Rider Tears

Baku's battle with Catastrophe Gore Nightmare isn't just an action scene—it becomes one of the best pieces of character writing in Kamen Rider Zeztz. Here's why Episode 42 impressed me so much and why Baku continues to grow into one of my favorite Rider protagonists. Dive deeper with my Inspector's Notes - https://mjmunoz.com/2026/07/06/kamen-rider-zeztz-42/

Odaka and Baku needlessly clash in Kamen Rider Zeztz 41, but I don't think this fight was earned. One conversation could have changed everything, and that's where I think the episode stumbles. Do you think this conflict made sense? Let me know in the comments! Dive deeper with my Inspector's Notes - https://mjmunoz.com/2026/06/30/kamen-rider-zeztz-40-2/

Kamen Rider Zeztz 40 might be the sloppiest episode of the series so far. I enjoyed moments in this episode, but too much of it felt like setup replacing story. The reveal of the CODE: Somnia Capsem, the rise of the Oblivion Gore Nightmare, Baku's trip into the dream world, and Sieg's scenes all left me with the same feeling: the pieces are moving, but they aren't connecting as cleanly as they sho...

Kamen Rider Zeztz 39 left me with a growing concern about the series. Is Zeztz becoming too complicated for its own good? Between Odaka's rushed redemption, Seek getting the redemption arc Odaka arguably deserved, the missing Somnia capsule, The Lady's growing role, and a rapidly expanding cast of threats, it feels like the show may be opening new storylines faster than it's resolving old ones. I...

Did Kamen Rider Zeztz 38 confuse character movement for character growth? Odaka (Knox) ends this episode with a new form, a new purpose, a new alliance, and a major victory over Three. On paper, everything changes. But did he actually grow as a character? In this review, I explore the difference between a trip and a journey, why Baku's development felt earned, why Odaka's redemption fell flat for...

Baku's battle to save Nox reveals the true theme of Kamen Rider Zeztz Episode 37. This isn't just a story about friendship. It's a story about cooperation, trust, and why no one can win alone. What did you think of Nox's redemption and the growing alliance against CODE? Dive deeper with the Inspector's Notes - https://mjmunoz.com/2026/06/02/kamen-rider-zeztz-37/

Baku never transforms in Kamen Rider Zeztz Episode 36… and somehow that makes him feel more heroic. This episode quietly proves something important about Zeztz. The real power was never just the suit. Baku still fights, manipulates dreams, saves Nox, challenges CODE, and pushes the story forward even after losing the ability to become Zeztz. Ironically, the same toy gimmicks I’ve criticized since...

Kamen Rider Zeztz Episode 35 completely changed the game. Kureha dies again. CODE: Somnia rewrites reality itself. Baku loses the Exdream Driver. And Zeztz pushes its hero into another brutal moral dilemma. But strangely, the most powerful part of the episode might have been the quiet barbecue scene at the beginning. In this analysis, I break down why contrast may be the secret behind Zeztz’s emot...

Kamen Rider Zeztz Episode 34 is stunning. Baku’s new power completely changes the structure of the show, Sieg finally gets the nightmare he wanted, and Zeztz continues escalating in ways that feel logical, thematic, and honestly kind of terrifying. This episode gave us dream infiltration, layered nightmare warfare, some incredible visual storytelling, and one of the most satisfying villain defeats...

Baku’s impossible struggle against despair, death, and hopelessness becomes something larger than a simple power up episode. Zeztz 33 explores persistence, dreams, mythic storytelling, and the idea that refusing to give up can transform reality itself. In this Henshin Inspection review, I discuss: Baku’s twenty year struggle in limbo Zero’s philosophy about dreams becoming reality why children’s m...

Kamen Rider Zeztz Episode 32 delivers massive revelations about Zero, Baku, dreams, and Nightmares... but I’m struggling with what the show seems to be saying now. Is Zero really being framed as noble? Is Nightmare power actually evil? Or is Zeztz setting up another false truth that Baku will eventually overcome? In this review, I break down the fatherhood themes, the growing moral confusion surro...

Kamen Rider Zeztz Episode 31 drops a massive reveal: Zero is Baku’s father. It should be shocking. It should be meaningful. But instead, it raises a bigger question… Is Zeztz becoming too connected for its own good? In this review, I break down why the growing web of relationships, Code agents, and shared backstories might be pushing the story from compelling into ridiculous—and why this twist mig...

Kamen Rider Zeztz Episode 30 introduces Orderm — and just like that, everything changes. I had issues with Catastrom and the way power was being handled in Zeztz… but this episode kind of wipes those away. Not because it answers them, but because it sidesteps them entirely. Is that good storytelling… or just really effective tokusatsu? In this review, I break down: The visual storytelling of Catas...

Kamen Rider Zeztz Episode 29 is trying to convince us that Catastrem is dangerous, corrupting, and pushing Baku over the edge. I’m not buying it. In this review, I break down why the Catastrem arc isn’t landing, why the show hasn’t clearly defined the difference between dream power and nightmare power, and why Baku’s actions in this episode actually make sense based on everything the story has sho...

Kamen Rider Zeztz Episode 28 introduces Sieg as a uniquely dangerous villain. Not just because of his power, but because of what he represents. He is a fallen hero who knows the truth about Code, a criminal with a mysterious thousand-year sentence, and someone who can wield Nightmare power without a system. That combination makes him different from anything we have seen so far. In this review, I b...

Kamen Rider Zeztz Episode 27 introduces Sieg in a way that expands the world of the show in a major way. In this episode analysis, I look at how Sieg is making an already great show even better. Three key things stand out: • Sieg's strange nightmare realm where monsters are imprisoned and forced to fight • His ability to enter and interfere with other people's dreams • His power to rewrite and res...

Kamen Rider Zeztz is a clip show, but... This one feels different. Instead of simply repeating old footage, the episode uses the recap to reframe the story and clarify what the conflict actually is, it keeps the conflict going and introduces a new threat! So the question becomes simple. Is this the greatest recap episode in tokusatsu history? Dive deeper with Inspector's Notes: https://mjmunoz.com...

Episode 25 of Kamen Rider Zeztz might be one of the most important episodes in the entire series so far. After the shocking events of Episode 24, the story appears to reset in a kind of New Game Plus timeline , but the emotional core of the episode comes down to one line from Baku: "My mission now is to make sure my dream never comes true." For years Baku dreamed of becoming an invincible CODE age...

Kamen Rider Zeztz Episode 24 - The Moment Baku Failed In Kamen Rider Zeztz Episode 24, the biggest moment isn’t Baku’s apparent death or the destruction of the Nightmares. The most important moment is much smaller and much more disturbing. Baku walks past an injured man and does nothing. Earlier in the series, Baku risked his life to save strangers. Now, as Zeztz Catastrom, he ignores someone dyin...

Super Space Sheriff Gavan Infinity Episode 1 is a very promising start; the biggest reason is Reiji. In this Henshin Reflection review of Super Space Sheriff Gavan Infinity Ep. 1: Red Gavan, I break down why the premiere feels complicated and overloaded with multiverse lore, Emorgears, transformation devices, and large-scale sci-fi concepts… yet still works because of its emotional core. Reiji Dok...

Kamen Rider Zeztz Episode 23 “Destroy” proves this is the right way to sell a toy. Catastrom isn’t just a new form. It shifts Baku’s trajectory, raises the moral stakes, and forces a real confrontation with duty and identity as Code Number: Seven. The belt add-on, the Catastrum Buster, the dark framing — it all matters to the story. That’s why it works. In this review I break down: • Why Catastrom...

Episode 22 of Kamen Rider Zeztz raises a serious moral question about CODE… and then distracts us with spectacle. Baku embraces the power of Catastrum, destroys Nox, and delivers one of the most satisfying fights of the series so far. But in the middle of all that chaos, something important gets pushed aside. Are we being emotionally manipulated? Is CODE righteous? And why does it feel like Yuya T...

A spoiler-light review of Silver Buster by Jordan Allen (@MightySkrow), breaking down what works, where it stumbles, and why it feels like the strong opening arc of a modern henshin hero series. If you love Ultraman, Kamen Rider, and transformation heroes with real consequences, this one’s worth a look. Full Post - https://mjmunoz.com/2026/02/13/silver-buster-book-1-review/

Episode 21 is great and it sucks, because it is great at what it does. The Nightmares win in the worst way possible, by targeting children, and the consequences finally spill out of the dream world into reality. Bonus Content - https://mjmunoz.com/2026/02/11/kamen-rider-zeztz-21/

Episode 20 quietly escalates everything. New players enter the board, old failures come back to haunt the story, and Zeztz crosses a strange moral line as the nightmare war expands. Not explosive, but necessary. Where do you think this arc is headed? What do you think of Agent 5? Bonus Content - https://mjmunoz.com/2026/02/05/kamen-rider-zeztz-20/