 |
| Happy Meals with Toys Du Jour!!! |
I’ve already talked about Kano working up her courage to sing her favorite superhero songs at karaoke and the thrill she gets when everyone joins in and chants the choruses, and how RELATABLE that is, but in each new episode I found even MORE things that made me go “Ah, yeah, it’s totally like that!!!” Tokusatsu Ga Ga Ga is a veritable BIBLE of tokusatsu tropes!!!
Favorite Storylines
Just the sight of Kano and Hisami meeting up for lunch at a restaurant to talk about their shows and gushing about their favorite “Arcs” brought back memories- spent many a lunchtime breaking down my favorite Tokusatsu arcs with my friends for sure!
“Real Time Generation”
When Kano and Hisami first meet, they excitedly gush about their favorite Tokusatsu shows. Hisami says her favorite is Southern Crosser, an older one Kano hasn’t seen. Then Kano says hers is EmerJason, adding, “I’m his real-time generation fan!”, i.e. , she was the target audience when it aired. This made me remember when I was working at Tower Records in the video department many years ago, and talking to an excitable young Kamen Rider fan. We were talking about Kamen Rider V3, but he said HIS favorite was Sky Rider, as it was “his generation” Kamen Rider.
“Extra Hero”
After Kano and Hisami hit it off and become friends, they begin looking for possible co-workers who might be inducted into their secret tokusatsu geek club, and liken it to getting a “Extra Hero”. As Hisami explains, after awhile, every tokusatsu show adds a “Extra Hero” to the cast to perk up the series with an exciting new arc, and this made me sit back and go “HUH! I never thought of it, but that’s TOTALLY true!" Kikaider had Hakaider added in the last arc. Kamen Rider V3 had Riderman. And Kikaider 01 added (in order) Kikaider, Bijinda and even Waruda in the later episodes!
“Secret Idol Fans”
Kano’s stand-offish and cold co-worker Kitashiro is like Kano in a different way- instead of Super-heroes, she is a closet Johnny’s-type Boy Band Idol fangirl, and even HER situations were relatable to me:
Kitashiro has a good friend who is totally into the Boybands with her, but has less shame showing it, and mortifies Kitashiro by busting out and unrolling a huge idol poster when they are in a restaurant in front of the waiter, Kitashiro's co-workers and other customers. HAHAHA, I’ve totally been in this situation, for sure, too!
“Gaining Friends as Allusion”
Though Kano and Hisami enjoy singing at karaoke and going to handshake events, they wish there were more friends like them that they could hang out with.
Discovering Kitashiro and her friend are closet Idolfans, they hope to add them to their group to make it stronger, likening it to the individual parts of a Getta Robo-G Combination Robot connecting to become a more powerful force, complete with a mock-up recreation of the triple-split screen when the three pilots combine, LOL
More True Karaoke Tales
At Karaoke, Kitashiro is singing her heart out. But then, in the middle of the song, she starts doing dialog which isn't part of the song. A confused Kano asks what’s going on, and the friend explains, “She’s doing the MC from a live concert performance”. HAHAHA, as someone who FREQUENTLY interjects live dialog from concerts, this REALLY hit home!
Happy Meal Hardships
And though not technically a Tokusatsu experience, another SUPER relatable scene:
There’s this one scene where Kano wants to get a toy that comes with a lunch set but is embarrassed about ordering it- When the clerk asks for her order and asks what toy she wants, a coworker comes in and she panics and says it’s for her niece. But then she ends up with the girl toy instead of the sentai one she wanted! “Why didn’t I say if was for a nephew???” she laments.
But this hilarious scene reminded me of back in 1992 and I was collecting all the Beauty and The Beast giveaways and needed Belle. I ordered the Kids Meal but instead of giving me the cardboard box with the meal and toy, I got a tray with a burger, small fries and small drink. “Um, can I get the toy?” I asked.
“But…the toy is THIS, you know,” the lady said, holding up the Belle figure:
“Yeah, haha!!” I laughed, much to her confusion! She handed it over to which I sheepishly accepted it, but to this day I still have that complete Beauty and The Beast toy set in my collection! Such are the slings and arrows we suffer for our passions! Kano, I TOTALLY feel U, Gurl!!
The Re-discovery of Shows Through Video Rentals
After another clash with her mother and talks with her peers, Kano makes up her mind to face growing up and giving up tokusatsu forever. Just then, Kano’s brother gives her her old VHS tape of her favorite Series EmerJason.
With the old VHS in hand, Kano borrows a VCR, plugs it all in, and re-watches the show again. And as Kano watches the old, beat up VHS cassette, the show brings her to tears at how much the show meant to her and how much the show’s message of love and support made her the person she is. This truly was an important thing in her life!
A Sentimental Sentai Finale!
And then, in one of the greatest drama endings EVER, we tune in with Kano once again in a quandry- she is in a bookstore and wants to buy the new Super Sentai magazine but is embarrassed to go to the counter with it...
And THAT'S how the drama ended!
Aw MAN, this was one show that REALLY made me remember what a joyous world of wonder, excitement and HAPPINESS childhood was like growing up with Tokusatsu heroes in my life…
I love, love LOVED this show!!!!
