[Kamen Rider Lucha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galvantula

I'm sure this is a question that a lot of us are asking, so I'll just type it out:

What does Ninninger's intended audience see in this show? I get that Sentai's meant for younger kids but so far we have had a plot that's never gone anywhere, characters blander than Haruto(Wizard) and mecha that makes no sense because the guy designing the mechs was "bored"

I'm honestly at a loss here. Surely there are people in Japan wondering why Ninninger's such a pile.

It's funny because I'm at a COMPLETE loss as to why people hate it. I often feel like I'm watching a completely different show than the rest of y'all. Perhaps it would help to hear why you dislike the show because I have yet to hear any argument that makes much sense.

I can only speak for why I like it, and...

To me, Ninninger feels more like "classic sentai" than any show since Shinkenger. It's not a remix, it's not a pastiche, it's not a deconstruction, it's not a subversion, and it's not a "revolutionary new take." It's just pure Super Sentai, warts and all.

It's very 90s-inspired, with tons of allusions to Kakuranger and Carranger in particular. 90s Sentai is my sweet spot, so it really pleases me to see a lot of cues taken from some of my favorite shows. I appreciate how the characters don't always get along and how they don't always have the answers. I love the bombastic sounds and special effects and overall design of the show. I appreciate how the cast balances levity and seriousness. And I dig that the heroes' main universal trait is their sheer enthusiasm for doing the right thing, even though they're untrained and untested. I'm also impressed that, while it isn't breaking the mold in terms of content, it's doing pretty interesting things with the classic Sentai episode structure.

Japanese fans often refer to something they call "Super Sentai Spirit." It's hard to describe, but to me, that spirit is bold and bombastic, fueled by hard-charging trumpet music and populated by characters dripping with enthusiasm. It's free of irony and cynicism. It's bright and positive and action-packed. I think Ninninger has more Super Sentai Spirit than any series since Gokaiger (which literally is about that team learning about and achieving the Super Sentai Spirit).

Are there flaws? Sure. The overarching plot didn't kick in until the early 30s. And except for Kyuemon the baddies are pretty one-note. And sometimes the humor isn't as sophisticated as I'd prefer (see: the episode where they disguise themselves as toys to infiltrate a kindergarten playground). But those flaws are very minor when compared to the elements of the show I really dig.

Obviously YMMV.