Super Sentai didn’t fail because it was outdated.

It failed because it stopped surprising us.

In this Heart and Sold episode, I look at the untapped potential inside Sentai — all the things it could have been — and how Project RED now has the rare chance to break the mold instead of repeating it.

We talk about:

• Why Sentai grew bigger but shallower

• How the formula became a cage instead of a toolbox

• Why Rider and Ultraman sharpened their identities while Sentai didn’t

• The cost of massive casts + huge toy lines

• Characters like Zyuoh Bird who had everything set up for greatness — but no space to finish their arcs

• Why Project RED must stay lean, take risks, and embrace its weird sci fi premise

This isn’t about dancing on Sentai’s grave.

It’s about asking the real question:

What would it take to build a transforming hero show that can last another 50 years?

Bonus Blog Version -

Tell me your thoughts:

What could Sentai have done to save itself — and what does Project RED absolutely need to get right?

Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments.

Zeztz 13 just gave us a black hole finisher and an extinction-level meteor Nightmare… all by episode 13. Is this “unlimited power” good storytelling or too much, too soon?

In this Rider Tears review I break down:

• Why the meteor threat actually works

• The dramatic conflict between Baku, Fujimi, and Nasuka

• The Wonder suit: great colors, weird hands

• Zero’s shady behavior and Knox revealed as Agent 4

• My theory that former agents might be dream ghosts

• What the show risks if it keeps escalating power

• Why the cost of the capsums matters more than the spectacle

Bonus Version - https://mjmunoz.com/2025/12/10/kamen-rider-zeztz-13/

Watch more in my Zeztz playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SH9cGS23bz0&list=PLe9IGJCLD_-0FNtTPRXlUSZZYAHQV1AVL

Check out my Heart and Soul commentary series for deeper analysis on the tokusatsu industry:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe9IGJCLD_-2EbD1tRWnnI-_CPDMaUJIf

You might like my fantasy book Mockwing Mayhem, in which magical bug battle monsters.

Get your copy:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F5Y4MC4B

#Zeztz12 #KamenRiderReview #KamenRiderZeztz #RiderTears #MJMunoz #TokusatsuReview #HenshinInspection

This moment changed everything.

Episode 3 of Henshin Reflection: Heart and Sold dives into the exact point where I first realized tokusatsu wasn’t just about suit acting, explosions, or heroes I loved — it was also shaped by toy cycles, merchandising, and business decisions I had never noticed as a kid.

Get the polished Reflection here:

https://mjmunoz.com/2025/11/21/henshin-reflection-heart-and-sold-3/

In this reflection, I look back at:

-My memories of Masked Rider and Black RX

-How Sentai and Rider split in toy strategy

-When form changes became a revenue engine

-Why older Rider moments feel so soulful

-Whether modern gimmicks help… or drain the heart

-And why these realizations pushed me toward a deeper investigation

This is the turning point, the episode where nostalgia meets awareness, and where I start asking the big question behind this entire series:

Can the soul of henshin heroes survive the toy-sale cycle?

Next time, we begin the investigation.

We’re going back to the origins of tokusatsu to see how these shows were funded before modern merchandising took over.

If that resonates with you, stick around for Part 4.

Support my work by checking out my books and reviews:

https://mjmunoz.com

Want more henshin-hero deep dives?

Watch all my Rider Tears reviews here:

https://www.youtube.com/@henshininspection

#KamenRider #SuperSentai #Ultraman #Tokusatsu #BlackRX #MaskedRider

#HenshinHeroes #HenshinReflection #HeartAndSold #MJMunoz #TokuAnalysis

#PowerRangers #RiderTears #TokusatsuReview

How did tokusatsu hook me so hard?

In this episode of Henshin Reflection: Heart and Sold, I talk about the fusion of spectacle and story that hit me five days a week after school, from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers to discovering Super Sentai and Gokaiger.

Let’s explore what pulled us into these shows long before toy sales and industry rumors.

#Tokusatsu #Toku #KamenRider #Ultraman #SuperSentai #PowerRangers

POST - https://mjmunoz.com/2025/11/14/how-i-got-hooked-henshin-reflection-heart-and-sold-2/

My book about magical bugs battling monsters is out now. Read Mockwing Mayhem HERE - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F5Y4MC4B

Is Super Sentai really ending? Why would it? Is the real question why wouldn't it? I'm trying to figure this out and figure out how I really feel about it.

#Tokusatsu #Toku #KamenRider #Ultraman #SuperSentai #PowerRangers

POST - https://mjmunoz.com/2025/11/07/no-more-super-sentai-heart-and-sold-1/

My book about magical bugs battling monsters is out now. Read Mockwing Mayhem HERE - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F5Y4MC4B

Why do you think henshin rituals matter? Which is your favorite?

#Tokusatsu #Toku #KamenRider #Ultraman #SuperSentai #PowerRangers

LINK - https://mjmunoz.com/2025/10/28/ritual-in-transformation/

SHOW CATALOG - https://mjmunoz.com/category/podcast/mjmrt/

PODCASTS - https://mjmunoz.com/podcasts/

Fortress Fiction - https://www.youtube.com/@fortressfiction

Kamen Rider Zeztz 12 might be the best episode so far. Nox Knight arrives with incredible presence, the story grows in real ways, and the lore lands with real weight. This episode blends character moments, toy logic, mystery, and action into something that finally SO SATISFYING!

The Capsems matter more than ever, CODE’s true history becomes a real mystery, and the Knight System raises huge questions about how deep this rabbit hole goes. Even the real world use of powers gets pushed forward.

I break down the fights, the revelations, the design choices, and the story beats that make Zeztz 12 such a strong turning point.

Bonus Version - https://mjmunoz.com/2025/12/03/kamen-rider-zeztz-12/

#Zeztz12 #KamenRiderReview #KamenRiderZeztz #RiderTears #MJMunoz #TokusatsuReview #HenshinInspection

Zeztz 11 surprised me in the best ways. Between the microscopic mold fight, the dream-tech mystery, and the escalating tension around Agent Zero, this episode pushes every thread forward while still delivering pure toyetic chaos. Wonder Form’s scythe battle is wild, the No.X theory gets stronger, and Zero is looking more suspicious than ever.

Vote in this week’s Zeztz 11 Meme Duel (and get the Short bonus commentary):

https://mjmunoz.com/2025/11/24/kamen-rider-zeztz-11/

Explore the full Rider Tears archive:

https://mjmunoz.com/category/podcast/mjmrt/

Thanks for supporting Rider Tears. For more reviews, analysis, and fantasy books inspired by henshin heroes, visit:

https://mjmunoz.com

#KamenRiderZeztz #RiderTears #TokusatsuReview #HenshinInspection