A Rant On Naruhisa Arakawa VS. Yasuko Kobayashi As Toku Head Writers

While it's been easy for me to do a comparison between Yasuko Kobayashi with either both Power Rangers head writer Judd Lynn (due to him writing the Power Rangers versions) and with Toshiki Inoue - I just want to write this wacky rant due to the latest circumstances. Six years ago, Kobayashi was assigned to be the head writer of Ressha Sentai ToQGer. Now, Arakawa's latest assignment (and maybe his burnout) would be Mashin Sentai Kiramager. If one can notice that both ToQGer and Kiramager have some things in common - color coding and IMAGINATION. Yes, the imagination power concept! Apparently, no color swapping for Kiramager (hopefully) while no one should ever deny that ToQGer itself is a contributor to its power of imagination. The recent Super Sentai still has me WTFed as to why Arakawa wasn't handed over ToQGer as his task?

Before that, we can consider the history of Toei's Tokusatsu with both of them. The 90s was such a platform for new writers not ever since Hirohisa Soda fell apart during Chikyu Sentai Fiveman. Soda himself was no longer in top shape so new writers were needed. One writer (like him or hate him) was Inoue himself. Inoue became the head writer of Chojin Sentai Jetman and Arakawa became a part of that crew. Before that, Arakawa also wrote the Kamen Rider Black episode where Bilgenia used gold-producing beetles to drive humanity to greed - not that good of an episode IMHO. Arakawa also wrote a very out-of-place Jetman episode with Dryer Jigen though the others were okay. He also got small works during Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger and wrote the Three Idiot Arcs during Gosei Sentai Dairanger. What was also notable was that Yasuko Kobayashi was also making her small steps with episode 24 of Tokkei Winspector and episode 40 of Tokosou Janperson. While Arakawa was focused on mostly lighthearted shows (though Kamen Rider Kuuga isn't) - Kobayashi herself was usually on the more serious side of things most of the time. Kobayashi was also involved with Blue SWAT, B-Fighter, and B-Fighter Kabuto.

The time Kobayashi and Arakawa did share a project together in the 90s was was with Denji Sentai Megaranger and Seijuu Sentai Gingaman. However, Arakawa only wrote four episodes for Gingaman to where Kobayashi was the head writer. Gingaman wasn't too serious though. Megaranger had Junki Takegami as the head writer. The 2000s also became a time for both of them. Arakawa became the head writer of Kamen Rider Kuuga while Kobayashi became the head writer of the darker and edgier Mirai Sentai Timeranger. Later, she would write one episode for Kamen Rider Agito and end up with the overly ambitious but poorly executed Kamen Rider Ryuki. I feel executives at Toei forced her to write the reset button ending. Come on, it's too obvious nobody was supposed to live at the end of Ryuki! Then the two would also share a show after the 2000s with Gougou Sentai Boukenger (Arakawa had five, Kobayashi had 11 episodes) which again showed some contrast. Kobayashi always wrote the more serious episodes of Boukenger.

Then both can be attributed to two very overrated works namely Samurai Sentai Shinkenger and Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger. Shinkenger itself was a deviation from Kobayashi's love for serious stuff most of the time though that was contrasted when she was the head writer of Kamen Rider Den-O. Shinkenger was more or less lighthearted in contrast to Timeranger. I find calling Shinkenger as Kobayashi's "top work" to be silly. Sure, Shinkenger is a fun series but I'd say it's overappreciated. Gokaiger for me is the best anniversary season but I was afraid to admit it due to the bandwagon. Some tend to say Gokaiger is the "best" Super Sentai season and maybe some of them say Shinkenger is "second best". I beg to respectfully disagree with those views. Later, Kobayashi was assigned to be the head writer of Kamen Rider OOO which I think had hit or miss humor. OOO is still a good series but not really on the top either.

Post-Gokaiger, Kobayashi started getting her spotlight again with two more Super Sentai seasons. Why she wasn't involved with Gokaiger is something. Personally, I thought that maybe Kobayashi should've been in Gokaiger or maybe Inoue should've been in Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters. However, as said, Go-Busters already had the same problem that Inoue had with Faiz - both started to decline. I wonder why Kobayashi never made a cameo in Go-Busters?! Also, it's no surprise that Lynn happens to be a Go-Busters fan too. I do feel that both Go-Busters and Power Rangers RPM really didn't get good wrap-ups. Arakawa would be in-charge of writing the Sentai parody Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger in the same year. Akibaranger though only ran for 13 episodes before another season was produced possibly due to high demand. Arakawa had minor writing jobs during Doubotsu Sentai Zyuohger, Ucchi Sentai Kyuranger, and Kaito Sentai Lupinranger vs. Keisatsu Sentai Lupinranger. Kobayashi was also with the mature spin-off Kamen Rider Amazons. Arakawa was also involved in Sharivan Next Generation and Ucchu Keiji Gavan vs. Dekaranger.

Right now, one could consider can Arakawa improve the potential of ToQGer's imagination power with the Kiramental power? It's too early to tell. All I can say is I may need to set a low bar. If I set a lower bar with ToQGer - maybe I would've accepted it immediately. Then again, taking a break and going back to ToQGer a few years later made me like better. But right now, it's best for me not to really expect much considering Arakawa may already be burning out. Then again, what if I could be wrong and Kiramager would be a good start for a purely-Reiwa era Super Sentai?