The Guilty Pleasure Of Forcing Super Sentai Into ONE TIMELINE

I think this is one guilty pleasure that some Super Sentai fans do. I even feel this happens often with Power Rangers fans who end up watching the source material. It was probably very common last 2011 (because Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger was a series where all 34 previous Super Sentai series were placed) and maybe some attempted it also in 2012-2016 only to realize that Ucchu Sentai Kyuranger takes place in another Universe. Kikou Sentai Zenkaiger also wrote all the different Super Sentai to occur in various realities. Almost every Super Sentai is self-contained except for a select few. What causes this guilty pleasure to happen anyway?

It's plain stupid to try and link Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger into every series since 1985

The recent Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger is pretty much obviously self-contained. I think most Kamen Rider series these days are self-contained since Kamen Rider Kuuga. I even heard that while Kamen Rider Agito was meant to be a direct sequel - that was canceled. Kamen Rider Build has a very different Earth that couldn't make Mr. Titan from Kamen Rider Stronger as Nanba - even if both are portrayed by Akira Hamada. Chikyu is best described as Another Earth. In short, one might think that Haim Saban's Knights of Tir Na Nog (which hits its silver anniversary) should never be forced into Power Rangers' rather inconsistent timeline. 

There's really no explanation of how Chikyu (Earth in the recent continuity) came to be. It's pretty much like how neither Kamen Rider Saber nor Knights of Tir Na Nog gave any real explanation. I bet it's pretty much, "Audiences should just fantasize this new world!" The events from Himitsu Sentai Goranger up to Avatar Sentai Donbrothers can't be put into the World of King-Ohger. 

It's because of the absence of Modern Japan there. The kingdom locations are rather weird. Since when did the continents get arranged in such a way? That's why just as I planned to Exit Stage Right - the idea of an entirely new world where there's no Modern Japan appealed to me. It couldn't take place in Medieval Times either (which I wish it did). 

Almost every Super Sentai takes place in present-day Japan depending on the era

It can be debated (by some) if Donbrothers and Zenkaiger take place in the same Universe or not. A clip show seemed to suggest that they are in the same Universe yet it's never mentioned again. Just take note that most of the clip shows such as the Mirai Sentai Timeranger TV special and Kosoku Sentai Turboranger's clip show CAN'T fit into the show. Instead, they are simply clips that help celebrate the milestones. Yet, that just NEVER stops the guilty pleasure, right? It's because Super Sentai entries tend to take place in the most recent version of Japan. 

A good example is how almost every Super Sentai sets a certain trend. It's too obvious that Goranger and JAKQ follow the fashion of the 1970s. The styles of the decade would determine how the main characters dressed. Ever noticed the 1970s outfits in Battle Fever J along with the 1970s disco music of the late 1990s? The cast of Battle Fever J in the 1970s disco outfit. I guess watching more newer Super Sentai appeals to younger audiences. I usually end up picking older series. Sure, I could enjoy the newer Super Sentai entries but I still prefer the older ones overall.

The trend progressed with how Super Sentai would take place in the Modern Japan of its era. If you're quite observant - you may notice the different trends. The 1980s rangers wore 1980s clothes. The 1990s rangers wore 1990s clothes. The 2000s started going for a more Anime look (as evidenced by Timeranger) and the trends can be that hard to spot. The 2010s and now 2020s really all have most of the things happening in MODERN JAPAN. Super Sentai pretty much invokes the trope Tokyo is the Center of the Universe. 

Some Super Sentai entries blatantly take place in the same year as the year of broadcast. Sure, Choriki Sentai Ohranger did have its first episode as "Invasion 1999" BUT that can be easily retconned. However, we've had Kyukyu Sentai GoGoFive taking place in 1999 and Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters taking place in 2012. I think Gokaiger really took place in 2011. However, Chojin Sentai Jetman was merely taking place in 199X which X can MEAN ANY NUMBER. It can be very easy to rub into someone's face and say, "There's one huge timeline because of that!" or "Ohranger can be easily retconned! Retcon is common in superhero shows!" 

However, events from the shows and the VS. Movies can tell you why the imaginary timeline just tears itself apart

One can always argue about Gokaiger and use it as "proof". However, a look at several old-school series would tell you that's not the case. Several events would actually tear apart that imaginary timeline (as much as Power Rangers' actual timeline for most series would). 

Many events related to Hirohisa Soda's era of Super Sentai will tell you he doesn't have continuity in mind. I began to do some basic rewatching here and there and you might find out that he wrote every series he's into WITHOUT a continuity in mind such as:

• The events of Dai Sentai Goggle V were written as entirely new. There are no references to any series before it such as Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan - the only Super Sentai series that shared a continuity with Denji Sentai Denziman.
• Kagaku Sentai Dynaman never mentioned Goggle V. The actor Junichi Haruta played two different black rangers.
• Chodenshi Bioman states that the Bio Robo would only awaken when the Earth is in a danger it can't handle. Why didn't Bio Robo awaken during 1975 or earlier?
• Dengeki Sentai Changeman would also put the Earth Force showing up only in greater danger. 
• Choshinsei Flashman made no reference to any of the earlier series. Instead, it acted like Mess was the only extraordinary threat that Earth faced in its story.
• Hikari Sentai Maskman never bothered to link anything before it either.
• Chojuu Sentai Liveman never made references to earlier science-based Super Sentai. Expect no comparison of Professor Bias to any mad scientist before him.
• Kosoku Sentai Turboranger was totally another fresh series.
• Chikyu Sentai Fiveman's Zone Empire made no mention of rivaling any previous alien organization.

After Soda was replaced with new writers - none of the new writers bothered to make these continuities that could've been done. These are some imagined connections IF you used to watch Power Rangers or are still watching it:

• Chojin Sentai Jetman could've linked the Demon Beast Gods to any older series. Instead, that was never in mind. Also, the Birdonic Waves could've been said to be part of Planet Bio's technology harnessed. None of that was ever done.
• Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger never bothered to mentioned older series. Also, with the story starting with MILLIONS OF YEARS then you can expect no connection between the next two series. That means Bandora isn't related to the Youkai of Ninja Sentai Kakuranger. In short, Prince Junior couldn't be her brother or Daimaou her father. Also, events in Bakuryu Sentai Abaranger and Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger killed dinosaurs differently as much as other Super Sentai seasons had different explanations.
• Gosei Sentai Dairanger and Jyuken Sentai Gekiranger never bothered to link to Maskman. Sure, one can say Maskman inspired both series and some would recommend it to analyze the inspiration. However, neither show uses some form of Aura Power or the concept of light vs. darkness bothers to even directly link to it. 
• Choriki Sentai Ohranger never bothered to link to Bioman and Changeman. In short, UAOH was never part of Earth Defense Force, the guest role of Kazunori Inaba is NOT Takeru as a military commander, and neither is the Baranoia Empire the Anti-Bio Alliance in Bioman.
• Ohranger vs. Kakuranger presented all the mecha that were there AFTER Emperor Bacchushund had been defeated. The movie was obviously made without continuity in mind.
• Gekisou Sentai Carranger never bothered to link to Turboranger. Sure, we've got the adaptation Power Rangers Turbo BUT that's another story. Carranger never had Dappu be part of the fairies and Emperor Exhaus was no rival of Emperor Ragorn either.
• Denji Sentai Megaranger might make references to Soda's era (in part) BUT the show never links to those series. Instead, the show would focus on being on its own. The crossover with Carranger also couldn't happen. Note that the power-up for the Megarangers was pretty much used only in the movie like the Gogeta fusion dance in Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn. 
• Seijuu Sentai Gingaman could've tried to connect to Planet Flash's history. Sure, it would sound cool if the Ginga Forest inhabitants were actually connected to it. However, it'd be very hard to try and link it since there was also the Anti-Flash Phenomenon.
• Kyukyu Sentai GoGoFive NEVER bothered to connect to Fiveman at all. Instead, the siblings were pretty much acting like the Hoshikawas never existed.
• Mirai Sentai Timeranger might try and explain the tampering of time. However, several events just can't be explained because some idiotic douchebag of a Walking Spoiler was tampering with it.
• The events of Hyakajuu Sentai Gaoranger would again be self-contained. In short, Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai would just be a non-canon crossover.
• Ninpuu Sentai Hurricanger never bothered to link to Liveman. Also, the crossover movie with Gaoranger would have to explain how the Gaorangers got their powers back.
• Abaranger vs. Hurricanger had Lije as a child yet Maxryuoh shows up.
• Tokosou Sentai Dekaranger could've tried to link to Timeranger but NEVER EVER DID. Just treat the VS. Movies it has as what-if fun non-canon movies.
• None of the events in Mahou Sentai Magiranger ever mentioned previous supernatural tribes.
• Gougou Sentai Boukenger would have Hyde Gene killing all dinosaurs. That means Boukenger vs. Super Sentai can't happen at all. Also, the crossover with Dekaranger has several events that were best movie-only such as Wolzard's appearance.
• Sure, it seems Gekiranger vs. Boukenger would've "happened". However, Gekiranger never bothered to link anyway. Also, the Gekiranger reference in Kiramanger was most likely done because it was the anniversary of Goranger.
• Engine Sentai Go-onger never bothered to link to either Carranger or Turboranger. The idea of Braneworlds apparently can NEVER fit into the previous series. The Vyram would've probably destroyed all the Braneworlds if ever.
• Samurai Sentai Shinkenger never bothered to connect with other series either. Not with the ninja series nor with Maskman. It would've been cool to think of Jii was friends with Director Sugata. However, that would cause continuity problems.
• Tensou Sentai Goseiger would also verify that the invasion team saw Earth as uncharted territory. Linking to all previous series would defeat the idea of Gosei in Power Rangers Megaforce.
• Go-Busters never made Enetron linked to any ranger powers. Instead, almost everything was confirmed to be in its own dimension. I guess the new Gavan arc was a result of dimensional travel instead.
• Ressha Sentai ToQGer made Shadow Line the sole threat of the show. In short, it's best to count its crossover with Kamen Rider Gaim as nothing more than a link to the Showa vs. Heisei movie involving the Kamen Rider franchise.
• Sure, Shuriken Sentai Ninninger would be linked but only to the VS. Universe where Gokaiger exists. Other than that, those would be alternate versions of the said characters. The same can go for Kiramager. 
• Doubotsu Sentai Zyuohger would've forced Ginis to compete with other villains who do what he does. 
• Kyuranger obviously belongs to another Universe.
• Kaito Sentai Lupinranger vs. Keisatsu Sentai Patranger would be totally self-contained. The crossover even shows different universes. So, yeah it's self-contained actually. You can also think that Canalo courting Tsukasa is totally not canon. Though, I've always imagined Canalo crumbled when the actress Kazusa Okuyama got married. 
• The events of Donbrothers would keep suggesting that they have a different Kaito and a totally different continuity. 

I decided to stop there since it would take a lot of them. Several of the events would really say that if Super Sentai forced them into one timeline - it'd be as glaring as Power Rangers. There are a few moments when Power Rangers chooses to take place in some other reality (ex. Power Rangers RPM, Power Rangers Dino Charge) than connecting it all the time into one dimension. That's what I felt ruined Power Rangers Beast Morphers and why I rewatched Go-Busters instead. 

Overall, I'm still laughing thinking about these two stuff. Power Rangers trying to link everything isn't a good thing. Super Sentai fans trying to cram every single series into one timeline can be weirder. Yes, I did attempt it until I realized it can't be done. Yet, I do still have the guilty pleasure of doing so every now and then!