Hey all, Sean here, and we’re back with the second half of this story in Ultraman Arc! This week, we pick up where we left off, as the mysterious robot “Givas” looms over Hoshimoto City, what will happen? Let’s find out now!
Recap
Picking up where we left off last week, as Yuma, who’s in a bathhouse, thinks back on what’s happened so far with the extraterrestrial robot known as “Givas” and how, despite Yuma’s theory of the robot having a will of it’s own, the GDF plans to eliminate it. As he sits alone, Yuma hears a familiar voice, turning around to see Alien Croco Numata. Numata then explains to Yuma that he’s here to thank him. Because of him and Ishido, he was able to return to the Akebono Inn. Yuma adds that he argued with Ishido and that he was acting on impulse, which Numata thinks is a good thing as it was because of that impulsiveness that Yuma trusted him from the start. Yuma then tells Numata the translation SKIP got for what Givas was saying, “Does this planet have my enemy?”
Numata reveals that he met with Ishido and that he was the one who tipped Yuma off about him being at the bathhouse. This prompts Yuma to want to apologize to Ishido. Yuma and Numata later arrive at SKIP Hoshimoto Branch HQ, only to find everyone working on high alert, with Numata remarking that they didn’t need much convincing to see Yuma’s perspective on the Givas situation. Yuma goes to apologise to Ishido, who tells him that they have work to do.
Later, we see Givas, still emitting it’s green light, as Numata reveals the origins of Givas. The robot was created on Planet Meguma, in the same galaxy as Numata’s home planet, and was a world of advanced technology, recalling that its people often travelled in giant ships. Rin then enters the room with a device, which should translate the remainder of the message, hooking it up to her computer, the rest of the message begins to play.
“Planet Meguma is heading towards ruin, the giving moon is gone, therefore, we require a new moon.”
Yuma theorises that the green light could be used to look for a moon, as YouPi adds that he analysed and found what looks to be a cockpit inside of Givas’ head. Suddenly, SKIP gets a call from the GDF, who’ve decided to annihilate Givas and the operation will begin at 6pm. Yuma remembers seeing Givas protect the kids in the previous episode and thinks the pilot and himself will understand each other. Ishido adds that, while he doesn’t know if there’s a pilot, he believes in Yuma. Ban gives the okay for the operation, adding that he wants no unnecessary risks. Numata tells Yuma that he feels Givas is looking for help and Yuma is the only one who can provide it.
Ishido arrives at the site of Givas and he tells the GDF officers that he saw something suspicious, luring them away so that Yuma can get close to Givas. Yuma is then seen climbing up Givas. As Ishido asks if he’s alright, Yuma tells him he’s halfway there. With only an hour left, Yuma keeps climbing. As Givas finally notices him, Yuma tries to reason with Givas but he appears to get angry. As Yuma gets to the top of Givas, he finds a door into the cockpit, prying it open. As soon as the door opens, Yuma finds the pilot, or at least, what’s left of the pilot. On touching the body, it crumbles to dust and the control headset falls to the ground. Oka-Gubila reemerges and attacks Givas.
The headset attaches itself to Yuma, who sits in the pilot’s seat as a message begins to play. Recorded by the deceased pilot, it talks about the fall of Planet Meguma after it’s holy moon “Mujari” perished, the pilot and Givas’ journey through space, the pilot’s death and concealing it from Givas, and that saying “does this planet have my Givas? I am here to be your Givas” was the robots last order from its pilot.
After Yuma learns all of this, Yuma begs Ishido to call of the attacks from the GDF however Ban relays that two aircraft carrying missiles are already on their way. Yuma tries to reason with Givas but Givas doesn’t listen. Rin then contacts Yuma, adding that the Meguma language is a complex one, with words being different based on situation; “Givas” not only means enemy, but it also means “friend” and Yuma realises what Givas was really asking.
“Does this planet have my friend? I am here to be your friend”
Yuma tries to reason with Givas again but Givas still doesn’t listen, prompting Yuma to transform into Ultraman Arc. Arc fights both Oka-Gubila and Givas, but Givas just tosses Arc aside as if he was nothing. As Givas fights Oka-Gubila, Arc rejoins the fight but Givas is too strong. Before Givas can do anything else, Arc shields Oka-Gubila, who promptly reverts back to being Yuma, who loudly declare to Givas:
“I am….I am……your Givas!”
Those words appear to get through to Givas, as the robot looks up at the moon and flies away. While everyone else celebrates, Ban says to himself that something about the whole thing feels off.
The episode ends with Yuma looking at the moon, calling it “beautiful”.
Extra Lore and Fun Facts
Not much in the way of extra lore or fun facts, but I’ll cover what I can here, so let’s go!
We get the return of both Oka-Gubila (see episode 11) and Givas, but we learn more about Givas and his late pilot, an Alien Meguma. This Meguma was searching for a new moon for his people after their holy moon “Mujari” lost all power, flying through space in a giant robot, he eventually found his planet had perished and ordered the robot to seek out a “Givas” as he was secretly dying. While Givas can mean enemy, it can also mean friend.
And for a fun fact, the way Yuma detransformed was similar to how Shin Hayata transformed and detransformed in the original Ultraman.
Ultra Theory Corner
Ok, for once, I do have a theory for Arc, but it’s not exactly a happy one.
My theory is that the world of Arc is inching closer to it’s universes heat death, as that’s now two planets in the span of three episodes confirmed to have perished. With the rise in Kaiju activity after the Monogelos incident, Earth might be next on the chopping block.
Will that happen, we don’t know for certain but we’ll just have to wait and see.
Sean’s Thoughts
The final part of Arc’s first two parter and wow, did it give a twist I didn’t see coming! Instead of being a robot created to invade breaking free from it’s master, which is what I expected, Givas was a vessel designed to seek out a new moon for its pilot’s planet, with “Givas” having the second meaning of “friend.” Yuma was the only one willing to give the robot a chance, initially, and it paid off big-time.
I really enjoyed this episode, and hope Arc does more stuff like this.
In conclusion, the episode gets an 9/10
What did you think, readers? Did you enjoy the episode? ‘Givas’ your thoughts! Until then, this has been Sean, your Givas from The Toku Source. See you all next week.
