Kamen Rider Wizard EP 23 -"The Decisive Battle"

[Dr Kain]

This was hands down the best episode of the series thus far. In fact, this episode just made Wizard one of the greatest riders ever. What Wizard did makes me think of what the Doctor did to the Blood Family back in Season 3. It was awesome. I hope we see more of this side of Haruto in the coming months.

 

[Rider Kick]

Eventually yes, he'll be able to survive the heat of the sun, but everyone seems to be forgetting one small fact. The massive gravity the Sun generates is probably gonna keep him there.

 

[Hidden Masta]

Eventually yes, he'll be able to survive the heat of the sun, but everyone seems to be forgetting one small fact. The massive gravity the Sun generates is probably gonna keep him there.

But what if by then he's stronger than the gravity and can just leave the sun and then destroy the earth!!

 

[FieryRed]

I have to say, although I haven't seen too many Kamen Rider series, this could be the best episode I've ever seen. The writing, the acting, the build-up, all were pitch-perfect. And it won't have been possible without the amazing rivalry between Phoenix (who just might be my favorite Rider villain of all time) and Wizard, and the stakes that were raised should Haruto was defeated. The final fight where each fighter releashed his most powerful attacks were a sight to behold. It's an episode that I will probably rewatch more than a few times.

As great as this episide is, the only downtime is the fate of Phoenix; I don't want such a great villain to have been destroyed so early in the series. Without his presence, I think the series as a whole might suffer a bit. However, I have a feeling that Phoenix won't be stuck on the sun forever, and he will return before the end of the series.

Since we're at the halfway mark of the series, I think it is safe to make an assessment of this series. I must admit, I had mocked the Wizard driver when it was revealed, and joked at it more than once. But as a huge fan of Kamen Rider W and believed that it remains the best Kamen Rider series ever, Wizard has now positioned itself as the series that may dethrone W as the greatest Rider ever. Haruto is now my favorite Rider, with his mixture of heroics and pathos that made him into a compelling and complex character, and his colorful cast of supporting characters have really helped elevated this series to be more than just an ordinary toku show. Even Shunpei has managed to make himself worthwhile to watch and not just a weak slapstick character, which seemed rather impossible when his character was just introduced. Oh, and the chemistry between Wizard and Beast ranks up there with the best one-two punch in the franchise, as well.

I know that I may just save up enough money to buy a Wizard Figuart or two, because this is a series that is worth spending money on. Kudos to Toei for making a series that I can look forward to every single week.

 

[Lynxara]

Why does everyone think that Phoenix is coming back? Yugo's actor was given the typical flowers and, that's usually a "Character is gone now"-sort of thing.

I think this speaks volumes about how ineffective the story was at writing out Phoenix. What should have been Wizard's climactic victory over Phoenix instead came off as another stalling tactic. So even in the face of mountains of evidence that, no, really, Phoenix is gone, people still expect him to come back. Wizard's climactic defeat of the character simply didn't feel climactic.

 

[bleachjoj]

I think this speaks volumes about how ineffective the story was at writing out Phoenix. What should have been Wizard's climactic victory over Phoenix instead came off as another stalling tactic. So even in the face of mountains of evidence that, no, really, Phoenix is gone, people still expect him to come back. Wizard's climactic defeat of the character simply didn't feel climactic.

Unless Phoenix gets stronger than gravity and flys back to Earth in open space with no oxygen then I have to say that's pretty climatic. I take it as people really liking Phoenix.

 

[NateRiver]

I can't wait until Super Hero Taisen Z Kai where Phoenix comes back as a giant sun sized monster of doom and destruction to murder everyone on the planet.

 

[KingRanger]

I think this speaks volumes about how ineffective the story was at writing out Phoenix. What should have been Wizard's climactic victory over Phoenix instead came off as another stalling tactic. So even in the face of mountains of evidence that, no, really, Phoenix is gone, people still expect him to come back. Wizard's climactic defeat of the character simply didn't feel climactic.

I don't think what you are saying has anything to do with Wizards story or writing. This fandom expects people to come back all the time in these shows even if they are dead dead dead.

 

[Hell Kaiser Andy]

Wasn't Sonoda also expected to come back for a while?

 

[Hidden Masta]

Unless Phoenix gets stronger than gravity and fly back to Earth in open space with no oxygen then I have to say that's pretty climatic. I take as people really liking Phoenix.

If oxygen was a problem then he would of been dead by the time he made it to the moon. lol