As a longtime fan of the Japanese “Kamen Rider” franchise, I’d been dreaming of the day when the series became available internationally. As the inspiration for other global franchises like “Power Rangers,” “Kamen Rider” has delivered unique and captivating superhero stories with each new installment for nearly 55 years. Its availability has always been sporadic, but I always felt as if it could resonate with anybody if it were just more accessible. Now for the first time ever, a new season of “Kamen Rider” is being simulcast all over the world with its original Japanese dialogue and English subtitles. Ironically enough, the “dreaming” still continues in the intense, mind-bending and thrilling adventure that is “Kamen Rider Zeztz”.
The latest “Kamen Rider” season follows Baku Yorozu. In his nightly lucid dreams, he’s Code Number 7, a world-class secret agent for an organization called CODE. He’s suave, strong, and can flawlessly execute his missions. In reality, however, he’s just a normal person with terrible luck and is laughably accident-prone. Nevertheless, he retains a strong desire to help others.
One night, his dreams become terrifyingly real after a monster called a Nightmare invades his mind and endangers his very life. He is then approached by a mysterious figure named Zero who equips him with a “Zeztz Driver” and enlists Baku as an actual CODE agent. Using his new tools, Baku becomes Kamen Rider Zeztz, the only being that can fight Nightmares and keep them from wreaking havoc on the real world. He also finds allies in members of the Tokyo Police Department’s Paranormal Affairs Division, who investigate the adverse effects that Nightmares have in reality.
“Zeztz” has ambition and style in just about every facet of its presentation. The first three episodes play out like a continuous story, methodically introducing the show’s headier concepts and fleshing them out with care and nuance. From the outset, this three-act intro tackles the concept of dreams with all the complexities it deserves. The show has proven unafraid to illustrate how bizarre and outlandish someone’s actual dreams can be all while turning them into the action spectacles for which “Kamen Rider” is known. The constant slips between dream sequences and reality can also feel remarkably psychedelic, blurring the sequence of events with stylized purpose.
As the first “Rider” series to stream internationally, the show’s aesthetic is also remarkably Western. The dream sequences are highly reminiscent of classic James Bond spy movies, and the stunt work and effects have more weight and flair than even seasoned Rider fans might expect. Whether this style was to broaden its global appeal or simply tell a more ambitious story may be a separate discussion, but it absolutely works in “Zeztz” either way.
Ryutaro Imai, also delivers a compelling dual performance as Baku and his alter ego as CODE Number 7. Imai slips seamlessly from being foolhardy, comedic in one scene to charismatic and charming mere seconds later. It’s always a treat to watch him tackle both roles in whatever mission Baku is on at the time.
“Kamen Rider Zeztz” was formally announced as a Rider series that would be simulcast internationally. It was introduced as something that would take the franchise’s tropes and traditions and completely flip the script. In its first few episodes, “Zeztz” has managed to accomplish that with some truly jaw-dropping action scenes, a bold concept, and an impactful execution. It’ll be all too exciting to see where the season goes from, and at this point, I’m looking forward to diving further into the dream.
“Kamen Rider Zeztz” is currently available for free on YouTube. Will you be checking out the new episodes? Let us know in the comments.
