Directed by Tomoo Haraguchi. Written by Akira Tanizaki. Airdate July 24, 2013.
This is the first episode of Ultraman Ginga that manages to tell an effective story despite the show’s severe production limitations. The creative team appears to have figured out, at least for the moment, how to maneuver around corporate restrictions and demands to create something that works as both a YA drama and an Ultra adventure. The scope is still cramped, there’s a distractingly wrongheaded scene, and the monster suits are all reused, but “The Twin-Headed Flame Beast” offers a blueprint for a creative path forward for the show.
The biggest improvement is that the story gives its human villain, the person with the “dark mind” who transforms into the kaiju of the week, a connection to the main cast. She’s not a no-name illegal garbage dumper or a random kook on a motorcycle. There’s more at stake, and the characters have stronger ties to the eventual kaiju action.
The first two episodes focused mostly on Hikaru and Misuzu out of the four main teens. Now we get to know more about Kenta (Mizuki Ohno), the quietest of the quartet. Kenta has been nursing an unrequited crush on Misuzu. When Chigusa shows up at the school with Yuka Sugo (Mika), a new friend she picked up while buying fireworks, Kenta is quick to latch onto the attractive girl as a way to deal with his loneliness. He falls fast for Yuka and suddenly decides that he wants to revive his discarded dream of becoming a professional photographer so he can take pictures of her.
This is a good characterization of the adolescent enthusiasm that comes from a crush. I was seventeen once; I know what it’s like. I also know what it’s like for a crush to be directed at the wrong person, which is the case here.
Misuzu senses in Yuka the same darkness she noticed in the previous victims of the Dark Spark. She turns out to be right: Yuka is the next target for Alien Valky and the Dark Spark. Yuka turns into King Pandon, the titular flame beast, and begins burning down everything around her while laughing at the thought of ruining Kenta’s dreams.
We never learn about Yuka’s motivations or what gave her a dark soul to exploit, but the story is more properly Kenta’s. The drama works best when it’s seen from his perspective or from Hikaru and Misuzu’s as they seek to protect their friend. There’s genuine emotion in the way Hikaru snarls at Yuka — in her King Pandon form — for mocking Kenta’s revived desire to be a photographer. For the first time, the show’s theme of pursuing personal dreams feels authentic, even if still simplistic in an After School Special way.
King Pandon is another recycled costume. Kaiju Pandon first appeared in the two-part finale of Ultraseven, “The Biggest Invasion in History,” and it has a lot of love in the franchise. Even though there’s no specific story connection to the classic Pandon, King Pandon is the first time one of the recycled monsters works.
First, the design looks fantastic: this costume was created for the 2008 movie Superior 8 Ultra Brothers, and it’s a memorable makeover for Pandon. Second, the fiery abilities and appearance of King Pandon capture a burning rage in Yuka that gives something to her character even if we know little about her. It’s youthful passion gone haywire — an ideal complement to the story. The result is a kaiju fight that has impact, even if the choreography isn’t anything spectacular and Hikaru spends half of it in silly Alien Kemur’s body.
I have to bring up a short but unfortunate, almost infamous, scene. When Yuka prepares for the photoshoot with Kenta in the school, she starts to slowly undress in front of the Ultraman Taro figurine. Taro turns away so he won’t look, but he becomes literally hot and bothered with temptation as slinky music plays. It’s a bizarrely horny moment for a show with such an overall innocent tone. It would be bizarre for most Ultra shows. Was this meant to be amusing for kids? Fan service for adults? I don’t think either group would enjoy it. Taro, you’re an Ultra warrior! Why are you lusting after a girl who just graduated high school? Knock it off.
That off-key moment aside, “The Twin-Headed Flame Beast” proves that talented, driven artists were working on this show. Sometimes, they could overcome the production limitations to deliver quality Ultra entertainment. This won’t be consistent during the show’s run, but at least we’ll have some pleasant times ahead.
(Although I’d like to request an end to whip-pans and comical boing! and swish! sound effects.)
Rating: Average
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