Season Analysis

Kamen Rider

Season 36 Analysis

Season Woke Score

out of 10

Season Overview

In a world shaped by the dreams we see in our sleep, Zeztz enters people’s dreams as an agent on a mission. Equipped with a cutting-edge Rider belt worn across the chest, Zeztz brings a bold new form to the battle.

Season Review

Kamen Rider ZEZTZ centers on Baku Yorozu, a kind-hearted young man who transforms into Kamen Rider Zeztz to enter people's dreams and fight the Nightmares that emerge from repressed trauma. The narrative focuses heavily on universal themes of personal conviction, moral sacrifice, and confronting one's own past to do the right thing, which grounds the story in a traditional heroic framework. The main conflict is an ideological struggle between Baku's earnest heroism and the cynical methods of the anti-hero Knox and the secret organization CODE, which maintains a clear sense of objective moral good (protecting people and their dreams) versus utilitarian ends. Character merit, personal growth, and integrity drive the plot. The supporting female cast is notably strong, but their roles are protective and complementary, which avoids the 'Girl Boss' trope, and the positive portrayal of the hero's family unit is a strong counter-signal to modern anti-family narratives. There is no evidence of identity-based lecturing or political divisiveness.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics2/10

The plot focuses on the individual's mental and moral state—their dreams and trauma—rather than immutable characteristics. The protagonist is a universally good-natured young man judged purely by his courage and desire to help others. The cast is ethnically homogeneous, consistent with the country of origin, with no racial 'vilification' or 'forced diversity' agenda.

Oikophobia1/10

The main hero, Baku, protects his own society by combating psychological threats (Nightmares) that emerge from individual regret and suppressed pain. The narrative treats the institutions and people of his world as fundamentally worth protecting. There is no theme of civilizational self-hatred or demonizing the hero's culture or ancestors; the conflict is an internal one projected onto the physical world.

Feminism3/10

Female characters hold significant and competent roles, such as the diligent police officer Nasuka and the popular actress Nemu, who is set up for an active role. Baku's younger sister, Minami, is portrayed positively as a protective 'big sis' who manages his home life and assists in the real-world investigation, celebrating a traditional, complementary family structure. The male hero is portrayed as kind, fun, and highly competent, avoiding the emasculation trope.

LGBTQ+1/10

The core relationships and character dynamics center on traditional male-female pairings and familial bonds. The series does not foreground or lecture on alternative sexualities, gender ideology, or deconstruct the nuclear family structure. Sexuality remains private and secondary to the characters' roles in the spy/hero plot.

Anti-Theism2/10

The core moral conflict revolves around individual choice: confronting personal trauma for good versus repressing it for self-gain. This conflict promotes transcendent moral values like courage, self-sacrifice, and 'doing the right thing' over cynical manipulation, establishing a clear line between good and evil. The series avoids anti-religious rhetoric by focusing on an objective moral law derived from heroic action and personal integrity.