EJ C
Hey all, and welcome back to Ultraman Watch Club. Today, we're continuing our watch of Netflix's ULTRAMAN Season 1, with episode 3, "Being Ultraman Isn't So Bad." I'm EJ, Editor-in-Chief of UltramanConnection.com.
Evangelia A.G.
I’m Evangelia, a writer for Ultraman Connection.
Kyle Y.R.
I’m Kyle, also a writer for Ultraman Connection.
EJ C
So we start the episode in the middle of what is probably a pretty scary meeting for anyone, with Shinjiro's hospital stay interrupted by Edo, the Alien Zetton. With him comes some shocking reveals about Earth's long-lasting peace since the original Ultraman show.
Kyle Y.R.
I’d definitely be frightened, especially considering the kaiju Zetton is considered Ultraman’s greatest foe in the original series.
Evangelia A.G.
Yeah, we learn that Bemular represents not only his own destructive capability, but the potential of other alien invasions as well. As Edo stated at the beginning, Earth had been left alone as a result of an intergalactic peace treaty. So Bemular and those that may come after him aren’t just regular invaders, they’re deviants from the union of the other planets and in a way terrorists.
Kyle Y.R.
What I'm curious about is whether Edo has a different philosophy from the original Alien Zetton we saw, or if it's merely a professional obligation for him.
EJ C
The fact that he's pursuing peace in any form with humans tells me that it kind of has to be the case.
Kyle Y.R.
That's definitely true. I'm very curious about Alien Zetton politics, although I can't imagine there are very many of them left.
Evangelia A.G.
Which proves just how scary Bemular is. If even the Alien Zetton can agree to make peace, then Bemular and those who might come after him have to be ten times worse than that.
EJ C
Considering the circumstances of the original show, Edo may even be the last Alien Zetton. Anyway, poor Shinjiro has, uh... other stuff to worry about than Edo, considering the condition his dad's in. Thankfully, he's going to recover.
Evangelia A.G.
I think a part of Shinjiro kind of knew he would be asked to step in for Ultraman once he realized his father had the job before him, but now the call to action is a reality and he’s faced with this huge destiny. Meanwhile he has to continue going to school and pretend to lead a normal life.
Kyle Y.R.
Yeah, Shin's condition is an easy way to toy with any Ultraman fan's heart, and I'm glad it looks like he's going to make it through this.
Evangelia A.G.
Shinjiro already has so much new information to take in and so many new expectations, I think it would be cruel of the writers to take away his father too. I’m also glad he’s on the road to recovery.
Kyle Y.R.
Him having to step up as a new Ultraman while being a teenager is definitely a cool spin on the character. It's cool to see him develop as he finally gets to use his powers.
Evangelia A.G.
I think this episode grounded us after the last episode. It was more conventional in that it had multiple locations and focused more on Shinjiro’s heroic arc more, which was refreshing after the intensity of his battle with Bemular. I think that episode was extremely necessary but we did need a breath afterward.
EJ C
You say "gets to use," I say "has to use," when a massive car crash happens, right?
Evangelia A.G.
Haha, good point.
Kyle Y.R.
It's definitely a double-edged sword. When he fought Bemular, he said he finally gets to use his real strength, but I think in this episode he realizes that this new identity is accompanied by serious responsibility.
Evangelia A.G.
Yeah, and it starts out with this, like, virtue binge. He was doing all the classic superhero things, and kind of starting to get into all the clout he was getting for it. Of course, that’s a short lived feeling because it foreshadows much bigger battles to come.
Kyle Y.R.
Yeah, he still seems pretty happy about getting to be the hero, at least initially.
Evangelia A.G.
He might want to be everyone’s friendly neighborhood Ultraman, but he’s needed for bigger things.
Kyle Y.R.
That is how the superhero gig goes.
EJ C
Not to say that things aren't a little dodgy in the neighborhood. Who's this hooded, four-eyed guy running around?
Evangelia A.G.
Well… That last shot of him was was treacherous.
Kyle Y.R.
Yeah, he's pretty suspicious. I really like the idea that in this interpretation of Ultraman, there are all these aliens blending into human society, and they're constantly all over the place.
Evangelia A.G.
It’s interesting that the aliens we’ve seen so far have had humanoid bodies. In the classic series Kaiju were, like, huge monsters. How long have the aliens taken this form in the Ultraverse? I’m a noob so you gotta clue me in.
EJ C
Well, monsters and aliens are separate things, you know.
Kyle Y.R.
There are definitely humanoid aliens throughout Ultraman.
Evangelia A.G.
It’s true, but there seems to be a bigger focus on aliens.
EJ C
Though they're definitely skewing more humanoid on the whole here.
Kyle Y.R.
You're right that this is much less Kaiju focused.
Evangelia A.G.
There’s something so unsettling about this new guy. I mean… besides his obvious antics. His design is just unnerving.
EJ C
They're definitely hitting what I would call the "social outcast" vibes with him.
Kyle Y.R.
He's got a hikikomori vibe for sure.
EJ C
The criminalization of the "other", so to speak.
Evangelia A.G.
Can you elaborate on that?
EJ C
Every initial portrayal of this guy (his species is Alien Igaru, spoilers) is halfway between "He's a threat who is an alien," and "Is he a threat because he's an alien?"
Evangelia A.G.
Ah, I see.
EJ C
And that's kind of key to the series as a whole, right? We mentioned it in the first episode; this show is very much asking questions about human issues, transposed onto the extraterrestrial.
Evangelia A.G.
Yes, I think that theme is definitely brought to the surface in episode 4, but i’ll bite my tongue and save that for next time.
EJ C
Well, we'll talk about that later, haha.
Kyle Y.R.
That's always been a theme in Ultraman, but this show definitely hits on it in a deeper and even more mature way than we've seen before.
EJ C
Anyway, let's cap off our coverage today with the introduction of a pair of new main characters: Dan Moroboshi and Rena Sayama.
Kyle Y.R.
Well, Dan Moroboshi is obviously a name that any classic Ultra fan will recognize. And without spoiling anything, part of the fun of this show is seeing the re-adaptation of fan-favorite characters, and what they change vs. what they keep.
EJ C
Well, they certainly made some, ah... changes regarding Dan.
Evangelia A.G.
What kind of changes?
EJ C
The fact that he seems totally human, for one thing.
Kyle Y.R.
Well, he's definitely a kinder character in the original continuity too.
Evangelia A.G.
I like his attitude though, he’s to the point.
Kyle Y.R.
The original Dan is sometimes stern, but not unfriendly.
EJ C
Yeah, this Dan seems to outright dislike Shinjiro. Mostly because he's a greenhorn with superpowers!
Evangelia A.G.
I feel like he represents the skepticism that a lot of people clearly have for this new Ultraman.
Kyle Y.R.
It's fun, because it kind of reverses the roles of Dan and Shin from the original shows, or at least the roles of their "counterparts."
Evangelia A.G.
It makes sense that someone who’s been functioning in a system that has maintained peace for so long would be a little peeved that there’s a new guy that needs to learn all the ropes, especially when they’re basically relying on the new Ultraman.
Kyle Y.R.
He seems very competent as opposed to Shinjiro, who doesn't yet know what he's doing. Yeah, to be fair he does have to deal with the newbie.
EJ C
Rena, meanwhile, is the exact opposite- she seems immediately into this new Ultraman.
Evangelia A.G.
I think she has a lil’ crush on him!
EJ C
I think it could certainly end up that way.
Kyle Y.R.
She does seem awfully fond of someone she knows very little about.
Evangelia A.G.
She’s simply drawn to his ~vibes~ Kyle. Buuut yeah, I’d probably at least have to see what’s under the mask before I decide to pursue someone.
Kyle Y.R.
I mean fair enough—to each her own.
EJ C
I can agree with that.
Kyle Y.R.
Given that she seems to be an idol or celebrity, it might benefit her to play the drama up.
EJ C
The episode ends gruesomely, however, with Shinjiro encountering the first alien whose motives are unquestionably monstrous- the human-eating Alien Adacic!
Kyle Y.R.
Yeah, that was straight-up disturbing. You could really see Shinjiro's reaction, and how he wasn't psychologically prepared for the harsher parts of this new job.
Evangelia A.G.
Yeah. It was pretty awesome, though. I’m a fan of the morbid and grotesque.
Kyle Y.R.
Woah Evangelia, you're starting to scare me.
Evangelia A.G.
Ahaha…
Kyle Y.R.
Are you sure you're not an alien imposter?
Evangelia A.G.
o_o
EJ C
That'll finish up our coverage for this episode, folks. We need to see if Evangelia is wearing a rubber mask, after all. Catch you next time, when we cover ULTRAMAN episode 4, "Release the Limiter!"
