Rider No. 3: His Name is V3! (ライダー３号 その名はV3!)/Last Testament of the Double Riders (ダブルライダーの遺言状) – Essentially episodes 99 and 100 of Kamen Rider, an excellent start to the series (And an excellent conclusion to the previous show). It’s not clear just how much time has passed since Gel-Shocker’s defeat, with the previously-unseen Shiro being quite acquainted with Hongo, Ichimonji and Tachibana (Not to mention Yuri, Tokko and Choko are nowhere to be seen) and the notion of Shiro being targeted by an organization surprising to them. However, a date on a gravestone reads “February 10 1973” is seen, and with later episodes of the original show being set in January, maybe almost no time at all has passed. Though there isn’t a whole lot to set them apart from Shocker thus far, Destron come across as much more menacing than Gel-Shocker, with the attack on Shiro and his family by Scissors Jaguar being one of the most disturbing scenes in any Rider show. Not to mention Bazooka Tortoise carrying a warhead within him. The notion of Ichigo and Nigo being able to create V3 all by themselves is maybe a little far fetched, but when one takes into account Hongo’s biology skills and notices that the place V3 is created in looks an awful lot like an abandoned Shocker lab (Giving them all of the equipment), its more believable. Though the scenes of Shiro pursuing the shady priest during the second part (Which was released theatrically as Kamen Rider V3: The Movie) may drag a bit, an explosive (quite literally) start to the show with a seriously shocking ending. 4.5/5
The Execution of V3 (死刑台のV3)/V3’s 26 Secrets!? (V3の２６の秘密！?) – The second in the string of opening two-parters, and a pretty fun one at that. Destron is wasting no time in wanting to deal with V3, creating two cyborgs to deal with him (One, TV Fly to study his moves and hypnotize his allies, the other, Squid Fire to go for the kill). Not a whole lot in the plot department, but certainly big on action, even if the second part involving an amnesic, hypnotized Tachibana drags a little, at least in comparison to the first. The new HQ of the Rider Scouts is revealed, being the front of a sports shop, with Junko and her kid brother Shigeru (Played by Return of Ultraman‘s Hideki Kawaguchi) helping man it. It is revealed that V3 has 26 different powers of abilities within him supplied by Ichigo and Nigo (Like Colonel Sander’s 11 different herbs and spices), with a few being introduced. 4/5
Snake-Man with a Machine Gun! (機関銃を持ったヘビ人間!)/Enter, Hammer-Jellyfish! V3 Unleash Your Killing Technique!! (ハンマークラゲ出現! 放てV3の必殺わざ！！) – Another two-parter that’s again kind of light on plot, but pretty big on thrills. Destron intends to steal the blueprints for a new energy source that could overtake nuclear energy…but just WHAT said energy source is, is never revealed. But it seems Destron doesn’t know either, kidnapping the scientist’s assistant to explain it to them. The way in which Shiro learns of the assistant being captured by Destron (Accidentally dropping her wallet at Tachibana’s sports shop) is a bit contrived, but it appears he knew of their interest in the new energy source sometime beforehand. Children seem to think of Kamen Rider as only a myth, which does seem a little odd considering how well known he was among kids in the last show, but that does set the pavement for people in future shows being unaware of Riders (In addition, the sister of an injured kid denies the existence of Destron or cyborgs). The picture representing the assistant’s late husband is none other than producer Toru Hirayama. One of the two kids that gets caught up in the adventure is played by Sanpei Godai, who’d later be cast as Ninja 5 in Ninja Captor and Goggle Yellow in Goggle V. A bit light on plot for being two parts, and it is a shame the two monsters didn’t tag-team V3 (As fun as Hammer Jellyfish is, he’s nowhere near the badassery that is Machinegun Snake), but a fun pair of episodes. 4/5
The Fury of Rider V3’s Special Training (ライダーV3 怒りの特訓)/Watch Out, V3! Beware the Terrifying Buzzsaw (危うしV3！迫る電気ノコギリの恐怖) – Like the previous few episodes, not quite enough plot to warrant two parts, but still a pretty fun romp. Destron is after a scientist who created an artificial heart that revived the dead for use on their own cyborgs. Just what exactly sets his artificial hearts apart from what they use to constantly revive monsters is not clear. Plus, in the scientific field, it seems like a step down the serum that can revive the dead in Kamen Rider‘s Monster Poison Lizard, Duel in Fear Valley!! (Which also has a frilled lizard monster, ironically enough), though who knows if that was ever successful or not. Destron has been after the scientist for over two months, likely before the start of the show. Chainsaw Lizard (the first female monster of the show) is certainly among the more incompetent, first falling for the pretty blatant trap laid out by Tachibana and the Rider scouts to bring Shiro to the hideout, and later leaving Shiro all alone, where he of course escapes. 3.5/5
What is the Destron Hell Squad!? (デストロン、地獄部隊とは何か！？)/Secret of the Double Typhoon (ダブルタイフーンの秘密) – The penultimate of opening two-parters, and while the previous ones have been pretty light on plot, this one’s a bit ridiculous, with almost none whatsoever. What very little there is involves Destron capturing and brainwashing some motorcross racers and creating a “Hell Squad” to combat Shiro/V3…presumably, as even that is a bit foggy (There is a bit with the Hell Squad stealing some nuclear satellite fuel that goes nowhere, though it can be deemed a successful operation). A decent portion involves Tachibana and a team of Rider Scouts attempting to rescue Shrio, Junko and Shigeru, which is pretty fun and does showcase how skilled the Rider Scouts can be. Lens Ant and Razor Starfish have a pretty enjoyable dynamic, often clanging their arm weapons together ala Gigan and Megalon in Godzilla vs. Megalon, though it is a shame the story opts to focus more on Lens Ant (Who dons what’s possibly the most blatantly evil human form imaginable), as Razor Starfish is much cooler. A fine way to spend 50 minutes, but there’s almost no story at all. 3/5
The Claws of Evil Reach Out for V3!! (悪魔の爪がV3をねらう!!)/Junko Becomes a Mutant’s Bride?! (純子が怪人の花嫁に！？) – The last of the opening two-parters, and one of the better ones. While still pretty light on actual plot (With Shiro essentially going to infiltrate a Destron hideout provided by a murdered escapee), there is a decent deal of character development, particularly for Shiro, who is determined to make sure nobody ever has the suffer at the hands of Destron like he has, and Junko, who is beginning to catch on to Shiro’s identity. It’s clear Junko has feelings for Shiro, but he wants no part of it. Present is a creep that’s apparently been stalking Junko for some time. We don’t really learn much about him, but you can fill in the blanks. He’s turned into Drill Mole by Destron (Due to his hatred for Shiro out of jealousy), and actually intends on marrying Junko, resulting in a Destron wedding ceremony. Its as bizarre as it sounds and just kind of pointless (Drill Mole as a whole just doesn’t add much to the episodes, and probably could have been removed in favor of more screen time for the way cooler Pickaxe Shark, with Destron just capturing Junko as bait for Shiro). Regardless of a few weird bits, a pretty decent pair of episodes. 4/5
Terrifying Commandant: Doktor G!! (恐怖の大幹部ドクトル・ゲー！) – The first single-part episode, though it will lead directly into the next. Destron’s got a new commander heading their way in the form of Doktor G, which was a much-needed addition, as the Great Leader directly commanding troops could get weird. While that is going on, Magnet Boar, posing as the legendary “boar man” in the mountainside (It is not clear how long he’s been there for) is killing some people and intends to use his magnetic powers to derail some bullet trains. It’s a super simplistic plot, but makes sense when you realize it’s all a big distraction… 3/5
Secret Memento of the Double Riders (ダブルライダー秘密のかたみ)/Rider V3’s Deadly Weakness!! (ライダーV3 死の弱点！！) – We’re already back to two-parters with the introduction of Doktor G as Destron commander. Interpol has obtained a coded message (We later learn just who presumably passed it over to Interpol) apparently from Ichigo and Nigo that reveals the location of a document containing V3’s known weaknesses (One of which we learned last episode), prompting an enjoyable race between Shiro’s gang and Destron to obtain it. As opposed to being a cool, trenchcoat-wearing guy, the Interpol agent is a portly middle aged dude who seems to get his wardrobe from the Bass Pro Shop. We have to wait a bit until we meet “cool” Interpol agents. And with that title and the episode’s plot, it would indeed seem to confirm that Riders Ichigo and Nigo have survived. While is isn’t surprising (They DID say they would return), the revelation does come a bit too early in the show. Doktor G leaves an alright impression, but he doesn’t get a whole lot to do, especially in the second part. His personal bodyguard Toad Boiler has a real kamikaze-like attitude in regards to killing V3, which is pretty disturbing, but just WHY the special attack he intends to kill V3 with (a strange goop that drains him of his powers) will also take his life is not clear. A pretty fun pair of episodes. Guest stars Hirohisa Nakata. 3.5/5
The Missile-Carrying Gecko Inhumanoid! (ミサイルを背負ったヤモリ怪人!) – A pretty average episode, with innocent civilians tangled up in Destron’s scheme to blow up an oil refinery with Missile Gecko. Missile Gecko tests one of his missives on an airliner…could that have been the airliner explosion that killed Bunta’s parents in J.A.K.Q.??? One of the witnesses of the incident manages to survive and is rescued by an older fisherman and his grandson, who too is a Rider Scout. Just how Destron found out about his survival is anyone’s guess, unless they really do have cameras EVERYWHERE. 3/5
The Devil Spray is the Reaper’s Weapon (デビルスプレーは死神の武器)/V3, Beware the Evil Traitor! (悪魔の裏切り あやうしV3!) – A two-parter involving a deadly plague, a plot line that was used a bit too often in the previous show (And will be used several more times here), but done rather well here. Said plague gives people extreme fevers, which does seem like a bit of a step down from some of Shocker’s crazy viruses, but it is well-established that there is NO cure…except perhaps in Destron’s hands (Wouldn’t want it affecting Doktor G or anyone, after all). The one that spews the virus, Spray Mouse, disguises himself as a priest and takes up residency in a church, giving the first part a bit of a Bloodsucking Monster, Gebacondor vibe. In a really contrived bit, the marrying couple its first tested on just so happen to be friends with Junko, which apart from being contrived, goes nowhere, as Shiro notices Destron watching them before they’re even revealed to know Junko. During a point where Shiro spares the life of a Destron mutant and even contemplates a truce, both Junko and Shigeru react pretty nastily, killing him to just kill the monster without hesitation, not acting much better than your average Destron member. 4/5
Blowfish-Apache’s Operation Torpedo!! (ハリフグアパッチの魚雷作戦！！) – A very enjoyable episode with a pretty simple, but fun plot of V3 infiltrating a Destron hideout, which is kidnapping people as slaves to build torpedos for Torpedo Urchin to blow up cargo liners. A lot of fun action sequences including one where Shiro tries in vain to out-swim a torpedo. Junko and Shigeru’s presence is entirely pointless, but a lot of fun. 4/5
Destron’s Shikoku Conquest Operation (デストロン四国占領作戦)/The Double Riders Live (生きていたダブルライダー) – A two-parter that focuses way more on action and thrills than plot, which is the case for most, but is to a pretty extreme level here. Destron targets Shikoku with the “SS Device”, which emits rays that puts everyone to sleep, apparently. At least that’s what it’s supposed to do, if one of the scientists behind it didn’t escape. Much of the two-parter is a race to retrieve the scientist, apparently not so much due to his knowledge on the device, but because he plans to let the world know of Destron. Behind set in Shikoku, there is naturally a lot of sight-seeing to be had along with lots and lots of action. The second part features one of the best-known stunts in the series, with Hiroshi Miyauchi (no stunt doubles here) dangling hundreds of feet in the air on top of a cable car. All of that is great stuff, but it is a shame the story wasn’t tidied up a bit. (Spoilers) The SS Device is shown to backfire for Destron, prompting the Great Leader calling in for a man to fix it, despite them having the scientist behind it back in their custody (Who they can get to cooperate with Syringe Spider’s mind-control serum, which seems to be similar, if not the same, to the stuff used in What is the Destron Hell Squad?). The whole thing about hiring a man to fix it is revealed to be a ruse in order to get Shiro, who poses as the repairman, into their base (Who was spying on them when it occurred), with Destron fixing it themselves, but never do we know what becomes of the SS Device afterwards. As stated in the title, Ichigo and Nigo are pretty much confirmed to be alive, which is again, unsurprising, but still maybe a bit too early for confirmation (The hints of their POSSIBLE survival probably should have begun around this time in the show). The escaped scientist also had an accomplice, who wasn’t so lucky in his escape, but never do learn of his fate. We get a look at just how widespread with Rider Scouts have become, with Shikoku having its own pack. Guillotinesaurus’ (Easily one of the show’s coolest monsters) troops are all dressed in suits with trench coats, hats and glasses, bearing a resemblance to The Invaders from Mirrorman. A lot of fun to be had here, but the rather sloppy writing (Particularly in part two) prevents it from being great. 3/5
Camp of Terror! Mystery of the Underground Canal (恐怖のキャンプ！地底運河のなぞ!) – An okay episode, with not a whole lot to say. Destron are working on a poison gas they intend to release at Mt. Fuji (causing it to spread across the mainland) in Izu…for some reason. Exactly why they don’t make it closer to Mt. Fuji isn’t clear. During this in Izu, a Rider Scouts summer camp is being held, which is a lot of fun. It’s a shame we don’t see more of the summer camp, which is a lot more interesting than the main plot honestly. There are some good scenes with the scouts determined to rescue their kidnapped comrade. Even by Rider villain standards, Speargun Sealion displays possibly the dumbest example of not just killing Tachibana, Junko and a few scouts when he has the perfect opportunity. 3/5
Kamen Rider V3 vs. Destron Mutants – Though pretty obviously filmed alongside Destron’s Shikoku Conquest Operation/The Double Riders Live, with the Shikoku setting and it utilizing two of the same cast members (Guillotinesaurus and Syringe Spider also play fairly big roles in the movie), a very fun movie. The plot is super basic, with Destron wanting a super erosive element dubbed “Satanium” and pressuring its discoverer to find it in Shikoku, but isn’t convoluted unlike the aforementioned Shikoku episodes. Cannon Buffalo is truly one of, if not the coolest of movie-exclusive monsters, and its a shame he never makes his way onto the show itself like Zanjoh and Kamakirid (Before the movie’s release, in his case) did. Ichigo and Nigo appear in-person, who are fighting Destron in Australia, which is ultimately kind of pointless, and as stated before, maybe a bit too early into the show, but still makes for a fun sequence. 4/5
Terror! Vampire From the Graveyard (怪奇！墓場から来た吸血男) – A pretty creepy episode with a vampire monster that feeds off of the blood of young women. His need of blood does seem like a bit of a hamper, and it isn’t stated if that makes the monster any stronger than the usual Destron mutant or not, though its apparently what cures the man of neurosis. It’s not clear if Destron chose the man (Who’s played by Ultraman Ace‘s Katsumi Nakayama) because of him being a friend of Shiro’s or if its just one of those big coincidences, but this won’t be the last friend of his to join the ranks. The man’s younger sister is played by Kaori Okana, who previously played another girl who’s family member was turned into a monster in Kamen Rider’s Watch Out, Rider! Isoginjaguar’s Hell Trap. Light on plot, but a pretty creepy and enjoyable episode with a pretty surprising ending. 3.5/5
Mysterious! Cockroach Manor!! (怪奇！ゴキブリ屋敷！！) – Another creepy and enjoyable episode. Destron is once more working on biological warfare (Something Doktor G claims to be their strongest suit), and take over a biology lab to test their experiments. Certainly an episode that’s only more disturbing the more you look into it. Just why only young women are captured and tested on isn’t clear, but it does give Junko some time to shine undercover. Interestingly, once V3 discovers their doings, Destron decides to just scrap the plan completely. Even if they never make the ultimate virus they intend to, the one are shown making is never given a cure. 3.5/5
Mysterious!! The Destron Ranger Corps (怪奇！！デストロン、レインジャー部隊)/Inhumanoid Heater-Cicada’s Mummy Operation!! (怪人ヒーターゼミのミイラ作戦) – A mostly solid two-parter with another virus in the form of the Mummification virus that turns people into a mummy-like state (Which is pretty similar to the aging virus in Kamen Rider‘s Cockroach Man!! The Terrifying Bacterial Ad-Balloon), which the water supply is poisoned with. It’s very likely that said virus was concocted during Destron’s time in the lab last episode. That’s bad enough, but they up with Heater Cicada, who’s a real bastard, emitting a frequency that hypnotizes people into being thirsty, forcing them to drink the poisoned water. Easily one of Destron’s sleazier schemes. The first part is essentially a big diversion plot to get V3 away from when the water is poisoned, with Mantis Boomerang, leader of the elite Destron Ranger Corps, just causing ruckus (Including beheading the brother of a Rider Scout in one of the more laughable effects in the show). Introduced is the Scramble Hopper, an tube-like invention of V3’s that can be used by Rider Scouts and other humans to fight off Destron soldiers with its sound vibration. During the second part, it is stated that there is a man who knows the cure to the mummification virus, but Destron has already taken him under their captivity. (Spoilers incoming) Shiro vows to rescue him, and winds up meeting his daughter (Which is resulted from a very impressive sequence of Miyauchi dangling on a speeding car), who knows his location. The whole thing turns out to be a ruse to lure Shiro into a Destron trap, with the scientist apparently not even having a daughter, but once Heater Cicada is killed, that’s it, the episode is over. We never see the scientist who knows the cure rescued. Quite a few people are shown being affected by the mummification virus (Including a child!), and since we never find out if it was cured, we can assume they all died, making it at least a partial victory for Destron. But like the situation with the S.S. Device in the last two-parter, just why they choose to abandon the apparently incurable virus really makes no sense, apart from there simply being more efficient viruses and toxins available (It’s safe to assume the water supply containing it was quickly dealt with by the government), especially given Heater Cicada, the one that makes people crave water is dead. A very fun pair of episodes, it’s just a shame the ending was so rushed. 3.5/5
Zol, Death, Hell & Black Rise from the Grave (生きかえったゾル・死神・地獄・ブラック)/The Five Commandants’ All-Out Attack!! (五大幹部の総攻撃) – As stated, the return of Colonel Zol, Doctor Shinigami, Ambassador Hell and General Black, resurrected by Doktor G to partake in a large-scale Japan annihilation plan, with each commander in charge of a certain region. Said method of annihilation is yet another poison gas, and exactly what sets that one apart from the many other toxins/viruses Destron has concocted is not clear (Other than gas masks apparently being useless against it). It doesn’t even kill people, instead simply putting them in a comatose-like state. Of course, there is an antidote for it in Destron’s hands, resulting in another mission to retrieve it, along with some pretty clever deceptions on Shiro, Tachibana and Junko’s parts to rescue each other. The resurrected commanders unfortunately don’t get a whole lot to do other than just stand around, but it is great to see them all together. They all seem to have some slight disdain for Doktor G (Even if he was the one that revived them), and also acknowledge that Ambassador Hell (Who arguably has the most to do), even by their standards, is on the kooky side. Apart from the four commanders, four Shocker monsters are also resurrected – Dokudalion (Who now speaks with a man’s voice), Shiomaneking, Newtgeth and Unidogma. While a little bit wasted potential, a fun pair of episodes that at least has a proper ending. 4/5
Doktor G’s Final Challenge! (ドクトル・ゲー最後の挑戦！)/Doktor G! The True Form of Evil is…? (ドクトル・ゲー！悪魔の正体は？) – Doktor G’s final story, as suggested in the title. It also marks the introduction of Ken Sakuma, an Interpol agent assigned to combat Destron, essentially becoming the new Kazuya Taki (There a few differences of course, like Ken being with Interpol, which makes a lot more sense than Taki being with the FBI and fighting Shocker in Japan). He doesn’t last long. The Great Leader is clearly fed up with Doktor G after his string of failures (And I guess his abandoning of perfectly working things like the S.S. Device and the Mummification Virus), and grants him only last chance the use Camera Mosquito, who has the ability of mimic the face of anyone, (Which also temporarily puts the person he replicates’ face is a creepy warped shape) for…something, only for that to be interrupted by Interpol agents getting their hands on vital information about Destron, This results in a pretty enjoyable “chase” story, until Doktor G vows to fight V3 one-on-one to the death, in what is easily his best moment in the show, showcasing just how devoted to the Destron cause he is. Despite his scorpion-themed outfit, Doktor G’s monster form is based off of a crab, and unfortunately marks the last in the very fun line of “fusion” monsters. The rest from now on will just be simple animal-themed monsters. A fun two-parter and a decent end to Doktor G, even if he was overall a pretty weak villain. Guest stars Yoshifumi Tajima. 4/5
Enter, Baron Tusk: Commandant of Curses!! (呪いの大幹部キバ男爵出現！！) -The introduction of Baron Kiba, a sort of shaman from the depths of Africa, who leaves a pretty good, creepy impression and is a nice breath of fresh air after G’s overlong tenure. He brings some monsters along with him, and its not clear if they are human/animal hybrids via cybernetics like the Destron monsters, fusions of a more organic/spiritual nature, or legit, non-human monsters, like those that we’ll see in Kamen Rider Amazon a few years down the road. The plot is super simple, with Destron taking control of village to lure V3 to his death. Ken is along for the ride, and really feels like a real poor man’s Taki, even calling Shiro “senpai”. Not a great episode, but not bad. 3/5
Spectre of Onibi Swamp: Rider Scouts Annihilated!? (鬼火沼の怪 ライダー隊全滅！?) – A pretty fun episode with a simple, but logical enough plan by Kiba – to kill all the Rider Scouts Who are out camping with Tachibana and Junko, staying near an old friend of Tachibana’s, that just so happens to be a monster in disguise. Not a whole lot of substance, but an enjoyable affair. Ken is completely left behind by Shiro. Even he knows what a weak character he is. Kiba displays genuine empathy for his monsters, which is certainly a departure from past commanders and showcases the Fang Tribe’s status as a “race”. The ending, involving Tachibana’s friend, is a cop out, but a decent time all-in-all. 3.5/5
V3 in Danger! Riders One and Two Return!! (V3危うし！帰ってきたライダー１号、２号！！) – The return of Ichigo and Nigo, and Hongo and Ichimonji in-person, as suggested by the title. Their re-appearance certainly comes out of the blue, but is more than welcome. The episode’s main plot is kind of a mixed bad, with Destron targeting a scientist who creates photochemical smog (Seriously, who does that?!) and forcing him to hand it over to them. In order to get him to comply, the werewolf monster bites his daughter, slowly beginning to transform her into a werewolf, some more lycanthropy in the series that hasn’t been seen since Zol’s first death (Presumably, Kiba’s spell is what prevents her from becoming a full-fledged werewolf right away). In a contrived plotpoint, Junko just so happens to be friends with the daughter, and pays a visit to them along with Shiro, Tachibana and Shigeru. While contrived, it is clear that Kiba waited for the night before their visit to target the doctor, knowing of their visiting ahead of time. Apart from the title, obviously, Ichigo and Nigo’s appearance really comes out of nowhere with no hints prior, but is beyond awesome and makes up for the episode’s shortcomings. Though Ichigo is still fighting Destron in Australia, Nigo has apparently moved to America. 3.5/5
Critical Moment! Baron Tusk vs. The Three Riders!! (危機一髪！キバ男爵対三人ライダー！！) – Almost no plot, but a very enjoyable episode with all three Riders kicking butt. Kiba awakens Smilodon, the apparent queen of his Tusk Tribe of monsters, who’s said to have been sleeping for a million years. Clearly, these monsters are unlike anything we’ve seen prior, but will be far from the only ancient monster race in the series. Smilodon essentially just picks off the Riders one-by-one, first poisoning Hongo (Via a weird voodoo-like doll), then taking out Shiro and Ichimonji when they attempt to help him. Some great moments for all three Riders, though it really is Ichimonji who saves the day. Hongo’s reuniting with Tachibana is a little short-lived sadly, especially with him being poisoned and all, but a nice tidbit has Tachibana making Junko drive to the hospital, while he stays in the back and tends to Hongo. A lot of fun. 4/5
Baron Tusk’s Final Transformation (キバ男爵最後の変身) – Baron Kiba’s final appearance, which is a shame, as he was quite interesting and a nice change of pace, but never really got much of a chance to shine. If nothing else, he deserved a two-parter to his name, especially considering how many Doktor G had (Perhaps Kiba being the one who revives the fallen Shocker commanders with some Doovoo would have been neat). The plot concerning Kiba attempting to capture three prominent figures in Japanese society and brainwash them into being Destron followers isn’t exactly a grand final plan, but works well enough. Ken is back after being absent for the last two episodes, and is still unimpressive. A good episode, but Kiba left us too soon. 3.5/5
The Winged Corps: Demons of the Sky (空の魔神 ツバサ軍団) – The introduction of Archbishop Tsubasa from Tibet, who is easily the lamest villain in the show, and quite possibly all of Showa Rider. That said, not a bad episode, with the new Wing Corps basically scaring heads of power stations, research facilities and the like to give up their stations to Destron or else. Sadly, that element isn’t explored too much, with much of the episode involving Shiro figuring out how to combat the new Winged Corps in the air, which is still pretty enjoyable. Ishinomori’s outline for The Great Leader had him formerly being a Tibetan monk, much like the Winged Corps are all implied to be, though this possible origin is never brought up. The final appearance of Ken Kawashima as Ken Sakuma. We hardly knew ‘ya. 3.5/5
Mysterious Temple: Curse of the Musasabi Clan! (怪しの寺 ムササビ族の呪い!) – A rather mediocre episode, with a pretty typical “poison gas” plot line, with Tsubasa and his flying squirrel monster wanting to spread some on a village via a volcanic eruption. But what sets this gas apart from others is the fact it turns those affected into dead flying squirrels. For real. Shigeru is out visiting his grandfather and cousin, who all stumble across it. Despite them, you know, also being her grandfather and cousin, Junko does not join the gang, making it easy to believe the episode was written with a one-off Rider Scout in mind (Not that I mind Shigeru’s presence, of course). Pretty weak, but not god awful or anything. 2.5/5
Lone V3 and Cub: Deadly Skydiving! (子連れV3 死のスカイダイビング) – Sadly doesn’t feature V3 slaughtering footsoldiers with blood spewing everywhere in true chanbara fashion, but not a terrible episode, if a real mixed bag. There is for once no real plan by Destron – their hideout is simply stumbled upon, and Shiro goes to investigate, befriending a small child who’s father was kidnapped. The titular “cub” is played by Yoji Matsuda, who will go on to play Masahiko on Kamen Rider Amazon, and certainly improve his acting chops with age. The relationship between Shiro and the boy and his determination to rescue his father is rather nice. Junko appears towards the end for almost completely pointless reasons (Sure, her losing her brooch leads Shiro to the hideout, but that could have been done in so many other ways). Not a great episode, but without some merit and certainly a different one from usual. 3/5
Terror of the Carnivorous Fauna!! (人喰い植物 バショウガンの恐怖！！) – The first of several episodes that serve as remakes of classic episodes of the original show, apparently done to appease longtime viewers aching to see them again (Re-runs were practically unheard of back then). In this case, the episode is a remake of Man-Eating Sarracenian, and is inferior in pretty much every aspect (Save for the child actor and possibly the ending), lacking in the creepiness that made that episode so memorable. It rather weird the plant monster would serve under Taubasa and his Winged Corps given plants can’t fly, though they do give him wing-like leaf arms. An element changed is the experiment conducted on the individuals captured by the plant monster. In the original, it was a very simple test to see what humans are suitable for cybernetic surgery (Which admittedly by this point, would maybe be a bit too simplistic). Here, they are shrunk and placed in jars ala Dr. Pretorius’ creations in Bride of Frankenstein or Dada’s experiments in Ultraman to be “preserved” for future cyborgs. It’s as weird as it sounds. During the final fight, a random man can be seen strolling along, clearly aware of what’s going down, but uninterested. A poor man’s version of the original, but the very ending, in which Shiro is reminded of the family he no longer has is very powerful and almost makes up for the whole thing. Almost. 2.5/5
Sudden Death! V3 Mach Kick!! (必殺！V3マッハキック！！) – The second of the remake episodes, and probably the strongest, with it being a remake (Albeit with a few more liberties) of Deathmatch! Anteater Demon Arigabari, and in some ways improves upon the original. Gone is some of its fat, with the monster simply showing up to the apartment complex and injecting his virus into a boy’s older brother, and as opposed to it being Shigeru who is badly injured and drives Shiro into serious training (Like Goro in the original), it is the boy with the infected brother, which does make sense given how he’s the main focus of the first half. Shiro’s doubt followed by determination to combat the monster is as powerful as it was with Ichimonji, and Tachibana taking what was Taki’s role in the training sequence is pretty cool. Amusingly, whereas the original does have them finding a cure for the boy’s brother via a typical antidote in Shocker’s lair, here, V3 just INSISTS he will be cured. The final appearance of Archbishop Tsubasa, and thank god for it. 3.5/5
Oh! People Are Melting! Enter, Marshal Armor (あッ！人間が溶ける！ヨロイ元帥登場 Ā!) – A remake of Monster Scorpion Man, and while it does not hold a candle to the original, not too bad an episode, with it coming off as more an homage than remake. The monster (Played by Return of Ultraman‘s Ko Mitsui and now a much-less menacing Armadillo) is still an old colleague/rival of Shiro’s, though here it seems he joined Destron not out of hatred for him (Indeed, here he still seems to respect Shiro, even begging him to join), but because his true belief in Destron’s views. It’s certainly an interesting change that isn’t explored to its fullest potential, but sets is apart from the original nicely. The escaped slave is a much younger man than he was in the original, with a wife and young daughter, and doesn’t receive the unfortunate fate the original did. Marshal Armor makes his debut as Destron’s final commander, and while he does very little, he’s already an improvement over Tsubasa. As a remake of Scorpion Man, it falls flat, but as its own episode, there’s some merit. 3/5
The Snail-Man’s Human Experiments! (カタツムリ人間の人体実験!) – A pretty dreadful remake of The Terrifying Bat Man that lacks anything that made the original so good. Bat Man is a much less-menacing snail that injects tiny snails into people (Since a basic mind control virus would be way too simplistic by this point), and spends much of the episode asleep, thanks to them adapting Bat Man’s nocturnal nature, even if no parts of it are set are night time, which completely takes away the original’s creepy factor. The original’s subplot of Ruriko accusing Hongo for the murder of her father is even adapted, with a girl accusing Shiro of killing her Destron-controlled sister. As a remake of Terrifying Bat Man, it’s terrible, but even if one has never seen the original, still a pretty lousy episode. 1.5/5
Friend of Foe? The Mysterious Riderman (敵か味方か？謎のライダーマン)/V3 Versus Riderman (V3対ライダーマン) – The introduction of Joji Yuki, the head of Destron’s science department, and quite possibly the guy behind many of the scientific terrors we’ve seen utilized. Yuki has made quite a name for himself in Destron and has some very loyal followers, which apparently irks Marshall Armor and other high-ranking commanders, prompting him to be sentenced to death (The Great Leader seems alright with Yuki, such a vital scientist being killed, which on the one hand only makes him out to be more evil as we’ll later learn, but on the other makes him seem a little foolish given how Armor and the other commanders are so blatantly jealous of him). With this, we have ourselves a new Rider in the form of Riderman, who is not a full-fledged cyborg, but rather has only a cybernetic arm (And presumably, the suit he wears gives him enhanced powers). He and V3 have a lot in common in that they hold grudges against Destron, but definitely don’t see eye-to-eye. V3 doesn’t necessarily want revenge for the murder of his family, but wants to make sure nobody else in the world has to suffer like he did. For Riderman? He’s hellbent on avenging himself and his friends, and simply taking down the corruption within Destron – he hasn’t exactly seen the light on them yet. Yuki’s close assistants are all fairly young men that may or may not have been kidnapped to work for Destron, but seem relatively happy working for them, at least in Yuki’s presence. As evidenced by this and Shiro’s Destron-joining friend, there are clearly a lot of unsuspecting people out there that Destron’s view attracts. Though Yuki’s sentencing and The Great Leader’s quick accepting of it are a bit rushed, a fantastic pair of episodes. 4.5/5
Destron’s Christmas Present (デストロンのＸマスプレゼント)/Riderman, Where Will You Go? (ライダーマンよどこへゆく？) – Another strong two-parter that focuses on the uneasy relationship between V3 and Riderman. Armor enacts possibly his sleaziest scheme – capturing children, including one Yuki has apparently become friends with, and putting them through torturous Destron training exercises unless he, as Riderman, fights V3 to the death (Yuki displayed a clear weakness for helping kids last episode). Despite being a traitor that wants Armor dead at all costs, Armor seems to prioritize the killing of V3 over Riderman, with Riderman being deemed little more than an annoying nuisance (It’s certainly possible, as we’ll soon learn, the The Great Leader is to thank for that point of view). Destron’s revisionist ways to attracting those to their cause is at display here, with Yuki apparently not even being aware of their frequent killing of innocent civilians or torturing of children. Black Santa (Did the Great Leader remember that name for when he named Black Satan a few years later?), the evil Santa Claus human form of Rhino Tank is played by the same murderous actor seen in Murder, Yamogelas. Though maybe a light on plot for two episodes, which could have spent a bit more time with Yuki coming to terms with Destron, a good pair of episodes. 4/5
Ambush! The Destron Leader!! (待ち伏せ！デストロン首領！！)/Look! The Face of the Destron Leader!! (見た！デストロン首領の顔！！) – A loose two-parter (Written by three different people, no less) that definitely isn’t as strong as the previous two, but certainly isn’t without merit. The first part is an “impostor” story, with Armor creating an imitation Yuki/Riderman to kill Shiro and the Rider Scouts. Though him keeping the real Riderman alive is pretty foolish, Armor seems keen on making him watch, stating the whole world will blame Joji Yuki for when Tokyo is annihilated. The “Tokyo Annihilation Project” is frequently mentioned by Armor and the Great Leader, and is apparently important enough for the Great Leader to be arriving in-person in Japan. The second part concerns V3 and Riderman attempting to reach him, and getting caught in a series of traps. The scene in which V3 and Riderman (And later Tachibana) communicate behind walls via the Morse code is fun, if a little hard to swallow. So, just what is the “Tokyo Annihilation Project”? An army of killer starfish. We can assume the same plan worked on another city in some other part of the world, but to call is underwhelming would be an understatement, and makes the Great Leader’s supposed visit to Japan all the more pointless (Of course though, it’s all up for debate). That whole plot really brings the second part down a bit, but the very ending, during which V3 and Riderman encounter what they believe is the the real Destron Leader, has a pretty shocking scene with Riderman, revealing his origins and certainly giving one a whole new view on Great Leader’s willingness to kill Joji. The “face” of the apparent Great Leader bears a resemblance to the Kinclons from Spielban. Would have frankly been better off as two separate episodes without the whole Great Leader thing (With Riderman’s revelation happening in a different episode), but still an alright time. 3/5
A Gunshot Rings Out! Shiro Kazami Falls!! (銃声一発！風見志郎倒る！！) – Certainly a great display of Shiro’s heroism and determination to keep on fighting, with him being shot by Destron with a bullet that makes him unable to control his cybernetic strength, until it eventually depletes all of his power. The only weird part is the bullet was originally intended for Yuki, with Shiro taking the shot, which while I guess would still work given his cybernetic arm (and maybe deplete his energy faster), doesn’t seem as logical as using it on Shiro, given his much larger assortment of power. The scene in which Shiro forces Riderman to perform surgery on him standing up while he holds back a door is possibly the most badass thing in the entire show. Zone Fighter’s Kazumi Kitagara appears as a young runaway pressured into doing Destron’s bidding. A few questionable bits, but a solid, “feel good” episode. 4/5
A Little Friendship (小さな友情) – A “throwaway” episode before the finale, but a quite entertaining one at that. Having escaped, the Chameleon monster from the last episode is upgraded with the ability to extract plasma out of children, turning them into vampires, with Destron apparently desperate for blood for cyborgs. Just why they need children’s isn’t clear, but it of course makes it all the more difficult for Shiro or Joji when trying to fight off hordes of vampire kids. Shiro’s relationship with an orphaned kid who bears witness to the monster is quite touching, and includes a sad flashback with Shiro and his now-deceased sister. 3.5/5
You are Kamen Rider 4!! (ライダー四号は君だ！！)/The Last Day of Destron (デストロン最後の日) – Sort of a mixed bag of a finale, with the first half being quite good and the second being rather sub-par. The first half concerns Destron creating a plutonium bomb that’s set to detonate Tokyo. The first part is quite tense with even a Destron member expressing his disdain for outright obliterating the city. Riderman has a one-on-one conversation with The Great Leader (via the communicator, of course), where when asked if human, the Great Leader laughs it off. This would indicate an otherworldly and/or alien origin, or perhaps mean he has transcended well beyond an ordinary human to the point where he no longer considers himself one (Which would make sense given his disdain for humanity). It ends on a tear-jerking note (Even if it will later be undone). Unfortunately, the second part, with Destron initiating an all-out, final attack on Tokyo, is a lot weaker, with it just being kind of on the generic side. The revived army of monsters consists of only 3 (Though it did seem they were desperate for blood last episode), including Tsubasa’s monster form. Will-o’-the Wisp Walrus is apparently at two places at once, first attacking Shigeru and some Rider Scouts, and then immediately appearing at Rider Scouts HQ to attack Tachibana and Junko (Though I suppose its possible the places were very close to each other). V3’s supposed (Key word supposed) encounter with the Great Leader is even stranger than Ichigo and Nigo’s, with him appearing as a skeleton on strings ala House on Haunted Hill, with an organic heart. Sadly inconsistent, but still not a bad cap to the show. 3/5
Beta Capsule Reviews 