Super Sentai Series That Gave Me The "Hype Hangover"

Himitsu Sentai Goranger is in its 50th year. However, I'll say that there have been some Super Sentai series that gave me the "hype hangover". These are times my actions seem like I'm "against innovation" when I'm NOT. What I'm against is when any production tries theme repetition (which is akin to reliance on past successes). I'd like to talk about Super Sentai series that would give me the "hangover hype".

Bakuryu Sentai Abaranger may be the best dinosaur-themed Super Sentai IMHO

It was in the 2010s when I saw Abaranger. Yes, all the way before this was given the official Shout! Factory DVD release. Kishinryu Sentai Ryusoulger has wonky execution and should've been dragons -- BASED ON THE TITLE! Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger has a lot of cool unmorphed fights. However, Daigo Kiryu gets too much focus. Abaranger has a better balance of characters!

This is also the first Super Sentai written by Naruhisa Arakawa. Arakawa's first headwriting job was with Kamen Rider Kuuga -- which Toshiki Inoue served as a secondary writer. Later on, Arakawa was doing Abaranger while Inoue did Kamen Rider Faiz. Inoue wrote all the episodes for Faiz and showed signs of burning out. 

The show ironically celebrated Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers' 10th anniversary in 2003. I wonder if Toei's decision has to do with celebrating their entrance into the international market. The show could be considered "one strange show" by some. 

Tokumei Sentai Dekaranger, because well, it was kind of a strange series

Dekaranger is one unusual Super Sentai series. The reason is that the monsters-of-the-week (MOTWs) are all CRIMINALS of the week. There's no overarching organization -- just an OVERARCHING villain in Abrella. Abrella is involved, but not all the time. Abrella is the greatest enemy the Dekarangers face. Some villains don't even have Abrella's help at all. It's focused on criminal cases -- making it more unique. 

The show may not have the same level of maturity as the Rescue Police Trilogy from the defunct Metal Hero franchise. The show contains a LOT of Metal Hero references. The narrator follows the Space Sheriff Trilogy's repetitive narrative style. However, I confess that the show structure where the Dekarangers hunt down criminals without a central organization -- is something that's not often done in Super Sentai.

The series may lack the violence of the Rescue Police Trilogy. I confess that Tokkei Winspector, Shirei Solbrain, and Tokosou Exceedraft have that violence. Super Sentai has had some censoring like using lasers in place of bullets (all the while bullets are still used, but not often). I may prefer the Rescue Police Trilogy's narratives. However, Dekaranger is still ONE ENTERTAINING SEASON.

Gougou Sentai Boukenger may not be so great, BUT it's got great entertainment value

Boukenger was another series that got me back into Super Sentai. I had shallow reasons for watching this because I had that terrible crush on Sakura. .The same was kinda true with my crush on Jasmine in Dekaranger. In my case, I'm glad Boukenger didn't have any reunion films. Some actors have already gotten married and may be too busy with family life. 

The series had multiple enemy factions fighting for supremacy. I always had fun watching the villains compete for domination. The enemies had some references towards old Zords or characters of the past. The most obvious is Gaja is based on Black Cross Fuhrer from Himitsu Sentai Goranger, and Ryuon looks like freaking Daizyujin! The designs were obvious one way or another. 

The implemention can be a mixed bag. Honestly, I don't think it's all that great. Maybe, the only reason why it's far more well-received than Power Rangers Operation Overdrive (which got Vindicated by History) is because of the ACTING. Otherwise, I simply look at it as a de-stresser with how often they act like they're drunk.

How did this affect my decisions? I thought about how I didn't immediately want to watch Jyuken Sentai Gekiranger. Gekiranger didn't give in to my shallow fanboyism. However, I ended up liking Gekiranger better than Boukenger for its deeper storytelling. Gekiranger has its deeper, more well-executed lore that kept me entertained. However, it was followed by the sub-par Engine Sentai Go-onger -- a series I watched, enjoyed at first, and then dumped after seeing Gekisou Sentai Carranger. Boukenger is still the better destresser!

Samurai Sentai Shinkenger is my first exposure to Yasuko Kobayashi writing Super Sentai

I wonder what too SO LONG for Toei to come up with a samurai show. Super Sentai started to become Lighter and Softer in 2001. It's been focused on having fun for most of its run. Shinkenger is Lighter and Softer with a few Darker and Edgier moments. The show tends to get overpraised even before the disaster that's Power Rangers Samurai (which was ruined by NOSTALGIA HYPE). 

How does this show give me a hangover? I confess that I still DISLIKE the whole Ressha Sentai ToQGer vs. Kamen Rider Gaim movie. The pacing is all too terrible. Fortunately, Kamen Rider Drive had a good one with Shuriken Sentai Ninninger. That's even if Ninninger is practically only SLIGHTLY BETTER than Power Rangers Ninja Steel! This has been one of my comfort zones since I got critical with the quality since 2013. I probably had taste fatigue in 2013 and just needed a break. I watched some old school Super Sentai series (that I never saw before), then got hyped up for 2017's Ucchu Sentai Kyuranger.

The hangover carried over in 2013-2015. Yeah, what's the idea with Power Rangers still and I mean having a two-year run with a break in-between? Power Rangers Megaforce was just super awful. The show taught me a valuable lesson on wasted eye candy. Shinkenger is a show that has a GOOD PLOT and EYE CANDY. 

Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger managed to shine brighter after the Megaforce disaster

I don't like fandom bandwagons in general. There will be times I'll choose to enjoy WHAT I CAN ENJOY -- no matter how UNPOPULAR. I enjoy Kamen Rider BLACK RX, B-Fighter Kabuto, and Kamen Rider Kiva -- DEAL WITH IT! Meanwhile, it's hard not to overrate Gokaiger because of all the ONCE IN A LIFETIME moments. Where can you find a Super Sentai with so many alumni resuming their old roles?

I had a hangover from Gokaiger -- all the while criticizing people who use it as a CHEAT SHEET. No, it's not a cheat sheet, and you need to watch some older Super Sentai. Sure, some older Super Sentai can be dropped due to generation gaps. However, if you think of it, Gokaiger is also a show may encourage you to watch more old school Super Sentai series. 

I confess that I didn't immediately admit to liking Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters because of Gokaiger. However, I would end up admitting that I'm a Go-Busters fan. Both series are good in their own rights. However, Go-Busters never got as much popularity or love as Gokaiger. So what? I can like both series to different degrees!

Gokaiger's popularity increased past its airing. The rather meh Doubotsu Sentai Zyuohger even had a Gokaiger tribute. A ten years movie was even added into the mix. However, what upsets me (until now) is how Gokaiger also inspired that horrid Super Hero Taisen movie. 

Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters felt like the "last good show" before 2013-2016

There was a time it became difficult to watch anything AFTER Go-Busters. I pretended to dislike the show then came out of the closet. It was a show that got more focused on its plot. Super Sentai shouldn't keep relying on nostalgia all the time. The anniversary feast was over. Now, it's time to really go back to a "diet mode". Go-Busters had this diet mode in mind when it had less Zords in mind. I also dare say it was actually better executed than Power Rangers RPM.

I enjoyed the tone that Go-Busters had. Sure, Yasuko Kobayashi was already showing signs of burnout. I was wondering why Inoue wasn't assigned as its secondary head writer. Come on, Inoue had a guest episode in Gokaiger, so why not here? Inoue was overused in Kamen Rider. The stories were good even if they're not all so great. Enter was an amazing villain who could've probably outsmarted Venjix in RPM. 

The hangover carried over for me when Power Rangers Beast Morphers came. I'll admit that I find Zoey prettier than Yoko by MILES. However, this is a case where a prettier actress couldn't get me to like the show. A good example is how I find Kimberly prettier than Mei, but I'd still watch Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger over Mighty Morphin'. What I didn't like about Beast Morphers is the whole "back to 90s" throwback. Come on, Beast Morphers could've just focused on RPM and that's it. I finished Beast Morphers, then ended up "washing it off" with rewatching Go-Busters. 

Ucchu Sentai Kyuranger got me hyped throughout

There are times I can disagree with Kaiju No Kami. I'm a fan of Kosoku Sentai Turboranger and this show -- two shows he gave a 2/5 stars. As for me, I found Power Rangers in Space plain overrated. What I don't like about Power Rangers is how nostalgia keeps getting overused. Yes, that's why I ended up admitting altogether I'm no fan of the series. Kyuranger IMHO is still better than Disney's Star Wars with some comic elements. Take for example that the show has some Spaceballs references.

Ratings were dropping during Zyuohger. Zyuohger vs. Ninninger even had that one line that still makes me laugh hard. "The history of Super Sentai! It's over!" Yes, that line in the film made me laugh hard. However, that crossover film gave a preview of the Kyurangers in action. Zyuohger felt more like the end of another era. The whole show had a bigger budget. 

The story takes place some 300 years into the future. It's presumably 2317 A.D. in this show. The rebels are trying to recover the whole Universe from the iron fist of Jark Matter. The whole show takes place on its own continuity. That gave it better focus than that Space could do IMHO. It's kinda bloated with the huge cast of rangers. However, some creative writing made it watchable. It's kinda like I could enjoy watching Kikou Kantai Dairugger XV despite its lack of focus!

Sure, I could enjoy Kaito Sentai Lupinranger vs. Patranger. However, I had that hangover going on that got carried into Ryusoulger. I didn't enjoy Mashin Sentai Kiramager that much -- although it managed to improve on Ressha Sentai ToQGer's potential in some way. I still feel Kikou Sentai Zenkaiger wasn't written well. Avatar Sentai Donbrothers is better, but my mind was still stuck in Kyuranger in some way. 

Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger attempted to do serialized storytelling (and more)

It's 2025, but my mind is somewhat stuck in 2023. King-Ohger has its strange moments. The series takes place on another planet that was dubbed Chikyu. It's also part of the Kyoryuger continuity in its own execution. The show was one huge CGI set. CGI was still in its infancy back then. However, CGI has been much better these days. For example, some CGI flames now look more realistic. It's a good thing honestly because using real flames can be TOO DANGEROUS.

The show has some huge budget left and right. It feels like some anniversary. Was it because Mighty Morphin' hit 30 years old or what? The show was a weird mix of Super Sentai and some RPG elements. Need I dare say that the show managed to give what Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog needed -- A DEFINITE FINALE? The whole hangover from Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog was a disappointing thing. A planned sequel was there BUT it got canceled abruptly in favor of Lost Galaxy. Thankfully, King-Ohger managed to fix that oversight decades later. That's why I say it seems Toei created unofficial sequels for Saban Entertainment.

The storytelling appealed to me. It was probably trying to break from the traditional Super Sentai formula. The Bugnaroks dominated the first half. The second half had the dealings with the Jesters. Not having a MOTW during the second half was probably to cut costs. The Jesters were probably more threatening than a MOTW could be. The Jesters slowly died anyway. The writing style was more akin to newer Kamen Rider series -- feeling more like a telenovela! 

I found myself not too invested with Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger. Sure, I finished it but my mood was already down. I'm enjoying No. 1 Sentai Gozyuger. However, I still find myself thinking that neither show would be as exciting as King-Ohger.