[Starscream Gaga]

Its set after the end of Gokaiger and there are quite a few late Gokaiger plot-points mentioned in passing.

[Locke]

Ah okay then, I'll wait 'til I've finished Gokaiger to watch the VS movie.

[Locke]

Gokaiger 11.

Considering how much Japan loves Shinkenger, I'm surprised by how little justice this really does for that show. Then again, the more I think on it, the more the tributes in this show have kinda sucked. I mean not Super Megaforce levels of suck, but when I try and think of the merits of the actual tributes outside of the actual merits of the episodes they're featured in...well I can't really think of any. They're basically cameos for cameos sake and the show kinda rides on the hope that nostalgia will distract you from the fact that the cameo is just sorta...there and isn't actually really doing anything. For in show reasons at a push, but it never seems any less superfluous even with that reasoning in mind. I dunno, maybe this is proof that a good body of sentai knowledge really is necessary for maximum enjoyment of Gokaiger.

It was kinda lucky that this was the most tacked on tribute of them all in a way though, as it allowed the episode to focus on much more interesting things. Most noticeably, some truly epic battles. As the Gokaigers shifted into Gingaman the battle really became high gear, that was some epic stuff.

Still a little confused though as to what this shows obsession with Joe is though, no character in this is underdeveloped, but it's just odd that he gets so much focus compared to anyone else. Plus I do still find it distracting that in the story Joe is our swordsman, like it makes a pretty big deal of it, yet in the fight scenes his swordsman nature is extremely downplayed, and usually it's Luka who is played up as the swordsman of the group. Not only does Joe usually pass her his sword, we've never once seen Joe combine the swords, or use that whip move like she has multiple times. Yet once the fighting is done, there is never mention of sword fighting from her lips but they can't shut up about Joe the swordsman.

I dunno, it just seems such a weird creative decision to me. I never quite understand how fight scenes made specifically for a single story, and set of characters, can still have an incredible disconnect from them. I can understand stuff not gelling one hundred percent in Power Rangers as they're adapting their new characters to footage made for something else, but what is the excuse in sentai?

Also dammit, we finally get an MMPR change and the Gokaiger's get absolutely creamed. They weren't losing this bad, even when they changed into Goggle V and fought with ribbons Those Dynaman suits aren't all that great looking either.

[Locke]

Gokaiger 12. I'm really confused by the mecha rules, why'd the Shinkenger mecha use GaoLion? It looked terrible anyway.

A rare episode where Gokai Blue and Joe almost feel like they're meant to be the same character! I loved how as Joe is a dual wielder, he was given the Double Disc to split his swords. I wish that scene was longer because it was a great character moment, for a suit actor who so far has done a pretty poor job of portraying Joe. Sadly considering Luka is supposed to be an eagle eyed Robin Hood, her flashy swordswoman persona as Gokai Yellow is still completely unbelievable. And detracts a little from the achievements of Gokai Blue in the episode.

It seems almost ironic perhaps to complain about strong and well defined characterisation, but it's just frustrating that Gokaiger provides so much that I've always wanted from sentai yet undermines itself by not paying attention to the smaller details. Luckily they went crazy with the gimmick this episode, distracting us with some rapid changes. Oh yeah Liveman. You didn't distract me from the continuity errors with the cuts in Marvelous' jacket though!

It's a shame the flashbacks weren't longer, they were pretty epic but also felt rushed. It's amazing that this show can even feel rushed during two parters which perhaps makes sense of why other sentai don't bother to flesh their characters nearly as much. Although I don't ever remember Goseiger feeling this squashed and that had some pretty heavy character focus too.

[MidoGreen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

Gokaiger 11.

Considering how much Japan loves Shinkenger, I'm surprised by how little justice this really does for that show. Then again, the more I think on it, the more the tributes in this show have kinda sucked. I mean not Super Megaforce levels of suck, but when I try and think of the merits of the actual tributes outside of the actual merits of the episodes they're featured in...well I can't really think of any. They're basically cameos for cameos sake and the show kinda rides on the hope that nostalgia will distract you from the fact that the cameo is just sorta...there and isn't actually really doing anything. For in show reasons at a push, but it never seems any less superfluous even with that reasoning in mind. I dunno, maybe this is proof that a good body of sentai knowledge really is necessary for maximum enjoyment of Gokaiger.

It was kinda lucky that this was the most tacked on tribute of them all in a way though, as it allowed the episode to focus on much more interesting things. Most noticeably, some truly epic battles. As the Gokaigers shifted into Gingaman the battle really became high gear, that was some epic stuff.

Still a little confused though as to what this shows obsession with Joe is though, no character in this is underdeveloped, but it's just odd that he gets so much focus compared to anyone else. Plus I do still find it distracting that in the story Joe is our swordsman, like it makes a pretty big deal of it, yet in the fight scenes his swordsman nature is extremely downplayed, and usually it's Luka who is played up as the swordsman of the group. Not only does Joe usually pass her his sword, we've never once seen Joe combine the swords, or use that whip move like she has multiple times. Yet once the fighting is done, there is never mention of sword fighting from her lips but they can't shut up about Joe the swordsman.

I dunno, it just seems such a weird creative decision to me. I never quite understand how fight scenes made specifically for a single story, and set of characters, can still have an incredible disconnect from them. I can understand stuff not gelling one hundred percent in Power Rangers as they're adapting their new characters to footage made for something else, but what is the excuse in sentai?

Also dammit, we finally get an MMPR change and the Gokaiger's get absolutely creamed. They weren't losing this bad, even when they changed into Goggle V and fought with ribbons Those Dynaman suits aren't all that great looking either.

You really need to IMO. People say it's a good intro level show, but to really appreciate the tributes you need to have some shows under your belt. Like Kai's cameo in episode 3 was really nice because if you've watched Magiranger you've seen him grow and with that episode you see the results after the series is complete(doubly so because Magiranger never had a proper versus movie...). And when you're used to "They return for the Vs. movie(and these days, V-Cinema), and you never really see them again", the cameos are really enjoyable.

[Locke]

Yeah I never ever expected it to be a decent entry level show, but although I've finished less than ten series, I've sampled at least half the franchise core TV shows to varying degrees of completion so I'm surprised that the cameos are still so alienating even then.

[Battlizer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matrixbeast

Don't forget, Gou was the wild card. The rhino ranger, GekiChopper, was the one they were expecting to arrive.

Aaah, that makes sense. Gou did just kinda wander in out of the blue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

Gokaiger 11.


Still a little confused though as to what this shows obsession with Joe is though, no character in this is underdeveloped, but it's just odd that he gets so much focus compared to anyone else. Plus I do still find it distracting that in the story Joe is our swordsman, like it makes a pretty big deal of it, yet in the fight scenes his swordsman nature is extremely downplayed, and usually it's Luka who is played up as the swordsman of the group. Not only does Joe usually pass her his sword, we've never once seen Joe combine the swords, or use that whip move like she has multiple times. Yet once the fighting is done, there is never mention of sword fighting from her lips but they can't shut up about Joe the swordsman.

I never really noticed this. I just figured since Joe as Gokai blue tends to fight a lot with a sword in one hand and the other hand behind his back, he's making it a challenge for him for himself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MidoGreen

You really need to IMO. People say it's a good intro level show, but to really appreciate the tributes you need to have some shows under your belt. Like Kai's cameo in episode 3 was really nice because if you've watched Magiranger you've seen him grow and with that episode you see the results after the series is complete(doubly so because Magiranger never had a proper versus movie...). And when you're used to "They return for the Vs. movie(and these days, V-Cinema), and you never really see them again", the cameos are really enjoyable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

Yeah I never ever expected it to be a decent entry level show, but although I've finished less than ten series, I've sampled at least half the franchise core TV shows to varying degrees of completion so I'm surprised that the cameos are still so alienating even then.

I was good enough entry level for me. I may have not understood every reference but most of the cameos made me wanna check out the other shows to see what they were all about.

[Starscream Gaga]

I dunno, Gokaiger was my first ever Sentai and I loved it just as much as I love it now, even with all the Sentai I've seen under my belt. I think it does well as both a "Hey, who's this character? I want to check out this series!" as much as a "Yes, I loved this character, its great to see him/her again!". Some do better as cameos, though, Princess Shinken Red is basically a camero while Hurricanger two-parter could've basically been released as Hurricanger VS Gokaiger The Movie. I sort of like that the tribute part of the season doesn't detract from the main cast and doesn't fall into complete fanwank territory, the cameos and returning Sentai complement the main cast rather then completely eclipse them. Then again, the Jetman episode is basically a big "Gai is amazing" tribute and is still one of if not my very favourite episode.

As for discrepancies in suit to out of suit I've actually thought Gokaiger was the best Sentai with putting their character through to their suits outside of Shinkenger. Joe does the same poses and posture in combat both in-suit and out of suit and I think his "hand behind back" stance really translates that he knows what he's doing. Comparatively, I believe later we're told Luka was taught by Joe and I think the fact that she uses gimmicks like the combined swords and whips is meant to show that she's less of a trained swordsman so much as a sword wielder that isn't adverse to other techniques to give her an edge, while Joe is purely swords, if that makes sense? It does in my head, not sure if I'm getting it out right though.

[Kamen Rider Lucha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battlizer

I was good enough entry level for me. I may have not understood every reference but most of the cameos made me wanna check out the other shows to see what they were all about.

Gokaiger wasn't my first sentai, but I did watch it early in my indoctrination. It may have even been the first sentai I watched in its entirety without skipping large chunks in the middle.

That said, I think it's a good entry just because it's so strong as a show, independent of the references to past series.

And because it's so good, it's really the only Sentai show I can ever see myself rewatching. And that rewatch will benefit from my greater knowledge of the context of the brand.

[Locke]

I mean I've never seen Deka, but the fact that episode featured Kruger fighting and Deka investigating made it feel worthwhile having them in the show. Kai at least was used to draw character moments out of the Gokaiger but the other three were certainly meritless and pointless - and that comes from a guy who LIKES Shinkenger. The worst offender was definitely the Gao cameo. Not only did GaoRed not actually serve any real purpose but that episode completely blew my mind, in a bad way, as to the shows continuity. I'd say the GekiRanger was worse for being so utterly forgettable but at least GekiRed was in the show so little he didn't have a chance to confuse the continuity quite like GaoRed and his Power Lion did.

I get what you're saying about Luka, it makes a lot of sense, but I would have liked to have seen more refined swordplay from Joe to give what Luka is doing context. But the best swordfighting stuff from Joe has come out of suit, I always find Gokai Blue largely blurs into the scenery aside form that one episode were he used every sword at once. In terms of suit actors, he is easily my least favourite beside Ahim.