Sean Akizuki's Super Sentai Blog

It's time for a special review. As much as I thought I wouldn't do an episode-by-episode review for old-school Super Sentai. Today is a day to remember someone who left the world too soon namely Thuy Trang. One reason why I won't do an episode-by-episode review for old school is that fansubs tend to be released in batches. Doing reviews on them can get in the way of real life. On the other hand, doing a weekly review of the latest Super Sentai (but still don't expect updates on merchandise) is an easier task since I get some rest after doing so. I hope you can guess why I'm doing a review on this one. Tock feels like he's no longer useful since his circuits were tampered with. Speaking of which, the Timerangers want data concerning the Great Disappearance. We also receive the foreshadowing concerning Captain Ryuuya who had other plans. This causes Tock to leave believing that he is useless.  The episode also focuses on developing Naoto or Time Fire. He...

It's no secret that I like Super Sentai better than Power Ranger and  I'm not even a fan of the latter . Now I'd like to go beyond my superficial reasons to defend my stand to why I end up disliking Power Rangers. I decided to go beyond the icing and go into the cake itself to why I prefer Super Sentai over the more popular over the years Power Rangers prior to the huge drop it's experiencing lately . I don't care how popular Power Rangers is and I don't care what Power Rangers snobs have to say. I'm giving my personal reasons beyond the surface now! Of course, I'll present the pros and cons on both sides to avoid being too biased with my viewpoint. Better plot pacing and development in terms of episode count One of the reasons why I'm inclined to say that Super Sentai is better than Power Rangers is because of the writing and plot pacing. Let's talk about some fan favorites and not just Mighty Morphin' which overextended to the point ...

It's the Indasion of the Clones by the Indavers... pun intended. In this episode, we get a fun clip show while the Kyurangers try to drive out the soldiers from within. It's a funny episode with some cool recollection of some of the series' milestones.  There are just times in Super Sentai we've never seen villains unmasked whether they be footsoldiers or generals. I remembered how we never saw Bubba's face in Changeman or Lar Deus' face in Flashman to name a few. I guess there are times we're left to imagine how they look underneath. On the other hand, we see the chestnut like shapes and we learn they're genetically modified soldiers. They also try to try play sympathetic which was too predictable. I could also feel the bit of conflict of Tsurugi with the others. I mean, I was more in favor of his decision to throw the caught goons into the Time Hole. Spada is kind of naive which sort of irritates me. I feel like this show is telling me to...

Timeranger is probably one show that's complex for many, some consider it Yasuko Kobayashi's Magnum Opus (though which series she was the main writer is somewhat debatable) and yet there's some gray areas. These are probably what I'd call the gray areas of Timeranger or what really happened. Remember spoilers ahead so read at your own risk! Naoto Takizawa As much as I'm a fan of Timeranger but I tend to think about criticisms even from Super Sentai fans towards this guy are also valid. What could be a weakness and a strength for the show at the same time is Naoto's role. He appeared pretty late in the series in contrast to other sixth rangers before him like Burai who appeared in the 17th episode. So what was his role? I thought Yasuko Kobayashi's tendency to write anti-heroes and maybe, just maybe she wanted her own version of Gai Yuki (minus the womanizing, gambling and drinking) but this guy took it too far in some way. He's a real douche and ...

This week's Kyuranger deals with Naga. While I do appreciate some character development for Naga but I feel this is a bit of a drag. I guess I'm too anxious to travel back in time or what? Anyway, I hope next week will get better. So where do we go?  The new Vice Shogun Akenba unleashes her specialty to make people overly emotional. This is where Naga falls down and I hope it brings some character development.  She offers Naga the chance to have his emotions. This is a real issue that the show brings up. I really call this deal with a villain to be typical but it can be good depending on how well it's written.  We see more of the Orphiucius System and what really happened. They were an overly emotional people. To stop wars they abandoned emotion and individuality. Talk about the opposite extremes. I guess this  The unleashing of emotions doesn't happen in a good way. He becomes twisted and evil inside which results to a huge dilemma the Kyu...

Remember spoilers ahead! Don't read unless you're a spoiler addict like me! After rewatching Timeranger (with TV-Nihon subs and in better quality before Shout! inevitably licenses it) I thought about how time travel could affect various continuities in Super Sentai. Just take note that Toei tends to use the multiverse format  when they write Super Sentai. A lot of events here would include crossover movies (which may be referred to as the VS. Universe) which manage to change the way things go. It's time to ride the Den-Liner or Time Gamma (take your pick) to see how time travel could affect various continuities in Toei's entries of Tokusatsu series. I may be missing some so feel free to write down what's missing. Time travel was done in Denziman (though I haven't seen that episode), Maskman, Liveman (though it was someone from the future getting dragged into the past and a dinosaur was dragged into the present), Jetman, Abaranger, Magiranger, Goseiger, Ti...

This week's Kyuranger is the quest to find the Horologium Kyutama Globe in the planet Tocky. As the implies, it's a click. Speaking of Tocky, doesn't that remind anyone that Tock is also the name of the owl in Timeranger? This planet has twelve keys which must be rotated to access a different area. There are twelve Kyurangers and we're seeing them all in action at once. I hope the Kyurangers will find some way to break through the rule of having only five at a time because the battles are getting tougher and tougher.  The planet triggers past memories of everyone. Some of them are revived enemies. Others would also involve painful decisions or just plain hilarious. It must have been caused by the explosion caused by Tecchu. Speaking of which this has to be the funniest part of the episode. Raptor is stuck in an illusion with the four boys courting her and she's a freaking robot. This reveals the closeness of Commander Shou Ronpou to the late Command...