Chojin Sentai Jetman! - Discussion Thread.

[lazycoconut]

The explanation that Wikipedia gives for the Ryu/Kaori thing (and a few other sites I've seen, too) is "they went through hard times together", but ... that's true of all the characters! I do like Jetman a lot but the love triangle makes me sigh sometimes, especially because IMO it took focus time away from Raita and Ako and they were just as interesting and worthwhile characters as the other three

 

[cypsiman2]

Now, I wouldn't say, entitled. Why do you hate him so much? He's just an ordinary guy, through & through. You make it sound like he deserves to be killed, or something.

If Gai's sole drive and focus to get Kaori to fall in love with him is that she didn't do so right away like he was used to with other women, then that is the very picture of entitlement, of being used to getting what he wants and reacting badly when something shakes and challenges that. As to why I hate him...the best example is the opening scene of episode 17, where he grabs Kaori and drags her away from the others, shoves her into an elevator, and then invades her personal space, demanding to know whether he loves or hates her while she is visibly scared of him. He is constantly trying to coerce and guilt-trip her into getting into a relationship with him, and when he finally gets what he wants from her, he continues to flirt with other women and acts like proper table manners and talking to her parents are just impossible burdens for him to bear.

It also doesn't help matters much that he was hyped all to hell and back as being this ultra super badass by the fandom, when really his acts of badassery, on the occasion when he had them, were only moderate at best.

Also, Raita is the normal guy of the group, an average country-bumpkin; Gai hits way too many masculine power-fantasies to ever be an "ordinary guy".

I will agree with both of you on this, though. Also, after his girlfriend died, he just instantly falls for Kaori in the end & wounds up marrying her? What the hell? I think that was quite rushed, to be honest, as I really don't think that I would instantly fall in love with someone else after for like, weeks or a months after someone that I love was tragically murdered.

Well, technically the epilogue where that marriage happened took place three years later...but as we got to see none of the build-up, it's still empty provocation meant to get a certain reaction from the audience and has nothing to do with whether or not these two characters had any chemistry, build-up, or desire to be together. Which is just another reason why I ignore the epilogue whenever possible.

 

[Loghorn]

If Gai's sole drive and focus to get Kaori to fall in love with him is that she didn't do so right away like he was used to with other women, then that is the very picture of entitlement, of being used to getting what he wants and reacting badly when something shakes and challenges that. As to why I hate him...the best example is the opening scene of episode 17, where he grabs Kaori and drags her away from the others, shoves her into an elevator, and then invades her personal space, demanding to know whether he loves or hates her while she is visibly scared of him. He is constantly trying to coerce and guilt-trip her into getting into a relationship with him, and when he finally gets what he wants from her, he continues to flirt with other women and acts like proper table manners and talking to her parents are just impossible burdens for him to bear.

It also doesn't help matters much that he was hyped all to hell and back as being this ultra super badass by the fandom, when really his acts of badassery, on the occasion when he had them, were only moderate at best.

Also, Raita is the normal guy of the group, an average country-bumpkin; Gai hits way too many masculine power-fantasies to ever be an "ordinary guy".

Well, you can't expect all heroes to be goody-goods. That will just be all boring with no personality. Some heroes can be quite jerks, too. Look at such heroes like Takeru (Red Mask), Burai, Naoto, Mikoto, Hoji, Tetsu, Tsubasa Ozu, Akashi, Masumi, & Takeru (Shinken Red), for example.

 

[cypsiman2]

Well, you can't expect all heroes to be goody-goods. That will just be all boring with no personality. Some heroes can be quite jerks, too. Look at such heroes like Takeru (Red Mask), Burai, Naoto, Mikoto, Hoji, Tetsu, Tsubasa Ozu, Akashi, Masumi, & Takeru (Shinken Red), for example.

This isn't a matter of him not being a "goody-good", seeing as I like everyone on that list save Red Mask, who I found dull and Mikoto, who's show I've yet to watch. This is a matter of him repeatedly sexually harassing someone, and that is not something I can tolerate in a character that I'm supposed to like. It is a trigger for me, it makes me feel very viscerally uncomfortable and it is not a sensation I want to experience at any time, least of all when I'm watching something meant for the whole family.

 

[Loghorn]

This isn't a matter of him not being a "goody-good", seeing as I like everyone on that list save Red Mask, who I found dull and Mikoto, who's show I've yet to watch. This is a matter of him repeatedly sexually harassing someone, and that is not something I can tolerate in a character that I'm supposed to like. It is a trigger for me, it makes me feel very viscerally uncomfortable and it is not a sensation I want to experience at any time, least of all when I'm watching something meant for the whole family.

Well, before Carranger (before Toei decided to start making more sentai series lighter for children starting with Carranger, due to Ohranger's very high toy sales), Sentai was more "serious" like (in which it was probably targeted towards a more serious audience, mainly teens). That's one of the reasons of why characters like Gai were like. Don't blame the character or the actor, blame the writers, etc. for making his personality that way back then.

 

[cypsiman2]

Well, before Carranger (before Toei decided to start making more sentai series lighter for children started with Carranger, due to Ohranger's very high toy sales), Sentai was more "serious" like (in which it was probably targeted towards a more serious audience). That's one of the reasons of why characters like Gai were like. Don't blame the character or the actor, blame the writers, etc. for making his personality that way back then.

First of all, the difference in tone between old sentais and new sentais is marginal from what I've seen.

Second, and more importantly, I have no desire to make excuses for or jump through hoops on behalf of Gai Yuuki. I don't like him, period. He engaged in behavior that was triggering for me, he made my skin crawl and my stomach churn and it is testament to how good Jetman is on the whole that I still like it. You are free to like him, but don't try to convince me that my feelings are invalid or immature.

 

[Fantasy Leader]

I always thought Gai was just a character who was very awkward with himself. And by the end of the series, he really grew up. I thought that was interesting.

Gai had an epic final battle against Grey! I'm sure people found that cool! :thumbs:

Actually Loghorn, you can find lighter Sentai shows before Carranger like Fiveman, Zyuranger, and Kakuranger.


Anywho, like I said earlier, I think there's plenty to like about Jetman. But I think the fandom lately seems to prefer talking about the ending more than anything. Sigh, do people even like Jetman anymore, or has just been completely pieced apart? :disappoin

 

[Painted_Outlaw]

Sentai was more "serious" like (in which it was probably targeted towards a more serious audience, mainly teens). That's one of the reasons of why characters like Gai were like. Don't blame the character or the actor, blame the writers, etc. for making his personality that way back then

It's Inoue, I doubt it was done just because "Lul, serious sentai". :laugh:

Speaking of that, I found this to be a good read.

 

[cypsiman2]

I always thought Gai was just a character who was very awkward with himself. And by the end of the series, he really grew up. I thought that was interesting.

As I keep saying, I would have been able to buy that better if not for his repeated offensive behavior against Kaori; my sympathies just don't extend that far. I will grant that he does get better and I do appreciate that, I just didn't feel it was worth what I had to put up with to get to that point.

Gai had an epic final battle against Grey! I'm sure people found that cool! :thumbs:

It was okay, but again, hype diminished it for me; I was told there was this big rivalry between Gai and Grey, but it only started a few episodes before their final battle, so it wasn't anywhere near as dramatic as the show wanted it to be. Now, Tranza's ultimate fate and the final battle against Radiguet, those were really dramatic and great! :buttrock:

Anywho, like I said earlier, I think there's plenty to like about Jetman. But I think the fandom lately seems to prefer talking about the ending more than anything. Sigh, do people even like Jetman anymore, or has just been completely pieced apart? :disappoin

As I said, I still like the show; it's just the one guy (ha ha ha) that everyone else really really likes, I really really don't. Aside from my issues with Gai, I wish that Empress Juuza and the Reverse Dimension Jetman had each gotten more screentime, not to mention the bit where Radiguet was turned human was way too rushed, that should have taken at least two or three episodes.

 

[Fantasy Leader]

Oh I know lots of people still love the show. I just feel like lately people seem to love finding things wrong with Jetman to the point where it looks like Jetman isn't even good anymore (nothing directly at you cypsiman ). It's just kinda starting to sound like the Gekiranger of the 90s in terms of how people treat it, that's all. hehe


That's a really interesting article btw. Thanks for the link, Cirno. Seriously, an interview that should've been done like 20 years ago! :laugh: