In the time since our last update it feels like the whole world has changed. I accurately predicted the results of a presidential election for the fifth time in a row, lockdowns are coming back in style, vaccines are emerging, we got new kitties, those kitties had health issues like tapeworms that had to be dealt with, I had a largely solid Halloween and a truly tiresome clean-up operation, and I’m still wrapping up a final semester of college. It’s little surprise then that it’s been weeks since I’ve sat down to fart out an article but fart I shall. Truth is the holiday season vibes are coming on strong and I want to make the most of it. First I want to take care of of a few loose items, gotta finish those Amityville features for example. Today though, I wanna talk some Ultraman, the Return of Ultraman to be precise.
Released a few years after Ultraseven, Return of Ultraman was meant to do exactly as the title stated. The public was still hungry for this kind of entertainment and the creators had to decide whether the title would be a literal return of the first ultra hero or simply the return of the franchise, they went with the latter. This is a series with a lot of ups, downs, and unique changes to the series format that took a bit to win me over but I think a the full series ends up a little better than some of its predecessors. So let’s talk about what makes this show unique and then cover the usual selection of top-tier episodes.
Our hero this time around is Hideki Go, a mechanic who looses his life one day while rescuing a child during a giant monster attack. One of the ultra being sees this sacrifice and bonds with the young man resulting in the first equal union between human and ultra. No creepy possession stuff this time around, nor is it an alien in disguise. The two beings share one body and can even disagree with each-other such as when ultraman refuses to transform because Hideki is being a reckless dickweed. It should be noted that Go is probably the dumbest hero so far but he’s better developed than Hayata and manages some good dramatic bits throughout the show.
Due to his heroism and miraculous recovery, Go is hired by an organization called M.A.T. (Monster Attack Team) whose job is fairly self-explanatory. This group isn’t so much into solving mysteries as they are at busting heads. They’re essentially glorified exterminators. The line-up of officers includes Minami, sort of the nice older bro of the office. Then there’s Kishida, a total dick and semi-rival for Go at first though they eventually become closer than any other pairing of officers. Ueno is the young guy and yeah…. That’s pretty much the extent of his personality. Oka is the resident lady who sadly gets left behind a lot to work on communications. She’s still a bit tougher than previous female characters in the series. There are actually two commanders this time around as they swap out near the halfway point. Kato is the more clam and caring of the two who acts like a father to his team. Ibuki is a bit more militant but manages to have a more robust personality in the end.
For the first time ever we get a glimpse into a hero’s personal life as he spends his off-duty time with the Sakata family. There’s lifelong friend Ken, annoying lil bro Jiro, and Go’s lady love Aki. Later on we meet Rumiko, the cute girl across the hall. That’s three primary ladies in one show, another first for the franchise.
As you can see this is a pretty big cast of characters which causes the same issues as Ultraseven in that there isn’t enough time to properly develop everyone. An interesting shift on this front however is yet another change to series formula with the introduction of mortality. Not all of these characters live to the end. Even knowing that in advance still didn’t prepare me for the absolute savagery of these deaths. Suddenly the Ultra universe isn’t such a secure place to be.
Before we can move on to the best episodes there is still one more important shift in the franchise in that all the shows begin to form a loose continuity. Both previous heroes show up to help out Go on occasion, setting the stage for many crossovers to come. Don’t expect much from these cameos however. Each appearance is short and sweet but the shift in series lore is important all the same.
Best Episodes:
Episode 37: Ultraman Dies at Sunset
This marks a big turn for all future Ultra shows by bringing death into the equation. A group of aliens set on eliminating Ultraman broaden their scope to go after people he cares for, and not everyone makes it out alive. It’s mean, violent, and would rank a tad higher if not for one issue. This begins a two-part story with the follow-up failing to provide proper closure by opting for a forced, semi-happy ending. Seeing our hero pushed to the brink and knowing that safety is no longer guaranteed makes this one to remember.
Episode 15: Revenge of the Monster Boy
Admittedly It’s been so long I don’t remember a ton of details about this one, but it stock with me throughout the entire viewing process. It’s one of those boy who cried wolf scenarios revolving around an odd child who’s trying to prove it was an invisible monster responsible for a deadly train crash, not his father. It’s got enough narrative meat and put it ahead of the pack.
Episode 31: In Between Devil and Angel
One of my favorite aspects of tokusatsu is the weird shit you’d never see in other media. In this case we’re treated to an evil alien masquerading as a young boy who befriends Ibuki’s daughter. Go makes a fool of himself trying to prove the kid is a monster but it’s up to the commander to deal with this problem. This one is dark, moody, surprisingly violent, and expertly made.
Episode 27: Go to Hell with this Blow!
This one’s a bit lighter with the focus on Go befriending a boxer who’s future lies in the result of an upcoming match. If he looses he’ll give up the sport for good. If he wins he’ll declare his love for a lovely lady who rides the bus with him. Go wants to help his friend train for the fight until he realizes that the dream girl is actually his girlfriend, Aki. Just a nice slice of life morality tale with giant monsters.
Episode 33: The Monster Tamer and The Boy
Every so often you’re graced with something so amazing that you can barely believe it ever aired on television. I’m talking material like the second season finale of Twin Peaks, nearly the entire fifth season of Angel, a good chunk of Cowoby Bebop, or My Home is Earth from the original Ultraman. This episode isn’t simply the best installment of this show, but one of the finest episodes of television ever.
The plot involves a homeless child who lives in a dilapidated old warehouse and may either have powers or his own, or be protecting a supernatural lifeform. The locals view this kid as a problem and bully or neglect him. It all gets very emotional and has a massive downer of an ending.
The key thing is just how well done the whole episode is. I had to look up the director and found that Shohei Tojo only ever worked in tokusatsu programming but he touched on all the major franchises including Sentai, Kamen Rider, and Metal Heroes. Sadly I’ve yet to find a total list of his work but that’s becoming a project in itself. No matter you’re interest level in silly Japanese superheroics you should absolutely check out this episode.
And there we are. Feels good to be back and posting. I’m really gonna try to fit in some good Christmas material for you all in the next month. Already got a pile of snacks to review, weird specials to talk about, you name it. You all just hold tight and I’ll do my best to help make this holiday just a wee bit better.
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