Directed by Kazuya Konaka. Written by Aya Takei. Airdate Dec. 2, 2013.
After two episodes of nutty, wonderful fun, Ultraman Ginga S switches to a story about UPG politics to set up the final stretch of episodes. The Defense Organization governing the UPG steps in to seize control of operations. They kick out all the members (with one important exception) and escalate UPG’s anti-alien measures by unleashing a secret weapon that’s been in the base the whole time: a Victorium-powered laser cannon.
The UPG is one of the more … I guess “adorable” is the right word … defense teams in the series. It consists of a slender staff of mostly kids, and its only vehicles appear to be a car and a van. The show’s tight budget is the main reason this organization, meant to defend Earth from aliens and giant monsters, has only a skeleton crew running it.
But showrunner Koichi Sakamoto and the rest of the creative team manage to portray the UPG in a way that makes a kind of sense: a pack of outsiders struggling with limited resources. (Which is also a good way to describe the show’s production team.) When the Defense Organization’s top brass, led by hardliner Commander Koyama (Kohki Okada), seizes control and tosses the other UPG members outside like misbehaving schoolchildren, it further solidifies the organization’s underdog nature.
There’s a long tradition in the franchise of friction between defense teams and their parent organizations. It crops up in episodes of Ultraseven and Ultraman Tiga and plays a key role in the story arcs in Ultraman Gaia and Ultraman Nexus. The concept is simplified in Ultraman Ginga S: this is the first time we see the Defense Organization, and they simply barge into HQ, demote everyone, and put into action their plan to stop alien invaders by “shooting ‘em with a big gun!” to show that they don’t need no Ultraman to defend the planet.
This approach works in the context of the simpler, shorter Ultraman Ginga S. It’s shorthand that gets the episode moving fast. It’s still a bit rocky, especially when Hikaru throws a mini-tantrum after Koyama criticizes Ultraman Ginga. “Take it back!” he screams, like he’s on the playground. Hikaru should know these tactics won’t work on someone like Koyama.
Koyama allows only one member of the UPG team to stay at HQ: Arisa. Koyama was Arisa’s mentor during her training, and now he needs her sharpshooting skills to target the Victorium Cannon. So, technically, this is an Arisa episode, though not one where she dominates the action. Her assignment doesn’t make much sense: her expertise is with hand weapons, not controlling a massive computer-operated turret to shoot an object that’s over 150 feet tall. I suspect the computer targeting system would’ve done just fine hitting a giant monster on its own. Actress Yukari Taki at least sells the tension in the final confrontation.
The initial threat is Volcano Bird Monster Birdon, the next kaiju that Alien Guts enlarges from a Spark Doll. Birdon is traditionally one of the deadliest opponents any Ultra can face. The venomous bird beast notoriously defeated Ultraman Taro, an event Alien Chibull makes an oblique reference to, indicating some universe crossover.
Birdon is a spectacularly bizarre and humorous-looking thing — the perfect Ultraman Taro kaiju — but its appearance here is a throwaway. Birdon’s role is to injure Ultraman Victory in the first half of the episode so Ginga has to go it alone for the climax. Not the best use of a classic monster, and Birdon gets taken out far too easily for such a legend.
The actual final boss is Alien Guts, at last enlarged to giant size and using the same double-team trick he used against Ultraseven back in the day to almost overwhelm Ultraman Ginga. Alien Guts has been an enjoyable presence in the show as Alien Chibull’s perpetually failing agent, and he’s the right blend of funny and dangerous for his exit episode. It’s amazing that Alien Chibull gave him so many chances, but then, Chibull hasn’t distinguished himself as an invader either.
Despite the waste of Birdon as a plot device and the generally nonsensical way the Defense Organization uses Arisa, this is a solid character-driven episode with some exciting fight scenes that ease the show back into its main story arc. With only three episodes left, Ultraman Ginga S is set up for its endgame. The next episode is titled “Resurrection of Lugiel,” so it’s clear where we’re headed.
Now, can we please get Android One Zero back into the story rather than leaving her standing on hills, staring at the action?
Rating: Good
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