Dex has to follow and protect the earth.

As for the plot of the show itself, the opening narration sums it up pretty nicely.

To protect it from the advancing evil of Count Dregon, and his vicious insectoids.

Once on earth, he is adopted by a kind family, and learns to live as a human.

MASKED RAIDURRRR, MASKED RAIDURRR…

(Ill spare you the twenty more MASKED RAIDURs the theme has.)

However,Masked Rideractually has its own charms.

Its a surprisingly deep moment for such a usually shallow character.

Make no bones about it though, the main reason to watch this show is T.J. Roberts.

How do I know this you may ask?

Go watch thePower Rangers Time Forceepisode, Clash for Control.

At least Dex was able to make some bank.

What Didnt Work

From the outset,Masked Riderwas never going to work.

Dex lived with a wacky multi-cultural family that did wacky things.

The dad makes crazy inventions!

The mom wants her husband to stick with his diet and works as a caterer!

The son teaches Dex about Earth by having him watch TV!

Most Ameri-Toku series were saddled with adapting footage from a Japanese series andMasked Ridertook that to the extreme.

The editing of the footage was laughable at best.

The real black eye on the series is…Ferbus.

Why It Didnt Catch On

Ratings.

He was just a sign of the overall problem with the series; the comedy and action didnt meld.

Is It Worth Watching?

Unless you really enjoy Ameri-Toku or T.J. Roberts battle cries, this is one to avoid.

That and the show is pretty hard to track down.

Most of the episodes are available online in various places but some are in horrible quality.

Come on Saban, when are we getting our Blu-Rays?

Die hardKamen Riderfans should probably stay away as well, especially if you think the franchise is serious business.

Yeah, even the seriousKamen Riderfranchise features a lot of stupid moments.

So when you thrill to the Digidestined fighting off the Dark Masters?

Youre actually listening to battle music fromMasked Rider.

While Ferbus is mostly hated by Ameri-Toku fans, he does have one huge claim to fame.

In suit he was played by none other than Mini-Me himself, Verne Troyer!

This would have broughtKamen Riderback half a decade before its eventual return in 2000.

The pilot presentation forMasked Riderhad some significant differences from the series as aired.

Along with different actors for Molly and Albee, Edenoi is blown up.

None other than Jason Narvy, Skull fromPower Rangers, voiced Dexs faithful bike steed, Combat Chopper.

If someone has legitimate proof of this and not just fan rumblings Id genuinely love to hear.

Events from it and referenced in Alien Rangers of Aquitar by Kid Rocky, so who knows?

Maybe one day well see another team up with the Masked Rider warriors in the Power Rangers Universe.

A fan can dream cant he?

Read all our articles on Ameri-Toku series of yesteryear right here.

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