I feel like I have to add a positive review since this show always gets so much flak from the English-speaking adult audience (despite its popularity in Japan).
Is Wizard the best-written season? Well, it definitely has some inconsistencies and a few frustrating elements. The side characters are a bit thin on development, and Shunpei in particular can often be very annoying, not helped by the fact that the constant switching of writers seems to occasionally result in an episode that seems to revert any character development that has happened. I read that the head writer on this show struggled with the deadlines and a guest writer ended up writing almost half the show, and that context does explain some of the weird inconsistencies. (That guest writer is now the head writer for Gavv, which makes me excited for Gavv.) The other major issue with the show is the beginning and end; in my opinion the slowest and least plot-related filler sections are the bookends, which can leave people with a bad first/last impression.
That all said, I really liked this show. Once we got to episode 17 when Nitou shows up, things really start picking up. My theory is that Haruto is not a bad main character, just a relatively less active one than other riders, and he really needed someone to play off of. Once Nitou was introduced and took that role, the show's pacing really worked for me. Nitou is also an amazing character, a great foil for Haruto but also just really fun.
If you watch Kamen Rider because you like wholesome fun, cool fights, and the genuine but kooky vibe of a low budget action series for kids, there is nothing inherently terrible about this show and I recommend giving it a try to see if it works for you. If you're looking for a tightly paced HBO/Netflix-style series, or a highly shippable saga focused on the relationship of two of the main characters, or a hero who will fulfill your Gary Stu fantasies of being a shounen hero and getting all the girls, Wizard will probably not be as enjoyable for you as other Kamen Riders.
Is Wizard the best-written season? Well, it definitely has some inconsistencies and a few frustrating elements. The side characters are a bit thin on development, and Shunpei in particular can often be very annoying, not helped by the fact that the constant switching of writers seems to occasionally result in an episode that seems to revert any character development that has happened. I read that the head writer on this show struggled with the deadlines and a guest writer ended up writing almost half the show, and that context does explain some of the weird inconsistencies. (That guest writer is now the head writer for Gavv, which makes me excited for Gavv.) The other major issue with the show is the beginning and end; in my opinion the slowest and least plot-related filler sections are the bookends, which can leave people with a bad first/last impression.
That all said, I really liked this show. Once we got to episode 17 when Nitou shows up, things really start picking up. My theory is that Haruto is not a bad main character, just a relatively less active one than other riders, and he really needed someone to play off of. Once Nitou was introduced and took that role, the show's pacing really worked for me. Nitou is also an amazing character, a great foil for Haruto but also just really fun.
If you watch Kamen Rider because you like wholesome fun, cool fights, and the genuine but kooky vibe of a low budget action series for kids, there is nothing inherently terrible about this show and I recommend giving it a try to see if it works for you. If you're looking for a tightly paced HBO/Netflix-style series, or a highly shippable saga focused on the relationship of two of the main characters, or a hero who will fulfill your Gary Stu fantasies of being a shounen hero and getting all the girls, Wizard will probably not be as enjoyable for you as other Kamen Riders.
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