Zenkaiger Episode 1: The Crazy Cool Kikai World

Well, it's the first episode of Zenkaiger, right? Granted, I've seen a lot of old school and new school Super Sentai so I don't know if I've really hit the taste fatigue zone or not. I'm now thinking about how Toei can sometimes be fond of making viewers decide for themselves or troll the viewers in one way or another. This season's first episode starts to get a bit of history in the detail.

The beginning narration starts with the Super Sentai worlds getting contained. It's interesting to have Goranger, then Zyuranger, then Kiramager as the featured series. Is there some kind of purpose behind this one? Zyuranger was the first series to be localized into the Power Rangers franchise. Coincidence to have Zyuranger featured? Maybe, maybe not.

The main hero Kaito tries to do a bungee jump. TBH, I really don't blame the police for stopping him. It's just too dangerous. What in the world is he thinking? I wonder if this is a PSA to impressionable children not to imitate what they see on TV. Super Sentai seems to deliver that message every now and then. Maskman did have that message shown in episode 37 in Takeru's flashback before history was slightly altered after that misadventure.

Apparently, Yatsude (Kaito's paternal grandmother) runs a candy store and she pays him salary like a regular employee. Okay, I'm just reminded of Shining Inheritance where Hwan ended up working as an employee in his paternal grandmother's company.

The arrival of the Kikai World introduces us to the first recruit - Juran or is it Zyuran? I'll probably just call him Zyuran because his alternate form because his powered-up form resembles Daizyujin (except without a mismatched pair of legs). Zyuran just loves parties. Speaking of which - I think the Zyurangers getting featured in the flashback was because Zyuran is on focus!

Meanwhile, we get a glimpse of Tojitend, the evil government that has ruled Kikaitopia. TBH, why am feeling Kikaitopia represents China, Kikainoids represents the Chinese who are but victims of their government, and Tojitend represents the Chinese Communist Party? The Big Bad is called Bokowaus and he's voiced by Joji Nakata. Nakata's old but still has it. Too bad Takeshi Watabe is already gone. You may remember Nakata in Flashman as Sir Kaura and in Liveman as the Big Bad, Great Professor Bias. Seriously, I wish Nakata voiced Tao Zanto in Hurricanger. The form of having only one arm and a menacing voice reminds me of Horde Prime from She-Ra and Gaohm's second form from B-Fighter. They have been taking over dimensions one after the other hence threatening to end the existence of Super Sentai AGAIN. 

Just when Kaito is about to eat the delicious takoyaki of Kika World (and he gave cotton candy in exchange) - the enemy attacks. I'm reminded of the crazy scene from Kamen Rider Drive when a fancy dinner gets disrupted by the catastrophe that led to the series' events. 

Zyuran does get into some hilarious stupidity here. A Kudak soldier gets into an interaction with him. Apparently, Zyuran is just like a Chinese from Communist China on the run from a tyrannical government. 

I really love how Secchan displays some intelligence after it was just a normal robot. Grandma (which I'll call her from now on) gets astonished. What's further verified is that Super Sentai series are self-contained as "worlds". Several events usually show themselves to be impossible to happen at the same time such as how dinosaurs died in one series after the other. The crossovers themselves usually end up non-canon and the anniversaries are probably just like the Super Robot Wars franchise - a fun, non-canon crossover.

The first battle has Zyuran and Zenkaiser doing their team pose. I really have to question the logic of Toku villains - why do they even just STAND THERE during the transformation sequence? Again, you know how Dr. Evil chooses to execute Austin Powers with absurd methods when he could've just won by SHOOTING the latter? 

The powers are slowly shown with both Zyuohger and Ninninger. Speaking of Ninninger - I could only say it got "better" because Ninja Steel is THAT horrendous. Other than that, I'd still put Ninninger in low regard. Zyuohger vs. Ninninger also had that tagline "The history of Super Sentai - it's over!" I was even thinking that Super Sentai could've died during Zyuohger due to decline of ratings. However, Kyuranger did manage to work marvels in spite of all its flaws.

This is a very unorthodox way of doing things. Zyuran shows his power to grow into a giant form and battle the giant monsters. I don't think there might be human-sized monsters though there could be. I just feel the weirdness here. Though, it might be what Super Sentai needs. I feel Super Sentai might really end for real and a new franchise might soon be born out of this show. Then again, I could be wrong because I felt Kyuranger and Lupinranger vs. Patranger would eventually end Super Sentai and give birth to an entirely new franchise. I was proven wrong AGAIN. Again, it's just a hunch that this series might birth a new franchise for Toei Ltd. if ever Super Sentai will need to be shelved. 

 

After the first episode's victory celebration - a new problem occurs. Mushrooms are growing out of the heads of people and Kikais. What in the world is going on? A giant mushroom in the middle of the city? Okay, LAUGH HARD. 

Next week will feature the new Kikaiger, Gaon. It looks like the series will have a five-part introductory arc after all to focus on this unorthodox team.