[Kamen Rider Lucha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Layton13

Honest opinion, I feel the complete opposite. Gokaiger is still mostly fresh in my mind and it certainly didn't leave as much as a mark on me like this. Sure, it was flashier, but beyond that, eh?

It feels more focused, it really showcases the personalities of our heroes and is just really, really funny.

On the villains, they're both meh in the first episode, but at least I got the feeling they aren't just jokes in suits like the Zangiak were.

I'm actually really exited for this.

We all have different reasons for liking Sentai. I, personally, am drawn to Sentai's blend of over the top absurdity, its crazy aesthetics/designs, the way it balances comedy and drama in really unusual ways, and its interesting martial arts action.

I'm not going to deny that Zenkaiger has the OTT absurdity down pat. It's... everything else I have a problem with (so far).

Aesthetics/Designs:
It turns out, after seeing them in motion, I'm not a fan of these mech-ranger suit aesthetics, at all. I was excited by the idea of mech-ranger suits that upended the tradition of all-spandex rangers, and if they looked like, I dunno, Ryuuseioh from Dairanger or KishiRyuOh or Kiramazin or the Jusho Fighters from Kakuranger, I would have been SOOO on board. But these designs are unreasonably bulky and juvenile -- they literally look like those cartoony Playskool Megazords that get released every so often. And don't get me wrong, I don't hate it when Sentai leans into the juvenile side of things (like, I love ToQger). These designs are just not doing it for me, and I really wish they didn't transform at all, because I like their streamlined civilian designs far, far better. (I do unreservedly love Zenakaiser's design, though.)

Comedy/Drama Balance:
I know it's just the first episode, but this premiere leans heavily on the humor and does not balance it with anything remotely dramatic. It relied so heavily on comedy that it reminded me of Carranger... a series I dislike for similar comedy/drama imbalances. Let me specify that I loves me some Sentai comedy. It just can't be the only thing. And so far, Zenkaiger appears primarily interested in laughs, and that's a shame.

Action:
The martial arts action in Sentai has taken a steady downward turn since Hirofumi Fukuzawa took over the action directing in Go-Busters, and this is yet another uninspired outing from him, made worse by the cumbersome nature of the Zenkaiger suits. Gone are the days of complex single-take action sequences, dynamic camera moves, dramatic cutting between super-wide shots and close ups, intricate fight choreo, and interesting filming locations. These days, the action is so focused on featuring the toys, and the budget is so low, that it fails to do a lot of the cool things it used to be so good at. Lately, the action is comprised almost entirely of static medium shots (with the occasional, jarring drone cam footage), and it all takes place in either nondescript city courtyards or the infamous rock quarry. Like, if the action filmmaking can't be as cinematic and experimental as it used to be, why can't these people take a cue from Kamen Rider and at least shoot said uninspired action in cool locations?

Overall, I feel like Zenkaiger is not giving me what I love about Sentai. But again, this is only the first episode, and my mind is still very open. I'm just no longer on board the Zenkai train. Which is CRAZY because just a week ago I was so hyped for it.

It feels so strange being in this position, as I'm usually the one defending a Sentai premiere from its critics. Alas, here we are...