Times When I Felt Super Sentai Had A Series Reboot
Super Sentai is Toei's longest-running Toku series. Other franchises had a reboot. Kamen Rider had a reboot during the Showa era (which had gaps in between) then Kamen Rider Kuuga rebooted the whole franchise -- maybe we can say Kamen Rider Decade did too or was it Kamen Rider W? Metal Hero had a reboot treatment when the Space Sheriff Trilogy ended. We can also think that a reboot happened when Winspector came after Jiban. Super Sentai probably has had reboots in its very long run to fit in with the times.
I decided to update this post feeling this post needs to be updated!
I decided to update this post feeling this post needs to be updated!
The first possible reboot was done with Battle Fever J
Goranger and JAKQ weren't all part of the Super Sentai franchise. The first entry before the retcon was Battle Fever J. JAKQ got rushed during 1977 and only ended up with 35 EPISODES. JAKQ was too serious for little children! The Super got introduced into the Super Sentai franchise by 1979 because of the first Megazord -- Battle Fever Robo. After that we had Denziman and Sun Vulcan to boot. It's what I call the post-Goranger and pre-Soda era.
Hirohisa Soda was probably a reboot era that ended with Toshiki Inoue
Soda may haven't been known too much (yet) by the Power Rangers fans checking out the source material. Perhaps the most acknowledged writer is Yasuko Kobayashi. Fortunately, the Soda era got recognition over time. Soda began his era from Goggle V up to Fiveman. Soda eventually got so burned out that Turboranger and Fiveman crashed down. Yeah, burnouts are plain inevitable.
Sun Vulcan was directly linked to Denziman. However, Soda wrote EACH AND EVERY ENTRY as self-contained entries. Trying to connect all these series into one timeline should be messy. This era seemed to be a reboot. Nothing from Goranger up to Sun Vulcan was ever referenced. Events from the beginning of each series entry would reveal a lack of continuity. Bioman has Bio Robo as a Megazord that would only wake up if the Earth was in danger. Changeman has the Earth Force only awakening when the Earth is in danger. That puts Gokaiger into one huge continuity error -- something Megaforce became as well.
However, the Super Sentai series began to crash after Liveman. Liveman showed signs of Soda running out of ideas. I feel the finale was the result of a burnout. Turboranger was a step backwards as the villains were back to For the Evulz. I heard that the Nagare Boma were introduced because the Three Boma Generals were as lame as they could get. Fiveman even nearly ended Super Sentai.
Sun Vulcan was directly linked to Denziman. However, Soda wrote EACH AND EVERY ENTRY as self-contained entries. Trying to connect all these series into one timeline should be messy. This era seemed to be a reboot. Nothing from Goranger up to Sun Vulcan was ever referenced. Events from the beginning of each series entry would reveal a lack of continuity. Bioman has Bio Robo as a Megazord that would only wake up if the Earth was in danger. Changeman has the Earth Force only awakening when the Earth is in danger. That puts Gokaiger into one huge continuity error -- something Megaforce became as well.
However, the Super Sentai series began to crash after Liveman. Liveman showed signs of Soda running out of ideas. I feel the finale was the result of a burnout. Turboranger was a step backwards as the villains were back to For the Evulz. I heard that the Nagare Boma were introduced because the Three Boma Generals were as lame as they could get. Fiveman even nearly ended Super Sentai.
The Fiveman fiasco (though said series would eventually get vindicated by history) resulted in the writing of Jetman. Jetman felt like it was meant to end the Super Sentai series but it did the opposite. Instead, Jetman saved Super Sentai after Fiveman nearly caused its cancellation. The series felt like it would be a finale and a new beginning. After all, Fiveman is the first 20th-century Super Sentai series. It would also be the last Super Sentai season in the 1990s that didn't get a Power Rangers counterpart.
The "Power Rangers" era seemed to be a reboot
Timeranger feels like a finale-like season for the 20th Century Super Sentai. The series started in the Year 2000 and had two major events -- the end of 20th Century Super Sentai and a new beginning for Kamen Rider. Kamen Rider Kuuga would be that important Kamen Rider series that made Kamen Rider a yearly thing. Timeranger would be a finale-type season IMHO with how it discussed entering a new era. To further "confirm" that -- the end series reviewed all the Super Sentai series before introducing the next one. Timeranger seemed to close one era and begin a new reboot.
Gaoranger was the 25th entry and an anniversary season. I thought about it that Timeranger was the 25th anniversary of Goranger. Goranger and JAKQ were retroactively included during Ohranger. However, Ohranger hardly felt like a reboot. Timeranger's special clip show was almost like, "Another era ends, another era begins." Gaoranger was more like a reboot during the 25th anniversary. It would feel like Super Sentai needed to reboot on its anniversary!
Gokaiger celebrated Super Sentai's 35th anniversary while making it look like a finale. The series gave as many returning characters. It almost felt like a farewell party for Super Sentai. I almost thought Super Sentai was going to end at 35. What's funny enough (and I still chuckle) is when Zyuohger vs. Ninninger gave us the line, "The history of Super Sentai! It's over!" This series also had a plotline that really hinted at a reboot. It's the plotline of the Greatest Treasure of the Universe!
The Gokaiger team sought the 34 greater powers so they could get the Greatest Treasure. However, it turned out that using it would reset everything and make the 34 other teams written off. The Gokaigers were against it and decided to finish Zangyack themselves. I'm just glad the idea was somehow revisited in Kamen Rider Build with the Pandora Box. The whole scene seems a blatant attempt to tell the fans, "Well, Super Sentai is getting rebooted for the nth time!"
Gokaiger ended and Go-Busters began its grand entry. The whole series went down to "simpler forms". I don't blame people for not liking Go-Busters as much. I was a closet fan of the series but now I'm proud to admit it! Go-Busters was almost the sequel that Power Rangers RPM needed! The series had no references to past seasons. Instead, it was mostly self-contained -- making me question the Gavan crossover episodes all the more. The series doesn't feel like just another attempt to go back to more serious times. It was practically back to Square One in some way! The series had a non-canon crossover with Gokaigeri.
Jetman was the last 1990s series that didn't get adapted for Power Rangers. Saban Entertainment had the green light AND Zyuranger was the source material for Mighty Morphin'. The timing was impeccable due to Jurassic Park in America. It was time to take advantage of the craze. Toei and Saban struck gold in 1993 in the American market. Saban was remitting royalties to Toei. Toei even got so greedy they created the Zyu2 footage for Saban.
Zyuranger may have been that important stepping stone. Jetman ended an era. Zyuranger began a new era. Zyuranger had so many new concepts such as ancient warriors, the warriors having to get their weapons themselves, or better-looking Zords was something. Daizyujin was the first Megazord to be called a Megazord for the American audience. Take note that I'm now using Power Rangers terminologies for easier reference. The show may have also given Soga Machiko her most iconic role. I bet not so many would recognize Queen Hedrian or Queen Pandora. But Bandora would be too easily recognized because of Rita Repulsa. The first Super Sentai official DVD was also Zyuranger. This was when the late Noboru Sugimura got involved.
Zyuranger lacked popularity and Dairanger overshadowed it. Jetman was still considered so much better. However, I believe Power Rangers fans may say otherwise. Kakuranger might be a very bizarre show for some. Ohranger was hit by the Sarin Gas Incident -- resulting in lower ratings and the show spinning out of control. Carranger barely raised ratings. Gingaman was So Okay It's Average -- it's understandable why Power Rangers fans prefer Lost Galaxy. GoGoFive was the return to a Family Super Sentai theme. Additionally, GoGoFive is better than Fiveman in many ways.
Timeranger feels like a finale-like season for the 20th Century Super Sentai. The series started in the Year 2000 and had two major events -- the end of 20th Century Super Sentai and a new beginning for Kamen Rider. Kamen Rider Kuuga would be that important Kamen Rider series that made Kamen Rider a yearly thing. Timeranger would be a finale-type season IMHO with how it discussed entering a new era. To further "confirm" that -- the end series reviewed all the Super Sentai series before introducing the next one. Timeranger seemed to close one era and begin a new reboot.
The Gaoranger to Gokaiger era
Gaoranger was the 25th entry and an anniversary season. I thought about it that Timeranger was the 25th anniversary of Goranger. Goranger and JAKQ were retroactively included during Ohranger. However, Ohranger hardly felt like a reboot. Timeranger's special clip show was almost like, "Another era ends, another era begins." Gaoranger was more like a reboot during the 25th anniversary. It would feel like Super Sentai needed to reboot on its anniversary!
Gokaiger celebrated Super Sentai's 35th anniversary while making it look like a finale. The series gave as many returning characters. It almost felt like a farewell party for Super Sentai. I almost thought Super Sentai was going to end at 35. What's funny enough (and I still chuckle) is when Zyuohger vs. Ninninger gave us the line, "The history of Super Sentai! It's over!" This series also had a plotline that really hinted at a reboot. It's the plotline of the Greatest Treasure of the Universe!
The Gokaiger team sought the 34 greater powers so they could get the Greatest Treasure. However, it turned out that using it would reset everything and make the 34 other teams written off. The Gokaigers were against it and decided to finish Zangyack themselves. I'm just glad the idea was somehow revisited in Kamen Rider Build with the Pandora Box. The whole scene seems a blatant attempt to tell the fans, "Well, Super Sentai is getting rebooted for the nth time!"
The post-Gokaiger series feels like there were two reboots
Gokaiger ended and Go-Busters began its grand entry. The whole series went down to "simpler forms". I don't blame people for not liking Go-Busters as much. I was a closet fan of the series but now I'm proud to admit it! Go-Busters was almost the sequel that Power Rangers RPM needed! The series had no references to past seasons. Instead, it was mostly self-contained -- making me question the Gavan crossover episodes all the more. The series doesn't feel like just another attempt to go back to more serious times. It was practically back to Square One in some way! The series had a non-canon crossover with Gokaigeri.
Creative direction can be hard to maintain. My hesitance to enjoy Kyoryuger and ToQGer was a result of taste fatigue. I still feel that both Ninninger and Zyuohger are summarized as beautifully pointless seasons. Zyuohger was just another anniversary -- never felt like a reboot or a finale! Kyuranger is what I'd call a daring new direction for the series. The series itself picked up a long-abandoned concept namely a space-themed Super Sentai. The series may have some issues like it's hard to spread character development because new characters kept coming.Toy sales were high which may have overshadowed the sales of Lupinranger vs. Patranger.
I felt a reboot hit when the Reiwa era arrived. The Heisei era was about to end. Toei probably felt the need to close the Heisei era with a finale. Super Sentai Strongest Battle felt like another finale. It felt like a four-part arc that would bid farewell to another era. It's probably why Toei didn't mind having a fourth dinosaur season after that. I feel Ryusoulger was a bad way to start the Reiwa era. Meanwhile, the same can't be said with what I think of Kamen Rider Zero One -- all before the Legacy Virus hit it! Zero-One wasn't afraid to create its own version of Venjix in Ark-One.
The Legacy Virus gave the Reiwa era a rough start. It doesn't seem there's some reboot going on. Ryusoulger was followed by Kiramanger -- a show that was forced go to into hiatus because of the Legacy Virus. Zenkaiger didn't feel that special to me either. It never felt like a finale or a reboot. Donbrothers had Inoue return -- which I felt he should've been Go-Busters' secondary writer instead! King-Ohger feels festive probably because it's the fifth Reiwa season or the 30th anniversary of Mighty Morphin' and the 10th anniversary of Kyoryuger.
However, just because some reboot happens doesn't mean Ranger History Lessons can't happen. King-Ohger links itself to Kyoryuger. Recently, Boonboomger seems to be connected to ToQGer. These "reboots" are probably just like making sure nostalgia isn't overused!
However, just because some reboot happens doesn't mean Ranger History Lessons can't happen. King-Ohger links itself to Kyoryuger. Recently, Boonboomger seems to be connected to ToQGer. These "reboots" are probably just like making sure nostalgia isn't overused!
Updated: October 18, 2024
Off-topic: There was a rumor about the next year's Super Sentai. Some say it was Sports-themed because it has five colors. They did this in LiveMan and in Go-Onger before. Others say that it had some various themes. Make an article next time if you have time. Now, let's go back to Ryusoulger: I'm afraid that by February 2020, the total number of episodes will be the second smallest number of episodes next to J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai, which has 35 episodes in 1977. I wished I wanna see more of the Ryusoulgers by having more Extra Heroes just like in Kyoryuger. For example, RyusoulYellow, RyusoulGray, RyusoulViolet, RyusoulSilver, RyusoulCyan and RyusoulNavy. So, if that won't happen, this is a bummer for us Super Sentai Fans. Lessening up the number of episodes in Ryusoulger to either 43, 44, 45 or 46 is actually a blunder for TOEI.
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