At the end of Episode 48 we find out that Ban is being promoted and recruited for a special team of Red Rangers. So sad :( yes :( I dear beloved Ban is leaving the team. Unlike another Red Ranger wearing the same uniform as Ban (he shall remain nameless [coughs: Jack]); the whole team is informed and Ban passes on his burning torch and force of will to Tetsu. The final battle is intense, Doggie is presumed dead but the Rangers refuse to give up despite orders to back down from their superiors.
It's a race against the clock to prevent anarchy from reigning supreme over the galaxy. It's the Zero Hour and Rangers emerge victorious by the flaming determination led by Ban and his kouhai, Tetsu.
I really loved this series. It's the first Super Sentai I've seen all the way through in Japanese. Comparing it to Power Rangers was fun. There were a lot more similarities than other seasons I've read the synapses for.
Umeko rose up from being the useless Pink Ranger with the Zord that didn't really do anything, to a powerful teammate that you didn't want to mistake as being an easy target. I think she received the most overall character development. The character truly did evolve as the show progressed and she was even able to use some of her "weaknesses" to help save the day. (The bathtub scene in the last episode was great!)
Hoji had second highest character development. The series began with him being distant from everyone. Little by little, he became more reliant on his teammates, especially Ban. He had a similar lesson to learn that everyone learned from Ban. The burning fire of determination doesn't necessarily cloud skill. And finally at the end he was able to call Ban "aibou" (partner). Of course Ban playfully replied with "aiboutte yuuna" (don't call me partner).
Jasmine had a small bit of development, however it was mostly just getting to know her character more, and therefore not true character development. Aside from the occasional pair-up with Umeko for the special "Girls in Trouble" episodes, Jasmine's character never really changed. She stayed distant from her teammates, however her determination to save those in trouble was unmatched. She wore the color yellow well, as being full of couragious might.
Sen-chan. Oh, Sen-chan. The cute lovable Green Ranger had idosyncrasies that could make your brain stop. If you look closely he may even be the most powerful of the Dekas. As far as I've seen, he's the only one that doesn't actually say the morphing sequence to transform every time he suits up. The two main examples I remember are: Near the beginning of the series when Sen deduces the identity of the real murderer and car slicer he walks to a car and simply transforms on his way, picks it up and throws it at the suspect. None of the others have actually shown an ability to do that. The second example is in episode 46, when he was pissed off at the guy that was going to turn Umeko into a pile of dust.
Tetsu first came on to the scene as an elitist. But very quickly learned that true power comes from believing in oneself and one's comrads. If the statistics say it can't happen, that doesn't mean that it's impossible. Tetsu learned this quickly and came to call the other Dekas "sempai" not only because he's younger than they, but because their experience is greater as well, for he technically outranks them. His burning determination has enabled him him to be an ideal successor to Ban's legacy on the team.
Ban. The driving force of the DekaRangers. His development wasn't so much as a change in himself but getting to know his team and all of their strengths, weaknesses, and idiosyncrasies. Learning how his team worked helped him become a better officer and eventually earning him a promotion to a new team.
Doggie and Swan round out the team as their mentors. Just as in the American version, Swan is Doggie's voice of reason and conscience. And the two of them guide their Earth Dekas to higher standards.
Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger... the End :)
Showing posts with label DekaRanger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DekaRanger. Show all posts
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Monday, January 30, 2006
DekaRanger. Episode 46. Proposal Panic
I at first was going to comment mostly on Umeko in this blog, however upon reviewing episode 46 again for this post I had to do a double-take at the villain of the week. I kept stopping, rewinding, playing, pausing, squinting saying to myself "no, it's not him. it can't be!" so I found the cast list for sailor moon. This still didn't quite answer my question as i looked at the picture of the character in question and the frozen frame of the dekeranger episode. I went to the wikipedia site in Japanese and typed in the actors name.
I was right! Episode 46's bad guy of the week and crusher of Umeko's heart was portrayed by none other than the same actor who played Nephrite in the live action version of Sailor Moon! Why are all these hot guys in a show like Sailor Moon? It's a really bad show with horrible acting even for a live action sentai-esque show.
OK now on to the actual plot of the show, this is actually one of the episodes I like. Umeko gets to kick butt and be pissed off, which are rare occurrences in and of themselves. The episode opens up with Sen-chan and Umeko on patrol. Umeko sings the melody of "Girls in Trouble" to lyrics revolving around her upcoming date. She tells Sen-chan about a guy she's been seeing for the past three months and their one hour dates. Also her date with this mystery man who seems perfect in every way is immediately following their shift... that is if nothing happens. And so, a giant mech shows up to ruin Umeko's plans and she doesn't take very kindly to this at all.
After trouncing the giant mech around with Umeko at the controls, she releases her Zord essentially turning it into a missile that propels her into the enemy cock pit where she forcefully evicts the mechenoid controlling it, after which she jumps down and runs off asking the others to take care of the clean-up. Sen-chan let's slip that her forceful behavior was due to the fact that she was in love and Ban-chan upon return to DekaBase grips him in a headlock angry with him for not telling them about Umeko's love life and the possibility of her retiring her position to get married.
Alas Umeko's love was not to be, Sen-chan quickly discovers that his co-worker's love is a criminal using psychotropic mushrooms (clears throat) to become everything his victims want in a man and once they agree to marry him he steels their pure hearts and turns them to dust. When Sen-chan catches up to the guy he's extremely pissed off in such a way that leads us to think that his anger extends a little past protecting a friend. For the second time in the entire series he does a voiceless transformation and just before he takes the guy on in SWAT mode Umeko shows up and and gives her would-be fiance a piece of her mind... and her fist, and her boots.
It ends with Umeko finally getting back her cheerful personality and the group looking at the possibility that there may be something between Sen-chan and Umeko. . .
I was right! Episode 46's bad guy of the week and crusher of Umeko's heart was portrayed by none other than the same actor who played Nephrite in the live action version of Sailor Moon! Why are all these hot guys in a show like Sailor Moon? It's a really bad show with horrible acting even for a live action sentai-esque show.
OK now on to the actual plot of the show, this is actually one of the episodes I like. Umeko gets to kick butt and be pissed off, which are rare occurrences in and of themselves. The episode opens up with Sen-chan and Umeko on patrol. Umeko sings the melody of "Girls in Trouble" to lyrics revolving around her upcoming date. She tells Sen-chan about a guy she's been seeing for the past three months and their one hour dates. Also her date with this mystery man who seems perfect in every way is immediately following their shift... that is if nothing happens. And so, a giant mech shows up to ruin Umeko's plans and she doesn't take very kindly to this at all.
After trouncing the giant mech around with Umeko at the controls, she releases her Zord essentially turning it into a missile that propels her into the enemy cock pit where she forcefully evicts the mechenoid controlling it, after which she jumps down and runs off asking the others to take care of the clean-up. Sen-chan let's slip that her forceful behavior was due to the fact that she was in love and Ban-chan upon return to DekaBase grips him in a headlock angry with him for not telling them about Umeko's love life and the possibility of her retiring her position to get married.
Alas Umeko's love was not to be, Sen-chan quickly discovers that his co-worker's love is a criminal using psychotropic mushrooms (clears throat) to become everything his victims want in a man and once they agree to marry him he steels their pure hearts and turns them to dust. When Sen-chan catches up to the guy he's extremely pissed off in such a way that leads us to think that his anger extends a little past protecting a friend. For the second time in the entire series he does a voiceless transformation and just before he takes the guy on in SWAT mode Umeko shows up and and gives her would-be fiance a piece of her mind... and her fist, and her boots.
It ends with Umeko finally getting back her cheerful personality and the group looking at the possibility that there may be something between Sen-chan and Umeko. . .
Friday, January 27, 2006
The Final 5!
To set my naming of kamen rider a side for a moment. I just checked TV-Nihon, like I do every 20 minutes I'm at my computer because I'm slightly compulsive that way, and lo and behold! The last 5 episodes of Tokusou Sentai DekaRanger was posted! This makes me jump up and down for joy as there was a brief scare that they were going to cancel it 5 short of completing the sub!
::spins around the room:: YEAH! ::looks down at Azureus:: You know you want to move faster! That's why I have a cable connection damn you@!!! ::looks back at screen and smiles:: Hee ^_^ ja ne!
::spins around the room:: YEAH! ::looks down at Azureus:: You know you want to move faster! That's why I have a cable connection damn you@!!! ::looks back at screen and smiles:: Hee ^_^ ja ne!
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Final Thoughts on SPD
A few weeks ago we were greeted to the end of yet another series of Power Rangers... Space Patrol Delta. I'd like to take a moment to compare the cast with DekaRanger...
Jack... (Red SPD) Bull headed kind of lazy never listens to Bridge whom in his own cyclic way is always right, selfish, and doesn't really fit the color red. Special Power: The ability to phase through objects
Ban... (Red Deka) A bull headed caffeine junky who never says die even when he's half buried under rubble. He's a show off but absolutely not lazy. He's the epitome of a fire sign and can energize even the most exhausted comrades into getting their second wind to take down evil aliens(if you can't guess he's my second favorite character). Specialty: Powerful Force of Will.
Sky... (Blue SPD) He has a stick up his butt and has taken fashion lesson from Ted Kord. He's very childish in a pensive sort of way. He has the expectations of being a second gen Power Ranger, including the wish to be Red like his father. (He gets his wish in the series finale) Special Power: Energy Shield
Houji... (Blue Deka) Has a ten foot pole up his butt. He's very strict with his emotions and is stand offish to most forms of affections his favorite catch phrase to Ban "Aiboutte yuuna"... "Don't call me partner." As the series progresses you see that nothing can stand in the way of Ban's fire and he eventually recognizes Ban as his closest friend, though for sentiment's sake he continues to tell Ban "Aiboutte yuuna" in which Ban completely understands the meaning behind it. (if you can't guess he's my favorite character). Specialty: Computers. Sharp Shooting.
Bridge... (Green SPD) He's buttery (flutters fingers infront of face). Bridge is the absent minded professor. The wisest member of the group and a techno geek. He's almost always right but he has a tendency to babble in such a circle that people lose patients with him quickly and therefore discount anything he has to say as pure air. He's also my third favorite character. Special Powers: Aura Reading, and Telepathy.
Sen... (Green Deka) The wisest member of his group, also the most abstract thinker. His thinking pose is to stand on his head until he sorts the problem out. He's claustrophobic and manages to overcome his fear in an episode. Kalinara's favorite DekaRanger (she hates me for getting her interested). Specialty: Puzzle Solving.
Z... (Yellow SPD) She's the Italian street punk from the wrong side of the tracks wanting to make the world a better place and gets her chance. She doesn't get a whole lot of development other than being the voice of reason when Jack's being a royal pain. She'll quote the rule book down to the paragraph subsection in order to get her way. Special Powers: Multiplying herself.
Jasmine... (Yellow Deka) She's a somewhat mysterious character. She keeps her past behind her. She eventually forms a bond with Umeko whom idolizes her as an ideal female officer. Specialty: ESP - Psychometrics.
Syd... (Pink SPD) The fairy princess of the group. Her family is beyond rich and has difficulty relating to people who aren't (basically everyone at SPD). Though she's prissy she proves her worth and is one of the few members of SPD that actually has enough patients to unravel Bridge's ramblings. Special Power: Change her fist's molecular qualities to whatever's inside it (ie. Diamonds reflecting light, iron fist , etc.)
Umeko... (Pink Deka) The smallest member of her group. She loves bubble baths to the point she'll be late for meetings because she's enjoying her bath so much. Being the physically weakest member of the group she looks up to Jasmine as her ideal and tries to emulate her the best she can. She proves that she can have just as much determination as Ban when she puts her mind to it, and not even Ban can turn her from her feelings. Specialty: Being Cute (hey! Don't underestimate the power of adorable cuteness. The bad guys forget to check for extra weapons of the hopelessly cute!)
Sam... (Omega SPD) I thought I was really going to hate him when they introduced him early in the season as a little kid. Then they brought him back as a future Ranger, and I wasn't quite so upset. His name irks me, but not to the degree Cole still irks me. Sam is a utility Ranger and never actually demorphs on the show except for the final episode as he's being sucked back into his own time. He had next to no major interaction with the team outside of battles. Specialty: Turning into a ball of light.
Tetsu... (Deka Break) Comes to the team as a higher ranking officer despite being younger. He at first has a superiority complex but after seeing Ban's fire and the whole team coming together despite the odds against them decides to stay and learn from these people he considers his sempai.. his seniors.
Jack... (Red SPD) Bull headed kind of lazy never listens to Bridge whom in his own cyclic way is always right, selfish, and doesn't really fit the color red. Special Power: The ability to phase through objects
Ban... (Red Deka) A bull headed caffeine junky who never says die even when he's half buried under rubble. He's a show off but absolutely not lazy. He's the epitome of a fire sign and can energize even the most exhausted comrades into getting their second wind to take down evil aliens(if you can't guess he's my second favorite character). Specialty: Powerful Force of Will.
Sky... (Blue SPD) He has a stick up his butt and has taken fashion lesson from Ted Kord. He's very childish in a pensive sort of way. He has the expectations of being a second gen Power Ranger, including the wish to be Red like his father. (He gets his wish in the series finale) Special Power: Energy Shield
Houji... (Blue Deka) Has a ten foot pole up his butt. He's very strict with his emotions and is stand offish to most forms of affections his favorite catch phrase to Ban "Aiboutte yuuna"... "Don't call me partner." As the series progresses you see that nothing can stand in the way of Ban's fire and he eventually recognizes Ban as his closest friend, though for sentiment's sake he continues to tell Ban "Aiboutte yuuna" in which Ban completely understands the meaning behind it. (if you can't guess he's my favorite character). Specialty: Computers. Sharp Shooting.
Bridge... (Green SPD) He's buttery (flutters fingers infront of face). Bridge is the absent minded professor. The wisest member of the group and a techno geek. He's almost always right but he has a tendency to babble in such a circle that people lose patients with him quickly and therefore discount anything he has to say as pure air. He's also my third favorite character. Special Powers: Aura Reading, and Telepathy.
Sen... (Green Deka) The wisest member of his group, also the most abstract thinker. His thinking pose is to stand on his head until he sorts the problem out. He's claustrophobic and manages to overcome his fear in an episode. Kalinara's favorite DekaRanger (she hates me for getting her interested). Specialty: Puzzle Solving.
Z... (Yellow SPD) She's the Italian street punk from the wrong side of the tracks wanting to make the world a better place and gets her chance. She doesn't get a whole lot of development other than being the voice of reason when Jack's being a royal pain. She'll quote the rule book down to the paragraph subsection in order to get her way. Special Powers: Multiplying herself.
Jasmine... (Yellow Deka) She's a somewhat mysterious character. She keeps her past behind her. She eventually forms a bond with Umeko whom idolizes her as an ideal female officer. Specialty: ESP - Psychometrics.
Syd... (Pink SPD) The fairy princess of the group. Her family is beyond rich and has difficulty relating to people who aren't (basically everyone at SPD). Though she's prissy she proves her worth and is one of the few members of SPD that actually has enough patients to unravel Bridge's ramblings. Special Power: Change her fist's molecular qualities to whatever's inside it (ie. Diamonds reflecting light, iron fist , etc.)
Umeko... (Pink Deka) The smallest member of her group. She loves bubble baths to the point she'll be late for meetings because she's enjoying her bath so much. Being the physically weakest member of the group she looks up to Jasmine as her ideal and tries to emulate her the best she can. She proves that she can have just as much determination as Ban when she puts her mind to it, and not even Ban can turn her from her feelings. Specialty: Being Cute (hey! Don't underestimate the power of adorable cuteness. The bad guys forget to check for extra weapons of the hopelessly cute!)
Sam... (Omega SPD) I thought I was really going to hate him when they introduced him early in the season as a little kid. Then they brought him back as a future Ranger, and I wasn't quite so upset. His name irks me, but not to the degree Cole still irks me. Sam is a utility Ranger and never actually demorphs on the show except for the final episode as he's being sucked back into his own time. He had next to no major interaction with the team outside of battles. Specialty: Turning into a ball of light.
Tetsu... (Deka Break) Comes to the team as a higher ranking officer despite being younger. He at first has a superiority complex but after seeing Ban's fire and the whole team coming together despite the odds against them decides to stay and learn from these people he considers his sempai.. his seniors.
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