Best Toku of 2006?

[ShadowRider]

I have three choices:

Sazer X: I really liked many of the characters, and I particularly loved the interaction between Takuto and Blaird. And Blaird, who started off so very annoying, evolved into one of the more interesting people on the show.

Lion Maru G: Started off a disapointment, not what I was hoping for in a new incarnation of a classic hero. However I've really enjoyed the character evolution of the two heroes and the exiting action scenes. It just got better and has kept me wanting more, not to mention it's good for a laugh (despite the sophomoric and sometimes inane nature of some of the comedy).

Kamen Rider Kabuto: The first Rider series I've follow since Ryuki. I find many of the characters to be rather interesting and enjoyable. Love the Rider designs and much of the action. I've actually gotten exited everytime I start a new episode.

 

[Dogbot]

I thought Sazer stopped running last year.

 

[ShadowRider]

I thought Sazer stopped running last year.

It ended this past summer.

 

[Bolt]

Kabuto was pretty fun for a whiiiiile, but it's without a doubt the most overrated Rider series of all time, maybe the most overrated Tokusatsu period.

 

[Kimiden]

Kabuto was pretty fun for a whiiiiile, but it's without a doubt the most overrated Rider series of all time, maybe the most overrated Tokusatsu period.

THANK YOU! Was waiting for somebody to finally say that! :buttrock:

For me it's a cross between Ultraman Mebius and Sazer X.

Sazer X had the feel of a 1970's henshin hero show which is was something I was glad to see and Mebius, in addition to having one of the biggest plot twists of the entire Ultraman franchise, brought back the main badass of the Ultra Brothers; Ultraman Leo :thumbs:

 

[Shougo B'Stard]

Kabuto was pretty fun for a whiiiiile, but it's without a doubt the most overrated Rider series of all time, maybe the most overrated Tokusatsu period.

I've been trying to decide whether it's Kabuto or Garo that holds the title for most overrated tokusatsu...

 

[KamenRiderZero]

I've been trying to decide whether it's Kabuto or Garo that holds the title for most overrated tokusatsu...

Sadly, when I tried to introduce a friend to Toku, Garo was the only one he liked....

To be honest, I've fallen behind with the newest batch of Toku shows. Just watched Bouken 29 today, and haven't watched Kabuto since the Hyper Mode debut, not to mention I left off on episode 20 of Ryukendo, haven't seen a single bit of Ultraman Mebius, and I gave up on Sazer X maybe two or three episodes in. It's just hard lately with school and work to find the time. I haven't even been able to watch the Gojira special edition set I got months ago yet :laugh:

 

[Kimiden]

I've been trying to decide whether it's Kabuto or Garo that holds the title for most overrated tokusatsu...

Hmm... I think the big thing Garo has going for it is the visuals, even if they aren't ILM quality, the ideas and concepts draw you in.

...oh and the fights too I guess

But I don't think either one can be used to set the standard for the genre like alot of people tend to do nowadays with Blade and Faiz (i.e "Why did [Insert series here] suck?" "Because it wasn't Kabuto").

It's sort of like how every now and again, the critics will hail a new movie in theaters as the "Star Wars for a new generation" or "The best film of all time" yet come time for another movie, they'll say the exact same thing again. With tokusatsu, there will always be people who see the Next Gen stuff and will always freak out and call it the best ever because it's flashy, new and cool but in reality there's really been nothing Next Gen that seems to scream out "BEST EVAH!!".

(And yes I know the Blade ending was amazing and yes I know Faiz was "teh r0x0rz" but in the end, there's really nothing memorable about it. Just a bunch of guys in suits beating each other silly and selling toys.)

So yeah, Kabuto? Overrated. Entertaining but nothing that defines the franchise, think it was the Ramen Contest arc that made it fall out of grace. Garo? Yeah it's not like making me explode in my seat whenver I watch it but I'd say it's so much in a class of its own that it can't really define anything. save for coining the phrase "Hyper Midnight Action Drama"

 

[Jacky392000]

Boukenger
Kamen Rider Kabuto

 

[Aoi Kurenai]

I've been trying to decide whether it's Kabuto or Garo that holds the title for most overrated tokusatsu...

Garo, easily, "bcuz its 4 adults!!".

Kabuto's...ehh, it's been on and off for me. Recently it's had some great episodes, but the show just loves to screw with character personalities and I'm fearing the only character I like is going to be killed off just for the shock factor, I really don't see the show saving itself as this point. I do find it to be overrated, but not on the level that Garo is.

I enjoyed both more than shows like Mebius and Boukenger though. I wish Max could have run for a full 50 episodes. Or have Sazer X run for that long, but I'm making due with Ryukendo, it's light hearted enough for me to enjoy while not totally losing the dramatic aspects. What sucks is that next year looks like we're only going to have two toku shows for most of the year. I haven't heard news of any new toku aside from KR and Sentai '07. That would be the first time since...2001? That we've only had KR and Sentai on air.