Kamen Rider My-Th 06

Watch Analysis

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Kamen Rider My-Th 06: Making the Inexplicable Explicable

There’s something really special going on with Kamen Rider My-Th, and Episode 06 has me enjoying this show tremendously.

It’s funny that this is running alongside Ultraman Teo, because I was just talking about how that show teaches the scientific method without deliberately teaching the scientific method, or making some lame point out of it. And now I’m seeing something similar happening with My-Th.

There’s a lot going on in this episode, from Sora’s investigations to the relationships within the Zodiac Alliance, and I really appreciate the confident, mature storytelling we’re getting.

Sora Makes the Inexplicable Explicable

One of the coolest things about Sora is that he’s something of a scientist himself.

I stumbled onto some information about the show explaining that being a Meister gives Sora expertise in a variety of different fields. And we’re seeing him put that knowledge to work by observing, researching, and developing theories about the Fukashigi.

Rather than just hitting these monsters hard enough to defeat them, he’s figuring out how they operate, what their weaknesses are, and how to use that information to his advantage.

I absolutely love this.

It’s especially interesting that Sora actually studies recorded footage of a Fukashigi to develop his strategy. That’s not something I would have predicted happening in this show.

At first, I was wondering where the footage even came from. Then I realized Asao had been recording things with his camera in the previous episode. So that little detail actually served a purpose beyond simply having him pretend to be a streamer.

I don’t want to get too distracted by the camera itself, but I think it’s cool that we’re seeing these little mysteries being approached as actual mysteries that need to be investigated and solved.

And what makes this even more enjoyable is the meaning of Fukashigi.

These creatures are inexplicable. They’re things that shouldn’t be understandable, or at least things that are extremely difficult to explain.

There’s an old joke about “effing the ineffable” that I remember hearing on a writing podcast, and it makes me think of what Sora is doing here.

He’s making the inexplicable explicable.

In a thematic sense, that’s what he does when he defeats the Fukashigi. He gets a handle on something that would otherwise be completely incomprehensible.

But what’s even cooler is that he literally does this by applying his scientific knowledge and research methods to understanding them.

It’s not simply that he’s powerful enough to overcome these things. He’s figuring them out.

I think that’s fabulous. There’s something beautiful about a hero whose strength comes, at least in part, from his ability to understand the things he’s fighting.

And I’m really intrigued by the possibility that scientific discovery, experimentation, and research are going to remain important parts of the series.

Vanken and Mutn’s Relationship Is Told Through Subtle Performances

Another thing I really enjoyed was the further characterization of Vanken, particularly his relationship with Mutn.

Throughout the episode, I noticed these little hints that there might be something going on between them. Just glances, directing choices, blocking, and little things in the performances.

And then we get that wonderful scene toward the end where Mutn is bandaging Vanken’s injuries.

She puts her hand on his wound, and he places his hand over hers.

You can see that there’s genuine care between them. They’re connecting, and it feels like there’s something fairly deep going on, possibly even something quasi-romantic.

Then Mutn, who has been this subdued, almost sleepy character, suddenly becomes furious and declares that she’s going to kill My-Th.

And I love that!

We’ve seen this character behaving in a relatively restrained way, and now someone she cares about has been hurt. Suddenly, there’s this whole other side of her personality coming out.

What’s particularly impressive to me is how little dialogue the show needs to communicate all of this.

Through subtle performances and the way the characters are arranged within these scenes, we’re learning quite a bit about their relationships without having everything explained to us.

It’s just really satisfying storytelling.

Asao Is Beginning to Question His Own Assumptions

I’m also really enjoying what’s happening with Asao.

Between the previous episode and this one, we’ve had opportunities to see him questioning his personal biases, examining his choices, and wondering what Sora and Yuna might be doing differently from the Zodiac Alliance.

There’s a slow progression happening here, and I can see the potential for something really interesting to develop.

One moment I especially appreciated was when Asao had the opportunity to take Sora’s Driver, and he didn’t.

That would have been the obvious villainous thing to do.

But if the objective, as even Kamuri has said, is to protect people from the Fukashigi, then it makes sense to leave Sora with the means to fight them.

Especially because Asao apparently has the ability to take the Driver whenever he wants.

I don’t know if the other members of the Zodiac Alliance understand that. If they did, I could imagine Jyao being furious that Asao had the opportunity to seize it and simply chose not to.

But I like that Asao seems to be thinking about these things rather than blindly following whatever he’s been told.

I’m intrigued by where this is going.

The Zodiac Alliance Has Some Fascinating Mysteries

We also get some interesting little bits of lore in Episode 06.

Apparently, there are only supposed to be 12 Riders in the Zodiac Alliance, and My-Th is a 13th.

That’s intriguing, although it makes me wonder why we aren’t seeing more of the Zodiac Alliance using their powers more frequently.

I’m going to leave that question alone for now.

What’s even more fascinating is the reveal that Kamuri is consuming the substance from the Eggs, just like Yuna.

What does that mean?

Is it because he’s not naturally part of the Zodiac Alliance? Is there something unusual about his relationship to the Eggs, or about why he’s there in the first place?

I really don’t know, but I’m fascinated by the possibilities.

I’m also curious why Sora doesn’t directly explain to Asao that Yuna needs to consume the substance from the Eggs. That seems like information that could make a pretty significant difference in how Asao understands their situation.

There are clearly things about this whole arrangement that we don’t understand yet, and I’m enjoying the way the show is gradually revealing them.

Eagle Frame Is Another Wonderful Addition to My-Th’s Abilities

I’m really happy that Sora got Eagle Frame in this episode.

I love seeing him become another kind of birdman, and I think the suit looks fantastic.

I was a little surprised, though, that he took the Egg from Vanken and didn’t return it.

He said he would give it back, so why didn’t he?

It seems a little out of character for Sora, although maybe the opportunity to become a bird again was simply too good to give up.

Which I totally understand!

What’s particularly enjoyable is how Eagle Frame gives Sora another way to approach combat. He’s not just acquiring stronger attacks. He’s gaining new abilities that can be incorporated into the way he observes and overcomes the Fukashigi.

And I really appreciate that.

Why I Keep Coming Back to Kamen Rider

I feel a little bit like a goober saying this, especially because I just said something similar about Ultraman Teo, but this is sophisticated children’s television.

And I love that.

There’s so much being conveyed through subtle performances, interesting characterization, mysteries, and the way Sora actually approaches his enemies.

The show doesn’t have to stop everything to explain its themes or spell out what characters are feeling. It trusts the audience to notice things, and it makes those discoveries enjoyable.

That’s part of what I love about Kamen Rider, and it’s why I’m still watching it something like 15 years after discovering the franchise.

I’m not a die-hard fan who has watched absolutely everything. I’ve skipped entire seasons.

But there’s something special and valuable about these shows that keeps bringing me back.

At their best, they’re just good television. Good storytelling. And it’s wonderful that we can get this kind of entertainment week after week from something that’s effectively a children’s toy commercial.

I’m tremendously happy with Kamen Rider My-Th so far.

I love the mysteries, I love the characterization, and I especially love the idea of Sora making the inexplicable explicable through observation, research, and scientific discovery.

I’m really looking forward to seeing where they take all of this.

Dive Deeper

1. Kamen Rider My-Th 06: Why the Zodiac Alliance’s Transformations Feel Wrong

There’s something about the Zodiac Alliance’s transformations that just doesn’t work for me.

I love the idea of them saying “Metamorphosis.” It’s old-fashioned, classy, and fitting for a group of warriors who have awakened after a hundred years. There’s even this wonderful old-timey title card and film-reel effect that accompanies it.

But then they say “Henshin,” too.

And then they perform these increasingly elaborate transformation poses that feel completely at odds with the elegance and simplicity of the original presentation.

Jyao’s transformation in particular is so extra that I find it genuinely irritating.

It’s almost as though two different concepts are competing with each other.

If anything, I would expect My-Th to have the more flamboyant transformation, while the Zodiac Alliance would be comparatively restrained. They’re warriors from an earlier era, and the old-fashioned presentation seems perfect for them.

I could see them simply saying “Metamorphosis” and transforming, without needing the additional declaration or elaborate posing.

Instead, we have this clash between an antiquated aesthetic and increasingly modern transformation sequences.

It feels like one of these things doesn’t belong.

I realize this is a relatively small criticism, but it’s something that has been bothering me for several episodes. The individual elements are interesting. I just don’t think they fit together particularly well.

2. Kamen Rider My-Th 06: Sora’s 60% Chance of Victory

There’s this wonderful moment in Kamen Rider My-Th 06 when Asao is riding on the back of Sora’s motorcycle.

Asao has decided to help him, supposedly at Yuna’s request, although I suspect he volunteered and is simply using her approval as an excuse.

Sora doesn’t particularly want him there, but Asao asks whether he thinks he can defeat the Fukashigi.

Sora gives himself a 60% chance of winning.

Naturally, Asao thinks that’s pretty low.

But Sora explains that he’ll have to make up the remaining 40% through enthusiasm and improvisation.

I love that!

It’s such an interesting answer from a hero, especially one whose whole approach to fighting involves observation, analysis, and developing strategies.

Sora understands that even after he’s studied an opponent, there’s still an element of uncertainty. He can’t necessarily account for everything, so he has to be prepared to improvise.

And that’s exactly what he does.

He deliberately provokes Jyao into attacking, maneuvering him into a position where his own aggression works against him.

There’s almost a Spider-Man quality to it. Sora mocks his opponent, gets under his skin, and uses that emotional reaction to create an advantage.

I hadn’t even made that connection until I started talking about it, but I think it’s a great comparison.

What makes the scene especially interesting is that Asao gets to observe all of this.

He’s seeing how Sora thinks, how he fights, and how he manipulates the battlefield.

If these two eventually come into serious conflict, Asao might already understand many of Sora’s tricks.

That could make a future confrontation between them much more interesting.

And I love that the show is potentially laying that groundwork through something as simple as a conversation on a motorcycle.

Kamen Rider My-Th 06: Eagle Frame Makes Brutal Combat Look Beautiful

I absolutely love Eagle Frame.

Obviously, part of that is because I enjoy seeing My-Th become another kind of birdman. The form looks fantastic.

But what really impresses me is how it changes the way Sora fights.

There’s this wonderful moment when My-Th perches on top of the Fukashigi in this seemingly impossible position. He’s frozen the monster’s horn, allowing him to flick it and destroy it.

It’s flashy and stylish, but it’s also distinctly birdlike.

They could have simply made Eagle Frame fly around throwing kicks or shooting energy blasts from its wings. That would have been cool enough.

Instead, they gave it this really distinctive physicality.

The way My-Th positions himself on the monster reminds me of a bird perching on something, even though the actual pose is completely absurd.

I love that they’re thinking about how the animal motif can influence the action choreography rather than simply using it as a visual design element.

And speaking of choreography, I absolutely love how brutal My-Th can be.

There’s a moment where he leaps away from the Fukashigi while performing this spectacular slash, and I immediately thought of Kobe Bryant.

Kobe could make these seemingly impossible shots while jumping, twisting, and diving across the basketball court. There’s that same sense of extraordinary athleticism in My-Th’s movements.

The suit actor, Yuji Nakata, deserves tremendous credit for bringing that physicality to the character. He’s credited as My-Th’s suit actor, while Kei Fujita serves as the series’ action director

And then there’s that absolutely vicious attack where My-Th grabs the Fukashigi’s leg, places his blade behind its knee, and pulls as though he’s trying to slice straight through its tendons.

That’s friggin’ brutal!

What makes it so entertaining is the combination of athleticism, style, and sheer viciousness.

My-Th moves with incredible grace, but when he attacks, he can be absolutely ruthless.

It’s a wonderful combination, and it’s one of the reasons I’m finding the action in this series so compelling.

The fights aren’t simply showcasing cool costumes or special effects. They’re giving the character a distinctive physical identity.

And Eagle Frame is another excellent example of how much fun the action team is having with that idea.