I think there is a high probability of seeing Murakami, considering that this is Inouye's show, albeit with an amendment.

I get what you mean now. It's certainly a valid fear especially since I think the only other Sentai to have this many factions fighting was Boukenger.

I'm not quite feeling it. Boonboom aside (Since I skipped it), it lacked any real hook compared to other recent Sentai I've watched. The idea of having sentai alum turn into other rangers is novel, but that aside, there's not much that really caught me.
People are glazing the action scenes when, aside from the fighting game homage, it wasn't anything different compared to other series.

And, personally speaking, Sentai seriously needs to stop with it's anniversaries. It was Zenkaiger's weakest aspect, it bogged down DonBros' first quarter, and the Kyoryuger anniversary in the middle of Kingohger literally made me drop the show for a few months.

Get Ready For The No.1 Battle!

Just like Komagine Kiita.

I think this sounds more like Inui Takumi, who once said, (paraphrasing) "It's just my personality. I can't help it." In other words, Hoeru wishes to be closer to others and be someone they can depend on, but his personality gets him labeled an outcast, even when he literally saves his employer's business from a robber. The kind of person who will take blame for a petty crime they didn't commit, since outcasts don't have any reputation to lose anyway.

Perhaps the biggest sign of Hoeru's misunderstood heroism is his line to Tega Sword, "I don't care about saving the world, except that I still owe 250 yen!" From this, we can see that he's a man who values fairness above all else, yet he's treated unfairly by society. But Tsutsumi actually treated him like a human being, so Hoeru feels like he absolutely cannot allow anything to happen to the world until he at least repays the favor, which is an honorable trait.

While Tsutsumi declares he wants to become the No.1 Musician, Hoeru's No.1 Ambition is unknown to him, yet Tega Sword assures that he has a big one hidden deep inside his heart, which will become clear as he advances through the No.1 Battle. So I guess Tega Sword has extrasensory perception to detect even dormant No.1 Ambitions, which is enough to qualify Hoeru.

Regardless of which is better, it's pretty unhelpful to only compliment the premiere of a new show by insulting its predecessor. Gozyuger deserves to be judged by its own merits and flaws.

The main difference is that Tsutsumi eagerly shares his dream in a way that is clear to understand without Hoeru having to ask. Even if you ask Taiya, he'll spin you so many handle metaphors before you even get close to the answer.

We both know that Murakami would be more comfortable as an eagle-themed Ranger instead.

The weird part for me was Gozyu Wolf dodging bullets inside the bell, like, it was so dark and fast that I couldn't keep up.

Generally, I agree that it's overdone, but I think Toei are justified in wanting to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Super Sentai. It's mostly those individual anniversaries that can feel disruptive. Honestly, I'm not even sure what anniversary Donbrothers was supposed to be celebrating?

The Donbrothers didn't celebrate the anniversary. The show just inherited the anniversary aspect as a not-quite-sequel to Zenkaiger, along with the gears and Kaito.

The year is 2011. Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger opens with the Sentai sacrificing their powers in battle to stop a great evil, scattered to the cosmos to be used by others.

The year is 2021. Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger opens with the Sentai sacrificing their power in battle against a great evil, scattered to the cosmos to be used by others.

The year is 2025. Etc etc you get the point.

But yeah, this was a good opener, but I'm not smitten immediately? Maybe I am a little put off by the social media tone on this episode immediately switching to yet more "Superhero vs Superhero (Japan)" posturing, which is cringe beyond belief, but even trying to be objective about the episode, it's not doing anything super outstanding, either in premise (see above) or character (it's nice Hoero isn't a chirpy optimist, but otherwise this is a standard call to adventure story). Also a shame that we see nothing from the other four Sentai members all episode. Or maybe I just haven't watched enough wrestling / fighting games in my time.

I'll be back next week, see how it goes, but hey, I had a good time!

Even better, have him as either Red Flash or Don Momotaro, both from shows Inoue worked on as well. :lolol

For some reason, the not-quite-sequel aspect does make it feel like the Kamen Rider Agito to Zenkaiger's Kamen Rider Kuuga sort of.

Random crackpot theory:

Episode 0 mentions that history restarted itself after Tega Sword purges the Calamity. What if Tsutsumi is indeed an incarnation of Taiya due to this so called reset?

I've been toying with that idea as well, actually. Would be crazy if these silver Tega Sword users later regain the memories of their past lives. :rock: