History Series / PowerRangersSamurai

* MythologyGag: Xandred regularly [[Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers has a headache]]. And in "Deal With A Nighlok", the monster throws his staff into the ground in a particularly faJapanese to have descendants that make the perfect FiveTokenBand. Granted, this is the same show that says [[Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers the British colonized California]], but still...
** Or BlackVikings: We can't rule out the possibility that the original samurai were a FiveTokenBand themselves.
** AluminumChristmasTrees: Yes, there is at least one instance of a feudal samurai that wasn't Japanese, as seen [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasuke here]].
* CultureChopSuey: The Nighlok Robtish, who can be described as a ''[[BonnieScotland Scottish]]'' [[EverythingsBetterWithSamurai Samurai]].
* CulturalTranslation: Dayu's Harmonium is a Shamishen as named in SamuraiSentaiShinkenger. (A harmonium is a type of keyboard instrument, not a guitar or banjo like instrument.)
* CurbStompBattle: Xandred performs one to show exactly why he's the BigBad in "The Master Returns".
* CuteKitten: A neighborhood stray makes recurring appearances in ''Super Samurai''.
* DealWithTheDevil: A minor one, a kid makes a deal with a Nighlok [[spoiler: in which if he throws away his baseball things (and therefore, his dream), he would see his father again.]] In fact, the episode is called "Deal With A Nighlok".
** "Broken Dreams" reveals that [[spoiler: Dayu]] made a deal with a Nighlok to save [[spoiler: Deker]]'s life. Of course, the Nighlok being a [[AlwaysChaoticEvil Nighlok]], both of them ended up being cursed.
* DeliberateInjuryGambit: [[spoiler:How Jayden beats Deker in their duel.]]
* DetachmentCombat: The Samurai Megazord is able to split off its limbs, as shown in "Sticks and Stones" against Negatron.
* {{Determinator}}: In addition to the Rangers themselves, Negatron earns special mention. He just keeps trying to insult Emily despite the fact she doesn't feel any emotional pain from them rendering his powers useless. Taken to crazy extremes when he actually tries to insult ''the Megazord itself!'' Emily herself also counts because even when his insults do strike true she pushes through to continue the fight, [[spoiler:and after the fight, she passes out due to how much she took]].
** Emily has her spirit (soul) taken and manages to wake up to give a pep talk to her team... sort of.
** Jayden staying up all night to master the Beetle Disk kind of counts, but presents a surprising [[DeconstructedTrope deconstruction]] (or BrokenAesop, depending on how cynical you are) as the moral of the episode is that it's actually not very useful to push yourself too far.
** Kevin spends so much time and energy focusing on catching the Swordfish Zord, he ends up suffering from heat stroke, and even then goes right back to his mission the minute he wakes up.
* DevelopmentGag: When Mia says "every girl wants to get married", it's not meant as ValuesDissonance in any way. See FreezeFrameBonus below.
* DisappearedDad: It's stated as clearly as possible for a NeverSayDie show that Jayden's dad (the previous Red Ranger) didn't survive his final battle with Xandred.
* DontThinkFeel
* DreamWorld: In the episode "Broken Dreams".
* DullSurprise: One of the main criticisms of ''Samurai'' is the wooden acting from all of the Ranger actors except for Antonio and Mike.
* DubNameChange: The Green Ranger's element has been changed from "Wood" to "Forest", likely [[CleanDubName because it avoids]] possible DoubleEntendre jokes or [[RuleOfCool just sounds cooler]]. It even works with the kanji, as miliar fashion.

* MythologyGag: Xandred regularly [[Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers has a headache]]. And in "Deal With A Nighlok", the monster throws his staff into the ground in a particularly familiar fashion.

* AluminumChristmasTrees: A surprising amount of research into actual samurai went into the show, to the point some people have assumed the writers didn't do their homework due to how obscure certain elements are. For example, the "ninja mask" that appears before the Ranger's helmets appear were actually worn by real samurai to help hold their helmets in place and the face in the belt of Shogun Mode is based off actual belt buckles worn by certain noble samurai.

** Mia often disusses Jayden's problems like when she practices with him after he rejects Antonio from the team and in Trust Me.
** Kevin and Mia are sort of shipped in Deal With A Nighlok.

** "The Master Returns" has [[spoiler: Xandred temporarily arriving on earth to effortlessly beat all the rangers, shrug off all of their attacks, hitting Jayden hard enough to de-morph and seriously injure him, and sending Serrator running in fear. Note that he does all of this while rapidly drying out!]]

* WhereTheHellIsSpringfield: There are conflicting pieces of information as to what ''country'' it's located in. The citizens and English writing of the town suggest that it is in America, but there are some locations that imply it to be in Japan. Notably, "The Tengen Gate" implies that the the titular gate, a sight of the Nighlok's first defeat, is not too far from the Samurai Rangers' hometown. However, the introduction in each episode points out that the Nighloks first appeared in feudal Japan, making things more difficult to sort out. There is also the temple in "There Go The Brides," as well as the torii seen in "An Unexpected Arrival," to add to the confusion.
** "The Bullzord" gives us the titular zord, 'first brought into beingby symbol power' then locked up by the original samurais... and apparently it's within walking distance of the Shiba house since a 9 year old boy run away from home to the Shiba house to get help releasing it.

** American Money is seen on at least a couple of occasions such as when Bulk pays some bikers $5 to be security in "He's Not Heavy Metal He's My Brother"

* WorfHadTheFlu: [[spoiler:When Master Xandred makes his first appearence to the rangers in "The Return of The Master" he rapidly dries out moments after getting to Earth. This is the only reason that the rangers ''survived!'']]

* AluminumChristmasTrees: A surprising amount of research into actual samurai went into the show, to the point some people have assumed the writers DidNotDoTheResearch due to how obscure certain elements are. For example, the "ninja mask" that appears before the Ranger's helmets appear were actually worn by real samurai to help hold their helmets in place and the face in the belt of Shogun Mode is based off actual belt buckles worn by certain noble samurai.

* CulturalTranslation: Dayu's Harmonium is a Shamishen as named in SamuraiSentaiShinkenger. May have been a case of DidNotDoTheResearch as a harmonium is a type of keyboard instrument not a guitar or banjo like instrument.

** [[spoiler:...Or if it's the name of ''Princess Megan'' that he is covering for like Takeru for Kaoru in Shinkenger.]]

* CerebusRetcon: In "Trading Places," Antonio has is soul placed in a fish. The majority of it is played for laughs, especially when he starts to spoil, up to and including nearly getting eaten by a cat (his faint after changing back was one of the funniest parts of the episode.) In the next episode, "Something Fishy," Antonio is completely shell-shocked by the whole thing, and the situation's played almost entirely seriously.

* FiveManBand: There are three {{Smart Guy}}s on the team. [[hottip:*:Mike the strategist, Antonio the technology expert, and Kevin the Zord Combination specialist.]]
** TheHero: '''[[color:red:Jayden]]'''
** TheBigGuy: '''[[color:blue:Kevin]]'''

** TheLancer: '''[[color:green:Mike]]'''

** SixthRanger: '''[[color:goldenrod:Antonio]]'''

* FleetingDemographicRule: The last time that ''Power Rangers'' had this many [[HurricaneOfPuns puns]] and this much Japanese culture was ''PowerRangersNinjaStorm'', eight years before. Incidentally, ''Ninja Storm'' was also the only previous season to have a {{Samurai}}-based Ranger.
** ''Ninja Storm'' itself is this to the third season of ''MightyMorphinPowerRangers'', also with an eight year gap. Freaky.

** In "[[ChristmasEpisode Christmas Together, Friends Forever]]", Mike gives the motorcycle he received away to Bulk and Spike (who had lamented over not being able to afford one at the beginning of the episode). Bulk and Skull had a motorcycle they used as a patrol bike back in ''PowerRangersZeo''.
** In "Runaway Spike", Spike's attempts to hold a job recall those of his father and Bulk in ''PowerRangersTurbo''.
** Mia is an asian Samurai Ranger whose last name is revealed by her driver's licence to be Wantanabe. ''PowerRangersNinjaStorm'' had Cameron Wantanabe, an Asian samurai Ranger.

** Santa is shown as real in the ChristmasEpisode, something previously seen (and used as a plot-point) in "[[MightyMorphinPowerRangers I'm Dreaming of a White Ranger]]".
* ContrivedCoincidence: The fact that a group of ancient samurai mingled with non-Japanese to have descendants that make the perfect FiveTokenBand. Granted, this is the same show that says [[MightyMorphinPowerRangers the British colonized California]], but still...

* FakeShemp: In the ''PowerRangersRPM'' crossover, only Scott appears and he never demorphs. His excuse is that he's been living in a controlled environment for the past few years and doesn't know if he can handle regular atmosphere.

* LargeHam: Antonio is hammier than even most ''PowerRangers'' characters, which is [[WorldOfHam really saying something]]. Does he know his theme is seafood and not pork?

* MagicAIsMagicA: Unlike with ''[[PowerRangersMysticForce Mystic Force]]'', ''Samurai'' sticks with the magic system set by ''Shinkenger''. For example, the symbol to enlarge the Zords ''has'' been changed from 大 (''dai'', or "big") to 超 (which ''Shinkenger'' used to merge the support Origami with Shinken-Oh), but it fits as it means ''chō'' or "super", accounting for the Rangers' Mega Mode as well.

* MythologyGag: Xandred regularly [[MightyMorphinPowerRangers has a headache]]. And in "Deal With A Nighlok", [[MightyMorphinPowerRangers the monster throws his staff into the ground in a particularly familiar fashion.]]

** Not only does the whip-wielding Nighlok that can mind-control Ranger and Zord alike in "I've Got a Spell on Blue" parallel the [[PowerRangersWildForce Lion Tamer Org]], but this episode also features [[spoiler:the full-fledged debut of Ricardo Medina Jr., previously the Red Wild Force Ranger, as Deker.]]

** Spike has a crush on the Pink Ranger. In ''MightyMorphinPowerRangers'', Spike's dad had a crush on Kimberly, who was the first Pink Ranger ever.

** While Mako's greatest fear was ''natto'', Mia is afraid of [[PowerRangersMysticForce frogs.]] She even kisses it, not on top like Madison did, but full on the mouth for ''the first liplock in Power Rangers since [[MightyMorphinPowerRangers Tommy and Kimberly!]]''
** Mia's driving licence in "A Strange Case of the Munchies" reveals her last name as Watanabe - [[PowerRangersNinjaStorm any chance she's related to Sensei and Cam?]]

** In "The Strange Case of the Munchies", we learn Mia's last name is Watanabe. It will undoubtedly raise questions about whether or not she is related to [[PowerRangersNinjaStorm somebody else who can use Super Samurai powers.]]

* SequelNumberSnarl: The cause of some big ones for the francise. First, it was referred to as Season 19 when it launched, placing the ''MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' ReCut as an official season. Second, it's being stretched over two years as two 20-episode seasons; delaying ''Samurai'''s end until 2012 is bringing a lot of questions regarding how they're going to handle potential ''Goseiger'' and ''Gokaiger'' adaptations if ''Gokaiger'' is to be used as a 20th MilestoneCelebration in 2013.

** In "Clash of the Red Rangers" [[PowerRangersRPM Scott]] basically out right states that Emily and Mike have a thing for each other.

* VomitIndiscretionShot: A first for PowerRangers, as Kevin makes himself eat Mia's cooking only to hork it back up later.

* YouLookFamiliar: Rene Naufahu, playing Ji, once threatened Rangers as [[PowerRangersSPD Emperor Gruumm]]. There was even an episode where Gruumm took human form, allowing Naufahu to walk around out-of-costume.
** [[PowerRangersWildForce Cole's]] actor, Ricardo Medina Jr., returns as [[BloodKnight Deker's]] human form. It should be noted that the slicked back hair & goatee make him look distinctly different to when he last appeared as Cole, and coupled with the fact that he's credited as "'''Rick''' Medina" here, it could be enough to throw anyone who didn't know it was the same actor.

** Daisuke from "The Tengen Gate" is played by Grant [=McFarland=] who played ''both'' Sensei Kanoi and BigBad Lothor in ''PowerRangersNinjaStorm''.

* ISeeLondon: During the training sequence in "The Team Unites", a rougher stunt causes Kevin's pants to go down, revealing his [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience blue briefs.]]
** Happens to Bulk and Spike when Negatron blasts them with an insult.
** And Antonio inadvertently rips his own pants when he arrives at the Shiba house in #12.
** Mike leans forward to reach a palette of tea in "The Tengen Gate", giving the camera an accidental non-comedic glimpse of the top-back of his boxers for a [[JustForPun brief]] instant.

*** EverythingsEvenWorseWithSharks: '''[[color:maroon:Shark Zord]]'''

* {{Tropemobile}}: Averted; the Samurai Rangers have some transportation at their disposal (a VanInBlack and Ji's CoolBike), but no special Ranger vehicles.

While this season boosted the series' popularity to later generations, it is considered by fans to be one of the weakest seasons, mainly due to it following its Sentai counterpart too closely (even though [[Series/PowerRangersTimeForce it]] [[Series/PowerRangersWildForce happened]] [[Series/PowerRangersMysticForce before]]), not giving Bulk enough screen time, weak writing, weak acting, and simplistic storylines. It has also been criticized for its weak teamup episode, which didn't actually team up with any of the ''RPM'' cast (Scott was a FakeShemp and everyone else was TheGhost).

* OutOfOrder: The first episode that Nickelodeon showed was the third episode Saban made, so we don't learn anything about how the Rangers got their powers or who the villains are. Though some of this information was shown in promos, including one that recapped some of the backstory that aired right before the premiere. This might have been done in an attempt to skip right to the action, but unfortunately results in LostInMediasRes. The "real" premiere episodes were aired as [[OriginsEpisode Origins Specials]] midseason.
** "Clash of the Red Rangers" was also aired earlier than its place in the story, with several power-ups and characters appearing out of nowhere.

** The "Origins" episode hints at Kevin being the PrinceCharming figure that Mia is waiting to meet...

The first season produced by Haim Saban after taking the license back from Disney, it's become clear is that Saban is [[FirstInstallmentWins banking on nostalgia for the original]] ''MightyMorphinPowerRangers''. They've [[RearrangeTheSong revived the classic theme song]] and are referencing it in the morph call, and they've [[http://tv.ign.com/articles/114/1145326p1.html gotten Paul Schrier to reprise his role as Bulk]], half of the original series' ThoseTwoGuys.
In terms of story, it is sticking ''very'' close to that of ''SamuraiSentaiShinkenger'' (arguably the closest any ''PowerRangers'' season has stuck to its ''SuperSentai'' counterpart). Unlike the first half, some episodes of ''Super Samurai'' differ greatly from their ''Shinkenger'' counterparts -- most notably, the episode "Super Samurai," which has an entirely different story than of the episode it uses footage from. Also, "The Rescue" "He's Not Heavy Metal He's My Brother" and a "Strange Case of the Munchies" and to a lesser extent "Shell Game" and even lesser "Runaway Spike" differ from their ''Sentai'' counterparts.

While this season boosted the series' popularity to later generations, as well as brought back [[MightyMorphinPowerRangers the original theme AND Bulk]], it is considered by fans to be one of the weakest seasons, mainly due to it following its Sentai counterpart too closely (even though [[PowerRangersTimeForce it]] [[PowerRangersWildForce happened]] [[PowerRangersMysticForce before]]), not giving Bulk enough screen time, weak writing, weak acting, and simplistic storylines. It has also been criticized for its weak teamup episode. Some bloggers have even voted it as the worst season in the franchise, even worse than ''[[PowerRangersTurbo Turbo]]''.

* HandicapBadass: In "The Master Returns" Xandred While being crippled with drying out still manages to wipe the floor with Jayden.

* RealLifeWritesThePlot: Weird example. The automorph toys had ninja masks because they were being made while casting was still going on. This was added to the series as well.

* ChristmasRush: a rare Tv example. Production on the Show was out rushed in 6 months instead of the usually year due to the timing of Saban buying the franchise back and trying to get it out at the usaual premire time of early the next year.
** It show in many places most notably that the plot is almost copy and paste form SamuraiSenatiShinkenger at least most of the early episodes are.
*** Another example is the Auto Morph toys had masks because they were being made while casting was going on. The masks were added to the show. See RealLifeWriteThePlot.

While this season boosted the series' popularity to later generations, as well as brought back [[MightyMorphinPowerRangers the original theme AND Bulk]], it is considered by fans to be one of the weakest seasons, mainly due to it following its Sentai counterpart too closely (even though [[PowerRangersWildForce it]] [[PowerRangersTimeForce happened]] [[PowerRangersMysticForce before]]), not giving Bulk enough screen time, weak writing, weak acting, and simplistic storylines. It has also been criticized for its weak teamup episode. Some bloggers have even voted it as the worst season in the franchise, even worse than ''[[PowerRangersTurbo Turbo]]''.

* CallBack: In "[[ChristmasEpisode Christmas Together, Friends Forever]]", Mike gives the motorcycle he received away to Bulk and Spike (who had lamented over not being able to afford one at the beginning of the episode). Bulk and Skull had a motorcycle they used as a patrol bike back in ''PowerRangersZeo''. In "Runaway Spike", Spike's attempts to hold a job recall those of his father and Bulk in ''PowerRangersTurbo''.

In terms of story, it is sticking ''very'' close to that of ''SamuraiSentaiShinkenger'' (arguably the closest any ''PowerRangers'' season has stuck to its ''SuperSentai'' counterpart). YourMileageMayVary on how good or bad that makes it. Unlike the first half, some episodes of ''Super Samurai'' differ greatly from their ''Shinkenger'' counterparts -- most notably, the episode "Super Samurai," which has an entirely different story than of the episode it uses footage from. Also, "The Rescue" "He's Not Heavy Metal He's My Brother" and a "Strange Case of the Munchies" and to a lesser extent "Shell Game" and even lesser "Runaway Spike" differ from their ''Sentai'' counterparts.

* ShipTease: So far they've teased Kevin with Mia, Mike with Emily and Jayden with Mia

* ShipTease: So far they've teased Kevin with Mia and Mike with Emily. Jayden? Well, [[ChasteHero he's got other concerns.]]

** In "The strange Case of the Munchies", we learn Mia's last name is Watanabe. It will undoubtedly raise questions about whether or nor she is related to [[PowerRangersNinjaStorm somebody else who can use Super Samurai powers.]]

** "The Strange Case of the Munchies" adds more confusion as Mia's driver's license says her address is Panorama City, PR 649815. Problem here is that no American city has a 6-digit ZIP code, so we can also assume PR is a production gag that means Power Rangers instead of Puerto Rico. (Also, Antonio is the only person who has spoken Spanish and [[GratuitousSpanish not very well]], so that also eliminates Puerto Rico.)

* CityOfAdventure: Panorama City. Finally revealed in episode 30, visible on close-up shots of Mia's driver's license.
* TheDragon: Serrator... [[TheStarscream at first...]]

* SuperMode: Literally called "Super Mode", with a long white vest over the regular Ranger suit. There's also a red version called "Shark Attack Mode", and both of these have their own Mega Mode versions. There's also the heavily armored Shogun Mode which, unlike the usual US Battlizer additions, seems to be available to everyone and not just the Red Ranger.

*** {{BFG}}: Cannon Blast Mode [[spoiler:and the Bullzooka.]]

** The Kyoryu (Dinosaur) Origami is now the Shark Sword/Zord. Its toy got some fins added to it to look more sharklike, but the TV footage wasn't altered at all. (The toy version of [=DaiGoyo=] similarly got retooled to become something else - a paper lantern to a spider - but this change doesn't apply to the show.)

-->''"Go Go Samurai!"''
-->''"Gold Power!"''

The 18th season (or officially 19th and 20th seasons - it's complicated; see SequelNumberSnarl below) and latest [[UnCancelled UnCancellation]] of the ''PowerRangers'' franchise[[hottip:*:From this point forward and anywhere else on the wiki, for easier tropekeeping and indexing purposes, the terms eighteenth season and 18th season will be used.]], using Ranger, Monster, and Zord footage from ''SamuraiSentaiShinkenger''.