WAKE UP!!

Kiva was a pretty great series, though I really do wish it didn't take until the Emperor Form arc to actually become as good as it was. It didn't even really have the 'new show' mystique to me that I get from others, well at least not the 2008 story, I couldn't find myself too interested in it and mostly stuck around for Otoya and the fact that I love the chained Kiva suit, easily my favorite Rider suit out there.

I do wish the Checkmate Four had been introduced sooner to actually have their characters explored a little better, they were such an interesting bunch and (minor nitpick) I really wanted them to have more interaction with each other. I loved these guys as an enemy hierarchy and liked seeing the various people trying to grab the title of King for themselves.

The time traveling doesn't bother me too much, I thought it would, and aside from the whole "taking 20 episodes to turn into a good show" thing, this was my only other major gripe, which didn't actually bother me a lot in the end.

Having the two stories interlacing was a really unique idea, one that I loved a lot and like others, I would totally watch a full show based on the story going on in 1986, it makes me wonder if Toei mandates that all shows have to take place in the present.

I loved Kamen Rider Kiva, but I wish Wataru don't use the Emperor Form too much.

ForeverRed said:

I loved Kamen Rider Kiva, but I wish Wataru don't use the Emperor Form too much.

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I'm sure the reasoning for that was because Emperor Form was Kiva's true form.

Kiva had some story flaws but all shows have that too.

It could have done better with some of it's plotline but most of which were settled unlike some shows they threw a lot of their potential down the drain.

It's a good series and I enjoyed it because I haven't really enjoyed a Kamen Rider series since Blade.

Forever Knight said:

Ok I won't like it because you said so.

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Dislike it because it defeats the whole point of the story.

Instead of wasting time with Wataru running after Otoya and Maya in the past, why not.... I don't know, pull off a final arc of past Kiva almost destroying the world and history repeating itself in the present. After all, that was the reason everyone fears Kiva, isn't it? But I guess I'm supposed to forget about that.

Forever Knight said:

I'm sure the reasoning for that was because Emperor Form was Kiva's true form.

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A poor excuse to just shaft the other three forms. (Dogabaki was as lame as they get, so I'll go along with Toei there and pretend that never happened either.)

A shame we never got to see Bashaa Fever. Was that particular form not popular or something? I think it got used less then Dogga did.

I just felt that at least half the cast needed to pull restraining orders against each other or something. There were WAAY too many "coincidental" run-ins, especially during the last half of the show.

Time traveling was Den-O's theme. And it was also done in Kabuto. It was rather redundant that they used that plot device in Kiva. It use to have that horror theme at the beginning too.

The special effects for finishers were meh. Especially the Fever attacks. It's like they were experimenting or something. And I mean what the heck is the first appearance of Emperor Moon Break supposed to be? That wasn't a Rider Kick. That stabbity thing ruined it.

Kiva more than sufficed for the failure that was Go-onger. Unlike some, the series drew me in pretty quickly. Sure it was flawed, but it was enjoyable and had likable characters. Sometimes I thought the dialogue was a little dumb, but that could have just been the result of poor subbing. Plus, it's a childrens show, so it's not like we're going to get Emmy worthy material, here. Unlike Go-onger, the humor was actually hilarious and at times unpredictable. I had my fair share of nitpicks with this series, but not enough to draw me away from it.

I did feel a lot of things were rushed, such as the arrival of Tatsulot/Emperor Form. The series also left me asking a few questions, such as the origins of the Fangire and Kivat races, as well as the million dollar question, "How did Yuri die?" When I had learned that Wataru would be traveling to '86, I had thought the series would be taking a turn for the worse. However, it didn't turn out half as bad as I had expected it to. Still, I would have preferred if the events had unfolded the way they were suppose to.

Overall, I was pretty satisfied with the series.

I enjoyed this show. Now let's not forget this is a kids show in Japan and is meant to entertain them. Now granted there are some adult stuff in these shows, but that is to keep the parents entertained too while they watch it with their kids. (And to sell toys and stuff). My daughter loves these kind of shows and I watch them with her. Granted I don't understand Japanese to much, but all I have to do is wait about a week (thanks to TV Nihon) and I can then understand why my daughter laughs or cries. Anyway I really enjoyed this show. The 2 questions I wanted answered were How did Yuri die? and Who is Megumi's father?