Fixing Power Rangers: Samurai Revised

This is sort of a Part 0.5 for Fixing Power Rangers. After some consideration, I've decided to slightly modify the base elements of Power Rangers Samurai as presented in Amit Bhaumik's pitch for the show just to keep it a little more in-line with my ideas for what a Samurai season should be like.

Before we start, we should address some of the issues present in the "real" version of Power Rangers Samurai. A rundown of every single problem in the show would take too long but, in short, the core issue that reverberates is this: an over-reliance on both the Sentai footage and the Sentai story line. This causes many problems with the show, especially thematically and logically. Because Shinkenger is an incredibly Japanese show - not just in aesthetics, but in style and tone - it created translation issues when it seemed as if the writers were simply copy-and-pasting the script from Shinkenger into Samurai. It is steeped in Japanese notions of tradition, honor, self-worth, responsibility, and much more. As such, it makes little sense when simply translated into English by Power Rangers. Not to mention there is a casting issue, where a bunch of white people represent this supposedly Japanese clan of ancient samurai warriors.

This is where Amit Bhaumik's version comes in. It fixes the race problem, as well as supposes much more creative uses for the Sentai footage without being beholden to the plots of Shinkenger. There are some things that I would add, however. I'll use this as something of a "practice session" for hypothesizing a season of Power Rangers. I expect there will be more detail in ones that I have created wholly on my own, without Amit Bhaumik's guiding hand.

Here are my revisions:

The Premise
I love the focus on question authority and bucking tradition, as well as the peace-making that sits at the heart of the season. What I would want to do is make the struggle for peace between the warring clans a much heavier theme, something that is intrinsic in the conflict between Jayden and Dekker - two friends almost as close as brothers now pitted against each other because of an ancient conflict.

The Cast
(Note: Most last names will be omitted so that casting can be as colorblind as needed.)

• Jayden Shiba - Red Ranger. More than anyone, Jayden's lack of choice is emphasized. He was brought up in the samurai legacy, always pushed to do things he didn't want to do and made to be someone he couldn't see himself becoming. Because of this, he sees it as his fault that everyone else is stuck in the situation that they're in - and will often go into "loner mode" where he'll abandon his team because he doesn't want to put them in danger. Over the course of the first half or so of the season, he'll have to learn how to place his trust in his friends and not feel that he has to be responsible for everything. By the 30th episode or so, he'll have made peace with his duties as a samurai - only to discover that he's no longer the Red Ranger. Because tradition demands that Lauren take over, he suddenly feels lost. This will be his final task: learning to be someone divorced from the relationships that had shaped his whole life, as well as learning that tradition is not always right.
• Pushing the "Samurai Dad" angle would probably work more for this version too, feeling like he needs to fulfill his father's legacy but never having the chance to argue with him or protest about his destiny because he's dead.
• I would also say that his team would never let Jayden sleep in the back of the sushi place. Perhaps that would be the plot of an episode, to make Jayden realize that his self-worth isn't defined by who he is (or who he is not) and that his actions speak louder than any blood relation or lack thereof.
• He becomes co-leader of the team, a second Red Ranger using the Shogun battlizer.
• Mia - Pink Ranger. Pushed into a domestic life and suffocated by traditions and social mores, she feels frustrated by her life. She doesn't want to be the prim-and-proper princess or be defined by the fact that she's a girl. As such, her goal in this series will be overcoming the pressures put upon her by her parents and her society to be someone else. This commonality with Jayden is why the two of them end up together, breaking the bounds of tradition with each other. The smartest of the team.
• Kevin - Blue Ranger. Elitist, hoity-toity, looks down on others for not being as dedicated, loyal, "skilled." He's been pushed by his family to be a samurai for his whole life, but the pressure of this has turned him into kind of a huge jerk. Has a rivalry with Mike because the two of them are so different from each other. His big thing will be resolving the internal conflict he has about whether or not he should be as dedicated he is even if it means his own self-destruction.
• Emily - Yellow Ranger. Kind, compassionate, innocent. She's a farm girl who has always known who she is and what she was about. Having lived a simple life, she is totally turned upside down when she is suddenly thrust into the role of Samurai Power Ranger. Has a massive inferiority complex because it was her sister who was meant to take on this role and, as such, doesn't feel prepared to be who she is. Her big conflict will be learning how to be self-confident and overcoming her lack of self-esteem, helped along by her relationship with Mike - whose irreverence and rules-breaking nature helps her not feel devalued.
• At the beginning, Emily - along with Mike - is one of the viewpoint characters before Jayden takes center stage in the show, helping those who knew little about Power Rangers to learn about the show and what it's like.
• Mike - Green Ranger. Disrespectful, wastes time on video games, doesn't go to training. Kevin kind of hates him at first. However, despite all this - he's easily the most charismatic and outwardly courageous of the team, the first to offer himself up for the cause. While kind of lazy and irreverent, he is also the bravest - though he's hardly the smartest. His character conflict is thus: finding a middle ground between his disrespectful nature and he overly-responsible traditions of the Samurai Rangers.
• Mike is the other viewpoint character at the start, but he's more of a Power Rangers fan kind of viewpoint character. Loves reading Power Rangers comics, he's someone who is enthusiastic about being a Ranger - even if he doesn't initially seem as dedicated as everyone else to the cause.
• Ji - Le Butler. He's steeped in tradition, dedicated to serving the family that he's been a valued part of for decades. Dislikes Jayden's resentment of his family, but loves him like a son. Had a bit of a rebellious streak in his past, but it's long behind him - part of this is why he takes a liking to Mike, despite himself.
• Bulk - The sushi chef. 'Nuff said.
• Spike - Gold Ranger. The son of Skull, has moved in with his Uncle Bulk for the time being. He's a huge fan of the Power Rangers, something that he gets from his dad and uncle. Silly, fun, and clumsy - he nonetheless resolves to be a Samurai Ranger, even building a morpher of his own. His big conflict is one of self-doubt: faced with the strict traditions of the Samurai Rangers, will he fold or will he rise above?
• The Servants - The support staff of the Rangers, they are the various butlers, maids, cooks, and others that serve the Shiba family.
• Lauren Shiba - The true Red Ranger. Takes over for Jayden, even if she is "less skilled" at this position. Regardless, she does an admirable job of performing her Red Ranger duties, even if she struggles to make friends with the Rangers. Hints of a relationship between her and Kevin emerge, the two of them something like kindred spirits.
• Dekker - The head of the Nighlok Clan, Dekker can "morph" into a skeletal warrior wielding Uramasa, an ancient sword. His arc in the show would be a cathartic one, a tale of a lost warrior whose inability to put his insecurities aside turn him to evil. He has the charisma and drive typical of a Red Ranger, yet it seems that his upbringing made it impossible for him to achieve any kind of long-lasting destiny with this. His rekindling his friendship with Jayden is what allows him to overcome his fear of self.

Amit Bhaumik's pitch lacked any character focus episodes specifically, but obviously it should be pretty clear that characters would receive those episodes throughout the season. In order, it seems important that some characters get development earlier than others. Mike and Emily would front-load the season, with Kevin receiving most of his development next, then Mia and Jayden. Lauren would also receive some at the end, and Spike would get most of his during his introductory episodes. Weirdly enough, it would seem that Bulk would be the "sage" one, providing advice on Ranger issues.

The Movie

Clash of the Red Rangers would still happen in this universe, although modified. As it says in the title, the conflict is intrinsically one between Scott and Jayden - the two of them polar opposites in many ways. Scott is cocky, self-assured, and outgoing while Jayden is far more serious and immovable. The tale would go between the two worlds, the first half of the movie taking place in the "main" Ranger-verse while the second half would take place in Corinth, helping the RPM Rangers (if necessary, always morphed) fight against Professor Cog. At the heart of this would be the conflict between the military sci-fi RPM Rangers and the mystical sword-using Samurai Rangers.

In terms of everything else, Amit Bhaumik kind of has it covered. I don't want to say too much after this since he's so thoroughly covered everything in his version of the events. As before, we'll see you next time with Power Rangers Megaforce!