During any Super Sentai series the
episodes after the opening salvo are usually reserved for
character-focused tales with little baring on the greater story. It's
generally the testing ground for the show to try out some concepts
and let us get a feel for the different types of tales that show can
deliver. One might expect this newest entry to follow suit yet once
again it manages to surprise by offering far more than it need to at
this point in the game. Our token mufti-episode recap works out
wonderfully in this case as these two most recent entries serve as
one solid story.
Before we move on to the real meaty
stuff, I'd like to point out a few elements we've yet to tackle.
First off there are a couple characters I haven't addressed. The most
prominent on the good guy side is Commander Hilltop, boss of the
Patrangers and a sign of progress within Super Sentai. Few and far
between are the moments when this franchise... hell, this genre
includes anyone who isn't Japanese. Occasionally there will be some
other Asian cultures represented, and once in a blue moon you'll see
a white dude helping out. To have a mentor figure played by an
African-American is absolutely wild. And no I'm not using that term
to avoid calling him black, the guy was born and raised stateside
before finding success as a comedian in Japan. Not unlike Zyuohger
utilizing someone with severe social issues this marks another step
in Sentai finding new types of characters to tell stories about.
I've also neglected to mention the
robotic helper, Jim Carter. It's a pretty standard-issue cutesy
mascot type with a high-pitched voice. Honestly it's something I wish
the series had avoided. Mercifully the little bugger hasn't had much
time in the spotlight so far.
Several of the villains grab some
extra screen-time over these episodes as well. Destra, who's sort of
a... grenade-man? Pineapple-cyclops? Not really sure what he's
supposed to be exactly but he's investigating how parts of the Lupin
collection ended up in the hands of these two batches of heroes. He
knows someone is playing a much larger game, who it is and how this
all plays into the competition for head of the Ganglers is what
matters to him. Big guy gets in on the action too, putting four of
our heroes on the ropes with little effort and in the process,
revealing to them that there are more than just random criminals
causing trouble.
Destra's investigation is all the more
important as it introduces us to Zamigo, the Gangler responsible for
killing the Lupinrangers loved ones. Little is known about him so far
except his human guise is something of a wild west outlaw and he is a
information broker currently interested in the movement of the
various Lupin collection items. I gotta mention how happy I am to see
monsters in human forms return to Sentai. Several 90's shows utilized
this element as it had the advantage of adding some extra color and
mystery to each case.
Anyway, all of the investigation into
the heroes technology leads to an element of this series that, to my
knowledge at least, is wholly unique within the franchise. Generally
the bad guys have little interest in the heroes technology save for
destroying it to render their opponents powerless. The objects these
two teams utilize are presented as being just as dangerous as the
rest of the Lupin collection. This means that down the line, villains
may attempt to take these items back and bend them to their own
goals. It's a slight twist on the usual formula which could lead to
some interesting developments if the writers carry through.
It's a testiment of how much this
series already has going on that I've written this much without even
getting to the primary theme of these two episodes which is about the
rivalry between both red rangers. What brings this to a head is the
introduction of a new robot that changes hands a few times. The
Ganglers steal it, then I believe the Patranger got it back right
before Lupin Red took it for himself. This is what I was talking
about earlier. In most series the introduction of a new tool wouldn't
be all that interesting but when three separate groups are battling
for control, it becomes a great deal more exciting.
The fight between the red rangers in
episode five is really something to behold. Wonderfully shot, edited,
and choreographed to a fine point. Even though we the audience know
nothing truly awful will happen to either of them this early in the
show, the battle still manages to have tension. It's not just a
battle of brawn but ideals. One side believes firmly in using this
power for justice and protection while the other must take a darker
path to regain what they've lost. We see that Kairi would probably
prefer to take a more respectable stand against the Ganglers, though
he does what he feels he must to regain his brother. This starts to
get through to Keiichiro who hadn't put much motive to his opponents
actions other than basic greed.
Tsukasa gets a bit of additional depth
here as she has to snap Keiichiro out of his rage. He once inspired
her with his ideals so for him to lose sight of them only to focus
his anger at one opponent gives her ample reason to slap him around.
It marks her as possibly the most mature hero in the entire show, one
that can provide a stern lecture or a helping hand as needed. Combine
that with her childlike obsession with stuffed animals from a few
weeks ago and she already has more depth that basically anyone from
Kyuranger.
That's three recaps done and this
series has yet to disappoint. What's particuarlly impressive is that
in a season of telivision that has some shows struggling to retain my
attention, looking at you The Flash, this is worth looking forward to
every week. That's such a priceless thing to have at a time when
things are especially busy. For example; in this upcoming week I have
to attent a city council meeting to try and win a seat, set-up
appointments with a college before Friday, have some paperwork sent
their way, and attend that before a different meeting on Friday. Plus
all the usual day to day antics, writing, e-mails, medicating the cat
for his bladder issues. The next 20-odd minutes spend with these
costumed do-gooders will be very much earned.
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