Kind of. Hayata's in episode #47, then Hikari returns for the final 3-parter, with the very finale having short appearances by all the known main universe Ultras.
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By the way, I finished Dyna, and it did end up being very good overall, on a par with Tiga and Gaia (and maybe Cosmos, which I remember being good, but I'm not sure it was that good). The finale was very strong.
I was curious about the very ending, since the Wiki said that Asuka crossed over to the original Land of Light universe at the end, and we saw him in that universe in Mega Monster Battle: The Movie. I wanted to see how they depicted that. But they didn't really at all. They just showed Asuka flying into "the light," and then his teammates back home saw a light that Mai claimed was the Star of Ultra. That is what the Ultra homeworld is called in the original universe, but it's also a reference to the Dyna theme song, so it wasn't really explicit. I guess it wasn't unambiguously established until the aforementioned movie.
It'll be interesting to see what Dyna references show up in Decker going forward. I wonder if the origin and motivation of this version of Sphere will be the same.
I was curious about the very ending, since the Wiki said that Asuka crossed over to the original Land of Light universe at the end, and we saw him in that universe in Mega Monster Battle: The Movie. I wanted to see how they depicted that. But they didn't really at all. They just showed Asuka flying into "the light," and then his teammates back home saw a light that Mai claimed was the Star of Ultra. That is what the Ultra homeworld is called in the original universe, but it's also a reference to the Dyna theme song, so it wasn't really explicit. I guess it wasn't unambiguously established until the aforementioned movie.
It'll be interesting to see what Dyna references show up in Decker going forward. I wonder if the origin and motivation of this version of Sphere will be the same.
In episode #20 of "Ultraman Ace", Hokuto sees a ship flying in outer space, but it doesn't show up on TAC's radar. It is agreed upon that Hokuto saw a mirage (in outer space?) or hallucinated the whole thing, so he takes his vacation to get some rest. Of course, that's not the whole story behind that flying ship:
Sidenote: Hokuto casually mentions he joined TAC three years ago. We saw him and Minami join TAC in the first episode of the series, so three years have gone by in-universe between episodes #1 and 20.
Sidenote: Hokuto casually mentions he joined TAC three years ago. We saw him and Minami join TAC in the first episode of the series, so three years have gone by in-universe between episodes #1 and 20.
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Episode #6 of "Ultraman Decker":
Notes:
- Crystals of "supercritical metal" mined from deep beneath the Earth in urban areas and used for energy, causing Earthquakes. How to criticize fracking without mentioning fracking.
- While the first half of the episode has some beautiful miniature effects, including Tsuburaya's specialty of the past few years of a shot of the monster from inside a miniature building (this time an office with the added effect of people in the foreground evacuating), the second half is set mainly underneath the Earth and relies heavily on rock formations and digital backgrounds. Lots of monsters, though.
- Some decent character bits for Ryumon.
Next week will see the return of Trigger.
Notes:
- Crystals of "supercritical metal" mined from deep beneath the Earth in urban areas and used for energy, causing Earthquakes. How to criticize fracking without mentioning fracking.
- While the first half of the episode has some beautiful miniature effects, including Tsuburaya's specialty of the past few years of a shot of the monster from inside a miniature building (this time an office with the added effect of people in the foreground evacuating), the second half is set mainly underneath the Earth and relies heavily on rock formations and digital backgrounds. Lots of monsters, though.
- Some decent character bits for Ryumon.
Next week will see the return of Trigger.
Oh, I was too busy yesterday to remember Decker. Thanks for always posting the episodes.
Mixed feelings about this one. I like the concept. We've heard so many times over the decades of the Ultra franchise about kaiju living underground and being drawn to the surface by something, but I don't think we've ever seen an episode that actually went into their realm. There have been occasional episodes that showed off the teams' drill vehicles by having them bore into volcanoes or the like, but it's always been to tackle just one monster, never with a suggestion of an entire ecosystem. It's a novel idea to actually enter their world for a change. Although I wonder if they were inspired by Godzilla vs. Kong and its Hollow Earth.
On the other hand, the fact that they were in the monsters' home makes me troubled by how it turned out. It's one thing to kill a monster in self-defense when it invades the human world and lives are threatened. But here, it was humans and Decker invading the monsters' world. It seemed wrong to kill them en masse when they were just occupying their own turf. Indeed, the only reason Pagos and Gudon attacked in the first place was because human miners stole their food supply. They were arguably the ones defending themselves. It really seems that Decker and GUTS-SELECT were on the wrong side of this battle. I feel particularly sorry for the colony of Twintails, who were just standing there watching, not doing any harm.
Also, Ryumon and the captain seemed callously unconcerned with firing nearly blind when Decker was in their line of fire. They didn't even try to warn him.
Also, they set up this character bit of Ryumon driving himself to be perfect, then never really did anything with it. I mean, his relentlessness did save the day, but there wasn't really any thematic resonance with the story, and what the captain said about his perfectionism also being a weakness didn't really connect to anything. So the character bit was just kind of there, and didn't really have an arc to it.
Mixed feelings about this one. I like the concept. We've heard so many times over the decades of the Ultra franchise about kaiju living underground and being drawn to the surface by something, but I don't think we've ever seen an episode that actually went into their realm. There have been occasional episodes that showed off the teams' drill vehicles by having them bore into volcanoes or the like, but it's always been to tackle just one monster, never with a suggestion of an entire ecosystem. It's a novel idea to actually enter their world for a change. Although I wonder if they were inspired by Godzilla vs. Kong and its Hollow Earth.
On the other hand, the fact that they were in the monsters' home makes me troubled by how it turned out. It's one thing to kill a monster in self-defense when it invades the human world and lives are threatened. But here, it was humans and Decker invading the monsters' world. It seemed wrong to kill them en masse when they were just occupying their own turf. Indeed, the only reason Pagos and Gudon attacked in the first place was because human miners stole their food supply. They were arguably the ones defending themselves. It really seems that Decker and GUTS-SELECT were on the wrong side of this battle. I feel particularly sorry for the colony of Twintails, who were just standing there watching, not doing any harm.
Also, Ryumon and the captain seemed callously unconcerned with firing nearly blind when Decker was in their line of fire. They didn't even try to warn him.
Also, they set up this character bit of Ryumon driving himself to be perfect, then never really did anything with it. I mean, his relentlessness did save the day, but there wasn't really any thematic resonance with the story, and what the captain said about his perfectionism also being a weakness didn't really connect to anything. So the character bit was just kind of there, and didn't really have an arc to it.
The underground battle in Decker was shot using the same technology used in the Mandalorian (physical sets combined with large LED screens that can project any environment they wanted for the background):
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1560834802617499648
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1560834802617499648
So Tsuburaya has an AR wall now? That should open the door to some novel possibilities. I just hope it doesn't replace miniature work, like the CGI in Super Sentai seems to have done of late.
Episode #47 of "Ultraman Mebius" sees Mephilas brainwashing the world, including Mirai's friends at GUYS, into thinking Mebius to be an enemy. Can guest-Ultra Hayata help save the day?
In episode #21 of "Ultraman Ace", a strange woman appears on Captain Ryu's doorstep and wants to become his maid, which he declines. Little does he know there is a connection between this young woman and the villainous Yapool:
Episode #7 of "Ultraman Decker", featuring the return of Trigger:
Notes follow, still watching.
Notes follow, still watching.
Alright, time for thoughts:
- Mars looks to be suffering from shortages due to being cut off from Earth, though they don't seem to go into specifics. They clearly didn't have a lot to work with showing Mars, so a red filter does the heavy work in this regard.
- The encounter and following interactions between Kanata and Kengo feels appropriate enough, but we've also seen this a lot with previous incarnations, usually around this point in the series. New Ultra meets last Ultra and older Ultra has to become a bit of a mentor when he was just a rookie a year ago (obviously longer in-universe). Aside from Kengo talking Kanata into an awkward dance, it really felt obligatory.
- Ominous return of a villain teased in the cliffhanger.
- Mars looks to be suffering from shortages due to being cut off from Earth, though they don't seem to go into specifics. They clearly didn't have a lot to work with showing Mars, so a red filter does the heavy work in this regard.
- The encounter and following interactions between Kanata and Kengo feels appropriate enough, but we've also seen this a lot with previous incarnations, usually around this point in the series. New Ultra meets last Ultra and older Ultra has to become a bit of a mentor when he was just a rookie a year ago (obviously longer in-universe). Aside from Kengo talking Kanata into an awkward dance, it really felt obligatory.
- Ominous return of a villain teased in the cliffhanger.
Not bad. We get to see how the Sphere invasion is affecting Mars, and catch up with the Trigger characters. The Kengo/Kanata interactions may have been a bit formulaic, but I think they touched on some worthwhile questions, like the mystery of Decker's nature/origin and what it is Kanata fights for. Dyna never really explained where Dyna came from or whether he was truly from a different origin than the Ultra-Ancients, so Decker addressing those questions here gives me hope that they'll actually be answered this time. (I wonder if we'll get a Dyna guest appearance later, like we did with Tiga last year. I wouldn't be surprised if Asuka himself actually showed up, since I think that's his actor appearing in the commercials during the show.)
It's a bit random that Akito was somehow able to make use of Decker's card technology. Although wasn't one of the cards she gave him blank? So maybe Akito just infused that one with the Sphere power. If so, it wasn't made very clear.
Interesting that they brought back Carmearra, and established Kengo's regret at being unable to save her. I guess he'll get a second chance and succeed in finally redeeming her.
The CGI crash of the Nursedessei was pretty well-done, but I'm always disappointed when they use CGI instead of miniatures. Or maybe not so much disappointed as worried that they may switch to it permanently.
Interesting seeing Decker and Trigger rise in the same shot. I don't think we've ever seen a double-rise like that -- usually it's either one after the other or a split-screen between the two separate rise sequences.
It's a bit random that Akito was somehow able to make use of Decker's card technology. Although wasn't one of the cards she gave him blank? So maybe Akito just infused that one with the Sphere power. If so, it wasn't made very clear.
Interesting that they brought back Carmearra, and established Kengo's regret at being unable to save her. I guess he'll get a second chance and succeed in finally redeeming her.
The CGI crash of the Nursedessei was pretty well-done, but I'm always disappointed when they use CGI instead of miniatures. Or maybe not so much disappointed as worried that they may switch to it permanently.
Interesting seeing Decker and Trigger rise in the same shot. I don't think we've ever seen a double-rise like that -- usually it's either one after the other or a split-screen between the two separate rise sequences.
Episode #48 is the beginning of the end for "Ultraman Mebius":
In episode #22 of "Ultraman Ace", the Yapool send one of their own to Earth:
Episode #8 of Decker:
Well, the first act is dealing with an ancient plant that looks suspiciously like the one Kengo cultivated (to the point that he mistakes it for his own) spewing pollen that puts people into a delusional state. Kind of feels like a 90s TV allegory for drug addiction, but when the people are freed from the pollen's effects, they don't appear to suffer from withdrawal at all. That bit is also quickly done away with when Megalothor appears again to take on Trigger and Decker. The rest is pretty predictable, they free Carmeara, and the three of them succeed in destroying Megalothor. Kengo gives Kanata the cards and the dagger he himself was given by the as yet unexplained Yuzare-like being, then returns to Mars, helping Carmeara through the barrier for her to seek a new home. Oh, and Yuka is also present and helps, even calling on her Yuzare-powers again.
In the early part of the episode, Kanata falls under the influence of the pollen and is dreaming of serving his GUTS-Select comrades rice crackers, but realizes that's not what he wants to do anymore. He doesn't know yet what he wants to do after the Sphere crisis is over, but for now he wants to fight the Spheres and kaiju, as well as protect the people, at the side of his colleagues at GUTS-Select. Yay, character growth?!
The rest of the cast was largely relegated to background players. All in all, an okay episode.
Well, the first act is dealing with an ancient plant that looks suspiciously like the one Kengo cultivated (to the point that he mistakes it for his own) spewing pollen that puts people into a delusional state. Kind of feels like a 90s TV allegory for drug addiction, but when the people are freed from the pollen's effects, they don't appear to suffer from withdrawal at all. That bit is also quickly done away with when Megalothor appears again to take on Trigger and Decker. The rest is pretty predictable, they free Carmeara, and the three of them succeed in destroying Megalothor. Kengo gives Kanata the cards and the dagger he himself was given by the as yet unexplained Yuzare-like being, then returns to Mars, helping Carmeara through the barrier for her to seek a new home. Oh, and Yuka is also present and helps, even calling on her Yuzare-powers again.
In the early part of the episode, Kanata falls under the influence of the pollen and is dreaming of serving his GUTS-Select comrades rice crackers, but realizes that's not what he wants to do anymore. He doesn't know yet what he wants to do after the Sphere crisis is over, but for now he wants to fight the Spheres and kaiju, as well as protect the people, at the side of his colleagues at GUTS-Select. Yay, character growth?!
The rest of the cast was largely relegated to background players. All in all, an okay episode.
Yeah, it was okay, nothing remarkable. They had a chance to advance Kanata's character through his interaction with Kengo, but his only epiphany was "I still don't know what I want." There also wasn't any real advancement of the mystery of Decker's origins or why he chose Kanata, or what the Spheres are doing, or any of that. It was more just about tying off the loose ends from Trigger, but the rescue and redemption of Carmeara was a bit too easy. Otherwise, it was mainly just an excuse to introduce the Trigger cards and the dagger thing that Kengo gave to Kanata. The dagger seems to be one of those weapons that lets the current Ultra use the energy attacks of previous Ultras, which is kind of a pointless gimmick since they're all just beams and differ only in name and visual and sound FX design.
Although I'm now more familiar with Ultra continuity and recurring monsters than I was when I saw Trigger, so I was able to recognize that Yuna was using a cartridge that fired Gomora's sonic shockwave finisher, complete with his trademark roar.
Also... It's been ten years, but Yuna is still just her father's secretary, not the head of the company or something? Sounds like the Sphere barrier isn't the only glass ceiling.
Although I'm now more familiar with Ultra continuity and recurring monsters than I was when I saw Trigger, so I was able to recognize that Yuna was using a cartridge that fired Gomora's sonic shockwave finisher, complete with his trademark roar.
Also... It's been ten years, but Yuna is still just her father's secretary, not the head of the company or something? Sounds like the Sphere barrier isn't the only glass ceiling.
Almost done, here is the penultimate episode #49 of "Ultraman Mebius":
Just posting for now, haven't gotten to watch them yet. "Ultraman Ace", episode #23:
"Ultraman Decker", episode #9:
"Ultraman Decker", episode #9:
Interesting Decker episode, a riff on the Dyna episode where Dyna was challenged by an alien martial artist looking for a fight. This guy's from the same species, but much more sympathetic. It's kind of a touching story, albeit in that Japanese way where agreeing to beat up a sick and possibly dying man to satisfy his competitive pride is supposed to be an act of respect and kindness. Weird to see the usually soft-spoken, professorial captain getting so on board with the whole fighting-challenge thing.
Come to think of it, the bit with a kid blackmailing Kanata with a photo is a riff on a subplot from that same Dyna episode.
This is apparently the first appearance of Red King in the Trigger/Decker universe, though GUTS-SELECT seemed to have prior knowledge of the species. Thanks to his Sphere mutation, Red King actually gets to be red for the first time since the 1990s American series (although EX Red King is black with red highlights). I'd say it makes his neck look slightly less like an ear of corn, except that there is such a thing as red corn.
Come to think of it, the bit with a kid blackmailing Kanata with a photo is a riff on a subplot from that same Dyna episode.
This is apparently the first appearance of Red King in the Trigger/Decker universe, though GUTS-SELECT seemed to have prior knowledge of the species. Thanks to his Sphere mutation, Red King actually gets to be red for the first time since the 1990s American series (although EX Red King is black with red highlights). I'd say it makes his neck look slightly less like an ear of corn, except that there is such a thing as red corn.
