Kamen Rider Zeztz 39

Watch Analysis

The video and audio above contain the full unfiltered analysis. What follows is the razor focused version of the strongest point(s) I had to make.

Kamen Rider Zeztz 39 – Is The Show Becoming Too Complicated?

Kamen Rider Zeztz 39 left me with a growing concern about the series. Not because it’s bad, and not because I suddenly dislike Zeztz. I’ve enjoyed most of the show so far. But this episode made me wonder whether the series is trying to do too many things at once.

Odaka Got A Redemption Destination, Not A Redemption Journey

My biggest frustration continues to be Odaka’s redemption.

Last episode gave him the outcome of a redemption arc without really giving him the process. He changed sides, gained new power, and moved into a new role in the story, but the journey itself felt truncated.

There was plenty of material to explore with Odaka. Plenty of opportunities to show repentance, growth, and struggle. Instead, the show seemed eager to move him into his new position as quickly as possible.

That decision becomes even more noticeable in Zeztz 39.

Sieg Is Getting The Story Odaka Needed

This episode appears to be setting up a genuine repentance and redemption arc for Sieg.

The strange thing is that Sieg is a tertiary character while Odaka has been one of the show’s major players for much longer.

The show is demonstrating that it knows how to build this kind of character journey. That’s what makes Odaka’s rushed redemption so frustrating. The issue isn’t that Zeztz can’t tell a redemption story. The issue is that it chose not to spend that time on Odaka.

That leaves me wondering why narrative resources are being devoted here instead of to one of the series’ most important characters.

The Board Keeps Expanding

Another issue is that the overall shape of the conflict is becoming increasingly unclear.

Three has been defeated.

Code appears to be under Zero’s control.

That should make the direction of the story clearer.

Instead, the board keeps expanding.

Now we have:

• The missing Somnia capsule.
• A mystery thief.
• The Lady and Phantom Nightmare.
• Punishment Nightmare acting independently.
• Questions surrounding Catastrophe Nightmare.
• The returning crime brother.
• New Nightmare forms.
• Uncertainty about who the next major villain actually is.

None of these ideas are bad on their own. The problem is that they are arriving while existing storylines still feel unfinished.

Complexity Isn’t The Same Thing As Satisfaction

My issue isn’t that Zeztz is difficult to follow.

I can follow it.

The problem is that the story is becoming increasingly dense while some of its most important character arcs feel underdeveloped.

It’s exciting when a series avoids being predictable. It’s exciting when the future isn’t obvious.

But unpredictability only works when the audience feels like the current story is being paid off before new mysteries are introduced.

Right now, Zeztz feels like it’s opening new tabs faster than it’s closing old ones.

Final Thoughts

I still like Zeztz.

I still think Takahashi is a talented writer.

I still think many of the ideas introduced in this episode are interesting.

But Zeztz 39 left me feeling that the series may be trying to juggle more storylines than it can comfortably handle.

When Odaka says, “So this was all a waste,” I couldn’t help but think about his own redemption arc. Not because nothing happened, but because so many things are happening that some of the stories that matter most are being rushed past before they’ve had a chance to fully develop.

And that’s what worries me most about where Zeztz is heading next.

What are your thoughts?

Drop a comment and let me know where you stand on this.

Inspector’s Notes

Nasuka, Fujimi, and the Reopened Black Cases

One thing Zeztz 39 does really well is bring Nasuka and, by extension, Fujimi back into the story through the reopening of the Black Cases and the reinstatement of the Paranormal Affairs Division.

I like that we’re getting that because it makes sense that it would happen. It’s also something we should want to see happen. The desire is there, the setup is there, and now the show is finally paying it off.

Because Fujimi was the one who got fired, not Nasuka, she’s the one who’s still working for the police. She’s the one who gets told that the Black Cases are open again. She’s the one who’s there when the Paranormal Affairs Division is reinstated.

That’s why I found it interesting when Fujimi immediately jumps into her scene.

When they arrive at the crime scene, evidence is handed to Nasuka, but Fujimi snatches it away and starts talking about the Black Cases. The moment that should belong to her suddenly becomes a moment for him.

I’ve seen some people complain that Nasuka and the other female characters in the show—especially Minami and Nem—aren’t being treated fairly or aren’t getting the attention and time they deserve. I’m not sure I agree with that, but I’m open to the discussion because I think it’s an interesting one.

For me, each of those characters has had opportunities to shine. They’ve had great moments throughout the series, and I don’t think any of them have been irrelevant.

At the same time, moments like this do make me wonder.

Should this moment have been pulled away from Nasuka?

I’m not sure.

Especially because she was instrumental in helping get Fujimi back and played an important role in his storyline a few episodes ago when he was struggling with his Nightmare. She’s consistently filled an important role in the story and has contributed to some of its strongest moments.

So I can see both sides of the argument.

I don’t think Nasuka has been shafted by the series, but I do think Zeztz 39 raises an interesting question about who gets the spotlight and when. The Black Cases are back, the Paranormal Affairs Division is back, and this feels like a natural place for Nasuka to step forward.

Whether the show ultimately gives her that opportunity remains to be seen.

Is Sieg Really Getting a Redemption Arc?

Surprise, surprise. Zeztz 39 seems to be setting Sieg up for a redemption.

That’s kind of odd.

I don’t know if I want it, honestly. I don’t know if I want it in the main show, and the way they went about it is kind of weird.

At the same time, it’s hard to ignore what the episode is doing. Sieg gets separated from Punish Gore Nightmare, Nem talks about people being able to renew themselves, and Baku promises to help make that happen. Whether that’s intentional setup for a redemption arc or not, it certainly feels like the possibility is being put on the table.

The bigger question for me is whether it’ll actually happen.

Do they intend to redeem Sieg in the main show? Or is this one of those things that’s going to get pushed into bonus material afterward? Takahashi seems to get a lot of opportunities to continue character stories outside the main series, so I’m not convinced we’ll necessarily see the full payoff here.

And honestly, I’m not even sure I know what I want.

Sieg has been an entertaining character, but redemption was never really something I was looking for from him. Maybe the show will convince me otherwise. Maybe it’ll surprise me.

Right now, though, I’m mostly curious.

Do you want Sieg to be redeemed? Do you like this path the show has set him on? And do you think it’ll actually happen in the show proper, or is this something that’ll be saved for material that comes afterward?

Did This Gag Land?

Did this gag land for you in Zeztz 39?

Previously, Fujimi put Director Tsukasa in that octopus hold, and this episode directly references it when Tsukasa gets him in an armbar, beats him up a little, and basically tells him that they’re even now. Once that’s settled, Fujimi is officially welcomed back to the Paranormal Affairs Division and put back on staff.

I had two thoughts simultaneously while watching this.

First, I couldn’t believe this crazy-ass show was doing something like this, and I was kind of digging it.

Second, I found myself wondering whether this is really the best path for a show that’s trying to appeal to a global audience.

Then again, it is a kids’ show.

What I find interesting about Zeztz is that it doesn’t usually stop and point at these moments. It doesn’t throw in zany camera angles, goofy music, or a bunch of sound effects to tell you that a joke is happening. Instead, it’ll do something completely ridiculous for comedic purposes and then immediately continue with its normal tone. The show stays intense, fairly serious, and focused, even though something absurd just happened thirty seconds earlier.

Honestly, I don’t know how I feel about that overall.

I enjoy it in the moment. I think moments like this are fun. At the same time, I can understand the argument that they might detract from the story.

The question is whether that’s a meaningful enough detraction to actually hurt the show.

For me, I don’t think it is.

But maybe you do.

That’s what makes this scene interesting to me. I’m not really questioning whether it was funny. I’m questioning whether Zeztz’s particular style of comedy helps the show or hurts it. And I’m honestly not sure where I land on that question yet.

Did Baku Make A Huge Mistake?

Zeztz 39 gives us the breakup I honestly wasn’t sure we’d ever see.

Sieg and Punish Gore Nightmare are finally separated.

That immediately raises a bunch of questions.

For one thing, what does this mean for Sieg? Is he powerless now? I don’t think so. He should definitely be less powerful, but I’m not convinced he’s completely powerless. And honestly, is he even fully back? I’m not sure about that either.

The bigger question is what this means for Punish Gore Nightmare.

Now he’s out there on his own.

And he’s probably going to cause a lot more trouble because of it.

That’s why I’m wondering whether this was actually a huge mistake on Baku’s part.

Not a mistake by Takahashi. Not a mistake by the show. I think this is potentially a really cool direction for the story.

But it could absolutely be a mistake for Baku.

If Baku separated Sieg from Punish because he wanted to give Sieg a chance at redemption, but that decision ends up unleashing an even bigger threat on everyone else, that’s a really interesting consequence for him to have to deal with.

And honestly, I kind of like that.

It creates the possibility that Baku did the morally right thing while also creating a major problem for himself and everyone around him.

That sounds like good drama to me.

The question is whether that’s actually where the story is heading.

Is bad stuff about to happen because of this decision? Or is everything going to work out the way Baku hopes?

Right now, I’m genuinely not sure. But it’s one of the things I’m most interested in seeing play out over the next few episodes.