Hey, guys, Rika here.
Yes, I know that I'm still kinda-sorta doing this. But consider it to be an extra episode and...not really canon to the overall Super Sentai vs. Power Rangers arc. Because this time around, I'll be liveblogging as myself. No gimmicks. No bullshit. No over-the-top plots.
(and yes, I know, "well, what makes you different from liveblog!Rika, anyway?" She's still me, only exaggerated with emotions because comedy)
Plus, since I haven't really liveblogged here at TVT since...someone basically made a threat to me (long story, and no, it wasn't Akizuki who did it), this is my official parting gift. I'll still be liveblogging and making crazy arcs over at my Tumblr; in fact, I've been writing a sequel arc to this one. Even if it's very very NSFW.
So the last time I liveblogged Super Sentai vs. Power Rangers, the infamous fanfic Sean Akizuki made, we just got done with the Jetman two-parter, where it was a glorified Beach Episode, Akizukiguet (my new name for him thanks to a certain Let's Reader, and it fits far moreso than "RINO") was defeated by the Jetmen, and Cole and Sakura hooked up...because.
Let's finally burn this motherfucker to the ground and shut it down with...
We have yet another lengthy Author's Note, where Akizuki says that the "inspiration" (read: ripping shit off) came from a Fairly OddParents episode, called "You Do Dolls". If I were to make a rule in my drinking game, you'd die of alcohol poisoning trying to count how much stuff he ripped off. And of course, he is going to give it a darker twist.
(Rika glances)
Oh, and Pumpkin Rapper's gonna be used, because we didn't have enough of Akizuki ripping apart enough Zyu2 monsters, either.
The reason for all this? To show Akizukiguet's sadism. No, really. He's going to have kids kill the Sentai Rangers. I mean, I get that Zyuranger does focus on kids, having actually watched several damn episodes of it, but...this is just stupid.
He goes on to thank everyone for supporting him, but he has his own life to live, and blogging on his own blogs is what he's more passionate about. Unfortunately for him, it gives me more ammo to snark at him about and—at times—shake my head. He once again apologizes for the quality deteriorations (because that, apparentally, warrants that to be bolded...for God knows what reason) and likes the idea of having some others co-write for him.
I have an idea, dude. Why not just destroy everything else and make shit up? I mean, I have a perfect storyline for, say, the GoGoV arc. Butcher the idea of family with you bashing the everloving fuck out of the Magirangers since, like, you hate them now. Then you make the titular family bland with, for example, Matoi not being so driven. And you want to know how to make the Lightspeed Rangers appear? Show them up out of nowhere! And have them speak Japanese for no reason! (Me, my headcanon Japanese voice for Carter would be Kenyuu Horiuchi. Yes, Raiden from the Metal Gear series.) And as an added bonus, have Carter whine about how he's always stuck in the shadow of the Sentai counterparts!
...probably should not give him ideas.
He ends it with him saying that there will be several teams that won't appear at all. Why? Because it's getting too out of hand for him to do it. And it renders him into a nervous wreck. And that's why planning's always key, especially with having loads and loads of characters.
Okay, enough messing around, let's do this.
The chapter begins with everyone recovering and G!Gai going to take back what he said about the Rangers being "fakes". (Rika lets out a small groan) So how does he do it instead of getting punished to the infamous Detention Center of Hell? Showing them what he knows about the Sentai. Which means that we'll probably get an obligatory comparison or two.
Oh, and there's a flashback of J!Gai telling him this. And either him or G!Gai is getting a vision. Yep, the one thing I (or liveblog!Rika) mentioned back in, oh, chapter 28, him dying a second time. Because...fuck him living again. (Seriously, it's stupid to have him come back to life only for him to die again.)
Jason snaps G!Gai out of it, which he does. As G!Gai shows them all the different people in Zyuranger (and I love how Burai gets an "my friends and Zoidberg"-esque description of him being...Geki's brother, no more and no less), Zack tells G!Gai that he's getting too detailed. Really? That didn't feel really detailed at all. No, "detailed" means having every single action explained to the MMPR.
Billy assures his friend that they will need to know this stuff. And somehow thinks that there's a Zordon in Zyuranger. Uh...no? Not exactly, in a "floating head in a tube" way? And he goes on in tangents unrelated to the mission, ending in him really wanting to read the Super Sentai Encyclopedia really badly.
...these guys can't keep a single, consistent thought.
Oh, hey, G!Gai ends up comparing Trini to Mika...oh, God. No, Trini =/= Mika. Like, at all. No matter how much you force Trini to have Mika's backstory (or any other Yellow Ranger). No matter how much you delude yourself into thinking they have a connection...because of their deaths. (And them being the first female Yellow Rangers in their respective franchises, but fuck that shit.)
Then they talk about the Zyurangers' foes, the Bandora Gang. And yes. Comparisons to the MMPR villains (except Lord Zedd for obvs reasons) are also made. I mean, I get that, but...gah. It's padding to the utmost degree. Almost.
Oh, and did you know that Bandora's actions caused Dino Earth to be created? Along with the Abaranger powers? No? Well, you do now, because the story said so.
Trini...complains about how she can't wait much longer. Why? Because she wants to get out there and take photos, dammit! Because she's gonna be a Mika clone, so she'll damn well act like one! Seriously, though...this is really not Trini. Trini's intelligent and very badass. "Impulsive" and "photo-obsessed" are the last things I will describe her.
Why focus on the stupid things like that and not the positive things that make Trini...Trini?
And then she wonders why they were chosen to be Rangers in the first place, and whether or not Zordon's been hiding it all those years ago. Which for Akizuki's explanation...we will never get.
So we finally arrive in the Zyurangers' world, where...the MMPR already face them. Until the Golems arrive to crash their party, along with most of the Bandora Gang—Lamie, Grifforzer, Totpak, and Bukbak. And we're bashed over the heads again that they're the Zyuranger villains and not MMPR ones. Yeah, no shit, bruh.
Oh, and Jason just had to say that the Zyuranger villains are darker than MMPR ones. Are you, like, kidding me? To me, they're about the same from what I've, like, seen so far. Granted, this is probably written before Akizuki actually saw Zyuranger (I think), but still.
The Rangers morph and Jason thankfully uses the correct morphing term "It's Morphin' Time!" About damn time, too. And that happens when we see Burai in the timeless room. And we are also told that he looks like Yuuma from Changeman. Was that necessary?
...
By the way, did you know that the actor playing Burai's kid form would later become Kou?
Burai senses visions of Tommy...and because of it, the candle gains wax. Because...it's his destiny to help the other Rangers. As Clotho is happy to mention. No kidding.
Oh, and Geki sees him. Somehow. Okay, how the hell did he get to the timeless room? Or did Clotho teleport Burai to the team? You know what, screw it.
After the roll call, the two sets of teams fight against the enemies. I'm gonna make it short and sweet and say that they curbstomp the villains. And yes, the MMPR are shocked when they hear Grifforzer call Lamie "dear".
(Rika gives a very flat look)
I can possibly give the "fight" credit for at least not shoving the whole "Power Rangers are inferior" bullshit down our throats. But with, like...how dull the fight was, plus the MMPR reacting to Grifforzer and Lamie...yeah. I just don't even know what to say about that.
That said, even my small praise is shot down to hell. Why?
- "They were trying to get to know each other but at the same time, the Zyurangers were confused at the existence of 'imposters'."
(Rika flips the story off with both hands) Fuck you too, buddy.
This is supposed to be an end to the fan wars, by the way.
And we go to the Bandra Palace, where the villains are trying to recover from the fight. Oh, and they call the Rangers "imposters". AGAIN. I just have a feeling that Akizuki really, truly does not like PR at all. Which is mostly true in the case of MMPR vs. Zyuranger. Because the former, to him, shits all over his beloved latter. Except for Kimberly, who he finds hotter than Mei...because, for one, the latter has a chipmunk voice. No shit.
(to be honest, I find both ladies good, but I do prefer Reiko Chiba over AJJ. She is not only a good actress, but I just find her so adorable. And her voicing several characters in some games, such as Samurai Shodown...so cool)
...ahem, where was I? Oh, yes.
Bandora tells her group to shut up, and Pleprechaun tells Bandora to be patient. Then he mentions the Turborangers. Okay, where did he know about this? Did the sealed dumpster or can or whatever have a TV to show the news? Did they have a crystal ball with them? Their own Viewing Globe?
...eh.
Then thunder and lightning happen, and...enter Akizukiguet. Long time, no see, not really, really wanting to see you again. He tells the villains that they won't fail the mission this time. And enter Zimba and Jarmin...because we might as damn well push the "teenagers with attitude" theme even farther.
Zimba and Jarmin show the new villain to the Bandora Gang, not!Pumpkin Rapper. And he's described as speaking in a deep, ghastly voice. And for the hell of it, I'll imagine him voiced by Markiplier in the first Yandere Simulator episode
(though he's far, far too good for this sort of thing).
Pleprechaun is really not liking this, but it gets worse for him when the two Turboranger villains explain about how this guy would create voodoo dolls for the kids to tear the Zyurangers apart. So he ends up creating the Monster of the...Half-Arc (I guess???), Dora Curse. Bandora then asks for the voodoo dolls, which he's all too happy to create. After getting the pictures of the team. And so, he turns into his human form and leaves with the plushies.
...yes, they're called "plushies". Which makes this less easy to take seriously.
We get a scene with the Zyurangers and MMPR talking and comparing to one another, even ending up comparing Barza to Zordon's human form. Also, did Dan bash Billy's technobabble? Fucking seriously?
Also...
- Kimberly: "I was pretty shallow before but I learned the value of the person, Mei you helped me understand things."
...
WHAT THE FUCK DID THAT EVEN MEAN?!
(Rika coughs)
Sorry, my...liveblogging self's leaking out.
Meanwhile, in the city, the villains kidnap the amusement park workers. They also have the mooks disguise themselves as clowns. As they gloat, the Zyurangers and MMPR split into teams. Which you know is going to spell instant doom.
Maybe.
After a scene where Lamie hands out the plushies of the Zyurangers and their morphed forms while Dora Curse casts his spell, we cut to Trini and Boi. Who...bicker a bit with the former taking selfies pictures. Which leads into the most cringeworthy pun I've ever seen in my life.
- Trini: "Don't underestimate me Boi just because I'm a woman."
(Rika groans loudly)
Seriously?
Meanwhile, the rest of the teams found nothing until Trini alerts them all to something going on in the amusement park. And yes, there's strange gas, and I really hope it isn't a fart joke. Oh, and Jason warns Geki to use helmets. Safety?
Seriously, though, why would Jason say that?
At the amusement park, the Golems reveal themselves. Trini and Boi do some unmorphed fighting until the rest of their allies show up. As do the rest of the villains, and yes, Tommy had to point out the existence of Jarmin and Zimba. They morph, and Dora Curse activates his, well, curse.
This causes the Zyurangers to act strangely, and to cut it short, most of them become the MMPR. With Mei becoming a Valley Girl, Boi crossdressing (really), Dan becoming geeky, Goushi breakdancing (not making this up, either), and Burai becoming an archeologist (and presumably a racecar driver while we're at it, and a teacher). Which makes me wonder, first, why they have to become the MMPR other than the fact that the counterparts are there, and secondly, where the hell Dora Curse got the Burai plushie from, since we never saw him create it. Just the core five, presumably.
And if you're wondering why I haven't mentioned Geki, well, he's getting shot at. Because the kids use him (or, more specifically, the plushie of him) in a shooting gallery.
The MMPR morph, and they easily dispatch the pumpkin-headed Golems. But they're no match for Dora Curse, who shoots dark beams at them. The Rangers then combine their weapons to form the Power Cannon (and not the Power Blaster), which seemingly destroys the monster...but he then reforms. This causes the heroes to despair and the villains once again call them fakes and imitations.
(Rika clutches her head)
...as liveblog!Rika, I gave Arnold McGuire so much shit for calling the Rangers "fakes and imposters" in Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger vs. Power Rangers Samurai. But he's fucking nothing compared to Akizuki. For a man who wants peace and harmony for PR and Super Sentai, he always proves to be the opposite again and again. Again, this is meant to be an end to the fan wars. But it's giving all the damn elements of one. More than likely, specifically to piss everyone off, readers, critics, all.
I mean...I don't claim that my own arcs are the be-all, end-all to fan wars. But at least I treat both Power Rangers and Super Sentai with utmost respect. Sure, there are some seasons I don't care for. But I will never say "hurr, Sentai is better because it is!" Or the other way around with Power Rangers.
This is not an end to the fan wars. This is not a good fanfic. THIS IS TROLLING. Plain and simple.
...but at least...we're finally almost done.
The Rangers realize that they're screwed. And Jason warns Trini to not be reckless. Seriously, dude? Oh, and we get this lovely thing.
- "Goushi wish he could stop break dancing, Dan wish he didn't feel geeky, Mei wished she wasn't a doll, Burai wished he wasn't an archeologist figure, Boi"
No one knows what Boi wished would happen. Because a Deus ex Machina will arrive in three, two, one...
And here it is! The Search Guard Time Train, piloted by Alpha 5 and Zordon! They manage to teleport the teams the hell out of dodge, and after the comparisons bullshit, the villains swear revenge.
In the train, the MMPR talk about what happened. Also, Zordon had to feel the need to mention that Rita speaks in a Hong Kong Dub-esque way, like if anyone gave a shit. Then the Zyurangers are freed from their curse. For now.
Because it starts up again.
Jason decides that it's time to see Barza, and Zordon agrees. And the entranced Zyurangers take the time to notice a particular something about the mentor. One we already know.
And speaking of stuff we already know, Director Aya shows up in her very few lines...explaining stuff they need to do that's already been told. In the USSPRA base, though, she asks G!Gai to look something up for her. And he does. Also, J!Gai's working "behind the scenes" on...something. (And I just realized how stupid "behind the scenes" really is and puts me off that phrase for a long time.) And another mention about how he'll die a second time.
But as we all know (it), that will not happen anytime soon. Thanks to Development Hell.
G!Gai looks up "voodoo", and he watches some scenes of past Sentai series involving that phrase. And no, we don't get any more descriptions than...this. Aka Red shows up in his brief scene, and mentions that Akizukiguet chose him because he's destined to have the Super Sentai Encyclopedia. Because...he's a fanboy, I guess.
Well in that case, where is that for liveblog!Rika? Oh, wait, it's called "wikis" and "watching the actual damn episodes".
The chapter, and this horrifying story, finally ends (two years after it first ended, haha) with the villains deciding to strike while the iron's hot. They decide to spread their curse to everyone else. This results in the following...
- Dancing idiotic policemen!
- Policemen showing up in random-ass bathtubs in the city!
- People dying because dogs rip apart the dolls!
...wait, what?
Also, the villains continue to sell more plush dolls to do their bidding. Can the Rangers defeat the evil and destroy Dora Curse? Tune in never again.
But first, we have an ending Author's Note.
Akizuki tells us that he's more passionate (again) about blogging than writing fanfics, and coupled with his being a nervous wreck and anger issues, it isn't helping his case. He then says that it's bothersome that people rush him to get it done. Dude, even with that...it's still no excuse for not only your writing, but your way of thinking as well. He decides to do some team writing, as the delays and deteriorations is just messing with him and can't allow him to get some fics done. He ends it all with hoping that for the 11 people who favorited his fic, that they would help him in the team writing.
Which, you know, two years later, I still don't see any sort of budge. So the fanfic's finally as good as dead. And with that...!
MISSION COMPLETE!
So I hope you enjoyed my own liveblogging of "Voodoo on Zyu". And what did I think of it? It's the worst. Okay, it isn't as bad as, say, "Another Gai Appears!", but holy shit. The amount of PR bashings, saying that they're inferior (and yes, even with the villains saying it, it still isn't any good). The characters acting viciously OOC. The author appeals. The wonky writing. About the only thing it doesn't have is the shipping, but...yeah. This rivals the Jetman two-parter. And this is left in a damn cliffhanger!
Everything liveblog!Rika said in the last part easily applies here as a whole. It's not a good fic by any means. It's...well, it's My Immortal for the Toku crowd, but even My Immortal would be ashamed by it.
And with that, I would like to thank you all for joining me on this adventure. For those who want more blogs of mine, as mentioned, check out my Tumblr, which is in my profile. For those who already knew I have a Tumblr, well, there you go.
So thank you all for reading this. And this truly has been Rika Liveblogs vs. Super Sentai vs. Power Rangers. Until next time...sayonara.
