Tokusatsu, of course, being the Japanese 'Guys in spandex/ monster suits punching each other' genre. Last month I was looking for new shows to watch when for some reason I tumbled into the tokusatsu hole. I think it was that Youtube compilation of every Super Sentai (origin of the Power Rangers) intro. It was just unbelievable how many there are and that it's been going on since the 70s. I was like "At least one of these has to be pretty good." So like a normal American, adult man I started watching Japanese kids shows.

It's pretty fun stuff! I think I get why people like wrestling now. You just turn your brain off and let the hype wash over you. I started with Choujin Sentai Jetman because that's what everyone recommends. I didn't love it, but I could see bits of things that I'd probably like in a different show. Then I watched Kamen Rider W and it allll clicked. That's a great show. I'm also looking forward to watching Toqger, Kamen Rider Build, and Kakuranger.

Anyway, do you toku? Got any faves/ recommendations?

Here are my actual notes for the shows I've seen so far... SPOILERS for some:

Choujin Sentai Jetman (Complete)
- I don't like any of the Jetman. That's a problem. Ako and Ryu are the least offensive and Gai only becomes slightly tolerable toward the end. There's just nothing to them to make me really like them. They're also kind of unattractive :V
- Fuck the love triangle so much. It's so basic and contrived.
- Tetra Boy is GOAT.
- Maybe my favorite toku villains yet. Especially Grey. All really well characterized and fun to watch. Well Tranza was kind of boring, but Tran is fun.
- Killing Gai was a really weird decision, but I like it. Really blunt and sudden like death just is sometimes. Did Trigun homage this scene with Wolfwood's death? It's the same thing where the red and black theme'd characters are talking on a bench while the latter is secretly dying. Seems too close to be coincidence.

Gosei Sentai Dairanger (Ep 5)
- Main cast seems kind of bland. Took a few episodes to tell who was who.
- Cool suits though. I like the gold accents.

Ninja Sentai Kakuranger (Ep. 5)
- This is a fun crew. A 16 year-old girl and her 20-something boyz including an actual American who barely speaks Japanese. Oh and their SENTIENT CAT RV.
- Lots of Engrish so far, always a plus.
- This show's goofy as hell, I like it.
- Those end credits, woo.
- People seem to shit on the suits a lot, but I really like them in a corny way. So derpy they wrap around to being charming.

Uchu Sentai Kyuranger (Ep. 43)
- I LOVE these suits and the look of the cast. Very diverse in body type and attitude. Feels like a good RPG cast. Oguma Skyblue and Ryu Commander especially. They look awesome.
- Shou Ronpo is precious. Love the voice actor.
- I don't hate Lucky as much as many seem to, but he's not great. I don't even mind him having as much focus as he does I just wish there was more to him than pure shonen protagonism. Kamina he is not. That actor is hot though.
- It is unfortunate that half the cast gets almost no development at all. I get it, how are you supposed to develop 9-12 main characters evenly, but still. Spada, Hammy, and Raptor are basically just 'bodies present' for fights. Spada's probably the most egregious. He's just 'Chef guy.'
- There have been like four betrayal/ mind control/ possession plots and I hate that. Stinger, Naga, Champ, and now Lucky's dad. Having main characters suddenly be evil only works like once or twice a series unless you're really smart about it.
-One of my favorite roll-calls so far. That little circle Lucky does gets me every time.

Kamen Rider W (Complete)
- Them's some endearing characters. I really just wanted to hang out in Shotaro's office.
- Sure the CG sucks, but it was 2009. Some of it's surprisingly good for the time, honestly.
- It's funny! Something about seeing all these classic anime tropes but done in real life is hilarious.
- Some really great fights, but I was almost burnt out on it by the end.
- Phillip and Shotaro are both sexy which is always a plus.
- The only plot thing that really didn't work for me was Wakana suddenly being evil in the last ¼ of the series. When we last see her she's tearfully begging Phillip to leave their family behind and then... she's just all in on the family plot. I was hoping Terror had influenced her or something, but no she's just full-blown evil all of a sudden. It was a bummer because her friendship with Phillip was super wholesome.