In 2010,Power Rangerswas on life support.
Fans were left without a lot of hope.
Maybe it was justPower Rangerstime.
After all, how many other series run seventeen years without a break?
MaybePower Rangersjust needed to quietly die.
All mourning ceased in May of that year when something completely out the blue happened.
Fans lit up the internet with excitement.
A new series would be airing on Nickelodeon the next year.
A movie was even mentioned.
What could go wrong?
Jonathan Tzachor would be returning as executive producer for the new series.
Something had to be done.
I was asked for any recommendations on who should take that job and I recommended myself.
Fans long held assumption about Tzachor proved correct as Bates began work.
His story editor was a translator, Bates says.
To Jonathan,Shinkengeris a great show.
Why change it too much?
He saw what he thought was working in the show and was just sticking very close to it.
This strict adherence to the Japanese series had caused production to fall dangerously behind schedule.
The show premiered in February and I came on in September.
I was working seventy to eighty hours a week.
This proved to be a huge challenge.
Its just something he wasnt interested in ever doing.
I mean, Deker what a great character to write, Bates says.
Who knows what went on in real life in his mind?
Its boggling to think something youve written has influenced someones life.
Im not going to say that happened, I dont know.
Samuraialso featured the return of long runningPower Rangerscharacter Bulk, played by Paul Schrier.
You had the choice of creating new characters or having Bulk and having Paul play Bulk.
Early casting sheets forSamurailisted two singing street sweepers, Big Jack and Skinny Mack, as possible comic relief.
The producers chose to use the character of Bulk, even with Schriers limited involvement.
Hed shoot his bits like three episodes at a time, Bates explains.
It was not a creative choice but more a creative solution.
If I had my choice (Bulk and Spike) would have been integrated into the stories.
WhenSamuraifinally premiered in February of 2011, it did not start with the two-part premiere.
Bates tries to shed some light on this.
That was a Nickelodeon decision.
Maybe they thought, Well (the third episode) episode is funny.
The first two episodes were very dry and expositional to get people into certain places.
This one is fun.
We dont need to see those first two.
Bates attributes that fun to the character of Mike, his original gateway into loosening up the show.
Remember, I was brought in to make dry toast tastier, he says.
Mikes character in the Japanese was more teenager energetic.
Hes a character who has flaws.
Mike quickly emerged as the fan favorite amongst a cast of characters that were often times dry and wooden.
The Team Unites went so far as to copy several sequences shot for shot fromShinkenger.
Of the four seasons I worked on Im the most pleased withSuper Samurai, Bates says.
Its the one where I had the most control.
I also had an extra thirty days to work on it.
When the actors were given dialogue that wasnt wooden or awkwardly translated they all shined.
Its a shame more episodes didnt allow for this kind of fun environment between the characters.
To see that really worked, thats why you do it.
Bates regrets they couldnt have shoot more original footage to flesh out the shows big bad.
He plays as just Merrr…Evil.
Were not doing as well as we should!
One of our limitations for many reasons is that we didnt shoot any new Xandred stuff until the end.
If I remember correctly Shogun Mode was created for when Xandred finally came to Earth.
SamuraiandSuper Samuraihighlighted the divide between the shows target audience, kids, and its adult fanbase.
While kids clearly enjoyed the series and it was a hit for Nickelodeon fans were less than receptive.
Many fans were able to excuse some of the problems ofSamuraiandSuper Samuraiaway, however.
The series had been rushed into production and Saban was trying to find its way.
Plus, the shows twentieth anniversary was coming up.
Hopes were high for the next season.
Looking back onSuper Samurai, Bates is pleased with how it turned out even with all the restrictions.
Far from perfect cause I wasnt able to develop the show from the start.
But Im still very proud of that season.
Samurai Rangers, victory isfollowing Shamus Kelley on Twitter!
