English Dub Review: Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider “I Love The Moment When Hate Turns To Love”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
After their encounter with the real Shocker, Tojima meets someone who knows more about the evil organization.

Our Take:
We already went from playing “make believe” to the real deal, thanks to the arrival of an actual Shocker member.  Originally, I thought Nakao and his henchmen would be the main antagonists in the anime’s battle of “pretend” based on the first two episodes.  However, this week’s episode proved me otherwise, as the real world and the “Kamen Rider” world seem to have collided, thanks to the existence of the Shocker organization.  This revelation and Mitsuba’s first encounter with the organization prompted Tojima and Yuriko to form an unlikely alliance to uncover the villainous group they once believed to be fictional.  This also led Yuriko to confront an undercover Shocker combatant, who happened to be Mitsuba’s girlfriend, Yukarisu, at her workplace.
If the first two episodes weren’t enough to convince you of its plot kicking into high gear, there’s no doubt this episode would make you think otherwise.  In addition to Shocker’s presence, the episode expanded on the distinct chemistry we’ll be expecting more of between Tojima and Yuriko.  Tojima is perceived as an eccentric fanboy who occasionally cries tears of joy at the mention of anything related to Kamen Rider, while Yuriko is essentially his opposite regarding her strict demeanor.  Despite sharing their common love for the franchise, their contrasting personalities would undoubtedly be at odds as they strive to take down Shocker, adding to the show’s satirical humor amid its action.