History Series / VRTroopers

** The Skugs attack Tao Dojo and Tao mops the floor with them all by himself. Did Grimlord really think the guy who trained the Troopers and can outperform them in martial arts wouldn't be able to put a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown on his Skugs? Subverted in that they weren't sent to beat Tao, but retrieve a disk, double subverted in that Tao clobbered them before they could get the disk anyway.

* ChekhovsGun: The mutant Dark Heart is only seen mainly in "The Dognapping" until his true identity as [[spoiler: Ryan's father]] is revealed.

** Grimlord, while directly based on God Neros from ''Metalder'', effectively supplants [[Series/JikuuSenshiSpielban Queen Pandora]] and [[Series/SpaceSheriffShaider Kubilai]] as the [[BigBad main villain]] of [[CutAndPasteTranslation the entire conglomerate]]. Slightly subverted in that counterparts for both villains did appear, but were DemotedToExtra, Kubilai (a.k.a. Oraclon) becoming Grimlord's monster-maker and Pandora (a.k.a. Desponda, [[TheDragon Despera's]] sister) becoming a one-shot guest villain.

* AdaptationAmalgamation: This series is initially adapted from 2 Metal Hero shows ''Series/JikuuSenshiSpielban'' and ''Series/ChoujinkiMetalder''. By the time the second season kicks in, the show incorporates elements from ''Series/SpaceSheriffShaider''.

* LighterAndSofter: Despite being noticeably DarkerAndEdgier than ''Frnchise/PowerRangers'', it's also ''much'' more lighthearted than [[Series/MetalHeroes its source material]] in that none of the heroic main characters are killed, there are funny moments, and the MonsterOfTheWeek usually has some silly gimmick that makes them at least a little amusing. Jeb and Percy usually make up the lion's share of the show's silly moments. There's even a ChristmasEpisode involving Grimlord's plot to kidnap Santa Claus and his elves.

* LighterAndSofter: Despite being noticeably DarkerAndEdgier than ''Series/PowerRangers'', it's also ''much'' more lighthearted than [[Series/MetalHeroes its source material]] in that none of the heroic main characters are killed, there are funny moments, and the MonsterOfTheWeek usually has some silly gimmick that makes them at least a little amusing. Jeb and Percy usually make up the lion's share of the show's silly moments. There's even a ChristmasEpisode involving Grimlord's plot to kidnap Santa Claus and his elves.

* BBCQuarry: The "virtual world," when we see it, is the same quarry frequently seen in ''Franchise/PowerRangers'''s ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' footage. JB frequently teleports the entire battle back here so as to keep civilians from getting hurt.

* TheDragon: Season 1 had [[DragonInChief Decimator]], who was explicitly said to be Grimlord's second in command, and usually either guarded Grimlord or acted as field commander. He also had his go-to recurring monsters and his assistants as Ziktor, as well as sub-villains who handled the technical end of his plans or prepared the MonsterOfTheWeek, such as General Ivar, Colonel Icebot and the various commanders of sections of his army (including Decimator). When Grimlord disposed of the Virtual Dungeon for Season 2, Icebot and Ivar were still around, with warriors Doom Master and Despera and the monster-maker Oraclon as the new guys.

* WeCanRebuildHim: The few times its explained how Grimlord's minions returned, it's normally that this was done.

* BareFistedMonk: In his first VR powerset, Ryan has no external weaponry; he relies on powered-up punches, kicks and a sort-of energy blade that's part of his arms; he also tends to use either his enemy's weaponry or nearby objects. This is averted when he gets his new VR powerset in season 2, where he has both a LaserBlade and a laser pistol at his disposal.

* HauntedHouse: The episode "Grimlord's House of Fear" features one. Turns out it's just Colonel Icebot trying to break into the Real World.

* HumongousMecha: In Season 2, the Troopers gain one called the VR Troopertron, the alt form of the Skybase. While Ryan initially is the one to use it, the others gradually start using it too. Ryan's unnamed shuttlecraft was also one, but we're not sure if that was ever used in show, mainly due to Shaider's terrible-looking suit (a clip of its' transformation sequence was shown in the season 2 intro, however).

* LighterAndSofter: Despite being noticably DarkerAndEdgier than Series/PowerRangers, it's also ''much'' more lighthearted than [[Series/MetalHeroes its source material]] in that none of the heroic main characters are killed, there are funny moments, and the MonsterOfTheWeek usually has some silly gimmick that makes them at least a little amusing. Jeb and Percy usually make up the lion's share of the show's silly moments. There's even a ChristmasEpisode involving Grimlord's plot to kidnap Santa Claus and his elves.
** Also, a bit LighterAndSofter than the direction the show was originally intending to go as Cybertron.

* TheManBehindTheMonsters: Grimlord is stated to be a 'creature from virtual reality' in the first episode, but his true identity is Karl Ziktor, a CorruptCorporateExecutive that transforms into Grimlord like the Troopers do.

* PragmaticVillainy: "Time Out" forces Grimlord into this. He'd love to somehow take advantage of Earth being frozen in time, but Ryan reminds him there'd be no point or satisfaction to ruling over the world like this. Grimlord hates that Ryan is right and that they have to work together to fix this.

* SecretIdentity: Unlike the heroes, Ziktor keeps his identity as Grimlord very under wraps and by the time the series ended, he still had his identity intact. It's to the point the Troopers don't even know he ''has'' a SecretIdentity until halfway through season 2-- until then, they believe Grimlord is merely an extradimensional invader.

* ShesAManInJapan: Despera's Japanese counterpart, Priest Poe, is actually a male transvestite.

* SinisterSurveillance: Ziktor is able to monitor the heroes most anywhere except their base without them knowing.

** Grimlord consults General Ivar and Colonel Ice Bot for a new MonsterOfTheWeek

** One of them fights Grimlord's air force in the sky base.
** Ryan is separated from the others due to footage restraints

** Ryan uses his lightning hand command or laser fist command
** JB uses his laser lance, impales the monster, forces it to surrender, then finishes it off anyway

* TheyLookJustLikeEveryoneElse: Skugs can assume human form and generally look just like normal everyday people until they reveal their true forms. This makes them extremely useful for Grimlord's plans. Doom Master and Despera has this power as well. The latter rarely use it since Despera looks like a normal human woman in a weird headdress and Doom Master looks like he's dressed as a British Royal Guard.

* UltimateJobSecurity: Percy's gigantic ego causes so much trouble around the Underground Voice, including at one point ''frying one of their computers'' in a stupid stunt (as well as an important story), but never gets fired. Likely due to the fact that if he was, he's complain to his aunt and uncle, who would then probably make things tough for the Underground Voice...

** A MonsterOfTheWeek has one. Gunslinger, a cowboy robot who spoke like Creator/ClintEastwood in Film/DirtyHarry, is winning against JB thanks to his shield until Kaitlin shows up. Gunslinger makes short work of Kaitlin but then JB retaliates with a supercharged kick that shorts out Gunslinger's shield. The previously calm and cocky monster responds with [[SuddenlyShouting "GRRR!! YOU SHORTED MY SHIELD!!! GRRR!!! GRRR!!! GRRR!!!"]] as he spends the rest of the battle frustratedly stomping around trying to get his shield to work again. This allows JB to finish him off fairly easily with his trusty laser lance.

* VillainsWantMercy: Most mutants impaled by JB's laser lance immediately surrender.

* AdaptationalVillainy: Remember Jeremy/Graybot from "The Virtual Spy"? His ''Metalder'' counterpart, Bigwayne, was previously a top warrior in the Neros Empire who retired and became a repair robot because [[VictoryIsBoring he never lost to anyone in battle]], only to come out of retirement to save his protege Gochak (Cannonbot) from being destroyed, only to fall in battle against Metalder. Here, Graybot was newly-constructed, and given a human cover identity to infiltrate the Troopers and learn their secrets, and be better than them at everything.

* BBCQuarry: The "virtual world," when we see it, is the same quarry frequently seen in ''Franchise/PowerRangers's Franchise/SuperSentai'' footage. JB frequently teleports the entire battle back here so as to keep civilians from getting hurt.

* BrickJoke: A rare serious version. The mutant Dark Heart is only seen mainly in "The Dognapping" until his true identity as [[spoiler: Ryan's father]] is revealed.

* ChristmasEpisode: "Santa's Secret Trooper". And this is done without the ''Spielban'' or ''Shaider'' action footages too!

* ComicBookAdaptation: Marvel Comics published a five issue comic ation of the show, double billed with ''[[Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Ninja Rangers]]''.

** Also, the villains were allowed more gruesome deaths than there were on ''Franchise/PowerRangers'', due to the series being syndicated - decapitations, splitting in half, and impalement were not uncommon (the last of these was, in fact, how JB usually dispatched the monsters he fought, even forcing them to surrender and ignoring their surrender and finishing them off anyway, while the Franchise/PowerRangers usually would accept a monster's surrender). There's also the fact that Grimlord is a BadBoss who would make a Power Rangers BigBad wince in horror with how little he cares about his army, not even showing a tinge of sadness about killing off most of his army.

** Also, the villains were allowed more gruesome deaths than there were on ''Franchise/PowerRangers'', due to the series being syndicated - decapitations, splitting in half, and impalement were not uncommon (the last of these was, in fact, how JB usually dispatched the monsters he fought, even forcing them to surrender and ignoring their surrender and finishing them off anyway, while the Series/PowerRangers usually would accept a monster's surrender). There's also the fact that Grimlord is a BadBoss who would make a Power Rangers BigBad wince in horror with how little he cares about his army, not even showing a tinge of sadness about killing off most of his army.

* AdultFear: From the "Defending Dark Heart" arc: [[spoiler: Being forced against your will to kill your only son.]]

--->'''Despera:''' *pointing to battle against the traitorous Knightmare* It's not going well, sire.\\

** Also the villains were allowed more gruesome deaths than there were on ''Franchise/PowerRangers'', due to the series being syndicated - decapitations, splitting in half, and impalement were not uncommon (the last of these was, in fact, how JB usually dispatched the monsters he fought).

* GagDub: Supposedly, when the cast got word that the series was being cancelled, some of them, including the main three and a few voice actors, went out, got drunk, came back to the studio, went into the recording booth and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8_HrVhnqNg redubbed various scenes]] to be more mature and... [[ToiletHumor vulgar.]] The results are pretty funny.

[[caption-width-right:282:We are VR!]]

The second season sees the complete overhaul of the villains' setup and one character's gear in a series where StatusQuoIsGod... or was.

* RealityEnsues: In episode 10, Kaitlin realizes Jeremy Gibson (secretly Grimlord's minion Graybot) has no records at all. She and J.B. quickly put two and two together that when your enemy can create minions from nowhere that can assume human form means the guy with no records is likely a virtual minion.
** The Skugs attack Tao Dojo and Tao mops the floor with them all by himself. Did Grimlord really think the guy who trained the Troopers and can outperform them in martial arts wouldn't be able to put a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown on his Skugs? Subverted in that they weren't sent to beat Tao, but retrieve a disk, double subverted in that Tao clobbered them before they could get the disk anyway.

* '''Kaitlin Starr''', who works at a newspaper called the Underground Voice.

The show has a rather interesting production history, to say the least: originally a vehicle for Creator/JasonDavidFrank, an unaired pilot was both shot and sold to several stations, who proceeded to buy it due to the popularity of ''Power Rangers'', but at the last minute Saban decided to bring JDF back to ''MMPR'', which meant that the starring role had to be recast with Brad Hawkins (who was originally set to play the White Ranger in the second season of ''Mighty Morphin''), although the show by that point was deemed highly unsalvageable and was filmed only for contractual obligations with the TV stations who had already bought the series. To the surprise of many, the first season was actually quite successful and a second season was soon green-lighted by Saban. However, during the second season all the ''Metalder'' action footage ran out and Saban was forced to use footage from a third and drastically different (and much older) show for the Ryan Steele segments. Eventually all the remaining ''Spielban'' footage, as well most of the ''Shaider'' footage, were used up too.

* ComicBookAdaptation: Marvel Comics published a five issue comic adaptation of the show, double billed with ''[[Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Ninja Rangers]]''..