Saturday, 2 November 2013

Kamen Rider BLACK 28 – Beetle Fever


A new bug craze is sweeping the town and it is said that once these bugs create eggs that are so expensive that everyone wants it! Problem is the female bug is one rare bug, causing people to panic just to find one! Is this bug craze a new Gorgom plot or some fad that will quickly fade to obscurity?


What makes this episode interesting is Birugenia cooperating with the Gorgom High Priests... which is quite a surprise since he thinks them as incompetent slobs. But as it turns out, it is just part of his plan to lure Kamen Rider BLACK out and destroy him. As for the plot itself, it's quite ridiculous, kinda like how most fads are. A lot of people want it, but unlike most fads, it has something to do with creating a lot of money. This is when the plot starts to become more interesting, the actions of the adults in this episode show us human greed, and that people will do anything just to get money.

So when Kotaro discovered that this new bug craze is a Gorgom plot all along, he tries to convince the adults to stop caring about the bugs and care more about fellow humans, only to be shunned by them. Seeing Kotaro becoming the "bad guy" in the eyes of other humans is a sad scene and feels like these humans are not worth saving. But there is one kid that gives Kotaro the motivation to continue on fighting and that's what matters for him. Seeing him bond with the kid of the week is really great and you can feel that he really wants to help this kid, except that his parents has this high standard for their son.


That's why I am kinda saddened that Kotaro later acted that he is losing faith on humanity so that he can lure out Birugenia and the MOTW. I mean, he created one great bond with the kid only for him to destroy it just to defeat the bad guy?! It's like him picking the lesser of two great evils and for a hero; it's a really tough choice. To save the world or destroy his friendship with a kid who has some confidence problems? What's sad is that the issue with the kid and his family is not resolved at the end of the episode. They left it open that I am not sure if the parents are on a trance thanks to the bug or they are just greedy.

As for the fights, it's really great. The fight with the MOTW is really creative and showed us that the MOTW can create more than just bugs that can create golden eggs. What's great about this is that they actually made new footage for the Road Sector scenes, now featuring the gold dust attached in Kamen Rider's body. After Kamen Rider defeated the MOTW, it's time to face Birugenia! His duel with Birugenia is seriously unexpected. I mean, I expect that Birugenia will just leave after Kamen Rider defeated the MOTW, but nope, he fought the hero and it was one heck of a duel. My only wish is for it to be longer because I want more Birugenia vs. BLACK! At the end, the day is safe but the fate those who got into the bug craze is still unknown.