~ Kamen Yaiba's Tokusatsu Blog ~

Shuriken Sentai Ninninger: Episode 32! A lot of things in this episode. First of all, a battle between the Last Ninja and Izayoi Kyūemon. Pretty generic one (very "Narutish" if you know what I mean), but still, very nice for a change. Next, we have heroes making their own new mechs. Liveman team approves. Finally, a big return to the battle, the end of Kyūemon's big bad robo and big new Ninningers' gattai. Which is the best part, since finally, this series came out with something fresh and original. I mean, really, the idea about heroes spiritually entering their new OtomoNins, then gattai and shoot themselves into the enemy... That's something new ^^ The result of all that is the most impressive episode for the moment, hands down. Especially since fight choreography keeps kicking ass.

Shuriken Sentai Ninninger: Episode 31! Comedy-oriented episode with switched abilities (Kasumi-chan is priceless in this one) that all of the sudden ended as one of those classic "ultimate evil mecha" stories. And even though I really like this kind of the episodes, there's a huge problem here - lack of the originality. I mean really, it's just the same old thing with nothing special about it. Enemy summons the ultimate giant robot that nobody can defeat and things look hopeless (until the next episode). The end. Pretty cool if you didn't see anything like that before, but totally boring if you've seen at least one series with this kind of the stories. Especially since this one isn’t as cool as those from the past.

Shuriken Sentai Ninninger: Episode 30! Two really interesting cameos this time. First - Yamamoto Chihiro-san. She's an active Tai Chi player since when she was 3 years old. She's very good in sōjutsu (the art of spear) and got a golden medal on 4th Sekai Junior Bujutsu Senshuken Taikai (also, silver medal for kenjutsu and more). You may also remember her by Uzumasa Limelight movie. The girl is absolutely awesome and if we had the main cast made of such people, Ninninger sure won't suck that much. Anyway, second cameo is also very interesting. Actually, it's even more interesting for Sentai fans, because it's Baba Ryōma-kun! The one, who played Iwasaki Ryūji in Go-Busters. I always liked such cameos... But what's fun here is that two series that I consider the worst in the whole Super Sentai history (Ninninger and Go-Busters) are finally met ^^;;; Judging by how (spoilers-spoilers!) a Power Rangers actors will make a cameo soon too, it's like we've got the whole Power Rangers Set of Horror in Ninninger. I mean, you know, Go-Busters used many elements from various Power Rangers series and stuff.  It's like my worst nightmares become true... ^^;;; Really, even though I was with Super Sentai Series for many years, I'm starting to hate it now... ^^;;; Anyway, the story this time is pretty generic again. A good guy, a bad guy and a girl. You know the stuff. But at least we've got two interesting cameos ^^;;;

Shuriken Sentai Ninninger: Episode 29! The main idea about this episode is really nice. It's a Tsumuji-san's backstory and also something about how his father feels about him (which is a very touching thing to see). Unfortunately, the episode itself is yet another game-like battle. And since we have yet another ninja team this year, it's just... I mean, come on! We had the similar story in Hurricaneger, then Gōkaigers made a tribute to it, but now it's the same thing all over again and again with ninjas... I mean, we often have the recycled scripts in Super Sentai, but repeating something from the series of the same kind makes things much worse. And judging by what kind of the series awaits us the next year according to the recent rumors, it feels like Toei is in the deepest creative crisis ever.

Shuriken Sentai Ninninger: Episode 28! Ah, hijacked kindergarten bus... Absolute classic. Unfortunately, this episode is a lame attempt to get more attention from kids. It's trying to please kids in the lamiest way you can ever imagine. Just re-watch the first episode of Himitsu Sentai Gorenger before watching this and you'll get the idea about how much Super Sentai is screwed up 40 years later. I mean, really, back then we had heroes, who tried to get kids' attention by being cool. And what do we have now? Heroes who dance and sing? Heroes who run away with your freakin' ramen?! You gotta be kidding me... As usual, even though episode itself is lame, there'll be a lot of main story related stuff too, but in this exact case it's a bad thing, because you will want to skip this one. But won't be able to.

Shuriken Sentai Ninninger: Episode 27! A big personal battle for Star-san. Totally preddictable, but pretty cool and with a lot of emotions. Terrible acting by Fukuda Keima-kun (Takigawa Reiji) ruins the mood a bit, but oh well, Ninninger is full of terrible acting (I really hope that we'll get Gōkaiger level actors in the next series). It's like Ninninger thing. Anyway, in this episode Star-san should learn about how not to let himself to get consumed by his revenge and it's his turn to get power up.

Shuriken Sentai Ninninger: Episode 26! Recap. It's only episode 26, but it's a recap already. Which is pretty weird, since usually we get such stuff much later. Should we take it as the hint that something epic is coming? Or Toei is just out of ideas? Anyway, it's a typical recap with a lot of fan service. Even with the Last Ninja himself.

Shuriken Sentai Ninninger: Episode 25!

OK, and now I'm pissed off... I mean, come on! There are more than 126,880,000 people in Japan... And still they're hiring Korean actors. Can I please at least watch JAPANESE TV without seeing all those girlish Gangnam Style oppas EVERYWHERE?! Just look at it! We have Korean bands performing theme songs for the most popular Japanese TV shows, we have Korean actors playing there... Go back to your freakin' Korea and leave the freakin' Japan alone! Man, I so-o-o hate it how they're taking over Japanese media... Soon it'll be hard to see a Japanese face on screen in Japan. And it has nothing with the races, it's just man, give the local people a chance! Those Korean "actors" have nothing but cute faces! And here comes a nice example. Yet another Be Da Cute (Shin Won Ho is the name, I guess) to play the leading role in the episode. Judging by how many Korean actors we had lately, in the few years we'll get fully Korean team. Gangnam Style Sentai: Oppaman. But enough about that, let's just say that I feel really sorry for Japanese media right now. As for the episode itself, it's an audition-based episode with Dracula. And while back in the days we used to have Dracula played by Nībori Kazuo-san, now he's played by typical Korean boy, who looks exactly like all others... Well, he isn't actually... but no, no spoilers. But yes, I just can't stop talking about that, because I'm totally pissed off. Also, this one is yet another cross dressing episode and as a fan I believe that Toei should have stopped after Dekaranger with such stuff. It isn't something the one will want to have as a tradition. I mean, it's fun from time to time, but having that in almost every series... No thank you desu.

バイソンキングドラゴ!!!

Shuriken Sentai Ninninger: Episode 24!

Time for three Seiyō Yōkai to appear! And, well, even though we've seen such monsters before (Nībori Kazuo-san himself played Dracula in Sun Vulcan, for example), design is pretty cool. Also, amusement park episodes are absolute classic and the idea about everybody trying to make a special day for Fūka-chan is very cure. Unfortunately, the new Yōkai didn't prove himself strong and died right away, idea about Frankenstein's monster in the bar was copy / pasted directly from Zyūranger and the whole script wasn't that cool. But still, it's a cute episode with some really fun moments. P.S. We can often see the camera crew in our heroes' visors, but this time they overdid it again... You sure wanted to be in the series, huh, cameraman-san? ^^;;;