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This week: Ironically the thieves find their thunder gets stolen by another Sentai (see the news about Kyoryuger). A casino looks a little underwhelming (is it a redress of the Gangler hideout set?), the irony of thieves working in a bistro called "Juror", the monster of the week is both forewarned and fourarmed, and the Lupinrangers get a damn fancy roll call followed by some damn fancy fight choreography!

So that's what that female voice singing "Lupinranger!" in the transformation is all about?!

Also, if anyone's not really sure what all this stuff about 'phantom thieves' is all about, I highly recommend checking out 'Lupin The Third: Part IV' for free on Crunchyroll. It's not the only thing LupinVsPat is referencing, but it's an easily accessible (don't worry about the "Part IV" bit, there's no previous knowledge required) and really fun introduction to the concept. :D
 
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Dr Kain

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It was a decent, albeit rushed, premier. I don't feel they needed to introduce the Patrangers in this episode as they seemed to take away from the pacing. I like the diversity among the Lupinrangers and that they have made a pact not to care if one of their members dies. That will give for some nice development as the show goes on.

The Patrangers are as generic as I predicted. They seem to be just your basic run of the mill, "We're heroes because the show requires us to be" characters. I hope I am wrong on this point.

Speaking of hoping to be wrong, and not being so, I already hate the main villains. When are we going to get some actual actors again as the mains and not just suits? There is no reason for the female to just be a faceless suit. At least the two minions had human forms in this episode, but who knows how long that is going to last.

Finally, it was odd not having an ending theme in this episode.
 
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Style is there, but that's expected.

There seems to be something glaringly cheap about civilian scenes recently. It could be just me though. Something about that casino scene reminded me of a kalish/neo saban era power ranger episode.

mmmmm, I may have overestimated Sango's acting ability from one clip I saw of her in the promos. Her character is very predictable thus far.

I actually can't remember anything about Nigo, except a nervous laugh he gave after bringing some goodies to work.

Playing Ichigo's seriousness for laughs is actually a good idea for now. 3 calming him down with a doggie treat was funny. Just hope it doesn't take its toll.

Lupin Red is waaay too strange to look at.I really tried to find that sweet spot angle that I can latch on to, but I can't. lol it is actually distractingly odd. Also his acting is rough, but it's not as annoying as lucky's or as inexperienced as ninnin reds (w/e his name is).

Lupin Blue couldn't be more cookie cutter "cool blue" if he tried. That one scene where he wanted to deck yellow in the face was ok though.

Lupin Yellow has nice energy. Best of the bunch by default.

Best part was the Pats not having their gear until the end. That was refreshing.
 
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Also, did my man LRed say Adieu in civilian form and as Lupin? Maybe to a different person both times, but still; surely this will be his undoing.
 
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Oh hey, they didn't cram a mecha fight into the first episode. IIRC that's the first time that's happened since Kyoryuger five years ago?! Instead we got a more chilled scene in the middle to slow things down between the action set pieces.

Neither Red is screaming a catchphrase!

Neither of the girls are trying to be OTT cutesy. Lupin Yellow doesn't stand out as an idol trying ating like so many guest stars have in the past. If anything she seemed more natural than average for a Sentai actress.

The Lupinranger's roll call sequence was really cool. I hope it's not a one-off now they have it as stock footage.

The camera work for that final fight was amazing! Though there was something a bit weird about it; I'm not sure if it's just something like a different lense or if they'd messed with the speed?

I really like the music that plays as the Lupinrangers go into action, though I do wish it was performed on actual instruments instead of synths. I'm not sold on the actual opening theme yet but I'll wait to see it with the OP footage next week.

It would have been nice if the Patrangers had been given more equal time. It is a VS series after all. Yet it was clear from the marketing that Lupinranger was going to be the focus of the season so I'm not really surprised.

The Lupinrangers seem to think the VS Changers are part of the collection, yet they need to unlock them with the Dial Fighters' safe-cracking ability to use them. I wonder if it will turn out Kogure stole police tech?
Finally, it was odd not having an ending theme in this episode.
Rumour has it that's not a one-off, and this is the series when Sentai follows in Rider's footsteps and ditches the end credits. I guess it is kind of a shame; It would have really suited the show to have had something like the Dekaranger ED.
There seems to be something glaringly cheap about civilian scenes recently. It could be just me though. Something about that casino scene reminded me of a kalish/neo saban era power ranger episode.
As I mentioned in the OP, I presume it's a re-dress of the Gangler hideout set because it was a location we'll never see again (and the walls, wall-mounted lights, red carpet etc all looked similar to the Gangler base). I guess it's tough to rent out a real casino for the day - they'd probably make more money from being open to customers as usual.
Lupin Blue couldn't be more cookie cutter "cool blue" if he tried.
He kinda seems like that, but it's been a while since they've done that. The last attempt was AoNinger, and he was such a tool I want to disqualify him and say we haven't had one since Gokaiger. So most of the kiddies watching will have never seen a trad "cool blue".
 
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Dr Kain

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No ending theme at all? That is kind of lame. Why would they suddenly stop doing ending themes now? It made sense with KR becuase it came back after a decade break.
 
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As I mentioned in the OP, I presume it's a re-dress of the Gangler hideout set because it was a location we'll never see again (and the walls, wall-mounted lights, red carpet etc all looked similar to the Gangler base). I guess it's tough to rent out a real casino for the day - they'd probably make more money from being open to customers as usual.

That's what it is. Not so much the double dipping of sets, but the fact that they look too much like sets. The fake walls, stage lighting, and clearly a black wall/curtain behind the window shatter.


He kinda seems like that, but it's been a while since they've done that. The last attempt was AoNinger, and he was such a tool I want to disqualify him and say we haven't had one since Gokaiger. So most of the kiddies watching will have never seen a trad "cool blue".

I'm dyyying. lmao, fair enough.
 
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No ending theme at all? That is kind of lame. Why would they suddenly stop doing ending themes now? It made sense with KR becuase it came back after a decade break.
I don't think they've had actual credits over the end sequence since ToQger(?) so it's really just 90 seconds of stock footage. I guess they decided that time would be better served in other ways.

The first CD release for each season would normally contain both the opening and closing themes, but the track listing for this show's first release does not contain an end theme. Instead it contains the opening duet plus two solo-sung alternate versions. I guess it's possible they'd use them (some kind of alternating end sequence with each focussing on only one team?) but the word on the grapevine is they're not having anything.

And just to be pedantic, don't forget Kuuga's lovely end theme.
I'm dyyying. lmao, fair enough.
Sorry; I can't put my finger on exactly why but for some reason that character really grinds my gears.

I hope Lupin Blue gets given more to do than Garu did, though he seems like the most obvious of the Lupins to fall through the cracks seeing as Red is...a Red, and Yellow is a relatively big name actor.
 
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