THE OAVs

Gai Den

Kikoutei Densetsu

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    Troopers in N.Y.

    In 1989, right after the TV series ended, Sony video released two Samurai Trooper OAV series. The first was called Gai Den and it consisted of two half-hour episodes. (I have heard that there were three originally planned. Maybe it showed how Seiji got kidnaped???) It takes place right after Ryo's birthday. Never did get a clear count of the candles on the cake, so I had assumed it took place that fall after the TV series (those who knew more placed it the next year, as the TV series took place in '88), but it actually takes place mid-August of '89. Basically this short series focuses on Ryo, the only major differences from what happened in the TV series were that they decided to trash America instead of Japan, and Ryo sorta-kinda got a girlfriend. *sniff*sniff* (I liked her.) Sad ending. Be sure you got your handkerchief with you.


    Generally what happens is everyone is throwing Ryo a surprise birthday party, Seiji (who is out of town) is the only one of the gang to not show. During the party, a news brief on an overhead TV shows a mysterious murder that took place in New York earlier that day. Photos show ~Korin~ killing people. Ryo is naturally upset, but decieds not to worry the others as he plans a solo trip to America to find out what has happened to his friend. Nasutei has seen the report also, and tells the others about it.
    Several days and one attack on the plane Ryo, Shin and Shu are on, everyone is in New York. Touma and Nasutei have already checked out several leads, and while doing so, the younger sister of one of the murder victims now believes Touma is a murderer! They all meet up in Shu's uncle's resturant just in time for Luna's attack on Touma. As they continue to try to figure out what is going on with Seiji and Korin, we have several flashes of Seiji hooked up to a pentagram, being tortured in his dreams. He calles out for his friends.
    The next day, while Shu and Touma are at a burger joint, they hear a commotion outside. Korin is wrecking the town! They arm up and go to demand answers from Seiji, but discover the armor is empty! Seiji is nowhere around. Korin attacks, and pretty well whipes the ground with them, even after they change into Tenku and Kongo. A good portion of the surrounding area has been trashed, and the natives and tourists all gather to watch. The others see what is happening on TV, and Ryo and Shin rush to help. They arrive bare minutes befor the National Guard in their Appache attack helicopters arrive. Knowing they cannot fight both Korin and the NG, especially with Touma and Shu hurt, they decide to escape. Korin also escapes, but not before the bad guy of the series, Shikaisen, reveals himself. As they run, they are seperated, Shin with Shu, and Ryo with Touma. As they hide in an ally from the NYPD, Luna reveals herself and leads them to safety.
    And that is the synopsis of volume one of Gai Den. A lot going on, ne? Volume two has the boys, with their new friend Luna finding and then defeating Shikaisen, rescuing Seiji, Nasutei and Jun (they backslid and got captured) and discovering that the threat Arago represents is still there, if they are not careful. This is probably the best OAV series out of the three, highly recommended.