The Feeling Of Watching No. 1 Sentai Gozyuger, Knowing Universe Heroes Is On The Way

This is one post I couldn't write immediately. It's hard for me NOT to connect the GREED and No. 1 Sentai Gozyuger. Next year should've been the 50th Super Sentai series. What may have NEVER surprised me was that there would be no Super Sentai series in line -- or the first time from 1979 up to 2025! After all, there was a ONE-YEAR hiatus between Dengekitai JAKQ (which rushed everything in just 35 episodes and Battle Fever J (where Super Sentai became the annual tradition). I'm still watching Gozyuger, but there's a nagging thought -- there wouldn't be Super Sentai next year. I wouldn't be surprised if there's a clearance sale for some Super Sentai items now to recover from losses!

At first, I thought that Universe Heroes was merely a rebranding. However, I had a mixture of relief and anxiety. Instead, we're getting Project RED: Super Space Sheriff Gavan Infinity. Instead, Universe Heroes is a new franchise! This reminds me of what went on when Toei bit more than it could chew. Theoretically, Toei could still have had a Kamen Rider series after Kamen Rider BLACK RX in 1990. Instead, Toei chose to prioritize Metal Hero all before its cancellation with Robotack. Kamen Rider went for an 11-year hiatus. It wasn't until Kamen Rider Kuuga that the franchise entered a new era, one that broke away from the late Shotaro Ishinomori's ideas while still honoring him.

There was this now-defunct site called Sentai Forever. It was a fan site where I discovered more of Super Sentai back in the 2000s. Super Sentai may be the longest-running Tokusatsu franchise by Toei -- I even wrote about it last 2016! I could remember how I had this on/off dislike (or even hatred) for Power Rangers -- until I studied more of the international market!

Going beyond the 25th-45th Super Sentai entries was a challenge

Kaizouki Sentai Gokaiger felt like a gigantic finale. What followed after that felt like a reboot treatment with Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters. Well, even Hyajakuu Sentai Gaoranger felt more like a reboot than an anniversary celebration IMHO. Mirai Sentai Timeranger felt like a finale -- the final chapter of the 20th century! The post-Gokaiger era can be viewed as a time of testing. Will Super Sentai still last? I even felt critical about Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger and I find Shuriken Sentai Ninninger to be plain unwatchable. Well, the anniversaries were GETTING AFFECTED for me.

Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger was the 40th installment. I thought Super Sentai was ending after that. Heck, anybody who saw Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger vs. Shuriken Sentai Ninninger should remember the line, "The History of Super Sentai! It's over!" I thought 40 was the last but Ucchu Sentai Kyuranger came. Things went well and good. However, I felt that going back to dinosaurs with Kishinryu Sentai Ryusoulger was an act of greed and desperation. The low toy sales of Kaito Sentai Lupinranger vs. Keisatsu Sentai Patranger were a reality.

Kikou Sentai Zenkaiger was practically the 45th entry. The series felt like a finale to me. The new unorthodox line-up of one human member and four non-human members was interesting. This was during the second year of the Legacy Virus pandemic. I was hoping for some improvements. In inner child wanted the Zenkaiger toys. However, Zenkaiger hit the LOW TOY SALES ZONE! It was followed by another unusual team called Avatar Sentai Donbrothers -- which had me worried because of how often writers tend to be overworked. Toshiki Inoue returned, but the guy became mixed when it came to lighter and softer work.

Given the situation, we had our 47th entry with Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger. This is one series that probably cast a huge shadow that lasted for two years. It was also in 2023, which was 30 years since Power Rangers was born. Right now, I still wonder if King-Ohger was meant to be a finale or not. Instead, Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger was released as a "palate cleanser" of sorts. I felt this year's move could've benefited from "another palate cleanser" than a festival like Gozyuger. Instead, Gozyuger came in and launched what I call a PREMATURE FEAST. That move may be the reason why we're not getting a 50th Super Sentai series next year. 

Right now, I feel like my heart has been prepared for that time. There were times I felt Super Sentai either needs to end (like what happened to Metal Heroes) or it would go on hiatus. Right now, I have mixed feelings like, "Why am I not surprised?" while feeling some disappointment as well.