Jetman 46-47

EPISODE 46

Ugh, this one. I know it's the typical lighthearted-one-before-the-heavy-wrap-up installments, but it's just really out of place with the episodes surrounding it. Or maybe it's the choice to center it on Raita. It's a ridiculous episode, but not as bad as a Megumi-befriends-Butchy lighthearted-one-before-the-heavy-wrap-up installment.

It's a great idea to have a monster that plucks a childhood fear from the hero to terrorize him, but Toranza's finding the Tomato King plan so amusing is what's worst. Toranza's been nothing but cruel. The Tomato King plan is so absurd, it's even worse than the ant-people plan -- you know, the one that Toran was mocked for, the one that led to his ousting?

The episode has at least one laugh, which is when the Tomato King is stalking and mirroring Raita's movements. I wonder who the suit actor is. The Tomato King design, by the way, is as dumb as this episode, looking like something from Goranger. (Pumpkin Kamen.)

On the bright side, Ako's featured a lot in this episode, deciding to try to inspire Raita by making him believe an unwell plant of his is actually beginning to grow tomatoes. (She tied a tomato to it, but it's a nice sentiment. If it had genuinely been growing, that would have been a stirring moment, especially for a dedicated farmer like Raita -- who, like all good farmers, sees what he grows as his children -- but it's a mood that Jetman's just too damn cynical for.)

Raita overcomes his fear of the Tomato King with Ako's inspiration, and by pigging out on tomatoes in a segment that goes on far too long. All in all, it's an episode memorable only to Naruhisa Arakawa, who eventually pretty much steals it for Gingaman's 21st episode.

Random note: As someone who's not a tomato fan, the scenes of Raita chomping into tomato after tomato -- and washing it down with glasses of tomato juice -- really grosses me out.

EPISODE 47

They're writing Toranza off already?! Well, I guess that's what happens after you come up with the Tomato King plan. This episode is mainly Toranza stalking each Jetman member, attempting to turn them into a framed stone carving of their helmets for him to display. (Remember when MMPR was a juggernaut, so it had every type of merchandise you could think of? Well, remember the smelly soap that was shaped like the Zyuranger helmets? That's what Toranza's little trophies remind me of.)

The most important part of this episode is supposed to be the disguised Radeige saving Ryu and assisting him in fighting Toranza. My problem with this is...they don't explain what's happened to Radeige that he's in human form, which works in favor of his plan. After the Veronica incident, he was seen weakly stumbling around city streets. In the previous episode, he cringes while giving off lightning and turns into a human form. We're not told why. I guess we're to assume his powers are a little haywire after absorbing Veronica's energy to escape, but...shouldn't that give him MORE power? And he seems to be in control of his power just fine when it comes time to dramatically reveal who he is to Red Hawk and Toranza as they battle.

This episode basically makes you choose whether you're Team Radeige or Team Toranza. When Radeige's getting his final revenge on Toranza -- trapping him when he's down, after he's received critical wounds in battle with Red Hawk, Radeige stabbing him through the hand and then reversing the "say my name" routine Toranza pulled on him in 37 -- you're obviously meant to feel a bit of glee on Radeige's behalf. But this is Radeige we're talking about! Remember what he's done throughout the show.

I'm Team Toranza, not only because he's Hirose, but because he stirred up the Vyram side of the show. The Vyram Trio became more united against him, he brought a clear and tangible bitter history between the villains, he brought the sense of leadership and a formidable factor of a main villain, with the means and agenda that the Vyram often felt lacking. It's always shocking to realize Hirose/Toranza is in only ten episodes of the show.

And, of course, the battle with Radeige and Red Hawk leaves Toranza in a shattered mental state. Like what Juuza once did to him, Radeige finds the biggest way to insult Toranza, the proud warrior with extrasensory powers, is to leave him losing his mind, letting him live out his life as a power-less human. A Sentai villain ending up a drooling, catatonic mental patient was certainly a different way to write off a character. It's like Jason Voorhees, though -- I feel like Toranza's still out there. He was so powerful, I always thought there was a chance he'd recover over time. Gokaiger missed an opportunity to bring him and Hirose out of retirement. (I know, I know -- the manga brings back Toranza. More on that later!)

I feel like I should call attention to Hirose's performance in this episode: from his casually taunting Ryu at Rie's (and Ryu's!) grave; to the wicked glee of his pursuing the Jetman individually; to the absolute rage he shows Red Hawk once Hawk strikes him with Bringer Sword; to the pathetic, frantic and pained reaction during his final meeting with Radeige and, finally, the catatonic Toranza. Hirose runs the gamut here, and it's a great final performance seeing off his last, true Sentai villain.

Random note: Gotta love Radeige's line to Toranza; "You're like a shooting star; no matter how brightly you shine, you're destined to fall."

Random note 2: It's quick, but the final battle between Red Hawk and Toranza's pretty cool. (It's Hirose's revenge for not getting a good send-off in Liveman!) Hawk's flying around blasting him, he's stabbing him through the gut, he uses Toranza as a human body shield. At one point he's fending off Radeige and Toranza at the same time. (And people think that sword fight between Shinken Red, Juzo and that random monster is cool. Pfffffffft.)