Kamen Rider Kiva - Eps 1-15

[katharos]

You know, I have just watched fifteen episodes of Kamen Rider Kiva in two days. I think I have been tokusatsu.

Scattered random thoughts. Expect no sense.

• Gratuitous chains!
• Gradtuitous bath scenes!
• Doggie!
• Flying dinosaur headed-building thing!
• Wataru is so under-socialised and wide-eyed and innocent and squishable. *squishes* Yeah, I think he's the main reason I'm main-lining watcing this series. Apart from the recent tokusatsu deprivation. He is just so very socially incompetent but so utterly sweet - when he did his scurry and panicked chuntering routine while in Kiva form during tha first fight with Tagona.
• Wataru really is the only character grabbing me by the throat. Nago pings me occasionally but he is a jerk-ass, and his chracter isn't getting enough screen time to develop the jerkiness into something more interesting/complex I can latch on to. Same with his relationship with Wataru. Wataru's hero-worship is so cute and doomed - I sympathise with Megumi's 'get the puppy away from the bastard' reaction so much -except I am also wanting to see the puppy get shoved at the bastard more. The scene where Nago treated the wound he had caused - guh. But, you know. Mostly moments. I'm not invested in their relationship as a whole - although I'd like to be. I suppose part of it is that Wataru is - very healthily - forming lots of bonds with lots of different people. He's not completely invested in Nago. Which is, y'know, good - except their relationship isn't as intense as it could be. I'm rambling.
• In 1986 the favourite is Wataru-papa. Which is odd, cause that character type has really grated on me in the past. But he's just so relentless and cheerful and insane and relentless - gets beaten to a pulp and still keeps going! And is miraculously healed in the next scene. It's also that he, at least so far, doesn't seem to know the meaning of the word angst. Angst rolls of him like water off a duck. And that's very refreshing in this series. *grin*
• I really liked Yuri to begin with, but her character now seems to have become very one note. I hate Fangire! Otoya annoys me! MY IXA. Her storyline and character development have got sidelined in favour of Jiro and Otoya. Maybe it will come back?
• (Fingers crossing at least one of the women gets to use a rider system by the end. Please please please. Of, course, I am prepared for disapointment. I remember my joy on watching the opening to Gundam 00 - they have a FEMALE Gundam Pilot! Only to have 'her' open her mouth and - no, it's just an even more female-looking boy than ever. sigh.)
• Do those in 1986 EVER actually manage to kill a Fangire?
• My hopes for the next 15 episodes: Wataru to develop a relationship with another character that is intense, gripping and conflicted, and which makes me bite my nails with glee. (I'm not looking for another Kagami/Tendo here, y'know, but something approaching them would be nice.)