#yes I admit it I found Kuroto entertaining

[firebirdsdaughter]

For the ask game, what would want to do with the three CEO riders: Kuroto, Masamune, and Gai?

Oh, ouch.

Get randomly assigned as your lab partner for a whole semesterHonestly, Kuroto, bc I secretly find him entertaining. Though… Maybe only if Kiriya was one half of the lab partnership next to us… ^^

Get trapped with on a broken elevator for ten hoursI’m… Gonna go w/ Gai. Possibly the only amount of time I could stand the man… Or, alternatively, it’s somewhere he couldn’t run away when I murdered him.

Get as my employee trainer for my new job at McDonaldsThat… Leaves me w/ Masamune. … Do they have a walk-in freezer at MacDonalds? Could I lock him in there? Push him off the jungle gym, maybe?

[firebirdsdaughter]

So, Ex-Aid is over...

... It was, a real wild time. Not so sure how I feel about the ending. Here are my thoughts, in no particular order:

(spoilers below)

It all felt rather... Anticlimactic, to be honest. Like, we finished the whole final fight in the same area where we ended the last ep.

And the other three doctors being protective of Emu (shut up I have friendship goggles on 24/7 okay?!) was sweet, but I wanted more. Then again, I always want more friendship.

I was disappointed that Poppy’s return was a little nonchalant, but at least she’s back? Still doesn’t make up for what they put her through.

Taiga missing Nico was cute. I love them together no matter what anyone considers their relationship to be.

Why the hell did Kuroto take so long to Continue at the end? What, was he hanging around in Game Limbo for the perfect dramatic moment? ... I think I just answered my own question.

I don’t think I agree w/ bringing Parad back. Like, okay, I know he’s got a huge fanbase, and normally, I’m a big softy who doesn’t like people dying, but... I guess Parad, especially in the latter half of the show, just pushed too many of my buttons. He was physically violent with Poppy several times and has never apologised for it (nor has it been mentioned!), and I didn’t really feel like proper attention was given to his misdeeds when he started helping CR (and please don’t get me started on that image for the V-Cinema; Poppy A) deserves better, B) why are they standing like that? The people who designed it cannot be clueless as to the implications of that posing!). So, basically, I wold have found it more closing if he stayed dead. Or, if we’re bringing him back, what about the other Bugsters? Graphite, or, I mean, Burgermon? Who wouldn’t wanna see Burgermon again?

Speaking of me going against my usual and saying people should stay dead; Saki. Let the poor woman rest, okay? At the very least, I like that they made it clear Hiiro had accepted her death and moved on--so why can’t they just admit she’s dead? One of the things that Ex-Aid did good was that at least some of Hiiro’s arc was about coming to deal w/ the grief and guilt of losing a loved one and not letting it consume and blind you. Even though it’s unusual circumstances, I’d prefer that that be the message. Yes, Hiiro had a rough time and did some stupid things, but now he’s got support, and he’s moving forward rather than clinging to the past. So let Saki rest. I’ll admit, I liked her more than I thought I was going to, but I find myself content w/ her part in the story being over (unlike say, Nico and Poppy, who were living characters on the show). This is one of the problems w/ Ex-Aid’s writing; it’s a little noncommittal. Masamune erased Saki’s data, so she really should be gone--sure that sucks, but I think it’s healthier for Hiiro and just everyone involved to accept that and move one rather than having the possibility of resurrecting her again. The show should be able to make a decision about that and stick w/ it.

On a lighter note, it’s nice to know Kuroto is never gonna change; so long as they keep him in a box or Poppy’s Bugvisor, he shouldn’t cause too much trouble. And he gets to obnoxious and she’s busy, they can always call Kiriya, who is just plain really good at shutting him down. But speaking of Kuroto? I’ve noticed that attacks that just seem to deHenshin the other Riders always seem to kill him... Maybe that’s a trade off he made for the many lives? He’s not as durable?

So, all in all, I liked Ex-Aid. I think it suffered from, well, any number of things, but one of the roots was something I’ve noticed (from my view) in a couple KR seasons--it wanted to be edgy. Now, I have no issues with edge in theory; I like edge just fine. But I think Ex-Aid went about it rather badly, something I also felt about Gaim. Now, in my opinion, Ex-Aid didn’t fuck it up in that regard quite as bad as Gaim did, but it came close. The noncommittal writing was a little awkward and confusing, and I wasn’t always clear on what was happening--of course, that may have just been because I am daft. I also know a lot of people were happy that there were two women transforming; and, honestly, that started out okay, but they quickly dropped the ball. Somewhere around the halfway mark, treatment of Poppy became quite vile--she was hit, choked, reprogrammed, hit some more... It was never addressed, or mentioned. Nico fared a little better; there was less outright physical violence against her, but the show repetitively pushed her into a victim role where she had no place being. I think there was a brief spark of ‘Oh, we should let the girls transform’ in someone’s mind, but further than that they a) didn’t care and b) ... Really wanted to beat up Poppy? Uh... Sorry. No even semi acceptable reasons for that. That was bullshit and I’m calling it.

Okay, now it sounds like I didn’t like the show, but I really did, I swear. Despite it’s issues, much of it was fun and enjoyable--the actors did an excellent job; it’s not their fault the writing was inconsistent and sometimes just plain awful. They ere working with what they had. Some of the messages were also really good. It did try to get a little too complex nearer to the end, but on the bright side, did not go down to the point of no return like Gaim. I felt like aspects of the ending were a little lack lustre, but nothing is ever perfect. It had a lot of stuff I liked in it. It’s not my favourite of all time, but OOO has a very tight grip on that throne, despite having heavy competition from W and Fourze.

I’m looking forward to Build, which will maybe able to handle some things--like, say, how to treat women--better than Ex-Aid did, but I am more than a little sorry to see Ex-Aid go. I don’t agree with everything it did, but it gave me good entertainment, and for that, I’m grateful.

Au revoir, Ex-Aid. I’ll be watching at least some of your upcoming V-Cinemas, pf that I’m sure. And probably write more fanfic about you. If I can organise my brain, which will be difficult.

(NOTE: Please remember, this all from my personal point of view; my opinion, a critique based on my knowledge and experience. You are not expected to share it, agree with it, or like it. I do personally ask that, even if you think I’m the stupidest, most misguided person you ever didn’t meet, don’t comment just to insult me. The world is so awash with negativity, rn, and I don’t think we should be adding to it; and frankly, I just can’t handle it on the internet when I’m already seeing so much in the outside world. [for context, I live in the United States; it’s not pretty here rn]

If you think I sound negative here, I’m sorry, I don’t mean to. I realise there’s a lot of complaining, and that’s an unfortunate habit of mine, yes. But I’m thinking about stuff so much because I really did like the show and was disappointed and upset when it did things like that. I am not an authority on the show, nor do I know what the writers intended, or what the plan is for further instalments. This is my view, based on what I saw and interpreted. I think what I think, and you’re free to think what you think. There are no contradictions here. <3 )