[Sh Ranger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

Special Chapter: A pretty fun crossover with Twokaiser! This plus Superhero Chronicles really does tempt me to watch Zenkaiger if I ever give Sentai a second chance.

Hell yeah, you should totally watch Zenkaiger! I hope you will appreciate Juran almost as much as I do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

Final Stage: I felt that the overall story of this one was pretty weak, but everything else about the show made the experience rather fun! It also introduced what is hands down my favorite form for Saber himself.

Ultimate Bahamut is pretty awesome!

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

Sabela & Durandal: It was... fine, I guess? I'm not down with the Sabela and Durandal ship

The most popular opinion in Saber.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

Trio of Deep Sin: I'm well aware that I'm in the minority here, but I actually didn't like this movie at all. The plot made no sense, and I felt basically nothing for any of the new characters introduced.

What, you didn't even care about that good girl Lucky?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mesnick

Even the ending song and Ren with a mustache?

It's a good song, but part of me begrudges the name for tricking me in to thinking Mei would become a Swordsman, haha. And yeah, Ren and Ryouga both have cool moustaches.

[Mesnick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

It's a good song, but part of me begrudges the name for tricking me in to thinking Mei would become a Swordsman, haha.

Well, considering Shizuka became Kiwa-la 17 years after the show ended, I wouldn't rule out that possibility in the future. Although Asuka Kawazu is currently filming a lot, so don't count on her appearing in tokusatsu much anytime soon.

[DreamSword]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mesnick

Even the ending song and Ren with a mustache?

I shrug.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

What, you didn't even care about that good girl Lucky?

The movie getting rid of Lucky was kinda my final straw on the movie, haha.

[GuardianAngel87]

I just inexplicably made a bit of a detour of my Dynaman rewatch and start (re)watching the first two episodes of Kamen Rider Revice.

[Mesnick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuardianAngel87

I just inexplicably made a bit of a detour of my Dynaman rewatch and start (re)watching the first two episodes of Kamen Rider Revice.

I loved the first episode of Reviсe. The way they showed us exactly why Ikki had to transform, unlike the other characters. However, they still ended up becoming riders, which ruined the original idea.

[GuardianAngel87]

And now I find myself watching the first episode of Kamen Rider Gavv for the first time. I really don't know why though.

[Mesnick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuardianAngel87

And now I find myself watching the first episode of Kamen Rider Gavv for the first time. I really don't know why though.

If you want, then why not taste?

[Locke]

Just caught up on Zeztz.

I think I like Zeztz?

But I don’t know why I like Zeztz.

Let us do a TL;DR up top: I think Kamen Rider Zeztz is an ugly looking suit, in an otherwise functional, yet quite formless, Rider entry, that feels like just another one, rather than one with any real inspiration.

It overcomes a sluggish start, and is arguably at its very best early on when it starts settling into the two part Nightmare story rotation. Technically, it is after this point where the 'real show' begins, but Zeztz lost so much of what made it grow on me as it pivoted into yet another predictable Rider battle royale.

It hits every beat you’d expect from a modern Rider show, but that’s almost the problem. The whole show just feels sorta… safe? Like it is more focused on meeting its modern Rider obligations, than it is really stopping for a moment and actually saying something.

And I know, I saw that preview at the end of this latest episode, it looks like the story is about to take a really sharp, crazy, turn, but I can't really review it on that basis because that hasn't happened yet and while it may end up making the back half of the show more enjoyable, it doesn't retroactively fix the problems in the first half. For me, anyway.

I actually started watching it around launch when I found out it would be on YouTube for free, but I really didn’t like the opening few episodes and bounced off. I came back months later when I saw how much praise this show was getting on socials and gave it another go.

I still think the first seven or so episodes (not a pun) probably could have been condensed down to a couple of episodes and an email, but the show really grabbed me around episode 8 when it felt like it really started to find an identity for itself, leaning into the dream aspects and delivering some really cool action scenes.

Then somewhere along the way, the show lost me again, and I probably would have fallen off again but I kinda figured I was in for a penny at this point so kept going. I know some people will like the later developments of Zeztz, the more serious tone, the more defined stakes, the inclusion of new Riders and forms, but I think this is where Zeztz loses its identity again.

It is basically Kamen Rider 101 at this point to softly onboard you, and then massively ramp everything up, and the show can start "for real" and so like copying that formula is fine I guess, but can you not like maybe... do something with it? I dunno.

Maybe this would have all been fine if hitting all these familiar beats in such a predictable order made Zeztz feel like some kind of greatest hits, but it doesn’t really feel like that either, it just feels very… functional. Like what is uniquely Zeztz?

I think a part of the problem is I felt like a lot of the characters were fairly flat, each with a couple of identifying beats and not much fleshing out beyond that. You’d never find me asking for a Rider show to slow down, but while I think the core of the dynamic between all all the characters is quite pleasant, I wouldn’t have minded more focus on developing these relationships earlier on to give some of the later developments more punch. It is a very charming and likeable cast, so that makes this easier to swallow, but is also probably also part of the reason at the same time that I wish we had more breathing room to just spend more time with these characters.

I think I am going to make a start on Gavv next as I see that has been getting great reviews, and will then carry on watching Zeztz weekly.

[Mesnick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

I think I am going to make a start on Gavv next as I see that has been getting great reviews, and will then carry on watching Zeztz weekly.

Honestly, if you didn't like the safety of Zeztz and prefer a dynamic-paced story, I'm not sure Gavv is for you. It's very uneven paced, and the characters interact with each other as if they were made of glass. At the same time, Gavv's strong point is that it takes typical rider's types and tropes and makes them felt real, so maybe I'm wrong and it's just the show for you. Ultimately, the choice is yours, of course, but I just wanted to warn you just in case.

[Locke]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mesnick

Honestly, if you didn't like the safety of Zeztz and prefer a dynamic-paced story, I'm not sure Gavv is for you. It's very uneven paced, and the characters interact with each other as if they were made of glass. At the same time, Gavv's strong point is that it takes typical rider's types and tropes and makes them felt real, so maybe I'm wrong and it's just the show for you. Ultimately, the choice is yours, of course, but I just wanted to warn you just in case.

I have watched three episodes so far between Zeztz episodes as I've been planning what to watch next, and I definitely liked these opening episodes more than Zeztz opening trio. Gavv is quite formulaic so far for sure, but it has great vibes, and I love Gavv's forms and abilities.