History Series / KamenRiderGaim

** [[FlechetteStorm Flechette]] [[KnifeNut Knives]]: Ichigo Arms' Ichigo Kunai.

* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: The series has a total of eleven Rider characters (and a twelfth powerset for Zangetsu Shin),[[note]]Gaim, Baron, Ryugen, Zangetsu (Shin), Gridon, Kurokage, Bravo, Sigurd, Marika, Duke, and Knuckle[[/note]] plus a {{Mook}} Rider army, five other Lockseed-using Riders in the movies (one of whom, like Zangetsu, has two Rider identities),[[note]][[EvilTwin Bujin Gaim]], Fifteen, Kurokage Shin, Kamuro, and Mars/Jam[[/note]] and at least four more in the post-series ''Gaiden'' [=DVDs=].[[note]]Idunn, Tyrant, Savior, and [[EvilTwin Black Baron]][[/note]] This officially puts us over [[Series/KamenRiderRyuki the former record-holder]] even counting both Alternatives.

** #12-19: The Yggdrasill Saga, a story of adulthood which introduces the Energy Lockseeds.
** #20-23: The Helheim Saga, a shorter arc that builds the story up towards its climax, with the stakes getting even higher than before.
** #24-32: [[spoiler:The Overlord Saga, in which the Riders must contend with the Overlord Inves, masters of the Forest.]]
** #33-47: [[spoiler:The Forbidden Fruit Saga, where the Overlords order an all-out invasion of Earth. The previously scattered and conflicting Riders must band together to prevent the extinction of humanity.]]

** A more general example is how unassuming the series is at first. It shows very bright-colored Kamen Riders and the ridiculous theme for their trinkets being fruit. But as the story progresses, you realize how much DarkerAndEdgier it is compared to other Kamen Rider serieses.

* AdultFear: In #38, [[spoiler:Micchy tactically attempts to manipulate Mai by attacking her self-esteem and self worth (claiming she needs to come with him for her own protection) in a scene that disturbingly resembles what RealLife emotional abusers do to break down their targets.]]

* FiveManBand:
** Early on, the Yggdrasill cast can be grouped in this.
*** BigBad: Takatora, being the supposed leader of the group (though none of the others really respect his authority).
*** TheDragon: Sid, who enjoys antagonizing the heroes way too much.
*** EvilGenius: Ryoma, the MadScientist.
*** TheBrute: Yoko, who primarily acts as the muscle on the others' behalf.
*** DarkChick: DJ Sagara, a noncombatant and something of a philosopher.
*** SixthRangerTraitor: Mitsuzane, though even he doesn't seem to know what side he's a traitor to yet.
** By the Helheim Saga we learn about Yggdrasill's internal politics and who's really in charge plus with some new recruits changing the power structure:
*** BigBad: Professor Ryoma, the leader of his own faction that wants the Helheim Invasion to occur.
*** CoDragons: Sid and Yoko Minato. After TheReveal, they are always seen by Ryoma's side as equals, advising him and acting as his key enforcers.
*** EvilGenius: Mitsuzane Kureshima, the most manipulative and cunning member acting as a DoubleAgent.
*** DarkChick: Takatora Kureshima is the most powerful fighter, but his morals and how easily manipulable he is puts him at the very bottom of Yggdrasill's totem pole.
*** SixthRanger: [[spoiler:Kaito Kumon]], he joined them for power, and is used as a field agent to scout out Helheim and collect data on the Overlords.
*** SixthRangerTraitor: [[spoiler:DJ Sagara, he's barely a part of Yggdrasill anymore and is obviously part of something bigger plan and is a faction all his own. Well, he's the show's BigBad.]]
** The remaining Riders who aren't completely or outright villainous act as one during the Forbidden Fruit Saga to battle Overlord Inves.
*** TheHero: Kouta, who was their ace against the Overlords.
*** TheLeader: Kaito, curiously.
*** TheLancer: Zack, on account of being Kaito's right-hand man in Team Baron.
*** TheBigGuy: [[spoiler:Oren]].
*** TheSmartGuy: [[spoiler:Jonouchi]].
*** SixthRanger: [[spoiler:Yoko, who also counts as a TokenEvilTeammate]].

* SomethingCompletelyDifferent: The teamup and movie tie-in episodes. In the other, more episodic series, they might not seem so out of place and definitely wouldn't be unwelcome, but ''Gaim'' is a tightly plotted serial where every episode leads directly into the next, more like a book where you get another chapter every week. As such, it's pretty bizarre when an episode, instead of having any connection with where the previous episode left off, starts with the [=ToQger=]s' train dropping by a dancing session that gets crashed by ''the villains from Film/KamenRiderZX,'' or with AnotherDimension where dead past characters are back and everyone's... ''playing soccer?'' The Kikaider teamup was at least foreshadowed by Jiro dropping into town...but the crossover was still a WholeEpisodeFlashback.

** Yoko is also subject to this, due to her tendency to wear a DangerouslyShortSkirt.

!!Kamen Rider Gaim gives us these tropes:

** HandCannon: Kachidoki Arms' Hinawa Daidai DJ Ju.[[note]]Becomes a [[{{BFS}} big sword]] when combined with the Musou Saber.[[/note]]

* StuffedInTheFridge: In TheMovie, [[spoiler:Mitsuzane hunts down Ryoma for an explanation, only to learn that Kohgane had already gotten him first.]]

** ''Zangetsu and Baron'' - both set between episodes 20 and 21 of the series.

[[folder: Recurring Kamen Rider tropes]]

** "Ranbu Escalation" by Kouta Kazuraba and Kaito Kumon (Kouta using [[SuperMode Kiwami]] [[AllYourPowersCombined Arms]] and Kaito using [[MidSeasonUpgrade Lemon Energy Arms]] [[spoiler: or [[OneWingedAngel Overlord form]]]])

[[folder: A-B]]

* AdultFear: In Episode 38, [[spoiler: Micchy tactically attempts to manipulate Mai by attacking her self-esteem and self worth (claiming she needs to come with him for her own protection) in a scene that disturbingly resembles what RealLife emotional abusers do to break down their targets.]]

* AllYourPowersCombined: Kouta's [[spoiler: Kiwami Arms, which allows him to use every standard Lockseed as his weapon.]].

* AntagonistTitle: {{Downplayed}}. The arc titles (Beat Riders Saga, Yggdrasill Saga, Helheim Saga, Overlord Saga) are named after the antagonist for that arc, but they're AllThereInTheManual, and even then, Yggdrasil is the major antagonist for the Helheim Saga. Averted with the Forbidden Fruit Saga, [[spoiler:unless you count its final villain, Kougane, as the antagonist over its main villains Redyue and Kaito.]]

* BaitAndSwitch: In #17, we see [[spoiler: Yggdrasil agents sent by Mitsuzane to kidnap Kouta's sister for ransom over his Driver, but the next scene of her being held "captive" in Charmant actually shows she's ''enjoying a meal'' there; as it turns out, the agents took her there under the ruse of fooling her into thinking she won a lucky draw for a free meal there.]]

** The PostFinalBoss and standalone villain of the final episode is [[spoiler:Kougane, the main villain of the summer movie]].

* BioPunk: [[spoiler: Helheim fruits alter the eater's DNA, converting them into an Inves. While it proves a DeadlyUpgrade for most people, in Kouta and Kaito's cases, exposure to the Forbidden Fruit and a virus carried by the Inves (respectively) ultimately led to Kouta's upgrade into a human-looking Overlord and Kaito's transformation, triggered by his devouring a Helheim fruit, into a monster Overlord form called Lord Baron.]]
* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: Kouta gains the power of the Forbidden Fruit, and uses the power to send all of Helheim and the Inves to a dying planet, with him and Mai leaving Earth. The world is healing, but many people died, Kaito died in the climatic battle, and Sagara just moves on to [[HereWeGoAgain another planet to start the process again.]]. Also, [[DisneyDeath Takatora is alive.]]]]

** #25 focuses on Jonouchi and Oren. By this point, you may realize the breather episodes occur roughly once every other episode. That's mainly because the pacing has it that almost ''all the other episodes'' after #09 are either action-packed or downright {{Wham Episode}}s.

[[folder: C-D]]

** In #28 Kaito tells Mitsuzane to run away with his tail between his legs. Ten episodes later Mitsuzane repeats the exact same lines to Kaito. This actually was mentioned in episode 5, when Kaito asked Micchy if Kouta ran with his tail between his legs during his fight with him.
** #40 has another, back to episode 5 where a quiz promotion was held, asking viewers whether Gaim's catchphrase was "I'll turn you into fruit juice!" or "This is my stage now!", the latter of which was correct. The other answer appears as [[spoiler:Yuya's catchphrase in Kouta's hallucination]].
** Remember in #24 when Sagara [[spoiler: created the Kachidoki Lockseed]]? Fast forward 17 episodes later in #41, [[spoiler: Kouta regenerates the damaged Lockseed in the same way.]]
** Back in #1, Kouta, like any person, is psychically attracted to eat the Helheim Fruit [[spoiler: which would turn him into an Inves]]. It happens to him again in #45 to show that [[spoiler: eating it as he is now changes absolutely nothing; he's already become an Inves, and an Overlord at that. Furthermore, it also illustrates that it is LITERALLY the only thing left that tastes good to him, now that he's an Overlord]].

** [[spoiler:Overlords (Roshuo, Redyue, Demushu, and the minor three Overlords)]]
* CastingGag: Yutaka Kobayashi was born on the day episode 20 of Series/KamenRiderBlackRX was broadcast. This episode("The Banana-Eating Ogre") featured a monster called Byakki who liked bananas. Now, ask yourself what is the main Rider form of this actor's character, Kaito Kumon?

* CerebusSyndrome: With Creator/GenUrobuchi at the helm we knew it was coming. The stakes get higher around episode ten-ish, but it's really cemented in #13-14, when we see three things: [[spoiler:1) Those attacked by Inves aren't out of the woods yet, ''literally:'' they develop an illness where plants of Helheim [[BodyHorror grow from their bodies]] and no one can do anything about it. This also turns the public against the Riders for their connection to the Inves. 2) The Elementary Inves are Earth animals who've eaten Helheim's fruits, and the very first MonsterOfTheWeek Inves was ''Yuya'' mutated by eating one, and Kouta's first act as Gaim was to unknowingly kill his friend whom he's been searching for ever since. 3) Hase's attempt to regain his powers by eating a Helheim fruit ends in his becoming a mindless monster, and Lock Dealer Sid debuts as Armored Rider Sigurd and kills Hase. And in light of all that, yes, that does also mean the maintenance worker we saw about to eat a fruit ''probably'' became the MOTW from #9 that the Riders took out. In fact, it's impossible to know how many Inves have been innocent humans; if we didn't witness the transformation from an Elementary Inves, it's a possibility. Episode 20 takes this further by confirming that the Inves that aren't human are the former residents of the last world Helheim took over.]]

** In ''Knuckle Gaiden'', it's shown in an early scene that Team Baron have [[spoiler: Kaito's old Drivers as part of their shrine to him. Once Zack gets the Marron Energy Lockseed that he can't use without a Genesis Driver, he sends Peko to get the Genesis Core from Kaito's broken Genesis Driver.]]

* ContinuityNod: During the crossover with ''[=ToQger=]'', Kouta forcibly stops Right from eating the fruit from Helheim. [[spoiler: He doesn't want what happened to Hase and Yuya to happen to Right as well]].

* CrapsaccharineWorld -> CrapsackWorld: Zawame City in a nutshell. At first glance it looks like any other Heisei season with its bright colors, dance teams, quirky characters, and silly fruit gimmicks. But dig a little deeper and you'll find that Zawame City is a horrible place to live. Yggdrasill controls the city like a totalitarian police state, the people are at constant risk of being attacked by endless hordes of monsters, an uncontrollable plague is infecting the citizens, all of the antagonists are hyper-competent killers who avoid the typical Toku VillainBall cliches. [[spoiler: And then the CosmicHorrorStory comes into play, making everything, far, ''far'' worse.]]

** Episode 30 is a crossover featuring Series/{{Kikaider}}

** By the end of episodes 12-14, ''Gaim'' has successfully become darker than previous rider shows.
** By the end of episode 20, it got even darker: the series has become a [[spoiler:cosmic horror story. Adding to the fact despite having so many Riders, we only have ''one'' fully good Rider, that being Gaim of course. Everyone else is a very mixed bag. With nearly all of Kouta's allies either being on the villains side (Micchy), somehow being worse (Kaito) or not too involved in the main plot (Zach). The villains are either an Anti-Villain (Takatora), a Slimeball (Jonouchi and Sid), an amoral scientist (Ryoma) or Blood Knights (Yoko and Oren).]]

** ''Duke Gaiden'' and ''Knuckle Gaiden'' managed to be this even compared to ''Gaim'' as a whole. ''Duke Gaiden'', aside from being a VillainEpisode, features [[spoiler: a villain creating BrainwashedAndCrazy suicide bombers, which is played entirely seriously, and Sid siccing a bunch of Inves on said BrainwashedAndCrazy people without remorse. We even get a token cameo of drugs from Sid's backstory as an actual drug dealer]]. ''Knuckle Gaiden'' on the other hand has a gang pulling ''Fight Club'' antics at the whim of their SocialDarwinist leader, [[spoiler: Zack almost gets beaten to death, and said SocialDarwinist planning to exterminate anyone not associated with his group.]]

** To give you an idea of just ''how'' dark this series managed to get, prior to this series airing, the darkest live-action entry was ''Film/ShinKamenRiderPrologue'', which featured rampant BodyHorror, the rider's powers being the result of genetic alteration as opposed to being a cyborg or using other powers, had an AntiHero rider as the lead, and [[spoiler: aside from the main character, [[KillEmAll the only named character to survive was Shin's gym buddy]]]]. After this series aired, Shotaro Ishinomori's manga works were the only things darker, and the only series able to out-trump ''Gaim'' as the darkest entry in the entire franchise is none other than the explicitly adult-oriented ''[[Series/KamenRiderAmazons Amazons]]''.
** BloodierAndGorier: And it is hinted in #1 when Kouta is spitting BloodFromTheMouth, complete with a few intense [=BGMs=]. [[spoiler: [[FamilyUnfriendlyDeath The deaths of Sid and Roshuo]] in #31 & #41 respectively further cements this trope, though it's [[BloodlessCarnage not as gruesome]] as ''[[Series/KamenRiderExAid Ex-Aid]]''.]]
* DeadlyUpgrade: Kiwami Arms, which [[spoiler: seems to be doing exactly what Sagara promised it would - turning Kouta into an Overlord.]]

** The series also deconstructs MerchandiseDriven shows that treat their subject matter as SeriousBusiness. The characters start off using their Lockseeds and Rider armors for completely petty, high school-level disputes that would not be uncommon in your average {{Shonen}} anime, and the audience is expected to take this 100 percent seriously. Then, as more and more information is revealed about the horrifying nature of Helheim and [[spoiler: people start dying]], it becomes increasingly clear to the audience that the Beat Rider stuff is child's play in comparison to what is really going on. This is actually acknowledged within the series itself when Kouta and Kaito eventually end up quitting their respective Beat Rider teams in order to focus on the more serious matters at hand.

** Kaito himself is arguably a deconstruction of the [[SixthRanger Second Rider]] trope. Many of the Second Riders from the franchise start off as TheRival to the hero ([[Series/KamenRiderV3 Riderman]], [[Series/KamenRiderW Accel]], [[Series/KamenRiderFourze Meteor]]), before undergoing a HeelFaceTurn. Kaito starts off as a vicious rival, then seems like he's going to realize what he's doing is wrong and fight alongside Kouta, only to quickly go right back to his old ways after he finds out whatever is in Helheim will help him on his quest for more power. He does aid the hero on several more occasions, but he remains a very morally ambiguous character. [[spoiler: He ultimately becomes the BigBad of the final arc after gaining Overlord powers, seeking to rule the world with the Forbidden Fruit's powers.]]

*** Roshuo himself also deconstructs the BigBad/ BigGood trope. He ''was'' a BigBad in his former world who [[HeelRealization regrets his actions.]] In another story, he would be a prime candidate of TheAtoner/ BigGood, except there are still major problems: [[TheLostLenore He is still trying to get his wife back,]] and [[LoveMakesYouEvil will not hesitate to do anything to reclaim her.]] Also, while he's no longer a SocialDarwinist, his regime makes sure that his underlings ''are'', meaning all of them will either [[AxCrazy be too strong to be controlled effectively,]] or believe wholeheartedly in AsskickingEqualsAuthority, [[TheStarscream making them potential backstabbers always looking for an opportunity.]] This also means that despite his own preferences, if Roshuo wants to ''[[HadToBeSharp survive]]'' [[BadBoss he'd have to keep them on a short leash.]]

** Another deconstruction could be how [[spoiler: The Helheim Forest, which had been built up as the [[BigBad ultimate villain]] of the series, [[GeniusLoci ends up showing through it's avatar]], [[CoolOldGuy DJ Sagara]], that the ''[[HumansAreBastards human]]'' villains ([[MyFriendsAndZoidberg and the Overlords]], [[EvilerThanThou especially]] [[DragonInChief Redyue]]) like [[{{Slimeball}} Sid]], [[EvilFormerFriend Micchy]], and [[MadScientist Ryoma]] (not as much with [[WellIntentionedExtremist Kaito]]), are actually '''worse''' than '''''[[EldritchAbomination it]]''''' [[AntiVillain really]] [[AffablyEvil is]] to one extent or another]].

* DeconReconSwitch: While the series deconstructed both Sid unsympathetically killing a human turned monster while praising himself as a hero and the friendly Second Rider trope; comes the epilogue. [[spoiler:Micchy battles against Kougane in order to atone for everything he has done that made him lose everything. When Kougane told Micchy if he kills him, he'll kill the girl he is possessing. Instead of killing him and the girl like Sid did to Hase before, Micchy ceases his transformation to show that he really did change for the better and he is not heartless because Kamen Riders protect the innocent. It was even acknowledged by Kouta who came back to Earth to help Micchy defeat Kougane once and for all like two Riders teaming up would. It shows that Micchy may have hit rock bottom before, but he is not beyond redemption especially in Kouta and Takatora's eyes.]]
* DenouementEpisode: [[spoiler: Episode 47 takes place after a TimeSkip and acts as an epilogue for Micchy's story.]]

* DistantFinale: [[spoiler: While a large part of #46 takes place three months after Kouta's ascension to [[PhysicalGod Overlord godhood]], #47 is the show's epilogue that takes place another four months later, focusing on Micchy's GuiltComplex and Kougane's return as Kamen Rider Jam.]]

[[folder: E-G]]

** [[spoiler: Sid being crushed to death between two walls in #31.]]
** Redyue stabbing Roshuo repeatedly in #41.

* TheFellowshipHasEnded: [[spoiler: After the Overlords are defeated, the Rider Alliance falls apart and go back to the good old days of backstabbing each-other.]]

*** SixthRanger: [[spoiler: Kaito Kumon]], he joined them for power, and is used as a field agent to scout out Helheim and collect data on the Overlords.
*** SixthRangerTraitor: [[spoiler: DJ Sagara, he's barely a part of Yggdrasill anymore and is obviously part of something bigger plan and is a faction all his own. Well, he's the show's BigBad.]]
** The remaining Riders who aren't completely or outright villainous act as one during the Forbidden Fruit Saga to battle Overlord inves.

* {{Foil}}: Kouta and Kaito are perhaps the greatest. Where Kouta is optimistic, Kaito is cynical, where Kouta uses his power to protect others, Kaito uses it to defeat others, where Kouta is concerned about everyone's welfare, Kaito is only concerned with his own advancement. [[spoiler: Taken even further when it turns out they're basically fighting for the same end, but their respective means are so impossible to reconcile that they have no choice to fight to see who achieves those ends]]. ''Ranbu Escalation'', a duet between their actors, even gives it a gigantic LampshadeHanging with the lyrics reinforcing both their differences and their similarities.

** In #3, Mitsuzane warns Sid that he will become more powerful than his brother once he joins Yggdrasill in the future, and suggests that they become friends while they can. [[spoiler: Flash forward to #29: not only has Micchy taken over Takatora's role as the new Zangetsu Shin II, he's assisting Sid in acquiring the Forbidden Fruit due to their mutual hatred towards Kouta, which ends with Sid getting way over his head and Micchy leaving him to die for it.]]

** #36 and #37 sees Kouta racing across town on foot, untransformed, in order to [[spoiler: stop a battle between Mitsuzane and Takatora]]. All nice and dramatic... except that he seems to have forgotten that he has access to a motorcycle, a hovercycle, ''and'' a form that gives him SuperSpeed, purely because the writer doesn't want him to get there on time.

** [[spoiler: #27 gives us one that combines MythologyGag with a dash of FridgeHorror. [[http://i.imgur.com/4p0vtd1.jpg Note the Driver prototypes from #20-#25]]. If you're having trouble reading them, they read that the belts use [[Series/KamenRiderWizard Rings]], [[Series/KamenRiderFourze Switches]], [[Series/KamenRiderOOO Medals]], [[Series/KamenRiderDouble USB Memorys]], [[Series/KamenRiderDecade Cards]], and [[Series/KamenRiderKiva Fuestles]]. This is either just an Easter Egg, [[WildMassGuessing or else we need to]] REALLY [[ParanoiaFuel begin questioning just WHO is backing Yggdrasill's research.]]]]

** In episode 34, Gridon activates Suika Arms, but is stuck in Odama Mode, leading to Bravo picking him up and using him as a live bludgeon against a pack of Inves.
** In episode 41, Bravo activates Gridon's Sparking function (making his Donguri Armor Part revert to nut form and then spinning), and throwing him at [[spoiler:Mitsuzane as]] Zangetsu Shin, allowing them to escape.

[[folder: H-J]]

* HiddenDepths: Oren's flamboyant wackiness makes him seem like a JokeCharacter until he shows his fighting prowess. Turns out he's ex-military. On top of that, he is able to resist a Helheim fruit while Driverless (a considerable feat, considering how hypnotically appealing the fruit appears to people throughout the series. He is in fact the only one ever to be tempted to eat one and resist it without help; even Right, ''[=ToQGer=]'s Red Ranger,'' needed Kouta to blast a fruit ''just'' in time to prevent him from suffering the fate of [[spoiler: Yuya and Hase]].). This ''without'' knowing what will happen if he eats it, and after ''not having eaten in days.'' He is able to remember his training, remind himself that eating an unknown strange fruit is not a good idea, and move on.

* IronicEchoCut: #14: Kouta screams "I can't kill a human!" when he's [[spoiler: confronting with an Inves-transformed Hase. Cut to the next scene where Micchy notes, "Yuya (who was the Byakko Inves from episode 1)...was killed by Kouta."]]
* {{Irony}}: Becomes deeply ironic in #31. Sid, a person who considers himself a 'responsible adult' and always berates kids, saying that adults should rule over them, [[spoiler: is the one who gets enticed by the forbidden fruit Redyue offers and gets killed, all while screaming about how he should get the Forbidden Fruit like a spoiled child.]] On the other hand, Mitsuzane, a part of the Beat Rider teams, [[spoiler: is the one who instantly realizes Redyue is setting up a trap.]]

[[folder: K-M]]

** #14 confirms one fans had long suspected: [[spoiler: Yuya was Sid's original choice for Team Gaim's Sengoku Driver, but ended up eating a Helheim Fruit and changing into an Inves. His abandoned Driver was the one Kouta and Mai found in #1.]]

* MundaneSolution: [[spoiler: Toward the end Zack infiltrates Kaito and Yoko's clique as a means of trying to take Kaito down from within. Knowing he's got no chance of beating them in a fight, Zack tries to catch them in human form with a time bomb. It doesn't work, but in a series so heavy on stylized combat it's surprising to even see someone try something like that.]]

[[folder: N-P]]

* NotSoHarmlessVillain: Redyue was basically fighting ForTheEvulz and making [[TheStarscream lame power grab schemes]] against Rosyuo when we first met her, but then she goes and [[spoiler: forces the artificial crack back open, causes the Helheim flora to take over Yggdrasill Tower, leads an army of Inves into Zawame, and summons other Overlords as her [[MonsterOfTheWeek monsters of the week]]. She then declares war, making her a threat to all of humanity.]] She even {{Lampshades}} this:

** The mysterious girl has this expression in #23, when [[spoiler: DJ Sagara tells her he knows who she really is.]]

** Micchy in #29, when [[spoiler: his plan to impersonate Zangetsu Shin and attack Kouta provokes Kouta into fighting back.]]
** Micchy again in #33, when [[spoiler: he sees that Kouta is loading his Kiwami Arms finisher and aiming for him. Not only that, but Oren had also exposed him as an imposter from [[FightingFingerprint watching his fighting style]].]]

** TheMovie has a variation on this as Kougane[=/=]Mars makes ''his horse'' evolve into the giant flaming steed from the trailers.

[[folder: R-T]]

* RedRightHand: The Inves we know to be transformed humans all have a giant, clawed right hand and a more human left one. Also, when [[spoiler: Hase]] was able to temporarily return to human form, one hand stayed partially mutated. We see this about when we realize that [[spoiler: even when looking mostly like himself again, his mind is still that of a beast.]]
* RedEyesTakeWarning: The Mysterious Girl looking like Mai [[spoiler: and Rosyuo's Queen, the reveal of why coming with episode 41. Also, when Redyue has Kouta hallucinating and turn into an Inves, he has both eyes flashing red. And in Episode 41, after witnessing Rosyuo brutally murdered, he threatens to outright ''crush'' Redyue, in a very satisfying SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome, has his eyes flashing red, confirming his ascension to a condition 'beyond human', and restoring his Kachidoki Lockseed with [[{{Determinator}} sheer willpower]], starting a combo of SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome culminating in a well-deserved CurbStompBattle.]]

* RenegadeSplinterFaction: Yggdrasill has one [[spoiler: led by Professor Ryoma that has pretty much completely taken over the organization with Takatora as the only Rider that's not a member of Ryoma's nut club.]]

* SadBattleMusic: Notice that during Kouta's first battle with an Inves the music is dark and grim rather than fast-passed and upbeat as the first fights in the previous Rider shows where. It gives you the sense that the fight ''should not'' be happening. [[spoiler: Episode 14 shows us why.]]

** [[spoiler: "'''MITSUZANE!'''" -Episode 35]]
** From #45

** [[spoiler: After Micchy assumes the role of Zangetsu Shin II, he keeps silent when he fights Kouta in order to trick him into thinking that Takatora is the one trying to murder him.]]

* SelfMadeOrphan: [[spoiler: Guess who Redyue's first "toys" were after becoming an Overlord. This might be the point where Micchy realizes ''just'' what level of lunatic he's thrown in with.]]

* StuffedInTheFridge: In TheMovie, [[spoiler:Mitsuzane hunts down Ryoma for an explanation, only to learn that Kougane had already gotten him first.]]

* ThemeMusicPowerup: ''Just Live More'' starts playing for the very last battle in the series: [[spoiler:Kouta (Kiwami Arms) and Micchy (Budou Arms) vs. Kougane (Darkness Arms)]]

* TouchedByVorlons: According to [[spoiler: DJ Sagara]] Helheim has come to Earth before, granting great power to famous mythological figures in Norse and Greek mythology (and Christian mythology is heavily implied as well, but not stated).

* {{Tragedy}}: The show would have been this if it weren't for the [[Main/BreatherEpisode Breather Episodes]] and a couple of comic reliefs from Oren and Jonouchi.
* TrailersAlwaysSpoil / LateArrivalSpoiler: Notice that most of the marketing (including the banner used as the page image here) either downplays or ignores [[spoiler: Kamen Rider Kurokage]]. Not surprisingly, he is the first Armored Rider to be [[spoiler: stripped of his powers and then killed]].
** Similarly, but much more subtly, one of the vehicles in a magazine scan has its user, Kurokage, shown with his belt as a black silhouette. [[spoiler: This is because the original Kurokage driver is similar to but ''not'' identical to the mass-produced ones used by the ''actual'' users of the Tuliphoppers: the Kurokage Troopers that appear after the death of the original.]]

[[folder: U-Z]]

* UnspokenPlanGuarantee: [[spoiler: In ''Knuckle Gaiden'', the audience isn't told what Zack asks Peko to do for him. It only becomes clear when Peko returns and throws him a Genesis Core that it's clear Zack asked him to go get the Core from Kaito's broken Genesis Driver.]]

* UseTheirOwnWeaponAgainstThem: After Kouta looses his weapons in the final battle against [[spoiler:[[TheRival Kaito]] ]], he is forced to pick up a broken piece of [[spoiler: Kaito's]] sword and impale him with it.

* WasOnceAMan: [[spoiler: At least some of the Inves are this.]]

** #31-33 is is a major game-changer: [[spoiler:Demushu has invaded the human world, causing Zawame to go into lockdown. Sid picks a fight with Roshuo and gets killed. While Gaim gets Kiwami Arms, Redyue launches a full-scale invasion, turning Zawame into a war zone cut off from the outside world. Ryoma tops things off by exposing everything Yggdrasill knows to the world, absolutely shattering any semblance of TheMasquerade.]]

** While Sigurd [[spoiler:killing Hase]] was pretty shocking in Episode 14, it's what he says next that confirmed that this is a deconstruction of ''Kamen Rider''.

** In Episode 21, Sid spills the beans with this:

** To save the world, Episode 32 gives us this:

** In Episode 33, all hell breaks loose:

** Episode 42 is even more shocking than the last:

** Episode 44 shows us that [[spoiler:Zack turned traitor, but once he confronts Kouta one-on-one, he says this:]]

** And the last one for episode 47:
-->[[spoiler:'''Kamen Rider Jam:''' It is I, [[UnexpectedCharacter Kougane!]]]]
* WhamShot: #14: [[spoiler: Yuya in the Helheim Forest, eating the Helheim Fruit that would make him the Byakko Inves.]]

** #23 has a small wham shot in the form of [[spoiler:Sagara and the Helheim girl standing on the same roof witnessing Gaim's Kachidoki Arms debut]], and then right after, the two engage in a conversation, establishing some sort of relationship between the two. Earlier in the episode, there's also [[spoiler: Sagara creating a Lockseed.]]
** #36 has another. [[spoiler: Kaito gets a cut from Redyue, and it's clear that he's been infected by the Helheim virus that the Inves spread, albeit even ''worse''.]]
** #40: [[spoiler: Helheim vines spread out of Kouta, completing his transformation into an Overlord.]]
** #41: This episode is full of them. For example, [[spoiler: Kouta's Overlord powers of teleportation and his summoning of Helheim vines.]]
*** [[spoiler: Kouta and Mai's red eyes, showing that they are no longer fully human.]]
** #43: [[spoiler: Kouta throwing away the Musou Saber at the last moment, followed by Micchy stabbing Kouta '''THROUGH KIWAMI'S ARMOR IN THE STOMACH!''']]
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Okay, in the last Movie Wars, Nitou contracted with Chimera once more. There'll be the need to feed Chimera, but it's okay! He finds Helheim fruits just as delicious and nutritious as the mana of destroyed Phantoms! ''Good thing it's not like Kamen Rider series only go a year and the Helheim fruits are definitely going to always be around, right? RIGHT?'' [[spoiler: Now that Kouta used the Golden Fruit's power to send the Helheim flora to the new world, by all rights that should spell Nitou's doom.]] Chimera ''did'' warn him he might regret it...
** [[FridgeBrilliance Then again]], [[spoiler: Kouta establishes that he can still travel back and forth between worlds, and there's no indication that he can't just go get some more fruit for them either.]]

** In ''Knuckle Gaiden'', [[spoiler: Oren pulls a BigDamnHeroes and beats up a load of Neo Baron thugs to let Zack get away, then promptly disappears from the story. He's back in the novel though, set later, and even gets re-powered.]]

** Roshuo, leader of the Overlords, is the king of the dead civilization that was the last subject of [[AlienKudzu Helheim Forest]]'s "test". He's not villainous at all, just heartbroken over the loss of his people and especially his beloved queen, and does nothing to rein in the other Overlords who run rampant over Earth. Roshuo holds onto the [[MacGuffin Golden Fruit]] in order to bring his queen back, but when [[spoiler:DJ Sagara]] calls him out on not giving humanity a fair chance he actually listens. [[spoiler:When he dies, he's [[TogetherInDeath reunited with his wife]] and wishes for humanity to succeed where he failed.]]

** [[spoiler: Kouta and Kaito have been decided by fate to be the final competitors for the Golden Fruit. #45 also shows that Kouta is the fated winner.]]
* YouCantGoHomeAgain: Kouta. His experiences as a Beat Rider and his responsibilities fighting the Invess, as well as his part-time jobs, lead him to make the decision to drop out of his dancing team. Additionaly, by the end of the series [[spoiler: he has been turned into an Invess himself from prolonged use of his Lockseeds, and realizes he cannot stay with his sister no matter what happens in the final battle]].

''Kamen Rider Gaim'' is the 2013-2014 ''Franchise/KamenRider'' series; the fifteenth entry in the franchise's Heisei era and the twenty-fourth series overall. The head writer is Creator/GenUrobuchi of ''LightNovel/FateZero'', ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' and ''Anime/PsychoPass'' fame.

* AlliterativeName: Both Kouta Kazuraba (Gaim) and Kaito Kumon (Baron), as if illustrating how they're NotSoDifferent.

* EstablishingCharacterMoment: The first two episodes each contain a moment where [[TheHero Kouta]] and [[TheRival Kaito]] help a child, showing that they're NotSoDifferent. What ''does'' differ is their methods: the kinder-hearted Kouta helps a little boy find his mother and cheers him up by convincing him it's a game, while Kaito shows a [[GiveAManAFish Teach a Man to Fish]] philosophy by telling a boy stuck in a tree to jump down himself, then catches him and congratulates him, saying he has the strength to take care of himself from now on.

* FamousLastWords:
** [[spoiler: Ryoji Hase: "Give me back my power!"]]
** [[spoiler: Sid: "I... I... I will become more than human!"]]
** [[spoiler: Demushu: "I can't lose... to you pathetic apes!"]]
** [[spoiler: Rosyuo: "My love... I return to your side."]]
** [[spoiler: Redyue: "Impossible! I can't die like this!"]]
** [[spoiler: Ryoma Sengoku: "You will be destroyed too. It's your..."]]
** [[spoiler: Yoko Minato: "You're... so awkward...]]
** [[spoiler: Kaito Kumon: "You... are truly strong.]]
** [[spoiler: Kamen Rider Jam: "I'm the Golden Fruit, how can I... be beaten by the likes of you!?"]]

* ShooOutTheClowns: Though not actually removed from the show in any permanent way, the CrazyAwesome Bravo and ButtMonkey Gridon sit out the episodes with very serious plotlines until they TookALevelInBadass and joined the fray. There's also been an absence of Iyo despite Drupers still playing a part in the Overlords arc.

-> "''Pluck [[AppleOfDiscord the fruit of heaven]]. That the world will be dyed in your colors.''"

** [[TokyoIsTheCenterOfTheUniverse Japan Is The Center Of The Universe]]: {{Justified}} with the same reason Ryoma gave.

** #20 reveals that [[spoiler:Takatora and the rest of Yggdrasill know about the impending doom of Earth]]. The {{justification}} subverts the usual expectation that [[YouHaveToBelieveMe they'd be unable to convince anyone of their story]]; instead, they think that telling the people about it would just cause mass hysteria.

** Zangetsu is simple in comparison, having only a JackOfAllStats (Melon Arms) and LightningBruiser (Melon Energy Arms) forms. He gets a third in a DVD, Watermelon Arms. [[spoiler:The novel also lets him use Suika Arms and Jimber Melon.]] He also gets a SuperMode in his stage play with his own version of Kachidoki Arms.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: Bravo fighting Baron, saying how he will "peel off the banana off (i.e., Baron´s armor) and start working on his body".

** To give you an idea of just ''how'' dark this series managed to get, prior to this series airing, the darkest live-action entry was ''Film/ShinKamenRiderPrologue'', which featured rampant BodyHorror, the rider's powers being the result of genetic alteration as opposed to being a cyborg or using other powers, had an AntiHero rider as the lead, and [[spoiler: aside from the main character, [[KillEmAll the only named character to survive was Shin's gym buddy]]]]. After this series aired, Shotaro Ishinomori's manga works were the only things darker, and the only series able to out-trump ''Gaim'' as the darkest entry in the entire franchise is none other than ''[[Series/KamenRiderAmazons Amazons]]''.

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