[GoldenXtreme]

I've finished up Kiramager! I really do get around to watching the shows I ask questions about on this forum... years later.

This is a super simple one that at times seems like it is trying to speedrun through every Sentai trope imaginable, but its a really solid take on the series with a cast who are always just fun to follow through their adventure. At its best this resulted in a show that had me going "Super Sentai is just fundamentally good, huh?", but there were definitely moments that had me wishing the show at least tried to put a new spin on things. Still, the devil is in the details and I came away very impressed at what the show was trying to do with its themes. On a surface level, the "be yourself" theme of the plot is about as basic as it comes, but the way the show approached it was genuinely really fantastic. It's a show that presents the idea that you need to embrace even the parts of yourself that you or others might see as a flaw, because true growth can only come from a place of acceptance and learning to channel all the quirks that make you who you are into a positive form. The show tells viewers that you don't go around "fixing" people because they have some minor "flaw", but you also don't stop trying help yourself and others the best they can be.

Juuru (who is my new favorite Sentai Red) functions as such an effective leader for a show with this kind of approach. He's awkward and not the best in combat, but is creative, very accepting of a wide variety of people, and able to see through the fronts people put on and right to their true emotions, all of which allows him to create a team who supported each other both in and outside of their hero work. He is also able to reach out to many normal people and help them, from his classmate Kakihara whom he likes just as she is to the reclusive manga artist he found inspiring. The rest of the Kiramagers all bring something nice to the team too. Tametomo comes up with clever tactics and is fiercely loyal, Sena brings her speed and unwavering energy, Shiguru brings his tricky sword techniques and seriousness, Sayo is mature and able to make tough choices... and Takamichi is there to be an overpowered, beloved dumbass. All of them freely partake in both serious and silly moments. Yodon meanwhile is lead by a villain who quite literally rejects the incarnations of his own weakness and wears a mask to hide who he truly is, ultimately being undermined when he runs out of people to manipulate.

The show isn't without issues of course. I think the setting doesn't feel consistent and overarching narrative felt almost like an afterthought compared to what the show was trying to do on an episodic and thematic basis. While I really enjoyed the whole cast the show is undeniably very Juuru-centric and Takamichi has an excessively long introductory arc. But in the end I just really appreciated everything the show was trying to say about not sacrificing who you are, communicating with people, and just taking care of yourself. It was a joy to watch and must have been even more uplifting to many viewers in the midst of lockdown. Honestly I could go on and on about all the little moments that it did in a fantastic way and Juuru is probably my new favorite Sentai red. Still wavering on my exact rating, but I'm very happy with it.