Kamen Rider 01 Episode 16 - Dawn Of ZAIA

Better titled as, "When commercialism takes over Christmas!" huh? This episode would start an interesting arc where ZAIA Enterprises take over.

It's not exactly a Christmas-focused episode, unlike some previous entries during the Showa and Heisei era.  We had Christmas focused episode/s during Ryuki, Kabuto, Den-O, OOO, Fourze, Wizard, Gaim, Drive, Ghost, EX-AID, Build, and Zi-O. A shame really for me Kuuga didn't have it while Timeranger had. For Japan, Christmas is more of a romantic occasion than a religious one but let's not deviate too much. We also have a HumaGear goes berserk during the Christmas season causing controversy. This episode also features the death of Metsubo Jinrai's Jin (or is it) because HumaGears could be rebuilt, right?

The incident nearly causes Aruto to be voted of Hiden Enterprises out but instead - the board still has their confidence in him. Why not? He's the show's hero after all! I still wonder should Jun aka "Dr. Evil" be made a villain or just a nuisance? Right now, I kind of wish the writers are plotting to make Jun collaborate with Gai due to a grudge he had early on. Though I'd be pretty fine if Jun ends up not doing it. Though, I do feel a bit of potential if Jun would secretly work with Gai because of the former's bitterness.


Personally, I do feel the creeps whenever Gai is near Yua. Does he lust after her or what? It seems to be but I think Yua is still capable of defending herself should he attempt to harass her. All the office encounters between them is just creepy! Now for revelations - it turns out that the Ark is created by ZAIA Enterprises. Metsubo Jinrai was created as a result of such a malfunction. Yua does have every night to be creeped out aas Gai reveals the sleaze that he is. Hopefully, Gai as Thouser will make an interesting villain.

Anyway, I decided to write this post because the next episode will not air next week. Hopefully, Gai as Thouser will add some really interesting conflict in the show!