(Where Wraithstrike Watches) The Toku Thread

[Shougo B'Stard]

Gai is Condor Joe filtered through Toshiki Inoue. He's a completely Inoue character, the main difference is that Toshihide Wakamatsu is so good in the role and charismatic that Gai doesn't come off as the 100% tool that he probably would have in the hands of a lesser performer.

Gai grabbing Kaori and holding her hostage might seem wrong or bad (to a Western fan?), but...it's kind of an over-the-top gesture that's so Inoue. People try to paint that scene as being more perverted than it is, but...listen to Gai, he's so over-dramatic in that scene. "Kaori...a man is like a wolf..." :laugh: More than not being willing to see Kaori isn't interested in him, he just can't comprehend that she sees anything in Ryu. Ryu's acted like an oblivious fool thus far in the series, while Gai -- in his mind -- has proven himself again and again.

I don't think there's a real difference between Gai's behavior and, say, Peter Venkman's or Han Solo's, but I don't think I read as many complaints about them as I have Gai. I guess the difference is how this storyline is being dragged out for TV rather than 90 minute movies that are compressed and have so much going on, you can't really dwell on how stalker-like those characters can come across. :laugh:

 

[Wraithstrike]

Jetman 18: Gai Dies


Hell. Yes. This is some absolutely tight writing. A great way to tie together the stories of a man who's facing his mortality, and a monster who realizes he's mortal.

 

[cypsiman2]

It was definitely good, but I felt that they could have stood to have kept the "Radiguet as human" plotline going a bit longer, it felt a bit rushed as it was. That, and I really would have liked Juza to have stuck around a bit longer.

Also, for some reason when I watched these episodes I was of the impression that Juza was Radiguet's mother or some other relation to him, since he was always the one going on about how special his blood is, something that neither Tran nor Maria ever did.

 

[Wraithstrike]

Jetman 19 and 20: I Can See It and Marriage Vacuum Cleaner


Ok, the reason I put these two together is they're remarkably similar. In both cases, we have what is actually a solid villainous plan based around psychological warfare enacted in a silly way, with a Jetman being forced into the fight by an NPC. They're decently written, but not earthshaking.

 

[Shougo B'Stard]

They're decently written, but not earthshaking.

That's basically the case with all of the Jetman episodes not written by Inoue. Jetman was part of Sentai producer Takeyuki Suzuki's trying to clean house by bringing in some new blood in the writing and directing department, and pretty much all of the sub-writers were new to Sentai, so IMO there's a lot of episodes that are just really generic and didn't flow with what Inoue was trying to do with the show. Some of the Inoue-less standalone episodes are so forgettable that I think even Fiveman would turn them away.

 

[Wraithstrike]

Episode 21: Walking Garbage


I want to be cynical. I want to rip this episode apart. But I remember that feeling of having one toy that went with me everywhere. And when I feel that, I can't help but enjoy this episode.

 

[cypsiman2]

It is a very touching episode I agree, though even if Pooh-tan had survived I doubt that Ako would have wanted it to stay involved in the battle against the Vyram.

 

[Fantasy Leader]

That's basically the case with all of the Jetman episodes not written by Inoue. Some of the Inoue-less standalone episodes are so forgettable that I think even Fiveman would turn them away.

Like... cup noodle ep? :laugh:

 

[cypsiman2]

Like... cup noodle ep? :laugh:

Personally, I'm past caring who wrote what episode; any given writer is capable of putting together something good or something bad, so just because a certain person did an episode doesn't mean anything. All that matters is the episode itself; personally I really liked the Kaori fortunetelling episode as it not only featured her and her butler being badass, but not once was the love triangle BS brought up.

 

[Fantasy Leader]

Personally, I'm past caring who wrote what episode; any given writer is capable of putting together something good or something bad, so just because a certain person did an episode doesn't mean anything. All that matters is the episode itself; personally I really liked the Kaori fortunetelling episode as it not only featured her and her butler being badass, but not once was the love triangle BS brought up.

I don't care either. And I know it doesn't mean anything.