The Space Sheriff Trilogy Explained

The original Space Sheriff trilogy consists of Uchuu Keiji Gavan, Uchuu Keiji Sharivan and Uchuu Keiji Shaider, broadcast consecutively from 1982 to 1985. They are the first three programmes later grouped under Toei’s Metal Hero banner, and they share more continuity than the mostly self-contained annual format of modern Kamen Rider or Super Sentai. The simplest viewing order is also the release order: Gavan, then Sharivan, then Shaider.

Gavan establishes the system

Gavan introduces the Galactic Union Police, the Bird Planet headquarters, combat suits transmitted in an instant and a space sheriff assigned to protect Earth. Retsu Ichijouji fights Makuu while searching for his father. His vehicle system includes the Dolgiran and its dragon-like combat form. These concepts become the institutional foundation for the next two heroes.

The bridge to Sharivan happens inside Gavan itself. Den Iga is injured during the Makuu conflict, receives treatment on Bird Planet and becomes Space Sheriff Sharivan. He assists in Gavan’s final battle before inheriting Earth duty. That on-screen handoff is why Sharivan is a sequel, not merely a new programme with a similar suit.

Sharivan expands the mythology

Sharivan aired for 51 episodes from March 1983 to February 1984. Den battles Madou, led by Demon King Psycho, with Lily as his partner. His red combat suit is applied through the Sekisha process, a counterpart to Gavan’s Jouchaku. Toei Video’s official retrospective emphasizes the series’ horror imagery, intense action and the mystery surrounding Den’s origins.

Gavan remains present as Den’s senior officer and recurring ally. Sharivan also develops the Iga people and turns the hero’s past into a larger resistance story. Fan discussion often calls it the strongest narrative of the three, but that is an opinion, not an official ranking. The factual distinction is that it carries longer-running mysteries more heavily than Gavan’s largely episodic middle.

Shaider completes the cycle

Shaider follows Dai Sawamura, an archaeologist recruited and trained as Earth’s next space sheriff. He and Annie fight the Fuma cult, whose Strange Dimension attacks mix surreal spectacle, social manipulation and monster action. Annie is substantially more active in ground combat than Mimi or Lily, which gives the partnership a different rhythm.

The series ran 49 episodes. Its final broadcast is a special gathering of Gavan, Sharivan and Shaider, making the trilogy connection explicit. This episode functions more as a celebration and recap than as a conventional new climax, so viewers should not expect three full series to merge into one final war.

What is shared and what is not

The heroes work for the same broad police organization, use related armour-deployment language and can meet without a multiverse explanation. Their enemies are separate: Makuu, Madou and Fuma are not departments of one master organization. Each sheriff also has distinct equipment, a distinct partner and a distinct personal story. Calling them palette swaps ignores the considerable differences in horror tone, archaeology, supporting action and serialized mythology.

The later revival timeline

Retsu returned in the 2012 Gokaiger crossover, followed by Space Sheriff Gavan: The Movie with Geki Jumonji as a new Gavan. Sharivan and Shaider Next Generation productions in 2014 carried the titles to new officers, with crossovers among the successors. Space Squad later connected Space Sheriff and Dekaranger characters.

Super Space Sheriff Gavan Infinity in 2026 borrows the name and armour tradition for Project R.E.D.’s multiverse framework. It is not a fourth season of the original trilogy, and its three Gavans are not simply Retsu, Den and Dai renamed. For collectors, that distinction matters: original-series Gavan, successor-era Gavan and Project R.E.D. Gavan are related brands with different continuities and designs.