Season Analysis

Kamen Rider

Season 21 Analysis

Season Woke Score

1.4

out of 10

Season Overview

Coin-based homunculi known as the Greeed have awoken from an 800-year slumber! The only hope of stopping them in their pursuit of human desires is a rogue Greeed named Ankh, reduced to the form of a disembodied arm, and the wandering hermit Eiji Hino. Presented with a belt and three Core Medals, Eiji steps forward as the champion of human desire - Kamen Rider OOO!

Season Review

Kamen Rider OOO, the 21st season in the overall franchise, centers on the universal philosophical theme of human desire. The Greeed, the antagonists, are manifestations of insatiable greed, while the protagonist, Eiji Hino, struggles with having *no* personal desire, a state the narrative ultimately frames as equally unhealthy and broken. The story progresses by exploring the nature of desire through episodic conflicts, teaching a message of pragmatic balance and the importance of having a desire to reach out to and help others. The relationships, particularly the dynamic between the selfless Eiji and the self-absorbed, cynical Greeed Ankh, form the emotional core of the series. The show operates squarely within the traditional superhero/tokusatsu framework, focusing on character-driven morality and action-adventure rather than modern political or social commentary. There is no evidence of the themes or messaging that constitute the 'woke mind virus' in the plot or character motivations.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics1/10

Characters are judged by their moral and philosophical position on 'desire' and the content of their soul, specifically Eiji's lack of desire versus Ankh's greed. Race and immutable characteristics are not a factor in the narrative, conflict, or character judgment. The show features a Japanese cast and setting with no instances of forced diversity or vilification.

Oikophobia1/10

The central conflict is a moral-philosophical one concerning the universal nature of human desire and greed, which transcends specific national or civilizational heritage. There is no deconstruction of Japanese culture or demonization of ancestors. The main character is a traveler seeking a new purpose, a personal journey that promotes personal morality and sacrifice.

Feminism3/10

The main cast is overwhelmingly male, including the two primary Riders, two major supporting antagonists, and four of the five main Greeed. The primary female lead, Hina Izumi, is a strong character with immense physical strength, but her role is largely supportive and centered around her family and her partnership with the main duo. The focus on 'bromance' between the male leads keeps the score low, but the presence of the single powerful female villain (Mezool) and Hina's superhuman strength push it slightly above the absolute minimum.

LGBTQ+1/10

The core emotional bond is the 'bromance' between the male leads, Eiji and Ankh, which is depicted as an intense, non-sexual partnership, fitting a normative structure. Sexuality and gender identity are not plot points, themes, or subjects of commentary, adhering to the traditional private framing of these topics.

Anti-Theism1/10

The story's philosophical conflict revolves around the nature of desire and its physical manifestation (the Greeed and Yummy), created through ancient alchemy, not traditional religion. The show deals with moral and existential dilemmas in a secular fashion, with no characters or plot points that villainize or lecture against traditional faith or objective moral law.