The whole stretch leading up to Orb Origin's introduction is *SUCH* an utterly fantastic arc. I still get goosebumps just thinking about the payoff to that early series conversation where Naomi compares Gai to those nesting dolls, and that's merely one of the things I adore about those episodes. I could pick so many random amazing things out of them. Just some seriously compelling, character-centric drama any way you look at it. Orb is a real good show.

Orb lives up to the hype. My only real complaints are not having the Ultra be a separate character and the subplot of all the aliens leaving Earth not being well developed or important IMO.

You do not like Ultra and Human as a same person?

I prefer having them as separate characters. To me that's what makes Ultraman unique.

For me it definitely depends on the series; and in the cases of Orb and Geed it absolutely works

Now that old Ultraman comic... yeah nope. There's a certain magic to transformation sequences, and it didn't have any, so he's not that different from guys like Iron Man.

This is why I think starting with Z spoiled me on this concept. I loved the relationship between Z and Haruki that when I started my Ultraman bingewatch I was let down that it wasn't always a thing and they blurred the line between the Ultras and their hosts becoming one single character instead of two sharing one body.

Pre-New Generation, I prefer it when the human form is also the Ultra because you get to know them more as a character. Ultras like Nexus or Man-nii-san feel more like blank slates than Seven or Leo.

Say what you will about Fusion Ultras, but they had some of the best seasons.

I think both interpretations for Ultra/human relationships are good, depending on how they're done. Thinking back on like the Original Ultraman, there was a certain element of mystery about him and what he thinks about humanity, which just makes the final episode something special.

Since we're on the topic and I'm in the middle of Tiga...and if this is a spoiler, please don't answer but did Daigo become Tiga or is he the host? Can't...really tell at all lol.

It's an interesting thing with the likes of Tiga, Nexus, Victory etc and now Trigger -- where you don't have the Ultra be there as a character, but also it's clear the main character isn't actually the Ultra himself like Orb or Geed despite transforming into them. It gives a little bit of mystery and distance from the Ultra which I find super interesting

This topic kinda reminds me of that thread about whether you prefer Kamen Riders starting the show with their powers or not, and just like with that, my answer to if I like a particular Ultra formula more than another is "I like good stories."

Like, straight up, I can't have a preference, because all the different options have worked great in their own shows.

On one extreme, you've got something like Nexus, where the Ultraman is more of a thematic concept than a character, and the human hosts are clearly in control... and Nexus uses all that brilliantly, because it's Nexus.

Then you've got really good middle-ground options like the buddy cop approach in X or Z, which was tons of fun in both those shows, because both of those shows are tons of fun.

And then on the other extreme, you've got the Seven formula where the show is just fully about a strange alien who comes to Earth and helps out, and that gets you stuff like Mebius, an incredibly touching story about a young protector from another world who gains a profound appreciation for humanity as he works and grows alongside his new comrades.

I just can't pick! There's too many good Ultra shows! :lol

Oh yeah, I don't think there's been a bad approach to the host/Ultra relationship. It's cool that the franchise has so many different ways to shake it up.

Maybe I was spoiled by the Z-team but the GUTS-SELECT guys are hmmm I dunno. Anyone but the captain and Akito feel like those RPG hub NPCs that say one thing. Kinda. Am I being too harsh? It is still the second episode, but they didn't leave an impression on me like STORAGE. Tho, Akito did warm up to Kengo a bit too quick I think. But I guess this is for them to introduce everyone and the toys, so it should slow down by the next weeks.

The GUTS Falcon should've stayed as a jet maybe.

Also, seems like Trigger form changing on-the-spot instead of a Rise sequence was a Tiga thing? That's cool. More seamless. Not sure if Kengo and Trigger are separate entities still or Kengo just literally transforms as him.

I like Kengo's passion, but uh, you might wanna tone that smile thing

https://i.imgur.com/FbraZZE.jpg

Hmm... yeah, not sure what to really say on this episode other than it being fine? Nothing really grabbed me and the direction on certain scenes and transitions just felt plain weird. Also don't like how we're just front loading the forms and toys one after another.

Maybe it's just me liking how Z paced the form changes, but it feels like they're trying to throw too much too fast. Like I'm cool with Trigger being like, seamless type transitions similar to Tiga, but given they have gimmick items and special weapon forms attached to them makes it a bit more eh that they're just forcing them all out in the first three episodes.

It's also weird how this episode was basically "Let's introduce GUTS Select" and then I don't really know what to think of most of them other than "I got a chuckle out of their antics". I'm also a bit disappointed that only one of the team members is in the know, but hey at least it's science guy so that works out well for collaborating.

"I thought R/B was the Fourze of Ultraman."

Now, I like what they're going for with Trigger, but the pacing, while didn't bother me last episode, now catches up to me. The characters do feel like they'll have some fun interactions and dynamics, but I kind of wish they showed off a bit before Kengo joins them. Akito reminds me of Kengo from Kamen Rider Fourze, and I like that we have a character who's a rival to our hero on "Who should really be the hero," but they just decide to stop off short here.

That said, I like the idea of having other people in on the Ultraman thing early, and there's still a whole season left for the other members to shine, much like Taiga and Z, which had a great cast. And of course, the special effects and fights are pure spectacle, which makes this show worth watching for me. And who knows? Maybe, this will be like Saber where it starts off rushed and ends up a masterpiece or something. Anyway, still enjoying it.

On another note. I forgot to mention this last week, but it's interesting they now advertise the original Ultraman with Takahiro Sakurai as his voice, not that I'm complaining since he's voiced some great characters, but find it interesting.

Wait doesn't this take place on two worlds, Kengo are you an anti-earth person? :P

I feel like this episode could've been split into two with the fight with Gymeria being episode 2 and spending abit more time with Multi Type and getting Power Type to fight Darrgon in Episode 3. It feels like right now where rushing to establish the status quo. Also I'm sad that they didn't keep the chrous of children screaming Ultraman Trigger in the imtro

Yeah, I expected Akito to show a bit more retaliation when Shizuma asked for his cooperation but guess he is that much loyal to put aside his jealousy and support Kengo. Had this show been a year-long show a two-parter would have made sense. If this was an Inoue joint a whole 13 episodes worth of jealousy and beef would be in the show and Akito would go Kusaka on Kengo.

I'd say 5-6 episodes. Since Akito gives me that Micchy vibes with how he reacted to Yuna.

Yep. Regardless Akito's growth I think will be more about him letting go, accept fate as is, and contribute to the greater good to the best of his abilities after accepting that. Oh yeah, side note. The captain. That is the same guy who played Zyuran's human form in that Zenkaiger spin-off. :lolol

That or the artifact he keeps around is key to him getting an Ultra form as well ala Trigger Dark or something.

I don't know, he seemed like the kind of character to do it, or Kamen Rider poisoned me.

Definitely. Akito being a host for an Evil Tiga homage character independent from the three evil giants I can see being a thing. Or maybe after that for one episode Tiga's essence grants him temporary host status and lets him fight alongside Trigger as Tiga because redemption.

I can't get that Opening out of my head. It's a real banger.

That was a surprisingly heartfelt scene between Kengo and his mom.

Setting up the Ultra secret identity right off the bat, although Akito already knows. I'm kind of wondering if Yuna is going to keep asking where Kengo keeps running off to or bring it up to anyone.

Yuna being connected to the lady in white is giving Mai from Gaim vibes. Although it doesn't seem like it's her future self since she already knows who Ultraman Trigger is subconsciously. Also, Earth Defense Forces are recruiting high schoolers now? Although I guess she is the boss's daughter.

I feel like Nagase has strong Best Girl vibes.

The timer seems to kick in pretty quick with Trigger, unless he's using Power Type, and let this be a lesson not to Ultra Beam straight in front of the monster.

So Kengo can access Trigger's memories to know more about the Dark Giants as well as know how to use his weapons. Convenient. And each Type has its own transformation chant.

I'm glad they didn't show any people in the build Trigger got thrown through.

Fitting that Power Type's debut would be in a fistight. Even an underwater fistfight!

Will Kengo settle for Akito smirking?

Happy 55th Anniversary!

Really liked the second episode. Definitely a lot of "here are all the characters and their one defining trait," but still good. I like that there are other characters who know Kengo is Trigger, you don't see that a lot in these shows.

The part that impressed me most was the cinematography, though. There were some amazing shots in both of the big fight scenes. I especially liked the scene of the jet going in against that first monster and all of that great framing in the fight scene with Darrgon and Power Type (city version; the underwater part was way less dynamic). I thought I knew all of Sakamoto's tricks, but he still brought some really cool new ones to this episode.

The only thing I'm not fully enjoying about the show (besides my returning complaint from last week that Kengo's plant looks fake as hell) is the Nursedessei, which just looks so awful to me. Obviously it transforms into something, given how many joints are clearly visible, but the base form looks dumb and it really shouldn't be able to fly, given that shape.

Oh good, that's not just me, then.

Is this the first series where the jets are now remotely piloted like drones?

What are the chances Akito becomes another Ultraman later on.
EDIT: Also, is Basco the third Dark Giant. If it is, would that make him the villain down the line.

I think so, yes. I love it. Really love how they retained the OG Guts Wing paint job for it too.

Nah, probably a Jugglus Juggler type alien at best.

Ultraman Leo thoughts:
https://twitter.com/mohammadkadhim1/...30920020008960

There's no way around it. Leo was a big unfocused mess. It couldn't decide what it wanted to be so it felt like watching several shows in one, that this could be worse than Ace and I never thought it'd be possible. I have major gripes with Ace, but at least it knew what it was doing and had a focused narrative. Leo went without a clear direction and had constant changes in plot, characters and tone that you can't follow in a straight path. The earlier parts were insufferable to sit through. Gen was the most unlikable Ultra and way too hot-headed for his own good and never learned his lessons. And the constant training scenes and Dan's frustration with him didn't make it easier.

I didn't mind the martial arts though. It was like Go with boxing, but it was not well executed. This addition might be Tsuburaya wanting to catch on to anime and shonen sport shows that were the rage at the time, but I don't know how well received it was.

And then... I honestly don't know what happened. The writers gave up on the original ideas and switched to the same camp mode they used with Taro. Which what it felt like to me; For the rest of the series it felt like Taro leftovers with the same zany story lines. But since this wasn't Taro and wasn't based on fairy tales, the tone change was very jarring and most notable with the Japanese folklore episodes which should've been adapted there, not here. At least the horror episodes were more fitting here.

And in another thing Ace did better was sticking to a main antagonist and run with it. Alien Magma failed hard with that premise when it should've played a bigger role and more personal with Leo and Seven and may even use Astra with that. And that's the other big problem here: Other than Gen and Dan and maybe Toru, the rest of the characters were unremarkable. TAC still acted like characters, but MAC were majorly background characters and the civilians (children) were some of the worst written characters ever. Astra was also one of most wasted characters here. We didn't get to know him enough, comes and goes at random, so when the Ultra Key stuff happened you can barely feel anything towards him because there was not much with him and didn't even come back to support Leo later.

That until the Saucer Creatures story line came to be and this is where the series really picked itself up again. We got rid of the unnecessary stuff, Leo is no longer a student, the tone got more serious, monsters got more creative and we got a big villain leading the charge. It wasn't perfect either, but it was a huge step up from the camp crap we've been dealing with, but since it came in too late you still need to deal with what came before it unless you want to skip all that, which wouldn't really make much difference due to its episodic nature.

My best episode is the Nova episode "The Red Assassin that Brings Death". Not only Nova got to be my favorite alien in the series, but I loved the all-red fight sequence and brought us the conclusion of Toru's character arc. Runner up best episodes are "The Rhinoceros Beetle is an Alien Invader" for its cinematography, and "Monster's Return of Favor" for its story line of Rolan and her relationship with Leo.

There were plenty to choose as the worst episode, but the absolute worst IMO was "I'm the Monster Boss". The crowning achievement of "Dumb".

Favorite monsters and aliens are tied up with the best and worst episodes. So you have Nova and Rolan as top favorites, but I also liked Alien Bunyu minus his horrible looking monster form. The saucer beasts were also among the best for their alien designs that felt reminiscent of Ultraseven like Avsorva and Demos.

And then you have stuff like Guiro, Coro, Onion, Vibe's monster form, and... no. Terrible characters and terrible costumes.

The music was okay. I thought it was done by Shunsuke Kikuchi since it was very close to his DBZ soundtrack but no, it was by Fuyuki Toru.

And that's all for Leo. My plan was to watch The☆Ultraman next but Mill Creeks recent announcements put a hold on this and thought I'd wait for the official releases

So, no Ultraman for a while.

Ultraman Z just won the Seiun Award
https://mobile.twitter.com/VintageHe...34178649559040

Ironically, because I couldn't find the rest of the original Ultraman, Leo was my first finished Showa season of Ultraman, heck, Showa shows in general.

Now, Leo, strangely enough, was a show that bounced from enjoyable to almost a chore (then again, it was a long, episodic show, and I was only able to see a handful of episodes a week). I did actually like Gen, oddly enough, I don't know why, but having someone who wasn't a natural born hero, who had to train and face failures was refreshing, as there are many shows (At least as far as I'd seen at the time) that had heroes who were the picture of perfection pretty much, though I do admit, sometimes it got repetitive.

I remember this show mainly as the one that made orphans, because seriously, almost every kid has their parents killed in some horrible way. And then there was the one-eighty with the start of the Black Star arc, where I was just like: "What the heck!?" It was an interesting experience, probably not the best, as 80 would be one I enjoyed a little more (despite his ugly design).

And I can firmly agree with you on the worst episode, even as someone who actually liked Godzilla's Revenge/All Monsters Attack, I almost forgot which show it appeared, or even existed.

This is welcome news! Z was a great show I really enjoyed, always nice to hear things like this.

After 20 years finally Agul gets his Supreme Form in a brand new stage show and considering the track record so far there a good chance this form will show up in other media and I'm all for it!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E645LtFU...jpg&name=large

I thought Ultraman Trigger would never air its broadcasting schedule today due to the 2020 (2021) Tokyo Summer Olympic Games, but Episode 3 did air today. Any thoughts on this one, particularly that Ignis guy?

I see some improvement from the previous two episodes. The pacing was better, the fight scenes are, as always, excellent, and the team dynamics are shaping up to be really interesting.

Now we have two big Toku shows with a pirate character, let's see if Kamen Rider Revice throws one in for the fun of it. Curious to see how he fits in with Trigger and the Dark Giants plot, seeing as Hudram has history with him.

Great to see GUTS Select taking some spotlight this episode, always great to see the attack teams in action. Love how the Dark Giants live in the ocean.

Overall, improvement, we'll probably get episodes focused on the other members of GUTS Select down the road, as usual for recent Ultra seasons, but it's definitely getting better than it's first episodes.

I thought they were going to drag out the Yuna/Yuzare plotline far longer than they did. Cool.

Akito totally does not want to be stuck in the brotherzone...

Well, suspicions about Ultraman lasted all of one episode. This isn't Nexus.

Toku and treasure hunters is a nice pair, but I wonder what Ignis' alien form looks like? Will he try and steal Trigger from Kengo?

So Hudram is the composed and elegant type...until he gets frustrated and reverts to a far more angrier (and more powerful) state.

I take it Hudram maybe wiped out Ignis' race or something like that?

I wonder if there's something specific to Nanase's personality change whenever she's flying.

Sky Type is fast in the air! Although it wasn't enough to beat Hudram, although the timer coming up didn't help.

Every Dark Giant seems to get really turned on by fighting Trigger, at least in their own way.

Some of the Easter Eggs and callbacks within Trigger's pilot.

https://ultramangalaxy.com/ultraman-...s-heroes-past/

I discovered it a while back when the show started releasing stills and suit designs but Trigger's Power and Sky type designs are based off the two companions of Tiga that got demolished as statues. The fins and ears are very similar.

If there's something I am not a fan of is the human cast making Trigger's alt-modes instead of having them as his natural abilities. I didn't have this issue with Z's fusions since they were his powers and the Z-Riser and medals were Ultra creations, but humans creating the new powers for the Ultra out of an assembly line? I'm not sure how to think about that.