What are your thoughts on the premiere of Kamen Rider Zeztz? Is it a dream or a nightmare?

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Kamen Rider Zeztz Episode 1 – Dream Agent or Tonal Whiplash?

Welcome to Rider Tears, where I give you my honest thoughts on all things Kamen Rider. Episode 1 of Kamen Rider Zeztz has dropped, and I have… complicated feelings.

The Global Push — Why No Dub?

First off, I’m excited that Toei and Bandai are trying to globalize Kamen Rider, following Ultraman’s lead. It’s smart, it’s overdue, and Zeztz looks positioned as a fresh starting point—perfect for new fans.

But here’s the snag: no dub.

Just like Ultraman Omega, we’ve got subtitles but no English voice track. Why? If they’re serious about global reach, they should’ve led with a dub. I’d be way more likely to watch week-to-week if I could just listen while working or doing chores. Maybe it’ll come later—but still, the delay hurts momentum.

The Dream That Opened the Show

Zeztz Episode 1 kicks off strong… visually.

The dream sequence featuring our main character, Baku, as a suave Agent 7 is stylish, slick, and loaded with spy-action energy. There’s even some John Wick and Jackie Chan flair in the fight choreography. The rubber bullet gag that bounces off a guy’s head? Genuinely funny.

But here’s the thing: that dream doesn’t seem to matter.

It feels like a fakeout, setting us up for one kind of show, only to veer into something else entirely. And that tonal shift? It’s not just jarring… it’s kind of frustrating.

Who Is Baku, Really?

In real life, Baku is… a bit of a mess. Older than his sister. Jobless. Lost. He wants to help people, maybe be a secret agent. That’s his dream. But he’s not even working toward it. So when the show pushes a “follow your dreams” message, it feels a little hollow.

Character arcs need low starting points, but Baku’s is really low. And I’m not yet convinced his rise will feel earned or compelling. Right now, the dream-vs-reality dynamic just doesn’t land emotionally.

Takahashi’s Hand Is Obvious

This show is written by Yuya Takahashi, the writer behind:

• Kamen Rider Ex-Aid (brilliant, chaotic, emotional)
• Kamen Rider Zero-One (strong, though disrupted by COVID)

Takahashi is known for seeding long-tail mysteries—things that seem small in early episodes but pay off big later. Zeztz might be doing that too. For example:

• Baku has survived three freak accidents: struck by lightning, hit by a meteor, and one more I forgot but screenshotted.
• Each incident left him with some kind of mark.
• Could these past events be connected to his Rider transformation?

It’s a familiar Takahashi move and if he’s pulling that thread again, I’m curious to see how it plays out.

Dreams, Nightmares, and Revolver-Faced Monsters

I do like some symbolism going on:

• Baku dreams of being a hero who shoots bad guys.
• The first monster he faces is literally a gun monster with a revolver cylinder for a face.

That’s cool. I don’t know what it means yet, but it feels meaningful.

And then he wakes up… with the belt and the gear in his lap. The tone instantly flips to slapstick. It’s jarring. I like goofy stuff sometimes, but here it clashes hard with the opening’s spy-thriller tone.

Too Many Clashing Tones

Tonally, the show feels split in two:

• One half wants to be Inception meets John Wick.
• The other half wants to be zany tokusatsu comedy with bouncing 8-bit mascots.

I’m not against cute Rider mascots or goofy belt animations (okay, maybe I am a little), but here, it kills the vibe. And while Fourze pulled off American-style high school antics, that show was built for it. Zeztz feels like it’s conflicted.

Supporting Cast? Promising.

The paranormal investigator and skeptical female partner? I like them.

The guy believes in nightmares. She doesn’t. Classic setup. They could be fun together, and their dynamic might end up carrying a lot of the emotional weight Baku isn’t delivering yet. We’ll see how they tie into the larger plot.

Structural Weaknesses

Let’s be honest. This episode is trying to be two first episodes at once:

1. A “dream intro” that sets up a world that doesn’t exist (or maybe does?).
2. A “real world” origin story where Baku is slowly becoming Zeztz.

And the end result? It’s kind of unsatisfying. We get neither a full character intro nor a fully immersive world setup. We’re dropped in too late, with too little clarity.

Action Direction? Top-Tier.

Let’s not forget: the action looked amazing.

• Kinetic fights
• Great camera work
• Well-choreographed stunts
• The revolver-face gun monster was awesome

But if the show pivots away from that slick spy-action energy… it’s a waste.

Who Is This Show For?

Zeztz doesn’t feel like it’s made for a Western audience. Despite the global rollout, it’s too tonally uneven, too culturally niche, and not quite shōnen enough to grab anime fans the way My Hero Academia or Yu-Gi-Oh did.

It might find a core fanbase in Japan. But globally? I’m not sure it’ll hit the way they hope.

Final Thoughts

I know I’ve been harsh—but I’m still watching. I want Zeztz to win me over. And I do believe there’s more going on than meets the eye. Takahashi loves slow burns. Maybe Episode 2 will recontextualize everything.

But as a premiere?

Zeztz Episode 1 is a stylish, confused, and weak start that doesn’t yet know what kind of show it wants to be.

I’d love to hear what you thought.
Leave a comment: Did you love it? Did the dream stuff work for you? Or are you also stuck in tonal whiplash?

Looking Forward