[GoldenXtreme]

Kuuga is a legendary show that does so many unusual things, both compared to older Showa Rider and the later entries that would follow it. I also really enjoy the Grongi as villains, both for the sense of mystery their actions create the effort that went into their worldbuilding. Something else I always really appreciate about Kuuga is how much respect it has for the supporting cast. They aren't just helpful occasionally, all of them are a vital part of what makes Kuuga a hero. I actually feel like they almost overshadow Godai himself, whose uncrushable optimism is inspiring, but his struggle with the whole loss of humanity thing gets a bit glossed over, with his trauma and fears only occasionally slipping out before he almost instantly gets it together again.

Anways, enjoy the forum and enjoy the rest of Kuuga, it's a great show!

[FrenchBoiled]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenXtreme

Kuuga is a legendary show that does so many unusual things, both compared to older Showa Rider and the later entries that would follow it. I also really enjoy the Grongi as villains, both for the sense of mystery their actions create the effort that went into their worldbuilding. Something else I always really appreciate about Kuuga is how much respect it has for the supporting cast. They aren't just helpful occasionally, all of them are a vital part of what makes Kuuga a hero. I actually feel like they almost overshadow Godai himself, whose uncrushable optimism is inspiring, but his struggle with the whole loss of humanity thing gets a bit glossed over, with his trauma and fears only occasionally slipping out before he almost instantly gets it together again.

Anways, enjoy the forum and enjoy the rest of Kuuga, it's a great show!

Fully agree on the supporting cast, showed how critical they are when you want to tell a strong story, they all played a strong role and were not just here for the sake of it as you can see in other shows.

Seeing from you nickname that you are also a fan of W Great taste!

[Sunred]

And let's not forget episode 2, where they built a chapel set from scratch and lit it on literal fire for the most badass henshin debut scene ever.

[Sh Ranger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrenchBoiled

Godai is such a refreshing protagonist, his relentless optimism and genuine desire to protect people's smiles makes him stand out from pretty much every other Rider I've watched. There's a real humanity to him that hits differently compared to the more flashy Phase 2 leads I'm used to.

I don't understand how this is a contrast. How does relentless optimism, protecting smiles and real humanity not relate to guys like Shoutarou, Gentarou, Haruto, Takeru and Sento?

[Mesnick]

Personally, I prefer to describe Kuuga succinctly:

[DreamSword]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrenchBoiled

Hey everyone, I'm a long time lurker finally making the leap! Currently watching Kuuga for the first time and I have to say, I'm completely hooked. On episode 36 now and it just keeps getting better.

Godai is such a refreshing protagonist, his relentless optimism and genuine desire to protect people's smiles makes him stand out from pretty much every other Rider I've watched. There's a real humanity to him that hits differently compared to the more flashy Phase 2 leads I'm used to.

And the Grongi... Loving this villain concept. The idea of monsters that treat killing humans as a competitive game with their own language and hierarchy is genuinely unsettling. They're not just monsters of the week. they feel like an actual civilization, which makes them so much more threatening.

36 episodes in and already dreading the ending. Coming from a mostly Phase 2 Heisei background (watched Blade and part of Den-o / Decade both shows I need to rewatch) this feels very refreshing. Highly recommend to anyone who hasn't seen it yet! Agito will be next

Welcome! Kuuga still stands as my all time favorite Rider show, so I hope you continue to enjoy it as you go on.

[Fish Sandwich]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrenchBoiled

Godai is such a refreshing protagonist, his relentless optimism and genuine desire to protect people's smiles makes him stand out from pretty much every other Rider I've watched. There's a real humanity to him that hits differently compared to the more flashy Phase 2 leads I'm used to.

I'm not sure if this exactly what you're trying to get at, but describing Yuusuke as less "flashy" reminds me that the show's main writer, Naruhisa Arakawa, actually did consciously try to make his personality contrast with the sort of typical hot-blooded hero that would generally be associated with the genre. Rider itself has had plenty of variety since, I think, but I would say that Yuusuke is very mellow and sensitive in a way that still stands out.

Sometimes I see people come away from the show feeling he was underdeveloped, or whatever terms they use to describe it, but I think a lot of the time, that has way more to do with how internal a guy he can be than anything. Like, even all these years later, he can still confound audience expectations, which is kind of crazy to think about.

[Mesnick]

I watched Kamen Rider Eins: Henshin The First. Well, it's essentially an advertisement with stunning visuals. So good that Hideaki Anno's Shin Kamen Rider looks like a performance at a children's matinee. Although the comparison is unfair, as I doubt such quality could be sustained for two hours. And although the short film's quality is questionable, and ending on the most interesting part is simply inappropriate, I was still absolutely delighted. It was also great to see Eins again (great costume!), and Ichigo's cameo was a delight. So, those ten minutes were definitely well spent

[Mesnick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

Sometimes I see people come away from the show feeling he was underdeveloped, or whatever terms they use to describe it, but I think a lot of the time, that has way more to do with how internal a guy he can be than anything.

I think the reason Yusuke might feel less flashy and more realistic than the heroes of Heisei Phase II is that, starting with Kabuto, the shows increasingly resembles live-action anime. The heroes no longer wear the usual cheap jackets and standard hairstyles. And up until that point, he was quite the shining star. Shoichi and Kenzaki are rather quiet guys. Shinji is a much less experienced and talented version of Yusuke, Hibiki - the hero-mentor, and Takumi needs to be provoked for reactions and actions.
So it turns out that the heroes of Heisei Phase I tried to emulate Yusuke's visual style while changing the core. The second phase, on the contrary, abandoned the bland visuals, but more often appealed to his values. So, in this sense also, Kuuga is the father of all Heisei Riders.