Ninpuu Sentai Hurricanger: A Failed Attempt To Return To Darker And Edgier?

Granted, this year is the 20th anniversary of Ninpuu Sentai Hurricanger. Personally, I felt this series was more than enough to bury Shuriken Sentai Ninninger - a show that only got "bailed out" because of the terrible reviews that Power Rangers Ninja Steel kept getting. Personally, I still REFUSE to rewatch Ninninger as it's been mind-numbing while the crossover with Kamen Rider Drive was pretty decent. Moving back to the topic - one could think of the sequence of Super Sentai a few years back before 2022. The late 1990s did have some change of direction. It might be important to think about how Super Sentai went during the late 1990s up to 2002 when Hurricanger first aired.

Choriki Sentai Ohranger was trying to be as serious as possible. However, the Sarin Gas Incident caused it to become a rollercoaster series. Yup, I'd still keep saying that it's way better than Power Rangers Zeo BUT I'd like to rewatch other series before or after it. 1996 followed with Gekisou Sentai Carranger - a series that didn't save Super Sentai ratings but ended up getting a rumor that it did. Denji Sentai Megaranger (the REAL savior) wasn't all too serious either. Seijuu Sentai Gingaman isn't all that serious either. Though, Kyukyu Sentai GoGoFive and Mirai Sentai Timeranger are seasons I heard worked well with older audiences but not with children. So, Himitsu Sentai Gaoranger tried to be more fun series. 

WARNING! SOME SPOILERS ARE AHEAD! 

The start of Hurricanger can be pretty serious. The Downer Beginning really has the three worst students finally taking the mantle because of the massacre. Sure, the massacre is nowhere near as disturbing as Chojuu Sentai Liveman. However, the very fact that a lot of young people lost their lives to the Jajanka, being turned into talismans, and used to decorate the Jakanja ship is something. The destruction of the ninja academy is comparable to Academia's massacre in Liveman. The best option? The three worst students end up becoming the new set of rangers. Power Rangers Ninja Storm decided to go with the students being simply "missing" and were recovered. Not so with Hurricanger - I guess Toei Ltd. wanted to be as serious as it could get. 

The drama does build up even with all the ninja shenanigans. I always felt the Liveman trio were better characters than the Hurricanger trio. I felt the characters tend to flip-flop with their moods too often. Though, one plot worth exploring is how Ikkou and Isshu, the two siblings were manipulated by the Jakanja. I feel that Tao Zanto might be one of the most fearsome post-Timeranger villains. Ikkou and Isshu were manipulated into fighting the Hurricangers. Worse, the fact that their father, Ikki, was actually a villain too. The whole drama played during the whole arc was rather intense. The intensity between the two teams can still be felt.

There are also various nightmare fuel plots too. I feel Ikkou having a scorpion egg inside him (caused by Manmaruba) is just scary. It really makes you feel the intensity of the life and death situation of a team member. Ikkou has been hiding it for some time. Sandaru is also pretty much a destructive villain who'd eventually MURDER the other generals. Tao Zanto shows little to nor care about his generals - viewing them all ad DISPOSABLES. Tao Zanto has been looking for "that" which is none other than the Evil Will. Tao Zanto shows just how fearsome he could get. 

Shurikenger may be somewhat comical but there's a sour note to it. Shurikenger lost his identity and became Gozen's personal fighter. Gozen is 500 years old (in reality) and has been trying to keep watch of events. Shurikenger did disguise himself many times which I felt was rather weird. I can't decide which is weirder between Sam as a ball of light in Power Rangers SPD (which I heard was Disney's fault) or Shurikenger's loss of identity for the sake of nostalgic actors. Sadly, Tatsuya Nomi is no longer with us as he ended his own life too soon. Shurikenger did sacrifice himself. His "return" in Abaranger vs. Hurricanger is obviously NOT CANON. IMHO, I think the Super Sentai VS. Movies are probably meant as a distraction while the next Super Sentai series is getting itself ready. It's pretty much how the Dragon Ball Z movies contradict the series canon.

It would be very interesting to think this over. After Hurricanger, most of the series after it was considerably lighter. I still feel Tokosou Sentai Dekaranger isn't that serious compared to the Rescue Police quadrilogy. Though, it just became amazing how Toei Ltd. tries to attempt to return to Darker and Edgier in 2007 and 2012 with Jyuken Sentai Gekiranger and Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters. I think Hurricanger was a decent attempt. Though it seems that the lighter and softer Super Sentai tend to get more attention these days.