Rider Tears

MJ Muñoz

This is MJ, join me for episode-by-episode analysis of various Kamen Rider series. I love Rider, despite its flaws, so get ready for a gut-punching look at the bad, the good and the fascinating of one of Shotaro Ishinomori's greatest creations.

Visit MJMunoz.com for more analysis, art and fiction.

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27 episodes
Avg 9 min
English

Episodes 27

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Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.

S5 · E5
October 7 · 12 min
Kamen Rider My-Th 05
Kamen Rider My-Th 05 digs deeper into Yuna's dependence on the Seed Eggs while giving us a much clearer look at the very different personalities inside the Zodiac Alliance. Between Vanken's surprising nobility, Jyao's aggression, my growing suspicions about Kamuri, and the questions surrounding My-Th's ability to save Fukashigi victims, I'm really appreciating how naturally this series keeps revealing its mysteries without rushing to explain everything. Dive Deeper - https://mjmunoz.com/2026/10/07/kamen-rider-my-th-05/
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S5 · E4
October 1 · 10 min
Kamen Rider My-Th 04
Kamen Rider My-Th 04 has me increasingly convinced that Sora and Yuna's shared past, their families, and the unusual mechanics behind My-Th's transformation aren't separate mysteries. They're all connected, and the emotional story of these characters may be inseparable from the mythology behind My-Th itself. Dive Deeper - https://mjmunoz.com/2026/10/01/kamen-rider-my-th-04/
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S5 · E3
September 23 · 11 min
Kamen Rider My-Th 03
Kamen Rider MY-TH 03 makes the Zodiac Alliance feel less like straightforward villains and more like a rival school with its own philosophy, while Yuna and Shiori give the episode some surprisingly strong emotional weight. I also dig into Rid’s introduction, the cat-themed action, and why some of that action worked much better for me than the rest. Dive Deeper - https://mjmunoz.com/2026/09/23/kamen-rider-my-th-03/
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S4 · E2
September 17 · 7 min
Kamen Rider My-Th 02
Kamen Rider My-Th 02 won me over in ways the premiere didn't. The mysteries are taking shape, Sora's remarkable abilities are getting some explanation, and the relationships between him, Yuna, Asao, and the Zodiac Alliance are becoming much more interesting. Datt brings some welcome personality to the action, and the Ride Eggs are already showing their tactical potential. There's still a lot I don't understand, but now I'm having fun discovering it. Dive Deeper - https://mjmunoz.com/2026/09/17/kamen-rider-my-th-02/
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S4 · E1
September 8 · 9 min
Kamen Rider My-Th 01
Kamen Rider My-Th 01 has ideas I genuinely like, from the tactical use of My-Th’s mouse abilities to Sora and Yuna’s dynamic, but the premiere feels bulky, effects-heavy, and visually underwhelming. The ideas are there. Some of the execution is off, and unfortunately, My-Th 01 was a miss for me. Dive Deeper - https://mjmunoz.com/2026/09/08/kamen-rider-my-th-01/
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S2 · E74
September 2 · 14 min
Kamen Rider Zeztz 50
Kamen Rider Zeztz 50 gives Baku, Nem, and the others a surprisingly happy ending while arguing that dreams can overcome nightmares without pretending those nightmares will ever disappear completely. I love the finale's cycle of hope, Baku finally coming home, and the future it gives these characters, even as ZEZTZ's new role protecting humanity leaves me with some frustrating questions about how Nightmares actually work. The worldbuilding may be soft, but emotionally, this ending works for me. Dive Deeper with my Inspector's Notes - https://mjmunoz.com/2026/09/02/kamen-rider-zeztz-50/
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S2 · E73
September 1 · 4 min
Kamen Rider Zeztz 49
Kamen Rider Zeztz 49 brings Nem back, brings Oblivion back with her, and moves several other major pieces into place for the finale. I liked the episode, but more than anything, it left me ready to see Zeztz come to a close so we can finally understand exactly what this story has been trying to say. Dive Deeper with my Inspector's Notes - https://mjmunoz.com/2026/09/01/kamen-rider-zeztz-49/
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S2 · E72
August 31 · 13 min
Kamen Rider Zeztz 48
Kamen Rider Zeztz 48 actually went there with Nem, and I have very conflicting feelings about it. Her choice saves the world, fits the “Nightmare Messiah” idea I've been seeing in her story, and feels genuinely heroic, but the way her sacrifice is framed also makes me deeply uncomfortable. Is there a meaningful difference between sacrificing yourself to save others and erasing yourself because you believe your existence is the problem? Dive Deeper with my Inspector's Notes - https://mjmunoz.com/2026/08/31/kamen-rider-zeztz-48/
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S2 · E71
August 28 · 8 min
Kamen Rider Zeztz 47
Kamen Rider Zeztz 47 made me reconsider what I thought the series was doing. What looked like a stalled final arc now feels more like an unusually structured continuation of the Nem illusion storyline, with the world, the cast, and their relationships still being rebuilt around us. I still have questions about whether this approach works week to week, but I can finally see where Zeztz may be going. Dive Deeper with my Inspector's Notes - https://mjmunoz.com/2026/08/28/kamen-rider-zeztz-47/
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S3 · E10
August 5 · 9 min
Omegahorn 02
Omegahorn Episode 2 reveals just how flexible its core mechanics really are. By breaking down the traditional barriers between human, monster, and giant-scale battles, the series gives itself far more storytelling freedom than I expected, while also laying the groundwork for a very smart toy line. Dive Deeper with my Inspector's Notes - https://mjmunoz.com/2026/08/05/omegahorn-02/
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S2 · E70
August 3 · 7 min
Kamen Rider Zeztz 46
Episode 46 introduces some fascinating ideas, from Nox Midnight Shadow's ability to break through illusions to the growing partnership between Baku and his allies. But do those strengths justify an episode that spends so much time revisiting familiar ground? I break down where Zeztz's slower pacing works, where it doesn't, and whether the series is building toward something meaningful or simply stretching out the journey. Dive Deeper with my Inspector's Notes -
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S3 · E9
July 30 · 12 min
Omegahorn 01
Project R.E.D.'s Omegahorn gets off to a surprisingly strong start with a world full of mystery, exploration, and monster taming that feels both familiar and completely new. In this review, I explain why Episode 1 immediately grabbed my attention and why I'm excited to see where this adventure goes next. What part of Omegahorn's world or lore made you most curious after Episode 1? Dive Deeper with my Inspector's Notes - https://mjmunoz.com/2026/07/30/omegahorn-01/
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S2 · E69
July 29 · 9 min
Kamen Rider Zeztz 45
The strongest part of Kamen Rider Zeztz 45 isn't its plot mechanics. It's the quiet dream of home, family, and domestic peace that The Lady desperately tries to preserve. Even if that dream is built on a lie, the longing behind it reveals something genuinely beautiful. Dive Deeper with my Inspector's Notes - https://mjmunoz.com/2026/07/29/kamen-rider-zeztz-45/
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S2 · E68
July 21 · 9 min
Kamen Rider Zeztz 44
Zeztz Episode 44 has an ambitious premise, but I don't think its clip-show format serves the story. The emotional core is strong, yet I believe the same impact could have been achieved in just a few minutes while letting the next chapter begin sooner. Here's why I think the execution missed the mark. Dive deeper with my Inspector's Notes - https://mjmunoz.com/2026/07/21/kamen-rider-zeztz-44/
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S2 · E67
July 13 · 11 min
Kamen Rider Zeztz 43
Sieg takes his first real step toward redemption by finally facing his sins—but has he actually earned forgiveness yet? Dive deeper with my Inspector’s Note - https://mjmunoz.com/2026/07/13/kamen-rider-zeztz-43
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S2 · E66
July 6 · 9 min
Kamen Rider Zeztz 42
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/
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S2 · E65
June 30 · 8 min
Kamen Rider Zeztz 41
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/
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S2 · E64
June 23 · 10 min
Kamen RIder Zeztz 40
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 should. Am I missing something, or is Zeztz starting to stumble as it approaches the endgame? What did you think of Episode 40? Was it genuinely sloppy, or are all these mysteries about to come together in a satisfying way? Dive Deeper with my Inspector's Notes - https://mjmunoz.com/2026/06/23/kamen-rider-zeztz-40/
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S2 · E63
June 16 · 7 min
Kamen Rider Zeztz 39
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 still love Zeztz, but this episode made me wonder whether the series is trying to juggle too many moving pieces at once. Do you think Zeztz is successfully juggling all of its storylines, or is the series trying to do too much at once? Let me know in the comments! Dive deeper with my Inspector's Notes - https://mjmunoz.com/2026/06/15/kamen-rider-zeztz-39/ #KamenRiderZeztz #KamenRider #Tokusatsu #HenshinInspection #KamenRiderReview #Zeztz39 #RiderTears
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S2 · E62
June 9 · 10 min
Kamen Rider Zeztz 38
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 me, and why Midnight Shadow's debut may be the most disappointing moment in Zeztz so far despite the fantastic suit design. Was this a meaningful character arc, or did the story rush Odaka to the destination without earning the road that got him there? Dive deeper with my Inspector's Notes - https://mjmunoz.com/2026/06/09/kamen-rider-zeztz-38/
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