Kamen Rider Pathos musings 2
EvaUnit01
Kept you waiting, huh?
Continuing on....
As mentioned in the first post discussing the idea, a significant part of Masahiro's character arc is in trying to deal with his depression.
And, similar to the early Heisei Riders Kuuga and Agito, his Rider powers evolve as a direct result of Masahiro growing as a character - same for Kanako and Gen (which is only appropriate, since Psycodrivers generate and manifest power in response to their users' brainwaves).
At the beginning, Pathos is somewhat "standard" or "typical" as far as Riders go, as far as being a bare-fisted warrior with minimal reliance on weapons or tools. Mighty Kuuga or default Faiz would be the main go-to analogues. However, as Kanako continues badgering him and drawing him out of his shell, Masahiro gradually becomes more animated and outgoing - hot-blooded at times, even, particularly when confronted with (from Masahiro's perspective) the holier-than-thou hypocrite Gen. This culminates in a violent reaction in his Psycodriver, transforming his masked alter ego into the more powerful Raging Pathos, whose attacks and very movements have explosive potential.
As time goes on, however, it becomes apparent that despite the tremendous increase in power afforded by this new form, those same explosive impacts are having a negative effect on Masahiro as well. He may have become selfless and compassionate enough to put himself in danger for the sake of others -- but if he doesn't even care about his own safety, how much better is he really?
Eventually, it comes out that Masahiro's self-image hasn't really improved at all, and in fact there's a part of him - whether he realizes it consciously or not - that believes a heroic death is the "best" ending available for him. Gen of course mocks him for that kind of ignoble behavior, while Kanako's more pissed off at how "stupid" Masahiro's being. Before long, she comes to the point of taking his driver away from him, stating that she "won't let her creation be used for some stupid goal like killing yourself".
Listless and unsure of what he's supposed to do with himself anymore, Masahiro finds himself back at square one, before Kanako, the Psycodriver, and the Emotion Monsters came into his life. With nothing left to do but reflect and sort out his feelings, you could say that a much-needed vacation is forced upon him. As boring, mundane, hopeless, daily life goes on, Masahiro more-or-less tries to cope by lapsing back into his original routines and putting more attention toward his job than he'd been doing recently, but he can't get the last few months out of his mind, and it's driving him insane... until by random chance, he runs into a few of the former Emotion Monsters that he defeated and saved. Turns out that most of them still have the same kinds of problems they did before, but they're dealing now. They're functional, instead of self-destructing.
And from that encounter with people he's watched turn into destructive monsters because of their feelings, and seeing them come to peace with themselves.... that finally breaks down Masahiro's proverbial wall, showing him that he can do the same.
And it's that inner peace that enables him to fight the good fight again, proving his change of heart with the transformation symbolizing his newfound serenity: Zen Pathos, capable of all the destructive raw power of Raging Pathos, but 'properly channeled' in a way that doesn't. "Even if my hands are burning red, my mind is clear."
_________
Mulling over Kanako's and Gen's character arcs, to be posted when ready.
As always, comments welcome.
As mentioned in the first post discussing the idea, a significant part of Masahiro's character arc is in trying to deal with his depression.
And, similar to the early Heisei Riders Kuuga and Agito, his Rider powers evolve as a direct result of Masahiro growing as a character - same for Kanako and Gen (which is only appropriate, since Psycodrivers generate and manifest power in response to their users' brainwaves).
At the beginning, Pathos is somewhat "standard" or "typical" as far as Riders go, as far as being a bare-fisted warrior with minimal reliance on weapons or tools. Mighty Kuuga or default Faiz would be the main go-to analogues. However, as Kanako continues badgering him and drawing him out of his shell, Masahiro gradually becomes more animated and outgoing - hot-blooded at times, even, particularly when confronted with (from Masahiro's perspective) the holier-than-thou hypocrite Gen. This culminates in a violent reaction in his Psycodriver, transforming his masked alter ego into the more powerful Raging Pathos, whose attacks and very movements have explosive potential.
As time goes on, however, it becomes apparent that despite the tremendous increase in power afforded by this new form, those same explosive impacts are having a negative effect on Masahiro as well. He may have become selfless and compassionate enough to put himself in danger for the sake of others -- but if he doesn't even care about his own safety, how much better is he really?
Eventually, it comes out that Masahiro's self-image hasn't really improved at all, and in fact there's a part of him - whether he realizes it consciously or not - that believes a heroic death is the "best" ending available for him. Gen of course mocks him for that kind of ignoble behavior, while Kanako's more pissed off at how "stupid" Masahiro's being. Before long, she comes to the point of taking his driver away from him, stating that she "won't let her creation be used for some stupid goal like killing yourself".
Listless and unsure of what he's supposed to do with himself anymore, Masahiro finds himself back at square one, before Kanako, the Psycodriver, and the Emotion Monsters came into his life. With nothing left to do but reflect and sort out his feelings, you could say that a much-needed vacation is forced upon him. As boring, mundane, hopeless, daily life goes on, Masahiro more-or-less tries to cope by lapsing back into his original routines and putting more attention toward his job than he'd been doing recently, but he can't get the last few months out of his mind, and it's driving him insane... until by random chance, he runs into a few of the former Emotion Monsters that he defeated and saved. Turns out that most of them still have the same kinds of problems they did before, but they're dealing now. They're functional, instead of self-destructing.
And from that encounter with people he's watched turn into destructive monsters because of their feelings, and seeing them come to peace with themselves.... that finally breaks down Masahiro's proverbial wall, showing him that he can do the same.
And it's that inner peace that enables him to fight the good fight again, proving his change of heart with the transformation symbolizing his newfound serenity: Zen Pathos, capable of all the destructive raw power of Raging Pathos, but 'properly channeled' in a way that doesn't. "Even if my hands are burning red, my mind is clear."
_________
Mulling over Kanako's and Gen's character arcs, to be posted when ready.
As always, comments welcome.
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