So I finally finished watching the whole 51 episodes of Jetman, something I wasn't able to do way back when the series was aired on Solar Channel. My initial review of Jetman includes the lighter episodes: the team fights against monsters who wreak havoc in the human world. The latter episodes on the other hand, bridges the gap between the team members' private lives and their mission in securing world peace.
There's the ill-fated love between Aoi Rie (a.k.a. Maria, the only lady in the enemy camp) and Tendo Ryu (Red Hawk), leader of the Jetman. In episode 32, Ryu finally discovers Maria's former identity and subsequent episodes saw him mulling over the past and even imagining that Rie is still with him. Because of this, Yuuki Gai (Black Condor) emerges as one of the best sidekicks. He takes in charge while Ryu tries to confront reality. Up to the end, Ryu never gives up and tries very hard in helping Rie go back to normal. And when Rie finally dies in episode 49, we see a crying Red Hawk bent on pursuing vengeance. At this point, it is Kaori's turn to shine as she reminds Ryu of Rie's final wish, to save the earth from the Vyram. (Kaori's role in this is important as she helps fill the vacuum Rie left when she died.)
To say that Jetman is the darkest of the sentai series of the 90s is an understatement. It is only in Chojin Sentai Jetman that one gets disturbed, not only with how twisted and cruel the antagonists are, but also by how indifferent people can be. Both antagonists and the people the Jetman sought to protect are guilty of unleashing horrors. If there's one episode that scares me, it would have to be episode 36 wherein Tranza's Ant Monster turns people into zombies. It feels like watching a horror movie, and I don't even watch horror films!
What I do appreciate in the series is the continuous improvement of the team's weapons and robots. Tetra Boy was invented and not long after, Garuda which was first manned by Chief Aya herself in episode 43 as the background music plays the Garuda theme. Aside from this, the antagonists also are a bit complex, and boasts of being some of the cruelest villains. Tran grows up overnight after a humiliating defeat and becomes Emperor Tranza, for a time the leader of the Vyram Elite, until he was defeated by the cunning Radiguet in episode 47. Radiguet is willing to create alliances when needed but can also easily discard those he have finally no use of. He even promises Maria increased powers but the hidden price is to be able to control her. Maria on the other hand, is proud and her thirst for power ultimately led to her downfall. She redeemed herself in the end though by stabbing Radiguet at the back and the wound inflicted became Radiguet's weakness during the final battle. Of the Vyram Elite, the most human-like would have to be Gray, that music-and-wine-loving robot who often rescues Maria from harm. It is ironic that a robotic creature is the one who exhibits humane traits and can be said as noble. One cannot help but like him as he pleads the Jetmen to help Maria go back to her human form.
For these reasons, Chojin Sentai Jetman easily is my favorite sentai series. Except that I cannot accept the ending where my favorite character, Gai, dies from a stab by a thief. What an awful ending for someone who served well for the sake of the world.
There's the ill-fated love between Aoi Rie (a.k.a. Maria, the only lady in the enemy camp) and Tendo Ryu (Red Hawk), leader of the Jetman. In episode 32, Ryu finally discovers Maria's former identity and subsequent episodes saw him mulling over the past and even imagining that Rie is still with him. Because of this, Yuuki Gai (Black Condor) emerges as one of the best sidekicks. He takes in charge while Ryu tries to confront reality. Up to the end, Ryu never gives up and tries very hard in helping Rie go back to normal. And when Rie finally dies in episode 49, we see a crying Red Hawk bent on pursuing vengeance. At this point, it is Kaori's turn to shine as she reminds Ryu of Rie's final wish, to save the earth from the Vyram. (Kaori's role in this is important as she helps fill the vacuum Rie left when she died.)
To say that Jetman is the darkest of the sentai series of the 90s is an understatement. It is only in Chojin Sentai Jetman that one gets disturbed, not only with how twisted and cruel the antagonists are, but also by how indifferent people can be. Both antagonists and the people the Jetman sought to protect are guilty of unleashing horrors. If there's one episode that scares me, it would have to be episode 36 wherein Tranza's Ant Monster turns people into zombies. It feels like watching a horror movie, and I don't even watch horror films!
What I do appreciate in the series is the continuous improvement of the team's weapons and robots. Tetra Boy was invented and not long after, Garuda which was first manned by Chief Aya herself in episode 43 as the background music plays the Garuda theme. Aside from this, the antagonists also are a bit complex, and boasts of being some of the cruelest villains. Tran grows up overnight after a humiliating defeat and becomes Emperor Tranza, for a time the leader of the Vyram Elite, until he was defeated by the cunning Radiguet in episode 47. Radiguet is willing to create alliances when needed but can also easily discard those he have finally no use of. He even promises Maria increased powers but the hidden price is to be able to control her. Maria on the other hand, is proud and her thirst for power ultimately led to her downfall. She redeemed herself in the end though by stabbing Radiguet at the back and the wound inflicted became Radiguet's weakness during the final battle. Of the Vyram Elite, the most human-like would have to be Gray, that music-and-wine-loving robot who often rescues Maria from harm. It is ironic that a robotic creature is the one who exhibits humane traits and can be said as noble. One cannot help but like him as he pleads the Jetmen to help Maria go back to her human form.
For these reasons, Chojin Sentai Jetman easily is my favorite sentai series. Except that I cannot accept the ending where my favorite character, Gai, dies from a stab by a thief. What an awful ending for someone who served well for the sake of the world.
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