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01-21-2024, 12:17 PM | #4111 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 613
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Finished Ultraman X. A series that was practically an evolution step from Ultraman Ginga S. Still following the classic formula while adding in some new spins and gimmicks that we will see more of as we go more through the New Generation era.
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01-21-2024, 05:26 PM | #4112 |
The Immortal King Tasty
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Every diner you've ever been to.
Posts: 3,833
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I'm still kinda barely posting around here at the moment, but I can't help but pop back in to say at least a little about how much I enjoyed Blazar's finale.
New Generation Ultra shows tend to make a big occasion out of that final transformation in some way or another, usually by making it into some memorable dynamic action that probably involves the protagonist falling from some great height or whatever, which is always awesome, of course, but I really appreciated the stark contrast here with this emotionally tender scene where Gento is moved to tears by the bond he and this strange alien being have formed. It's an absolutely perfect note in every way, from the surface level of just how strong the characters have been written and how great that is to watch, as always, to the broader thematic level where the immense trust Gento and Blazar share -- that ability to see themselves in each other despite all the inherent differences and barriers between them -- is so symbolic of the larger conflict going on with the V99 and the way it ultimately needs to be resolved. Appropriately enough, Blazar, right to the end, has always been a show that's great at saying so much more than it ever actually says, and while just about every moment in the finale satisfies, that scene in particular is something I think is going to stick with me for a long time to come. I'm really glad we got to see this show.
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01-21-2024, 08:07 PM | #4113 |
Comin' up OOOs!
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: A place where imports are impossible to find, NY
Posts: 2,431
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So having finished Blazar, I think it sits right behind Z as my favorite series. Granted I only watched those two and Decker to completion.
I don't think it's as perfect as some might say, but I did absolutely love the characters. SKARD is a fantastic group; great dynamic and fun/engaging personalities. Earth Garon is also one of my favorite toku mechs. Love his design and abilities as well as how expressive it can be. So glad the whole sentient AI bit didn't go south like I expected it to and that Earthy stood a close and trusted ally the whole way through. I only really have a few issues. One was the Gavadon episode. Probably the only one of the run I'd consider bad just cause the pacing, questionable character decisions and focus on mid-to-poor child actors made it a slog to get through, even if the final confrontation was pretty fun. Second was the amount of recaps. I know Ultraman tends to make like almost a quarter of the run recap episodes but it felt like we got so many and they didn't even feel very interesting unlike Decker's for example. Best was probably the first one based around a tv station trying to make a ratings-boosting story about Blazar and the kaiju he fought. The last and biggest personal issue is I felt the V99 plot was wrapped up too suddenly. I really did like the finale, but it also felt like it cut off so suddenly. If the series maybe touched on V99 and the effects of the incident a bit earlier and sprinkled it around a bit more it probably wouldn't have felt as rushed to me, given things like Emi's dad or the journal he had would be touched on and then not pop up in what felt like ages. Outside of that, though, I really enjoyed it. The Ultra Q tribute episode has to be one of my favorite episodes of toku period. And Blazar's design, personality and abilities are just A+ all around.
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01-25-2024, 03:43 PM | #4114 |
I have a problematic type
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 10,430
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I finished Blazar a couple of days ago and I'm still a little conflicted about it. I liked the show a lot; good characters, good stories, good fights. I think the show did a lot of things right. It's also not really the show that I wanted it to be.
The big thing that hooked me onto the show right away was just how fucking weird Blazar is. I really wanted to find out what was up with this primitive, howling Ultraman with his crazy fighting style and odd, prayer-like victory posing. I figured that at some point we'd learn more about who he was, where he came from, and exactly what the hell his whole deal was and we just didn't. At the end of the show we know basically about as much about Blazar as we did at the start. That felt like a real missed opportunity and kind of holds down the rest of the show for me. |
01-26-2024, 08:43 PM | #4115 |
Henshin Heaven
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Inside a Hyper Battle Video, help.
Posts: 1,249
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Ultraman Dyna is done and dusted!
I'm not sure where to start with this one. It was overall a very lighthearted show, many very cheerful or silly episodes, but at times more serious too. The thing is, I don't think the show was able to make these disparate elements elements mesh very well. To make a comparison, something like Kakuranger is able to be hilarious and serious in the same show because it has such a consistent throughline in terms of characters and setting, while Dyna doesn't manage that and it just feels like a show where the writers were rarely on the same page. Lots of plot elements aren't relevant until they NEED to be and the Super GUTS team don't have their own slowly building character arcs and quirks like Tiga did. I feel like Ryo's spontaneous crush on Asuka near the end felt pretty emblematic of the whole thing. Really the cast was kinda forgettable in general. Not bad, but when you have Kohda suddenly becoming vice-leader siper late in the show on his second character focus episode you know things aren't great. Not that I hated the show. I think the Neo Frontier setting was fun and Asuka was the most rogueish hero yet in the series. And the "Monster Drama" episode? Peak. Glorious. Akio Jissoji does it again. Overall just not something I could get invested in though, probably my least favorite Ultra show so far. I think I would have liked it better if they leaned a little harder into being some sort of hotblooded comedy? Would help distinguish it from just being "worse Tiga" and the show was often the most interesting when being silly.
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01-29-2024, 11:11 AM | #4116 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 913
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It's been a little over a week (better late than never) but I am finally watching the final episode of Ultraman Blazar and as of last night, I am up to episode 11 of Ultraman Geed.
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01-31-2024, 11:33 PM | #4117 |
Henshin Heaven
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Inside a Hyper Battle Video, help.
Posts: 1,249
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Okay I'm feeling a bit apprehensive about something. I think Ultraman Nexus sounds like a very cool show, but for a while now I've been keeping close tabs on Hasegawa as a writer while watching Ultraman shows and I've realized I actively dislike his stuff a lot of the time. I don't want to know any spoilers, but how does Nexus compare to his usual work?
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02-01-2024, 02:29 PM | #4118 |
Veteran Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,093
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Quote:
Okay I'm feeling a bit apprehensive about something. I think Ultraman Nexus sounds like a very cool show, but for a while now I've been keeping close tabs on Hasegawa as a writer while watching Ultraman shows and I've realized I actively dislike his stuff a lot of the time. I don't want to know any spoilers, but how does Nexus compare to his usual work?
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02-01-2024, 02:33 PM | #4119 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: World of Ataru
Posts: 857
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Quote:
Okay I'm feeling a bit apprehensive about something. I think Ultraman Nexus sounds like a very cool show, but for a while now I've been keeping close tabs on Hasegawa as a writer while watching Ultraman shows and I've realized I actively dislike his stuff a lot of the time. I don't want to know any spoilers, but how does Nexus compare to his usual work?
Then again I am biased I personally think Hasegawa is one of the best writers & my love for Nexus is in part due to his style. But the show is lauded for how distinct it can feel. So 50/50?
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02-01-2024, 03:22 PM | #4120 |
Henshin Heaven
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Inside a Hyper Battle Video, help.
Posts: 1,249
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Quote:
Hard to tell I think Nexus does to a lot of things differently enough that you might like it especially if your already interested in checking it out. But if you dislike Hasegawa other body of work the execution might not be it for you.
Then again I am biased I personally think Hasegawa is one of the best writers & my love for Nexus is in part due to his style. But the show is lauded for how distinct it can feel. So 50/50? Can I say though... Hasegawa is 100% Toshiki Inoue Lite and I'm amazed I never found this out earlier. Really similar in terms of "dark" narratives, the regular inclusion of bitter romantic elements, the sheer amount of material and thus high level of influence they both have on the tokusatsu genre. And... they're both quite divisive. Hasegawa more restrained so I think he's a lot more accessible though.
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