Saban's Mashed Rider: Doomed To Be NEVER VINDICATED By History?!

 

As Kamen Rider Black celebrates its 35th anniversary (which was followed by its OBVIOUSLY FAILED SEQUEL, Kamen Rider Black RX) - I felt like writing this post to get off some steam. True, the "big anniversaries" of the failed show that Saban's MASHED Rider hit in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2017, and 2020. Kamen Rider BLACK celebrated its 30th anniversary last 2017. I felt like writing this rant even if the show's major anniversary would still be in 2025 - three years later! How, do we take a look at this COMMERCIAL FAILURE? Let's see how it went.

Toei Ltd. did allow some of their less popular properties in Japan to get adapted for American audiences. Think about how World Event Productions adapted the stories of Golion and Dairugger XV into the two Voltron seasons. There was Lion Voltron and the less popular Vehicle Voltron. I watched the two materials and decided that "They're still better than the American shows!" Though, I felt Golion probably never became popular because of how mature and too violent it was. Though, unlike Voltes V, Golion did go beyond 40 episodes for some reason. Still, I feel more people will still say Voltes V is way better than Golion. I feel the Lion Voltron series is no longer worth a rewatch. It's an Old Shame for me.

Eventually, Toei Ltd. had a deal with Saban Entertainment. There were some shows considered for the Power Rangers franchise. There was Chodenshi Bioman. I think Chojin Sentai Jetman was also included aside from Kosoku Sentai Turboranger. Before that, the late Stan Lee wanted to use Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan. Haim Saban got the contract from Toei Ltd. It's also something that Saban once had a Marvel license, Toei Ltd. used the Marvel license to create their own version of Spiderman, and we know the rest. Also, Toei Ltd. also tackled the Takara Trilogy (which is NON-CANON to the actual G1 Transformers continuity) while working as an animation studio for Hasbro. Hasbro currently has the rights to the Power Rangers franchise too. Confused? Well, don't be and the cycle can go on. 

Toei, Saban, and the American market

Eventually, we knew how the monster hit called Power Rangers was born. Toei Ltd. probably could care less if it overshadowed the Super Sentai franchise if Saban paid royalties. It was supposed to be just 40 episodes (which I wish the first season was as such) BUT we know the Greeed struck, right? Cake Boss from Kamen Rider OOO is practically Saban in some way. The fact that Toei Ltd. even hired an actor who LOOKS LIKE SABAN is probably no coincidence. I wasn't too surprised either when Shinichiro Shirakura (who I think probably hates Power Rangers because of his preference of the darker and edgier) and Takayuki Suzuki appeared in The Toys That Made Us. Toei Ltd. gave to the Greeed and decided to produce 20 episodes of Zyuranger footage exclusively for Saban. I guess Saban doubled his offer one way or another. I don't think initially wanted it but we know... the GREEED.

I decided to rewatch some episodes of Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers. Personally, I find poor editing to be a real issue. I still find the transition of the self-made fight scenes to licensed footage FUNNY. Sure, later seasons would know how to make better used of licensed footage. However, I really find it FUNNY whenever the poor editing kicks in. Such as, "Doesn't Zordon know how to spell?" Granted, Zordon is senile but still... Barza can still spell. Though, we know Barza's hyperactive senile attitude might make you wish he was sealed away in a time warp. I think Peebo from Bioman would probably not like working with Barza at all. The more I rewatch the first season - the more I felt like, "I'll rewatch Zyuranger instead!" even if we know Zyuranger was just an average performer at first. Heck, I don't blame some Power Rangers fans (checking out Super Sentai) preferring any series before or after it. Though, I doubt it Kosuku Sentai Turboranger is in that list because Gekisou Sentai Carranger is SOOOOO MUCH BETTER in the long run. 

Saban was also getting licenses to other of Toei Ltd.'s works. One of which was Toei Ltd.'s classic Chojinki Metalder - a show that only ran for 39 episodes probably due to how unpopular it was with children. Saban would mix footage from Dimension Warrior Spielban with Metalder to create the first season of VR Troopers. The next ones he also had rights to were B-Fighter and B-Fighter Kabuto for the Beetleborgs series. Then there was also Saban's Masked Rider which I prefer to call Mashed Rider due to how badly mashed it is. 

Remembering how "A Friend in Need" may have not aged well...

I decided to rewatch both "A Friend in Need" and the Shinkenger arc in Kamen Rider Decade. I watched the three-parter and man was it a BORE FEST. I did enjoy it before but only because I had nothing else to watch. I compare it to eating really bad-tasting EXPENSIVE food. Talk about wasting money on food that's just badly prepared. 

As we know it, Black RX was a FLOP in Japan. Ironically, it still aired up to 47 episodes in contrast to Decade which I still hate with a passion until today. That's why I call Decade the unofficial sequel of Mashed Rider.  The only thing that "redeemed" Decade was that Yasuko Kobayashi wrote the Shinkenger arc better than "A Friend in Need" or any episodes written by Toshiki Inoue. Other than that, the rest of Decade just sucked. All that was needed was for Ted Jan Roberts to appear in the first episode, tell Masahiro Inoue he is the new Masked Rider, have a new crisis, and tell him to find the nine other Masked Rider warriors of different worlds. Though, Decade has been still MORE WATCHABLE than Mashed Rider. 

What I really was thankful for was that Mako wasn't sick during the Shinkenger arc. No sign of her getting a flu during the episodes when the Decade characters were in Shinkenger either. I still feel Decade was indeed a friend in need of a popularity boost. The only thing missing (and can't be done) is for Zordon is to teleport the Shinkengers to the command center, tell them Decade's ratings are SO BAD, and that they're needed. The two-parter worked wonders before the cast of Decade went into the World of Black RX. The curtains opened and revealed the Crisis Fortress. I felt Mako would've probably been given a temperature check to make sure she wasn't sick. I guess Kimberly being sick in "A Friend in Need" led to a serious backlash.

Three episodes and the plot BARELY MOVES. Decade was able to wrap it up in two episodes. Though, Shinkenger Act 21 was sort of a bridge. No shifting scenes nonsense. We even got to see Chinomarako more involved than Repellator was. I could still rewatch the Shinkenger arc in Decade. Once again, we know how "A Friend in Need" was truly poorly executed. 

What's more amazing is that Decade still got VINDICATED BY HISTORY. Toei Ltd. could've just dumped it as an Old Shame like they did with Robotack. Instead, Decade still appeared in future crossovers such as the Kamen Rider W crossover and the now-discontinued Super Hero Taisen series. It's also amazing how Decade still appeared in Kamen Rider Zi-O - a series I think has been miles better. I mean, Toei Ltd. could've just said, "Well let's make Decade an Old Shame like Saban did with Mashed Rider!" Instead, we get Decade still showing up for future crossovers. 

Why do I still feel Mashed Rider is even more unwatchable than Black RX... 

The next thing to happen is how the series was properly launched. There's SO MUCH poor editing that you can notice. Heck, who can ever remember how General Dasmader was oops slipped into one episode and disappeared? The final episode even had JOE AND REIKO oops slipped into the final episode. Sure, Black RX gets berated for excessive humor by Tetsuo Kurata. Fans still prefer Black better which results in the creation of two Kotaros for the crossover. Canonically, the Black form has been discarded. Black RX had excessive humor early on. Now, we have the bigger issue...

I think the Stewart family is MORE ANNOYING than the Sahara family. Sure, I can't deny how Shogo B'Stard calls them annoying. I tend to find them annoying. However, as time passes, the Sahara children do get involved in the plot. I even felt it was SO BAD that the Sahara parents had to die at the hands of Jak Murderer. Though, I still feel it's bad writing to murder both the husband and wife. I'd still feel bad if the Stewart parents were killed by Jak Murderer as well. Though, the way the Stewart family is written gave me some sadism. 

I think the worst part had to be the "Bulk and Skull" of the show - Patsy and Herbie. I feel that parts of Herbie were integrated into Daiki or Kamen Rider Di-End for being that ANNOYING CHARACTER. Though, at least Daiki has some plot and moves it forward. I felt that Reiko, Kotaro's girlfriend, has been more useful than Patsy in the second half of the show. Reiko gets directly involved after knowing Black RX and her bf Kotaro are ONE AND THE SAME. Patsy and Herbie hardly do anything. The show's humor is EVEN WORSE than what Black RX or even other lackluster shows like Seiuun Machimeman has to offer. 

I could go ahead and point out everything wrong with Black RX. I still feel Black RX failed to properly wrap up the Showa era Kamen Riders as it should. I feel like it's stupid how they knew of Black's existence but not the other ten? I also felt like the 10 other Kamen Riders (who only appeared in-suit and for fanservice only) helping out in the battle against Crisis is FUNNY. That's unless, of course, if a dialogue reveals that Crisis Empire is also run by the same Great Leader. I feel Kamen Rider Ichijo should've at least explained, "The leader of Crisis has to be the Great Leader who keeps faking it!" Sadly, none of that. But still, we know how Mashed Rider kept doing it worse per episode.

It became so bad that...

The fan-favorite Power Rangers Time Force even probably nodded how it's SO HATED. We have a scene where Nadira (who I think is just as annoying as her Timeranger counterpart, Lila) was watching Mashed Rider on television. Are the events of "A Friend in Need" now ALL RETCONNED? It seems to be even if they're still part of the list of episodes. It's funny how Nadira is crying over it. I guess we know Time Force wasn't meant to be overly serious so killing off Eric or making Alex the true main villain wouldn't work. I feel Alex letting the Time Force Rangers go back in time fits perfectly with the tone. Meanwhile, Captain Ryuuya was already showing signs of being a douche when he tried to take command. Captain Ryuuya proved himself heartless even before the finale arc. Yeah, we know that the problems of the Asami family persisted that long that they created its most evil offspring ever centuries later.

I think the scene is forever a testament to this. Time Force still remains a fan favorite though having the 40-episode format makes it feel as rushed as Metalder. I felt Metalder could've used a 50-episode format but we know how it ended. I still laugh to think at the retcon was made in 2000 of all places. I felt like the retcon was done on purpose for this - Saban felt ashamed over Mashed Rider. It was said Shotaro Ishinomori was upset over the deal. Sadly, Ishinomori died in 1998 - just three days after he turned 60. I felt that Time Force's actions were probably meant to bury Mashed Rider. Saban probably had a Creator Backlash seeing how it was just that terrible. 

I guess the retcon was really that good. Toei Ltd. hasn't done anything to even fully retcon Black RX or even Decade. Heck, Tsukasa still appeared in future crossovers even if his show was that bad. Black RX is still used though as A.R. Kotaro RX stands near A.R. Kotaro Black in the crossovers. I guess Decade managed to develop a following after it got abruptly canceled. Decade still had its conclusion made in the crossover with Kamen Rider W. But for Mashed Rider? I guess it's already in the dumpster fire. It was never brought up again. It could've been resolved in another lackluster series, Power Rangers Samurai, but never got resolved either. 

I guess this is where the journey of Mashed Rider ends, right? The sad journey of the Mashed Rider. I guess it'll be harder than ever to adapt Kamen Rider for the American audience. Sure, there was Kamen Rider Dragon Knight but it was also canceled. I guess the term "Masked Rider" got so easily associated with the failure that's Mashed Rider. I felt the lack of budget, poor editing, and everything made it almost like a fan fic writer wrote the story and he got a low-budget crew. I guess that's why it never Rider Kicked off as it was intended to be.