|
Community Links |
Members List |
Search Forums |
Advanced Search |
Go to Page... |
|
Thread Tools |
03-09-2024, 06:05 PM | #371 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
|
KAMEN RIDER W EPISODE 39 - “THE LIKELIHOOD OF G - BAD CINEMA PARADISE”
You know a plot decision is going well when it requires an entire two-parter to add both context and consequence, but still manages to feel like wasted energy. Basically, I have officially stopped caring about Wakana, and I now zone out whenever the plot focuses on her, or tries to redeem her. She has pretty much ceased feeling like a person, and exists solely as a character that behaves in whatever way is required by the current scene. There’s an attempt in this one to say that Wakana’s completely new character is down to her mind being warped by excessive Memory usage, but it’s a hard explanation to accept. For one, Wakana barely used the Clay Doll Memory recently, so it’s difficult to say that she’s suddenly deranged or malevolent. For another, she was fine in one scene in 38, and then immediately ready to kill Philip. It’s not… I don’t think it’s ever been like a switch got flipped, right? It’s been more of a process to be corrupted by a Memory. (You could maybe point at Isaka’s experimentation on her Driver, but again: she never really used it, and she was fine for multiple episodes.) With Wakana, the show clearly didn’t feel like it needed to do the work to flip her, and I don’t enjoy their attempts to do so now. So, yeah, a story largely about whether the Gene Dopant can be redeemed from his Memory addiction – and, therefore, whether Wakana can – is one that is fine when it focuses on its small stakes love story -slash- self-actualization, less so when I consider it in terms of Wakana’s story. The Dopant story is a good one, though. I like how it’s using this weird couple to talk about the necessity of communication in any relationship, and how you’re allowed to be critical of people you care about. Philip’s in this weird place where he’s written off Wakana in much the same way I have, but he’s clearly feeling betrayed by her in a more personal way, while also not that ready to cut her out of his life. Akiko’s here to remind him that you need to be honest with yourself when you’ve been hurt, but you also need to help the people who’ve hurt you try to improve. It’s a sweet little lesson for Philip, wrapped up in a pleasingly absurd adventure. Everything with the cinema, the Gene Dopant, the cow-puppet hand, and the filmmaking… so good. Such a great low-stakes conflict after the last few bigger, more epic scenarios. This one’s full of terrific details (Toru’s movie is over seven hours long and no one knows why, including him) and cute performances (the Gene Dopant 100% does not know what to do in a fight) that are a perfect distraction from a Museum/Foundation X plot that does not really do it for me. Except for Saeko, that is. Her desperate mission to regain some small amount of control over her fortunes is, once again, the Sonozaki story I’m most invested in. Her need to show everyone that she’s better than them, no matter what risky thing she has to do (sneaking into Digal by dressing up like a custodian!), is exactly the sort of character-based plotting that Wakana now lacks. The Saeko stuff feels like an effect from a previous cause, instead of a bizarre plot-dictated reality we all have to live with. Saeko’s still fun to watch! Because she’s a red Nazca now! Despite the lingering Wakana cloud, I liked the majority of this episode. The quickest way to get me back on this show’s side is to have Shotaro and Akiko take off on a ridiculous investigation, and at least Saeko’s still fun to watch on the villain side of things. I don’t hate this show! I just hate some of its decisions! — DIE-A MEMORIES -I love the callback of Shotaro and Akiko’s samurai TV show obsession from 29/30. Can you imagine, getting to see a version of your favorite action-adventure show on the big screen? What a lovely summer dream! -Do… Terui and Makura not have actual police jobs they should be doing at this point? (Watcherman is very busy, but at least notes it Akiko.) Or is Jinno covering for both of them while they’re off filming a 90-minute amateur film?
__________________
Currently working on: Go-Busters is next! Archive of previous shows on KamenRiderDie.com! |
03-09-2024, 06:31 PM | #372 |
Veteran Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,290
|
Quote:
KAMEN RIDER W EPISODE 37 - “VISITOR X - THE BRIDGE OF PROMISES”
She’s been frustratingly underdeveloped these last couple, uh, dozen episodes? Her arc was hitting an intriguing point of uncertainty back before the Winter Movie, where her friendship with Philip was causing her to question her loyalty to her family. Then… nothing. Terui shows up, which takes time to deal with. Isaka shows up, which takes time to deal with. Saeko’s arc becomes the central story of the Sonozaki family, which relegates Wakana to either a pawn or an exposition prompt, there to ask other characters to explain things to the audience. She wasn’t really about anything, for a good long while. Quote:
The two of them just have such compelling, natural chemistry. Philip becomes suave and emotionally present. Wakana becomes effervescent and charming. The two of them… it’s not flirting, even though it can easily (and unfortunately) be read that way. It’s more that they feel safe with each other, because they don’t need each other to be anything but themselves. There’s no pressure to fight/commit crime, or a larger family to protect. It’s just two people who care about each other, and that’s the scope of their world. They get to fantasize about a carefree life of emotional support, which they’re largely denied in the real world. (Philip less so, but Shotaro’s partnership is not the same thing as Wakana’s.) And to admit that it’s easier for them to dream when they can escape to being a voice on the phone… so great. Such a thoughtful, sentimental way to frame their bond, in a set of scenes that almost single-handedly make me care about Wakana again.
Quote:
It’s an episode that does a great job of making all of the Sonozaki family interesting again, actually. Saeko being on the run creates a wild card scenario in the city, as well as exposing Ryuube’s familial bond as being a distant second to the needs of the Museum. It creates additional pressure on Wakana, because she’s being asked to step up at exactly the moment where she’s acutely aware of what reluctance or failure will get her. The Sonozakis get to be even more of a nightmare as they better express the stakes of their story, even if their specific objective continues to be disappointingly vague.
Quote:
But, hey, at least we also get some additional backstory on Philip, for a big flashing sign that might as well say We Are In Our Final Act Of The Series. The neurology professor that I briefly thought was Narutaki – Neurotaki – pops up to start to lock down details on Raito’s past, which is sure to be massively coincidental that it’s happening in a story so heavily featuring the Sonozakis and Shroud. (Hard to really “speculate” on this plot point. Sorry!) What we get here is thrillingly conveyed and kinetically supported, thanks to the Hopper Dopant assassin lurking on the fringes. It’s just enough info to feel like you’re seeing more of the picture, but not so much that it feels like homework. Neurotaki was one of a half-dozen scientists that helped design the Gaia Memories for the Museum, which included wiping Raito’s memory. Thats what we get, and it’s the perfect nugget of information in an episode that has a ton of table-setting to do.
But otherwise lol, museum is also a general keyword, not specific name such as Million Colosseo for certain casino, what if they want to search about regular museum instead of the main opposing force of W. Hopper's a Dopant that resorts to underhanded tactics by using Yamashiro as hostage. If only the other Memories aren't finisher exclusive (for Xtreme), Luna can get around this like at ep. 6, LunaTrigger's debut. Hopper claims Yamashiro erases Phillip's memory as well. As detached as Philip was, he's still not devoid of emotional side) outraged, confronting Yamashiro over this. Quote:
DIE-A MEMORIES
-Didn’t really talk about the Hopper Dopant, who mostly exists to be a cool looking gothic lolita assassin and not, like, a fully-fleshed out character. (Cool outfit and aesthetic, though!) The REAL interesting part is that this episode’s director also got to handle the Hopper Dopant actor’s later TV debut as… well, I’ll let Androzani cover that part. As trivia goes, it’s a real peach.
__________________
The most complete non-wiki encyclopedias for Kamen Rider series (currently only found Ryuki and OOO's). |
03-09-2024, 06:55 PM | #373 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
|
He could've, but it's probably a combination of the Fuuto PD not really knowing what they're looking for (it's likely not easy to compile evidence on a USB drug metaphor syndicate) and Ryuube being rich and powerful enough to quash investigations.
__________________
Currently working on: Go-Busters is next! Archive of previous shows on KamenRiderDie.com! |
03-10-2024, 03:26 PM | #374 |
I have a problematic type
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 10,424
|
Quote:
Couple of stray observations: - An aggressively introverted character who can only communicate with others via writing in W feels super weird to watch while Gotchard is airing. - I cannot stress how much I love that the hero of Tooru's movie only has one line that she just says over and over. - At the time this aired, I had always assumed that Ryubee did something to brainwash Wakana into going full villain. I don't remember if that was the case or not now. |
03-10-2024, 03:46 PM | #375 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
|
Quote:
I don't believe it's a spoiler to say, but my memory is that they did not go in that direction. I'm pretty sure I'm remembering it correctly, simply because that was the single hope I was holding onto as Wakana's turn made less and less sense as the series inched towards its conclusion. If they'd gone that way, I can guarantee I wouldn't be fuming about it so many years later.
__________________
Currently working on: Go-Busters is next! Archive of previous shows on KamenRiderDie.com! |
03-10-2024, 09:31 PM | #376 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
|
KAMEN RIDER W EPISODE 40 - “THE LIKELIHOOD OF G - I CAN’T FORGIVE YOU”
So: an entire episode devoted to Wakana. Her power-up, her frustrations, her villainy, her unwavering dedication to the Museum. Imagine how much fun this was to watch!!! Real low-point of the series, for how little I cared about what was happening in about 80% of this episode. 20% was fun, though! The amateur film stuff was cute – nice gags with our backgrounded cast, at least. Tooru’s ability to come out of his shell and be honest with people was a fine, light story to tell, and it’s application to Philip’s feigned indifference to the fate of Wakana was solid. It was good to see the series try and reframe Wakana’s ridiculous characterization as irrelevant, because the crux of the issue is that Philip believes in a version of her that no one else sees, even her, so he’s going to fight for her redemption. Him ignoring her overt villainy to argue for a version of their relationship that he wants back… that’s good. That’s something to hold onto. Because WOW does this episode not do itself any favors by regressing us to, like Episode 2 Wakana, now with added Memory Madness. I guess that’s what we’re landing on with Wakana’s motivation now? She’s gone Memory Mad, and that’s rendered her irredeemably evil? I never really liked it before – it’s the rationalization for a bunch of character arcs that flip from Sympathetic to They Are Crazy And Evil between scenes – and while it’s at least a comprehensible explanation for an almost brand-new version of a core character, it’s also the most boring possible explanation. It makes Wakana totally one-dimensional, as evidenced in the best scene in the episode – the Akiko Yells scene. It’s one character cutting through frustrating character portrayals and just screaming WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU – the, like, double-boiled alternative to Shotaro’s sympathetic half-boiled approach. And she’s right to do it! They tried kid gloves with Tooru, and he just regressed further. Maybe letting him know that he won’t be coddled forever will get him to come out of his shell. And Wakana! Nothing Wakana’s doing right now makes any sense, and her response is to basically go BUT POWER THO. It’s the moment in her arc that should’ve been illustrative, if not compelling – she can tell Akiko what’s going on her head because she’s just become an all-powerful goddess/tyrant that is going to murder Akiko. But the show whiffs on yet another moment to make Wakana feel as complex as she used to, opting instead for boilerplate mania and unconvincing inhumanity. The whole Wakana Has Memory Madness problem for me is that it makes the worst parts of previous Dopant story endings into an entire A-plot for this episode. She’s just Insane With Power, and that’s boring to think about. Why? To do what? Because of what? And then what? It’s a journey made into a goal, and it’s so empty and boring, you guys. I don’t care. I don’t care about what she’s doing at all. Luckily (and I can’t believe how much this one character is salvaging the Sonozaki side of things for me like an MVP) Saeko is here to be both complex and coherent. She’s sacrificed almost everything for a family that threw her away, and she’s excited to show them what they thought was worthless. Her randomly showing up to heckle Wakana as a red Nazca? Perfect. Her goal is clear – humiliate her former family – and also fun to watch. It’s the best part of anything to do with the Sonozakis this episode (besides the chapel where it rains rose petals???), and the actor kills in every scene she’s in. Her “I’m going for a walk” line to Kazu… iconic. Love her, love this part of the show, almost can’t believe this one show is writing for both Sonozaki sisters. I… man, I had to sift through a lot of dumb Wakana junk to find the gems in this one. They’re there, for sure – Philip’s declaration to Wakana at the end, Tooru’s self-actualization due to Akiko’s impatience, Saeko’s everything – but they’re nestled alongside a main villain I actively resent. I am actually more forgiving to Foundation X’s introduction, because they could fill the key villain attribute of not being Wakana. — DIE-A MEMORIES -Saeko… seriously, she’s having the most fun in this episode, and I sort of envy her. I wish I could enjoy hating Wakana as much as she does! -Hey, let’s briefly talk about Terui’s story! It’s dumb (he is a very weird child when it comes to kissing, hyuk hyuk hyuk) and it all feels like a version of the character that is incongruent with the one that’s going to be marrying Akiko in, like, six months. I can sort of write it off as him being nervous about kissing on camera, but the final scene makes it seem like he just learned about kissing by watching a bunch of films, and he is going to force himself to do something he doesn’t want to do, which is kiss someone – anyone. I am okay with ace Terui, but this episode treats it like a corny joke, and the OOO crossover movie makes it completely strange. (Maybe Terui just needs health insurance, so he marries Akiko? And stays married for another twelve years?) -I’m pretty sure Wakana’s Clay Doll Xtreme transformation takes place in the same spot as the saddest scene in all of toku (Non-Bench Edition) from Episode 47 of Drive.
__________________
Currently working on: Go-Busters is next! Archive of previous shows on KamenRiderDie.com! |
03-10-2024, 09:52 PM | #377 |
Alias: ZeroEnchiladas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,585
|
Ngl, aside from the Wakana parts, I very much enjoyed this two-parter. I'd dare even say it's probably my favorite of the series for the various moments it has?
While yeah Wakana's stuff is like important for the main plot of the series, the episodes really don't feel like they're that invested in it? Mostly every scene that involves the main plot of the series is short and usually used as intermediary footage to get us different cuts of what Team W Movie Edition is doing. And man, is "Team W makes an amateur movie" such a fun plot to land on. The return of Shotaro and Akiko's period piece obsession. The hilarious fight against the Gene Dopant in which we get "My hand is a cow". Scarecrow Terui. The conclusion to part one where the Akiko's freaking out takes center stage as the cliffhanger while everyone's getting blown up in the background. The Terui Kiss Scene. Akiko actually stepping up and delivering an honestly solid speech with Shotaro earlier on in the arc showing genuine respect for her determination. Like there's just so much good stuff about these episodes that really hit the light and delightful tone W has been going for. That's also not mentioning the fact that in my initial watch I think I wrote Saeko off? But there's something entertaining about this woman who's basically downgrading herself on suitable husbands while learning nothing, letting her pride basically cost her victory (especially when she could've let W finish off Claydoll in part 1), and pretty much be the literal underdog of every single faction thus far. Also Red Nazca is a really nice suit, because well, it's Nazca. I still prefer blue though. Also to comment on the Terui stuff, I feel like it works. Dude signed up to be a scarecrow, not to do something big like kiss a stranger on camera that'll likely get shown at least city-wide. Of course despair is waiting at his goal. I also figured that the ending was less about forcing and more about him studying up because he wants to act professionally and make up for running off and is so embroiled in wanting to do so, that he basically drags Team W into it. |
03-10-2024, 10:00 PM | #378 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
|
Quote:
Quote:
Also to comment on the Terui stuff, I feel like it works. Dude signed up to be a scarecrow, not to do something big like kiss a stranger on camera that'll likely get shown at least city-wide. Of course despair is waiting at his goal. I also figured that the ending was less about forcing and more about him studying up because he wants to act professionally and make up for running off and is so embroiled in wanting to do so, that he basically drags Team W into it.
__________________
Currently working on: Go-Busters is next! Archive of previous shows on KamenRiderDie.com! |
03-10-2024, 10:09 PM | #379 |
Some guy. I'm alright.
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,424
|
This is my favorite two-parter in W.
It has alot going for(alot of which En-chan beat me to mentioning), but the crux of it is this: It's just a ton of fun from start to finish. The scenario, the character humor, the action, all of it is incredibly on point and so full of energy that it makes the less savory parts really not even matter, let alone at all stick in my brain. It's also a prime example of what I personally love about the show. Because yes, for all the critiques I've been giving throughout the thread, I do legit like this show and feel that its positives far outweigh its negatives. And that in turn, surprisingly, mainly comes from Akiko. Does W always handle its characters the best? As seen with Wakana, obviously not, but when the shows nails something, oh man does it ever. Here we have Akiko, a character that I used to hate, not only being incredibly likable all throughout both episodes, but delivering what might be my favorite scene in the entire show? Her speech telling both Kawai and Wakana to get over themselves was fantastic. Such a shame Wakana doesn't take it at all to heart. I would've even forgiven the sudden turn to the dark side if she had. And then there's Terui, who is the one responsible for why I would never ever forget these episodes. And that's him running away fro the kissing scene, getting tied to a tree later, and then laying one on Shotaro later. Since Die briefly mentioned it, I suppose I'll go ahead and bring it up now rather than later like I'd planned to. The primary reason that Akiko and Terui getting together later never sat right with me was that, in my mind, Terui was very much an ace-coded character all throughout the show. If anyone wants to claim I'm projecting, sure, fair enough, but it honestly seemed to me like the dude never had any sort of interest in romance or sex, let alone seeing Akiko in that light. And the kiss jokes in this one really only further cemented that in my eyes. Personally, I don't mind it being played for laughs. I didn't take any offense, and asexual humor in general is often hard to find, especially any that's not mean spirited. Sure, it's more likely that the joke is that Terui is being forced to do something very forward, vulnerable, and embarrassing when he has a hard-boiled image to keep, and his determination at the end is to show he's "manned up" so to speak, but still, I take the whole thing as more of a compliment than anything, especially since I found the whole thing legit funny! The episodes are just a fun ride from start to finish, and it's the sort of thing that I always think back on when I think of Kamen Rider W.
__________________
|
03-10-2024, 10:17 PM | #380 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
|
Quote:
Does W always handle its characters the best? As seen with Wakana, obviously not, but when the shows nails something, oh man does it ever. Here we have Akiko, a character that I used to hate, not only being incredibly likable all throughout both episodes, but delivering what might be my favorite scene in the entire show? Her speech telling both Kawai and Wakana to get over themselves was fantastic. Such a shame Wakana doesn't take it at all to heart. I would've even forgiven the sudden turn to the dark side if she had.
__________________
Currently working on: Go-Busters is next! Archive of previous shows on KamenRiderDie.com! |
|
TokuNation News & Rumors |
Kakuranger: 30 Years After |
ToyRise RyuKenDo |
Alternative Cut of "Day Of The Dumpster" Released |
Shodo SUPER Kyoryuger Teaser |
Figuarts/Seihou GRIDMAN |
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:29 AM.
|