[Frontier]

I just still remember how dark a lot of the initial episodes of Taiga were. Like they had more explicit death in the first few episodes than in most other New Gen shows.

[GuardianAngel87]

Not only have I managed to finish Ultraman Taiga today, I also just finished its post-series movie, New Generations Climax, on which it is yet another great Ultraman movie and with them, I have finally finished all of the main (at least until Ultraman Omega eventually starts and then finishes its run) New Gen era and Reiwa era Ultraman series. With that in mind, I can now do the ranking lists for them accordingly. They are also subject to change.

The Complete Ultraman Series Rankings (New Gen Era Edition)
1. Geed
2. Z
3. Orb
4. X
5. Blazar
6. Decker
7. Taiga
8. R/B
9. Arc
10. Ginga S
11. Ginga
12. Trigger



The Complete Ultraman Series Rankings (Reiwa Era Edition)
1. Z
2. Blazar
3. Decker
4. Taiga
5. Arc
6. Trigger

And, like all of my rankings lists, they are just my personal opinions, you're more than welcome to make your own.

[snowmanghost]

I think my New Gen ranking goes something like

1. Arc
2. Orb
3. Ginga
4. Ginga S
5. R/B
6. Taiga
7. Geed
8. Z

The ones between Z and Arc I haven't seen enough of to rank.

[Switchblade]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuardianAngel87

And, like all of my rankings lists, they are just my personal opinions, you're more than welcome to make your own.

Yeah, all right.

1. Orb
2. Z
3. Geed
4. R/B
5. Ginga S
6. Taiga
7. Blazar
8. X
9. Arc
10. Decker
11. Trigger
12. Ginga

The top and bottom were easy, but the middle was really tough. I almost forgot X existed.

[GoldenXtreme]

Trying to finish off the last few New Generation shows I haven't seen yet, and this time I watched Ultraman Z, which seems to be one of the most popular ones. I was pretty underwhelmed by it though, would probably say it is a little weaker than Geed.

The show takes a while to get going, and when it does I felt like it just became a more insipid version of Ultraman Gaia? It touches on some ideas of mercy towards monsters, the role of monsters in Earth's ecosystem, and having to sometimes kill one to save many, but I don't think it truly explored any of these ideas with the depth Gaia did. Another issue with the series is how often it gets bogged down by crossover nonsense that doesn't rrally add anything of value to the show. I know I am not exactly the biggest Jugglus Juggler fans, but man what is he even DOING here?! It had some decent elements too of course. I think the cast had a nice chemistry in this one and Haruki's actor was really good in some of the more serious moments. It was perfectly decent... but not anywhere near what I expected. I feel so out of synch with other fans when it comes to the New Generation era!

[Byg42]

I enjoy Z fine enough but I'd say my biggest issue with Z is that I felt the show never really explored or emphasized its themes and messages as much as I wanted it to. The best of Ultra is usually when an episode leaves me deeply thinking about what the episode was doing and trying to say, whereas most of Z left me feeling "ok that was cool" and then I don't think about it much afterwards.

I do really like Z final arc though, in particular its message about the nature of power, namely that power is not inherently good or evil, it's merely dependent on whoever wields it. I think this is a cool message to have and part of me wishes it was a much more overarching theme of the show, cause I feel the setup of Z, from the Devil Splinters to Z himself, is there to support it. The biggest example for me is Delta Rise Claw, which thematic feels like it embodies that final message on power. It's a form that uses Belial's power, but doesn't have any of Belial characteristics, showing that Haruki and Z are able to use the powers given them without letting it corrupt or influence them. But the debut of DRC doesn't emphasize any of this, so it just remains as subtext.

[GoldenXtreme]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byg42

I enjoy Z fine enough but I'd say my biggest issue with Z is that I felt the show never really explored or emphasized its themes and messages as much as I wanted it to. The best of Ultra is usually when an episode leaves me deeply thinking about what the episode was doing and trying to say, whereas most of Z left me feeling "ok that was cool" and then I don't think about it much afterwards.

I do really like Z final arc though, in particular its message about the nature of power, namely that power is not inherently good or evil, it's merely dependent on whoever wields it. I think this is a cool message to have and part of me wishes it was a much more overarching theme of the show, cause I feel the setup of Z, from the Devil Splinters to Z himself, is there to support it. The biggest example for me is Delta Rise Claw, which thematic feels like it embodies that final message on power. It's a form that uses Belial's power, but doesn't have any of Belial characteristics, showing that Haruki and Z are able to use the powers given them without letting it corrupt or influence them. But the debut of DRC doesn't emphasize any of this, so it just remains as subtext.

They touch on a lot of interesting ideas but don't explore any of them with the depth needed! I like the idea of just locking in and focusing on the concept of how good and evil comes down to the wielder (though it may have felt like a rehash of Geed to some extent). It still took the show like... 10 episodes to even get to some of its more interesting ideas though, which messes up the pacing even more. I thought about this after I typed my initial post about Z, but the final fight was quite anticlimactic too, which has left me with this haunting feeling that I did not actually finish watching the show. I see the show's vision, but it just doesn't come together anywhere near well enough to leave to leave me with any feelings beyond "that was fine".

[Frontier]

I feel like Z is a show that basically embodies the spirit and ethos of Ultraman in modern form. It hits a lot of the beats of other Ultra shows but executes it well and with a likeable cast and good action scenes.

I also actually hadn't watched Orb or Geed before I had watched Z so I had no frame of reference for Riku, Belial, Zero or even Jugular but I feel like they did a good job incorporating them into the show and Jugular is just soooo charismatic. Having a former villain turned Captain while still being, basically, himself was a fun dynamic.

Plus it's got Sevenger. You just can't beat Sevenger.

[Switchblade]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frontier

Plus it's got Sevenger. You just can't beat Sevenger.

It’s actually very easy to beat Sevenger, but it keeps trying and that’s why we love it.

[GoldenXtreme]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

It?s actually very easy to beat Sevenger, but it keeps trying and that?s why we love it.

Just one look into those expressive eyes and I forgive it!