I just can't wait to be King

30 episodes! Hard to believe it, and this is where they said it was going to end, right? Hahaha, short-sighted fools! Kiva is still going strong and as this episode proves, things are starting to really kick into high gear. No, I still haven't a clue where it's all leading, but I like what's going on right now, so it will no doubt be an interesting voyage.



Kamen Rider Kiva episode #30: "Curtains Raised: Kiva's True Form"

Tatsulot joins Kivat in commenting on the ongoing fight, and they mention the King of Checkmate Four again (and if you've seen the scans floating around... we know who King is now! Mostly.) Kivat sounds kinda different here for some reason, maybe it's just the intonation.

Megumi is knocked back by Lion Fangire, who reverts to Rook, who is still going on about doing his good deeds, so he's got no time for her.

1986. Yuri is also knocked down, but before Lion Fangire can finish her, a still-scarred Jirô shows up, eager to settle things once and for all. He's got a new pair of shades, and Rook responds by putting on his stolen ones.

"The Time Play is not over yet" the villain responds, eager for an eventual rematch with the Wolfen.

Kiva & Warthog keep fighting, and the 'hog goes on about his desire to become King. Finally he disappears, swearing a rematch. Kiva wonders what this "King" business is all about.

There's more movie scenes during the bumper. You guys will have seen the whole thing pretty soon if they keep this up!

Mitsuhide (Megumi's bro) runs through the street, bursting into the cafe where she sits with her arm in a sling. They bicker, he wants her to quit due to the danger, and she tells him where to stick it. He mentions mommy, and a ticked-off Megumi says she understands their mother better than he ever could. She reflects back on her meeting with Rook... the one her mother hated the most.

Wataru has tickets for some traditional comedy, attempts a mock phone call to Mio with coaching from Kivat, who does some scary things with his eyes in this scene. Satisfied, he calls Mio for real, but she doesn't answer. Shizuka shows up, smug in her having convinved Mio that she and Wataru have something going on. But Wataru is only worried. Elsewhere, Mio looks at a picture of Wataru on her phone, and thinks back on Shizuka's words...

Wataru goes to the hospital to get his mind off things, and overhears two nurses discuss Kengo's injuries. It doesn't sound good. In fact, he might have lost control over one of his hands, which means he'll never be able to play guitar again. Wataru tries to comfort him, but Kengo's troubled that he still can't play his guitar. Wataru insists he'll recover, but he knows the truth...

At a cafe, some dude levitates his spoon with telekenisis, but soon he's lifted up too... by the cowboy, who dismisses him as "not King" and throws him away. Cowboy dude is hunting down anyone with special powers or talents, believing one of them to be the King. Almost kinda-sorta-not-quite like in Agito! On which note, I have to ask, where the heck are the cops? Either Nago beat them all up or his time-travelling excursion altered history so the police don't exist in 2008. It would fit in with the "Crime up 4 billion percent" mentality of the Riderverse.

Shima talks with Megumi & Nago at the gym. Megumi's brother is there too, and he wants to force her into resignation. Shima surpisingly agrees with him. Megumi argues, but to no avail. As usual, there's probably more than meets the eye here.

1986. Yuri, with broken arm, prepares to leave the hospital, but Otoya (who brings her flowers) doesn't think she should rush off so quickly. She goes on about how she can never truly be happy while Rook lives, so she must destroy him. Jirô shows up too, and casually mentions to Otoya that they've located Rook. They leave, and Yuri runs out, past the guys dressed up as doctor & patient. As it's all a trick. Otoya & Jirô argue, and there's a good bit where a nurse walks by and they try to play it cool. These two really are good together, I think Otoya's at his funniest when he's playing off somebody else.

Yuri runs out, yelling for Rook, when he suddenly runs by. She gives chase, but it turns out to be Riki in disguise! The idea is to get Yuri away from Rook long enough for Otoya & the gang to take him out before her obsession drives her too far.

2008. Cowboy kills another mystical dude. Bishop shows up, asking what he's up to.

"You want to destroy King?"

"And become the new King."

Bishop is doubtful of his chances, saying he puts too much faith in his abilities. He can never become King, but the Warthog dude believes otherwise.

Kengo tries to leave the hospital, furious at the fact that he'll never play guitar again. He knows the truth now and he doesn't take it well at all. Just then, Rook carries an old lady into the same hospital, desiring to do more good so he can get into heaven. Creeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeepy.

At the cafe, Wataru lies groaning on a table, wondering what he should do. Kengo shows up, quite upset. He asks why Wataru lied to him. Wataru tries to play dumb, but Kengo knows the truth. Kengo's life was in his guitar, and without it he feels empty, lifeless...

"I thought we were friends. Now I never want to see you again!"

He storms out, past Nago, who decides to help Wataru through his many troubles. And how do they do this?

Wataru & Nago take a bath together. Nago acts suspicious the whole time, trying to discern Wataru's true origin. He's still got that button on the mind. Who would have thought Nago's goofy button fetish would turn out to be an important plot point!? After this he talks with Shizuka, who realizes the terrible thing she's done. Shizuka laments the ill will she has dealt Wataru & Mio in another surrealistic moment. I like how Nago just completely vanishes.

Mio appears before Wataru & Shizuka. Shizuka contacted her, and set them up on the date Wataru originally intended. She pushes them off and skips away, content in being just Wataru's "mother". She walks by Bishop, who notes "Queen's interest" in "that man."

Another magical dude, "Redman", is conjuring some kind of magic trick, and he makes buildings disappear before an excited film crew. Megumi is there, undercover.

1986. Yuri chases Rook, but discovers it's Riki, with an amusingly shoddy jacket. Interestingly, Riki bleeds red blood after Yuri hit him on the head. Yuri figures out what's going on, and isn't happy about it.

Otoya searches for Rook, but finds Maya instead. She asks to hear more of his genius, but Rook walks by, and he tells her she'll have to wait while he gives chase.

Otoya catches up with Rook, and rallies the troops with a horn.

Garulu, Basshaa and Riki jump out of the busshes, up wearing sunglasses. This scene is totally awesome. Rook relishes a chance at three monsters plus that pesky Otoya.

2008. As the conjurer and film crew leace, Rook shows up. Megumi tells everybody to run and dashes into action. Rook beats her up, but it is Warthog who kills the other guys. Warthog and Rook see each other, and Rook feels the lesser Fangire is trying to rain on his parade. They run at each other.

Bloody Rose plays, summoning Wataru into action. He's at a theater with Mio, and "goes to the bathroom". Nice excuse.

Warthog identifies Rook, and the higher-ranker finds his goal "interesting", if impossible. He becomes Lion, and they fight. Hog is actually strong enough to go toe-to-toe with the other Fangire. Nago shows up to break up the fight.

"Henshin!"

He goes to Rising IXA and jumps into action, shooting and slashing at the monsters. Wataru shows up, and finds Megumi knocked out. He sees IXA, and transforms.

"Henshin!"

Kiva jumps in to help IXA, who stays focused on Warthog while Kiva fights Lion. Kiva goes to Emperor Form.

1986. Otoya has become IXA and with the Arms Monsters, teams up on Lion, who is still more than a match for all four of them. Yuri shows up just as he knocks them all back into human form. Rook's game is over, and he leaves.

2008. Kiva and Lion jump at each other and punch in the air. IXA is getting beat on heavily, but shoots back at his enemy. Lion & Kiva are evenly matched, but Kiva knocks him away and prepares to use Wake Up Fever.

Lion snickers, confident in his victory, it soon rises into a full laugh. He jumps away, leaving Kiva rather stunned. Warthog does the same, but IXA gives chase. IXA stops as he sees Kiva revert back to Wataru. He himself becomes Nago again, and turn to face each other. Nago identifies Wataru, who does the same. The truth is out. Bishop watches from above, finding this turn of events interesting...

NEXT TIME: Fallout from the shock revelation at the end! The girls Henshin into IXA! The final battle with Rook is at hand!

Stay tuned for the second series-spanning recap soon!

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