FA+
Shop
More Tokusatsu Thoughts
3 years ago
General
More notes from my ongoing Tokusatsu adventures...
Ninja Sentai Kakuranger (Complete)
- 10/10
- I flipping loved this show to the point where I don't understand why people tend to rank it so low.
- Lovable goobers ride around Japan selling crepes in incredible/ awful 90s attire. A 16 year old girl and her boys fightin' monsters.
- I love how the yokai/ monsters-of-the-week exist in the world already rather than being created in that episode. It makes the world feel much more lived-in, like they have real history.
- I like this team dynamic. Tsuruhime is the leader because her family's been holding the torch for so long and she's the most experienced, but she's also 5-10 years younger than her boyz so she really relies on them and vice versa.
- Jiraiya top tier, GOAT of all time. Also Tsuruhime is an icon.
- I think this is the first sentai I saw (except for Toqger) where the cast really feel like true friends. It's the little things like singing driving songs in Nekomaru and the fact that they sleep in little tents together.
Ressah Sentai Toqger (Complete)
- 9/10
- Fashion souls are on point in this show, damn. Shout out to Right, Kagura and Zett.
- The music is especially great. Very 'fantasy adventure' sound and good themes.
- Zett is a great villain. He doesn't give a damn about the politics or being evil for half the show, it's awesome. He's kind of tragic.
- I noticed a few episodes had particularly great fight scenes. Tight choreography and direction.
- Very charming characters throughout. I love the running gags with Conductor, Ticket, and the 'Sidedish'.
- Akira is hot. There, I said it.
Machine Sentai Kiramager (Dropped ~Ep.5)
- Was excited for this one because I love the suits and that the Red is an artist. I like humble, inexperienced Reds.
- Really like the Blue and Pink here too. Blue could have easily been the typical loner d-bag, but he was pretty chill. And the Pink is just really attractive and cool <3
- After Kyuranger I'm extremely triggered by the appearance of a catchphrase. Not as obnoxious as "Yossha Lucky!" but still.
- I didn't like that the gems were quirky characters that talk and with the Tik-tok dance ending I just had to nope out. I could see it getting better, but eh. There are many other shows to try.
Tokumei Sentai Gobusters (Up to Ep.20)
- Enter, my man, what a fun villain.
- I really like Ryuuji. Maybe because he is an old man like myself.
-Heroes with weaknesses are cool. These are mostly goofy weaknesses, but still it adds a dimension to the events.
- Maybe the worst sentai 'swords' yet. They're more like combat knives, but only ⅓ of it is bladed. Weird.
- No showy roll-call T_T
Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger (Dropped ~Ep.10)
- I think I'd appreciate this show more if I were a Japanese full-on otaku. There are just too many references and such going over my head. Not bad though.
Kamen Rider Fourze (Complete)
- 6/10
-Meteor was too good for this show. What an awesome look/ gimmick.
- Really loved the monster designs in this one. And some of the minor villains too. The rakugo Cancer guy was great.
- I found Yuki and JK extremely annoying. More than annoying. They were always overacting in the background which was straight up distracting.
- OH! This really bugged me. They're always saying "When you activate Last One you'll never be human again!" But when they defeat the zodiart in their Last One form they just wake up in their human bodies... What's up with that?
- I feel like this show should have just been an anime. The way the pacing and direction were handled just made it feel like a middle of the road anime in real life.
- I cried at the end tbh.
Kamen Rider Ex-Aid (Dropped ~Ep.10)
- I found Emu really uninteresting as a lead and the side-riders are douchebags! I'm sure they get closer over the course of the series, but I couldn't stand the constant antagonism between them all. I actually liked them individually, but as a cast they were just so unlikable.
- Lazer was great though.
- Legitimately annoying henshin sounds.
- Like with Den-O The central concept just felt really weird and convoluted to me. The virus appears and you have to beat it at level 1 or whatever before it evolves and then you can fight it for real? Why so many confusing hoops just to punch the bad guys.
- I didn't care for the "HIT" effects in fights.
- Had a hard time seeing what people love about this one? Is it just the Shin-Dan memes?
Kamen Rider Build (Complete)
- First-half: 10/10, Second-half: 7/10
- Such an interesting premise for a Kamen Rider show. The consequences of Japan getting split into thirds were handled pretty realistically for the most part. So much paranoia and strife.
- Banjou and Sento aren't quite on that Phillip and Shotaro tier, but it's a pretty good bromance.
- While humor was used sparingly I found a lot of it really funny. Especially Banjou missing the point and Gentoku's stupid shirts. Orrrra!
- I love all of the riders in this one. Unique, cool, good chemistry.
- The show loses me in the second half for a few reasons:
1. Evolt was much more interesting when his motivations were obscure. Once we know what he's up to it becomes apparent that he's kind of one-note. It would have been cool if he'd had a moment of weakness toward Misora or something, but he's just yukking it up and dropping 'Ciao's right up to the end.
2. There were so many macguffins that I eventually lost track. First it was Pandora's Box, then the black panel, or the Hazard Trigger, or the white panel, or the lost full-bottles. It was ridiculous by the end.
3. Sento directly talking with his past self was a really baffling decision. They even did a tropey episode where Katsuragi's psyche takes over for a few episodes. Come on.
4. Evolt's body hopping got annoying. The first time with Banjou, fine, he has Evolt's DNA, whatever. But then Sento got possessed and someone else after that, I think. Ugh.
- I feel like the show needed more emotion in the second half. Evolt raised Misora for 10 years and made Sento who he is. I feel like there should have been much more personal angst between them and Evolt but it just wasn't there.
Kamen Rider Den-O (Dropped ~Ep.12)
- I thought this was supposed to be 'the funny series?' The main imagin are clearly supposed to be funny, but I mostly just found their bickering annoying. I laughed at one great gag where main guy got hit in the face by ascending sports balls. Otherwise it's just middling slapstick.
- Couldn't stand the main character's whiny voice. His performances while possessed were really good, but ironically his normal voice sounded way too put-on.
- Also don't like the absurdly convoluted flow of events. Wishmaster forces a wish on someone and then grants it... so that they can go to that person's most prominent memory to 'wreak havoc' (which directly affects the present instead of having already happened RE: time travel laws). It's just so many hoops to jump through.
- I can see why it's so popular in Japan though. I imagine the average nerdy Japanese boy can really identify with the put-upon, soft-spoken MC who gets possessed by badass dudes.
Kamen Rider Gaim (Up to Ep. 24)
- I love the look of this show. Very vibrant. I can practically taste these dang armors.
- I'm not done yet, but I love Mitchy. What a great character to watch. He just keeps lyin' and you know it's going to implode at some point.
- Cool themes about the value of ignorance and whether or not you should lie to your loved ones to protect them.
- Kouta's kind of boring as a protagonist but it works for this series. He's just trying to do the right thing in this messed up setting.
- Triumph Arms is incredible. Orange hip-hop gun, let's go.
Ninja Sentai Kakuranger (Complete)
- 10/10
- I flipping loved this show to the point where I don't understand why people tend to rank it so low.
- Lovable goobers ride around Japan selling crepes in incredible/ awful 90s attire. A 16 year old girl and her boys fightin' monsters.
- I love how the yokai/ monsters-of-the-week exist in the world already rather than being created in that episode. It makes the world feel much more lived-in, like they have real history.
- I like this team dynamic. Tsuruhime is the leader because her family's been holding the torch for so long and she's the most experienced, but she's also 5-10 years younger than her boyz so she really relies on them and vice versa.
- Jiraiya top tier, GOAT of all time. Also Tsuruhime is an icon.
- I think this is the first sentai I saw (except for Toqger) where the cast really feel like true friends. It's the little things like singing driving songs in Nekomaru and the fact that they sleep in little tents together.
Ressah Sentai Toqger (Complete)
- 9/10
- Fashion souls are on point in this show, damn. Shout out to Right, Kagura and Zett.
- The music is especially great. Very 'fantasy adventure' sound and good themes.
- Zett is a great villain. He doesn't give a damn about the politics or being evil for half the show, it's awesome. He's kind of tragic.
- I noticed a few episodes had particularly great fight scenes. Tight choreography and direction.
- Very charming characters throughout. I love the running gags with Conductor, Ticket, and the 'Sidedish'.
- Akira is hot. There, I said it.
Machine Sentai Kiramager (Dropped ~Ep.5)
- Was excited for this one because I love the suits and that the Red is an artist. I like humble, inexperienced Reds.
- Really like the Blue and Pink here too. Blue could have easily been the typical loner d-bag, but he was pretty chill. And the Pink is just really attractive and cool <3
- After Kyuranger I'm extremely triggered by the appearance of a catchphrase. Not as obnoxious as "Yossha Lucky!" but still.
- I didn't like that the gems were quirky characters that talk and with the Tik-tok dance ending I just had to nope out. I could see it getting better, but eh. There are many other shows to try.
Tokumei Sentai Gobusters (Up to Ep.20)
- Enter, my man, what a fun villain.
- I really like Ryuuji. Maybe because he is an old man like myself.
-Heroes with weaknesses are cool. These are mostly goofy weaknesses, but still it adds a dimension to the events.
- Maybe the worst sentai 'swords' yet. They're more like combat knives, but only ⅓ of it is bladed. Weird.
- No showy roll-call T_T
Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger (Dropped ~Ep.10)
- I think I'd appreciate this show more if I were a Japanese full-on otaku. There are just too many references and such going over my head. Not bad though.
Kamen Rider Fourze (Complete)
- 6/10
-Meteor was too good for this show. What an awesome look/ gimmick.
- Really loved the monster designs in this one. And some of the minor villains too. The rakugo Cancer guy was great.
- I found Yuki and JK extremely annoying. More than annoying. They were always overacting in the background which was straight up distracting.
- OH! This really bugged me. They're always saying "When you activate Last One you'll never be human again!" But when they defeat the zodiart in their Last One form they just wake up in their human bodies... What's up with that?
- I feel like this show should have just been an anime. The way the pacing and direction were handled just made it feel like a middle of the road anime in real life.
- I cried at the end tbh.
Kamen Rider Ex-Aid (Dropped ~Ep.10)
- I found Emu really uninteresting as a lead and the side-riders are douchebags! I'm sure they get closer over the course of the series, but I couldn't stand the constant antagonism between them all. I actually liked them individually, but as a cast they were just so unlikable.
- Lazer was great though.
- Legitimately annoying henshin sounds.
- Like with Den-O The central concept just felt really weird and convoluted to me. The virus appears and you have to beat it at level 1 or whatever before it evolves and then you can fight it for real? Why so many confusing hoops just to punch the bad guys.
- I didn't care for the "HIT" effects in fights.
- Had a hard time seeing what people love about this one? Is it just the Shin-Dan memes?
Kamen Rider Build (Complete)
- First-half: 10/10, Second-half: 7/10
- Such an interesting premise for a Kamen Rider show. The consequences of Japan getting split into thirds were handled pretty realistically for the most part. So much paranoia and strife.
- Banjou and Sento aren't quite on that Phillip and Shotaro tier, but it's a pretty good bromance.
- While humor was used sparingly I found a lot of it really funny. Especially Banjou missing the point and Gentoku's stupid shirts. Orrrra!
- I love all of the riders in this one. Unique, cool, good chemistry.
- The show loses me in the second half for a few reasons:
1. Evolt was much more interesting when his motivations were obscure. Once we know what he's up to it becomes apparent that he's kind of one-note. It would have been cool if he'd had a moment of weakness toward Misora or something, but he's just yukking it up and dropping 'Ciao's right up to the end.
2. There were so many macguffins that I eventually lost track. First it was Pandora's Box, then the black panel, or the Hazard Trigger, or the white panel, or the lost full-bottles. It was ridiculous by the end.
3. Sento directly talking with his past self was a really baffling decision. They even did a tropey episode where Katsuragi's psyche takes over for a few episodes. Come on.
4. Evolt's body hopping got annoying. The first time with Banjou, fine, he has Evolt's DNA, whatever. But then Sento got possessed and someone else after that, I think. Ugh.
- I feel like the show needed more emotion in the second half. Evolt raised Misora for 10 years and made Sento who he is. I feel like there should have been much more personal angst between them and Evolt but it just wasn't there.
Kamen Rider Den-O (Dropped ~Ep.12)
- I thought this was supposed to be 'the funny series?' The main imagin are clearly supposed to be funny, but I mostly just found their bickering annoying. I laughed at one great gag where main guy got hit in the face by ascending sports balls. Otherwise it's just middling slapstick.
- Couldn't stand the main character's whiny voice. His performances while possessed were really good, but ironically his normal voice sounded way too put-on.
- Also don't like the absurdly convoluted flow of events. Wishmaster forces a wish on someone and then grants it... so that they can go to that person's most prominent memory to 'wreak havoc' (which directly affects the present instead of having already happened RE: time travel laws). It's just so many hoops to jump through.
- I can see why it's so popular in Japan though. I imagine the average nerdy Japanese boy can really identify with the put-upon, soft-spoken MC who gets possessed by badass dudes.
Kamen Rider Gaim (Up to Ep. 24)
- I love the look of this show. Very vibrant. I can practically taste these dang armors.
- I'm not done yet, but I love Mitchy. What a great character to watch. He just keeps lyin' and you know it's going to implode at some point.
- Cool themes about the value of ignorance and whether or not you should lie to your loved ones to protect them.
- Kouta's kind of boring as a protagonist but it works for this series. He's just trying to do the right thing in this messed up setting.
- Triumph Arms is incredible. Orange hip-hop gun, let's go.
I'm still trying out Kamen riders so I'll check out build!
As for Ex-Aid, it is mostly the Dan memes. I mean, there are things in there that are good, but for the most part it is...eh.
What I will say is if you liked Gaim, you may like Kamen Rider Saber. It kinda has a bit of the same vibe but it is still its own thing.
I've heard bad things about Saber, but idk the suit looks cool.
On a similar note, the concept may have worked way better if they didn't try to slam the doctor theme together with the game gimmick, because everyone being mean while also being doctors is just jarring
I feel like having Evolt just turn out to be a "malevolent alien bent on destruction"-type character was a mistake. I think I would've had Evolt as just a Martian scientist who'd inadvertently destroyed his civilization, and have Banjou just straight-up be him reborn in human form on Earth, with Soichi himself being the key antagonist for the whole series - they did establish that exposure to the Pandora Box warped people's minds, so having him actually be the bad guy himself instead of all that "possession" stuff would've made sense.
To this day, I'm not entirely convinced that Build isn't the result of two different Kamen Rider premises being combined into a single show. I didn't hate the second half (though I'd be lying if I didn't say I thought it was lackluster), but something about it just felt so disparate to the first half to me. Shame, really.
And... you aren't missing out on much when it comes to Ex-Aid. I like to think I'm usually pretty good at suspending my disbelief and just taking things a movie/show/book/etc. presents me at face value, but flimsy character motivations, extremely predictable plot twists, a thoroughly uninteresting eleventh hour villain, at least one infuriatingly trite deus ex machina to drag the story out longer... Yeah, it's not worth it, if you ask me.
I feel you on the second half though. The character stuff is still good and keeps you invested. And I love the actual ending itself. Kind of ballsy (even though they undo it in the movies).