[DreamSword]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Name

Red Axe's theme goes hard though.

It does! Such a shame that YouTube is determined to keep it nuked.

[DreamSword]

Episode 4: Idol Devastation!

It's very rare that I like idol characters.

More often than not I find that they're written with nothing more than cliches in order to provide a waifu/husbando for the audience to gawk over.

And ya know, I can atleast give credit to Mari, who begins calling herself Flamenco Girl in this episode, in that atleast so far, she very much is not that. However, I still do not like her, and it's a big reason why I came out not liking this episode.

It's a shame too because this episode actually has a pretty solid setup: Masayoshi's' training under Red Axe is beginning to pay off, as Masa is now harder, better, faster, and stronger than he was in previous episodes. To the point that he feels as though he's now at a level to start tackling bigger criminals.

Goto warns Masayoshi that it's a bad idea, but the aspiring hero is not to be deterred. Fighting a gang of thugs goes south very fast, resulting in the appearance of the aforementioned Flamenco Girl, who proceeds to blackmail Samurai Flamenco into being her sidekick, and Masa very quickly learns that Mari has a much different approach to things than he does...

There were aspects to this episode that really did work: Flamenco's' local popularity making him very easy to track online, the police beginning to arm themselves due to Flamenco Girl's' harsh tactics, and the question about just where a hero should draw the line when battling low tier criminals. And while it's certainly not easy to see Masayoshi being pushed around so easily, I would've been down for it had the episode resolved in a satisfactory manner.

Unfortunately, it doesn't. The climax has to do with Goto stepping in, and calling out not only Flamenco Girl's' behavior, but also warning Masayoshi that if he continues down the path he has been, he very much risks becoming a public menace rather than an annoyance or a hero, as even fellow citizens are starting to take note of the utterly cruel tactics of the new duo. And for his trouble, Goto gets tasered by Flamenco Girl. This, I figured, would've been the final straw that got Masayoshi to stand up for himself and break things off.

...But no, all that happens is that Masa forces Mari to apologize to Goto the next day and it's all swept under the rug. Hated that. And it double sucks too considering that all through the episode it's shown that Masayoshi is in no way comfortable with the way that Mari does things. It all seemed like a steady build up to a breaking point, but unfortunately it just doesn't happen this episode. It's not like Mari has much going for her as a character anyway. All she is is an idol who likes superheroes and belittles Masayoshi for "stealing her spotlight" (paraphrased). It's petty, it's annoying, and it has no real payoff.

Such a shame that I ran into my first episode I didn't like in this show after having such a great time with the past three.

[Name]

There are many ways for me to describe Mari, but I cannot do so in polite company. So as to not spoil anything, I'll simply say that she is the only thing in this show that I utterly despise.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

All she is is an idol who likes superheroes and belittles Masayoshi for "stealing her spotlight" (paraphrased). It's petty, it's annoying, and it has no real payoff.

Or this. This will do.

[DreamSword]

Quote:

Originally Posted by name

polite company.

where???

[DreamSword]

Episode 5: The Meaning of Justice!

If this episode was at all trying to get me to feel pity for Flamenco Girl, then it thoroughly failed, and as such, I'll be focusing on everything else that this episode has to offer.

Because, actually, outside of the Mari stuff, this had alot going for it!

The setup is that Masayoshi actually manages to land an acting gig as an Important Guy of the Week in the currently airing Sentai show(funnily enough dressed as Kotaro Minami). Upon having some chats with the director and the film crew, Masa soon learns that world of filming Toku isn't quite what he imagined it to be

Alongside that is the public looking more and more unfavorably on the tactics of Flamenco Girl, and the new position Goto gets as a result of the public outcry being little more than a publicity stunt on the part of the cops. The entire theme of this episode just the meaning of justice as the title might suggest, but also idealization versus reality, as well as what it means to truly be the type of hero often portrayed in superhero shows.

It's the fact that all of the important players in the cast get hit by these questions to some degree(yes, even Mari), that really drew me into this one, and even better, the atmosphere of the episode as a whole really matched everything going on.

Speaking of "episodes" it's pretty funny how the plot Masayoshi pitches to the director of "Brass Rangers" about Masa's' character matches up almost point for point with the letter that Masayoshi gets from his late grandfather. Which, by the way, was a rather touching moment. And hey, it resulted in him finally breaking things off with Mari, so double points there.

Before I end this post off though, I guess now is as good a time as any to bring this up. This is the opening theme to Samurai Flamenco:

"Just One Life" by SPYAIR is a great song, and really matches the strength of a Samurai with the passion of Flamenco. And if that band seems at all familiar to you like it did me, well, that might be because they also made this number:

That song is "My World" which served as the second ending theme for Gundam AGE, and is by far the best ED in that anime, if you ask me.

With a new helmet in hand, I am definitely looking forward to whatever adventures that Samurai Flamenco and the newly established unit of the police get into next.

[Name]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

"Just One Life" by SPYAIR is a great song, and really matches the strength of a Samurai with the passion of Flamenco.

It's a bop, like most of the soundtrack.



Meanwhile, Masayoshi's grandfather is getting the plot back on track with a quality scene. Dude was a heck of a sketch artist too.

[DreamSword]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Name

Meanwhile, Masayoshi's grandfather is getting the plot back on track with a quality scene. Dude was a heck of a sketch artist too.

We don't even get to see him in person and yet he completely steals the episode!

[DreamSword]

Episode 6: Capture Samumenco!

Know what's funny? This was just kind of an average Toku episode.

Harazuka up there notes how Samurai Flamenco is always on the defensive, and as such the R&D Department of his company develops weapons for SF to use.

But these aren't just any weapons, no. They're all Office Supplies, so they're completely legal to use! Stuff like Stapler Nunchucks to pin baddies to flat surfaces, glued gloves to scale walls with, and a tape measure to do grapple swings.

Samurai Flamenco basically becomes Office Worker Spider-Man and I love it! He also updates his gear to include some light body armor, but sadly goes back to his old bike helmet rather than using the one his grandfather left him last episode; Such a shame.

I also liked the setup that the plot of the episode had, where the increase in Flamenco's' bounty causes and entire city to begin hunting him down, all while the media not only feeds off the chaos the event generates, but helping to fuel the flames in the first place by filling social media with artificial hype. Paid shills are very much a thing, guys.

Oh, Mari also ropes her two fellow idols into becoming Flamenco Ruby and Flamenco Sapphire, but who cares about that. The important part is that Mari tries to put the moves on Goto and he outright tells her to begone like an absolute chad.

But yeah no this was just kind of a straight up parody of your average Toku episode with some light commentary on media exploiting others for profit.

So, since I ended off last post with the OP, have the ED.

It's certainly catchy, but nothing super special if you ask me. Still, I've heard far worse, so it gets a pass from me.

By the way, did you know that every episode has an after-credits scene? They typically don't further the plot in any big way, but they do contain fun interactions with the cast, so I like watching them.

This episode overall was just fun, really.

[DreamSword]

Episode 7: Change the World!

What's a hero to do when there are no villains to fight?

And deeper than that, how do you handle the very core of your beliefs if you one day realize that you were strongly pushed into being the way you are?

These are questions that permeate the episode, and they result in Masayoshi having to do some introspective soul searching on who he is and what exactly Samurai Flamenco is meant to stand for.

What brings all of this about is that the Flamenco Squad has done such a good job at crime fighting that for the most part, criminals are nowhere near as out in the open as they used to be. Heck, people are barely reporting crimes or complaints to the cops anymore, so Goto's' work is drying up too.

This leaves Masayoshi with alot more free time, so he's able to take more acting and modeling gigs, and more importantly, is free to keep reading through the massive pile of notes that his late grandfather left him. Masa's' life continues to mirror that of a Toku plot, as he learns a harsh truth: His parents had been murdered by a random mugger when he was only two years old.

Masayoshi, being so young, wasn't told about the incident, but it definitely hit his grandfather hard. His grandpa proceeded to lie to Masa, telling him that his parents both died of illness overseas, and then proceeded to create the legend of Samurai Flamenco(thanks to Masa's' grandma being a flamenco dancer), in an attempt to mold Masayoshi into a hero of justice. The murder case was never solved, and it's been so long that pretty much all of Japan has forgotten it.

In an interesting twist on this sort of plotline, Masayoshi's' bout of sadness doesn't come from the horror of the situation nor does it result in him seeking vengeance on the unknown mugger, but rather, he ends up horrified in how, upon reading all of this, he felt... nothing. As he barely knew his parents and doesn't really remember them, he doesn't feel all that sad over the way they died. And how can he call himself a hero if he can't feel so much as an ounce of animosity towards such an evil act?

He calls on Goto for help, and like a true friend, Goto offers a fresh perspective and some kind words: Even if Masayoshi doesn't qualify as a "true hero" in terms of the standards set by classic superhero shows, so what? He's human first and foremost, and hero or no, he's done genuine good for the people around him. Sure, Masayoshi might be seen as a freak in the eyes of some, but he's Goto's' freak, dangit! And that's not gonna change anytime soon. What makes Masayoshi weird is also his best asset.

This all comes to a head when a homeless man gets mugged nearby, and without any hesitation, Samurai Flamenco springs into action. One thing is for sure, fake hero or not, Flamenco won't just stand by as evil occurs right infront of him. He truly does put others before himself.

The episode caps off with Samurai Flamenco joins the cops on a local drug best. Goto has concerns, but the police chiefs assures him that's basically just a publicity stunt: All Flamenco has to do is give an opening and closing statement. The police will handle all of the legwork. And, ya know, it goes surprisingly well. The drugs on confiscated, the criminals all get arrested, and there are minimal injuries. A hero's' work isn't tarnished.

In the end, it all makes for some fantastic character development on part of our two leads, who continue to grow together in a really genuine and organic way.

[DreamSword]

...Right, so I should probably address the gigantic Gorilla in the room.

That's Guillotine Gorilla. He's the result of one of the drug lords transforming when backed into a corner by the SWAT team.

This Slicing Simian isn't just for show either. Bullets bounce right off him, and with ease he breaks the neck of one cop and beheads another with the giant torture device in his abdomen.

Even Samurai Flamenco's' Super Punch can't do anything against the Chomping Chimpanzee's' superhuman strength. In the end, it takes from quick thinking from Goto in order to take this classic Toku monster(who's even voiced like one) down. The beast even blows itself up in the end!

The episode ends with the reveal that Axing Ape was actually lead by a mysterious figure known as King Torture, who taunts Flamenco with a direct challenge, and even claims to be the source of all evil.

So uh, if you couldn't already tell, the bar for threats for Masayoshi to fight against just got raised rather significantly! I don't know if I can even come to close to properly selling just how insane the entire sequence is. It really has to be seen to be believed.