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07-11-2021, 03:38 PM | #16701 |
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Kamen Rider Gaim watch
The Forbidden Fruit Saga Episode 42: Mitsuzane! The Final Transformation! Written by: Gen Urobuchi/Jin Haganeya, Directed by: Satoshi Morota Zack accomplishes his wants to evacuate the Overlord's captives, with Yoko going along with this to give supplies. For this Kouta reunites with Akira, Rat, and Rica. The reunite and hardship also probably changes Akira's decision to stay and help her brother. Kouta thanked all the alliance for this, but Oren knows the work has not been done, can't get too ahead of themselves. Kouta assigns Charmant workers to evacuate the people as hordes of Inves come, with the rest henshin into their Rider forms to fight them off. Meanwhile Mai is looked over by Chucky and the recovered Peko. What Redyue claimed before against Micchy for others to prevent Micchy getting into Mai appears here with Peko keeping him out, but Peko is pushed down for Micchy to check on her. The power upgrade Mai receives seems to be a deadly one, with her collapsing again, and Ryoma who suddenly comes, informing that she can't take that long and needs a proper place to treat her, despite that there are no doctors left in Zawame... this'd mean disaster actually, due to freaking Ryoma being involved, more than about no doctors. After the Riders fight Inves hordes, Kouta noticed that Helheim doesn't stop even after the extinction of Overlords, realizing that he had to stop Helheim himself. Kaito however, still wants to let Helheim consume the world as per his social darwinist belief, to prove humanity's strength to evolve around it unlike the Overlords who are consumed by the world. For now, this is a nobler take of his social darwinism, albeit used as an extreme way to improve humanity, by forcing them into the deep end, instantly putting them into critical situation regardless of their success or not. This is a reason for him to oppose Yggdrasill, that they would deny human's efforts to evolve against the invasion, as they would kill majority of humanity via Project Ark. There's an indication that while Kaito does view the world under survival of the fittest mindset, doesn't mean he revels in it. He actually hates about the fact that social darwinism is real in his eyes, including his backstory for his life ruined due to him being weak; the strong can do anything as they please unopposed by the weak, and him still viewing himself as weak too now, which is the reason for him to fight off Overlords who brutalize others by their strength (and ruined Femushinmu by that as well). So far, Kaito would use his mindset to fight off villains, as their actions with their power represent what he hates about the nature of this world, albeit he'd have apathy for the weak, not interested in protecting; an anti-hero that focuses on defeating villains instead of protecting people. As Kaito leaves, Yoko chases after him, while Kouta informs Zack that Mai's in garage, going after her while asking Zack to take care of Akira. However Mai's already taken to the hospital as Kouta returns, with nobody on the garage. As Kaito struggles against his injuries in a face of another Inves, Yoko hides him and herself, and like Mai before to Kaito, forcefully takes a look at Kaito's (Helheim) wounds on his arm. Later at night, Yoko calls him out for not telling anyone about his injury, which he dismisses as using Genesis Driver can hold back the infection, but acknowledges his limits if he'd die, despite Yoko pointing out that what he does with the Driver won't last forever. Though Kouta is the one that got called out on this, another similarity between them, but unpleasant one here is that Kaito also never tries to seek out help from others, like not asking help for his wounds, or tips, etc. Kaito's even hardheaded enough to not acknowledge camaderie as a key to survival and strength despite getting through many hard times due to that, like the "fight" against Roshuo before. Loner approach can hinder someone's efficiency like Kaito's here, despite him can coming off as more rational to the audience, like how he has rolled for 70 times in the whole series, and there are people who notices that too for Baron's losses. He actually views himself as one of the weak, but fails to properly help himself. As Yoko asks about Kaito's decision to let Helheim invade, he explains about it being related to his hatred of the current world above, about how survival of the fittest exist in the current world, that he'd rather see this world end, not valuing anything in the world with flashbacks of his past. Yoko decides to stick to Kaito, but even she actually had doubts of Kaito's choice and explanation, despite being another social darwinist. For now, this seems to be a positive effect a love someone had, opposite to what Micchy has for his yandere love to Mai, this is a case of terrible people helping each other to become less terrible, with Kaito humanizing Yoko in their interactions to show that she's more than a violent psychotic girl. Though I feel that if this is the supposed character direction that the writers want to do with Yoko, then it's not utilized enough that there's more of Yoko being a kingmaker before. Something fishy already befalls Chucky and Peko, who is stuck on a room away from Ryoma and Micchy, with Peko already knowing that the creep isn't trustworthy. Eventually Chucky and Peko was able to escape from the locked hospital by the window with Peko tying bed sheets. For other Rider alliance people, believing that he has important position to keep the Rider alliances full, Bando forces Jonouchi, Oren, and Zack to eat when they feel down at Drupers, with Akira somehow working there as waitress, too. I wonder if she knows that's the 'job' Kouta got now. Ryoma confirms that there's golden fruit on Mai's body. As they don't understand the reason for Roshuo to give it to her, Sagara confirms it that Roshuo did, and reveals that she's going to be Woman of the Beginning, confirming Mai and "Alternative Mai" as the same, that her role is to choose a champion to receive the goldn fruit. After Sagara's role escalation, between DJ, Yggdrasill worker, etc., as Micchy asks him, he finally reveals that his actual identity, which is the personification of Helheim itself. The snake that Redyue said before at ep. 40 refers to Sagara, as one of the terms to refer to him, also him making a snake projection before. Like Project Ark, this is another Biblical reference in Gaim to put Sagara in the role of the snake in Garden of Eden that tempted Adam and Eve to eat the Forbidden Fruit, which means he's literally Satan here. He's doing the snake's job in the series to tempt worlds with the immense power and knowledge that the golden fruit holds. And the reason that he refers to the golden fruit holders as Man/Woman of the Beginning is that, they act as Adam and Eve respectively, being the first male/female being in the new world that they'll create after overwriting the old one. In the series, Woman of the Beginning is the first to receive the fruit to give to the Man of the Beginning as Eve was the first to be tempted and eat the fruit, and then tempts Adam to eat the fruit too. He tells the unconscious Mai in her head as well about her role, also claiming that the old world will be destroyed, but Mai wouldn't want to see the end of the current world. Worlds cannot be sacrificed for that end, such trade isn't right to be done. Sagara however insists for her to cope as the future is already set into motion. Even Micchy calls him out to destroy humanity. Rather than doing it as incarnation of evil though, albeit of course he still causes a lot of damage in nature way, he's doing it to test their true characters, and due to hating status quo, enforcing the cycle of death and rebirth that drives evolution in any world he visits, putting his duty above morality like good or evil, just that destruction can be a tool that he uses too. Micchy protests against him also for his personal motivation to save Mai too, seeing him as getting in his way despite refering to humanity right before. With newfound information, Ryoma claims that the only way to save Mai is to extract the fruit from her body, but deems Kouta as a problem as he'd likely want Mai as Woman of the Beginning if he needs the fruit to save the world. Micchy apparently still puts Kouta higher than Ryoma does, he thinks Kouta wouldn't sacrifice Mai to save the world, though Ryoma convinces Micchy otherwise, based on the fact that Kouta is willing to sacrifice his humanity as Overlord. Well of course sacrificing themselves and sacrificing others is vastly different, the former is altruism, the latter can be morally bankrupt approach to see no value in other's lives. However, due to Kouta's great power, Ryoma presents Hell Fruit Lockseed to Micchy for him to stop Kouta, a Lockseed that drains the user's life for power and is too dangerous, thus sealed away, but wants to know Micchy's resolve to undergo that... Kouta has done it before for resolve test, now it's Micchy's turn. Micchy got his deserved emotional breakdown after that, which he begs for Mai to smile again for him, not even remembering how her smile looks like, or what he's fighting for so far. Micchy has been tempting his dark side for so much, been involved in villainy too long, he's so far gone that everything about him deteriorates aside from the desire to 'save' Mai, about it possibly failing. Even when Takatora hallucination harasses him, pointing out about his actions to only betray people and that his life has no value, Micchy still shuts him up, but quietly, instead of going apeshit, but is ready to give up his life for Mai. He's also dumb enough here to trust Ryoma to save her, blinded by his love for Mai, or to consider the fact that Ryoma is also obsessed in obtaining the golden fruit, like what Kouta needs, which proves that he's the one used as pawn by others despite him claiming otherwise. Micchy confronts Kouta, for Mai's sake, despite Kouta trying to convince him that there's no point of hurting each other. Kouta's right about Micchy being wronged by the lies he told, just for this once, in this case, about Ryoma's claim that Kouta will endanger Mai due to likely needing her as Woman of the Beginning, where Micchy has to save Mai by finishing off Kouta, so Mai no longer needs to hold the golden fruit anymore. Of course, Micchy is still evil at this stage, despite him putting Mai's life above his own, he'd still view other's lives as no value, will finish off others like the self-harm he did for Mai's sake, other than being dumb enough to trust Ryoma. He henshins with Hell Fruit Lockseed, with the Yomotsuheguri Armor Part coming from a black mist instead of a Helheim crack, giving him a new standalone upgrade in Ryugen Yomi, who looks like regular Ryugen, but painted mostly in red and black, giving grim reaper motif, as "yomi" means "underworld". True to what Ryoma said, the form is painful that it collapses him to his knees, making Kouta concerned. Seems that both Mai and Micchy receive deadly upgrades. Kouta tries to reason with Ryugen Yomi, but without a henshin yet. This can be either a stupid move to leave himself unprotected, or an awesome move to dodge his attacks despite of him being a normal human, particularly the Kiwi Gekirin; Ryugen Yomi can use both Budou Ryuhou and Kiwi Gekirin, the weapons of Ryugen Budou Arms and Kiwi Arms. The agony Micchy suffered as Ryugen Yomi proves to be a drawback though, as he can be left vulnerable mid fight from the pain. Kouta eventually henshins into Kachidoki Arms, and after a while, he took a Ryugen Kyaku rider kick from Ryugen Yomi, but again Ryugen Yomi pains Micchy that he cannot continue his assault to Gaim, turning himself into a not quite dangerous opponent despite the power it holds. Gaim tries to warn Ryugen Yomi about how the Lockseed is dangerous and his body can't handle it. However, Micchy has lost the meaning of his life, the previous events have turned him into a nihilist now, utterly suicidal. Due to Micchy's resolve though, Gaim is forced to use Kiwami Arms. Ryugen Yomi is the one I'd like to be used as Micchy's upgrade in ep. 38 before against Gaim Kiwami Arms and Baron Lemon Energy Arms before, particularly that Ryugen Yomi also revolves around Micchy's resolve, in which ep. 38 is about him not having doubts anymore.
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07-12-2021, 06:02 AM | #16702 |
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Kamen Rider Gaim watch
The Forbidden Fruit Saga Episode 43: Baron's Ultimate Transformation Written by: Gen Urobuchi, Directed by: Satoshi Morota Other than summoning the base Ryugen's weapons, Ryugen Yomi can also summon Overlord's weapons, in this case, he's using Dau (Redyue's halberd), though he's stunned by his agony again. This makes Ryugen Yomi sort of Kiwami Arms' counterpart, being the walking collection of monsters' (other than base Ryugen) weapons compared Kiwami's walking collection of the Riders' weapons, along with Ryugen Yomi being slightly stronger than Kiwami Arms power wise (really.. IMO Ryugen Yomi would be the one suitable to kick both Kiwami Arms and Baron Lemon Energy Arms' asses in ep. 39). Ryugen Yomi also uses Dimubu, Shinmugurun's axe in the battle. Ryugen Yomi vows to keep Mai away from Gaim due to Ryoma's machinations, and uses a finisher with Dau, cutting his surroundings to charge the halberd at Gaim. Gaim also tries to use a finisher with Musou Saber, but decides to throw away his weapon and let Ryugen Yomi impale him, as Gaim yanks the Hell Fruit Lockseed away from the belt, crushing it. Though other than it being the compassion, self-sacrifice, and forgiveness move (or lenient solution to villains) expected from most of lead Riders... is it really that hard for the characters in the franchise to target another Rider's belt? The franchise sets up as Kouta had to take fatal attack just to deal with a Rider's belt. Other than that, Micchy is hell bent on killing Kouta for his obsession, and this is really brave for Kouta to let that happen, to let Micchy feel if he's going to regret his villainous decisions or not. Thankfully, it seems is. Kouta's action here gives a hard truth to Micchy that all of his actions have done more harm than good, not accomplishing anything, making everyone either hates or distrusts him, and the people he cares most about are all dead, like Takatora, Kouta here, and potentially later Mai. For this, Kouta is the one in the position to call him idiot now, but continues his compassion and forgiveness to convince Micchy to turn back while hugging him, though like Kouta, Micchy also needs to forgive himself too, especially that his horrible actions are all total failures with him having nothing now. Yoko treats Kaito's wounds in the garage as Chucky and Peko report to them about Mai's situation. To make himself feel worthy of Kouta's compassion, he tries to look after Mai, going back to the hospital, with Ryoma impressed at both Micchy being alive and Kouta being apparently killed. Micchy gets another deserved crushing moment, that Ryoma did claim that the operation is a success, but of course what Ryoma needs is only the fruit, to hell with Mai's well-being, as he realizes Mai's dead now. An idiot indeed Micchy, like the one you dismiss as an idiot for most of the series think about you recently. Micchy's desperate attempts to save Mai is ironically, the one that killed her. Moreover, he's too conceited that he mocks Takatora for being used as pawn and trusting wrong person, yet the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, Micchy does the exact same mistake by entrusting Mai to fucking Ryoma! For more creepy factor, Ryoma gets the golden fruit by taking Mai's heart (body organ). Ryoma even remarks about how he had no idea Micchy can easily trust his words. Other than that, as the prepared... and cowardly creator of the belts, Ryoma makes sure that he had the upper hand, by activating a kill switch to detonate every Genesis Driver possessed by other Riders when Micchy tries to henshin. Ryoma then proceeds to torture Micchy, beating him up and breaking him further emotionally, further giving him a reality check that he's merely a child way over his head, about how Micchy growing up bad is exactly the reason he's easy prey for bad adults, the reason Takatora wants to prevent him being naughty, yet Micchy only follows dark example of Takatora and turning worse than he is, while Ryoma chokes him. Though Micchy deserved it and that what Ryoma said was right, doesn't mean Ryoma's being good or in the right here, he just channels his insane sociopathic as always, just that the victim happens to be a deserving one. Even if this is an attempt to change Micchy to be a better person, this acknowledges how terrible Micchy is, if a character need to get the shit kicked out of them to become a better person, then they are a terrible person, most of the time. Still conversing in her head, Sagara as DJ reports to Mai about the current events, the predicament Kouta, Kaito, and Micchy suffered with all of their aim to take Mai and her golden fruit. Mai obviously would be unhappy regarding this, as this is a miserable outcome for her and them. Just for this once though, unfortunately compared to the later, this is a moment where someone that veers towards becoming a plot device is being reminded of their agency, in-universe, as Sagara convinces Mai to take action, while floating around, as the reason they seek her would mean she had the immense power in her hands, as she accepts it to try to change fate. From outside perspective, Mai is seen as dreaming to Ryoma. After Ryoma tortures Micchy, though Mai's physical body is dead, her spirit lives on within the Forbidden Fruit, with it turning into her new body. I guess Roshuo is one step ahead compared to Ryoma at handling the fruit as its longtime holder, with Mai turning into Woman of the Beginning despite what Ryoma did. Mai consoles Micchy as she tries to use the power to change the past, by time-travel. However Sagara warns her decision is too much even for golden fruit, indicating the limits of its power, though Mai's still determined to try. True to the warning, the Woman of the Beginning's appearence previously had her giving vague words to Gaim, Baron, and Micchy (dream), which are not what she meant to say, therefore nobody listens. This also explains how those words seem uncharacteristic as the words are too pessimistic for her, the timestream preventing her to speak clearly. Other than things like the number of Riders, last man standing battle, and the main 4 Rider's parallels, this part is another reference of Ryuki, where a main character gets a chance to alter things in the past (Odin activating Time Vent to rewind time as Shinji keeps the memories), only for it to fail due to other circumstances, the outcome stays the same. It's even worse in Gaim as, Mai's actions actually give a clue to Sagara about the frontrunners on the Helheim invasion now, turning the outcome actually worse (at least for the trio), creating a stable time-loop and explaining his heavy focus on Kouta, while when Shinji successfully warned (as Shinji won't keep his memories forever, failing to warn others too before) Kitaoka in Ryuki about Asakura's Rider status in prison, he lets it be to increase the Rider count, the outcome is still the same instead of turning worse at least. Kaito and Yoko visits the hospital Mai's taken in, remarking that it's Ryoma's secret lab, and a right place to do it. Yoko notices Mai's body, checking her pulse, confirming her death with genuinely sad expression, likely due to genuine care for Kaito that she knows she's one of people he respected, while Kaito notices a devastated Micchy. Ryoma gets his own breakdown too, as he loses the Forbidden Fruit, desperately trying to understand what's going on by scribbling tons of scientific calculations in the whiteboard in a similar manner as Philip from W, even ignoring Yoko and Kaito. Kaito tries to take revenge with Genesis Driver with Yoko assisting him, but their Drivers are disabled by Ryoma's kill switch too, forcing Kaito to use Sengoku Driver as Ryoma henshins into Duke. gaining upper hand. Duke also informs Baron that Micchy finished off Kouta, so the only one with incredible power despite using Sengoku Driver (Ryugen Yomi also uses Sengoku Driver..) is no threat anymore to Duke. Duke de-henshins, and though Ryoma claims Kaito's Helheim wound is too late that it's something for Kaito to still function despite struggling to henshin back, for Kaito it's nothing as he brings up his childhood, he has already felt this kind of pain since childhood, about how weak he is, and for his social darwinism belief, he puts himself as the weak one too. With the desperate situation Kaito is in now, the possibility of either Ryoma or the infection killing him, as well as the apparent death for both Kouta and Mai, Kaito decides to eat a Helheim fruit like Hase did, with even Ryoma thinking of this as insane, complete with Kaito's smirk. This seems to be a completely favorable act for Kaito, as he doesn't mutate into ordinary Inves, but an Overlord! The requirement for that is if the person is already on the verge of becoming an Inves, like Kaito's infection from an Overlord wound. Moreover, as discussed to Yoko before, the reason Kaito wears his Genesis Driver is to halt the infection, and it pays off as he retains his mind in his Overlord form, Lord Baron.... not that it won't be any good as Kaito realizes that he can remake the world in his image for his sheer power... Regarding how Demushu embodies Kaito's social darwinism without restraint, Lord Baron has a look resembling Demushu, including his weapon Guronbaryamu, but with it being also named Baron, it had a streak of Banana Arms' look as well with the strokes of yellow. Ryoma is enraged about the fact that Kaito can transcend humanity without the use of his technology, treating it as the ultimate insult to his researches, as he henshins into Duke. Lord Baron is able to beat him easily, turning himself into a mist to attack like Demushu before and then barraging him with Helheim plants, removing his belt and reverting him into Ryoma. An irony that despite resembling Demushu, the weakest Overlord, Lord Baron is the 2nd strongest, yes, still weaker than Roshuo. I guess this also explains why Duke's debut before was more impressive than Demushu's, as non-Duke New Generation Riders like Baron Lemon Energy Arms can put a fight into Demushu, enraging him, unlike Duke who beats Gaim Jimber Lemon Arms without effort. As Lord Baron chokes Ryoma, Ryoma declares that his research is the truth that the world needs. Like Kuroto later in Ex-Aid, Ryoma's whole character revolves around satisfying his ego within his scientific brilliance regardless of what happened to others, making sure that it's utilized enough by humanity, to the point of pettiness like dismantling any alternatives. He's enraged when his tech isn't used for someone's growth, and his vendetta against Helheim is based on this very fact, being jealous of Helheim's ability to evolve humanity better than him, which is his end goal to surprass them. Proof of this is Lord Baron against Duke here, and how he loses Forbidden Fruit with the spirit of the corpse inhabiting it, which apparently is enough to make Ryoma suicidal, after Lord Baron declares the truth in his fists as he punches Ryoma to the nearby building, leaving an imprint of him, though before Ryoma declares Lord Baron's demise as fate. Another ability of Lord Baron is that, he can revert to Kaito, with his injuries healed, as Yoko picks the only functioning Genesis Driver.. Though his end highlights about how Ryoma still doesn't know everything about Helheim, I'd wish that Ryoma makes use for the huge and fascinating data he has claimed as per ep. 38, like the fight from Kiwami Arms, Overlords, or such, to make himself a threat rather than staying as Duke here, albeit he had an "effort", but was simply using kill switches.
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The most complete non-wiki encyclopedias for Kamen Rider series (currently only found Ryuki and OOO's). Last edited by DreadBringer; 07-12-2021 at 01:23 PM.. |
07-12-2021, 03:56 PM | #16703 |
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Kamen Rider Gaim watch
The Forbidden Fruit Saga Episode 44: Two People Aiming At the Future Written by: Gen Urobuchi/Jin Haganeya, Directed by: Osamu Kaneda Chucky and Peko come across a bloodied Kouta, who Peko convinced Chucky to still bring to the garage despite his conditions. I feel like the acting is off from Chucky here though, as she laments about Kouta's fate, her expression seems like smiling instead. Back at the garage, with Akira also staying there, notices that Kouta's wounds are gone, but that's due to him becoming Overlord. In Kouta's dream Mai visited him to apologize for her failure to change fate, that the 3 main Riders all suffer and she can only watch. However, Kouta notices that this is because of her mistake, taking all the responsibility alone, something Mai wants to help Kouta with after Yuuya's death. Despite her gaining godly powers from the golden fruit, she's still human in demeanor, and thus can screw up like this. Though of course if Kouta can forgive Micchy, he'd do it similarly here, returning Mai's words to not suffer alone, and that defying the series' prologue, Kouta invites Mai to forget about fate, as they have full control of their actions despite mistakes, and the future isn't set in the stone. Mai admits that this is the reason she approves Kouta.. but the bad implementation for her starts here.. ironically despite the speech, she decides to leave it to Kaito to change future though his future is different than Kouta's.. it's like the action that is only plausible when she stays human didn't gain any power. Though Kouta realizes this as he wakes up, vowing to stop Kaito despite the other's objections. The war sequence that shows up in the very prologue of Gaim is actually one of the potential (apocalyptic) future outcomes, with Helheim Forest taking over the world and the inhabitants being forced into a war situation, the Sengoku Rider War period, with Sagara describing the Riders there (Gaim, Baron, Ryugen, Zangetsu) as the potential holders of Forbidden Fruit, and predestinated battle between Gaim and Baron. This is a parallel reality that Mai observes after she gets stuck there while traveling through time, and Mai is only able to return if the future there is decided, though other than the Kouta, the condition to return seems to be an excuse to keep Mai out of the battles right now, further diminishing the potential of the power can do, and later, practically turning her into a reward to be won as she can only be freed by one of the potential obtainers of Golden Fruit... As the result of this, her human body disappears, while Sagara informs the situation to Kaito, Yoko, and Micchy, with Kaito mocking Micchy's decision to give up unlike him who will keep moving forward. Like Kouta at the garage, as another similarity between them, Kaito's wounds healed, and instead it turns into his power. Yoko feels ecstatic, with a few display of positive emotion coming from her that she made the right choice to use Kaito as Kingmaker. While true that not everyone wants to be in utter spotlight, like Micchy who refuses the power of god himself too, and being submissive is a choice someone is allowed to make, like others I do feel that there's wasted part of Yoko's characterization because they did imply something about her that may lead into something, especially for an actress that has notable achievement for doing the Rider's stunts too. Like about how Ryoma hypes her up as being unpredictable, just like Kouta. Though she'd be understandably beaten by Gaim Kachidoki Arms.. well, probably she's stuck in the treatment that non-relevant Riders get, about her stagnating in Marika, without elevating her game like someone similar to her here Kaito. Or about how Ryoma's separation from her implies a new path for her but it's merely used to prove that she's right for choosing Kaito over Ryoma, potentially elevating herself in pursuit of power too. The other thing known here is that Yoko wouldn't care if Kaito is the type of king who destroys the world, which is a similar aspect of Kaito that she holds power above morality, which also can make her constantly switching sides, like here she approves extremism as that's Kaito's intention, despite Kaito being able to humanize her before. Though the other, last great Yoko moment is her fighting evenly with Oren on their human form, showing off her expertise as a spy to hold off a trained soldier, after Kaito approaches Zack, Oren, and Jonouchi, where Oren notes his strange lifeless blue eyes now. Kaito summons Inves without Lockseed. Oren and Yoko henshin into their Rider forms to fight each other, with Jonouchi fighting the summoned Inves. However Kaito helps his side by attacking Gridon and Bravo with Helheim plants, and then reveals his Lord Baron form. Kaito declares that he will destroy this world and remake it with the fruit. Though Kaito keeps his mind after turning into a monster, still doesn't mean it's a good outcome for others. Kaito is still someone who is morally ambiguous, and despite him actually hating the social darwinism the world has instead of reveling in it, it still results in a nasty outcome that he resorts to destroy the world that contains social darwinism. Despite the noble goal he had compared to Demushu's who is definitive social darwinist to trample on the weak, Kaito would still cause destruction as severe as him, due to his desire to remake the world that suits his image. Kaito keeping his human mind and hating the world injustice as a monster would make him an anti-villain, though not fully-fledged villain, still a big threat that has to be stopped, like Roshuo before; when Kaito gets a hold of the Forbidden Fruit at this point (or probably before), he'd become a second Roshuo about how he deals with the world. If only Roshuo actually met Kouta and Kaito in not a bitter tone... Zack however, gets a bigger role here, to stand up against his former leader's decision. He apparently 'betrays' the alliance to join Lord Baron, who welcomes him, throwing Gridon high up to the air while Marika destroys his belt with her arrow. Bravo takes on Lord Baron but is quickly beaten, with his belt destroyed too. Both Oren and Jonouchi cannot henshin anymore. Zack's action here is a bit brutal compared to how he's established as an upstanding guy after becoming Knuckle, ironically after he looks worse than Kaito at first being reprimanded for cheating, where later Kaito becomes (anti-)villainous as Zack becomes noble hero, though Zack may be planning for something actually good here. Oren and Jonouchi reports about Kaito's state, confirming Kouta's suspicion. It seems that Oren's animosity with Kouta ends as he tried to stop Kouta due to his injuries, but his brushed off. Kaito, accompanied with Zack and Yoko, summons an army of Inves that floods the city. Kouta confronts Kaito about his actions, with Kaito, being genuine as usual, explains Mai's situation that she can only return if Golden Fruit is claimed, highlighting the parallel of the alternate world Mai's in, that Gaim and Baron's battle is predetermined too here, pointing out that only Kaito and Kouta can now obtain the Golden Fruit. Ironically, despite what Kaito calls out about Micchy regarding Mai, Kaito would had a faint objectification trait to Mai here, to obtain and save her, while also destroying the world in process. Y'know, something that Mai claims doesn't want to happen in ep. 42 before, which Kouta rightfully points out to Kaito. For the objectification Mai got, at least, it's treated in the wrong, as everyone who treats her like that are villainous characters like Micchy, Sagara, and the newly joining Kaito, while the good or neutral side does treat her as a person who has the right to do what she wants (regardless of her role here), Kouta calls out others like Kaito for this, and it's the action that is being portrayed in the right, and while Kaito quickly henshins into Baron, Kouta only begs for Baron to stop this madness while dodging the attacks in human form, actually taking Mai's wishes into account for them to not fight, but is eventually forced to henshin. Gaim upgrades into Kachidoki Arms for self-preservance, and midway, still begs for Baron to stop, but fires his finisher to revert Baron into Kaito. However Kaito reveals his Lord Baron form and reminds Kouta that he needs to take the golden fruit by force from him, though Kouta reminds Kaito that he'd let the fruit, but Kaito is never interested in saving the world and would let it get destroyed to get Mai.. regardless of her personal wants, Kouta misjudged Kaito, and changes his stance against Kaito to stop him claiming the fruit as he henshins into Kiwami Arms. Kaito's the secondary Rider that never changed his core personality despite being softened up too, and it actually turns himself worse as he gains more power, turning him into the secondary Rider that is the final threat instead, the ensemble of antagonists of Gaim's arcs circling back to him with him retaking the role he had in Beat Riders Saga. Lord Baron had upper hand, but this time it's not due to Kouta's morality, but due to his previous wounds. Seeing this, Zack steps in, fighting Kiwami Arms to back up Lord Baron, but whispers a surprising line to Gaim to fall back for now, reverting Gaim into Kouta, letting Kouta get away while he "apologized" to Kaito. As Kouta runs away, he remembers Zack's words, wondering his purpose, indicating that he's still doing good for now; he won't throw away his newfound scout boy-traits since Knuckle. Though still, this is a cop-out, to have Knuckle knock down freaking Kiwami Arms back into Kouta, this is some ep. 39 Micchy level of huge power increase out of nowhere, even if Kouta is injured, Rider forms should act as armor for that.
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07-13-2021, 04:19 PM | #16704 |
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Kamen Rider Gaim watch
The Forbidden Fruit Saga Episode 45: Baron's Ultimate Transformation Written by: Gen Urobuchi, Directed by: Osamu Kaneda Zack approaches the surprised Peko about the betrayal of the 2 Team Baron members, and assigns him to give a note to Oren... quietly. Peko is further confused but likely gets a hint that Zack is actually doing something good in secret and also asks for Peko to keep it secret too. As Kouta gets treated in garage including by Akira, the others discuss about what happened to Kaito, presumably eating a Helheim fruit, but points out if someone eats Helheim fruit they had to lose their mind, while Kaito keeps it. While Oren warns him again about facing Kaito in that condition, Kouta notes the similarity between him and Kaito with his wounds healing quickly, surprising others like Jonouchi, due to Kiwami Lockseed. Though Kouta knows that being a human or monster, it doesn't matter (as he gets over his potentially pariah situation for that), what matters is the soul. Peko gave the note to Oren. Micchy is forced to acknowledge about how his actions are drifting everyone apart from him while still sobbing. Appropriate karmic situation as he never viewed them as person but more of an extension of himself thinking they have no right to act out on their own against his twisted schemes that is meant to 'protect' them. Takatora hallucination explains about Micchy's real situation, related to one of the show's theme about growing up, that Micchy is the triumphant example of the antithesis to this; he can never leave his comfort behind, his childhood (the dance representing this), unlike others who are ready to move forward and face their fates, such as accepting awful truths and working towards it. And he's the extreme example of trying to keep his childhood with all the schemes he's pulling throughout the series, like keeping them all in the dark while forcing Kouta to comply to him, to make each of them 'keep smiling', even directly stating that he'll betray everyone to keep the situation in the team like that. And Micchy still considers Takatora hallucination's words as mocking him.. I'd guess he's still bad here, not too genuine of admitting his mistakes, like how Takatora hallucination returns his question that he keeps clinging in his shadows, which'd mean him keeping himself in dark path, and the hallucination considers his pain as nothing compared to the ones that carry the fate of the world on their backs. As Yoko insists for Kaito to rest, he also talks with Mai on his dreams. So for the new world where Kaito wishes only the strong survive, he'd lump those who trust only their strength and trample on the weak as the weak too because they'd be extinct if they went against those who are stronger, refering to the Overlords.... well Kaito'd be a 2nd Roshuo if he accomplishes his goals. Then Kaito goes creepy with his approach to Mai, forcing her to be with him, a case of objectifying as well to think it doesn't matter if she asks he wants her or golden fruit. So apparently because of Kaito turning heel, he or the writing (is it intentional as irony or just OOC?) has to make his approach to Mai ironically as contemptuous as Micchy does? Y'know, the person who Kaito calls out as not treating Mai as a person, or the woman who Kaito respects for her emotional strength; of which despite questioning his wants too (of which Kaito uses as a declaration of objectification), she folds quicker here, only lamenting that Kaito can do whatever he wants, instead of trying to object (not with '-ify') his wants like she did before to various people like that including Kaito, all for an excuse to keep the final battle (as well-choreographed as it is) and keep her away from interfering. While Kaito being the secondary Rider that never changed his core character and concluding in him turning extremist can flow well, I don't think his treatment to Mai here should be related to his goal of his ideal world, other than the means to accomplish his goal. At Drupers, Oren seems to comply to Zack's note by creating a bomb, following his mercenary past (.. of which Bando slowly and seemingly forcefully salutes at him). Zack expects the bomb to be bigger, although Oren assures the bomb's capability. Knowing Zack's true intentions to secretly disable the enemy and help the alliance, Jonouchi praises him as tactical. Zack thinks of himself as a coward to exploit Kaito's trust on him, due to having no chance to stand up against Kaito or Yoko, but Oren assures him that he's heroic because he's doing it to someone who turned on humanity. Though this is consoling to Zack, I'd feel this still hints of Oren's brutal approach despite changing sides, to essentially encourage pay evil to evil when someone is evildoer. As someone who has been Kaito's right hand man, Zack tells more about Kaito regarding his character, he's always been worried about where will he turn his obtained power after fighting Yggdrasill and Overlords; as someone holding power above morality, he can do good as anti-hero by fighting off Yggdrasill and Overlords (of those the 2 is actually seen as weak in Kaito's eyes due to secrets for the former, and preying on the weak which leads to extinction for latter), but with no big threats left.. he'd turn it into the whole world he despises turning him into anti-villain; Zack knows Kaito better than anyone, and deduces his turn into dark path sooner or later. Peko is worried about Zack confronting someone like Kaito, but he taps him to assure him that he'll stop him. Zack confronts Kaito for sending an Inves army to destroy the world, and talks about his growth that being a leader changes him, giving him reason to fight and making him learn to feel good for protecting people (which he did in episodes like 36). So they do address Zack's character change here and they did establish him as another altruistic guy since Knuckle, albeit he's already quickly amicable to the others right after gaining Knuckle that it feels too quick, but they do address it here though probably very late. Though this is revealed after he turns slightly worse to do pragmatic stuff to get the job done (Oren and Jonouchi's belt are destroyed as a result), albeit he feels bad about it. Still, Kaito is also always been like this on the Beat Riders Saga too, and as a major moment for him Zack addresses Kaito's behavior that it has never changed until now, I mean Zack also witnesses Kaito's nature at Beat Riders Saga especially as his right hand man, though Zack is still as much of an asshole as Kaito, even being the one Kaito calls out for cheating (along with Peko). Zack leaves, while also planting a bomb in an electrical box nearby. As a professional spy, Yoko notices that Zack's movement in his pocket is suspicious, and goes to assault Zack, revealing Zack holding a detonator. I refer to her skills because it leads to a disappointing next moment (I know female Rider death is a franchise-wide problem, but I want to explain the reason here, as I also wouldn't want for the opposite to happen like them not getting hurt only because of female) that Yoko gets an anti-climatic death, with Yoko not having any idea to protect Kaito other than running in front of the bomb (as Marika), and even acts slower than Zack did (approaching the detonator) after their tussle. That aside, the bomb seems to be strong enough to de-henshin Marika, as Yoko falls from the building. She should've been more composed and have more solution to this (or even successfully intercepted Zack I guess before, after she fought Oren on equal terms as human). Kaito and Zack then fight as (Armored Rider) Baron and Knuckle, with Baron seemingly killed Knuckle, but praising that Zack has grown strong despite the cowardly move. Kaito then approaches the lying Yoko, who indirectly declares her love to him, wishing if Kaito would've sought her like he did to Mai when she's the one with golden fruit, with Kaito giving some reciprocation though in different way to see Yoko and golden fruit independently. By this Yoko's death also seem pointless, what comes after this is only some romantic-lines. For the better stuff, aside from Zack's above, there's Kouta living with the fact about how he lost his humanity, only being able to eat Helheim fruits, with Akira learning more of the state of her brother now. It's distressing to Akira too as for her it could be that Kouta can be suicidal for the despair he suffered, with her warnings before, but Kouta stays intact, he has fully turned into a monster despite outwardly looking human. The conversation falls back into Kouta wanting to change as different man for his sister's sake, with Akira telling him doesn't mean Kouta has to turn into this monstrosity, but assures her teary self that he's able to help others doing the right things this way, like how she views human job as (entertainment does help others in its own way too y'know though). True, gaining powers can make someone contribute far more to the society compared to the limitations of normal humans, albeit with consequence he had to acknowledge for him. For long last though, SDF actually didn't abandon Zawame, as Kouta later realizes, arriving at last to evacuate the Rider alliances, though at limited time so their objections about Zack, Akira, and Kouta isn't addressed. Kouta insists Akira to get on the helicopter, while assuring others he'll take care of Kaito and Zack. Kouta goes to face Kaito, while again, Mai interacts with him to express disapproval of him and Kaito fighting, while Kouta tells her he had found his own future now and is fighting for both Kaito and her. The other thing that is told from this scene is about how Kouta doesn't view Mai as object unlike the bad guys, though it still doesn't change about how Mai's dumbed down into a prize when either one of them won, with little to no will against the current situation, only going along with the fight regardless of who wins or if the outcome is what she wants (she doesn't want the world to end, of course she's supposed to side with Kouta here), her ascension to godhood is played like if she's still a normal human. Kouta summons his own army of Inves. Kouta objects to Kaito's goal of replacing the world with a new one to dismantle social darwinism, with Kouta arguing that Kaito underestimates the current world to be unable to do that. Kaito argues that being strong automatically rips away their compassion, using his childhood as an example. This is a generalizing view of Kaito like other anti-villains such as Takatora (ironically not taking Yggdrasill workers into account) or Roshuo, as Kouta points out there are handful of strong and compassionate people; the ones who use their power to save the world, which got rejected by Kaito due to those people dying, using Kouta as example, likely from the fact that he (nearly) died before against Micchy. Though still in Kouta's argument, there are many morally good trait and deeds in addition to saving people, the really good ones do more than just superheroics, and Kaito didn't fully know the context of something like Kiwami Arms vs Ryugen Yomi fight. I guess despite Kaito being someone who doesn't give up and uses failures as lessons, like Micchy (adding up to his comparable traits), Kaito also constantly clings into the past/childhood which is the powerful Yggdrasill takeover of his family, though Kaito clings to bitter moment while Micchy clings to happy moment. Kaito refusing to move on blinds him from the surrounding fact, only constantly projecting his past to any situation and denying objections like Kouta did here. While Kouta, though he also underwent terrible moment in Yuuya's death, he grows out of it to move forward and forgiving himself. Both henshin into Baron and Gaim to fight while their respective Inves army also fights, with the fight between Riders moving into Lock Vehicles fight, then Dandeliner fight, then Gaim turning Jimber Lemon Arms to fight off stronger Inves, with Baron changing into Mango Arms who got overwhelmed by Jimber Lemon Arms. Gaim upgrades into Kachidoki Arms to fight off even stronger Inves as Baron turns into Lord Baron. While the fight is nice (..at the cost of Mai's role) like the transition to both of their bikes.. I guess I feel like some part is lacking to skip some forms, with Gaim's Pine and Ichigo Arms being unused (should be pitted against Mango Arms). Gaim Jimber Cherry Arms is also unused, though probably Peach Arms wouldn't gain advantage. I wonder too if the Riders don't care about friendly fire to the Inves army they summoned there.
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The most complete non-wiki encyclopedias for Kamen Rider series (currently only found Ryuki and OOO's). Last edited by DreadBringer; 07-14-2021 at 12:21 AM.. |
07-13-2021, 09:06 PM | #16705 |
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As of yesterday and today, I watched the first two episodes of Kamen Rider Blade, the first two episodes of Kamen Rider Hibiki, and the first two episodes of Kamen Rider Faiz on YouTube.
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07-14-2021, 04:54 PM | #16706 |
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Kamen Rider Gaim watch
The Forbidden Fruit Saga Episode 46: Fate's Victor Written by: Gen Urobuchi, Directed by: Hidenori Ishida The last episode written by Urobutcher, as the next is another movie tie-in. The fight continues with Kaito at his strongest (Lord Baron) and Kouta at his 2nd strongest (Gaim Kachidoki Arms), with the typical rivalry scream of "KAZURABA!" and "KAITO!". In the alternate world, the Gaim and Baron fight of its own in Sengoku Rider War also started, albeit it's them in base form, with Sagara describing the world as potential possibilities, determining which one can survive, and that both him and Mai can only watch, where the latter empathizes with Kaito's pain. Kachidoki Arms goes toe to toe with Lord Baron for a while, but would expectedly get beaten, as Lord Baron voices his true hatred for the social darwinist philosophy, though him doing something against it would still make him a big threat with the power he'd potentially gain. Gaim upgrades into Kiwami Arms. Kiwami Arms uses 2 main Rider's weapons at once, Daidaimaru and Bana Spear against Lord Baron, then the other remaining main Rider's weapons Budou Ryuhou and Melon Defender, though in both cases Lord Baron gains upper hand with his Guronbaryamu and energy ball (despite the shield). He then launches a Gates of Babylon-esque attack again, summoning Pine Iron, Duri Noko, Donkachi, Mango Punisher, Kiwi Gekirin, and Ichigo Kunai to throw all of them, only for Lord Baron to resist them all with a shockwave similar to Roshuo, and then destroy them. Kiwami Arms then elevates his weapon with Sonic Arrow, but Lord Baron uses his mist ability to smash Kiwami Arms around. Kiwami Arms then uses his final weapon DJ Gun, activating Taiken Mode with Musou Saber, but still got outmatched by Lord Baron. Lord Baron continues his assault towards Kiwami Arms, with the Sengoku Rider War version of Gaim vs Baron scenes interposed, eventually slashing Kiwami Arms' chest, leaving a trail of colorful fruits in place of blood. As Kiwami Arms fall into his knees with Lord Baron delivering final blow, Gaim blocks the blow with his hand, then snaps Lord Baron's weapon, and stabs Lord Baron with the shard of his weapon. Not the most flashy move, but it seems that as Kiwami Arms gets overwhelmed using each of its weapons by Lord Baron, then the one that can end Lord Baron is his power himself if Kiwami can't get through it, though Lord Baron's Guronbaryamu seems to be a glass cannon at least to Kiwami Arms, possessing enough offensive power to end Lord Baron, but is easily snapped. It's also meaningful about how despite Lord Baron wanting to crush the social darwinist philosophy, he had become the very thing he targets, by becoming someone who is bent on destroying the world, thus, he's ended by it. Kaito finally acknowledges Kouta's strength, though he asked first for the reason, which is due to Kouta wanting to protect someone and not giving up. Well, Kaito does have those trait too so it's not wholly convincing, but Kaito had his shortcomings for never seeking help from others, not making bonds with others; which explains how many Lockseeds Kouta use compared to Kaito's, not utilizing the other forms of strength himself despite acknowledging Mai's, not properly taking care of himself, which makes himself hindered by his own fatal flaws. For Kaito to be killed regarding this, surely it's a rather brutal move by goody-two-shoes main Riders' standards, and it's not completely 100% morally good decision at that one few occassion (not regularly), though it's purposely made as likely inevitable decision as it's dealing with someone who has fully turned into a monster, unlike other Riders who can be disabled by wrecking their belt. Moreover, Kouta doesn't enjoy killing Kaito here, putting him in tears, which is ought to happen if a hero gets to put in a killing situation. Finally Kouta also acknowledges that he can be emotional like crying while still moving forward, unlike what he said at the first episode. I still wonder though if monsters can be KOed as a way of dealing with them non-lethally, or what are the fates of the victims infected by Helheim plants in the hospital before, if doctors can heal them or not, and if it can happen to Kaito too. Kouta reunites with Mai, who laments that she can stop Kaito (in-universe acknowledgment of diminishing role despite gaining power), and Kouta talks about Kaito having the right goals, but wrong execution (and thus is an anti-villain, having good intentions don't justify your other traits), where they vow to accomplish Kaito's goals with better method. Typical of Urobutcher's work, the main protagonist ascends to godhood by Mai giving Kouta the Forbidden Fruit. Kouta's another case of his Overlord form still looking mostly human, Sagara appears and is happy about him completing the job of encouraging the cycle of evolution through natural selection, destruction and rebirth. For now, Sagara successfully tempts Kouta and Mai to pick and eat the fruit, just like how the snake in Bible successfully tempts Adam and Eve to eat the fruit. Kouta is suspicious of Sagara's side, if he's friend or foe, of which he claims neither as he's hand of fate, claiming it's inevitable for civilizaions to fall for next generation. Still despite Sagara's weird way of thinking of caring for only the end results, he's the cause of all the problems everyone faces albeit not the direct threat. The ending is a mixed bag, on the one hand, I like the 'another option' route here where Kouta refuses to destroy the world he protects to make way for the new world, despite Sagara persuading him to do so, warning that Kouta and Mai would have no future if they don't do so. They opt to use uninhabited planet as the place to make the new world, opening cracks to move traces of Helheim in the Earth there, and this would be a huge sacrifice for those 2, choosing to exile themselves in the darkness, as Sagara pointed out. This is what they can do best for the Earth for the power they hold. Kouta is confident in his power and that Mai is in his side, holding arms. This would be one of the cases where a couple in KR is made official, and for them facing painful future, this'd play up their vow to not make each other suffer alone. This'd mark a defeat in Sagara's case for his expectations to be foiled, though he encourages those 2, playing the God's role with him thinking it's not for once here to quote Genesis 1:28. Kouta and Mai's exile also play another part of Adam and Eve where they both are exiled from Eden after eating the fruit, while Kouta and Mai are exiled from Earth to their new planet. Ironic that they're actually exiled here due to their morality and decision to put others above themselves. On the other hand, the bad part is about how the resolution is incomplete with Sagara still being unopposed (moreover, Kouta parted with him by thanking him for everything, despite Kouta defying and calling him out moments ago), starting another Helheim trial in another planet inhabitated with aliens. None of the characters likely will notice this, which probably would mean Sagara would keep successfully doom other worlds without any repercussions. The godhood power should be used to combat against this, either if they can or can't against Sagara. Timeskip happens for 3 months, showing Iyo being called over by Bando, Jonouchi looking for Hase by posting a flyer about him, among many of the missing people's flyers (the consequence of Sagara's sthick, right there..), Yggdrasill Tower being demolished, Zawame functioning again with its inhabitants (and a crippled Zack) returning, watching Beat Riders' performance (with Raid Wild joining for once). Zack surviving is a case of decision change, that he was intended to die, but is kept alive due to the popularity. Both shows that despite Yggdrasill boasting itself as the centerpiece of the city, Yggdrasill isn't actually as influental in the city it creates that Jonouchi and Oren talks about the city's state after Yggdrasill ends. As Jonouchi laments about Hase, Oren encourages him that it can't be changed anymore and better focus on present, which makes Jonouchi think of himself as lucky, but then brings up Micchy. Oren narrates about how Micchy is a victim for Overlords, but talks about him getting fitting punishment of living with the burden of his actions, with no one to understand him. This shows that even without characters like him being killed in horrible death, there are other kinds of punishment, he’s turned into a nobody who has nothing, losing everything all due to his actions. This shows that being a bad person does not disqualify someone from the victim status, and inversely, being victimized at some point in your life does not automatically make you a good person or preclude you from doing evil things. However, Zack extends a hand to Micchy, welcomes him if he wants to rejoin (Micchy would feel wrong to be there, rightfully so), and recounts about how the situation is happy again with nobody knowing that the world is going to end before, and vows to keep Kouta, Mai, and Kaito's memories alive. Micchy then visits Takatora... who again... survives the last encounter with his little brother and is being treated, but likely hopeless. In his head Takatora interacts with Kouta who reports that everythind ends now and encourages him to take care of Micchy properly, pointing out that people can change like Kouta himself, as he wakes up finally, again applying the theme that there's hope regardless of past, to a previously messed up sibling caretaker. Regarding Sagara's scene before though, while Earth may get better outcome now, the other worlds won't be necessarily, that's what I can't take my mind off after watching this sequence, seemingly Earth-bias if this is played up as happy ending.
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07-15-2021, 04:21 PM | #16707 |
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Kamen Rider Gaim watch
The Forbidden Fruit Saga Episode 47: Transform! And to the Future Written by: Jin Haganeya, Directed by: Hidenori Ishida Flashback of Kouta and Micchy still being together is shown, with Gaim fighting off Inves while they're accused as playing hero by the public due to blaming Beat Riders for the Inves. Micchy asks Kouta the reason to keep fighting despite not getting reward, which Kouta feels as responsibility to fight when you have the power. This was the thing that Redyue, Micchy's Overlord counterpart, tried to mind rape Kouta with, and failed, doing good isn't primarily seeking reward. There's a playful scene of Kouta headlocking Micchy that he still fought with him too despite the complaining. That'd seem like Micchy gets the influence of Kouta's hope there, at least in Kouta's eyes (as he'd lately know about his true nature), something that he despised about Kouta and that he was never on board with the hope from the beginning. Of course, this serves as a (currently) comeuppance to Micchy as all of it are things in the past, 7 months forward after Helheim left Earth. Takatora talks with Micchy about his plans to atone, fixing the damages done by Yggdrasill, ascending into the cornerstone among the heroes now. The past deeds Yggdrasill did including Takatora's cannot be undone, but trying to fix it is the best he can do to try restoring things into normal, as a proof that he truly felt guilty including his burdens before, though still, it depends on what would he do if he's put in similar situation like Helheim at first again (I read he can be still manipulative at Gridon vs Bravo). While Takatora retains Micchy, he'd be understandably skeptical of Micchy's claims that he'll be fine as Takatora would be.. busy again, considering he turned even worse than Takatora did before. Again, Micchy is sulking in front of other Beat Riders dancing. However, here the reaction for the dancers to him are shown; Chucky, who apparently has assumed the role of leader tries to invite him back, supported by Rat and Rica, while Micchy aplologizes as he left. So the other dancers are also lenient to Micchy, likely due to the past time they shared together, albeit there's those who understandably won't forgive him like Peko. Zack convinces others to leave Micchy alone for a while due to it being hard for him, as an unnamed civilian girl is struck by a flying insect. Takatora finally meets up with t̶h̶e̶ ̶o̶l̶d̶e̶r̶ ̶s̶i̶s̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶g̶e̶t̶s̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶ ̶h̶y̶p̶e̶d̶ ̶u̶p̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶t̶a̶l̶k̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶K̶o̶u̶t̶a̶ Akira at Charmant, talking about his failings as brother, with Akira consoling him that she doesn't know everything about Kouta too and that's normal for siblings. Takatora admits that he owes Kouta, while Akira thinks Kouta's state (and likely change) now is done on his own instead of relating to others including her. This seems to be couple set up between them, Takatora approaching someone with Kouta's ideals, but of opposite gender, as it makes Oren jealous (of Takatora as usual), though Takatora had a sick wife (like Roshuo's) in Soccer World. I'd think Takatora should ask for guidance in rising younger sibling other than admitting his mistakes, or that the impact of Kouta leaving to Akira should be emphasized more. Oren gives both of them cakes where both praised it as delicious, but Oren credits it to Jonouchi, who has completed his training (though Oren still slaps him), on par with Oren in cooking skills now (him gaining Oren's recognition when). They're swarmed by numerous flying insects, as well as some civilians, merging into Grasshopper Monster like the one on ep. 37. The possessed girl approaches Micchy who is surprised by her having Lockseed, revealing the identity as Kougane, a villain in summer film who wants revenge (haven't watched the movie he's in yet) as he henshins into Armored Rider Jam, while Oren, Jonouchi, and Takatora fights Grasshopper Monster as human. They're obviously outmatched without any power to fight off superpowered beings, with Zack also trying to fight off Jam and failed. Actually it's Zack's fault that Oren and Jonouchi lost their belts in situation like this due to him faking betrayal (though they likely won't win against Jam, despite Oren's skills). At Drupers Bando suggests them to use the black Riders (Kurokage Troopers) belt from Yggdrasill. Actually would like to hear what Bando thinks of Yggdrasill being gone or what he thinks of them now after Ryoma exposed their plan, as a declared Yggdrasill fan. Takatora confirms that the Sengoku Drivers are disposed so other Yggdrasill can't use them for evil, and that Helheim has been taken care of, but he can still create Drivers with Ryoma's blueprints, but there still won't be Lockseeds available. Oren notes that the threat comes at very convenient time. Zack is outraged that they can only sit and watch. Later Jonouchi approaches Takatora, calling it that Takatora still had 1 Sengoku Driver, declaring himself as tactician. Takatora tries to prevent dragging kids into this matter, trying to atone his sins. Hm, probably a proof that Takatora has redeemed, to not think lowly of the 'street trash' here, though he seems to try to atone it himself, while Kouta gets/gives a lesson about not suffering alone. Jonouchi snatches the briefcase containing the Driver, asking Hase's fate. Takatora explains that Hase turned into Inves and is put down by Yggdrasill. As to show that it's not only Takatora's problem, Jonouchi admits that Hase's fate was his fault, and also wants to atone his sins too, by becoming the next Kurokage to honor Hase, with his henshin against Jam later being interposed by flashbacks of Hase and Jonouchi's henshin together. So Jonouchi got his closure on this episode. Kurokage will of course lose to Jam, as Kurokage was weaker than Gridon before, but Micchy steps in, acknowledging that Kouta's no longer in Earth, therefore they have to take his place as the heroes, as he henshins into Ryugen, and becomes a significantly better fighter by gaining upper hand against both Jam and Grasshopper Monster at once, only hindered by Kougane using the possessed girl as hostage to make Ryugen de-henshin to Micchy, as he gets beaten up by the Grasshopper Monster, lamenting himself to Kouta that he can't achieve anything (other than questionable redemption handling, this can be something that proves him kindness will accomplish nothing as he backs off from shooting the possessed girl for Kougane), but Kouta consoles him about his effort, coming in golden apple projection to destroy Grasshopper Monster, and instantly exorcises Kougane from the girl with his godly power. Kouta and Micchy tag teams, with Kouta now being able to instantly henshin into Kiwami Arms by just saying the word as Just Live More plays. Kiwami Arms uses Musou Saber while he hands Ryugen Daidaimaru with Jam (separated weapons) using Daidaimaru Naginata Mode (united weapons). The tag team wins, with Jam boasting that he's the embodiment of golden fruit. Jam uses Apple Bullets, Squash version as he fires 15 purple energy apples, which got stopped by Kiwami Arms in similar manner as Lord Baron stopping Kiwami Arms' "Gates of Babylon" before, while saying a cool quote of no real gold in Jam. Kiwami Arms and Ryugen finish off Jam with combined Rider Kick, as Jam failed to counter with Apple Bullets Au Lait version. Kouta then bids farewell, telling Micchy to get along with Takatora. I don't know if this is the 'embodiment of golden fruit' being underwhelming in his performances against other Riders before, or Kouta's godly power being underwhelming one (or Kouta holding back to fight alongside Micchy again) to not instantly put down a Rider that goes toe to toe with Ryugen, especially that Kiwami Arms before was a sliver of golden fruit, but now Kouta has full power of golden fruit. Otherwise not as flashy as my suggestion for Kiwami Arms' finisher, but I also want for his Burai Kick to have him going through all fruit projection (like Burai Kick in base form going through multiple orange slices). Micchy gets welcomed by the male characters afterwards and Takatora with him accepting it. Then at the now intact shrine tree (Kaito and Mai's place in childhood), both of the kids that Kouta and Kaito saved meet up, with the previously possessed girl, revealed as one of the kids' older sister, dancing in front of the tree, who she describes as sacred and a sign of good luck. Kaito's spirit appears, with Mai trying to convince him that it's the proof of humanity being worth protecting, with people being able to move on and looking forward, cementing their future. Kaito again tries to argue that they'll repeat mistakes and wage war, and Mai acknowledges that, but she thinks mistakes are just room of improvement to move forward. Kaito praises Mai's strength again for this, and Kaito's before someone who also learns from mistakes and not giving up, but in form of fighting enemies. Learning from mistakes of course can be applied to human morality too that Kaito's too cynical to learn, instead of just finishing them all off. Kaito disappears and Kouta and Mai return into their planet, which has turned into something resembling Earth outwardly. Like many would feel, if they want to redeem Micchy, they for sure rushed the hell out of it here, for someone as depraved as him before, it should be a long, drawn out process that took years or perhaps his entire life. It can't be done by merely several speech and Kouta coming to his aid in a fight (if someone at each other's odds is united for a fight, the alliance is mostly very brief and will crumble after the fight ends), terrible people usually needs shit kicked out of them to actually change. More punishment or sentence also might be required for Micchy for his change to actually make sense, probably they should play out Micchy's deeds here as a form of community service punishment? Actually this episode did give some good character closure like Takatora's or Jonouchi's, but to implement movie stuff in something that is a canon continuation of the characters, it feels wrong to me for this episode, which made me not really enjoying the episode, along with how the embodiment of golden fruit is implemented here (not to Kiwami Arms, but to other low-level Riders).
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The most complete non-wiki encyclopedias for Kamen Rider series (currently only found Ryuki and OOO's). |
07-17-2021, 10:53 PM | #16708 |
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 902
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Just finished watching the second episode of Kamen Rider Drive and it looks like it will be another fun series to watch at some point. I seriously need to really start watching these shows outside of the first two episodes.
Last edited by GuardianAngel87; 07-18-2021 at 09:37 AM.. |
07-18-2021, 03:55 PM | #16709 |
Henshin Heaven
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Inside a Hyper Battle Video, help.
Posts: 1,240
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I actually forgot to mention this before, since I was too tired at the time, but I finished watching the original 1971 Kamen Rider recently. It was definitely a show that was more historically interesting that "good" usually. It was wild to see just how old certain KR tropes are, but the show itself was wildly erratic in tone, to the point it almost felt like an encapsulation of Showa Rider in general, the good and bad.
I don't know if I would ever recommend it to anyone besides a toku diehard, but I had a good time overall, even though the show totally lost the plot near the end.
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07-22-2021, 06:54 AM | #16710 |
Warrior of Delusions!
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Wait, you dont know either?
Posts: 5,826
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Kamen Rider Saber: Episodes 29-34
We wrap up the Primitive Dragon arc, and move into everyone's favourite time - Secondary Rider upgrade period! And for his upgrade, Rintaro has to suffer. Poor kid has everything he's ever known torn out from under him, and does not react well. I'm reminded of Mach's little arc back in Drive, where he was frustrated that everyone else was ahead of him, but Rintaro isn't jeaous, he's full of loathing that he let himself get tricked and keeps having to get saved. But, of course, through the support of his friends, and his own desire for justice, he resolves his will, and pushes on as his best self. And then the upgrade comes the next episode. It all holds together fine, it's just an odd choice. Maybe it's just that, knowing the upgrade was coming, I was expecting it to be more tied into what he was going through, rather than what feels like a post-script reward? Aside from that minor confusion though, I'm having a good time with Saber! New, edgier Kento's nihilism makes for an interesting despindent villain, and Genta is fine as an antagonist? He's evil, he wants the book of power, he's definitely gonna get stabbed in the back by Storius, good for him. Durandal is just boneless King Crimson, Sabela is getting the hints of a redemption arc, which is cool, and they even made Ren and Dezast kinda interesting!
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