[Salaryman Zero]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreshToku

The original Ultraman is really good, and when I first watched it, I was honestly shocked by how much of the series' classic themes, aesthetics, really everything was presented so strongly in it and have been carried well over for so many years.

I don't know if it was just because of that initial surprise, but none of the other Showa Ultras really gripped me in the same way as the original, even though they're all probably objectively better in every sense. Funny that, when all the other Ultras would proceed to show up across the modern era, they'd recieve all sorts of fleshing out and development, but I've never recalled that being the case for OG Ultraman. I guess being a simple good guy is his own defining trait?

Maybe it's for the best. I don't really need to find out that Ultraman is a jerk who never talked to his son for centuries. Looking at you, Seven!

Yeah, I think the first Ultraman really laid the groundwork for the franchise. Even popular series tropes like "The Attack Team is useless without Ultraman!" have their origins here. It really just had that perfect chemistry of 1960s sci-fi magic and a charming cast full of humor and heart.

To make the Kamen Rider comparison again, I feel like I would only watch the original KR for historic purposes once, but I can see myself rewatching Ultraman, and even recommending it to other people as a genuinely good science-fiction show that stands on its own merits.

Speaking of OG Ultraman being a simple good guy, I really liked the finale where he offered his own life in exchange for Hayata's. I think that summarizes the entire Ultraman character thematically. He's already given his life once by merging it with Hayata's in the pilot, and now in the finale it comes full-circle, and he's ready to do it again permanently. That's a hero, right there.

Oh and Seven is definitely a deadbeat dad. This foo not only seemingly left his kid to be raised entirely by Leo, but apparently NEVER TOLD ZERO THAT HE WAS HIS FATHER.

Aside: I'm actually really interested in Zero's background. It seems that after the Ultras exiled Belial and he turned out to be the greatest threat since Empera, they learned their lesson and tried a more rehabilitative approach when Zero attempted to steal the Plasma Spark.