[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadBringer

Also I guess this confirms that Tamaki is fully redeemed now (at least for me who doubts it before with him having no power), as he now admits that what he and the other 2 did at Deadman before was unforgivable. And other than Aguilera and Sakura, he now gets along better with the other Igarashis too, in him cooking for dinner and is approved by Yukimi, and Ikki being concened about him when he looks after Aguilera.

Yeah, I think Tamaki's an okay guy now? He's on the other side of all of his rage and resentment, and seems fairly well integrated into the larger Happy Spa family. He's probably a big help, considering the mass exodus of family members -slash- Happy Spa employees!

[Switchblade]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

Obviously, I don't like the premise, so I won't bother talking about that. I'll talk about the execution. While it's infuriating to see Sakura constantly toying with Aguilera's feelings of despair, which I'll have more to talk about next episode, the main reason I found this particular episode of the two so painful to watch was how much Tamaki gets punished for his earnest efforts to help. Being Tamaki is a thankless job. He's truly devoted to Aguilera, but he always has to compete with Sakura for attention, a battle he cannot win. And when he does manage to get a few seconds with her before Igarashi Invincible shows up, Aguilera treats him like dirt. Why would anybody want to watch Tamaki suffer like this over and over again? It's just depressing!

I don't really feel bad for Tamaki. I think that the show could have taken him to a place where he felt more possessive of Aguilera and resentful of her interest in Sakura, but I never felt like there was ever a risk of him going into full Nice Guy(TM) mode. He credits Aguilera with helping him find a sense of happiness and purpose and now his primary concern is seeing that she finds what she needs herself. I can see where he can look like he's kind of the show's butt monkey (you know, when Daiji's not filling that role), but I feel like he's content with his role as Aguilera's main booster. The main problem I see for him is that he has to deal with Sakura being really thickheaded.

[Sh Ranger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

I don't really feel bad for Tamaki. I think that the show could have taken him to a place where he felt more possessive of Aguilera and resentful of her interest in Sakura, but I never felt like there was ever a risk of him going into full Nice Guy(TM) mode. He credits Aguilera with helping him find a sense of happiness and purpose and now his primary concern is seeing that she finds what she needs herself. I can see where he can look like he's kind of the show's butt monkey (you know, when Daiji's not filling that role), but I feel like he's content with his role as Aguilera's main booster. The main problem I see for him is that he has to deal with Sakura being really thickheaded.

If Tamaki had gone full yandere, then yeah, I wouldn't have felt so bad for him. Aguilera was groomed by a hedonistic devil cult to become a sacrifice, so she doesn't need more people trying to make choices for her. But Tamaki really is just a genuinely nice dude trying to repay his debt, so even if he's content in that role, he should at least stand up for himself a little. I like to watch these shows for escapism, so the frequent punishment he has to endure being stuck mediating between these two angry girls makes it hard for me to watch. Sometimes the underdog needs a win, or else there's no point having an underdog.

[Kamen Rider Die]

KAMEN RIDER REVICE EPISODE 33 - “LOVEKOV REBELS!? SAKURA’S RESOLVE”



On the one hand, this is a delicate story about two young women navigating a romantic relationship when they come from opposing backgrounds, and the strength it takes to save someone from depression. On the other hand, this is a story about a young woman being rescued from one cult, and then immediately being inducted into a different cult.

The ending to this one will always be a little funny to me, despite greatly enjoying the episode as a whole. (Well, not the Akaishi stuff; probably never the Akaishi stuff.) We’ve finally gotten Aguilera/Hana into a positive, healthy mental space… and Sakura almost instantly recruits her to join a massively untrustworthy terrorist organization with a surplus of gaming chairs. I know it’s because Aguilera’s too spoiled and self-mythologized to scrub tile at the Happy Spa, so Sakura needs to give her a mission that can make her feel important, but c’mon! I don’t know if the solution to depression and suicidal ideation is working in a dungeon, surrounded by people who were just trying to get you killed yesterday! Maybe Mom Ikarishi could make an alternate suggestion, if she were still on this show?

The rest of the episode was delightful, though. Sakura’s solution for Aguilera’s Lovekov-esque moody defiance is to ask Aguilera out on a date, and that was about it for me being able to seriously find fault with this plotline. It’s like a dumb joke a fan might make, but it’s too perfect a twist to not go ahead with. Sakura’s flaw earlier wasn’t that she wanted to separate Aguilera from her demon, it’s that she didn’t let that be a thing the two of them went through together. Aguilera feels adrift and isolated; Sakura needs to be an anchor for her, regardless of the tough love Sakura needs to show.

But it’s not even really tough love, it’s just love. It’s Sakura showing a sheltered girl from a demonic cult that the world has more to offer her than Tamaki and a nightclub-spaceship-church. Aguilera loves Sakura, and Sakura clearly loves Aguilera, so the best way to address Aguilera’s despondence is to just be there for her. Take her to a theme park, buy her ice cream, and have an incredibly cute day together. It’s a statement of intent as strong and useful as a vow to save Aguilera from demonic servitude, and it’s equally as necessary. Sakura’s strength is in her vulnerability, and this episode was a testament to that heroism.

Sort of the entirety of the episode for me, that plot. The Akaishi stuff is nothing to me, and the Vail fight scene was fun, but basically just re-establishing Vail’s designs on Genta. The heart and soul of this episode was Sakura saving -slash- recruiting Aguilera, and every little detail that went into that plot. (LOVEKOV’S ROOM!!! With a petulant Lovekov wearing Jeanne headphones for abrasive heavy metal music!!!) I am sometimes easily won over, and The One Where Sakura Asks Out Aguilera is as winning a premise as I can think of right now.

[Androzani84]

So this is one of the best received episodes in my mini community I’ve been pilfering discord comments and memes from. And despite thinking this whole Hanasaku arc really could’ve been done with several episodes ago, I too think it’s a very good episode.

Also, this episode was Vail’s full debut, since Legacy Vail 4 hadn’t come out when this episode aired. The one reaction to his appearance here, contrasting with how much hype his debut generated, was an unimpressed “Is that bad guy just Vice painted red?”

Also, Sakura gets a new weapon. It’s at this point that Toei figured they could reuse weapon props from old seasons that would probably never see use again.



Kamishisugi!

Sakura: Love-chan!

Lovekov: Chief Akaishi explodes and scatters…

But in all seriousness, Lovekov Hashibiroko Genome was previously the Fighting Jackal Raider’s Territory Scythe from Zero-One (yes, that weapon had a name)

Also, now both Sakura and Hana are in the Weekend uniforms.





Ikki: It’s Ikki’s…

Vice: And Vice’s…

Both: Stamp Navi!

Ikki: And today’s stamp is this one!

Hashibiroko!

All’s Well that Ends Well! Look around without running! Shoebill! Because I’m always moving!

Ikki: Hashibiroko Genome is a Vistamp that grants a strong cutting power, thanks to the refinement of the Karizaki father and son, Sakura can use it to free people from their demons the way I can with my upgrades.

George: Karate Girl is getting stronger constantly, especially with the aid of leftovers from the destruction of ZAIA. Just like this Legend.

Desire Driver: Hibiki!

George: The strongest and most experienced Oni in Kanto, Hibiki. He gave up his name and normal life to become a stronger warrior. With his Armed Saber, Hibiki can cut through any Makamou, no matter how strong.

Hibiki: I’m always training.

George: And I’d like to thank Ikki for letting us do this in his bedroom while my lab is fumigated.

Ikki: Oh this isn’t my room, there’s a lot of stuff in there I don’t want my parents to see.

George: Well… thank you for letting me use Daiji’s room.

Ikki: Daiji told everyone to keep out of his room while he was at FENIX. And there’s no way my mom would let us in her room

George: Then whose room is this?

Ikki: I don’t remember. Must be because of Vice’s contract blocking my memory of it.

(Cue Sakura and Hana, both wearing towels around their hair and bodies, entering the room, taking one look at the boys in there, before all involved scream)

Vice: We hope you enjoy the next instalment. (Resumes screaming)

[Sh Ranger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER REVICE EPISODE 33 - ?LOVEKOV REBELS!? SAKURA?S RESOLVE?

The rest of the episode was delightful, though. Sakura?s solution for Aguilera?s Lovekov-esque moody defiance is to ask Aguilera out on a date, and that was about it for me being able to seriously find fault with this plotline. It?s like a dumb joke a fan might make, but it?s too perfect a twist to not go ahead with. Sakura?s flaw earlier wasn?t that she wanted to separate Aguilera from her demon, it?s that she didn?t let that be a thing the two of them went through together. Aguilera feels adrift and isolated; Sakura needs to be an anchor for her, regardless of the tough love Sakura needs to show.

But it?s not even really tough love, it?s just love. It?s Sakura showing a sheltered girl from a demonic cult that the world has more to offer her than Tamaki and a nightclub-spaceship-church. Aguilera loves Sakura, and Sakura clearly loves Aguilera, so the best way to address Aguilera?s despondence is to just be there for her. Take her to a theme park, buy her ice cream, and have an incredibly cute day together. It?s a statement of intent as strong and useful as a vow to save Aguilera from demonic servitude, and it?s equally as necessary. Sakura?s strength is in her vulnerability, and this episode was a testament to that heroism.

I guess I should warn here that this is going to be a big complaint, that some people might disagree with.

I was willing to give Sakura the benefit of the doubt, when she interrupted Kamen Rider Revice's finisher and promised Aguilera what she wanted. For all her flaws, the show had yet to give me any reason to question her morality, as she was still one of the alleged heroes. Sure, I disliked her, a lot, but I didn't think she was a bad person.

I'd even say that adding a condition to that promise was a rare smart move, as it gave Aguilera an incentive to go along with the date, an experience Sakura hoped would change her mind. Aguilera fulfilled her end of the bargain, even enjoying herself a little, but ultimately, she was set on getting her honorable battle to the death.

Except, that's not what happens at all....

"Can she really depend on Sakura to honor her last wish?"

Aguilera had been betrayed by Gif and Olteca before, but now even Sakura had betrayed her with another false promise, denying her the coup de grace at the very end, turning their whole fight in to a sham and tainting the memory of the date preceding it. Sakura refused to take no for an answer and forced her ideals on her, ruining Aguilera's happy ending with cruel mercy.

The episode concludes with Aguilera suddenly being totally okay with this development, having joined the Weekenders as Sakura's sidekick. Everything went exactly the way Sakura orchestrated, but at the cost of Aguilera's autonomy as a human being. Those last ten minutes left me astonished for all the wrong reasons, as I wondered how Kinoshita could conceive of such a hollow narrative.

I've seen a decent argument that the moral of this episode isn't about Sakura doing the right thing, it's about her doing what her heart is telling her, which she does. Fair point. But when I compare that to Ryuki, where doing the right thing even when it hurts is shown as a respectable and heroic trait for Shinji, there's no way I can actually condone or forgive Sakura's actions and how she becomes yet another toxic influence to Aguilera.

Remember when the Deadmans trio were like something from a Coyote and Roadrunner cartoon, coming up with goofy schemes to get Ikki killed at the onsen hotel, while Kagerou kept getting in their way?

Overall, Episode 33 was the final nail in the coffin for any motivation I had to continue watching Revice weekly and thus I started my 12 week hiatus, only sticking around for the last few episodes of Legacy Vail. Just over a year later from the airdate, it's still the worst episode I've ever seen of Reiwa Rider and one of the worst in general.

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Androzani84

Also, this episode was Vail?s full debut, since Legacy Vail 4 hadn?t come out when this episode aired. The one reaction to his appearance here, contrasting with how much hype his debut generated, was an unimpressed ?Is that bad guy just Vice painted red??

Vail is Genta's demon! Vice is his son Ikki's demon! They should absolutely look like alike! Vice is just Vail painted blue!!!

Also, thanks for the fun skit!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

I guess I should warn here that this is going to be a big complaint, that some people might disagree with.

I mean, I do disagree, but I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts on this plotline! It's always fun for me to hear from folks that got something else -- positive or negative -- out of these shows than I did. Thank you for sharing it!

For me... I sort of like how the episode reframes Aguilera's demands of fiery death at the hands of her nemesis as the depressed outlook of a girl how didn't have the perspective or language to ask for anything different. She was raised by a cult to be a demonic sacrificial bride, and as much as she mourns the loss of that promised future, it's inarguably a good thing that that never came to pass. Aguilera's wish for death is borne out of an inability to see a value in a new life, and that's maybe not the wish you grant for someone you love?

Aguilera's in a similar boat to where Sakura was a few stories ago: stifled by familial obligations, and looking for a way to define herself in a new context. The thing is, Sakura can see Aguilera not getting to the second half of that statement, and clears the path for her to become something new, and maybe even something better.

It is very funny to me that Sakura picks Weekend as the pathway for Aguilera's brighter future (YIKES), but what else does Sakura know? She's a teenaged girl who only has Happy Spa, Weekend, and school in her life. While she's more worldly than a former demon princess, it ain't like she's a career counselor. Maybe Weekend won't work out! (Weekend will definitely not work out, for anyone.) But at least it's giving Aguilera something to invest in right now, and a wider view of the world that's available to her. Seems like a sweet thing to do for someone you care about?

[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER REVICE EPISODE 33 - “LOVEKOV REBELS!? SAKURA’S RESOLVE”

The ending to this one will always be a little funny to me, despite greatly enjoying the episode as a whole. (Well, not the Akaishi stuff; probably never the Akaishi stuff.) We’ve finally gotten Aguilera/Hana into a positive, healthy mental space… and Sakura almost instantly recruits her to join a massively untrustworthy terrorist organization with a surplus of gaming chairs. I know it’s because Aguilera’s too spoiled and self-mythologized to scrub tile at the Happy Spa, so Sakura needs to give her a mission that can make her feel important, but c’mon! I don’t know if the solution to depression and suicidal ideation is working in a dungeon, surrounded by people who were just trying to get you killed yesterday! Maybe Mom Ikarishi could make an alternate suggestion, if she were still on this show?

And for the main thing in this episode between the yuri couple of Sakura and Aguilera (as for "getting into romantic part", this leaves me some bad taste because of how Tamaki was treated before, yuri couple can be done as an anti-men sentiment and I don't want for this to be supported for that), I already expected that it'd end with Aguilera living and apparently redeemed here midway due to how Aguilera opened up and had fun living a human life with Sakura. That'd mean she's shown to find something worthwhile in human life and the series won't waste that anymore by having her die. For this part, I kinda appreciate about how this one's less repetitive to have more different approach done in the story between them.

Other than that, as she's redeemed now, I'm afraid this can strengthen the "they're not villains just misunderstood" arguments to shift the blame from anyone but the villains, like not coddling them like this (and still giving excuses to them when they take advantage/backstab of this) using Aguilera as 'proof'. And for my place, likely increasing the misuse of the word 'heroine' to be slapped on any major female characters (instead of her actually becoming one much later here for Aguilera's case), even if they're anything but (for series that has no secondary heroines, like Zi-O, and sociopaths like Ora being refered as 'heroine' ).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

The rest of the episode was delightful, though. Sakura’s solution for Aguilera’s Lovekov-esque moody defiance is to ask Aguilera out on a date, and that was about it for me being able to seriously find fault with this plotline. It’s like a dumb joke a fan might make, but it’s too perfect a twist to not go ahead with. Sakura’s flaw earlier wasn’t that she wanted to separate Aguilera from her demon, it’s that she didn’t let that be a thing the two of them went through together. Aguilera feels adrift and isolated; Sakura needs to be an anchor for her, regardless of the tough love Sakura needs to show.

My impression when she was redeemed at this time, I wondered how someone bratty and spoiled like Aguilera interact with others at Weekend (obviously, the other one given 'sexy' uniform with knee-high boots), which will annoy me more if she mistreats others at Weekend (like ofc, being commanded) and got free pass due to her 'good' status now. Though making her only background audience at Weekend like Tamaki is at Happy Spa isn't good either. Otherwise, as turning human would have her being refered by her human name Hana now, I'd still call her Aguilera because... well there's already a major character named Hana in this franchise previously.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

But it’s not even really tough love, it’s just love. It’s Sakura showing a sheltered girl from a demonic cult that the world has more to offer her than Tamaki and a nightclub-spaceship-church. Aguilera loves Sakura, and Sakura clearly loves Aguilera, so the best way to address Aguilera’s despondence is to just be there for her. Take her to a theme park, buy her ice cream, and have an incredibly cute day together. It’s a statement of intent as strong and useful as a vow to save Aguilera from demonic servitude, and it’s equally as necessary. Sakura’s strength is in her vulnerability, and this episode was a testament to that heroism.

I guess despite previously that 'what Aguilera wants' vs 'what's the right thing' is finally addressed, turns out that the latter wins here, and I guess the difference of Sakura and Ikki before was that Sakura knows Aguilera more and can reach out to her better than even Tamaki? Then only by that time she decides to separate her instead (with George's help to make her a̶ ̶G̶r̶i̶m̶ ̶R̶e̶a̶p̶e̶r̶ a) and not instantly at the beginning? So even if the (initial) end solution is giving someone death if it's what they want, the right thing is still not exempt and should still be tried upon here. And her speech (to instruct Aguilera) before delivering the blow to save anyone regardless of which power would mean this treatment is not strictly for Aguilera (for the shippers though..). Previously there's more showings for Lovekov, so she's a fan of heavy metal music, and she's actually an abrasive demon too, instead of the docile and peaceful one shown before, with how she trashtalks Vice. Well the implication is already there with how she already called Vice a loser before.and her behavior at ep. 29.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Sort of the entirety of the episode for me, that plot. The Akaishi stuff is nothing to me, and the Vail fight scene was fun, but basically just re-establishing Vail’s designs on Genta. The heart and soul of this episode was Sakura saving -slash- recruiting Aguilera, and every little detail that went into that plot. (LOVEKOV’S ROOM!!! With a petulant Lovekov wearing Jeanne headphones for abrasive heavy metal music!!!) I am sometimes easily won over, and The One Where Sakura Asks Out Aguilera is as winning a premise as I can think of right now.

Previously I talked about the speculation of who's going to be the new villain. If it's Vail, Akaishi, or Giff (like Ark). Turns out that.... all 3 of them are working together, lmao! Akaishi's the main human representation that interacts with others, and Vail is actually current partner of his (still working to get back at the Igarashis), and Giff is the one that provides them power, both for Akaishi's immortality and to give Vail a physical form similar looking to Vice's. So far Akaishi's history is him making a contract with Giff to gain his power and him taking up a role to oversee human's evolution, and he wants to evolve them due to it being proven to both Akemi with gun and Daiji trying to cave his head in and Akaishi wanted to 'share' his superiority with them. And though Akemi is still powerless against a superhuman, now here she can perform some action feats in normal human level with her breaking free of the zipties (like Sakura) and somersaulting off a sofa to arm herself with a gun. So what was Akemi thinking when Kagerou physically attacked her before? Or even when Giftarians slowly walked on her? Previously she acted as damsel-in-distress in those situations that imply she isn't an action type that time, but now turns out she is one, I mean she could've broken free from Kagerou's hold then?

The one who ensures that the yuri couple had fun, the older brother Ikki and Vice himself, by fighting off Vail, I would say that Vail's showings aren't that impressive yet here, he's evenly matched with base Vice (I know there are series that has base form taking on the final threat but this one's still middle!) instead of same power but superior one. And by that Revice is expected to had upper hand on Vail shortly after. Though it may not be Vail's best capabilities with Revice's finisher not finishing off Vail. Other than that Ikki shows himself growing out of his busybodiness again by convincing Vice that they're right to stand back from the yuri couple's problem. So Vice telling Ikki to stay the way he is was a bad influence even if it's well-meaning before!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

I was willing to give Sakura the benefit of the doubt, when she interrupted Kamen Rider Revice's finisher and promised Aguilera what she wanted. For all her flaws, the show had yet to give me any reason to question her morality, as she was still one of the alleged heroes. Sure, I disliked her, a lot, but I didn't think she was a bad person.

Still not should be done either despite this episode. There can be perhaps many times on how characters can rub someone the wrong way, but they shouldn't be evaluated based on how they make audience feel. Still can acknowledge this moment as wrong (or unintentionally wrong), but never cherry-pick certain moments that sticks out the most (either personally or the series presenting it as their big moments - characters' small/generic moments shouldn't be left out) to evaulate them (including for opposite examples, villains' basic decency).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

The episode concludes with Aguilera suddenly being totally okay with this development, having joined the Weekenders as Sakura's sidekick. Everything went exactly the way Sakura orchestrated, but at the cost of Aguilera's autonomy as a human being. Those last ten minutes left me astonished for all the wrong reasons, as I wondered how Kinoshita could conceive of such a hollow narrative.

Felt that perhaps various humans can respond to various events in vastly varied and different ways? Sure you'd be livid over changes in decisions like this, but it'd be still like projecting yourself on others like Aguilera here to think that it doesn't make sense for her to be totally ok with this, but dunno. Would like to hear why she'd be not ok to be given a chance to enjoy worldly thing (outside of how it's technically a broken promise). I also would wonder if someone trying to talk out to someone who is depressed enough to consider suicide, would be a bad thing to deny what they want.

[Switchblade]

So I get where you're coming from, Sh Ranger, but I'm 100% with Sakura on this one. Hana's dealing with depression and the only way she sees to get out of it is to commit suicide by Kamen Rider. This is the kind of situation where I feel like the right thing to do is not to go along with that plan but to find another way forward. It might mean going against what Hana wants in the short term, but in the long term it means that she's still around.

Anyway, I freaking loved this episode. I never expected Kamen Rider, of all things, to go this far into incorporating a queer relationship. Maybe on a grimdark adult spin-off or web series, but definitely not on the main show itself. And yes, it stays at the level where there's at least one person reading this paragraph and thinking to themselves "what is Switchblade talking about, they're obviously just a couple of gals being pals" but it's still a lot more explicit than I ever thought the show would go (and honestly, I didn't pick up on the flirting anywhere near as immediately as Die did). I think the show did a really good job of developing it, too, given the admittedly low bar set by stuff like "I guess Megumi and Nago are getting married now?" that has been most Kamen Rider love stories (most, not all; please put down your pitchforks with windshield wiper blades for tines, Drive fans).

There are two moments in this episode that always stick with me. The first is the end of Sakura and Hana's date and the tension in that mood shift from "this was so much fun, I love this ice cream; okay, let's go fight to the death." Great moment. The other is what I listed as my favorite dramatic moment of the year in my annual recap thread. I have seen a lot of characters discuss their feelings with each other in a lot of different forms of media, but there is something about "I loved you." "Don't use the past tense!" that just really stuck with me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Androzani84

Also, Sakura gets a new weapon. It?s at this point that Toei figured they could reuse weapon props from old seasons that would probably never see use again.

Also the point where Bandai said "We're not making any more merch for the girl Rider. If you want to give her anything else, figure it out on your own."

[Sh Ranger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I mean, I do disagree, but I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts on this plotline! It's always fun for me to hear from folks that got something else -- positive or negative -- out of these shows than I did. Thank you for sharing it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

So I get where you're coming from, Sh Ranger, but I'm 100% with Sakura on this one. Hana's dealing with depression and the only way she sees to get out of it is to commit suicide by Kamen Rider. This is the kind of situation where I feel like the right thing to do is not to go along with that plan but to find another way forward. It might mean going against what Hana wants in the short term, but in the long term it means that she's still around.

Thanks for the understanding, anyway. I'm glad we can respectfully disagree while still hearing out each other's unique perspectives.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadBringer

Felt that perhaps various humans can respond to various events in vastly varied and different ways? Sure you'd be livid over changes in decisions like this, but it'd be still like projecting yourself on others like Aguilera here to think that it doesn't make sense for her to be totally ok with this, but dunno. Would like to hear why she'd be not ok to be given a chance to enjoy worldly thing (outside of how it's technically a broken promise). I also would wonder if someone trying to talk out to someone who is depressed enough to consider suicide, would be a bad thing to deny what they want.

Aguilera is definitely the kind of person who trusts and forgives too easily, a behavior induced by the cult that raised her. So I'm not surprised that she'd default back to that, when her choice of death was cut off without her consent. Sakura is her new Deadmans, essentially. I know why Aguilera's not mad, so that's why I'm mad for her.

But the swing happens too fast to hold my suspension of disbelief. She went from having a breakdown over being refused her death to enjoying a bath. I could believe there's a time skip between, but it doesn't seem substantial enough. There needed to be like, two episodes minimum, to get from that scene to the one that came after.