Two brothers exploring tokusatsu shows, and now GAMEBOOKS! They're fun!
Episodes
Sunday Jul 21, 2019
Sunday Jul 21, 2019
Finally, after months of waiting, we branch out into more "related media" with a recent Tokusatsu-themed anime: SSSS Gridman! This flashy, atmospheric short series made quite an impact when it hit last year. I watched enough of it to know I really liked it, and upon hearing that it ended well, decided to hold off so me and Sam could watch it together on the podcast.
Then he wanted to give Ultraman Nexus another chance, so we did! Then he... wanted to do kind of a darker show, so we did Garo. Then we were starting Gokaiger, which is a light series with a lot of mech fights so it was kind of redundant. Then Sam wanted to do an American series, so we did Black Lightning! But now we're finally here, we're here and-
Sam hates it. Ah poop.
Send comments, corrections, or questions of literally any sort to brokusatsu@gmail.com
Intro: "Together Alone", by Painted Doll
Outro: "An Ordinary Day In The Life Of A Superhero", by Linden Killam
Sunday Jul 14, 2019
Sunday Jul 14, 2019
It's time for a major confrontation with Basco! If you want a hint about how that goes for everybody, the episode afterwards is all about our heroes nursing broken bones, training intensely, and developing new dangerous weapons that they can barely handle in order to be able to deal with things they couldn't before. Also there's a bazooka with a bayonet on it, and if I seem to be focused on that point for some reason... just put a pin in that for now.
Black Lightning coverage starts around 27:33 ! If you hear rock music, you're in the right place.
Black Lightning freaking died at the end of last episode, so where are we headed for the season finale? We start in the past, drop by heaven, and then land in hell on earth. Martin Proctor needs "his" bioweapons fully functional, and that means he needs Jefferson's DNA at any cost. And Tobias Whale is nothing if not an opportunist. Black Lightning ends strong (for now).
FEATURING: AN ULTIMATE POWER FOR THE GOKAIGERS, COME AND GET IT! Some fine soundtrack choices! A cool family murdering a guy and it's great! LET'S MAKE A SHOW OF IT!
Send comments, corrections, or questions of literally any sort to brokusatsu@gmail.com ! And if you like what we're doing, leave us a review on iTunes.
Intro: "He Plays Me The Best Rhythms" from The Pirate and the Dancer, by Rolemusic
Black Lightning Intro: "Man Made Lightning", by Jardin de la Croix
Outro: "An Ordinary Day In The Life Of A Superhero", by Linden Killam
Sunday Jul 07, 2019
Sunday Jul 07, 2019
In Gokaiger! A focus episode for Ahim, that quite literally devolves into a gravure photo shoot halfway through. OINK! Then in some major tonal whiplash (although it is a separate episode so not their fault really?), Joe is forced to face the reality that some of the things he has lost cannot be brought back. But at least he'll have Marvelous to help him through the dark moments.
Black Lightning coverage starts around 23:17 ! If you hear rock music, you're in the right place.
In Black Lightning, Khalil is back. Khalil! He's back, and it's... not nearly as terrible as I thought! If you had told me that his arc would be my favorite part of this episode I would not have believed it. But that may be more down to the rest of this episode not being all that great. Come on BL season 1, you gotta end strong.
FEATURING: THE SIXTH ABARANGER, FOR REALS GUYS! A skateboarding lion! The power of gun versus the power of being immune to guns, the outcome of which will... not surprise you all that much! LET'S MAKE A SHOW OF IT!
Send comments, corrections, or questions of literally any sort to brokusatsu@gmail.com ! And if you like what we're doing, leave us a review on iTunes.
Intro: "He Plays Me The Best Rhythms" from The Pirate and the Dancer, by Rolemusic
Black Lightning Intro: "Man Made Lightning", by Jardin de la Croix
Outro: "An Ordinary Day In The Life Of A Superhero", by Linden Killam
Monday Jul 01, 2019
Monday Jul 01, 2019
Hopefully worth the wait, it's your weekly Brokusatsu! First, Black Lightning is making life hell for the ASA, so they decide to return the favor with the help of some very corrupt policemen. Jefferson Pierce faces the terrifying might of the law, and it's going to take some doing to get him out intact.
Gokaiger coverage starts around 24:45 ! If you hear jaunty chiptunes, you're in the right place.
In Pirate Sentai Gokaiger, we witness two amazing feats: a children's TV show with a gender and body swap ep that doesn't suck, and a beautifully executed payoff to a cliffhanger two DECADES old! This show is good.
FEATURING: Some uncomfortably down to earth villainy! Luka just not caring at all about gender! JETTO JETTO JETTO-MAN! LET'S MAKE A SHOW OF IT!
Send comments, corrections, or questions of literally any sort to brokusatsu@gmail.com
Intro: "Man Made Lightning", by Jardin de la Croix
Gokaiger Intro: "He Plays Me The Best Rhythms" from The Pirate and the Dancer, by Rolemusic
Outro: "An Ordinary Day In The Life Of A Superhero", by Linden Killam
Sunday Jun 23, 2019
Sunday Jun 23, 2019
So it turns out that when the whole past of a previous sentai agrees to come back, they get their own two parter. Today, the Shuriken Sentai Hurricangers get an extended tribute, and it's... okay! I mean, the plot is a little thin, but the action is good. Also THAT'S A LOTTA NUTS
Black Lightning coverage starts around 28:36 ! If you hear rock music, you're in the right place.
In Black Lightning, Jefferson is justifiably furious about Gambi's lifelong deception, and can't forgive him for the experiments he used to have a hand in. Unfortunately, those very same experiments are being restarted by the ASA, who aren't waiting for our heroes to get their interpersonal troubles quashed. And Lalah, the Tattooed Man, leverages his zombie outlook to his criminal enterprises with great results.
FEATURING: Some deftly localized puns and riddles! More salvaged plot points from the Bad Episodes! Good old fashioned drugs! LET'S MAKE A SHOW OF IT!
Send comments, corrections, or questions of literally any sort to brokusatsu@gmail.com ! And if you like what we're doing, leave us a review on iTunes.
Intro: "He Plays Me The Best Rhythms" from The Pirate and the Dancer, by Rolemusic
Black Lightning Intro: "Man Made Lightning", by Jardin de la Croix
Outro: "An Ordinary Day In The Life Of A Superhero", by Linden Killam
Sunday Jun 16, 2019
Sunday Jun 16, 2019
We talk about movies until like 4:50, so if you're one of the many people who don't need to be told that Dark Phoenix is a disaster, you can skip to there.
In Gokaiger, we start with the Gogo V tribute! A simple story of helping out people, where everybody has a great time! Except for if you're Luka, who spends most of the episode desperately containing PTSD flashbacks to her terrible, awful early life.
Then Jealousy appears and... Okay, we can barely explain what happens in the full ep. Sufficed to say, things get weird fast.
Black Lightning coverage starts around 29:35 ! If you hear rock music, you're in the right place.
In Black Lightning, Anissa just dumps the whole of the plot on her shocked sister, and even though it's probably the best decision in the long run, it's a bit of an emotional shock. Unfortunately for Jennifer, the person most inclined to "help" her through this period is Lynn, who... really isn't doing any favors for her likeability in this ep. Meanwhile Gambi is still trying to make things right, and in doing so uncovers a new layer of darkness in the Green Light case. It might just be time for some people to walk away from an explosion dramatically.
FEATURING: A suit actor outside of a suit, so just an... actor! Interspecies relations of all kinds, and I mean ALL kinds! Henderson going rogue, and shockingly not dying yet!
Send comments, corrections, or questions of literally any sort to brokusatsu@gmail.com ! And if you like what we're doing, leave us a review on iTunes.
Intro: "He Plays Me The Best Rhythms" from The Pirate and the Dancer, by Rolemusic
Black Lightning Intro: "Man Made Lightning", by Jardin de la Croix
Outro: "An Ordinary Day In The Life Of A Superhero", by Linden Killam
Sunday Jun 09, 2019
Sunday Jun 09, 2019
The last Pokemon game I seriously played was Blue, so I have no excuse for why so much of this episode is pokemon-based. But when the majority of a movie is visually interesting monster fights, you kind of have to get creative for your podcast content. In any case, we saw Godzilla King of the Monsters, and have some opinions to share!
Send comments, corrections, or questions of literally any sort to brokusatsu@gmail.com
Intro / Outro: "An Ordinary Day In The Life Of A Superhero", by Linden Killam
Saturday Jun 01, 2019
Saturday Jun 01, 2019
Massive improvements abound in this episode! First: NO MAJOR AUDIO ISSUES!
Second, Gokaiger has a very forgettable episode, but then a really nice one featuring Gai and Joe bonding. Mostly over how annoying children are, even if they do remind Joe of his boyfriend Marvelous.
Black Lightning coverage starts around 25:10 ! If you hear jaunty chiptunes, you're in the right place.
Black Lightning has improved so much, we decided to give it main billing this time! All the plot points from the first half of the series converge into a giant arrow pointing at Gambi, who knows everything and everything is his fault and he should feel really bad about all this. Also Jennifer proves her greatness by taking a plot line that took Anissa like 6 episodes and finishing it in half of one.
FEATURING: The Boukenger tribute, I guess! The Black Lightning writers actually remembering to do their jobs! NUCLEAR POWERED LIGHTNING RIFLES! LET'S MAKE A SHOW OF IT!
Send comments, corrections, or questions of literally any sort to brokusatsu@gmail.com ! And if you like what we're doing, leave us a review on iTunes.
Intro: "He Plays Me The Best Rhythms" from The Pirate and the Dancer, by Rolemusic
Black Lightning Intro: "Man Made Lightning", by Jardin de la Croix
Outro: "An Ordinary Day In The Life Of A Superhero", by Linden Killam
Sunday May 26, 2019
Sunday May 26, 2019
So something terrible happened with my recording this episode. I think for some reason, Audacity switched to recording from my laptop mic instead of my nice Blue Yeti. Also I had the first stages of a nasty headcold coming in, so between everything, I don't sound great. And this episode isn't really integral enough to try and re-record, so instead I'll just do recaps of the plots here in case you want to skip it? I mean, I think it's listenable and good material. Certainly, if you're here, you've gotten through worse. Your call!
In Black Lightning, they actually skip past the scene of Anissa being let into the Black Lightning family secret, which is a decision I'm increasingly pissed about. Instead, she shuffles about discovering that that newspaper editor she got the secret files from died mysteriously, by which I mean he was obviously murdered by an immense conspiracy. Lynn goes through her whole arc of not wanting Anissa to be a superhero in one episode, realizing in a decent amount of time that this is happening so they need to support her in order to be safe. Gambi makes a super-suit for Anissa, and Jennifer... doesn't do much?
The main advancement in this episode is with Tobias' side of the story. Eve gets Gambi to kill Joey Toledo as a warning to Tobias, and it goes down so well that he immediately plots her death. Tori gets the great idea to frame Black Lightning by using lightning cannons, a thing they have! It works, but they don't have time to enjoy it, as Jefferson is actually breaking into THEIR base and attacking them! And Tori dies in the confrontation. Booo, fridging bad even for villains.
Then Lala AKA Latavius comes back from the dead and is Tattoo Man? I don't know what that means yet.
Gokaiger coverage starts around 32:18 ! If you hear jaunty chiptunes, you're in the right place.
In our first episode, Don is depressed at the new Gokai Silver showing him up in everything he thinks he's good at. And you get the standard plot, you still have things you're best at, we love and support you as a friend, all that. But more importantly, Doc gets some passive-aggressive revenge in by helping Gai to unlock Gold Mode, the UGLIEST upgrade in one of these shows I can think of, oh my GOD.
Then Gai becomes the first person to find a use for his nerd trivia, as he speedruns the search for the Gingamen! Unfortunately Basco got there first, and it turns out he can literally rip the abstract concept of an ultimate power out of a former Sentai. Gai escorts Hyuuga the Black Knight to safety, who uses some passive-agressive bullying to make Gai realize that he can't just emulate the paths of the heroes he idolizes so much. Instead, he has to make his own, toyetic path! It's a pretty good one.
FEATURING: The plots I just described! It was kind of depressingly easy to sum all that up in a couple paragraphs! Now I'm having an existential crisis! LET'S MAKE A SHOW OF IT?
Send comments, corrections, or questions of literally any sort to brokusatsu@gmail.com ! And if you like what we're doing, leave us a review on iTunes! Only if you like us.
Intro: "Man Made Lightning", by Jardin de la Croix
Gokaiger Intro: "He Plays Me The Best Rhythms" from The Pirate and the Dancer, by Rolemusic
Outro: "An Ordinary Day In The Life Of A Superhero", by Linden Killam
Sunday May 19, 2019
Sunday May 19, 2019
This week in Black Lightning, (THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK)
Gokaiger coverage starts around 23:50 ! If you hear jaunty chiptunes, you're in the right place.
And in Gokaiger, we introduce a new character! He's super strong! He loves super sentai! He's the greatest hero ever! He should be an unbearable Poochie, but instead he's the genuinely loveable and integral GOOOOOKAI SILVER!
FEATURING: 40 MORE skippable minutes of prime time TV! An actor getting that better show he deserved, if you ignore the chronology of events! My cameo! LET'S MAKE A SHOW OF IT!
Send comments, corrections, or questions of literally any sort to brokusatsu@gmail.com
Intro: "Man Made Lightning", by Jardin de la Croix
Gokaiger Intro: "He Plays Me The Best Rhythms" from The Pirate and the Dancer, by Rolemusic
Outro: "An Ordinary Day In The Life Of A Superhero", by Linden Killam