tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65050421189965200392024-02-22T03:04:45.845-05:00Kamen Writer ReviewsKamen Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02832099141882322022noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505042118996520039.post-16457704081348485822022-11-10T18:18:00.003-05:002022-11-11T11:14:12.210-05:00Kamen Rider Black Sun (Spoiler Free) Review.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkIoo6pSjgUpAZRfNa5cGH10ItmA2vFeQAFv0nCwqKZk2_1HSzftlrZ4DPEZfGo5AYcZNSf1ubix4EoSnY_c1Gnu3FLtmWZugNfGO_YVzUZNhJiq4vbLubuCKPlenlu2a7VoqOqUpTP38rB-EMAnj90yzX6K5JipVwQV8YRpdg6l3owIkGRPKO7IEdQ/s627/title.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="627" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkIoo6pSjgUpAZRfNa5cGH10ItmA2vFeQAFv0nCwqKZk2_1HSzftlrZ4DPEZfGo5AYcZNSf1ubix4EoSnY_c1Gnu3FLtmWZugNfGO_YVzUZNhJiq4vbLubuCKPlenlu2a7VoqOqUpTP38rB-EMAnj90yzX6K5JipVwQV8YRpdg6l3owIkGRPKO7IEdQ/s320/title.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Black Sun is still a relatively new series, so I’m going to avoid Spoilers and keep this (mostly) short. I will touch upon some minor spoilers to provide context, but nothing like character deaths or massive plot details. This is also going to be a much more casual and loose review with the assumption you’re familiar with the original series.<br /><br />But if you want me to sum up Black Sun in short: Kamen Rider meets Clive Barker’s Nightbreed with a dash of Judas and the Black Messiah. It is the most Radical Rider has been in ages, possibly one of, if not the most radical story in the franchise.<br /><br />If you wish, let’s continue on.<br /><br /><p></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><br /><br />First off, cast out just about damn near everything you know about the original 1987 series. This is a dramatically different interpretation that utilizes very, and I mean very basic concepts and character names.<br /><br />Starting in 1972, Kaijin began to emerge in Japan and become a part of society, their exact origins a bit muddled. While they have humanoid forms, they were met with fierce prejudice, leading to the forming of a Black Panther-esque civil rights group called Gorgom. Over time, Gorgom would reformat into a political party, and in the modern day be the driving force of the current Prime Minister, Shinichi Donami.<br /><br />And this is one of the many ways in which Black Sun plays with the audience's expectations. We have a preconceived notion of Gorgom as villains, and now they have become deeply ingrained with the Government. It makes you wonder if maybe something is going on with the Kajin, or at the very least Gorgom. Admittedly, part of that could be read very poorly. You could potentially interpret that as the series saying that "The other" are monsters and should not be trusted, it kinda leans a bit into replacement conspiracies. But I also think that's at least partly intended to mess with the audience.<br />There was some real concern because the marketing for Black Sun felt like it was going in a really messed up direction, and it did not do a great job indicating how much of a divergence this series would be, nor the exact nature of Gorgom's role.<br /><br />But having seen the show in context, I think the intent is for the audience to believe that Gorgom is doing a much more elaborate version of what you would see in the '87 series. Their modus operandi was exploiting various weaknesses of society. Providing what was either needed or what was wanted; affordable housing, health insurance, even hiding messages in a damn pop song. Not to mention that even in the original show, the three high priests viewed other lower Kaijin as disposable.<br />This initially looks like Gorgom seeing how bungled and fractured humanity is when it comes to matters of differences and then brilliantly exploiting that at the cost of lower-ranking Kaijin. It would have been easy to make Gorgom bad guys 101, but having them garner sympathy and be a once radical youth movement turned supposedly progressive political party is far more insidious...but the real twist is that Gorgom isn't influencing the Japanese Government, it's the other way around.<br /><br />The three high priests did at one point care about their brethren, but they sold out to Prime Minister Michinosuke Donami back in '72 for paltry "rights" which fragmented the larger movement.<br />Nothing truly meaningful has changed in that time, as Kaijin are second-rate citizens, banned from certain establishments, refused services, and regularly gunned down by police with no consequences. Social progress has stagnated for 50 years and is still ongoing.<br />Now in the present day, Donami’s Grandson, Shinichi, has since taken the position of Prime Minister and continues to use Gorgom for his own gain, which is primarily in milking the Creation King for profit. <br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGsegMuSMMu-7XolmePzlDhy8xDdrJazDzfh7s5vBd25UeezKlGyFcr2cxsPy6Myyvbkw8464Lyp1boPRAa35z26O7_B4kX3I1Fr8UIaeIYr57O3q6dnFKPBeLemjOkUQEaLhOT6sXnJGg41gt2p2m2iPn7i7g-a-tGmbqh_BG04irSJOcz14om6a3A/s1366/trouble%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGsegMuSMMu-7XolmePzlDhy8xDdrJazDzfh7s5vBd25UeezKlGyFcr2cxsPy6Myyvbkw8464Lyp1boPRAa35z26O7_B4kX3I1Fr8UIaeIYr57O3q6dnFKPBeLemjOkUQEaLhOT6sXnJGg41gt2p2m2iPn7i7g-a-tGmbqh_BG04irSJOcz14om6a3A/s320/trouble%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwDGE_-sNE832sT58Aga8-uxKdncE8S1yhSNF4D9_fzlQ-DlYcwC443STl_cXSVWKZk1JK8KxOe6OuiyqRUM8pZJztiArrFQGJx_-K31qt0yPvMhUdaEUt0uRiF1j2EvwVQgCkmtqhkyHzRJNNK911MZqmCnzf8cBcJRuqlts_joj5Z3GTgC72inHag/s1366/trouble%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwDGE_-sNE832sT58Aga8-uxKdncE8S1yhSNF4D9_fzlQ-DlYcwC443STl_cXSVWKZk1JK8KxOe6OuiyqRUM8pZJztiArrFQGJx_-K31qt0yPvMhUdaEUt0uRiF1j2EvwVQgCkmtqhkyHzRJNNK911MZqmCnzf8cBcJRuqlts_joj5Z3GTgC72inHag/s320/trouble%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Right, so, the Creation King in Black Sun isn’t villainous or even all that sentient. He’s a massive Grasshopper whose sole purpose is to produce a blue liquid that serves two primary functions: When mixed with human flesh, it can be used to create a Jelly called Heaven, which has almost mystic qualities that keeps Kajin youthful, reinvigorates their energy, and can even bring back the recently deceased. The second function is to turn Humans into Kaijin. Both are major sources of income on the black market, particularly the humans forced to be Kaijin sold as slaves at auctions.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBlOhklMpp4HoD0OUufiLDEhodoh-iLs4ejkITzK0UQCy5KmwHSWkIMTkSc1CAdn2BkMug0OW3_WZ3NVp1ktOANZGPwRfx9EqElZLucsOtCoXIdeyPoZnHAJ7CCBYO5AMmjSfLPBBf2t5u44AjwCc9zXyHiAZgZUFySu2Chr6V5zjimXD8uUkF-QiHQ/s1366/prision%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBlOhklMpp4HoD0OUufiLDEhodoh-iLs4ejkITzK0UQCy5KmwHSWkIMTkSc1CAdn2BkMug0OW3_WZ3NVp1ktOANZGPwRfx9EqElZLucsOtCoXIdeyPoZnHAJ7CCBYO5AMmjSfLPBBf2t5u44AjwCc9zXyHiAZgZUFySu2Chr6V5zjimXD8uUkF-QiHQ/s320/prision%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Those humans are sourced from folks on Welfare, the Elderly, LGBTQ, and those who can't have children. Basically, anyone the Prime Minister finds leeches of society.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hI6u-rlBSb1nD9x0J4r2PE9tclQyZX2QcFXUa3lD2OFUprz5M2cx-WUyCHarkewI4ICVXyotc2sNyWJ0M-mYct20dLnoC8imMJ4r2D9HaOHPwRqMaNtp4J70LcHgbbapbwseOL16u-9N7mNBZ0G3tuMannGCjW8N3NRIEnEhWJIhni-fzhnScFSMng/s1366/approval.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hI6u-rlBSb1nD9x0J4r2PE9tclQyZX2QcFXUa3lD2OFUprz5M2cx-WUyCHarkewI4ICVXyotc2sNyWJ0M-mYct20dLnoC8imMJ4r2D9HaOHPwRqMaNtp4J70LcHgbbapbwseOL16u-9N7mNBZ0G3tuMannGCjW8N3NRIEnEhWJIhni-fzhnScFSMng/s320/approval.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />At the end of the day, neither humans nor Kaijins mean anything to the political leaders. They're all exploitable in different ways. That inequality is needed for humans and Kaijin alike so the Prime Minister can keep raking in the cash and building towards the same goal as his grandfather; changing the constitution to allow overseas deployment of the JSDF for a more militarised Japan.<br /><br />With those themes of racism, classism, Nationalism, and bigotry playing such a prevalent role throughout the show, I (and many others) had a lot of concern leading up to the premiere in how it would handle those elements. Even putting aside previously mentioned marketing direction and the initial confusion over Gorgom, it was clear Black Sun was co-opting real-world imagery and phrases for its protest scenes, which can come off as very disingenuous.<br />However, I think (for the most part) Black Sun handles it well. Part of what helps is that it never pulls its punches and takes the matter completely seriously. Granted, that can have its own set of issues, and the first episode does have one or two groan-worthy lines. But I think most of it is good, and being completely brutal in its portrayal is the better (and more realistic) option, completely unabashed in its message.<br /><br />Seriously, the balls on this show are massive. Just to give an example, at one point, a militia is formed that blows up a portion of the building the Gorgom party occupies, and it’s framed as a just and noble act, while Police are shown to be monstrous arms of the state that will kill enslaved humans to protect state secrets. It does not fuck around.<br /><br /><br />But, that’s the main theme and the setting. What about the characters?<br /><br />First off, Kotaro and Nobuhiko are very different from their original versions. Nobuhiko isn’t brainwashed, they’ve been Kaijin since they were children and their fathers performed the operation, and they don’t have Kingstones. Kingstones are still present, but they’re a separate McGuffin entirely. Still, an important one, mind you, because the Creation King is nearing the end of his life and producing less of the liquid that rakes in the cash, so they're still needed to find a successor. More on that in a bit.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_j4Es6WiRBYSVjwCTR4Oo-evbgQceY4SUl8gMdtYF8GEhYfN9WE_ISBhdG0J4gI9HshF50OFSRPIbmbxGiB1Pf2o8y1tu3le99Yn3L7tq1eX79E_FeiP8P1o5Yc_jfhLHwxg8BG9wlbdwAsGn-xR7rrG2cGdaWkDnYYv2Acd59nFXBiXXQ8TfKFPcA/s1366/king%20stones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_j4Es6WiRBYSVjwCTR4Oo-evbgQceY4SUl8gMdtYF8GEhYfN9WE_ISBhdG0J4gI9HshF50OFSRPIbmbxGiB1Pf2o8y1tu3le99Yn3L7tq1eX79E_FeiP8P1o5Yc_jfhLHwxg8BG9wlbdwAsGn-xR7rrG2cGdaWkDnYYv2Acd59nFXBiXXQ8TfKFPcA/s320/king%20stones.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Back in ‘72 both Kotaro and Nobuhiko were members of Gorgom’s civil rights movement, but once the leaders sold out to the Prime Minister, a small but prominent band struck out on their own, Kotaro and Nobuhiko among them. The series features flashbacks to these events expounding on the details that I’m not going to get into for spoiler reasons, but they do give Nobuhiko and Kotaro more interaction than the original series did, as well as some development for Nobuhiko.<br />Eventually, Nobuhiko was captured by Gorgom while Kotaro and others in their group either escaped and kept a low profile or ended up dead.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjga40oHNiZbjPGCV378r31Fho0QzJklZXFGYPwHLFlNhEvculcFPJglHfmxgfH9NcwVdoVz906H8s1bxQoPaAdOyyOymRciKqFwrCGiNt_Jn-dflGNKW2GnzS5RIEzOB47QlUa538K7vcoLNOXBERWZrtyTvboMDMraBKUBtfWP2GxuhH2hecrGAT4DA/s1366/Nobuhiko.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjga40oHNiZbjPGCV378r31Fho0QzJklZXFGYPwHLFlNhEvculcFPJglHfmxgfH9NcwVdoVz906H8s1bxQoPaAdOyyOymRciKqFwrCGiNt_Jn-dflGNKW2GnzS5RIEzOB47QlUa538K7vcoLNOXBERWZrtyTvboMDMraBKUBtfWP2GxuhH2hecrGAT4DA/s320/Nobuhiko.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />What I find most interesting is how this is used to contrast Kotaro and Nobuhiko in terms of personality. Even though Nobuhiko has been kept prisoner by Gorgom for 50 years, he’s been fed Heaven, meaning he’s maintained his youth and perhaps because of that, his rebellious personality. The fire never went out for him, and he’s ready to keep fighting and take down Gorgom once he’s free, forming that aforementioned militia.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptYydDhQESfWYTf58jTn6NOdr0VzbcGyDwzWvqjUdwvus8pVoaea6_oNIQcs3boKLB5Ao_1W-eubK0bMLfDwDJDzDo7OCdriSvtpemvSVSc27dT4aWiIpA2v3pdTIPyJZrQPhfzweu9p7_E8u_hW9EOreaXfWHOGzytXxFS2hH9ULxMWGBHvw-_b1Zw/s1366/Kotaro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptYydDhQESfWYTf58jTn6NOdr0VzbcGyDwzWvqjUdwvus8pVoaea6_oNIQcs3boKLB5Ao_1W-eubK0bMLfDwDJDzDo7OCdriSvtpemvSVSc27dT4aWiIpA2v3pdTIPyJZrQPhfzweu9p7_E8u_hW9EOreaXfWHOGzytXxFS2hH9ULxMWGBHvw-_b1Zw/s320/Kotaro.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Kotaro, on the other hand, is obviously very tired. Even before we learn his backstory, it’s clear that he’s exhausted, jaded by decades of bigotry and battles that never amounted to anything. <br />His actor, Hidetoshi Nishijima, really brings a nice subtle tragedy to the character that’s emotionally and physically broken. <br />When we first meet Kotaro, he’s just coasting through life as kind of a shit, actually. He’s basically a debt collector and even a hitman at times, whatever pays. Things become more complicated when he meets with a young girl, Aoi Izumi.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmi4iuUA74wQ7oSKgkrVmuNVEOlg21KJM0QxTvlOfGsxPPwVW_v89j7aRXk8hjEWkYym6AHeIqIb0pbTw5kNBeezIqkCXlLQysKVn-3VnkQZb1kYfFLOVGlU3E8C8qfaP1In7oj3n_jtNWSwQT97_ivb6uIW4eYjRkAGDisQSzuFrgzooBPK1U3PAag/s1366/Aoi%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmi4iuUA74wQ7oSKgkrVmuNVEOlg21KJM0QxTvlOfGsxPPwVW_v89j7aRXk8hjEWkYym6AHeIqIb0pbTw5kNBeezIqkCXlLQysKVn-3VnkQZb1kYfFLOVGlU3E8C8qfaP1In7oj3n_jtNWSwQT97_ivb6uIW4eYjRkAGDisQSzuFrgzooBPK1U3PAag/s320/Aoi%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Aoi is a 14-year-old Rights activist that is the new face of the Kaijin Rights movement. A bitter reminder of their failure to make real progress half a century prior. Aoi has made quite a name for herself on a global scale, making impassioned speeches at the UN, and ironically, meeting the Japanese Prime Minister.<br /><br />She gets caught in Gorgom’s crosshairs because a necklace she wears is revealed to be one of the Kingstones, although she ends up protected by Kotaro almost by accident. <br /><br />I find her chemistry with him intriguing because it’s not just the typical father figure parallel one often sees in this kinda work. Instead, you get the impression that he sees his younger self in Aoi, maybe even a bit of Nobuhiko, and the hope that Kotaro lost 50 years ago. As their relationship grows, so too does Kotaro's reconnection with humanity, including his own.<br /><br />Likewise, Aoi experiences the harsher realities of activism Kotaro knows all too well: the varying shades of gray, the grueling grind of an unrelenting fight, and that maybe what you're doing isn’t enough and never will be. <br />Basically, her story is about becoming radicalized through trauma, because this poor girl goes through absolute hell. <br />The line between right and wrong starts to blur, similar in part to Nobuhiko's back story. In fact, that motif is prevalent throughout both the story and in the characters. From Nobuhiko being the old hat pacifist turned radical who starts to go too far, to Kotaro the drained warrior who gave up, Aoi the new blood learning to go further, and even Gorgom, who truly believe their actions were justified.<br />Be prepared for constantly shifting allegiances, ideologies, and morally
grey conflicts among the cast. New information is constantly being
learned and it can recontextualize entire events.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqAKsA2ZV_bTeVLrpVhwbZc8EhiCw1PKCa4eAJRM-7_dHyfXn-3ObvpOTrlOs4kGveVqQEuwy6Zj-mvgBC6i_NjIk-AlIqJYs6oQNBSnWyRBllu2aRv0QqDBGWGG8M0VU3-rvipUviIQqmo-_fSurYFC-lck32zEKs1dPjQJ7dgZZMzJJVbhJGWsfBdQ/s1366/changing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqAKsA2ZV_bTeVLrpVhwbZc8EhiCw1PKCa4eAJRM-7_dHyfXn-3ObvpOTrlOs4kGveVqQEuwy6Zj-mvgBC6i_NjIk-AlIqJYs6oQNBSnWyRBllu2aRv0QqDBGWGG8M0VU3-rvipUviIQqmo-_fSurYFC-lck32zEKs1dPjQJ7dgZZMzJJVbhJGWsfBdQ/s320/changing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />On a related note, that generational gap and clashing of ideals are even seen in supporting characters and extras. Large protest scenes typically feature specific age demographics being skewed on different sides, giving a visual representation of the divide and shifts in attitudes over the years. More younger people tend to be on the progressive end of things, but you will also still see a few on the bigot’s side that the predominantly middle-aged group sunk their claws into. The show in general has a lot of subtle touches like that, and not-so-subtle ones.<br /><br />Speaking of the supporting cast, they are honestly incredible. I think most people familiar with the original series expected Whale to have a bigger role, and he does. But several other Kaijin also have prominent roles, such as Bat, Flea, and Bilgenia, a few of whom were part of that original splinter group along with Kotaro and Nobuhiko in ‘72. They get a surprising amount of screen time and a fair amount of characterization if not development. Although the most notable of all the supporting Kaijin is Shunsuke Komatsu, Aoi’s best friend. <br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiViMZhhFfB-KFA0AK-zQuzh-WYIaJfSZGR4VOzQydKHZb1zfQk4cveOjiD-84WzEsBhG_3-YFXyDAU8ARX_AQQR3sEdFJsb3CjAu5yTC7Z-3pV5G2ApBrJsmJKRAFIRHXtNrMkjogTDLqWqBUSpvkEmccJvhT3LUY6CwD_F3Vq2MDgATqDYqlJmvYD1Q/s1366/Shunsuke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiViMZhhFfB-KFA0AK-zQuzh-WYIaJfSZGR4VOzQydKHZb1zfQk4cveOjiD-84WzEsBhG_3-YFXyDAU8ARX_AQQR3sEdFJsb3CjAu5yTC7Z-3pV5G2ApBrJsmJKRAFIRHXtNrMkjogTDLqWqBUSpvkEmccJvhT3LUY6CwD_F3Vq2MDgATqDYqlJmvYD1Q/s320/Shunsuke.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />He gives us an insight into the domestic life of a Kaijin, his family dynamic, and the poor neighborhood in which his family lives. What I love is that it’s never shown in a bad light. The fact their neighborhood is filled with the underprivileged, the homeless, etc. is never in and of itself outright a bad thing outside of the angle of the Government screwing over certain demographics. There’s a real sense of comradery among the entire neighborhood, everyone helps and takes care of one another the best they can. Shunsuke’s life is mostly painfully normal like any other kid his age… except, of course, he’s not afforded the luxury of human life. Because he’s a Kaijin, he and his family are on the receiving end of a lot of vitriol and outright attacks, which unsurprisingly results in him being radicalized sooner than Aoi and joining up with Shadow Moon.<br /><br /><br />By the way, it’s worth noting that the process of radicalization overall is also never framed in a negative light. It’s not positive per se, or more accurately not glorified. <br />Rather, the real tragedy is that of systemic oppression getting to the point where the only truly viable option is a violent revolt against a system that had already decided a peaceful and fair change was never going to happen. It’s not broken, it’s functioning as designed.<br /><br />That’s perhaps best seen in Nobuhiko. I don’t really think it’s a spoiler to say he eventually turns villainous late into the show, probably one of the few things you could see coming. But I have to give credit to how Shadow Moon is handled because most forms of media when they have a sympathetic villain, they tend to treat their actions as a slippery slope. The audience is with them until they cross a certain line and then it’s treated like their actions were always going to end up this way. The villain is now attacking innocence, the hero stops them, and then they build one youth center in one impoverished area, and suddenly the racism/social issue of the day is over or some shit.<br /><br />Here, the entirety of Shadow Moon’s actions is not condemned. There’s nuance throughout all his choices, and it’s up to the audience to decide if it’s really okay for him to be dragging literal children like Shunsuke into his fight.<br />It’s only the moment he decides that Kaijin domination is his new goal that we have a concrete “This is wrong” moment. But it never uses this to discount everything leading up to it, leaving an uncomfortable reality that Nobuhiko was justified up until that moment. There’s a sense that perhaps the reason progress has stagnated is that there hasn’t been a truly serious threat to the status quo for 50 years.<br />In a way, that's Kamen Rider in a nutshell. A Monster who only fights other Monsters.<br /><br /><br />But I’m getting sidetracked again.<br /><br /><br />The last two members of the supporting cast I want to point out are Oliver Johnson, and Nick, played by Mochtar and Jua respectively. I think it’s fair to say they stick out for obvious reasons.<br />I can’t say too much without getting into spoilers as both have very pivotal roles in the story, so I’ll be brief.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_0tjS-54VszGHK3cROLNsYd-uXHfAws0UHs9_QC877TWWuCijc_JutKULZZZ_v6P_U60G6gf6XBB65qTCiVIZqnvkyi7n7HSc53nCEPmdKlfxjoh_NwTAhDiYaRis4zJ-ThUN0Lom6BVb8PxHt9sv7hlFjqNX8wuyjae7EyWQ58_3p4rTDvTwz4pIg/s1366/Oliver%20temp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_0tjS-54VszGHK3cROLNsYd-uXHfAws0UHs9_QC877TWWuCijc_JutKULZZZ_v6P_U60G6gf6XBB65qTCiVIZqnvkyi7n7HSc53nCEPmdKlfxjoh_NwTAhDiYaRis4zJ-ThUN0Lom6BVb8PxHt9sv7hlFjqNX8wuyjae7EyWQ58_3p4rTDvTwz4pIg/s320/Oliver%20temp.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Oliver was a human ally to Gorgom back in the early 70s and the one who roped Nobuhiko and Kotaro into the group. He explicitly states the reason he joined was that he understood the bigotry they faced. It shows that racism, and more broadly hatred, never stops at one group. It never stops at Kaijin, it never stops at mixed races, it keeps going and that’s the point. The people who hate Kaijin also usually hate humans.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxEaBM8sUsPKZNZGMOzQrV9lTbcuQKV-m_8r3peDFCtIrajAZxFeSAwBsQWfi1Kq_Gecen_sIyKaur32atcfhEspk7q78mSNQe-BtH0nVXfelza7lxAFEj-JLbVGqpGE0fFkjCvkHOmM4Dd40aV9cJTWckw6NQ-1ywH0jXjoaV5JErQBeJ5HK6GVjdA/s1366/Nick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxEaBM8sUsPKZNZGMOzQrV9lTbcuQKV-m_8r3peDFCtIrajAZxFeSAwBsQWfi1Kq_Gecen_sIyKaur32atcfhEspk7q78mSNQe-BtH0nVXfelza7lxAFEj-JLbVGqpGE0fFkjCvkHOmM4Dd40aV9cJTWckw6NQ-1ywH0jXjoaV5JErQBeJ5HK6GVjdA/s320/Nick.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Nick, another of Aoi’s friends, has a more minute story, but I felt it is worth mentioning. His entire motivation is wanting to become a Kaijin, just because that’s what he wants. Doesn’t matter that there’s a ton of baggage that comes with it, it makes him happy. Honestly, I kinda get a trans narrative out of that, and that’s really unique. Again, it’s very minor and doesn't play a huge role, but it’s there.<br />Oh, he’s also Oliver’s son, which I guess might be kinda obvious but I don’t think it’s ever directly acknowledged.<br /><br /><br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">Visuals/SFX/Music</h3><br />I want to preface this with a warning: Black Sun is very graphic. Not Shin graphic, 1980s gorefest graphic. The first episode has guts being ripped out and a decapitation that is not in silhouette.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRS1tEBLqV6peQkue_udjz8HWfhoDRWqco6fSrGfLNbL_age-noLmbFq14JU5QETwsbUc2nQGM8UtQ8jGNVfIn8kfxapGmmIwXDoa9fyyX9qPcHTbl-DRUafsn37xrOF3C-5ydqOFVmLCTJRDHGXXUDf5Q__6UTLl96hX85-YxRd3cD_wfSwob9yQ_zA/s1366/spider%20guts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRS1tEBLqV6peQkue_udjz8HWfhoDRWqco6fSrGfLNbL_age-noLmbFq14JU5QETwsbUc2nQGM8UtQ8jGNVfIn8kfxapGmmIwXDoa9fyyX9qPcHTbl-DRUafsn37xrOF3C-5ydqOFVmLCTJRDHGXXUDf5Q__6UTLl96hX85-YxRd3cD_wfSwob9yQ_zA/s320/spider%20guts.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />And I love it.<br /><br />For as much over-the-top violence the show features, it never felt desperate or cheap in the way Amazons often did. It’s indulgent at times, occasionally just having fun with the gore for the sheer spectacle of it. But it’s not like a head being ripped off takes away from the gravitas of the story, nor is the over-the-top gore the only violence on display.<br />Oftentimes a far more subdued yet disturbing form is used in situations to illustrate the severity of racism, but there’s always a line between the presentation.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUtcIK2OQCvPOLEXv1C4q_aWDd-e_nawXkPK6tV_MbUN2tdvdeLvqGReP4y5U2nnGl-wmwnRN9UEbNk4zog5688ZGD7hdNYWi9Kk_XV1S1JKN5gSBCsgitbWYiJUnnBLbe2c12mUBAclRh7FL96_acjoY-DwR3XX8xQpJ6GIN50MNSFhcahpslNYzzA/s1366/crusher%20jaws.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUtcIK2OQCvPOLEXv1C4q_aWDd-e_nawXkPK6tV_MbUN2tdvdeLvqGReP4y5U2nnGl-wmwnRN9UEbNk4zog5688ZGD7hdNYWi9Kk_XV1S1JKN5gSBCsgitbWYiJUnnBLbe2c12mUBAclRh7FL96_acjoY-DwR3XX8xQpJ6GIN50MNSFhcahpslNYzzA/s320/crusher%20jaws.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />The way one will pop off seeing Crusher Jaws rip apart flesh is very different from the brutal killing of a beloved character. In fact, one of the most disturbing scenes in the show is a relatively bloodless lynching of a Kaijin.<br /><br />And I think an important part of that is that Black Sun has two directors; Crime Drama Director Kazuya Shiraishi handles the vast majority of the work, while Ultraman/Godzilla contributor Kiyotaka Taguchi directs the special effects scenes. Additionally, well-established Toku Veteran Shinji Higuchi handles the visual concepts and designs and was in fact the one who brought Taguchi aboard.<br /><br />I specifically want to point out that the series looks fantastic, just in general, even putting aside the monster designs and fights. Shiraishi, whose work I wasn’t super familiar with before, clearly brings their expertise in crime drama to create a somber and disturbing atmosphere full of dread.<br />Not to keep taking a dig at it, but one of the problems I had with Amazons is that the series is covered in an ugly-as-sin filter, which was very obviously done to hide the fact they couldn’t get the tone quite right. You cannot apply the exact same principles that go into making a weekly show geared primarily to selling toys and expect it to work seamlessly with an adult drama format. No filter in the world that can hide those flaws.<br /><br />Black Sun actually has proper direction. It can invoke a strong emotion from someone looking like André Delambre being riddled with bullets, because Shiraishi actually knows how to make a scene disturbing, even if it’s about a hate crime on a fly man. He knows how to light a scene, pace a scene, when to need to go full gusto, and when less is more.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PSBr37woUTedE4Tw7vOmEf9-Gnb0LP5X3sNXRwJI71glaiZEq5Kfdfqi_rw9-KhXhDo2QNY-kEKAYRtpEEatnFG2J78Hhnk__wZSOf37DKJmwmiRP-A3P8aHEtw-uOUwPTgI2yPFWZf-Ym2MEKO0kN2OjW25jcpSwDc6wJxkROBLGgy_pHjjtkj5Ag/s1366/table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PSBr37woUTedE4Tw7vOmEf9-Gnb0LP5X3sNXRwJI71glaiZEq5Kfdfqi_rw9-KhXhDo2QNY-kEKAYRtpEEatnFG2J78Hhnk__wZSOf37DKJmwmiRP-A3P8aHEtw-uOUwPTgI2yPFWZf-Ym2MEKO0kN2OjW25jcpSwDc6wJxkROBLGgy_pHjjtkj5Ag/s320/table.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />One of my favorite scenes is between Whale and Bat, and it's just them sitting outside, reminiscing about past events and talking about breaking away from Gorgom as the world around them gets ever more complicated.<br />There's no music, their dialogue is engaging, and I'm fully invested in something that is otherwise a static shot.<br />I think getting someone not associated with Tokusatsu was very important for this purpose. Getting someone that doesn’t have preconceptions of Tokusatsu was needed to avoid some of the snags many other Tokusatsu productions run into when they tackle a more serious story.<br /><br />That said, it’s also equally important to have someone that understands the medium, particularly someone that has vast knowledge and experience with both old and new productions, and both Shinji Higuchi and Kiyotaka Taguchi were the perfect selections for this. I love Higuchi’s work on the Gamera films, he has a great eye for practical effects, and he’s worked on more recent major productions like Shin Godzilla and Shin Ultraman. He knows the ins and outs, and perhaps most importantly, he can walk that very delicate line between “Serious social issues with parallels to real-world events represented by x thing(s). But also, isn’t it cool as shit when the monster does something fucked up like ripping an extra arm out for a sword?” <br /><br />Not to mention Kiyotaka Taguchi is a brilliant director in his own right. If you’ve watched any of the Millennium Godzilla films or any Ultra series from Ginga S onward, you’ve probably seen his work. Taguchi has largely made a name for himself doing unique and often long takes in fight sequences. Ultraman Orb has a fairly famous one with two simultaneous battles occurring at once, one human-sized, and one with Orb fighting a Kaiju in the background.<br />Unsurprisingly, the action scenes in Black Sun are really good. Just about every fight has one really cool unique moment, often using the monster designs or environment interestingly. One example is the Grasshopper legs on the back of Kotaro and Nobuhiko being used to kick things away. Probably my favorite scene is one of a monster being pinned to a wall with a sword and they’re slightly elevated off the ground, they get punched and they spin at a 45-degree angle. The visual style is oozing all over the place here, and it’s probably the first time I’ve truly felt the speed of a Rider was captured.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGmcObAizKKdN9wwDsKD7TIo614hd1LYQKRfaNfMRv8-W8hWmqUG-x5ToKYbJ1HgWU36ucT3EqthhiHIzSjacTWvFn2ziBXO7nkek67fu-4aTxo7c-4QbgnIzpWfLC0wXW7t7-NcwRc_fggVCfnen7NIanRXBIZHXU-b9xnMegGF3X8464g3WjmBxZw/s552/speed.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="228" data-original-width="552" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGmcObAizKKdN9wwDsKD7TIo614hd1LYQKRfaNfMRv8-W8hWmqUG-x5ToKYbJ1HgWU36ucT3EqthhiHIzSjacTWvFn2ziBXO7nkek67fu-4aTxo7c-4QbgnIzpWfLC0wXW7t7-NcwRc_fggVCfnen7NIanRXBIZHXU-b9xnMegGF3X8464g3WjmBxZw/s320/speed.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br />It’s also worth pointing out that the suit and practical effects were handled by a different company than Toei’s usual client. Since W, all the Rider suits have been made by Blend Master Co., Ltd.<br />But Black Sun opted to go with Dummy Head Productions, the company behind the miniatures used in the 2010 Battleship Yamato movie. Again, that and Higuchi having oversight was pivotal in avoiding a toyetic design.<br /><br /><br />On that note, I really freaking love the look of Black Sun.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3FFboS4F5ow-a-0V2cZVvtrak0V2r6gYE9Ke7rQoOw4vSUGyw_2tBLiagKsCnR1qmDHB52yLb3aV_LX3CxdOOgpqPPmWt2IG4Md5xAHCJnlKtnM9HuG4VHvYClZBT-ir13-whNsbETHxycCXXt8hOwNV9gI2r1VJRnq4dvYECgpwyzAadn2Hs2UhQg/s1366/batta%20sun.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3FFboS4F5ow-a-0V2cZVvtrak0V2r6gYE9Ke7rQoOw4vSUGyw_2tBLiagKsCnR1qmDHB52yLb3aV_LX3CxdOOgpqPPmWt2IG4Md5xAHCJnlKtnM9HuG4VHvYClZBT-ir13-whNsbETHxycCXXt8hOwNV9gI2r1VJRnq4dvYECgpwyzAadn2Hs2UhQg/s320/batta%20sun.png" width="320" /></a></div>This is years of the organically monstrous Kamen Rider concepts being relegated to SIC finally being unleashed into a proper full official suit for the first time in 30 years. There has always been an element that Kamen Rider was never that different from the monsters fought, but that line is truly blurred more than ever.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFEbkFNr9dTGtjEYF1632aydMaUcMYmm3l-x6ZjXfg_tujWs40b9kAEWAfB9kMkwcUbZN2s1In_bKx67yWPDF8kxDaz7MMa6BuELWlW3ZBvjYEocGjP46Jcoh14rnWTUQ-eJ14BVhERau-TWsQt2jJnK-BPCVuFBYFq5I2pGjbwrWqHGFVpsOe9AJtRg/s1366/BS%20suit%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFEbkFNr9dTGtjEYF1632aydMaUcMYmm3l-x6ZjXfg_tujWs40b9kAEWAfB9kMkwcUbZN2s1In_bKx67yWPDF8kxDaz7MMa6BuELWlW3ZBvjYEocGjP46Jcoh14rnWTUQ-eJ14BVhERau-TWsQt2jJnK-BPCVuFBYFq5I2pGjbwrWqHGFVpsOe9AJtRg/s320/BS%20suit%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />You still have that element of Rider as something more than the average Kaijin with a secondary more armored form that, while predominantly organic in nature, covers up and/or streamlines a few key areas. Technically speaking, any Kaijin can enter this battle form if they're strong enough, so it’s not just exclusive to Black Sun and Shadow Moon.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6ylOYOVVEMdK58iSLnm6ia_tYUZNkCK6czvU53nZREkTaPZrN0YXhY8eNimTuXT4--Di9-XTxf-ZtN_KXAnR_rGVdHpsFY-1AowQVNGWSlyu16ltxvqy_2-KXGsf-mJmSn-8UlggEwyevlmXBeESLMAB4p86zWbm3pucfGfmcyqk6Aoc-Q3B0vWrtg/s1017/fleshy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="766" data-original-width="1017" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6ylOYOVVEMdK58iSLnm6ia_tYUZNkCK6czvU53nZREkTaPZrN0YXhY8eNimTuXT4--Di9-XTxf-ZtN_KXAnR_rGVdHpsFY-1AowQVNGWSlyu16ltxvqy_2-KXGsf-mJmSn-8UlggEwyevlmXBeESLMAB4p86zWbm3pucfGfmcyqk6Aoc-Q3B0vWrtg/s320/fleshy.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiclA1A7mn-UwsQefceZoukEy7yR-z4NUJQRpoN0LCdted5JgMnAij_ZwB64xMZ6OeSSssEjfnYKy5LGnmHn0fWyKqfIf_JalhU_NNzZxpj-jCoEbv-ccXF1rg-iMla7KhRtEq9Xa3X2uSQK-QIL5Vq8XVcbZykd8__j_T5L5FGXoop0qiUNtKZIxyt9w/s1898/black%20manga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1898" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiclA1A7mn-UwsQefceZoukEy7yR-z4NUJQRpoN0LCdted5JgMnAij_ZwB64xMZ6OeSSssEjfnYKy5LGnmHn0fWyKqfIf_JalhU_NNzZxpj-jCoEbv-ccXF1rg-iMla7KhRtEq9Xa3X2uSQK-QIL5Vq8XVcbZykd8__j_T5L5FGXoop0qiUNtKZIxyt9w/s320/black%20manga.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>I also appreciate how Black Sun somewhat has the inverse of Black’s aesthetic in some ways. Whereas Black had subtle details of organic nature with the brown artificial muscles, Black Sun has organic areas contrasted with mechanical ones, especially the belt. Although there is still the soft under body seen in the armored form, and orange and yellow highlights. Likewise, the Batta form with its more bulky design and green highlights pays homage to the Manga version of Black.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtlQLG_LTnFoxowCqe_1UMSW8G9b-CC3dVOIOquX4oONThcZv5HJ1zssvuWItdotv_ja6ynIZcy1AreioQBhfg0msVVJvMKHihZG8WRM-iNxbJpZmZday907rzWtEM6C4NQAP1tuQUOi1PSnPlOYnAtgstzNQ3-fwRVeWbZHcnT8E56KuiS6PafC3DQ/s1366/batta%20moon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtlQLG_LTnFoxowCqe_1UMSW8G9b-CC3dVOIOquX4oONThcZv5HJ1zssvuWItdotv_ja6ynIZcy1AreioQBhfg0msVVJvMKHihZG8WRM-iNxbJpZmZday907rzWtEM6C4NQAP1tuQUOi1PSnPlOYnAtgstzNQ3-fwRVeWbZHcnT8E56KuiS6PafC3DQ/s320/batta%20moon.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Shadow Moon doesn’t have quite the same heavy mechanical contrast as seen in the original, but then again that also wouldn’t fit. I don’t really have a lot to say about Shadow Moon because it’s basically just a white/silver recolor. Although it’s impressive how much the silver adds to the design, and the green really pops on the armored variant. Incidentally, so does blood.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEz1FhMRBjaxWGagTnxYXEblaAzl8heCo0FmSbQnc2CQTu2IOIZ0MQyMq05GGhay01GpKgHOoMwB-Tra7wzqKn90WMbXqsBE6dvhHOOhoEY8qQKuFtVA0b_xHY5roRT9xLUaDmjAcIxNO4w86XQ1yJ1ybXFpaI0dc4a1_wNipMjrN_YrF07YJVkOeEQQ/s1366/shadow%20moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEz1FhMRBjaxWGagTnxYXEblaAzl8heCo0FmSbQnc2CQTu2IOIZ0MQyMq05GGhay01GpKgHOoMwB-Tra7wzqKn90WMbXqsBE6dvhHOOhoEY8qQKuFtVA0b_xHY5roRT9xLUaDmjAcIxNO4w86XQ1yJ1ybXFpaI0dc4a1_wNipMjrN_YrF07YJVkOeEQQ/s320/shadow%20moon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />You also have a bit more of a violent aesthetic with larger spiked legs across the chest, and of course the iconic ankle legs, so there are still some subtle differences from Black Sun.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzARr0zh4NKRH9fApBPZS9LFzjz5reuJnjsnyiFo9Zy7usSbR3Cdf_n8AiEusmBl4c-ldspJUwHXqdH8eRRUdEVdXhw2b-bSGnqqwdzVeB-OMYkqu5Tt-B9FDmJ_wtcNPhJ1sq4Hk8vSMiZThV3fRleeXxtKCs1Xl5AFWK7LfY39tTbWf65wH5d8cag/s1366/familiar%20faces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzARr0zh4NKRH9fApBPZS9LFzjz5reuJnjsnyiFo9Zy7usSbR3Cdf_n8AiEusmBl4c-ldspJUwHXqdH8eRRUdEVdXhw2b-bSGnqqwdzVeB-OMYkqu5Tt-B9FDmJ_wtcNPhJ1sq4Hk8vSMiZThV3fRleeXxtKCs1Xl5AFWK7LfY39tTbWf65wH5d8cag/s320/familiar%20faces.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Outside our heroic hoppers, we have a plethora of Kaijin, including some familiar faces from the original series.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_Ykk0QSbMZV6Jz8UgE6EcAAU1QveR-HeieFCxnDseu4859dVQyMASuIS3xQVF_NN9yOOtAwpumuv9qn-tgjqFGQYMS5xrsIiMqkrj6TrVxsLxOycwuFmvaAbcM-ibD1phAX9Mn4xOzIQsT-LjyHNL5STmX-IvTidgwqJ6MXQjI4_FaqRyYSfr2bmSQ/s1366/previous%20kaijin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_Ykk0QSbMZV6Jz8UgE6EcAAU1QveR-HeieFCxnDseu4859dVQyMASuIS3xQVF_NN9yOOtAwpumuv9qn-tgjqFGQYMS5xrsIiMqkrj6TrVxsLxOycwuFmvaAbcM-ibD1phAX9Mn4xOzIQsT-LjyHNL5STmX-IvTidgwqJ6MXQjI4_FaqRyYSfr2bmSQ/s320/previous%20kaijin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />And even some cameos of those original Mutants.<br /><br />Most of the Kaijin are just a mask and gloves, which makes sense for the large group shots. Gotta say I really appreciate having several extras dressed up in masks over just 3 dudes repeatedly green-screened into a wide shot. <br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-cPhvk4PC--8Mr2Gdk8FQkvh8LjNxzkEhnZRMzH7gXMj_pm2Epz2ArpCtWb5GGEhf6wvXz5gojaAENXWhQgq6TAsE0QwN54h1kM27LkUvJSyeVXd9amldm0OkAQaqtwfRCAuuN-bOzCMDOpyRSNOB5_6y_uULbd775BfOA61EbWFoeEXxujJ40q9Eg/s1366/Anemone%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-cPhvk4PC--8Mr2Gdk8FQkvh8LjNxzkEhnZRMzH7gXMj_pm2Epz2ArpCtWb5GGEhf6wvXz5gojaAENXWhQgq6TAsE0QwN54h1kM27LkUvJSyeVXd9amldm0OkAQaqtwfRCAuuN-bOzCMDOpyRSNOB5_6y_uULbd775BfOA61EbWFoeEXxujJ40q9Eg/s320/Anemone%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7qsUB91KPR3Dkd315bzNUgSJ6fM58RSXE9V_wAKlp2qfq052CBdkmzbvBZOoQxweF5OZ5nZaTqJNgNqsHnQVdGLO-zadUSz8cazZFwU5d7mx5WYsCrA2lHKoup26xax596FKGLhO4Jocl2xYEMPvUzZ3iLmFO7fYK9lcRQyrnTx5K81cRNPCu7JvQA/s1366/creation%20king.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7qsUB91KPR3Dkd315bzNUgSJ6fM58RSXE9V_wAKlp2qfq052CBdkmzbvBZOoQxweF5OZ5nZaTqJNgNqsHnQVdGLO-zadUSz8cazZFwU5d7mx5WYsCrA2lHKoup26xax596FKGLhO4Jocl2xYEMPvUzZ3iLmFO7fYK9lcRQyrnTx5K81cRNPCu7JvQA/s320/creation%20king.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Despite the relatively simple designs, there are still some standouts for the more notable Kaijins, and the visual look overall harkens back to the likes of ZO, Hakaider, or even Guyver. There’s a great deal of love poured into keeping things practical and it’s frankly astonishing they were able to build some crazy shit like a giant grasshopper with articulated arms. You just don’t see that nowadays because everyone wants to use non-union visual effects artists.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZlodYlE5V452Ggc4wvTQVxMR_xzRfB5pkRZD6GjMFhP_-4Y4IZcqJRM7odh7WNRGwZYP4SVQH__Z7OI8xKxAHNrCNYnCCHcyDhhmhmC62Onjd_7xEEdSAl80OeWK-OgMeIMSwMJG9PWmJV5FKlgNz7TQBZQjxQNgl_9QG2e6XQ0k3BdAxdgm-Z-fhYw/s1366/union.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZlodYlE5V452Ggc4wvTQVxMR_xzRfB5pkRZD6GjMFhP_-4Y4IZcqJRM7odh7WNRGwZYP4SVQH__Z7OI8xKxAHNrCNYnCCHcyDhhmhmC62Onjd_7xEEdSAl80OeWK-OgMeIMSwMJG9PWmJV5FKlgNz7TQBZQjxQNgl_9QG2e6XQ0k3BdAxdgm-Z-fhYw/s320/union.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Probably my favorite aspect just from a conceptual standpoint is how some Kaijin will have their human guise literally explode and dangle like torn clothing. This is something I want to see revisited again at some point.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5BjMM73Ngsx-KDm-u_9VkgKlpZ9iGmz2ZMVCXHG13HdjZ8kVKeY8auG75y986jZh3Ab4b95A_qUOgHi4XKO3feIX7IuU3t18MpPVuilCHCPXqa23XJOg598BaNvqkqaDlzfvdzW4dTmj-I_zYHBmXrLTJTh9Ffd46coFzXkCQW59CFEQG7Jjnn-zpA/s1366/bat%20kaijin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5BjMM73Ngsx-KDm-u_9VkgKlpZ9iGmz2ZMVCXHG13HdjZ8kVKeY8auG75y986jZh3Ab4b95A_qUOgHi4XKO3feIX7IuU3t18MpPVuilCHCPXqa23XJOg598BaNvqkqaDlzfvdzW4dTmj-I_zYHBmXrLTJTh9Ffd46coFzXkCQW59CFEQG7Jjnn-zpA/s320/bat%20kaijin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Seriously, this is conceptually creepy.<br /><br /><br />But there are also a couple of moments that are more blatant and tonally at odds with the rest of the show. Understand, this is a story in which “Kamen Rider” is not used outside of the title, most of the characters do not scream attacks unless it’s being done for a joke, Battle Hopper is just a bike, Kaijin don't explode. Henshin and posing are about the only thing used. I’m typically hard on shows that try to downplay their more extravagant origins, but for the type of story and setting Black Sun creates, it’s understandable.<br />Yet that also means when an old-school music cue kicks in, it can feel off. There are maybe only two moments like this in the entire show, but boy is it fucking *weird*.<br />One moment especially, and you’ll know it when you see it- is both cute yet very out of place.<br /><br />Still, it's a minor grievance and honestly, most of the music used in Black Sun is fantastic.<br /><br />Speaking of, I might as well briefly mention the soundtrack by Kenta Matsukuma. Most of it is original, although it takes some inspiration from the BGM in Black by Eiji Kawamura. Hell, the main theme of Black Sun is almost a rearrangement of Moeru Omoi, and I don’t say that as a knock. Matsukuma is still bringing a lot to the table with a very heightened and refined sound befitting of what Black Sun sets out to do. In fact, a vast majority of the soundtrack is very diverse, ranging from atmospheric and ethereal, to upbeat electronic tracks. Let me put it this way, Matsukuma is tackling this as an Action/Horror, which is appropriate. <br /><br />It may be disappointing to some that Black Sun doesn’t have that much in the way of covers of previous tracks, but as previously stated, they wouldn’t really fit here. Taking cues from BGM tracks like ‘kodoku no Seishun’, ‘Gorgom’, and the aforementioned ‘Moeru Omoi’ works much better as original compositions than outright covers. So if you like strings, pianos, and pipe organs, don’t worry, Matsukuma hones in on that well, and his original tracks are truly beautiful at times. Tears in Heaven and Kotaro's theme are probably my favorites outside of the main theme.<br /><br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">Final Thoughts.</h3><br />I have not loved a Kamen Rider series like this for quite some time. This is a shockingly anti-imperialist, anti-nationalist, and anti-authoritarian work, to the point where I’m surprised they were allowed to make it in the first place. Literally, the <i>only</i> thing they could do to go further is if in the last episode they ended on the schematics to build a shotgun. That’s how goddamn far it goes. And honestly, I respect the hell out of that.<br />I believe this might be the best Kamen Rider has been in ages, possibly one of the best Tokusatsu series. It will certainly go down as one of the most daring entries, and the most politically charged Kamen Rider has been since the original Manga. <br /><br />Black Sun is in many ways the ideal that Shin Prologue strived to be. An adult take on Kamen Rider’s themes cranked to 11, but presented in a more reputable well thoughtful manner, while still indulging in special effects beyond that of a standard television production.<br />It combines that youthful gratuitous edge with that of a seasoned socially conscious mind, and not a lot of stories can accomplish that. I can’t stress enough how great this series is. It may be a hard watch for some, it has an ending that's bitter sweet, and it’s not a perfect show by any means. But goddamn, I’ll probably never see anything like this again in my lifetime.<br /><br />I think maybe down the road I'll revisit Black Sun again for a more in-depth review. I actually think this would be a very good series to review episode by episode, if not as a whole. There are still things I'd like to talk about, more spoiler-centric stuff and nitpicks here and there. But as is, I highly recommend you watch the show yourself. <br /><br /><br />With that said, you can donate to my <a href="https://ko-fi.com/kamen_writer">ko-fi here</a> if you like what I do, and you can find me on Twitter for now and also <a href="https://kamenstranger.tumblr.com/">Tumblr </a>(Not posting much on there yet, but will probably be soon)<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshFKneyIZ57Kr40mciWMTaQ9VNUP2RCF6UKFj8_d40MnV5sfpA7pdvlW60r9dqem7GcOzu5KT4e9M6V_Mwq8XlePnABJFccWftrjZD6xC2n-0aK2Kmy_dxRcz5IT2-THDr75aOVXAcSk2KFGptHPV_pKkq6rqdOsLPASrjCZ18JLKiHut6eEldUOorw/s1366/obscene%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshFKneyIZ57Kr40mciWMTaQ9VNUP2RCF6UKFj8_d40MnV5sfpA7pdvlW60r9dqem7GcOzu5KT4e9M6V_Mwq8XlePnABJFccWftrjZD6xC2n-0aK2Kmy_dxRcz5IT2-THDr75aOVXAcSk2KFGptHPV_pKkq6rqdOsLPASrjCZ18JLKiHut6eEldUOorw/s320/obscene%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2DdhCiDOJRuJaNAywb4r0VV9s6b3sWBFsy-ZcMUZEJ3u8gAol4Do4Z4QTTaLzC1mKm5MrDhE_aEvnJe6APewmY37lp1k8_Ado8TZSAMcUuq2w5Yh4IYRbg6v3qqhPb0zq3Khj_86y_MRV9tVS0E9f4XY_P2c74H7l7VRNpA5ON19sfKzr4NWfVxBBg/s1366/obscene%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2DdhCiDOJRuJaNAywb4r0VV9s6b3sWBFsy-ZcMUZEJ3u8gAol4Do4Z4QTTaLzC1mKm5MrDhE_aEvnJe6APewmY37lp1k8_Ado8TZSAMcUuq2w5Yh4IYRbg6v3qqhPb0zq3Khj_86y_MRV9tVS0E9f4XY_P2c74H7l7VRNpA5ON19sfKzr4NWfVxBBg/s320/obscene%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Still here? Alright, so massive <b>spoilers</b> from here on.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So, the second aforementioned issue I have lies with a lack of clarity within the dialogue that creates both a contradictory scenario and also has horrendous implications.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXB9T3yb11vF5YWIFpocYQIK1E3mj72xwb6_sm6J-35XI5NDIcZ2_8htzdIk-GfpmtUKwGlHrNHFyD7UE5i0GeEXwjMr3HlYg0VXXgCXcwzw9M3it-pjhPkT_YoZokxExyPYBw0Dt4IOYOMnVYExluEmqlr06TwEBeMQk4KO2ujZfFi844zOFq_XR84g/s1366/existing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXB9T3yb11vF5YWIFpocYQIK1E3mj72xwb6_sm6J-35XI5NDIcZ2_8htzdIk-GfpmtUKwGlHrNHFyD7UE5i0GeEXwjMr3HlYg0VXXgCXcwzw9M3it-pjhPkT_YoZokxExyPYBw0Dt4IOYOMnVYExluEmqlr06TwEBeMQk4KO2ujZfFi844zOFq_XR84g/s320/existing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />For context, Kotaro early on mentions that Kaijin should go extinct and he has a desire to kill the Creation King. Now, his self-hatred for his race subsides as things progress, and we get more context for where he’s coming from. But Kotaro still maintains wanting to kill the king since that’s ostensibly a good thing, given the whole mystical liquid in exploiting humans and Kaijins on the black market.<br />However, it’s also implied by multiple characters that the death of the Creation King will eventually lead to Kaijin’s not existing, and…maybe that wouldn’t be a bad thing, a sentiment later echoed by Aoi, oddly.<br />Now, that is not at all the intent or the case. But the dialogue both in Japanese and English has some poor word choices and severely bad omissions. Ep.5 in particular is egregious.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhudw0Is-79jSSjW-Xof5ZjXltjP5yfnplfYGoBMv3RfI40tQ32lGYINyIZj4yT6tkF66FV408RP-vuQJZFy53f2lG_aIcDEdioUe0xYPr31kvUkK0p-pBePBanaQR9rxOv1DOAWM-FXD9KIQHaFD-b3kN-pK76mPyr5nTGOwRhLxYcgP0FjEId1VPg/s1366/no%20heaven%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhudw0Is-79jSSjW-Xof5ZjXltjP5yfnplfYGoBMv3RfI40tQ32lGYINyIZj4yT6tkF66FV408RP-vuQJZFy53f2lG_aIcDEdioUe0xYPr31kvUkK0p-pBePBanaQR9rxOv1DOAWM-FXD9KIQHaFD-b3kN-pK76mPyr5nTGOwRhLxYcgP0FjEId1VPg/s320/no%20heaven%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Gz9dJzRNnv0ExieYZ7mH7Hc_QJyp63-z_-3bxeo_TAY68DMe9-PflODxiM8FEmvihPmQinKFiAw9Hb0-FPMIrJ0xWCpm3zoNCn-OUMnMQnJHxBHmXFZZq8zCpzFjMdQLj9LRmsiiL3jJ_MYEJNZvCV8kYw9xYl4pLdsk8ydsNjEzpLo9dqwpMSs8CQ/s1366/no%20heaven%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Gz9dJzRNnv0ExieYZ7mH7Hc_QJyp63-z_-3bxeo_TAY68DMe9-PflODxiM8FEmvihPmQinKFiAw9Hb0-FPMIrJ0xWCpm3zoNCn-OUMnMQnJHxBHmXFZZq8zCpzFjMdQLj9LRmsiiL3jJ_MYEJNZvCV8kYw9xYl4pLdsk8ydsNjEzpLo9dqwpMSs8CQ/s320/no%20heaven%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM843doqa1FAYMBBns2FR0lpR7EgpAC0RxLicuQ2xrZEy08MISCuMYE1dFQg_M2V99TyaF_jRwNpXZwivWGSRHZRUqLsj02Y6EJ7StajR1ORaUkKrFi17IBO5oCOEda6ouc5LU8HaifPo027V_YolQTlmrVbfmXtEX-MqNJ0JDULD5IFjasgl-fchZsA/s1366/no%20heaven%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM843doqa1FAYMBBns2FR0lpR7EgpAC0RxLicuQ2xrZEy08MISCuMYE1dFQg_M2V99TyaF_jRwNpXZwivWGSRHZRUqLsj02Y6EJ7StajR1ORaUkKrFi17IBO5oCOEda6ouc5LU8HaifPo027V_YolQTlmrVbfmXtEX-MqNJ0JDULD5IFjasgl-fchZsA/s320/no%20heaven%203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0dE36MOu9vcV4FTSWUQN5r3mwoknhb3vQP6hvss7CigO5jUf9P10PNXZNe_Gf0TpuKfYVp6NxBHeSzQst-QXXfipYlNfN2jjQaJxMhN9-lIO8bwJejjZRMCUKVwuAs3YdsGS9ei93ffDsTjmtVPhhdG5FbhgWGvQ9GzJlngvY51Jsi6cMJUN1gEUUQ/s1366/no%20heaven%204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0dE36MOu9vcV4FTSWUQN5r3mwoknhb3vQP6hvss7CigO5jUf9P10PNXZNe_Gf0TpuKfYVp6NxBHeSzQst-QXXfipYlNfN2jjQaJxMhN9-lIO8bwJejjZRMCUKVwuAs3YdsGS9ei93ffDsTjmtVPhhdG5FbhgWGvQ9GzJlngvY51Jsi6cMJUN1gEUUQ/s320/no%20heaven%204.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Firstly, Kaijin aren’t dependent on the Creation King to live, we know they can and do eat human food. Secondly, Kaijin can have children, even with humans. These are things known in the first episode. With that in mind, the only implication one could be left with is that eventually, possibly, Kaijin would get bred out, which also sounds really fucking bad.<br /><br />We finally get some dialogue from Kotaro which clarifies what he’s accomplishing in killing the Creation King is that he doesn’t want Kaijin to have unnaturally extended lifespans from heaven or for any more humans to be turned into Kaijin. Kaijin will live exactly as humans.<br />Which, yeahhhh, we would have gathered that from the get-go if the original dialogue wasn’t so fucking vague and then repeated several more times, hinting at a massively fucked up caveat to the whole thing. Kaijins reaching the end of their natural lives is already a recurring subject in Black Sun that didn't need this convoluted addition.<br /><br />I honestly thought the series was about to pull the rug out from under me with “X thing is so bad that genocide is justifiable.”<br />I think part of the reason I kept thinking that was One: My own disbelief that they could build up toward a strong anti-authority message without having some really messed up "counterbalance".<br />Two: the marketing was still casting its ugly shadow. <br />I know I keep harping on this, but the trailers for Black Sun did a terrible job representing the type of show it was going to be about beyond “social topic”. As much as I was enjoying the show, I was always half expecting either to be misled into an ultimately centrist take or some milquetoast Quantic Dream bullshit. Ya know, not an actual message, just the vague framework co-opting social issues for brownie points with bland ass corn shucking crackers who don’t really know what the fuck they’re talking about, but still like the idea of not appearing racist, yet are too chicken shit to commit to truly effective means of ending it.<br /><br />I think it’s clear from the review they clearly did not go that route. But man, episode 5 and even a few lines in later episodes really worried me that the first half of the show might’ve been an insanely elaborate fake-out. Guess they pulled wool over my eyes. Just not sure if that was entirely intentional on their part, cause it really doesn't feel like dropping a morsel of information and following up as the story progresses, it feels like someone fucked up a tiny bit.<br /><br />This is the one significant part of Black Sun that I feel is poorly conveyed, to the point that I wouldn’t be shocked if some of this was hastily rewritten. It’s almost as if there was a completely different version that went with more of a Skull Man “mutant abominations created by man don't belong in this world” angle before doing something else entirely.<br /><br /><br />Since we’re getting into spoilers, let’s talk about that ending and the things I do like.<br /><br />Fucking goddamn. There were a lot of groups the Kajin could be seen as a metaphor for, but having them all stem from an experiment on a POW during the War is simply astonishing. Specifically, the date given is 1936, alluding to the very real experiments of Unit 731. It makes Kajin walking reminders of War crimes and atrocities committed. It also brings to mind the discrimination faced by mixed raced children after the second Sino-Japanese war. I would like to point out that the mass immigration of those children began in 1972.<br /><br />You have the former Prime Minister as the one that oversaw these experiments, and you have his grandson taking over, creating this fucked up sequence of Political Leaders with ties to war criminals and cults, just to <i>really</i> drive home those Abe parallels.<br /><br />After all of that information comes out, after the massive backlash and upheaval, and even after Donami is fucking murdered- nothing significant changes. His former Aide runs for office and wins. The same party is still in power even after such a controversy, and bigotry is still rampant.<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></span><br /><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></span><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRgIFgMpYCud6S1JYBah-f4fbCHUPnD7FJSwtEivJlqGoODtPuj1yyyRB8tD-0K3pQnKo58gbKSQlIB3KMjWFM649a0jYHCMlHL8fzTEBPqhuJJ25xrZMpuoy0a9DAvBW03UCg_KAx905OoEnr6-unhRyS_djJYAaSz7kI9Z0yD7Xj1WKV2VmWiZrwg/s1366/immigrate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRgIFgMpYCud6S1JYBah-f4fbCHUPnD7FJSwtEivJlqGoODtPuj1yyyRB8tD-0K3pQnKo58gbKSQlIB3KMjWFM649a0jYHCMlHL8fzTEBPqhuJJ25xrZMpuoy0a9DAvBW03UCg_KAx905OoEnr6-unhRyS_djJYAaSz7kI9Z0yD7Xj1WKV2VmWiZrwg/s320/immigrate.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcsyxsWRAbzk__adXHjk05dm9Ws4iJzd2DXfrFyiJ6_wL0gM_jwsgXiU-RsJXtJiqxRunR4jPmdTya_oB6aiDgGMDfpVWmR7ZQS5UFdgalMe1kGEwYYRrKODIwzs_212lOVWmXB5Nd4d93aQQvCKZh0ucavPXEvLbc-kJTLjuRf269WAXT4OMWVv3Fw/s1366/ACAB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcsyxsWRAbzk__adXHjk05dm9Ws4iJzd2DXfrFyiJ6_wL0gM_jwsgXiU-RsJXtJiqxRunR4jPmdTya_oB6aiDgGMDfpVWmR7ZQS5UFdgalMe1kGEwYYRrKODIwzs_212lOVWmXB5Nd4d93aQQvCKZh0ucavPXEvLbc-kJTLjuRf269WAXT4OMWVv3Fw/s320/ACAB.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>The Creation King is dead, and both Nobuhiko and Kotaro are dead. <br />But progress was still made. Aoi, who has since been forcibly turned into a Kaijin, has given up on protests and instead recruits would-be activists to a more proactive form of making a difference like Nobuhiko once did. The fighting may never stop, but she never intends to either.<br /><br /><br /><br />Or in other words: <br /><br /><br />How I learned to stop Fascism with the power of Love. <br />by Aoi.<br /><br /><b>Chapter 1: The Power of Love.</b><br /><br />The first step in my Journey was realizing that it is impossible to defeat Fascism with the power of love.<br /><br /><br /><b>Chapter 2: The Power of Incredible Violence.</b><br /><br /><br />Joking aside, that’s not far from the truth. Once again, if nothing else, I respect the places Black Sun goes.<br /><br />One last thing of note, I’m going to be shocked if Kokoro Hirasawa, Aoi’s actress, doesn’t take off after this. She’s been in things before, you may even recognize Aoi from Go-Busters. She’s one of the few among the cast with notable Toku credits, most others are more experienced in Drama, which explains the top-notch performances across the board. But she absolutely kills it in this role and I hope to see more of her in the future.<br /><br /><strong style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></span></strong><br /><strong style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></span></strong><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><strong style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /><br /><br /></span></strong></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjD_uO39uwp3Udpn0EGTfbGO2OgRuu53DU5gIoPdvAI8qf3cJtW-3gBvAEEGobT2xkKfFFsz7az9dpBLXAs1us-XR_srg3yS0mBEBGQoyxVMBFJsEXn5VZhRVS3RAiFPHr5tzhq6o4Baf8kt1MRhJZSphSB_1MB_5dkZV3Ys_m3X8fsaijWysM7JeXw/s1366/flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjD_uO39uwp3Udpn0EGTfbGO2OgRuu53DU5gIoPdvAI8qf3cJtW-3gBvAEEGobT2xkKfFFsz7az9dpBLXAs1us-XR_srg3yS0mBEBGQoyxVMBFJsEXn5VZhRVS3RAiFPHr5tzhq6o4Baf8kt1MRhJZSphSB_1MB_5dkZV3Ys_m3X8fsaijWysM7JeXw/s320/flag.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can I get a hook/loop patch of this?<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></strong></div><strong style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></strong><p></p>Kamen Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02832099141882322022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505042118996520039.post-42115602935927211492022-11-08T08:49:00.000-05:002022-11-08T08:49:41.576-05:00Gavan Bluray Review: A New Standard<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1hgNz-UtclX_9jKm9VfqhQqlCYqE7-hCCeVW24GAjzWOkZGTxK3u9ghGw_-r5NW864IjHuC4ZLo1oJOIgoe6HmRWVOaLynpaQCXqEcOQf3XKObDSA8aFTdvcVDO421IbLzt8JWSpAiO0cxMxKPVpPTDU4iY9hEK9GZkgbiujz98nb5Z54GWZee8f8A/s600/space-sheriff-gavan-blu-ray-primary.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="472" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1hgNz-UtclX_9jKm9VfqhQqlCYqE7-hCCeVW24GAjzWOkZGTxK3u9ghGw_-r5NW864IjHuC4ZLo1oJOIgoe6HmRWVOaLynpaQCXqEcOQf3XKObDSA8aFTdvcVDO421IbLzt8JWSpAiO0cxMxKPVpPTDU4iY9hEK9GZkgbiujz98nb5Z54GWZee8f8A/s320/space-sheriff-gavan-blu-ray-primary.jpg" width="252" /></a></div><br />Back in 2019, I reviewed the first entry of the Metal Hero Series; Uchuu Keiji Gavan, a show laden with impressive stunts, a unique style completely different from either Rider or Sentai, and an incredibly magnetic lead in the form of Kenji Ohba.<br />My overall thoughts on the show remain the same, so feel free to go <a href="https://strangers-showcase.blogspot.com/2019/05/uchuu-keiji-gavan-review.html">take a look at the review</a> if you need a refresher on the series itself and more detail on why it’s a great show.<br /><br /><p></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><br /><br />When Discotek (the same company behind Juspion’s release) announced that Gavan would be getting the same treatment, I was ecstatic. Discotek is one of the very few home media distributors that have a solid track record of not only caring about the art but going above and beyond for whatever that art may be. It can be an obscure ultra-niche show from decades ago with a fanbase of like 50 people, but they will dig through archives for old master tapes to get new transfers, resyncing the audio, and restoring missing scenes. You need only look at their work with Ronin Warriors and Cyborg 009 to see how much work can go into any one release. The only other media outlet that goes to such comparable lengths for preservation is probably Vinegar Syndrome.<br /><br />That said, not every release needs that amount of attention. But the point is they will go to it if applicable, and the attention to detail doesn’t stop at the feature presentation, as they typically throw in a few worthwhile extras. It’s that last bit I’m interested the most in, because- just to get this out of the way- the episodes are the same as the gorgeous Japanese Bluray that I’ve already covered in the original review. It’s crisp and clean, and a proper HD transfer. <br />That goes for the subs as well. Just like with Juspion, they are based on the Fansubs which were already good, and honestly, I don’t even recall them having any errors so they may not have changed that much. This is the best way to watch Gavan as is.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmJ6UuP3-7_2V2xP0u0DVVnlrOPa5IosKoK4lVKycqAyeEOu1zFzjTycewycxNvTenSayUDk8l6yLN9ADAg7TcIq4bl3fzz824hW3DMCzhhGgFNmczwdMIkYEkp2e1ClkFDply20di5SKRWv-OxurYkd135T59EW4DrlwerZwMXmHEB7NADohnALhVw/s4032/20221016_000133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmJ6UuP3-7_2V2xP0u0DVVnlrOPa5IosKoK4lVKycqAyeEOu1zFzjTycewycxNvTenSayUDk8l6yLN9ADAg7TcIq4bl3fzz824hW3DMCzhhGgFNmczwdMIkYEkp2e1ClkFDply20di5SKRWv-OxurYkd135T59EW4DrlwerZwMXmHEB7NADohnALhVw/s320/20221016_000133.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-WNb2oo1hC4gfpD-EIHG5pFogLhwBwrkG60osOtKNpKJXDUXEKGmoBYU5HJEY0HRC6Fzqhww4_h-rN0XdV_-JULuYKsQ3IpKRNj1Q0X6OHVwUQ9LZSNHQpsZPBQOj8DAVwqVf40OlvkXiwQHpS-j1uwjzHTeW4RJpjRb4mjuRnqrhO0LDkmHmzjBRw/s4032/20221016_000148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-WNb2oo1hC4gfpD-EIHG5pFogLhwBwrkG60osOtKNpKJXDUXEKGmoBYU5HJEY0HRC6Fzqhww4_h-rN0XdV_-JULuYKsQ3IpKRNj1Q0X6OHVwUQ9LZSNHQpsZPBQOj8DAVwqVf40OlvkXiwQHpS-j1uwjzHTeW4RJpjRb4mjuRnqrhO0LDkmHmzjBRw/s320/20221016_000148.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXPHdgCRyBTKLpGZ8_njgbbWq74rEB9Dz9YUAP6HFGphtjZnBW_AJIBZbVypwffdnIcJWXh80qFTGC_jAf4Itzt-wUROdMrBE6tQQsEMEDLMs3RPmIwLhI2x6K_Dyyaf5JbyOQ41BRhLjOHnj3rd8d3WPZjh2PbQf-QqPJCOHFhwSP4Iqdq9l2x2wQQ/s4032/20221016_000523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXPHdgCRyBTKLpGZ8_njgbbWq74rEB9Dz9YUAP6HFGphtjZnBW_AJIBZbVypwffdnIcJWXh80qFTGC_jAf4Itzt-wUROdMrBE6tQQsEMEDLMs3RPmIwLhI2x6K_Dyyaf5JbyOQ41BRhLjOHnj3rd8d3WPZjh2PbQf-QqPJCOHFhwSP4Iqdq9l2x2wQQ/s320/20221016_000523.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZs-I7ovZB0lZI_7eju3k-d8u_RwO6Hxhq-Q-xJ7a96rmyDfkGPsyfFLIR8ehZ9sfD8uFQBppkY28OsfwmXvitiL6pDpbVjzzvt1k2g3dHAlfRVNGJwekW9JJdAFnQW_-jxeUSGg-5xQoUuvfE8eU-IO952r7iTdeP_9Rz06fx_SDmC-uOzCqWLV0TnQ/s4032/20221016_000539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZs-I7ovZB0lZI_7eju3k-d8u_RwO6Hxhq-Q-xJ7a96rmyDfkGPsyfFLIR8ehZ9sfD8uFQBppkY28OsfwmXvitiL6pDpbVjzzvt1k2g3dHAlfRVNGJwekW9JJdAFnQW_-jxeUSGg-5xQoUuvfE8eU-IO952r7iTdeP_9Rz06fx_SDmC-uOzCqWLV0TnQ/s320/20221016_000539.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3TfhMbUKB2VZWnVTHikyyMCUulBJSsugG3x89F2KJwxIxL3Y0vvJwp-eqX_Ysr0yH6xzdiZXBo8HsnMlEEEBMZx6XLDtNrSt1_6sQFxiZOrnyJBfijqIWp-XjbvxiyCsS6THGS-BjKyLGnkHEujZNXWNhPeCyC4oQb5c9mAWGZYKqoo3k8L-9tFMRQ/s4032/20221016_000610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3TfhMbUKB2VZWnVTHikyyMCUulBJSsugG3x89F2KJwxIxL3Y0vvJwp-eqX_Ysr0yH6xzdiZXBo8HsnMlEEEBMZx6XLDtNrSt1_6sQFxiZOrnyJBfijqIWp-XjbvxiyCsS6THGS-BjKyLGnkHEujZNXWNhPeCyC4oQb5c9mAWGZYKqoo3k8L-9tFMRQ/s320/20221016_000610.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Another area I don’t want to linger on too much but still want to highlight is the packaging. Very eye-catching, the slipcover art is different from the main case, all the discs have great art. The presentation is great...With one caveat. I want to point to two areas, both with the same discrepancy. The back cover, and disc 4.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGdt1Ey9Dt8PLgh23Z8_1ZjzI8THKpbuhvgRD-brP9Q5eLUjNevI19Y_hkgCyVYtPrj0cfBlBWEWmRbb_0brLZG_cKMi4CsjulPdnugboxiMa4HuBcrIR7FlU4uby_yMkyWQXmifNcF--vtl8N-WAqz10y4Nwy3mk9NASoxvvtFMamL5FD4J_mYAo6g/s4032/20221016_000430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGdt1Ey9Dt8PLgh23Z8_1ZjzI8THKpbuhvgRD-brP9Q5eLUjNevI19Y_hkgCyVYtPrj0cfBlBWEWmRbb_0brLZG_cKMi4CsjulPdnugboxiMa4HuBcrIR7FlU4uby_yMkyWQXmifNcF--vtl8N-WAqz10y4Nwy3mk9NASoxvvtFMamL5FD4J_mYAo6g/s320/20221016_000430.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />You have the usual information. Format, audio, subs, run time, etc.<br />There’s no mention of special features anywhere on the packaging, or even the disc, which is a big mistake.<br />Firstly, it freaked me out because I worried that maybe there weren’t any despite news to the contrary. After all, Juspion was supposed to have special features and it didn't upon release. Don’t worry, Gavan's are here. <br />Secondly, Gavan has some of, if not the absolute best special features I’ve seen on a Toku release in NA, and they are well worth boasting about as a selling point.<br /><br /><br /><br />First is “Memorial roundtable with Kenji Ohba and Director Osamu Kaneda”<br />This is ripped straight from the JPN Bluray and is an hour and twenty-three minutes long. In Japan, this was across the two-volume release, but here it’s one long continuous video.<br /><br />The first half is strictly a discussion between Ohba and Kaneda, who was the action director on Gavan and many other shows before and since. Part 1 is pre-Gavan detailing how Osamu Kaneda and Kenji Ohba first joined JAC (Japan Action Club, now called Japan Action Enterprises, which Kaneda now leads) and the various roles they performed once they got on board with Toei. In addition to directing, Kaneda worked as a stuntman himself and often alongside Ohba, both doing work in and out of suits in Kamen Rider, Kaikaider, Robot Detective, Spider-Man, and various Yakuza films.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmiSL-CdCzvaorhe1JPRN5DtVciZFbhrl9RWSTTBN4Ms4s9w7hOI9oGprX3lqiqTYwLqcRl2fCwYn53B7_81d2SQyYXswP4XKdJWg_CzubaVJvDGznTjhYSTILvpf7g8S3NOZtiakuXCby4iVm4nSsZGO8Ot1duv0BzRLDSQw5yrwNFKg-vctsgaEofg/s813/kamen%20rider%20yakuza.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="813" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmiSL-CdCzvaorhe1JPRN5DtVciZFbhrl9RWSTTBN4Ms4s9w7hOI9oGprX3lqiqTYwLqcRl2fCwYn53B7_81d2SQyYXswP4XKdJWg_CzubaVJvDGznTjhYSTILvpf7g8S3NOZtiakuXCby4iVm4nSsZGO8Ot1duv0BzRLDSQw5yrwNFKg-vctsgaEofg/s320/kamen%20rider%20yakuza.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_A5PRo0ZIHOS6KxOEaMG29AT_mNIHvItAo5aFOaCjep1TjvDbQeJqzTN8j1Zua2bbpYn3HcJNyI3SFJNgqLEi1-P1nGQTRTEpROxHJ8fLXqBRX_kl8BVWCm18Xux8O26Bct_7dOrEqDLVJAfTYhxBK_6R6e3UV5pjmc_5tlT04vl3wQ2WywOzv_7JYg/s818/kikaider.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="818" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_A5PRo0ZIHOS6KxOEaMG29AT_mNIHvItAo5aFOaCjep1TjvDbQeJqzTN8j1Zua2bbpYn3HcJNyI3SFJNgqLEi1-P1nGQTRTEpROxHJ8fLXqBRX_kl8BVWCm18Xux8O26Bct_7dOrEqDLVJAfTYhxBK_6R6e3UV5pjmc_5tlT04vl3wQ2WywOzv_7JYg/s320/kikaider.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />As little information is readily available pertaining to tokusatsu-related material, this is a wealth of knowledge that is sadly seldom seen outside Japan. While the information is truly enlightening, it’s also full of fun stories, accidents, and quirky situations that occur on and off-set.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XxTwjr4URPAr2FvSwiNLRALakNFQHbZj9X4oecgFRAobpnb5IldUMFUbv2FUJ2LDrxIO_jBtpnhJjuMP74kNfj1HShihWpOoknmAAdSrNVXBgz_Ajca7AkJCAa3v4OaKGNrkyU3-NPLoK7HQdoVetkA8ABl09r-_pITgnusZPXY-lp_hyEd0S2FX_g/s812/arms%201.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="812" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XxTwjr4URPAr2FvSwiNLRALakNFQHbZj9X4oecgFRAobpnb5IldUMFUbv2FUJ2LDrxIO_jBtpnhJjuMP74kNfj1HShihWpOoknmAAdSrNVXBgz_Ajca7AkJCAa3v4OaKGNrkyU3-NPLoK7HQdoVetkA8ABl09r-_pITgnusZPXY-lp_hyEd0S2FX_g/s320/arms%201.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />About 40 minutes in we come to part two, in which Jun Murakami, Gavan’s primary stunt suit actor, joins the conversion as we get into the production of the show, from the conceptual stages to the actual filming portion. Murakami discusses the nuances and challenges of handling stunts, how to come up with poses, and how restrictions of the suit can inform how a pose is done.<br />These discussions between Ohba and Murakami on how they pose and fight are probably the most interesting to me in this part. Learning the process of having continuity between the two, yet also enough of a dichotomy to show the suit as something more. And how even if a pose or move can be done in a suit and looks good, maybe it doesn’t fit the character. Maybe Gavan’s kick is a little too close to Kamen Rider, and it becomes a process of figuring out how this can be changed to be different.<br /><br />Other behind-the-scenes info highlighted includes Kaneda pointing out that stock footage of a jump would be inserted if Murakami sprained an ankle or the like. Specific moments of the show are also brought up, including that iconic bridge stunt, which was evidently the second take because the rope got caught on a bolt in the first go-round.<br /><br />The second bonus feature is a photo gallery, and not to gloss over it, but there’s not much to say. There are a lot of production stills, high-quality scans of promotional images from magazines, and concept art with a total of 67 photos overall. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1DzkbYgbBq8eboVwHys0X2SAy3kaW_DDdyC0SzJHvokFxOjhmB7QH-619L8zHjLEES1QjiFO9Tl3VDuqLGwGaZ0xZi8z-b6VlTM__48Jng58BbUmbZb4yDWhkYvhHjuhGzLfhAOE7QAHhvtwB_zxOSa-dDqeIIQLk6KDlbAP7l79hBJe8K3sXxW3cw/s815/4-57.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="815" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1DzkbYgbBq8eboVwHys0X2SAy3kaW_DDdyC0SzJHvokFxOjhmB7QH-619L8zHjLEES1QjiFO9Tl3VDuqLGwGaZ0xZi8z-b6VlTM__48Jng58BbUmbZb4yDWhkYvhHjuhGzLfhAOE7QAHhvtwB_zxOSa-dDqeIIQLk6KDlbAP7l79hBJe8K3sXxW3cw/s320/4-57.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAkIrGysZhOW4hXoHNfd0Zr8qF3oQjGn_EMVcVErZg2y3iuDhuK_DkPIsRP8Q4o9K59pQAcD5NwECukzbTYazpbsfxq4f7psY3_yq-Sq52On2Xqf3SErMLaoUY2ZSKaw5INJvdh1cW_xoFFHlLZY_hBT4PB6DyL7_MXDZrpSPiM9VGrTsK2z-RsKrqg/s820/1-13.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="820" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAkIrGysZhOW4hXoHNfd0Zr8qF3oQjGn_EMVcVErZg2y3iuDhuK_DkPIsRP8Q4o9K59pQAcD5NwECukzbTYazpbsfxq4f7psY3_yq-Sq52On2Xqf3SErMLaoUY2ZSKaw5INJvdh1cW_xoFFHlLZY_hBT4PB6DyL7_MXDZrpSPiM9VGrTsK2z-RsKrqg/s320/1-13.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDXkh_zhC-PvqblsqFRwCRu-Sumwp9Io7LmwaFejEhTvB7cjFfkXaQYBKom9yc4tFAOvWdAgvY3Q5Z69og2Dpr16XLU5BkJcAmYN8v6zfXVG48Sm3RCO-nD46YRalJ-0uvEI06J3PAXt745UE8xkcgHv-gH2MA5_QBEDs-PDtbJmHYcNDYmEgmJ-IKw/s811/2-38.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="811" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDXkh_zhC-PvqblsqFRwCRu-Sumwp9Io7LmwaFejEhTvB7cjFfkXaQYBKom9yc4tFAOvWdAgvY3Q5Z69og2Dpr16XLU5BkJcAmYN8v6zfXVG48Sm3RCO-nD46YRalJ-0uvEI06J3PAXt745UE8xkcgHv-gH2MA5_QBEDs-PDtbJmHYcNDYmEgmJ-IKw/s320/2-38.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9OJrKi4ghDlNnHpxAn-F1O-mENW2LaupyxJNbyBxRPkfBzUF0AhX-0HyneDhVM-Pd2FUNwIupknotAnztgGVm6LiMQIgPQ2E84kFFzuyLioYc4Y_AqRQKaRjq5eqrZHUpNwt-E7shS91aaseBPuCgZKVLj-lFkkCKGx4spkkx-xBZkEMY1OD1kQ7VQ/s817/3-49.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="817" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9OJrKi4ghDlNnHpxAn-F1O-mENW2LaupyxJNbyBxRPkfBzUF0AhX-0HyneDhVM-Pd2FUNwIupknotAnztgGVm6LiMQIgPQ2E84kFFzuyLioYc4Y_AqRQKaRjq5eqrZHUpNwt-E7shS91aaseBPuCgZKVLj-lFkkCKGx4spkkx-xBZkEMY1OD1kQ7VQ/s320/3-49.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />I feel this sorta thing is sadly skipped over by a lot of people, but I’m someone that loves seeing these images, and although there's not much to say, I’m glad they’re here.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XY9X3TxPGadnwkuHIi7jd9vXDTSqKgXlRGK62clssBW-wRO9nbo6dBSWP-91x2V65wjBErU1PlUlA2JoF9m6Z4LCxc-Zx6vKmyBFTTvGzixnIVBqGU4LO-YWj5t0rj1zW7sRiXe94xWbsHInlLZzNzQWTPVMAPxEWss6HGes4JGWWIq0-czAA6bl5A/s680/essay%201.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="680" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XY9X3TxPGadnwkuHIi7jd9vXDTSqKgXlRGK62clssBW-wRO9nbo6dBSWP-91x2V65wjBErU1PlUlA2JoF9m6Z4LCxc-Zx6vKmyBFTTvGzixnIVBqGU4LO-YWj5t0rj1zW7sRiXe94xWbsHInlLZzNzQWTPVMAPxEWss6HGes4JGWWIq0-czAA6bl5A/s320/essay%201.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Finally, we come to the final special feature which is a wonderful write-up and overview of the series by Mike "Mach" Dent. I would put this on par with the round table talk in terms of being a great source of knowledge covering the entire production. It touches upon the pre-production, the soundtrack by the late Michiaki Watanabe, that the particle effects were done by Den Film (the same company behind the Spacium Beam for Ultraman) and the immense pressure Toei put on the entire production to not fail. It even shoots down that old Robocop rumor that I too believed for the longest goddamn time.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWMtnZWcLLHQ8lXI_5L1f6D1x9O8-M4-t449FGbKglbPVlji7dkWV2Fk34mWnlOgRgSpf2hR3apK9SWG6yqf6mGD73YGm5rxFdT26DskX8U7z0hWmhhVjXZCJVpr2bzG2u1gkKTAOKoW3iHZaEboUmYFkEVYJuIDXqqGpeT-GraqNObDh0aMfWKFHUA/s683/essay%202.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="683" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWMtnZWcLLHQ8lXI_5L1f6D1x9O8-M4-t449FGbKglbPVlji7dkWV2Fk34mWnlOgRgSpf2hR3apK9SWG6yqf6mGD73YGm5rxFdT26DskX8U7z0hWmhhVjXZCJVpr2bzG2u1gkKTAOKoW3iHZaEboUmYFkEVYJuIDXqqGpeT-GraqNObDh0aMfWKFHUA/s320/essay%202.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIUVuMCql4yyTqX9z4-dGNfz6g20b57ZhEUIXqz6AfZqTqHpNr3oAiVW2LgCYsAGBbDcshTtUJmtOYkFYSWX7hQFSlDdyWj7iQLSBndZZxhAAfEhvIJStOXuQZGNluydl_3M_wAuSG_SeZ9T0Ca_3KGlfIInDYrtscEpbowx0NwcKiARKwJbd4_7gi6Q/s668/essay%203%20sources.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="668" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIUVuMCql4yyTqX9z4-dGNfz6g20b57ZhEUIXqz6AfZqTqHpNr3oAiVW2LgCYsAGBbDcshTtUJmtOYkFYSWX7hQFSlDdyWj7iQLSBndZZxhAAfEhvIJStOXuQZGNluydl_3M_wAuSG_SeZ9T0Ca_3KGlfIInDYrtscEpbowx0NwcKiARKwJbd4_7gi6Q/s320/essay%203%20sources.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Honestly, I could go on more about this, but I don’t wanna share too much. It's a very concise and well-put-together addition that I hope to see more of going forward.<br /><br />Discotek outdid themselves with these features.<br />This, at least to me, sets a new gold standard for how a Toku release should be handled. You look at Shout Factory’s release of Kuuga and that’s a solid release, it looks great and is well worth getting. But it’s bare bones. There are no special features on it, no interviews with the cast, and no documentary on the series. All of these are pre-existing features on the Japanese Blu-Ray, I might add.<br />And Millcreek's handling of Ultraman doesn't even deserve to be in the same league considering they don't even bother to correct spelling errors.<br /><br />Granted, I’m sure the process to get special features from Toei is a nightmare and a half, especially with Rider compared to Metal Heroes. There is also sort of a trade-off even with this Gavan set, which is that it’s a tad higher than most other shows on the market. The MSRP is around $70-80 which is $20 higher than your Rider and Sentai releases. <i>But</i>, I got mine off <a href="https://www.rightstufanime.com/Space-Sheriff-Gavan-Blu-ray">Rightstuf</a>, which at the time of this writing is still selling at a discounted price of around $45.<br />That’s pretty comparable to the discounts Rider and Sentai sets, and an absolute steal for what you’re getting. I got Gavan plus a Lupin The Third manga and movie for the price of Gavan at full price.<br /><br />I should also mention that this is the first release of Discotek’s new TokuTime imprint. They see this as an avenue worth exploring and I hope they’re proven right. Outside of B-Fighter, Spielban, Metalder, and possibly Shaider, they have the entire Metal Hero series to do releases for. Winspector, Janperson, Blue Swat. They’ll probably set their sights beyond Metal Heroes, maybe Robot Detective, or freaking Spider-Man would be impressive. And hey, why limit it to Toei? Pretty sure P Productions has some shows long out of print over here.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQOO1lWkVJGk1Cqz-r-Gt2NiUsxayz9xPOO7TDOgAThOnACgoHVEnelEBp7-4YCYwdHe1Aq3daTU1FbS_1_7qOFe-Po2e81PPI2Jai0aUEnwRqBtwkh_VXQAPCCdaVGIwziOdME6PVGrlSE2jle4Y4YHo0G3AlDfmmq9wMDXTG_ffFU-pXPa89ECVKw/s1280/KRB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQOO1lWkVJGk1Cqz-r-Gt2NiUsxayz9xPOO7TDOgAThOnACgoHVEnelEBp7-4YCYwdHe1Aq3daTU1FbS_1_7qOFe-Po2e81PPI2Jai0aUEnwRqBtwkh_VXQAPCCdaVGIwziOdME6PVGrlSE2jle4Y4YHo0G3AlDfmmq9wMDXTG_ffFU-pXPa89ECVKw/s320/KRB.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Or they could get freaking Kamen Rider Black. Sure, holy shit. That’s a day-one preorder.<br /><br />And that's a perfect note to end this review because next time I'll be taking a look at the much anticipated Kamen Rider Black Sun. It'll be a relatively short and spoiler-free review, nonetheless, I can't wait to talk about that show- it's one of the biggest and most pleasant surprises in quite some time.<br /><br />As always you can donate to my<a href="https://ko-fi.com/kamen_writer"> Ko-fi </a>if you like what I do, and you can find me on <a href="https://twitter.com/KamenStranger">twitter</a>, at least for now.<br /><br />Kamen Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02832099141882322022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505042118996520039.post-41950916127990440902022-10-25T05:35:00.000-04:002022-10-25T05:35:13.059-04:00Limited Run Games Castlevania Ultimate Edition.Wow, it’s been a long time since I’ve tackled something game related, huh? But this is a bit different from even those seldom articles because this isn’t so much about the games as the package surrounding them. It’s also a bit different in that this isn’t something you can buy anymore. <br /><br />You might ask why bother reviewing something long since out of production, but I figure this could give an idea of what to expect should you ever order from Limited Run Games, from the experience, the end product, and my overall impressions.<span><a name='more'></a></span><br /><br />Ah, but let me briefly touch upon the company itself, because there are some misconstrued ideas about LRG, by far the most prominent being that they preserve games- which is fucking hilarious.<br /><br />Let’s be clear, this is a collectibles-oriented service and nothing more. Regardless of doing physical releases for decades-old titles or releases that were digital only, they are made to sell you a <i>Limited</i> production run, with a hard stance on never doing another run regardless of demand. This is a FOMO tactic, no different than Bandai re-releasing a store-exclusive recolor of a figure that’s $200 on the aftermarket.<br />I can go on about the implications of that, but it’s not preservation by any means. Sure, some titles wouldn’t even have physical releases if not for them, but that’s more accidental in my eyes. It’s not like they’re tracking down rare ROMs to put out the same way Discotek finds old anime masters.<br /><br />LRG’s forte is selling gaming tat to dorks like me and nothing more.<br /><br /><br />Still, having a hard copy of a game sounds good from a marketing standpoint. LRG is even guilty of leaning into that with the tagline “Physical Forever” on their site.<br />I fully understand that appeal, and it is still better than a digital service tied to DRM. At the same time, especially with more modern games, I’d argue having a physical copy can be a moot point when there are updates that can drastically alter the game. In fact, my first purchase from LRG was River City Girls, which had an update containing quality-of-life improvements that came after the physical release. That part of the game isn’t preserved on the cart and while that’s not on LRG, that’s the reality of the modern system in play.<br /><br />I stress this because it always seems to come up with LRG and I wanna shoot that idea down fast. I’m approaching this as a collectible review first and foremost. Plus, is there much to say about a digital release that’s just on a cart? Not really.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />As previously mentioned, my first personal experience with LRG was with River City Girls, and I want to mention this specifically because it sets the precedent, so I apologize for rambling a bit more.<br />I didn’t go for anything extravagant in my first purchase, just the standard release with the Soundtrack… There is a bit of a problem with that, though.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQtHmk_iFLrO_WhSzLo1fklYpYNi2z1M5s4PUkeO8XeH_ssvRmPPNfog2AeIbD03NximUDkc0kVWl-lpl27sBOAlLKCDqnc19vzMrAfEU5GR27TIGKXFgTUagAYKfF-DHeRMQ0WWCyHyKpxtwBU2Dhbn287a9d_NOmYxIUmTKbOv2BRZlQriqqRG8TRw/s1080/LRG%20RCG%20OST%20CD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="1080" height="89" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQtHmk_iFLrO_WhSzLo1fklYpYNi2z1M5s4PUkeO8XeH_ssvRmPPNfog2AeIbD03NximUDkc0kVWl-lpl27sBOAlLKCDqnc19vzMrAfEU5GR27TIGKXFgTUagAYKfF-DHeRMQ0WWCyHyKpxtwBU2Dhbn287a9d_NOmYxIUmTKbOv2BRZlQriqqRG8TRw/s320/LRG%20RCG%20OST%20CD.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />See, I ordered it primarily because it was just a few dollars higher than digitally, and the soundtrack was around nine USD on its own. So I thought it sounded pretty good to get the game on a cart and the OST on a CD. The issue is that the included soundtrack isn’t actually a soundtrack, it’s a sound selection. In other words, 12 select tracks from an OST that has 50.<br />The description never mentioned this, it simply stated that every copy came with the soundtrack on CD. The front cover even says Soundtrack. This left a bad taste in my mouth because it felt deceptive by omission.<br /><br />Additionally, there was an oversight in one of the other areas, the manual. For the most part, the manual is nice, it has bios and art of all the characters, even a retro-style notes section. But one of the more novel aspects was taking the manga cutscenes in River City Girls and putting them in the manual like a mini manga. Unfortunately, it’s an idea that wasn’t fully thought through because it looks like this:<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6cC8VFVNmKJF5GgTs_RDMwXGdDDBqHn--elzPeDaKceDE8AgqPyyBjk7qzbRSoldXF03wFNXfJjFuSd1WgoeA6ftqi9CDbgsTcfj7CF9QkBCBSkflAJijHQxSWBO9psO1WBGqZ5RBtkjCDUQ6FMeCfvQXmijn0aj6F-l2Tk50i8ce7xIo1ZmBGToHg/s3922/20221025_034303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3922" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6cC8VFVNmKJF5GgTs_RDMwXGdDDBqHn--elzPeDaKceDE8AgqPyyBjk7qzbRSoldXF03wFNXfJjFuSd1WgoeA6ftqi9CDbgsTcfj7CF9QkBCBSkflAJijHQxSWBO9psO1WBGqZ5RBtkjCDUQ6FMeCfvQXmijn0aj6F-l2Tk50i8ce7xIo1ZmBGToHg/s320/20221025_034303.jpg" width="185" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />They very clearly resized the images to fit the manual but didn’t account for a buffer so the spine wouldn’t obscure the art and speech bubbles. I’m not sure if the PS4 version has the same issues, but the end result on Switch is just BAD.<br /><br />It wasn’t the biggest problem to me, but it still is an issue and it raised the question of what the more expensive options are like if this is entry-level.<br /><br /><br /><br id="docs-internal-guid-afff0350-7fff-39b6-5702-96207bff8935" /><br />Fast forward to June 2021 and I took a shot at the Castlevania Collection. Pre-Orders closed that month, and while I was hesitant, Castlevania is one of my favorite series and there were some items I wanted in that bundle.<br /><br />The description was also a lot better and upfront. The soundtrack was noted as having “select tracks from across the series” which aside from making it clearer than RCG did, also makes more sense for a compilation to have a sound selection.<br />The only point of concern was if the JPN versions of the games would be included. They were added in an update to the digital version long before, but there was no mention of it on LRG's product page.<br />Regardless, I already had those versions, so it wouldn’t be a huge deal, but is still something that should’ve been acknowledged.<br /><br /><br />But then came the waiting. The Ultimate Edition was estimated around Q1 of this year. The Bloodlines Edition was out by the middle of February, so I got excited that maybe next month I would get mine. Then the month after. Then Q1 became Q2.<br />It’s understandable with everything that was and still is going on, but there was a distinct lack of communication or updates regarding the situation, and this was a recurring thing throughout.<br /><br />Most of my updates mainly came from the product page itself, or by looking at Twitter comments for other upcoming LRG releases, like the Contra Collection.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWf2XacrmpB9rjMHuftV0-KXHLFn3iZtvONbYzLyJP3_hlgBoTO1rbOEZ6gBPuD4AnZN-xfnnhdQpndYHYyoAbqJM2zGdqS4Mf7U0Vj4Q7qLSSiUMl_o9lWyl8Cm_A4vGLzlMvG7VFZHecqQgfUSiGRj-NkgewurauNkb2LiPcOek1WAyse3u5POBaMw/s590/update.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="254" data-original-width="590" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWf2XacrmpB9rjMHuftV0-KXHLFn3iZtvONbYzLyJP3_hlgBoTO1rbOEZ6gBPuD4AnZN-xfnnhdQpndYHYyoAbqJM2zGdqS4Mf7U0Vj4Q7qLSSiUMl_o9lWyl8Cm_A4vGLzlMvG7VFZHecqQgfUSiGRj-NkgewurauNkb2LiPcOek1WAyse3u5POBaMw/s320/update.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Even afterward they never mentioned anything on their site’s blog or social media about the release finally happening, which is weird. I did at least get an email followed by the shipping information, but that’s really it.<br /><br />But hey, I finally got in mid July, so let’s get to unboxing all the contents.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVdj1olaZR3B1i_WBWtI3QBriZ0vgvkmUD_5Vc0DQtISxEeNvGQ4ax4hoc7Xbs2MPbR-WQEnTNLLWw60IE4_jcF2Bui-UPdVDqrHqGE4Ajq8KVWgkEGR58pCgpcuqodqbKK5W9qGccFOxxQZXQmHH5O0cVqoWt0cJx1kzl5-YW4RFZnpImQeHnpBCKw/s4032/20220719_105259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVdj1olaZR3B1i_WBWtI3QBriZ0vgvkmUD_5Vc0DQtISxEeNvGQ4ax4hoc7Xbs2MPbR-WQEnTNLLWw60IE4_jcF2Bui-UPdVDqrHqGE4Ajq8KVWgkEGR58pCgpcuqodqbKK5W9qGccFOxxQZXQmHH5O0cVqoWt0cJx1kzl5-YW4RFZnpImQeHnpBCKw/s320/20220719_105259.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0259IizjW6QLBoeJWgw0mcoh8TiwRaZHuUEy5ODvLy6sjvf3tjUIOq-buldmziVt5YJracnNGzB44ZZYdmRp6pXZVfRYLADzi_zwYuv22CjtTgAcBhmTUgwvdxfhyhxi4eDk256xQCOdKr-rSFE1iOFwTIPH2VP3E33cMStZ0ev3GnoxkZizQ3-zPXQ/s4032/20220719_105812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0259IizjW6QLBoeJWgw0mcoh8TiwRaZHuUEy5ODvLy6sjvf3tjUIOq-buldmziVt5YJracnNGzB44ZZYdmRp6pXZVfRYLADzi_zwYuv22CjtTgAcBhmTUgwvdxfhyhxi4eDk256xQCOdKr-rSFE1iOFwTIPH2VP3E33cMStZ0ev3GnoxkZizQ3-zPXQ/s320/20220719_105812.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9dGrsU6-B9B1HXu0f1vszhTxszzNjj8NBVjycxBy-3hwWQH5Ud1f2gbCfcFoEDjDBQ8UJnrKTAXND5vW_EaAgjB5pc8MPDqKUlUh67U2OzFjHVF8fc6nAU2BuUPTYLENJTmZgNu364bAO37bccm6yWbf3ETczQ6Ntk7Qv4bRfC80YKGpr_UuZDavGQ/s4032/20220719_105832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9dGrsU6-B9B1HXu0f1vszhTxszzNjj8NBVjycxBy-3hwWQH5Ud1f2gbCfcFoEDjDBQ8UJnrKTAXND5vW_EaAgjB5pc8MPDqKUlUh67U2OzFjHVF8fc6nAU2BuUPTYLENJTmZgNu364bAO37bccm6yWbf3ETczQ6Ntk7Qv4bRfC80YKGpr_UuZDavGQ/s320/20220719_105832.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />First off, the initial presentation is great, as it should be. The package is loaded with game art on the back, and the Shadow Box’s lights and sound can be activated while still in the package. You’re not intended to leave it there, of course. Batteries are preinstalled so eventually it would result in a leakage long term. This just makes it easier to display and use in the box for aesthetic purposes.<br />You also have the option of hooking a USB cable to the shadow box for continuous power, but you’ll have to leave it outside the package for that.<br /><br />Taking the shadow box out, we’ll be greeted with a multitude of goodies including two flat retro-style boxes, 3 prints of the NES covers, an enamel pin, mini replicas of the original NA boxes in a case, the game itself in a standard switch case with an NES style dust cover, History of Castlevania book, and finally, a slip covered super large Genesis/MegaDrive style case containing the steel book, CD, and poster. Altogether it makes for a damn impressive spread.<br /><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dFAK4qZ_m3ZuEIo7h0EtnxSYSyDVxLs4UOc-YAj_VSEKzTbyqQeJ2pbvLy-OWw5u35LsCHoJVzurgUGgCEzu0-WAoM7IVTpZquuPMI3RE1i-OVNfuo0iqxSnVXUvPlAVZM3JJFxXmgmeuJykYXqpIhaBIaBA8XOYzz1bM7eHZORa5jINvcBqrKt11Q/s320/20220719_111115.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goddamn.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dFAK4qZ_m3ZuEIo7h0EtnxSYSyDVxLs4UOc-YAj_VSEKzTbyqQeJ2pbvLy-OWw5u35LsCHoJVzurgUGgCEzu0-WAoM7IVTpZquuPMI3RE1i-OVNfuo0iqxSnVXUvPlAVZM3JJFxXmgmeuJykYXqpIhaBIaBA8XOYzz1bM7eHZORa5jINvcBqrKt11Q/s4032/20220719_111115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><br /><br /></a></div>So let’s go through the items one by one.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyNEb1WwrM9Zk7Ui1hoEEzTYHvqxoCEEDjp1O2NdmGw5duOJyfN9-o7HXHMVYZYJBaQLdLDi5B8oHHALQvQ9w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />I’ve already touched upon the Shadowbox, it’s cute and the print job is pretty dang good, though it is a bit kitschy. The lights aren’t all that impressive and the sound is…interesting. The speaker quality is passable, but the music that plays is the Famicom version of Bloody Tears, the worst version of that track in my opinion. Frankly, the FDS version of Simon’s Quest has the most ear-piercing pitches, and I wish there were different if not more tracks altogether. That said, it’s the title theme for the Castlevania Collection, so their hands might’ve been tied on what they could use. On the plus side, if you hang it on a wall or leave it in the box the sound is muffled a bit. <br /><br />Although I still prefer it on a shelf as the item itself is rather small and looks awkward when hung up. I understand why it’s small, but at this scale, I would’ve preferred a pre-framed print given how underwhelming the lights and sound are. So unless you just really wanna save shelf space, I think you’re better off finding a place for it to sit and never activating the sound.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ldZbBYwEq8M2m0PCjCFWkTbA1leEgRxVjK0KiwNRVkhDJ_OWSom9KXMTCsPIGt4NXcbRmpY4LMNPvgOMIWPHE7wUeLTRiF4ZhYwihRUx3MtV7W5wJ_ebeJAak1krA12TG5BhaYQ5XDH9TzlAt3Glygjj14MD0UCgB0OMrIJYxJG1E2g9sZs_ygGW0w/s4032/20220719_112947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ldZbBYwEq8M2m0PCjCFWkTbA1leEgRxVjK0KiwNRVkhDJ_OWSom9KXMTCsPIGt4NXcbRmpY4LMNPvgOMIWPHE7wUeLTRiF4ZhYwihRUx3MtV7W5wJ_ebeJAak1krA12TG5BhaYQ5XDH9TzlAt3Glygjj14MD0UCgB0OMrIJYxJG1E2g9sZs_ygGW0w/s320/20220719_112947.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />The NES-style boxes are very nice, with embossed art, lettering, and a very metallic shine.<br />I was a bit confused as to why there’s an NES-style box along with a smaller slipcover for it, but that was to accommodate the bonus material for the Classic Edition without compromising the shape and size of the main NES box. It’s a nice touch and better than I was expecting given that the original promo shots only showed the NES box with an obnoxious Switch Logo in the corner, so it’s nice they worked around that caveat.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpqZpcATTNGBO8NiRZX62VeF4x6_bBiK2JJI22Nf_5WVqxcxnJYBiHFV_CPPBFiCbNcf6igOARUkyVAJGRSZsk_-6oEKGFOcJYrSLjXWjWkPf-_QqdOEsmE1sT1M3Yp7zjHac0Mfd7AdvIQrJ2xB3CiF4qP3KSai9IMBqWm7gG9XMQkLQXVZKf3h0fw/s4032/20220719_112558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpqZpcATTNGBO8NiRZX62VeF4x6_bBiK2JJI22Nf_5WVqxcxnJYBiHFV_CPPBFiCbNcf6igOARUkyVAJGRSZsk_-6oEKGFOcJYrSLjXWjWkPf-_QqdOEsmE1sT1M3Yp7zjHac0Mfd7AdvIQrJ2xB3CiF4qP3KSai9IMBqWm7gG9XMQkLQXVZKf3h0fw/s320/20220719_112558.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br />The dust cover that fits the standard Switch case on the other hand is kinda rough, as you can tell by the glue. I don’t blame the item itself for this, though. It was hot when it arrived and that’s just the reality of shipping.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAgNlN9bljAnbZ4ubBjdwkDiwbz7h0-Nh7FLR1D6WVk6ZWoXsWM7FAmQc4P2iMJa1dEfLQ38OwYDq8z5ZeZOnrFoZZOCcw36JLaT9qB4vR3HeDU_c_1N4iZv7n-BssnAxsaCK8RjVQQzrd72KiFhjnslvNcswq7dwmfDwNRIUxpTArhP3tcXgRtwb7A/s4032/20220810_185117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAgNlN9bljAnbZ4ubBjdwkDiwbz7h0-Nh7FLR1D6WVk6ZWoXsWM7FAmQc4P2iMJa1dEfLQ38OwYDq8z5ZeZOnrFoZZOCcw36JLaT9qB4vR3HeDU_c_1N4iZv7n-BssnAxsaCK8RjVQQzrd72KiFhjnslvNcswq7dwmfDwNRIUxpTArhP3tcXgRtwb7A/s320/20220810_185117.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Keeping with the NES theme, the three mini prints are very nice. Good cardstock, sharp printing, and vibrant colors. The description never told how big they were, but thankfully they’re a standard size of 5x7.<br />I was surprised to see that they went for the NA box art over PAL in regards to Simon's Quest, as the NA box is a bit tricky since it outright lifts art from Ravenloft. Although that tidbit might be part of why so much of the other cover art featured is either the first and third NES titles, or the newly commissioned art from Tom duBois as seen with the shadowbox.<br /><br /><br />Moving into the 16-bit area, this Genesis-style clamshell…isn’t great. They’ve tried to replicate the texture that original Gen/MD cases have, that sort of pseudo-leathery feel and look. But they went way overboard.<br /><br /><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZv2MH2Z4RGus1bgaWbZW_SUr6PdU300SkJTSVPCCxsz_7ptnBcd7iJkw_xTuIilmIbuWbrK2j3ZKMdQc7890qEzEKtSNc1IlA3YJBGoaypaOpQAw_JFXPHSGVcfDrT-O9tqYxcaSfcOLF_pOLP60PA9ZmE2of_k2pPdZtBMxyYJA2kAU3OX_qdkVWig/s4032/20220719_110741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZv2MH2Z4RGus1bgaWbZW_SUr6PdU300SkJTSVPCCxsz_7ptnBcd7iJkw_xTuIilmIbuWbrK2j3ZKMdQc7890qEzEKtSNc1IlA3YJBGoaypaOpQAw_JFXPHSGVcfDrT-O9tqYxcaSfcOLF_pOLP60PA9ZmE2of_k2pPdZtBMxyYJA2kAU3OX_qdkVWig/s320/20220719_110741.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Here it is compared to my copy of Golden Axe, which you can see is much sharper.<br />It’s not pleasant to open either, it’s very stiff like a cheap old VHS case. Thankfully it’s just meant to hold the steel book, so you won’t be opening this often, it’s just an extra display piece. I will note that I like the sleeve mimicking the later Genesis cardboard boxes like Sonic 3D Blast and Clayfighters. In fact, later versions of Bloodlines came in cardboard.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7RBAKJ8GDIDBb1d5JLiXLhMR_lnTTbTVqj4flUwXzz1BOgNaTltvwzuWtvZt7fkFrf03gYjv3vYfj1d34egakdg_R8_xdN72eR3Zk3FUckqRv1ZhU_mntbniwoq9-JRStRjbmnmi4UmPbTAJ2kV3xdwGgbGYk6klabDW0xQL_ks7RC2NINc2ttsW8iw/s4032/20220719_112519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7RBAKJ8GDIDBb1d5JLiXLhMR_lnTTbTVqj4flUwXzz1BOgNaTltvwzuWtvZt7fkFrf03gYjv3vYfj1d34egakdg_R8_xdN72eR3Zk3FUckqRv1ZhU_mntbniwoq9-JRStRjbmnmi4UmPbTAJ2kV3xdwGgbGYk6klabDW0xQL_ks7RC2NINc2ttsW8iw/s320/20220719_112519.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6qq0oZbhC9iBmh8E6cfHp7_dhhGm8cL8fZpcz6ZOwj-DMfb1ORCQaiSfX_O4r34y23VM5GqTEd81fPb3wYRJQtxRBWkT3xV9jvfJKRoOCd39J0SLeEvHO7wVZymZMe3pQVE6Fwksd1jYUxvtVuDq9ipnwX4NFJ9bOO6WB8_WfYMgLOMtDvIlcH1Pmw/s4032/20220719_112513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6qq0oZbhC9iBmh8E6cfHp7_dhhGm8cL8fZpcz6ZOwj-DMfb1ORCQaiSfX_O4r34y23VM5GqTEd81fPb3wYRJQtxRBWkT3xV9jvfJKRoOCd39J0SLeEvHO7wVZymZMe3pQVE6Fwksd1jYUxvtVuDq9ipnwX4NFJ9bOO6WB8_WfYMgLOMtDvIlcH1Pmw/s320/20220719_112513.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />The steel book is also very nice, and I’m not really a steel book guy. More often than not, they make the game or movie a pain to remove, but this one is buttery smooth. I’m sure the Switch using cartridges helps with that. The exterior is damn nice with a stamped texture that doesn’t protrude too much and won’t be a hindrance on a shelf.<br />And I love the Castlevania 3 cover with the retro C, while the back has Castlevania 1 art and the modern C. There’s also a printed clasp giving the case a book look. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzm46xmNE2bPClw0PdzDlVPlO6ZvrPw05Tc8NOklhkI0DQnIFc0uC0hnDejRQ1EeLyUlz2BRbZ6umtTb6rMlRAjzU0xBahn6YVuw86Som7pAPK1ti6ehLhLU4ixtESvj5o423c9xKA_rDZGGF7rdPsZ7fi8WXFbfkcQTBxERM5yBr2u6AmnkeABco2w/s4032/20220719_112501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzm46xmNE2bPClw0PdzDlVPlO6ZvrPw05Tc8NOklhkI0DQnIFc0uC0hnDejRQ1EeLyUlz2BRbZ6umtTb6rMlRAjzU0xBahn6YVuw86Som7pAPK1ti6ehLhLU4ixtESvj5o423c9xKA_rDZGGF7rdPsZ7fi8WXFbfkcQTBxERM5yBr2u6AmnkeABco2w/s320/20220719_112501.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Even the inside has the castle map from the first game. Everything about it is charming and made for a pleasant surprise in how much I ended up liking it.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6M1XoAVXAjy_3Jmzu9vEppkCzd5E57tU2mpSvjxxwOEYivYI3uemimEx9yQbNNldXN-06Wa_TxpySJC6GMBmbPC-Mi0Ik0uRNVITkQ5wGP6ngIhejMAulnAx1l-LPpqhJij9kiEHS6AY5Pfa4HP5m4a_-yilwjiuqeuu_yTxVlgQu-arBovxmT62slg/s4032/20220719_111255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6M1XoAVXAjy_3Jmzu9vEppkCzd5E57tU2mpSvjxxwOEYivYI3uemimEx9yQbNNldXN-06Wa_TxpySJC6GMBmbPC-Mi0Ik0uRNVITkQ5wGP6ngIhejMAulnAx1l-LPpqhJij9kiEHS6AY5Pfa4HP5m4a_-yilwjiuqeuu_yTxVlgQu-arBovxmT62slg/s320/20220719_111255.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnjRS0ohKeTLbppZmg6O4vKfMsSZtQlBuU7Yp2OBbwIbKDPR-oz0DQK0wY0PRFWVVpxNTus5SmNlqig6bO59um7_-jD5zUlqNh8oTnliN0yfk-m_QNTw5sPJ0prjF-WGwLbktJeeX83m1E_Yw2sorJ2WDlrIsS7jA3qZ1pbf17QLwSdDvKzCHcfNoV2w/s2953/crop%2020220719_113152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1884" data-original-width="2953" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnjRS0ohKeTLbppZmg6O4vKfMsSZtQlBuU7Yp2OBbwIbKDPR-oz0DQK0wY0PRFWVVpxNTus5SmNlqig6bO59um7_-jD5zUlqNh8oTnliN0yfk-m_QNTw5sPJ0prjF-WGwLbktJeeX83m1E_Yw2sorJ2WDlrIsS7jA3qZ1pbf17QLwSdDvKzCHcfNoV2w/s320/crop%2020220719_113152.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Now for the CD, I have more to say than I was expecting. We have 5 tracks from Castlevania, 2 from Famicom Simon’s Quest, 4 from Dracula’s Curse, 2 from The Adventure, Belmont's revenge also gets 2, 4 for ugh 4, and 1 from Kid Dracula.<br />You also have an additional 9 that don’t list the games on the back. It’s 3 from Bloodlines, 2 from the NES Simon’s quest, and 4 from the Famicom Akumajo Densetsu.<br /><br />There are some weird choices here, like how tracks 6 & 7 are the Famicom Simon’s quest, then 8-11 are Castlevania 3 NES tracks, but 24 & 25 are NES Simon’s quest followed by the Famicom Castlevania 3 tracks. Why not keep the NES and Famicom versions grouped together? It’s nitpicky I know, just weird.<br /><br />That aside, I actually think this is a solid selection of tracks. They pick most of the big ones from each title. 3 is a hard one to narrow down. I maybe would’ve picked Mad Forest over Evergreen, but again, who knows what the licensing with Konami was like? They still got a great lineup and some interesting versions, like how the Castlevania 1 tracks are enhanced. They’re fundamentally still the 8-bit themes, but with a pseudo stereo effect added to give more depth. If you’ve ever listened to WiiDude/Niko’s 8-bit Stereo, well, Konami did that for Castlevania in ‘97 for the Japan Exclusive Dracula Music Collection, and that’s more or less the versions used, just as full renditions.<br /><br />Prayer of a Tragic Queen from Bloodlines was an inspired choice. I would’ve suspected Iron Blue Intention, but I’m glad they picked something that I believe to be vastly underrated. <br />Also, the version of Reincarnated Soul is the official soundtrack version interestingly enough. The difference is that the introduction theme is added, shortened, sustains on a note, and transitions directly to the main stage theme. A small difference, but one I prefer.<br /><br />IV’s selection... just makes me laugh cause it does put into perspective for as great as the game’s soundtrack is, the best tracks are inevitably covers from previous titles- bar Simon’s theme. I do think Dracula’s theme and maybe Rotating Room would’ve been nice, but again, I can’t really complain.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_RwtQ2FI1Q1E5huRfpx_iIvNWyLMOSsgrB0lWNpLyb5LMyitQWNJkRBwjBrTnA8iuoagQZJPTJgWXcVIXsSx1CO2U0MtYwSKr-mBdndR8Y0u4dl7ImGDCm_Yx06mux46fQgg1uCs4MaxWsYzWVygG4Xz07pgvsiOXPmVLSgNXEPdxhSOjWkGvALjjA/s2963/20220719_111831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2963" data-original-width="2240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_RwtQ2FI1Q1E5huRfpx_iIvNWyLMOSsgrB0lWNpLyb5LMyitQWNJkRBwjBrTnA8iuoagQZJPTJgWXcVIXsSx1CO2U0MtYwSKr-mBdndR8Y0u4dl7ImGDCm_Yx06mux46fQgg1uCs4MaxWsYzWVygG4Xz07pgvsiOXPmVLSgNXEPdxhSOjWkGvALjjA/s320/20220719_111831.jpg" width="242" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNDMHVmj8vALSZrG5GDPVT7lKKOmO9Qhy5VeSLvE93M2_qXFyKotvgiDwU9OU-hXvXofhFX3nMdQeBFuDQ7wgK3zYo0yTuw7oAKeoycZR8J5AAa4GN2srcXYwNh-S9wJKyaOOfkuMB1cCuzzK0XLK0ach1cUO5jURXpfMrx4hM88jSEtFNEs-FUu6WA/s2206/20220719_112132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2206" data-original-width="1964" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNDMHVmj8vALSZrG5GDPVT7lKKOmO9Qhy5VeSLvE93M2_qXFyKotvgiDwU9OU-hXvXofhFX3nMdQeBFuDQ7wgK3zYo0yTuw7oAKeoycZR8J5AAa4GN2srcXYwNh-S9wJKyaOOfkuMB1cCuzzK0XLK0ach1cUO5jURXpfMrx4hM88jSEtFNEs-FUu6WA/s320/20220719_112132.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><br />Next, we have the two-sided poster featuring the full art of CV1 and CV3. Damn shame this was folded, but there’s simply no way this would’ve practically fit otherwise. I went with displaying the CV3 side because I adore the art, and also because I’ve never been able to find a large print of it. I can easily find a large and high-quality poster of CV1, but not 3. And this is superfluous information, but I put it in a Belmont-branded frame.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFElSKq-gDphP2KcEUNHyXC8Vx5ExCqBoiEYMFZGCohGfpA1Ka_wPqc3bB6lTiJBgp9M691Ztu7CZ2jU6ufm1RIH2LZjmu43Mo8Mp7QmN1HjAD6M7zuT6-elFaUCGFW2Ftik_hBxrZF7lbaFCtztVNT2H0bVI4bMlW1s-UiYC81R3o0uZiRoJEOmn2w/s4032/20220818_195321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFElSKq-gDphP2KcEUNHyXC8Vx5ExCqBoiEYMFZGCohGfpA1Ka_wPqc3bB6lTiJBgp9M691Ztu7CZ2jU6ufm1RIH2LZjmu43Mo8Mp7QmN1HjAD6M7zuT6-elFaUCGFW2Ftik_hBxrZF7lbaFCtztVNT2H0bVI4bMlW1s-UiYC81R3o0uZiRoJEOmn2w/s320/20220818_195321.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHRXs41ekvLyLCUyPANfe5UgHm8unGBNTGOFF_4XrlA4fbHLHrsdu1P7JQlUHkVPwj3GJotOcXxDjaUYwr7euE6ZMCAE_jlKHLcCLaszSt34R6X-nKGnVv55W2JkbbqfGn-vsqX5OofFleewYGL2dCDY5iMsLizYSVNKEfrDhW8F-j4Ehk9hj9zyVaw/s4032/20220719_121855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHRXs41ekvLyLCUyPANfe5UgHm8unGBNTGOFF_4XrlA4fbHLHrsdu1P7JQlUHkVPwj3GJotOcXxDjaUYwr7euE6ZMCAE_jlKHLcCLaszSt34R6X-nKGnVv55W2JkbbqfGn-vsqX5OofFleewYGL2dCDY5iMsLizYSVNKEfrDhW8F-j4Ehk9hj9zyVaw/s320/20220719_121855.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Oh right, there’s a game in here, isn’t there? Guess I should talk about that.<br /><br />I won’t be touching upon the individual games cause that would just take way too damn long. You can go watch SomecallmeJohnny or something for that, there’s nothing I could add to these titles. Now the case? That’s more in line for me. Basically just the CV1 art on a switch case. The reverse side has a screenshot from Bloodlines, and the inside has a lovely spread of that NA CV3 art. <br />It’s funny to me that all of the actual game cases use CV1 and 3 but never the new duBois art, which is relegated to novelty packaging.<br /><br />A manual is also included, but it's basically just a copy of the in game digital manual.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXOjwLydF8EZoVo8XDMuFiW4ZpmrFAb-bieYdhE9SXLqTmNPUdzbx3eZk-HSYfkQpVW2AVNmsc3OtREf4wOMCyElhHS6GU3ZmRWSwOTKpmK6PzhwOYuEut1104ZTVQSaxtpz37xlHtqbhA4QYvvXK2te4PVN4U7NYMTnBjpS2S9Wjl_CB6K3N71cPpA/s4032/20220721_111157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXOjwLydF8EZoVo8XDMuFiW4ZpmrFAb-bieYdhE9SXLqTmNPUdzbx3eZk-HSYfkQpVW2AVNmsc3OtREf4wOMCyElhHS6GU3ZmRWSwOTKpmK6PzhwOYuEut1104ZTVQSaxtpz37xlHtqbhA4QYvvXK2te4PVN4U7NYMTnBjpS2S9Wjl_CB6K3N71cPpA/s320/20220721_111157.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Since we’re right back to packaging again, might as well talk about the mini boxes you get.<br />These are a bit odd to me, but very nice all the same. I’m legitimately surprised at how crisp the prints are with perfectly readable text. They even made Kid Dracula an NES-style box with the description seen in the game’s menu selection. That’s a really fun sorta ‘what if?’ for the set.<br /><br /><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4XqoIVLkeK7cf-jBfAIfHtMK8uLl41Od1AfipqDZ-VWXPLD1K78_1Wh3aFqPkIf8LfZUhbrurtJZSAuXm9jxyWaCl-IS-ZreyYNDXfILtM7zMWSsu5nzolfKa8qGW8LKQ-Y-cYjSsGbVp8uOod1971pE5QB52rxuG5TRjS6eHwIper1mid6-R30b70w/s4032/20220721_111256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4XqoIVLkeK7cf-jBfAIfHtMK8uLl41Od1AfipqDZ-VWXPLD1K78_1Wh3aFqPkIf8LfZUhbrurtJZSAuXm9jxyWaCl-IS-ZreyYNDXfILtM7zMWSsu5nzolfKa8qGW8LKQ-Y-cYjSsGbVp8uOod1971pE5QB52rxuG5TRjS6eHwIper1mid6-R30b70w/s320/20220721_111256.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsmBfrbuZsVPRlBO29aS7gMQxLxi4UKsPxMbm67t7vabueI80FKa4VbuSHIHejm-KPPGlQ462hf4QjYl8mWyBwon5kUnaTI2B81osWhcOtQLCAbXMF0qFXRYVV_g7Zg0Oae5d_wK_fQhlS1bd9ZugDb3grZhR28UWbrGCjL0CaXdsj8bzoa7RLaE4dgg/s4032/20220721_152932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsmBfrbuZsVPRlBO29aS7gMQxLxi4UKsPxMbm67t7vabueI80FKa4VbuSHIHejm-KPPGlQ462hf4QjYl8mWyBwon5kUnaTI2B81osWhcOtQLCAbXMF0qFXRYVV_g7Zg0Oae5d_wK_fQhlS1bd9ZugDb3grZhR28UWbrGCjL0CaXdsj8bzoa7RLaE4dgg/s320/20220721_152932.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuiKvbhTcqCUrr6pMF6k0G_NqLBRKGvx5d-AZnH9e3KXErCWhn6-jOmjQtEG87Vr57kfCe8QsxqFKRVGzSnknTrx63yudicvi873zJGMXzI5AqS6BG-poEqRefkP6gCYfHUNszCReuxhXHzuYm09r83an2-8ksO4hPVCTbucRpRKxzJx2yaiJPYQZYUA/s4032/20220721_152729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuiKvbhTcqCUrr6pMF6k0G_NqLBRKGvx5d-AZnH9e3KXErCWhn6-jOmjQtEG87Vr57kfCe8QsxqFKRVGzSnknTrx63yudicvi873zJGMXzI5AqS6BG-poEqRefkP6gCYfHUNszCReuxhXHzuYm09r83an2-8ksO4hPVCTbucRpRKxzJx2yaiJPYQZYUA/s320/20220721_152729.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-1f282ddc-7fff-dcf5-0bb3-f82540637a94" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span>The boxes themselves don’t contain anything of note, just some sorta rock, chalk, or possibly even drywall. They add some heft but don’t keep the boxes upright or anything. You’re much better off leaving them in the foam case they’re packed in unless you have some acrylic stands.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWVvJsOXGw8yfpWasnQF1a1fmrxqZU-0gZzuamnCQAMkY1WQVfa-b3LSoF1QHtAp2jmM2TqtulKQTM0LVYNVFr6NnnfUYQa4rhAcnz2Mix6C1s_ESM2ByXD9l7YdVTWI7F8bnXZgkDlpaR9Zabd-VNZtxadcp8y1kCZ33QDLumrmjzc6Ss6dmLx5VJIQ/s4032/20220719_113932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWVvJsOXGw8yfpWasnQF1a1fmrxqZU-0gZzuamnCQAMkY1WQVfa-b3LSoF1QHtAp2jmM2TqtulKQTM0LVYNVFr6NnnfUYQa4rhAcnz2Mix6C1s_ESM2ByXD9l7YdVTWI7F8bnXZgkDlpaR9Zabd-VNZtxadcp8y1kCZ33QDLumrmjzc6Ss6dmLx5VJIQ/s320/20220719_113932.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZBxM7o6zQtHasT6QSUK4BFNt2rPG7nGDaErCgy8j7Up8v2qVomshIHdbx0Lag0W5eAuU9KV6_fXrOaDUrxhM8B15lS2MLIW3KvvbzKf_rh2MbI_FDzToCHGX21CxE5P_Hd2OfGWAWE2DoFqnUo_4zsE1IACJXQFh7-Tjpoif4h-4xFcsyOff_fsvkSQ/s4032/20220719_114031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZBxM7o6zQtHasT6QSUK4BFNt2rPG7nGDaErCgy8j7Up8v2qVomshIHdbx0Lag0W5eAuU9KV6_fXrOaDUrxhM8B15lS2MLIW3KvvbzKf_rh2MbI_FDzToCHGX21CxE5P_Hd2OfGWAWE2DoFqnUo_4zsE1IACJXQFh7-Tjpoif4h-4xFcsyOff_fsvkSQ/s320/20220719_114031.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9J-gs8qzNkH3b4MGlPeHPRNoOegAJSUd3GCDX5MMdLwXTF4ddRZwyzWET6Am06XaSAOWpoHxtHzKeAiKLI7QpkKe4PizPHSFL9FeWB0FlynhJ32c2dUD-NYU4sa1FQAYO4OFh9vHS2bsxc29k7NONQpRAzCbDF6Bu-8Cdl43skoQ3QH0KgMFi-cMog/s4032/20220719_121834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9J-gs8qzNkH3b4MGlPeHPRNoOegAJSUd3GCDX5MMdLwXTF4ddRZwyzWET6Am06XaSAOWpoHxtHzKeAiKLI7QpkKe4PizPHSFL9FeWB0FlynhJ32c2dUD-NYU4sa1FQAYO4OFh9vHS2bsxc29k7NONQpRAzCbDF6Bu-8Cdl43skoQ3QH0KgMFi-cMog/s320/20220719_121834.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Finally, we come to probably the most interesting item of the entire package, and that is the History of Castlevania book, which is essentially a physical version of the same thing you get in the game’s extra features. The front and back aren’t anything special, just a glossy hardcover not too different from the sorta journal you can buy for $10 at Walmart.<br />But the inside is what counts, and it’s much nicer than expected. Very nice thick paper with a matte finish, beautiful print quality, and overall just a better way to read the interviews and view the art, especially the concept art. I gotta say this is probably close to being the highlight of the set, and for a lot of people this is probably what sold the Ultimate Version.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefBv8gtK3Slh74ywog1XlbwApcqyLhfpTVgOFEd3JCP_-OohphvM--KAWhjANp3sazteYxFigmBk7Gi3On5ixHuAtmxfJnd9jK5XLkGEV-i3pZooUq6r4JttFnL1klEkN1MDyILrDd5uY4Drc7z9FC0RFnNc0sWIwNTR8yXzZo2UQBbZd9Svje3AWuA/s4032/20220719_114710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefBv8gtK3Slh74ywog1XlbwApcqyLhfpTVgOFEd3JCP_-OohphvM--KAWhjANp3sazteYxFigmBk7Gi3On5ixHuAtmxfJnd9jK5XLkGEV-i3pZooUq6r4JttFnL1klEkN1MDyILrDd5uY4Drc7z9FC0RFnNc0sWIwNTR8yXzZo2UQBbZd9Svje3AWuA/s320/20220719_114710.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Oh, one more thing. You get a nice Enamel pin with some depth to it. Really love the lavender and highlights, make it pop just right.<br /><br /><br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">Final thoughts.<br /><br /></h3><br />So… this was $200 after shipping. On some level that’s not that bad if you break it down. If you think about how much the average budget title is around 30-40 for a game, and Pixel frames are $30, a poster or print can be 15+ Yeah, getting all this isn’t all that bad.<br />And for the most part my impressions were fairly positive.<br /><br /><br />But I am left feeling…odd. While I love the prints and posters and even some of the other novelties, there are things in here I’m not quite sure what to do with. The NES and Genesis packages are really neat, and it makes sense to get those in the "Ultimate" Version. But at the same time, what do I do with them? They’re cool and make great display pieces. For people that bought the Bloodlines or Classics editions, I think the best thing to do would be to display them in a shadow box to show off that wonderful art. Not like there’s much point in putting the game in a case and then the case in a case.<br /><br />But I already have a shadow box with the Tom duBois art, it’s bigger than the Genesis case and doesn’t have anything obscured like the NES one. So at the time of this writing, the NES boxes are remaining folded, and the Gen case is sitting on my game shelf containing the steel book I’m not sure I want to use. That’s another thing, regardless of if I use the standard case or the steel book, I have an extra Castlevania case I wouldn’t know what to do with beyond storing.<br />The CD is just taking up a small amount of room since I already have the full soundtracks for several Castlevania titles. The pin, while incredibly lovely, I’m too cautious to add to my bag since it could rust and is a collectible I can't replace. So it’s in my curio cabinet next to Dracula’s ring.<br /><br />Honestly, after a few days I starting thinking about selling some of this stuff. I like the prints, the poster, the pin, and of course having the game. But I don’t need a lot of this stuff, the desirability associated with it is either minuscule or defeated by redundancy. I think someone else out there might want to have some of the exclusives like the mini boxes, or the book, and the packaging to display.<br />Looking back, I probably would've been better getting the Bloodlines Edition for about $60, getting the separate duBois 18x24 poster LRG sold for $50, and saving $90. The only thing I’d be missing (that I care about) is the Enamel Pin and mini NES prints, the latter of which I can easily find on Etsy.<br /><br />I think if there’s anything to take away from this, it’s that LRG is a massive gamble on both the quality of the items and your enjoyment therein. Because even when things are substantial and surprising, you may still ask yourself if it was worth the time and money to you personally. At the end of the day, I know I can do better, and so can you.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />P.S. I sold the entire thing bar the poster.<br /><br /><br />So that was kind of a bust. But the next review will be of something I love. Join me next time when I take a look at Discotek’s Gavan Bluray release.<br /><br /><br />As always, if you enjoy what I do considering<a href="https://ko-fi.com/kamen_writer"> tossing a dollar at my Kofi</a>.<br />Feel free to leave a comment, but remember this site in held together with hot glue and I won't be able to respond. So if you wanna ask what episode the animal mascots appear in Gavan, go to my <a href="https://twitter.com/KamenStranger">Twitter</a>.<br />Kamen Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02832099141882322022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505042118996520039.post-87180384132163211212022-10-13T02:48:00.000-04:002022-10-13T02:48:27.641-04:00Kamen Rider W review.<div><div><div><div><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYSQJh1UiESFDSQHUDRIOwfzDcbv46H1alcRMJ8P-xUknMHEz7qUExW3hwvvAaCtEYQoG-uGL5FSQB60BMY2WfPDpqFHHQuiNV1AcYY_IISEX2X6tkIviAkFV38aefEjn_77klT96-_ukFUQ02rZWXKeSZlXg0Pp8wtCcGPYUdscy0q-y3gyeEDPDcA/s1366/title%201.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYSQJh1UiESFDSQHUDRIOwfzDcbv46H1alcRMJ8P-xUknMHEz7qUExW3hwvvAaCtEYQoG-uGL5FSQB60BMY2WfPDpqFHHQuiNV1AcYY_IISEX2X6tkIviAkFV38aefEjn_77klT96-_ukFUQ02rZWXKeSZlXg0Pp8wtCcGPYUdscy0q-y3gyeEDPDcA/s320/title%201.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p id="docs-internal-guid-76c96b3c-7fff-9ff8-9307-3d2b4539bf88" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">Strap in, this is going to be a long one.</p><a name='more'></a><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p><br /><br />I‘ve often talked about how a recurring theme among Kamen Rider is a tendency to “Go back to basics” of the franchise, sometimes building upon those elements with new concepts and ideas. Be it Kamen Rider Black, ZO, etc.<br /><br /><br />Starting with Kamen Rider Kuuga in 2000, Rider would enter a literal new era and like others before, reinvent itself while maintaining many of those base concepts. Kuuga in particular would lean heavily into the mythological aspects more than the cybernetic, utilizing parts of Ishinomori’s unfinished “Gaia” concepts.<br /><br />The next big change came with Ryuki, a monumentally important entry that is in many ways a deconstruction and brilliant bastardization of the title of “Kamen Rider”. What I mean specifically is that in the Showa era the “Kamen” part was something that was earned. It’s why the shocker versions are called Shockeriders (Although this was something exclusive to the TV show, as the original Manga never made that distinction.)<br /><br /><br />Over time you would see more rider-like antagonists, notably Shadow Moon, but even the Doras could arguably fit into a dark mirror role. But again, they never utilized “Kamen” until Ryuki changed the landscape drastically.<br /><br /><br />Now I don’t care about the usage in the modern era one way or the other, it was barely even a thing prior. The cynical side of me says that everything nowadays gets a Kamen Rider label slapped on it because it does better merchandise-wise. And also because Ryuki shook Japanese pop culture the hardest Rider had since the 70s, and corporations love trying to repeat success. But the thematics or lack thereof aren’t a bother to me.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCGQ4W086w8oJ8-42l4w_CIcPenlfP9-RuLbEwUY6euIaFGGejyk4G9rpsTBK5Jmg6RHoBKovBMncpiHKB7-BEQPFDUHBDZ0_OgqdLcWlUcxq8luYk6S5FWlwV39M9jAl1xUAe0NV3Q6vdf8zE5lS4iVZIJCKNJbb0xFc9IpkkY_BTY0VVO-L604yD-g/s1366/what's%20in%20a%20name%20ep%2015.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCGQ4W086w8oJ8-42l4w_CIcPenlfP9-RuLbEwUY6euIaFGGejyk4G9rpsTBK5Jmg6RHoBKovBMncpiHKB7-BEQPFDUHBDZ0_OgqdLcWlUcxq8luYk6S5FWlwV39M9jAl1xUAe0NV3Q6vdf8zE5lS4iVZIJCKNJbb0xFc9IpkkY_BTY0VVO-L604yD-g/s320/what's%20in%20a%20name%20ep%2015.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />What’s important here and why I’m telling you this is to understand what Kamen Rider W and its head writer, Riku Sanjo, sets out to do thematically by utilizing the meta-history of rider to weave a show laden with references and concepts that perhaps weren’t as much at the forefront by the time Decade came along. Asking the question; what makes a Kamen Rider?<br /><br />This is then melded beautifully with the film noir inspirations of a detective who loves his city, and that of an urban legend hero as Kamen Rider was in the Showa era.<br /><br /><br />You see this a lot in Sanjo’s work; cribbing from various sources and incorporating them into the narrative in some fashion, such as how Shotaro and Philip’s mentor, Sokichi Narumi; Kamen Rider Skull, serves as the basis and inspiration to W in much the same way Inshinomori’s pitch for Kamen Rider Skullman transmogrified into just Kamen Rider.<br /><br /><br />But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s get into the basic premise and characters.<br /><p id="docs-internal-guid-09239e31-7fff-b188-4fed-6ef378b8a889" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1VIfzkjvMNfthqQP7LAO54flmXkjYGb97LXNCJ1Cge-40LC5GjhEDu2wQCUKm0DbnyvGTb7-jQTVBvDdsYo6qBnKxFQScfkXTjlolutT7eFCf9tmJeuOSxnyiDLb0bMe3FwFw_8YtbrIsyOZJ2I-yvbFZnPLHAwx10cjQVsJQmsYvbdqCp24Pujz3w/s767/Shotaro.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="657" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1VIfzkjvMNfthqQP7LAO54flmXkjYGb97LXNCJ1Cge-40LC5GjhEDu2wQCUKm0DbnyvGTb7-jQTVBvDdsYo6qBnKxFQScfkXTjlolutT7eFCf9tmJeuOSxnyiDLb0bMe3FwFw_8YtbrIsyOZJ2I-yvbFZnPLHAwx10cjQVsJQmsYvbdqCp24Pujz3w/s320/Shotaro.png" width="274" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p>Shotaro Hidari (Renn Kiriyama)<br /><br />Shotaro is a detective left in charge of the Narumi Detective agency after the death of his mentor, Sokichi Narumi (Koji Kikkawa). Shotaro greatly admired his late mentor, who was a no-nonsense, old school, hardboiled, man's man of a detective. His untimely death came about during the rescue of a young man in the clutches of a crime syndicate, dying in front of Shotaro and passing on the heavy burden of taking care of their city; Fuuto.<br /><br />Shotaro tries to live up to his ideal of Sokichi, although it’s often to the point of comedy as he tries too hard and comes off as a dork attempting to be cool rather than himself. The fact is, his heart, while in the right place, is too soft to be the man Sokichi was.<br /><br />Regardless of his apparent shortcomings, Shotaro is a proficient, if still somewhat green detective and his faults are often made up for by his partner, Philip.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVZtFMu_VCt4IhKoqYF62MZeas_f6lHADJjG7Y08ooqbdS_NbXcj7A7iev7P8zgpGrBtDHYS3FE36OIdF6scRVti2QxQL40yzuO1pjp2MrVzZZ9z41JJ8uHrdkZnXH3_n53LXeubMPJja_V9S1O9dmOIsa1MFuiuOfadF6m_ytKSmtlaKKkOoyduHqw/s1366/Philip.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVZtFMu_VCt4IhKoqYF62MZeas_f6lHADJjG7Y08ooqbdS_NbXcj7A7iev7P8zgpGrBtDHYS3FE36OIdF6scRVti2QxQL40yzuO1pjp2MrVzZZ9z41JJ8uHrdkZnXH3_n53LXeubMPJja_V9S1O9dmOIsa1MFuiuOfadF6m_ytKSmtlaKKkOoyduHqw/s320/Philip.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Philip (Masaki Suda)<br /><br /><br />Philip was the man rescued by Sokichi and is a bit of an anomaly. He has a special connection to what’s referred to as the Gaia Library, an ethereal void containing all of the world's knowledge. Simply by concentrating and opening a blank book, Philip can project his consciousness into the realm to search for information pertaining to cases. Although that much information isn’t useful unless it can be narrowed down, which is where Shotaro comes in by giving keywords to filter out all the fluff.<br /><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRys5NrywrWQrSrByEElgpooMRRAL_OaorS9r9itPYMsTL9yjv7JUvU9cwj9BBDdDXukgYK4j-vg1MM7yQSou9sqI9V4DLKITtt2QojPaQ6O2apwqFt24K4FgVT_ncG1uYBA5Qq26oNjC9yQ0Hl5EQD0T33eae83boHR3Bzbtpg5PIGrkU1Sf2ADgUeA/s1366/concious.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRys5NrywrWQrSrByEElgpooMRRAL_OaorS9r9itPYMsTL9yjv7JUvU9cwj9BBDdDXukgYK4j-vg1MM7yQSou9sqI9V4DLKITtt2QojPaQ6O2apwqFt24K4FgVT_ncG1uYBA5Qq26oNjC9yQ0Hl5EQD0T33eae83boHR3Bzbtpg5PIGrkU1Sf2ADgUeA/s320/concious.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3cuymr9xNP8mG5kFSOg9LOv3jy2Ru-mrdScX8vIb5IcsAZoV1jpEiVbXEDQHc6e2TLDQMUL9Lq19FVp74043HXXkFgBN8IB3jwKV4bjuXn8LYzgJfR0MnQ_AxSjXBvN04B9JhQkEgLSy59wGA30LIOm4wIEP7XR3YsNKXpTIBXKjG0O5NJZjdvBVFg/s1366/gaia%20Library.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3cuymr9xNP8mG5kFSOg9LOv3jy2Ru-mrdScX8vIb5IcsAZoV1jpEiVbXEDQHc6e2TLDQMUL9Lq19FVp74043HXXkFgBN8IB3jwKV4bjuXn8LYzgJfR0MnQ_AxSjXBvN04B9JhQkEgLSy59wGA30LIOm4wIEP7XR3YsNKXpTIBXKjG0O5NJZjdvBVFg/s320/gaia%20Library.png" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p>In contrast to Shotaro’s goofy try-hard antics, Philip tends to be more reserved and painfully logical, even cold- although not necessarily emotionless. He has a tendency to excitedly hyper-fixate, and there are times Philip is sent into turmoil, particularly when it comes to his past, which remains a mystery to him as a result of the experimentation.<span id="docs-internal-guid-be6b82d2-7fff-5f7b-5457-0d2843c169ac" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL7qvYfVA4piEwedCq7isI96ed6a4AO8bUr9cFv0ZuOtMslanqKtLRr-nCnGS4Wk6bwBdJyTU-FBrCYhIR7XkapEI_LxqDW-v9yMscQ4RaU3iMfwdsmqB1KZRDlwMfVou9cZiLF9uX4rdmnFMCprEdcV1jiNST1-EUjctOsatFHa3V_ys-MepGrDKyVA/s1353/torn%20pages.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1353" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL7qvYfVA4piEwedCq7isI96ed6a4AO8bUr9cFv0ZuOtMslanqKtLRr-nCnGS4Wk6bwBdJyTU-FBrCYhIR7XkapEI_LxqDW-v9yMscQ4RaU3iMfwdsmqB1KZRDlwMfVou9cZiLF9uX4rdmnFMCprEdcV1jiNST1-EUjctOsatFHa3V_ys-MepGrDKyVA/s320/torn%20pages.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Between the two contrasting personalities, Shotaro and Philip form a duo that also complements one another.<br /><br />I’ll get into this more later, but the show does a fantastic job utilizing both their strengths and weaknesses; how Shotaro’s gut feelings and instincts can be an advantage over Philip’s steadfast logic-driven mind. Likewise, Philip’s almost sociopathic tendencies can temper Shotaro’s soft heart which might otherwise prevent him from making difficult decisions.<br /><br />Together they make a great team, something which develops over the series as Philip would become more emotionally open and Shotaro more hardened by his experiences, adding new strength to both.<br /><br /><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3h58-pZEVLblxVyio4Q80_rjdeGmtTXW2pQ_xWQknFyvGrHHK0DRfKrWI0h9aje6_7JJx8_W14MopXwTuE5kqObmaM2SE-oC_NO3p9h2YsA5FJOBA2awLylaTt6TZt1TXMzM1Lw8mLVWWnlBzus84ikJt7dSLJNY10sW-f_5jRyl8_oJmZwnoNNKqUQ/s1366/w%20driver.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3h58-pZEVLblxVyio4Q80_rjdeGmtTXW2pQ_xWQknFyvGrHHK0DRfKrWI0h9aje6_7JJx8_W14MopXwTuE5kqObmaM2SE-oC_NO3p9h2YsA5FJOBA2awLylaTt6TZt1TXMzM1Lw8mLVWWnlBzus84ikJt7dSLJNY10sW-f_5jRyl8_oJmZwnoNNKqUQ/s320/w%20driver.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p>I should also mention the main gimmick at this point. This is normally the sort of thing that I would save for the visuals/SFX segment, but quite frankly the Gaia Memories play a massive role in the narrative and you must know this ahead of time.<br /><br />When Philip was rescued, part of what came with him was a device called the double driver, which utilizes Gaia Memories, essentially USBs imbued with various concepts of the Earth; natural phenomena, animals, man-made inventions, myths, legends, anything and everything known to the Earth.<br /><br />When Shotaro equips the driver, a duplicate forms for Philip, and once both activate their respective memories, Philip’s consciousness leaves him and joins Shotaro, taking the concept of Double Riders to the extreme. Shotaro's primary memories are; Joker; Metal; and Trigger. While Philip has Cyclone; Heat; and Luna. This corresponds with Agility; strength and armor + a metal <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">rod; marksmanship + a handgun; powerful wind; pyrokinesis, and illusions/stretching.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbz4db8ky58NYRHYp7_FgyR_jzSFho--xwFOcTT1f3tDo49dn40OkObt1z38qbzxgXD5dOh8mGhwlNQRfEi4JT5g6gQ6BSv02kGyt__FEotJAuLdSuAnFSnwX5WYlaTP8RZDkmKne0Z479xWJsMN6jDPXS1OOnYFHRdKCHTv5Z8J5f6CRVLwwAx-fPmQ/s1366/w.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbz4db8ky58NYRHYp7_FgyR_jzSFho--xwFOcTT1f3tDo49dn40OkObt1z38qbzxgXD5dOh8mGhwlNQRfEi4JT5g6gQ6BSv02kGyt__FEotJAuLdSuAnFSnwX5WYlaTP8RZDkmKne0Z479xWJsMN6jDPXS1OOnYFHRdKCHTv5Z8J5f6CRVLwwAx-fPmQ/s320/w.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Any of Shotaro’s Gaia memories can be combined with Philip’s for a variety of effects. For example; Luna grants stretching abilities and when combined with Metal, the metal bo will suddenly become whip-like. Likewise, Heat will grant incendiary rounds for Trigger.<br /><br />The only hard limitation is that all of Philip’s memories are silver-tipped while Shotaro’s are gold, corresponding with left and right and you cannot have two of the same tip type.<br /><br /><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_YWiz1COouMnumOSfTDW5LJylUInODFwJwEbE9N8TCwifaX_q7VGZKQgjzjH4c4apEijDlLFy037PoesGSTRA2nPx4mK9A44A4v-xuEBckOLPJLBTa6gHjMYM7v4csjtP2SY_1rbiHes5cz7zub7EF9DmSB5DViWoGM-ES3JphjeuLwDlm3PYazNFzg/s603/akiko.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="603" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_YWiz1COouMnumOSfTDW5LJylUInODFwJwEbE9N8TCwifaX_q7VGZKQgjzjH4c4apEijDlLFy037PoesGSTRA2nPx4mK9A44A4v-xuEBckOLPJLBTa6gHjMYM7v4csjtP2SY_1rbiHes5cz7zub7EF9DmSB5DViWoGM-ES3JphjeuLwDlm3PYazNFzg/s320/akiko.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p id="docs-internal-guid-045483f6-7fff-6433-cf68-d5773f5c9ffb" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">Akiko Narumi (Hikaru Yamamoto)<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /><br /></span></p>As you may have gathered from the name, Akiko is Sokichi’s daughter. Originally residing in Osaka, she initially arrives at her father’s agency in Fuuto to evict Shotaro, before getting caught up in all the hijinks with the detective and deciding the city needs their service, with her in charge of course. Obsessively, she functions as an audience surrogate to introduce us to the world as well as being comic relief, often belting Shotaro over the head with a slipper when he messes up…or whenever. There's a bit of irony in that despite her impulsive and rather immature nature, she has inherited a bit of her father’s intuition and can even best Shotaro and Philip at times.<br /><br />Her straightforwardness and lack of hesitation help in this regard. In as early as the third episode when Shotaro is attempting to trail a bus to discover an underground gambling den, Akiko has already pulled a Fletch and boarded said bus by simply dressing the part.<br /><br /><br />By that same token, that impulsive nature is also a detriment. She can never keep a low profile and typically blows her cover, and despite her outside-the-box thought process when it comes to clues, she easily jumps to conclusions resulting in false accusations. Her solo detective antics would be downplayed in later episodes once the occupational hazards become too great, taking on a more behind-the-scenes role in the agency and sticking closer to Shotaro on cases she assists on.<br /><br /><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4PGzvUYPvh0oTQJO8tl9u6a99390UlfkUkuImbRxfBWmstXy7tuFkRSFrMy02Md4PY0hbQqA3DJgoySh5Mk8dyiAD_Tc2PxxlML2OVsZihqO9ETdiyweHaCuFaEj84xY0BdrLhCMT1iLwyvQ2JbVfv1G3rcj4FGNGu8fOydEq70ek1z-R4DPRz5V-eA/s1366/fuuto%20irregulars.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4PGzvUYPvh0oTQJO8tl9u6a99390UlfkUkuImbRxfBWmstXy7tuFkRSFrMy02Md4PY0hbQqA3DJgoySh5Mk8dyiAD_Tc2PxxlML2OVsZihqO9ETdiyweHaCuFaEj84xY0BdrLhCMT1iLwyvQ2JbVfv1G3rcj4FGNGu8fOydEq70ek1z-R4DPRz5V-eA/s320/fuuto%20irregulars.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p><br /><br />Fuuto Irregulars & Fuuto PD.<br /><br /><br />What would a detective show be without informants? There’s not a great deal to get into with them, they’re side characters that flesh out the world and not much more. But they are a colorful bunch consisting of Watcherman (Narumi) a dorky blogger that keeps an eye on local rumors across the internet; Santa-Chan (Zennosuke Fukkin) a man dressed as Santa who promotes local stores and always gives out seemingly useless junk that ends up being helpful; Queen & Elizabeth (Tomomi Itano & Tomomi Kasai) Childhood friends of Shotaro who keep tabs on the goings-on around the local high schools. Mikio Jinno & Shun Makura (Takeshi Nadagi & Shingo Nakagawa)<br />Two of Fuuto’s… finest bumbling officers, Jinno and Makura are often involved with high profile cases and cross paths with Shotaro frequently during the early episodes. Jinno, a senior Detective, has a long history with Shotaro, and although easily fooled, he has a keen sense for leads. He gets along with Shotaro, often exchanging information on cases knowing full well the case will get solved one way or another. Although he’s completely oblivious to Shotaro’s work as W.<br />Conversely, Makura, Jinno’s rookie partner, is comically opposed to Shotaro’s involvement, getting into fights on every opportunity. He’s also absurdly impulsive, even more than Akiko, and this often leads to slapstick situations for him and those around him.<br /><br /><br />This group feels like side characters out of a Yakuza title, which is perhaps the easiest way to sum them up.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Finally, this brings me to the main antagonists of Kamen Rider W, The Sonozaki Family AKA The Museum Syndicate.<br /><br /><br />Operating a front as a Museum, the true business is that of selling Gaia Memories on the streets of Fuuto. Unlike the ones used by W, these are absorbed directly by the user and are much cruder in appearance, transmogrifying them into monsters called Dopants. Although they can eject the Gaia Memory at will and revert to a human form, the consequence of absorbing the memory directly causes the user to slowly become warped and driven insane, becoming addicted to its use in the process.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rMdQmyMeQBp07OaC6pixWr8Fq9C0yQd1j0V4sQmFHTu9IMRU-YIbVaY8xAmv7CPxnKZoBNwZpG2yvK9sNQz4lfMwPYrYyDN60HAmmBFgTCiWw_n3IhM32N9liCV9gMSghpB5Zrtw9kvIyNsx3T2h-INJPXxXFGn7jjZTZ5ycdQiLT7NMvghMWPW5fQ/s1366/addicted.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rMdQmyMeQBp07OaC6pixWr8Fq9C0yQd1j0V4sQmFHTu9IMRU-YIbVaY8xAmv7CPxnKZoBNwZpG2yvK9sNQz4lfMwPYrYyDN60HAmmBFgTCiWw_n3IhM32N9liCV9gMSghpB5Zrtw9kvIyNsx3T2h-INJPXxXFGn7jjZTZ5ycdQiLT7NMvghMWPW5fQ/s320/addicted.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p>Typically, W will have to activate a finisher a "Maximum Drive" that disrupts the Dopant's tranformation, forcibly ejecting the Gaia memory which often times is destroyed in the process.<br /><br />(As a side note, Dopant is an actual term referring to adding impurities in the creation of semiconductors and crystals for use in solid-state and optical electronics like SSD or USB flash drives. This is also called Doping. Brilliant.)<br /><br /><br />There is a way to circumvent the addiction and that’s by using a Gaia driver, which each member of the Sonozaki family has. It will lessen the power one has as a Dopant, but that’s a relatively small trade-off, especially with how powerful each member is.<br /><br /><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wYqbwnKmLmr_2ld8mUUA06c5GBnQUPExfXCRbn4NH4N2YZzX7T2VWD6hzUw--5tXr0ThPDZ50hydz8L8HV2pkO9RjHr3NP0i-tmALESaI8gDDkQZ5ij0jyepmKkpcSZJlfRqx1sbFvAG0-G-jVtqP7kzJs8M0E0AVMxsGZNbPZ8knUfGmYOVcnzmyQ/s639/ryuube.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="639" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wYqbwnKmLmr_2ld8mUUA06c5GBnQUPExfXCRbn4NH4N2YZzX7T2VWD6hzUw--5tXr0ThPDZ50hydz8L8HV2pkO9RjHr3NP0i-tmALESaI8gDDkQZ5ij0jyepmKkpcSZJlfRqx1sbFvAG0-G-jVtqP7kzJs8M0E0AVMxsGZNbPZ8knUfGmYOVcnzmyQ/s320/ryuube.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0YfjOkVz_1XWTsGlGsiQkiVcZ7-E1Vt45zOSfvvwSsMU6jaebdX3jS_-G0XOH5Rhxptk7SjVwxD9rdquHRkCqCY21CirzfNzt8YmvexUrn-gao6ieaD5ehpKb68xczFwnaskvRWR3LB4P58pXZ0RbozTGiY--6uAPcbp44D5DdnsZMj8mkMDC7Er-nQ/s1366/Terror.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0YfjOkVz_1XWTsGlGsiQkiVcZ7-E1Vt45zOSfvvwSsMU6jaebdX3jS_-G0XOH5Rhxptk7SjVwxD9rdquHRkCqCY21CirzfNzt8YmvexUrn-gao6ieaD5ehpKb68xczFwnaskvRWR3LB4P58pXZ0RbozTGiY--6uAPcbp44D5DdnsZMj8mkMDC7Er-nQ/s320/Terror.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Ryubee Sonozaki (Minori Terada )<br /><br />The head of the family and director of the Fuuto Museum is Ryubee Sonozaki, AKA the Terror Dopant.<br /><br />Discussing Ryubee in any great detail is somewhat difficult without delving very late into the series, as his history and reasoning behind the distribution of Gaia Memories aren’t fully revealed until much later. For most of the early episodes, he plays a fairly reserved shadowy role, largely dedicated to preparing his eldest daughter for a more prominent leadership position.<br />What is known about his intentions is that the sale of Gaia Memories is not merely for profit, but experimentation and research.<br /><br />Contrasting with how he exploits Fuuto, he does have a twisted love for the city in his own way. But whereas someone like Shotaro dedicates himself to protecting the people of the city he loves, Ryubee views it as a kingdom to do with as he sees fit.<br /><br /><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDKq82z42wMPmBbt0MSiqj5Z3I-8Mt5FYx2aT9OUfsKHj4YMC4n7abNWEUtty5wgVjiUReLXbt9pyihSHGVG4qOAo_hb7yQKgYaz6Ro56pSykjD83njyamAwAyS2A2RlM2TjMWZnhpkT4QnrBvyCX8bka2l78VROy7OmAlGxP8AZfb252l6QLqFLqog/s1366/fuuto%20future.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDKq82z42wMPmBbt0MSiqj5Z3I-8Mt5FYx2aT9OUfsKHj4YMC4n7abNWEUtty5wgVjiUReLXbt9pyihSHGVG4qOAo_hb7yQKgYaz6Ro56pSykjD83njyamAwAyS2A2RlM2TjMWZnhpkT4QnrBvyCX8bka2l78VROy7OmAlGxP8AZfb252l6QLqFLqog/s320/fuuto%20future.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p id="docs-internal-guid-4a760e30-7fff-50e6-227e-00c0a5295805" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">His personality is curious, to say the least. Simultaneously a refined and ruthless man. Yet also not without a humorous side that takes joy in the absurd, both of which are seen in his daughters to the extreme ends.<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sWPfW-wQXBWoo3gQ9k7CAnXxxQ5aEVtyQaLV76jiouJ1UGdAtIStSMM5J45e-P4TEXR3pSpQFwtyVrWpDDFeHlCFeDeNWl6_hB3nE3wJI_PFiKZGX66-TzUsaVK08DXzROGJ0SOBKsvjtp2-yrV7M9Wu15x4phX0sbkT6vd3xHq0KlPyiEp_o7Ae6g/s909/Saeko.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="909" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sWPfW-wQXBWoo3gQ9k7CAnXxxQ5aEVtyQaLV76jiouJ1UGdAtIStSMM5J45e-P4TEXR3pSpQFwtyVrWpDDFeHlCFeDeNWl6_hB3nE3wJI_PFiKZGX66-TzUsaVK08DXzROGJ0SOBKsvjtp2-yrV7M9Wu15x4phX0sbkT6vd3xHq0KlPyiEp_o7Ae6g/s320/Saeko.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqVTc4sRT6jCPWqgPxNbtzAWQs94hePymPra7inilHWNzysWi5FBWKczrCYm69KSRXJr3InHDYMmFrcJ_bIo4DwC3ExkFzWWYNwxOUduIMIsjmV95aODRENSO22-nigzhfE4D2P1jpZZHzYLWcjPOjQRmauqGWaUxJ0anx4Kl7fQMZzM3sejs0PPfFw/s1366/taboo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqVTc4sRT6jCPWqgPxNbtzAWQs94hePymPra7inilHWNzysWi5FBWKczrCYm69KSRXJr3InHDYMmFrcJ_bIo4DwC3ExkFzWWYNwxOUduIMIsjmV95aODRENSO22-nigzhfE4D2P1jpZZHzYLWcjPOjQRmauqGWaUxJ0anx4Kl7fQMZzM3sejs0PPfFw/s320/taboo.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br />Saeko Sonozaki (Ami Namai)<br /><br />A shrewd megalomaniac, Saeko is head of Digal [sic] corporation LTD. which functions as a cover for the research, production, and distribution of the Gaia Memories.<br />In fact, Philip was being kept in one of her private island facilities, completely sterile of any connection to the main corporation. Unfortunately, this also means that neither Philip nor Shotaro has any clue of the Sonozaki’s involvement with the Gaia Memories, having only met Saeko in her dopant form; Taboo. The only possible one with any knowledge of the connection was Sokichi, who took that knowledge with his passing.<br /><br />As for Saeko, her megalomania stems from a strict upbringing that ingrained a belief that the Sonozaki family was far superior to all others- insert joke about objectivism here.<br />That belief also causes a bit of a superiority complex regarding her father, wanting desperately to prove herself better, which in turn leads to her withholding valuable information if it gives her an advantage.<br /><br /><br /><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8mAYrV2ONGvmYrL_J2AXE0lMomixZkwQqC85hJJ6btTvNHmVq1v08BOnzLp4rGXgWlw7zwHnTYkfEInZnjgwuqG-hZKh8xO5tby6OWO-BMip0KN1SFe468PfbYPQn2r8jPuGhvcrhF6xCe7-7ams3IG-oxy4rQuBP-8OOGLotTOQZM4kSVR0r66H4Q/s1366/wakana.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8mAYrV2ONGvmYrL_J2AXE0lMomixZkwQqC85hJJ6btTvNHmVq1v08BOnzLp4rGXgWlw7zwHnTYkfEInZnjgwuqG-hZKh8xO5tby6OWO-BMip0KN1SFe468PfbYPQn2r8jPuGhvcrhF6xCe7-7ams3IG-oxy4rQuBP-8OOGLotTOQZM4kSVR0r66H4Q/s320/wakana.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOEgZQMOrSsJqfURFK1H-FpePvKvC9RhybpU_ZuLnfqDiLGx5sLhfdnq-x_YvNKuRGwddKevyZcnDbN4DXWo9mOpn5MOEWivdfXleeeaWsd46nhfWhqHil-SxO8XI0PNJAWcdjZdJ2Ta7EQjdtQQqYl_aEXIahJ5SuYqWi_IZfeRGT6QhMBWIWHexRaA/s1366/claydoll.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOEgZQMOrSsJqfURFK1H-FpePvKvC9RhybpU_ZuLnfqDiLGx5sLhfdnq-x_YvNKuRGwddKevyZcnDbN4DXWo9mOpn5MOEWivdfXleeeaWsd46nhfWhqHil-SxO8XI0PNJAWcdjZdJ2Ta7EQjdtQQqYl_aEXIahJ5SuYqWi_IZfeRGT6QhMBWIWHexRaA/s320/claydoll.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Wakana Sonozaki (Rin Asuka)<br /><br />Wakana is the youngest daughter of the family, a very stuck-up and easily irritated brat of a woman, which is very different from her public persona of a gentle girl. That false idol persona is what draws Philip (and many others including Shotaro) to be such a fan of her show on the local Wind Wave Radio, which also serves as a rather helpful source of gossip and rumors in Fuuto.<br /><br />She’s the least involved with the family business, which combined with her pampered and flighty nature, causes Saeko to look down upon and be abusive towards her, forever resenting Wakana for being their father’s favorite.<br /><br />Like the others, she has dopant form; Claydoll, which is remarkably resilient as she can always put herself back together if shattered, making her practically immortal.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGlzjwLJsdJ_9iCPSWVoz0iyuEj9lZXn3AeIZIJi7GPM9NZ1eYDLvNyqJ9dg0o6nbX4ZSOXPoVJRd0UvZ_MMtY14aWyNuLZRwt1YRYnmJZOnCy-z2cvy2tqcHTQ1v3LeDlJBMe3RVYQsjbLccpe5w0vHKSQ86WvXzePUxyQbu832Ry-nfoy6Sr6oUyVA/s1366/Kirihiko%20Sonozaki.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGlzjwLJsdJ_9iCPSWVoz0iyuEj9lZXn3AeIZIJi7GPM9NZ1eYDLvNyqJ9dg0o6nbX4ZSOXPoVJRd0UvZ_MMtY14aWyNuLZRwt1YRYnmJZOnCy-z2cvy2tqcHTQ1v3LeDlJBMe3RVYQsjbLccpe5w0vHKSQ86WvXzePUxyQbu832Ry-nfoy6Sr6oUyVA/s320/Kirihiko%20Sonozaki.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0CL_vl28c7ZZIseXN8VqS0LlWDcIajALJ5YgWJJGpk1zjD1kpcYVK1MynXpdx5GizIjAVgsq3wX9PAJqMYb34Us0TCfO3kZIpZw6TN8iJqSGg0nbxRfI8_JCN-6O4-y9yMYITT3fUCzq1QHKfJK0n0YXR7rvG9_kNL3xq6SmrlQ5u0HICEakxlbqzNg/s1355/nasca.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1355" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0CL_vl28c7ZZIseXN8VqS0LlWDcIajALJ5YgWJJGpk1zjD1kpcYVK1MynXpdx5GizIjAVgsq3wX9PAJqMYb34Us0TCfO3kZIpZw6TN8iJqSGg0nbxRfI8_JCN-6O4-y9yMYITT3fUCzq1QHKfJK0n0YXR7rvG9_kNL3xq6SmrlQ5u0HICEakxlbqzNg/s320/nasca.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Kirihiko Sonozaki (Yuki Kimisawa)<br /><br /><br />Kirihiko is the latest member of the family via marriage to Saeko, though the union was more out of practicality and business than anything else. Kirihiko happened to catch his wife’s eye when he became the most proficient Gaia Memory dealer. But even more than that, he was the only one capable of surviving the powerful Nasca memory, as well as Saeko's tendency to murder those who fail to meet her standards.<br /><br /><br />For Kirihiko’s part, he views the Sonozakis as a means to an end. Much like his father-in-law, Kirihiko has a deep love of Fuuto and believes the best way to maintain and protect the city is by becoming a part of the upper echelon. However, he is kept in the dark about much of the operations, unaware that simply dealing Gaia Memories is but a phase in a much grander scheme. This doesn’t escape the sly distributor, as he typically eavesdrops on the rest of the family hoping for some morsel of information.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />But enough about backstory, let’s get into the heart of W. This series, fittingly, takes a two-parter approach to each case, a classic formula that works wonderfully with the detective genre. Part 1 will end on a cliffhanger, part 2 will recap the current case before continuing, and finally, at the end of the second part, Shotaro will wrap up the case with a poignant file entry.<br /><br />These day-to-day cases are for the most part fairly formulaic, falling into three categories. The most common type is simply figuring out who a dopant is, which usually involves having a character be the most plausible suspect only for it to actually be another character that’s just as plausible but was featured less prominently within the episode.<br />The real intrigue of W’s cases is less the actual solving or answers and more so the characters' journey to solve them. Despite that approach and how much the audience is privy to, W is not by any means a “Howcatchem.” It’s simply very basic in regards to the mysteries- and I don’t mean that as an insult, merely an observation.<br /><br /><br />There are however larger conspiracies that are kept tight-lipped about, and this is part of the bigger picture Kamen Rider W drip feeds throughout. W’s story tends to trick the audience into thinking they’ve got the whole picture when it’s really only half. <br /><br /><br />The first 10 episodes largely set the foundation of what was discussed above; showcasing the dynamics between all the characters, their strengths, and weaknesses, the setting, etc. all while having a good variety of cases for the protagonists.<br /><br /><br />Sprinkled throughout are glimpses into the main narrative, such as how dangerous it is for Philip to be seen in public since he’s still wanted by the Syndicate. But it’s episodes 9 and 10 which hit upon many revelations and truly get things rolling.<br /><br />Firstly is that the Sonozakis haven’t gone entirely without suspicion, the latest case revolving around missing pastry chefs leads back to their estate. But the police find themselves frozen with fear whenever they get near the place, and even Shotaro is put off by it. Only Akiko can get near when she goes undercover as a maid, mostly thanks to the current client who happens to work within said estate.<br /><br /><br />Most of the focus is on Akiko and her hijinks, while Shotaro keeps a distant watch.<br /><br />There’s a refresher and expansion upon Sokichi’s death, notably that Shotaro still hasn’t told Akiko about it, and part of the reason is that he blames himself for his death.<br /><br /><br />We also get a look into Akiko’s perspective on her father, and the rather sad detail that she doesn’t actually remember much of her dad anymore. Most of their time together was when she was very little before he practically disappeared from her life, and she admits she’s a bit jealous that Shotaro knew him better than her.<br /><br /><br />Shotaro also has several run-ins with the Sonozakis, both their civilian forms and dopant forms, although the two never click into place. Most notable is when W enters the estate grounds and has a run-in with not only Nasca but also Terror- giving Shotaro and Philip a taste of their true enemy.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is followed up on much later when Shotaro visits the Museum and notices several exhibits consisting of Magma, Anomalocaris, and Tyrannosaurus, all related to dopants in previous cases. A brief and uneasy meeting with Ryuube only deepens the suspicion and fear.<br /><br /><br />But that unease is the least of concerns, as Shotaro is later witnessed turning into W by Saeko and Kirihiko. Now, this isn’t as bad as you might initially think. Neither knows his name nor his association with Akiko. They only have a face and even this information is withheld from the rest of the family since it provides Saeko with an edge.<br /><br /><br />This will however set up future events while also driving home that there have been a lot of run-ins with elites around the Sonozaki estate. This latest confrontation with Taboo is notable since she was the one that Philip was rescued from.<br /><br />This also begins a strain between Saeko and her husband once W escapes Nasca, which results in Saeko punishing him. As she would later tell her sister “A spouse should learn how things work”.<br /><br /><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNUxDi8pTdcM-gNMg8cWnqCHAhz_rcD69hjO8c80uYMn3qvF5RSw4gbJQZAqhueKIarEnXDHmihiSj12a8HcAAxtp6tajSnvWmoBrVTzaZN1iRPwFv5DUdez9t43xGGcqQG99OGfUdYhGHDvn8UWpK_ztsI_FQSXyL1on0xuUYCEQm0DHnvfcm1QiBg/s1057/beating.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="1057" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNUxDi8pTdcM-gNMg8cWnqCHAhz_rcD69hjO8c80uYMn3qvF5RSw4gbJQZAqhueKIarEnXDHmihiSj12a8HcAAxtp6tajSnvWmoBrVTzaZN1iRPwFv5DUdez9t43xGGcqQG99OGfUdYhGHDvn8UWpK_ztsI_FQSXyL1on0xuUYCEQm0DHnvfcm1QiBg/s320/beating.png" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>13 continues the run-ins with the Sonozakis when Wakana becomes the target of an obsessive fan in possession of a Gaia memory. Destruction across the city ensues as a means of gaining her attention, often around places she’s mentioned in interviews. Shotaro gets involved with her predicament, seeing the coldhearted woman Wakana truly is. But it’s Philip who steals the show as Wakana takes a particular interest in his remarkable deduction abilities. The two never meet directly, the closest being Wakana holding Philp’s hand while he remains on the other side of a door, which triggers a strong response in him.<p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfm7fpzzIIUmplc5FwGxVQ9AgGLLW5lDMRhmHO1bvdBtXFxrH2SU4p0wMJAJiwob4uH1296_rqa-Z18WtXL-l_7BmDs8xmqrEpFo-gHeY136cWy81SM683CzqXIzunM3Qud1c5XpzulzswvApXB8kM-3zAtIC4eNXV8SN2uB-V-udxOvn5l8EFS5fV-g/s1366/hand.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfm7fpzzIIUmplc5FwGxVQ9AgGLLW5lDMRhmHO1bvdBtXFxrH2SU4p0wMJAJiwob4uH1296_rqa-Z18WtXL-l_7BmDs8xmqrEpFo-gHeY136cWy81SM683CzqXIzunM3Qud1c5XpzulzswvApXB8kM-3zAtIC4eNXV8SN2uB-V-udxOvn5l8EFS5fV-g/s320/hand.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p>The same can be said of Wakana, who after some words from Philip, is reminded of her long-dead brother, who was always the voice of reason to her impulsive and destructive tendencies.<br /><br />This is what I mean when I say W doesn’t try that hard to hide some of the mystery but instead introduces more. It’s somewhat obvious where it’s headed, but it’s the implications that are intriguing and only raise further questions when you speculate.<br /><br />Philip actually comes close to looking into Wakana’s history in the Gaia Library, but stops for privacy reasons, leaving the audience to wonder if he would be locked out, or if there would be any connection worth noting. Furthermore, Wakana says her brother is dead and at the very least she believes that, meaning that if Philip was her brother and was a part of the Sonozakis, then she’d have been lied to. Not to mention all the ramifications of being an experiment within one of Saeko’s facilities.<br /><br /><br />Regardless, Philip begins having doubts about Wakana when she is overheard mentioning Gaia Memories. Although the two promised to meet face to face after the case was resolved, Philip chooses to remain distant given the circumstances but continues to engage in conversation with Wakana after the fact through phone calls. Likewise, Wakana, spurred by her encounter with Philip, begins a change in her demeanor, going so far as to cast aside her Gaia Memory. For the first time since she was a child, she’s met someone that’s truly made her happy.<br /><br /><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLARH53CkInPyaEmgPbOliXRJ92PfDxq8-I4NpAhYb92gX4Q_HmjFVMuhuEdAxGay2TO6Bh9Ugg4IETMixZ5Nw9BIyQNYAl3z_aCeQ1qUr04uczWBVkcI-iI4oIL4D7fGiLKWxCOJurruU8xYlhpDSfWGWKNGeT2oFuotDNbFSGb9iyXrWIogjXsAUQ/s1366/cast%20aside.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLARH53CkInPyaEmgPbOliXRJ92PfDxq8-I4NpAhYb92gX4Q_HmjFVMuhuEdAxGay2TO6Bh9Ugg4IETMixZ5Nw9BIyQNYAl3z_aCeQ1qUr04uczWBVkcI-iI4oIL4D7fGiLKWxCOJurruU8xYlhpDSfWGWKNGeT2oFuotDNbFSGb9iyXrWIogjXsAUQ/s320/cast%20aside.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p>This development in Wakana would not go unnoticed by her family, nor the association between her and Philip, which leads into episode 15. By and large the episode deals with a dopant going on a crime spree and claiming to be Kamen Rider, while the other half illuminates Philip’s past.<br /><br />I consider this one of the more brilliant cases of making the hero look bad, primarily because unlike “Evil Clones” plots, this one actually isn’t, and it works because not many people know what Kamen Rider looks like anyway.<br /><br />But the real twist is that the dopant, Arms, wasn’t just some schmuck tarnishing the Riders’ good name. They were working under orders from Saeko to draw out W and more specifically, Philip, or rather Raito, seemingly confirming Philip’s identity as a Sonozaki.<br />Likewise, there’s set up for the first upgrade of the series, as the start of the episode jokingly has Philip being obsessed with working out and remarking that it’s a good thing that Shotaro serves as the primary body, shortly before seeing a Dinosauria like memory hopping around. By the end of the episode, Shotaro’s driver is jammed on the right side- preventing a transformation as he and Akiko are captured.<br /><br /><br /><br /><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8G14yjwEBenLMcZa-STCVGg-BKQ-jkhxervRUHQIRwHSfRr64X3IGnc-txmHJT4Da4aXwwoD-Rib5ZIuV5BjNeXo5ufwM3iisMUlIkqGr5d-Xd_f72ktC9_RIy9iML-V58KS1OzXI7QsKWujaQD9Q4hmci4TjZdpuhCjv-M4xJUjeMH4uNxGU5pHQFQ/s1366/FANG.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8G14yjwEBenLMcZa-STCVGg-BKQ-jkhxervRUHQIRwHSfRr64X3IGnc-txmHJT4Da4aXwwoD-Rib5ZIuV5BjNeXo5ufwM3iisMUlIkqGr5d-Xd_f72ktC9_RIy9iML-V58KS1OzXI7QsKWujaQD9Q4hmci4TjZdpuhCjv-M4xJUjeMH4uNxGU5pHQFQ/s320/FANG.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Philip manages to escape, only to be confronted and pursued by Saeko, and once again sees the dinosaur-like memory, Fang, before suffering PSTD and refusing its help and ultimately escaping. But Shotaro and Akiko are still kidnapped, which is where Philip’s dilemma lies. Follow Shotaro’s wishes and stay away, or risk using Fang and rescue them.<br /><br />His hesitation is not unwarranted, because Fang, unlike other memories, is semi-sentient and makes Philip the primary body. Although Fang is immensely powerful, Philip can’t maintain the form for long due to how taxing it is. But the real consequence is that the memory is in more control than Philip is, as Fang was specially designed to protect Philip at all costs. Fang was only used once during W’s early days, which left substantial scarring on his psyche by changing him into something downright monstrous with little if any rationale. Afterward, the memory was tossed aside and gone missing until now.<br /><br />There is an irony in how often Philip has up to this point prodded Shotaro to make tough decisions, while simultaneously criticizing him for following his instinct, and now he is faced with that exact scenario. But between losing his sense of self or his friends, he dives in head first using Fang.<br /><br />Philip’s fear is almost realized when he nearly kills Akiko in his rampage. But unlike last time, both he and Shotaro have a lot more experience being W, Shotaro managing to pull Philip from the brink of his own tormented psyche, which is beautifully illustrated by a burning Gaia Library.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLErQCWl7syyl5Nf8sjw-fwDg6o_H0rGvBhmMaKkg48NPuy1m6aLS5aiy4tXyihhYT9upenxRX2gUpg_rb7O84Ml4NCwzMT9IsymIckoIPyg0F_3ipKhMrRHvOovWwV9fSES3hZ19-fBpL59JTE8cqRTEGl0XeXr-dWeZQVUa74WzxIOofp2w9wPYtZA/s1366/burning.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLErQCWl7syyl5Nf8sjw-fwDg6o_H0rGvBhmMaKkg48NPuy1m6aLS5aiy4tXyihhYT9upenxRX2gUpg_rb7O84Ml4NCwzMT9IsymIckoIPyg0F_3ipKhMrRHvOovWwV9fSES3hZ19-fBpL59JTE8cqRTEGl0XeXr-dWeZQVUa74WzxIOofp2w9wPYtZA/s320/burning.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />It’s a poignant moment of the two's partnership (one of many) Philip admitting that he knew Shotaro would come through.<br />Now stronger than before, FangJoker takes on the Arms Dopant, giving them a good thrashing and destroying their Gaia Memory before the episode kinda rushes out an ending with W saving a girl in a very public display to clear their name.Contrived ending aside, the case has a lot going for it. Something I love is that even with overcoming the pure destructive tendencies of Fang, there are still many caveats preventing it from being utilized, notably that Philip has to put himself out in the open and in danger to draw fang out.<br /><br />The overall stakes are raised and, as Shotaro puts it, Fang suddenly showing back up to protect Philip after all this time can’t be a good sign of things to come.<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDjv1jSdeKzFeHGNk0OnFprlSPsosh5UAsXnBLkHTcyLQUuZFWq-LucYa5IdYCYSM_wpO3WRQuoSQfpInLYXhbnbHpIec-6c0_rsZYiRvnj_ONvo27kpssvWQZlvMawx0ZxN_ZwHKpMrVH8FxvU9qWn1KL1HgP84EgS4UrOUd4t7u7kL-70mLpqMWzkQ/s1366/prelude.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDjv1jSdeKzFeHGNk0OnFprlSPsosh5UAsXnBLkHTcyLQUuZFWq-LucYa5IdYCYSM_wpO3WRQuoSQfpInLYXhbnbHpIec-6c0_rsZYiRvnj_ONvo27kpssvWQZlvMawx0ZxN_ZwHKpMrVH8FxvU9qWn1KL1HgP84EgS4UrOUd4t7u7kL-70mLpqMWzkQ/s320/prelude.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Following that foreshadowing, Ryuube confronts Wakana over her discarded Gaia memory and puts pressure on Saeko regarding the development of a new memory…which of course has hit a snag since capturing Philip has fallen through.<br /><br />But the main focus is on Shotaro and Kirihiko, an overdue one I think. They’ve only had brief scuffles in the past, and very little interaction besides a bizarre confrontation in ep.9.<br /><br />That’s rectified as early as the cold open where the two are in a barbershop completely unaware of the other’s identity as they bond over their love of Fuuto and in particular the barber Kaze, an in-the-know sort of place. Kirihiko even mentions he designed the City’s mascot, Futo-Kun and he’ll try to get one of the limited keychains for Shotaro since he clearly loves the city as much as he does. Of course, once they realize who is who, things go south.<br /><br /><br /><br /><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6qLiKC7OmakhC9FODpD66pFAEfgOdo0mJriXHp4O-32nW8BZLepEai4WdGG80KtD54MtmX8cAUyUlUttIgeWV0a90luXfZ4ucWKRVKQv86XwrC_bcqpHAvLmwWQRRrt2Cun_FkHCFbyIA-rR06aD4MaTREz99ectSCwpFrB9tTbBy0oqOeZBiGLJ3nQ/s396/It's%20you%20barber.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="396" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6qLiKC7OmakhC9FODpD66pFAEfgOdo0mJriXHp4O-32nW8BZLepEai4WdGG80KtD54MtmX8cAUyUlUttIgeWV0a90luXfZ4ucWKRVKQv86XwrC_bcqpHAvLmwWQRRrt2Cun_FkHCFbyIA-rR06aD4MaTREz99ectSCwpFrB9tTbBy0oqOeZBiGLJ3nQ/s320/It's%20you%20barber.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p>And as funny as the exchange is (even leading to that great gif above) it’s that classic framing of how under different circumstances they would probably be quite good friends.<br /><br />This is juxtaposed with the main case Shotaro takes on, actually from Kaze, whose daughter has gone missing. Shotaro eventually finds out she’s fallen in with a bad crowd who are into Gaia Memories, which are probably the most “metaphor for heroin” they’ve been thus far, featuring some horrifying side effects for people sharing the same Gaia Memory; Bird.<br /><br /><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZq_B1eCGwxv2owmyIAa-fKOJMaA92QTSlJIgR447g6TbblAky7DEbkCy0pajaNqv9rsXTcaodbGdQwTZ1nNp9TucDqeTpLATtyb2FweinK1ols96_g1uNbAhWW9w6zJMaKbLhCBZP-qGgaTVjNKaJuLGefjh6rB7nrVbL1L_hk3GWJQFuHE86rkneKw/s1366/side%20effects.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZq_B1eCGwxv2owmyIAa-fKOJMaA92QTSlJIgR447g6TbblAky7DEbkCy0pajaNqv9rsXTcaodbGdQwTZ1nNp9TucDqeTpLATtyb2FweinK1ols96_g1uNbAhWW9w6zJMaKbLhCBZP-qGgaTVjNKaJuLGefjh6rB7nrVbL1L_hk3GWJQFuHE86rkneKw/s320/side%20effects.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p>While this episode is split between the two, Kirihiko is vastly more interesting and who I’ll be focusing the most on.<br /><br />Witnessing the results of his family’s work causing a crisis for the city’s children finally crosses the line for him. Curiously, when looking into the matter, there are no records of a dealer selling to any of the users, nor the Bird Memory’s existence. Furthermore, sharing a Gaia Memory shouldn’t be possible under normal circumstances, so something is up.<br /><br />On a more personal note, Kirihiko has been suffering convulsions while under the effects of Nazca, even having one such episode in a fight with Fang/Joker. W stops short of destroying him on Shotaro’s intervention, catching a glimpse of a Fuuto-Kun poster and perhaps recognizing the sincerity within Kirihiko. Shotaro tells Kirihiko that if he truly loves the city, then he better never let the children cry again.<br />These events along with Shotaro’s words instill doubt within him, exacerbated when he secretly discovers Saeko leaving a hidden room within the estate. Entering the room himself, he’s led deep under the manor, into an expansive area with a strange glowing well surrounded by a computer.<br /><br /><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fRBRWDSZXWDpj2TNDJy-o7MuH7-Rgc-2nzqfjWU-R6l9FigiTYoHP10l49Rq3cWG6TgN4wnm3ZoMH5z_2Naokb2UAp5hajQKdJ3nRrc_nWQyU0ODUIv8kr8PxrKqeC0DDycyVIifz5RjOsvwGTyXVnLIBHSXLRY6W7Ha8YU0OFzu_ErrslmoEPCUFQ/s1366/welcome.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fRBRWDSZXWDpj2TNDJy-o7MuH7-Rgc-2nzqfjWU-R6l9FigiTYoHP10l49Rq3cWG6TgN4wnm3ZoMH5z_2Naokb2UAp5hajQKdJ3nRrc_nWQyU0ODUIv8kr8PxrKqeC0DDycyVIifz5RjOsvwGTyXVnLIBHSXLRY6W7Ha8YU0OFzu_ErrslmoEPCUFQ/s320/welcome.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p><br /><br />Ryuube welcomes him to the museum proper, explaining that the literal well of knowledge is where the first Gaia Memories were created. He exposits the growing need to further research the effects of Gaia Memories, casting an ever wider net for test subjects.<br /><br />Bird became an intriguing memory to Ryubee, and the results on younger users have shown that memory evolves rapidly, albeit at the cost of the user’s life. With this revelation unveiled, the final straw has broken for Kirihiko. Unfortunately, putting a stop to Ryuube’s plans simply isn’t possible for the ailing dealer. While Kirihiko has mastered the speed of Nasca, the memory is evolving beyond his ability and slowly killing him, similar to the Bird Memory for its users. He barely manages to escape the far more powerful Terror. The equally fast Mick, however, is another problem entirely.<br /><br />Ironically it’s Wakana that saves Kirihiko from Mick, driving the feline away with Clay doll.<br /><br />This entire interaction between the two is great, both with completely different demeanors than usual. When Kirihiko poses a question to Wakana on what she would do if someone she had faith in betrayed her, her response is to ask what you truly want, the same question she asked herself after talking to Philip. Kirihiko thinks back to his childhood, his love for the city, and designing Fuuto-Kun.<br />He makes his resolve, thanking Wakana before giving one last goodbye and commenting that he always loved her radio show, bringing a smile to her face.<br /><br />Kirihiko ultimately uses the last of his ability as Nasca to help W save a child taken over by the Gaia Memory. While successful, the stress of Nasca is taking its toll. Kirihiko warns W not to underestimate the Syndicate, giving them his personal Fuuto-Kun keychain, and leaving the city in their hands.<br /><br />Near the end, Kirihiko has a final meeting with Saeko, giving her the chance to change as he did. But this only results in his murder. Saeko steals the Nasca memory from her dying husband before one final farewell. In his final moments, Kirihiko takes in the strong wind of Fuuto, as his body disintegrates, carried by the wind across the city.<br /><br /><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOocHN4lFs-bu-WeNNOPuNBLbad_Dd50YMXkGlw8dlQfjjSPNEB9sD_WvKGh1y7w9bAEBWmYCugZsbOKOBaSZFnenqp_4wXKEJvH76LWS86IF7kTkcnvhTQSybbXe0B50DQTj-P_odxSsCFczpD2yuNHOtxGadTjzG0IKlav-xYM7BchEHXw90QAEoKw/s1366/goodbye%20dear.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOocHN4lFs-bu-WeNNOPuNBLbad_Dd50YMXkGlw8dlQfjjSPNEB9sD_WvKGh1y7w9bAEBWmYCugZsbOKOBaSZFnenqp_4wXKEJvH76LWS86IF7kTkcnvhTQSybbXe0B50DQTj-P_odxSsCFczpD2yuNHOtxGadTjzG0IKlav-xYM7BchEHXw90QAEoKw/s320/goodbye%20dear.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLHRlj2goYHWRKDXJjUAnH_Lb_SybcFJOiUtYs4YJr06WiWOUt1GBtTP8esHakOQdxfRLWafIH5K9f1S_PhcZqccUA6VGU74D1MOtxWct4Kw1UH32aFVcxfkczf79tPwxiinvkdUFuHbIMp-2Eu22mYpKXJPp5Ebo6ujCORFoxgcV3JJq7VwiRUBuRg/s1366/blown%20away.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLHRlj2goYHWRKDXJjUAnH_Lb_SybcFJOiUtYs4YJr06WiWOUt1GBtTP8esHakOQdxfRLWafIH5K9f1S_PhcZqccUA6VGU74D1MOtxWct4Kw1UH32aFVcxfkczf79tPwxiinvkdUFuHbIMp-2Eu22mYpKXJPp5Ebo6ujCORFoxgcV3JJq7VwiRUBuRg/s320/blown%20away.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br id="docs-internal-guid-0eb334e0-7fff-0a9c-2702-8762815daca3" /><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">This is a really fantastic set of episodes with a lot of development all around, but especially for Kirihiko.<br /><br />Odd as it is that he finally gets substantial characterization just before dying shortly thereafter, I think it’s pretty clear they do about as much as possible with his role within these two episodes. Transforming Kirihiko from a relatively mediocre antagonist into a tragic hero in his final outing is rather impressive and makes his death land perfectly.<br /><br />What comes after his death would also be one of the major additions and shake-ups to the series.<br /></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjU-itvy2fCgDapRQlqIGFrKnfU2BC5S4ckRCpCV939lrO32TC-cAdO4HPiTKXvXNWxRhdYE1ohtvs_fEBK_bOzaOkm7Eoj93-hJwJiRKvfe7vJ-hoY4IpyZcShcadpANFdawXZW9ytqpy6HSXg1EbYr9zON1qi2HeNijaeqOaxon_bo37YKit0EQRw/s761/Ryu%20Terui.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="703" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjU-itvy2fCgDapRQlqIGFrKnfU2BC5S4ckRCpCV939lrO32TC-cAdO4HPiTKXvXNWxRhdYE1ohtvs_fEBK_bOzaOkm7Eoj93-hJwJiRKvfe7vJ-hoY4IpyZcShcadpANFdawXZW9ytqpy6HSXg1EbYr9zON1qi2HeNijaeqOaxon_bo37YKit0EQRw/s320/Ryu%20Terui.png" width="296" /></a></div><br /><br />Enter Superintendent Ryu Terui (Minehiro Kinomoto) the latest member of Fuuto PD, head of a newly developed special crimes division, and our antagonistic rider of the series.<br />Ryu makes for an interesting addition because unlike Shotaro and Kirihiko who were opposites of the same coin, Ryu is a completely different type of contrast. He’s an outsider to Fuuto that despises the city.<br /><br /><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3MgPJlGTBHEf9GkvMADwsm6wwgKMcYSt0VuQKNClPaE7SCvKR0dclRNdr48z2MMAEIAHczg1use1NfTk1-if9BHdkaATVc_bQkUtoslo-bdXVx5oVUXNOLN2bS_5PvGpf6Fuund7VfTZFk-TFrRA5tCh47OHw-eCzEaBEPcqPH7h09hVhE4OeatzJtQ/s1366/opposites.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3MgPJlGTBHEf9GkvMADwsm6wwgKMcYSt0VuQKNClPaE7SCvKR0dclRNdr48z2MMAEIAHczg1use1NfTk1-if9BHdkaATVc_bQkUtoslo-bdXVx5oVUXNOLN2bS_5PvGpf6Fuund7VfTZFk-TFrRA5tCh47OHw-eCzEaBEPcqPH7h09hVhE4OeatzJtQ/s320/opposites.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p>The other angle is the perceived idea from the rest of the cast, including Shotaro, is that Ryu is hardboiled. He comes off as a tough-as-nails uncompromising officer with a cool factor. Make no mistake, he absolutely is. But it all stems from being horribly self-interested out of vengeance for his murdered family, even at the cost of others.<br /><br />That thirst for revenge causes him to be very impulsive and morally gray to a dangerous degree. Not only is Ryu a loose cannon, but Shotaro finds someone so selfish and lacking integrity unfit to call themselves Kamen Rider, and it even gets under Philip’s skin, leading to a lot of confrontations over opposing ideologies and methods.<br /><br />This particular segment is where Sanjo truly begins playing around with the thematics and iconography of the franchise. Frankly, a quick rundown would simply be that Ryu is a mix of V3 and Riderman, which is apparent from the start.<br /><br /><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VACjCveyWAqWu9eNGq2q9axBDsyYNiTX-VZPqJorNbDpWXIgGr78MH-VmB9VjzPV_o5pOchu1HSOuPodnxK9q8aJAp2GXeLDOYwicmAFW3y_QlfAbo4O3758iW_yHI__Ivy4eZwm4aKYz6e3k4z_mJpoFDdG7S1044YfuAyGfg1b4YUHZ5ruVBZ_HA/s1366/w%20memory.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VACjCveyWAqWu9eNGq2q9axBDsyYNiTX-VZPqJorNbDpWXIgGr78MH-VmB9VjzPV_o5pOchu1HSOuPodnxK9q8aJAp2GXeLDOYwicmAFW3y_QlfAbo4O3758iW_yHI__Ivy4eZwm4aKYz6e3k4z_mJpoFDdG7S1044YfuAyGfg1b4YUHZ5ruVBZ_HA/s320/w%20memory.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-lpNTthLUDx6SeV7Wigjfl7WD82J6fQFiOS0zbXvzUieHbHcuG4O1uVh5EqhNg6QxxttwdIiQ_4VLLhk6SoCvECUTU3WWxtgQqk9TwZUYH6u4Y7pDKkZ_N6P0PbzsSohiXtS8orUIyCVhcqiV_LWzbUlWyC1MasiQ3Mfjgn_u7VPIXXk2RIUKiZHiQ/s1366/shroud.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-lpNTthLUDx6SeV7Wigjfl7WD82J6fQFiOS0zbXvzUieHbHcuG4O1uVh5EqhNg6QxxttwdIiQ_4VLLhk6SoCvECUTU3WWxtgQqk9TwZUYH6u4Y7pDKkZ_N6P0PbzsSohiXtS8orUIyCVhcqiV_LWzbUlWyC1MasiQ3Mfjgn_u7VPIXXk2RIUKiZHiQ/s320/shroud.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Ryu’s parents and little sister were frozen to death by a dopant, with only his father surviving long enough to warn him about a “W Memory” Ryu’s only lead. Shortly thereafter, he met a mysterious benefactor, a bandaged woman named Shroud (Yuki Ono & Naoko Kouda), who presents him with a memory and a weapon, Accel and Engineblade respectively. Once transferring to Fuuto, Shroud would once again appear with a driver, making semi-regular appearances from here on to support Ryu and even Philip with various gadgets.<br /><span id="docs-internal-guid-ce0ccd51-7fff-9c28-ea90-a60e87b7a12d" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3RKpoPoPtyX60rgnh-MBuw2Y1JX1JIHHgF148S7N3wZYUT2Una9jzUMWFEHHmyo0TbV5unzvtoGhJlhyiQPRdlr96_nYwLefHZjMdZ5z-ch6AGch_UeMTHz4RjEFxWo2PejnKOO00k6t6ydCvBbCNpvtvxQmJx_WEbqOgEDc_7Xkv3rNdYSgqo5Lng/s1355/accel.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1355" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3RKpoPoPtyX60rgnh-MBuw2Y1JX1JIHHgF148S7N3wZYUT2Una9jzUMWFEHHmyo0TbV5unzvtoGhJlhyiQPRdlr96_nYwLefHZjMdZ5z-ch6AGch_UeMTHz4RjEFxWo2PejnKOO00k6t6ydCvBbCNpvtvxQmJx_WEbqOgEDc_7Xkv3rNdYSgqo5Lng/s320/accel.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />His first episodes of course lay down the above backstory, while also providing a case that involves a dopant with ice-based abilities going on a crime spree.<br />Ryu’s obsession leads him to nearly kill an innocent person who was simply trying to protect their child, the true culprit, who wasn’t even a murderer. No one was killed in the crimes, only injured, and the memory itself was Ice Age.<br /><br />This revelation wouldn’t completely put an end to Ryu’s path of revenge, but the horrifying realization of what he almost did would begin a temperament as he promises Shotaro that he’ll play by their rules while in his town, but he also playfully taunts that he would be a better partner to Philip.<br /><br />The episode then teases us with Saeko meeting one Doctor Shinkuro Isaka (Tomoyuki Dan), owner of a unique memory so powerful that even the museum members tread lightly around his presence; Weather.<br /><br /><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAo4PlALZbr-QteQf3wOtlHd3b39CQTuo4QwQJMHDLptDMfhjt75bLRjjACKO7HzOiWsvbk9gY-ktI5S3L_wsjSfPM75gxkBdolbzXi_v3dPgowua1emT3syZWypa_sd_U5TV7wAI3C2aW8vyfbGAUZd45twZUW7JbwXvHPq9zeGNXihq-QRJ4ypzZeQ/s1366/shinkuro.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAo4PlALZbr-QteQf3wOtlHd3b39CQTuo4QwQJMHDLptDMfhjt75bLRjjACKO7HzOiWsvbk9gY-ktI5S3L_wsjSfPM75gxkBdolbzXi_v3dPgowua1emT3syZWypa_sd_U5TV7wAI3C2aW8vyfbGAUZd45twZUW7JbwXvHPq9zeGNXihq-QRJ4ypzZeQ/s320/shinkuro.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p>Now before continuing on, I want to discuss the other writer of Kamen Rider W, because there’s a larger influx of their credits around this point, and that man is Keiichi Hasegawa.While other writers contribute episodes (notably Kuuga’s Naruhisa Arakawa and Gurren Lagann creator Kazuki Nakashima) Hasegawa is the only one with more than two episodes, effectively making him the secondary writer.<br />His first contributions were much earlier in the run, with episodes 11 and 12. If you know anything about his writing, then you would expect a suitably dark-tinged plot, and indeed, it’s relatively dower. A woman is the victim of a hit and run, but used a Gaia memory just as she was being struck. She remains in a coma, but her consciousness goes on a rampage in dopant form against her aggressors. In essence, it’s a vengeful poltergeist tale minus death.<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJK3KOEcMU6f8M0kj3s270okt0dM4RPoOQVZS8fOyrfcHNTY4EGYKmMhwHcwbix5QwI3C1rX_L3ZV3E8ysdHsmYGP6yGwIa3D8ULKbFdTvdxSxHl_XnG4PKahYeo8qatpa7AcqUNWFAaviqVAzSqakH7pnys5RlY2ZwxwGw06RQbiOZBbmk38HGb80w/s1366/horror.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJK3KOEcMU6f8M0kj3s270okt0dM4RPoOQVZS8fOyrfcHNTY4EGYKmMhwHcwbix5QwI3C1rX_L3ZV3E8ysdHsmYGP6yGwIa3D8ULKbFdTvdxSxHl_XnG4PKahYeo8qatpa7AcqUNWFAaviqVAzSqakH7pnys5RlY2ZwxwGw06RQbiOZBbmk38HGb80w/s320/horror.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />There are a lot of really good esoteric scenes and visuals which, to echo the above, lean into Horror about as much as they can. The screenshot I used for this entry is a wonderful demonstration of those two points, in which Philip basically mind melds with the comatose woman to talk to her in a phantasmagoric sequence. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a darker draft of this script better suited for Garo. It’s certainly one of the more unique cases and two of the most standout episodes for what they contain, not to mention one of the better mysteries with decent twists throughout.<br /><br />Admittedly there are some weak spots, in particular, a small band of suspects involved with the assault who are…just incredibly silly in how try-hard they are. But I also understand why that is, even if it does undercut some of the gravitas. Regardless, they're solid episodes that give you an idea of what to expect at this point because ep. 21 is when Keiichi Hasegawa began making regular contributions to the series. He would ping-pong back and forth with Sanjo, each doing two-parters all the way until episode 35 in which each handles a single episode of a two-parter (35 & 36) then with 41 Hasegawa does four consecutive episodes until Sanjo takes over completely from 45 onward.<br /><br /><br />Overall I tend to love Hasegawa’s episodes because he approaches everything with a high degree of respect, which comes through on screen. Even with Sanjo handling the main plot, Hasegawa’s episodes function wonderfully as both captivating side pieces- yet still complementary to the main story and character development. That applies especially to Ryu. Heck, episodes 21 & 22 deal with Ryu confronting an officer with a vendetta not unlike his own, giving him pause as he understands their plight, despite the moral ambiguity.<br /><br />Hasegawa immediately gets a grasp on the character motivations Sanjo constructs, then plays around with them brilliantly. His handling of the comedic aspects is also much better from here on out, fitting more in line with the rest of the series and leavening the tension rather than undermining it.<br /><br /><br />You can really tell Sanjo and the producers gave him a lot of freedom to write whatever he wanted, so long as it didn’t clash with the main story. This leads to a lot of interesting concepts that, while they may never be revisited, add more to the world and characters. More often than not, Hasegawa highlights aspects that Sanjo wouldn’t, while also providing that distinctly more mature storytelling alongside unique cases that do a great deal of elevating the procedural qualities that (while still present) are certainly more downplayed in Sanjo’s episodes.<br /><br />That said, I’m still mainly going to be focusing on Sanjo’s work because it’s the main plot. Hasegawa does wonderful extensions with fascinating angles on character motivations, but Sanjo typically pushes them forward, with a few exceptions to that rule.<br /><br /><br />Speaking of, Ryu is not the only character getting development, as Wakana is given more along with Saeko. For Wakana, her inner turmoil becomes exacerbated as Ryuube brings her closer to the operations, who in turn is growing increasingly frustrated with her informal behavior.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Rk758ozZxuNKVNjM2V2jczTrgVDVZYOM6PVk-V0r16DJTa6e_VqofWUpMUDn0gPEvkFzWaURpwUgXFrB_sQSfb3JcvcOQ9eM7Ew-T5DCPLs5IIKARvfIP4FuravtM0qvfRxWSo-xIZjrdcRLwdFjqBzNCTI93mhdRRRlGbJl-wZu-4a1qxj5IEWtJw/s1366/growing%20to%20do.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Rk758ozZxuNKVNjM2V2jczTrgVDVZYOM6PVk-V0r16DJTa6e_VqofWUpMUDn0gPEvkFzWaURpwUgXFrB_sQSfb3JcvcOQ9eM7Ew-T5DCPLs5IIKARvfIP4FuravtM0qvfRxWSo-xIZjrdcRLwdFjqBzNCTI93mhdRRRlGbJl-wZu-4a1qxj5IEWtJw/s320/growing%20to%20do.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Saeko’s patience is also wearing thin for her sister, not helped by becoming ever more ambitious in her endeavors. She begins a relationship with Doctor Shinkuro Isaka, who encourages Saeko to overtake the museum by force, even offering his backing.<br /><br />We’re also given brief insights into Shinkuro’s extremely twisted personality, not the least of which is fetishizing Saeko’s Taboo form.<br /><br /><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYBSUtdLgpDcJSbRI9vwNijlBNKPQIopstv2clZq0cgLRbEDkTd-47aCfywj-lNST7P4IM4zONkEfajUQzkK52E2vuZK3BOagGipVNjMyXhIFiDz9zbsImKZ3-48lcAwa63TaYH3BpBda6rJSTF0pg_Y1plewXYVvVeogTxgRBRL9ozTi7q7DDbUd0Q/s1366/examine.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYBSUtdLgpDcJSbRI9vwNijlBNKPQIopstv2clZq0cgLRbEDkTd-47aCfywj-lNST7P4IM4zONkEfajUQzkK52E2vuZK3BOagGipVNjMyXhIFiDz9zbsImKZ3-48lcAwa63TaYH3BpBda6rJSTF0pg_Y1plewXYVvVeogTxgRBRL9ozTi7q7DDbUd0Q/s320/examine.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p><br />Shinkuro’s obsession isn’t simply one of lust, as his medical expertise lies in Dopants.<br /><br />And with Wakana being a problem, yet still a valuable asset, Shinkuro is requested by Saeko to use his knowledge to “fix her”.<br /><br />This ties into episodes 25-26, which puts Akiko back in the spotlight as she gets caught up in a killer doll case. It’s a rather tragic tale where the doll isn’t the dopant, but merely the extension of a puppeteer by the name of Horinouchi, an author who had been targeting critics of his deeply personal novel based upon his dead daughter.<br /><br />Shinkuro takes an interest in Horinouchi and saves him from the Riders, utilizing his ability as a puppeteer on Clay doll. Additionally, before being puppeteered, Wakana let her driver be modified by Shinkuro, increasing her abilities beyond that of even Taboo. In essence, it’s bypassing the protection the drivers typically have, allowing her to operate at full power and inevitably become warped by the memory's influence, unbeknownst to Wakana. Even Saeko is taken aback by the procedure.<br /><br /><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIRP1O5fCh9MinaazxwZ9cBuEJUWkpPDEuE2-9wpC5kF3Py2vTXdEjZ-CO9BxMbK-IFgm2yAScXVVjBr_a3dpxObvXhWkhJSaAaZQSf2y9Hc-DFWO2JgYh9RBq8cTc3S-Xqjjh3MPzP3xBlf2Fz4TRbcnnhdVbdi7G8_LLzp73AKnUQV0MDsJaz6wjQ/s1366/true%20strength.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIRP1O5fCh9MinaazxwZ9cBuEJUWkpPDEuE2-9wpC5kF3Py2vTXdEjZ-CO9BxMbK-IFgm2yAScXVVjBr_a3dpxObvXhWkhJSaAaZQSf2y9Hc-DFWO2JgYh9RBq8cTc3S-Xqjjh3MPzP3xBlf2Fz4TRbcnnhdVbdi7G8_LLzp73AKnUQV0MDsJaz6wjQ/s320/true%20strength.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p>It’s a rather simple solution, Wakana hasn’t been wanting to use her driver, and thanks to being manipulated she’s been forced to use it with precautions removed and now the addiction, theoretically, will take hold. While Horinouchi himself is taken care of later, the damage for Wakana is already done.<br /><br />The effects on Wakana are noticeable even in her human form, as she struggles to contain her strength, a sign of rampant memory usage. She remarks to her father that it started after Shinkuro looked at her driver, causing some concern.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBflhmeja5vR2ETSBnq3xigbG_NxsGHroZ1rjHawxCJxJ_1lZsc6ZfnONsNpnKotmT4MFcZDuR_OrD7DaDkTwAsLthEZVtxYi-AFm1ekXYboFcvw0Rl5-8OErPR-qEFLNaNzSRxK1WNXrmwTDSLW0abe1VZUOhZqkXx-Ffw25kbcfm1MJV53JFd5RT-g/s1366/break.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBflhmeja5vR2ETSBnq3xigbG_NxsGHroZ1rjHawxCJxJ_1lZsc6ZfnONsNpnKotmT4MFcZDuR_OrD7DaDkTwAsLthEZVtxYi-AFm1ekXYboFcvw0Rl5-8OErPR-qEFLNaNzSRxK1WNXrmwTDSLW0abe1VZUOhZqkXx-Ffw25kbcfm1MJV53JFd5RT-g/s320/break.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Then we come to episodes 27 & 28, in my eyes, the penultimate episodes in Ryu’s arc.<span id="docs-internal-guid-70462bf6-7fff-ea19-fc29-98099570d0ea" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2TcHMJlFn1pTzRD6UbGbsWPdwntS6uGt2wN-6A4gz7Arepm-BM4nkYw1ug7Zn5RScFL2JVvLqwYBvShDzBM9HZrd93OKV3BqxZ4Eg7gQZUxDMZ2Vng_FT_cdHFSgab0c0PXrlA6DRIEn3BWwLEuS5vF4mN8wLhyP1lkP_NGk4xfXJSXyAwrekstDrg/s1366/lily.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2TcHMJlFn1pTzRD6UbGbsWPdwntS6uGt2wN-6A4gz7Arepm-BM4nkYw1ug7Zn5RScFL2JVvLqwYBvShDzBM9HZrd93OKV3BqxZ4Eg7gQZUxDMZ2Vng_FT_cdHFSgab0c0PXrlA6DRIEn3BWwLEuS5vF4mN8wLhyP1lkP_NGk4xfXJSXyAwrekstDrg/s320/lily.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />The client is Lily Shirogane (Nao Nagasawa), an amateur magician, -Hurricanger-, and granddaughter of the great Frank Shirogane. Her predicament is an interesting one, she has the invisible memory, but it’s stuck inside and she can’t control it. She doesn’t transform into a dopant on its use, either.<br /><br />However, she didn’t buy the memory, it was given to her by a well-dressed man, 40-ish, carrying an umbrella so thin it could act as a cane. Not knowing what else to do and that as their only lead, Shotaro, Akiko, and eventually Ryu, set to track down the man, finding him in a high-end restaurant.<br /><br />That man is Shinkuro Isaka.<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GSLUH7DQrjQxrQQzHc1FPtU63_1LdGRuX1XmZKt-5HcZ29VLiPdHqpqkCd6KS8YMX04dXMpa3yZacyUAY7FWXGsw6onePFWLJdQdCb89ADdg9ok0_dBVKucNUpTbc8f_tSBNCbJLPjTN9mQgsJDX33I6eryUpKF9_BXdrtwSZJcMpRhxMc33d1YKew/s933/Weather.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="933" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GSLUH7DQrjQxrQQzHc1FPtU63_1LdGRuX1XmZKt-5HcZ29VLiPdHqpqkCd6KS8YMX04dXMpa3yZacyUAY7FWXGsw6onePFWLJdQdCb89ADdg9ok0_dBVKucNUpTbc8f_tSBNCbJLPjTN9mQgsJDX33I6eryUpKF9_BXdrtwSZJcMpRhxMc33d1YKew/s320/Weather.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />As you can imagine, this doesn’t go very well, leading to Shinkuro turning into Weather and finally revealing himself to Ryu.<br />We get a real sense of how immensely powerful and versatile Shinkuro is, neither Rider can do much of anything to him, easily shrugging off a maximum drive from W. Accel doesn’t get much of a chance to get in hits due to Lily’s interference, who is more interested in getting her memory fixed by the doctor. Ultimately, Shinkuo escapes, with Lily in tow.<br /><br />Converging back at the agency, Philip estimates the only way they stand a chance is for W and Accel to act in unison, which is a point of contention for Ryu. Having finally found the culprit, Ryu is consumed with revenge, wanting to take down Shinkuro solo, even though it’s suicide. Shotaro calls him out on his brash antics, pointing out that even if Ryu doesn’t care about himself, there are still plenty of others that do, and he shouldn’t toss his life away so frivolously. But his pleas fall on deaf ears as Ryu sets out to confront Weather alone.<br /><br />This is the tragedy of Ryu’s character in these episodes. After finding Weather, he regresses to the same type of jaded person he was in his introduction. Things get worse when Ryu eventually does confront Shinkuro at his clinic, even going so far as to attack W when they arrive, which only makes it easier for Shinkuro to make quick work of both. He beats Accel to a pulp, forcing Ryu to lose his transformation.<br /><br /><br />Shinkuro, while gloating over the Riders, reveals that Lily is actually an experiment. He uses human hosts to essentially incubate memories that will eventually consume the host's life, just like what we saw with the Bird Memory.<br /><br />All Ryu can do is cry in frustration, completely at the mercy of his family’s killer.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vcP9iAtKLdho8mzjd3PX8VZmgqeVPVd-zxEWPwYUsj5niJVaVK07Ox_NnbyLMeuc79YlZyRSKUlVxm05deO4fO_7hcCldoYhHYo7tsBqgEEEHxoCHs5qFX_1Qhe0_3kVGeUdOPKBwaAafe77TzDAp0VFErQEnFydWw-819M4M18Zn7VCd7oyMPgG-Q/s1366/mercy.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vcP9iAtKLdho8mzjd3PX8VZmgqeVPVd-zxEWPwYUsj5niJVaVK07Ox_NnbyLMeuc79YlZyRSKUlVxm05deO4fO_7hcCldoYhHYo7tsBqgEEEHxoCHs5qFX_1Qhe0_3kVGeUdOPKBwaAafe77TzDAp0VFErQEnFydWw-819M4M18Zn7VCd7oyMPgG-Q/s320/mercy.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />With no other options left, Shotaro forces a double maximum drive with
both heat and trigger, to Philip's horror. The surge in power results in
a massive fireball, consuming both W and Weather, leaving a
severely injured Shotaro, while Weather doesn’t have a scratch on them.<br /><br />By
sheer dumb luck, it managed to stall Weather long enough for Terror to
arrive, who bizarrely extends an offer of tea to the unshaken Shinkuro,
inadvertently saving the two Riders.<br /><br />A wounded Shotaro pleads
with Ryu to save Lily, as he’s the only Rider Fuuto has now. But Ryu
can only manage to insult him for getting in the way. Tensions
continue to run high, with Philip angered at Ryu’s ambivalence toward
Shotaro’s injuries, as well as his refusal to help save Lily, whose fate
is now tied to Ryu’s assistance.<br /><br />Confrontations arise
with the Sonozakis as well. Courteous as Ryuube was towards Shinkuro,
even allowing him over a dozen meals to satiate his voracious appetite,
he doesn’t waste any more time getting the point of why he was invited.
He fully suspects Shinkuro and Saeko are planning on subverting the
organization, and the recent occurrences with Wakana point toward him.
But the response Shinkuro gives is surprising.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOZjRc6HG1oxICd7N4J9_3jspSacMc2OB64fM-342Zpqv9FTP3MEew9hIHG0Jql3DR-jSW5oQEGTQep6FCRznRxUp2CuMdV_lA2hZ3OaWErG4P_qVD6HUUQyObjon3WnYVfrVnjwMejP7yvktPxMQBDJflGZDiIVOYRTK6GFv9en-_sIsiwi2FAGYnQ/s1366/ports.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOZjRc6HG1oxICd7N4J9_3jspSacMc2OB64fM-342Zpqv9FTP3MEew9hIHG0Jql3DR-jSW5oQEGTQep6FCRznRxUp2CuMdV_lA2hZ3OaWErG4P_qVD6HUUQyObjon3WnYVfrVnjwMejP7yvktPxMQBDJflGZDiIVOYRTK6GFv9en-_sIsiwi2FAGYnQ/s320/ports.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Revealing a series of living connectors, Shinkuro claims no other is more dedicated to the Museum's ideals than himself. Everything he does is in the interest of the Museum, even offering up himself to be experimented upon as seen fit.<br />This brazen act amuses Ryubee, whose concerns are for the moment laid to rest, allowing the doctor to remain within the estate, given that his identity is compromised.<br />Even Saeko is shocked that Shinkuro was able to stand up to Ryuube and even gain some of his respect in the process, adding to Shinkuro’s rather unique status.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Meanwhile, Ryu stakes out the Shirogane residence as it’s his only lead, although he doesn’t exactly keep a low profile, and Frank invites him in.<br />Frank breaks the ice with a bit of magic, managing to soften the otherwise stern Ryu. He explains that’s why he became a magician. To make people smile, that’s the real trick. Lily is the same, working hard all her life to the craft, and is damn fine at the act, if awkward.<br />Yet he laments that while she’s well-intentioned, he knows she’s fallen into shady antics. He doesn’t know the details, but it was obvious enough from her recent behavior.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdi-mNC7M-zGH2CstqfNJpzRBwA06a6nMSEkHlmMRm0ZQ_g9C5ynhzG4sCblNNY9Ta8oNOM2xqYYRRNr9QaRyvh_Env7v_2BDawQN1eLcCbF9TI4LVN2h3MyGrF2q-Du1dbNQiWk_kuXYeZE-YwrIPiWuD0BEl4EanwY3JWNT0TjaWd8OVBRI8EQA0Xw/s1358/worried.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1358" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdi-mNC7M-zGH2CstqfNJpzRBwA06a6nMSEkHlmMRm0ZQ_g9C5ynhzG4sCblNNY9Ta8oNOM2xqYYRRNr9QaRyvh_Env7v_2BDawQN1eLcCbF9TI4LVN2h3MyGrF2q-Du1dbNQiWk_kuXYeZE-YwrIPiWuD0BEl4EanwY3JWNT0TjaWd8OVBRI8EQA0Xw/s320/worried.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />This encounter has a profound effect on Ryu, eventually leading him in attempting to get Lily to turn herself in, warning the memory will eventually kill her. But she doesn’t care. Her entire reasoning behind using the memory is that her Grandfather's final performance is upcoming and she needs to “prove” that she can carry on the legacy and give a memorable act in a display far outside her abilities.<br /><br />Ryu berates her for such frivolous behavior, throwing her life away on a fleeting venture when there are those that care about her.<br />His own familiar words hit him like a truck, as the irony sinks in.<br /><br /><br />In the end, Ryu resolves to let Lily do as she wishes but promises that after the show is done, she has to let him rid her of the memory.<br />That final showing doesn’t exactly go smoothly. While Lily does pull off her trick, she has to rush off the stage soon after due to the effects of the memory. Even worse is the unexpected arrival of Shinkuro. But rather than personally deal with him, Ryu opts to help Lily instead, letting various memory gadgets hinder Shinkuro just long enough.<br /><br />Putting Philip's plan into action, Ryu simply uses his engine blade to electrocute Lily, stopping her heart and causing the memory to assume her death and eject prematurely. One more shock restarts her heart.<br /><br /><br />Lily is saved, the Gaia Memory broken, and Shinkuro’s plan in ruins, much to his anger.<br />But unlike last time, Ryu isn’t attempting to face Shinkuro alone. Shotaro has regained consciousness and while his body is weak, he can still easily assist Philip as FangJoker. The riders finally confront Weather in unison, getting respectable hits in.<br />The two each initiate a maximum drive, forcing Shinkuro’s own attacks back at him, and while he gets away, it’s not unscathed.<br /><br />The man who shrugged off a maximum drive, who didn’t flinch in Terror’s presence, collapses in the Sonozaki estate, horrified at the Rider’s combined power.<br /><br />From a distance, Shroud watches over the riders, proud of Raito and Ryu’s progress.<br /><br /><br /><br />These are a fantastic set of episodes. Everyone is on point, especially Minehiro Kinomoto. He can flip Ryu’s character into just the biggest shitheel at a moment's notice and is so good in these episodes. Ryu falls down so far yet rises above where he fell.<br />Everything with Shinkuro is also wonderful, showcasing what a threat he is, not just in power but how clever he is. Yet he’s still vulnerable under the right conditions.<br /><br /><br />I will note the plot with Lily is actually really ironic and by far the weakest part of the episodes, especially since her entire reasoning is kaput by the end. Frank finds out her trick wasn’t of her own and the show is flung off the rails by a damn weather monster. Ain’t anyone gonna be talking about the invisible girl or magician retiring come tomorrow. I guess no one saw those exact issues arising right then and there, but it sure makes the whole endeavor pointless. But that does tie in with Ryu’s own cause being a fruitless one. Ryu didn’t get revenge, but he got something else, something that he needed, as did Lily.<br /><br />That being said, I don’t think the parallels between Lily and Ryu work all that great. Not helping that a few episodes back, Hasegawa did a case in which Ryu has a much more direct parallel with a dopant going on an act of revenge. The “doing something reckless for family reasons” feels like too much of a reach and simplification between him and Lily. What I do think works is Ryu not so much seeing himself in Lily, but coming to see Lily as a person and not a dopant. She’s good, has a family, and is worth saving even if she made a mistake. It allows Ryu to see the human element of memory users, how easy it is to be tempted even in trivial matters, and that they too are victims.<br /><br />This is to say nothing of the interpersonal drama among the protagonists, or the unease among the Museum members. Plus, I’m just a sucker for episodes diving into rider’s learning to grow.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUN9c98nVz0VnPg7l7OLix2qFIzRpdlZLbAHfI4PJD0ZkaR1uME3QKbjBqeqM8PMo36EB2mKYmqWEbyJTvBbT_5Z1Yg5nmlbH2z3IsFKSXopyBpSmWwhWmetGlOq_F6p6LMc-pGdwB9QZoQdMUCduJfo3xTZPJIkM4v38mlLAsgKlKv-GSeul-gHAq-g/s598/V3%20loss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="598" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUN9c98nVz0VnPg7l7OLix2qFIzRpdlZLbAHfI4PJD0ZkaR1uME3QKbjBqeqM8PMo36EB2mKYmqWEbyJTvBbT_5Z1Yg5nmlbH2z3IsFKSXopyBpSmWwhWmetGlOq_F6p6LMc-pGdwB9QZoQdMUCduJfo3xTZPJIkM4v38mlLAsgKlKv-GSeul-gHAq-g/s320/V3%20loss.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />As stated earlier, Ryu’s character development parallels that of V3 and Riderman, as Kazami was someone who too became a rider out of vengeance, but learns along the way that it’s more important to protect others. Likewise, Joji was even more blinded by rage until making the ultimate sacrifice to save others. But there is more to Ryu than simply being a homage to an archetype.<br /><br />I have got to assume that Sanjo making Ryu part of law enforcement was also a means to tie in with the meta aspects. Kamen Riders have always had a hint of rebellion to them, admittedly most superheroes do, but it’s always been prominent in Rider with the whole biker aesthetic (one Ryu learns into the most). Hell, the original series and especially the manga make it clear that Justice is a relative term and evil runs a lot deeper than shadowy organizations. Any sort of establishment meant to carry out the will of those in power is susceptible to doing evil or taking advantage of impunity. When you get right down to it, Shocker or anyone else is a pittance if the system itself is corrupt.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQR0zGQBZFsfEuMvsx53E-6wzGlR6u0Fx8aKABOU18NEu-Il2q6nHxHcPXzAcN9ne9S8sFuK1fBCGUINCcc19LYb9JUt9zUHQVr9NxwFjZawgm8KEOXnrndF63uHXrFUISWsyJhNWIyHotC8FxxILQhmZJ8Do5lvPS1Jxrqdy6g_y2sTW6qB_UlkLjg/s734/shocker%20elected.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQR0zGQBZFsfEuMvsx53E-6wzGlR6u0Fx8aKABOU18NEu-Il2q6nHxHcPXzAcN9ne9S8sFuK1fBCGUINCcc19LYb9JUt9zUHQVr9NxwFjZawgm8KEOXnrndF63uHXrFUISWsyJhNWIyHotC8FxxILQhmZJ8Do5lvPS1Jxrqdy6g_y2sTW6qB_UlkLjg/s320/shocker%20elected.jpg" width="218" /></a></div><br />As such, I’ve always been very much against the main protagonist Riders ever holding a position of power like Officers, CEOs, literal goddamn rulers. It’ll be interesting to talk about Drive should I ever get around to that, another series headed by Sanjo.<br />There are exceptions to that, of course, particularly when the work is aware of what it’s doing by using those very elements i.e. The Black Manga’s use of the Century King.<br /><br />As for Ryu, he’s a secondary rider, so he’s not exactly applicable to the above. But a lot of the same principles apply. I love what Sanjo does with this character, toying around with a man of justice struggling with his own desires for revenge, and his role as something more.<br />Shinkuro is dangerous, he can and will kill more if he isn’t stopped. But at that precise moment, Lily's life is in danger, and that takes precedence over revenge or even justice.<br />Ryu’s journey and development into a better person are one of the best parts of the show, going from a far greater bastard than any of the villains (At his introduction at least) to someone selfless enough to put others before him, even if it means letting the man who killed his family getaway for now. That’s what I love about Rider.<br /><br />His journey isn’t over, of course. But this cements his growth, and his friendships with Shotaro, Philip, and Akiko. This newfound perspective will also come into play sooner than later.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTkmUlrjumUb-bgQxPN3TaHuM3TyDvGUin_CbUvxV6e69sipHTW2YkRW3sOH7EHiCK3BymbYi8d5uSVG5ttmmUm3lDIAHENiSkQyedwEurFnUUn_2V8p723yszBUjnxumsrytWAzZWDHpWNjDyP6PLUtuydYYDTa2UxgSsW4o1O5KOlUhpjv4CjeARFw/s1366/abduct.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTkmUlrjumUb-bgQxPN3TaHuM3TyDvGUin_CbUvxV6e69sipHTW2YkRW3sOH7EHiCK3BymbYi8d5uSVG5ttmmUm3lDIAHENiSkQyedwEurFnUUn_2V8p723yszBUjnxumsrytWAzZWDHpWNjDyP6PLUtuydYYDTa2UxgSsW4o1O5KOlUhpjv4CjeARFw/s320/abduct.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />The groundwork for that and a new arc begins in episode 29. During a case, Philip is exposed and nearly killed by Shinkuro, but is saved by the flying mysterious X-treme Memory, abducting his body and allowing his wounds to heal.<br />He remains conscious within the memory, and even converses with the one who saved him, Shroud.<br /><br />She plants a seed of doubt in Philip, saying that his partnership with Shotaro is dangerous and that he’ll only find despair. Philip casts aside Shroud’s warning, seemingly resolved in his partnership with Shotaro. But even after reuniting with him, try as he might, the idea has already taken root and becomes a source of uncertainty going forward.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIeBr5sLs00AQyRXgf6516cDzuFglD036-rxXM07euMoKbyp5c8_2UsQFokjr1HC3CFydXJpTSXnzRoTtcayfGjZmPba64CxSZ3l4GcAn4QuzM8CaLu_CKAvZ_EcdbUI3NmJPZgptZzbOdYb-dn-w1HagNWAPD8rEp9waaQxyPC8eRvKaA6hC5JMxOg/s1366/doubt.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIeBr5sLs00AQyRXgf6516cDzuFglD036-rxXM07euMoKbyp5c8_2UsQFokjr1HC3CFydXJpTSXnzRoTtcayfGjZmPba64CxSZ3l4GcAn4QuzM8CaLu_CKAvZ_EcdbUI3NmJPZgptZzbOdYb-dn-w1HagNWAPD8rEp9waaQxyPC8eRvKaA6hC5JMxOg/s320/doubt.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />This becomes exacerbated when compatibility issues begin arising between the two as W, Shotaro’s body freezing up, delayed reactions, and poor coordination. A nice visual detail I like is Cyclone keeps giving off sparks of electricity, as Philip is growing stronger than Shotaro.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_id6yl5bfky-1zu6gA8h5RTdCY4ZvTwJyXh72_ZvGqH7w4MfS7pSNnpHjOH8CIMNdlL8lt4PoP86zOuHRDBuzAZHe6YfcI3ds2dke2xuAIPI0xL5lRZCXEM38IVdpI23leBbklFJJnOAq_Z8qL_AfBi1VlRtiOwNFdVezMAZ8rt7LOVeBjlrF6WQj_A/s1366/sparks.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_id6yl5bfky-1zu6gA8h5RTdCY4ZvTwJyXh72_ZvGqH7w4MfS7pSNnpHjOH8CIMNdlL8lt4PoP86zOuHRDBuzAZHe6YfcI3ds2dke2xuAIPI0xL5lRZCXEM38IVdpI23leBbklFJJnOAq_Z8qL_AfBi1VlRtiOwNFdVezMAZ8rt7LOVeBjlrF6WQj_A/s320/sparks.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Even stranger is a delay in Philip’s consciousness returning to his body after the fact, briefly seeing a vision of W in the Gaia Library.<br /><br /><br /><br />All of this ties wonderfully with a cold case involving a recently released convict, Isamu Bito, a former client of Sokichi, who 10 years ago took the fall for a crime didn’t commit to save a woman he loved; Suzuko. He was supposed to meet Sokichi when he got out, but obviously, things didn’t quite pan out that way.<br />Supposedly there was some evidence tying Maruo Arima to the crime, an old friend of Bito’s before they had a falling out. Nowadays he’s a bigshot Yakuza type who owns an entire fairground they once operated a food stall in, and is now married to Suzuko, who he regularly threatens- part of the reason for his and Bito’s falling out.<br /><br />Throughout the episodes there’s this running theme of Shotaro feeling inadequate, having a massive weight on his shoulders of all the responsibility left to him, not meeting the expectations of the more hardened Bito, not being the man Sokichi was, and now having issues even being W which is getting worse over time.<br /><br /><br /><br />Eventually, a lead is discovered regarding a bear statue, something which Shotaro recalls Sokichi having in his old wilderness cabin. Sure enough, the statue is found, but due to Maruo’s connections to the syndicate, Shinkuro becomes involved.<br /><br />Philip attempts to use his own body via Fang, thinking that perhaps it would balance out the issues Shotaro has been facing. It doesn’t work out and the two are nearly killed by Shinkuro until Accel arrives. That still presents its own issue since Accel is once again on his own against Shinkuro.<br />But when Philip tosses Accel the Cyclone memory for use in the Engine Blade, its power is immense enough to scare Shinkuro away, while Accel is strong enough to withstand the recoil.<br /><br />Between that and the W driver rejecting Shotaro’s touch, both he and Philip begin to doubt that they can continue on together. To top everything off, Bito was injured by Shinkuro’s initial attack. Shotaro, in a depressive and nearly catatonic state, stays behind while the rest escort Bito to the Hospital.<br />Through it all, Shotaro doesn’t entirely give up, despite how emotionally damaging recent events have been. Even if he can’t be W, he can still be a detective. During the scuffle with Shinkuro, the bear statue was lost in a river stream, and so, Shotaro sets out in the pouring rain to put his detective skills to use.<br /><br />Upon recovering the statue, he finds a hollow section, discovering its key role in the investigation.<br />Yet he doesn’t share this with anyone else when he returns the statue to Philip, instead departing just as quickly as he arrived.<br /><br /><br />Two things occur here that I want to highlight:<br /><br />One is Philip asking Ryu if he’d like to partner up, and his response is telling Philip never to ask something that stupid again. The second, and perhaps even more revealing, is Akiko flipping out and berating Philip for even considering someone else, going so far as to defend Shotaro’s personality. That for all the jokes that are made about him being half-boiled, it’s what makes him Shotaro, and it’s for the better.<br />It also spurs a revelation in Philip, including that Shotaro is likely about to do something very reckless, and indeed that’s the case.<br /><br /><br />What Shotaro found was the Zone Gaia memory, which he uses to confront Suzuko. She denies any knowledge of it, but activating the memory causes the port to appear on her neck.<br />The crime committed a decade ago was never just Arima, hell, it wasn’t even his idea. All the shouting, berating, and toxic behavior from him was just for show. Suzuko is the real crime boss, playing Bito like a fool to take the fall.<br />Clever as deducing Suzuko’s identity was, having the memory in her presence quickly turns into a grave mistake when she gains the upper hand and Shotaro is nearly killed by Zone, whose powerset is teleporting objects. He luckily survives a great fall, landing in the river before being fished out by Philip, giving the two a moment to have a heart-to-heart.<br /><br />Philip mentions something to him “nobody’s perfect” a note Sokichi left for Bito that Shotaro overlooked, and a saying Sokichi regularly used around the two.<br />Philip realizes that W as a pure weapon is meaningless, nor is it what Sokichi intended. They were chosen precisely because of their contrast. Shotaro’s kindness is needed, and if any part of that is “weak”, that’s just something Philip will have to deal with.<br />It’s an incredibly moving scene, reaffirming just how good the two are together.<br /><br />Reunited, the two set off to take care of Beast and Zone, forming W. Philips tries to hold back, but it’s difficult. Shotaro tells him not to, that as long as their partners, he won’t ever crack again. Shotaro begins keeping up, adjusting to Philip’s power, and that’s when the Earth cries out. The Xtreme memory arrives, merging Philip and Shotaro together in mind and body, becoming CycloneJokerXtreme, W’s final form.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnd8FI8nYFy13tDgsR0N3HrmIxBTSFdsYfgGIWtAzXBGH8gaIJwqDtmSg8SclPAxUN5pTXwG-T9GhnQ5WiGEErG41aW6i5TOlNo23dH8NdBtb6NOYIOZrcMVFoN-8mZJywEE3keZaN-_HdnKzq-ASpJa44flBjVsR_S2cKYGpmc-G-4YN-kvfD6RvGEQ/s1366/xtreme.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnd8FI8nYFy13tDgsR0N3HrmIxBTSFdsYfgGIWtAzXBGH8gaIJwqDtmSg8SclPAxUN5pTXwG-T9GhnQ5WiGEErG41aW6i5TOlNo23dH8NdBtb6NOYIOZrcMVFoN-8mZJywEE3keZaN-_HdnKzq-ASpJa44flBjVsR_S2cKYGpmc-G-4YN-kvfD6RvGEQ/s320/xtreme.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />As Xtreme, they have the full power and knowledge of Earth, with Philip having immediate access to the Gaia library, able to research their opponents on the fly. Xtreme comes with a sword and shield, the Prism Bicker, which allows for a devastating quad maximum drive.<br />Suffice it to say, two Dopants, impressive as they may be, are no match for Xtreme, who obliterates both with ease.<br /><br />Shroud watches over the battle, frustrated that Shotaro was able to once again defy her expectations.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I don’t think it’s any exaggeration to say these are two of the best goddamn episodes in the series, yes, even after saying that for Ryu’s episodes.<br /><br />Really fantastic story, with great use of thematics, and fantastic characterization between Philip and Shotaro. Hell, even Akiko shines.<br /><br /><br />Sanjo is at his absolute best when he focuses on the dynamic between characters, Shotaro and Philip in particular. Even with us seeing multiple falling-ins and out (this being the third or so) it never ceases to be captivating. Part of that is the continuing escalation and the severity getting worse as the threats grow ever more dangerous. But I also think it becomes clear by this point that his best work comes from having a contrast in characters, or at least more to focus on. There’s very little I take issue with whenever the main duo is in the spotlight, united or not, everything is always above and beyond. As much as I enjoy Ryu and his dedicated episodes, you can see more cracks when he doesn’t have someone else to bounce off of. They lack the same polish comparatively.<br /><br /><br />We’re also getting closer to the end with just 16 episodes left, so it’s no surprise that we start seeing a bigger push in raising the stakes and preparing for the finale.<br />One such moment is the Gaia Well under the Sonozaki estate erupting when Xtreme fused with W. Ryuube anticipated the event and invited Wakana to view, curiously leaving Saeko and Shinkuro out of the loop.<br /><br /><br />On the subject of Xtreme, while we’re still 16 episodes out, you don’t have to worry about oversaturation. Their method for making sure it doesn’t appear too often for the rest of the show is having limitations similar to Fang. Xtreme only answers to Philip, not Shotaro, and it requires digitizing Philip first, meaning its use could be impractical when base memories can get the job done just as well.<br /><br />This does however lead to an interesting dichotomy in that Xtreme is vastly more powerful than Accel, and you may be wondering what that means for Shinkuro, who of course is a big enough threat to warrant Xtreme. Well, that very matchup happens in the next two-parter and he is nearly defeated by W alone, much to Accel's frustration. He may not be blinded by revenge anymore, but he still wants to be the one to bring Shinkuro down. But to do that, he’s going to need help from Shroud once more.<br /><br /><br /><p id="docs-internal-guid-2dfa7fbb-7fff-8cbe-30de-2a3d0d4d5c43" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">This comes sooner than later when Ryu and Shotaro get caught up in a case centering around Nagi Shimamoto, known to the local children for telling facts and stories about avians in the Fuuto Bird Sanctuary. Lately, she’s been cold, depressive, and even outright hostile towards the children, some of whom came to Shotaro for help. Ryu becomes sympathetic mainly because the sanctuary was a favorite of his sister and Shimamoto bears more than a passing resemblance to her.<br /><br />Eventually, the two riders learn her tragic story. Her father was recently electrocuted to death right in front of her, while she was branded with a living connector against her will, the monster behind the attack promising to return. Speak of the devil, a heavy storm signals Shinkuro’s approach.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDNiZVUivUs6JPuOBpiL68rS_dEaOcIOyhBR0SfiiDMuWgP7m22BlhJZ5SmKuwVEdKd3btz1ZS4zZsVAP8CXYw-X3bxkmlAc1L94wXg-EOuJHCm2kKYZqzwLFNdi-EPCFZHzbqCl9l667QVsBqUg3bIf311uSAvcnU2fZEZlkNeDHBvDzo4R0YXP3wFw/s1366/speak%20of%20the%20devil.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDNiZVUivUs6JPuOBpiL68rS_dEaOcIOyhBR0SfiiDMuWgP7m22BlhJZ5SmKuwVEdKd3btz1ZS4zZsVAP8CXYw-X3bxkmlAc1L94wXg-EOuJHCm2kKYZqzwLFNdi-EPCFZHzbqCl9l667QVsBqUg3bIf311uSAvcnU2fZEZlkNeDHBvDzo4R0YXP3wFw/s320/speak%20of%20the%20devil.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />If it wasn’t clear enough that Accel is still vastly outmatched by Shinkuro, it’s made so here. The man is smart, learning from prior engagements he takes the preemptive to trap W in a vortex of water, while he simply electrocutes Accel. His business with Nagi is not unlike Lily, a new test subject, but this time is a little different. The connector on Nagi is growing, developing further as she feels fear, and eventually will be ready for a new unique Gaia Memory Shinkuro stole from Ryuube, Quetzalcoatlus. Seeing as it is not ready and W manages to break free by forming Xtreme, Shinkuro departs, leaving Ryu frustrated at how ineffectual he was at protecting Nagi.<br /><br />From here the story basically splits into three distinct sections. Shotaro guards Nagi, who in turn learns about Ryu’s past and why he’s so determined to protect her, instilling her with hope and causing the spread of the connector to be hindered. I won’t be talking about her much more, but do know that she’s far better than Lily.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Shinkuro finally reveals to Saeko that 10 years ago he was a directionless washed-up doctor until he met Ryuube. Seeing his terror form, he became entranced and one day swore to have that very power. His interest in Saeko was by and large simply to get close to the family, but she doesn’t even mind, now that his goals are crystal clear. However, Shikuro does begin to reconsider the nature of their relationship as more than just a means to an end.<br /><br />And finally, Ryu, along with Akiko, returns to the forest he first met Shroud in. He demands more power, but Shroud refuses. The anger he once embodied is no longer present, and she has no use for someone dedicated to protecting others. Although she relents when Accel threatens her, leading him to a motocross track.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTHX_IwY6BL3G_vyZZNA9X_4cLbpcnWMrIpFSPTeqCUhKSCJqLrf_k7e7SdHRXOLElcTtiKw3jozaWz0uYPe8m1c7XSQwuSrInIS8VqnWv9ACRqPRyDtSBmim9ofEC6mUcu_dsQC-A_kdXRVbx1qOmrvfctc8Rf5mbAE-arbhK24Rzy8N15MgfWe78g/s1366/tiral%20bike.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTHX_IwY6BL3G_vyZZNA9X_4cLbpcnWMrIpFSPTeqCUhKSCJqLrf_k7e7SdHRXOLElcTtiKw3jozaWz0uYPe8m1c7XSQwuSrInIS8VqnWv9ACRqPRyDtSBmim9ofEC6mUcu_dsQC-A_kdXRVbx1qOmrvfctc8Rf5mbAE-arbhK24Rzy8N15MgfWe78g/s320/tiral%20bike.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />He’s presented with the Trial memory, a memory that, rather than granting pure power, increases his speed to a blistering degree. He might not be able to destroy something in a single hit, but the advantage is being able to hit something 10 or 100 times in quick succession. Or to put it another way, he’s a DPS machine.<br />The catch, of course, is that it’s a trial. He only has 10 seconds to use the boost at its full potential for a Maximum Drive before it backfires, canceling his transformation. Get it under 10, and he can pull off a finisher. Ergo, complete the race track in under 10 seconds on a bike using trial and he should be conditioned to handle the strain and strict time limit.<br /><br />As Ryu takes the challenge head-on, things reach a tipping point with the Sonozakis. Ryuube recalls his meeting with Shinkuro a decade ago, pondering just what his goal in all this is. Shinkuro directly answers that he intends to take the terror memory for himself.<br />So, Ryuube challenges him to take it, if he can. Saeko makes her own choice, siding with Shinkuro and attacking her father before the two escape on a path of no return.<br /><br />The sudden development increases the need for Shinkuro to make headway on Nagi, who he manages to catch alone and kidnap. He plans to kill Ryu in front of her to accelerate the growth, phoning Ryu for a final duel.<br />With the pressure on, Ryu completes one final lap with a time of 9.9, according to Shroud. He claims his prize and heads off to face Shinkuro. In reality, however, his final time was 10.70 Whatever happens to him now is of no concern to Shroud.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE39KSWUA2N2eIS0ZYAsD8fNgQX-Ko2rWB4HPVGPaQ7ByeXTC0z-Ew867VayIIf7Ix6NTAvPm48CiMOiJSLRLVlSrWj3gwjnZugPOr5e1cwttUvmtlCHddMJEl0xq8Owo4v_43xIRyYN6PtJjLA3cgPAacUlvR0Az6N5JM1tCNhJ49r7RfeT8SHOwp-Q/s713/Trial.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="529" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE39KSWUA2N2eIS0ZYAsD8fNgQX-Ko2rWB4HPVGPaQ7ByeXTC0z-Ew867VayIIf7Ix6NTAvPm48CiMOiJSLRLVlSrWj3gwjnZugPOr5e1cwttUvmtlCHddMJEl0xq8Owo4v_43xIRyYN6PtJjLA3cgPAacUlvR0Az6N5JM1tCNhJ49r7RfeT8SHOwp-Q/s320/Trial.png" width="237" /></a></div><br />Ryu arrives to face Shinkuro one last time, activating Trial and taking Shinkuro by surprise. Accel is faster than even lightning, dodging Shinkuro’s attacks with relative ease and laying on the hurt something fierce. He activates Trial’s Maximum Drive and attacks even faster and more ferociously, overwhelming the doctor who can’t do anything but take the brunt of Accel’s kicks.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJ-OrZUSf9a2TsrjG165_-cJAmNGD88Szu3Wzf6gFflh8LHYj0fxHjcIAg--Q8MQREMbuJPZJPcbPFKyL9_v3l9YliatY-OPNkemGOqm4HmflXTZQD7MQ2LiStRU-9vqWV4lt88OGmJUzon8iwgh5qWeXOG6sqjfojCv8GZH4MAMskFVbuNiZgBUQxQ/s1366/98.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJ-OrZUSf9a2TsrjG165_-cJAmNGD88Szu3Wzf6gFflh8LHYj0fxHjcIAg--Q8MQREMbuJPZJPcbPFKyL9_v3l9YliatY-OPNkemGOqm4HmflXTZQD7MQ2LiStRU-9vqWV4lt88OGmJUzon8iwgh5qWeXOG6sqjfojCv8GZH4MAMskFVbuNiZgBUQxQ/s320/98.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />In the end, Accel finishes his assault in 9.8 seconds, Weather exploding as both the Weather and Quetzalcoatlus memories are destroyed.<br /><br />Shinkuro lies in defeat, but unlike other dopants, his constant use of memories takes its toll as his body begins consuming itself. He warns that Shroud has already sealed all their fates, while in the distance, Saeko watches the best chance to subvert her father dissolve before her eyes.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21e52k2BgbUCuSIzkkUGGstyAzltDZ8nICu8eR_czUCVAZlerwxbM4iiQpEOXadxt8MFQ8r2pqatsrI1NsbgGMSSHY0afJPyNA1kNWnYnz2z54Rhyhhy4niofyDhmFLxoW6TDgnYczbk83YihLoeCaHIQeb4T2LeY4liQD2284gHcTplj04rZ6NwZGQ/s1366/disolve.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21e52k2BgbUCuSIzkkUGGstyAzltDZ8nICu8eR_czUCVAZlerwxbM4iiQpEOXadxt8MFQ8r2pqatsrI1NsbgGMSSHY0afJPyNA1kNWnYnz2z54Rhyhhy4niofyDhmFLxoW6TDgnYczbk83YihLoeCaHIQeb4T2LeY4liQD2284gHcTplj04rZ6NwZGQ/s320/disolve.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Episode 37 Delves into the fallout of Saeko’s actions, with her now on the run from the museum's legion of soldiers, attempting to avoid fights due to having a damaged driver.<br />Wakana, meanwhile, must prepare to take her sister's place, just as an investor from the mysterious Foundation X, Jun Kazu (Gong Teyu), visits for a progress report.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPp2tVK9zq9o16ajjBDcfor8PLWjYDwAbmWZbVDZP2AKgW3Vegls3Zwn6eg4l4dOfReb83rjrO3a4kjmW9l497cmZ_2duaV2GGO5ZpPZ77LzASa_Iv-se8KyvSfGVeW7iT4i6et6W4Oo5TpvS6h95_-hRPFEpx84IEsyM-JaeivCzSCNj5q21Af1afg/s1366/Jun%20Kazu.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPp2tVK9zq9o16ajjBDcfor8PLWjYDwAbmWZbVDZP2AKgW3Vegls3Zwn6eg4l4dOfReb83rjrO3a4kjmW9l497cmZ_2duaV2GGO5ZpPZ77LzASa_Iv-se8KyvSfGVeW7iT4i6et6W4Oo5TpvS6h95_-hRPFEpx84IEsyM-JaeivCzSCNj5q21Af1afg/s320/Jun%20Kazu.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Over with the detectives, a new client walks in, one who will have a profound effect on their lives beyond what anyone could comprehend. The man, Yamashiro, is rather strange, constantly on edge, never gives a full name, and seemingly recognizes Philip. His dilemma is that he hasn’t seen his family in a decade and needs Shotaro to track them down, but given the suspicious aura the man exudes, Shotaro wisely decides to check into his background. Sure enough, the man is involved with the Museum.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitIsOwoB8wCay-V7aNNAfO_cLh1h8wcKBBZOKIC-OUb8k9KdYywpSP7-9a37rHdd10rFjeus5hHkK8wG2lVJnjVdSQILqvG1J5FvGlvVUuRrd79HMNF_88fLQaFKsjSqclB16dAIYD7X8ibvwU-bZQK-fHl2oYdB1lmyw3ib4I8j4edo4s9s6yaTxKTA/s1366/Yamashiro.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitIsOwoB8wCay-V7aNNAfO_cLh1h8wcKBBZOKIC-OUb8k9KdYywpSP7-9a37rHdd10rFjeus5hHkK8wG2lVJnjVdSQILqvG1J5FvGlvVUuRrd79HMNF_88fLQaFKsjSqclB16dAIYD7X8ibvwU-bZQK-fHl2oYdB1lmyw3ib4I8j4edo4s9s6yaTxKTA/s320/Yamashiro.png" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /><br />What’s more, unbeknownst to him or the detectives, he’s being hunted by an assassin, the Hopper Dopant.<br />To further complicate matters, Wakana phones and meets up with Philip, looking for guidance once more. It’s a really sweet meeting, my favorite part being when the conversation turns to Wakana asking if she should take up the family business and Philip cuts through the fog, asking if it’s related to Gaia memories. Wakana’s silence serves as more than enough of a response. But Philip breaks through again, cutely phoning Wakana right then and there, mimicking their prior indirect engagements. Philip’s advice remains unchanged from the last time; Wakana should simply follow what she truly wants.<br />This spurs Wakana to suggest the two of them flee Fuuto, leaving everything behind. While half joking, Philip is rather fond of the idea and the two begin seriously considering it.<br /><br />These threads come together when Shotaro gives Yamashiro the current residence of his family, but calls him out before he gets a chance to leave their office.<br />Yamashiro was a neuroscientist that was declared dead 10 years ago, and 7 others in similar fields went missing around the same timeframe. Yamashiro admits he was employed by Ryuube Sonosaki, of his own will, no less. Their funding and research were simply too good, but it began taking a toll, and he paid a price for his greed.<br /><br />When Philip tries to access the Gaia Library for information about Ryuube, he’s kicked out, which is enough of a confirmation for Ryu.<br /><br /></p>Unfortunately, this diversion allowed Yamashiro to slip away from the detectives and right into the clutches of the Assassin Hopper Dopant.<br /><br />W manages to rescue the professor, while Hopper escapes both W and Accel. But the excursion led to her revealing that Yamashiro’s work within the museum was erasing memories, pointing out that Philip was among them.<br /><br />Yamashiro was tasked with only removing one specific subject for Philip; his family, although he denies any knowledge of the specifics.<br />Ryu takes him in for questioning, and also protection… not that it does any good. Hopper easily bulldozes their way through the police station and severely injures Yamashiro. Ryu overwhelms Hopper with Trial, but it’s too late. Hopper is subsequently killed by Mick to tie up any loose ends, while Yamashiro is rushed to the hospital, barely alive.<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoB9zCiNXiBlxdg-7F7AfjG_cS3IwGjjBEeRQROUcanIlz19K5O18E-lp4eWJkhnoC6ANqqbQjC5mE2y0hv8EwwVZw8pqqCAfTeVSK0RMEDH-zoMml_E-JTqWM8Wtogmqi7UoWO8fexRkfxBy1qIhwvLQXBMi16wNCVzTPBYGV6tJlvZs0u95jfLjFcg/s1366/Hasegawas%20barely%20disguised%20fetish.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoB9zCiNXiBlxdg-7F7AfjG_cS3IwGjjBEeRQROUcanIlz19K5O18E-lp4eWJkhnoC6ANqqbQjC5mE2y0hv8EwwVZw8pqqCAfTeVSK0RMEDH-zoMml_E-JTqWM8Wtogmqi7UoWO8fexRkfxBy1qIhwvLQXBMi16wNCVzTPBYGV6tJlvZs0u95jfLjFcg/s320/Hasegawas%20barely%20disguised%20fetish.png" width="320" /></a></div>Well, if you gotta go...<p style="text-align: left;">Meanwhile, after learning that Mick was also sent to assassinate Saeko, Wakana wants to follow through on leaving town with Philip, completely breaking down in tears when calling him to meet at the local station. Philip is torn on what to do. He still cares for Wakana, even knowing her family’s ties, but leaving Shotaro and Akiko is no easy feat.<br /></p>Any doubt would dissipate after being called to the hospital at Yamashiro’s behest.<br /><br />The dying Yamashiro apologizes for all he’s done, before admitting that he knows Philip’s identity; Raito Sonozaki. Philip reels back in this knowledge, but now knowing that Wakana is his family, it solidifies his decision to leave town with her.<br />However, Ryuube, facing pressure from Foundation X over a drop in production, has necessitated a showing of a confident restructuring, and Wakana will fill that role.<br /><br />What Philip finds at the station is a shadow of Wakana. Completely loyal to the Museum, ruthless, and inhumane. Philip is attacked by Claydoll, more so to prove a point, even managing to knock Philip out of FangJoker before she disappears, leaving Philip to cry out in despair.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />By this point, W is on a winning streak with big character moments and stories that land damn near perfectly, delivering on the constant build-up with more to come. And one thing I want to point out that isn’t obvious within this summary is the superb pacing. Despite almost every episode from here on featuring some major revelation or new development, Sanjo and co balance out the drama with quick asides and humor that allow the characters and audience to breathe. Even other shows that I adore can sometimes falter in this endeavor.<br />As for those reveals, as I said, they’re nearly perfect. Finally finding out who erased Philip’s memories is great, and the repercussions of that knowledge and the fallout with Wakana offer up (and will result) in stories revolving around his trauma.<br /><br />From an audience perspective, we kinda already knew Philip was a Sonozaki. I was never under the impression that Saeko was being deceptive when she called Philip Raito and acted very familiar with him all those episodes back. Lack of knowing his family name aside, there are way too many signs pointing at the truth that Philip should have picked up on otherwise, and that’s just counting the details he’s privy to. I like to think that Philip knew on some level, but was in denial until he couldn’t anymore.<br /><br /><br /><br />Episode 39 starts out as a nice break from all the heavy drama…until the second part in 40, anyway. The main segment primarily concerns a rash of strange occurrences at the local movie theater in which audiences are forced into viewing an obnoxious 7-hour pretentious film seemingly starring one of the theater workers, Ai Nijimura, who is equally baffled. Hijinks ensue and it’s eventually discovered that the responsible party is another worker, Toru Kawai, the Gene dopant, who can manipulate matter on, you guessed it, a genetic level. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE2rQhySLSbb7hJjFHGlBeJoGoYfNNQa9Rq1qK6muvXpr3strOsY4a6HPaIW34FK87gGcigc3o0UmqnHErVct3IIDs_1qY_dAlxDaTyFpH8uI73neYlgDviURwrxPmzdtJ1LU5ce-4QNg-5RJvmSXxmdnsbLuUfVg6gVfDci-POKIdxbQ-NGqLZXSTow/s1366/oh%20crap%20cow%20hand.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE2rQhySLSbb7hJjFHGlBeJoGoYfNNQa9Rq1qK6muvXpr3strOsY4a6HPaIW34FK87gGcigc3o0UmqnHErVct3IIDs_1qY_dAlxDaTyFpH8uI73neYlgDviURwrxPmzdtJ1LU5ce-4QNg-5RJvmSXxmdnsbLuUfVg6gVfDci-POKIdxbQ-NGqLZXSTow/s320/oh%20crap%20cow%20hand.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br />Despite his power, he’s not much of a threat and is rather wimpy, enough to where a good slap knocks the Gaia memory out of him without damage. Rather than simply arresting him, Akiko wants to take a more rehabilitative and humorous approach in the hopes of opening up the socially awkward man by helping him remake his film. There are parallels also drawn with Philip, who has since become rather candid and shut off emotionally, plunging himself into any work available as a means of distraction.<br /><br />While providing a good bit of levity, the Gene Dopant would be pivotal in the current machinations of the Museum, which involves a new prototype device called the Gaia Progressor, an object that would evolve Wakana into something greater.<br /><br /><br />Our B plot is with Saeko, who has survived the assassination attempt thanks in part to Jun Kazu, but is now left without a driver or her Taboo Memory. For me, this is the strongest part of the episode because Saeko finally starts to get some real development at this point. By and large, she’s spent a great deal of the series either frustrated over a weak significant other or enamored with a powerful one that could potentially dethrone her father. Now she’s in an all too familiar situation again with Jun Kazu, who despite his flat demeanor, claims to be enamored with her and willing to help.<br /><br />So it’s refreshing that Saeko has become tired of being in the tangle of men and decides to strike out on her own, sneaking into her former office as a cleaner and reacquiring the Nazca memory she stashed away.<br /><br /><br />Finally, Wakana confronts the film crew, coming to blows with W, with any attempts at reason failing. She’s initially much stronger, but once Xtreme comes in, she doesn’t stand a chance. Even her regenerative abilities can be negated by Xtreme. But their fight is interrupted by Saeko, who originally intended to fight Wakana until seeing her pathetic display, instead opting to go after W and Accel. Saeko’s compatibility with Nazca is very high, jumping straight to the level 3 evolution, nearly as fast as Accel Trial, and is even able to do some damage to Xtreme.<br /><br />Despite Saeko’s strong start, the battle between Nazca and Xtreme ends in a stalemate. Philip reaches out to Saeko, but she’s perhaps even farther gone than Wakana. She doesn’t view Philip as family, or even human, he’s simply a thing.<br /><br />After being humiliated by her sister, Wakana takes the initiative in catching Kawai off guard, kidnapping him, and forcing him to merge her cells with the Progressor.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwAlfImQXxaAXQMZ9fSLD00nP_L7-ao760i7gOHY5DmZY5n_A1Drz6rMf3u4WmC4UvF0zD9e21Lf8nC_8LXrIEKVS_i9rmcUmELnfB-3k2w2ucrFWgm2IHfXj68r2PkPjyEyBCMSAUk-dMKbVrxY6bpgjL41XE0W6mVHS1AFS-wrw1KmFkN7u2GpGGA/s1366/blinding%20light.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwAlfImQXxaAXQMZ9fSLD00nP_L7-ao760i7gOHY5DmZY5n_A1Drz6rMf3u4WmC4UvF0zD9e21Lf8nC_8LXrIEKVS_i9rmcUmELnfB-3k2w2ucrFWgm2IHfXj68r2PkPjyEyBCMSAUk-dMKbVrxY6bpgjL41XE0W6mVHS1AFS-wrw1KmFkN7u2GpGGA/s320/blinding%20light.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />What the Gaia Progressor is, becomes apparent as its massive light is the same as that from the Gaia Well. It infuses Wakana with the same connection to the earth as Philip and more precisely Xtreme.<br />As Ryuube explains to Jun, Clay Doll comes from the ancient idols sculpted as offerings to Gods, and now that doll has become a conduit for a God; the Earth itself.<br />The entire reason the Narumi Agency was never wiped out was that their existence was useful. Ryuube was collecting valuable data from every fight, every transformation, and every use of Xtreme. It all involves Philip’s connection to the earth, and they made the Gaia Progressor with that knowledge. Everything that happened was either planned or tolerated because it conveniently aligned with Ryuube’s goal. From Wakana being forced to use her memory which increased her compatibility and warped her mind, to Jun’s interactions with Saeko which only further fanned the flames of the sibling rivalry.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilojE2tInkoSdeK1-wX1A_OUnf7bdcT5lo3QOEN2jsSUUAk2jBHyxy_xry2UDTBgfQ6pQjNOdun-ZzBdhckNcGvwXtsgnNT5DSwgPV-8VaJlUtnjStkn3X_wTxRoh6ODY-iYRXw2z53vO4PJ9NEKAdlrtPJznOa2AWYgNqeDA9MScJLK3BDJFFlvpCw/s1366/claydoll%20extreme.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilojE2tInkoSdeK1-wX1A_OUnf7bdcT5lo3QOEN2jsSUUAk2jBHyxy_xry2UDTBgfQ6pQjNOdun-ZzBdhckNcGvwXtsgnNT5DSwgPV-8VaJlUtnjStkn3X_wTxRoh6ODY-iYRXw2z53vO4PJ9NEKAdlrtPJznOa2AWYgNqeDA9MScJLK3BDJFFlvpCw/s320/claydoll%20extreme.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Out of the blinding light is born Clay Doll Xtreme, and her power is immense. Arriving at the scene, W Xtreme is barely able to resist her attacks, only surviving her most powerful one by dedicating all their energy to a defensive maneuver- which even then still brings the duo to their knees. Wakana laughs at the pair as she departs.<br /><br />Days later, Philip is in the Gaia library and suddenly encounters Wakana. She taunts him, casually mentioning that she can’t interact with him or the library yet, but soon will. Undaunted, Philip promises that he’ll save his family from this madness, no matter what.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Episodes 41 & 41 are more of a proper aside from the main plot. It mainly focuses on Mikio Jinno, who was framed for grand larceny. It’s up to the detectives to prove his innocence and capture the true culprit, the jewel dopant. We get some minor backstory on Jinno, his relationship with Shotaro when the latter was still in school and Jinno a beat cop, as well as a few other characters Jinno knew long ago that tie in with the dopant.<br /><br /><br />I don’t wanna spend too much time here, but there are a few tidbits that I want to mention.<br /><br />First is that Saeko, having been on the receiving end of Wakana’s new power and barely surviving, begins taking an interest in growing her power not unlike Shinkuro by collecting powerful memories, diamond catching her eye. She doesn’t really get anywhere with the endeavor, but it’s the principle of the thing.<br /><br /><br />Secondly, Wakana’s powers develop more and she actually attacks Philip in the Gaia Library, hampering the investigation and threatening to capture him from the Library itself. Like many of Hasegawa’s episodes, he plays around with the esoteric angles quite well, like having Wakana able to transform while in the library, which of course Philip can’t do because he needs Shotaro. Philip actually gets inspiration from Akiko on the dilemma, realizing that half is just what he needs. Just as Wakana couldn’t initially interact with the library, Philip can lessen his connection so he can’t directly interact and thus she can’t do anything to him. All he needs is for the book to be turned to the right page, which he tricks Wakana into doing.<br /><br />It’s a clever solution that also bugs the piss out of me.<br /><br /><br />What bothers me is Xtreme. Philip has full access to the library in that form and doesn’t use that ability in this episode. And maybe that was still a risk, maybe he was worried about Wakana attacking him while he and Shotaro were in a fight as Xtreme. But we’ve never actually seen how it works for Philip in that mode. I’ve always assumed it was instantaneous because it’s a direct connection, and it couldn’t be that his consciousness is split between both Xtreme and the Library because this episode outright shows that splitting your abilities means not being able to open the books. Also what use would getting Philip’s consciousness even accomplish?<br /><br />This is one of the few times where it feels like there should have been some clarity on the functionality, and there isn’t even a good assumption to be made on the audience's end. It feels like it was done to have a twist regardless of any detriments it may bring.<br /><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-6f04c33e-7fff-8c2b-c899-bca9966a254d" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /><br /></span></p><br />Anyway, let's get back to the main plot in episodes 43 and 44, which are Hasegawa’s last contributions to the series and a better note to go out on.<br /><br />The current case is that a mother, Yoshie, desperately wants to remedy the tragedy that's befallen their 10-year-old daughter, Miyu, who has inexplicably become an elderly woman.<br />The Investigation points to two suspects, one being a stuck-up mom, Mitsuku, who is the type to force their kid to be the star they never were, and was likely motivated due to Miyu being chosen over her own daughter, Kumi, in an upcoming school play.<br /><br />The other and likely main culprit is a mysterious fortune teller known as the Ager, who upon knowing his password will offer up his services to age whoever you want.<br />After much trial and error, our heroes manage to find and confront the psychic who is unsurprisingly the Old Dopant. Curiously, both Ryu and Philip are unaffected by his powers, which are visually similar to Terror’s. Shotaro, however, falls victim, rapidly becoming elderly.<br /><br />Old slips away, but Ryu catches a glimpse of a nearby Shroud, chases her down, and it starts to sound like she played a part in these events in an attempt to get her original plan of uniting Ryu and Philip into a new W back on track.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Once again I don’t want to spend too much time on the case itself, because it’s pretty straightforward what’s going on and what unfolds. Basically coming down to overbearing mothers engaging in truly horrifying acts to sabotage each other's child for a freaking school play. At one point, Yoshie even hires the Ager to age not Mitsuku, but her innocent daughter. The irony is that Miyu and Kumi are best friends- probably because their mothers are both terrible.<br /><br /><br />Like a lot of cases, this is thematically tied to the character-oriented parts, which center largely on family, revenge, and how love can both blind and inform the latter. From Ryu’s family, the Sonozakis, Shroud, and the connection between all of them(Shroud, especially) It’s not just a question among the protagonists, either. Philip finds Wakana in the Gaia Library, frantically searching for any information on Shroud, which is practically nonexistent. But it’s clear that even though she’s searching for answers, Philip knows even less- whereas Wakana knows her identity.<br /><br />Ryu starts his own investigation into Shroud, tracking down Saeko to an underworld bar to get some answers, and the morsel of information she reveals is devastating; the one responsible for Dr. Shinkuro’s Weather memory was Shroud.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREfaYIPdPrG9pQ-huf-jzfqu8tOug7b8tvIVuIFr1Voo2kXzaq2_n7HzySWpw9N1reKI6Xws43EwklWZhoqrBEBcCT5TJhQL5XIpDxi2K79j1Ap4aTVZx_QQkVC-r5sJyXiAD-ulFF1ap0gG0NrwNsPsTEH7V4yPI5tGVaw_0hsMun3HT4F97IscfKQ/s1366/hate%20me.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREfaYIPdPrG9pQ-huf-jzfqu8tOug7b8tvIVuIFr1Voo2kXzaq2_n7HzySWpw9N1reKI6Xws43EwklWZhoqrBEBcCT5TJhQL5XIpDxi2K79j1Ap4aTVZx_QQkVC-r5sJyXiAD-ulFF1ap0gG0NrwNsPsTEH7V4yPI5tGVaw_0hsMun3HT4F97IscfKQ/s320/hate%20me.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Ryu’s hatred, seemingly rekindled, confronts Shroud in the forest, who merely stokes the flames. Although the question about Ryu’s family gives her pause before admission, she encourages Ryu to hate her more, even kill her over the truth.<br />Said fight is interrupted by Wakana, who was tipped off to Ryu’s wiles by Kazu, using him to find Shroud. The incursion is short but illuminating, with Ryu learning that Shroud's true identity is Fumine Sonozaki, Ryuube’s estranged wife and mother to the Sonozaki children. Shroud escapes from Wakana, who storms off in frustration.<br /><br />In the aftermath, Ryu notices a bed of flowers like those left on his family’s grave<br /><br /><br />After much rumination, Ryu returns to the woods, meeting Shroud once more. But he isn’t there to fight or become W with Philip. He wants to forgive her, understanding that her pain, hatred, and desire for revenge, were born out of love, not unlike his own.<br /><br />Shroud, in a rare moment of vulnerability, confirms Ryu’s assessment. She was happily married to Ryuube, but something changed with him. He became fixated on Raito, calling him the chosen and treating him more like a tool than a child, lashing out at anything that threatened his work, herself included.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQadGQDuZu7Q73xvP3FwoLQV4wNztTWVCcMtSEVwnG8M-T-XHV9IMIkUcawF0jmBQo52KBXfewMe6dGEkwxpLv8DCoNJXluV6yyAxRSu1C6Er96ESmCiv77hWiHPB67z9EjymDpLOjEokOSVmflSE7zFnA3ZeNxJGj72E9Vt5ROXHHimZ06rGFQezwA/s1366/mangled.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQadGQDuZu7Q73xvP3FwoLQV4wNztTWVCcMtSEVwnG8M-T-XHV9IMIkUcawF0jmBQo52KBXfewMe6dGEkwxpLv8DCoNJXluV6yyAxRSu1C6Er96ESmCiv77hWiHPB67z9EjymDpLOjEokOSVmflSE7zFnA3ZeNxJGj72E9Vt5ROXHHimZ06rGFQezwA/s320/mangled.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />She was horribly mangled by Terror, driven away from the family, unwillingly leaving her children behind and vowing revenge ever since.<br /><br />Shinkuro was one of the first candidates she felt could truly destroy her husband, lamenting to Ryu that she had no idea Shinkuro would murder so many people.<br />Ryu is steadfast that he, Philip, and Shotaro, will prove a hate-fueled W isn’t needed to defeat the Old Dopant or even Terror for that matter.<br /><br />Not much else to say other than doing just that. Accel and Philip along with old man Shotaro as Xtreme manage to take down the Dopant in a final battle. Proving their point to Shroud, she agrees to withdraw from the playing field and no longer interfere. Philip however is left with many questions, obviously wanting to know his mother better, and perhaps his past. But she disappears before that chance is had.<br /><br /><br />Oh, Ryu and Akiko hook up at the end. Yeah, I’ve not been mentioning that the past few cases have had jokes and hints about Akiko being into Ryu, even possible dating. Some of the earlier episodes with him even had a couple of gags before long periods of nothing between the two. Honestly, it’s not that important and quite frankly I’ve forgotten several times that they’re an item, even having seen the series in its entirety 4 or 5 times. So that probably lets you know what I think about the pairing. It sure exists.<br /><br /><br /><br />Most of what’s going on in these recent episodes has been background information and story development, damn captivating at that. I also think it makes a nice epilogue to Ryu’s development.<br /><br />I’m not really big on “Revenge is bad '' type morality tales, but the specific brand used here works for the message. It’s not righteous anger utilized productively the way someone like Kotaro uses it, it’s simply rage. For all the planning and cleverness someone like Shroud has, she’s still guilty of being tunnel-visioned in her goal as evidenced by haphazardly giving someone like Shinkuro a powerful memory. As Saeko explained metaphorically to Ryu, her mother treats things like a game of pool, knocking everything else out just to get to one target. We’ve seen that Ryu has been guilty of the same methodology, getting lost in the depths of a singular goal at the cost of everything else. So it only makes sense that he comes around to understanding and forgiving Shroud.<br /><br /><br />Wakana on the other hand has no such clarity. While she calls Shroud a traitor to the museum, she appears to have more resentment for her mother leaving at all, considering it a form of abandonment, which there may be some truth to. In the conversation Shroud has with Ryu, she blatantly states her actions were to get Raito back and stop Ryuube, with no mention of Wakana or Saeko. Admittedly, Raito was the main focus of Ryuube’s research and the most dangerous to leave behind. By the time he was rescued, Wakana and Saeko were grown and too far gone. But it’s interesting that they weren’t even an afterthought or mentioned as a consideration.<br /><br />Curiously, Saeko doesn’t give much of an opinion on her mother. Perhaps that has to do with her being the eldest and having a better understanding of the situation than Wakana, could be that she begrudgingly sees the resemblance to her mother’s headstrong personality and hatred towards Ryuube. But Saeko’s initial response about Shroud being “Ah, that woman…” best sums up a rather ambivalent view. Not really thinking or referring to her as a mother, yet not harboring quite the same anger as her sister.<br /><br /><br /><br />We don’t get much of Philip’s viewpoint because he learns all the major stuff near the end of the episode, so it’s mostly set up for what comes next, and I actually want to stop for a second here because that something is the movie ‘Kamen Rider W Forever: A to Z/The Gaia Memories of Fate’ which takes place in between episodes 44 and 45.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQNVOiHAO3n2mgZJgAAd6Cxa3W7SjyIEQHWoz6kTMujjW7PlYykR10T48KBTASSbkPCX8tZqdjzO6HfGKNO6Ng9wNzxjP-Lh7NcrjIWs-_0mQJg36aUn-k0HLoLuoXk37zHaT5N5RPEd-L1FMi1YlKYLK1orYMYmp09qOsWjUWwpkXBMaRcs6_3zusg/s1500/poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQNVOiHAO3n2mgZJgAAd6Cxa3W7SjyIEQHWoz6kTMujjW7PlYykR10T48KBTASSbkPCX8tZqdjzO6HfGKNO6Ng9wNzxjP-Lh7NcrjIWs-_0mQJg36aUn-k0HLoLuoXk37zHaT5N5RPEd-L1FMi1YlKYLK1orYMYmp09qOsWjUWwpkXBMaRcs6_3zusg/s320/poster.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />While I did rewatch it, I am not recapping that entire movie for this review, that’s for another time. But there are some important things you’ll need to know going forward.<br /><br />So just before Ryu met with Saeko, Jun Kazu was getting his suitcase in order, which was filled with second-generation Gaia Memories, refined ones like W and Accel use, but more advanced. According to Kazu, they were developed from research conducted by Shroud before her departure of the Museum, and they were finished by Foundation X independent of the Museum, hinting at a lack of trust or need for them going forward. The movie deals with the significance of that scene and the results of T2 memories.<br /><br />The pertinent information you’ll need going forward is:<br /><br />The T2 memories are cast across the city, causing tons of chaos that culminates with Fuuto’s iconic wind tower also being destroyed.<br /><br />Shotaro recovers Sokichi’s single slot Lost Driver, thus giving Shotaro a means to fight solo as simply Kamen Rider Joker, which he does in the film after Philip is manipulated by a Shroud impersonator.<br /><br />And finally, the main villains of the movie are a small mercenary group called NEVER, who are angered over being abandoned by Foundation X in favor of the Museum. They consist of undead superhumans, the Necro-Overs, who rely on regular injections to stay animated. They also have high compatibility with the T2 memories, but as a consequence, they’re susceptible in much the same manner that Shinkuro was, even with the use of a driver- this will be important later on. <br /><br />(It's also worth noting that this is the only instance of there being a villain in W using the "Kamen" part in their name, as Kamen Rider Eternal.)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />45 picks up in the aftermath of the film’s events, Fuuto Tower being rebuilt just as an eccentric Indiana Jones-esque client, Kyoko Todoroki, walks into the agency. Todoroki is a curator at the Fuuto Museum and just so happened to overhear Ryuube discussing the loss of an important artifact in a recent cave-in; the evil tail. While Akiko is hesitant to take on such a case, Shotaro views it as an opportunity to get close to the museum and find what secrets lie within.<br /><br />Philip meanwhile is unable to look up any information on the artifact because it’s too closely related to the Sonozakis…until suddenly those restrictions are lifted. Every book relating to the Museum is now available: The Museum itself, Dopants, Gaia Memories, and one on Raito Sonozaki. Faced with learning about his past, Philip panics and quickly departs the Library, disappointing Wakana, who had lifted the restrictions.<br />Philip doesn’t get much chance to think on the matter before he’s called into action, the trio running into the Smilodon Dopant in the caves after recovering the Evil Tail.<br /><br />That fight is further interrupted by Terror, forcing W to prioritize getting Todoroki and Akiko to safety.<br /><br /><br />At the agency, Todoroki refuses to believe that Ryuube could be such a monster, running off while everyone else is in conversation- which happens way too damn often. This is like Sanjo’s version of “Guys show up and shoot things”.<br /><br />Shotaro and Ryu give chase, winding up at the museum where we learn Ryuube’s true plan is to initiate the Gaia Impact, a merging of the Earth’s consciousness with Fuuto's population in an attempt to save humans from themselves, converting them into pure data. Todoroki is horrified and tries to make off with the Evil Tail, subsequently chased by Smilodon, and Ryu following behind. But Shotaro’s frozen with fear. All the run-ins with Ryuube have had an accumulative effect, where even his human form is enough to put Shotaro into a terrified stupor.<br /><br />Concurrently, Philip decides he should face the truth and finally read his own book, revealing what really happened, and is horrified at the revelation he discovers. Bolting from the agency, he runs directly to the museum to find Shotaro, who is aimlessly walking in a nearly catatonic state. Philip manages to shake Shotaro to his senses, as the two realize they need to rescue Ryu from Smilodon. Thankfully, Philip’s newfound knowledge allows him to easily pacify Mick- who was originally his cat at age 3. They easily destroy the memory and driver, freeing the British Shorthair.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlW3iLEoyXY5pRaDisrwpsEKFys2yDEMy5I758sd6ulRAoGAWqfurSF_wQi1zz3UCLTiaX8idTGccaRZZKNF5oIDihRNrvmE4Zg88C-4JioITpyFuvECRHNaV41omBc7ColxdoSDLms1UsnpyNGmeTpILm-KKCR7k_1EVpHDReh02rnU0iRqjRNtZquQ/s1366/a%20cat.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlW3iLEoyXY5pRaDisrwpsEKFys2yDEMy5I758sd6ulRAoGAWqfurSF_wQi1zz3UCLTiaX8idTGccaRZZKNF5oIDihRNrvmE4Zg88C-4JioITpyFuvECRHNaV41omBc7ColxdoSDLms1UsnpyNGmeTpILm-KKCR7k_1EVpHDReh02rnU0iRqjRNtZquQ/s320/a%20cat.png" width="320" /></a></div><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-d6f0d5b3-7fff-4951-c8dc-a893aff6b6d9" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br />Ryuube arrives, realizing Philip read the book and now knows the purpose he serves. <br />Because 12 years ago, Raito Sonozaki fell into the Gaia Well and died.<br /><br />Shotaro doesn’t want to believe it, but Philip confirms it’s all true.<br />Philip isn’t human or technically living in an organic sense. He’s a construct of data, a memory of Raito reborn from the Earth replicating the concept of him. And now, with Philip and the Evil Tail gathered in one place, Ryuube’s end goal can be put into motion.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFsdOXJgXqe-MtodZqd_rUFksmer2qjsA1oRDJJmoLdNDFcBZVHmb_THhGsaWqwt1LZ3UGMt68BFDaVztMD7pXpw1TDcnSWwVjV9SA7B02WiVisUfZo80HkU_JljmVasLANN_t10LnuWIdMMI4gCrQ46oxFNrA9BPRO5x9bs02Jnu052ZtWKm6ubYjg/s1366/terror%20dragon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFsdOXJgXqe-MtodZqd_rUFksmer2qjsA1oRDJJmoLdNDFcBZVHmb_THhGsaWqwt1LZ3UGMt68BFDaVztMD7pXpw1TDcnSWwVjV9SA7B02WiVisUfZo80HkU_JljmVasLANN_t10LnuWIdMMI4gCrQ46oxFNrA9BPRO5x9bs02Jnu052ZtWKm6ubYjg/s320/terror%20dragon.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Unfortunately, there isn’t much the Riders can do to stop him. Accel may be immune to Terror’s mental powers, but he’s not immune to Ryuube unleashing a Dragon from atop his crest. The massive Barong-like Terror Dragon merely eats Accel, chews him up, and spits out a bloody Ryu.<br />Xtreme doesn’t fare much better, as Shroud's fears ring true when Shotaro’s vulnerability causes them to stop short of even getting a single hit on Terror, who throws the two-in-one Rider so hard their transformation is disrupted. Philip is rendered unconscious and swept away, while Shotaro is left in a manic state.<br /><br />Philip awakens in the estate, coming down to find the entire family has gathered for a dinner, including a begrudging Saeko, and even Shroud.<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiE3219O-cpHk7pdnSWNQDTKx3vCxy0j-6MIhrv3Vp3ea4F90ycFElm2lWUKjPjW4G_honWICEzXv78I5Z-9g6evbQbmU5iOhuj0LM_n6XXi247NQ7X4TpunbdZ3VPliUm43JbqGeBkP7TDn4l3fQcUnS3pXhVt-JPnkqUmzSjFRAS3pOZKJ6q4bRkow/s1366/expected.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiE3219O-cpHk7pdnSWNQDTKx3vCxy0j-6MIhrv3Vp3ea4F90ycFElm2lWUKjPjW4G_honWICEzXv78I5Z-9g6evbQbmU5iOhuj0LM_n6XXi247NQ7X4TpunbdZ3VPliUm43JbqGeBkP7TDn4l3fQcUnS3pXhVt-JPnkqUmzSjFRAS3pOZKJ6q4bRkow/s320/expected.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Ryuube has extended an invitation to all as a final farewell to Wakana…and as a final opportunity to beg forgiveness before she ascends to godhood. The dinner goes about as well as you’d expect. <br />Philip tries to reach anyone in his family, placating that regardless of circumstance, they’re finally together. But it’s for naught. Saeko continues to view Philip as nothing more than an object worth leveraging, conversations break down as Wakana and Saeko begin to bicker and ultimately fight, resulting in Saeko’s Nazca memory being destroyed.<br />In the ensuing chaos, Todoroki sneaks into the estate and makes off with the artifact before anyone notices.<br /><br />As Shroud begins to depart, she leaves Philip with a harsh yet touching wake-up call; the Sonozakis are not his family, Shotaro is, and he’s Philip’s Wild Card.<br /><br /><br />Over at the Agency, Shotaro is stuck in a paranoid delusion, incapable of dealing with the slightest sound or sudden movement without bursting into a fit. Try as Akiko might to motivate Shotaro into doing anything to save Philip, all that results is horrific screaming.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1r96JuCMVGK587xqVnCkHeYuPm-5nHKg7g7EwnuRazi4Fpo5GWjlgSVlT1HP_nd-YXBsaAYCb9V6OkOyFvT2FLadVXlcaoMxV69ZAZ5ME-NdvAeq3hE3UUMYv-fyScxq7w2-eY2ThxI-XNJYA9w1r9emA51eYswdwGeUchbetj53m7rJeVUI4ibKjg/s1366/gone%201.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1r96JuCMVGK587xqVnCkHeYuPm-5nHKg7g7EwnuRazi4Fpo5GWjlgSVlT1HP_nd-YXBsaAYCb9V6OkOyFvT2FLadVXlcaoMxV69ZAZ5ME-NdvAeq3hE3UUMYv-fyScxq7w2-eY2ThxI-XNJYA9w1r9emA51eYswdwGeUchbetj53m7rJeVUI4ibKjg/s320/gone%201.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinW1TnVLsP2E18ZH9MgE98h_y_49JpjV3NoyjGWtEJWLoi1U1pQVBSm4v9pF2YJlrbAwI8XLVXRCq7qigJCz1PSKPapsb459-TSwLABZWo0qoOukOL2_8SyrNEsqQpHICJ1069YVd_XT1rLwttF2NDCDvHM2UFPqBqNM2NWtZBD5oggXYiz59ThI8xCA/s1366/gone%202.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinW1TnVLsP2E18ZH9MgE98h_y_49JpjV3NoyjGWtEJWLoi1U1pQVBSm4v9pF2YJlrbAwI8XLVXRCq7qigJCz1PSKPapsb459-TSwLABZWo0qoOukOL2_8SyrNEsqQpHICJ1069YVd_XT1rLwttF2NDCDvHM2UFPqBqNM2NWtZBD5oggXYiz59ThI8xCA/s320/gone%202.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Shotaro’s sad state continues into the night, along with a bitter call from Philip, his voice being one of the few things to get through to him. It’s goodbye. Philip is to be sacrificed to the Gaia Well, reabsorbed into the data stream as a means to regulate the process so Wakana can fully become one with the Earth.<br />Echoing back to their first meeting and transformation, Philip tells Shotaro that he won’t be gone, so long as he has the courage to ride with the devil.<br /><br />The outlook is bleak, but a glimmer of hope comes in the form of Todoroki returning with the devil’s tail.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-REEpwRs1jhZ4g0Uib5kVTWerARbjqjd6HtSUR7DSJIKx3AOddgur_oajGjc5NljDTwYXOd4E7oCzQQDHkgCX0Q9inIFkW4mNHQWGJsgUX8VuSq-ZdlgFbLNe3q6A6C5kHnl3iT8-f2SmGjl6cxF2hK9OVZIXR4Ffp8zS79BfwQTiyaN1qYNFCLfdg/s1366/xtreme%20well.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-REEpwRs1jhZ4g0Uib5kVTWerARbjqjd6HtSUR7DSJIKx3AOddgur_oajGjc5NljDTwYXOd4E7oCzQQDHkgCX0Q9inIFkW4mNHQWGJsgUX8VuSq-ZdlgFbLNe3q6A6C5kHnl3iT8-f2SmGjl6cxF2hK9OVZIXR4Ffp8zS79BfwQTiyaN1qYNFCLfdg/s320/xtreme%20well.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />The next day, the sacrifice gets underway. Philip is given a final farewell from his father before being pushed into the well, broken up, and causing an eruption that flows through the estate and up to Wakana. The ritual is interrupted by Akiko literally dragging Shotaro in, who reveals he has the evil tail. As the situation unfolds, it becomes clear the “tail” itself isn’t necessary for the event, rather Ryuube’s own deluded mind considers it his family.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOESkP0BavbZttxoLWaDIM5p2shNhkgIKmcC_5GHvtudEaXPRVMwwUMsM-QSAluOKvAtEj1gMebw3dGNIrx19cdx-donwkzy0tavm9sOuy7I-D-EOhfHPDgSreQJrRmvcmKELI-nirV9lpMXdvDoui9_7Oiomq4qgvf7PD6hSwiTLyZdSPIXi5-lB07A/s1366/brush.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOESkP0BavbZttxoLWaDIM5p2shNhkgIKmcC_5GHvtudEaXPRVMwwUMsM-QSAluOKvAtEj1gMebw3dGNIrx19cdx-donwkzy0tavm9sOuy7I-D-EOhfHPDgSreQJrRmvcmKELI-nirV9lpMXdvDoui9_7Oiomq4qgvf7PD6hSwiTLyZdSPIXi5-lB07A/s320/brush.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-19eba1a4-7fff-e2c7-fdcd-f6321eb04658" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The tail in actuality is simply an excavation brush, signed by all members of the Sonozaki family. The final object symbolizing the once-happy family before Raito perished two months later, and Ryuube began his campaign of terror.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Ryuube taunts that it’s too late to stop the ritual, Philip, has already been absorbed by Wakana. But Shotaro made a promise that so long as Philip was his partner, he would never crack.<br /><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKnezsXJQER3bpGEy92DMwarGc_9IexYRY74_G5EC1mKZdua4i5EOfqGkFmEimymSg7va9THM0m5MfbOkrCh47BCZaMwVNHTD4wLfcaJ-bITw8yRilzOUpxa7FeV5byzbZ0t5REeVYdWR3y0sLoostgr_y8YNPt2uX6-q4zTgUXWSVqB9b4s6RQlDP8w/s1366/never%20crack.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKnezsXJQER3bpGEy92DMwarGc_9IexYRY74_G5EC1mKZdua4i5EOfqGkFmEimymSg7va9THM0m5MfbOkrCh47BCZaMwVNHTD4wLfcaJ-bITw8yRilzOUpxa7FeV5byzbZ0t5REeVYdWR3y0sLoostgr_y8YNPt2uX6-q4zTgUXWSVqB9b4s6RQlDP8w/s320/never%20crack.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><br /><br />Shotaro activates Joker and Wakana begins convulsing in pain as Cyclone answers the call and forms in the W driver, and the two-in-one detective is made whole once more.<br />With half of Philip now missing from the data stream, Wakana has in essence encountered an error and must shut down, leaving her to withe on the floor as she bugs out. That just leaves Ryuube as the final obstacle in the way.<br /><br />W is initially overmatched by Terror, but Ryu manages to drag himself out of bed and arrive on the scene as Accel. Although he can barely move, he’s able to interface with the modular components of W’s bike, in particular the flying Hardturbuler, which he uses to take on the Terror Dragon in a re-match high in the sky. The CGI in W isn’t exactly great, but this is probably the best it is in the entire show, and part of that is simply the clever use and fast kentic energy.<br /><br />In contrast with the CG battle between Accel and the Terror Dragon, W and Terror’s fight is a straight-up simple beat down.<br /><br />With half of his physical power gone and Shotaro overcoming the mental attacks, they might be on equal footing. But then Xtreme shows up, dives through, and seemingly finishes off Wakana while also collecting the rest of Philip’s data, well, at that point, Terror doesn’t stand a chance. W whales on Terror before finally delivering one final kick, destroying the Terror Memory, but not before Accel finishes off the Terror Dragon by launching it directly into the estate.<br /><br />Ryuube stumbles into the now burning mansion, seeing a vision of a ghostly Wakana, taking solace in the knowledge that it’s not over yet. He dances gleefully in the fire, having no regrets about his decisions, as the mansion comes down and the fire grows closer.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaF3IZEzp4bdGs6gl9ZiS2qlCLUOdPKTYO0gkMxdovpM-uN_tPaIwpsRs6NqF3EjCM0uLWC_VVbWO42-rj4_F3djFRIrKnEvgANqiTpeInlNVuyC9g4nPeOsyBUVpMpF7QGObsYiTonyHz6pZAebs6G21KGAzQp2pUvSg2qkf-A-Fdjye8uvpwirjroQ/s1366/burn%20down.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaF3IZEzp4bdGs6gl9ZiS2qlCLUOdPKTYO0gkMxdovpM-uN_tPaIwpsRs6NqF3EjCM0uLWC_VVbWO42-rj4_F3djFRIrKnEvgANqiTpeInlNVuyC9g4nPeOsyBUVpMpF7QGObsYiTonyHz6pZAebs6G21KGAzQp2pUvSg2qkf-A-Fdjye8uvpwirjroQ/s320/burn%20down.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />There is not, however, a celebration to be had in this victory. Even after destroying their Gaia Memories, Philip wasn’t able to save his family from their delusions.<br /><br />And while this may be an end to the museum, there are still loose ends that need tending to. Saeko is still on the loose, and Wakana’s body was never recovered from the mansion. A final mystery unfolds as we witness Kazu carrying her body.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErBLNQK-3igngRrtLR8JDw7jk94eUdFbe_EaOWDxWznSBvzDIKh2y_KeMR7uhE9hixBUUJVRtRRAhI7FzxdkT6UzN0wadhGLEqmH2IgBOWVZqehOhZPJJzmKStopepd-ByIXAe_kNHLPOYFTCmcub90xYr_aH93rowQpc25oewh-4xeZVRfA-lN6rPw/s1366/carry.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErBLNQK-3igngRrtLR8JDw7jk94eUdFbe_EaOWDxWznSBvzDIKh2y_KeMR7uhE9hixBUUJVRtRRAhI7FzxdkT6UzN0wadhGLEqmH2IgBOWVZqehOhZPJJzmKStopepd-ByIXAe_kNHLPOYFTCmcub90xYr_aH93rowQpc25oewh-4xeZVRfA-lN6rPw/s320/carry.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />With no time to slow, we enter episodes 47 & 48, the final two-parter of Kamen Rider W.<br /><br /><br />Things have been peaceful for the Agency in the fallout of Ryuube’s death. Shotaro has even recovered Mick, allowing Philip to have at least one member of his family saved. Yet trouble is brewing just under the surface.<br />Philip has been having strange dreams involving Wakana, signifying a mental connection to her.<br />With the strong likelihood of Wakana being out there, Philip requests Shotaro to find and save his sister. It would be the first and only time Philip would ask for help.<br /><br /><br />It doesn’t take long before a lead crops up, as Saeko has been seen racing on the local track every day since the Museum collapsed. But when confronted over Wakana’s whereabouts, she’s flabbergasted to learn of her sister's survival. That’s when Jun Kazu arrives to collect Saeko and install her as the new head of the museum.<br />Kazu has Wakana and plans on using her to complete the Gaia Impact, but on a global scale, wiping out anyone with low compatibility with Gaia Memories in a genocidal “purification” of humanity.<br /><br />Kazu then reveals he, like the Sonozakis, has a driver and a gold-level Gaia memory; Utopia. Assuming his dopant form, everyone else is suspended in the air. Ryu transforms and attempts to fight back, but it’s no use. Utopia has control over gravity and thrashes the rider with complete ease.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0haTrR_0idxtxf4G2AOZxcddZyGuO0N7aCPYA5HsulpWy8zaFOFxSdpTKyPQwTcgiZwlpcJXgWdwLoeCW9089JvWO5hvnK_mbrQ34Jr5puuH5JpRDEAjm6pkL0ziPcglwnI9CMwViFr7tpgP_4MkU_FiDbI5u_gBFgu2Ncyp_vw_tK5okk7SYU9ScNQ/s1366/Utopia.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0haTrR_0idxtxf4G2AOZxcddZyGuO0N7aCPYA5HsulpWy8zaFOFxSdpTKyPQwTcgiZwlpcJXgWdwLoeCW9089JvWO5hvnK_mbrQ34Jr5puuH5JpRDEAjm6pkL0ziPcglwnI9CMwViFr7tpgP_4MkU_FiDbI5u_gBFgu2Ncyp_vw_tK5okk7SYU9ScNQ/s320/Utopia.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Shotaro readies to step in, but that’s when Philip reveals they can’t
transform because being reconstituted into data by the Gaia Well and
forcibly removed left a lingering instability. The data that constructs
his body is corrupted, causing his physical form to literally glitch out
at times, and it’s so unstable that transforming will destroy it. When
they do transform, it’ll have to be in a final sacrifice to save his
sister. But until then, all they can do is mercilessly watch Accel get
tossed aside and Saeko kidnapped by Utopia.<br /><br />Back at the
agency, Philip begins looking into Foundation X, which has a total of 27
facilities across Fuuto alone. Using a hint Saeko gave, he’s able to
narrow it down to the exact facility.<br />But Shotaro is still
whirling from the knowledge that Philip will die after they transform.
He desperately seeks an alternative to Philip’s sacrifice, heading out
to find Shroud.<br /><br />I’m going to cut to the chase and say that
this is the saving grace of this episode because there is a lot of fluff
I’m skimming over like an overly long bike sequence on the race track,
and a subplot of Kazu trying to convenience the leader of Foundation X,
Neon Ulslan, that Gaia Memories are still worth investing in. Not that
important, not that interesting. Foundation X does not matter, only Kazu
does.<br /><br />Thankfully, Shotaro and Philip’s dynamic is so
good that you don’t pay much heed to the shortcomings. Especially coming
off the heels of Philip being saved, it’s heartbreaking seeing Shotaro
try to find a way out, only to be met with the inevitable reality of the
situation when Shroud admits she was Sokichi’s last client, and that
Shotaro’s done more than enough in his wake by making sure Philip was
more than just a collection of data. All she asks of Shotaro is that
Philip’s final moments are peaceful because it’s all Shotaro can do at
this point.<br /><br />Disheartened, Shotaro returns to the Agency to
find, of all things, a party. Under the guise of a going away bash,
Akiko has gathered all the Fuuto Irregulars as one final goodbye to
Philip, who they all believe to be going overseas. There’s not much to
elaborate on, it’s a sweet if somber gesture offering a final outing of
the entire supporting cast, and a calm before the storm. Philip has
gifts for all those in attendance, including Shotaro, who obviously
isn’t in the mood for such festivities. Philip tells him to open it
later, leaving it on his desk.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzMWS79kX8_LAvCuToX3Nab9sMESLU1gUNOmLUzSNf1zn1RJyIwLKyvlNAT1VloKL5xLx5CsPdj_rx9LASyZyZYaD9-9uNwy1fSUxYDHsK4tz4zcgKS51wKgbK3NsBN0TE25c-T6swIUa7EQ8qJA-H1HAzQWc4Tli7WNDN9a02HRCfa1kfFk_O30NQA/s1366/gift.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzMWS79kX8_LAvCuToX3Nab9sMESLU1gUNOmLUzSNf1zn1RJyIwLKyvlNAT1VloKL5xLx5CsPdj_rx9LASyZyZYaD9-9uNwy1fSUxYDHsK4tz4zcgKS51wKgbK3NsBN0TE25c-T6swIUa7EQ8qJA-H1HAzQWc4Tli7WNDN9a02HRCfa1kfFk_O30NQA/s320/gift.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />We also get a really touching moment where Philip admits to everyone that when he first came to Fuuto he wasn’t exactly gelling with the environment and that he was a bit devilish back then. But by spending time with Shotaro, the agency, and the people of Fuuto, he’s come to love the town and the people in it, becoming a better person himself.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />As dawn breaks, the riders, and Akiko, begin their final assault on the Foundation X facility. Accel ultimately holds off the swarm of foot soldiers, allowing the other three to make their way down into the facility where they finally discover a comatose Wakana, whereby they come face to face with Utopia. The final confrontation prepares to commence, Philip ready to lay his life on the line to save his sister, and Shotaro... can’t bring himself to transform.<br /><br />Utopia takes Wakana once again, crossing paths with Accel along the way, and the confrontation is much the same as the last. Even Trial can’t outspeed Utopia’s power, who tosses the helpless rider about, slamming him through steel beams. Utopia then feeds upon Ryu’s emotions, taking away his Trial form, and sets Accel ablaze. He continues to burn, forcing Ryu out of his Rider form, burning still.<br /><br />Yet Shotaro still can’t bring himself to transform.<br /><br /><br /><br />And if that wasn’t bad enough, the more Philip anguishes at the horror before him, the more Wakana’s power awakens due to their metal connection. So Kazu just starts strangling Shotaro to death to speed things along.<br /><br />He’s saved by the timely intervention of Taboo, Wakana having received the memory earlier by Kazu, ironically. Unfortunately, she doesn’t buy the heroes much time. While she catches Kazu off guard and even manages to knock him out of his dopant form, he can’t be killed. He’s a Necro-Over just like the members of NEVER. He shakes off the barrage, knocks out Saeko, and takes both her and Wakana before anyone can react.<br /><br /><br />Ryu is rushed to the hospital, his battered and charred body taken to the ICU.<br /><br />Philip berates Shotaro for his inaction causing Ryu to nearly die, and Shotaro is quite frankly a candid dick about his lack of responsibility. Akiko tells them to hash things out while she heads back home.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />With the two now alone, Philip insists that if he has to go, it will be on his own terms, and he asks Shotaro to promise to protect Fuuto, even if he has to do it alone. But Shotaro can’t because he doesn’t believe he’s capable of doing it without Philip.<br />But unlike other times in which Shotaro’s kindness has played a role in always finding another way- he’s now in a scenario where that simply can’t be.<br />It’s a legitimately sad and vulnerable moment, with nuance and character flaws. Even if it’s selfish, you can understand why Shotaro doesn’t want to do something that will kill his partner, even if Philip’s willing to accept it.<br /><br />But that begs the question of how many more must pay the price for Shotaro’s hesitation, and that is soon answered by a phone call from Kazu.<br /><br />Philip is mentally assaulted with a barrage of attacks carried out by Kazu upon the Fuuto Irregulars and the local PD, removing their faces and leaving behind their comatose bodies. From Watcherman to Santa, Queen and Elizabeth, and even Makura and Jinno.<br /><br />But he isn’t finished, there’s still one more victim, as Kazu walks into the Detective agency.<br /><br /><br />Shotaro and Philip rush to the scene, but it’s too late. All that remains is Akiko’s featureless limp body, sending Philip into a downward spiral.<br /><br />The horror of the situation sinks in for Shotaro, as his dearest friend and all those around them suffer due to his negligence. Taking responsibility, Shotaro grabs Sokichi’s torn white fedora and heads out alone to face Kazu.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Meanwhile, Wakana has awakened from her coma, finding herself trapped with Saeko in Kazu's clutches. Even after all that’s happened, Kazu is still willing to trust Saeko, or at least tolerate her behavior, as he is legitimately enamored with her. Yet she still refuses him, resulting in Kazu actually emoting for once. Saeko takes back her Taboo memory once more and attacks Kazu, telling Wakana to run.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimY18979cPGTqOvTjie9Yn1AJqG2BlDT04-TZP40iPvi0CMuplGribpwhHkm7B2uR806FcYeYiXeZRYiJ4RfdmOgPwLbWzR_PIhOr4V8mUnz-1664uTrgdziw-wz_qlYqgDTJN4gpls5P9_c7DWLZnIU13n_NElZjXNEHicSfOnyByQlqDUG4zbCTpGQ/s1366/saeko%20death.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimY18979cPGTqOvTjie9Yn1AJqG2BlDT04-TZP40iPvi0CMuplGribpwhHkm7B2uR806FcYeYiXeZRYiJ4RfdmOgPwLbWzR_PIhOr4V8mUnz-1664uTrgdziw-wz_qlYqgDTJN4gpls5P9_c7DWLZnIU13n_NElZjXNEHicSfOnyByQlqDUG4zbCTpGQ/s320/saeko%20death.png" width="320" /></a></div>Her battle is as one-sided as the last. Utopia absorbs Saeko’s power,
and her life, leaving her to die as he leaves to deal with Wakana. In
her final moments, she reminisces on the irony of her saving the sister
she hated so much. The final words she hears come from Shotaro,
promising to protect Wakana.<br /><br />Finally, Kazu readies Wakana
for the final phase, strapping her to a machine linked to an array of
satellite dishes, rendering her unconscious once more- and that’s when
Shotaro enters.<br />This is Shotaro’s defining moment, showcasing
his ability to step up and improvise in a dive-headfirst situation.
After all, even if he can’t be a Kamen Rider, he’s still a detective.<br /><br />Shotaro
dodges several fireballs from Utopia, deals with being thrown about,
and gets close enough to interrupt Utopia’s abilities by simply covering
his fist with Sokichi’s fedora.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-kdElz9gPZj8rscnx5CjfSL1xzf-LD7vVSkuFtiJxpPZV8jU4_aybJTfUloL3nn45AUS_2XoiolFxVcTSmd13YhPqar8RssQ1UST7bs7N9EMR6egS22ybATauCzdqK_4zpwRyGv47IoPntEWimOLq24t-7DdUiurWL5rOWGdKSqKBs6aVdIfsUcFow/s1366/Hat%20fist.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-kdElz9gPZj8rscnx5CjfSL1xzf-LD7vVSkuFtiJxpPZV8jU4_aybJTfUloL3nn45AUS_2XoiolFxVcTSmd13YhPqar8RssQ1UST7bs7N9EMR6egS22ybATauCzdqK_4zpwRyGv47IoPntEWimOLq24t-7DdUiurWL5rOWGdKSqKBs6aVdIfsUcFow/s320/Hat%20fist.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Shotaro unleashes every gadget at his disposal, destroying the computer systems and tying up Utopia just long enough for Shotaro to free Wakana as the facility becomes unstable and melts down.<br />Philip arrives on the scene via Xtreme, amazed that Shotaro did all this solo. But for Shotaro, he was just keeping a promise.<br />Celebrations are cut short by the reappearance of Utopia, having survived the facility’s collapse.<br /><br />Without hesitation, the duo unites for one final time, taking Utopia head-on and laying into him with everything they’ve got. Utopia attempts to feed on their emotions as he has in all prior engagements, but Philip is too strong for Utopia to handle, only resulting in a split forearm. Xtreme initiates a maximum drive and hits Utopia with a barrage of Rider kicks, knocking Kazu out of his dopant form. His body begins to flake, and upon reactivating his Gaia Memory, it shatters as Kazu’s Necro-Over body disintegrates.<br /><br />In the aftermath, Xtreme’s power fizzles out from the driver, signifying the end of Philip as well. He asks Shotaro not to tell Wakana about his death, as he reaches for the driver. Philip is stopped by Shotaro, who asks to be the one to do it.<br /><br />As Shotaro fights back tears, he takes hold of the driver. Philip assures him that as long as the earth remains, they’ll always be partners.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiLUjwYpLu-RqTnvf9T7mrStugzV6aJEe-8C1R4KO_nquvc9hbEvVuEsutOC7zJCl0qWzsGY_keJLwAqKlJZ_yotQk4gYsXnsBh3G-VKxCw2kY6Pk7hFHXFpfbjqvY3MluY7Rjw9xe30qMo5UZAkq2swFzXqCD-1auAgP3ZaFKsr4aEemzWgmkMO_9A/s1366/case%20closed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiLUjwYpLu-RqTnvf9T7mrStugzV6aJEe-8C1R4KO_nquvc9hbEvVuEsutOC7zJCl0qWzsGY_keJLwAqKlJZ_yotQk4gYsXnsBh3G-VKxCw2kY6Pk7hFHXFpfbjqvY3MluY7Rjw9xe30qMo5UZAkq2swFzXqCD-1auAgP3ZaFKsr4aEemzWgmkMO_9A/s320/case%20closed.png" width="320" /></a></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-09aa5023-7fff-abdd-d9f8-bfcbbf7c5f66" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span>The scene savors every emotional turmoil, building towards the inevitable as Shotaro, and presumably the audience, break down into tears. Until finally, Shotaro closes the Driver. Philip’s consciousness slowly disappears, along with the Xtreme memory.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLwvw_80OYrhxzdQnBZxBX6H5bBYWYH2O8mXK2JYjy0RlNmQHdJlGnL-FgRcSQic2SHy52ajAF2oQT0TpBBBrxPx2kRxMTe0kvhygdqa1WEL-YG1ipPaw_WGv9lrQUwwOx329_vMSynPTY4Z0e8wNhwpeBtY1q6AKwWZuPj_2UZFitbXDJ58AgbNU6w/s1366/disappear%201.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLwvw_80OYrhxzdQnBZxBX6H5bBYWYH2O8mXK2JYjy0RlNmQHdJlGnL-FgRcSQic2SHy52ajAF2oQT0TpBBBrxPx2kRxMTe0kvhygdqa1WEL-YG1ipPaw_WGv9lrQUwwOx329_vMSynPTY4Z0e8wNhwpeBtY1q6AKwWZuPj_2UZFitbXDJ58AgbNU6w/s320/disappear%201.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Mh28fiOHQ_5Go4SX8hTOGT26PylRdwa3rxSRP7o9dWutmft6B3J_eZqRbq6HK9vb73RvzLjt11J0gzrDu0I0MfQRVKBdnkyUILYatFMUOk46cZJMhRnNkHyJZS4SHzNdmozy7bN4ef1K7EIb5vM6jRRIfuc-G_ePMm15LFVmU9Rn4xIzg1gm-Q7_rg/s1366/disappear%202.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Mh28fiOHQ_5Go4SX8hTOGT26PylRdwa3rxSRP7o9dWutmft6B3J_eZqRbq6HK9vb73RvzLjt11J0gzrDu0I0MfQRVKBdnkyUILYatFMUOk46cZJMhRnNkHyJZS4SHzNdmozy7bN4ef1K7EIb5vM6jRRIfuc-G_ePMm15LFVmU9Rn4xIzg1gm-Q7_rg/s320/disappear%202.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br />We cut to an unspecified amount of time later at the agency, as an uneasy stillness permeates across the entire office.<br />That’s when Shotaro notices the still unopened present on his desk. Unwrapping the box, he discovers the Lost Driver, and the blank book Philip always carried. Shotaro flips frantically through until finding a single passage, asking Shotaro, Kamen Rider, to protect the city he loves.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-H0hyR5zSHeyGhqtHrHK9--DPggc2_TimPnXIM4o2XK4bWxLKCYSs8V9y5faiskX6ue-B8KosR8J9ncHLoYvNYb21Fvn7HaLD-his6jpxJVziAzRCig4il-FdMiBgq7gSYYQXI08PYNoPMgApLu0r1B8WcdzwS_PpILNn2JJbKdvA1-iMBviF16pCQ/s1366/book.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-H0hyR5zSHeyGhqtHrHK9--DPggc2_TimPnXIM4o2XK4bWxLKCYSs8V9y5faiskX6ue-B8KosR8J9ncHLoYvNYb21Fvn7HaLD-his6jpxJVziAzRCig4il-FdMiBgq7gSYYQXI08PYNoPMgApLu0r1B8WcdzwS_PpILNn2JJbKdvA1-iMBviF16pCQ/s320/book.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCJqLlDywi8-DUCjuubFiq2LbfSpAC5ImuuJUemPizSkziMDJl1a4Rim12cijbFfGQHVvkzcIH_mr3-N2EOG-VJoZAE1M3muZrnwxA4xDfCK75M-kApy8kviVL00kNP4mmRYAcFg6yhBz8cGkiaXM0c--ZBzBcbl0mAiEoQEROZKr2qZQoTQXGTmJKw/s1366/book%202.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCJqLlDywi8-DUCjuubFiq2LbfSpAC5ImuuJUemPizSkziMDJl1a4Rim12cijbFfGQHVvkzcIH_mr3-N2EOG-VJoZAE1M3muZrnwxA4xDfCK75M-kApy8kviVL00kNP4mmRYAcFg6yhBz8cGkiaXM0c--ZBzBcbl0mAiEoQEROZKr2qZQoTQXGTmJKw/s320/book%202.png" width="320" /></a></div>Just in case the previous scene didn’t break you.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Finally, we come to episode 49, the final episode and epilogue to the series events.<br /><br /><br /><br />One year after the collapse of the museum, things have calmed down, although some old problems still remain. The demise of the museum has left a power vacuum in Fuuto, with small gangs each with delusions of grandeur vying to replace them. While no longer manufactured, old stocks of Gaia Memories are still prevalent, necessitating the need for Shotaro and Ryu to intervene when needed.<br /><br />One such case arises with a boy named Akira Aoyama, whose sister, Yui, gets caught up with a dopant gang calling themselves EXE.<br />Throughout the episode, we see how Shotaro has gotten on without Philip, and that it’s not been easy. Old habits die hard and there are more than a few heart-wrenching moments, but he’s able to do his job well, even in Philip’s absence. We get a good bit of action with Kamen Rider Joker working solo, Shotaro having grown accustomed to fighting solo most of the time. Some thematic parallels are also drawn between Shotaro, Philip, Akira, and Yuri.<br /><br />This is related to the meat of the episode in which Akira tries to understand the nuances of Shotaro as someone strong yet clearly vulnerable and in a lot of pain. That desire to have someone to support and support you, and the need to stand on one’s own when you don’t.<br /><br />Through it all, we see POV shots of someone constantly monitoring Shotaro.<br /><br />Also interspersed throughout are flashback sequences months after Kazu’s death. These are primarily focused on Wakana's awakening and the developments thereafter, such as her Gaia Memory becoming one with her being, allowing her access to her powers even in human form. She also learns of Philip’s death when Shotaro inadvertently mentions it to stop Accel from attacking a rampaging Wakana. Oops.<br /><br />This revelation caused Wakana to flee, and she’s been missing ever since.<br /><br />These plot threads finally come together after Shotaro and Ryu confront and clean out the entire EXE gang, rescuing Yui. But as Shotaro and Akiko escort Akira and Yui back home, they’re confronted by another member of EXE, the true leader of the gang, Energy.<br /><br />Shotaro protects the children, being shot in the back and falling to his knees.<br />But he soon gets back up, as what hit him wasn’t from the dopant, but the Xtreme memory taking the brunt of the bolt.<br /><br /><br />That’s when Philip materializes from the memory. As Shotaro is bewildered and elated, we learn the final details of Wakana’s story and how Philip returned.<br /><br />After learning of his death, Wakana sought out the then terminally ill Shroud on how to go about the Gaia impact, and after doing so, proceeded to initiate <i>her</i> Gaia Impact by sacrificing herself to restore Philip’s body. We also have a rather bittersweet moment of Philp having a proper farewell with his entire family in the Gaia Library, just as they depart to join the Earth in the true Gaia Memory.<br /><br />Since then, for one year, Philip’s body had slowly been regenerating within the Xtreme Memory, watching over Shotaro until it was complete.<br />The ecstatic and joyous reunion is humorously cut short by the irate gang boss, annoyed they’re ignoring his presence. Shotaro and Philp form W, and the credits roll as they take on Energy while cycling through all their base forms before finally finishing with Cyclone/Joker.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROlgXvZZrBsurDX9cruJQsTf8KkKi4l2XlkNfZ3eMLnFZooifFhbqpbM_wHR8gDFGXaYWLp6Ytax3nBrOMAaRsXMjpWNhAXDUcpkPSf6TDdszgRVA2_RCXfQM9NYym6CTWx2RurD7Mh3w3c_ltNak1sNwzPj8o74Dpv0hbW8p4e22nH6W1aTtNVt6Xw/s1366/The%20end.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROlgXvZZrBsurDX9cruJQsTf8KkKi4l2XlkNfZ3eMLnFZooifFhbqpbM_wHR8gDFGXaYWLp6Ytax3nBrOMAaRsXMjpWNhAXDUcpkPSf6TDdszgRVA2_RCXfQM9NYym6CTWx2RurD7Mh3w3c_ltNak1sNwzPj8o74Dpv0hbW8p4e22nH6W1aTtNVt6Xw/s320/The%20end.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />This brings a close to Kamen Rider W.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>Visuals</h3></div><br /><div><div>I’ll keep this brief because this is already one of my longest reviews.
Thankfully there’s not too much to say about W, and I mean that in a
good way.<br /><br />One of the things I miss about the early parts of
Heisei Phase 2 is the rather quaint nature of the various forms. There
were more than in the earlier days, but not quite as many as would come
later. I think Gaim is when things started to truly become unruly with
how many different forms each rider had, combined with a larger cast at
that.<br /><br />So going back to W and basically having 3 forms, an
upgrade, and then a final form for the main rider, and a mere two for the secondary is all rather charming
and refreshing. There’s no waste here, nothing superfluous that feels
shoved in because Bandai made a toy that has to be shown- Vehicles and
Memory Gadgets notwithstanding. There's no Rocket Panda, is my point.<br />But you still get a decent variety,
especially with the mixing and matching aspect. Although you can tell
it’s a first attempt sorta thing. When you get down to it, the suits
aren’t really modular, so things like Cyclone/Trigger don’t get a lot of
love due to the nature of their construction. I'm gussing a lot of
lessons were learned for the OOO suits down the road, like how
horizonital is easier than vertical.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fxGe6nAwsH3hrneQF54dvhf_3bBLFoLz5j838UWNmxFEMrzREMxjLAZIcEXFKV2JpjaMEV3EMGlRRIxwFRXNqMn_xtTbIcL7TCH47uSDAQS8fA42DuSy2JRPiojaZ-H71PrKRFDx9AvuCSAk5BfBWHHmnxme66WVMQHbvxRYmo-ucj_jRt7Bj9rLBw/s633/suits.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="314" data-original-width="633" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fxGe6nAwsH3hrneQF54dvhf_3bBLFoLz5j838UWNmxFEMrzREMxjLAZIcEXFKV2JpjaMEV3EMGlRRIxwFRXNqMn_xtTbIcL7TCH47uSDAQS8fA42DuSy2JRPiojaZ-H71PrKRFDx9AvuCSAk5BfBWHHmnxme66WVMQHbvxRYmo-ucj_jRt7Bj9rLBw/s320/suits.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />All that said, I don’t think there’s much to comment on with the suits, at least the base forms. When you get down to it, they’re all repaints of the same general aesthetic, with most of the detail being in the pectoral region and wrists. Joker of course has a pattern akin to the Rider Back of a playing card, Cyclone has vents, while metal has rivets. Trigger has the most detail with the various firearm components; the slide; cylinder; serrations. Someone had fun with that one. But I also wanna give attention to Luna, because it’s very clever, if simple. The chest is covered in retroreflectors, which given their ability to bend light, plays well with the Moon Illusion power set. It’s also fitting since the moon itself has several retroreflectors on the surface.<br />In contrast, I think Heat is the weakest because it’s almost the same thing but orange, and I’m not sure why. I think the idea was for it to look like a heating element, but the effect doesn’t come across well.<br /><br />Truthfully Fang and Xtreme stick out the most. Fang for obvious reasons, the black/white contrast, the added spikey bits which actually change things up significantly enough. Simple, but more than most.<br />Xtreme meanwhile is the final suit so it's very elaborate. It took a while for this design to grow on me, but I eventually came around to liking the prismatic elements.<br /><br />Oddly enough though, where I admire W most aesthetically is the memories and the drivers, and that may have to do with how well the theming ties together, such as both the villains and the protagonists utilizing the same source as their power, which again is Sanjo using those classic elements of how Rider’s power is born from evil but is also intrinsically tied to Mother Earth. <br /><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"></span><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYQ5y-HGxi3zSzVetlIcXxUHF1fItMoZvqdb8tagmq1q-QA39VV75TervTW615xMo7XWXsl8XryAAmBX37_A9TBpuF2mBv7duzhXtqZ6fw9ynXBXU2MWLxGflY7d6xesSGunsW6gf2Mcod1ODPrkPZUEcd9LLUVz-ldkihBsoVSolnZ76wmeBqxPG3Q/s1366/gaia%20driver.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYQ5y-HGxi3zSzVetlIcXxUHF1fItMoZvqdb8tagmq1q-QA39VV75TervTW615xMo7XWXsl8XryAAmBX37_A9TBpuF2mBv7duzhXtqZ6fw9ynXBXU2MWLxGflY7d6xesSGunsW6gf2Mcod1ODPrkPZUEcd9LLUVz-ldkihBsoVSolnZ76wmeBqxPG3Q/s320/gaia%20driver.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />I love the attention to detail where the Gaia Memories sold on the street are much more crude and unrefined in appearance, whereas the Double Driver utilizes more advanced-looking ones funneled through a more developed conduit for safe usage. You can tell so much about the backstory just by looking at those two elements.<br />You sorta have the opposite aesthetic going on with the drivers. The Gaia Drivers are very plain and utilitarian. Simple, but effective and complete. The Lost and Double Drivers look like prototypes with exposed components and wires as if there was intended to be a shell but it never made it that far in development.<br /><br />I also want to give a quick mention to the character outfits and the set design. It's not something I mention often is these things, but W goes out of it's way to provide multiple outfits for each character, perfectly reflecting their personalities and the current season. The town is also always full of various wind related objects, like pinwheels and windchimes, just to remind you what that city's known for.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>Subs</h3></div><div><br />Talking about the subs is a bit more interesting to me than in most instances. Nowadays I typically don’t like discussing subs and their quality except for official releases. I mean, why complain about free fansubs? These people are doing it unpaid in their free time on top of all the other life nonsense. (Although given how little CR pays people, maybe that’s not far off from the professional work) Sure, stick subs are a good laugh, but if the subs are just outright bad, then it’s not worth watching. At worst you might see a few misspellings or errors in otherwise quality work, and for the most part that’s all you have here.<br /><br /><br />But there are a couple of options you’ll find if you go looking: T-N and OCZ Live.I’ll cut to the chase and say OCZ is the preferred way, no question. No disrespect to T-N by any means ( I personally feel they get too much crap) But the ones still available are from their original 2009 work, complete with the TV Asahi logo. They’re an interesting time capsule if nothing else, what with the font choices and gratuitous cursing. OCZ’s entire thing is cleaning up subs and transferring them to nice shiny Bluray releases over old TV rips. The font is easier on the eyes and consistent, some of the words are toned down, and the general flow is better in certain sentences. Plus some QOL things like chapter markers being added. But otherwise, the actual translation is fairly close on both, they’re just tidied up on OCZ.<br /><br /><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIyGxgHIKWxWhEi6H2bHHToWuDOyRjy9uJNR4Ta23STopY1f0rAOqb35JV72T3l99dUvexO-C2KBXDqPOIU8-_ypTdMb8Vm-QYa9-IzU3SCcDUQE5hhpGGlGVe43dwWotmQN70WZNwg7pgpAy11tiqZEhmMrz98_IJPovarf8Ta8vQhtrJkW5WVmO5SQ/s1366/ou.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIyGxgHIKWxWhEi6H2bHHToWuDOyRjy9uJNR4Ta23STopY1f0rAOqb35JV72T3l99dUvexO-C2KBXDqPOIU8-_ypTdMb8Vm-QYa9-IzU3SCcDUQE5hhpGGlGVe43dwWotmQN70WZNwg7pgpAy11tiqZEhmMrz98_IJPovarf8Ta8vQhtrJkW5WVmO5SQ/s320/ou.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ5CVrnFT7udHyGm4Vj-YB3gVyCTifQOx2OMQC6sIhL5f-tWjrccCCH0fiKiMyZUYRvOylixBvco6YU-WV7AVfHeQTFlS-uq0gklHz0RdsILhx3NBhuTGmZyODcot01hPC569dZH2fmfO5q0Ip5B9r6U8sU8xq-2KcDvbBTGosEyKUW2vrigTIKRzNNw/s1366/friend.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ5CVrnFT7udHyGm4Vj-YB3gVyCTifQOx2OMQC6sIhL5f-tWjrccCCH0fiKiMyZUYRvOylixBvco6YU-WV7AVfHeQTFlS-uq0gklHz0RdsILhx3NBhuTGmZyODcot01hPC569dZH2fmfO5q0Ip5B9r6U8sU8xq-2KcDvbBTGosEyKUW2vrigTIKRzNNw/s320/friend.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />That said, there are still some quirks with the OCZ subs. Notably, episodes 5 and 6 have an odd number of very noticeable errors ranging from misspellings, incorrect capitalization, and a lack of pluralization, all very close together. Those are the only episodes with such issues, most others are more minor and certainly spread out. Such as using a possessive apostrophe when they shouldn’t, and lack of capitalization. The usual stuff.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreWUTvRUYZQZjjGXa5y7SUBxg5DZEVs8DY8dCYNQbgbDDY3Zd8aaGNNj_kKhNHa8YupIPsEyRN7diYEUZgEeC96gt3HQEj57vIX0vkWT3cwFa6pIHrWLuiDmxb-8JAAUCmMt7UEPkNH54xx6-hPfQoK3eUKexWG8GMPxhNjKL7yN9-aLP5uqghduBIg/s1366/apostrophe.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreWUTvRUYZQZjjGXa5y7SUBxg5DZEVs8DY8dCYNQbgbDDY3Zd8aaGNNj_kKhNHa8YupIPsEyRN7diYEUZgEeC96gt3HQEj57vIX0vkWT3cwFa6pIHrWLuiDmxb-8JAAUCmMt7UEPkNH54xx6-hPfQoK3eUKexWG8GMPxhNjKL7yN9-aLP5uqghduBIg/s320/apostrophe.png" width="320" /></a></div><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-88a16599-7fff-9766-391e-85b4c06f971e" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span>Admittedly, I used to (and sometimes still) do this all the time, and it is probably the most corrected mistake while writing along with ""Add a hyphen"<span id="docs-internal-guid-88a16599-7fff-9766-391e-85b4c06f971e" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">.<br /><br /></span>There is one error that’s prevalent throughout the entire show, however, and that is Philip being misspelled as Phillip with two Ls.<br /><span id="docs-internal-guid-88a16599-7fff-9766-391e-85b4c06f971e" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-rWbu-uo_lAHir1k8MhNVtE5lYxWMbv1HpTnq4jvBo2Y9V1nxDqA1AJlrEE2xp6l4mOovUyYSJ8wz8Q86EGGYkJgAvnT-Mz6rn66vALh_NmnL6AB1l1G44qxOGd0oF4uqvMnulvQs0FyIP2qKbKUq7YIdNJIaDNQypeiTlTnTP-bVnwr4h7VNGue-w/s1366/phillip.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-rWbu-uo_lAHir1k8MhNVtE5lYxWMbv1HpTnq4jvBo2Y9V1nxDqA1AJlrEE2xp6l4mOovUyYSJ8wz8Q86EGGYkJgAvnT-Mz6rn66vALh_NmnL6AB1l1G44qxOGd0oF4uqvMnulvQs0FyIP2qKbKUq7YIdNJIaDNQypeiTlTnTP-bVnwr4h7VNGue-w/s320/phillip.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>I point this out because it’s in every single episode, and Philip is explicitly said to be named after Philip Marlowe, so it should only be one. Funny enough, the old T-N subs actually spelled it correctly with just the one L, so this is an error added to these subs.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVZ8lXjye41gZNkgaMyavXlLzYSxPyUjoltUmPIOlCvhmieon0Yq45IUKfwi8j4Z4II9BJjV9EA-uKZKvNkfbSN9miiwi5EDnJHm3sGLgdEZZE1CuJANiGvit0Aw9XPkx0ZF87Tqkd51baTsTmvmk7BqsLjFsckSPw3aaR1ejJvM2fw_0tikschkGfg/s1366/philip%20spelled%20correctly.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVZ8lXjye41gZNkgaMyavXlLzYSxPyUjoltUmPIOlCvhmieon0Yq45IUKfwi8j4Z4II9BJjV9EA-uKZKvNkfbSN9miiwi5EDnJHm3sGLgdEZZE1CuJANiGvit0Aw9XPkx0ZF87Tqkd51baTsTmvmk7BqsLjFsckSPw3aaR1ejJvM2fw_0tikschkGfg/s320/philip%20spelled%20correctly.png" width="320" /></a></div>It’s not a huge deal. Frankly, the misspelling is less bothersome than that old font T-N used. But I feel it’s still worth pointing out that a main character’s name is technically spelled wrong. If it was official, I’d be far less lenient on such an error. But again, I’m mostly putting this here because I like to cover my bases.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>Final Thoughts</h3></div><br /><br />So before I get too deep into this, one of the things I forgot was how great some of the jokes and visual gags were until this re-watch. W features a great deal of madcap slapstick comedy, which I didn’t mention much of because describing specific scenes simply cannot do them justice. But rest assured it’s an absolute highlight of the show. Both Yamamoto and Kiriyama have impeccable delivery and timing. Yamamoto in particular can switch personas on the fly, while Kiriyama can scream like no one’s business, his reactions are absolutely priceless. W has some of the best comical screams I have ever seen in a rider series, and I adore every second.<br /><br />Given how heavy the drama can get, it’s a welcome addition.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3IEdzCx_JpUHBVYrI6WsCPe5xni8aZP1FuLiRO3cm7S4cOyg-J54Q1A6PcCsPIj9JNwB3mD6aZ_PCkD3tYHOX6XRi-8CEJ-op-cW5vLZOecn3jF54VYpvdqyyCONTNDA0G0KaGuECY_YjZcawtnuCkJcuaRD4t14n515OmWGTTsNIFjNn5niZIaxiQ/s1366/nice%20slapstick.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3IEdzCx_JpUHBVYrI6WsCPe5xni8aZP1FuLiRO3cm7S4cOyg-J54Q1A6PcCsPIj9JNwB3mD6aZ_PCkD3tYHOX6XRi-8CEJ-op-cW5vLZOecn3jF54VYpvdqyyCONTNDA0G0KaGuECY_YjZcawtnuCkJcuaRD4t14n515OmWGTTsNIFjNn5niZIaxiQ/s320/nice%20slapstick.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />But without further adieu, let’s wrap this up.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Shotaro is someone I feel has already been well covered by this point, and I don’t think there’s a whole lot more I can add that hasn’t already been discussed.<br /><br />By the finale, it’s clear to me that Shotaro isn’t hard-boiled in the manner the majority of the cast (including Shotaro himself) sees, but he’s arguably better for it. Hardboiled in their definition means being a jaded, cynical, often misanthropic asshat, barely hanging onto the concept of good because the world has ground them down so much. It’s exactly what Ryu was at the start. Shotaro’s kindness, his willingness to give people second chances, and believing in better things, isn’t a weakness. That’s not to say he doesn’t make bad choices that bite him in the ass, it happens more often than it should and he pays the consequences.<br /><br />The big problem is that for a great deal of the show’s run, Shotaro lacks the mindfulness and convection to make decisions completely independently or diligently, typically needing Philip’s more sardonic outlook if not outright help to get the extra push he needs. His arc is ultimately finding the resolve within himself to not need someone else’s input, capable of standing on his own when needed, but still being true to himself. By the end, he’s a courageous detective, uncompromising when it matters most, yet not without mercy. But then again he always was, he just needed to be able to do it on his own. And maybe, as the finale speculates upon, that’s the true essence of hardboiled. Being true to yourself, and hanging on even when it’s difficult.<br /><br />There is, however, one area of Shotaro I’ve yet to explore, which is that his insecurities can be read as a commentary on the show itself. Can Shotaro measure up to his predecessor, the legacy they left behind, should he even be judged for not being someone else, etc.<br /><br />And I don’t know if that was intended to be read as a meta-commentary, maybe it is as simple as only applying to Sokichi and not the franchise. But it reads too perfectly for me not to consider it. It’s an intriguing interpretation because as much as W is echoing many concepts of series past, at the end of the day, one can only do so much before you’re either rehashing ideas wholesale, or trying too hard to be what you’re not. And W isn’t necessarily interested in perfectly bringing back every element of the Showa era, nor should it be. I think the most obvious is that in much the same way Shotaro isn’t “Hardboiled”, W isn’t as gritty as Black and ZO, nor as challenging as some of early Heisei works for that matter. But maybe that’s okay because W should just be itself.<br /><br /><br /><br />In contrast to that, Philip has the most traditional concepts applied to his backstory. A being with a connection to the earth, sorta chosen as its defender and taken hold of by an evil organization.<br />The origins of Riders being born from evil are somewhat twisted here, since Philip’s death and being chosen by the earth was accidental rather than the intent of his family to make him into something to take advantage of from the get-go. In fact, it’s more so that evil was born from tragedy rather than anything else. It makes for a nice simple spin to an otherwise well-worn origin.<br /><br />More than anything, Sanjo does an excellent job having those familiar broad strokes while finding malleable ways to make it his own, and to set the Museum, the Sonozakis, apart from other organizations.<br />That's something W gets right, capturing the spirit of Kamen Rider, which is fundamentally far more than just aesthetics or experimentation and environmentalism being woven into the narrative. If you take anything away from my droning on about legacies and franchise cores, let it be that you cannot simply kick back on the exact same shit without giving some actual thought behind the how and why, something far too many long running franchises do, including Kamen Rider.<br /><br />I’m probably gonna step on some toes with this one, but Zero-One is a perfect example of how a show can outright have a grasshopper hero with thematics centering on humanity and artificial life and then just completely fumble having any degree of insightfulness. You can shove as many fitting ideas as you can into a show, and make as many narrative or visual parallels to previous works as you want. But if you don’t have enjoyable characters, take them in a bad direction, don't understand the purpose of those concepts, or simply lack a worthwhile story, everything else is moot.<br /><br />If you want a more retro example of that, look no further than Black RX.<br /><br /><br />Philip isn’t an interesting character simply because he’s got some connection to the Earth, he’s interesting because of how his personality develops throughout the show, the chemistry he shares with Shotaro, and how well-crafted the drama is. Sure, it’s using some of the past ideas in a new light. But it knows what to do with those ideas in a story that puts a spin on a familiar concept, nor is it the sole selling point.<br /><br />I also think Philip’s story contrasts nicely with Shotaro’s from a broader narrative perspective. Because everything in Philip’s story exudes confidence within the writing. It doesn’t obsess over the little things, it’s using exactly what it needs to thematically. If Shotaro’s is “Am I Kamen Rider enough?” Then Philip’s is “What more could you possibly want?”<br /><br />And by the end of the show, Philip finds his humanity and is simply too indomitable for an emotionless monster that preys upon those very feelings. That’s how you tie story and esoteric themes together into a cohesive palpable narrative.<br /><br />Whatever else I have to say about the show, Shotaro and Philip make W literally and figuratively. Strip everything else out and you still have one of the best character pairings that never disappoints. If for no other reason, watch W for them.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />With all that praise out of the way, I do have some grievances to get through, although not a lot or even that severe.<br /><br />Probably the most surprising is Wakana. I do wanna stress that it’s not <i>bad</i> I actually have to give Rin Asuka credit for playing two very different versions of the same character. She's great in the role and undergoes the most interesting changes of all the antagonists.<br />However, I do think that taken as a whole, Wakana’s motivation and character are a tad muddled. The general consensus, I think, is that she started to turn because Shinkuro manipulated her driver, therefore the more negative side effects of her personality would take hold. Simple concept.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6uTyUg70pwpxBoHzUaqONABFt2ewWPhw1tKeuXt7rXMRrP78fuHOJ9oXETMD_p_TOoe8DHml-vH349omNgLEKWwCqIRBfR3y1MPnoMtZbJCzvmjnCA9WdYkFETRMwM3j22EWUIWIO1-6sDpFph2c26rv1YVp-F8jZvwIek1Y7ImXaoy75ziW0DmM1g/s1365/earth%20cries.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1365" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6uTyUg70pwpxBoHzUaqONABFt2ewWPhw1tKeuXt7rXMRrP78fuHOJ9oXETMD_p_TOoe8DHml-vH349omNgLEKWwCqIRBfR3y1MPnoMtZbJCzvmjnCA9WdYkFETRMwM3j22EWUIWIO1-6sDpFph2c26rv1YVp-F8jZvwIek1Y7ImXaoy75ziW0DmM1g/s320/earth%20cries.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Additionally, we’re given a bit of context on what happened after she was whisked away from the train station, with Wakana bearing witness to the Earth’s suffering, which convinces her to take up her role as a cleric. We can assume this event warped her idea of what was just and a necessity for the greater good. We’ve seen that time and time again across multiple memory users who had good intentions until the memory changed them.<br /><br />But that above scene comes very late into the show, jammed into episode 48 after Philip’s downward spiral. It comes off as a bit tacked on to make her character more sympathetic. And it still isn’t that great an explanation for why it was so sudden instead of a gradual downfall. <br /><br />But I don’t think it was always intended to be the case.<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihmy1TVmRLNNhykAgltCLl1ph4BVnlYZc9W-I6jifJniVyTWbf4tFcd2TsAVSw1M9UPrIgFhU6i4hTcdEuUNKk_DWzhL2ZviRUq3JZUOmzRWM37LQb6Y_cjZViRG_3ig_2-TS_HpvyrtUkNMlrwXhEnoi-2eWJMm4bDob4Mdnn6B_JVvs6Ea3wKNRkCA/s1366/mood%20swing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihmy1TVmRLNNhykAgltCLl1ph4BVnlYZc9W-I6jifJniVyTWbf4tFcd2TsAVSw1M9UPrIgFhU6i4hTcdEuUNKk_DWzhL2ZviRUq3JZUOmzRWM37LQb6Y_cjZViRG_3ig_2-TS_HpvyrtUkNMlrwXhEnoi-2eWJMm4bDob4Mdnn6B_JVvs6Ea3wKNRkCA/s320/mood%20swing.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Specifically, following the driver modification Shinkuro made, Wakana undergoes wildly eccentric mood swings, a side effect of the more direct memory usage. This only happens in two episodes and she’s back to normal with no bearing on the main story as if the effects of the memory aren’t even there. Having continual mood swings back and forth –if perhaps not as over the top– would have made for a better build-up to her eventual heel-turn. A better indication that she’s on thin ice, that not everything on the surface is as it seems. Heck, just spreading those two episodes out would’ve served well enough to indicate she’s having recurring spells and wasn’t just a temporary side effect.<br /><br />I’m assuming that too many plot threads were going on at once, meaning any bigger plans had to be brushed aside, so instead it was decided to make her have a shocking and sudden change, even if the execution is iffy.<br /><br />Again, this isn’t that bad. After all, if it comes down to it I’d rather take this than risk eating up some other character’s screen time and development. I wanted to point this out because this rewatch did make me realize that there were some compromises made with her character and some plot points that are underdeveloped and possibly abandoned.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Annnd that leads to the one issue I do have with the show, which is Foundation X. I suspect this was more of a Toei/Producer thing than Sanjo’s idea because they do not gel with anything else. Whatever the reason, I do not find them compelling.<br /><br />I understand what the intent was with them as a take on a modern Shocker and in some ways I do sorta like the initial idea. W was the perfect place to introduce them with the show already having throwbacks and being the start of a new franchise-wide experiment.<br /><br />To their credit, Foundation X is built up decently, and Jun Kazu is an okay villain, albeit a very flat one. But neither entity holds a candle to the museum, not even close. We don’t have anyone outside of Kazu to grab ahold of in terms of character and even he is just “Very powerful dude” He serves his purpose and functions well as a plot device to spur several great moments between Philip and Shotaro, who carry the last two-parter. It’s something that shouldn’t last more than two episodes and thankfully doesn’t.<br />And frankly, I feel that Foundation X shouldn’t have lasted beyond Kazu, if at all.<br /><br />The only part that I like is that Foundation X is still out there and would continue to be a problem for Shotaro and future riders. That ties nicely with the painful reality that a Rider’s fight is never over and they will never find respite. Sometimes their enemies are too big to defeat alone.<br /><br /><br />That doesn’t really amount to much though. I feel I shouldn’t delve too far into stuff happening outside of W, but what’s sad is W’s probably the best outing and relevance they ever get outside of specials. They’re basically glorified cameos in future series, never being fleshed out…although that’s probably for the better. Why shove aside the Kougami Foundation, Greeed, or the Zodiarts for time with Foundation X? And at that point, is having them as a benefactor needed? Hell, I would argue they’re not even needed in W. The Sonozakis are already rich and own a tech giant loaded with scientists, there’s already an explanation for how they operate. Adding a third party is superfluous.<br /><br />The only member of Foundation X to play an active role is Kazu, and you could have very easily re-written his part to be someone from Saeko’s Digal Development section simply picking up the pieces, which I think works better than having another and larger threat than the Museum out in the world. Ryuube by far has the best death of any antagonist in W. It’s tragic, it’s dramatic, and it’s a definite end.<br />His death should be the end of any notable organization within W, while Kazu is simply a loose end with the potential to revive and surpass the museum.<br /><br />Also, it’s kinda weird how Philip didn’t write a list of the 26 other facilities of Foundation X, so in the finale Shotaro and Ryu are just dealing with basically low-level street gangs instead of the much larger threat. It’s almost like they weren’t supposed to be there in the first goddamn place.<br /><br /><br />Everything about Foundation X, especially in retrospect, just pisses me off the more I think about it. What a dog shit element they ended up being.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />All that virtuale aside, it’s not enough to hamper a show I adore. <br />W balances having that connective tether to the past without being restrained by it, without dipping into the same tired well. I dunno if I’d say W is the best at it- that honor probably still goes to Kuuga. But even so, W is one of the very few series able to capture those particular aspects in a modern light, and it ushered in a new much more experimental Rider that, while I do feel wasn’t as daring as some of the early Heisei shows, I still believe resulted in some of the absolute best series of the Heisei era. The follow-up series, OOO, is just as good as W in my eyes, delving into the more tragic angles with a focus on survivor's guilt. Perhaps I’ll touch upon that one day, but for now, I feel I’ve said just about all I can about Kamen Rider W. It’s one of my favorite series and I highly suggest you give it a watch.<br /><br /><br />If you like what I do you can <a href="https://ko-fi.com/kamen_writer">visit my Ko-fi</a> and toss a dollar or two. Any amount is greatly appreciated and encouraging to keep doing this type of thing.<br />You can view my twitter, where I mostly retweet, if I’m being completely honest. But it’s the ideal place to ask any questions because I sadly cannot respond to the ones on here due to this site barely being held together and buggy as hell. I still appreciate the comments I get on here, however.<br /><br />This review took a lot out of me, but it won't be long before the next review it up. It'll be something non-toku or even show related. More on that next time.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>Postface</h3></div><br /><div><br />Oh, yeah, Fuuto PI got an Anime adaption now, huh? I’ve gone back and forth on whether I wanted to talk about this here or keep it separate. I prefer ending my reviews on a more positive note if applicable. But I think it makes sense to put it here due to the relevancy. Even if I am going to be pretentious with a Postface.<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxbYBdkp_e65QWqNTVvQdPLO9ILIwWe-u-JxrPl1PTmnLcZ2DEmSU7gtPvA5uOgjqq9fBWVxy-QwZRrxgXdYKEZm_mPQgH4D-nfJIZDd6fEWq5xvSmFYVmVTVRL4_SUo5bRJ7Hx4Pjorz9X-17WMH9jWvMMCwEp3Btm4vJ9KwJEr6iBEh2yPBI-GwmGw/s960/fuuto%20poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxbYBdkp_e65QWqNTVvQdPLO9ILIwWe-u-JxrPl1PTmnLcZ2DEmSU7gtPvA5uOgjqq9fBWVxy-QwZRrxgXdYKEZm_mPQgH4D-nfJIZDd6fEWq5xvSmFYVmVTVRL4_SUo5bRJ7Hx4Pjorz9X-17WMH9jWvMMCwEp3Btm4vJ9KwJEr6iBEh2yPBI-GwmGw/s320/fuuto%20poster.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />I brought this up when it was announced during Kamen Rider’s 50th Anniversary, but I am not at all a fan of Fuuto PI. I read several chapters of the manga when it was new before dropping it outright because it is either uninteresting or actively bad to me. It’s not even bad in a fascinating manner, there’s nothing to dissect beyond weird characterization, a painfully stretched-out story, and a bizarre ill-advised tone.<br /><br />I wouldn’t even call my feelings one of anger so much as frustration and confusion. Basically, the best way I can summarize is to bring up what I did last time, and that is Riku Sanjo suffers a recurring issue in which he seems to undergo some sort of character amnesia any time he’s spent some time away from a series. The most common way this manifests is characters revert to their initial personalities, and any growth is thrown out ASAP, leading to some truly egregious interactions that feel, well, out of character. This happens across all his work. If you watch a series and then one of the movies/specials after the series written by him, the characters will not be the ones at the end of episode 48 or whatever, they will have the persona of their first appearance.<br /><br />Fuuto PI isn’t the worst offender of this, but there is enough here to cause a head tilt. Episode 1 of W has Shotaro and Philip fighting and a minor falling out, and Chapter 1 of Fuuto PI has Shotaro and Philip fighting and a minor falling out. <br />It repeats many of the same story beats as the original show, only worse. Almost as if Sanjo wants to provide an immediate sense of familiarity with older fans while also making it easy to pick up on for newer ones. Two birds, one stone.<br />And it is weirdly welcoming to newcomers at first, but also feels wrong for returning fans who know that not only is the cast out of character, but that newcomers are getting shafted with a lesser experience already done…not that that’s an issue considering the vast majority of people I’m seeing watch FP seem to be pre-existing Kamen Rider fans. Although that might be for the best as the story makes the assumption that you’re familiar with W's events.<br /><br /><br />That repetition is unfortunately something I can label against the main plot as well, which centers on there being a shadow dimension version of Fuuto and a group attempting to continue the Museum's work, sort of like a more elaborate and professional version of Exe. It’s a neat concept that is really fascinating in the beginning since the Riders don’t have a way to that dimension except for very specific means. It sets up a great mystery and hooks the audience… but in practice it feels either too much like more of the same, or woefully generic.<br /><br />I also mentioned the tone, which is odd, to say the least. There seems to be an attempt to make it more “mature” and I don’t mean in more elevated writing with deeper themes and nuanced writing. There are a few more graphic details like murder and death cropping up, but I mainly mean it’s just a boring brand of horny.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVAaGfDY7retD-43vw5WjeRu0QmwdkfQJQ-jqqSJAaXpbHL0OmltIL88EvdWSkLh_7YpjEke9JNt9hE9BtYhjDHtgM6Qxp7vpHfDEK_IZjYUwOofBIoq1YSMTiV5Njom7AYwQ1RaqJIKbOT_KtDLAFSBs0jl9FZA_yWfK19NpOUI9Yv-m8jvg8mc2Mw/s587/tokime.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="411" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVAaGfDY7retD-43vw5WjeRu0QmwdkfQJQ-jqqSJAaXpbHL0OmltIL88EvdWSkLh_7YpjEke9JNt9hE9BtYhjDHtgM6Qxp7vpHfDEK_IZjYUwOofBIoq1YSMTiV5Njom7AYwQ1RaqJIKbOT_KtDLAFSBs0jl9FZA_yWfK19NpOUI9Yv-m8jvg8mc2Mw/s320/tokime.png" width="224" /></a></div><br />This mainly centers around the character of Tokime, an amnesiac in possession of a dopant Gaia memory, Joker, oddly enough. She’s Shotaro’s latest client, and a new addition to the main cast, one who is perpetually clad in a sheer shirt and high waist thong which is where she keeps the Gaia memory.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSEoly2FrY8Hq8dC6llv3qETRlJymqs_u6byCZTQmnDx43aSo_thdnIrFIAwa1qAPkgZxAwXD6jZDF1onnz2ApTWCZLyAZa_un-iM2HTt6cF1ni-4GxSAYHdLjwsSI9NZ9SY3IByP0k65d7RjVn8PqCTiKKyv1Ns77muVJxn1ErMhWZF5Lz29QUYx5A/s497/I%20HATE%20I%20HATE.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="497" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSEoly2FrY8Hq8dC6llv3qETRlJymqs_u6byCZTQmnDx43aSo_thdnIrFIAwa1qAPkgZxAwXD6jZDF1onnz2ApTWCZLyAZa_un-iM2HTt6cF1ni-4GxSAYHdLjwsSI9NZ9SY3IByP0k65d7RjVn8PqCTiKKyv1Ns77muVJxn1ErMhWZF5Lz29QUYx5A/s320/I%20HATE%20I%20HATE.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTF1kevx3IeFJvB3xJnY9FoiVFHm0gkOUbofDsDKhLBmjUSGw2dZ5f2Oai8S6Mg5za0nhafr1l4F3qdBTcRf22tJ2joufGfTY_zk-PN_xv5XUodZguUmyIewokOMiRqnqhufgANQUnHZZhuyH8HSlc4FSOsZ4PBvo8t57GNnprbA7worJlCugecTOdLw/s1366/double%20the%20sex%20appeal.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTF1kevx3IeFJvB3xJnY9FoiVFHm0gkOUbofDsDKhLBmjUSGw2dZ5f2Oai8S6Mg5za0nhafr1l4F3qdBTcRf22tJ2joufGfTY_zk-PN_xv5XUodZguUmyIewokOMiRqnqhufgANQUnHZZhuyH8HSlc4FSOsZ4PBvo8t57GNnprbA7worJlCugecTOdLw/s320/double%20the%20sex%20appeal.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />I guess Sanjo figured that the average kid who grew up with W would be 12-15 by 2017 so might as well add a scantily-clad character who shoves a Gaia memory in her panties, they’ll find it very engaging. Either that or he suddenly decided that all the various subtext between Shotaro and Philip was a problem and that Shotaro’s latest case should be, is a case of the not gays. Intentional or not that’s how it feels, and yes I’m aware that there is more blatant subtext between the two.<br /><br />While Tokime as a concept is perfectly fine, she’s really more of an object or plot device than an actual character. Far too often she feels like a one-off, like Lily or Todoroki, yet is meant to be a mainstay. Maybe that changes over time. I know she eventually works for the agency as a secretary, but I didn’t care enough to stick around, and it shouldn’t have been a problem, to begin with.<br /><br />Maybe I’ve been spoiled by Go Nagai, but I’ve seen far better T&A that didn’t clash so hard with everything else, be it used for humor or titillation. Even outside the obvious old film noir Femme Fatals or Go Nagi works, there are examples like The Woman Called Fujiko Mine, in which sex is so prevalent in that show it eventually just becomes background noise. I think that in part helps because it never detracts from the narrative and actually does play a part in characterization. I never felt like my intelligence was being insulted by the frequency in which boobs were on screen, it’s just a matter of fact part of Fujiko being, ya know, a femme fatal. Plus there is far more than just that. Sensuality plays a role, but it’s never awkwardly shoved into places it doesn’t belong, which is something Fuuto PI fails spectacularly at. Simultaneously too sexualized for its own good, yet not bold enough to have a real bite to it.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbzOUabEI1l71Yuc_z_wnpU1BCc1wneCp8INZm2NYcInqr52VZKVmaBW15qZu_WrfqnouThPbaIpUK3Ycwhp2v44xUj6sL18FPx4KG5xw5s92LF_DWbMbb5zE3d8G2tOX9nJKRUM77rgV6cfA63D3C584HNYshHOUobqzvBrtatfnd2fseroTpIwpjQ/s628/raw.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="628" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbzOUabEI1l71Yuc_z_wnpU1BCc1wneCp8INZm2NYcInqr52VZKVmaBW15qZu_WrfqnouThPbaIpUK3Ycwhp2v44xUj6sL18FPx4KG5xw5s92LF_DWbMbb5zE3d8G2tOX9nJKRUM77rgV6cfA63D3C584HNYshHOUobqzvBrtatfnd2fseroTpIwpjQ/s320/raw.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />If I give the series anything, and this goes both for the Manga and what I’ve seen of the anime, it does look very good. Masaki Sato’s style and Studio Kai’s interpretation has a very raw emotion to it that utilizes the mediums very well to portray W in such a way that a live-action suit cannot. They exaggerate certain qualities and utilize sharp angles to completely change how you view W, almost making them inhuman with a speed and force you can’t get in live action. In a way, it's a lot like the original manga.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88mFFw4apXocYGUbzSUaIeCZMQrA0tdAzytiMzdKvNMwZIkR2Vl6voPAb4vadKdhPH3c2GBmtKKZMwfDg0dklAuA7K7G67BO0WKsb0FbYVEALwvdRZLWBWO4GW8AsyrbeND-cN7oXLrRHNnPTdysxd9INyqamJq7tntRzCEpt1JuwPoGzCb_FKgToGQ/s1920/O%20face.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88mFFw4apXocYGUbzSUaIeCZMQrA0tdAzytiMzdKvNMwZIkR2Vl6voPAb4vadKdhPH3c2GBmtKKZMwfDg0dklAuA7K7G67BO0WKsb0FbYVEALwvdRZLWBWO4GW8AsyrbeND-cN7oXLrRHNnPTdysxd9INyqamJq7tntRzCEpt1JuwPoGzCb_FKgToGQ/s320/O%20face.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />They also still capture a lot of the same humor as the original show and
frankly, that is very commendable. Getting jokes to land in a manga and
even animated form is very different pacing-wise, but they get it right
with over-the-top reactions that play wonderfully with the ability to
exaggerate facial features.<br /><br />Likewise, the anime also has the
advantage of music, bringing back old themes, sometimes as new
renditions which can elevate the scenes in a way the manga never could.
These are all very enjoyable aspects and there is something of real
quality to find within.<br /><br /><br />But even so, visual and audio
excitement can’t make up for a jank paper-thin story, or characters
going through the same motions I’ve already seen. Regularly placating
with nostalgia for the original series simply doesn’t help. Like Tokime,
there's nothing inherently wrong with the concept, but if that’s most
or all you have, then you’re left with shallow results. Besides, going
“Do you remember this?” doesn’t work when I keep thinking “Yeah, and it
was better back then. What do you have now? Oh, well that’s a shame.”
Look, I’ve not liked this current era of Rider either, but being
tangentially reminded that past shows used to have well-written stories
and protagonists should not be the bar we gauge a series' worth.<br /><br />I can't help but find it painfully ironic that
W itself was in many ways a throwback to many of the core concepts of
the then 38-year-old Kamen Rider series, firmly capturing the classic
mythos and iconography while still finding the ability to invent and
move forward with new and exciting adventures in a distinctively modern
show. Then 8 years after the series ended, FPI seems content with
relying on nostalgia as its main boon, while the new additions are of
questionable execution. Unlike Shotaro, Fuuto PI seems unable and
perhaps unwilling in escaping the shadow of its predecessor.<br /><br /><br />I
don’t have anything against the makers or the people who enjoy it. I’m
glad they found something I could not. But I will criticize the creative
choices made and implore that you check out the original series if you
haven’t, because I think it’s better in almost every regard. Frankly,
for a series largely invented to sell toys to children, it treats the
audience with far more respect and intelligence.<br /><br />And honestly, if you do
want something with gorgeous art, is shamelessly gratuitous, is weirdly
horny, and has a story that constantly keeps the audience guessing on
the direction it’s going; go read Chainsaw Man.<br /><br />I know that
recommending an absolute Juggernaut of a series as an alternative is
cheeky and low effort, but so’s Fuuto PI selling itself solely on an
established IP. And that’s really the crux of the situation, because
there is nothing FPI has to offer outside of familiarity. Everything
outside the Kamen Rider branding you can get in spades elsewhere and
often better.<br /><br />I will still gladly accept a Seihou W reissue under the banner, though.Kamen Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02832099141882322022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505042118996520039.post-28273484168170770132022-06-03T07:27:00.000-04:002022-06-03T07:27:37.460-04:00Shin Kamen Rider Prologue Review.<div><p><span style="color: white;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZzKBRl9puAjJcY325AuKTGWQqnSWGn6JEQjVuxEPX1YSyPPSxsHmaF0fl2i_jVqk72CUsaoh4M4WcNtA66FhEEuEugZKwkvJEy1pEps-S2WkDic7Ag9jN2UNJdOMmP_9fZiEJB2_Yyg7RqWC7fFHFVsJ60axdSoAp53amka1Y2DzFVzPJAg4m0elcA/s1017/title.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1017" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZzKBRl9puAjJcY325AuKTGWQqnSWGn6JEQjVuxEPX1YSyPPSxsHmaF0fl2i_jVqk72CUsaoh4M4WcNtA66FhEEuEugZKwkvJEy1pEps-S2WkDic7Ag9jN2UNJdOMmP_9fZiEJB2_Yyg7RqWC7fFHFVsJ60axdSoAp53amka1Y2DzFVzPJAg4m0elcA/s320/title.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-354f0364-7fff-b87c-678e-c1132f740bf3" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shin Kamen Rider Prologue started development as soon as Black RX finished in 1989. Originally it was pitched in a Manga format similar to how ZX was, but that idea was quickly scrapped. Ishinomori's son, Joe Onodera, wrote a hook while his father worked separately on a synopsis for a new project: Kamen Rider Gaia. Eventually, Junichi Miyashita would join Onodera to develop a more proper script, taking some concepts from Ishinimori's Gaia work- some early iterations even had the main character called Gaia before settling upon Shin. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rather than a series, a movie was proposed, and Toei's release of Lady Battle Cop in 1990 would help spur interest in developing a direct-to-video Kamen Rider film.<br /></span><span><br /><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGXt8RmPHOf4T99PIGkle76MR7X3xg94S0N8vZGlUvBiQ279oxUhZaRcQ0IuAwZ11PZuC-weCN8_5Au8dtZuJ9AUHh2DJocxz0BR9ZKx8uDKk3Od_SdC9M6Wh1OKqQL7tQR8gi9FbnDXWEzx-dFuXk-iYhnIJkCf9GiNvBW0pQu-Ct6moHBdWTxlqAw/s984/bike%20rider%20license-less.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="795" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGXt8RmPHOf4T99PIGkle76MR7X3xg94S0N8vZGlUvBiQ279oxUhZaRcQ0IuAwZ11PZuC-weCN8_5Au8dtZuJ9AUHh2DJocxz0BR9ZKx8uDKk3Od_SdC9M6Wh1OKqQL7tQR8gi9FbnDXWEzx-dFuXk-iYhnIJkCf9GiNvBW0pQu-Ct6moHBdWTxlqAw/s320/bike%20rider%20license-less.png" width="259" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-c74cd4fb-7fff-6d5a-438c-f6a5977fd8aa" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some of the earliest ideas were a bit out there. The first was of a man Cosplaying Kamen Rider and is injured saving someone, eventually somehow becoming a real Kamen Rider. Producer Shinichiro Shirakura shot that down immediately, requesting something more traditional. Although Ishinomori seemed really intrigued by the original pitch.</span></span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Still, Ishinomori had to approve of the direction, and going back to basics again wasn't what he had in mind, at least not exactly. They already did that with Black, after all. If Black was a return to form and Rider 1 was the basis for which all others branched out, then Shin would be the roots of the metaphorical tree. A true Kamen Rider 0. Ishinomori wanted Onodera and Miyashita to explore the Kamen part- the mask and the horror it hides. Resulting in a Rider without a suit or belt, the monster lay bare in its most basic iteration.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br /></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-f6f7179e-7fff-bdcd-7895-af0b10ba4e57" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, Shin is a bit of a unique thing to review because it's technically incomplete. This was meant to be the opening to something that might've had two to four more parts, hence the prologue. That said, I can still review this for what it is- which is an introduction laying the groundwork. Now, let’s get into this properly.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-354f0364-7fff-b87c-678e-c1132f740bf3" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><br /><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxLA9_iNHsxogsDtGIX3i0uscAg9z3AaFVhbglrvgktsL_Nb7jM2rUXYESEOpFyrPkEeSfJgvpz4fxTleEWNql0OffQhm33cyoo6m3uiTcRFO0TQKLM_2_vRL8xMVx3m1Dmlad6COB2myCixQ1obvvNU6n_FGRG-Z9JO2tDfwB0MbwWUNtitugRNgig/s1021/shin.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1021" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxLA9_iNHsxogsDtGIX3i0uscAg9z3AaFVhbglrvgktsL_Nb7jM2rUXYESEOpFyrPkEeSfJgvpz4fxTleEWNql0OffQhm33cyoo6m3uiTcRFO0TQKLM_2_vRL8xMVx3m1Dmlad6COB2myCixQ1obvvNU6n_FGRG-Z9JO2tDfwB0MbwWUNtitugRNgig/s320/shin.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /><br /><span id="docs-internal-guid-2a8e2db8-7fff-4d1b-9a1d-56014daa9c76" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kamen Rider Shin primarily follows Shin Kazamatsuri (Katsuhisa Ishikawa) a former motorcycle racer who has given up his dream to assist his father, Daimon Kazamatsuri (Akira Ishihama) a geneticist working for The Institute of Super Science Technology (ISS) on enhancing humans to overcome various diseases and ailments- Shin being their greatest success yet.</span><br /><br /></span><a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE8exbthGT-MAXhmVCLj-7rlMXgJkMLv2omRuIoBzFtsw20yv9xA-qD4RQfRz2cke-NfKXxkVSQMY_kQOgLhylX1I4cbmLkmz26463L6E2ArR4XIIX0YowJkEJm2eRrZZHJ9BMpsh82DoP6KBajwpXkmZjFsxg4gzWYcHW-nWB7VPV8xc7o7oAZfJEUA/s1019/demo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1019" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE8exbthGT-MAXhmVCLj-7rlMXgJkMLv2omRuIoBzFtsw20yv9xA-qD4RQfRz2cke-NfKXxkVSQMY_kQOgLhylX1I4cbmLkmz26463L6E2ArR4XIIX0YowJkEJm2eRrZZHJ9BMpsh82DoP6KBajwpXkmZjFsxg4gzWYcHW-nWB7VPV8xc7o7oAZfJEUA/s320/demo.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /><br /><span id="docs-internal-guid-869ccf2a-7fff-2bb1-3176-5831a456217f" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With that success comes internal conflict. A Fellow scientist on the project, Onizuka Giichi (Kouki Kataoka) wants to progress further given the promise Shin has shown. The program has three stages and Shin is currently on level 2. The third and final phase would typically be reserved for someone with damaged or unhealthy cells. But for the sake of the project, Onizuka wants to go further, despite hesitancy from Kazamatsuri due to previously fatal failures on past subjects.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Shin himself is willing to continue, but his father forbids it.<br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br /><br /></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIhLTJcQFtVzsGZgwrQSFwu5ZkWLeQ7uD1uu8eJO334Avp7MPWswHIQGLyWsa8o1OpRqDaTmxv8wOahHB0llsjbC_tBUTTCB5QJCTAU6TzdOz8OYRpTgSAo3xAWp5Ep2_Q_sJMg6o4Jfcy1x7bzy_5iF80LysfPCf518OgkMaYbYtTacP-Mzk4v5Fkw/s1017/news.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1017" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIhLTJcQFtVzsGZgwrQSFwu5ZkWLeQ7uD1uu8eJO334Avp7MPWswHIQGLyWsa8o1OpRqDaTmxv8wOahHB0llsjbC_tBUTTCB5QJCTAU6TzdOz8OYRpTgSAo3xAWp5Ep2_Q_sJMg6o4Jfcy1x7bzy_5iF80LysfPCf518OgkMaYbYtTacP-Mzk4v5Fkw/s320/news.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /><span id="docs-internal-guid-33dd57f8-7fff-9230-0c99-d617dc3b1744" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Later, Shin is enjoying his first outing in a long while at a gym with fellow ISS colleague, and love interest Ai Asuka (Yumi Nomura) After their workout, Shin turns his attention to recent events in the local paper covering a string of recent murders.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The news reports seem to indicate someone or something bestial is on a killing spree. Despite Shin’s isolation, the details in the paper seem oddly familiar and he’s able to fill in the blanks to a disturbing degree. Shin has been suffering from strange dreams of being a monster attacking people at night, waking from one such nightmare earlier that day. The correlation between this and the news is more than a simple coincidence.<br /><br /></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaERIEnobTYM6XLQ813W99G4yUjJOc01uiwA01L48bc9wHVpR5bSLWj8ztWeGJ6c8NPnMDQNL1PQE0zPJcdiIdqlOp6g29dV9LzwNKHjJn0aQBAKI8dh6IvAYx15G9FIW8IESc3H-mLcGwd83POM0_iAvkrJYJNrvEXqRIiLO1susyjeo9PyL9094r2w/s1020/lab.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="766" data-original-width="1020" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaERIEnobTYM6XLQ813W99G4yUjJOc01uiwA01L48bc9wHVpR5bSLWj8ztWeGJ6c8NPnMDQNL1PQE0zPJcdiIdqlOp6g29dV9LzwNKHjJn0aQBAKI8dh6IvAYx15G9FIW8IESc3H-mLcGwd83POM0_iAvkrJYJNrvEXqRIiLO1susyjeo9PyL9094r2w/s320/lab.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /><span id="docs-internal-guid-2865125f-7fff-8994-1b14-456ca4c86604" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That night, Shin refuses to sleep, drinking an entire pot of coffee before going out for a late-night jog. On his jaunt, he notices Onizuka going into a nearby warehouse. Sneaking in through the roof, Shin finds Onizuka experimenting on himself, which inexplicably causes Shin to convulse and fall, divulging his location. <br /></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-2acd4ac8-7fff-c894-3df9-f5a13f01b39c" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But before Onizuka can react, the warehouse is assaulted by a group of well-armed, black clade soldiers who begin firing upon the scientist. Shin passes out from the strain and wakes up surrounded by the corpses of the attackers- remembering snippets of the event as if he killed them.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mdUgh6z71Oc2tJINVGKsCsfH4xKtPSCM3_hq0RPP8CE6dVjBSDfOAK7Id3wU_uXSMLNBQr_IVUtESrWFREc42AiqGL6UtynayiST4P3t2-nSDb118YQgwJiYCc1rqCxnjOYkZrpKTl0YYRdBsw-BD-aVhhhKEZ159wfezL5IikJx8IoK2SximTY2_Q/s1033/aftermath.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="1033" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mdUgh6z71Oc2tJINVGKsCsfH4xKtPSCM3_hq0RPP8CE6dVjBSDfOAK7Id3wU_uXSMLNBQr_IVUtESrWFREc42AiqGL6UtynayiST4P3t2-nSDb118YQgwJiYCc1rqCxnjOYkZrpKTl0YYRdBsw-BD-aVhhhKEZ159wfezL5IikJx8IoK2SximTY2_Q/s320/aftermath.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /><br /><span id="docs-internal-guid-25f7b8a9-7fff-68b0-e980-31923a1d1589" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The following day, Shin confronts Onizuka in his office. Although coy, he eventually pressures Onizuka in revealing more about the research.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He doesn’t lay everything out, but he does explain to Shin that his research was focused primarily on insects, in particular Grasshoppers, and their psychic ability to communicate. He envisions grasshoppers as perfect beings, a hive-mind with him acting as the brains. Onizuka says that one day, Shin will come to understand what this research means.<br /><br /></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-ab4a4b99-7fff-58bd-4008-41c65c263e3a" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With only a partial explanation, Shin heads back to the warehouse hoping to find more answers. But when he arrives, he discovers the entire place is vacant without a single trace of what was once there. However, a mysterious woman soon approaches Shin, introducing herself as Sarah Fukamachi. (Kiyomi Tsukada)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcpYcbgB3_9Jd19H_xlQV--31y54QxFbyZXTQxMnDovw5SpUfVQOTaNYnK3ExQrbPGmY_FjpHrEL9DJf3RilJQyigtK88HKS-1hRZuhEm9aFY61o_Erxg8tIttHLyI0d5DgiWKXWuKxLibgGMgRP4aiStCWiY02c3quIGW8Fcxz8g68mCLRBkJuBWqw/s1019/agent.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1019" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcpYcbgB3_9Jd19H_xlQV--31y54QxFbyZXTQxMnDovw5SpUfVQOTaNYnK3ExQrbPGmY_FjpHrEL9DJf3RilJQyigtK88HKS-1hRZuhEm9aFY61o_Erxg8tIttHLyI0d5DgiWKXWuKxLibgGMgRP4aiStCWiY02c3quIGW8Fcxz8g68mCLRBkJuBWqw/s320/agent.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /><br /><span id="docs-internal-guid-947fc609-7fff-feea-70de-c409f6747562" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She doesn’t reveal much, only that she wants Shin’s help and is planning to destroy the organization behind the ISS. Any questions are cut short by an assassination attempt. Fukamachi manages to get Shin out of harm’s way as she takes down the rather sloppy sniper. The assassin, Goushima, falls several stories riddled with bullets, only to awaken moments later.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br /></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f05a4326-7fff-69c5-5297-0a015863a9cf" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shin returns to the gym in an attempt to clear his head. Ai and his friend Yuuki arrive, although this does little to help Shin mentally. He ends up lashing out and having a breakdown, still convinced that he is responsible for the string of murders.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yuuki departs, leaving Ai to take care of Shin herself, which does seem to work in a weird way, though I’ll touch upon that more later. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shin returns to the lab the next day (despite an earlier warning from Fukamachi) noticing the absence of Onizuka, Ai being candid when asked about him.<br /><br /></span></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-0893aa46-7fff-e3ca-e3ec-9d7800cbe780" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wanting answers, Shin sneaks into the facility at night, suffering several quick but massive headaches along the way. He powers through and notices a convoy leaving the premises. Shin follows behind on his bike when suddenly the entourage is run off the road by Fukamachi’s people. The soldiers open fire, Fukamachi herself blowing up the truck containing Onizuka- who has transformed into a grasshopper form.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br /><br /></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYp3gtdRrCUXAeUIxc_XPmjTwmGUBM4voqrdEihono7foHiKgSoDYUBQqHbAcsnQ640XOO51KAyo1S7Nn6akn3QlsOzx27P9BwedSQ8qUHKkK_ud2BsxFUjRnlbR3Vkn-6GEctxIVVDA1Dqi0HTMylZl5UawmX4eotVTeJmkQEbT78_0qb8fYdysHJ9g/s1021/grilled%20grasshopper.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1021" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYp3gtdRrCUXAeUIxc_XPmjTwmGUBM4voqrdEihono7foHiKgSoDYUBQqHbAcsnQ640XOO51KAyo1S7Nn6akn3QlsOzx27P9BwedSQ8qUHKkK_ud2BsxFUjRnlbR3Vkn-6GEctxIVVDA1Dqi0HTMylZl5UawmX4eotVTeJmkQEbT78_0qb8fYdysHJ9g/s320/grilled%20grasshopper.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /><br /><span id="docs-internal-guid-0fe98f3d-7fff-8167-4ac8-db861c11ea5d" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shin is drawn towards the dying creature, feeling his pain which triggers a brutal transformation within himself.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But before the soldiers can take action against the now monstrous Shin, Goushima barrels through the group, making a B line towards Fukamachi. Despite being shot in the head, it does nothing to stop the man who promptly attacks the agent. She’s saved by Shin and in the ensuing struggle, Goushima transmogrifies into a more cybernetic form, engaging Shin until Fukamachi fires upon both of them with a Flash launcher- Shin narrowly escaping. In the end, Fukamachi allows Shin to escape, where he makes his way to a nearby road and is discovered by Ai, who takes him to safety.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-2865125f-7fff-8994-1b14-456ca4c86604" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2Q2JdaVLFUGsKU240AKAXpCtZAmc9G0PSz-LHcZvqhYQKpNvpmU_N7vdX3OX7_h4q-R9E3h7IgXqVP3DuT9XFh7D3nsLMgyd_tEKJf4EpGfbKE2VtZy8SKE9W6y7D2F4gq9HL0gi7MhydvDm6WMDcsLsPWexzhSgx22AexiToEg2nXiRVGWImSJb2w/s1021/ai%20cries.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1021" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2Q2JdaVLFUGsKU240AKAXpCtZAmc9G0PSz-LHcZvqhYQKpNvpmU_N7vdX3OX7_h4q-R9E3h7IgXqVP3DuT9XFh7D3nsLMgyd_tEKJf4EpGfbKE2VtZy8SKE9W6y7D2F4gq9HL0gi7MhydvDm6WMDcsLsPWexzhSgx22AexiToEg2nXiRVGWImSJb2w/s320/ai%20cries.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /><span id="docs-internal-guid-194ecf7f-7fff-3dec-eeb6-97ec6269e9dd" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shin- having returned to his human form, confronts Ai about what’s really going on.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She reveals all that she knows. ISS is just a small part of a much larger organization, one with hands in all facets of life; Politics, Economics, Pop culture, and Science. The ISS’ true objective was to create cyborg soldiers like Goushima. But they weren’t perfect, they tended to be unnatural and sloppy on tasks requiring more finesse. This led to the development of level 3 cyborgs like Onizuka and Shin.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />The manner in which this was applied wasn’t cleared from up top, but Onizuka’s unorthodox methods upon himself and Shin were tolerated due to promising results, although Shin’s alterations were unknown until more recently.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ai is remorseful over her involvement and intends to set things right. She insists that Shin’s mutation can be reversed at the lab, setting off to discuss the matter with the head of the ISS, Iwao Himuro (Daijiro Harada)...and things quickly go south. Upon arriving at the facility, she’s apprehended and thrown into a cell with Mr. Kazamatsuri.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">See, the success of Onizuka’s experiments cannot be understated and the organization behind the ISS is still very interested in pursuing his research. But now that Onizuka is dead, their only other sample (and a better one at that) is Shin. Additionally, they’ve been keeping tabs on Ai and are aware that she is pregnant, something even Ai was unaware of.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br /></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-adf0137e-7fff-a364-1690-a934e29b9671" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shin is drawn to her location, sensing her distress through a link not dissimilar to the one he had with Onizuka. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shin rescues both his father and Ai, narrowly missing Fukamachi’s men, who are assaulting a facility and killing everyone on sight. For some reason, Shin and company ignore a massive hole in the wall as a means of escape and instead are cornered by Himuro, who shoots and kills Ai. Shin transforms and kills Himuro, has a final battle with Goishima, escapes with Ai’s corpse, and is captured along with his father by ISS agents in a copter which is quickly shot down by Fukamachi.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A final scene shows Shin carrying Ai’s body in a tunnel as a psychic projection of the mutated grasshopper baby is shown, just as I’m wondering WTF those last 30 minutes were.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-48c2f53d-7fff-12eb-57eb-71977c95224a" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So before I get into my thoughts properly, let’s address the elephant in the room. There was and to some extent still is a belief that Shin wasn’t well-received upon release. That it was too much of a deviation from prior iterations and obviously too violent to capture new fans- that last bit being the only true statement and also irrelevant given the intention of the film.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><br /><br /><br /></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTPfRi_KjIGvKtYC0KD0bSOgEeiR5rkRIKjK6MeSeq-TIiGUEfhgN4lfdf3JD5rjzKVCyctEibGOeG9fSRkL9qjKSTVEto9s_n_XgIVT8hjpcD3Kj8uNlM4Ny2jB6BMjGbGse_D9hK2GYzsRsKM3YxZQ87DgeqRUqyHtn89U_KjcLmExt7HKjcFfBRA/s1023/victim.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1023" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTPfRi_KjIGvKtYC0KD0bSOgEeiR5rkRIKjK6MeSeq-TIiGUEfhgN4lfdf3JD5rjzKVCyctEibGOeG9fSRkL9qjKSTVEto9s_n_XgIVT8hjpcD3Kj8uNlM4Ny2jB6BMjGbGse_D9hK2GYzsRsKM3YxZQ87DgeqRUqyHtn89U_KjcLmExt7HKjcFfBRA/s320/victim.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ll admit, the false narrative surrounding it isn’t something that’s hard to believe, it does sound logical to some extent. It was a couple of years after RX; done as a direct to video movie which is safer than a series; never got any sequels, and what followed was a much more traditional Rider. Hell, one of the things I used to see was that the Doras in ZO was meant to be a stand-in for Shin. Narratively, the Doras is essentially a perfected or true version of the same project ZO was from but is ultimately defeated by the more traditional rider incarnation.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I couldn’t find any official word on that being the intent, of course. Keita Amemiya was simply the SFX supervisor and designer on both Shin and ZO. The dude just makes freaky looking shit, that’s all there is to it.<br /><br /></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-78863a72-7fff-5a4c-7698-b6e3745c3e10" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The reality is that Shin’s reputation at the time was relatively fine, at worst mixed. Shin did remarkably well on video and critically it wasn't anything horrid and even decently received by what few contemporary reports I could find. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nowadays with twitter and such, you can see magazine scans of otherwise once-obscure fan events where Rider fans make their own suits which are quite frankly not far off from how horrific Shin would end up being. So this idea that going balls out with the horror would cause problems for the older fans is just ridiculous.<br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But with that out of the way, does this mean the Shin is, in reality, a misunderstood gem?</span></span></p><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But let’s address some of those positive aspects first.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSRvHnSSgMxCAnBtP1O90Nq-uQkskkAC_WPTz-70aqTSDr-s6mGBdrKfuM8ty7l0O_byIkvibPZtcGNVf0uvzUt3J7YK9FLQLgACaZNjHFT3y6yB5q67nHsICTPSFd5SnJIWjWZU1CocmHg0VxGLa7VWRcbXhuu-013yKAYGPc63FYSEjlJ7HfSzpG9A/s1017/intense.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1017" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSRvHnSSgMxCAnBtP1O90Nq-uQkskkAC_WPTz-70aqTSDr-s6mGBdrKfuM8ty7l0O_byIkvibPZtcGNVf0uvzUt3J7YK9FLQLgACaZNjHFT3y6yB5q67nHsICTPSFd5SnJIWjWZU1CocmHg0VxGLa7VWRcbXhuu-013yKAYGPc63FYSEjlJ7HfSzpG9A/s320/intense.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-79010ba4-7fff-d935-aaa0-6dd44013530f" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />Firstly, Katsuhisa Ishikawa is excellent in the role. His performance isn’t drastically different from what was in fashion at the time; his overall energy is actually fairly similar to Kurata. He’s got the same strong intensity and a wonderfully stern stare. I actually looked into his filmography to see if he’s ever done Yakuza films because he’s got the look that’s perfect for it.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His only shortcoming here is more so with the movie itself and it being a prologue. He doesn’t get to stretch out much, but what chances he gets are solid. He’s able to convey anger and sadness effectively- which is rider 101.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-_b8K7YgzGBMWl5OAos86fqhufPIK3d_NMrbMGjBDFo7EFvZg1g4vuIMpTppIGduR0xpK8hxCjVoS6ueG0wBrQtxoFD-aXUfuq8gL5RjC5qKZZRqsU-4AD_dubEaxYQJdknHCnQBZ-pXgpkURuaoS3zB4X0U7FLwBWwTk2qTxTI0BxIMnSwc5u0FxA/s1023/shared.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1023" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-_b8K7YgzGBMWl5OAos86fqhufPIK3d_NMrbMGjBDFo7EFvZg1g4vuIMpTppIGduR0xpK8hxCjVoS6ueG0wBrQtxoFD-aXUfuq8gL5RjC5qKZZRqsU-4AD_dubEaxYQJdknHCnQBZ-pXgpkURuaoS3zB4X0U7FLwBWwTk2qTxTI0BxIMnSwc5u0FxA/s320/shared.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /><span id="docs-internal-guid-79f56285-7fff-fab4-1982-5fd90cfe22fc" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Secondly, they do a pretty damn good job capturing that basic core of the franchise without feeling overly familiar. Shin was never meant to be a back-to-basics, but it does still have those elements of rouge science, conspiracies, a tragic hero, etc. But it does so in such a way that there’s just enough going on that it sets itself apart from what came before and in some ways even afterward. It doesn’t revolutionize the franchise the way Kuuga and Ryuki would, but it’s a nice enough departure that’s still in tune.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The general themes of a monster going against its creation along with Onizuka’s God complex tying in with a loss of individuality are all things I find legitimately fantastic.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br /><br /></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-ac504fb9-7fff-4000-6488-92d58cbcbc39" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Visually the film is wonderful, though the general look might come as a shock- and I don't mean the suit design, but we'll get to that. No I mean the movie itself is relatively simple looking for the most part. It's in 4:3 and the aesthetic isn't that more advanced than your average Kamen Rider episode. But I don’t say that as a knock against the film, it’s just a fact. I don’t have much to criticize for most of the cinematography or effects, actually. There are only a few moments that I would call egregious, including one where the Camera loses focus, a mannequin is used to terrible effect during Onizuma’s death, and there’s a part in the final battle where footage is repeated very poorly. <br /><br /><br /></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQgi91ECNJgJ9Ln07H7AEguflIQ6iNNxc7GIQkKKFBJVpONb8zsGM46bKg65zspngivbDcKCt2Kyi709iXxz8MPpImJr__ML5gz86FdRwuJQ9RFGtlWjNUCktB5suQ268XBMeGU5h7R8MXOHyTXW6Qi1QVCxJLM-DWLfALqPsIl3KnsRTsogsvtBHOQ/s292/burn.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="292" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQgi91ECNJgJ9Ln07H7AEguflIQ6iNNxc7GIQkKKFBJVpONb8zsGM46bKg65zspngivbDcKCt2Kyi709iXxz8MPpImJr__ML5gz86FdRwuJQ9RFGtlWjNUCktB5suQ268XBMeGU5h7R8MXOHyTXW6Qi1QVCxJLM-DWLfALqPsIl3KnsRTsogsvtBHOQ/s1600/burn.gif" width="292" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /><span id="docs-internal-guid-4eada6c9-7fff-1a3a-c8ff-95c739880f8f" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But most of the film looks fine and in some areas ridiculously good with some fantastic moody visuals. You give me a Rider shot like a cryptid and it’s hard to complain.<br /><br /><br /></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-zrquqe178jsicakHpPIlM247Sgq52ij4DqtzzKDMj7-Bz0QDYfaGbQQKJMD5LqpTBStM2RFDS49lKLgOziANlNjAw85ZchyPHjSjJex_zJsuBUgU7YrJDwg3eWyHQ25VsVZLVccrXy2EneV6p4qelZz5nW8i98sNlv5R_WHdEPkfzwkBJ-NW4Qi7w/s1007/cryptid.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="1007" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-zrquqe178jsicakHpPIlM247Sgq52ij4DqtzzKDMj7-Bz0QDYfaGbQQKJMD5LqpTBStM2RFDS49lKLgOziANlNjAw85ZchyPHjSjJex_zJsuBUgU7YrJDwg3eWyHQ25VsVZLVccrXy2EneV6p4qelZz5nW8i98sNlv5R_WHdEPkfzwkBJ-NW4Qi7w/s320/cryptid.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95qSLQ0S3NugP8TNfeg66Po9ML1pDkSkP_8elraSYpi90x4evobcTgQSOWwtlvWtUkDgMp4dEhVY4gjXHdb-lSMaE11qMzQW-HR-bSKlcvoNWv3kq1MOUg84BqmW0aVQWzUlUnvxw-C150kWIdyodx4DIz-ceyUaIosUGx0GH7LAQ_sXHcUINqlzz7A/s1015/atmosphere.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1015" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95qSLQ0S3NugP8TNfeg66Po9ML1pDkSkP_8elraSYpi90x4evobcTgQSOWwtlvWtUkDgMp4dEhVY4gjXHdb-lSMaE11qMzQW-HR-bSKlcvoNWv3kq1MOUg84BqmW0aVQWzUlUnvxw-C150kWIdyodx4DIz-ceyUaIosUGx0GH7LAQ_sXHcUINqlzz7A/s320/atmosphere.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /><br /><span id="docs-internal-guid-ca4a2a4c-7fff-8e43-8d4c-9b9d7277f07c" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Speaking of, the real star is the Rider himself. Shin is one of my absolute favorite designs and it's obvious they sunk a lotta effort and money into, well, everything about him. The mouth splitting open, the eyes, the way the head pulsates. It’s the one element that goes above and beyond your standard special effect on a TV show.<br /></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-ca4a2a4c-7fff-8e43-8d4c-9b9d7277f07c" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-11540367-7fff-7158-89c4-b41fcefb9639" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />The transformation is one of the most horrifically unsettling sequences I’ve ever seen for the franchise. It truly emphasizes not only the emotional but the physical pain of being a rider.</span><br /><br /></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8dt2_yjl8LejtJWS2Toy7Vj3hGKyjEmQY_879Njeobxx0oAkJ98SZq6vb1yaXKOvpNRJZit4UPszupN9xkbpHqsmfaPzATz2Y2TFHCg7yVm7x6ks2S1BoZ1ogzeAyn4txhbqllPt_HTj83fz33PiVNiJozdvRMFhRbowldP6VckGDmA3DXUmiQaB2g/s1017/transform.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1017" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8dt2_yjl8LejtJWS2Toy7Vj3hGKyjEmQY_879Njeobxx0oAkJ98SZq6vb1yaXKOvpNRJZit4UPszupN9xkbpHqsmfaPzATz2Y2TFHCg7yVm7x6ks2S1BoZ1ogzeAyn4txhbqllPt_HTj83fz33PiVNiJozdvRMFhRbowldP6VckGDmA3DXUmiQaB2g/s320/transform.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_5fm7KyKeCYOTPwjS7_FqtGZJ7WoT22d2tYTLN4rp4W1yiKpCoipTkvt5cHA4JFINX92H05mvUI7p4svI2wF_3uFmIz46OuVl53QRb8rwqANDjp4C7NiW9aGXtLflow_d8tiogxAAGLdAFaIFmIa2JDbXaAzN_Vr8SRYmb9yK9xZb1u1WQCBlhtE5w/s1027/transform%201.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1027" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_5fm7KyKeCYOTPwjS7_FqtGZJ7WoT22d2tYTLN4rp4W1yiKpCoipTkvt5cHA4JFINX92H05mvUI7p4svI2wF_3uFmIz46OuVl53QRb8rwqANDjp4C7NiW9aGXtLflow_d8tiogxAAGLdAFaIFmIa2JDbXaAzN_Vr8SRYmb9yK9xZb1u1WQCBlhtE5w/s320/transform%201.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3zfADNPTwBKJl-JWeuaWYUbfZsxK4XFBb1ZeFkBRVocERuKRHvu2cocXTmMZJnvUeln6xD2seCaReB3jnrGyao5RAZEoUkfxwSuZSpo-VBKeHIE58jdW-6lNZxXYdYe_qa1WKC7YAwyPjdJYKTnK0vXvDPQg0MwNDT8l9lFrrmaVVOgAe6g6vy7RmMQ/s1013/blood%20shot.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="766" data-original-width="1013" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3zfADNPTwBKJl-JWeuaWYUbfZsxK4XFBb1ZeFkBRVocERuKRHvu2cocXTmMZJnvUeln6xD2seCaReB3jnrGyao5RAZEoUkfxwSuZSpo-VBKeHIE58jdW-6lNZxXYdYe_qa1WKC7YAwyPjdJYKTnK0vXvDPQg0MwNDT8l9lFrrmaVVOgAe6g6vy7RmMQ/s320/blood%20shot.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-11540367-7fff-7158-89c4-b41fcefb9639" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br /></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-a27cc56a-7fff-4885-2335-ccb72093c0b9" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As much as there is to love about the Shin suit, I also think the in-between moments are good as well. Yeah, sure, you can tell when it’s just a rubber replica in most instances. But the sheer detail put into them is still astonishing. Just look at how they replicated Ishikawa’s teeth.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br /></span></span><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-afad8ded-7fff-02e6-aeee-f04348b58358" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ishinomori wanted a grotesque monster, and they most certainly delivered on that front.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m an absolute sucker for monsters and body horror, and when it comes to Riders, fucked up bug men is my jam. Just inject that directly into my veins.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkr3zyWBeuqP_ZODwbXzAY_UanjvGLKesSd6F3fEmKQVlkOKBzYjpXOiCndF4NXVmiZAjZS-Jag2fFK0oycFTLodDvo4Lb7KT3qR3dFDZbcIhrM4R5tX8LrsNbBxSnJeuIJjLFDpIjghgIeSBX3FMy6q_ZJyp3qAh0yMuUzykX5cZhSBikSIrhb5cReg/s1017/Mr%20x%201.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="1017" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkr3zyWBeuqP_ZODwbXzAY_UanjvGLKesSd6F3fEmKQVlkOKBzYjpXOiCndF4NXVmiZAjZS-Jag2fFK0oycFTLodDvo4Lb7KT3qR3dFDZbcIhrM4R5tX8LrsNbBxSnJeuIJjLFDpIjghgIeSBX3FMy6q_ZJyp3qAh0yMuUzykX5cZhSBikSIrhb5cReg/s320/Mr%20x%201.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWyMcD4fDIrkSIBnUmUcqK8jDUuW7-SWo4JP-aqjRt_DCtRGssnlOqARgUUdkl-XDXE-_Z5IoIf9FvqKwJyW1Z9e1WnHFDiHc0FRhoDT-ABGr_Lx3xWdJFEzGRzkdbmPFCjxGuPt4MaBjWIVl77cc9aiRDVu0fppVuHJCkDm407SQHS6zhZaw1BK4cXg/s1021/mr%20x%202.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1021" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWyMcD4fDIrkSIBnUmUcqK8jDUuW7-SWo4JP-aqjRt_DCtRGssnlOqARgUUdkl-XDXE-_Z5IoIf9FvqKwJyW1Z9e1WnHFDiHc0FRhoDT-ABGr_Lx3xWdJFEzGRzkdbmPFCjxGuPt4MaBjWIVl77cc9aiRDVu0fppVuHJCkDm407SQHS6zhZaw1BK4cXg/s320/mr%20x%202.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /><span id="docs-internal-guid-da34d6d3-7fff-0e63-a40f-552308a0afed" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cyborg Soldier level 2 (Goushima) is the only other suit/monster we get and he certainly makes an impression despite the relatively simple design...but it’s primarily because of what he reminds me of. Cause I swear this design had to inspire Mr. X in Resident Evil. I mean look at this:<br /><br /></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zDO9q1oqj5D1MoZV6RWBJIMAL4oyygYHq7lPVIcvWpHRcMWNZ4yTqe1Jk4tt3dvi_1Es3SaoC0N3ZqdXvZpSoSdJhVhp6FrCi2gg0Xi1dhl4WCYy75VTbHtstT97jn-7zCICezMDt-N6CiFdHueV9pyCvdd3Fy_PwYGnJVP8v9OOFdVcWG-QuwPLPg/s521/concept%20x.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="521" data-original-width="488" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zDO9q1oqj5D1MoZV6RWBJIMAL4oyygYHq7lPVIcvWpHRcMWNZ4yTqe1Jk4tt3dvi_1Es3SaoC0N3ZqdXvZpSoSdJhVhp6FrCi2gg0Xi1dhl4WCYy75VTbHtstT97jn-7zCICezMDt-N6CiFdHueV9pyCvdd3Fy_PwYGnJVP8v9OOFdVcWG-QuwPLPg/s320/concept%20x.png" width="300" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-dffd3915-7fff-92ca-997c-3fdb3e64c1cd" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The freaking remake version looks even more like him.</span></span></p><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I know I'm not the first to point this out, but it's impossible not to mention. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Given that a number of Biohazard writers also worked on Winspector (Which was just a year prior to Shin’s release) I wouldn't be surprised if they saw this and took inspiration.<br /><br /><br /></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-22f2ebc0-7fff-f1d1-585e-89dfd0ac5ee9" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There aren't many action scenes in Shin due to the nature of the picture, but I do enjoy what's here. Chances are you’ve probably seen the infamous decapitation scene, but the fight sequence leading up to that is actually pretty good. You see Shin get hurt several times and heal, Goushima gets his eyes gouged out, and his arm gets caught in an electrical box. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But I actually want to point to the earlier scene with Himuro. Because as far as I know, it's perhaps the only time we've ever seen a Rider go after a regular human, and...it's brutal.<br /><br /><br /></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfK5MSTiCsCxZjy25vsixYNQgHf5qkRSHsCQZ0YZroaimirsmpKiKAk556wQhT68ORgy0ewu7HqcQeLRoX-7PfjOEEjJlTXyBeFn3bSmMuVRj5V87Jg-7dzca-eum2lErc0HJ0BjC0dJCQtxCFWMpUojzpcxbqKprophruEyU2yVTXEL4Y8EQyv5hDg/s356/rag%20doll.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="356" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfK5MSTiCsCxZjy25vsixYNQgHf5qkRSHsCQZ0YZroaimirsmpKiKAk556wQhT68ORgy0ewu7HqcQeLRoX-7PfjOEEjJlTXyBeFn3bSmMuVRj5V87Jg-7dzca-eum2lErc0HJ0BjC0dJCQtxCFWMpUojzpcxbqKprophruEyU2yVTXEL4Y8EQyv5hDg/s320/rag%20doll.gif" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-a8311f30-7fff-aca2-a06f-a2780f55b42d" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When you think about how strong Riders typically are, punching with literal tons of force- it's usually happening to other monsters that can take it. But this? Himuro gets tossed around like a rag doll. Shin isn’t the best at hiding wires or dummies, but this sequence actually made me briefly wonder if suit actor Jiro Okamoto wasn’t just that fucking strong. <br />This is actually my favorite moment of the film. It isn’t heroic or triumphant, it’s sad and full of anger. The music is perfect and I believe the most ideal track for Shin. The movie’s official theme is ‘Forever’, but to me, this will always be what I think of. This is Kamen Rider Shin distilled into one perfect moment.<br /><br /></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-49acb695-7fff-8dca-84ca-f67ac263dca1" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All that said, Shin has a very flawed narrative and confused direction.<br /><br /></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-8c48a6fe-7fff-f2cc-66c2-5107896da44d" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While the presentation is excellent in some areas, the mystery surrounding the killings and Shin’s dreams are handled pretty damn clumsily. It's not the worst part, but it’s perhaps the most perplexing for the wrong reasons, because the mystery, well, it isn't really much of one. The thing is, I'm not sure if they were intending to fool the audience or not. When Shin is in the warehouse with Onizuka and passes out, it's obvious it's Onizuka given the POV shot starting from his location and not Shin’s. We’re still not sure how Shin is seeing Onizuka’s POV at first or why he has those dreams, but then that mystery is almost immediately answered shortly after with the whole psychic grasshopper spiel.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br /></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-0cff436d-7fff-c04e-03c1-3de02788b2f2" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now in fairness that's still an angle that can work. Hell, entire franchises are built upon the audience knowing something the protagonist doesn't, that's what How Catch'ems are. But for that to work you have to make solving the mystery still captivating, the character’s journey intriguing… and it just isn't with Shin, it's mediocre. <br /></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-1f2b373d-7fff-8e3c-24aa-a1a9c482f007" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But I think a bigger issue is that Shin doesn’t seem to know how to approach its narrative. Sometimes it’s a shlocky monster movie without committing, other times it feels like they intended on doing something more sophisticated and complex with a slow burn and philosophical elments- a bit of an odd choice for a V-cinema, but sure. And hey, both those things can work together.<br /><br /></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-a0f95940-7fff-1c39-321a-71557fdedf4e" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To its credit, I do think Shin introduces a lot of big concepts in a short amount of time. Yet it also comes off as if they were biting off more than they could chew in some respect.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Much of the run time is spent on introducing CIA agents, the deal with the lab, the conspiracy, the mystery of the dreams, and the organization behind all of the above, then they have to squeeze in the stuff with Ai, the baby, and so forth.<br /></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-7b3ca7e7-7fff-7b7d-937e-45631a8de37f" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We have more time for more characters and twists, but not time spent on actual character. Even at an hour and a half long it feels like there’s just a tad more info than what should’ve been in a prologue- at least for a story of this magnitude. It almost feels like they wanted to do a big character drama that ended up as a sloppy melodrama by accident.<br /><br /></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-77392770-7fff-06fb-e0b5-b278f2f64ae5" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As for the character moments that are present, well, they’re often rushed through despite a theatrical length.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now for the most part I think it's perfectly fine in a multi part story. Anyone that needs more development can get it in part 2 assuming they’re still around. I’m not exactly upset at Yuki or Onizuka not having more screen time and depth, they serve their purpose well.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But I do still think it is a fair criticism to think that Shin could have at the very least developed the relationship with Ai, and it’s that last part that is the crux of Shin’s story.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br /></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-afaf239d-7fff-0537-fac4-575d4edd6f08" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Perhaps the best demonstration is when Shin is at the gym after the attempt on his life. That part of the plot outline is not all that abridged. They go from Shin seeing Ai and Yuki, to cutting to the three on a floor having juice and Shin saying he's a murderer. It's 0 to 11 in a snap, and the way it’s edited and plays out just doesn’t work for me. It's a shame because you can see the increments of what the intent is, and the acting itself is good.<br /><br /><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QI7bygq08srXFcKXu2dJVBkz9nERJJ8Thiymps9tBXuPMtVjN3DxPd3v3MbUSRFlJyCm1u90tsEV2o7tCKTTVZT1khzB2kSOg3FJfoenZQeYCiHr9yWAhTJdAbePyoPqpRiG1I1yETXE-mZ5Lk5pi2_Ec3Vctg5qNHSPXBIsny-pYscgAIInSXoLKg/s1023/scared.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1023" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QI7bygq08srXFcKXu2dJVBkz9nERJJ8Thiymps9tBXuPMtVjN3DxPd3v3MbUSRFlJyCm1u90tsEV2o7tCKTTVZT1khzB2kSOg3FJfoenZQeYCiHr9yWAhTJdAbePyoPqpRiG1I1yETXE-mZ5Lk5pi2_Ec3Vctg5qNHSPXBIsny-pYscgAIInSXoLKg/s320/scared.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /><span id="docs-internal-guid-f12fcede-7fff-810a-01b5-a2f09bed3ebd" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You have a man who feels he isn't in control of himself, lashing out at his friends because he's terrified that they could be hurt by his own hands. Tensions run high and it's meant to bring Ai and Shin closer together. There's just not enough done to earn that emotion because the characters, particularly Ai, don’t have enough development or chemistry with Shin for the scene to hit the way it should. I cannot stress enough how much this needed land but doesn’t.<br /><br /></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-4664627a-7fff-abc4-6040-1ac67540a14f" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A lot of the emotional drama in Shin hinges on her relationship with him, but the two barely have any meaningful scenes before the friction between the two is cranked way up at the mid-way point. Both actors are talented, but they’re given the emotional depth of a carpet stain.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The most romance that happens is them skinny dipping and showering together, which feels like an embarrassing misconstrued idea of what an adult relationship is, and an indolent way of sexing up the film.<br /></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-f09542aa-7fff-3326-4d9f-3161abc7ab88" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And just to be clear, yes- even if it did work it would still be shitty that Ai is fridged. But at least there would be some weight behind it.<br /><br /></span><br /></span><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-044db0ed-7fff-cec4-e27a-b2b2fbc8ec3a" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now the second half is quite a bit better, although there are still some issues given the shakey setup, resulting in many of the good aspects still being built upon an uneven foundation. Despite that, the latter part really gets going with Shin finally transforming, the conflict with Ai, Kazamatsuri being blackmailed, and the whole deal with the CIA. The overall pacing is better, and there are even some legitimately good and even heartwarming moments.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7oF4XN-dFwydFmC_9s9ARmuUDGrh91AXczTFeEfX5QAKMmvAZTiQKvTJccft1-5A6k74rC9x0F_wBNmhZo7FrCdBIu_zZ3Y0KHQzUwuPA4uYPLH1Q6Z1rlolkYS0b7BLCeiNwuhgndptdJWmyotef-kNlGY8PYX_Aa11mVm6vLJnhn25Hrd6GVr6lA/s1023/hug.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1023" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7oF4XN-dFwydFmC_9s9ARmuUDGrh91AXczTFeEfX5QAKMmvAZTiQKvTJccft1-5A6k74rC9x0F_wBNmhZo7FrCdBIu_zZ3Y0KHQzUwuPA4uYPLH1Q6Z1rlolkYS0b7BLCeiNwuhgndptdJWmyotef-kNlGY8PYX_Aa11mVm6vLJnhn25Hrd6GVr6lA/s320/hug.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29-Zmfy9dc-950xCk3s9N5198_mXt990VvxS0grF_ndpD-dYFd7IeQYAa7Pa2Fg18sPiv14nDValItfZkcCASc_prfCHWitCyL5Hn6RmWiwTk36JI4on1uCKYHMy7HmrX0BLf1mTY2PyVRTUQLjYCiDILBK4urXjcdh5-kLGi1EVWe1vRXSFrXws4LA/s1015/hug%202.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1015" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29-Zmfy9dc-950xCk3s9N5198_mXt990VvxS0grF_ndpD-dYFd7IeQYAa7Pa2Fg18sPiv14nDValItfZkcCASc_prfCHWitCyL5Hn6RmWiwTk36JI4on1uCKYHMy7HmrX0BLf1mTY2PyVRTUQLjYCiDILBK4urXjcdh5-kLGi1EVWe1vRXSFrXws4LA/s320/hug%202.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /><span id="docs-internal-guid-3b4ff08d-7fff-b1f2-44db-50549aaad9cf" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The scene where Ai hugs Shin is perhaps the most noteworthy, and it's ironically a relatively simple concept to grasp. She's hugging a monster because she recognizes it's still the man she loves, and the visual contrast of the monstrous suit adds a surreal nature that I don't think has ever been captured again. Moments like that are what I would have liked to have seen more of and I think demonstrate Shin at its best. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He's human, yet not. A monster, yet not. All of this was acknowledged with a hug which is easily the most convincingly loving thing that happens between Shin and Ai.<br /><br /></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-a21c6be3-7fff-9119-dafd-08d21b5a4a2b" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The scene afterward where Ai reveals the true goal of the ISS is also good, just short of great. Yumi Nomura is giving a damn good performance as Ai spilling her heart out to Shin. But it feels like too little too late by that point. Had I been more invested, I’d probably be praising this as the highlight, because the reveal of Ai spying on Shin recontextualizes earlier scenes as foreshadowing. You’ll notice that she is in fact keeping tabs on him at the beginning of the film, sometimes obviously, sometimes subtly.<br /><br /><br /></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7y2E9UlOGxFY6lOcFxdJX6hQw5t9N58qEmEJXTOFd3mVSj06CgckBVjjfmjuazeoK8li9-iZJoIwOPpN5vEPg5vn9XdDUJMJpHcCJQP9h1G4es-3aJX7WcQSk-I4LvqPB85oBv-syElai04uLMSZ4acyvBXu9hKEiEUJFRPxpbUU5lh6o5fEj4FRXw/s1027/ai%20watching.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1027" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7y2E9UlOGxFY6lOcFxdJX6hQw5t9N58qEmEJXTOFd3mVSj06CgckBVjjfmjuazeoK8li9-iZJoIwOPpN5vEPg5vn9XdDUJMJpHcCJQP9h1G4es-3aJX7WcQSk-I4LvqPB85oBv-syElai04uLMSZ4acyvBXu9hKEiEUJFRPxpbUU5lh6o5fEj4FRXw/s320/ai%20watching.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEji7lary-LBAY3lSrp3pL8jMruW0ZF2e3zbj36dNb5IIvVKBFMTmT68nrSgXJqHuMKLYisM20g0OBxzmxVYs9JVV7oT73A-4Dbg2yPiC26psjHxdzzf6Bu8bf4Rlxyg9scJ0mQNichU04rlFZUOTCOeVPADaHDt6dHMVpB-6vP9_lDCBxF0GXv-PqA/s1025/ai%20watching%20again.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1025" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEji7lary-LBAY3lSrp3pL8jMruW0ZF2e3zbj36dNb5IIvVKBFMTmT68nrSgXJqHuMKLYisM20g0OBxzmxVYs9JVV7oT73A-4Dbg2yPiC26psjHxdzzf6Bu8bf4Rlxyg9scJ0mQNichU04rlFZUOTCOeVPADaHDt6dHMVpB-6vP9_lDCBxF0GXv-PqA/s320/ai%20watching%20again.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /><span id="docs-internal-guid-e35d3744-7fff-5561-f1c7-6e1639628c48" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love that attention to detail. The film has other moments like that too. Throughout we see what at first might seem like just random stock footage of vague cell research- then realize it’s Ai’s pregnancy developing at a rapid pace.<br /><br /><br /></span></span><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-ea6fd34e-7fff-1a4f-93fe-4c7d6e24ec71" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another highlight is Fukamachi who had great potential because she is against killing Shin. There's a brief scene where she's arguing on the phone with a superior and attempting to reevaluate the situation to simply capture Shin since he helped her against Goushima. Of course, that falls through and she still ends up following orders. But we never see her outright die in the movie, only wounded, and that offers up an engaging dynamic between the two in a sequel that never was. Maybe she remains reluctant towards killing Shin, maybe it gets harder as time goes on and the Organization becomes too much to handle. Let’s not forget she also killed Shin’s father when she shot the helicopter. There’s a lot you could do with that and I was interested in the what-ifs.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGBnrmupi5lfODqzDJCsOfquaJA3TXDWWEx6s21V67ua_sJSCIVfCTL_1Cw8L7MXRSk42yn3AIL2EVqMm8CbTSQUBIfvD9FK4KD_v5X0SjkbN3xqnXTxT_9CED840MCpTmkS3h_N4kXnL00jet1qiFDHPd6ZnDAtkLmxh6L0JCrL83HU_cQq0pZkQ7A/s1019/baby.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1019" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGBnrmupi5lfODqzDJCsOfquaJA3TXDWWEx6s21V67ua_sJSCIVfCTL_1Cw8L7MXRSk42yn3AIL2EVqMm8CbTSQUBIfvD9FK4KD_v5X0SjkbN3xqnXTxT_9CED840MCpTmkS3h_N4kXnL00jet1qiFDHPd6ZnDAtkLmxh6L0JCrL83HU_cQq0pZkQ7A/s320/baby.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-937946c6-7fff-9b0a-85ce-87f8b5a0e1cb" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Frankly, the movie has some truly fascinating and outright bizarre ideas that I would have loved to have seen more of. For all the criticism I have regarding Ai and an uneven story, there are still signs of what could have been under different circumstances.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The really esoteric stuff with the baby is so goddamn weird that I can't help but like it in a weird way and want to see where it would go. It’s like nothing else the franchise has had before or since, for better or worse.</span></span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I'm ultimately left with very mixed feelings about Shin’s story and it’s frustrating.</span></span></p><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I legitimately do love Shin as a concept and there’s a lot there I adore. I love the idea of a Rider being betrayed by a romantic interest who feels guilt over their actions. I love the idea of Kamen Rider being a fugitive hunted down by world Governments and shadow organizations. I love the tragedy and the utter weirdness of everything. </span><span id="docs-internal-guid-949905f3-7fff-9bfd-5d9f-c5978c3e7c5a" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">f I give Shin credit on anything it's that it feels very unique and ambitious.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I don’t think there’s a single idea in Shin that I’m against, but the execution leaves so much to be desired and it largely comes down to too much emphasis placed on the wrong areas and asinine choices. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shin's biggest problem isn't that it's graphic or mature, or even that its concepts are bad. It's that a lot of the story is poorly told or executed, primarily in the first half which over complicates things when simplicity was needed most of all.<br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-1cf90241-7fff-5d8d-02e3-c4a86b986146" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Quite frankly, it feels like something written by someone used to drawn-out serialization rather than what was essentially pitched as a direct to video miniseries. I firmly believe Miyashita was an ill-fit for the type of story Shin was striving to be. At least within in the format.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Junichi Miyashita is fully capable of drama and mystery, his work on Winspector and other Metal heroes is proof of that. But writing for a series is quite a bit different from a movie, and Shin often feels like 6 episodes worth of story crammed into an hour and a half. The end result is brief snippets of a dozen different ill-defined concepts that confabulate layered and confusing with deep and engaging, littered with awkward exposition heavy dialogue.<br /><br /></span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e5ca845f-7fff-c3c7-ea26-f6d65a9038a3" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You know, Code Veronica makes a lot more sense now.<br /><br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e5ca845f-7fff-c3c7-ea26-f6d65a9038a3" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Final Thoughts.</b></span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e5ca845f-7fff-c3c7-ea26-f6d65a9038a3" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br /></span></span><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-513bdefd-7fff-fb48-2915-5633e48d5b73" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So I guess there’s one more thing I need to address which is if Shin was actually relatively well received and it did well financially, why didn't it get a sequel? Truth is, a lot of V-cinemas get dropped sequels, or they just say shit without any intention of a follow up. Remember how I mentioned Lady Battle Cop earlier? That film ends with a "to be continued" but also never got one.<br /><br /><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVqQmgXZDIUHtHI9yPUG_n3NWtZ2B9E5K-AYMSbD586W05kTTzMDmL_PaYimIuwt0bbYOjHMuT61TEiQ_pSKdpaQUsErYU7bGH3ieZyJMMtr7rf3mtRNDT-WUTdKIL6HV91BOTD41_-7Q06IXHB0vOv4bmfM-ozkySxOIkRz7rTb0ADouLSNk-NenWQ/s1013/LBC.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1013" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVqQmgXZDIUHtHI9yPUG_n3NWtZ2B9E5K-AYMSbD586W05kTTzMDmL_PaYimIuwt0bbYOjHMuT61TEiQ_pSKdpaQUsErYU7bGH3ieZyJMMtr7rf3mtRNDT-WUTdKIL6HV91BOTD41_-7Q06IXHB0vOv4bmfM-ozkySxOIkRz7rTb0ADouLSNk-NenWQ/s320/LBC.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-33ac74fa-7fff-cddc-8019-d1c049f80c32" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For Shin, however, there were intentions for a possible follow up, the general idea being that over 3-4 more movies he would gain a proper bike and the usual Kamen Rider appearance, possibly looking like the concepts Ishinomori had for Gaia.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsVeRqs0oI7Ug1yuF8qVxsreHZyLdKj4ZR27q-aS_YaNUb2Edqmo1JHmeYH9HMOaKgmrT9UA3pWCQgcWK2GdM8WVv8GgsdupHnqFTfIuVxjSmBEAugKEK9lrKG9i4zhydNylwUrsYFPmdQzD5R35pURu8PeFhQh1OpLi_QF0jH9-RbvGBNy1w-hftCQ/s715/KamenRiderGaiaDesign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="715" data-original-width="536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsVeRqs0oI7Ug1yuF8qVxsreHZyLdKj4ZR27q-aS_YaNUb2Edqmo1JHmeYH9HMOaKgmrT9UA3pWCQgcWK2GdM8WVv8GgsdupHnqFTfIuVxjSmBEAugKEK9lrKG9i4zhydNylwUrsYFPmdQzD5R35pURu8PeFhQh1OpLi_QF0jH9-RbvGBNy1w-hftCQ/s320/KamenRiderGaiaDesign.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-87f75746-7fff-0c52-448f-1e2d33983e89" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But they never got much further than that. The closest they ever got to a proper sequel was a pitch for Shin meeting the previous 11 riders, which frankly sounds terrible as a follow-up and not dissimilar to what they already did with RX. But that was thankfully brushed aside for ZO, which I think was the better outcome.<br /><br /></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-eed396b1-7fff-88fd-638d-5e6c66d7e070" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Although I think Shin has many issues, it’s also not offensively bad, just misguided. I look at it like reading one chapter of a book; anything that's a problem could be rectified or at the very least overshadowed by better material. If nothing else, I wish they could have continued the story in a Manga format or something, just to give proper closure.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br /></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-e5236e59-7fff-e153-9724-c3c6faac1dcb" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the same time, I don’t even think the team had much of an idea on where to go, given that the vast majority of the cast is killed off. It feels more like the concept of doing something with big overarching twists and turns, as opposed to actually having those ideas from the start.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I would not be surprised if Bandai and Toei looked at it and realized what would be needed in a sequel just wouldn’t be worth it. Given the bubble bursting and the strong possibility for diminishing returns, they were likely right.<br /><br /></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-4bbe325e-7fff-ba4b-3e10-c5a078f19982" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Still, you're probably never going to get anything as high concept as "psychic mutant grasshopper baby" in Kamen Rider again. That alone is worth a recommendation just for the sheer oddity of it all.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who knows? Perhaps one day we’ll get a miniseries remake of Shin not dissimilar to Black Sun. The format would certainly work a lot better nowadays.<br /><br /><br /></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-6de5b29d-7fff-6f1a-d23d-b33611cb23cc" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Before I go, I would like to give a thank you to Coop Bicknell, <a href="https://www.zimmerit.moe/shin-kamen-rider-prologue-hideaki-anno-production/">who wrote a fantastic article about the production of Shin Kamen Rider</a>. It came just at the right time for me and was invaluable both as a reference and providing sources to many of the stories I’ve heard prior, but could never confirm. (Reading google translated Japanese sites isn’t exactly ideal after all). If you get the chance, give it a read yourself, it goes in-depth on all the names involved with the production from producers to SFX sculptors and operators.<br /><br /><br /></span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-789b5cf3-7fff-a7e7-92e1-81740858a6b4" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next time, well, I might have a small surprise for a review. But the next full review will be to tackle my favorite Heisei Rider series: Kamen Rider W.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m sure everyone is tired of my droning on about iconography and the core of Riders blah blah. And honestly same. But I want to get one more review about that and W is the perfect one to leave out on before moving on to something else.<br /><br /><br />Speaking of moving on,<a href="https://kamenstranger.tumblr.com/"> I have a tumblr now</a>. I'll do a proper post about this once I get that blog up and running proper, as it's empty at the moment. But suffice to say, this site is infuriating to use and obviously, it's never going to get fixed. So, posting on tumblr is a lot more appealing. It cannot be worse than trying to insert a jump break on here.<br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-87f75746-7fff-0c52-448f-1e2d33983e89" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-6de5b29d-7fff-6f1a-d23d-b33611cb23cc" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><span style="color: white;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e5ca845f-7fff-c3c7-ea26-f6d65a9038a3" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></div><h3><span style="color: white;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e5ca845f-7fff-c3c7-ea26-f6d65a9038a3" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-044db0ed-7fff-cec4-e27a-b2b2fbc8ec3a" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-a8311f30-7fff-aca2-a06f-a2780f55b42d" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f09542aa-7fff-3326-4d9f-3161abc7ab88" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-7b3ca7e7-7fff-7b7d-937e-45631a8de37f" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-1f2b373d-7fff-8e3c-24aa-a1a9c482f007" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-0cff436d-7fff-c04e-03c1-3de02788b2f2" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-11540367-7fff-7158-89c4-b41fcefb9639" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-16c95169-7fff-222a-4755-e059d107d686" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span>Kamen Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02832099141882322022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505042118996520039.post-25820087720511883082022-03-10T13:59:00.000-05:002022-03-10T13:59:20.057-05:00Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger Review.<div><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBlTin_ct9UXFd_gzu7-l06ngR9fOATfAaXhJdYWDU1cDQfA3MeyFFrt4TB4eogHSOK283ePulzwV-3rzdrYNBDehwEFoxdZRdDIKV9IorBQYnuiz50NoClsfi5Y515_0qaCoLpya4dYPPdT-lwIW-V-3xdu6HDoM9XyJNnoo_BkNt9_e4Iio7H-GbSw=s1366" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBlTin_ct9UXFd_gzu7-l06ngR9fOATfAaXhJdYWDU1cDQfA3MeyFFrt4TB4eogHSOK283ePulzwV-3rzdrYNBDehwEFoxdZRdDIKV9IorBQYnuiz50NoClsfi5Y515_0qaCoLpya4dYPPdT-lwIW-V-3xdu6HDoM9XyJNnoo_BkNt9_e4Iio7H-GbSw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Wow, it’s been a long time since I’ve reviewed a Sentai series for this blog, huh? Almost as long as reviewing a recently airing series, the last of which was Kamen Rider Build- as far as live-action was concerned anyway. I couldn’t give a pinpoint overall reason, just that there hasn’t been a lot of modern stuff that’s interested me. As far as Sentai is concerned, I gave both LuPat and Ryusoulger chances, but neither really grasped me despite some intriguing dynamics in Lupat and wonderful action is Ryusoul. I’ve heard great things about Kiramager, which was written by Kuuga and Gokaiger writer, Naruhisa Arakawa. That greatly piques my interest, but this review isn’t about that.<br /><br /><br />Since this series just recently ended, I do want to give a brief summary of my thoughts before diving into spoilers. The short and to the point version is that I overall enjoyed my time with Zenkaiger. For as wonderfully comedic and over the top the show is, there is a surprising amount of heart with a very strong theme of family. As overplayed as that often is with Sentai, there’s no denying Zenkaiger does a wonderful job of integrating it from every angle. The core team bounces wonderfully off one another, each with their own (sometimes conflicting) personalities that are put to good use throughout the show with a decent amount of focus. Although it may be disappointing that the substantial character arcs are still relegated to the leader, sixth, and dark ranger. But I can hardly complain, all things considered, it’s some of the best parts of the show.<br /><br />There are still some issues. The villains aren’t that interesting and it suffers from being a bit cramped at times, such as introducing the dark ranger and sixth back. And there is the sad reality of the insistence on the number of toys is becoming an ever-increasing issue that at times can bog down the pacing or feel really tacked on.<br /><br />Regardless, this was the first time in a very long time that I really enjoyed Sentai and would recommend you at least watch six episodes to see what you think.<br /><br /><br />But, if you don’t mind spoilers and want to get into the details of the whole story, what I love, what I have issues with, and so forth, hit the jump.<br /><br /><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><br />I’m going to start with the villains this go around because they’re the percipient for setting off the series.
<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhI7GEearr3GVNpDf94zyPQEenxs48NbUiDFbTeuI15iSUFV-zf56tP-rDampkUbUyJdTq10B-wu1S6B9QFe5yXyd8uHNy6FQjkrpmafqdBkRExzvlpH5X4iK1K6Hp6VJPitKsZaI0o5SRUKBgHKK8gaHDyU5SodRks1AdVagY52Uj_U9KlTL9d97o1YQ=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhI7GEearr3GVNpDf94zyPQEenxs48NbUiDFbTeuI15iSUFV-zf56tP-rDampkUbUyJdTq10B-wu1S6B9QFe5yXyd8uHNy6FQjkrpmafqdBkRExzvlpH5X4iK1K6Hp6VJPitKsZaI0o5SRUKBgHKK8gaHDyU5SodRks1AdVagY52Uj_U9KlTL9d97o1YQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />The Tojitendo dynasty is the ruling power over Kikaitopia; a world populated with humanoid machines. For two generations they have ruled with an iron fist over the populace. Their current leader,<b> Great</b> <b>King Bokkowaus</b> (VA: Joji Nakata) is expanding his tight grip across parallel universes by capturing worlds without so much as an invasion. The worlds are captured and compacted into gears without any hiccups until the Zenkaiger’s earth. Somehow the machine catastrophically misfires and partially merges the populace of Kikaitopia with earth, while the main forces of the Tojitendo remain in their own separate and protected realm. Frustrated, a more traditional invasion is used as a backup.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRX1fiDiWUWihS-TsuP3-Xy1Gndxk9G2upOfF3inw9kRwuXqt3QdvISPLsMGSRckxyRkBXm13lL6BXyZQc5TVeGdq2lm--oV_LVeucjUQf8P90ElB0rDxEPgbFGBnpKSSqZ7wNuG28Xa7V6oWdV6Ambkez6t-mKViTbK627KJmcF1VqRaww2ITzu6_2w=s829" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="829" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRX1fiDiWUWihS-TsuP3-Xy1Gndxk9G2upOfF3inw9kRwuXqt3QdvISPLsMGSRckxyRkBXm13lL6BXyZQc5TVeGdq2lm--oV_LVeucjUQf8P90ElB0rDxEPgbFGBnpKSSqZ7wNuG28Xa7V6oWdV6Ambkez6t-mKViTbK627KJmcF1VqRaww2ITzu6_2w=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />Bokkowaus himself isn’t much beyond just being a demanding brute, his name even means “To wreck” It’s rare for him to ever put plans into motion himself. The most outstanding things are his immense power and the wonderful performance by Sentai veteran Joji Nakata, who you perhaps know best as Professor Bias from Liveman.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3AACLvhHJVcMDzMmZ4gUcbaVeJKNk63HLSc2BSTSQB3W5T5cdr0LhlIBmXNUYpdFVKXmVuA9YgqHWwT9DWnab7o5fv_kJlHITQwGb6uyJ95PqmfFHt6vJq2TDGeD-47ecHjnuURxotn79tL682-DnSNgBfHifZ5XPD8l8zlo554Cp7EQhk8gWUIWQxw=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3AACLvhHJVcMDzMmZ4gUcbaVeJKNk63HLSc2BSTSQB3W5T5cdr0LhlIBmXNUYpdFVKXmVuA9YgqHWwT9DWnab7o5fv_kJlHITQwGb6uyJ95PqmfFHt6vJq2TDGeD-47ecHjnuURxotn79tL682-DnSNgBfHifZ5XPD8l8zlo554Cp7EQhk8gWUIWQxw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />Beneath the wrecking king are his generals; <b>Mechanic Officer Ijirude</b>(VA: Masanori Takeda SA: Hiroyuki Muraoka) the lead scientist who is perhaps not all that original in his creations, and <b>Mobile Commander Barashitara</b> (VA: Kenji Nomura SA: Riichi Seike) a strong-willed commander second only to Bokkowaus.<br /><br />Both Barashitara and Ijirude have a competing rivalry, each trying to succeed over the other’s failures- much to the frustration of Bokkowaus who merely wants results and rarely ever gets them.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHn_b2qXGyf7JnjaGUhi7PZpVueFzD0rfv-xG689S1UfW3aF0nu5KPaWhPSffCwP5wT_V9lUIv1mSHKjHZWg6IkCq37Z5CVBI7rcKM7tKsgrtTf3Mxww4W2Z2Cbp5UCEjlRbwfxqkLq4AEa_RtgurWJKyA7obb2Sfa29np8YEHPNNH1TEu8SddUf1DHQ=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHn_b2qXGyf7JnjaGUhi7PZpVueFzD0rfv-xG689S1UfW3aF0nu5KPaWhPSffCwP5wT_V9lUIv1mSHKjHZWg6IkCq37Z5CVBI7rcKM7tKsgrtTf3Mxww4W2Z2Cbp5UCEjlRbwfxqkLq4AEa_RtgurWJKyA7obb2Sfa29np8YEHPNNH1TEu8SddUf1DHQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Aside from those two, there is another, Gege, Bokkowaus’s massive robotic pet bird.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfxLckDh0ABvhBLSuDOxw1UvrjYvyBso4sXO6kF9caLUoFjkYKzFNfB8WvKGoHQQhautgZcrawgaz4Api16fgtnawnSh3f054dOvQ9GHIiigPhcNMQ-FP95DZVNcnQOtcjfKxbcTjPau5Yk_CeuZPfUwlafTOd24YvXWRHlC4IDQVmh2CQklFg7q1HZw=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfxLckDh0ABvhBLSuDOxw1UvrjYvyBso4sXO6kF9caLUoFjkYKzFNfB8WvKGoHQQhautgZcrawgaz4Api16fgtnawnSh3f054dOvQ9GHIiigPhcNMQ-FP95DZVNcnQOtcjfKxbcTjPau5Yk_CeuZPfUwlafTOd24YvXWRHlC4IDQVmh2CQklFg7q1HZw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b>Gege</b> (VA: Tatsuhisa Suzuki & Masaya Fukunishi) <br />From the earliest episodes, Gege is shown to be more unique amongst the villains. He’s the one thing Bokkowaus doesn’t show anger towards and is seemingly more aware of the inner machinations than anyone else. Possible betrayals or sabotage, Ijirude’s less than original inventions. Nothing gets past Gege, and yet it’s rare that he ever points out these discretions, almost as if he finds them amusing. His actions or inactions are a complete mystery and at times even in direct opposition of the Tojitendo. The only thing seemingly consistent is acting as the voice of reason to Bokkowaus’ short temper.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgh5UXOBmIS_Gm9ILJlfnbzbzjpkf7Kob0LDVqVVGJ8Lebe4xqBofO59SGKpikzME40t5IW2u-G64Ksyp0s4Cu-a1L1akOFoQoyCuWeAQqCitJknvpaKq6kwNK852kCni7_p8BtyoQdwTgFL3it-bm_iFJzYkhOGpMcOxZi7hgdr8QK90o4M7t4utYt7Q=s636" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="222" data-original-width="636" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgh5UXOBmIS_Gm9ILJlfnbzbzjpkf7Kob0LDVqVVGJ8Lebe4xqBofO59SGKpikzME40t5IW2u-G64Ksyp0s4Cu-a1L1akOFoQoyCuWeAQqCitJknvpaKq6kwNK852kCni7_p8BtyoQdwTgFL3it-bm_iFJzYkhOGpMcOxZi7hgdr8QK90o4M7t4utYt7Q=s320" width="320" /></a></div>Finally beneath all of them are the grunts: Kudakks, Kudaiters, and Kudaitests. All are capable of merging with the gears of the various worlds the Tojitendo have captured, thus providing the monster of the week, referred to simply as Worlds. While the former two serve as the standard worlds, Kudaitests arrive as a last line of defense, absorbing whatever energy remains after a World is defeated and transmogrifying into a giant “Great World” for the big battles. Upon defeat, that particular world is freed from the gear.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJ5ErBsZoLf_5na0Hnf7zWfqrkosZv9Q8SHIqDudaX_4S3jftsGwqOk88ZMNPw1Z7It9lmT8P23VAbUPwaJPea6V8CKxMqBgujgdNDtqZ7BvOszpHQ-Oc2eb88Ct9kzE2Bm3dHf88qgUSqlD2CwQ4OWoUBG-Sr3RUuAZi98UjSCa-coOYtwzHLe4Tf6A=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJ5ErBsZoLf_5na0Hnf7zWfqrkosZv9Q8SHIqDudaX_4S3jftsGwqOk88ZMNPw1Z7It9lmT8P23VAbUPwaJPea6V8CKxMqBgujgdNDtqZ7BvOszpHQ-Oc2eb88Ct9kzE2Bm3dHf88qgUSqlD2CwQ4OWoUBG-Sr3RUuAZi98UjSCa-coOYtwzHLe4Tf6A=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzZEkhs9c6ea7WTfDP1b_HN4lGy1L4rFQb1P00KqEZnh-IPFu0cxv78iRi6YXRhEcWk9kYmqgL5_kVAlHlb72BU_rms0-MIv83VHwoeGFHY4Qmke_H3HhVYc1gEuXgSV-iUfuDL0EcMsjM_aCy2S21aB1JWaCI3r_JsWSrUSq7hwU4kK_ChnbsGuYYzg=s671" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="376" data-original-width="671" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzZEkhs9c6ea7WTfDP1b_HN4lGy1L4rFQb1P00KqEZnh-IPFu0cxv78iRi6YXRhEcWk9kYmqgL5_kVAlHlb72BU_rms0-MIv83VHwoeGFHY4Qmke_H3HhVYc1gEuXgSV-iUfuDL0EcMsjM_aCy2S21aB1JWaCI3r_JsWSrUSq7hwU4kK_ChnbsGuYYzg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>Kaito Goshikida/Zenkaiser</b> (Kiita Komagine, Masashi Takada; suit)<br />Standing in opposition to the Tojitendo is of course the titular Zenkaiger. The first and leader of the group, Kaito, is a remarkably friendly and kind individual, almost to the point of naivety- though not completely foolish. His chipper demeanor and approach to almost everything is largely the glue that both brings and holds the team together. While an absolute goofball, he never crosses the line into annoyance- at least for me. Although his catchphrase of “Full Power, non-stop” might get grating for some. In terms of leaders, I still tend to lean more towards someone like Yamato for the kind-hearted archetype. But if you combined that with the high-energy archetype, I don’t think you could do much better than Kaito in terms of balance.<br />Part of what helps ground his character is a surprisingly sad backstory regarding his missing parents, which allows for Kaito to emote and show that beneath the smile is someone carrying a lot of weight since they were 10. This also serves as a major narrative driving force throughout the series.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRzg_F-hhH3HHkj_Cdsu9uG63EYl7C5CYQ-ET4Fmq_M3IZhW3E2T4BiNyC_ZEZJSCr2KRwiktorqWoWiWkdVyuHOux5n4Zlflw00TsSKYcsLB_lVRQSTW-MKc1ViZLh9TVaPOLs8Q9MLUeafmAkFYKNpZugjKkx_6RRCjuJQnbjuUqudeb8qFv5HOwSQ=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRzg_F-hhH3HHkj_Cdsu9uG63EYl7C5CYQ-ET4Fmq_M3IZhW3E2T4BiNyC_ZEZJSCr2KRwiktorqWoWiWkdVyuHOux5n4Zlflw00TsSKYcsLB_lVRQSTW-MKc1ViZLh9TVaPOLs8Q9MLUeafmAkFYKNpZugjKkx_6RRCjuJQnbjuUqudeb8qFv5HOwSQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />Kaito’s parents; Professors <b>Isao</b> and <b>Mitsuko Goshikida </b>(Daijiro Kawaoka, Marie Kai) were researchers primarily studying parallel universes. At some point, their focus shifted to that of worlds with Super Sentai. They would invent devices in the form of “gears” that would copy certain aspects of the various teams- perhaps knowing that one day their world would come under siege and require its own.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihRE4ry71c36GMt3S_AszqUGsx2mHbWoRHF1yDe74h-7nRvmBlsQYy0vWo1pp6gIA5sRX2fC1tbllphWaDDy2mqxnIfzIQCHJBvsqEk0AqhDI8UU5QsPC0jY8AUCXluwnVUWXdfA7TlgvD_tYibAtSLutwdYTik_NfYeOWrSXq6Ustijoxj8BVrD0m8w=s1057" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="1057" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihRE4ry71c36GMt3S_AszqUGsx2mHbWoRHF1yDe74h-7nRvmBlsQYy0vWo1pp6gIA5sRX2fC1tbllphWaDDy2mqxnIfzIQCHJBvsqEk0AqhDI8UU5QsPC0jY8AUCXluwnVUWXdfA7TlgvD_tYibAtSLutwdYTik_NfYeOWrSXq6Ustijoxj8BVrD0m8w=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />The two mysteriously disappeared ten years prior to the series, leaving
Kaito to be taken care of by his kindly but firm Grandmother, <b>Yatsude
Goshikida</b> (Ikue Sakakibara) aka Yacchan. Convinantly, the Zenkaiger gear was hidden beneath Yatsude’s cafe; Colorful, which would serve as a base of operations.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUwpCf_BDqy4INl0eNoM3L1t9vl71M8pycGWX9lluiT2DNcgrKCV_CvboBH7az65gSa_kf0IOfpPCKQTob2kDZRoR79z5kVotyTv8pp4zcH4bnye7KdHpZeFXSywa_SU7wmMpdNQMgv7fulCVqlGOSbbM4EZu8XCJTvE_XrMYMV1dg8XtlEz6iszNaFw=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUwpCf_BDqy4INl0eNoM3L1t9vl71M8pycGWX9lluiT2DNcgrKCV_CvboBH7az65gSa_kf0IOfpPCKQTob2kDZRoR79z5kVotyTv8pp4zcH4bnye7KdHpZeFXSywa_SU7wmMpdNQMgv7fulCVqlGOSbbM4EZu8XCJTvE_XrMYMV1dg8XtlEz6iszNaFw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />But that wasn’t all that was left behind. Perhaps the most important piece was Secchan (Misato Sakuragi), a robotic bird built as a companion for Kaito. Secchan was initially little more than a novelty until their protocols were activated, whereby they became a fully realized AI. At first glance, you may be forgiven for suspecting something akin to Navi, but while they are something of a navigator, they’re far more diverse in their operations. Not to mention more respected from the get-go. <br />Secchan primarily serves as a support member- knowing the full history of all the Sentai, the operations of the gear, tracking monsters, encouraging Kaito to build a team, etc.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOXJ7J0p9BajQhLDdiVkE-EIfhmZIXTqZxb23tLybie9rh8R_FsEk3eyHxUFToSb5jI_f0N9T0Ez_frpotcQYbWkVu2hM4kDfteg3WuKiude6LEPg8gINvh9xfzGLMWU5NAckkpSyyHilvwo4s2c3kjHbyALnyHk4oUExUHNpnYpjqt5xXSSWoizq8Vw=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOXJ7J0p9BajQhLDdiVkE-EIfhmZIXTqZxb23tLybie9rh8R_FsEk3eyHxUFToSb5jI_f0N9T0Ez_frpotcQYbWkVu2hM4kDfteg3WuKiude6LEPg8gINvh9xfzGLMWU5NAckkpSyyHilvwo4s2c3kjHbyALnyHk4oUExUHNpnYpjqt5xXSSWoizq8Vw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYUlwwku_ANdBVMZU4HJxOHiV5IaHOLRrdaiyDB_gPyjZRJEDHRYLbHpAKn2HtmT_IlTAHktWk9Ol6r15uxFrpgXyWrXdELzThg3vP9UAfPiXgnQkSBJosQ6CPpqEg-Z0CT1bV0jcF6-X8zLs9YrAAgV73bq0H48A7CDODEghOLGBv4mbapaQEORCt3w=s674" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="674" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYUlwwku_ANdBVMZU4HJxOHiV5IaHOLRrdaiyDB_gPyjZRJEDHRYLbHpAKn2HtmT_IlTAHktWk9Ol6r15uxFrpgXyWrXdELzThg3vP9UAfPiXgnQkSBJosQ6CPpqEg-Z0CT1bV0jcF6-X8zLs9YrAAgV73bq0H48A7CDODEghOLGBv4mbapaQEORCt3w=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b>Zyuran</b> (Shintarō Asanuma;Voice, Yasuhiro Takeuchi; Suit)<br /><br />Zyuran is the first Kikainoid to join Kaito, fittingly equipped with a Zyuranger motif. He is quite the party animal but is also surprisingly laidback. Perhaps best described as a middle-aged cool dude. Zyuran may be young at heart, but that worldly experience gives him more insight in comparison to the other later members. He would become something of a confidant for Kaito, relating their experiences and giving some insight into the Kikainoid world. When Kaito is out of his element, it’s typically Zyuran that’s the first to be there to lend a hand and offer a clearer outside perspective for difficult situations.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPClLbJnDyc3DMwjXI2QG9a12abZ7-YjFtN2V1UcZWFsr_AaHYXxTzIu-Zrzl23VzHWwcS4xDSOGuR4_UZCkvm3pXiXAlBRTKKKBFHgJ-7eLF2gR861VGtJyQWRcS8DUzJe6qEr5PjrgSQHgksri6Jckci_0Wf8IrQ-vnIli0NRfWM9yVYxxnxGdbtOw=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPClLbJnDyc3DMwjXI2QG9a12abZ7-YjFtN2V1UcZWFsr_AaHYXxTzIu-Zrzl23VzHWwcS4xDSOGuR4_UZCkvm3pXiXAlBRTKKKBFHgJ-7eLF2gR861VGtJyQWRcS8DUzJe6qEr5PjrgSQHgksri6Jckci_0Wf8IrQ-vnIli0NRfWM9yVYxxnxGdbtOw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvjGCIq-Uv5ozv-5FKORE8ENExafhXGYMt_C5Ar-jmog0WxOWLemT_XBibgi2dbgF5qojexA1JCoZAKknmYCLecbTbyY36PvZeNu0JMK5qhyIVH-KrAeocm-EsVBHa8mBplmRd4bjpl4jIHszMQzX2qRe2XPWLW64TmfugrGLa0Y1Ar2hz_xGSThHkAw=s672" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="376" data-original-width="672" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvjGCIq-Uv5ozv-5FKORE8ENExafhXGYMt_C5Ar-jmog0WxOWLemT_XBibgi2dbgF5qojexA1JCoZAKknmYCLecbTbyY36PvZeNu0JMK5qhyIVH-KrAeocm-EsVBHa8mBplmRd4bjpl4jIHszMQzX2qRe2XPWLW64TmfugrGLa0Y1Ar2hz_xGSThHkAw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><b><br />Gaon</b> (Yuki Kaji; Voice, Masato Tsutamune;Suit)<br /><br />Gaon is the second member, and of course, has a Gaoranger motif. A talented cook and obsessed with earth creatures, Gaon finds mammals cute in comparison to the cold steel of the Kikainoids. This quirk is actually something of a point of contention between him and Zyuran, the latter knowing full well humans can be flawed. The show makes it a point to not just treat it as something cute but as something of concern- as Gaon’s favoritism can place saving or protecting earthlings over Kikainoids. While it doesn’t go very deep, Gaon experiences some growth, learning to temper the more problematic elements of his own personality and love the Kikainoid and human family he becomes a part of.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzbIiRaae8fZFmX-Ma1V0M49sGHj9Ms26txSGB372kr_4mb1whODmbsC1-MAAW5jbl3iHDrID2tWcRFsK721LO1sq2yLBTBznoVY7BSci5f0yWGA3O7S0n61hCwnMf5NaJLUgcIFZA4kGbg41zCTQ8tDA0EzuPLFEY82EHgufH9Ta4skx7rq8yaN0XAg=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzbIiRaae8fZFmX-Ma1V0M49sGHj9Ms26txSGB372kr_4mb1whODmbsC1-MAAW5jbl3iHDrID2tWcRFsK721LO1sq2yLBTBznoVY7BSci5f0yWGA3O7S0n61hCwnMf5NaJLUgcIFZA4kGbg41zCTQ8tDA0EzuPLFEY82EHgufH9Ta4skx7rq8yaN0XAg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2dkzbhDJ8fxA4W4yFskxkJrFsDOODX1gv0zAAeTWfs3YI2ThtawOtBCMWpY0NBG3iBu_wKWr_tSC1UBw0tsjdWnqIjzr4agB3Mu6US9YhaTgMpooK67DnzAwIGPA55PmmZuIWEA8zNvLmPJy8Yz2MWLgFn5xqG2AYQ5Zmg5qZf7VfJstP7MTHTGpwSQ=s675" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="675" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2dkzbhDJ8fxA4W4yFskxkJrFsDOODX1gv0zAAeTWfs3YI2ThtawOtBCMWpY0NBG3iBu_wKWr_tSC1UBw0tsjdWnqIjzr4agB3Mu6US9YhaTgMpooK67DnzAwIGPA55PmmZuIWEA8zNvLmPJy8Yz2MWLgFn5xqG2AYQ5Zmg5qZf7VfJstP7MTHTGpwSQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b>Magine </b>( Yume Miyamoto;Voice. Ayumi Shimozono;Suit)<br /><br />Magine is next in line and actually has a connection to Zyuran, having known him since she was a child. Zyuran was well known around the neighborhood and is ultimately the person who got the shy awkward girl to come out of her shell and play with other kids. But Magine is still a little bit awkward in adult life. She has a fascination with the occult, particularly fortune-telling, for which she is poorly adept. However, she’s remarkably creative, which comes in handy given her Magiranger skillset. Despite her peppy yet shy demeanor, she packs a surprisingly feisty and scary attitude when pushed.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9qiOFN8KaBN_qrUINrnW8rbthU7uASbxIeXqqbLe3c6veeiPgFsyXe60ryakKlz22MBiiFzukhVvUQY_OjPCyZr7LbW9GxUrNyNFaVzT2Oq6TjWP6twxE-1QQ5CX69VH4fs5z_sy5MWUl3PnFAcD1O6hsPu9YpSSYK9DEXrwB5P6y3bT9VgCLQWGxfQ=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9qiOFN8KaBN_qrUINrnW8rbthU7uASbxIeXqqbLe3c6veeiPgFsyXe60ryakKlz22MBiiFzukhVvUQY_OjPCyZr7LbW9GxUrNyNFaVzT2Oq6TjWP6twxE-1QQ5CX69VH4fs5z_sy5MWUl3PnFAcD1O6hsPu9YpSSYK9DEXrwB5P6y3bT9VgCLQWGxfQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div>And yes, that’s Rikka from SSSS Gridman.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizOwlevpjNz119fdYdia4_8aq7TioVaSG5vAAChFIXrFjTXK6b2EEYTjN5L_zJhILyauHnWT2caTRo62dr-gwuia99GKXrwyJFo_aL2PfJkugEFzDRd56eDGdfSAdqMyxt9tpunPaKRJdVho8Ds4HElI6sav4oPobSRwj1eYFZoNrRoOBMNXv9gbUe_A=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizOwlevpjNz119fdYdia4_8aq7TioVaSG5vAAChFIXrFjTXK6b2EEYTjN5L_zJhILyauHnWT2caTRo62dr-gwuia99GKXrwyJFo_aL2PfJkugEFzDRd56eDGdfSAdqMyxt9tpunPaKRJdVho8Ds4HElI6sav4oPobSRwj1eYFZoNrRoOBMNXv9gbUe_A=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2atpvEcU5TviRLmoOenYJUt2gV2CD3inOINndak7MBhMUTROYzpQH9ytBGbkwFo-KeS2QgU9zDrRofhpyGdLANYlu1_363IqoJJD8xxR6Yq0wRQySG9kPjNzpi1ZAwAGMezpEouhG_8BXQUTzD5IP5twS0XE9ArtPlpRcpTvfB-Y4wKkiBf_3CyieTA=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2atpvEcU5TviRLmoOenYJUt2gV2CD3inOINndak7MBhMUTROYzpQH9ytBGbkwFo-KeS2QgU9zDrRofhpyGdLANYlu1_363IqoJJD8xxR6Yq0wRQySG9kPjNzpi1ZAwAGMezpEouhG_8BXQUTzD5IP5twS0XE9ArtPlpRcpTvfB-Y4wKkiBf_3CyieTA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><b><br />Vroon </b>(Takuya Sato; Voice, Kazuya Okada; Suit)<br /><br />Finally, there’s Vroon, the painfully curious janitor of the group. Before becoming a Zenkaiger, he worked as a custodian for the Tojitendo, primarily in hopes of learning more than as a commoner. Unfortunately, it mostly only resulted in a plethora of beatings until he escaped and found refuge with the rest of the team, finally standing up for himself against his aggressors.<br />As one might expect, Vroon is the brains of the group…and also the muscle as he is unusually strong. With his constant search for knowledge and immense strength, his motif is naturally Boukenger.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Right off the bat, the thing that hooked me with Zenkaiger is how well the characters are handled. Every character is given time to shine regularly, big or small. One of the issues that face a lot of Sentai is trying to balance out characterization for multiple members. But Zenkaiger does a fantastic job for the main team. Even it isn’t typically major character development, just having them featured so prominently is nice enough to make their personalities shine through and play a role in any given episode.<br /><br />Gaon is shown to be an excellent cook in his episode, and in episode five when the MOTW is a sushi chef, Gaon uses his skills to lure him into a trap. <br />Vroon is of course great at cleaning, so when a trash monster shows up he’s naturally going to be of great help.<br />Some kids think they see a ghost at their school? Well, Magine’s super into the occult, so it makes a cute subplot where she tries to help them out. Even Zyuran gets in on it the fun cause he’s of course always been great with kids.<br />Heck, even the average episode has brief versions of these at Cafe Colorful with Gaon cooking, Vroon cleaning, and both Zyuran and Magine entertaining guests.<br /><br />If that at all sounds familiar to my Zyuohger review, well that’s because the head writer is the same for Zenkaiger, Junko Kōmura. I have to give praise and say many of her qualities as a writer are refined further in Zenkaiger. While I didn’t get on with Lupinranger vs. Patoranger, I blame that more on the split team dynamic. She works better with a full team to laser focus on character interactions, set up, and getting the core narrative rolling. Not to mention parallel worlds and non-human characters are her bread and butter.<br /><br />I will say that major character development isn’t something you’re going to find among the Kikainoids. Zenkaiger is very old school in its approach by giving them spotlight episodes and small changes like Magine becoming more comfortable with her hobbies. But otherwise, the main character development lies elsewhere, and that’s something we’ll come back to later.<br /><br /><br />For what it’s worth, I am okay with this. But because it is not crucial and the characterization imparted is relatively minor, it means you aren’t going to see me talk about them a whole lot outside of this first part. I’ll bring up episodes about them here and there, but not everyone.<br /><br />Like Vroon has an episode about falling in love that’s both cute, funny, and sorta reminds me of that one episode of Winspector where Bikel falls in love. But it’s a blip on the radar, not a lot to talk about there except this great gag.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqHTkvut3Lz5UIr75QXFjTH24CqQAG6nCca96nrhhK5lzy5PwUqL452VjcpGxM3xAhZsDiFZiBnUa_Bg94kcupc3cfvxnMYo-LuV_n0kPeOULBSfvVXivVOoNA15AkmBwGNnWdJ-k7whTj3vUV3DXjh9Q19K7_bwuk9BE57eY3Aj911LAc_VSGQKS9pg=s762" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="762" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqHTkvut3Lz5UIr75QXFjTH24CqQAG6nCca96nrhhK5lzy5PwUqL452VjcpGxM3xAhZsDiFZiBnUa_Bg94kcupc3cfvxnMYo-LuV_n0kPeOULBSfvVXivVOoNA15AkmBwGNnWdJ-k7whTj3vUV3DXjh9Q19K7_bwuk9BE57eY3Aj911LAc_VSGQKS9pg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />With that out of the way, the first 4 episodes are largely dedicated to introducing each member of the team and establishing the basic gist of everything. From their transformations, combining to form the robos, the usual. Every character gets a nice chance in the spotlight and they all play off their distinctive personalities, clashing at first before they all warm up to one another. Zyuran finds Gaon a bit on the insufferable side, Gaon is temperamental in general, Magine’s strange hobbies can be grating on Gaon, and Vroon simply can’t believe how tardy everyone else is.<br /><br />But inevitably they all become friends over several episodes and have a common tie of being accepted by Kaito despite their quirks. Like any team, they still have their confrontations, but less so as the series develops.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0es1lpuXF8krd1I0wbEPukIILH7YJDg5GuX_F3Vt4c3cWBI41fmCNk6h6fnyJHowk81mL_5pKCvOmSGiL8BlMquzPv-tdZZnYhS3ssu54YafC5aVia78aNR4lItnZ1RHLI1LtDoWb7FxNOdLAAKHyZQpKrVWKrrq0SnDYt-GO2VjVakM4Nnf19Li82w=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0es1lpuXF8krd1I0wbEPukIILH7YJDg5GuX_F3Vt4c3cWBI41fmCNk6h6fnyJHowk81mL_5pKCvOmSGiL8BlMquzPv-tdZZnYhS3ssu54YafC5aVia78aNR4lItnZ1RHLI1LtDoWb7FxNOdLAAKHyZQpKrVWKrrq0SnDYt-GO2VjVakM4Nnf19Li82w=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />Now to backtrack a bit, Vroon is an important addition because he primarily brings the first major story element when he reveals the name of Kaito’s parents is the same as two humans rumored to have been in the Tojitendo court at some point. <br /><br />Episode 5 explores this further- and although a tad rushed in some areas, Kaito’s brazenness in wanting to get to Kikaitopia to confront the Tojitendo results in him and Zyuran being bound together by the MOTW while the other three are left to solve their predicament. This allows the other members to get focus, while also giving Kaito and Zyuran a chance to have a heart-to-heart about their respective pasts, developing up their close friendship.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTFqpzDpDxRpanogBADnLPMG1W_6G4oSEiMzxdyjGsFARhuTayzRynVVR7sawmRgIfWZkpG1XqdVVMPf2IDmxDi1Xips2qkD_m-VH5E_jZfgPToqs8Tbjltw2Z8UY_Qw73CDTCUJ333TvhbvblO1UlHrI8qlTa4DG3IjFpBwRqG5PJ0If5lsG6BndODQ=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTFqpzDpDxRpanogBADnLPMG1W_6G4oSEiMzxdyjGsFARhuTayzRynVVR7sawmRgIfWZkpG1XqdVVMPf2IDmxDi1Xips2qkD_m-VH5E_jZfgPToqs8Tbjltw2Z8UY_Qw73CDTCUJ333TvhbvblO1UlHrI8qlTa4DG3IjFpBwRqG5PJ0If5lsG6BndODQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />The ball keeps rolling as just when the group begins settling in, episode 6 introduces a new antagonist: Stacy (Ryo Sekoguchi) although he would have a proper outing in episode 7. <br /><br />Stacy is the half-human son of Barashitara. The two have a strained relationship, to put it mildly, as he doesn’t view his son as much of anything. Stacy in turn doesn’t view his father any better, particularly because of how his late mother was mistreated by the commander. This fuels a rivalry, although one that is very one-sided as Barashitara is never shown to be invested beyond finding his son’s struggles amusing.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMATzMlzyFzo-Klpvmj1c310SK9DqfCXdxYXxBj3up75p-7DAMMzIHNvslZq98WrqiD63aM_VpVLgvba_JEaJBDtAVXNEo0R3oUso-8pnfriI-51VFNxOEDZdwPGxfTQhmz5y515TD-PUZ6-Tnf-nmmMb8Z99IuI0kFDgR9XBQzVyTXvmum4cD14yUKA=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMATzMlzyFzo-Klpvmj1c310SK9DqfCXdxYXxBj3up75p-7DAMMzIHNvslZq98WrqiD63aM_VpVLgvba_JEaJBDtAVXNEo0R3oUso-8pnfriI-51VFNxOEDZdwPGxfTQhmz5y515TD-PUZ6-Tnf-nmmMb8Z99IuI0kFDgR9XBQzVyTXvmum4cD14yUKA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Stacy wants to surpass his father, something Ijirude is all too happy to assist with. Ijirude initially starts with doing his own take on the Zenkaiger’s gear, allowing Stacy to have his own sentai form; Staceasar (Hajime Kanzaki) Rather than copying the abilities of the teams, he summons clones, similar to Bosco in Gokaiger. Even more threatening is that Stacy can summon past robos- though there is a limitation as summoning too many will cause all the clones to disperse.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2ShPsoPevb277AntByhiLO9gPzYjakeAkGl1_8cExcKtgP_azECxXXlXruufQCOBGU5r7WU2aLdLZESiIBkYR_ex-QPf0EaNocL8UApJvwJF7XVviBZMmLa_Xsi4U5HI0cJ9iqCbGnydX12KbW59u-gXlXwgqkxej3G7rfPIsxZ6gqzHA4WZC8R0jog=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2ShPsoPevb277AntByhiLO9gPzYjakeAkGl1_8cExcKtgP_azECxXXlXruufQCOBGU5r7WU2aLdLZESiIBkYR_ex-QPf0EaNocL8UApJvwJF7XVviBZMmLa_Xsi4U5HI0cJ9iqCbGnydX12KbW59u-gXlXwgqkxej3G7rfPIsxZ6gqzHA4WZC8R0jog=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />This does a great job making him a threat...which is soon wasted.<br /><br />To get ahead of myself, the writing for Stacy makes a bad impression at first. <b>At first</b>. He only has two episodes before the sixth ranger comes in, beats his ass, and greatly overshadows him in every way. He’s soon relegated to very limited appearances, basically as little more than a background character while the sixth has several dedicated episodes in a row. Ijirude is shown building Stacy a robo across those episodes, foreshadowing their inevitable comeback...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgB33OHdMLCGU-U2_Q6VAdgNpFUBS-h7o5JDGTcMJJM9aK9XR8XfG_8Fmhgk7eVxf9PvkLw_Wr7qn1OnADB7C50Ytt794_qpoUxFYadmQjMiFF7zzy7tpr-0_ygiyQvTwIfsqAmJEZwTkhQAbuKO9nFyDQGKT3bIGrculLlTALsp2Yj-OVvDN5amhmX0Q=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgB33OHdMLCGU-U2_Q6VAdgNpFUBS-h7o5JDGTcMJJM9aK9XR8XfG_8Fmhgk7eVxf9PvkLw_Wr7qn1OnADB7C50Ytt794_qpoUxFYadmQjMiFF7zzy7tpr-0_ygiyQvTwIfsqAmJEZwTkhQAbuKO9nFyDQGKT3bIGrculLlTALsp2Yj-OVvDN5amhmX0Q=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPnOH4nfvB1kMjjr3nD5jvctFor6qKRkgZv1S4Hw80sYNP4mAvcH2gXj3adbdzNUBxbB_mTGJqs7CZRCfosVIpJ8Lt6f081CIf2c_GCxVtJN4dYT-mkekMGWuUm9qCFGIJxkXPv5YtzihsafTQsmcQa12z-GI-QuV7gqp5QoUtp6Tx1tAJ0EnqlH00Pw=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPnOH4nfvB1kMjjr3nD5jvctFor6qKRkgZv1S4Hw80sYNP4mAvcH2gXj3adbdzNUBxbB_mTGJqs7CZRCfosVIpJ8Lt6f081CIf2c_GCxVtJN4dYT-mkekMGWuUm9qCFGIJxkXPv5YtzihsafTQsmcQa12z-GI-QuV7gqp5QoUtp6Tx1tAJ0EnqlH00Pw=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I see what you did there.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br />Unfortunately this goes by the wayside. Stacy’s big return is in the last 3 minutes of an episode focused elsewhere, only to also have the sixth ranger debut their own giant robo which was not alluded to in the least. Stacy gets frustrated that his battle with the main Zenkaigers is interrupted and he leaves, which seems to just be his thing for the time being.<br /><br />This is like the one consistently frustrating spot about Zenkaiger early on. Stacy gets great build-up only to be shafted after that grand debut. I think the idea was to lend some credence to why Barashitara doesn’t think much of his own son, but it felt less like the character being bad at their job than Kōmura not having a clue what to do with him early on, so he just gets shoved into the last few minutes of an episode with some new toy to appease Bandai. <br />Bare with me, because that's not the case and Kōmura does have plans. Stacy will see some justice down the road, becoming one of the most shockingly interesting characters. But we’ll get to that in a bit.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1nLfAPbNEHuXccL-ltqLJJi_8aa08owPJ7rGK9UKBcJRjUCdy1J0BAs2Qe1RhOgVh4p5na84iGyzON3SmammCilpcfD0rtp3nlUJoqnuEj8dHUxmtEzSOqREVGaMKS71k1t1BFd6cNtsRzc7gdb1yYsDD90uGX7LQmSuMUH0LpD8Y7LJ4YVNXaDLYRg=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1nLfAPbNEHuXccL-ltqLJJi_8aa08owPJ7rGK9UKBcJRjUCdy1J0BAs2Qe1RhOgVh4p5na84iGyzON3SmammCilpcfD0rtp3nlUJoqnuEj8dHUxmtEzSOqREVGaMKS71k1t1BFd6cNtsRzc7gdb1yYsDD90uGX7LQmSuMUH0LpD8Y7LJ4YVNXaDLYRg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjh0apLFOA_UbmG0X57V7Cq9JLzoLRkHne5dBKg0Y2RnKxgjDI-PZ_WDN2lGnA_LB1D3PbJxex_mS1iCCcjm6P3gl6TGg1vWUG9pwTCNF1N4VmMM9xi8Shv5fUNml9gLjGjLhkAespMk0f7HRFmnDcCwqxwlu_W5OnSPHWS4NBOBE_0_ozgblK3fAPIQA=s431" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="431" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjh0apLFOA_UbmG0X57V7Cq9JLzoLRkHne5dBKg0Y2RnKxgjDI-PZ_WDN2lGnA_LB1D3PbJxex_mS1iCCcjm6P3gl6TGg1vWUG9pwTCNF1N4VmMM9xi8Shv5fUNml9gLjGjLhkAespMk0f7HRFmnDcCwqxwlu_W5OnSPHWS4NBOBE_0_ozgblK3fAPIQA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />Now let’s talk about that sixth ranger, <b>TwoKaizer</b>, <b>Zox Goldtsuiker </b>(Atsuki Mashiko, Shigeki Ito; suit) Both he and his sister,<b> Flint Goldtsuiker</b> (Hinami Mori), are interdimensional pirates. Like the Zenkaiger, Zox can transform using the Geardalinger, a device made with plans stolen from the Tojitendo. (A running gag in the series is that they constantly steal or copy tech from others.)<br /><br /><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinIk0Knx5jcmPlEkuhsuWxNALZPOPgje5xFZsiNIHBu1wyfrGUE9wFA9uBq2VgSs5JjtfTH85ObWouqtQRRshZGoBJtEbhL4_Bm3M8glMQKXyxn0GlG_Kw6GPSk-eHVZP5bgnEaYPOp4DCoD8F99J0PFHmrCyYpK0DMrHsN2ScJrnEopbaVSYqvdWZvw=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinIk0Knx5jcmPlEkuhsuWxNALZPOPgje5xFZsiNIHBu1wyfrGUE9wFA9uBq2VgSs5JjtfTH85ObWouqtQRRshZGoBJtEbhL4_Bm3M8glMQKXyxn0GlG_Kw6GPSk-eHVZP5bgnEaYPOp4DCoD8F99J0PFHmrCyYpK0DMrHsN2ScJrnEopbaVSYqvdWZvw=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ricky, Flint, and Cutanner.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Additionally, they have two younger brothers, Ricky and Cutanner, who were cursed into taking on SDrobo forms. <br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe8vriKE678Cp2uua3cF56cXuL77oHCy-DRpESI9YufJ__8GpwOxARVX6R3yree6b-5yUmMoGRTvl9J5kpNndhvW6QxExt76Bey7L_GGepsnHxdjMUcU6109wm4jZdprfuD6naeazKUZHDb999nYEVF5dycMs3wxe1DkRLRBWq0zQ8LDBAvrADGlrRUQ=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe8vriKE678Cp2uua3cF56cXuL77oHCy-DRpESI9YufJ__8GpwOxARVX6R3yree6b-5yUmMoGRTvl9J5kpNndhvW6QxExt76Bey7L_GGepsnHxdjMUcU6109wm4jZdprfuD6naeazKUZHDb999nYEVF5dycMs3wxe1DkRLRBWq0zQ8LDBAvrADGlrRUQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOAdo00S6yB8U9IvRpvcAjw6_Rj5w8NIq7MG9ejS7mbuTU_LGZ1OPvz22mNHugwQ8qm4BTWpvw-rjQ2s8UGCoJ9IAJd1YI1EZAV2XekGYS9wmPCdf81vPdyPXa4YjocX6xsVBXz_WTsSxWcyCgNcTWluknWx2sk1rcHWgPJUevEj_q7Et_iYMKbIdBLw=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOAdo00S6yB8U9IvRpvcAjw6_Rj5w8NIq7MG9ejS7mbuTU_LGZ1OPvz22mNHugwQ8qm4BTWpvw-rjQ2s8UGCoJ9IAJd1YI1EZAV2XekGYS9wmPCdf81vPdyPXa4YjocX6xsVBXz_WTsSxWcyCgNcTWluknWx2sk1rcHWgPJUevEj_q7Et_iYMKbIdBLw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />This is where the “two” really comes into play, as Ricky and Cutanner merge with either TwoKaizer or his robo, providing Ohranger and Shinkenger forms that are more substantial than the temporary abilities of the other Zenkaigers. Although TwoKaizer can still utilize regular Sentai gears, which will result in different abilities from the rest of the team, often those of the sixth and extra heroes rather than the core faction. i.e. Gingaman will be Bullblack, Hurricanger will be Shurrikenger, etc.<br /><br />Ultimately, Zox and Flint’s driving force is reverting their siblings back into a human form, and the only way to do so is by freeing the SDworld which is still in the clutches of the Tojitendo. It makes a nice mirror to Kaito’s own struggles with his missing parents. Not to mention the whole Interdimensional Pirates thing means they feasibly have a way into the Tojitendo world, at least in theory. But they’re blocked by some unknown means. Even that aside, they’re not initially on the best terms with the Zenkaigers.<br /><br />Zox himself is a cocky, smarmy, easy-going, dancing goofball, unconcerned with helping most others. His siblings are one of the few things he truly cares for and he will aid the Zenkaigers in certain situations if it benefits him. But likewise, he will also fight against them if he’s annoyed or they get in his way.<br /><br />Over time, he does soften slightly, being less likely to endanger others or fight the Zenkaiger. But while he does come around to enjoying their company, he still keeps a fairly distant relationship with the rest of the team, while also maintaining that fun rebellious core. Which is to say he’s far less willing to be law-abiding, such as breaking Kaito out of police custody at one point.<br />I was shocked they kept this aspect of him going, and I’m glad they did. It makes him contrast with the rest of the team but also helps balance it out in a way. Because Zox, like many sixes, functions as a wild card. He’s something the villains can’t comprehend as easily. He doesn’t care if you endanger innocents, he lives in space so if something goes down globally he typically won’t be affected by it. The only true immediate weakness he has is his siblings-- who are occasionally exploited in Tojitendo plots.<br /><br />Even though Zox’s introduction seemingly undermines Stacy, there’s no denying he was and remains a fun addition with some fantastic episodes that utilize him and the team to great effect. Heck, he even applies to his sister, whose engineering skills would be instrumental in helping Secchan put together a quintessential mid-season upgrade for Kaito...and also copying said tech for her brother. Hey, gotta get something out of it, pirates after all.<br />Plus this adds the benefit of allowing Kaito and Zox to combine into a super robo dubbed Zenkaiju-Oh.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimf-RnMbdc915nocG7pdFErijmdE89rv8t1Fx6a_AT-qqi9fPEVBUVdBhE5o-ACHcSICN-CuLxsi2clOwa_2poVN1y-vaDkMcSC-mzpMhpK6NbCj1tU0QhAqSkpAMwXBE1XIyJJfdSd5S24TwxYYqmLVZUvafxIV-GtMfrSxFYHrjcl3aNBacxMLXXiw=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimf-RnMbdc915nocG7pdFErijmdE89rv8t1Fx6a_AT-qqi9fPEVBUVdBhE5o-ACHcSICN-CuLxsi2clOwa_2poVN1y-vaDkMcSC-mzpMhpK6NbCj1tU0QhAqSkpAMwXBE1XIyJJfdSd5S24TwxYYqmLVZUvafxIV-GtMfrSxFYHrjcl3aNBacxMLXXiw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivjhBe7X6L_umLQO0zkrfLknCOC4kHy8LGRQl8NSCmE8VMBpKzOhtTaP5dbMKbWqCGtIkZOovxi7qf3StqIQd3_0z3fUbE5hv2zgLisLswv2QecKydRBVKjgZcw_IXkOsuX1nEb19RW-Yua1KiRc-Ji8MvpED0Qt5uTk2l5Fy53MYxi8oJtsAXT7fxxQ=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivjhBe7X6L_umLQO0zkrfLknCOC4kHy8LGRQl8NSCmE8VMBpKzOhtTaP5dbMKbWqCGtIkZOovxi7qf3StqIQd3_0z3fUbE5hv2zgLisLswv2QecKydRBVKjgZcw_IXkOsuX1nEb19RW-Yua1KiRc-Ji8MvpED0Qt5uTk2l5Fy53MYxi8oJtsAXT7fxxQ=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh we'll talk more about you later.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br />That said, TwoKaiser's debut still makes the show feel a bit rushed. It’s not the pacing of the individual episodes so much as episodes with major shakeups happening too close together.<br />I found myself wishing that they had more of a buffer between them. Even after the whole Twokaizer introduction, conflicts that arise have a tendency to be revolved within an episode or two, and I don’t just mean MOTW shenanigans but character drama between Zox and the main team. All the episodes are doing interesting well-told stories with character development, but it also comes off as a bit impatient to get from point A to B.<br /><br />You essentially have the first 4 episodes introducing the main cast and establishing character interactions/history. Two episodes that use their time zoning in on said character actions with some focus on Zyuran/Gaon and Magine/Vroon then Stacy comes in the seventh episode, and then TwoKaizer debuts right after that. That’s<b> a lot</b> even weekly. The one positive element out of that is it gets character introductions out of the way very early, so the rest of the show can just be about how those dynamics play out.<br /><br />Thankfully, the crammed nature slows down with episode 10. There are maybe only about 3-4 episodes where it truly feels like too much is happening, which mainly stems from them trying to quickly get TwoKaizer to be a bit less antagonistic because they already have a Dark Ranger.<br />Still, I’m glad I was hooked within the first four, cause that’s otherwise off-putting.<br /><br /><br />But to get back to the good parts, episode 14 finally gives much-needed attention to Stacy. Unlike prior episodes, this does a good job showing that Stacy is in fact over his head- even losing control of his fake sentai clones at one point. He tries to be a manipulative conniving villain by promising Zox the SDworld gear in exchange for defeating Zenkaiser, but it’s ultimately he who is tricked because of course he’s not going to pull one over on a seasoned pirate. Stacy’s plan falls apart and all he manages to accomplish is finally bringing TwoKaizer closer to the team and having his robo destroyed in an absolutely gorgeous display. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRXn6kLQGIaXtImw26JFPmAvqp9IwVlZQPV0XQ4Y1dtZj52BW6LqO6jzfLx-5xjj1OEYDwUIdRKRanRormPBlm_CUzjYiW-EvcZkHzpQIUp0eWZlD0yHvyeJBoZYS7YnUvQZMO-wPKg8sKTtcUClIL00AvKBQA1euH_mEv8vDzDvJ8YisB3m3MdZh3oA=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRXn6kLQGIaXtImw26JFPmAvqp9IwVlZQPV0XQ4Y1dtZj52BW6LqO6jzfLx-5xjj1OEYDwUIdRKRanRormPBlm_CUzjYiW-EvcZkHzpQIUp0eWZlD0yHvyeJBoZYS7YnUvQZMO-wPKg8sKTtcUClIL00AvKBQA1euH_mEv8vDzDvJ8YisB3m3MdZh3oA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3Ldi-yqrt9hnH6gqLT0i9grjVlXHRyQnws0vpbHyXKvayGMl7IUYrSw9b1uGsXVJt0o8DpChBI8cypZ3BETuhXmogFIDOq-7YrgJHEJyLfUd6Ldr7lXksp7sM6M4nJqgbQRbD1wBAJBRCjZBttK3ndjI6knV4dvCdYWE36J57PB9svnVILzxhqbAG1A=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3Ldi-yqrt9hnH6gqLT0i9grjVlXHRyQnws0vpbHyXKvayGMl7IUYrSw9b1uGsXVJt0o8DpChBI8cypZ3BETuhXmogFIDOq-7YrgJHEJyLfUd6Ldr7lXksp7sM6M4nJqgbQRbD1wBAJBRCjZBttK3ndjI6knV4dvCdYWE36J57PB9svnVILzxhqbAG1A=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />This is the sort of villain I’ve wanted him to be, making it clear that try as he might, Stacy isn’t good at this. He’s not in any way a warrior, he’s just someone given a bit of power who doesn’t really know how to use it, especially when faced with vastly more experienced opponents. It begs the question of whether Stacy is truly invested in the Tojitendo.<br /><br />Further hints about Stacy’s past are teased in the following episodes, notably, that Yacchan reminds him of his mother. And it’s at this point the series finds a nice little niche for Stacy to fit into by having short segments as part of weekly episodes, without feeling shoehorned or contrived as prior installments. We see brief intermittent struggles as he feels torn on what exactly it is he wants to do rather than those around him. And, yeah it’s fairly obvious where it’s going, but the presentation is miles better than previously.<br /><br />Eventually, Stacy begins making semi-frequent visits to Colorful to see Yatsude, who is unaware of his real identity. The Zenkaigers are aware of this, but Stacy is passive, so Colorful becomes neutral ground.<br />Upon each visit (often while the others are out) Stacy slowly learns about Kaito’s parents, noticing from a photo that they look familiar to two humans Ijirude has in stasis.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwEYY3cgz__kOLlhAwaamUZBMg1c5duVa1CDuamPUFfuv9ck6p_dkOCCsrKohjNxw7mC5NkqBflosmqP4bhGB468L6vEeRrYpCR3hoyRjXYMdDa6V9A8VJW_sWZT43ibX4lk3a6eqQExkOq-49GoQFRq93chK7dpzZrU7uTGkYjG3RnqEl11YZ0s1Wrg=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwEYY3cgz__kOLlhAwaamUZBMg1c5duVa1CDuamPUFfuv9ck6p_dkOCCsrKohjNxw7mC5NkqBflosmqP4bhGB468L6vEeRrYpCR3hoyRjXYMdDa6V9A8VJW_sWZT43ibX4lk3a6eqQExkOq-49GoQFRq93chK7dpzZrU7uTGkYjG3RnqEl11YZ0s1Wrg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />Furthermore, Stacy’s interactions with Yatsude cause a greater burden on his struggles. Her kind motherly attitude is something that takes hold of Stacy, providing him with a sort of surrogate mother figure and the closest he’s had to any love and care since childhood. Their scenes together are some of the most genuinely heartfelt moments of the series. They add a much-needed weight to an already very lighthearted and comedic show. It also lends more of a direct mirror between Kaito and Stacy than even he and Zox. That last bit is something that Kaito recognizes and it causes his own hesitation in future battles with Stacy. Because he can see the good that’s there, but at the same time Stacy is also trying to kill him.<br /><br /><br />One of my favorite moments of the show is a scene between just Kaito and Zyuran discussing the situation. Zyuran acknowledges that Kaito is right in his assertion, but it doesn’t really change the fact that even if Stacy cares for Yatsude, it’s not stopping him from fighting Kaito, despite how any harm coming to him would obviously affect Yatsude. <br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQS2r9cJSmXoZzUYaubnvWJULceCfwYv2BSHU2WUgQVdzGEYM8SQhzTSCovmCxXzRBV-BvHgIagNsIl_Q0l5whu2vdkBLXCgccz2Q5-2_7cOyvW6sDpug7VNN49_SMzOCCKZ9KrxvjCWqVcKSRkbSkcIfgool0PVpet8Ms2Xp_ZS3vkN3DrwTI5CJiAg=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQS2r9cJSmXoZzUYaubnvWJULceCfwYv2BSHU2WUgQVdzGEYM8SQhzTSCovmCxXzRBV-BvHgIagNsIl_Q0l5whu2vdkBLXCgccz2Q5-2_7cOyvW6sDpug7VNN49_SMzOCCKZ9KrxvjCWqVcKSRkbSkcIfgool0PVpet8Ms2Xp_ZS3vkN3DrwTI5CJiAg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Kaito isn’t oblivious to this, knowing full well that Stacy has thought this through and already accepted the possibility of death for either one of them, and so has he.<br /><br />That time finally comes when Stacy vaguely laments to Yatsude it will be his last visit, prompting her to give him a voucher should he ever return. <br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtdjcLSFWkhXDxTC-v-_3N4rTcT2E-417HLkCHy1JzoDtiO4HgXmHQW3AOoJxVi1JlFGUGOdN3OlqYH8H_W7-DBnQCmnnIv4kui6UVZYyMTm-fz0ZWflfnf_P6BIVBB8eyKywTz6KGjdbJ3kqcyjCYGisDE_avjPc4_doY4beWyVJ1r2rsq769qF7htg=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtdjcLSFWkhXDxTC-v-_3N4rTcT2E-417HLkCHy1JzoDtiO4HgXmHQW3AOoJxVi1JlFGUGOdN3OlqYH8H_W7-DBnQCmnnIv4kui6UVZYyMTm-fz0ZWflfnf_P6BIVBB8eyKywTz6KGjdbJ3kqcyjCYGisDE_avjPc4_doY4beWyVJ1r2rsq769qF7htg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Regardless, Stacy pushes forward with his decision in taking on Kaito and by extension the rest of the team. He is somewhat successful at first, coming quite a ways as a fighter, but is inevitably defeated to the point of being mortally wounded. He only survives because Gege collects him and orders Ijirude to fix him up. Not only does he save Stacy, but he also makes modifications; making him stronger than before and providing more weaponry as Stacaesar, including now summoning super versions of rangers and a dark version of ZyuaGaon.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsSfSATqdqhEhPuOgsx298BNJTJ8Y8yBHyQp01dlIlOnd0idEklSGNzr9Yzgwk7zHzCaKkKtF5wBV3o3_vbj35eox0qL674TfBnkctvi6nIbQSOzKTzYXqQX1OU3ZOJPH6i1VxmCGmDEo4ZH2Nf-6HaqA0vNw4_wqJQTp6Vr8maRdlJSUqbD1mqZ-9KA=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsSfSATqdqhEhPuOgsx298BNJTJ8Y8yBHyQp01dlIlOnd0idEklSGNzr9Yzgwk7zHzCaKkKtF5wBV3o3_vbj35eox0qL674TfBnkctvi6nIbQSOzKTzYXqQX1OU3ZOJPH6i1VxmCGmDEo4ZH2Nf-6HaqA0vNw4_wqJQTp6Vr8maRdlJSUqbD1mqZ-9KA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />26 is overall a very eventful episode, Stacy discovers that part of his survival was due to a blood transfusion from one of the humans Ijirude has in stasis; Kaito’s mom. Remembering the stories told by Yatsude, Stacy takes pity and when alone, opens the stasis chamber before departing the lab, allowing Mitsuko to awaken and escape while providing Stacy with a solid cover.<br /><br />We also see Kaito continue to struggle with his own conflict, believing things would’ve changed for Stacy after their supposed final battle. But as Zyuran and Zox point out, Stacy’s already made his decision and is sticking to it. The fact is he’ll continue gunning for Kaito no matter what, and Kaito has to be ready to fight again, possibly to a true finish.<br />The conclusion Kaito arrives at is essentially that of a stalemate. An optimistic belief that, so long as Stacy never wins or is killed, there’s always the chance he could change.<br /><br />That’s put to the test in a very overdue fight where Stacy finally proves to be a force to be reckoned with due to the upgrades. He easily damages Kaito through the suit and leaves lasting wounds.<br />After being blue balled so much with their fights suddenly ending or being one-sided, it’s refreshing to see a solid prolonged battle where Stacy holds his own against the entire team and gets some major hits in. Even his new robo is too much for Zox to handle on his own. Meanwhile, Zyuran, Gaon, Magine, and Vroon, are too busy with just two Super ranger clones. Kaito even has to be in his super form to take on Stacaesar.<br /><br />Ironically, Stacy is actually called away mid-battle, but I can’t really mind given how satisfactory it is. Plus, the reason he’s called away is that a human woman has escaped the Tojitendo. Kaito overhears and Stacy makes no effort to hide that it’s Kaito’s mother. As soon as the fight is over, Kaito is basically on autopilot, frantically searching anywhere for his mom, which continues into episode 27 with no luck. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg20U8ALCemOMCzKawnU3PJqwNNgBdbEPXxH0HFNGqcr-wlNwDlIf-MiwerKXUvdWtPe9uDL3LQLIKkwMY69yhPh1E2NIsiR_LdBhhhbFKZwFAx5RL8GJKcm50WZ4mC9r-MJl3x8GcwP4oyqdaq1oJkmVaCyEaRj_cBYgiEL6SY9O1yeLEEIupuZwy46A=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg20U8ALCemOMCzKawnU3PJqwNNgBdbEPXxH0HFNGqcr-wlNwDlIf-MiwerKXUvdWtPe9uDL3LQLIKkwMY69yhPh1E2NIsiR_LdBhhhbFKZwFAx5RL8GJKcm50WZ4mC9r-MJl3x8GcwP4oyqdaq1oJkmVaCyEaRj_cBYgiEL6SY9O1yeLEEIupuZwy46A=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Gaon makes the suggestion that Mitsuko perhaps escaped to another world, which is indeed the case, if unbeknownst to the heroes. Gaon and Vroon stay behind while Kaito, Zyuran, Magine, and the Pirates, set off to the parallel worlds they’ve freed.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg53kzhlPpdjsptMgOaY6kJXR-bckWF-LbpZQWHMsTijnXZfaz4UNsIjwsOZV2okV04HeMJWrkbmscPrDU72-9WnveodGhgzQ5kuhTMcJwV6s7nrObC01DJ-zG1fhnrcRpXENOd3nlk5cdG6cd76KNHd_V3K-s3Vcmk-imdwuh1ike7hyzF1FJhgXhPkQ=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg53kzhlPpdjsptMgOaY6kJXR-bckWF-LbpZQWHMsTijnXZfaz4UNsIjwsOZV2okV04HeMJWrkbmscPrDU72-9WnveodGhgzQ5kuhTMcJwV6s7nrObC01DJ-zG1fhnrcRpXENOd3nlk5cdG6cd76KNHd_V3K-s3Vcmk-imdwuh1ike7hyzF1FJhgXhPkQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />This partially serves as short vignettes to show off the various worlds they’ve freed but soon turns into a race between them and the Tojitendo. To further complicate matters, the Tojitendo are brute-forcing their way through each of the worlds, and they can’t really afford to fight them off of each world. Thinking outside the box, Kaito simply devises a plan to trick the Tojitendo by having Magine cast an illusion to make her look like his mom. If the Tojitendo think the Zenkaigers already have Mitsuko, they’ll have no reason to continue their search. Of course, this also serves a secondary purpose of having future episodes relegate the search to be more of a background element for Kaito, allowing the show to settle down once more into a weekly routine.<br /><br />Before moving on I will state that, unsurprisingly, Stacy is given some nice moments. You can tell he’s very uninterested in capturing Mitsuko. He tries to subtly help the Zenkaigers by making sure no one else in the Tojitendo forces gets to her (the illusion of Magine) and he isn’t putting his all into fights. The irony of course is Stacy is elated in the belief that Yatsude will at least have her daughter-in-law, not knowing it was simply a trick.<br /><br />But it wouldn’t be long before things are once again shaken up in episode 30 with the introduction of Hakaizer, Ijirude’s latest creation.<br /><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgiJttUsCtGpkPpvx-kfCpMCLP_0iUKFm1JJQ6dH4ANu8TAdUYHTim7sRybLAxqv82knLBJn_OQXwUxlvA9ScIg_FBrmjYx1OMv6ozfteq6cw5ArrfUYCrY2s12AVF3-lejFyNKMRv4MZrMgC0kWKeDfXqQbaa7KlcPPrmNY3vt5heI6gW04TEOUbTYOA=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgiJttUsCtGpkPpvx-kfCpMCLP_0iUKFm1JJQ6dH4ANu8TAdUYHTim7sRybLAxqv82knLBJn_OQXwUxlvA9ScIg_FBrmjYx1OMv6ozfteq6cw5ArrfUYCrY2s12AVF3-lejFyNKMRv4MZrMgC0kWKeDfXqQbaa7KlcPPrmNY3vt5heI6gW04TEOUbTYOA=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captor-Captor-shu-shu-shu.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Okay, there’s really no point dillydallying around it. Ijirude acknowledges that he’s extracted about as much as he can from Professor Isao in stasis and it would be best to take him out of it if he wants more. When he shows Hakaizer off as his completely built from scratch creation, Gege casts some doubt. And yeah, it’s Kaito’s dad inside what is essentially a prototype of Zenkaizer. This isn’t fully revealed until about four episodes later, but it’s very obvious from all the hints.<br /><br />Hakazier himself is not too dissimilar from Kaito in personality (Peppy, upbeat, joyous) only it’s a determination to help the Tojitendo by saving the world monsters from the Zenkaigers. Zox immediately picks up on the similarities and is the first to suspect something is up.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheqiDBUcYPFGDnXJz8f7FOOfjgngzFWXUbZjGsISdcP__sS5TwpoSZcjErLBC5RZXnPzvxtwAu-g3saqdVPFCBmFkdJt0lWdmpmTPI6bAMCbFcW6NOxNzq5w2rNRdOr88dKZ2i9SG0FMG5noCbEhJhU64hJ1WKP_sCI2Dh1k-JvCAimD7yK1qtgOf76w=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheqiDBUcYPFGDnXJz8f7FOOfjgngzFWXUbZjGsISdcP__sS5TwpoSZcjErLBC5RZXnPzvxtwAu-g3saqdVPFCBmFkdJt0lWdmpmTPI6bAMCbFcW6NOxNzq5w2rNRdOr88dKZ2i9SG0FMG5noCbEhJhU64hJ1WKP_sCI2Dh1k-JvCAimD7yK1qtgOf76w=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />Along with Hakaizer is the addition of his weapon the Zenryoku Zenkai Cannon, which as you might suspect is the big finishing cannon of the show and is actually stolen by Kaito.<br />Besides its immense power, it can also summon Sentai clones, only without the need of individual gears and instead summons based upon the theme selected; Martial arts, science, dinosaurs, beasts, etc. It can even grow and form a jet, the EAGLE, which allows the core five to combine into one super large robo as Full Power Zenkai-Oh.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQniW025zz9Bwo0_-tzhFhugPFvFBgY7BJQ_NKxFDyIgl3BnaaFGoXqwlh_i8EEffqberLAFZgHA-oGHOYmmCRq5wN_BzR3e_4Q2jPyfJ1nIQ6trxB3Eq0jUVb-iO37q-xZwb_YLw6r1xa1fQaYcKjS8AYlW73KnQVDOL-Xu70X0-k8OqJZ0REYGZ3Pg=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQniW025zz9Bwo0_-tzhFhugPFvFBgY7BJQ_NKxFDyIgl3BnaaFGoXqwlh_i8EEffqberLAFZgHA-oGHOYmmCRq5wN_BzR3e_4Q2jPyfJ1nIQ6trxB3Eq0jUVb-iO37q-xZwb_YLw6r1xa1fQaYcKjS8AYlW73KnQVDOL-Xu70X0-k8OqJZ0REYGZ3Pg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaubFluoYFnfKNsTfQlhNOvtGaJcS2GAkB204GUZZCs8x1CZRGqgg7ALnh8yiYiuSvUVxmaNJ2UQXPUSoiyT-wamrKrPDbfXa8jW5vmPF9VabLdJ9yuXJ0aqvisLLulRThUMx1opUj5YRArjbwRGvkDhb4Y_OB4RdvqT2LYg_w4MxnFaza6qHQLm7AXQ=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaubFluoYFnfKNsTfQlhNOvtGaJcS2GAkB204GUZZCs8x1CZRGqgg7ALnh8yiYiuSvUVxmaNJ2UQXPUSoiyT-wamrKrPDbfXa8jW5vmPF9VabLdJ9yuXJ0aqvisLLulRThUMx1opUj5YRArjbwRGvkDhb4Y_OB4RdvqT2LYg_w4MxnFaza6qHQLm7AXQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div>Sadly, this is always CG, there doesn’t exist a practical suit, which is a great shame since this is a full unification of the core team members and I wish it was represented as something more tangible.<br /><br /><br /><br />Now, before getting further into the dealings with Kaito’s father, I do want to take an aside for episode 32, which is a body swap episode that is surprisingly good. What makes it interesting is they have Kaito and Stacy swap, meaning that Kaito now has the means to infiltrate the Tojitendo, while Stacy ends up stuck at the one place he never wanted to return to; Colorful.<br /><br />For Kaito’s part, he realizes just how little Stacy actually matters in the ranks of the Tojitendo, the Kudaiters don’t even respect him. While Stacy experiences how many people Kaito has in his life who care for him- even complete strangers who appreciate what he does as a Zenkaiger. Stacy even considers staying swapped because he finally has people who care for him, at least in some way. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJ-Keo8VnnLyXmv6RfZHHxS9_pqpLKRkagFrjDdqqFubkIC2atGbo31DqrCmxV_fglrWCzsJz15XhXg_i79rvhDk7bLiT0rcVHJglZEGkzfsMNy0ZXA0hpgoZvKhlEUT3CO9LHlKMpFGOqbn4JvOzyqvfqOTbJyVAVEdZJZC-wYTUPOH8PGjRYL92kXw=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJ-Keo8VnnLyXmv6RfZHHxS9_pqpLKRkagFrjDdqqFubkIC2atGbo31DqrCmxV_fglrWCzsJz15XhXg_i79rvhDk7bLiT0rcVHJglZEGkzfsMNy0ZXA0hpgoZvKhlEUT3CO9LHlKMpFGOqbn4JvOzyqvfqOTbJyVAVEdZJZC-wYTUPOH8PGjRYL92kXw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />As I mentioned at the start of the review, if there is a central theme to Zenkaiger, it’s clearly family. That focus on support and finding a family is ultimately what gives Kaito and the rest of the Zenkaigers such strength, and perhaps part of why Stacy could never even be a viable threat to them. At the end of the day, Stacy is just a tool to the Tojitendo, uncared for, yet blindly steadfast to his ultimately fruitless endeavor in surpassing his father.<br /><br />Things begin to change in episodes 34 and 35 as Stacy begins realizing his very biggest weakness is his self-absorbed lone wolf antics, and that surpassing his father could still be accomplished with the help of others i.e. Hakaizer.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0fT0LELshqbIHNINR13orKtGYxbVWhGzR946h804oCoTtnvx5AzWOrycDZ9BCcsIEuAQcPXkCX4xqn4DPislvyhuKTC9oyYpKOxTkXFfmTiDL2VtI6z5pcA28VM1eTW-wO9zWOpHybu7-My3VusWTUqln6m8HFb16ix_0ObmkyiQyVPNtmJuR0qitAA=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0fT0LELshqbIHNINR13orKtGYxbVWhGzR946h804oCoTtnvx5AzWOrycDZ9BCcsIEuAQcPXkCX4xqn4DPislvyhuKTC9oyYpKOxTkXFfmTiDL2VtI6z5pcA28VM1eTW-wO9zWOpHybu7-My3VusWTUqln6m8HFb16ix_0ObmkyiQyVPNtmJuR0qitAA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />To complicate matters, it’s around the point that the core team, bar Kaito, learns that Hakaizer is Kaito’s father, Isao, having fought him until his energy depleted and revealed his face. <br />This is exacerbated by the fact that they’ve struggled with telling Kaito, and when Zyuran finally gains the resolve to tell him, the MOTW happens to be something that makes things more difficult. It ultimately comes down to Kaito handling both Hakaizer and Stacaesar solo, and shooting a weakened Hakaizer point blank with a full Zenkaicharge. Thankfully, it doesn’t kill him and in fact, knocks him back into consciousness. But just as soon as he and Kaito see each other, their reunion is cut short by Stacy grabbing Isao and dragging him back to the Tojitendo against his will.<br /><br />It is an incredibly heart-wrenching scene. For Kaito, he obviously hasn’t seen his father in 10 years and lost him once again just as quickly as he met him.<br />For Stacy, he finally gained an ally within the Tojitendo, only to find out it was Yatsude’s son being controlled. But he can’t give that up and makes a selfish split-second decision. <br /><br />The cruel reality is that just like everyone and everything about the Tojitendo, it’s built upon sand. Stacy continues to reject real substantial relationships in favor of that which is artificial, yet it’s easy to understand why. Kaito already has so much by comparison, and it’s easier for Stacy to grab ahold of this and hang on for as long as possible while remaining part of the Tojitendo.<br /><br />This begins a new back and forth, as Stacy and Hakaizer work closely together in protecting the various world monsters, and more importantly, Stacy protects Hakaizer from Kaito.<br /><br /><br />But because Stacy’s life is pain, a twist of the knife occurs when Barashitara deploys Bon World, based on the Japanese holiday for ancestors. Bon unleashes his power to revive various spirits, which isn’t initially a problem in itself. Of the ghosts brought forth are Zyuran’s great grandfather, Zox and Flint’s Grandfather… and Stacy’s mother. We don’t spend a lot of time with Stacy’s mom, so we never find out if she’s got it going on. Clearly, Stacy could have done without this occurring, as it’s very painful for him. Yet it’s also eye-opening since before this moment he could never remember his mother’s face clearly.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhTIpa3zEe8cB2MHNRkcCIxsGfQnECCk1SNGAuEvvrdq6V7yWOZK7shyOokh7vn1h6JrPfaMrnY9frdeSyUOBKaVmaaAL3riMvfI03l4uuSycICmvlvhtCp7xlvUtSrv1UeN9-ro8Pign4GUAsNZ5BG5huNCvJdAUSC6worsUWMaFbtVloMhANN8u5rA=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhTIpa3zEe8cB2MHNRkcCIxsGfQnECCk1SNGAuEvvrdq6V7yWOZK7shyOokh7vn1h6JrPfaMrnY9frdeSyUOBKaVmaaAL3riMvfI03l4uuSycICmvlvhtCp7xlvUtSrv1UeN9-ro8Pign4GUAsNZ5BG5huNCvJdAUSC6worsUWMaFbtVloMhANN8u5rA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />Of course, things turn south when Bon world causes the spirits to go berserk and attack their descendants, and Stacy simply can’t bring himself to attack his mother, even if she’s long gone and simply a poltergeist. He’s ironically saved by Kaito and Hakaizer who realized he would be in danger. The irony isn’t lost on him either, as Stacy ponders if he’s really all that different from Barashitara by using a parent against their child. Yet despite all that he’s done, Kaito still came to save him.<br /><br /><br />Behind the scenes, more trouble is brewing. Bokkowaus in a surprising display of observation takes into consideration what a success Hakaizer has been and how Stacy has largely filled a similar role in supporting their Worlds, thus allowing Hakaizer to be freed up elsewhere. Hakaizer is after all still a liability and not without flaws, so, Bokkowaus gifts Ijirude something special; a piece of the Tojitendo leader before the last.<br />This is kept secret, but their absence doesn’t go unnoticed. Bokkowaus only informs both Stacy and Barashitara that they are working on something special, and should otherwise go about their operations. Stacy has other plans and looks for the two but to no avail. However, he’s pointed in the right direction by Gege, who warns Stacy that his future within the Tojitendo will be determined by whether or not he chooses to peek, and this is overheard by Barashitara.<br /><br />Now before things hit the fan we’re presented with one fun romp in episode 39 which is just a super high energy episode with a lot of variety. A lot of forms and combinations that haven’t been seen in a while, some sentai gears that haven’t been used yet. They even have the robos use Zenkai cannon in big mode, which fittingly has all the sentai mechs instead of the ranger helmets.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglTVN0n3IOicToerKDyyCfl5c60rhNHB_piX9tVSer0dwWag0BWQ1N2-EA2b-cHkaQhLlwV1OCAfXq7fnVIzD5IYFKFeK2Y5D0JM30-Lg-k8cEGeDx0lIbr6mG85v9ehYG3cnXvG1l1XAvlP7IjrmWpFSaqDZjo6-1Ix0nxDaUx76HGoAKrJgkOxBRhQ=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglTVN0n3IOicToerKDyyCfl5c60rhNHB_piX9tVSer0dwWag0BWQ1N2-EA2b-cHkaQhLlwV1OCAfXq7fnVIzD5IYFKFeK2Y5D0JM30-Lg-k8cEGeDx0lIbr6mG85v9ehYG3cnXvG1l1XAvlP7IjrmWpFSaqDZjo6-1Ix0nxDaUx76HGoAKrJgkOxBRhQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />But then we get to episode 40<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0avDcHcHNnSCynat8XFgOty4ax2GaR3E2KTrAcPpnIhU37aH0hawuYkAJfJdR01LIczvbjX6ILKWIzVORiTQk4JNtgbBShypwyaiXOqH-yrHv02U-7UYGcyS1LENEfuC_r19GR4XRqT9hmpaMZo0qWDedlVT0q26yWCEi5iYKGIOCIeOD7RjAz5l0Dg=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0avDcHcHNnSCynat8XFgOty4ax2GaR3E2KTrAcPpnIhU37aH0hawuYkAJfJdR01LIczvbjX6ILKWIzVORiTQk4JNtgbBShypwyaiXOqH-yrHv02U-7UYGcyS1LENEfuC_r19GR4XRqT9hmpaMZo0qWDedlVT0q26yWCEi5iYKGIOCIeOD7RjAz5l0Dg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />Ijirude’s ultimate weapon, Hakaiju-Oh, arrives and destroys a large chunk of the city in their attack against the Zenkaiger. Equally bad is that Hakaizer is now in a permanent super form with both the tank-like abilities of Kaito’s and the speed of Zox. Any trace of their prior personally is dramatically suppressed. Hakaizer is more machine now than man, obedient to Ijirude and cold towards Stacy. The Zenkaigers manage to escape the initial assault, causing Hakaizer to be re-called for fine-tuning before the next attack. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDMXjdLR2pP26B1JwFme-OsCIatRYNFSRmXNupix1Pp4AGspoIL3FCo4kVitN1yoTIwQnuAD_Tm8jODpgEmoGi5b11BbxDANtyFzxrxCHSmcG8YhU1LM7ki7KrbJJ2-NoY7xKHgGNMrHNKrjHHV1Ht6Z8EpFjMrbpp-hot7Dg23ZGlXutL-dyC82bT8A=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDMXjdLR2pP26B1JwFme-OsCIatRYNFSRmXNupix1Pp4AGspoIL3FCo4kVitN1yoTIwQnuAD_Tm8jODpgEmoGi5b11BbxDANtyFzxrxCHSmcG8YhU1LM7ki7KrbJJ2-NoY7xKHgGNMrHNKrjHHV1Ht6Z8EpFjMrbpp-hot7Dg23ZGlXutL-dyC82bT8A=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />One of the things that set this apart from prior episodes is the unparalleled level of destruction. We see bodies being carried away on stretchers, people trapped under rubble, injuries being tended to. Zenkaiger by in large tries to avoid this sort of thing, and it’s oddly refreshing to see things escalate to this point and reminds me a lot of Zyuranger’s 21st episode. <br /><br />The amount of horror causes Kaito to make an ultimatum, the next confrontation with Hakaizer has to be the last, regardless of if they save him or not.<br /><br />As luck would have it, Flint and Zox get a helping hand from Stacy, who gives them a data disc on Hakaiju-Oh’s schematics. After all, he’s already lost Hakaizer. The least he could do is give them a chance of freeing Isao.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-guYQySNcR__E_c3QDWERF1AZNx7d3YiynZo3AK5ecke_4Xca4JEibT07oo8L2otIlfEvRMxT8sYgVLAxk3lDomEXJ5qoFG4sgFIy18igT5LFtcZDpOq0un8towShWUBbskBRsp6CzE13wlY1FAeHtONG9DbKCUUPbCcczbbw7PAejNuxJWZTIr3vOw=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-guYQySNcR__E_c3QDWERF1AZNx7d3YiynZo3AK5ecke_4Xca4JEibT07oo8L2otIlfEvRMxT8sYgVLAxk3lDomEXJ5qoFG4sgFIy18igT5LFtcZDpOq0un8towShWUBbskBRsp6CzE13wlY1FAeHtONG9DbKCUUPbCcczbbw7PAejNuxJWZTIr3vOw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />Sure enough, the data proves true as when Hakaiju-Oh appears again, Zox infiltrates the machine and rips Hakaizer out. The Zenkaigers quickly put their plan into motion, the Kikainoids handling Hakaizer by recounting important dates in Isao’s life, while Zenkaiju-Oh and the still operational Hakaiju-Oh duke it out. Their efforts prove fruitful, as Hakaizer goes into great mental anguish, exerting a lot of energy in suppressing those memories. It’s enough that once Kaito enters the fight, he’s able to expend the very last bits of Hakaizer’s reserves and is <b>finally</b> able to free his father.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_1hZ8d15MYLO7e2yjIiB4nYpd7zdkSrRLkerqquYsJ_xK6UHatsssEUfzkxdHohe1Hn-RnOmE2VnToQ8BpT_srSLGFAWU7jtVjGE6U4bOaHZjci_cqi3a3rsG72rUprAY9bJZDI-B2xC4T0A_6eQtUggi9wMZvt-Y8zfxwbzZm3iBVrH4rvKXvt5CGA=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_1hZ8d15MYLO7e2yjIiB4nYpd7zdkSrRLkerqquYsJ_xK6UHatsssEUfzkxdHohe1Hn-RnOmE2VnToQ8BpT_srSLGFAWU7jtVjGE6U4bOaHZjci_cqi3a3rsG72rUprAY9bJZDI-B2xC4T0A_6eQtUggi9wMZvt-Y8zfxwbzZm3iBVrH4rvKXvt5CGA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />After such a grueling campaign, things are allowed to settle down a bit in 41. Well, about as much as they can with Noodle World causing a civil war between soba and udon lovers. <br />But on the character end of things we’re given glimpses into Isao since he’s been around, largely spending time hyper-focusing on the Kikainoids, the tech of the Pirates, and building various devices- not the least of which is a charging station because he is still modified and needs to do that. At first, Kaito doesn’t mind, it’s how his dad has always been. But after nearly 11 years, he wants to spend some time with him.<br /><br />When that finally happens, Isao is incredibly proud seeing how well his son has handled being Zenkaizer. Building a team of great friends, and getting a grip on difficult situations. <br />Yet happy as this experience is for Kaito, he’s also still concerned about Stacy. This turns to Kaito asking if there’s anything his dad remembers about being Hakaizer, particularly his friendship with Stacy. Sadly, Isao doesn’t recall much, if anything, from that time. But he reassures Kaito that if he really puts the effort in, he knows he can save Stacy. <br />However, sweet as this was, Isao also departs in this episode.<br /><br />Copying the technology with blueprints provided by Flint, Isao creates a device to teleport to the parallel worlds so he can search for his wife. This makes a great deal of sense for several reasons, not the least of which is that it’s the safest option to keep Isao from recapture. The Tojitendo are laser-focused on earth, they think both Isao and Mitsuko are on earth, and the parallel worlds are free from their eyes because of that. <br />Sad as it must be for Isao to depart again, he is at the very least relatively safe.<br /><br />The same cannot be said for Stacy. After the destruction of Hakaiju-Oh, Ijirude has been chained and repeatedly electrocuted in Hakaizer’s old charging station. Ijirude decides to simply lie in hopes of deflecting the blame and does so by accusing Stacy. Although Ijirude has no proof, he theorizes it was to prevent him from surpassing Barrashita. That of course doesn’t make a lick of sense given Stacy's strained relationship and makes for a poor excuse, but it’s also irrelevant when Stacy inadvertently blurts out that wasn’t the reason he did it- thereby admitting to the crime. Oops.<br /><br /><br />The fallout is put on hold as episode 42 is a long-overdue story focused on Zyuran. Up until this point is in the series, Zyuran has played a prominent but secondary role. From those personal talks with Kaito to episodes focused on Gaon or Magine such as 21 and 17. Even Secchan has had a starring episode. But outside the first episode, Zyuran has almost always been a major player but never a star. Heck, even the first episode is, of course, split with Kaito. So it’s finally nice to see a story where everyone else is put out of commission and Zyuran is the last Zenkaiger standing, doing his damndest to save everyone with a lot on his plate. Gaon perhaps said it best in that Zyuan is the dad of the group, and it coming from him makes it all the sweeter.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUPuoBc-_EfFgjho15pBtbXw-9FtnYy5g3xvBScZk2Bm46eh9pJqpks5JQqVQJmTrCm6O5ZV5JkCCxJ7edJHHm3r4nGll_TJdNmrGOYXpTjUo5flazP2SSfFAY7vKS8tgmkc0cuBOF4wSSvwe4SJ1TOResMc9ub7zTCp9Fx01S8Rf7ttUzpBUO4z22vw=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUPuoBc-_EfFgjho15pBtbXw-9FtnYy5g3xvBScZk2Bm46eh9pJqpks5JQqVQJmTrCm6O5ZV5JkCCxJ7edJHHm3r4nGll_TJdNmrGOYXpTjUo5flazP2SSfFAY7vKS8tgmkc0cuBOF4wSSvwe4SJ1TOResMc9ub7zTCp9Fx01S8Rf7ttUzpBUO4z22vw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />We also get a glimpse of Don Momotaro from the next sentai series. Shortly before departing, Isao gave Kaito a new gear to use. Unlike others, this doesn’t create a clone or power, but simply summons Don Momotaro, who helps the team before driving off into the distance, much to the confusion of everyone.<br /><br />Following this aside, Gege is shown visiting an imprisoned and battered Stacy, only to mysteriously transfer something over and overtake Stacy, who then escapes from imprisonment. Curiously, Gege is seen alongside his master after the fact, although much more grimacing and less bubbly in their personality, something Barashitara catches onto.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikOkKoaEfvUxSUDbxjkHV2_y9jZsj1jPjdlpL2fp-jHUbhcq5A2f1Gr_KZFv3wncdkPWAWKpZ20DtFJr_EZLIpvUECgLxLAAdV8SGsaiF01nNFlf2Ti72H_L47X9S5oLQhYuoMxeGUZt5PGIGHZ1j9rPPmUnAYbSQ6kdB1E4i7jk2dzbRU9escDs-e3w=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikOkKoaEfvUxSUDbxjkHV2_y9jZsj1jPjdlpL2fp-jHUbhcq5A2f1Gr_KZFv3wncdkPWAWKpZ20DtFJr_EZLIpvUECgLxLAAdV8SGsaiF01nNFlf2Ti72H_L47X9S5oLQhYuoMxeGUZt5PGIGHZ1j9rPPmUnAYbSQ6kdB1E4i7jk2dzbRU9escDs-e3w=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />This dichotomy also applies to Stacy, as both Kaito and Zox are immediately suspicious of the drastic personality shift. Any questions are put on hold as the Tojitendo force tracking down Stacey keep getting in the way. Regardless, Stacy assists the Zenkaigers, and whatever is controlling him is concerningly good at fighting, even taking on Barashitara singlehandedly, much to the shock of the seasoned commander. It’s also this last part that gives the game away.<br /><br />What’s controlling him remains a mystery, but it claims that defeating the Tojitendo is a priority and it will even have a present for Zox next time.<br /><br /><br />The present happens to be SDworld being deployed.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmO_YCo1ZzCrOr4qlVlFHh9AipMJYVQgmAHrfZ_ScUmPMYJIkHomyPy8HSTCJz7Cy2Y8f0woHHuNMelPkREucMkZtDYr47oyhjrLqndD5JxB0Y_DvjPGNSkX92PVRMneO6JP9CTbfacc0uEVqBIYCrQ1KhhCPBGxKLGNhKnpU9zqYuLOXJA_xAfXKKcg=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmO_YCo1ZzCrOr4qlVlFHh9AipMJYVQgmAHrfZ_ScUmPMYJIkHomyPy8HSTCJz7Cy2Y8f0woHHuNMelPkREucMkZtDYr47oyhjrLqndD5JxB0Y_DvjPGNSkX92PVRMneO6JP9CTbfacc0uEVqBIYCrQ1KhhCPBGxKLGNhKnpU9zqYuLOXJA_xAfXKKcg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />Things go south fast, mainly because Zox, upon seeing the world, becomes single-minded resulting in a lot of collateral; All the Zenkaigers bar Kaito becomes SD, and Zox’s own gear gets shrunk and he is unable to transform. He even tells his siblings to stay out of his way since he can’t “Go all out”. As you might’ve gathered, this is mostly about the importance of Zox learning that being bullheaded can only get him so far and that he’s at his best when working with his friends and family. <br /><br />It’s decent enough but well-tread ground by now and, to be honest, sorta underwhelming.<br />In the grander scheme of things, it means that with SDworld defeated, Zox is going to be out of the picture for quite some time as he returns to solve his siblings’ predicament.<br />Interestingly, the possessed Stacy also destroys and thus frees Piratetopia from a Tojirtendo gear.<br /><br />45 continues these actions. Barashitara has become more suspicious, noticing that Gege has no recollection of deploying SD World, and later sees a possessed Gege altering the controls on the world gate. An un-possessed Stacy also awakes during this time, having memories of the prior events, although he is again taken control of before he can do any meaningful actions. A rather bittersweet irony as Stacy almost finally returned to Colorful of his own accord.<br />Strangely, the now possessed Stacy randomly grabs two Kikainoids and summons a portal before throwing them in “Back where they belong”.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMnnLMak5oP5gn1cwhT6dG3rIciFe1kY2h9x1YgHgnVW6aaqepz4J29HndSt7vFAsbgZu66T5kNvUEAPiP9JUNLqq-ySQIeb7nYJLYgUYFjBAQQiBPyUiepLqq6bA158Nqsl8oUg__wUydg92Ifrw3OCSvnPr2MRq73ZUZtnvQtnkEH-bl87J_I2EFgA=s392" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="217" data-original-width="392" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMnnLMak5oP5gn1cwhT6dG3rIciFe1kY2h9x1YgHgnVW6aaqepz4J29HndSt7vFAsbgZu66T5kNvUEAPiP9JUNLqq-ySQIeb7nYJLYgUYFjBAQQiBPyUiepLqq6bA158Nqsl8oUg__wUydg92Ifrw3OCSvnPr2MRq73ZUZtnvQtnkEH-bl87J_I2EFgA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />This episode also features a nice spotlight on Magine in battling Omikuji World, whose main gimmick is granting good or bad luck in constantly increasing intervals. This results in some pretty great visual gags, one of my favorites being the Zenkai Cannon inexplicably summoning the first versions of Yellow 4, Battle Cossack, and the second version of Kirenger. Ya know, rangers that all died in battle.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg49c6fd5JVREhQEtVLdRTWPzvdRQq_i8mpQxPnKaVLZN30OOutOmeTfKxvJK5f6m3G860KZtRVH0WtJnl_MmmMInI_5N7iZ7-RL3FpmvGMziqbJAnrlZ-jymac46vZdrpj-oa_mx3gBEulod4v6PHuU9Jdmm5jE4dfIJXFLNUFBQcXm48pcFZul1KTEw=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg49c6fd5JVREhQEtVLdRTWPzvdRQq_i8mpQxPnKaVLZN30OOutOmeTfKxvJK5f6m3G860KZtRVH0WtJnl_MmmMInI_5N7iZ7-RL3FpmvGMziqbJAnrlZ-jymac46vZdrpj-oa_mx3gBEulod4v6PHuU9Jdmm5jE4dfIJXFLNUFBQcXm48pcFZul1KTEw=s320" width="320" /></a></div>It’s Magine’s sheer determination that manages to get the team to fight through all the pitfalls, slip-ups, and the constant barrage of garbage to still fight and defeat Omikuji. She even gets a character theme as a nice cherry on top.<br /><br />But then the two plots come together when the revived Omikuji gives the team more trouble… only for Stacey to arrive and absorb the freaking world from the Kudaitest, which is promptly defeated.<br />When all is settled, the team wonders what the hell just happened. The possessed Stacey claims that the parallel worlds were created by him and that he’s sort of a god.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxiYCvoabcKNBMa58mXtfJwzdb5NsjE6c5T7Y_nZTzsVo66JlJVpAm6F8RUOOyEeciPslL52lUyWrncIFy1YevGu1cBCYY1dq1CM5uEsFIocZXX_CkVPM5Xu1Tm0IQfxB7WULzSYtnov7AQmlwTkFs2psK5cyB4rBj4hAjtTU3q3Ig8LiexDA1vLZE8w=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxiYCvoabcKNBMa58mXtfJwzdb5NsjE6c5T7Y_nZTzsVo66JlJVpAm6F8RUOOyEeciPslL52lUyWrncIFy1YevGu1cBCYY1dq1CM5uEsFIocZXX_CkVPM5Xu1Tm0IQfxB7WULzSYtnov7AQmlwTkFs2psK5cyB4rBj4hAjtTU3q3Ig8LiexDA1vLZE8w=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTydgOC8xTetAF3APw4F4LjzRP94-ZW1irJV1uvdZ2zPKvFByHwC_lyT09t31Mlw0Fu7r2zI1o3bdFjZMuVJNtQeRgJ2JdL3kyscXofRK9XF3tTWIRtO6i27hESaV-MkmhQoEgEWVUgIcGy46tF1Sq6-BR7cvRlwd69ZAR9GR_o8Ju6t46dpcTEbypiw=s522" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="522" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTydgOC8xTetAF3APw4F4LjzRP94-ZW1irJV1uvdZ2zPKvFByHwC_lyT09t31Mlw0Fu7r2zI1o3bdFjZMuVJNtQeRgJ2JdL3kyscXofRK9XF3tTWIRtO6i27hESaV-MkmhQoEgEWVUgIcGy46tF1Sq6-BR7cvRlwd69ZAR9GR_o8Ju6t46dpcTEbypiw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />No one believes that, given that it doesn’t appear to be omnipotent.<br />Though the Entity merely retorts they have limitations of physicality, and offers a prediction that the next monster to attack will be carrot world, which of course occurs thanks to possessing Gege once again. (FYI: most of this episode is filled out with fighting previous monsters just renamed to something else.)<br /><br />More importantly, after the defeat of Carrot World, Kaito wonders what happens with Stacy and if Stacy ever consented to be taken over by the God- which of course they haven’t. Angered, Kaito and the entire team offer their selves up in place of Stacy, to which the entity agrees, leaving his body behind.<br /><br />Stacy is finally freed and filled in on the details, which is where the highlight of this episode comes into play.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihyCTFfbntCkqWUX_aVEryLdP7EO0e0qIFOjszCV8Yi7udIrSm49irvNUW9xayIqHKI-Chxad_h9ilrzFpZLRbxPSNKB1CtFSbdY-XWk671xo8Sbv_mieF70JNyWypSfBE5GxMDGWPYmdR1hxf3yTQB386pcKFTPN4Ocz_1eaAl-Ih4xTrSren6owudQ=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihyCTFfbntCkqWUX_aVEryLdP7EO0e0qIFOjszCV8Yi7udIrSm49irvNUW9xayIqHKI-Chxad_h9ilrzFpZLRbxPSNKB1CtFSbdY-XWk671xo8Sbv_mieF70JNyWypSfBE5GxMDGWPYmdR1hxf3yTQB386pcKFTPN4Ocz_1eaAl-Ih4xTrSren6owudQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKmN0gDkxO2OHSpXU8gUuS6MfJrSjNupavdwueSl96a5UfCvHYz6SYxxr5N72XfMo1LprfloIaVsontWIUdAPH_x06PiGYvCMwcfoTkvyr1pkKmZKWrvohekPKoQnjkioB3Z9ZkYilwhLHoUoEuKrr1huXd-WN8jEQ-0FLt8cWwEqY-wzAn--f95aKAQ=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKmN0gDkxO2OHSpXU8gUuS6MfJrSjNupavdwueSl96a5UfCvHYz6SYxxr5N72XfMo1LprfloIaVsontWIUdAPH_x06PiGYvCMwcfoTkvyr1pkKmZKWrvohekPKoQnjkioB3Z9ZkYilwhLHoUoEuKrr1huXd-WN8jEQ-0FLt8cWwEqY-wzAn--f95aKAQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />For the first time in a long while, Kaito and Stacy have a conversation, a particularly melancholy one at that. By this point, Stacy is broken. He’s aware of how meaningless his goals were, even admitting to Kaito that surpassing Barashitara was something he was never even completely sure of. And now? He doesn’t have anything and believes that being the puppet for a supposed god might be a fitting role.<br />Kaito refutes that belief and instead offers a place for Stacy amongst the team, reassuring him of his true good nature and fully welcoming him like family. But, Stacy simply refuses before walking off.<br /><br />Subsequently, the Zenkaiger take care of the last of the monsters the God warned them about, doing so with relative ease. With that accomplished and trust earned, the team is ready to work with the Entity and take down the Tojitendo.<br /><br /><br />Episode 47 begins with the team readying their assault, bidding farewell to Yacchan, who tells all of them to come back safely.<br />I’ll be brief and say that a lot of this and the next episode are fight scenes, but there are still very important character moments. By far the biggest in this episode is Stacy <b>finally</b> returning to Colorful and completely breaking down to Yatsude, fully admitting his true identity and all that he’s done. It is one of the most heartfelt moments of the entire run, especially when Yacchan embraces Stacy.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnF3tv5IPULWgQTKbJgMUOmUEwVuGCSG_9sunFrcAx7LvXWRaYzQp9eQnGrV8dRbWV8hTSTNc1yP6Cpv2MP61_a86PB8w4aGRvbC_2ify6LRYHnZXGjrRSLhC5tcwOXZoJtPW9a-D9VzGxNaxqMzzrW_teU1KDqm8379cVAz1PA2PULwhbPkTq2fbcTw=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnF3tv5IPULWgQTKbJgMUOmUEwVuGCSG_9sunFrcAx7LvXWRaYzQp9eQnGrV8dRbWV8hTSTNc1yP6Cpv2MP61_a86PB8w4aGRvbC_2ify6LRYHnZXGjrRSLhC5tcwOXZoJtPW9a-D9VzGxNaxqMzzrW_teU1KDqm8379cVAz1PA2PULwhbPkTq2fbcTw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />Meanwhile, the Zenkaiger are having a difficult time. Their initial assault goes a bit sideways with Kaito and Vroon being separated from the rest of the team and losing their gear in the process. While the other three deal with Ijirude in a robo, Kaito, and Vroon find themselves stalked by Barashitara in a pretty dire situation until Stacy arrives along with Secchan, rescuing them. We even get a cute character bit where Stacy explains his stance on switching sides and Vroon points out that technically he’s the second person to defect from the Tojitendo and join the team.<br />The respite is cut short as Barashitara confronts the four, only for the Goldtsuiker family to unexpectedly arrive. Zox and Stacy take on Barashitara, allowing Kaito and Vroon to escape, joining the others in taking on and ultimately defeating Ijirude before setting sights on Bokkowaus.<br /><br />Episode 48 is the second to last episode of the series, tension high as the team readies to confront Bokkowaus. But for me, the real highlight is definitely Stacey and Zox taking on Barashitara, not so much because it’s Stacy finally taking on his father directly, but because he’s working alongside Zox which simply hits so right. Stacy even says it’s not about revenge, it’s about fighting for something he cares about, and man, after so long, it’s satisfying to see Stacy’s arc and characterization come to a proper close. The stunt work in their fight is also great, adding to the unification of the two and the rest of the Goldtsuiker family which eventually culminates in a beam-o-war that Barashitara loses.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0M_RcV_V6iIj3W0XX99dbMClK2XLZI94DqS4l6X6Mv903HYxARhZ60SlrYkUI0bl_avBurLtmFvbF4BQxKKYw9B3Q7_xue058PWjq0bHtQYUhfP8yg0wRoMOUs63MAD6byPsE6pAlXUZLB-na0DQZJd6Rz8pecU26yDgiMbsaacTrc75xvu0nv2NuNQ=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0M_RcV_V6iIj3W0XX99dbMClK2XLZI94DqS4l6X6Mv903HYxARhZ60SlrYkUI0bl_avBurLtmFvbF4BQxKKYw9B3Q7_xue058PWjq0bHtQYUhfP8yg0wRoMOUs63MAD6byPsE6pAlXUZLB-na0DQZJd6Rz8pecU26yDgiMbsaacTrc75xvu0nv2NuNQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />But shortly before Barashitara’s defeat, Flint slips away, possessed by the God who has decided to put her intelligence to great use and repair the Tojirgear Machine. Once done, the entity assists the Zenkaigers one final time, possessing Gege and informing them that Bokkowaus’ weakness is his back, which also results in Gege being destroyed by an enraged and confused Bokkowaus.<br /><br />Following Gege’s death, the final confrontation commences with Bokkowaus absorbing the final Tojirgears into his very being, gaining the power of several worlds but mainly utilizing those that were Sentai oriented.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVZBpFKKFk8DAO-YXVJTXdreTWCB405xBhldNr0zoMIumF3xXVC-aZQ0hzydBxscIE3tU34Xxj6cUDPZ98DrKn2kAwXzpXBQhK-msTYz5jUu5igA4NMl0mIhbKza5dj2KaCiFdiRuvhxlVR-PonRDeCphuD4JX8HQCfAH-lgY-Y_T1fS_q4xtqncu2YA=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVZBpFKKFk8DAO-YXVJTXdreTWCB405xBhldNr0zoMIumF3xXVC-aZQ0hzydBxscIE3tU34Xxj6cUDPZ98DrKn2kAwXzpXBQhK-msTYz5jUu5igA4NMl0mIhbKza5dj2KaCiFdiRuvhxlVR-PonRDeCphuD4JX8HQCfAH-lgY-Y_T1fS_q4xtqncu2YA=s320" width="320" /></a></div>The king methodically summons the powers and weapons of various teams, taking out each Zenkaiger with an appropriate weapon; Vroon with the Dual Crusher of Boukenger, Magine with the DialRods of Magiranger, Gaon with the Hundred Beast Sword of Gaoranger, Zyuran with the Howling Cannon of Zyuranger, and finally Kaito with the Gorenger Hurricane.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRFAEBB0kYZwx_HvunnHX9dyYkIUf-VjKiuJk9WQYuvoBCs0eo091KZV3YHrvhep8TQ_QxPjSu1IVx8Z0WN13EWcgDT6jyHG_qvY1OfDPX4fhTUHt7Em2nxREkGq6FY6uf_2NFKg8sc0cvzbp_RtYng9KZUwa2wxJr0ktiwTp0l1Hqggy0yHvvZCzg9g=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRFAEBB0kYZwx_HvunnHX9dyYkIUf-VjKiuJk9WQYuvoBCs0eo091KZV3YHrvhep8TQ_QxPjSu1IVx8Z0WN13EWcgDT6jyHG_qvY1OfDPX4fhTUHt7Em2nxREkGq6FY6uf_2NFKg8sc0cvzbp_RtYng9KZUwa2wxJr0ktiwTp0l1Hqggy0yHvvZCzg9g=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />Yet despite the team being battered and their gears destroyed, they continue fighting at a disadvantage, when suddenly help comes from the Sentai worlds rejecting Bokkowaus and temporarily repairing the Zenkaiger gears.<br /><br />I’m going to take a moment here and say that this is a good fight that I don’t think this lands as wonderfully as Stacy and Zox fighting Barashitara. There’s a bit of contrivance and the emotional investment simply isn’t as strong as the former. This is a systematic issue I have with the villains in general which I’ll touch upon more later. But suffice to say, there’s one more episode left and a few loose ends that still need tying up. Which to the show’s credit, I think does a great job instilling a sense of dread, because we know even when Bokkowaus is defeated, he’s likely not the last obstacle given all the sketchy things going on with the God.<br /><br />However, I will note that Bokkowaus has by far the best death in the entire show. Super Zenkaizer stabs him in the stomach while Zyuran, backed by the rest, shoves the Zenkai Cannon into his back.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgg1mTgw0S5sce2klpuGbISb3fT5Ne01sXjW1oGwb6QWoYQevCCsKKK1Uuqk5nbPEPWc9JXiwrG5AtDb8vq5RgdRf6-ZSqMbs3quqVMiIF_U0Pm6dq5vUdkFJ23nFgYhViYR4p6oqdhXK80JghGShF2dVvOdoQNwE9FfiTbmSllZlSIpcy7al13SlgPxg=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgg1mTgw0S5sce2klpuGbISb3fT5Ne01sXjW1oGwb6QWoYQevCCsKKK1Uuqk5nbPEPWc9JXiwrG5AtDb8vq5RgdRf6-ZSqMbs3quqVMiIF_U0Pm6dq5vUdkFJ23nFgYhViYR4p6oqdhXK80JghGShF2dVvOdoQNwE9FfiTbmSllZlSIpcy7al13SlgPxg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvS2-6mBIJQZnBMJX_hmECWqDWAzDRk9HApDvzT5fJpycNzidTPg65Pet4pwXMdEfaCac8qQoXMYmTDg1qZglkT6TVLXVzEoZHYkB51VqCUY2r5OZh0L8ctZHMVCENoX6Tw3_fbJ6kZlZgFVF6F9cOgWUDOc_QbNF78hHZDLGS6IpjfrVozNqRbc5Aow=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvS2-6mBIJQZnBMJX_hmECWqDWAzDRk9HApDvzT5fJpycNzidTPg65Pet4pwXMdEfaCac8qQoXMYmTDg1qZglkT6TVLXVzEoZHYkB51VqCUY2r5OZh0L8ctZHMVCENoX6Tw3_fbJ6kZlZgFVF6F9cOgWUDOc_QbNF78hHZDLGS6IpjfrVozNqRbc5Aow=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now that's awesome.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />With the King defeated and the rest of the worlds free, the dark clouds over Kikaitopia clear as the team celebrates.<br />Additionally, back on Earth, Kaito’s parents arrive at colorful, his mother having been discovered in Sushitopia after Kaito’s father had a sudden “epiphany”.<br /><br />Elsewhere, Zox has been filled in about the mysterious god that has been assisting the Zenkaigers, and the manipulation of Flint raises his concern even further. But just as Zox readies to inform the team, he suddenly has a change of heart and decides to instead depart back to their homeworld. Not long afterward, Kaito separates from the rest of the group and returns to earth, possessed by the god.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKl1shc5oYS18lGXJae1ApBwN-hPA9vb-a7kJKZoCdWG0a7L9gPjZY4k1Qw-Y1CqXYrfIp3vuyMSw-N3t5ZWdBwnFjieMzY9pbplDw77Qcg6e5S52ZVJjuO0LwOO8B5ooLjGs1doJh3HyXjmd8CnnVWcqQtHyzY0aG2GfkDcDkGE4ZtCtgwnwVBSl-zQ=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKl1shc5oYS18lGXJae1ApBwN-hPA9vb-a7kJKZoCdWG0a7L9gPjZY4k1Qw-Y1CqXYrfIp3vuyMSw-N3t5ZWdBwnFjieMzY9pbplDw77Qcg6e5S52ZVJjuO0LwOO8B5ooLjGs1doJh3HyXjmd8CnnVWcqQtHyzY0aG2GfkDcDkGE4ZtCtgwnwVBSl-zQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />The silhouette of a gear covers Kikaitopia, followed by darkness, and the same is repeated for Piratetopia and all the other worlds.<br /><br /><br /><br />This finally brings us to Episode 49, and the finale of Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger.<br /><br />At first, things are relatively normal as Kaito has breakfast with his family before his parents depart for their continuing research to find a parallel world.<br />And you can see where this is going.<br /><br />Kaito constantly feels things are off, that colorful seems more empty. He partially goes through the motions of the first episode before more memories come flooding back. He still has a sentai gear in his possession, but it’s now blank.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmq4LQH3V7U35vfNoS7D90CHBKwQorCvFA5yiRuokqF-se5kOMckHyCz7VwfwPHYNHFutB-BZbEwT9LtW0mKwSwme_ee0XZiHBpiE5n18_JwL3c-7XhSR6wDufMVgnQgrfYxvWOjeQ3fex8qXU9bTHoQtx0oJGCdja3UurAL2j4nOYFZv4dIIoLd0fTA=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmq4LQH3V7U35vfNoS7D90CHBKwQorCvFA5yiRuokqF-se5kOMckHyCz7VwfwPHYNHFutB-BZbEwT9LtW0mKwSwme_ee0XZiHBpiE5n18_JwL3c-7XhSR6wDufMVgnQgrfYxvWOjeQ3fex8qXU9bTHoQtx0oJGCdja3UurAL2j4nOYFZv4dIIoLd0fTA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />The real meat of the episode comes when Kaito remembers the God and is suddenly trapped in his own mind, confronting the Entity. The being explains that they created many worlds, but it became a hassle to deal with. They can create, but not destroy. But that’s when the Tojirgear system piqued their interest, offering a convenient way to clean up all the worlds, consolidate them in one place. This horrifies Kaito, enraged that they would so nonchalantly disregard entire worlds of people.<br /><br />God taunts Kaito by pointing out it was because of those worlds that Kaito’s parents were stolen, that his world was invaded and assaulted.<br />But of course, that wasn’t anyone’s fault but the Tojitendo. Not the inhabitants of Kikaitopia, nor any other world. Kaito demands to know where the world gears are. God agrees to tell him- if Kaito can defeat him.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgGBB3RjHZajKV4bDKDSqrGOOjnFzSsPdDwWiZO3iNl2a8mZap6fDj3hmDh1KsANKlYgyJn9bo2k9IJrS_YxGtBRzD5G9IDFW3oX3-Q8OhJn5bXYLEAkHrcF7_Di2Rd5LuSP8SFkmCcnpgI9Wp5fMgRKrrMzJHjjuMnE7HwQ-nl6e34M7TlMlHrWI6vQ=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgGBB3RjHZajKV4bDKDSqrGOOjnFzSsPdDwWiZO3iNl2a8mZap6fDj3hmDh1KsANKlYgyJn9bo2k9IJrS_YxGtBRzD5G9IDFW3oX3-Q8OhJn5bXYLEAkHrcF7_Di2Rd5LuSP8SFkmCcnpgI9Wp5fMgRKrrMzJHjjuMnE7HwQ-nl6e34M7TlMlHrWI6vQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />This entire sequence serves as one last hurrah for Zenkaiger, as Kaito’s memories of his allies assist in the battle, each getting focused while various clips from the show play in the background relating to each appropriate character. In previous reviews, I talked about how a well-done clip show invokes a sense of how far the series and characters have come, and this is sort of a condensed down and frankly better version of that concept.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgm6nuDhT3wTPP9ZBX2uQvY9fCNGQ_NFo5yKF9683vxkjnWuJev740NE5DOsiZfAX0GBckUncaIuniyzvY1AKkPsmm1pmh5JA0Z8FVvI9TS-YYe2t3K1SpoltmOyc_GxzyWHc4oydb7vhFwzhEvTc83mygwNS-OSv1_X_IeeTf28sKC0yiQy7J3VeJGfA=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgm6nuDhT3wTPP9ZBX2uQvY9fCNGQ_NFo5yKF9683vxkjnWuJev740NE5DOsiZfAX0GBckUncaIuniyzvY1AKkPsmm1pmh5JA0Z8FVvI9TS-YYe2t3K1SpoltmOyc_GxzyWHc4oydb7vhFwzhEvTc83mygwNS-OSv1_X_IeeTf28sKC0yiQy7J3VeJGfA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />I also want to point out that God takes on the form of Super Zenkaiser, which was probably done just so you could have the same visual shorthand of God taking on Kaito’s appearance within his own conscious. But intentional or not, I think it adds a brilliant layer by having Kaito’s strongest form still not matching the power of all his friends. It’s a really nice bow on top of how they’re always at their best when unified.<br /><br />Yet despite all this, the battle is still a stalemate, both exhausted. At a loss, Kaito simply resorts to a game of Rock-Paper-Scissors, much to the bewilderment of the God. Amused, the bet is taken, and Kaito is ultimately victorious with paper over rock.<br />The Entity bemoans that they were never absolutely sure of locking the worlds away, and perhaps that’s why they lost (Remember, it has full access to a person’s knowledge, so it knew what Kaito would pick) This is perhaps one of the most unique resolutions I’ve seen in a Sentai finale. Not only for the fact this ends without the last antagonist being obliterated, but that they were what they said. Not some alien threat nor villain moving in on the Tojitendo, but a Godlike being that just happened to be a bit of a bell-end until set right.<br /><br />Before departing, the esoteric being promises Kaito that they’ll take better care of their worlds and that the Tojirgear machine can be found atop the Tokyo Skytree, invisible from view. Wasting no time, Kaito takes the Zenkai Cannon and shoots above the tower, destroying the machine and freeing all the worlds once more.<br /><br />A brief moment passes as Kaito wonders if the other worlds are truly free… before Zyuran, Gaon, Magine, and Vroon falls through a portal right atop him in an incredibly heartwarming reunion, which is soon added to with Zox and Flint arriving.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipfELOFuTJJdGkX22vF_G2xmxdPyj8jJ83ThBxitOG3XyMm0b1R8tygge-0-XoXUMCTD0NEPDR8OAfU8W6PL4mZI7YxlQhTxRWJr7T8DebEjRPiDHYltp16ssINTJSwGeOp12XJa8T-WThDMYgJL5QqKDBQXW_0VmicmCz3apD3-IZxLZ181qcxBvRNQ=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipfELOFuTJJdGkX22vF_G2xmxdPyj8jJ83ThBxitOG3XyMm0b1R8tygge-0-XoXUMCTD0NEPDR8OAfU8W6PL4mZI7YxlQhTxRWJr7T8DebEjRPiDHYltp16ssINTJSwGeOp12XJa8T-WThDMYgJL5QqKDBQXW_0VmicmCz3apD3-IZxLZ181qcxBvRNQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />Three months pass. Travel and trade between different worlds have become commonplace. Of the many changes that have transpired, Stacy has rejected becoming the next leader of Kikaitopia despite great support from the populace but has dedicated himself to rebuilding efforts, while still making the occasional visit to Colorful. Vroon has been a big help in starting a proper school system, helping educate the masses, and reforming the former lower-ranking grunts of the Tojitendo, while Magine has helped the younger kids fit in.<br /><br />Both Riki and Cuttaner have also reverted to their human forms, although Flint has crafted a way to revert them to their SD forms so Zox can continue fighting alongside them.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhofM4kDYH0aUfNXE3m3KAdS_GDtQehImDXPTqZKSDRXPzNsaR5NIsg1BMkc51N-21NZcBgBZMO4brf0juyl8gLpHjJLlbd4TpFtd93jn_EVnyyaV6xGES1TsjE1kZRqv_FSYu5uMnzFmz9giAx5w6VvGvmCBjhcQ4Q3nkGh_cF6xHH_OyeQ2Vs6khBxQ=s1059" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="1059" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhofM4kDYH0aUfNXE3m3KAdS_GDtQehImDXPTqZKSDRXPzNsaR5NIsg1BMkc51N-21NZcBgBZMO4brf0juyl8gLpHjJLlbd4TpFtd93jn_EVnyyaV6xGES1TsjE1kZRqv_FSYu5uMnzFmz9giAx5w6VvGvmCBjhcQ4Q3nkGh_cF6xHH_OyeQ2Vs6khBxQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />With everyone together and things finally at peace, Kaito takes a much-earned sigh of relief.<br />Although Yacchan notices a bit of yerning in Kaito as Zox joyfully sings about exploring other worlds.<br /><br />That night, his parents discuss with him the possibility of finally getting on with his life and moving out. With both his parents back, Yacchan is in good hands and he doesn't have to worry about her well being. He is hesitent at first, but Yacchan encourages her grandson. He's done enough, and there's a lot of worlds to see.<br /><br />Kaito readies himself to explore new worlds alongside his compatriots, all reassuring him that they’re with him on any road until the end. Secchan opens up a gate and the team passes through, bringing a close to Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger.<br /><br />Hotdamn what a show. I still have a lot of thoughts to get into on the show and its structure. But first I want to address a few more areas before moving on.<br /><br /><br /><br /><h1 style="text-align: center;">Visuals/SFX.</h1><br />So I think it’s safe to say Zenkaiger is very unique visually amongst Sentai, and that’s quite the achievement. It’s the first series to not prominently feature red at the head of the group, I think it might be the first series since Kakuranger not to have a red become leader, and it’s the first series to have the majority of the team be robotic.<br />I won’t spend too much time on the core suits, cause I think they’re pretty self-explanatory. Kaito has a suit based on Akarenger and Big One while the rest of the team is based on Zords. Zyuran, Daizyujin; Gaon, Gaoking; Magine, MagiKing; and Vroon, Daibouken. <br />All of these designs are wonderful and are beautifully crafted. But I actually think equally impressive is the thought put into the Kikainoid’s civilian forms. Zyuran’s gold details with black and white shorts resemble Geki’s attire, he’s the only Kikainoid with a silver mouth. <br />Magine’s overall appearance invokes both MagiMermaid and especially MagiFairy. <br />Vroon’s shoulder tanks and two-tone blue gives a popped collar and camo pattern appearance akin to Souta Mogami. And Gaon is a mish-mash of various animal outfits from the Gaoranger uniforms to Leo in Zyuohger.<br /><br />Bravo to the Kikainoid suit actors on this, by the way, cause they’re basically pulling double duty having to wear both the civilian versions and then bulkier versions for the fight scenes.<br /><br />Zox I don’t have much to say about, he’s just a Gokaiger. It’s a good design but I don’t think it does as good of a job differentiating itself from the inspiration, though I suppose that’s part of the joke. I am however a big fan of his Ohranger form, it goes so well with the gold color.<br />Now I simply love Staceasar’s design. I don’t believe this needs explaining, but before 1995, Gorenger and J.A.K.Q were classified as simply Sentai while Battle Fever was considered the first Super Sentai due to the robot. So basing this appearance on Battle Japan to contrast with Kaito’s Akarenger/Big One inspired look is pretty great.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZB-f4xpM3sIenbi5ZB4U0OHyzfk5CaypPKSHGElAAkohsIofJ7BD8t8kAlPhQ6CbRPFiBvCdF13eZK2wi7pUmdWG-r0o5J2CvsWV79_G0hLyuqhbKnMjpDtmNvdEuaH5uRKTHyV0xm2KW2pP-zd1LGJpjYA-hm2I7Y73vkBbMd52-D5hLzo8vwQOYHg=s1056" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="1056" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZB-f4xpM3sIenbi5ZB4U0OHyzfk5CaypPKSHGElAAkohsIofJ7BD8t8kAlPhQ6CbRPFiBvCdF13eZK2wi7pUmdWG-r0o5J2CvsWV79_G0hLyuqhbKnMjpDtmNvdEuaH5uRKTHyV0xm2KW2pP-zd1LGJpjYA-hm2I7Y73vkBbMd52-D5hLzo8vwQOYHg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />Now for the arsenal, there’s a lot to cover. We’ll start with the Sentai gears, which I’ve not really talked much about yet. They are…admittedly a bit weird in usage.<br />The Gears aren’t 100% consistent for good or ill. Sometimes they grant weapons of their respective teams, such as the Dairanger rods. Other times its abilities such as the aura powers of Maskman, or perhaps the intelligence of a specific character, and sometimes they’re shown to do multiple things. This is something I really like, as it adds variety to being more than just re-hashes of ranger keys. Plus it’s neat to think that Kaito’s parents cherry-picked what to replicate from each team… sorta.<br /><br />Where do I take some issue with them is that they typically come down to is being whatever the hell the writer wants them to be. Quite literally they are often deus ex machina and some are obscenely overpowered. Timeranger manipulates time with seemingly no limits, while Jetman forces the MOTW to re-enact Gai Yūki’s final moments. These are meant to be jokes and not thought too hard about, of course. But one can’t help think that maybe some degree of limitations or caveats should have been presented. To the show’s credit, they actually don’t use the gears as often as you would think, so even what issues I have are few and far between. <br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjm3nHWrCyJv2KqiWRMCvwDXJMd0CQMGzJORAfIiz3HpO5WQmkkBEVkmNVB5ibb38ctAwEp2QeclzX80Xpw-FzW-0ZtgUUz8pzi6DzV3YzYxCHGw53SaUhHf4ndr3c7SAgvluQUmBG6eJD-4SoCK_JEWJMjuGrTAbFofQ3xfxR9_Ir2dFXso8zpUAKccw=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjm3nHWrCyJv2KqiWRMCvwDXJMd0CQMGzJORAfIiz3HpO5WQmkkBEVkmNVB5ibb38ctAwEp2QeclzX80Xpw-FzW-0ZtgUUz8pzi6DzV3YzYxCHGw53SaUhHf4ndr3c7SAgvluQUmBG6eJD-4SoCK_JEWJMjuGrTAbFofQ3xfxR9_Ir2dFXso8zpUAKccw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />I’ll even admit there is a childlike imaginative angle with it that I believe is charming and brilliant by having the gears serve multiple functions.<br />Yet there are still episodes where the solution is as simple as picking the right gear because it will do the exact thing handy in this exact situation and it’s always a tad jarring.<br /><br />This also exists to some extent with Stacy’s gear. With him, there are at least more clear limitations and their use is more straightforward, if albeit derivative. It’s also worth pointing out that he never uses the ability to summon Sentai robos after TwoKaiser is introduced. I get why from a meta standpoint, it’s cost, but I wish they addressed it. The most they mention is that it drains power quickly, but that was after he summoned 30 of them in a row. Why not summon 3 again? What’s the in-show reasoning? <br /><br />These minor issues aside, I think Zenkaiger does a fairly decent job having and incorporating all their different devices. They don’t have an obnoxious level of different forms, or gear that mostly gets relegated to just one member. In fact, things like the Zenkai Cannon are used by multiple teammates. Even when the Super forms are introduced they make an effort to still feature Zox's Ohranger and Shinkenger forms.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKbyvFSuCEjkAxWbLpJ_J1HboB64edyiPQU3EmPYHKFAh-8PnC4fdIXA_HDmCy1ncX_HaCNrt3M1FmYEJqHGk_CUEa3_ZNxT5KLWGxHT8KXZm6VMcPuiMv0vTneSudtU9hcpiIXQbpJejm3XsSobtsklXSVMJmj1dyZSVA5_9iSpGVdeDxD6zTiqV3PQ=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKbyvFSuCEjkAxWbLpJ_J1HboB64edyiPQU3EmPYHKFAh-8PnC4fdIXA_HDmCy1ncX_HaCNrt3M1FmYEJqHGk_CUEa3_ZNxT5KLWGxHT8KXZm6VMcPuiMv0vTneSudtU9hcpiIXQbpJejm3XsSobtsklXSVMJmj1dyZSVA5_9iSpGVdeDxD6zTiqV3PQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />As for the robos, I sorta have mixed feelings here. The alternate forms like Zyuran’s T-rex mode; Gaon’s lion; Magine’s dragon; and Vroon’s dump truck are that really bad CGI and are barely even featured, as most alternate forms are.<br /><br />The main robos on the other hand are perfectly fine, although I don't have many strong feelings towards them. I will give credit for incorporating various elements like how ZyuaGaon has massive horns on the side and a crest that invokes both Daizyujin and GaoKing. Similar case for VrooMagine which has wings reminiscent of Magiking and Ultimate Daibouken.<br /><br />None of the main robo forms are bad by any stretch, I just find them a bit on a basic side. I’m going to sound like an old man and say this is a problem I have with a lot of modern sentai robos, in that it often feels like the designs are kept as simple as possible for the toy side of things. <br />That said, you also have the opposite where things are simple until there are like 8 add ons that turn the mech into a cluster. Thankfully Zenkaiger avoids that mistake and keeps everything nice and streamlined. The only thing bad about Fullpower Zenkai Oh is the low-budget seventh-gen title CGI, which is a problem with the CGI overall. It’s especially jarring next to anything practical.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVzSabk7oxovZkIUEQGnFs_Up7k51B3rmW85Gtgl3XjhveWRmQEBoe_WybJTDNVj--A3er0Ia_8FmeQTKPIO9_UFZkAu2BgPxrHUAU0pUWmbHh-tFAbDENSJvPqaXhOzwmOREIGQUh1ltDY1kSpl1jFgtK0L8Sf1INAOFxjmZJqNf27V1mJwa6sUP8JA=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVzSabk7oxovZkIUEQGnFs_Up7k51B3rmW85Gtgl3XjhveWRmQEBoe_WybJTDNVj--A3er0Ia_8FmeQTKPIO9_UFZkAu2BgPxrHUAU0pUWmbHh-tFAbDENSJvPqaXhOzwmOREIGQUh1ltDY1kSpl1jFgtK0L8Sf1INAOFxjmZJqNf27V1mJwa6sUP8JA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />I actually watched some Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon from 2003 and has almost the exact same quality of CG. Except it's worse here because it's in HD.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIg-SNvUg1eplLjfMgmWLwO94ZCOprphdFb3NbKlp9kdGAaxzNR6glMinYX_-iSv3rXoJg94HfEyzvQSyE3muvlXCQ2Wix5Gu5rq27oVdXuXF-hWp402dECdBCadG9XsMysR7OQX0dTfBoM-QriIposzs50n7a5TtuctIQGsWL1O3qTAxKogvzcEffkg=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIg-SNvUg1eplLjfMgmWLwO94ZCOprphdFb3NbKlp9kdGAaxzNR6glMinYX_-iSv3rXoJg94HfEyzvQSyE3muvlXCQ2Wix5Gu5rq27oVdXuXF-hWp402dECdBCadG9XsMysR7OQX0dTfBoM-QriIposzs50n7a5TtuctIQGsWL1O3qTAxKogvzcEffkg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />That aside, there are two robo designs I really like. One is Battle Caesar Robo, which as a throwback I think helps tremendously. It’s just a really nice simple straightforward design that is sadly underutilized. There are technically three variations, but really only two (Two has a different helmet and the Third is just the first design with the second's weapons) My personal favorite is the first.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhn84MT9WwbOWGd4FYrh16Gm-oEmbpX1DmLZS3RATl4xCr3qrGaDj-MCTsTr34T1dcaQxzBmtTko6sI5L8NSz9H1ZrURpjK5mGaCMOF_46INdMUGuWtM65i8qx4RnbeJLR_cIz7kMVgyyPpne2N6S3DT60fg8ajgboqEfwJw0KJYH34TlL2YHchlKobrQ=s369" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="203" data-original-width="369" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhn84MT9WwbOWGd4FYrh16Gm-oEmbpX1DmLZS3RATl4xCr3qrGaDj-MCTsTr34T1dcaQxzBmtTko6sI5L8NSz9H1ZrURpjK5mGaCMOF_46INdMUGuWtM65i8qx4RnbeJLR_cIz7kMVgyyPpne2N6S3DT60fg8ajgboqEfwJw0KJYH34TlL2YHchlKobrQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />Also, I love that they replicated the Battle Fever summon. It’s a cute touch, but it also looks surprisingly good to be so stiff.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPCOv2GYqMcuwcdqAnDvoCoG7PxZmPA0OyiAjHq_EoJAgUuet3S8-jq4Ko0J5MUgYqPkBfOVQJUj4q07_zY6IDrngPJ4-OvAwnK8vebJjCYAOKcmJDvvyl1X83aFv59JWAj6bblIlo3iTuoo65BQr0T1InYr6Dh0U9tv04yWAteNvU-MKd8V0WPJXadg=s452" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="241" data-original-width="452" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPCOv2GYqMcuwcdqAnDvoCoG7PxZmPA0OyiAjHq_EoJAgUuet3S8-jq4Ko0J5MUgYqPkBfOVQJUj4q07_zY6IDrngPJ4-OvAwnK8vebJjCYAOKcmJDvvyl1X83aFv59JWAj6bblIlo3iTuoo65BQr0T1InYr6Dh0U9tv04yWAteNvU-MKd8V0WPJXadg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />However, my overall favorite robo is Zenkaiju-Oh. It’s such a simple concept; What if V-rex but Dragon Caesar? And Goddamn, it gets some special attention. Hiroshi Butsuda knocked it out of the park with this presentation.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgObDhxguLWTQEKYpujMM2DDdrQ2GNpgPPWhWzlSRZxr31FKgH6yiDY7b3WNPf2MAkhCuXpWHaPv5ZWPnLCh7QZ1l4KQOOfAoP1jf-BCOpfjGipNrfvb541--6g9kNRJMUlQNyZU1Ds8ZIRYESraaCXD-GCeaAFRXUMdUgwR61P4uR-TV5hfBK_qvyWtA=s452" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="241" data-original-width="452" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgObDhxguLWTQEKYpujMM2DDdrQ2GNpgPPWhWzlSRZxr31FKgH6yiDY7b3WNPf2MAkhCuXpWHaPv5ZWPnLCh7QZ1l4KQOOfAoP1jf-BCOpfjGipNrfvb541--6g9kNRJMUlQNyZU1Ds8ZIRYESraaCXD-GCeaAFRXUMdUgwR61P4uR-TV5hfBK_qvyWtA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2oADtvkANIfTZIYYCQoj25NcB0fMPfrJza5IjH7PGq-iIzFCafCR0IHDscZLQ4ZyLcP6NoR5RdDtyGD_6JCXjnNXB8PanYc7WxHjKLNNZDyRQ1X13uIrXBZrj_Q1m1lfC85R8cTduJCWd1bEQ3x_UcBWZDTFw9mlW0wlFEuO1LuI-BuIioeFDH2jR8Q=s452" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="241" data-original-width="452" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2oADtvkANIfTZIYYCQoj25NcB0fMPfrJza5IjH7PGq-iIzFCafCR0IHDscZLQ4ZyLcP6NoR5RdDtyGD_6JCXjnNXB8PanYc7WxHjKLNNZDyRQ1X13uIrXBZrj_Q1m1lfC85R8cTduJCWd1bEQ3x_UcBWZDTFw9mlW0wlFEuO1LuI-BuIioeFDH2jR8Q=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />We really get spoiled with how great some of the robots are presented this season. Even my bias aside, the others get some great scenes in storms and sunsets.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhFfYIOMDckrCL7o0HzajmGpb9DUITe4iI_KFRyHnU172X8NZ1QGd88BTJJQVDX-L-P6noZDzGjv5I61Dqgt_idRIa-2prBQmfqx3fDyp6f2RPIdm1EX-yLehfHV4sEBpJTtYFqwZVWzstJauacVz-WqgehdRGZni1brLhF2lTd8eYdVEI876guvU4eg=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhFfYIOMDckrCL7o0HzajmGpb9DUITe4iI_KFRyHnU172X8NZ1QGd88BTJJQVDX-L-P6noZDzGjv5I61Dqgt_idRIa-2prBQmfqx3fDyp6f2RPIdm1EX-yLehfHV4sEBpJTtYFqwZVWzstJauacVz-WqgehdRGZni1brLhF2lTd8eYdVEI876guvU4eg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />Shoutouts to the Crocodai as well. I don’t love either robotic form- doesn't help its story integration is clunky, but I love seeing this thing come out of the stormy clouds. I think Sun Vulcan was the first Sentai to do that, although this depiction ironically looks closer to Gavan’s Dolgiran.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVFDgpS5tfDpSrv5NiY27zsayElXGha6Xg-htiXx0p9hyWmp2a9Za3QtSE37IFJi2FsZWnvEcVi4_fJqHGOn1DsVDwrdu6s6QOy0XFKqqLbRDKWspiS9MKJ-aO5O5PttU1mXFMhxdr9g_3UqzCzRLh4yD6dlLsHWQ31Vh0mENbFM8q3LQ45NdU4aKVzg=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVFDgpS5tfDpSrv5NiY27zsayElXGha6Xg-htiXx0p9hyWmp2a9Za3QtSE37IFJi2FsZWnvEcVi4_fJqHGOn1DsVDwrdu6s6QOy0XFKqqLbRDKWspiS9MKJ-aO5O5PttU1mXFMhxdr9g_3UqzCzRLh4yD6dlLsHWQ31Vh0mENbFM8q3LQ45NdU4aKVzg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br />Speaking of the Space Sheriffs, Bokkowaus sure feels like a throwback to things like Don Horror, just with articulation. As far as I’m aware, Sentai has never had what could be described as a “Wall” or Statue big bad. Plenty of esoteric stuff like Satan Egos, The Omnipotent God, and Star King Bazeu. I guess the Org Master would be the closest comparison, but this is still pretty unique. <br />Ijirude and Barashitar both have great designs as well, each representing the two design aesthetics of the Kikainoids; cybernetic and mechanical.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj13qhgJF7uyjZ6M5eBpRxnO3p76nZ66WBMt6axltjSC8zKPLEnuZJ6KUkgk4LsVKoFOSRzvT9E_8D0wy1gyiRBVOnV8w9Kl-WnfCRPMVc0fGUi2C5JPen8T2dgta_vDA2EwpFnzYIJW_KWPkBTyhsOpPFSWhZIKogCtMoBY8ct8UR355gsx8YTMwVj4A=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj13qhgJF7uyjZ6M5eBpRxnO3p76nZ66WBMt6axltjSC8zKPLEnuZJ6KUkgk4LsVKoFOSRzvT9E_8D0wy1gyiRBVOnV8w9Kl-WnfCRPMVc0fGUi2C5JPen8T2dgta_vDA2EwpFnzYIJW_KWPkBTyhsOpPFSWhZIKogCtMoBY8ct8UR355gsx8YTMwVj4A=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />The overall design of the MOTWs is kept simple to an extent. Just a head and arms set upon the Kudaiter or Kudaitests body, which gives everything a very streamlined and consistent appearance. While obviously done for budgetary reasons, it fits the Tojitendo’s militaristic background.<br /><br />The Kudaitests in particular are a favorite of mine, probably because the base head looks like Shockwave’s chest. I also appreciate that functionally they’re a reference and mixture to Battlefever J, Denziman, and Goggle V having giant robots, giant revived monsters, and revived monsters piloting giant robots respectively.<br /><br /><br />Still, there is a litany of issues of modern tokusatsu that plague the show to varying degrees. Corner cutting is pretty noticeable, and while I can very easily accept that all the monsters of the week are simply new heads and arms on a stock body-- again, that makes sense from both an in-universe standpoint and let’s face it; Toei shows rarely have weekly villains that could be considered iconic— But the harsh reality is that it’s not uncommon to reuse the same design multiple times. Garbage World is reused for Recycle World, which has an appropriate recycle joke associated with it. But then you get to Noon World in ep 10; then Sundial world in 25. Then there’s Bullfighting world in 22; Milk World in 31. Persimmon in 30; new years world in 39 and the list goes on. <br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUWLGNrhlHmY_tIFawEtCf_FEJEJB65X5Jx_iTEaKroKRRLZ7nlT55vgs1zDVNYffO-WRoohwcGnxvhYjmy5OGbmVQTSBR4eYsia6i662c4HcHqCrzx1ndMFE0fIRXLvHwicxUUJjBUzgFubGpi6dCep0yUJAwalqn-uzvfm43Kg7pSIMzrkei4Fw9dA=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUWLGNrhlHmY_tIFawEtCf_FEJEJB65X5Jx_iTEaKroKRRLZ7nlT55vgs1zDVNYffO-WRoohwcGnxvhYjmy5OGbmVQTSBR4eYsia6i662c4HcHqCrzx1ndMFE0fIRXLvHwicxUUJjBUzgFubGpi6dCep0yUJAwalqn-uzvfm43Kg7pSIMzrkei4Fw9dA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />No amount of paint, self-acknowledgment, or humor will hide how remarkably egregious this usage is. I’ve not watched Sentai in quite a while, but has it gotten this bad? Cause it’s pretty bad, and just furthers my belief that the constant churning out of roughly 50 episode series year after year is a mistake. I really think the industry overall should adopt the same approach TsuPro has with only 25 episode seasons.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxwuT5Fgazj8fcKCgWQIzBDb0Zo0Vg-EIPrBV_txD9wIaoyqP3wE0t8UQAjHDChPx1hdRq9TWaPNaI-xNzXk1tg8rx7TGaH2z8VHPBISttA29drN7FhbRL9G1TyewjWX7VZruBJtc9AwdPGrUPbLxwnP2XECW0QS3tGVQ5t8SiMuhOKr2h15Kpwg-fbw=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxwuT5Fgazj8fcKCgWQIzBDb0Zo0Vg-EIPrBV_txD9wIaoyqP3wE0t8UQAjHDChPx1hdRq9TWaPNaI-xNzXk1tg8rx7TGaH2z8VHPBISttA29drN7FhbRL9G1TyewjWX7VZruBJtc9AwdPGrUPbLxwnP2XECW0QS3tGVQ5t8SiMuhOKr2h15Kpwg-fbw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />There are also some instances where things show up seemingly just to meet some sorta quota. As good as Zenkaiger often is with the toyetic elements, there are still bad examples like the Black JuraGaon that Stacy uses. It's only in two episodes, which is a bit of a shame since it was rather neat but also clear they didn’t have a plan to use it. It shows up, wrecks everything, then is tossed aside the very next episode.<br /><br />I don’t blame Kōmura for these faults. She’s clearly capable of weaving narrative justification for these devices, while folks like Shojiro Nakazawa and Hiroshi Butsuda can sell the visual side. ZenKaiju-Oh and the super forms are prime examples of that working beautifully. We get a story about Flint and Secchan working together on it, Kaito gets an upgrade that is very tanky while Zox is a speed demon. Together they’re even stronger and can form a massive freaking kaiju.<br />It’s cool, it’s important, it makes you want the toy which is part of the idea, and it also doesn’t feel contrived. <br /><br />But Black JuraGaon? That screams appeasing Bandai like they’re ticking off items that have to show up and look cool, which I feel is likely the cause of the other issues like Stacy's Mega Zord summoning. It <b>really</b> feels like they’re reaching sometimes.<br /><br />This has sort of been an issue with Toku from the very beginning and is by no means an issue unique to Zenkaiger or even Sentai. Appeasing Bandai or Poppy has always been omnipresent. But as time goes on and costs increase, it feels as if there’s just more and more and there’s only so much one can do to incorporate them into the plot.<br /><br />For the most part, I can say Zenkaiger scrapes by all these issues. Hell, it's arguably better than some other toku series. The problems I have with suit re-use, unclear explanations on certain devices, and even repaints are bearable because of everything else that is good about the show. But I do worry about the longevity and sustainability of this method creeping up more.<br /><br /><br />Where I can praise the visuals with fewer caveats is the stunt work. Longtime suit actor and stunt director, Hirofumi Fukuzawa, was once again responsible for directing the stunts. I think it’s easy to take for granted just how great both Rider and Sentai have gotten with their choreography since it’s become a bit commonplace now. From 2016 onward we’ve had some of the most interesting action since the early 90s in Toei’s shows. Part of that is how incredible the suit acting has developed, especially with the bulkier costumes. But also smaller cameras and drone work has played a part in no longer having to get a helicopter or crane for flyover shots, now you can weave in and out of the action more easily.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxJe57XH1_h-uGwQWOFR7lano4PzV8yGHPqj_5kruHYkc-9SODSHT0sN5KAlqMnAvyhYNFoETZCSLQ_PBHBpSVE8nQjT1iFLdER8YhhXhq6HpxMgX-1IU23N78ZvV4BOOD6Ex0pI3KmMKoohOUHEWdzAcQ0t9LZt7hsuFHmnatjy9PY1H-pZDzXs7kLA=s392" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="217" data-original-width="392" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxJe57XH1_h-uGwQWOFR7lano4PzV8yGHPqj_5kruHYkc-9SODSHT0sN5KAlqMnAvyhYNFoETZCSLQ_PBHBpSVE8nQjT1iFLdER8YhhXhq6HpxMgX-1IU23N78ZvV4BOOD6Ex0pI3KmMKoohOUHEWdzAcQ0t9LZt7hsuFHmnatjy9PY1H-pZDzXs7kLA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />Look at this shot with the camera going up and over the action. That's the sorta work that would've been relegated to specialty projects like Kamen Rider ZO. Now it's something that- while not easy- can be done for important decisive fight scenes when needed.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiS1pwHUTmAaAXVqLyXcm2GYvZQY1T1mGPFClTGkSCD4c3u8o4f5sYKkLtcjSoGQxIb05nfKSZM8o8NeRNZ3eQpNv2KZZ5MipyiAbQmdvrXHVhQ_htBsQWrx1XR_Bu5qtlCj7Xu6spCVyQ-LwxKTdWfEemzllh8CskFNuKiReswXhp4DJqapMOuSfZiew=s333" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="185" data-original-width="333" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiS1pwHUTmAaAXVqLyXcm2GYvZQY1T1mGPFClTGkSCD4c3u8o4f5sYKkLtcjSoGQxIb05nfKSZM8o8NeRNZ3eQpNv2KZZ5MipyiAbQmdvrXHVhQ_htBsQWrx1XR_Bu5qtlCj7Xu6spCVyQ-LwxKTdWfEemzllh8CskFNuKiReswXhp4DJqapMOuSfZiew=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhM2eFLIuzb0AX7Q3eVVOCkUKsZ4DQryxpItsDY5Z3Ygr6Mv_fk63DaMVF7PH7Hvpg3y4FrNOD6gRyLFY8_bRGJiBQKZDqbfra4s2REqscz4IW-iNb78SKgKrhzBxqqi_9v81izVDadw5fAQisd-SbgY2L967sBkawHMQZTA5-LuHTz0OXiF_omMrrw7g=s368" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="203" data-original-width="368" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhM2eFLIuzb0AX7Q3eVVOCkUKsZ4DQryxpItsDY5Z3Ygr6Mv_fk63DaMVF7PH7Hvpg3y4FrNOD6gRyLFY8_bRGJiBQKZDqbfra4s2REqscz4IW-iNb78SKgKrhzBxqqi_9v81izVDadw5fAQisd-SbgY2L967sBkawHMQZTA5-LuHTz0OXiF_omMrrw7g=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBkb_ENZ9jMnp2du68z4K-G4nNMrwwLUeE7hER5MFowCwJyxlFwY37FS1m2hIS9LUxB5RjItJCRJJBJtcO75EcpTqadwS5vj4D652NA-eIQOAF-z2_g5svWZMs8ytjH2ZvFxfJJ5XR3ux9GW_bQ8_LR5saOpG4_AbVZRW_TXpZaJ_9uG-vkEgn6TYF3w=s369" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="203" data-original-width="369" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBkb_ENZ9jMnp2du68z4K-G4nNMrwwLUeE7hER5MFowCwJyxlFwY37FS1m2hIS9LUxB5RjItJCRJJBJtcO75EcpTqadwS5vj4D652NA-eIQOAF-z2_g5svWZMs8ytjH2ZvFxfJJ5XR3ux9GW_bQ8_LR5saOpG4_AbVZRW_TXpZaJ_9uG-vkEgn6TYF3w=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Final Thoughts.</h3><br />So you wanna know something funny? This entire review came about because my best friend, Lita, being a sweet-heart, pre-ordered the figuarts Zenkaizer and I have a strict policy on having to watch/like something to warrant owning something from that series. I originally had no plans to watch Zenkaiger, but I’m glad I did. Regardless of my grievance- and I do have more I want to talk about- having something away from the stentorian gravitas of my more recent Riders review was a nice break. <br /><br />Zenkaiger is incredibly heavy on comedy, and it’s damn good at it too. It’s refreshing to see a sentai be goofy in a way that I legitimately find funny because of great timing, delivery, and visual gags. I won’t say that series is flawless in that endeavor- there are definitely times where I felt they could’ve leaned more on the dramatic and less on the comedy. <br />But that’s also not to say there aren’t fantastic character moments that rip your heart out. For the really big reveals that need to land, Zenkaiger sticks it beautifully and is shockingly good at the long game.<br />You’ll probably see them coming, but to me, that just means they did a good job sensibly building towards said reveals.<br /><br />Stacy ended up as one of the most interesting characters of the show, which was a legitimate shock for how bumpy his debut started out. <br />In a way, he feels like the result of Junko Kōmura perfecting the most base level concepts of Zyuoh The World, i.e. a tragic and kinda pathetic antagonist. Admittedly, Stacy does sorta overshadow the rest of the cast both in terms of character development and to some extent narrative function. But I can’t deny that I’m relatively happy with what was presented and that I believe what’s given works. Stacy wouldn’t function half as good if it wasn’t for the rest of the cast, as it’s only because of the kindness and friendship seen in Kaito and company that Stacy’s struggles with finding a place to belong resonate so well.<br />I’ll be shocked if Ryo Sekoguchi doesn’t take off after this because he is by far the most captivating cast member and gives one hell of a performance.<br /><br />Although I have much of the same to say for Kiita Komagine. The final episodes in particular are a great showcase of what he’s capable of. The finale specifically is truly fantastic with how he switches between happy go lucky to a dead-serious Kaito to a lofty smug god. In fact, it’s pretty damn impressive how there are at least three actors capable of doing a consistent characterization. <br /><br />I don’t think there’s a single performance in Zenkaiger that isn’t good, to be quite frank. The Voice acting is especially wonderful and I can’t imagine the characters sounding different. Everyone is so on point.<br /><br />I also have to give great praise for how Zenkaiger handles being an anniversary series. Obviously, the show has a lot of callbacks and references to the franchise’s 45 years history, which is great fun. But I think far more important is Zenkaiger’s recognition of adding to that legacy and not simply being content with falling back on it. For all the cute easter eggs, Zenkaiger is still different and new enough to be its own show. As previously mentioned, no series has had the majority of the cast be robots, there’s never been a show where Red wasn’t front and center regardless of their rank. It has its own story and characters that- while incorporating references to prior entries, aren’t beholden to them, and I think that’s very important to understand.<br /><br />What’s appealing about Zenkaiger is its cast of lively characters. You could rip out the references and most legacy aspects and you really wouldn’t lose a great deal aside from some visuals and a few gags. Any remaining traces would simply be staples and tropes of the genre. <br />Stacy would still be a compelling character because of their inner conflict, the Zenkaigers would all still have great chemistry regardless of how they look. It’s a Super Sentai show first and an anniversary second. Hell, in some ways even Gokaiger understood this. Now in that instance, the legacy angle is handled very differently and is intrinsically tied in such a way that it cannot and should not be removed. But, both understood that you need to put your current team before anything else.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3guTY5b3-ZHobxqVjeF6zUahH_9S47Z9e3fTnh3s3U7Hey0kumhMztGViQUPFGHt7TJcrTbUNZFWs4c7NCqeVIjJlguM2CJHvMsbzFQXZJZx1QVie3R8yC6TWoZqm8QBMMI6LRtRsV3mO2VZtXc_mUbNy7XSmjwPfCReDzvusDN1_f7rYsYe_snGJTg=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3guTY5b3-ZHobxqVjeF6zUahH_9S47Z9e3fTnh3s3U7Hey0kumhMztGViQUPFGHt7TJcrTbUNZFWs4c7NCqeVIjJlguM2CJHvMsbzFQXZJZx1QVie3R8yC6TWoZqm8QBMMI6LRtRsV3mO2VZtXc_mUbNy7XSmjwPfCReDzvusDN1_f7rYsYe_snGJTg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />Slapping logos all over the place and screaming old attacks and team names is fun, but it’s shallow. Zenkaiger doesn’t entirely bank on nostalgia to sell the show, otherwise, you’d simply be left with “Do you remember x?” as your only tenuous positive, too afraid to be new and that’s how you end up with New Generation Tiga.<br /><br />That being said, the show is not without flaws and there are still more to be acknowledged.<br />Some are minor, like how Zenkaiger can often feel like it’s walking on eggshells for what the subject matter is. What I mean is it sorta feels like the protagonists aren’t allowed to mention death that often, or suffer for an extended period. Admittedly, part of that is likely because Stacy suffers far more than any other character. But it’s almost feels as if showing good people suffering isn’t allowed.<br />I went back and forth if I wanted to bring this up as a criticism because it’s not that a huge deal and I think it’s clear there is plenty of good drama there.<br />But there are numerous instances where I found myself disappointed by how quickly the tension is cut, where I wanted to see the characters be down a bit more so their comeback is all the greater, such as how Zox facing off against SDworld felt very short for how monumental that moment is supposed to be, or Kaito getting over some pretty damn dramatic stuff in follow up episodes to major events, such as his missing mom or brainwashed dad.<br /><br />And it’s not like I want grimdark in sentai of all things. But I also don’t want those topics to be taboo, because they are an essential part of storytelling. It feels like it’s getting harder to tell interesting stories in these types of shows, not so much because the kids can’t handle it, or because the culture has changed. But because there’s a fear of upsetting dumbass parents who don’t like nuanced and complex character motivations. It’s okay for characters to have negative emotions, be flawed and yet still be good. I honestly consider that an important lesson that many adults don’t seem to grasp.<br /><br /><br />However, a much larger issue I take with Zenkaiger is with the villains, because boy, are they lame as hell in the grand scheme of things.<br />I will stress the performances are top-notch and do a lot to carry the Tojitendo. I can even think of some hilarious moments with them.<br /><br /><br />Nevertheless, they are barely a serious threat and they lack any sort of personal conflict with the main heroes. Hell, the even applies to the internal conflict. Barashitara and Ijirude’s rivalry is nonsensical when you think about it because more often than not they’re both utilizing world gears since Ijirude’s inventions are so far apart.<br />Their modus operandi really is as simple as plucking a world and then just letting it loose in most cases, and why wouldn’t it be? They’ve never really conquered anything but their own people- which judging by the known dynasty, was something they only inherited and maintained.<br /><br />I do want to point out there’s nothing inherently wrong with that in concept. Zenkaiger’s focus is clearly elsewhere. But if you wanted a truly evil villain like say, an AbareKiller, or hell, Ginis or Bangray, Zenkaiger simply doesn’t have it.<br />And in some ways, I do still think that is a legit issue to have with the show. Kōmura goes to great lengths to explain why things are how they are, but that doesn’t entirely negate the issues present and I wouldn’t blame anyone for wanting more out of the villains. <br /><br />Episode 47 has Zyuran pointing out that Kaito needs to get back at Ijirude for everything he’s done to his parents, but because of the way the series is structured, there was never much if any rivalry between the two, so it simply feels incidental. Despite everything with Hakaizer and stealing his parents' tech, I don’t feel anything upon his defeat, and the same goes for Bokkuwasu, even with his amazing death scene. The only one that truly works is Barashitara because of Stacy’s development, which even then doesn’t make his father interesting or provide an enriched dynamic between the two, he is just a perfect personification of what Stacy’s overcome. But that’s at least something.<br /><br />Again, the show wanted to focus squarely on Kaito, Zox, and especially Stacy sharing a dynamic rather than the villains. But I think it puts a spotlight on the above to some extent.<br />This is almost an all the eggs in one basket scenario as far as character development goes, because the show is so fixated on Stacy that if at any point he was to join the Zenkaigers before the final episodes, his arc is complete. The show would suddenly lose the only character on the villain side with engaging conflict with the main cast, and frankly the only character with substantial growth.<br />While I’m perfectly happy with that outcome, this also means that if Stacy, for whatever reason doesn’t capture your fancy, you very well might have a difficult time enjoying Zenkaiger because even with the Kikainoids and Zox and everything, most things still come back to both him and Kaito.<br /><br />But, to leave the review portion on a happier note, I still enjoyed the hell out of Zenkaiger. Perhaps the best testament to that is it’s the first time in 6 years that I sat down and watched a currently airing Sentai series. The last time was Zyuohger, which was of course written by Junko Kōmura. For all my concerns and criticisms, that’s twice she’s captivated my attention in a way that’s been rather difficult with Sentai post-Gokaiger. She manages to take characters and instill them with such lively personalities that it injects a level of joy from their sheer presence, which works in tandem with hyper-focusing on characters like Kaito and Stacy. And I think this is a vastly underappreciated quality to be had; that characters simply having likable personalities is good enough sometimes, and it’s how a lot of older Sentai shows operated. Yet it’s very easy to mess up such a simple concept, but Kōmura is perfectly capable of delivering on that front.<br /><br />I think I’ll be going back and forth for a while deciding if Zenkaiger is a really good series just short of being great, or just enough to be great. The one definite thing I can say is if I’m holding back tears at the finale, the show has clearly done something very right and is worth your time.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-2WHGKgGuf-pOzHrLj4zH8MZq3BgYfWlT9FH3_02tXUN3LzHTKTvEcqAMSDZONX_fwVJSNDs5fSrp3HhJ18IT7wp7IHiunkrEkNDk0azgJ2A6_3KiT9368S6pmo3g_De5qOwHG80HmH0HQls9jkUHFD8MXCz8K9CSoxyhjan6nFwJ-5MI71ypkO36ew=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-2WHGKgGuf-pOzHrLj4zH8MZq3BgYfWlT9FH3_02tXUN3LzHTKTvEcqAMSDZONX_fwVJSNDs5fSrp3HhJ18IT7wp7IHiunkrEkNDk0azgJ2A6_3KiT9368S6pmo3g_De5qOwHG80HmH0HQls9jkUHFD8MXCz8K9CSoxyhjan6nFwJ-5MI71ypkO36ew=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />Oh but there’s still some more to talk about, isn’t there? ‘cause Zenkaiger is the first time since Denziman that a sentai show will have a direct sequel, with Donbrothers.<br />I still don’t entirely know what to make of the show. At the time of this writing, the show has just premiered, and a lot isn't known beyond a few character bios, the creative team, and at least two of the members will be completely CGI…which is certainly a choice.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8swj6HzxEY60fyJbBeoTe5BeqTDQ7a16JMXLqpTNrnudQI8mlca34TSOj-PzTGjAUCXN2ege3vGV9rdOwkSSUvrTEbZMwSfiICo_6IVJFU--XMUFbjX-qr9YAoO_7b8Q6R2v1X2lgK5IOnNN3TYS9ULDKnyGwWNXbgsfRPyCh8ICiN0nRN44MLHAEig=s2047" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2047" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8swj6HzxEY60fyJbBeoTe5BeqTDQ7a16JMXLqpTNrnudQI8mlca34TSOj-PzTGjAUCXN2ege3vGV9rdOwkSSUvrTEbZMwSfiICo_6IVJFU--XMUFbjX-qr9YAoO_7b8Q6R2v1X2lgK5IOnNN3TYS9ULDKnyGwWNXbgsfRPyCh8ICiN0nRN44MLHAEig=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've seen Smash leaks more real than this.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />But most importantly, the writer is Toshiki Inoue, who is writing Sentai for the first time in 30 years. I’ve brought Inoue up in previous reviews, most recently Hakaider, where I described his work as often polarizing, writing some very questionable works in some eyes.<br />But by that same token, it cannot be overstated how much good he has also done. Kamen Rider 1 was one of the best rider films in quite some time back in ‘16 because he’s one of the few writers around that still gets the Showa era, and I can’t even begin to stress how much Kamen Rider Ryuki impacted Japanese pop culture and how pretty much everything in that era was influenced by it in some way. Inoue was undeniably a massive part of its appeal. <br />Almost the same can be said for Jetman, which regardless of how it’s aged (and it’s quite dated) did something striking at the time and saved Sentai from cancellation.<br /><br />With that in mind, I can sort of see why you would want to tap Inoue to write the next series. <br />For whatever you can say about the man, he is uncompromising in what he wants to write and I see that being handy if you just wanted to go all get out. Plus he can handle multiple characters and stories.<br />And Inoue? He can write a fucking villain. He can create the most piece of shit loathsome people imaginable. He can make rivalries like nobody's business. Hell, one of the best parts of Jetman that still holds up is the dynamic between Grey and Gai. <br />Do I think Donbrothers will have anything comparable? Not really. I’m not even sure if it would reach Kiva levels in terms of tone. <br />Yet that also makes me curious what Inoue has planned and what he could get away with. I kinda wanna see how the hell that’s going to play out with modern Sentai... at least at a distance. Jumping into another weekly Sentai sounds exhausting and I don’t wanna wait that long between reviews. But I am fascinated to see it play out, particularly because Inoue is infamous for HATING toyetic qualities beyond the bare minimum, which I can respect.<br /><br /><br />The characters also have me intrigued. Particularly Pink and Black. Pink, Kiji Brother, is described as a male housewife, and Black, Inu, is a wanted fugitive who was framed for a crime. That's good enough for me.<br />And that is as nice and optimistic as I can be because goddamn the trailer made this show look roughhhhh. Emphasis on the visual aspect.<br />I cannot get past how god awful the CG is. Those fights are so distracting that I can’t see putting up with them for an extended period, and boy does that suck to say. Cause I can see parts of this working, but, yeah. Pretty unpolished.<br />Now, to be fair, there is still a lot coming out about the show as of this writing.<br />Magazine scans also revealed that Inu can take on the forms of past sentai, and while I’ll still criticize that for just being Gokai-Change repaint edition, that’s a HELL of a lot better than the jank ass CG. Some images also seem to indicate Inu might become more human-like over several episodes, which might mean they’ll eventually just be a suit actor. But that’s still speculation.<br /><br />Obviously, this isn’t meant to be a full condemnation of the show before I even bother to watch it, but just how well the known aspects are at piquing my interest, and that trailer was a hard sit.<br />Regardless, starting another airing series isn’t on the docket for the time being. But Zenkaiger also had 32 episodes out before I gave it consideration, so who knows?<br /><br /><br /><br />In anycase, that's all for now. If you like what I do and can spare it, please consider dropping a dollar on my <a href="https://ko-fi.com/kamen_writer">Ko-Fi</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br />Next time I’ll be taking a look at Shin Kamen Rider Prologue, a review that I had originally intended before Zenkaiger, but put on hold because honestly, Zenkaiger was more interesting to talk about at the time.<br />After that, I’ll be continuing with more Rider, with my favorite of the second Heisei phase. 'Til next time.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguJ4WWmI_y8b6L6ybnOykpCOS09gRoQnUNViNnczTrJKtMFSRdnygrpbQN6sOyLsd3w0D6pCSwwT833InIsC_-a__1SYv0A8k-sBWYCxHc9j1DA3E4GGbJvXYDB1JUuNhZTkpKeFeNlnEZdSIzBhuubo287i19taAmssIiULqPyod5F2bocdLuEL0a0w=s1366" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguJ4WWmI_y8b6L6ybnOykpCOS09gRoQnUNViNnczTrJKtMFSRdnygrpbQN6sOyLsd3w0D6pCSwwT833InIsC_-a__1SYv0A8k-sBWYCxHc9j1DA3E4GGbJvXYDB1JUuNhZTkpKeFeNlnEZdSIzBhuubo287i19taAmssIiULqPyod5F2bocdLuEL0a0w=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />Kamen Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02832099141882322022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505042118996520039.post-80597369106032988662021-10-29T05:01:00.000-04:002021-10-29T05:01:19.199-04:00Castlevania Season 4 review<div><div style="text-align: left;">Season four picks up with a six-week catch-up from when season 3 left off. After the burning of Lindenfeld, Trevor and Sypha would encounter many monsters, vampires, and madmen. Some are just plain bad luck, but most are more nefarious, involving worshipers of Dracula and ritual sacrifices- no doubt a result of the mad monks. Five weeks in, this leads them to an attempted sacrifice in front of a statue of Death. Although Trevor points out that it isn’t truly death in the traditional personification, but merely an elemental that took on the name.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpcePr7Nm8E9h5V5zbUmGk56TH_dHS_IGPZ7EavEGY3uvTnVyH9cgFSQcyw7dVL5CAlH4wP2cKg4rqkGhznY0tvNOF1mTB4wJ6zsK2ruoBGoqBHoeCJS_NpAZkLuCRIDtT493pJzFN__L/s1039/death.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="1039" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpcePr7Nm8E9h5V5zbUmGk56TH_dHS_IGPZ7EavEGY3uvTnVyH9cgFSQcyw7dVL5CAlH4wP2cKg4rqkGhznY0tvNOF1mTB4wJ6zsK2ruoBGoqBHoeCJS_NpAZkLuCRIDtT493pJzFN__L/s320/death.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />More interesting is that the sacrificial site contains a chunk of tile from a town square, something quite out of place in a simple village. The two head to the only nearby major city, Targoviste, where Lisa was killed and Dracula’s rage was first unleashed.<br /><br /><br />After a fight within the catacombs, the two eventually find an old barn for the night, but respite is still yet out of their reach as more creatures are about. However, it seems the trap was not for them, but a group of mysterious soldiers who enter the fray. In the end, the only survivor among the soldiers is their leader, Zamfir (Toks Olagundoye)<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPOPqDijsoQxomNamPbd5t2-elDaCkkZQFUlezvNPl5H4RWgfKhP6NsWLf_-lFPsZCey0edgT7N-nanVppnuWU826JkL11z_Tsl_ptDYOM4dCc2aZnYeMrs53NlVu4SbhJZBEHzLQxGib/s1045/Zamfir.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="1045" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPOPqDijsoQxomNamPbd5t2-elDaCkkZQFUlezvNPl5H4RWgfKhP6NsWLf_-lFPsZCey0edgT7N-nanVppnuWU826JkL11z_Tsl_ptDYOM4dCc2aZnYeMrs53NlVu4SbhJZBEHzLQxGib/s320/Zamfir.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />She is the head guard of the underground court; a resistance movement still fending off the night creatures long after Dracula’s death. <br /><br />And this is where the true core of Trevor and Sypha’s tale begins. Most of their story is focused on the two trying to gain entrance to said court. Zamfir has her own reservations about trusting them, but of course, Sypha has hers as well, particularly after the events with the Judge last season. Not helping matters is that as the story unfolds, it becomes clear the underground court doesn’t appear to be helping the local populace, and in some cases doing the exact opposite. Civilians are completely lost and broken, digging pits to shit in right next to cooking fires, all left without leadership or even common sense.<br />Being a speaker and well-versed in such predicaments, Sypha takes it upon herself to straighten out the citizens. Making water and food collection more efficient, basic planning and distribution of needs, etc.<br /><br /><br />But Trevor and Sypha are not the only ones looking for a way into the court. All while helping the locals, they're observed by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varney_the_Vampire">Varney</a> (Malcolm McDowell) and Ratko (Titus Welliver) Two vampires looking to wipe out the resistance, but can’t find their base in the expansive and maze-like underground.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHOSYpPAbUuN45_L7d8JPQwL4yJZA_slMQP7xDD94EVIfFL-vaMr0y1kpJ6o9A1KpKKmfqXYJAdhuvDEhbC-H95e0t7ksYfEhzyd7mTxkQ9oKzvW7L8DOzH7VkV6x7YS3B4701FcuCHas/s1035/varney.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="1035" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHOSYpPAbUuN45_L7d8JPQwL4yJZA_slMQP7xDD94EVIfFL-vaMr0y1kpJ6o9A1KpKKmfqXYJAdhuvDEhbC-H95e0t7ksYfEhzyd7mTxkQ9oKzvW7L8DOzH7VkV6x7YS3B4701FcuCHas/s320/varney.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Varney is a pompous, boastful, and unassuming jackass who was put in charge of handling Targaviste, seemingly just to be forgotten about. He plays an initially small but vital role in the plan to bring back Dracula. While most prevalent within Trevor is Sypha’s narrative, he appears throughout the season helping to orchestrate the ritual, indicating that he is perhaps more intelligent than he lets on.</div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXR1coliUYWvZ90ynvml5POCyI-LbPz05tSmiOZxa3WcExUL5dWVSWUtY9rtg9N_oI7NKasddmTl9uCHHgcpe9FzqnseS3OyJDxn5iJjvDQmmI5U2uUSdU3O5_nU4hGEIWpMV1aCFNNPy5/s1030/ratko.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="1030" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXR1coliUYWvZ90ynvml5POCyI-LbPz05tSmiOZxa3WcExUL5dWVSWUtY9rtg9N_oI7NKasddmTl9uCHHgcpe9FzqnseS3OyJDxn5iJjvDQmmI5U2uUSdU3O5_nU4hGEIWpMV1aCFNNPy5/s320/ratko.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Ratko is… a ruthless mercenary. Yeah, that’s really all there is to say about him. He exists for muscle and to provide a fight scene much later with some foreshadowing.<br /><br /><br />Now, unlike last season, Trevor and Sypha have a story which eventually ties into a larger overall narrative rather than just being the main focus. There’s a great deal of setup with name drops or small happenstance that will come up again in later episodes and stories. What this means for now is it’s impossible to continue talking about Trevor and Sypha’s story until we get through the others.<br /><br />But before moving on, I will note that Trevor and Sypha are the most 'couple like' they’ve ever been-- Sypha even becoming a bit cruder in her vocabulary as a direct result of Trevor, making for some fun mid-battle banter between the two. <br />As one might expect, however, it's still the more quiet moments where the two get to sit and talk where they’re at their best. This has always been the strongest point of Castlevania's narrative, and the show even tangentially acknowledges it at one point.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8m0QOkrLLR_XsW_D32_AcaYiBhIGBu7x80yp1kLPq5XlbJ9y0m_B7ZtRKqsz8gbvgRVz-J57dg8nzKPb-QnQZ9zg7_gZZoRKNAZV95d7JthMj2L2Dz_SfzOpxEGFcRpgluEJBxInz_4uT/s1033/talk+things+over.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="1033" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8m0QOkrLLR_XsW_D32_AcaYiBhIGBu7x80yp1kLPq5XlbJ9y0m_B7ZtRKqsz8gbvgRVz-J57dg8nzKPb-QnQZ9zg7_gZZoRKNAZV95d7JthMj2L2Dz_SfzOpxEGFcRpgluEJBxInz_4uT/s320/talk+things+over.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />These scene are genuinely heartfelt and will see more of it later on this season.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmsSesUqQIQywq6ZBE9DYqvGJo8ei5bv15iu1V9ZgZQ5ihrasKydIVuEmIWjdSod1McX3KedL5Tow-IfP0qbCbkI4VmA_vD_jekHEdGhFqLMd4zn24bKlMQZ6HTzYajhFPEge81G6NvYo/s1366/dead+rider.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmsSesUqQIQywq6ZBE9DYqvGJo8ei5bv15iu1V9ZgZQ5ihrasKydIVuEmIWjdSod1McX3KedL5Tow-IfP0qbCbkI4VmA_vD_jekHEdGhFqLMd4zn24bKlMQZ6HTzYajhFPEge81G6NvYo/s320/dead+rider.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Alucard meanwhile has kept himself busy with his usual daily routine, in addition to staking-- as several more bodies litter the entrance to the castle. But he is in a fairly rough and unkempt shape.<br /><br />A wrench is soon thrown into his habitual with the arrival of a horse carrying a disemboweled rider. The corpse carries a small script from the town of Danesti, begging Alucard for aid in holding off a multitude of monsters and vampires that are attacking the village.<br />Taking pity upon the dead rider, Alucard obliges the request. Although it takes a couple of days, he makes the 20-mile journey upon horseback just in time, killing three golems at the gate before meeting the leader of Danesti, Greta (Marsha Thomason).<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxS9MQ7CEU0kJRIm26oKRS0o4ToFIj59Hj4in2E56N9Af3IX0vOIDZ7WZV5hMGnEo1daF04rPkxJwfK4eCc-Tc5xakPF7UoShMnRL4U49gL_Y2vV0_evy1PmZ4aV9Veh2uUjFdoanqqeQ9/s1043/Greta.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="1043" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxS9MQ7CEU0kJRIm26oKRS0o4ToFIj59Hj4in2E56N9Af3IX0vOIDZ7WZV5hMGnEo1daF04rPkxJwfK4eCc-Tc5xakPF7UoShMnRL4U49gL_Y2vV0_evy1PmZ4aV9Veh2uUjFdoanqqeQ9/s320/Greta.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />She isn’t having any of Alucard’s theatrics and needs assurance that he can and will stay to protect the people of Danesti. Many have been lost already and they can’t simply put their faith in a hermit who has impaled bodies outside his home. Alucard reassures Greta that he’s more than capable, but before their conversation can continue they’re interrupted by who else than Saint Germain.<br /><br />And...boy does Saint Germain get shafted badly this season, but perhaps not in the way you think. We might as well address this right now because the show sure as shit does.<br /><br />They cram pretty much his entire back story into a compilation. We
see him go from a man rising into the ranks of high palaces to slowly
dwindling downward into slums. We get a meeting between him and his
love, how she was lost in the corridor, a bit of a recap of last season,
and finally what happened after Germain entered the corridor. He
managed to find his way back to the place he lost his love, but she has
already moved onto other realms. Instead, he finds a mysterious
Alchemist (Christine Adams) who is capable of controlling the corridor
for herself.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWYYozJO_DThz8UxVshIg5YWC6eA6E2tJYpDDkxkS3cwpJrVTuWIEc6OY54oJvQ35IotZk80Y_QKvLDT_ecNH4kpWtkAH8mQ5hl8gbmRhgIvxqP62IH8uWxvP5dTgyd4PpSmN1NoUSinv/s1031/alchemist.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="1031" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWYYozJO_DThz8UxVshIg5YWC6eA6E2tJYpDDkxkS3cwpJrVTuWIEc6OY54oJvQ35IotZk80Y_QKvLDT_ecNH4kpWtkAH8mQ5hl8gbmRhgIvxqP62IH8uWxvP5dTgyd4PpSmN1NoUSinv/s320/alchemist.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Germain initially balks at the idea of anyone being capable of controlling the corridor. But of course, it was controlled by the visitor, it just took a lot of souls for power. She informs Germain that the reason he has failed at his craft is that he never truly dedicated his life to the goals and ideals of Alchemy, slipping instead into an ever downward spiral of filth. She asks of him a willingness to sacrifice for the art, whatever that may be. Only then would he be able to master Alchemy and create the magnum opus: a rebis- a divine hermaphrodite combined with two souls, powerful and capable of controlling the corridor. Of course, doing this would also involve killing many and resurrecting Dracula, as both he and Lisa are perfect candidates for the rebis. Once he agrees, she grants Germain a key capable of opening the corridor wherever he is.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_jCtNAZMp1nk1CeyIj9Ao_TKecPQsw8tLNbHMz2EpIg0EUOH8vHti0ail6Bnf-prQUYL0BzzGNopEE2Fnnpd6EsOeqsUksyPaYX3AriNYgxEpi8DeYKBgbckUUX0zUNlA5quVTYgyb99/s1029/mad.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="1029" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_jCtNAZMp1nk1CeyIj9Ao_TKecPQsw8tLNbHMz2EpIg0EUOH8vHti0ail6Bnf-prQUYL0BzzGNopEE2Fnnpd6EsOeqsUksyPaYX3AriNYgxEpi8DeYKBgbckUUX0zUNlA5quVTYgyb99/s320/mad.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />This event sets Germain upon a dark path of torture and killing. He’s horrified at first, but comes around to casting aside all morality for his cause, secretly helping orchestrate the attack upon Danesti and thus setting him up as an unknown antagonist in Alucard’s story.<br /><br />--And aside from the last part, Germain doesn’t really work in terms of character. The heart of the issue is that we’re clearly meant to be somewhat sympathetic towards his plight. The tragic lengths he’s willing to go for his love, in a manner perhaps not all that different from Dracula and Lisa. The problem is we don’t have a good reason to feel that sympathy. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyEaD0_hVyd0rEDXSGM-Y-Uhoc-VpLIlX7BtBMF5O-IBvoCBVK-Z49hcFboSDjHE68LWsH7w_Yc01rC4e4e_yWPUlKEi0dJaG0mLrq3e7Zqk__4PLG4i-GqD5yovYcS5JAKl4BsXPM1J_/s1041/mystery+woman.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="1041" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyEaD0_hVyd0rEDXSGM-Y-Uhoc-VpLIlX7BtBMF5O-IBvoCBVK-Z49hcFboSDjHE68LWsH7w_Yc01rC4e4e_yWPUlKEi0dJaG0mLrq3e7Zqk__4PLG4i-GqD5yovYcS5JAKl4BsXPM1J_/s320/mystery+woman.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />You may have noticed I keep saying “His love” And that’s because that’s
all she is, whoever that is. We finally have a face to put to her, but
she’s never named nor do they even have a goddamn speaking role. They
just gesture in all the flashbacks while Germain talks. If you want to
talk about female characters being an object simply to motivate a male
character, this is a terribly egregious example. They don’t even attempt to elicit
chemistry between the two, she’s just an object of desire so Germain can
play a scheming villain amid our heroes.<br />It also doesn’t help that all of that is <i>very</i> awkwardly inserted into the fourth episode in an extended flashback that takes up almost the entire episode. That's a lot to suddenly info dump on the audience while Alucard and Greta were mid-conversation. It breaks the pacing something fierce, kind of like I’m doing now.<br /><br /><br />Speaking of, Alucard hears something in the distance and it’s a large group of people, mostly from a nearby village 10 miles away. Many others in the group are from the surrounding area, also driven out by monsters. Alucard realizes this is more dangerous than regular night creature attacks. These people are being driven in a specific manner by clever vampires planning something. Germain interjects that- although not a military strategist, the village is simply too ill-prepared to withstand another attack-- Gretta agrees; as thus far they’ve not had much luck. <br />Germain proposes that the villagers be moved to Dracula’s Castle, which doesn’t please the dhampir. However, as much as he resents the idea, it is their best option and the villagers should be moved quickly before any commanders can put into motion a new plan.<br /><br /><br /><br />Thankfully, unlike Germain, Alucard is treated much better and is granted a satisfying arc. Like with Trevor and Sypha, we’ll have to finish talking about all his events later. But generally speaking his arc for this season is learning to appreciate people again. The journey to the castle builds a relationship between him and Greta. In between fighting monsters, Alucard opens up about why there are bodies staked outside the Castle and the horrific encounter he endured last season. Greta humorously quips that she had a boyfriend and girlfriend at the same time once, but they never tried to kill her...well, aside from the man’s wife coming at her with a pitchfork.<br /><br />These moments begin to thaw Alucard’s apprehensive and cold nature, something which continues even after they arrive at the castle. There’s a healthy amount of scenes of Alucard warming up to the company, even playing with a group of kids-- largely orphans.<br />It’s incredibly heartwarming and a side of Alucard we’ve never really seen before. A very different type of vulnerability and happiness seen prior. Greta, and to some extent the villagers, offer something more tangible and permanent than he has ever had before.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-AaAwaFHg6ul-45kmZZcpY3hWE7yJDqyLCv9GH5t8wLt7KSfbdp645HK1tyG1xD6CXF0myugI5eEqdpg0qkxjhv7gxgHlEucHUrzG8j8PWO3mIYJguufQxP7HYuMgVWgx6jsubNfljkO/s1034/lenore+and+Hector.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="1034" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-AaAwaFHg6ul-45kmZZcpY3hWE7yJDqyLCv9GH5t8wLt7KSfbdp645HK1tyG1xD6CXF0myugI5eEqdpg0qkxjhv7gxgHlEucHUrzG8j8PWO3mIYJguufQxP7HYuMgVWgx6jsubNfljkO/s320/lenore+and+Hector.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />For our third story, we find Hector with free reign within Carmilla’s Castle. The past six weeks have been dedicated to preparing the necessary elements for Hector to raise an army, largely constructing a hammer for demon forging; his preferred tool for doing the job. But progress has been slow due to impurities in the material, resulting in many failed attempts. Lenore warns Hector that Carmilla believes he’s stalling-- and there is perhaps some truth to that. Hector has secretly been placing magical stones within the cracks of the Castle’s walls, blackmailing guards in exchange for magical artifacts, and he’s even been in touch with Varney. Nevertheless, he is eventually able to create the device and begin forging demonic creatures.<br /><br /><br />Carmilla on the other hand has been preoccupied with refining her original idea. No longer content with expanding out across eastern Europe, Carmilla desires Dracula’s Castle and more. She and the sisters are among the last of the truly powerful vampires, and many regions once ruled by other great vampires are unstable since their demise in Dracula’s castle, making them ripe for the taking. This global conquest horrifies Lenore, who asks even if they were to go through with all this and if they were to be successful and have everything, would Carmilla truly be content and happy? But the truth is, Carmilla herself doesn’t know. She takes, and that’s all she’s ever done or known.<br /><br /><br />Despite that set up, Lenore this season is a bit more downplayed compared to last, which is somewhat understandable but still a shame. As with the previous season, she has good chemistry with Hector, she even confides in him after learning about Carmilla’s true goal. How she felt lied to-- much like how Dracula lied to Hector, and that her role as an ambassador is simply unneeded in a campaign of total domination. They make for interesting scenes, although one can’t help but feel this dynamic could’ve been delved into a lot more, especially since, ya know, Lenore also enslaved Hector. But it doesn't seem like it's had any particular strain on their relationship.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_GmqyApWq-5Wp7__U-PKsCr-zmf7NKApZqNf1PjTlI998qEhSN5Up2ppOQE1VJc_kgsz9v_hm5_e2cQP8GAKzMndJV-IE91nEUVWocjhmvSG8tZI9xD8KwHAMQEQHiTNE35JP4YQeVCR/s1039/convo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="1039" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_GmqyApWq-5Wp7__U-PKsCr-zmf7NKApZqNf1PjTlI998qEhSN5Up2ppOQE1VJc_kgsz9v_hm5_e2cQP8GAKzMndJV-IE91nEUVWocjhmvSG8tZI9xD8KwHAMQEQHiTNE35JP4YQeVCR/s320/convo.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Our fourth story is with Isaac... Sort of, as his story quickly merges with Hectors.<br /><br />I’m happy to say that this season Isaac is more intriguing than last. Keying in on what I felt was his best moment in season three, one of the first things we see with Isaac is a conversation between him and the fly demon, FlysEyes *Sic (Gildart Jackson) Isaac has his legion rebuilding the ghost town and burying the dead in the aftermath of last season's battle. FlysEyes can’t fathom why Isaac is using them in this manner, they’re demons whose purpose is to destroy and consume. But Isaac disagrees. They’re tools created by him, and a tool has many uses. A hammer can bludgeon a man, or it can build a house. Night creatures have never known any other way because no one has ever used them as such. They have a choice, and Isaac is making his, hoping that one day the town will be discovered and inhabited. This change in demeanor is further illustrated when Isaac is contacted through his distance mirror by Varney, who hopes to recruit the forger in assisting with resurrecting Dracula. But Isaac has no interest and cuts off the domineering vampyr.<br /><br />Yet Isaac hasn’t gone completely soft, as once the last body is buried and the last brick set, he readies his army to finally assault Carmilla’s castle.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTbI4AQCN5t7nOlNNUXkCQTo1lO5I1ebPX3ZNa4wPabFT5S_abSOvrMYInaqAsP_vCfV9WrlDDXbsOugZa6zyuMIdZdARbegKNXpJZWe_g9yzfNs2Fwq7pUZVkt2CUZGK89rldpkbXlqcd/s1044/mirror+pour.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="1044" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTbI4AQCN5t7nOlNNUXkCQTo1lO5I1ebPX3ZNa4wPabFT5S_abSOvrMYInaqAsP_vCfV9WrlDDXbsOugZa6zyuMIdZdARbegKNXpJZWe_g9yzfNs2Fwq7pUZVkt2CUZGK89rldpkbXlqcd/s320/mirror+pour.png" width="320" /></a></div>Pouring from the sky in vast numbers, Carmilla’s forces stand little chance in the surprise attack.<br /><br />Lenore goes to warn Hector and help him escape, but she is caught in a trap set by the man himself. Hector contacts Saint Germain with a distance mirror, letting him know his calculations are assured before quickly “hanging up”. Isaac arrives at Hector’s quarters, but Hector has no intention of fighting. He tells Isaac of his involvement in resurrecting Dracula and offers his life, only asking that Lenore be spared.<br /><br />But likewise, Isaac has no intention of killing him. Isaac has grown past that desire, noting that perhaps Hector should move on with his life as well. Isaac only requests that the night creatures be called off, as he needs as many as possible for Carmilla. But the ring upon Hector makes that impossible. He solves this conundrum by borrowing Isaac’s knife and removing his entire finger, thus cutting off the ring and control. He also gives Isaac a magic seal made from the many “failed” forging hammers- it will create a magical barrier straight to the top of the castle, while also barricading Carmilla within. Hector intended it for an eventual escape, but it should suit Isaac’s goal perfectly- and it does.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7B-gkwsGJfgNbOWIaf6kxVDeb9DeMmBeW9UES2mDv6AjpFOrtlDEDlNp_vEOS0V5w4GrbEgEyA_wOECpD3lu-z3exMdsCd0LHkxEFNRwnkWPlfi-vS5o520yOdDx8RuTSXPCNLL5iGc2/s1043/bloody+tear.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="1043" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7B-gkwsGJfgNbOWIaf6kxVDeb9DeMmBeW9UES2mDv6AjpFOrtlDEDlNp_vEOS0V5w4GrbEgEyA_wOECpD3lu-z3exMdsCd0LHkxEFNRwnkWPlfi-vS5o520yOdDx8RuTSXPCNLL5iGc2/s320/bloody+tear.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Carmilla is a formidable foe, her chambers pooled with blood from all the night creatures. But the combination of Isaac’s own fighting prowess and the relentless onslaught of powerful beasts soon whittle down the vampire queen. Not to be outdone by a human, Carmilla takes her own life, destroying a vast segment of the tower in the process. Isaac only surviving thanks to the protection of a, particularly powerful demon.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9JPrJqVb2P5n0dWiHTfDPqKEh88eH4y4OisUOEidFJIcL0kQ47-Gf13UMaaUVdgZpYTxJsDcGznrWvqctnctzJU1viSZc4MF_h4MrKdc1uw7w8_nLFUxvy_YmEoXJ89QyetDiUI0DpA4/s1043/kaboom.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="1043" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9JPrJqVb2P5n0dWiHTfDPqKEh88eH4y4OisUOEidFJIcL0kQ47-Gf13UMaaUVdgZpYTxJsDcGznrWvqctnctzJU1viSZc4MF_h4MrKdc1uw7w8_nLFUxvy_YmEoXJ89QyetDiUI0DpA4/s320/kaboom.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Isaac’s screen time is rather limited compared to some of the other characters, and it may be disappointing to some that just past the halfway point is the last we see of Isaac. However, the time that is dedicated to him is used well, and I much prefer that over the meandering from last season. While I will admit the events from season 3 to set him on this path were shaky, the end result is a pleasant contrast in his demeanor. Seeing Isaac with less hate and perhaps even a bit optimistic, well, is refreshing. Particularly in a series that is so downtrodden.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG11w35mOUSPvHpT9iYpz_B2p_PQTQiARJXIRAV4ZK3I_WMch2AyKpceX2IEG9cDN3H_As0m_kHLHsRE6iUehOSSIXGnMtkZjS6kmi9uQbdG1c6w4yGF4yp6gwJMbgD-v9St-MSAJHYhfb/s1037/future.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="1037" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG11w35mOUSPvHpT9iYpz_B2p_PQTQiARJXIRAV4ZK3I_WMch2AyKpceX2IEG9cDN3H_As0m_kHLHsRE6iUehOSSIXGnMtkZjS6kmi9uQbdG1c6w4yGF4yp6gwJMbgD-v9St-MSAJHYhfb/s320/future.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br />There’s a scene in the aftermath of Carmilla’s death where he talks with Hector, and it’s among my favorites of the entire show. Hector is baffled by Isaac’s reluctance in resurrecting Dracula. Isaac explains that this is how they fall into the trappings of despair. They become convinced of an eternal now, never thinking or working on a better future, only survival. Stuck going through the motions. In the end, they were both abused by the world, both lacking in agency, both naive and full of hate. Even Dracula used them as little more than tools. But Isaac grew as a person in his travels and wants something different, something better, something to live for. <br />In many ways, Dracula fell into the same cycle as they once were in. Even before the passing of Lisa, he never truly existed for anything but the present. No matter how much he traveled, it was just a single long continuous night for him. Perhaps it’s best that he finally has found rest. But for Hector and Isaac, they can make a change their former master never could, and truly live.<br /><br /><br /><br />Now with that out of the way, we can finally complete the rest of the stories. Get ready for a lot of jumping around.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />On Alucard’s side of things he becomes busy showing Greta the armory preparing defenses, while Saint Germain takes the opportunity to place stones within the castle walls, much like Hector did in Carmilla’s castle. Germain then signals to an army awaiting within the forest.<br /><br /><br />At this same moment, Trevor and Sypha finally gain entry into the Underground Court, and it is not a pretty sight. The people in the underground cavern are not much better off than those upon the surface. Broken in mind, malnourished, and afraid. Furthermore, the area is littered with a vast array of unique and magical artifacts, some even one of a kind. Yet the soldiers are armed with more rudimentary weapons, only carrying the occasional odd and often useless trinket. Neither can fathom why such a broad armory is not being put to good use. Zamfir says that the royal family were magicians and possessed many artifacts, but that they do not have permission for their use. Trevor isn’t having any of it and barges into the royal quarters to confront the royals, only to find the harsh reality of their decomposing bodies.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj538FteV-yfr7_uO13W6uwa_mEv0RIQ8mPZzvduoBX2QG0g_PqmVtY2U-9p2Bkh5x81Yp_6hOlUBNpmiHFUsHkXMhZyEkPQSVDGwtm_JzY0SzwDuZaTehOEqTALlb6q0J6nMZTpk7mkM6n/s1043/corpes.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="1043" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj538FteV-yfr7_uO13W6uwa_mEv0RIQ8mPZzvduoBX2QG0g_PqmVtY2U-9p2Bkh5x81Yp_6hOlUBNpmiHFUsHkXMhZyEkPQSVDGwtm_JzY0SzwDuZaTehOEqTALlb6q0J6nMZTpk7mkM6n/s320/corpes.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Suffice to say, Zamfir is fairly batshit insane, believing that the corpses are in a form of sleep and that their leaders will return. She has been keeping this secret from everyone else as they “wouldn’t understand” allowing the people to suffer for her delusions. The terrible revelation sparks an argument between Sypha and Zamfir, who also reveals that they killed all the remaining priests. Trevor in the meanwhile rummages through the various artifacts, finding a piece that goes nicely with a dagger he picked up upon their first arrival in Targoviste.<br /><br />This bickering gauche situation between Sypha and Zamfir is cut short by the unfortunate arrival of Ratko and Varney, who have managed to track Zamfir. Many of the soldiers are easy pickings for Ratko and their night creatures, but Varney is more concerned with looking for something specific.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvdSZLzPy0KewBuIifKsoUlDfLwS7lrktUdzluIHkxsRAeKBCDm6JSdUrKfrRScG-qvZOCDxmcdo8VecQZ0bQgFZpWLk-kuyOtVDVrBgZlzVttg4qXXrA_wcWztyLBcgbYgPpdVJ0Z1uG/s1027/gergoth+fire.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="1027" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvdSZLzPy0KewBuIifKsoUlDfLwS7lrktUdzluIHkxsRAeKBCDm6JSdUrKfrRScG-qvZOCDxmcdo8VecQZ0bQgFZpWLk-kuyOtVDVrBgZlzVttg4qXXrA_wcWztyLBcgbYgPpdVJ0Z1uG/s320/gergoth+fire.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />The situation with Alucard isn’t much better. While well organized and even successful in some capacity, many of the villagers are slaughtered. Their souls curiously travel into the castle, following a path set by the stones Saint Germain placed. The situation turns direr with the arrival of Gergoth- yes, from Dawn of Sorrow.<br /><br />Everyone falls back to the Castle, sealing and barricading the doors just as Alucard and Greta notice the gathering of souls. Following it up through the corridors, they find Saint Germain conducting the ritual, protected by a barrier Alucard cannot penetrate. As the Castle’s doors are breached, they have no choice but to turn their attention to the fight at hand.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Trevor and Sypha manage to kill most of the attacking creatures, but in the ensuing fight, Zamfir is killed by Ratko, Trevor avenging her death. But before the two can catch their breath, they notice Varney having discovered a magic mirror behind the corpses of the royal family. Varney passes through, arriving beside Saint Germain. The mirror rapidly begins shifting its view to the surrounding area, so, before it completely disappears, Trevor and Sypha jump in, arriving by Alucard’s side.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GLjxt-PxWf92888XhnOdQKTNlgT_0afdQO2OwwmsokwjG5Dd13vkzIybd1IxTjPs5sVEiqS2FBbYGUmysE0_wSOjZDKJMUVowewM3_gG26X3gyQUlWMeNjRLSNfe_EwJjkU_s3wwxaU5/s1042/together+again.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="1042" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GLjxt-PxWf92888XhnOdQKTNlgT_0afdQO2OwwmsokwjG5Dd13vkzIybd1IxTjPs5sVEiqS2FBbYGUmysE0_wSOjZDKJMUVowewM3_gG26X3gyQUlWMeNjRLSNfe_EwJjkU_s3wwxaU5/s320/together+again.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />And good god does this lead to a spectacular fight sequence. Make no mistake, this season has some great fights but this second to last episode takes the cake. All three get a wonderful showcase of their abilities in unison, both on smaller grunts and eventually Gelgoth itself. Sypha holds off the undead creature’s beam, allowing Alucard to stun the monster while Trevor charges the morning star and slices the monster’s skull.<br /><br />Afterward, the three split up, each encountering a different obstacle. Alucard faces a teleporting Viking vampire, Trevor a phasing ice monstrosity, and Sypha a group of elite warriors.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xl2k_1mYoHbU-k6gCQW2vLQ1OyfIoqXP3rK1-Zkx-pcL5XYGfeyyJL2YaiAbNgFgiARRS31uLkTOCJcSGhPB56sNPAcecFti1YfcMXAOnOtNmdR33Nuz38uTxkzgJfPqRUOuScJv4bVi/s1366/new+half.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xl2k_1mYoHbU-k6gCQW2vLQ1OyfIoqXP3rK1-Zkx-pcL5XYGfeyyJL2YaiAbNgFgiARRS31uLkTOCJcSGhPB56sNPAcecFti1YfcMXAOnOtNmdR33Nuz38uTxkzgJfPqRUOuScJv4bVi/s320/new+half.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />As the three are busy, a group delivers the stitched-together corpse of a man and woman to Saint Germain to be used as a vessel for the rebis’ soul.<br /><br />Varney remarks to Germain how useful he’s been, how easily led he was since they first met- revealing himself to be not only the Alchemist...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrOm-Ziw3cvJAJzgnL71d82LvQ73YHIKvnYGOjRFPatH5OSRIJ-AaswOS_W-vZEPYpup5ibViT8aBtxihnG82SyX8GQxZqfecof2LKtbE-L1F-SdRxDSoHphYjTnRH9ukcd92bHBhx5P0U/s1041/death+1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="1041" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrOm-Ziw3cvJAJzgnL71d82LvQ73YHIKvnYGOjRFPatH5OSRIJ-AaswOS_W-vZEPYpup5ibViT8aBtxihnG82SyX8GQxZqfecof2LKtbE-L1F-SdRxDSoHphYjTnRH9ukcd92bHBhx5P0U/s320/death+1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />but Death.<br /><br />I really enjoy this reveal. It was teased early in the season and there were hints throughout. But more than that, I love the concept behind this version of Death as less actual Grim Reaper but an ancient elemental vampire that feeds on souls. For this interpretation of Castlevania, that makes the most sense and provides a good reason for why he wants Dracula resurrected, while also explaining why he can’t do it himself.<br /><br />Germain is horrified at what this truly means, arguing that Dracula would not be the man Death knew, but something entirely new. But that was always the intent, two minds trapped in a single entity, deranged and powerful, murdering on a scale unimaginable. Germain has little choice but to continue, lest he lose the only shot he has at seeing his love and simply die on the spot.<br /><br /><br />The trio regroups and fights their way through to the top, finally making their way to the ritual already near completion. The souls of Dracula and Lisa are plucked from Hell, and forced into the rebis which enters a convulsive fit. Neither are capable of gaining full control, the rebis switching back and forth between Dracula and Lisa for dominance, as Death watches gleefully.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGc8vkIrtqrpbuUxMhfbCO2iOCgc7IFWpU5ir_LEuBMHGwRJlPafVeF0aoW2pwMwIJeUHzRWdQ1X8tgGeRcNXm6FwFpmONRIYOyS66BYkiKWemILL0pPJuH5BUVt-FkkswL1QxPJ6nxkj/s925/murder+the+world+1.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="925" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGc8vkIrtqrpbuUxMhfbCO2iOCgc7IFWpU5ir_LEuBMHGwRJlPafVeF0aoW2pwMwIJeUHzRWdQ1X8tgGeRcNXm6FwFpmONRIYOyS66BYkiKWemILL0pPJuH5BUVt-FkkswL1QxPJ6nxkj/s320/murder+the+world+1.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Trevor finally manages to break through the barrier with the vampire killer, as a repentant Germain quickly moves the portal for the infinite corridor near the rebis, telling Belmont to take the chance. Trevor quickly slices the rebis in two and burns it with holy water, freeing both souls which are sucked into the portal.<br /><br />But the destruction of the body results in a massive amount of magical energy being released, destroying the tower and creating a vortex around Dracula's Castle, lifting debris and separating Trevor from Sypha and Alucard.<br /><br />Enraged, Death absorbs the power from the infinite corridor key, growing immensely powerful as he spits the remains near Germain’s body, which was impaled in the explosion.<br />Trevor yells down that he loves Sypha before turning and facing Death itself.<br /><br />What follows is a fantastic battle focused solely on Trevor, who has desperately needed a spotlight such as this. Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t as if Trevor has been shafted until this point. He’s got some great fights this season, some of the best. But throughout the entire series, he’s never been quite <i>as</i> interesting as Alucard and Sypha due to the more limited nature of his abilities. It actually took until this season to finally give him the boomerang cross, after all. But this?<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXevO8nZwZr8R2PQvhkv2vdwo08_ZddEjUWV72sjnnnUmVhD21CjmtpaXDau0KvouB0V8ZfOKk8L33PudYlUtO8G8jpE0OfsCnHWpZ3vAFZoZIIm7I2G6y08VGkycQayOXlcxBcGupBR4/s1039/vs+death.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="1039" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXevO8nZwZr8R2PQvhkv2vdwo08_ZddEjUWV72sjnnnUmVhD21CjmtpaXDau0KvouB0V8ZfOKk8L33PudYlUtO8G8jpE0OfsCnHWpZ3vAFZoZIIm7I2G6y08VGkycQayOXlcxBcGupBR4/s320/vs+death.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />This is final boss material. <br /><br />Trevor gets smacked around, gets his arm broken. But he just doesn't relent. In a way, this feels like a do-over to some of the issues I had with season 2 regarding how Trevor was sidelined, leaving Alucard to be the one that ultimately kills Dracula, and in a rather boring manner at that. Sure, it's not exactly the same, but it's gladly welcomed.<br /><br />The battle continues on, eventually Trevor takes out the dagger he picked up in Targovite, a gem from one of Zamfir’s soldiers, and a sleeve found while rummaging in the underground court. Combining the three charges the weapon as he navigates the swirling platforms, diving towards Death and delivering the fatal blow, vanishing in the blinding light that follows.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0UqeXsILnbLJBjY-dBnuUT4zYOBY5lfII60MQ1ZpXGLOWRE97HbFFoBI7QIkHIiWmE2oQ1l8z4OrOoG5-6cypJD2XLnI0LfZ4VCPrTMbHPiaHy1TAnXw4yZR4QEdf3RtYAltbbDLtR97/s1039/dead+as+death.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="1039" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0UqeXsILnbLJBjY-dBnuUT4zYOBY5lfII60MQ1ZpXGLOWRE97HbFFoBI7QIkHIiWmE2oQ1l8z4OrOoG5-6cypJD2XLnI0LfZ4VCPrTMbHPiaHy1TAnXw4yZR4QEdf3RtYAltbbDLtR97/s320/dead+as+death.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br />Two weeks after the final battle, Sypha exits the Castle doors, having not talked to anyone in that time. Alucard candidly approaches her, Sypha only requesting a horse. She intends to meet up with the other speakers, noting that she is certainly pregnant and will need the assistance her people can provide. Alucard wishes for her to stay, but Sypha insists on having a community, not just burdening him. But, it won't just be Alucard. The residents of Denesti plan to settle in and around the Castle. Greta interjects, saying that they finally have a chance to make something better for their children, convincing Sypha to stay. Plus, Sypha just can’t help but notice and dictate the inefficient methods the villagers are operating on, chastising Alucard for not putting the advanced tech of the Castle to work. Not to mention the irresponsible nature of letting a horse run loose in the distance.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SCOP4e22yWAFzUmediqLa-jC7ZpXr7v6oap5kBHVhcRm7ICriEQtpAHK-9A13DPi-5PwRNNp_RCpNiFvBgfAeSHaAZiLSS_eGznK_90_xBvbZVq32CSTxXjzzaYwmhWBTuv5gbVxWKVC/s1039/trevor+horse.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="1039" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SCOP4e22yWAFzUmediqLa-jC7ZpXr7v6oap5kBHVhcRm7ICriEQtpAHK-9A13DPi-5PwRNNp_RCpNiFvBgfAeSHaAZiLSS_eGznK_90_xBvbZVq32CSTxXjzzaYwmhWBTuv5gbVxWKVC/s320/trevor+horse.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />The three quickly realize the familiar black steed is carrying a rider. Rushing to the mans aid, they discover a familiar face.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxsgCt5GI-_a2A32WfibO1drDylg0TldF7QLmRvbj9rhiwph3L4n7fr_IboqMO5JIuDtyseKZt-3ONTC5BWMjJvgiVcbx7NPkqSM1SDk0N-NX-UmKmIouBgJM8cMoKt4UT1nrT1qw39IJ/s1039/still+alive.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="1039" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxsgCt5GI-_a2A32WfibO1drDylg0TldF7QLmRvbj9rhiwph3L4n7fr_IboqMO5JIuDtyseKZt-3ONTC5BWMjJvgiVcbx7NPkqSM1SDk0N-NX-UmKmIouBgJM8cMoKt4UT1nrT1qw39IJ/s320/still+alive.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Just before Saint Germain died, he used the key one last time to open up the infinite corridor. Trevor remembers entering the corridor before waking up face down near the Danube river. He makes sure Sypha is safe, quipping that his biggest fear was that she might actually end up naming their kid Trefor after all. Sypha is flabbergasted Trevor knew, but he merely states he’s managed to stay single all this time for a reason- resulting in Sypha dropping him to the ground. Yet she can't help but admit she loves the fool.<br /><br />Sypha looks back at Trevor and Alucard, tearing up upon realizing that their fight is finally over.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW3qoacOw2I1iX9WF_9zZED5wRxR1KgK9MkryatPH2iYa9F3S90r1iLl5-M8NdoxSy5e97KMvAYl2blXB-rvXM_1hfG0MBXecz95MZft-bOCeo6AXY4xvEqK5fnh2qM0QuuTO_r1CyuLmu/s1037/tears.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="1037" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW3qoacOw2I1iX9WF_9zZED5wRxR1KgK9MkryatPH2iYa9F3S90r1iLl5-M8NdoxSy5e97KMvAYl2blXB-rvXM_1hfG0MBXecz95MZft-bOCeo6AXY4xvEqK5fnh2qM0QuuTO_r1CyuLmu/s320/tears.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Ah, but that's not the end of the epolouge.<br /><br />Many miles away, we see two hooded figures enter an Inn. Removing the hoods, it’s revealed to be Lisa and Dracula. Unlike Trevor, they have no memories of what happened, just that they were in Hell, then not. Awakening naked in a field, and having to steal clothes and coins. Once in their room, the two converse in a heart-to-heart. Dracula admits that after he died, it was the first he felt rational since Lisa’s death, while Lisa was surprised that he came to look for her in hell.<br />But now that they’re alive again, they’re not entirely sure what to do. Dracula’s going to have to get used to just being Vlad Tepes, given his infamy. (missed opportunity to use Cronqvist, shame) Lisa laments that their son deserves closure, and perhaps one day they will meet him again, but not now. Dracula suggests that, in the meantime, he and Lisa travel to Whitby, England. Sunshine is rare, population low, seaside view, and there’s even an old abandoned <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitby_Abbey">Abbey</a>.<br /><br />Above all else, they have a second chance at life again, and it won’t be wasted.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZrJDVO819LErc_Sg9o1wil3gd9cSE5aqi6jgoYaVlkQrWxipdZzfjTvq3rRsz5bqplP4R1DicWoQVeXyzyjA0KYIqgTHABxHYNF_igh61LaXPISMz38S7CDSHavY-za5mViLjJ7M-IC1/s1043/alive+again.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="1043" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZrJDVO819LErc_Sg9o1wil3gd9cSE5aqi6jgoYaVlkQrWxipdZzfjTvq3rRsz5bqplP4R1DicWoQVeXyzyjA0KYIqgTHABxHYNF_igh61LaXPISMz38S7CDSHavY-za5mViLjJ7M-IC1/s320/alive+again.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Final Thoughts.</h3><br /><div><br />Goddamn, what a finale. I think it’s obvious that I consider Season 4 a much-appreciated improvement over season 3.<br /><br />While the third season was still very enjoyable, it was very uneven. One of the first things that become clear this season is a better balance to all the stories. For the most part, season 4 does a satisfactory job balancing out the narratives, both in how it bounces between the different tales and making sure most of the characters have equal or at least well-utilized screen time. While this does mean that some characters like Isaac and Hector have their stories end partway into the season, the time spent on them is better used with very little in the way of bloat. The awkward timing issues I mentioned with Alucard last season are also gone. In fact, they actually have a three-episode gap between him leaving the Castle and arriving at Denesti, allowing focus on the other happenings and helping to illustrate how much time has passed.<br /><br /><br />I must also give credit to Trevor and Sypha this season. While the two have by and large reached their peak for character development (said for a few small increments) they still have fantastic moments and by far have the most emotional weight. Even as much as I love what is done in Alucard's story, nothing in the entire series is as genuinely heartwarming as the finale with Trevor and Sypha reuniting.<br /><br />In fact, the incredibly optimistic and happy ending is shocking, yet greatly welcomed after three seasons of grueling misery around every corner. The previous three make this hit even harder than it normally would for those very reasons.<br /><br />Still, there are problems, and not every character is granted the same benefit as those mentioned above. Aside from my issues with Saint Germain, you may have noticed I have yet to mention Morana and Striga, and that’s because they’re terribly inconsequential, even more so than last season.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYZXaqxxgoH26AzyNt27Isdvx3D5dv9wsvDygIbeVBislY-nvRnEpFjYQl3DT0yh_9uO4d1UzUPXZy9pejAetK9SyaNy78FhU_f6W8l5eU0mN5CVcSXLmXakOfItiepsIlnW1CZXQSPRf/s1037/striga+and+morona.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="1037" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYZXaqxxgoH26AzyNt27Isdvx3D5dv9wsvDygIbeVBislY-nvRnEpFjYQl3DT0yh_9uO4d1UzUPXZy9pejAetK9SyaNy78FhU_f6W8l5eU0mN5CVcSXLmXakOfItiepsIlnW1CZXQSPRf/s320/striga+and+morona.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Episode 3 has a moment of them out on the field discussing Carmilla’s
original plans and the rightness of it. Morana has concerns not of
feasibility, but of the constant struggle. She points out that as much
as humans are livestock to them, pigs don’t rebel against humans. The
inevitability is that the rest of their immortal lives are going to be
dedicated to maintaining supply and quailing uprisings- a sudden attack
on their camp proving this point. Striga goes berserk upon the
attackers, easily killing them. Yet she jeremiads that these weren’t
soldiers, but peasants and farmers. People who were afraid of not just
dying, but simply fighting.<br /><br />This gives the impression that, along
with Lenore’s own apprehension, there would be an upheaval among
Carmilla’s council. Last season, Morana and Striga’s role was mainly
them coming around to Carmilla’s ideas, demonstrating how Carmilla can
plant seeds in others’ minds and take root over time. So it would make
sense that this season would contrast that.<br /><br />But of course, this never happens. The two are called back to the Castle to hear Carmilla’s new global scheme, but they arrive right when Carmilla kills herself while fighting Isaac- never learning of her wider ambitions.<br />The two assume that if Carmilla is dead, then so is Lenore, and so attacking the invading creatures would be pointless. They leave with their forces and that’s it. This is never followed up on, not even in the epilogue. Maybe that was intentionally left open for whatever reason. Maybe plans for a spin-off were already in the works and maybe they were gonna show up there. But it’s still a bit disappointing and comes off incomplete. Much like season 3, it feels like there was intended to be more than there ultimately is in the finished product.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCi_TyPzpb14qu23PpsDdlpp-sv04Ag2f-iKvUhyKJ3VogEv_UXwGwU3ywLqtwsxPl9YK5_TOOJE4erF_crLzOhAnY0x9hUiy86w3m78CPOKhQsPfxRZCi1BCpwqyh8MBiMTfrbcC6PSpm/s1045/rebis+tower.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="1045" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCi_TyPzpb14qu23PpsDdlpp-sv04Ag2f-iKvUhyKJ3VogEv_UXwGwU3ywLqtwsxPl9YK5_TOOJE4erF_crLzOhAnY0x9hUiy86w3m78CPOKhQsPfxRZCi1BCpwqyh8MBiMTfrbcC6PSpm/s320/rebis+tower.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />And I supposed this leads me to my overall thoughts on Castlevania as a series.<br /><br />Throughout all seasons there’s this polarizing nature of the broad strokes and minor character bits. As good as Ellis is at those small character moments that do a whole lot- be it banter, introspection, etc. he sometimes struggles with the bigger picture and even the finer details within, particularly with the middle sections. Isaac is perhaps the best overall example of that, going from a justifiably cynical misanthrope in season 2, to a conflicted soul in 3 that has some intriguing but terribly undercooked ideas, to finally someone nuanced enough to realize the terrible qualities in the world- but also the good that he can do to improve it. Not to mention I’m shocked at just how interesting and different they made Isaac.<br /><br />Hell, I would even say Trevor assembling the dagger that ultimately kills death is decent example. There’s that nice slow build-up to its assembly in the background for the entire season, but the explanation at the end of the series being this very specific mystical artifact from a crazy magician who wanted a murder-suicide pact with God, and Trevor just happened to find all the pieces to, well, that comes off as hamfisted. Perhaps even bogging that incredible the final battle...but at the same time, you’ve got much bigger emotional weight going between Sypha and Trevor to even bother focusing on the literal Deus ex machina.<br /><br />In a way, that sort of sums up Castlevania as a whole, for both good and ill. When it builds towards something bigger it's often a bit maladroit in execution, yet the payoff- when it works, *really* fucking works. Be it with either grand set pieces or resolutions you can’t help but enjoy. The good aspects can greatly overshadow whatever flaws there are, not just with visual spectacle but actual substantive characters.<br /><br /><br />Other times, however, it trips over itself in trying to get characters to a particular point so x event can happen in the narrative. Germain is a great contender not only this season; but the series overall. He never really has a grand moment or deeply engaging conversations between characters to distract from the flaws present. He does important things, make no mistake. But he never feels important or captivating outside of season 3. The moment they finally delve into him, we’re given a woman who isn’t named and never speaks, yet we are meant to feel something because she’s important to Germain for reasons never clear.<br /><br />Frankly, he’s probably the most disappointing part of Castlevania, and that’s a real shame given how much potential there was. He easily could have been as interesting as Isaac, providing a mirror of his own character arc. <br /><br /><br />Still, despite those flaws, I can recommend Season 4 and even the entire series if you can stomach the massive amounts of cynicism (and the rather hard to go back to first two seasons). There is still a very unique and captivating show that builds its own fascinating take on the franchise. Never would I have thought that Castlevania would end up getting an adaption such as this, I would've sooner guessed that Paul W.S. Anderson/Jame Wan film that’s been in development hell since 2006 would've came before this. So yeah, I'll take this even if the Castle has a few cracks in the wall. There's still an enjoyable treat under the surface, after all.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWV-pjXwvPYKZGrxuyifvXqaImv1PRCLRhXYxVo_hFtOseul8wg4gjz_N0dNHmO_pn6O-5YpvKtEFxtk7ML6n8K4VMeJ-QzytMt1e90eZU4Lh1OfG3pm5AEoDD5Bs_uFLhEYJxDnsqFod/s1024/rob-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWV-pjXwvPYKZGrxuyifvXqaImv1PRCLRhXYxVo_hFtOseul8wg4gjz_N0dNHmO_pn6O-5YpvKtEFxtk7ML6n8K4VMeJ-QzytMt1e90eZU4Lh1OfG3pm5AEoDD5Bs_uFLhEYJxDnsqFod/s320/rob-001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />As for the next series? Well, we’re supposed to be getting a not quite Rondo of Blood series, which from the sounds of it <i>might </i>actually be a sequel series. It’s set in revolutionary France, so it doesn’t appear to be following the game outside of the period setting and characters. I’m...not sure how I feel about that. But then again this series made a lot of divergences that went into some really interesting places, and if it is a continuation then Dracula really shouldn't be an antagonist.<br /><br />However, as of this writing, Adi Shankar, who was the showrunner and one of the executive producers; is now suing Netflix for breach of contract since he apparently has no involvement. Don’t really know what to make of that, but I guess we'll see how that unfolds.<br /><br /><br /><br />All that said, I'll be back with another review hopefully not too long from now. I planned on covering one more thing for October, but surgery left me unable to work on it. I'm on the uptick now, so hopefully it won't be too long. In the mean time, if you like what I do and want to help out, you can toss a dollar at me on my Ko-Fi at https://ko-fi.com/kamen_writer<br /><br /><br /><br />Kamen Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02832099141882322022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505042118996520039.post-37023174190935902872021-10-08T08:22:00.000-04:002021-10-08T08:22:38.576-04:00Castlevania Season 3 review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBgovEHaM2ulRImC6JciQ9WcVzuQ-oKm3Bo94uTIK9VXwlm_mnIbkW9VGzmpglDHsH9CFJn4dnBGCMV9lsMpyyXx0pJfgLmIFIAVCOS39l6owcZVxd3yX5LXq4ja6o3bXPMUXTMRSREff/s1079/title+castlevania.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="1079" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBgovEHaM2ulRImC6JciQ9WcVzuQ-oKm3Bo94uTIK9VXwlm_mnIbkW9VGzmpglDHsH9CFJn4dnBGCMV9lsMpyyXx0pJfgLmIFIAVCOS39l6owcZVxd3yX5LXq4ja6o3bXPMUXTMRSREff/s320/title+castlevania.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p>I remember when Castlevania season 3 hit last year, I didn’t know what to think. Season 2’s ending was quite a bit different than what was expected and it left the doorway open to various possibilities. Whatever would be in the third season would escape any possible confines of the games, tangentially only using concepts from Curse of Darkness. What ultimately resulted is something of a mixed bag, but we’ll get to that in due time.<br /><br />The third season can largely be broken up into four main areas, picking right up about a month or so after season 2’s ending.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9o607Uay5e07g0db7_gagz6BNua7RpUghVTq_H1N5YMFH4ef3sSkHRFO99Xquv6tkYopveDtTIPN7Ej9ZFK7LDQEv6Vm2PzHVVCWor3KmpuIexx2FpKKa6-7RqPZ_rILGP86EoWe2SeO/s1366/dolls.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9o607Uay5e07g0db7_gagz6BNua7RpUghVTq_H1N5YMFH4ef3sSkHRFO99Xquv6tkYopveDtTIPN7Ej9ZFK7LDQEv6Vm2PzHVVCWor3KmpuIexx2FpKKa6-7RqPZ_rILGP86EoWe2SeO/s320/dolls.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Firstly, there’s Alucard, who continues to take care of the Castle but is plagued by loneliness and is sorta even going batty, at one point talking to makeshift Sypha and Trevor dolls. This situation changes with the introduction of Taka and Sumi (Toru Uchikado & Rila Fukushima)<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnShLGkp0nLf7XmRUKUpKOapuIm1vXZz8pBxbdvf2cfbHHJeT-zuwEATAPw1VStfpfl84DL8d3ltqNzJf5ph_jPVp5HmCt3YU7apPw1UXKhOFPQyTp4_28p6feNLuQJ5hDOqKUK3f8OzAO/s1366/Sumi+and+Taka.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnShLGkp0nLf7XmRUKUpKOapuIm1vXZz8pBxbdvf2cfbHHJeT-zuwEATAPw1VStfpfl84DL8d3ltqNzJf5ph_jPVp5HmCt3YU7apPw1UXKhOFPQyTp4_28p6feNLuQJ5hDOqKUK3f8OzAO/s320/Sumi+and+Taka.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>These two are vampire hunters hailing from Japan who were enslaved to Cho, the Japanese vampire from last season you probably forgot about. When Cho left for Europe, the two hunters killed Cho’s thralls and freed many others. They’ve traveled all this way hoping to learn more from the tragic prince. Although Cho is now dead, the fact remains that vampires continue to be a threat, and her demise will create a power vacuum. Intrigued, in need of companionship, and in charge of both the knowledge of the Belmonts and Dracula, Alucard accepts them as students in hopes of creating a new generation of hunters.<br /><br />And boy does this not go anywhere worth a damn. It really feels like Alucard has a story because he’s popular, not because they actually had anything for him to do. Taka and Sumi are bland as fuck and do not add anything. We get a playful training sequence, the two pressing bizarrely hard on why they’re barred from certain rooms of the Castle, acknowledgment between the two that Alucard must be lonely and wanting to keep them around. <br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHT9djHIqZQTLvdtM_zcws3CgY26d1ntiZwLZhjyNSRCyDzz_Ma_sHZbsPYfG9YlukvGL6N7tzF-CnTCCbgrXotacsg1J0i4iUew2L-MrSwESWr3soFknF9kcR7R3Az9rD_lCpXVJ2pesI/s1366/3+Some.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHT9djHIqZQTLvdtM_zcws3CgY26d1ntiZwLZhjyNSRCyDzz_Ma_sHZbsPYfG9YlukvGL6N7tzF-CnTCCbgrXotacsg1J0i4iUew2L-MrSwESWr3soFknF9kcR7R3Az9rD_lCpXVJ2pesI/s320/3+Some.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">But the most infamous part is an out-of-goddamn nowhere threesome which starts off fine but turns to the two binding Alucard for information, but not in a sexy way. Well, I guess you could call it erotic violence.<br /></div><p>The two seemingly want control of the castle with grandiose visions of their own Empire. Of course, Alucard has a magical sword, so it doesn’t end well for the two power-hungry hunters, and that’s pretty much it. Everything about this is so bizarre and misplaced. Not helping matters is that this does not at all mesh with the other goings-on in terms of pacing. What occurs in the other three tales feels like days or weeks, but whenever we cut back to Alucard, it barely feels like a day has passed since we last spent time with him. How they stretched this out until the last episode with so little depth is anyone’s guess. The only thing gained from this is Alucard shunning off outsiders...which isn’t far off from where season 2 left off anyway, just a bit more extreme.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpv6_t-GcMZBVjczgwFpllkI5hnVAh-Za3_EJZ7vCUQAvjO1x4OA18OVWJ9CkY9Swgn28LP_VL3IIoHtq0KNuay8w_30d5bn8CIceX8fT3ET30998bz6dd4-MoWqCyk3WWGHhgGljJrep/s1366/impailed.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpv6_t-GcMZBVjczgwFpllkI5hnVAh-Za3_EJZ7vCUQAvjO1x4OA18OVWJ9CkY9Swgn28LP_VL3IIoHtq0KNuay8w_30d5bn8CIceX8fT3ET30998bz6dd4-MoWqCyk3WWGHhgGljJrep/s320/impailed.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A completely fair criticism that gets lobbied against this season is that the cynicism is cranked to 11, and while that’s mostly applied to the next part I’ll be discussing, I’m going to go out on a limb and say Alucard’s is truly unnecessary. There is no narrative justification for any of this and is just thoroughly unpleasant for no reason. It’s a shame too because Alucard passing down knowledge to a new generation of vampire hunters is something I do like the idea of. Maybe that’s something they could revisit down the line. Eric got the Alucard spear somehow.<br /></div><p>But this? Alucard’s entire story should have been cut. His
narrative is hot glued to the side of this narrative contraption and the time he takes up should have been spent elsewhere.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPaSeEX0-WPsbLI6W6F3lag-qaV4hZBtdaVvkx47h6xGgjJTJ-bUJqJNJ-KJu6QumQJ_2Qv5AGqunsw8_N8_yHylCQjeZaNaGCWmKXNWAlx4CqV2MQsVtD-eSfSMoxDJ4gNPj5UVinIoMu/s1366/three+vamps.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPaSeEX0-WPsbLI6W6F3lag-qaV4hZBtdaVvkx47h6xGgjJTJ-bUJqJNJ-KJu6QumQJ_2Qv5AGqunsw8_N8_yHylCQjeZaNaGCWmKXNWAlx4CqV2MQsVtD-eSfSMoxDJ4gNPj5UVinIoMu/s320/three+vamps.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p>Secondly, there’s Carmilla and her forces along with her three sisters: Morana- the strategist, Striga- the military commander, and Lenore- the diplomat. (Yasmine Al Massri, Ivana Miličević, and Jessica Findlay) <br /><br />Carmilla’s grand scheme is to take over a weakened Eastern Europe to ensure a flow of sustenance with human livestock. However, attempted campaigns in the West have weakened her forces severely. Hector is still in her clutches and provides endless possibilities for rebuilding an army as a forge master, but is in dire condition, kept naked in frigid conditions and fed only moldy bread. His current state, along with monsters being loyal to their forge master, exudes a bit of a dilemma. This leads to Lenore focusing her efforts on seducing Hector, first by offering quality food and kindness.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEgDdn3C5nATX2GNl8KVAqyc9QjgFhUNPyg91k5256SWw0XpBaa1zJ0ZO2Kh5bmCiC7AY2cD9ybOursRaAzLd5DcNF0DU1cl4y6oUvtOGES0U7RFMag81zi9sc6-IYIlLosq36VjDQipy/s1047/throat.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="1047" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEgDdn3C5nATX2GNl8KVAqyc9QjgFhUNPyg91k5256SWw0XpBaa1zJ0ZO2Kh5bmCiC7AY2cD9ybOursRaAzLd5DcNF0DU1cl4y6oUvtOGES0U7RFMag81zi9sc6-IYIlLosq36VjDQipy/s320/throat.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>But this isn't as straightforward a process as it initially appears. Hector isn’t taken for a fool and isn’t trusting of Lenore, but his retaliation only results in a severe beating for the forger...and a blanket. The diplomatic mistress isn’t at all deterred and follows through once again with kindness the next day, bringing an apple in exchange for fairly simple questions. The routine continues on throughout the season, and this particular story has been...somewhat controversial for how unpleasant and disturbing the manipulation is. A lot of that comes down to the fact that Lenore’s ability to wiggle into Hector’s already fragile mind isn’t terribly unrealistic, nor does he have much of a choice being a prisoner. <br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9EJJ-3AUsOggQIEZqfxWxMxurrHMG668_BMiChayCR9IwPFP-gu5EuzkhE2cE5xtAvSTWrP36Y29_rFJs7VB0Nupg08zqbCHdgJ6wpcs8SNKaAS3rmhH65SmiZkt4_p54jhLC6PJkA2_/s1041/lenore.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="1041" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9EJJ-3AUsOggQIEZqfxWxMxurrHMG668_BMiChayCR9IwPFP-gu5EuzkhE2cE5xtAvSTWrP36Y29_rFJs7VB0Nupg08zqbCHdgJ6wpcs8SNKaAS3rmhH65SmiZkt4_p54jhLC6PJkA2_/s320/lenore.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>There is that initial conflict present, of course. But nonetheless, Hector’s life does slowly see improvements from the food and eventual clothing Lenore provides. Lenore goes on to point out that Hector never really had any clue of Dracula’s true intentions, while at the same time reinforcing the idea that Carmilla is at the very least honest in her endeavors. This continues with Hector eventually being allowed on walks with Lenore, albeit while leashed like an animal. He gains a new larger cell with improved bedding and a desk with some books relating to vampire culture. Sexual tension also forms between the two, Lenore moving her face and lips close to Hector’s own, referring to him as a “Good boy”.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3L5wVwKjdsRjLUiB8r_K1eRwhb6orFo4LE4LqLgY9Rrf3qDcXgimTyni_7uAPkhJcl0ZbNWxTXDyCUobGlWavIaW91dF44QSP43_V0tnP7Byj0J04-fSvrLooq5fGRtbxpdHDSIQh50k/s1366/hand+holding.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3L5wVwKjdsRjLUiB8r_K1eRwhb6orFo4LE4LqLgY9Rrf3qDcXgimTyni_7uAPkhJcl0ZbNWxTXDyCUobGlWavIaW91dF44QSP43_V0tnP7Byj0J04-fSvrLooq5fGRtbxpdHDSIQh50k/s320/hand+holding.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Eventually, you see a sense of trust as Lenore begins asking Hector for permission to visit- even though it’s irrelevant given him being held captive and all. But it gives a sense of normalcy and respect which aids in putting Hector at ease, and it makes it all the worse when Lenore does outright fuck him in all the ways, including binding him with a cursed ring that enslaves him.<br /></div><p><br />I honestly don't have an issue with this story. Yes it’s creepy, manipulative, abusive, and fucked up… but it’s supposed to be. Manipulation and a false sense of security is Vampire 101. Granted, I’m not going to say you shouldn’t be bothered, everyone has their own thresholds and all that. But I just don’t see this being that much different than any other instance of a vampire enslaving someone, just a lot more detailed and roundabout in the method. It's well told and seeing it unfold is fascinating, perhaps even more so knowing that it's not going to end well.<br /><br />Now from a meta standpoint, given all the things that came out with Ellis (Allegedly). Yeahhhh that’s a whole other can of worms and there’s really no way to separate that being in the back of one's head. It makes the fact that’s there are two major instances of sex being used to trick and abuse people have horribly grody real-world connotations, no matter how tangential.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The third tale is sort of a conspiracy plot and serves as the main event. Sypha and Trevor find themselves in a village, Lindenfeld, where things are considerably askew. <br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7C1gYQm-ujuxYhtYesCQaF2rnCef8Fny6SjtA9rCWs6uzekLtprGKnLP32kL4UApfeVCSrqD8VTGmKTZ_ULpKn49kT84ivXEpa7DhQWkCB-VYXweeNCx8C_-GsLIt0fCbXG2LguwNZK2b/s1366/Sala+and+the+mad+monks.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7C1gYQm-ujuxYhtYesCQaF2rnCef8Fny6SjtA9rCWs6uzekLtprGKnLP32kL4UApfeVCSrqD8VTGmKTZ_ULpKn49kT84ivXEpa7DhQWkCB-VYXweeNCx8C_-GsLIt0fCbXG2LguwNZK2b/s320/Sala+and+the+mad+monks.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Among the town is a group of monks led by a man named Sala (Navid Negahban), all of whom have a strange penchant for Dracula and his cause and wish to destroy those responsible for his death, causing Trevor and Sypha to keep their heads down.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZonT5pQOWO1FnzVKHdyNTXmv_KHFGKfzpY9Dc_E1nrCxeqAh33zruyqvtsLRIGJOO8bqua7Elvy_9irSa_vtNTzNGbZRE0u2AkY65m0LJRXA0Sye0RdHX6oV79HJk02Fs3rKauvNhOCEG/s1366/judge.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZonT5pQOWO1FnzVKHdyNTXmv_KHFGKfzpY9Dc_E1nrCxeqAh33zruyqvtsLRIGJOO8bqua7Elvy_9irSa_vtNTzNGbZRE0u2AkY65m0LJRXA0Sye0RdHX6oV79HJk02Fs3rKauvNhOCEG/s320/judge.png" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p>Unsurprisingly, a group of lunatics with runic armbands
also causes concerns for the leader of the town, The Judge (Jason
Isaacs), who eventually seeks the help of the two monster hunters. He
fills them in on how a monster attack upon the village resulted in one
of the beasts crashing into the Church, and after many strange lights,
an eerie quiet. Ever since, the monks were changed, barring the
townsfolk but accepting deranged outsiders who began wandering into the
town. Most concerning is that pieces of the creature were removed from
the church, but not enough for a full body.<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SLFa2ygOThPfJ_phnA-MhUnQyNqh542yGliBfqqnQoMrourSvVQGNSWogkoys4VuQAMfgNr33D1HgDfPCU5fwZuRjP-MzEcuiamTqmSawV2wRY_beH00elukOVkokUhlQ2DhEczjXiEr/s1366/saint+germain.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SLFa2ygOThPfJ_phnA-MhUnQyNqh542yGliBfqqnQoMrourSvVQGNSWogkoys4VuQAMfgNr33D1HgDfPCU5fwZuRjP-MzEcuiamTqmSawV2wRY_beH00elukOVkokUhlQ2DhEczjXiEr/s320/saint+germain.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>Additionally, a strange man by the name of Saint Germain (Bill Nighy) seems to be aware of Trevor being a Belmont, as he was once a family friend, and recognizes the crest upon Trevor’s clothing. Germain has his own interest in the Monks and their priory, primarily because it contains a doorway to the infinite corridor which leads to many other worlds. Germain, who is, in reality, a powerful magician, lost a loved one within the strange realm and he seeks to reunite with them.<br /><br /><br />After a while, the trio converges. Germain having gained limited entry to the priory due to his academic knowledge and assistance with the church’s many books, but further investigation into the basement is hindered.<br /><br />Trevor and Sypha- mostly Sypha, perform their own investigation. Sypha’s keen eyes catch that the monks are armed and (along with Germain) notice that the armbands are an alchemical symbol for sulfur or hell. Furthermore, strange symbols begin appearing around town carved into buildings, posts, houses, and more. Sypha understands the symbolic representations, none of them good. But the exact purpose is unknown.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjt19J6x7ya4sR1x8KsV3-OwzqWaTZptnjicDeUJ9ydnV6wMV8JZMpp66OmPchWTPWxOaKedeFyRObNBCF6GIVeM53FPB0_iJsnfedBj2P5AiAe5-V3h92ydU1CKlFxRuwSPED_Fp026K/s1366/the+visitor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjt19J6x7ya4sR1x8KsV3-OwzqWaTZptnjicDeUJ9ydnV6wMV8JZMpp66OmPchWTPWxOaKedeFyRObNBCF6GIVeM53FPB0_iJsnfedBj2P5AiAe5-V3h92ydU1CKlFxRuwSPED_Fp026K/s320/the+visitor.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Eventually, enough Monks are out of the church for Germain to sneak into the basement and discover that indeed the monster, referred to simply as “The Visitor” is still present, but crucified to the wall. Its blood is collected in a sulfuric rune. Meanwhile, Trevor and Sypha catch a monk defacing a house with their strange carvings. Capturing the unholy man for interrogation doesn’t reveal much outside of the fact that the majority of the cult has left Lindenfeld to spread their demonic gospel. The silver lining is that this means there are very few cultists left and the Judge can ready his men, leading into the finale.<br /></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZLlWS3-L_g_KsOMwgL1HO6ogMApEG4M2U-eq9wyVfKz0ERacmE5HUhR_AcY1Ldw6sXhrk8Aqa1s1_8vBKShoJokbnKSVxn92hiL2YdCsZ75ZzhThTE5GY74q7WDLHZh6CyK6czlblT2Y/s1366/ttake+contol.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZLlWS3-L_g_KsOMwgL1HO6ogMApEG4M2U-eq9wyVfKz0ERacmE5HUhR_AcY1Ldw6sXhrk8Aqa1s1_8vBKShoJokbnKSVxn92hiL2YdCsZ75ZzhThTE5GY74q7WDLHZh6CyK6czlblT2Y/s320/ttake+contol.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">There isn’t really much to discuss here since it’s mostly one large action beat as everyone assaults the Chuch- and it’s a damn good one at that. But the story elements are fairly simple. All the buildings which had runes carved into them burst into flames, and since this was at night when most people were in their homes, a large chunk of the populous dies in the blaze. Their souls are collected by the Visitor to control the infinite corridor and open a gateway to hell to revive Dracula. Saint Germain attempts to gain control for himself, but it’s to no avail. He eventually strikes upon the idea of simply controlling the beast itself, which works and prevents Dracula's resurrection. The corridor switches to a place more familiar to Germain, who thanks both Sypha and Trevor before departing into the mysterious realm, leaving them to finish off the remaining creatures.<br /></div><p><br /><br /><br />Oddly enough, despite the conspiracy angle and the mysteries surrounding both Germain and the cultists, this is one of the most straightforward and I believe the best of all the stories this season. For as simple as it is, they manage to draw it out across 10 episodes without it ever overstaying its welcome or feeling padded out. The cutting back and forth between all the other stories surely helps in that regard, but there is enough revealed here in a well-paced manner that simply works from start to finish, arguably obtaining the best balance of any story within the first three seasons.<br /><br />Saint Germain in particular was a nice surprise. It helps that the character wasn’t much of anything in the one game he appears in, which makes him easily malleable into this odd somewhat pompous fellow who is clearly putting on a charade to hide his true self and motives. The man can’t help but make references to various out-of-place- and out of time- concepts and objects, which aids in still making him seem bizarre to the cast, but also remarkably well-informed to the audience. This is even seen with his attire which is more renaissance than contemporary.<br />They also do a fairly decent job hooking the audience with a few tidbits here and there in flashbacks/dreams, yet never revealing too much about him as to keep up his mysterious aura.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0BUJlF7eaaZ5MBqxPE12RciWZhzEsXAlwPZihaIgJ6cnmUIybca9TaL5Qjqg93VyZwb6vn6GMXXME6RhCfPtTfKLjJzIqDEzzeeI3g0hrA_uuSrAMpBR5KfmZqkj-ZEs1w4OtuBljEC3/s1366/mystery+woman.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0BUJlF7eaaZ5MBqxPE12RciWZhzEsXAlwPZihaIgJ6cnmUIybca9TaL5Qjqg93VyZwb6vn6GMXXME6RhCfPtTfKLjJzIqDEzzeeI3g0hrA_uuSrAMpBR5KfmZqkj-ZEs1w4OtuBljEC3/s320/mystery+woman.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">If I do have one minor criticism of this specific chronicle it’s that after all the fighting is over and the demons are slain, Trevor and Sypha discover that the Judge (who was killed by Sala who subsequently also died) was a child killer. This isn’t out of nowhere, there are many obvious hints to this throughout the season. But it does feel like the main point is to give one last gut-punch to Sypha. For most of this season, she has been wide-eyed and plucky, a source of joy amid all the cynicism. She’s not ignorant to the serious nature of what is happening, she’s just happy to help. But in the end, most of the village is dead, and the person she and Trevor helped was a monster. I don't think it's entirely pointless, and we'll come to see Season 4 play with Sypha's apprehension going forward. But it still definitely feels like Ellis flaunting that cynical edge just because.<br /></div><p><br />But, despite this being the finale for this season, there is still one more story we haven't talked about, and that is Isaac.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfScny5DhoWNstxhY3ZyjNdWHmL7ijFCbjumQ1XY9glBo7uFw459qitXspo9HaMHFqzVmlCKCXKzNxrjg2MdQ9hPAx17zvbv-gwRnRyXYujYU-xPZL_NcfzGzdh5ico0479iivs_3IwAsr/s1366/in+the+moonlight+isaac.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfScny5DhoWNstxhY3ZyjNdWHmL7ijFCbjumQ1XY9glBo7uFw459qitXspo9HaMHFqzVmlCKCXKzNxrjg2MdQ9hPAx17zvbv-gwRnRyXYujYU-xPZL_NcfzGzdh5ico0479iivs_3IwAsr/s320/in+the+moonlight+isaac.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Isaac is hellbent on getting revenge against Hector and is still stranded far away. Most of his journey is spent getting from one place to the next while building an army to take on Carmilla, all while searching for a transmission mirror. It is not very interesting. When I first watched this season, I couldn't figure out if Alucard's or Isaac's story was the weakest. Alucard’s serves no purpose and is tacked on, whereas Isaac’s feels like they had an endpoint in mind but not much in between.<br /></div><p><br />In theory, Isaac’s travels are meant to represent a conflict of his own hateful cynical desires and outlook upon the world by interacting with generally good-natured and kind-hearted people, or at least those kind to him. This is mostly seen when he’s sailing across the sea, the Captain of the vessel he’s upon has a philosophical discussion with him about the nature of humanity and if Isaac’s abilities could instead be used to improve it.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79I-hlLHXI5UaJF5vdY0plvLMLABvnV4Q5Mb9SrbXBB6MVyNW12eZNTCskBmlu3fWYpShX7JhRgAoX6KtANXiFi3VXKwmKI4J_POJWQrY5OYzyL952TAaIrMi60PvCi3GGUjmQcUa2Q8T/s1366/isaac+%2526+capt..png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79I-hlLHXI5UaJF5vdY0plvLMLABvnV4Q5Mb9SrbXBB6MVyNW12eZNTCskBmlu3fWYpShX7JhRgAoX6KtANXiFi3VXKwmKI4J_POJWQrY5OYzyL952TAaIrMi60PvCi3GGUjmQcUa2Q8T/s320/isaac+%2526+capt..png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This is an interesting idea, and to their credit, Isaac and the Captain do engage in some enjoyable banter in addition to those philosophical viewpoints, which will have payoff next season. But overall, Isaac’s story this season doesn’t work primarily because he is so single-minded and blinded by hate that he’s never shown to not interpret any sort of confrontation as anything but the ugliness of humanity... while he has an army of gore covered monsters by his side. The dude just can’t understand people taking umbrage with that. I’m not kidding when I say half of his interactions are: Meets nice fellow that gives him pause, shortly afterwards a group of soldiers take issue with the monster army he brought into town, Isaac lapses into hating (and killing) everyone again, then repeat once again. This isn’t Nightbreed, that angle doesn’t work here and frankly, it’s flat-out stupid. There are much better ways to give a character conflicting emotions or have characters be jerks to them. What’s frustrating is they come close. Just over halfway through the series, Isaac converses with one of the more intelligent of his creations, a fly creature who remembers his human life in Athens. <br /></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn52EUJaPnhxLbkQIdWDORFKbql1o8Yvjo0I2PWVIXHbBX0QLxMFPGIOADWfSMchhSrENVKWjBoqyA8EdNIZLjUVg0DmE93WxDZvkr8mKOtzbBINntHBi8lX_3BGmLe9i037Wxhmh6G4kE/s1037/flyseyes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="1037" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn52EUJaPnhxLbkQIdWDORFKbql1o8Yvjo0I2PWVIXHbBX0QLxMFPGIOADWfSMchhSrENVKWjBoqyA8EdNIZLjUVg0DmE93WxDZvkr8mKOtzbBINntHBi8lX_3BGmLe9i037Wxhmh6G4kE/s320/flyseyes.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">He was a philosopher who was condemned after the state religion became Christianity. He sold out others to preserve his own life, but in the end, he was killed anyway and condemned to Hell for his actions that resulted in the deaths of many more.<br /></div><p>Moments like that work much better for giving Isaac cause to remain apprehensive, questioning what is truly right in a mad world. They just come too late and too few.<br />Thematically, Isaac’s struggle between the good and ill of humanity and his entire worldview is a good direction- the execution is wrong and nonsensical.<br /><br />Any sort of nuance with his character is mostly tossed out the window in this scenario, resulting in just a maniac in a script that seems to think he’s deep. Compounding these issues is that in contrast to the other three narratives, Isaac is in a constant state of travel and therefore has almost no consistent cast interactions. I will say he runs into characters more interesting than Sumi and Yaka in Alucard’s story; The Captain, FlysEyes, and even an elder Devil Forger voiced by the great Barbara Steele. But again, these are fleeting, if enjoyable moments.<br /><br />The only other interesting occurrence in Isaac’s story is during the finale when in his search for a transmission mirror, he assaults an entire town full of enslaved people by a mad magician. I’d go as far as saying it’s one of the best action scenes with some truly captivating presentation. I just wish there was more satisfaction from his story than just set up for the next season. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Now after all that, you’re probably thinking “Wow, that’s a lot of characters and four separate storylines that don’t ever converge for a 10 episode series” and you’re right. The grand crux of season 3 is that there’s too much going on...and yet not enough. Episodes typically perform a juggling act between the four storylines, usually featuring two or three in any given episode. To put it bluntly, it doesn’t work all the time. Don’t get me wrong, it’s often well-paced and edited quite brilliantly. But the fact of the matter is it’s still too much in the grander scheme of things. It’s not infuriating, as the overall short nature and binge format does help in this regard, but it also means there less breathing room which could have circumvented some of the issues I have. It’s just disappointing.<br /><br />Sypha, Trevor, and Germain certainly have the most intriguing of all the tales and it’s the most fleshed out. The mystery goes in a sensible direction and watching it unfold is a delight, if incredibly obvious. (Thank god this dropped all at once, lest a studio mandate randomly change the ending because of fan speculation) Carmilla’s section becomes engaging as Lenore’s seduction of Hector progresses, although your mileage may vary on that. Failing that, I don't think your other options will so much for you.<br />This doesn’t mean Season 3 is bad, but it is certainly rougher than one would hope. However, I will say season 3 is a lot more engaging than 2 was. 2 felt stretched very thin, clamoring to fill an episode quota which resulted in the three main heroes spending a majority of their screen time in a goddamn library. This season at least contains a variety of scenery and actual occurrences...even if two of those narratives leave you wanting more than is offered.<br /><br />Despite those problems, there are still qualities to Ellis’ writing. As with prior seasons, the dialogue is often funny and snappy, at times even clever. Some lines, along with the excellent voice work, can in fact do wonders for the shortcomings in earlier scenes. Be it The Captain (voiced by Lance Riddick) providing a quick sensible retort to Isaac, or Saint Germain calling Trevor the Jesus of murder or some other outlandish denomination. Small character moments between Sypha and Trevor are also some of the most ridiculously adorable bits that help alleviate the otherwise dour tone.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgZCYi28Jz1ysQS52bqw9ZT9djzEgYQxErWo4Gbn2y0GkeSlEAGU3tdaF56A2pkqiDpVkxbkTKQrh1q_ym3Z9tIEr1kHNPna3zefxZsjLYraNqSOpXq-F6A_NQJf-Zg4-B4QNxMX_G2HH/s1366/dorbies.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgZCYi28Jz1ysQS52bqw9ZT9djzEgYQxErWo4Gbn2y0GkeSlEAGU3tdaF56A2pkqiDpVkxbkTKQrh1q_ym3Z9tIEr1kHNPna3zefxZsjLYraNqSOpXq-F6A_NQJf-Zg4-B4QNxMX_G2HH/s320/dorbies.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Striga and Morana aren't too shabby either. They have a limited presence, but one which gives just enough for me to enjoy their addition and want to see more of them.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXauxJSYB20M_7O5RQsPnAz7S5SuX4cOkByMnqr-2DqQuGvp83sUzjvxexavWnlGi47Yh6ouKGNsEiusGzKjttBTbW9CCORat3BCx4DPUkvyJZZDcdcFTg1lEf8ZX5VAqKdqOtqtGfrs1/s1366/lovers.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXauxJSYB20M_7O5RQsPnAz7S5SuX4cOkByMnqr-2DqQuGvp83sUzjvxexavWnlGi47Yh6ouKGNsEiusGzKjttBTbW9CCORat3BCx4DPUkvyJZZDcdcFTg1lEf8ZX5VAqKdqOtqtGfrs1/s320/lovers.png" width="320" /></a></div></div><p><br />There’s also a central running theme to all the stories that tie together wonderfully, that being the importance of connections and/or the crushing reality of betrayal. Be it Sypha and Trevor, or Saint Germain and his lost love, Alucard and both his desire and need for companionship, Isaac’s turmoil with others yet in need of help, and even the twisted nature of Lenore needing Hector if nothing more than as a tool.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFE1c7akvRLxj97CFc9BrAVUOByPIGAaqO1l8TG7_IpTN5gnc8qA-3wJWSWbaRkO7b6BsdVALuSHD_7e5FtT0WA6tqWOfnELzNEIErxFHKlYsVVPM0kPCGRi-rF3ylY74huth2Uxruwhn/s455/icecapades.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="455" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFE1c7akvRLxj97CFc9BrAVUOByPIGAaqO1l8TG7_IpTN5gnc8qA-3wJWSWbaRkO7b6BsdVALuSHD_7e5FtT0WA6tqWOfnELzNEIErxFHKlYsVVPM0kPCGRi-rF3ylY74huth2Uxruwhn/s320/icecapades.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p>If I do give any additional commendations to the show, it’s that the animation is the best it has ever been. Battles are more fluid, dynamic, and play well to the strengths of each character, Sypha especially. They had a lot of fun with her power combinations, floating across ice platforms, flying up in the air, or icing a floor and rocketing across it like freaking Iceman. It blows anything in season 2 out of the water.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgetOFQZu4ldw2OMA4RskOFS09MUc9RSP2D8sJhv0XZmm7efNlDTqn1bfF9RMs6EdT3a3VGm9PjPnsWxYahcweXpkisq0IRAoBokSwWdxvaty98hKYNwKXqTmcBLkLdwZ08_satpMGnTBL/s1366/flame+whip.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgetOFQZu4ldw2OMA4RskOFS09MUc9RSP2D8sJhv0XZmm7efNlDTqn1bfF9RMs6EdT3a3VGm9PjPnsWxYahcweXpkisq0IRAoBokSwWdxvaty98hKYNwKXqTmcBLkLdwZ08_satpMGnTBL/s320/flame+whip.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Trevor, and surprisingly, Isaac, each gets a big action moment as well. Trevor even does the flame whip.<br /></div><p><br /><br />Hell, despite my issues with Alucard and Isaac having back burner plots, the final episode is edited in a fascinatingly frantic flurry of sex and death by jumping between all four plots, which is impressive regardless of the narrative shortcomings.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrI3ky4bP8JVAcrKyGHCcPyddoo-qcr5SORPebHry3lUUZ0rr5C4Ge3v1PNrvLcDtf0uGM-avBLzYEjOHbgi-vV35MrRFZefrJ2JF-fSx8881N170GieeX5xOCPxqoyqZZxjNJJgkIvjq/s1366/many+monsters.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrI3ky4bP8JVAcrKyGHCcPyddoo-qcr5SORPebHry3lUUZ0rr5C4Ge3v1PNrvLcDtf0uGM-avBLzYEjOHbgi-vV35MrRFZefrJ2JF-fSx8881N170GieeX5xOCPxqoyqZZxjNJJgkIvjq/s320/many+monsters.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The overall creature designs are also far superior to prior seasons. There’s both a nice diversity among the lineup and quite a lot more color. Black and Grey with glowing blue eyes is no longer the predominant aesthetic. There are even some more cameos from various game creatures like Legion (Or an allusion to) and even Malachi.<br /></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNAYn-igmV2KjFYI9BY4B7ZQ2yf2s5WHX0J-BqaQb1jd9Jpczro04IewsMsaZJV5RbClYKcBmITJQrKuFMie9FI_lq-Bkail_tTLz8CGS921FryF8H7o2-i9RY-MOVN8p0QH_hS64nTsK/s1366/legion+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNAYn-igmV2KjFYI9BY4B7ZQ2yf2s5WHX0J-BqaQb1jd9Jpczro04IewsMsaZJV5RbClYKcBmITJQrKuFMie9FI_lq-Bkail_tTLz8CGS921FryF8H7o2-i9RY-MOVN8p0QH_hS64nTsK/s320/legion+2.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wcDw8PUluHpJhbx57y-h5ePcJaJNm-VeoyCiKUxWgJvIJMRSImKiCnRvvT4bPynGQChN9BA6BKk45Ki-SZc8pcUVm8OOJiaF7jORe9lL5SRimYU2lkXvFoWVOH2xBUap1EnBM_fDpBAS/s1039/Malachi.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="1039" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wcDw8PUluHpJhbx57y-h5ePcJaJNm-VeoyCiKUxWgJvIJMRSImKiCnRvvT4bPynGQChN9BA6BKk45Ki-SZc8pcUVm8OOJiaF7jORe9lL5SRimYU2lkXvFoWVOH2xBUap1EnBM_fDpBAS/s320/Malachi.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p><br />Season 3 is something I'm quite conflicted over. The show is undeniably the best the series has ever been up to that point. There are major improvements to the show overall and I enjoyed my time with it. There's nothing particularly so egregious that I would avoid watching it. But for as much as there is I do enjoy about season 3, I also have enough complaints to where I only enjoy about half of it. It's hard to say that if I were to ever come back to season three that I wouldn't be skipping through a few segments- particularly Alucard's.<br /><br /><br /><br />But we're not done with the series yet. Next time I’ll be continuing on with Castlevania with the fourth and final season.<br /><br /><br /><br />Support: <a href="https://ko-fi.com/kamen_writer">https://ko-fi.com/kamen_writer</a><br /><br />Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/KamenStranger">https://twitter.com/KamenStranger</a><br /><br /></p>Kamen Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02832099141882322022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505042118996520039.post-74885980479585164862021-09-18T22:44:00.001-04:002021-09-18T22:44:22.078-04:00Gamera: Guardian of the Universe Review.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQGFAW1h8Vc9wyHDeZhY06rwADSFUIYC4WBu1WEnL71hP0npAPLe4qqAWpaZxgKYku4iApQ4D_LDLq68l_tcX5VOm3vcKU7ReZF8CMUwmomioaZETOSytNns5B8jW6kih-MXGtbe0Yl0Y/s1366/Title.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQGFAW1h8Vc9wyHDeZhY06rwADSFUIYC4WBu1WEnL71hP0npAPLe4qqAWpaZxgKYku4iApQ4D_LDLq68l_tcX5VOm3vcKU7ReZF8CMUwmomioaZETOSytNns5B8jW6kih-MXGtbe0Yl0Y/s320/Title.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Gamera’s something of an interesting Kaiju if nothing more than the often perceived notion that he was simply little more than a Godzilla Rip-off. While this is certainly a degree of truth to that, it never prevented the character and film series from taking off, often rivaling the Godzilla Series at the box office and even on American television throughout the 60s.<br /></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD048nKYmY2IQFxM21usPLTF688K6ohrVtZxV5BgbeRXVuIRAb1QssD9fMeULxuHWDNYfh3Jr6L2E-6qTo2tZZmc6hoaIjUnIhlDZhlly1pX9BzGX8ftf_Yf7FXGvDy1bn_Giz_whUtLg-/s313/Gamera_vs_zigra_poster.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="220" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD048nKYmY2IQFxM21usPLTF688K6ohrVtZxV5BgbeRXVuIRAb1QssD9fMeULxuHWDNYfh3Jr6L2E-6qTo2tZZmc6hoaIjUnIhlDZhlly1pX9BzGX8ftf_Yf7FXGvDy1bn_Giz_whUtLg-/s0/Gamera_vs_zigra_poster.gif" width="220" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">But that success wasn’t meant to last. Gamera had been long dormant by the time pre-production began on GOTU, the last full film being 1971’s Gamera vs. Zigra. That same year, Studio Daiei went into bankruptcy and plans for a 1972 film were scrapped. 1974 saw the revival of Daiei after being picked up by Tokuma Shoten, but only as a production company and producer. They would have to rely on others for distribution. Daiei actually managed to do quite well, all things considered, even co-producing some international blockbusters like The Go-Masters in 1982. But by the early 90s it had dwindled into Hentai. A surprising amount of Hentai.<br /></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLqala6LhuLDvF2z6djbM5tbfCnnyYTxiUeDc7pqoF4grD8bPqx1Ji0O_6H7HjBq2XO65vtG1dxx0k6AOPn0Si8f7W7O_nKhc9yrKCZMZwOcb5BgChwL6nIBxYD6SZQyEHgfxa-qgRx4yP/s305/Gamerasupermonsterposter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="220" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLqala6LhuLDvF2z6djbM5tbfCnnyYTxiUeDc7pqoF4grD8bPqx1Ji0O_6H7HjBq2XO65vtG1dxx0k6AOPn0Si8f7W7O_nKhc9yrKCZMZwOcb5BgChwL6nIBxYD6SZQyEHgfxa-qgRx4yP/s0/Gamerasupermonsterposter.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><p>As for Gamera, he was only afforded a very embarrassing outing in 1980 with Gamera: Super Monster, of which ⅓ of the film is stock footage. It was so bad that Gamera co-creator and director Noriaki Yuasa requested that Gamera be killed off at the end of the film, believing that the series would never recover.<br /><br />Gamera’s 20th anniversary in 1985 came and went with little fanfare, while long-time rival Godzilla already had a successful 1984 revival and would return once again in ‘89 with nearly yearly entries until December 1995. It wouldn’t be until the 30th Anniversary when Gamera finally got to shine once more on the big screen, fittingly, in 1995. Although Gamera would release in March.<br /><br /><br />However, the lead-up to that was bumpy. The film was originally envisioned as a 60-minute parody or comedy, something which greatly disappointed director Shusuke Kaneko. Thankfully, writer Kazunori Ito and special effects director Shinji Higuchi managed to convince the higher-ups of a much more grounded and bolder direction, opting for a full feature film in line with the Heisei Godzilla series. One additional advantage was that once that decision was made, the production team had a great deal of freedom to do whatever they wished. The only hard rule was that Gamera’s redesign and general depiction wouldn’t be terrifying to children, the rest was carte blanche. The downside is that the budget would be an insultingly low 500 million JPY or 4.5 million USD, about ⅓ of the average Heisei Godzilla production. For a team that wanted to reach new heights, they sure had their work cut out.<br /><br /><br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p><br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KUVDcBaRvAamFKujtK12Tqv590KwZlLxXRkx3AfqLrFYiehiA23JCbwkS7yzavpDSR3MDYXXu_LcuPDcyPyCl9-86SPR08GvQXf6GRQ1bOkG0kR-VM3zxUojrPk3GjoF5D7FFHvoeTDh/s1366/ship.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KUVDcBaRvAamFKujtK12Tqv590KwZlLxXRkx3AfqLrFYiehiA23JCbwkS7yzavpDSR3MDYXXu_LcuPDcyPyCl9-86SPR08GvQXf6GRQ1bOkG0kR-VM3zxUojrPk3GjoF5D7FFHvoeTDh/s320/ship.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>The film begins with a ship carrying plutonium in the Philippines Sea not far from Japan. Running aground, they discover an unusually large atoll as the cause of their troubles. What’s more, it’s moving.<br />Thankfully, the ship is unharmed and can complete its journey after the Atoll moved. <br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYBnsCcXiWhcbj3Fd9BBrt2Ib-RJ5_yrtUhQ5zOn-7_6AzsEVnTWgJlmuYwnbNjAIc3TeQ4-vGVnINuNjPFPghYNpNRf097Ts_AZyUe8VTGWOp2L57C0Qe0-cyzkNitjfPYo2dzMR0ANh/s1366/Yoshinari+Yonemori.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYBnsCcXiWhcbj3Fd9BBrt2Ib-RJ5_yrtUhQ5zOn-7_6AzsEVnTWgJlmuYwnbNjAIc3TeQ4-vGVnINuNjPFPghYNpNRf097Ts_AZyUe8VTGWOp2L57C0Qe0-cyzkNitjfPYo2dzMR0ANh/s320/Yoshinari+Yonemori.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">But the event has left Officer Yoshinari Yonemori (Tsuyoshi Ihara) slightly traumatized by the experience, feeling personally responsible and yet bewildered by the accident. <br /></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEf8JV9UsZVCXUPNa2kmV0isnsq33Ea-iT3PP33zBnhHqJIBXUHA6V-1A7ikuIDO9uhmCs1V_LJCQD_QpNj9pi8J4-9JgsqiCQxBvjtzcleyLxElrhApfzN_oFg8bAOulHBxorXD0aIYWJ/s1366/Naoya+Kusanagi.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEf8JV9UsZVCXUPNa2kmV0isnsq33Ea-iT3PP33zBnhHqJIBXUHA6V-1A7ikuIDO9uhmCs1V_LJCQD_QpNj9pi8J4-9JgsqiCQxBvjtzcleyLxElrhApfzN_oFg8bAOulHBxorXD0aIYWJ/s320/Naoya+Kusanagi.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">In a meeting with Naoya Kusanagi (Akira Onodera) an investigator for Yashima Marine Insurance, Yonemori requests to take part in the investigation despite regulations of separating the public and private sector. Kusanagi is hesitant given the risks, but Yonemori is not to be deterred. He decides to butter up Kusanagi in the following days, first stopping by a local convenience store and asking the clerk if Kusanagi has a particular drink of choice. Overhearing the conversation, a young girl interrupts, saying that he likes sake, bourbon, and rum. This just so happens to be Asagi (Ayako Fujitani), Kusanagi’s daughter.<br /></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpMLPx6KDSToCB_iITm9mRwbfpM5HznlsfbZSPykkPlyVI30AZVkkaQIf9gH6JylC4ZiRFLdNPama-Mib3VXL4nBRvFCVTOM98uCxeLZfNQHiZEugqMGqlqNNCkTCMWipekwDwAKQIjXj4/s1061/asagi.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="1061" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpMLPx6KDSToCB_iITm9mRwbfpM5HznlsfbZSPykkPlyVI30AZVkkaQIf9gH6JylC4ZiRFLdNPama-Mib3VXL4nBRvFCVTOM98uCxeLZfNQHiZEugqMGqlqNNCkTCMWipekwDwAKQIjXj4/s320/asagi.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Kusanagi returns home finding that Yonemori has prepared dinner and performed other housework duties. Amused by the gesture, he relents in allowing him to join the investigation- but notes it’s a none paying job given the circumstances.<br /></div><p><br />Using eye-witness sightings, the team discovers the atoll has been spoted around Christmas island, to the Caroline Islands and of course the Philippines. By using rough estimates of the sightings they’re able to get a general idea of where the atoll is drifting and how fast, eventually finally finding it not too far from Okinawa.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4PdXbxpg9Yf8ECausI75e_gkz-_FkSbPQ4GgihbGPhqUhrFW-ngK_2x2cfmpjdCGBiccPWGYFHWArDp1pjzojLs5N8WzUieRYwhyphenhyphendeD3QR3tlqIryi2Anjf1Nl3hT5bJ1fzg4sUpyqKYQ/s1366/stones.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4PdXbxpg9Yf8ECausI75e_gkz-_FkSbPQ4GgihbGPhqUhrFW-ngK_2x2cfmpjdCGBiccPWGYFHWArDp1pjzojLs5N8WzUieRYwhyphenhyphendeD3QR3tlqIryi2Anjf1Nl3hT5bJ1fzg4sUpyqKYQ/s320/stones.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Embarking upon the atoll reveals that it’s covered in comma-shaped amulets and contains a partially buried slab covered in Etrurian runes.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHv7OhYLGYFAQ4fnz4MPpZNhO_MaNlGqh6F8sCE81C9jVQ0B_uq8_ZvMx_WXDOM4I76AA0haUqQHmRvK4hkfC4SjiHYDNNsiPEKRC9L4FRBG2FyY0lAjJMp8ttIdA7cLexNn5unhyphenhyphendMlM/s1366/stone.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHv7OhYLGYFAQ4fnz4MPpZNhO_MaNlGqh6F8sCE81C9jVQ0B_uq8_ZvMx_WXDOM4I76AA0haUqQHmRvK4hkfC4SjiHYDNNsiPEKRC9L4FRBG2FyY0lAjJMp8ttIdA7cLexNn5unhyphenhyphendMlM/s320/stone.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Digging around the slab takes all night, but reveals that the slab is both warm to the touch and ringing. Before the investigation can move further, the slab shatters just as the whole atoll begins to split. <br /><br />Yonemori, having fallen into the ocean, briefly sees a giant creature swim away.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Meanwhile, a second story is unfolding at the same time as Yonemori’s. <br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTyWcqc_-7IGLzB2cmAwNCnQMqaGGoyYSr7NmI53W5wnsiwKJA24-5EvatB3wDxetBQsk-QEmxyjbUX7_FEAeRCU7pjcKwnriVTP_v2rX-1_jOuhNSOGLoz7R4OTUMJeDShSb38E_1l8e/s1366/mayumi.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTyWcqc_-7IGLzB2cmAwNCnQMqaGGoyYSr7NmI53W5wnsiwKJA24-5EvatB3wDxetBQsk-QEmxyjbUX7_FEAeRCU7pjcKwnriVTP_v2rX-1_jOuhNSOGLoz7R4OTUMJeDShSb38E_1l8e/s320/mayumi.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Mayumi Nagamine (Shinobu Nakayama) an ornithologist, is requested by Inspector Osako (Yukijirō Hotaru) to accompany him to Himegami Island. Several people have gone missing, including Nagamine’s boss, Professor Hirata, who had gone to the Island to research reports of an unusual bird. Contact with the Island was recently cut off, and the last radio report came from a sailor specifically mentioning a giant bird.<br /></div><p><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXJdKPbvsu4lr6v5nOjHx2tCliK7stFviVj2ZRs1y_VxCVAYHGxvJxRLOIbjERhpxqnxMRVYYEov-8JV2IzC4aUcEoK0z3rt2TFlqi8SMcOUxt7YuiNQOKrGnkfOUs3QIP5LxiiqfZ3B_/s1366/trashed.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXJdKPbvsu4lr6v5nOjHx2tCliK7stFviVj2ZRs1y_VxCVAYHGxvJxRLOIbjERhpxqnxMRVYYEov-8JV2IzC4aUcEoK0z3rt2TFlqi8SMcOUxt7YuiNQOKrGnkfOUs3QIP5LxiiqfZ3B_/s320/trashed.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Upon reaching the Island via helicopter, the village is discovered to be completely trashed, as if hit by a typhoon. Nagamine is initially skeptical that this could be caused by any bird, but an unusually large pellet catches her eye. Digging into the mass reveals a pen belonging to Hirata, along with his glasses. Further investigation into the deep woods reveals the culprit as a massive flying creature- which for simplicity’s sake I will be referring to as Gyaos.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPxeCmeS5S0365uGhMAWf0HYJR4n83uMKhdgUjNjlVrT7LaNMt3YVIX_cLSMX7Ou6LHfExGQdrRxy5KZuDJlAKWxxff05o3rUE2fKzqgxEcBlUhvef43BWlva862P4lZGn6BEX6AKAzfL/s1057/fly+over.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="1057" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPxeCmeS5S0365uGhMAWf0HYJR4n83uMKhdgUjNjlVrT7LaNMt3YVIX_cLSMX7Ou6LHfExGQdrRxy5KZuDJlAKWxxff05o3rUE2fKzqgxEcBlUhvef43BWlva862P4lZGn6BEX6AKAzfL/s320/fly+over.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The team rush to the chopper and attempt to distract Gyaos away from the surrounding islands, concerned it will cause more casualties. Nagamine manages to capture several up-close photos of the flying kaiju, which becomes disoriented from the camera’s flash, retreating back towards the island among several other Gyaos.<br /><br /><br />Following news reports, and before Nagamine can even change clothes, she is once again requested by Osako for her services. But this time it’s on behalf of the Ministry of the Environment.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpV74SZwP0cDD9qtsf4WA72Oai3MeZ1R9qmERX2BLcchy0vyxX_StfIX-dls3vIs5oy6b6F96QdOFzK7Atu8LCXbOzqs2tUohRcA7ourIlimtx8QdKqIHxOqzcO4jwRYWcPVqWt_2qyNJo/s1366/saito.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpV74SZwP0cDD9qtsf4WA72Oai3MeZ1R9qmERX2BLcchy0vyxX_StfIX-dls3vIs5oy6b6F96QdOFzK7Atu8LCXbOzqs2tUohRcA7ourIlimtx8QdKqIHxOqzcO4jwRYWcPVqWt_2qyNJo/s320/saito.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Mr. Saito (Hirotaro Honda) tasks Nagamine with helping capture the creatures. Despite the dangers they pose, the agency has an invested interest in taking them alive since they are an unknown and likely rare species. Nagamine is inexperienced and knowledge is limited on the Gyaos’ behavior patterns, but the cabinet has made its decision.<br /></div><p><br />Putting together a plan on such short notice proves difficult. The only thing certain is that Gyaos are carnivores, more active during sunset/night, and sensitive to flashes of light. But it’s Osako who has a stroke of genius in suggesting they trap the Gyaos in the Fukuoka Dome. <br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFwuLfuzT9jVfhcm21tnio_ZMLOkUeMQ5zMyGDFymFWIhZKx-3tLi3b6KoKfdmFxKIVlLWA1EHtWq_NY8xOmp1Imw-9070J6UntRqKnrWEPyxRy-fuSkbr1mFiuQGyATQZU8aHldUeQW-n/s1366/bright+idea.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFwuLfuzT9jVfhcm21tnio_ZMLOkUeMQ5zMyGDFymFWIhZKx-3tLi3b6KoKfdmFxKIVlLWA1EHtWq_NY8xOmp1Imw-9070J6UntRqKnrWEPyxRy-fuSkbr1mFiuQGyATQZU8aHldUeQW-n/s320/bright+idea.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">With Nagamine’s ingenuity and the manpower of the JSDF, they’re able to lure the three Gyaos to the dome with a large pile of cow carcasses. <br /></div><p><br />But the plan isn’t without its hitches. Yonemori arrives on the scene, warning everyone of a giant creature heading towards the area, but they’re simply too preoccupied with the current situation to pay the warning much heed. Further complications arise when the JSDF prematurely tranquilizes one of the Gyaos before the dome seals shut, allowing one to escape while provoking the other to attack, resulting in the JSDF riddling it with shots and supposedly causing an overdose.<br /><br />As for the escaping Gyaos, it’s tracked by the JSDF...until it’s smacked out of the air by Gamera rising from the deep. <br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36pcod4Wgw-d65kHVu6fqOa_gZdOIP_3Ov8Nn7KEBXxQSiaWLKzWS8PjYYZ3llvfPpJHSSeI-RyeQ8dif3Pkj4n8DnCK29VJZDC-shYaAwd9q76K5Wo6lohwUEfZsZjYoSTiXZG0u2vz7/s374/pimp+slap.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="204" data-original-width="374" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36pcod4Wgw-d65kHVu6fqOa_gZdOIP_3Ov8Nn7KEBXxQSiaWLKzWS8PjYYZ3llvfPpJHSSeI-RyeQ8dif3Pkj4n8DnCK29VJZDC-shYaAwd9q76K5Wo6lohwUEfZsZjYoSTiXZG0u2vz7/s320/pimp+slap.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Gamera begins his ascent to shore, causing a large amount of damage as he makes his way to the dome. But just as the kaiju arrives, both Gyaos manage to wake and escape; Gamera taking off in pursuit.<br /></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7iz1pyQVfYgVhLsroOoNI8Zkt-hAa6p_lfPul9onUNzJIdNaeKvjflTCR4MNUXj1pD1hfD47AsB1YjPQ6TbJpOLFdXRFmHtt3c64Y-zJBm8tCVlUjE6k0h2PSlmdK1RwMw8sSo9bdp8w/s1366/flight.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7iz1pyQVfYgVhLsroOoNI8Zkt-hAa6p_lfPul9onUNzJIdNaeKvjflTCR4MNUXj1pD1hfD47AsB1YjPQ6TbJpOLFdXRFmHtt3c64Y-zJBm8tCVlUjE6k0h2PSlmdK1RwMw8sSo9bdp8w/s320/flight.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p><br /><br /><br />By this point, we’re about 30 minutes into the film, all the characters are introduced including our titular turtle. From here on the film primarily focuses on unraveling the rest of the mysteries set up, as well as the fallout of Gamera’s arrival resulting in economic inflation and military action.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHx5Xhe44CcTr89v8dFwleiUE_RfNhYFLVTKB86FYUR_yh-vhkcIfaBc9UhOwDJwK7QjCUqCiuNdq30KwhDWi7pDU_1emElFauQk3JnjJ8XpMfG4CP-z6NA66lTOOboegFWQZE8Y4t97dy/s1366/bead.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHx5Xhe44CcTr89v8dFwleiUE_RfNhYFLVTKB86FYUR_yh-vhkcIfaBc9UhOwDJwK7QjCUqCiuNdq30KwhDWi7pDU_1emElFauQk3JnjJ8XpMfG4CP-z6NA66lTOOboegFWQZE8Y4t97dy/s320/bead.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Yonemori meets with Kusanagi again, learning that the slab within the Atoll had photos taken and they were able to translate the runes, which foretells a prophecy of Gamera battling the Gyaos. Yonemori also gifts Asagi one of the strange stones picked up on the atoll, which is evidently made of an unknown metal. They theorize that it could be Orichalcum from Plato’s writings in Critias, indicating that both Gamera and Gyaos made have connections to Atlantis and are ancient. Whatever the case may be, the stone reacts to Asagi reading the prophesy aloud, growing warm.<br /></div><p><br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZxFXtNjjXJf_lkR_7ZnkBQ40SMl2Or60GLxsRAprM9zgzT51937xu35XaYGYF4Sl3U_xvpxaPD1CSgd8Pwn-nyccFywCA3voeff0v3a7UWEyVnq3BFqWrIJZoBXNX5kboXDimfMan51N/s1366/hand.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZxFXtNjjXJf_lkR_7ZnkBQ40SMl2Or60GLxsRAprM9zgzT51937xu35XaYGYF4Sl3U_xvpxaPD1CSgd8Pwn-nyccFywCA3voeff0v3a7UWEyVnq3BFqWrIJZoBXNX5kboXDimfMan51N/s320/hand.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Nagamine meanwhile is concentrated on tracking the Gyaos, eventually coming to the Kiso Mountain range which is in the middle of an evacuation. One Gyaos is killed by the sudden arrival of Gamera, while the other attacks Nagamine and a young child-- the two saved by Gamera who injures his hand in the process. The turtle once again takes off after the final fleeing flying kaiju, although the pursuit is cut short by the JSDF finally taking offensive action and shooting Gamera out of the sky.<br /></div><p><br />Asagi, who curiously has an injured hand, catches news that Gamera has fallen near Mt. Fuji and the JSDF will be launching an assault. She feels drawn to the kaiju, managing to make her way nearby, even bypassing a blockade thanks to a crazy taxi driver.<br /><br />Asagi watches in horror as the combined efforts of the SDF and Gyaos greatly injure Gamera, splitting his arm which in turn causes Asagi’s arm to spontaneously bleed. She begs for Gamera to flee, soon passing out as Gamera fulfills her wish.<br />Upon awakening at the hospital, she cryptically tells her visiting father that she hopes it won’t be too late, but that she and Gamera now require rest, falling into a coma.<br /><br />As the last remaining Gyaos remains hidden in the deep woods around Mt. Fuji, Nagamine and Yonemori meet with a colleague, Michiya, who is a biologist. He’s been examining the genes of the Gyaos, and they’re unlike anything else on earth. All are female and only possess a single chromosome. Whatever they are, they’re not natural and can reproduce asexually at an alarming rate. In essence, they are genetically perfect creatures. Mayumi and Yoshinari put the pieces together, theorizing that the writings on the slab and the recent occurrences with Asagi are all connected and that she could be the key to all of this, but for the moment there isn’t much they can do as both she and Gamera remain in slumber.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfXKC0Xq46EL4vrDKUJGYzl26-_djeOh7ePpnA_1U9JMDUA7niokjeEETLbEkVcEWtyFi6j-srlsOtaGjCUN81Ec6UyqCNb_ghSRf2beuFmf7_7PqtFVjSvWcFR0G_nEDjc1mm6X2DW2n/s1366/sleeping+gamera.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfXKC0Xq46EL4vrDKUJGYzl26-_djeOh7ePpnA_1U9JMDUA7niokjeEETLbEkVcEWtyFi6j-srlsOtaGjCUN81Ec6UyqCNb_ghSRf2beuFmf7_7PqtFVjSvWcFR0G_nEDjc1mm6X2DW2n/s320/sleeping+gamera.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>This situation proves even more dangerous as the final Gyaos is allowed to grow to massive proportions, equaling Gamera in height. She attacks a train in the middle of Tokyo, making off with a boxcar and consuming the passengers. The attack results in a mass evacuation and the environmental agency canceling any plans of capture. Refocusing their efforts to kill the winged Brobdingnagian, they begin their attack the following morning, only for the Gyaos to outmaneuver their missile barrage, with the JSDF ultimately only succeeding in destroying a part of Tokyo Tower for which the Gyaos makes its nest.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2aLeaQbe4aGrnc1_kpgZP4Ei8FE5gzITgeA_TvXReievCNJ4rgnUpnT-EDVyng7VvfoDVii3BpTEsgD4yIEkBUi8pyE0CniO6c0Xew5ucHyUaRXrSoH4r1Z0LplngcyIKOEkJZOQxSmO/s1366/tokyo+tower.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2aLeaQbe4aGrnc1_kpgZP4Ei8FE5gzITgeA_TvXReievCNJ4rgnUpnT-EDVyng7VvfoDVii3BpTEsgD4yIEkBUi8pyE0CniO6c0Xew5ucHyUaRXrSoH4r1Z0LplngcyIKOEkJZOQxSmO/s320/tokyo+tower.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>The next day, Kusanagi arrives with his now cognitive daughter. Nagamine and Yonemori know this means Gamera will arrive soon, and sure enough, the kaiju pops out of the ground, launching a surprise attack against the Gyaos- missing- but destroying the nest and a collection of eggs.<br /><br />Gamera chases Gyaos through the city, weaving in and out between the comparatively narrow streets as a JSDF helicopter carrying Asagi and the three others tries to keep up.<br />The chase breaks down into a brawl, Gamera gaining the upper hand and causing a building to partially collapse upon the Gyaos. But knowing it’s not over, Gamera takes the opportunity to gain altitude, the Gyaos giving chase once freed. Gamera breaks through the stratosphere, quickly turning the tables when he bites hold of the Gyaos’ leg and begins dive-bombing. The winged fiend tries desperately to break free, blasting Gamera’s head multiple times and in turn causing a great deal of pain to Asagi. But Gamera holds tight, the Gyaos finally sacrificing its own leg to break free, causing Gamera to free-fall into an oil refinery, which explodes spectacularly.<br /><br /><br />With hope seemingly lost, Asagi clutches the stone tightly and holds her father’s hand as the fires gather and revive Gamera. Gyaos and Gamera standoff, each readying a penultimate attack. Both fire, Gyaos missing and only grazing Gamera. Gamera’s fireball hits true, decapitating and ending the aerial terror once and for all.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHO1NGAkeBAutc_XgkcZxxIR_loO8yT4_YaIFpBDScEX_fSdB6ensdx7DQQ7GraGatvDnIvw0phhbDX7m1BstnsqY_jYxIT13DDVA9mAZPAIV05XJ0xebOpObYiM8eydVAQ-LmhTRgVQ0S/s1366/decapitationnnnnnn.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHO1NGAkeBAutc_XgkcZxxIR_loO8yT4_YaIFpBDScEX_fSdB6ensdx7DQQ7GraGatvDnIvw0phhbDX7m1BstnsqY_jYxIT13DDVA9mAZPAIV05XJ0xebOpObYiM8eydVAQ-LmhTRgVQ0S/s320/decapitationnnnnnn.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">He turns victoriously towards Asagi, gratefully nodding as he heals the wounds she’s sustained, breaking their bond before returning to the sea.<br /></div><p>In the aftermath, Nagamine worries that there could still be other Gyaos in the world and they should stay vigilant. But Asagi is sure that if anything happens, Gamera will return once again.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJSsxGi8YYiOWwm_ytfiW225yxad_cok8T-_YPpY1mXh8v6Sv-hfX3RFbVB_W-prG5UI1Ux0KLRxwICCP3rl9gYGxQNKNUnm6JGLhkEXo_YUVfak7ZktIQUe-ZixNPWrUM9UwSRgio4C1u/s1055/end.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="1055" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJSsxGi8YYiOWwm_ytfiW225yxad_cok8T-_YPpY1mXh8v6Sv-hfX3RFbVB_W-prG5UI1Ux0KLRxwICCP3rl9gYGxQNKNUnm6JGLhkEXo_YUVfak7ZktIQUe-ZixNPWrUM9UwSRgio4C1u/s320/end.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p><br /><br />Hot damn, what a fucking movie. I honestly do not have a lot to critique about Gamera, it's simply an easy watch for me. I wouldn’t call it a comfort movie per se, but one thing that always gets me is how quickly the film just seems to fly by. It’s an hour and a half but it barely feels like 45 minutes because it’s such a breeze to watch and genuinely entertaining.<br /><br />If there is something of a criticism I have for Gamera’s story it’s that the characters are just relatively average. They’re not bad by any means, Mayumi and Yoshinari are both perfectly fine and their actors do an excellent job in their roles. In fact, Shinobu Nakayama won a blue ribbon for best-supporting actress for her role as Mayumi, a well-deserved one I might add.<br /><br />But the characters themselves are not given a particular amount of depth beyond their dedication. They work for moving the plot along; unraveling the mystery surrounding the Gyaos, where they came from, how they operate and breed, the mystery of the strange metals, Gamera, the lost civilization, and so forth. Those parts are the most engaging for me, and the film does a great job of utilizing the characters in that manner. They’re just not well-rounded otherwise, but I feel that’s an acceptable compromise.<br /><br /><br />I will however give special mention to Asagi, who I enjoy in a meta sense. Her spiritual bond with Gamera is a clever way to harken back to Showa entries emphasis on Gamera’s connection to children and the kids having to deal with ignorant adults- although here it’s obviously more teen or pre-teen.<br /><br />I’ll also give credit for the film keeping it simple. We really only have two leads and the Kusanagi family, followed by Mr. Saito of the EPA as a pseudo antagonist. Simple as they may be, keeping the core cast basic helps maintain focus. It never feels like there are too many unnecessary characters or ones that you enjoy but are killed off too soon or the like.<br /><br /><br />Now for the themes, it’s a bit 50/50. There’s something of a political critique in showing to the national diet ratifying a bill for military action (As the JSDF is only for defense and the enemy must attack first) But once that occurs the JSDF prioritizes attacking Gamera over Gyaos, even though it clear the other is a much bigger problem. But it feels a little undercooked for what is depicted. Giving the benefit of the doubt, I could simply be missing very topical and specific satire relevant only to mid 90’s Japan. The economic mentions definitely feel topical to the bubble bursting. Still, it feels like more could have been done with a Government finding problems where there isn’t one, yet ignoring the obvious until it’s too late. This instigates some friction between our main protagonists and the Government officials- but again, it’s relatively shallow despite a solid concept.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzIM_ELGIoeNzaw9Pj2lo20dBq7apE5JSeGekw7yRpM9cJfpL_y1NhZd5hh_0H1OGWOwsBNOkzhmDlYXbgFnML-rhDC2DhyJ7hMMsGGUD3rzvu8iYacmEMsgcz1ztJXun4S7hddTYu4ms/s1366/destroy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzIM_ELGIoeNzaw9Pj2lo20dBq7apE5JSeGekw7yRpM9cJfpL_y1NhZd5hh_0H1OGWOwsBNOkzhmDlYXbgFnML-rhDC2DhyJ7hMMsGGUD3rzvu8iYacmEMsgcz1ztJXun4S7hddTYu4ms/s320/destroy.png" width="320" /></a></div><p><br />Where they’re more successful is, again, discussions of Gyaos and Gamera’s origins. Parallels are drawn between the ancient civilization losing control of Gyaos and inadvertently being destroyed by their own creation to that of mankind’s pollution of the earth, which is also cited as a probable factor in reawakening the beasts.<br /><br />And if that sounds familiar, yeah. A large part of that concept was almost copied wholesale for Legendary’s Godzilla series.<br /><br /><br /><br />Another area Gamera was unique and in some ways still is, is the more animalistic depiction of the Kaiju, at least for the Gyaos. Biological functions just aren’t something you often see with Kaiju, at least not in a traditional sense. Most of the time when a giant monster is consuming something, it’s more ethereal like radiation or electricity, not flesh. It’s funny to think that as far back as Gojira, the idea of giant monsters eating was thought about, just not often depicted and more so only ever alluded to if that. Delving into reproduction and other functions even less so.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />But while I think the story is enjoyable and the various depictions of the kaiju are wonderful, as superficial as this may be to say, where Gamera shines most is the visual effects. <br /><br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwk1zINGI8ryxpRqIUYkmzl9Mo3OjQIbGkw97DzL1SgjDNaCULquBE_h35VM3agomYKsXUdmf-Tl9YhgYwJun_LyoXJJ6E4gwG6B0yRD2SNek-AJNDCIkOlO6v79R1EKoidZ68ZIUWSczR/s1027/G1_Gamera_concept_art_by_Mahiro_Maeda_4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="1027" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwk1zINGI8ryxpRqIUYkmzl9Mo3OjQIbGkw97DzL1SgjDNaCULquBE_h35VM3agomYKsXUdmf-Tl9YhgYwJun_LyoXJJ6E4gwG6B0yRD2SNek-AJNDCIkOlO6v79R1EKoidZ68ZIUWSczR/s320/G1_Gamera_concept_art_by_Mahiro_Maeda_4.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxwYqgnVBDDLi8yvgJzTyQ-BUL48D-2FGGlilNb-hB-9QsnF2MJbCX2p19oizqSfKaa2rFfH2rLT8QstPYKmVDNYLMwWIudc1rRefln9FlgHlG1UHDCv0ztjl5HaNCtViPI93XmP5djGr/s532/G1_Gamera_concept_art_by_Shinji_Higuchi.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="396" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxwYqgnVBDDLi8yvgJzTyQ-BUL48D-2FGGlilNb-hB-9QsnF2MJbCX2p19oizqSfKaa2rFfH2rLT8QstPYKmVDNYLMwWIudc1rRefln9FlgHlG1UHDCv0ztjl5HaNCtViPI93XmP5djGr/s320/G1_Gamera_concept_art_by_Shinji_Higuchi.png" width="238" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p><br />Gamera’s early concepts were quite varied and even downright bizarre, almost appearing more like a Lovecraftian abomination, barely recognizable. Others were simply darker with sharp angles. Obviously, those wouldn’t do given the restrictions. But there were some other design choices also rejected, ranging from Gamera having fins at all times, to fins only when in flight, or a sharp protruding elbow, all of which were rejected. Although the elbow concept was made retractable and snuck into the final battle.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMrJCdGnQXQ3C43ShAElAzpEhYDblfETGW8H-MnjjliQSqDG3OHWR1H1OEhInl_UqJkmeaepsbOYXUVlI0CQv4hJ96KjcSRxRxknvNe7tOgIRyIw8eZ59rSNv6JWamQa4FJUbWnojK3vV/s1366/gamera+head.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMrJCdGnQXQ3C43ShAElAzpEhYDblfETGW8H-MnjjliQSqDG3OHWR1H1OEhInl_UqJkmeaepsbOYXUVlI0CQv4hJ96KjcSRxRxknvNe7tOgIRyIw8eZ59rSNv6JWamQa4FJUbWnojK3vV/s320/gamera+head.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The final result was essentially a fairly straightforward update with all the modern accouterments from detail to material. Gamera’s head’s a bit softer and the eyes made more friendly (Which are actually Gachapon capsules). The shell was made more rounded than the Showa era designs, as was the chest to more closely resemble real turtles.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlTn-HuJ1FT69DuTUH_IxaQkhA0LdUWRPxvxeT2tKMqG-YixdzUOsXL-LccRd5BsOjC6mbH2C2OV6J8qaQjYOoE23FwDXnSKvNcFrGAUSiOe90LSdNJDMyGc0Mg6csqb42Iyc07_X7C6f/s374/nod.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="204" data-original-width="374" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlTn-HuJ1FT69DuTUH_IxaQkhA0LdUWRPxvxeT2tKMqG-YixdzUOsXL-LccRd5BsOjC6mbH2C2OV6J8qaQjYOoE23FwDXnSKvNcFrGAUSiOe90LSdNJDMyGc0Mg6csqb42Iyc07_X7C6f/s320/nod.gif" width="320" /></a></div><p>As with most suits, several were made for different purposes, including an animatronic head which is very expressive. If Daiei wanted a friendly Gamera, this very well might be most kindly looking he had ever been up to that point. It's not my favorite design for Gamera, but I think it's a great starting point and a wonderful update to the classic design.<br /><br /><br />On a humour note, Takateru Manabe and Jun Suzuki were both chosen to play the role of Gamera, primarily for the reason that they were fairly short, which made the low-angle shots easier while avoiding the ceiling. It also meant that both the suits and the miniatures could be made smaller and thus save time, material, and money. <br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdp27x95rT5oYzmmwguzawGcCHksdQdqwk6Ycd4M4qFCNDH6Y-cEAvng6jpx_4m5XZI2Wv60kGIwNhiQkAUCVqBfLEdc5q4KjpbqiBQ0_bJRBzIGcK-O69K_5m_NNxA1pMLSV3q3eCUJS/s1366/gyaos+head.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdp27x95rT5oYzmmwguzawGcCHksdQdqwk6Ycd4M4qFCNDH6Y-cEAvng6jpx_4m5XZI2Wv60kGIwNhiQkAUCVqBfLEdc5q4KjpbqiBQ0_bJRBzIGcK-O69K_5m_NNxA1pMLSV3q3eCUJS/s320/gyaos+head.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Gyaos is granted a similar upgrade, although with a much more villainous visage for obvious reasons. Perhaps the most interesting thing to note about Gyaos isn’t the design itself but the suit actress, Yumi Kameyama. She has the distinction of being the first woman to portray a Kaiju. Higuchi noted that Gyaos had a slim design and they required someone with the right shape. In fact, it seems the primary reason Gyaos was designed in such a manner was mainly so a woman could be cast. Higuchi felt the industry was filled with too many men and decided he would do something to make it easier for a woman to break into the field. Kudos.<br /></div><p><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBtkpQOLGZaaKLLE0QS7H5fzL0T5hcqQCXPL0biiORukZHeHtObtJ9X6nYEIjdyNSC1SyvQrsiIU5FTtsc6oELFx-iyNBnAp7neGVZPrnGLlz90XXhqIDbiUqjnRO9WH65bo0p2zdJY3i/s1366/miniatures.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBtkpQOLGZaaKLLE0QS7H5fzL0T5hcqQCXPL0biiORukZHeHtObtJ9X6nYEIjdyNSC1SyvQrsiIU5FTtsc6oELFx-iyNBnAp7neGVZPrnGLlz90XXhqIDbiUqjnRO9WH65bo0p2zdJY3i/s320/miniatures.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />But I think what everyone will inevitably point to in terms of design quality is the sets. At one point in time, this was the pinnacle of miniatures and it took a long time before anything else came close.<br /></div><p><br />It’s goddamn impressive what they realized considering the budget. But it also makes a degree of sense when you think about what’s on-screen. They went with smaller complexes as opposed to the giant skyscrapers you often saw in Heisei Godzilla films. Going with smaller buildings allows for more detail such as a bike leaning against the building or clothing hanging out to dry, rust upon a water tower. Little things that wouldn’t be practical to incorporate otherwise and were often missing in Godzilla movies which results in much more plain environments. I believe they quite rightly realized that finer details such as that are far more interesting than worrying about if the monsters are outsized by modern skyrises. Simply put, it’s quality over quantity. <br /><br />You have about 3 Gamera suits, 2 Gyaos, some smaller puppet Gyaos that can be easily repurposed, and a small focused cast. Everything thing else can go into the set design and location with three really big set pieces with the Dome, the battle in Tokyo, and the final confrontation in the oil refinery- which they actually use twice in the film but only briefly.<br /><br />They’re also very frugal and clever by revisiting locations like the Island, the local store, or Kusanagi’s home without it ever being too noticeable as it is sensible to shoot multiple scenes in those locations. The pacing is so goddamn good that no area, miniature or otherwise, ever becomes stale.<br />The smaller occurrences like the bridge scene or Gyaos eating the passengers of the train also help add variety in small ways that make the film seem bigger than it really is. But even with those clever elements, the fact this was still accomplished on such a minuscule budget is impressive.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZO8HRS_p1-t0wt0eyy50Ebb1UlNOydK7EwL9Ft_C0mYajAAN36_zhBBF6d1ECf2zAdZ06FuC7oMrddHgqZ4_SohLn6qfr768rvea4Y0jdU0e5zQT-F0W35OtBSqDao7GtYpxQhzbZwSnq/s530/gamera+fog.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="530" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZO8HRS_p1-t0wt0eyy50Ebb1UlNOydK7EwL9Ft_C0mYajAAN36_zhBBF6d1ECf2zAdZ06FuC7oMrddHgqZ4_SohLn6qfr768rvea4Y0jdU0e5zQT-F0W35OtBSqDao7GtYpxQhzbZwSnq/s320/gamera+fog.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p>And it’s not just how nicely detailed the sets are, but how they frame and film the shots, how they combine the miniatures with real scale or night shots to create magnificent illusions.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOydxUzDrN9KrjbEtbLktFsrgiaDWDgdf4oGnqOEWOv2ZYaZCXBUxcwn_gXoIlFp4Bfh1cj6cErxGEke_aDGT0-haM5zrtykqnAwq8pdexuFkIdJt-s5HoYbzQRZYFMFkTPP2vqpcAATU/s1366/pull+back.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOydxUzDrN9KrjbEtbLktFsrgiaDWDgdf4oGnqOEWOv2ZYaZCXBUxcwn_gXoIlFp4Bfh1cj6cErxGEke_aDGT0-haM5zrtykqnAwq8pdexuFkIdJt-s5HoYbzQRZYFMFkTPP2vqpcAATU/s320/pull+back.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">You have very impressive pullback shots like this which give a sense of mass to the suits and adds a depth of realism. That sense of scope and magnitude is something Gamera nails in such a way that many others have failed to grasp. <br /><br />Again, how those finer points are shot is what makes the film for me. You can have the most bloated budget, the largest sets, the best CG, but if I can’t believe this is a lived-in world, it’s for naught.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFVrW69W-p1k3Q3SSCBKMbWq_khyphenhyphenMIJQZPh24naU95b6_tkMD0mY2A2_d2lcdkdgxvaPfeVTozrRf_xj2FdoXKCmA9yuuiMWiV2tGsd4WaibwFeqWO6bWtbSrUr1PHF_wpdBy5uoMy7ql/s1366/office.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFVrW69W-p1k3Q3SSCBKMbWq_khyphenhyphenMIJQZPh24naU95b6_tkMD0mY2A2_d2lcdkdgxvaPfeVTozrRf_xj2FdoXKCmA9yuuiMWiV2tGsd4WaibwFeqWO6bWtbSrUr1PHF_wpdBy5uoMy7ql/s320/office.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goddamn.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8EBqvcnIkFNMU1nXm5JA9EE2pmgiMDE3uH5VG1jABMsBEVRHaTnWddRz-Zohv5IZy7zHXnTMGFevxFdnDM3M2YiaJ_dJUEzaQ3LQXi33vhz6VgxxuOoHIE97faWfGRrU01LsIXOtDSpI4/s1366/green+screen+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8EBqvcnIkFNMU1nXm5JA9EE2pmgiMDE3uH5VG1jABMsBEVRHaTnWddRz-Zohv5IZy7zHXnTMGFevxFdnDM3M2YiaJ_dJUEzaQ3LQXi33vhz6VgxxuOoHIE97faWfGRrU01LsIXOtDSpI4/s320/green+screen+1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p>That said, it’s not as if the effects are flawless. As wonderful as the miniatures are, a lot of the green screen and CG effects are <i>really</i> dated and some not even all that great for the time.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOuIBgd0pCXJIj23x3jl2Rdo6AAQ0icwRGQiJtg-zY9Yw418pBSD9-GcBi7D6vnoDp0CUfa8s5qKWxCkPL_Fa_Bf70eWqQwi3xBma-wDPW78_j3RDmenDNIg7TdpaBmoMzWeczE9TmzpZ/s1366/CGI+missiles.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOuIBgd0pCXJIj23x3jl2Rdo6AAQ0icwRGQiJtg-zY9Yw418pBSD9-GcBi7D6vnoDp0CUfa8s5qKWxCkPL_Fa_Bf70eWqQwi3xBma-wDPW78_j3RDmenDNIg7TdpaBmoMzWeczE9TmzpZ/s320/CGI+missiles.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_K4Uv0WWstU1da9CRiBXzSNlZnOytBa37H1Gh-MSo9Kl6VXkflMIKwyIuve6o3G5YRtTneryBBsvhBqtUES4sIrzRCt1UagPV7-Ca3oIUfiJZ9rapF8au-EgPj36vgxBESRGCNKrY5oN/s1366/super+imposed.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_K4Uv0WWstU1da9CRiBXzSNlZnOytBa37H1Gh-MSo9Kl6VXkflMIKwyIuve6o3G5YRtTneryBBsvhBqtUES4sIrzRCt1UagPV7-Ca3oIUfiJZ9rapF8au-EgPj36vgxBESRGCNKrY5oN/s320/super+imposed.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Some are...pretty fucking bad, actually. Especially watching this in Bluray quality. What’s funny is that probably cost an arm and a leg in 1995 and I’m sure more of the budget went towards this than any other component.<br /></div><p><br />Some of the ground fights are rough as well. This only happens at the end of the film during the final fight, and it’s inter-cut with very impressive aerial battles, so I can’t complain too much. But neither suit is particularly suited for fisti cuffs. Gyaos is of course winged and Gamera’s shell simply makes him too awkward to move in a fluid enough motion to properly hit. It’s clunky. <br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFLY13RjddbwP04_NwFZBX70X-lpOjbDOwdCB7HtdwalaoNpuk7Se6JbfS_RnctN1TvQXjfKnjcr5e5Ot9TVA319LN-BC2lwDpyhfBkAOjKtPd694IrDP9b6igRdjf6ob9ksk_0der_xSt/s374/POV.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="204" data-original-width="374" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFLY13RjddbwP04_NwFZBX70X-lpOjbDOwdCB7HtdwalaoNpuk7Se6JbfS_RnctN1TvQXjfKnjcr5e5Ot9TVA319LN-BC2lwDpyhfBkAOjKtPd694IrDP9b6igRdjf6ob9ksk_0der_xSt/s320/POV.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">But again, it’s a minor issue. The vast majority of the ending confrontation has some fantastic POV shots weaving in between the buildings and wonderful destruction of all those buildings. Even with the heavy blacklines around the monsters, it's a sight to behold. In Japan the film is actually called ‘Gamera: Giant Monster Midair Battle’ and it certainly lives up to the title.<br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: center;">Final thoughts.</h3><p style="text-align: left;"><br />If it wasn’t clear by now, I think this film is marvelous. I don’t even think it would be controversial to say this is one of the very best toku films of the era. In an hour and a half, it gives you everything you want with brilliant pacing and a unique take that pretty much every later giant monster movie cribbed from in some way. Gamera GOTU doesn’t overstay its welcome, and the few flaws present are easier to forgive because of that. (something I wish more modern films would take note of)<br /><br />I don’t know of any other film or series that has had as much impact as the Heisei Gamera trilogy, yet is not fully appreciated for it- at least outside Japan. Because there it was a critical darling being nominated at the Japanese Academy Awards. Winning a blue ribbon for both best supporting actress and director, and winning best-supporting actress, director, screenplay, and special effects at the Yokohama Film Festival.<br />The film made back its budget and a profit of about 2 million which allowed for subsequent sequels, and it even bested the then most recent Godzilla entry which was Godzilla vs Space Godzilla.<br /><br /><br />Despite the praise, this never resulted in much fanfare in the west. The most it got at the time was a surprisingly high rating from Roger Ebert, who gave the film three stars and described the movie as better than Airforce One. Although noting that the movie itself wasn’t <i>good </i>but a good moviegoing experience. <br /><br />A lot of that floundering simply has to do with the fact that Gamera never had as big a foothold as Godzilla Internationally. After the 70s, poor Gamera was mostly relegated to infamy for being even cornier than Godzilla in the Showa era and was primarily known for the Sandy Frank edits and MST3K. Heisei Godzilla films on the other hand were all over the place on video and ran into the ground on the WAM channel.<br /><br /><br />Thankfully the Gamera trilogy has started to get more recognition in recent years thanks to things like Shout Factory running a marathon and the recent releases by Arrow- which by the way are loaded with extras.<br /><br />I really don't know what else to say. GOTU is the accumulation of decades of SFX work, fans of monster movies, people who weren’t even involved with Tokusatsu, and simply the right people at the right time. They all came together to create something that in some ways is still unparalleled in what it started. It’s not perfect, Gamera GOTU certainly has some flaws and noticeable room for improvement- something that is taken into account in future entries. But that doesn’t keep this from being an absolute watch and one of my favorites.<br /><br />Maybe one day I’ll talk about the subsequent sequels that make those improvements, but for now, I hope you enjoyed this look at one of my favorite tokusatsu films. If you’d like to watch Gamera for yourself, it’s free on <a href="https://tubitv.com/movies/612876/gamera-guardian-of-the-universe">Tubi</a>.<br /><br />You can also purchase the trilogy in a 3 disc steel book from Arrow at a very reasonable $50, or get the Heisei collection with Gamera the Brave at $70.<br /><br />And if you like what I do and can spare a buck, you can donate to my<a href="https://ko-fi.com/kamen_writer"> ko-fi page here. </a><br /></p><span><!--more--></span><span><!--more--></span>Kamen Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02832099141882322022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505042118996520039.post-35044496872586713172021-08-22T02:10:00.000-04:002021-08-22T02:10:12.825-04:00Gridman Blu-Ray: Translation Trainwreck.<p>This is not going to be a typical review. I’m not even sure what to talk about aside from the massive stain that is the subtitles. So I guess think of this more as a warning or PSA.<br /><br /><br /><br />For those that aren’t aware, Gridman has a rather infamous reputation when it comes to its subtitles. The initial release was handled by TokuHD, reading something more akin to a bad parody than a translation. Mistranslations, misspellings, grammar issues, you name it. Eventually MillCreek would acquire the home media release, and that raised the question on if the subs would be changed.<br />Well a few months prior to said release, there was word that Gridman received an overhaul by MillCreek and that the team was working hard to make sure the new subs were good. With that in mind, I decided to pre-order.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQT7TmgopczSgXUe3f92-VEyiF2Hoo5IRxZaNag7mC5zclRJ2pNnhyTnVUaDm1z37cpNSjGD-L8GY7nUq83m6HyM2VZ1Z0hF3H7AX8g3fXBwBXjevkwRMhremZQKjbB6ocZK4zwDKpN_1/s1024/lies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1024" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQT7TmgopczSgXUe3f92-VEyiF2Hoo5IRxZaNag7mC5zclRJ2pNnhyTnVUaDm1z37cpNSjGD-L8GY7nUq83m6HyM2VZ1Z0hF3H7AX8g3fXBwBXjevkwRMhremZQKjbB6ocZK4zwDKpN_1/s320/lies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">They did not.<br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p style="text-align: left;"><br />In fact, they’re not even really all that new. It’s more accurate to say that- at best- the team tweaked <i>some</i> of the really egregious lines of dialogue and restructured some sentences in a more natural-sounding manner. <br /><br />But while the series isn’t and never was complete gibberish, most of the original subbing is left untouched and is still horrendously laughable. The subtitles still use “Jesus” as basically the only term for being exacerbated. Much of the dialogue is still very questionable, varying from a strange choice of wording to a lack of pluralization where needed. There's poor grammar throughout and they sometimes even get character names wrong.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_GQJbq69aUpS1YUJZI76Ujffuxj7P1rYXGSHzSEAC697FzdHiHTwgWN_7hrv6nt_48eRSq9mYTBCkejSpGKq1m9Cz5Pb5IKjTcYtNGUHoFZTq_evggf6Z7Dd8kSMihJ-MyGGi7SxEw4J/s607/grammar+car+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="607" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_GQJbq69aUpS1YUJZI76Ujffuxj7P1rYXGSHzSEAC697FzdHiHTwgWN_7hrv6nt_48eRSq9mYTBCkejSpGKq1m9Cz5Pb5IKjTcYtNGUHoFZTq_evggf6Z7Dd8kSMihJ-MyGGi7SxEw4J/s320/grammar+car+.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7p6OKHPYPjJq2sMV34KuN54rzTgGPtAj9YK17q8KSoD8TVUOMUfmpKcIECeB5OZr5FRtzghcY1emYj2hNpzW3PLhhmFwBcA2o7d1Am_tvKU35MkzWus009KQOIGUBH5GwuQfb7XSIGXl9/s597/I+guess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="597" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7p6OKHPYPjJq2sMV34KuN54rzTgGPtAj9YK17q8KSoD8TVUOMUfmpKcIECeB5OZr5FRtzghcY1emYj2hNpzW3PLhhmFwBcA2o7d1Am_tvKU35MkzWus009KQOIGUBH5GwuQfb7XSIGXl9/s320/I+guess.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrry6i8b3tC7leTfHmAhCNFOHsQuAW-EOS461HNclHMXSXP85Myjd5IqEuEm_SOJhwBBNzZYsd6WgpZOlMJwyP9NnAxb7JE-129rW-XaGBxC3gQ-C5bQl3n9-mTBAtG4_YsHrPeMh6jts/s603/I%2527ve+got.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="603" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrry6i8b3tC7leTfHmAhCNFOHsQuAW-EOS461HNclHMXSXP85Myjd5IqEuEm_SOJhwBBNzZYsd6WgpZOlMJwyP9NnAxb7JE-129rW-XaGBxC3gQ-C5bQl3n9-mTBAtG4_YsHrPeMh6jts/s320/I%2527ve+got.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAh5wwnSv5ys45M-Qo4TxFbNdYeqBO4yOqyV3AJlANmRY0UUlTLkIhwhYg2HxmXpJPIxBJ1IzEUv3OLK_CT1PJQv70QJzYDKGdiV_IKpqbYMgGm6MszdRWjdOFG4EJfxn96qqqUHMeuUfq/s593/Jesus+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="593" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAh5wwnSv5ys45M-Qo4TxFbNdYeqBO4yOqyV3AJlANmRY0UUlTLkIhwhYg2HxmXpJPIxBJ1IzEUv3OLK_CT1PJQv70QJzYDKGdiV_IKpqbYMgGm6MszdRWjdOFG4EJfxn96qqqUHMeuUfq/s320/Jesus+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGMfXEpUohOqOnrha2hnTFQkeiGYBLW-AWgWsEkutUeqvJOEhSNQTYY-8DHoieUr5wrZTLGQmXwFpqJOqNXcz5UJse8XR9I0HBxSDZI3_BEuVOLkpOUH09Gs2loIpP3BL9-06-ozG05zd/s595/jesus+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="595" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGMfXEpUohOqOnrha2hnTFQkeiGYBLW-AWgWsEkutUeqvJOEhSNQTYY-8DHoieUr5wrZTLGQmXwFpqJOqNXcz5UJse8XR9I0HBxSDZI3_BEuVOLkpOUH09Gs2loIpP3BL9-06-ozG05zd/s320/jesus+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUMCrGAxLbHDl7vx1WW4QICmBNev-e5vIXSyXPlFSrnyAwgFaDI05aP5YxvsdYcLS-eNJeRlu4mcWXqcVZKTj7O9JvDbbBINZxCGS3TnWRU8m5vJ22aZPSHocQEYDi4RZvuac6_siKFrt/s601/jesus+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="601" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUMCrGAxLbHDl7vx1WW4QICmBNev-e5vIXSyXPlFSrnyAwgFaDI05aP5YxvsdYcLS-eNJeRlu4mcWXqcVZKTj7O9JvDbbBINZxCGS3TnWRU8m5vJ22aZPSHocQEYDi4RZvuac6_siKFrt/s320/jesus+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGewqbqttw-qGzgx726LPncxflRtkFuYlQOuZe1J-7epEOab3RadamGCXUOdYHIOLATF1_pXatYyvPlXExLbYNpjxM4Lnqddg5uJ5kyinA3x6Hs0sJPV9-5avnxDFR5VcsMMPuDH1gwkAn/s599/jesus+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="599" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGewqbqttw-qGzgx726LPncxflRtkFuYlQOuZe1J-7epEOab3RadamGCXUOdYHIOLATF1_pXatYyvPlXExLbYNpjxM4Lnqddg5uJ5kyinA3x6Hs0sJPV9-5avnxDFR5VcsMMPuDH1gwkAn/s320/jesus+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7f3ETGpfUmO4kN0cva9SSqsw54tEwpX4jHfWQ8r5rlVXF3NBh2yjn7KtGAYgIWf-Ia87lKqGPniFkdaxEkWhyPnJTeL5mO0V79H1zGL4SWRNplljYrKPuwdkMdKkGA70GsuBnuJOKHFtn/s591/jesus+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="591" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7f3ETGpfUmO4kN0cva9SSqsw54tEwpX4jHfWQ8r5rlVXF3NBh2yjn7KtGAYgIWf-Ia87lKqGPniFkdaxEkWhyPnJTeL5mO0V79H1zGL4SWRNplljYrKPuwdkMdKkGA70GsuBnuJOKHFtn/s320/jesus+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ESMsa7trGpAf2c6Nyw_Jxp7qqqyzj7nxl4oXSuA1e9uSxxAg4E16QQGKtDwxNFbb9AFxNk5WoDSffX932ijOxVLU86SDo2f8EzRmeVrhwfQaQTi4fZGgaHQ5bbEP_BQY5g0oNxju8MUb/s599/lack+of+plural.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="599" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ESMsa7trGpAf2c6Nyw_Jxp7qqqyzj7nxl4oXSuA1e9uSxxAg4E16QQGKtDwxNFbb9AFxNk5WoDSffX932ijOxVLU86SDo2f8EzRmeVrhwfQaQTi4fZGgaHQ5bbEP_BQY5g0oNxju8MUb/s320/lack+of+plural.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2QFq4rDl_ZoFhIcnXxaX9bopf4DS4mYJB_VkMiBKp800_RsRrCuOUgOcFTlMVTV4g2l1i6qJYjwthTnZDgTDVbpXX0DKpCzghuH5jwS5S98m_H0LvP5U8ITsJIlRUlaW3iZhljKVxs3H/s609/revenged.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="609" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2QFq4rDl_ZoFhIcnXxaX9bopf4DS4mYJB_VkMiBKp800_RsRrCuOUgOcFTlMVTV4g2l1i6qJYjwthTnZDgTDVbpXX0DKpCzghuH5jwS5S98m_H0LvP5U8ITsJIlRUlaW3iZhljKVxs3H/s320/revenged.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-DaT7w_KvssPOYf9URT2CkPR790kQMAlMDdGZ3jELiKFX0abvrRiqOmQSuQ4pTuo0ZwEuTmg8lURJd33c1k5cl9PuvtXionwzfDvD_66TpFztLdqlVo9OoZ2iMybXfFVPRFjPYj6g27E/s601/smrt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="601" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-DaT7w_KvssPOYf9URT2CkPR790kQMAlMDdGZ3jELiKFX0abvrRiqOmQSuQ4pTuo0ZwEuTmg8lURJd33c1k5cl9PuvtXionwzfDvD_66TpFztLdqlVo9OoZ2iMybXfFVPRFjPYj6g27E/s320/smrt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5h0IUB-_r5SaFYEh-Eo3z11fYUU4wQNinzAqFJdpv71vz4EHO4NyWsxsOPRMZIwb6fdoqN5MlU1Sek2s4OuBjyae1TQOhWTCuW-PDr_2Knpqnrzm54_A_hFxr0hE9cxsRXnt76lUNIh4F/s599/the+guy+ep+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="599" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5h0IUB-_r5SaFYEh-Eo3z11fYUU4wQNinzAqFJdpv71vz4EHO4NyWsxsOPRMZIwb6fdoqN5MlU1Sek2s4OuBjyae1TQOhWTCuW-PDr_2Knpqnrzm54_A_hFxr0hE9cxsRXnt76lUNIh4F/s320/the+guy+ep+9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7gRDjIV3uSwECE5aF9o7OcyLl1cF0E9ZEFiNBX-ROHj_M4FHnoxWx0aQaxv4lh0Z-0ZqlxbLg8cgFSLcsDFiPY20l7BS3PrvxkNJBMdOUqHsHs2ewlHSnnOl-dHEC3Ux6qNn70CCnAFT/s609/the+tomorrow%2527s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="609" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7gRDjIV3uSwECE5aF9o7OcyLl1cF0E9ZEFiNBX-ROHj_M4FHnoxWx0aQaxv4lh0Z-0ZqlxbLg8cgFSLcsDFiPY20l7BS3PrvxkNJBMdOUqHsHs2ewlHSnnOl-dHEC3Ux6qNn70CCnAFT/s320/the+tomorrow%2527s.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;">Keep in mind, these aren’t just once in a while occurrences. Every single episode has multiple instances of the above.<br /><br />It's a goddamn shame because under all this mishandling is an engaging show that is still relevant in its subject matter and oddly prophetic in many of its plots. <br />Waaaay back when I reviewed the M/subs of the first two or three episodes, I talked about how one of the main antagonists, Takeshi Todo, is an emotionally fragile self-centered weirdo that believes the entire world is against him, and that those very reasons allow him to become easily manipulated by Kahn Digifier to do his bidding. A damaged youth enthralled by an evil force over the internet is a fantastic setup and probably why the same basic premise was kept for SSSS. Gridman.<br /><br />It’s not perfect, of course. Some of the performances are a bit stilted early on, and some of the digital effects are hokey as all get out. But there are enough good qualities for it to not matter all that much. If you can look past the subbing, the characters have a wonderful chemistry with one another and the dynamics are surprisingly solid. Yuka, in particular, is a shockingly great female lead who's treated better than many women in more recent Toku series. The practical effects are, as always, fantastic, and the music is great, particularly the main theme “Yume No Hero” which is one of my absolute favorite Tokusatsu tracks.<br /><br />But I’m also not sure how to evaluate and critique this show when the subs make anachronistic pop culture references or feature a character claiming they're smart while talking like a caveman because of piss-poor subbing. You can get the gist of something, but I don’t feel that’s good enough. I can’t fully judge a narrative or characterization when random inaccurate or bizarre lines are tossed on screen, it’s simply too distracting. You’re basically in a constant battle of seeing the glimmers of what Gridman actually is and what the subtitles are telling you.<br /><br /><br /><br />Honestly, I'm astounded by how much goodwill was squandered in this one release. I actually cited the TokuHD Gridman in my Ultra Q review for being the one example I could think of worse than Ultra Q having random-ass symbols in the subtitles or misspellings. Because as bad as those QC issues were, and as much as it was not okay for massive retail release, it was at least only in a handful of episodes. Skip ahead to Ace and it finally feels like Millcreek has ironed out the major subbing issues. I didn’t notice any grammatical errors or misspellings. Maybe there are some deeper mistranslations I didn’t get, but they read well in my eyes. They were consistent.<br /><br />Now combine the above with Gridman suddenly becoming relevant again in 2018 with a smash hit anime and a successful sequel that aired this very year. You have a fantastic setup for generating interest. Obviously, not everyone into the anime is going to jump on a live-action show from the early 90s, but there is certainly a precedent set for this being good in driving sales. There’s finally far more brand recognition in NA than just Superhuman Samurai Syber Squad.<br /><br />Imagine all that, and they don’t even bother to put in the money or work for fresh subs, while still charging $40 for the exact same derided and broken subtitles you can get on Tsuburaya's YouTube channel.<br /><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx7zmOdEk46NFzZhw7jAEeSTHjqLZPXKxaSsdIiNFtOr7Mu80eOZ7uvd3NF3R_UFrQW8fs-FF_HgCILVAR0CMXkADL0re3HusZJkuROoK4O7xjg-0Z9gJALB8uY6rYFKLWXTmB4ccoxRkJ/s595/some+bullshit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="595" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx7zmOdEk46NFzZhw7jAEeSTHjqLZPXKxaSsdIiNFtOr7Mu80eOZ7uvd3NF3R_UFrQW8fs-FF_HgCILVAR0CMXkADL0re3HusZJkuROoK4O7xjg-0Z9gJALB8uY6rYFKLWXTmB4ccoxRkJ/s320/some+bullshit.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: left;">I’m not sure how something like this even happens outside of not giving a fuck. Maybe they rushed this to actually cash in on Dynzenon before it faded from memory. But if that was the case, why even bother tweaking what little they did? Everything about this feels weird. <br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgy1fTjvAoJmA4ZrPYoMKo6fK1grqN4hX4vjm-5ji2mG2CV69Vkmf167GOTrIs4O1p2REDsVQkkb8IzmF0PrqqEO1ibSuj8ntaZ205cz3EvM1bVIEbzO77Rg3E28TCxbE3noOTrE6jR5PV/s2048/1080p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgy1fTjvAoJmA4ZrPYoMKo6fK1grqN4hX4vjm-5ji2mG2CV69Vkmf167GOTrIs4O1p2REDsVQkkb8IzmF0PrqqEO1ibSuj8ntaZ205cz3EvM1bVIEbzO77Rg3E28TCxbE3noOTrE6jR5PV/s320/1080p.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Even the back of the sleeve inexplicably says it's in widescreen, despite obviously being in 4:3. Just what the hell is going on with this set? The episode guide isn't much better than the subs either. Monster names are different and some episode descriptions are absolute crabsticks.<br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br />God, this is disappointing. I was hoping that maybe I could review Gridman for September with a full breakdown of the characters and themes. I truly was looking forward to reviewing this ever since I watched those fan subs years ago. But the fact is I can’t waste my time on this release. I'm not even sure if I want to keep the Bluray.<br />Maybe one day I’ll give Gridman the review it deserves, and maybe one-day Gridman will have the translation it deserves. Until then, your money is better spent elsewhere.<br /><br /><br />Oh and Ultraman Gaia's subs blow too. If they didn't fix Gridman, they're sure as hell not going to touch up Gaia. If you've got a pre-order for Gaia, I would highly suggest you cancel that ASAP.<br /></p>Kamen Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02832099141882322022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505042118996520039.post-42896734105002935232021-08-12T09:00:00.000-04:002021-08-12T10:49:44.857-04:00Kamen Rider ZO review.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKyiIAy1tTZEkauF6MmYPwlhvpYEw7mZUhbYVWCa99QM-G2tcqaPwJ49ycPgaaxEOuNnaksARGfAMFAtFar8wLPG9ZCqQD_DXVHG09zfaqu0XhRnQv6v68qMNfnBOv1qCjRueaG9TpEEF/s1366/title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKyiIAy1tTZEkauF6MmYPwlhvpYEw7mZUhbYVWCa99QM-G2tcqaPwJ49ycPgaaxEOuNnaksARGfAMFAtFar8wLPG9ZCqQD_DXVHG09zfaqu0XhRnQv6v68qMNfnBOv1qCjRueaG9TpEEF/s320/title.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"> ZO was quite an ambitious project when it was proposed. Following the success of Shin Kamen Rider (and yes, contrary to the still widely held belief that Shin Kamen Rider was a failure, the film did insanely well on home video and was well received) there were talks of a sequel to Shin which would have incorporated the previous 11 riders, but that fell through and it was decided a new original Rider would be created.<br /></div><p><br />Toei Video president Yoshinori Watanabe, and Bandai Visual president Makoto Yamashina, met with the intention of a joint operation. Bandai would assist with multiple campaigns to promote the movie and merchandise, while Toei focused on the production in-house. The initial vision was to release a 90-minute feature film during Golden Week in Japan, as Toei had great success doing that in ‘91. But after some shaky performance by other Toei Productions in ‘92- likely due to the bubble bursting that same year- it was decided that a shorter direct to video method would be safer than a box office release.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOOd197CHusxfOPufGlRL9JEtaLoMk7s8bOVSXgtNXYBR7oS82xUtGVPk9SrWmIYLlQi5xDX_H-0bBf3K9bAyBtpPY3tSfjmu2Q68QRwRWiYwDConT4mKEoN7FaFx9dz_8SA83Upc5x-X/s607/space+ship.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="390" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOOd197CHusxfOPufGlRL9JEtaLoMk7s8bOVSXgtNXYBR7oS82xUtGVPk9SrWmIYLlQi5xDX_H-0bBf3K9bAyBtpPY3tSfjmu2Q68QRwRWiYwDConT4mKEoN7FaFx9dz_8SA83Upc5x-X/s320/space+ship.png" width="206" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Early story ideas for ZO ranged from the outlandish to the more traditional. Ishinomori wrote a short synopsis where ZO was an extraterrestrial in origin, and this even got as far as concept designs for a spacecraft by Katsushi Murakami. But this was shot down for budgetary and scheduling reasons.<br /><br />Keita Amemiya’s take was more familiar and even went as far as incorporating Hongo undergoing a new operation that would become ZO. Amemiya wanted to create a Rider for the Heisei era and in doing so literally recreate the original. This was also dropped, but the finished product more closely resembles this concept with a Rider that goes back to the basic premise of being modified. It's funny how that original idea was sort of incorporated for the Rider 1 movie, though.<br /></div><p><br />With a 90 minute runtime out of the question, it was decided the best manner of premiering the film would be at a festival. This led to the creation of the Toei Super Hero festival in which three short films would be shown. ZO would be joined by extended “film” cuts of Janperson and Dairanger episodes.<br /><br /><br />But that’s enough backstory, let’s get into this properly. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPv6TbNFKDzGJ5eFZfmChV_WP8Iz3-R_rF1T_rRCWvs1iextZXaUuBkJh0frblN4ZhHUdv5CsCxCBgfSjYO5VmpLESwzA9-ve7iGhsz1oDdnm6jw7fF_IZBeX8zJVCrSYygVGsh_T47OUg/s1366/BR+version.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPv6TbNFKDzGJ5eFZfmChV_WP8Iz3-R_rF1T_rRCWvs1iextZXaUuBkJh0frblN4ZhHUdv5CsCxCBgfSjYO5VmpLESwzA9-ve7iGhsz1oDdnm6jw7fF_IZBeX8zJVCrSYygVGsh_T47OUg/s320/BR+version.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The film starts with Masaru Aso (Kou Domon), our titular Rider, awakening in a dense forest with little in the way of memory. But as a mysterious voice calls out to him to protect Hiroshi Mochizuki (Shohei Shibata), enough broken fragments return to set him upon his journey.<br /></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpzJWlHD4nbH8n4tD7fr8jcc1gOszsxa5R0Mk8c_lLxMfMspSB2QelRrsiJ7bPnUYx-IYyq0pxXYkab9n01YPiUQtI8nypPAhAWRKk6t5LnUq_b8zG61SqWnuu_sAKbR4LRdmWawPf-FUs/s1366/Hiroshi.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpzJWlHD4nbH8n4tD7fr8jcc1gOszsxa5R0Mk8c_lLxMfMspSB2QelRrsiJ7bPnUYx-IYyq0pxXYkab9n01YPiUQtI8nypPAhAWRKk6t5LnUq_b8zG61SqWnuu_sAKbR4LRdmWawPf-FUs/s320/Hiroshi.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The film wastes very little time. Almost as soon as we are introduced to Hiroshi, he is set upon by one of the main villains, Doras. <br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxOoc3Zl9JAGffifOGa_IvUulVnpPflj2itHXQHhpynRSlieWGbrmmgY3TQx81cvUQOxvQkGa3uPYMExF2q2bhIx4y0qIDL0CtT4Rkf-he_yD7zwUBTiNwtYOmMCiCGfJyTpebm0CgBhPW/s1366/doras+2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxOoc3Zl9JAGffifOGa_IvUulVnpPflj2itHXQHhpynRSlieWGbrmmgY3TQx81cvUQOxvQkGa3uPYMExF2q2bhIx4y0qIDL0CtT4Rkf-he_yD7zwUBTiNwtYOmMCiCGfJyTpebm0CgBhPW/s320/doras+2.png" width="320" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Masaru can hear Hiroshi’s cries for help and is able to locate the boy,
saving him. In between the ensuing fight, we’re given some brief
snippets indicating that Doras was a creation of Hiroshi’s father, and
the creature recognizes ZO as a project Professor Mochizuki worked on
before it.</p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreMFZZlgWywSXYtYKvRpCQvYjZKp9ouAGt0PTYmkfysTMF0LGZTThWd9kVtPIAKxnaEm5_miDijnUt7mqHTLwd2AyyL8pYkD80P1of_aXL2vXZvoC6PeQf9ujS_uvJ0cxKrpSoLrUcWjQ/s1366/mochizuki.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreMFZZlgWywSXYtYKvRpCQvYjZKp9ouAGt0PTYmkfysTMF0LGZTThWd9kVtPIAKxnaEm5_miDijnUt7mqHTLwd2AyyL8pYkD80P1of_aXL2vXZvoC6PeQf9ujS_uvJ0cxKrpSoLrUcWjQ/s320/mochizuki.png" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">The battle is difficult for ZO and he has to rely upon his ingenuity, but Doras is ultimately impaled upon a spike and seemingly dead, allowing Hiroshi to escape where he returns home to his quirky grandfather, Seikichi (Hiroshi Inuzuka). He relates the encounter between the two monsters, noting that one was green like a grasshopper. Seikichi, unsurprisingly, doesn’t buy the tall tale and quickly changes the subject, noting that the two should spend more time together given the absence of Hiroshi’s father. This only causes a frustrated Hiroshi to storm out.</p><p><br />But something Hiroshi said sticks with his grandpa, as Seikichi remembers his son’s research on grasshoppers and goes to retrieve a file, one which just so happens to contain a photo of Masaru. Elsewhere, the Doras is alive and well, but is too weak to fight. Instead, it sends out two underlings in the form of a bat man and spider woman. And yes, I could say Kumo Onna and Kōmori Otoko, but I’m not.<br /><br />At this point Masaru confronts Hiroshi, but he’s scared off and runs towards a nearby dojo where several familiar faces reside.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCIZeVwKRUnNZAtONOZYFXJ-aUreg8t2DPrrIbTczaK7ZMVTo2g1L9-Y7vO5qZ2hIZGGoqhtAkqJ6kip1OG0RYxnyiYiQwWej5ZUCb2gUPyfTquKwWSyQWsF_Ld2bQHvD9M8edefNF1Gb/s1366/dojo+1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCIZeVwKRUnNZAtONOZYFXJ-aUreg8t2DPrrIbTczaK7ZMVTo2g1L9-Y7vO5qZ2hIZGGoqhtAkqJ6kip1OG0RYxnyiYiQwWej5ZUCb2gUPyfTquKwWSyQWsF_Ld2bQHvD9M8edefNF1Gb/s320/dojo+1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">That’s Naomi Morinaga from both Shaider and Spielban, and Iori Sakakibara from Exceedraft.<br /></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuSZ6yLGo5w41ZHdsui2x4PYxV8Y1xH3cy4Yn5mdUABOFKACQLPBeFJhyphenhyphencMoRvBRC_RP9mdXGaSGrZZdn-gqGTlJ1LK2GcPGHuzhMUdLAEcJatlj-EejFcnseG7TX7a26FSwAy8e9IWUs/s1366/dojo+2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuSZ6yLGo5w41ZHdsui2x4PYxV8Y1xH3cy4Yn5mdUABOFKACQLPBeFJhyphenhyphencMoRvBRC_RP9mdXGaSGrZZdn-gqGTlJ1LK2GcPGHuzhMUdLAEcJatlj-EejFcnseG7TX7a26FSwAy8e9IWUs/s320/dojo+2.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Kenji Ohba from...a lot, but notably Gavan, and Masaru Yamashita from Winspector.<br /></div><p><br /><br />Masaru- that’s ZO, not the actor- explains part of the situation and that he’s trying to protect Hiroshi from monsters, which Hiroshi backs up the existence of. The group laughs off the story...until the Bat man arrives and attacks. Masaru holds off the creature as the others escape. Reiko (Morinaga) and Hiroshi get separated from the rest of the group and are captured by the Spider woman. ZO manages to fend off the bat and arrives to saves the two, killing the Spider creature. But the Bat man returns and captures Hiroshi, flying off until ZO catches up on his motorcycle and retakes the boy.<br /><br /><br />With Hiroshi finally safe for the time being, Masaru meets with Seikichi and reads over the file detailing how he became ZO, causing a flood of painful memories to resurface. Masaru was the first attempt by Professor Mochizuki to create a new perfect lifeform, free from the restraints of human emotion. Masaru escaped, making his way into the mountains where he collapsed and slept for two years. <br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0tfTBc-Okfe_avBlA12Et9dVwfyECH4aepDNR7ggCKQopZu1BmnXWNdZZIFo3hgVCoK5Kkng7kGhyphenhyphenmD6Bu7_UJfqIZufJokdfplseSZW2C6-CuNQAhIkxrIVfcpeKUxShTxY-jwBcdnvG/s1366/surgey.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0tfTBc-Okfe_avBlA12Et9dVwfyECH4aepDNR7ggCKQopZu1BmnXWNdZZIFo3hgVCoK5Kkng7kGhyphenhyphenmD6Bu7_UJfqIZufJokdfplseSZW2C6-CuNQAhIkxrIVfcpeKUxShTxY-jwBcdnvG/s320/surgey.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Hiroshi overhears the story and refuses to believe it, once again running off. <br />Alone, the boy reminisces about his father, how kindly he was and his love of music, gifting Hiroshi a musical pocket watch. Yet once the experiments started, he became feverishly focused, pushing Hiroshi away both figuratively and quite literally, breaking the watch.<br /></div><p><br />Hiroshi readies tossing the broken gift away but is stopped by Masaru. Understanding the boy’s feelings, Masaru miraculously repairs the watch and recalls hearing the music. He remembers that at one point Hiroshi’s father was a kind man, but something happened and there’s no denying that all the recent events stemmed from his experiments. But whatever happened, they'll find out together.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3IEhW_QQqBJ0AQWP_SVvsOd9bgYdYysK5w3A70aHzlkMSV9L8ZW04QkVPcAPvjC8Ksd4ieCGBXzgxYLcTsBNKCZLX-BKHdmWzVi8fpFPJWyLZWG6H3HVLYwM4mnJxt4RplcoHw5zb06P/s1366/calm+music.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3IEhW_QQqBJ0AQWP_SVvsOd9bgYdYysK5w3A70aHzlkMSV9L8ZW04QkVPcAPvjC8Ksd4ieCGBXzgxYLcTsBNKCZLX-BKHdmWzVi8fpFPJWyLZWG6H3HVLYwM4mnJxt4RplcoHw5zb06P/s320/calm+music.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A reassured and more optimistic Hiroshi readies to leave with Masaru, but his eye is caught by a man calling out to him- who appears to be his father. Once again, Hiroshi runs off, only to realize the trap he’s fallen into when it’s too late. The figure reveals itself as the Bat and takes off with the boy. Masaru attempts to stop the kidnapping but is confronted by Doras, who disables the Rider long enough for the two to make their escape.<br /></div><p><br /><br />When Masaru comes to, he learns the location of the creatures and Hiroshi from a Grasshopper seen near the beginning of the film. <br />Upon arriving at the facility, the final pieces fall into place. Professor Mochizuki is revealed to still be alive, though captive and mutated.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD98NXAWvIego3ZUa1An74ytzIi25DC3YTGygg1juH7DYsr_fQhNid0P8yXajtMUCcHJp_M2xGAw67Fap5PXU1ZG2vnYLbWr0fdSxajGQk3l5IBjf7_-nn6ISYsuUomuBo4JXP7W_kqSqT/s1366/professor+Mochizuki.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD98NXAWvIego3ZUa1An74ytzIi25DC3YTGygg1juH7DYsr_fQhNid0P8yXajtMUCcHJp_M2xGAw67Fap5PXU1ZG2vnYLbWr0fdSxajGQk3l5IBjf7_-nn6ISYsuUomuBo4JXP7W_kqSqT/s320/professor+Mochizuki.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The Neo Organism, although of his creation, is acting upon their own. The Doras is simply a form of the creature, one that is incomplete and reliant upon a chemical bath to remain alive. Its true form is a young boyish creature similar in appearance to Hiroshi. The creature targeted the child as leverage against the Professor, hoping to force him into completing the project and freeing themself from the dependency.<br /></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBj0z0OrYVJP6Gaj8rq82eBLGICYq0sF1uq_R36odJfMvyrmTVmtcxTUX96ld5L1M5n3dmtvf04xIeIbUY0Y00EKxfkKu1AFbb5-UIt6XoK8dZQn9T9rkHFmuHbj1n4JNe9JGgckO_B9-Y/s1366/neo+lifeform.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBj0z0OrYVJP6Gaj8rq82eBLGICYq0sF1uq_R36odJfMvyrmTVmtcxTUX96ld5L1M5n3dmtvf04xIeIbUY0Y00EKxfkKu1AFbb5-UIt6XoK8dZQn9T9rkHFmuHbj1n4JNe9JGgckO_B9-Y/s320/neo+lifeform.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p>What follows is a lengthy battle between ZO and the Doras, in which ZO struggles quite a bit. It’s only when Hiroshi learns from his father that destroying the pool would harm Doras that things suddenly turn in the Rider’s favor- but only briefly. ZO is absorbed by the creature which grows even stronger and begins attacking Hiroshi, but suddenly stops when it hears the music of the pocket watch, allowing Hiroshi’s father to finally destroy the pool and ZO to escape. With ZO now free and the life support system gone, the Rider delivers a final devastating kick, putting an end to the neo-life form.<br /><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBj2ce7vhNriPskWa0AtDrIY8EdyMjB0avbEReVT4yo47FmYK0FRCuGRot3ETFExB8PEnWswN_itYaCQQHVekOYYNcmO1AWzGbq2L8WvTuSRlqmI7mdS6qnAGHP4n8MyB_Q41s5o-Jkau/s1366/Live+from+nick.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBj2ce7vhNriPskWa0AtDrIY8EdyMjB0avbEReVT4yo47FmYK0FRCuGRot3ETFExB8PEnWswN_itYaCQQHVekOYYNcmO1AWzGbq2L8WvTuSRlqmI7mdS6qnAGHP4n8MyB_Q41s5o-Jkau/s320/Live+from+nick.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's time for news you can use...<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br />But there’s little time for celebration. Mochizuki was barely alive as is, and now has used the last of his strength. He sheds a single tear before passing, just as the facility begins collapsing from all sides. ZO grabs Hiroshi and the two escape by bike.<br /><br />After the long day, Masaru takes Hiroshi back to his grandpa, leaving him with his jacket as he sets off into the sunset, looking back one last time.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTsoa-luAbDX3ubx0K9Uwep7i8umQg9AgBhflkfj5p5JOmJ9TL2yYcl3R8svPYdxuz0VhkD1nhXvCZDpcesi5IOPSXCW8HgYkQ9hyphenhyphenweIY6KecqhCwZs5TKaX1Z6a2DbnmoNznnPdupoL3j/s1366/Rider.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTsoa-luAbDX3ubx0K9Uwep7i8umQg9AgBhflkfj5p5JOmJ9TL2yYcl3R8svPYdxuz0VhkD1nhXvCZDpcesi5IOPSXCW8HgYkQ9hyphenhyphenweIY6KecqhCwZs5TKaX1Z6a2DbnmoNznnPdupoL3j/s320/Rider.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p><br /><br /><br />Boy, that was a lot denser than Hakaider, huh? And yet the story isn’t much more complicated. It’s shocking how much more happens, and in less time too.<br /><br />Characterization in particular has more depth. The film manages a wonderful balance between fast action and introspective character moments that slow the film down and allow it to breathe, all while still delivering important information in a mostly natural presentation.<br /><br />Despite the short run time, we’re able to see things like Hiroshi’s longing for a father he lost well before his disappearance. Short snippets in-between all the major occurrences showing him in his father’s study alone, or flashbacks to the lab where his father became increasingly unstable all do a good job conveying the melancholy the young boy carries. <br /><br />Masaru is also given a fairly solid story, although he doesn’t have much time for development outside of groundwork. Still, he’s given a decent story within the strict time frame, one that ties in nicely with Hiroshi’s. They hit on the beats one would expect and want from a Rider, particularly the bit about Hiroshi calling ZO a monster and the deeply personal violation Masaru feels from being made inhuman. He also has some good scenes with Hiroshi, most notably when he repairs the pocket watch. Masaru sorta fills that surrogate father or big brother role Riders were so often associated with during the Showa era, which is what ZO feels like in many regards, and that makes sense given that this was made as an anniversary film.<br /><br /><br />But I do still have some minor issues. Most notably due to the small core cast and strict time, it means that there’s <i>a lot</i> of Masaru chasing Hiroshi down from one scene to the next. If they need to get somewhere, the solution is always to have Hiroshi run there, even if it’s a bit questionable towards the end. The part right after Masaru explains that he was an experiment and Hiroshi runs off is arguably the worst scene when you step back and think about it. This happens right after the kid was tied up by a spider monster and carried off by a giant bat, and there’s pretty much no indication of how much time has passed between him resting back at home and then overhearing what his father did to Masaru. It goes from resting, story, Hiroshi up and running out the door.<br /><br />Masaru being knocked out and then telepathically being told where the Neo-life form is by a grasshopper also comes off as painfully contrived. It’s scenes like that which are telling that ZO had a rushed production. This is surprising because, for the most part, ZO doesn’t feel like it had a troubled production given how much quality is seen everywhere else. Even those two issues I mentioned are relatively minor in the grand scheme of things. The story and pacing for ZO do such a good job everywhere else you might not even notice some of those flaws.<br /><br />Overall, the movie does everything you would want and more, particularly if you’re someone with a fondness for Ishinomori’s fascination with Gaia theory. This idea that Riders are an aspect of the earth chosen as a defender is more attuned here in ZO than even Black, leading to a very ethereal undertone. If I give credit to ZO on anything it’s that they play up those more esoteric points while hearkening back to the Showa era roots, but with 1993 sensibilities both in story and visuals.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigVkpPZ6ehHA5JlZSWf0eFQw-Y8hkYlBYSnX5wkDSP0tahn0CCl3FRVGEVeAXuIih3sLXzvGORJRfoSSdflTr72fLdMDw4IMVJJBGpCB7XxNTMjar_xlE6v6SPu_tLXS58b0viXb9_jbSd/s506/classic+henshin.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="506" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigVkpPZ6ehHA5JlZSWf0eFQw-Y8hkYlBYSnX5wkDSP0tahn0CCl3FRVGEVeAXuIih3sLXzvGORJRfoSSdflTr72fLdMDw4IMVJJBGpCB7XxNTMjar_xlE6v6SPu_tLXS58b0viXb9_jbSd/s320/classic+henshin.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p><br />And that’s something else I have to give major props to. This film is gorgeous in pretty much all aspects. Great set pieces, wonderfully designed monsters, and fantastic stunts.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89O1HidfmRISj-Q2Ewx2b-uyYO1u1bmnTmXhGQ9AtRrHUVgUBpvQRNtUZ0Psb_FrIJAudi6gUxNHIZOcqbq6XzTbgFR9KLWTMHvFOMCVo6nMU-6jw6Me7UvxfTyOy4B2E_ds_QJh_oBGk/s1366/ZO+suit.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89O1HidfmRISj-Q2Ewx2b-uyYO1u1bmnTmXhGQ9AtRrHUVgUBpvQRNtUZ0Psb_FrIJAudi6gUxNHIZOcqbq6XzTbgFR9KLWTMHvFOMCVo6nMU-6jw6Me7UvxfTyOy4B2E_ds_QJh_oBGk/s320/ZO+suit.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">ZO themself has a design aesthetic very similar to Black. Continuing the jettisoning of the muffler, individual gloves, and boots, ZO has a streamlined continuous design with a slightly organic leathery appearance. Most shocking of all is that ZO doesn’t even have a belt, just a Gem in place of one.<br /></div><p><br /><br /><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yhFj0NUFnu1YYeuWvmuOHdlhqDONFq7_9wEmqyIi3oB0JBxLsrNtrOVnMzGlM4e9RuAnEkIbZQ80W7anZ4o7XN42z-GpwnlPFnTCo6BTrOOiEKl42-twjeRZjDC3sLWRQQ2VdFSwdbqp/s1366/doras+1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yhFj0NUFnu1YYeuWvmuOHdlhqDONFq7_9wEmqyIi3oB0JBxLsrNtrOVnMzGlM4e9RuAnEkIbZQ80W7anZ4o7XN42z-GpwnlPFnTCo6BTrOOiEKl42-twjeRZjDC3sLWRQQ2VdFSwdbqp/s320/doras+1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KAH9KZtTSziq7wjk7WTcehC25lE3f9CSA_1e6As1dSaXQKnYP0qprTiojCGtBOM_i47YseXMPmeNubLQ6Z7nEiz6O846QoFYur4CeW12ngJObT0-Oy1Uotbzap4UxEDkB4fGp5e1Wx0T/s1366/spider.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KAH9KZtTSziq7wjk7WTcehC25lE3f9CSA_1e6As1dSaXQKnYP0qprTiojCGtBOM_i47YseXMPmeNubLQ6Z7nEiz6O846QoFYur4CeW12ngJObT0-Oy1Uotbzap4UxEDkB4fGp5e1Wx0T/s320/spider.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzU3YHgvyMTsU-Oy2-eRa3vZBCY4eYv7ponDXdRcQAOp0QuNETLORUBQdRBxz6zq_NbI7kU6ZwzQMHXU9_22o5QtxXN2mq5jgl3dyhO5xPTeL4o82nH1hGQ55yfs6NlMo39zbYV_bdBbO/s1366/bat+monster.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzU3YHgvyMTsU-Oy2-eRa3vZBCY4eYv7ponDXdRcQAOp0QuNETLORUBQdRBxz6zq_NbI7kU6ZwzQMHXU9_22o5QtxXN2mq5jgl3dyhO5xPTeL4o82nH1hGQ55yfs6NlMo39zbYV_bdBbO/s320/bat+monster.png" width="320" /></a></div>Whereas Ishinomori handled ZO, Keita Amemiya handled the other creatures. The Doras and the Spider Woman are still among the best monsters I’ve seen in Rider. The Bat-man I’m less keen on, I find the face to just be incredibly doofy, but everything else about it is fantastic. <br /></div><p><br />I have similar feelings towards the Neo Lifeform. It’s a wonderfully disturbing design and the initial presentation is phenomenal. But while some of the movements are expressive, others are stiff and a bit too puppet-like. Although it's hard to hold that against the film given the limited screen time. It's clear Doras was the main villainous star. Aside from the monstrous details put into it, there are wonderful visual parallels that contrast between Doras and ZO. When we first see ZO, he’s surrounded by overgrowth and in a forest. The Doras’ introduction is assembling itself in the middle of a junkyard with various discarded components. <br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgwjeG2v-lLNw7eZPRQ4Cve5oFg2FCZv9_o6_SKR8Q9xZjxfvv1jkKfCe2giOx0OwGoWOo4dGUODe2uZLFXsWeWzkAhhv4qLrSq0IDbqlqjcdlywlo9MC4GTtSpJIYqqFjU46v3nykcFw/s1366/metal+arm.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgwjeG2v-lLNw7eZPRQ4Cve5oFg2FCZv9_o6_SKR8Q9xZjxfvv1jkKfCe2giOx0OwGoWOo4dGUODe2uZLFXsWeWzkAhhv4qLrSq0IDbqlqjcdlywlo9MC4GTtSpJIYqqFjU46v3nykcFw/s320/metal+arm.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Several scenes also reveal the Doras to be more robotic than its predominantly organic appearance lets on. Both it and ZO are a combination of organic and inorganic, but the nuances between the presentation of the two are fascinating. ZO leaning more heavily on nature, and Doras on man-made material.<br /></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2NmTwQm2brKTUlVIJ2x1O616_mSRqowiM4Lb8kB1dwmw1ejjcbFsfWGPvXi92HbjuA3VbtxFt-Zc60alLC5jpZhTeZb3t-wKPuPp7rp7yNFABQ-uVHRweLojLE88cb71XodwQp7e60Bs/s1366/ballform.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2NmTwQm2brKTUlVIJ2x1O616_mSRqowiM4Lb8kB1dwmw1ejjcbFsfWGPvXi92HbjuA3VbtxFt-Zc60alLC5jpZhTeZb3t-wKPuPp7rp7yNFABQ-uVHRweLojLE88cb71XodwQp7e60Bs/s320/ballform.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Also, does anyone else think of the balls in Phantasm upon seeing this?<br /></div><p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The fights in ZO are for the most part less about finely detailed choreography and more about just doing cool shit. Ripping off an arm, <b>lots</b> of impaling, using the motorcycle as a goddamn battering ram.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDvIBxrNmkA46wA6XQEDdwdHrCXQnKXRNAVfjWbJ27qCpmpRTzXw3hjDhw8WkWe51hDBFEWxr1acYu6YxcB87hW9o8mP8O82rRXuI4jho3K-640wAa_D9UjjU8UKOvoC0MPk5wzlw24r4/s506/ram.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="506" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDvIBxrNmkA46wA6XQEDdwdHrCXQnKXRNAVfjWbJ27qCpmpRTzXw3hjDhw8WkWe51hDBFEWxr1acYu6YxcB87hW9o8mP8O82rRXuI4jho3K-640wAa_D9UjjU8UKOvoC0MPk5wzlw24r4/s320/ram.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><p><br />Holy shit.<br /><br />This isn’t to say that there isn’t good hand-to-hand combat, it’s just fairly standard and that was an intentional decision to replicate the straightforward action of the Showa era. But good camera work can completely change the perception, and the final battle takes the cake with a single shot fight sequence that lasts a bit more than a minute and a half before there’s a cut. At one point the cameraman- who isn’t mounted- is pulled up several feet off the ground and over a catwalk seamlessly. <br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7J1CtPPdY1KAl6jtmbw92l30jFofLgoLSoPj0t-en-CrHszxJW9Kl96uhcJ-0yTWwvrzRmB4MqJNz3L4tIAbNVkhJxVMvIWv9RESYeaNmv_MqQH5WOqK7sZik17T_pwI-1djXSxQomKK/s518/catwalk.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="287" data-original-width="518" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7J1CtPPdY1KAl6jtmbw92l30jFofLgoLSoPj0t-en-CrHszxJW9Kl96uhcJ-0yTWwvrzRmB4MqJNz3L4tIAbNVkhJxVMvIWv9RESYeaNmv_MqQH5WOqK7sZik17T_pwI-1djXSxQomKK/s320/catwalk.gif" width="320" /></a></div><p>Damn impressive stuff. <br /><br />The Spider Woman fight is also partially stop motion in addition to the animatronics, which is interesting if nothing else.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QFXRrleUBo1n6RfpZXbRNitvNCf_hhaTGr149QkcRsRMjzgNjGEHmKat71Pu5Bzjzpz0a3zD30G_r9jUQvas7moz1jIajNBkVVSJmGE2VFWJXM7TWBnKq2894nZH8WVBa1hdBFeKpQ_6/s1366/dummy.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QFXRrleUBo1n6RfpZXbRNitvNCf_hhaTGr149QkcRsRMjzgNjGEHmKat71Pu5Bzjzpz0a3zD30G_r9jUQvas7moz1jIajNBkVVSJmGE2VFWJXM7TWBnKq2894nZH8WVBa1hdBFeKpQ_6/s320/dummy.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>However, some parts have aged poorly or are just plain funny, particularly the CGI. But even some of the practical effects are just really egregious, most notably a hilariously bad dummy shot where it looks like they didn’t even have a proper dummy, but a store display Mannequin.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJ9OzJ0ajBb0Rww-Em8S3foP8Pl5FG0UHvF9EnB_I2MS4s7jdyylBrZz5G6BamBLpyxnVBc6OtZb4dH-g5VAhwrfnDQbmctSCphtwkHsYwtR9I2tvQyaz8vp0R8A-yjtkAAA_e6HJ0Ts1/s1366/menopause.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJ9OzJ0ajBb0Rww-Em8S3foP8Pl5FG0UHvF9EnB_I2MS4s7jdyylBrZz5G6BamBLpyxnVBc6OtZb4dH-g5VAhwrfnDQbmctSCphtwkHsYwtR9I2tvQyaz8vp0R8A-yjtkAAA_e6HJ0Ts1/s320/menopause.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Another questionable scene is where they appear to have just taken a random newspaper clipping in English and put it in the research folder for ZO. The clipping is about changes in the body, which makes sense...except it’s about menopause.<br /></div><p><br />Humorous bits aside, it’s great being able to see details so clearly on the Blu-ray. This leads me to my next point about watching the film: Find a better copy of the film than the version on Toei's Tokusatsu YouTube channel. It’s incredibly poor quality and letter boxed, meaning it’s a rip from the goddamn laserdisc of all things. Here’s a comparison between the Blu-ray copy I have and the version on YouTube.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPv6TbNFKDzGJ5eFZfmChV_WP8Iz3-R_rF1T_rRCWvs1iextZXaUuBkJh0frblN4ZhHUdv5CsCxCBgfSjYO5VmpLESwzA9-ve7iGhsz1oDdnm6jw7fF_IZBeX8zJVCrSYygVGsh_T47OUg/s1366/BR+version.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPv6TbNFKDzGJ5eFZfmChV_WP8Iz3-R_rF1T_rRCWvs1iextZXaUuBkJh0frblN4ZhHUdv5CsCxCBgfSjYO5VmpLESwzA9-ve7iGhsz1oDdnm6jw7fF_IZBeX8zJVCrSYygVGsh_T47OUg/s320/BR+version.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VWZ6taq5cnJUYeP7l8djbXr6EjGTIRe8ZYtz7ojVcA3YoYNJc6I1ICshXVNGamc_fbQBjre9M7v6qVxiK_ba5HKnGuk_cEi6K4VhlP69OKKfXAhDyhp_mcVk1CqTqaendqIpsP4R4_ZX/s1366/YT+version.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VWZ6taq5cnJUYeP7l8djbXr6EjGTIRe8ZYtz7ojVcA3YoYNJc6I1ICshXVNGamc_fbQBjre9M7v6qVxiK_ba5HKnGuk_cEi6K4VhlP69OKKfXAhDyhp_mcVk1CqTqaendqIpsP4R4_ZX/s320/YT+version.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">That is pathetic.<br /></div><p>The audio isn't much better on the Youtube upload either, and that's a shame not only for dialogue, but the wonderful music.<br /><br /><br />Eiji Kawamura served as the composer for the film and even if you didn’t know that you’d probably guess it right away. As soon as the BGM kicks in it sounds exactly like something that would’ve been in Kamen Rider Black. Very similar beats and exact instrumentation, dude has a style and it’s obvious.<br /><br />But he also handled composition on the two vocal tracks and their instrumental versions.<br /><br />The first is <b>Hohoemi no Yukue</b>, an instrumental rendition being used for Hiroshi’s pocket watch. It's nice, it works very well thematically and serves an important role within the film. The lyrical version ties in nicely with the Gaia theory angle. But it's not something I’d typically listen to. I actually prefer the music box rendition over the vocal version.<br /><br /><br />The other is <b>Ai ga Tomaranai</b> (tl: Love Doesn’t Stop), which largely serves as ZO’s theme song. Now this I can get down with, and it's probably one of my favorite rider themes. I also want to take a moment to talk about this song because there are some interesting tidbits I found while looking into ZO.<br /><br />For the longest time, I was under the impression that it was not an original song but a cover...which itself was a cover. In 1988, J-pop Duo Wink did a cover of Australian singer Kylie Minogue’s single “Turn it into Love”. Wink’s version, Love doesn’t Stop -Turn it into love-, would be used for the opening to the J-drama “Chase Me” So why am I telling you all this? Because There’s a fuck-ton of information about this song. I can tell you that- confusingly, Wink’s cover was released a month before Kylie Minogue’s version. I can tell you that Minogue’s single was exclusive to Japan where, even more confusingly, it is called Ai ga Tomaranai, a title that was added to the Wink track and what ZO’s is also titled. <br /><br />I can find all this and more, but when it comes to ZO? All I can find is that Eiji Kawamura and Susumu Yoshikawa were fans of the band INFIX, who they got to perform this song. Lyrics were written by Akira Otsu and the composition was handled by Kawamura. All the information regarding ZO seems to treat it as an original track. INFIX isn’t listed anywhere when it comes to all the various covers, nor is Wink or Minogue mentioned with INFIX. It has the same title and it even has segments that sound similar, but it doesn’t seem to be considered a cover by any official source that I looked at. Honestly? Listening to the two back to back, it sounds off. Similar in areas, but really off because there are just too many differences and ultimately aren’t the same.<br /><br />I guess it isn’t all that odd. Faithfully by Journey and If I’d been the one by .38 special aren’t related and yet they sound incredibly alike- more so than ZO’s theme does with Wink. That’s not even getting into Elecman’s stage from Megaman.<br /><br />But it’s still really confusing to have ZO’s theme have the same title as a very popular J-pop song from five years prior with a crap ton of other covers.<br /><br /><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: center;">Subs</h3><p style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /><br />I ain't got a segue here, nor do I have much to say. The fansubs I used were by Weaboo Shogun/Sailor Otaku with timing by MegaAnon of MFC. If you’ve seen my Winspector review you know they do good work. There is one bit I want to point and it’s mainly because it’s oddly similar to a scene in Hakaider, or rather vice versa. It doesn’t have to do with the movie itself but the subtitles.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqJyYSHxbZPf12I-qRUjoBwOYB_G1ybwPzDRc_N8_wUm52VHi0Lz635pq0vLSAmNxrlDzjNlOBTVDq2Mn85_gDUGVnReLHFyZXcBjil1AyuwO_xidT-1U6CRAFIY327cxom57sqDvxuuf/s1366/lack+of+energy+sub.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqJyYSHxbZPf12I-qRUjoBwOYB_G1ybwPzDRc_N8_wUm52VHi0Lz635pq0vLSAmNxrlDzjNlOBTVDq2Mn85_gDUGVnReLHFyZXcBjil1AyuwO_xidT-1U6CRAFIY327cxom57sqDvxuuf/s320/lack+of+energy+sub.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">After the Doras revives, we’re given a POV view of the Doras and there’s Japanese text that says something along the lines of their combat energy being insufficient or low, which is why it sends out the Spider and Bat monsters. This is not translated. I dunno why, it’s just funny to me that a fansub for a ‘93 Toei superhero festival film, and the other for a licensed film from the ‘95 festival, both have POV shots with untranslated text. Fan, licensed, it doesn’t matter. No one wants to translate text...unless it's the opening credits apparently, because ZO does that too.<br /></div><p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So reception at the time of ZO’s original release seems to have been fairly good, but clearly, the smaller scope of the picture was a good call given some of the shortcomings ZO did have, mostly with its gross. But this was by no means bad. ZO was successful enough that there were even plans for a series. Amemiya had some concepts showing ZO with silver arms and boots akin to the Shin Ichigo suit, along with a muffler and even a belt. <br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVpUAxOHF8JDYZ8hShRD01MUXg8npPvCjuI04erDW8-co3gamo12MzKE1kBNivlF8WEqfA7w5dlYcqpLKPTHKkPXvFgN6BLxkI-k_BfGKji_pOJgxD5GxxOCDIdgVjyVOsCyOv4ik7FhF/s2048/concept+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1728" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVpUAxOHF8JDYZ8hShRD01MUXg8npPvCjuI04erDW8-co3gamo12MzKE1kBNivlF8WEqfA7w5dlYcqpLKPTHKkPXvFgN6BLxkI-k_BfGKji_pOJgxD5GxxOCDIdgVjyVOsCyOv4ik7FhF/s320/concept+2.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5HhLWppdPjecEOCl7dzG1kDJV4yHUvNlQ8xu29bZEzxMTCJ6YXGyBBUj2h46PffAtk9gi4yya70KwroCTc0OrXIQLBuCWeozeWLwyk_PjS3l8IzWA_3qPth631bvXH4KW-88qbnj1EAB/s612/concept.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="532" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5HhLWppdPjecEOCl7dzG1kDJV4yHUvNlQ8xu29bZEzxMTCJ6YXGyBBUj2h46PffAtk9gi4yya70KwroCTc0OrXIQLBuCWeozeWLwyk_PjS3l8IzWA_3qPth631bvXH4KW-88qbnj1EAB/s320/concept.jpg" width="278" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p><br />But like with Shin, these plans fell through and instead J was put into production.<br />Thankfully, unlike Shin, ZO functions just as well as a standalone piece with the possibility of a sequel, but one that isn’t necessary.<br /><br /><br />As for what I think of it? I think ZO is wonderful and one of the best short stories done with a Kamen Rider, and possibly one of the best Tokus of the early 90s. I think I’ve made quite clear they do a great job with the characters in the time allotted to them and pack a lot in. ZO was the perfect way to celebrate Rider’s 20th anniversary...even if it was actually the 22nd by that point. The presentation is solid and it holds up remarkably well even today.<br /><br /><br />Above all else, ZO is a perfect concentration of everything that is Kamen Rider. If you have ever had an interest in the franchise but weren’t sure where to start or maybe a 40+ series was intimidating, I truly believe ZO is the absolute best solution to that. In under 50 minutes, it hits every major beat while still delivering story and action within the time constraints. ZO does as much as possible with the concept in as little time offered without ever being suffocating. <br /><br />I cannot suggest this enough. Give it a watch, you have nothing to lose on something barely over 48 minutes long. Just be sure to track down a good quality copy, Blu-ray quality if you can. Again, the one on Youtube is not worth your time. Both the film and the viewer deserve better.<br /></p><br />Kamen Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02832099141882322022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505042118996520039.post-37420489339733526042021-08-09T10:42:00.000-04:002021-08-09T10:42:55.402-04:00Kamen Writer's block 21/8<p>Alright so bit of an update for the blog here and it's not something I typically do but there's been some noticeable changes around here I haven’t addressed yet.<br /></p><p>First off, big overhaul on the aesthetics and a change in branding. Years ago I titled this blog 'Stranger's Showcase' after DC's Showcase line and of course the Phantom Stranger. The idea was I would showcase various shows, toys, and whatever else I wanted to. As the blog has primarily become (although not exclusive) to tokusatsu I've since decided I wanted to move away from the initial comic aesthetic and make use of an original character.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibt9PkvRtrDABbra0EuhuW_uiDhQ1heDZ0pqgnljZY78qzXnI5GlHTeZfKamSlwVt5pycEDhx8-IHmVuyiGHLxVyM1C_8g9cuXviP4xJnujnehfQnTQBlXP9qBRZjK8ikvx1zYfo6euTUJ/s1800/Kamen+Writer2+finished.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1584" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibt9PkvRtrDABbra0EuhuW_uiDhQ1heDZ0pqgnljZY78qzXnI5GlHTeZfKamSlwVt5pycEDhx8-IHmVuyiGHLxVyM1C_8g9cuXviP4xJnujnehfQnTQBlXP9qBRZjK8ikvx1zYfo6euTUJ/s320/Kamen+Writer2+finished.png" width="282" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><p>This is a piece I commissioned from the very talented <a href="https://twitter.com/CSarracenian/with_replies">Sarracenian</a>, who you should really check out. Dude does some fantastic work. (Seriously, his Samus is amazing. Dude should make prints)</p><p><br />Now the header at the top I made myself, hence the..."quality" of the presentation.<br /></p><p>The mascot with the totally clever name is based on a typewriter and a Coffee Locust, also called a Ghost Grasshopper. So I guess he's a Ghost Writer of sorts, which also works as a cute callback to the original branding.</p><p><br /><br /></p><p>Outside of that, not much is going to change drastically in terms of content. Although I do plan to branch outside of Tokusatsu again relatively soon. Speaking of reviews, there is some news that needs some addressing. First off I will be reviewing Taro and Leo...eventually. I mentioned this in my <a href="https://strangers-showcase.blogspot.com/2021/07/ultraman-ace-bluray-review.html">Ultraman Ace review.</a></p><p>I just don't know when I'll get around to them. I want to break up the monotony of both Ultra and Showa centric reviews. I do know that Leo will likely be a much shorter review because thus far I'm not really seeing much I can talk about outside of everyone being a jerk. </p><p><br />In the meantime I will be reviewing shorter one off projects before then, probably two or three before tackling a full series again. <a href="https://strangers-showcase.blogspot.com/2021/07/mechanical-violator-hakaider-hyper.html">Hakaider</a> is already up if you haven’t seen. Up next I have ZO, and most of that review is done I just have to go over it and get the photos ready, the latter of which is quite honestly the biggest pain in the ass on this platform.<br /></p><p>After that I’m not 100% sure. I do know that October will have a long overdue review of Castlevania season 3, and I’m trying to get 4 done as well. Maybe have a review each week if I’m able to figure something out.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91NGoz3sioS._SL1500_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="559" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91NGoz3sioS._SL1500_.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><br /><p>For far off future reviews, Millcreek has announced Gridman will be getting all new subtitles for their Bluray release which I am immensely thankful for. As such, I will be reviewing that series at some point, possibly before anymore Showa Ultra. Likewise Ultraman 80 went up for preorder along with The Ultraman. 80, like the rest of the Showa Ultra series, will eventually be reviewed and of course will be the last.</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><img data-copyright="The popular Heisei series ULTRAMAN TIGA, ULTRAMAN DYNA, and ULTRAMAN GAIA are coming to DVD in North America from Mill Creek! Photos courtesy of Mill Creek. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS" height="202" src="https://www.scifijapan.com/images/Ultraman/Ultraman-MillCreek91.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px; width: 100%;" width="555" /></div><p>Additionally, Tiga, Dyna, and Gaia, got announced for a release by MillCreek and I...have some thoughts. The notable thing about this release is unlike all prior Ultra releases, these are on standard DVD and not Blu-Ray. MillCreek has said this is because they don't have 1080 masters from Tsuburaya and that they decided on DVDs for this release, indicating that there could be Blurays in the future. <br />I couldn't find anything on how Tiga-Gaia was filmed, maybe it was DV or even if it was on film it could've been edited on video so 1080 masters might not even be possible. Regardless there's still advantages to releasing on Blu-ray. Most standard definition shows are still compressed to a lower quality on DVD. An SD show on bluray does look (however small) better. Likewise, audio tracks aren't compressed as much and sound much better. Subtitles can also be presented in HD which makes the text very smooth and less blocky and therefore easier to read. Point being there are still advantages to the format even if the show itself isn't in full HD.<br /></p><p>But the weirdest thing is that Tsuburaya has released remastered versions of all three shows on Bluray in Japan, and they re-released them recently.<br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghuNSS3Dnvaf7cMilvLLdT0okjE5D7lGcFJtq0pelDmRw-O8mgHjaekFIs5CRU7gm6hohsMBaUtTspa3fzXqKOsUWKdIwlP8WG9amwZZRHAEVrB4BZrllzCX541-8cBpekne3Y7K0YRn_k/s591/tiga+dyna+gaia+bluray.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="417" data-original-width="591" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghuNSS3Dnvaf7cMilvLLdT0okjE5D7lGcFJtq0pelDmRw-O8mgHjaekFIs5CRU7gm6hohsMBaUtTspa3fzXqKOsUWKdIwlP8WG9amwZZRHAEVrB4BZrllzCX541-8cBpekne3Y7K0YRn_k/s320/tiga+dyna+gaia+bluray.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p>So what the hell? </p><p>I'm happy these are finally getting a US release at all given all the rights issues with Tiga and even Dyna, but something feels off to me about this. I also have to wonder if the typical moviespree code will be omitted here. One of the issues with Tiga is that when it comes to streaming, TsuPro has to cut around the star, Hiroshi Nagano. This is something a lot of people probably noticed on the Youtube streams for Tiga during the lead up to Trigger. So having a digital copy of the shows might not be possible and be why Millcreek is choosing this route, perhaps saving a Bluray and codes for whenever that mess can be cleared up. It could also be that a lot of the Millcreek releases are reverse imported into Japan, they're all over Amazon Japan and about the same retail price. Perhaps that was seen as an issue with the recent JPN releases. But all that’s major speculation on my end.</p><p><br />Regardless, I’m going to wait on them because one:I want to know what the deal is, and two: they’re releasing in October, November and December which is way too close together at the end of the year. I gotta buy Birthday and Christmas gifts for folks.<br /></p><br />Anyway, that's all the updates for now. The ZO review should hopefully be out this week, and I have a few smaller things I'm considering putting together after the fact, just nothing set in stone.<br /><br />Oh, just one more thing. I have a <a href="https://twitter.com/KamenStranger">twitter </a>now. Not using it much thus far, but I'll likely be live tweeting watching shows or some such.<br />Kamen Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02832099141882322022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505042118996520039.post-52535775843319516702021-07-31T23:15:00.000-04:002021-07-31T23:15:16.263-04:00Mechanical Violator Hakaider: Hyper Destroyer Edition. (Blu-Ray)<div><div><p style="text-align: left;"> <br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJMZhmNc6GQw2qk9B9D2GFk8Un9nkYmB38px4IH05WUSY4o5_EH1YMCAw1F2TBvGzUp_I2Zjb675velOr0gxW7V9cy1YKDAflaQswB6Lav3ThzWubQs4R0I0Xp8UhLHhOuv05EVf9Z4TV/s1366/title.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJMZhmNc6GQw2qk9B9D2GFk8Un9nkYmB38px4IH05WUSY4o5_EH1YMCAw1F2TBvGzUp_I2Zjb675velOr0gxW7V9cy1YKDAflaQswB6Lav3ThzWubQs4R0I0Xp8UhLHhOuv05EVf9Z4TV/s320/title.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Well now, this is quite the odd beast. I’ve reviewed Super Sentai, Ultraman, Kamen Rider, anime, and cartoons. But not really anything like this. Hakaider was a one shot film directed by Keita Amemiya and written by Toshiki Inoue for Toei's '95 Superhero fair, where it was shown alongside the movies for Ohranger and B-fighter. What a strange but fun time that must've been.<br /><br />The film isn't connected narratively to Kikaider and is more of a reboot or original story that simply uses a character from the series, with the assumption that you already know the basic premise of Kikaider. Although outside of Hakider being an android antagonist, there isn’t much one needs to know going in.<br /><br /><br />Hakaider was notable on several fronts, the most prominent of which was gaining something of a cult status overseas when it was released in dub form on VHS in 2000 by Tokyo Shock. That version along with the DVD counterpart has long since been out of print and is ridiculously expensive. Thankfully MediaBlasters (which owns Tokyo Shock) managed to get a new transfer and release back in March of this year, which is what I’ll be taking a look at today.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><h3 style="text-align: center;"><br /></h3><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />The film takes place in a post apocalyptic setting where we find Hakaider (VA:Dai Matsumoto. LA: Yuji Kishimoto) chained up in a long since abandoned prison. He is discovered by a group of thieves who broke in with hopes of finding rumored valuables. The group, panicking at their discovery, attack the android before being viciously eradicated. Hakaider, confused, sets out on his bike for the only nearby civilization of Jesus Town. (Yes really)<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdmrH2wrWsAUQBISbRpswSTKLzHUXL5adagvTzDx1XSPk3kHwodVQWwf3_BOm9a_LOJeYb5AgLTmxHh91RJ-l89iwZPmuUnpErfCFb53Dn27W0hqlVAuxBC1T8i-WX8ryhUf7x-iGUi1l/s1366/hakaider.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdmrH2wrWsAUQBISbRpswSTKLzHUXL5adagvTzDx1XSPk3kHwodVQWwf3_BOm9a_LOJeYb5AgLTmxHh91RJ-l89iwZPmuUnpErfCFb53Dn27W0hqlVAuxBC1T8i-WX8ryhUf7x-iGUi1l/s320/hakaider.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><br />Elsewhere, we’re given an introduction to one of our antagonists, Micheal (VA:Kazuhiko Inoue) hunting down an unknown criminal. The android works for the leader of Jesus Town, Gurjev (Yasuaki Honda) <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0QBJ802OOZQ8gUMOTibt5cM2CSkMx1WkJ0RLZxsVYn44cyhr1pDABUG-fcuBG1yC-b2YDRZ9s-3cXbI5cDXIIKs34hfgEQn7H9WWHZsG5BeLOxP3MZ1GD2eDBzhMgfbZyRCgi2snEIae/s1366/micheal.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0QBJ802OOZQ8gUMOTibt5cM2CSkMx1WkJ0RLZxsVYn44cyhr1pDABUG-fcuBG1yC-b2YDRZ9s-3cXbI5cDXIIKs34hfgEQn7H9WWHZsG5BeLOxP3MZ1GD2eDBzhMgfbZyRCgi2snEIae/s320/micheal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_jcH1EnExCmu9h7ICO8zg-vgj_wmwKj2LzddXxxNlcTaRsnBAXiCpOT1UvAkOmotDfJReXHEp-LR9J-ss1ysSRA0gxY8N_f0ULSNNQF9n_sYxDU89bZG-2a6zyKxWFWsvsXrfInsrxtK/s1361/Gurjev.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1361" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_jcH1EnExCmu9h7ICO8zg-vgj_wmwKj2LzddXxxNlcTaRsnBAXiCpOT1UvAkOmotDfJReXHEp-LR9J-ss1ysSRA0gxY8N_f0ULSNNQF9n_sYxDU89bZG-2a6zyKxWFWsvsXrfInsrxtK/s320/Gurjev.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />After the excursion we’re presented with an establishing compilation of
the local bustling town, showing it as less a paradise and more of a
police state filled with armed patrols. Although Gurjev describes it as a
modern Eden.<br /><br />Unsurprisingly, not all are content with this system which leads us to our final character, Kaoru (Mai Hosho). <br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_9cbKUmy8Zc9rQHAt8X0Ci12r4RdkWdiTBGxxCAWVCEfG8OHs3XTHnZDR-6zBggiPfMIdzhQUx-RkgcbU3zt8Ux8aLyCMLI9dRLnv6m_zu1T1sGNkFhHRXwHcPOFK8dZa19w_AAX3TmG/s1017/Kaoru+.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="1017" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_9cbKUmy8Zc9rQHAt8X0Ci12r4RdkWdiTBGxxCAWVCEfG8OHs3XTHnZDR-6zBggiPfMIdzhQUx-RkgcbU3zt8Ux8aLyCMLI9dRLnv6m_zu1T1sGNkFhHRXwHcPOFK8dZa19w_AAX3TmG/s320/Kaoru+.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Kaoru is part of a rebel group opposed to Gurjev’s rule. Lately, she’s been having dreams of a black knight, waking from one such dream as she and her rebellious allies ready for an assault, just as Hakaider breaches the gates of the city. Kaoru and her friends end up surrounded by guards due in part to an increased presence because of Hakaider, although the android is able to kill a majority of the soldiers before being knocked offline and taken to safety by the rebels.<br /><br /><br /><br />And that's about three quarters of the movie. No really. Barring two other segments and the final battle, that's it. Hakaider is a very straightforward and obviously short film. The main character focus- if you can call it that- is between Kaoru and Hakaider. Mai Hosho is a fun presence that does a lot with very little, trying her best to illicit a chemistry with Hakaider- a character who doesn't talk in their human guise. Among the rebels, she's the most outspoken and selfless, but there's not much more than that. Everyone else is little more than a background character without much elaborated on beyond a few stating what their dreams are. There's a slight indication that some of them are a bit selfish and might have the same mindset as the current rulers, but this is never brought up again because the rebels are quickly killed off by Gurjev’s soldiers as soon as the exchange happens. In fact I actually think more time is spent on them being shot than interacting with Hakaider. After the rebels are killed it's simply a matter of Hakaider and a mortally wounded Kaoru sharing an admittedly nice final scene in an oasis before she passes, leading to the final battle as Hakaider assaults Gurjev's base.<br /><br /><br /><br />The film is more engaging from a thematic perspective, and in some ways this is a detriment to the film as the characters can fall into the trappings of being little more archetypes than actual characters. This is seemingly something the team behind Hakaider was aware of and it's clear that they're more interested in exploring story staples than well rounded characters within that narrative framing, which makes sense for what this is. This was made not as a full on feature or an adaptation of Ishinomori’s work, but something to play during a festival that hits on several high notes using ideas from those works.<br /><br /><br />Both from a visual and thematic standpoint, Hakaider makes it clear that it's intentions are presenting those themes with a loose narrative holding them together, almost like a highly polished proof of concept. Characterization is difficult to do in a limited runtime so it focuses on themes such as questioning the ruling authority and what is truly good. In that respect, it’s something Hikaider does wonderfully well. Hell, within the first 10 minutes we're greeted with a group clad in riot gear shooting bullets and tear gas just to take out one man.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAC68x2wap5LzT5PhmCK8yzBWQzf6ApLsuWJvwkNGkr0VLDD6maTUQZ8W283Uc0EtPIl-FsVj-YYKTiwjhIxCiYDK2UPzx-OKvvcG7doU_4H48ottjHL9d99Jbt228ryJvetbYvMLa9IYe/s1366/riot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAC68x2wap5LzT5PhmCK8yzBWQzf6ApLsuWJvwkNGkr0VLDD6maTUQZ8W283Uc0EtPIl-FsVj-YYKTiwjhIxCiYDK2UPzx-OKvvcG7doU_4H48ottjHL9d99Jbt228ryJvetbYvMLa9IYe/s320/riot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Micheal is an even greater visual example. His form is largely silver with gold accents, fittingly angelic in presentation. Even the face is reminiscent of a hero like Metalder or of course Kikaider. But he's a monster using the concept of Law and Order as an excuse for his atrocities. Granted, this is symbolism 101 and the movie is about as subtle as a sledge hammer at times.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PED06uBj2aTMGrEaDX38FnOQchUlooEcvldHwyCs6Ah5Aw5wCqUhfKHTjMxQWnIQ5wuyAEn9ZeLGDuPFSVWr7hjQuyb9kdodIpLqXXv42MXpEvWLnPDjrf2f1n0Ve5CWM9ZD2Ojg6UGe/s1366/take+away.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PED06uBj2aTMGrEaDX38FnOQchUlooEcvldHwyCs6Ah5Aw5wCqUhfKHTjMxQWnIQ5wuyAEn9ZeLGDuPFSVWr7hjQuyb9kdodIpLqXXv42MXpEvWLnPDjrf2f1n0Ve5CWM9ZD2Ojg6UGe/s320/take+away.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTPfqbByicST2n1cxerasGmgndmftCUOESMe_wNO4DiiBQ5xQJcMHWVGiQlRwDLHiV2I0OFsnQ4gKhPbp3IFINGmgO9aDnX8UBOIe8P-eAmYxT3NzRRV5Kx5Xn0D1nFY6xxZ9mdEaULwJ/s1366/reborn.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTPfqbByicST2n1cxerasGmgndmftCUOESMe_wNO4DiiBQ5xQJcMHWVGiQlRwDLHiV2I0OFsnQ4gKhPbp3IFINGmgO9aDnX8UBOIe8P-eAmYxT3NzRRV5Kx5Xn0D1nFY6xxZ9mdEaULwJ/s320/reborn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Just in case the Heavenly aesthetic in Jesus town was too subtle.<br /><br /><br />My snark aside, there is an earnest understanding in wanting to represent this brand of philosophy, that justice is a relative term.<br /><br />In both my Kamen Rider Black and Kamen Rider '71 Reviews, I mentioned how justice can be oppressive, it can be genocidal, it can be atrocious. It's a staple among most of Ishinomori's work and was echoed by many others, such as Shinichi Ichikawa. <br /><br />The main setting reflects that very notion by being this prosperous divine beacon among the wastes. A safe haven with rulers that claim to cherish life, but not the freedom that it brings. They’re a fascist state covered in a thin veil of virtuous imagery.<br /><br />The famous line near the end of the film is the purest distillation of all these concepts coming together.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXlvG-lACtcodeqmZpnAc-99DSXQ0zQ2rrT3VCk7yToI5gbkM2Ee38OOMRCM7NuIkxls6GHT7XbqIGqpvLWUguEOHTEhJKGA_SdjZaWV58G0ALMDFOH05Epz8SKjXN4XMn0kxBkDP9sYC/s1366/justice+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXlvG-lACtcodeqmZpnAc-99DSXQ0zQ2rrT3VCk7yToI5gbkM2Ee38OOMRCM7NuIkxls6GHT7XbqIGqpvLWUguEOHTEhJKGA_SdjZaWV58G0ALMDFOH05Epz8SKjXN4XMn0kxBkDP9sYC/s320/justice+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJoVNWCwfdtQgoGnwyhOTxLHitALxR79UdhXPmhMJ6G9O4MXfRzHnhOjax8_NtjJ3DRx17eEsZxCWMfahQKhCAKzxSli0eP7R5MVSKjO0TK-wwIRq5UPZhEHEAklnrfxggS76YqXcqIxTl/s1366/justice+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJoVNWCwfdtQgoGnwyhOTxLHitALxR79UdhXPmhMJ6G9O4MXfRzHnhOjax8_NtjJ3DRx17eEsZxCWMfahQKhCAKzxSli0eP7R5MVSKjO0TK-wwIRq5UPZhEHEAklnrfxggS76YqXcqIxTl/s320/justice+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">This simple exchange gets to the very core of Hakaider's morality and the film itself. He is a villain or anti-hero only by virtue of being viewed within the law set by Gurjev. But morally, he is, if you will, more justified than the law makers. It's easily the best line of the film and one of my absolute favorite lines from any media.<br /></p><br /><br />The screenwriter, Toshiki Inoue, is a well known, beloved and yet equally controversial figure within the Tokusatsu community. Inoue is the son of Masaru Igami, a major writer who worked on all 7 of the original pre-Black Showa Kamen Rider series. Most notably '71, V3, Stronger and New Kamen Rider (Skyrider), for which he contributed a vast majority of the writing. As a result, Inoue has a love of what that era of Rider represented and you often see him incorporate a lot of Showa elements within his writing. He typically bends those ideas in interesting ways, doing full on deconstructions, perhaps most notably in Ryuki. His weakness is a bit harder to pinpoint as it's subjective as anything and varies from series to series. He has a tendency to utilize frustrating story elements. Not necessarily bad or even unrealistic, but frustrating, such as 90% of all the character drama in Faiz stemming from a lack of characters talking to each other. He also does not work well at all with the toyetic nature of modern Toku series. We're not really here to analyze the man's entire writing style and career. His writing is certainly divisive to say the least and I have my own mixed feelings about it, but he also has his strengths and you see both on display within Hakaider. <br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirwR4lfjeLgbyCF629pKIqwZkPKaJ_afyg5lyxZEhIldRn_DnGiwiEUXN-FLRISHRXJr4sbRpJP7lIriIhRXQgYgf9W7m2R6nnBvn8abhFTcitrlTBf49rli8Io9P7IE8bErwTJpTyscG4/s1366/free+will.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirwR4lfjeLgbyCF629pKIqwZkPKaJ_afyg5lyxZEhIldRn_DnGiwiEUXN-FLRISHRXJr4sbRpJP7lIriIhRXQgYgf9W7m2R6nnBvn8abhFTcitrlTBf49rli8Io9P7IE8bErwTJpTyscG4/s320/free+will.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />He has strong convictions and ideas that I adore seeing in this kind of work, but faults of not really knowing how to fill the gaps in between all the symbolism. As well as simply not having faith in the audience to pick up on certain details, leading to overcompensation. A good example of this is near the end of the film when Micheal's head gets formatted to a new body and the visage undergoes a metamorphosis to either look like or is revealed to be a twisted version of Kikaider, which is then decapitated.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mH20yQwP7mI_EMbA_ktp7e47XE3p86RLYQj3OEdGMGuhnNNnUWfLYtOx_X3unpJpDADPTLPx938W5UCpfEsxvXlCUVMc69TDsxgngLrLG9uk3RJcykEIOubBGorv7iTf3P21M2Va1-SP/s1366/kikaider.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mH20yQwP7mI_EMbA_ktp7e47XE3p86RLYQj3OEdGMGuhnNNnUWfLYtOx_X3unpJpDADPTLPx938W5UCpfEsxvXlCUVMc69TDsxgngLrLG9uk3RJcykEIOubBGorv7iTf3P21M2Va1-SP/s320/kikaider.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />It's a haunting scene that works wonderfully on its own. But again, it feels like a lack of faith in the audience to get the parallels that I felt were good enough without that addition.<br /><br /><br /><br />That being said, I think a lot of how much you enjoy Hakaider is going to primarily be determined by which version of the film you watch. The Blu-ray includes both versions of the film, the original '95 cut at 52 minutes and the '96 Director's cut at 77 minutes, plus the dubbed version of the DC. I highly suggest watching the theatrical cut over the director's cut, at least for the first time. I love Keita Amemiya's work and I have plenty of praise for him, but the extra 25 minutes is mostly of more violent scenes and longer action sequences. Not only that, but the extra footage is typically of a lesser quality than the rest of the film or they go on much longer than needed to the point of being comedic. Comparing the two, it's clear why most of those scenes were cut or cut down. The theatrical version flows much better overall and the rather simple nature is a lot easier to digest and enjoy when combined with the shorter run time.<br /><br />But it’s also not perfect. If I do give credit to the Directors version, there are a couple of scenes which explain a few things better and while I feel the overall film flows better in the theatrical version, the Directors cut has dialogue and select scenes with more elaboration which do improve the narrative structure. The finale is also one of the action scenes that benefits greatly from the extension; the original is actually really disappointing and lame by comparison. But there’s <b>a lot</b> of fluff to deal with for those positives. If you've ever seen Patton Oswalt's bit about Director's shooting their
film all over the place, that's what it's like watching the 77 minute
cut of Hakaider. For every thirty seconds to a minute that adds an improvement, you’ll have a minute and a half of Hakaider riding his bike in what was already an enjoyable and long enough action sequence in the original cut. Really the ideal version of this probably should have been about 60 to 65 minutes, maintaining those extra scenes of elaboration and the finale, but cutting the meandering bloat that plagues every other action sequence. <br /><br /><br />Padding aside, there is a lot of quality here visually and some legitimately great shots showing the high standard of Amiya's handiwork. The man has a great eye for design and dramatic imagery; some scenes play out with no music or dialog, only ambient noise. Although I don’t believe Hakaider's even close to his best early work, it's perhaps the most indulgent. The film is incredibly stylistic and a joy to pick apart. Admittedly some sequences and aesthetics have aged, but a vast portion are stylings I still adore today.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDB9a-lOs8xl2qF1CTHL4BuLgduB7WUG5o8l43TC-UifFgdMx4YI4hEKwQAtEuh1IOMitUnoJAc8HOxEivdz_rjeF76Wg1ipiLqs2DrDfzQ65xZVODhby7lcycuVajljpSFpWiqzERdquD/s1366/blood+walls.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDB9a-lOs8xl2qF1CTHL4BuLgduB7WUG5o8l43TC-UifFgdMx4YI4hEKwQAtEuh1IOMitUnoJAc8HOxEivdz_rjeF76Wg1ipiLqs2DrDfzQ65xZVODhby7lcycuVajljpSFpWiqzERdquD/s320/blood+walls.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>The one that sticks out the most and the one often pointed to is the finale in Gurjev’s base. Like the antagonists, it invokes an seraphim aura, but underneath is an ugly mess of wires and tubing filled with a blood-like substance. The harsh contrast is glorious in its own right, but I can’t help but imagine this is meant to be a reflection of not only the villains’ outward divine appearance being a facade, but also that of Hakaider’s android nature. Able to appear as one thing, but the true self being another.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHkxzsVoY9-5gvcrHIU4jYgP9ZEfYmJu_C1fDvniiwZQbZaUpNZ8AOiOWn-eCJjkkQggSHH9WfhEsuB6B6WMqLx_BuskqUFbv3cLTK7lL6uWM4x6crQVYOxMMjjWoCEV9kOd6byC1E4Ntc/s1200/hakaider+telebi+kun+scan.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="1200" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHkxzsVoY9-5gvcrHIU4jYgP9ZEfYmJu_C1fDvniiwZQbZaUpNZ8AOiOWn-eCJjkkQggSHH9WfhEsuB6B6WMqLx_BuskqUFbv3cLTK7lL6uWM4x6crQVYOxMMjjWoCEV9kOd6byC1E4Ntc/s320/hakaider+telebi+kun+scan.jpg" width="320" /><br /><br /></a></div><br />Speaking of, lets talk about the aesthetics because Hakaider himself is a wonderful redesign. Amemiya has a tendency to incorporate organic components into his designs whenever possible, even if the material is meant to be inorganic. In Hakaider’s case, the original already had an exposed brain, which is oddly covered in this version and only shown at certain points. But the part that really captivates me is the face. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VX3s_1reszRR4V8SmKHj2a_QaTkssql-jBBU5jvVILBjwrBmg4b-DfDRlqyLb1exayppybOPI-P8Wd49Hko4lgUV4_74V-wC_OOwpm8VMmQBoal4Poy-7JyKByLejYMKMVuSH0HIjFvY/s1366/tears.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VX3s_1reszRR4V8SmKHj2a_QaTkssql-jBBU5jvVILBjwrBmg4b-DfDRlqyLb1exayppybOPI-P8Wd49Hko4lgUV4_74V-wC_OOwpm8VMmQBoal4Poy-7JyKByLejYMKMVuSH0HIjFvY/s320/tears.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Here it’s much more skull-like and he has a constant grimace showing teeth. The yellow zig-zags have become vertical to create a more traditional “tear” seen on many of Ishinomori’s heroic designs.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdL5zGAD9xKRhYcUb-U27DV93GRvVprpu7i-klX4yt_NdpmVHt9bhBHXrBNp5reamV2zRA5zH7u9UkTn6M5Ycl2jBvEvdOzpNq-N_6UJAEf-xbl1OmXFW3YkbUc0DtR-AOkW_vBIAK3KY/s1366/chest.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdL5zGAD9xKRhYcUb-U27DV93GRvVprpu7i-klX4yt_NdpmVHt9bhBHXrBNp5reamV2zRA5zH7u9UkTn6M5Ycl2jBvEvdOzpNq-N_6UJAEf-xbl1OmXFW3YkbUc0DtR-AOkW_vBIAK3KY/s320/chest.jpg" width="320" /><br /><br /></a></div>A callback to the original Hakaider is also seen on the chest in the form of a scar. This was originally a logo on the belt and later added to the chest of Gill Hakaider within the original series. The significance of this is also only seen in the director’s cut, oddly.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwPv__-lAPwF08WEt-IoGcd0I5pQ6dlvvBtP9BreiMWPaoUU8K-ogwQBmIKnSPJ86m2EGc7HUD3iygIW8gxXtVjP1uSdVf3DEHv8_1pfQEmh-SOofQEo2GZ3l1pm7YcnzcX0tOyhxxI2n/s587/chains.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="263" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwPv__-lAPwF08WEt-IoGcd0I5pQ6dlvvBtP9BreiMWPaoUU8K-ogwQBmIKnSPJ86m2EGc7HUD3iygIW8gxXtVjP1uSdVf3DEHv8_1pfQEmh-SOofQEo2GZ3l1pm7YcnzcX0tOyhxxI2n/s320/chains.jpg" width="143" /></a></div><br /><br />Micheal, likewise, has a great design. I’ve already talked about the resemblance to more traditional Tokusatsu heroes, but there’s two other details I like that reflect his true nature. One is the wing upon his back, perhaps indicating a fallen angel motif, which if the Kikaider angle is to be believed, is fitting. The other which would be surprisingly subtle is the two small chains at the waist. Given how blatant many of the other visuals are, I can’t say for certain, but with how Hakaider’s introduction was him busting out of chains, it’s fitting that Micheal is shown symbolically bound by them.<br /><br />Hakaider is, if nothing else, a visual powerhouse that feels very much like a showcase of what the creative team was capable of. There’s several exciting motorcycle scenes, a great moment where Hakaider’s human guise has the flesh stripped from the arm and repairs itself. There’s even a stop motion sequence in the finale.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkpLu_XD4zkSHygHoWaNJ7d5xBIcMHsoJdSe5NAT8WWYViyga21aPF6kJxT2gibHBZmtmnM3gMs3ixUM-NhULcLBGzFA1kBx-nqdP-Elhgh-ooDf3Q6jKlwQu2jcjWFz8Q6S4HOVvGpZC/s511/stopmotion.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="511" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkpLu_XD4zkSHygHoWaNJ7d5xBIcMHsoJdSe5NAT8WWYViyga21aPF6kJxT2gibHBZmtmnM3gMs3ixUM-NhULcLBGzFA1kBx-nqdP-Elhgh-ooDf3Q6jKlwQu2jcjWFz8Q6S4HOVvGpZC/s320/stopmotion.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><br />But this isn’t just a film review, it’s also a look at the Bluray, so let’s take a look at that, shall we?<br />You have the aforementioned two subbed versions of the film, both theatrical and director's cut. Plus the dubbed version of the director’s cut. This is a new transfer, although I couldn’t find much information about it, but it is most certainly in 1080p. It is very nice looking on a big TV, although I don't think you'll be as wowed by the image quality as some other Toku Bluray releases.<br /><br />You also, shockingly, have some special features. You have a trailer for the original US release, which is a bit blurry. I can’t imagine there’s a good quality master in existence for it, sadly, but it's nice to have it all its cheesy early 2000s glory. The other, which I believe is new to this version, is a trailer for ‘95 Toei Superhero festival, which was transferred from an actual film. This is where things get weird. On my PS4 it's about 32 seconds and just for Hakaider, it's listed as "Hakaider Japanese trailer". But when I look at the disc through my USB Bluray Drive, I can see the individual files and that one is the full 2:06 trailer. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbAxKVYI70KV2x_5KC6mFbLJ1ZoA92IonZFbb0R-niE_DNTqLp2ld9gWN88H7YhaPEgRRc6CZ4LSGJbzrDIPXPo-743q8AXbkwxVQ1_cmTD7TcoVM0hcsqVQeUo1RQykMgai-9guTOrKU/s1061/sentai.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="1061" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbAxKVYI70KV2x_5KC6mFbLJ1ZoA92IonZFbb0R-niE_DNTqLp2ld9gWN88H7YhaPEgRRc6CZ4LSGJbzrDIPXPo-743q8AXbkwxVQ1_cmTD7TcoVM0hcsqVQeUo1RQykMgai-9guTOrKU/s320/sentai.png" width="320" /><br /><br /></a></div>Meaning that it's the whole '95 superhero festival trailer and we get to see the Ohranger and B-fighter costumes in glorious bluray quality. They also subbed the whole trailer.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Wr25IKzphoc2yE561mhFtG56G5Ns-z2ZWJgcz_mWCEZL-lLuKJkItiCA_31MQjKSo-bAxqOae-Yj0Giv5Mld22ZzKnHuoxMl5f2VG46nvHVY5R9AH4kKYTnm2kI10Ml1GzAg36vNu0_L/s1366/B-fighter.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Wr25IKzphoc2yE561mhFtG56G5Ns-z2ZWJgcz_mWCEZL-lLuKJkItiCA_31MQjKSo-bAxqOae-Yj0Giv5Mld22ZzKnHuoxMl5f2VG46nvHVY5R9AH4kKYTnm2kI10Ml1GzAg36vNu0_L/s320/B-fighter.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I legitimately love this interpretation of “heavy armor”.<br /></div><br />For some reason this is not accessible though my PS4. You click play and it only shows the Hakaider segment and acts as if that's all there is to show. This is either a glitch with consoles, or someone at Media blasters snuck the whole thing in and kept it secret, possibly because of copyright issues with the footage due to Hasbro owning Power Rangers and Big Bad Beetleborgs. <br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Uw5aZneOB1ArYsEwJ1ibauxkF1eTOronNlFAnE4-YuMtx0L5VMkfuJ49mhKS7yIG-0Dv7lYA4prwEO1WhbV2RaxsChJkWPu93v4ipxuEl1RpAFQsH7UaHprdSJVR5ncHHhtSvRHTHIDh/s1366/credits.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Uw5aZneOB1ArYsEwJ1ibauxkF1eTOronNlFAnE4-YuMtx0L5VMkfuJ49mhKS7yIG-0Dv7lYA4prwEO1WhbV2RaxsChJkWPu93v4ipxuEl1RpAFQsH7UaHprdSJVR5ncHHhtSvRHTHIDh/s320/credits.jpg" width="320" /><br /><br /></a></div>As for those subtitles, I don’t have a lot to say about them. I don’t have the original Tokyo Shock release, so I can’t compare the two of them. I will note that they actually subbed the title credits, which is a rarity and refreshing to see.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtB0aRo0BNfRMGmOmvKE-ccZNgUrTdRIB6bajEhZrw80GVXXF9thR98JlXmA55eXBMph-pnYSTyw7I7lJ6-SBN31XAlyhmoRsKp5lYDuKz5pu0N6YUjE3wgeCjzs1c-jHOg8vHK0EN5i2/s1366/untranslated+POV.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtB0aRo0BNfRMGmOmvKE-ccZNgUrTdRIB6bajEhZrw80GVXXF9thR98JlXmA55eXBMph-pnYSTyw7I7lJ6-SBN31XAlyhmoRsKp5lYDuKz5pu0N6YUjE3wgeCjzs1c-jHOg8vHK0EN5i2/s320/untranslated+POV.jpg" width="320" /><br /><br /></a></div>In contrast, they didn’t sub this POV shot of Hakaider. What’s funny is I think this is partly where the new release title comes from, because it basically says “Destroyer cannon ready”.<br />By the way, I’ve seen some complaints about this being called Hyper Destroyer edition, and while I agree that Mechanical Violator is a much cooler and raw sounding title, the film is still called that. That’s part of the original title card and not something that localization added. The addition of the new subtitle on the boxart is something I actually appreciate because it differentiates it from the old release. Plus it's a pun on Hakai meaning destroy.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKkz-UqI9LDG47-IJBYrDEU4JW1XcTygWVBPEUKDQAAZiolRAEjxeHoXWbaocpRqiIOwerskuiapLzQad13p8FyDEncn-dw9__ogZvXjD7ctT36lsxB7wGoOGgsP0zPhgdTznprE8vnDd/s2048/20210728_211613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKkz-UqI9LDG47-IJBYrDEU4JW1XcTygWVBPEUKDQAAZiolRAEjxeHoXWbaocpRqiIOwerskuiapLzQad13p8FyDEncn-dw9__ogZvXjD7ctT36lsxB7wGoOGgsP0zPhgdTznprE8vnDd/s320/20210728_211613.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Also I don’t really have anywhere else to put this, but here’s a neat shot of Hakaider on his bike for the inner case art. Kinda similar to the one Juspion had, come to think of it.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">Final thoughts.</h3>Hakaider is an enjoyable watch, especially if you're someone like me who really enjoys when a tokusatsu play around with story concepts revolving around morality vs order. The idea that peace isn't inherently a positive as it can be achieved through subjugation and suffering is a story element I never tire of. The visuals are also great and have a certain edge to them you don't get in most productions today. Not just with the designs but the general roughness that almost provides an indie charm.<br /><br />But I do think there’s some faults. Hakider's themes- while enjoyable- are about as subtle as a clown with their cock out. I believe the creative team could have accomplished their intent while still having more than it ultimately does. Hakider is so stoic and, well, robotic, that we really needed more of Kaoru as a surrogate to add some weight to the movie before being killed off. I believe they could have had more story and characterization even with the limited run time of the theatrical version, but especially the director's cut. In fact I know they could have done it because two years earlier Kamen Rider ZO did a similar premise with a shorter runtime.<br /><br />That said, this is still an enjoyable watch and I’m very happy to have this on Bluray. There's other things I'd recommend getting before this, but it's still worth a watch and at $20 for the Bluray it's well worth adding to your collection. Keep an eye on Right stuf anime, they sometimes have this very set for $14 and as low as $11 which is an absolute steal.<br /><br /><br />And if you end up enjoying Hakaider then I would highly suggest watching Metalder, <a href="https://strangers-showcase.blogspot.com/2019/02/choujinki-metalder-review.html">which I reviewed here</a>. It's one of my absolute favorites and has some similar concepts but with more character development thanks to being a series. It even had Keita Amemiya on board for the character designs if that’s your fancy.<br /><br /><br />And if you like what I do, consider tossing a dollar to my <a href="https://ko-fi.com/kamen_writer">kofi page</a>.<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br />Kamen Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02832099141882322022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505042118996520039.post-17336042652668341882021-07-10T10:02:00.000-04:002021-07-10T10:02:55.570-04:00Ultraman Ace Bluray review<div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIb3jabxe4kNOSoWRSK1sjbZtEurgPN7PPm3oLxwL7PAqeLnqRlxMG85Tz72QIakFEZaF3ASc5wXX3rdMKYpKw0Vt9PObsXTXYe0QZ62EGFosc1qyDqFsKHTLL2GOcx67zlXvJeaQEgkF/s445/bluray+title.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="294" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIb3jabxe4kNOSoWRSK1sjbZtEurgPN7PPm3oLxwL7PAqeLnqRlxMG85Tz72QIakFEZaF3ASc5wXX3rdMKYpKw0Vt9PObsXTXYe0QZ62EGFosc1qyDqFsKHTLL2GOcx67zlXvJeaQEgkF/s320/bluray+title.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p><br /><br />1972's Ultraman Ace is a series that is simply full of surprises. Of all of the Ultra series I've covered, Ace is perhaps the one with the most divergences from what came before. The series introduced a lot of then new concepts that are common place today. But while Ace starts off unique for the Ultra series by taking the franchise into uncharted territory, where it heads is ultimately all familiar.<br /><br />Fittingly, the most immediate of these changes are the protagonists
and Ace's hosts. That's right, plural, Ace has two, one a man and the
other a woman.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2SRDMqcRs3uYqnQ0vmxHVFPy4FJCNDSvAjImgl2iY0RCRhw8KZCsHFc74J8MTsOjgyAXO6ZIvQAF9fafr1h2XofIVLwc1aNV-r2jNvB-TYmpY8lefu4_wZN2ScwtcE8f8RrdDkJS9H29/s745/hokuto+and+minami.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="745" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2SRDMqcRs3uYqnQ0vmxHVFPy4FJCNDSvAjImgl2iY0RCRhw8KZCsHFc74J8MTsOjgyAXO6ZIvQAF9fafr1h2XofIVLwc1aNV-r2jNvB-TYmpY8lefu4_wZN2ScwtcE8f8RrdDkJS9H29/s320/hokuto+and+minami.png" width="320" /></a><br /></div><p><br /><b>Seiji Hokuto & Yuko Minami.</b><br />Potrayed by: Keiji Takamine & Mitsuko Hoshi.<br /><br />Like many ultra hosts, both lost their lives when trying to protect others. Hokuto, a baker, lost his in a self-sacrifice in an attempt to save Minami, a nurse helping evacuate an orphanage during a monster attack. Each was given a ring that when both shined would allow the two to merge and become Ultraman Ace and this has some interesting divergences from previous hosts.<br />Forming Ace requires both to not only be close, but both
must desire to transform. There are occasions in which one may be
traumatized, shocked, or injured and unwilling or unable to.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Additionally,
unlike other Ultra hosts, certain injuries and effects incurred as Ace do transfer to
one or both of the hosts. Certain abilities of Ace can seriously fatigue
one half but not the other. All these unique qualities set Ace apart
from any of the prior Ultras and even much later ones as no other Ultra
series has ever had simultaneous hosts.<br /><br />Although there are some shake ups and more to come, there is still the familiar formula of having the protagonist(s) be part of a defense force. After being saved by Ace, the two would join up with TAC (Terrible-monster Attacking Crew) Compared to Return of Ultraman, the crew dynamic is <b>far </b>better. Again, like with prior entries, I don't have a whole lot to say about the individual members, so I won't delve too deep. <br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHaxuLlotCDStkD9GoiN6EnVDE5q7M8AuCKrLVYIQZU7mYGiXLLtHbC411qbsy2ORZxeK5I9ca4kj1BDOWmh_0milmMwlHQRs7YwcCLAqG3fuJ9oEE5yterFn15mc5qbfe8LnLN-JPoUI8/s739/captain+ryu.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="739" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHaxuLlotCDStkD9GoiN6EnVDE5q7M8AuCKrLVYIQZU7mYGiXLLtHbC411qbsy2ORZxeK5I9ca4kj1BDOWmh_0milmMwlHQRs7YwcCLAqG3fuJ9oEE5yterFn15mc5qbfe8LnLN-JPoUI8/s320/captain+ryu.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>Although I will give special mention to <b>Captain Ryu</b> (Tetsurō Sagawa), who embodies some of the best qualities one would want in Captain. He's fully capable of dishing out the dirt and being firm, but he's not a stick in the mud and regularly cuts it up with the crew by being one of the most cheerful leaders yet. You get the feeling he wants to believe in some of the more outlandish claims made by his team, despite keeping a reasonable amount of skepticism given his job.<br /><br />But most importantly is that neither he nor any of the crew comes off as unreasonable jerks to Hokuto or Minami. While the two are noobies and prone to mistakes, the disbelief or chastising from the rest of the team and Captain Ryu are often more mild compared to those from MAT. The harsher and most severe of these are also more understandable as Hokuto or Minami will be at fault instead of the situation being blown out of proportion. Episodes featuring these more turgid conflicts are also spread out as opposed to being a nearly weekly occurrence. It simply improves upon the team formula RoU built and is far less irritating for it.<br /><br /><br />Unfortunately, fascinating and progressive as the two protagonists are and the various other improvements made, it was an idea a bit too forward-thinking. It's clear the writers often struggled by having two protagonists form up. While there is a good bit of tension whenever the two are separated (invoking a dilemma not too different from the Beta Capsule or Ultra Eye being stolen) this often results in the other half not having much to do until they find a way to meet up and the answer to "how will they get out of this one?" usually isn't all that engaging. Hell, on a couple of occasions the difference in location is flat out ignored. <br />Sadly, Minami is the one who gets the short end of the stick. Even worse is that this never improves and in fact, it gets worse. By the late teens, she's barely featured at all, with only an episode or two featuring her more than Hokuto. Compounding this is hearsay that the culture at the time found a man and woman combining into one as being weird. This is sadly where some of Ace's issues come into play. Midway through the season, Minami is written off the show leaving her ring to Hokuto and leaving us with just another regular Ultra host when you get right down to it. <br />It's not entirely clear why Minami was written off the show, it certainly wasn't for ratings. There's a lot of rumors circling the cause, but honestly I feel it was just that the writers couldn't handle two protagonists.<br /><br />On the plus side(?) they did plan for this because the episodes immediately following Minami's departure they introduce the Umezu Family, consisting of a young boy named Dan and his older sister Kayoko aka Madame not appearing on this blog.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfKnCPirANqXUTIp1wDrRJiDET80_2uLEBwztfGn2fkogU5hXf74PaBW45GdBBwFgd2NMzdclC76kkXCMB3bLDtUxNoNpb6lzULnBCF_fHoKSnPDcgo_24Y6xjXs1_WvcksZgblfh8r9H/s741/dan.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="741" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfKnCPirANqXUTIp1wDrRJiDET80_2uLEBwztfGn2fkogU5hXf74PaBW45GdBBwFgd2NMzdclC76kkXCMB3bLDtUxNoNpb6lzULnBCF_fHoKSnPDcgo_24Y6xjXs1_WvcksZgblfh8r9H/s320/dan.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">One might be under the impression the this addition is in some ways a retread of the Sakate family from Return of Ultraman, but to their credit, they do make an effort to differentiate them.<br /></div><p>Dan in particular is this special kid who can see the "Star of Ultra", a light in the sky visible to only the most selfless and determined of souls. He has a good chemistry with Hokuto and the introductory episode for him and his sister has a fairly in-depth backstory...but there's also not really a lot to talk about with the two. Just to give you an idea of how underwhelming their addition is, the informational guide with the Bluray doesn't have an entry for either character. This is despite both being in about half of the episodes and Dan even being considered the honorary 6th Ultra brother for his unique ability. <br /><br />Despite this, Dan isn't a bad addition. I appreciate the character to some extent because he is a good kid with some legit flaws. Sometimes he's shown to be greedy or selfish, normal kid things. But he always corrects these mistakes and tries to be upstanding. Yet it's also never more than that. If you've seen a kid in toku series that pals around with the main hero, you've seen Dan and there isn't much more to it, which is a shame given that both Ace and Dan are both little brother characters, but more on that later.<br /><br /><br /><br />As Ultraman Ace decided to take on many tropes of other hero shows this included more prominent villains. Unlike prior Ultraman entries which often had individual aliens and monsters unconnected to each other, Ultraman Ace has overarching villains in the form of the Yapool, alternate dimensional beings that periodically send out genetically enhanced monsters more resilient to TAC's weapons.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMOiQ1-DICQ_D_Wi6A-k-hcTOvGUWmCJe_Bg2Vk3BdVjpHrCU21YHmzpb25DZQehBHoMf1iOJvZvFhS80AgiM09KiMYGRjV0IrSJLtwOkRcotJArCYbYTo6rUNmChIAd1cNTVDlmYDG0X/s739/yapool+ep+1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="739" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMOiQ1-DICQ_D_Wi6A-k-hcTOvGUWmCJe_Bg2Vk3BdVjpHrCU21YHmzpb25DZQehBHoMf1iOJvZvFhS80AgiM09KiMYGRjV0IrSJLtwOkRcotJArCYbYTo6rUNmChIAd1cNTVDlmYDG0X/s320/yapool+ep+1.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><p><br />The included episode guide mentions how Kamen Rider began airing a year prior alongside Return of Ultraman, initiating the first real competition and TsuPro needing to adapt. I'm inclined to agree that this was TsuPro attempting to compete by having their own Shocker. While plenty of aspects are by no means unique to Rider and are instead generic elements of the hero genre, it's hard to deny the correlation and timing being a reaction to Kamen Rider specifically. In fact, it's downright blatant at times.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIYJIxPh7gj3G2E9A21ImQOgsaZyahVtCDQnaGHHHjumYfiMbn2TjY0Csp44evF3jbJrHWHj6Kla0ZQXmqWjj9MMy0dVrluiGQBZttL2AVi5FExmLYSB1chXLwsb2KWeSfzh27xrDIMY6/s728/rider+touch.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="728" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIYJIxPh7gj3G2E9A21ImQOgsaZyahVtCDQnaGHHHjumYfiMbn2TjY0Csp44evF3jbJrHWHj6Kla0ZQXmqWjj9MMy0dVrluiGQBZttL2AVi5FExmLYSB1chXLwsb2KWeSfzh27xrDIMY6/s320/rider+touch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p>Other ways Ace embraces tropes include Ace talking and even having internal monologues or shouting attacks. Both are far more common today, but to see it in an era where most of the sounds coming from an Ultra were grunts and unintelligible shouts, well, it's surreal. Although this does become downplayed midway through the run.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfL631nno8A1iRxOv0OAe0c1tMRG4G0pVcydL0AykY5nU6WrLsXNFVpL0U1cF97MDhDwrPRdfg0QXRsPv2uNyawJ8FKD2wFSGMNYq37gE1ey6WcxhGcyBsW0-zxaLA8HoSc_4U5c6QOE4n/s747/monologue.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="747" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfL631nno8A1iRxOv0OAe0c1tMRG4G0pVcydL0AykY5nU6WrLsXNFVpL0U1cF97MDhDwrPRdfg0QXRsPv2uNyawJ8FKD2wFSGMNYq37gE1ey6WcxhGcyBsW0-zxaLA8HoSc_4U5c6QOE4n/s320/monologue.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6DmsxzFykXISTs7GyvgIZbPR_JwzVG_bPEX9TEja-ELLjkWZ8YO-VcGhU7yMvCELOLA9UyxsXrvMes7y9mJqfybnaWDzSWTPh_GIVzZ5pGa9jfYSOudw-Mwv_13TAl85iabVv9hFZC-F/s744/shout.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="744" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6DmsxzFykXISTs7GyvgIZbPR_JwzVG_bPEX9TEja-ELLjkWZ8YO-VcGhU7yMvCELOLA9UyxsXrvMes7y9mJqfybnaWDzSWTPh_GIVzZ5pGa9jfYSOudw-Mwv_13TAl85iabVv9hFZC-F/s320/shout.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">These additions also included a slight shift in tone for the first quarter. I've mentioned in previous Ultra reviews that it's a bit shocking how violent some of the fights could be and that they kept getting progressively more elaborate with destroying the monster suits. Ace is no different and has some of the most over-the-top and detailed kills yet. I'll talk more about those in the SFX section, but what's more shocking is that there are even human characters killed, maimed, or mutated.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcHka1nAA3aqqoe4Q3RRaRf_ljjBNDZf_NqT3MuYs6ffRTmBvLqOUny0H5tSNCQQ_GwAgIUb0QI0u3-UTlrFPLUmqCoY5y2R5AXY4Xyo-LchyphenhypheneyPx5jxNiuOaR8ckFaquRv7m-GfhtBQu/s737/creepy.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="737" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcHka1nAA3aqqoe4Q3RRaRf_ljjBNDZf_NqT3MuYs6ffRTmBvLqOUny0H5tSNCQQ_GwAgIUb0QI0u3-UTlrFPLUmqCoY5y2R5AXY4Xyo-LchyphenhypheneyPx5jxNiuOaR8ckFaquRv7m-GfhtBQu/s320/creepy.png" width="320" /><br /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcHka1nAA3aqqoe4Q3RRaRf_ljjBNDZf_NqT3MuYs6ffRTmBvLqOUny0H5tSNCQQ_GwAgIUb0QI0u3-UTlrFPLUmqCoY5y2R5AXY4Xyo-LchyphenhypheneyPx5jxNiuOaR8ckFaquRv7m-GfhtBQu/s737/creepy.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="334" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2-hrKQRq4vtHIqgxRkh6Gg3k_XQNwxA-kRVLc76872cV1i-VuiWSuG7xSLP6_pk6U-Q9oZFDwiCgfkIY_Ko_4w30LlXsQu7I_66csRUsxY5xVS-TnKCsgAwfskporze2wUMQ26GXg67S/w320-h240/melt.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Perhaps as an extension of broadening the scope, the Yapool make use of
some human individuals as antagonists, be it disturbed and willing or
manipulated. There are also several civilian deaths caused by monsters.<br /><br /><br />However, you may have noticed I've spent more time on various changes from a structural standpoint than on the villains' personalities, and that's because they're only in about half of the show and sadly under developed.<br /><br />The opening episodes with them are perhaps the best because of the mystery surrounding them. They have dimension shattering technology and can essentially put a monster wherever they want. They're a threat unlike anything seen before. This is a major source of confusion for TAC until they realize what they're up against. But even afterwards, the Yapool are still kept hidden to such a degree that it's hard to get a beat on them at all, and it starts to go astray in the middle. <br />All the footage of them is distorted with only a lone voice speaking. Kudos where it's due, the (uncredited) VA for the Yapool does a great job taunting Ace and giving grandiose boasts. It's a very creepy delivery, creating this malicious mystique that captivates the audience.<br /><br />But like everything else it's a bit too mysterious. Compared to other Ultra villains like Baltan, Dada, Metron, or Guts, they all had clear simple goals and were tangible threats you could put a face to. The Yapool is quite a bit harder to appreciate because of that. It's ironic because if the intent was to make a faction like Shocker, it doesn't really mesh. Shocker had Generals like Ambassador Hell who acted as direct threats on a more intimate level, their monsters were intelligent and would talk giving some personality. It was only the Great Leader who was kept a mysterious voice, and because of the former two, he could be given the privilege of being a shadowy puppeteer. Ace really needed more liaisons of the Yapool to help build up that threat. <br /><br />Part of the reason why past Ultra antagonists Like Zetton or Guts worked is because they were simple and only around for a couple of episodes. But when you introduce a mysterious threat that will be around for consecutive episodes, you have to build that up into something, even if it's relatively as basic as a General sending out a MOW. Ace does initially have villains filling this role but it's very haphazard and only a handful of episodes have them before dropping the concept all together. Even then, there's never a clear hierarchy established with the Yapool. There's only ever x creature in charge of x kaiju in x episode where both are defeated as opposed to a true commander. It feels like they wanted to embrace the wider superhero tropes except for when it came to the villains, who are largely too impersonal despite some solid voice work and presentation early on. After a certain point the best villains within Ace are often the beings that are one-off threats like you'd expect in an Ultra series, overshadowing some of the Yapool's early hits.<br />This is somewhat understandable. The team at TsuPro had nearly seven years of experience doing one or two-part episodes of alien threats, but pretty much zero when it came to an overarching antagonist. But this regression into a comfort zone is something that would, I feel, cost the series down the road.<br /><p><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Am8dN-_JRJ6ye0V98og-xOo9W18dIgT7XPNG2CyP0d18AykMscAaElPU4z1L5R8xsFCeArR88DQgcpQD0khhqLgLGGoqV21rhypphom55j1hfE4XK2OBpNa8FkDbXwwG6Bc7qpik0smM/s739/Ace+1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="739" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Am8dN-_JRJ6ye0V98og-xOo9W18dIgT7XPNG2CyP0d18AykMscAaElPU4z1L5R8xsFCeArR88DQgcpQD0khhqLgLGGoqV21rhypphom55j1hfE4XK2OBpNa8FkDbXwwG6Bc7qpik0smM/s320/Ace+1.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />But one of the area's Ace succeeds in spades is the prominence of the other Ultras. Ace will occasionally be overwhelmed or in trouble and send an emergency signal through space, which one of the many other Ultras will pick up on and come to the rescue. This seems frequent at first, but it's quickly made sparse and is spread out across the series. I ultimately believe this was a smart move as you wouldn't want Ace overshadowed by his predecessors, and the show does a good job at avoiding that. There isn't a lot of interaction between the Ultras, but what is there is poignant and a bit heartfelt. You get the impression that the Ultras are passing the torch of protecting Earth to Ace and hope that one day their little brother won't need help.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzlrMbQJkh2rvQUX_-bMBaHd5NpEy-0QKBHD9C3fvsfN6pzURj-DY2Suvf91VFeL-DWInKFoWqNFeAEkypfvN3R6naGosvdv-4gJuuXy9-cDeDN8aVuEKg-jGWnuxvmnOZWNHAxhfaQhcG/s771/Seven+flame.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="771" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzlrMbQJkh2rvQUX_-bMBaHd5NpEy-0QKBHD9C3fvsfN6pzURj-DY2Suvf91VFeL-DWInKFoWqNFeAEkypfvN3R6naGosvdv-4gJuuXy9-cDeDN8aVuEKg-jGWnuxvmnOZWNHAxhfaQhcG/s320/Seven+flame.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>However, past Ultras are not the only ones.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheNpdVxSdN24hla69qUk6U3cgBUlXz0vB_ovNZTxtZ4_3AOY_xb2e1Pdyc7jiGeD4qQHq8I-KBfx_uUJXl-CGHgqDFed8Esq7-mIhooSVem7KSeoU_2LvMqQ-4kaF-n2lYPsE01wCOhsAf/s735/father+of+ultra.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="735" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheNpdVxSdN24hla69qUk6U3cgBUlXz0vB_ovNZTxtZ4_3AOY_xb2e1Pdyc7jiGeD4qQHq8I-KBfx_uUJXl-CGHgqDFed8Esq7-mIhooSVem7KSeoU_2LvMqQ-4kaF-n2lYPsE01wCOhsAf/s320/father+of+ultra.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Yes, this is the first series to feature Ken or Father of Ultra. He also has the least amount of appearances, appearing in only two episodes. I will say his debut is incredible and they do a fantastic job of portraying Ken as an absolute badass solely through his actions and body language, it's absolutely a highlight for as brief as it is. His return is also one of the better episodes.<br /></div><p><br /><br />In addition to all these cameos, Ace has many callbacks to previous entries. Be it returning monsters or occasionally referencing story material from across past series. For example; episode 7 features a rouge planetary object hurtling towards earth and TAC discusses using an interstellar missile. This is a (rather dark) reference to the Super Weapon R1 in Ultraseven's 26th episode.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1o2XIIMqX0GoFa7Phg3sauzw65XHCsLXBli0uDMJdi4lB_HRDOlno_7ldZib75zI3tEm5Rg5QFR4zCcfZiPGfY9ffXpmasaCkl8AI8u0u6JG_0QiRV1AdjMT2fJaonPtLa8vGnmIdkxu/s1019/seven+call+back.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1019" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1o2XIIMqX0GoFa7Phg3sauzw65XHCsLXBli0uDMJdi4lB_HRDOlno_7ldZib75zI3tEm5Rg5QFR4zCcfZiPGfY9ffXpmasaCkl8AI8u0u6JG_0QiRV1AdjMT2fJaonPtLa8vGnmIdkxu/s320/seven+call+back.png" width="320" /></a><br /></div><p>Ace truly embraces the legacy of the Ultra franchise and is the first to this degree. RoU of course paid respects to '66 and Seven while establishing a continuity between the three. But whereas RoU dipped it's toes, Ace takes a headfirst dive and in many ways help set a standard for what a lot of the modern shows do today.<br /><br /><br /><br />All that being said, there is an elephant in the room. For as much stuff Ace adds to the franchise and many first as there are, the show has two massive shake-ups around the halfway mark which I feel are detrimental to the overall show. The first is Minami's aforementioned departure which happens in ep 28, but a prior and arguably even larger one is the Yapool being defeated in episode 23. This is a 52 episode series. You can probably see where the trouble starts. <br />Because Minami and the Yapool were the two biggest sources of intrigue, the show suffers for not only failing to realize them to their full potential, but also having to figure out where to go once they decided to write them off. However, it's not a case of struggling in the traditional sense. In fact, they hit the ground running almost seamlessly from what Ace was originally doing to being a more traditional Ultraman. Again, they had two new characters ready as supporting cast so this was thought out.<br /><br />The real issue is that Ace doesn't do anything as unique or drastic once that switch occurs. This is exacerbated by Ace not being nearly as daring with its stories after the first 15 or so. Make no mistake, the show is very bold for where it starts, and throughout the series there are episodes that examine the purpose of an Ultra and their relationship with humanity. The series has some fascinatingly dark and scary tales alongside many that capture that childlike wonder and hope. But after the midway point there's a shift that mostly only focuses on the latter. They're simply less challenging than prior entries. Ace doesn't tackle heavy subject matters like the prior shows did with Race or Genocide and there's not really any sort of standout episode for me within that same type of wheelhouse. The majority of the moral teachings, which mostly happen in the second half, are more down to earth subjects along the lines of don't be a bully and/or jerk to others, be a good person and example for the future, it's okay if you piss the bed etc. Which I believe is good and certainly great for the target audience. It fits perfectly with Ace's theme of being the little brother that's growing up and taking care of Earth, and I love that idealism. You can be like Dan and be an honorary Ultraman, you can be the Ace of Tomorrow.<br /><br /><br />But it's also very limited in scope.<br />So much of the initial draw was put into having two protagonists and a faction of villains that once those have dissipated, Ace doesn't have much else that we haven't seen elsewhere and done better. <br /><br />This results in quite the double edge sword. The first part is incredibly captivating and wonderfully fresh. The Yapool is a fun mysterious threat, there are some fun tidbits with Ace interacting with the other Ultras, it's surprisingly scary yet hopeful. But as the show goes on, many of these qualities begin to dwindle. The villains become less engaging and you realize that Minami is being ignored more and more, to the point of basically being a walking henshin device. Frankly, the show isn't doing much with its two most interesting components and it feels like a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. Should they try to improve upon these still beguiling ideas or simply cut their losses?<br /><br />Reading about the production side, Ace was originally supposed to be this amalgamation of the strength of men and the love of a woman- which is certainly a dated idea by today's standards, but it is something that fits into the idea of unification within the Ultra series in a new and even progressive way for the time. But the show never truly explores those ideas. Ultraman Ace feels like a series that wanted to go in a new direction with familiar concepts, but on one hand it was so forward-thinking that no one was ready for it, and on the other, a more traditional reoccurring antagonist was something many of the writers struggled with as much as having two leads. Perhaps biting off more than they could chew and realizing that even if the ratings were gangbusters- and by all accounts they were, keeping up that particular level of quality and developing it into something might not have been feasible for the staff.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuiIX6XkaI7lKNA1BqLt9GQjN5GNyqI9QC44VXe7-2xJ584bN84DGPfiAc1VLBIV-Ew7FH4tHlp1S-uV_LyV38y1JggbdVfqO1FRls3qwzdZe5MrvVptxTA7QzBIGc0sYexrk_QqGZdwUF/s743/Ace+figure.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="743" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuiIX6XkaI7lKNA1BqLt9GQjN5GNyqI9QC44VXe7-2xJ584bN84DGPfiAc1VLBIV-Ew7FH4tHlp1S-uV_LyV38y1JggbdVfqO1FRls3qwzdZe5MrvVptxTA7QzBIGc0sYexrk_QqGZdwUF/s320/Ace+figure.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The second factor to this is that Japan was in a transitional period at the time with media. Beforehand even if shows like Ultraman were primarily targeted towards kids, they were something everyone in the family could get something out of. It's partly why there were episodes with deeper complicated themes that maybe not every kid would get at the time, but some of the older and wiser viewers would.<br /></div><p>But the 70s brought a massive boom in Anime and Manga, and by extension toy sells for properties related to them. Merchandise suddenly became not only a secondary factor for monetary gain, but an essential and highly viable one for better or worse. Fast, simple, and flashy could possibly net more money than a well written episode about prejudices that would fly over the audience asking for toys.<br /><br />Knowing some of the behind-the-scenes details makes me sympathize with their dilemma. It's clear just from the show the writers were having trouble with two protagonists, and if the writers couldn't change it or figure out what to do, then it's hard to fault them on that. Stripping the series down and focusing mainly on Hokuto and even being looser with monsters does have its advantages. As I said, they had years of doing one protagonist and one-off monsters. It's a formula they've perfected even if the stories centered around them can be hit or miss. Plus it was more marketable to kids which was financially sensible. This was the right call to make, hard as it may be to accept that.<br /><br />But as a piece of media and the advantage of hindsight, I can't help but be a little disappointed by the changes. While the first half does have its bumps, there's a spark of intrigue showing so much potential for something great and different for the franchise. I think I could deal with one or the other being a lost cause, but it's the one-two hit of both major additions being swept away that hurts. It's a shame the Yapool's demise came so close to Minami leaving because I think the sensible thing to do would be to drop one and work on the other. They could have focused primarily on Hokuto and Minami instead, shifting to the two working together to defeat a myriad of threats without the need of developing the Yapool into a sizeable enemy.<br /><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJnM8iQkcMxqBzZna53Buh3mAnAh6ypJbxzd9bSXhfmbRHbJVnr5uiO8eR1S6BzasL8EhDJBSvVPYh7rNd9BDG68zBYC413y0i8ktYCp9LnqktRfddqXwjVn01ssBZDwKWDCx2fs1phhkE/s745/planning.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="745" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJnM8iQkcMxqBzZna53Buh3mAnAh6ypJbxzd9bSXhfmbRHbJVnr5uiO8eR1S6BzasL8EhDJBSvVPYh7rNd9BDG68zBYC413y0i8ktYCp9LnqktRfddqXwjVn01ssBZDwKWDCx2fs1phhkE/s320/planning.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some early episodes even entertain this concept.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;">The inverse is also true. With Minami gone, they could've had a Yapool or an agent of Yapool become a reoccurring role. There's even a perfect setup for that in episode 24. At the very least, the writers not having to write for as many major factions would've offered more time for engaging story material between the cast one way or the other, all while still maintaining at least one of the most differential facets. But, of course, that's not the direction they wanted to take and it would cut into Dan's time who functions as an audience self insert and also allowed for more involved plots with other child characters.<br /><br /><br />Now, I don't want to give the impression that the second half of Ace is no good. Ace remains a well made series despite my criticisms and there's some really good stuff in that second half. But I'd be lying if I didn't say a lot of my enthusiasm dwindled during this time and that I believe the second half to be far less engaging because of those changes.<br />After watching a few episodes of the second half of the show, I feel most will have a pretty good indication of what to expect with one or two pleasant surprises, it's a very by the numbers experience. But otherwise, Ace is a series that is just short of being truly excellent in the first half, followed by being painfully average in the second half. It's not as good as it could've been, but it's also not as bad.<br /><br /><br />Ultimately, however one feels about the changes, Ace was such a ratings smash that Taro was green lit and put into
production before Ace had even finished filming. Which was, again, a
first for the franchise.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>Visuals/SFX</h3></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br />Unsurprisingly I have massive praise for the special effects. Even after four Ultra series plus all their various other heroes like Mirror Man, the team at Tsuburaya were still improving. Buildings somehow look even more detailed, wide shots show off the immense scope, and vehicles are the most fluid they've ever been.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpK-8wf5OHnjd8SQmC7n518DCf-j6oQcPkFt6Q-HUaiD8J8lKCNb7xCNLxi93qK2mgq80RHgWle8KmCEIarn1w0IUttmkZb4Q1Tr-_BBS8D4wiDBFuj2vJCyLW6dF7-7IXnfbvEy6T1tFt/s1019/pullback.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1019" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpK-8wf5OHnjd8SQmC7n518DCf-j6oQcPkFt6Q-HUaiD8J8lKCNb7xCNLxi93qK2mgq80RHgWle8KmCEIarn1w0IUttmkZb4Q1Tr-_BBS8D4wiDBFuj2vJCyLW6dF7-7IXnfbvEy6T1tFt/s320/pullback.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQa79LjVJttNH5Qur9VNAXuNFFa6YXv3nBGJT_c_T5HR6sCSoyG0h4bjbhYEhXNVy6KBnOK5SHtpFf7VFH_DfFVb4GJnZfkLiqOLEgxzZ9FHUXSzTzoEk0hfGrSOb7RGa7RkbtESoEsmij/s335/scale+model.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQa79LjVJttNH5Qur9VNAXuNFFa6YXv3nBGJT_c_T5HR6sCSoyG0h4bjbhYEhXNVy6KBnOK5SHtpFf7VFH_DfFVb4GJnZfkLiqOLEgxzZ9FHUXSzTzoEk0hfGrSOb7RGa7RkbtESoEsmij/s320/scale+model.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0YQcW9y9oepMn5dija11Y0dzKhFx1mzCY2bPdbbIps2Frc_lKz1Ub4jI78LJ5D3TrGNrwFdfjNCKBu6-m3KNtvmeZ6aUiKx_Ozbg8Od0zZW840A5zMVHkbW-QhtD8lMysBJM3dPb1mkK/s337/take+off.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0YQcW9y9oepMn5dija11Y0dzKhFx1mzCY2bPdbbIps2Frc_lKz1Ub4jI78LJ5D3TrGNrwFdfjNCKBu6-m3KNtvmeZ6aUiKx_Ozbg8Od0zZW840A5zMVHkbW-QhtD8lMysBJM3dPb1mkK/s320/take+off.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p>I mean <i>goddamn</i>.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6oyhcwniFx-ddc2xU6zsMjHDkjXTk4CItgEeNy2qYgHlHD9pJL9nOf_EJ6cB79vpFSFAwvdWPLRBfN28DtAxg9EDpHxtRG_jAo1r0z6RB4pDCPSins3v8BWf-fkA7LnAetcrdhSUDVXnP/s336/lab.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="246" data-original-width="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6oyhcwniFx-ddc2xU6zsMjHDkjXTk4CItgEeNy2qYgHlHD9pJL9nOf_EJ6cB79vpFSFAwvdWPLRBfN28DtAxg9EDpHxtRG_jAo1r0z6RB4pDCPSins3v8BWf-fkA7LnAetcrdhSUDVXnP/s320/lab.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><p><br />This also goes for more traditional set design. One of the earlier episodes has a great scene showing the Yapool dimension and the creation of a kaiju with a bunch of stereotypical science equipment ranging from electric tubes, bubbles and a wonderfully unnecessary amount of fog. The quality and presentation of this sequence easily blows away any other toku series from the same era.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJe-sTn_lZf2hq37nPQd28jw5lEJj13LP96BJlVYzuOB_Ap_4i0uPY5eGaJTdhDZTeeY1ZqbIzbOjpqS7HV4LQ8F4YNDVubqtuESHpuFAk2fR6SdniP6oTQgv3dQxtYfTitC9XuNFuHsh/s739/ace+head+2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="739" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJe-sTn_lZf2hq37nPQd28jw5lEJj13LP96BJlVYzuOB_Ap_4i0uPY5eGaJTdhDZTeeY1ZqbIzbOjpqS7HV4LQ8F4YNDVubqtuESHpuFAk2fR6SdniP6oTQgv3dQxtYfTitC9XuNFuHsh/s320/ace+head+2.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsturOo5BttgcnmGpyHSJTOAJ3SBIwA9BOCh-YW9WwDOlCUMhGl6Zy8MHEJCZh0eXFZ9c6fjmzqa5hmT8bTyKIT6J43Ny_LSFdr8TM2JMaCHjRjnXEQ3X_VvttRPDcCzShWUQRqPjEgivp/s352/ace+head+1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="308" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsturOo5BttgcnmGpyHSJTOAJ3SBIwA9BOCh-YW9WwDOlCUMhGl6Zy8MHEJCZh0eXFZ9c6fjmzqa5hmT8bTyKIT6J43Ny_LSFdr8TM2JMaCHjRjnXEQ3X_VvttRPDcCzShWUQRqPjEgivp/s320/ace+head+1.png" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Ace their self is also a nice divergence. The basic silver and red highlights with a blue color timer are present, but the head is quite a bit different. The crest is much larger and wider than even Seven's, they have something of a lobe design on their "ears", a small narrow nose leading into deep ridges that stretch from the brow and around the head. The overall face is much softer and smaller than past Ultras. Perhaps most notable is that Ace has fuller lips which are more vertical than horizontal, creating this almost androgynous appearance when compared to other Ultra beings.<br /></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTwAb791CFZda2iIwifHajgHLiyZ2Z5SbukrbOEiAXoNwwqgF_N5eYRjmiIMJY94SyEkSet82xNfT3f5woJGngCVCZ0Ne6ZdktZ9wcDKoe8M2f3Cw-ipKlMyKPAocUAfy5U2JPpea7CeF/s840/Kaiju+Ace.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTwAb791CFZda2iIwifHajgHLiyZ2Z5SbukrbOEiAXoNwwqgF_N5eYRjmiIMJY94SyEkSet82xNfT3f5woJGngCVCZ0Ne6ZdktZ9wcDKoe8M2f3Cw-ipKlMyKPAocUAfy5U2JPpea7CeF/s320/Kaiju+Ace.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />The kaiju are also still really good, with four really iconic designs in Verokron, Ace-Killer, Hipporit, and my personal favorite, Vakishim.<br /></div><p><br />I do however feel that even the major additions (with the exception of Killer and Vakishim) are a bit weaker than some of the past kaiju. At the same time it was bound to happen. Even nowadays you might expect only one <i>really</i> good new design out of a series, and that's perfectly acceptable. The fact that Ace was still churning out four good designs is impressive. The suit material is also a lot better overall than in RoU, there's nothing too jank looking like Zetton II was.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4gMonTUBDFwZjXe4h2-xdsmuQc3LptjMqIP7c6FPpyNjQJdr6stdxAvYfzcvKgKv2aZRcBVnJdtzY-6d8juFK0rIifBKWMjaIRuvqP_nhmkH_rFCHYROyQvR_erpdWb78HcAyyuucpTl/s747/baltan+ace.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="747" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4gMonTUBDFwZjXe4h2-xdsmuQc3LptjMqIP7c6FPpyNjQJdr6stdxAvYfzcvKgKv2aZRcBVnJdtzY-6d8juFK0rIifBKWMjaIRuvqP_nhmkH_rFCHYROyQvR_erpdWb78HcAyyuucpTl/s320/baltan+ace.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I do wish Ace's intro didn't feature the silhouette of several notable Kaiju ranging from Red King, Balton, Gamora, Pigmon, even Bemstar and Twin Tail, none of which appear. Instead the returning legacy kaiju are Muruchi, Alien Metron and Woo. Which hey I like Metron, and while Muruchi is just a reuse they do have a good design. <br /></div><p><br />On a related note, this is the last appearance of Woo. Yeah, in the Ultra series' 55 year span, Woo has only ever appeared in '66 series and Ace. <br /><br /><br />Now, outside of the monsters and set design, Ace takes the opportunity to experiment a bit for both good and ill.<br />One of the notable developments is a surprising amount of devotion towards extreme close ups and fish-eye lenses. It's not the first time for the franchise, Seven made uses of such visuals, as did RoU, but it's used in more episodes here than any other thus far.<br /><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTo83XoRHUw19Zn6hOuJ9Eg0_0iFCw8rPMPkBEy-SLPP32D04ORVX18tbtswrh9rSKrlqy_QynA1Lwx1JeMEwxPwfjlKxQlI59l29mcWtXFu_Msc8rCsVn9xCb1xKN0YUIwQSr2WhcuJB/s739/x-tream+close+up.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="739" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTo83XoRHUw19Zn6hOuJ9Eg0_0iFCw8rPMPkBEy-SLPP32D04ORVX18tbtswrh9rSKrlqy_QynA1Lwx1JeMEwxPwfjlKxQlI59l29mcWtXFu_Msc8rCsVn9xCb1xKN0YUIwQSr2WhcuJB/s320/x-tream+close+up.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I feel like Zoffy's trying to sell me Sega products.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">There's a lot of up close action shots where it feels like the cameraman is really getting into the fray... and it's a bit of a mixed bag. It's very distinctive and it can add a wonderfully chaotic brutality to the fights. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWuTyIRmkh4js4qFTxEp9ypQACG6bDuNVyEYHW7FjBdJND4D7ZSWZPncNKHcBaJ5eEtDXM_4ScFe-WLNk8xXsI0LV4d9bIfyAYAfkW_hEaV2yGgduuGMdsNmc6g4zYIjmwBAX6xzEPzD3/s337/close+up.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWuTyIRmkh4js4qFTxEp9ypQACG6bDuNVyEYHW7FjBdJND4D7ZSWZPncNKHcBaJ5eEtDXM_4ScFe-WLNk8xXsI0LV4d9bIfyAYAfkW_hEaV2yGgduuGMdsNmc6g4zYIjmwBAX6xzEPzD3/s320/close+up.gif" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbrPSsXfRVDPTfc68eveQC2yQHX9zW2DNkx0JD4wD4NZ7KTZjJLFPsw1IrF3GI8i5VUpnEvJ-khpVvDNyVae_JcJ9E7-Lc9flw1JW7NmsP8PmjviEDSsu5nmcXDEiLlNdXHpp18IMlmkr/s749/close+up.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="749" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbrPSsXfRVDPTfc68eveQC2yQHX9zW2DNkx0JD4wD4NZ7KTZjJLFPsw1IrF3GI8i5VUpnEvJ-khpVvDNyVae_JcJ9E7-Lc9flw1JW7NmsP8PmjviEDSsu5nmcXDEiLlNdXHpp18IMlmkr/s320/close+up.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />But it can also be disorienting to the point of obscuring the scenery or even ruining the illusion of Ace's height, due to the close proximity and the angles sometimes not being kept low. It sometimes feels more like watching an early Kamen Rider fight, or one of the episodes of Ultra Seven where he's regular sized. Thankfully this isn't super frequent, but it does stick out for the wrong reasons.<br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4Ozlu9y2eiUUg5TOCArrbMkFEY_0C6grS700QWO9QLZEilQllfUoPgM6_WkXeEYNEKb8jJreVtIePtWyP4b3fJf3CCA_G6rwQ4NgoxkJ1X0LwL3pO1Xwb1EqVx0nYmBvHbcN7uGPtMtK/s741/dutch.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="741" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4Ozlu9y2eiUUg5TOCArrbMkFEY_0C6grS700QWO9QLZEilQllfUoPgM6_WkXeEYNEKb8jJreVtIePtWyP4b3fJf3CCA_G6rwQ4NgoxkJ1X0LwL3pO1Xwb1EqVx0nYmBvHbcN7uGPtMtK/s320/dutch.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Where it's used best is actually outside fights in low angle tracking shots where the subject is slightly askew, or the camera is at a Dutch angle. Scenes like this always give a psychedelic unease that I've come to find quintessential in 70s tokusatsu.<br /></div><p><br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwmWphwjQ8PQnyz9Zz9bME_Yj2eB7w6QeTFgMFsCGvuRxmdk3mJKWeNeJvCJcuWBtYpCogaXJqba2LCE5Y66toBznCiOWmsfH608nMd_hWegdS_09CInFjp4AR-UDRroHvIysi8Zlk9Tn/s335/stab.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwmWphwjQ8PQnyz9Zz9bME_Yj2eB7w6QeTFgMFsCGvuRxmdk3mJKWeNeJvCJcuWBtYpCogaXJqba2LCE5Y66toBznCiOWmsfH608nMd_hWegdS_09CInFjp4AR-UDRroHvIysi8Zlk9Tn/s320/stab.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">What else sticks out for arguably all the right reasons is how incredibly violent and spectacularly elaborate the fights can get. Much like the set design, I'm shocked that they were still able to improve upon something that should have feasibly reached its peak for at least a few more years. But instead of settling, they cut up, set fire to, and outright explode the suits in all manner one could.<br /></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRN2cRtSv8bfRuRMxPQzA0OEoMk-y4qClUJpySaDxDS81Wgbki_vMY6KFBHeEUHq8SddbZ23RCBEsgaiuM9JXMcXhZjsO59yGGd0gwq8zPdD5Vmg5jlqa9XDcA6dEQAdjdY6aYpC4tp5eH/s334/punch+cut+blow.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRN2cRtSv8bfRuRMxPQzA0OEoMk-y4qClUJpySaDxDS81Wgbki_vMY6KFBHeEUHq8SddbZ23RCBEsgaiuM9JXMcXhZjsO59yGGd0gwq8zPdD5Vmg5jlqa9XDcA6dEQAdjdY6aYpC4tp5eH/s320/punch+cut+blow.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Heads, arms, legs, a freaking hole though the stomach like a 70s toku version of <i><b>Riki-Oh. </b></i>Even the more gruesome aspects aside, it's simply enjoyable seeing them utterly wreck a costume or go through the trouble of making a foam duplicate just so it'll go into even more pieces. That's to say nothing of the excellent and often long fight sequences.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What's even crazier is I know Ace isn't a peak of Showa Ultra violence or costume destruction. But they do possibly have the largest variations in attacks of any Ultra. Ace has, at least to my counting, a whopping 33 beam attacks, 12 physical finishers, and 23 miscellaneous support techniques. It's a great and clever way to make a suit being torn apart seem different every time.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZs87CrvvI8-jEmHtaRW1kW0dn5Ztxpf4kmtDLpoFcy1mQG9ckP_hDymxK7QE-FGteM7iu5vYZDqsbT0U5Yn8XaxOd_umsOGmYGz0WVa1okY-cjf2LElJoC9jdDeeCewFHnCkH-5WKp3ok/s335/dimention+break.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZs87CrvvI8-jEmHtaRW1kW0dn5Ztxpf4kmtDLpoFcy1mQG9ckP_hDymxK7QE-FGteM7iu5vYZDqsbT0U5Yn8XaxOd_umsOGmYGz0WVa1okY-cjf2LElJoC9jdDeeCewFHnCkH-5WKp3ok/s320/dimention+break.gif" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Finally last but not least is perhaps that most advanced and intruiging of all the effects, which is the Yapool shattering dimentions quite litterally by breaking open a section in the sky. This is seldome used and I can only imagine it must've been quite costly for the time. But it makes quite the visual impact and is absolutely one of the most iconic bits from Ace.<br /><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>Sub quality </h3></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br />So I don't really have too much to get into here. As far as I could tell Ace is perhaps the most consistent and high quality when it comes to the subtitles. I didn't notice any misspellings or weird font changes. Hell, the translations are miles better than the goofy ones used for years on wikis, such as ep. 36<b> </b>A Terrible-Monster Registering 10,000 <b>Phons</b>, which fansites for the longest time mistranslated as <b>Phones</b>.<br /><br />In all the episodes I only found two <i>very</i> minor but still notable quirks to talk about.<br /><br /><br />The first one is a bit in Episode 14 when all the prior Ultras are being listed by name, but Ultraman Jack is referred to as, well, Ultraman Jack despite that not actually being accurate to the dialog spoken.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEw23Tn8QfABEhSUUiJhdxv8MWp-abTLLFWPO981-a4XCnpT-Xto2W2Ef5gzOJlwSjE0gYQNbDWGTXZ8AWlqnEjeVaexjpWdwnU0B7VoDZzt6cOf4WaHo5B1SMyPGue1FsNYCmbhruDTY/s727/ultraman+jack+sub.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="727" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEw23Tn8QfABEhSUUiJhdxv8MWp-abTLLFWPO981-a4XCnpT-Xto2W2Ef5gzOJlwSjE0gYQNbDWGTXZ8AWlqnEjeVaexjpWdwnU0B7VoDZzt6cOf4WaHo5B1SMyPGue1FsNYCmbhruDTY/s320/ultraman+jack+sub.png" width="320" /></a><br /></div><p> The actual line is "Urutoraman Nisei" Which is just Ultraman two. Ultraman Jack didn't get his proper name until 1984 in "Ultraman Zoffy: Ultra Warriors vs. the Giant Monster Army" a full 12 years after this episode. Until then, he was always simply referred to as Ultraman 2 or sometimes New Ultraman. This isn't a complaint, but I felt it was worth pointing out for curiosity sake. It's one of those things that probably would have been far more confusing if it had been literal. So being more localization and less translation is the better choice here, even if hearing one thing and reading another is fairly obvious in this case.<br /><br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5-BYDJ7uyw6HmIhB1cDG4uG26g_Am7OdCRIhAdU1VoklQDRvyynIEzZaTVWPweoiZNj81VoiWUx3faKhYcIO7GS12BJgsI7EyTpYfZRbEJhbh0P9ASkx590xrGJ7KEMMwmeMYKjoy1MT/s739/chant.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="739" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5-BYDJ7uyw6HmIhB1cDG4uG26g_Am7OdCRIhAdU1VoklQDRvyynIEzZaTVWPweoiZNj81VoiWUx3faKhYcIO7GS12BJgsI7EyTpYfZRbEJhbh0P9ASkx590xrGJ7KEMMwmeMYKjoy1MT/s320/chant.png" width="320" /></a><p style="text-align: left;"><br />In contrast to the above, the chant "namu amida butsu" is used a couple of times but is left completely untranslated. This is possibly due to the nature of it, but I do think it's odd. It's a Buddhist chant along the lines of "I entrust myself to the Buddha." Or if you wanted to be a bit more colloquial "Buddha, save/help me." Which probably would have an acceptable translation given the context it's used within the show, but I digress.<br /><br />But there's not a lot to say here. Millcreek went from the first two series<i> really</i> needing a second pass, Seven and Return having a few typos. But Ace seems to have been handled very well on QC.<br /><br /><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: center;">Episode suggestions.</h3><p style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJA98LgaeoyMvvOCZtJgabTn55TgQTJHeBMbf642vceFHs_VposAjF31UBNv7bjNRJAbrVG-Trt9WHSpdWKLOQ9D_2Whu9cfcbknZ71N8FshaQj8G5UBE-oWhR2CnwAbD65K-Y8kiZk53V/s741/3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="741" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJA98LgaeoyMvvOCZtJgabTn55TgQTJHeBMbf642vceFHs_VposAjF31UBNv7bjNRJAbrVG-Trt9WHSpdWKLOQ9D_2Whu9cfcbknZ71N8FshaQj8G5UBE-oWhR2CnwAbD65K-Y8kiZk53V/s320/3.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Ep. 3 <b>Go up in Flames! Terrible Monster Hell.</b><br /></div><p>D:Eizo Yamagiwa W:Shigemitsu Taguchi<br /><br />So I mentioned that Ultraman Ace can be very dark compared to previous entries, particularly for the first 7 or so episodes. When I say that, I don't just mean in typical Showa era fashion where you could get away with showing people die on screen or violent monster deaths, sometime it's really dark story elements both on and off scree. Episode 3 is perhaps the darkest of both.<br /><br />This story features a Yapool kaiju impersonating a child, Shiro, who is used in a ploy to get the TAC members away to a remote village to investigate a downed plane, thus leaving their base undefended so it can attack. In between there's some drama with Minami and the rest of the TAC crew over how she's running operations and some questionable monster sightings near the village, all of which are of course the actions of the Yapool to drive a wedge.<br /><br />Where the episode starts to get really dark is when Shiro's grandparents are killed by the imposter Shiro and their house set on fire simply to provide further distraction.<br /><br />By the end of the episode it's revealed the real Shiro, along with his parents, actually died in a mysterious accident weeks earlier.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6bbUMk5fQp27QKe5Vhues6ErtLfT1ANg8LS3rNya0yGi0vATGrTUcacTt-TDrND6tbFUIFUZ3bw1685kVY9O1tPcXWWSe6EuDNd56yesPQZxEzyDZk2PNwpame_Zu4vsYm2YS3EkUOAs7/s739/ep+3+death.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="739" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6bbUMk5fQp27QKe5Vhues6ErtLfT1ANg8LS3rNya0yGi0vATGrTUcacTt-TDrND6tbFUIFUZ3bw1685kVY9O1tPcXWWSe6EuDNd56yesPQZxEzyDZk2PNwpame_Zu4vsYm2YS3EkUOAs7/s320/ep+3+death.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So how many kids were truamatized by this?<br /></div><p><br /><br />It is so bizarrely cruel. And it's hardly the only time Ace pulls something like this. Although it is a standout in possibly being the single most sadistic episode. But beyond the sheer shock and horror, this episode also does a fantastic job of stringing the viewer along and placating the mystery of what is happening. Even after one has figured out many of the details of the monster's actions it still remains entertaining in seeing TAC solve the mystery. Not only that, it's one of the episodes featuring a Yapool creation that actively torments and connives instead of just being a giant monster that destroys buildings, there's a rhyme and reason to the actions taken. The scene where the TAC crew investigates the house fire is not only a moment showing the lengths the Yapool will go to, but it's also used as an opportunity to draw the team away from their aircraft which is subsequently destroyed by the Kaiju, thus stranding a majority of the team miles away from base. That's the sort of planning I appreciate in an antagonist, a cruel sensibility.<br />Additionally, this episode features some absolutely fantastic set design and practical effects with one of the absolute best monster designs.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtdLjUqwpxuDN1Wh3C0j-FifcK2zmYax4v1hiPnlnhe6hGwYT5r3vMxPTOjscyfHItit06EceFLjBR9rnTr7wqOBX26SMTTJJ5m_b6_c6X6qiFpv3HxdSIZbtX6BukJIt3dcUkbwL-xp7l/s737/5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="737" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtdLjUqwpxuDN1Wh3C0j-FifcK2zmYax4v1hiPnlnhe6hGwYT5r3vMxPTOjscyfHItit06EceFLjBR9rnTr7wqOBX26SMTTJJ5m_b6_c6X6qiFpv3HxdSIZbtX6BukJIt3dcUkbwL-xp7l/s320/5.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Ep. 5 <b>The Giant-Ant Terrible-Monster vs the Ultra Brothers.</b><br /></div><p>D:Tadashi Mafune W:Shozo Uehara<br /><br />This is once again another episode with a surprisingly scary bend to it, particularly the opening which features a couple of people being swallowed up by a literal and temporal sink whole. The ground opens up and an individual is sucked in, but there's no evidence and nothing else is touched by the event. Some of the effects are certainly hokey, it does that 70s toku thing of taking a vinyl figure and using that as a stand-in for a character. Even in context of the time, that particular effect was never a good idea. Everything else about the episode's effects is top notch, though. Likewise the events themselves are scary enough as is. The second disappearance in particular occurs within a theme park on a teacup ride as a single woman disappears on the ride, but all the other passengers are left alone, only the victim's purse is left behind. This scene is very effective because of the subtle nature of the aftermath, the park goers staring in confusion at the lone purse, with the soft singing of a children's rhyme in the background.<br /><br />Once TAC arrives on the scene not much changes. No strange residue, no physical evidence of any kind for the cause. The thought that this could be a matter of hysteria is thrown around, but more incidents happen, all women with type O blood. Yet, once again, there's nothing to be found at the scene. Hokuto reckons it must be the Yapool given the nature of the attacks and they're a threat TAC understands the least about. But this leads to an interesting roadblock where politics are in play. Captain Ryu informs the team that they simply can't investigate because there's no evidence this falls into their jurisdiction. All that's really occurred is the disappearances, so for the time being the missing persons are under the police's investigation.<br /><br /><br />This doesn't last long, for on the following day Minami is nearly taken herself but is saved by Hokuto, the two witnessing a large ant creature. Not long afterwards, a subway train ends up derailing into the kaiju's tunnels in one of the most impressive set pieces of the entire show.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwae_bVd5Q74f68HqEe6fmkn4sxiBNOToM7r41BEu58BlNtqcKCXkb3Vj4-0HiHfUgs-UHOqXFJBjgCUeK5qhANL6RZbMjGVDd66ygnJvqANl2cs6mBRFfdd-3CJM0MTuK4gOVyVsDN6pr/s336/train.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="246" data-original-width="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwae_bVd5Q74f68HqEe6fmkn4sxiBNOToM7r41BEu58BlNtqcKCXkb3Vj4-0HiHfUgs-UHOqXFJBjgCUeK5qhANL6RZbMjGVDd66ygnJvqANl2cs6mBRFfdd-3CJM0MTuK4gOVyVsDN6pr/s320/train.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Which is quickly followed by a fairly graphic yet bloodless massacre of all the passengers.<br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_y-YAfB8EmH6FqsGA8sYIBfjVUUVaA_WjbJG0yPVVY20kFGsEaEBWTprikpfgSSGAPVfgsxX08RQD8w1kFAR_RzZGuWAhFx0r-_Y87ZKOPRE24BN2TK2mrL6nnv4CcMWQRpOGG8fkngYf/s336/acid+skeleton.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="246" data-original-width="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_y-YAfB8EmH6FqsGA8sYIBfjVUUVaA_WjbJG0yPVVY20kFGsEaEBWTprikpfgSSGAPVfgsxX08RQD8w1kFAR_RzZGuWAhFx0r-_Y87ZKOPRE24BN2TK2mrL6nnv4CcMWQRpOGG8fkngYf/s320/acid+skeleton.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Truly the visual highlight of the episode.<br /><br /><br />With any doubt cast aside, TAC heads out to confront the creature, one team drilling into the ground, the other remaining upon the surface. Unfortunately, the drill gets stuck in a cave-in, but Minami, who was part of the underground team, manages to escape to the surface and meet back up with Hokuto. While the two are able to unite, this leads to a major dilemma. The two don't know if Ace can fight underground, and beyond that, Minami is their best shot at locating the creature via bait. But that's risky and she's traumatized by her prior engagement with the beast. But this plot point doesn't really last long and Minami overcomes her fear rather quickly for the sake of time.<br /><br />The rest of the episode can easily be easily summed up with the plan working and both Minami and Hokuto battling the beast as Ace, as well as a Yapool controlling the ant monster. There are some notable details within these moments, however. The most intriguing to me is that it's one of the episodes that features quite a bit of Ace talking and by extension an antagonist talking. There's a back and forth between the two unlike anything the Ultra series has done up to this point. It almost feels like a completely different series and I don't mean that as an insult, it's just very different and something I feel should have occurred more often. Ace also gets caught in a trap which, again, feels a bit like something from another show. Zoffy arrives to help and even sticks around for the final battle, making for a two on two fight.<br /><br />I have to say this is probably the closest Ace gets to have a nearly perfect formula. Not a perfect episode, although it is <i>very</i> good. But you've got a great mystery with the Yapool, you've got world building with minor but intriguing elements regarding the intricacies of TAC. Hokuto and Minami have to plan and work together, there's a personal struggle for Minami, a solid confrontation with a villain. Really if I lobbied anything against the episode it's that it is trying to do too many things. Cut one or two parts out and you'd probably have three really great ideas as opposed to five okay ones smooshed together. But there's stuff in here that should have been in more episodes and certainly ideas to explore further. It is almost everything I wanted in Ace and the episode absolutely had me hooked.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjquvaXPHFxM7cKEvBA8ptd9KU0XHIeFi7eMHxG4DAQymKNxT_9E8eaF05x4sdvp_niyNcITahKqFbJYTdWc_0BBSEA99MlcZY9luuAu651F3H3cjCCO6YgXNJXPHqO6VUxodgq5PdKTWHy/s741/ep+10.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="741" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjquvaXPHFxM7cKEvBA8ptd9KU0XHIeFi7eMHxG4DAQymKNxT_9E8eaF05x4sdvp_niyNcITahKqFbJYTdWc_0BBSEA99MlcZY9luuAu651F3H3cjCCO6YgXNJXPHqO6VUxodgq5PdKTWHy/s320/ep+10.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Ep. 10 <b>Duel! Ultraman Ace vs. Hediki Go.</b><br /></div><p>D:Eizo Yamagiwa W: Shigemitsu Taguchi<br /><br />I kinda don't even want to talk about this episode because it's more enjoyable going in blind, but you probably have a good idea what goes down given the title. <br /><br />A monster begins attacking the city but all of TAC's weapons are ineffective. Who should arrive but Hediki Go with a weapon capable of driving away the rampaging beast. Although injured in the process, he saves not only Hokuto, but also two familiar civilians; Jiro and Rumiko. This leads to the TAC team being impressed with Go's invention, dubbed the Ultra Shot, but there's also some questions. For one, TAC has records of all the past defense forces and MAT's personnel records officially declared Go as KIA battling Zetton II. Of course, Jiro and Rumiko know the truth, but obviously can't get into the details beyond confirming he was in fact alive. Go himself claims he returned after hearing of the new threats arriving. In private he explains to Jiro that he's on a mission and it must be kept under wraps.<br /><br />As Go is treated for his injuries, a debate rages between the members of TAC on if they should recruit him. Some members are impressed with his new invention, but others, Hokuto among them, are frustrated that he interfered with their operations. Capt. Ryu, ever the wise leader, gives credence to the fact Go and his know how would be beneficial to the team. However, he has reservations about where Go has been all this time and he did technically go AWOL from MAT. Suffice to say a background check will need to be in order.<br /><br />In the mean time, Hokuto and Minami escort Jiro and Rumiko to visit Go, where things take a turn for the weird. Go doesn't seem to recognize the food brought for him, nor does he properly use chopsticks, instead stabbing the food using his left hand, despite being right handed.<br />It's at this point you've probably figured out that yes, this isn't Hideki Go but an Alien whose plans have now went south. The rest of the episode plays out how you'd expect. The kaiju from earlier returns, the alien takes Jiro hostage, Jiro break free, Alien gets turned into swiss cheese, Ace fights the kaiju in a fun matador fight. That last part might be unexpected.<br /><br />But I really want to focus on the brilliance of doing an alien disguise plot in this manner. Part of what works so well about the oddities with Hediki, or rather Alien Antira, is that even with the dark clothing and the bits that are off about his personality, until the hospital scene you could almost believe that maybe it was him and that maybe he was on a mission and the point was to test Ace. I think it's very clever to establish that past Ultras are appearing regularly and then to get a past actor reprising their role as an Ultra host only to make them a disguised villain. <br /><br />Now one might wonder why Ace wouldn't know Hediki since, ya know, Jack is his brother. But keep in mind this is still early on and there isn't much consistency with how everything works. The only instance of an Ultra actually communicating with their host was still the original series and that was technically before Ultraman merged with Hayata. So there wouldn't really be a reason for Hokuto or Minami to know.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZdKSfXKsUts-4-vMS1aa-K0xFPtehOCw4I6G29g_9JG1u-UI9-J8m2BeqR6tHK1Svfby2u_ANqnGglwWIcidTITtXFVYK3P7vMYwtD8reLlAVltWVvSNsiDHDxFK3fztqB4ljMiCPR-2z/s335/ultra+knife.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZdKSfXKsUts-4-vMS1aa-K0xFPtehOCw4I6G29g_9JG1u-UI9-J8m2BeqR6tHK1Svfby2u_ANqnGglwWIcidTITtXFVYK3P7vMYwtD8reLlAVltWVvSNsiDHDxFK3fztqB4ljMiCPR-2z/s320/ultra+knife.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Also the fight at the end has a decapitation, which is a cherry atop an enjoyable story.<br /></div><p><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3MUkjFCO7yH_IWRu3yERlUA8Y3TZJ4X5LGE8mHCp2_uVFXU72IsQ0zFs1j8qaBkNzp5X_S9S4sP9m8jUw7jVF0mBrZPY10l_hLOBmxa95kPiGyo-xrC1e5OauvfUSwzWOW0hOPwyLP7o/s741/13+cross.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="741" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3MUkjFCO7yH_IWRu3yERlUA8Y3TZJ4X5LGE8mHCp2_uVFXU72IsQ0zFs1j8qaBkNzp5X_S9S4sP9m8jUw7jVF0mBrZPY10l_hLOBmxa95kPiGyo-xrC1e5OauvfUSwzWOW0hOPwyLP7o/s320/13+cross.png" width="320" /></a></div><p><br />Ep. <b>13 Death Penalty! 5 Ultra Brothers </b>&<b> </b>Ep. 14<b> 5 Stars Scattered in the Galaxy.</b><br /><br />D:Yasuo Yoshino W:Shigemitsu Taguchi(13) & Shinichi Ichikawa(14)<br /><br />Chances are you are familiar with these, or rather the famous scene of the Ultra's being crucified. But I'm willing to bet either episode isn't nearly as well known, and that's a slight shame because it's a wonderfully interesting pair. Ostensibly the other Ultras are called to a rogue planet in the Anti-Universe, Golgoda (A reference to Golgotha, the hill Christ was crucified upon). The four Ultras assume Ace called them there, Ace in turn believing he was called by them.<br />Meanwhile, Japan is attacked by the monster Baraba, sent by the Yapool and protected by a radioactive storm. Just as the Ultras realize the trap they've fallen into, the five slowly begin freezing.<br /><br />What this episode does really well is scenes of Ace interacting with the other Ultras, which we've never gotten until this point. As the earth is being attacked, Ultraman tells Ace to abandon them and protect earth, however, Ace lacks the energy to do so. Despite how risky it is, Ultraman and the others are willing to share their energy with Ace. It's better that one of them make it out than all die, and if one is going to leave, it's going to be Ace. You really get a sense of how Ace is a junior to the others and how much they wish for him to do well. It's one of the great standout moments of the show and something I don't think any other series was or could do at the time.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0m43zE4ENILlIDwXAmu8Yh24nhGpbNu5OsOXuTOaFAVNU5HhICi2rNcjoLkTF_0rn13-9iF9wn4ummTIRNYYJTemygHSpQfyBXi4u0DOmiFHA3EWWSu78w9obHhLIFf8Ih91zkUxiWJVU/s747/our+part.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="747" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0m43zE4ENILlIDwXAmu8Yh24nhGpbNu5OsOXuTOaFAVNU5HhICi2rNcjoLkTF_0rn13-9iF9wn4ummTIRNYYJTemygHSpQfyBXi4u0DOmiFHA3EWWSu78w9obHhLIFf8Ih91zkUxiWJVU/s320/our+part.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>Despite his own protests, Ace leaves for Earth, but in doing so the others are weakened further and captured by the Yapool and crucified, this being used as leverage against Ace during his battle on earth, ending it prematurely. <br /><br />14 continues the story while also introducing two additional threats. One in the form of a Yapool robot called Ace Killer, who is infused with the power of Ultraman, Zoffy, Seven, and Ultraman Jack. The other is TAC Commanding Officer Takakura issuing an order from HQ to blow up Golgoda, regardless of what happens to the Ultras- thus continuing the long tradition of the Ultra series having short sighted military leaders issuing blatantly stupid orders. Unsurprisingly, this leads to a lot of conflict from Hokuto, who rightfully points out that Earth has been saved repeatedly by the Ultras and dooming them does nothing but take out a strong opposing force to the Yapool. But orders are orders and perhaps as a form of punishment for his insubordination, Hokuto is chosen to deliver the payload.<br />Shockingly, Hokuto doesn't plan to to sabotage the operation, things go pear shaped on their own when the missile refuses to launch. Orders from HQ are to perform a suicide run, but Capt. Ryu isn't having any of it, saying HQ's plan is a failure and the lives of his crew are more important. He even goes as far as knocking the hell out of Takakura.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTYaRzWEC-gPLtkr2pqSaEFIBvAJ3gOgexh0nNW31v3eQkCICgepvYQ_GJxhyQLQvsVZV_Wf9DNsIAa8E4Sx01fHMC4PHsQQEvzXkTA8ewXdgJ56z6ZCviWwYIIx2hCmlH1UWuFc9q33F/s335/YGKTFO.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTYaRzWEC-gPLtkr2pqSaEFIBvAJ3gOgexh0nNW31v3eQkCICgepvYQ_GJxhyQLQvsVZV_Wf9DNsIAa8E4Sx01fHMC4PHsQQEvzXkTA8ewXdgJ56z6ZCviWwYIIx2hCmlH1UWuFc9q33F/s320/YGKTFO.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It is very satisfying to see.<br /></div><p><br /><br />However the next part does leave a bit to be desired. As the others head out to fight the sudden reappearance of monster from the last episode, Minami contacts Hokuto via video communication and their rings begin the shine, and apparently just being close to an image of the ring is good enough to form Ace, as Minami is teleported to the space craft. This is what I mean by the writers struggling and being short sighted with how to make this dynamic work. Regardless, Ace blows up the space ship and heads towards Golgoda to save the four brothers and fight Ace Killer...which is incredibly lackluster. Compared to some of the other fights in Ace which can last quite a while, this one is barely a minute of Ace struggling before he's given a new power from the four Ultras (Space Q) and is able to destroy Ace Killer in one attack. On the other hand, when Ace returns to earth he has to contend with the still rampaging Baraba, the fight is far more enjoyable. It's just a shame that there was a lot of build up around Ace Killer and the captured Ultras only to be resolved so quickly. Also the Radiation storm from last episode isn't present for some reason.<br /><br />These episodes are really good and build tension wonderfully, but it also begins to unravel near the end feeling a tad rushed. But some minor issues aside, there's no denying these two as among some of the best of Ace's offerings with iconic and even infamous screenshots.<br /><br />Unfortunately I cannot say the same about episode, 23.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRIJZpyEQJEqSOav335nJhgRFYq25m6wVLdpZUszTkX6Bx5n24NDPM_rHS1oP4NWEmxLsLvqq8iUSb5zvgCvXGJdz2RB0ErzDgccQD1YboybYO01MKtmbrrBpEZtbgGwonRoLYTBip0XBO/s739/23.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="739" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRIJZpyEQJEqSOav335nJhgRFYq25m6wVLdpZUszTkX6Bx5n24NDPM_rHS1oP4NWEmxLsLvqq8iUSb5zvgCvXGJdz2RB0ErzDgccQD1YboybYO01MKtmbrrBpEZtbgGwonRoLYTBip0XBO/s320/23.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Ep. 23 <b>A Game Changer! Here Comes Zoffy.</b><br /></div><p>W: Tadashi Mafune D: Tadashi Mafune<br /><br /><br />This is a weird episode and I'm doing something different here by talking about an episode because of its importance and because it left me flabbergasted, but I do<b> <i>not</i></b> recommend it on quality. I went back and forth on if I wanted to cover this episode because I felt it was too ranty and anger filled, which is not what this section is about at all. But I did write a lot about why I dislike this episode, there isn't anywhere else this would go, and you can skip it if need be. So either continue on or ctrl-f to ep. 26 to hear more praise.<br /><br /><br />Hokuto is on patrol and witnesses an old man singing and dancing along a beach, with many children joining in ritualistic fashion. The group suddenly disappears from view and Hokuto checks out the scene, only for it to start snowing as he's assaulted by the old man, now more monstrous and spewing fire. During the tussle, Hokuto falls off a cliff and is badly injured, but despite his injuries (including burn marks) for some reason the rest of the team doesn't believe any of this. And this is where the episode gets wild, because Hokuto is almost insane in the levels of how hard he is trying to get the rest of the crew to believe him. <br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wemK__iQ0yerh7-UavH8WdbwwBLk5NM2n6G5DZBYzq3MiBvhbVeALN6PELZhWMdo3xpsWxzyMb82i3HNvu8OxLHdD30UyMkN1D7H9o_zwt6ZfTG09mmDMZLti-TgaN1CO6-TkkQLOxlm/s335/manic.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wemK__iQ0yerh7-UavH8WdbwwBLk5NM2n6G5DZBYzq3MiBvhbVeALN6PELZhWMdo3xpsWxzyMb82i3HNvu8OxLHdD30UyMkN1D7H9o_zwt6ZfTG09mmDMZLti-TgaN1CO6-TkkQLOxlm/s320/manic.gif" width="320" /></a></div><p><br />There's uncomfortable close ups, awkward pauses, long tracking shots. It's really doing all it can to make Hokuto borderline manic.... and part of what holds episode 23 back is it going hard to a fault, as it doesn't quite gel with the prior episodes for what it's doing. Having the crew doubt Hokuto's wild tales is something that's happened in previous episodes and it's usually done fine. A healthy amount of skepticism along side precautions just in case. Here, they're rock solid on saying that Hokuto's tale doesn't sound scientific at all. He wasn't that far from base, it's the middle of summer, the the area he was in shouldn't have had a beach. That's a good start to the mystery. But the lengths of which they go is simply absurd in a series that regularly uses the phrase "There's even mysteries to science". <br />Even Captain Ryu, the man who most often is on the side of caution- and even does so here by sending the crew out to the location- reveals in private he doesn't believe Hokuto. That's an interesting idea, that the Capt. in past episodes might not have actually believed the reports from various crew members, but put on a facade and still took action. That has potential for something interesting. <br /><br />However, two weeks prior, Capt. Ryu had the Maiden of the Virgo constellation offer to be his maid. Not to mention the fact the main villains are INTERDENOMINATIONAL BEINGS. So still citing the absurdity of the story because of warped location, especially when said story is from the guy to once claimed to see a cruise ship in the air, <i>and was right</i>, maybe comes off as just making the the entire crew seem bag of hammers dumb. It's a shame, too. Keiji Takamine is giving it his all as Hokuto. He's wonderful, but the script just isn't working with him.<br /><br /><br /><br />But that's not even the weirdest bit of this episode, because for as much focus is put on creating friction between Hokuto and the crew, it fizzles out fast. Kids all over the world begin disappearing and that's pretty much the end of it, proving Hokuto's story. From there on it's the TAC team trying to figure out what's happening to all the kids. <br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBcpTbfFFZLGSP8kmz2seVBg7cWbYdWYdlBAgAL81PmIJIpXFuCPEafrkKfKAXPd2zJNfM-rsKw_4hKMMhuDMk3w2GnKKJTnKGZEDY9i0YnMrLCVZdwmwhPGrS7WblEOixxkLY719ueu5G/s747/character+moment.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="747" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBcpTbfFFZLGSP8kmz2seVBg7cWbYdWYdlBAgAL81PmIJIpXFuCPEafrkKfKAXPd2zJNfM-rsKw_4hKMMhuDMk3w2GnKKJTnKGZEDY9i0YnMrLCVZdwmwhPGrS7WblEOixxkLY719ueu5G/s320/character+moment.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">There's some interesting compositions and even a nice character moment between Hokuto and Ryu, where the latter admits that his two nephews were among the children that's gone missing, detailing how they screamed in the middle of the night chanting a strange song, but were gone when their mother checked on them. There's a real weight to the exchange and the actors are doing a fine job. There's a real heart sinking gravitas to Ryu stating that this is byond anything they've faced and if this continues the world may not have a future. <br /></div><p>These are legitimately fantastic moments which is why it's so frustrating there's so many other issues, and the next one is what does it.<br /><br />TAC has a device that can potentially send someone into the Yapool dimension and finally put a stop to them. The problem is that it could kill the subject. Regardless, Hokuto is up to the challenge. Which it's quite the hurdle because there isn't really a plan here. At all. They send Hokuto, but what was the intent there? Send one lone man with a pistol to fight all the Yapool? Possibly their Kaiju? What if they open up a rift and toss Hokuto out?<br /><br />On that note, Hokuto is almost thrown into limbo by the Yapool destabilizing the signal, but Zoffy shows up out of nowhere with Minami, who I guess he just plucked from TAC without anyone noticing. Also I guess Ultraman Zoffy can travel to different dimensions and bring people...meaning the Yapool could have been stopped much earlier.<br />Oh, and the Yapool are just one being.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJP9lTiuTXFha_9J34pgxmywKOQRXvPIHvh-ODSUt8EqFRNvQsCW2UhO_CVZ_LS13bGQ7gj2EpdBcg1GZxYJ7o2Ke_hyphVKlauFxlDFmBzkrtWkBQRA1GT7o6fm3A02YVRgPWtPneMMy/s335/yapool+fight.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJP9lTiuTXFha_9J34pgxmywKOQRXvPIHvh-ODSUt8EqFRNvQsCW2UhO_CVZ_LS13bGQ7gj2EpdBcg1GZxYJ7o2Ke_hyphVKlauFxlDFmBzkrtWkBQRA1GT7o6fm3A02YVRgPWtPneMMy/s320/yapool+fight.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Yeah, despite the repeated implication throughout the series that the Yapool were a group with a higher up as the taunting voice, and other Yapool appearing prior, it's just one in this instance. <br />A terrible and flatly shot fight scene ensues that looks like it was filmed through a Kalidascope, making it really harsh on the eyes. The Yapool is destroyed, children rain down to Earth slowly and it seems the major enemy for 23 episodes is defeated in a pathetic display.<br /></div><p><br />Good lord, where the fuck do I start?<br />There are a lot of interesting ideas and scenes within this episode. It's very esoteric and atmospheric at times. But while I do admire what qualities are there, it's in service of nothing.<br />It has all the hallmarks of a major episode. Good cinematography, high drama, the implication that stakes are higher than before. But also all the mark of a bad one. Loose connectivity, tension that is contrived and cut short, the cast acting out of character even if the acting itself is good, and somehow flat cinematography alongside the impressive.<br /><br />The connectivity from one scene to the next is a fucking mess. It's like the idea was to do really cool shots and character moments without much thought as to how one leads into the next, they just occur. You may have noticed the writer and director are the same person, Tadashi Mafune. This was Mafune's first writing job. Let that sink in.<br /><br />Now I don't want to be too harsh on Mafune. Writing's hard and it sometimes sucks. I can't get shit out on time. But I do want to know how the hell this happened. Someone at TsuPro let a man with no prior writing credits just decide major story elements and kill off what was being presented as the main villain of the show. How in the <b>fuck</b> does that happen? That's insane to let someone so inexperienced have that much control.<br /><br />I honestly think the idea was that the Yapool just wasn't working so instead of trying to correct it, they just decided to sweep it under the rug and hand it off to anyone. Now that's pure speculation but that's what it feels like. But regardless of that, there are much better ways to write off a villain.<br /><br />This has good ideas but is an absolute mess. I actually had to take a break from watching the show because this was just so goddamn baffling. Thankfully, not long after we get a much needed pallet cleanser.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IrAF7AvrXm6Y_RaT4CzKLhTVec_p_xpSM8kBUJQfsjdC6WCYROLZBpvJWORRKogZCe3Nf_ijQjyDB2exsXXdQzRWQWaWeufsywBC2Qf_QGsZB3XxOgDY4caJ9BqlxeZT7so_HLRnvm39/s741/26.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="741" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IrAF7AvrXm6Y_RaT4CzKLhTVec_p_xpSM8kBUJQfsjdC6WCYROLZBpvJWORRKogZCe3Nf_ijQjyDB2exsXXdQzRWQWaWeufsywBC2Qf_QGsZB3XxOgDY4caJ9BqlxeZT7so_HLRnvm39/s320/26.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Ep. 26 <b>Annihilation! The 5 Ultra Brothers</b>. & 27 <b>Miracle! Father of Ultra.</b><br /></div><p><br />D:Masanori Kakei W: Shigemitsu Taguchi.<br /><br />A new threat is introduced in the form of Alien Hipporit. This new foe unleashes a wave of destruction upon the populous, demanding that Ace be handed over upon his return, less the carnage be 10 fold. Worst of all is TAC's weapons had no effect on the creature. Not in the traditional sense, but that they simply pass through the space being like a ghost. Both Hokuto and Minami believe this could be a result of a holograph of some sort, with the true being in another location. After a run in with a wrecked driver who claims to have hit an alien, this theory seems to have some weight, and skin recovered from the car is extra terrestrial in nature.<br />Unfortunately, the accident was fatal to the driver, who passes not long after relaying what happened, but not before also asking Hokuto to deliver his son's Birthday gift: an Ultraman Ace figure.<br /><br />The meeting does not go well. The boy, who already lost a mother the year prior, is distraught over his father's death and blames Ace for not defeating the Alien. The fall out results in a subplot of Hokuto doubting the need for Ace. TAC receiving multiple calls requesting that TAC capture and turn Ace over do nothing to help Hokuto's troubles, but a rousing speech from Captain Ryu helps Hokuto out of his slump.<br /><br />When Hipporit does return, Hokuto and Minami are able to form Ace, but instead of attacking the creature they fly off to a remote area where, sure enough, the real alien Hipporit is casting a hologram. A fight breaks out, but despite the seeming cowardice of the antagonist, they are no light weight and easily best Ace, who is captured within a trap set by the conniving scoundrel. Ace begins turning into a jade like statue, but is able to send a distress signal before solidifying. The four Ultra Brothers arrive, but even with their greater numbers, the lone Hipporit is able to trap and best all of them in a matter of minutes, seemingly defeating the greatest defense Earth had.<br /><br /><br />Episode 14 picks right up from the previous episode, TAC in complete disbelief at all 5 Ultras having been defeated. A good chuck of the episode is TAC dealing with the fallout and a civilian population that seems to have given up all hope, actively imploring TAC to give up their fight against the alien being due to all the destruction. But Capt. Ryu is unwilling to allow earth to kneel without a fight and so TAC begin putting plans into motion against all odds. While TAC engauges and distracts the now known illusion, Captain Ryu takes it upon himself to deploy TAC's latest weapon against the true Hipporit. Unfortunately it's not enough to destroy the invader and things quicky go from bad to worse when the rest of TAC arrives to help their Capt best they can, but are inevitably shot down.<br />As all seems lost, a new traveler from the stars arrives, Father of Ultra. The giant easily takes on Alien Hipporit, effortlessly dishing out powerful blows. But the being of light is soon at a disadvantage, his long journey severly weakening him and allowing Hipporit to gain the upper hand. <br />Father briefly considers his options before quickly ripping out his own color timer and transfering his last bit of life to reviving Ace, who then proceeds to assault and finish off the powerful monster.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqipe-m9z6Ii2OOhSXoV3nbsW5-Ovywr-8eS4oQfMChIdDWYvdc94RyAROIl1SAm5QNbA4IurGAEQwzIATmOnFzPom5uhyphenhyphen8TxRsTWnCPV95rmh4m5JWkOzL-OvjdV2yizG2e0LgXrPd7HS/s335/sacrafice.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqipe-m9z6Ii2OOhSXoV3nbsW5-Ovywr-8eS4oQfMChIdDWYvdc94RyAROIl1SAm5QNbA4IurGAEQwzIATmOnFzPom5uhyphenhyphen8TxRsTWnCPV95rmh4m5JWkOzL-OvjdV2yizG2e0LgXrPd7HS/s320/sacrafice.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">As the smoke clears, the other Ultras awaken, if albeit weakend. The five mourn the loss of their father, as Zoffy, Ultraman, Seven, and Jack, carry his body into the deep reaches of space, where Father of Ultra becomes a new star in the sky.<br /></div><p><br /><br />These two episodes are a great demonstration of what I mean when the writers do so much better with one off monsters, because this is as classic of an Ultraman plot as you can get. It sorta reminds me of the Alien Guts episodes from Seven. It's nowhere near as good as those, but the stakes are so high that with a couple of changes this could've worked as a good finale. From the fight with Father of Ultra to the amazingly explosive end of Ace's battle, it is one of the greatest fight sequence of the entire show. The sound design is fantastic as well, I highly recommend a good set headset to truly appreciate the kaiju shattering kaboom.<br /><br />This two parter is also incredibly important because above all else it shows that Ace could still be a good and even great show without the Yapool.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtWukX8wtoRuijv4mZdVEBvMnrxhZva5KQ_N2jbv73oAJTL1nyVZ1QT4p4NUZ0zFCsIsEYTX7U9BW7nY8vHpvEnQuMMv5qYJGceMWkeEXrGAskxjeW0pKw_5L4Fekc0eGd_hOWaJvKubc/s488/28.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="364" data-original-width="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtWukX8wtoRuijv4mZdVEBvMnrxhZva5KQ_N2jbv73oAJTL1nyVZ1QT4p4NUZ0zFCsIsEYTX7U9BW7nY8vHpvEnQuMMv5qYJGceMWkeEXrGAskxjeW0pKw_5L4Fekc0eGd_hOWaJvKubc/s320/28.png" width="320" /></a></div><p><br />Ep. 28 Goodbye Yuko, Sister of the Moon.<br />D: Eizo Yamagiwa W:Toshiro Ishido.<br /><br />So once more this is another episode I'm largely putting here for importance sake. Don't worry, though, this isn't a situation like 23. Although the story is...iffy, to say the least and very simple. The core facet is that Yuko Minami is actually an alien from the moon, which once accommodated a great civilization that was destroyed by the Kaiju Lunaticks. The monster consumed all the molten magma, leaving the moon little more than a husk. Fearing the same would happen on earth, Minami traveled to the blue planet waiting for the inevitable arrival of the beast. A vast majority of the episode is dedicated to TAC tracking the monster and Ace battling it. There's very little breathing room but it works without ever feeling cramped.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIfB-LG_cZ6Ha9dpdKCJabEGaqWKtLcaoGFkRrSN0-uJvH7p2nNTIfQEdJpAKEZ47dfYiVL6tn0PM7imwssZfmLAkAohynbsp0CB79QLEKcLGPmKYayxS_jHLHQUyJ0glxGVTBC2CVRBF6/s741/28-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="741" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIfB-LG_cZ6Ha9dpdKCJabEGaqWKtLcaoGFkRrSN0-uJvH7p2nNTIfQEdJpAKEZ47dfYiVL6tn0PM7imwssZfmLAkAohynbsp0CB79QLEKcLGPmKYayxS_jHLHQUyJ0glxGVTBC2CVRBF6/s320/28-1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDWuvpgnrHZ24jYkZZLk4HekGEYgXgIT95Tg8qe2FWhZj0umA3I02bmlQ269ihRklaL4nOYRR7T0-CHWd4r0pasqN172hHWbZQ2_LsDkWuwQH_BDM4LGutcqswOlw2yV4IaXE8y5S0bqi/s769/28-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="769" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDWuvpgnrHZ24jYkZZLk4HekGEYgXgIT95Tg8qe2FWhZj0umA3I02bmlQ269ihRklaL4nOYRR7T0-CHWd4r0pasqN172hHWbZQ2_LsDkWuwQH_BDM4LGutcqswOlw2yV4IaXE8y5S0bqi/s320/28-2.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Most of the fight takes place in a underground setting and the set looks like nothing else. What's funny is if you look carefully it seems to be the underground set used back in episode 5. But because they added some red filters to the lights and some magma, it looks and feels completely different. The cinematogrophy is also spot on with great dynamic shots and even some great close ups. One moment has Lunaticks holding Ace's head down near the magma and they have a fog machine hidden to create a singed effect which works surprisingly well.<br /></div><p><br />After the fight however is quite a bit of padding. There is one final scene between Hokuto and Minami which is very sweet. She explains that now with her mission is complete she plans to return to her people, leaving her ring to Hokuto. But after that it's 9 minutes of mostly esoteric footage of Minami running in a field with a white flowing gown, until she finally sets off for the moon.<br /><br /><br />This episode is very entertaining for it's fights but is a mess storywise. Retroactively making Minami an alien is very shoehorned and convoluted. It raises some questions about why she was working as a nurse to begin with and didn't immediately join TAC upon arriving on earth if her mission was to make sure Lunaticks was destroyed. I'm not entirely sure why she was written off the show in this manner...Well, I can probably guess it was because they needed an entertaining episode and it's been 28 weeks since the origin, so screw it, write whatever because most kids probably won't notice continuity. That said, I still don't think it had to be in this manner. One could have very easily maintained more or less the same outcome with a few changes. Cut out all the moon stuff with Minami and make the battle in the earth take a drastic toll on her. She's too weak to be Ace or even a part of TAC and would need special care to recuperate. One of the other Ultra's arrives and takes her off to M78 where she can receive the care needed, but it also makes it so she can still comeback for guest appearances. <br /><br />Also, just as a bit of an odd side note, the opening theme for the show never changes to reflect Minami's departure. So even in the final episode of the series the lyrics "Henshin, Hokuto and Minami" are still present. Just something I thought I'd point out.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDv98kCTiSdDOJk6Aib_r4FycfgNAkozvF_hZ_hIly9t7YMeOP4dcvpJu0pe7ywz8ne5buDkpRa_lck4Rubt32YfEOhgYvY8cbAxP25pbwCP4d6P5O48_rDz3xp7R0TZNwDNpAWBgbZODz/s751/38+x-mas.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="751" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDv98kCTiSdDOJk6Aib_r4FycfgNAkozvF_hZ_hIly9t7YMeOP4dcvpJu0pe7ywz8ne5buDkpRa_lck4Rubt32YfEOhgYvY8cbAxP25pbwCP4d6P5O48_rDz3xp7R0TZNwDNpAWBgbZODz/s320/38+x-mas.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p>Ep. 38 <b>Resurrection! Father of Ultra.</b><br />D:Eizo Yamagiwa. W:Toshiro Ishido.</p><p>I dunno what it is, but Christmas themed episodes of Tokusatsu tend to be really good and this is no exception. <br />Hokuto and Kayoko visit an orphanage while bringing gifts for all the children. But things take a turn in the evening when a kaiju appears and blinds Yukari, Kayoko's friend and head of the orphanage. Stranger still is the sudden appearance of a Santa bearing gifts, just as the Kaiju that attacked Yukari, Snowgiran, arrives in the city and begins blinding more.<br /><br />And this is where things get wild. The snow blinding kaiju is evidently controlled by a feverous nationalistic spirit who is enraged by Japanese celebrating foreign culture.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnH7PbVC14jSpwXeHSr-PyrhDN6sBqTjJmUGSBgMuZCmXY6v2E6rdAAIeJhSmDfTEFc2iFtHUiiqVV7_AahSdYAJSHVK6ZEDo3d4bTaSyjBytQFj_LkpZN2imG2idoKj8n2YjQEd2elbSW/s749/christmas+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="749" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnH7PbVC14jSpwXeHSr-PyrhDN6sBqTjJmUGSBgMuZCmXY6v2E6rdAAIeJhSmDfTEFc2iFtHUiiqVV7_AahSdYAJSHVK6ZEDo3d4bTaSyjBytQFj_LkpZN2imG2idoKj8n2YjQEd2elbSW/s320/christmas+1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0H2_7-3QU2hZDcDuJ-G3WuugFQQWIJTqVoTPrSOSc4v9S_mB3htue6Vyum1CK31vvgPGkOHMIwWnGD6-23slywFnzAt5hQGckASlOXpm_Knmn_CgBPLhfZpwA3GBYtxLma3TGXaN-Gg3e/s743/christmas+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="743" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0H2_7-3QU2hZDcDuJ-G3WuugFQQWIJTqVoTPrSOSc4v9S_mB3htue6Vyum1CK31vvgPGkOHMIwWnGD6-23slywFnzAt5hQGckASlOXpm_Knmn_CgBPLhfZpwA3GBYtxLma3TGXaN-Gg3e/s320/christmas+2.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTgGCeFxLZbrqNmgF1mUted0P54K7JLFQmfmWiuTONE8RAnGnJ7rVbptPG9Jykrb1fPU0f7dTixXfiyGa_7PAd6s223m83eLVc2u_cUZd2rbZ4m1xAeFMKCI6Mg0QyG3-SPlg8m_mhHAGU/s745/christmas+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="745" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTgGCeFxLZbrqNmgF1mUted0P54K7JLFQmfmWiuTONE8RAnGnJ7rVbptPG9Jykrb1fPU0f7dTixXfiyGa_7PAd6s223m83eLVc2u_cUZd2rbZ4m1xAeFMKCI6Mg0QyG3-SPlg8m_mhHAGU/s320/christmas+3.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br />That is just great.<br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br />Hokuto leaves and engages the creature but is defeated, allowing the kaiju to head towards the orphanage. TAC arrives to evacuate the children and Yukari, but as Snowgiran creeps closer, Santa leaves to confront he monster himself, growing to a massive size. However, he doesn't fight the creature, he instead calls out to Ace to stand and fight. Although Father of Ultra does briefly blast the raging spirit.<br /><br /><br />My favorite thing about this entire sequence is that both Dan and Capt. Ryu briefly catch a glimpse of Santa revealing himself to be Father of Ultra, and everyone around them is like "No, that's Santa. Father of Ultra died." That is legitimately funny, intentional or not. I really love that everyone is accepting of it being the real Santa but not the Ultra that died. There's nothing even illogical about it given the world setting, and it captures that perfect balance of silly wonder without coming off as contrived or insulting. It's just fun and that's what a Christmas episode should be.<br /><br />Once the battle is over there's still the issue of all those blinded by the monster. Santa decides to give a gift to TAC. Flying up the chimney and standing upon the roof, Father of Christmas summons a sleigh, and who should be riding other than Minami. Minami shines a beam of light across the city, healing the damage done by the monster.<br />Santa casts off his red cloak revealing his true self as he takes the reins of the sleigh and flies off.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: center;">Final thoughts.</h3><p style="text-align: left;"><br />Ace is a series I've had a difficult time coming to a definite satisfying conclusion upon. Not necessarily on if it was good or bad, but in what ways it succeeds and doesn't. What I was really hoping for was a series that at the very least did something different from its predecessors and I got that and then some. Ace introduced a lot of firsts for the franchise with varying degrees of success. The caveat to being the first is that those areas are less refined than they could have been. But even with those pitfalls the series remains enjoyable, and it must be respected just how much latter series owe to Ace's willingness to embrace broader elements such as reoccurring villains, even if Ace does fumble on them.<br /><br />Now compared to it's predecessor, Return of Ultraman, I found Ace to be far less infuriating (23 not withstanding). While RoU has individual episodes I believe to be far better than Ace's best, I found Ace to to be more consistent in quality even in regards to the midway shake up.<br /><br />That being said, Ace's second half is still much weaker than the first barring a few stand outs. In the end, Ultraman Ace doesn't push the boundaries as far as it could, but it does explore unfamiliar territory for at least a bit, and is a perfectly serviceable- if in the end- safe series.<br />My personal suggestion would be to watch select episodes after episode 28 for a better viewing experience, as there's very little of interest in my eyes after Minami leaves.<br /> <br />I suppose if I should give the clearest feelings upon Ace it would be how I didn't include the final episode within the episode suggestions, even though that's something I almost always do, This may actually be the only time a finale hasn't made it. The reason is because the final episode doesn't feel like one. Aside from Ace's departure, the drama of that episode could have come from any other point in the series. It's a fine episode with a nice lesson about not bullying others and its heart absolutely in the right place, encouraging the viewer to be better while at the same time also having a Yapool utiliting that against Hokuto. I admire that, it's a core aspect of why I love superheroes and the twist that the villains using the inherient goodness against the hero is interesting. But it's not finale material and falls short of what it could have been, and perhaps that more than anything perfectly sums up Ultraman Ace.<br /><br /><br />But, despite my feelings towards that finale as a whole, Ace's words <i>are</i> fit for a finale and so I will leave this review off with those words.<br /><br /><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMn20HinRKSuGcdpXpKK6g8TdcBlDcoQlm6FmUMiD9FMWog-E2EotXbrVK7TVREZS22YOK4p017fub6MH84VCi7X9vAX-UyH5r46KtuwSsRWrsL5JiztnGmqlmbyq5xzWXZk-jQB-ycXd6/s335/last+wishes.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMn20HinRKSuGcdpXpKK6g8TdcBlDcoQlm6FmUMiD9FMWog-E2EotXbrVK7TVREZS22YOK4p017fub6MH84VCi7X9vAX-UyH5r46KtuwSsRWrsL5JiztnGmqlmbyq5xzWXZk-jQB-ycXd6/s320/last+wishes.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />I'd like to thank Triblast of <a href="https://ultrablogdx.wordpress.com/2019/01/25/ultraman-ace-production-history/">UltrablogDX</a> whose wordpress was and is a great resource on Ultra series production information. Check out their site and maybe toss a few bucks at their kofi. <br /><br />And if you like what I do and can spare it, consider visiting my own kofi page.<br /><br /><a href="https://ko-fi.com/kamen_writer">https://ko-fi.com/kamen_writer</a><br /><br /><br />Now, for the next review I'm going to be doing something other than a big series. While I have Taro and Leo sitting on my shelf, I don't want to delve into that right yet. Partly because I don't know how I'll feel about Taro and I don't want to be indifferent or ranty given my half praise of Ace, especially when I have a pretty good indication of how I'll feel about Leo. Secondly, I'm just sorta burned out on Showa Ultra reviews. I don't mean typing them per-say, but watching a 52 episode run, especially of an older series, is exhausting and it's easy to get sick of it, which isn't fair to the show. I do plan on returning to and reviewing Ultra, just not now. <br /><br />Next time I'll be looking at something a lot easier and simple to review, a one and done deal.<br /><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3bDB4GiRoe5EbdpxHpajvtK3HgvMziVSIvNG20biWVzEtiOWIwley9yqwciM5XxSwyUomArFtx9m_XyGBtIidUIIM8pKcvbqWwkTkbwmE2ijUFBIt4ihvHoL_6dRYHkE0C-Ya2WGsXTvq/s1366/header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3bDB4GiRoe5EbdpxHpajvtK3HgvMziVSIvNG20biWVzEtiOWIwley9yqwciM5XxSwyUomArFtx9m_XyGBtIidUIIM8pKcvbqWwkTkbwmE2ijUFBIt4ihvHoL_6dRYHkE0C-Ya2WGsXTvq/s320/header.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Kamen Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02832099141882322022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505042118996520039.post-65461709321019541802021-04-25T09:31:00.001-04:002021-04-27T07:50:00.940-04:00Kamen Rider 50th anniversary announcements.<div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZDehvWgxjGgBBXgwpPI1u4_QqSK9ufw3b1benscGDQSZlaHHSHyxWkTJoyp9DryMXRqpfgJdnaYq1-fKi-RBg9iOaku-Ru0DT1USycBhn9Cr5oHYTG-2PoXWWw-vaUQt6D4cSZCualzG/s277/header.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZDehvWgxjGgBBXgwpPI1u4_QqSK9ufw3b1benscGDQSZlaHHSHyxWkTJoyp9DryMXRqpfgJdnaYq1-fKi-RBg9iOaku-Ru0DT1USycBhn9Cr5oHYTG-2PoXWWw-vaUQt6D4cSZCualzG/s0/header.jpg" /></a></div><p><br />April 4th marked the 50th anniversary of Kamen Rider and a lot of news dropped. Most of it was toy related, but there were several major projects and releases announced that fall more into this blogs forte. I wanted to do a post on the day, but I was busy with other projects and I wanted some time to gather my thoughts on the announcements. So this is a bit late to the party, but I've had a good 2 weeks to process everything.<br /><br /><br /><br />Bare with me because I have some thoughts about the first two.<br /><br /></p><span></span><span></span><span><a name='more'></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnUcQd-xZt_2Bn9B_JPmO3FsGepsPIPOK_6FPfg5KeSycQpZB1Qtufor_3j4D-iIDNsHGaMKgaY9mMdPJ1Q396VLwFVamVIoHYefh2aHWSolsrPMlx1fZveAOchsQVKXa_IXeez-fzUN5/s465/fuuto.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="329" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnUcQd-xZt_2Bn9B_JPmO3FsGepsPIPOK_6FPfg5KeSycQpZB1Qtufor_3j4D-iIDNsHGaMKgaY9mMdPJ1Q396VLwFVamVIoHYefh2aHWSolsrPMlx1fZveAOchsQVKXa_IXeez-fzUN5/s320/fuuto.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><h3 style="text-align: center;">Fuuto PI</h3><p style="text-align: left;"><br />No thanks.<br /></p><p><br />I usually don't like being that blatant or unmitigated from the get go, but I wanna get the negative out first and this is dumb (to me) for a number of reasons.</p><p><br />For those that don't know, this is an adaptation of the Futo PI Manga, which is a sequel to Kamen Rider W. Now I don't believe I've ever talked about this before, but Kamen Rider W is one of my favorite Rider series. It's an incredibly well written entry that incorporated a lot of the story elements, themes, and visuals that were absent within the franchise for a while. You have meta elements such as Kamen Rider Skull inspiring W in much the same way Kamen Rider originally started out as a Skull Man adaptation. Accel in the series fills a role very similar to Riderman where his obsession for vengeance causes him to be somewhat antagonistic to the main hero. And you have a return to form of Kamen Rider as this mythic local hero, mixed in with just a touch of pulp noir elements as the man who loves and defends his city. All of these ideas blend wonderfully. </p><p>The head writer, Riku Sanjo, is capable of weaving a great narrative with fantastic characters and he understands how to incorporate and reinterpret staples of a franchise along with originality and a bit of meta commentary.<br /><br />Futo PI, which is still written by Riku Sanjo, is a piece of shit. Which brings me to the main problem with Riku Sanjo and Futo PI. As much as I love a lot of his work, the man has a massive problem whenever he returns to a previous body of work. He has what I can only describe as development amnesia. Every time he has returned to work on something he once headed, it's like the reset button has been pressed because none of the characters act right. Instead of the characters being an extension or continuation of when we last saw them, they act like they did upon their original introduction. Development is tossed right out the window it's <b>extremely</b> bad in Futo PI. The term character assassination is used too lightly, but that's a pretty apt description of how bad Shotaro and Philip's chemistry is. If you've seen W and know all that they went through and then seen how the act in the manga, it's almost outright offensive. The press release stating that there is "No disconnect from the original show and manga" is the most hilarious pile of bullshit I've seen lately. No offense to anyone working on the anime, but I have no interest in this given how atrocious the source is. I simply do not care. <br /><br />I also have to question the intelligence of bringing this over when W itself is not available (officially) aside from the first two episodes. I mean the obvious answer is they know plenty of people have seen it, but don't want to acknowledge how. Still, you'd expect maybe an announcement of some sort to rectify that issue, but there wasn't one. 10th anniversary is this year and would've been a good time to do something like that. <br /><br />I guess on the plus side, if you've never seen W, the character stuff wouldn't be as egregious. You just have the problem of callbacks, various lore, and events being alluded to...<br />Man, I really wish we could have gotten a Spirits anime instead.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCC3Zx69x-XEwT_FQ7QTuiy9eZO9rjo9l4TDwtrAHOBBaAtksuUxtjobjrb0u24mdTUoLONKF9TrwwXxNCf_sNCqhZa2g6Sx1rEZvSAhi4aLzjFuWgwSP5AdhadNSgB59MPQik1qMlhcU7/s591/Black+sun.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="591" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCC3Zx69x-XEwT_FQ7QTuiy9eZO9rjo9l4TDwtrAHOBBaAtksuUxtjobjrb0u24mdTUoLONKF9TrwwXxNCf_sNCqhZa2g6Sx1rEZvSAhi4aLzjFuWgwSP5AdhadNSgB59MPQik1qMlhcU7/s320/Black+sun.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Kamen Rider Black Sun.<br /></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><br />I....still don't know what to make of this. When I ended the Black review by saying that the franchise needed something to find it's roots again the way that Black did, I meant something like how Kuuga did by taking familiar elements and making something, well, new.<br /><br />I'm not against reboots and remakes in a general sense. I'm a big fan of the Hammer films and that's pretty much nothing but remakes and reinterpretations with a lot of guys named Paul. However, the majority of remakes are often not that great because it's a tricky balance. It's either so different that you have to question if it's just banking on the name, or it's so similar you have to wonder what the point of a remake was. Granted, there's also a lot of nuance that can change that. A great example of this working and also not is John Carpenter's The Thing, and The Thing(2011). <br /><br />Which as I mentioned in the <a href="https://strangers-showcase.blogspot.com/2021/04/kamen-rider-black-review.html">review</a> there are things even in Black that could have been done better. A better focus on Nobuhiko and Kotaro's relationship prior to series' events would have been nice, I also admittedly miss some of the horror elements that were present in the first two episodes. But I don't know if that's really worth a remake.<br /><br />At first glance this just feels like they really wanted something to recapture that same magic that happened the first time around, the same way big Hollywood production companies do the exact same thing without any understanding of why something worked in the first place. This is why successful movies are more often remade than badly executed sound ideas.<br /> To me, it would make far more sense to do something in the style of Black, something with elements and ideas influenced by it but still a new series rather than trying to pump a dry well. Or at least maybe do an adaptation of the Manga since that would be more unique than remaking the tv story, the latter of which seems to be the intent.<br /><br />I just don't know. This could turn out really interesting, there's some great talent behind it from Kazuya Shiraishi as the director, who is mainly known for his highly praised Yakuza films. I am intrigued, but also cautious.<br /><br />This was confirmed to be getting an international release, so that should be interesting if nothing else. This is also a series and it's going to be along the lines of Amazons in that it's not geared towards gimmicks and was confirmed for a more adult audience. Admittedly, I do like the idea of a darker series that can do more mature things with a stronger focus on story, but I'm also not a big fan of Amazons' idea of mature. Kinda hoping this at least isn't that try-hard edgy and ugly looking. At the very least it can't be anymore embarrassing than Tetsuo Kurata's recent actions.<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3oxk15lesaVAC7O8AMfO27nDeR-4yGZHxpWvFlzYEjlHyZ-O_U4DKj2uu3BcdoqcCxm718fw_p0nZQ7kN4wsWIgabJ1jkB9P5USwPGPv53XghdpHe5Oe5q1OhRj_VnjdRBOw61Bn543DD/s552/zero+dragon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="395" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3oxk15lesaVAC7O8AMfO27nDeR-4yGZHxpWvFlzYEjlHyZ-O_U4DKj2uu3BcdoqcCxm718fw_p0nZQ7kN4wsWIgabJ1jkB9P5USwPGPv53XghdpHe5Oe5q1OhRj_VnjdRBOw61Bn543DD/s320/zero+dragon.jpg" /> </a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: center;">Kamen Rider Zero-One and Kamen Rider Ryuki.</h3><p style="text-align: left;"><br />Now <i>this</i> was something of a pleasant surprise. Zero-One was something I expected, but not Ryuki. I'm not sure why they skipped Agito-<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLcxxWVi5e4ki-fsirtnghW8IAJOYHLk8ltcn7qDJvaSq6s32mdtUQ76MxEd5gbot-XwRWWZ_Vh8K0zHpaylDqsBdooIwj5CixmwauKIGc_DKIe2gMBPRwc34bjKBr9S6APb4hehZxOsB/s2048/honshin.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="970" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLcxxWVi5e4ki-fsirtnghW8IAJOYHLk8ltcn7qDJvaSq6s32mdtUQ76MxEd5gbot-XwRWWZ_Vh8K0zHpaylDqsBdooIwj5CixmwauKIGc_DKIe2gMBPRwc34bjKBr9S6APb4hehZxOsB/s320/honshin.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh right.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">But Ryuki is having its 20th anniversary in 2022, so that works out. Hopefully, unlike Kuuga, it will be encoded correctly so it doesn't look like ass.<br /><br />Another surprise is that Kamen Rider Zero-One is getting a Bluray release, the first Bluray for a Kamen Rider series in NA and the first physical release since V3. That's a BIG deal. It also drives me a little nuts because I know they're going to be watching the sales like a hawk and that's going to determine if we get more. I hope other people will eat it up because it's a big deal and I'd like '71 and Kuuga on Bluray. Personally, 01 doesn't appeal to me in that same way, but I'm really happy for all the people I know that are, and new releases are always welcomed news.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFu5QjNNtK03hjo8SnKEN3RKDKyScbg5svlfKKyVKzqOnNrqsTN-ImolgpUR_TZy2gdqWiZBFcBjmCUu8haD5sMxQSiAI-2hS7bvGMZoTzgrDK8nip5OOb7nQ-KDLGL4sh5y5lmtzX-p5/s587/Shin+Kamen+rider.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="587" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFu5QjNNtK03hjo8SnKEN3RKDKyScbg5svlfKKyVKzqOnNrqsTN-ImolgpUR_TZy2gdqWiZBFcBjmCUu8haD5sMxQSiAI-2hS7bvGMZoTzgrDK8nip5OOb7nQ-KDLGL4sh5y5lmtzX-p5/s320/Shin+Kamen+rider.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: center;">Shin Kamen Rider.</h3><p style="text-align: left;"><br />So this was the big one. Rumors were circulating since the trademark filing about a month or so ago. All jokes about Anno doing all the Shin Tokusatu movies (or poor Kamen Rider Shin) aside, I'm really looking forward to this, and I realize how weird that sounds given my thoughts on Black Sun. <br /><br />There is pretty much zero info on this aside from the fact that it's been in development for a whopping six years. That's a goddamn miracle it stayed silent right up until the trademark. Other than that, there's the poster with a very traditional Ichigo looking Rider dressed like Ryoma Nagare. But yeahhh, not a lot to go off of, just a lotta pure speculation. Is the Rider having to put together a suit like Ishinomori originally planed with Kamen Rider Shin? Can they not revert back to a human guise and are forced to pull a Raphael? Is this an Ichigo Story, a manga adaptation, an amalgamation like Masaki Wachi's novels, an original rider? We don't know. Hell, it could even be Shin's son. My money's on a modern retelling with significant divergences from any of the prior sources, aside from man made into cybernetic bug monster.<br /><br />But despite this being the one we know the least about, it's also the one I'm most interested in because, as obnoxious as this sounds, it's because of Hideki Anno's attachment. Given his work, especially Shin Godzilla, I feel he could delve deep into a lot of the more philosophical and political elements of Kamen Rider.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjH-qUeN_vNkhHE-YheMmyq8pavw4Rrw8IaftIQJ8ghKhk9_kxK-f247eQEIZl8nyDn_Czwn81TX6yZcpgjzbZctXp680xyR6xFljIPpuctqFX_CrEN_tQwoJQT2UUOro3ETC5ctbBVRhc/s722/EA1KU1oUIAA0CLM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjH-qUeN_vNkhHE-YheMmyq8pavw4Rrw8IaftIQJ8ghKhk9_kxK-f247eQEIZl8nyDn_Czwn81TX6yZcpgjzbZctXp680xyR6xFljIPpuctqFX_CrEN_tQwoJQT2UUOro3ETC5ctbBVRhc/s320/EA1KU1oUIAA0CLM.jpg" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br />I think of some of the scenes in the Manga where they examine contemporary society and that biggest threat isn't Shocker, but politicians that aren't even affiliated with the organization but just happen to hold the same ideals and were voted in either by complete fools or a system rigged in their favor. <br /><br />I also think about how one of the core ideals when writing the original '71 series was making sure Riders were less about the vague concept of justice but "human freedom" as was the preferred term amongst the writers. After all, justice is something that is ill-defined and is easily used to justify atrocities. Seeing if Anno does anything of that nature interests me greatly and I'm really excited to see what comes of it.<br /> </p><p style="text-align: left;">This is getting an international release just like Black Sun, which is wild. Again, there's no details but I'm hoping this gets picked up for a limited theatrical release like Shin Godzilla did. Goddamn, I could see a Kamen Rider film in theaters, that is crazy.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Well that's about all the big announcements that weren't merchandise related. I don't have much to add to that area, as I'm very selective about what I purchase and I haven't done a toy review in years. But that CSM Typhoon looks pretty damn nice...probably gonna be out of my price range.<br /></p>Kamen Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02832099141882322022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505042118996520039.post-46100932012463876642021-04-15T01:39:00.001-04:002021-04-22T00:03:18.550-04:00Kamen Rider Black review.<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSvaM6xbdhZsxKfWhvgiJ-tkcUahNfk879mF6zSaVEVeQzOy-DfoFLGNlJJvUdVYMNhf1W1Q4_hDmAoq00wu3CADbcvgRddGmV-Q8Fj7C2NUp9PFPg_78letyyLh8TWXpInJFhCLCNN4i/s1019/title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1019" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSvaM6xbdhZsxKfWhvgiJ-tkcUahNfk879mF6zSaVEVeQzOy-DfoFLGNlJJvUdVYMNhf1W1Q4_hDmAoq00wu3CADbcvgRddGmV-Q8Fj7C2NUp9PFPg_78letyyLh8TWXpInJFhCLCNN4i/s320/title.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p>Well now, this wasn't something I was originally planning to do. While I was making my way through Ultra Q, I realized I wanted the next review to be more in-depth and praise-worthy. </p><p><br />Kamen Rider Black is a series I've largely avoided reviewing because quite frankly it seems everyone and their mother who knows about Kamen Rider has heard the praise of this series, and I doubt I could add anything to the discussion. Nevertheless, it had been a while since I watched the series and if I'm gonna watch something, even a re-watch, I usually end up reviewing it. Most of my reviews have been Ultra of late, so I figured some Rider would be nice and if I was going to review Rider it was going to be a series I love and wanted to rewatch.<br /><br />Part of what sets Kamen Rider Black apart from others in the Showa era is its continuity or lack thereof. All prior Rider Shows had some form of connectivity even if it was very loose in some regards. Usually, with returning characters like Tachibana, past riders, or Shocker reinventing itself into Destron, Black Satan, or the Badan Empire, etc. There was an attempt at a reboot of sorts with 1979's Kamen Rider, but that eventually changed and is now more familiar as SkyRider. The last Rider series before Black was 6 years prior with Super-1, while the last time the Riders appeared on TV was 3 years in 1984's Birth of the 10th special introducing ZX.<br /><br />So with Black, it was decided to cast all the aside and start from fresh. There's no acknowledgment of past Riders at any point in the run, allowing the series to stand completely alone.<br /><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: center;">Story & Characters.<br /></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxnbGt775FcZUGuGsV10HtAS4QJCWqsyrBH-JmURh558Y3APvEP-KQxHCqjtESgRiqZfcdjJX44OPM4PGA878niQI2tgg5EXFvwRnV1V4zoUYonbrDDGrRotPGmpFEzS6q_pcEZ9I8bGI/s1019/kotaro.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1019" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxnbGt775FcZUGuGsV10HtAS4QJCWqsyrBH-JmURh558Y3APvEP-KQxHCqjtESgRiqZfcdjJX44OPM4PGA878niQI2tgg5EXFvwRnV1V4zoUYonbrDDGrRotPGmpFEzS6q_pcEZ9I8bGI/s320/kotaro.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><b>Kotaro Minami/Kamen Rider Black.</b><br />(Tetsuo Kurata) (Jiro Okamoto, Suit)<br /></p><p>Kotaro has probably one of the more unique origin stories of all the Showa riders. While he is athletic by virtue of being a soccer player and motorcycle racer, he isn't anything special. He has an understanding of science and mechanics, perhaps more than most, but again nothing extraordinary. Kotaro was simply born at the wrong time. Birthed under a solar eclipse, Kotaro inadvertently caught the eye of the series' antagonists; Golgom. At age 3 his parents mysteriously died in a plane crash and he was taken in by Soichiro Akizuki, an archeologist, colleague, and friend of Kotaro's Father.<br />At 19, Kotaro would be kidnapped by Golgom and modified with cybernetics, mutated with a grasshopper form, and given a mystical gem as a source of power: the King stone of the Sun. He is saved by his adoptive father before Golgom can wipe his mind.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2NlUROKU2o6SMCxZlf-M5Cg46VWJqnsK_CemsG8ArxmBNm8pDgAYY1NgJhcLE6MQVJnXydCe2fOnK8jPz4zQQt8pdK9RtkwizLLdbQlTU-dxfePmsVX4XpyagfOSRYNQp9ww6IZSIWrJ/s1025/intense.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="1025" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2NlUROKU2o6SMCxZlf-M5Cg46VWJqnsK_CemsG8ArxmBNm8pDgAYY1NgJhcLE6MQVJnXydCe2fOnK8jPz4zQQt8pdK9RtkwizLLdbQlTU-dxfePmsVX4XpyagfOSRYNQp9ww6IZSIWrJ/s320/intense.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Both the series and Kotaro as a character are very back to basics for Kamen Rider. Ishinomori noted on the production that he wanted to go back to the essence of Kamen Rider, something I believe they accomplished wonderfully with the series overall and with Kotaro in particular.<br />The actor who plays Kotaro, Tetsuo Kurata, was handpicked by Ishinomori himself out of a whopping 8,100 candidates. The man certainly knew what he was doing. Kurata has a wonderful charm about him and delivers a perfect balance of both love and intensity in Kotaro. He's incredibly caring and kind-hearted, able to put on a smile for others, and typically selfless in his actions. But he is also full of resentment and anger, not so much with what was done to him, but what Golgom has and is doing to others, most notably his brother who was also kidnapped.<br /><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkCju2xVYjU2n-gbJ8RfCR9hRoNJ2gCDh7xSEW4TQqkkcC0sw9l5bXHtYkn6zm2dreLzsYV8dp2aEC-dk2PcCgGdpENscFN4ArMY3LgSsMCakuspqXEbdR8gCkLlyA_ttqA0OaWk2ByRr/s1017/nobuhiko.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1017" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkCju2xVYjU2n-gbJ8RfCR9hRoNJ2gCDh7xSEW4TQqkkcC0sw9l5bXHtYkn6zm2dreLzsYV8dp2aEC-dk2PcCgGdpENscFN4ArMY3LgSsMCakuspqXEbdR8gCkLlyA_ttqA0OaWk2ByRr/s320/nobuhiko.png" width="320" /></a><br /></div><p><b>Nobuhiko Akuzuki</b><br />(Takahito Horiuchi)<br />Soichiro had a biological son, Nobuhiko. Born the same day as Kotaro and under the same eclipse. He and Kotaro grew up together and, like Kotaro, Nobuhiko is modified and given his own King Stone: the Moonstone. He would spend a good portion of the series within Golgom's clutches, injured and in a coma due to the intervention mid-surgery resulting in complications. Several stories would revolve around maintaining Nobuhiko's vitality and eventually bringing him out of his Coma in a horrifying way.<br /><br /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMCnoHLXp00iv2KbrL5FFZUi6ztW5N6X6nMoKdlK7U9bEAWIrSSNU4dc2hfyJbjywdhgLn6HVIUIdnbA8K_mv4ddwagEkGAy1EPVTkXCO58-PpvLmW8fxs93QCtBrnES6O5ntP9aEwmHV/s787/Kyoko-Katsumi.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="787" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMCnoHLXp00iv2KbrL5FFZUi6ztW5N6X6nMoKdlK7U9bEAWIrSSNU4dc2hfyJbjywdhgLn6HVIUIdnbA8K_mv4ddwagEkGAy1EPVTkXCO58-PpvLmW8fxs93QCtBrnES6O5ntP9aEwmHV/s320/Kyoko-Katsumi.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><b>Kyoko Akizuki & Katsumi Kida </b><br />(Akemi Inoue & Ayumi Taguchi)<br />Kyoko, as you may have gathered by the name, is Kotaro and Nobuhiko's sister, while Katsumi is Nobuhiko's girlfriend. They round out the supporting cast for the series, serving as a core for Kotaro's humanity and helping provide a sense of normalcy within the small cafe Kyoko manages.<br />While Kotaro's identity as Kamen Rider Black and his modifications are kept secret from them, they aren't gullible and even suspect Kotaro is the Rider early on due to injuries he's sustained. Likewise, they are fully informed of Golgom by Kotaro, knowing full well they have Nobuhiko and were responsible for Soichiro Akuzuki's death not long after Kotaro escaped.<br />Surprisingly the series stays their hand at putting the two in danger too frequently. There's a shocking amount of restraint shown involving them except for key episodes where it's either simply incidental or in other cases there is a major focus on them, especially Kyoko.<br /><br /><br /><br /><b>Golgom</b></p><br /><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Like Kotaro, part of the initial appeal with Golgom is their reboot status and lack of baggage. Golgom is a separate entity and in no way connected to Shocker, nor are they a Nazi Militia. Instead, they're an ancient mystical cult. I suppose if Neo-Nazis as villains were all the rage in the late 60s and early 70s, it only makes sense for the contemporary villains of the 80s to be fringe cultists from within. </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Golgom's ultimate goal is to overthrow humanity with their race of mutants and select a successor to their aging leader, the Creation King, an almost godlike being who rules over the cult.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The ritual requires that two men born under an eclipse be modified, each given a King Stone as a source of power and do battle to the death, the victor taking the other's stone and becoming the new Creation King imbued with his power and ruling Golgom for 50,000 years until the cycle starts anew.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I have little doubt they took inspiration from real-world examples such as Aleph/Aum Shinrikyo. Cults and fringe groups were nothing new for Japan, but it was an increasing issue since at least the 70s and they truly came out full swing in the mid-80s with a lot of them being doomsday focused. Many of these groups are still around. You may even be familiar with Happy Science, a "New religion" founded in '86 that Kamen Rider Fourze actress, Fumika Shimizu, became a part of back in 2017. Interestingly, Golgom would also be the last time the Kamen Rider franchise had a secret underground society of this exact nature, most likely due to the '94 and the more infamous '95 Sarin attacks carried out by Aum Shinrikyo.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">As such, it should come as no surprise that Golgom still operates like Shocker. Taking advantage of people in desperate situations, manipulation, sewing general chaos by exploiting the worst in people, flaunting connections to famous individuals for recruitment, etc. There are certainly parallels to be made and it only stands to reason, given that both groups are largely dedicated to wildly insane ideas and ultimately about taking freedom away from humans. Even some terminology could be interpreted as being very much in line. </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESGfI0hRSRS0MgWxE_DPbGTQCyFzRSCR7Xd2qLfgAcguzacyhWRLeFybtLbJaanZkj5Wacpr6lPYaGPyPr3O26E24FRAFacE5dTC-TmvDQTQB0hEOHKwvWu_rTIFwUhT8oB-Eit7HCM4m/s1019/cacoon+black+sun.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1019" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESGfI0hRSRS0MgWxE_DPbGTQCyFzRSCR7Xd2qLfgAcguzacyhWRLeFybtLbJaanZkj5Wacpr6lPYaGPyPr3O26E24FRAFacE5dTC-TmvDQTQB0hEOHKwvWu_rTIFwUhT8oB-Eit7HCM4m/s320/cacoon+black+sun.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></span><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">For
those that don't know, a Black sun is a symbol that gained prominence
in Neo-Nazi groups by former SS officer and occult leader; Wilhelm
Landig. Although the usage here could just be coincidence.</span><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></span><p></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">But unlike Shocker, Golgom's experiments on humans and the like are often a secondary stratagem as most of their monsters are simply humanoid creatures that are ancient and already in existence rather than being mutated humans. Even those humans that undergo experiments are </span><i style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">seldom</span></i><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> mutated and rarely are they ever utilized. This places their mutants near the bottom of the hierarchy. In contrast with the prior series, the monsters are not treated as officers or captains in charge of foot soldiers. Golgom has no regular foot soldiers and the monsters are the main muscle. Rarely speaking, the vast majority simply grunt and squeal like Shocker Combatmen.</span></p><p></p><p><br /></p><p> <br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtFlP8WqUs_4woZJ1_NESjkfsPprJzdIg6za0U4xPfTG37GI7DwG_719p7p_dDQHjR_ZVwN06dqZBQ3sqeNfpFbZ_s15Dlw42D1K31D-iMJ5ciOYo3PzZ0jCOHv3vV0rCM-SE6pL6ZG8Z/s1000/creation+king+eye.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtFlP8WqUs_4woZJ1_NESjkfsPprJzdIg6za0U4xPfTG37GI7DwG_719p7p_dDQHjR_ZVwN06dqZBQ3sqeNfpFbZ_s15Dlw42D1K31D-iMJ5ciOYo3PzZ0jCOHv3vV0rCM-SE6pL6ZG8Z/s320/creation+king+eye.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b>The Creation King</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">(Takeshi Watabe)<span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></div><p>This mysterious being of murky origins is not heard
from in much of the series and even more rarely seen, but his presence is regularly acknowledged. Despite being near the end of his reign, the
Creation King still has a degree of power and makes himself known at
opportune times, even pulling various strings behind the scenes to make
sure a successor is chosen before his life ends. However, the majority of Golgom's operations fall on high-ranking loyal servants.<br /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>The rest of Golgom's hierarchy consists of three priests each representing an aspect of Earth, Ocean, and Heaven, just as Kotaro and Nobuhiko are Sun and Moon. They comprise of:<br /> </p><p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-4wJaoAYMU5kxxMjneMgazkqKggCI92b2U8I7vuvInP86G3mA-qb2pd5vse_k-BY6qu-giTGZJnq6ak2PJ6ALajCBWX4adXEwcZYkGYXN7ZSYay80AP5LKZ-SCyEAfuuUBqSMoYP0W2i2/s789/Bishium.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="789" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-4wJaoAYMU5kxxMjneMgazkqKggCI92b2U8I7vuvInP86G3mA-qb2pd5vse_k-BY6qu-giTGZJnq6ak2PJ6ALajCBWX4adXEwcZYkGYXN7ZSYay80AP5LKZ-SCyEAfuuUBqSMoYP0W2i2/s320/Bishium.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>High Priestess Bishium </b> </div><div style="text-align: left;">(Hitomi Yoshii) </div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrQgCeiBHetVrsHgvGByaV89Gx8_3ffL2yb2q9ohfgF72aWR2952qian9YSRCaOpnzmy_bNiODOHxUsA38N0hhHVD9QGbyQ5VlKmdY0sy2FSRC4ZncBQuqAI3lugcXVgpkuwpqwQgJ8F5/s789/Baraom.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="789" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrQgCeiBHetVrsHgvGByaV89Gx8_3ffL2yb2q9ohfgF72aWR2952qian9YSRCaOpnzmy_bNiODOHxUsA38N0hhHVD9QGbyQ5VlKmdY0sy2FSRC4ZncBQuqAI3lugcXVgpkuwpqwQgJ8F5/s320/Baraom.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>High Priest Baraom</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">(Toshimichi Takahashi) </div><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiga_RP7scY8lgTeYh7TeOKLY1CLW6FxCI9tK-p8rQsDWYZ39NxPjBPrSC9bKirxJbCn2MKEXG6BFiVy1jqu36kLt93jLl60XD4T6H-1FzPgNKszEBe94S0xKbHlWTfFzCowPtkMp0XxfuR/s791/Darom.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="791" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiga_RP7scY8lgTeYh7TeOKLY1CLW6FxCI9tK-p8rQsDWYZ39NxPjBPrSC9bKirxJbCn2MKEXG6BFiVy1jqu36kLt93jLl60XD4T6H-1FzPgNKszEBe94S0xKbHlWTfFzCowPtkMp0XxfuR/s320/Darom.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>High Priest Darom </b></div><div style="text-align: left;">(Shōzō Iizuka)</div><p style="text-align: left;">The last of whom you may know as the voice of Hakaider and the first voice of Don Horror.<br /><br />Early episodes with Golgom plots are conceived either by the priests (primarily by Bishium throughout the series) or for the earlier episodes their human underlings who wish to become long-lived mutants themselves. <br /><br /></p><p></p><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqLqfAtVWyFLcYSUXsKXgoYU7unpMHquA6jg93MMBZFHDjR9Wk0W1Yg0PKsThSFIG7z6hmWfOMjnq2R8udiarkf_4Q520Mb72GjXboCTYBO_JvVXZZoxVIIWk0zT8T-wSImtoA0QUmueN/s1019/Kuromatsu.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1019" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqLqfAtVWyFLcYSUXsKXgoYU7unpMHquA6jg93MMBZFHDjR9Wk0W1Yg0PKsThSFIG7z6hmWfOMjnq2R8udiarkf_4Q520Mb72GjXboCTYBO_JvVXZZoxVIIWk0zT8T-wSImtoA0QUmueN/s320/Kuromatsu.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Professor Hideomi Kuromatsu.</b> <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">(Susumu Kurobe)</div><p>Kuromatsu is a renowned scientist and university professor. His main forte for Golgom is genetically modifying humans with the promise of furthering their careers, often resulting in horrifying abominations which he takes a sick pleasure in creating.<br />And yes, that is Shin Hayata, and yes he did in fact play a mad scientist role in Winspector as well.<br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fQi_WgGfHAincRgNsUWagGiYOIguaOAnMNZW4Ol_hOp0BQApcUpEZF-nGPeQgR7BYtgA2R6gn3A7EorT5wcIxjuOj7IEcsrx412vixeDNX0758tk_i1oERypw0plEuGCJSuypRYKHarP/s778/sakata-omiya.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fQi_WgGfHAincRgNsUWagGiYOIguaOAnMNZW4Ol_hOp0BQApcUpEZF-nGPeQgR7BYtgA2R6gn3A7EorT5wcIxjuOj7IEcsrx412vixeDNX0758tk_i1oERypw0plEuGCJSuypRYKHarP/s320/sakata-omiya.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Ryuzaburo Sakata & Koichi Omiya.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">(Koreharu Isatomi & Harukazu Kitami)</div><p>Sakata is a political leader and largely focuses his efforts on making use of various artists from painters to the musically inclined, while Omiya is a powerful CEO who funds Kuromatsu's research and is a part of Sakata's political party.<br /><br /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><br /><p><br />Now before I go any further, it's worth addressing is the opening two episodes of the series because they will help provide context. I will go on record of saying they're among some of the best in Kamen Rider and Toku in general. From a creepy horror atmosphere both stylistically and tonally to knocking out the basic setup and character dynamics briefly and concisely, just about everything in these episodes is brilliant.<br /><br />Rather than the usual introduction and lead-up, the series is more nonlinear by throwing us completely into the fray. If you go in blind you won't know it's Kotaro running from the Golgom priests, it's just a man in danger from a mysterious force. There's a mystique that captivates the viewer.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4gCDh8zSKCmnJQgHTchXR_xhMV5sFbjOMG0Kq912UtsIebrW-SzDAymOPx6S3CJHeOB2psLGSRIAfPUn4DxAeQKUCFO3HDo2baFy1oQNdHzodTJTwFF9gjPRD7yGr9hqVHZkdpHfu0_m/s1021/operation.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1021" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4gCDh8zSKCmnJQgHTchXR_xhMV5sFbjOMG0Kq912UtsIebrW-SzDAymOPx6S3CJHeOB2psLGSRIAfPUn4DxAeQKUCFO3HDo2baFy1oQNdHzodTJTwFF9gjPRD7yGr9hqVHZkdpHfu0_m/s320/operation.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>In between the chases and action, there are short flashbacks of what lead up to this point, with Kotaro and Nobuhiko being operated upon by the Golgom priests only for Kotaro to be saved by his father, while Nobuhiko is injured and left behind. <br /><br />The entire chase through the city is one of the most visually stimulating parts of Kamen Rider Black and with good reason, the first episode took a full month of filming with 10 days dedicated to <i>just</i> the city scenes. But the rest of the episode is also quite moody, a sort of throwback to the early Showa episodes with a heavy emphasis on light and shadow, resulting in some of the creepiest scenes.<br /></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytTN3lcGBwsNtYn3y-MuGH4gAW6gdxf9LfqrlF_RhUecioKOxIgo7dkN5RTPU_lC26XREwcC3EUldT1T3geaSz3x-grJjrhI1U0WGEmyU0hIAYs6oyNX6hys3NnKNRwM1pLWVJO8fO7JZ/s1013/Battaman.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1013" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytTN3lcGBwsNtYn3y-MuGH4gAW6gdxf9LfqrlF_RhUecioKOxIgo7dkN5RTPU_lC26XREwcC3EUldT1T3geaSz3x-grJjrhI1U0WGEmyU0hIAYs6oyNX6hys3NnKNRwM1pLWVJO8fO7JZ/s320/Battaman.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Ultimately Kotaro escapes and the episode ends with him learning from Soichiro the truth about what Golgom is, why he and Nobuhiko were singled out, that Kotaro's biological parents died by Golgom's hand, that the man who took him in was a part of it all simply because the cult funded his research. Before Kotaro can even gather his thoughts, Soichiro is killed by Golgom mutants and Kotaro is forced to fight them. It is a lot to take in at once, almost overwhelming just as it is for Kotaro.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6dcHh1-iDMIfasHgzSnnFe7WkEWSwyOtqsiH7G_XQkjfeXxFW65n45dLYDz3kPEX8QRGw5GICDxrQaFkRse2Ou8jb-9uxz6pA7L9_b0FWvotE5mdgcVQs6oCYS4TSNqoU7rd9Akz6zGI/s788/2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="788" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6dcHh1-iDMIfasHgzSnnFe7WkEWSwyOtqsiH7G_XQkjfeXxFW65n45dLYDz3kPEX8QRGw5GICDxrQaFkRse2Ou8jb-9uxz6pA7L9_b0FWvotE5mdgcVQs6oCYS4TSNqoU7rd9Akz6zGI/s320/2.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p><br />Episode two further explores the backstory for Kotaro and Nobuhiko, in particular, their 19th birthday just before their kidnapping, which was attended by a bizarre number of famous personas from movie stars to politicians, some of whom would become recurring villains for Golgom.<br />A personal favorite part is when the party is all of a sudden descended upon by a swarm of locust, which everybody else seems to ignore except for Kotaro, Nobuhiko, Katsumi, and Kyoko. A bit more is also shown in how Kotaro escaped the facility, stumbling upon and acquiring the signature bike of the series; Battlehopper, to do so.<br /> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgepE-mGfLX1iKsTSbFhJ3odYFLuwOuXgIw3mKHZhwfgwgH93kl53RgUe-UlsFZYsC8VLxEp-AI7-y18wk9_dhKKIH2Fq0ru3tNNj6TxfTybM3JEAKcd3AMHPv4AHmBJspNAYCKh-eZT8R8/s785/clawmarks.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="785" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgepE-mGfLX1iKsTSbFhJ3odYFLuwOuXgIw3mKHZhwfgwgH93kl53RgUe-UlsFZYsC8VLxEp-AI7-y18wk9_dhKKIH2Fq0ru3tNNj6TxfTybM3JEAKcd3AMHPv4AHmBJspNAYCKh-eZT8R8/s320/clawmarks.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>In the present, Kotaro visits one of the attendees to his birthday, hoping to find any information on the whereabouts of his brother. The scenery here is dreadful, the apartment Kotaro visits completely trashed with signs of a struggle and claw marks upon a door. Unease permeates the air in one of the best atmospheric pieces in the show, which is good because the monster turns out to be one of the goofiest.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfcGN4dygMdh7ijnDzsCJTlMCoPnQxsnNdm1OrlJE-xRse23ERCS-9DJFw5RprITtjOErhwGsYQCETN54qouOlQG6lVhH2cQ9uk2gNSZTtU7WWBlZfnxT0Ds-bjDEXzKAKs6OjljZBDU8x/s669/german+leopard.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="669" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfcGN4dygMdh7ijnDzsCJTlMCoPnQxsnNdm1OrlJE-xRse23ERCS-9DJFw5RprITtjOErhwGsYQCETN54qouOlQG6lVhH2cQ9uk2gNSZTtU7WWBlZfnxT0Ds-bjDEXzKAKs6OjljZBDU8x/s320/german+leopard.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Yes, at one point the monster is a German shepherd in a leopard costume.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>With his only lead gone, Kotaro is quite literally at a dead end for the time being. <br /></p><br /><br /><p><br />From these two episodes, there is a familiarity with certain concepts and story beats one would expect in Kamen Rider. Themes of humanity, loss of innocence, Kotaro coming to terms with his newfound power, a bit of a horror vibe, etc. There's even a scene mirroring one from the original manga.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHvwm-HtNuwFCTcCvoQHceaC1hNu16oPfToAUPxZHbfVXlNhxiRDkWGS0HNzPKo-30Zaifgp_PAoLDmD-EcZCYTVXaUsnrd37gn3Q49V48DgSdfx7tzVZYCauwunEFw-poYtUF7ErQkac/s791/break.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="791" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHvwm-HtNuwFCTcCvoQHceaC1hNu16oPfToAUPxZHbfVXlNhxiRDkWGS0HNzPKo-30Zaifgp_PAoLDmD-EcZCYTVXaUsnrd37gn3Q49V48DgSdfx7tzVZYCauwunEFw-poYtUF7ErQkac/s320/break.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVNQsrw1nv_Ad_5TvW_wpSDmHYbR7-mBcupS7ZRQKIC1QpwR6mk1Lax0leZeQz9I6kOLZhMfasG7ZXEJAF0mQ8cDxfdhK3_uh9rzetaiwKbj8DUkEQKFquo6pABD6n9T72xaz_G1_FVMD/s853/Screenshot_20210307-020154_Comics.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="853" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVNQsrw1nv_Ad_5TvW_wpSDmHYbR7-mBcupS7ZRQKIC1QpwR6mk1Lax0leZeQz9I6kOLZhMfasG7ZXEJAF0mQ8cDxfdhK3_uh9rzetaiwKbj8DUkEQKFquo6pABD6n9T72xaz_G1_FVMD/s320/Screenshot_20210307-020154_Comics.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Yet it's also unique in how it executes those elements and invents new ones, such as Kotaro dealing with his brother being in the clutches of Golgom. It's a dilemma no prior series has ever had for its protagonist.<br /><br />With that said, I can now state that Kamen Rider Black's structure is somewhat weird after those first two episodes, at least for a bit. Bare with me when I say that while the opening episodes set a precedent for certain stories the series would explore, nothing ever captures the same feeling and tone as the first two. The series does create fantastic drama, especially in the mid-30s and near the end of the show. But it's a different kind of trepidation. In terms of an overwhelming sense of horror where it's clear something is askew, or scenes where Kotaro is framed almost like this cryptid being, episodes 1&2 are outliers, so do be aware of this going in.<br /><br /><br />Aside from how unique the first two episodes are, most of Kamen Rider Black can be broken down into segments.<br />Episodes 3-12 are much more conventional fare and are largely dedicated to laying more groundwork and having run-of-the-mill episodes that aren't concerned so much with the main plot. They do a solid job introducing what kind of villains we're dealing with and how Golgom operates. There's even an episode showcasing that many of the Golgom mutants are awakening from hibernation and there isn't enough food to go around, resulting in Golgom taking steps to grow special fruit for the mutants, only for it to infect humans and alert Kotaro to the plot. This in turn results in Golgom freezing many of the mutants less they starve. It's an interesting bit of world-building that demonstrates how much Kotaro escaping has screwed up their plans, while also explaining why Golgom doesn't unleash many of their mutants at once.<br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VP19pRH7bBx7FKHC6OU7Ld_MPZmuC2w0ZFyqavLOo-z-1qT9P8mVrlGQYmHi3W1dcjqmroqOp1vUJADNESMgCP9I60D_6-_5W4iJUHfo3KDy3JyRkRuE7CM0r8vdF-UZl9RT2sZRzUUq/s791/plants.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="791" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VP19pRH7bBx7FKHC6OU7Ld_MPZmuC2w0ZFyqavLOo-z-1qT9P8mVrlGQYmHi3W1dcjqmroqOp1vUJADNESMgCP9I60D_6-_5W4iJUHfo3KDy3JyRkRuE7CM0r8vdF-UZl9RT2sZRzUUq/s320/plants.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I'm sure this whole plant thing won't ever be a problem again for any Riders.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">If there is one significant problem I would pick out from these earlier episodes it's that two of Golgom's human antagonists; Omiya and Sakata, only have about 2-3 episodes appearances and then they just drop off for a very long time. It isn't until the 38th episode they appear again, and it's little more than a cameo. You would think they would eventually be turned into mutants and forced to fight Black as punishment, yet that never happens. Despite being prominently featured and set up early on, they're quickly tossed aside and forgotten about until very late into the show's run. This is one of the early blunders of the show and I don't believe anyone had a clue what to do with them. While their episodes are fine and decent enough, some of the plots don't fit the characters. Ep. 6 has Sakata (the political leader) developing artistic minds into ESPers to steal various plans from corporations remotely, while ep. 7 has Omiya (the businessman) captivating youths into vigilante groups under the guise of correcting societal ills. Those plots should be reversed. They're also incredibly petty in execution, lacking any sense of significance or weight for the type of organization Golgom is.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Still, it does feel like a shame to just forget about them all together when there was plenty of potentials to make them into something more, but there's likely a reason behind it.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I've often talked about various series having production issues or sudden changes, such as Hiroshi Fujioka being injured on Kamen Rider or how Eiji Tsuburaya sadly died before The Return of Ultraman began. Kamen Rider Black is no different. Some of the minor issues Black has near the start and even a bit afterward likely has to do with behind-the-scenes problems that caused the production to lose direction. Shōzō Uehara was the head writer for Black for the first 12 episodes, penning 5 of them himself (1-4, 12) His episodes are notably some of the best and helped plant a lot of interesting seeds, some of which would blossom beautifully... just not under his watch. He suddenly left the production for reasons that seem to indicate creative conflicts were the root of the issue. From what I could find, Uehara was described as always being a rebellious writer by one of the Toei producers, and Black had </span><b style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">a lot </span></b><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">of input from various sources which seem to have become a hassle for him to deal with. Although there weren't any hard feelings since he came back a few years later to work on J.</span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOH3hmbroRW1YIqFIzQIgNhHTlR6LyHhz8XL4mkyPoUQQRhEmaBosRyA2qQuIHU9U0uZDlmkc9W_K_3cm1kaP-p1XfIYfhHBRItssirZaPjQlUkkIwJu5TgoPAa2Oe4aWXyYLVsu9xEiIM/s1200/sukeban.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="630" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOH3hmbroRW1YIqFIzQIgNhHTlR6LyHhz8XL4mkyPoUQQRhEmaBosRyA2qQuIHU9U0uZDlmkc9W_K_3cm1kaP-p1XfIYfhHBRItssirZaPjQlUkkIwJu5TgoPAa2Oe4aWXyYLVsu9xEiIM/s320/sukeban.jpg" /></a></div><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Noboru Sugimura became the new head writer starting on episode 13, although many other greatly talented writers would continue to contribute to the show while Sugimura tried to figure something out. This was only his second time as a head writer, the first being on 1985's Sukeban Deka, which was more a direct adaptation of the manga, bar the ending. This combined with the sudden departure of Uehara resulted in a few of the episodes being somewhat meandering. Hell, ep 13 is in part a clip show, a fact made worse by the prior episode being Uehara's last and one of the most entertaining up to that point.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Now, frankly, I'd be hard-pressed to say there's an episode of Black I outright hate, but I will admit some of these episodes can be overly formulaic. This period of the series starts roughly with some major issues with padding, the aforementioned 13th, as well as the 14th episodes, being the worst, due to being partial clips shows. It, unfortunately, presents this awkwardness where some of the first episodes of Black (even when Uehara was heading) have a couple of iffy episodes here and there written by other writers that stumble as they find their footing on the new series... only for this to happen again just when it seemed like they were finally settling in.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Thankfully it doesn't take too long and some episodes help recapture the intrigue by getting back to plots focusing on Nobuhiko alongside a proper attempt at expanding the lore in the form of a new villain: </span><b style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Birugenia</span></b><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">. (Jun Yoshida)</span></p><p><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFBSssmXLypyG025ZKT1TEeZKXtSX1KhPc-HrYwwaJXvUIUleEAbzGYmFXKZVydCIEe8x0yi6xqaW715kanqWbHmhPJhUWAIRgW0QrwMvbYw11jkuh4KwBLZsrT3RzzLUoNtF7_KCkReu/s791/Bilgenia.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="791" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFBSssmXLypyG025ZKT1TEeZKXtSX1KhPc-HrYwwaJXvUIUleEAbzGYmFXKZVydCIEe8x0yi6xqaW715kanqWbHmhPJhUWAIRgW0QrwMvbYw11jkuh4KwBLZsrT3RzzLUoNtF7_KCkReu/s320/Bilgenia.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Sword Saint Birugenia</span></b><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> is an ancient warrior that was sealed away 30,000 years ago and, like Kotaro and Nobuhiko, he was born under an eclipse, but during a time before the next linage was to be decided. He attempted to overthrow the current Creation King and even nearly killed the high priests before he was imprisoned by the King, only being released now to deal with Kotaro.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Birugenia is a breath of fresh air that was sorely needed. While he's not an extraordinary villain, he's something the series lacked up to this point which is a reoccurring villain Black can go toe to toe with. Until now, the reoccurring antagonists have been Kuromatsu or the Golgom priests, characters that plan, connive, and may even have great power- but the fighting was largely left to Monsters of the Week. Birugenia is someone that can do both. He toys with Kotaro, studies and learns his abilities, adapts, uses trickery. This results in Kotaro struggling during most confrontations, forcing the Rider to outwit the sword saint at his own game.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Birugenia's biggest weakness is his arrogance. He gains the upper hand over Kotaro several times but never capitalizes due to gloating or sheer ignorance...or contrived reasons that don't make a lick of sense. (He refuses to kill Kotaro at one point because a civilian might see) Although some other incidents are more mysterious and I believe could have been the Creation King's doing, perhaps a sign of his true intentions.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Regardless, Birugenia's time on the show keeps the series fascinating as there's always something happening when he's around, even if it's not always major. Some of the better episodes of Kamen Rider Black involve Birugenia because even if he's not super captivating as a villain, his episodes usually are by having spins or twists on familiar ideas.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">This period is also when Golgom begins focusing more on dealing with Kotaro as a threat, usually putting him in situations where he shouldn't or couldn't transform while also endangering others, often children.</span></p><p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2f151dLyGXVAEiEtwAzfSsKt9alycXW_0h8XK6ZX0_CPKQT8HSxKUdjyYtm6oyiUvM6aiFa4v5I6o5viR6olkeg91rNf7cWhGOAylDF7u8xsHitVrlmAx4g2dUir7e6uMmqy5WyynILl/s1025/cannot+transform.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="1025" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2f151dLyGXVAEiEtwAzfSsKt9alycXW_0h8XK6ZX0_CPKQT8HSxKUdjyYtm6oyiUvM6aiFa4v5I6o5viR6olkeg91rNf7cWhGOAylDF7u8xsHitVrlmAx4g2dUir7e6uMmqy5WyynILl/s320/cannot+transform.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />This burgeoning of aggression also makes some sense as Birugenia gives them a way out since he could easily replace Kotaro in the ritual. This develops into the priests forming an uneasy working relationship with Birugenia, which is not always mutually beneficial. Sometimes they have solid plans but they undermine each other because of their egos. Not to mention that even with an alternative on the table, the priests do not wish to risk being led by such a wild card, Birugenia is about as much of an issue as Kotaro.<br /><p></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcTZq2NLYPbpbLeYnSyETleucYwYyxQ7dFCVc5FYSHkshv2RWD4xHgeOTrYNg6xQXuQVVyz6LbhJ64Wz0mjwzRiGT3LQglLHhSorpe4sWony1lM6D9r0vbYMDgSw8NNCJPwEZ3Dm3EDZ9H/s1023/funding.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1023" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcTZq2NLYPbpbLeYnSyETleucYwYyxQ7dFCVc5FYSHkshv2RWD4xHgeOTrYNg6xQXuQVVyz6LbhJ64Wz0mjwzRiGT3LQglLHhSorpe4sWony1lM6D9r0vbYMDgSw8NNCJPwEZ3Dm3EDZ9H/s320/funding.png" width="320" /></a></div><p> </p><p>When they're not outright going after Kotaro, Golgom's efforts are put into exploiting people with something to offer. They come off as legitimately worthwhile endeavors ranging from destructive lasers or researching a super soldier program. It takes established concepts earlier in the show's run but does them much better, able to do smaller budget-conscious stories that feature the prospect of something grandiose that would appeal to a monumental group like Golg<br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAVhV0nyDqKfauPpX0xuXcalioZTTjYu0aFxdZvaNSdlAQyZj7uuCZyIlqPdNKsJX5Kqj9YZb0Eql3Sa-UlUn4gXSgFw-_qspJs0daqhXtLAe67B_FDkm9bOgV5ih6t3UWS5k1nJobRjGY/s1021/taki.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1021" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAVhV0nyDqKfauPpX0xuXcalioZTTjYu0aFxdZvaNSdlAQyZj7uuCZyIlqPdNKsJX5Kqj9YZb0Eql3Sa-UlUn4gXSgFw-_qspJs0daqhXtLAe67B_FDkm9bOgV5ih6t3UWS5k1nJobRjGY/s320/taki.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />The only oddities I can point out for this segment of the show is the introduction of Ryusuke Taki, an Interpol agent who was friends with Nobuhiko and would assist Black, very much like <i>Kazuya</i> Taki in '71. But he only has two episode appearances and is forgotten just like two of the elite Golgom members. <br /><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1IOj9oVZLK_CgaVKj3NR6WnoAAXVxGF53gYUFrfISFrD-dQQhAJEvyBpvctR-EI9t82UKHXCmBvyd5moz0VhvuJFpbo8BTYVl60-iNV2yf8_IZINVPkLwQsR-k-IqIUOsFFZf0s47YDf/s1023/shonen+warriors.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="1023" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1IOj9oVZLK_CgaVKj3NR6WnoAAXVxGF53gYUFrfISFrD-dQQhAJEvyBpvctR-EI9t82UKHXCmBvyd5moz0VhvuJFpbo8BTYVl60-iNV2yf8_IZINVPkLwQsR-k-IqIUOsFFZf0s47YDf/s320/shonen+warriors.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Likewise, the series introduces a team of children, The Golgom Boy Warriors, who are 21-year-olds that Golgom forcibly gave growth hindering drugs to. They're a sort of updated and twisted take on the Shonen Riders where they're an elite partisan group against Golgom who look up to Rider Black. I like this idea, but they only appear in three episodes. Still, probably for the best because those ideas do feel too much like trying to recapture old ideas in the wrong way. Much as I like the twisted take of using (not quite) child soldiers that actively fight the antagonists, we didn't need any allies for Kotaro, not like that. Although they aren't cast aside like Taki, instead they're given sparse appearances.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Regardless of some under-realized story elements that fizzle out, the writing is significantly improved during this time and I believe this is when Black hits its stride. Things seemed shaky with eps. 13-16 but damn if things didn't start to turn around in 17 and especially in 18 with Birugenia. Solid episode after solid episode with very few shortcomings until episode 34.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I also feel it's very important to remember that Sugimura was not the only writer either, but the head writer. The show had many talented writers, many of whom wrote for prior Rider series and the Metal Hero Franchise such as Hisashi Yamazaki and Kyōko Sagiyama.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">New writers would also contribute, most notably Naruhisa Arakawa who only wrote a single episode but would later go on to be the main writer for Kuuga.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">But while the series improved overall during this time and kept things fresh, ultimately what elevates the series is episodes 34 & 35 when the final villain of Kamen Rider Black appears and is perhaps what the series is best known for;</span><b style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> Shadow Moon</span></b><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">.</span></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbpP0q_2Q8kKvdTbBuJIkn0exbXbzAMjul3D7vIAwMAbjTPY7whtvcw0l7a4tJG-TD50p9YfYPuK1OyzbV8BkSvO8jrdBG1qS3uDzWv421twD8ggYMDJE-kAo6NfkzlWg_q-pNlQphLr95/s1021/Shadow+Moon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1021" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbpP0q_2Q8kKvdTbBuJIkn0exbXbzAMjul3D7vIAwMAbjTPY7whtvcw0l7a4tJG-TD50p9YfYPuK1OyzbV8BkSvO8jrdBG1qS3uDzWv421twD8ggYMDJE-kAo6NfkzlWg_q-pNlQphLr95/s320/Shadow+Moon.png" width="320" /></a><br /></div><p>(Masaki Terasoma; Voice. Tokio Iwata & Toshiyuki Kikuchi<span style="font-weight: normal;"></span>; Suit)<br />Shadow Moon was something referenced as early as episode 3, Nobuhiko blatantly being dubbed that. I don't know if the intention back then was to always have Nobuhiko eventually become an antagonist or if it was a throwaway line to contrast with Kotaro being dubbed Black Sun. <br /><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03E6Bxk9ltrfSlrGA6gctpTvrXm9hRXme3A7X8r6r3MLwQ9nqF_MHw-nTgqGnmHO4lOB0NwEiqmsi9psgUJQ47diH5-_8s6Uf8DuYXP8HHmUoyy72kwlU8IQr1iAqKD6YQ1BZBsoVEmbH/s1017/cacoon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1017" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03E6Bxk9ltrfSlrGA6gctpTvrXm9hRXme3A7X8r6r3MLwQ9nqF_MHw-nTgqGnmHO4lOB0NwEiqmsi9psgUJQ47diH5-_8s6Uf8DuYXP8HHmUoyy72kwlU8IQr1iAqKD6YQ1BZBsoVEmbH/s320/cacoon.png" width="320" /></a></div>Regardless, it was teased again in episode 17, with Kyoko being used in an attempt to restore and awaken an ailing Nobuhiko, although they only succeeded in stabilizing him. 34 revisits that concept but the Golgom priests are forced to give up their lives by the Creation King, while Birugenia is given the sword of the Creation King: The Satan Saber, and goes after Kotaro, in reality just a ploy by the Creation King to keep him busy.<br />Shadow Moon is awakened, the priest barely surviving their ordeal, while Birugenia loses the sword to the will of its rightful owner and is quickly taken care of by a ruthless Shadow Moon, establishing a new status quo.<br /><p></p><p></p><p>Shadow Moon I believe can be credited in elevating Kamen Rider Black into a profoundly captivating series with his addition. He is a reflection of Kotaro, a painful reminder of what he could have lost, and the brother he did lose. Kamen Rider has always had a running theme of a loss of free will and Nobuhiko serves as the logical end point of that, the result of a turned Rider in a sense. There have been past villains and even weekly kaijin that have had the implications of how horrific that could be, but Shadow Moon is the first time the series delved into that on a more intimate level. The outcome is this imposing force readily using any means to get under Kotaro's skin by harming and manipulating anyone with no consideration for anything but results. And yet despite his obedience, he goes against the Creation King to stay out of his plans on several occasions, exerting a degree of free will, which becomes more developed later on.<br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9YAX8hZLEKZYxcoafYcRGu4y9lDJDDODLZPmZ_ul137n4jF_s8tenQ40QUKgDJkjQm10C_Prr_byhzM-v0nvo1BwyrG80ZRQYKhK0ZiTYoOipZxsUCiAosi5XIO7S3vKET2iWo8a3RvO/s1031/not+needed+1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="1031" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9YAX8hZLEKZYxcoafYcRGu4y9lDJDDODLZPmZ_ul137n4jF_s8tenQ40QUKgDJkjQm10C_Prr_byhzM-v0nvo1BwyrG80ZRQYKhK0ZiTYoOipZxsUCiAosi5XIO7S3vKET2iWo8a3RvO/s320/not+needed+1.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNLpa2nICEqo3LcZu1BzTVHWqFftdfc6JWCVd1JtFJLNc3ihxdydWWYSGVtEmd4Ulmst8XMQpAgSbhZNNf6S2tGtOoMbhrVjMB8uGJHNnOByMquMbApPM7rizncqXRkb18dqsp9Xgtrag/s1023/not+needed+2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1023" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNLpa2nICEqo3LcZu1BzTVHWqFftdfc6JWCVd1JtFJLNc3ihxdydWWYSGVtEmd4Ulmst8XMQpAgSbhZNNf6S2tGtOoMbhrVjMB8uGJHNnOByMquMbApPM7rizncqXRkb18dqsp9Xgtrag/s320/not+needed+2.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><br />But perhaps the best subtle characterization that speaks volumes is how Shadow Moon refers to Kotaro, typically using Black Sun and to a lesser extent Kamen Rider Black. It's not hard to see why this character made such an impact, he oozes a cold villainous aura the writers make full use of. In contrast to Birugenia who had interesting episodes involving him, Shadow Moon's episodes are interesting alongside if not outright because of him. </p><p><br />Under Shadow Moon the series would undergo many developments, notably, Kyoko would learn Kotaro's identity and the priests would be reborn as more monstrous Grand mutants to fight Kotaro more directly.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVxIJnm1OH9HJ_uGaRF0uFDkZd4l_t9HgCVMyBvmx5a4EbGteHUP5OdvruEAQjgsY0AbapQ9vACzIoJ61wR6teZpZ8Xz2nJhFSSnvTdChnDgrxVJ5st8Y1hQA1Nr3E8D1W9szaXnCE0IK/s1023/grand+mutants.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1023" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVxIJnm1OH9HJ_uGaRF0uFDkZd4l_t9HgCVMyBvmx5a4EbGteHUP5OdvruEAQjgsY0AbapQ9vACzIoJ61wR6teZpZ8Xz2nJhFSSnvTdChnDgrxVJ5st8Y1hQA1Nr3E8D1W9szaXnCE0IK/s320/grand+mutants.png" width="320" /></a><br /></div><p>Golgom also becomes widely known, blatantly declaring war on humanity and attacking the national diet. Although despite the shift in a higher standard for action and drama, the series would calm slightly before its final episodes. Shadow Moon instigating various plots to further Golgom's goals, often resulting in episodes having a strong focus on the bubble economy and politics of 1980s Japan. Anything from basic greed, big promises over the property to entice people, commentary on mindless consumption, even an episode with brainwashing messages in a J-pop Idol track. Much like the second segment, this third part takes ideas that were present before but became more developed under Shadow Moon's tenure.<br /><br />A more prominent focus on family is also interjected. Kotaro helping children who often reflect his struggles and losses, such as the death of a parent or two brothers being abducted and manipulated by Golgom. Within these episodes, there's always this impending presence of Shadow Moon which ties into the most significant development; the interpersonal relationships between Shadow Moon and the main cast.<br />Kotaro is haunted by the inevitability of not only fighting his brother but if he can save him. The evil Shadow Moon and Golgom have done exceeds far beyond just what has happened to Kotaro's friends and family, and he's more conscious of this than anyone else.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYOq7E-p7sJWRczYE28X4c6ORnalXCdgAjfU47R2mhFSV5C-OBP0pZayWtn6I_M6rQGkVwsazPT6bu9W-DkjXfTdXGkxjqNAqJL4Qie7BbkoOSs74olcApjSY-FU92i_YSMuQ2aquRi0_/s1021/change+1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1021" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYOq7E-p7sJWRczYE28X4c6ORnalXCdgAjfU47R2mhFSV5C-OBP0pZayWtn6I_M6rQGkVwsazPT6bu9W-DkjXfTdXGkxjqNAqJL4Qie7BbkoOSs74olcApjSY-FU92i_YSMuQ2aquRi0_/s320/change+1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6rM0b_giccWlOm0f5wRBftJll5zwZWFsYX5wk0Y_NC8h3cOEs3YVrBNhQZmzHmSLR-ufVIJXNRzU_5N7V5XhA49wWPKRNj0EPDtRYbbpHgdgs3iIP4oMjcvvS-_ZoXmYDJ8mRFzgUCWd/s1021/change+2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1021" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6rM0b_giccWlOm0f5wRBftJll5zwZWFsYX5wk0Y_NC8h3cOEs3YVrBNhQZmzHmSLR-ufVIJXNRzU_5N7V5XhA49wWPKRNj0EPDtRYbbpHgdgs3iIP4oMjcvvS-_ZoXmYDJ8mRFzgUCWd/s320/change+2.png" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /> <br />Sprinkled throughout are small glimpses of Nobuhiko still being in there somewhere, that despite the corruption he still has a degree of influence. Even offering a place to Katsumi and Kyoko among Golgom despite how willing he is to endanger them to get to Kotaro. It gives the impression that as much as Kamen Riders are a force of good with a monstrous touch that kept their humanity, then perhaps Shadow Moon is a corrupted force for evil with a degree of humanity left.</p><p><br />What follows these transgressions are story elements the are difficult to discuss without major spoilers that delve into the final 7 episodes of the series. I will talk more in-depth about those in the episode section, but for the sake of brevity I'll say Black undergoes one more shift in its focus, that being a hard leaning on the environment and destruction therein. This was always present in Kamen Rider even as far back as the original Manga with Ichigo claiming to be sent by Mother Nature. </p><p></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPl472lCGwo-fBfHp2d8BCobuVqtUOo_w57di6P7N58DDDUnO7GT5Bn_h2w2yrym04r-KsSvooqNXWAZP0DefiNglR71GCAyosHc83qAOKjMgRRGND8bDISvemWSQBQl9-VrpQ8cDiwwCM/s1536/Screenshot_20210307-020043_Comics.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPl472lCGwo-fBfHp2d8BCobuVqtUOo_w57di6P7N58DDDUnO7GT5Bn_h2w2yrym04r-KsSvooqNXWAZP0DefiNglR71GCAyosHc83qAOKjMgRRGND8bDISvemWSQBQl9-VrpQ8cDiwwCM/s320/Screenshot_20210307-020043_Comics.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>It's something Ishinomori has always had play a role, but I believe the Black Manga and by extension the TV series is what started a bigger push for Riders as a more literal force of nature. This is something that would become more prevalent in RX and especially in ZO and J.<br /><br />On the subject of its ending, Black has possibly one of the most cataclysmic and bittersweet endings of all Kamen Rider and it's something I will praise profusely.<br />Many TV Rider series tended to have triumphant finales of sorts. The villains are defeated and the hero either reflects or drives into the sunset for more adventures as their friends and allies celebrate-- But Black... Black doesn't have that sort of ending, at least not exactly. The final episodes are simply a continuous heart-wrenching endeavor featuring some of the hardest struggles for Kotaro. He hesitates in fighting Shadow Moon and the result of that is Golgom being able to gain the upper hand and take over Japan. Katsumi and Kyoko flee with others as Japan becomes a wasteland overrun with monsters both mutant and human alike.<br />Kotaro is in the end able to rise to the challenge, becoming stronger and undergoing an almost <span class="ILfuVd"><span class="hgKElc">deification</span></span>. But he loses so much in the process.While not as much of a gut punch as the Black Manga, it still makes for one of the saddest endings in Kamen Rider for not only being so daring and unconventional, but that it's a clever flip on the sorrow of the Riders. The struggle for all Riders is that their battles never end, it's an endless fight. But for Kotaro, his fight does end- as far as this series was concerned it was. But the gains came with many losses.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><h3 style="text-align: center;">Visuals/SFX.</h3><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZXHGOyn5Kfkd8SqnDTaCf4R0jZsBS3e34wb-71Hyaa9eG1tFzMfj1D5jdGLtypq4vhARmWZ1iEehxDqCCGBfWGA1rVaYkN1heT6kpgr9pdNakb8daJPJz63ONh6QN5NFbHmvrsImQZ1D/s1017/black+suit.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a>The
first thing I'll address right off the Bat is the flashing lights.
Kamen Rider Black is infamous for its flashing during finishing
attacks and the henshin. However, the Bluray version removes those
flashes. Only the first two
episodes have a strobe effect (One different from the more notorious flashes, but still should be concerning if you suffer seizures). But even if that isn't an issue I still highly suggest watching the Bluray version simply because it's easier on the eyes in all aspects. It's cleaned up
quite a bit compared to the DVD release, which was very dour and had some rough
film degradation in areas much like the DVD release of V3 I reviewed
way back.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZXHGOyn5Kfkd8SqnDTaCf4R0jZsBS3e34wb-71Hyaa9eG1tFzMfj1D5jdGLtypq4vhARmWZ1iEehxDqCCGBfWGA1rVaYkN1heT6kpgr9pdNakb8daJPJz63ONh6QN5NFbHmvrsImQZ1D/s1017/black+suit.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="1017" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZXHGOyn5Kfkd8SqnDTaCf4R0jZsBS3e34wb-71Hyaa9eG1tFzMfj1D5jdGLtypq4vhARmWZ1iEehxDqCCGBfWGA1rVaYkN1heT6kpgr9pdNakb8daJPJz63ONh6QN5NFbHmvrsImQZ1D/s320/black+suit.png" width="320" /></a><br /></div><p>Now, for the aesthetic of the show itself, the most striking feature is
how Rider Black's outfit stands in stark contrast to all prior riders. They went back to a grasshopper motif and most of the
basics are still present such as the compound eyes, antennae, and of
course the ubiquitous belt. You can immediately recognize this as a
Kamen Rider. But Black is the first Rider without a muffler(scarf) He
lacks any distinctive gloves or boots that are separate from the rest of the outfit, it all flows as one.<br />His torso, shoulders, and arms are much more armored, even more so than Stronger and ZX thanks to advances with polyurethane.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCpvfwGM0LRhMxNrXdWyJ_WbJ-rxp91Wp6aKtxvhktog7UnZ6Qfh96lFb85ctUtrZH5SpCT7M9dZCb11___StwnJDwsIvYPH6P4NalBgCzOqlwYP59_ivV8n7G1tIx129erAj_eMFhXf1R/s1017/fleshy.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="766" data-original-width="1017" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCpvfwGM0LRhMxNrXdWyJ_WbJ-rxp91Wp6aKtxvhktog7UnZ6Qfh96lFb85ctUtrZH5SpCT7M9dZCb11___StwnJDwsIvYPH6P4NalBgCzOqlwYP59_ivV8n7G1tIx129erAj_eMFhXf1R/s320/fleshy.png" width="320" /></a><br /></div><p>The softer undersuit that peaks through joints isn't outright cloth in appearance (bar the stunt suit) but a rubbery brown and red organic muscle structure, which in turn gives the black portions a sort of exoskeleton look.<br />The overall coloration is mostly kept to the subtle black with well-placed red and yellow highlights on the cuffs, ankles, and mask. Black is based on a Nymph Southern Lubber Grasshopper which has this coloration.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzie59DX8skZ7XODLBu1I8Cxs-5u3IxRrARkrcUjplpeKc9VAtE_oruBDzRt_TOxSB-FseuI4ADy9WUH7JVxwpeqoz0AGLCOe8sT3EAsMewome6GFXnFAYqNXMRyjIPD0QzcZ14NGcxLF0/s785/batta+head.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="785" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzie59DX8skZ7XODLBu1I8Cxs-5u3IxRrARkrcUjplpeKc9VAtE_oruBDzRt_TOxSB-FseuI4ADy9WUH7JVxwpeqoz0AGLCOe8sT3EAsMewome6GFXnFAYqNXMRyjIPD0QzcZ14NGcxLF0/s320/batta+head.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgmpO2mJrzixsg-GrilazUuCViwd0XB00sVhbpAN7TUvNDIHiOBLhgnne6_PVrPg2TjFoKPxDfqIM-YrcQpPV3Z6NrXcUvMDfzp2QyS1ErmaEwnjaMDE7sjE3dqTk2DlaoaQ6GMNvNraK/s1023/clear+kamen.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1023" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgmpO2mJrzixsg-GrilazUuCViwd0XB00sVhbpAN7TUvNDIHiOBLhgnne6_PVrPg2TjFoKPxDfqIM-YrcQpPV3Z6NrXcUvMDfzp2QyS1ErmaEwnjaMDE7sjE3dqTk2DlaoaQ6GMNvNraK/s320/clear+kamen.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Kotaro is also more monstrous looking than previous riders. During transformations you briefly see what lies under; a were-grasshopper of sorts. Always
reminding you that- at least physically, Kotaro is not much different
than the mutants he fights.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8H7qyrqrAmhHN8NyYv9wTpYAK1viIEIAlO8J4zgmhjVwISujdq1CLrepPnAQyR6IcRZsGwSEcoQJ4mb5u01OexNXrrflOJ_7gAje43yu3BWjzM197reUxarChD__GfKNUvJRSJkzL4xb/s367/black+smoke.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="269" data-original-width="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8H7qyrqrAmhHN8NyYv9wTpYAK1viIEIAlO8J4zgmhjVwISujdq1CLrepPnAQyR6IcRZsGwSEcoQJ4mb5u01OexNXrrflOJ_7gAje43yu3BWjzM197reUxarChD__GfKNUvJRSJkzL4xb/s320/black+smoke.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div><p>And finally when he's transformed there's often smoke emanating from the suit, a sign of the intense energy released by the process. Every aspect from the design to the presentation is a study in iconography. I cannot stress enough the magnificence of this suit and its presentation.<br /></p><p></p><p><br />But of course that's not the only visual shake up, there's also the matter of the primary bike of the series: <b>Battle Hopper</b>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGabqcRBSP9rlC2zoZ1ErCUq8KAuH7wNajx6gDBjIRs6ZykdXlK4ynuJhbC0TouX9pFB52wfiqrDu5kPtAheMsgZsnlhnRrPuvqZdGHRU46WpaRTUxhrR7cUdBTOTe50VgCU1GnqlwQ42/s539/bat+hop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGabqcRBSP9rlC2zoZ1ErCUq8KAuH7wNajx6gDBjIRs6ZykdXlK4ynuJhbC0TouX9pFB52wfiqrDu5kPtAheMsgZsnlhnRrPuvqZdGHRU46WpaRTUxhrR7cUdBTOTe50VgCU1GnqlwQ42/s320/bat+hop.jpg" /></a><br /></div><p>Hopper
is notable in that it's the second bike with an outright animal motif,
the first being Amazon's Jungler. However, unlike the Jungler, Hopper is
a partly organic and sentient being, almost a character in their own
right.<br />Although
their ability to communicate with Kotaro is kept limited, it's handled in
a fashion not too dissimilar from an animal companion like a dog, or R2D2 if you're so inclined. Lots of beeping and shaking its head. I can
guarantee at least some of you will get torn up over certain scenes involving a
freaking bike of all things.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOuMVDuDXsMhjS7ixnYKFyvwQiUkXvfuNSICNxAj14neI_ii39T2CM6ZViqWjOP5BvFGNk8dgUQQ5IpBHGrumARP0b4jJR7Ft3Hpni2zNdwjAbkVWB2X0AyVrU58Tc820fvF_bo5VnRIJZ/s334/hopper+heal+1.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOuMVDuDXsMhjS7ixnYKFyvwQiUkXvfuNSICNxAj14neI_ii39T2CM6ZViqWjOP5BvFGNk8dgUQQ5IpBHGrumARP0b4jJR7Ft3Hpni2zNdwjAbkVWB2X0AyVrU58Tc820fvF_bo5VnRIJZ/s320/hopper+heal+1.gif" width="320" /></a><br /></div><p></p><p>Part of Hopper's organic nature includes the ability to heal from injuries. Though very rarely seen, the depiction of the healing process is surprisingly effective to be so simple. Utilizing a combination of flexing rubber, reverse footage, and dissolves, they do an excellent job portraying the machine as a living breathing creature.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_-ds9yzuBhkL6_kvjC-1qTYwjVWJR51HmIF0K2IlMnhIZVed_8_Tgjt7Ct0wfK5ubXFFGU30dvn7GlZy33fTs1GrWOo2wQiRmjztFb_RgxYh2vqiZCFEkiNnIaYdiGh8KFH7av3abwvV/s334/hopper+summon+original.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_-ds9yzuBhkL6_kvjC-1qTYwjVWJR51HmIF0K2IlMnhIZVed_8_Tgjt7Ct0wfK5ubXFFGU30dvn7GlZy33fTs1GrWOo2wQiRmjztFb_RgxYh2vqiZCFEkiNnIaYdiGh8KFH7av3abwvV/s320/hopper+summon+original.gif" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Additionally, Battle Hopper's link to Kotaro and sentience allows the vehicle to be summoned or operate interdependently. The effect for this is...iffy to say the least. Initially it starts out as a POV shot and a super imposed image of the bike arriving, one which is very blurry and flat. Even by 1987 tv standards this looked rough.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMUW4mF5cxZTBZswXIEqmfpYNuRFla36EX_eoxrVj2aXMsLgL_T2pjRoBiLCKFFL4cJnVvcYNbw8-5feI1wRW7gv3bUgvnV1X-SXGQJR0ByVtN6yFErG91WuPMHQOl1Ko1cRnXJEi8YM2/s334/hopper+summon.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMUW4mF5cxZTBZswXIEqmfpYNuRFla36EX_eoxrVj2aXMsLgL_T2pjRoBiLCKFFL4cJnVvcYNbw8-5feI1wRW7gv3bUgvnV1X-SXGQJR0ByVtN6yFErG91WuPMHQOl1Ko1cRnXJEi8YM2/s320/hopper+summon.gif" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p>Later the effect would instead rely heavily on the POV shots and various angles to hide the operator. Episodes that feature the bike more prominently would even use wire work to show the whole body with varying degrees of success.<br /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><br /> </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsC8ohOOUKtpqy5emoY_V0W1pBVTrKCJRlu5daS7cZAm2HWFUuVA2kwgiTaIMfu-aDKC-0dK_xUI8QiZOih4Nx-vcdk3r6zTQ5pNfoEU0Un4UeUoXXBWQVbEPxW3hMPhK01_XvWHzxYmI/s1015/roadsector.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1015" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsC8ohOOUKtpqy5emoY_V0W1pBVTrKCJRlu5daS7cZAm2HWFUuVA2kwgiTaIMfu-aDKC-0dK_xUI8QiZOih4Nx-vcdk3r6zTQ5pNfoEU0Un4UeUoXXBWQVbEPxW3hMPhK01_XvWHzxYmI/s320/roadsector.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>But that's not the only
bike Kotaro has. Eventually he gains access to The Road Sector, a much more
traditional rider machine built by a Golgom scientist. The bike isn't
capable of fine maneuvers like Battle Hopper, nor does it do as well on
steep terrain. </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwCRqOJeLMKEX9wzYhlkTu2bbmZ5eeWRhhrlC5SbdgrHmyOmiRC49ljp9Bn5-ACakjT-qvvTBhUVoMly8ACnmcYOAbtOki6X5zVA_ocSF1kkMJATZJTBTUW2aw5f4rHZDSJo6D94retAE/s337/attack+shield.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwCRqOJeLMKEX9wzYhlkTu2bbmZ5eeWRhhrlC5SbdgrHmyOmiRC49ljp9Bn5-ACakjT-qvvTBhUVoMly8ACnmcYOAbtOki6X5zVA_ocSF1kkMJATZJTBTUW2aw5f4rHZDSJo6D94retAE/s320/attack+shield.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The main purpose is building up to a high speed and which will deploy an offensive shield
that protects the bike and rider while ramming straight into whatever is
unfortunate enough to be in the path.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pVu6ak1A3GR3OHbQ2uB05cNxrHdFjxNPfmFhzD4f-cvpCQ6DbOo94wW9tspz5wgvEPMIhuYzU5Dth9dO3cqXDtnTFt9BDYkDtvF3aR-KUmWHHIVQFpiUr5rmz83qg25B9V-trvb4st3s/s334/roadsector+summon.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pVu6ak1A3GR3OHbQ2uB05cNxrHdFjxNPfmFhzD4f-cvpCQ6DbOo94wW9tspz5wgvEPMIhuYzU5Dth9dO3cqXDtnTFt9BDYkDtvF3aR-KUmWHHIVQFpiUr5rmz83qg25B9V-trvb4st3s/s320/roadsector+summon.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Like Battle Hopper, Roadsector is able to be summoned and- learning from their short comings with Hopper, they built a scale model for these scenes which looks miles better.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjL1B8xnVWIx-dnVHCWF2rRfGFTmhUH4_QNjjwLkqndDvmz6FR3iMGZ_xN1TXHTYkVmTUaBY4-9LVAK4VEzcMv8GaVRyNOO_R06YNc1WVeIMaJlN_SizDtJWVN0Yf4sb5abRRAWAVOn11l/s785/bat.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="785" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjL1B8xnVWIx-dnVHCWF2rRfGFTmhUH4_QNjjwLkqndDvmz6FR3iMGZ_xN1TXHTYkVmTUaBY4-9LVAK4VEzcMv8GaVRyNOO_R06YNc1WVeIMaJlN_SizDtJWVN0Yf4sb5abRRAWAVOn11l/s320/bat.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-obVim4lcugx3ToKEGP7Lv7sWB9xVRe4kKAs-mU6ctz1MaujsxdeyrPCZqhG_78SHFwmjiMsP1ruu4CAuGqbURKxEnlm7FGAa67L9P_i3tjh-h3tszERyAS9sOs5R6cGRaMKaai85xMp/s1023/spiders.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1023" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-obVim4lcugx3ToKEGP7Lv7sWB9xVRe4kKAs-mU6ctz1MaujsxdeyrPCZqhG_78SHFwmjiMsP1ruu4CAuGqbURKxEnlm7FGAa67L9P_i3tjh-h3tszERyAS9sOs5R6cGRaMKaai85xMp/s320/spiders.png" width="320" /></a></div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>As for the Golgom monsters, well, their quality is pretty much what you'd expect from this era, not too dissimilar from some of the sentai monsters around the same time, but a vast upgrade over prior Rider series. The most notable of the monsters are the homages to the original Kamen Rider creatures, such as the Bat-mutant and the criminally underused Spider-mutant. <br /><p><br /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9YV1dQ2n2S6SeMjmkTLvAOwJA6tP5ijjSPBwJM4XqCFbA4kmz1d9djwupx7g-ZTVujHUYW7hBbAgHrLHrt5FrN8ppamnS9exgOnT3EjiTcSE7xxe8qXvORVlzx1c087Mt9QkNryTzSZe/s798/mutants.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="798" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9YV1dQ2n2S6SeMjmkTLvAOwJA6tP5ijjSPBwJM4XqCFbA4kmz1d9djwupx7g-ZTVujHUYW7hBbAgHrLHrt5FrN8ppamnS9exgOnT3EjiTcSE7xxe8qXvORVlzx1c087Mt9QkNryTzSZe/s320/mutants.png" width="320" /></a></div>But Black keeps things simple. There's not a whole lot of switching up motifs this time, it's relegated mostly towards humanoid versions of animals and plants. Fleas, Rhinos, flowers, that sort of thing. They all look good for the time and some are rather creepy and shockingly well made. But there's nothing I would call iconic, this isn't a Tsuburaya series, after all. Any mutant that stands out often does so for story reasons rather than pure aesthetics.<br /><p></p><p> </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_X0Z1HaYIMWHSG-6OV05T2-yro68mMbGaAKyELbQfrIpx9hzsLDYGbugPCKmpOvBGg8ex7ldcl-FfZwPpdmUhVy8qxfHsLvmjm6u5UTA72PD6UrVFACnP3OZEre4MRJbWXFmb_Kl_uIZ/s400/shadow+walk.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_X0Z1HaYIMWHSG-6OV05T2-yro68mMbGaAKyELbQfrIpx9hzsLDYGbugPCKmpOvBGg8ex7ldcl-FfZwPpdmUhVy8qxfHsLvmjm6u5UTA72PD6UrVFACnP3OZEre4MRJbWXFmb_Kl_uIZ/s320/shadow+walk.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">But that is not the case for
Shadow Moon, who balances both. It would be shallow to suggest that the only or even main
reason Shadow Moon sticks out is because of his depiction, but it cannot
be overstated both how unique and well done this design is. Aside from
having the first <b>original </b>rider-esque design for a villain, Shadow Moon
contrasts beautifully with the Black Suit. The rivets, the more heavy
robotic features, the lack of any organic-looking
material. It's a perfect representation of the cold shell Nobuhiko has
become.</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcD1-DaRnWP00o0m-r95vMhwvZTSkSHMXFr-xkUJI8ILXaCd-BzT8N4CRcMqd2Kf6T7XlMjKJFEZOwtv9SYsjuzz69CUThp0JEm2i9qbcDIbdueb_sHt9PfCxEdTCMtWTlC9BDlz1J3ejx/s1025/shadow+suit+1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1025" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcD1-DaRnWP00o0m-r95vMhwvZTSkSHMXFr-xkUJI8ILXaCd-BzT8N4CRcMqd2Kf6T7XlMjKJFEZOwtv9SYsjuzz69CUThp0JEm2i9qbcDIbdueb_sHt9PfCxEdTCMtWTlC9BDlz1J3ejx/s320/shadow+suit+1.png" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Some key Rider elements are even more pronounced on Shadow Moon than they are for black, such as the iconic tears. Perhaps an apt display of Nobuhiko's hidden suffering. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: center;">Music</h3><p style="text-align: left;"><br />God, it has been too long since I've
gotten a chance to gush about some music and KRB has a fantastic
soundtrack. I've stated many times that the late 80s has some of my favorite
tokusatsu tracks and Black is certainly up there.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br />Honestly, the one
point of contention is probably the Opening, and it's not a bad one
either. The biggest complaint is that they chose Tetsuo Kurata to sing
it. It's not uncommon for a Toku series to feature the main
protagonists actor doing a track or two, but it's always a crapshoot if they're
good at it and... Kurata is tolerable. To his credit he's able to just go
for it, belting it out and relying on pure energy and the composition of
the track itself rather than vocal talent, similar to how Hiroshi
Miyauchi was for V3's opening. They also make up for it with some female backup vocals which does help a lot. There's a single release of the opening that lacks the back up and it sounds significantly worse. Personally, I think Toshiya
Igarashi would have been a better pick. He does most of the other vocal tracks
and sounds a lot like Kurata, if much more refined. Why they never even did a cover of the
opening with him is mystifying.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br />Nevertheless, the majority of the
soundtrack is phenomenal and I had a hard time picking
favorites. If I had to give select recommendations I'd go with "<b>Henshin!
Rider Black</b>" it has an amazing drumbeat and is used very effectively in
the show in how it builds up to the transformation. "<b>Blackhole message</b>"
which despite having lyrics about love and peace is a shockingly good
track for action scenes. And finally "<b>Long Long ago, 20th century</b>" which
is the ending theme. I'll give a special mention for this one because
it's the sole track performed by Norio Sakai, who you'll likely
recognize as the vocals behind Gridman's ending and several Super Sentai
series.</p><p></p><p><br /> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO38F33PHyax3xIgIfZeYp1Kq1rxixiNAzdx5WDiA4a8uRWOLEmaQ5atmnmDeu8oQ-LX2sxkN9SA921kKjHjYzmOcdhQcjefgsYfcvHgKnHPIp8l21gTEhiLh-I1QAIFMHKtaKP1psaRqQ/s534/cobalt+blue.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="366" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO38F33PHyax3xIgIfZeYp1Kq1rxixiNAzdx5WDiA4a8uRWOLEmaQ5atmnmDeu8oQ-LX2sxkN9SA921kKjHjYzmOcdhQcjefgsYfcvHgKnHPIp8l21gTEhiLh-I1QAIFMHKtaKP1psaRqQ/s320/cobalt+blue.png" /></a></div>The ending theme for Kamen Rider Black is, to put it
bluntly, one of the most depressing Toku tracks I've ever heard. It's a
relaxed yet somber piece with much of that melancholy coming from the
lyrics. They start off with how gorgeous various aspects of the earth is, but as they play out you realize it's someone reminiscing in the past tense.<br /><p></p><p> </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclnRCgpyhgvf8ywhZFVIr2o1lIXGszNo_0sNwuq8FjwIlfqoK3AxbitHOTFkaj47UwGmSDLlWGsf_HgGVpONzfoQ7O59pkEteHOLExrqP2EWg8kIsXAQN3IUui-c5lvCtyHz7g0wAbVr9/s1021/ed+3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1021" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclnRCgpyhgvf8ywhZFVIr2o1lIXGszNo_0sNwuq8FjwIlfqoK3AxbitHOTFkaj47UwGmSDLlWGsf_HgGVpONzfoQ7O59pkEteHOLExrqP2EWg8kIsXAQN3IUui-c5lvCtyHz7g0wAbVr9/s320/ed+3.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I don't know the
backstory for it, but if I had to guess I'd say the lyricist, Yoko Aki, based
them upon the Kamen Rider Black manga, which aside from being
drastically different from the show also has a very strong environmental theme.
Although, it does also fit very well with what would eventually come
about within the show.<br /></p><p></p><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEXvZ2LfBXsUrysiGNM3J8gmh4xWHevcvpFYNAOpNDBr6iL8p0HC3gghrRfFJPnmpG9-nGsJwCdIG2iZ05kqiNx90lkxkebS_FyNp8awGRqcj5WdNq2s2x8rLVcGR1s6GMb84ZDS0QBc9/s350/ost+bgm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="344" data-original-width="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEXvZ2LfBXsUrysiGNM3J8gmh4xWHevcvpFYNAOpNDBr6iL8p0HC3gghrRfFJPnmpG9-nGsJwCdIG2iZ05kqiNx90lkxkebS_FyNp8awGRqcj5WdNq2s2x8rLVcGR1s6GMb84ZDS0QBc9/s320/ost+bgm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">For the BGM I have equal praise. Eiji Kawamura served as the composer and the music ranges wildly from funky to melancholy, while incorporating synth to provide that quintessential 80s sound. Kawamura's music elevates and makes certain scenes within the show. I cannot imagine anything else in its place. When I think of any dramatic character moment I hear his music alongside it, and when I hear the music, I think of those scenes. The two are simply inseparable. It's sometimes a pain to find the full OST online, but if you can, I highly suggest listening to fully appreciate his work.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Many of the tracks could be likened to a crime show of sorts, the type of music you could hear during a trailing or chase scene. The appropriately named tracks "</span><b style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Search</span></b><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">" and "</span><b style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Scramble</span></b><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">" being two such examples, while tracks like "</span><b style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Henshin! Kuroki Yuusha e</span></b><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">" are solid remixes of the theme song.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Others are more dramatic and dreadful, such as "</span><b style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Golgom Akuma no Shinden</span></b><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">", "</span><b style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Fukkatsu Shadow Moon</span></b><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">", and "</span><b style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Hidden</span></b><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">", which all sound like something out of a Megami Tensei title, the first two especially with their heavy emphasis on the organ. Some are more are beautiful in their grimness, particularly "</span><b style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Ai to Kanashimi no Jikoku</span></b><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">" But for all the drama there's still room for upbeat and chipper music, the underused (later half) of the track "</span><b style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Little Shop</span></b><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">" being a personal favorite. </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">However, if I was to give my absolute favorite piece of BGM, it would be <b>Emotion</b>. The first half has a lovely piano rendition of the main theme, but it's the second half that takes the cake. It features a wonderful build with heavy drums and a prominent guitar. But when the violins kick in full swing it's so tragic and it makes my heart sink in the best way. It is </span><i style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">the </span></i><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">track of Kamen Rider Black to me, more than any other, this is the piece of music I associate with the series.</span></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: center;">Subtitles.</h3><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p></p><p></p><p>Black was originally subbed by Century King Subs, it's how I originally watched Black back in 2013. But for this review I watched the Bluray release, which is more or less is the same but with a few changes by Stone, who also did the subs for RX before this. For the most part, the subs are good, they were fairly solid in the first place but several minor mistakes weren't originally in the old CK versions.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOUScge3tm0ogI6hTu40wjnD8k2f_XFpBq7WPVs-BAoFF5BEbCRBCPLeEoLk_OUZpQRTULcgLQ_bHMvPdw85xHhdJwuUthwExl81rA6JrjZ_jXmDiycLwVWqLHXWOv6849PmGQjGii3Pb/s473/soon+original+ck.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="473" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOUScge3tm0ogI6hTu40wjnD8k2f_XFpBq7WPVs-BAoFF5BEbCRBCPLeEoLk_OUZpQRTULcgLQ_bHMvPdw85xHhdJwuUthwExl81rA6JrjZ_jXmDiycLwVWqLHXWOv6849PmGQjGii3Pb/s320/soon+original+ck.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgHRxPJvDGqIRXgeddX8A5mUYmhSmPO_hvPm2dkr4uKvC9rTF5R3Ios3SaWM8nHXrLQSRUYlCnzJFRLFz6LcT190tCL7rNB-4uknKwnLF9WgTfNqk9DbKYIT3rZgIsW3cTYCVj2j2OnQCw/s1366/son+enough.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgHRxPJvDGqIRXgeddX8A5mUYmhSmPO_hvPm2dkr4uKvC9rTF5R3Ios3SaWM8nHXrLQSRUYlCnzJFRLFz6LcT190tCL7rNB-4uknKwnLF9WgTfNqk9DbKYIT3rZgIsW3cTYCVj2j2OnQCw/s320/son+enough.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Most of these are spelling errors. A missing letter, incorrect punctuation, weird phrasing, etc. <br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5X63OqsJG2TEcBsVDumrrEoi1lA1lnIzgGX_TLWmMGm3CVUpvjvg7BzuKR3dKEaP3BglLAaUzhFER-2idvMYzXDB3C16LCvSyArWClij25zvmCGxQ-inee4sWWxWhVraKB4c_GKy1Xwci/s791/ep+10+sub.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="791" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5X63OqsJG2TEcBsVDumrrEoi1lA1lnIzgGX_TLWmMGm3CVUpvjvg7BzuKR3dKEaP3BglLAaUzhFER-2idvMYzXDB3C16LCvSyArWClij25zvmCGxQ-inee4sWWxWhVraKB4c_GKy1Xwci/s320/ep+10+sub.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnV9mWuHnQVyH5f4Znx1AbrzYWnhTjbTPY-Xg9fW87sV2s9rseF4sPOMduugrfQeIsHN0zoPGjxf26Xz2DphVajGjVYKXbCp8mfmYytV_jvOSE1JoskOfAozXtDUawpyKxRgv9Z6LI2erZ/s1019/ever+sub+flub.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="1019" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnV9mWuHnQVyH5f4Znx1AbrzYWnhTjbTPY-Xg9fW87sV2s9rseF4sPOMduugrfQeIsHN0zoPGjxf26Xz2DphVajGjVYKXbCp8mfmYytV_jvOSE1JoskOfAozXtDUawpyKxRgv9Z6LI2erZ/s320/ever+sub+flub.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rC3xeIx1nMfCrCuguYt3x0Spd9NFqcdb0wLSU7NJmn3Sn4lQ9YOcruZSs1uutOwoH92nEkW6ltlcjdfH777ehebKU-3UJor3ZACvEyE04fI6GfriUTm98SbRN3iSDwAlCxUDCVD9nsAP/s1366/sub+flub+2+ep+4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rC3xeIx1nMfCrCuguYt3x0Spd9NFqcdb0wLSU7NJmn3Sn4lQ9YOcruZSs1uutOwoH92nEkW6ltlcjdfH777ehebKU-3UJor3ZACvEyE04fI6GfriUTm98SbRN3iSDwAlCxUDCVD9nsAP/s320/sub+flub+2+ep+4.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />These are spread out so it's not super distracting, and I'm more forgiving towards a fan project than I am with officially released things, especially when money is involved. But they are there.<br /> <br />On the other hand, you also have a lack of changes, as it isn't until episode 14 that the episode previews are subtitled. Kind of a shame, but again something I can let slide more easily. Most of the captioning are good and indeed quite a bit better than the RX subtitles Stone did their selves. I do not envy the work of subbing 40+ episodes or running QC by one unpaid person, so any faults are things I can more readily overlook. I should also note that there's work being done by KamenScrubsSentai to- as you might expect- "Scrub" or clean up those mistakes. They've got the first 14 episodes done to my knowledge, which as I recall is where most of the errors take place. I haven't watched those releases so I couldn't compare, but it might be worth looking into if you find such mistakes too glaring. At least none of them have a copyright symbol.<br /><p><br /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><h3 style="text-align: center;">Suggested episodes.</h3><p style="text-align: left;"><br />Last time I talked about having a hard time suggesting episodes in Ultra Q because there just wasn't enough that I found engaging to praise or talk about. Here I had the opposite issue. Black has several strings of really solid episodes and it got difficult for me not to just suggest entire chunks or the like while continuously talking about the episode. Sometimes episodes might not be top tier material, but they might have little character moments or a plot that's intriguing or has a nice enough twist on an old concept just enough to be above average and it became a challenge to cherry-pick.<br /><br />Ep. 1&2 I've already talked extensively about these and obviously you should watch the opening episodes. I mean really the entire series at least once, but ya know. Didn't wanna ignore these because they really are just that fantastic. Likewise, the two parter that introduces Shadow Moon in 34 and 35 are solid but I also already hit the high points on them. Again, should absolutely watch those.<br /></p><p></p><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQeRN5FNwU03UTHWu04orye1Y803uT_XpCi1J8b82HD380h_H74Pfx8NsEJKocD5pN1KSvt2ZcvS17FjEpZrhVetmKUPta40Ci2DqsCS0pD59xXxikMzieTAanE37xB4eJe2Z1DHOOwYjx/s1011/10.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1011" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQeRN5FNwU03UTHWu04orye1Y803uT_XpCi1J8b82HD380h_H74Pfx8NsEJKocD5pN1KSvt2ZcvS17FjEpZrhVetmKUPta40Ci2DqsCS0pD59xXxikMzieTAanE37xB4eJe2Z1DHOOwYjx/s320/10.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Ep. 10 <b>Where is Nobuhiko?</b></p><p>W: Makoto Naito. D:Hiroshi Kitamoto.<br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">This episode takes the opportunity to get back on track with Kotaro taking the initiative to try and track down Nobuhiko and Golgom's whereabouts, starting with checking the other high rollers that attended their birthday party, but gaining little traction.<br /></span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Meanwhile, rogue ambulances begin responding to auto accidents unusually fast, kidnapping the victims while Kuromatsu treats them completely free. In return, the men are indoctrinated into a militia. It's one of the more twisted and oddly brilliant methods used to guilt people into loyalty.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Kotaro catches on and stages an accident with himself so he can infiltrate the compound where the men are trained by </span><b style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Shigeru Sugiyama</span></b><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> (Jōji Nakata). Sugiyama is reluctant to even be doing this, but like the others, he owes a debt to Kuromatsu, who has given free treatment to his son. This puts him at a crossroads of going against his healthcare provider and putting his child at risk, or assisting Golgom despite the moral upheaval. It's a pretty good showcase of how Golgom goads average people into bad endevors because of social failings.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKS2eurna4Mw02DeUYnEQ0vcWKwx4D1sDK2ca7bW3xKALT-WUexk_Uforf2zAe0MVcZOjXBvQ0_XsL0kYfv10kqUhyphenhyphenwB5gjo44GfsnW0M_vT-365tvbMi_oUvxP8hZP7trxlKpMyraHSay/s1023/12+sillourett.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="766" data-original-width="1023" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKS2eurna4Mw02DeUYnEQ0vcWKwx4D1sDK2ca7bW3xKALT-WUexk_Uforf2zAe0MVcZOjXBvQ0_XsL0kYfv10kqUhyphenhyphenwB5gjo44GfsnW0M_vT-365tvbMi_oUvxP8hZP7trxlKpMyraHSay/s320/12+sillourett.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>Ep. 12 <b>Birth of the Super Machine Legend.</b></p><p>W: Shōzō Uehara. D: Michio Konishi.</p><p><br />This is the final episode penned by Shōzō Uehara and it's a fine episode for him to go out on.<br /><br />While out riding, Kotaro stumbles across a man overseeing his son run a bike through an obstacle course. Although spooked and suspicious of Kotaro, the appearance of a Golgom Mutant and subsequent fight helps gain their trust.<br />The man is Akira Daimon, who two years prior was the world's greatest motorcycle racer before suddenly disappearing. The cause of his disappearance was that his father, Yoichi Daimon- a famous engineer and builder of motorcycles- was a Golgom scientist. Yoichi built a weaponized superbike (Roadsector) for Golgom with the intent of having an entire squadron, but soon got cold feet and was subsequently killed, but not before his creation was hidden away. Akira planned to train his son, Kiichi, to ride the bike which is viciously fast and too much for him to handle himself. Nevertheless, Kotaro makes a much more viable candidate.<br />Golgom, rather than risk attacking again and not getting anywhere, decides it would be better to keep tabs on Kotaro and see if he'll gain Daimon's trust and be shown the location of the Road sector, and indeed he does. Despite interference from Golgom, Black prevails and gains a new weapon in his arsenal.<br /><br />Overall this is a fantastic episode that shows how Kotaro isn't the only one to have his family upended by Golgom. Episodes prior have had the concept but it's more intimate here.<br />I must also mention that the lead-up and reveal of Road Sector is done very well with no dialogue. Simply a long build-up traversing through a warehouse and trap door, with one final dramatic shot before the protective sheet is uncovered. <br />The introduction of Roadsector also would offer up future story potential as you'll soon see.<br /></p><p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSye6IIcLrn_gQ2vCEL-qWbSY42izazolQuzei9Hbbz2ZyGaI69YMYv2qRfz2-C0UO7biRmyp5vNJ2ZckYAQBq7EC9ve65XEoAkV8X9yF6jaspMuuVjKwxITeJ0hgOCcmUva-xIIatghdF/s1029/17.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1029" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSye6IIcLrn_gQ2vCEL-qWbSY42izazolQuzei9Hbbz2ZyGaI69YMYv2qRfz2-C0UO7biRmyp5vNJ2ZckYAQBq7EC9ve65XEoAkV8X9yF6jaspMuuVjKwxITeJ0hgOCcmUva-xIIatghdF/s320/17.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>Ep. 17 <b>Kyoko's Strange Dream.</b></p><p><span style="font-weight: normal;">W:Kyōko Sagiyama. D: Junmochi Tsutabayashi.<br /></span></p><p>I briefly mentioned this is where the series truly gets back on track and begins formulating into something under Sugimura, and it's a relatively simple plot. Nobuhiko's health begins to decline and the solution is the use a blood relative to stabilize him. The Tapir mutant is used to locate and eat Kyoko's dreams who in turn learns of a childhood memory involving Nobuhiko. It begins transmitting thoughts to her subconscious as she sleeps, convincing her to travel to the location of the memory where she is then captured by Golgom. In a bit of a twist, Kyoko is freely willing to help after learning it would help her brother, however it also involves draining her life, meaning it up to Kotaro to rescue her before it's too late. </p><p>The episode does a great job showing the love between Kyoko and her brother, and it's one of the few showing the kind person Nobuhiko was. I really wish there were more episodes like this, but more on that later.</p><p></p><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xCqCsj8NtUmytV-Y-uAkYXWdYz7ZTCqR31omRaFoUK1PDmWfoolDL7VISTWcshF96ivit2UkX72rUMJFOrdkDIEsUkFQrSJuRhu-Akqe7hAL8uYoYEoPpypJVPKPuHRIjVJgg5zrsaO1/s1013/21.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1013" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xCqCsj8NtUmytV-Y-uAkYXWdYz7ZTCqR31omRaFoUK1PDmWfoolDL7VISTWcshF96ivit2UkX72rUMJFOrdkDIEsUkFQrSJuRhu-Akqe7hAL8uYoYEoPpypJVPKPuHRIjVJgg5zrsaO1/s320/21.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Ep. 21 <b>Clash! Super Machines.</b></p><p>W:Noboru Sugimura D:Takeshi Ogasawara.<b> </b><br /></p><p>The priests wisely attempt to overtake Battle Hopper, seeing as Kotaro has gotten out of several tight spots thanks to the trusty bike. They use the Jeweled beetle mutant- which can overtake anything with a central nervous system- causing Battle Hopper to go berserk. Consequently, Bishim puts Kotaro in a situation where Battle Hopper would be desperately needed; at the bottom of a quarry unable to reach a missile up a steep incline. The threat is simple, hand over the king stone, or a dam will blow up killing hundreds of people. Of course, the entire world would die should Golgom obtain the stone.<br />They demonstrate that Kotaro is smart enough to call Road Sector in, but the bike sinks in the fine gravel because it's not meant for off-road terrain. He then focuses his attention on defeating the mutant but it shockingly doesn't automatically resolve the issue. Battle Hopper is still very much infected, forcing Kotaro to confront Hopper with Roadsector and risk destroying Battle Hopper. The episode must've gone over very well because several story elements would be brought back in future episodes playing around with Battle Hopper's sentience and the limitations of Roadsector.<br /></p><p> </p><p> </p><p></p><p><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4So9uBsTJkJ8WUhnvpI0AT8UQQSxSg60KJ0g9n0r-HPXXdLNwA-hyMSCT06MkhaZSEUV7_VV8uKRtXplcgYVh65Hs2k67DB_vl18MBCLe7OufXk7CZlixcTQea9wJfeY1iAZzqu2YJ7Oh/s1017/24.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1017" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4So9uBsTJkJ8WUhnvpI0AT8UQQSxSg60KJ0g9n0r-HPXXdLNwA-hyMSCT06MkhaZSEUV7_VV8uKRtXplcgYVh65Hs2k67DB_vl18MBCLe7OufXk7CZlixcTQea9wJfeY1iAZzqu2YJ7Oh/s320/24.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Ep. 24 <b>The Female College Student's Nightmare.</b></p><p>W:Ryu Yamaguchi D:Takeshi Ogasawara.<b> </b><br /><br />I'll admit, I'm mostly putting this on here because I'm an absolute sucker for the monster because it's basically the Gill-man and one of the creepier designs. The episode even opens on some college kids in a car being attacked like in a stereotypical 50s B movie. But it gets even better because the creature, Coelacanth mutant, is also a mad scientist kidnapping college-age women to turn into brainwashed soldiers for Golgom, Katsumi ending up among the test subjects. It's a goofy episode but in such an endearing manner and one that still falls in line with many other episodes with similar themes.<br /><br />Additionally, this is episode introduces the Golgom Boy Warriors and with it a shockingly dark turn when one of them is killed by Coelacanth. It's probably the closest the series has come to showing the death of a child.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQHWtxqGczGMKttO0dGgyyvLrXLd4hyphenhyphenu69TnxBJxJxLNIchsAJffrCUjX7RGxKQtc9qTCGnxEPyRjOqjQ-WwolzAbluUQJDFANVIMGQ_LX7Cj_GGnc4d10gXApBaH9Nq3WibM_-SDIh14/s793/25.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="793" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQHWtxqGczGMKttO0dGgyyvLrXLd4hyphenhyphenu69TnxBJxJxLNIchsAJffrCUjX7RGxKQtc9qTCGnxEPyRjOqjQ-WwolzAbluUQJDFANVIMGQ_LX7Cj_GGnc4d10gXApBaH9Nq3WibM_-SDIh14/s320/25.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p>Ep. 25<b> The Roaring Armed Machine.</b></p><p>W: Katsuhiko Taguchi. D:Takeshi Ogasawara.</p><p><br />This episode is a follow-up to story elements introduced in 12 and even a little bit from 21. It's revealed that Golgom has a copy of the blueprints for the Road Sector. Despite Professor Yoichi Daimon's efforts to hide any details of his creation through memorization, Golgom was able to extract the memories from his brain. However, it's an imperfect process and attempts at a prototype are disastrous. Birugenia takes it upon himself to one-up the priests and succeed where they failed. He manages to find a former pupil of Daimon's, Egami. Kidnapping his wife and child, Birugenia persuades the young designer to build a copy of the Roadsector with a few modifications. But because the original design for the Roadsector was for a fully interlinked squadron, Egami sends a message to Kotaro's bike warning him of the project, while also transmitting a signal of his location. Kotaro is able to rescue Egami and his family, but by then the prototype is fully operational. Kotaro has no choice but to take on the sword saint and his new machine in a high-speed excursion. <br />This bike battle was somewhat teased back in episode 21 in which a very brief clash occurs from Birugenia hijacking a raving Battle Hopper as Black gives chase on the Roadsector, but this episode gives a proper confrontation and on equal ground, and like all battles with Birugenia, it isn't until Black thinks outside the box he's able to overcome his advisory.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCj9iAXRGsKuBseOtG-e_YbWKSuduBeOHV3H9EwBicOAARXVufpPlFhh0NbsxydO9dD1a5FAVoZTgJO1Fm4aKjxn6FX9xJDZo6u0xVKdx1-bjUet4POMM0WAloZG-zQFY1dY7x03OLpn3t/s1011/38.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1011" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCj9iAXRGsKuBseOtG-e_YbWKSuduBeOHV3H9EwBicOAARXVufpPlFhh0NbsxydO9dD1a5FAVoZTgJO1Fm4aKjxn6FX9xJDZo6u0xVKdx1-bjUet4POMM0WAloZG-zQFY1dY7x03OLpn3t/s320/38.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Ep. 38 <b>Mystery? EP Party Boy squad.</b></p><p>W: Noboru Sugimura. D: Masao Minowa.</p><br /><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">There are several episodes with Show Moon that could go in here, but I've touched upon most of the highlights earlier in the general story section. However, 38 is a prime example of showing Shadow Moon's conniving and the series epitomizing 1980s politics, and it's also one of the episodes Shadow Moon is least involved in directly.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Ryuzaburo Sakata's EP Political party begins gaining traction at an alarming rate thanks to good public relations, particularly in the fields of medicine. Of course, Kotaro knows not is all that it seems because of their association with Golgom. Evidence to such secrets is hard to find and the party is unusually crafty at presenting a benevolent and even progressive facade, capable of saving face when members are caught in more compromising situations. A chance meeting with a child, Naoto, leads Kotaro to a growing movement of citizens concerned with the populous party. Once more, they have proof of the EP party's unscrupulous activities. It just so happens that a medical wonder device employed by the party's medical center was built by Naoto's father, but the machine is flawed and despite assisting with many ailments, the side effects are severe and repeated use will eventually result in death. The boy's father attempted to destroy the blueprints, but he was mysteriously killed and his plans stolen.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">While the group has attempted to put out a statement regarding concerns about the EP party, they are always overshadowed by the party's deeds. Fed up, the group intends to take direct action but is stopped by Kotaro, pointing out that they're too disorganized and the EP party is even larger than they appear, thanks to Golgom. Kotaro instead heads out on his own to infiltrate the facility, unfortunately being disrupted and caught in the act, almost as if they knew he was coming. A very public display is made out of Rider in front of the facility, the patients wondering how and why the Rider would attempt to destroy a machine that has helped many regain the ability to walk.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">With Rider Black's failure, the group heads out on their own, minus one member. As it turns out, the member is a mutant, fittingly a Rat mutant. Kotaro stops the mutant and quickly saves the group from certain doom within the facility, fighting off Baraom so the group can take care of the machine, preventing any deaths.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">So </span><b style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">a lot </span></b><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">is going on in this episode despite being so simple. There are aspects I wish were delved into more, particularly Koichi Omiya's corporation backing of the EP party. That seems like a missed opportunity at criticizing money in politics. They also never follow up on the machine being destroyed or how that affects all the patients or Rider's reputation being somewhat tarnished. It's painfully fitting that this is the last time Sakata and Omiya are mentioned because it has plenty of potential for future episodes. But as it stands it's still a very intriguing episode and perhaps the closest the series gets at discussing systematic oppression and fighting against them. I don't believe this episode goes as hard as the original Rider Manga or Cyborg 009 when it comes to political commentary, but I do believe there is an intent.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Although I will admit some stuff might come off a bit weird, and while not a criticism per se- a small group of civilians convinced that a political party is using a medical procedure that's secretly dangerous. Yeah, that feels very different now. But I also know that's not the intention and an inevitability with conspiracies in stories. This is Sugimura, after all. The man's bread and butter was dangerous science and corruption plots. If anything I'd say he was making commentary like how the Kamen Rider manga took none too subtle jabs at then prime minister Eisaku Satō; a man who won a Nobel peace prize for signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, something he was pressured into by the Johnson administration, despite wanting an arsenal beforehand. Indeed, he got just that in 1969 through secret talks with Nixon. That wasn't confirmed until 2008, but it was always rumored given his previous stance. </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">This facade of being forward-thinking while in actuality a warmonger is likely what the EP party is mirroring. I also would not be surprised if this episode was written as a jab towards Yasuhiro Nakasone, who was still serving as PM just when the series began airing. That man was a nationalist whacko who justified various war atrocities and argued Japanese superiority. So if you've ever wondered why so much of Japanese pop culture deals with a lot of political intrigues, criticizing power and systems of oppression, well their crazy leaders are gerrymandered in as well. I'm likely overthinking this episode, but it did make me consider many possibilities and that's got to count for something.</span></p></div><div><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUyNeptZNXMoHoS26K48ww1C0nwyp5BtlqAcuedI9Z5rlirym7Kqm_Fbjbb-HrSHQL_ryjRiQ6saQeOagzcougY74dAxWz3I80N3cLTezocOsOABSM-omOnZpRyhoxcRnpymX9SpuBkZ_/s786/45.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUyNeptZNXMoHoS26K48ww1C0nwyp5BtlqAcuedI9Z5rlirym7Kqm_Fbjbb-HrSHQL_ryjRiQ6saQeOagzcougY74dAxWz3I80N3cLTezocOsOABSM-omOnZpRyhoxcRnpymX9SpuBkZ_/s320/45.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Ep. 45<b> Death of Flower Mutant Bishum.</b></p><p>W: Jun'ichi Miyashita. D: Masao Minowa.</p><p> </p><p>Episode 45 marks the beginning of the end and it's an episode that normally would not make the list because it is honestly not that interesting at first glance. The episode is pretty goddamn sexiest, accusing women of ignoring their motherly instincts which Golgom takes advantage of to make kids grow up unloved, and... yeah it's a dumb episode. It wants to do a "rot humanity from within" story but does so by suggesting that women in the workforce are eroding society. It's a shockingly inadequate episode for this late in the show. But the latter half is better and Bishum gets some time to shine in her final appearance, even managing to kidnapped Kyoko. There is also more doubt cast that Shadow Moon isn't fully rid of his humanity, hesitating on killing Kotaro when Kyoko would also likely be killed, even as Bishum attempts to sacrifice herself. This lack of action results in Bishum dying in vain, which does not sit well with the Creation King nor the other grand mutants. This shocking ending is what salvages the episode from simply being a complete mess.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNTE6tjwPnF5Aeg_E8tXyNoH6Vr_Rc_hcooCvX29GhiN1oEveJes1nB8Np7itItCU9_4OcAYhVbrCmj5Z7Mub50tWHX6iEvz_yuCNqKeZ2RHkby7rs7785Rfck1oQMBXnfQ6M7olOX6z_/s1021/46.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1021" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNTE6tjwPnF5Aeg_E8tXyNoH6Vr_Rc_hcooCvX29GhiN1oEveJes1nB8Np7itItCU9_4OcAYhVbrCmj5Z7Mub50tWHX6iEvz_yuCNqKeZ2RHkby7rs7785Rfck1oQMBXnfQ6M7olOX6z_/s320/46.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><br />Ep. 46 <b>Fierce Death of Baraom. </b></p><p>W:Noboru Sugimura. D: Michio Konishi.</p>This would continue the fall out of the previous episode with a vengeful Baraom training to take out Kotaro. It is also Kotaro and Nobuhiko's Birthday, one year to the day the horror began, with more to come as the world begins having ecological disasters when an unusually large sunspot appears. For the first time, the Creation King speaks directly to Kotaro and Shadow Moon, his message a simple one: Kamen Rider Black and Shadow Moon must fight.<br /><br />46 would also introduce the final character of Kamen Rider Black: Whale Mutant. (Eisuke Yoda- voice)<br /><br />Whale doesn't have many episode appearances as one might expect this late in the show, but he is an incredibly important character, one that's impossible to talk about without spoilers because of his actions. He defects from Golgom after learning of their plans to pollute the ocean, which would kill many of the mutants who rely upon it for survival, but his betrayal is discovered, and he is subsequently injured by Baraom for his deception. Whale Mutant only survives thanks to Kotaro, who is ultimately able to destroy Baraom with the assistance of the mutant.<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHtvNusGnb9TpeGRVGQ30r2wWaBy-wcbaafK6LvX34Qjd3anizSsQBoDIq3q0nfqkdkydD0lDPzWmg21UzuvkBQF4N2R50eqxRSIf_lvG8gS9RFPo5wH5OsXKMaSOd7qYZlWchfvFbpIf/s1011/47.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="1011" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHtvNusGnb9TpeGRVGQ30r2wWaBy-wcbaafK6LvX34Qjd3anizSsQBoDIq3q0nfqkdkydD0lDPzWmg21UzuvkBQF4N2R50eqxRSIf_lvG8gS9RFPo5wH5OsXKMaSOd7qYZlWchfvFbpIf/s320/47.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Ep. 47 <b>Death of Rider.</b></p><div class="pi-item pi-data pi-item-spacing pi-border-color" data-source="writer">
<div class="pi-data-label pi-secondary-font" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">W:Noboru Sugimura. D:Michio Konishi.</span></div><div class="pi-data-label pi-secondary-font" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span>
</div></div>This episode ramps up the catastrophe far more than any prior entry. From this point on the final four episodes feel borderline apocalyptic with massive earthquakes and a Japanese Government in complete disarray, unwilling to fight against Golgom.<br />The Golgom Boy Soldiers make their final appearance here, many of them wounded in battle alongside other irregular fighters as they fend off the rampaging mutants. Among the many dying and injured, they beg Kotaro to fight, with even Katsumi and Kyoko joining in. <br />The three spend an eerily calm but emotional night reflecting upon what this could mean. Yet despite how much it eats at Kotaro, he knows this horror can't continue. The following day, Kotaro finally confronts his brother. The two are evenly matched until Kotaro gets the upper hand with a devastating punch. But when Shadow Moon briefly reverts to Nobuhiko, Kotaro hesitates, allowing Shadow Moon to retaliate and mortally wound Kotaro as Katsumi and Kyoko watch in horror.<br /><br />But... Shadow Moon refuses to take the King Stone, defiantly stating he does not need it to rule before disappearing.<br /><br />In his dying moments, Kotaro tells Kyoko and Katsumi to flee Japan, knowing it will be besieged by Golgom soon. Kotaro thanks the two as he reverts into his Rider form and- as if the earth itself is crying out, the ground cracks open sending Kotaro's body cascading into the sea.<br /><p><br /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><br /> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJwohz26goc52FlghHmMoVmdF2sPcB1ki__r-ST5eVo5C7ebnwSCC5i4aJLu35RRA0gax5CMWZfimpP-rNogLkDkaZm5lMp7B_QIVmSGSgE7eO3bdMM1yqsKDbTRX2GNrx65CHMFUo3Um/s1023/48.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1023" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJwohz26goc52FlghHmMoVmdF2sPcB1ki__r-ST5eVo5C7ebnwSCC5i4aJLu35RRA0gax5CMWZfimpP-rNogLkDkaZm5lMp7B_QIVmSGSgE7eO3bdMM1yqsKDbTRX2GNrx65CHMFUo3Um/s320/48.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Ep. 48 <b>Bouquet of Reminiscence, into the sea.</b></p><p>W:Jun'ichi Miyashita D:Takeshi Ogasawara.<br /></p><p>48 is mostly a clip show but there are several noteworthy happenings. The Creation King angered by Shadow Moon's insubordination orders him to retrieve the Kingstone, as time is running out for the ritual to be completed. The sunspot is slowly fading and with it the creation king's life. Should the ritual not be completed soon, both will die. <br />But Kotaro's body is nowhere to be found, having been discovered by Whale Mutant who hid the body in an underwater cave system and is resuscitating him, although he remains unconscious for most of the episode. Elsewhere, Katsumi and Kyoko struggle with escaping Japan as many means of transport are overrun and violent mobs of other would-be refugees are around every corner, desperate for money or a means of escape. The two are helped by an unnamed good Samaritan who is also able to get them aboard a ship bound for San Fransisco, the two tossing a bouquet out to sea as they say goodbye.<br /><br /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><br /> </p><p> </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7pnAt4LcLnMQbsnQrFWwzKJ2tlYaVavOf7qQDqtxC4JDZT4fDdg1O7bSU6rO-mSDqsB1GILVK9YvTPLve2KzU4BBYgn3gC5knh8bE765sLqlTORDg8FJHiQfT9yjhuzHShdf5swIfHxKI/s789/49.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="789" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7pnAt4LcLnMQbsnQrFWwzKJ2tlYaVavOf7qQDqtxC4JDZT4fDdg1O7bSU6rO-mSDqsB1GILVK9YvTPLve2KzU4BBYgn3gC5knh8bE765sLqlTORDg8FJHiQfT9yjhuzHShdf5swIfHxKI/s320/49.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Ep. 49 <b>Fierce Battle! Death of Darom.</b></p><p>W:Jun'ichi Miyashita. D:Takeshi Ogasawara.</p><p>49 sees Kotaro fully revived and returning to the surface, only to contend with a horrible sight of ruins and broken people. From desperate religious ceremonies to children portraying Golgom as victorious over Kamen Rider, the results of Golgom's handiwork and Kotaro's failure is everywhere. Worst of all is a roaming gang of kidnappers referred to as the Golgom SS, who sacrifice their victims as food to Golgom mutants in hopes of being spared. A confrontation between them and Kotaro alerts Golgom to his survival just as Darom discovers Whale Mutant and uses the Golgom SS under threat to capture him. The Mutant freely gives himself up in hopes of, if nothing else, at least saving people as penance for past involvement with Golgom. Ultimately it's all a trap to lure Kotaro, who tussles and defeats Darom in one of the most impressive fights of the series. His victory reinstilling people's faith in Rider and prestenting Black as this almost divine being who has risen from the dead.<br /></p><p></p><p>The one weird thing I will note is that Whale Mutant doesn't talk at all, he gestures a lot. I'm guessing Eisuke Yoda was busy with another project. Although he does return for the following episode. <br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUDMhXZ2oKHqGjT1YAUv-h0kJqr93vPfPOZk-0hqvr1ZGrztqPt4xok51m9DQ5DCrlm5T5dODat-3ZxcrzPHjAH_mRwc1qdGhn2Mo4SQz9dKYU1IRpFWLVQRDWbYdj8ymkYC7uqRSptFi/s1025/50+Shadow+hopper.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1025" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUDMhXZ2oKHqGjT1YAUv-h0kJqr93vPfPOZk-0hqvr1ZGrztqPt4xok51m9DQ5DCrlm5T5dODat-3ZxcrzPHjAH_mRwc1qdGhn2Mo4SQz9dKYU1IRpFWLVQRDWbYdj8ymkYC7uqRSptFi/s320/50+Shadow+hopper.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p><br />Ep. 50 <b>The Creation King's True Form?</b></p><p>W:Noboru Sugimura D:Masao Minowa</p><p>Following word of the Rider's revival and triumph over Darom, many mutants begin defecting from Golgom but are hunted down by Stickleback Mutant. Meanwhile, Whale Mutant leads Kotaro to Golgom's HQ, warning him that it's not Shadow Moon he should be fearful of, but the Creation King. Kotaro is suddenly brought into the King's inner chambers where he's forced to watch Stickleback viciously kill Whale Mutant, who cries out to Rider to protect the oceans before dying.<br /> <br />The rest of the episode is largely dedicated to the Creation King providing exposition for what the Creation King does, as well as how their power grows each cycle. Though these words fail to sway Kotaro, a fight between him and Shadow moon is inevitable. He and Shadow Monn are cast outside in a lush field where Kotaro attempts once more to appeal to Nobuhiko, but he will not be swayed anymore than he. The field soon turns into an inferno as Shadow Moon begins his attack To add insult to injury, Shadow Moon calls out to Battle Hopper and uses the bike against Black. It was after all made for the next Creation King and Shadow Moon is just as viable as Kotaro.<br /></p></div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><p></p><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjylzwU-82iazXOcU9pseeqNqulgW7HNR4g6qAkfBotkpZyl1KOWF0ZeBVU1rcKfN8o5RE89cO-qgBM7QMATWcEyaMXDn6pNSrF1K8hfvghHO9Vep3tHHfmjohDKZyee5vg_9-DbvLjzFII/s1019/51.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1019" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjylzwU-82iazXOcU9pseeqNqulgW7HNR4g6qAkfBotkpZyl1KOWF0ZeBVU1rcKfN8o5RE89cO-qgBM7QMATWcEyaMXDn6pNSrF1K8hfvghHO9Vep3tHHfmjohDKZyee5vg_9-DbvLjzFII/s320/51.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p>Ep. 51 <b>Golgom's last day.</b></p><p>W:Noboru Sugimura D:Masao Minowa</p><p><br />The battle continues where it left off, BattleHopper desperately struggling against Shadow Moon's control. Kotaro briefly cuts the interference, allowing Battle Hopper to retaliate. However, the bike pays severely in doing so, heroically sacrificing itself and gravely injuring Shadow Moon, causing him to flee in the process.<br />Speaking for the first time, Hopper thanks Rider before succumbing to their wounds.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVMEmwBTTfuilJoHfv7ZGSznmFXn98bugCdjc4Bj2V3LCBTH4KpnAsxypRVdJJynLjoIn28VLUXfeeNfnY97HSpPFMCl_tynjFb40CbxwMFY25Bvdeo3U7XpJUQFei2sawFdHUaiDsWoW/s795/thank+you.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="795" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVMEmwBTTfuilJoHfv7ZGSznmFXn98bugCdjc4Bj2V3LCBTH4KpnAsxypRVdJJynLjoIn28VLUXfeeNfnY97HSpPFMCl_tynjFb40CbxwMFY25Bvdeo3U7XpJUQFei2sawFdHUaiDsWoW/s320/thank+you.png" width="320" /></a></div><p><br />Picking up a discarded Satan Saber, Black heads after the retreating Shadow Moon.<br /><br />What follows is not an epic confrontation, but a depressingly futile one-sided battle. A severely damaged Moon practically committing suicide by attacking Black, only to have his moonstone cut by the Satan Saber.<br />As he lay dying, Shadow Moon taunts that Kotaro will live the rest of his life in the torment of having killed his best friend. But even after all that's happened, Kotaro is still willing to come back and save Shadow Moon after dealing with the Creation King.<br /><br />The most heartbreaking part is even with all of the various small glimmers of humanity in Shadow Moon, even his refusal to take the king stone, in this final moment it becomes clear no matter what bit of Nobuhiko remained to cause all those discrepancies, no matter how much Kotaro has struggled and still wants to save him, it's too late.<br /><br />But it is perhaps that last shred of humanity, that small piece that refused Kotaro's king stone which ultimately leads to this moment. Nobuhiko in a way prevailing over the Creation King.<br /><br />Kotaro finally faces the true orchestrator of all of this, the blacked heart of the dying creation king. The being tries to tempt Kotaro, but this quickly turns to threats as the king has an ace up his sleeve in the form of a tunnel to the center of the Earth. Should Kotaro not accept the role of the new Creation King, the current one will see that the Earth dies with him.<br /><br />With a barrier in place and at wits' end, Kotaro calls out for the Satan Saber, and Shadow Moon, seeing the sword summoned, calls out not Kamen Rider, nor Black Sun, but Minami Kotaro.<br />Kotaro shatters through the barrier and finally kills the Creation King, who vows to one day return as the facility collapses, burying Shadow Moon before Kotaro can reach him.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitotExDXD1-urwwqlLuT-dzoFoIT5V8lg0smb3Vlg1ue88w4x2brpj4VP5JUavPfqbr_FKVfsRsdFIrQEC3zJ6OzlKL1wIO4fDIGkEPntsmyxIp2b59Qns355l1YVyx4t88RcW6xoT0szJ/s1023/lonely+kamen+rider.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1023" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitotExDXD1-urwwqlLuT-dzoFoIT5V8lg0smb3Vlg1ue88w4x2brpj4VP5JUavPfqbr_FKVfsRsdFIrQEC3zJ6OzlKL1wIO4fDIGkEPntsmyxIp2b59Qns355l1YVyx4t88RcW6xoT0szJ/s320/lonely+kamen+rider.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">After 10 days of a cleansing rain, Kotaro returns to the cafe that Katsumi and Kyoko once ran, now empty and dark.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The rest of the episode is largely clips from across the entire series, an aspect I like in that it's one final look back at how far we've come. Although it goes on a bit too long and is sort of undermined by the fact that we had a clip show not too long ago and this is technically the </span><i style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">fourth</span></i><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> one in the series which is a wee bit obnoxious. But, it doesn't ruin the ending, the extremely bittersweet ending. </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The final shot of Kotaro in the empty building is one of the most powerful images and worth watching just for that scene. Yet despite all that he's lost, Kotaro heads out determined to fight again when he is needed.</span></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWMj-Fp2T9Ubc4iSVLCxqRQMgHhorHmgK9vWWSwvbV50uTrk99D2r3tMlDc0JklL7hrX6DKZgPMklLvOJ32jz0UsRLijFcI51xijGoVOkG5YUg3KK9XYBGbx-RKrytCb_t_tpRFgN80t7/s1019/goodbye.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1019" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWMj-Fp2T9Ubc4iSVLCxqRQMgHhorHmgK9vWWSwvbV50uTrk99D2r3tMlDc0JklL7hrX6DKZgPMklLvOJ32jz0UsRLijFcI51xijGoVOkG5YUg3KK9XYBGbx-RKrytCb_t_tpRFgN80t7/s320/goodbye.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>These final episodes are without a doubt some of the best episodes in Kamen Rider Black. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say they make the series. But of course, they're propped up by many other fantastic episodes that lead up to them. The drama, the music, the performances all come together for a beautiful and heartfelt finale.<br /></p><p><br /><br /> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><h3 style="text-align: center;">Final thoughts.</h3><p style="text-align: left;"><br />If it wasn't clear by now, Kamen Rider Black is an absolutely solid entry in the franchise. There is a reason it is so highly esteemed. Frankly, its reputation is so well known it's why I held off on reviewing it for so long, despite it being my most rewatched Kamen Rider series. Even now there's something that intimidates me about examining Black and all of its various layers, hoping to convey how wonderful the show is.<br /><br />Kamen Rider Black did everything it needed to in its time, recapturing that spirit of Kamen Rider, sussing out the back-to-basics mentality while still introducing new and often topical concepts to the franchise. Not to mention how impressive the long game is with establishing a narrative early in the run. Sure, nowadays that's expected, but it's still one of the more enjoyable parts of KRB and it holds up fairly well even today.<br />But, I will admit the show isn't flawless. Much as I praise the character relationships and the heavy role they play, most come very late into the series and are rather light comparatively. Nobuhiko's characterization pre-Golgom is nonexistent, relegated mostly to simple flashbacks of him with the others in happier times, which is to say the cast running in a field with a hazy view.<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TvS1CIpMBfkzhlH0_NPaetCqZwBnFX5Lu-IVnhZgmasCEICR4FRX8CA7a9xcZELWjhX6oo7o9bcRxT8tQZGWVcEn9Nckg2wWKiLm9mEnH5QbDjtnZrxHacr6-sUm39DuoQtwrplahjE7/s1023/flashback.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1023" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TvS1CIpMBfkzhlH0_NPaetCqZwBnFX5Lu-IVnhZgmasCEICR4FRX8CA7a9xcZELWjhX6oo7o9bcRxT8tQZGWVcEn9Nckg2wWKiLm9mEnH5QbDjtnZrxHacr6-sUm39DuoQtwrplahjE7/s320/flashback.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br />While the series works great with what it presents and is still incredibly sorrowful, I can't help but wish we were given more on the type of person he was before Shadow Moon. I would've liked to have seen more episodes like 17 with lengthy sequences of Kyoko and her bother showing how caring he was. An episode with a flashback to him and Katsumi going on a date, or an episode with him and Kotaro as adults in a sports club would've been nice. We're able to understand Kotaro, Katsumi, and Kyoko's pain, but we're not able to share in it because we never see enough of him the way they remember.</p><p><br />It's kind of a shame. The actor, Takahito Horiuchi, was chosen for Nobuhiko because he was the runner up to the lead role as Kotaro. Generally speaking, missing out on the lead only to get the main antagonist role would be pretty sweet. But of course, he doesn't get to play Shadow Moon, and Nobuhiko barely even has a speaking role. I'm mean damn, he kinda got screwed right? I'd sure be miffed.</p><p><br />If there are any other faults it's that Black is a series with perhaps too many ideas. Stories or snippets from episodes that seem like they will or could be made into something more, but never are.<br />In the end, it doesn't result in much of a detriment, If anything, it might even be better simply by avoiding overly familiar cliches of the franchise. What works does so in such a manner that clumsy execution with things like Taki or the EP party seems like small potatoes compared to how everything else turns out. After all, Kamen Rider Black's biggest strength isn't just the essence of Kamen Rider being preserved and revived in a new era, but how it also cut a lot of bullshit that arguably hindered many prior Rider shows through oversaturation. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot to love about many Showa entries and some reimaginings in Black I would've liked to see develope. But I can't deny how refreshing it is to have not have a reinvention of the same organization or villain, no past Riders showing up for the midway or final episode(s), and no mentor figures. Just a Kamen Rider in a lonely battle to protect what he loves.<br />The series simultaneously owes a great deal to the many predecessors and honors them in indirect ways, yet is perfectly capable of standing on its own.<br />That is possibly the best lesson to be taken from a writing standpoint. To embody the basic ideals and hallmarks of a franchise, but also bold enough to not become trapped by them and to introduce new staples. It's a tricky balance, but Kamen Rider Black managed to toe that line and it resulted in one of the best Rider and Tokusatsu series around. </p><p>And, to be brusque, it's something I believe the franchise needs to learn once more.</p><p></p><p><br />If you've never seen Black or if you've never seen a Showa Kamen Rider series, I cannot suggest this one enough. It was my first series and is a wonderful introduction to a lot of the ideals that make Kamen Rider so appealing.<br /><br /></p><p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pDy0N4Qs4Hn15Tev8HNF3FI6glfYTm9HrXD0BGyrRERDx53HzBpLx3vs6ZN9UTEhAtFGHVSmR_W_CPL2_Tm-u5feUP0fIGQbSy0NOuoAXYf2jMCf3F1VWb2OtPA1o6XM6yv2sWjy_t4y/s787/RX.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="787" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pDy0N4Qs4Hn15Tev8HNF3FI6glfYTm9HrXD0BGyrRERDx53HzBpLx3vs6ZN9UTEhAtFGHVSmR_W_CPL2_Tm-u5feUP0fIGQbSy0NOuoAXYf2jMCf3F1VWb2OtPA1o6XM6yv2sWjy_t4y/s320/RX.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>Oh and if anyone is wondering if I'll ever review RX, well I don't have any plans to. Mainly because I don't want to watch RX again, but also I would rather review something I haven't seen yet and could possibly enjoy. Frankly... RX is not that good of a show. There are aspects I like and even some really great moments. It has a fantastic soundtrack, arguably better than even Black. I love the aesthetic, and it introduced staples that would have a big influence on later shows. But overall it is a terrible follow-up and a mess writing-wise, primarily caused by what can only be described as a cartoonish tone. A stark contrast to the largely humorless Black. Maybe one day it would be fun to pick apart, but not now. I want to focus my efforts elsewhere.<br /><br />All that said, the next review is Ultraman Ace. Not to jinx it, but I'm about halfway though and enjoying this one quite a bit. I do however have one smaller post about the Kamen Rider news revealed for the 50th anniversary. That should be up in a day or two, it's already written up, I just need to glance it over. I also have some stuff planned for after Ace, but that'll have to wait until the review.</p><p>Also if you like way I do and can spare it, consider tossing a dollar at my <a href="https://ko-fi.com/kamen_writer">Kofi</a>. And thanks for reading.<br /></p><br /><br /></div>Kamen Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02832099141882322022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505042118996520039.post-44427171108604060492021-03-31T22:43:00.000-04:002021-03-31T22:43:16.628-04:00Godzilla vs. Kong Quicky Review.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaoekJuRqk-Wygpxsc-fJUw1NoMljRo3b5VqwR3QOTomQQWEavWh6Q5ftKeHd0fbS_r03qZVRjMr4hb1zoQ9W2SOvt6Rz6jGUT6LMhwR5BIfBGiO0Nhu_3PeispfY43HsrYpMjJMQpqQP-/s497/gvk+intl+poster.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="406" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaoekJuRqk-Wygpxsc-fJUw1NoMljRo3b5VqwR3QOTomQQWEavWh6Q5ftKeHd0fbS_r03qZVRjMr4hb1zoQ9W2SOvt6Rz6jGUT6LMhwR5BIfBGiO0Nhu_3PeispfY43HsrYpMjJMQpqQP-/s320/gvk+intl+poster.png" /></a></div><p></p><p>Now this is a film I've looked forward to for a good while. The fourth entry in Legendary's Monsterverse franchise finally brigs to the two iconic monsters together for a clash not seen in nearly 60 years.<br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><br />Given my feelings towards King of the Monsters, I did have some reservations and worries on how this would be handled. I'm happy to report that they nailed it. That's not the say the film is perfect or that I don't have some issues, but where it counts it succeeds and a large part of that is the monster battles. The choreography and detail put into each fight is miles better than anything else in the entries before and most of the fights are well lit compared to KotM's constant rainstorms at night where you couldn't even see Ghidorah half the time. The visuals have a lot more in common with those of Kong: Skull Island, which I'm thankful for. They also do things that you simply could never accomplish with suits, like having Kong rapidly jump from building to building, an underwater wrestling match, or emoting both Kong and Godzilla's facial expressions with a fine tuning that only CGI could provide.<br /><br />The story that serves as the framework for these fights on the other hand is...okay. I'll go ahead and say it's better than KotM, which I felt misconstrued 'confused and complicated' with nuanced.</p><p>Here the parties are split mainly between two groups with a third in the background.<br />The first groups is primary Monarch based, consisting of Dr. Ilene Andrews; an anthropological linguist studying Kong on Skull island. Jia; a deaf native girl who has a special connection to Kong, and Dr. Nathan Lind; a disgraced geologist who wrote a book about hollow Earth theory.</p><p><br />The second group consists of Madison Russell returning from KotM, her friend Josh, and a conspiracy theorist Bernie Hayes who is a technician for Apex Cybernetics which he greatly distrusts. </p><p><br />And that brings us to our third group, which is Apex Cybernetics, a robotics corporation consisting of CEO Walter Simmons, and Ren Serizawa the son of Ishirō Serizawa. They're primarily funding Monarch's mission for this movie.<br /><br /><br />Essentially it's been five years since any major monster sighting, but Godzilla has suddenly been attacking various civilian populations for unknown reasons, mostly Apex Cybernetic facilities. Kong meanwhile has been confined on Skull Island by Monarch out of concern for an inevitable clash between him and Godzilla. </p><p><br />But that soon changes when Dr. Nathan Lind is approached by Walter Simmons to lead an expedition into the earth, as Simmons requires a source of power for his latest project which could stop Godzilla, and the theorized birthplace of the various Kaiju possibly contains such a source. This leads to Nathan further theorizing that Kong could be used as a sort of guide through the hollow earth, able to find the power in the same way salmon will return to the same area to spawn. And that's pretty much the main plot, with Dr. Andrews and Jia overseeing Kong on the journey.</p><p><br />I'll give special mention toward Jia. Of all the characters she's perhaps the only one that stands out. The film does great job showing a strong bond between the two with some fantastic emoting from Kong that holds a nice emotional weight to them.<br /></p><p><br />The center of the earth is also one of the more fantastical aspects of the film and I love seeing how outlandish the entire thing is. The visuals are brilliantly abstract and I feel the concept fits perfectly with both Godzilla and Kong. Godzilla in a manner like the Mysterians, and Kong like Journey to the Center of the Earth. Side note: Monarch has some anti-gravity craft provided by Apex to navigate the center, it sadly does not look like Moguera. I really gotta wonder if that was an intention at one point because the film is chalk full of references and visual parallels to both properties and I can see that being the case at some point.<br /></p><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br />Now, the flip side to this praise is the B plot, which I feel is the weakest part of the film. Madison Russell is convinced that there must be a reason behind Godzilla's outbursts, especially given her experiences in the prior film. She sets off on a journey to find Bernie Hayes, who hosts a conspiracy podcast she listens to and who theorizes Apex is the cause of Godzilla's rage. This is primarily where things also get awkward. We have a girl rejecting her stubborn scientist dad (who simply believes Godzilla is bad now) to listen to a crackpot that happens to be right about the most cartoonishly evil corporation being cartoonishly evil. It... just reads really bad, ya know? There's even a joke about him and bleach, which Madison's friend Josh misinterprets as him drinking, but it's actually to wash away biotracking or some such. </p><p>It just isn't as comedic as I think they thought it was. The entire transgression with these three doesn't add anything to the film and they could have easily been cut or heavily rewritten without any major changes to the key events. Even their one major action near the end of the film wouldn't have been necessary, and really it's just a waste of good talent.<br /><br />In fact that time probably should have been given towards doing something more with Walter Simmons and Ren Serizawa. Simmons is clearly meant to be Bob evil CEO of corporate greed, but as much as Apex is supposed to come off as like an Omni Consumer Products or Weyland-Yutani Corporation, there isn't isn't enough done to make Simmons into a complete slime ball that you hate. The closest the guy comes is a speech about making humans the alpha species once again, which gives him some strong Lex Luthor vibes, but it's barely anything. Ren Serizawa on the other hand is simply token Asian dude, he is shafted hard. I did not even know the character was suppose to be the son of Ishirō until I looked up a cast listing. There has got to be a version of script or deleted scenes where this character has at least some line indicating motivation because it is nothing. He has like 6 lines and that is it. There is confirmation that several characters in KotM where supposed to return, but the final cut of the film doesn't contain them so maybe that's among all those deleted scenes and we'll see it as special features on the home release.<br /><br />But despite those issues, I will say the final cut is preferable to the film being overly long. I was surprised at how much happens within the film's 1 hour and 53 minute run time and it was refreshing to see. As much as the b plot is questionable in quality, those scenes are rather short and rarely overstay their welcome. Overall the film is a breeze compared to KotM, which often felt like a drag. I can't say I ever felt bored or fatigued with GvK. A lot of that is that comes from the monarch team always being alongside Kong in a way that's more personal than KotM was with Monarch simply following Godzilla around the globe, so we have a lot more interaction and constant Kaiju presence that meshes with a large part of the cast.<br /></p><p><br />I gotta say Godzilla vs Kong is a wonderfully enjoyable film that despite some missteps and still having mediocre human characters, it manages to be a fun time and a perfect cap off to the series. If you have HBOMax or are fully vaccinated and can go to a theater, I'd highly suggest giving it a watch.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Also yes, I know the next review was supposed to be Kamen Rider Black, it's written and will be going up soonish. This is was just a fast and loose review I wanted to put up in a timely manner.</p>Kamen Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02832099141882322022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505042118996520039.post-46597793002460012322021-02-28T00:07:00.000-05:002021-02-28T00:07:39.260-05:00Ultra Q Bluray Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_OHMGn3859oPrfOedEzHVdCU-ISSQ-4EuJL_PYqQ59H7XKxzPumE6bdkNsp_1pXgR9WyCyhyphenhyphenEZlKdUSBYHQoeRX-ExltHhd43Q9sEz_FPX1h9UEZTLRYwmk6ysCEMSOzm-613BJ__rnpY/s749/title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="749" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_OHMGn3859oPrfOedEzHVdCU-ISSQ-4EuJL_PYqQ59H7XKxzPumE6bdkNsp_1pXgR9WyCyhyphenhyphenEZlKdUSBYHQoeRX-ExltHhd43Q9sEz_FPX1h9UEZTLRYwmk6ysCEMSOzm-613BJ__rnpY/s320/title.png" width="320" /></a><br /></div><p><br />So this is quite a change of pace from my usual Ultra reviews in that this is the first entry in the franchise and there's no Ultra being. As such, it's a very different series from its later brethren, one without even a team of specialists or a militarized force, but still with a focus on monsters and aliens.<br /></p><p>The series began airing on the Tokyo Broadcasting Station January, 2, 1966 and took the country by storm. At the time, Ultra Q was the the most expensive Japanese Television production,
and what resulted was a show that looked like nothing else on Television. The hefty investment paid off handsomely for both TBS and TsuPro, while also helping lay the ground work for Ultraman that same year...</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: center;">Story & Characters.<br /></h3><p><br /></p><p>Ultra Q was an incredibly ambitious and unique show for Japan in this
era. The show itself was aiming to be a fantasy Sci-fi series likened to The Twilight
Zone and The Outer Limits. But while there is certainly a familiarity to be found in Ultra Q, it doesn't follow a self-contained anthology approach. Instead, there is a reoccurring cast of civilians that get caught up in the strange events that placate each episode.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNVyMbXvbRKVrN8cdUfT_iH6-WX0N7gYh3bx4MBl2n2MXysCYzU0OH5_V9XzcGIcU-OngJ82p8ZdUAmnD5EX0JmtaA5UhlwbDaLtl4Cn7TvlCtCJ0bkuoZVj6rcmxGGek9pyQzsFwnOIc/s578/Jun+and+Ippei.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNVyMbXvbRKVrN8cdUfT_iH6-WX0N7gYh3bx4MBl2n2MXysCYzU0OH5_V9XzcGIcU-OngJ82p8ZdUAmnD5EX0JmtaA5UhlwbDaLtl4Cn7TvlCtCJ0bkuoZVj6rcmxGGek9pyQzsFwnOIc/s320/Jun+and+Ippei.png" width="320" /></a></div> This includes Aviators Jun Manjome (Kenji Sahara) and the comical Ippei Togawa (<span style="font-weight: normal;">Yasuhiko Saijou)</span>.<br /><br /> <p></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZfvaPcAUHClNeiwSpGhz-WUUJAQyxRrrmDpG3E6Z2jdSkXWMdy2c0yxsNtRofBv91dygAPLm3ScsO0mrDy_IkCot_Fe7jixokNCotSjA26cjVuu_vDrYsCuG2sfyWEi4j_hbb-CwN3Eu/s402/Yuriko.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="220" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZfvaPcAUHClNeiwSpGhz-WUUJAQyxRrrmDpG3E6Z2jdSkXWMdy2c0yxsNtRofBv91dygAPLm3ScsO0mrDy_IkCot_Fe7jixokNCotSjA26cjVuu_vDrYsCuG2sfyWEi4j_hbb-CwN3Eu/s320/Yuriko.png" /></a></div><p></p><p>A reporter for the Daily News, Yuriko Edogawa (Hiroko Sakurai).</p><p><br /> </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5vK_UZLa8w_xrVnJ1xv65O0QWvtUEn3FeMa90MhNXLWzVfsDFKaiLrEk7mp724e3-GSYl8ksfOuGfUwjadj3apQIfZxH76BVpqM1BlqesYGz9h9hiNzcQTtnyiZJQ2gi3t00Oz1SHONh/s749/prof.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="749" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5vK_UZLa8w_xrVnJ1xv65O0QWvtUEn3FeMa90MhNXLWzVfsDFKaiLrEk7mp724e3-GSYl8ksfOuGfUwjadj3apQIfZxH76BVpqM1BlqesYGz9h9hiNzcQTtnyiZJQ2gi3t00Oz1SHONh/s320/prof.png" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p>And when the series needs some scientific exposition: Professor Ichinotani (Ureo Egawa<b>)</b>.<br /> </p><p><br />As one may have gathered from the lack of in depth analysis, the characters of Ultra Q are incredibly basic. I will say the actors do an excellent and professional job, in particular Jun who is portrayed by Rodan star Kenji Sahara. He has a distinctive, compelling, and charismatic charm that helps elevate the material he's given.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9JUSUIed4jo11Pqzy9pIuR0r4x5YGFgH4pg1WzG9_8gBKM1LM6AWYAzVzZBwASntwRy4EQN_9IqGlWBsXcmySGHRZqNvFa_xohmV1U97HPQDxQyVipkVI-fp5_mGXlV6Y3-FohcHMyR63/s737/shocked+Turiko.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="737" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9JUSUIed4jo11Pqzy9pIuR0r4x5YGFgH4pg1WzG9_8gBKM1LM6AWYAzVzZBwASntwRy4EQN_9IqGlWBsXcmySGHRZqNvFa_xohmV1U97HPQDxQyVipkVI-fp5_mGXlV6Y3-FohcHMyR63/s320/shocked+Turiko.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>But my favorite character is Yuriko. It's very refreshing to see Hiroko Sakurai in this role where she's far more active than in Ultraman. She does a fantastic job embodying that sorta plucky go get'em reporter attitude and is simply a delight to watch.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgttdrrWPRlAM9Sjb51eGg8YXl9QHYLuLGkWMCieeTmclje4PwU83CjCPRyVkaKoCVOIguPyw80g2dnsyomfH0Sf5FfSmPcRMHQyl_S9Y4-6C_sFJ3YOjaIK7w-HKaOhWhyphenhyphennR9RgOFtQlYq/s744/case.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="744" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgttdrrWPRlAM9Sjb51eGg8YXl9QHYLuLGkWMCieeTmclje4PwU83CjCPRyVkaKoCVOIguPyw80g2dnsyomfH0Sf5FfSmPcRMHQyl_S9Y4-6C_sFJ3YOjaIK7w-HKaOhWhyphenhyphennR9RgOFtQlYq/s320/case.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p>Like Sahara, Sakurai instills a personality in an otherwise bare character. But to the writers' credit, she also has more going on. Her job is straightforward, simply going to a location with some strange happenings (Usually via plane or helicopter thanks to Jun and Ippei) doing a bit of digging for a story, taking photos, etc. At times the investigative work is a lot more involved and I think that's when the show is its most compelling in so far as utilizing her to good effect. Several writers portray her as an intelligent journalist with a keen eye for detail, and these episodes become almost like a detective drama, but with heavy sci-fi elements. It's frankly something I would've loved to have seen more of.<br /><p></p><p></p><p><br /> </p><p>Despite Ultra Q is more continuous than the anthology series that inspired it, it's still very episodic like many shows from this era, and episodes can often be viewed on their own with little issue-- something I wish modern series embraced. Additionally the series isn't completely confined to the main cast or even Japan (Although accomplished with sets, not location) There are episodes that may only star a single member of the cast, giving them some focus. Or in some instances, episodes focus primarily on a wholly unique group for just that episode. Not to mention a multitude of guest star roles.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LHQQ3Q1u5syggdkak6TA4D9EArIlU4J7QbfcPF6D_kL9LildGG7TrF0FMFSTMEjuAQpaDjPEgE0_qcBTiq-jWQvchGsHTTLgVGHJMn8K2RjByx72MeHoBguDak6pg0tjNomZFfA80Ce8/s558/Guest+Akiji+Kobayashi.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LHQQ3Q1u5syggdkak6TA4D9EArIlU4J7QbfcPF6D_kL9LildGG7TrF0FMFSTMEjuAQpaDjPEgE0_qcBTiq-jWQvchGsHTTLgVGHJMn8K2RjByx72MeHoBguDak6pg0tjNomZFfA80Ce8/s320/Guest+Akiji+Kobayashi.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtsVEVEOofJIJMxYipjqSMwIIoHO3qBwo70RxA7vNqXiDDSjL9TY0XEWNX6sm5xjUhmC1CPcn1O-HCBWr9o8Yv6xver2NNVe3ED70KEOlfechOFF8_FZm1L8SWg6h-X6YV92QMPnL_2_ch/s665/guest+1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="665" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtsVEVEOofJIJMxYipjqSMwIIoHO3qBwo70RxA7vNqXiDDSjL9TY0XEWNX6sm5xjUhmC1CPcn1O-HCBWr9o8Yv6xver2NNVe3ED70KEOlfechOFF8_FZm1L8SWg6h-X6YV92QMPnL_2_ch/s320/guest+1.png" width="320" /></a><br /></div><p>Many of these guest appearances are played by well-known Toho actors and in some cases, future Ultraman cast members, such as Susumu Kurobe and Akiji Kobayashi.<br /> </p><p> </p><p>But for all this good, there is a detrimental side to how revolutionary Ultra Q was for its time. From a very egregious lack of good pacing to narrative dissonance, episodes near the start of the series often feel rushed and cramped with sudden smash cuts with little to no transition at all. <br />This results in a bizarre mishmash of the series simultaneously having the presentation of both a high quality film and yet an amateur one at the same time. I think that comes down to two things: Series structure and the production side.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIUcDuAUbCqE7eZ0-UWb-dbMQ11qRD7oms6v1dO6xWLM01i56DmJFImITbWkJ6FW2DtrNkr3FxugT3nWyTXIxWaOR5bPJl50sLLghBNPUnipEQX__SRxGEFAqH3_crVwubBGHDT8RqyIkp/s803/the+end.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="803" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIUcDuAUbCqE7eZ0-UWb-dbMQ11qRD7oms6v1dO6xWLM01i56DmJFImITbWkJ6FW2DtrNkr3FxugT3nWyTXIxWaOR5bPJl50sLLghBNPUnipEQX__SRxGEFAqH3_crVwubBGHDT8RqyIkp/s320/the+end.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>It's common for some early episodes to abruptly end, sometimes on a cliffhanger with only a slight indication that the issue will be resolved off-screen. This works in some stories and not in others, simply due to the show's format not being structured around stand-alone episodes and certain endings being <i>too</i> ambiguous for my liking. It's almost as if the writers suddenly realized they had to fit their grandiose story into a 25 minute slot.<br /></p><p><br />The series featuring a reoccurring cast and a semi-continuous setting results in some other problems, and unfortunately one is prevalent throughout the entire show. For instance, episode 5 features an unnaturally strong wind carrying a 1-ton snowmobile up into the air and we have scientists arguing it was an illusion.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ohGKQSzzZHIM2mhslspNWw2V0XtzLE9YnmKRTBAg0XuLMfmkWafCTjXdvlFLOYo3QumZX0KJ75mhzGo0lmudMtIJogOwzF_xrjjjrwqRwcrAMMij_FWinxlER-y58BiAhZTkRxvmB6q3/s747/illusion.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="747" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ohGKQSzzZHIM2mhslspNWw2V0XtzLE9YnmKRTBAg0XuLMfmkWafCTjXdvlFLOYo3QumZX0KJ75mhzGo0lmudMtIJogOwzF_xrjjjrwqRwcrAMMij_FWinxlER-y58BiAhZTkRxvmB6q3/s320/illusion.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>Despite the fact this is a world with giant monkeys, building-sized man-eating plants, 10m tall ancient creatures, and giant alien slugs from mars- all of which are well known about. Somehow strong winds from a rumored giant monster aren't even considered in the realm of possibilities.</p><p>A similar occurrence happens in ep. 19 when military officials doubt that a flying saucer blew up two of their aircraft-- this is three episodes after Tokyo had a small alien invasion where two giant robots destroyed Tokyo Tower.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Yy6vtDRLeH_gEzwpqX2T_R2YoOXbyk-xJETxaYhJ5IK_1AW9WSDZ3us-vY2IF3PibNrQSnvK87Ulr0sX7qD1mGjgR1i9MkQuNeq9Q20r1TKDYSqlEJQOj6ldxD-D0n2mQevvJG-LvjfS/s737/berate.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="737" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Yy6vtDRLeH_gEzwpqX2T_R2YoOXbyk-xJETxaYhJ5IK_1AW9WSDZ3us-vY2IF3PibNrQSnvK87Ulr0sX7qD1mGjgR1i9MkQuNeq9Q20r1TKDYSqlEJQOj6ldxD-D0n2mQevvJG-LvjfS/s320/berate.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>But perhaps the most frustrating is Jun and Ippei doubting Yuriko's tall tales and theories (Or in some cases the inverse) even very late into the show, despite all their adventures together.<br /> </p><p>This isn't to say doubt or skepticism shouldn't be prevalent in such a world. Hell, if anything it should cause problems where every little monster in the closet or local myth could have a hint of truth. Nor is it to say there shouldn't be friction or drama within the story by utilizing uncertainty among the cast. But it's presentation comes off as sloppy for the sake of minor conflict at best and it makes characters come off as painfully ignorant for little payoff.</p><p><br />To be clear, I don't mind Ultra Q having a set cast. I enjoy them and think that it's something that does help the show stand out from other series in the same wheelhouse. I think the fact the events that transpire are (in theory) widely known is interesting, especially for the time. Some episodes even have direct callbacks to monsters and events from earlier episodes, which surprised me for this type of show.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHOCTP1LsFjp6de-PZf5Plg8jswS5gYe9V5Bpv2gTJswaoDr8KsU8TCeEbyQg086TbHjYCUv9Z-81uLLFTzYg1P60edY-ZKMQQaJ57XgAlUEH1eDRDNNzswwCFWYLypRaW0NoUuAwCoDt/s745/peguila+reference.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="745" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHOCTP1LsFjp6de-PZf5Plg8jswS5gYe9V5Bpv2gTJswaoDr8KsU8TCeEbyQg086TbHjYCUv9Z-81uLLFTzYg1P60edY-ZKMQQaJ57XgAlUEH1eDRDNNzswwCFWYLypRaW0NoUuAwCoDt/s320/peguila+reference.png" width="320" /></a><br /></div><p></p><p>But for some of the stories certain writers wanted to tell and how they play out, it feels like it was intended for a very differently formatted show which is the crux of the issue for me.<br /><br /> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7LElDDw6rsu3vhMhpjEkf1jJ3lmBW1tlJJjRAP84ipVWxubRy4XRznraxRDKvMvNFOtzeCrDc9alk2LEZ6j3SFPeQJK35ZtfVTwa_q7XDp_Bj7c4NOG7D_06PHGKE25Z31RJpiJB2obW0/s741/turtle.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="741" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7LElDDw6rsu3vhMhpjEkf1jJ3lmBW1tlJJjRAP84ipVWxubRy4XRznraxRDKvMvNFOtzeCrDc9alk2LEZ6j3SFPeQJK35ZtfVTwa_q7XDp_Bj7c4NOG7D_06PHGKE25Z31RJpiJB2obW0/s320/turtle.png" width="320" /></a></div> This is especially true for the more whimsical kid-centric episodes which feel very at odds with everything else in Ultra Q. I understand Tsuburaya enjoyed making content for kids and I can respect that- but Ultra Q does not gel quite the way that Ultraman eventually would with this concept. Some of these episodes seem like they're for a completely different production, and no amount of context or isolation between episodes can change that.<br /><br /><p></p><p></p> <p></p><p>All this isn't to say Ultra Q is a series riddled with problems. It's simply overly aspirant with steep learning curve. Having three times the average TV budget of the era, it's understandable that doing a mini-movie every week would cause some issues. Breaking new ground is often rocky. There was also a lot going down behind the scenes with very last minute additions, right down to changing the name of the show from Unbalance to Ultra Q, despite many of the scripts incorporating "Unbalanced Zone" into the opening narration. Suffice to say, production in this era was never exactly smooth for TsuPro for one reason or another.<br /><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2bVn8H8wB8tL5GLQKw-hhFKlQgKR32KiCJxyMvtpstaDy8jWhhkyH4wz4XAHiddLEDmzGRQ-6tkmEAj-CdKj4Gkjy7g_DLzsLYSpvqgxjlYFpqYWTWZ24qqyOE0S9UslBAKshIVDtsWb/s1019/narration+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1019" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2bVn8H8wB8tL5GLQKw-hhFKlQgKR32KiCJxyMvtpstaDy8jWhhkyH4wz4XAHiddLEDmzGRQ-6tkmEAj-CdKj4Gkjy7g_DLzsLYSpvqgxjlYFpqYWTWZ24qqyOE0S9UslBAKshIVDtsWb/s320/narration+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />As much as Ultra Q can feel incongruous by the shifts in tone and quality episode to episode, there are also some stories by talented writers who manage to imprint an individual mark without it clashing with the overall base premise. In fact most episodes are fine, rather it's a multitude of minor issues that compile. Thankfully the latter half of the show improves a bit, smoothing some of the rockier elements.<p></p><p>But- and there is a but. I do have to say that story-wise the majority of Ultra Q is simply okay at the end of the day. I was by no means expecting the Japanese Twilight Zone, that's an absurdly high bar despite the fact they obviously were wanting to be that. Outer Limits or maybe even the later Night Gallery I think is a lot more sensible and that's sorta where Ultra Q falls-- if with a bit more faults due to those aforementioned production troubles. I believe if Q had gotten a longer run or another season those issues would have been ironed out completely. Although I suppose in a way Ultraman did iron them out while also moving into a new (wiser) direction. The lessons here did affect the next show.<br />Nevertheless, there is one area that Ultra Q shines bright and that is its Visuals and SFX.<br /><br /></p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: center;">SFX<br /></h3><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cLroS6wKF6GhyphenhyphenGmJj11yW5M7rdVDgZkM1aFGTjj044JjZosGI73n15iSz0wYgO7Ln8wYNgU-dpZrbLAWfRqZOLXbR7Kjs9ynBXuyrqIVHYjMEe4hYqQ1uVKWZZn1-gVbe3MJ5HTxrrc5/s1023/model+1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1023" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cLroS6wKF6GhyphenhyphenGmJj11yW5M7rdVDgZkM1aFGTjj044JjZosGI73n15iSz0wYgO7Ln8wYNgU-dpZrbLAWfRqZOLXbR7Kjs9ynBXuyrqIVHYjMEe4hYqQ1uVKWZZn1-gVbe3MJ5HTxrrc5/s320/model+1.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>This should come as no surprise. From the infamous Oxberry 1200 investment (The most advanced and expensive optical printer that only one other company had:Disney) to shooting on 35mm as opposed to the typical 16, not to mention the fantastic monster designs and the scale models. This show looks gorgeous top to bottom.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvKSArdphe8PZQKxYR4yvvGojlRrcUMm-LtRm0LZSsIS2qIAofXAXXb77EwFSUgnBCWAIs4M9PHnVED6U9Y_RSMBCrt0KRSX1GRyvig84QC-9r-exP49MSEnka_SVH9dpg18KZgPlGITt/s400/railway.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvKSArdphe8PZQKxYR4yvvGojlRrcUMm-LtRm0LZSsIS2qIAofXAXXb77EwFSUgnBCWAIs4M9PHnVED6U9Y_RSMBCrt0KRSX1GRyvig84QC-9r-exP49MSEnka_SVH9dpg18KZgPlGITt/s320/railway.gif" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p>Much of the series has been preserved quite well. A bulk of the footage is shockingly crisp with only the occasional blemish being noticeable. There are some instances of the footage suddenly switching from a mostly damage-free film to one with many scratches and degradation, this tends to happen most often with smash cuts to B-roll/monster footage.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7BKI9fdi2iFbFf1Ih99uz47YKnVRI3_U0zKQmMnDAosE6xzAQ0Xu6oZWACX77ahOMqv2-8fsIRVDkoEOQkTncwtb-bas-Lm5KmqO8r6hZ91hAquSoBhFFLl8FWG6Imq36e8sfNshDLMN/s741/film.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="741" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7BKI9fdi2iFbFf1Ih99uz47YKnVRI3_U0zKQmMnDAosE6xzAQ0Xu6oZWACX77ahOMqv2-8fsIRVDkoEOQkTncwtb-bas-Lm5KmqO8r6hZ91hAquSoBhFFLl8FWG6Imq36e8sfNshDLMN/s320/film.gif" width="320" /></a></div><p><br />But for the most part, you get to see everything in <i>fantastic</i> detail. The show benefits greatly from the Bluray transfer. And yes, it is the same as the Japanese Blu-ray.<br /></p><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXIBL2j14iWWQoRd2Zxii0bJk7rPvfUdWFaWiU2dtqB4-KaQwe35NIqglAmA5Vhwjou8MlOU-wXajRbFJ3W_k1zoenTk5gBaTwfpAqVCyWojE46OsIOkoVnDf9JN1OnJuHy_rFkG3D5QD/s335/collapes.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXIBL2j14iWWQoRd2Zxii0bJk7rPvfUdWFaWiU2dtqB4-KaQwe35NIqglAmA5Vhwjou8MlOU-wXajRbFJ3W_k1zoenTk5gBaTwfpAqVCyWojE46OsIOkoVnDf9JN1OnJuHy_rFkG3D5QD/s320/collapes.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I also have to say a lot of the models look even better than Ultraman. Whether that is a result of the higher quality film used, the black and white scenery, or having more elaborate craftsmanship, I cannot say. But I swear some models overshadow the earlier episodes of Ultraman.<br /></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprKXp-mexOQM_hahbajcXLfu51S02mNHbcJ_rqRcZCezLiQiFdqDVIGrP6v0pqw9NuamRUnp5ntpnfRUoxAHxtuscbElJkEpxfJ_oOium3I4kUm9gVwVzfxYyoWGOFqelPIPHgE8qKjVp/s667/rodan.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="667" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprKXp-mexOQM_hahbajcXLfu51S02mNHbcJ_rqRcZCezLiQiFdqDVIGrP6v0pqw9NuamRUnp5ntpnfRUoxAHxtuscbElJkEpxfJ_oOium3I4kUm9gVwVzfxYyoWGOFqelPIPHgE8qKjVp/s320/rodan.png" width="320" /></a></div>I should note that sometimes the show uses stock footage from the Toho Library, most often Rodan. Not a complaint mind you, those scenes are blended wonderfully into the show. But I did want to point out that not 100% of the show is original footage. If things look a little <i>too</i> movie quality, they probably were. But they get damn close with the original stuff and do a great job fooling.<br /><p><br /></p><p></p><p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQAbWIE3aYHM2hthmcOYJebhaDc3iDs4Vb3Dpnp7TBXo93fEHKYxLBgCrsCkdOP5GT_Q4vN9AS3aD95U2E_sZk6rnIdxUhgEX-hF-2p0h8KORrRPAlM3S42SJsa5lzBDhUlOZcOJVKaeu/s640/kaiju+header.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQAbWIE3aYHM2hthmcOYJebhaDc3iDs4Vb3Dpnp7TBXo93fEHKYxLBgCrsCkdOP5GT_Q4vN9AS3aD95U2E_sZk6rnIdxUhgEX-hF-2p0h8KORrRPAlM3S42SJsa5lzBDhUlOZcOJVKaeu/s320/kaiju+header.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kamegon, Namegon and Ragon.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Yet the real star of the special effects is the monster designs. This is the one major area I feel Ultra Q triumphs over any other comparable series. The designs of these creatures are incredible and it's still crazy to think that this was for TV in the mid-60s, as a lot of them are damn close to Toho's movie quality of the time. This is largely thanks to legendary visual artist Toru Narita, who would also outline many more popular visages in Ultraman and Seven. But his work here is likely already familiar, as they would often be renamed, retooled, or simply reappear in Ultraman, making them more famous.<br /></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Yui5o5KK5Z_V26PE0xeOxVrtKuNs0C9cdFG5tAE6L_JjNrA1rnlZNgG3P_OPrM9hWXKkwn2jkLQHRLY8qd1XTVp_4eZdCu_Eiz2yjVNwTgC9fizTy1wL3W0VqPjkqnTCgl7N2IX466LT/s606/kaiju+1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="606" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Yui5o5KK5Z_V26PE0xeOxVrtKuNs0C9cdFG5tAE6L_JjNrA1rnlZNgG3P_OPrM9hWXKkwn2jkLQHRLY8qd1XTVp_4eZdCu_Eiz2yjVNwTgC9fizTy1wL3W0VqPjkqnTCgl7N2IX466LT/s320/kaiju+1.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><br />At some point in production, TBS requested that the show feature more giant monsters over human-sized creatures and I believe this was a smart move. While there is plenty of smaller-scale kaiju that are fantastic like Kanegon, and even some great abstract ones, having giant monsters helps set Ultra Q even further apart from its contemporaries as it's something no one else really had. Twilight Zone, Outer Limits, Thriller, Out of this World, or even Star Trek. They might have a bad Spider puppet too, they had humanoid aliens. But none of them were going to have a Garamon or Kemur Man stomping around a scale city.<br /><br />Again, like the stock footage, I will note that not all the monsters are 100% original and I don't just mean suit reuse/remakes within the company. Because of Tsuburaya's involvement with Toho Studios, he had access to his own personal prop warehouse that he or anyone with his permission could do pretty much anything with. This included access to suits, audio, and stock footage. So some suits like Gomess are just a retooled Godzilla.</p><p><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrrUGlT9QssOS5vgqv9bpZvMbIp1m3OEGDAwKDeBA8_MbzFXBp5AdAn_mVCv7VDL3qCUF8uGhS9hU3LQJ15RQ1lobzdLeHqJuAyS-OahlBQJEMES8uNDn5t44PXLIPfM3_Nu_zd5oQYcO/s459/Gomess.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="457" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrrUGlT9QssOS5vgqv9bpZvMbIp1m3OEGDAwKDeBA8_MbzFXBp5AdAn_mVCv7VDL3qCUF8uGhS9hU3LQJ15RQ1lobzdLeHqJuAyS-OahlBQJEMES8uNDn5t44PXLIPfM3_Nu_zd5oQYcO/s320/Gomess.png" /></a></div><p>Like the footage, I don't have a problem with this because it was very early on and you gotta cut corners sometimes. Do I think something like Gomess is wonderfully original as Baltan in Ultraman being made from a retooled Cicada Human? No. Do I think Gomess looks better than an original monster like the alien slug Namegon because it has the advantage of being built upon an already iconic delineation? Yes. But it doesn't matter in my eyes. There is enough originality here for me not to be concerned about it, and hell, Gomess looks more original than Jirass did. I'm guessing someone at Tsuburaya thought the same, since Gomess has actually made multiple appearances, most recently in Ultraman Z.<br /><br /><br /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><br /> </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgmQ81FwFSulLEtt1d75DEEGnbwM5iueb70iIEY1u_NoOzB24zSF243lqSkVqiu-TDjcssMmnQwffQFX_V-94lu40VH7DGfHI4Q-1AIA_r4oOhxRP-kzcNMQvhdO_u5a1PDb5MS21l4MB/s342/title+animated+simple+.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="247" data-original-width="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgmQ81FwFSulLEtt1d75DEEGnbwM5iueb70iIEY1u_NoOzB24zSF243lqSkVqiu-TDjcssMmnQwffQFX_V-94lu40VH7DGfHI4Q-1AIA_r4oOhxRP-kzcNMQvhdO_u5a1PDb5MS21l4MB/s320/title+animated+simple+.gif" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Outside the practical effects are lesser but still notable visuals making use of composites or various editing tricks. The first thing you'll likely notice is the dynamic ways each episode opens. Throughout the season, openings become more elaborate going from stylized but simple titles to more elaborate animations, often featuring an object relevant to that episode, making for some fantastic presentation.<br /></p><p> </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkJvWIXS9rlxKC1qREJ-1sEPS-2iSS-QGSt4dn0YoEHVgE0wu1Hyhjw0-XxawS0noQTUAmAqQaSoizLBLlM4j4sVNyP4UjgpmOnECN-XM9x2_hyphenhyphenl6YfFHDGNz5YIwGNEQEV74IhnUXiW7/s337/opening+title.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkJvWIXS9rlxKC1qREJ-1sEPS-2iSS-QGSt4dn0YoEHVgE0wu1Hyhjw0-XxawS0noQTUAmAqQaSoizLBLlM4j4sVNyP4UjgpmOnECN-XM9x2_hyphenhyphenl6YfFHDGNz5YIwGNEQEV74IhnUXiW7/s320/opening+title.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br />These developments and innovations also extend to the episodes themselves. Like the stories, the writer or director of any given episode wanted to toy around with some new effect or idea. Episode two for example is the only one I can recall that uses still images of a monster during the credits, almost like Ultraman's silhouettes. This gives the series some of its more experimental flair and it's not necessarily a bad thing. Having someone leave a unique touch upon an episode can do wonders, and indeed many Ultra episodes became famous for such endeavors.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJal65JPK3K7FqzLYfcr399XJtBgwTnM4ImyV77YPhdpSG5B7oeWP7bLbzYEg6WSL-P1FNtz9ts6zBIScVYFI3VtHpk0Qxyp1KpxKcioHtFSTl2h2a6jKmmp8rt1sgM_XYCwvuLiGJ23v/s338/smoke.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJal65JPK3K7FqzLYfcr399XJtBgwTnM4ImyV77YPhdpSG5B7oeWP7bLbzYEg6WSL-P1FNtz9ts6zBIScVYFI3VtHpk0Qxyp1KpxKcioHtFSTl2h2a6jKmmp8rt1sgM_XYCwvuLiGJ23v/s320/smoke.gif" width="320" /></a></div><p>However, if you were hoping to see some French influence and dynamic framing
like a Jissoji episode, you're outta luck. Most framing is relegated to
pulled back wide shots, but they still offer some enjoyable sights and atmosphere.</p><p><br />Nevertheless, with it being this early on and certain effects being new to the team, some can also be distracting rather than impressive. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFKENKHSKhsjKBsD_ZtfFdcmX69IUeqXyvXwlTEAxGSODsVg1pC5-vlZ705uoV7tDmavoK1fY85-DvSU7BDlMtQMn8lFFeOX8xRsjRPItNGBOfmS1gzGU8E1y90acU5a-ivno1tq-CO0T/s748/negative.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="748" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFKENKHSKhsjKBsD_ZtfFdcmX69IUeqXyvXwlTEAxGSODsVg1pC5-vlZ705uoV7tDmavoK1fY85-DvSU7BDlMtQMn8lFFeOX8xRsjRPItNGBOfmS1gzGU8E1y90acU5a-ivno1tq-CO0T/s320/negative.png" width="320" /></a></div>But I admit many of these are a relic of their time and I don't think
it's entirely fair to judge them in a modern light. I wouldn't even say
most are negative, just sorta weird and unimpressive. Although it's funny seeing how much fun they were having with their new toy.<br /><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><h3 style="text-align: center;"> Subs</h3><p>But now let's turn our attention to something flat and mediocre if not outright bad at times: the subtitles.<br />As with other Ultra entries, the subs are bizarre in areas, but Q has possibly the strangest and numerous issues of all the sets I've looked at. </p><p><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKuFV0P6-QhSsRd4nDm69b1oEozq39ylDr6n97pK4O8Z0y2YieYPeVNI28LKXnFfvYWB_juRaugv6Rl8rwa4BdY3ugOs3zZTV2TYOsA8eKMRRTKRaatvf4kHgcJUrmhedhb83T6uvqidt/s743/flower.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="743" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKuFV0P6-QhSsRd4nDm69b1oEozq39ylDr6n97pK4O8Z0y2YieYPeVNI28LKXnFfvYWB_juRaugv6Rl8rwa4BdY3ugOs3zZTV2TYOsA8eKMRRTKRaatvf4kHgcJUrmhedhb83T6uvqidt/s320/flower.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>Some decisions are truly baffling. Ep. 4 in particular just outright ignores the words coming out of people's mouths. The episode in question concerns a giant mutant flower and the title of the episode is 'The Mammoth Flower'. But except for the title itself, the subs insist on always using "Giant Flower" even when the actual goddamn dialogue coming out of the actor's mouth is "Manmosu Furawā". I do not understand this at all, that's like interpreting Supaidāman as arachnid-man.<br /><br />Another issue with the subs is the coloration of the text. They're the same as the other sets I've reviewed, so there is at least consistency from the beginning. But the white text chosen becomes an issue if there's Japanese text on the screen, such as the opening credits, or a very bright light source that the text is placed over, such as a lamp post or fire.<br /></p><p><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO69IfW8wnZJBxqKPU6ZFEKF38-V1N6AsL3El1HbiqEFnjpjAAmmNS_kSuLTbqLyxtcgMZsytDF2GYKSPm4490Wr9JdmgJV-S44-dud3aYg7QinIgsUYApd-j6MZjFLCIcxk7u3Fci1aT5/s743/hard+to+read.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="743" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO69IfW8wnZJBxqKPU6ZFEKF38-V1N6AsL3El1HbiqEFnjpjAAmmNS_kSuLTbqLyxtcgMZsytDF2GYKSPm4490Wr9JdmgJV-S44-dud3aYg7QinIgsUYApd-j6MZjFLCIcxk7u3Fci1aT5/s320/hard+to+read.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>It makes reading them difficult, especially for the steaming version where the issue is somehow worse. It's the sort of thing that could have been circumvented by simply having a stronger black border around the text, but I guess since the majority of the shows are in color, making an exception for this one set wasn't on the table.<br /><br />Other quirks are strange nuances with the way font is displayed between both the streaming version and the Bluray. For example, episode 13 on streaming looks like this:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Gs6cz6zUEUDwcFMBsiT_v2SaH5my6di5rtLaO_JZyEaBr48dnxIHrmWSiTz0pXMCxBxcAuJXd6Ra4XURFkMfpKjQFJ-nBvVfhZKbnrOMbiJg2ZlT6aAcMBvZLMGaJnTQvmkxmoPFMqMd/s753/13+subs+stream.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="753" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Gs6cz6zUEUDwcFMBsiT_v2SaH5my6di5rtLaO_JZyEaBr48dnxIHrmWSiTz0pXMCxBxcAuJXd6Ra4XURFkMfpKjQFJ-nBvVfhZKbnrOMbiJg2ZlT6aAcMBvZLMGaJnTQvmkxmoPFMqMd/s320/13+subs+stream.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />But on Bluray, the "i" blends into the exclamation point:<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMp7l47QEChaQGH1QQTwurf1NIusvA9wkKzvEhV_CrDkJa5fZpeGV1CtSscfZCV3BDV-KFWUk6eV-EcTBaBXtgdZbha08lJ7TqBcg3n1Tog2LOp2xS0Mcf7yZdOGPvfnbZmuIKuLziHN5a/s1930/13+subs+bluray.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1459" data-original-width="1930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMp7l47QEChaQGH1QQTwurf1NIusvA9wkKzvEhV_CrDkJa5fZpeGV1CtSscfZCV3BDV-KFWUk6eV-EcTBaBXtgdZbha08lJ7TqBcg3n1Tog2LOp2xS0Mcf7yZdOGPvfnbZmuIKuLziHN5a/s320/13+subs+bluray.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p> </p><p>And then you just have this shit on both versions:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLyZUpWeG9KuJ6CGz48NYy4gR9zyq7LvaSWKYhz8h2c6hFJd4kJdlrDVhsiIMnvG8d37cfKe4HX8EGhAzosb_gJc_iglUSdCV_mAM61HOszw7OQxUm2mlpgSlhA-pg45audQFCsDJmrhC/s1022/bad+subs+episode+8.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1022" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLyZUpWeG9KuJ6CGz48NYy4gR9zyq7LvaSWKYhz8h2c6hFJd4kJdlrDVhsiIMnvG8d37cfKe4HX8EGhAzosb_gJc_iglUSdCV_mAM61HOszw7OQxUm2mlpgSlhA-pg45audQFCsDJmrhC/s320/bad+subs+episode+8.png" width="320" /></a></div><p><br />I'm fairly comfortable saying Ultra Q has some of the most rushed and shoddy Subs I have seen out of any officially toku series. Amazingly I don't think they're as bad as they could be. They're legible... for the most part. But how do you choose a white text and not realize that it's difficult to read in the opening of the black and white show? How do you have subtitles opposite of the English dialogue? How in the fuck does something like <b>Fiancé</b> get past quality control and
make it to print? In fact how the shit do you put an extra 'A' in there? I could understand if the program bugged out and couldn't handle an <span><span data-dobid="hdw">é</span></span> and defaulted to something else. But why the<b> </b>extra Ã? Someone actually typed that one in.<br /></p><p>Explanations could range from they didn't have good communication with all parties involved, they didn't pay well, they didn't check, or they didn't care. Any of those are likely given how underpaid and underappreciated translators often are in the industry.<br />But, Tsuburaya also had to approve this, which that's also not shocking since they've approved some garbage things before. Most of the Heisei Ultra shows before X have remarkably bad subs, Gaia in particular. The subs handled by Toku are also pretty bad for Neo Ultra Q (which Millcreek may be using on their release if what I'm hearing it right) Even none Ultra shows like Gridman have batshit crazy dialogue that feels like it was from an insane dub parody script rather than a translation.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaO-MeR4ReEhZVt5kE0tQsZSTAEreP21nozggEf3uOYrFB355MsOPfyNnuPTmK3qNrEpDk9Wnahvv07eFB4pj5KQ4pfq2aHpNh1j2x8DaAG4tPdhY2F5E-NerXLt8ACK1IwI4FJh7OD8Ep/s712/some+kinda+bullshit+gridman.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="712" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaO-MeR4ReEhZVt5kE0tQsZSTAEreP21nozggEf3uOYrFB355MsOPfyNnuPTmK3qNrEpDk9Wnahvv07eFB4pj5KQ4pfq2aHpNh1j2x8DaAG4tPdhY2F5E-NerXLt8ACK1IwI4FJh7OD8Ep/s320/some+kinda+bullshit+gridman.png" width="320" /></a> </div><p>Compared to those, sure the original Ultra Q isn't that crazy. But that's a damn low- and I mean <i>low</i> bar. This needed significant cleaning up. This was a rushed job and it's sadly a reoccurring problem with not only Ultraman but Tokusatsu releases across the board. Just look at what happened with Kamen Rider Agito, it's like Toku sent a script though Google Translate several times.<br /></p><p><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPw0Qrms8LNv9RumJlehjCRg_C6aBLs_C-ksDfe8f1R5BUziRcAlQuyXeXtTmbFEtz5rstw0qUweu8s-fVBbrLpIF74RTJN8qPJtAvR_Y5D7Jt-KyqjEzrgNJI02s10RF7pzX1q7XFP_O/s2048/honshin.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="970" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPw0Qrms8LNv9RumJlehjCRg_C6aBLs_C-ksDfe8f1R5BUziRcAlQuyXeXtTmbFEtz5rstw0qUweu8s-fVBbrLpIF74RTJN8qPJtAvR_Y5D7Jt-KyqjEzrgNJI02s10RF7pzX1q7XFP_O/s320/honshin.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>And with that said, while this doesn't pertain to this set entirely and I should probably bring it up when I get to Ultraman Ace, but I have to say this is tiring. Even though this along with Ultraman were the first releases, the QC or lack there of is not an isolated incident. I wish I should say things improved after the fact, but given how botched the Ginga release was with the missing booklet, I really can't. Plus taking a look back on Ultraman there are issues present as well with entire lines not being translated, not to mention the typos in Ultra Seven and RoU which I've already covered in my reviews.<br /></p><p><br />The fact is there's a massive issue in quality across the board. The only thing consistent is how every set has something iffy. Getting the sets out fast is the utmost priority-- and look, I love that the Ultra series is getting release, after release, at very affordable prices. I want the Showa stuff out too, these releases introduced me to Seven, which I adore as one of my favorite series. But I'd rather pay more and wait several months between sets and know they'll be the best they can be, not just barely acceptable. Yet Millcreek isn't showing a willingness to do that, just like Shout did with Sentai. The issues started here with Ultra Q and they're still happening. TsuPro isn't much better, opting to upload Gridman to youtube with the shoddy Toku subs as opposed to redoing them to resemble anything appearing as quality work.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PtrQBzSEGAB3456VMz3qOOZr_P9FR85MRH9r7A9nkqsZdxZNgypNayFaL4qisjMURuQXahT_9wOcAjJHc_P9RLcD4WrzhKqN5r-iIHvkK4q_tr6Td6im7dGbX_IwgR1uJBnXMCt966CF/s445/taro+cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="294" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PtrQBzSEGAB3456VMz3qOOZr_P9FR85MRH9r7A9nkqsZdxZNgypNayFaL4qisjMURuQXahT_9wOcAjJHc_P9RLcD4WrzhKqN5r-iIHvkK4q_tr6Td6im7dGbX_IwgR1uJBnXMCt966CF/s320/taro+cover.jpg" /></a></div><p>Now, in fairness I'm currently watching Ace and I haven't seen anything off...yet. Taro is the latest, released back in January after a delay from last year, one I'm hoping they used the extra time to polish up. Thus far, I've not heard anything. I'll also give credit to the work I've seen on the R/B set in regards to the translations and localization for all the puns and wordplay. It is most excellent and a very difficult thing to do, yet they handled it incredibly well.<br /></p><p><br />But for everything else? We've got at least four Showa series all with something funky going on either with their subs, booklets with misspellings, digital codes missing, the Steel case designs stacking the discs. There's always something up. It needs to be fixed even if it means slowing down and I'm hoping that's the case moving forward as, once again, I am starting to see better work. Now it's just a matter of keeping it up. </p><p>But considering there's just a two month gap from Taro this past January and Leo is releasing in April, I am a bit worried. But we'll cross that bridge when the time comes.<br /><br /><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: center;">Packaging<br /></h3><p></p><p></p><p><br /> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULa0ISbcR_0G8G9YYpNiDCxbeEI9rgxYoZE3R6XuacKGwrpNls08FNV_ORNEMIbrjfhhgMGL7vCJ5RI_IloduyfnffdPV77OQHlM5kf16FfTv4R48PKseZa9yPBdJFz0EYlSU78va-ye2/s2543/20201210_070815.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="2543" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULa0ISbcR_0G8G9YYpNiDCxbeEI9rgxYoZE3R6XuacKGwrpNls08FNV_ORNEMIbrjfhhgMGL7vCJ5RI_IloduyfnffdPV77OQHlM5kf16FfTv4R48PKseZa9yPBdJFz0EYlSU78va-ye2/s320/20201210_070815.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQEJj1oYYVwfW-nqZ0bnSSPA9AUZFE3ndVFhh7ut_Y1oofaekjYK9TYlMYa0GPVJhMSNmrgh9sf4uqQEYCDFuLc0K-30AHko6-Dx1AnKchULSEa2BWHRI6WYBvHfiz-QFQlONAsIxH1sN/s2543/20201210_070802.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="2543" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQEJj1oYYVwfW-nqZ0bnSSPA9AUZFE3ndVFhh7ut_Y1oofaekjYK9TYlMYa0GPVJhMSNmrgh9sf4uqQEYCDFuLc0K-30AHko6-Dx1AnKchULSEa2BWHRI6WYBvHfiz-QFQlONAsIxH1sN/s320/20201210_070802.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>I've gone over this design format many times, it works and I like it.<br />But it is interesting since this series predates Ultraman that this is the only set without an Ultra, just Shodai Ultraman's hand. It's also the only set with black text for the text as opposed to the red.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOvCU8kiS14G7c6GKRzYqpPKU5viwvMG7Fup56MRNdOrVnLOtN7wKje86FkTsMwAK1u26Q1IosdHv8WqIeAJsykBaRqHsS_dhjRopj6h9rBUJJTvPvjMaALumUw9R8lGc04gPV1Ll5MUz/s2543/20201210_070920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="2543" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOvCU8kiS14G7c6GKRzYqpPKU5viwvMG7Fup56MRNdOrVnLOtN7wKje86FkTsMwAK1u26Q1IosdHv8WqIeAJsykBaRqHsS_dhjRopj6h9rBUJJTvPvjMaALumUw9R8lGc04gPV1Ll5MUz/s320/20201210_070920.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />I will note the most surprising thing to me is I was expecting a Black and White cover for the insert, but instead it's using the colorized images from the Japanese Anniversary edition, much like the Shout release. Makes me wonder if they'll ever do a color version release over here.<p></p><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGp8zgR0HRBAbLKrwNoRT2ENaMamORHNo2t50mPs8jAIvOawzH7fGdomKRSjaKkPbn9VSe5T9tVIp1cp6e1vGxspRrEwH0VwV3YV1CatOee7NHrwgKVcnHJ7zHz6U7eIn19YDzdgeGl3If/s2543/20201210_071005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="2543" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGp8zgR0HRBAbLKrwNoRT2ENaMamORHNo2t50mPs8jAIvOawzH7fGdomKRSjaKkPbn9VSe5T9tVIp1cp6e1vGxspRrEwH0VwV3YV1CatOee7NHrwgKVcnHJ7zHz6U7eIn19YDzdgeGl3If/s320/20201210_071005.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br />The other thing of note is this is the only Showa series under 6 discs due to the shorter episode count, so you end up with some extra space, a design choice I'm perfectly fine with for both consistency <i>and</i> quality given that my experience with the slender multipacks, like Orb, are less than stellar.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: center;">Suggested episodes. </h3><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p>I'm going to be real here, I tried really hard to think of stuff to put here. Usually when I watch a Toku series I'll get to an episode that just grabs me and I know unless it does something really stupid it's going on a best of list. It can be above average to excellent. That was difficult to do for Ultra Q due to the limited number of episodes and a fairly consistent quality for better or worse. It honestly wouldn't be a bad idea to simply look at the featured monsters of any given episode and watch solely on that alone, because in a lot of cases the ones with the most iconic monsters are also the most entertaining.<br /></p><p> </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPcsCHKkQhSWwjJz6owCm4-fHmzV5DweqqQ-w_0PInF959q0U6uR8w2gBZq-JMQWzEz5vNx7bcBooigo-gqskjU4IHH-SndnR1WL3Db6Oa7WHe3I2-mVDsj4uh56L-v9mrWDG7ghgmmjz/s749/ep+8.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="749" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPcsCHKkQhSWwjJz6owCm4-fHmzV5DweqqQ-w_0PInF959q0U6uR8w2gBZq-JMQWzEz5vNx7bcBooigo-gqskjU4IHH-SndnR1WL3Db6Oa7WHe3I2-mVDsj4uh56L-v9mrWDG7ghgmmjz/s320/ep+8.png" width="320" /></a></div><b>Ep. 8 Terror of Sweet Honey</b><br /><p>D:Koji Kajita W: Tetsuo Kenjo. <br /></p><p>This what I consider to be the first high-end episode. The opening is one of the best, featuring an eerie atmosphere that goes along with the suspenseful narration perfectly.</p><p></p><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSh4RXxBNaJZaW2Gl_HHd5Ta7N_7nlhz111LW777TXJ1BQttoucOP5aPLY6Sw807PkTbOaJPjlYzCOdGmvXmz33B9WKS-WBjxp3zHAU3mDJlomvs7JfCA1H2pUUgD9spkYJs80msaPFUvH/s673/episode+8.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="673" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSh4RXxBNaJZaW2Gl_HHd5Ta7N_7nlhz111LW777TXJ1BQttoucOP5aPLY6Sw807PkTbOaJPjlYzCOdGmvXmz33B9WKS-WBjxp3zHAU3mDJlomvs7JfCA1H2pUUgD9spkYJs80msaPFUvH/s320/episode+8.png" width="320" /></a></div> The rest of the episode is top-notch. It utilizes its cast wonderfully with solid human conflict between a scientist jealous of his engaged colleague who tries to frame him. There's great use of lighting, miniatures, and mixing in stock footage nearly seamlessly. Yuriko does some good investigative work on a mysterious break-in that set off the strange events resulting in a giant mutated mole that runs amok, and the finale plays out a lot like 'THEM!' with the monster in a tunnel system being flushed out. The creature itself isn't anything too special this episode, just a giant mole, but that's the only thing I could point as a negative if you even wanna call it that.<br />It's overall is a really enjoyable episode, aside from having the most infamous subs of the set, though that's not a fault of the episode itself.<br /><br /><p></p><p><br /> </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNI-hwK6-W4OKnGQmeCrnWOHadlIzDW7iXLsh8QkCW3Q8iuS6_aB5kzLcSOdGISRt_3zDj-7nYDPIgDjBTAxqgsmllGJIWtELFpxhgnTfdy4zEku0ifRvj8IioPvhtCDuy7EVgiPYlB-U0/s747/ep+9+barron+spider.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="747" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNI-hwK6-W4OKnGQmeCrnWOHadlIzDW7iXLsh8QkCW3Q8iuS6_aB5kzLcSOdGISRt_3zDj-7nYDPIgDjBTAxqgsmllGJIWtELFpxhgnTfdy4zEku0ifRvj8IioPvhtCDuy7EVgiPYlB-U0/s320/ep+9+barron+spider.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b>Ep. 9 Baron Spider </b><br /></p><p>D:Hajima Tsuburaya W:Tetsuo Kinjo. <br /></p><p>Let's get this out of the way first, this is not a "good" episode and normally would not make my list, but it's a so schlocky it's enjoyable. If the last episode was a higher-end B movie, then this is a William Castle flick gone wrong. There's a nice spooky atmosphere in which the group gets caught in a swamp after a break down and they end up in a creepy old mansion where two giant spiders try to pick them off. A ludicrous backstory is told about the giant Spiders being a Baron and his daughter who died via some rare poisonous tarantula and it doesn't make a lot of sense, it's dumb as hell-- but in the best way possible. It's simply goofy fun.<br /><br /><br /><b> </b></p><p><b> </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWdfqNrSD8eL0tW-7c2-lOF21764ey7Zf_RpvSitj2q17HjBCNd5ez_71qmzy2YvGXWiUF0Dx5KfYlpZMhT2uObqT4F7OYihXfifWV3JrvW4rxEkRgJGT3e2_ucLajOQkbmUlDRemv0wN/s739/kanegon+title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="739" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWdfqNrSD8eL0tW-7c2-lOF21764ey7Zf_RpvSitj2q17HjBCNd5ez_71qmzy2YvGXWiUF0Dx5KfYlpZMhT2uObqT4F7OYihXfifWV3JrvW4rxEkRgJGT3e2_ucLajOQkbmUlDRemv0wN/s320/kanegon+title.png" width="320" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p><b>Ep. 15 Kanegon's Cocoon</b></p><p>D:Harunosuke Nakagawa. W:Masahiro Yamada.<br /></p><p><br />This episode honestly took me a bit by surprise. The plot is simple enough: A greedy kid finds a small cocoon supposedly filled with money and he attempts to grow it to get more money. Because this is <strike>The Unbalanced Zone</strike> Ultra Q it of course works but he's sucked in and becomes a coin eating monster for his greed. From there episode sorta becomes a humorous drama as the kid tries to figure out how to turn back, while also needing to rely on those he cheated and stole from. I think this is the best kid-centric episode. It flows well with the format of the series by having a good morality tale, serious stakes, and just enough whimsical angles without feeling torn between either. There's also a lot of surreal trippy scenes and some truly beautiful shots as seen above. Hell, even the ending fits just right being both comedic and ironic.<br />If I suggest watching any episode from Ultra Q it's this one, it's honestly my favorite. How weird that it's one without a giant monster or even the main cast beyond a cameo.<br /><br /><br /> </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAEN2fPi-wS2MawCS-NBmMYev7cSE7nS-VEO6DtIoBVF4KPHP8Z5lWfGf8nVWwgjjBad5Y6MVveLR1RmZ8siJRYpKz5jD3YmWza0X1qvop65Wmu0A0sfxmkn4mVTCyxq-vUbYxvzkpd63/s1023/epn19.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="1023" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAEN2fPi-wS2MawCS-NBmMYev7cSE7nS-VEO6DtIoBVF4KPHP8Z5lWfGf8nVWwgjjBad5Y6MVveLR1RmZ8siJRYpKz5jD3YmWza0X1qvop65Wmu0A0sfxmkn4mVTCyxq-vUbYxvzkpd63/s320/epn19.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b> Ep. 19 Challenge from the year 2020</b></p><div class="pi-item pi-data pi-item-spacing pi-border-color" data-source="director">
<p class="pi-data-label pi-secondary-font" style="text-align: left;">D: <span style="font-weight: normal;">Toshihiro Iijima. W: </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Tetsuo Kinjo & Kitao Senzoku.</span></p>
</div><p>I briefly touched upon this one earlier, citing the how two J.S.D.F. jets get shot down by a UFO and there's major doubt among the higher brass, despite an alien invasion causing the destruction of Tokyo Tower a while back. Although that is a minor annoyance, the rest of the episode is an almost perfect encapsulation of what I enjoy in an Ultra Q episode. This may also be familiar to Ultraman Z viewers, who will know that the 18th episode of Z is a sequel to this one.</p><p>Shortly after the appearance of the UFO, people begin mysteriously disappearing. Jun himself becomes one of the abductees after the group investigates the area of the initial sighting, the only clue being a mysterious glob of jelly that quickly disappears. An investigator, Udagawa, claims that he's been tracking the disappearances and that it's the work of a time traveling alien race named Kemur. However, his story is bizarrely reminiscent of a recent Sci-Fi novel, Challenge from the year 2020. But as the kidnappings continue, Yuriko now among them, the book appears more prophetic. It comes down to Ippei and Major Amano who consult the book and find the way to defeat the otherwise impervious Kemur.<br /></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><h3 style="text-align: center;">Final thoughts.</h3><p style="text-align: left;"><br />I went into Ultra Q not knowing what to expect aside from the basic premise and production stuff from reading books like Master of Monsters and the handy little booklet included with the set. While I was by no means disappointed, I wasn't exactly wowed either. As impressive as the show looks, its stories are a mixed bag. At the end of the day, it's a perfectly okay show. It has the fun 60s vibe of aliens, monsters, and spy stuff. But don't expect some hidden gem that predates Ultraman. While ground breaking in its day, Ultra Q is a double edged sword of incredible special effects in an incredibly average show with very few stand out episodes that- with the one exception- never really rise above a fun B-movie, and they certainly do not stand out among the rest of the Ultra library. Make no mistake, it's an incredibly important foundation, but that's all it is.<br /></p><p>This honestly made reviewing the series kinda boring for me, as it's qualities are neither great nor numerous enough to result in a shower of praise, nor its faults capable of sparking an in-depth critique or anger.<br /><br /> </p><p>The show is short, at least by most Tokusatsu standards. At 28 episodes it's just 4 episodes more than Kamen Rider Amazon and 4 episodes shorter than the first season of The Outer Limits. Actually about the average run of a modern Ultra Series, now that I think about it.<br />But despite its short inoffensive nature, it's hard for me to suggest Ultra Q as little more than a curiosity. Something to watch from a meta-perspective in seeing the franchise start and progress rather than watching it for its own merits. Every positive quality here is duplicated and expanded upon in Ultraman, and while Ultraman has is own set of growing pains, they're minor and it's a more enjoyable experience overall with a charm that Q simply doesn't have. I'm sad to say its successor simply casts too big of a shadow.<br /></p><p></p><p></p><p><br /> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7KMxkNVqBcGv606AanLvu6sRU44hHbpqNcZWBb-SGLVfXi_jSc7mAz4q6ofbfmygmKcG4H8R2EA0OhLt2DK8RJJxuC2U-KwJ9lSgnjwzSUWmClpD4qX4rJV14vkAPQDp9ynFEy0h1JIe/s741/mediocre.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="741" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7KMxkNVqBcGv606AanLvu6sRU44hHbpqNcZWBb-SGLVfXi_jSc7mAz4q6ofbfmygmKcG4H8R2EA0OhLt2DK8RJJxuC2U-KwJ9lSgnjwzSUWmClpD4qX4rJV14vkAPQDp9ynFEy0h1JIe/s320/mediocre.png" width="320" /></a></div>If you want to see how TsuPro got their start or want something for late-night viewing as you doze on the couch, then yeah, Ultra Q is perfect for that. But if you want more depth or are someone deciding between buying Ultra Q or another series, pick Ultraman first, then pick up Seven. Those are my big recommendations for starting Showa Ultra. Your time is better spent on them.<br /><br />Although if you're still on the fence, Q along with many other Ultra series are airing on Tokushoutsu, Tubi and even Youtube, for free. I think that would be a good opportunity to gauge for yourself if it's worth picking up, or at least watching select episodes <p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p>In any case, I feel somewhat guilty being so indifferent on Ultra Q. It feels like it's been a while since I've reviewed something I can truly recommend, gush over, and give a proper critiquing to. But while I am enjoying my time with Ace, I already have something written up before I get to it.</p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp565kAitneom-m_P2UyL4D5Kgvzj5Wuvt8qootS0ss1GgMJsl-1HJACZaQGjHGaMjF1BuXp1H0LwqQhlZgx6Wvv1Suhw3bYlLXw5Oy9pjV-u7hdZxdkuc4LkAOo0Ypln0fHuXRBQ6rV7F/s348/black+walk.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="263" data-original-width="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp565kAitneom-m_P2UyL4D5Kgvzj5Wuvt8qootS0ss1GgMJsl-1HJACZaQGjHGaMjF1BuXp1H0LwqQhlZgx6Wvv1Suhw3bYlLXw5Oy9pjV-u7hdZxdkuc4LkAOo0Ypln0fHuXRBQ6rV7F/s320/black+walk.gif" width="320" /></a></div><p> </p><p>Oh, and I'm hoping to do this sort of thing more frequently. I've been pretty sporadic with reviews, but I've got something of an actual schedule going and should be on the ball (barring any life issues). So if you like these reviews and can spare it, please consider tossing a dollar towards my kofi page. Any and every little bit helps. <a href="https://ko-fi.com/kamen_writer">https://ko-fi.com/kamen_writer</a><br /></p>Kamen Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02832099141882322022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505042118996520039.post-25156635819135244292020-08-02T04:06:00.000-04:002020-08-02T04:06:33.453-04:00Tokkei Winspector Review.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWRIp82CeerZ0z8BJ86rj2ZrCqmiPBPuDAam5G0TJsjb290P_AwYuOUbf2ZlkMNJujlr5E0oelvlAnLJ3t59Q92TQHWPX92JAw_YiPiA8TLxnD1mWfM6Os22Zg1e775hjqIIqlYw0mcPK/s625/title+op.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWRIp82CeerZ0z8BJ86rj2ZrCqmiPBPuDAam5G0TJsjb290P_AwYuOUbf2ZlkMNJujlr5E0oelvlAnLJ3t59Q92TQHWPX92JAw_YiPiA8TLxnD1mWfM6Os22Zg1e775hjqIIqlYw0mcPK/s320/title+op.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Boy, I sure picked a hell of a time to review a police drama show.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Winspector is a series I had been planning to review as far back as 2016, but never got around to it for one reason or another. Part of the problem was I wasn't sure how to approach it given both it's structure and the nature of my reviews at the time which lacked episode recommendations- which I think is the best way to suggest something to someone, rather than just broad overviews.<br /><br />But with that said, let's get into the show proper.<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Contents.<br /><br />Story and Characters.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">SFX.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Subs.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Music.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Episode recommendations.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Final thoughts.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>Story and Characters.</h3></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>It's 1999 and technology is advancing at a rapid pace. With it, crime has become more advanced and sophisticated, the threats and need to combat them has called forth a new service combing all three first responders as the Metropolitan Police Special Emergency Unit: Winspector.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis71FzxOgcnVRZ9kmO1BL3e9vm0zw1l_XEAmKmVc9uk70fckWB5hQnaIjX4SAcnwtJTlfXM9g7EYEaP-V4rByQvEMMc6pvgFWmIxo1UxpO3nDSA7UpdlzrJxwJOZfq9IgxlmcxmKwuny9g/s629/Ryoma+1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="629" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis71FzxOgcnVRZ9kmO1BL3e9vm0zw1l_XEAmKmVc9uk70fckWB5hQnaIjX4SAcnwtJTlfXM9g7EYEaP-V4rByQvEMMc6pvgFWmIxo1UxpO3nDSA7UpdlzrJxwJOZfq9IgxlmcxmKwuny9g/s320/Ryoma+1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnb0R1L0fJQg7tec7XOlP01ayd90f7jt31k3AKLPYSIIGegeEy4tqxTbZits7uzgTsArIdKVtl685NsMMi7SCXSYp1OgNdrSpNimoFTXOTpJw9Gb-iVjF-gEzXiP_Z43cqnWt4arU3aPrP/s638/fire.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnb0R1L0fJQg7tec7XOlP01ayd90f7jt31k3AKLPYSIIGegeEy4tqxTbZits7uzgTsArIdKVtl685NsMMi7SCXSYp1OgNdrSpNimoFTXOTpJw9Gb-iVjF-gEzXiP_Z43cqnWt4arU3aPrP/s320/fire.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>Ryoma Kagawa/Fire.</div><b>Portrayed by:</b> Masaru Yamashita.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Ryoma is the main protagonist of the show and Captain of the Winspector team. He's clearly passionate about his work in helping others and is overall a kind person.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">An early episode that shows off this side is ep. 8 in which three civilians start their own very basic version of Winspector. Though they do little more than rescue cats, Ryoma legitimately appreciates and encourages their efforts since it's still helping people. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAUnuoPhCK53wVmBQpohf2VS9OrMPNkaliqbOiSbuwHVpp1L1gneYcTwAJxscaZRzM1D3aXkd62wE30c5zDkMLPROKJe5WhuFWuo5JO_FUEzbf7R9Bgi744rCILdI1TEg7uuMQVI_MLwTd/s1366/ep+8+help+others.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAUnuoPhCK53wVmBQpohf2VS9OrMPNkaliqbOiSbuwHVpp1L1gneYcTwAJxscaZRzM1D3aXkd62wE30c5zDkMLPROKJe5WhuFWuo5JO_FUEzbf7R9Bgi744rCILdI1TEg7uuMQVI_MLwTd/s320/ep+8+help+others.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Shortly there after in ep. 10 we see just how devoted Ryoma is. The suit he wears, the Cross Tector, only lasts for about five minutes. It's not an issue of energy running out like for an Ultra, but the suit puts a massive strain on the user and it becomes mentally and physically unbearable. Something that is exemplified quite well when his removes the helmet and a bucket of sweat falls out.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilFMKDQqROyV-v8NHYPif-8ynaNinl9OiKIeuCnL-XyY9a74MRixyirfoQ3eIlKHv5FCFwkwv6FUP1zIm2M21L2tnUJmd9L727aLb8kT9IbVbatWxyYmYH6hx7CXi6YsrT0WYEeyUtShRI/s1366/ep+10.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilFMKDQqROyV-v8NHYPif-8ynaNinl9OiKIeuCnL-XyY9a74MRixyirfoQ3eIlKHv5FCFwkwv6FUP1zIm2M21L2tnUJmd9L727aLb8kT9IbVbatWxyYmYH6hx7CXi6YsrT0WYEeyUtShRI/s320/ep+10.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">He desperately wants to cross the five minute limit on the Cross Tector suit, and has been training ridiculously hard to no avail. The suit is simply too harsh, yet Ryoma refuses to give up. Even if it's just a few seconds, its a few more precious seconds to save someone.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Why Ryoma is so passionate about saving people isn't really delved into at all until the last episodes, which is the one caveat it take with him. I wish there was more alluding to the why before the final two, but at the same time Winspector is not a show that focuses too much on the personal lives of its primary cast. It's more about the work with only a handful of exceptions.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlODne5bnOL-ESWdfBf_4J0OG86h36wwg0LcbJyFCjsquK3M-yEdkYhWGoXO6bB3K81peaOxiJ-5xAN95a3LjxpcRAK7GZZEU25iE3W1HPa8orlcv8_otwMmJ53kgVNEthb93gvoXUkYlm/s637/Bikel+1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="637" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlODne5bnOL-ESWdfBf_4J0OG86h36wwg0LcbJyFCjsquK3M-yEdkYhWGoXO6bB3K81peaOxiJ-5xAN95a3LjxpcRAK7GZZEU25iE3W1HPa8orlcv8_otwMmJ53kgVNEthb93gvoXUkYlm/s320/Bikel+1.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Bikel.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Portrayed by:</b> Kaoru Shinoda<span style="font-weight: normal;"> (Voice)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">One of two robots in Winspector, Bikel is the primary source
of comic relief in the series. He's a bit of a goofball and very
accident prone compared to his more straitlaced brother. Bikel also has
a surprising amount of dedicated episodes- more than any other cast
member. These episodes tend to focus on his origins, the founding days
of Winspector and his on going development as an AI. He also stands out among the other cast due to his distinctive Nagoya accent and dialect.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5PvNq8_vs4xJXhYudq-Vl8Wer91itoiWUJvYi4sl_ZO0zY3P5rR1xKGv4KYkW3suitKlbNT_KV0jG805NHM69DRj9Xzmu5Cdned4oP4CY6gqC2q2qV1ymuNDYaUY_IL4YAi5iIwuBjhuD/s634/Walter+1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5PvNq8_vs4xJXhYudq-Vl8Wer91itoiWUJvYi4sl_ZO0zY3P5rR1xKGv4KYkW3suitKlbNT_KV0jG805NHM69DRj9Xzmu5Cdned4oP4CY6gqC2q2qV1ymuNDYaUY_IL4YAi5iIwuBjhuD/s320/Walter+1.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Walter.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Portrayed by:</b> Seiichi Hirai (Voice)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Walter
is pretty much the polar opposite of Bikel. If one zigs, the other
zags. Walter is painfully by the books and super professional in every meticulous aspect of his duty. Very monotone and fairly well spoken.</div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcm8WnodhM9sslNfXmZrj71DtaVfqVPNWtHbKetvvT7EIZdxKs1-G0cLv8-1YWsrEaWFS4Z8-Da3FZ3od7tMbxPosMZuxmBuv_K11CK7131mgYUA467wxLxaRFJ_SH0584hakAGgzSJ33E/s635/masaki.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="635" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcm8WnodhM9sslNfXmZrj71DtaVfqVPNWtHbKetvvT7EIZdxKs1-G0cLv8-1YWsrEaWFS4Z8-Da3FZ3od7tMbxPosMZuxmBuv_K11CK7131mgYUA467wxLxaRFJ_SH0584hakAGgzSJ33E/s320/masaki.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Shunsuke Masaki.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Portrayed by:</b> Hiroshi Miyauchi.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Founder and Commander of Winspector, he was inspired to develop the team six year prior by his close friend and partner, Masanobu Koyama, who was concerned at the increasing dangers of the world.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Koyama would end up sacrificing himself to prevent a bomb from taking out a train, leaving Masaki to carry on his vision. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Masaki by in large stays within headquarters or on the scene without direct involvement beyond giving orders and dispensing wisdom in brief intermittent thoughts, while also keeping everyone in-line and focused. Despite this, he's still fairly relaxed and pleasant.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There are however a few occasions when Masaki has taken it upon himself to get his hands dirty and intervenes in situations that are extremely dangerous or in instances where Ryoma is compromised.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div>What really makes his character work is Hiroshi Miyauchi, who I have stated is one of my favorite toku actors, as he always brings a great energy to his roles. At the point in time when Winspector was made he was the perfect fit for a mentor or high up leader type role. Masaki is a fairly basic character over all, but because of a few stand out episodes and Miyauchi's charisma, he ends up being a really great one.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPf8oIequLB2saOpScgO7u0jwdnzaW0acEkiGsXA08ChpsKUUNr6zVH7eGZFS5fj_snCv9hvNM_TFWWjMH5dF02n7SUVYwr7PDalN1cm1RV3p7l6cunhPUHpEmQ3Q3ukhWSspTyznf9_pY/s637/Junko.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="637" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPf8oIequLB2saOpScgO7u0jwdnzaW0acEkiGsXA08ChpsKUUNr6zVH7eGZFS5fj_snCv9hvNM_TFWWjMH5dF02n7SUVYwr7PDalN1cm1RV3p7l6cunhPUHpEmQ3Q3ukhWSspTyznf9_pY/s320/Junko.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Junko Fujino.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Portrayed by:</b> Mami Nakanishi.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Junko is a detective and expert markswoman who handles more down to earth if not necessarily safe situations. Ranging from gathering Intel on a case (sometimes alongside Ryoma) to apprehending dangerous suspects single handedly where the main trio would be over doing it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2SdS4HjlKZ6S-13_Sfa_EAEelda3Ca_91zdjpvayJXahAYYeCzgFbiea6RIGjj5rpVR4uZZRAp7b8FHarN0ZYO2xX9IQJwuTKwJqITdNHTdRIMw9WBS9VfLzLWDACO11bMWVZ4ZxtE1T/s633/Hisako.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="633" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2SdS4HjlKZ6S-13_Sfa_EAEelda3Ca_91zdjpvayJXahAYYeCzgFbiea6RIGjj5rpVR4uZZRAp7b8FHarN0ZYO2xX9IQJwuTKwJqITdNHTdRIMw9WBS9VfLzLWDACO11bMWVZ4ZxtE1T/s320/Hisako.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Hisako Koyama</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Potrayed by:</b> Sachiko Oguri.<span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></div>Koyama is another member of Winspector in a rather unique position. In her daily life she runs a cafe while taking care of her little brother Ryōta, but occasionally she's called in by Masaki when a situation needs a more delicate touch. Whereas Junko is a bit more hands on, Hisako specializes in undercover work and trailing suspects.<br /><div style="text-align: left;">Her connection to Winspector largely came about from her late father, Masanobu.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSo_TYP5XWFK5vg1LR5nVg8Lvon2PGIIdEf7U4OmJ6y3bQw-9-gGxGxjvksaR1tjoOwhgA0iBb3wcARb8_nFhkNuWyondE9QD-4MRhWjq0sdlJ5Aba3IcASNkN16pBs_5uotv7b6pfK8t2/s1022/demitasse.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="1022" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSo_TYP5XWFK5vg1LR5nVg8Lvon2PGIIdEf7U4OmJ6y3bQw-9-gGxGxjvksaR1tjoOwhgA0iBb3wcARb8_nFhkNuWyondE9QD-4MRhWjq0sdlJ5Aba3IcASNkN16pBs_5uotv7b6pfK8t2/s320/demitasse.png" width="320" /></a></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div><br /></div><div>Demitasse.</div><div><b>Portrayed by:</b> Issei Futamata (Voice)</div><div>A
piece of equipment that is character in his own right, Demitasse is a
smart ass mini robot disguised as a coffee can. He's capable of repairing the two bots in the field and transmitting footage wirelessly and a number of clandestine operations due to his small nature. <br /></div><div>I really think people
are either going to love or hate this bastard because he's almost always
insulting everyone, but I kinda enjoy his banter, especially when taking
the piss out of Bikel.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNMIWjnaVthWY7oGbQEjiFJ9NlJ2l18ib0rggg7O3TdhqZZcBhMxSXB2s0y9PUemPH57TsoQW53pgJ8U4ruHJLSqTB9TABXaxBzEQ1IIPWnzzJtlrIG7J7UNs9CHjiqEylSG5VGngbhqY/s1020/MADDOX.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1020" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNMIWjnaVthWY7oGbQEjiFJ9NlJ2l18ib0rggg7O3TdhqZZcBhMxSXB2s0y9PUemPH57TsoQW53pgJ8U4ruHJLSqTB9TABXaxBzEQ1IIPWnzzJtlrIG7J7UNs9CHjiqEylSG5VGngbhqY/s320/MADDOX.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">MADDOX</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Portrayed by:</b> Kazuhiko Kishino (Voice)</div><div style="text-align: left;">A highly intelligent AI connected to the all criminal databases within Japan and Interpol.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHkLAOYr6puaSNfHCue3owmbf0PeZum7PpbLPo3UdbpO5lzz47IrUbe8fPEwW0SulRS3vOO-C49tVj2HbL_AehoSdedYRz-RfLKgKar4Fe03ZbFG9vlUPhsdTl6d9yquEFufJiYk_XPxfV/s637/Yuko.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="637" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHkLAOYr6puaSNfHCue3owmbf0PeZum7PpbLPo3UdbpO5lzz47IrUbe8fPEwW0SulRS3vOO-C49tVj2HbL_AehoSdedYRz-RfLKgKar4Fe03ZbFG9vlUPhsdTl6d9yquEFufJiYk_XPxfV/s320/Yuko.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Yuko Kagawa.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Portrayed by:</b> Yura Hoshikawa.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Ryoma's litter sister who lives quite a distance from her brother, mostly spending her time revitalizing the environment of an area affected by a chemical dump. She makes several appearances across the series and usually ends up kidnapped.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Story-wise Winspector is at first glance a bit similar to a Showa era Ultra Series. It's primarily an episodic show with mostly self-contained episodes barring two parters, wherein the focus is team dealing with the issues of the day. There's no overarching villain, no long continuous or reoccurring plot. The closest the series comes to that is Bikel's development and origins. Even the monsters of the week are more often human than a fantasy creature. There's cyborgs and mutants, but it almost always comes back to someone else that isn't as fantastical. I find this one the most appealing aspect which sets Winspector apart from other Toei series in this genre.</div><div><br /></div><span></span><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSb6PzuY0lEtwB73R-PPlx4TINccSwHRk549m09TLrStq3CkA8nEqz3nrEhyefzjTVq4dlHJsH5L6tqJ5oAiP_4YQuNC4Tk0AkS4GRAhK3LjwPUB1Kn-diZ7W_zHDGmMDSZrxd5S_G2ed/s1024/what+we+did.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSb6PzuY0lEtwB73R-PPlx4TINccSwHRk549m09TLrStq3CkA8nEqz3nrEhyefzjTVq4dlHJsH5L6tqJ5oAiP_4YQuNC4Tk0AkS4GRAhK3LjwPUB1Kn-diZ7W_zHDGmMDSZrxd5S_G2ed/s320/what+we+did.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span></span><div><span></span>The show's brilliance lies is in it's ability to craft a captivating narrative just about every single episode. There's always a new villain or threat ranging from the absurd to the mundane levels of crime, which can be anything from the tragic story of a vigilante going on a rampage against a biker gang, to a killer bird trained to attack people covered in gold dust. About the only thing Winspector tends to avoid is mystical plots, with one episode in particular being the exception. The show skews more towards fringe science and Sci-fi with a lot of police and crime drama elements, which Toei has had decades of experience with.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JB95EHSUmdLd_oDwxiAFIMFAQOWw9dFT-lGZSJZZIy7r3hckQ97QqQKFxX8XG4dSr_8HNKhLY_1GcPxj8NxOLNj-Nz8FZYrRfBFcKuP_RFgOrc0znmQ_fBII9AOAOM4ebVeETG_HYlTV/s633/puppets.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="471" data-original-width="633" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JB95EHSUmdLd_oDwxiAFIMFAQOWw9dFT-lGZSJZZIy7r3hckQ97QqQKFxX8XG4dSr_8HNKhLY_1GcPxj8NxOLNj-Nz8FZYrRfBFcKuP_RFgOrc0znmQ_fBII9AOAOM4ebVeETG_HYlTV/w324-h242/puppets.png" width="324" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The story types are what you would typically see around this
time. Episodes with environmental themes, weird new age spiritual
movements, out of control corporate greed, or science gone wrong somehow. <br />Winspector started filming in
'89 and aired in '90 so a lot of those stories are carry overs from the
80s. If you've seen <i>Kamen Rider Black</i> or <i>Maskman</i> you've probably seen
similar elements of how fiction of the time was simultaneously fearful
and optimistic of the coming decade and this would repeat again in the lead up to 2000, no doubt as a result of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Decade_(Japan)">lost decade</a>.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Winspector
was perhaps a bit ahead of it's time being set in 1999, which just drives it further home. You'd see this hope and
anxiety crop up again in GoGo-V and Timeranger, if albeit
without the new age cult stuff, which was certainly a relic of the 1980s (although is still very much a problem in Japan, even today).</div><div style="text-align: left;">One thing I can say is even for the really out there crazy episodes, Winspector remained fascinating and entertaining no matter what.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7fH1megrJRmin_5wTxqGGWaNxclL9hFEm0feoLfUMkYsbDZALuWnqgUjFsLGX77H1SXKSlRU4Jx6DLutO8716kEZoZU7tjBs7Gvz134isWFcJXbCZ5H_a-spC9YYvj-XUnbdHfEmfI0i/s300/bird+drop.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="227" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7fH1megrJRmin_5wTxqGGWaNxclL9hFEm0feoLfUMkYsbDZALuWnqgUjFsLGX77H1SXKSlRU4Jx6DLutO8716kEZoZU7tjBs7Gvz134isWFcJXbCZ5H_a-spC9YYvj-XUnbdHfEmfI0i/s0/bird+drop.gif" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">While the series is largely devoid of a serialized story, there are still reoccurring thematics and character focused episodes. (though the later tends to be only one or two per character).<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thematically the most obvious is the rather unique perspective of treating most criminals as victims.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTqaStoMhuwliyQYTjNMbm67qSMVDNgwPu4pz0y3YdD5Nk3OPWD-XUU8GJZcFhY5RwCyzral6LFltyeTtfa9MR-k55vKLJT3pnbnw0-Ia6JyBcSriMfsj7TXZE08_ltppvfqh8TFQjzIv/s1023/victim+too+1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1023" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTqaStoMhuwliyQYTjNMbm67qSMVDNgwPu4pz0y3YdD5Nk3OPWD-XUU8GJZcFhY5RwCyzral6LFltyeTtfa9MR-k55vKLJT3pnbnw0-Ia6JyBcSriMfsj7TXZE08_ltppvfqh8TFQjzIv/s320/victim+too+1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="height: 276px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 349px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbGucA5jIe-u1QJSNDQ-9Nfl4Piw-H7vI-mfQy2GKVlPL7zX7sS81Jl04Tv5YSiIzeah69rDY3Bfd_0WlBHhT7ZgGokc5sBWYu4_KQ-OiCNmZ7w2vsxVJWVQBu2whPT1XzBz1SC8aWhfw/s1022/victim+too+2.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1022" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbGucA5jIe-u1QJSNDQ-9Nfl4Piw-H7vI-mfQy2GKVlPL7zX7sS81Jl04Tv5YSiIzeah69rDY3Bfd_0WlBHhT7ZgGokc5sBWYu4_KQ-OiCNmZ7w2vsxVJWVQBu2whPT1XzBz1SC8aWhfw/s320/victim+too+2.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I know what you're thinking and no I'm not making the joke.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"> The human criminals are more often than not, sympathetic to some degree. Some are simply outright monsters, unapologetic or have severe control issues. But many fall into a morale grey area of having understandable motives for why they are pushed into difficult situations, usually via some societal ill.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6i30oU5jN7TmTuzY_K9k5ObS8U8UlqpCZHVZy4iSrkewQQ1ik-re-gDWhJGshr8N4YuJI5qos4muzIxd9E6d3KnWzyidVeXgsD42NGYdpHSuBrhe5pzCMMFCtuJakYt-IF-p2Nc_X0N_/s1366/money+1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6i30oU5jN7TmTuzY_K9k5ObS8U8UlqpCZHVZy4iSrkewQQ1ik-re-gDWhJGshr8N4YuJI5qos4muzIxd9E6d3KnWzyidVeXgsD42NGYdpHSuBrhe5pzCMMFCtuJakYt-IF-p2Nc_X0N_/w400-h225/money+1.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJEwFBzdfJoRLMfx6QmLGcteMK9XxKUfiHJeL9D_AWxbDI6tftC6Zf75kmAqbiaxxqSE-dlilTgk8mNnTB6kpG6-sarpL0_1KdkcnMtu-bGlx-uNHD0eXqE23ms4eI3EUuxjI7Wj-WgpxV/s1366/money+2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJEwFBzdfJoRLMfx6QmLGcteMK9XxKUfiHJeL9D_AWxbDI6tftC6Zf75kmAqbiaxxqSE-dlilTgk8mNnTB6kpG6-sarpL0_1KdkcnMtu-bGlx-uNHD0eXqE23ms4eI3EUuxjI7Wj-WgpxV/w400-h225/money+2.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You get glimpses into these people's lives and are able to understand how this could happen, even if in the end many of their actions are wrong. It's a sharp contrast to most toku shows where the antagonists are typically blown up by the end of the episode in most instances. I suppose that would be out of the question given the majority of them being human, but it also illustrates another point which is Winspector doesn't really ever aim to harm unless absolutely necessary, they are a rescue team first and foremost and that includes rescuing criminals from their own misguided actions, providing them with a chance to change or atone, something that becomes a key plot point by the end of the series.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjda25ylKfpO0srcaokdJGp4i3QuFKrEfBZx4YI4hBxpd-SUOcNc47NUOqO7PRH3G9hFC_p1qypzPQ7-hIa5bYORhSTkY8PBj6QTSItSujqeaqi5A2KXLf8Eysckzw1c17KkjZtY7H7Uki-/s1022/enourage.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1022" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjda25ylKfpO0srcaokdJGp4i3QuFKrEfBZx4YI4hBxpd-SUOcNc47NUOqO7PRH3G9hFC_p1qypzPQ7-hIa5bYORhSTkY8PBj6QTSItSujqeaqi5A2KXLf8Eysckzw1c17KkjZtY7H7Uki-/s320/enourage.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On that note, they're also pretty damn critical of police brutality. Episode 31 in particular features a sorta riff on American law enforcement (and ironically robocop) as the FBI uses the same tech as Winspector and the result is little more than a psychopathic killing machine. We'll get back to that one in a bit when I talk about specific episodes.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNt8ILzzLUwKMOF94fgzYs-XuRgj3N5YGeURO2oR5AUNfJc6Ny9tjE8FPBsEFh2bR6KVBG8cTKR4ut1FpmIsPZl2asnz3SoGa0NfhE3QckE69sAYO8zNYvkgRXZx5R9pVG2bEs_AAwG-fA/s1023/outlooks.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1023" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNt8ILzzLUwKMOF94fgzYs-XuRgj3N5YGeURO2oR5AUNfJc6Ny9tjE8FPBsEFh2bR6KVBG8cTKR4ut1FpmIsPZl2asnz3SoGa0NfhE3QckE69sAYO8zNYvkgRXZx5R9pVG2bEs_AAwG-fA/s320/outlooks.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Other episodes are critical of police in general lacking due diligence or acting impulsively rather than correctly or in a timely manner. In a way, Winspector poises the question of why are Police so different from other emergency services when they should be one and the same? Which boy is this topical.<br /><div style="text-align: left;">Curiously, the show is largely devoid of anything <i>overly</i> specific to Japan's own police, with only the vague notions here and there.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhFyTYVw9kfeQ7rSCS3s21_lAcebHKcfDUMx3GCIdkTv2ref-5z_4LvB_J-sl09xDr2XKA0_WV1YgqFpFKHRFT40w3M_LzTerZvfVu8rclABou1fTMJijnzqPZtckQthj7kt27uxU9UWB/s1026/driven+to.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="1026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhFyTYVw9kfeQ7rSCS3s21_lAcebHKcfDUMx3GCIdkTv2ref-5z_4LvB_J-sl09xDr2XKA0_WV1YgqFpFKHRFT40w3M_LzTerZvfVu8rclABou1fTMJijnzqPZtckQthj7kt27uxU9UWB/s320/driven+to.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But perhaps the best way to demonstrate the writing of Winspector is by talking about the writers. The series was written by a multitude of people among them: <span style="color: black;">Noboru Sugimura (head writer), Jun'ichi Miyashita, Susumu Takahisa, Nobuo Ogizawa, Kunio Fujii, Kyōko Sagiyama, Takashi Yamada, Ken'ichi Araki, Yoshichika Shindō, and Takahiko Masuda. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYevUJznqu2Xefm95BcDfEzUQ5LR91YOfi8TcbPApbbac1-efvQF37YCpdCWdFayAJqJ-Do8WpFwKIl7lWzNMZtiC6QGXwFSruxTjJyuVbotJIQmmzfHM2-vmORU3BovYmJ_2tiM3FB9MT/s323/NTSC_Resident_Evil_2_Cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="308" data-original-width="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYevUJznqu2Xefm95BcDfEzUQ5LR91YOfi8TcbPApbbac1-efvQF37YCpdCWdFayAJqJ-Do8WpFwKIl7lWzNMZtiC6QGXwFSruxTjJyuVbotJIQmmzfHM2-vmORU3BovYmJ_2tiM3FB9MT/s0/NTSC_Resident_Evil_2_Cover.png" /></a></div><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">If any of those names sound familiar, it's because most of them went on to worked for Flagship and write for the Biohazard/Resident Evil series starting with 2. So if you've ever wondered why a lot of the batshit crazy plot elements in Resident Evil felt like some Saturday morning kids show stuff, they basically were. And yes, you absolutely see aspects within Winspector that would appear in RE. No opera leeches, though.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">SFX</h3><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">So one of the more off beat aspects of Winspector is it's action scenes. Winspector doesn't normally feature fights and combat the way most other Tokusatsu shows do, as it's very rare for there to ever be a threat large enough to require an actual brawl. Most of the show focuses on chases, hostage situations, tracing calls, detective work and suspense there of.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ggGmL1tu2b8qEMdhtDn-0UWQzW769ypKznk2Gdfg93B54kdktHp2VYAioulNc-bLNt0-qQYs0jhEBy_aGF_6y0Jzfg_iZSkntgHHM2ikYJkuttfNQ8CI2lWD_rTWjyBbwlX6PjUAmq05/s631/Flash.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="471" data-original-width="631" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ggGmL1tu2b8qEMdhtDn-0UWQzW769ypKznk2Gdfg93B54kdktHp2VYAioulNc-bLNt0-qQYs0jhEBy_aGF_6y0Jzfg_iZSkntgHHM2ikYJkuttfNQ8CI2lWD_rTWjyBbwlX6PjUAmq05/s320/Flash.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perfect for tyrants.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> Sure, there will a guy with an M2 flash every now and then to provide explosions, or a super car with guns. But as noted, the humans are too squishy for anyone to actually bother punching. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRXUd7KE3_sP9yRt5QPwPfM3db-jx2-wZWjD3xoKnuTZVVb4Oqz7aSbJYWbBJE_Av2wtJ2K8xk-QSnUkv8OP75DHnyK7ic0ckVccb_v3u3garQD1sWf1FonJgpBAaY5MQPkqZTro-DDwg/s1366/fire+damage.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRXUd7KE3_sP9yRt5QPwPfM3db-jx2-wZWjD3xoKnuTZVVb4Oqz7aSbJYWbBJE_Av2wtJ2K8xk-QSnUkv8OP75DHnyK7ic0ckVccb_v3u3garQD1sWf1FonJgpBAaY5MQPkqZTro-DDwg/s320/fire+damage.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This might be a bit of a turn off for some- but with so many shows focusing on typical fights anyway, it's refreshing to see one focus on other areas while still providing a lot of the familiar effects. There's still action, shootout, big booms, sparks, lasers, they're just presented differently. When a robot or something does show up that can provide more traditional combat, it's special due to how rare it is.</div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj0sdJ2NwRiBJwjW0dGMAbkrflgr4x7N2zLR7T6ynP6WqEpobEdGWFcHefm9PGLDt1xVOp194Pho83Zz90FlpwH448S7_Po6fY4_1gp5RLCKciiqkMVxKN7KoytgIkMDZ_xwuEl732kTBO/s638/main+trio.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj0sdJ2NwRiBJwjW0dGMAbkrflgr4x7N2zLR7T6ynP6WqEpobEdGWFcHefm9PGLDt1xVOp194Pho83Zz90FlpwH448S7_Po6fY4_1gp5RLCKciiqkMVxKN7KoytgIkMDZ_xwuEl732kTBO/s320/main+trio.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-4ri9kdlVXsO7mxEkshLE_k9Z3g4C241BDb3QgI2J-Hy0x8ckZE2LMg-c_32vJbm6HVZE2vQSZkjca_IQwQuN6BgtcC8Fq_xbQYxBuPOOZ457thIicCqMLA4d5I55MLiOoiLL5mUZQpc/s637/visor.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="637" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-4ri9kdlVXsO7mxEkshLE_k9Z3g4C241BDb3QgI2J-Hy0x8ckZE2LMg-c_32vJbm6HVZE2vQSZkjca_IQwQuN6BgtcC8Fq_xbQYxBuPOOZ457thIicCqMLA4d5I55MLiOoiLL5mUZQpc/s320/visor.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Aesthetically I think the design of everything looks wonderful. There's a nice balance of uniformity between the main trio while also being just different enough.</div><div>The overall appearance of the three mains suits are also very reminiscent of the prior Metal Hero series Jiban, right down to the visor that closes over the eyes. In fact the series was actually presented as a sequel to Jiban in the Philippines. <br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlhi-XxxjrMJgmwwunraewJW7Qo8xenPOc1bYKI-KQHzNTIBq7kpke5TWB-RkY69I2qwij_32hyvhPGfJwTkTIBIDyGG5ohl7CKR299WTwWaycCzRuIIP-9t2j0ckkwNOc5ujsAN6MpBz/s300/Fire+on.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlhi-XxxjrMJgmwwunraewJW7Qo8xenPOc1bYKI-KQHzNTIBq7kpke5TWB-RkY69I2qwij_32hyvhPGfJwTkTIBIDyGG5ohl7CKR299WTwWaycCzRuIIP-9t2j0ckkwNOc5ujsAN6MpBz/s0/Fire+on.gif" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Fire's
transformation is also unique, requiring use of his personal vehicle to
equip the Fire suit, rather than a henshin device we're so accustomed
to. The detail showing all the various layers of the suit is also really
fascinating to me, particularly the under-suit which is it self similar
to of the Space Sheiff's. It's always interesting to me how much the
Metal Hero franchise varied wildly in appearance compared to Kamen Rider and
Sentai, yet kept similar aesthetic beats in certain ways.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAT-meUQmnzBrbmHf0cIUrxHD0IA1CsYHa-cvS_lEiM6GYBMIVJDXh7NOv7YV2CDSfRYbzlsbeG6agZc1uOoS0mOi9zFDZjuxqP9VGbY0-msg8FdEZw8X8kTABxZ5feqPgDfQQ-3U9tRC/s1200/fire+suit+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="722" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAT-meUQmnzBrbmHf0cIUrxHD0IA1CsYHa-cvS_lEiM6GYBMIVJDXh7NOv7YV2CDSfRYbzlsbeG6agZc1uOoS0mOi9zFDZjuxqP9VGbY0-msg8FdEZw8X8kTABxZ5feqPgDfQQ-3U9tRC/s320/fire+suit+1.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The
actual design of Fire's main suit looks to have had a lot of thought put
into it's use. His shoulders are more armored than the others and
are asymmetrical, the left having a spaulder, while the right is free to
fully extend the arm outward in combat. His shoulders have vents cuts in
them, a feature Bikel and Walter lack, likely due to the fact Fire is
prone to overheating.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WUHQFZKvLB_rORpIjawuCwr9_FuoHRkuoGndpH7ezd8gTcuzoLWNck9X7ObAjeBRaLGLYpIb6LYYj7UtbFoLZyexIXmE-eQmqOIzBjnfVo8r9dkFr2YdCos3des8zoVQOTcm2apmc7F0/s1366/subtle+differences.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WUHQFZKvLB_rORpIjawuCwr9_FuoHRkuoGndpH7ezd8gTcuzoLWNck9X7ObAjeBRaLGLYpIb6LYYj7UtbFoLZyexIXmE-eQmqOIzBjnfVo8r9dkFr2YdCos3des8zoVQOTcm2apmc7F0/s320/subtle+differences.png" width="320" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"> Meanwhile Walter and Bikel are perhaps the most similar, yet there's still many differences between the two.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Sure,
some are obvious like the helmet visors and torso, but even their shoulders
and waists are different from one another. There's little nuances that
set each suit apart and I love that attention to detail.<br /></div>I
think they did a wonderful job visually indicating the purpose of these
two. Walter has a signal like design as a pseudo belt, beacon and strobe lights upon his helmet, and there's a turbine
on his back to further accentuate his flight motif. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsiDF8_C0-P3pfE5A2mgnmf4cXJu95YomFpmfll9yVTL1CF_XJLDHGckOKwvJjQUHD-P8Tnn9BDrHql47CFjsoryjrZT1LTw6J2UI39YHOOScW3B0j3WiFJfRGCD3BT7hb51PvEFvelf0I/s703/walter+exaust.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="703" data-original-width="371" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsiDF8_C0-P3pfE5A2mgnmf4cXJu95YomFpmfll9yVTL1CF_XJLDHGckOKwvJjQUHD-P8Tnn9BDrHql47CFjsoryjrZT1LTw6J2UI39YHOOScW3B0j3WiFJfRGCD3BT7hb51PvEFvelf0I/s320/walter+exaust.png" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">You
see Bikel's handle bars, the tire and the overall rounded design and
you know he's a ground based character. He even has headlights on his
helmet.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9pCfto751yChQYlDf0m9PgICb_PCdVVW9s5fPtl4QfNDK76vbOvj_NHcMuASJGmO9QvqP_nmTcx_Cmrg293nlDvOKtLX8taEXqcOrys5vKuBOXpZ4T1KYLtJnYtNH1mgSam4RNEANgcVh/s300/bikel+torso+tire.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="227" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9pCfto751yChQYlDf0m9PgICb_PCdVVW9s5fPtl4QfNDK76vbOvj_NHcMuASJGmO9QvqP_nmTcx_Cmrg293nlDvOKtLX8taEXqcOrys5vKuBOXpZ4T1KYLtJnYtNH1mgSam4RNEANgcVh/s0/bikel+torso+tire.gif" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Some
of the design concepts I don't believe were fully thought out. While
Walter is able to fly, Bikel was intended to use the tire built into his
chest as his primary means of transportation, and they do mange to use
it a few times...very awkwardly. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WqxpGRbC2fCkYSr-5hZBRoPKy2-eNmY62tpuFqpOKQLj58CVeoVmk7arvL03z5RkUUQM24Rp1rrQh0dPutkrRs35wBMQjvmNCYgL0AEOdmzcv1GuRBCoxrO37a5i4VKTruJqrBNjqBYT/s633/flying+brothers.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="633" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WqxpGRbC2fCkYSr-5hZBRoPKy2-eNmY62tpuFqpOKQLj58CVeoVmk7arvL03z5RkUUQM24Rp1rrQh0dPutkrRs35wBMQjvmNCYgL0AEOdmzcv1GuRBCoxrO37a5i4VKTruJqrBNjqBYT/s320/flying+brothers.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Early on, Walter would end up carrying Bikel almost everywhere, since I suppose it was easier to just do wire work up to a point. But that clearly got in the way of their intent to have a flight based robot and and ground based one, so eventually Bikel just gets a motorcycle to fix the issue.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-wdLV_0TV34umMGwmC4Z8dXD1TEbX0ko5zvlFo97uNQrIhgondxdbBOQne_2i8QWsLM4TNb-I7hOjmHsr_i5KdxShVvJjFzH0b1M-04yQc7oyJGahC44y94ZcWwCWPHlx-g9R4PAuViL/s635/winchaser.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="635" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-wdLV_0TV34umMGwmC4Z8dXD1TEbX0ko5zvlFo97uNQrIhgondxdbBOQne_2i8QWsLM4TNb-I7hOjmHsr_i5KdxShVvJjFzH0b1M-04yQc7oyJGahC44y94ZcWwCWPHlx-g9R4PAuViL/w320-h241/winchaser.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bike on Bike action.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Likewise, new gadgets and weapons are introduced over the course of the show, handled rather well by having an R&D department invent the new gear, most of it going to Fire with exception to Bikel's Bike.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Initially the three main heroes each have their own weapons and gear. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mthvzz8hoVp9uFu50aaKdt2SbQUC20s-_k-5oxv2hU9OSDaLQX8bY1hdnZ1mH-gEpJEMS9EQNsephNOOfJErZZyS7wtNgI-kWd10l5JfEM0L76oYpjG4thd1FfI8DRaJuwC6SW9Gvms6/s638/maxcalibur.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mthvzz8hoVp9uFu50aaKdt2SbQUC20s-_k-5oxv2hU9OSDaLQX8bY1hdnZ1mH-gEpJEMS9EQNsephNOOfJErZZyS7wtNgI-kWd10l5JfEM0L76oYpjG4thd1FfI8DRaJuwC6SW9Gvms6/s320/maxcalibur.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fire the MaxCalibur sword. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAOfTOXeqQI1fpFVCb9mWaBmnr-canM6NsTjaPH-BZe7OpUgXz3Vd7ZDmMz-tibqgfiJk26eqIDxE_O-WMwBvCRJzkAFfglM9KJA8PC81UWxeJigs6VpkC-Ce2Qcm-usW8tyqDGNxGy1d/s638/bi+spear.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAOfTOXeqQI1fpFVCb9mWaBmnr-canM6NsTjaPH-BZe7OpUgXz3Vd7ZDmMz-tibqgfiJk26eqIDxE_O-WMwBvCRJzkAFfglM9KJA8PC81UWxeJigs6VpkC-Ce2Qcm-usW8tyqDGNxGy1d/s320/bi+spear.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Bikel the Bi-spears- which are large batton/handle bar like weapons stored on his back and later used to operate his bike. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkETQJzqcIOoLsONctlauPjsnOsWk3DBL2elF405lKjMB_TITaos9USXlPO3rt2O78QizBU1ILkyVRBsGsto7woiXpUP5G_eZ53sxweSp51dn5iJuIU3AkrA7cgOwL_6B6Srj3G8dSWhfj/s638/di-slider+wings.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkETQJzqcIOoLsONctlauPjsnOsWk3DBL2elF405lKjMB_TITaos9USXlPO3rt2O78QizBU1ILkyVRBsGsto7woiXpUP5G_eZ53sxweSp51dn5iJuIU3AkrA7cgOwL_6B6Srj3G8dSWhfj/s320/di-slider+wings.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Walter has the Di-slider wings which grants him flight and doubles as a shield. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIf2VsSMMWGHoYuuS0BV_-AaPdev9rvhv4yNQAWCija95cmPc-EvwPg8vET98xT5_CC57yBAqDmzv9KvJ8hjxYLWaPwpZwGzNIsCSinuNoWsGL2wejrl5iVOY7XiSaQT5i3Ipw_NIikG_U/s1019/multipack.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1019" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIf2VsSMMWGHoYuuS0BV_-AaPdev9rvhv4yNQAWCija95cmPc-EvwPg8vET98xT5_CC57yBAqDmzv9KvJ8hjxYLWaPwpZwGzNIsCSinuNoWsGL2wejrl5iVOY7XiSaQT5i3Ipw_NIikG_U/s320/multipack.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">All three have access to a multi-pack, which provides a large array of tools from oxygen tanks to chemical based extinguishers. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnk8zv6dojeVEJUKLr8LkYX5dot4toyvfTjk_upXl96JHSg1gJBKAtVPSZUaMy3ZIjYTI4ocSSZAF4W0P1SvpB_lt9pVq_00xbEAztI85OZ1PPNy5i4JmEKpvuZVXGCR8ZfbNYHEmaVUuQ/s629/daytrick+mk+2.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="629" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnk8zv6dojeVEJUKLr8LkYX5dot4toyvfTjk_upXl96JHSg1gJBKAtVPSZUaMy3ZIjYTI4ocSSZAF4W0P1SvpB_lt9pVq_00xbEAztI85OZ1PPNy5i4JmEKpvuZVXGCR8ZfbNYHEmaVUuQ/s320/daytrick+mk+2.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice touch with the colored bands.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">They all have a Daytirc M2, a laser pistol with various settings from dealing with fires, welding, and stunning people. Though the welding function is almost never used, ep. 14 being the only time I can recall.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOk2W6ocNyuIHWpggWHteJzytwLU6qtGl02eDmEcZYWSlZ70JznBXjKfZKAbheLCmNSwYDMAgZCXGfTtP16R4yNoVjSy5rXa76qDdg0iAP7JcVApkI0eAgLSo8l4QUbqBuRPBOpLiSTXzn/s631/clapper+anchor+unit.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="631" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOk2W6ocNyuIHWpggWHteJzytwLU6qtGl02eDmEcZYWSlZ70JznBXjKfZKAbheLCmNSwYDMAgZCXGfTtP16R4yNoVjSy5rXa76qDdg0iAP7JcVApkI0eAgLSo8l4QUbqBuRPBOpLiSTXzn/s320/clapper+anchor+unit.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxCXfv3lYmTablEg-rNOQfezfWDRy7xNRXAGnBCm3OLd9jZ4I5k9ZX6b8W-hCCW8SBcNbmtVOyrU0vQf81RQNhxfAhNUsUY3540z0BxCnSOVBtziS_GOIPY0UbalhXx9rxKlS4r31Z3hse/s636/spinclaw.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxCXfv3lYmTablEg-rNOQfezfWDRy7xNRXAGnBCm3OLd9jZ4I5k9ZX6b8W-hCCW8SBcNbmtVOyrU0vQf81RQNhxfAhNUsUY3540z0BxCnSOVBtziS_GOIPY0UbalhXx9rxKlS4r31Z3hse/s320/spinclaw.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Also seldom seen was the Clapper Unit; a grapnel/canister launcher and the Spin Claw; a claw/drill combo. These are used <i>very</i> sporadically across the series.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizuKHUK-loJlQEFKvvE7AorSTczFiF1l7t2w1EUqtsib8FepnJ2r5D4S06taRQpcKtRon_1BUIEQgcNo9WlHWJBTbRcsEpGtTDP79Cm-nyF91RNX-7SsZcJkpdlYq2Pb_uL_aCZXM1tHeX/s632/handwrapper.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="632" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizuKHUK-loJlQEFKvvE7AorSTczFiF1l7t2w1EUqtsib8FepnJ2r5D4S06taRQpcKtRon_1BUIEQgcNo9WlHWJBTbRcsEpGtTDP79Cm-nyF91RNX-7SsZcJkpdlYq2Pb_uL_aCZXM1tHeX/s320/handwrapper.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And of course, HandWrapper, which are keyless handcuffs that phase around the suspects hands.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Among the first new developments by R&D would be Bikel's previously mentioned motorcycle the WincChaser and Fire's transforming Win/Firesquad car, equipped with a multitude of devices and abilities ranging from laser cannons and a large chemical extinguisher.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTo_hIM3OAPRB9clV-rUnHV_u2tX-Pimkef7yftEljyqKuk_d8RVVcJLCkdk5h8scOqGfijvSX2lKKccWreXrX-e6cDUK2_zOCOQERRdlZFWLpQpxnTvMwSVQnTI6CyP0kElOcZoOG6oTw/s300/firesquad.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="227" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTo_hIM3OAPRB9clV-rUnHV_u2tX-Pimkef7yftEljyqKuk_d8RVVcJLCkdk5h8scOqGfijvSX2lKKccWreXrX-e6cDUK2_zOCOQERRdlZFWLpQpxnTvMwSVQnTI6CyP0kElOcZoOG6oTw/s0/firesquad.gif" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I personally love the model built for this thing, it's captivating to watch.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_qRADuUnO9RC_3uR8owMoDI05yJxhpQtbLajimOSTJmuyCU7O8XLghqZrEEPxsUvwSWcXMt0gHHMdOKzsQnnzKevfnIsUapEzqRmeK0l5cYfRo7gZPPuWA5wVBjASaVaD6oPooW3geeR/s1015/gigastreamer.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="1015" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_qRADuUnO9RC_3uR8owMoDI05yJxhpQtbLajimOSTJmuyCU7O8XLghqZrEEPxsUvwSWcXMt0gHHMdOKzsQnnzKevfnIsUapEzqRmeK0l5cYfRo7gZPPuWA5wVBjASaVaD6oPooW3geeR/w328-h248/gigastreamer.png" width="328" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>But the crowning achievement of R&D is The Gigastreamer, a modified version of the Spin Claw with a minigun like attachment for firing a laser in bursts. This is pretty much the only major offensive weapon in the show and it's more often used for clearing debris or busting down walls.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">There is one more thing about the visuals that does need to be addressed. You may notice upon watching the series that for a good while Masaki's uniform has some...interesting patches. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfraiVf2HEAxhfQ3si4CroBlNucgV1rkDHo1UcGeDGxnV7R2OHqCGrzCZStfnFL84dkVKtBYav86lnACF86GoKM248eJzlzGDLzC36Ytjr8UyYFvsnKC5lNnLR_X-AtR5gGwvWMa4iko5/s1017/The+big+oops.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1017" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfraiVf2HEAxhfQ3si4CroBlNucgV1rkDHo1UcGeDGxnV7R2OHqCGrzCZStfnFL84dkVKtBYav86lnACF86GoKM248eJzlzGDLzC36Ytjr8UyYFvsnKC5lNnLR_X-AtR5gGwvWMa4iko5/s320/The+big+oops.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Speaking of topical.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The production team simply took a uniform from another production that finished up, a military historical drama, but failed to remove the insignia from a German SS uniform. Oops.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>They thankfully change the patches in ep. 15 and later give him another uniform of just a black button down shirt with a Winspector patch, alternating between the two.<br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYeNY4WXtOwlXne6in66GNtufrtbduy76zbHfL2vIBhyaLUxHzn645F0eLTwR_Tk7aN94qe6CSXG1ZA3YB85h8io2dDUVXHMw-vRDlCkE9NpFwMzzoHOAO_2WS-Ib7ajYP3b-TUDeRrwIk/s633/misaki+suit+2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="633" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYeNY4WXtOwlXne6in66GNtufrtbduy76zbHfL2vIBhyaLUxHzn645F0eLTwR_Tk7aN94qe6CSXG1ZA3YB85h8io2dDUVXHMw-vRDlCkE9NpFwMzzoHOAO_2WS-Ib7ajYP3b-TUDeRrwIk/s320/misaki+suit+2.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfdVx5zNlhkarRF10TV04aW4f-2QQkepWe6V_IFRbvK9c7Xz8_JqSUkedo4ZtXvOs2i74rBn_lcOhVglxp-OwJi4cl5Hc91hcEhjl2A4b3L2p08Ddh1WmieuXIINAJKl0x89H3Zxkey2-/s635/misaki+suit+x.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="635" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfdVx5zNlhkarRF10TV04aW4f-2QQkepWe6V_IFRbvK9c7Xz8_JqSUkedo4ZtXvOs2i74rBn_lcOhVglxp-OwJi4cl5Hc91hcEhjl2A4b3L2p08Ddh1WmieuXIINAJKl0x89H3Zxkey2-/s320/misaki+suit+x.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>But boy, I bet it was weird as hell when this series aired dubbed in Germany in '92.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>Subs.</h3></div><br /><div>For this review I used WeabooShogun/Sailor Otaku's subtitles. It's how I watched the show years ago and how I've re-watched it now and it how I suggest watching it because they're frankly the only subtitles that are good. Having said that, I need to address the elephant that's in the room, which is Winspector being released upon Toei's Tokusatsu youtube channel. Even though I usually suggest going for a legit release if at all possible (I paid around $120 for V3's DVD set after all) I cannot in good conscious suggest that channel for anything. I might do a smaller post talking about the issues with that entire publicizing method, but primarily one of the biggest issues is with subtitles. Toei's always has just straight up <i>bad </i>quality when they handle these things themselves and their YT channel is no different. That's not even getting into the subs past the first two episodes being community driven and the possibility of the subs being copied from fan groups with no credit. (Just as I'm getting ready to post this, Youtube has announced they're ending community captions, so yeah you don't have a choice now unless you know Japanese.)<br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjc6VW9vLm-vmfBOvlYB8UixIJ7zXvRJZ0yWByFY5LKwsrnMDpAqcQVzXRbPtA4pgfBm6dlihmrLkdrJgBZV_TohFBkwGcGh1V-5QMpl1wLFC6kfAZv9ilYYa-vQ0e6kVsfTqr1fgxu4e/s860/metropokita.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="153" data-original-width="860" height="89" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjc6VW9vLm-vmfBOvlYB8UixIJ7zXvRJZ0yWByFY5LKwsrnMDpAqcQVzXRbPtA4pgfBm6dlihmrLkdrJgBZV_TohFBkwGcGh1V-5QMpl1wLFC6kfAZv9ilYYa-vQ0e6kVsfTqr1fgxu4e/w500-h89/metropokita.png" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mertopokita.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Primarily what my issue with the Winspector subs from Toei is the lack of a distinctive voice coming through. When we talk about subtitle issues we usually tend to focus on incorrect translations, inconsistencies, misspellings, grammar, those sorts of things because those are the most common. But we normally don't talk about the ability to give a character a notable voice through subtitles, and what I mean by that is the ability to read someone's personality or character traits within the subtitles. What words are used- not just being correct translation wise or localized sensibly. But do the words on screen fit the character's personality, the situation, are they typed in a certain way or exaggerated to give the impression of an accent?<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It can be a very tricky thing to accomplish because it requires the person to be familiar with various forms of colloquialism in both languages and in some instances it's just flat out impossible to properly translate. Winspector on the other hand is one of the examples where it's fairly blatant that there's something going on. Bikel has a very thick almost cartoonish Nagoya accent and dialect. It's very obvious his voice and word usage is different from the rest of the cast even if you're not sure why. It's a key part of his character, even being brought up several times within the show. The fansubs interpret Bikel's voice with sort of a New Jersey accent as the Nagoya equivalent.<br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3x7gpXY0J1noz788yli8wZdEMFRybflpggVhIO6GnbL6UDMgxYKqDm3A-6ivV-mypK1jJTGOweAsHyoHHTaWZBg1ajXQwJD373TFwwdafladk2oiiM38TBzvP-cxvodBa389sDBQ1LhDk/s1366/accent+voice.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3x7gpXY0J1noz788yli8wZdEMFRybflpggVhIO6GnbL6UDMgxYKqDm3A-6ivV-mypK1jJTGOweAsHyoHHTaWZBg1ajXQwJD373TFwwdafladk2oiiM38TBzvP-cxvodBa389sDBQ1LhDk/s320/accent+voice.png" width="320" /></a></div>Toei made zero attempts at any sort of accent within the subs. They are painfully devoid of personality and nuance and not just for Bikel. The word usage overall is very flat and that's really a problem with all of their shows uploaded to YouTube. There is an egregious lack of care from every angle and I cannot suggest watching Winspector any other way than with the WeabooShogun/SailorOtaku subs. <br />I won't say that they're perfect. What subs are? There's one of two times I felt the choices in terms could be re-worded better for the sake of flow and there are some changes I don't get- like the HandWrapper is simply referred to as a Handcuff, and some... well some are just really poorly dated references.</div><div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwcexng6q-Yqz7jA2tyTUsHUnXxXkX_cbX_xUCpSGZixEyTn_Q0w62DFJgl0J3ddDQou0qCOieq81_EXyOwiYpb-dwKFvmjnsuNDuHR1P_e4DUTg0qS1fH-y_FNRSyrD5Yk7Cq44DgEcY/s1366/come+at+me+bro.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwcexng6q-Yqz7jA2tyTUsHUnXxXkX_cbX_xUCpSGZixEyTn_Q0w62DFJgl0J3ddDQou0qCOieq81_EXyOwiYpb-dwKFvmjnsuNDuHR1P_e4DUTg0qS1fH-y_FNRSyrD5Yk7Cq44DgEcY/s320/come+at+me+bro.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okay, this one borders on Amazon's meme subs.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>If this was to get a Bluray/DVD release they would require some tweaking, let's put it that way.<br />Also I really wish the in show songs outside the opening and ending were subbed, but it's not a deal breaker- subbing songs is a pain in the ass, so I don't blame anyone for not taking it on. <br />But otherwise the fansubs are fully translated, they're timed well, they're not overly literal, hard to translate phrases are interpreted quite well, and they had some love and thought put into it. That's far <i>far</i> more than I can say for what's on youtube.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>Music.</h3></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVFnTzuJnKxaflFde-O8KrEgEZanr9eGdmv_5AZyapHYWupIARka8QI7UN1SHB6RyW8frpS_rldGywuK769WdF3-DXR0N-8mjVg6uSnSRIg6K6dKzqTankUKmJPCcLHyZcqchZ-qQiQqv/s635/CD.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="635" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVFnTzuJnKxaflFde-O8KrEgEZanr9eGdmv_5AZyapHYWupIARka8QI7UN1SHB6RyW8frpS_rldGywuK769WdF3-DXR0N-8mjVg6uSnSRIg6K6dKzqTankUKmJPCcLHyZcqchZ-qQiQqv/s320/CD.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Music it where I've very much of two minds on Winspector.
But first I want to talk about the positives and go through the main
soundtrack.<br />Winspector's main OST primarily lands in a magical moment
where synth, electronic drums, guitars and traditional string
instruments were all used in productions. A good chunk of the soundtrack
has that quintessential late 80s early 90s vibe that I just absolutely
dig. We also have the vocals of Takayuki Miyauchi and Ichirou
Mizuki, which is just an insane amount of talent being thrown at this.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjecKAeNXI5tJit8zTPAUurIx_SitNviA_pINJTHk19xoHOdDXguRValRMtnMi0l6G3dYjvOS02DMLnIeZMrahoxPUC5Ik60d5_0abZN7ZnqnkBzcKvyhr17VgtYQZpDv2VW0_Zk_w7U6/s638/hit+collection.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjecKAeNXI5tJit8zTPAUurIx_SitNviA_pINJTHk19xoHOdDXguRValRMtnMi0l6G3dYjvOS02DMLnIeZMrahoxPUC5Ik60d5_0abZN7ZnqnkBzcKvyhr17VgtYQZpDv2VW0_Zk_w7U6/s320/hit+collection.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />The
opening is performed by the aforementioned Takayuki Miyauchi. It's an
incredibly solid piece that sets the tone for the best parts of the OST.
I love Toku shows that have high energy openings and Winspector
absolutely delivers on that front while giving a taste of things to
come. The first few seconds build with a funky guitar, a piano and
double bass, until right at the 11 second mark a bell chimes and the
violins, electric drum and vocals kick in. Fantastic way to start things
off.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Other tracks highly suggest seeking out are Fire Hurricane
and Yuusha Winspector, both performed by Ichirou Mizuki, and Let's Go!
Fire Squad by Takayuki Miyauchi, which is one of my absolute favorites.<br />I even like the ending track, Kyou no Ore kara Ashita no Kimi e, which is delightfully silly and charming, it's the sorta thing that makes you feel like a kid.<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The
other tracks I find to just be okay, they have certain segments that I find to be highlights and are
often used in the show itself, not to mention some great instrumental
versions of the main tracks that sound like a Mega Drive was used to replace the vocals. Weirdly there's not a whole lost of usage of the vocal tracks within the show beyonf one or two times. Hell, I'm honestly not entirely confident that some weren't simply relegated to the album and never used in show, perhaps being a royalty issue.<br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The BGM on the other hand is where things are more... iffy. Aside from a few pieces, Winspector lacks in the
memorability and originality department. The tracks I most often recall
hearing are actually from another Metal Hero show (and my personal
favorite) Metalder. Specifically the segments "Tatakai" "Shi" "Mai" and
"Hangeki" which are used A LOT in the show, and they are great. Metalder
has a fantastic score that's rather grandiose for a toku show,
especially a Toei production. But it does have an air of... I suppose tackiness to reuse tracks from another production just two years prior. I
have a feeling Winspector may have had some problems in the music
department overall, be it budgetary, time, or both. Given that this was about a year before the stock market inflated and two before the bubble outright burst, I wouldn't be surprised. Considering they also got both Mizuki and Miyauchi, that's probably where alot of the money went, leading to some corners having to be cut.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hell, one of the
original songs "Winspector Action" doesn't even sound completed. It's
got a great vibe to it, but the only lyrics are "Winspector,
Fire, Walter, Bikel." yet the song isn't classified as lyrical for Toei, the track was even omitted from the Metal Hero
compilation album.<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Just
to clarify, Winspector does have original BGM, quite a bit in fact,
composed by Seiji Yokoyama, who also worked on Metalder. But the work
here is extremely atmospheric and short, which makes for some decent chase/trailing music within the show, but it never goes beyond that. The only track
that really sticks out is Seika, and that's really only due to the
frequency it's used at the end of episodes. Every other background track
I listened to that I found memorable came from Metalder. It doesn't
help that most of those original tracks tend to blend together, such as Shousou, which
sounds very much like Shuugeki from Metalder. And yes, the latter is
also used in Winspector. Shousou also has an opening riff that's very
similar to another Metalder track, Yokoku Ongaku, which is yet again
recycled for Winspector, both being used in the eye catches.<br /><br /><br /><div>I
don't hate this per say and the music at least flows well. Nor is it necessary for BGM of all things to be the sort one would listen to on its own. But I can't
overlook it for a review. I didn't even listen to every
single track between the two shows, but I can assure you there are more.
Chousen and Hangeki two others I recall hearing reused. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Although
I can say at the very least Winspector doesn't repeat tracks to a nauseating degree like Spielban, nor does it appear to rip off
anything like <a href="https://soundcloud.com/blogdekyojuuyamashi/18-kidou-keiji-jiban-jiban-no?in=blogdekyojuuyamashi/sets/kidou-keiji-jiban-original" rel="nofollow">Thriller</a> or arguably The US <a href="https://soundcloud.com/blogdekyojuuyamashi/17-kidou-keiji-jiban-jiban-3?in=blogdekyojuuyamashi/sets/kidou-keiji-jiban-original" rel="nofollow">Transformers</a> end credits like it's
predecessor Jiban did.</div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>Episode recommendations.</h3></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8k0uSQBUhWbWVoKkWQ8sODOQuuEzjjUcgdRuAIrDZpZ1mTGXuYcYZCA5UQliIeqpOc9tJv9YAPAE8JF9jOLCxHeOYwLvB9IfcTI8T7D6c7FwwjeN0ZdRIFXmfoGlpZqsjJcfBoRI1R9a/s637/DO+WANT+14.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="637" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8k0uSQBUhWbWVoKkWQ8sODOQuuEzjjUcgdRuAIrDZpZ1mTGXuYcYZCA5UQliIeqpOc9tJv9YAPAE8JF9jOLCxHeOYwLvB9IfcTI8T7D6c7FwwjeN0ZdRIFXmfoGlpZqsjJcfBoRI1R9a/s320/DO+WANT+14.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2">Charles Bronson does his best William Dafoe.</font><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>ep. 13 Ryouma is Dead!? & 14 Reaper Moss strikes back!!<span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></div><div>W: <span style="color: black;">Susumu Takaku.</span></div><div>D: Kaneharu Mitsumura.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is a solid set of episodes and the first truly excellent of the bunch, it hits all the right notes. <br />The plot is a little out there, basically a crime boss wants to monopolize a hybrid of a rare vitamin rich plant that has since become extinct in the wild, expecting the hardy plant to become a precious source of nutrients due to famine brought on by Climate change. Kinda feels like I'll be reading about that in the news come tomorrow.<br /><br />The drama is also really good in this episode. Ryoma barely escapes when his patrol car explodes after a car chase, leaving him in critical condition. Bikel isn't much better off, blaming himself for Ryoma's injuries due to his inability to make sharp turns and keep up during the chase. The episode uses these events to introduce several new pieces of gear for the team: a new specialized vehicle for Ryoma the Winsquad/FireSquad, a proper bike for Bikel (Winchaser) to negate his shortcomings, and finally the introduction of that smart ass Demitasse.<br /><div style="text-align: left;">So much happens that it feels like it just breezes by, making Ryoma's sudden off screen recovery at the end is the only iffy aspect in the first part. Well, that and a hilarious model car.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="height: 263px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 497px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5rXRhHCQKZgbiaEB4Qr-HHHDGIv9XLbvbVlWIw3V8PbwPTiDt_k6vPq86YB6y0VYinutFC3GDICaD0rpWcJUOeeH8fpfgdwXh0g4VEl554X2oiLsgakjGJvsqfHYVuQ6dEKgXqY-56TRL/s300/model+car.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="227" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5rXRhHCQKZgbiaEB4Qr-HHHDGIv9XLbvbVlWIw3V8PbwPTiDt_k6vPq86YB6y0VYinutFC3GDICaD0rpWcJUOeeH8fpfgdwXh0g4VEl554X2oiLsgakjGJvsqfHYVuQ6dEKgXqY-56TRL/s0/model+car.gif" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2">Respect to the set builder, there's a lot of great detail put in here that's easy to miss.</font><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>The second part is largely action packed with some more police work, such as tracing a call and trailing a suspect. Bikel ends up torn apart at the Villains HQ but is still functional, allowing Demitasse to repair Bikel and absolutely wreck the criminals hideout from within before the episode ends with a great car chase.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI7BCSlI0wb58LuhnjPwzJXunu-PtIbh2DHpI5Mu72wiH0Mb1eE5CqbvT1DGBZiI-FBbv1pL_YFUjriSGTY4BnHMVZLZ_ggkTH2nn2ZV7quB6XgtsL994jiROkYXW5zuXWhf9LAngMuyvf/s636/firesquad+inside+14.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI7BCSlI0wb58LuhnjPwzJXunu-PtIbh2DHpI5Mu72wiH0Mb1eE5CqbvT1DGBZiI-FBbv1pL_YFUjriSGTY4BnHMVZLZ_ggkTH2nn2ZV7quB6XgtsL994jiROkYXW5zuXWhf9LAngMuyvf/s320/firesquad+inside+14.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There's even some really good camera shots showing the inside area of the Winsquad in ways we never see.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfaa47uBnK0pvf4y8N4zV7O4yrY956z8iwrNLyRoZ3c2pgK9VUuIP_cmPeGU0njvhtJ0n6s6_QXUTQrAEqe-abWoox-BQ1ZZXdxF7ljhThURRtDIe2BxDJEnyy18rNzqVXCc1LlSfpbPBk/s640/16+alt.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfaa47uBnK0pvf4y8N4zV7O4yrY956z8iwrNLyRoZ3c2pgK9VUuIP_cmPeGU0njvhtJ0n6s6_QXUTQrAEqe-abWoox-BQ1ZZXdxF7ljhThURRtDIe2BxDJEnyy18rNzqVXCc1LlSfpbPBk/s320/16+alt.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Ep 16. I love you, Walter.<br /></div><div>W:Noboru Sugimura.</div><div>D:Michio Konishi.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is the one and only Walter focused episode and I felt I should include it if only for that reason. It's a charming episode about a little girl named Hiromi who has a crush on Walter. She loses her handmade Walter doll at a meet & greet for the two robots, so Junko suggests Walter return the item as a nice little surprise.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaG-xFOR-v4SuSRMs7qHOSpDIFDqPCc9lY-ix_dlXjlz5Uix_ahaxWama5196kwS7tucHQRD8bvA4oqydf0o82Z3H-z4-yuNr2MHIV9QHplQvjgGZKtMD2mbhfwi15lT-XzBKM4CmM9DDy/s635/awkward+walter.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="635" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaG-xFOR-v4SuSRMs7qHOSpDIFDqPCc9lY-ix_dlXjlz5Uix_ahaxWama5196kwS7tucHQRD8bvA4oqydf0o82Z3H-z4-yuNr2MHIV9QHplQvjgGZKtMD2mbhfwi15lT-XzBKM4CmM9DDy/s320/awkward+walter.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />I remember when I first watched this episode I was a bit hesitant on how this episode could play out, thinking it could go very wrong unintentionally.<br /><div style="text-align: left;">But it's actually really sweet and avoids any creepy undertones. Walter being the most forward on the show really makes the narrative work, since seeing him all awkward and not really knowing how to deal with the situation of having a fan is both adorable and humorous.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqQZLUdSjiRNkHF9caH0LO34ukomYL641b_X_-Wwjh5J0DRNlZpXy3A5RwJduyCRccx_TcBJxITfb692WhJalR7IV69FHTwtm9YHwCcTXqrQa8ilW1-dZCg8HALxGbvTLabqlyTHXTOzA/s635/16.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="635" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqQZLUdSjiRNkHF9caH0LO34ukomYL641b_X_-Wwjh5J0DRNlZpXy3A5RwJduyCRccx_TcBJxITfb692WhJalR7IV69FHTwtm9YHwCcTXqrQa8ilW1-dZCg8HALxGbvTLabqlyTHXTOzA/s320/16.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Of course, things eventually things go south and Walter and Hitomi are captured by two goons that try to disassemble Walter to sell on the black market. Walter has a self destruct to prevent anyone from ever using Winspector tech, so it becomes a race for the rest of the team to get him and Hiromi out of harms way.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigY4clXL7DiQuYGH0iHk4rizl9UHDTLN3vjs79l_5-yHfVgo8hXbWVkllou1hyphenhyphenqaGtrKeZUNOArPQPQjvM1RaCH_ZHwBZhDURyZwiTY2oCa7Jy8l0wMuG3M_eHYyroWlqbhOeOXCv_1-pO/s1366/big+companies.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigY4clXL7DiQuYGH0iHk4rizl9UHDTLN3vjs79l_5-yHfVgo8hXbWVkllou1hyphenhyphenqaGtrKeZUNOArPQPQjvM1RaCH_ZHwBZhDURyZwiTY2oCa7Jy8l0wMuG3M_eHYyroWlqbhOeOXCv_1-pO/s320/big+companies.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">ep. 23. Dad's comic postcard.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">W: Kyoko <span class="searchmatch">Sagiyama.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">D: Takeshi Ogasawara.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is probably my favorite Sagiyama episode because it's fairly creepy with plenty of horror elements. There's even some commentary on corporate influence and accountability. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>The basic jist is a boy's father (Aikawa) goes missing- or so the boy says. Aikawa's wife says differently, having been informed by her husband's place of employment, Bem Chemical, that he was simply called away on a sudden business trip to Hokkaido. There's quite a bit of investigative work by Ryoma and Junko, following up on the story with Bem Chemical where things just seem a little too convenient. Searching the road where Aikawa was last seen, they find an unsent postcard addressed to his son. Several other incidents occur of people in the mountains being attacked by flesh eating mutated plants, and possible illegal dumping by the corporation being the cause. <br />The way Winspector draws out the suspects is also a little twisted and brilliant. They send a fake post card to the boy, making it look like Aikawa sent it and would be returning to the lab at 4PM. When the child brags about the card at the facility, this causes both of the men responsible for Aikawa's disappearance to head to his location and see how he could have possibly escaped. Winspector trail the two men and catch them red-handed trying to burn the truck Aikawa was being kept in- his life slowly sucked away by the mutated plants he was unknowingly transporting before learning too much.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWb1qKMLse15vBv5xg6MCwNGKeeQpYWFzorwrqyzTmF2W1KNaDBhxvx3TCgSNQYHLouOdRQFfuC8UwJbq4psHAa6XZLG6SHx_Bnx3SQShaIwH-bcM0zp3Btlk-ZC1JGgHfeJBds7bVaI3_/s637/ep+23.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="637" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWb1qKMLse15vBv5xg6MCwNGKeeQpYWFzorwrqyzTmF2W1KNaDBhxvx3TCgSNQYHLouOdRQFfuC8UwJbq4psHAa6XZLG6SHx_Bnx3SQShaIwH-bcM0zp3Btlk-ZC1JGgHfeJBds7bVaI3_/s320/ep+23.png" width="320" /></a></div>Again, very twisted episode that reminds me a lot of Resident Evil. I have to wonder if this episode influenced RE, because it feels like a template when the writers went on to work for Flagship. You can definitely see aspects of Umbrella and Plant 42/43 within this episode.<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5NSRYzeXwVVo36xk35uGgCQEh_Pzg9mKClMQDp2GJpKxVsND-v0hH9HQfgrRNFazRDVbQEKOJFCnS0Br4aXHpxptRzvxSFcgjrWxGBJRrQWUcmDQoO2G7JVs3XgeMhRUYgn-Tp7Ud0YS/s633/snipe+24.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="633" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5NSRYzeXwVVo36xk35uGgCQEh_Pzg9mKClMQDp2GJpKxVsND-v0hH9HQfgrRNFazRDVbQEKOJFCnS0Br4aXHpxptRzvxSFcgjrWxGBJRrQWUcmDQoO2G7JVs3XgeMhRUYgn-Tp7Ud0YS/s320/snipe+24.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br />Ep. 24 My Pico.<br />W: Yasuko Kobayashi<br />D: Takeshi Ogasawara</div><div><br /></div><div>When a sniper begins attacking a biker gang, a mysterious girl named Megumi is the only witness the crime, but she refuses to talk. Junko, who is familiar with the girl, attempts to coax it out of her to no avail. But after her parakeet, Pico, is killed by some bikers, a second shooting follows not long after where once again Megumi is present. Things get a lot more suspicious and complicated from then on, with eyes on her friendly but cagey neighbor; Hisao Yuasa, who is found to have connections to several of the bikers shot.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXm55qybVpa98DSKA1ezTCIxFkfmuwv__WY5w7rnyNgcGpmeEnT07auwxay0meTXfYuvq_m-xeKc0DiLvdvCzMMHtjEZrTcXp_MDr15aWkqLjQi5oMAK8NM5X49quUget3gSyGFOSz6fo/s634/can%2527t+bear.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXm55qybVpa98DSKA1ezTCIxFkfmuwv__WY5w7rnyNgcGpmeEnT07auwxay0meTXfYuvq_m-xeKc0DiLvdvCzMMHtjEZrTcXp_MDr15aWkqLjQi5oMAK8NM5X49quUget3gSyGFOSz6fo/s320/can%2527t+bear.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Hisao's story is a tragic one and the episode gets surprisingly dark near the end during a standoff. Hisao is a former gang member and was going after his old crew in revenge for killing Megumi's father in a Hit-and-run. He couldn't bear the guilt and is seeking atonement in his own way.<br />A nice subtle touch here is when he's confronted, he's more willing to harm himself than anyone else, which meshes with his desire to only take out the guilty party.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uzBPPPucVO1JcOKQP9mm7FcRvKytyxP4WL9GothSAvDUi_U2cCng1sUVjbuomdqEL7AEce4yN7V78CxX_oIF3n2FJIJ0g0N2yFTm2lmbtl7UadtX6NcoXaFey1AiWion8lp_zTntU3Gf/s633/25.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="633" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uzBPPPucVO1JcOKQP9mm7FcRvKytyxP4WL9GothSAvDUi_U2cCng1sUVjbuomdqEL7AEce4yN7V78CxX_oIF3n2FJIJ0g0N2yFTm2lmbtl7UadtX6NcoXaFey1AiWion8lp_zTntU3Gf/s320/25.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />Ep. 25 The Robot that Cried in the rain.<br />W: Nobuo Ogizawa.<br />D: Kaneharu Mitsumura.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is the first Bikel focused episode and it's a somber- perhaps even heartbreaking episode.<br />Essentially, Bikel takes a liking to a woman he meets in the rain one day, giving her an umbrella as a kind gesture. The meeting having a profound effect on him.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Elsewhere, a director of a laboratory, Takayama, is nearly killed when his car explodes. Work proceeds fast on a suspect, as there's traces of a special jet fuel at the scene that was developed by a Mitsou Kirimoto and was recently fired from the lab. It seems the motive was revenge for Takayama publishing Kirimoto's work as his own.</div><div style="text-align: left;">By nightfall Winspector has tracked Kirimoto's whereabouts, but in the ensuing conflict Bikel is heavily injured by an explosive. Although he is repaired, he maintains a strange dreamlike state, hallucinating the woman he met a day prior, but is otherwise perfectly functional.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">However, things are no so clean cut and Takayama has yet another attempt on his life that puts him in hospital. Ryoma and Junko investigate Kirimoto possibly having an accomplice and discover he has a little sister, Mayumi, who just so happened to work at a flower shop before suddenly quitting the day prior and is in fact the woman Bikel met in the rain. Fearing that another attempt on Takayama's life may be at hand, Winspector heads to the hospital and thwart the effort, but when Mayumi is on the run it's Bikel that confronts her and he is unable to do anything due to his state of mind, completely freezing.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The resulting aftermath does not go well for Bikel.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzEB8wMpsFib7hI2WQHSHoQ631vzjF8GsQdgZmZGsB0HVlgV9_gNdKLbxumjn4yGm8u4FoAhlafyzTtxa1T4RViITaTbY2_LVUBhbW869Xn47lyXK9TVBy9-YLVAKpckmSYLNyfengK8Xi/s641/excuse.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzEB8wMpsFib7hI2WQHSHoQ631vzjF8GsQdgZmZGsB0HVlgV9_gNdKLbxumjn4yGm8u4FoAhlafyzTtxa1T4RViITaTbY2_LVUBhbW869Xn47lyXK9TVBy9-YLVAKpckmSYLNyfengK8Xi/s320/excuse.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Bikel is sent into a depression, torn between the woman and his job, struggling to put her out of his mind and win back the trust of his friends.</div><div>He gets his chance when Mayumi take's Takayama's daughter hostage and demands he commit suicide in front of her.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Bikel's confrontation with Mayumi is the highlight of the episode for me, because we learn her motivation, which I think exemplifies the grey area I've talked about for the antagonists.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gQ5rq1JIMqZRxBsHu1f02sUE1GkP8cj00C0w2Docw01C3EMDEh-mgkaYwj2QPQM_40gmpKVPqkr68-0AGNomCRrtZjyGMUY09d7iEvdJ5Kw8AZYxP0h6PuD5ethHucEnaqlP5JMA9sV0/s1019/weapon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1019" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gQ5rq1JIMqZRxBsHu1f02sUE1GkP8cj00C0w2Docw01C3EMDEh-mgkaYwj2QPQM_40gmpKVPqkr68-0AGNomCRrtZjyGMUY09d7iEvdJ5Kw8AZYxP0h6PuD5ethHucEnaqlP5JMA9sV0/s320/weapon.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Takayama not only stole research for a new type of jet fuel, but did so with the intent of selling it in the development of weapons. It raises the question of which is truly worse. It doesn't justify the actions taken by the Kirimoto siblings, especially not Mayumi kidnapping and threatening Takayama's innocent daughter. But Takayama is undeniably- no matter how indirectly, responsible for a number of lives taken due to his greed. It's not the deepest or most complex scenario presented, but it is more than what a lot of child focused shows would portray.<br /><br />I think what really helps the episode is Bikel himself, if only by virtue of him being a robot. I've seen other shows pull similar plots that simply come off as weird- if not somehow the most unbelievable aspect in a genre that regularly features giant monsters and space wizards. But Bikel not being human allows the audience to more readily believe that he could have fallen in love in a short amount of time and been hurt by this, that this is simply how his mind has developed (Along with the accident). Like the morality questions raised, it's not the <i>most</i> engaging and I'll admit it could use more weight and depth before it's crescendo ending, but it is still good and very well might tug a bit.<br />Speaking of, I greatly appreciate the downer ending. If this was more modern, they probably would have made a joke and had Bikel being fine at the end "Oh well, plenty of fish in the sea." or some such. But they don't, he's distraught. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivY99k5h-lQ9_JEPo4PYl66sK8TKA_jTNFKv74E_1on9mCf3Oawfm-IThMXixfuFqHnwH7UkFt_VG9rCD8XgiZx-MH8iaEUVqIAjtpVeL4uoAonrECsMVUESeprXZRo7vo5sWu9uegGhj/s637/tears.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="637" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivY99k5h-lQ9_JEPo4PYl66sK8TKA_jTNFKv74E_1on9mCf3Oawfm-IThMXixfuFqHnwH7UkFt_VG9rCD8XgiZx-MH8iaEUVqIAjtpVeL4uoAonrECsMVUESeprXZRo7vo5sWu9uegGhj/s320/tears.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And I think that's both good from a story perspective and even as a lesson for those watching. Some days don't end on a happy note.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWbIZ3QapGNpqv1_WdCGDPsDJGFSb0fIqNkgceLDHwxNmRIrw75lcqQ_HVcF2eaw2tHUg6eR6p38grqXClKGEuHwyrXP9vgYRiKCgZWX5uczvevs8vfWDg4oQvHdaj4_WrPcEVtkdzvub/s1366/ep+26+corpse.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWbIZ3QapGNpqv1_WdCGDPsDJGFSb0fIqNkgceLDHwxNmRIrw75lcqQ_HVcF2eaw2tHUg6eR6p38grqXClKGEuHwyrXP9vgYRiKCgZWX5uczvevs8vfWDg4oQvHdaj4_WrPcEVtkdzvub/s320/ep+26+corpse.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>ep. 26 The Star-crossed Girl's Journey.<br /></div><div>W: Takashi Yamada.<br />D: Kaneharu Mitsumura.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Yeah, four in a freaking row, they were just on the ball with quality writing in the 20s.<br /><div style="text-align: left;">This episode is very solid and one of the best if you enjoy plots that focus more on down to earth crime centric teleplays. There's a lot of undercover work in this episode and lots of parties are at play. Hisako goes undercover and investigates a prolific businessman (Shuzo Nagahama) who is suspected of murder and drug trafficking. There's two hitmen from Hong Kong who want Nagahama dead, the rest of Winspector is running police protection on him because of said hitmen, and Sachi, the daughter of the man Nagahama is suspected of killing, also wants him dead. Even Demitasse provides some help by recording some incriminating conversations of Nagahama being blackmailed.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5UQCYhhl3HsmWAAvdiF6MLwHFk6Y-E6Yr5MwldhuKNlNk-ccR7dH-aAFe9vEqQlE-7d44lDoyxoxiy8e-8vGN_1svwnWFwhzAVr0gkpcjvWiyncZ-DH-ZYuH-ISNPe10nJhb2JeD2SSgF/s635/blackmail.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="635" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5UQCYhhl3HsmWAAvdiF6MLwHFk6Y-E6Yr5MwldhuKNlNk-ccR7dH-aAFe9vEqQlE-7d44lDoyxoxiy8e-8vGN_1svwnWFwhzAVr0gkpcjvWiyncZ-DH-ZYuH-ISNPe10nJhb2JeD2SSgF/s320/blackmail.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There is a lot going on and it is very good at playing up tensions regarding Hisako's role in gathering information and Sachi's frustrations over her father's death officially being ruled as an accidental drowning.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>If I do have one complaint it's one that's also a strength of the episode and that is Hisako. Having her be a focus point in an episode about a young girl losing her father in a criminal act is brilliant given her own history. However, she also doesn't really do much and some of the choices with her are a bit weird. Her cover is jinxed about half way after a suspicious Nagahama does some background checks and it cuts short some of the interesting things at play. Plus I really have to wonder how good your ability to be an undercover agent is if you're known to the criminal underworld. Additionally, in the last quarter of the episode she's outright ineffectual. Hisako just gets pushed around despite the fact that she's supposed to- again, be a highly specialized agent but can't disarm one sloppy coke head with a knife. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TWAcbaXCCxtTK_fEOSXGscIXBQLrPDq5vrnnWw8Y2G7Sfi6Kt7WowLPCI3n5CYIahMYb5679Mmt-jAxPEJM8e5u2ieUA5Atqhjtf3fvdPwJNUpy2CvBZiLNfD7-NxD0qM-sUtSPzT9V-/s625/car+stunt.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TWAcbaXCCxtTK_fEOSXGscIXBQLrPDq5vrnnWw8Y2G7Sfi6Kt7WowLPCI3n5CYIahMYb5679Mmt-jAxPEJM8e5u2ieUA5Atqhjtf3fvdPwJNUpy2CvBZiLNfD7-NxD0qM-sUtSPzT9V-/s320/car+stunt.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Regardless, there's still plenty of really good things that work in this episode beautifully, and it's one of the best for those that like procedural drama. There's even some solid stunt work near the end involving a car chase in which the speed can't drop or else a bomb will go off.<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwTK0QexohQZkwCBOiBU-an9-w7Dqicjql3wema2kDfj4QyUJCbZNz_Uli9iEz1ty8_82X_TqyZhjpTHmmVoSnXLtYRuS-K4Cq9BNOsC_CSjzCj_vE0ZfLkHm1UP7fldd1IjXe7EGp_sz/s635/30.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="635" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwTK0QexohQZkwCBOiBU-an9-w7Dqicjql3wema2kDfj4QyUJCbZNz_Uli9iEz1ty8_82X_TqyZhjpTHmmVoSnXLtYRuS-K4Cq9BNOsC_CSjzCj_vE0ZfLkHm1UP7fldd1IjXe7EGp_sz/s320/30.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br />Ep. 30 Mama... Mama, Help Me <br /></div><div>W:Ken'ichi Araki</div><div>D: Takeshi Ogasawara</div><div> </div><div>A toddler, Emi, is left alone just for a sec and and rolls away in her stroller, only to be hit by a car. The driver was a scientist at a biotech research lab currently working on cell manipulation. The man took the severely injured Emi and was able to save her with a new experimental ray designed for the application of rapid growth in plants, but also had medical applications for repairing damaged cells and those who have suffered physical trauma that would otherwise be unsavable though normal means. However, the ray is flawed, causing the plants to never stop aging unusually fast and eventually rotting. The same also applies for humans. Emi escapes and begins aging at an accelerated rate and goes through several different periods of life in a short amount of time, which also makes it difficult for Winsepctor to track the missing child. There's scenes were Emi is freaking out having to grab larger and larger clothes as they grow out of their current wear- all while still maintaining the mentality of toddler. They play this situation 100% straight which is what makes it so disturbing. Bravo to the actresses in this episode, they sell how horrifying this would actually be, especially when a grown Emiko is confronted by her mother.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfBMkJASwHexqhvbTyI7BPJiQ5BPCvy8t_izOeBrGQWyZpD04fjuI78NsjJU93wsnvwSwRCI5krf-JZIEeQFlkobOct2W_2bfyWC8iDX2MaUlzkFmwWj_LvcTNnoXeLV1kcJOgyltSYQ5/s1022/emiko.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1022" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfBMkJASwHexqhvbTyI7BPJiQ5BPCvy8t_izOeBrGQWyZpD04fjuI78NsjJU93wsnvwSwRCI5krf-JZIEeQFlkobOct2W_2bfyWC8iDX2MaUlzkFmwWj_LvcTNnoXeLV1kcJOgyltSYQ5/s320/emiko.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1B4A0AIrBum-xSPpJOJ-uvSfRT_MQDn5fZReB5TsOhNaXhWUWuwvhqXPRLtRDoN3uLoshWEIA9Zqe3W_QFVvAltOH12OfVRJ2lINitUSk4WNhj-kNkPo_7eq0SXacnT2OoaKUg8xloERf/s1024/emiko+2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1B4A0AIrBum-xSPpJOJ-uvSfRT_MQDn5fZReB5TsOhNaXhWUWuwvhqXPRLtRDoN3uLoshWEIA9Zqe3W_QFVvAltOH12OfVRJ2lINitUSk4WNhj-kNkPo_7eq0SXacnT2OoaKUg8xloERf/s320/emiko+2.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>The episode eventually turns into a race against time as not only is Emi's life in danger as she reaches an elderly stage, but the only possible way to save her is with the device that caused this to happen in the first place, which has been stolen by two rouge employees trying to cover up the incident.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAuy0phoAEPmjNSmogIC5T6jE_-i4CsNiER4en0cBtRRdBwO8cEyT-9pj8UPd2AgLqqVWjsJ8rzWiN6Bim0KX8JlCTBvX_p-mPChPKkxS00zZWglPqWOgZvb9fq1uqP4t9rJT2WIjH5uu/s1017/31.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1017" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAuy0phoAEPmjNSmogIC5T6jE_-i4CsNiER4en0cBtRRdBwO8cEyT-9pj8UPd2AgLqqVWjsJ8rzWiN6Bim0KX8JlCTBvX_p-mPChPKkxS00zZWglPqWOgZvb9fq1uqP4t9rJT2WIjH5uu/s320/31.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Ep. 31 The sorrow of the Strongest Robot.</div></div><div>W: Noboru Sugimura.</div><div>D: Kaneharu Mitsumura.</div><div><br /></div><div>This episode starts off as a strong riff on American police tactics and the tendency to glorify and even prefer excessively violent tactics. Winspector's R&D had designed a third robot, Brian, for use overseas with the FBI. Upon returning for yearly maintenance, they're horrified to see Brian has has many of his components replaced, mostly with heavy armor and weapons. Even his brain has been reworked and his safety systems removed so he can go all out.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZwO3Wvc1WE1flk4esLooBdqCFawALrvSj2yBioEiJVtHPrnHs_G-dcQ8kc4ISw4sZxk0wBJlj16OpY8EnhR6If9EQllr21Gt4eGfVrtVJ0-U1hDmfKFXjvUTD0F1BznLaBKEegPPjPL9/s1022/kill+count.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1022" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZwO3Wvc1WE1flk4esLooBdqCFawALrvSj2yBioEiJVtHPrnHs_G-dcQ8kc4ISw4sZxk0wBJlj16OpY8EnhR6If9EQllr21Gt4eGfVrtVJ0-U1hDmfKFXjvUTD0F1BznLaBKEegPPjPL9/s320/kill+count.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Brian isn't really even capable of much more than making Swiss cheese out of humans.<br /></div>Most concerning is that due to the lack of any restrictions and the addition of upgrades, Brian is a lot stronger than any of the Winspector units. So, you wanna take a guess what happens in this episode? If you guess hacked and goes apeshit, you get a no prize.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Curiously, while Brian goes on his rampage, he only targets motorbikes. This heads down a darker path in the episode. Although it's only mentioned as happening off screen, one of the civilians attacked by Brian dies from their injuries. This causes Masaki to outright order Brian to be destroyed. Bikel and Walter beg the commander not to go through with the order. After all, Brian is being controlled and he's their brother. Even then, Masaki is hesitant, saying that Police are meant to protect, not kill innocents, and there simply isn't enough time.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYMAmJpgzuprWFo_xJQfQPTjmoMR59dpNqJDfTmuId00WGGStKrSTNk7A26PjYFMIAzYAxsZc-S-WlkcEzy7bWDnFtslk7B-R1EdoYgbZMhLeXRwGGIVnGAg3Tna_3uBmknbU2pqCI3Zad/s637/melt.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="637" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYMAmJpgzuprWFo_xJQfQPTjmoMR59dpNqJDfTmuId00WGGStKrSTNk7A26PjYFMIAzYAxsZc-S-WlkcEzy7bWDnFtslk7B-R1EdoYgbZMhLeXRwGGIVnGAg3Tna_3uBmknbU2pqCI3Zad/s320/melt.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>However, Brian is so heavily armored that actually taking him down is a problem in itself. They once again use this as a means to introduce a new <strike>toy</strike> weapon for Fire, the Gigastreamer, which integrates with Fire's MaxCalibur. What's interesting about this is it doesn't actually function properly. The body for the weapon currently can't withstand the heat and recoil from firing and R&D is still working on a cooling system. Upon an early demonstration, the barrel melts before a shot can even exit.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Although work on the new weapon is slow, head of R&D Prof. Asahina, is able to help on the case in another way, by providing a suspect behind the hacking. His protege, Yuishi Hirosaki, was a brilliant man who worked at an Electrical engineering institute until his young daughter, Yukari, was killed in a hit and run with a motorcycle.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF070tsbZbty0I97Htk2iboVzz30a4bVlpl6BgOe1Ho5Pw3ElnTS2Q6ZwIZwwLdIQqy1kka5JIRRjrokaSIX8fxXIa0XxmY_vuN7O95DYQrqYxu6nfkTeipkTjOWORzvjDkOL20q7XtV1t/s1021/heaven.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1021" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF070tsbZbty0I97Htk2iboVzz30a4bVlpl6BgOe1Ho5Pw3ElnTS2Q6ZwIZwwLdIQqy1kka5JIRRjrokaSIX8fxXIa0XxmY_vuN7O95DYQrqYxu6nfkTeipkTjOWORzvjDkOL20q7XtV1t/s320/heaven.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hirosaki is probably one of the best villains in Winspector. He acts like a man who really has went off the deep end, who has witnessed the horrific event of their child dying in front of them and it utterly broke him. At one point he has Brian kidnap Asahina's daughter Mitsuki so she can "keep Yukari company in heaven" and that's just the tip of the iceberg of his insanity. <br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Ultimately while they are able to track Hirosaki down, Brian puts up a good fight. The new weapon is completed as the Gigastreamer and is able to incapacitate Brian, if albeit with some dangerous repercussions on Fire as well.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgCAX3W4TgAb-X-zG80v5760IOlt915qRtBSirCBSn2aWxccp_oyeLaRqyMIUZvbTsuBXhblnKeuA4CBp8c0lBOPRNfp8A6SAGIq1QfvkLHNSaKmET4XnwMOMN3gm7hBi2lP3tGNBVZRT/s300/gigastreamer+boom.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgCAX3W4TgAb-X-zG80v5760IOlt915qRtBSirCBSn2aWxccp_oyeLaRqyMIUZvbTsuBXhblnKeuA4CBp8c0lBOPRNfp8A6SAGIq1QfvkLHNSaKmET4XnwMOMN3gm7hBi2lP3tGNBVZRT/s0/gigastreamer+boom.gif" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size: small;">By the way, a detail I love here is that
the GigaStreamer was in it's drill/claw configuration when the test occurred. When the finish
version is introduced it has a removable multi barrel attachment not unlike a
minigun, hence the cooling issue being solved.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>But during this issuing confrontation, Hirosaki makes his escape. Brian finally comes to his senses and apologizes for all that's happened before he explodes, ending this episode on a cliffhanger.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7va25b6qVsyYWZOVsz_7ZM4vTDuMaRdHqF0-Y0zGTszmLPNA5Tm8SBuD5_BHhmU9YqyRIjwPCLgNy3TiowyHmLUWiwE-X6-_HhtmDCBnVaAKnyrIUx4k3bM_376fUeZqbcz60J8QucwKX/s448/mad+gallant.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="356" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7va25b6qVsyYWZOVsz_7ZM4vTDuMaRdHqF0-Y0zGTszmLPNA5Tm8SBuD5_BHhmU9YqyRIjwPCLgNy3TiowyHmLUWiwE-X6-_HhtmDCBnVaAKnyrIUx4k3bM_376fUeZqbcz60J8QucwKX/s320/mad+gallant.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICG_EzsSl_L16hGdogJXUo1YZqAwUZ3o01kzSTvFtalfg13zUikASOuka149yGoCsMISGGPXYE9LjhMmGyi2pbyk1u7XTCUN28pdYKSbCkbSj5yit2rGHBdpas5k696g_r_gpXgTMNMQ1/s1022/Brian+mad+gallant.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1022" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICG_EzsSl_L16hGdogJXUo1YZqAwUZ3o01kzSTvFtalfg13zUikASOuka149yGoCsMISGGPXYE9LjhMmGyi2pbyk1u7XTCUN28pdYKSbCkbSj5yit2rGHBdpas5k696g_r_gpXgTMNMQ1/s320/Brian+mad+gallant.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Oh and I'm pretty sure Brian's helmet is just Mad Gallant's with some extra stuff glued on, so that's the fate of that prop.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKHjg5KHCvREbj30G4XaEGpX02QePznnjU2ajWzDJmugxAAL9IhCQEg9ck06Ebn7-SaAltXar6uMwMs-gNVBZSIeFRAqwPZD_EMnlS7z5swmczB1R4iaYW1aqAFKkLXMEj_5KNKftnvQg/s1023/32.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1023" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKHjg5KHCvREbj30G4XaEGpX02QePznnjU2ajWzDJmugxAAL9IhCQEg9ck06Ebn7-SaAltXar6uMwMs-gNVBZSIeFRAqwPZD_EMnlS7z5swmczB1R4iaYW1aqAFKkLXMEj_5KNKftnvQg/s320/32.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>ep. 32 Onslaught Against the Police Station</div><div>W: Noboru Sugimura.</div><div>D: Kaneharu Mitsumura.</div><div><br />A follow up to the prior episode. Fire is still having trouble with the Gigastreamer, the weapon's recoil is still a lot to handle and it increases with each shot, making it difficult even at short distances. But the biggest concern this episode is the possibility of retaliation from Hirosaki. He's clearly shown himself to be vengeful and he has the means to carry it out. Most worrisome is that Hirosaki was one of the people responsible for the Metropolitan Police's computer and security systems.<br />Sure enough, he's able to by pass most of their security measures and does so to steal the Winsquad. Although he is caught on camera and Winspector attempts to stop him, only Walter and Bikel are able to keep up with his speed. GPS on the car is cut, radio communication to Bikel and Walter is cut, and those two are quickly subdued by Hirosaki himself.<br />Hirosaki's plan in this episode is actually a brilliant one. The theft behind the WinSquad wasn't for it offensive capabilities, or the suit which only Ryoma can wear. It's because it has direct access to MADDOX. MADDOX itself has direct access to all Metropolitan Police computers which in turn have access to computers within the Tokyo Metro, unleashing utter chaos.<br /><br />The episode continues to escalate when MADDOX is able to pinpoint the hack, but is shutdown before relaying the information. However the information is still logged in MADDOX's data-banks. This leads to one of my favorite scenes where Masaki has to break into MADDOX's data center and manually remove the files while also shutting MADDOX down. The room is heavily secure with multiple turrets set to shoot anyone that doesn't take the proper steps before entering.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Mp68jsg4JMNdEnKKJFyyuty8VTKXaU7AZkco9CZJr9XhM3B0wTYBDFQOJ8EtF3511gyJjf6FiNhi4W-vgXYXXaQKdRLYszNT3F00SOCFsK3iN6bMVhEplzMENVNldntHzIa-fTS6tDU1/s300/bloody+mess.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Mp68jsg4JMNdEnKKJFyyuty8VTKXaU7AZkco9CZJr9XhM3B0wTYBDFQOJ8EtF3511gyJjf6FiNhi4W-vgXYXXaQKdRLYszNT3F00SOCFsK3iN6bMVhEplzMENVNldntHzIa-fTS6tDU1/s0/bloody+mess.gif" /></a></div><div><br />Masaki gets all sorts of fucked up and it's one of the bloodier moments of the show. Miyauchi really shines as the commander in this episode, but he's not the only one. <br /></div><div>Ryoma gets a fantastic moment confronting Hirosaki , while using the goddamn Gigastreamer without the suit on. Additionally, Hirosoki really ramps up the crazy by revealing he's decided technological advancement itself is the problem, so he wants to destroy all technology and has created a sophisticated AI to do so.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7y8O1wcLJW-hj7gyQQ9SI2n_TjX7JB1sbZR9m1BmiMlruhw96YsSyPp51WmyPDsR2KcnVPhEQ7gVmk8x4kTxhxGAlUb_yqweTsxbO2wTAWnx3a3ANiQ9XzRfAsnAxj5bSGuprHLjvHE7/s1366/crazy.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7y8O1wcLJW-hj7gyQQ9SI2n_TjX7JB1sbZR9m1BmiMlruhw96YsSyPp51WmyPDsR2KcnVPhEQ7gVmk8x4kTxhxGAlUb_yqweTsxbO2wTAWnx3a3ANiQ9XzRfAsnAxj5bSGuprHLjvHE7/s320/crazy.png" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Boomer final form.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>The performances in this episode are top notch. It's almost pure action throughout, constantly escalating the danger until it ultimately comes to an end with the dramatic confrontation and an ironic ending where Hirosaki is undone by his own plan. The AI recognizes itself as technology and begins destroying itself along with it's creator, before Fire finishes it off for good.<br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9gBptTMGPlVvP9NQaur8KVd7EtA7LRdZn_PZyukMxDt6dEzjm-cJDYaEwcUrX1PvhEcGZFLMvzBh-7Lnw6IvloQjDHIfCubfwhVkBN28P40hNzF68Pqpor8Xqf1twglog3JUV3TOUkzfH/s625/36.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9gBptTMGPlVvP9NQaur8KVd7EtA7LRdZn_PZyukMxDt6dEzjm-cJDYaEwcUrX1PvhEcGZFLMvzBh-7Lnw6IvloQjDHIfCubfwhVkBN28P40hNzF68Pqpor8Xqf1twglog3JUV3TOUkzfH/s320/36.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /><br />ep. 36. Bikel's Papa.</div><div>W: Kyōko Sagiyama.</div><div>D: Takeshi Ogasawara.</div><div><br /></div><div>Obviously another Bikel focused episode and one that delvs into his creator, giving a look behind the development of the technology used by the team and why Bikel has the personality he does. <br /></div><div>Before Winspector was fully established, they had multiple OS' for their robots up for consideration until it came down to just two: One from Dr. Asahina, and another from a Dr. Arai.<br />Ultimately Misaki's decision was influenced by an engineer building Bikel, Nishida (Actually portrayed by <span style="font-weight: normal;">Shinoda Kaoru</span>, Bikel's VA) who felt Arai's "Pure Function" system AI was simply too emotionless and robotic. Sure, emotion can be a hindrance if one is scared. But it also lacked empathy and bravery. An AI that calculates a success rate as low may not necessarily bother putting itself at risk to save others.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXD9S6RrAr03NrmsWZ1wFUOIW6VDbah0VrDXx3XFj_v0YOZ2m-hiRPTBcPgTkLhqkzsICsSDEiE2dAHQg5N5MmfaPEhN9SMA5jgEAkKUtoWaHiMyd6iTCkNqde5bdIo4YdtvmCMSP_1x6u/s637/dr.+arai.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="637" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXD9S6RrAr03NrmsWZ1wFUOIW6VDbah0VrDXx3XFj_v0YOZ2m-hiRPTBcPgTkLhqkzsICsSDEiE2dAHQg5N5MmfaPEhN9SMA5jgEAkKUtoWaHiMyd6iTCkNqde5bdIo4YdtvmCMSP_1x6u/s320/dr.+arai.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />Unsurprisingly, Dr. Arai serves as the antagonist of this episode. Enraged that his system was rejected, he finally has the means to hack into Bikel and causes him to rob a bank, threatening Winspector that it will happen again unless his system is implemented. Attempts to block the signal and contain Bikel are pointless because he was already pre-set to escape, all while Arai is on the run.<br />Nishida meanwhile hears about the incident on the news and comes out of retirement with all the necessary tools to counteract Arai's signal.<br /><br />This is an overall nice episode for Bikel, and the background information is good. But I will admit there is one frustrating scence near the end. Arai and Nishida essentially keep overriding each other's signal on Bikel, and as enjoyable as the concept of him being pulled between the two can be... it ultimately comes down to two guys with remote controls pointing intensely while Masaki, Junko, Walter and Ryoma are in fact present, just standing around doing nothing but watch the scene unfold.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4C2Gd8qTi1lPbUZTOVOKJb3e7HhuEUPZemgUFIrX3mWSnuXsMlVmdoAnwNI1S54wBARJipHqzsCRvzvcwMaMcWzlzAxDM-OGbcptdHFkL5H700YPvP9ieADmMIjmDVYZ3pq9dyWLbiwP/s1366/bikel+choice.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4C2Gd8qTi1lPbUZTOVOKJb3e7HhuEUPZemgUFIrX3mWSnuXsMlVmdoAnwNI1S54wBARJipHqzsCRvzvcwMaMcWzlzAxDM-OGbcptdHFkL5H700YPvP9ieADmMIjmDVYZ3pq9dyWLbiwP/s320/bikel+choice.png" width="320" /></a></div><div>Any one ugh wanna do anything here? Maybe the sharp shooter woman who always shoots things out of people's hands could do that now?<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkN4F32_TeRaC0JCkpMQX154PGx7MPtieYhqTC5zcISe_1gMaaLvUGJ2KsdL3KVGy1VoQepMDa7ut_R8ynPTTczjHEsjo2kunYVlPwPhek1dZINij45fUTPEkuoZMMUi09RbFAQEgMQk_/s639/38.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="639" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkN4F32_TeRaC0JCkpMQX154PGx7MPtieYhqTC5zcISe_1gMaaLvUGJ2KsdL3KVGy1VoQepMDa7ut_R8ynPTTczjHEsjo2kunYVlPwPhek1dZINij45fUTPEkuoZMMUi09RbFAQEgMQk_/s320/38.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br />Ep. 38 The Chosen Man.<br /></div><div>W: Nobuwo Oogizawa</div><div>D: Kaneharu Mitsumura</div><div><br /></div><div>After a body with micro film is discovered, a mystery unravels of people being targeted by a shadowy almost cult like group bent on carrying out a mass murder on citizens they find undesirable, people they feel clog up the gene pool and waste Japan's resources.<br />Hisako plays a big role in this episode, as she serves as undercover protection for a former classmate, Matsushita, who is being targeted by the group. This is, like many of Hisako's roles, a mixed bag of enjoyable tense drama at the cost of making her appear ill-fit for her job. But the rest of the episode makes up for it which some surprisingly disturbing implications.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhinwDs_Pgkt0ip6Mv0Bv1qnyWoJYiY1pxEJ_2rM3Jjl6lt4E4um41mtM1Pf4V65SzMK3_2AJEYEHGD3kjiCquZADzlnnizq0agR9pgJR6Zj6wrSaGllZAxUkCxZYeyt4E9K2skXcVXiuSV/s641/3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhinwDs_Pgkt0ip6Mv0Bv1qnyWoJYiY1pxEJ_2rM3Jjl6lt4E4um41mtM1Pf4V65SzMK3_2AJEYEHGD3kjiCquZADzlnnizq0agR9pgJR6Zj6wrSaGllZAxUkCxZYeyt4E9K2skXcVXiuSV/s320/3.png" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGJdtoIUceido2d9YzkPaVNONe4ozMJEVwX4CCxAySVckMf8wv0kVbtYvWe4a-MkTztTjlyrWbOuCl3Za1n6TndT49ObcCx81mYrWTL7oY2rXmi9ieGUYWJnLNKvldwmf7xyqSuDgqpFM/s636/4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGJdtoIUceido2d9YzkPaVNONe4ozMJEVwX4CCxAySVckMf8wv0kVbtYvWe4a-MkTztTjlyrWbOuCl3Za1n6TndT49ObcCx81mYrWTL7oY2rXmi9ieGUYWJnLNKvldwmf7xyqSuDgqpFM/s320/4.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RMfC-aPgWq94uy-0Kj5EvmW-29LOEu5B7LTR_y5eNVD4lpzIcnzcWbjJavxAoGA45mA8gNvXJMKx8uvNr86S4rpBOYUCpzrwAUfjzAhemMWC_5iisTuGQI_6QzcpsbSevjcJIU3Aj_tv/s637/5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="471" data-original-width="637" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RMfC-aPgWq94uy-0Kj5EvmW-29LOEu5B7LTR_y5eNVD4lpzIcnzcWbjJavxAoGA45mA8gNvXJMKx8uvNr86S4rpBOYUCpzrwAUfjzAhemMWC_5iisTuGQI_6QzcpsbSevjcJIU3Aj_tv/s320/5.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />As the plot unfolds, a twisted conspiracy of former politicians, high ranking officials, and overall elite people ordering the genocidal attacks is revealed to make up the cult. The mastermind behind this group is Toyo Aoki, an elderly man with nothing solid known about him. Rumors suggest he played a major role shaping politics and business in post war Japan behind the scenes, and that he is an incredibly deranged nationalist.<br />The ending sequence of this episode is short but sweet, with good action, a wonderful backing track, and one of the few times Fire is shown to be truly angry at the people he's taking down.<br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJWAoFJmuQnW0a6Eu5-aAvyjwW-ZyRg-0LgHrKgpbqKZENSGqbWDxj5Z9HXws_mDcyBvnBcxo_VqwNrki0i3kyHdJi_XhJJaHqCMCPuduNmRASNMNcnAD_mZhsjSM24goM3qOycLWBLmE/s300/angry+fire.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJWAoFJmuQnW0a6Eu5-aAvyjwW-ZyRg-0LgHrKgpbqKZENSGqbWDxj5Z9HXws_mDcyBvnBcxo_VqwNrki0i3kyHdJi_XhJJaHqCMCPuduNmRASNMNcnAD_mZhsjSM24goM3qOycLWBLmE/s0/angry+fire.gif" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>For such a simple episode it's surprisingly heavy with it's message. It might not come close to the same political bite something like Return of Ultraman's 33rd episode has, but it definitely has it's heart in the right place and remains one of my favorite episodes of the series.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfg9HGaQCtEL4A4gyMABf5mJEZnsSddHyCnNtVuNTb9imhmH1stBswuXEWfz6ZOwh0PbVW-7jx3B9YL4SsBbIVvzKmJTNlrkilrr3kRaVDY07VNOCKRBuSgfYEbG41K5qQ6wpD4VW4EXm/s635/40.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="635" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfg9HGaQCtEL4A4gyMABf5mJEZnsSddHyCnNtVuNTb9imhmH1stBswuXEWfz6ZOwh0PbVW-7jx3B9YL4SsBbIVvzKmJTNlrkilrr3kRaVDY07VNOCKRBuSgfYEbG41K5qQ6wpD4VW4EXm/s320/40.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>ep. 40 & 41 Phantom of the Great Seto Bridge pt. 1&2.<br />W: Noboru Sugimura.</div><div>D: Michio Konishi.</div><div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">If you liked ep. 23 written by Sagiyama, you'll probably really enjoy these by Sugimura. Much like that episode, this pair carries a strong Resident Evil aura in the plot, with the addition of having many procedural elements.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>It starts with Winspector being called in by the director of a chemical company after an unknown assailant threatens the company with extortion and the reprecution of mass chaos. The mystery man has somehow gotten their hands on an incredibly dangerous chemical that combusts when it comes into contact with fibers. A sample sent by the perpetrator and several prior incidents of people bursting into flames confirming this claim.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Attempts to trace the caller fail and an exchange of diamonds is agreed upon by the two groups as Winspector lies in wait, however it's clear there's far more going on when the suspect is mildly injured and melts into a puddle a goo. The story takes a turn into horror and a conspiracy develops involving the company director having knowledge of the suspect and the bizarre incidents, deepening the mystery of what is really going on. Further answers only lead to more questions involving an injured company researcher, a missing boy, stolen documents and a strange cloning accident during a break-in. <br /><br />Ultimately what matters is a thief, Murata, got a heaping dose of an experimental liquid intended for cloning during the break-in, and he sought revenge for the trauma it has caused. There's some pretty damn creepy scenes where we see Murata undergo the cloning process as another one of him emerges from his body, only to stumble around in a zombie like state, as the original gets more an more weak with each clone birthed.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCIwxcPWmCZ4CUdiEkXCAkXgL8k8_hJcDOlndBRm0G-xDYMbZVUXpKR3ub6Xckqf-lO8oaWIDYpG1HcK-Z93VPsmDMxOv8m_rObTS0d65grDTU3vK3GnhKYJsxMhUIhCTSBCuhCX3osY6/s300/clone.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCIwxcPWmCZ4CUdiEkXCAkXgL8k8_hJcDOlndBRm0G-xDYMbZVUXpKR3ub6Xckqf-lO8oaWIDYpG1HcK-Z93VPsmDMxOv8m_rObTS0d65grDTU3vK3GnhKYJsxMhUIhCTSBCuhCX3osY6/s0/clone.gif" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It also looks like something else is going on.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Near the end of the story, the Clones begin performing suicide attacks by pulling the pins of grenades and simply grabbing ahold of Fire. It all leads to a confrontation with a desperate and dying Murata and an intense knife fight to cap off an amazing two parter.<br />Really the one and only complaint I have about these episodes is that at one point Junko is kidnapped and while she is shown to be very resourceful in escaping, she at one point falls right the hell off of Takamatsu Castle (the one in Shikoku) and they never actually explain how she's alive or even have her injured. She just kinda shows up at the end of the episode.<br />But that is a minor complaint in this phenomenal set of episodes. The mystery, horror and action elements are incredible and these would definitely rank top in a list just for how solid most everything is executed.<br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2V7xNcOOrqU1ALcOzx6Jh7vLnw8wPhNQl42SiS5tZAcvvg_uA_8ExAXnYsPDMYi9rU-JkmZnllAUlVdS6xIcXDjofaCM9FDEDuK-Mls-h5fOh49VxYamxVLjO0p-ft-ooKAeICfBxQ9j/s638/42.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2V7xNcOOrqU1ALcOzx6Jh7vLnw8wPhNQl42SiS5tZAcvvg_uA_8ExAXnYsPDMYi9rU-JkmZnllAUlVdS6xIcXDjofaCM9FDEDuK-Mls-h5fOh49VxYamxVLjO0p-ft-ooKAeICfBxQ9j/s320/42.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />ep. 42. Turn Coat Investigator.</div><div>W:Susumu Takaku.</div><div>D:Takeshi Ogasawara.</div><div><br /></div><div>A former police investigator turned terrorist, Kagesawa, has returned to Japan with plans for a miniature Nuke. However a rift within his cell has caused several other members to take his family hostage in an attempt to obtain the plans solely for their selves.<br /><div style="text-align: left;">This episode does a lot with very little and keeps things relatively simple yet fascinating in doing so. About eighty percent of this episode takes place in a single location; Kagesawa's house, with his son, wife and eventually Ryoma when he gets caught up during the investigation. It is tense and has fantastic pacing and escalation.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>The only faults I can find in this episode is a twist with Kagesawa you can see a mile away, and a weird aside where Ryoma tries to infiltrate the house as a civilian- handing over his badge, gun, and handwrapper to Junko (Never mind his leather jacket has a HUGE Winspector patch) It really feels like a pointless scene because within a minute he's knocked out, wakes up and admits to being part of Winspector. It's such a small and quick part of the episode that it almost has no barring good or bad apart from just how incredibly bizarre it is.<br /><br />Of all the episodes I've touched upon involving crime show elements, this is perhaps the most relatively grounded episode of the series with only ep. 26 coming close. Aside from Bikel, Walter and Dematasse being present and a very, very short segment of Ryoma suiting up, there's not a lot of fantastical elements like cloning or cyborgs. It's almost a straight up thriller relying entirely on it's claustrophobic setting.<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimk_xzpBvGrAT__JJ5086p9j5QT9U1kB80ooarJ06o3ImVi4ka5O5bSqK44My124mE_joTh4rRDV6YeJITokcpEYYFOjwgPbmhvDSvgvtzjFpmHc9faZRell8plroALGkNo7gh9sy4_Xnz/s639/48.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="639" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimk_xzpBvGrAT__JJ5086p9j5QT9U1kB80ooarJ06o3ImVi4ka5O5bSqK44My124mE_joTh4rRDV6YeJITokcpEYYFOjwgPbmhvDSvgvtzjFpmHc9faZRell8plroALGkNo7gh9sy4_Xnz/s320/48.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />ep. 48 & 49 Fall of the Rescue Police! & Fly Forth into the Sky of Hope.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>W:Noboru Sugimura.</div><div>D:Takeshi Ogasawara.</div><div><br /></div><div>The last two episodes of the show and a two part at that. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The first part focuses primarily on two aspects: One, Winspector is separating from the Toyko Metropolitan Police department and joining a more global effort in France as a new division of INTERPOL, handling everything from unique international crimes to natural disasters. That is of course with exception to Commander Masaki, who is to remain behind and handle a domestic replacement for Winspector.<br />The second is that Ryoma begins having headaches and panic attacks for seemingly unknown reasons, which leads into us finally get backstory on Ryoma and why he joined Winspector in the first place. <br />During a visit to his sister Yuko- who's flower garden has finally started to bloom, they visit the family grave where we learn the two lost their parents at a young age in a house fire. Their father managed to get Yuko outside to Ryoma, but returned back for their mother only to die in the inferno. For most of their lives, they're the only family one another has had, and Ryoma relocating to France means she'll be all alone, which weighs heavily on him.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqK8jkes_sM4ZBfHpPnoXv7V5ONPK3_-wQWoDml6XfYC29Mixzz0y6n7VOPiVO-clLvBWJuMz9yT5N2_odR7cXuDvZhsugx_VLigFhHbmfFoSrrpaL0kLIz6KGxUz08n972m9g_jP-E65C/s1366/house+fire.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqK8jkes_sM4ZBfHpPnoXv7V5ONPK3_-wQWoDml6XfYC29Mixzz0y6n7VOPiVO-clLvBWJuMz9yT5N2_odR7cXuDvZhsugx_VLigFhHbmfFoSrrpaL0kLIz6KGxUz08n972m9g_jP-E65C/s320/house+fire.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />The rest of 48 is mostly a clip show with original scenes interspersed between them, usually with supporting cast characters that haven't been seen in a long time just so there's one final send off. <br /></div><div>I know a lot of people don't like clipshows and neither do I for the
most part, but I do think this is one of the better ones. There's enough
original content here to make it worthwhile, plus doing a clip show this
late into a series allows for a sweeter look back. You tend to
appreciate how far you've come at nearly 50 episodes.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDFERT4uQG8PoE3Z-RTxsaCVrhLRHVT0xO9EE7gBfbekBdvmcrPc0yamZ97DZShEwc75uc4RxOR07rlGlavrF2gpL2eqIW7wHE-uqKyXXy5AV2scAQBAwpxVe80vvMsBF0rynfEDrCnhT/s1366/insane+in+the.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDFERT4uQG8PoE3Z-RTxsaCVrhLRHVT0xO9EE7gBfbekBdvmcrPc0yamZ97DZShEwc75uc4RxOR07rlGlavrF2gpL2eqIW7wHE-uqKyXXy5AV2scAQBAwpxVe80vvMsBF0rynfEDrCnhT/s320/insane+in+the.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">In the final stretch of the episode, a fire breaks out at a film studio and Winspector is called in. Ryoma suffers a mental break while trying to rescue a child- the stress of the suit and his own anxiety causing a hallucination before passing out, ending the episode.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br />Episode 49 picks up with Ryoma in hospital. He's fine considering he spent a whopping 20 minutes in the suit. But it will be a week before he's discharged and he can't suit up anytime soon, less he risk more permanent or even fatal injury.</div><div>However, Ryoma begins questioning the stress and his mysterious headaches, as these issues began before learning about the transfer. Upon request, Masaki and Junko check Ryoma's apartment, discovering a small transmitter. Further investigation leads down a rabbit hole of a research institute where the device was intended to treat mental disorders, only for the research to stop due to the device being too easy to exploit with side effects ranging from hallucinations, going berserk, and even death. The device was originally brought in by a Dr. Onikitchi Kuroda, the very first antagonist Winspector dealt with in the first episode.<br /><br />Kuroda has has been behind all the current events. He has since escaped from prison, kidnapped Yuko, and plans to create as much chaos as possible to utterly destroy Winspector in revenge. <br /><div style="text-align: left;">His usage in this episode is to be the antithesis of everything Winspector is meant to represent. There's implications that he's a man broken by the cruelty of the world, that bloodshed is the natural state of things.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zDB-oNWkSKJddxavK5N_0Opx6nvRV_kTtuT4cNjj0TvpuPPnfYfMgoc05o2JgneUbuSeNUAVp-qY-isr17jbJiDLtXXLeYptbJhbdW4Ey-Yw8n7f0i1JkVNxzKWrn-QQ7wJOBOLNN8w0/s1366/blood+thirsty.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zDB-oNWkSKJddxavK5N_0Opx6nvRV_kTtuT4cNjj0TvpuPPnfYfMgoc05o2JgneUbuSeNUAVp-qY-isr17jbJiDLtXXLeYptbJhbdW4Ey-Yw8n7f0i1JkVNxzKWrn-QQ7wJOBOLNN8w0/s320/blood+thirsty.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>The crowning moment of the finale is the confrontation between Masaki and Kuroda, in which Masaki has a crisis of faith during the stand off. One violent man can ruin countless lives, and does such a person deserve to be protected? Should he just pull the trigger and end it?<br />In the end, the decision isn't necessary, Kuroda doing himself in. But while Masaki doesn't regret coming close to firing, he views Kuroda as a failure of Winspector. They never saved him, only preserved his life up until that point. They never reformed him, and that impacts Masaki greatly for his future plans.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkoaHW-IgJgu5S0KbHcNItsSIZQ6cVTjGLLh9G5X_TwsYWr-3KRtCYQ2vKShIFgXzT3_StuunkoONYfF4fmx2zZLR6dmp3P5n3tXGG-3uLOFohiyaL9z2NFymdl36xa_ekWTu2i85MhzBi/s1366/still+a+human.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkoaHW-IgJgu5S0KbHcNItsSIZQ6cVTjGLLh9G5X_TwsYWr-3KRtCYQ2vKShIFgXzT3_StuunkoONYfF4fmx2zZLR6dmp3P5n3tXGG-3uLOFohiyaL9z2NFymdl36xa_ekWTu2i85MhzBi/s320/still+a+human.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGzLvQ42cGuyUL9GBXrbZaiX1QJyYsDGIweX4W4khSdXlz4R_3Vri2NFdWxBu3xTw9vbBnFyxiIxyB6RdVsVYiSu4d6lm2wU1IBXe6WdgQXQxGh9nTdu33vikb5I1q7xehI95-piqkblt/s1366/soul.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGzLvQ42cGuyUL9GBXrbZaiX1QJyYsDGIweX4W4khSdXlz4R_3Vri2NFdWxBu3xTw9vbBnFyxiIxyB6RdVsVYiSu4d6lm2wU1IBXe6WdgQXQxGh9nTdu33vikb5I1q7xehI95-piqkblt/s320/soul.png" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>Final thoughts.</h3></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Firstly, I do want to address the negatives. As much as I do enjoy Winspector, it's not without it's flaws. Fact of the matter is, some of the more batshit crazy episodes won't be as enjoyable to some people and just annoying, particularly the episodes written by Kyoko Sagiyama, who has a habbit of writting weird stories. I imagine most of her credits will be the most polarizing- although I do enjoy a number of her episodes as noted, she has quite a number of simply bizarre outings, such as episode 27 which straight up has a witch in it. Susumu Takaku also has a number of truly strange stories, perhaps most infamously episode 5 which has a hilarious looking condor puppet.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">There's also the matter of some of the earlier episodes suffering from very awkward exposition heavy dialogue. It only happens in about three episodes, but they are at the start of the series and can be a massive turn off. Characters will literally sometimes walk up to another and just info dump a backstory unprompted.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm93PNZxzInipqn30Vk4oRyymLef2G1o-GOIkzu33cTIUkSmRDcvXdG6rNbKZVu5kauMugrW1l-t-xJKjreeN5kiYJhES3V9hwCbybjkfdQMEHTUzYA0nPfWmAW7hkPHg0n4BPO4q53SVX/s1022/1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1022" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm93PNZxzInipqn30Vk4oRyymLef2G1o-GOIkzu33cTIUkSmRDcvXdG6rNbKZVu5kauMugrW1l-t-xJKjreeN5kiYJhES3V9hwCbybjkfdQMEHTUzYA0nPfWmAW7hkPHg0n4BPO4q53SVX/s320/1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqf_idF4hpDwbaep6TwWOhIAQvxKsFKDLUVWS5xijKnXUl0oUQuLGDMq66qVFb71BxBW1NE3YJZ1T_qFgN-S5hCEml38daWVp4J8358L7NTU-rKJNyt2f3EWlgBqHWWQrZPXG3fKG8-01w/s1022/2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1022" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqf_idF4hpDwbaep6TwWOhIAQvxKsFKDLUVWS5xijKnXUl0oUQuLGDMq66qVFb71BxBW1NE3YJZ1T_qFgN-S5hCEml38daWVp4J8358L7NTU-rKJNyt2f3EWlgBqHWWQrZPXG3fKG8-01w/s320/2.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8fRy_QF9UIdK9m0ePwM2D3UFqjzN502eBXnh3nSyyCfEq14KGR0ZubrvqMcfWln5HpJ50wF_PixZg08WMtkU-VXbQYujkcWzWzn7Ljr_6ZIYS3v81svvbiyKGmj7i6aBbSESOY8irx4k/s1022/3.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1022" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8fRy_QF9UIdK9m0ePwM2D3UFqjzN502eBXnh3nSyyCfEq14KGR0ZubrvqMcfWln5HpJ50wF_PixZg08WMtkU-VXbQYujkcWzWzn7Ljr_6ZIYS3v81svvbiyKGmj7i6aBbSESOY8irx4k/s320/3.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">W: Thundercracker.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>There's other minor things as well, grievances most Toei shows suffer from, such as reuse of stock footage throughout the show- outside of transformations I mean. If you watch multiple episodes in any short amount of time it's going to be noticeable regardless of any binging. But again, not a particularly big issue, most of these are things that are easily forgiven or can overlooked.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br />This re-watch did however highlight just how bad of a character Hisako is, and that's a damn shame. She's one of the more fascinating aspects of Winspector being an undercover agent and who's role is less public because of it. But she's also really terrible at this job.<br />As you saw in the episode recommendations, just about every episode that features Hisako in a major role ends up with her botching something, and it's not as if the episodes ever acknowledge this. I don't even think it was intentional, just a poorly thought out instances of the episodes needing x so y can happen. Mild plot contrivance is a reoccurring if not overly egregious issue with the series writing overall, but in this case it's always at the cost of a character. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Even though I still largely enjoy the episodes featuring her- hell they're some of my favorites, there's no getting around how dirty her character was done. She isn't much of a combatant, she's incapable of keeping her cool when someone's life is in danger, her identity is known to certain underground criminals. Hisako isn't cut out for more than a desk job. She could have absolutely been a fun side character that was sparingly utilized, but instead she's just wasted potential in a series that really could've done with another female character at least on par with Junko. At the same time her limited role is what also keeps this from being a bigger stain upon the series.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>But that does lead me to my next criticism: There's not really a prominent female role on par with Fire, Bikel and Walter. Sure Juko is great, she is a staring character, she's in the intro and doesn't get done dirty like Hisako. But she's not an equal to the main three and she doesn't get to suit up. She also gets coffee for everyone... a lot, so that's kinda weird.<br />I think production was aware of this which is why the following series, Solbrain, sought to rectify that with a woman in a more prominent role. It's again not a terrible tragedy, just a shame when the series does so well in other aspects.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUUz-8ejKhDGSczMvprPVoljtdu7JfC0ckQ18_o1jRh5IxSW-wjndyDyoiwFsgr2hxJelds1shxSYQInLqBrdL7JN9v1YvDulPVCXLjzhMHXbKevUunetnQlGUSBM3P-Yk6hHWCRZpdSB/s1022/bikel+chill+out+voice.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1022" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUUz-8ejKhDGSczMvprPVoljtdu7JfC0ckQ18_o1jRh5IxSW-wjndyDyoiwFsgr2hxJelds1shxSYQInLqBrdL7JN9v1YvDulPVCXLjzhMHXbKevUunetnQlGUSBM3P-Yk6hHWCRZpdSB/w328-h246/bikel+chill+out+voice.png" width="328" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>With that said, taking yet another look at Winspector was still a wonderful experience. I was shocked at just how much I remembered once I really got into it. While there are shows with higher highs such as Ultra Seven and Metalder that I would suggest over Winspector, there are very few with the level of consistency and unique qualities that Winspector has and that is something I cannot overstate. I recommended a whopping 17 episodes (Including two parters as individual episodes) That's more than any other show I've reviewed. <br />Despite some flaws I have noticed over time, Winspector remains an incredibly enjoyable series that helped introduce me to a wider range of other Metal Hero shows, as well as showing off how you can still make an exciting and engaging series without adhering closely to the normal weekly monster formula typically seen within this genre. I truly believe this was a lightning in a bottle show that simply could not be repeated, frankly it's sequel series Solbrain proves that, but that perhaps is for another time.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7dNqRoB_xMi52CAXMZCsNDKz6xoPjxanW0w6Y5YkImCYvR6_1mcIr_OFIheBVg_HT7ipb4L9KzLZc0Nx1Jh9u0XFv5kBXIWw6CPghmVcpaQg6GRnG45xcCK87Om2d9SOKHQlfN7O4e_6/s581/translation+notes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="95" data-original-width="581" height="76" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7dNqRoB_xMi52CAXMZCsNDKz6xoPjxanW0w6Y5YkImCYvR6_1mcIr_OFIheBVg_HT7ipb4L9KzLZc0Nx1Jh9u0XFv5kBXIWw6CPghmVcpaQg6GRnG45xcCK87Om2d9SOKHQlfN7O4e_6/w465-h76/translation+notes.png" width="465" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br />For further reading I highly suggest Sailor Otaku/WeeabooShogun's Blog which is a fantastic resource for information on the show, translation decisions, and synopses on all the episodes. ... although it's now been deleted, which is a shame.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh885J5LfE3QUTpuVw8XqjBx8oCuHwQ1lA__S7JQvpcluEXyyrNq4IZTwMq-6zqVwz4HKTYtEdblSfEGdlqBg5yw4eYYqnuJNEkpk4ID1Fth5UZRzj-ZsdUVDhA3nrw33WLhPE65AXTvjFL/s1349/blog.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="616" data-original-width="1349" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh885J5LfE3QUTpuVw8XqjBx8oCuHwQ1lA__S7JQvpcluEXyyrNq4IZTwMq-6zqVwz4HKTYtEdblSfEGdlqBg5yw4eYYqnuJNEkpk4ID1Fth5UZRzj-ZsdUVDhA3nrw33WLhPE65AXTvjFL/w410-h187/blog.png" width="410" /></a></div><div>Thankfully, you can still access it through the Waybackmachine, which is how I was able to still have a reference point halfway through writing this. Thank you Archive.org.<br /><br />All that said, this review was a long time coming and I don't want to waste any time to start on the next series. I'm going to be heading back into the Ultra franchise- but while I do have Ace sitting on the shelf over there, I'm going to be going back before forward.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Kamen Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02832099141882322022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505042118996520039.post-44973570619325570822020-04-20T01:53:00.000-04:002020-04-20T01:53:34.874-04:00Return of Ultraman Bluray Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Return of Ultraman is the fourth entry in the Ultra series made four years after the end of Ultra Seven. Seven was intended to be the last of the franchise as Tsuburaya Productions set sights on other ventures, but Ultraman was simply too popular not to bring back. Merchandise wise, Ultraman was still a hot seller and there was a strong demand for more, so a new entry was decided upon.<br />
Planning started around late 1969 early 1970. Originally, Eiji Tsuburaya intended the show to be the return of the original Ultraman, hence the title. Though he would pass on January 25, 1970, before getting far into development. The station was more interested in a new character anyway and with Tsuburaya's passing it perhaps felt more appropriate to not touch upon the original character's story out of respect, so it became more of a general return for the franchise than the character specifically. RoU also retroactively established Ultraman and Ultra Seven as being in continuity rather than stand-alone series, allowing for the two to appear and be mentioned.<br />
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Characters & Story.</h3>
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The main protagonist this time around is Hideki Gou (Or Go as the subs use)<br />
Go, like Hayata is the host for an Ultra simply referred to as Ultraman, though not the same as the original. (In 1984 he would be deemed, Ultraman Jack. For the sake of this review I will largely be referring to him as simply Ultraman.)<br />
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Go was chosen after giving his life to save a child and their dog, with the giant of light finding his willingness to sacrifice himself an admirable aspect. At first, it seems like a back to basics, but there's a lot of notable differences in both character and set up to help keep things fresh. For starters, Go is a racer that had a full life before becoming an Ultra. He has a job, friends, a lover, etc.<br />
It's only after his resurrection he's offered a place on the primary organization for this series: Monster Attack Team. Which if I saw a guy spring back to life I'd offer them a job too.<br />
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Because of the Ultra, Go becomes a natural on the team, besting everyone at everything. Target practice, karate, kendo, and so forth. Similar to Seven, Go has access to a more limited range of powers even as a human which gives him this edge. Overall better dexterity, keen hearing, sight. But despite all that, he is a sharp contrast with the prior protagonists in that he's largely not as successful as the original or Seven. Go messes up both as a member of M.A.T. and as an Ultra in the first few episodes. He'll get overconfident in his abilities, he'll incur injury, and he's not much of a fighter, even less so than Seven. It's not uncommon for him to exhaust his energy fast and fade before a monster can be defeated. Part of that is inexperience and arrogance, but also being overwhelmed. Go has to contend with strong or multiple monsters quite frequently very early on in his career. Also unlike his predecessors, he lacks a key device to transform, instead, it's pure willpower which is important because his ego bites him hard and at times and Ultraman flat out refuses to come out and clean his messes up.<br />
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This makes for a very interesting take, but it's also an inconsistent one early on. Episodes will clearly have Go realizing his shortcomings and correct them...only to make another mistake an episode or two later. It doesn't come off so much as Go stumbling to be better as much as it is the episodes in question needing x to happen and the shortest route to that is just having Go do something haughty like not being properly prepared for a mission.<br />
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Over time this becomes less of an issue before it's completely written out and Go becomes more accustomed to being responsible, respected and a much better fighter. Though I wouldn't call this character development so much as a change of course.<br />
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Another difference with this Ultraman is they are the first to gain and use a weapon: the Ultra Bracelet. What does it do? <i>Everything</i>. Sword, lance, cross, energy cutter. This was clearly just a fun way for the writers to mix things up by giving this Ultraman a new weapon whenever they wanted, which works out great as far as I'm concerned. It keeps things fresh and further sets Go apart.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L to R: Oka, Minami, Capt. Kato, Ueno, Go and Kishida.</td></tr>
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The primary team this series is M.A.T (Monster Attack Team) They're somewhere in-between the SSSP and UG in terms of operations. They're not science focused as the SSSP were, nor are they as heavily militarized as the UG were. They fall under the TDF returning from Ultra Seven and there is mention of other branches, most notably New York. Their method of operation isn't much different than the UG's were, though they are noticeably much smaller. I guess after three years of no Ultraseven there simply wasn't a need for a large scale force anymore.<br />
That said, Return of Ultraman learned a lot it's predecessors and incorporates many of those aspects. In the case of MAT they have a science department not too unlike the Ultra Guard which will study the scene of an incident to determine what a creature is, if it's terrestrial or alien, the species, if seismic activity is from a monster or simply geological, etc.<br />
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I'm not really going to focus too much on the individual members because they are pretty bare. I think MAT may very well be as bare-bones as the original Ultraman's SSSP. The only exception to this is Kishida, who despite a lot of misgivings I had with initially, actually gets an excellent focused episode that stuck out to me. For everyone else... well a few do get to have the spotlight in some focused episodes, but most of the time it's not too uncommon for half the cast to not have even a single word spoken in an episode. I think the most disappointing is the sole female member: Oka. After Anne in Ultra Seven, you would hope that the female team member would get some degree of development or something other than just being in communications. Sure, Anne wasn't some super progressive character, but it did seem like maybe the series following might do much of the same if not more, but sadly no. Even with it being in the 70's right in the women's revolution, Oka's characterization is straight out of 1966.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maybe '55</td></tr>
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The only notable thing this go around for the team is the Captain gets a promotion and gets a replacement; Ibuki.<br />
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I will give credit to his character, he probably is one of the more standout Captains, primarily because he has a wife and daughter that pops up from time to time. His personality also gives me a sorta Tommy Lee Jones vibe and that's always good.<br />
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The team did grow on me over time. In the teens, they got a lot better than initial impressions and by the halfway point everyone generally had a good chemistry with one another, but like past series, you're not going to get a lot of depth.<br />
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Part of the reason the MAT members get shafted is that there is a secondary cast. As mentioned, Go had a life as a racer before joining MAT, he has people from that life and we actually get to see that, though it's limited to only three people of the Sakata family.<br />
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<b>Ken</b>: Go's close friend and mechanic. You may recognize the actor, Shin Kishida, from his later role as Daizaburou Arashiyama in Sun Vulcan or from Toho's The Evil of Dracula.<br />
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<b>Jiro</b>: Ken's little brother. <b> </b><br />
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<b>Aki</b>: the middle child and sister.<br />
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Despite the fact they're main characters that sometimes superseded the MAT members- they're really not much better development-wise. Early on it seems like they just didn't have a clue what to do with them and they're just dotted all over the place in appearances with little to do and spending most of the time at Ken's Garage. The late teens and into the 20s would mitigate this by having episodes featuring them more predominately and in more active roles outside the garage, such as Ken and Jiro on a camping trip only for a monster to show up and MAT intervening, hitting a good balance between the two.<br />
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Jiro and Aki probably have the most focus of the two. Jiro serves as the token child character and sometimes gets caught up in some sort of plot with various monsters and the like. Aki, on the other hand, is something of a love interest for Go and they even go out a few times. But their chemistry is basically nonexistent.<br />
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Ken probably got it the worst. The show clearly had plans for him that they never follow through on. From building a new race car for Go which is mentioned less and less. To Ken developing a new spoiler for dealing with wind pressure, which Go even comments on as being useful for dealing with a certain monster... only for it to never be mentioned again or put to use even within the episode itself.<br />
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There is one really interesting thing that happens with this cast, but it's a major spoiler, so I'll hold off on that for the time being.<br />
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I hate to start off the general story stuff with some heavy criticisms, but my initial impressions were not fantastic. Episodes 1 and 2 are pretty damn good, but after that, the episodes were surprisingly hard to sit through because of the MAT team dynamic. By episode five I fucking hated Kishida. He is the testiest and insufferable of the group by <b>far</b>. Of all the Ultra series I've watched, I don't think I've ever seen a series with such an unlikable character.<br />
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Go is constantly getting shit on by at least one teammate at any given point (usually Kishida) and with the exception of ep. 2 where he disobeys orders because of his ego, Go really doesn't deserve it up to that point. He is consistently right about everything largely due to his Ultra abilities. In episode 3 Go spots/hears a monster on a mountain but the others don't believe him nor want to waste time double-checking. Later, when the Capt. goes missing, Go suggests that maybe he went to look on the mountain himself and the team just assumes Go's overly obsessed with being correct. Low and behold the monster and Captain are there.<br />
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Ep. 5 and 6 has Go questioning if a large object discovered at a construction site really was just a rock or an egg since he can hear things within it. The object was hit with a shovel and shot, but he wanted a more scientific test ran which causes some friction with Kishida on trust.<br />
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Later a monster appears and Go refuses to shoot because a small girl was within range. This leads to him being reprimanded and put under house arrest. Then the damn rock turns out to actually be an egg, which grows in size bursting through the city streets. Go is called back for the emergency situation where the commander tells them to shoot a missile at the egg despite several civilians trapped in the area, so Go quits M.A.T and then gets shit from a teammate over that. The second part of this spends a lot of time with how Go should return and not just quit and that he's being childish...for not wanting to be part of an organization that orders bombing innocent people. It just snowballs.<br />
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You may have also noticed a bit of a strange pattern by this point during regular viewing, which is that every other episode has Ultraman being defeated and/or Go coming into conflict with his team and is sent off so he can interact with the other part of the cast. I know Toku can be formulaic, but this is ridiculous and the Ultra series is largely good about avoiding this aside from the basic concept of Ultraman showing up. Seriously, 5 episodes in and Go has been fake fired to teach a lesson, sent home and finally just quitting.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdhS8O1yzq0vBYtuzb9kZexyi5gD-IYbZGT0S-xU4hzGVlJIlPEtY7rWTC-W7ZVVZSsI0U7fHPFlJ-t7DkKh0Gye-_7orzJ1z5o7Bnc6OGfjMbCM0TG7uoVHFCaKiSjzx7dPvv9LmYVqP/s1600/fired+3.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="745" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdhS8O1yzq0vBYtuzb9kZexyi5gD-IYbZGT0S-xU4hzGVlJIlPEtY7rWTC-W7ZVVZSsI0U7fHPFlJ-t7DkKh0Gye-_7orzJ1z5o7Bnc6OGfjMbCM0TG7uoVHFCaKiSjzx7dPvv9LmYVqP/s320/fired+3.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ep 2, 5 and 5 again near the end. Yes, twice in one ep.</td></tr>
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Even when taking into account that this was meant to be viewed on a weekly bases it's still far too frequent of a repeating plot element.<br />
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On paper, there's a lot of interesting ideas with the concept of having a series where the main hero is often in conflict with his own team- that his powers give him insight and he struggles to make others believe him while not having a solid explanation beyond simple intuition.<br />
I will even say there are a few tidbits in those episodes that I like. The Captain of MAT outright disobeys orders on that bombing run and instead chooses to rescue the civilians first- even though that lets enough time pass for the egg to hatch. It flips the tables where now the entire team is against following orders.<br />
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The TDF commander who issued the missile firing is nonchalant about the ordeal and even makes a passing remark that Ultraman can fix their problem if they mess up, indicating a sort of complacent nature with Ultraman- something the original series itself touched upon near the end.<br />
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Hell, the camera work in episodes 5 & 6 is fairly good with some low angle shots to fit the mood, and there are some good character moments for Go in how determined he is to save everyone.<br />
Even a frustrating hard-ass like Kishida has a degree of intrigue in that MAT overall is pretty loose and overly forgiving as a unite, while Kishida is at the very least professional- yet even he is against risking civilians. There is an attempt at nuance with him and a few of the other characters early on. Giving characters major flaws or different personalities and conflict is a really great thing to bring in and I would much rather have something challenging than playing it safe- it did after all pay off for Ultra Seven. I applaud taking this risk. None the less, the show stumbles hard trying to handle this by flaunting the negative aspects of characters a bit too frequently and repetitively at a very early stage in the show's development, which leaves a nasty taste making it difficult to focus on the good that is present. I have never been this fucking frustrated while starting off an Ultra series.<br />
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The latter half of episode 6 does start to improve upon these issues and does a solid job of unifying the team. I just don't think the conflict that arose to execute the drama was handled well and was frankly a chore to get through.<br />
Future episodes would continue to have conflicts arise but nowhere near<i> as </i>bad. Go doesn't keep unfairly catching flak when it isn't deserved. They also have him mess up somethings to actually cause a more legitimate issue where it's more often understandable from two different perspectives. It becomes less frequent until it's non-existent in the late 20s. Kishida also undergoes some changes and becomes far less of a jerkass and even gains a bit of humor.<br />
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I feel slightly bad on how harsh this must come across, as the primary writer was the legendary Shozo Uehara, who sadly passed this January. Though it is worth pointing out that from what I could find this was his first major stint as the main writer for a considerable length of time. He also had a role in writing select episodes of Ultra Seven, in fact, as mentioned in my review one of my favorite episodes of that series was co-written by him. But again, the difference here is being the main writer from the start, contributing to about 20 episodes across the entire series including the finale. After Ep.18 he would contribute more sporadically, sometimes going two to five episodes between writing credits, which I do think was for the best so he wouldn't burn out.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9p3EMtY-WhgepeaNVvpkHCahKLEnlXZkHk3ldGE8F1ylwYZkkrRjRBr61ngBfxmLb4VrN0FklgI32trMH2TSb9DcdRmAusrA5m6RyLTCowZ1OubeZSZg0oAK6UVQF8PikVnGvSCK0H35/s1600/low+enegy.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="741" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9p3EMtY-WhgepeaNVvpkHCahKLEnlXZkHk3ldGE8F1ylwYZkkrRjRBr61ngBfxmLb4VrN0FklgI32trMH2TSb9DcdRmAusrA5m6RyLTCowZ1OubeZSZg0oAK6UVQF8PikVnGvSCK0H35/s320/low+enegy.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Keep in mind that for these bigger criticisms regarding the characters and the writing I'm primarily talking about the first six episodes, more specifically 3-6 and a few stragglers after the fact. While of course, those aren't the only episodes I have issues with, the others are more spread out among the good. In my experience, the foundation is very rocky. There are obvious growing pains in their attempts to stand out and be different, Uehara was new to this and Eiji Tsuburaya was gone. There was a deck stacked against the production, but once you start getting into the teens the show's writing improves <b>drastically.</b> This isn't a knock against Uehara, either. Most of those improvements are in his episodes which are fantastic.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajPaVyqDCTrbSyaosYsvkwn1aG30sfk7KlfqJpuXWEeDjhurs9lHne7os7TT0SQ-KVMmgOyVrXckmBzEoQWZ4wBUAOwPvCLCXcPxy6drSz5XYBumFFUzrQfFgAttmnCpZXnojTOlTsJw3/s1600/team+1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="738" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajPaVyqDCTrbSyaosYsvkwn1aG30sfk7KlfqJpuXWEeDjhurs9lHne7os7TT0SQ-KVMmgOyVrXckmBzEoQWZ4wBUAOwPvCLCXcPxy6drSz5XYBumFFUzrQfFgAttmnCpZXnojTOlTsJw3/s320/team+1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
The impression I get is he struggled with starting the series off, but once it got going he was able to truly bring in some fun stories and mitigate most of the issues I had up until then. The drama gets better, the characters start to have a lot better chemistry if not much in the way of well-defined relationships. It basically becomes pretty standard Ultraman fare at that point, settling into an entertaining if not remarkable series with some notable episodes here and there.<br />
The show features a large variety of situations like prior shows and if nothing else, rarely became overly predictable once it got going.<br />
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The booklet included with the set mentions that the writing shifted away from the heavy morality tales that Ultra Seven introduced, and while that is true to a point, it's not entirely gone. Return of Ultraman might be more basic with its plots and have more in common with the original's largely standalone episodic nature, but it does have reoccurring themes of environmentalism, questioning authority, human ignorance and systemic systems that enable them. Aside from 5&6 Ep. 10 has a construction crew ignoring rules and regulations by blowing up a skeletal figure buried in the side of a hill that ends up being a monster. Ep. 13 & 14 has another construction company getting fed up with MAT not willing to provoke a docile monster that's taken up residence on a site so the JSDF is called in which starts an entire shit show of military dick-waving. Ep. 16 has a company president flexing their corporate muscles to get MAT to back off an investigation.<br />
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It's not even uncommon for an episode to feature the heavily decorated higher-ups firing off threats of shutting down MAT at the drop of hat, almost as if there's some unforeseen jealousy or behind the scenes political drama.<br />
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Perhaps the best politically charged and indeed the most famous episode is ep. 33 The Monster Tamer and The Boy.<br />
<b>Directed by</b> Shohei Tojo <b> </b><br />
<b>Written by</b> Shozo Uehara.<br />
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A young orphan boy named Ryo befriends an Alien Meits after being rescued by the extraterrestrial and the two develop a close father-son relationship. Rumors circulate in the local town that the boy is an alien and he is regularly harassed by bullies but is watched over by Meits who uses his mental abilities to protect the child.<br />
Local townsfolk treat Ryo with disdain and various forms of oppression. They refuse to sell him food- if not out of hatred then from what other people would say.<br />
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The Meits itself never intended to stay on earth for long, he was simply studying Earth's weather for research, but after saving Ryo, he considered being here long term, but Earth's polluted atmosphere was too much for his physiology. Despite this, Meits could not leave, having lost his ship somewhere underground. Go decides to help after learning the situation, unfortunately, the local town breaks into a lynch mob and go right after Ryo. Meits reveals himself to save the child, where the police shoot him to death.<br />
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Suffice to say, there's a lot of disturbing bigoted issues addressed in this episode, as well as fittingly beautiful uneasy visuals.<br />
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Humanity's darker aspects have been brought up in Ultraman before, even in the original series in episodes like Cry of the Mummy. But never this specific topic quite in this way. I don't know of many children's shows that would feature a racist mob, much less one lead by the goddamn police who then actively kill an innocent being just for existing.<br />
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There's also a lot of nice little touches. When a monster shows up that Meits had been preventing from attacking the town, Go just stares for a moment while the town is being destroyed thinking about how they deserve it, maybe even don't deserve saving. When he does eventually transform the fight is a lot angrier than most battles. I think this is absolutely one of Shozo Uehara's best works and I cannot recommend this enough. This is Ultraman and Tokusatsu at its absolute best.<br />
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Since we're focusing on the better aspects of the show, let's go ahead and talk about the other notably good episodes.<br />
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Ep. 11 Poison Gas Monster Appears.<br />
<b>Directed by</b> Noboru Kaiji.<br />
<b>Written by</b> Tetsuo Kinjo.<br />
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This one was written by Ultra series veteran Tetsuo Kinjo as his one and only contribution to RoU. The episode gives Kishida some much needed depth and managed to captivate me despite my prior misgivings regarding the character. Primarily the story focuses on his family's history with the military and the sins of his father, so to speak. More specifically, after a group of people are found dead, an autopsy reveals they died from a gas attack of some sort and the results are similar to an Imperial Japanese nerve agent that was disposed of just before the war ended. Kishida's father had direct involvement with production, much to his shame and he can't help but take it personally.<br />
There's a nice subtle scene where Kishida is given orders and is distracted, which is very telling about how much this is weighing on him and is showing a side of Kishida we've never seen before.<br />
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Up until now, he's been very by the books to a fault, now he's veered into the opposite corner for personal- if understandable, reasons.<br />
There's, of course, a monster in this episode spewing said gas, which makes it feel sort of like a retake or inverse of the Godzilla scenario. It's essentially Japanese war crimes coming back to haunt the present.<br />
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Ep. 16 & 17 The mysterious big bird monster Terochilus & Monster bird Terochilus big air raid of Tokyo.<br />
<b>Directed by</b> Eizo Yamagiwa. <b> </b><br />
<b>Written by</b> Shozo Uehara.<br />
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These first part concerns a man named Saburo trying to assassinate his childhood love, Yukiko, who is set to get married soon. During the attempt, a massive winged kaiju flies over destroying the yacht upon which Yukiko was on and foiling the attempt on her life. Saburo is quickly arrested and the destruction is blamed on him and his explosives. However, Yukiko witnessed the kaiju but no one will believe her.<br />
She uses her connection to her friend Aki to get to Go and have him investigate the situation and interrogate Saburo, all while Yukiko's fiance tries to hinder the investigation so they can move on.<br />
Saburo eventually escapes prison and goes after Yukiko to kidnap her and perhaps finish the job.<br />
As all this going on there's still enough time to focus on the monster and a fight with Ultraman just as it heads for the city.<br />
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17 continues on with the crime drama leading to a freaking hostage standoff inside a building overtaken by the giant titular Terochilus kaiju.<br />
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The second part has some of the best building destruction scenes in Ultra yet. There's even a point where we see the building come down with people inside, giving us a not too often seen view close to the destruction.<br />
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If there is a fault to these episodes it's that the second part pulls this weird thing with Saburo in attempting to make him sympathetic with Yurkiko, as if he is more legitimate than her cowardice shithead fiance, which is just creepy as hell. There's also a weird as hell subplot of her fiance trying to sabotage Go's investigation including getting Aki thinking there's something up with Go helping and spending so much time with Yukiko. This basically goes nowhere and the only thing to come from it is Aki acting rude as hell and disregarding her safety when Go is trying to evacuate her and other civilians...only for Go to slap the shit out of her.<br />
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So...yeah, while there is a lot I enjoy in these episodes, it's with a fairly notable caveat of WTF.<br />
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Ep. 31 Between a Devil and an Angel<br />
<b>Directed by</b> Tadashi Mafune.<br />
<b>Written by</b> Shin'ichi Ichikawa.<br />
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The plot centers on Captain Ibuki's daughter bringing her deaf friend Teruo to tour MAT, but Teruo isn't actually human, he's a disguised Alien Zeran who wanted to meet Go, or rather Ultraman, to threaten him in person.<br />
This is an episode with pretty damn good suspense that causes a lot of friction between Go and the team in a way that works. Go tries to outright kill the alien twice but it just looks like he's gone berserk assaulting a child. Go even explains the situation but it's fairly hard to believe, regardless.<br />
It reminds me a lot of an Ultra Seven episode in plot and how well written it is.<br />
This also has one of the more unique methods an Alien has used to attempt defeating an Ultra that I won't spoil.<br />
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I will, however, warn that there is a fairly graphic death scene near the end. There's plenty of episodes of kaiju being blown up or limbs being hacked. But this one has the Alien getting shot in the throat and he doesn't immediately lose the little boy disguise, so we see a kid probably around 6 grasping their throat as blood pours out until he keels over, which takes quite a bit. Good thing it was a disguise and not like possession or mind control.<br />
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Ep. 34. An unforgiven life.<br />
<b>Directed by</b>: Eizo Yamagiwa.<br />
<b>Written by: </b>Toshiro Ishido & Shinichiro Kobayashi.<br />
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This episode focuses on an old classmate of Go's, a scientist named Mizuno who is secretly working on creating a hybrid lifeform between and an animal and a plant, and if that sounds oddly similar to Biollante, you'd be right. Shinichiro Kobayashi, who was 16 at the time, later went on to write the plot outline for Godzilla vs. Biollante, and it's pretty clear a lot of that was pulled from here. Mizuno even has a child that died partly spurring his motivation- although the details of that aren't touched upon and are very vague.<br />
One can surmise after the loss of his son he wanted to create a new life to make up for the one he lost. He comes off as sad and pathetic, but also extremely unstable and a truly disturbing threat.<br />
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The atmosphere the episode builds with Mizuno's strange home and all the plants and animals gives off a vibe of some messed up stuff going on. The details of him knowing Go are superfluous and don't really add anything to the overall story, but this a fairly solid episode just because of how twisted it is.<br />
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Ep. 37. Ultraman dies at sunset.<br />
<b>Directed by</b> Yoshiharu Tomita. <b> </b><br />
<b>Written by</b> Shozo Uehara.<br />
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There are some big character spoilers here, so word of warning.<br />
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MAT develops a new explosive liquid for use in the arsenal called Saturn Z, this catches the attention of Aliens from the planet Nackle who seek to hijack the substance for their selves. However, that is only part of their plan, as their primary focus is discovering Ultraman's weakness. The aliens revive previously defeated monsters Seagorath and Bemstar to get more detailed information on Ultraman's abilities. The episode uses stock-footage for these scenes which goes on a bit too long and doesn't quite match, but regardless, Ultraman easily dispatches the monsters same as before. Shortly afterward during transport of the Saturn Z, MAT is ambushed and the Nackles make off with the dangerous liquid. Concerned that their Kaiju Black King might not be enough to defeat Ultraman, they look for another way to weaken him: Targeting Aki.<br />
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This next part result in a semi-graphic sequence where the Nackles kidnap Aki on her way to Ken's garage. Ken tries to stop them but is viciously ran over and killed instantly. Aki is hung out of the car and dragged against the asphalt before being left a short distance from her brother.<br />
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She is in critical condition at the hospital where she manages to tell Go about the aliens before passing.<br />
At that moment, the Nackle send in Black King. Go isn't in any mental condition to fight and it weighs on the Ultraman side during battle, and if that wasn't enough the head Nackle grows and joins in on brutally beating the already struggling Ultraman.<br />
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This is a fairly shocking episode in what is portrayed. I don't really think it hit as well as it could or should because Aki never had a ton of chemistry with Go. But the jist is there and it's a stunt that does work to an extent. The Ultra series has never killed off a member of the cast like this, much less two. The final battle at the end of the episode is also shot beautifully.<br />
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Ep. 51 The 5 Ultra Oaths.<br />
<b>Directed by</b> Ishiro Honda<br />
<b>Written by</b> Shozo Uehara<br />
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The final episode of the show and a wonderfully fitting one at that.<br />
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Go has been having reoccurring nightmares about the original Ultraman being defeated by Zetton, giving a glimpse of the coming horror...<br />
Meanwhile Jiro and his current caretaker Rumiko are kidnapped by the invading Alien Bat, who challenges Ultraman with a new Zetton. Go finds himself unable to transform out of fear and is warned by the original Ultraman not to go in without a plan, lest he be defeated as he was.<br />
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Alien Bat is one of the smarter aliens of the series, not only exploiting the legitimate fear Zetton has instilled among Ultras, but also taking out MAT's munitions facilities and airstrip, effectively nullifying any effective measures they have. But MAT still gives it all they've got to keep fighting and gives Go the courage to fight on against the odds.<br />
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I do have some minor gripes. The Zetton suit is pretty sad looking and hilariously floppy. They also don't ever explain why MAT doesn't have a way to defeat Zetton despite the SSSP having a weapon that did so, it seems like a simple throwaway line could've explained that. <br />
Still, there is far more good here and it's one of the absolute best episodes, sending the series off on a strong note.<br />
It has quite possibly one of the most unique endings. Go allows his teammates at MAT to believe he died in a crash fighting Zetton, but he does visit Jiro and Rumiko one last time before transforming and heading off to the land of light where the Alien Bat race is currently invading.<br />
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Keep in mind Hayata got an extra life from Zoffy at Ultraman's request, since Hayata would die otherwise. Go was like Hayata and mortally wounded and outright died. His bonding with an Ultra is what keeps him alive and without it he would die again, so Go is a very special case of a host being permanent and also being the first human to go to the M78 nebula.<br />
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Visuals/SFX</h3>
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Despite being three years after Ultra Seven's end there's no drop in the effects what so ever. Right from the start, RoU looks as good as Ultra Seven did in regards to its effects- may be even better because some of the issues I had with Seven's backgrounds aren't as noticeable here. (Though there may be another reason why that is)<br />
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The sets themselves are probably the best they've ever been. Some are ridiculously detailed and once again- at times and ever surpass what was movie quality at the time. It's no wonder the Godzilla franchise was struggling at this point. (This was the same year as Godzilla vs. Hedorah)<br />
Buildings, streets, giant statues. The way they use the sets has also undergone a grandiose treatment. Monsters and Ultraman will burst from within a building, or come from a street with asphalt cracking away.<br />
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What did take a hit was the more elaborate hangars and facilities that Ultra Seven featured. Again, MAT is scaled down considerably. But what is there is still remarkable looking.<br />
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Curiously enough MAT's base undergoes constant upgrades over the show. While the main set remains consistent, the door and the hallway leading to the man meeting room would go from being solid with a long corridor to a translucent smoke door and a tube like hall.<br />
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There's also a greater use of optical effects in this series. Seven featured some, but RoU takes it very far in some episodes. Tsuburaya Productions had a lot of practice by now doing optical work on their hit series Operation: Mystery, which featured far more of those than the usual miniatures they're known for. Some of them are a little dated or the artifacting is a bit too noticeable in certain areas. But at the time I bet some of this looked insane.<br />
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They even made some iconic shots with this technique, the first episode it self has one of the best.<br />
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Hell, some are insanely incredible looking even today.</div>
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Likewise, RoU's cinematography is occasionally downright stunning, taking a lot of inspiration from Seven with some truly gorgeous sunsets. Akio Jissoji doesn't contribute to any of the episodes bar one writing credit, but his directorial influences are clearly felt in a few of the episodes.<br />
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They pull some ambitious and fun POV shots as well; one on a motorcycle weaving in a busy street and an impressive dashboard view in a scale car. This series basically leaves no stone unturned when it comes to being creative.<br />
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The Kaiju department is still incredible. Creatures like Bemstar, Gudon, Twin Tail, Black King. Most shows are lucky enough to have even one really stand out design, RoU has several.<br />
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Also as an aside, I really like Alien Bat's Showa design. He looks like a Masters of the Universe character.<br />
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The fights are fairly rough near the beginning, probably on par with when Ultraman first started out. They experiment with speeding the footage up which does not work <i>at all</i>. It looks comedic like a Buster Keaton film. They would tone down on this and eventually get back into the groove of very satisfying Greco-Roman<b> </b>style wrestling in a semi-slow speed. Some of the stunts get crazy too, the Ultra suit even catches fire on one occasion.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4viRYkLFgfDvONLRzO0XdGvYUfiXLhVdGp3xttA0KmsZqsc73Kkzp9mVqCoQISxZnfz1NRq2rYy7dRawUeVL5JQYOMN5HcdjA1h9R1jLJarQnDN4p6fUVf4KSywcTfN5JQiVB2AcwfXCa/s1600/fire.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4viRYkLFgfDvONLRzO0XdGvYUfiXLhVdGp3xttA0KmsZqsc73Kkzp9mVqCoQISxZnfz1NRq2rYy7dRawUeVL5JQYOMN5HcdjA1h9R1jLJarQnDN4p6fUVf4KSywcTfN5JQiVB2AcwfXCa/s1600/fire.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eiichi Kikuchi has balls.</td></tr>
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Speaking of, they blow up and dismember <i>a lot</i> of monsters this series. This entry may have some of the most incredibly satisfying death scenes.<br />
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Holy Shit. The Ultra bracelet really helps in adding some much needed variations to these scenes. If there is something RoU absolutely does better than it's predecessors by a mile it's this right here.<br />
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Oh, and one last thing about the visuals. RoU is probably the most overt with it's catholic symbolism up to this point. There is a lot of crosses, holy imagery and Go even has a Christ-like pose when transforming, which is layered on top of already coming back from the dead.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXftqJ17dnQC3XyPQS7xoWzZgyOvY68aHOeNe5mtGQ4SfTx-R9dZ4kvqS_Uv2hTOwvXw8PdVPJW7OVPbQiPJwLgSzIPT38uyGUdt8fcXa8eWgKs7u7n-f6p-tiN8ufxBozRy4FXVrL_d-t/s1600/christ+like.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="737" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXftqJ17dnQC3XyPQS7xoWzZgyOvY68aHOeNe5mtGQ4SfTx-R9dZ4kvqS_Uv2hTOwvXw8PdVPJW7OVPbQiPJwLgSzIPT38uyGUdt8fcXa8eWgKs7u7n-f6p-tiN8ufxBozRy4FXVrL_d-t/s320/christ+like.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MCA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Bluray/Packaging</h2>
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I'm pretty sure you've got the rundown by now. This is the standard
packaging, please do not get the steel books, they are poorly designed.<br />
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Side spine continues the image from the Ultra Seven set and surprisingly barely has any indication of the up coming Ultraman Ace.<br />
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Also not really important, but the blue on the actual Bluray logo in slightly different in shade from the other sets, for some reason.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzoupM5OuDSVNaMjoncb1CMAI1tMvhxbFTg4yG6AfuPMALYOuK3ovdNKijQymArhPP8T0q_Z989ReEdq7aih2vNVNJJX3O9Mq1kK_txUqX-jqLcssPzpnjPwPBoCKoRdZbrK8F4huDjNwl/s1600/20200416_184537.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzoupM5OuDSVNaMjoncb1CMAI1tMvhxbFTg4yG6AfuPMALYOuK3ovdNKijQymArhPP8T0q_Z989ReEdq7aih2vNVNJJX3O9Mq1kK_txUqX-jqLcssPzpnjPwPBoCKoRdZbrK8F4huDjNwl/s320/20200416_184537.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The slip case features Jack in the iconic Ultraman pose on the front and a Black King battle on the back.<br />
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The main case has an absolutely gorgeous image of Jack in the sky, while the back features Gudon and Twin Tail. Seriously, these images need to be posters they're so damn good.<br />
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The discs once again feature Kaiju across the show. The selection is nowhere near as random as Seven's, although it is a tiny bit odd that Astron wasn't featured on any of the discs, but maybe he's on one of the more modern series' discs.<br />
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The booklet, of course, it just as useful as ever and features the same layout and format Ultra Seven started. The only off bit was that during the write up on Ep. 31 they seem to have accidentally left the Bold on when typing out the director's name.<br />
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On a similar note, there are a few oddities with the episodes listings just like with Seven. Ep 34 is listed as An Unforgiven life in the booklet, the Bluray menu and the show lists the title as such for the subs. But the streaming service lists it as Life Unforgiven.<br />
17 is also like this, the streaming service lists the episode as <span class="name">"Monstrous Bird Terochilus The Great Tokyo Aerial Bombing" While once again the booklet, Bluray, and subtitles are "</span><span class="name">Monster bird Terochilus big air raid of Tokyo."</span><br />
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That's something that might and can be fixed. Hell, when I first got the set the streaming version didn't even have an episode count and time stamp on the thumbnails like Seven and Ultraman did. It was about two weeks before those were added. But as of this writing, April 16th, the differences remain.<br />
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Moviespree has some other weirdness as well, such as how inconsistent the Ultra series are listed on their respective pages. Ultraman was listed in 10 episode segments.<br />
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Seven had one huge segment you had to scroll through.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURYreXh-OX1z7YKm7i5xAiEpc6xP7Z943_JTLshzGCSbSSXgDp3RPDtppZTRv713vUANfy4asZACNMWxHQy40dvYRUrRK3RK6gfkAkIKdqznGznz0oLuPclUuLOOuQ2BE1rcLe0ZY-M40/s1600/ultra+seven.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="263" data-original-width="1319" height="63" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURYreXh-OX1z7YKm7i5xAiEpc6xP7Z943_JTLshzGCSbSSXgDp3RPDtppZTRv713vUANfy4asZACNMWxHQy40dvYRUrRK3RK6gfkAkIKdqznGznz0oLuPclUuLOOuQ2BE1rcLe0ZY-M40/s320/ultra+seven.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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And Return of Ultraman goes back to Ultraman's style.<br />
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For the Bluray image I wanna say the overall quality is a <i>slight </i>dip from the way Ultraman and Ultra Seven looked. That's not to say the image looks bad by any means. There's no scratches or damage or the like as seen with say, the Showa Kamen Rider shows, and this even looks cleaner than some of the KR Blurays. But to me at least, it appears to have a <i>tiny</i> bit of a clarity drop compared to Ultraman and Seven, if not a huge one. I'm not sure if that was just because of the way they filmed, maybe a change in film stock, maybe even just me I can't say with 100% certainty it's not. But it is likely to do with the fact that RoU has never had a Bluray release before now. Japan only ever got a standard DVD release, while Ultraman and Ultra Seven do have Blurays in Japan. Because I don't know what the Japanese DVD version of RoU looks like I can't compare or find out if they're just using that transfer- though I would suspect so. I can't imagine they'd be allowed access to the original source. I don't think this aspect would bother most people and I certainly don't mind myself- again looks damn good still. But do keep in mind as minor of a difference it is, a standard definition show on DVD is still compressed to a slightly lower quality than the true format, whereas an SD Bluray is accurate when transferred properly from the original source.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Subtitles.</h3>
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First and foremost I want to establish that these are new subs, they're not reusing the ones the wider Asian market had on their DVDs years ago, which were very quick and sloppy and really bad.<br />
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That said, sub quality is something I brought up as a worrying issue with Ultra Seven in that even to a layman like me the translations could at times be questionable. Here, like with Seven, there was one or two moments that made me scratch my head. But the first thing I noticed was a spelling error in the very first episode at exactly 3:48<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1bU81ioz-FAQYFHlxs8XK3LYPDtSHL8YekV16biIkgV16HrTSFE-ddcMPLxiKJzG1gDUNqYslDNeB568lDYI1SwYKJ064WzKqJ3lJHgBkpHTj5gmyMdpf38w1qjwXuaNEAeO_WCX5MDR/s1600/sub+error+348.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="749" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1bU81ioz-FAQYFHlxs8XK3LYPDtSHL8YekV16biIkgV16HrTSFE-ddcMPLxiKJzG1gDUNqYslDNeB568lDYI1SwYKJ064WzKqJ3lJHgBkpHTj5gmyMdpf38w1qjwXuaNEAeO_WCX5MDR/s320/sub+error+348.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Off to a great start.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I don't care what I paid for the Bluray, that should not make it into a official release, especially physical media.<br />
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Another notable shall we say iffiness is in episode 28 at the 10:44 mark.<br />
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Go tells Kishida to get a flare ready and Kishida responds confirming that it is. The problem is this probably isn't the best way to interpret it because that's not exactly what they're saying and I know it's not because half of it is in goddamn English. Go uses the words "Stand by" and Kishida says "Stand by" and "Okay"<br />
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Now this is where the tricky dicky part is because if they did it as Go saying "<Flare> on stand by" well that doesn't make a lot of sense even if accurate, but then again neither does "Flare Ready" at least not coming from Go who's giving an order and not responding. If Kishida said "Flare ready" then sure, that's a response and affirmation. They could actually just switch the placement for Go's subs to be "Ready Flare" and it would've made more sense at the cost of ignoring the blatant English coming from his mouth.<br />
I know this seems like a weird thing to pick out, but I think this is a good example of how tricky it can be to get sub dialogue to sound right and this one has English randomly inserted, so it stands out more. Do you keep the English in the subs? Make it more legible for how it would sound to the Japanese? In the end what was chosen doesn't exactly work for the scene either, it seems a bit unpolished. And I think that's the key word. Not exactly bad, but unpolished in some areas. (Kinda like this review)<br />
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A pretty good example of that is here. Why is it Gidora and not Ghidorah? It's not technically wrong, Gidora is how one would romanize ギドラ but it's weird, it would be like if suddenly ウルトラマン becomes Urutoraman instead of just using Ultraman. I thought maybe it was a way to skirt a trademark by Toho, but they also say Rodan in the same episode instead of Radon, so I think they just messed up.<br />
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Still, better than Toei's flat out wrong and robotic as hell subtitles on their YouTube channel, but that's for another time.<br />
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Final Thoughts.</h3>
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I've been struggling quite a bit to convey my feelings towards Return of Ultraman. There weren't many episodes that were particularly <i>bad</i> and there are some truly fantastic ones. I will reiterate that ep. 33 is indeed one of the best episodes in the franchise. I respect RoU's willingness to attempt very daring new things when it could have been easier to be more complacent. RoU shows off a lot of what it's learned from Ultraman and Seven, taking many great aspects from both while still keeping a familiar formula.<br />
But despite that, the show is largely just sort of average and there's nothing wrong with that. Keep in mind, this is the first show without Eiji Tsuburaya supervising- it's a goddamn miracle this show came out largely unscathed and even successful with the high points it reaches. It showed that they could continue on without Eiji Tsuburaya's guidance because the team was capable enough, he taught them well. Although there were clearly still some issues I cannot overlook.<br />
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I'm cannot say Return of Ultraman as a whole should be high on one's watch list when there simply are better shows out there. I certainly can't suggest it over Ultra Seven or even the original Ultraman. I didn't exactly know what to expect going into this, about the only thing I did was that it possibly matching the two priors series would be a tall and unfair order, and that's pretty much the case.<br />
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I <i>can </i>still recommend Return of Ultraman, it's got some fantastic moments and its influence on pop culture cannot be understated. Maybe you'll come out liking it better, I can certainly see how someone else would adore this show. But it's difficult for me not to feel just how bumpy this road was and that I had issues here that I've never had before with the franchise. In a way, I feel Return of Ultraman is a Jack of all trades master of none, and while that can be better than the master of one, I would still prefer others over it.<br />
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<tr align="center"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ultraman vs. Shocker. </td></tr>
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So I've been reviewing a lot of Ultraman lately and while Ultraman Ace releases next month, I'm probably going to take a break from that for a while. Eventually get to it, and Q for that matter. But I really wanna set my sights elsewhere. For one thing, I have a game review I've been holding off on because I was expecting it to get patched...it did not. But after that I'd really like to do Winspector, it's a Metal Hero series that's very near and dear to me and will probably be a bit more simple of a review because it lacks an actual overarching plot and I've already seen the series, which always makes things easier.<br />
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Also, one last tidbit as a bullshit bonus, Dr. Death up there wasn't the only similarities with KR. Check out this exchange from episode 19 of Ultraman compared to episode 31 of Kamen Rider. There was only a two week difference between these episodes, with Return of Ultraman airing theirs first.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoD7UsAuj5EOZwpHoT0v3yJjtqMw7BeemtPZA9h57TSGaa9ALfCQr1i53VfZCReznw5Ujm9OBEQ16gFsIXykkwE6WyBRVUFwXEIiVvj-MhO76kYN7F_FuNV-A91YGs0MAyA1Bz4qJ94j3/s1600/UM+trauma.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="747" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoD7UsAuj5EOZwpHoT0v3yJjtqMw7BeemtPZA9h57TSGaa9ALfCQr1i53VfZCReznw5Ujm9OBEQ16gFsIXykkwE6WyBRVUFwXEIiVvj-MhO76kYN7F_FuNV-A91YGs0MAyA1Bz4qJ94j3/s320/UM+trauma.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcreTJmEieWG6b2Q6fH-qAg0odwvXpzYaOQAFRtmHjsFSxz5U4enWWgmyzONECd8iEgYIbKmdOiK4hLynC2AtDYeWNmEJ5zpZJmNpDY5WDefAMknHuAENdQjwHKRb_lngzL0bYu7fSlfJT/s1600/turn+tail.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="743" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcreTJmEieWG6b2Q6fH-qAg0odwvXpzYaOQAFRtmHjsFSxz5U4enWWgmyzONECd8iEgYIbKmdOiK4hLynC2AtDYeWNmEJ5zpZJmNpDY5WDefAMknHuAENdQjwHKRb_lngzL0bYu7fSlfJT/s320/turn+tail.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAc6OWVk5_RHrinVo7CjM6DB_Htt2NsNZOEZ3vxA-36iy54TE5ibvW35lgbAPaXim8oAD32_aI8T8ARb-KGjHhOgzI7JFN8RRK7AG7pjFkV3gIsIt8vQWCPCGykvn4acvgujOw07vqEUm5/s1600/towel.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1019" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAc6OWVk5_RHrinVo7CjM6DB_Htt2NsNZOEZ3vxA-36iy54TE5ibvW35lgbAPaXim8oAD32_aI8T8ARb-KGjHhOgzI7JFN8RRK7AG7pjFkV3gIsIt8vQWCPCGykvn4acvgujOw07vqEUm5/s320/towel.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Funny to remember Tachibana was Cap Muramatsu in the original Ultraman. He also guest stars in an RoU ep.</td></tr>
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Weird huh? You know, considering the whole transforming hero being part of a race club and the close friend/sorta mentor figure in both series, I kinda wonder if part of the reason Ken wasn't used much and later killed off was because it was seen as oddly close to Kamen Rider's dynamic.Kamen Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02832099141882322022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505042118996520039.post-76174626557981678282020-03-18T22:29:00.003-04:002020-03-18T22:29:53.866-04:00Shout Factory's Kamen Rider (1971)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRgFCC8G_KXd6hkr_RtFmlzWbBeIzjmYY30i2l1hI0kCG_IG43SVrFdDSr0WkW5JXY_fGafuw32a8a1QWl5zVCnuJQyCdE1UYzDTSwlHpM2rPvDADmAv8tsRmFJ92_jHvMhdoYa0Xt7B6/s1600/kamen-rider-poster-1584331261109.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="894" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRgFCC8G_KXd6hkr_RtFmlzWbBeIzjmYY30i2l1hI0kCG_IG43SVrFdDSr0WkW5JXY_fGafuw32a8a1QWl5zVCnuJQyCdE1UYzDTSwlHpM2rPvDADmAv8tsRmFJ92_jHvMhdoYa0Xt7B6/s320/kamen-rider-poster-1584331261109.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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I don't normally do posts like this, but given the circumstances, I felt talking about this particular subject was needed.<br />
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If you've been keeping up with any sort of Toku news you know that a few days ago Tubi accidentally leaked that the first Kamen Rider series has been licensed and subbed by Shout Factory. This was something that had been rumored for a while to some degree. A bunch of people within in the Toku community with connections and various outlets like Bluefin brands were teasing something KR related happening with Shout about as subtle as a clown with his cock out.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTYEC3sDZ5p8Udk7mL0c4h4Y0g3nT1FEIBeOmj-Fnd39UdVkfr9GiproOO_mNevNCU7dQy9wy36-73fXDYTOTuwKIDUH7IagWecRClEriJ-h6SaUZvZQnJP5dV01JfCSu-f3XVrmyAbQT/s1600/shout.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="589" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTYEC3sDZ5p8Udk7mL0c4h4Y0g3nT1FEIBeOmj-Fnd39UdVkfr9GiproOO_mNevNCU7dQy9wy36-73fXDYTOTuwKIDUH7IagWecRClEriJ-h6SaUZvZQnJP5dV01JfCSu-f3XVrmyAbQT/s320/shout.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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At the time of all this teasing, I had very mixed feelings about the entire concept. Sure, like many people I'm into the idea of Rider getting a legitimate wider release outside of the V3 set, but I was cautious about how it would be handled. Shout has not had the best track record for quality subtitles, from Sentai to Transformers: The Headmasters. There's a reason the old fansubs are circulated among the community for both respective franchises, and it's not just a refusal to support the official releases. I really got the impression that a lot of people were thinking too much about if they could and they didn't stop to think if they should.<br />
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That being said, the series has since had an official launch, I have seen what they put out and it is incredible. Now, obviously, I've not watched all 98 episodes again. But what I have seen is really good and miles better than the subs used for the review I did for the series. Those particular subs weren't atrocious and I was able to still really enjoy the show, but they clearly lacked quality and consistency. The dialogue didn't always sound natural and was sometimes overly literal, how monster names were translated or if they were translated at all varied episode by episode.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGtE7liNVP6VudzHxdXOojjreEDZg8Jph_oYHXu4IdbAK8aH8oMxjKbZrnYiPIkQ3Yfj7cTI1oca99CmhOIxbQdjpn3xmIGm2n6JThjq90X4TaTEP4t30D1ippk2SqbmeerFjuAcqtWSn/s1600/the+shocker.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGtE7liNVP6VudzHxdXOojjreEDZg8Jph_oYHXu4IdbAK8aH8oMxjKbZrnYiPIkQ3Yfj7cTI1oca99CmhOIxbQdjpn3xmIGm2n6JThjq90X4TaTEP4t30D1ippk2SqbmeerFjuAcqtWSn/s320/the+shocker.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A good example of the better flowing dialogue compared to the fansubs (Top).</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgpglQF2hlffmRjBdoVfIkRGSbmCBhyzY6CzdFhmjtpXroM33Q7re6MN02GVeTVEWJy5hGPx_oJT3elQ6-6q59AqWBDwekKziN9BPNKMRSxzba6fNot5khBCTnvCbYTmRlADGdnU4Kg-y/s1600/name+whale.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="245" data-original-width="332" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgpglQF2hlffmRjBdoVfIkRGSbmCBhyzY6CzdFhmjtpXroM33Q7re6MN02GVeTVEWJy5hGPx_oJT3elQ6-6q59AqWBDwekKziN9BPNKMRSxzba6fNot5khBCTnvCbYTmRlADGdnU4Kg-y/s320/name+whale.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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There are a couple weird ones. One that I did notice was episode 45 featuring the monster Namekujira. The fansubs interpreted that as Slugzilla, which is cute and I appreciate the joke. The Shout subs decided to be more literal with it...kinda. The Title for the episode itself while browsing is Namegorilla, which is only half translated. Why not just go ahead and say Slugwhale? <i> </i><br />
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<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuhG4XjT6LBX6pECfhMro3xDqeI3a5yJNRWrMvtD01o3_Ri2Qn238Zi99VQtP90ehEh3C_3NF24Z9wA5O85ON4d3JVgZ5OV423U-UNKUu5kqD5Vk7SFeMS4SH-LyQXawJ-KMELXpIh0pYm/s1600/slugzilla.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="1005" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuhG4XjT6LBX6pECfhMro3xDqeI3a5yJNRWrMvtD01o3_Ri2Qn238Zi99VQtP90ehEh3C_3NF24Z9wA5O85ON4d3JVgZ5OV423U-UNKUu5kqD5Vk7SFeMS4SH-LyQXawJ-KMELXpIh0pYm/s320/slugzilla.png" width="320" /></a></i></div>
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<i>But </i>in the show, they use Slugzilla just like the fansubs. I'm fine with that, but it is a weird inconsistency. Probably just a mistake while listing, but should be corrected. Otherwise, these aren't only an improvement- but good in general from what I have checked.<br />
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Shout is also using the Bluray restored version of Kamen Rider put out a while back. Blemishes and damage to the film are gone and the image brightness is overall toned down, which pre-restoration caused a washed outlook.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLCFVRx_t9qqWFPu-tkmNoX7uY5BbHUB17DVif0l1XwxvOKtHvpi1Qxpjho_ya0HIJvqyLn5Cy6rKKtsM1ZJM9THGJWjzW-2z1GrzOMaK0bkfVs8X5JCGRZlfNWzPkSj8wyjHULwtGr6w/s1600/kr+1+dvd+rip.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLCFVRx_t9qqWFPu-tkmNoX7uY5BbHUB17DVif0l1XwxvOKtHvpi1Qxpjho_ya0HIJvqyLn5Cy6rKKtsM1ZJM9THGJWjzW-2z1GrzOMaK0bkfVs8X5JCGRZlfNWzPkSj8wyjHULwtGr6w/s320/kr+1+dvd+rip.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wrWaW1GBxEPke4LxCINrFXI9QvX33wofLxZ5cmqKEqqxvEzsCD0lZHLQ4a2GJeZqL_-_Fqcs_G9aCN9aRJwVmaraIB_dmuhjba8RVrXQFAihGI8W8oNexpPqag_SoY7gFz7tX2_lZfOu/s1600/kr+1+tubi+rip.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wrWaW1GBxEPke4LxCINrFXI9QvX33wofLxZ5cmqKEqqxvEzsCD0lZHLQ4a2GJeZqL_-_Fqcs_G9aCN9aRJwVmaraIB_dmuhjba8RVrXQFAihGI8W8oNexpPqag_SoY7gFz7tX2_lZfOu/s320/kr+1+tubi+rip.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice that the muffler has detailed creases now that the image isn't overly bright.</td></tr>
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A greenish like tone that was present on the original DVD is now gone, giving a more natural coloration. This changes the entire look of the show for the better.<br />
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Overall this is the primary way I suggest watching the original Kamen Rider series, not just because it's the legal way, but because it really is the best. A lot of love and hard work went into this and it's incredible that it's even a thing.<br />
I do still have some concerns, namely that the team that worked on this was supposedly under a tight deadline for release. I really don't want there to be a crunch problem just for subtitles. Yes they're great quality, yes it's fantastic that we have these- but people do not need to suffer for it and I hope no one's passion was taken advantage of.<br />
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But that wasn't the only news. One of the things going around after the leak was that there was more coming in the official announcement and to "stay tuned" I... really do not think this was the best way to handle the situation because it just fuels speculation even more. For my part, I figured my expectations were pretty low and reasonable. I expected a possible Bluray announcement, maybe split into two volumes. Or, possibly that Shout acquired Kamen Rider V3 for streaming since that's already subbed on standard DVD.<br />
The actual result was just a new channel added to Pluto that shows nothing but their Toku license which is neat but also sort of underwhelming compared to Kamen Rider itself. I was really hoping for a Bluray and was even setting money aside for it, but for now, it's only streaming which is slightly frustrating, though I can see the merits to it. Considering how Sentai was handled, Shout may be looking to put out stuff on this free streaming platform to see how people react to the subtitle quality and if anything needs to be changed. Once it's fine and dandy they can move forward with a home release without worrying about things like how Gingaman has completely different opening lyric translations every other episode or dropping entire freaking words. I have to admit that would be a very smart move I would not expect anyone to follow through on. It might also just be a licensing thing, for example, Toei giving the okay for a stream but not a home release.<br />
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For the channel itself, I don't have much to offer. Ultraman Leo and all of their Sentai was already available to stream on Shout's website and has been for quite some time, the only difference is they're getting a dedicated live channel on pluto much like MST3K. The Leo bit, in particular, makes me laugh cause that's the only Ultra show Shout has and probably ever will. Hell, I'm not entirely sure how long they'll even have it available because Millcreek thus far has included codes in all their Blurays for streaming copies. I can't imagine they would make an exemption for Leo when they finally get around to it. Either the Leo release is getting pushed off or the license for Shout is going to expire sometime this year. As for Sentai, they've got a great backlog, but it's also pretty much dead in terms of anything new being added. I dunno, maybe they could bolster their line up by getting the streaming rights to Jupion, it's already subbed anyway.<br />
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In any case, all 98 episodes of Kamen Rider are up and I highly suggest watching them through the Tubi app or through your browser. Maybe if we're lucky we'll get a home release and maybe we can even get the Bluray version of V3.<br />
On that note, I'm not going to be reviewing KR again, I feel my original review (which you can find <a href="https://strangers-showcase.blogspot.com/2019/09/kamen-rider-original-series-review.html">here</a>) is good enough and I don't really have much to add aside from the image and subs being better. I'm currently too busy working on Return of Ultraman anyway, so look forward to that.<br />
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<br />Kamen Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02832099141882322022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505042118996520039.post-31988128731553705812020-02-18T16:07:00.000-05:002020-02-18T16:07:38.418-05:00VA-11 HALL-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action review<br />
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So this is a bit of a surprise, isn't it? I haven't done a game review in...quite literally years. By in large the Blog has been predominantly Toku reviews. But that's finally going to change- at least for a bit. I actually had originally intended to review River City Girls- and in fact, I have it completed, but there was a patch announced just before I published my review so I figured it's best if I wait on that. Instead, this little game was gifted to me this past Christmas by my friend Rhys and it ended up becoming something I really wanted to spotlight.<br />
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By the way, I'm going to avoid spoilers as much as I can but there will still be some, even a couple of major ones.<br />
Also yes I was loosely familiar with the game beforehand and through the Girls' Frontline event.<br />
Also, I'm going to be calling it Valhalla. Before this sounds any more like a goddamn recipe site, let's get to the point.<br />
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Platform: PC/Steam version.<br />
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Gameplay.</h2>
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The basic premise of Valhalla is that you take on the role of Jill, a bartender at the VA-11-Ha-1A bar which resides in Glitch City; a cesspit of corruption and inflation. Your role is simply to serve drinks and listen to stories of patrons, maybe even offer up some advice.<br />
From there, the gameplay is pretty straightforward as it is a visual novel and largely based around clicking and dragging. Surprisingly there are no dialogue options, the only major interaction is in the bar menu preparing drinks. Customers will request a drink specifically by name or vaguely, such as wanting something sweet, bitter, strong, classy, etc.<br />
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You have a recipe book with all the various drinks where you can search by type. flavor or name.<br />
Making the drinks is fairly simple, you just drag the appropriate amount of the select ingredients to the shaker and when you're ready click to shake, and again stop and then one more to serve. Sometimes you have to let the shaker keep going which blends the drink, sometimes you have to add ice or age it, etc. You don't have a time limit and if you mess up you can reset with no ill effect, it's generally a laid back gameplay experience despite being about a service industry job.<br />
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Where the challenge comes in is that you can influence the story with what you serve. There are key moments where serving the right item will result in triggering a good ending for that particular character later down the road, or maybe even just a simple change in conversation. It's not always outright told to you, but hinted at. Maybe a character that normally orders sweet bubbly drinks comes in looking depressed and all of a sudden wants something bitter. You could serve them that, but maybe serving them their favorite sweet drink that they talked about several chapters back would be for the better. Or maybe some guy's being a shit head and asking for something strong and manly, so you give him the girliest sweet thing only to unlock some dialogue you otherwise wouldn't have.<br />
It's stuff like that, how well you know your customers or even how much you want to be a dick to someone.<br />
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The other somewhat challenging aspect is money management. Jill has to have enough money in her bank account to pay major bills while also having a desire to buy goofy nerd shit. Before and after each day starts you'll be given a result screen on your job performance and can gain a bonus for flawless service.<br />
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(so yeah maybe don't be a dick even to the asshole customers)<br />
You will then be in Jill's apartment on her phone where you can browse websites, leave to go shopping and of course head to work.<br />
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Jill will also always have a specific desire for some silly product like a poster or a piece of furniture, with an exception on days bills are due/paid.<br />
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If you don't buy the item in question or you don't pay the bill, she won't be able to focus at work and won't recall orders while making drinks or pick up on certain things. Which- fuck is that a mood right there while also having some commentary on consumerism and how buying dumb shit is sometimes the only brief enjoyment people get.<br />
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Honestly, I never had too much trouble balancing this. I was never in too much danger of not having the money needed even when buying all the stuff Jill wanted, despite cutting it close near the end of my first playthrough. But that's probably because I never bought anything that wasn't needed/desired and again: I always sold expensive drinks when given the chance. All in all, it's a fairly easy enough game to handle as long as you aren't reckless.<br />
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Gameplay-wise I don't have many complaints but I do have a few. When you're on the job you can't load your game... at least until about halfway through your first play. I really do not understand why this is, but you're prevented from clicking the load option in the corner for a very long time, which is very annoying. A scenario that happened to me was a character requesting Tea, which is an item you can buy at the shop and it gets added to the Valhalla menu. Well, I didn't have it but it's actually needed if you want that particular character's ending. The game only allows you to save at certain times: in Jill's apartment or when you're on a break, same with loading until it's unlocked on the proper menu. So I realized I fucked up and from there I just skipped all the dialogue, made the drinks, skipped some dialog again, repeat until I was in Jill's apartment where I thankfully had more than one save file and was able to load to the prior day where I could buy the tea, then skip all the dialog I had already read, make the drinks again, finally get to where I left off, serve the tea and finally read what I had originally skipped. That was tedious and unnecessary-- all because I couldn't load right then and there from the menu when I realized I messed up.<br />
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There's also a secondary part of this which is that I clicked like freaking crazy to skip all that text, but I recently found out you can fast forward dialogue, but the game never tells you how: it's the ctrl button. In fact, there's an entire array of keyboard shortcuts the game just straight-up never informs you of, ranging from using QWERTY for adding ingredients and even removing them one at a time, or pressing v to turn off the text sound. The settings section in the menu only gives you options for volume, scan lines and window size there's absolutely zero info within the game itself to indicate these shortcuts exist.<br />
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Additionally, there's no chapter select, you can't pick a day or even week to replay. So if you fuck up and you get way too far in the game, you basically have to restart/do New Game+ from the get-go. Valhalla isn't like most visual novels where you have to trigger a multitude of flags from day one for a certain ending- it really comes down to just doing the right thing at the right time on one particular day for a character that might only show up twice over the 19 days the game takes place.<br />
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I'm really hoping that the sequel N1RV Ann-A address these qualities of life issues. They're not game-breaking by any means, but they are little annoyances worth dealing with and a lot of them feel like they're there just so you'll do a second playthrough. Which I like the game well enough to do, but being incentivized like this kinda has the opposite effect and is completely needless when there are things like secret conversations that can occur if you get characters drunk, extra music tracks that unlock, all your stuff carries over in NG+ so you can afford to mess about. There's enough reason to do a second run without restricting things like the ability to load on your first play or what have you.<br />
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Story.</h2>
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This is really the bread and butter of the game, it is, after all, a visual novel first and foremost.<br />
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Aside from Jill, there's her pretty damn cool devil may care boss Dana, a former wrestler with various tall-tales surrounding her. Jill seems to have a thing for Dana, but it's never really brought up between the two and never becomes more intimate than Jill sharing some personal stories to flesh out her character.<br />
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The only other worker is Gillian, a bit of a mysterious man who clearly has some shady and possibly criminal- if not necessarily morally wrong- connections. Hints are sprinkled throughout about in regards to his past with connections to some riots and Hong Kong and even the KGB. Though 90% of the game is him being a butt monkey, somewhat to the detriment of his character. At one point he goes missing for several days and I'm not sure if I was supposed to be concerned for his well being or not, but I never really gave a crap because the game never gave me reason enough to invest. The jokes with him are funny and enjoyable enough, I think Gillain has a lot of potential, but they went so far with him that he ends up not being all that intriguing.<br />
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However, the real focus isn't on your fellow employees, but on the patrons.<br />
The game starts off simple enough with Jill's nightly routine of serving customers and listening to their stories. Over the course of the game, more patrons appear, some becoming regulars and others making more infrequent visits. Each has their own unique personalities, backstory and ongoing story that we learn about over the days and weeks. Some customers are rude ass hats and that's all there is to it, other times they're more nuanced and are suffering from some tragedy they can't seem to escape. Others are just dealing with mundane work and need to let off steam. Some lead into larger stories, others you barely get to know and are left wondering what that person's life is like.<br />
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Conversations with these individuals also do a lot to develop the setting the game takes place in, expanding upon the bleak atmosphere of the city.<br />
One of my favorite conversations is with Donovan D. Dawson, the CEO of the main News network: The Augmented Eye.<br />
He's not a particularly pleasant character. He's rude, cynical, obsessed with money and exploiting other people for his own gain. But one of the more insightful aspects is he's aware of how screwed up his industry is. The clickbait, the fluff stories, half-truths. Even something as cynical as profiting off bad news is a hard sell when people are so jaded and desensitized to the daily horror.<br />
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Furthermore, it's not enough to just report on the news and even make a profit, it has to be more and more profit or it's a failure in the eyes of investors. There's no satisfaction, no end.<br />
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Suffice to say if you were worried that maybe the game would be all cyberpunk style and no substance, then I'm happy to say that's not the case at fucking all. It lays it on thick with many of the conversations had between characters.<br />
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This is more punk than anything CD ProjectRed has done thus far.<br />
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Dawson and his terrible news aside, many of the patrons- at least for my part- I became quite invested in their stories and well being.<br />
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Perhaps the most notable of these is Sei. She's a White Knight, a sorta corporate police force that's rumored to be corrupt and known for their excessive violence and harassment of civilians (So just like regular cops, but with Robo suits). Sei's unit is dedicated solely to rescue and she's one of the few truly good Knights. A kind-hearted person through and through, downright adorable even due to her absent-minded nature.<br />
Over several days and weeks, a story unfolds of a bank's security going haywire and locking people inside and out-- Sei being part of a unit running security at the bank. A few days later a lot of info about the Knights is leaked by a notorious Hacker. The info reveals the corruption and results in many Knights being lynched by angry civilians. I had become so invested in Sei as a character that I found myself checking the in-game news site for just any update on the situation.<br />
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When there finally is a development, poor Sei is injured to hell and back and suffering from PTSD, resulting in a simultaneous mixture of relief and more anxiety of her well being.<br />
Sei is one of the most focused on patrons, and in fact of the five major regulars, two are directly connected to Sei.<br />
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One of those is Stella, her best friend since childhood. Stella has her own story, but that of course also ties in with a lot more background info regarding Sei. Stella's a rich socialite a world apart from Sei, but the two met at a park by happenstance after Stella begged to get out of the rich neighborhood she was accustomed to and visit a "real" park. The two have remained close ever since through thick and thin. Stella's life largely involves dealing with a lot of businessmen all with fake personas, Stella herself doing much of the same in turn. But Sei is the one person she can just be herself around.<br />
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That's, of course, a larger more serious matter. Others are small, such as with Alma, who is a security consultant with a particularly picky and fickle nature about relationships, which is mostly what her conversations revolve around and eventually her family issues with one of her sisters.<br />
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Her issues seem so insignificant compared to the rest of the goings-on, yet they're still relevant and we get a sense of familiarity to her more down to earth troubles.<br />
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Then there's Virgilio, who is literally just a Jim Sterling character. Like seriously the name and appearance are the same as a Sterling character waaaay back on the escapist. It's certainly unoriginal but I'd be lying if I didn't say Virgilio was one of the more outstanding characters within the title. Primarily it's because they did such a good job mimicking Sterling's style of humor and dialogue of a crazed man speaking utter philosophical nonsense.<br />
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I read his lines in Sterling's exaggerated speech pattern and it works perfectly. Like shit, I hope <span class="st">Duke Amiel du H'ardcore </span>appears next game. Or you know, maybe someone could wrestle Dana...<br />
There's also quite a bit more nuance to him but I won't spoil that.<br />
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There are plenty more minor patrons with infrequent visitations. I will, however, say that despite being minor and some even derivative, they are memorable and often have things of interest to discuss for their brief roles, such as the detective Art Vondelay[sic] and the surprisingly friendly hitman Jamie who is good friends with Gillian. Art, in particular, stuck out to me because for one despite his appearance (Which we'll get to) and his initial impression, what little we do find out about his life and how he got started as a detective is intriguing. I also have a soft spot because I always wanted to be a private detective when I was growing up.<br />
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The characters are also shockingly diverse and varied when it comes to representation. Jill is bi, Dana is Pan, one of the customers is a semi-closeted gay biker named Mario and there's even a non-binary brain in a jar, which has gotta take androgynous appearances to a whole other level.<br />
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Alma has a couple slip-ups where she accidentally reveals that her brother is trans.<br />
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There's also mention by Stella that indicates Sei is likely Atypical, which certainly explains some obvious behavioral quirks.<br />
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While all of that is good and all of the characters have great merits, there is one that fittingly stands above the rest for me and that is Jill herself.<br />
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Jill is fairly basic when you get down to her. She doesn't exactly love her job but she doesn't outright hate it either. After all, her boss is pretty cool (and buff) and Jill's getting by. But she feels directionless at 27. For a large portion of the game, you're sorta focused on everyone else that Jill seems like she's going to remain a mystery beyond a few tidbits revealing what a giant nerd she is. At least until her past creeps in and hits like a fucking truck.<br />
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Her backstory is largely concerned with a past event involving her ex, Lenore. The two were madly in love and Lenore was incredibly supportive of Jill through their College years, Jill herself saying Lenore was the only reason she was able to push through. However, Lenore had a tendency to be pushy and perhaps even jealous. Good as her intentions were on the surface, she was- in retrospect- living vicariously through Jill. After four years of college, Jill received a massive job offer which Lenore accepted on her behalf without even consulting. The anxiety and pressure became too much for Jill to bare and she let it all out at once.<br />
The writing concerning Jill's story is very good and nuanced as the player gains an understanding of where both people were coming from. Jill hardly seemed to have any control or agency in her life, she had a huge offer and it scared her. What would happen if in 20-30 years she was in a position she hated and couldn't escape? There was no time or even opportunity to think it over before decisions were being made for her.<br />
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At the same time, Lenore isn't made out to be necessarily toxic in the guise of love, she was doing something she thought was right. Flawed certainly, but no more than Jill. The situation between the two can only be described as human. Lenore was being selfish pushing her own wants upon Jill, while Jill for once in her life was spurred to finally take control for herself and show some degree of control by no one's hand but her own, but did so in a tactless and blunt way.<br />
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How this information comes up and the fallout of it is a story in itself that I won't spoil, but suffice to say this part is the reason I found Jill to be such an intriguing character.<br />
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I can be here all day and type up fucking Wiki profiles on the characters and their stories, sexuality or neurological status. But even more so than usual, it's not the same as seeing it play out yourself. Valhalla is a title where how the story affects you on a visceral level is another matter entirely and not something I think I can do justice, no matter how long-winded and detailed I attempt to convey the emotion that the story managed to bring out of me- so I'm not going to bother. It hit in such a hard way both good and harsh reality sense that I've not felt probably since I read Scott Pilgrim a decade ago but cranked to 11. More specifically what I mean by that isn't that the characters or even story are reminiscent of that series per se, but rather its shares a general feeling of anxiety and existential dread. A feeling of being adrift, uncertain, worried about the well being of those you've become attached to. Will those bonds still be there tomorrow or next week, and what does the future hold when there's so much chaos in the world? If there is a stronger theme between the two it comes down to regret and being haunted by past mistakes. Jill isn't a dipshit like Scott who blocked out the bad stuff and needed to learn a lesson- again her situation is far more dynamic. But the past does bother her and she feels regret and has to come to terms with that.<br />
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Her backstory with Lenore is something I find depressingly relatable. I've never been in that exact situation, but I'm all too familiar with the emotions she goes through wondering if even what you're doing now is a good thing and what if one could have handled the past differently. I do not want to oversell the game and your own mileage may vary. My own experiences help heighten the story on a personal level no doubt and that's obviously not going to be universal.<br />
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Beyond my own personal ties, the team behind this did something you don't see very often and that is creating a narrative where the player character's effect on the world is limited- not necessarily unimportant but you are little more than a bystander in this world. You're almost a side character in a sense while still being interesting because Jill does have a well-developed story, it's just one that's comparatively small along with everyone else. Yet you still get invested and care in the same way you would in real life. Pulling that off in fiction is hard. Shit, there's big visual novels out there that do have world cataclysmic stakes for the main cast but still have boring as fuck MCs. (Hi Type-Moon and your one good protagonist) You're not some rebel fighting the fascist Government and White Knights, you're not the hacker revealing all the corruption. You're just a bartender dealing with very human problems listening to other people's issues. But you're still important, the people around you matter. This is a game about folks just trying to get by and they made it work.<br />
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All that being said, as somber of a tone the game sets, they remember to balance things out with frankly great humor. They do such a good job of being goofballs without undermining the serious nature that certain situations need. Sure the world is hell, but there are semi-intelligent talking dogs.<br />
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I also have to give major credit to the satire of the internet with the in-universe forum and news posts. It is both hilarious and fucking depressing how on point the writing is for this. Shit, it's not even satire at this point.<br />
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I've heard some people criticize some of the dialogue as being a bit unnatural sound and yeah, there are a couple of lines that don't sound right...<br />
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But by in large I didn't have any issue. Honestly, some of the shit that comes out of Jill's mouth reminded me of how I and my friends talk. In particular a bit about a cucumber that I won't spoil.<br />
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However, if there is one roadblock or big bump to all this enjoyment, it's a certain character I've yet to talk about it. That character is Dorothy Haze.<br />
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Now let me say first and foremost that Dorothy is actually one of my favorite characters in the game. She's charming, perky, bubbly, and has some of the most hilarious goddamn upfront lines in the game.<br />
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She's also a sex worker which the writing treats very well. It goes into how she has to watch out for dangerous clients, how she has modifications to protect herself since it can be so harrowing. Still, she enjoys her job and that's largely where a lot of her charm and humor come from.<br />
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It's frankly surprising and even commendable to have this outlook on sex work. There's just one little problem. Dorothy is a liliam, an umbrella term in the game's setting for a race androids/gynoids. Dorothy is explicitly mentioned to be a model that appears between 10 and 13 in age.<br />
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Yeah... This is awkward. I'm very much against the "Looks like x age but is really x age" in anything that uses it in such a way as to be sexualized. It's creepy no matter how you cut it and more often is a bullshit excuse. Now in the case of Dorothy, she's at least robotic and there is <i>one</i> aspect I'm willing to view this where I can sorta see this working, and that is it actually just being intentionally creepy and weird. Valhalla is a Cyberpunk setting and that means the most disgusting depraved shit is often commonplace because the most disgusting depraved people are in control. None of the other characters even bat an eye that Dorothy is a sex worker that looks underage, the world is just that far gone. Dorothy even mentions that Liliam can undergo an upgrade after a certain point to a more mature appearance and she qualifies but says she gets more clientèle in her current state. Ew.<br />
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Still, there is this argument to be made on just because you can write something that doesn't mean you should. It's not something that <i>has </i>to be brought up. It's ugliness vs. toothlessness. And... I can't even say that the concept of something like Dorthy wouldn't totally be a thing in the real world. There are absolutely weirdos out there that would build and use something like her if given the chance. Hell, Dorothy is honestly a more tame version of a very real thing. Perhaps it says more about our own fucked up world than one would like.<br />
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Regardless, I wouldn't blame anybody for being put off by this. It's a shame too because I do feel there is a great story in Valhalla and I even like Dorothy, but goddamn if that isn't a hard pill to swallow. Even with my attempts at contextualizing the setting and implications, I found myself simultaneously enjoying Dorthy's company and dialogue--<br />
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Only to remember and suddenly think...<br />
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But maybe that was the intent all along.<br />
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On the subject of weirdly gross, this also happens:<br />
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Boy, that aged like milk in the hot sun.<br />
Also, does anyone else find that implication unintentionally funny? That only a terrible shithole dystopia is where something like that is a thing. I know that wasn't the intent at all, but that's how it reads now.<br />
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Music.</h2>
Musically the game is <b><i>really</i></b> good and is certainly a huge highlight. It's very heavy on not just typical synth but various electronic instruments while boasting some good variety of tone and mood. We've got some slow and smooth tracks, some upbeat stuff, moody and somber, even a couple of high energy/speed. Nothing too hard, though. Don't expect Carpenter Brut or Dance with the Dead, it's largely a chill and laid back soundtrack. Think music akin to that in Wicked City, Snatcher, and Patlabor. I'm almost certain that's the vibe they were intending to invoke and Michael Kelly did a fantastic job in doing so while not exactly delving <i>too</i> deep into the 80s/early 90s vibe.<br />
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There's a lot of tracks, 50 in all. But I'll list a few of my favorites here to give a listen.<br />
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A Neon Glow Lights the Way.<br />
Snow Fall.<br />
Everyday is Night.<br />
Dawn Approaches.<br />
Your Love is a Drug.<br />
All Systems Go.<br />
Karmotrine Dream<br />
A City That Never Sleeps<br />
Showtime!<br />
Neon District.<br />
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Now it's worth mentioning not every track in the game is unlocked from the get-go. Some unlock as you progress- others when you complete certain requirements. You also get to choose what music you listen to and what order at the beginning of your shift and after the break. You select 12 tracks to play. A shuffle and full player control are also available in the menu during gameplay even when mixing drinks.<br />
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I do sorta wish there was an arranged mode option where the Jukebox would auto-play music during certain scenes, mainly so you wouldn't have the awkwardness of a very somber and tragic story being relayed as happy pop music blares. There's a lot of good sad tunes like "Where do I go from here?" that could have been utilized to great effect during those decidedly depressing moments. There's even one scene in particular outside the bar where they do this and it works really well.<br />
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On a footnote, the full soundtrack isn't available for purchase. Of the <a href="https://garoad.bandcamp.com/">two</a> released there are still 10 tracks missing, including a couple listed above. Still, you should check out the OST if nothing else and maybe pick up the two soundtracks cause they are really fantastic.<br />
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Graphics.</h2>
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Nearly the entire game is nicely tinted in a pink and purple neon glow. The pixel art is very unique- or at least uncommon in my eyes. I don't see many NEC PC styled games and this is clearly invoking a very Police Naughts and of course, Snatcher-Esque vibe but is still very much its own as the art design doesn't have that late 80s anime character design usually associated with such titles.<br />
Speaking of, everyone generally has a very distinct and varied appearance and style to them and some of the expressions on characters are very over the top, like Dorothy, as you've already seen.<br />
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But with a few exceptions, most of the expressions and movements are kept very minimal. Sweat drops, eyebrows furled, mouth movement, maybe a hand movement or flappy ears, etc.<br />
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There are some nice details I like with a few of the characters. One with Sei is after the whole incident in the bank she returns visually injured, but the aspect that sticks out more to me most is her default smile. Compared to when you see Sei prior to the injuries, the smile was more chipper. Afterwards it's still there as her default, but more sorrowful, her one visible eye is sullen.<br />
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A few characters also reference various pop culture personalities much like Virgilio does. The gay biker Mario is largely based on Kaneda from Akira.<br />
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Doesn't BozoRobo make a <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/728829079/dr-kaneda-vinyl-sticker?ref=shop_home_active_6">sticker</a> of you?</div>
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Another is detective Art Vondelay who is is literally George Costanza, they really didn't even change anything.</div>
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The game is frankly chock-full of references, both visually and in the names. We'd be here all day if I went through all of them. I will point out that one of the minor characters, Betty, is said to have had a girlfriend named Veronica. That's something even the wiki doesn't list as a reference, somehow.<br />
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Environmentally I do love the colors used and the detail put into the craft. But I will admit that most of the game is spent on the other side of the bar or on the menu and even though it does make sense, it does still get a bit tiresome even if the characters change. About the only other difference is what's available on the TV channels. Again, I get it, it's not like I expect the Bar to suddenly shift locations for visual appeal and jobs like that do become overly familiar environments. But I do wish there was just a bit more to look at, maybe just a different end of the bar with some slightly different background elements, or even just the posters changing.<br />
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Jill's apartment is one of the few times we see a more chibi like representation of a character, but there are a couple times when things are changed up. The most common is conversions outside/in the back alley while Jill is on a smoke break.<br />
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These are represented by codec call like visuals and little more.</div>
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There's also one instance where Dana takes Jill home and the two have a beer. This is the only other time where the visuals shift to those seen in Jill's apartment and I really wish all the interactions outside the bar looked like this. I'm gonna guess that they didn't want to spend too much time rendering out an alleyway and several characters for all of four scenes in the game and I can understand that. I mean sure, the balcony area with Jill and Dana only appears once, but that was during a pivotal scene embellishing on Jill's personal history so it's more important, plus they only have to render one other character sprite in that scenario.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Final thoughts.</h3>
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VA-11 Ha-lla was such a nice surprise for me to play. I believe it's something I very much needed and will stick with me. I can't say it's the most emotionally invested I've been in a visual novel, that honor still belongs to Katawa Shoujo. But they did a damn fine job and I'm looking forward to the sequel. The team behind this clearly put a lot of love and effort into this and they deserve a lot of recognition for it. It's $15 on steam normally, but with the second game coming out sometime this year there might be a sale so keep an eye out, but I do suggest supporting the game even now. I got a good 18 hours out of it on my first go, not to mention the bonus content that I didn't cover for this particular review, so it's well worth the price. But hey, if they have a sale, put what you save for the next game. <br />
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<br />Kamen Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02832099141882322022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505042118996520039.post-3589984306610306082019-12-27T04:36:00.000-05:002019-12-29T23:24:06.519-05:00Ultra Seven Millcreek Bluray Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well now, this was a surprise even to me. I didn't expect to be reviewing Ultraseven this soon, but I received a Christmas present from my lovely friend, Rosy.<br />
This is one I've been looking forward to a lot- as Seven is a fantastic series with a notable reputation for being among the best. However there's never been a particularly good release of the show outside Japan, with the Shout Bluray A:Not being a proper transfer due to those shady as fuck dealings with Chiyao. and B: Having questionable subtitles.<br />
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But now, just like with Ultraman, we can finally have a proper release with approval from Tsuburaya.<br />
One interesting thing to note about the series before going in is that this did not start off as another Ultra show, that happened very late and lead to some interesting tidbits that you'll notice throughout the review. It's also worth noting that even after becoming an Ultra series it was not treated as a sequel to the original. There's no mention of Ultraman, the SSSP, past monster etc. The closest connection is that there are references to the M78 Nebula. Otherwise this was originally a stand alone series.<br />
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Story & Characters.</h3>
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Our primary protagonist this go 'round is Dan Moroboshi. Right from the start Dan is very different than Hayata. Rather than already being a member of the primary defense force of the show, he presents himself as a wander and ends up joining after providing useful information and assisting with an alien threat. Dan also isn't a host to Seven the way Hayata was to Ultraman, he's just Ultraseven in disguise. This also means that any injuries Seven suffers also gets reflected upon Dan.<br />
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Unlike his predecessor, Dan has access to and makes liberal use of powers in his human guise. X-ray vision, the ability to see things that are invisible, keen hearing etc. He's also very observant of his surroundings, similar to an amateur detective in some respects- noticing when a things are out of place. We hear his inner monologues as he pieces things together in his head or struggles in various scenarios. His alien knowledge proving most useful.<br />
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Over the course of the show more is revealed about Seven and his past. About midway through the series it's shown that when he first came to earth he rescued a rock climber after he cut his own rope to save his partner. Admiring the act, Seven modeled his appearance upon him. We later learn Seven was part of a wider force in the M78 nebula, but he isn't a fighter. This is even reflected in his fighting style which is looser than Ultraman's Greco-Roman wrestling. Seven instead relies best on beam attacks and even telekinesis.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpGrDHJgFI8CWttmA8D98wUH0iyA-6-tGmWFVZkAnmrotTLHIpoST0jSG8yZkcwXWtpAeMrh-AfQ1BDeaOkAAsjnNoLjCMYlt_AJzdNkeLmAPMvIVeDxr_VButHDPnAxiuO0nGUKLLDrC/s1600/seven+grow.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="237" data-original-width="335" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpGrDHJgFI8CWttmA8D98wUH0iyA-6-tGmWFVZkAnmrotTLHIpoST0jSG8yZkcwXWtpAeMrh-AfQ1BDeaOkAAsjnNoLjCMYlt_AJzdNkeLmAPMvIVeDxr_VButHDPnAxiuO0nGUKLLDrC/s320/seven+grow.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the Ultra Rise is very different.</td></tr>
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I think the oddest difference is that sometimes there isn't even an Ultra Seven form appearing in some episodes, just Dan. That would almost never happen today- but it's oddly refreshing to see how it all plays out. Granted, that doesn't mean there aren't giant monsters or even monster battles in those episodes. Dan carries several capsules that summon kaiju to battle in his place:<br />
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Miclas, Windom and Agira. Usually this happens when the key device used for transforming: the Ultra Eye, is taken or Dan is in some way incapacitated where he's incapable of transforming.<br />
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Even then, episodes that do have Seven don't always feature a giant Ultra Seven. Seven will just be regular sized to fight smaller threats, which is really surreal. Hell, at least two episodes have him shrinking down to a miniature size.<br />
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But the single most notable divergence is that Seven doesn't have a time limit like Ultraman did, more so he has an energy limit. The less he does the longer he can maintain his large form, but using various beam attacks will drain it much faster. The Beam lamp upon his head more or less functions the same way as the color timer did, although interestingly enough it's not explained until I believe episode 39 and a few episodes prior is when I first noticed it began blinking after long battles.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmfRiACBPxV9roouY_7PjE-dAmG6oPlpu1vyQ6l5V1U2eLEHe1ccEncQ_FjUC1OQc3ZA2q4jlkvhzOyrPBdSkG5LbjK48u816KaVY7_ROSTCQIlkve38jjybVIpe2ajFFzj_1jxSy6Ptu/s1600/ultra+guard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="640" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmfRiACBPxV9roouY_7PjE-dAmG6oPlpu1vyQ6l5V1U2eLEHe1ccEncQ_FjUC1OQc3ZA2q4jlkvhzOyrPBdSkG5LbjK48u816KaVY7_ROSTCQIlkve38jjybVIpe2ajFFzj_1jxSy6Ptu/s320/ultra+guard.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left to Right: Amagi, Dan, Anne Yuri, Soga, Shigeru Furuhashi, Capt. Kiriyama. </td></tr>
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Speaking of notable difference, the main organization that Dan joins, the Terrestrial Defense Force, is a stark contrast to the SSSP. While the SSSP was more scientifically focused- at least in concept, the TDF and by extension their elite sub section: The Ultra Guard, are far more militarized with much larger numbers. While the focus remains on the elite Ultra Guard unite comprised of six members, the show predominately features background characters making the show feel much broader in scope. Here we have various guards, men in uniform, scientists, medical staff, freaking PR people etc. A number of them are even named.<br />
They even have a major space station with various staff members. It feels like an actual organization- or at least a well funded one.<br />
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The cast of characters for the Ultra Guard aren't that much more defined than the SSSP members were and once again I don't have much to say, but they do try by giving some of the characters more focus in certain episodes. Shigeru Furuhash (who is played by Arashi's actor Yoshi Ishii from the original series) serves as this shows comedic relief and gets his own dedicated episode involving a bit of family history with his mother that at the very least gives him some backstory. Funny enough the episode that focuses on him is also very dramatic, must be a thing with their comedic characters.<br />
The same can't be said for everyone though.What is there to say about someone like Amagi beyond he's played by Bin Furuya the original Ultraman suit actor? Not much.<br />
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What the show does do is a better job with the camaraderie. The characters interact more and in general just have more personality, allowing them to work off of Dan during missions, they're just fairly shallow elsewhere. However one sticks out above the others and that is the Medic on the team; Anne Yuri.<br />
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Played by the very lovely Yuriko Hishimi, Anne has a good chemistry with Dan- and I don't mean that in a romantic way. They just function really well in the episodes they're paired together, more so than any other of the cast. She has a magnetically charming personality that simply can't be ignored. I found myself wanting to see more of the character as she had a lot of potential shown off..<br />
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Another thing that helps the cast is that the TDF aren't quite as limited as the SSSP were in terms of operations. Ultraman's strongest point plot wise was variety in it's format, which you think would be come more of an issue for a series like Ultra Seven with a much more focused area on defensive measures. However I believe Seven to be even more varied. The show regularly has a number of different conflicts and ways of going about handling them. For a show that has an alien invasion scheme every other episode, it does a great job of never being tiring. Some episodes involve conspiracies like TDF members being assassinated or the UG having to go undercover and trail a suspected Alien like a 60s spy thriller, or there's aliens hypnotizing children to use as soldiers. Of course there's plenty of other none invasion type episodes as well, ranging from experiments gone wrong, strange alien diseases and almost twilight zone-esque otherworldly divergences.<br />
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Seven also deals with a lot more morale complexity than it's predecessor did. Whereas in the original Ultraman there would sometimes be episodes which presented a monster in some fashion as to make them sympathetic or that their demise was bittersweet, it never became a major sticking point of morality. Ultra Seven isn't like that, the show will often raise the question if the actions taken are justified, and Seven's own choices sometimes weigh upon him. This was done in an attempt to appeal to an adult audience.<br />
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A lot of the conflict comes from ignorance, arrogance, and plain misunderstandings rather than just a desire for conquest. Perhaps a simple satellite being mistaken as a weapon causing a panic, that sort of thing. One most notable of these is episode 6 when a massive space colony looses control of their gravitational force and begins a course towards earth, the alien Pegassa simply assume humans are capable of controlling Earth's own gravitational rotation like they and many other races are with their own planets, but when they learn humanity hasn't advanced that far, they begin thinking of them as simpletons lacking in technology. Faced with the colony colliding with earth, the UG sends a rescue for the Pegassans with an offer to stay until they're capable of building a new home. The Pegassans refuse to answer- perhaps believing humans lack the adequate weapons technology to obliterate their base. Faced with looming impact, the UG has no choice but to destroy the fleet with the inhabitants still on board. The Pegassan species becoming a victim of their own hubris.<br />
While aliens were sometimes used to illustrate humanity's own flaws reflected back, the Ultra Guard themselves were not above being shown as foolish. Episode 26 has the UG building a new super weapon the the equivalent of 8,000 H-bombs meant for destroying small planets and plan for a MK 2 and 3 the go further, which horrifies Dan and leads to a lot of inner conflict with his fellow UG members.<br />
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It's not the only time either, and while the UG are of course meant to be a force of good, they're not at all clean.<br />
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Intentional or not, it's interesting to note that as soon as a military organization entered the franchise is also when the stories first began having more complexity with the heroes' actions.<br />
Frankly, the TDF engages in much more questionable acts than the SSSP ever did. Sure, they had a few missions that would cause the viewer to raise an eyebrow, such as removing a kaiju from it's natural habitat. But the TDF has quite literally has wiped out entire civilizations. Some unavoidable such is with ep. 6 being very grey- but others, not so much. ep. 42 in particular has quite possibly the most horrifying example of this when a race of pre-human ocean dwelling beings called Nonmalt begin retaliating to what they view as an invasion by humans. They're woefully ill-equipped, having only a single monster and one captured British sub as a means of attacking a nearby harbor, the UG having no trouble taking it out. Up to that point it seems like your standard issue group of creatures becoming overzealous and impulsive- they never try to even talk to anyone about coming to an agreement or the fact that they weren't even known about by the humans, they just start making threats immediately. Then things take a turn. After their sub and giant monster are taken out, their underwater city is discovered. The captain of the UG, Kaoru Kiriyama, fearing possible future attacks obliterates the entire city without a second thought.<br />
The show never outright calls it the genocide that it is, but it sure as hell doesn't frame it as good either. Dan and Anne are horrified at the aftermath of the episode, clearly conveying all they need to be said with their behavior. In the end, the audience is left wondering if the results were necessary and how truly just the UG are when as far an anyone could tell it was a defenseless civilian population.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's a lot one could get into with colonialism with this episode.</td></tr>
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The TDF&UG are better equipped and prepared than the SSSP were- and more happy to use their weapons. They're not outright villains and they're certainly shown to have admirable qualities. But they've engaged with reprehensible actions. At the same time I can't exactly say it's a nuanced presentation so much as different writers having very different stories they want to tell and the result being accidental when looked at as a whole. But it is interesting none the less.<br />
Stuff like that makes Seven far more intriguing than the prior series and the show challenges its audience more by having them.<br />
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Visuals/Special Effects.</h3>
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Once again the effects are a fantastic aspect of the show and far more advanced than even Ultraman's sets were in detail. The first episode alone flaunts it's higher production standards with some truly astonishing displays.<br />
Everything just looks a ton better. The Ultra Guard base and gear in is drastically more intricate than the SSSP ever was.<br />
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The level of detail and scope of these dioramas is gorgeous for the time, and even now in some instances.<br />
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The Kaiju and Seijin are of course still fantastically designed and iconic. Eleking, King Joe, Alien Metron, Pegga, Alien Guts, Pandon. Every single one of the above has a great appearance that immediately make an impact.<br />
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Seven experiments a bit by having some none suit creatures, smaller puppets handled by wire work. They... are interesting to mix things up but none stick out to me. I honestly couldn't even recall he first alien in the series. It's clear their bread and butter is still suitmation.<br />
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Speaking of the Kaiju, the fights are sometimes shockingly violent. Ultraman had a few that got a little messed up, like ripping Jirass' frill off and taunting him. The second Baltan also got split in half, but was little more graphic than splitting Play-doh. Seven on the other hand can get bloody.<br />
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People talk about Leo being violent, but Seven has it's moments.<br />
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With all that said, there are however a few oddities with the effects. As lovely as a lot of those sets and creature designs are, there are a couple pieces that feel out of place. One is the backgrounds having noticeable seams. To some extent the original series had this as well but they were more often hard to make out and very few, usually a single vertical line. Seven on the other hand has much larger and extravagant sets and the caveat is noticing when the walls for the background connect since they're much larger. <br />
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I'm not entirely sure what it is, but Seven does feature a noticeable uptick in image quality- though it's not a massive leap over the prior series, it is sharper looking and a lot more sticks out because of it. How much they stick out is going to rely on how you view the series. On my computer they're not <i>as bad</i> in most instances, my 42" TV on the other hand was another matter- the backgrounds often appearing as a mass of blocks with thin lines except during wide-shots.<br />
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The final issue I believe to be rear projection and it's not just typical rear projecting like when someone is driving in a Bond movie, there's this excessively odd look to the whole thing. It's muddy, there's spots, and there's lines like they either didn't have a single large screen or it was wrinkled to hell. It looks like shit quite frankly and is probably the worst effect I've seen in the Ultra series.<br />
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Regardless of a few growing pains, by in large Ultra Seven excels in the visuals and often improves on the ones that don't, with an unfortunate exception to the rear projecting which never really looks any better. Their endeavor with super imposing on the other hand is shockingly impressive. I only saw one egregious example, but every other was stunning for the time.<br />
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I've seen movies made in the 70s and even 80s that didn't blend stuff this well.<br />
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Likewise, the aircraft are more grandiose and as such need more wire. I get the feeling that they had perfected a lot of things with Ultraman and wanted to branch outward to more challenging and by extension more impressive effects and I appreciate that endeavor. Aircraft move far more fluidly, are more complex and they even have the flagship craft of the series: The Ultra Hawk 1, separate into multiple aircraft and then re-combine, it is marvelous to gander at.<br />
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The early episodes do feature more noticeable wire work at first, but later ones mostly correct this issue.<br />
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But by far the pinnacle of the visuals is with returning Director Akio Jussoji on a select number of episodes. If there is one defining thing in Ultra Seven from a visual standpoint, I would say it's the gorgeous sun sets and Jissoji is largely responsible for that iconography with his first contribution in episode 8- which is an absolutely gorgeous entry.<br />
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He was hardly the only one to use it, as other episodes would often incorporate the orange glow. But there is little doubt in mind that Episode 8 set the precedent. But that is only a tiny part of it, as that episode features so many fantastic scenes and Japanese pop culture owes so much to the cinematography of this Jissoji directed episode in particular.<br />
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It truly is a collaborative effort. The impressive work of the set builders and the masterful capturing of those sets on film.<br />
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Jissoji also wasn't the only one to create some truly fantastic shots. Other directors like Toshihiro Iijima, Toshitsugu Suzuki, and Kazuho Mitsuta also contributed greatly to the series.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzA4528WRYJXBD5gqENOg9wAKtQyvCmn1Vs8r5CXzjdIBlTi5M_d683h8xGDcEfW6l-Qxy6Uc3t66w5G3E4e_pwg8qaTH2B-KfRDxEFD_Rlk7CytJFGwxCPwE7DxYrm38LjVKL_idPggU/s1600/captured.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="743" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzA4528WRYJXBD5gqENOg9wAKtQyvCmn1Vs8r5CXzjdIBlTi5M_d683h8xGDcEfW6l-Qxy6Uc3t66w5G3E4e_pwg8qaTH2B-KfRDxEFD_Rlk7CytJFGwxCPwE7DxYrm38LjVKL_idPggU/s320/captured.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Seven has some issues from being overly ambitious- but that's only natural when using and performing new techniques for the franchise. In the end I would rather have those issues and ultimately it lead to some amazing stuff than stagnate.<br />
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One more thing. Although Seven was made to be stand alone and only later retconned to be a sequel to the original series, it's worth noting that the logo of the TDF has the SSSP shooting star.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61L39dg5M2kb6vQe7ZF0n2uitWXDZs344exu6I6q6dYGRsKBVph3WwWM3FqcOP3odWXhsTRbusO0sF4LvYp-kqPJMnCS1qaVlSrJVMTeM7DRSAEpEQdwsx3PRXArSFsJkyjnro1Naoxzj/s1600/UG_belt_buckle.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="500" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61L39dg5M2kb6vQe7ZF0n2uitWXDZs344exu6I6q6dYGRsKBVph3WwWM3FqcOP3odWXhsTRbusO0sF4LvYp-kqPJMnCS1qaVlSrJVMTeM7DRSAEpEQdwsx3PRXArSFsJkyjnro1Naoxzj/s320/UG_belt_buckle.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Funny how that works.</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Presentation</h3>
The presentation reminds my a lot of the series itself, it improves over the predecessor in many drastic ways, but there are one or two small weird things you can't help but notice as being a bit odd.<br />
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Pretty much the same deal as last time. Got a slip cover with the main character on the front, synopsis on the back, artwork on the spine, title on the inner case.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zyTj3o5rzY6eKKediVfU6l8eQkcFh9qQ49M2V2rXYkr6KqaNvYAIQFGbW8EC2OS9KmcUV81jyhjvxc9LWvOuZJz3c7AOeMrmluQVTnJrOOXajt6Wk9lWUt38l0iVths5e7I4MDf4h2VP/s1600/20191227_023028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zyTj3o5rzY6eKKediVfU6l8eQkcFh9qQ49M2V2rXYkr6KqaNvYAIQFGbW8EC2OS9KmcUV81jyhjvxc9LWvOuZJz3c7AOeMrmluQVTnJrOOXajt6Wk9lWUt38l0iVths5e7I4MDf4h2VP/s320/20191227_023028.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The case also looks like this lined up.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOWBBHEbEMW0deXImAzpZAvzFNh9T0FMWVL6rquFsUkC4WVLVBeezNbA_CaHZLgetSrNaiAnMysjEqwqGrKhBSbp2t7NVYqegypl57-HE-6X3kI2-bLqjNLfZn0-Fvm70s-dutf7slygA/s1600/20191227_021511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOWBBHEbEMW0deXImAzpZAvzFNh9T0FMWVL6rquFsUkC4WVLVBeezNbA_CaHZLgetSrNaiAnMysjEqwqGrKhBSbp2t7NVYqegypl57-HE-6X3kI2-bLqjNLfZn0-Fvm70s-dutf7slygA/s320/20191227_021511.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The main case features Ultraseven in front of the twilight sun, there is no better image to represent the series.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicf35xbROb5iA9qGMpcwzyL8CS-n6K1dX2LuS6ruEvCExbhLQWJWlqn9lPR3Af-kzs96Hq0CLeaIf57yZgBOqkOlRrDz6nD0mk9ga810A2wLzXqvSdrtTDNJTx7fqJOV5CEGzCvqo5SnyI/s1600/20191227_021535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicf35xbROb5iA9qGMpcwzyL8CS-n6K1dX2LuS6ruEvCExbhLQWJWlqn9lPR3Af-kzs96Hq0CLeaIf57yZgBOqkOlRrDz6nD0mk9ga810A2wLzXqvSdrtTDNJTx7fqJOV5CEGzCvqo5SnyI/s320/20191227_021535.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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On the back, a nice contrast with the moon with three of the best Kaiju from the series. Guts, Metron, and King Joe.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPaknvCS0MY1EULeQk-HFSfIn8YdmOktgg0CXJQ994IDzbKhft5ez2jYRsMTV703dntXoXwWGlD_7HxV5Kd9bVP8H45-2U6D20Y3qRA6VJjnodbm8zYNJbsS0vIo2gvM2QNlONXm3jm-65/s1600/20191227_021709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPaknvCS0MY1EULeQk-HFSfIn8YdmOktgg0CXJQ994IDzbKhft5ez2jYRsMTV703dntXoXwWGlD_7HxV5Kd9bVP8H45-2U6D20Y3qRA6VJjnodbm8zYNJbsS0vIo2gvM2QNlONXm3jm-65/s320/20191227_021709.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8K4vZT2ta0sNhBUgxMUF2_F3ZXItlwT2gLAl9g-JTUkzKAPFSZibfQ07IE2dvHBWIxtqIy7YMMjHR74F1areuRjVz_AIy-goAlKKuuH-aujvcMZLKIp4OnuFKmTyfpwnDHsBcVShxsoQv/s1600/20191227_021653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8K4vZT2ta0sNhBUgxMUF2_F3ZXItlwT2gLAl9g-JTUkzKAPFSZibfQ07IE2dvHBWIxtqIy7YMMjHR74F1areuRjVz_AIy-goAlKKuuH-aujvcMZLKIp4OnuFKmTyfpwnDHsBcVShxsoQv/s320/20191227_021653.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Opening up the case just like with Ultraman there's the the moviespree ticket for the digital version, the logo behind that and in the back an image of the title character. The Discs have various Ultra Kaiju on them from the series.<br />
However, where Ultraman chose to feature very iconic and memorable monsters like Gomora and Baltan, Seven has an almost random assortment of creatures. At first it starts off normal before getting odd. The first disc has Miclas, one of Seven's capsule monsters. Disc 2 Alien Chibull, 3 has Alien Cannan(sic), 4 is another capsule monster Agira, 5 has Guyros, and finally disc 6 has the only truly notable kaiju: Pandon.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNfuCYlOn3leeB6SVrC4iG-7Z9LfuuPlDOovjha3LfOP1AZRWCbGblevX-09wM4Z2kyaZ5eWYJyLsbRhGtY0mRXVEMHJPQy31g4kU8H0oIyIlOvQfflVMEjmDULyaJ7gxbqplIM0lChme/s1600/20191227_022825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNfuCYlOn3leeB6SVrC4iG-7Z9LfuuPlDOovjha3LfOP1AZRWCbGblevX-09wM4Z2kyaZ5eWYJyLsbRhGtY0mRXVEMHJPQy31g4kU8H0oIyIlOvQfflVMEjmDULyaJ7gxbqplIM0lChme/s320/20191227_022825.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It is such a bizarre selection. No Metron, King Joe or Alien Guts? Sure they're featured on the back of the package, but hell the last set gave Baltan two spots. Even if they wanted to avoid those three, there are others to pick. They feature 2 out of the 3 capsule monsters, why not put Windom in there? How about Dino Tank, Pegassa, Alien Pitt, freaking Eleking? Those last three are still making appearances in modern Ultra series. I guess they wanted to pick things exclusive to the series itself (Except the capsule monsters which are in Mebius) and in that regard they did a decent enough job I suppose? I'll give major credit for Guyros, that was a design submitted in a contest for the show, so it's pretty neat to see that on a disc, and this is by no means a deal breaker, but it is still a very random selection.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHx2MK2oJCOPkzTro6vjMCNwNDhSAwG4a69mFVziOEzYHGHrCoAUWXLQ_SETxB0E_PA5R6aFjlggsxwnfSaee2Saix8qPFXpx9FAHfuUw_KO5C1AGHcVQlBP-0yU9h2glgvL5M2gHI2D-5/s1600/20191227_021757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHx2MK2oJCOPkzTro6vjMCNwNDhSAwG4a69mFVziOEzYHGHrCoAUWXLQ_SETxB0E_PA5R6aFjlggsxwnfSaee2Saix8qPFXpx9FAHfuUw_KO5C1AGHcVQlBP-0yU9h2glgvL5M2gHI2D-5/s320/20191227_021757.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The episode and information guide is laid out a lot better than the first Ultraman booklet. It has a write up on the series' production by Keith Aiken of SciFi Japan, and then a bio on the character of Ultraseven with height and all that. But then it moves into bios for the main characters, whereas in the previous entry those were saved near the very end after the episode and monster sections. It overall flows a lot better here and makes more sense in how it's presented.<br />
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Bless the person tasked with writing the cast Bios, they're really reaching for things to say. That's not a reflection on the author cause hell I hardly had anything to say. I will note that the Bios do have a few odd bits. Anne's bio unfortunately has a spoiler for the last episode of the series. An entry for one of the other members, Amagi, makes mention that he's played by Bin Furuya the original Ultraman suit actor, but on the same page they don't mention that Shigeru's actor, Sandayu Dokumamushi/Iyoshi Ishi was Arashi in the original series.<br />
One bit in the monster bios was also pretty funny, referring to the capsule monsters as earnest but lacking intelligence.<br />
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The episode guide is still very helpful and much appreciated, but I did notice that episodes 14 & 15 have slightly different titles from the Bluray. In the booklet and on the Moviespree website for the digital version Ep. 14 and 15 are listed as "The Ultra guard goes West: Part 1" and "The Ultra guard goes West: Part 2". On the Bluray they're simply "Westward, Ultra Guard Part 1" and "Westward, Ultra Guard Part 2". I know that's a small change more or less being the same thing, but it's a weird oddity I felt like pointing out.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Xs9DpvnhV8WN_hZSWnmCWamt2Rdt5G9yJRpak7noT1yL0GkKF8Ov_LIXxbGIGzsM8-tnzH4GqGUFY7jRFf076LsO_VrLBvTETH1ZVvON3JSqMoJVgzKku4zqh9jzcG-5Pqp4ii60teiB/s1600/please.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="747" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Xs9DpvnhV8WN_hZSWnmCWamt2Rdt5G9yJRpak7noT1yL0GkKF8Ov_LIXxbGIGzsM8-tnzH4GqGUFY7jRFf076LsO_VrLBvTETH1ZVvON3JSqMoJVgzKku4zqh9jzcG-5Pqp4ii60teiB/s320/please.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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On a similar note I want to talk about the Bluray itself starting with the subs. As far as I can tell they're doing just fine, but there was one episode where I noticed the translation was a bit questionable. Ep. 40 has Shigeru say's "Please" in the subtitles, which is the jest of what he's saying and fits the context. However, his actual dialogue is using the word Kamisama, which literally means God. So really it should be something along the lines of "Please, God." It seems minor, but that's just the one example I picked up on my first time viewing and it makes me wonder if there's more. Things like that is largely what made Shout's Sentai subtitles so frustrating, they often dropped words which would change how good or interesting certain lines were. A line like "The Legendary sword that pierces the galaxy" is more cool sounding than just "Legendary sword of the Galaxy." Again Seven's case is super minor but it does make me slightly cautious and worrisome given how Garo and Sentai were treated.<br />
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You may have also picked on on this from the review itself, but the Subs make clear that the team is called the Ultra Guard as opposed to the Ultra Garrison. The Showa stuff was originally translated as Garrison, but since '94 Tsuburaya has referred to the team as the Ultra Guard and "Guard" is a more accurate translation in any case, so it's something I don't see worth fretting over, but I know it's gonna matter to some people.<br />
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That aside, the only possibly negative things I noticed was that they have a weird inconsistency with using "All Right and "Alright" and they don't always translate simple responses to certain statements. If a character says "Yosh" or "Okay" it usually isn't subbed. "Hai" however is always translated from what I could tell, while all English never subbed. It got me thinking that for one: they should've included subs for those lines, and two: these really need a secondary sub track that also includes subs for off screen sounds and the like. Ever realize that a lot of subbed overseas material ironically aren't that friendly for people with hearing difficulties? Weird right?<br />
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Oh, and there's this weird oddity.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_hOaxJ2Xp-MpO1yVEARq9xyY1Qk5O1U3_VmvNoyYS5ljhj7pIuggfLThvtYCglC38ALSfqUuJYgfUsQOxZauJJUq7pFfbmvXqeyTvFGzT4tQ8O9KkbcBYoPRj4E1qOca800j-Cu8pkG1/s1600/glitch.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="612" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_hOaxJ2Xp-MpO1yVEARq9xyY1Qk5O1U3_VmvNoyYS5ljhj7pIuggfLThvtYCglC38ALSfqUuJYgfUsQOxZauJJUq7pFfbmvXqeyTvFGzT4tQ8O9KkbcBYoPRj4E1qOca800j-Cu8pkG1/s320/glitch.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look closely at Anne's hand.</td></tr>
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I didn't really know where else to put this, but this is the one and only... error? that I had occur. Not my disc, either, happens on the streaming service and it's only for exactly 1 frame. On a related note I have heard some people having playback issues with their Blurays on one specific episode, but I've not heard a lot about it nor what episode it is. I wouldn't stress too much about it, but it is something to keep in mind just in case.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghursfj2uTAwZV-gldPqYq4wNrJBb1wlvJ-ZQzPu-mwCWyZkDCYdBsZkKsB_lwk4CnAxz0awn0oSXPbNKt9-hIr6r0oZXJIkWqav3HFfZtW8Kl73_H15MNjJRM753zIlFEgipVRbHwv3s/s1600/alien+spell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="327" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghursfj2uTAwZV-gldPqYq4wNrJBb1wlvJ-ZQzPu-mwCWyZkDCYdBsZkKsB_lwk4CnAxz0awn0oSXPbNKt9-hIr6r0oZXJIkWqav3HFfZtW8Kl73_H15MNjJRM753zIlFEgipVRbHwv3s/s320/alien+spell.jpg" width="203" /></a></div>
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Finally, there is one more thing, and it's something I wondered a lot about before the set came out and that was if episode 12 would be included. It sadly is not. There's a lot to get into when discussing that infamous episode that I'm not going to get into here. There are plans for the episode to be fansubbed so I'll be doing a spotlight on it and talk more about it there. <br />
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What I will say is the episode guide completely avoids talking about it and I find it really strange to not even acknowledge why there's an episode missing. It's even worse on the Moviespree site because it appears as unavailable.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8MigePDdX7YBufciVQPUETIA6RYDd6bHSKnkrkSQ21DScFQiJnOINhQvi_yhy7g7fbtktKG8fNkwjNbPFpWn4BQL_Kc2RIFzWbQpTgpsPwMy1aoy_IQiRmJEFH05k5FcnNaeEJXcUAec/s1600/unavailable.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="203" data-original-width="466" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8MigePDdX7YBufciVQPUETIA6RYDd6bHSKnkrkSQ21DScFQiJnOINhQvi_yhy7g7fbtktKG8fNkwjNbPFpWn4BQL_Kc2RIFzWbQpTgpsPwMy1aoy_IQiRmJEFH05k5FcnNaeEJXcUAec/s320/unavailable.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I know this is to keep the episodes from having the wrong number attached, but it's still weird looking.</td></tr>
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Final Thoughts.</h3>
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Lastly, I want to end this review on something I wanted to do for Ultraman but never got around to it and decided it wasn't necessary at the time. That is to give recommendations on my favorite episodes with a short synopsis.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjhdLuE2o0V7krIOmru0ymEyjsZdxRfd8bbt7PdxaLJVm4E7DmvUNR4A9uSyRXpB-YBkDrzj8yEGcZrvcruG2yyNbok1hJ2KVkkOOMQJ07VJ_D-S0SDQIJLRWjijAIBmOafbSXN5A4R1Ch/s1600/space+station.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="743" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjhdLuE2o0V7krIOmru0ymEyjsZdxRfd8bbt7PdxaLJVm4E7DmvUNR4A9uSyRXpB-YBkDrzj8yEGcZrvcruG2yyNbok1hJ2KVkkOOMQJ07VJ_D-S0SDQIJLRWjijAIBmOafbSXN5A4R1Ch/s320/space+station.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Ep. 6 Dark Zone.</b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">D: Kazuho Mitsuta W:Bunzo Wakatsuki.</span><br />
This is the one I talked about in the review. It does a good job captivating you with the aliens and their plights, they're fairly friendly but things slowly turn over the course of the episode and the aforementioned hubris kicks in. This is also a good episode with Dan and Anne, showing that they two are willing to bend rules, if a bit too trusting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEHfG41pjPNMriErZSkyP1UE39ff0yXOGOeP5oPLHJ_6vj9ShPTwMDfWlXXViRAArvuw2w6mbKNYmlS4KsG6U3hg8uKGdX8mXi7qUDnzyMa3XpHCpYFzCet9bePGZfS-brYMLVyuw5fyN/s1600/sunset+2+akio.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="747" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEHfG41pjPNMriErZSkyP1UE39ff0yXOGOeP5oPLHJ_6vj9ShPTwMDfWlXXViRAArvuw2w6mbKNYmlS4KsG6U3hg8uKGdX8mXi7qUDnzyMa3XpHCpYFzCet9bePGZfS-brYMLVyuw5fyN/s320/sunset+2+akio.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Ep. 8 The Marked Town.</b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">D:Akio Jissoji W:Tetsuo Kinjo</span><br />
The famous Akio Jissoji directed episode with Alien Metron. I've already shown plenty of screen shots for this one in the review and I think that speaks for itself. The story is also wild with Metron experimenting with how Space Poppies affect humans by lacing cigarettes with the drug. Yeah, it's a space drug trip episode.<br />
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<b>Ep 14 & 15 The Ultra Guard Goes West.</b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">D:Kazuho Mitsuta W:Tetsuo Kinjo.</span><br />
The first two parter of the series and the first time Seven struggles against an enemy: the robotic King Joe, all while the UG work on a new weapon to combat King Joe as he's completely immune to most of their conventional armaments and even Seven.<br />
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<b>Ep. 26 Super Weapon R1.</b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">D:Toshitsugu Suzuki W:Bunzo Wakatsuki.</span><br />
This is where that morality really comes into play. Again, another episode I've talked about in the review and it is one I highly recommend. One of the things I didn't mention was the monster, because the test for the new weapon on an uninhabited planet- wasn't. It pretty much causes a Godzilla scenario with a radioactive monster spewing it's toxic fumes all over the place. The horrifying prospect of this is contrasted with some beautiful scenery. I brag on Jissogi a lot, but Toshitsugu Suzuki does a good job in this.<br />
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<b>Ep. 37 The Stolen Ultra Eye.</b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">D: Toshitsugu Suzuki W: Shin'ichi Ichikawa</span><br />
This is a very somber episode. Dan gets his Ultra Eye stolen (No shit) by an alien who then sends a signal for pick up which the UG intercept but allow to go through. A reply comes back from the girl's planet only to reveal they've abandoned her as they launch an interplanetary missile toward earth. This one has a bittersweet ending and examines Seven's more alien nature and his relation to living on earth. Really great shot at the end of the episode too of late 60's Japan and all the lights. This one was also directed by Toshitsugu Suzuki.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not to scale.</td></tr>
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<b>Ep. 39 and 40 The Seven Assassination Plan.</b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">D:Toshihiro Iijima W: Keisuke Fujikawa</span><br />
Another two-parter, these episodes primarily focus on the TDF and UG, one of the few episodes that really show off their full force against an alien threat. Seven gets captured by one of the most memorable creatures Alien Guts and is set to be executed. It's up to the UG to figure out how to save Seven. These episodes almost feel like a finale and probably were written as such before the series got extended.<br />
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<b>Ep.43 Nightmare of Planet No. 4</b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">D: Akio Jissoji W:Takashi Kawasaki & Shozo Uehara</span><br />
This episode has Dan and Soga on a journey in a new test rocket, but after being put in the state of deep sleep, the rocket heads off course and is drawn to an earth like planet ruled by Robots. The robots treat the humans of the planet at best as slaves. Segregating them to their own community and disposing of them at a moments notice, even using them as extras in crime shows and using live ammunition, regularly executing them for minor offenses. The entirety of the episode is cold and disturbing. The interior shots are often surreal and plain while outside is nearly lifeless.<br />
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At one point Dan and Soga escape the robots and do so in the back a truck full of fresh human corpses that were shot dead just moments ago.<br />
And yet the end of the episode is also incredibly fun, mainly because Seven gets to go absolutely ape shit, outright growing inside the robots' main HQ and then wrecking everything around it.<br />
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This episode hits basically every high point there is for me and very well may be my absolute favorite.<br />
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<b>Ep. 48 & 49 The Biggest Invasion in history.</b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">D: Kazuho Mitsuta W: Tetsuo Kinjo</span><br />
These are the last two episodes of Seven and they're a really great send off. I don't want to get into spoilers too much, but I will say they do a much better job than Ultraman's Finale which frankly felt very flat and rushed. This really shows Dan struggling and going through absolute hell. A nice touch is the Seven Suit is falling apart by this point which actually works really well with the plot. There's a bit of closure with his team as well, something Ultraman never exactly got with the SSSP due to circumstance.<br />
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Also shout outs to Kazuho Mitsuta who directed these two episodes, they contributed greatly to the iconography of this series with that fantastic shot of Dan and Anne.<br />
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My overall feelings toward Ultraseven is
largely similar to Kamen Rider V3. It keeps what worked in the prior
series, builds upon that which worked, trims a lot of the fat and adds
some new.<br />
Seven keeps enough of the core concepts and ideals of
Ultraman to still be viewed as part of the same franchise, yet it's
unique status as not initially being developed as part of the franchise or
at the very least not a direct continuation I believe allowed it to have
the many differences that assisted in making it feel fresh. Familiar,
yet not overly so, different, but not completely alien. A lot of
franchises struggle with that balance, either repeating what's already
been done or is so different you can't even recognize it. Seven pulls it
off beautifully and in doing so created one of the best shows. I highly
suggest picking this up because it is absolutely one of the very best series at
a great price.<br />
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Oh, and no I didn't forget the music, I just didn't really have a lot to say about it. Opening sounds like a national anthem, everyone's already said that. Although this this pretty boss:<br />
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<br />Kamen Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02832099141882322022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505042118996520039.post-30132087897647933372019-12-10T01:27:00.000-05:002019-12-10T01:28:13.505-05:00Ultraman Bluray review.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Story and Characters.</h3>
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This.... almost feels unnecessary doesn't it? I mean Ultraman is such a well-known series to Toku peeps that it seems like most people know of these episodes just through osmosis. Not to mention Ultraman is a very simple show plot-wise so coverage is a bit of a challenge- that isn't to say it's not engaging- in fact, Ultraman is a really solid and consistent show that constantly improves with each episode. However it is very minimal, yet the show is not completely devoid of deeper thematics as Tsuburaya sought to make Ultraman a series about hope and the future. I see a lot of people refer to the prior series, Ultra Q as sort of a Japanese take on The Outer Limits. Granted, such statements are often shorthanded and oversimplified that ignore nuance at best and are insultingly misguided at worst. Although I understand the use and if I was to do such as well I would say Ultraman is akin to a more simplified version of Star Trek meshed with the Thunderbirds. Glorious 60s Sci-fi aesthetic aside, Ultraman carries that same sort of optimistic viewpoint Trek carried. No, it doesn't quite get into things like racial issues, but it does still use its fantastical setting to present messages at times. It features episodes that touch upon human nature and tragedy, even some of the monsters are tragic. The rest of the time it's usually just having fun.<br />
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But before I delve any further, if nothing than obligation, I feel I should relay the basic plot.<br />
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The series primarily focuses on the Science Special Search Party (SSSP) an international force that investigates and handles strange anomalies and<span class="zci__def__word text--primary"> phenomena.</span><br />
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Shin Hayata serves as the main protagonist, he's second in command to the SSSP Japanese branch. During a scouting mission on a UFO sighting, Hayata's jet collides with another UFO, mortally wounding him. The being inside the spherical craft is an alien from the M78 Nebula who was escorting the monster, Bemular, when the creature escaped to earth and subsequently resulted in Hayata colliding with the pursuing craft. Feeling sorry for Hayata, the alien merges with him, allowing Hayata to survive his injuries and also transform into the giant with the use of the beta capsule device given to him.<br />
From then on the usual formula is the SSSP investigating something strange and then a big monster shows up and Hayata has to transform into the titular Alien being Ultraman to wrestle and destroy or at least incapacitate the beast, all while keeping his identity a secret. It's all very 60's sci-fi pulp with super-heroics.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKfAbsf2R1WlM9KLuZ74k8lJVzAQtFohizAgBmFS_2DOS1FXYUsOmdaMMNLCSyoJ-UGK7hXi18uyw_3RpBiSxBPkD0VeNNg3plfYJIcY49rv7lfjc49x3NIDl9-d3p1mRbcZT2qLxsBxp/s1600/Ultraman.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="745" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKfAbsf2R1WlM9KLuZ74k8lJVzAQtFohizAgBmFS_2DOS1FXYUsOmdaMMNLCSyoJ-UGK7hXi18uyw_3RpBiSxBPkD0VeNNg3plfYJIcY49rv7lfjc49x3NIDl9-d3p1mRbcZT2qLxsBxp/s320/Ultraman.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ultraman himself is very different than later interpretations and developments. He speaks with a slow echoing ethereal voice. More alien, if you will. There are only about three episodes in the entire series we hear an Ultra being talk, but it's always surreal to hear the original. This was after all the first series so a lot of lore wasn't established yet and wouldn't be for a long time. Although oddly enough Zoffy (who does appear in the series) speaks rather normally.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcW0eJt6k91lNR8Ao44k4RL3zcVzUPbKneOhdHxmdHQsYTzsaYEqPJORfkrPyYPy2juXt48hAepIOYCAoOQsvapGmAAhoBxmi5ij6ZXvdvHKVXZJag3QSKc_cu52yCFet1wFT55HKpW38/s1600/SSSP.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="844" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcW0eJt6k91lNR8Ao44k4RL3zcVzUPbKneOhdHxmdHQsYTzsaYEqPJORfkrPyYPy2juXt48hAepIOYCAoOQsvapGmAAhoBxmi5ij6ZXvdvHKVXZJag3QSKc_cu52yCFet1wFT55HKpW38/s320/SSSP.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, that is Akiji Kobayashi on the bottom left as Captain Mura. And Yes he is pretty much the exact same as Tachibana.</td></tr>
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For the rest of the supporting characters they are frankly just that; supporting cast and little more than filling out roles. You're not exactly going to be getting a fully realized person out of Akiko Fuji, she's the communications officer and that's it, which is fine for this type of show and at this time. I wouldn't expect much more than that and even within the confines of the show, it works. It's more about the work itself rather than the characters' personal lives. You can probably count on one hand the number of episodes that give a glimpse into all the characters' personal problems. Even then, most episodes that do focus on the supporting cast are all work-related stuff. Their top marksman Daisuke Arashi missing a shot and causing issues on the team letting his feelings get in the way of following orders. Their comedic inventor Mitsuhiro Ide coming up with some new device but feeling wholly inadequate because Ultraman is more effective than his inventions, etc.<br />
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That last one I find very interesting. Every so often Ide would present a new weapon or gadget for the team to use most would continue to show up throughout the show. But usually, they would at some point come across a Kaiju that would just be immune to the effects and he'd have to craft something new or acquire something developed by the greater SSSP as a whole.<br />
Episode 37, in particular, is a stand out because Ide, who, in about 90% of the show is comic relief, suddenly is utterly broken from constant pressure and stress to invent for the team to little avail.<br />
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To make it worse he's relaying all his sorrow to Hayata. It's probably the most interpersonal the show gets with the main cast. In a odd way Ide is almost a deeper character than one would be lead to believe due to this and a few other episodes which utilize him for more serious situations.<br />
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One of the advantages of the show being episodic is that there were many different writers taking hold, leading to a lot of variety, some even being very comedic. Perhaps most famously is in episode 34 where Hayata holds a soup spoon in the air rather than the beta capsule. Director Akio Jissoji was responsible for many of the more humorous aspects- which apparently was a source of great infighting within the production. Jissoji was brilliant when it came to visuals and not just for gags- but we'll get back to that. Others, such as writer Mamoru Sasaki, wanted a more serious approach and would sometimes feature stories dealing with topical issues that were surprisingly more complex than most kids shows at the time. Honestly, though, I think having so many different takes helps the show feel diverse in what it has to offer which is exactly what's needed for this format. Sure, a lot of shows attempting the same don't necessarily come out as well- comedy, if not done correctly, can undermine a serious tone or result in tonal dissonance. Likewise too serious can be off-putting. But because there isn't exactly an overarching narrative and most episodes can be viewed stand-alone, this is never really a problem for the series. About the only type of episodes I truly did not care for was when characters break the fourth wall and talk directly to the audience. Those felt very out of place from everything else. But even then some of those same episodes are fantastic and I'd be hard-pressed to find an episode of Ultraman I would call bad, there's an incessant charm about the whole thing.<br />
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Ultraman laid a lot of groundwork for future Tokusatsu shows and was willing to present of a lot of big concepts for kids in it's writing.<br />
However, as previously stated they only touched upon certain topics pertaining to issues of the day. More willing to talk about environmental issues and human greed than say xenophobia.<br />
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Its sequels would dive headfirst into broader social issues like that, but that's for another time.<br />
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Although if I was to suggest an episode to perfectly illustrate Ultraman's writing as it's best, that would be ep. 23 Earth is my Home, a really fantastic episode all around. The episode is about a cosmonaut that returns to earth after an accident in space that turned him into a Kaiju now seeking revenge upon the earth. The entire thing explores the need to reach for the stars but the dangers and sacrifices it entails. The episode is sad and bittersweet and certainly one of the more serious Ultraman episodes, a damn fine one at that. Chances are you've probably even been made aware of this episode just because it is one of the more famous ones for how much it's influenced pop culture with the visuals alone. It's one of my favorites and I believe to be the perfect amalgamation of the best the series has to offer.<br />
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As a whole, I think that the series should be viewed not only for historical significance to the genre but because it's still really enjoyable. The only knock I can really give is that it doesn't take the concept to its furthest potential, but that's only to be expected because this was the first series. Interestingly enough I've read the station was interested in producing more- similar to Ultra Q, but Tsuburaya and his team were tired and wanted to move on, which I do think was for the best, Ultraman had a solid run and ended just when it needed to.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: center;">
Visuals/SFX</h4>
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This is probably the most famous thing Ultraman is known for and with good reason. Eiji Tsuburaya was already a master craftsman and knew how to make effects work even on a budget. When the series first started some of the effects were rough but still impressive for what was often seen on TV at the time. Before Ultraman, you could really only get giant monster fights at the movies, now they were weekly and free.<br />
But despite limitations early on, the crew crafted some incredible stuff. I cannot stress this point enough, Tsuburaya and his team created some of the most iconic and well designed monsters <i>ever</i>. Zarab, Baltan, Dada, Alien Mefilas, Red King, Gomora.<br />
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Just look at that. All iconic designs, all easily recognizable from just a silhouette.<br />
Some were even recycled into or from other monsters such as Zarab being made from the monster Ragon.<br />
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Hell, some were monsters in Ultra Q, like Baltan being a modified Cicada Human. That's just how good the design team was. They could take something and even if there were similarities they would become radically different and often better.<br />
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Although I should point out it's not as if every episode has a monster that became iconic and sometimes corners were cut. Pigmon- which ironically became iconic through Ultraman, is almost exactly the same as a creature from Ultra Q called Garamon and it's hardly the only reuse. No one's really gonna brag about creatures like Gamakujira, Skydon or Gigass either, original or not. But goddamn, most shows can't get a fraction of this level of iconography. Many Monsters of the week on kids' shows are disposable, even if they're well made and a lot of effort put into them- they're not something with staying power and are usually at best things that get homages down the road, like Spiders and Bats for Kamen Rider. Ultra Kaijus I guess are a completely different beast.<br />
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Ultraman not only has some of the most diverse and Iconic monster designs but also settings. Mountains, lakes, shipping yards, industrial areas, spiraling urban cities, underwater laboratories, space stations, snowy arctic environments, underground cave systems. It is absolutely insane how much they had over the course of the show when most nowadays struggle to even be able to have more than a handful of settings due to ordnance and budget constraints, be it on-site, a built set, or a scale model.<br />
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Speaking of, the craftsmanship that goes into these sets is equally phenomenal to everything else on offer. Like the monsters, the quality of the scale models is outstanding on a television budget and perhaps only second to the creature design.<br />
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Through it all there's a fantastic 60's sci-fi aesthetic.-- Obviously that's a minor part and not intentional, that's just how the genre looked at the time, yet I still adore it none the less. There's just something about atomic design that tickles my fancy, especially Sci-fi with needlessly complicated arrangments of buttons that light up, or smooth yet sharp designed aircraft.<br />
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It also wasn't just the environments that looked great, but how they shot them. Ultraman is very ambitious for its time with how it frames scenes- even the regular sized stuff for that matter. Most kids' shows would be flat and stilted, but not Ultraman. You have captivating images or simply interesting compositions utilizing the locations.<br />
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These shots are from just one episode. <i>One</i>.<br />
ep. 23 as a matter of fact.<br />
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In addition to the more practical, there was a large investment in an Oxberry 1200 optical printer, which was used in post production for everything from composite and layering shots to fade-ins and out. This was actually purchased for Ultra Q with TBS picking up the tab. At the time only two studios in the world owned said machine, Tsuburaya, and Disney. It was a hefty but wise investment. Most of the footage utilizing the machine looks miles better than shows made years and sometimes decades later.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdsUb6Cdc114jSLdvePlpF6CBZfTYB-P5tVaIuXiNZTmtiKRk_glr5v_d7enCshdikklu-tdvucF3nBC8_AEHwpxlZqw7rO_yIXtnLkfIcVAXctGWVq7AdtKfnct1a8cwKJooP0G0lhMmm/s1600/super+impose.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="742" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdsUb6Cdc114jSLdvePlpF6CBZfTYB-P5tVaIuXiNZTmtiKRk_glr5v_d7enCshdikklu-tdvucF3nBC8_AEHwpxlZqw7rO_yIXtnLkfIcVAXctGWVq7AdtKfnct1a8cwKJooP0G0lhMmm/s320/super+impose.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Take for instance this shot. Sure you can tell it's composited, the lighting is a bit off, it doesn't look seamless. But then take a look at Gavan made 16 years later:<br />
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By the end, Ultraman was pumping out quality equal if not surpassing what studios like TOHO and Daiei were putting out at the time.<br />
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Music</h3>
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This is really the only segment I don't really have a lot to say on. The musical composition for Ultraman is quite nice, it's done by previous Tsuburaya collaborator Kunio Miyauchi, who worked on Ultra Q. He does a fine job, everything is memorable, in particular, the SSSP's theme. Though the placement and utilization of some tracks are truly puzzling.<br />
I've stated before I'm not huge on most pre 80s toku tracks. If I'm being completely honest I think Ultraman might be the weakest toku franchise musically in general. Leo and 80 are the only things from the Showa era I really enjoy from that era of Ultraman.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Packaging.</h3>
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I have the standard version here and they did a great job on it. We have a cardboard sleeve that holds the plastic case and a little booklet that I'll get to in a moment.<br />
The cover has Ultraman front and center with the font being slightly reminiscent of that used on the toys released in North America by Bandai and DreamWorks back in '91.<br />
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The back has a synopsis and frankly a very saturated photo of Ultraman and Baltan.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3VlbhWIHI1iA2n89FDj-5ePNgnDz122sTEIygrCPZEkVbz6uZ9S0HcETfsuu9oA3vm9J4Jnto5Zeq6fTaM8BtqkTSezGmJK-3DIAD3U1j0rK7hbrj2OHUlym_5NNUhreT7ca3d4NaZxxW/s1600/20191209_215907.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3VlbhWIHI1iA2n89FDj-5ePNgnDz122sTEIygrCPZEkVbz6uZ9S0HcETfsuu9oA3vm9J4Jnto5Zeq6fTaM8BtqkTSezGmJK-3DIAD3U1j0rK7hbrj2OHUlym_5NNUhreT7ca3d4NaZxxW/s320/20191209_215907.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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But my favorite thing about the package design is the back spine. You'll notice that Seven's arm is partially seen and if you have Ultra Q you'll see Ultraman's arm reaching over the Ultra Q creatures. We can probably expect Seven to also feature part of Ultraman Jack on his packaging and so forth.<br />
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Pulling the main case out we once again have another image of Ultraman, this time on a very pretty background of stars.<br />
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On the back we have Red King, Baltan and Seabozu.<br />
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Opening it up we have the logo featured on the inner cover, Ultraman in the back, and the discs nicely separated- each with a different Ultra Kaiju; Baltan, Pigmon, Hydra, Gomora, Mefilas, and Zetton respectively. By the way, the images on the inner sleeve is in black and white.<br />
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As for that booklet, it's exactly as it says; a handy Information and episode guide. It has a screenshot for each episode, lists the director and writer of that episode, and gives a short synopsis.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqd0Ro2Af6_lPK2qtI_hge6Z55FSUQBuyx1tLweLvtgtKNfqtqMgW3MNubeGR9sS_sFM2pzeRCmKYBafZ4Z8bIZ1MbhqAJqNVD-vnRvD15qkwD2P8eCvYbS-ggqZkdbGPgdbZ0tocUDLSK/s1600/20191209_220930.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="1600" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqd0Ro2Af6_lPK2qtI_hge6Z55FSUQBuyx1tLweLvtgtKNfqtqMgW3MNubeGR9sS_sFM2pzeRCmKYBafZ4Z8bIZ1MbhqAJqNVD-vnRvD15qkwD2P8eCvYbS-ggqZkdbGPgdbZ0tocUDLSK/s320/20191209_220930.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And yes, it is more than just an episode guide. Indeed, it includes a brief but informative overview of the production written by Keith Aiken of SciFi Japan (More than pictured). Additionally, there's a bio for Ultraman listing all his stats and moves, a bestiary containing some the most famous Ultra Kaiju within the show, listing their height, weight, backstory and episode appearances. Finally, there's a gallery of all the monsters and a bio section for the main characters and their gear. This is a really nice presentation and the guide is really useful.<br />
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And last but not least, there's a little slip of paper with a code on it to redeem a digital version of the series on MillCreek's streaming service. It's free and you only have to create an account. The service is very smooth and is how I managed to get screenshots for this review. (also why I can't turn subs off)<br />
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Features.</h3>
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I know what everyone is really wanting to know, the Bluray quality itself. After all, a box is just a box and great production quality in the show doesn't mean much if they're not presented well on screen. Although it's rare for anyone to get a one to one release in visual quality to original Japanese BluRay releases, I am very happy to say this looks gorgeous and is as good as the Blurays Tsuburaya put out in their native land. The stark contrast of the old NA release and the new one is staggering.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZCzI1yBllTefeJV5_zeEdz8ynr72TzPgqpaDefanhCurOMUgJiHbhNhgR3Me3r43V4imZsgz0FtjykvZJR94mlGGOd2VTCBqoorTrW8PWvOoP1P_ow4omKA0ac7kzTAbZHKiQg8aQIzV/s1600/DVD+comp+1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="1005" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZCzI1yBllTefeJV5_zeEdz8ynr72TzPgqpaDefanhCurOMUgJiHbhNhgR3Me3r43V4imZsgz0FtjykvZJR94mlGGOd2VTCBqoorTrW8PWvOoP1P_ow4omKA0ac7kzTAbZHKiQg8aQIzV/s320/DVD+comp+1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHYkVVxpfK2nCf4f5hmOyxzSr2IUISS3KzLvJXMu6m0_KfMGWxUi0eE7CdeAbixet96F82ihyphenhypheny3R50n6Tx2MXfJ_0lvJlws7f6AYeTP1GOGO-9p6dcUeRgjLL6A86_PuUAJgcVM6rAH5E/s1600/DVD+comp+2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="743" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHYkVVxpfK2nCf4f5hmOyxzSr2IUISS3KzLvJXMu6m0_KfMGWxUi0eE7CdeAbixet96F82ihyphenhypheny3R50n6Tx2MXfJ_0lvJlws7f6AYeTP1GOGO-9p6dcUeRgjLL6A86_PuUAJgcVM6rAH5E/s320/DVD+comp+2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvRtdaDNMFr8bwUrUfudHWFl6Yps7VBcqOlZFofZzRQ0fowlS4Sk4Vy8c4bmJhGvkJ4_mm-6hzLAeOncN7ynl7hzVErSpJ0nHtjby3AsZd8hx5Rwo9NDiCxonhAoanhY9nWJZPVjAcdN5/s1600/eye+DVD+comp+2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1023" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvRtdaDNMFr8bwUrUfudHWFl6Yps7VBcqOlZFofZzRQ0fowlS4Sk4Vy8c4bmJhGvkJ4_mm-6hzLAeOncN7ynl7hzVErSpJ0nHtjby3AsZd8hx5Rwo9NDiCxonhAoanhY9nWJZPVjAcdN5/s320/eye+DVD+comp+2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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You've already seen plenty of fantastic shots up until now, but seeing it next to the old set is outright embarrassing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlHwnroy3FmUKZLC2OGMR8YthcTe9DlYk4KW89kUdKEqb1ZEBD65kSFWtRKifg2ttbUY1vu3hIsJ424kI65cC8Fh_vsialWwOL8EPPCSUlTO3NeHZEyIbnIVqplw65Ip7DCe6awr5id0X/s1600/ep+18+dvd+comp+1.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1007" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlHwnroy3FmUKZLC2OGMR8YthcTe9DlYk4KW89kUdKEqb1ZEBD65kSFWtRKifg2ttbUY1vu3hIsJ424kI65cC8Fh_vsialWwOL8EPPCSUlTO3NeHZEyIbnIVqplw65Ip7DCe6awr5id0X/s320/ep+18+dvd+comp+1.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is not how it was paused, it just looks this way.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3edf88NKARysPB6P9Kq-ihmVoGS4m8-TN_NfTGv6LK5ik3x4qLHqN-T6Vusi9UC-y96ApM6rAEndEUVwW3Nlu9NWp3p5runcYbA3TQNaMnnml8lTdapClgK7S2rPopoFnFq0VcpK9pfe7/s1600/ep+18+dvd+comp+2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="749" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3edf88NKARysPB6P9Kq-ihmVoGS4m8-TN_NfTGv6LK5ik3x4qLHqN-T6Vusi9UC-y96ApM6rAEndEUVwW3Nlu9NWp3p5runcYbA3TQNaMnnml8lTdapClgK7S2rPopoFnFq0VcpK9pfe7/s320/ep+18+dvd+comp+2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Not only is the screen vibrant, clean, and not as zoomed in now, it really allows an even better appreciation of how good everything looks. This was made in a time when TV sets were rarely over 15 inches and still tube-based, hell most watching Ultraman didn't even see it in color. While you can see things like the wires more easily now, they're still hidden shockingly well. You'd expect such an old show being seen in higher quality might actually reveal some flaws- and while there are moments like that it really does more to deepen a love for the craft. Hell, some things I never even noticed like Baltan's eyes moving and spinning. They didn't have to be this detailed, but they were.<br />
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Now, I have seen one or two complaints that say the video quality in Ultraman doesn't look as good as Ultra Q and that maybe the transfer wasn't as good, or Ultraman has degraded more over time.<br />
The only reason I can find why Ultra Q looks better is that it was supposedly shot entirely on 35mm, that's movie quality. Ultraman we know was shot on 16mm stock with optical effects on 35mm. Ultra Q was always going to look better in that scenario. The only part of this set that looks a bit rough is about the first few moments of the intro when the Ultra Q logo explodes into the Ultraman logo and that's probably because that footage was colorized from B&W and downgraded to a 16mm format- it probably never looked all that great, to begin with.<br />
The bottom line is the quality concerns are bullshit, this is fantastic and probably one of the very best quality Toku releases.<br />
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Everything was also re-subbed in this release to make it both more accurate and also easier to read. There are no timing issues that I've seen, unlike the prior regular DVD which had the infamous underwater base episode with subs appearing long after anyone was talking.<br />
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On that note, I should mention that the English Dub is not included- which I suppose is a slight shame if only for preservation reasons, but I also understand why it wouldn't. The American airing made cuts to the episodes, so there wouldn't really be a way to do it without taking the Bluray footage and then re-editing it to match the original cuts made and then syncing the voices up with the footage and then putting it on separate discs- not to mention rights issues with actually getting the dub. That's just a very expensive process that would not be worth it in the long run.<br />
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If there is one thing I'll truly criticize the Bluray release for it's actually not this version but the steel book edition. I don't like steel books anyway because they tend to hold onto the discs way too hard and it's an anxiety-inducing event just to remove the bloody things. The Ultraman set is particularly egregious because they also stack the discs atop one another. Blurays are more resistant to scratches than regular DVDs, but that's still a big no-no if nothing more than the act of having to remove multiple discs before getting the one you want. The standard BluRay release like I have doesn't feature these problems at all, so I highly suggest avoiding the Steel book versions because they're usually a tiny bit higher for half the quality and the exclusive cover simply isn't worth that.<br />
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Steel book version aside, everything about this release is extremely well done and is probably the nicest recent Toku release I've seen thus far. I'm inclined to say the only thing that could top this is the Criterion Godzilla set- which even then is something that has a couple issues. It's great that Tsuburaya can come out swinging so strongly after years of their show being mishandled.<br />
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Oh, and despite what the back says, it's multi-region. So all those Toku fans in the EU can import no problem. There's really no reason not to pick this release up. My only word of caution is do not confuse it with the old MillCreek Bluray release waaay back when Tsuburaya still didn't have the global rights, that was just the old shitty release split across two BluRay sets, so be sure all 39 eps are in one package.Kamen Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02832099141882322022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505042118996520039.post-63656387371471332232019-10-23T07:30:00.000-04:002019-10-23T07:30:50.527-04:00The Spectre Vol. 3 ('92-'98)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkvtI-EkMLDdXBwESbSLXohEid08fBUXWiyr12wH9L2xHR2dIOSfiUhTsBtwDCvLoNNe6oMq1I380fdvlduaOJ_AntmBiRAwoFbLFMhWa-_TZPy9Bsj-VKc-fxBwrIo8LG6hL3cOLIDdI/s1600/Spectre-v3-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkvtI-EkMLDdXBwESbSLXohEid08fBUXWiyr12wH9L2xHR2dIOSfiUhTsBtwDCvLoNNe6oMq1I380fdvlduaOJ_AntmBiRAwoFbLFMhWa-_TZPy9Bsj-VKc-fxBwrIo8LG6hL3cOLIDdI/s320/Spectre-v3-01.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
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This is something I have wanted to write for a very long time and I've never known how to go about it. I've never felt like I could ever do justice by this story while at the same time saying such a thing makes it feel as if I'm over hyping the material.<br />
My approach to this will be a bit different from my normal review as this is the first time I'm writing one for a book- a series of books at that. Because of that, it isn't going to give a fully detailed break down nor a short synopis as I normally would. I'm going to focus a lot on thematics and highlights in the narrative because a lot happens in 62 issues. Even condensing this down there's a lot to cover and explain.<br />
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I will say that at the end of the day, reading the series is the best experience and suggest that you go out of your way to read it for yourself so you can catch all the little details and nuances you won't be able to experience from a review. Also there will be spoilers in this, kind of inevitable.<br />
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If you need a brief History lesson, The Spectre was created in 1940 by Jerry Siegel and Bernard Baily for National Allied Publications.<br />
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First appearing issue 52 of More Fun Comics, Jim Corrigan is a police detective that is killed by mobsters and sealed in an oil drum with cement. His soul is contacted by something simply referred to as "The voice" implied to be God (revealed to be Michael decades later) and is tasked with becoming the spirit of vengeance. He would become a member of the JSA before going dark for a very long time after WW2- both in universe and actual publication.<br />
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He would surface again in the late 60s with guest appearances and a 10 issue title before quickly disappearing again only to make appearances here and there, most notably in Crisis on Infinite Earths in '85.<br />
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In the '87 there began a 31 issue run written by Doug Moench which had a psychic detective angle along side fellow DC mystic and Tarot card reader Madame Xanadu. Spectre was stripped down a lot power wise and focused on smaller threats, some not even super natural. The book was fairly successful at first but soon struggled with inconsistent focus, editorial changes and the lack of a dedicated artist. It had a lot of good ideas but simply wasn't doing well and was canceled without a real ending.<br />
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But in the 90s Spectre got a new series written by John Ostrander and it's the one I think has the very best writing, it even gave closure to the last series. It has a lot to say and does a fantastic job weaving it's narrative and yet it's not often talked about.<br />
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The big draw of the series overall is Jim himself and the journey he goes through over the course of these 62 issues. There's expansion upon what the Spectre actually is, why it was created in the first place, it delves into Corrigan's past and how it affects the present. The story arcs always reflect Corrigan himself learning and coming to an understanding about the world and himself.<br />
Most Spectre books before this run were really just run of the mill morality tales akin to EC comics stuff: punish people in morbid and ironic ways and that's about the end of it. There's still that here-- the series overall remembers to have fun (one of my favorite fun issues (34) has a group of Hollywood big wigs that are vampires making alluring horror movies to make vampires more appealing for victims) but it's primarily a character piece that's very introspective of Jim and his flaws, inner demons and that maybe what he's been doing all these years wasn't exactly clear.<br />
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The first arc of the series shows that Jim is growing ever more distant from humanity, disillusioned by decades of constant nastiness in the world. He's so tired but can't escape his grim fate as the Spectre, even after hunting down the last of his original killers. It's a very somber tone and unlike most 90s comics has an authentic grit.<br />
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The first new support character of the series is Amy Beitermann, a social worker that initially meets Corrigan while he's paying a visit to one of his original killers currently in the hospital. Shortly there after she catches a glimpse of Corrigan turning into the Spectre during a drive by shooting. She investigates his background learning about Jim's time as a psychic detective in the 80s, meeting Madame Xanadu in the process. This works well narratively but also fills in the gap between the last Spectre series in then and now- well, 1992 now. Future issues would delve into that era more and explain certain discrepancies that I won't be getting into here.<br />
Ultimately Jim seeks Amy out after failing to free a tormented soul. Even after taking vengeance upon their killer, the spirit is restless and Jim left even more disillusioned.<br />
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Amy serves as an audience surrogate and many details about Jim are revealed through their interactions making it easy for a new comer to get familiar as well as present new information. We get glimpses of Jim's abusive childhood at the hand of his fire and brimstone spouting father, that Jim murdered criminals with impunity long before he was the Spectre, and was pretty much just as sexist as a man from the 40s would be.<br />
Perhaps the most disturbing was after Jim came back as the Spectre he saved his then fiance Clarice from the killers, but she was mortally wounded and Jim quite literally prevented her from passing on and forced the soul back into her body against the spirit's will. Being dead and all, Jim broke off the engagement and Clarice's later fate is unknown to him.<br />
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Amy provides a direct contrast to Jim, she's a lot more forgiving and caring than Jim is, she believes that people can change and that Jim simply cannot punish evil but must understand it. She becomes a confidant and sympathizes with Jim as she carries her own baggage. Amy's former husband slept around and she in an act of revenge did much of the same only to later learn that she had contracted HIV from her husband and her transgressions caused it to spread. They both have their own problems with guilt and share solace.<br />
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Our other supporting cast is Nate Kane, a friend of Amy's within the Police department. Nate is hard boiled and not too far off from Jim in terms of personality. He loves Amy but given her condition and Nate having <span class="module__title__link">mysophobia </span>he knows nothing could ever come to fruition. Still, they're good friends and he cares deeply for her. <br />
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As the story goes on, a subplot unfolds of a serial killer called the Reaver only targeting women with HIV. Initially this is kept secret from the public to prevent a panic but is found out by Jim after searching Nate's soul and mind, aware he was hiding something. Amy, angered that Nate would keep such a thing and thus prevent vulnerable women from being prepared, goes to the press. Meanwhile, long time Spectre villain Azmodus has escaped from Hell and begins slowly collecting souls and gaining power.<br />
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Amy's going to the press would ultimately be her undoing, as the report caused her photo to appear across newspapers and the killer has been looking for her in particular.<br />
As much as both Nate and Jim try to protect her, Azmodus makes his move, leaving the Reaver to chase Amy down as the two spiritual forces battle.<br />
Madame Xanadu- who has been observing the events, is eventually able to distract Azmodus for a time with a ritual summon, but it is too late. Amy is repeatedly stabbed and lies dying. Her only wish is to not die alone as her mother did, But the Spectre's desire for vengeance is too strong and instead goes after the killer. Nate, likewise, cannot be near Amy because of his phobia. Xanadu instead takes a place beside Amy, comforting her in her last moments.<br />
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Rather than outright killing the murder, Jim instead tries to see what makes him tick and show the Reaver the true nature of his killings, the lives the women led and the circumstances they each dealt with. His attempt is cut short by Kane delivering a bullet to the Reaver's head.<br />
In the resulting aftermath Nate begs Jim to try to do something about Amy, but not wanting to repeat the same mistake he's already made once with Clarice, Jim simply goes to say good-bye.<br />
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Amy's death, while it is form of fridging, is in all honestly very well done and does serve a purpose with real weight. It's a heartbreaking moment that Jim finally found someone to care for only for them to be taken away and that as she lay in a fitly alleyway neither Nate nor Jim were by her side. It's a senseless gratuitous butchering of someone undeserving...as it would be in real life.<br />
That being said, it is the death of a woman meant to further the story of a more important male role and that isn't great. It's a critique I find fully legitimate and wouldn't blame anyone if they took issue with the implementation and execution.<br />
Later issues even get slightly meta by Nate acknowledging that he and Jim were so concerned about their desires that they never considered hers.<br />
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It's ultimately a very human tragedy, dealing with selfishness, guilt and reflection. The series repeats these core aspects and keeps finding new ways to bring them back up and explore them in different ways.<br />
The first 12 issues are a small taste of what is to come and a shocking amount is set up in small details while other loose ends remain such as Azmodus still being out there.<br />
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Issue 13 introduces a new character to the cast, Father Richard Craemer, who originally appeared in <a href="https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Suicide_Squad_Vol_1_10">Suicide Squad#10</a> back in '88, you're probably familiar with the cover if nothing else.<br />
Jim visits a church confessional hoping to find some guidance now that Amy is gone. Craemer attempts to converse with Jim and barely even mentions the war torn country of Vlatava before the Spectre is off, the Priest realizing how over his head he's gotten.<br />
In Vlatava, Spectre engages both warring factions before ultimately just grabbing both opposing leaders: Count Vertigo and General Hafza. Each side accusing the other of genocide, The Spectre examines the very earth itself, seeking who has spilled blood. <br />
The verdict being that no one is innocent, all is morally abhorrent and grey. The Spectre then obliterates the entire county up to it's borders. Leaving only both leaders alive. Both wanted the land and now they can, that is their punishment.<br />
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Vertigo poses the question if their country was that much worse than the rest of the world, The Spectre- Jim- pondering if there is validity in his words.<br />
After wreaking havoc, Jim travels from Cairo to Northern Ireland, confronting various ills and even coming into conflict with a few heroes, all while contemplating if the world even deserves to continue on with so many atrocities.<br />
Jim even considers and ultimately does merge with the villain Eclipso, his predecessor who caused the Great Flood. <br />
A team consisting of Phantom Stranger, Etrigan the Demon, Dr. Fate and Zatanna gather to stop the eclipsed Spectre, but it is Madame Xanadu, Jewish hero Rambam and Father Craemer who put a real stop to the rampage by separating Corrigan from the Spectre in hopes of reasoning with him.<br />
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Father Craemer would continue to be be Jim's new confidant, providing support and a helping hand but also- like Amy, was willing to call Jim out on shit and oppose him when necessary. He overall was very unconventional and the Catholic Church isn't particularly fond of his teachings being more interpretive and nuanced than the church dictates. Craemer is a great character and would continue to make regular appearances throughout the book, their interactions providing some of the best content with unique philosophies and some pretty damn funny moments.<br />
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The following few issues would be partly focused on the fallout of Spectre's rampage and interference on international affairs. A little known character by the name of Professor Hazzard is tasked by the US Government and several other countries with finding a means of harming or controlling the Spectre. These issues primarily fill the reader in on Spectre's time in the JSA and establish that he can be hurt by strong holy objects like the spear of destiny- the lance that pierced Christ and which Hitler also used to hold meta humans at bay during the War.<br />
The other half is comprised of Jim confronting an angered spiritual aspect of the earth brought about by his destructive tendencies and a really volatile situation concerning a Rabi that accidentally kills a young black boy, almost causing a riot between the Black and Jewish communities (one that the demon Azmodus fans the flames of) These show Jim solving problems in slightly more unconventional ways.<br />
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Continuing a key thematic aspect of the series "Understanding".<br />
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Later, Jim learns that a spiritual thread of the Spectre is attached to someone. Upon following it, he learns that Clarice is still alive and simply won't die because she's been connected to the Spectre all these years. <br />
Despite her immortality, she is in horrible condition yet cannot pass. Her life after Jim left was one of sheer misery. Her parents picked a husband for her, birthed a son she felt nothing for. Her husband died in the war leaving her a rich widow. She later married a Hollywood actor, more for appearances as he was gay and later died under suspicious conditions. A series of lovers followed afterwards in Europe before she returned to America in the 60s hoping to find Jim, but an investigator only found someone that would have to be his son given the appearance.<br />
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Several attempts at suicide failed and she has been comatose for years.<br />
Her granddaughter, Clarissa, attempts to smother her simply so her father will no longer suffer in taking care of her and be able to live his own life. Spectre will not kill her as attempt is not typically his foray. But there will be punishment and he switches the souls of Clarice into her granddaughter, giving her a second chance at life.<br />
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Two more story centric issues follow, a rather heartwarming one with Golden Age Spectre support character J. Percival "Pop the Super Cop" Poplaski- who has long since passed, and another detailing the backstory to Azmodus.<br />
The Azmodus one in particular is fascinating. Before, the Spectre was left to his own devices reigning terror such as the plagues of Egypt. This was changed after the birth of Christ when the Spectre was forced to merge with human souls. The first of these was an Indian man named Caraka and it did not go as planned.<br />
Caraka is seduced by the demon Sekuba, shown how the reincarnation of both his wife and child respectively. His wife Devi was meant to find him, but because of the Spectre this never came to be and she was beaten to death for being a leper. His son was abused and thrown on the street, ever more desperate to the point of murder- for which the Spectre must punish. Caraka loses control and begins rebelling against the Gods, unwilling to forgive them, the Spectre is stripped from his soul and Sekuba is forced in it's place serving a mutual punishment for both, resulting in Azmodus.<br />
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One of the nice details here is that Deities look different depending upon who's view point we're seeing. Jim sees Michael, Caraka sees Kali. Issue #0 delves more into Caraka's backstory which I highly recommend, it's between issues 22&23. (That was for DC's Zero Hour event hence the confusing as hell numbering)<br />
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This finally brings me to the last part of this arc. Azmodus begins a campaign of horror against Jim, he systematically attacks all those Jim is attached to one way or another. Father Craemer's church is destroyed, Amy's body goes missing from the grave and Nate blames Jim, Clarissa- still trapped in her grandmother's body makes a deal with Azmodus to be young and healthy. Additionally, Azmodus is able to tap into the Spectre's power thanks to the still attached thread in Clarice's true body. <br />
Even something as horribly grotesque as Amy's reanimated corpse appears and attacks Nate. (Which I will admit this could have gone atrociously wrong and may still be off putting to some) I'm of two minds about that sort of thing. On one hand you have to consider what an evil being would do and how far their deeds go and still portray that with gusto, on the other audience reaction is still important and this could be seen as a cheap attempt at shock. Thankfully they do have Amy's spirit appear to essentially destroy her own corpse, which is kinda awesome. Even Percival reappears to help Nate.<br />
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This all builds to a climatic confrontation of the Spectre and Azmodus, but the battle is largely a stale mate since Azmodus is tapped in the Spectre it self. Clarice offers to switch back to her body and allow the thread to be cut, she has lived an unnaturally long life and is willing to make the sacrifice to weaken Azmodus. But something unexpected occurs when her soul is freed, Clarice is the reincarnation of Caraka's wife, Devi. The devil is put into despair as Jim uses this opportunity to tear the two souls of Azmodus apart, sending Sekuba to the pits of hell. Caraka laments that his actions will cause much<span class="zci__def__word text--primary"> repercussion</span>s on his soul, but Devi says that she'll always find him, no matter how many lives it takes to reach Nirvana.<br />
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There is a bitter sweet irony in the end for Jim Corrigan. A large part of why Jim became the Spectre was to save Clarice, yet his intervention only caused her pain and in the end she was always destined for another.<br />
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With these first two arcs I believe you get a good feel of what the series is striving for and it's qualities. A great amount of tribute is paid to past characters and established lore while also expanding upon them to a much richer degree. At the same time, the series also wants to introduce new characters and take established ones in new directions- even provide endings. It's not afraid to shake things up.<br />
Tonally here's brutal horrific things occurring, but there's always this sense of hope along with the dread. <br />
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With the third arc the series you would see more changes and taking on bigger ideas. Jim would begin working with Nate Kane as his partner on the force (Kane unwillingly being thrown into supernatural hi-jinks along the way) and there would be even more focus on societal issues.<br />
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While up to this point they would occasionally have a story focusing on bigotry, race, environmentalism, religion, etc. The late 30s issues would have deeper exploration of those subjects. This first begins with the introduction of a McGuffin called the American Talisman, a mythical object created by the founding fathers to be the embodiment of America, a literal spirit. Much like the Spectre, it is a force to be melded with a human soul and arrives in times of crisis for the country. The first host was Taylor Samuel Hawke who became the Minuteman. Later incarnations would evolve into other American icons like Brother Johnathon until settling on Uncle Sam for three generations. However, after World War Two the Talisman fragmented, unable to handle the ever growing turmoil in America. Additionally, the Talisman itself was flawed from the very beginning, it was only ever created by and for a select few- never fully representative of America as a whole. <br />
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New antagonists for this chapter are introduced, a shadowy cult like group called the National Interest, who seek the pieces of the talisman for themselves in a desire to reshape the country to their own twisted ideals.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
This was written in 1996.</div>
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The entire run is a race between Jim and the Interest in gaining the pieces first.<br />
The fragmentation of the talisman itself of course parallels with Jim's own ongoing struggles with the Spectre and his reshaping ideals. Each of the issues going forward would involve Jim in different scenarios confronting America's terrible history both past and present. From helping the angered souls of restless slaves, to the horrors of the Salem witch trials and suffragettes movement echoing to present day systemic oppression, gay rights, Native Americans having their land taken away. All of them sharing in common that a piece of the Talisman was used in some fashion to reek vengeance for these injustices. <br />
Each story also explores an aspect of Jim or presents him with difficult situations. In the story about slaves and racism we learned that Jim had a black childhood friend named Rafe, the son of their house keep, but they were forced to leave when Jim's mother discovered the affair her husband was having with said housekeep. In the one about women's rights, Jim is presented with the scenario of a woman who killed her husband but only because he was abusive. It shows a noticeable contrast in how we saw Caraka handle his own reincarnated child being a murderer out of desperation, while Jim shows mercy to a stranger, as much he can anyway.<br />
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However, I think the one about gay rights is the most fleshed out and the one that's most interesting. The other prior stories are good (And would set up some future stories to explore) but they focus primarily on the talisman and social issues with only some character bits and parallels to Corrigan. This one does a better job integrating Jim into the story overall while also showing his faults and struggles, in particular a hang up on not really knowing how to view gay people in contrast with say Race wherein he was more forward thinking because of Rafe. With Jim's upbringing and being a divine element it's a confusing and even scary thing for him to think about. He visits Father Craemer to discuss this but is scared off when Craemer insinuates that despite being celibate since becoming a priest, he could still be technically gay from an orientation standpoint. This leads to Jim having a conversation with Michael on if heaven contains homosexuals, which results in one of the more interesting discussions had.<br />
At first Michael isn't entirely sure of the question, as that of a sexual nature is an aspect of the physical and simply isn't applicable to the spiritual realm. This leads to a much broader question on if impure souls have ever entered heaven, Michael responding: "There are souls in Heaven that have committed every act conceivable. What Soul enters Heaven without some stain of sin upon it? It is not the individual acts that bring or ban a soul here, but the balance of one's life.<br />
I should warn you-- it is not what humanity considers good or evil. Humanity should not presume to judge for God. They inevitably get it wrong."<br />
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After that there would be one final tale focusing on American history, this time concerning Native Americans. But in the middle of this multi issue segment, DC's Final Night event took place, which if you don't know as an event where the sun went out and was primarily meant as a redemption story for Hal Jordan as he sacrifices his life to restore the sun. Just before the event, Jim meets an old friend from his childhood only he could ever see: Lonetree, a long lived Shaman. He is sent on behalf of a counsel of spiritual chiefs warning Jim about a coming tragedy and that he will need to use his power to protect the earth, and that more hardships are to come after. Despite doubt in his own powers to maintain life rather than end it, Jim agrees and offers his power to Gaea to keep the earth alive as the sun is out.<br />
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While it is a success, the strain weakens Jim- both spiritually and emotionally. He feels the force of life in all it's glory and horror, including that which he wrecked upon Vlatava.<br />
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As one event ends there is no time wasted getting right back to the Talisman with the National Interest encroaching on Native territory in search of alien tech. Unbeknownst to them, a Shaman by the name of Tahzey Wovoka has a piece of the Talisman and is using it to summon the spirits of ancestors long passed to drive out the organization.<br />
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The Interest retaliates by using their own piece of the talisman to summon reanimated corpses of cowboys.<br />
Yes, we have Ghost Natives vs. Zombie Cowboys.<br />
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Unfortunately the Interest sends in an attack Helicopter and manages to take out Tahzey. Spectre tries to get a handle on the chaos but he is still weakened by the ordeal during the final night event. An ensuing battle with one of the top members within the National Interest leads to Jim and the Spectre force nearly being destroyed by the Spear of Destiny, only escaping by faking his own demise.<br />
Jim is then able to take refuge in Nate Kane as a means of recuperation and goes after the NI's base at NORAD.<br />
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Simultaneously, many people from across the country have been compelled to gather atop Mount Rushmore, a great spirit calling to them to create a new American Talisman.<br />
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There is a lot to unpack from that but man is that costume is dated as hell. Add a crap ton of pouches and a giant gun and you'll have all the worst aspects of the 90s. It's such a great concept of having multiple people as one entity be the symbol of America, even Tahzey Wovoka's spirit is a part of it because he's so critical of the US and that's a desired aspect. But all that's kinda pushed aside because of...that look. This was also in '97, designs like this were already on the way out and all but gone.<br />
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Anyway, The National Interest with all the pieces of the Talisman begin the ritual to bring forth a being that would reshape the country as they see fit, instead, it summons forth a horrific almost Zombie like abomination of Uncle Sam which attacks all those near with their darkest fears including the National Interest cultists. Patriot arrives to fight the creature, urging Spectre to destroy it from within.<br />
Jim confronts the warped and broken American spirit in a sequence very similar to Steve Darnall's Uncle Sam, which was published the same year.<br />
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Spectre is successful in destroying the deranged being, but it's haunting words still echo to chilling effect. You cannot kill madness. Madness never dies. You can only beat it down until it returns... and screams.<br />
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This was the largest arc in the series and perhaps the most weighty. Afterwards, the remaining issues would sorta dial back the grandiose while still maintaining the introspective nature. We get multiple smaller stories of Jim trying to prove an incarcerated man's innocence, Jim inspiring a new Mr. Terrific while recounting the original during his days as a JSA member. But the primary story concerns The Spectre becoming more out of control- killing people on trial on national TV and Nate finding out that Jim possibly murdered a woman named Julia Edmonds, which he begins investigating.<br />
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Back in the 30s, Jim was investigating a murder, and the primary suspect was the victim's wife, Regina Edmonds. Regina was a manipulative seductress- far from the usual street thugs Jim was used to.<br />
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He began sleeping with her while he was still actively investigating. Then Jim met her daughter, Julia, who had her own charm- an innocent young quality which he found captivating. Yet appearances are quite deceptive, Julia was just as manipulative as her mother, simply using her innocence the way her mother used sex appeal. Julia would end up killing her mother and frame Jim for it- Jim only getting off because of some intentional tampering of evidence within the department, much to his chagrin.<br />
Once off, Julia's bodyguard came after Jim but was quickly taken care of, Jim then tracking down Julia down on Manhattan Bridge and shooting her. She fell into the water below, her body never recovered.<br />
Jim relays this story to Craemer, pondering if it was justice or murder- Craemer counters with the same question to Jim, who is unable to view it simply, he cared for Julia but still shot her. Craemer calls bullshit on Jim complicating the situation, pointing out that Jim still slept with Julia's mother even knowing what happened and yet still claimed to care about her daughter.<br />
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The Spectre goes berserk, hurling Craemer against the wall and giving him stigmata. Jim and the Spectre force realize what they've done, harming an innocent who only spoke a truth they wished not to hear.<br />
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Elsewhere, Nate discovers that she is still very much alive but near the end of her life, currently in the care of her Grand daughter Alex. Julia confesses that she knew her mother killed her father but it would never be proven and attempted to get Jim to murder her, but never could succeed. She instead opted to drug both and strangle her mother as she slept, framing Jim. <br />
After the fall she was pulled from the river suffering amnesia. She fell in love, got married, had two children, lost her husband in '44 during the war. Her memory slowly came back and with it a great sense of shame. She returned to New York only out of need to support her children but found the estate long gone.<br />
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She spent the last 50 years trying to make up for her mistakes, only wishing she could get forgiveness from Jim Corrigan.<br />
Nate decides the leave the elder be given the situation. But as he's leaving, a distraught Jim arrives seeking refuge that Nate denies. Regardless, The Spectre forces his way in, much to Jim's anger at betraying and assaulting a friend. What's more, this allows Jim and the Spectre to see into Nate's mind, learning that Julia is still alive.<br />
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Jim immediately goes to confront Julia with Nate not far behind- fearing what the Spectre will do.<br />
Julia is happy to see Jim after so long, profusely apologizing for all her crimes, asking if he can forgive her which Jim does...but the Spectre does not.<br />
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As much as Jim tries to hold back the Spectre, it is a losing battle. Nate burst into the room and as the situation turns grim, pulls his gun, planing on a mercy killing- but it's Alex with the will to pull the trigger.<br />
In the after math, it's clear that this cannot go on. Jim and the Spectre leave to present their selves for a higher judgment, but when they arrive at the gates, they do not find Michael and the gates are open...all is empty.<br />
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The last few issues focus on Jim's search for God but are really more of Jim's experiences culminating into him confronting the last remnants of himself and his ideals. He searches various mythic and cosmic planes. Along the way seeing other points of views upon creation. This serves as a great crash course to the DC Universe's approach to religion and mythology.<br />
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Perhaps the most interesting of all this is when Jim is allowed to feel what it's like to be God. Billions of planets, galaxies, all those being birthed, all those dying, all those thriving. All the life on those planets, good, evil. It's a beautiful execution where Jim clearly undergoes more development, accepting that as horrible and twisted some of it is- life has to have that choice. The ability to choose.<br />
It's a great contrast of how far the Spectre and Jim have separated.<br />
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Jim eventually gets a hint to look within and inevitably finds himself back at Creamer, who has already forgiven him. He explains the situation to him and Craemer suggests that Jim and The Spectre force look into each other's souls to see what lies within.<br />
Jim's long journey finally brings him to the last step, seeing the injustice both have suffered.<br />
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The Spectre was a demon named Aztar who repented his rebellious ways, willing to accept any punishment, he was deemed to be the new vessel for God's wrath, but all that he is or ever was would be burned away with no memory of his past life. It would carry out it's duty well until the birth of Christ when suddenly things changed- The Spectre could no longer act freely carrying out vengeance. He was struck down and cast into limbo until he would be forced to merge with the souls of beings already with a chip on their shoulders.<br />
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Meanwhile the Spectre sees Jim losing his friend Rafe, not only being kicked out of the house but that Rafe blamed Jim for the incident- believing that he told about the affair. But that wasn't the end of it, Rafe went missing during a storm and his mother, Rose, returned begging for help. Jim went to a river side cave they used to play and found Rafe drowned.<br />
During the Funeral Jim's father Jebediah said it was God's will- which triggered a change in the young Corrigan.<br />
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The two spirits both reaching the same conclusion: How can one show mercy when they were never once shown any to begin with? How can you uphold justice when you are a creation of injustice? Who demands justice of God?<br />
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After the visions, the two come face to face with a deranged cannibalistic God.<br />
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There is much debate between the three, about Morales, rules, rights, human perception of things they can't even imagine. Jim demands to know where God was with all the injustice in the world, but that was The Spectre's job. "God" takes a look at all the horrifying things Jim has done.<br />
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Jim is then shown key points in his father's life, Jebediah Corrigan, and how he was abused and warped. Jebediah's father frightened him with tales of his days in the Civil War, specifically the most horrifying sight he witnessed was when his squad killed a tribe of slave owning Natives just for the hell of it, though he only stole from them. But the horror wasn't simply the senseless slaughter, but the terrible vengeance that took place afterwards.<br />
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But worse than that was Jebediah's mother calling all Corrigan's tainted, regularly beating him and saying the only way to be good was to adhere to the bible. Jebediah grew with a twisted sense of himself, his sexual urges filling him with guilt all his life.<br />
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Seeing the history of his own father makes Jim realize just how flawed we all are and isn't angry with his father anymore. Maybe humans really are the image of God, just as broken and sad. Break'em down, flood the world, start over, but it never gets any better. We're as good as it gets.<br />
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The deranged figure slowly dissolves away into a reflection of Jim and then nothing. <br />
Jim's journey has lead up to this moment, his experiences lead into facing this dark reflection, his past beliefs.<br />
Jim finds himself in Craemer's home informing him of what has happened. Craemer theorizing that Jim simply saw a perception of God as he once viewed them and now that its gone, Jim needs something new.<br />
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Cramer then asks if Jim has ever had a Funeral, a rite of passage to move on so to speak. Corrigan has never had a proper burial and believes this would help put him at ease and perhaps a final rest.<br />
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The last issue is one I find simply beautiful. A simple plot of land is prepared with a blank tombstone, Corrigan's bones are removed from police evidence and the funeral scene is handled lovingly. It's at first somber, Jim offering one last apology to Craemer and Nate and lamenting that so few are in attendance....But the latter does not last long.<br />
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All those Jim has known or had some affect on arrive to pay their last respects. From the JSA to the new Mister Terrific. Madame Xanadu to Patriot, Swamp Thing and more.<br />
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Craemer reads <span class="ILfuVd"><span class="e24Kjd">off the Burial Service, each panel focusing on those in attendance as Jim readies himself.</span></span><br />
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Everyone slowly departs and some reflect. Xanadu remiss that she may never know a peace like Corrigan, while Nate realizes how easy it would be to become someone like Jim and doesn't want to ever be that angry or lonely.<br />
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The last two remaining are Craemer and the Stranger. Richard commenting that all his life he's had doubts, wondered about his faith. Even after meeting Jim they're still there and now he has even more. What happened to Jim, where did he go? Jim may have been difficult, perhaps not even nice. But Craemer believes he was a good man trying to do right. Stranger agrees and hopes the next Spectre will at least be as good as Jim Corrigan, or there could be disastrous results.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Final Thoughts.</h3>
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Okay, let's clear the negative stuff first. Of the things I take issue with its how Jim's father is handled most of all, mainly in that I don't think an abuser being abused is a good framing device for trying to make them understandable. I get the point it's trying to make, I get that it's meant to tie with Jim's mission to understand evil not just punish it, I get that it's meant to reflect Jim own issues with women like Julia. I don't believe the book is trying to justify his actions persay so much as provide reasoning while framing him as flawed and sorta sad...but it still doesn't work for me. After all what if Jebediah's mother was abused and so forth, it would never end. At the end of the day Jebediah was still an abuser and as we learn from a flashback also a rapist. His own pain is not an excuse for this actions.<br />
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I think the same point of Jim no longer being angry with his father could have been reached by having him realizing that he doesn't have to use his horrible life to fuel his hate and guilt the same way his dad did. This bit about Jim's dad is the one thing I do not think was done good story wise. I appreciate the attempt at nuance but it's a bit too basic, perhaps misguided and even a bit last minute.<br />
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On a smaller note I also have to say the resulting after math is a bit on the nose, Craemer outright telling Jim that he's pretty sure that he just faced his perception of God rather than the real deal when the story does a good enough of that not really needing to be said or explained. Although if that was truly there for the audience or Jim's character is another matter. Which, fair enough I suppose.<br />
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But lets also get into some much due praise, that art. Unlike Moench's run, this series was lucky enough to snag a regular artist in Tom Mandrake. I'm not normally one for what I would call "scratchy art" but I do not think anyone else would have been more perfect and this is one of the times I love the rough art style. It's just the right amount and the way Mandrake uses inks for highlights really enhances the intended mood.<br />
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There's a lot of grittiness to the whole thing and that's a term I really don't like using, especially for comics, but its applicable in the best sense for this instance. It captures the sorta aesthetic disenfranchised cities had in the 70's and 80's. Think old 42nd street or a Paul Verhoeven movie.<br />
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If I do have a major criticism of Mandrake's work its that his women do look very similar. It's difficult so tell the difference between Xanadu, Amy and just some random woman in a one off issue. They all pretty much have the exact same face and sometimes even the same hair styling.<br />
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To an extent this is even a problem with male characters, a few no names looking like Nate.<br />
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But the majority of his work is also delightfully creative. I've always loved how Spectre's kills could be anything, how metaphorical things could get and the series goes all out with that creating some entertaining and gorgeous art pieces.<br />
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At the end of the day he was the perfect fit and I would not want another artist on this.<br />
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In case it wasnt clear, I really love this series. It balances gravitas and morale thematics with also being fun in a sense. Sure, we have Jim confronting daker aspects of American history and culture while on a journey of self discovery... but he also fights a zombie Uncle Sam called the American Scream brought to being by nazi cultists at NORAD.<br />
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That's the kinda stuff I love.<br />
I'll admit, not all of it works and for some people somethings are going to work more or less than others. Even I sometimes thought the balance was a bit askew in some areas and leaned a little bit much on the Grindhouse side of things, but I never felt the good was undermined and overall was handled well.<br />
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Ostrander and Mandrake's run on the Spectre is many things and frankly feels more depressingly relevant now than at the time it was written, it's gory and grim like a precode horror comic, fantastical almost silly at times with how delightfully imaginative it gets, yet it's story remains high quality and socially conscious, not holding back at all.<br />
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In any other circumstances it would either be too goofy to take seriously, too gruesome to have heart, or just plain dated. But Ostrander blends these concepts together to make something very layered and captivating. Tackling hard subjects while maintaining a strong emotional core with deep introspective ideas about the world, belief and human nature. It gives the main character flaws, growth, even provides an ending to some villains. It loves the past stories but also creates new ones and ultimately that thing very few comics have; an end. A beautiful heartfelt end at that.<br />
Spectre hits so many high notes and does just about everything I love and want more out of comics.<br />
I have little doubt that such a story would not be applicable to a more notable name as the editors simply would not have that status quo shaken up.<br />
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It's not perfect and there are plenty of valid criticisms, but I think it's a fantastic read and it's by far my absolute favorite comic series.<br />
The most heartbreaking thing to me is there isn't a fully collected format for these issues. Several years ago DC released two Volumes for the series which only goes up to issue 22 of the 62 issue run and there hasn't been a single word of a vol 3 since. It is an absolute shame this isn't more popular. As far as I'm concerned it is one of the few really great comics of the 90s and should stand along side other notable socially topical works like Green Lantern/Green Arrow. I will say it's easy enough to find online complete and well... you can seek out the series however to see fit, I won't judge.<br />
Although I will note my scans are missing several pages in issue 19, thankfully I do have the second volume by DC to fill in the blanks.<br />
Hopefully this review sparks your interest and you'll find a new series to read this Halloween Season.<br />
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Next time, I'll be taking a look at a much more light hearted super hero that's also a melding of two souls. See you then.<br />
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<br />Kamen Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02832099141882322022noreply@blogger.com0