Yes, you got that right! I was planning on doing this. Sure, I understand that Hyajakuu Sentai Golion was too violent for TV Y7-FV. It should be interesting that Golion aired on March 4, 1981. That would take place on the fifth anniversary of Combattler V. However, in Eastern reckoning, it may be the fifth anniversary of Chodenji Machine Voltes V. I remember watching Lion Voltron back in the 1990s. It was a rerun of a cartoon in 1984 -- three years after Golion wasn't well-received in Japan. Just a bit of a warning: I'm VERY biased against American remakes of Japanese shows -- even if they had a license. Expect my review to be biased against Lion Voltron like I'm PERSONALLY biased against Power Rangers.
Who can remember Lion Voltron's cheesy voice and the censorship? The show was connected to Vehicle Voltron. However, Golion was NEVER connected to Kikou Kantai Dairugger XV -- a show that's still better than Vehicle Voltron but lacks focus. Yes, that whole fleet of 15 characters is a mess! Anyway, I'd like to start with the introductory arc of Golion. Combattler V and Voltes V had a faster introduction arc. The titular super robot gets assembled and beats a Beast Fighter ASAP. However, Golion focused on some world-building during the introductory arc. The first four episodes were written by Susumu Takaku, the fifth episode was written by Hirohisa Soda, the sixth episode by Susumu Takaku (again), and the sixth episode by Akira Nakahara.
A big difference between Lion Voltron and Golion is how their story plays out. Lion Voltron's story was that Hagar (Honerva for Golion) disguised herself as a goddess. Golion's story is much different. The opening narrative of the first episode shows Golion as some powerful mystical robot. Golion battles some evil beasts but decides to battle the Goddess of the Universe. Yes, Golion is both a mighty defender AND a god of destruction. The Goddess splits up Golion into five robot lions. Golion would one day be awakened when need be. Each lion falls into a part of Planet Altea (Arus)
What sets Golion from Dairugger XV apart is this. Golion takes place in 1999 A.D. There were rumors that the world would end in 2000 A.D. What's weird IMHO was why Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters didn't take place in a post-apocalyptic Power Ranger RPM type of world. It was upsetting to hear about the space explorers namely Akira (Keith), Takashi (Sven, who really DIED here), Isamu (Lance), Tyuyoshi (Hunk), and Hiroshi (Pidge, and no HE IS NOT RELATED TO ANYONE in Dairugger XV). Earth was destroyed in a nuclear war. Galra probably had plans to invade Earth but the stupid Earthlings beat them to it Back then, I feared a nuclear war could hit Earth on 1999! An interesting tidbit is that Tyuyoshi's voice is Tessho Genda -- the voice of Daijirou from Voltes V.
The show has tons of brutality. The Galra Empire's MO seems to be letting evil prevail in the Universe. I had fun comparing Emperor Daibazaal (Zarkon) to Emperor Zambojil from Voltes V. Both are despots who want to rule the Universe. Daibazaal has a temper issue. Scenes of Zadak (Yurak) ordering the enslavement of captives. The captives are taken to the arena where they incomparable violence. Voltes V had a few arena scenes where the Beast Knights fought each other. However, Golion takes it Up to Eleven when the Deathblack Beastmen cause a lot of rampage. Seeing the slaves slaughtered with better graphics can be jarring. Voltes V and Combattler V had some brutal scenes. The new graphics just made Galra truly terrifying.
The backstories of Altea get interesting. Daibazaal ordered the destruction of Golion but couldn't. A brutal scene of King Raimon (Alfor) and his family getting caught is there. Obviously, Daibazaal's aim is For the Evulz -- a plot carried over to Lion Voltron. Princess Fala (Allura) is the last of the Altean family. I bet that's why the writers focused on a four-part arc leading to Golion's first battle with a Beast Fighter. I refuse to use the word Robeast because it means robot beast. Yes, the ones sent against Golion are organic monsters. More importantly, Raible (Corran) seems to be a full-season Dr. Sakunji from Voltes V. Yes, Dr. Sakunji that stern and skilled mentor of the Voltes team -- the one that came after Dr. Hamaguchi. Raible tests the abilities to see if the "intruders" are fit to control Golion. Golion is formed in the fourth episode -- shortly after three action-filled expository episodes. Take that Voltes V Legacy!
What's not too surprising is Castle Gradam's transformation. Castle Gradam hid a powerful Super Robot fortress. Golion was obviously recycling some stuff from Combattler V and Voltes V. Raible as an obvious Expy for Super Robot professors. Raible wouldn't be complete without a base similar to Camp Big Falcon or the Nanbara Connection.
What interests me is that the closing credits tell us that Takashi was just temporary. Yes, Spoiler Alert -- Takashi dies at Honerva's hands. I assumed that Sven died when Hagar hit him. However, Golion gives the result that Sven DIED. That scene can be heartbreaking. The words "We've only just begun!" is really heartbreaking. Fala would replace Takashi -- like Allura replaced Sven. The ending credits make it no secret that Fala would become a member of the Golion team. After all, Fala is pretty much the show's counterpart of Megumi from Voltes V and Chizuru from Combattler V. Takashi was nothing more than a plot device. Fortunately, Takashi never became a Fallen Forgotten Friend.
I think one of the more annoying characters from Golion is Hys (Nanny). I remember seeing Tossho Daimos and comparing Okane (Bertha) to Nanny from Lion Voltron. However, Hys is just downright annoying. Hys is pretty much like that babysitter who can't accept the person's already grown up! Hys could've doomed the entire Altean planet! Fala managed to show she could pilot Blue Lion. Sure, Fala wasn't really all that equipped at first BUT she showed she could do it. The true official team for Golion was formed with Fala. Yes, I feel an all-male team isn't exactly productive as an all-female team. Men and women have their complementary differences. I feel a team with both men and women can do much better. Fala is pretty much not as weak as she looks!
The seven-episode introductory arc has its advantages over Voltes V and Combattler V. I felt that Voltes V rushed things out. It's the 1980s after all and Super Sentai tends to rush their introductions. However, Super Sentai started to learn to build up an interesting introductory arc. It was 1981 and the Super Sentai of that year was Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan. Both Combattler V and Voltes V gave the viewers what they wanted almost immediately -- see the titular robot slay the Beast Fighter in the first episode. Golion waited until the fourth -- since Golion was a mystical robot. Giving Golion some build-up before it went to action was a nice change. Later, such a style of writing was carried over to Chojin Sentai Jetman and Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger. Zyuranger gave us that seven-part introductory arc in 1992. Not a surprise if you noticed that Daizyujin from Zyuranger has some resemblances to Golion!
Anyway, I'm not going to promise that I'll be able to finish this. I'm simply trying to wrap things up before I start another phase of my life next year.
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