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This is a thread about a live-action, super-hero show entitled Dekaranger, a part of a long-running series of shows in Japan classified as sentai that Mighty Morphing Power Rangers was derived off of and continues to be so.  More importantly this is a thread about episode 17 of Dekaranger a.k.a. the coolest sentai episode eVaR.  The sheer awesomeness of this episode compelled me to recreate the highlights of the episode on a forum where nobody probably cares about it.  Such a situation never stopped me before though... ;)

Before I begin, I want to introduce the cast of characters to you so that you'll have a legend of sorts if you can't remember who is who.

Akaza Ban-Ban:  The single, most awesome, Japanese man in existence.  Akaza Ban-Ban or just "Ban" is a reckless, gung-ho detective that winds up becoming the leader of the Special Police Dekaranger unit on Earth.  The Special Police force is essentially an intergalactic police force that monitors the activities of dangerous, wanted criminals referred to as Alienizers.  The Earth branch of the Special Police force is run by a dog-like alien named Doggie Krugger.  When there is an emergency, Doggie orders the Dekaranger unit to go into action.  Ban is the red ranger or Deka-Red.

Hoji:  Hoji was the former leader of the Dekaranger unit.  He is a level-headed, perfectionist and an extremely good marksman.  As such, he tends to clash with Ban's personality and professionalism greatly.  (In fact, the first few episodes feature Ban and Hoji beating the crap out of each other.)  Hoji is Deka-Blue.

Sen:  Sen is the odd, nice guy.  He is able to follow leads and make connections where the others can not.  (He has to do a handstand in order to utilize this skill however.)  He generally does not conflict with any of the other team members, although Ban disliked Sen's easy-going nature at first because he thought that Sen did not take his role seriously.  Sen is Deka-Green.

Umeko:  Umeko likes to take baths.  She does most of her thinking there.  That aside, she's also the "cheerleader" of the Dekaranger unit so to speak.  She brings the group up when they're down, and she also serves as the "right-hand man" for Jasmine, the other female in the Deka Ranger unit.  Umeko is also quite good at disguising herself and going undercover.  (Although she does botch a stake-out in this episode.)  She is Deka-Pink.

Jasmine:  Jasmine is the "mother" of the group so to speak.  She mostly keeps to herself due to a painful past, but she's extremely wise and a valuable member to the team.  Jasmine is also psychic.  She wears special gloves over her hands to inhibit her power.  By taking off her gloves and placing her hands on an object or a person, she can peer into the object's past and/or some aspect of a person's mind.  Jasmine is Deka Yellow.

Swan:  Swan is the lead scientist/engineer at the Deka-Base in Earth.  She's responsible for developing many of the technologies the Earth dekaranger unit employs to deal with Alienizers.  She is also the girlfriend/spouse? of Doggie Krugger (I think.)  (I believe Swan has the ability to transform into a Dekaranger, but I haven't seen her do so yet.)

Doggie Krugger:  Doggie is a highly-respected man in the Special Police force and also the head of the Earth division.  He respects each member of the Dekaranger unit, but he often chooses to employ "tough love" in order to teach the team important lessons.  He also has the ability to transform into a Dekaranger, but he only does so as a last resort.  When transformed, he wields a tremendously powerful sword known as the D-Sword Vega.  Doggie is also an incredible swordsman so that adds to his badass-ness.  He is Deka-Master.

Murphy:  Murphy is the sentient robotic pooch of the Dekaranger unit.  At first, he was rather rambunctious (and unhelpful for that matter,) but Umeko earned his respect, and he now loyally answers the Dekarangers' calls when they are in trouble.  Murphy also serves as part of the Dekarangers arsenal.  He can transform his body into a giant bazooka of sorts.

So now on to the episode...

The episode starts off with the Dekarangers at a stake-out.  As of late, there has been a lot of drug trafficking of a substance known as Devil's Spice.  The Dekarangers are waiting on the buyer and seller to arrive and make the exchange.  Umeko is growing impatient and forgetting who will play what role in apprehending the criminals once the transaction has been completed.

So the buyer and seller arrive, the transaction is about to be made, but Umeko rushes in too half-hazardly and trips over some oil drums which alerts both the buyer and the seller.  Four of the dekarangers manage to apprehend the buyer, and Jasmine secretly snuck off to chase after the seller.   She succeeds and retrieves the drug.  (There is more to it than this, especially the whole part about jumping onto a moving vehicle and a car eventually going boom, but I want to get to the humorous aspect of the episode as soon as possible.)  The rest of the Dekarangers congratulate Jasmine, but Umeko is really taking her mistake badly.

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/The%20Power%20of%20V.JPG)

Jasmine retrieves the cannister of Devil's Spice.

Umeko looks up to Jasmine greatly, and she feels that if she's going to be of any use to the team, then she needs to change and be more like Jasmine.  (Of course, this decision is made while she's taking a bath.)  Normally Umeko wears her hair up, but when she lets it down, she (conveniently) looks like Jasmine.  She has never worn her hair down however.  So the team is rather shocked.

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Crazy,%20Sexy,%20Cool.JPG)

Umeko makes an entrance, complete with hair blowing in the wind and jazz music playing in the background.

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Doggie%20Speechless.JPG)

Doggie being speechless (and dropping what he was reading as well)

So the team is still shocked, but Umeko tries to play it off cooly.  She even tries to incorporate all these extra phrases into her speech, further bewildering the rest of the group.  If that's not enough, she takes it a step further and tries to mimic Jasmine's ability to read minds.  The narrator steps in at this time to say, "Umeko is not a psychic, so when she touches him, [Ban] she senses nothing."  The narrator had a serious tone when he said that, but it worked well for dead-pan humor.  Devoid of any psychic ability, Umeko does a swooning faint and says, "Sorry, but I am at my limit."

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/At%20Her%20Limit%20(in%20acting).JPG)

Umeko at her limit (in being convincing...)

Ban's response to all this was a "What...", a sudden jerk, and a "... the hell?"

At about this time, Swan pages the rest of the team and informs them of the contents of the drug they confiscated.  It  turns out that it's composed of several illegal drugs (go figure,) and it is a mood-altering substance when mixed with food, (think futuristic hash brownies on a much larger scale.)   She also informs the team that Murphy discovered more of the drug at a Chinese restaurant.  (I think Murphy actually injested some of the food because he's freaking out in the background.)

Ban, Sen, and Hoji head out to the restaraunt.  They're informed by a hostess that the restaraunt is partially reserved by a special party, but Wan, the wierd headmaster of the restaurant, greets the three dekarangers and asks them why they are at his restaurant.  The three play it off cooly and explain that they're just hungry and wanted some food.  So the headmaster escorts them (in a very odd and eager manner,) to another section of the restaurant.

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Odd%20Wan.JPG)

Wan being Odd

So Ban's response to all of this was, "If you think it's suspicious, then it is.  If you don't, then it's not, right?"

So the three of them sit down at the table, and Ban and Sen are very impressed by the display of food.  Ban is ready to dig in, and Sen says, "It does look good..." but Hoji warns them and reminds them that they are at the restaurant to investigate.  Right after Hoji says that, the food begins to give off an aroma.  Hoji takes a whiff of it and gets a buzz.  He looks over to the others and they're already digging in.  Hoji tries to tell them to stop, but he is overcome by the aroma.

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Pigging%20Out.JPG)

Sen is eating contently.  Hoji is grabbing what he wants.  Ban is eating an entire roast duck like a rack of BBQ ribs.

And I think I'm going to end the first post at this point.   Hopefully this post  will be long enough so that the next post will be on a second page.

Edit:  And damn it wasn't...

Part Two

So back to Ban, Sen, and Hoji stuffing their faces...

The camera pans over to Wan who is observing the three scarf down their food off in the distance.   He makes a freaky face, and curtly says "Gettsu."  (The translator didn't translate this phrase in the subtitle, but I believe it's basically the equivalent of "Gotcha.")

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Gettsu.JPG)

Gettsu, bitch.

The scene switches back to the Dekabase headquarters.  Doggie, Jasmine, and Umeko are all concerned as the other three were supposed to have been back at HQ by now, and they are not answering their communicators.  As a result, Jasmine and Umeko go to investigate after Umeko tries to incorporate another fancy phrase into her speech.  Before leaving the base however, Jasmine confronts Umeko about the whole imitation thing.  The two trade words and Umeko is upset, but she tries to pass it off cooly again.  Jasmine is starting to get really concerned about Umeko now.

Back to Ban, Sen, and Hoji stuffing their face again...  It turns out that they can't stop actually.  The drug makes them want to continue eating.

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Poor%20Ban.JPG)

Poor Ban...

It's at this time that Wan makes his entrance and has his evil villian monologue.  Ban, Sen, and Hoji are oblivious however; they're too busy eating.  So then Wan garners their attention by transforming into what I can best describe as a chinese, meriachi-band, skull dude.

So without further ado...

How to Make an Entrance
by Liaru, the chinese, meriachi-band, skull dude

Step 1:  Say a clever catch phrase

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Wan%20Transforming.JPG)

Step 2: Transform into a chinese, meriachi-band, skull dude

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Wan%20Transformed.JPG)

Step 3: Jump and Wave

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/A%20Jump%20and%20a%20Wave.JPG)

Step 4:  Side-step off-screen while holding that pose (Ha-cha-cha-cha-cha...)

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Ha-cha-cha-cha-cha.JPG)

Step 5:  Re-emerge onto screen travelling in the opposite direction while still holding that pose

Step 6: And turn...

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/And%20Turn.JPG)

Step 7:  Clap hands, strike a pose, and say "Cha" or something equivalent

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Meriachi%20Band%20Member%20Liaru.JPG)

To which the three respond thusly...

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Surprise.JPG)

Sen and Hoji are absorbing the new data entering their brains aside from "Stop, Hungry, Hungry, Hungry."  Ban is taking a little bit longer to process the information.

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Dismay.JPG)

Sen is torn between eating and dealing with the current problem.  Hoji has stopped eating entirely.  And Ban is well... doing a bit of both.

To which Liaru gasses the three of them, and they pass out...

And I stop this post.  I'll do a third one.  It's a bit too long right now.

Edit:  And I'm going to call it quits for tonight.  I have work tomorrow, and this will probably cause me to lose some sleep if I finish it all tonight.  Hope you all enjoy it or at least get a chuckle or two :)

I can't wait to see how this turns out.

tell us more, and tell us if any western shows get on TV there.

Yar... I apologize for the delay in writing up the (hopefully) final part of the summary of Deka Ranger episode 17.

Before starting, I just need to describe one last term that will come up in this portion of the episode summary.

S.P.D. License: The S.P.D. (Space Police Dekaranger,) License is probably the most important piece of equipment in a dekaranger's arsenal.  Not only is it proof of authority, but it also enables each member to transform into their ranger form.  Normally this isn't anything special, but the S.P.D. license also serves as a communication device, a means of authentication for piloting the Deka machines (zords essentially,) and it can request the service of the Universal Court to pass judgement on an Alienizer.  (Every Alienizer that is found guilty is marked for death and executed on the spot by the dekaranger unit.)

Anyhow, on to the episode summary...

Jasmine and Umeko arrive at the restaurant, and they decide to park behind the building on a grassy lot.  Umeko activates the disguise option on her S.P.D. license, and Jasmine and her disguise themselves as waitresses.  (There is no such option on the license, but meh whatever :p)  The two make their way to the back of the restaurant by escorting guests to empty tables.  There they discover Ban, Hoji, and Sen unconscious resting on some tables.  Three waitresses are standing guard, and you can hear Liaru having another monologue in the background.  It turns out that Liaru has an odd fetish for making giant, fried gyozas (eggroll-like dealie,) out of people.

Jasmine and Umeko are anxiously waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike and rescue their three comrades while Liaru eagerly begins the process by flipping a switch to lower Ban into the giant pot of boiling water and shouting out the Engrish phrase, "Let's cooking!"  Shortly after, Umeko and Jasmine charge in and kick some ass securing Ban, Hoji, and Sen and forcing Liaru to flee in his stylistic "ha-cha-cha-cha-cha" manner.  (The waitresses were actually robotic drones in case you were wondering.  They were quickly dispatched by a giant spice shaker of some sort, and a pistol blast.)

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Lets%20Cooking.JPG)

"Let's cooking!" as opposed to "Let's cook!" or "Let's get cooking!"

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Boot%20to%20the%20Head.JPG)

For my dear, distant, non-related, relative, Meriachi-Band member Liaru, I leave you one boot to the head.

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Beautiful%20Ow.JPG)

High-heel pre-ownage.

After Liaru flees, Jasmine and Umeko try to rouse the three unconscious team members, but they are unsuccessful; the two chase after Liaru instead.  The scene changes back to Liaru's perspective.  Since he got his ass beat down by two girls, he decides to enlist the aid of the customers and does a gas/brainwash combo.  Jasmine and Umeko arrive shortly after and transform into their ranger form.  Liaru responds in a Mojo-Jojo-esque manner ("Curses!") albeit with his Meriachi-band member charm (a wide-eyed stare with some hand shaking and waving involved.)  He then becomes determined to make two female, fried gyozas.

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/With%20Class.JPG)

"Let's going assholes!"

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Curses.JPG)

"Curses..."

Damn, too long again...  And I wanted to get to Liaru's ultimate weapon too...

All well, here's a sneak peek to give you an idea :p

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Chug%20Chug%20Chug.JPG)

Stay tuned for the final (no really,) part of the episode summary. ;)

I'm sorry. I've been keeping up with this for a while now and I have one solid question for you Kain.  WTF IS THIS?! :evil:

I can't wait for the next installment.

This is amazing.

I could have sworn you were in the channel when I first started talking about this series a month or two ago. :p  Anyhow, for those that don't know, I am a huge fan of sentai and giant monsters.  Generally, I don't watch Power Rangers anymore (mostly because I just don't watch TV in general,) but I still read through the episode summaries of each series and whatnot.  Even though much of the plot of each series as well as the dialogue seems horribly corny at times, there are still certain aspects of the show that compel me to follow it.  I like certain core themes in the whole good VS evil thing (compassion, sacrifice, vengeance etc.).  To me, the Power Ranger series and especially the Japanese shows it's adapted off of embody those themes.

Oh and to be honest, I thought that Dekarangers was going to have a horrible story-line with horrible characters and horrible powers.  I just happened to stumble across a website that was doing fan-translations of the series, and I decided to download a single episode to see what I thought.  Luckily, I was proven wrong, very wrong indeed.  (Although the next series coming out to Japan is about magic... *shudder*  I seriously wonder how the hell they'll adapt that one here.)  With a few exceptions, the twenty one episodes I have seen of Dekaranger have been better than most of the episodes of Power Rangers I have seen in the last 11 years.   I also know that several episodes of Dekaranger will never be wholly adapted for the new Power Rangers SPD due to their context whether it be about drugs, bombings, or ancient Japanese culture.

Right then, time to finish off this episode summary.

Liaru charges towards Jasmine and Umeko grabbing them by the neck and forcing them outside.  There he manages to seperate the two from himself long enough to reveal his (pen) ultimate technique, intoxication.  He reaches down for the jug at his side, uncorks it, and starts madly chugging the liquor inside.  After getting shit-faced enough, he belches and makes a comment about how tasty Earth sake is.  Umeko responds by commenting on how much he reeks of sake, and Jasmine wonders how Liaru will be able to beat them while being drunk.

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Chug%20Chug%20Chug.JPG)

I want to see Liaru and Stone Cold Steve Austin have a chugging contest.

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Belch.JPG)

I'm sure many of the WHS forum regulars would disagree with Liaru on this one...

So Liaru proceeds to beat the shit out of Umeko and Jasmine.  He parries most of their attacks with his metal jug, and his attacks are too unpredictable for the two girls to dodge.  After giving Jasmine and Umeko  their first beat down, Liaru starts showing off some of his drunken special abilities.  One of them is called, "Space Drunken Fist" in which Liaru breathes out a stream of fire...  The force of this attack sends the two dekarangers sprawling backward and causes them to demorph.

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Quick%20Slug.JPG)

Self-rewarding and highly satisfying...

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Space%20Drunken%20Fist.JPG)

Oh no!  Not the Space Drunken Fist!

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Flamer.JPG)

Talk about being misled...

Both Jasmine and Umeko run for cover to think of their next plan of attack.  Liaru is fine with this as he's content with getting more sloshed and taunting them at the moment.  Umeko comes up with an idea, but she quickly casts it aside, because she thinks her ideas are worthless next to Jasmine's.  Umeko continues to panic, and Jasmine resolves the matter by bitch-slapping Umeko and explaining to her that Jasmine made a mistake for ever respecting her.  This of course upsets Umeko, but it gives her the push she needed to start acting like her old self again.  So then the plan goes into action...

Umeko charges towards Liaru and (conveniently) whips out some rope.  She quickly tosses it around Liaru's jug of sake and snatches it away from him.  (The look on Liaru's face is great although quite hard to capture for a screenshot. :))  With a determined look on her face, Umeko proceeds to chug the rest of the sake in the jug.  Feeling the buzz, Umeko stumbles about trying to regain her balance from standing still and winds up tossing the jug into a nearby stream.  Liaru is still digesting the loss of his sake, and Jasmine is almost as surprised.  After coming to terms with her balance again, Umeko readies herself and challenges Liaru to some drunken fist.

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Potent%20Stuff.JPG)

Umeko is starting to feel the buzz.

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Poor%20Liaru.JPG)

Liaru expressing dismay.

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Drunken%20Ownage.JPG)

Liaru expressing pain.

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Wheee.JPG)

Umeko expressing drunkeness.

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Umeko%20Gettsu.JPG)

Umeko expressing "Gettsu!".

And crap...  I can't attach any more images to this post it seems.  The pictures aren't loading properly.  So I'll just continue this on a new post.  And I'll get to it right after I hit "Add Reply" this time ;)

Alright, Umeko manages to completely own Liaru, forcing him to a beach area.  Even though she is still wasted, Umeko and Jasmine transform back into their dekaranger forms.  The two of them confront Liaru with the first half of the battle focusing on Liaru and Umeko fighting and the second half with Jasmine in place of Umeko.  Jasmine and Umeko then team up and deliver a final blow which shatters the crystal on top of Liaru's hat, thus breaking his hold over the other three dekarangers and everyone else at the restaurant.  Jasmine congratulates Umeko, but she turns around to find Umeko demorphed and fast asleep on the beach.  The three other dekarangers show up, and there is an awkward moment as they're brought up to date.

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Good%20Advice.JPG)

Cultural Side Note:  According to the caption that followed this scene, the legal drinking age in Japan is 20 years old.

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/More%20Drunken%20Ownage.JPG)

I have come to love drop-kicks in sentai and giant monster films.

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Blissful%20Sleep.JPG)

*Snore*

All is not well however, it turns out that Liaru has one last trick, his ultimate technique, nipple electrocution!  Yep... even the narrator points out that Liaru is indeed poking his nipples.  Anyhow the point of this technique is that by electrocuting his nipples, Liaru excites his cells causing him to grow giant.  How?  I have no idea, but this is why I love this episode and sentai in general.

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Nipple%20Electrocution.JPG)

The legal representatives of Liaru would like to remind you that Liaru neither condones nor supports nipple electrocution.

In response to this new event, Ban informs Swan to launch the Deka machines.  There is a problem however.  Umeko's machine needs a pilot... Doggie Kruger to the rescue!  He's already transformed and driving the machine before the four of them even get in.

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Life-Lesson.JPG)

Doggie Kruger reminds you to drink responsibly.

The four dekarangers and the dekamaster immediately transform the machines into the Deka Robo.  Liaru starts the battle of by saying his trademark "Gettsu" to which the deka team responds with a giant blast of water from the Deka Robo's gun.  As soon as Liaru goes down from the blast, Jasmine activates the "Judgment" option on her SPD license.  (I forgot to mention that if an alienizer is judged while the dekarangers are inside of the Deka Robo, the Deka Robo has a giant wrist display that will inform the alienizer of the universal court's decision.)  Liaru is found guilty of course, and the deka team gets the ok to go forward with the execution.  (Even facing death, Liaru is still a schmuck.  His final words are "Gett... su...")  Anyhow, Liaru went boom and all is well for right now.

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Gyoza-frying%20homicides.JPG)

"Ozuchuu Seijin Liaru, for being in violation of space drug control laws, as well as the crime of the extensive gyoza-frying homicides across thirty-five planets, judgement!"

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Delete%20Approved.JPG)

"You are the weakest link, goodbye."

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Liaru%20in%20Denial.JPG)

Liaru in denial...

The scene switches back to the Deka base where Doggie Kruger is reminding Ban, Sen, and Hoji of the importance of their jobs as dekarangers.  Umeko walks into the room with a tray full of food.  Ban, Sen, and Hoji politely refuse while Doggie just kind of stares at the three's reaction.  Jasmine then walks into the room dressed in a bath robe with a towel around her neck.  She makes a Umeko-like comment which confuses Doggie and Umeko greatly.  Doggie asks Jasmine if she's ok, and Jasmine replies, "Just kidding."  The two girls both have a laugh as the narrator sums up the events of the episode.

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Bad%20Meal.JPG)

I love all three of their reactions. :)

(http://members.cox.net/kain-xavier/misc/dekaranger/Closet%20Cannibal.JPG)

Umeko is a closet cannibal.

And just one more tidbit about the episode...

Normally, each episode ends with an alien jazz band playing a catchy tune while the five deka rangers dance to it.  This time, the episode ended with a fun song that played while Umeko was drunk and fighting Liaru.  I believe both Umeko and Jasmine actually provided the vocals for this song.

Anyhow, that's episode 17.  I hope most of you enjoyed it. :)  I may ressucitate this thread ever so often to post more funny pictures from the series, but I doubt that I will write another episode summary any time soon. ;)  Besides, there's a site already that has decent text-based summaries of each episode.  I'm not sure of the link off-hand, but I can dig it up for anyone interested.

Intresting is a strange way.

Hehe Yep :)  I appreciate you taking the time to read the whole thing too. :p

Tell us more about china, including the TV, how the people are, stuff like that. I've always been fasinated by the place, but never been past germany.

kain scares me .

I love this world. It's a shame it's not real.

Missed this one somehow...very interesting.Although I don't care for power rangers or anything like that,it was quite neat.

I'm egerly awaiting the next installment here in England.