There are times when comparing Power Rangers and Super Sentai can be apples and oranges. However, both shows tend to copy from each other and from American superhero fiction -- A LOT! I watched Denji Sentai Megaranger -- the source material for Power Rangers in Space. There's no doubt that Space saved Power Rangers from cancellation -- hence the possible why Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog was left hanging. Power Rangers gained traction and Power Rangers Lost Galaxy was conceived. I watched Megaranger without thinking too much about Space.
SPOILERS AHEAD!
I. The heroes and their exploits
However, the same couldn't be said about Dengeki Sentai Changeman. I heard the series was supposed to be named Cosmoman but the military theme was put. That's why there's the Shuttlebase as a Carrier Zord. However, the Changemen aren't trained to be astronauts but hardened soldiers. The first episode is pretty much Up to Eleven with the training scene. Commander Ibuki does extremely cartoony things. Ibuki's questionable (and cartoony) methods feel like Michael Bay was involved. The Earth Defense Force soldiers all quit. Ibuki didn't tell why he was carrying out such brutal methods. They discover it when the Earth Force clothes them -- giving them the power to combat the invasion force called the Great Star League Gozma.
Sure, there's not much character development since it's the 1980s. We don't really know much about their parents or who they are. At most, most of them are simply shown to develop as characters. I don't blame Kaiju No Kami for giving Changeman a 3/5 GUIS score. However, it was interesting to see the rangers grow as characters.
It's unfair to compare the characters of Space to Changeman. However, I'd like to bring up a concern. Power Rangers Turbo ended with a cliffhanger. Four out of five of the PR Turbo Rangers leave for space -- to find Zordon. The four would don the Space suits. That's another aspect of Power Rangers that I dislike. I prefer the yearly cast change. That's why I even ditched Power Rangers Cosmic Fury. It made me think that wouldn't it be all too cluttered IF Super Sentai did the same thing. Maybe, that's why Kamen Rider BLACK RX failed big time -- attempting to ride on the success that was Kamen Rider BLACK. Ironically, BLACK plus BLACK RX had a total of 98 episodes -- which is still easier for me to watch than The First Kamen Rider. Fortunately, BLACK RX remained as an experimental season -- showing what to do (introduce multiple forms) and what NOT to do (recycle a hero). Maybe, that's why Kamen Rider was a struggling show during the Showa Era.
It's good that Changeman isn't directly linked or it's self-contained. The heroes aren't from a previous show. Instead, they're a new batch of rangers. That alone starts to be quite an advantage for me. It was good to see the heroes didn't come from a previous show OR were directly linked to it.
II. The Great Star League Gozma is better off not having to deal with previous factions
Theoretically, it's cool to have the United Alliance of Evil be composed of past villain organizations. However, it becomes crowded in the long run. Maybe, I need to mention another reason why I prefer Choriki Sentai Ohranger over Power Rangers Zeo is the continuity. Zeo had to carry over Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa -- which just CRAMS IN EVERYTHING. However, Ohranger only dealt with the Baranoia Empire without any previous villains cramming in. Sure, that idea can work in a video game but not really with a TV series.
Star King Bazoo as the Grand Monarch of All Evil
Sure, I couldn't resist calling the Gozma the "United Alliance of Evil". It's not easy for me to stop calling Star King Bazoo the "Dark Specter, Grand Monarch of All Evil". However, I couldn't imagine if Bazoo had to contend with villains all the way from Himitsu Sentai Goranger -- which was only retroactively added in 1995! I realized it would be a waste of space if all the people from Black Cross Army up to New Empire Gear were tossing their glasses for Star King Bazoo. Instead, it was a fresh new group of villains that were focused on conquering the Universe.
Star King Bazoo's design may be limited by the 1980s limits. However, Star King Bazoo is given a script that backs up his boasts. Star King Bazoo often threatens his subordinates with the DESTRUCTION OF THEIR HOME PLANETS. Yes, Star King Bazoo keeps the villains in check through those means. Star King Bazoo is practically THAT SCARY. Messing up with Star King Bazoo could cost you your home, your friends, etc. Many learned the hard way that Bazoo ISN'T to be messed with. I couldn't help but say, "Uh huh! This guy is just completely crazy!" Bazoo was almost overthrown by Ahames and Giluke. However, Bazoo shows them who's boss and manages to foil them.
It wasn't like how the Dark Specter was dealt with. Was it because his costume was literally falling apart? It's a waste to turn a villain that's potentially cooler than Megaranger's Javious I (who was lame anyway, and Dr. Hinelar was the true villain of the show) into this. Darkonda managed to get rid of Dark Specter with a powerful missile. Sure, that missile was deadly but it's plain anti-climactic. Star King Bazoo would've obliterated Darkonda's attempts. Not to mention, Astronema would probably think twice before trying to betray Star King Bazoo.
Bazoo mentions that he destroyed the Planet Merril. It's because the angelic-like beings would calm down his reign of terror. Can you expect the Grand Monarch of All Evil NOT to be threatened by such a planet? Ibuki's knowledge reveals that the Merrilians could easily calm down even the most evil beasts. Bazoo would want his evil to reign supreme and the guy is EVEN PROUD of his genocide. Bazoo would want to do a good job. Bazoo would destroy ANYTHING that would go against his reign of evil. The Space Doll was an interesting episode -- one that gave a hint of Bazoo's true form!
Bazoo's defeat could be considered anti-climactic in some way. It's the 1980s after all. Bazoo was destroyed from within using the Change Robo. Can you imagine if the Dark Specter was destroyed from within by a Megazord? Bazoo turns out that he's actually based on Ego the Living Planet from Marvel Comics. Bazoo was eating other planets in trying to become the most powerful person. Bazoo was planning to eat Earth next. Still, it was better than how Dark Specter was practically wasted by the writers. I still wish Dark Specter was defeated in a final battle instead!
Comparing Commander Giluke and Darkonda in their villainy
It was revealed early on that Giluke and Ahames once teamed up to get rid of the Dark Specter. However, both of them failed and got separated in space. Darkonda was a game-changing villain unlike Giluke. However, Giluke and Darkonda both gained super forms along the way. One must wonder what if Trakeena (from Power Rangers Lost Galaxy) actually teamed up with Darkonda. I'd hate to imagine the outcome. It seems that Giluke and Ahames may have answered that question.
Both Giluke and Darkonda manipulated their own underlings. Giluke died once but returned with the vengeance. The same could be said of Darkonda having died more than once. Both characters are persistent foes who menace the red ranger from their shows -- in their own way. Giluke would later become so horrible that he slowly sacrificed his own comrades -- at Bazoo's command. Before that, Giluke was more concerned about protecting his home planet.
It gets interesting that Giluke becomes rivals with Ahames. Both used to work together. However, both of them became rivals trying to take the place of supreme commander. In the end, Giluke was destroyed by the heroes. For me, Darkonda's death in a kamikazee attack was too anti-climactic. It wasted Dark Specter's potential as the Grand Monarch of All Evil. Maybe, Gurail from
Denji Sentai Megaranger had a more honorable dismissal --
though the villain should've tarried a little longer IMHO. Bazoo forbade them from working together ever again.
What gets interesting is Giluke's tenacity to survive. Giluke was initially banished by Bazoo for FAILURE. However, Giluke managed to merge his body with a Space Beast Warrior -- to stay alive! Giluke would often haunt Ahames and the Changemen -- since both of them were responsible for his first death. Okay, kinda like Darkonda? Giluke would return as Super Giluke -- a newer, more cruel version of himself. Giluke would no longer have qualms about sacrificing his comrades. Giluke turning Ahames into Maze was a well-deserved revenge. Giluke eventually gave his life as well in the finale arc.
Comparing the plot points of Bubba and Shima to Ecliptor and Astronema
I couldn't help but draw a parallel between the duo team of Bubba and Shiima to Ecliptor and Astronema. Both Bubba and Ecliptor rival the red rangers of their shows. Both also care about a subordinate who gets redeemed in the end. One would be Shima, and the other would be Astronema. Both Shima and Astronema turn away from evil and live to tell about it. Shima's the princess of Planet Amanga forced into evil. Apparently, Astronema was also a princess named Karone -- before her brainwashing. Shima apparently was always Shima -- except she was brainwashed!
Space ended up with a huge Battle Royale finale -- which can be impressive, but it could also lose focus. The battle of Andros and Ecliptor might not been well-wrapped. In fact, it's not even explained why Ecliptor still vaporized while the others were purified. Ecliptor's not pure evil compared to the others. The Z-Wave's effects may explain why it was only against the current threat. Still, no explanation was given for Ecliptor's demise from it. If only Ecliptor had been given a better death!
The way Bubba and Astromena concluded felt more satisfying IMHO. Bubba slowly defects from the Gozma because Even Evil Has Standards. That trope was played right into Ecliptor. Bubba challenged Change Dragon, knowing he no longer had anything to live for. Before that, Buuba actually saved Shiima from her brainwashing. Bubba was disgusted at how Shima was about to be sacrificed by BOTH Giluke and Ahames. Bubba gives his final words to a redeemed Ahames, Bubba trying to get a final stand -- somewhat wrapped up his rivalry with Change Dragon. Later, Tsurugi would even give flowers to his rival's landmark in the same episode!
Shima's redemption is played throughout the finale. Shima starts to figure out that she actually wants to be free -- but she's too afraid. Bubba plays a role in that one. Later, Shima would join Gator in the finale. Shima would later join Ibuki (who's actually an alien, explaining his knowledge of the Universe), Gator (and family), in restoring the Universe to order.
Ahames and Trakeena as scheming villains
Okay, Trakeena is that villain from Lost Galaxy. It's still a scary thought though what if Trakeena teamed up with Darkonda -- both would've probably destroyed the Dark Specter much earlier! Trakeena would still be a threat to the Gingamen and the Changemen. Ahames might be what if Trakeena wasn't bound to the TV-Y7-FV rule. However, Trakeena was given character development from a spoiled princess into a ruthless final foe. Ahames was a game-changing villain. in her own way.
Both Ahames and Trakeena could also don attractive female disguises. Trakeena infiltrated the Terra Venture as a woman named Tracy. Ahames pretended to be a service crew worker in her first appearance. Both of them could easily ensnare anyone by pretending to be a good girl. This attribute is often used by supervillains to infiltrate. Supervillains who often use disguises (ex. Mystique in X-Men) are also prone to be manipulative backstabbers. Both villains schemed on BOTH the heroes AND the villains. Trakeena was already known to manipulate her father's underlings -- for her own convenience. Ahames had also manipulated Gozma generals -- even her former ally Giluke! The only thing that held Trakeena back was TV-Y7-FV. Otherwise, Trakeena would still be a dangerous foe against the Changeman and the Gingamen. Trakeena would still do what Ahames does -- BACKSTAB everyone for her own convenience!
Ahames' later episodes proved she's practically NOT someone to be messed with. Ahames was able to summon her elite Space Beast Warrior Trio and her two-headed dragon Jangaran. Later, Jangaran would split into two. The Rigel Aura arc gave Ahames a significant upgrade. Ahames' use of her newfound power nearly won her victory many times. Just that maze of invisible walls was one thing. There's a medical emergency and Ahames shows she can be ruthless. At one point, Ahames even almost canceled the Earth Force. But of course, Bazoo wants nothing more than victory so none of them counted. Bazoo's a difficult boss to please, after all! Ahames turned against her former partner Giluke. Later, Ahames would even go as far as to try and sacrifice Shima by using Daryl -- a monster that caused Amanga's destruction.
It should be noted that both Ahames and Trakeena are disgusted at the thought of becoming beasts. Trakeena was transformed into Maze. What was amazing was that Ahames split off from Maze -- an act of her sheer defiance. Ahames would rampage the EDF base -- calling for Bazoo to restore her and her planet. So what's the big deal with that? Was Ahames a self-serving woman or what? Was Ahames a tyrant ruler of her own planet? It's not explained but Ahames seems to be it. A proud evil queen who wouldn't accept anyone above her. Ahames' ending is karmic, considering the way she was even willing to sacrifice Shima in the finale arc. It was most likely that Ahames saw that her own territory was no more -- presumably because she failed Bazoo too many times!
Trakeena's return in Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue was likely just for fanservice. After all, Trakeena's a popular villain. I guess contractual agreements weren't so strong in the 1980s. Why did Yodonna from Mashin Sentai Kiramager get to return with the actress? Then again, Trakeena was played by Jennifer Burns during her short return -- covered with a mask. Yodonna was still played by Nashiko Momotsuki during her post-Kiramager days. Still, Yodonna and Trakeena are both Breakout Villains in their own franchises.
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Overall, it seems that Changeman's scripts may have inspired Power Rangers. I confess that I ended up disliking Power Rangers for personal reasons. So yeah, I've decided to write this one just to reveal my own crazy thoughts!
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