Shakeup confirmed! Show... RUINED.

Nah, just kidding. It still feels very much like Go-Busters. I listed all the changes I noticed on the wiki, but even then it doesn't seem like it's much more than the new opening and minor atmospheric changes. It still feels like the Go-Busters that we all know and love. BTW, 4.4% view rating. Highest in nearly two months.

Always glad to see more Rika. I like the way the monsters of the week are recycled. I knew that I had seen that monster model before, but it might as well be a completely new monster considering its powers and voice actor are different. Plus they've only done it twice so far (not including the Tuba Metaroid's version 2).

By the way, the writer of Rika's book is a real dude apparently: Hirata Kenya 平田 研也, he's the first guy who's given name is in kanji in this world, as far as I know. Not sure why they threw a real guy into the story, everything else has been so Earth-2 up to this point.

I guess the big mystery of the show is the Subdimension. We don't know anything about it, so they can pretty much do whatever they want with it. It's a great vector for content since it's not too tied down by what the viewer knows already. Is Jin really the same age as when he went in? Are all the humans stuck in Matrixlike capsules? Etc.

And while this episode was mostly filler, it appears to tie directly into a major story episode. And ignoring the previews for the next episode, the implication that Escape is somehow connected to Hiromu's mom is fascinating. Also, being right about Gog and Magog, fuck yeah! Go me. Sorry about the bragging, but it took a ridiculous amount of research to find the connection between Gog and the dogs (since most people assumed it was more strongly tied to the Bible versions of Gog and Magog). Part of being a translator sometimes means being an information detective. (This said one week after getting Turn, Turn, Turn wrong).

Nice new opening. Perhaps I prefer the other opening theme, but the footage they used in this one is much better.

Really good ep, despite not contributing greatly to the plot. Always nice to find out more about the characters, and in this case Hiromu and chickens.

Yay, more Rika, and more Hiromu focus. Nice to see she now gets on well with Hiromu and Nick, it was something which I actually wanted to see happen rather than just being implied at the end of ep 10.

Loving how they used the ep to suggest that Gog and Magog are somehow related to Hiromu's mother. Makes Escape more relevant to the storyline. Furthermore, she now is connected to all the Busters in a way; either a rivalry, or something to do with the past and so on. There's a nice dark atmosphere being built up.

take you are right about the Subdimension. Personally I've been itching to find out about it for quite a while now. Makes it more interesting that Jin knows about it but he's not talking. Kinda the reverse of some theatre plays, where the audience knows and one of the characters in the play is the ignorant one.

I still wish the Go-Busters had individual weapons as the fights do not excite me as much. But overall, Go-Busters is doing very well imo.

Preview:



Enter changes his hairstyle and goes mad.

I didn't really like the new opening and the dancing at the end. They threw me off. Maybe I'm just too used to the old ones.

BUT...

The episode is really good!

When Enter laughs fanatically at the beginning, for a moment I thought he is happy that he finally got rid of Messiah. His plan to make everything confusing is smart. It's also nice noticing Hiromu freezes upon something, too bad he almost can find out what it is.

I like that they even gave an reasonable explanation on the freezing on chickens, a thing that many thinks was ridiculous when the series began.

The confusing fight with everyone is everyone else is good. Interesting to see Enter acting like Ryuuji. The fight at the end is kinda bland though, but the double trick that Nick and Hiromu pulled on the Metaroid is smart. And Kuroin actually has a workable idea on how to counter the Metazoid. As a commander he hasn't been seen making critical decisions for a while.

The sudden change of tone at the end gives me the chills.

So avatars are created based on someone's image, and Escape has guns same as the antique dogs, hmm...

I sort of wonder if the shakeup hasn't happened yet. The writer and director is the same as from the last episode.

Metazoid? A combination of Metaroid and Megazord?



We actually had a long discussion about the new opening and stuff in chat. I'll just post the log, hopefully the guys won't mind:


[05:24] <takenoko> I sort of hate the new opening, it's really flashy but shallow
[05:24] <takenoko> I think it's pretty insulting
[05:25] <zeta_gundam> i mean, sure, the sequences are cool; but the song doesn't seem to catch on as well as the first one
[05:26] <zeta_gundam> insulting? why?
[05:26] <takenoko> it's like a video cut together for add kids
[05:27] <zeta_gundam> hmm... never really saw it that way...
[05:27] <takenoko> the jump cuts are so quick that there's no time to focus on anything
[05:27] <zeta_gundam> but honestly, i think 'busters ready go' had more of an impact
[05:27] <takenoko> something's always happening, but... it doesn't mean anything
[05:27] <zeta_gundam> ah, yeah, that's true
[05:27] <zeta_gundam> i think they are trying to 'sell' how cool the show is?
[05:28] <zeta_gundam> i still dun get why the ratings are so low
[05:28] <zeta_gundam> i mean, i'm enjoying it a lot
[05:28] <takenoko> honestly, this should be the power rangers' opening, it has that kind of air to it
[05:28] <takenoko> at least the actual action in the action scenes are better than in the first opening
[05:28] <zeta_gundam> sure, dumb stuff like 'chickens' aside... it's generally quite decent/fun
[05:28] <takenoko> I can see how go-busters might not appeal to kids as much
[05:29] <takenoko> isn't Hiromu a bit unrelatable to kids as a red?
[05:29] <takenoko> he's interseting to us adults since we can appreciate shades of gray, but kids probably think he's just a jerk
[05:30] <zeta_gundam> hmm... maybe... maybe that's why gosei had higher ratings... alata was more relatable to kids i guess, despite the not too stellar storyline
[05:30] <QCking> might be an adult but i still prefer alata
[05:31] <zeta_gundam> really? i like hiromu a lot
[05:31] <takenoko> I think Hiromu is interesting. I don't know if I really like him
[05:31] <takenoko> there's an emotional and intellectual disonnect for me there
[05:31] <QCking> i like him but i always preferred reds like ryouga from aba, alata from gosei, KAI AND JAN FROM MAGI AND GEKI!!
[05:32] <QCking> <&zeta_gundam> really slowking? you like the new song? i actually prefer busters ready go <--- i prefer it too, but it's not like this new one is bad either
[05:32] <QCking> just doesn't work as an opening song
[05:32] <zeta_gundam> i honestly hate ryouga... lol
[05:32] <QCking> lol
[05:32] <QCking> i like all of the busters
[05:32] <zeta_gundam> okay, not hate
[05:32] <zeta_gundam> but, don't really like him
[05:32] <QCking> i like the villains, the storyline etc. BUT
[05:32] <QCking> i haven't been amazed by gobus
[05:33] <zeta_gundam> i like J... XD
[05:33] <QCking> the idea of buster machines never fascinated me
[05:33] <QCking> J haha he's great
[05:33] <takenoko> I dunno, I really like Ace
[05:33] <QCking> gobus got much better once beet and stag showed up
[05:33] <takenoko> I think he's awesome as a mecha
[05:33] <zeta_gundam> i love how random he can be... and why do you not like the machines? i think they're cool
[05:33] <QCking> before it was like
[05:33] <zeta_gundam> yeah, ace is pretty cool i think
[05:34] <QCking> 3 things are happening at the same time... we are just three... let's split
[05:34] <takenoko> I guess the combinations are pretty disappointing
[05:34] <QCking> so there was very little team effort in fights
[05:34] <QCking> indeed they are
[05:34] <takenoko> that's weird to say, since I feel like the exact opposite
[05:34] <QCking> o
[05:34] <QCking> idk
[05:34] <zeta_gundam> i think it's actually cool
[05:34] <takenoko> well, I guess it depends on what you mean
[05:34] <QCking> for me fighting them + lack of individual weapons
[05:34] <takenoko> I feel like theysplit up their efforts much better
[05:34] <zeta_gundam> you dun need all three to pilot the machines
[05:34] <zeta_gundam> yeah
[05:35] <QCking> kinda bores you out once you've seen them once fight on their own
[05:35] <zeta_gundam> like how red settles biggy, blue/yellow can still fight on the ground
[05:35] <QCking> thats good but it's not always executed greatly
[05:35] <QCking> and it got repetitive after a while
[05:36] <QCking> plus, no matter how much i enjoy enter, having just one villain till 22 was a bit disappointing tbh
[05:37] <takenoko> I dunno, I feel like other Sentai are more rote with their fight sequences
[05:37] <takenoko> like they just build their combination weapon, blast the monster of the week, then get in their mecha when it gets big
[05:37] <zeta_gundam> i dunno, i think gobust-oh needs to do more than just combine and destroy, that's the only problem i have with it
[05:37] <takenoko> go-busters never does that
[05:37] <QCking> yeah go-busteroh is another problem kinda
[05:38] <zeta_gundam> i really liked the ace-stag combi
[05:38] <takenoko> yeah
[05:38] <QCking> yep
[05:38] <takenoko> that was cool
[05:38] <QCking> dont get me wrong, i really, really enjoy go-bus
[05:38] <QCking> but these points are just why it's not in my top 3, 5 or perhaps 10
[05:38] <takenoko> that's fine, not everyone is going to like the same things
[05:38] <zeta_gundam> i thought it would be cool if like the combination was a little like digimon xros wars type of concept
[05:39] <zeta_gundam> so you have ace, and you build around ace.
[05:40] <zeta_gundam> i mean, i can see how gori can break into mere missile armament wear parts or something; i think that would be cooler than gobus oh

This episode seemed like your typical mistaken identity/body swapping plot but I liked how they didn't stop with just a few characters. Having Ryuuji turn into Enter was something out of left field and greatly appreciated. The mass confusion during the Buglar fight was fun.

J is shaping up to be quite the scene stealer. His "just defeat them all attitude" was hilarious. Jin should reconsider his philosophy about imperfect creations since J came close to breaking Asimov's first law of robotics.

They're speeding up the Messiah plot now, who knows what's going to happen after this.

Urgh, spelling mistake. I mean Megazord. Wasn't thinking right when posting...

This was probably the most interesting episode thus far. Of course, the revelation with Escape came completely out of left field and now we've got more Subdimension shenanigans happening next episode. The last 5 minutes of this ep got pretty crazy really fast. (Also that was the quickest Megazord fight I've seen in a while)

Whoo proper glasses throw! Hiromu really got some distance on that one.

Personally, I love the new opening song. It's much more agent-y and dramatic as opposed to the very standard previous one. Also DAYUM Hiroya's still got it~

Long time lurker, first time poster. I felt the need to register and say I absolutely hate the new opening song. The old song just felt much more appropriate for the show and this...as takenoko put it so much more elegantly than I could...feels like it was edited for ADD kids. Ugh!

With that said, the episode overall was very strong. J's interference and throwing Youko into the water made the difference for me, because it didn't feel like the typical swap bodies sentai episode since we knew the paint washes off easily.

I like that they're showing J more without Jin as I feel he could be a strong character in and of himself. Gosei Knight was one of the most interesting characters for me in Goseiger, and I just feel J could be the same thing for Gobusters, if he was allowed to. How about some character building shows around J?

Retool? Onore Saburo Hatte.

This episode was okay. The sudden plot points at the end were the most interesting part.

I like how the plot is going, and pretty much everything people have posted above mine said it all.

But while I'm glad to see Jin in the dance routine at the end, but dear LORD do I HATE the new intro! I loved the previous one because it was very catchy, and I was nearly finished memorizing the lyrics.

I'll get use to it eventually, but WHY did they feel the need to change it? Far as I know of, no Sentai season before Go-Busters ever changed their theme song. I'm just overall pissed.

loved J's appearence.
Kurorin: Could this day get anyworse?
J: Heeeeere is J!
Kurorin(facepalming): Sweet merciful crap, i'm too old for this.

If i have to be honest, it kinda felt like some manga i have read were they parody this kind of tropes, but suddenly they start playing them seriously...of course, Go-busters have been serious since the beginning...most of the time. But it felt like that to me.

I don't dislike the opening, and i'm glad with all the Jin and J new scenes, especially since they show J as a member of the team. It kinda shows that he is not an object that they treat as a character but ultimately remains as another toy(*cofcofshinkengercofcof*). But when i compare it with blade's second op, there is a difference(i don't know if blade had a shakeup or not, but it's the only i could compare it). It's the first better, i think so.
That said, i'm not exactly happy with the song. i believe when, in this kind of series, you change opening, you have to give it a more "epic" feeling to it. Like blade's second op. Or star driver. or Shin Mazinger or, hell, even power rangers did this when it still was an ongoing series instead of stand-alone seasons. Something that tells you "things are getting serious".
ending: there, now we have three zords dancing xD.

EDIT: i have watched the final scene of the opening(very closely and pausing a lot), and yes, they changed youko's age to 17.

I really love J. He's the most comical of them all. All his random actions: jumping around, talking to bugs and plants. It's absolutely hilarious.

I hate the new intro; I really, really hate it. For the first time there's a Sentai opening theme -not- going to be added to my collection. It's just---bad. it feels more like it should be an ending song, or insert song -at best-. The new visuals were okay, but the song itself sucks. I foresee myself skipping the theme song now, like I always did with Decade, W, OOO and Fourze, and now Wizard (Come to think of it, Kamen Rider opening themes haven't exactly been fantastic the last few years, have they?). That's the first time I've ever done that with a Sentai show. Even Goseiger's theme, which was just "there" with nothing spectacular about it, at least fit the tone of the series. The Go-Busters episode itself was great, and it feels like the plot is shifting out of second gear now with the revelation that Messiah is evolving, so I'm looking forward to that, at least. And J remains as awesome as ever. Just wish the song could reflect how good the series is getting.

All that material swirling together.... methinks Messiah is building a body. or at least some manner of physical case for himself. though probably a body.

calling it now: Escape is Hiromu's mom's avatar and he's going to have trouble fighting her out of fear of damaging her real body.

bonus points if Enter is someone else related to a Buster.

I loved the scene where they're in the fountain and splash the buglars and J. J just standing there going "why am I getting wet, too?" cracked me up.

I'm ok with the new opening song, but I'm sad they have the team shout the show's name at the end. It was so refreshing not having that for once, and now they went back on it. again, I is sadness. ;_;

besides the opening and ending, I honestly didn't notice any changes. what all changed?

I love the new opening of Go-Buster in this episode. I guess many have a different opinion

XD. I love the scene when Nick try to morph when he was hiromu at the time. XD

Best part when the Monster turn Blue Buster in Enter. XD. I was hoping later on than Enter would have transform into Blue Buster but it seem that wouldn't be the case then.

Im always amaze at the split Yellow Buster always does, it just so lovely at the moment.

Love the part when J and said that he just beat every single one of them XD.

So Hiromu weak point is explain more in this episode. He was attack by a chicken is what I want to say but it seem there more to this story than meets the eye…hmmmmm

The whole Gog and Magog really surprise me though.

It seem that the Avatar Massiah made seem to be a image base on Hiromu mom? But then wouldn't Hiromu would recognize her then? Hmmmmm This is puzzling indeed. Maybe Escape is an image made of more then just one person?