Gougou Sentai Boukenger (2006-2007)
Production: Toei Corporation?
Episodes: 49
By Gerald Conde

Introduction
For the 30th anniversary of Super Sentai, the series has the basic six members and basic colors, no variants and a old-school stalwart serious leader, instead of the childish leaders we have had been served lately. And to go old school, instead of one villain sect, there is about four different groups. Also, the monsters are based on past robos, curiously not Dekaranger robos. After each episode there had a clip covering each series through the years and special insights to 'firsts' in the series such as Sixth Members, Armor, Secondary Robos, etc.

The Story
Legendary relics from early civilizations, sunken ships, unexplored regions, and fossils of animals around the world have been disappearing. The top-secret organization of Sargess (S.G.S.) that collects secret treasures known as a "Precious," which have a great and dangerous power. Sargess has organized a team to defend it from those who wish to use the relic's power. The Negative Syndicate is comprised of the Gordom, Jaryuu, and Dark Shadow. Together, a legendary former adventurer Akashi, a hot head rival Masumi, randy former spy Souta, childish but mysterious Natsuki, and serious Sakura. They were brought together by a mysterious individual known as Mister Voice and aided by Morio Makino. Later they encounter the demons of the Áshu Tribe and meet the wandering demon-hunter half-demon Eiji. Gaja of the Gordom makes two of the Ashu into Questers and Eiji becomes Bouken Silver. Ryuuwon of the Jaryuu was once human and is after the Egg of Lemuria, which he uses to release a monstrous beast. The only thing to stop the beast is the Legendary Sword Akashi is able to remove from stone, that transforms into Zuuban. 

Zuuban, who only fights for good with laughter and joy, joins the team. The Questers put all the villain sects together to gather different Precious and use them to create Homonculus, which devastates everything. Eiji is disposed of, but he was able to come and save the day in time. Natsuki, discovers she was a princess of the ancient Lemuria Civilization and her parents put her a special device to age her slowly so she could have her own life as their empire was falling. Natsuki accepts her past, but decides to go forward. Little by little, the Boukenger are able to defeat each sect of the Negative Syndicate. Gaja of the Gordom Civilization is the last to be dealt with and he sucks in all the Precious they had collected, even their GouGou Vehicles! The Boukenger eventually discover their own personal Precious are within them and Masumi stands up as a leader as Akashi and Sakura fly into space.

Conclusion
This series is awesome! It is serious but fun, it doesn't have too many goofy characters or villains... probably just one episode or so. It is character driven but also action driven. A old writing tool is called the "Macguffin," which is a plot device to move along the story. The Precious are exactly that. At least they are all used in the end for a purpose. I usually don't like serious series like GoGoV, which I found boring, but this wasn't boring for a long shot. In some series, a couple of the Rangers are annoying or not that interesting, but each Boukenger is interesting and have something to contribute. I think there is a fan for each of them. Akashi is a great leader, we all miss him. It is worthy of the '30th anniversary' label.