The importance of Showa-era Kamen Rider/Sentai

[KouAidou]

True, I do admit that in themes and motifs there are connections, but the difference is that when some people talk about Showa, they talk about it like you NEED to watch it. Like your education is incomplete without it. Typically an attitude like that is natural when you have a franchise that has a long continuity that's important to understanding what's going on. For Kamen Rider, that's not so. Story-wise, there's no connection between the two eras. Naturally excluding crossover movies, since those, depending on who you ask, are non-canon anyway.

I'm not saying it's a good or a bad thing for it all to become intertwined and story continuity established, but at this point, for someone who's just getting into things, it's not a necessity to watch things....'in order' so to speak. In the future that may change, but for now it just adds to your enjoyment of the franchise. I'm just saying that what makes me scratch my head is why some treat it as a REQUIREMENT to watch the old stuff when, when you get down to brass tacks, the new viewer who watches Double doesn't need to know Kuuga, or Black, or anyone else really.

No one can force you to watch something you don't want to watch. No one can take away your "fan card" and make you not a fan just because you don't do things the way they want you to do them.

That said, if you're the kind of person who likes to make statements like "so-and-so is the coolest Rider ever" or "so-and-so are the scariest villain faction ever" or "so-and-so show is bad because that's not what the franchise is supposed to be about" based on having watched only what's come out in the last five years ago, then you can expect to have people who have seen more of the stuff call you on the ways in which you're wrong.

(I'm not saying you are that kind of person, but usually when I see someone bring the Showa hammer down, it's in response to people saying things like that.)

In short: If you just watch toku to enjoy the things you like, just watch what you want to watch and don't sweat the haters. if you want to discuss things more in-depth, though, then as with everything: the more you know, the more nuanced your opinions will be.

 

[Medivh]

I think it may partly be a kneejerk reaction to the scores of fans who outright reject the Showa series as being bad or inferior to anything modern. One wants to head new fans off early and get them to appreciate the great stuff that was made in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, etc. before they can fall into that trap. I know I've gotten that feeling in my gut before.

I can see that. Heck, I HAVE seen people who poo-poo the Showa era stuff because of it's sub-par visuals. Typically they come off as immature, annoying, and generally unwilling or unable to listen to any retorts that there's value in the shows above and beyond being something pretty to look at.

 

[Painted_Outlaw]

Sure, if TV-N or someone decided that, maybe as an anniversary show, they'd sub Black or RX, I'd give it a watch.

I dunno about RX (I mean, I know GUIS started subbing it but dunno whatever happened to it) but Black's being subbed by Century King and they're almost done with it.

 

[Medivh]

At least they're getting the series done. I've noticed that Kuuga and Agito have this curse upon them. Despite being apparently good shows, especially in the later episodes...noone...seems able to get that far when they sub them. TV-N is only on episode 4 of their re-subbing of Kuuga, which as I understand it is their attempt to rectify that they only subbed 3 episodes LAST time. They haven't even started Agito.

I know OoZ did part or most of the two, but again I think those were dropped, but I don't follow them too closely so I could be wrong.

 

[KouAidou]

Ermm, Kuuga was fully subbed earlier this year by Midnight Crew Subs. Agito has long been subbed by Cruel Angel Fansubs. (The latter were VHS subs, but they've been widely ripped.)

 

[Khaiden]

What I wanted to say has been pretty much said already, so I'll just narrow it down.
The Showa era does have importance, as does the Heisei era. Every Rider show has it's own importance and it's worth a watch, and I base this by not having watched all of the series (yet) but still knowing a good deal of information of each one.
You do have a life of course, and it's your choice on what do you want to watch, just have fun and enjoy the ride, this is what Tokusatsu is all about.

Story-wise, there's no connection between the two eras. Naturally excluding crossover movies, since those, depending on who you ask, are non-canon anyway.

This was true for about a decade, or maybe even more if we start counting from the moment Shin was released.
The Heisei and Showa eras seemed like their own separate realms for a long time, which is why I hated the new age Riders initially.
This is what I loved the most about Decade, it brought back the continuity, it connected everything, even with the dozen plotholes it had, it allowed things like Super-1 standing next to Kabuto, as if they'd knew each other well by then.
And if there was any doubt left, the newest, upcoming movie is the culmination of 40 years, and every series will be connected.

 

[Painted_Outlaw]

Agito has long been subbed by Cruel Angel Fansubs. (The latter were VHS subs, but they've been widely ripped.)

There's also Gomen Rider who's been fixing up CA's subs.

 

[Daikamonohashi]

Every Rider show has it's own importance and it's worth a watch, and I base this by not having watched all of the series (yet) but still knowing a good deal of information of each one.

Lord, Kiva was NOT worth my time at all. It just left me battered, abused, and having homicidal tendencies.