Ryuki-Decade: Dork Age?

[Black Fang]

Let's start with this...
Ryuki started the overall "Dork-ness" of Kamen Rider for introducing a foreign concept (Highlander) in a very, very wrong time. The time when Kamen Rider fans were looking forward for a show that is as cool and awesome as Agito to follow it up but then... Ryuki became a stray dog to Kamen Rider in terms of how each and every Kamen Rider should live. Almost all of Kamen Rider Ryuki, if not for their charm were all selfish and weren't standing the name of "KAMEN RIDER" as opposed to that of the Showa to Agito (Even G4 from Agito who had a valid and understandable reason as to why he acted that way but still fought for justice). Good thing, Addness stepped up to the stage to adapt Ryuki into Dragon Knight and glorified the name of "KAMEN RIDER" by correcting Ryuki's straying by making sure that the "Highlanderness" of Ryuki is out of the way and with that... They gave it Showa feel, something that made the show novel. In other words, Dragon Knight made all of the Kamen Riders of Ryuki fight for justice instead of just dishing out the most punishment in order to gain a selfish personal wish.

I might agree that it might have been too soon to make a show like Ryuki so soon after bringing back Rider. But how could Ryuki not have a Showa feel when its premise is that of the Showa? A man is given a power he doesn't want, that makes him like the enemy, but uses it against the enemy that "created" him. Just because the show threw in cards, partner monsters, and a death match in an alternate dimension, that doesn't take away from the ultimate plotline. If there was a flaw in this premise it might be calling the "unheroic" Riders 'Riders' instead of something else. But to say Ryuki is a complete deviation from the "classic KR premise" makes no sense. Nor does saying Dragon Knight "redeemed" Ryuki and presented a Showa story. Sure, DK had Showa elements. But so did Ryuki before it, so your argument doesn't work. And not every DK Rider fought for noble goals. (Unless you consider Camo, the Oja-equivalent or Incisor noble characters.)

 

[Tokuboy]

I actually consider Kobayashi to be a good writer - provided she doesn't do lots of filler.

 

[Wing Saber]

While I still don't like the idea of Riders fighting each other for a wish, I do enjoy the fact that Ryuki tried something different, instead of what you see in the Showa series. Like the main problem was the Rider War, instead of the monsters.

While I like Dragon Knight, I felt that it came up short. Mostly having to tone it down. Since most of the stuff in Ryuki wouldn't be considered kid friendly.

 

[cybervash]

i like ryuki riders fighting each other for their lives and not for their wish,fight or you would be killed

 

[NeonZ]

But how could Ryuki not have a Showa feel when its premise is that of the Showa? A man is given a power he doesn't want, that makes him like the enemy, but uses it against the enemy that "created" him.

The basic premise doesn't really give a "Showa feel" to Ryuuki, especially when it's played out in a very indirect way. Shinji opposes Kanzaki more due to his way of acting than due to his powers, which turn out to be mostly useless against him.

Ryuki's basic premise also is similar to Battle Royale's, someone instigating a secret battle to the death between a few chosen humans for his own ends, with the monsters replacing the neck bombs. However, that's a series that plays out completely differently from any Kamen Rider, even Ryuuki itself.

I actually consider Kobayashi to be a good writer - provided she doesn't do lots of filler.

I agree... but the main problem is that filler is basically part of her writing style at this point. Even the new Casshern anime, which wasn't aimed at kids and had no restrictions due to merchandising, followed the same format of her recent Rider/Sentai works in regards to story development.

She seems to believe that real story development should only take place in the beginning and ending, with the middle of a show having a fairly stable set up that is never shaken up. It can work for some series, but not for everything.

 

[cybervash]

Ryuki's basic premise also is similar to Battle Royale's, someone instigating a secret battle to the death between a few chosen humans for his own ends, with the monsters replacing the neck bombs. However, that's a series that plays out completely differently from any Kamen Rider, even Ryuuki itself.

that thing is on Blade too,the undead battle fight,so why is ryuki being underated than blade?

 

[Tokuboy]

I think all she needs is a reminder that making your beginning and ending heavy with plot does not excuse making the middle continuous filler.

That style works well with short series, but with year-long stuff like Kamen Rider, it doesn't hold. Though to be fair Toei is impressed.

 

[NeonZ]

that thing is on Blade too,the undead battle fight,so why is ryuki being underated than blade?

Blade hardly played out that concept though. Undeads were teaming up or randomly attacking humans all the time. The Riders themselves were mostly uninvolved with it.

It was only for the DRAMA in the finale that the concept suddenly returned as this unavoidable destiny.

 

[Tokuboy]

The battle royale in Blade was among the Undead originally; the Riders only served to meddle in it.

Unlike Ryuki, where the battle royale was among people chosen by a person for his ends.

 

[cybervash]

but isn't it cool seeing peple fight and kill each other?other than good vs evil series? almost all tv series is good vs evil,aren't you guys tired of it?good always win?