Sean Akizuki's Super Sentai Blog

Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger finally hit its finale. Shashiro's fake betrayal was really too predictabl e. This time, I'd like to review the finale. As always, please DON'T ask for episode reviews anymore. This blog is JUST MY HOBBY. It's time to look into the finale. The finale arc bit more than it could chew. Sure, the Hashiryans took over the Earth. But yeah, you know the center was Japan because Super Sentai has the trope of Tokyo being the Center of the Universe . It would be too expensive if they created scenes of some nations on Earth. For example, it'd be HILARIOUS if Toei decided to ask Hasbro for Power Rangers footage to emphasize Hashyrian taking over the Earth. The finale arc had its downright Too Good To Be True trap. Of course, Mira isn't willing to marry Wairudo Spindo out of the blue. I still feel the incident was as random as that Mighty Morphin' episode where Lord Zedd once tried to make Kimberly his bride. This scene is just too forced given...

Fake Defector is a common trope in superhero shows. Super Sentai did a couple of Fake Defectors . However, Ishiro Meita aka Shashiro pulls what may have been long overdue. Shashiro's the resident spy. I almost feel like playing the Bass Nova from Austin Powers . Shashiro is also part of the ISA as well. This is pretty much a double-agent plot. To deceive your enemies -- you must first deceive your friends! This has to be the longest fake defection scene in Super Sentai . Most Fake Defectors are usually done to undo the absurd villain plot of the week. This one is so convincing that you'd think Shashiro betrayed them. However, Shashiro's such an expert marksman that he's fired WELL-TIMED shots at his allies. What's with the exaggerated use of guns here? Aya Odagiri in Chojin Sentai Jetman once used a gunshot to get Ryu Tendo back on track. The "devil commander" Ibuki from Dengeki Sentai Changeman often fired a shot during military training -- without the in...

Just because newer Super Sentai goes for a mostly lighter and softer approach -- doesn't mean legal drama can't be involved. Sure, we can't have brutal scenes like more mature crime dramas.  Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger has the International Space Agency. Rather than take the usual easy way out -- Boonboomger decides to add some crime drama into it. The ISA's supposedly responsible for law and order. It turns out that it's been infiltrated by CORRUPTION! Wairudo Spindo has had been paying off CORRUPT ISA officials. It turns out that Director Eiichiro Tokoyari is a SELF-SERVING PERSON. Tokoyari enters into what might be an uneasy deal with Wairudo. This is a typical crime drama element when it comes to CORRUPT OFFICIALS. This might be in a different light than Captain Ryuuya Asami's involvement in Mirai Sentai Timeranger . Ryuuya didn't have any real alliances with the Londarz Family. It was more like Ryuuya chose to let them escape as part of his convoluted gr...

I don't find myself all too enthusiastic about Boonboomger  as I did with last year's King-Ohger. The evidence is that I do random posts over weekly reviews. I'd like to focus on a bit of the BLATANT product placement. Product placements are common practice. These can be seen in stuff like McDonald's in the cult hit classic Santa Claus: The Movie (1985) or Krispy Kreme with Power Rangers (2017) movie.  The episode also features Hinami Mori as Flint Goldstuiker Aki Nogi. I did that strikeout on purpose since there are cases of Same Celebrity Different Characters in Super Sentai . Power Rangers managed to cast some of its previous alumni into different characters too. Aki is Mira Shifuto's classmate. I'm glad that despite Jun Shishon making a cameo as his Right Suzuki in Ressha Sentai ToQGer -- Hinami isn't resuming her role as Flint to avoid having too many Ranger History Lessons !  It may not be December but Christmas decorations are found at Toys R Us. It...

I've decided not to write episode reviews of Boonboomger. It's because I've got other interests cooking. I finally caught up (again) with the show. This time, we're introduced to weaving BunBun's tragic past. Some Super Sentai series presented Zords that were sentient such as the Bio Robo from Bioman or Daizyujin from Zyuranger . Go-onger goes as far as to make the cars talk and dance. BunBun is someone who has a tragic past and a huge mistake he wants to correct! The latest episode reveals the Big Bad named Wairudo Spindo. BunBun fell into disgrace (and we also see Disrace fall as well). BunBun had an upgrade and it was an illegal one. Wairudo Spindo manipulated BunBun before the series began. The Hashiliens were still a small group back then. Wairudo Spindo knew he had to get whatever resources he had for his conquest. It turns out that the illegal parts were done by WAIRUDO SPINDO HIMSELF. It's a typical cliche where villains start a tragedy, lend a sympathet...

After a long wait -- the Big Bad Wairudo Spindo shows up. I remember when Mr. Smith wrote an article on American influences in Super Sentai . It's not surprising if one notices that Toei once had a license with Marvel. The Japanese Spider-Man TV series was a licensed adaptation vastly different from the source material. Meanwhile, Saban Entertainment created a Spider-Man cartoon adaptation in 1994 -- my favorite Spider-Man cartoon adaptation.  I get amazed every time ADULT MOVIES are either adapted or referenced in a SHOW FOR CHILDREN. Who can remember the Aliens vs. Predator toyline or Conan the Adventurer -- both based on R-18 fantasy franchises? These villains are probably named after violent movies because they're villains!  The big boss Wairudo Spindo  The Japanese character Waru means bad person. Spindo may refer to SPINDLE. What's interesting is that the  Fast & Furious  American movie was released in Japan was Wild Speed -- which may further enforce ...

Last year,  King-Ohger's timeline was   linked with Kyoryuger . This year has ToQGer linked with Boonboomger . I'm getting ready for some people who still believe in the existence of the Super Sentai timeline.  One episode featured the Go-Onger guest episode, explaining that  Go-Onger was from another world . However, this episode links or proves that Boonboomger is in the same continuity as ToQGer . Watching ToQGer when I had taste fatigue from Super Sentai was why I didn't initially enjoy it .  This week's episode didn't have any open portals or anything. Instead, it really had it that Akira and Right Suzuki. Jun Shishon only showed up at the end of the episode. Shin Nagahama took the cake as the guest star. No mention of Shadow Line was made. The plot had some crazy train-themed monster called Senro Grumer. The people get forced to play choo-choo train against their will. Getting all the ToQGer cast together may be impossible -- given that some are ...

This week's Boonboomger gives an explosive revelation. Yes, it's that Genba is actually a cat-like alien from the planet Bureki. Was this a sudden twist or not? Given how superhero shows tend to operate -- it may or it may not. Super Sentai copies tropes here and there so I'm not too surprised. Was this an attempt to add layers or what? Genba has a grudge against Disrace who harmed the planet Bureki -- before the show even began. I realized that some rangers are uniquely non-human in a team of humans. Sure, Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger had four members who were aliens and only two were humans. Here, I'm talking about non-human rangers in a team of humans. That means half-humans like Eiji Takaoka in Gougou Sentai Boukenger aren't included.  Aside from Genba -- here are the rest you may or may not remember...  Sion from Mirai Sentai Timeranger Timeranger was the very first Super Sentai series to introduce a non-human character. Okay, in Star Wars terminology -- Sion would...

  I haven't been writing episode reviews. They can be enjoying and they can be tiresome. Blogging is just a sideline. As I caught up with Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger -- I'm still hyped up with last year's Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger . Yes, I'm not going to hide that fact! It might just be a matter of taste fatigue . I won't deny that I've shifted my preference to South Korean entertainment over Japanese entertainment. However, that hasn't prevented me from at least checking out Boonboomger .  After a huge adventure in some fantasy world -- it's time to go back to Modern Japan. Maybe, it's like going back to your own country or planet after a long trip. I was already obsessed with moving Super Sentai away from Modern Japan -- in favor of other fictional settings. King-Ohger gave me that. Ucchu Sentai Kyuranger also gave me that feeling. What I tend to ignore is that Super Sentai will always have certain limits . Super Sentai operates within a certain budg...

I still have my Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger hype. However, I caught up with Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger which I dare call the "necessary return to simpler-looking designs". This week has made me more familiar with the Japanese number 119. Yes, 119 works the same way as 911 in America. 119 in Japan is an emergency rescue number. Boonboomger carries the motif of a lightspeed delivery service. I'm warming up to how a ranger team of "mostly unremarkable civilians" are proving themselves worthy to handle the powers of lightspeed. This is coming from me who thinks that lightspeed rescue technologies are best handled for those who do rescue work for a living -- not non-professional civilians!  The scene almost feels like an upgrade to Ressha Sentai ToQGer's Imagination Power. I confess the show felt boring -- it was at that time I had franchise fatigue! Taiya originally wanted to be a firefighter but never got to that point. It seems Taiya was probably prohibited by hi...

SuperSentai2023 Instagram Super Sentai was trying to stay afloat more than once. The reboot treatment has been working wonders as long as it caters to children . What I never noticed is that Super Sentai tried a new plot with the lovable nerd heroine. Power Rangers fans may raise Kendrix Morgan due to her wearing glasses. The difference is Kendrix wore spandex and fought bad guys. However, most of the lovable nerds here minus Yayoi Ulshade aren't ranger-type characters. Maybe, three out of four of them have really bad eyesight -- not good for battles! However, they made up for it with their intellect. Yes, not all heroes go out into the battlefield and fight. Some are the BTS encouragers like Alfred Pennyworth in Batman . Miho Nakamura was the laboratory assistant at Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters . The show does have some similarities to Power Rangers RPM like having a sentient virus Big Bad. I like how the Energy Management Center gave a commander in Takeshi Kuroki (too bad the actor ...

I may not be doing episode reviews (so I could focus on other stuff). However, I felt like doing this episode because of the return of Norio in a semi-comedic episode. I guess there wouldn't be any more overly somber episodes like episodes 14-15 -- which were probably tributes to the late Yuka Motohashi. As I was watching this episode -- I realized that Norio was from episode 1. Yes, that same episode where Mira was almost forcibly wed and I think she's too young to be a bride. So much for that Lightspeed Rescue! I never expected Norio to get into a future episode. Most possible love interests simply fizzle out and never get heard from again. One can talk about Canalo's long list of unrequited romances . One-shot love interests were a common trope during the Hirohisa Soda era. Mai in Dengeki Sentai Changeman fell for a scientist for one episode. Kenta in Hikari Sentai Maskman was pretty much into that. Kasumi in Chikyu Sentai Fiveman also had a one-shot love interest acted...

It's been some time since I REACTED to an update. As a reminder -- I prefer to react to updates than to give them. I just leave the updates to sites like JEFusion (which I stopped guest-writing for them so I can focus on other stuff) or UkiyaSeed. I'd like to give my first impressions of Sakito Homura or Bun Violet. Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger uses more simplistic, almost retro-style designs while keeping in mind we're in the digital age. I love some good old retro stuff while accepting new technology.  I'd like to emphasize some problems I had with the newer Super Sentai . One of them involves the sixth ranger showing up too soon. I could remember one of my problems with post-Gokaiger seasons was the sixth ranger pacing. Sure, I'm a fan of Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters but I think Masato Jin's episode 14 arrival was, "QUICK! WE GOTTA SELL MORE TOYS!" Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger gave us Utsusemimaru in the NINTH EPISODE. I may have enjoyed Ohsama Sentai King-Oh...

Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger started with lighthearted vibes. Sure, I'm not doing episode reviews like I used to. I can be updated with the shows at MY OWN PACE. Episodes 14 and 15 have darker tones -- unlike the latest episode (the introduction of the Sixth Ranger). I felt unusually heavy since most episodes were on the balanced side.  Bakuage 14 has some tense drama build-up What creeps me out is the line that Mira said to Shashiro in Bakuage 14. It gets really emotional. It doesn't help Yuka got admitted to a hospital a few days earlier before passing away. Mira's lines really get emotional. I feel the emotional tensions being spoken After 13 episodes of mostly near-TV-Y7-FV episodes -- we get some emotional tensions. Did anybody say PG-7 shouldn't have sad moments? Super Sentai may have been toned down since 2001 -- probably a kneejerk after Mirai Sentai Timeranger may often be berated for being overly serious or serious for the sake of it. Miya's rightfully berat...

So much for claiming I'm snailspeeding Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger huh? The recent episode has Yasuhisa Furuhawa resuming his role as Sosuke Esumi from Engine Sentai Go-Onger . This episode also verifies that most Super Sentai entries belong to another dimension or Universe. It's best to treat Super Sentai Strongest Battle as just another crossover event. Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger should be treated as part of the VS. Universe or a year-long crossover.  Speedor mentions that he and his partner Sosuke came INTO THIS WORLD - referring to the continuity of the Boonboomgers. Go-Onger operates with the concept of Braneworlds. I may dislike Go-Onger now but it seems it's getting Vindicated by History. Sosuke was racing across different worlds and landed in the world of the Boonboomgers. Speaking of which, Go-Onger even had a 10-year-after special (which I didn't watch and I'm no longer looking forward to Super Sentai reunion movies) - something that the better shows before an...

I may not actually regret SNAILSPEEDING with Boomboomger's lightspeed delivery services. With great power comes great responsibility. Toei usually chooses professional themes or heroes to do the job. However, Toei has times when it decides to make some u-turn by allowing "unremarkable civilians" to handle such power. After seeing the Boonboomgers using the power of lightspeed - I felt like, "What's with civilians handling the power of lightspeed? That's not a toy!" I was too used to how Tokosou Exceedraft used the powers of lightspeed as police officers.  Boonboomger starts with a trio and then slowly introduces the next two members. Interestingly, the first five heroes haven't been established as a team. The familiarity isn't developed too soon. The show probably wants to add some degree of realism. Typically, superhero shows would still add degrees of realism.  The International Space Agency (ISA) was introduced in episodes 4-5. Investigator Sh...

  Watching Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger and enjoying it because it's so shiny and new was something. I said, "That's the innovation I wanted from Toei!" Sure, I had those crazy comments like, "Well, it'd feel more authentic if we had white people playing the other roles!" Something that would be difficult or even impossible due to language barriers. King-Ohger was a very awkward yet interesting season. The only thing that I felt "authentic" was Erica Murakami playing Himeno since she's half-white.  Other than that, I enjoy bonking the rest of the cast because of Japanese people playing roles "better suited" for white people. Everyone did a good job and I was amazed with a lot of atypical stuff. The show had a more TV drama feel than the Kamen Rider franchise did during its reboot. The newer Kamen Rider series (which old schoolers prefer to call Masked Rider) feels more like a TV drama series. Those enormous changes in King-Ohger cause...