Yep, I got sick again. Same thing as in February. I’m going to the gastrologist this week so hopefully we can figure out what happened so we aren’t doing this again in April. I don’t like having gas pressure that bad, or vomiting, or being too tired to do anything. I’m still not back to normal eating (I almost was before I got sick again) and I don’t want to take too many chances until I see the doctor.
So I’m still a bit tired and can’t really focus on writing or reading stuff. That means I’m going to take a few more days off, maybe until Saturday like last time. I’m very annoyed about the whole thing and hope you folks can bear with me until I’m able to give you the best work I can. Have a good week and stay safe.
I mentioned in last week’s Clutter Report that I was worried about losing creativity this year. Notice there’s no Jake & Leon this week. The whole month’s been knocking me down, with the gas issue and having trouble sleeping or at least staying awake. While I’ve never been officially diagnosed with Seasonal Affectiveness Disorder I do tend to be in a bit of a down mood around this time of year. Add in so many moderns stories in my favorite genres (sci-fi and superheroes) over the years going for the darker tales and the crap that’s gone on since just after this time last year (including some family stuff I won’t get into here) and it’s no surprise to me that I’ve been watching episodes of Bluey just to find creativity, fun, bright colors, and the sounds of laughter. Hey, I was happy when Bumpy recovered, okay? No I didn’t cry. I’m not that far gone! So yes, I’m a 47 year old man with no kids who has a favorite Bluey episode. Don’t expect an apology.
I’d say there were times I wonder why you all read this but if you’re here this long you already know what to expect out of me, and it’s very strange. You’re doing it to yourselves and I’m glad you care. I’ll try to keep up for you until this all passes, but there’s a reason my nighttime posts have been so late the past few days.
Anyway, this month for Saturday Night Showcase I’m going to back off of the Japanese superheroes for a bit (though they’re the only superheroes allowed to be light and fun…and with Kamen Rider Faiz that’s saying something–I mean last night we were talking about cat people who shove dead bodies into trees with Agito) and do a bit of nostalgia. Official YouTube postings are giving us some of the shows I grew up with, that helped form how I approach my own storytelling, though I have also enjoyed stories that are occasionally dark. (As I was telling someone else just today in the Superman & Lois review comments my favorite movie is The NeverEnding Story and everyone except the Empress dies in Fantasia and have to be wished back–I just don’t praise it because it’s dark but it’s as dark as the story requires for Bastian’s character growth as he gets drawn into the story and learns to dream again despite the world around him slowly losing the ability.) I just need more light in my life to bring me back to life. Fixing my air mattress so I can get off of this thing might help too. Plus a good gas passing.
As for this week, the next chapter(s) of BattleTech: I Am Jade Falcon, I’m finally ready to give my first impressions of Power Rangers DinoFury, and…other stuff. I’m not sure what’s coming or if it will be on time but I promise the best reviews and commentaries I can make or find. That’s just how we do things around here. If you pushed through my rambling this long have a good week. If you didn’t still have a good week. We could use a few more of those.
I mentioned in the article earlier this week about legal streaming of tokusatsu shows in the US that Toei Tokusatsu World‘s posting schedule on YouTube is a bit odd. Here’s another example. Kamen Rider Kuuga (which I actually did a Saturday Night Showcase on when Shout Factory TV started posting and streaming it) comes before tonight’s entry, Kamen Rider Agito (sometimes spelled “AgitΩ” but I’m not going to the character map every time I write Agito), on TV. And yet Toei posted two episodes of Agito before Kuuga, and then posted two episodes of Kuuga before posting yet another Kamen Rider show after that. I don’t understand their schedule at all. These guys have worked in television long enough to know better. I could see going back and forth between the two classic Rider eras (Showa and Heisei, like with Godzilla) but it’s all over the place and we have to wonder how long it’s going to take to get the full series of any of the shows they offer. Better than nothing? Maybe, but I can already watch Kuuga on Shout Factor TV and the Toku channel got the rights to Agito, but I don’t have access to that.
Kamen Rider Agito takes place after Kamen Rider Kuuga but despite references to the previous series there’s a bit of confusion from everyone, including the creators, if it’s a sequel. Meet Shoichi Tsugami, which he would love to do himself since he has amnesia. To make matters worse for the poor guy he’s about to get drawn into battle with Unknown, a bunch of cat-like wackos according to the two episodes currently out who enjoy shoving their victims into trees. Tsugami soon learns he has the power to fight them as Kamen Rider Agito, while the police have their own Metal Hero (remember those guys…yeah, most of you probably don’t–the franchise ending is why VR Troopers and Beetleborgs ended so abruptly) to fight their predecessors, the “Unidentified Lifeforms” from Kuuga. (That’s where the confusion starts.) Will our hero save the city? Well, we won’t find out in the first two episodes but we need both to set up our tale. Turn on the closed captions for English subtitles and enjoy.
I was going to review an Avengers movie this week but my February has been filled with gas and tiredness. Although I’m supposedly better these last two days have been filled with the latter and today the former popped back to pick up its jacket and stayed for coffee. Too bad I prefer tea. At any rate that’s why the posts have been late these past two days. Frankly I’m only mentioning it here because the intro will be too short otherwise. Now on to what you’re here for.
ViacomCBS has just released new information about Star Trek: Prodigy, their animated series they’ve been producing for Nickelodeon. Except now they’ve decided to take a page from HBO Max and show it first on Paramount+, the Disney+ style rebrand of CBS All Access. (Can nobody do better than “Plus” for their streaming names now?) The information includes a bit more about the plot of the series and a look at our main cast of characters. The official Star Trek website has also put out a press release about the new series and…well, you saw the title of this article. You know I’m not all that impressed.
