Kagero Rampages! The Fall of the Igarashi Brothers...!?
- Original Airdate: October 31, 2021
Written by: Hanta Kinoshita
Directed by: Koichi Sakamoto
Summary
A few days after their tragic family trip, the Igarashi family was filled with a deep sadness. Ikki is depressed after the shock of being attacked by the devil, Kagero, who looks just like Daiji, right in front of his own family! However, his father, Genta, is confident that Daiji isn't doing this willingly, and is being manipulated by Kagero! On the other hand, Sakura wonders how her gentle brother could have possessed such a fiendish devil within him. Meanwhile, only their mother, Yukimi, is serving the customers of the bath house with a smile as usual! "Don't put on such sad faces! Daiji will return to us!"
Encouraged by her words, Ikki renews his conviction to save Daiji from Kagero's clutches! However, Fenix issues an order to eradicate Evil, saying he should be annihilated before the rest of the world finds out! At the same time, Kagero receives the Brachio Vistamp from a Deadman, and begins to abuse its power indiscriminately!
Tropes
- Ain't Too Proud to Beg: Daiji begs Kagero to stop, much to the demon's annoyance. It's not like he would have anything left, let alone pride or dignity, after being reduced to a helpless witness in his own body for what might've been weeks by now.
- Blatant Lies: Karizaki convinced Ikki that he had no idea that Daiji is Evil because no one but him and Wakabayashi knows that he handed TwoSiDriver to Kagero with the explicit knowledge of his existence.
- Breaking the Fourth Wall: Vice is already prone to this, but this episode has a pretty extended sequence including a social media hashtag (#NiceVice) and showing off weapons.
- The Cameo: Super Sentai alumni Hiroya Matsumoto (Tsubasa Ozu/MagiYellow, Masato Jin/Beet Buster, Hoshi Minato), Mizuki Saiba (Mizuki Kakihara), and Tetsuji Sakakibara (Spada/KajikiYellow) appear as members of a scammer group who all become hosts of various Brachio Deadmen.
- Cliffhanger: The episode ends with Ikki deciding to initiate a Rider Kick against Kagero in a last-ditch attempt to bring Daiji back, with the outcome uncertain as it closes out.
- Death of Personality: Kagero claims to have snuffed out Daiji's mind completely. Fenix agents run with that, with Ikki having his doubts for either side of that claim, while trying to keep his hopes up.
- Forced into Evil: What Kagero does to a trio of petty scammers. They had no intention to be used for the Brachio Deadmens, but he was not asking them for permission.
- Heroic BSoD: Ikki is still recovering from the aftermath of #8.
- Hope Springs Eternal: Yukimi is the only member of the family who doesn't have any doubts that Daiji can either save himself or be saved by Ikki.
- "I Know You're in There Somewhere" Fight: Ikki attempts — and fails — to rouse Daiji while fighting Kagero.
- Murder Is the Best Solution: The official order from Fenix is to eliminate Evil before his true identity leaks out and casts the organization in a bad light. When Karizaki relays the news to Ikki and Sakura, they are appalled at the blatant disregard for Daiji's life.
- Never My Fault: Kagero blames everything he did on Ikki and Daiji to twist the knife further. The only thing that actually can be blamed on them in some way is his existence. Everything else is just on him, but they are persuaded by his words because of their own insecurities.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Kagero delivers a brutal one to Ikki as he explains the reason he exists:Kagero: Did you know? You're the reason I was born, Ikki.
Ikki: What!?
Kagero: You were always the center of attention, making everyone around you smile. You relished being in the spotlight, didn't you?
Ikki: I didn't—!
Kagero: Daiji did his best to get into FENIX. He wanted somewhere to shine, away from his brother. You would protect the family and bathhouse, while he became a Kamen Rider to protect the world. He was THIS close to fulfilling his dream.
Ikki: Stop it...!
Kagero: But the moment you became a Kamen Rider under FENIX's contract, Daiji realized something: you made for a better Kamen Rider than he ever would have been. You were the one. You stole Daiji's future from him!!
