My Ever-Changing Views On Boukenger, Revisited 20 Years Later

Gougou Sentai Boukenger would have a reunion this year, which is something. Yes, Super Sentai is on hiatus, but it can't be denied that somehow, it's still "in the memories". I thought Super Sentai was having a clearance sale, but it turns out that it wasn't. Yes, we're having Super Space Sheriff Gavan Infinity and it's going to be replaced with Kaikusetsu Omegahorn. I decided to think about how Boukenger was the 30th entry and how my views changed with this series over time. Granted, Super Sentai was just a hobby and blogging is just a hobby, you can't expect me not to shift opinions overtime or shift gears too fast!

Personally, I feel Boukenger gets too much credit at times. Sure, I still enjoy it, but it's just that I don't think it's all that great after some time. Infamously, I once used Boukenger to bash out the already unpopular (and probably still is) Power Rangers Operation Overdrive. However, it's no secret that I later labeled the Boukengers as a bunch of drunkards. The series had its crazy moments where it seemed everyone drinks and drives -- something that adds to the comedy of the show. Satoru can be sober in one moment (outside the field) BUT he threatened to drop Masumi into the lava earlier on. We have Sakura who's a strategist, but she would hand a gun over to the emotionally immature Natsuki. There are many moments characters are sober in one moment and then act high in another. Probably that's what Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger was aiming for when alcoholism got linked to Boukenger. 

The Operation Overdrive factor

Boukenger probably only got more recognition because Operation Overdrive sank hard. What advantage did Boukenger have over Operation Overdrive? Sure, the storytelling's not all incredibly epic or perfect. However, the real issue was that Boukenger had better acting and pacing. It's not a five-star acting since the cast was relatively young. However, I felt that the actors were able to deliver the "fun adventure" vibes as intended. I always felt every exaggerated face done by the cast fit perfectly -- whether it's Sakura getting annoyed, Satoru's recklessness, Masumi's scowl, or Natsumi's childish behavior, it was actually funny for me. Operation Overdrive tried to run things in just 32 episodes -- something that wrecked the story writing. Operation Overdrive carried over the multiple factions. Boukenger has 49 episodes, actually giving the three factions more room to work with. 

Not to mention, Boukenger kept its VS. Movie as a What If continuity. Operation Overdrive relied on putting most Power Rangers shows into one continuity. I believe that Power Rangers' use of the continuity model is mostly because of how American shows run. To be fair, let's discuss Operation Overdrive's crossover first. "Once a Ranger" was meant to be within the show canon. That alone creates a lot of narrative clutter -- such as the return of Alpha Six and Adam Park (whose black ranger powers, are somewhat unexplained). I even felt Thrax, the son of Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd, it's hard to fit him as an adult unless stuff like time travel or magic growth were explained. Instead, Thrax became an timeline and story anomaly. This again shows the pitfalls behind Power Rangers relying too much on timelines. I mean, doing the math, Thrax should probably be just an elementary school student! Operation Overdrive just crashed a huge meteor on itself even with "Once a Ranger".

Now, I know some people don't like Boukenger vs. Super Sentai. For me, it's an okay show. However, we need to look at Super Sentai crossovers like the Dragon Ball Z movies. They exist within some kind of What If continuity where concepts are explored WITHOUT having to blend into the canon. This movie presents the VS. Movie only villain, Chronos. There's a lot left unaccounted for like, "How did the guest stars get involved?" Instead, one can simply sit down and enjoy the show. One doesn't need to reconcile Hyde Gene from the Boukenger movie as the cause of the dinosaurs' death vs. Asuka from Bakuryu Sentai Abaranger. Nanami showing up like that is no issue. The whole series doesn't need a logical explanation except, "It's just a What If movie." In short, any event that happened WITHIN the movie never affected Boukenger. That is Boukenger as a series must be judged by the events WITHIN the series. This short film can be skipped entirely and you're NOT MISSING MUCH. 

Other factors that affect my preferences for the show

Now, putting Operation Overdrive aside, it's known that I tend to prefer the "more violent" era of Super Sentai. Yes, the 1990s era where Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger would be too violent to pass through TV-Y7-FV! That's why Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers was a localization (better term, since we're changing content for a different culture, but it's still an ADAPTATION, business-wise) made for Americans. It's also because Power Rangers is better than its source material for the American audience. I thought watching other older series from the 1980s (especially the pre-Zyuranger era) and anything after that era, especially shows after Boukenger, could alter my mind. 

There are times I felt the different villain factions in Boukenger is more of an aesthetic facelift for Vyram from Chojin Sentai Jetman. More often than not, I remember comparing Ryuon and Gaja to Radiguet and Tranza from Jetman. The Ashu seem to be an extension of the Demon Gods' short-term arc in Jetman. However, the toning down can be seen that prevented Ryuon from becoming full-on cruel and was more like Radiguet Lite. Yaiba of the Darkness was a truly menacing figure to Masumi's past, while constrained by the post-2000s censorship. However, rewatching the Metal Hero series Tokosou Robo Janperson makes me think the different factions of Boukenger may not be too well-implemented. Maybe it's because Janperson knew how to handle it better or that Janperson belonged to the more intense era. 

I was thinking of several things that affected my enjoyment of other Super Sentai series. One could argue that Sakura, despite her coldness, was actually more likable than Yuuri in Mirai Sentai Timeranger. However, there are times I tend to think of Yuuri more than Sakura. Eventually, things can get more awkward, especially since Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger was practically a huge anniversary fest. My opinions between both Gokaiger (which I find overrated, but I understand the hype is deserved) and Boukenger often flip-flop. However, I feel that Boukenger is more enjoyable than the later series such as Doubotsu Sentai Zyuohger (which, right now, I feel like was too reliant on the pretty girls to bail it out) and yawn, honestly, I still can't get myself to really enjoy Kikou Sentai Zenkaiger despite its rather interesting concept. However, other series that were non-anniversary can lower Boukenger, such as Jyuken Sentai Gekiranger. Until now, I feel Gekiranger is still one of the best Super Sentai series ever. Maybe, add Samurai Sentai Shinkenger, which gave audiences eye candy and a good story. 

These days, I view Boukenger more as a "stress relief" Super Sentai series. Perhaps it has entered into that category of "I enjoy it even if it's not a masterpiece." Boukenger is a fun show that has a special place in my heart, even after 20 years. My view today is that, "It's not the best, it's not the worst either."