X-X-X-Rider is Born!! (X・X・Xライダー誕生！！) – A solid start to the show and a serious breath of fresh air after V3. G.O.D., who are completely separate from the Great Leader (Well, at least until Stronger retcons it) come off as quite menacing and mysterious in all the right ways (They even use actual guns!), desiring the reclusive Professor Keisuke (Played by veteran actor Jun Tazaki), either to help them in their work, or just die, as it’s clear he’s plotting against G.O.D. by targeting his son, who also seems to be apart of the Professor’s plan against them. Though not explicitly stated, its safe to assume that Keisuke based Kamen Rider X off of the past Kamen Riders that defended the world. It will later be established that V3 left Japan to fight elsewhere, meaning the professor was really on his own in combating G.O.D. (And is far too much of a recluse to contact the authorities). 4/5
Run, Cruiser! X-Rider!! (走れクルーザー！Xライダー！！) – Picking up right where the last episode left off, with Jin still injured. G.O.D.’s scheme involves a Pan-themed monster playing a flute that hypnotizes people to become insane murderers, though the hypnosis is easily broken and never do we actually see them murder anyone. The townspeople affected blame a flute-playing boy who recently lost his father, and are more than willing to kill him (Un-hypnotized, mind you) which is all sorts of messed up. The boy accuses Jin of being a robot (Which may seem goofy, but considering Kikaider will be established as being set in the same universe, maybe not so much), which prompts him to question what, if any, humanity he has in him being a Kaizorg. The answers he receives from his father’s conscience aren’t exactly encouraging, and already, the Jin base is done away with (That was a waste of money). The G.O.D. Commander’s communication device (Which usually self-destructs Mission Impossible style) takes the form of a chicken. G.O.D.’s scheme is undercooked, but Jin’s personal struggle makes it a good episode. 3.5/5
Assassination Dark Spider Operation!! (暗殺 黒ぐも作戦！！) – A pretty simplistic, but entertaining episode. G.O.D. has apparently been operating in other countries for at least long enough for Interpol to take notice, particularly the fictional country of Adabu, where their Hercules-themed monster (Who comes equipped with killer spiders, for some reason) coming to Japan to assassinate, and later replace, an envoy in the midst of an oil agreement with Japan, right in the midst of an oil crisis. It can be assumed G.O.D. has been present in other countries for a bit, but laid low in Japan until Destron’s demise. Hercules’ human form is portrayed by Akira Hamada, who will have a big role in a few shows from now. 4/5
G.O.D., the Shadow of Fear!! (ゴッド恐怖の影！!) – Another pretty by-the-numbers plot, but executed well enough with lots of action. G.O.D. want their hands on an “Alpha Gas” created by a scientist , and attempt to hold hostage his daughter for it. We know literally nothing about said gas other than its name. G.O.D. apparently either got the blueprints for the gas or stopped caring at about the halfway point, as they are more than willing to kill the scientist. Like Pannic from two episodes back, it isn’t clear if the scientist’s assistant has always been G.O.D.’s Medusa, or if Medusa had simply taken her appearance. We get our first full confirmation that Ryoko and Kiriko are different individuals, with Ryoko showing some empathy towards a child. 3.5/5
The One-Eyed Monster’s Kidnapping Operation! (一つ目怪人の人さらい作戦！) – The return of Tobei Tachibana, who seems to have returned to his roots of running a coffee shop. He and Jin meet through pretty silly circumstances (Jin hears Tachibana talking to himself from outside and goes in to investigate), and Tachibana immediately suspects Jin as a Destron cyborg. Jin apparently hasn’t heard of Destron, which does make sense considering he was at sea for six months. With the Riders all gone, Tachibana seems to be investigating strange occurrences on his own accord, looking into a disappearing kindergarten school bus, which of course winds up being a G.O.D. scheme to kidnap children, plummeting chaos, which would be fine enough, but they intend to freeze them and preserve them as slaves for when G.O.D. eventually rules. G.O.D.’s operation is again kind of sub-par, but a notable episode, mainly for Tachibana’s return. Guest stars Hirohisa Nakata. 3/5
The Japanese Islands Fragmentation Plan! (日本列島ズタズタ作戦！) – Even lighter on plot than the previous few episodes, with G.O.D. getting ahold of deadly explosives that they claim will start a new civil war in Japan (Whether this is through arms dealing or their own acts of terrorism is never quite clear), and Jin just stumbling across it thanks to meeting a little girl who’s parents were killed in a test run. Ryoko’s reluctance to harm children has since passed with her more than happy to hold said little girl hostage. Not a whole lot to say, but an enjoyable enough episode. 3/5
The Terrible Genius Human Project! (恐怖の天才人間計画！) – Possibly the most disturbing opening to any episode, with several children driven to suicide, believing they can fly. All of the kids are eventually revealed to have been children experimented on by a scientist involved in the research of human geniuses (Including one of his daughters) that G.O.D. wants to work for them…but if not, they’re fine with killing him and still having caused a high number of youth suicides. It’s not exactly clear if the serum the children were injected with is to blame for their deaths, with their willingness to obey Icarus’ hypnotism being a side effect, or if said hypnotism works on all children, but regardless, a disturbing concept, that the scientist doesn’t seem too upset about (Even his own daughter’s death). Indeed, his past experimenting on children is portrayed as slightly seedy with repercussions, but he’s overall well-meaning, which is maybe a bit of a misstep. Icarus is easily the sleaziest G.O.D. monster, taking real pleasure into driving children to death, not to mention getting real close to the scientist’s surviving daughter who’s barely a teenager. The truth behind Kiriko and Ryoko is finally revealed, and is exactly what you’d expect it to be – sisters. A pretty good episode, even if a few elements could have been touched up on a bit more. 3.5/5
Mystery!? Little Earth – Middle Earth – Big Earth (怪！？小地球・中地球・大地球) – The final appearance of both Ryoko and Kiriko, characters the writers clearly had no idea what to do with. It is rather a shame both characters quickly became a burden given all of the promise they had, but at the very least, their sendoffs, at least Ryoko’s are satisfactory enough, with some loose ends tied up, including Ryoko’s true allegiance (Which was alluded to ever so slightly back in episode 4, though probably unintentionally). The plot of surveyors (Including a guy who keeps bringing his kid a scene of several deaths) stumbling into a G.O.D. base is pretty ho-hum, though understandably so. The preview for the last episode states G.O.D. wants an energy source in the area the surveyors were studying, but the episode never discusses it. Though the last appearance of the twins, a mysterious red figure shows up a few times, looking like he’ll be important. 3.5/5
X-Rider’s Great Deadly Training (Xライダー必殺大特訓)/G.O.D. Secret Police! Apollo Geist!! (ゴッド秘密警察！アポロガイスト！！) – The introduction of Apollo Geist, G.O.D.’s chief security officer in a solid two-parter. G.O.D. creates a virus that brainwashes people into becoming servants, intending on using people as sleeper agents of sorts to overthrow the government. The virus is still seeing its final touches, and is indicated to have been in the works for some time, which could explain why some of their plots these past few episodes have been so small scale. Jin fails to rescue a little girl who bore witness to the brutish roller-skating monster Achilles testing the virus on people, resulting in an obligatory training sequence from Tachibana, with the past Riders and their never giving up being referenced constantly. The only downside is there is of course an “antidote” solution that solves everything, here handled in a pretty bizarre fashion – Achilles promises Jin to cure Tachibana and the little girl with it in exchange for his life, which he of course agrees to – and Achilles indeed has it with him. Either he’s a monster of his word (Perhaps retaining the slightest of honor from his namesake), or is even stupider than Apollo Geist claimed him to be (Prometheus, the monster that takes over the operation is arguably even worse though). Though the ending is a bit rushed, at least it has a resolution unlike many of V3‘s two-parters of the sort, and a solid introduction to the much-needed element that is Apollo Geist. 4/5
The Invulnerable Water Snake Monster Hydra! (不死身の水蛇怪人ヒュドラー！) – Basically a “cops and robbers” story with G.O.D. stealing money being transported – enough to wreck Japan’s economy, apparently – and X trying to retrieve it. Given how much time was put into the Heart Virus (Only for it to fail), it makes sense that G.O.D. would be in need of some dough. The money is raided via a pretty simplistic ambush, but several stores are robbed earlier in a sort of test run via lizards just popping up and disappearing with the money. It’s a very weird sequence with said lizards not even being used to for the actual heist. 3.5/5
Sweep the ESPer Girl Away! (超能力少女をさらえ！) – A rather generic episode with G.O.D. holding a scientist’s family hostage in exchange for him working for them, albeit with a slightly unique twist – the scientist is an ESP researcher, and his daughter is a psychic (Inazuman Flash would have been airing at around the same time, meaning Japan must have been crawling with mutant children). Like Ryoko before them, the scientist and his family are forced to receive cybernetic implants where they will self-destruct should they choose to defect. “Real” psychic child Jun Sekiguchi, who was hilariously ousted as a sham literally days after the episode aired, appears as himself in the beginning, and quite frankly turns in a much better performance than the scientist’s psychic daughter. 3/5
Godradamus’ Great Prophecy! (ゴッドラダムスの大予言！) – An enjoyable episode with just a few weird bits that prevent it from being great. G.O.D.’s plan to unleash killer smoke across Tokyo is reasonable, though what’d odd is its execution – through the phone lines. It’s not 100% if they constructed their own phone booths/phones to emit it or if it will truly be traveling via the lines like a cartoon. In order to lure Jin into a trap, the monster Ulysses disguises himself as a street prophet calling himself “Godstradamus”. One could think this is a jab at Toho’s Prophecies of Nostradamus released the same year, but this episode aired months before the film’s release. A professor publicly calls out Godstradamus’ predictions of Tokyo’s destruction, which apparently REALLY angers Ulysses, to the point where he later goes to his house and captures him and his family so they can bear witness to it. Easily the highlight of the episode are (as usual) Apollo Geist’s scenes, notably in the end, where he challenges X to a one-on-one duel. 3.5/5
Apollo Geist, Mad Insect Underworld (アポロガイスト くるい虫地獄) – The first demise of Apollo Geist, and a very strong episode. Apollo takes matters into his own hand, forcing a scientist to revive insects from Ancient Greece that drive people insane. Of course though, the main focus is Apollo’s determination to kill X Rider, first trying to prevent him from discovering the plan, only for the two to quickly begin a series of outsmarting one another.. A slightly weird plotpoint concerns a Mad Bug being sent to Tachibana’s coffee shop, with it infecting customers, causing them all to kill each other while he briefly steps out. It’s not exactly clear if the bug was intended for Tachibana, or if him stepping out was planned (As he was apparently given way too much change), though it seems to be the latter given the incident allows for police (Actually G.O.D. police) to take Tachibana in and lure Jin. Apollo almost seems to have taken a liking to Tachibana, offering him his Grand Pix dream if he joins G.O.D. The (as of now) final duel between X and Apollo is great, with the two displaying genuine respect for each other. A very solid episode. 4/5
G.O.D.’s Secret Base! X-Rider Sneaks In!! (ゴッド秘密基地！Xライダー潜入す！！)/Counterattacking Apollo Geist! X-Rider in Danger!! (逆襲アポロガイスト！Xライダー危うし！！) – After a long absence, the return of Apollo Geist, after one whole episode. Indeed, it does seem like they should have waited at least a few episodes before bringing him back, but its clear G.O.D. needs him given how legitimately incompetent some of the monsters and soldiers can be. And fortunately, it’s a great pair of episodes filled with lots of intrigue and action. Jin infiltrates the Apollon Palace, said to be G.O.D.’s main base in Japan, disguised as a surgeon tasked with reviving Geist. The two surgeons apparently affiliated with G.O.D. come off as otherwise normal men, with one even working at Johoku University. Also introduced are students Mako and Chiko, who wind up getting their hands on a message from G.O.D.’s Commander, and later get jobs at Tachibana’s coffee shop. It’s not exactly clear how Jin figured out the precise location of the rendezvous to take him (in disguise) to G.O.D.’s base, but it can be assumed one the girls remembered the message. While X Rider is trapped in the base, the commander opts to begin an operation to overload Tokyo’s electrical grid. Though unsurprisingly, the monster tasked in another idiot, opting to do it all within Tachibana’s coffee shop. The revived Apollo Geist is more ruthless than before, but still retains some honor, not wanting to fight X Rider while Jin is badly injured. Though perhaps made a little too soon, a great two-parter. 4.5/5
Scary! Humans are Turning into Trees!! (恐い！人間が本にされる！！) – Easily G.O.D.’s goofiest plan up to this point – turning people into trees. But at least the Commander seems to think so, telling the monster (Apparently based on Alseids from the works of Homer, in a real deep cut) to cancel the operation, as people are still sentient, which if anything makes it more horrific. Tachibana is real reluctant to believe the kid’s story of his family being turned into trees, and while G.O.D. has never done anything that outlandish before, considering he was nearly turned into a cactus by Gel-Shocker, it seems weird for him to be in disbelief. Apollo Geist only barely appears, further cementing he should have been revived a bit later. The ending is about as lazy as they come, with all of the tree people simply being “undone” after the monster’s destruction. A sadly weak episode, in an unfortunate string of them. 2.5/5
Scary! It’s G.O.D.’s Cat Disguise Operation!! (恐い！ゴッドの化けネコ作戦だ！！) – Only slightly less goofy than the previous episode, with G.O.D.’s latest plan involving the creation of a virus that turns humans into crazy cat people, essentially a low-rent Shocker plot. The scientist (partially) behind the virus is also the monster (Called Cattius, a play on “Caduceus”, though obviously based on the kuroneko, which isn’t too far removed from the other mythological figures seen in the show), indicating the whole thing was his idea, especially considering the G.O.D. Commander is never even heard from. Apollo Geist is once again mostly cast aside (And seems to find the plan as ridiculous as the audience does), though does have a fun duel with X Rider in the end. Another pretty weak episode, if competent enough. 2.5/5
The Corpses at the Ghost Mansion Call!! (ゆうれい館で死人がよぶ！！) – Another horror-oriented episode, with G.O.D.’s plan being…to scare people. That’s about it, as the monster, who is not based off of any mythological figure whatsoever emitting hallucinations. Jin, Tachibana, Chika and Mako seem real interested in the disappearance of a young couple in the woods despite there being no indication G.O.D. had anything to do with it at that point. A quick scene of the girls expressing their concern, wanting to come off as heroic and promoting the investigation would have gone a long way. Some of the scenes of people being freaked out by the hallucinations are kind of fun, but hardly creepy (Especially not Jin and the gang’s venture into the supposed house, which is just laughable). Apollo Geist does nothing whatsoever, simply analyzing the situation while sipping wine. 2.5/5
A Ghost!? The Mysterious Snake Man Appears!! (おばけ！？謎の蛇人間あらわれる！！) – The fourth and final in the string of goofy horror-oriented episodes, and while still goofy, a little more entertaining than the past few and occasionally a bit creepy, at least if you dislike snakes/reptiles. G.O.D.’s scheme is a total rehash of the cat people virus, only this time its turning human into snake people a deadly army, accomplished via the transfusion of blood from the snake monster, who is once more not based off of any figure, though retains some traits of the Gorgon, with a stone-turning power and weakness to her own reflection. Apollo Geist only appears once to kill X Rider, clearly concerned about only that and not this ridiculous plan. Not an especially good episode, but at least somewhat entertaining. The climax involving X Rider wrestling with some komodo dragons is too awesome not to love. 3/5
Apollo Geist’s Last General Attack!! (アポロガイスト 最後の総攻撃！！) – The true end of Apollo Gesit, which does sadly show just how wasted he’s really been post-resurrection, especially when it’s revealed he was revived with only one month to live. This might seem like a an act of revenge by the scientists that resurrected him, but it apparently isn’t. Clearly, something has been up with G.O.D.’s Commander ever since, as he’s been a lot less involved in the dumb, time-wasting schemes from monsters, almost as if he’s off working on something else in secret. Apollo is told by Professor Miyamoto, the surviving surgeon who revived him that X’s Pefector could help keep him alive. Miyamoto is established to work at Johoku University, the same place Professor Keisuke did, which could very well indicate he followed Keisuke’s work closely to know such a thing. So Apollo Geist is off to lure Jin to the Apollon Pallace so he can finally defeat X Rider and have the Perfector for himself, and for the most part its a fun romp, but definitely not as strong a sendoff for Geist as his initial one. A large chunk of past monsters are revived to help capture Jin, which does beg the question as to why they can be revived but not Geist, though that could be a matter of how drastically altered their bodies are in comparison. The foolish, but perhaps slightly noble Achilles was for some reason among them, and once more proves his disloyalty to G.O.D., going along with Jin’s plan to hold him hostage. Dr. Kawakami, the late scientist that helped bring Geist back is here referred to as “Dr. Hayata”, which could be his first name. Indeed, the suspicions of something else going on within G.O.D. in-secret are confirmed, with a new enemy announcing himself right after the end of Geist and destruction of Apollon. 3.5/5
The Terrible Great Giant! King Dark Appears!! (恐怖の大巨人！キングダーク出現！！) – The introduction of King Dark and his monsters based off of historical figures. Though never confirmed, it can be assumed King Dark has in fact been the G.O.D. Commander (Even if the voices are different), with his construction of it alongside the new and improved monsters being the reason for his general absence these past several episodes. Unfortunately, a pretty lousy introduction (Especially coming from the usually reliable Masaru Igami), sans a great opening scene, with a very generic “virus” plot from Genghis Khan Condor that turns people into vampires. The first victim is of course a friend of Mako and Chiko’s, though that connection certainly doesn’t go unnoticed. Just a pretty generic affair overall with another contrived ending with everything just being “undone” in the end (Though it is stated that the vampire victims are all a hive mind through Genghis Khan Condor’s blood). King Dark doesn’t feature much at all, making it feel like a leftover episode from the horror series. If there’s one thing worth noting though, it’s the revelation Kamen Riders cannot become vampires. 2/5
King Dark! The Demon’s Invention!! (キングダーク！悪魔の発明！！) – Essentially the real introduction to King Dark and the start of an arc that will last for the remainder of the show. It is revealed that a scientist, Dr. Nanbara (Played by Toho player Hisaya Ito) has been working on the RS Device for G.O.D., a machine that can turn ANY matter into energy for King Dark, which King Dark intends to use to go on a rampage and conquer Japan. It is established that Nanbara has been working on the machine for quite some time, explaining the lower-key plans by G.O.D. these past several episodes. Nanbara is working unwillingly, with his daughter being threatened, and expresses how such an invention can be used for some truly great purposes, but must build it for evil. Toad Goeman bears a strong resemblance to the Sontarans from Doctor Who, and has a rather unfortunate looking ability to squirt a white substance out of his head that makes him stronger. The ending is a serious surprise. A solid start to the arc. 4/5
Revenge Demon Geronimo! The Silent Attack!! (復しゅう鬼ジェロニモ！音もなく襲う！！) – The beginning of the search for the eight pieces of the SR Device’s blueprints, with the first piece being sent to a colleague of Nanbara’s who died in a car accident while he was in G.O.D.’s captivity. The piece winds up in the hands of the late doctor’s children, so naturally, its a race to retrieve them between X Rider and G.O.D. in a very fun episode. The only downside is the somewhat racist caricature of Scorpion Geronimo (And yeah, putting Geronimo in the same leagues as Genghis Khan or Hitler is also questionable), though he’s admittedly not as bad as say, King Indian from Kikaider 01. The ending is another shocker that puts both G.O.D. and X Rider on equal footing. 4/5
The Mysterious Thief, Rhinocerous Beetle Lupin!! (謎の怪盗カブト虫ルパン！！) – The search for the third piece, with it being mailed to a mentor of Nanbara’s who has since become a crazy shut-in with not long to live thanks to cancer. Apparently, the best way to preserve the blueprint while also preventing it from falling into the wrong hands is by tattooing it to the backs of two children using a special kind of ink, much like the blueprints to Giant Devil being tattooed to the backs of Professor Gill’s sons in Kikaider 01. So we’re once again treated to a very fun race to retrieve the blueprints between Jin and Lupin Beetle, based off of Arsene Lupn, who was apparently a real person in this universe (Which would be further confirmed over 40 years later in Lupinranger vs. Patoranger), with Lupin Beetle constantly trying to live up to his name by outsmarting Jin. A very entertaining episode. 4/5
Underworld’s Dictator, Starfish Hitler!! (地獄の独裁者ヒトデヒットラー！！) – As stated in the title, the appearance of quite possibly the most infamous monster in all of Tokusatsu, Starfish Hitler. If one can look past that, a pretty enjoyable episode that of course involves retrieving the fourth piece, with it being in the hands of a colleague of Nanbara’s returning from America. Just how he was discovered to be the one with the piece isn’t clear, but it doesn’t matter. In a pretty clever scheme by Jin, Tachibana and the girls, the scientist and his wife are replaced with decoys in the form of a hippie couple that bear a striking resemblance to them, though it doesn’t take long for G.O.D. to figure it out, giving the couple quite the torture apparently. Tasteless monster (Though to an amusing level) aside, a fun episode. 3.5/5
Special Episode, Full Force of Five Riders!! (特集 5人ライダー勢ぞろい！) – Essentially a recap of all the previous Rider shows, hosted by Tachibana playing kamishibai. And for the most part, its pretty fun, though Tachibana completley reveals the identities of Takeshi Hongo, Hayato Ichimonji, Shiro Kazami and Joji Yuki in front of a bunch of children. The original host, who tried smearing the Rider name is revealed to be Neptune revived, and brings along with him a few other past G.O.D. monsters. Whether this was a serious mission from King Dark, or if they were just messing around in their spare time in anyone’s guess, though Dark is seen collection data on X’s fighting abilities. A certain friend returns. 3.5/5
The Five Riders vs. King Dark (五人ライダー対キングダーク) – The movie that brings all five Riders together properly. The film’s placement within the show is a bit tricky, but considering Shiro introduces himself to Jin in the previous episode and King Dark was collection data on X, after Special Episode, Full Force of Five Riders!! feels the most natural. Said collection of X’s data is used to create Franken Bat (Meaning the Frankenstein monster existed in this universe as well), who requires the blood of young women to stay powerful. There’s another plot by G.O.D. called the “Tokyo Drought Plan” that apparently involves them cutting off the city’s water supply, but is so minor and insignificant, one must wonder why it was even included, as simply wanting to get X out of the way would have been fine. The Fiver Riders are all back, though it isn’t clear if they were fighting G.O.D. or different forces of evil. Ichigo was in New York, Nigo in Paris, V3 in Moscow and Riderman, having survived the events of V3 in Tahiti. Indeed, Riderman’s miraculous survival isn’t at all addressed, though the ambiguously-canon Kamen Rider Spirits would create a story detailing it decades later. A very entertaining film. 4/5
Look! X-Rider’s Great Transformation!! (見よ！Xライダーの大変身！！) – After a small break, we’re back to the search for RS blueprints, with the next piece ending up with a colleague of Nanbara’s family, as the scientist himself is in America. Exactly how or when Jin and the gang discovered he was the receiver is never revealed. The monster Spider Napoleon can apparently fit inside a small painting that’s transported from house-to-house of people G.O.D. wants dead, resulting in an opening sequence of a bunch of scientists with no known connection to the RS device being killed. Napoleon’s web has the power to drain X Rider of his power, resulting in him needing an upgrade from none other than Kazami Shiro, who upgrades him with mercury power (How Shiro knows to do that is not clear), which makes him stronger and gives him a goofy new attack. Continuing from the movie, past monsters Achilles and Salamandra are back as well. 4/5
Deathmatch!! X-Rider vs. X-Rider!! (死闘！！Xライダー対Xライダー！！) – Not the “impostor” story as promised in the title, but still a pretty fun episode with a “master of disguise” monster in the form of Chameleon Fantomas (Who too was apparently real). The plot does take a while to comprehend, with both Jin and G.O.D. desperate to meet a ballerina returning from Germany, but once its revealed she has the blueprint, given to her by the original recipient in Germany to take back to Japan for Jin, it all comes together nicely enough. 3.5/5
I Want Blood! The Monster of the Corpse Swamp!! (血がほしいー！しびと沼の怪人！！) – Another break from the search for the RS Device, with yet another Vampire virus, though fittingly from Leech Dracula. A somewhat generic, though somewhat creepy, plot, though it does wind up having some barring on the RS Saga still – a ransom tool for Jin to give up the blueprints in his possession to G.O.D. Leech Dracula’s human form is a very creepy old lady, who we see a lot more than their monster form, which is incredibly goofy looking (Looking like a pizaz version of the titular monster from Zaat). The vampires are cured in a pretty silly way, though Tachibana is the one to discover it in a nice touch. Definitely not as strong as some of the past episodes, but a still fairly fun little “Halloween” romp. 3/5
Stand! King Dark!! (立て！キングダーク！！) – We’re back to the search for the RS blueprints, with one turning up within a disgusting old doll, apparently left there by an unlucky recipient, and found by a little girl in Nasu. And of course, Jin, Tachibana, Chiko and Mako JUST HAPPEN to be staying in Nasu. It’s certainly possible they knew of the recipient and were there for that, but its never addressed, and comes off as super contrived. The monster Lizard Viking isn’t based off of any particular person, just a Viking. A fun enough episode, though definitely a bit on the vanilla side. We get our first look at the proper suit for King Dark, which of course differs a good deal from the giant prop. 3/5
Showdown! King Dark vs. X-Rider (対決！キングダーク対Xライダー) – Picking up where the last episode left off, with the gang still in Nasu, and a student of Nanbara’s coming fourth with another piece of the blueprint. Just how she learned Tachibana’s coffee shop is the “base” of X Rider isn’t clear (Nanbara’s daughter?). So naturally, we’re off to another race to retrieve the piece from her, with her daughter being held hostage by Ant Capone, easily one of the more memorable of the latter monsters. In an obvious plug, much of the episode takes place in the Nasu View Hotel, and we get an extended sequence of an Jambo African Show, with one dancer even assisting in fighting G.O.D. briefly. What’s been somewhat disappointing about the search for the RS blueprints is G.O.D.’s lack of victories apart from the second piece, definitely undermining the tension. But clearly, King Dark is fed up too… 3.5/5
Fear! King Dark’s Revenge!! (恐怖！キングダークの復しゅう！！) – A pretty fun episode that marks the return of not only Shiro/V3, but also Ichimonji/Nigo, and reveals just where X Rider has been keeping the retrieved blueprints. It also marks what’s easily the most obscure and strange choice for a monster, one based off of Yang Guifei (Who has the ability to summon bombs shaped like crows, to boot). The daughter of renowned Chinese scientists who were suspected by G.O.D. to have received the last remaining blueprint and apparently killed is found and quickly befriends Jin. Of course, something isn’t what seems, and while it is predictable, it is handled well. Centipede Yang is assigned to earn Jin’s trust “with her beauty”, which is definitely a little disturbing considering the girl’s age. Perhaps her being older, maybe even show romantic feelings towards Jin would have worked better, not to mention improve the twist. It isn’t clear though if the scientist family were still suspects or if they were just said to be to make the whole thing seem more legitimate. The episode opens on a dream sequence with Jin playing with the girl before he actually meets her, which never gets mentioned again, and becomes more confusing as the truth unfolds. 3.5/5
The Weapon of Terror Aims at Three Riders!! (恐怖の武器が三人ライダーを狙う！!) – The penultimate episode, with the ninth and final piece being located with a scientist in Hong Kong (Apparently by Ichimonji, in a slightly confusing plotpoint). After a string of failures, G.O.D.’s Tiger Nero manages to find out about him and get the piece first, and even lures and captures Jin in exchange for the other pieces. The last episode established the blueprint pieces being held within X’s Cruiser, though here they’re hidden in coffee grinds at Tachibana’s shop, perhaps being moved after X revealed their location. A very good episode with some genuine tension that escalates significantly with G.O.D. rising to the top and an abundance of “Hell yes!” moments involving Nigo and V3 returning once more. 4/5
Farewell, X-Rider (さらばXライダー) – A pretty solid series finale, if not exactly the epic conclusion one might hope for. With the final core component blueprint back in Jin’s hands thanks to Ichimonji, G.O.D. once again opts to hold hostages in exchange for it, though this time the roles are reversed with Tachibana, Mako and Chico being captured. Ichimonji and Shiro are just said to be off doing their own things. Though the finale should definitely belong to X, a bit more clarification might have been nice. The apparent son of Scorpion Geronimo, Scorpion Geronimo Jr. appears to enact revenge (And like his father, is a mildly racist caricature). At long last, King Dark rises to fight X Rider, and is pretty impressive. It isn’t clear if he is powered with the RS Device or not, though given how he rises almost immediately after the last piece is retrieved, he probably isn’t (But even without it, still manages to be quite powerful). SPOILERS: It’s kind of unclear what happens to the last piece after Scorpion Geronimo Jr. takes it, though it can be assumed he was still holding onto it during his death, with it perishing in the explosion. But again, more clarification would have been nice (G.O.D. scientists could have been put to work on it immediately). The man behind not only King Dark and G.O.D. is revealed to be nobody we’ve ever heard of prior, but a former colleague of Professor Keisuke’s, Dr. Noroi. Noroi’s former background in the world of science does make a lot of sense looking back to all of the scientists either working with G.O.D. (Some hailing from Johoku University, home of Professor Keisuke) or being targeted by them (Perhaps those were rivals or people Noroi was jealous of). 4/5
Beta Capsule Reviews 