Toku 101 : Go-Busters - Evil Megazords & French Speaking Villains

 Known in my comic book circles as Frankie Rodriguez, I am aptly known on the internet as Seraph. and What am I starting out with here ... why Japanese Power Rangers! OF COURSE!!

  In all seriously, as the main host of Morphin Bracers (tokusatsu news show), I learn all sorts of stuff about tokusatsu. I love Power Rangers. I love Super Sentai; which Power Rangers derived from. I love Kamen Rider, some Ultraman and other tokusatsu like Gransazer, Garo and more.

  Now, the current super sentai, Tokumei Sentai Go Busters (aka Special Forces Task Force Go Busters), has been on for several months now. Since that time, we were introduced to our future ...  present ....*shrugs*

   There is a new energy source called Enertron . .. I know, I know, Transformers anyone! And Enertron has replaced gas as one of the main sources of energy on Earth. And an organization from another dimension called Vaglass wants it. Vaglass, lead by the mysterious Messiah (who looks like something from Tron), sends out is general, the evil French speaking villain Enter, to gather Enertron so he can summon both Metaroids (evil human sized robots) and Megazords (giant robots modified to match their Metaroid counterpart). I am not kidding. They are called Megazords. Yep. They took the name from Power Rangers. But considering that the suits, vehicles and even at times, storylines are taken from Super Sentai, I think Super Sentai has the right to use the name. The Megazords attack by classes: Alpha, Beta, Gamma ... and the recently revealed Delta.

  Meanwhile, we have your heroes ... Go Busters. As part of a full organization, The Go Busters stop Vaglass and all their attacks while plotting to one day end Messiah. Now, what is special about the Go Busters is that they all have civilian powers. How they get those powers are explained in Episode 2. But along with their civilian powers, they each have Buddyroids. 3 out of the 4 Buddyroids are used as main steering consoles for their mecha, the Buster Machines. Let's go down all 5 current Go Busters:

Red Buster - Hiromu   Age: 20
Buddyroid: Nick 
   Red Buster is very outspoken at times. He's blunt. And while you would think his origin would make him emo, it doesn't. It makes him determined to fight Vaglass. He pushes himself hard cause he promises to get everyone back who was teleported to hyperspace 13 years ago. Nick is more kind hearted, looking after Hiromu when he's a bit harsh but ... for a robot that transforms into a motorcycle, he has a BAD sense of direction.


Blue Buster - Ryuuji   Age: 28
Buddyroid: Gorusaki 
   Blue Buster is technically the oldest (explain later) and his the fatherly/big brother figure to both Hiromu and Yoko (Yellow Buster). He had dreams of being an engineer till his sempai (mentor) was one of the people transported when Messiah first appeared 13 years ago. Now, he seemingly shares leadership with Red Buster and fights Vaglass. Gorusaki is probably the kindest of the Buddyroids. He does his best to be close with Ryuuji as well as is often sensitive at times. Yet, he is fiercely loyal.


Yellow Buster - Yoko  Age: 16
 Buddyroid: Usada
   Yellow Buster is the youngest of the team and at times, she's a bit bratty. Yet, she is skillfully trained. She has a deep respect for Ryuuji while having an almost brother/sister relationship with Hiromu. She fights hard and can act very mature for a girl her age. Usada is ... well, a smart ass at times who loves Yoko. But the two are prone to argue. Usada loves to chime in his thoughts, even when not wanted but still, overall, really does love Yoko.

Beet Buster - Jin  Age: 27 (40)
Buddyroid: look at Stag Buster

   Jin is, by far, one of the most manipulative yet brilliant warriors in Sentai history. He is a genius who acts irresponsibly at times. He is very glamorous with his look. And there are times where you can say he acts a bit ... feminine. But he is a fierce warrior. Any agenda he has, he will make sure it is carried out. But he has a style about how he does things. To his suit, his actions .. . to even his mecha, Beet Buster is annoying, fun and downright brilliant.

Stag Buster - Beet J. Stag
He IS a Buddyroid
   Unlike the rest of the Buddyroids, Beet is not a main console. Instead, we have our first, full fledge robot ranger in Sentai history. (Sentai History. DO NOT mention PR Operation Overdrive) He is greedy when it comes to his want for Enertron and he likes to fight. He tries to show off but is stopped by Beet Buster quickly enough. Still, Beet wants to fight to save . ...oh no. That would be telling.


Don't believe me? Here's a taste of Go Busters with Episode 16. It tells you what you need to know, all in one episode.

TSG-BUSTER 16 OT toku-central by Manuel_Delgado_2





Still, there is plenty of more ground to cover with the Go Busters. More on this in part two of my look at Go Busters.

Toku 101: Kamen Rider/ Super Sentai Worlds

Hello and welcome to another Toku 101 with I, your columnist, Wheelchair21. Today on Toku 101, I'm sort of over booked so I selected very short entertaining specials from the Toku Community. That would the be the Kamen Rider and Super Sentai Worlds were specials where Riders and Senshi came together in their own universes to defeat Other Worldly threats. These specials were 3-D shorts shown in 1994 for amusement parks and special events nation-wide, there was also a third part I won't feature here but it was based on the Metal Heroes franchise. In Kamen Rider World, Zo and J teamed up to defeated the resurrected Shadowmoon and his army of undead Kaijin, while in Super Sentai World five teams of Senshi teamed together to defeat a brand new threat to the planet.

Up First, Super Sentai World:


Well anyways as viewed in that short, the current team Ninja Sentai Kakuranger appear to save two siblings from a new enemy Emperor Daidas. The brother was played Shiro Izumi, who played Yūma Ōzora in Dengeki Sentai Changeman and Burai in Zyuranger. As the Kakurangers are weakened, the other Sentai Teams from the past 4 years come to their resuce allowing them to defeat Emperor Daidas and his army. I personally enjoy this short a lot cause it had give the view a lot to take on the Sentais from the late 80s to early 90s. Along with that we actually get to see the Zyuranger/MMPR Suits team with Kakuranger/Alien suits which was a rare occasion until Gokaiger so several Power Ranger Fan usual applaude this special for that fact. Many like myself who're Ranger fans overly enjoy the Mecha battle as we see the original three Mechas used in Power Rangers Team Up; that Mecha Battle just blew my mind back when I first saw this entire special back in 2006-07. Another thing is by just viewing this as special, and not an actual canon thing you over look all the screw ups like how Gai Yuki/Black Condor is alive or how are the Zyurangers back on Earth if they ascended to Heaven in the finale. So if I had to rate this film as if it was a complete movie, I'd say a solid 4 out of 5!

Now, Kamen Rider World:


It this special/short Shadowmoon returns reviving Sai Mutant(Kamen Rider Black), Cyborg Soldier Lv 2(Shin Prologue), Agito, Garai, and Zu(Kamen Rider J) They attack Berry(Talking Grasshopper from J) and the siblings from the Super Sentai World special linking the universes. Kamen Rider ZO appears first then is soon joined by J to combat Shadowmoon's Kaijin Army, before J is forced to enlarge himself to Kaiju size to combat the monster sized Shadowmoon. Anyways this special features the reprisal of ZO, J, Shadowmoon and Berry as they're all voiced by the original actors along with reuse of footage from the preivous Kamen Rider 3-D special "Run Across the World" to flashback the Kaijins defeat. This special isn't actually too special since, well at the time I first saw this the only thing I cared about for this film was Shadowmoon, Sai Mutant and Cyborg Soldier Lv 2. I personally at the time didn't care for ZO or J too much and felt this special to be quite bland and average for Kamen Riders. The best feature of this special was battle of giants, Shadowmoon vs Kamen Rider J that was practically what made this entire special! Anytime there's titans clashing it always makes a Toku better in my opinion. Anyways my rating for this is sadly a 3.5 out of 5, for the fact the sourced Kamen Riders aren't the best ones to have been possibly used.

Conclusion
Personally the double/triple-billing of the features actually was a great idea; bringing together Sentai, Riders and Metal Heroes into a great 30-minute special. ALong with that I personally don't care for the third piece that I didn't feature for this segment as I've never actually found it subbed or know the series used for the Metal Hero segment. I only personally cared for the first two, as I've always enjoyed Super Sentai and Kamen Rider due to Power Rangers and sadly Saban's Masked Rider. Thou out of these two, 3-D specials I perfer the Super Sentai World over the Kamen Rider World as the sourced characters used in the special I'm more fond of; as the MMPR fan in me leaps for joy everytime DaiZyuJin, Dairen-Oh and Muteki Shogun are seen together. And yes I usually always go for Sentai of Kamen Riders when things head towards late 80s to early 90s since that's the dark days for the Riders, but as of late I've seemed to become a larger fan for Riders and put Sentai on the back burner pending on the collectibles. So for people out there who can't decide on which is better I then have to saw moderate with what you like and want, along enjoy the shows for what they are .... Except Goseiger, Go-Buster and Hibiki cause we know those series are just horrible! Anyways, I'll see you all again on the next Toku 101.

Broken Infinite TV: Tokusatsu Tuesday (#6)

We continue out Tuesday tradition of great Tokusatsu shows to get you through the 2nd day of the week. We double up on Ultraman Max to make up for no episodes last week and we add one more show into the mix.  Welcome to Tokusatsu Tuesday!

A Rolling Review: SH Figuarts Kamen Rider Den-O Sword Form

This is an amazing Figuart as Den-O Sword Form finally arrives on the scene. With amazing details and features, along with it's lot of accessories it's worth the buy. Den-O Sword Form has the basic set of articulation and newly established ankle ball joints. Its lot of accessories are set hands to perform Ore Sanjou or to hold the DenGasher; its weapons are literally variations of the DenGasher in sword along with Full Charge effect parts. The Full Charge attachments extends the Blade out on an light ray, along with lightening bolts connecting to it. The lightening charges, are thin pieces of plastic and seem overly fragile so it's something to keep an eye on. Overall this figure, is amazing and is a must for all Den-O Fans!

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Toku 101: Samurai × Shinkenger III

Hello and welcome to another edition of Toku 101 with me your columnist, Wheelchair21. On today's Toku 101, we'll be continuing on the topic of Samurai × Shinkenger III. Where I'll layout the summaries of episode 11 - 14 of Power Rangers Samurai then compair it to Shinkenger. Many of you who wish to read this will then either agree or disagree on my opinions compairing the two and on how I view them. So please turn away if you wish to spare yourselves now!

Episode 11: Unexpected Arrival
Returning after what seemed to be a false detection of a Nighlok attack on the Gap Sensor, the Rangers find an arrow with a note on it that says "See You Soon." With Jayden sensing something from before within the house, it starts to haunt him. Deciding to investigate the Gap Sensor, the team encounter a fish-seller whose hand writing matches the note. After the seller gives them the slip, Kevin and Mia go to find Jayden while Mike and Emily track down the fish seller. Kevin and Mia find Jayden confronting the Nighlok named Vulpes who is spying on Jayden to find out the Shiba sealing character. With his mirror medium destroyed, the Nighlok overwhelms the 3 with his magic as Mike and Emily arrive with the fish seller following. But even all 5 Rangers are no match for the Nighlok as they revert to normal. The fish seller arrives to their aid, transforming into the Gold Samurai Ranger. After taking out the Moogers in blinding speed, the Gold Ranger battles the Nighlok and destroys him. When the Nighlok revives, he overpowers the Battlewing Megazord until the Gold Ranger enters the fight in the Octozord to weaken the Nighlok so the Battlewing Megazord can land the deathblow. After the fight, Jayden reveals he already knows the fish seller as his childhood friend Antonio.

Episode 12: Room for One More
As Antonio heads to the samurai mansion, the others listen to Jayden and Mentor talk of young Antonio-- How Jayden gave him the Octozord, how Jayden threatened to quit his training if Ji tried to take back the Octozord, etc.-- Antonio makes an entrance, fancy, then gets embarrassed when his fish hook rips his pants. Antonio explains that after moving away when he was a kid, he trained himself to be a samurai and built his Samurai-Morpher from a trashed cellphone to communicate with Octozord through text-- because the Zords understand the Rangers who were born into the Samurai heritage. Ji, feeling that Antonio lacks discipline and true samurai training confiscates Antonio's morpher, which he later doesn't react too well to. Jayden agrees with Mentor despite Antonio begging Jayden with memories of childhood friendship. As the Rangers fight the Nighlok Steeleto (who vows to avenge Vulpes), they're powerless to destroy it. Steeleto retreats when he starts to dry up and the team start to consider bringing Antonio along. Antonio, down at the fishing pier, angrily talks with Octozord about regretting meeting the Rangers. Mike and Emily go to ask him to join and go to the mansion. There, Jayden is convinced to give Antonio back his morpher just in time for the next attack by Steeleto. When the Rangers arrive, Antonio struggling to get in to a heroic position, they begin fighting and Steeleto is overpowered when Jayden and Antonio tag-team it. Once Steeleto mega-sizes, Antonio combines the Octozord with the Samurai Megazord and defeats Steeleto. To celebrate, Antonio cooks fish barbecue and everyone appreciates Antonio's membership.

Episode 13: The Blue and the Gold
Ji and Antonio announce that Antonio is fixing the Claw Zord that was damaged in battle long ago and Ji hid it. Kevin doesn't fully accept Antonio as a "true Samurai" and thinks he's just goofing around. The monster of the day steals kids' toys to make them cry and Octoroo trying to find another way to open the Sanzu River through a well. Bulk and Spike are sleeping and their toy panda is stolen and all that is left is slime. Dayu visits Deker outside the Sanzu River but around it, he's still injured. Dayu wonders if Deker really does remember anything from his past. Antonio follows Kevin's morning routine to learn what makes him a true samurai. The two end up in the forest finding Octoroo but their morpher signals are blocked. Antonio and Kevin eventually overcome their differences and fight together to defeat the Nighloks.

Episode 14: Team Spirit
While the Rangers, minus Emily are decorating for Emily's birthday, Splitface a Nighlok, who steals spirits, attacks the city. Splitface, easily takes down Mike, Antonio, Mia, Jayden, Kevin, and Emily. The Nighlok then takes Emily's spirit, putting her in a sleep. Splitface mocks the Rangers, telling them they only have twenty-four hours to defeat him, or Emily and the other people, who he stole spirits from will be asleep forever. Splitface then tells them he is leaving and never returning. While back in the Shiba house, Emily wakes up and tells the other Rangers she is sorry for letting him get her and she feels empty before falling asleep once more. Mike goes crazy and goes back where they fought Splitface, calling him a coward and demanding he comes out to fight. Deker suddenly appears and tells the Rangers the only way to get to the Netherworld is to betray their human life and become Nighloks. Just as they are going to give themselves up, Antonio appears saying he knows how to save Emily and everyone else. The Rangers use their symbol power to activate the Claw Zord, and summon the Nighlok. Splitface can't use his special power, Body Swarm, for Antonio marked him. Antonio uses the Claw Zord, with the help of the Battle Wing to defeat Splitface and return the spirits. Later the Rangers celebrate Emily's birthday, as well as the Claw Zord's.

Now it's time for us to once again have Samurai × Shinkenger, where they'll clash for supremacy. Anyways let's get this show on the road!

Power Rangers Samurai's Antonio is the american verison of Genta, who is less annoying in general but has an addiction to always be talking about his Ranger Color. Antonio practically tells the world he's Samurai Gold, by his ongoing spurts of saying "It's Golden!" and etc. Another difference between Antonio and Genta is the fact Antonio is an actual fisherman who sells his fish, while Genta is just a plain sushi seller with a sushi cart. I also like to add in the fact, that Antonio also seems to at least be a better cook too since Genta sells sushi which is raw fish. So I mean, at least you're getting your money's worth!! One of their common similarities is the fact they shared the same backstory; just Genta's verison lead to alot of Yaoi Fan-Fics, and they are hated by their respected Blue Rangers. Now when I'm asked which one is better I usually side with Antonio, since his characterists are a lot better and the character's represention is as a man proving his worth to the team by fixing the zords and such. Just when we get to Super Samurai, I go back to Genta as Antino's involvement varies more pending on how the episodes are editted and re-written to be centered around the main five later on.

As for the episode plots in general, they're barely changed and altered as they're episodes to mostly introduce the Gold Ranger. Now in the Samurai line-up we did skip Shinkenger episodes, but they were all mostly filler leading up to these important character developing episodes. Just in America this is viewed as very rushed since they had just recieved the new Megazord form in the previous episode to Antonio's debut so it was questionable for the removal of 4 to 6 episodes. Luckily for Saban, it did work out as I and fans were enjoying this rushed rewrite. Espcially to how Antonio's invovlement seemed to prove a little better and more useful in my opinion. Some changes that did quickly occur was Antonio's Samuraizer wasn't the SushiChanger, he didn't create the Clawzord, and his Mega Mode helmet was the same as his normal one; All were justifable changes too, in my honest opinion.

Now while the Gold Ranger story didn't change too much, neither did the Gedoushu/Nighlok story change either. The only new features added was more hints of Dayu and Deker were once in an actual relationship, which wasn't in Shinkenger originally. Ironically thou I've continued to think this was Saban's way of getting to the Shinkenger fans, to be more pleased with the actual adaptation, rather than hating it. Yet as Samurai continued to succeed and gathering its fandom, people really still didn't care to watch it too much. Antonio became everyone's favorite, pulling a JDF, Emily and Mia were still only eye candy and people still want to destroy either Jayden or Kevin. I mean seriously Jayden's last name is Shiba, he sounds like a Weeaboo! And don't get me started on Kevin, again. Anyways during the rest of the season mostly all eyes would remain on mostly Antonio and the new plot changes Saban's team threw in to edit the story to fit their needs. As for now this has been Toku 101: Samurai × Shinkenger III and we'll see you next time!

Summaries were provide by Wikipedia.org: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Power_Rangers_Samurai_episodes
Images provided by:
http://www.nick.com/
http://www.supersentai.com/

Toku 101: My Top 10 Ranger Defeats

Hello and welcome to another Toku 101! Today's topic is actually not a series, special or movie review it's actually a Top 10. This Top 10 is based around actually Power Ranger Defeats, this is also personally some of my most favorite defeats handed to the Rangers throughout the years. I may end up enraging several or amuse others as I don't think this type of Top 10 has been ever done so far. So sit back and enjoy, this oddly selected and complied Top 10 of Ranger Defeats!

10. Power Rangers Super Samurai: Master Xandred Appears
In the episode of Super Samurai: The Master Returns, Master Xandred himself comes to the human to bring Dayu back to the Sanzu River. Upon his arrival his challenged by the Samurai Rangers, mostly Jayden head of the Shiba Clan. During this battle he quickly desimated the entire team along with proving even Jayden in Super Mode and using the Bullzooka's finishing attack is not challenge for the likes of Xandred, leader of the Nighloks.

This fight made it at the top of this list, only due to the fact Samurai is it's current season and Shinkenger is a great a Sentai. Some other reasonable features, is the fact Xandred barely gets any action in this entire series until practically within the final few remaining episodes. So it's great anytime he gets to actually inflict any kind of personal damage to the Samurai Rangers and the fact he can take anything they decide to dish out at him at any time or any where.

9. Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue: Titanium Ranger's Debut
After the Lightspeed Rangers went after Vypra the day following the Titanium Morpher being stolen, the thief appears before them as the Titanium Ranger. The Rangers are no match for this skilled and over powered new Ranger, who is working for the demons. They're unable to match him, until later on in the episode when they're given their newest weapons the V-Lancers. Only to discover the Titanium Ranger is Dana's Brother and Capt. Mitchell's Son, Ryan.

At Number 9, America Exclusive Ranger's Debut made the countdown for the fact America got 1 up on Japan. As the Titanium Ranger ran right through the Lightspeed Rangers, with nothing more than a not so amazing arsenal of weapons. Somehow we flopped at giving him a cool weapons, yet he had a bad ass fighting style along with a Megazord that was practically able to double as an AI. So in all due respect, beat that Japan! FYI, Aka Red doesn't count!

8. Power Rangers Lost Galaxy: Terra Venture Invasion
In final episodes of Lost Galaxy, the Rangers were stuck in an almost no win situation as Trakeena forced Terra Venture to crash land onto a moon. She then proceeds to wipe out the entire colony, with raids of her forces suicide bombing the entire colony. The Rangers try to repel the attacks with the help of the Stratoforce and Centarus Megazord but they're overcome by bombers and wiped out. Along with that to defend the evacuating people from the colony, the Rangers are forced to use the Astro Megaship on selfdestruct against Trakeena's ship forcing them to scarificing most of their tech and zords to defeat her, including the final battle as Leo too also had to attack her in a suicide fashion.
This made the Top 10 at 8 due for the fact this felt a lot like Countdown to Destruction back in PRiS where the entire Earth was attacked by Astronema and no one cared what stood in her way. Just in this case, Trakeena was willing to murder and exterminate the people rather than enslave them all to serve her. Trakeena had gone so out of her mind she even attacked and killed her own generals, this practically ushered in her own downfall. The fact you'd turn your own forces into suicide bombers just for victory, proves how radical a person is, and how radical Power Rangers was to comeback from the previous season finale.

7. Power Rangers Time Force: Ransik's Last Stand

In the season finale of Time Force, Ransik was forced into the ultimate battle by taking on the entire team. He literally smashes through the Time Force Rangers, including the Red Ranger's Battlizer. Ransik, so too strong for that Jen is forced to pursue him even after he beat the entire out of their Ranger forms. He actually is never defeated by the Rangers, but is defeat by the humanity he didn't know to understand and comprehend until he had almost killed his own daughter. It's at that point he turns himself in to the Time Force, and goes into custody.

I'm ashamed I place this battle at 7, just cause personaly Ransik is one of my all time favorite villains and the fact he never actually was defeated by the Rangers. So for this battle to be 7 in my personal opinion is bad on my own ranking, I believe I put this here for the possible backlash I would've got by how I actually view some of these nostalgic MMPR battles I selected. Just anyways the fact Ransik what I believe the only villain to never actually be deafeated in hand-to-combat by Rangers, when it came to lead villains that actually fought. The fact he had to turn himself in, proves he's one of the better villains ever designed or created as Ranger Exclusive Villains. So he'd actually become a valuable part of the Ranger legacy, along with that no Disney-Era team could defeat him, unless it was like maybe Ninja Storm or Dino Thunder.

6. MMPR: Eclipsing the Megazord
During the epic five part series Green with Evil from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Rita comes up with what at time was her best plan into defeating the Rangers. Rita, had Goldar lure out the Rangers forcing them into a Megazord battle and begun unleashing her strongest warriors. Goldar was the first, followed by Scorpina and finally the Green Ranger himself as a solar eclipse occured weaking the Megazord as it used solar energy to work. Upon Rita's victory over the Megazord she casted back into the Earth's core.

Personally as I draw closer to the Top 5, it's harder to rank these selected battles and defeats as there's a lot I have to account for. Eclipsing the Megazord is difficult for me to even since I grew up with this battle pretty much, and it was instantly one of my favorite Megazord battles, even thou the Rangers didn't win. As for it being an actual defeat too it's great to almost be in the 5th spot, until I was remind of our next battle on the list...

5. MMPR: Green Ranger Debut
Starting off the Green with Evil series of MMPR, Rita decided to make herself an evil Ranger, a Green Ranger by using the new kid 'Tommy Oliver'. Well anyways in his first battle with the Ranger's he breaks into the Megazord cockpit, kick them out and leads to a ground battle. The Green Ranger, during the battle proceed to steal and use a Blade Blaster to combat the Ranger, only to finish them up with some sort of Dark Hadouken, a generic blast re-used years later by the Psycho Rangers.

This actually didn't make the original cut, as it's one of the first true Ranger defeats to me it didn't feel too great even thou it had a lot of amazing features. Favorably the whole invading the Megazord cockpit, the brutal beatdown of the original five Rangers and that closer. This defeat is a brutal one, but seemed have overtime been outclassed by other evil Rangers having to step up their game and out shine the legend of Tommy Oliver. It seems no matter where you go, you'll always be JDF'ed!

4. Power Rangers Wild Force: Master Org Ravages the Animarium
In the finale the Wild Force Rangers, discover Master Org is fully revived and he's already defeated the Lunar Wolf and Animus in battle. Now Master Org, heads to the Animarium itself to bring it down from heavens and destroy every Power Animal on it. Master Org, just wrecks all the Power Animals that stood in his. Even the Wild Force Megazord an decendant of Animus itself stood no chance. Upon the destruction of the Power Animals the Rangers lost their powers and Master Org brought the Animarium back to earth.

Growing up this battle was one of the most 'horrorifying' battles known, making this come in at number 4. When Master Org managed to wipe out the entire roster of the Power Animals several were quite shocked. I mean seriously we know he's the main villain but he took out 16 Power Animals plus Animus, that's just making yourself a boss. Some people like to joke thou the only reason Master Org won was because the Wild Force Rangers sucked and I highly have to agree with most of those beliefs.

3. Power Rangers in Space: 'Super' Darkonda defeats AstroDeltaMegazord
In mid-season finale/hiatus of PRiS, Episode: Flashes of Darkonda, Andros discovers Darkonda took his sister goes to after him vengeneace. During his search for vengeneace he gets the Mega Voyager activation key cards, leading to a duel in which Darkonda had up his sleeve a Super-potion that was poisoned by Eclipter. Anyways the potion mutated Darkonda making him stronger than the AstroDeltaMegazord, and during the closing minutes of the battle he spawned a hidious squid like thing that join him to combat the Rangers. The episode would end up, endding with Darkonda and his mutant spawn sending the AstroDeltaMegazord crashing the ground and skidding down through the city.

This is my personal favorite of all time for some odd reason, that's why I had to let this one slip into the Top 3 of this Top 10. Anyways as mentioned earlier this was mid-season finale and this left you at a horrible cliffhanger for at the time it was actually listed as the season finale, which for some kids thought it meant Space was over. So by listing this episode as the season finale, it left kids fearing the show was cancelled our a new series was coming sort of like how our Top 2 and 1 sort threw right out at us.

2. MMPR Season 3: Rito Destroys the Thunderzords
Early on, back in the old MMPR days they liked to change to the new sentai stuff during the actual start of the new season instead of like using the finale to help transition. Just for this transition people continue to believe it started in season 2 and concluded in 3. Anyways in the series Ninja Quest, the Rangers are threatened by a complete and utter idiot, whose Rita's brother, Rito Revolto. Rito comes to congraduate his sister's wedding and to defeat the Rangers. Sadly he actually manages to defeat the Rangers practically all by himself with the help of four resurrected monsters. He defeat handed to the Rangers actually doesn't just destroy the Megazords but their connection the Morphin' Grid too.

This defeat managed to be Number 2 for the fact Rito did most of the work and actually never really needed that extra set of stock footage, Zyu2 monsters to back him up. Practically everything in this match was to just push and hype the upcoming change into the Ninja Powers. I honestly got to say this was great but the episodes that would end up following it stood no match. Along with that season 3 was really hazy for me cause I honestly always end up having to rewatch it and Ninja Quest part 1 is like 1 of like 6 episodes I actually like from this season before it transitioned to Alien Rangers.

1. Power Rangers Turbo: Command Center RaidNow we come to the Number 1 spot on the countdown, Divatox attacks the Command Center. After Goldgoyle defeated the Megazords, Divatox discovers the location of the Command Center(IDK How She never knew where it was until now, seriously?!) and has all over her forces raid it. The Rangers successfully hold off the attack for a short time, until the battle actually occurs within the Command Center's Power Chamber. At that point the Rangers were cornered and Elgar came in during the ongoing battle, planting charges all about to have the Command Center be leveled a second time by explosives.

This to some is a lot of people's favorite moment of defeat, one reason is cause a lot of people hate Turbo and the other is well at this time we never really had a battle at the Ranger's base of operations. This was quite an amazing battle, and good outlook on a true destructive defeat hand to them. The fact they were cornered, and over run by Divatox's forces really mad you think, what would've happened if the original Rangers were there to face this challenge?

Toku 101: Power Morphicon 3

Hello and welcome to the return of Toku 101; I'm your columnist, Wheelchair21. After being on vacation and attending Power Morphicon 3, I'm here to bring you some cool details and news! So let's get back on track and get some coverage on this amazing event.

Power Morphicon 3
The event lasted for three days, in Pasadena California at the Sheraton Convention Center. It was from August 17th to the 19th, and was sponsored by Bandai. This was to comemorate the 20th anniversary of Power Rangers by closing out Samurai and promoting Mega Force. Along with that we had Johnny Yong Bosch and his band Eyeshine as the guests of honor, followed up by the special appearance of David Yost! The convention was amazing and worth the trip, but will I do it again well that all matters on what will happen and occur at the next Power Morphicon. Just as for this one there was alot to with not so much time to get it all done!

On Saturday, when the cast of Power Rangers Samurai was at the convention everything was a buzz due to the looming appearance of David Yost. Well the Samurai cast caused huge lines to form up, for the meet and greet/signing before and after their panel. It was so long of a line that people were practically blocking all the entrances to the panels. Then when it came time to the David Yost, event/panel his signing actually almost caused the convention to be shutdown, due to fire hazards as the line had three paths within the center leading all the way to outside entrance. Finally to end Saturday was the Paul Schrier's Ice Cream Truckers and Eyeshine Concert, which was amazing. That was Saturday thou, practically all about waiting on lines for autographs and photos. While Friday and Sunday were come and go days as the thing was starting/ending on those certain days.

Friday was mostly people walking around the merchant room, and people going around getting autographs. Along with that people were busy trying to get the Power Morphicon exclusive Samurai 2 Pack with Shark Attack Red Ranger and Super Mooger, while waiting for the '+18 Panel' with Johnny Yong Bosch, Walter Jones, Catherine Sutherland, Jason Narvy, Tony Oliver, Ron Regge, Dan Southworth and Jason Faunt. The plus '+18 Panel' was problem the utter most show stealing panel at the whole entire convention since people were just asking questions you wouldn't get at the actual panels meant for the show. Other than that Friday was just for fans becoming aware of their surroundings.

Sunday though didn't do much better than Friday, until Rick Medina, and other members of the Samurai Cast appeared for signings. Medina came with full force as he came bringing his Blazing Lion jacket for people to while for photos with him, along with cool on set photos of him on set of Wild Force. So mostly he got over the most with fans for just bring his old Wild Force things with him. The other Samurai Rangers, held their quite while except for Najee "Kevin the Blue Ranger" because I believe he's the least liked Ranger on the entire show. Hector and Brittany (Mike & Emily) got alot of the attention out of the returning Samurai Rangers for the last day of the convention. (Me with Medina up-top)

One cool aspect while attending the convention was the filming of the web-series "No Nerds Here" starring Jessica Rey (Wild Force White), Jason Faunt (Time Force Red) and Nika Burrise (Zeo/Turbo Yellow). I along with TokuAnimeNews co-host Projektrdm and Reviewtopia's EZ Rider took part in this filming. We found it to be entertaining while, yet cheesy, corny and boring as some of the takes weren't too exciting. The Cast and Crew thou that were hired on, were quite nice and interacted with us extras. I along with Projektrdm and a few selected PMC attendee extras really warmed up to specifically the director of the series, Skylar who was a really cool individual. Anyways that was a great convention, and panels of the convention are all over the web by now so go check them out. Along with the panels is the trailer for Mega Force, along with the demos of the Mega Force toy line such as 4" Figures, Retro Fires, Deluxe Megazords and Roleplay toys. So we got a lot cool news, while enjoying some witty panels while being forced to wait for the upcoming finale of Super Samurai...



As for this has been my partial coverage on Power Morphicon 3, to see more go check out TokuAnimeNews at http://www.tokuanimesnews.blogspot.com/ or wait for next week's Toku 101! That's when I'm actually allowed to go into full details on my experience at PMC, since I'm contractionally obligated to first release all stories there first. Just here's my highlighted listing of the Panels from Friday to Sunday:

Friday August 17th
5:00 PM Panel A
"Behind the Scenes: Power Rangers Feature Film Retrospetive"
Join cast and crew from MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS: THE MOVIE and TURBO: A POWER RANGERS MOVIE as they look back and reminise on their favorite experiences from the feature film adventures of the Power Rangers!

5:00 PM Panel B
"Power Morphicon Trivia Contest 2012 w/ Database Ranger"
Join host Database Ranger in a fast-paced battle of wits against your fellow fans!

6:00 PM Panel A
"Behind the Scenes: Design and Development w/ Tsuyoshi Nonaka"
Tsuyoshi Nonaka describes the design history of ZYURANGER, POWER RANGERS SAMURAI/SUPER SAMURAI, and more!

6:00 PM Panel B
"Unsung Heroes"
Celebrating some of the show's most morphinominal cast and crew!

7:00 PM Panel A
"Spotlight: Power Rangers Turbo"
The cast and crew of POWER RANGERS TURBO discuss their experiences working on the hit series on its 15th anniversary

7:00 PM Panel B
"Behind the Scenes: The Music of Power Rangers w/ Ron Wasserman" Musician Ron Wasserman (The Mighty RAW) discusses his musical history throughout the series

8:00 PM Panel A
"Friday Night Feature: TURBO - A POWER RANGERS MOVIE"
w/ live commentary from cast and crew

8:30 PM Panel B
"Power Rangers After Dark"
This 18+ panel allows guests to let down their guard with their adults fans. No video recording equipment is permitted at this event.

Saturday August 18th
10:00 AM Panel A
"Spotlight: Where it All Began"
A look back on the start of the series with the casts of MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS through POWER RANGERS TURBO.

11:00 AM Panel A
"Spotlight: Johny Yong Bosch and Eyeshine"
Q&A with the hit band

12:30 PM Panel A
Saban's Mega Power Panel

1:00 PM Panel B
"Pretty and Powerful"
A look back on the women who shaped POWER RANGERS

1:30 PM Panel A
"Spotlight: Bulk and Skull-a-thon"
A look back on the laughs and legacy of Bulk and Skull.

2:00 PM Panel B
"Behind the Scenes: Design and Development w/ Tsuyoshi Nonaka"
Tsuyoshi Nonaka describes the design history of ZYURANGER, POWER RANGERS SAMURAI/SUPER SAMURAI, and more!

2:30 PM Panel A
"Forever Red(s)"
Honoring the Red Rangers throughout the series history!

3:30 PM Panel A
"David Yost Charity Event and Q&A" *Ticketed Event
In this special, ticketed event, David will be hosting a Q&A and giving away some of his Power Rangers paraphernalia throughout the panel. As well as raffling his Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie signed script with proceeds going to Trevor Project.

7:30 PM Panel A & B
"Saturday Night Concert Event: Ice Cream Truckers and Eyeshine Live!" *Ticketed Event

Sunday August 19th
10:00 AM Panel A
"Gold Ranger Member Event: Take a Stance!"
*Gold only pre sold event

11:00 AM Panel B
"Gold Ranger Member Event: Acoustic Concert w/ Eyeshine" Gold Only

12:00 Noon Panel B
"Behind the Scenes: Voice Actors"
The voice actors behind POWER RANGERS and her sister programs give insight into their work.

1:00 PM Panel B
"Spotlight: Villains"
The vilest villains of POWER RANGERS and her sister programs unite to destroy Power Morphicon once and for all!

2:00 PM Panel A
"Spotlight: Ameritoku"
Cast and crew from POWER RANGERS' sister shows, BEETLEBORGS, VR TROOPERS, and MASKED RIDER discuss heir experiences working on their hit shows!

2:00 PM Panel B
"Spotloght: Digimon"
The some of the cast of DIGIMON look back and discuss their experiences working on the hit series!

3:00 PM Panel A
Costume Contest Check-In

3:30 PM Panel A
"Power Morphicon 2012 Costume Ball Contest"
For PMC's final event of the year, the attendees are the stars! Mingle with your fellow fans dressed as your favorite PR characters, or whatever Tokusatsu or Ameritoku theme might strike your fancy!

4:30 PM Panel A and B
Closing Ceremony

Toku 101: Power Morphicon

Hello, and welcome to another one of Wheelchair21's Toku 101! In today's segment of Toku 101, I'll be talking about the Power Ranger convention Power Morphicon. The reason it's the subject of the column this week is the fact it's tomorrow and I'm already in California to attend! So anyways let me de-brief you on what Power Morphicon is, when it started and some of the cool things that have happened at past conventions, along with what's to come!

POWER MORPHICON

Back in either 2007 or 2008, Saban went to most likely Disney at the time to make this convention. The reason for PMC, was to celebrate Power Rangers' 15th Anniversary. Its location Pasedena, California where has stayed there since then. At the actual first ever convention it seemed to have barely been promoted; for the fact I didn't discover it till months after it took place. Along with what seemed to be small promoted convention for Power Rangers we had several guests and unusual panels. For example guests were Austin St John(Jason/MMPR), Johnny Yong Bosh(Adam/MMPR-Turbo), selective Red Rangers, selective Disney-Era Rangers and the cast of Operation Overdrive. Some of the more memoriable panels however contained "Forever Red", "MMPR", "Unsung Heroes", "PROO Cast" and a trending one, the "Bulk & Skull" panel!! Some of these panels are on youtube, so please check those out.

Power Morphicon 2, was held almost two years later and from what I heard it was to celebrate the MMPR Movie and Saban buying back Power Rangers. As for PMC 2, that was an amazingly larger success from what I had personally noticed. There were more Cast members on hand attending the event along several new panels leading to a better varity. New guests including the 2nd Set of Turbo Rangers, Erin Cahill(Jen/PRTF), Vernon Wells(Ransik/PRTF), Robert Axelrod(Lord Zedd), and Jason David Frank(Tommy/MMPR-Turbo,DT) along with some members of Kamen Rider Dragon Knights' cast. Newer panels were Dragon Knight, Turbo/in Space, Time Force, Voice Actors and a JDF panel that Jason Narvy(Skull) crashed...Just like Unsung Heroes at the 1st PMC.
And finally we come to Power Morphicon 3, which will be held this very weekend! This one is to celebrate, the Turbo Movie, the announcement of MegaForce and preparations for Power Rangers' 20th Anniversary. Just as for this year's event some Cast Attendees will not be returning for this event; like JDF, some of the Turbo cast, Erin Cahill, and the Dragon Knight cast. The new/returning guests are Johnny Yong Bosh with Eyeshine, David Yost(Billy/MMPR-Zeo), members of the Wild Force cast, the Samurai Cast, the debut of the MegaForce cast and members from Saban's other adaptions. Along with these guest members several "Gold Ranger" Events are being held like concerts, and the exclusive David Yost panel. These "Gold Ranger" Events are for members who decided on buying the VIP Ranked tickets...Which I personally stupidly chose to get and damn glad I did seeing the results it got me!

However I rather not wish to list the current schedule of panels and events at this time. My reason for this is because the schedule can change by the time I've finished this post prior to leave to attend. Anyways I for one say, PMC is overrated at this time for it has barely had enough time to mature. It's worth going because it's pretty much buyer beware. Reason I say that is I bought my ticket back last September, guests didn't start getting announced until March or April and it costs a lot of cash pending on where you live to get there. So for now look forward to news and updates from PMC3! To check out more info on Power Morphicon please go to: http://officialpowermorphicon.com/

Toku 101: Shin Kamen Rider: Prologue

Hello and welcome to another edition of Toku 101 with me your columnist, Wheelchair21. On today's Toku 101, we'll not be continuing on the topic of Samurai × Shinkenger! It'll however be on Kamen Rider Shin, who's one of the my all time favorites. Shin is the eleventh production in the franchise, but was the 13th Kamen Rider, sadly he truly was unlike as his number tells. The reason behind this was it strayed from its roots, for the fact it was an anniversary the 20th to be exact and its creator Shotaro Ishinomori wanted it to draw back in its adult fans. So as a result the plot became more violent, realistic and modern based in a retelling of the story of Kamen Rider, Shin Ichigo. The result ending horribly for Shotaro as it flopped and Shin wouldn't go on to getting his actual series! Anyways let's get onto to the movie synopsis....

The movie opens up with a mysterious creature attacking citizens. Police stumble upon the creature and attack it. The creature is revealed to be an incestiode-like monster, that manages to kill/injure several officers before fleeing. Where then Shin our protagonist, awakes knowing believing the murders to be nightmares as the nurse rushes in to check on him. That's then followed by the opening credits, where a group of high officials go into a government research building. They all stop to admire and overview a surgery where the director, Iwao Himuro explains that the facility is working on overcoming diseases by changing the cellular levels. The process has 3 Levels, Level 1: improve cell immunity, Level 2: reinforce the cells, and Level 3 is restoration of cells with particle surgery. The development team medics are lead by Damon Kazamatsuri and Giichi Onizuka, begin to argue on the process of Level 3 where one of the officials plants a wire-tap, 'bug'.

Damon, argues with Giichi about the use of Level 3 at this current step is too dangerous. Giichi, then complains that Damon's seniority and hesitation is stopping their progress and that his choice of test subject may have been the problem. That's when the subject, Shin sits up to protest his father's choices. Later on the bodyguard, Goushima shows the facility director all the 'bugs' planted, by the enemy. Shin is then shown, exercising alongside the head nurse at some gym. His friend Yuuki appears to try and get Shin to quit the experiments  and go back to his motocross dream. Yuuki, then even mentions the fact of the relationship Shin and his nurse, Ai. While they're all relaxing at the bar, Shin reads the paper learning of the accidents that occurred realizing his dreams were real, as a random woman listens in on them.

That following night, Shin follows Giichi Onizuka to his hidden lab. Where Onizuka begins to experiment on himself using the Level 3 process. As the process begins to effect Onizuka, Shin also feels odd symptoms and passes out, as special forces break in and attack Onizuka. The team is lead by the woman spying on Shin, as Onizuka turns into the monster! Shin, awakes witnessing the dead bodies around him forcing him to believe he is the cause of it all. Shin then heads off to confront Onizuka about the "monster" he has become. Onizuka admits he used grasshopper DNA into the evolution process; believing incests are the greatest form of life and that they'll surpass man and god. Damon, then enters the room telling Onizuka to follow his leadership or leave when Onizuka replies the 'organization' runs the show.

Shin is soon confrontation with the special forces woman, who turn's out to be Sarah Fukamachi of the CIA. She here in Japan to defeat the 'organization' as they're shot at by Goushima. Shin flees, Sarah guns down Goushima and races off from the area. Goushima some how revives from the shots and alerts Himuro. At the gym now closed, Shin relaxes before running into Yuuki and Ai who appeared to cheer him up. Shin proceeds to tell him he's the monster killing people, but they don't believe it's him. Shin is crazed by fear, wishes for those close to him to leave his side. This eventually leads to Yuuki leaving Shin to Ai, who proceeds to confess her love to him and they well screw around in the gym's pool.

Onizuka is soon hospitalized, and Shin questions Ai during that time on whose side is she on. While Shin questions Ai, Damon pleas with Himuro to let his son quit the testing. Himuro says it's too later to quit now, this proceeds to Ai then going to Himuro's office to plea for Shin's safety. While Shin works on trying to escape the facility later that night, he notices Goushima lead a convoy from the lab. Shin follows and sees a battle between the 'organization' and the CIA. During the battle, Shin tries to stop the CIA from opening the convoy. As he tries to stop them, Onizuka as the monster tries breaking out as they blast the container with rocket fire. Shin, beings feeling odd symptoms again forcing him to under go his own transformation into a similar grasshopper hybrid. Thus Kamen Rider Shin was born!

The CIA, lock onto Shin in an standoff as Goushima attacks them transforming into a cyborg creature. Shin comes to the team's defense and does battle with the Cyborg. Sarah, appears during the battle and blasts Goushima and allows Shin to escape. Shin eventually then runs into Ai, while still stuck in his 'Rider'-form. Ai rushes to Shin and pleas for forgiveness, while the Sarah calls the CIA about Shin's ability to control himself in his 'Rider'-form. Soon Ai explains everything to Shin about the CIA and the 'organization'. Shin even questions like the viewers, 'What the hell is the organization?!' Damon also is confronted by Himuro he goes on to tell him about the organization, crossing between the two explanations. Ai explains the 'organization' is a Chronos rip-off from the Guyver, and they're making Zoanoids,...I mean cyborg soldiers. Goushima was a Level 2 and Shin's a Level 3. Then they all seem to mention Level 3 is to go against God!

Ai then decides to head back to the lab to get them to revert Shin back to his normal, but she's caught by security and imprisioned with Damon. Himuro then tells Ai after recent tests she's pregnant with Shin's child and they're going to use her to capture Shin. While at the docks Shin is called to by the fetus inside Ai's womb, calling its father to rescue it! The child's connection to its father is strong that it weakens Ai greatly. Shin rushes off to the 'organization's' lab, as Damon uses Ai's pain as a method to escape with the fetus' power aiding them. Damon and Ai frantically try to escape, as they run into Shin who has come arrive just in time as the CIA assaults facility. Himuro cuts off the escaping family, saying they'll all die before he will, gunning down Ai. An enraged Shin, upon her dying words saying even thou she'll die now her love for Shin is real and the child will still manage to be born from her dead body, he transforms. What proceeds next is utter horror and beauty of the power of Kamen Rider Shin!

In his 'Rider'-form he stalks down the Himuro and advances on him forcing him to fear for his life as he proceeds to gouge his chest and beat him senseless. Upon Himuro's death, the surviving Goushima breaks in and attacks Shin. The battle is short lived, but very violent and Shin defeats him by decapitation before his head opens up to reveal a bomb and self-destructs. Soon afterwards, Shin carrying Ai's dead along with his father advance in their escape as the CIA pursues them. Sarah, says she wishes she could've let him live but can't when they finally surround Shin as an organization helicopter zooms in; Gunning down the CIA and trying to recapture Shin. They catch his father and Shin proceeds to try to rescue him, the lead spy shoots down the helicopter as it crashes into the exploding lab building.

The final scene shows, Shin managed to survive carrying Ai in the sewers and unfortunately his father didn't. While shin advances in the sewers the child, messages him and aid him through the tunnels. While a flashback shows recorded segments of Shin explaining Operation: Masked Rider as the credits role.

Review & Final Thoughts:
Well to start off, this movie has a lot given to you to want an actual TV series or sequels in general. The movie, is mostly plot development for the looming 'series' and the building of Shin's character. When the action appears, it appears in very short bursts that aid the telling of the story. The majority of the cast barely gets characterization, but just enough to continue to support the plot since most of the characters introduced in the film are killed off. Along with that certain subs I've seen Sarah, Himuro and Goushima aren't called out by name or written in the subtitles, the only time the characters' name are mentioned in the credits. I personally find that to be weird, even thou Himuro and Goushima were kill by the end of the film while Sarah's existence is left unknown.

As for Shin the movie well is practically centered around him, just he doesn't realize it at first, since everything was a complete conspiracy. He was left confused and questioning his sanity as he for most of the film believed himself to be the monster terrorizing the city, only to discover it was a friend/mentor Onizuka. Then to discover this medical help group he chose to be the test subject of was actually some secret unnamed 'organization' that mimicked the manga 'The Guyver's' Chronos in several ways. Along with the fact how the woman he loved, was flipping between sides and withheld the proper information to possibly saving all their lives.

Other facts about Shin, character and film is the fact that he as Rider managed to quickly take control of his new powers or how his brain managed to endure the primal impulses for so long. It's thou one of the several plot holes overlooked when seeing the film for the first time. Along with that the Rider-form is better to seen in darker scene for when its in the light of day you can tell it's just a 'rubber'-suit. The night attacks, battles and final duel in the facility proved the points as in the final few scenes when Shin appeared during the day the suit looked horrible. Even when the character returned in the Heisei Era films the suits colors clashed with the day light a lot.

Issues I do have with the film is the fact it never got to continue, the 'organization' was never named, the action was short even thou it fit the plot, and  how the suit didn't adjust well with proper daylight. Since the movie never succeeded we couldn't get the series, and left off with a horrible cliffhanger. It would've been great if the show could've gotten up and running or actually get a future reboot. The reboot could work now if the series was toned down to a the ratings of Garo, and the basis of the plot modified to be more modern to keep up with the changes. The 'organization' not being name well is just like wow this is truly the plot, for the fact it seem Shotaro was just getting it going. The action being short fit, just didn't meet my liking we could've have gotten at least 5 more minutes!! With the suit as my final subject, I love it! It's a great suit, but the colors used could've or should've been made a little bit darker.

To end this all I recommend for anyone to watch go watch this movie, even if you know nothing about Kamen Rider! It's a realistic telling of the original series, and is well fitting to give some ideal examples of what the Showa Era series was originally about. I find this movie to be a great way to introduce people into becoming fans of the series, and if you're a Guyver fan you'll notice how much was drawn from that series. So in general I was overly amazing by it and still by it as of today, if I had to rate it out of 5 Stars it'd be a good 4.5! If you see like wise or differently write to me on Twitter: @Wheelchair21

Images from:
Wikipedia
Kamen Rider Wikia
Several blogs across the net

Toku 101: Samurai × Shinkenger II

Hello and welcome to another edition of Toku 101 with me your columnist, Wheelchair21. On today's Toku 101, we'll be continuing on the topic of Samurai × Shinkenger II. Where I'll layout the summaries of episode 5 - 10 of Power Rangers Samurai then compair it to Shinkenger. Many of you who wish to read this will then either agree or disagree on my opinions compairing the two and on how I view them. So please turn away if you wish to spare yourselves now!

PRS Ep. 5: A Fish Out of Water
While having breakfast, the Rangers learn that the Swordfish Zord has been sighted off the coast as the poisonous Nighlok Yamiror appears. While the others go after Yamiror, poisoned as a result, Kevin is sent to acquire the Zord by fishing for it. But after failed attempts to catch it, Kevin receives the aid of a fisherman before being contacted by Ji and being told that the others got poisoned and the Swordfish Zord is needed to cure them. As Jayden slows Yamiror down in spite of the pain from the poison, Kevin finally manages to fish the Zord out with the fisherman's help. After curing his teammates of Yamiror's poison before they change to use the Fire Smasher's 5-Disc Swordfish Cannon mode to defeat the Nighlok, Kevin summons the Swordfish Zord to battle the enlarged mega monster before having it combine with the Samurai Megazord to form the Swordfish Fencer Megazord to destroy Yamiror. As the Rangers spent a day at the beach, a mysterious figure who witnessed the Rangers' fight with Yamiror walks off into the night.

PRS Ep. 6: There Go the Brides
Dayu and the Moogers start kidnapping brides, so the Samurai Rangers use a fake wedding to try to trap her. After she doesn't show, they make Jayden and Mia pose as another couple at a wedding, which leads to Mia being kidnapped. However, Dayu noticed the trap and also kidnaps the "real" bride, whom turns out to be Emily in a disguise. After almost sending the Rangers into an ambush, the Rangers challenge Dayu to a battle in the nearby forest and quarry. After trying to destroy her however, a new Nighlok named Deker shows up, and Jayden catches his attention. After a sinister comment, Deker and Dayu return to the Netherworld.

PRS Ep. 7: I've Got a Spell on Blue
Nighlok Madimot, shows Master Xandred that he found and possessed the Red Rangers Tiger Zord and claims it as his pet. Madimot attacks in the forest and the samurai Rangers rush towards the Nighlok. Madimot fires a blast at Mike but Kevin gets in the way and takes the blast. Kevin becomes possessed and Madimot orders him to attack the others. Kevin fights Jayden and Jayden rushes towards Madimot but he is forced to get Mike, Emily, and Mia out of there. Madimot and Kevin attack a construction site and the Rangers arrive. Deker returns to his human form and watches the fight between Kevin and Jayden with the other Rangers commenting on Jayden's abilities. during the fight, Jayden frees Kevin from Madimot's control and the 5 then attack Madimot and destroy the Nighlok. Madimot returns enlarged and summons the Tiger Zord, the Rangers get into their zords and Jayden's Lion Foldingzord battles the tiger zord and frees it. With the megazord fused with the Tiger Zord. They finish Madimot once and for all.

PRS Ep. 8: Forest for the Trees
Jayden and Ji tell the others that the Tiger Zord, the Swordfish Zord, and the Beetle Zord can combine into the Samurai Battlewing, a bird-like Megazord and they try to find a fitting pilot for each support zord. Jayden keeps the Tiger Disc, Kevin keeps the Swordfish Disc, and the Beetle Disc is given to Mia, much to the dismay of Mike. Mike starts to train harder than usual, but he thinks he can't catch up to Jayden and Kevin's progress. Then, when the Rangers face a new Nighlok named Desperaino who uses the "loss of hope", Kevin attaches his Swordfish Disc onto the Hydro Bow to try to stop it. When Mia tries to attach the Beetle Disc onto her Sky Fan, the Nighlok knocks it away, and the disc is caught by Mike. Mike attaches the Beetle Disc onto his Forest Spear, but when Kevin and Mike try to launch attacks onto the Nighlok, the Forest Spear doesn't work and the Nighlok gets away. After the battle, Ji scolds Mike for acting so foolish and jeopardizing the team's mission. Subsequently, after locating Mike at an arcade, Ji leads him to a clearing and tries to teach him about harnessing the Forest Symbol. Then, after another encounter with the Nighlok, Mike destroys it. After a final offensive on the enlarged monster by employment of the Samurai Battlewing auxiliary Zord combination, the Rangers celebrate victory. Mia allows Mike to keep the Beetle disc. Mike creates a plant for Ji to symbolize their growing "friendship".

PRS Ep. 9: Test of the Leader
Master Xandred is troubled by how much Deker knows about his past and about the Seal that brought him to his defeat centuries ago. Furious, he called upon giant and standard Moogers to attack the city destroying everything. Bulk and Spike encounter the Moogers and tried to put up a fight but end up running for life instead. Spike is rescued by the Pink Ranger and begins to develop a crush on her. The 2 female Rangers battle the standard Moogers while the male trio take on the giant Moogers in the Samurai Battlewing. Later, a new Nighlok named Robtish appears in a form of a swordsman and challenges Jayden to a duel. The other Rangers follow on and are defeated by the Nighlok's power. When the Nighlok takes aim at the Red Ranger, Deker appears, announcing that Red Ranger is his opponent. The trio then fight in a triple threat match when the Nighlok end up losing and retreating back to the Sanzu river. Deker and Jayden continue to fight but Jayden is defeated and takes a minor blow. Mike calls for Ji to bring help so that Emily and Kevin can be brought back to the Shiba house. Back at the Shiba house, Jayden secretly leaves his comrades and goes on a journey alone in order to protect them.

PRS Ep. 10: Jayden's Challenge
Jayden leaves the Shiba House to keep the other Rangers out of danger. Meanwhile, Emily and Kevin start to feel better, and they worry about Jayden. Kevin tells the group that he had an idea of combining the Samurai Battlewing with the Megazord. Back in the Sanzu River junk, Octoroo says Master Xandred won't be happy when he finds out Jayden is still alive. Robtish replies he couldn't finish Jayden off because of a half-human and Dayu (who is also half-human) thinks it is Deker. Xandred awakens, angered by the fact Deker is helping the Rangers and sends his Moogers to fight Deker. This leads him into getting into a fight with Deker himself. Jayden wanders around the city at night and the next day, he finds a boy crying because he misses his father, who is currently at work. Jayden says he misses his father, who is presumed dead. Jayden creates a paper airplane for the boy like his father did with him, and soon, the other children playing around make airplanes as well. Jayden says in his mind it should always be monster-free, until Robtish and some more Moogers arrive. He fights them, and is soon helped out by the other Rangers. Jayden now believes he needs his team to succeed and when Robtish grows bigger, they destroy him with Kevin's new idea for the Battlewing Megazord.

Now it's time for us to once again have Samurai × Shinkenger, where they'll clash for supremacy. Anyways let's get this show on the road!

Well to start off this week, in these 6 Episodes of Samurai some of the plots change during its adaptation from the Shinkenger storyline. First of all in episode 5 a 'Fish Out of Water' the mysterious fisherman Kevin meets is just some random fisherman, instead of being a Shiba Clan Kuroko. The reason behind this is, unlike in last week's segment I had forgot to mention the removal of the Kuroko for its American adaptation, so to address it now. The Kuroko are mysterious nameless shadow guards that did several of the severant like work for the Shiba Clan. In Samurai they were removed most likely for the fact they barely had characters for just doing background work for the Shiba Clan, and the fact is their attire would just completely stand out in a modern american outlook on things, since they say the Nighlok used to attack Japan and now they're attack the US West Coast. Ironically thou since the Shiba Clan is supposed to have its own servants or so, they'd have guys dresses as Secret Service to be modern Kurokos rather than just relocating to Chinatown.

The next changes occur in 'There Go the Brides' one is a minor change due to probably the whole crossdressing issue that occured in the original Sentai footage. In the original footage Ryunosuke was actually the second Bride captured in the Rangers sting operation to rescue all the captured brides. Where in American instead of Kevin to put on the dress they got the beautifully cute Emily to take that spot. It's not a huge issue to complain about seeing Kevin's actor doesn't seem to know how to be funny or act, but that's an entire ongoing issue with that guy!

The final change is a huge game changer that has become an entire new possible plotline for the American adaptation completely all centered around Juzo now called Deker. Deker is played by Ranger Alumni Rick Medina (Wild Force Red: Cole Evans) who seems to actually do better in this role wielding Uramasa. Now what I'm about to say is major Spoiler Alert for those who've avoided Samurai nor watched Shinkenger completely, so don't get mad at me! In Samurai Sentai Shinkenger, Juzo was only similar lost soul that Dayu found as her only companion where in Samurai they're comfirmed to be married by the early 20s. So just by knowing the plot change by hints in the show from 'There Go the Brides' and up, it's easy to notice the whole change in the second half of the series which is Super Samurai. Just those plot changes will have to wait for now...

As for these changes, the show begins to lag for the fact the American Actors don't seem to know how to act and it's just like they're reading off cards. The other thing is the horrible voices for several of the 'Nighlok' they somewhat just don't seem to fit the suits. Then you have these odd 'Bulk & Spike' segments; yea I said Bulk and Spike(Son of Skull, but more annoying and very hated); Anyways these segments seem to hurt the series too as their connection to the actual plot is minimal, they barely interact with the cast and just go on about trying to be samurais. This actually annoys me, while some of its comedic parts actually work when Bulk tries to get him and Spike to fight the Nighlok or just seemingly miss their chances to actually do something important.

My final thoughts thou are these still seem to stay close to the original Shinkenger plot for now with its minor changes neccessary for the adaptation. The voices like I said before still don't fit at times for the 'Nighlok' of the Episode, and the Rangers' acting/characters get worse. As their characters got worse people began to hate the show fast and stopped watching it, just cause either they believe themselves to be Shinkenger/Sentai purests or the fact the Rangers just suck. I for one think being a 'Sentai' purest is just bull, it's like saying you're almost a weeaboo or in kinder terms a radical Otaku. I mean just take what's giving to me as Power Rangers and just deal with it, cause seriously since Disney had Power Rangers we had some give and take seasons. Ninja Storm, Dino Thunder, and Mystic Force, were seasons I liked completely; SPD and Jungle Fury were mixed, while Operation Overdrive and RPM are my most hated. Now openly stating that I hated RPM is a whole different story, so to stay on track like I said with Disney it was very mixed. However during Saban's original run alot of the series were great with no issues until I look back at them, so to comeback after 7 years I wasn't expecting a homerun on a series or one so early in the episode airrings.

Just I feel like if any hate should have been appearing towards the show it should appear in these radius of episodes, cause my god I only truly enjoyed 3 of these 6 episodes(6, 7, 9). The reason for liking those selected episodes are because Deker had involvment that quickly explained and defined him as a character. Personally Deker is one of my favorite characters in Samurai, and is honestly one of the only real reasons I continue to watch the show when I'm not eyeballin' Emily or Mia. This season has alot of issues but can be over looked easily understanding Power Rangers is for kids, when Sentai is like generally a family show meant for all ages. Then understanding this explains why teenagers or grown adults quickly turn away from Power Rangers or go in search of this 'Mythical' series known as Super Sentai. As for now this has been Toku 101: Samurai × Shinkenger II and we'll see you next time!

Summaries were provide by Wikipedia.org: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Power_Rangers_Samurai_episodes
Images provided by:
http://www.powerrangers.com/seasons-samurai.html
http://www.nick.com/
http://www.rangercentral.com/
http://www.tokutime.blogspot.com/
http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/shinken/contents/news/0028/