Ultraman Gaia on Crunchyroll

[lhb412]

Reminder that the music in Gaia is amazing.

[Gigantis_99]

[Rody]

I finally started this show recently. Like starting 80 after watching Leo, starting Gaia after 80 is a pretty noticeable difference. Gamu is a pretty likable protagonist; I agree that he's kind of clumsy and reckless, but he largely knows what he's doing, and isn't the type to gloat about anything. Gamu just acts on it. I also enjoy seeing him get inventive (literally) about hiding his Ultraman identity in the midst of the GUARD team - a refreshing change from just running off and disappearing as many hosts tend to do. The team in general is pretty good - although the lead female is kind of grating. I feel like she's antagonistic towards Gamu without much reason.
The kaiju are pretty hit-or-miss so far, but that's true for a lot of the shows. Gan Q was certainly a treat, and the sand monster and the "Heavenly World" were neat concepts for monsters. The CGI can be pretty lousy sometimes, but the planes actually look pretty good, and the miniature work is solid. All in all, it's a consistently enjoyable show so far, and I hope it can keep the bar up.

[lhb412]

^It's enjoyable from the get-go, but it gets better and better as it goes along and you get into the constantly developing relationship between the two Ultramen, more intrigue about the upcoming apocalypse (the Entity that Brings Radical Destruction!), and how it gives lots of room for characterization of the sprawling cast. It's ambitious to have dozens of name characters in the defense team, and it's amazing the extent to which it fleshes so many of them out - and then you have the news team and various other side characters and acquaintances. Huge cast and very satisfyingly employed! I know it's a budget issue, but that's like the biggest thing I want from newer Ultra shows: bigger casts!

There are only two downsides I can think of. One is that it kinda peaks in the middle and takes a while to build its steam back of for the finale (and it does eventually). It's probably best to think of it like two seasons instead of one 50+ episode one. Secondly: there are definitely moments when the show's ambitious nature gets the best of it and they try to make due with having seemingly run out of money. One particularly egregious thing I remember is an episode where the destruction of buildings was done not with destroying miniatures practically, but through a rudimentary digital effect that looks like a wipe from a Power Point presentation.

[Rody]

Episode 9: "Team Seagull Takes Off" - woah, hey, an African-American on the team! That's neat.
Seriously overall, I thought it was cool to see another branch of XIG get he spotlight. I totally agree that the size of the show's cast is becoming one of its strongest points.
The monster was pretty cool too, both in concept (a creature increasing its own mass/gravity) and especially execution: that eggy thing didn't look feasible for a suit, but they pulled it off!

[RichCo]

[Rody]

Episode 13 was my favorite yet; it had a creepy mystery plot, a returning kaiju, the best performance by the KCB news team yet, and even Agul teaming up with Gaia for the climax! It just had a great blend of elements overall.

[Rody]

Episode 15 was another strong episode for the news crew, and I dug the Deents monsters - kind of creepy cute, with a weird sort of attack.

*edit: Ooooh, Fujimiya's backstory in ep 16!

[Rody]

I'm approaching the home stretch now. I'd agree that the show seemed to peak about halfway, but even without Fujimiya's regular presence or the looming Bringer of Radical Destruction (you know what? That was great name for the thing too - simultaneously technical and dramatic in sound), the show has been inventive and enjoyable. I actually appreciate the occasional recurring monster, in new setups, and episodes like the time-travel plot and the monster ransom were definite treats. I still have to see how this show ends, but so far it's definitely one of the best realized Ultra programs I've seen.

[lhb412]

^It looses steam after the 'mid-season finale,' but it gains in back in the run-up to the finale!

[Rody]

Well, I've finally finished Ultraman Gaia, and it has cemented itself as one of my favorite Ultraman series yet. Despite it's budgetary constraints, this show really strove for a large-scale narrative, and succeeded at it on a level more recent programs have utterly failed at (yeah, Geed, I'm looking at you). I would love to see another Ultra show of this length and scope, with the time and budget to make it truly epic.

[klen7]

^ i was planning on watching 80 after I finished Geed, but your post has me thinking Gaia just moved to the top of the list

[lhb412]

Head writer of Gaia says that Oliver Stone wanted to remake the series for the US :

https://twitter.com/yamaki_nyx/status/9 ... 3952358400

First of all: what?!

Secondly: huh?!?

This is more surprising than Soderbergh wanting to remake Matango.

[klen7]

Whooooa!

[klen7]

i'm really digging this show. I'm at episode 11 (1-a-day while exercising) and am really digging this (probably more than Max) - we'll see how the full run stands, but right now I am really enjoying it

[DannyBeane]

I'm watching this and I'm about 4 episodes in and this show is really starting to grow on me.

[klen7]

i really loved episode 13. It's quality J-horror

[lhb412]

Everyone still looking very handsome at this Ultraman Gaia 20th anniversary event:

https://mobile.twitter.com/mantanweb/st ... 4316275712

Come on, Tsuburaya! Howsabout a movie or a miniseries?

[mirrorman147]

I never realised that Crunchyrole had any Ultraman series - I've just recently signed up to CR, and have been checking out the anime content only .

Thanks OP