EPISODE 16
The episode begins with Koutarou asking the King Stone to explain why he became Robo Rider. Not only does the King Stone do this -- curious that it wasn't an ability used on Black, where the King Stone was much more important -- but even more ridiculous is that Koutarou transformed into Robo Rider, doesn't know why he did, but knew exactly what to say and do -- the "Prince of Sadness" speech, the weapons, the finishers, all that. Nonsense.
This episode also introduces Kasumi no Joe, a mysterious dude seen following Koutarou in the previous episode. He claims to be an Earthling who was captured and remodeled by Crisis, and that he's lost all of his memories prior to Crisis' operating on him. There's something not really believable about him, but he's on the up-and-up...until he's controlled by the monster of the week into attacking Koutarou. So, it's weird...you get a suspicious vibe from him like he IS a secret bad guy, but he's not, and yet that scenario kind of plays out anyway. Having a shady vibe's not a good way to introduce him.
I've never made it this far into an RX rewatch. The first and last time I watched RX in its entirety, I believe, was probably like 2002. I remember really finding Kasumi no Joe an annoying and pointless addition. Now having so much Kamen Rider experience, pointless additions is one of the franchise's specialties, and I guess he's an attempt at giving Koutarou a full-time Taki kinda sidekick. Not the greatest way to introduce him, IMO. He seems suspicious, but Koutarou takes an immediate liking to him. Even when the controlled Joe is attacking him, Koutarou's trying to help him more than he probably should. Koutarou's too nice.
Watching it now, I think a big problem with Kasumi no Joe is in the casting. Rikiya Koyama's an oddball -- probably why he's mainly a voice actor now -- I get the impression the character's meant to be younger than Koutarou, but Koyama is actually older than Kurata, so he's laying on this kind of exaggerated enthusiasm in order to come across younger. It's not like I want him to suffer the indignities of a show like RX, but Kasumi no Joe's the role Issei Hirota should have played after Maskman, NOT the waste of a role he had in Jiraiya. I think the Kasumi no Joe role calls for someone youthful and physical like that.
The episode ends with Maribaron successfully forcing Hitomi to grow up into the Crisis Emperor's daughter, Garonia. Garonia is played by Maho "Rie/Maria" Maruyama, this show making me think of Jetman yet again. This is only about two years before Jetman, but she looks so much younger...but that pissed-off voice is Maria's, alright.
EPISODE 17
Here's what dummies Crisis are. Maribaron's plan -- which is making up for a big-ass blunder of hers -- is actually working. They shouldn't be doing anything that could jeopardize it. And yet -- for NO REASON -- General Jackie decides to transport Shigeru into Crisisville. Shigeru ends up ruining their plan by reaching through Garonia and getting her to remember she's Hitomi. So, Jack tanked this plan. No wonder he's so chill towards Maribaron. Like "I can't yell at you for ballsing up this plan; I ballsed it up bigger. No worries. *shrug*"
When RX is placed in another death trap, he magically finds the ability to transform into a new form, Bio Rider. Bio Rider's a weirdo with ninja-like physicality and the ability to turn into SFX-goo that suits the purpose of the scene. This form is referred to as "the prince of anger." Now...what sense does this make? To me, Robo Rider should be the prince of anger. If someone gets pissed off enough that it turns them into a literal robotic killing machine, shouldn't that be the prince of anger? Shouldn't the prince of sadness be the one that's colored blue, being all organic and earthy with the water-related abilities and stuff? It makes no sense to me!
What's all this prince stuff, anyway? RX's regular form has been referred to the "prince of light." The dude was a king in Black, so why the demotion when RX is meant to be an upgrade? And why does Koutarou think he still deserves a royal title, anyway? What the hell is this show?! Ferbus would only improve things at this point.
And in this episode, Shigeru finally discovers Koutarou is RX. SHIGERU. And Shigeru vows to keep it a secret. And I'm just like...bah! Kasumi no Joe has known Koutarou for half an hour and knows that he's RX, and now Shigeru. Meanwhile we're going to have to put up with more of Koutarou treating Reiko like she's an idiot to keep a cover he shouldn't even have. We're back into the '70s, when only characters with dongs were worthy enough of knowing Rider's identity -- treat them women like the hysterics they are, AMIRITE dude? HIGH FIVE!
Random notes for a random show:
1) Hitomi ends up being saved and reverted to normal by a mystical pond guarded by some of those gnome-looking good citizens of Crisisville. I just want to take this time to complain about the designs of these guys. They're far too Zyurangery -- cheap looking gnomes that don't match with this show. Garonia being a glimpse at the kind of kingdom/empire of Crisis' we've heard so much about is also done in a predictably fairytale sort of way -- and cheap, giving off further Zyuranger vibes.
2) The episode ends with Koutarou returning to the Sahara home with Hitomi and Shigeru. And here's a moment when the Sahara parents' shenanigans -- their being comedic characters -- hurt the show, because they're meant to be genuinely worried about their two missing kids, but you just don't buy it. And then shortly after that, they're HILARIOUSLY tripping over each other to get to their kids, who they realize have safely returned. I HATE the Sahara parents. Oh, and Koutarou brings Kasumi no Joe along for this reunion. That's not weird at all. This weird old-looking strange guy dressed all in leather. Not weird at all! I guess, in this show, when Koutarou is in the form of Koutarou, he's the "prince of bad decisions."
3) Saying that about the Sahara parents, I'd like to highlight Hitomi. (I've already said that I think Takeshi Inoue's a good actor; Shigeru's not the problem, it's the writers overusing him that's the problem.) Being so young, Shoko Imura's not exactly a great actress, but she's a sweet-seeming kid, and not overly loud or annoying -- she's rather quiet, actually. What I find funny is that she seems very in the moment and authentic. If there's a monster in the scene, she seems genuinely spooked. When the Sahara parents are "comedically" bickering or beating each other up, she looks (understandably) mortified. So, it's a shame that the parents have to be soooooooooooooooooo damn irritating and unlikable. It's one of the biggest problems with this show, and this show has a lot of problems.
4) Saying that about Hitomi, I have to say...I can't believe we just got through a g'damn four-parter about Hitomi, but the show can't be bothered to write a line or two about main characters from the previous show like Kyoko or Katsumi. RX's priorities -- Toei's priorities with this show and franchise -- are fuuuuuuuuuuuucked up.
5) I like Bio Rider's design as itself, but not as anything associated with Black. It's a tad more in the Kamen Rider knockoff area of things. It certainly doesn't seem like a power-UP -- it's just too different and plain. Not that power-ups should be over-the-top and as stupidly gaudy or busy as Bandai makes them now, but...have them be a little bit special, you know?
Hi! Nice to hear you are back with the RX coverage. So how are you doing right now? Anyway some random thoughts:
ReplyDelete1.) Obviously General Jack is THAT stupid to randomly transport Shigeru. The plan of Maribaron was working so well. Then he does come up with a lame excuse that the princess was assassinated. WTF! Well not that Tasmader (Crisis' extension body) has done much good either!
2.) I remembered getting scared by the scene that RX nearly got crushed by spikes. I still remembered how I almost peed in my pants watching that scene!
3.) I have to admit that the forms were introduced too fast. I think Heisei era Riders do a way better job in introducing multiple forms. But Black RX started it all and we can't deny that.
4.) I still think about the inconsistent tone of the Sahara parents. They are comedic then they become sad. Really, can't the writers make up their minds? But still better than that random family in Saban's Mashed Rider if you ask me!