Ginga S, part 2
Oct. 18th, 2018 12:33 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
akinoameTo continue on my Power Rangers Super-season comparison, Ginga S in the second half does very much feel like Super Dino Charge did. While yes, it does continue the story, especially because the door was left open for continuation, the first half did have a sense of completion in terms of storyline. And the flaws show a little more, as well.
Ginga S brings in cameo appearances from Misuzu and Chigusa in separate episodes, before bringing them and Kenta in for cameos in the finale. I'm glad we get to see them, but they don't show up for a whole lot. Misuzu is continuing her baking, and Chigusa has become an idol singer at last (although it looks like she only has one song, and it's "Song of Ultraman Ginga" at that). Kenta, unfortunately, we don't get to see long enough to see if he really did become a photographer. But he does record Chigusa's emergency concert...though I'll get to that in a minute. Again, I really miss them. And I'm disappointed that Tomoya doesn't get quite as much focus, but at least he makes regular appearances.
In the mid-season finale, Shepardon was gravely wounded when UPG had to use his Victorium crystals to re-energize the petrified Ginga and Victory. Sho tries to get him to rest and recover, but when Sho is poisoned, Shepardon sacrifices his life to save him. And it's really sad. This franchise really knows how to make you cry over monsters, and this one really hurt, even though I sensed it was coming. I knew from his later appearances in X and Orb that Sho gains the Shepardon Saber. And when I saw that Shepardon was a friendly kaiju...well, it doesn't take too much to guess what happens there.
As much as Hikaru is still very much the lead, Sho steps up more as the co-lead as well. His development progresses further, especially with the Shepardon issue. He's on much better terms with Hikaru, to the point that Arisa notices their banter sounds like flirting and calls them out on it. But part 2 also tests their partnership, when they learn that UPG's higher-ups, led by Commander Koyama (tbh, I think it's Koyama? I watched this at work with the sound off and worked off the subs. I only heard the name once, and i thought it was Koyama. Everywhere else says it's Kamiyama, though), have hijacked Tomoya's research to create a Victorium Cannon. They feel that humans need to be able to defend themselves, rather than rely on the Ultramen, especially when they don't know who the Ultras really are and what they're fighting for. It's a logical argument, but Koyama is completely out of control and won't listen to reason. When Sho learns of the weapon, he thinks that Hikaru condoned it--after all, Hikaru hadn't shown up during that battle. In truth, Hikaru was imprisoned in the base for arguing with Koyama about it. Tomoya broke him out. Ngl, it was cute. It was also one of Takuya Negishi's best performances as Hikaru--normally, he's very laidback and friendly; but here, he was offended, angry, and outright crying in despair. And this is Ginga's host. He's supposed to embody hope, where Dark Lugiel feeds off despair. This is his darkest moment, and it doesn't help that Arisa seemingly betrayed the team, since Koyama chose to keep only her along--he had been her mentor, after all. Sho just outright dumps Hikaru, saying he can't work together with him. Sho breaks into UPG headquarters to try to stop Koyama, but he's detained and Shepardon's Spark Doll stolen from him. After Hikaru's rescued, the others rescue Sho and Arisa turns on Koyama, and they explain to him that Hikaru had nothing to do with the Victorium Cannon and was against it from the start.
The team-up in the finale was fantastic. With Sho and Hikaru forcibly separated from their Ultraman forms, now petrified, nobody really knows what to do. The survivors of UPG help evacuations, and Sho just basically stops giving a shit about keeping his powers a secret, using his crystal pendant to heal a pregnant woman who's going into distressed labor. Gouki, who had previously saved the woman earlier in the season, is so relieved that he collapses against Sho. Misuzu passes out homemade treats in the refugee shelter, and back in Furuhoshi, Kenta livestreams a makeshift concert from Chigusa designed to give the survivors in Shizukugaoka hope. And finally, Queen Kisara orders her court to the surface world. It's in this moment that Ginga S resembles Power Rangers the most, specifically, the in Space finale "Countdown to Destruction," storyboarded by their shared director, Koichi Sakamoto. Kisara, her advisor Kamushin, Lepi and Sakuya (who are apparently Kisara's adopted kids? tbh, Ginga S does not outright say anything there), and Hiyori give Sho and Hikaru their pendants, with enough Victorium power saved within to let them transform again. Their identities are revealed to UPG and all of the civilians in the refugee camp, and Gouki and Arisa are shocked to realize that all of those times they thought Hikaru was ignoring orders and running off to do his own thing, he was actually fighting on the front lines and putting himself in more danger to protect them. Earth had always had its own home-born warrior to defend it. This is a quibble I have with the Ultra franchise as a whole up until Orb, where they did away with the "science patrol" concept for a few years: I will never understand why Ultras who serve on teams like this do not tell anyone who they are. I mean, Hikaru at least had it easier than some others, what with Tomoya knowing and presumably advocating for UPG to hire him. But you'd think it would solve more problems than it would create by just having that conversation up-front.
Anyway, when Dark Lugiel sends a ton of aliens into the refugee shelter, the Victorians and UPG get to work kicking ass. Queen Kisara even vaporizes her attackers with a flick of her hand. That's right, guys—she Thanos'ed them, and she could have done that at any time. That's a lady really dedicated to "do no harm."
If I do have to complain about anything, it's probably about Mana, Android One-Zero. She's not utilized to her full potential—there's a really good moment, at the end of the first half, where she has to deal with being told she's worthless and might as well just self-destruct to be any use to Exceller. Tomoya tries to get her to understand that she can find her own purpose, but she doesn't really understand. Even so, her self-destruct is disabled, and she survives. When the second half kicks off, Misuzu finds her and renames her—which is meant to be "regaining life," though I'm not sure how accurate Hikaru's Hawaiian is. But then she disappears for a while, and doesn't show up until the finale kicks off. So her sacrifice to help the Ultras defeat Dark Lugiel doesn't have the same impact that Shepardon's death had.
And like Power Rangers Dino Super Charge, much as the opening sequence updates to make things look a little more action-oriented and series, the show suffers from a slowdown. Most of the plot goes through in the first half, and then the second is a little more episodic, even while it tries to finish off the plot. Not that it's really bad—again, it's great seeing Chigusa and Misuzu again, and one of Chigusa's fans begins a running thing in later seasons, where aliens who once wanted to conquer the planet end up falling in love with Earth's culture and want to live in peace among humans. But it is a little jarring at times. Also, no matter how much you try to make sympathetic stories about him, Gan-Q is still the freakiest kaiju ever and I will always be creeped out by him. Stop.
But again, I really have to recommend this season. If Ginga is good for fans of Kamen Rider Fourze, Ginga S is probably good for anyone who wants to get into Ultraman and really only knows Power Rangers to start. Having the first series really does help, but this is a good introduction to the classic Ultra setup, while also working off of a more familiar look and feel, thanks to a very familiar director. Hikaru and Sho are wonderful co-protagonists, one warm and friendly and trusting, and the other more serious, suspicious, and a bit of a loner at times. But they pull themselves together better than a lot of similar duos of that nature, such as in Kamen Rider. There's a sense of hope that remains throughout the series, and it really makes it irresistible no matter what.
Still have to see the movie, mind you. I've only found the English sub on KissAsian, but the video takes forever to load. I think everyone backed off of subbing it after that one guy dubbed it, but given the movie only aired in theaters once in the U.S., you'd think that someone would upload old fansubs. The only other thing I've seen is in Indonesian, and I definitely don't speak that.
Ginga S brings in cameo appearances from Misuzu and Chigusa in separate episodes, before bringing them and Kenta in for cameos in the finale. I'm glad we get to see them, but they don't show up for a whole lot. Misuzu is continuing her baking, and Chigusa has become an idol singer at last (although it looks like she only has one song, and it's "Song of Ultraman Ginga" at that). Kenta, unfortunately, we don't get to see long enough to see if he really did become a photographer. But he does record Chigusa's emergency concert...though I'll get to that in a minute. Again, I really miss them. And I'm disappointed that Tomoya doesn't get quite as much focus, but at least he makes regular appearances.
In the mid-season finale, Shepardon was gravely wounded when UPG had to use his Victorium crystals to re-energize the petrified Ginga and Victory. Sho tries to get him to rest and recover, but when Sho is poisoned, Shepardon sacrifices his life to save him. And it's really sad. This franchise really knows how to make you cry over monsters, and this one really hurt, even though I sensed it was coming. I knew from his later appearances in X and Orb that Sho gains the Shepardon Saber. And when I saw that Shepardon was a friendly kaiju...well, it doesn't take too much to guess what happens there.
As much as Hikaru is still very much the lead, Sho steps up more as the co-lead as well. His development progresses further, especially with the Shepardon issue. He's on much better terms with Hikaru, to the point that Arisa notices their banter sounds like flirting and calls them out on it. But part 2 also tests their partnership, when they learn that UPG's higher-ups, led by Commander Koyama (tbh, I think it's Koyama? I watched this at work with the sound off and worked off the subs. I only heard the name once, and i thought it was Koyama. Everywhere else says it's Kamiyama, though), have hijacked Tomoya's research to create a Victorium Cannon. They feel that humans need to be able to defend themselves, rather than rely on the Ultramen, especially when they don't know who the Ultras really are and what they're fighting for. It's a logical argument, but Koyama is completely out of control and won't listen to reason. When Sho learns of the weapon, he thinks that Hikaru condoned it--after all, Hikaru hadn't shown up during that battle. In truth, Hikaru was imprisoned in the base for arguing with Koyama about it. Tomoya broke him out. Ngl, it was cute. It was also one of Takuya Negishi's best performances as Hikaru--normally, he's very laidback and friendly; but here, he was offended, angry, and outright crying in despair. And this is Ginga's host. He's supposed to embody hope, where Dark Lugiel feeds off despair. This is his darkest moment, and it doesn't help that Arisa seemingly betrayed the team, since Koyama chose to keep only her along--he had been her mentor, after all. Sho just outright dumps Hikaru, saying he can't work together with him. Sho breaks into UPG headquarters to try to stop Koyama, but he's detained and Shepardon's Spark Doll stolen from him. After Hikaru's rescued, the others rescue Sho and Arisa turns on Koyama, and they explain to him that Hikaru had nothing to do with the Victorium Cannon and was against it from the start.
The team-up in the finale was fantastic. With Sho and Hikaru forcibly separated from their Ultraman forms, now petrified, nobody really knows what to do. The survivors of UPG help evacuations, and Sho just basically stops giving a shit about keeping his powers a secret, using his crystal pendant to heal a pregnant woman who's going into distressed labor. Gouki, who had previously saved the woman earlier in the season, is so relieved that he collapses against Sho. Misuzu passes out homemade treats in the refugee shelter, and back in Furuhoshi, Kenta livestreams a makeshift concert from Chigusa designed to give the survivors in Shizukugaoka hope. And finally, Queen Kisara orders her court to the surface world. It's in this moment that Ginga S resembles Power Rangers the most, specifically, the in Space finale "Countdown to Destruction," storyboarded by their shared director, Koichi Sakamoto. Kisara, her advisor Kamushin, Lepi and Sakuya (who are apparently Kisara's adopted kids? tbh, Ginga S does not outright say anything there), and Hiyori give Sho and Hikaru their pendants, with enough Victorium power saved within to let them transform again. Their identities are revealed to UPG and all of the civilians in the refugee camp, and Gouki and Arisa are shocked to realize that all of those times they thought Hikaru was ignoring orders and running off to do his own thing, he was actually fighting on the front lines and putting himself in more danger to protect them. Earth had always had its own home-born warrior to defend it. This is a quibble I have with the Ultra franchise as a whole up until Orb, where they did away with the "science patrol" concept for a few years: I will never understand why Ultras who serve on teams like this do not tell anyone who they are. I mean, Hikaru at least had it easier than some others, what with Tomoya knowing and presumably advocating for UPG to hire him. But you'd think it would solve more problems than it would create by just having that conversation up-front.
Anyway, when Dark Lugiel sends a ton of aliens into the refugee shelter, the Victorians and UPG get to work kicking ass. Queen Kisara even vaporizes her attackers with a flick of her hand. That's right, guys—she Thanos'ed them, and she could have done that at any time. That's a lady really dedicated to "do no harm."
If I do have to complain about anything, it's probably about Mana, Android One-Zero. She's not utilized to her full potential—there's a really good moment, at the end of the first half, where she has to deal with being told she's worthless and might as well just self-destruct to be any use to Exceller. Tomoya tries to get her to understand that she can find her own purpose, but she doesn't really understand. Even so, her self-destruct is disabled, and she survives. When the second half kicks off, Misuzu finds her and renames her—which is meant to be "regaining life," though I'm not sure how accurate Hikaru's Hawaiian is. But then she disappears for a while, and doesn't show up until the finale kicks off. So her sacrifice to help the Ultras defeat Dark Lugiel doesn't have the same impact that Shepardon's death had.
And like Power Rangers Dino Super Charge, much as the opening sequence updates to make things look a little more action-oriented and series, the show suffers from a slowdown. Most of the plot goes through in the first half, and then the second is a little more episodic, even while it tries to finish off the plot. Not that it's really bad—again, it's great seeing Chigusa and Misuzu again, and one of Chigusa's fans begins a running thing in later seasons, where aliens who once wanted to conquer the planet end up falling in love with Earth's culture and want to live in peace among humans. But it is a little jarring at times. Also, no matter how much you try to make sympathetic stories about him, Gan-Q is still the freakiest kaiju ever and I will always be creeped out by him. Stop.
But again, I really have to recommend this season. If Ginga is good for fans of Kamen Rider Fourze, Ginga S is probably good for anyone who wants to get into Ultraman and really only knows Power Rangers to start. Having the first series really does help, but this is a good introduction to the classic Ultra setup, while also working off of a more familiar look and feel, thanks to a very familiar director. Hikaru and Sho are wonderful co-protagonists, one warm and friendly and trusting, and the other more serious, suspicious, and a bit of a loner at times. But they pull themselves together better than a lot of similar duos of that nature, such as in Kamen Rider. There's a sense of hope that remains throughout the series, and it really makes it irresistible no matter what.
Still have to see the movie, mind you. I've only found the English sub on KissAsian, but the video takes forever to load. I think everyone backed off of subbing it after that one guy dubbed it, but given the movie only aired in theaters once in the U.S., you'd think that someone would upload old fansubs. The only other thing I've seen is in Indonesian, and I definitely don't speak that.