Kamen Rider Zeztz 41 – 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.
Fighting the Wrong Battle
Zeztz’s First Major Storytelling Misstep?
I’ve been tremendously enjoying Kamen Rider Zeztz for about 90% of its run. That’s why Episode 41 stood out to me so much. Interesting things happen, but they’re surrounded by strange storytelling choices that I don’t really understand.
This is probably the most unbalanced Zeztz has felt.
The biggest problem isn’t the action. It isn’t even the pacing.
It’s that the central conflict doesn’t feel earned.
Odaka and Baku Shouldn’t Be Fighting
The episode initially leads us to believe that Kensei Odaka has gone fully over to the dark side—that he’s become completely consumed by Nox and is trying to destroy CODE by killing everyone inside.
But that’s not what’s happening.
Odaka isn’t trying to kill Zero. He’s trying to destroy CODE’s technology—the dream manipulation system that’s been harming people and exploiting the Nightmares.
So when Baku stands in his way, why doesn’t Odaka simply tell him?
When Baku says, “I won’t let you destroy Zero,” the obvious response is:
“I’m not trying to destroy Zero.”
That’s it.
That single conversation changes everything.
Instead, Odaka stays silent, and the episode manufactures a Rider-versus-Rider fight that doesn’t need to happen.
Conflict Needs Believable Motivation
I’m not saying Baku and Odaka have to become best friends or fight side by side.
I’m saying they shouldn’t fight for reasons that don’t make sense.
Characters can disagree.
Characters can have different goals.
Characters can even come into conflict naturally.
But this conflict exists because information is withheld that the characters would reasonably share.
That’s frustrating because Zeztz has generally been much better than this.
The Story Is Fighting the Wrong Battle
For the past few episodes, it feels like the show has been drawing things out instead of pushing forward.
Meanwhile, important character moments receive surprisingly little attention.
Natsuka’s reaction to Kureha’s death feels compressed.
Fujimi’s attempt to stop Odaka is rushed.
The collapse of CODE is overshadowed.
Instead, we spend valuable time on a fight whose foundation doesn’t quite work.
It feels less like natural storytelling and more like checking milestones off a list.
There Were Better Ways to Reach the Same Destination
The frustrating part is that the episode could have arrived at nearly the same ending while preserving the characters’ logic.
Maybe The Lady manipulated Odaka into believing destroying CODE’s technology would ultimately help humanity, while secretly ensuring the Nightmares would have free rein afterward.
That would make perfect sense.
Or perhaps Zero could have transformed and fought Catastrophe Gore Nightmare, giving us the big action sequence while Baku and Odaka pursued separate objectives.
There were multiple paths that would have reached a similar destination without requiring the characters to ignore obvious opportunities to communicate.
Final Thoughts
I still think Kamen Rider Zeztz has been an excellent series overall.
That’s exactly why Episode 41 disappointed me.
The show usually earns its emotional conflicts through believable character choices. Here, it feels like the story bends those characters simply to force a Rider-versus-Rider battle.
For me, they’re fighting the wrong battle.
What did you think of Episode 41? Did Baku and Odaka’s conflict feel earned, or do you think one honest conversation could have changed everything?
Drop a comment and let me know where you stand on this.
MJ Muñoz 