Getting Into Kamen Rider

[Gigantis_99]

I've been looking to get into Kamen Rider lately. I was thinking of picking up the V3 set, do I need to be familiar with the original series to enjoy it? Based on what I've read Black sounds interesting too.

[Inui Takumi]

I haven't seen much of V3 but it does tie directly into the original series in the very beginning.

I'd suggest checking out some of the other shows first to see if it is your kind of thing before dropping dough on V3, since I know that's a ridiculously priced set.

Black is a good show from what I've heard. There are a lot of jumping on points within the franchise that you can try out. Generally, fans tend to find it easier to get into the series by trying out shows in the post-2000, or "Heisei era". Stuff like Kamen Rider Kuuga, Agito (which is loosely connected to Kuuga), Ryuki, Faiz, Double (W), Fourze, and Gaim could be interesting places to start. Though, I'd also suggest trying out the original Kamen Rider series. It's a different tone than the current shows but is a ton of fun to watch. Also, Hongo is a cool mofo. haha

[The Great MM]

I don't have too much exposure with Kamen Rider myself. A handful of my friends have tried getting me into it. I admit, most of the stuff I've seen I've either really liked or just found god awful. They easily got me to check out Kamen Rider ZO and J simply because of Keita Amemiya's involvement. And I loved them as I do the rest of his work. I found Shin to look cool but the movie be boring. Jacob streamed the Starfish Hitler episode of one of the Showa shows for a group of us, which was hilarious. I saw two of the Heisei movies and found them to be absolutely horrible. And I have no interest in most of the newer stuff post 2000's... the fruit one looks like personified cancer.

Am interested in watching Black, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

[kiryugoji04]

[Gigantis_99]

Thanks all. Could anyone who's seen the original series recommend some favorite episodes? I've recently picked up the first volume.

[lhb412]

[kiryugoji04]

[Gigantis_99]

Yeah finally watched the first episode of Kamen Rider Black and thought it was great. Really got a John Carpenter- Big Trouble in Little China vibe from it. Looking forward to watching more.

[Specium Ray]

I absolutely adore Kamen Rider Black, it's easily my favorite KR series. I had never seen it until six or seven years ago but it gave me nostalgia. I would have eaten this show up as a kid.

[Zack Metoyer]

Absolutely loved Faiz/555 and Blade. Not sure how well they have aged.

The only other series I have seen are some of V3 and Hibiki, which I didn't get into. Oh, and the American series with the Furby.

[Dr Kain]

The best ones to start with are Black, Ryuki, Blade, and W.

Black is the only Showa series that is totally a stand alone series and is my second favorite.

Blade is by far the greatest Kamen Rider show ever made. No filler and one of the most satisfying conclusions to any Kamen Rider series.

Ryuki is like Highlander and is what got me into KR.

W kickstarted a new generation of Kamen Riders that were in the same universe as the Showa riders. I do recommend watching W, OOO, Fourze back to back as the three of them connect with each other in a few ways, not to mention the Fourze/OOO MegaMax movie kind of finishes (kind of by default though) an ongoing storyarc.

If you want more after those, Gaim, Kuuga, Agito, and Kiva should satisfy you.

[Inui Takumi]

I... wouldn't suggest watching Kiva. haha IMO, it's probably the worst Kamen Rider series.

[kiryugoji04]

Oh, God, Kiva is the worst.

[Gigantis_99]

Kiva sounded interesting. What didn't you guys like about it? I'm watching Black still and kind of want to check out Kuuga next. Should I?

[Reaper G]

V3 is the only series I have in full, thanks to the Hawaiian release. I think it's episode 16 where Hiroshi Miyauchi does an amazing stunt, riding the roof of a cable car over the Hakone valley. That right there elevated the show in my eyes from a great Japanese superhero show to a great show, period.

[Dr Kain]

Kiva is a great show. It takes place during two different time periods, which adds a unique flavor to it. Plus, Wataru (the main hero) grows A LOT throughout the show. He starts out as a shut in and then gets more and more comfortable going outside as the series progresses and becomes a true hero. The only real negative to the show occurs when a time traveling aspect is introduced as it is kind of dumb, but that doesn't stop what was a pretty great series overall. It is certainly far better than Ghost, Drive, Ex-Aid, Den-O, Decade, Kabuto, 555, Wizard, and the second half to Hibiki.

[Gigantis_99]

Gaim looks interesting just to see how Gen Urobuchi does a Kamen Rider show. Gaim's supposed to get darker as it progresses,right? Also, I asked before but is Kuuga worth the effort?

[kiryugoji04]

Gaim is fantastic, barring the sexist ways it often handles its female characters (but it's Japan so literally no surprise there, unfortunately). Everything else about it is A+.

Kiva showed me the true meaning of despair. When it wasn't boring (it was only REALLY good for about five or ten episodes after Kamen Rider IXA was first introduced), it was convoluted and stupid, with the "two time periods" aspect really only ever being used in some of the dumbest possible ways. The toyetic nature of the show was never integrated well, like with something like Kamen Rider W. No, here you can have a form or a bike upgrade show up for LITERALLY ONE EPISODE and then never again. Good job, writers. You really tried. Then the final ten episodes with the time travel hijinks were some of the worst episodes of Rider I've ever seen. Between Kiva and Decade, I was ready to completely give up on Rider until someone convinced me to watch W.

[Dr Kain]

[mbozzo]

It's not easy to get into Kamen Rider here in America. I pray that Liongate will do a Kamen Rider movie that will feature the first Kamen rider. If it's successful, we might see more Kamen Riders make an appearance in future movie.

[Kaiju_Ultra_Fan]

Watched Kamen Rider The First last night. I really liked it, what a crazy superhero movie.

Some of the flying kicks off the motorcycle were really cool. I liked it so much I watched the first episode of the '71 series,..which was kind of a trippy head trip. There were times I felt like I was watching Argento's Suspiria. Maybe trippy colors and weird camera angles (like upside down) are just indicative of the 70's style of filmmaking and television.

..maybe people were on a lot of drugs back then.

Between all the Godzilla/Mothra/Gamera/etc creature movies, all the Ultraman shows and movies, and now an interest in Kamen Rider,..I feel like I have enough stuff to watch for the next couple years. Hahaha

It's good stuff though. And I've gotten so bored with American TV and most of the movies, that I haven't really been watching much TV or movies in years, just stuff on Netflix and the MCU,..so it's nice to have something fresh and new to watch. (fresh and new to me, anyway.)

I've seen a bunch of Godzilla movies but Ultraman and Kamen Rider are definitely new to me.

[Dr Kain]

Like anything, there are good Kamen Rider series, there are average ones, and there are total stinkers.

[Kaiju_Ultra_Fan]

yeah I'm sure it's the law of averages I guess.

All 3 series (Godzilla, Ultra, Kamen) have been around enough decades it's inevitable there will be awful ones of each.

[Dr Kain]

[Kaiju_Ultra_Fan]

Glad to see Black is rated highly I was going to watch that after watching the Original series.