That's funny that you'd say that as that was one of the complaints the guys [and gal] on the TokuNet podcast had with it - that it didn't feel like they were a family.

Well, my family and I are completely estranged for the most part. So when I'm with them it's like being with a bunch of strangers. Strangers that I just so happen to share genetics with.

Well there you have it. There's all different kinds of families out there. If they were referring specifically to the main 5 Ninningers' dynamic, I think it's more than justifiable that they aren't super duper close right away since they're cousins. I don't remember exactly what was said but I'm pretty sure the first episode gives the impression they don't get together too often. And naturally this allows for all sorts of character growth throughout the show. They come off way more tight-knit by the end.

As for Shironinger and Akaninger, I don't really know what to say besides they feel like siblings to me, and I have siblings, so I think my perspective is pretty valid.

Keep in mind when I said that I was also talking more about the whole generational thing that's at the center of a lot of the show, especially later on.

i watch 1989 turboranger series on youtube
i love 1989 tubroranger robo

That makes sense - I didn't know this. I'm putting this, the "worst" sentai, on my to-watch list as I totally enjoyed that goofy Dinosaur Lord movie. Is the show essentially that?

Ninnin Rewatch! 10 + Excessive Starninger gushing

Episode 10 is an all-around good 6th Ranger debut bolstered by some great action scenes, which is basically Ninninger's modus operandi, but for some reason the ones in this episode stuck out to me even the first time around. It's probably the little RC Bison Buggy that pushes it over the edge. But enough about the actual episode, I wanna talk about Starninger.

I F***ING LOVE STARNINGER! National stereotypes haven't been this awesome since G Gundam. I love the commitment the show has to the idea he's American. Starting with how his name, despite being Japanese, is given in katakana and in American order (i.e. family name goes last) in the credits. Like I said, Ninninger has a lot of attention to detail that could easily go unappreciated. And then there's the constant English peppered into his dialogue (he even gets the odd full sentence, like in episodes 8 & 9). Sure his pronunciation is bad (not terrible, you'll note), but frankly I think that just makes him more adorable. Kinji himself is a really fleshed out character with a lot of development over the season, but of course I'll talk about that as it comes. I could go on and on like this for a while, but I'll spare you the page space and stop here.

Well personally, I find most Sentai summer movies pretty weak compared to the actual shows, so I'd wager if you liked that, the show will be even better. It's certainly pretty goofy. Ninninger has a lot of fun with itself while still telling a serious-ish story.

Cool - being that people generally don't like it, I'm having to collect it from various sources but, I need some goofy fun.

Gingaman continues.
First up, tomatoes. GingaGreen hates them, but apparently they're also similar to another fruit that heals all wounds for wind warriors. Ain't that a pickle.
Also, people in Japan just grab tomatoes and eat them like apples? I did not know that.
Bull Black's daily douchery involves jacking a tomato truck and destroying all of them on board.

Now, though, the Galactic Lights appear, having apparently been hidden in an ancient, underground spring. I think that should've been around plan B or C, not the absolute last (Honestly, DESTROY ALL TOMATOES should've been your last plan, Budo...)
Being stuck behind an invisible force field, GingaYellow and Pink are forced to fight a general while also constantly bickering. They make up (Kind of) and beat the general, breaking down the wall. In that moment, the lights finally appear and now it's a race to reach them. If Budo or Zahab don't go down to help the monster and retrieve the lights against the guys who are 20 for 20 in every fight, then they're pretty damn stupid.

Also, Bull Black does that thing where he's an asshole and fights the other Star Beasts, and now he has a mysterious pain in his chest. Hm.

Ninnin Rewatch! 11 + 12

Episode 11 mostly serves to establish where Starninger fits into the group dynamic, but it doesn't feel like the rest of the show grinds to a halt to do it. I love the newly updated narration in the opening, which explicitly doesn't treat Kinji as part of the group, reflecting his role early on. Love the culture clash going on at the start with Kinji cooking for everyone ("1500 calories is a bit much for breakfast") and arguing the pronunciation of the word "easy" with Yakumo. Glass houses, Kinji, glass houses.

Episode 12 is totally rad. It has a great feeling of being the end of a "chapter", and really shows how much the Ninningers have grown even just 12 episodes in, and naturally it does this with some great action throughout. This is the first notable instance of Takaharu doing his whole accidentally really insightful bit too, first to Kinji and then again to Gabi Raizou in the climax.

Oh and it shows up in both of these episodes so I figure I'll mention it in its own paragraph: Yoshitaka totally wrote a trashy best-selling autobiography! In English! Remember how I said way back that Ninninger has amazing world-building? I can't get over this, it's called I am the LAST NINJA (and apparently it's the NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR) and the pages are filled with completely comprehensible if clunky English. That's just so awesome! Little stuff like this is what makes me love Ninninger.

EDIT: But you don't have to take my word for it!

That's wonderfully absurd. Madan Senkei Ryukendo is made out of this kind of humor, which is why I love it and, dammit, I'll keep talking about it if I want to!