I believe many of you reading this news have likely heard the unfortunate update since late last year: No. 1 Sentai Gozyuger will be the final entry in the Super Sentai series. This marks the end of a continuous 50-year run, allowing the franchise to take a hiatus—much like Kamen Rider has done in the past. While other franchises have taken breaks, Super Sentai has aired without interruption for five decades, with new series premiering immediately after the previous ones concluded. This relentless pace has led to repetitive storylines and a creative 'dead end.' This is reflected in declining popularity and lower toy sales, coupled with the ever-increasing costs of production. Beyond those logistical reasons, however, there are elements within No. 1 Sentai Gozyuger itself that subtly signal why the series needs a rest. Let’s dive into the details of this story
Before diving into the details, I must clarify that the following content will focus primarily on No. 1 Sentai Gozyuger. This series serves as the definitive conclusion before the Super Sentai franchise enters a hiatus for approximately the next 10 years. Those who have been following No. 1 Sentai Gozyuger have likely noticed a strange, inconsistent quality to the story—an irrational 'rollercoaster' feel. This is particularly jarring because the series started off so strong. The initial plot, centered around the quest for rings and the spectacle of past Red Sentai warriors battling one another, was incredibly compelling, as were the well-designed mechanical villains. However, upon entering the 'Second Act' with its universe reset, the narrative began to unravel. The story became muddled and lacked a clear direction; one episode would head in one way, only for the next to feel completely disconnected. This highlights a fundamental instability in the scriptwriting. It seems that no matter which direction the writers take the story, they inevitably run into tropes and plots that have already been recycled from past series
When the writers found themselves stuck at every turn, they pivoted toward a comedic tone instead. While a series needs a core plot to keep the story moving—and the main arc here seems passable—the subplots are abysmal and completely disjointed. Take the latest episode as an example (as seen in the image above). Our protagonist runs to shield the Red Ranger from a villain's energy blast. The hero falls to the ground in his human form after taking the hit. However, it turns out he wasn't actually hurt at all; he only collapsed because he was hungry. His friends catch up to him, give him something to eat, and he simply transforms and continues the fight. The enemy's 'destructive power' had absolutely no effect on him in human form. The episode then concludes with the villain dying in a pathetic, foolish way, despite having been introduced as incredibly powerful. The storytelling has become this chaotic. From a screenwriting perspective, it feels as though the writers have completely lost their way and no longer know where to take the plot. This results in writing that is confusing and nonsensical (or 'high' on its own absurdity), where viewers are expected to just stop looking for logic altogether
Another example is the female Black Ranger. The story established her being under immense stress because her younger sister had fallen into a vegetative state right before her eyes. By the end of that episode, she was so distraught she nearly left the team. However, in the very next episode, her sadness completely vanished. She simply announced, 'I’m going to be cheerful and stop worrying about my sister,' and the sister hasn't been mentioned since (Wait, what?). Then there are the villains. Some were set up brilliantly as the ultimate personification of evil, yet they redeemed themselves far too easily after just a few words. Furthermore, when a villain becomes popular with fans, the writers refuse to kill them off. Meanwhile, some characters who shouldn't have died were killed, and other vital characters were written out of the story entirely without so much as a mention. All of this is on top of a narrative that is erratic and frankly unfunny. It is clear the series has hit a dead end, and the creators simply don't know which direction to take it anymore
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Translation
"This doesn't even account for the various production issues, such as having to replace actors mid-way through filming, the messy scriptwriting, or the costly decision to bring back veteran actors just to lure old fans back to the show. These factors caused the production budget to spiral out of control. Meanwhile, Super Sentai merchandise has become increasingly difficult to sell; only the DX (Deluxe) Sentai robots remain profitable. Individual character figures are a hard sell, with only the Red Ranger consistently performing well. Consequently, it’s no longer cost-effective to force the franchise forward when the storytelling fails to attract an audience. Furthermore, the toy robots can no longer combine into the massive formations that DX collectors crave. When all these issues converged, it resulted in a significant decline in overall popularity
To put it simply: imagine having to churn out a 'Sentai' series continuously for 50 years, totaling over 2,500 episodes. It is practically impossible to avoid repeating storylines or mirroring old ideas. On top of that, you have to maintain popularity while rushing to launch a new series the moment the previous one ends, often without a fresh concept in mind. Ultimately, the themes just loop back to the same old tropes—dinosaurs, vehicles, or animals—over and over again. When they run out of ideas, they resort to bringing back legacy actors or past Sentai teams. While this worked initially, it has become tiresome due to overexposure. All of these deep-rooted issues have finally reached a breaking point in No. 1 Sentai Gozyuger, serving as a definitive signal that the Super Sentai series truly needs to take a long-overdue rest
Furthermore, this hiatus isn't just for the production team; it’s a necessary break for the audience as well. Look at the Kamen Rider franchise, which went off the air for over a decade, or Ultraman, which also took a lengthy hiatus. Both franchises faced the same predicament as Super Sentai: when you produce too much for too long, the content hits a wall, leading to endless repetition. The audience gets bored because there’s nothing new, and the creators lose their sense of direction. However, once those series were allowed to rest, it gave both the creators and the viewers a chance to reset. When they finally returned, both franchises were recharged with a wealth of fresh ideas and new directions that have sustained them to this day. Super Sentai could experience the same rebirth. If it takes a long break—perhaps 10 years—it will surely return with a new vision and the longevity to thrive once again. When that day comes, fans will undoubtedly be ready to welcome it back with open arms. Many truly believe that
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