I like the idea behind Jarmine's plan in this episode -- the Bouma-Beast she unseals transforms the citizens of a city into people from the samurai era. Jarmine's reasoning is that in that era, those types of people are who the Bouma would have probably ended up ruling, that they missed out on ruling, so this is a form of revenge on their part. That they're turning modern civilians -- and symbols of peace and safety like cops and doctors -- into violent disrupters is appropriate of a tribe called the Violent Demon Tribe, and another kind of revenge in that they're regressing those modern civilians. If part of the theme of the series is the advancement of civilization and science making people think they've moved beyond magic and monsters, then this Bouma-Beast is forcing people to remember in a mean old way, by thrusting them back into the ways of old, when doctors didn't know any better than just amputate what they couldn't cure.
But the episode doesn't have the money to pull this premise off successfully. It's really cheap, you really get the sense they just raided the Edo Period wardrobe, only able to somehow scrounge up about three sets of outfits. Really, for a "samurai town," it feels like there's only about three people! And on top of that, they want this episode to mainly just be crazy action and adventure -- it's a chase for most of the episode, as track champ Daichi runs from the samurai out to kill him and the kid with the broken ankle he's force to haul around with him. (Add to this that Daichi loses one half of his Turbo Brace; Dynaman and Maskman had more exciting lost and/or broken henshin brace episodes.) The money just ain't there for this episode; it's not done as big or as exciting as they want it to be. The tone's also a little wonky; the situation with the samurai cop and doctor, they're meant to be played humorously in their strangeness, but they cast two guys who are going hard for the yuks. (One is played by Hope, one-half of the comedy duo Utopia, who you might remember guest-starring as the two dummy ashigaru ruining the tone of that time-travel episode of Kamen Rider Black.)
Oh, did I mention it's a Daichi episode? Not that I have anything against Daichi, he's all right. But actor Yoshiaki Ganaha is strange. He's not a bad actor or annoying or anything. But the guy just always looks miserable. Pull up pretty much any cast publicity photo -- he looks like he'd rather be dead. The other four Turboranger are so full of life and fun and enthusiastic, so he in comparison comes across twice as depressed as he ordinarily would. He just always looks like he doesn't feel well and would rather be any place else than making Turboranger. Daichi's not unlike Megaranger's Koichiro, where he's supposed to be the reliable guy with all of the answers and the one who wants to whip the team into shape. He's one of the top students of his school, a fair guy who looks out for his friends. You can picture the type of person typically cast in this kind of role. Actually, I don't need to describe the type, I just mentioned it -- Koichiro. Ganaha just doesn't match that type. Now add on his suicidal vibe and you're left wondering how he even got the role. (Not to mention that Daichi is supposed to be COOL on top of it all; especially cooler than Koichiro, who was meant to be the big poindexter nerd of the team. Especially take note of how this episode gives Black Turbo a cool sword fight scene.) I think Keiya Asakura would have made a better Daichi. Maybe the suits would figure he's too similar to Kenta Satou, though, making him a better fit for third-in-line?
So, an episode that doesn't have the money to pull of its ambition, centered on the guy who looks like he'd rather be dead...it leads to a weird-kinda episode so early on.
One great part, though, is when Shiron finds Daichi's Turbo Brace. They built, like, a Publisher's Clearing House check-sized brace prop for Ohmura to carry around! It's funny. And then when Dazai doesn't realize she's near, she just drops it on his head. Keep the Fairy Glasses handy next time, Hakase!
I’ve noted Ganaha’s strained performance throughout the show. I don’t think he’s a bad actor (he’d make a decent Tetsuya in Liveman - not as good as Asakura, but still OK), but this role doesn’t work for him. His Koichiro-like moments don’t come off as “authentic,” as it’s not all that believable that he’s the intelligent guy who would put his life on the line for his friends. He comes across more as a delinquent who found himself roped into the Turboranger team and has to deal with people he’s not keen about. Maybe it’s that the character doesn’t have the time/opportunity to do what Koichiro did in Megaranger (e.g., exercise routines and scheduling), but his “smart/compassionate” personality seems more informed than actualized in the performance.
ReplyDeleteI’d also argue that the writing could have shown him more at odds with Riki and Yohei/Shunsuke, believing that they’re hurting the team. We get a few bits (e.g., punching Yohei in the face, with fake blood), but it could have been more substantial. Such conflicts would make moments like his near-sacrifices and his salute to Riki st the end of the Immortality Bouma episode so much more meaningful for the team’s character arcs. Inoue or Fuji could have had a field day exploring this character dynamic.
Asakura would have been better and I don’t think he’s that similar to Satou. Their body language is different enough and their voices provide enough differentiation (Asakura is a bit raspier and can tend towards a more shout-y style). Asakura could do “smart, compassionate guy with an aggressive streak” better than any similarly-aged actor at the time. He also is similar enough in build to Ganaha, so the suit actor doesn’t have to change (Daichi is fantastic in-suit).
The episode itself does have that permeable sense of cheapness. The costumes have a bit of a Spirit Halloween look and the actors go too far for slapstick. A larger budget and better script might have made it a little creepy and/or more immersive. Ah well, they can’t all be winners.
A show needs to write to a performer's strengths, but I've seen some cases where material is changed TOO much to suit an actor who was probably not the best person to even cast in the role in the first place. Like we've both said, Ganaha's not a bad actor, but he doesn't completely suit the character and, as I've said (perhaps in a little more of an exaggerated way) there's definitely an uneasiness on his part.
DeleteGanaha has a look to him that reminds me of the greaser-styled pop idols who were popular in the early to mid '80s, and I've often wondered if that would have been a better direction to take Daichi after Ganaha's casting. I think it would be interesting to have a teen character who's kind of a greaser, kind of a punk, who surprises people with his intelligence and fair play -- this guy who's wrongly perceived by his look and quietness as being thickheaded, yet who's actually open-minded, decent, and a dreamer to the point where he has the faith to see fairies and fight for justice. (And, no, I'm not basing this on Fourze, who was a complete cartoon character. A show like Turboranger, made in its time period, would have obviously depicted this type of character in a more believable way. Also: Gentaro was supposed to be a lovable dummy, not a smart guy, so my pitch here's not exactly the same.)
Because I do feel like Ganaha works best when he's showing his anger, punching out people like Youhei or Ken'ichi. Then again, I think he manages to be pretty good and funny in the Sumo Bouma episode, but that could be because his uneasiness works to that episode's advantage.
We know the difference in Asakura, but I think sometimes the suits think we're all stupid. For example, they were afraid that people would confuse Takashi Hagino and Kazunari Aizawa in Changerion because they both had long hair -- they wanted one of them to get a haircut before finally agreeing to let Aizawa just wear his hair in a ponytail. That story's always been absurd to me. That's why I questioned whether they'd think Asakura was too similar to Satou. But they should have probably just shifted halfway through Turboranger and made Youhei the second-in-command.
That take on the character - a punk-looking dude who is both intelligent and compassionate - would have been a good direction. The Sumo Bouma, Chime Bouma, and Fossil Bouma episodes get at this pretty well, letting his unease and aggressiveness work in the story’s advantage. More episodes like that would have really opened up the character’s potential.
DeleteHad they cast Asakura, I could see him not handling the demotion all that well (rising star and everything). Besides, Yohei isn’t second-in-command material. Haruna would be a far better choice.
The Turboranger in green looks like KR Brave
ReplyDeleteIf I'm thinking of the right guy, Brave looked to me like a male Gokai Yellow.
DeleteHey there Shougo! Really great to see you tackling Turboranger! I admit, I've been curious to hear more of your thoughts on this show. After you had done those blog posts on BFJ, Dynaman, and GoGoFive back then, I was thinking a Turboranger defense post would've been excellent. So cool to see you doing a full series review of the show. Out of any Turboranger fan I know, no one has loved the show as passionately as you have. Most other Turboranger fans I run into either just like it cause it's "superficially cute," or they just like it "ironically," or they just go "I like it. As long as we all admit the show is bad."
ReplyDeleteIt's just nice to see a passionate honest review of Turboranger. The only other show I think I'd like to see a bit more of that on is Abaranger. While Abaranger has gotten plenty of fans in recent years, I've found it rare to find truly good or interesting Abaranger reviews. Most of them just sound like they're kissing the show's feet, or they just superficially like it cause "feels." Nothing sounds genuine or exciting. They make Abaranger sound dull and generic.
My thoughts on your previous posts:
Episode 1: It's cool to hear you loved Willow. It's been years since I saw that film. But I remember quite enjoying it myself.
But yeah, the cast in this show is indeed likable, Shiron is great, and the Bouma and their plots and designs are all so really cool! That alone is another for me to really enjoy this show.
I think my only issue with the cast is that their personalities don't feel like the most defined to me. Usually they feel like they're just playing as themselves. Which isn't a deal breaker for me. Especially since the cast is so lovable. But compared to the last handful of seasons where the cast of characters felt much more defined, it feels a bit disappointing I admit. Plus, I feel the cast kinda lacks chemistry and a properly structured team dynamic.
I am also curious to see you reach Yamimaru. I admit, while I do really enjoy Turboranger, he's a character I've always been kinda iffy on, and he never really elevated the show for me (I think I preferred Kirika more). I know you love him, and that he makes a lot of the show for you. But for me, he's often been somewhat of a sore thumb. Kinda like Mikoto from Abaranger for me.
Speaking of Abaranger, I do agree with you that the Turborangers' reactions to a lot of the weird stuff which happens around them is indeed a big part of how enjoyable the show can be. And that's a quality I do feel Abaranger shares as well.~
Y'know, it's funny how a lot of Sentai historians will completely ignore Turboranger, even though a lot of the show directly sets things up for Zyuranger and beyond. Turboranger indeed should be credited for helping bring a lot of the cool shows in the 90s. It's always kinda baffled me why fans skip from Liveman to Jetman when discussing Sentai history.
I know Turboranger can be a tough sell to people. Trying to sell the heroes themselves can be tough. I've often tried using the Bouma and their plots to spread interest in the show, as something for people to get engaged in and latch onto.
ReplyDeleteBut it does sadly seem like one of the big reasons people get hesitant with watching Turboranger is because there are no properly planned out story arcs like the other great Soda seasons had (or even a lot of the 90s seasons). So I guess people feel like they are not promised anything fully satisfying to sit through 50 eps of the show. And I can understand why that could be a turn off for some people. No one wants to feel like they've wasted their time watching a show. Even episode 2 (being part 2 of the premiere) is practically all "we won't ever use Rakia again after this." It can kinda leave some people with the feeling of "What am I supposed to follow this show for?"
Again, I feel a likable earnest cast of heroes going up against crazy Bouma plots and sweet Bouma designs and visuals are the main reason to watch this show.
I was really pleasantly surprised to see you bring up the Turboranger movie. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone speak of it. I’m glad to hear you love it! For me, it’s up there with the GoGoFive Movie in terms of ones I actually enjoy. In fact, dare I say, I feel anyone checking out Turboranger, I feel it should be a requirement to check out the movie. IMO, the Movie is a much better sell than the early eps of the show are. I feel it establishes it’s premise and ideas much better in an exciting way.
I feel it’s a shame that we have to have such a weak episode (Episode 5) so early in the series. I’ve always kinda skipped this episode whenever I rewatch Turboranger. In fact, I kinda blame this episode for probably scaring a bunch of people away from Turboranger, or putting people into a bad mood with the show.
Btw, I did finish my Dynaman rewatch not long ago. I always loved the show before. But something just clicked with me this time around. I ended up REALLY loving it this time. It shot up pretty high in my rankings as a result.~
I’m rewtching Turboranger roughly as you do these posts. It’ll be neat to see how I feel towards the show afterwards.~
(Poor Bioman. I still love it. But it’s been getting overshadowed by all the other 80s sentai for me. xD )
Hi Fantasy Leader, you have brought some rather interesting points there and I thought about the weakness of having no properly planned arcs. I guess you are referring to how suddenly, we've got a midseason change with the Nagare Bouma taking over while having the three generals killed off in hopes of bringing new plots. After all, weren't ratings in decline?
DeleteSpeaking of episode 5 - I still like that episode. Sorry to hear you don't like it. Hmmm... care to explain what you don't like about episode 5?
Thanks, Fantasy Leader! I like to think of myself as Turboranger's number two fan...I'm behind Kenta Satou.
DeleteWhen you talk about the cast not being defined, do you just mean the heroes? While they're not immediately as distinct as the heroes in, say Changeman or Liveman, I do feel like they get to that point fairly early. Even as Youhei becomes more comedic, so you think that cancels out what Shunsuke's supposed to bring to the team, they're not really the same, they don't represent the same style of humor. Youhei's humor comes from being easygoing and loving life, Shunsuke comes from being immature, he's more of a goofball. So they're two characters representing lightheartedness and comedy on the team, but they're not indistinguishable, they're still two unique individuals.
I think the show was still trying to be more grounded, the way Maskman and Liveman wanted to be, in the way they presented the heroes. The premise being new, Turboranger being the first team of heroes who are all so young, I feel like it stays true to the idea of what it would be like to pluck five seemingly random kids from a Japanese classroom in 1989 to be heroes. They're kind of just ordinary kids, you know? They're all at a similar stage of their lives, so you don't get that from-all-walks-of-life feel you immediately have with teams that have older members. And if you want to compare it to Megaranger, yeah, Megaranger lets the characters act their age more, and they are more clearly identifiable archetypes, but Megaranger's also extreme, broad and cartoonish in the way it depicts its heroes and their high school life. Megaranger is very "TV high school" and "TV high schoolers" than what Turboranger was trying to do. (I think a lot of the overall criticisms against Turboranger apply much more to Megaranger.)
As for people not feeling like the show's worth sitting through because it lacks a recurring storyline, well...I don't consider Turboranger episodic or formulaic at all. It's funny, that for Turboranger lacking a recurring guest or some overall arc for the heroes the way Change through Live had, I never feel like it's episodic or formulaic. I mean, even I can get frustrated with those toku shows that are TRULY episodic or formulaic; think of the Uchuu Keiji shows, where you can just hop in at any time, because nothing ever really substantial happens in those shows. Turboranger's not like that at all to me. There's enough recurring themes or motifs or character beats that make it worthwhile. The individual stories of each episode are done well enough and will add a nice piece to the lore or a character that makes the episode worthwhile and enjoyable. It's not just "Baddie appears, find it, kill it with your stock footage" like the Uchuu Keiji shows.
The real arc of the show ends up being the redemption of the Nagare Bouma, their self-acceptance. It's unfortunate that the hero side isn't given personal, individual arcs -- I think it's more the result of behind-the-scenes issues -- but the bigger point of the show was just having them grow up and become responsible and become the best heroes -- and by extension, people -- they could be. It's all a metaphor for growing up. That's more meaningful than anything seen in the past several years of Sentai, but tell me again that Kyuranger was good.
It's cool that you like it and appreciate Dynaman more. (I just found the HJU thread of Sentai rankings where you had it at 21! Ouch!) You know I've always liked that show. I mean, it's got its own problems, which is why it ranks about number 12 for me, but it's fun. I think Turboranger's better, though. And what you said about Yamimaru not working for you, I feel a similar way about Megiddo, who I think tanks a lot of the cool villain stuff in Dynaman because of Kenju Hayashi's weak performance. He's Dynaman's Radiguet!
Yeah I meant just the heroes. The villains felt fine to me. But yeah, I do feel it took some time for the heroes to be better defined. Which I think is a bit of a problem for those starting out Turboranger. I feel the cast isn't quite a selling point at the start. Actually, I think it'll be interesting rewatching Turboranger again. Just to see how the heroes find their traits as the series progresses.
DeleteY'know, I always felt Yohei and Shunsuke were fairly different characters, despite being comedic. But then again, I'm one of those weirdos who unlike most, thinks Saizo and Seikai are completely different too.
I do think Turboranger has a very nice setup with it's heroes, as well as Shiron (who's pretty much the heart of the show). But yeah, maybe Turboranger just suffers from just being the first to try the high school team setup first, and trying to figure out how to make it work. The early eps are kinda weird in that regard as a result I feel. But it definitely shows that Megaranger is very indebted to Turboranger. Megaranger's early eps and team dynamics and characterizations are probably a result of Turboranger already creatively experimenting so much with the concept. I guess early Turboranger's age does kinda show as a result, but I'm definitely glad they did it and made it happen.~
Turboranger again, I feel runs really well on the Bouma, their designs, and the crazy plots they do. And how the heroes deal with that. I agree, it's not episodic. Because each ep adds to and explores something with this neat unique premise. It's world is chock full of imagination.
And yeah, I definitely agree with you on the Turborangers growing up to be the best people they can be. Man, not gonna lie, it does make me wish I could see more of the Turborangers and their adventures, and see where else these five heroes would go. Sometimes I feel it'd be nice to give some modern airing Sentai a break, just so we can see some new adventures of some of these older heroes. Ah well.
LOL I still haven't finished Kyuranger. Haven't budged past episode 6. I... guess I should eventually.
Oh man, back in the good ole HJU days, LOL. That site still alive? xD
DeleteDynaman was at 21 for me? Sounds about right, considering what kind of a fan I was around that time, lol. Though 21 doesn't sound.... too bad?
I tend to love a lot of Sentai. So while I do roughly have a Top 10, roughly my Top 20 is still in fairly good graces for me hahaha.
I think my biggest issues with Dynaman is the first quarter. It's not bad. But man, it's rough around the edges (my favorite 1st quarter eps were 1, 9, and 12). It's still got some Goggle-V in it's DNA. But once Chimera shows up and the ep length goes to 17 min, it starts to feel way more like the Dynaman I know and love. It's funny, since I was just talking about some of Turboranger's flaws in it's early eps.
The only other time I felt Dynaman fell into a rut was the dreaded 20s.
But yeah, I love Dynaman. The cast is easily one of my favorites in the franchise. All 5 are just so distinct and fun, in a cartoony badass way.~ And I love the villains. Soda definitely found his villain dynamic with Chimera and Megiddo. And the show has a lot of sweet villain backstabbing towards the end. That final duel against Megiddo and Chimera was like, one of the coolest things ever. Oh, and can't get enough of the crazy action of the show! So many memorable episodes too.~
I'm curious to see where Turboranger will rank for me after this rewatch. Cause funny thing is, Dynaman was ranked pretty close to Turboranger for me. But after I finished my recent Dynaman rewatch, it skyrocketed on my rankings. Dynaman is currently like.... a #11 for me at the moment.~
Awww. Yeah, I can see what you mean about Megiddo. His actor doesn't quite give him the amount of presence as he should. And he's quite hammy. But I still really enjoy the guy (Radiguet too lol). I could watch Megiddo and Chimera argue all day long lol.
But yeah, Yamimaru has always been kind of an odd one for me. I love the whole Nagare Boma concept. But something about Yamimaru (dunno if it's his actor or the way he's written), he feels like he's in a whole another world from the rest of the show, following his own rules and logics. Which does kinda make me feel disconnected from him a bit. So I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on him when you get there.~
HJU's pretty dead, I barely check it out. I just happened to be looking for that thread to see my own rankings at that time, because I was working on a new one.
DeleteThat's pretty cool. :)
DeleteI've been kinda planning a new ranking myself. With all the new recent shows, as well as my new feelings for older shows.
I think I'll probably put it together by early 2019. I'm just waiting to finish my Gingaman reviews, and seeing how that'll impact the rankings for other shows for me.