Hasbro's Power Rangers era and General Tokusatsu discussion

[Christopher]

Anyway, though Zi-O had its entertaining aspects, I'd have to say it's the weakest of the Heisei Phase 2 series, much as Decade was one of the weaker Phase 1 entries (though I consider Kuuga and Blade the weakest). Phase 2 was remarkably consistent overall -- the only two I'd call weak were Ex-Aid and Zi-O, and Ex-Aid wasn't bad at all, just kind of familiar, rehashing a lot of things from earlier seasons whose versions were better and fresher. The first half of Drive was fairly weak, but it made up for it with a superb final third.

 

[Takeru]

Wizard and Ghost were the weakest of phase 2 in my opinion, Wizard was pretty boring and I couldn't get into Ghost at all.

 

[Christopher]

Wizard and Ghost were the weakest of phase 2 in my opinion, Wizard was pretty boring and I couldn't get into Ghost at all.

Wizard was middle-of-the-road, not one of the best but fairly good. And Wizard's basic costume is probably the classiest-looking Rider costume of them all. (Although I despised the Wizard belt's vocalizations, especially the pre-henshin jingle.)

Ghost was highly enjoyable, and I loved the positivity of it, how it was more about winning over the antagonists rather than destroying them, because it turned out they had valid reasons for what they were doing. I liked it for much the same reason I loved Fourze -- in both, the hero's greatest power was his ability to reach out and connect with others, to create bonds with them, rather than just fighting them. And it could be pretty poignant at times.

 

[Samurai8472]

^I thought the main female of the season Akari was a breath of fresh air from other girls. She was the brains of the group. The best episode IMO was episode 12 when everyone thought Takeru would die.....but what show would it be if he died in episode 12? lol

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Unused Another Kamen Rider designs by Seima Muto (Kamen Rider Zi-O Storyboarder) released

https://twitter.com/2ndAbsoluteUnit/status/1167174136738865152

Another Cross-Z

Another Chalice

Another Mach

 

[Samurai8472]

Ryusoulger episode 23

https://www.mp4upload.com/y5a1u36btupg

There isn't really much to say about the episode. It was mostly a clip show. It's nice to learn more about the gimmick/collectible Ryusouls of the year.

Interesting that all the Ryusoulger have to do to regain a Ryusoul is dig up another one. Also neat to see them barter/trade what souls they have

 

[Christopher]

Hmm, episode 23 is a bit early for the annual clip show -- in my experience, they're usually in the latter half of the season. And this one was doubly annoying -- not only one of their usual stilted clip shows, but basically one big toy commercial showing off the RyuSouls and telling kids how fun it was to collect and trade them. I mean, these shows are always about selling toys, but this was the most blatant example I've seen yet. Maybe it's because the collect-and-trade dynamic was introduced here for the first time and played almost as a recreational activity in the story, which makes it feel more blatantly promotional than in cases where the need to collect items is built into the overall storyline as something with life-and-death stakes.

It wasn't so bad when they were explaining these things to Ui, who didn't already know them (though she's inquisitive enough that I wonder why she didn't ask these questions months ago), but it got to the point when the Ryusoulgers and Tyramigo were explaining things to each other that they should've known all along, which is always when these clip shows feel most contrived.

Somehow I figured out immediately that

Spoiler

Oto was Wiseru in disguise. The way she showed up and demanded to be brought along was played kind of weirdly from the start.

 

[Samurai8472]

Speaking of collectibles. I got these a week ago. Neat little things

Kagayaki Soul and Kurayami Soul Set

 

[Christopher]

What do those things do, exactly, besides flipping open? I'm guessing you plug them into the toy sword and it calls out the name and such like in the show? Or are they just for sticking into the assembled robots as the head component?

 

[Samurai8472]

What do those things do, exactly, besides flipping open? I'm guessing you plug them into the toy sword and it calls out the name and such like in the show? Or are they just for sticking into the assembled robots as the head component?

Pretty much what you just said. The shows first episodes(and super sentai battle) promoted the ryusouls extensively. Later on they shortened the summoning sequences after people got used to them

However they're used on the show is how they can be played with when purchased. Aside from turning you into a dinosaur themed knight

-They're neat little trinkets on their own
-They interact with the changer and sword and other merchandise like Ryu Gold's gun for example
-Certain one's come with a new head design for the Ryusoulger mecha
-

Candy versions are slightly cheaper versions than the deluxe ones that can be bought. The paint on the head is less on the candy version

This video is basically a mini primer

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[Christopher]

-They interact with the changer and sword and other merchandise like Ryu Gold's gun for example

How do they do that? They look like they're just hunks of plastic, too small to have batteries or anything. My guess would be that there's some kind of RFID circuit or microchip inside them that the other items recognize.

 

[Samurai8472]

How do they do that? They look like they're just hunks of plastic, too small to have batteries or anything. My guess would be that there's some kind of RFID circuit or microchip inside them that the other items recognize.

The back of the ryusouls have notches. When they’re inserted, the pins on the toy(Ryusoulken) with the sound effects triggers the specific sound

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It’s similar to the shift cars in Kamen rider drive or gokaiger keys

That’s how Kamen rider driver belts can be hacked too. People press down on the sound buttons for a period of time to trigger a sound effect

 

[Christopher]

The back of the ryusouls have notches. When they’re inserted, the pins on the toy(Ryusoulken) with the sound effects triggers the specific sound

You know, I actually thought of that when I noticed that the two RyuSouls in your second photo above had different notch patterns on the backs, but then I thought maybe those were for plugging into the mecha toys instead. I have a bad habit of getting the right answer to start with and then second-guessing myself.

 

[JD]

Toei has posted the first episode of Kamen Rider Zero-One on Youtube for free worldwide, but it isn't subtitled.
I got excited for a minute, until I hit the part about it not being subtitled.

 

[Christopher]

Toei has posted the first episode of Kamen Rider Zero-One on Youtube for free worldwide, but it isn't subtitled.
I got excited for a minute, until I hit the part about it not being subtitled.

I really wish I'd done better in Japanese class back in college, and hadn't forgotten nearly all of it since then. Even with all the tokusatsu and anime and kaiju eiga I've watched over the past few years, I've still only reacquired a small amount of vocabulary and grammar, and I've got no grasp at all of the written language. The only part of foreign languages that ever came easily to me was the pronunciation.

 

[Stephen!]

Robert Axelrod has died.
https://www.rangerboard.com/showthread.php?t=184289

 

[Samurai8472]

Robert Axelrod has died.
https://www.rangerboard.com/showthread.php?t=184289

He was also the voice of many digimon characters.


Kamen Rider Zero-One episode 1

https://www.mp4upload.com/x4r88ahf2eww

Alot of world building being given to us.

"MetsubouJinrai.NET the terrorist organization are residing in a town that looks like it's been devastated and underwater. Curious.

It seems like Jin and Horobi's agenda is one of revenge since it seems Daybreak Town was destroyed by a Hiden Inteligence satellite. They both seem to be human and have since discovered how to use the HumaGear's singularity to hack them.

Aruto's grandfather foresaw a crisis that would require Aruto to be Zero-One

Aruto's dad was actually a Humagear!

Aruto's humor is cringe worthy but his heart is in the right place. I have a feeling the humor is going to be needed(good or bad) because there's going to some heavy dramatic moments I predict to offset them

Aruto is like a mixture of Peter Parker(inexperienced) and Tony Stark with owning a large tech company

I got "Ghost In the Shell" vibes when the driver was being created. I also noticed the 3D printing machine looked alot like the Kamen Rider Build bottle purification machine

The Zea satellite looks ALOT like a driver/belt. I hope there isn't a giant Unicron type of rider out there....

The new collectible "ProgRise Key" looks cool. People really liked the Carl Sagan/Microsoft Sam insert of a perfect english phrase it produces.

"A Jump To the Sky turns to a Rider Kick"

Our new villain hackers straight up shooting a Humagear in the head while laughing was sadistic

Zero-One's fight scene was highly ambitious. I like that we get an explanation for how Aruto can use the gear.

Too bad the HumaGear comedian couldn't be saved this week.

While being very fast-pace like ever, the episode packs a lot of interesting stuff with not too much toy ads (done reasonably well without feeling forced)

I have a feeling that the Mj.net group might hack Izu early on in the series

No OP credits so far. I wonder if they're adopting EX-Aid's format where they just don't air the credits at all and play the theme at the end of the show? Doesn't seem right though. Without the credits something is missing.

Kamen Rider Zero-One commercials

https://www.mp4upload.com/sb9ooq5k8o57



Ryuusoulger 24

https://www.mp4upload.com/75uaejftlsxj


I had a feeling early on that Canalo wouldn't find his perfect bride. There was something up. In fact I wish they'd given our 6th ranger for the year something MORE to go on. 90% of the stories with him seems to be just find a bride and then ending up disappointed.

 

[Christopher]

Zero-One: Off to a good start. The premise and worldbuilding are engaging, though there are similarities to AMC's Humans, and maybe the I, Robot movie. A lot of mysteries hinted at, suggesting a deep backstory that'll be revealed. What happened to turn that city into a crater? How is the disaster connected to Aruto's past? Why was he made the president? How did his grandfather know an AI uprising was coming?

It's interesting how the monster creation is the "infect innocents" model we've seen before (W, Fourze, Ex-Aid, Build, Zi-O), but this time with the innocents being androids that are theoretically nonsentient, so I guess it's supposed to be okay to smash them. Although Taro certainly seemed to have awareness and emotions, feeling privately happy to make people laugh and fighting against the reprogramming, so there's some ambiguity there.

Aruto is an okay lead, I guess, but a bit too similar to Sougo. It's been a while since we've had a KR lead who wasn't a goofy, nerdy, boyish type -- pretty much four seasons in a row now, though Takeru from Ghost fit the third parameter. The second male lead seems like your standard angry, hostile Secondary Rider, and it's a bit early to say much about the female lead, though she shows promise.

I really liked the "Rider training at computer speed" idea. Clever use of the premise, and a nice way to explain how a new Rider catches on so fast. The fight scene was ambitious, but too flashy, and the CGI wasn't up to the concept.


Ryu: Okay in a silly way, I guess. It didn't go the way I expected -- I was assuming that Creon and Wiseru were using Mao as bait to trap Canalo, making him so determined to save her himself that he'd deny help. I initially thought she was a creation of the bad guys (Wiseru in disguise?) until she started shedding Minusaur energy.

Were they filming in the Edo Village backlot in Kyoto? I've seen that location in so many SS/KR time-travel episodes/movies by now that it's weird to see it in a present-day episode. I guess it was meant to represent a small town with traditional ways, in keeping with the whole "inherit my dojo" thing.

If Canalo could use CosmoSoul to pass right through the "cake" barrier in giant form, why couldn't he just do that in Ranger form, instead of going through that whole fishy training montage?

 

[Christopher]

Well, Power Rangers Beast Morphers is finally, finally back with a new episode, "Silver Sacrifice" (episode 9) It's a pretty good story with strong character work, establishing the "brotherly" bond between new Rangers Nate and Steel, and putting the robot Steel in jeopardy when General Burke wants to shut him down to prevent Evox from taking over his body. Some nice character work, team bonding, and heroic sacrifices, undermined a bit by the mediocre acting of Mark Wright as General Burke.

Almost nothing here is taken from the Go-Busters counterpart (episode 16) except the design of the barely-used Robotron and a few minutes of fight footage in the last act. The Gold and Silver Rangers' Zords debut, and it continues to be bizarre to hear Nate refer to his Zord as a "Mantis" when its design is so clearly based on a rhinoceros beetle, which doesn't look even slightly like a mantis. Apparently we're supposed to see the "antler" hooks at the end of its crane arm/horn as the head of the mantis, but a mantis doesn't have a long neck like that.

 

[Samurai8472]

it continues to be bizarre to hear Nate refer to his Zord as a "Mantis" when its design is so clearly based on a rhinoceros beetle, which doesn't look even slightly like a mantis. Apparently we're supposed to see the "antler" hooks at the end of its crane arm/horn as the head of the mantis, but a mantis doesn't have a long neck like that.

Yeah. Power Rangers tends to change what species a zord is to something completely unrelated

Power Rangers turned Kyoryumaru from Shinkenger into a Shark when it was supposed to be a T-rex

Ryousoulger episode 25

https://www.mp4upload.com/e6c0wlapzb9x

Well they already promoted the Ryusouls so now it's time to promote the ending dance! Toei posted a video with the Ryusoulger villains dancing the ending.

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Interestingly they spell Creon -> Kleon so Tvnihon adjusts accordingly. A bit late for an official spelling when the show is at the halfway point

Kleon's album cover looks like Michael Jackson's "Thriller" cover LOL

Interesting route to take in that there is an in-universe reason to have the ending dance, and it ties into Ui's side role as a viral video creator

Even more striking is that it's effectively a dance-off (villains participating in the dance has happened with some like Kakuranger's ending), tying together the lesson. Definitely the type of amusement needed when the villains aren't at their most competent




Zero-One episode 2

https://www.mp4upload.com/w2illghobihc


No Opening credits for the 2nd week. Even the Opening singer was taken by surprise

http://daisukitoku.com/2019/09/11/missing-kamen-rider-zero-one-op-raises-confusion/

Really good stunts and effects in this episode. We had some bike action too with Zero-One pulling of an "Akira" slide with the bike

Vulcan blasting a hole through several containers and Zero-One seeing him from the other side was a great visual.

They almost pulled an "I am Iron Man" type reveal at the end but Aruto decided to instead announce himself as Hiden Intelligence's President

Something about Fuwa being the only one to like Aruto's jokes is quite interesting.

 

[Christopher]

Ryu: Well, that was silly, and not very substantial. Although it's interesting how Kleon (or whatever) is becoming increasingly disaffected with how he's treated, and now is making a friend that he didn't want to use to sustain a Minusaur. In the end, Kleon even caused the plan to fail by deleting the video and allowing the Minusaur to reassemble so Koh could destroy it.

But if the end title sequence is actually the viral video Ui recorded... shouldn't they have been in front of a greenscreen?

By the way, it just struck me while watching this that Ui's name could be rendered "Whee!" I wonder if that's the intent.


Zero-One: Pretty interesting stuff. Fuwa turns out to have a real reason for his robophobia, and there's a mysterious backstory behind it and the Daybreak disaster. It's contrasted with Aruto's fondness for Humagear arising from the same incident, and his connection with the security Humagear Mamoru. Some good action, too. The first Magear jumping up to climb on the lobby wall was well-done, and it was novel to see a shipping yard used as a fight location. Plus there was some effective drone camerawork of the sort that was used to good effect in LvP last year.

Some things didn't add up, though. How did Mamoru get saved or rebuilt at the end? And the depiction of Zero-One's henshin was inconsistent. The first time, he was able to transform just off to the side of the lobby without attracting any attention or exposing his identity. But the second time, the robot grasshopper thingy caused an insane amount of property damage and noise before the henshin occurred. They're really going ridiculously overboard with the CGI this year. I mean, Vulcan henshins by firing a bullet and then punching it when it doubles back to fly at him? How stupidly macho can you get? And what if he misses?

Yaiba looks a bit like Tsukuyomi's more serious big sister.