[DreamSword]

Episode #1: Tokusatsu Girl

As if the title weren't enough of an indication, this is clearly aimed at a specific audience.

But yet, it's the sort of thing that could apply to many, and as such it's easy to empathize with everything that Nakamura is going through.

Because really, having a very niche, "abnormal" interest and the fear of being judged for it, is something that I'm sure alot of people in general, not just tokusatsu fans can relate to.

And already in episode one, Tokusatsu GaGaGa pretty much hits the audience with all of it at once. Keeping it a secret so you can survive your daily life, longing for friends with whom you can share said interest without judgment, and of course, parents who lambast their children for their hobbies instead of supporting them.

Sure, it's alot easier to handle nowadays with the advent of the internet; A quick Google search will bring up many a fan forum for social media group, but growing up either before or at the dawn of the digital age meant finding a world that could understand that side of you was next to impossible. Especially as you continued to grow older and your interest was seen as "stupid kid's' stuff" or what have you.

Even with that in mind, this show could go to alot of different places with its theme and message, and I'll admit, I'm excited at that prospect. How deep into the trenches of fandom will it go? Will it acknowledge the ups and downs to devoting your mindset to this sort of material? So many things it could do!

But I'm getting ahead of myself a bit. For those wanting a more clear understanding of what exactly Tokusatsu GaGaGa is, it's a slice-of-life show about a closeted toku geek named Kano Nakamura. She's obsessed with toku, to the the point of modelling alot of her life mottos after the shows she watches. She has a steady office job wherein she does her best to keep her fangirl side a secret, lest she be seen as an outcast by those around her. But she's quick witted, and is ready to take on alot of life's' challenges head on.

No doubt she's a likable viewpoint character that I'm sure many of us can relate to, but funnily enough my favorite character so far is actually Onoda, her co-worker who very obviously has a crush on her. His actor just brings such an adorably dorky personality to the role that it makes him instantly likable to me. And the misunderstandings between him and Nakamura gave me some genuine laughs too. Unfortunately for him, Nakamura is totally oblivious to his affection. Even not catching on to him almost directly asking her out on a date. Really interested to see how he'd react to his crush's' toku interest if it's outed.

But yeah, the first episode very much is an introduction, and it's a fun time along the way. It certainly got me excited to see the rest of the show, as well as liking its characters well enough. Hopefully the rest of the show can keep up the great energy and atmosphere that episode 1 had to offer.