[GrandComplete]

Welcome to the Chousoku Parahero Gundeen discussion thread that I’ve made. For those of you who don't know what this show is, Gundeen is a 3 episode miniseries starring a bunch of familiar faces from various tokusatsu shows. Such as So Okuno(Tokiwa Sougo/ZI-O) as the main protagonist and Takeshi Tsuruno(Dyna) as his father. The 1st episode got subbed a few days ago by somebody. But if you want to watch with subs from somebody more familiar, the miniseries are confirmed by TV-Nihon to be on their to-do list.

But enough about that, what did I think about the first episode? I enjoyed it. The show has a unique viewpoint as it’s being narrated not by our titular main character Daishi Morimaya but rather from his coach Kei Fukada played by Fuka Koshiba. She brings an energy to what is otherwise just standard exposition in the first episode with her personality and breaking the fourth wall, which I was not expecting. Introduce a slew of side characters from Gen Moriyama, lovable and heartwarming father, to his 3 quirky workers, Rio Seina the tsundere childhood friend, quirky Professor Sakamoto finally Nagayama Aya an old rival of Fukada. Sadly, the miniseries are only 3 episodes because these characters alone can make a whole show with Rio’s pessimism towards Daishi's dream being born out of worry and currently unknown personal experiences, to Fukada and why she had to quit being an athlete. Now that we covered the side characters let’s get the main trio Daishi, Fukada, and the alien Goo. Dashi is a person shouldering a lot of pain but hides to not worry anyone from his disappointment from being nearly in last place to injuring himself in practice but not telling anyone. And So Okuno’s performance brings out the most given his screen time. Fukada is hesitant to teach Daishi but when she finally does is committed to it, lighting a spark back into her ever since quitting being an athlete. And giving way to one of my favorite scenes in the episode was her trying to plan out Daishi’s training regiment and meeting with real-life Paraathelete Higuchi Masayuki to see if she can copy him. However, while he has no problem with this he also states that it might not be best for Daishi, not all Paraatlheles have the same conditions, and what a person's limit is on a case-by-case basis. It’s a strong lesson and truly opens the difficulties of being a para-athlete and the work that comes with it and IMO it’s handled with much grace. We honestly don’t get much out of Goo this episode but we see his kindness in trying to save another of his kind while being hunted and a huge appetite for food and I’m excited to see where his dynamic with the other characters is explored next time.

Now let’s talk aesthetics for a second cause Gundeen’s design is a work of art from the hues of blue, to the techno-organic look that reminds me of Guyver, they even have an Ultraman Esque inner-space. Fun fact, Gundeen suit actor, Inaniwa Wataru is Paraplegic as well. And the monster we see is also similarly badass looking and it looks like it came straight out of an episode of a New Generation Ultraman. Also, the Moriyama house is straight up 9 5 DO from ZI-O which had to be intentional while filming.

The show's theme song Backlight by SymaG is very high energy and I can’t wait for a full release. Anyways, what did you think of the first episode? I’m hoping the show does well and allows it to be renewed for more episodes.