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TokuNation
(https://www.tokunation.com/forums/index.php)
- Tokusatsu Show Discussion
(https://www.tokunation.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=20)
- - What are you watching (Sentai edition)
(https://www.tokunation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119)
I'm finishing up Go Busters. Yoko and the boys are going into hyper space. (Episode 29)
And recently finished Magi and Gokai Ranger. So going forward from Gokai. |
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...I'm sure none of that is news to most Sentai fans, but humor me, okay? I'm having fun learning! :p Quote:
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I love hearing just how pushy this guy was about his standards. Like, I'd heard before that he was very indignant on there being a second girl for once; and now you're telling me he pushed so hard to actually tell a story. Gotta respect it! |
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Finished Abaranger, and I gotta say, eh. I'm not too impressed. Compared to the shows around it, Hurricanger and Dekaranger, I was left vastly underwhelmed.
I did love the dynamic of Ryoga and Mai, since a red ranger with a child isn't something often seen, and it led to a ton of absolutely adorable moments. Aside from that, though, I found myself uninterested most of the time. Mikoto being a villain for almost the entire series was an interesting way of handling an evil sixth, as they're usually either aloof rivals, or villains for only a few episodes before turning good. So that was a nice change of pace, but the character as a whole just was uninteresting. However, while the characters were uninteresting and the main story was bland, one thing I can give credit to Abaranger is just how freaking weird it is. From it's monster designs being a composite of an animal, plant, and inanimate object, to some episode premises (The Bucky Bonds episode, the Abare Pink episode, the episode where the two generals visit Earth and learn about school girls, etc), this show would hit levels of just absolute insanity, and I loved it :lol But while the show could get just outright crazy, far too often I found myself bored. The show's character moments were incredibly weak, which is a shame, since character driven Sentai like Zyuohger tend to be my favorites. |
Kyo Ryu Ranger is my switch in point for the series.
Hasbro has yet to release Beast Morphers. Due to Super Ninja Steel being the final USA series I was able to see I was sort of forced to watch the Toei shows so I backed up to Go Busters. From Go Busters forward I will only watch this franchise. Watching Oh - Aba Ranger (Car Ranger completed) Go Busters - Karmi Mage Ranger Completed Zyu - Kaku Car Ranger Deka Magi Geki Ranger Go On Shinken Ranger Gosei Gokai Ranger |
Hello, it?s me, the guy doing the Hurricaneger watch thread. Due to a mix of said thread coming to an end soon (temporarily. I do plan to do the post-show stuff soon after), and some IT problems affecting my most recent presentation, I?ve decided to do some updated reviews of episodes 1 and 8 (the debuts of both main ensembles) since I was never happy with my original reviews. And rather than re-edit my original posts, or take up space in that thread doing updated versions, I?ve decided to post them here, where I can get more publicity. So, let?s get on with episode 1.
Scroll 1: Wind and Ninja (Spoilers, obviously) The show opens with a woman in a cave, investigating a mysterious object. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FSvP_W...jpg&name=small When inspected, the object sends a beam of light into outer space. We then cut to two months later in Shinobi Valley (once again, is that a real place? Let me know), where three masked figures battle over a scroll, while the narrator talks about ninjas (which is unusual, since later episodes relegate him to reading title cards and doing the omake segment for this series). https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FSv8lW...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FSy9lX...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FSzzkX...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FS3F5X...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FS3agW...jpg&name=small And then a guy in an Oni mask appears, force-pushing them into submission. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FS3btX...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FS4ADX...jpg&name=small Everyone then unmasks, whereupon we see that the three amateurs are the guys in the opening credits, who identify the one guy who isn?t for our benefit. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FS7hwW...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FS7kkW...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FS8lMW...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FS728W...jpg&name=small The Headmaster berates our trio of protagonists, since the every 500 years royal match with their ancient rivals, the Ikazuchi Way is coming up soon and they aren?t living up to their own Way?s legendary successors, the Hurricanegers (mwah mwah), much to their annoyance. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FTENnX...jpg&name=small The Headmaster then demands heir presence at an assembly tomorrow, before turning into an owl and flying back to their school, the Ninpuukan (Ninja Wind Castle). https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FTEOiX...jpg&name=small The next day, at the assembly, the headmaster lectures his students on the Hayate Way?s long war with the Ikazuchi Way, dating back to the Sengoku era. (Make your own Kamen Rider joke; I?m too lazy) We get told that the Hayate Way has always come out on top as warriors, while the Ikazuchi Way has remained hidden from the world (which would probably make them better Ninjas, but what do I know). We then see that our main trio have blown off the assembly (of course) and are poking fun at the old man, while a series of informative captions inform us of their names and ranks, while discussing how even the competition actually has been. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FTNQQX...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FTNTQX...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FTN28X...jpg&name=small After casually showing us that they?re trapped within a force field (explaining why none of them think to just leave, though later episodes show you can if you drop out). The Narrator then cuts to the woman from before, in a mysterious room. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FTRlRW...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FTRl1X...jpg&name=small Despite trying desperately to out-hack the object from earlier, she fails and the ones who sent it descend upon the Earth. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FTRmVW...jpg&name=small Within the spaceship, 5 figures all make oohs and aaaaahs at the Earth. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FTU6EW...jpg&name=small They are then silenced (despite not actually making much noise) but their Boss, Tau Zant (a play on thousand), who outlines their mission for them (apparently, no-one knew what they were doing when they set off for this blue planet). https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FTVhLX...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FTU86X...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FTYlyX...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FTY6uW...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FTZMfW...jpg&name=small (If you?re wondering what ?it? is, then you?re in for a long haul. I?m at episode 49 and we’ve only just found out what it is). Chuzoobo (who?s name is a play on ?Tuesday?) then reveals he?s already sent down his best man (which is, admittedly, what he calls all of his men. It?s not a unique or meaningful title) to deal with those on the planet that call themselves ninja. Sure enough, we cut to him, Barrier Ninja Kekkaibo, down on Earth, flanked by the Genin (lower ninja) Magerappa (Mage = topknot, while rappa is an Engrish pronunciation of ?rapper?). https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FTc52W...jpg&name=small Using his Uchuu Ninpo: Kekkai Yaburi (Space Ninja Art: Barrier Breaking), Kekkaibo handily breaks the shield https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FTgJXX...jpg&name=small Before anyone can properly react, Kekkaibo fits everyone at the assembly with a talisman. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FTgJ4X...jpg&name=small He then performs his Uchuu Ninpo: Ofuda Fubuki (Talisman Snowstorm), which traps everything within the talismans? except the headmaster, who escapes by turning himself into a hamster. (And since he stays like this for the majority of the show, I call him ?Hamster Headmaster?) https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FTl8EW...jpg&name=small As our trio respond to the danger, everything gets sucked into a tornado, taking them up to the Centipede, where the talismans are dispersed across space (or something. The animation isn?t clear). They soon come to realise how screwed they are. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FTrEIX...jpg&name=small Sure enough, they get found by Kekkaibo and Jakanja?s supervisor, Furabijo (portmanteau of Friday, bee and bijou [beauty]), who is carrying a cute creature (Hamster Headmaster) she found on the floor. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FTroTW...jpg&name=small In the resulting fight, Kekkaibo comes out on top, especially once he demonstrates his Uchuu Ninpo: Jizaimen (Free Face), which allows his head to detach from his body. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FTrpDW...jpg&name=small Fortunately, they get saved from certain death by being teleported to the underground room by the woman, who they recognise as the Headmaster?s daughter Oboro. Oboro then spells out just how screwed they are. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FT0NtX...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FT0NIX...jpg&name=small Everyone takes a moment to bask in the hopelessness of the situation. The hamster-headmaster then wills his weapon (which Nanami picked up earlier) to break, as a signal that he?s alright (seems a bit of a weird signal, but what do I know). https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FT0N7X...jpg&name=small Oboro then assures the three that her dad was only hard on them because he thought they had the potential to be Hurricanegers one day? which is today, as she hands the the Hurricane Gyros needed to equip the Shinobi Suits and become the Hayate Way?s legendary successors, Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FT9v8W...jpg&name=small The three are so happy to be chosen they run off into battle with determined vigour? only to forget to take the Gyros with them (Yeah, they?re literally the worst choice available for this post, but they?re also paradoxically the best choice). https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FUKWYW...jpg&name=small Facing down Kekkaibo at the quarry, the three transform for the first time. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FUKV8X...jpg&name=small And you know what that means. Roll call time. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FUKYtX...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FUO8RX...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FUO-PW...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FUPOLW...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FUPddW...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FUQO_X...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FUQRaW...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FUQjsW...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FUQ1tX...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FUTQuW...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FUTS-W...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FUTlSX...jpg&name=large https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FUT3nW...jpg&name=small Kekkaibo then summons the Magerappas to do battle, to which the three new Hurricanegers use their weapon, the Hayatemaru (a sword that combines with its holster to form a gun) https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FUWtOX...jpg&name=small HurrcaneRed starts things off with his Chou Ninpo: Soragake (Super Ninja Art: Sky Gallop), which lets him defy gravity. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FUWvsW...jpg&name=small HurricaneBlue then uses the gun mode for an attack performed while running on water (unnamed in this episode), before straight up blasting them with water using Chou Ninpo: Suiryuha (Water dragon blast). https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FUXUDX...jpg&name=small HurricaneYellow then fights with the Chou Ninpo: Mai Jishi (Dancing Lion) which? duplicates him (not sure what that has to do with land, but whatever). https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FUag-X...jpg&name=small The three then face off in a rematch with Kekkaibo, who uses his Uchuu Ninpo: Genmakai (Phantom Demon World) to defeat them by? sending them to the Makuu Space? (At least that?s what it looks like. I know our head writer did Metal Heroes shows in the past, but yeesh). https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FUxjVW...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FUx3xX...jpg&name=small During this fight, we meet a second pair of Rangers, in red and blue. The blue one tries to help, only for his comrade to stop him and have him walk away (then why did they show up if the red one didn?t want to help? The answer to that will come, in time). https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FUyRrW...jpg&name=small Our heroes then escape this predicament by summoning? hang gliders. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FU1QkW...jpg&name=small They then use another new technique (which my own thread missed until episode 3), Chou Ninpo: Kage no Mai (Dance of Shadows) https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FU13UX...jpg&name=small They then each pull out an individual weapon, known as Hurricane Gadgets (none of which are actually weapons, but whatever). https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FU5WVX...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FU5ZSX...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FU6BQX...jpg&name=small After causing some damage with all of these individually, they then combine them into the Sanjuren (three-way Union) Triple Gadget and destroy the enemy (complete with extra shot of his severed head exploding). https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FU6BlW...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FU9wMX...jpg&name=small Everyone opens their faceplates to celebrate this victory https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FU9yUW...jpg&name=small It?s at this point that the hamster headmaster regains his speech capabilities (to everyone?s predictable shock) and escapes (which he could?ve done earlier, but whatever). https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FU-XCW...jpg&name=small It?s at this point that the Centipede appears on Earth, drilling its way into the ground (don?t worry, it landed in the sea. No land masses were harmed). https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FVBPSX...jpg&name=small And then the episode ends with the other Jakanja higher-ups showing up, as the narrator closes the episode. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FVBRqW...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FVBj1W...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0FVB18W...jpg&name=small Final thoughts: On the episode as a whole, they haven?t changed and can be found here. But it?s certainly been interesting to view it again now that I?m near the end of the show and compare and contrast (which I hope is reflected in this review compared to my original). I?ll probably have the episode 8 re-review up soon ish. |
Karmi Mage is next up on DVD once I catch up Ryu Soul.
Going in order I'll be watching Kyo Ryu Ranger after Go Busters. |
I finally finished Goseiger. I'll be the first to admit that I started this particular series with very little expectations given how divisive it is especially in comparison to the two series that Goseiger ended up being sandwiched with which I don't think it's really fair to the show itself. I believe every Sentai series, good or bad, should stand or fall on their own. Same goes with most seasons of Power Rangers. In all honestly, I really have no regrets in watching this series especially how very solid their endgame arc is and that Bladerun/Brajil (yes, I'm going by how his name(s) was spelled by the MillionFold Curiosity subs) is a great villain for this series. I've already given the other positives that Goseiger has in my previous post in this thread so there is no need of repeating them. Overall, while this Sentai series is obviously not the best, it's also not one of the worst and it really could have been far worse.
Now, it's onward to Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger. |
It's a tricky one for me because Go-Onger and Kyoryuger probably had more I dislike but Goseiger is just difficult to care about!
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~Fish's Zenkai Tour!~
Episode 9 – Dengeki Sentai Changeman https://i.imgur.com/D7yYLQI.png Most of what I knew about Changeman comes down to how insanely catchy that theme song is. Easily one of the best in the franchise, even now. And yet, somehow, in all the time I've felt that way, I'm pretty sure I never realized the singer is Hironobu Kageyama? Like, no wonder it's so awesome then, right? So as you can tell from me missing things that obvious, there's a whole lot about this show still for me to discover. I have a vague understanding now that Changeman is a rather well-regarded series, being part of the string of Sentai from main writer Hirohisa Soda that made huge strides when it came to introducing more engaging and complex drama to the franchise. Apparently it's even a favorite for Soda himself, which is cool and all, but of course, now I'm starting to talk about the series as a whole, when I'm supposed to be speaking for the one episode I've actually watched. That one episode was pretty cool. Changeman shoots for a heavy military theme, kinda taking things back to those early cool organization days, which really shines a spotlight on how much the franchise had already evolved. It doesn't feel like some huge retread of the premieres of the first few Sentai, and even more impressively, it also doesn't feel like a rehash of the premieres Soda had been writing the previous few years. Instead, it's got elements from both mixing together to make something rather fresh for the time. I think the plot point that sums it up best is that the protagonists are introduced undergoing impossibly tough training exercises for their cool organization, which is very old-school, but they're immediately shown chafing under the inhuman expectations, getting so fed up they straight up call it quits and walk off, which is a very, very new-school behavior for a tokusatsu hero. There's a casual human vulnerability to that I really liked. Another great instance of very smartly executed blending of the old Sentai flavor with the emerging new style is that there is once again a scene of the team getting their mission exposited to them by a commander character in a room... after the team has transformed for the first time, which does the Bioman routine of having them terrorized by mooks until gaining mysterious superpowers to turn the tables – a routine that, as I mentioned last time, is basically objectively exciting. The mooks themselves are these amazingly freaky snot goblin dudes, too, which is a natural enough segue to toss in a mention of how appealingly unappealing I found the monster aesthetics. There's a very clear emphasis on making the alien invaders look fleshy, which I think is maybe the grossest sounding adjective I can think of to properly get across how much they nailed what they were going for. It's the kind of thing where a lot of kids were probably genuinely frightened by some of those close-up shots. I will say that this premiere didn't grip me quite the way Bioman's did. I'm all the more appreciative of that bold cliffhanger after going right back to the heroes riding off while the narrator says words to the effect of "please tune in for 50 or so more weeks of this." Which, you know, again, nothing wrong with that, and those are some cool bikes to ride off on, but there are aspects of Bioman's debut I definitely enjoyed more. Still, that's all a matter of personal preference more than anything, and I was even more impressed than Bioman when it came to how much you could feel the franchise gradually redefining itself. Changeman is a rather fitting name when there's all this change, man! This isn't a show I'm particularly eager to get around to like some others, but I have a feeling it will impress me when I finally do. |
Is it just me or are the Ranger suits wearing tank tops?
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I always consider this Shiro Izumi's Malcolm in the Middle and Zyuranger his Breaking Bad because of obvious reasons. :lolol
That said, it is fun to see Izumi play a polar opposite to Burai in the show as the more upbeat Yuuma/Change Pegasus. Quote:
In reality it is sewen to the suit, not a separate piece, but it occasionally gets brought up I feel. :lolol |
I'm currently up to episode 14 of Gokaiger. I almost forgot how so damn fun this series is.
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The most I recall off the top of my head about Changeman’s first episode is the training scene, sheerly for how damn OTT it came off as.
And in another behind the scenes fact, this series was the suit-acting debut for Richi Seiike and Jiro Okamoto (who were playing grunts at the time, but that soon changed), and the first regular suit-acting jobs for Yuichi Hachisūka and Yoshinori Okamoto, after some guest spots in the previous season (Hachisūka is playing Change Phoenix, while Okamoto is playing and voicing Adjutant Booba, for anyone interested. |
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... and that's about all I know! It's another one of those Sentai that interests me and I want to get to, but partly because of that I'm actively avoiding information about it. It's part of what made Dynaman so fun for me, after all! I'm glad to hear it's following the streak of Showa Sentai really hitting its stride, even if said Showa era was ending in a few years |
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I didn't touch on the suit designs, but while I can respect them realizing Bioman was so good they should just do it again, for whatever reason, I don't like them quite as much. They seem more refined in a lot of ways, but— man, I guess I just REALLY am that drawn to Bioman? It's like I keep subconsciously attempting to steer this discussion back a series without even trying. :lol Quote:
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i really like Changeman. i think my Sentai sweet spot is everything from Bioman to Liveman.
anyway, i'm currently watching Kiramager. i watched the first five episodes when they originally came out... but my computer died and i just never got back into watching it. till now. |
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Well even if the answer is ‘no’, here’s the second of the two “re-reviews” I promised last week. Scroll 8: Hayate and Ikazuchi Last time, our heroes got beaten down by a mysterious duo identifying as the Gouraigers, the Ikazuchi Way’s legendary champions. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NI9uwW...jpg&name=small They then left after the beatdown, but not before unmasking themselves as these guys: Ikazuchi Way’s KabutoRaiger, Ikkou Kasumi and Ikazuchi Way’s KuwagaRaiger, Isshu Kasumi. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NI9u5X...jpg&name=small Back to the present, where our heroes are discussing where they go next… though they quickly get distracted by the Kuroko playing kendama (a Japanese educational game involving a ball attached by a strong to a hammer, both made of wood). https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NI9vJW...jpg&name=small Oboro isn’t able to give them much to go on, due to how little is known about the Ikazuchi Way. But she does know this. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NI9vvV...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NJMX1V...jpg&name=small It’s also pointed out that the Kasumi Bros are two of the strongest and dangerous Ninjas in recent times. Our trio come to the conclusion that their new foes merely want to settle their 500-year rivalry, since the scheduled rematch didn’t take place. So they figure by telling the two about the threat, they’ll team up with them to take down Jakanja (Ah, the folly of youth). Speaking of the Jakanja, they’re positively gushing over the new guys. (And despite it being disproven in the last episode, the Floaty-Head still thinks they’re the remaining two Spears. Blind faith, much?) https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NJMaBX...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NJMamX...jpg&name=small Well, almost all of them https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NJMbjX...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NJehNX...jpg&name=small Tau Zant then bids Sargain begin his next plan to corrupt the planet with a new puppet: Water-Absorbing Ninja Gamajakushi (Who I will refer to as “Tad” from now on). https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NJekmX...jpg&name=small Tad then throws his tadpoles into the water, using them to activate his Uchuu Ninpo: Mizu Kui (Water Absorb) https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NJemwX...jpg&name=small Within a small amount of time, Oboro has recovered one of the tadpoles, courtesy of the kuroko and manages to find out a lot from dumping it in a green liquid (Japanese cream soda?). https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NJeoWX...jpg&name=small The Hurricanegers then set off for the sea, reasoning that he’ll be going there next, if his plan is to suck up the waters of Earth. And at the sea, the Gouraigers give their reviews of Jakanja’s plans. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NJr0CU...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NJrxSX...jpg&name=small The Hurricanegers then run into them on the way, making their pitch. Ikkou calls them naive, before they get interrupted by Tad appearing to kill them all (I guess Sargain decided he wanted the Gouraigers out of the picture). The Hurricanegers transform and fight, but prove woefully ineffective against Tad and his Uchuu Ninpo: Gama Kudaki (Toad Crush). https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NJrzGV...jpg&name=small After watching their ancient enemies get beaten up, the Kasumi Bros decide to step in and join the fight. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NJr0fU...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NJtzEX...jpg&name=small As I said in my previous review, what really adds to the creepy factor, besides the fact these obvious anti-heroes are using the same transformation phrase as the heroes, is the music playing in the background (skip to 1:41). https://youtube.com/watch?v=1y_44ufBo3s They then proceed to do their (much more understated) role call. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NJt0UW...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NJt1aW...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NJt1RU...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NJvriX...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NJvsaX...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NJvt5X...jpg&name=small With this done, the two then pull out their weapons. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NJvuvW...jpg&name=small But what happens next surprises everyone (including, presumably, the audience) https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NJxdMV...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NJxfFW...jpg&name=small Tad’s attacks are unable to do much of anything, since the Gouraigers are prepared for it. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NJxf3X...jpg&name=small And that’s not all the DX Ikazuchimaru can do(Buy it in 2002, for the price of slightly more than a DX Rider belt). https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NJxg5W...jpg&name=small After dominating the fight with their Ikazuchimarus up until now, the Gouraigers use their individual weapons, the Horn Breaker (a gun, and incidentally, the only actual weapon among the “gadgets”) and the Stag Breaker (a claw that discharges electricity). https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NKDLIX...jpg&name=small After softening Tad up a bit, they then pull out their Two-way Union Double Gadget. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NKDMnV...jpg&name=small Ikkou: Set, Thunder! https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NKDYiV...jpg&name=small As Tad is destroyed, the two Ikazuchi Ninjas then take their leave. As Tad gets revived as a Copy Giant, the Hurricanegers form Senpuujin, which is just as helpless against the barrage of tadpoles… that is, until Oboro sees the Kendama game from earlier and gets an idea. (There’s very little in this series that’s pointless) https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NKDN7X...jpg&name=small One reprogramming of the two later, they can combine. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NKFcnV...jpg&name=small And thus, Goat Crusher and Tortoise Hammer are combined into Karakuri Combo: Goat Hammer. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NKFd5W...jpg&name=small With their new weapon, the Hurricanegers knock the tadpoles away, before destroying Tad for good with the Finish Trick: Hurricane Suisei. When the battle is done, our trio reunite with the Gouraigers… only for the two to say this. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NKFfaV...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NKFgEV...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NKPzOX...jpg&name=small Yosuke asks why they helped them out, to which the two have this to say. (And as episode 50 shows, they’re right) https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NKP0TU...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NKP7zX...jpg&name=small This is overheard by Tau Zant in the Centipede. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NKP9FV...jpg&name=small The Hurricanegers have one question. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NKbjRV...jpg&name=small A question that impresses neither of their rivals. (To be fair, they do have something of a point) https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NKbkVV...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NKblgV...jpg&name=small Isshu states that it’s something that will allow the Ikazuchi Way to reinvent itself as the strongest in the world… and idea that he didn’t submit to Ikkou for approval. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NKbmOU...jpg&name=small Ikkou states that “that” will allow the Gouraigers to become the strongest Uchuu Ninjas, stating they’d rather die trying to get it than let Jakanja or the Hurricanegers obtain it (I doubt the Hurricanegers would want it, given that I’m at the point where I know what “that” is). Tau Zant then broadcasts a message to the Kasumi Bros. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NKmgxW...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NKmfmW...jpg&name=small https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NKmhvX...jpg&name=small He then sends them a sphere to board, which they do as the episode ends with it taking off. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0NKm0mX...jpg&name=small Final thoughts: Once again, my thoughts on the episode are the same as last time. But once again, it’s been fun to go back and rewatch this episode, in light of later developments (such as Floaty Head’s blind faith in the Gouraigers contrasting with his later attempts to ruin KabutoRaiger’s life). Well, I’ve enjoyed these two re-reviews, an I hope you enjoyed reading them just as much. |
^ Funny that you brought up Hurricaneger since I'm currently up to the two-parter Hurricaneger tribute episodes in Gokaiger. So far, it's been very interesting re-watching the other tribute episodes as well as the 35th anniversary movie that as doubles as their crossover with Goseiger before it since I watched a lot of those Sentai seasons in their entirety before jumping back in to this particular series.
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Ill be reviewing that two-parter in the near future. And believe me, if you expect positivity, you’ll be barking up the wrong tree.
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Just finished episode 40 of Gokaiger which also serves as a tribute episode to Timeranger. Only 11 episodes to go.
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Just finished Gokaiger. A very fun series from start to finish both as an anniversary season and as a stand-alone and I can now finally say that it's another favorite series of mine. Now, it's onward to Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters.
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Finished Abaranger a bit ago. Stewed on it for a bit to collect my thoughts.
Abaranger was a series I wanted to see for some time now, as I always loved the idea of a Red ranger with a child, an evil sixth that stays evil for the majority of the series, and just seemed so weird. And it did deliver on all those, but it just felt so...Lacking. One thing it had in spades was sheer insanity. So many episodes were just completely crazy and wacky that I couldn't comprehend what happened, and I loved that. The episode chosen for Lost and Found in Translation really did set the stage for what Abaranger was all about. Surreal, crazy, and sheer fun. However, that's really about it when it comes to the series, which is unfortunate, because I wanted to like it more than I did. We'll move to the second strongest factor, Ryoga and Mai. A red ranger with a child is certainly a unique take, and I'm definitely thankful that Mai stuck around as was a major factor. However, I felt that they handled the entire thing poorly. While I know "Red ranger makes promise, breaks it because Ranger duties" would become a repetitive story line, I just felt that the sheer lack of (Non MOTW induced) conflict really made their story shallow. Still, for what it's worth, it didn't feel like a complete waste, as we did get some nice episodes and moments between the two. The other character that got focus was Asuka. And he was alright. I don't know, I just didn't gel with him, as I felt his storyline was just so bland. I guess after the likes of Jetman's Marie, his plot with Mahoro just felt like a watered down version. Them having a child is nice, though. The other characters were basically just...There, which was a big issue. While it was nice to see AbareBlue open up to others more, ultimately, they just around. Mikoto's motivation to be evil, him becoming the main villain's lead, and finally the final twist revolving around him all felt weak simply due to his being evil solely "Because I'm bored." It was a let down, and his warming up to the others was painfully forced. Honestly, Abaranger was a series I was looking forward to watching, and in the end, I found myself let down and bored. Something I had never done before was skip episodes or run them at 2x speed, but around the final stretch, I was doing that multiple times simply due to sheer disinterest in what was going on, and just wanted to watch plot relevant episodes at that point. I don't have a handy list of Sentai in order of personal quality, but if I did assemble a new one, Abaranger would definitely in the bottom half. |
~Fish's Zenkai Tour!~
Episode 10 – Choushinsei Flashman https://i.imgur.com/GITU1LZ.png Most of what I knew about Flashman was that its theme song is also insanely catchy. I like to listen to all the Super Sentai themes in a row every now and then, and those few minutes when it gets to Changeman and this show right in a row are always so glorious. I mean, the Flashman lyrics literally have them bragging about not even knowing what the word "danger" means in-between that repeated chant of "FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH!" It's got a way of sticking in your head is what I'm saying. Beyond that, I mean, it's the show that introduced the concept of the second robot to Sentai, which is a crucial point of no return for the franchise giving over ever more to the demands of marketing. I mean, I'm sure it sounds downright quaint now, but the robots were and are kind of like mascots for Sentai shows, so suddenly deciding the "face" of a series was no longer good enough to last a whole year was kind of a fateful moment, and reflective of a larger trend forming with robot anime and the like as well. But like, fun as this tangent is, that second robot is obviously introduced way past what I'm here to cover today, so I should move on to the premiere itself. It's another winner for Soda! Flashman seems like a show that will be my jam when I get around to seeing it in full. I'm going to start with a very specific reason why and work outwards from there – the characters' names. Seemingly a minor point, but this is the first Sentai with a cast that only has given names written in katakana rather than kanji. This is one of my favorite recurring Sentai tropes, used in shows that want to signify an "outsider" status to the heroes in some way, such as in ToQger, where the protagonists don't remember their families, or in Zyuranger, to reflect the fantasy origins of the cast. Flashman did both of those things I just mentioned right on the first go, further proving what a period of rapid evolution the franchise began once Soda took the reins with Goggle-V. What I love so much about this setup really comes down to me finding outsider protagonists fun in general, I guess. There's an inherent energy to a story centered around characters that fundamentally don't "belong" in the environment they find themselves, and for a Sentai specifically, that idea that the team really only has each other to lean on contributes to the characterization just as naturally. There's only so much of this that can be explored in a single episode, of course, so I'm more talking about the possibilities of the story right now, but it's a first outing that does a great job at assuring the viewer there will be more to come. The backstory of the team in Flashman is that they were all stolen from Earth at a young age by the bad guys and ended up being raised by more benevolent aliens out there in the cosmos, returning to their home planet all these years later to stop those same bad guys from laying waste to it. It's a golden premise, giving the heroes the simultaneous driving forces of revenge as well as the idea of them questing to reclaim the identities that were so cruelly stolen from them, which is of course all on top of the simple desire to protect that precious planet known as Earth, something they'd appreciate more than usual because they can't take living there for granted. Like, jeez, that is some seriously fertile ground for good storytelling right there, right!? But not too serious, because while the potential of that last paragraph is hinted at, a lot of what the premiere is concerned with is making it clear that Flashman, true to its name, is not going to be a show about gloomy tragic people bemoaning their horrible fate. No, instead, everyone has this fantastic youthful brightness to them I found really compelling, even in the brief window of time I got to know them in for now. They're all very eager in a way that's so fun to watch, and they have great chemistry with one another. Again, It feels like seeing the future of the franchise in action, because this is all stuff I associate with more modern shows, and yet here it is all the way back in '86. This is another one that left one heck of a first impression. I feel like it's sort of telling that this is the first show since all the way back when they were introduced in Battle Fever J to hold off on the giant robot in the premiere. Don't get me wrong, I would absolutely have welcomed some combination action here, but I think the lack of it after so many shows in a row suggests a certain level of confidence Flashman had in itself to be a little different. I look forward to seeing how much of that raw potential was realized some day! |
Those suits are really similar to the Bioman ones. I guess Bioman must've been really popular, huh?
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I've always thought of them along the same lines as Bioman, too! They've both got that 80s retro-future aesthetic going on, especially in the bubble helmets
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It's just a good basis for a suit design! The Flashman suits are actually a lot more along the lines of what I'd want out of a "sequel" to the Bioman suits. The shapes and lines are simplified and striking, and those stylish goggles also exist specifically to spice up the transformation sequence in a neat way, closing over the actors' eyes to sell the idea it's really them in there. I'm definitely a fan.
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I never actually caught the similarities to Bioman's design from Flashman until now.
But it doesn't matter to me, because I love their look more! So much of Flashman just gels with me, I really should find it and watch it in full. |
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That said, I do like that they named their bad guy “Ra Deus”, purely because of how on the nose it is. And I fondly remember someone pointing out that Flashman’s Vul weapons make Timeranger’s Voltech weapons look lightweight by comparison. (To quote him, “at least the Timerangers were never visibly struggling to hold up their weapons”) This will also be the last time we see a green hero from the first episode, due green spandex (at the time) having its colour fade after 30 episodes of filming. So, don’t expect to see a lot of variety in colour combinations until Dairanger. |
Currently watching the first few episodes of Dynaman. I also watched the first four episodes of Battle Fever J, Fiveman, and Turboranger before that as well as the first six episodes of Go-Busters. Already liking what I'm seeing so far with Dynaman. I'm even already liking the ranger cast in this series.
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Flashman was the first to have two robots in the form of Flash King and Flash Titan. Flash Titan is actually I believe a rehash of one of the Machine Robo toys just sentai'd up for the show, which makes sense if true cause Bandai made toys for both. The latter half of Flashman was thrilling to say the least, and the Rolling Vulcan scene is one of the best. I love how they improved on the Power Bazooka from Changeman, loved the way that footage was shot, and the bgm for it is really one of my favorites(especially the guitar work in that track). Also love how they have Yellow Flash target the weak spot first, nothing big but a nice little detail to add that they are not just firing blindly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2FvF0mr9po https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc8vQfskQzM |
Would anyone be interested in a summary thread for Flashman, or should I keep my thoughts to myself on it? :lol
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