in my eyes.

[DreamSword]

Episode 45: Lady Mossa's Pride

I didn't like this episode at all. Infact, I dare say it's my most disliked in BIMA-X.

The premise is that the hook at the end of episode 43, where Mossa absorbed Draconer's' Power Stone goes absolutely nowhere.

Instead, she's immediately captured by Black Lord and gets ten Synthetic Power Stones shoved into her, causing her body to slowly degrade. And despite being the one to declare that she should never be forgiven, Ray wants to save her.

Sure, the episode can talk about how revenge is bad or whatever, and if you, the viewer, want to say that Ray is doing the right thing for taking pity on Mossa's' suffering despite everything that she's done, then you know, sure, fine. That's your prerogative.

Here's my hang up though: What makes Lady Mossa, or even her situation, at all special? All throughout this show both the audience and our heroes alike have seen how Black Lord treats his soldiers like trash and willingly experiments on them. So why should Mossa get any pity where no one else got any? I sure as heck never saw any attempts to save Zombie Draconer, for example.

If I hadn't stopped to look it up, I would've blamed this episode on Riku Sanjo, given how Kamen Rider Drive pulled a similar stunt and it's a big reason I ended up not liking that show. But no, this is all firmly on Daisuke Ishibashi with help from Junko Konmura, apparently? Given how this episode directly connects to episodes 42 and 43(to the point that episode 44 is outright ignored), why not just put this episode before 44 and thus create a three-parter?

What an absolute fumble of a follow up to the great emotional rides we've had over the past few episodes. You could've said that Rexor killed Mossa off screen and even that would've been preferable to this.

[Enchilada645]

Yeah this one was really mixed in its messaging.

Cause like, this episode could've worked if they just had to work to deal with a berserk Lady Mossa since the power stone extractor idea still works without the need for "saving" the enemy.

[DreamSword]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enchilada645

Yeah this one was really mixed in its messaging.

Cause like, this episode could've worked if they just had to work to deal with a berserk Lady Mossa since the power stone extractor idea still works without the need for "saving" the enemy.

That would've worked alot better for me. And would've tied in with the title alot better too.

[DreamSword]

Episode 46: The Appearance of a New World

An extended action sequence that sets us up for the final stage of BIMA-X.

It's the sort of episode that can be summed up pretty quick: Reza raids the prison where his parents are being held, and gets into a fight to the death with Zacros.

And yeah, it's very simple in that regard, but there's alot of nice character bits to help keep things afloat. Like Zacros referring to Reza as "Commander Azazel" which calls back to when Azazel was the leader of Shadow Crisis.

Speaking of Shadow Crisis, it was cool to see that Iron Mask didn't just blindly go with what Rexor said. Iron Mask knew that something was obviously up and reacted accordingly. It's refreshing, given the trends of of some other shows I've seen recently with their villains.

So in the end, what is Vudo's' grand plan? To smash the two worlds together using the energies generated by the Power Spots, and to have their own "Vudo Power Stones" gain full power as a result. And you might think "Wow, that'd probably result in a ton of casualties" and, yeah, it probably would. The Vudo Empire are the bad guys, afterall.

Anyway, the episode in itself is overall fine. It's the first stage of the final battle, and it does what it does well enough.