Two brothers exploring tokusatsu shows, and now GAMEBOOKS! They're fun!
Episodes
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
Saturday May 11, 2019
Saturday May 11, 2019
Arriving like a storm, one day early as an apology for last ep being late... It's Kamen Rider! The first one, from 1971! What kind of hero could launch a franchise with such a wide, lasting cultural impact? This one.
His name is Hongo Takeshi.
He has an IQ of 600.
He's great at sports.
He's an expert motorcycle rider.
And he walks out here every night with hustle, loyalty and respect on his sleeve, and compromises to a permanent end some Nazi scum.
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
Thursday May 09, 2019
Thursday May 09, 2019
Heyyyyyyy this one is late. Sorry about that? I'm gonna blame Sam for this one because he didn't send me the files, and I got distracted with the whole flying across the country and getting my life on track deal. Things should be back on track from now on. ALSO I KEEP FORGETTING TO MENTION WE'RE ON ITUNES BUT WE ARE, PLEASE GIVE US REVIEWS? GOOD ONES?
Anyway, Black Lightning continues its holding pattern. It's... really kind of amazing how little gets accomplished in this ep. Or the next one, spoilers I guess!
Gokaiger coverage starts around 31:26 ! If you hear jaunty chiptunes, you're in the right place.
Meanwhile, Gokaiger introduces a genuinely threatening villain: a man who knows what type of show he's in, and exactly what kind of people he's facing. Basco is here, and he's playing to win.
FEATURING: 40 skippable minutes of prime time TV! A very punchable face! A man attempting to seduce a monkey! 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 Apr 28, 2019
Sunday Apr 28, 2019
In Black Lightning, it turns out that even 13 episodes in a season can be too many, because boy is this one not worth your time. Incremental movement for like five plot lines, with no real resolution for any of them. Also Khalil may become a supervillain because he's disabled, which is not a great look?
Gokaiger coverage starts around 30:15 ! If you hear jaunty chiptunes, you're in the right place.
Time for a focus episode for Ahim de Famille! It's cute and fun, except for that brief glimpse of blinding agony and regret that she carries with her through all her days. Then we get into a fully comedic gear with our tribute episode for CARRRANGER! The only speed bump is that family-friendly sexual assault attempt we kind of witness? It's not great, but it's over quick.
Then I looked up the plot of Ultraman Nexus so you don't have to. You're welcome.
FEATURING: A budget laughably thin even by Toku standards! A fever dream impressionistic stage show, that teaches traffic safety to kids! A series that did not deserve Nagi or Memory Police lady! 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
Saturday Apr 20, 2019
Saturday Apr 20, 2019
In Black Lightning, our eponymous hero's efforts have already impacted his community, giving people the drive to take back their streets! Which is great, if he can keep them from getting murdered while they try it. Unknown to him, his daughter Anissa has begun exploring her metahuman powers! And far too known to him, his other daughter Jennifer is about to have sex with her boyfriend. So there's that.
Gokaiger coverage starts around 27:52 ! If you hear jaunty chiptunes, you're in the right place.
Joe Gibken is the sword guy of the Gokaigers! But how long has he sword? And who taught him sword? Could he have a connection to the evil sword of the evil? All this is answered, while I kind of unsatisfyingly dodge questions about Shinkenger! I'm probably going to spoil it when I start the coverage anyways, so I'm not sure why I'm being so coy here.
FEATURING: The least subtle meet cute ever! Some A-grade slashfiction fuel! Us giving up on Nexus in real time! 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 Apr 14, 2019
Sunday Apr 14, 2019
In Black Lightning, we get a bit of a re-tread of the first episode! But the breathing space this allows means more characterization and development for our cast, and it'd hard to hate that. It's almost like genuinely caring about the cast of a show makes their struggles more interesting! ARE YOU LISTENING NEXUS WRITERS?!
Gokaiger coverage starts at around 35:31 ! If you hear jaunty chiptunes, you're in the right place.
In Pirate Sentai Gokaiger, we have another tribute episode for Gaoranger that's absolutely okay. Then a really fun heist episode! This leads to us having a kinda freeform game based on heists, and it's an absolute disaster that I kind of love? And for the record:
11 spices – Mix with 2 cups white fl.
- 2/3 Ts Salt
- 1/2 Ts Thyme
- 1/2 Ts Basil
- 1/3 Ts Oregano
- 1 Ts Celery salt
- 1 Ts Black pepper
- 1 Ts Dried mustard
- 4 Ts Paprika
- 2 Ts Garlic salt
- 1 Ts Ground ginger
- 3 Ts White pepper
FEATURING: Explicit LGBT representation that I think won't get killed off! Some cute doggos! The heart of the cards! 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 Apr 07, 2019
Sunday Apr 07, 2019
Time for a local flavor of Tokusatsu, as we begin our journey into Black Lightning Season 1! And shockingly (oh man I didn't intend that sorry), a time slot for older viewers means that we can tackle headier topics! Race relations! Police corruption! Urban decay! It may, uh, be a bit too high-level for us to really intelligently deal with sometimes! But we can be glad about the speargun.
Gokaiger coverage starts at almost precisely 19:10 ! If you hear jaunty chiptunes, you're in the right place.
In Pirate Sentai Gokaiger, we have a pretty perfunctory tribute episode for Gekiranger, featuring a training sequence so short I kind of want to call it a "non-tage". Like, montage, but not there? Eh? Eh? ...Anyway, the ep after that is a lot funnier than my terrible jokes, so just watch it.
FEATURING: A speargun! Heroic amputation! A sneaking mission! 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 Mar 31, 2019
Sunday Mar 31, 2019
Ryuga is dumb.
Rian probably gets ruined in the sequels.
Takeru is too good for this show.
Ryuga's mom is alive then she isn't.
Aguri exists.
Tousei has no plan.
Burai is a war criminal.
We cover the last 7 episodes of GARO. As the seal on Zedom fails, so does the writing staff. Ah well, the fights are nice.
Send comments, corrections, or questions of literally any sort to brokusatsu@gmail.com
Intro: Knight's Dance, Art Gray Noizz Quintet
Outro: An Ordinary Day In The Life Of A Superhero, Linden Killam
Sunday Mar 24, 2019
Sunday Mar 24, 2019
In Ultraman Nexus, Riko dies. Hooray?
Gokaiger coverage starts at almost precisely 19:10 ! If you hear jaunty chiptunes, you're in the right place.
In Pirate Sentai Gokaiger, we have a fun episode about punching out cops, then an episode about the crushing state of a capitalist society. Children's TV!
FEATURING: Riko dying! SPACE SPORTS! A real-ass moment of heartbreak! LET'S MAKE A SHOW OF IT!
Send comments, corrections, or questions of literally any sort to brokusatsu@gmail.com
Intro: "Deceit", by Violet and the Mutants
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