Invincible Sakura, Her Reasons for Fighting Are...?
- Original Airdate: November 21, 2021
Written by: Hanta Kinoshita
Directed by: Teruaki Sugihara
Summary
Deadmans-related crimes have been increasing rather than decreasing! Meanwhile, it is said that some people are gradually using the Vistamps in new ways! Olteca contacts one of them, Tenhiko Ashiya, who has the Planarian Vistamp! On the other hand, the youngest child of the Igarashi family, Sakura, was frustrated by Aguilera's repeated provocations, along with both her brothers playing an active role as Kamen Riders! Sakura was training herself this entire time, believing that only the strong can carry out true justice, but whenever she confronts Aguilera, she seems to be facing her greatest weakness and stress overcomes her! Meanwhile, a package from an unknown sender arrives for Sakura. When she unpacks it, she finds a Driver the likes of which she has never seen before...!
Tropes
- Action Prologue: Part of The Teaser. Backed up by Fenix soldiers, ReVice, Live and Demons fight three different Deadmen and swarms of Gif Juniors. It turns out to be a slew of after action reports illustrating the rising rate of Deadmen related crimes between this and the previous episode.
- The Cameo: Kamen Rider Revi's suit actor Yuya Nawata cameos as a witness-victim of the Planarian Deadman's attack at a bank.
- Cliffhanger: Sakura is in Horinozuka Hospital when her karate teacher gets to a contract with the Deadman. She tries to use the Driver belt, but fails to work. Ikki blocks the attack meant for her.
- Did Not See That Coming: The appearance of a Driver that he had stopped developing — and was completed by someone else — throws George for a loop.
- Foreshadowing: As Sakura contemplates using her newly-acquired Driver, a mysterious shadow manifests behind her.
- Funny Background Event: Vice's Shout-Out to Terminator behind Sakura arguing with her mother.
- Ignored Expert: In The Teaser, Vice tries to suggest to Sakura to talk to her inner demon to clear her head. The problem is that Vice was imperceptible at the time and his host Ikki didn't voice out Vice's advice.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Aguilera continues to torture Sakura by mocking her inability to fight on the same level as her brothers.
- Refused by the Call: Despite Sakura's determination to use the driver given to her, she fails to transform. Worse, this leaves her a sitting duck for the evolved Planarian Deadmen, leading to Ikki's injury. In line with the events, she apparently needs to stew in her misery a little longer.
- Speech Bubble: Vice shoots out with Finger Guns an all caps "HOLLYWOOD" text before putting on sunglasses and a speech bubble with the text "I'll be back", making a Shout-Out to Terminator. It Makes Sense in Context
- Stay in the Kitchen: Sakura's personal issues are revealed to stem from her Kamen Rider older brothers telling her to stay away from danger despite her formidable fighting skills. To top things off, she knew her teacher's situation and yet was unable to prevent her from fusing with a Deadman and Aguilera rubs this unfortunate predicament in her face.
- Talk to the Fist: In the first fight with a Planarian Deadman, Vice gets punched in the face by said Deadman while in the middle of his usual round of fourth wall breaking.
- Taking the Bullet: Ikki gets seriously hurt when protecting Sakura from the attack of the evolved Planarian Deadman.
- Trauma Conga Line: Hoo boy, did it go downhill for Sakura. Not only does Aguilera continue to mock her, she is a helpless witness to the despair of someone she knows (no matter how loose that connection is), gets beaten up multiple times, runs away from home and slowly loses the struggle against the cult's influence.
