Wizard 1:
- "It's Showtime" is better than "Switch On", but still not that stellar. I didn't really like "Everything Goes" as an OP but its refrain is rather catchy. I think the last OP I really liked was the second Hibiki theme. Maybe "Journey Through The Decade" too.
- I can already see how Foundation X will be interested in the happenings of this show simply from the opening narration. Then Giorgio Tsoukalos will run in and say it's not magic but aliens!
- Has anyone noticed they keep rehashing birds for the cutesy helper bots?
- "It's out duty to protect the public"? Isn't that rather obvious?
By the way, too bad Decade went with the AU idea, otherwise we maybe could have gotten Hiroko Sato in the Rinko role instead of as a female Ichijo.
Still, it's good to see cops in a non-comedic role again. It sort of gives the show that "ripped from the comics" feel that Kuuga, Agito and Ryuki had.
- Lots of bike action! But I fear it will diminish to nothing as the show goes on.
- This belt is the best-looking in a while, but it's more annoying than Meteor's and singing OOO's! Who at Bandai thinks this is a great idea?!
Speaking belts used to be cool. Not so much anymore.
- Rinko is a bit overdramatic.
Actually, she's reminding me of Gotou. She's a female Gotou. A world-saving idealist. At least with Rinko though, I can sort of see her as a cop. Gotou didn't look the part at all.
- Amino looks like he stepped out of a period drama or a gangster movie.
- That boss in blue looks familiar. Has he been in anything else?
- I like that humans actually become the Phantoms instead of "birthing" them as the word "Gate" seemed to imply. That would have made it an OOO rehash. Also it adds to the sinisterness of the villains.
- Looks like this will be another year where I have an issue with the Henshin process (Four in a row now). Why doesn't Haruto say it after he flips the thing on his Ring, rather than before? It makes the process seem slower.
- Why doesn't Koyomi do something about Rinko? She just stands next to her like a little child while she becomes a Phantom. Sort of funny, but also a bit callous.
What exactly was so traumatic about what Amino did? It all seems a bit overblown.
- I wonder if Winger can connect to other Phantoms besides the Dragon. Or if similar bikes could be made to do that.
I hope diving into the Underworld doesn't become routine like Den-O's time traveling after the week's Imajin. I also wonder if there will be an episode like the Perseus and Pisces arcs, where a Phantom doesn't side with the villains and either goes rogue, plays hero, or tries regaining his humanity.
- I like the end where Rink recalls Haruto's words about hope while he is riding away with Koyomi. A nice heroic image.
- Bike dueling next week! I hope they channel Go Badaa Ba or at least Wolf Undead.
A decent first episode, though I feel Rinko's story was rushed through. Does anyone know what next episode's Phantom is?
