Recap: Kamen Rider Revice, Episode 5 – The World Reforming Rider! Who is the Traitor!?

An upset Hiromi sits in the dark reading a letter demoting him from commander to squad leader. At 2am, he enters the Central Intelligence Depot and takes a Vistamp from a room full of them. He meets with a blonde-haired young man and gives it to him.

Next morning, Hiromi runs into Daiji in the bathroom as they get ready for the day and an urgent meeting with Commander Wakabayashi. Hiromi sees Daiji yawn and tells him to stay sharp, especially when they are on the frontlines against the Deadmans. Daiji says he hasn’t been sleeping well lately and Hiromi suggests taking some sleeping pills.

Daiji asks if he has been having trouble sleeping as well. Hiromi admits his demotion has been weighing on him, but he vows to move up the ranks once again.

Over at Happy Spa, Papa Igarashi is livestreaming on YouTube to help promote the bathhouse. He invites everyone to come and bring any Deadmans sightings as well as their own worries and troubles. And his son Ikki will take care of it all for them. Plus, everyone should enjoy a good soak while visiting.

The livestream is successful and the bathhouse has a long line out the door. But all of the visitors merely want some advice from Ikki. From what to gift their favorite idol to whether their manicure is pretty.

Sakura ushers everyone out when it’s closing time. An exhausted Ikki lays on the bench and Vice pops out to say he should become a YouTuber also. Maybe a mukbang channel where he eats humans.

Over at Fenix, George excitedly talks about almost completing his collection of ten favorite Vistamps. But the Kong and Lion Vistamps were stolen last night and the entry logs were erased. Because no one could possibly have snuck onto the flying battleship, that means it was an inside job.

Everyone suspiciously looks at each other, though George focuses his gaze on a specific person.

Back at the bathhouse, a grandfather comes in and shows Ikki and Sakura the YouTube livestream of his grandson Bon. His channel aims to try and bring positive change in the world. And today, he is at a black company hoping to get justice and bring comfort for the poor employees.

As he makes his way into the building, he uses the Lion Vistamp and releases the Lion Deadman. Both Fenix forces and Ikki spring to action.

Aguilera looks at Olteca and Julio and asks which of them gave a Vistamp to such a lousy guy. Both deny it was them.

Bon continues to make his way through the building and his livestream goes viral, with viewers expressing their support and subscribing. Bon and the Lion Deadman find the company’s president and pressure him to get on his knees and bow in apology to his employees.

Just then, Ikki and Vice arrive and henshin. Vice immediately takes on the Deadman while Ikki confronts Bon. He asks Bon how doing this will change the world, as he says. Bon insists he is serving justice on the people’s behalf. But Ikki says this only makes Bon’s grandfather sad.

Bon’s grandfather arrives, calling for Masao. This gives Bon pause. Ikki advises him to think about the happiness of his loved ones first before trying to change the world.

Bon asks who will seek justice then if not him. Ikki says he will. He did become a Kamen Rider for a reason.

Ikki joins Vice and together they finish off the Lion Deadman just as Hiromi and Daiji arrive.

Bon falls to his knees as Hiromi confiscates the Lion Vistamp. Before Bon is hauled away to Fenix Rehab, Ikki says these videos aren’t bringing healing to people. They are only a way for people to kill time.

Bon’s grandfather calls for Masao. Bon apologizes to him. But grandpa says he’s just here to deliver some manjuu. Bon thanks him.

Ikki approaches the company’s president and advises him to also think about why all this happened in the first place.

Over at Deadmans HQ, the three are still wondering who it was that gave Bon the Vistamp. But Olteca brings up how Revice has become quite a nuisance to them. He suggests they deal with Revice by going for his Achilles heel. Olteca tries to touch Gifu, but Aguilera grabs his arm before he does.

While at the hospital with her mother, Sakura watches Bon’s broadcast. She tells Mama Igarashi that she has felt kind of lost lately. She says she understands Bon’s intentions. But Mama Igarashi says it doesn’t matter how good your intentions are if you take it too far.

Sakura asks what “righteousness” means anyway. Mama Igarashi tells her to come closer and says not to worry about the complicated stuff. Sakura has always been a bit overstrung and she should take it easy sometimes.

George welcomes his precious Vistamp back. Hiromi wonders who could have taken the Vistamp in the first place. But Daiji has an idea on how to find the other missing Kong Vistamp.

Daiji suggests they use Bon Masao as bait to draw out the traitor in their ranks. They can frame his help as making up for the trouble he caused. Despite Hiromi expressing his hesitance with the plan, Commander Wakabayashi tells them to make it happen.

Before they leave, they watch George practicing how he would break the traitor’s neck.

Hiromi and Daiji bring Bon over to the bathhouse to ask Ikki (and Papa Igarashi) for help with the plan. They have to squeeze into a side room while Sakura cleans the lobby and closes up for the day.

Ikki is surprised that it wasn’t a Deadmans that gave Bon the Vistamp. Hiromi explains that Bon will make a retirement video showing him destroying the Vistamp. That will hopefully draw out the real culprit. But Ikki does not agree with making Masao the bait. Masao asks to allow him to help as he wants to change for the better for his grandfather. Hiromi says Masao helping could earn him an exemption from the rehab program.

Ikki turns to Daiji and asks if this is really okay. Daiji says they have no other choice.

George sneaks in behind Daiji and Daiji pulls his gun at him. Hiromi screams at Daiji. Ikki says Daiji is way on edge. Daiji says Ikki is way too lax.

Sakura comes in to tell them the lobby is clear for them all to move to and continue their discussion.

Before he goes in for a soak in the baths, George gives Ikki the Lion Vistamp to use.

Ikki finally agrees, but asks to be positioned closest to Masao during the operation. He will jump in if Masao is in danger. Daiji scoffs that Ikki is trying to hog the spotlight again. Ikki asks what’s Daiji’s problem and Daiji says just to keep his “righteousness” in check. Papa Igarashi thought the two of them had already made up.

Sakura sits and listens to the conversation.

Hiromi glares at the Lion Vistamp in Ikki’s hand.

George watches curiously from the baths as Daiji gets broody at the nearby sink.

Next day, Bon Masao begins his final broadcast and apologizes for all the trouble he’s caused. To atone for his mistakes, he will smash the Vistamp at noon. Fenix is positioned all around the abandoned warehouse with Ikki inside, closest to Masao.

Out of nowhere, Hiromi suddenly turns and points his gun at his Fenix comrades.

Just before Masao smashes the Vistamp at noon, Olteca and Julio arrive. Olteca picks the Vistamp up off the floor. Ikki emerges and says they are free to take it. Olteca looks at the bottom and sees it is a specially-made Karizaki fake.

Olteca and Julio henshin and summon some Juniors. Ikki and Vice also henshin and the battle begins. After easily wiping out the Juniors, Ikki takes on Julio while Vice faces off against Olteca.

The Deadmans are a bit too powerful for them so Ikki decides to use the Lion Vistamp for the first time. That gives them the extra power they need to gain the upper hand. Vice suggests they combine. And after a neko detour, they buddy up into a lion form that is able to ravage Olteca.

But before they turn their attention to Julio, a mysterious new Rider appears.

Masao calls Hiromi and Daiji. But the other Fenix officers are sprawled out on the ground outside the warehouse.

Neither Julio nor Olteca know who this new arrival is either, but they are looking forward to the show.

Vice charges at the dark Rider, but just gets whacked into the sky.

Episode Thoughts

Lots of interesting things happening this week.

So, when I first saw the tweets and IG posts of Takuma Usa as Bon/Masao, I thought I had been spoiled of the identity of the new Rider. lol And watching the episode, I actually liked him and thought he’d be a good Rider candidate. Though I certainly would’ve been annoyed someone else became a Rider before Daiji and Sakura.

Speaking of! Sakura Igarashi, is that you being all evil?! That definitely would be a huge development. And I think it would fit perfectly well with the major theme driving the characters’ stories so far.

Though if I were to nitpick, I would’ve liked to have seen a bit more of Sakura’s feeling lost before this episode. Yes, she did see her friend go through a demonic ordeal. But I don’t know that we got to see how it truly affected her. Especially when we saw how kickass she can be. So while I do feel like this comes a bit out of nowhere, I’m looking forward to seeing how it plays out. What I’ve seen so far in four, now five, episodes makes me trust the season.

Again, that is if it’s actually her. I mean, it could be Masao’s grandfather for all we know. lol Or Hiromi. Which would be kind of boring and not have as many long-lasting effects on the story as Sakura being Evil would have.

But what was very surprising to me, though quite welcome, was seeing Daiji making that little remark about Ikki trying to be the star again. And Papa Igarashi actually pointing out what happened last episode too.

That moment reminds us that Daiji definitely still has things to work out. He seems to have a lot of things weighing on his mind. So I am happy to see the show isn’t quickly dropping or brushing aside that part of his character. Especially as I fully expect this to be part of his road to becoming a Rider himself. (It would be such a great, emotional story if they do so.)

So if Sakura is indeed Evil, it will shake both Ikki and Daiji in a very unexpected way. Even more to look forward to there!

However! What if it was Daiji that stole the Vistamp and gave it to Masao? We didn’t see the guy’s face even if the guy used Hiromi’s ID? You never know! Now THAT would be insane. And I would love it even more! Lol

The show also made a point to focus on the idea of “righteousness,” which if they explore it more would fit with having to sign contracts with demons. Another interesting potential thread for the season to touch upon.

Back to Masao and his grandfather. I think their story was great. I’d love to see Masao be a recurring character. Both him and his grandfather actually. As family continues to be a major theme for the season, it would be great to see them recur. But I guess their story is one and done. Which I’m kind of sad about. Masao wanting to fight for justice and his relationship with his grandfather (who might have Alzheimer’s?) definitely deserves the usual two-episode arc.

I like the amount of insight we are getting with the Deadman bosses. Just some hints of the dynamic between the three. But enough to give us an idea of who they are so far.

I enjoy George’s quirkiness. He’s been a lot of fun. But he’s still a little bit sketchy at the same time. Lol Gotta keep an eye on him. Especially when he quite literally holds all the keys (and Stamps!) to the season.

Also, I did not know Fenix’s HQ was in the sky? Lol

Overall, another strong, enjoyable episode of Revice. They are doing so well in slowly, but surely developing both the characters and the overarching story. Quite refreshing, I must say.

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