[SHINOBI03]

The Ultra Galaxy era is to be frank, polarizing. Ultraman Mebius was obviously intended to be Tsuburaya's final hurrah before they let the franchise lay dormant. But someone got greedy and decided to keep it going by make low budget toy commercials based on then game trends. To me it did take time to get used to this new setting. I was open to see how it would fare as an Ultra series that is neither Ultraman or Ultra Q. Then when it seems like all set and done, they decided to shove in a new Ultraman stealing the spotlight from the Mega Monster cast.

Ultraman Zero is a character I can't decide if I hate his concept or not hating it enough He's a character made to be liked. As in they expect you to like him without earning your respect. Zero is a badly written character that borderlines a satire. He's a new character introduced without any buildup, comes in to save everyone, and I mean everyone making all your previous favorite characters completely worthless, and no matter how powerful he gets he keeps getting new powers without earning them. He just gets them because the plot says so and to sell more toys than ever.

We liked the old Ultra characters because they started small. We see their journey building up their powers and skills and when they get a new power it is earned thanks to their sacrifice, determination and the experience they get as they grow as fighters. Zero doesn't get this treatment. Instead, he starts as the most powerful character without a real development. And the writers seemed to have caught on as after his debut they decide to take the opposite route by making Zero weaker by giving him whatever handicap they could think of That just tells you your character was extremely flawed from its core concept.

[Kiwami]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SHINOBI03

We liked the old Ultra characters because they started small. We see their journey building up their powers and skills and when they get a new power it is earned thanks to their sacrifice, determination and the experience they get as they grow as fighters. Zero doesn't get this treatment. Instead, he starts as the most powerful character without a real development.

I can't really see that?

Classic Ultra heroes like, the OG Man nii-san, Ultraseven or maybe the likes of Tiga - they never really "grew"? As in, getting more powerful or learning new techniques out of experience? These oldschool Ultras can do basically anything by the first episode and just pull out the tricks whenever they are necessary, they don't "learn" or "earn" them like modern ones do. There's hardly any continuity with their powers. Or weaknesses. But that's fun and I like that.

Zero by comparison has actually lots of buildup, as he starts humbled and exiled, is training to find himself and ultimately succeeds.

Yeah the power level is questionable really, but that was always the point. He was supposed to be this strong; the impact was the payoff for the movie. Of course they can only awkwardly back paddle from there and then add new forms, like with any recurring character ever. They have no nerf them, otherwise whatever new challenge comes up, well, won't be one.

For me Zero works for what he is, and he only got better as time went on. Arguably his appearance in Geed as a side character is the best one, I really liked that role.

[Frontier]

I do feel like at times Zero kind of overshadowed Geed in his own show but the stuff with Leito, his family, and watching Riku come to his own and be the one to finally put down Belial made it worth it.

Yuta Ozawa did an amazing job playing Zero. You'd almost think it was Mamoru Miyano actually acting Zero out in live-action (which I think he did in a stage show).

Also Zero Beyond is just an amazing suit.

[Frontier]

Figure the first time Retsu greets SKaRD in person again after so long it's to read them the riot act. Even had to hit them where it hurt with how they've never beaten a Kaiju on their own and could be shut down if they fail here. Harsh.

Teruaki and Yasunobu with the Tilsonite (so that's how they're translating) plan! Even brought back Hirano! And seems like Retsu pulled some strings too.

Gebalga really is a strategic Kaiju, seems like he was deliberately trying to take down the Earth's infrastructure.

Gento, I get where you're coming from, but putting away your transformation device NEVER ends well.

Earth Garon's got a gun! Emi and Anri are playing bait! And even Gento's squad from the first episode is providing support!

The plan probably would've worked had Gebalga not been so sturdy and still had electromagnetic power. Although it seems Earth Garon can engage in fisticuffs even with the shoulder guns mounted.

Gento and Blazar reach a breakthrough! Turns out Gento wasn't just trying to save Blazar when they first met, Blazar was trying to save Gento! They're kindred spirits, in that sense!

"Let's go...Blazar!" He said the Ultra's name before transforming! I'm going to count that!

Man, is there anything more hardcore than using your power to turn a spear into a sword and ripping it out of a Kaiju's mouth?

The Tilsonite Sword! Powerful enough to deflect lightning, slice through Gebalga's shell, and even turn Blazar into lighting itself for a spectacular Finisher!

Ha ha. Oh Blazar, you rambunctious Ultra you. Gento has a lot of explaining/cleaning up to do.

That's...definitely one way to advertise a clip show. Guess it's getting into the mood of October.

[Daikaijuman54]

Well, there's certainly a lot of expected and unexpected events going on with this show, and I'm all for it!

So, from what I gather, Blazar was trying to save lives and Gento came to his rescue and the two sort of hit it off in a way that Blazar began to follow in his footsteps thus prioritizing lives which led to the Demaaga incident then forcing a retreat when they couldn't take out Gebalga the first time. I might be wrong, but this is the impression I'm getting at here. Also, nice to see Gento's boys from the first episode again!

The Blazar dynamic (which was great) aside, the science got done and Earth Garon got a really neat gun. One day, it'll get to finish a Kaiju (I know it helped Blazar, but too much to hope it'll get an UGM Finale). And Blazar's new sword is neat. I'm really enjoying how power-ups and arsenal has been handled this season, which all feels like Showa-Early Heisei shows.

However, Retsu mentions "Second Wave Cleared," which makes me wonder if there's a trend with the Kaiju or something to lead them to that conclusion. I doubt it's something like "the Aliens are messing with humanity for fun" kind of schtick, but there does seem to be stuff going on behind the scenes, especially since he doesn't seem disappointed that Blazar took out the Kaiju again.

Next Episode: I figured we'd be getting another recap, but this seems like it's going in a different direction than I'd thought...

[GuardianAngel87]

Even though I am holding on watching the remaining episodes of Ultraman Orb (and most Toku shows in general) for now due to focusing on my own annual Halloween marathon, I do have more than enough time in between to still watch Ultraman Blazar on a weekly basis which is the series I am watching right now.

[Switchblade]

Man, it is going to be really goddamn weird in a few years when we get one of those big Sakamoto crossover web series and Blazar is just hanging out with the other Ultras, having dialogue and shit.

[Sunred]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daikaijuman54

However, Retsu mentions "Second Wave Cleared," which makes me wonder if there's a trend with the Kaiju or something to lead them to that conclusion. I doubt it's something like "the Aliens are messing with humanity for fun" kind of schtick, but there does seem to be stuff going on behind the scenes, especially since he doesn't seem disappointed that Blazar took out the Kaiju again.

This kind of reminds me of that one scene in I think episode 1 where someone was commenting how he thought Ultraman was a urban legend or a myth by some of those among their ranks. It then had me thinking what if Retsu or the person who called was one of the eyewitnesses of one of these sightings. If so, I wonder if it was Blazar or another Ultra such as Z who appears in medal form for the toys.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daikaijuman54

Next Episode: I figured we'd be getting another recap, but this seems like it's going in a different direction than I'd thought...

First that episode with the musicians and now this. This show really knows how to have fun with trying out different aesthetics and genres imo.

[Fish Sandwich]

These last few episodes of Blazar have been particularly fun for me, given all the stuff I've talked about being interested in from the start. This little arc has landed on a pretty straightforward note of Gento learning to trust his partner more, but like, that's also *exactly* why it's satisfying to see happen. It's clearly a really important thing for this series in particular that the two halves of this one hero learn to have that kind of understanding without ever once needing to talk about it properly. This hasn't been a story you'd ever see done ~quite~ the same way in any other Ultra show I know of, and that right there gets at the core of what's made Blazar so appealing so far.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

Man, it is going to be really goddamn weird in a few years when we get one of those big Sakamoto crossover web series and Blazar is just hanging out with the other Ultras, having dialogue and shit.

Either that, or his caveman shtick gets exaggerated to the point of parody and we get scenes of Taro and Zero and whoever in the Land of Light having serious conversations about fighting evil while Blazar throws random screaming tantrums in the background.

[Sunred]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

Either that, or his caveman shtick gets exaggerated to the point of parody and we get scenes of Taro and Zero and whoever in the Land of Light having serious conversations about fighting evil while Blazar throws random screaming tantrums in the background.

I hope we get him to see him say Blazar tomodachi.