Split in two because I'm nothing if not thorough (and long-winded):
I hate saying it, because it makes it sound like there's a One True Way of doing things, but I really prefer the Kamen Rider/Super Sentai/Power Rangers approach to a franchise. Since the '80s, Kamen Rider's been doing it, and Power Rangers started in '99 while it's pretty much been the way Super Sentai has always operated: Each season is a new team entirely. You have a whole new gimmick. Right now, Kamen Rider Fourze is a celebration of space and youth, Power Rangers Samurai is samurai, and Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters is Power Rangers, oddly enough. If you don't like these series, there's always a completely different one you can get into. Fourze too goofy for you? Watch one of the older series, geared toward an older audience, or go back to W or OOO which were slightly more mature while still being light enough for the kiddies. Power Rangers Samurai sucks? There's always RPM. Go-Busters not doing it for you? There's 35 other seasons for you to enjoy.
Choose which gimmick you want: card-based superpowers (all three franchises, once Power Rangers Megaforce airs), evil computer viruses (Power Rangers and now Super Sentai), magic coins (all three), vampires (Kamen Rider), time travel (all three), space (Kamen Rider and Power Rangers). Choose how serious you want it. Do you want a really serious, often dark, show? Kamen Rider Ryuki or Faiz, Choujuu Sentai Liveman. Do you want a really silly one? Kamen Rider Den-O or Fourze, Gekisou Sentai Carranger. You want more of a balance? Well, any Power Rangers really, but particularly RPM, Kamen Rider W or OOO, and probably most Super Sentai too. Do you want a good starting point? Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers, Ninja Storm, Dino Thunder, or RPM, Kamen Rider W or OOO and probably Kabuto too, and damn near any Super Sentai really. Want an anniversary? Power Rangers in Space and Megaforce, Kamen Rider Decade and the Let's Go Kamen Riders and Megamax movies, Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger and the Super Hero Wars movie. If you don't like something, you can skip it, and you're not getting lost when you come back. Okay, well, watching Kamen Rider Decade when you really only know a handful of the seasons it's a tribute to will get you lost, but that's different.
These three franchises all want particular audiences--they want new kids, so they'll change things up and try to bring them in. And god help Power Rangers, they at least try. But they also know that they've got a long history of fans, some of whom have grown into parents themselves, so their shows also appeal to the moms and dads. And again, Power Rangers at least tries.
I hate saying it, because it makes it sound like there's a One True Way of doing things, but I really prefer the Kamen Rider/Super Sentai/Power Rangers approach to a franchise. Since the '80s, Kamen Rider's been doing it, and Power Rangers started in '99 while it's pretty much been the way Super Sentai has always operated: Each season is a new team entirely. You have a whole new gimmick. Right now, Kamen Rider Fourze is a celebration of space and youth, Power Rangers Samurai is samurai, and Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters is Power Rangers, oddly enough. If you don't like these series, there's always a completely different one you can get into. Fourze too goofy for you? Watch one of the older series, geared toward an older audience, or go back to W or OOO which were slightly more mature while still being light enough for the kiddies. Power Rangers Samurai sucks? There's always RPM. Go-Busters not doing it for you? There's 35 other seasons for you to enjoy.
Choose which gimmick you want: card-based superpowers (all three franchises, once Power Rangers Megaforce airs), evil computer viruses (Power Rangers and now Super Sentai), magic coins (all three), vampires (Kamen Rider), time travel (all three), space (Kamen Rider and Power Rangers). Choose how serious you want it. Do you want a really serious, often dark, show? Kamen Rider Ryuki or Faiz, Choujuu Sentai Liveman. Do you want a really silly one? Kamen Rider Den-O or Fourze, Gekisou Sentai Carranger. You want more of a balance? Well, any Power Rangers really, but particularly RPM, Kamen Rider W or OOO, and probably most Super Sentai too. Do you want a good starting point? Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers, Ninja Storm, Dino Thunder, or RPM, Kamen Rider W or OOO and probably Kabuto too, and damn near any Super Sentai really. Want an anniversary? Power Rangers in Space and Megaforce, Kamen Rider Decade and the Let's Go Kamen Riders and Megamax movies, Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger and the Super Hero Wars movie. If you don't like something, you can skip it, and you're not getting lost when you come back. Okay, well, watching Kamen Rider Decade when you really only know a handful of the seasons it's a tribute to will get you lost, but that's different.
These three franchises all want particular audiences--they want new kids, so they'll change things up and try to bring them in. And god help Power Rangers, they at least try. But they also know that they've got a long history of fans, some of whom have grown into parents themselves, so their shows also appeal to the moms and dads. And again, Power Rangers at least tries.
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