Samurai Sentai Shinkenger (2009)

Shinkenger is a really good story. Not only has great fighting scenes but also gets into you easily.

You'll be inside the battle agains Gedoushuu and understand how is it to be a Sentai - like the other 37, but all of them has their secret. Shinkenger mastered the way of surprising us, with a lot of twists and fierce battles. It's important to say we're invited to start a reflection about friendship, courage, team work and what makes a true leader. Since it's like a nation symbol, like ninjas, it makes me think why did they take so much to work the samurai theme... lol Even for modern concepts and thoughts, it's nice to see the samurai culture in action. There's also the care of building deep characters even among the villains. Some of them also have a past which is great to explore, like Juuzou and Dayuu. It's so much more in Gedoushuu than getting out of Sanzu River. They're also thinking creatures, dealing with emotion and concerns.

Samurai Sentai Shinkenger is a masterpiece. The whole concept adapts really well into our reality without losing its magic. Also, the psychologic analysis in all of them really makes a difference. Hope you guys enjoy it.

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Since it's American counterpart is poor in my opinion, unlike Power Rangers Samurai this blows it a giant amount out of the water. Shinkenger you can say is one of the best sentais from the 2000s which can make a lot of nostalgia factors to those who were fans of Maskman or Rurouni Kenshin which are two I can recommend if you love or like this show. Takeru is one of the greatest bad-ass red warriors, he's complex(no spoilers), his chemistry with Mako, and maybe you could consider how his development with his fellow vassals and childhood friend Genta. The designs of both the team and villains are just very cool and very unique one of my favorites. The rest of the cast is unforgettable, and there is some interesting dark villains like Juzo, Dayu and Akumaro. The opening credits of the show is really kick ass since the band Psychic Lover also did Dekaranger(other sentai season). However if I had to make some down parts to the show it would be where you later near the end it has cliches that are either weird or eyes rolling. Another I say is bad is where the humor is to me sour where it can be just odd. In the end, I love this season despite flaws.

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I'm going to be honest (as usual) but this is has become my least favourite Super Sentai, so for me it ranks as:

1. Gokaiger
2. Akibaranger (it's an Unofficial one I know but still!)
3. Go-Busters
4. Goseiger
5. Shinkeger

I understand I've only seen a few, yes, but onto my review:

Story: The concept of 'Samurai' is a good one and very Japanese and quite an educational and fun way of learning some thing's about samurais. I found it very boring and I couldn't find any real plot until episode 42 when BOMB the last 8 episodes are just plot, twist, plot, excitement, twist, all hell breaks loose. I was hooked the last 8 episodes but the rest of the series? I watched while doing work or reading a book, that's how much it didn't interest me. I did however like the running unlined plot of Juzo and ShinkenRed fighting at each other. I normally cry at the end of Sentai's and Kamen Rider's but I only got teary eyed here because of how unattached I was to this series.

Acting: It's Sentai so it's either over the top or doesn't show their full potential. Not showing their full potential is definitely what happened to Aiba Hiroki and Matsuzaka Tori. I love them as actors and yet were so mediocre here because of the genre and the type of show it is.

Characters: I loved ShinkenRed, Gold, Kusakabe, Juzo and those little yellow fluff balls that are always with Dayuu >< Everyone else... sometimes liked, other times I just wish they were dead.

Music: Loved the song Dayuu played and the opening theme was rather catchy, haven't listened to the ending theme enough to have a say on it.

Overall: Bland until the last 8episodes then it's really good, but shame it took so long for me to get hooked.

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