Seijuu Sentai Gingaman's Possible Status With Western Fans On Its 25th Anniversary

This might sound really biased because I dislike Power Rangers. However, I can understand if there are Power Rangers fans who check out Super Sentai and conclude they still like the American localization namely Power Rangers Lost Galaxy better. Okay, the rumor that Lost Galaxy is more popular than Gingaman has been disproven. Meanwhile, it can be proven that the American fandom thinks Lost Galaxy is better than Gingaman even without citing the disproven rumor. Gingaman still continues to stand out to be as So Okay It's Average with or without Lost Galaxy in the picture. I watched Gingaman without thinking about Lost Galaxy. The same couldn't be said about Choshinsei Flashman where I dropped Lost Galaxy like a hot potato. Weird but it happened! The show finally got a licensed DVD release but could it be possible that the show is still considered as enjoyable, and watchable, but never excellent? In my case, I've enjoyed a few watchable messes like Kamen Rider BLACK RX and B-Fighter Kabuto. Some shows do well but may have never gotten beyond that!  

Some time ago, I remembered writing an article where I wondered why Gingaman was even given the title. Yes, I get it that the forest was called Ginga Forest. Yes, I get it that the Starbeasts are from space. Yes, I get it that Balban is from space. There's also the Steel Starbeasts presented by Biznella. However, the Gingamen are pretty much aboriginal people. 133 generations of Gingamen derive their power from nature and the stars. The show has been more mystical than science fiction. Still, the word ginga means galaxy. It just feels weird (at times) to use a very space-like name when the show itself has heroes similar to the native tribe of Ainu from Japan. In my case, I think of the aboriginal tribes in other Southeast Asian countries like Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. These attires make them look like the Austronesian people. 

The Starbeasts are the source of the power of the Gingamen. The title is Seijuu Sentai Gingaman. I did feel that they could've chosen a name closer to the motif of Starbeasts and nature. I think the name Shizen Sentai Seijuuman (Nature Taskforce Starbeastman) would've fit them better. The mechanical beasts resemble what was introduced by Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger and Gosei Sentai Dairanger. I wonder why Toei even greenlit the title Gingaman when the show was nature-oriented? Sure, I enjoy the show but I still find it to be just weird.

If there was any show that I felt should've been named Gingaman - it was Flashman way back in 1986. The Flashmen were five children who were raised in the farthest reach of the Universe. It can be interpreted as a lost galaxy. I couldn't watch every second of Flashman without thinking of Lost Galaxy. The moment Mess arrives - I wanted to pretend Scorpius was leading an invasion on Earth with Dr. Hinelar from Denji Sentai Megaranger as the right-hand man. The villains are namely Ra Deus and Professor Keflen. The Zorors were insectoid foot soldiers similar to the Stingwingers in Lost Galaxy. So far, Flashman has no official Shout! Factory DVD release yet. 

With Flashman having had fansubs - I could imagine it if Power Rangers fans viewed it. Maybe, they viewed Gingaman and said it's fine but not great. I could imagine the reaction toward Flashman might be more positive. It's not enough that Gingaman had to contend with fan-favorite Megaranger. It would have to contend with series before and after it. I think Flashman would be one series that would've caused Gingaman not to be considered all that great. Personally, I think Flashman was more enjoyable than Gingaman. Sure, I like them both but I think Flashman has been the better choice. 

I could speculate all I want that Gingaman was probably, later, overshadowed by Flashman by Power Rangers fans who check out Super Sentai. However, there could be other reasons. I don't think Zyuranger could be a reason. Maybe it's Dairanger. However, I think there have been a couple of stuff that could've caused it to be Vindicated By History but not exactly. 

Purely speculative but I think Ucchu Sentai Kyuranger is definitely another show that may have affected what some people think of Gingaman. It's been some time since another space-themed show came. I know some people dislike this show (such as Kaiju No Kami whose bad review of Kosoku Sentai Turboranger was entertaining even if I'm a fan of it) but I think it's been better than trying to rewatch Power Rangers in Space IMHO. Kyuranger goes with the theme of space itself. It's been traveling across space. Most episodes do take place in Jark-Mattered conquered Earth in their continuity. The year seems to be 300 years from 2017 since there was a 300-year gap between past events and the show's setting. 

Watching Kyuranger, I viewed it as reimagining Space without thinking of previous shows. It could also be viewed as a pseudo-sequel of both Space and Lost Galaxy. I couldn't help but call Don Armage not just Emperor Palpatine from Star Wars but also President Skroob from Spaceballs or even the Dark Specter from Space. Sure, I did compare Star King Bazoo from Dengeki Sentai Changeman to Dark Specter. It could be possible that watching Kyuranger would have some people say, "Wait, why was Gingaman even named Gingaman when it's not a space-themed show?" 

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I really think Gingaman has been Vindicated by History. Maybe, it could be caused if some people saw some possible flaws in the fan-favorite Lost Galaxy. However, I doubt it that's such the case. I only believe this because people wanted to view Gingaman and enjoy it for what it is. Maybe, they wanted to check it out, thought it was good, then maybe some Power Rangers fan may still say Lost Galaxy is better. Then some Power Rangers fans end up checking newer Super Sentai either through fansubs or the licensed releases. There's going to be better stuff than Gingaman from within the franchise - causing the show to be appreciated but not as much as other series. 

In the end, I think Gingaman can be a weird show. Maybe, it's not easy to get into. Yet, it was also the launch of Yasuko Kobayashi's career as a head writer. For all we know, maybe some people who like Lost Galaxy over Gingaman may have praised Kobayashi's work as its head writer. I could think that other later installments such as Mirai Sentai Timeranger (which is debatable since some people prefer Power Rangers Time Force and anything AFTER IT) as well as Samurai Sentai Shinkenger, Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters, and I'd probably include Ressha Sentai ToQGer are viewed as better series. Maybe, Gingaman is viewed as an important stepping stone by other fans.

Still, I loved the show and I enjoyed it. The show gets its appreciation either way. I doubt it's going to be viewed much more. However, I'm going to enjoy it regardless of what opinions may be formed about the show.