Season 19, Episode 15: Stroke of Fate

"Stroke of Fate"

Episode 15

Air Date: November 3rd, 2012

Well, I'll take the substance and explored depth of a relatively annoying character over what we've been getting from both Samurai/Super Samurai so far as it at least is trying to give these character some emotional resonance instead of dumb catchphrases like "Fantastico" when the actor is not even Latin/Hispanic! -_-  Yeah, so this is an Antonio focused episode after the massive cliffhanger of the world potentially ending thanks to Serrator's master plan of ripping the fabric of our world and the Netherworld to create total domination over both.  And I don't mind it, because it's handled relatively serious, with little to no of the annoying elements of the show that feel heavy handed or poorly written. I guess it's because Amit Bahumik does his best with the tremendous limitations he is given instead of working under a showrunner with actual ambition and even talent....Jesus! O_O I know he's worked with Tzachor before but man I feel sorry for the guy being forced to write for this show.  Now Amit can be a little too overzealous with his concepts and vision for the show since it would require the show to go far over budget because of wanting more mythology heavy storytelling than an adaption of the Sentai but it's because he truly cares for the franchise like any hardcore fan would.

Tzachor doesn't as you can so obviously see he has no skill in the writing and creative direction process! But I digress, at least Antonio goes through some kind of inner struggle when dealing with killing aka destroying a defenseless enemy, especially when he's a cursed half human/half Nighlok.  I love how he says he should have done something even after telling the rangers and Mentor about what he didn't do.  I mean he could have captured Dekker, more than once but then I wonder where they would put him or do with him honestly at the Shiba house....hmmmm? O_o  But I suppose it's a valiant lesson for Antonio to learn considering he's not a trained or destined Samurai like the other rangers but one who willing chose his path to save the world.  I like how the characters really support him through it by not judging him but encouraging him to go with his gut since he still has the spirit of a Samurai...feel like I'm grasping at straws when I say something position about this show.  There is a story here but it feels so lifeless and even the so called original elements of the show the writers throw in along the Sentai feels so uninspired.  But this is as good as it gets in terms of character development for both these season so I'll take it I guess. Sigh....

The other story at hand is Serrator needing Dekker to use his fixed sword cause I'm NOT saying name because Dekker says it more times than humanly possible! O_O  You sure the curse on him wasn't to say "Romassa" obsessively for the rest of his immortal life!!???  Dammit I said it! -_-  Anyway, Dayu is all moppy and overdramatic about Dekker still not knowing the truth about his past but one wonders....WHY DOESN'T she just TELL him!?? O_O  Does the curse allow her not to tell him or he'll immediately forget if she does so he has to learn on his own???!! I don't think that was specified and knowing how badly written this show is I wouldn't be surprised if the writers didn't put that in for the sake of giving Dayu little to do.  She seemed like a much more capable villain in "There Goes the Brides" but ever since her backstory with Dekker was revealed...she doesn't do anything but obsess over her harmonium and following Dekker around like some demented ex-girlfriend who can't let go.  It isn't sad or tragic anymore like originally depicted, just drawn out and repetitive.  Anyway, Dekker is given his new fixed ROMASSAAAHH! O_O But he just double crosses Serrator instead of striking the last point to unleash hell on both worlds.  Oh he doesn't care about his plan and underestimated him hating humanity....I feel like Serrator should have saw this coming but whatever.  The rangers soon step in and have an epic-ish final battle between them and Serrator; first on the ground then with their megazords.  Even after defeating his two Papyrox, he still too powerful even for the Gigazord for the rangers use the Shark Sword thingy sword for more power; effectively helping them destroy Serrator once and for all.  Sigh....wonderful design, awesome voice, but such a disappointing villain in the end so....  Anyway, outside of that, Stroke of Fate is decent at best.  It tries and succeeds as much as it can even when tormented by the hackneyed showrunning of it all but what can you do at this point? 

Final Morph: C