[Sh Ranger]

I just finished Maskman, the exciting martial arts Sentai of the 80s! Each main character is strong and skilled in their own right and this gives us a lot of intense fight scenes, both morphed and unmorphed. The theme of fighting as an art and identity is always present, unlike the Caucasian lab assistant girl who disappears after Episode 2. The theme song by Kageyama is catchy and totally matches the spirit of fighting. Takeru's and Kiros' rivalry was entertaining for sure. Regarding the flaws, I think the romance subplot does move a little too slow and the focus is mostly in favor of Takeru, although when the others get focus, it's usually pretty good. Overall, it's a cool and unique take on the genre for its time and I'd totally recommend it!

Showa Sentai Ranking:

1) Flashman
2) Bioman
3) Liveman
4) Maskman
5) Goranger
6) Goggle V
7) Denjiman
8) Sun Vulcan
9) JAKQ

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenXtreme

As Sh Ranger the cast is very "human", which just isn't really what I was hoping for from a team of angels. They do get some focus episodes as you said too, but they didn't resonate with me much, perhaps due to the breezily simple style that defines the show.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mesnick

Regarding Bladeran, I think the point is that he's not supposed to be much of a threat until the very end. He follows his own plan and doesn't even consider confronting them until the final arc. But Bladeran isn't a master puppeteer, controlling everything, as evidenced by his amnesia and transformation into a cyborg. So this isn't a plot where everything goes according to the villain's secret plan until the very end. Rather, it's one where the villain follows his own path until the confrontation becomes inevitable at the end.

I think the Matrintis arc is important for Brajira's development for how Matrintis is an evil of human origin, which contrasts how the Goseigers had only seen the good of humanity until then. If the Goseigers are angels with human qualities, then Brajira is the angel who sees humans at their worst and decides that he, as an angel, is justified in destroying them to protect the planet. So I think the Goseigers rejecting that dichotomy, in that climactic moment where Alata refuses his friends' decision to sacrifice their lives to make him as strong as Brajira, shows that humanity is one of the most angelic traits they could have.

[Sunred]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

I just finished Maskman, the exciting martial arts Sentai of the 80s! Each main character is strong and skilled in their own right and this gives us a lot of intense fight scenes, both morphed and unmorphed. The theme of fighting as an art and identity is always present, unlike the Caucasian lab assistant girl who disappears after Episode 2. The theme song by Kageyama is catchy and totally matches the spirit of fighting. Takeru's and Kiros' rivalry was entertaining for sure. Regarding the flaws, I think the romance subplot does move a little too slow and the focus is mostly in favor of Takeru, although when the others get focus, it's usually pretty good. Overall, it's a cool and unique take on the genre for its time and I'd totally recommend it!

As someone who saw Maskman as well, gotta ask, how'd you find episode 1? Confusing? Not bad? I was the former when I first saw it, because it felt almost like an episode 12 with how things progressed. Other than that:
- Kageyama crushed it with his post-Changeman sentai theme song attempt as his solo singing career was taking off at the time of the show's airing, later going on to record theme songs for shows like Dragon Ball Z and Saint Seiya.
- Suit designs seem generic yet one of the best designs from the 80s, IMO.
-A shame X1 Mask wasn't able to stay all the way to the end of the show.
- The commander Sugiura was played by Hayato Tani, aka that general dude in Most Extreme Elimination Challenge from the 2000s, or Takeshi's Castle to be exact.
- Future Yellow Lion, Kazuhiko Nishimura, was that one engineer who was part of the crew putting together the Jet Cannon in 28 and 29.
- The GOAT herself, Machiko Soga, aka Bandora/Rita Repulsa, was Baraba's mother.
- Mr. Yasuhiro Ishiwata aka Bun/Blue Flash in Flashman was the male guest character in episode 34. Years later, he'd make a guest appearance with Momoko/Pink Mask actress Kanako Maeda and future Triceraranger Hideki Fujiwara in Jetman. Speaking of episode 34, his doggler form was voiced by Jouji Nakata, aka Sir Cowler in Flashman.

[GuardianAngel87]

On a whim, I rewatched Ninninger's own crossover episode with Jiraiya (plus the semi-crossover episode between the latter series with Jiban) which admittedly I should've done so sooner shortly after finishing, well, Jiraiya. It greatly made me appreciate how far Touha have come since the start of his home series and the episode itself is even more enjoyable the second go around now I have seen Jiraiya in its entirety at that point and a lot of homages it is given during said episode including actually featuring a few music tracks from said series including its own opening theme song.

[Sh Ranger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunred

As someone who saw Maskman as well, gotta ask, how'd you find episode 1? Confusing? Not bad? I was the former when I first saw it, because it felt almost like an episode 12 with how things progressed.

Confusing and not bad, yeah, I'd say both of those. Like the flashback where Takeru just happened to be carrying a pair of shoes with a bow inside a guitar case. So romantic, yet so confusing!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunred

- Suit designs seem generic yet one of the best designs from the 80s, IMO.

I like the third eye motif they all have on their visors, symbolizing their Aura Power. Kind of hard to see on Black Mask, but it works great on the others.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunred

-A shame X1 Mask wasn't able to stay all the way to the end of the show.

X1 Mask walked so Dragon Ranger could run!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunred

- Future Yellow Lion, Kazuhiko Nishimura, was that one engineer who was part of the crew putting together the Jet Cannon in 28 and 29.
- The GOAT herself, Machiko Soga, aka Bandora/Rita Repulsa, was Baraba's mother.
- Mr. Yasuhiro Ishiwata aka Bun/Blue Flash in Flashman was the male guest character in episode 34. Years later, he'd make a guest appearance with Momoko/Pink Mask actress Kanako Maeda and future Triceraranger Hideki Fujiwara in Jetman. Speaking of episode 34, his doggler form was voiced by Jouji Nakata, aka Sir Cowler in Flashman.

Yeah, I noticed most of those and I think it's cool when past/future actors show up like that. Weirdly, I didn't immediately recognize Nishimura, despite the fact that the engineer was literally wearing yellow coveralls. Episode 34 was my favorite Inoue episode in that show BTW.

After Maskman, I thought about rewatching either Ohranger, Abaranger or Zyuohger. Then I watched Polar Beginning, which started with Gozyu Wolf fighting Aba Red. As a result of this divine omen from Tega Sword, I have started my rewatch of Abaranger!

[Sunred]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

Confusing and not bad, yeah, I'd say both of those. Like the flashback where Takeru just happened to be carrying a pair of shoes with a bow inside a guitar case. So romantic, yet so confusing!

Yeah, I noticed most of those and I think it's cool when past/future actors show up like that. Weirdly, I didn't immediately recognize Nishimura, despite the fact that the engineer was literally wearing yellow coveralls. Episode 34 was my favorite Inoue episode in that show BTW.

It's almost like Inoue was prototyping Jetman before Jetman was a thing.
As for additional guest appearances, I digged a bit more into the guest star rabbit hole for this show and here are two that caught my attention:

Daisuke Ban in episode 11
- Jiro/Kikaider in Android Kikaider
- Makoto Jin/Battle Kossack II in Battle Fever J
- Dr. Hoshi in Chojyu Sentai Liveman

Tohru Sakai in episode episode 32
- Goh Ohmura/Dr. Obular in Chojyu Sentai Liveman

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

After Maskman, I thought about rewatching either Ohranger, Abaranger or Zyuohger. Then I watched Polar Beginning, which started with Gozyu Wolf fighting Aba Red. As a result of this divine omen from Tega Sword, I have started my rewatch of Abaranger!

The show that has me craving curry rice. Sorry, Gorenger.