The Burden of Legacy

When it comes to celebrating the history of Kamen Rider, few characters have carried that weight quite like Decade and Zi-O. But which one truly felt like the anniversary Rider? Honestly, it's a harder question than it seems. Let’s start with Decade. Back in 2009, he was designed to mark the end of the Heisei Era’s first 10 Riders. His arsenal was built entirely on accessing those previous Riders through cards. It was fresh, it was flashy, and it laid the groundwork for future callbacks. But Decade’s show? That’s where things get tricky. It was rushed, ending at just 31 episodes with a “To Be Continued in a Movie” finale. A lot of fans, myself included, felt shortchanged. And yet, Toei never let him go. Decade kept showing up in crossover films, in other Rider seasons, even getting new forms like Decade Complete 21. They even introduced Legend, a new Rider who uses a similar power set but in a different way (He was inspired because Decade saved his life as a kid). For a guy who started with a rocky season, he’s left one heck of a mark.

The Time King Rises

Then came Zi-O. Built to celebrate 20 years of Heisei Riders, Zi-O’s premise was grand: a young man fated to become a tyrant king must travel through the past to meet other Riders and collect their powers through Ride Watches. Zi-O had the opportunity to do what Decade couldn’t: deliver a full-length anniversary series with room to breathe. In terms of power? Zi-O’s potential was insane. His ultimate form, Grand Zi-O, had access to the powers of every Rider past, present, and future. He was meant to be a walking god, able to rewrite time itself. It was a bold take, but one that came with its problems. The story often struggled under the weight of its concept. Giving a protagonist all the power risks making them boring. Zi-O was supposed to be a “king,” but he never really earned that status emotionally. He became powerful, sure, but not particularly compelling. Add to that the fact that he hasn’t been seen or mentioned since? It kind of says everything.

Decade's Lasting Impact

Even with a shorter, messier series, Decade’s legacy grew after his season ended. He didn’t just stop at being the 10th Heisei Rider. He became the guy who walks through other worlds, connecting universes and eras. While his show didn’t live up to the concept, the character had time to evolve, to appear again and again, and to become more beloved with each reappearance. Zi-O, on the other hand, feels like a closed book. Maybe it’s the nature of his story, or maybe fans just didn’t connect with him as strongly. Whatever the case, he hasn’t had the same second life.

The Future of Anniversary Riders

If there’s one thing I hope Toei changes in the future, it’s their formula. Giving each anniversary Rider access to all past powers sounds cool, but we’ve seen it done too many times now. Even Super Sentai does it, heck, Gozyuger is doing it this year. It’s time to shake things up. Let’s have an anniversary, Rider, who doesn’t rely on everyone else’s powers. Let’s explore legacy through emotion, relationships, and impact rather than just flashy forms. The toys can still be great without needing every single past gimmick thrown into one belt.

So, Who Wins?

If I had to pick? Decade. Not because his show was better, it wasn’t. But because he became something more. He got the chance to grow, to fail, to return, and to reinvent what an anniversary Rider could be. Officially, we all know from those specials that Zio kills him even when he gains a new powerup from Decade Complete 21. Which, while canon, I hate (the toy was cool). Zi-O had the ambition. But Decade had the staying power. Until Next Time.