[Kiwami]

I can wholeheartedly agree with the comments above. I watched the OG Ultraman, absolutely loved it, then went into Ultraseven expecting something even better given how insanely popular it is but so far I’m not very impressed.

The Ultra Guard isn’t nearly as fun and likeable as the SSSP, the constant alien attack plots are tiring, and I overall don’t really get into it as much as I did with Ultraman.

I can appreciate Ultraseven for the gorgeous and creative effects, suits and sheer atmosphere, but – Ultraman had all of this too. And I liked it better.

And yes, sometimes Ultraseven is very good at addressing how constant aggression against your “enemy” isn’t helping anyone, but then again there’s episodes where they find an underground city, instantly assume it must be an alien invasion force and blow it to kingdom come. Without a threat being declared let alone one alien being seen.

[Kurona]

I generally watch Ultraman series one episode a day to keep that episodic nature in mind. Though I make an exception for stuff like New Gen, Nexus, UGF etc since those shows are more about the overall plot like Rider rather than the individual "kaiju movie in a TV episode" format used by Showa and much of Heisei

[Frontier]

I do find it kind of funny how every episode in Ultraseven is an alien invasion and Ultraseven is literally seemingly the only alien in the whole show who isn't out to take over the Earth, although I guess we don't often see as much "good" or "nice" aliens until later in the franchise. I think even Orb made a joke about all the aliens trying to take over Earth when they all leave en masse and one makes a joke about how finding another planet to conquer is like moving on to another man.

I really liked Dan and Anne though, even if their relationship wasn't in-your-face about it but I feel like it set the tone for later Ultra Romances. The reveal scene was handled really well.

Also it's just amusing to me how they start reusing actors. Yuriko becomes Akiko, Arashi becomes Furuhashi (and is basically the same character), Ippei, Jun, and Ide make random Ultraseven cameos, Muramatsu plays a fisherman whose daughter ends up replacing Aki in RoU.

[GoldenXtreme]

I actually just finished Ultraseven myself and while there were some elements I liked, overall I didn't actually think it was that great. Definitely agree that a lot of it felt like Ultraman... but worse. I'll admit that it had some really good episodes and that I liked Dan and Anne quite a bit, but the show felt like it didn't even want to be a tokusatsu a lot of the time. It's not like I'm against moving away from toku tropes either, but I *am* here on Tokunation and don't think you can exactly replace the creative kaiju plots of the original with far more rote alien invasion plots and weaker suit design and fights and call it an improvement. Not to mention that the series gets notably worse later on. I dunno, I don't hate it but I don't think I'd recommend this show to someone. Very overblown reputation for sure.

[Byg42]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenXtreme

the show felt like it didn't even want to be a tokusatsu a lot of the time. It's not like I'm against moving away from toku tropes either, but I *am* here on Tokunation and don't think you can exactly replace the creative kaiju plots of the original with far more rote alien invasion plots and weaker suit design and fights and call it an improvement.

I mean, given when Ultraseven came out, a lot of the things that would come to define and characterized tokusatsu hadn't even been codified yet. Early Ultra was much more in the vein of other anthology and sci-fi television like The Twilight Zone and such.

[GrandComplete]

I'm also watching Ultraseven right now. But unlike everyone else I'm gonna break the cycle & say I'm really enjoying the show so far.

I'm halfway through right now & I think Seven is a stunning show. The show aesthetic I can only describe as retro-futuristic that gives it a clean edge to the show if that makes any sense to anyone else.

There some fantastic episodes I've seen that I wanted to highlight.

Such as Episode 6 "The Dark Zone" a somber episode as a result not of an invading force but a horrible necessity of the destruction of Ailen Pega. One of the best early episodes that demonstrates Seven somber tone in juxtapose it hope for humanity future.

Or Episode 16 "The Eye That Shine In The Darkness" striking episodes with rural country town. Using the beauty of night contrasting glowing lights. A simple episode that I can just plop down and enjoy.

And one of the most recent episodes I've just finished Episode 24 "Return To The North!" An episode that forces it's focus on Furuhashi in a life threatning situations that despite that fantastical grounds itself well in reality of mortality. Wrapped up in warm connection in family. That truly gives the supporting cast of Seven a human element that makes it so iconic imom

[TokuKnight89]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byg42

I mean, given when Ultraseven came out, a lot of the things that would come to define and characterized tokusatsu hadn't even been codified yet. Early Ultra was much more in the vein of other anthology and sci-fi television like The Twilight Zone and such.

That tracks, given that Ultra Q is very much situated within the tones and themes of The Twilight Zone. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that The Twilight Zone may have directly inspired Ultra Q, but that means that either The Twilight Zone was exported to Japan or Tsuburaya himself saw it in some manner.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrandComplete

I'm also watching Ultraseven right now. But unlike everyone else I'm gonna break the cycle & say I'm really enjoying the show so far.

I'm halfway through right now & I think Seven is a stunning show. The show aesthetic I can only describe as retro-futuristic that gives it a clean edge to the show if that makes any sense to anyone else.

There some fantastic episodes I've seen that I wanted to highlight.

Such as Episode 6 "The Dark Zone" a somber episode as a result not of an invading force but a horrible necessity of the destruction of Ailen Pega. One of the best early episodes that demonstrates Seven somber tone in juxtapose it hope for humanity future.

Or Episode 16 "The Eye That Shine In The Darkness" striking episodes with rural country town. Using the beauty of night contrasting glowing lights. A simple episode that I can just plop down and enjoy.

And one of the most recent episodes I've just finished Episode 24 "Return To The North!" An episode that forces it's focus on Furuhashi in a life threatning situations that despite that fantastical grounds itself well in reality of mortality. Wrapped up in warm connection in family. That truly gives the supporting cast of Seven a human element that makes it so iconic imom

Designs and specific episode plots are the redeeming qualities of UltraSeven.

That said, I even bought some fan-art of UltraSeven from a vendor at a convention who said that he liked that show better than the OG Ultraman!

We who are the detractors have our issues with it, but we still respect it up to a point and try to find the little things which did it for us.

[SHINOBI03]

If I have one negative to Ultraseven I'd say for a lot of times the battles end too quickly. You don't get the same struggle or tension other Ultras would get and Seven finishes his opponents without wasting time with either his eye slugger or beams

Though on the flip side when his opponent does give him a challenge then you know shit got real.

[Switchblade]

I am not watching Ultraseven at the moment, but I’ve absolutely loved all the episodes I’ve seen (which is around 2/3s of them).

[TokuKnight89]

Putting the "Is Seven overrated or not?" debate to the side for the moment, I wanted to broach some things from the first three episodes of Taro.

WTF!? The series literally opens with an episode in which a Kaiju (Astromons) attacks a dog and eats another a Kaiju (Oil Drinker)! The fate of the dog isn't even brought up.

Next episode, the protagonist and another dog (at least this time someone cares about the dog) end up in the stomach of Live King (or Raiveking) after it already consumed the Kaiju Cosmoliquid (who already had a knack for using its tongue to snatch humans)!

So, Kaiju eating Kaiju is one thing, but what do these writers and producers have against dogs!?

The other thing comes from Mother of Ultra herself, as the dialogue makes it sound like Taro is being BORN and not just JOINED with Kotaro!

That... doesn't... sound right... does it?