How Many Showa Era Toku Shows By Toei Have You Dared To Watch In This Reiwa Era?

Gozyuger's latest episode provoked my thoughts. I couldn't watch more older Super Sentai series if it wasn't for the dawn of the digital age. Back then, you miss an episode and the chances of you seeing it, are DRAMATICALLY SLIM. Renting a Betamax or VHS back then was THAT DIFFICULT. Long lines and rental deadlines were the thing. I can remember my late paternal grandmother borrowing tapes and ordering us to return them WEEKLY! Today, it's the digital age and who knows that Toei's global expansion plan may include streaming the Japanese product on Westernized digital media.

Some time ago, I wrote about recalling the Showa era with Toei. The Showa era would've been around December 25, 1926 (coincidentally with Christmas) and ended in January 7, 1989. The Second World War happened in all of that. Imperial Japan fell down and Modern Japan came into birth during the Showa Era. Instead of invading other countries, Modern Japan began pioneering inventions and today, it's still GOING STRONG such as the DVD and BluRay. I wouldn't be surprised if the DVD would one day be fizzled out for something much better -- such an invention may still TAKE PLACE IN JAPAN! 

The Showa Era were the "simpler times" or not really. I grew up in the 90s Heisei Era so there were newer stuff. However, one could remember how the diskette had very limited capacity. However, fiction always used diskettes as something that could change the tide of things. In fact, the simplicity of the Showa Era could be reflected by what Toei offered back then.

I asked years ago how many older Super Sentai series you have tried watching. Of course, some people think I'm "outdated," which I'm not -- I get critical whenever I spot things becoming way too silly or RELYING TOO MUCH ON NOSTALGIA. This time, one could think about the reality of generation gaps. I even figured out that Showa Era Kamen Rider is barely my cup of tea. Ironically, I enjoy new school Kamen Rider more than new school Super Sentai. Meanwhile, I had some fun with the Metal Hero shows such as the Space Sheriff Trilogy. However, my favorite Metal Hero series is Tokosou Robo Janperson -- a HEISEI ERA entry. Back to Super Sentai -- I have a mixed reception on the Showa Era. It's because some older series can be WAY TOO OLD!

Watching Himitsu Sentai Goranger and Dengekitai JAKQ helped me a lot. I was hesistant to watch Goranger due to how LONG it was. I usually prefer a show that's just the right length. JAKQ helped me see more about how rushing things can be detrimental to the story. The Disney era Power Rangers' 32-38 episode format rushes things, IMHO. Goranger's 84 episodes can make me say, "Nah! Not rewatching it!" more often than not. However, if there are no failures to learn from then I don't think we'd get a lot of good stuff later on. Super Sentai would later have the yearly cast change and let it run mostly from 40+ to 50+ episodes. Most of them go beyond 45 episodes and usually end early next year.

There are some constraints worth thinking about. One could think of how special effects can be wonky. I could ask, "Are you willing to watch a Super Sentai without that Megazord or just one Megazord, or too few Zords?" The development process was there. It may be advanced back in the day, but it's now LOWER by today's standards. I could remember laughing at older CGI. However, there are also times Nightmare Fuel can be downright scary. Some villain origin stories can give a real scare. It's because Super Sentai in the Showa Era had fewer restrictions. That many explain why several unmorphed fights by cast members are more intense than what's offered today. Most unmorphed fights today are still good but lack the Showa Era's daring. Rewatching some Showa Era Super Sentai -- I dare to say that Maskman Takeru is still better executed than Takeru Shiba of Samurai Sentai Shinkenger. 

Another would be the Super Sentai series before Hirohisa Soda. Watching Battle Fever J up to Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan can be a challenge. I can imagine a Power Rangers fan checking out Sun Vulcan and comment that Fuhrer Hell Saturn lacks the development that Emperor Grumm had in Power Rangers SPD. Battle Fever J  created the first Megazord -- one that lacked a combining sequence. Denshi Sentai Denziman's Queen Hedrian can be as flat compared to Bandora in Zyuranger. It could be interesting to see the late Soga Machiko's role as Hedrian. However, it can be hard NOT to think of her role as Bandora or her most evil role as Queen Pandora from Jikuu Senshi Spielban. Heck, Battle Fever J NEVER explained how the Egos Cult came to be. Satan Egos was pretty much like, "Yeah, whatever! He was just there!" That was before Toei decided to think about developing the characters. These stuff may best be viewed as interesting experiments and milestones of the past.

To conclude, I've watched the whole Showa Era Super Sentai entries. However, I've only watched so few Kamen Rider series. I've seen Kamen Rider Stronger, Kamen Rider Skyrider (BLAH), and Kamen Rider Super-1 later in life. All three are MEH to me. Maybe, I got too spoiled by the serialized storytelling of Kamen Rider these days. It reminded me how I said that the newer Kamen Rider series are pretty much like an action-packed telenovela. I've seen the Metal Hero entries of the Showa era. Maybe, my favorite entry is Uchu Keiji Sharivan -- although I was first exposed to Gavan -- the more popular of the two. Spielban was good, but the ending was kinda, "WUT?!" However, it was fun seeing Ninja Senshi Jiraiya -- a series that somehow got into the lackluster world of Shuriken Sentai Ninninger. Jiraiya was kinda interesting and may have inspired Kamen Rider Gaim in some way. 

Just a strange rant to start the month!