Again sticks closely to the Timeranger plot, in that the mecha made by the city seen in the previous episode never existed in 3000's events of history, meaning that Ransik and the Time Force Rangers are causing history to change. This causes the four from the future -- mostly just Katie -- to kind of question what it is they're doing, if there's a possibility they'll return to a future that's changed or unrecognizable to them. Katie began the episode already missing her family, so hearing this possibility crushes her.
The episode doesn't really hit the dramatic notes it needs to, I find something about it lacking. While Katie and actress Deborah Phillips are both a hell of a lot more likable and sympathetic than Shuuhei Izumi or Domon*, the scene of each character abandoning Katie/Domon to go resume the fight is just filmed better in Timeranger. (It also has the benefit of using good, appropriate music, the song "Mirai no Yukue" by Motoyoshi Iwasaki.) The scene in Time Force just doesn't have the same impact. And while I think the dialogue of the scene is actually stronger and more heartfelt than in Timeranger, I guess what it all comes down to is...this is an episode that might have benefited if it came later in the series, when all of the actors have fallen into a better rhythm and the show isn't afraid to embrace more serious stories. (By the time Eric/Quantum Ranger shows up, there's not much time for punch-pulling.)
*"Unlikable" is too harsh to describe Izumi or Domon, because it's not really that he's unlikable, but maybe just a little too aggressive. He's so boastful and in your face and abrasive about it, it's a little hard to buy sometimes those emotional moments, like his losing it at seeing a sunset. There's always two big things that stick out for me about Domon that bug me about him. One, of course, is how he ends the series as the ultimate deadbeat dad. Second is that episode when he's hospitalized and he elbows Tatsuya in the face for no good reason after Tatsuya spent the entire episode trying to help him. I mean, I don't like Tatsuya, either, but it was unnecessary.
Anyway, this all makes me kinda wonder if they should have just made Lucas Yellow and Katie Blue. But Saban, still not quite over his love for runaway bride Bioman, just refused to have any female combination other than Yellow and Pink, didn't he? Then again, I kinda like the bizarre choice of making the hulking Time Yellow female, and it gives Katie one of her character quirks that's awesome -- unexplained super-strength. One wonders if Yasuko Kobayashi once checked out Time Force to see what they did to her show and subconsciously ripped off of it with OOO.
Saban's always forcing one-female Sentai teams to become two in the '90s often made me wonder why Sentai couldn't have a two-female member team where only one of the two wears a skirt. It would be an interesting choice to have one of the two not have a skirt, because not all ladies wear a skirt, yo.
Not just Bioman, but I think someone working on Power Rangers never got over letting Dairanger get away. It's kinda weird how things from that show creep up in later PR works. You have Magna Defender using the Aura Changer. You have Titanium Ranger afflicted with what's basically that spider curse Jin puts on Ryou. You have Ransik rockin' the Gorma Trio's wannabe Cenobite look. And then you have Master Org stealing Gorma the 16th's outfit. Weird.
Domon is just a very flawed person. He kinda ends up doing jerkish or stupid things towards others, without really realizing what he's doing. But the show proves that he'd never do such things out of malicious intent. And Tatsuya in a lot of ways does sadly end up being Domon's punching bag for him to vent towards. Not that Tatsuya minds (him being an every man red archetype who wants to help and bring out the best in everyone). I think Domon is shown that he's an incredibly slow thinker, while also being prone to aggressive kneejerk reactions (not sure what the proper term for this sort of diagnosis would be).
ReplyDeleteBut I can see why it might be a little irritating to watch Domon for you. The things he does is indeed not the most pleasant to watch. I dunno if this is the same as how some folks feel towards Gai Yuuki. But I can imagine with Domon, it can come off kinda frustrating to watch, especially when he and the rest of the cast are already quite a grumpy miserable bunch.
I think another big issue is...who Izumi's working with. Because I can take him and Kuranuki as their characters, but since they're working with the three others who are more important characters and not the greatest performers, it can throw those two off. If the other casting had been better, it would have changed the other two. Also, like I said, it doesn't help Domon gets stuck with the problematic Honami story.
DeletePeople are over-the-top in their reaction to Gai! And they just don't get it. They don't understand the character, why he acts that way, what Inoue's saying with him.
I can see what you mean. I'm not sure if it's the cast, or the directing which is more at fault. Though I guess the cast would've benefited from being more assertive at the very least.
DeleteBut yeah, Ayase and Yuuri, they generally kinda just mind their own business. Whenever I think of Yuuri interacting with Domon, it's often her just getting fed up with him. I think I even remember one scene where Domon puts his arm on Ayase's shoulder, being all buddy buddy, but Ayase just grumpily brushes him off.
Tatsuya is kinda weird, cause I guess he's trying to remain equal footing for all 4 characters (well, maybe particularly with Ayase, and especially Yuuri). He's trying to open up the two less social ones. And maybe this is part of what hurts the chemistry? Tatsuya ends up putting way more attention into Ayase and Yuuri. Thus, Domon and Shion kinda getting neglected.
It's like you said. Ayase, Yuuri, and Tatsuya are more important. In fact, maybe one could argue that the majority of the show runs on this trio, for better or for worse.
Hi Shogo nice to have you back for another round. So here's my thoughts as of the Timeranger side of the fence:
ReplyDeletehttps://akizukisentai.blogspot.com/2018/04/timeranger-for-massive-foreshadow.html
No offense Sean, but perhaps you should actually try commenting on Shougo's blog posts, or say something about what he's discussing here, instead of just constantly plugging in your own blog ramblings?
DeleteOkay thanks for the advice Fantasy Leader. Just right now I'd like to talk about this one to Shogo B'Stard:
Delete"Anyway, this all makes me kinda wonder if they should have just made Lucas Yellow and Katie Blue. But Saban, still not quite over his love for runaway bride Bioman, just refused to have any female combination other than Yellow and Pink, didn't he? Then again, I kinda like the bizarre choice of making the hulking Time Yellow female, and it gives Katie one of her character quirks that's awesome -- unexplained super-strength. One wonders if Yasuko Kobayashi once checked out Time Force to see what they did to her show and subconsciously ripped off of it with OOO."
Speaking of not getting over Bioman - I felt like it's just crazy. I dunno if it's a cultural thing that yellow isn't much of a man's color in the U.S. compared to Japan. TBH I think it'd be interesting if Katie were blue and Lucas were yellow. I admit, the whole Katie turning bulky is just WTF.
Hmmm speaking of Kobayashi - I can't help but seldom compare her to Judd Lynn and Toshiki Inoue. And yup, I do have that stupid theory of mine THAT she subconsciously carried over Katie to Kamen RIder OOO.
"Saban's always forcing one-female Sentai teams to become two in the '90s often made me wonder why Sentai couldn't have a two-female member team where only one of the two wears a skirt. It would be an interesting choice to have one of the two not have a skirt, because not all ladies wear a skirt, yo."
Hmmm still agreed on that.
"Not just Bioman, but I think someone working on Power Rangers never got over letting Dairanger get away. It's kinda weird how things from that show creep up in later PR works. You have Magna Defender using the Aura Changer. You have Titanium Ranger afflicted with what's basically that spider curse Jin puts on Ryou. You have Ransik rockin' the Gorma Trio's wannabe Cenobite look. And then you have Master Org stealing Gorma the 16th's outfit. Weird."
Honestly, speaking of which, Ransik seems to be mutated Garoa IMO. Both started out as geniune threats AND ended up as Large Hams instead.
Ransik isn't as bad as Garoa! They make Garoa a total idiot in Fiveman. He's such a non-threat that the Fiveman just leave him alone in the finale and his stupidity gets him accidentally killed!
DeleteWith Ransik, yeah they put him in silly situations -- in comedy episodes -- and they chicken out on having him properly dealt with by forcing a redemption on him. And while the actor gets more and more over-the-top, Ransik is still dangerous. He's not stupid.
Ransik's basically like Rio from Gekiranger. Not as cool as he should be, and the writers chicken out and force a redemption storyline.
Well I can agree Ransik is not as bad as Garoa though it's easy for forget -- early on Garoa actually had potential to kill the Fivemen with his brute force. Later, Hirohisa Soda having no idea what to do anymore turned Garoa into a real idiot -- which I felt also happened to Ransik. IMO, I would have probably killed Ransik with his stupidity. TBH, I kinda found Garoa's stupidity entertaining.
DeleteFor Rio, I think he was a cool villain but the redemption had be mixed. Sidenote, I'm a huge Gekiranger fan myself!