[Enchilada645]

Favorite New Show of 2022:

Dogengers High School, as someone who got into Dogengers this year because of subs being more readily available than prior, it was fun to see this third installment in the Local Hero genre. The show was always evolving, but this one definitely feels like the closest to a standard Tokusatsu production compared to the other two.

You've got guests of the week, an active recurring side cast of non-suited people, very nice stunts and just fun episodic plots with all the wackiness you've come to expect. Overall a standout show and also one that shows the danger of Ohgaman growing in power... dude used his pharmacy money to buy a school... that's terrifying.

Favorite New-to-You Show of 2022:

Dogengers & Dogengers Nice Buddy, so yeah, more readily available subs allowed me to finally check these shows out. Very budget, but also filled with a lot of heart, which is exactly what I come to enjoy from these sorts of shows.

The first show just showed the fun and power of local heroes while the second one surprisingly pulled my heart as it told me the story of what heroes mean to people.

Dogengers is a genuinely great franchise and I really hope that more people check it out.

Favorite Movie, Miniseries, or Special of 2022:

Super Hero Senki, I love it when Toku gets meta. It's why I loved Heisei Generations Forever. So Super Hero Senki going a similar route and bringing back a robust amount of its guest cast while also using Saber's storytelling theme to enhance it all? Beautiful. The endgame that starts in the real world is genuinely one of the most chilling things I've ever experienced (It feels very JRPG-like) and what it spirals into just makes me have a big smile on my face.

Favorite Male Lead Character:

Kanata Asumi (Ultraman Decker) from Ultraman Decker. The dude just has a good energy to him, and just a genuinely nice personality that bounces off the other characters in the show. I haven't exactly gotten far into Decker (still at Decker Dynamics debut in terms of stopping point) but he's definitely a standout for me in terms of Male Leads this year.

Favorite Female Lead Character:

Mako Yamada (MAKO) from Dogengers High School. She's just a normal girl... who wants to not be normal anymore. Well becoming a local hero thanks to an ancient samurai sheath will probably do the trick... probably. Idk why but there's something endearing to me about her wanting to become more than just stereotypical 'normal', wanting to break out of her shell, etc. Which is why she's a standout to me in terms of all the female heroines this year.

Favorite Male Supporting Character:

Ignis (Dark Trigger) from Ultraman Trigger. Oh Ignis, you were not a main character but you definitely had a lot of gusto. Your backstory and how that shaped you, alongside how you ended up at the end of it all... I really enjoyed it.

Really wasn't expecting the treasure hunter turned Dark Ultra but not really to be my favorite out of the whole cast, but he ended up making it happen.

Favorite Female Supporting Character:

Rin from Genm's/Outsiders. You know I feel like it's very hard to top Izu in terms of like, secretary Humagears, but ever since her appearance in the first Genm's Special she's been a standout to me in terms of Humagears. Her just being with Gai is like... it just feels right? They just somehow manage to click together as a pair just like Aruto and Izu did and I like it.

Favorite Villain:

It's time for a bit of a funny and unexpected option...

Akaishi from Revice. Why?



This man is probably the most unintentionally hilarious character in the entire show and that is all in part to his actor who really goes above and beyond what he really should have been doing. And yet... I love it? I'm not sure why but the man is just... fun to watch even if he was the most obvious big bad dude since his first appearance.

Favorite Returning Past Character:

Takeshi Hongo (Kamen Rider Ichigo) in Super Hero Senki. He doesn't do much, but him showing up as the original voice of Ichigo to play him in a faithfully recreated suit of his OG design was a treat to see. Of course, his big moment is when he dismisses his transformation and starts speaking to Shotaro about how large Kamen Rider and Sentai have grown. You can feel the emotion in his voice and expressions and while his appearance can be counted as a cameo at most, it's still an important one that really tugs at the heartstrings.

Favorite Writer:

Toshiki Inoue, hit or miss, you can't deny that him coming back full time for Donbrothers has resulted in some unique insanity when it comes to Toku. Not much to say other than... Inoue Forever!!!

Favorite Director:

Kazuya Kamihoriuchi, I've been a fan of him ever since Build 21, and it hasn't stopped. Dude manages to produce some of the best directed Toku Episodes I've ever seen. His work on Revice, Geats and Trio of Deep Sin this year was some top notch stuff.

Favorite Suit Design:

Kamen Rider Glare. This suit is quite possibly the cleanest suit I've ever seen. The fact that five parts of it are made out of helmets is also pretty incredible in that it has a bulk and heft to it but it doesn't feel overcrowded because of it.

Favorite Weapon/Vehicle/Mecha:

Don Onitaijin, because of course it had to be Don Onitaijin. While I've liked Sentai Mecha in the past, Don Onitaijin is just well done, not only as a suit but also as a toy in terms of what it brings to the table compared to past mecha.

Favorite Fight Scene:

Destream vs. Vail, it takes a lot for me to think of a definitive fight. But when your fight makes me replay it more than 5 times without subs? Then you know you've got a winner. It hits a bunch of cool action moments, has nice emotional impact, and has a really clean finisher on both sides.

Favorite Dramatic Scene:

The Endings of both Donbrothers 27 and 32, despite both episodes playing out in a similar fashion, there's still such a great amount of tension to each scene with each character in a different mindset in each. The usage of Tsuki Nomizo Shiru is also handled well, showcasing a different mood for each fight even if they're mirrors of each other.

Favorite Comedic Scene:

I'll give Geats some more love. In Episode 3 we see Neon cornered by her bodyguards who are on orders to bring her home, Ace who is the Star of the Stars of the Stars is also with her. She makes a run for it once the DGP is calling for a new round, of course her bodyguards have to chase her... but first need to get autographs from Ace who just plops his hat on one of them and then straightens the other's tie with that smarmy smile of his. Cute little scene that honestly made me laugh more than I expected.

Biggest "WTF did I just watch?" Moment:

Donbrothers 23's Ending

Favorite Song:

Bittersweet, I was not expecting Saber Trio of Deep Sin to have such a wonderful bop as a ballad, there's this real melancholy to the song that I can't describe and it's just so wonderfully well put together. Including the music video.

Don't Boo Donbrothers is an absolute close second though for how it basically cemented Donbrothers as having the best Episode Preview setup of all time.

Favorite Piece of Merchandise:

The Desire Driver, I have not bought it yet, but it is probably one of the most innovative Driver's I've seen. I was iffy on it but after Ginpen's core is set to release, well... I have got to have it now.

Biggest Surprise of 2022:

Kamen Rider Outsiders' reveal and existence and in turn, what just dropped tonight as I post this... Ouja Survive is real and happening. No I am not joking.

Biggest Disappointment of 2022:

The Cosmic Fury suit reveal. I feel like people are too forgiving because those suits are absolutely some of the weakest PR Exclusive designs I've seen.

The Onari Memorial Award for Single Worst Thing in Tokusatsu, 2022 Edition:

Black Sun's release schedule ensuring I likely won't watch it anytime soon (my brain is weird) because they released it all at once. Why would you release something of that length and pacing all at once? Terrible and baffling decision, almost as bad as Stone Ocean's release schedule on Netflix if I'm being honest.