[DreamSword]

This is the first episode where the show focuses more on emulating Super Robot shows in terms of its action rather than Tokusatsu, and I think it was the right call given the resulting battle is not only very cool, but it's also very memorable as a result. With many fans calling it the best action scene in the show even to this day.

Also, I agree that SG Hot Rod's' design is killer. He's literally the only SG Transformers toy I have because of both that idea as well as this show.

[Androzani84]

In which the 13 epusode run time forces us to the point it would normally take 13 episodes tor each for most shows: Our first major obstacle, on the form on slightly stronger Kaiju Anti. He’s an homage to Shinobilar, a monster from the original series who made three appearances and was enough of a threat in his first appearance to debut a new combination.

Speaking of homages, we also meet the Neon Genesis Junior High School Club (which is not a homage to Evangelion, despite how the subs translated the name. The Japanese script uses “Shinseiki”, which translates roughly as “new generation”, since they’re the new generation of Gridman’s Assist Weapons). They’re based on the original Gridman’s Assist Weapons, God Tank, Twin Driller and Thunder Jet, though with the exception of Max, they’re named after the US equivalents from Syber Squad, with Borr directly sharing his name, while Vit is derived from “Vitor”. (Max’s equivalent was named Tracto, which is homaged with his mecha form being “Battle Tracto Max”). In a similar homage, Max’s attack being called the Tanker Cannon references the fact that the guy who piloted Tracto in Syber Squad was nicknamed Tank (it was never revealed what his real name was).

And now, for the casting trivia, since all of our new guys are in other Toku.

Kenichi Suzumura (Anti) can also be heard as Ryutaros in Kamen Rider Den-O and Mashin Fire in Mashin Sentai Kiramager.

Katsuyuki Konishi (Max) was also GoseiKnight/Groundion in Tensou Sentai Goseiger and several voices in Kamen Rider Gotchard (specifically, he opening narrator, the Rider gear for the heroes, Smaphone, Renkingrobo, Gaiard and the Dark Hades King).

Aoi Yuki (Borr) was also Yurusen in Kamen Rider Ghost.

Masaya Matsukaze (Vit) was also Chevalier of Resentment Endolf in Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger and appeared physically as Shun Namiki/Mega Blue in Denji Sentai Megaranger (he was also up for the role of Kuuga at one point)

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

This is the first episode where the show focuses more on emulating Super Robot shows in terms of its action rather than Tokusatsu, and I think it was the right call given the resulting battle is not only very cool, but it's also very memorable as a result. With many fans calling it the best action scene in the show even to this day.

As much as I only ever want to talk about Rikka's plots -- always, forever, favorite character on a show of nothing but great characters -- the episode-length battle against Anti was memorably visceral and complex. It's got a bunch of phases to it, and it brackets a great Utsumi/Rikka plot (sorry, I can't help it) with a fight that needs a bit more strategy, against an opponent that isn't just a dumb beast. Really great action in this Rikka show!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Androzani84

Aoi Yuki (Borr) was also Yurusen in Kamen Rider Ghost.

uuuuugggggghhhhh

and she was the best one on this

uuuuuuuuuugggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh

[Sunred]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

uuuuugggggghhhhh

and she was the best one on this

Ah, you'll be fine.

[Fish Sandwich]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Hey Utsumi Is SG Ratchet

I was under the impression he was Sideswipe? Who TF Wiki assures me had a fairly prominent role in that initial comic as a character with a form of preexisting connection to Cliffjumper, who helped him get his bearings in a world he doesn't understand (being the audience surrogate), and apparently even hung out with him in at least a later story or two? Like a friend might?

As for why the main characters are based on those designs to begin with, just ask yourself why the creators of SSSS Gridman might have felt such a strong affinity for an alternate take on a nostalgic property made by nerds incorporating homages to all sorts of things they were fans of. Because once you start to look at it from that perspective, I'd argue how conscious a decision it was begins to stop mattering.

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

I was under the impression he was Sideswipe? Who TF Wiki assures me had a fairly prominent role in that initial comic as a character with a form of preexisting connection to Cliffjumper, who helped him get his bearings in a world he doesn't understand (being the audience surrogate), and apparently even hung out with him in at least a later story or two? Like a friend might?

Huh! Interesting! I definitely got more of a Ratchet vibe (the white shirt), but I can see from pulling up an image on Goggle that he's got the scarred-up symbol on his chest that Sideswipe did, so I am clearly wrong. Thanks for the correction!

[Sunred]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Huh! Interesting! I definitely got more of a Ratchet vibe (the white shirt), but I can see from pulling up an image on Goggle that he's got the scarred-up symbol on his chest that Sideswipe did, so I am clearly wrong. Thanks for the correction!

Yep, it's Sideswipe. But I can see why you'd think SG Ratchet because of his white shirt, green and purple on his clothes, and the slash resembling his chest area where it's cracked and all. It's stuff like this that reminds me of Gunbuster and 90s tv Evangelion-era Gainax where nerds are making some quality stuff packed with references and probably why I enjoyed it. For instance, Max Gridman.

Go to about the 00:29 mark on the clip and you might notice a resemblence.

[Androzani84]

So in my reading, I’ve discovered that the Kaiju roars in this show are made by having Akane’s actress say a word, and then distorting it dramatically. Episode 1’s monster Ghoulgilas was saying “die”, while episode 2’s D?vadadan was saying “kill”.

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunred

But I can see why you'd think SG Ratchet because of his white shirt, green and purple on his clothes, and the slash resembling his chest area where it's cracked and all.

I'm glad it wasn't just me!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Androzani84

So in my reading, I?ve discovered that the Kaiju roars in this show are made by having Akane?s actress say a word, and then distorting it dramatically. Episode 1?s monster Ghoulgilas was saying ?die?, while episode 2?s D?vadadan was saying ?kill?.

Neat! Thanks!

[Kamen Rider Die]

SSSS.GRIDMAN EPISODE 4 - “SUSPICION”



There is maybe nothing I love more than a Summer Toku episode. It’s all overheated everything: romantic entanglements, frustrated villains, oblivious heroes, and cicada soundtracks. Melodrama comes as easy as melancholy, while the stakes are trivial and all-encompassing at the same time.

As such, boy, this one totally worked for me. I could’ve watched a full episode of Rikka accidentally going on a date with four college guys (creeps, probably for the best that they were monster-murdered) while Yuta slowly comes to terms with his incredibly obvious feelings for her. It’s an episode maybe less about furthering any sort of overarching storyline – we’re sort of circling Akane’s need to unearth Gridman’s identity, while Rikka maybe accidentally starts to lay the groundwork to connect Akane to the kaiju attacks; also, Gridman has Yuta’s amnesia, too – than it is about the general feeling of secrets coming to light, and the end of self-delusion, all sweated out in the summertime.

Naturally for two characters modeled after SG Optimus and SG Megatron (I think I’m right on this one?), we learn that Akane and Rikka were friends, and they sort of drifted apart for reasons that Rikka chalks up to coincidence, while Akane pointedly doesn’t treat it like it’s something she even noticed. (The end credits sort of make me think otherwise!)They’re both the same in how they react to the group date – neither wants to be there – but where Rikka’s empathy keeps her from holding a bad date against some creepy college guy (It’s creepy! She’s a high school girl! I’m not overthinking this!), Akane immediately wants to murder all four of them the second they invade her personal space. It’s… these two girls are the same, but one of them is tuned to megalomaniacal retribution, and the other for basic humanity.

Beyond another killer Rikka story, we get some romantic comedy hijinks with a smitten/protective Yuta, and a variably engaged Utsumi. (I love that the second Akane is out of the picture, Utsumi’s interest in Yuta’s romantic dilemma vanishes. He is a very good friend, so long as there’s something in it for him!) The whole thing is hapless, even by this show’s standard of easily distracted teens and their Greek chorus of sentient weaponry. Yuta et al never really learn anything through their investigation – Rikka just straight up tells Yuta at the end of the episode – and nothing else is even accidentally uncovered in the course of their buffonery, but the buffonery is kind of more than enough? It’s just bumbling, and I think that’s this show’s best gear.

The whole episode works because it starts with Rikka complaining about the heat and then catching a bus, and it never loses that lazy, sweaty feeling of things not being worth any exertion. Even the fight against the kaiju takes a break in the middle, because it’s too hot out to not cool off for a minute. I love it, man. I love summer episodes of toku!