Kamen Rider Zeztz 39 – Rider Tears
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.
MJ Muñoz 