[Kiwami]

I have to say, as nice as this was - I wish they gave Belial at least some redeeming qualities. The dude is a complete arse, so it's kind of baffling how he was allowed to continue like this without someone intervening to set him straight.

Personally, I would’ve portrayed Belial way more friendly and heroic, with insecurity being his main drive towards ruin instead of simple lust for power.

Like, instead of him executing these aliens during the war like a madman, I would’ve made it so that Ken and Belial are ambushed, Ken gets hurt and Belial mercilessly slaughters them out of rage. Because he loves his best friend dearly and seeing him hurt shows a darker side of him. He snaps back after, they don’t speak about it, Belial gets closer with Marie, Ken is appointed Commander, all are happy, but Belial feels like he can’t keep up with his friends. His dark thoughts are nurtured because he feels the third wheel constantly and eventually just seeing Marie casually chatting with Ken drives him over the edge. The training match happens as is, and after he is beaten by Ken the love for his friend turns completely upside down. He feels used and lied to by everyone and urges for raw power to set things straight.

It wasn't bad though all things considered, for as much as I would’ve changed it, it was a great back story for such an important character to modern Ultraman. And the end is especially interesting because now we have Early Style Belial in the present and a timeline where he never became evil and went missing instead.

Although I feel like that either Belial will be returned to his timeline and become evil regardless, or that the Belial in the present becomes evil and that's their way of resurrecting him for future shows.