Gekiranger: Another Failed Attempt To Go Back To Darker And Edgier After Boukenger's Wacky Adventures?

Jyuken Sentai Gekiranger hit its 10th anniversary last 2017 and it has its 15th anniversary this year. Not surprisingly, Gekiranger happened on the 20th anniversary of Hikari Sentai Maskman - the first attempt at a martial arts themed Super Sentai followed by Gosei Sentai Dairanger in 1993. I did write about how Ninpuu Sentai Hurricanger might be that failed attempt to introduce serious Super Sentai all over again. I guess Toei Ltd. may have some issues with how modern viewers tend to prefer Lighter and Softer over Darker and Edgier. I guess that's why some Power Rangers fans prefer the newer series. 

It seems that Gekiranger may be on the list but wait... it's actually a contrasting sequel and a contrasting prequel. It had not one but TWO crossovers with a series that's more known for wacky antics. The first was with Gougou Sentai Boukenger (which I enjoy just how high these guys can get) and the other is Engine Sentai Go-Onger after it. I think the series was probably trying to get darker than it should. I'll confess that Gekiranger is my favorite 2000s Super Sentai for the martial arts and serious storytelling. I don't find any of the girls attractive - something that makes it easier to appreciate a good story. Now, it's time for another ramble.

WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD!

Gekiranger has some wacky antics but it does get serious. Jan Kandou is pretty much the orphaned guy raised in the jungle. The very cycle seems to be like the Tarzan franchise inspired Kamen Rider Amazon and we also have Cole Evans from Power Rangers Wild Force and then Jan from Gekiranger. Wildly confused? If you are, you're not alone. Jan lost his parents at the hands of the MAIN VILLAIN named Long. I felt Wild Force took a rather daring direction when it introduced Viktor Adler who became the Second Master Org. The fact that the Second Master Org murdered Cole's parents in cold blood is one thing. Here, Long the final villain murdered Jan's mother and turned Jan's father Dan into a Brainwashed and Crazy minion. The only way to save Dan was to defeat him for good. 

One could say you've got a lively cast. It was hard for me not to think of Trini Kwan from Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers when watching Gekiranger. Ran Uzaki is pretty much hesitant (at first) to fight but she shows herself to be one badass yellow ranger. Trini was also hesitant to fight even if she was a skilled martial artist. Was it really a coincidence? I can't be sure actually. Granted, Toei Ltd. is the company behind Power Rangers, right? Regardless, Ran herself, like Trini, deserves the attention. There's also Retsu Fukami and his older brother Gou Fukami. Gou was later struck with a curse that made him a werewolf. It was also a curse by Long. Ken Hisatsu is pretty much a comic relief but a badass comic relief. It seems the bright personalities of this cast are a contrast to the show's tone. The Gen Juken, after all, represents positive energy.

Meanwhile, the villains are as serious as they can get. The Rin Juken became a rival school and represents the negative energy. The villains, Rio and Mele, are not to be messed with. They kinda remind me of Yamimaru and Kirika in Kosoku Sentai Turboranger except they're the game-starters. The Rin Juken is antagonistic through and through. The plot of the two schools can get rather serious. The villains would soon start to be close to redemption. However, they ended up reforming but NOT living long enough to tell the tale. Instead, the villain Long ends up practically MURDERING THEM. I always felt that Rio and Mele both have a great redemption arc. The death they had though can give mixed reactions. Jarrod and Camille lived in Power Rangers Jungle Fury. However, not Rio and Mele and they weren't fortunate enough. 

The villain Long appears in the second half where he pretends to serve Rio and Mele only to BACKSTAB THEM. Long's actions in Gekiranger put him among the Pure Evil villains. I feel Long is a decent attempt to bring back the scarier Toku villains by Toei such as Count Radiguet from Chojin Sentai Jetman, Colonel Shadam from Gosei Sentai Dairanger, and Iwao Daimon from Tokosou Exceedraft to name a few. Long's rather long involvement in the story is something. Long's an immortal dragon who messes up with people out of boredom but also because he's a Social Darwinist. Long got so popular that he even returned in Engine Sentai Go-Onger vs. Jyuken Sentai Gekiranger. I feel Long will remain as one of those Breakout Villains that saved the show. Did Long even increase the ratings of Gekiranger like Yamimaru did in Turboranger and Captain Chevalier did in Chikyu Sentai Fiveman? Maybe he did. Maybe he was also meant to be the darker character while the Gekirangers were mostly lively characters.  

I guess Gekiranger did have a lot of mixed reactions. Maybe, some Power Rangers fans were pretty fine with Rio and Mele getting butchered by Long. I felt Power Ranger fans probably enjoyed the action, and felt it was nice to have a different shade over their probable preference of Lighter and Softer. There are also grown-up fans who probably felt Gekiranger was worth the trip. Though, it seems that children didn't like it even with all the colorful toys it sold. I guess the reaction due to how Darker and Edgier it was for a 2000s Super Sentai may have been why Go-Onger was even created. If so, it was an extreme reaction in contrast to how Samurai Sentai Shinkenger was a rather well-balanced Lighter and Softer series with not too many serious moments. 

This reminds me of how Go-Onger was a comedic Super Sentai. Right now, I even wonder if I now REALLY HATE IT (after saying I don't hate it) after I felt Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters is the better watch after some time. I may not like Power Rangers BUT I think I can agree with some fans who'll say Go-Busters is better than Go-Onger. Watching Gekisou Sentai Carranger makes me think that Go-Onger is a fine mess. I think Go-Onger was a knee-jerk reaction. I guess Gekiranger will remain that series that's loved by older fans and will take longer than usual before it gains a fandom. I bet Gekiranger is now getting appreciated by more fans. I'm glad that the show may soon get more love. Though, it seems that Darker and Edgier Super Sentai may be a dying trend now.