It’s a blast from the past! To celebrate Kamen Rider W’s 15th anniversary, Nico documents her first time ever watching the show. Ride along to see her reactions to its first episode!
When I first got into Kamen Rider, I was captivated by the suit design, the all thrills action, and the characters behind those big bug eye masks. It’s been my comfort and passion for the last few years, as I’m sure it is for many of you reading this article right now.
Perhaps it may come as a surprise then, as a writer for a tokusatsu website, when I say that… I haven’t watched that many Kamen Rider shows. I’ve gotten myself firmly dug into the trenches of the lore and have successfully memorised every Henshin Belt sound effect (I can do a pretty mean Decadriver impression), but still haven’t actually seen the original 1971 series.
Starting a 50 episode show is quite daunting, yet with the cold and cosy nights of Autumn fast approaching, I thought there could be no better time than now to sit down with a hot cup of coco and get stuck into one of the franchise’s most beloved entries: Kamen Rider W.
I’m big into my mystery crime thrillers and, since the show turned 15 this year, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to watch what many consider as the defining spectacle of the Kamen Rider franchise.
I know my Gaia Memories, my Shotaros from my Philips and… that’s about it. I’m all set! Join me weekly for a first timer’s watchthrough of Kamen Rider W, from start to finish.
Episode 1: The W Search/Two Detectives In One
An Explosive Beginning
It’s as the saying goes: all good mysteries start with a murder, a twink in a hadron collider, and a Kamen Rider.
In all seriousness, wow – what an exciting way to start! It’s probably one of the most dramatic openings to a Kamen Rider show I’ve seen, but it ticks all the boxes you’d expect when watching a crime detective show, just exaggerated to fit into the superhero genre: drama, intrigue, and death.
Detective Shotaro and his chief (who I can only assume must be Kamen Rider Skull, only one person wears that stylish white fedora), have broken into a maximum security building to free a man named Philip from a giant machine.
Questions arise: what was that big machine containing Philip? Why was he even kept there? Shotaro, why are you dressed for a vacation instead of a high stakes theft?!
Shotaro’s chief is tragically killed during the escape by security guards, passing on his fedora to Shotaro, just as they’re attacked by a monster emerging from the ground.
While bullets riddle the walls they’re running past, Philip brandishes a suitcase full of Gaia Memories, ominously asking Sho if he has “the courage… to ride with the devil”. Chills, already.
As the monster charges up another energy attack, the security guards close in on their location, and a helicopter outside the building shines its spotlight on them… Shotaro and Philip each take one of the memory sticks, Shotaro screaming in a fit of vengeful distraught, and transform.
A torrential cyclone bursts off of them, shattering the windows, sending their attackers flying. The helicopter outside is caught up in the wind, losing control, and collides into the side of the building in a brilliant explosion.
The machine that once held Philip is brought down by the gale force winds, rupturing the entire building.
This is the image we’re left with, at only two minutes into the episode.
I’m immediately hooked: no wonder people absolutely love this show when it starts off like this! As previously mentioned, it perfectly sets up all the key details you need to get interested in a detective show, just all marvellously dialled up to an eleven to fit the excitement of Kamen Rider. I’m already invested in Shotaro’s loss, as well as captivated by the question behind who Philip is.
Also, W.B.X, the opening song of the show, is a certified banger – that’s been playing nonstop in my house since.
Half-Boiled Detectives
Following this, some time has passed and Shotaro is now a full time private investigator; his suit and fedora now emulating his old chief’s look, which I really like – I can already see the impact such a loss has had on Shotaro and how much he looks up to his old mentor.
Speaking of emulating the old chief, his daughter, Akiko, has arrived to claim the establishment and evict Shotaro. The real villain of the show: landlords!
She questions the name of their agency ‘Hard-Boiled Detectives’, mocking Sho that he’s only ‘half-boiled’ because he has such a soft edge to him. I already really enjoy her character, as she seems like a hands on, defiant type of person.
A client soon arrives, an old school friend of Sho, pleading for him to find her missing boyfriend, throwing us into the first case of the series.
What I really enjoyed about this episode most was the setting of W; Futo City. Most Kamen Rider shows typically don’t focus a lot on the places their story happens, but this is a unique case in that we have a completely fictional city for the characters to live in.
I really liked Shotaro’s statement: “Futo, the Windy City, all our joys and misfortunes… drift together in the wind”, and the abundance of garden spinners and windmills throughout the city is such a cute aesthetic.
Shotaro’s investigation leads him and Akiko to a building reduced to rubble, originally belonging to the fashion establishment Windscale. They snoop around a bit, before coming face to face with a monster made entirely of magma, a Dopant; super powered humans that use Gaia Memories to mutate themselves. Thanks to Shotaro’s grapple hook, the two narrowly avoid being roasted alive.
Superhero detective with an array of high tech gadgets? Sounds familiar…
Cuteness Overload
Meanwhile, the crime lord of the Dopants and his family are sitting down for dinner to discuss the marriage between his daughter and one of their most esteemed Gaia Memory dealers. It’s certainly setting up to be the equivalent of a criminal syndicate mass shipping out their harmful substances to the people of the city.
I also adore how this guy is so comically evil that he has a pet cat. How can I feel threatened when he’s got such a cutie in his arms?
Genius twink Philip is then properly introduced to Akiko, picking apart the clues of the case, eventually able to give them the answers they’re looking for after an all-nighter hyperfixating on takoyaki (big mood).
They even have a secret underground bunker. This can’t be accidental.
I… love Philip. Look at him. He’s adorable. His whole look? His smile? I’m obsessed.
He has access to the Gaia Library, a world of infinite knowledge, to which he can track down and discover the identity of the Magma Dopant… their client’s missing boyfriend.
The Gaia Library is such a fascinating take on a detective story and how the characters gain their information. Shotaro has to pick out specific ‘Keywords’ so Philip can narrow down the search, but this is only possible through Sho’s own capabilities as a detective. Shotaro gathers the clues, Philip cracks the code. I really like it!
Double Trouble
Once Shotaro finds the Magma Dopant again, we get the proper introduction of Kamen Rider W, and I love how unique it is. The concept of a two-in-one Rider is interesting enough, but it’s execution is even better.
I think it’s great that Philip controls one half and Sho controls the other, especially when each respective eye lights up when one of them is talking. The fact they both have to fight in perfect sync too is so fun.
Being the first Rider with a mix n’ match gimmick, I really enjoyed watching the utility of switching out the different halves for new abilities, thanks to the Gaia Memories. Yellow and black suits Double really well, even if stretching your limbs isn’t exactly what comes to mind when I hear the word Luna.
Also, splitting apart their body when performing a Rider Kick? So cool!
Marina’s missing boyfriend is laying defeated on the floor, Sho and Philip ready to bring him into the authorities… only to be interrupted by a dinosaur, jumping out from the ground, and eating their suspect. This happened to Sherlock too, I’m sure.
As Akiko desperately tries to wake an unconscious Philip, the detectives’ secret bunker transforms… into a giant car?! Perhaps what was most shocking about starting W was finding out they have a massive six wheeler!
Seriously though, they even have their own Batmobile. I can’t be the only one who sees the similarities!
As the Revolgarry zooms off to help Shotaro, the episode comes to a dramatic close, and I’m left thoroughly on the edge of my seat.
Closing Thoughts
I have questions, I have theories; I gasped, and I cheered. Such a wonderful start to a TV show. Aside from it being my favourite first episode of a Kamen Rider series, this is probably up there with some of my most beloved openings to a thriller mystery.
I love how easily the big secrets of the show have been set up, giving just enough clues to keep you guessing so you know you’ll be coming back for episode 2. I think it’s such an effective formula to bring to Kamen Rider and I’m surprised it’s only been used here and for Kamen Rider Drive. I’m eager to continue and to see how the characters’ journeys unfold in the wind city of Futo.
Thank you for joining me on this first part of my Kamen Rider W watchthrough! Join me every Friday as I give my thoughts and reactions to a number of episodes each week. Stay tuned!
Are you keen to rewatch or start Kamen Rider W? What made you fall in love with the show? Let me know in the comments below!
