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Godzillawolf


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Nov
12th
2016

Kamen Rider Ex-Aid Episode 4 Live Reaction · 5:15pm Nov 12th, 2016

Kamen Rider Ex-Aid Episode 4 –An Operation Called Dash! Live Reaction!

I've talked about the intro SONG, but I think now I'll comment on the visuals: it definitely fits the video game digital theme the series is going for. I like it. Just the theme itself will take time to grow on me.

The episode begins with a young woman giving her big brother, a doctor, a launch...while Graphite watches.

Also, I do wonder something: assuming Pallad is a Bugster too, what DOES happen when a Bugster finishes infecting their host other than just 'we're here for good' now?

We also find out that Emu is still upset over losing his Transformation Trinket when Kujo Kiriya, our mysterious man from the previous episode. While Emu is of course a pediatrician, it turns out the man from the opening is named Nishiwaki and is one of Kujo's colleges, who is infected with the Bugster virus.

Kujo is aware that Emu is M and lost his Gashat, and offers to steal it back for him.

Our mystery man who sold Taiga the Bang Bang Shooting Gashat has visited to the CR and informs them he had no idea Taiga would go 'Gotta Collect Them All'. And we also learn that they CAN'T just give Emu a replacement or GIVE someone all the Gashats: the Mighty Action X game released to the public now by the Genmu Corporation are just normal games. The Gashats are all one of a kind.

It's explained that Zero Day happened because the ten games in development at the time all bugged out at once, creating the Bugsters. They then fixed four of those games and made Gashats from them and are now in the process of making four more new ones.

I like that they actually EXPLAINED why they can't just make an army of Gamer Riders.

Before we can learn me, Emu calls in to explain what happens while Kujo confronts Taiga in his abandoned hospital lair.

Nishiwaki is indeed infected, but comments he doesn't care what happens to him. Before we can learn more, Hiiro and Asuna show up to deal with the situation...and we learn Kujo is a doctor specializing in deducing the cause of death. In other words, a medical examiner. We also found out that three years ago he discovered the events of Zero Day and blackmailed our mystery man, the President of Genmu, and made a deal to get his Gamer Driver.

See, this is ANOTHER reason the masquerade isn't always a good idea: it makes you vulnerable to blackmail if someone you can't shut up DOES find out.

Kujo and Taiga show up with Kujo revealing someone he cared about died on Zero Day and he's challenged Taiga. Naturally Emu wonders why, if he's a Rider, Kujo didn't just help his friend himself, but Asuna explains its complicated.

Unfortunately, this situation makes Nishiwaki's stress peak and his Bugster, a gigantic wheel, emerges and Kujo bets that if he wins, he gets back Mighty Action X for Emu, putting his own on the line.

Kujo's Gashat is called Bakusou Bike and scatters trophies over the battlefield as his power ups. Emu is aware of the game, and explains it's a racing game with zero rules where one can do whatever they want.

So I'm guessing Twisted Metal?

Kujo's rider form is armed with a pair of motocycle tires that seem to be weapons...and he's FAST. He also gets a power up called 'Provoke', which draws the enemies attention, allowing him to lure the Bugster away from Snipe where he can quickly finish it off and separate it from his host...but is too fast to stop at that point.

As one would expect, the monster of the week is from a racing game and has a motorcyle. Snipe transforms into Level 2 and Brave jumps in...and attacks Snipe. Oh, right, those two hate each other.

Kujo decides to take advantage of the situation by just SWIPING Mighty Action X from Snipe's belt and throwing it back to Emu. Kujo then turns into his Level 2 form...which makes it apparent what the 'complicated' part was: Kamen Rider Laser's Level 2 form is a MOTORCYCLE. He needs a partner to actually use his full power.

Which soon becomes apparent when he tries to chase the Bugster while Emu tends to Nishiwaki...and can't reach his top speed on his own, resulting in the Bugster escaping.

I wonder if he was given this Gashat because he blackmailed them.

Meanwhile, Snipe and Brave's fight continues...but is int erupted when Genmu arrives riding a BMX bike, apparently using a Gashat called Shakariki Sports. Yes, a BMX Bike, not a motorcycle.

It doesn't stop him from beating up Brave and Snipe and nearly wiping out their heath bars with his Critical Finish before leaving.

Taiga remarks he didn't know there were FIVE Riders, which makes sense given only four of the Gashats were complete.

That is a good question. Of course it seems Genmu is using a version of Ex-Aid's, but Mighty Action X, Taddle Quest, Bang Bang Shooting, Bakusou Bike, and Shakariki Sports would make FIVE.

Back at CR, Emu tries to figure out the cause of Nishiwaki's stress that's spreading the virus...and we learn that Graphite kidnapped his sister Riko...Yeah, that'd DEFINITELY cause a lot of stress.

Emu goes into Let's Get Dangerous mode and prepares to head out, running into Kujo...and pointing something out: the monster is from a racing game. So naturally it and Riko would be at the 'finish line'. After all, the Bugsters can't HELP but act as their game dictates.

Kujo transforms into Laser and use Stage Select to pick 'a racing map'...which, as Emu guessed, results in Riko being pulled in. I like how the Bugsters have RULES. They might be in the real world, but they're still living game characters. This also brings the Bugster out and the race begins with Emu transforming into Ex-Aid and heading to Level 2.

I love it when Kamen Rider REMEMBERS the motorcycles! A bike vs bike battle is just plain awesome!

Also, if you're wondering where the mooks are...one of them turned into the Bugster's bike. I just now noticed that. Another is the flag holder at the end.

But yeah, the two race and fight it out at the same time.

Of course, given the game is a 'racing game with no rules', Ex-Aid is perfectly happy to pull out the Gashocon Breaker and blow up the monster's bike. He and Laser collect a Jump power up and catch the guy in mid air to knock him down before Laser uses his Bakusou Critical Strike, which involves turning his exhaust into a Wave Motion Gun that defeats the Bugster and they catch Riko.

However...we then get Mood Whiplash when Kujo knocks Ex-Aid off, telling him 'I'm done with you' and rushes over to the critically wounded but still living Bugster. I'm assuming MORTALLY wounded, given the game was 'cleared' and Nishiwaki was cured. Kujo calls the wounded Bugster a 'sample'...and revealed he's spent the whole time lying through his teeth to get a sample. Yeah, that 'friend' he had that died'? Never existed. He just wants to find out what the Bugster virus is.

...I'm now divided on whether I want to see him or Snipe get what's coming to them more.

Of course this was ALSO kinda short sighted on his part: after all, his Laser Level 2 form is borderline worthless without a partner.

Genmu, however, arrives to rain on Kujo's parade by arriving and finishing off the Bugster. He then uses Shakariki Sports again and puts it in the SECOND slot of his Driver, causing him to level up AGAIN to Level 3, causing his BMX bike to merge into armor for him, which looks pretty cool!

Okay, so Level 1 is the chibi form, Level 2 is their normal Rider form, and Level 3 is a power up on top of their Level 2.

He then throws one of his tires at them with his Shakariki Critical Strike and puts both their health bars down to low before departing again.

Over all, this was a fun episode and a nice introduction to Laser, that said, it IS kinda weird that only two of the Riders are actually benevolent people. Hiiro is the normal Second Rider, while the others are selfish.

Regardless, good episode!

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