[GrandComplete]

Episode 21 "The Sea of a Mysterious Light"

Writer Shinsuke Onishi doesn't have a lot going on in the TDG era, only writing a single episode for each series. His big contribution to the franchise was being the head writer for Ultraman Cosmos. But his episodes on both Tiga & Dyna were very character focused on what specific character and digging into their depths and how we see more than meets the eye to these people putting under extreme pressure due to the one specific kaiju incident.


Continuing from last week Gamu wakes up back in his bed after collapsing and contrasting that Fujmiya feels conflicted over saving that girl despite his stance on humanity. The kaiju of this episode is an aquatic one which means multiple things. First of all we finally get to see Team Marlin in action which is awesome since there always in the show but have’t really done much because specialty being underwater activities that don’t get highlighted much, secondly Tsuburaya just gets flex their muscles and look how gorgeous this underwater set is, this is all practical baby.

And that one best part of tokusatsu right here is these amazing sets and miniatures depicting things on such a minimal tv show budget and it looks amazing. I know this show and Tsuburaya has always had good sets but this is just one of the best highlights. Sadly Agul doesn't fight in this episode but nonetheless Fujimiya reaffirms his belief after seeming conflicted and once more vows to oppose Gamu and his ideals here so it is still a huge focus even in this juncture of the show. Minor note they also introduce a cult that worships the Bringer of Radical Destruction which is surprisingly considering how long that took for that to be in an episode.

Caneda, a bipedal aquatic sea kaiju, its look is menacing and almost gives off a lovecraftian monster vibes. I love the use of darker color to contrast the more serene underwater set they use. It's a striking contrast for this monster and it once again shows Tsuburaya skills as a designer of kaijus.

Since I gushed so much about the set for this episode the battle theme that played during this episode “Gaia Mid-air Fight” the beginning is the ionic rise tune that every Ultraman has before moving to two remixed rendition of Gaia battle theme combined with the aerial themes the show has it blood pumping and its use here punctuates that battle.