Don't worry. Ever since Kakuranger, I've learned that at least 2 rangers get the shaft in terms of character and plot. While I understand why, it's still kind of disappointing.

Also, it's calming to know that at least there is one point that everyone seems to agree on. That the child of the week plots are bad. I'm so excited :I
I do hope Burai's plotline is more than "Stuff happens" though.

It really depends on what you mean by stuff happens. Because in toku shows, it is always only stuff happens.

BTW, these are the episodes that make up the plot for Zyu: 1-10, 17-22, 28-32, 33, 37, 40-42, 47-50. That is 30 episodes, which is more than half of the series. That is a little more than the majority of the Sentai series out there. Granted, it isn't as story driven as Dairanger, but far more plot based episodes than anything I have seen from the 80s.

Oh yeah, speaking of the 80s, I do want to say that like what XW said, Liveman is a great show. The problem is, Liveman is ruined by its 50 episode requirement because the show starts to drag in the late 20s and the two additional rangers feel forced in just to do something new with the characters. Thankfully, the villains do make up for what it lacks.

"Stuff happens" as in events just occur with no rhyme or reason. Even if it is connected to the plot, like the giant monster in the first episode, he just...Appears.

Zyuranger 3.
They realize the weapons at base are old and weak, just breaking from training, so they make the decision to get the Legendary Weapons from the land of despair. However, the feeling of helplessness and misery will turn anyone there to stone. Also, if you're there for more than 24 hours, you also get turned to stone. Charming.
In the meantime, Bandora sends a boy and his mother to the same place, upping the difficulty.

And that's all.
Zyuranger has a lot of fighting.
Most episodes of Kuuga had me going like this at episode's end.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qnQpFZKaFE

But here? My favorite Sentai is martial arts based, and it doesn't have as much fighting as Zyu o-o

Just started Shinkenger, and I'm at episode 12. I'm impressed so far with the show overall. However, I'm not drawn as much to the characters as I have been in other Sentai. I don't like the villians, and I feel like I'm having to endure the interludes where they're plotting and talking in the underworld or on that river they're on.

The mecha are a little bit strange and confusing, but after attempting to watch Ninninger, it's a breath of fresh air.

Back to the characters, I find everyone is a bit too stuck in their character development and it seems like the only one that isn't overdoing it is Kotoha. Her bravery is clear and she plays it the right way. However, Ryu's constant apologizing is getting on my nerves, Chiaki is a jerk most of the time, and Mako just feels almost invisible.

Takeru just feels like a downer all of the time. I understand he's the lord and everything, but my goodness....he's yet to really crack a smile. I figured he would be over this whole act in the first few episodes sort of like how Utsusemimaru was standoffish for a while until he was comfortable showing his true caring self. I'm sure this is all leading up to something, but it is hard trying to get into the characters and enjoy them if I don't LIKE them.

I had just finished Go-Onger before this and I find the serious nature is so thick with Shinkenger. I probably should have watched something else in-between...this has been a real shift in tone for sure.

Also, does anyone know how many people work for the Shiba clan? I'm talking about the folks that run around with the maps and the white banners. There must be a lot of folks that make that operation run!!

Overalll, I'm liking it, but I'm hoping for something more to deepen my emotional connection.

Just hang in there, man! The last 10 episodes of Shinkenger are some of the best Sentai has to offer. You do have to wade through a lot of boring stuff before getting there, but it's so worth it!

LOL, I made it to episode 17 yesterday and realized that yes, they were all a bit stoic. and Yes, Genta is the most relief I've felt in a Sentai so far. They really needed his dynamic. I'm excited about the series going forward now. I feel with him on board, there is more balance and it's a bit more exciting.

Needing break from the all out insanity that is Carranger, and being a bit excited for the revealing of the next Sentai being animal themed, I thought I'd finally get around to trying Gaoranger. I have to say in the same amount of episodes of Gao that I have seen of Car, I'm a lot more invested in Gao.

Whereas Carranger is a bit more episodic and random, Gao immediately setsup the story, backstory, the characters and their personalities, and to a degree the villains. It also slowly begins to develop those characters, Red slowly becoming a bit more serious and a stern leader, Yellow learning to accept Red and relax, and Black learning to never give up. I'll admit that the cast of Carranger is a lot more interesting to watch, but from a story and development standpoint, Gao is better. To put it simply, I feel as if I want to invest in Gaoranger and marathon it compared to Carranger which hasn't really introduced any big story points and is akin to a variety show that works great in small doses.

I'll say though, Gao is pretty damn brutal. Episode 2 probably had some of the most horrific attack on civilians I've seen, and the way the grunt Orgs just get taken out are, well, brutal. Same goes to the MOTW with how much they scream and sort of bleed when they're defeated, only leaving behind a pile of waste. Nasty man.

So yeah, while I am entertained by Carranger I think I'd rather just invest my time in Gao for the time being since it keeps me attention and has me wanting to see where the story goes next, whereas Carranger assault you with so much humor in an episode with so little story that you almost need a nap or a downer afterwards.

Curious though, where are you up to on Car?

Gao is a good show as it was my first Sentai series.

Have gotten through some more of Gao and with more episodes under the belt I can discuss it a bit more. But it isn't all that interesting or exicting of a discussion.

Gao's story is nice and the episodes devoted to it advancing are pretty good. Heck even the episodes which are almost more fillerly but still plot related work out nicely. Unfortunately I've come to the first real break of plot to where I'm in filler land for a while. Sure there was some before this, but only two ever struck me as outright filler. Here though I'm just trudging through it before the next Power Animal and Roki pops up. So for the story I've seen so far it isn't bad, not the most exciting, but not bad.

The characters are a little nice too. I enjoy watching them and they can be fun to watch. But to be honest I don't find myself really caring for them. They just sort of exist and I can't really grab onto one of them as a favorite or a least favorite. They're just meh. Maybe part of it is because they haven't truly developed yet, heck the last real development was with the first Black/Blue centric episode. So hopefully they'll start to grow more and I can grab onto one then, and hey, Silver's coming up soon. But like the story they just seem very meh and average. The villains fall into the same category, maybe lower though since we only ever spend time with TsueTsue and Zabaiba and they kinda get formulaic really fast.

I paused watching Carranger due to needing a break before the acid trip it is drove me mad as well as feeling as if I wasn't truly getting anywhere with it. Gaoranger has corrected some of that, but it's doing so in a way that isn't really slow but not really fast paced. Average is the best way to describe everything so far aside from the mecha and music. You could say the show is on idle right now, so I hope it kicks into gear soon, and it should from my memory of the Zenaku saga in Wild Force. But who knows.

I got up to seven before I made the decision to take a break.

Super-elaborate roll calls are one of the reasons I watch.

Abandon hope. The pre-event has text (irritating, sometimes upside-down) describing the brands we'll see. I searched it for Super Sentai to no avail.

I keep telling myself to be grateful that we got the initial team. Absent another series of Akibaranger, I don't think we'll be seeing any more Sentai SHFs. (Or SRCs, etc.)

I'm pretty sure at this point Akibaranger is done. We haven't had a new Akiba series in 2 years.

Yeah I'm just going to say it, Gao Soulbird is utterly stupid and pointless. It is nothing more than a new cockpit which offers only a new attack, which is the same old attack but with lightning. So different and amazing! The Gaorangers fly around on it before it becomes the cockpit. That's it.

Stupid, dumb, pointless, unneeded. What else can I say.

I hated it in Wild Force, too. It was also entirely unnecessary in a series that was already filled with a billion zords.

Yet they build it up as this giant thing that can heal GaoLion and save the day, which it sort of did. But it's just buildup to a Furby that becomes fat airplane.

So like the Togepi line?

Basically. It goes from a mushroom, to an egg, to a bird wearing the egg, to a jettish thing.

Boukenger doesn't stay as good as its first episode, does it?

I really felt it didn't.
However, I didn't break past 10 episodes out of boredom.

Boukenger was a mixed bag for me. I thought the show as pretty good until Bouken Silver showed up, then he brought the show down quite a bit. The mecha add ons are not as annoying as they are in other series, but I'm not sure why, I should hate it. The battleship mech is awesome too. The villains were kind of bland though after a while as all four groups just repeated themselves over and over again. It would have been better if they had all just joined forces in the second half of the show or something.

I enjoyed Boukenger as my first Sentai series.

But that's coming from the guy that likes everything about Ninninger

I am currently watching Ohranger and Gingaman. On episode 17 of both. Ohranger has been pretty hit or miss with Oh Blue being ignored, but Gingaman has been pretty solid. The villains seem kind of lacking though.

I think the hit or miss nature of Boukenger could be just another homage to how the previous seasons were pretty hit or miss. But the season had flashes of greatness, but also the filler was pretty phoned in. It's a mixed bag; not terrible, but not the best either.

Episode 21 of Gaoranger is a gift from the Gods of tokusatsu.

Is that the one with the returning rangers?

No, that was a movie. Funny enough I saw it months ago before even starting the show.

Anyways episode 21 includes TsueTsue and Yabaiba acting like middle managers in an office trying to impress Ura (the newer general) while utilizing a really shitty Org. They make a very kiddy haunted house, use business lingo, treat one of those job improvement guides like a bible, just all around comedic gold. Oh, and Loki talks to dogs.

Seriously this episode is friggen hysterical. I'd say it is without a doubt my favorite episode of the show so far.

Another arc is complete, so it's time for another write up.

Rouki/Shirogane is the main focus of this arc and his story plays out fairly well. Certainly this is the first true story development for the show, as the Shuten arc was just "Go find this animal and make Org go boom." Now we have a legit story and threat/s. The mystery of who and what Rouki is, his ability to steal the GaoJewels, controlling them and having GaoHunter, all of this makes for a nice little story. But there is a fault with it; the reasoning for Rouki. Shirogane, feeling that the only way to beat an Org was to have the power of one decides to use that power with the risk of turning into one. First of all, why would the Warriors even have this mask laying around in the open if they know it'll corrupt somebody? This is the first case in which I believe Wild Force did something better. The mask wasn't this evil entity persay, it simply granted power. Merrick didn't know the risk he was taking, and it was only when he gained the power that it slowly took over. Shirogane knew the risk involved yet still did it. I find that completely dumb. The story also moves at the leisurely pace as the first arc. True the twists are paced out sort of nicely (we see Rouki having a spasm in his first full episode, that is unneeded), but it just sort of happens. There's no excitement.

Ura is a true step up though. Unlike Shuten he has a character and personality that makes him standout. He also has a long term goal other than "Kill Gaorangers." This all ties into the Rouki story pretty well, just at the pace I've come to expect. He did go down like a little bitch though. Shuten at least fought back when attacked, and until Ura showed up to take his energy he was more than ready to keep going. Ura pretty much just got his ass handed to him by Shirogane and didn't even try to fight back. I understand surprise and what not, but he saw the guy coming at him. Seriously man, how is it that you offer more as a character than Shuten, but go out in a worse way?

We also get new Power Animals in GaoRhinos and Gaomadillo. But they're arrival is just terribly presented. Whereas the SoulBird was presented as this huge deal but amounted to nothing, GaoRhinos and GaoMadillo come practically out of nowhere, have no hype around the, but prove to be what ends up saving the day and allowing the Gaorangers to make GaoKing again. You would think this would be a big deal, having to go out and find these new Power Animals. But nope. They just roll in unannounced.

It seems in general the story just happens. I'd argue that it is because I've seen Wild Force and know a lot of the key points, but that wouldn't be right. I've seen Lost Galaxy countless times, but the story is always exciting to watch and when I finally watched Gingaman I was even more excited just to see this story I already loved, but to see it done in a different way. That's because the story made me care enough about the characters involved and the events that happen. Gaoranger has me investing in time, but I don't really find myself caring for these characters to where I get excited when stuff happens. I enjoy watching Yabaiba and TsueTsue, but only from a comedic standpoint. I could care less if they, or anybody else died. At this point I'm simply watching just to finish it. I want to get excited for the characters and story, but the show really isn't giving me a reason to engage it enough to do so. And considering I already know the next big event coming soon, Gaoranger really needs to get its game together to make me even care about the characters.

Started watching Megaranger, first thought...? Why didn't I start this series sooner? Lol.

Another arc done in Gao. It tied up some loose ends and gave us our second big little moment/story...and it was done badly. MASSIVE spoilers ahead.

For the most part, everything I have said before stays the same; stuff happens, can't get excited, blah blah blah. We see a bit of character growth in Red seemingly becoming quiter and more serious, but not by much. Any true development goes of course to Silver, he learning to work with the Gaorangers and accept/overcome what he's done. It like a lot of stuff kinda just happens, and honestly I didn't really think it came off that well. Also, for a senshi who has been regarded in the fan base as cool and bad ass, I don't think he's any of them. Why is he cool? Because he kinda works on his own? Is he a bad ass because he rides a bike? I don't get it.

Story remains the same, the focus this time being on finally defeating the thousand year evil, which grows stronger with every defeat. I do like that idea that the more the Gaorangers beat it the angrier and stronger it gets, it finally merging with Ura to create his ultimate form...which looks retarded. Seriously he looks like a green fish with vegetables attached to him.

But this arc is known for one thing, perhaps the one thing Gaoranger is most known for; everybody but Red and Silver die. But unfortunately what you would assume would be a big moment is really, really, really mishandled. Now to give it some credit, Blue's death is rather sudden and shocking, especially for any of you who have seen it without any knowledge of it beforehand, and certainly for those who watched the show as it aired. The reactions of the team are acted good. But then it goes downhill because Yellow, Black, and White are offed.

Let me level with you, when a Senshi dies it usually leaves an impact (thought Sentai deaths are some of the worst kept secrets). Even if you know it is coming they can be pretty impactful. When one dies in battle or sacrifices themselves it acts as the ultimate heroic moment and for at least, salvation. However it means nothing here because four rangers die...in the middle of the show and are revived an episode later. You know that because of the placement and number killed that they aren't staying dead, which ruins any sort of finality or impact the event has. If it was just Blue, handled the way it was, and he was never revived, it would be a very impactful scene. Hell if they saved them all dying for the final episode and they were revived by the passion and love the people of Earth have for the planet, animals, and human lives with the team saying "You say evil will always be around, but as long as evil exists there will always be good and as long as people love this planet and the life on it there will always be Gaoranger," it would also be a very nice scene. But neither of them happened and what we're left with is an event placed in the wrong time of the show that has no final impact or anything truly touching about it.

It does lead to a new weapon and mecha, but I think that reasoning of it justifying the deaths are stupid. Sure they look cool, but what's even the point? We also get GaoDeers, which should honestly just be Deer, but Engrish I guess. It looks cool and GaoIcarus is very nice looking, probably my third favorite of the show.

This arc seemingly had the potential to lead to some really good character development and a very impactful and shocking scene. But the growth/story is just the usual meh of the show and the death is just wasted. I have to say that this is the first time I'm disappointed with Gaoranger and didn't really like what it offered. All I can say is that I hope the next arc brings something better since we're near the homestretch.

I just finished Carranger! And I like-not-love it. It has some of my favorite sentai episodes ever (like the, "I'm Carranger's leader!" episode), but the ending of the show left me cold. Not that I didn't like it, it was just... Not as emotionally stirring as I'd have liked.

So, the next show on my list is Megaranger, but for some reason I'm not looking forward to it. What's the consensus on this season?

My plan is to take a mini-hiatus, considering I've blown through 6 sentai shows this summer. But if Megaranger is truly exceptional, I may have to start it now as I'm already going through Sentai withdrawal.

Megaranger is a decent series, I feel. There are some memorable characters, but I wasn't super into it.

I liked Megaranger. It isn't the best season, and it does tend to lead towards having more filler than story, but the fillers are always really fun to watch. The story can be pretty darn good at times and the characters are likeable.

Dang, I was really hoping to avoid another filler-heavy series after Oh and Car.

I went ahead and watched the first three eps today, and I liked them quite a bit. With the combo of space and high school, I can't help but be reminded of Fourze. Fortunately, Fourze is my favorite Kamen Rider series, so I'm not complaining.

After just watching a full season of nothing but wacky hijinks, it's nice to see a show with more threatening stakes. Part of the reason I'm doing the chronological thing is to see how each series is informed by the one before it. And I feel like Mega's more grounded/character conflict-driven approach is pretty refreshing after Car's relentless OTT humor. Frankly, I'm just relieved that the baddies this round don't appear to be utter bafoons.

Er, Megaranger isn't what I'd call the most serious.

I'll just leave this here.

http://41.media.tumblr.com/dc2770cef...eoszo1_500.png

Oh, and there's a priceless scene where they milk a cow and Miku reveals she's felt up Chisato because "Why the fuck not?" Megaranger in general is priceless.

Of course it isn't serious, it's still Sentai. But after Carranger, Megaranger is playing like War & Peace. lol

Well, they ARE highschoolers. Not really the most serious people. Or the smartest. Or the most socially aware.

Really? I thought Car's finale was one of the most satisfying final battles ever in a Sentai show.

BTW, I like Mega, but I've only seen the full series raw once and the first 18 episodes subbed, so there might be things that will work for me better when I see them subbed or vice versa.

Don't get me wrong, Car's finale is totally fine. I liked it, and it successfully wraps up all of the show's loose ends. I just wasn't over the moon about it (which I fully expected to be, considering how much of the show I absolutely adore).

Compared to my favorite Sentai series finales (Jet, Dai, Kaku, Shinken, Gosei, Gokai, Go-Bus, and ToQ), where I wept openly several times over the course of the final few episodes, Car's finale really doesn't amount to much. For me, a good finale evokes a really strong emotional reaction... and as much as I loved the show, Car's finale was far from emotionally stirring.

Because at the end of the day, the show's #1 big bad guy was defeated by Gynamo throwing an expired Imo-Yokan into his mouth. And that makes it hard to feel emotionally connected to the climax. They went for the big joke... and that came at the expense of any big feels.

But then it was the big bang finale again you would expect from a show like Car by never even doing the big bang finale and just deciding to take a well known trope and completely doing it wrong and turning it into kind of a joke :lol

Right, I mean, I totally get the intent on a cerebral level. And in its own way, it's a perfect ending for the show.

I just wish they'd found a way to engage me emotionally as well as they did intellectually. If that makes sense...