Revisiting ToQGer's Daring Imaginative Concepts This 2024 (Some Spoilers)

 

Ressha Sentai ToQGer might be a show that's almost got no middle ground. Some try to defend it to be the best show ever. As an older Super Sentai fan - I'm actually more inclined to prefer most of the older series. Fortunately, there were some decent attempts to remain afloat after Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger. I'd probably still state that Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger was just plain annoying at first glance. Right now, I think Kyoryuger is actually a watchable mess but it's rather biased. Just think how I find Kamen Rider BLACK RX and B-Fighter Kabuto to be watchable messy shows because the Saban adaptations straight out SUCK. Yeah, I really tried watching B-Fighter Metallix and it's WAY WORSE than the source material. With ToQGer - I think the show's actually okay. Maybe, I'd say So Okay It's Average because it's almost similar to how Toshiki Inoue was with Kamen Rider Kiva (and I enjoy that show), Hirohisa Soda with Chikyu Sentai Fiveman, and Junki Takegami with Engine Sentai Go-Onger (which I ended up hating after watching Gekisou Sentai Carranger). 

I'd say I had taste fatigue and seeking other stuff. Maybe, it was because Kyoryuger drove me dizzy. Sure, the show's a lot better than Power Rangers Megaforce (which I dropped so soon even with all the eye candy). However, the show itself had some imaginative storytelling, especially among the rangers themselves. Sure, I did get critical when the show had a more simplistic design for a Super Sentai in 2014. However, it does have some creative elements that make up for it. Heck, it even got a Railroad Day Award which is something to note!

Trying to make sense of the main heroes' narrative

The narrative can be confusing (at first) but it doesn't have to be. Sure, Yasuko Kobayashi did hit burnout. I'm going to unapologetically say that ToQGer is where Kobayashi wasn't at her best. Maybe, it's because I admire Mirai Sentai Timeranger's Serious for Serious sake so much. Maybe, it's because I like how Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters was trying to release a serious reboot after Gokaiger ended. The show begins with the main cast unable to remember who they are. They are later joined by Akira - someone who's a part of the Shadow Line from the past. 

They have no memory of who they are. Are they childhood friends? Were they kidnapped as children? They want to find their memories so they go from one town to the other. In what might not be a very surprising twist - the ToQGers are children stuck in the bodies of adults. That somehow "perfectly" fits the narrative of why they have no memories. They discover their identities at the Rainbow Station. They saw their reflections and understood why their memories were blank. I find that to be a rather daring revelation. It's pretty unique than most cliches of deleted or altered memories. They had no memories because they're still children! That makes Akira the ONLY ADULT while the main heroes are ALL CHILDREN in the BODIES OF ADULTS.

Emperor Zetto's different characterization may be a daring experiment 

Should we call him Zed or Zetto? The character seems to behave like he was born to a purified Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa in 1999. In 2014, he would be merely 15 years old. Zetto behaves like a teenager and seems to take no interest in becoming the next Emperor of Darkness. After hearing of a ranger named Rita Kaniska in Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger - I really want to pretend Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa are the parents of Zetto and Rita Kaniska. Oh, throw Thrax away and welcome the true son of Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa!

It's almost like the character has almost no interest in restoring his parents' evil legacy. Instead, when Zetto arrives, he defies fan expectations of what the Big Bad should be. Instead of focusing on carrying out half-brained schemes related to the villain's goals - he defies them. He's bored and frustrated. He ends up decorating his chamber of command with things that shine. Sure, he does show some typical villainous moments like he would hurt a child to get a balloon. Later on, he ends up changing his mind towards the finale. However, most of Zetto's run was focused on his obsession with things that shine. He's probably just a teenager for all we know. I guess teenage marriage is legal among the Shadow Line then. Grita seems to act like a teenager too.

Pretty much, it's a daring experiment when the Big Bad defies the expectations of his followers. The Shadow Line's comedic villainy is focused on spreading darkness. Instead, Zetto is less interested in continuing whatever legacy of evil he's expected to carry out. If anything, I think Zetto's character development seems more akin to a prince too young to rule than accepting what's expected of him later on. 

It also interested me how Kobayashi copied Inoue's finale in Kamen Rider Faiz. The only difference is Kobayashi never made a cameo in any shows. It'd been interesting if Kobayashi made a cameo in Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters like Inoue did in Faiz. Zetto was last seen defeated and fell into a comatose. The fate was similar to the Orphnoch King in Faiz. Both characters will be left underdeveloped. It doesn't help that the actor Kengo Okuchi (who's 42 now) has retired from acting. 

Final thoughts 

It's pretty much something that deserves to have a fan following. Many times, something new doesn't always work immediately. For example, BLACK RX introduced new ideas into Kamen Rider but they didn't work out until Kamen Rider Kuuga. Apparently, ToQGer happens to be in that area. I believe that these new concepts that I talked about can work. It probably just needs better implementation. Then again, ToQGer does still deserve some love from other people even if I'm no huge fan of it.