Spotlight on Fandoms: GoGo Sentai Boukenger

[blossomsofice.livejournal.com]

Hello, hello again everyone, it's Shanie (yes, again, for so the RNG gods have determined) with the GoGo Sentai Boukenger segment of this week's Spotlight on Fandoms.

Boukenger is the 30th incarnation of Toei's long-running Super Sentai series. It's part of the genre known as tokusatsu, which is basically any live-action show usually of the sci-fi, fantasy, or horror genre that involves special effects and actors in suits. The most recent fifteen Super Sentai series have, of course, been adapted -- often quite loosely -- into the American Power Rangers franchise. After a 49-episode run, Boukenger's final episode aired yesterday in Japan. *sniffle* I kind of got accidentally spoiled for it. Oops.

How'd I get into this show? Well, I got tired of waiting for Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive, which will be adapted from Boukenger, to start. Which it does in two weeks, and when it does you just might witness a little bit of my occasional flailing about what they've done with the sentai footage. You can get away with a lot more in Japanese children's programming than you can in the U.S. so the storylines are edgier, the fight sequences are less neutered, and the crack? The crack is off the scale.

But you still get the spandex and giant robots, 'cause it wouldn't be a tokusatsu show otherwise.

And now, on to ( the premise. )

( The Characters )

( Why do I watch? )

( Where Do I Get It? And a Few Fun Links. )

And that's it for me until the next time the RNG calls me out. ;)

Spotlight on Fandoms: My So-Called Life

[chasingangela]

"My So-Called Life" was an hour-long teen drama that ran on ABC from Aug. 25, 1994, to Jan. 26, 1995; only 19 episodes aired in that time, three shy of a full season. It was created by Winnie Holzman, who also produced "thirtysomething" and "Once and Again."

"My So-Called Life" was an exceptionally realistic and honest portrayal of adolescence. It was also kind of the prototypical "Brilliant but Canceled" series, having drawn far more critical plaudits than viewers. However, echoes of its style are still all over many angsty teen dramas.

The show followed the life of Angela Chase, a sophomore at the fictional Three Rivers (Pa.) High School, and her interwoven circle of family and friends. It managed to deal with alcohol and drug abuse, sexuality, physical abuse, zits, illiteracy, gay issues, and parent/child relationships -- without (usually) tilting into Blossom-y Very Special Episode territory. It was easily one of the most brilliant things ever on TV. Not that I'm biased or anything.

( Major Characters )

( Minor Characters )

( Where can I find it? )

*looks at length of this entry* Does anyone have any questions?

Spotlight on Fandoms: Fandoms for Feb. 18th (and possibly the 25th)

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

Fandoms for next week: The Office, Wonderfalls and The Mummy!

The RNG also picked Charmed, but (at futurebucs_star's suggestion) I'm going to start giving a two week warning on the fandoms that have more than two players who volunteered to cover them.

So! keds_champion, fat_halpert, fates_jaye and bookyeve please let me know if you will be able to post on Sunday.

And all of you Charmed people, please let me know if you will be able to post in two weeks. Feel free to use this post to coordinate who all wants to help and all that sort of stuff.

Also, a reminder. Anyone is still free to volunteer to cover their fandom. Please just comment on the original post.

And! In case anyone missed it, slr_mercury made her post for Sailor Moon on Friday.