Ten years after the original release of the show, Danno takes a look back at Kamen Rider Gaim – a series fondly remembered and beloved by the fandom. Does it stand up after all this time?
Heyo everyone, I’m Danno. If you don’t know me, I actually tend to watch Rider with my friends in little binge watch parties, 90% of the time. A while ago, my friends and I finished our binge through Kamen Rider Gaim, a series beloved by most of the Kamen Rider Fanbase. How does it hold up 10 years later? Let’s discuss!
What’s Kamen Rider Gaim About?
Years ago, disaster struck Zawame City, leaving it in ruins. Though that’d be the case if it wasn’t for Yggdrasil, a corporation that stepped in to repair the city. Zawame City is now joyous, lively and full of Beat Riders – dancers with their own stages and fans. Though to secure their stages, they fight with Inves, creatures that come from their Lockseeds. Kouta Kazuraba (played by Gaku Sano) is a former Beat Rider who, from a series of twisted events, gets invested in the Beat Riders again as he gains the Sengoku Driver and becomes Armored Rider Gaim! That’s really about all I can say without going into deep spoiler territory. If this concept at all has you interested, even a tiny bit, I would highly recommend Gaim. With that note out of the way, I will be discussing spoilers from this point onwards. I’ve been as spoiler free as possible but tread at your own discretion.
First, let’s discuss the strongest part of Gaim.
The Writing
I don’t think I’ve watched a Rider season with deeper, more tragic themes than this one. Let me start by saying that a majority of the cast go from dancers to apocalyptic survivors, I wish I was joking, and it’s in the span of less than 50 episodes that they smoothly transition into the roles they have. Let’s go character by character for this. Starting with…
Kouta Kazuraba (played by Gaku Sano)
Kouta starts out as your average guy. He then becomes our lord and savior (that’s a vague enough spoiler, right?). Though seriously, what a f**king journey Kouta goes through. Gen Urobuchi, the writer of the show, is known as “The Butcher” for a reason. Kouta went THROUGH IT and I mean that in the best way possible. Kouta might very well be one of the best protagonists in Kamen Rider for how he handles the tragic events he goes through. Despite all the pain, he’s still a hero. Despite all the grief, he wants to save people and I don’t think there’s anything purer than that.
Kaito Kumon (played by Yutaka Kobayashi)
Easily one of the best secondaries (and my favourite) of all time. He is Vegeta. No, I will not elaborate. But in all seriousness, his story is so deep and rich. Barring the V-Cinema which adds a ton of context, Kaito starts at the top of the slide and slowly descends in a downward spiral in his quest for strength, ultimately boiling down into one of the best finales to a Kamen Rider season. Ever.
The reason these two work is ultimately simple: their relationship and dynamics with each other. Instead of the plot informing each of them, they ultimately change the current plots with their own character. Instead of Gaim becoming a season where these two could only fight against each other, it subverts rival tropes in a super clever way. In a way that I don’t want to spoil for those that haven’t watched.
How the Show Looks
Generally speaking, this show has all bangers when it comes to suits, with only a few exceptions. Let’s start with what we see (technically) the least of: the monsters! There’s not a ton of unique Inves designs this season but what we do have is very cool and detailed, in a way that strikes a fun contrast between the Inves and Riders. That also brings up how some Riders almost act as “Monsters of the Week” for some episodes.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s a direct distinction between Riders and Inves. I mean that from an almost story perspective, where some Riders will stand in for the monster of the week role, rather than a new unique Inves. Which isn’t really that much of an issue, and it almost reminds me of Ryuki in that right.
Back at the topic in hand, the base suits for every Rider are all so fun and unique. Yet the motif of fruit armour is all prominent and brings every Rider together. Which makes sense for the rules of the world and technology of it. Even the most basic of basic designs are cool for the roles they play in the story.
The Season, Overall
There is one flaw I have to mention and that’s how the show treats its female characters. The fact that I do indeed need to look up the names of the three major women in the season: girl from future, uuuuuuh…. Kouta’s sister, kinda? and …. Momotaros, but not really.
But other than that, it’s really good. I’d recommend it in a heartbeat, just not to anyone who’s never seen a season of Rider before. It is reliant on subverting and reversing a lot of established tropes from past seasons that need proper understanding to appreciate said subversions. But, once you’re pretty well versed, it becomes a truly enjoyable and mature season season.
How does Gaim sit with you in 2023? Is it as good now as it was back in the day? Share your thoughts in the comment section below or reach out on social media!
Hugely overated show, that dropped the ending badly, with typical Urobuchi tropes and clichés.
Knowing that the main writer is the one behind Puella Magika Madoka suddently destroyed any interest I had for this series, I must say.