New article on how Haruki's moral crisis over Red King is just one of the reasons why Zett is a good Ultra Series!

https://ultramangalaxy.com/how-awesome-is-zett/

This was another spectacular episode in terms of action and effects and all-around hype moments, and I'm just gonna leave it to others to point out the most amazing shots if they wish. I hope the Belialrok never stops giving Z trouble by just deciding it doesn't want to fight at the most inopportune moments.

...That said, there's been something about this show that I've kinda been feeling for quite a while. I've been holding off saying it because I didn't want to be a downer on what are otherwise really fun episodes, but I feel like if I save it for the end of the show, then it's gonna be even more of a downer.

I talked about how last week's moment with Haruki's father was a really beautifully done scene, and probably one of my favourite moments in all of Ultraman. What I opted not to mention was that scene is literally the one and only time so far in this whole show where I've felt any actual pathos from Z.

Coming off every other New Gen Ultra, Z is the first time where I've really not formed any care or emotional connection whatsoever to the cast and story. Sure, I liked Haruki's crisis over Red King, but I'm fairly confident that it'll remain an isolated arc in the grand scheme of things, and I wouldn't consider it to be the 'point' of the whole show.

I mean, this episode is the first time our main character comes across our supposed antagonist Celebro, and it's a pretty-nothing encounter. Also, the big linchpin to getting the (what I assume is) final power-up in the show is an item reminiscent of Belial, who Haruki and Z have zero connection to.

I dunno if it's just me, but while Z has been plenty fun and exciting to watch, it's also been just a really mindless action show and little else. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's just been surprising and maybe a bit of a let-down after the last almost decade's worth of stories and characters I really connected to.

It's definitely not only you. I've been feeling this same way since the start of the show. A huge part of the reason that twist with Red King landed so well for me was specifically because I seriously expected the whole show to go by without trying to do any heavy drama.

Z's main priority clearly is fun action and great effects, so it's not something I'm in a rush to criticize the series for, but at the same time, I can't deny that all I was thinking about when Z grabbed Haruki's hand to help him jam that Medal in the Z Riser was how much more emotionally satisfying it was when Hiroyuki punched Taiga in the face last year.

This series is SO MUCH FUN! I am enjoying it with my Wife, and she digs it...

Yep this show is awesome. :rock:

Yes, this!

I think my favorite part about that is how Belial related stuff for Ultra's (Minus Riku) seems to be the hardest thing ever to activate the first time. Belial is so stubborn that there's always a backlash. So to see Haruki and Z both yelling out "CHESTO!" while slamming it into the Riser together, that was great.

Especially since I think this is our first instance of a host and ultra together taking on Belial's power. All the other times were people who were the Ultra's themselves.

This episode was great, the action especially. They chose the perfect monster to face with a new form; Greeza is as awesome as ever.

But now I'm wondering - if the Zero and Belial medals got "powered up" into Beyond and Atrocious respectively, why did Geed's stay the same? Shouldn’t it have been something like Royal Mega-Master?

Also, huge wasted opportunity to not show what videogame Celebro was playing. We all know it was Tekken 7 but still :lol

I have to echo similar sentiments to everyone else.

This show IS good. It's fun and enjoyable. Flashy, too. I love Ultraman!

But Zett seems a bit... detached? In all the other New Gen shows, I was able to connect to the cast and Ultra and enjoy watching their story unfold.

And while Yoko's "Lord Zett", Juggler's switch-flip secret identity, Yuka's science obsession (which feels like Yuki from Fourze all over again), and Haruki's gusto are fun... I don't really feel connected to them.

All of the other Ultras I've watched (Orb, Geed, and a bit of Ginga and Taiga) have the main crew feel like a family.
Gai is a wanderer and the SPP is a bunch of loons. Riku's a toku nerd, and Pega's his wingman, with Leito as the bumbling dad. I haven't made it far into Taiga or Ginga to get a good judge on Hiroyuki or Hikaru.

And Zett. I don't really feel enamored with his plight. He wants to prove himself to Zero, yeah, but other than that? He's mostly there for exposition, and the moment of friendship in this episode. He's almost not even there.

I kinda miss those host-Ultra relationships. Granted, most of the shows I've watched have the host be the Ultra themselves....

EDIT: This show seems like mindless action with a minor commentary on overcoming setbacks/grief, whether you killed expecting kaiju parents or simply miss your dad. Which isn't to say this show is bad by any stretch of the imagination. It's a good show. But the dynamic between the cast leaves a lot to be desired.

Speaking of, is Z considered a New Generation Ultra? Since some say New Generation ended with Taiga (hence why his movie is called New Generation Climax). I mean it makes sense because we are in Reiwa era and it's easier to call Ultramen from Z and beyond Reiwa Ultras, but Taiga debut in the Reiwa era too.

According to the wiki, Ultras that debut past the Zero movies are classified as "new generation", as the term extends to Taiga.

But Zett isn't classified as such in any news articles. So he, and others past him, might not be "New Gen".

I think Z is gonna be considered the first of the ‘Reiwa’ Ultras. Not the worst start!

Great episode this week. I normally don't like the ultimate forms that most previous Ultra shows have gone with - they tend to be very "over designed" and busy in a way that I don't like. Delta Rising Claw is... relatively restrained. I'd probably take away a couple of details or color accents, but on the whole I think it's a good suit. I also like the concept of the weapon having a will of its own, even if I still don't like how tiny and weird these ultimate weapons are. I get that the roleplay toy is small, but that doesn't mean the real version needs to be the same scale.

It's not, the one Z has is bigger in proportion to his body than the one Haruki is holding which is just the DX toy, but you have a point, there’s no reason why the blade itself can't be twice as long when the Ultra is wielding it.

But I really dig Beliarok too; I'm excited to see more of it. There was a preview shot from a magazine of an Alien Barossa stealing it and just that sounds entertaining as hell already.

Gotta disagree cause Taiga is technically Reiwa Ultra no.1 whether he is part of the New Gen Ultras or not. But in terms of categorizing yes, Z probably could be the first in line if they stop the New Gen rounding with Taiga.

Well since I was watching it last night, I thought I’d share this video of two guys discussing Z (they’re technically discussing this year’s Tokusatsu output, but Z is what they talk about for the longest (and have more positive things to say about)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Acv-ryM6-O4

Yeah, I can't help but echo what others have said. Visually, this episode is fantastically well put together, and Greeza is suitably unnerving and terrifying as a foe. Bellial Sword is also pretty neat, even if Haruki trying to introduce himself manages to grind the action to a complete halt, which I'm not really sure works as well as intended?

But the actual process of getting the upgrade? Juggler just drives Haruki to the medal - and while Juggler is kinda cool, I don't think I care for him nearly as much as anyone else in the thread - while Celebro continues to be a pretty nothing villain outside of that one episode where he decided to be proactive. Also, after having his big moral resoution last episode, Haruki and Z don't really go through any personal anything to achieve their final form. They get the Bellial medal, they got stronger, and Geed was also here for a little bit. Maybe Z helping Haruki slot the medal in would make me feel more if they'd interacted more, cause it doesn't feel like a world shaking reaffirmation of bonds, it feels more like Z just realised he can do that! With the sidelining of the Z original characters in favour of returning ones, it just feels like a let down, especially after last week.

I don't mean to sound too negative, this is still a very slick and well made episode, and I had a lot of fun watching it. But it's very much all style (and it's very stylish style, don't get me wrong! Whoever did the CG on Greeza deserves some big recognition!) and little substance.

That scene where Haruki is chauffeuring Juggler was hilarious. :lolol

I read somewhere that Tsupro reused stock footage from Geed episode 22 for this episode. The scene with Riku's face (not saying anything) and the one where Pega and Riku are in front of the screen (different graphics though). The original had Raiha in the scene with them.

Could explain why there are no actual scenes with Riku's actor in the episode and he only did voiceovers.

Found it.

Z is the one with the Ultraman Official logo.

Again, Z is the one with the Ultraman logo.

Ah, so that's why he's in Ultraman Geed form at the end! I thought it was really weird, but couldn't place my finger on why they'd do it since they had Riku in other scenes.

Good use of stock footage, I didn't even realize.

Editing out Raiha is a sin though. In fact, I wish the actress would've been available just to show that she's traveling with Riku.

I assumed they just wanted to explain why Geed is going back to using Primitive in every subsequent crossover movie even though Galaxy Rising is more powerful of a base form.

Now I wonder if Haruki will ever use those medals for anything.

I am guessing either a new finisher move or Z's rendition of Galaxy Rising.

From what I’ve seen, Usong the Galaxy Rising set with the Haruki card results in “Orb - Lightning Attacker”.

leaked image of new Ultraman form!


https://cdn.animenewsnetwork.com/hot...25/noodle1.jpg

Two things:
Looks like the first wave of the Gashapon Ultra Medals is getting a limited reissue via Gashapon Online

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ej1yEjUX...jpg&name=small

And more Importantly Sevenger!

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ej1xycjX...png&name=small

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ej1xzUmW...png&name=small

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ej1x0NmX...png&name=small

I think this is that DX release that was posted a while back, but it still looks great!

Hooly hell I’ve never seen a DX figure that articulated. That’s amazing!!

It's not a DX figure.

This is a Premium Bandai figure with die cast and electronic gimmicks. Going for 9000 yen.

Oh geeze, I mean that's more reasonable then I typically expect from P-Bandai stuff, so that's something. Still looks fantastic.

They mentioned that premium Bandai Sevenger figure on the cast discussion livestream a few days ago https://youtu.be/srA87b_xLN0?t=4128 (timestamped)

I'm super excited for it and hope it won't be too difficult to get.

available now on tokullectibles

Oh man I want that! A bit pricey, but Sevenger!

Very pricey actually. It looks cool, but nearly ¥10000-cool? Nah.

I think I'll wait and see if they a Figuart instead.

I wanted to sleep on it, but it looks like it's already sold out on tokullectibles.

I hate these shadow drop releases like this! At least with other figures you kinda know they might come, but this Sevenger was out of nowhere.

Also lots more detail about the DX Sevenger here https://toy.bandai.co.jp/series/ultr...s/detail/1699/

$100 bucks does seem steep but looking at the features and comparing it to Bandai's Soul of Chogokin line, this actually looks like a good value.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrLJ4Loc0uI

This week on Ultraman Z, Yuka is very cute and excitable as always. Other characters also exist, if you're into that sort of thing.

Can we all agree, that the beginning bit after the opening with Celebro, is a pretty spot on representation of Gacha Games as a whole?

Not much to say other than I wasn't expecting such a direct lead into next weeks episode.

Welp, does anyone have another source for the DX Sevenger figure? It's probably massively oversold.

Proxy sites can never get these limited sales items because they sell out faster than those services can buy them.

I'm glad even more recent monsters like Horoboros can still make reappearances. I'd also say it's nice that they can get revised histories with each new appearance too, but Horoboros didn't have any kind of backstory whatsoever back in R/B, huh?

hey, if it supposedly only awakens once every 333 years, why did Yuka see it just out in the open when she was a kid.

I just assumed that Horoboros becomes a statue during the 333 years he's sealed away and that was what Yuki saw all those years ago.