A Look Back At Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger's Nightmare Fuel

Zyuranger's 25th anniversary may be over. However, hearing that Dai Satan may be the last boss of Super Sentai Strongest Battle makes me want to remember all the nightmare fuel of Zyuranger. I don't deny that some of these footage was used in Mighty Morphin' -- I just want to write about the nightmare fuel that Zyuranger had really exceeded that of its localized version!


I could always talk about how I think Bandora is funnier than Rita Repulsa -- yet one can't deny that she's also scarier and more cruel at the same time? Her hatred for children is even worse (and better played) than that of Professor K in Machineman. Professor K's rather ridiculous schemes to punish children for his allergies are usually played for laughs. But not with Bandora -- she really comes up with some rather half-brained brains that result to a lot of nightmare fuel. Think about how Gorgom's stupid plans for world domination have lots of nightmare fuel in them. Remember that trap door house episode in Kamen Rider Black? That really SCARED me a lot while I was watching it!

So what's making Bandora's half-brained schemes really scary? Who can remember when Dora Ladon started to excruciatingly and slowly turn children into apples for her to eat? Who can remember the nightmarish vision that Geki saw if the Zyurangers didn't unite? Who can't forget the time Dora Sphinx trapped children into trees if they can't answer his riddles? Who can't forget the time when monster flowers bit people and got them sick? But Bandora's plans against children aren't the only stuff that bring nightmare fuel to Zyuranger.


Zyuranger's Green with Evil was full of nightmare fuel not just from Bandora but also from Burai. The whole arc was full of badass scenes and nightmare fuel. Pretty much, it's why I really can't stop bashing Tommy for being such an overrated prick! Burai didn't only have an award-winning performance such as his voluntary redemption but also subjected to a lot of nightmare fuel in said episodes where he was introduced. He comes out of hibernation and gives you a really EVIL LAUGH that feels like a criminal. Tommy's just felt like Dr. Evil and Scott Evil but no not Burai. Burai's evil laugh makes you feel like you are facing a genocidal killer!

One of my favorite parts of Zyuranger's version of Green with Evil is how the was full of children. The Mighty Morphin' version only had Bulk and Skull which didn't give too much of a frightening scenario. This one gave you a sense of fright and made Bandora that threateningly evil in spite of her lack of common sense. She would go as far as to really kidnap children and launch some of her rarer, more well thought of plans such as when she demanded the dinosaur eggs in exchange for a child's life! It really just felt so terrifying.

There was also the chills involved with Burai's candle. We know he's only got 30 hours to live. He's stuck in a boring life worse than death as a result! Burai's redemption has him deciding to fight with whatever he can -- extending his life only to help the others. Then he ends up giving up his life for a child who was about to die. The Water of Life wasn't going to work on him anyway since he was Dead All Along. Just thinking that a child could die anytime is nightmare fuel enough. Burai did depart for the afterlife with a smile on his face knowing that he's given his life for another.


There were some footage of Zyuranger that was used in Mighty Morphin' that still brought me chills. I could remember the time when I saw Mighty Morphin's episodes namely Island of Illusion Part 1 and 2 as well as Doomsday Part 1 and 2. It featured the use of Dai Satan's footage as an ally of Rita Repulsa  named Lokar. Years later, I didn't find it too surprising that Dai Satan is indeed Bandora's master. It would make more sense if Lokar were Rita's master over Lord Zedd's sudden inclusion. Heck, Lokar was pretty much forgotten after Doomsday Part 2.

The nightmare fuel involved in Zyuranger with Dai Satan's midseason appearance and in the finale is just frightening. The midseason appearance has Bandora kidnapping 13 children which she could use to create the Satan Tower. The whole scene where Bandora starts mining for Dokeeta clay is just frightening with the whole cockroach infestation. Then we see Dora Frank become Satan Frank in the most disgusting way possible -- it was edited in Mighty Morphin' for obvious reasons! The finale was even worse with how Dai Satan's influence has now been plaguing the world -- heck even the water supply of the world has been poisoned and things look pretty bleak! Now that's a real Doomsday arc in Zyuranger in contrast to what Mighty Morphin' had to offer which sadly won't make the cut because of TV-Y7-FV ratings.

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What are your thoughts on Zyuranger's good old 90s nightmare fuel?