Captain Shark Reviews Gorenger and Beyond!

[Captain Shark]

(Apologies in advance if review topics are not allowed in this forum, wasn't sure where else to put it)

Ladies and gentlemen of the toku fandom, I, the infamous Captain Shark, exile of TK, KG, and MAHQ, am going to take on the first entry of the Super Sentai franchise (also my first sentai series not counting Akibarangers).



"Isn't Gorenger like 84 episodes and few bother talking about it due to age and only 4 eps being subbed?"

Yes, that is why I'm going have one of these episodic reviews for the lolz of it! I'll be reviewing this four episodes at a time!

"But won't that take up so much time?"

Have you seen my SD Gundam Force reviews?
http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?showtopic=38603

Probably not a smart thing to post as I vented a lot into that grim jokes included........ But hey: THIS!

"That is a ton of episodes though."

Oh please, I've seen Mazinger Z, Grendizer, and Ultraman Cosmos in their entirety. Plus I've seen most Ultra series with no english translations and still got the jist from most of them. If this series are anything like Inazuman Flash (which has no known eng subs and both had the same creator, studio, and writers) it should be very easy to comprehend what the hell is going on.

"So what are you going to talk about?"

You'll have to find the fudge out soon, son.

"Wait, what was the point of the recommendation topic you made?"

I have decided I am going to dive into sentai starting with Changeman with a few other recs following. However, I am not treating Gorenger (or JAKQ when I get around to watching it) as SUPER Sentai, rather toku on it's own by Ishinomori. At least until I see a bunch of other sentai series (like 6 others at least), then I'll compare them all up and junk.

"Will you include the movie?"

If I can find it, yes.

"When will this all start?"

Right now!

"Is your awful humor going to pollute this thread?"

Absolutely, nobody inform Burkion though.:laugh:
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For technical jargon I don't cover go here: http://powerrangers.wikia.com/wiki/Gorenger

Let it be known now that every protag in this part will be given nicknames and starting with the next one I will start calling everyone by their actual names. For every monster of the week I'll give a one sentence analysis on what powers and/or weapons they give because once I am done with these reviews I'm putting this info at the ranger wiki articles. A handful of entities from this series appeared in a few tokusatsu crossover games, which will get mentioned at my site of Pixel Galaxy once we're all done here. Lets dive the fudge in!

Episode 1

The first episode begins with soccer players doing their thing when someone throws a knife into their ball. Said knife thrower is the monster of the week Gold Mask with a squad of Zolders, black masked men that will be the cannon fodder of this series. They beat the hell out of the soccer players and then bomb them with grenades (yes you read that correctly). One soccer player survives and runs to a building they are bombing since someone he knows is being (and eventually is) killed by the bad guys. After the zolders gun down some folks, arctic commandos are attacked by a guy named Samurai Mask and his squad, less bomby and more knify with only one survivor. Same scenario happens with a karate dojo with zolders lead by Bronze Mask and holy f**k these are powerful f**king grenades! This survivor got stabbed by a friggin sword. Fourth is the horse races, complete with more stock footage grenade explosions and the survivor is female this time; also the leader here is Jade Mask who looks like more like like he is very into Hatian culture if his costume is any indicator. Poison Gas Mask leads the final zolder attack as he attacks the squad with blue choking gas from his face with a survivor that looks more like he was just late than lucky. The five masked monsters/generals (I don't know at the moment) talk to the leader of the Black Cross Army (their organization), Black Cross Fuhrer and wow does the camera shake like crazy here. Cut to the Blue Ranger doing archery and Red Ranger going "move your a**!" (maybe, no clue, no subs). Yellow Ranger drags a truck and gets a message from a dog (and Red) to move. Pink Ranger gets.... an invite? I don't know, she was also using grenades. Green Range does boomerang practice before getting an invite too. Apparently transformations are done just by turning to the left. Everyone meets up at some small restaurant with the chef having a stereotypical French chef hat. Four of the five show up with Red leading them to a secret elevator into a basement. Upon their way down ranger five surprises them as he made it their first. We briefly see the inside of the control senter before the agency EAGLE (think SHIELD from Marvel) tells them about their motorcycles and tells them to go somewhere. While riding around their hovercraft takes off with two other bloats inside. They actually take off from a WELL, a giant water well, in a CITY. Gold Mask hijacks a school bus because.... I don't know, but whatever, the zolders follow up by gunning down police with riot shields (how the hell did they die if they have riot shields? those must be strong bullets that leave no marks!). The bus is locked in a warehouse with a bomb until the hovercraft uses a giant shovel claw to punch through the roof and carry the bus out. The rangers give chase with bombs are thrown at them. This series really loves explosions, someone call Michael Bay! Gold Mask uses a boomerang scythe on Red while untransformed until the other rangers show up transformed so he can transform. Insert slowmo jumping! Red uses a whip, Blue uses a bow, and Green uses a boomerang from his visor (yeah I got nothing). Pink and Yellow just use real rastling and martial arts, respecti- no, wait, Pink uses heart-like flash bombs from her visor. Gold Mask takes off when the zolders are beaten. So therangers kick a soccer ball and after Red kicks it at Gold Mask he explodes. Yeah. Fuhrer is POed and the other four offer to kick ranger a**. End with the ending having clips from this ep and what are likely behind the scenes sparing. The preview shows Samurai Mask causing avalanches and getting his butt whooped.

Gold Mask: He wields a scythe that can return to him (telekinesis maybe?).

Episode 2

After a brief review of the ranger origins in the last episode we see scientists testing an avalanche machine (Inazuman Flash says hi) before Samurai Mask uses a yumi bow to kill one scientist and fry another with a laser. A third scientist is captured to either replicate it or tell secrets. The rangers.... Assemble and go cycling. Yeah I have no comment for that briefing. Two rangers come across some women and I think she is talking about her child when Green and Yellow assist her. The other three are ambushed by Samurai Mask and knock his zolders silly. Why are gun wielding soldiers armed with swords- wait why do I care? Samurai Mask tries archery sniping on them, even injuring Blue, for Red to take him on. Pink throws a bomb at him only for Samurai Mask to give a maniaal laugh and run. After recooping on the Rangers' end, Samurai Mask destroys a highway only for Fuhrer to be what I think is him being unimpressed (I don't know exactly, but he sounded quite calm). Meanwhile Yellow finds the missing kid only for zolders to nab him and run off. At this point it is revealed the kid is that of the caught scientist (probably what Fuhrer was talking about just minutes earlier. Red and who I think is Pink go on recon until they come across a zolder with an arrow in his back saying eat a snickers- I don't know. Next thing you know there is an ambush and both rangers are cuffed before being thrown in a cell. Samurai Mask rambles and laughs about his inflated ego or something at the prisoners as they share the same cell as the kid. Soon Samurai Mask has the scientist, his son, and the two rangers tied to stakes because they have the mind set of 1690s Salem. The hovercraft is launched by Blue while Green and Yello go on motorcycle. Red pulls a knife from his sleeve and escapes (by teleporting apparently) before Samurai Mask can use the avalanche laser on them. The hovercraft.... Drops a box and sucks the scientist and son up a ube. Dr. Seuss-esque technology much? The Rangers transform and use waist rockets called the birdies to fly around before surrounding Samurai Mask. Zolders appear and martial arts ensues! Samurai Mask was unable to get his katana out as his minions got slaughtered. The soccer ball of death kills him only for his ghost to cause a fissure.... Revealing a space rocket? Blue uses an arrow with one of Pink's bombs to destroy the entire rocket as it takes off, destroying Samurai Mask for good. Next episode has Red and Yellow being trapped in a cage with Bronze Mask ploting something.

Samurai Mask: He wields a yumi bow with arrows and a katana and can teleport while emitting holograms.

Episode 3:

The episode starts off with zolders escorting two scientists with hard hats putting a white machine with attached beakers in a black capsule that goes down an oil well. Bronze Mask sees what goes on from a distance while the scientists detonate, basically emitting hydrogen bomb footage. After Bronze Mask tells his boss "success!" one scientist with a skinny as hell mustache sends plans and microfilm via carrier pigeon away. This is eventually given to chef in secret because.... Meanwhile the Rangers receive orders about the microfilm, in which I assume mustache scientist was an undercover agent (I could be wrong). Red and Yellow burglar their way into a zolder controlled mansion equipped with stealth cloaks (Harry Potter inspiration perhaps?). If you've seen comedic heist movies you pretty much know the next few minutes. One weird device used was some sort of rod that causes security cameras to fizzle, it was just weird. They eventually find the device until Yellow's hind end triggers an alarm, forcing them to fight zolders. Bronze Mask comes onto the rooftop and starts sniping them with a machine gun until they are trapped in an electric cage. The two transform and are saved by their hovercraft with Bronze Mask shooting at them. Bronze Mask throws a fit and concludes there is a spy among his brigade and uses his staff gun to find mustache scientist the traitor as they even find a transmitter. Bronze Mask.... blows a friggin dart gun and the dart stabs him in the back of the head (ouch). If you have a machine gun why do you use poison darts? Regardless, the rangers try analyzing the device. Bronze Mask eventually tracks down Yellow and.... Plays a flute? So his dart gun was a flut? Uh- Moving on. Some "guests" come into the restaurant that are really Zolders in disguise or out of uniform or- Okay I don't know if these are mutants or cyborgs or if that is how clothes work in this universe. The zolders grab some kid named Taro and scram once Red beats them up with Yellow following their jeep (and it is a pretty long f**king jeep for jeep standards. Not cartoonishly big, but if you saw it you'd go "DAYYYYYYYYUM!"). Yellow goes to their hide out and EATS THEIR FOOD with Bronze Mask just giving him instructions for giving the boy back for the chemical weapon. Yellow goes alone and sure enough the real Taro was not there in double cross fashion. A scientist puts the device in a smaller capsule before the other rangers show up. Bronze Mask equips his sword and Taro happens to be in the capsule to add peril. Pink tries to rescue him while the others beat the hell out of the zolders complete with death by arrows. After most are beaten up, Bronze Mask commands his last three to use bazookas on them and that fails horribly. The only thing saving Bronze Mask is a shield he summons on his right arm that conceals him in an iron maiden. Yellow throws it into the air, allowing the soccer ball of doom blast it open. Bronze Mask tries to run only to get blown up himself. What kind of energy was in there? Back at base, unknown if Taro survived as it was never shown, the general of Eagle that gives the orders shows his face introduces agents 007, 008, and 009 because a Charlie's Angels reference is necessary. Next episode has Jade Mask ballooning a safe away and an air battle is possible.

Bronze Mask: Equipped with a machine gun, a flute that can be used as a poison dart gun, a sword, and a shield that can encase him in an iron maiden.

Episode 4

The episode starts off with Jade Mask being told by two scientists about the team and which ranger is which complete with mini-back stories. Two scientists run for their lives while chased by zolders only to fail at gun point. One dies while another barely gets away after being wounded. Jade Mask tells them to spare him so they might find a secret base or something (not sure). Said scientists is in a hospital discovered by Pink while it looks like his face is rotting. Pink manages to pull a Cutey Honey and turn into another woman (well technically just disguising, but it is so sudden it is weird). She manages to track down where the scientist was working and they do their best not to raise suspicions (it almost worked if someone did not scream). She suspects further upon finding blood left from the chase scene earlier and finds zolders. She transforms by jumping (we Kamen Rido now) and she beats them up before turning back. Pink finds a cellar with hostages and gets kicked in from behind. Insert Jade Mask possing as a scientist and maniacal laughter before revealing himself and walking out. Back at the base the general is filled with disappoint that Pink went missing and Yellow and Green go off to find her. A zolder throws them off the trail while one scientist acts serious that Pink is one of their hostages. In the cell she manages to bust the door with plastic explosives and a laser ring only for Jade Mask to stop them in their tracks. Jade Mask even pins her to a wall before showing them their.... I am assuming an underground bomb factory. At the restaurant it seems like Taro lived and everyone is puzzled as to what happened to Pink. At the underground base a red hot air balloon is about to launch with what I think is a bomb under it. Pink kills a zolder with stabbing him in the eye with a hair pin and another one with his machine gun while Yellow and Green use a rope ladder to get the hostages out. Once Red shows up so does Jade Mask on the rooftop. On the balloon two zolders play with a radio while Blue pilots the aircraft before flying onto the balloon and beating the zolders up, eventually throwing both off. Blue deactivates the device and leaves a messages which I assume translates to "f**k you". The rangers go after the zolders and Jade Mask in classic toku fashion. Jade Mask tries to run and eventually uses a balloon to scram only for the soccer bal of doom to do him in. Poison Gas Mask is angry he is the last one left and in a weird German accent swears he will win his battle while talking to the Fuhrer. The next episode has Poison Gas Mask stopping a convoy and poses.

Jade Mask: He uses a wooden staff....... Kind of weak.

Lets analyze the cannon fodder real quick, shall we: A throwing knife at one point and general equipment includes a machine gun, grenades, a sword (broadsword? claymore?), and a bazooka while they can turn into humans instantly. Sometimes they have building buster bombs. And what is with the silver not-glasses?

This part of the review has concluded!

 

[shamrocknroll]

Very funny reviews. Hope to see more of them.

 

[kuroihikari]

Paragraphs.

 

[KingRanger]

Please use paragraphs.

 

[Captain Shark]

Time for part 2, now with paragraphs by popular demand!

Episode 5:

The episode starts with a convoy being stopped by Poison Gas Mask (apparently having invisibility powers) and his zolder squad. After the army is killed, Poison Gas Mask hijacks the convoy with Akaranger and Midoranger in pursuit. After going through a tunnel, Poison Gas Mask dukes it out with them only to teleport away (but not before beating the tar out of them). After the convoy is sent to an underground layer, Poison Gas Mask gets operated on while saying something about the rangers being pesky. Back at base Commander Gonpachi talks about what the Black Cross Army stole (I think) and Midoranger gets angry over not being allowed to go. Poison Gas is trailed by agents 008 and 009 while looking as 70s as possible. After splitting up 008 gets ambushed and almost caught before Poison Gas Mask just.... Teleports off. He finds his was to the restaurant base trying to find the rangers. Gonpachi as Snack Gon is on to him and says nothing, but Taro nearly gave it away not knowing any better. Midoranger sees this as a chance to trail him only to fall into a trap. Poison Gas Mask unsheaths a katana and before long over powers the ranger.

At the Black Cross Army base they try to torture Midoranger via an electric chair while Poison Gas Mask gets operated on again briefly. Midoranger is given.... Some device before it is taken away from him. The other rangers, after getting his location via a homing signal or something, launch the Variblune and their motorcycles to track him down. They find Midoranger tied to a cross and Kiranger tells them the area is radioactive. Why would he have a geiger counter on him? They then use some hand beam attack to undo the ropes.... What? The rangers do their intro and take on Poison Gas Mas and his zolders. After the zolders are taken out Poison Gas Mask talks about how his base is emitting poison gas while teleporting like crazy. I wonder if this guy is a Zetton knockoff. Midoranger eventually uncovers his weakness of NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN HIS HEAD. Okay, apparently this guy is a Gyaos knockoff. The Gorenger Storm is executed right in Poison Gas Mask's face and he explodes. Black Cross Fuhrer is briefly disappointed before the underground base blows up, nearly taking the rangers with it. They somehow manage to rescue a bunch of workers there at the same time. Commander Gonpachi scolds and applauds Midoranger's wrecklessness with Aoranger making some joke to finish the episode. The next episode shows Metal Hoop Mask (what kind of name is that?) storing microfilm, three gun towers, and a fissure near or in a city.

Poison Gas Mask: Can turn invisibile, teleport, jump high, and retract into his cloak and is equipped with poison gas from the mask and cape, a right wrist rocket, and a katana.

Episode 6:

The episode starts with Metal Hoop Mask making a shady deal with some guy in silhouette involving blueprints to some base. Afterward the shady guy has his car blown up with Metal Hoop Mask revealing to be Catholic. He and his men blow up a transformer before he divides himself into metal hoops to enter a base. In monster movie fashion the guards can do nothing to him before he kills them with loop constricting. Metal Hoop Mask steals some capsule and laughs. Commander Gonpachi summons the rangers and tells them what happened before Akaranger and Midoranger take off. The two sneak into a warehouse while beating up some zolders, eventually confronting Metal Hoop Mask only for him to take off via motorcycle eventually the two rangers beat him up before he jumps onto a boat. Miami Vice time! Or is it Live and Let Die? Regardless, boomerangs and thrown and bombs are tossed until Metal Hoop Mask jacks a yacht very unlike a pirate. The two rangers eventually leave after being unable to find him. Metal Hoop Mask then takes everyone hostage, threatening to kill the captain's daughter if he does not cooperate.

Metal Hoop Mask laughs sinisterly while analyzing the microfilm in his head (I guess this confirms the mask monsters are robots.... Although Poison Gas Mask probably gave that away). Black Cross Fuhrer summons his gun towers to wreak havoc around Japan, eventually having the zolders raid a base and it causes two huge fissures. Grim? Why yes it is. At least until Kiranger complains he cannot get seconds. Akaranger and Midoranger decide to check the yacht out while Black Cross Fuhrer (telepathically I assume) tells Metal Hoop Mask to analyze more microfilm while splitting up the family. The zolders are beaten up on the spot. The other rangers arrive via the Variblune with Momoranger and Kiranger flying down to the ground while Aoranger has to land the Variblune before transforming. The zolders are beaten to a pulp quickly with a good chunk of them falling into water. Aoranger shoots Metal Hoop Mask in the right arm and groin, forcing him to run. The Gorenger Storm is used and he blows up like an atomic bomb (seriously that explosion was huge). The next episode shows Alien Wolf from Ultraman Leo in a light brown color and i am going to assume it is Crescent Moon Mask.

Metal Hoop Mask: Can divide into constricting metal hoops, jump high, and analyze microfilm and is equipped with hoop-like bombs.

Episode 7:

The episode begins with school children on a playground with one girl being anti-social. She is suddenly taken by a werewolf with giant fangs that looks like Alien Wolf from Ultraman Leo. The werewolf (yes I checked my sources, this is a werewolf) is chased by the police through an apartment with Akaranger and Momoranger taking notice and action. There werewolf jumps off of a roof only to be followed and Akaranger shoots him with the Silver Shot. It is soon discovered the werewolf was the child's dad (what a twist!). In the hospital the father barely remembers anything when Crescent Moon Mask appears and fires a purple laser from his moon staff that turns him into a werewolf again. Crescent Moon Mask flees via a motorcycle and Akaranger follows. Akaranger duels with Crescent Moon Mask while the latter is still on his bike. After a bolt zap, Akaranger falls down a hill. Momoranger investigates the area, seeing a bunch of people passed out. The cops suddenly arrest her, later revealing to be zolders commanded by Crescent Moon Mask.

After Momoranger is taken to her cell she is forced to walk to a werewolf training camp complete with the same "woo" sounds Black Satan minions use in Kamen Rider Stronger andthe phantom soldiers in Inazuman. Momoranger is thrown in line with people getting werewolf shots while she quickly uncuffs herself. She is quickly stopped bu Crescent Moon Mask as he holds Rika (the small girl from earlier) hostage.... Until he leaves to fight Akaranger, in which case Momoranger beats everyone up. Akaranger.... leaves the duel to help her and Crescent Moon Mask seemingly does nothing to stop him. The Variblune sucks the hostages up in a tube with Crescent Moon Mask summoning his werewolf nazis (yes they are wearing nazi outfits, just no swatzikas. Akaranger just shoots them and just as the zolders appear so do the rest of the raners. After the beat down, Crescent Moon Mask tries to flee after realizing his werewolf bolts are barelt stronger than fire crackers and flees before being hit with the Gorenger Storm. He briefly reforms only for Aoranger to strike the center of one of the staff's crescents, blowing him up. Black Cross Fuhrer is aware of this, I am assuming via telepathy, and summons Poison Fang Mask. The next episode shows some middle aged man running and Poison Fang Mask using a cobra.

Crescent Moon Mask: Is equipped with a double sided crescent staff that can fire werewolf beams and can be mentally controlled.

Episode 8:

The episode starts with some middle aged guy running from some zolders when rangers Aka, Ao, and Mido intercept him. Poison Fang Mask laughs and says he will get what he wants before the attack. Poison Fang Mask sends a toy cobra to kill the guy on the run only for Aoranger to kill it with an arrow. Momoranger and Kiranger slowly follow him for protection, even preventing a drive by shooting. Running guy visits a grave, most likely of his wife and child as we see a pic of some them. Poison Fang Mask uses sparks from his staff to trap the guy in a phone booth before fleeing. Back at base Commander Gonpachi does explaining before the alarm rings all while 008 and 009 do zilch. Poison Gas Mask explains to Black Cross Fuhrer he is still trying to kill him. Poison Fang Mask disguises himself as the scientist's daughter, Ami, and has a toy cobra bite him. The rangers and the real Ami rush him to a hospital, barely alive, and it is revealed the snakes are specifically king cobras (in plain english no less). Aoranger and Kiranger launch into the Variblune to get anti-venom.

The two eventually land an area that carries and meet a poisoned scientist saying he was bit by a king cobra (and it seems like king cobra does not have a Japanese equivalent word unless it is just not being used here). The two rangers chase down a jeep with zolders that stole it and the rangers beat them up before retrieving the anti-venom. The anti-venom is given to him as he calls for his daughter with Ami eventually coming. Apparently the two of them had a bad relationship as Ami does not want to speak with him, but Akaranger manages to convince her to talk to him. Poison Fang Mask and his zolders attack after a failed attempt to poison the scientist (I seriously do not know this guy's name, I am sorry) while Ami is being taken away. The rangers stop them and beat the tar out of the zolders complete with over the top falls off of a cliff. Poison Fang Mask throws a snake bomb from his head called the Snake Magnum and releases a smokescreen from his staff. Ami is tied with snake magnums only for Akaranger to whip them off. The Gorenger Storm is executed and Poison Fang Mask explodes. Everyone eats Gonpachi's cooking and Aoranger makes a silly toy snake prank. The next episode shows Witch Mask using binoculars and the Variblune in danger.

Poison Fang Mask: Can disguise himself as a human and is equipped with a staff that controls king cobras and emits hot sparks and smoke and snake bombs called the snake magnum.

 

[Captain Shark]

Oh wow it has been a little while has it not? Ever notice how Aoranger's arrows are on fire in the opening but not in the series? Time for part 3!

Episode 9:

An EAGLE convoy is being escorted by the rangers while Witch Mask watches them via binoculars. Shortly after she detonates some mines and goes into the field with the zolders. The rangers hold their own while the EAGLE soldiers get their hind ends handed to them. After Witch Mask sounds too much like Honerva from Golion, Aoranger and Kiranger transform with a flying chase scene ensuing. Aoranger shoots her with an arrow only for her to convert into a crystal ball, beat them up, and fly toward the convoy. The back of one of the trucks has some freezing gun Witch Mask uses to slay two poor troopers (and their icy bodies explode.... yeah). Aoranger and Kiranger are POed and talk about what I think is luring her out or ambushing. After separating, Kiranger gets distracted by a crystal ball turning into.... PASTA? Hell I don't know. Kiranger turns back to normal (magic!), eats it, and passes out with Witch Mask being amused as her zolders lay him in a cell. He steals her staff (I assume he faked it) and tries to smash it with his head only to fail. Antics with the stick ensue. Akaranger flies the Varibloom for a rescue mission while Kiranger gets tortured. The Varibloom uses something called a Sky Scope (glorified camera?) from beneatht he nose as Kiranger is used for bait while Witch Mask aims the freezing gun at the Varibloom. I think Akaranger says Naito Beam, which is what that gun is called. Anyway the Varibloom gets away and poor Kiranger is thrown into a lake. Akaranger has an epiphony while random soldiers get frozen and blown up (gotta love the silliness).

Akaranger manages to sneak aboard Witch Mask's jeep with a combination of burrowing and a barrel roadblock. Akaranger infiltrates her base, all the while zolders are spooked by a random dog while some get knocked out fast. Akaranger turns back and steals a zolder uniform, eventually sneaking Kiranger out although he became very cold. He.... Oh wow, he steals a cloak while ditching all his clothes but his underpants (WTF?) and they get caught by Witch Mask. Some conversation with Witch Mask ensues as she thinks Kiranger is.... Her superior? I really do not know. After failing to have her carted away the two rangers high tail it before fissures erupt complete with a missile tower and them being surrounded. Some humorous conversation takes place and the Varibloom takes off. The trap repeats (this time with Aka and Ki actually restrained) with the Varibloom deploying Blue Smoke (actual name) to avoid getting hit and it is an effective antifreeze. The missile towers fire only for them to avoid them and transform and beat up the zolders. The rangers do their intros and Aoranger nabs the ice gun with Controller (or whatever Varibloom's claw is called). Zolders get beaten up, Witch Mask distances herself with her stick's flamethrower, and she blows up from the Gorenger Storm. The ice gun is used to freeze the missile towers (I guess the explosive part only applies to organisms) and they head back to base. Next episode mentions a hurricane and shows Wing Mask.

Witch Mask: Can jump high, turn into a crystal ball, and spawn food and is equipped with a stick that detonates mines, is armed with a flamethrower, and has a rocket in the butt.

Episode 10:

The episode starts off with the number 100 in the title.... No idea why. Some small girl runs on a rocky beach carrying four red balloons while Black Cross scientists work on something with Wing Mask being in charge. A device producing what I think is a giant sandstorm (is actually a hurricane, thanks preview!) happens with one scientist saying some part is either complete or needs more testing before putting it in a suitcase. Two zolders are shot by some Japanese James Bond that steals the case and flees before Wing Mask crashes his car with a boomerang to steal it back. The device is a capsule (I think he said spy capsule but I don't know) and the Gorengers arrive via motorcycle. As the zolders are being beaten up, Wing Mask kidnaps the girl from earlier and holds her on a ship (although she seems okay with it). Aka, Momo, and Midori Ranger plan a rescue mission with Momoranger trying to talk the girl off the ship, but she seems uninterested (I don't think she knows she is kidnapped). Wing Mask finds out and throws two wing-like boomerangs from the back of his head at them. Midoriranger takes the child on motorcycle while Momoranger deals with a bunch of zolders while Akaranger sneaks aboard the ship via rope walk. Midoriranger eventually gets his butt saved by Aoranger and Kiranger in the Varibloom just as a zolder squad begins gunning them down. Akaranger tries to interrogate a scientist only for him to blow up (maybe he had a bomb on him?). Momoranger is eventually caught by a net and Wing Mask nearly loses it after finding out the kid got away.

Momoranger gets tied to a transformer while Wing Mask bashes her head with a boomerang until Aka and Midori Ranger rescue her. The three rangers give chase through the ship (hooray weird editing!) with Wing Mask giving a villainous laugh. Somehow they go through a sewer and into a lighthouse with a bomb Momoranger deactivates (on the one second mark no less). However it is revealed to be a trap as the rangers are sealed via iron bars and a real bomb is given to them. Not going to lie, that is somewhat clever. Aoranger and Kiranger arrive in time for the latter to lift the bar door up and everyone escaping. The Gorengers catch Wing Mask off guard and do their intros. Zolders get beaten up, Wing Mask uses the girl as a hostage (how they got her I do not know), he uses the sandstorm device (now on his chest) to attack them, and Akaranger quickly.... takes her balloons away since they were bombs. Wing Mask gets beaten up somewhat with his staff machine gun having horrible aim before exploding via the Gorenger Storm (the ball being spiky this time). Black Cross Fuhrer disapproves and the kid is saved (I think her name was Yoko but I could barely tell). Before the end credits she says bye to a balloon while referencing her mother. Oh and the Red, Blue, and Green Machines are written in plain English, go figure. Next episode shows the rangers escorting some guy and Boat Ear Mask fighting.

Wing Mask: Can jump high and is equipped with a pair of wing-like boomerangs and a staff with a machine gun in the top.

Episode 11:

Aka, Momo, and Midori Rangers meet some guy in glasses at an international airport while being spied on by a guy with a walkie-talkie. An escort ensues with Boat Ear Mask ambushing them in a tunnel and chasing them via a jeep with a bomb cannon (why the hell do mask monsters have such random motifs?). Boat Ear Mask kills two guards with poisonous mouth needles with Aka and Momo Rangers revealing they acted as decoys with Midoriranger has the doctor escape. Zolders get beaten up while Boat Ear Mask uses.... some tread or something from the back of his head to fight Akaranger. Midoriranger and the scientist get attacked by a rock slide with the latter knocked out. Both of them get a guy with a mustache to give them a ride only for the driver to be a zolder, using a revolver to wound Midoriranger. Agents 008 and 009 try to locate.... Someone while pursuing via jeep while Midoriranger confronts Ear Boat Mask and his squad where his wound over powers him. Boat Ear Mask uses his bomb cannon, firing three blows on the ranger before fleeing (how the hell did they not blow up on contact?). Aka and Momo Rangers bail him out of a pit with 008 and 009 arriving to take him back to base while they infiltrate the nearby base. Momoranger uses a flying beetle probe (hey look Gouram is in this too!) with Boat Ear Mask finding out and giving fake information that Akaranger radios in about. Boat Ear Mask's scientist says the guy they caught is in critical condition.

Boat Ear Mask attacks Momoranger with one of his needles going into his henchmen's face (ouch) and Akaranger saving the scientist. A bike and jeep chase ensues with it soon happening on foot while dodging cannon fire. Back at base Kiranger scarfs down mashed potatoes (or whatever he is eating) before being called with Aoranger to rescue their teammates while Midoriranger prepares to go back into action. Akaranger attacks Boat Ear Mask and they hold their own with each other. The Varibloom sucks up the scientist with Akaranger uses some attack called the Red Spark which has an ultra field (no idea). Momoranger takes out the jeep's zolders via a bomb (low explosive) before the rangers all do their intros. Zolders get beaten up like crazy and Midoriranger shows off his new sexy bladed boomerang to cut off Boat Ear Mask's ears (which somehow attack to his oar). Before he can do anything with them the Gorenger Hurricane blows him up and Black Cross Fuhrer acts angry as the rangers ride off complete with bad editing. Next episode shows Silver Heat Mask acting like the sharp shooter from Ultraseven.

Boat Ear Mask: Can launch poisonous needles from the mouth and is armed with an oar and a rubber tread behind each ear.

Episode 12:

I am going to note now this is the only episode so far I needed another stream source to watch instead of the main one I am using. This is what put me off from watching Super Sentai until now: So many episodes and the fear of them up and disappearing, making me unable to watch them. Anyway....

Silver Heat Mask wastes no time introducing himself by emitting a spiraling red heat ray that sets rocks on fire, eventually causing a forest fire. Black Cross Fuhrer praises the cyborg fly (he isn't but he looks like one) and sends him to slay the Gorengers. What is it with spelling Gorenger and Goranger? Anyway, Akaranger gets ambushed by Silver Heat Mask and a few zolders only for the latter to get beaten up. Awesome scenery I might add, the waterfall is a nice touch! The two duke it out briefly before the other rangers arrive. Silver Heat Mask teleports (I think) and flees into a cave. Youko and Taro have a picnic while Silver Heat Mask is hooked to some device and Taro watches before running. Silver Heat Mask launches his net gun and Youko gets caught too. Silver Heat Mask finds out she is an EAGLE agent and demands she radio in unless wants Taro (caged at this point) drowned in a well. Where the hell did they find a kid sized cage- Digressing. She radios in as Agent 007 with Aoranger and Kiranger searching for her with the former getting caught in Silver Heat Mask's net and carried away. Once Momo and Midori Rangers arrive Aoranger is cut loose and injured. Cue one really abrupt cut back to base about them being worried and Youko being found. Akaranger throws a fit about her nearly betraying them to save Taro (I assume she had a bomb).

Silver Heat Mask sets the entire unnamed city of friggin fire and Momoranger tells Akaranger to apologize for being a grump only for him to leave.... Dramatically! Youko leaves the base in disgrace to try and make up for her mistake. Lots of soliloqies. Akaranger comes to back her up, beating up some zolders and getting Taro up the well only for the cage to be empty. Youko tries a kamikaze attempt to slay Silver Heat Mask with a bomb only to fail at it with zolders getting beaten up while sounding like shocker combatants. After Akaranger transform Midori, Momo, and Ki Rangers arrive only for Silver Heat Mask to start a fire and flee. Aoranger launches the Varibloom while Silver Heat Mask holds Taro hostage atop a bridge. Aoranger flies down and saves Taro before meeting up with the others. A mine is detonates and the heroes fight the villains complete with intros. Shouldn't Momo and Midori switch places in these since they're out of numerical order? Regardless, after the zolders are beaten up Silver Heat Mask acts like Michael Bay before exploding by the Gorenger Storm. Youko is welcomed back to EAGLE and the Gorengers ride off stock footage style. Next episode shows Horn Mask hatching a scheme.

Silver Heat Mask: Can emit a spiraling red heat ray from the eyes, high jumping, and teleporting and is equipped with a net gun.

 

[Lynxara]

These aren't really reviews, they're synopses. They're a good collection of details about each episode, but there's none of the evaluation or personal reaction I'd associate with a review. I only bring this up because I found them a bit baffling when I read them expecting a review, but they're not bad for synopses. I think you might bring them to the attention of people interested in such things more easily if you labeled them as synopses. There's heavy demand in this fandom for synopses of shows without subs, to serve as aids in watching.

This brings me to a question: are you watching the show without subs or Japanese knowledge? It seems like that must be the case, since I notice there's no descriptions in your synopses of why anything is happening (and sometimes that's the main thing dialogue is for in toku of this vintage). I only bring this up because some people who want toku synopses for unsubbed shows want them to explain that sort of thing. In Gorenger, I expect people would be particularly interested in the Akaranger/Aoranger dynamic, since characters like Aoranger were a big part of Sentai for a long time after.

It's fine if your synopses don't include that sort of thing, but if so, you might want to explain why in your OP notes. Just so people don't get the wrong idea about what you're writing.

 

[Captain Shark]

These aren't really reviews, they're synopses. They're a good collection of details about each episode, but there's none of the evaluation or personal reaction I'd associate with a review.

I kind of was saving it for the very end although I suppose I could give "current impressions" or something.

are you watching the show without subs or Japanese knowledge?

I know very little Japanese and these are all raw.

 

[Captain Shark]

Part 4 is here and this time there are actual opinions (GASP!)

Episode 13:

The episode starts out with zolders on a truck gunning down EAGLE agents. Horn Mask sends five with orange hats in and using bombs on their back blow up two buildings instead of just one. After Horn Mask laughs, Aka, Ki, and Momo Rangers attack a squad of zolders, eventually fighting Horn Mask as he turns into.... a rock? They try the Gorenger Storm without Ao and Midori and.... Horn Mask's rock form saves him. Five kamikaze men (who walk like robots) walk toward them and Ki Ranger gets injured. Horn Mask uses his staff to.... I don't know, he points it at the ground and his mask glows, eventually he is detected outside the Gorenger base via para-scope (which is amusing). Ki Ranger eats three bowls of food with agents 007,8, and 9 watching him and Horn Mask just walks in asking questions. I think Ki Ranger is messing with Horn Mask based on the conversation. Zolders walk in and say something, making Horn Mask throw a fit and they take over the restaurant with Ki Ranger being his over strong self. For some reason they shove a cake in his face before beating up Gonpachi. Eventually the villains leave all while Aka and Momo Rangers really wanted to beat them up. Some time later (because the scenery changed), Ki Ranger shows up in costume and stops Horn Mask's truck via pushing. Two kamikaze zolders grab him and blow up before regular ones beat him up with Horn Mask laughing.

The three agents and Gonpachi try to clean up the place. They later get a crate that has Ki Ranger beaten up and cold (was the crate a fridge?). Ao and Midori Ranger come back from whatever the hell they were doing and Horn Mask talks to Black Cross Fuhrer about how his plan is working. The same scene from the beginning repeats at some other base. If they knew where to send the crate would that not mean they know where the ranger base is? Anyway, more EAGLE bases are destroyed. Momo Ranger works on some sort of super ball for the Gorenger Storm, soon finishing it and taking off in the Varibloom (with a new insert song, kinda catchy). Horn Mask's truck is stopped via a mine and the Gorengers do their intros. Some kamikaze zolders (do these guys have an actual name?) are taken out the regulars follow. After which, Horn Mask uses his rock form to attack, but it ultimately fails and the Gorenger Storm blows him to smithereens before the ride off shot. This also confirms the ball is basically a mine. Next episode shows Skull Mask rising from a coffin and a time bomb.

Horn Mask: Can turn into a flight capable rock and has a high resistance to pain and is equipped with a crescent bladed staff.

Episode 14:

A coffin is brought to Black Cross Fuhrer with a skull on the lid that starts talking. The next shot has Skull Mask stalking Aka and Ki Rangers. Some guy starts playing a record with Skull Mask saying something on it which hypnotizes him or something. Said guy dresses up and encounters the two rangers before driving off in a limbo with a zolder as the driver. After a failed road block, Aka and Ki Rangers enter a cemetery which spawns candles before zolders fire machine guns. The two transform and shoot and beat the hell out of them before Skull Mask rises from his coffin. After Ki Ranger fails at tackling him, he just.... disappears. Back at base they discuss the situation briefly. Cut to some guy (record player guy?) wielding a time bomb in what I think is a factory and gets intercepted by Aka and Ao Rangers with the former throwing the bomb into the air, exploding. The guy is revealed to be Skull Mask who has a cape now and escapes in his coffin. After another ranger debriefing Skull Mask possess as a mail man to Momo Ranger to give a record, causing some random old guy to suffer. That night said old guy repeats what the last guy did and even went into the same limbo. Skull Mask's chef is carving up what I think is a cat skull and acts like a witch doctor before he drinks said chef's.... mixture? You can tell Skull Mask likes it because his bulbous eyes flash.

Old guy is sent to an old and probably "abandoned" house. He walks in to a dining room with several other dressed up guys. The food starts turning into skulls and femurs (one skull looking like an albertosaurus skull) and some woman who looks like she is from 1700s Spain walks in. Old guy dances with her as she reveals her true form of Skull Mask and he finds out old guy was Ki Ranger.... Cross dressing? Really? Eh. Said ranger gets tied and thrown into a dungeon with a jail cell with butlers in it, revealing their human disguise machine. Ki Ranger activates a signal with his left shoe and the others save Ao Ranger beat up the zolders outside before breaking in. Outside night turns to day for no reason as Ao Ranger arrives in the Varibloom and everyone transforms. Skull Mask's car is stopped by a mine before the Gorengers give their intro. Seriously, when do they plant these mines? Skull Mask throws explosive beads before summoning zolders hiding in the hills complete with scenery change as a girder structure appears from nowhere. There is even a bit with Ki Ranger distracting a pair of zolders by POINTING (ha). Skull Mask summons his coffin and walks into it, but Ao Ranger blows it up with a special arrow and Skull Mask is blown up by the Gorenger Storm even though he managed to fend it off with his staff like a bat. Black Cross Fuhrer gets angry and the Goreners ride off. Next episode shows the introduction of Sun Ring Mask and his minion Rainbow Mask. The Independent Mask Monster arc is over!

Skull Mask: Can revert into a skull and back, use hypnosis via records, turn into a human, and can summon a teleporting and burrowing coffin and is equipped with expolsive necklace beads.

Episode 15:

A barrier is placed over a castle with said barrier being tested with missiles. Rainbow Mask discusses this with Black Cross Fuhrer. Sun Ring Mask arrives into the secret cave with zolders commenting on the brightness. Rainbow Mask gets angry he has to work with him. Cut to EAGLE solders being gunned down (man talk about a red shirt army) by Rainbow Mask's squad of zolders. The Varibloom launches and.... There were domes in it? Seriously, first time we see that, it has domes sections. Anyway, the Varibloom uses a camera under the cockpit to view the carnage before the rangers (save Ao Ranger because it has no auto pilot) go to rescue them only to find out the dead soldiers were zolders lead by Sun Ring Mask who.... Teleports a lot before running off. Ao Ranger spots a gyser before Rainbow Mask appears. The Varibloom is grabbed by harpoons that drag it into a pyramid base. He fights some zolders and Rainbow Mask, but the latter's mirages powers make him formidable. Rainbow Mask eventually stuns the ranger via.... electric rainbow colored threads? The other rangers try to save him just as a fissure nearly knocks him out. He tells the others Varibloom is in the pyramid and Aka, Ki, and Midori Rangers take flight only for the castle barrier to stop them. Looks like cheap plastic up close. Sun Ring Mask acts.... smug? The Varibloom is hijacked after a net is placed over it and it goes on a rampage. Did you know this thing had a pair of rapid fire rocket launchers on the underside? I did not, plus both monsters seemed to be enjoying themselves blowing up oil refineries. Seriously, I wonder if this inspired the Super X from Return of Godzilla.

Ao Ranger uses voice commands to no avail before he heads out to steal in back.... by hanging on a sky car. The other rangers follow while beating up zolders although Aka Ranger pursues via speed boat. Ao Ranger eventually gets inside the base which is reloading the Varibloom with rockets.... or carpet bombs. Screw it I am saying rockets unless I am corrected. Ao Ranger's voice commands go through and the Varibloom's helicopter blades tear up the base, causing it to erupt and allowing Ao Ranger to take it back, complete with Rainbow Mask getting angry as he commands missile fire that ultimately fails. Ao Ranger sees a hole in the castle's barrier and shoots through it, destroying the radar dish that powers it. The Varibloom goes Michael Bay on the rest of the area before landing. Seriously, they set stone of fire. Ao Ranger and Rainbow Mask have a rematch while the other rangers transform and show up complete with intros. After the zolder slaughter, Rainbow Mask is confronted with Sun Ring Mask observing before his cohort is blown up by the Gorenger Storm. I noticed that the soccer ball changes color depending on the rangers it is being passed too. Anyway, the castle blows up and Black Cross Fuhrer gets angry at Sun Ring Mask as Mirror Mask suddenly appears behind him. Next episode shows Mirror Mask strangling Momo Ranger.

Rainbow Mask: Can create mirages and is equipped with a pendulum bladed staff that can create fissures and spawn fire called the Rainbow Fire by striking the ground and electric threads.

Episode 16:

Sun Ring Mask shows the Fuhrer a map of what I think is the Kanto area with lights that mean.... Something. Mirror Mask and Sun Ring Mask argue with each other and Black Cross Fuhrer breaks them up before telling them to go after the Gorengers starting with Momo Ranger because lolsexism. Momo and Midori Rangers are on patrol when the former looks into a mirror briefly which is actually Mirror Mask. The scene acts eerie before she transforms and kicks the mirror with the frame returning to the wall. Back at base nobody believes her. Midori Ranger, Yoko, and Taro go to a pool with Momo Ranger still deep in thought about that mirror. Eventually Mirror Mask surprises her in a pair of reading glasses and she runs off for a bit. That night Mirror Mask spies on her in her room and talks to her creepily. Mirror Mask tries to strangle her, but fails after Midori Ranger and Yoko burst in. Outside she sees a boy that hands her the glasses from earlier and walks off. She takes a swim only to get sucked down, it sort of reminds me of the first episode of Devil Hunter Yohko. Midori Ranger throws his boomerang into the water and Mirror Mask jumps out. Mirror Mask jumps back in, but not before the right mirror on his head is busted by the boomerang.

Back at the secret cave, Mirror Mask reports to the Fuhrer. Sun Ring Mask throws a fit and takes him and some zolders on a shooting spree. Ao Ranger appears from nowhere and starts beating up the zolders, one of which throws a spear with an explosive tip (that seems new). Both Mask Monsters throw their staffs at him.... Not surprising it failed. The other male rangers surround them only for Mirror Mask to use reflected sunlight on them, which hurts like hell. Sun Rung Mask makes it worse by firing his own eye heat ray into Mirror Mask's head mirrors and it seems like they have the upper hand. The zolders.... Throw really powerful bombs and the buildings suddenly explode. Wow these guys can be serious. Some time later due to lolediting Aka Ranger wakes up Momo Ranger and tells her to be strong while EAGLE goes on high alert. Midori Ranger tells Ki Ranger to get ready as the male rangers charge toward the Mask Monsters complete with a random mine. WHO SETS THESE MINES? Zolders get beaten up with a scene involving Aka Ranger whiping bushes with zolders coming out defeated (ha). Just as the Mask Monsters prepare to run, Momo Ranger arrives which allows the intros to happen. Momo Ranger summons a mirror from her visor, reflecting the sunlight back at them and blinding Mirror Mask who attacks his ally despite him yelling to stop. Sun Ring Mask teleports off and Mirror Mask throws his staff around before the Gorenger Storm causes him to explode. Upon inspecting his remains his eye bleeds and the Fuhrer is POed at Sun Ring Mask before Black Hair Mask walks in behind him. Next episode shows Sun Ring Mask playing chemist and a ferris wheel in the background.

Mirror Mask: Can turn into a mirror, appear in reflective surfaces as an eye, reflect concentrated sunlight from the three head mirrors, and jump far and is equipped with a bladed staff that can return to him if thrown.

Okay so, thoughts so far, although since I am breaking this into arcs I am not counting eps 15 and 16 yet.

Pros: I like the miniatures used in the far shots even though some get recycled a lot, especially the missile turret towers, kind of seems like a super weapon from a Godzilla movie. I like the ranger gadgets, toyetic or not they are simple yet effective. The Varibloom reminds me of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Helicarrier and since this is a super spy series it fits in nicely. Some of the mask monster designs are unique while others seem kind of silly (although not necessarily in a bad way). I also like the Fuhrer or at least the way they treat him as the mysterious puppet master although a cave being his secret lair seems a little underwhelming. I am also giving this series props for making Momo Ranger an actual useful team member and not just the female character thrown in so girls might tune in to watch; reminds me of Bijinder from Kikaider 01. Finally the music is not half bad.

Cons: Why does Ki Ranger not have a weapon? I know he has one so when will he use it? That just irks me. Agents 007, 8, and 9 seem useless, can't these three be given a weapon or something? Gonpachi also irks me in a similar way, but he is just the intelligence chief so I guess that is unavoidable. I also don't get Midori Ranger's role: Aka is the boss and all around great, Ao is the technician expert and driver of a flying vehicle, Ki is really strong/knows martial arts, and Momo is an expert in chemistry and explosives. Midori.... knows weapons? How does that get you field work? That is like M from James Bond assisting Bond shoot Bolfield's goons or- I don't know. WHERE DO THE MINES KEEP COMING FROM? Finally, Aka and Ao seem to have the least amount of centered episodes compared to the others (although with ep 15 half the issue seems solved).

Now for a curly mustache, next time we deal with the rest of this guy's arc:

 

[Captain Shark]

The end of Sun (Ring) Mask is here in part 5!

Episode 17:

Sun Ring Mask is cooking up chemicals in the secret cave as Fuhrer watches (also shortening it to Fuhrer now since we know he's Black Cross Fuhrer). The chemical is called Z 20 which Sun Ring Mask has used in Africa to dry up bodies of waters (showing dead sheep to drive the point home). Cut to Momo and Midori Rangers throwing rocks in a lake when Black Hair Mask shows up, strangling the latter with a wig briefly. HE HAS A COMB. A COMB. THAT IS HIS WEAPON. HE USES IT LIKE A.... Butcher knife or a zambatou? Black Hair Mask retreats after Midori Ranger breaks a comb tooth (wimpy!). After he failed to kill a guy walking in the woods, Sun Ring Mask scolds Black Hair Mask at the base with Fuhrer being easy on him (weird I know). At the Gorenger base, Ki Ranger tosses flour on a bowl of ravoli I think before we cut to Yoko in a garage where she spots a zolder in a lab coat. Said zolder is caught by Momo and Midori Rangers saying he is trying to defect and prevent something horrible before he is shot. The rangers return to base with a blue print he had of what I think is a base and Yoko is sent undercover. I am going to assume Silver Heat Mask never gave his boss a description of her or anything. She goes to some abandoned haunted house like the kind from a fair and eventually gets caught by Black Hair Mask. Guess which two rangers followed her and beat up some zolders. Black Hair Mask launches a set of fake teeth at Midori Ranger and it does.... Nothing more than be annoying. Outside, Yoko runs around the theme park with the rangers as they fight zolders (you can tell the caged lioness and leopard were interested in the fights). Momo Ranger points to some tower and both fly their where both Mask Monsters lie in wait.... And they get locked on a Ferris Wheel car with killer wigs on the locked door. Before the villains leave the car starts to smoke.

Aka, Ao, and Ki Rangers arrive not sure where their friends are. Aka Ranger gets ordered to leave before we cut to the Varibloom taking off. All three rangers quickly intercept the truck with both Mask Monsters in them. As zolders get beaten up Sun Ring Mask uses his eye rays before both of them enter the brawl. Momo and Midori Rangers transform and kick the door down and see the Varibloom, flying aboard. Both Mask Monsters escape with a zolder throwing a Z 20 capsule called Z 20 only for Aka Ranger to kicks it and Sun Ring Mask gets PO'ed just as the others arrive in the Varibloom. After they fly down the intros happen and zolders get beaten to hell and back. Midori Ranger actually hits his boomerang right in one of their groins (poor cyborg minion) before Black Hair Mask launches his comb teeth (which are basically grenades) Sun Ring Mask flees in the background before Black Hair Mask is blown up from the Gorenger Sto- oh wait his comb teeth defended him! Until Midori Ranger uses his boomerang to blow up the other comb teeth, causing him to blow up. Next episode shows Cyclops Mask stalking some camping kids and zolders getting slaughtered, the penultimate frame is him being stabbed in the eye with one of Ao Rangers arrows, ouch.

Black Hair Mask: Can jump high and is equipped with strangling wigs, a comb staff with grenade-like teeth, and a fake seat of chomping teeth.

Episode 18:

Some kids (most likely scouts) camp until Cyclops Mask rises from the river and with his squad of zolders and staff of string catch them. One small girl sees her friends getting taken away and is soon caught by Cyclops Mask. At the Gorenger base Gonpachi tells the rangers about the missing kids and orders them to move out unless they want a knuckle sandwich (made that last part up). Aka and Midori Rangers get attacked by zolders disguised as rocks before beatinig them up. Cyclops Mask shows up with the children in uniform under his control carrying explosive spears. Cyclops Mask is attacked, but Sun Ring Mask and the children throwing explosive spears force them to retreat in spearate directions. Midori Ranger gets ambushed by zolders and both Ki and Momo Rangers at the secret dojo acting brainwashed (I think) before he is force-chugged drugged orange juice. Could be metamesil, Doctor Oz recommends it! Commander Gonpachi is on edge with Ao Ranger even edgier, but without sin crawling. Four children get brainwashed on a boat with Momo and Ki Rangers watching. Here we find out Cyclops Mask uses his eye for hypnosis filled with props from zone settings in Inazuman. The next couple of minutes is basically boot camp with mines and the kids wearing masks of Shadow Knight from Kikaider/General Titan from Kamen Rider Stronger.... Actually I do not think Stronger came out yet so the the former then.

As the children sleep in cells, Ki and Momo Rangers discuss break outs with the little girl caught by Cyclops Mask earlier cooperating. The next day, Aka Ranger sends a speed boat with a dummy on it to attack zolders and he scuba dives to shore with agents 008 and 009.... Who do something useful by using harpoons! Aka Ranger finds the jail cells and his confronted by Cyclops Mask and the "brain washed" rangers where he holds his own against them quite well, even when a pair of zolders try to help (and fail). After Ki Ranger gets rammed into a lock, said lock explodes for some reason and the children run out. Ki and Momo Rangers ditch their act, but during the escape the girl from earlier (unfortunately I did not catch her name) gets caught and interrogated by Cyclops Mask. Aka Ranger manages to quickly save her with Cyclops Mask acting surprisingly smug about it. Aka Ranger is caught in the spear strings before the other rangers show up, although Cyclops Mask uses his hypnotic eye on them to place them in the party string zone complet with weird slow motion. Ao Ranger shoots him in the eye, freeing the Gorengers. Intros with a different line up and zolder slaughter occurs. Just as Cyclops Mask is about to be attacked, some children are held hostage, but Ao Ranger does not care as he fires and arrow into his eye before the Mask Monster is finished off by the Gorenger Storm. The not-Shadow Knight eyes fall off the kids and the zolders disappeared, all with next to no interference from Sun Ring Mask this time. Now that I think of it, the possessive eyes remind me of Hundred Eyed Banba from Inazuman. Next episode shows Sword Mask.... Being a musketeer.

Cyclops Mask: Can swim and use hypnosis with his eye that can create mental explosions and is equipped with a spear with pink strangling string in the butt and can come back to him if thrown and eyes that mind control children.

Episode 19:

The episode starts off with a slideshow to the rangers about a bomb and some woman. After some discussion, Aka and Ki Rangers track her from the airport and harass her. After some guy with a walkie talkie radios it in, Sword Mask throws knives at them and introduces himself. His four zolders attack (and fail) and the woman goes in a car with them, walkie talkie guy being the driver no less. A car and motorcycle chase gives in with Ao and Momo Rangers joining in. A decoy car fools them and the driver is revealed to be a zolder. The decoy car blows up shortly after parking. The spy woman is greeted by Sun Ring Mask and she acts a little smug, making Sword Mask royally PO'ed. Cut to spy woman (I think they call her Yoko) driving to a hotel where agents 008 and 009 see her incognito. She manages to fool the two agents who walk off with false info from the bug they planeted. After Ki Ranger gorges himself we see the Gorengers listening to the tape and force him against a wall where Midori Ranger uses his boomerang to cut his neck. This causes Ki Ranger to be magneized because he ate something in his bowl.... Uh, no idea how they did that. Aka and Midori Rangers take him somewhere. Meanwhile Sword Mask pays the woman and some scientists lots of yen for micro films. The rangers ride in, scaring the scientists (who take the money) and beat up zolders. Sword Mask beats up Ki Ranger easily, but Aka Ranger's whip disarms him. However, Sword Mask launches a bomb resembling a butcher knife before Ao and Momo Rangers take off in the Varibloom.

Sword Mask fires his knife bombs before being attacked with the Varibloom. The other rangers board it and take after the spy woman. The spy woman's car is stopped by Sun Ring Mask and his zolders who reveal that they gave them fake micro film and uses his eye rays to burn her cohorts. Sun Ring Mask kidnaps her and takes her to a speed boat with the rangers slowly following. She goes at a speed where he barely keeps balance and just as she has Sun Ring Mask at gun point with a pistol, Sword Mask uses his rapier to stab her in the back and throw her overboard. The Gorengers do their intros around the docks and zolders show up from nowhere only to get beaten down. Sun Ring Mask takes off in the Ninimiya (his speed boat) before the slaughter commences. Some time into the fight Aka Ranger duels with Sword Mask fist to fist with Ao Ranger joining in only for knife bombs to fly. One knife bomb gets lodged in his head (I guess the one on the right side of his head was where they where stored) before being destroyed by the Gorenger Storm. Ao Ranger notices some blue prints and yen in the water and Fuhrer scolds Sun Ring Mask. The next episode shows Aka Ranger and Sun Ring Mask in a duel with other rangers being tied to poles.

Sword Mask: Is equipped with a pair of throwing knives, a rapier, and butcher knife-like bombs.

Episode 20:

Sun Ring Mask acts angry because the Fuhrer tells him he has one last chance to kill the Gorengers or he will be at the reaper's door. Sun Ring Mask fakes an execution as Aka Ranger drives by. Aka Ranger beats up the zolders on the bridge Sun Ring Mask fell from before the villains does his act, complete with his left arm being blown off. This proves the Mask Monsters are robots. Aka Ranger goes back to base to tell the others about what happened and naturally they have a hard time swallowing it. Agents 008 and 009 walk in with photos of.... Bulls? I cannot tell. Sun Ring Mask is held in secret in a cabin and the other rangers spot zolders guarding what looks like a big wooden fort you see in parks. A battalion of them swarm from nowhere and the Gorengers transform before finding a cave with a base in it. Momo and Midori Rangers get gased in a locked room while Ao and Ki Rangers get gased in a sealed off hallway. Cut to missile towers blowing up and EAGLE base stock footage style. Aka Ranger finds this out and knows Sun Ring Mask set them up.

At the cabin, which was apparently at the base that was attacked given the dead EAGLE soldier bodies, Aka Ranger confronts him and the villain easily reattaches his arm before a few zolders attack. After they are beaten up, Aka Ranger transforms chases after him complete with other zolders failing to stop him. Sun Ring Mask uses an attack called the Nichirin (literally sun) Fire that sets Aka Ranger aflame and falling off a cliff into the ocean. Once Aka Ranger avoids the search party we see the other rangers tied to poles. The Fuhrer approves as Sun Ring Mask stands before him in the cave. Ki Ranger gives some dialogue about how it might be the end with some black humor (maybe). Sun Ring Mask arrives with four zolders carrying machine guns and giving a pompous speech before the fire squad execution. At the last second, Aka Ranger arrives on the Red Machine (armed with machine guns) and Gonpachi with agents 008 and 009 arrive in the Varibloom. The agents are sucked down to untie them while Sun Ring Mask and Aka Ranger duel with zolders getting beaten up. Before the Gorengers transform and do their intros more mines explode. A squad of zolders get beaten to a pulp with even Aka Ranger taking the squad on before the duel continues. Aka Ranger straightens his whip into a bo staff called the Spear Whip briefly and chops Sun Ring Mask's staff in half. Aka Ranger stabs him with his straightened whip before the Gorenger Storm ends the fiend in a rather fiery explosion. Fuhrer calls in General Ironman Mask Temujin on a jeep before the Gorengers ride off complete with the narrator ending on a hot blooded yell. Next episode shows Cannon Ball Mask and Ao Ranger training to right is wrecking ball.

Sun Ring Mask: Can teleport, emit heat rays from his eyes, and jump high and is equipped with a staff with a sun on it that can return to him if thrown and emit heat flashes called the Nichirin Fire.

So for more opinions and hey they fixed stuff that irked me! Agents 008 an 009 start proving their worth (although it seems 007/Yoko got a back seat), the Black Cross Army proved to be how threatening they can be aside from standard warfare, and Ao and Aka Rangers are getting more screen time (although not by much). Next arc is taking up the whole second quarter unfortunately.:disappoin