Line #55 Series/MaskedRider


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/masked_rider.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:''MASKED RI~DER!'']]
3
4	->''"On a distant and embattled planet called Edenoi, a young prince named Dex is given great powers by his grandfather, the King, and is sent to the planet Earth, to protect it from the advancing evil of Count Dregon and his vicious Insectivores. Once on Earth, he is adopted by a kind family, and learns to live as a human. With his companion Ferbus at his side, Dex is ever-vigilant, ready at a moment's notice to call on his powers to become... Masked Rider."''
5	-->-- '''OpeningNarration'''
6
7	''[[ByThePowerOfGreyskull Ectophase Activate!]]''
8
9	''Masked Rider'' is an American television series produced by Creator/SabanEntertainment that aired from 1995 through 1996. In much the same way as ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' with ''Franchise/SuperSentai'', this show was adapted from the ninth ''Franchise/KamenRider'' series ''Series/KamenRiderBlackRX''. Like Power Rangers series that have [[Series/PowerRangersInSpace recontextualized]] [[Series/PowerRangersDinoThunder the]] [[Series/PowerRangersRPM source footage]] [[Series/DenjiSentaiMegaranger from]] [[Series/BakuryuuSentaiAbaranger their]] [[Series/EngineSentaiGoonger original plots]], Masked Rider recontextualizes Black RX's footage by using it to fit a SitCom type show with a more... [[Comicbook/{{Superman}} traditional]] Sci-Fi premise.
10
11	The plot concerned a young alien prince named Dex, sent from a distant planet Edenoi to fight against his wicked uncle Count Dregon and his [[MonsterOfTheWeek Insectovores]]. Having already rendered Edenoi near-uninhabitable, Dregon has turned his attention to Earth.
12
13	Dex arrives in a town named Leawood and is adopted by a multiracial American family, dad Hal (white), mom Barbara (East Asian), sister Molly (white) and brother Albee (black). Dex also brought along his pet bipedal duck/bear creature named Ferbus.
14
15	Dex was introduced in a [[PoorlyDisguisedPilot three-part episode]] in the beginning of the third season of ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'', but the show itself had no references to that series. Whilst the pilot left Edenoi with somewhat of a DownerEnding by the end of the third part, the changes in the series ignored this ending. If nothing else, Dex's guest appearance in ''Mighty Morphin Power Rangers'' was the closest thing to a Rider/Sentai crossover until the 2009 ''[[Series/KamenRiderDecade Decade]]''/''[[Series/SamuraiSentaiShinkenger Shinkenger]]'' team-up.[[note]]The 1979 ''JAKQ vs. Gorenger'' movie featured cameos by Amazon and [=V3=] in the form of photographs, but the actual characters themselves are never involved in the story.[[/note]]
16
17	Until 2009's ''Series/KamenRiderDragonKnight'', it was the only American adaptation of ''Franchise/KamenRider''. Still, the show does have a cult fandom and introduced many to the ''Kamen Rider'' franchise. Some of the background music was [[RecycledSoundtrack later used]] in Saban's dub of ''Anime/DigimonAdventure''.
18
19	It is not to be confused with the lost silent western film serial 1919 ''The Masked Rider''.
20
21	----
22	!!Tropes featured in ''Masked Rider'' include:
23	* AdaptedOut: The comic book adaptation by Creator/MarvelComics leaves out Doubleface.
24	** The show itself leaves out Dasmader, likely because his part in RX wouldn’t make sense with Masked Rider’s re-contextualisation.
25	* AlphaBitch: Patsy is your garden variety stuck-up high school girl.
26	* AmusingAlien: Dex has traces of this at times. One example would be that his race, Edenites, derive from insects instead of apes -- so guess what he answered on an Earth biology test on the subject of human origins...
27	* AsideGlance: Ferbus gives us a wink at the end of "Escape to Edenoi, Part 2".
28	* BadBoss: Like most villains, Count Dregon has absolutely zero tolerance for failure.
29	* BarbaricBully: Bubba Lamarskovitch is like the trope made flesh.
30	* BigBad: Count Dregon is the main antagonist.
31	* BlindIdiotTranslation: The Masked Rider Warriors (the show's counterpart to Kotaro's Rider predecessors in ''RX'') had their names accidentally switched during the roll call due to an inconsistency between how the Japanese footage was edited and how it was actually dubbed.[[note]]Specifically, the Riders' names were mentioned in the same order they were in the Japanese show, with Rider 1 and Rider 2 being renamed "Warrior Leader" and "Warrior Commander" respectively, but Rider 2 and Riderman were edited out of the actual footage.[[/note]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r67jBFQXJ7E The results are hilarious]], with the part where Sky Rider proclaims himself to be "Amazon" becoming a popular meme.
32	** Yet strangely, not only does Film/KamenRiderZX keep his name, but it's pronounced correctly[[note]]his name is actually "Z-Cross", not "ZX"[[/note]].
33	* BatmanInMyBasement: When Ferbus first arrived, Molly and Albee had to hide him due to Hal's allergies, but Hal is not allergic anymore around Ferbus; once he revealed himself, Ferbus was accepted as part of the family.
34	* BeingGoodSucks: In the ChristmasEpisode, Dex hopes to spend the holiday with Lexian, but the old man can't. He regrettably tells Dex that their respective responsibilities and the people counting on them have to count for more, even on a holiday all about family togetherness. A little Santa magic, though, makes the needed difference.
35	* {{Bowdlerize}}: The Electro Saber was made to shoot fireballs as stabbing monsters through the body and out again was deemed "too violent". (Strangely, the nigh-identical Laser Lance finisher in ''Series/VRTroopers'' was not altered.) Possibly because ''Masked Rider'' aired on network television, while ''Series/VRTroopers'' aired in syndication, meaning the latter could get away with it due to fewer restrictions. There's also the fact that most of the villains in ''VR Troopers'' were robots, and the show can and did say destroyed villains would be rebuilt (to explain why they could be seen in [[StockFootage recycled crowd shots]] if nothing else.) With how about two thirds of the monsters on ''Masked Rider'' were aliens or mutants, maybe they didn't think they could get away with goring obviously living opponents through with a lightsaber.
36	** Ironically averted in one of the later episodes where Dex destroys Ocusect by stabbing her through her giant eye! To be more specific she switches from her humanoid form to her giant flying eyeball form and Dex throws his electro saber at her, stabbing right through the eye. He then grabs hold of his weapon with her still attached and thrusts it in for a few moments while Ocusect writhes in pain and THEN explodes. Possibly because in ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' a precedent was set in the episode "I, Eye Guy" when Billy gored Eye Guy's main eye, nearly destroying him.
37	* BrainwashedAndCrazy: Donais, to become the Robo Rider. Also, Dregon once brainwashed Barbara to replace Nefaria when he got fed up with her.
38	* BumblingDad: Hal is an incompetent father due to also being a BunglingInventor.
39	* ByThePowerOfGreyskull: "Ectophase Activate!"
40	* CatchPhrase: "It'll take a lot more than that to stop Masked Rider!"
41	* CharacterAsHimself: Ferbus (partially justified as he was an animatronic puppet in the first few episodes before becoming a guy in a suit).
42	* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: Ferrian and Zarius, two of Dax's Edenite friends, are never seen again after the first episode. Lexian is shown to guide Dax on occasion and Donais returns twice to deliver power-ups to his friend, but Ferrian and Zarius are just plain gone.
43	** Bobby Brigmore, a male student who Patsy is interested in but seemingly has eyes for Molly, only appears in the opening two-parter and is never mentioned afterward.
44	* ChristmasEpisode: "Ferbus' First Christmas", which has Santa grant Dex's wish of his grandfather visiting him and his adoptive human family.
45	* {{Claymation}}: Hydrasect in her second form and the fight against her.
46	* ComicBookAdaptation: Creator/MarvelComics published a one-shot comic adaptation of the show in 1996 that crossed over with Marvel's adaptation of ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers''.
47	* CompressedAdaptation: A downplayed example. ''Masked Rider'' was given 40 episodes to ''Black RX's'' 47, including the incorporation of elements from unrelated films ''ZO'' and ''J''.
48	* CoolBigBro: Dex to Albee, who looks up to him with enthusiasm as any little brother would.
49	* CoolBike: Combat Chopper
50	* CoolCar: Magno is a talking car that changes from a giant bug.
51	* CrappyHolidays:
52	* DecompositeCharacter: From ''Black RX'', General Jark's OneWingedAngel form, Jark Midler, becomes Dregonator, an evil(er) clone of Count Dregon, to the point that both characters appear together in original footage.
53	* DemBones: The Skull Reapers are skeletal minions.
54	* DemotedToExtra: The true BigBad of ''Black RX'', Emperor Crisis, was just a monster named Lavasect here- so named because it was trapped in the Earth's core for 10 billion years.
55	* EliteMook: Plague Patrol
56	* EvilKnockoff: "Mixed Doubles" has Count Dregon create evil clones of Dex's adoptive human family.
57	* EvilUncle: Count Dregon is Dex's uncle.
58	* FisherKing: Count Dregon turned the lush and pristine Edenoi into a barren hellhole according to Dex's monologue in "Escape from Edenoi"
59	* FoodFight: Ferbus caused one in "Escape from Edenoi, Part 2" when he threw a pie at a Maggot's back. Patsy ends up getting a PieInTheFace when she tries to look out the door.
60	* {{Frankenslation}}: While primarily based on ''Series/KamenRiderBlackRX'', six of the show's forty episodes included footage from the Kamen Rider films ''Film/KamenRiderZO'' and ''Film/KamenRiderJ'', adapting all but one villain (Garai/Cobra Man of ''Kamen Rider J'') from the two movies as [[MonsterOfTheWeek Monsters Of The Week]].
61	** ZO's footage was used in ''Escape From Edenoi'' parts 1 and 2 (with separate fight scenes for [[BigBad Doras]] and later a monster from Black RX) and ''Cat-Atomic'' (which again had two major fight scenes, one with the minor monster Koumori Man and one with a monster from Black RX).
62	** J's footage was used in ''Saturday Morning Invasion'' (with [[BigBad Fog Mother]] as Ultivore) and ''Ectophase Albee'' (minor monster Agito/Lizard Man).
63	** Footage from ''both'' movies was used in ''Stranger From the North'', which began by using J's minor monster Zu/Bee Woman as Hydrasect and switching to ZO's monster Kumo Woman as her more powerful form Arachnida.
64	* GreenAesop: One episode deals with one of Count Dregon's servant Cyclopter making a monster out of parts from older monsters that had been destroyed. Once Dex/Masked Rider destroys it, Count Dregon admits that recycling can be most useful at saving money/energy...but notes that all of the materials needed to be sorted and labeled first, and so sends Cyclopter to do it.
65	* HappilyAdopted: The Stewarts welcome Dex into their home the moment they meet him. He quickly regards Hal and Barbara as his parents, and Molly and Albee as his siblings.
66	* HeroForADay: Albee accidentally getting Dex's Masked Rider powers.
67	** Turns out it was [[AllJustADream just a daydream]].
68	* HumanAliens: The Edenites, they look human but evolve from bugs.
69	* IDontKnowMortalKombat: Averted. Dex's superhuman reflexes make him a master at the (likely less violent) in-universe expy of ''Franchise/MortalKombat''. He eventually quits it because he's ''too good'' at it, [[CursedWithAwesome considering his skills cheating]].
70	** Dex is so good at video games, the overload of WIN can break the TV! Wait...
71	* [[IHaveNoSon I Have No Nephew!]]: Justified. It’s because of their relationship that Count Dregon and Dex rarely acknowledge each other as family members.
72	* InTheNameOfTheMoon: Dex does this at times. More particularly during the ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' crossover.
73	-->''[[http://youtu.be/eTo4x2bL25M?t=37s "In the name of King Lexian, rightful ruler of Edenoi...Ectophase Activate!!"]]''
74	* InsultBackfire: In "Bugs on the Loose".
75	-->'''Masked Rider:''' You're just as ugly as I expected.\
76	'''Mothitron:''' Thanks!
77	* JediMindTrick: Roborider uses this trick on the Principal when he infiltrates the school.
78	--> '''Principal''': May I see your hall pass?
79	--> '''Roborider''': (zaps with lasers) You will say ''never mind''!
80	--> '''Principal''': Uh, never mind...
81	* JerkAss: Henry Wall in "Arcade Ace" refuses to let children play the arcade games and makes Albee buy him sundaes after Dex forfeits their game challenge.
82	** He's small potatoes compared to [[BarbaricBully Bubba Lamarskovitch]] in "Showdown at Leawood High", though the latter does get better by the end.
83	* {{Kiai}}: Dex does dramatic yells. A lot.
84	** ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQYpuINSXyE&t=11m18s "EUUAAAGH!" ]]''
85	** '' "Now villains! You shall know the Power of the Masked Rider...and the Power Rangers! [[http://youtu.be/eTo4x2bL25M?t=49s EY-YUH! HEY-YUH! HUH! EY-YAH! EY-YAH! HEY-YAH! EY-YAH!"]]''
86	** '' "Don't you know it's illegal to impersonate a driving instructor, buddy? Now I'm gonna have to teach you a little lesson! [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wr2kNuzLWA EY-YAH! HUH! EY-YAH! HUH...Uh-hoh!"]]''
87	* KirksRock: Features prominently in many episodes, just as in [[Franchise/PowerRangers related series]].
88	* LaserBlade: Masked Rider's Electro Saber.
89	* LiteralMinded: Dex
90	-->'''Hal:''' Long day at the office, huh?\
91	'''Dex:''' Excuse me? I wasn't in any office today.\
92	'''Barbara:''' Never mind.
93	* MadeOfExplodium: A literal example, in one episode where a monster with banana weaponry was actually trying to steal a substance called Explodium.
94	* MonsterOfTheWeek: Here it's somewhat justified in that Count Dregon only sends one monster at a time: sending them all is actually suggested in the premiere, but he says that all those monsters could not be controlled at once.
95	* {{Mooks}}: Maggots are the standard foot soldier for Count Dregon, they always come in threes.
96	* MoralityPet: Herbie is this to Patsy, especially in “Battle of the Bands”.
97	* {{Narrator}}: Used at the end of each episode over the end credits where he would talk humorously about the events of the episode.
98	--> Will Hal's TV quit smoking? Will Dex ever learn to take his clothes off before he showers? All this and more on the next exciting adventure of... ''Masked Rider!''
99	** Though played straight in [[MultiPartEpisode Multi-Part Episodes]], where he would often say something serious and relevant to the episode's plot.
100	* NoEnding: Much like with some of the other Saban adaptations, the series never had a proper conclusion, as it was canceled rather abruptly - in fact, if one was to watch episode 40 without knowing it's the last episode, they'd be forgiven for thinking it's an episode from somewhere in the middle of the series.
101	* OrcusOnHisThrone: For the most part, Count Dregon rarely leaves the Spider Base, let alone fight and interact with Dex a few times.
102	* RaisedByGrandparents: Dex was raised by his grandfather.
103	* RoboticReveal: In "License to Thrill", Dex finds out Mr. Lee has been replaced by one of Count Dregon's monsters, Larvatron.
104	* RhymesOnADime: Gork speaks in rhyme.
105	* SecretChaser: Principal Chalmers has an obsessive suspicion of Dex's unusual behavior. Although he means no harm, Chalmers constantly keeps his eyes on Dex hoping to find answers.
106	* SecretKeeper: Dex's human family are the only ones who know that he's really the Masked Rider.
107	* ShoutOut: In "License to Thrill", when Hal tries to trade breakfast with Dex who's eating sugary cereal, Dex says "Silly Squirrel, Frosty Puffs are for kids!".
108	-->'''Hal:''' You let him watch TV again all night, didn't you?
109	* ShowWithinAShow: An episode of ''Series/PowerRangersTimeForce'' shows ''Masked Rider'' as this. [[MST3KMantra Best to not think about this]].
110	** A few conversations about the episode with a PromotedFanboy chalks up the ''Masked Rider'' television series to be something Dex created when the battles with Dregon were over and he settled on Earth.[[note]]Though most post-Zordon Era series tend to be more self-contained.[[/note]]
111	* SitcomArchNemesis: Masked Rider's talking vehicles Magno and Combat Chopper tend to bicker.
112	* SparedByTheAdaptation
113	** Due to the series ending without the resolution of ''Black RX'', all the recurring villains, from Count Dregon himself to Nefaria, Cyclopter, Doubleface, Gork and Fact are spared the fates of their counterparts who all ended up dead. Dregon especially so since what would have been his OneWingedAngel form was adapted into a [[Main/DecompositeCharacter seperate character]] as just another MonsterOfTheWeek.
114	** Hal and Barbara Stewart are spared the shocking deaths of Shunkichi and Utako Sahara at the hands of Jark Midler (Dregonator).
115	* StockFootage: Aside from the obvious use of RX footage, expect to see reused shots from time to time.
116	* StrictlyFormula: As with Power Rangers, the show mostly focuses on Dex and his family (or friends) finding a new experience, Count Dregon taking advantage of it, launching an Insectivore and Dex resolving everything as both himself and as his super hero alter ego.
117	* SubordinateExcuse: Nefaria is shown on occasion to have the hots for Dregon, but he either doesn't care or cares more about conquest than her affections. Hell, he even replaces her with a brainwashed Barbara once, showing how disposable he views her.
118	* SuperSpeedReading: In "Pet Nappers", Albee noticed Dex turning the pages pretty quick as he's taking notes.
119	-->'''Albee:''' Do you ''always'' read at that speed?\
120	'''Dex:''' Oh no, I'm going slow so I can make some notes.\
121	''[Albee does a DoubleTake]''
122	* SurroundedByIdiots: While Count Dregon’s clique of followers (including Fact) are almost as smart as he is, he nevertheless follows the “90s kids villain” party-line of treating his henchmen as if they were of low intelligence.
123	* SwordBeam: This is Dex' finisher when using the Electro Saber. In fact, he is never seen using it as a melee weapon at all. This is a result of {{Bowdlerization}}, as the title character of Black RX finished his opponents by stabbing them rather violently. Naturally, the MoralGuardians did not approve, fearing children would imitate this, so they forced the showrunners to make the Masked Rider shoot his enemies to death...with a sword.
124	* ThatManIsDead: Robo Rider denies his past as Donais.
125	* TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou: Robo Rider feels that only he is allowed to defeat Masked Rider.
126	* TyrantTakesTheHelm: As far as Dex's history of Edenoi is concerned, Count Dregon's reign proved to be disastrous due to his apathy and he was apparently too proud to admit that is not much of a good king compared to his own father.
127	* VillainsWantMercy: [[InvertedTrope Inverted,]] Dex usually offers villains multiple chances to surrender, and none of them take it. It's kind of the opposite of Series/VRTroopers, where the monsters almost always surrender but are finished off anyway.
128	* WeCanRuleTogether: In "Mixed Doubles", Count Dregon gives the proposal to Dex that he can join him in his conquest. Dex, of course, [[ICanRuleAlone turns him down]].

Context Series / MaskedRider