The SkaRD team are a little put upon in this Ultraman Blazar triple! Join Sean for a recap of “Light And Flame,” “Night Of Insects Chirping” and “Battle in the Sky.”
Hey all! Sean here again and it’s time for another Blazar! This time, we pick up where we left off in episode 18, with more Irugos appearing and, later, we’ll see a swarm of insect kaiju!
Episode 19: “Light and Flame
Monster Of The Day
The monster of the day today is Brood Gebalga! A larger, red version of Gebalga with a pair of Irugo for what appears to be tails. Will SKaRD and Blazar be able to defeat this colossal kaiju?
SKaRD Team
The episode opens with Gento at a café, watching as people go by. Just then, Emi calls out to Gento and he turns to see her sitting across from him. Emi then tells Gento that she found Mr. Nishizaki, who we saw last episode.
We then see the conversation between Emi and Mr Nishizaki. He explains that, three years ago, scientists from every field were gathered at a facility in the mountains of Gifu, test Facility 66 of the space facilities research centre. They were supposed to restore a giant, wrecked machine, brought in from America, that they were told it was a wormhole generator.
On the day the machine was activated, they lost control and several scientists were sucked in. Emi asks where her father was during all of this and Mr. Nishizaki tells her that her father was in charge of the project, at the heart of the blast zone. All the other non-GGF scientists were watching from the monitor room, which is how Nishizaki and the others survived.
Nishizaki then hands Emi something, saying that her father told him to hold onto it and give it to her if anything happened to him. Mr Nishizaki felt that it may put Emi in danger.
We cut back to Emi showing Gento what Nishizaki gave her, it’s a locket. It contains a picture of the young Emi and what Gento initially believes is her birthdate, however, Emi explains that her father often got the dates of Emi and physicist Yasunosuke Ishido mixed up as they’re one day apart. Emi then adds that today is actually her birthday. Gento then receives a phone call.
We then see Teruaki explaining that multiple Irugos have popped up around the facility Gebalga used to contaminate the network, polluting the area with Irugo gas and have begun changing. After some DNA analysis from the defeated Irugos, they have been confirmed to be Gebalga larvae.
We then see Emi calling Gento, saying that command has found a link between the Irugos and Gebalga, meaning the “Second Wave” hasn’t ended after all, making this a V99 matter. Gento is still confused as to what differentiates Bazanga and Gebalga from other space kaiju. Emi says they need to get to the bottom of this and Gento tells her to take some risks and to have a great birthday.
As Gento gets up after ending the call, he sees Chief Retsu Haruno standing across from him.
At a meeting, Chief Haruno explains that SKaRD’s very existence is on the line. Gento asks if it’s because they went against his orders to stand by during the battle against Irugo, adding that SKaRD drove Irugo away. Haruno cuts him off, saying that it was Blazar, and due to always relying on this mysterious giant, who beats the kaiju and vanishes every single time, the higherups now question if SKaRD is really necessary.
Teruaki asks to speak and Haruno lets him. Teruaki explains that while they may lack strength, this whole time they’ve been fighting with Blazar, not under him, encouraging each other. Anri agrees with Teruaki, adding that Blazar has been helping them on, what seems to be, his own accord. Bando then continues the sentiment, saying that Blazar shows up when it counts and that he’s part of the team.
Gento smiles at this but the Blazar Stone begins to glow red.
Gento reacts to the stone glowing, clearly hurting him a bit. Haruno asks what Gento thinks of Blazar and Gento says that he knows that SKaRD can trust Blazar.
Chief Haruno asks that, while what they’re saying is all well and good, do they think it will convince the higherups? Chief Haruno says that while he gave the team autonomy, until they have other orders, all SKaRD activity is forbidden, should they disobey, they know what happens.
We then see two GGF members. One is showing that the Irugos have infested the underground network cables and are spreading, possibly multiplying.
Just then, an earthquake occurs, and out of the ground emerges the giant Gebalga! Gebalga lets loose an EMP, which knocks out SKaRD’s tech. Anri pieces together that between the pollution and the network disruption, this is an all out invasion against humanity. Teruaki adds that this new Gebalga might be for propagation, given the Irugos popping up everywhere, and this new Gebalga being twice the size of the first.
Teruaki theorises that it must have left an egg after it hijacked the facility. Bando says they don’t have to worry, as he’s shielded Earth Garon and Mopy’s circuitry against the kinds of EMP Gebalga emit. Bando also mentions a spare Tilsonite Spear.
Gento says that a frontal assault is possible, as he briefly thinks. Gento then tells the team to gear up, they’re mobilising at once. At first, Teruaki was going to question the order, but doesn’t.
We then briefly see Emi, who has managed to get into Test Facility 66, and is investigating.
Bando relays a message from command to Anri, stating the new Gebalga’s name is “Brood Gebalga”. Anri says she has it in her sights and tells Earth Garon to aim for the EMP emitting organ.
Earth Garon charges at Brood Gebalga but two Irugos see this and wrap around Earth Garon. Brood Gebalga fires an EMP, strong enough to break through Bando’s protection.
Meanwhile, Bando is trying to get the communications back up and running, wondering how strong the EMP was. Gento tells Bando he’s going to call the Command Post for backup, while Bando fixes the communications outside the EMP’s range. Gento goes outside and transforms into Ultraman Blazar.
This is the first episode in a while where we get a variant of the Blazar rise, this time, he’s already prepped to fight as he has the Chilsonite Sword in hand.
One of the Irugos that serve as Brood Gebalga’s tails rams right into Blazar, shattering the blade of the Chilsonite Sword, and forcing him to the ground.
We then see Brood Gebalga looming over Blazar, as everything goes black.
We see inside Test Facility 66, something is happening, a fire is burning.
Emi gets a call from the Earth Garon AI “Earthy”, who tells her that an EMP disabled communications between the team. Earthy is able to communicate with her since she is outside the affected area and his system runs through the Command Post CPU.
Earthy explains Blazar is trapped inside Brood Gebalga and that Teruaki and Anri are attempting to eject the Earth Garon cockpit, to no avail.
The fire in the facility glows brighter, until it takes the shape of a kaiju, rising up and revealing it’s true, phoenix like form.
Emi is knocked back by the energy, and someone catches her: her father, much to Emi’s shock.
The kaiju roars, Emi concludes that it wants to go to Blazar and her father goes to a control console, looking at her.
Emi and her father push a lever, opening the hatch above them, letting the fire kaiju loose.
The kaiju, Firdran, flies to where the fight is occurring and Earthy tells Teruaki and Anri that a new kaiju has appeared and is heading their way. The Irugos see Firdran and attack but they just burn up upon contact.
Firdran rams right into Brood Gebalga, freeing Blazar. The two have a brief interaction, which saw Blazar doing a “battle roar” of sorts.
Due to this, a new Blazar Stone materialises, the Firdran Stone, and Gento inserts it into the Blazar Brace.
Blazar and Firdran unify and transform into Ultraman Blazar Firdran Armour.
Blazar uses this new form to create fire spikes, which he launches at the surrounding Irugos, and the increased speed allows him to free Earth Garon from the Irugos.
Brood Gebalga sees this and calls forth more Irugos, as they all shoot upwards.
Blazar and Earth Garon get into a firefight with the Irugos, taking them down so fast it was hard to get this screencap!
Earth Garon throws the spare Tilsonite Spear to Blazar and, when Gento uses the Garamon Stone, it turns into a new Chilsonite Sword, which starts sparking with energy.
Blazar uses Firdran’s power, combining it with the sword, creating the Tilsofird Lancer.
Blazar charges up the Lancer and slashes through one of the Irugos that are part of Brood Gebalga, sending a powerful slash the kaiju’s way. Blazar then stabs the Lancer into the ground, it’s power taking down every Irugo in the area.
Among the fire after the battle, Blazar stands victorious, as Gento tells the Firdran Stone that he’ll be counting on it as well.
We then see Emi and her father, who tells her “Happy birthday”. Emi hugs her father, as he disappears once again. Emi then hears something and sees the locket on the ground, the picture loose, with a key next to it.
We then see Emi and Gento walking, Gento commenting on the fact that the birthday mix up was a puzzle from her father, which doesn’t surprise Emi, but the “flaming dragon” did. Gento thinks that it must have sensed it’s master was in danger and flew through the wormhole to help. After a few attempts at coming up with a name, Gento calls this new kaiju “Firdran”. Emi mentions that Chief Haruno wanted to see Gento and will be mad he blew him off for this, Gento commenting that even if he gets fired, he wants to see the end of the mystery.
Emi is given a small safe and unlocks it, revealing a journal that belonged to her father. She begins reading it, and it goes as follows:
“September 8th. Humanity’s first wormhole generation test will be conducted. I pray that this will allow us to understand the objective of these extraterrestrial that first visited us in 1999, who, as of yet, among our team are known as the “V99”. They’re held in high regard by the researcher and engineers, after restoring the device they left behind, we know their planets technological advances far surpass anything we’re capable of. And, if they should come here again, I hope against hope to be able to speak with them.”
A hand reaches out and takes the book, it’s Yu Dobashi again, who thanks Emi for finding the book, as he’s been looking for it for years. Dobashi tells Gento he remembers him and thanks him for saving him three years ago. Dobashi mentions the meeting with Chief Haruno and mentions to Gento that he’s safe because Haruno has been suspended. He adds that while he said it’s ok to investigate, the GGF must keep appearances. Emi asks for the journal back but Dobashi says he can’t give it back. Emi lunges at him but Dobashi’s unnamed guard and Gento pull her away.
The episode ends with Dobashi telling Emi and Gento they’re free to go about their business, as he leaves them.
Conclusion
This episode was great. We got to see Blazar power up, Emi was reunited with her father, even if only briefly, and things are starting to show that something is up with the GGF. I can’t wait to find out more!
Episode 20: “Night Of Insects Chirping”
Monster of the Day
This episode’s kaiju is the “Subterranean Insectile Monster”, Zugugan! Both young and adult Zugugan appear in this episode, both having similar abilities. Will SKaRD be able to deal with the swarm?
SKaRD Team
The episode opens rather comedically, with the team rehearsing an edutainment play for grade schoolers on what to do when a kaiju appears. While the rest seem unimpressed, Bando was really getting into the role.
Anri is confused as to why this is a SKaRD mission, almost as if the higherups are taking something out on them, and Bando mentions that Haruno threatened to shut SKaRD down but wound up suspended. Gento and Emi sharing a knowing look.
Teruaki then gets a call from his brother and Teruaki finds out that his dad has collapsed.
Teruaki rushes to his family’s home, where he’s greeted by his brother, Masaaki. Teruaki asks how his dad is but, as he asks, his dad opens the front door, looking at Teruaki.
As it turns out, Masaaki lied about their dad collapsing so they could get Teruaki to do marriage interviews. Teruaki’s father, Shogo, tells Teruaki it’s time he settles down. Teruaki tells him that he can’t get married, due to the increase in kaiju appearances, and Shogo asks when he think’s he’ll defeat them all. Masaaki tells Teruaki what their dad means is that maybe it’s time to quit the GGF.
We then see Teruaki paying respects to his mother’s shrine, as Masaaki tells him that their dad worries about him, a lot. Teruaki explains that he isn’t mad he was lied to and knows his dad just wanted him home. He asks why Shogo couldn’t tell him to quit his job himself.
As Teruaki is about to leave he hears insects chirping and Masaaki comments there’s been a lot recently. Just then, someone rushes into the house, calling for Masaaki. The person sees and greets Teruaki, as they tell Masaaki that Yosuke’s field has been destroyed.
We then see the field, the crops having withered, as a farmer says this is the fifth time it’s happened this month. It seems as if the soil quality has changed. Masaaki then revealed that Shogo did collapse, previously, from anxiety and hasn’t worked since. He didn’t want Teruaki to know.
Another farmer comments that something wrecked the fence and they should look around the area for anything. Teruaki joins the search.
Teruaki and his father find a cave in the woods. Teruaki asks if that’s always been there, to which Shogo tells him it hasn’t. Teruaki takes out his phone, as something starts to glow in the cave. Shogo asks what it is and the chirping begins again. Just then, a kaiju emerges from the cave and charges at Teruaki and Shogo, who flee.
We then see the SKaRD team in costume, preparing for the play. However, before they can start, Teruaki calls Gento and tells him that he’s discovered insectoid kaiju at Mt. Zudono at Nakahoshi, Yamanashi Prefecture. Theorising the nest must be under the mountain, he requests deployment.
Gento tells the team to suit up and deploy Earth Garon. When the team tells him the higherups will be mad that they bailed on the play, Gento reveals his tactic for these situations: begging forgiveness/retroactive approval.
We cut back to Teruaki and Shogo, the latter of whom asking if Teruaki’s job is always like this, adding that he wont hassle him about work or marriage anymore. Teruaki tells his dad that the way he lives and fights, he learned from him. They then hear the insects chirping again, a sign of the kaiju they encountered.
Just then, the kaiju appears and shoots a stream of hardening mucus at them, which they narrowly dodge.
As Teruaki and Shogo are running away, they find themselves surrounded by three of these insectoid kaiju, which attack them. Before any of the kaiju could deal a killing blow, the rest of SKaRD arrives and saves Teruaki and his dad.
We later see the civilians and SKaRD gathered at Teruaki’s family’s house. Gento asks Teruaki how his arm is doing, to which Teruaki says he’s doing fine and that extermination team is investigating. We also get to see a worried Shogo, watching his son from the doorway.
Emi explains to the team that the soil was sapped of it’s nitrogen, which explains why the local farmers keep losing crops, as microbes break Nitrogen into ammonia, which the extermination team found in the mucus the kaiju, now named Zugugan, spewed. The team theorises that the kaiju must’ve lived deeper underground and that their species has come to the surface, seeking richer soil. Emi adds that their nest is made of the mucus and that it’s as hard as a nuclear bomb shelter. Gento comments that attacking from the outside could put the surrounding farmland at risk so, instead, they blow up part of a mountain to attack from within!
Earth Garon descends into the nest and begins scanning for the kaiju. Just then, multiple Zugugan appear, and Earth Garon opens fire on them. However, Earth Garon is thrown out of the cave by an even bigger Zugugan!
Earth Garon and the adult Zugugan begin to fight, with the kaiju dealing major damage to Earth Garon. The adult Zugugan then uses the mucus to immobilise Earth Garon and looms over the town. Zugugan heads for the town centre as the civilians, particularly Shogo, watch on in fear.
Meanwhile, in a secluded spot, Gento transforms into Ultraman Blazar, and joins the fight.
Blazar grabs Zugugan by the tail, pulling it back, and throws the kaiju. Blazar and Zugugan duke it out but, even though Blazar gets a few good hits in, Zugugan always bounces back and retaliates. Zugugan then shoots Mucus onto Blazar’s foot, immobilising him.
Teruaki and Anri, who were stationed near the cave, hear the chirping of the smaller Zugugan’s, and go towards the cave, much to Anri’s fear. We see them in the cave and, just as a Zugugan was about to attack, they shoot it down. Some of the mucus hits the rock near Anri, who tells herself that she isn’t scared.
Anri and Teruaki eventually come across a giant Zugugan egg, full of larval kaiju. A horde of Zugugan start coming towards them, chirping. Teruaki puts two and two together and realises that the chirping is to warn other Zugugan of danger, as he calls Emi, telling her his plan.
Meanwhile, Blazar has been completely restrained by the Zugugan mucus and, just as the adult Zugugan was about to defeat Blazar, it hears the sounds of it’s species’ chirping.
In reality, it’s just the sound being played over speakers to serve as a lure.
Blazar manages to free himself, summons the Firdran armour and the fight resumes.
Blazar uses the Tilsofird Lancer to block the mucus and then slice off one of the adult Zugugan’s pincers.
At the same time, Teruaki secures his phone to a bomb and throws it at the egg. The Zugugans all following the chirping. With a sombre “I’m sorry,” Teruaki detonates the bomb, eliminating the Zugugan.
Blazar then uses the Tilsofird Lancer like a bow and arrow and fires an energy blast at the adult Zugugan, defeating it. We then see Teruaki, looking at what’s left of the nest with a look of sadness on his face.
Later, we see Gento tell the team that the higherups at the GGF want the “What to do when a Kaiju appears” edutainment play performed in all 47 prefectures, to the disdain of the rest of the team.
We then see Teruaki tell his father that the GGF will be investigating, and to cooperate with them. Shogo nods.
The episode ends with Shogo working in the fields. Seeing the revitalised soil, he comments, “This is…the land my son protected.”
Conclusion
It made me happy to finally get some Teruaki focus, finally meeting his family. The parts with the play really got a laugh out of me. All in all, another great episode.
Episode 21: “Battle in the Sky”
Monster Of The Day
This episode’s kaiju is Deltandal B. A larger, bomber like Deltandal that really put SKaRD through the wringer. Will the kaiju reign supreme?
SKaRD Team
The episode opens with SKaRD testing Earth Garon Mod 3, in the presence of GGF higherups, with Bando and Anri piloting.
As the test progresses, Earth Garon reaches Mach 8, with Gento commenting if they reach Mach 9, it’ll put them at Deltandal’s top speed. The Mod 3 flight pack uses a propulsion system utilising gravity control called the “Uranus Drive.” Emi comments that the Deltandal fight provided useful information.
However, midway through the test, during combat manoeuvres, Bando loses consciousness and Earth Garon’s AI, “Earthy”, transfers control of Earth Garon to Anri. On Gento’s orders, the test is aborted.
Later, we see Gento talking to Teruaki, saying that the next test is a week away and that Bando has been relieved of all piloting duties for Mod 3, despite the fact he’s the better marksman. Gento notes that he told the higherups that Bando would be vital in aerial combat. Teruaki isn’t happy that now the higherups are even dictating how SKaRD allocates its members.
While the conversation is happening, we see Bando training himself to be able to handle the Mod 3, such as running, pushups, situps, and a centrifuge.
Later, Bando is sitting alone when Anri approaches him with a curry flavoured crunchy pop. Anri reiterates what Gento and Teruaki were saying, adding that the higherups only saw one flight test. Bando mentions that Anri has higher stamina but she points out that Bando knows more about Earth Garon than anyone else, also adding that he is a better marksman. Bando tells Anri that he isn’t giving up and they go train.
We then see Teruaki and Gento again, talking about a weapons test being conducted by the GGF: an electromagnetic wave weapon based on Gebalga’s EMP organ. A carrier from Isotake Base was instructed to drop it 2500km east of Cape Mametori but Teruaki feels that the whole thing is rushed and hopes that they inspected the surrounding waters. Teruaki adds that the weapon was designed to fight space kaiju, which gets Gento thinking.
Gento remembers the day he and Emi found her father’s diary, remembering what it said.
Emi, Bando and Anri then enter, mentioning that they have to do the kaiju awareness play, briefly shown in episode 20, in another prefecture, with only 32 left to do. However, before they can, the SKaRD Command Post gets a call, from what I believe are the higherups, telling them a kaiju appeared at the test site and is making it’s way towards Japan.
The display screen in the base shows the kaiju to be Deltandal (see episode 14), who the team had previously defeated. However, this Deltandal is six times larger than the first. Teruaki comments that they didn’t check the waters thoroughly enough. Gento gives the order to deploy Mod 3 and Bando asks to pilot but Teruaki reminds them that that runs the risk of getting fired. Instead, Gento decides to join Anri but Anri reminds Gento neither he, nor Teruaki have completed high-G training. Anri requests to deploy alone, with support from “Earthy” and Gento agrees but tells her not to push herself.
Meanwhile, at the GGF base, the larger Deltandal is dropping energy balls like bombs onto the base, causing mass explosions.
Teruaki decides to give the large Deltandal the name “Deltandal B”, since if the last one was a fighter jet, then this one is more like a bomber. Anri and “Earthy” arrive at Deltandal B’s location and engage in combat. Emi then tells Anri the kaiju’s heart has been located, however, not only is Deltandal B larger, it’s skin is harder so the ammo may not penetrate it.
Emi then relays that the joints are soft so Anri should aim from that angle at that point. However, Anri barely gets the chance to, as Deltandal begins to accelerate, causing Earth Garon to chase after the kaiju. Anri manages to lock on and fire at one of the contact points, however, it does absolutely nothing to Deltandal B as she was off target. Deltandal B discharges an energy bomb and we hear Anri screaming.
Later, we see the SKaRD Command Post; Anri is okay, albeit a bit injured. Emi breaks the awkward silence by revealing Deltandal B is still hiding somewhere in the ocean. Teruaki hangs up a call and tells Gento the Mod 3 is ready for redeployment but Gento points out Bando, who’s pretty upset about what happened to Anri.
Emi’s computer beeps, and a radar shows that Deltandal B is headed for Oshieno Base, where the SKaRD Command Post is, and will be there in 15 minutes. Anri and Bando request to board Earth Garon but are told no. Gento makes a call requesting authorisation for Bando to pilot the Mod 3, explaining the situation, but all he’s told is to “deal with [Deltandal B], that’s your job, isn’t it?” and that the paperwork was taking a while.
Gento thinks and figures out a loophole in the orders. He tells Anri to pilot and Bando to command and to have the Mod 3 transported to Hakamoto Base.
We then see Earth Garon take to the skies again and fire upon Deltandal B. The battle then jumps to Mach-10 speeds, as Earth Garon dodges Deltandal B’s energy bombs.
While Teruaki is distracted, Gento sneaks off and transforms into Ultraman Blazar.
Blazar summons the Firdran Armour and Tilsofird Lancer and joins Earth Garon in the fight.
Blazar uses the Tilsofird Lancer as a bow again and fires an energy arrow at Deltandal B, weakening it, giving Bando an opening to shoot at the weakened spot.
Before Bando can do anything, Emi reveals that Deltandal B’s body temperature is rising and that they have a big energy bomb coming their way. If the organ that creates the energy bombs explodes, the blast will reach the surface.
Blazar seems to pick up on this and starts to push Deltandal B away from the surface, into space, and blocks some of the energy bombs, as Earth Garon rejoins the fight.
After some aerial manoeuvres, Earth Garon is able to take a shot at Deltandal B, shooting a hole right through the kaiju.
Blazar strikes the finishing blow by cutting Deltandal B in half.
Blazar and Earth Garon then return to Earth. If I might add, this shot is quite good.
The episode ends with Bando and Anri returning to the Command Post and the team being glad the battle is over. However, an even worse foe is on the immediate horizon: doing the play from episode 20, again!
Conclusion
I really enjoyed this episode, as we got to see the friendship between the two main pilots of Earth Garon, Bando and Anri, as well as Gento’s skills at finding strategies and workarounds for the higherups meddling with SKaRD. All in all, a fun episode.
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What did you think? Did you enjoy this episode? Let us know in the comments or on The Toku Source’s social media! I’m Sean, once again, signing off.
Image Source: Ultraman Official YouTube Channel
