S. Yue Michaelis

10 years ago, the “Pandora Box” was found on Mars. On Earth, it created walls that divided Japan into Touto (Eastern Capital), Hokuto (Northern Capital) and Seito (Western Capital) and brought along the Smash, unidentified life forms that attack people.
Sento Kiryu, prodigy physicist, transforms into Kamen Rider Build to fight the Smash.
The Touto government requests his help in deciphering the mystery behind the Pandora Box and the Smash. There is one mystery not even Sento can solve: his own past. The only memory he has left of more than 20 years is the existence of a sinister figure called, Knight Rogue. There is one man who holds the key to Sento’s memories. A prison escapee by the name of Ryuga Banjo, who adamantly denies committing the murder he is accused of. Misora Isurugi who works with Sento, has the ability to purify the harmful components the Smash are made of.
Sento transforms into Kamen Rider Build in order to uncover the mystery surrounding the Pandora Box, the Smash and his amnesia. (MDL-2017)


My first complete Kamen Rider series. Technically my 2nd, but I didn't finish KR Kuuga due to the lack of subs. As of now, I completed all kind of Japanese series: Taiga, Asadora, Tokusatsu Sentai and Tokusatsu Kamen Rider besides the "normal" dramas.

There are so many KR that I didn't know where to start; luckily here comes my sweet boy Akaso Eiji and the choice was decided. From the very beginning I thought the transformation was ridiculous (sorry for all the fans!). And not in a cute way, but in a cringey way. It is not a ridiculous but nice way like Sentai Kyoryuger and I thought I would warm towards it but never did. The shaking of the bottles + spinning the pull... nope, totally lame.

I did like Sento and Misora; he was geeky and a dork with lots of self-esteem but although he is looking to save everyone, he wasn't a saint. Nor a fool. And Misora, one of the 2 only girls in the whole series, wasn't useless at all nor a mere doll. As for Banjou Ryuga, he looked like a cute ball full of anger :D super cute of course, but his temperament made cute Eiji overact. I did notice he talked a bit like Banjou when he played Adachi, like a yankee would. Is he a yankee type IRL? That cute little boy??

I also liked the costumes of KR Build, half and half. And I loooved his mismatched shoes, how geeky is that? I totally want to wear mismatched Converse shoes right this moment.

What I didn't like was that one day X person was your enemy and responsible for the death of your beloved one, and then the next day that same X person became your ally. And this happens throughout the whole series, it is like all of them are double spy. The nice people forgive too easily as well; hello, that guy was the one who killed your girlfriend/friend, now you are friends??

I also never truly felt the friendship or comradeship between all characters. Did they truly care for each other?

The ending was to like Sailor Moon the anime S1! I couldn't believe it; at least Sento and Banjou keep being friends...

I thought KR was going to be like a Sentai series: goofy, fun, with fights and everything, yes, but not that dark! This KR has a whole war going on, between all 3 parts of Japan and then against Evolt. Then all of them with their secret personalities/double personalities, etc. So while the story was darkish, it didn't match at all the more childish costume + transformation.

I watched the first 30 episodes or so in normal speed, but for the last 20 or so I used the 1x5 speed :(

Long ago in the time of dinosaurs, the Deboth Army invades Earth to the point of the extinction of the dinosaurs but they were defeated by Wise God Torin and the Zyudenryu during the first invasion. In the present day, the Deboth Army resurface as they resume their invasion. To counter the revived threat, Torin selects five brave individuals who must defeat their respective Zyudenryu first in order to acquire their powers to become the "People of the Strong Dragons", the Kyoryugers. (wikipedia)


If I had to choose my favorite Japanese show I would have to say it is ZSK. I loved it, I love it and I will always love it. Geez, I was loving it before I watch it (due the screen-caps and all I've read about it). My first Sentai. And, at least for a long time, my last Sentai. Because I loved this so much I don't think I will bear to watch another one without my favorite cast.

What is so great about this show?

Cast/Actors:
I don't think I have ever watched a show with such a colorful characters. Sure they may be the stereotypical ones -the energetic one, the funny, one, the playboy one, etc- but it worked. And most of them had a story going on, so we get to know them. It is funny because I was reading this forum in tokunation after I finished the episodes, and there was some really heavy discussion about Daigo being "too perfect". I wasn't bothered by it in the least. In fact, to me it made perfect sense, and I will say why.

Because to me, the characters of ZSK were based on "One Piece".

Huh? Some will say. And no, I am not a OP hardcore fan. Yes I like it, but not to the point of seeing resemblance to OP in every corner. Only in ZSK I felt that way, and only regarding the personality of characters. For example:

- Daigo/Luffy: both are "Red" and the leader of the team. Both are very energetic and also very excited about everything (battles, their nakamas, etc). Daigo's outfit, especially the red vest, is very similar to Luffy's vest. Most of the battles are won by them.

- Ian/Sanji: both are the "playboy" of the team. Ian is Black; Sanji always wears a black suit. Both of them have part of their bang falling above their left eye.

- Souji/Zoro: both are good at sword. Souji is Green, while Zoro has green hair and mostly green outfit. Both are serious and don't talk much. Souji did not get along with Ian at first; Zoro and Sanji are constantly fighting. Souji lives in a dojo; Zoro grew up on one until he decided to go out in the world.

- Nossan/Ussop: both have curly black hair. Nossan is known for telling old man's jokes; Ussop is known for lying. Both are the comic relief of their respective series. Nossan is the Blue K.; Ussop wears wrist-bands that have blue on them. But most of the times, Nossan wears pants and shoes of the same color as Ussop's outfit.

- Amy/Nami: even their names sound similar. Both are kind of tomboys girls; Amy is a rich girl while Nami loves money the most. Both of them are the only girl in the team for a long time.

- Uchy/Chopper: both of them are "different" from the others (Uchy because he comes from another time; Chopper because he is a talking-animal). Both are cute and very innocent.

- Yayoi/Robin: both are the last girl to join; both are somewhat nerdy. Yayoi is Violet K.; Robin wears violet clothes.

So that's it. These are my thoughts about the resemblances. Not much, but episode after episode I couldn't help but comparing both of them.

I looooove the actors. I was impressed by Daigo's energy. Man, that actor was the most energetic MC or what! Even when he was dancing it was with all his might. All of them were really good at fighting; Amy knew how to cry, and man, that Saito Syusuke (Ian) is the most handsome Japanese guy or what! All in all, I have to admit that, although I love everyone of them (not only the Kyoryugers, but everyone! From Candelira to the weakest monster) my favorites were Uchy, Ian and Nossan. I love that, although Ian and Daigo and Souji are young boys, they do not look girly, nor too boyish, but men. Which is something that bothers me about the next Sentai show (Resshai something... TOQrangers or similar). The red ranger looks like a girl! And I saw in some videos that he even wears lipstick... I can't imagine Daigo or Ian or Souji putting themselves lipstick... which, all in all, make them manly even though they are super young.

Story
It wasn't complicated, it did not have many twists but it was enjoyable, all 30 minutes of it. Definitely a show for either kids or adults. Or kids AND adults. It wasn't only about the Kyoryugers defeating the bad guys: it was also about Daigo and his father; about Ian looking for revenge (and that last scene with Aigaron was touching or what!); Souji attempting to be a better swordman; Nossan trying to hide from his sister that he was a Kyoryuger. I love that Candelira and Luckiero weren't bad and have their HEA. I love the little tease between Candelira and Nossan. I love the Spirit Rangers.

Opening and ending sequence
May be the first time I watched the entire show (all 48 episodes of it) from beginning to end. I LOVE the songs; they are so energetic! Wait, am I repeating the word "energetic" over and over again? That is because the whole show was full of energy! It doesn't have a single dull moment, and the opening and ending sequence may be the most excited of all. I love the little kids, and newly-married couple, and basically, everyone that dance at the end. I've read that some sentai heroes from other shows also appeared dancing at the end; isn't that just too cool?

Henshin!
What at awesome transformation! With a samba dance. It was so funny and so much fun, to watch the 6 Kyoryugers dancing and shout "fire!" to become Kyoryugers. And when it needed to happen, also when Yayoi, and Torin, and the old guys, had to dance as well. I love that the Henshin is included in the little dance at the end.

Everything that is MECCHA and whatever
Ok, so I am not really an expert in that area, but it was so much fun the gun + the little pills to transform and fight, and the meccha part (where all parts of a dinosaur join together to become a gigantic robot). Ahh the memories! When I used to watch Power Rangers, the American edition, when I was younger...


I did not want the series to end :( I can't believe 48 episodes went to fast. Luckily I still have 3 more movies, but still :(