Reference
Some parts of the article refer to a famous vedio creator from Bilibili.
if you would like to seek more information about his opinions, please click: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV11h411X7tG
The images of this article are from Bing (opens new window); And information about characters is from Wikipedia (opens new window)
Previous article about Kamen Rider Ryuki: https://www.besthunterhj.site/blogs/essay/Ryuki.html
# Foreword
I am very glad to write something more about Kamen Rider(Masked Rider), which focuses on another work named Kamen Rider Faiz or Kamen Rider 555. What is interesting is that, related with Ryuki, the author of Faiz used to write an extra episode of Ryuki. The priciple reason why I choose to watch this work is the sample but amazing suits of riders. However, when I actually glanced the outline of the story, my attention was attracted. Even though the story of Faiz is mainly about the conflict of human and Orphnoch (the species evolved from humans), as an audience, I like to seek different opinion from different sight. In this article, I would like to talk about my thoughts from different characters and the theme including something that may be less related but worth thinking.
The suits of riders from this work are brand new as well as reflect science and technology; However, normal human can't utilize these belts to transform (henshin) because they are developed for Orphnochs. As known to all, Kamen Riders are the symbols of heroes, so it is easy to know that the fight between human and Orphnoch is the theme of this work.
# Lively characters and their distinct characteristics
I can't guarantee that the story of Faiz is the greatest of Kamen Rider (In fact, many audiences can't stand the plot that describes the affection between characters), but I cheer for the lively characters and love the growth of characters following the story. Takumi Inui, the hero of Faiz, is justicial and virtuous actually. Even though he had become an Orphnoch since he was a little boy, he didn't lose the heart and is always ready for fight for human. Because most of people are afraid of the power of Orphnoch, he has to pretend to be indifferent and unwilling to get close with people in order to avoid hurting others unconsciously till the middle of the story. However, such change thanks to the daily life with Mari Sonoda and Keitaro Kikuchi, the heroine and the main male character of this work. Coincidentally, as normal human, their views of Orphnochs have changed because of Takumi. Early in the story, they are scary of Orphnochs and feels terrible when meeting Orphnochs, but finally accept Orphnochs that are willing to live with human peacefully. If we consider Takumi as the deputy of the human side, Yuji Kiba, the second hero of this work, is the deputy of the Orphnoch side. He had become an Orphnoch because of an accident, but he would like to keep to live as same as humans and be friendly with humans. Even he has been not human at the beginning of the story, his good characters keeps till the end.Sound like that Yuji is similar to Takumi, however, he changes his mindset later in the story but finally chooses to fight for humans.
This triplet are orphnochs those would like to live with humans(Naoya Kaido, Yuji Kiba and Yuka Osada); Following the death of Yuka, Yuji begins to deny his original mindset but Kaido keeps to live with humans who is affected by Yuji's original mindset.
What's more, the shapings of villains are also excellent. For example, the members of Lucky Clover have different characteristics and Masato Kusaka, the main wearer of Kaixa gear, is talked about by people.
# Why the world should be only painted by white or black?
The story is mainly about the conflict between human and Orphnoch as well as most of people and most of Orphnochs think that humans and Orphnochs can't live together. As the saying by Kyoji Murakami(a main character of this work) goes, the fight will never stop because of the strength gap between humans and Orphnochs. And the screenwriter(Toshiki Inoue) of this work seems to express that it is hard to reach consensus between humans and Orphnochs(The death of Yuka and Mari's original bias to Orphnochs). I think understanding each other is a proposition which is worth to deliberate(Gundam 00 issues similar proposition, too). I understand that such dream is delicate because of the strengh gap between one side and another side. However, I believe something will promote to reach consensus finally. In this work, the love between Keitaro and Yuka promotes their consensus(Though finally becomes a tragedy). And what's about the real world? The brilliance of humanity breaks the obstacle, so it creates the likelihood which isn't painted by white or black.
A special smile of Masato Kusaka; In the story, he thinks all Orphonchs are enemies and decides to kill all of them. Even though he lives with Takumi, Mari and Keitaro, his mindset doesn't change. Finally, he dies because of the Kaixa gear.
# What is monster?
Orphnochs, those look different from humans and have strong power, are seen as monsters. In the story, most of the Orphnochs hurt people actually. However, not only Orphnochs hurt people but also people hurt themselves. If Yuka and Kaido had not been persecuted by others, would they became Orphnochs? As a saying by Yuji, Orphonchs those don't lose their heart are humans, not monsters. Then the screenwriter would like to tell us that human who loses his/her heart has become a monster. The darkness of humanity can break the peace, so it kills the goodness of life and promotes someone to become a monster.
# The movie: Paradise Lost
Except the TV series, Faiz has a famous movie named Paradise Lost. The story of this movie is parallel with the story of TV series, but the main characters are same. The main difference between them is that most of people had become Orphnochs. In this situation, Smart Brain company governs the world and humans have to fight to survive. Why the name of this movie is Paradise Lost ? We can consider that the paradise to Orphnochs is that they replace humans to rule the world. And the paradise to humans is that they repel Orphnochs and let the world recover. However, these "paradises" eliminate the situation that humans and Orphnochs live together. In other word, those who possessed that mindset will not be welcome to both "paradises"(Takumi and Mari). An intriguing shot of this movie is the ending, which describes that Takumi and Mari go hand in hand to the light. That means an open ending and you can imagine what will happen after they exiting out of the gym. But I think the screenwriter wants to tell us that Mari has got rid of the bias of Orphnochs, as she said "Takumi is just Takumi". And you are who you are.
