[MidoGreen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Lucha

Wow, I'm flying through this show. Thanks in large part to the sick days I've taken both today and yesterday.

Finished Go-Bus Mission 41, the one with Pink Buster. Man, that's a fun episode. Things have been pretty great over these past 4 episodes, fun with a hint of sadness always lurking around the edges.

I don't really have the energy to go into depth, but yeah, I'm kinda loving this show now. Kobayashi is executing like a mofo under extreme pressure -- she's such an ice cold pro. It's kind of a bummer that we won't see anything with this tone for a while, what with Sentai's current fixation with all-things-kiddie, but seeing how Kobayashi handles Go-Busters makes me really curious as to how she'll ultimately handle ToQger -- a show with a wildly different mission statement and tone.

I'm sure Kobayashi has a fun little twist waiting in the wings. She always does.

[Locke]

Gobus 33. It was pretty bad.

All the Busters achieved, then, was killing their parents? Fucking Christ, I didn't know Toshiki Inoue wrote this. I dunno, I get - at least sort of - why they did it, but after watching that wonderful "wrap up" to the show, then stomaching that horrible Gavan two parter, I'd have preferred not to go flying face first into this middle finger.

It's weird as well, because the Busters themselves are obviously so preoccupied with the battle at hand, they never realise this themselves - and since they've got toys to sell, I'm not sure they ever will. So not only do we get a giant middle finger, but the show acts like it's no big deal while it's doing it.

About the only thing I hope to take away from this is hopefully Enter will actually start DOING SOMETHING and not just spending every episode stood in the background saying random French phrases. Everyone goes on about how great a villain he is, but he's really done very little so far, achieved even less and although he got serious that one time for great effect he ended up getting his ass kicked in one of the most ridiculous looking robots I've ever seen. What do we need for a badass mech? GIANT KNEEEEEEEEES!

Then again, it may just be that a scenario like this is simply too complex for sentai. Considering the genre rests on a style of storytelling where no matter what goal you wish to achieve, killing the monster of the week is the only answer. I mean they're hit with a genuine, mature, dilemma and that just may be too much.

In terms of the new toy, I'm impressed in some ways and others not so much. Carnival was a very similar concept to Powered Custom and visually I liked that way more, but what let it down was that it was basically a shameless mecha line toy ad - Power Rangers more toy focused? HAH and the fact only Daigo got it.

Both of those problems are fixed here (well this came first) but visually it just really isn't very impressive. But then I guess that's sorta fitting for a team, who when transforming, transform into suits that look like more basic versions of their base uniforms...

In terms of actual implementation though, that is really where Powered Custom shines. The civilian powers really were well implemented anyway, and this just only further adds to that. I especially loved how they visually captured Hiromu's Powered Custom speed. Even if the finisher is kinda lame.

[MidoGreen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

Gobus 33. It was pretty bad.

All the Busters achieved, then, was killing their parents? Fucking Christ, I didn't know Toshiki Inoue wrote this. I dunno, I get - at least sort of - why they did it, but after watching that wonderful "wrap up" to the show, then stomaching that horrible Gavan two parter, I'd have preferred not to go flying face first into this middle finger.

It's weird as well, because the Busters themselves are obviously so preoccupied with the battle at hand, they never realise this themselves - and since they've got toys to sell, I'm not sure they ever will. So not only do we get a giant middle finger, but the show acts like it's no big deal while it's doing it.

About the only thing I hope to take away from this is hopefully Enter will actually start DOING SOMETHING and not just spending every episode stood in the background saying random French phrases. Everyone goes on about how great a villain he is, but he's really done very little so far, achieved even less and although he got serious that one time for great effect he ended up getting his ass kicked in one of the most ridiculous looking robots I've ever seen. What do we need for a badass mech? GIANT KNEEEEEEEEES!

Then again, it may just be that a scenario like this is simply too complex for sentai. Considering the genre rests on a style of storytelling where no matter what goal you wish to achieve, killing the monster of the week is the only answer. I mean they're hit with a genuine, mature, dilemma and that just may be too much.

In terms of the new toy, I'm impressed in some ways and others not so much. Carnival was a very similar concept to Powered Custom and visually I liked that way more, but what let it down was that it was basically a shameless mecha line toy ad - Power Rangers more toy focused? HAH and the fact only Daigo got it.

Both of those problems are fixed here (well this came first) but visually it just really isn't very impressive. But then I guess that's sorta fitting for a team, who when transforming, transform into suits that look like more basic versions of their base uniforms...

In terms of actual implementation though, that is really where Powered Custom shines. The civilian powers really were well implemented anyway, and this just only further adds to that. I especially loved how they visually captured Hiromu's Powered Custom speed. Even if the finisher is kinda lame.

You'll see why Enter is a great villian soon enough .

[Locke]

Gobus 34. I hate this goofball shit.

Jin and J seem to play victim to the worst aspects of the 'sixth ranger' trope and the show seems to be playing it on the nose, in an attempt at self aware humour, but that doesn't make it okay, it makes it worse. Especially so in a show that attempts to really stand out and break free from some of the most tired sentai trappings. I have heard people say things like "Jin and J saved the show!" but this is like Beast all over again, how can you honestly say these tacked on extra heroes are better than the core cast? I just don't see it.

Typically the episode had solid action. Hiromu was always pretty badass, and has been a solid red throughout although somewhere along the way his characterisation started to vanish and he seemed to primarily become a weapon. This is problematic, but honestly seeing just HOW badass he's become in the last twenty or so episodes almost makes it hard to care he isn't that much of a character.

It's kinda odd, but the more I think about it, the more I realise how much of a problem that is for the show. The chemistry between the cast is solid, and for the most part the world is solidly built even if it isn't perhaps as deep as you could want but I just remember how strong characters Yoko, Ryuuji and Hiromu were for the first ten or fifteen episodes, and although it isn't quite Kyoryuger levels, what happened? You'd think given what transpired before the Gavan two parter this'd be the perfect time for some great character moments but if anything I feel like the characters have only become blander.

These Messiah Metaroid's really are very underwhelming though, firstly was the ground one who was goofy and that to me is automatically shit. But then they hyped up the Megazord situation so much, but in the end two Megazord's appearing at the same time wasn't actually that big a deal at all.

After the fight between Hiromu and Jin was done the episode just sorta fizzled out, despite having just under ten minutes left where it just kept going, and going.... yawn.

[Kamen Rider Lucha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

Gobus 34. I hate this goofball shit.

*snip*

The goofiness, I thought, was used to emphasize how hopeless Jin's situation is -- his over-the-top exuberance masks deep pain. There's a lot of sadness in Jin and his story, and I thought it was really nicely handled in this episode. Hiromu and Jin's last fight left a bit of an impact.

[Locke]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Lucha

The goofiness, I thought, was used to emphasize how hopeless Jin's situation is -- his over-the-top exuberance masks deep pain. There's a lot of sadness in Jin and his story, and I thought it was really nicely handled in this episode. Hiromu and Jin's last fight left a bit of an impact.

I get that we're told this, but Jin also remarks himself on how poorly integrated into the show he is, and pointing this out doesn't make it any less true. It lacks proper build up, it doesn't feel directly entwined in the narrative and honestly despite some sweet battles, it hasn't really felt like Gobus really knows what it plans to do for at least the last fifteen episodes. This is a shame as it was such a tight, focused and enjoyable series for the first ten or fifteen or so episodes. But then that seems to be the case with a lot of sentai.

[algo448]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Lucha

The goofiness, I thought, was used to emphasize how hopeless Jin's situation is -- his over-the-top exuberance masks deep pain. There's a lot of sadness in Jin and his story, and I thought it was really nicely handled in this episode. Hiromu and Jin's last fight left a bit of an impact.

Indeed, he just wants to hide his desperation.

I found that Jin and J made a great duo, because even if they followed the classic comedic duo routine they played with it, Jin was the one who was always trying to make things funnier yet he was the smart one, his jokes simply a way to hide his troubles, on the other hand J is always serious, everything he says he means it in a perfectly straight way, it's just that he is well dumb, and everything he says ends up being a riot.

So yeah, they may be embracing the usual sentai goofiness but even so they are playing with expectations, and isn't that the whole point of Go-Busters? It's not about rejecting previous sentai standards, it's about reinventing them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

I get that we're told this, but Jin also remarks himself on how poorly integrated into the show he is, and pointing this out doesn't make it any less true. It lacks proper build up, it doesn't feel directly entwined in the narrative and honestly despite some sweet battles, it hasn't really felt like Gobus really knows what it plans to do for at least the last fifteen episodes. This is a shame as it was such a tight, focused and enjoyable series for the first ten or fifteen or so episodes. But then that seems to be the case with a lot of sentai.

It does give that impression, but the show does know where it's headed even if it desn't show inmediately.

[Battlizer]

Gekiranger 13, 14, and 15

Rio continues his training under Master Hawk, now learning to master his hatred over what happened in his past and using that to become stronger. Hawk and Mele still seem to hate each other, most likely due to Hawk thinking Mele's feelings for Rio would disrupt his training.

We've also got a new master, this time a teacher for Retsu, Bat Li. He's nowhere near as eccentric as Elehan, but that may be a good thing, sine his graceful style seemed to teach Retsu a thing or two.

Now we've also got Geki Bat Touja. I've always liked Geki Touja. Due to it not being a robot and thus allowed to do more things it's had some of the more entertaining zord fights I've seen. And I really like both the elephant and bat add-ons.

Now 15...I'd been putting off for a bit. So I just watched it recently and uh...yeah. This was a weird one. Important stuff definitely happened and in any regular Sentai/Power Rangers series, this'd probably be filler. But Mele had a search for another Kenma to challenge Hawk's teachings. And she finds one in Master Jellyfish!

As for the Gekiranger's plot...it was weird. I had to rewind the scene with the cgi baby Retsu to make sure I was seeing this right. Though, it was cool when Ran killed the bird guy with a move literally out of Hokuto Shinken. Gotta love that Fist of the North Star reference.

[MidoGreen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battlizer

Gekiranger 13, 14, and 15

Rio continues his training under Master Hawk, now learning to master his hatred over what happened in his past and using that to become stronger. Hawk and Mele still seem to hate each other, most likely due to Hawk thinking Mele's feelings for Rio would disrupt his training.

We've also got a new master, this time a teacher for Retsu, Bat Li. He's nowhere near as eccentric as Elehan, but that may be a good thing, sine his graceful style seemed to teach Retsu a thing or two.

Now we've also got Geki Bat Touja. I've always liked Geki Touja. Due to it not being a robot and thus allowed to do more things it's had some of the more entertaining zord fights I've seen. And I really like both the elephant and bat add-ons.

Now 15...I'd been putting off for a bit. So I just watched it recently and uh...yeah. This was a weird one. Important stuff definitely happened and in any regular Sentai/Power Rangers series, this'd probably be filler. But Mele had a search for another Kenma to challenge Hawk's teachings. And she finds one in Master Jellyfish!

As for the Gekiranger's plot...it was weird. I had to rewind the scene with the cgi baby Retsu to make sure I was seeing this right. Though, it was cool when Ran killed the bird guy with a move literally out of Hokuto Shinken. Gotta love that Fist of the North Star reference.

Yeah, GekiTouja is great because it's not suppose to be a robot.

[Locke]

Gobus 35.

The first half of this episode was pretty fucking shit, but as soon as Mane revealed his true form it picked up A LOT. Even though it was just sort like the 'back up' action to pad the episode, I actually much preferred seeing Yoko and J take on Enter, than I did anything about some poorly realised Lion and it's ugly bitch of an owner.

They almost ruined it at the end, bringing back that stupid giant robot with huge knees thing but then Mane turned into a fucking giant three wheeler for Ace and I realised that it's probably the coolest sentai robo ever created.