Line #103 Series/KamenRiderGotchard


1	[[quoteright:799:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gotcha_poster.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:799:''"Grab it! The greatest Gotcha!"'']]
3	[[quoteright:799:[[labelnote:Click here to see the 2nd key visual.]]\
4	https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kr_gotchard_poster_2.jpg\
5	''"The Chemistry accelerates!!"'']]
6	[[/labelnote]]
7	[[quoteright:799:[[labelnote:Click here to see the 3rd key visual.]]\
8	https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kr_gotchard_poster_3.jpg\
9	''"Now, it's gorgeous time!"'']]
10	[[/labelnote]]
11	->''Chemies: magical monsters created through Alchemy. When the seal on the Chemy cards is broken, fate rests on the shoulders of one young man!''
12	-->-- '''OpeningNarration ([[{{Narrator}} by]] Creator/KatsuyukiKonishi, ep. 1-16)'''
13
14	''Kamen Rider Gotchard'' is the 2023-2024 entry in the ''Franchise/KamenRider'' series, the fifth in the Reiwa Era and thirty-fourth overall. It aired on September 3, 2023 alongside ''Series/OhsamaSentaiKingOhger'' -- and later, ''Series/BakuageSentaiBoonboomger'' -- in the Series/SuperHeroTime block, replacing ''Series/KamenRiderGeats'' and succeeded by ''Series/KamenRiderGavv''.
15
16	In a world where the art of {{UsefulNotes/Alchemy}} is practiced, the secret Alchemists' Academy has been successful in creating 101 artificial living creatures, known as Chemies. While normally sealed in [[CardsOfPower Ride Chemy Cards]], an incident involving OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent Houtaro Ichinose ends up unleashing all of these Chemies to the world. Entrusted with the [=GotcharDriver=] belt and the cards of two Chemies that synchronise with him, [=Hopper1=] and Steamliner, Houtaro fuses with them to transform into Kamen Rider Gotchard, embarking on a quest to recapture all 101 Chemies before they can fuse with malicious humans to become Malgam monsters and wreak havoc.
17
18	''Kamen Rider Gotchard''[='=]s tie-in projects include:
19	* ''Kamen Rider Gotchard VS Kamen Rider Legend'', a two-episode web video spinoff.
20	* ''Film/KamenRiderGotchardXGeatsTheStrongestChemyGotchaGrandOperation'', the winter movie crossover with ''Series/KamenRiderGeats''.
21	** ''X Wizard's Secret Note'', a tie-in short novel bundled with the film's Blu-Ray release.
22	* ''The Three Dark Sisters Present: Kamen Rider Gotchard Unfinished Plan'', radio plays featuring the villains breaking the fourth wall to discuss the events of the show.
23	* ''Kamen Rider Gotchard: What's That!? Houtaro and Rinne [[FreakyFridayFlip Switched Places]]!!'', a [[invoked]]BonusEpisode distributed with ''Magazine/TeleviKun'' magazine.
24	* ''Kamen Rider Gotchard Spinoff: We are Class 3G'', a two-episode non-canon HighSchoolAU featured on the show's Blu-ray releases.
25	* ''Kamen Rider Gotchard Ver.: Theatre/RomeoAndJuliet Complete Edition'', a TTFC-exclusive special edition of #31 that features the full version of the play's InUniverse production.
26	* The as-of-yet-untitled summer movie double-billed with ''Boonboomger''[='=]s, set to be released on July 26, 2024.
27
28	'''Spoilers for the first 21 episodes are unmarked. Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned.'''
29
30	!!Recurring ''Kamen Rider'' tropes include:
31	* ByThePowerOfGrayskull:
32	** Aside from the staple "henshin", we have Kamen Warrior Valvarad's "tekkō"[[note]]鉄鋼, literally "iron and steel"[[/note]].
33	** [[spoiler:Clotho has "kokusō"[[note]]黒装, literally "dark armor"[[/note]] after she obtains her Rebis form.]]
34	* CoolBike: One of the Chemies is a motorcycle named Golddash, which Gotchard uses as his ride. Gotchard Daybreak also has his own Daybreak version of Golddash.
35	* HenshinHero: The various Riders transform by fusing with pairs of sealed Chemies. Supana also turned into a "Kamen Warrior", Valvarad, before becoming a Rider himself.
36	* HumansAreTheRealMonsters: Zigzagged:
37	** While a regular trope for the franchise, the beginning of the series leaned on it more strongly than usual: while the Chemies are described as disruptions to the natural order, they're generally peaceful; the catalyst that forms Malgams is ''human'' malice causing Chemies to fuse with them. Hotaro wants to protect everyone, but he tends to emphasize protecting the Chemies from evil humans as opposed to the other way around. This dropped off a little when Geryon took over as an ArcVillain; he was still an evil human causing most of the conflict, but his sending homunculi servants after the Riders meant that a new HateSink wasn't being introduced every week.
38	** Averted late in the series when Gigist is revealed as the BigBad. He's a thoroughly inhuman being and can draw out the darkness in Chemies so that they become Malgams without needing a host, cutting out any human influence and making ''monsters'' the real monsters.
39	* MonsterOfTheWeek: Malgams, created when a Chemy synchronizes and fuses with a human of malicious intent.
40	* PhlebotinumRebel:
41	** {{Inverted\|trope}}... to begin with. The Chemies were originally believed to not be tools for good ''or'' evil (they're described as being an accidental byproduct of some alchemic transmutations), but they are innocent creatures. Even seemingly-bad ones were at worst ObliviouslyEvil and unaware of the damage they were causing. They can easily be corrupted into monsters by human malice, a reversal of how most Kamen Riders take villains' powers and use them for good. However, the creator of the first Chemies later reveals that he had always intended them to be monsters afflicting humanity, meaning the heroes have been playing the trope straight by using them to help people.
42	** Played straight with Gotchard's and Majade's transformation mechanism, which turns them into chimera-like beings called the Ride Chemy Doll and Alchemis Doll respectively. The only other use of the word "doll" in a meaningful context is in reference to the homunculi-like figures used to create Golden Malgams and which the Dark Sisters may or may not be made from, indicating this trope.
43	** Iron Gotchard is created using a DangerousForbiddenTechnique, and described in production notes as being closer to a Malgam than a Rider; only barely staying on this side of the line due to ThePowerOfFriendship and Hotaro not being malicious.
44	* SwissArmyHero: Gotchard can access many different forms based on combinations of two of the 101 Ride Chemy Cards. Even sticking with just the standard pairs and ignoring the Fantastic and Cosmic cards associated with Majade, he still has 36 base forms (72 if you count their Wild variations) and eight possible Super Gotchard forms to choose from.
45	* TransformationTrinket: Various characters draw on the power of the Ride Chemy Cards using unique devices:
46	** Gotchard uses the [=GotcharDriver=] belt, which takes the powers of two Ride Chemy Cards with a combined value of 10 and fuses them. He can later add plugins to access upgraded forms:
47	*** The Exgotchalibur allows him to add single Rank 10 cards for various Super Gotchard forms
48	*** The [=GotcharIgnitor=] is used with any regular combo to become Fire Gotchard.
49	*** The Tenliner Chemy itself, with its card, is used for Iron Gotchard; and adding the Crosshopper Chemy and card creates Platina Gotchard.
50	*** [[spoiler:Finally, the Nijigon Chemy and two Nijigon cards are used for the Rainbow Gotchard SuperMode; and the rest of the Chemies can be enhanced to similar "Rainbow" versions.]]
51	** Valvarad uses a greatsword-rifle called the Valvarusher with the Madwheel card (and it's later shown that a Repli-Chemy copy of Madwheel works as well), and can alter his armor with other Vehicle cards (Gutsshovel and Gekiocopter are the ones shown in the show). He later adopts a [=ValvaraDriver=] belt (similar to the [=GotcharDriver=] with the [=GotcharIgnitor=] built in) to become Kamen Rider Valvarad. Unlike the other Riders' combos, he combines Vehicle and Occult cards of the ''same'' level, with his default form using Madwheel enhanced into a new form called Machwheel along with its counterpart Rank 6 Occult card Daiohni.
52	** Kamen Rider Legend uses the [=LegenDriver=] belt with Legend Rider cards, and the Legend Kamen Riser to access Legendary Form.
53	** Kamen Rider Dread uses the [=DreaDriver=] with dark "Repli-Chemy" cards.
54	** Kamen Riders Majade and Wind use the [=AlchemisDriver=] with the Fantastic/Cosmic card combos and the High Alchemis Ring.
55	** Kamen Rider Gotchard Daybreak uses a red "Daybreak version" of the [=GotcharDriver=] with fiery Daybreak versions of the Chemy cards, and has his own Fire Gotchard form using the [=GotcharIgnitor=].
56	** All students and staff of the Academy have their Alchemist Rings, which they use to change into their uniforms.
57	** As for the Ride Chemy Cards themselves, they're ranked from 1 to 10 in ten different categories. The cards are:
58	->
59	*** '''Insects:''' 1: [=Hopper1=]/Crosshopper (grasshopper), 2: Pikahotaru (firefly), 3: Gengenchoucho (butterfly), 4: Bakuonzemi (cicada) 5: Antrooper (ant), 6: Greatonbo (dragonfly), 7: Stagvine (stag beetle), 8: Kaiserbee (bee), 9: Kamantis (mantis), 10: [=BeetlX=] (rhino beetle)
60	*** '''Vehicles:''' 1: Spicle (bicycle), 2: Skebows (skateboard), 3: Hiikescue (fire engine), 4: Gekiocopter (helicopter), 5: Deepmariner (submarine), 6: Madwheel/Machwheel (car), 7: Golddash (motorcycle), 8: Gutsshovel (excavator), 9: Steamliner/Tenliner (train), 10: Exceedfighter (fighter jet)
61	*** '''Jobs:''' 1: Odorippa (dancer), 2: Dokkirimajin (magician), 3: Doctorkozo (doctor), 4: Pilets (pirate), 5: Wrestler G (professional wrestler), 6: Sasukemaru (ninja), 7: Bulletbaang (gunslinger), 8: Apparebushido (samurai), 9: Karyudos (hunter), 10: X Wizard (wizard)
62	*** '''Animals:''' 1: Yamibat (bat), 2: Catchula (tarantula), 3: Mechanichani (crab), 4: Bussasorry (scorpion), 5: Bountybunny (bunny), 6: Hawkstar (hawk), 7: Tsupparihebi (snake), 8: Gorillasensei (gorilla), 9: Ganvhale (whale), 10: Lixion (lion)
63	*** '''Artifacts:''' 1: Raidenji (battery), 2: Kesuzo (eraser), 3: Mitemirror (mirror), 4: Energyl (energy drink), 5: Panpakaparka (parka), 6: Televi (TV), 7: Timelord (clock), 8: Smaphone (smartphone), 9: Renkingrobo (giant robot), 10: X Fortress (fortress)
64	*** '''Plants:''' 1: Happyclover (clover), 2: Burningnero (habanero pepper), 3: Bambamboo (bamboo), 4: Saboneedle (cactus), 5: Venomdake (mushroom), 6: Utsubocchama (pitcher plant), 7: Flayrose (rose), 8: Buglesia (rafflesia), 9: Junglejan (jungle vegetation) 10: Xeggdrasil (WorldTree)
65	*** '''Occult:''' 1: Carery (fairy), 2: Berosol ({{Karakasa}}), 3: Sayzombie (zombie), 4: Angelead (angel), 5: Zukyumpire (vampire) 6: Daiohni ({{Oni}}), 7: Mackraken (kraken), 8: Jyamatanoorochi ({{Orochi}}), 9: Ninetail ([[AsianFoxSpirit kitsune]]), 10: UFO-X (FlyingSaucer)
66	*** '''Ancient:''' 1: Nammonite (ammonite), 2: Akumanocaris (anomalocaris), 3: Pakuraptor (raptor), 4: Ojilacanth (coelacanth), 5: sabeliger (sabertooth tiger), 6: Warptera (pteranodon), 7: Gigalodon (megalodon), 8: Tricera (triceratops), 9: Blizzammoth (mammoth), 10: X-Rex (T. rex)
67	*** '''Fantastic:''' 1: Gigabaham (Bahamut), 2: Macentaurus (centaur), 3: Unicon (unicorn), 4: Vanfenrir (Fenrir), 5: Inphoenix (phoenix), 6: Yoacerberus (cerberus), 7: Haodin (Odin), 8: Gingriffon (griffon), 9: Donposeidon (Poseidon), 10: Dragonalos (dragon)
68	*** '''Cosmic:''' 1: Mercurin (Mercury), 2: Kinkiravina (Venus), 3: Gokigenmeteon (meteor), 4: Neminemoon (the moon), 5: Firemars (Mars), 6: Grandsaturn (Saturn), 7: The Sun ([[ShapedLikeItself the sun]]), 8: Jupitta (Jupiter), 9: Kuroana (black hole), 10: Gaiard (Earth)
69	*** '''101st:''' [[spoiler:EX: Nijigon (rainbow)]]
70	*** Separate from the main collection of cards, there are also '''Legend Rider''' cards representing prior series, complete with their own Chemies. Most Rider cards are rank 5, with the exception of ''Series/KamenRiderGeats'' which has ten Riders ranked from 1 to 9 so that they can be paired off with one another.
71
72	!!Gatchanko! [=TropeList=]!:
73	* AdultsAreUseless: A number of adults do step in and help the teen protagonists, but it's noticeable that they step ''out'' just as quickly. Their teacher Minato caves to the villains because he thinks that opposing them will just get everyone killed ([[DarkAndTroubledPast again]]). Gotchard Daybreak and Rinne's father Fuga both appear to help the kids activate new upgrades and even fight a bit, but each only lasts a couple episodes before they have to leave again. Kyoka is the only adult alchemist actively helping her juniors, but she mostly gives Supana moral support as his surrogate mother figure and rarely interacts with the rest.
74	* AlchemyIsMagic: The show portrays alchemy and the Alchemists' Academy as very magical in nature; more of a mystic art than a science. Hotaru even calls it magic at first, before Rinne sets him straight. It doesn't help that alchemists use [[RingOfPower rings]] similar to Series/KamenRiderWizard.
75	* AllThereInTheManual:
76	** Production has said that a number of Gotchard's forms will only be portrayed as CGI Wild forms, but the backs of the cards have images of the helmet he ''would'' have in humanoid form, so we have at least some idea of what those forms look like. Concept art versions of the actual forms themselves also appear in a tie-in mobile app. (Unfortunately, ''Wild'' forms not portrayed onscreen are out of luck, as are Majade's and Valvarad's alternate forms.)
77	** Production notes for each episode are also posted online, providing additional information that doesn't get mentioned in the show.
78	* ArcSymbol: Arrows; as Gotchard himself, the Alchemists' Academy insignia, and all of the Chemies incorporate noticeable arrow designs.
79	* BewareTheSuperman: [[spoiler:A carryover from ''Series/KamenRiderOutsiders'', as Zein's very appearance in ''Gotchard'' raises a [[KnightOfCerebus cause for alarm]]. Not helped that it has access to all the powers of previous Riders like Legend, whose Rider form is based off Series/KamenRiderDecade, while the Zein Cards are {{Evil Knockoff}}s of Decade's Rider Cards.]]
80	* BishonenLine: In his debut fight, Gotchard starts out in his Wild form as a steam-powered grasshopper, but doesn't do that great until he figures out he can switch to a humanoid form and that's able to turn things around. There's no indication that the human forms really are stronger or harder to access than Wild forms in general, but production did say that they are going to be relatively rarer due to production logistics.
81	* BreakingOldTrends:
82	** Continuing the trend of expanding female roles, Rinne becomes the first female Secondary Rider as Kamen Rider Majade.
83	** Most ''Rider'' series (including all previous Reiwa entries) tend to keep the same opening from start to finish. Gotchard, however, is the first since ''Den-O'' to switch it mid-run.
84	** Much like ''[[Series/KamenRiderBlack BLACK]]'' and unlike the vast majority of the franchise, ''Gotchard'' does not have any {{mooks}} in the main series.
85	* CardsOfPower: Gotchard gets his powers from Ride Chemy Cards, not unlike Ryuki, Blade, or Decade.
86	* CentralTheme:
87	** Going off with the themes of human malice from ''[[Series/KamenRiderZeroOne Zero-One]]'' and ''[[Series/KamenRiderOutsiders Outsiders]]'', humanity is always capable of evil -- by choice or against their will; no matter how hard they try to suppress them, especially when absolute power corrupts absolutely. ''Outsiders'' deals with an [[TheComputerIsYourFriend A.I.]] trying to cull down malice [[HobbesWasRight through totalitarian methods]], this series has the villains preying on the malice of people to turn them into monsters.
88	** "Rules" is also a recurring subject, with Hotaro noted as using rather unorthodox methods to deal with the Chemies as opposed to following standard alchemist procedure. When Geryon takes control of the Alchemists' Union, the protagonists have to face whether they're going to go along with the rules placed on them, and Rinne deciding to set her own rules is a major part of her CharacterDevelopment that allows her to re-access her Kamen Rider powers.
89	* ComboPlatterPowers: Like ''Series/KamenRiderBuild'', Gotchard combines items with random themes together. Some of the various combinations are steam train/grasshopper, samurai/skateboard, ant/wrestler, cactus/hawk, motorcycle/crab, and battery/jungle. (And those are just the major ones that get physical suits, there are more as CGI Wild forms).
90	%%* ContrivedCoincidence: While Hotaro learns that matching Chemy pairs always have their numbers add up to 10, there are multiple Chemies that share the same number. Yet when he picks new Chemies to use in the spur of the moment solely based on their numbers, they are somehow the exact pair that unlocks a compatible new form. %%It hasn't been confirmed that Gotchard really can't use just any combo that equals 10.
91	* EarlyBirdCameo: Gotchard first appeared in ''Series/KamenRiderGeats''[='=] [[Film/KamenRiderGeats4AcesAndTheBlackFox summer movie]], then later appeared out-of-suit in [[Recap/KamenRiderGeatsFinalEpDawnIHereComesTheHighlight Geats' finale]].
92	* EvolvingCredits: #17 debuts a new opening sequence that features Rinne's and Supana's Rider forms, as well as a remix of [=CHEMY×STORY=] performed by BACK-ON alongside FLOW, featuring the second verse. Also counts as a SpoilerOpening given that Majade had yet to debut in the show and Valvarad's Rider form had yet to debut altogether upon the opening's introduction.
93	* ExponentialPotential: With 101 Chemy cards, Gotchard has a lot of potential combinations to use. At a minimum, the [=GotcharDriver=] toy recognizes 54 specific combinations (36 standard two-card combos, ten Fantastic and Cosmic combos, and eight individual Rank 10s). Factor in their Wild versions (assuming the 10s and Fantastic/Cosmic combos have them), and that's 108 forms. In theory, though, ''any'' mixed-category combination totaling 10 could be valid in the show, which would make 415 possible combinations (830 with Wilds).
94	* FusionDance: The protagonists merge with two Chemies at a time to become Kamen Riders. Similarly, Chemies can fuse with malicious humans to turn them into Malgam monsters.
95	* GogglesDoNothing: All of Gotchard's (humanoid) forms include some form of goggles on the forehead; purely as a design element and not used for anything.
96	* GottaCatchThemAll: After being scattered in the first episode, Gotchard's goal is to recapture all 101 released Chemies. Surprisingly, though, he's not going at it alone; with several other alchemists succeeding in reclaiming them both on- and offscreen.
97	* IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming: Each episode is named after a Chemy, be it a {{pun}} on the Chemy's name or just directly name-dropping the Chemy itself.
98	* LighterAndSofter: The show is much lighter than [[Series/KamenRiderZeroOne the other three]] [[Series/KamenRiderRevice Reiwa]] [[Series/KamenRiderGeats entries]], as its overall tone is more in line with the 80's Showa (excluding ''[[Series/KamenRiderBlack BLACK]]''), the 90's film ''[[Film/KamenRiderJ J]]'', ''[[Series/KamenRiderHibiki Hibiki]]'', ''[[Series/KamenRiderDenO Den-O]]'', early Phase 2 Heisei entries (along with ''[[Series/KamenRiderGhost Ghost]]''), and ''[[Series/KamenRiderSaber Saber]]''. It also explores the concept of human malice and how power corrupts people, as the majority of the villains are seen willing to commit horrible acts [[RealismInducedHorror that are similar to those in real life,]] even if some of them are not inherently evil. Once the third arc kicks in, the story takes on a {{darker\|AndEdgier}} direction while retaining some of the lightheartedness despite the appearance of the show's resident KnightOfCerebus.
99	* MagicalIncantation: Several acts of alchemy are done with incantations, with the literal Japanese text of the commands being arranged to form an [[InstantRunes instant rune]] (on-screen only, not in-universe) that triggers its effects.
100	* MerchandiseDriven: In addition to the usual merch for a ''Kamen Rider'' series, the Ride Chemy Cards are marketed like normal trading cards (and are even labeled as such, despite the word "trading" not appearing in the show); they're sold in randomized blind packs and with different rarities and variants like foil treatments and alternate art.
101	* {{Mon}}: The website synopsis describes the Chemies' original purpose to be "humanity's companions", which is why they are able to synchronize with a human's emotions to lend them their power.
102	* MonTech: In addition to the various [[TransformationTrinket Drivers]] that the Riders use to harness the power of the Chemies, the Alchemists' Union also possesses Chemy Risers, wrist-mounted devices that they can use to both capture Chemies and harness their powers without the need to transform into a Kamen Rider.
103	* MythologyGag:
104	** A making-of blog for Gotchard's EarlyBirdCameo states that [=Hopper1=] is based on Berry, a talking grasshopper that aided ''Film/KamenRiderJ''.
105	** In the toyline, the "Parallel" (alternate-art) versions of Ryuki's and Blade's Legend Rider cards are made to resemble their original Advent and Rouze Cards.
106	* NoOntologicalInertia: Rinne establishes early in the show that normally, alchemy only produces temporary changes that revert themselves after a while, demonstrating by levitating a set of objects that proceed to place themselves exactly back where they were when the effect expires. Chemies are what happens when an alchemical effect becomes permanent, although nobody knows how to make this happen.
107	* PokemonSpeak: With a few exceptions, the Chemies all talk by saying parts of their names over and over.
108	* PoliceAreUseless: Averted. While the Malgams themselves are typically too dangerous for the average non-alchemist, the hosts of the MonsterOfTheWeek are often left for the authorities to deal with once the Chemies are saved.
109	* PowerAtAPrice: Episode 12 introduces the concept of forbidden alchemy, which can do things that normal alchemy can't like ThinkingUpPortals, but has horrible consequences for the alchemist. [[spoiler:When desperate, Hotaro takes the risk and uses it to create his Iron Gotchard form.]]
110	* RingOfPower: Alchemists perform their alchemy using special rings. Rinne has a unique one that interacts with her TransformationTrinket.
111	* RingsOfActivation: The UFO-X TransformationSequence includes a FlyingSaucer hitting Gotchard with a beam of rings.
112	* ScarfOfAsskicking: Gotchard and Dread each wear a waist-length white scarf in most of their forms, making them the first Riders to wear physical scarves in their primary forms since the Showa era.[[note]]Other Riders such as Double and Geats have worn a strip of cloth hanging off the back of their collar to evoke the appearance of a scarf, but not a real one worn around the neck. The only previous Rider form in the Heisei or Reiwa eras to have worn a true scarf is Geats Feverslot.[[/note]]
113	* ShoutOut:
114	** The production notes for #13 state that the Union of Alchemists is one to the Ministry of Magic from ''Literature/HarryPotter'', being the governing body of a hidden society.
115	** The Level 7 Artifact Chemy is called [[Series/DoctorWho Timelord]].
116	** The production notes for #24 describe a Kamen Rider InUniverse as someone who uses two (or more Chemies) in perfect harmony. The phrase used to describe the concept is "Two in harmony surpass one in perfection", alluding to the motto of the Kirijo Group in ''VideoGame/Persona3''.
117	* SpaceIsNoisy: Invoked with the presence of Gokigenmeteon, who despite having the appearance of a ''meteor shower'' is also music-themed (each head's contrail forms a type of sheet music notation) and thus indicating this trope is in effect.
118	* SpiritualAntithesis:
119	** To ''Series/KamenRiderBlade''. As both series' plot involves collecting monsters and sealing them in cards to invoke transformation and abilities by the Riders. While the Undeads are a genuine threat to humanity that needs to be sealed by the Riders, although some are altruistic in their nature, the Chemies were mostly innocent creatures that can be fused with a malice-filled human to turn into a Malgam with the Riders needing to defeat the monsters before sealing the Chemies inside the cards.
120	** Also to the concurrently airing ''Series/KamenRiderOutsiders''. As both series have the underlying theme of dealing with human malice. ''Outsiders'' deals with an [[TheComputerIsYourFriend artificial intelligence]] bent on culling down human malice through totalitarian methods like stoking fear and paranoia through mass surveillance and propaganda, extreme use of violence against the villains and dissidents over perceived insubordination, and even ''genocide''. This series, on the other hand, has the villains preying on the worst impulses of humans and forcibly fusing them with Chemies to turn them into Malgams.
121	** The two-parter leading into the debut of Kamen Rider Valvarad serves as this for the recurring Reiwa trend of a good guy making a FaceHeelTurn [[note]][[Series/KamenRiderZeroOne Aruto]], [[Series/KamenRiderSaber Kento]], [[Series/KamenRiderRevice Daiji]], and [[Series/KamenRiderGeats Keiwa]] being examples[[/note]]. Normally, when such a Kamen Rider is faced with a devastating loss like [[spoiler:[[StuffedIntoTheFridge seeing their loved ones die in front of them]]]], they immediately fold and [[DespairEventHorizon fall to the dark side]], adopting a DarkerAndEdgier power set and antagonizing the protagonists for about a tenth of the show's runtime while the protagonists are either too busy focusing on their own problems ([[Series/KamenRiderGeats Geats]]) or are simply stopping said dark Rider without trying to understand their motivations for most of the series ([[Series/KamenRiderZeroOne Zero-One]], [[Series/KamenRiderSaber Saber]] and [[Series/KamenRiderRevice Revice]]). However, with Valvarad, both Houtaro and Rinne immediately help Supana not only snap out of [[spoiler:his Malgam form]], but also help Kyoka in making the tool needed for him to fully become a Kamen Rider, turning his villain arc into more of a VictimOfTheWeek scenario.
122	* SupernaturalPhone: A smartphone-based Chemy named [[ADogNamedDog Smaphone]]. Once Hotaro acquires it, he's seen using it like a normal phone, but it can also act on its own.
123	* WhamEpisode: #17: Due to the events of the crossover movie and their lack of process, Minato announces that the union is dismantling the Alchemist Academy and the Chemy retrieval will be now be handled by the Dark Sisters. Before any of the students can protest, Minato transforms into Dread and steals Supana's Chemy cards, intending to do the same with the rest of the students' cards and rings.
124	* WolverinePublicity: Gotchard Daybreak and Legend are prominently shown on the poster promoting the second act, yet the former only appears for two episodes before he is PutOnABus and the latter doesn't make an appearance for the entire act and the one after it, only doing so five episodes into the ''fourth'' act.
125	* XMakesAnythingCool: The Rank 10 Chemies all have noticeable "[=Xes=]" in their character designs, and many of them have an X in their names as well ([=BeetlX=], Exceedfighter, X Wizard, Lixion, X Fortress, Xeggdrasil, UFO-X, and X-Rex -- the other two, Dragonalos and Gaiard, are explained as predating the naming system). The card backs also have a giant X in place of the normal design, and Gotchard can use their power with an X-shaped add-on to his Driver.

Context Series / KamenRiderGotchard