This might seem coincidental given the recent release of Top Gun Maverick, but a thought occurs: did Ohranger take numerous cues from Top Gun OG (especially within the first couple of episodes)? Ohranger definitely comes across as a military show and it makes me wonder if Top Gun OG was popular in Japan back in the day!

I can't speak for Ohranger specifically, but Top Gun was indeed super popular in Japan when it eventually premiered a year after the USA release.

Ohranger I believe was specifically made militaristic as a homage to Goranger for the anniversary (The Boukengers working for a government agency was also for this reason). I could see Top Gun bringing it to mind though

I thought the Boukenger SGS (or is it SRGS?) was specifically mentioned to be a non-governmental agency! They definitely have help and there is a sense that the head honcho is ancient, but it makes more sense for them to be operationally unaffiliated with the government in a direct sense (as government agents might want to use and abuse Precious, which is what the Boukenger agency is trying to prevent).

Has Sempaiger been subbed by anyone?

What exactly was Ishinomori thinking with Gorenger?

I know the gist of it. Basically, the old line is "It's like Kamen Rider, but there are five of them". Kamen Rider Stronger was the final product, born from the inability or unwillingness to commit to the "five heroes" concept with Kamen Rider itself. Go-Riders would be the ultimate realization of the original concept, though it's rough and only really duplicates the surface aesthetics.

When you get to Gorenger, the true realization of the "five heroes" concept, you are left with something unique in itself. Whether it was intended to become the franchise it has isn't anything I can speak to with certainty, but the use of the term "Sentai" ultimately became the basis of the franchise regardless of original intent.

There are some things that concern me.

The use of "Sentai", which was also used during Japan's militaristic past.

"Himitsu Sentai" can be translated, a little roughly, as "Secret Squadron" which echoes the franchise initials, but something else entirely. I'll let you figure out what I'm thinking, though it's probably just coincidence and not intentional given who made the thing. I'll come back to this.

I also have concerns as to why the acronym for the "defense group" in Gorenger is EAGLE! The bird is popular iconography in America, but also has seriously negative connotations given it's historical uses. No offense to the actual bird.

It's not hard to see where my "concerns" are leading towards. I truly don't believe that any of this is intentional as Ishinomori wasn't that "type"! Kamen Rider was specifically envisioned against that kind of thing. Shocker used the eagle as it's logo as a specific tie-in to Nazism. If anything, Ishinomori may have tried to use such details and iconography and turned then on their head to create something positive.

I must be getting old to worry about such things!

I think this is the answer. It can be assumed that Goriders were originally intended to be the pinnacle of the Kamen Rider franchise. That is, if initially we had a lone hero, saved by chance and fighting against a powerful secret evil organization, now we get a secret good organization, finishing off the remnants of the Shocker and all its imitators.
Or maybe there was someone with militaristic views in Toei himself, who tweaked the Ishinomori concept to suit his taste.

I've liked every series to date since Zyu which has been a non stop hot streak for me. There are weak moments but it has plenty to avoid it being a wipe out to the point of skip it and wait for the next one. This is due to Shout Factory bringing them over. My reaction has been "Bring on the next one." Hopefully this continues with Deka.

I've been watching the Shout sets.

That’s not a question, that’s a statement.

So is that :p :lol