Welcome to Tokusatsu Gesundheit, where we’re on the cutting edge of Super Sentai! The very first episode of Uchu Sentai Kyuranger recently aired in Japan, and we’re gonna talk about it today.
Plot Rundown
The evil Space Shogunate Jark Matter has conquered 88 constellations, effectively giving them control of the universe! Their newest conquest is a little blue marble called Earth, where they are opposed by the only rebel group with the power to put them in their place – the Kyurangers.
Brief Background
Uchu Sentai Kyuranger debuted on TV Asahi on 2/12/17, as part of the Super Hero Time block alongside Kamen Rider Ex-Aid. While seasons of Super Sentai usually start with three or five rangers and add from there, usually but not always topping out at six, Kyuranger pretty well shatters that mold – in the opening credits of episode one, there are NINE rangers with two more already announced.
While part of the series storyline will be gathering all nine rangers (incidentally, “Kyu” apparently means “Nine”, so that’s all nine Nine Rangers), that’s still a record.
Highlights
- As is not wholly uncommon with softer, family friendly sci-fi, the series uses “constellation” as if it was a useful unit of cosmic measure or point of reference. Being as the patterns of constellations are only patterns if you’re standing on Earth, “Leo” wouldn’t mean much to someone whose star system was a part of the Leo constellation in reality.
- Lucky, the team’s rookie red ranger with kid appeal, is actually pretty fun in his boundless optimistic enthusiasm. Declaring himself to be the fourth Kyuranger to the team’s shock before revealing that he doesn’t actually have the Kyuglobe he needs to become one made me laugh out loud.
- Raptor 283, the team’s current mission control and soon-to-be pink ranger, is voiced by actress/pin-up model M*A*O. She previously played the yellow ranger on Gokaiger, the series that got me fully on the direct-from-Japan tokusastsu train, so it’s good to have her back.
- Huh, Star Wars gets huge again and we have a space themed Sentai about a rag tag rebellion doing battle with an evil empire. Funny how that works out, huh?
Review
It’s a strong start to the series, setting up an interesting plot and taking the highly unusual step of taking the action almost immediately away from Earth. It doesn’t introduce all nine rangers in episode one, keeping the debut from feeling too crowded, but makes so little secret who the nine are that it’s clear they’re coming soon.
See you next week for another installment of Strange Times & Places!
