Series Re-Watch: My 'PR Samurai + Super Samurai' Review

Power Rangers Samurai (Season 18)

....and with that, we go from prime time quality Power Rangers to...Powers Rangers for PBS!  No, I'm not kidding! I don't know where to begin with Power Rangers Samurai. The first season after Saban bought back the franchise, you would think he would really put some effort back into pushing the series forward, showing a new generation of kids just how awesome the franchise could be...like I said, you would think....yet this is not awesome, this is just sad!  Now I get what Saban was trying to do here. It was nearly a decade since Time Force (Saban's last production with PR) when he got back the rights and with the franchise entering a new decade, why not introduce this new generation to what made the original MMPR so awesome..... The HUGE problem with that is it's not the 90s anymore!! The show has 17 seasons worth of growth and maturity that has gone beyond the basic "monster of the week" format that was first introduced in MMPR Season 1. Just think about the epic space war in In Space, the dark space odyssey that was Lost Galaxy, the fight between destiny and free will in Time Force, not to mention just coming off a season where the rangers were fighting a computer virus that took over 90% of the world with humanity on the verge of extinction in RPM. Sure, Saban may have or not have liked the Disney Era, but I feel they kept the franchise alive and genuinely progressed the series until it peaked in quality with their last season. Samurai is a complete 180 of where the franchise has gone and an embarrassing one at that. This is without a doubt a 2010s remake of MMPR and it couldn't be more true than that piss poor rendition of the original "Go Go Power Rangers" theme that Samurai has as it's theme song. Someone tell me why the actors have to shout their names when they come on screen during the opening credits??!  Will the rangers be counting their ABCs and learning their numbers between battles too? Like I said PBS! Also, I hate the music cues that sound like updated versions of MMPR's scoring. What should be painfully nostalgic just comes off as just painful. Saban has officially given into the notion that PR really is a 20 minute commercial ad for toys as there is nothing significant about this season and is a sorry installment.

Going back to the rangers...I don't know what to make of them. They are either too wooden, too childish or too annoying in the acting department. Seriously, Jayden, our fearless leader takes stoicism to a WHOLE new level. Kinda felt like Alex Heartman didn't know how to emote during those serious scenes looking like he realized he just swallowed a bee most of the time! Kevin is suppose to be a serious, experienced Samurai yet just comes off like a little brat. Emily, sounds like she's 6 years old most of the time and it's that fact alone where I don't buy her as a ranger. Mia....ehw...she's a bad cook, that's her thing that makes her standout and it's funny cause everyone hates her food....moving on!  I honestly rather not talk about Antonio...because....lives would lost during my rant!  The only character who seems to act their age, is well performed and has an actual personality is Mike! Sure, it's the typical, life of the party Green Ranger stereotype, but in a season full of bland and bad characterizations, it couldn't be more needed! All I can say is thank God for Mike and his actor, Hector David Jr. who actually looks like he's having fun on the show! It's also sad that along with Hector, the rest of the cast seem like very cool people in person. I honestly think the directors have the actors dumb down the acting as much as possible cause it's a kid's show! Mentor Ji is....worthless....seriously! The guy does nothing in terms of training or progressing the rangers in any kind of way. Also, to my utter annoyance Bulk returns to the series with Skull's son as his side kick now. Poor Paul Schrier, once again doing that awful slapstick that I wish didn't return. Doesn't it bug anyone that they have little interaction with the rangers?? What's the point?? Oh yeah, stupid gags like slipped drinks, bumbling behavior and Spike falling for the Pink Ranger! Kid's show, I know!

Apparently, the deal Saban made with Nickelodeon only allows 20 episodes per season, which pretty sad considering Samurai feels like a filer season, nothing much happens in terms of pushing the plot forward. I would have rather had less episodes like "Sticks and Stones" and more episodes that focus on Xandred plotting to flood the world. I also don't see how this team happens to be descendants of ancient Japanese Samurai. Just one of those Sentai concepts that didn't translate well at all!  It's a shame to since the Samurai suits are pretty awesome, especially when in action. But the commentary by the rangers during fight scenes is jarring sometimes and take away from the awesomeness on screen. I mean we're watching this show mostly for cool fight scenes but when the rangers are constantly talking during them, it makes the show seem bad especially the horrible lines they deliver.

The Nighloks are just bland and boring villains!  There is nothing intimidating about Xandred and his plan to flood the world. There's nothing much to talk about there, although Dayu's backstory is pretty interesting but the fact that it's connected to Dekker who is re-casted by Richard Medina. Seriously, all I kept doing when Dekker came on the screen was wondering why they re-casted a previous ranger actor as a villain?? Sure, Cole wasn't as popular as Jason or Tommy but come on!? For long time fans, it's just distracting and Richard's acting hasn't improved....at all......seriously! Dekker's mission or what not with having a final fight with Jayden was just lame and didn't have the gravitas the writers were going for. I mean we've seen this type of storyline performed/written better in the older seasons. Here, Dekker doesn't come off honorable or tragic, just badly acted and shut up Cole! Ok, this season's not all bad. The show does look stunning in HD and some episodes are somewhat tolerable, even enjoyable for the whole family. "There Goes the Brides" is a standout among the bunch for it's originality (for power rangers anyway) and having the team staging a fake wedding to draw out their enemies. The Samurai megazord is kind cool I suppose.... Feel like I'm grasping at straws here....but Samurai just made me feel...old. Like I am too old for Power Rangers. Maybe I am, but considering this was Saban's triumphant return to the franchise, this is a disappointing, dull season. Well, at least it's better than Overdrive. 

Best Episodes

1. There Goes The Brides

2. Forest of The Trees

3. Deal With the Nighlok

4. The Tengan Gate

5. The Ultimate Duel

Final Morph: D