Why Kamen Rider Still Works

This video covers the Gelshocker arc of the original Kamen Rider television series and reflects on said series as a whole. Want more Kamen Rider? Let me know!
Patreon: / blunova
Twitter: / penpen_iii
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Sources:
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[@vertigoSPX]

hey man, please cover Black as Black Sun is coming out this month. Would be great to hear from you on your analysis on Black.

[@Blunovain]

Aiming to get a Black video out this weekend!

[@vertigoSPX]

Awesome!! Looking forward to it

[@sayansaha155]

The fact that the Kamen Rider statue survived means something.

[@GamerBoy870]

And its awesome too

[@alvisyahrin2276]

It's a symbol to never give up and cling onto hope no matter what

[@WolfFistProductions]

Thank you for the episode breakdowns man. It will help with my Rider viewing.

[@CivilianZero]

My vote is for Kuuga. It's a solid "re-foundation" of Kamen Rider, carries on the vibe of those first 13 episodes while also mixing in all that came after, and is generally just....solid. If I were to recommend anyone try out Kamen Rider I'd tell them to watch Kuuga (and then based on their reaction, where to go from there)

[@aaroncross6874]

I've been spreading the word about kuuga since I watched it.

[@l0sts0ul89]

@@aaroncross6874 NO FEAR NO PAIN!!!

[@aaroncross6874]

@@l0sts0ul89 A New Hero A New Legend

[@saiyaujeff8171]

@@aaroncross6874 I Hate Kuuga

[@saiyaujeff8171]

@@aaroncross6874 I Hate Kuuga

[@chasinthroughthedecade]

Thank you for reminding me why I lean towards Kamen Rider the most. As an autistic, I once hated myself and always wondered I was born like this. But through especially Kamen Rider, I was able to make peace with it and go through life.

[@CjChik29]

Same, just not autistic, and when I found out fujioka had trashed his leg and pulled through to come back strong, it helped me deal with a back injury and really bad chronic pain, I related with my differences and my pain to both hongou and fujioka.

[@EchoOscarDelta]

I love the original 13 episodes, it’s why Black works so well. It’s a bit darker than what most of the follow on Riders were. Plus Kotaro is totally on his own. Do Black next!!

[@CasualRonin]

If you're gonna take a look at another KR show, I totally recommend Kamen Rider Build. It's an excellent update on a lot of the original shows themes and plot, but with it's own added twists. Also, the characters are all just absolutely wonderful, with my only complaint being that because Build is over, I no longer have any new moments of them to look forward to.

[@saiyaujeff8171]

Build 2nd half was weird

[@Evoltrain]

Thats why its one of the best seasons

[@saiyaujeff8171]

@@Evoltrain it's nothing one of the best seasons it's just sucks , Just ignore the rider show and there's no such as Favourite , We could honestly ask the same question to that The main problem in the entire series was called What's wrong? if you don't fight you die! me: intense Ryuki moments.

[@Evoltrain]

@@saiyaujeff8171 Your comment confuses me but some people like chaos and build is that chaos one seeks and enjoys. The characters are fun, the forms are cool, and and the story is entertaining with the best part being the Villian. Its my favorite season because its different from the other seasons.

[@HordikaNate3821]

@@Evoltrain Incoherent comments on Tokusatsu videos I think are this guys job, also Build is great

[@lady_kuribo]

Agito would be a great series to cover too , because it's the first series with more than 2 riders in it , and the last with an ishinomori-esque tone

[@saiyaujeff8171]

Kino

[@zerocalvin]

it's not thought since the original Kamen Rider series feature multiple riders already... the main reason to watch Agito is that it that feature a world where Kamen Rider is known since it's a continuation of Kamen Rider Kuuga... it's really cool to see the human developed countermeasure against the monster instead of just relying on Kamen Rider..

[@270yis7]

In the series and metatextually, Ichimonji/Rider 2 is persistently the one who appears out of nowhere to save the day when all seems lost. The character's appearance saved the show from premature cancellation after Fujioka's injury sidelined him. His timely interventions in Episodes 72, 73, and 98 got Rider 1 out of seemingly hopeless predicaments, something that Ichimonji/Rider 2 also did in V3's series.

[@cynga7035]

As much as I love Kuuga I feel it’d be nicer to go in a more chronological order to show how much the franchise changes over the years, so if I were to vote I’d vote for Black, then Kuuga than Double, especially because Kuuga is where the franchise changes the most while Black has much more of its roots in the Showa era.

[@ExplosiveWerewolf]

Keep up kamen rider content

[@striberx]

I'd go with W, since we also have Fuuto PI now, and how this all can be the big game changer use Rider fans need to finally have it on par globally, like with how Ultraman, Godzilla and Power Rangers are.

[@saiyaujeff8171]

I hate W , My vote is for Hibiki would be the best start and it had lots of fun characters , Hibiki is the best Heisei season , Hitoshi/Hibiki-san is probably my favourite protagonist out of all rider he is the coolest and the oldest rider , I just extremely hate Toshiki inoue because he's an horrible writer that ruined the show and made the fans disliked the show. Thanks!

[@mafirasyaharani7836]

I love W! but honestly I kinda feel sad about PI, I love W so much but PI is just, urgh :((

[@seunglee6990]

@@saiyaujeff8171what did W do to you, did it steal your girlfriend? You don’t even have an excuse of throwing Inoue under the bus since he didn’t write W, you little gremlin

[@FlippySuper]

I really enjoyed your deep dive into the original kamen rider series. It’s given me a greater appreciation for it. I’ll be interested in any future Kamen Rider content you make.

[@seerus1351]

If you want more Kamen Rider, then Black is a great idea. It's still one the best in the Showa era.

[@KKAkuoku]

If KR ‘71 (or just about anything from 70s Toei) embraced that experimental approach to direction in episode 84, I honestly would watch more of it. It’s basically a given that Anno will tap into that for Shin KR.

[@MrStupidarmy]

After Dombrothers finished, i hope you will make video about Super Sentai new production approach.

[@NickLenz26]

I've been loving your look back at the 1st Kamen Rider Series. are you going to Review the 2nd one Kamen Rider V3?

[@ShinGoji1987Official]

Great review of the series. It was very interesting learning about kr since I know very little about it. The only thing that I really watched relating to it was the silly Masked Rider American adaptation when I was a kid lol. That is epic that the statue was still standing after that disaster too

[@AllenAkiyama]

The same thing happened with the Super sentai statue, as well as the ultraman statue (I don't remember where those are or if it was talking about the same instance or separate instances). Essentially, tokusatsu heroes are just built different, even their statues are made to be sturdier than most things

[@ericbautista7152]

Terrific video! Just wanted to bring up two points: 1. Where did you get the footage of original color Ichigo in the opening? 2. Anno is only the writer of Shin KR. Shinji Higuchi is the director and many people unfortunately forget about his contributions.

[@spectator492]

Anno is both the director and writer Shin KR, as for Shinji Higuchi, he was the director of Shin Godzilla and Shin Ultraman with Anno as writer and producer.

[@HordikaNate3821]

13:35 who's the blue guy on the left next to Wizard and OOO? Just curious I'd be interested in seeing a video like this for Kuuga, Black, or W as there's a lot to unpack in those shows

[@notbadrule9883]

Looked like Inazuman. He did appeared in one of Wizard movies.

[@saiyaujeff8171]

@@notbadrule9883 OOO and Wizard getting more for the 10th Anniversary than Fourze is all I needed to be happy.

[@Phantom1356]

Good work. Kuuga, W... I'd be good with either, really.

[@saiyaujeff8171]

I hate Kuuga and Double both can just go to hell , I’d very much like to see Hibiki as the next series , I think it’s a much more interesting and watchable show than others , Hitoshi/Hibiki-san is probably my favourite protagonist out of all rider he is the coolest and the oldest rider , I really love the characters especially Hibiki , Asumu , Ibuki , Todoroki , Zanki , Kabuki , Nishiki , Touki , Habataki , Kirameki , Tobee , Akira , Hitomi , Kasumi , Hinaka and Kyosuke they are just made me interesting for the franchise.

[@Phantom1356]

@@saiyaujeff8171 ...I'll agree to disagree on that.

[@herohiroguy]

I absolutely love the original series, it was my introduction to Kamen Rider as a whole.

[@nexusorigin2600]

Think Kuuga would be more suitable next as it was a revival of the franchise

[@joshuarichmond2688]

Kamen Rider Black is a good choice and it’s remake coming out next month

[@saiyaujeff8171]

No

[@AquaFan1998]

Love kamen rider. The original series was amazing :)

[@boiperisanerd]

I’d say you can continue in order and go with v3 mainly because many of the big tokutubers don’t talk about showa era rider at all

[@theotherbk1819]

I actually can't believe I watched the whole 98 episodes. Although admittedly there were times I would say it felt like a chore to get through however, videos such as this as well as constant references in movies like let's go Kamen riders really make me glad I did.

[@NeioGeo]

Awesome video! I've been a Kamen Rider fan since the Black RX era, and it's amazing just how iconic the original show is. It's a shame that the modernization project didn't work, because I would've loved to see how that Kamen Rider design, set in a modern era, would've worked. As a suggestion: That's something I would like to see if you have the opportunity- a deep dive into "Kamen Rider The First", "The Next", what happened to the Gackt -led "Riderman:The Third", and the Kamen Rider Drive net exclusive Kamen Riders 4 & 5. Thank you for sharing the Kamen Rider spirit!

[@Werezilla]

There were long stretches of the same thing happening over and over again, but the original series was a treat to watch. The rotating cast of the Racing Club definitely needed something to do beyond just stand around and look pretty, and it seems like a lost opportunity not to have the villain generals interact with each other outside of that one time Shinigami and Hell worked together. Not to mention some of the best episodes of the show were the ones where Hongo and Hayato teamed up, it would have shook up the status quo if Hayato''s reappearances happened more often. But maybe I only think that because of later series that have a lot of Riders appearing together in every episode. Speaking of which, if your looking for recommendations, Black and Kugga make sense due to being highlights of the series, but a in a hesitant sort of way, I recommend V3. I say hesitant because I thought it was overall an inferior show compared to the original. But I'm interested in a second opinion.

[@daisukegori2112]

It'a always the innocent fishermen that get killed. A homage to castlerock.

[@SuccessforLifester]

Kamen Rider the First and Next were quite serious. One of them even got nude scenes

[@iguachumontiel]

This was a great video! It would be interesting if you can do an in-depth analysis about Akio Jissoji’s style.

[@darkschneider5269]

When the first kamen rider video came out I was on ep 15 now on all of showa kamen rider ichigo to back are done and I also managed to watch ultraman to ultraman taro

[@donnywaldman4959]

If you want something that explores the themes of the show more the original rider manga by Ishinomori is definitely something you should check out

[@Infinite_Repeat]

I vote for black just because I’m less familiar with the older shows and I appreciate you covering those

[@tanook4751]

It would be cool if you can have a video covering all the showa riders (except for Black) briefly and explain how they impacted the series, like Amazon for example.

[@The_Eclectic_Skeptic]

Amazing series of videos, keep up the good work man! 🎉

[@akwilson1676]

Kuuga next please. Such a revolutionary season. Change the course of the series for good. I think its importance rivals even the orignal's.

[@ryanschleifer3096]

Great video! Now, if anyone ever asked me why Kamen Rider’s is great, I’ll just direct them to your videos. I’d love to see you cover Kuuga next. In a lot of ways it’s a very different premise from the original Rider series yet I feel like it perfectly covers and expands on the theme of the original rider. Visually there’s also a lot to talk about given the inspiration it took from faux-documentary and reality tv programs like E.R. Also Kuuga has just been released on blue ray AND is legally available on Shout Factory’s website.

[@thevaultofgehenna]

Great video as always blunova! I'm eager to hear your thoughts on Kamen Rider V3..

[@TrenchMan93]

10/10 😊

[@leviettri3576]

Oh you should def check out Double, one of the best Heisei season and KR season. Black is amazing with it's dark tone and incredible plot, it's worth checking out as well Fun fact: One of the main actors for Double is a huge fan of Black and even have pitch his own idea for his character's black KR suit later on in the series. Also thx to him recommending me Black, it quickly became my fav Showa Rider series with the OG and OG Shin KR being very close

[@saiyaujeff8171]

I hate Double , My vote is for Hibiki would be the best start and it had lots of fun characters , Hibiki is the best Heisei season , Hitoshi/Hibiki-san is probably my favourite protagonist out of all rider he is the coolest and the oldest rider , I just extremely hate Toshiki inoue because he's an horrible writer that ruined the show and made the fans disliked the show. Thanks!

[@NvrEndingTori]

I’d very much like to see Kamen Rider Black as the next series, to give an idea of how the show changed over the course of the Showa era. Plus I think it’s a much more interesting and watchable show than Kuuga, right from the beginning I think it grabs the viewers interest much more!

[@spaghettijesus96]

I think you should do a video on some of early v3. The first episode follows in the same darkness as the first 13 episodes of Kamen Rider, and I think it would be interesting to cover how antagonistic toward Destron and rebellious v3 is depicted as being in his series.

[@Cyrus21100]

Really enjoying these rider episodes

[@StirlingDuncan]

Hold up, was that Detective Conan soundtrack songs during the explanation of Gelshocker?

[@landonsantini365]

As much I'd like to see any of the suggestions you listed for another Kamen Rider, personally, I'd like to see your next review be the original's direct sequel Kamen Rider V3. One of the things I've enjoyed about your reviews is how you've talked about the series learn and improved as it went on both from a production and viewer standpoint. I think it would be cool to see that form of analysis continue on a broader scope and that would be a bit harder to do when jumping around the franchise at random points. But that's just my opinion. It's your channel so you've got to do whatever you feel works best for you. Either way, I'll watch it. Thanks for helping spread awareness of this series. I like many Americans were introduce to this franchise through the less than stellar Saban's Masked Rider series. But regardless, I'm glad I've discovered it. Thanks for giving me even more reasons to love it.

[@gridblaze6573]

kamen rider V3 is my favorite

[@saiyaujeff8171]

Hibiki is my favourite

[@maingamer6846]

Considering you reviewed the original, Kamen Rider V3 would be the next logically step. However, if that isn't possible then I would recommend either Kamen Rider Skyrider, Black, Kuuga, Double or Zero-One

[@sef5224]

Do more showa riders! I wish people talked about them, your one of the few who do. I reccomend Stronger, V3, or even Black if you wanna be hip.

[@voonkeet5385]

Kuuga please

[@HypArtz002]

Thank you for this video life hasn't been the best but it could be worse but the final speech at the end made me remember I need to keep on going and transform despite the obstacles just like Kamen Rider thank you Blunova

[@lucasmartina6303]

Kuuga or Black please!

[@bjbnj.cocktail-songs]

こうやって いろんな形で 『 仮面ライダー 』ワールドが知られていくのは良いね。( ￣ー￣)ﾉ もちろん『 ウルトラマン 』ワールドもね。 (*￣∇￣)ノ 配信 どうも ありがとう😃 ご苦労様です 😊 お疲れ様でした。😄 言葉は違えども、心の中に 何か 同じようなものが 共鳴し合えたら 嬉しいものです。 😊🤝😊 from 🇯🇵🌸 【 B J 】🕶️🌹

[@jeremyhanselman-hm3vm]

I understand how dark the entire Showa arc is but I haven't watched the Showa series arc at all but I do understand the importance and influence of the Showa actors and characters influence amongst Japan's youth. Even the first arc of the Heisei Era as well from Kuuga to Decade and I'm still gradually learning more and more. Just from watching Anniversary movies alone I even have a timeline in my notes for Decade per every movie he shows up in after Kamen Rider Decade series ends.

[@murgmaggleramaxis8535]

Do Kuuga

[@ricardodavis4730]

Spolier Alert: I was amazed by how dark the Shocker Rider episodes were. The Anti-Shocker Organization, even though they're never mentioned again, was taken out mercilessly except for the sole female member.

[@Silverblade416]

Well, Kamen Riders have motorcycles, cool belts, badass henshin sequences. . . And nothing beats Rider Kicking evil to the face. . .

[@mrgodzillaraptors8632]

I gotta watch this show sometime

[@AMF87RN]

Kamen Rider Black is deep, man. I watched it when it was broadcasted on TV at the time. Got me since the very start. All that atmosphere conveys in precision not only an era (the 80’s/ early 90’s), but the truly image of what Kamen Rider really is, in fact. Even Ishinomori-san himself corroborates for this, as I’ve already saw in some random footages on the internet. Actually I’ve rewatched it recently and I enjoyed even more (puting aside the filler episodes/acts, of course!). My fav by far! But Kuuga’s quite special too. Big fan also.

[@Ghala-y6c]

the thing is shocker only made human animal cyborgs but gel shocker was focusing into making fused animal cyborgs and then destron make animal weapon fused cyborgs

[@Wanderer1991]

If you like the first darker 13 episodes, try Kamen Rider Shin, ZO, and J movies.

[@jerrymelvin2650]

Don’t forget Kamen Rider Black Sun this year

[@JcgLounge]

I don’t understand why Kamen Rider based their hero designs off of Grasshoppers. Just why? Why not something actually cool like a Tiger or Lion, or a Wolf, or even an Eagle?

[@mcurvelo]

Your Kamen Rider content is really great! I'd love to see you talk about any other Rider series, but if I were to vote I’d vote for Black.

[@genbu2366]

I would def love to see black or kuuga, but especially Kuuga

[@daisukegori2112]

Ok I know some whacko will freak out but it has to be said. The women getting the short end of the stick is not a bad thing. Not every show has to include both men and women as capable fighters. Kamen Rider is a Shonin after all. We already know that men are stronger than women. It wouldn't be convincing if the women started taking on a few shocker combatants as often as the non powered up men. I know the show is fiction but it's still partially rooted in reality. You can give all the examples you want of women displaying feats of strength but in almost every case there is a man holding back. This is why the rule is, men shouldn't fight women. Even in Professional boxing it just doesn't happen. Plus we have plenty of other ips showing obse women defeating hords of men. Also Kamen Rider is at it's core a Japanese scifi western. The cowboy music tunes, the fact that he is called a rider. It's a bike instead of a horse but it's still primarily a man's show. Maybe it changed later but not the original. Ps I like to see women fighting too, I watched Sailor Moon and Juputer often over powers buff men in her human form. But as I said, not every show needs that. It'd be pretty bland if it was all the same.

[@UltraIsa297]

The first Kamen Rider I watched all the way through was V3 and I’ve loved everyone I watched after

[@sendaljepitseribu108]

Like Kazuya Taki said in Kamen Rider Spirits "Even if there is no God or Buddha... There is Kamen Rider"

[@ApolloIVtv1]

Great video! I was wondering what was the background music you used?

[@rafaelsangel5571]

3:58 does the video randomly cut to another part for anyone else? I swear on my end it goes “sees the love for his daughter go from….(cut)….it pairs the experimental tendencies”. Idk if it’s just me though

[@damizan8331]

Have you touched on the Kamen Rider THE FIRST?

[@nont18411]

Kamen Rider Ryuki is Squid Game before it was cool.

[@artfire28]

I can't wait for new film KR Black Sun on Amazon Prime this month.

[@JessFromMead]

Opening scene shows a dude getting killed. How is this a kids show lol?! Also, excellent use of the Gundam Wing Theme

[@studio-kobothedark6129]

Great video🎵Big like from japan🤗💕🎶👍

[@DrN0G00d]

You must do Kamen Rider V3 as it follows the First Series very well.

[@knightzix_01]

WOW a kamen rider Statue Literally could not be taken down Talk about irony For a tsunami

[@haveahope1]

5:08 you anagramed the name of Akio Jissoji!? 😂

[@Harpple.]

decade forever, it's not pink it's magenta.

[@zackwaffen9210]

I think Kamen Rider is doing better than ever, I think Geats has one of the greatest intros to the series thus far

[@ken123612]

Kamen Rider vol.2⏬ kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6LWlqeGqd-thck Kamen Rider Codename v3⏬ kzbin.info/www/bejne/anipkmuDast3qM0

[@gtb4889]

２０２２年も世界のどこかで仮面ライダーは戦っている。

[@gruingas]

Kamen Rider works because it is awesome!

[@Awsomeisimo]

where did you get this footage? its so chrisp

[@KudaGeatsune3821]

So what video was part one of this series?

[@charleschiam6972]

A history made with superheroic efforts

[@Kaden10]

Is V3 getting a video sometime soon?

[@liamzeeson576]

What about Amazons? I know that's way ahead of late Showa, Kuuga, or even Double, but it's still my favorite Rider series to date.

[@saiyaujeff8171]

I hate Kuuga and Double , My vote is for Hibiki would be the best start and it had lots of fun characters , Hibiki is the best Heisei season , Hitoshi/Hibiki-san is probably my favourite protagonist out of all rider he is the coolest and the oldest rider , I just extremely hate Toshiki inoue because he's an horrible writer that ruined the show and made the fans disliked the show. Thanks!

[@liamzeeson576]

wha

[@saiyaujeff8171]

@@liamzeeson576 I.hate Kuuga and Double both are just boring as hell , As much as I love Hibiki I feel it’d be nicer to go in a more chronological order to show how much the franchise changes over the years , especially Kabuto god speed love is another fun movie to watch.

[@godzilla0083]

The edits to this vid is kinda weird.

[@MSTGamingTV]

I put my vote on Skyrider. It was the first attempt to "reboot" the series, also it was an attempt to "end" the franchise as well.

[@saiyaujeff8171]

I hate Kuuga and Double , My vote is for Hibiki would be the best start and it had lots of fun characters , Hibiki is the best Heisei season , Hitoshi/Hibiki-san is probably my favourite protagonist out of all rider he is the coolest and the oldest rider , I just extremely hate Toshiki inoue because he's an horrible writer that ruined the show and made the fans disliked the show. Thanks!

[@danishhadi740]

Blah blah blah

[@IchimonjiHayato-b7n]

2:37-2:52 English Lesson lol

[@nicolasvanced3137]

Kuuga best kamen rider ever

[@asip2274]

I vote my favourite of Showa which is ZX.. and for heisei i vote KABUTO.. and for early heisei i vote Kamen Rider The First and The Next..

[@MrChristianDT]

Kamen Rider: protecting human life is more important than peace or justice... Confirmed: the Kaman Rider does not believe in the death penalt- *monster blows up* ...nevermind...

[@tokuotaku]

Here's an idea for a video: the inspirations/influences for Kamen Rider (e.g. Lone Ranger, Moonlight Mask, Ultraman, Batman '66, etc.).

[@44kryth]

I got into Kamen Rider thanks to Kamen Rider Dragon Knight. Though it all truly started with Voltron in the 80s. The 90s I got into Power Rangers. I didn't find out until the 2010s that Power Rangers were based on a Super Sentai. I have been an avid watcher of Tokusatsu since. I just wish Kamen Rider took off here in America. Maybe we can blame the way Saban handled Kamen Rider. I never watched the show. But I do remember the 3 part introduction of Masked Rider in MMPR Season 3. I am currently watching Kamen Rider Revice. I have seen more nods to the original series than to any of the others. I have only watched up to episode 10 of the original series.

[@nguyenleucduong3446]

Talking about Kamen Rider while using W-Gundam music is my new thing :)))

[@hmasonx]

Hongo is back, baby