EPISODES 9 & 10
These episodes continue Kitaoka's debut, with Inoue continuing as writer. So this is basically a four-parter, they transition into each so well. I think these two episodes are just really well done and run the gamut -- it's a silly case of mistaken identity that kicks things off, but it ends up becoming a pretty heartfelt story with surprising character turns.
You have Shinji barely making it out of a fight with Zolda with a distinct arm injury, and he then gets falsely arrested for kidnapping Shimada -- he can't just tell people that the real culprit was taken by a Mirror Monster -- he then has the misfortune of his friends hiring Kitaoka to defend him, with Kitaoka being observant enough to realize Shinji is Ryuki and trying to get Shinji to incriminate himself. It's crazy, crazy stuff! Things keep getting piled on to our hapless hero. (Why doesn't any of his ORE Journal buddies ever question why he'd try to kidnap Shimada, anyway? With friends like these dummies, who needs Riders to fight?)
It's also a good, telling episode for Ren. He's irritated with Shinji, he doesn't like such an irresponsible and harmless guy worming his way into the Rider battle, but he knows Shinji doesn't deserve any of this, so he's instrumental in getting the gears moving to help free Shinji. His teasing of Shinji when he sees Shinji locked up is one of the moments where Ren's whole bemused tormenting really works. It's a way for Ren to vent his feelings about the situation he's surprised to find himself in, in helping Shinji. And he also has to cross paths with Kitaoka to try to get him to accept Shinji's case and they just clash from the start. Kitaoka's a dismissive, judgmental ass about Ren. And what you can gather about Ren's life and background and where he came from, you just know he loathes people like Kitaoka and doesn't feel comfortable around that type. It's a class battle. And then it's Reiko who gets Kitaoka to accept, but as I said...it wasn't the best choice to involve him, not that they knew any better. From their point of view, it's a coup, since Kitaoka has such a spotless record as a lawyer.
The subplot of this episode is sad, but sweet, with a young girl, Yukari, wanting to hire Kitaoka to help her dad. Her dad is the real culprit of Shimada's kidnapping and, of course, Mirror Food, but only Shinji knows that. (Does he ever even tell anybody about the man's demise!? Not on screen, if so.) Her dad just wanted ransom to help pay for her mom's surgical procedure and targeted ORE Journal because they talked smack about his job and cost him a lot of employees. He didn't mean any harm, but...eh, look what he did, and look what it got Shinji into. But because of his daughter, and the affecting performance by actress Yukiko Ikari, you do feel bad for him and his family.
And, of course, Kitaoka is an asshat, couldn't care less at how cold he is about Yukari and her family's situation, but Goro takes an instant liking and sympathy to her. She ends up only feeling comfortable with Goro to the point where she whispers to him and he becomes her mouthpiece. At one point she's insulting Kitaoka, and Kitaoka asks whether it's really her or Goro's words. So, Goro's pretty disappointed in Kitaoka's behavior, and his befriending the kid adds another layer -- and mystery -- to the character. Surely, he's not as much of a thug as he appears. Here, he's Kitaoka's moral compass, bringing out decency in such a disagreeable person, and that's the role the character ends up playing throughout most of the show.
And when Kitaoka hears that Yukari practically lives at the hospital to be with her mom -- especially now that her dad is missing -- it hits too close to home for him. Earlier in the episode, we see him leave a doctor's appointment that obviously had useless results, as the chatty nurses are heard saying there's nothing that can be done for him. So, surprise of surprises, Kitaoka ends up paying for Yukari's mother's surgery, which gets Yukari to see him in a new light and come to his defense when a freed Shinji is giving a smack-down for the shit he put him through. (Shinji still doesn't know that Kitaoka is Zolda, although Ren learns in this two-parter.) You get the feeling Kitaoka's thoughts are "Oh, well, it's not like all this money can help me with MY condition."
I like that this decision is Kitaoka's own, and he's not directed to it by Goro or Yukari, deepening the layers of his character. (In the next episode, Reiko puts Kitaoka on her black list for all of his prickishness, but then wants to cover the story of the anonymous man who mysteriously paid off a woman's medical bills!) This act of his also brings Goro back to his side -- it's funny that, when Ren shows up at Kitaoka's along with Yui and Reiko, Ren and Kitaoka are getting in a struggle, but Goro stands back. Once Kitaoka saves the day? Bodyguard Goro returns to try to prevent Ren and Shinji from attacking his sensei.
Ryouhei's just really good in these episodes. Such a detestable bastard, from the way he treats Shinji to his taunting of Ren, his using Reiko and what a creep he is towards Yui and yet...he still can make the guy likable. He's interesting and you don't know what to make of him. These episodes and 13 and 14 are this character's best and it's sad how far the show pushes the limits with him, to the point where he becomes pretty much comedic relief, which is such a strange turn for him. (Though it's born out of people liking Ryouhei.) And Zolda gives a great cliffhanger to this episode, when we finally see his Advent Monster and he nukes the block -- Mirror Monster, Knight and Ryuki included -- with his Final Vent, the only Final Vent I know the name of without looking it up, which is "End of World."
I like the scene with Kitaoka and Ren after they've fought in the Mirror World, when we get Kitaoka's reason for fighting -- eternal life -- while we get Kitaoka just roasting Ren, criticizing his ability as a Rider compared to his. Seeing the rings on Ren's necklace, Kitaoka quickly puts together Ren's motivation and causes Ren to face a truth and hypocrisy in that, for all of his lecturing of needing the will to fight Riders, Ren's fighting for a good reason. Ren puts up a front and talks tough, but he's fighting for someone else, and that's seen as a weakness compared to Kitaoka, who's only concerned with himself.
Just a really good episode that involves everyone nicely and covers a lot of emotional ground.
Heroism Watch: Shinji and Ren manage to save Yukari from a monster attacking her. (You just know Inoue wanted to kill her; have her join her dad in the Mirror Monster's belly just as her mother is cured.) And I'd say Kitaoka's forking over the money for the woman's surgery is heroic. Probably the most heroic thing he'll do in the series! And a shout-out to the kid, Yukari, for giving testimony incriminating her father to free our hero.
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