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11-11-2023, 11:50 AM | #11 |
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Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Michigan
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Episode #5: Time For the Beach I didn't think my spot for favorite episode would get replaced so fast, but here we are. It's probably the most simple and straight-forward episode of Tokusatsu GaGaGa so far, but pure beauty is found all throughout it. Sure, there's a few different aspects and layers to the episode as a whole, but overall, the aspect that got the most focus and shined the brightest all throughout was one wonderful thing: Friendship. The growing friendship between the four girls, and alot of what that exactly entails dominates both the plot and character interactions here. From Miyabi learning lessons about adulthood from her peers, to Nakamura finding shoulders to lean on about her issues with her mom, to them all just hanging out. It works as well as it does in part thanks to the chemistry between the cast being incredibly strong. Heck, while he only appears briefly, even Tamiya gets in on things with the funny scene of him developing a crush on Yoshida over their shared love of Toraiger. I wish that Mr. Yakuza had gotten to be in the episode a bit more, but alas. What absolutely steals the show though is the episodes' climax, where Nakamura reaches out to a girl who's having the same troubles with her mother that Nakamura did growing up. The enforcing of gender roles and expectations is something that nearly everyone; man, woman, or otherwise has had to contend with, and such things are very oppressive. And while it's highly doubtful that a child could ever get a parent to change their minds, having someone in their corner might be just what they need to keep that hopeful spark in them alive. That all being said, the very end of the episode is not at all subtle in telling its audience that this entire episode was the breather, feel-good episode before things take a more serious turn. Nakamura's' mother isn't gone, afterall, and it was only a matter of time before things came to a head between the two. I'll admit, I'm a it nervous in seeing how it'll play out, but hopefully the strong writing that the show has had up to now will continue to shine through.
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11-12-2023, 12:05 PM | #12 |
Some guy. I'm alright.
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,465
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Episode #6: A Mother's' Feelings This episode was torture, but in the good way! Look, as far as I'm concerned, the majority of this episode does not matter. Why? Because those final couple of minutes are so incredibly satisfying that it could've been the entire episode and I would've come out of it cheering. I was really worried throughout it too, because I felt like this show was gonna take the out that so many others have in trying to make the awful parent sympathetic. But nope! Nakamura's' mother finally gets what's coming to her in a moment that is now one of my favorite moments in any TV show ever. There was no "oh but she god divorced" or "oh but she's a single mom" or "oh but her behavior is human therefor it's okay." Just pure, raw, comeuppance. I love it. If you just want my impression of this episode of Tokusatsu GaGaGa in and of itself and nothing else, there you go. You can stop reading now. But the overall subject matter that it brings up, I feel like talking a bit about how I relate to it as well as directly comparing it to something else that it reminded me of: Episode 31 of Kamen Rider Hibiki. For those not in the know, episode 31 of Hibiki is my most hated episode of any Tokusatsu show that I've ever seen. For those who haven't seen it, the episode is about the main character, Asumu, and how his father walked out on the family. Asumu never actually meets with him, and the episode ends with the father being neglectful being framed as an overall good thing and that Asumu's' dad is a good man for doing so. Needless to say, this struck a serious nerve with me, having been a child whose parents were both very neglectful, including the father walking out on the family and disowning his own son. Because here's the thing. The episode did not at take into account children like me, instead opting for trying to convince the audience that the father is a good man via the accounts of coworkers and strangers, as if people's' public and private appearances are exactly the same. If you didn't know: They very much are not! So when it came time for episode 6 of GaGaGa, wherein Nakamura's' mom is someone who's incredibly manipulative in the same way that the writing of Hibiki 31 tried to be. It, frankly, does not matter what happened to the mother in the past or if she's doing something out of love or whatever. She's still pushing her own life onto her children, on top of breaking into her daughter's' apartment and destroying property. There was a very thick line that Nakamura's' mother crossed a long time ago. And thankfully, instead of leaning on "oh she just wants what's best for her kids" what do we get instead? A pure, full force slap to the face that legitimately had me jump out of my seat and cheer. Because here's something I learned the hard way with my own family: You can't reason with manipulative people like that, and you shouldn't even try. The best course of action is to stand up for yourself, fight back, and keep them as out of your life as much as you possibly can. Family obligations or not, keeping toxic people in your life does you no good, and you are by no means required to put up with it(a lesson also taught by a Pretty Cure show I recently finished!). Yeah, sure, there's other stuff to the episode like how the lives of Nakamura's' friends continue to evolve, but man, talk about the most satisfying hit I've seen on TV in a long time. Great stuff.
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11-13-2023, 08:47 AM | #13 |
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Join Date: Mar 2017
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That slap was cathartic for every child who grew up under overbearing parents who never allowed their children to have a childhood and still control them even after growing up into adulthood.
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11-13-2023, 09:34 AM | #14 |
Some guy. I'm alright.
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,465
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Yer damn right it was!
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11-13-2023, 09:45 AM | #15 |
Some guy. I'm alright.
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,465
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FINALE: I Like What I Like The show went for the most optimistic of outcomes in regards to everything. Don't get me wrong, I'm not exactly surprised by that, especially since most Tokusatsu in general, tend to, but it was still a little bit of a letdown. Granted, it could totally just be me and my own souring due to my personal experiences and beliefs, but I really did not like how the show threw the mother a bone at the end. I feel that she did not at all deserve it. That aside, while not every character arc or plot hook is resolved, the show does atleast stayed focused and wrapping up its most important thing: That being the story of its lead character, Kano Nakamura. And all while surrounding it with the message of love being something special and wonderful. To my delight though, it didn't do the cliche of romantic love either, but rather showcased the various different kinds of love that can be found all around us. From love of hobbies, love of stories, and most importantly to me, platonic love. I've gone on time and time again about just how important friendship is not just to me, but to life in general, so I'll spare you all this time. Overall, while I don't find this ending to be absolutely perfect, it still brings alot of what I loved about Tokusatsu GaGaGa overall, and as such I can't bring myself to be at all mad at it. Life goes on, and so too do the lives of the characters in this show aimed at a very specific audience.
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11-13-2023, 12:32 PM | #16 |
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Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 2,556
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So in another bit of casting trivia, the shopkeeper is Hiroshi Miyauchi, better known as Kamen Rider V3, Himitsu Sentai Gorenger’s Aorenger, JAKQ Dengekitai’s Big One, Kaiketsu Zubat and supporting roles in the Rescue Heroes trilogy and Choriki Sentai Ohranger.
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11-14-2023, 06:27 PM | #17 |
Some guy. I'm alright.
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,465
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Also known as the cowboy cop from Toei Spider-Man! The best character!
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11-14-2023, 07:55 PM | #18 |
Some guy. I'm alright.
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,465
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FINAL THOUGHTS Tokusatsu GaGaGa is a very unique beast. It sounds like a cliche coming from someone with a small amount of media intake, but I can honestly say that I've never seen a show quite like this one before. Sure, I've seen Tokusatsu. Sure, I've seen slice of life shows. Heck, I've even seen postmodern shows discussing the impact superheroes and their stories have on various people. But never have I seen a show that is not only a slice of life about those who grew up with passion for keen interests that would get them mocked by most "normal" people, but one that did so in both a sympathetic and rather realistic light. And from so many different angles and perspectives at that. Note the "keen interests" there. Yes, the title has the word Tokusatsu in it and all, and the main character is a woman obsessed with it as a medium, but the writing is smart enough to note all of the overlap that comes with such a territory. From those into boy bands, to men into typical "girly" media such as Pretty Cure, to, heck, fans of anime and foreign music in general. This show is a love letter to nerds everywhere. Whether they grew up an outcast, had a supportive family, or those who found themselves enthralled in geeky hobbies later on in life. Tokusatsu GaGaGa does a great job at showcasing both the inherent good and bad that comes with these aspects of life, not just one or the other like most other examinations of a specific nerd culture have done(or even worse, mocked them horribly). Is that to say that the show is perfect? No, there are a few things here and there that I'd've preferred to see done a little different, and certain background characters I would've liked to have seen more of, but the writing did such a great job at most its small cast and the world they inhabit feel so alive that I really can't find myself being at all upset over it. And no, I don't just say that because I found alot of the situations relatable. Yeah, that helps, but all that means is that it would've hurt even more if I felt it were written poorly. Despite the great writing though, I would not say this show is for everyone though. Not even for the entirety of the culture that it seems focused in on. But for those that find something to latch onto, it's a wonderful ride, and showcases why exactly many of us not only love the mediums we do, but why we seek out others who do. Yeah, nerdy interests are slowly becoming more and more accepted as time goes on, but that in no way discounts the experiences that people have had and will likely continue to have. All we can do is keep moving forward, holding onto the stories that impact us. In the end, Tokusatsu GaGaGa, while I could see people contesting its status as a tokusatsu specifically despite the title, is a show that I'm so glad that I added to the list, and I think probably made for the best show to close the year out with. It helped to reinforce why shows such as Power Rangers have remained strong with me throughout my entire life, as well as made me appreciate the friends I've made and friendships I've reinforced through my niche interests. Even if I found Cosmic Fury to be a disappoint, and even if Hasbro is determined to kill the franchise off, my love for the franchise, and toku as a medium, will remain strong, and I have GaGaGa to thank for reminding me of that. In the end, I give Tokusatsu GaGaGa a 5/6. It's a wonderful time, and I can't recommend it enough.
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11-14-2023, 08:43 PM | #19 |
Some guy. I'm alright.
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,465
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And with that, I've reached the end of this year long project of checking out various different tokusatsu franchises outside of the Big Three.
I'm so glad that I decided to go forward with this project. From Gandine, to Dogengers, to Tekkouki Mizkazuki and beyond. Every new story I experienced this year has offered its own unique voice and I grew to love. I feel like the timing couldn't've been better either. Not just for me, but the greater toku sphere too. Something I've noticed becoming more and more common in the circles I reside in is burnout. Whether it be Kamen Rider, Super Sentai, or Ultraman, many a fan is growing tired of the one show they consume. Variety is the spice of life, as they say. Not happy with the various moral quandaries that Riders have been giving you? Why not giving something more fun and simple like Dogengers a try? Think Sentai has gotten too kiddy and want something with some more edge? How about giving GARO a shot? Tokusatsu has grown so far and wide now that it's easier than ever to find something to your liking. With that said, what's next for me then? Well first and foremost, I'll be taking a break until the new year at the very least. But once that hits, well, I don't plan on just abandoning the idea of visiting unfamiliar toku -- There are sequels I need to watch, afterall! Though with that in mind, I do want to return to my roots of Toku Anime as well. I plan to juggle the two, since that seems like it'll be fun. No planned order or anything, just whatever I'm in the mood for at the time will likely be covered. So yeah, even I don't know what I'll cover next, haha! But regardless, if you've been following along with any entry in this project for any amount of time, thank you, and I hope I helped you discover a new show that piqued your interests just as much as they did mine. Until we meet again, friends!
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11-15-2023, 02:14 PM | #20 |
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Join Date: Mar 2017
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This series made me get interested in work-coms dealing about adult nerds dealing with their hobbies outside working hours or shed light on how the working environment can be too stale when you can't find other people within your circle. It's the kind of stories you want to see more of when you are within this age. You grow out of high school/college club shows when not too long ago you were part of that demographic but as you get older you look for the next relatable story.
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