The Octopus's Garden

Two episodes in, and Kiva is still going strong. If you liked what happened last week, there's more of it here. There's also more than a bit of character/plot development, and who doesn't like that?

Spoilers and Possible Naked Wataru ahead.

Kamen Rider Kiva Episode 2: "Musical Suite: The Father/Son Violin"

There's a brief recap of Episode 1 with the narrator explaining everything things thus far, followed by Kiva turning at the last second to knock the bullets right out of the air with one arm!Surprised, Megumi manages to pull out a digital camera and snap some photos as he turns the corner.

Yeah, I still like the OP theme/sequence.

Megumi goes to meet Shima (I think it's Shima, his hair is totally different but hey, 22 years does that to you) who is busy weightlifting and looking all tough. They talk of Kiva (using that actual name) and she shows him the blurry photos she took. It seems that this turn of events is not pleasing...

At home, Wataru is making something with fish remains. It's dye for violins. He inspects his work, sighing "No good, not this color!" and he throws it in trash. Shizuka is there too and they talk about his violin-making skills and those of his father. Shizuka jokes that maybe his father made a deal with the devil to become as good as he was. This seems to hit a nerve with Wataru, who wonders if that's really true... Shizuka changes the subject and pulls out a customer's violin with a large gaping hole right through it, which Wataru inspects with disbelief. How could this happen?

1986. At the cafe, Yuri is "playing" with a puppy whilst Shima goes to talk with Kidô (in the most awkward moment in the episode.) He then talks to Yuri about a violinist named Miyazawa who is believed to be a target of the Fangire, and shows her photos.

Yuri goes to see Miyazawa, practicing on her violin. Kurenai Otoya is there too. Yuri remembers him as the dandy guy from last time. It turns out he is tutoring Miyazawa. Yuri thinks he's a bonehead, but he wows her with a lovely solo. Yuri is impressed. Otoya smiles "It's fate."

2008. Wataru's searching for wood that's stained just the right color for making violin repairs. He's not having much luck. At least he's gotten over his made-up "fear of virtually everything", dressing and speaking normally.

1986. Miyazawa plays violin at concert while Yuri watches. Yuri goes to her room later to find her gone, Otoya shows up (wearing a jacket that I don't think was fashionable even in the 1980's) but she shoves him aside and runs off.

COMMERCIAL BREAK! More Sausages and Belts.

2008. Wataru and Shizuka are still looking for the right color wood. They spot a table outside the Mal D'amour, but before they can make off with it, Megumi shows up. "This time you're a table thief!"

Megumi interrogates our heroes inside the cafe (notice the puppy from 1986 is now a fully-grown dog.) When asked of her relation to Wataru, Shizuka tries to cover by saying she's his mom! When asked what exactly he wants, Wataru makes a fumbling attempt to explain...

1986. At night, a jogger hears the playing of a violin. He appraoches to see Miyazawa stand amidst a fountain, entranced by her music. Yuri shows up to save him. The man screams as Miyazawa's skin cracks as she turns into a Fangire. She kills the man, draining his life essence. Otoya shows up while Yuri pulls out her whi, weapon, knocking the violin from hand Miyazawa's hands. The violinist becomes the Octopus Fangire, who attacks Yuri. The Fangire Hunter fights back. Otoya hides, watching, and is impressed. Octopus Fangire grabs her violin, which Yuri smashes through with her whip, creating a gaping hole. Octopus Fangire spits ink blasts to cover he escape. Otoya comes out of hiding, goes up to Yuri, and tries to take something from her belt: one of her weapons. She still thinks he's just a harmless goon and smacks him away as she dashes off. However, he managed to get one of her dagger-type weapons.

He later approaches Miyazawa. "I can't forgive you. I thought you were a girl!" Miyazawa transforms, and Otoya fights backwith expert skill. He does well until Octopus Fangire unleashes ink blasts and escapes.

2008. Wataru observes the newly-finished violin crafted with a little help from an old table. He gives it to his latest customer...Miyazawa! Kivat-Bat watches in background. On her way out she looks at magazines showing photos of Megumi (she's a model, remember?)

While taking a bath, Kivat-Bat talkes to Wataru about the customer, and his suspicions of her. Between these scenes and the opening, Wataru sure spends a lot of time naked, or at least shirtless.

Megumi is doing a model shoot. Suddenly, she hears a violin playing, and becomes entranced. Everyone around her vanishes, and she walks zombie-like to a racetrack. Wataru & Kivat-Bat hear the playing too. Wataru begins playing the violin from the case in his workshop...

Miyazawa hears Wataru's playing and stops. She turns into Fangire form, and comments on Megumi (now free of the trance) being like her mother.

Once again, the violin stops, stuck on one cord. Wataru leaves. He goes out and pulls the cover off of his bike, the Machine Kivaa!

Megumi fights with Octopus Fangire using her gun. Octopus Fangire knocks this from her with her whip-like tentacle, and is about to strangle her when Wataru arrvies on the scene. The woman reverts back to human form and knocks Megumi away.

"Henshin!"

Wataru becomes Kiva. He chops the tentacle in half, freeing Megumi, who destroys Octopus Fangire's violin. Kiva fights Octopus Fangire, who at one point appears to vanish. But she comes out of cloaking (changes colors like an octopus to blend in) and ambushes the Rider.

Kiva gets knocked out the window and through the roof of another building. Octopus Fangire stands victorious, but then Kive comes smashing through a pile of boxes on his bike! Octopus Fangire's feet become wheels and she runs off. Kiva gives chase, and with help from Kivat-Bat, he smashes the Fangire into a nearby car. He then gets off the bike.

"WAKE UP!"

It's just like last week: Darkness Moon Break. Castle Dran appears. Nummy-nummy Fangire energy. Although this time, we see inside Castle Dran.

Three men (well, two men and a boy) are playing chess and drinking tea. One of them, Garulu, takes a sip and says "Checkmate" cooly.

NEXT TIME: A lot of people get beat up and a Bounty Hunter is after Kiva's life.

Edit: Here's an interesting English article (from the Daily Yomiuri) about Kiva & Kamen Rider in general. That part about Hibiki? Totally true.

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