I really enjoyed this episode. It had a good followup from the previous episode and learned more about both Mr. Belt and the Roidmudes. The new addition to the car having powers during the chase scene was nice too. The characters were just as lovable and, as always, seeing Kiriko arrest Shinnosuke made me laugh. We now know that Roidmudes can evolve and that Mr. Belt used to be human. The plot was decent, though it could have moved along a bit faster, but overall it was a great episode!
This episode starts with a dream, a memory of Mr. Belt just before he transferred his consciousness into his belt. It shows a Roidmude at the head of an attack on his house, which is engulfed in flames, he transforms into the mysterious bad guy we saw in episode 1.
Mr. Belt’s house on fireMr. Belt as a human
After Mr. belt wakes up he esquires to Kiriko after Shinnosuke, who just happens to be lounging about in the cafeteria, thinking about his recent fight with the Roidmudes. With the help of a Shift Car, Kiriko is able to “arrest” Shinnosuke and bring him back to the secret hideout.
Kiriko arrests Shinnosuke
Then we see the mysterious bad guy from episode 1 stealing a car from a couple of men. He’s looking for the soul, or core, of one of the Roidmudes he calls his friend.
Back to the hideout, Shinnosuke, Kiriko and Mr. Belt are talking about the Roidmudes and how Shinnosuke is the only one who can become Kamen Rider Drive. Mr. Belt explains a little more on the Roidmudes, but Shinnosuke believes that Mr. Belt has a history with them and shirks the responsibility of becoming Kamen Rider Drive.
Mr. Belt, Kiriko and Shinnosuke talk about being a Kamen Rider
At a restaurant, another man in green is enjoying some tea when the mysterious bad guy from episode 1 appears. We now know him as Heart, and the new man as Brain. brain activates his special power by touching his glasses and makes a nearby person’s ipad show the location of Roidmude 029, the one who received a new body.
Brain and Heart meet
As this is going on, Shinnosuke is visiting his partner Hayase who is recovering from his injuries from six months ago. He’s in a wheelchair and tries to walk with a brace on his leg. Discouraged as he falls, he comments on how he’s doing poorly in his mind on recovering. Shinnosuke reflects on his father being a police man and blames himself for Hayase’s injuries. Hayase tries to convince him to stop blaming himself and protect people in his stead, that’s when Hayase drops a pill cartridge. it all snaps together for Shinnosuke at that point. The pieces of paper belonged to pill cartridges. They head back to the Special Crimes Unit and work out that the Roidmude was after those in peak physical shape. Conducting a search, Kiriko goes with Shinnosuke and Mr. Belt to search for the Roidmude responsible for the pink turning individuals. They find him in an amusement park along with many victims tied to one of the rides.
The Roidmude evolves and attacks the group along with two new Roidmudes who joined him. A chase ensues and Shinnosuke is able to defeat all three with the help of a new Shift Car, Justice.
Roidmude 029 evolves
Heart and Brain are devastated at the realization that Roidmude 029 was defeated, and we’re introduced to a new bad guy, in purple, Chase.
Chase meets up with Heart and Brain
Back at the office poor Otta is having trouble filing the report of the missing persons retrieved and Shinnosuke is referred to as Kamen Rider Drive for the first time.
Then we get a teaser into the next episode, where “ghosts” of people are floating around in the street and Roidmude is seen “trapping” them!
This episode had a decent plot, good characters and implemented a great way of introducing characters and the overall story line. I really enjoyed watching Mr. Belt forcing Shinnosuke to equip him and head to the scene, I was riveted by the appearance of the mysterious Kamen Rider Drive during the Global freeze, and I was pleasantly surprised at the fun humour tied into the story line. Overall it was a fantastic episode I would recommend watching. It’s also imperative to the rest of the plot in the series as it explains the events that happen before the series really starts.
Kamen Rider 