6/22, Episode 21 -- "Gozma's Big Star"
This is a fan favorite episode, and one of Haruki Hamada's favorites. I think this is one of those episodes that modern audiences just don't get, they dismiss it as cheesy or goofy, when it's an episode that's intentionally walking the line between comedic and serious and is a bit tongue in cheek.
Space Beast Solider Volta, of the planet "Tra" -- he's named after John Travolta -- is funny, as is Shiima's bizarre fangirling over him. (Voice actor Michirou Iida once again trying on his comedic effeminate voice to hilarious effect.) I know he annoys some people, but I like Gator, so his playing at being a broadcaster cracks me up, too. Yuuma has a couple of funny bits, played perfectly by Izumi.
Turns out that Giluke is a big show-off and camera hog, so he wants in on Volta's action, but doesn't like sharing the spotlight. Last week I mentioned the way it seemed like Giluke's debut seemed forced into an ordinary episode. I have to wonder if this episode was going to be the first time Giluke set foot on Earth, but they changed it thinking it would be a bad idea to do in such a comedic way.
But the standout, of course, is Tsurugi's anti-Gozma message he broadcasts with the help of Gator's stolen camera. You have Gozma airing their slanted propaganda that they're the superior rulers of the universe, while Tsurugi films optimistic messages of peace and standing up to the likes of Gozma. Unfortunately, I think a lot of viewers get too wrapped up in the intentionally goofy parts of the episode and don't care to notice the sentiment.
Tsurugi bad-ass moment: a seriously pissed off Bazuu cuts off Tsurugi's broadcast by beaming down some of his Damnation Ray. That beam makes hard-asses like Giluke and Buuba whimper, so for a human like Tsurugi to be able to take it...
6/29, Episode 22 -- "The Soldier Who Disappeared Into the Mirror!"
The second of three episodes written by Kyoko Sagiyama, and probably her best one. A nice showcase for the two heroines that doesn't involve bickering over the other one wearing the same dress or whatever; it's just about the two of them developing a new fighting technique -- which they actually use -- and getting frustrated with one another when they can't get it right. Note to modern heroes and heroines: Sayaka and Mai use their noggins to solve problems, and not Bandai gadgetry. (Sayaka in the way she escapes Gozma's clutches, Mai in the way she uses her knowledge about Sayaka to know that she has an impersonator.)
I'd also like to highlight this week's Space Beast Soldier, Miraruka. It's a cool little idea for Gozma to employ the master spy Miraruka to try and infiltrate the Changeman's base. Also, she's just a pretty cool, creative design (I wouldn't want to stand on a building's ledge in that suit), and voice-actress Yoshino Ootori's performance is creepy and menacing. (It would be nice for her to have more toku work.) Despite what many think, Hiroko Nishimoto does NOT voice Miraruka.
And I would like to point out how hilariously Toku Cliche 101 the last scene of the episode is. You have the heroines shopping, the humiliated guy made to carry their purchases under protest, a random game of Leapfrog and a run and jump into a freeze-frame. Classics, all of 'em.
7/6, Episode 23 -- "The Boy Who Rides Dolphins"
I've said before that this is my absolute least favorite episode of the series. There may have been sort of underwhelming episodes before, like "The Girl is a Vampire," but I wouldn't call those BAD episodes. This one I'd call a bad episode. Changeman's only bad episode. One bad episode out of 55 ain't bad. I mean, look at some of the newer shows. ToQger was like "The Boy Who Rides Dolphins" for its entire run.
This episode just really smells of "let's save some money this week." You have a kid guest, it uses pretty much just two of the regular cast members, it's set mainly at one location the entire episode. (Notice that when Hayate and Shinpei sail out, they barely leave that beach that's the setting of most of the episode.) It's a generic plot, where we're learning more about the kid and spending more time with him than our heroes. The idea of the kid unknowingly being related to the species of the Space Beast Soldier of the week, Zeera, doesn't feel that new or well done here.
It's interesting for the Gozma to set their sights on the Earth's bodies of water, since it no-duh makes up most of the Earth, but there's just something missing from the episode. And despite the debut of Griffin's awesome Magma Galaxy move, even the action in this episode is weak, with a big portion being filmed with this really weird-ass lens that conceals most of the battle.
7/13, Episode 24 -- "Gyodai Runs Away"
Here's another episode a lot of people like to laugh at or they like it ironically or whatever -- those people are annoying. Take it for what it is, which is a heartfelt look at the pretty pathetic, innocent Gyodai, and the first instance of the Changeman understanding Gozma members. Not only does Gyodai get a bad case of homesickness in this episode, but he's used for Ahames' latest plan, which is to have an energy-absorbing Space Beast Soldier hide within Gyodai and absorb whatever he consumes. When Gyodai eats an unexploded missile fired at him by the Earth Defense Force? That's just icing on Ahames' plan cake, because as the Changeman race to get Gyodai away from the city before the missile explodes, she figures they'll be in close enough proximity to be taken out, too. A win-win for her. There's no plans for trying to turn the world's water into alcohol or make the citizens of Japan dance nonstop for Ahames -- she gets down to business and just wants to destroy.
People like to laugh at the scene of Tsurugi trying to dress like Gyodai and convince him he's one of his kind, but...that scene starts sincerely but ends up being played lighter. A newer show would have had Tsurugi wear one of the extra Gyodai suits, but I like here that they tried to just pull it off with practical stuff. The Earth Defense Force didn't have the time to whip up exact Gyodai cosplays, OK? Also, it's just pretty ballsy of Tsurugi. He didn't know if it was going to work and fool Gyodai, so when he's being stared down by Gyodai, face to humongous-fanged-eyeball face with him, that's pretty tense, despite the lighthearted surroundings.
Tsurugi moment of bad-assery this week: when Gyodai spits up the missile and Tsurugi just throws it at Ahames and the Space Beast Soldier right as it explodes.
One thing that I've never understood, though, is Hayate's teasing Yuuma at the end of the episode, making some comment about Yuuma becoming pals with Gator. Yuuma takes offense, but...don't those two seem like they WOULD be buds? Like, I can imagine them starting a two-man comedy team.
7/13, Movie 2 -- "Shuttlebase! Critical Moment!!"
I enjoy this movie because it's just one crazy action scene after another. The plot is simple -- a Space Beast Soldier hijacks the Shuttlebase, which IS a pretty cool concept, if you ask me -- and the Changeman race to retrieve it, while Sayaka remains on board with the crew, as Space Beast Soldier Dodon wrecks the Shuttlebase with parasitic offshots he can produce.
The problem for me is...the Space Beast Soldier is pretty annoying. I like voice-actor Masahiro Anzai as Bioman's Juu-ou, but here he's just talkative and obnoxious.
Changeman was so awesome, it got two theatrical works. Juspion wasn't given a movie, but there's still a (sorta) Metal Hero crossover: the Shuttlebase crew member that Sayaka guards is played by Yuuko Mitsui, who played Secretary K in Metalder, and the Shuttlebase crew are wearing the same uniforms as the cadets seen in the Shaider premiere.
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