Normally, after one villain faction, another moves forward except in two-parters or an important plot arc. Such is not the case of this new post. Yes, Janperson managed to create two different Super Science Network episodes which one episode was quickly followed by ANOTHER Super Science Network episode. Now, it's time to think of these two episodes.
Episode 19
This episode made me recall the news where a child shot someone and the Robocop cartoon was blamed. That was in the 1990s and the Philippines did air Janperson (on TV-5) on 1998. I was 13 years old at that time and used TV as a form of escapism. This episode seems to rip off from Batman (as we have Panther Lady) as a guest star. This plot also has a very violent flashback hwere a star detective accidentally shot a young teenage lady.
Rikia Koyama guest stars as a rookie cop Takase working with star detective Sekimichi. Sekimichi was a guy who accidentally shot someone (the dub somehow added a relation as uncle and niece). The flashback was just SO BRUTAL. I remembered watching the Robocop TV Series which came a year after Janperson. So, how did that gunshot wound scene (complete with blood) MAKE IT PAST THE CENSORS?! Granted, Dairanger was also very bloody in contrast to Gekiranger. Janperson does a dangerous gamble by allowing Sekimichi to handle his gun. Talk about what if Robocop allowed a traumatized cop to handle the former's gun! Spoilers: Sekimichi does eventually regain his confidence and Panther Lady is arrested.
This episode had a plot where Panther Lady sought to steal diamonds. The fabric she wears allows her to be digitized. This poses a problem for Janperson because she can ENTER HIM. This episode somehow starts to make references to Kamen Rider BLACK RX in some way. Komaya was Joe of the Wind from BLACK RX. Atsuko Takahata is Maribaron but took me a long time to figure it out. Also, Panther Lady tries to rip Janperson from within. BLACK RX as Biorider tried to destroy Granzarias from within. Later, Maribaron used monster ghosts to destroy the senior Kamen Riders too. This wouldn't be the end of BLACK RX references though. BLACK RX wasn't well-received but we do know how Saban's Mashed Rider was much worse. Then, we have Kamen Rider Decade which I still consider the lowest point of Heisei-era Kamen Rider history.
A few notes. I really feel like Janperson here is reminding police they are the same mission. Sekimichi was afraid to uphold the three protocols after he goofed off. It's serve the public trust, protect the innocent, and uphold the law. Janperson was actually teaching a moral lesson of the week to Sekimichi. The rookie cop Takase also reminded his superior of that same thing. Janperson pretty much reminds the cops of their threefold code. I guess that bullet shot scene was intended to teach a lesson that violence ain't fun either. Also, I wish Sekimichi was played by Akira Ishihama since he was also in Jiban. I mean, nobody can deny Janperson still has references to Jiban, right?
Episode 20
Instead of a follow-up - Reiko who swore to rescue Panther Lady FORGOT ABOUT HER. Maybe, Reiko decided Panther Lady was useless so there. This episode is written by Kyoko Sagiyama who was involved in the Rescue Police Trilogy for some episodes. Yeah, I noticed how a blog tends to place a warning sign when Sagiyama writes. Interestingly, Sagiyama herself was a contributor for Jiban which she also destroyed Jiban's secret base.
This episode features the return of actor Akira Ootani. Now for a bit of a tidbit. Ootani did act as a father in Chojinki Metalder in episode 30. Later on, we played Henry Noguchi in Winspector in episode 3. Ootani played a completely different character in Solbrain in episode 48 nnamed Kitayama. Exceedraft had him play as a completely different character known as Kurihara. Here, Ootani is Professor Koga - a scientist obsessed with ninja genes. Yeah, the guy's a nutjob so he did deserve to be fired.
Once again, this episode features a child of the week as Jiban does in several episodes. We've got a useless father who's pretty much always goofing off. However, said useless father is a descendant of a powerful ninja. It's interesting to see how Janperson also uses his gun in a different way. It turns out Janperson's JanDigic can be used as a stun gun. It's cool how Janperson did overcome his former programming, and uses the JanDigic to stun the Super Science Network minions and get them arrested.
For me, this was better than what Sagiyama cooked up earlier on. The jewel thief episode where Shouichirou Akaboshi showed up. This episode really ties in a similar tune to her episodes in the Rescue Police Trilogy. Sagiyama did good in this episode. Hmmm it'd be funny though if cast members of Jiraiya also showed up in this episode for a bit of an inside joke.
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After this, I'll decide to do the Gun Gibson introductory arc which is worth three episodes. It would feature Neo-Guild and the Super Science Network.
See you again!
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