Kamen Rider Wizard EP 22 -"Phoenix Rampage"

[Black Fang]

Wizard 22:

- If Nitou can camp on a rooftop because he saved the building's owner... then why doesn't he just borrow a room? He wouldn't have to keep wandering that way.

- This rival thing doesn't work if they keep presenting it in this "comedic" way. Why even have a rivalry? In theory I can understand it but... how can anyone take it seriously from there when it's constantly sprinkled with cartoony nonsense?

- Another "effeminate" male as a high-ranking Rider villain? King of Spades in Blade as some street punk was weird enough. This... why? He actually looks like Aunt Hui from Armor Hero!

How is this intimidating? Even Kazari's form was better. We've really come a long way from the freakshow of the Grongis. I miss those guys.

- Why did Kizaki blow off Haruto only to call him back later? Why couldn't he have just said "I'll get back to you" or something?

- Bikes again!

- Somehow I feel Nitou could have been done with a "Burai touch"; anguish in boredom or impatience somewhere until he can find a Phantom, but not in this "Hey aren't I wacky?" way.

Actually I think this is a problem with current Rider as a whole. It keeps presenting material that can't really be developed well with the "tone it down for the kids/cheer them up because current events are too depressing" approach they're doing. Beast is a guy who has made a deal with the devil in essence, and yet even the flashback explaining this didn't have much foreboding or terror to it.

People have said early Heisei Rider could get too angsty for its own good, and while that may be true I think we're seeing the opposite now. It's not "angsty" enough.

- I like that Haruto goes from Flame straight to Water Dragon instead of Water first. It flows much better.

- I also like how this episode fades to black instead of pausing the video at the end. It looks like a video game cut scene after you lose a boss battle.

 

[bleachjoj]

Wizard 22:

- If Nitou can camp on a rooftop because he saved the building's owner... then why doesn't he just borrow a room? He wouldn't have to keep wandering that way.

He's broke

- This rival thing doesn't work if they keep presenting it in this "comedic" way. Why even have a rivalry? In theory I can understand it but... how can anyone take it seriously from there when it's constantly sprinkled with cartoony nonsense?

It's not supposed to be taken seriously because Haruto doesn't care about a rivalry. He just wants Phantoms killed.

 

[Loghorn]

I don't know why you want him to kill Haruto but I doubt Phoenix will be gone for good.

I'm sorry, but...

Link 1.
Link 2.
Link 3.
Link 4.

 

[bleachjoj]

I'm sorry, but...

Link 1.
Link 2.
Link 3.
Link 4.

Yeah I know that now. That's why after that I mentioned there is still a chance he comes back in Movie wars

 

[Black Fang]

He's broke

Well that goes back to the life-saving. Maybe give him a room rent free as thanks? It's just odd.

It's not supposed to be taken seriously because Haruto doesn't care about a rivalry. He just wants Phantoms killed.

Then why even bring it up? Even Nitou talks about it in such a silly way that I don't know how he, in story, expects to be taken seriously. He's just too silly in general for a guy with his kind of backstory. He doesn't have to sulk or be a jerk to everyone but.... at least act like something is weighing heavily on you. Maybe then the audience can care along with you.

 

[Hidden Masta]

I'm sorry, but...

Link 1.
Link 2.
Link 3.
Link 4.

Maybe it was his birthday! You don't know! *runs away crying*

 

[Toku Prime]

- If Nitou can camp on a rooftop because he saved the building's owner... then why doesn't he just borrow a room? He wouldn't have to keep wandering that way.

I think an even better question would be "how is he able to pinch a tent on a rooftop?" Is he just driving the spikes into solid concrete?

- This rival thing doesn't work if they keep presenting it in this "comedic" way. Why even have a rivalry? In theory I can understand it but... how can anyone take it seriously from there when it's constantly sprinkled with cartoony nonsense?

I'm taking it more as they are parodying the "secondary rider as rival" cliche.

- Another "effeminate" male as a high-ranking Rider villain? King of Spades in Blade as some street punk was weird enough. This... why? He actually looks like Aunt Hui from Armor Hero!

Are you really calling "too much" on something that according to you yourself they haven't done in nine years? In a show that repeats tropes as often as Kamen rider does? Wow. And I don't really see what marks him as "effeminate" exactly.

How is this intimidating? Even Kazari's form was better. We've really come a long way from the freakshow of the Grongis. I miss those guys.

Let's be honest though. we're never getting enemies like that again. Toei's disappointment with Go-Busters commerical performance means it will be many years before they consider trying a serious show again.

- Why did Kizaki blow off Haruto only to call him back later? Why couldn't he have just said "I'll get back to you" or something?

He'd dismissed it as a waste of his time initially. Then it occurred to him that Rinko was always after Phantoms, so something could have happened to her. Which is why he then followed it up.

It looks like they're still writing as if it's a single rider show at the moment. I have mixed feelings about that. On the one hand I like that they're not shoving the new guy in my face to sell toys when he doesn't have any reason to be there. On the other hand Beast isn't ever going to feel like a useful character if he has nothing to do.

 

[MattComix]

The real "rivalry" is between Beast and Shunpei because they're both vying for position of most obnoxious and idiotic character in the series. It's like having two JarJar's only one's got a henshin belt.

When they're in a scene together it's surprising any story gets done at all.

Beast is a prime example of why secondary Riders should not be a strict requirement. They don't want to make him too much of an ally because he just showed up but they can't go all out with the idea of him being in conflict with Wizard if for no other reason than it might feel too much like Accel or Meteor again.

But it's kind of amusing in at least one respect. Coming off of Agito early Heisei Rider used to bend itself over backwards to have more Rider vs. Rider shenanigans to the point where some characters would have growth and then their brains would fall out just to force another Rider vs. Rider fight.

This eventually lead to what we saw in W where the name of Kamen Rider was re-established as being a name with some meaning again and one for heroes of justice rather than just any yutz with a henshin belt. So clearly we're in an era where it's preferred for Riders to be heroes which is sure as hell fine by me but it makes idea of Beast even more awkward because they really can't run with it.

 

[NateRiver]

Maybe it was his birthday! You don't know! *runs away crying*

His birthday is more than a month away.

 

[Clocktower]

The real "rivalry" is between Beast and Shunpei because they're both vying for position of most obnoxious and idiotic character in the series. It's like having two JarJar's only one's got a henshin belt.

That seems overly harsh :laugh: I actually enjoy the friendly, pseudo-rival relationship they have going on ..but I do think they probably could have waited until later in the series to introduce him, when there maybe could have been more for him to do. Even at this point, now that we're done with that whole Pheonix stuff, would have made more sense. There could have been a new story arc set up for him, instead of him being totally pushed to the sidelines while the Phoenix-Wizard rivalry wraps up.

I guess he needs to show up in time for the second quarter toy sales though.