Some general overall thoughts
I wasn't able to watch as much Ultraman this month compared to the last because June has been really busy. I took a week off from watching any of it because I was just so burnt out I couldn't even get through the easiest episode. It's sad because I wasn't able to finish GEED like I originally planned and watch more Taro because Taro is legitimately a good series. But overall, watching some really good stuff still.
Ultraman Taro
This is the fifth Ultraman series and it's pretty different. Like ZAT wearing mostly blue retro space outfits instead of orange like every super police kind of group wore when fighting kaiju. The main protagonist named Kotaro Higashi returned to Japan from wherever and wanted to become a boxer. Too bad he joined ZAT and then was killed in a plane crash so he was revived as Ultraman Taro. It's a bit more goofy then the others and it kind of rocks.
You can watch Ultraman Taro on youtube here or tubi here.
Episode 26
Very good kid grow up episode. One focused on a kid learning how to be a kid and actually have an imagination. Takeo is a person who lied about his dad being a CEO when he is a picture-story showman and Takeo refuses to do anything that will deviate from his course like helping one of his friend's in a fight for some reason. It was pretty cool to see a kaiju appear from one of his dad's books and how that Kaiju fighting with Taro helped invigorate him a bit.
Episode 27
Ultraman Taro really combines the strangest things together and makes them so compelling. How do you tell the story of a kaiju in a vending machine and a kid master baseball player together. Yet here it is, it works. Especially when the vending machine is an ancient kaiju associated with an old disease that will make sure this boy will never play baseball again after touching his leg. You know, until Taro fights the kaiju in big form and heals him. It's also such a horror story because the vending machine ate it adults and hurt so many people too.
Episode 28
Hey, it's the second appearance of Eleking. You know, the kaiju that Ultraseven defeated. But there are so many layers behind it. Especially with the kids, after Eleking was almost defeated by ZAT until the sun came up, protecting the horn and Kenichi trying to be the voice of reason for these kids who are going to ruin the village because of Eleking's horn. Very powerful episode with a lot of interesting tidbits and Taro and Eleking having a cool duel at the end.
Episode 29-30
This pair of episodes was pretty crazy man. ZAT being questioned at the highest level when fighting a kaiju from the kids to Ultraman Taro also failing in the first episode. Especially since the kaiju that appeared was one that Ultraman Ace fought a long time ago from Yapool. I like the weird and interesting interactions between Kotaro and the kid's teacher Umino who was so adamant on defeating the kaiju that he trained by swinging on trees. The second episode where ZAT, Taro, and Umino worked together to defeat it was absolutely banger stuff.
Episode 31
Really silly episode following the two episode arc. It also had some meaningful things as a young boy was left alone in his house because both of his parents worked hard to give the family a high class life while also leaving the kid by himself. That led to the kid getting a device to talk to plants from Kotaro/Zat and eventually being bullied into eating an alien mushroom that turned everyone in his complex into mushroom zombies. It's really silly, meaningful, and wonderful at the same time.
Ultraman Geed
This one has some interesting bits of lore behind it. Mainly sharing the complete backstory of Ultraman Belial in the beginning and then us meeting his supposed son on Earth. Even though Riku, the son, knows absolutely nothing about his past. Looks like this one is going to have some interesting things to say about the depths of good versus evil and whether or not a son of the evil Ultraman can be trusted.
Another one that I am watching on Tubi.tv. Watch it right here.
Episode 21
This was the usual friends have an argument and then learn how important the two are with each other then learning how much they mean to each other then join together again. The difference between that this is Ultraman so the other was a non humanoid alien named Pega who is Riku's best friend and he can barely survive outside. There is also the kaiju shark Gubila being chased by Kei in his Pedanium Zetton form because Gubila has a little storm that paralyzes people. Such a huge and heavy idea thing in general.
Episode 22
Some powerful plots in this episode. Kei finally showing his brilliance a bit by working with someone who he used as a hostage to get the capsules he wants. I expected it all to happen because I've watched the show up to this point and knowing the non fiction author's devotion to Kei make it connect together. It also played on the heroes actually carrying about people. Kei doesn't. The twists of fate are still occurring there too.
Episode 23
Can this show quit pulling things that are so kind of obvious, but pretty huge and meaningful too? Like holy crap, this entire episode was about Kei. Yeah, Riku chased down Kei to Okinawa and consistently saw visions of Kei and learned more of his background until he saw and fought the real one. That ending of this episode was Riku winning, but the surprise appearance of Belial taking Kei's sturm organs and then leaving like it was nothing. Holy crap, the finale is going to be insane in two episodes.
Episode 24
Man, my heart. My heart watching this episode because it was the emotional build up to the finale. Ultraman Belial was gaining more and more strength and all the heroes can do is plan something that has a 5% chance of succeeding. What heart the most with Leito's family, mainly the wife, knowing that Leito was Ultraman Zero and about to fight for the safety of the Earth and having to let go of this man who was probably about to die. Then fight happens and it all goes wrong and GEED/Riku needs to step in to face his father earlier then planned. Man, this fantastic episode really got me. It's amazing.
Ultraman Ginga S
Following the end of Ginga, this show is a much more standard sort of Ultraman series. Beings of unknown origin are taking away the underground empire's Victorium and Hikaru in his Ultraman Ginga form must help the mysterious underground world with his Ultraman Victory to bring them back. All with help from the UPG.
Watch Ultraman Ginga S on tubi right here: link
Episode 10
Peak sadness for the death of best boy Sheperdon in this episode. Especially after the attack of the self titled "Strongest in Space" Guts Vorst challenging the Ultramen for battle. It's crazy how Victory/Sho got a disease from being bitten and Sheperdon was the only one that can heal Sho. It's a big testament to their bonds that Sheperdon and Shou shared that Sheperdon sacrificed his list for Victory and then Victory got a powerful new sword from their bonds. Also UPG is chasing around Hikaru who is Ginga, but his two coworkers haven't realized it yet. Going to be a big surprise for them when they found out for sure.
Episode 11
This is an episode where UPG with Hikaru/Ginga and Shou/Victory were barely apart of it at all. The main story is about a business man named Yoshida who is a push over being turned into a kaiju Gan-Q and then forming a relationship with a young boy as friends. It's very good and powerful stuff despite the villain turning Yoshida into a monster and then using them against the Ultras. Wonderful episode for both the boy who learned to ride a bike and Yoshida who found his inner strength. Best episode of the show by far.
Episode 12
I really enjoyed this silly episode of Ginga S. For instance, I love that Chigusa is back and living her dream as an idol now. Plus, she has a fan that is an alien named Tambourine who is one of the coolest people ever honestly. Chibul is still after the Ultramen, but it was crazy that this show turned into an Ultraman Macross combination I never expected and the kaiju/villain of the week became infatuated with Chigusa's singing. Yeah, just a comfy time.
Episode 13
I watched this before GEED's episode 24 and holy crap was this heavy too. From the commander of UPG showing up to take out everyone besides Arisa from UPG to the Victorium Canon that the commander knows nothing about the underground people attached to it. So there is that tension in base where Hikaru is locked away and Sho has to face Birdon by himself and is poisoned by it. The villains even have their on thing with Chibul giving Borst the last chance and the guy is saved by Ginga and then killed by the evil UPG group. Plus the good UPG group is helping and Arisa is caught in the corner. It is drama that feels right and makes me go "oh crap". Yeah, this show is good stuff.
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