Simba 1 Down

Here we go again.

Rising Spoilers Ahead.



Kamen Rider Kiva Episode #31: "Acclamation: The Transformation Dedicated to My Mother"

Kivat and Tatsulot yak away while we recap the fight from last episode. For some reason, I want to go out and buy Kiva on DVD now. I wonder why that is? It couldn't be subtle advertising or anything, could it?

Nago approaches Wataru, speaking his name.

Also, there's no movie scenes in the bumper this time, in case you were still keeping track.

Megumi talks with Shima about the Fangire and mentions King. Shima deeply concerned, but doesn't let Megumi in one everything. Especially when she leaves, and he says:

"King... is it Taiga?"

Megumi argues with Mitsuhide, who still wants her to give up the ghost. He smacks her, so she smacks him back and storms out. Her words echo through his mind.

"I am... a warrior."

1986. Yuri tends to the wounds of the Arms Monsters. Otoya is displeased with how things went. Elsewhere, Rook eats his reward parfait.

While Jirô laments their loss, Yuri has an idea. She picks up the IXA Knuckle.

2008. Mitsuhide goes to meet Megumi as she looks at a picture of her mother. They apologize and make up. Her brother mentions that he has won the lottery again. Again!? Well, it explains the clothes I guess.

Elsewhere, a certain sinister cowboy watches news of Mitsuhide's win on a TV. His next victim is marked...

Nago & Wataru sit in the cafe. Nago still can't believe it, and Wataru apologizes for keeping it a secret from him. Nago says that he thought Kiva was humanity's enemy, but now knowing the truth he can see how this wouldn't be the case, and instead now wants them to combine strength. Wataru can become his disciple. Unfortunately, at that moment Kengo comes in, overhearing this. Wataru asks about Kengo, but Nago proceeds to verbally slam the poor guy. Furious, Kengo yells at them both and storms out. Wataru is worried, and Nago doesn't seem to care. Nice one, Nago.

Soon Kengo is out in the rain. His dreams, his friends, all have been shattered in the space of a few hours. He falls to the ground, yelling up to the rainy sky. Just then, Shima appears above him with an umbrella. Where will he go next?

Megumi examines files containing information on the Lion Fangire. His weak point is one of his shoulders, the same one which we saw bruised last time. Nago shows up, saying he wants to be the one to destroy Rook. She asks that Nago lend her the IXA Knuckle. She demands that she *must* destroy Rook herself. He refuses, and she pleads with him, but he is adamant.

"I will destroy Rook!"

Rook gets some ballons for a kid. He must continue to do good deeds...

Wataru & Mio talk. Wataru is sad about Kengo. Wataru says how this is the second time such a thing has happened, he has lost a dear friend... He has a flashback to the past, with Taiga, who vanished one time when they were playing...

Suddenly, Mio has disappeared as well.

She enters a large building, in which a dark, massive hall awaits. Bishop and Rook are there as well. Bishop tells her that in addition to destroying the "traitors", she must also deal with Kiva. He ties some jewelry around her ankle.

"Isn't that right, King?"

A dark figure walks in, his face obscured by the shadows. Queen, Bishop and Rook go to meet the leader of the Checkmate Four.

1986. Yuri has taken IXA Knuckle, Otoya & Jirô chase after her. Rook shows up, and Yuri puts him between them. She tricks Rook into believing that he who has IXA will be the strongest. Rook takes the Knuckle from her, and transforms into IXA. He attacks the guys, pushing them aside. Riki & Ramon show up, and the three Arms Monsters all change to their true selves (after removing their sunglasses!) IXA fights all three. Otoya & Yuri attack with their Fangire Hunter weapons.

2008. Mitsuhide walks with a sullen Megumi. The cowboy shows up to kill him, but the older sister jumps into action as the cowboy goes to his true Warthog Fangire form.

Bloody Rose plays, and Wataru races into action with Kivat.

Megumi fights Warthog. Mitsuhide watches on, shocked and afraid. He can't move, but he quietly urges her on, even as she is beaten down. Just then, Nago shows up to blast the monster away with the Knuckle.

"Henshin!"

IXA goes to Rising IXA, who joins the fight as Mitsuhide watches on, even more shocked. Suddenly, Rook shows up... and asks Megumi to kill him.

"...So I go to heaven!"

Megumi attcks him with her chain weapon, but it's no good.

"If you can't do it, you must die!"

He becomes Lion Fangire and begins strangling her. She begs for power from her mother.

1986. Everybody's getting beat up, when suddenly an alarm on the IXA Belt goes off. It begins to steam, and IXA falls, weakened. He reverts into Rook.

Yuri has tricked him

Weak and enraged, Rook becomes Lion Fangire as Otoya transforms into IXA, beckoning to monster. Yuri attacks Lion as well. She slashes at him with her weapon.

2008. Megumi uses her gun, sending Lion back, but he presses up the attack. Wataru appears, and transforms.

"Henshin!"

Kiva saves Megumi and fights Lion, who shoots him back with his own projectile weapon. Kiva summons Tatsulot and goes to Emperor Form.

Rising IXA fights Warthog. The 'Hog sees Kiva and Rook, and soon the two Fangire are back-to-back against the Riders. Lion attacks Rising IXA, and Warthog goes for Kiva. Lion's mind fills with rage at all the trouble IXA gave him in the past.

"IXA...I will destroy you!"

1986. Our heroes get the upper hand, knocking Lion back.

2008. Rising IXA & Lion run at each other, all guns blazing. The Rider manages to stab Lion right through with his sword, but even that doesn't stop him.

1986. IXA de-transforms, and Otoya looks to Yuri.

"You will finish it."

He tosses her the IXA Knuckle.

2008. Megumi begs Rising IXA to let her finish Lion off. Finally, he obliges, reverting to Nago and giving her the Knuckle.

The Asô girls transform in split-screen.

In both 1986 & 2008, the ladies engage in a final battle with Lion Fangire. Despite his incredible strength they keep up the attack. Even when he has them pinned, they both call for strength from their mothers. Yuri from hers, and Megumi from Yuri. The find the power in themselves to fight back, and this time, to win.

1986. Yuri's IXA slams the Knuckle into Lion's shoulder, damaging it heavily. But it's not enough.

"I will not die..."

He steams... and disappears away like dust. He will return, some day. But Yuri is confident that when he does, even if she's not around, it'll be for the last time. For the time being however, she's won. And that's good enough.

2008. Megumi's IXA uses a crushing final attack, slashing Lion Fangire to bits. As both a human and Fangire, he screams, collapses, shatters into glass and explodes.

Rook/Lion Fangire is history once and for all.

Megumi de-transforms. She recalls the memory of her mother, and Yuri does the same in 1986. The Arms Monsters & Otoya congratulae Yuri.

Back in 2008, Megumi's brother congratulates her. Nago watches on as Kiva and Warthog fight. Nearby, Mio also watches... and slowly walks towards them.

"That''s Kiva..."

Kiva uses Wake Up Fever, finally beating Warthog once and for all.

Mio then changes into the Pearl Shell Fangire, and attacks Kiva from behind!

NEXT TIME: Kamen Rider Saga debuts!

There's also another Den-O trailer, talking about the NEW Den-Liner, and showing more of the possible fate of Momotaros...

GREAT episode this week, loads of stuff going on and the second half was nearly all action. Final episodes of major villains have a history of being awesome ever since 1971, and this was another good one.

***