This review may contain spoilers
Ikou ze!
Kamen Rider Fourze is decent, harmless, and at times fun. In many, many Kamen Rider shows, the main character is influenced by those around them, wishing to protect others and cherish the bonds they've made and such - but it's funny to finally watch a character literally state they use the Power of Friendship to win. Gentarou's charisma leads to a fun main character and a fun Kamen Rider. It's a series that has its charming moments - there's some funny lines here and there and overall the series has a nice and light tone.
Unfortunately, I feel like the writing sort of stumbles. Many of the characters in this series don't really feel like they grow or change other than maybe one. While I praised the occasional comedic quip, a the comedic styling in Fourze is the part of Tokusatsu humor I dislike - characters making a big dumb stupid face and loud noises and looking at the camera. Two of the main characters in this series cannot go a scene without doing this. To be 100% honest there's many scenes in this series that are just straight up annoying. And if you've ever wanted to see villains explain literally nothing about their plans until the final like 4 episodes of the series and just sit on their throne going "hmmm yes everything is going according to plan" while in the meantime every one of their subordinates gets their ass handed to them by a high schooler, this will be the villain for you.
One thing I do have to praise, however, is the suit design. I think the suits in this series rule. Fourze's design combining a rocket ship and an astronaut is genius and really stylish, and Gentarou's personality shining through a Kamen Rider suit by the suit actor is very fun. The concept of switches is fun and leads to some unique uses of powers and abilities. Kamen Rider Meteor is a fun design - I'm tickled at the fact that they took the most joyless dude in the cast and gave him a form that's inspired by Disco. And the suit designs of the Zodiarts and the Horoscopes are really great, too, leading to some fun villain design.
Overall I feel like the series is fun and has some moments I'll recall fondly but is marred with some rather annoying recurring gags and has an ending that feels rushed.
Unfortunately, I feel like the writing sort of stumbles. Many of the characters in this series don't really feel like they grow or change other than maybe one. While I praised the occasional comedic quip, a the comedic styling in Fourze is the part of Tokusatsu humor I dislike - characters making a big dumb stupid face and loud noises and looking at the camera. Two of the main characters in this series cannot go a scene without doing this. To be 100% honest there's many scenes in this series that are just straight up annoying. And if you've ever wanted to see villains explain literally nothing about their plans until the final like 4 episodes of the series and just sit on their throne going "hmmm yes everything is going according to plan" while in the meantime every one of their subordinates gets their ass handed to them by a high schooler, this will be the villain for you.
One thing I do have to praise, however, is the suit design. I think the suits in this series rule. Fourze's design combining a rocket ship and an astronaut is genius and really stylish, and Gentarou's personality shining through a Kamen Rider suit by the suit actor is very fun. The concept of switches is fun and leads to some unique uses of powers and abilities. Kamen Rider Meteor is a fun design - I'm tickled at the fact that they took the most joyless dude in the cast and gave him a form that's inspired by Disco. And the suit designs of the Zodiarts and the Horoscopes are really great, too, leading to some fun villain design.
Overall I feel like the series is fun and has some moments I'll recall fondly but is marred with some rather annoying recurring gags and has an ending that feels rushed.
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