A paradise of sweets but also much more...

At the risk of sounding overly enthusiastic, it perplexes me that more people do not understand the brilliance of Saboriman Kantarou. On the surface, Kantarou seems to be just another late-night, food-focused Japanese drama. But it is very apparent from the first episode that it is much more than the sum of its parts.

Beautifully shot, well-written, and absurdly hilarious, Saboriman Kantarou does everything in its own, unique way. You can't help but feel the same infectious fervor that the titular Kantarou has for anything and everything dessert or sweets-related. His antics only get more and more crazy in the search for the best sweets in Tokyo as he does his best to hide the true nature of his secret, dessert-filled escapades during working hours. It all seems like it might be a bit over-the-top — and it is! — but the genius of Saboriman Kantarou is that it manages to capture all of this in a way that is still very engaging and has you wanting more.

It is hard to understand how it does all of this merely by speaking about the show without spoiling some of the best parts. My only suggestion is that you give Saboriman Kantarou an honest try as I feel you will be rewarded with a very sweet experience.

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A journey that shines unexpectedly...

At a glance, it is hard to fully understand the type of show you are getting with Ressha Sentai ToQger. What sort of motif is "trains" and "imagination"? It almost seems like they took two random subjects and plunked them together. ToQger, however, sticks so intensely to its themes that it is refreshing in every way. From the opening that tells you to not miss your train transfer to the earnest use of "imagination" throughout the series; the show manages to tell a cohesive story that is sometimes silly but always honest and endearing.

Story aside, ToQger has a main cast that is likeable, genuine and avoids stereotypes while all getting their own chance to shine. But it goes a step further in introducing a very intriguing set of villains that are more than just fodder for the good guys to beat up. These villains not only push the plot forward in important ways but they also have some of the coolest designs for a tokusatsu or really just any show, in general.

It would almost be appropriate to just leave what the experience of Ressha Sentai ToQger is like to your imagination. However, you would be doing yourself a disservice and depriving yourself of a well-made show that transcends its status as part of a series that is "just for kids". Don't be late. Don't miss your transfer. Hop on board, because you'll likely find something shining brighter than you expected.

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