History YMMV / KamenRiderGaim

** #32 gives us "[[UpToEleven LOCK OPEN]]: [[AllYourPowersCombined KIWAMI ARMS]]!"

** Kouta running around trying to find Takatora and Mitsuzane before [[spoiler:they kill each other]] loses all its impact when you remember he has access to not only a CoolBike but also a form with SuperSpeed... This is made outright comical given the episode that takes place after #36 is mostly a {{filler}} episode advertizing TheMovie, which meant that Kouta had been running around for a solid episode and a half without even once considering the bike or Jimber Cherry.

** [[TheDogWasTheMastermind DJ Sagara]], the [[GeniusLoci avatar]] of Helheim Forest, is the [[TheManBehindTheMan hidden mover]] behind the Helheim crisis who seeks to stoke change and evolution using Helheim's flora. Having absorbed the Femushinmu civilization in the past, Sagara comes to Earth after the Femushinmu Overlords prove lazy rulers to begin a new race for the Forbidden Fruit. Infiltrating Yggdrasill as the host of "Beat Rider Radio", Sagara uses the Inves Games to select candidates for his game, secretly giving the Beat Riders information and powerups to make sure things stay even. When the Overlords intervene to invade Earth, Sagara persuades the Overlord King to hold back and give humanity a chance. Later, when Mai Takatsukasa becomes the host for the Golden Fruit, Sagara tricks her into going back in time and letting his past self know everything he needs to do to bring about Helheim's chosen, making his plans go even more swimmingly. In the end, [[TheBadGuyWins Sagara gets exactly what he wanted]] with Kouta claiming the Forbidden Fruit and becoming the new Man of the Beginning of Helheim, moving Helheim to a different planet to begin the cycle anew.
** [[NominalHero Kaito Kumon]]/[[TheRival Kamen Rider Baron]], leader of Team Baron, proved both a key ally and WorthyOpponent to Kouta Kazuraba. Believing strength is everything, Kaito is ruthless in combating Team Gaim's lead in the Inves Games. Growing suspect of [[MegaCorp Yggdrasill]]'s conspiracy, Kaito [[EnemyMine joins forces]] with Kouta to uncover the truth. After learning of the Helheim invasion, Kaito joins Ryoma Sengoku's inner circle, obtaining a Genesis Driver in the process. When the Overlord Inves attack Zawame, Kaito quickly organizes the Armored Riders into a united defense, earning the loyalty of a disaffected Yoko Minato. Once the Overlords are destroyed, Kaito turns to seeking the Forbidden Fruit and becoming Helheim's champion, giving up his own humanity to become an Overlord. As Lord Baron, Kaito assembles an army of Inves to claim the Forbidden Fruit and [[InTheirOwnImage remake the old world]] to one [[WellIntentionedExtremist where the weak are not oppressed by the strong]]. Defeated ultimately by Kouta, with his dying breath Kaito acknowledges Kouta as a truly worthy rival. Revived by Megahex, Kaito rebels against the being and joins Kouta in fighting it, encouraging Kouta to defend the future he fought hard for.

** [[BaseBreakingCharacter Mitsuzane as whole is one of the most polarizing character]] in Gaim and most of the debate comes from whether he ''deserve'' to be redeemed?". Those who believe he does agrue that he started off [[WellIntentionedExtremist with good intentions]] and was ultimately more of a misguided kid who suffered SanitySlippage in his quest to save his friends. Those who believe he doesn't argue that said SanitySlippage lead to some serious MotiveDecay, that he crossed the MoralEventHorizon several times and his [[MurderTheHypotenuse multiple attempted murder of one of his best friends]] was actually for petty and stupid reasons. Kota and Takatota's forgiveness of Micchy and his subsequent redemption in episode 47 and the [[Series/KamenRiderDrive Drive crossover film]] deepened the divide and leaves Micchy as either an misguided person who deserves an second chance or an EasilyForgiven KarmaHoudini who crossed too many lines.

** Mitsuzane as whole is one of the most polarizing character in Gaim and most of the debate comes from whether he ''deserve'' to be redeemed?". Those who believe he does agrue that he started off [[WellIntentionedExtremist with good intentions]] and was ultimately more of a misguided kid who suffered SanitySlippage in his quest to save his friends. Those who believe he doesn’t argue that said SanitySlippage lead to some serious MotiveDecay, that he crossed the [[MoralEventHorizon moral event horizon]] several times and his [[MurderTheHypotenuse multiple attempted murder of one of his best friends]] was actually for petty and stupid reasons. Kota and Takatota’s forgiveness of Micchy and his subsequent redemption in 47# and the Drive crossover film deepened the divide and leaves Micchy as either an Misguided person who deserves an second chance or an [[EasilyForgiven easily forgiven]] [[KarmaHoudini karma houdini]] who crossed too many lines.

** Mitsuzane as whole is one of the most polarizing character in Gaim and most of the debate comes from whether he ''deserve'' to be redeemed?". Those who believe he does agrue that he started off [[WellIntentionedExtremist with good intentions]] and was ultimately more of a misguided kid who suffered SanitySlippage in his quest to save his friends. Those who believe he doesn’t argue that said SanitySlippage lead to some serious MotiveDecay, that he crossed the [[MoralEventHorizon moral event horizon]] several times and his [[MurderTheHypotenuse multiple attempted murder of one of his best friends]] was actually for petty and stupid reasons. Kota and Takatota’s [[Forgiveness forgiveness]] of Micchy and his subsequent redemption in 47# and the Drive crossover film deepened the divide and leaves Micchy as either an Misguided person who deserves an second chance or an [[EasilyForgiven easily forgiven]] [[KarmaHoudini karma houdini]] who crossed too many lines.

** Mitsuzane as whole is one of the most polarizing character in Gaim and most of the debate comes from whether he ''deserve'' to be redeemed?". Those who believe he does agrue that he started off [[WellIntentionedExtremist with good intentions]] and was ultimately more of a misguided kid who suffered SanitySlippage in his quest to save his friends. Those who believe he doesn’t argue that said SanitySlippage lead to some serious MotiveDecay, that he crossed the [[MoralEventHorizon moral event horizon]] several times and his [[MurderTheHypotenuse multiple attempted murder of one of his best friends]] was actually for petty and stupid reasons. Kota and Takatota’s [[Forgiveness forgiveness]] of Micchy and his subsequent redemption in 47# and the Drive crossover film deepened the divide and leaves Micchy as either an Misguided person who deserves an second chance or an [[EasilyForgiven easily forgiven]] [[KarmaHoundini karma houndini]] who crossed too many lines.

** A post season topic that's still hotly debated by people who watched the series is "did Mitsuzane ''deserve'' to be redeemed?" On one hand he started off [[WellIntentionedExtremist with good intentions]] and suffered SanitySlippage in his quest to save his friends. On the other, said SanitySlippage lead to some serious MotiveDecay and his [[MurderTheHypotenuse attempted murder of one of his best friends]] ''[[MoralEventHorizon several times]]'' for some pretty stupid reasons.

** Ryoma Sengoku, hands down. He's a total monster that willing to use anything and anyone to achieve his goal, had a hand in killing [[spoiler:Mai]], and destroy Kaito's hard-earned power up. But on the other hand, his hammy and memetic behaviors are hilarious.

** Sengoku Ryoma and his Hawaiian shirt and shorts ensemble also counts.

** Takatora Kureshima. You work with a trio of ObviouslyEvil individuals and are actually shocked when they betray you. Potentially mitigating (or amplifying) this sentiment is that he has seemingly worked with these people for years prior to the show's start. Slightly justified in that it was Ryouma who hired Sid and Yoko, and Takatora was friends with Ryouma.

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: [[Series/KamenRiderDecade Narutaki]]'s cameo in the ''[[Series/ResshaSentaiTokkyuger ToQger]] vs. Gaim'' special; he appears, introduces himself as "the ally of all Kamen Riders", gives Kouta a rainbow pass so he can board the Rainbow Line, and then disappears into a dimension wall, which leaves both Kouta and Right speechless. Adding to the weirdness, he has a monkey hand puppet like Ticket.

* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic:
** DON'T SAY NO! JUST LIVE MORE! DON'T SAY NO! JUST LIVE MORE!
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id-ylKpoX2c E-X-A Exciting × Attitude by the Rider Girls.]] Who have a new member to represent Gaim!
** Another by the Rider Girls, Toki no Hana (Flower of Time), the song heard during the Gaim/Bravo fight in #17.
** Kachidoki Arm's theme: EI EI OH! EI EI OH! EI EI OH! RISE UP YOUR FLAAAAAAAAAAAAG!
** Kiwami Arms and Baron Lemon Energy [[spoiler:(and later, Lord Baron)]] theme, Ranbu Escalation. A duet sang by Gaku Sano and Yutaka Kobayashi.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsnZgJjYYMw Rider Zu No Tairitsu]]: The song that plays when Gaim uses Kiwami Arms for the first time. It truly sounds like a war deity has entered to end the battle.

*** [[spoiler: Is Kaito becoming a villainous Overlord simply because of his drive for more power with the Overlords gone or was it a move of despair and rage from Ryoma killing Mai and causing Kouta's death via Mitsuzane? Consider that he didn't do this until after he learns that Kouta too is dead, angering him so much he takes the chance to becoming an Overlord. The answer is that his intentions were indeed altruistic, that the world he wanted to make was one where the weak were never suppressed, above all else. Kouta himself notes that they both want the same thing, but the problem was Kaito went about it the way of the cynic that he was, amassing power and forcibly remaking the world to achieve such ends]].
** Two scenes at the end of Roshuo's [[spoiler:last battle]] shows different interpretations.
*** When Redyue [[spoiler:grabs the Forbidden Fruit and sees it rot, is it because Roshuo used up all its power, is it because the time of the Overlords was thematically done, or is it because someone not chosen by the fruit was holding it]]?
*** When [[spoiler:Roshuo's wife shows up, is it a ghost or did Redyue's machine actually worked?]]

** Kiwami Arms and Baron Lemon Energy [[spoiler: (and later, Lord Baron)]] theme, Ranbu Escalation. A duet sang by Gaku Sano and Yutaka Kobayashi.

** Jounichi's a weird case. He starts out being able to cunningly fight with dirty tricks... then becomes the show's punching bag in about 2 minutes. Then he gets training from Oren and becomes a badass... then goes back to being a punching bag when [[spoiler: facing Lord Baron's Inves and Yoko.]] To be fair, it's possible [[spoiler: Kaito enhanced the Inves he sicked on him and Yoko was given a power boost from Ryoma's driver.]]

* BizarroEpisode: Episode #30, the ''Series/{{Kikaider}} REBOOT'' crossover. #29 ended on a {{Cliffhanger}} that is only resolved in #31. The crossover itself takes place two weeks before #29, interrupting the ongoing plot. Also, Ryoma ''transplants his brain into Hakaider's android body'', fights as him against Gaim and Kikaider, and returns his brain to his original body by the end of the episode. Unsurprisingly, Creator/GenUrobuchi had nothing to do with this one.
** And then it happens again with episode #37! This one is a prelude to ''Gaim'''s NonSerialMovie...and it comes right after the WhamEpisode that is #36. While they handle it a bit better this time, it's still an episode where the SpecialGuest soccer players launch a flaming soccer ball at a monster.

** In Episode 14, the Urobuchi trap sprung and revealed Gaim to be a DarkerAndEdgier Kamen Rider series as a whole, with one of the Riders discussing how killing monsters is justice being the subject that people are split upon as they try to define what ''is'' justice and seeing if he was in the right for killing a monster [[spoiler:who used to be Hase]].

* CatharsisFactor: It must be very satisfying for a lot of viewers to see [[spoiler: Minato Youko]] deliver an extremely well-deserved TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to [[spoiler: Micchi]] in episode 34. [[spoiler: At that time, Micchi has stabbed Kouta behind his back so many times and has already committed so many questionable acts that seeing her telling him off like that is incredibly wonderful. He totally deserved that speech.]]

* DesignatedHero: Kaito, full stop. He does a variety of questionable to downright morally black things such as [[spoiler: sicking Inves on defenseless people, wanting Helheim to invade killing billions of people, and this is before he knows about the forbidden fruit, to wanting to [[UtopiaJustifiestheMeans commit genocide under the guise of bringing a better world]]]] and for most of the series he's treated as, at worst, an anti-hero. Likely because of his complex character, nobody really seems to mind.

** Roshuo may be a douchebag, but fans like him due to him being one of the only ''sane'' Overlords out there and is more than willing to actually cooperate. It doesn't help that he [[spoiler:killed the local HateSink]] in the most epic yet gruesome way possible.
** Kaito Kumon also counts for the same reason he's the EnsembleDarkhorse. He's an asshole that [[spoiler:tried to be a reverse SocialDarwinist over its head]], but at the very least he's a man of his word.

* FanficFuel: ''Knuckle Gaiden'' reveals that [[spoiler: remnants of Yggdrasil are still giving out Sengoku Drivers and Lockseeds, opening lots of potential for post-series fanfiction with fan-made characters and forms.]]

** The opening features scenes of Kouta screaming from behind a fence for seemingly no reason. [[spoiler: Once you've seen the end of the series, it becomes clear that he's trying desperately and futilely to warn his past self of what's to come.]]

** [[spoiler:The entirety of episode #40's [[LotusEaterMachine plot]] is one for Hase's fate. Given that Kouta is going through the exact same events as Hase, it might mean Hase was in the same kind of situation. Painfully aware of what's going on and what his body was doing, but [[AndIMustScream completely and utterly unable to do anything about it.]]]]

** Many fans begin to think of different ways of how [[spoiler:Takatora can survive his fight with Micchy]], not helped with the fact that his actor didn't receive flowers. [[note]]In Japan, an actor receives flowers when they finish their role in a show, usually through having their character killed off. This has been used to confirm many deaths in the past, including [[Series/KamenRiderWizard Phoenix]][[/note]]. The cries of this hushed down when [[spoiler:all his appearances after that fight came in the form of insanity-induced hallucinations from Mitsuzane]], though there are some who haven't gotten their hopes up. [[spoiler:And he's revealed to be alive in episode 46.]]
** People point out that [[spoiler:Zack was only knocked out in the fight against Kaito and not died like Yoko.]] Most of them point to the tried and true flowers method, in which the latter received some while the former did not. [[spoiler:Much like Takatora, he turns up alive in episode 46]].

** Before the show debuted, [[WordOfGod we heard that Zangetsu would be playing a similar role to]] [[Series/KamenRiderRyuki Ouja]]. [[spoiler: Well, now we see that Takatora, the primary Zangetsu user, is a nice guy while his brother, using Zangetsu's identity, is out to murder Kouta.]]

** More Ryoma and Takatora fodder in episode #27.

** Oren and Jounouchi. Just Oren and Jounouchi. It's especially apparent in episode 25, but it's all over most of their interactions in the last third of the show.

* ItWasHisSled: [[spoiler: Kouta becoming a godlike being at the end of the series]] is pretty much common knowledge due to both the [[MemeticMutation memes surrounding it]] and future crossover movies featuring Gaim [[LateArrivalSpoiler not even attempting to hide the twist, even in the trailers.]]

** And starting with episode 23, [[SuperMode "KACHIDOKI!"]]
** Episode 32 gives us "[[UpToEleven LOCK OPEN]]: [[AllYourPowersCombined KIWAMI ARMS]]!"

** As scary as [[spoiler:Yuya transforming to kill Kouta]] in episode 40 is, his PreAssKickingOneLiner sounds more like what a Saturday morning cartoon superhero would say as his CatchPhrase, which, in the middle of a serious, frightening scene, is more likely to inspire inappropriate laughter than anything.

** The Australian Yggdrasil representative in episode 33. Maybe it's just the whole "English-speaking character in a Japanese show" thing, but to an English-speaking viewer, his delivery sounds ''really'' weird.

** When Gaim first transforms into Kiwami Arms in episode 32, amongst the Armor Parts summoned was the Melon Energy Arms. However when the Armor Parts are circling Gaim, it disappeared and was replaced with the basic Melon Arms. This error was fixed in the subsequent episodes, sticking with only the Melon Energy Arms.

** There are some who felt that Sid didn't get to show off his full potential as a villain after [[spoiler: being killed by Roshuo]], as he could have even topped Sengoku otherwise. Not much of his past is known either, even in things like Duke Gaiden.

*** Zangetsu Melon Arms. For what is considered ''the best'' early suit of Gaim, this form is only used by Takatora for 10 episode before moving on to Zangetsu Shin. To be fair, it ''is'' [[BroughtDownToBadass still later shown to be useful]] for things like fighting Micchy as Zangetsu Shin or Megahex.

** The main villain of the final episode? [[spoiler:Kougane, the BigBad of the movie.]]

** IronWoobie: By 26, Kouta. [[spoiler: He find out that the end of the world is coming, that the only company with the power to do so is going to go for the WellIntentionedExtremist route, that he accidentally killed HIS MENTOR in Team Gaim. His best friend/comrade in arms have been slowly going behind his back and outright shot him, he's alone in his fight against an alien forest, and when he try to communicate with someone that can possibly stop Helhelm he got beat up for his efforts.]] [[TheDeterminator And he]] ''[[TheDeterminator still not break.]]'' He nearly did in #40. [[spoiler: Finding out that he's slowly becoming Overlord-like AND got a healthy dose of MindRape from Redyue wasn't good for his psyche]]. However, it actually managed to make him even ''more'' of an Iron Woobie.

* MemeticMutation:
** Many people call Kouta's leather black jacket the "Sex Jacket" due to him wearing such a jacket the day after he revealed to Mai that [[spoiler:he killed Yuya]] and some members in the audience began to draw a conclusion of what happened after, with one of the hints being Kouta having a nice big smile on his face the day after.
** The 'BA-NA-NA, BA-NA-NA-' 'BARON DA!' gag became such a meme that at one of the live shows, Kaito's actor couldn't even stand up without the audience beginning the chant.
** Oren's Kick ([[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant no, not a Rider Kick]]) from episode 18 is popular due to the sheer insanity of it and Oren himself.
** Takatora's FailedASpotCheck moment in [=ToQger=] and Gaim's crossover movie led to memes [[https://31.media.tumblr.com/b61350b1730f30205937167511b72d15/tumblr_n5ngpyCsKe1tx611oo1_500.png like]] [[https://24.media.tumblr.com/b009c0660f36e615a7aaf1ee35a85caa/tumblr_n5g6h5Zs781rijgqio1_500.png this]].
** "Kamen Rider Gaim on HBO", referencing an infamous [[https://sentairiderconfessions.tumblr.com/post/96881452404/kamen-rider-gaim-is-the-only-kamen-rider-show-that Tumblr confessions post]] that voices a desire to have the show air, uncut and subtitled, in America alongside shows such as Series/GameOfThrones and Series/TheWire.

** If the two haven't crossed the line in some viewer's eyes with those moments, then the revelation in #22 will. Yggdrasill's master plan involves [[spoiler:making as many Sengoku Drivers as they possibly can so people can survive without having to eat Helheim fruit - but they'll only be able to make a belt for one out of every seven people on Earth. The catch is that this isn't merely trying but failing to save everyone, they plan to ''actively kill'' six-sevenths of the world population to bring the numbers down to what they ''can'' save. Ryoma and Sid hit the event horizon by not only being perfectly okay with this, but by also considering it as a small step towards their overall plans; Takatora holds himself back from crossing it since he seems to know how horrible it is, even if he considers it a [[NecessarilyEvil Necessary Evil.]]

** Oren is also pretty popular, as his LargeHam tendencies, being a CrazyAwesome CampGay, his antics to Jonouchi (Oren's "custom" Donguri Lockseed anyone?), and just being a funny goofball in general won him quite a lot of fans.

* CrazyAwesome: Oren takes about five very weird concepts, and somehow combines them into being an awesome badass.

** Creator/HochuOtsuka, the narrator of this series, voiced a character in the [[HumongousMecha mecha]] anime [[Anime/HeavyMetalLGaim Heavy Metal L-]][[NamesTheSame Gaim]].

* HeroicBSOD: Kouta goes into one when he learns that [[spoiler:the first Inves he destroyed was actually Yuya who had been transformed when he ate a Helheim fruit.]]

** As scary as [[spoiler:Yuya transforming to kill Kouta]] in episode 40 is, his PreAssKickingOneLiner sounds more like what a Saturday morning cartoon superhero would say as his Catchprase.

** Whenever a crack to Helheim opens up (be it natural or due to the Riders' henshin sequence), it looks like a zipper opening up in the sky.
** The Genesis Driver. It's cool enough at first glance, but then comes the Belt's henshin announcement: "[Fruit] Energy! '''''SODA!'''''"
** Scary as [[spoiler:Yuya transforming to kill Kouta]] is, his PreAssKickingOneLiner sounds more like what a Saturday morning cartoon superhero would say as his Catchprase.
** The British representative in episode 33. Maybe it's an "English-speaking character in a Japanese show" thing, but to an English-speaking viewer, his delivery sounds ''really'' weird.

* NightmareRetardant: [[spoiler:Sid getting his sorry ass crushed by two large mountain cliffs]] was very brutal, no question. After the initial shock and when the dust settled down, viewers can now make jokes at his expense.
* RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap: Hideyasu Jonouchi was initially seen as TheScrappy by some fans after abandoning Ryoji once his belt was destroyed. Needless to say, they felt satisfied with Oren's [[TakeThatScrappy harassment towards him]], so much so that the karmic payback followed by the HeelRealization in #26 helped him get better reception from the viewers.

** There are multiple scenes where the Musou Saber flops around and bends extremely while hilted on Gaim's belt.

* SurprisinglyImprovedSequel: Fan reaction to ''Gaim'' is very high compared to 2012's ''Series/KamenRiderWizard'', which is considered to be the weakest Heisei 2nd phase show (alongside Ghost, arguably).

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: During TheMovie, Gaim has the Jimber Arms already, Zangetsu Shin is beaten and leaves behind his Melon Energy Lockseed, Kouta picks up and uses all the other Riders' Lockseeds - and ''we still don't get Gaim Jinber Melon.'' The novel for Gaim does feature Jimber Melon Arms, except it's Zangetsu who uses it instead of Kouta[[note]]one possible reason Kouta never gets Jimber Melon in the movie? He got [[SuperpoweredEvilSide Black Jimber Arms]] when brainwashed[[/note]].

* ToughActToFollow: Kamen Rider fans still don't want to move on from Gaim. Every series after Gaim are compared to this, {{Toku}} forums are getting quieter each day compared to buzzing atmosphere back then when Gaim was airing...
** It's 2017 and ''Series/KamenRiderExAid'' has not dissapointed as it initially seemed. The forums are buzzing with thoughts about moral implications, foreshadowing, potential deaths and plenty of other topics. As Ex-Aid ''truly'' delivers, Gaim is still hot topic nonetheless.