Given the Falcon was like, probably at it's best when Kengo manually piloted it that one time, I feel like Guts Select definitely made the right call in making the Falcon a manual control unit.

I have to question the logic in solving the “electric disabling enemy” problem by putting a dude in the vehicle. Since not only does that NOT solve the problem (it’s still electric and still likely to crash), but it just essentially signs some poor sod’s death warrant.

Also looks like we’re back to the “nobody knows who Ultraman is” cliche after avoiding it for the last few years. Oh joy.

Because Kengo had 2-3 people who knew? Although Yuna didn't find out until the midpoint and Captain Tatsumi only had suspicious until Kengo outright told everybody in the end.

I don't know. I feel like the hidden identity works. The only time I feel like everyone knowing about it in series really worked was one series in particular where they built up the team and had them find out at the mid-point. Don't wanna name names because, spoilers but if you've seen enough Ultraman you know.

Also I'd wanna say the last time most people knew right away and kept adding more was Geed. R/B might've been like that kinda, I forget. I'm pretty sure no one in Taiga knew Hiroyuki was one until the end, maybe? Also like, only Juggler knew in Z for the entirety of the series and I feel like that shouldn't count because... it's Juggler, of course he's going to know!

Trigger... it really doesn't feel like much changes aside from Kengo getting to have lore dump conversations with the people in the know.

But like, I don't think we've been that long on the no secret identity thing like you're claiming Androzani.

It hasn’t, though, apart from Trigger. Nobody knew that Haruki was Taiga and only Juggler knew that Hiroyuki was Z.* Asahi learned about her brothers halfway through the show, but their dad didn’t find out until the end. Most of the shows’ characters don’t know who the Ultra’s host is. And, honestly, that makes sense to me: if you see a giant suddenly appear out of nowhere to fight a kaiju, you probably wouldn’t assume that it’s really one of your coworkers.

Still, I wonder if Kirino may figure it out. I’m pretty sure she noticed that Decker had the same leg injury.

*I may have those names reversed. Having them back-to-back always confuses me.

The electric energy was specifically about remote control. It's a pretty specific power the Spheres have which is kind of funny and definitely relies on sci-fi nonsense but it's basically just saying that these vehicles *need* pilots now, which is a good way to establish the clear themes of the season right away

A part of me is suspicious enough of Murahoshi to think it's probably a good idea he doesn't know Kanata is Decker...speaking of which, they still haven't established that name for him with the public yet.

Actually, with Taiga, everyone figured it out right away, due to a) him acting suspicious, b) he fact he kept disappearing during monster attacks without explanation and c) most of them were aliens, so they could sense that he was one.

And in honestly, I find the ?secret ID? in Ultraman a tired cliche because a) it robs any meaningful or interesting developments for the supporting cast b) it gets dragged out for the whole show without anyone remotely getting wise, which just really makes the crew look like blind idiots and c) most of the characters who don?t know tend to be fairly boring or stereotypical

Oh right.... right... I think I remember Taiga's now. I remember laughing a lot at the time since I think they did the reveal at the very end so like, I didn't count it in my head because really, why would you pull that kind of subversion? lol

It literally adds nothing and you might as well have had them just say they didn't know and they might as well have not known.

It changes nothing, to be more accurate. And because of that, I would argue what it adds is pretty deeply poignant for the themes Taiga put at its center. Nobody at EGIS cares that you're different. Having even Hiroyuki himself be no exception to that in the end was perfect for that show, I think.