Review: Ultraman Episode 3 - Science Patrol, Move Out

 

 
 
Ultraman Episode #3
  
Science Patrol, Move Out
 
Original Air Date: July 31st, 1966
 
Directed by: Toshihiro Iijima
 
Screenplay by: Masahiro Yamada
 
Review by: Toku Tom Fool
 
Well, this episode starts with....a well. Our resident female character, Akiko Fuji, is investigating strange noises at this well with our resident child character, Hoshino. I haven't really mentioned Hoshino up to this point but he was in the first two episodes. He hangs around with our other SSSP characters, yet I'm not quite sure if he works there or if he's a sibling of someone. I could google these things but I like to let the show do the explaining for me. Hoshino finds the source of the noises when he spots a giant eye staring back at him. 

 
 
Hoshino names the monster Neronga based on an old legend of a monster living in the well. Neronga is a transparent monster that can only become visible by taking electrical power from nearby power stations. He wrecks these stations pretty good. All sorts of good models created by the special effects team are getting demolished. Fuji and Hoshino get stuck underground and the other four members of the SSSP fear for their safety back at the SSSP HQ. The team are rocking some nice blue blazers which I fear have replaced the creamsicle uniforms. 

But fear not! The creamsicle uniforms are underneath their blue blazers!

That scene cracked me up probably more than it should have. The team checks out Neronga's damage and are told that Fuji and Hoshino are safe so now they can really focus on the monster. Captain Muramatsu and Arashi go to where Neronga is and poor Arashi gets electrocuted, but they learn more about the monster and how it gathers electricity. The team goes back to HQ to discuss a plan to lure Neronga to the #3 Power Plant. It's the one with Dale Earnhardt's face on it. Ha, I'm sure all Tokusatsu fans love a good NASCAR joke. Hoshino really wants to get revenge on this monster for what happened earlier in the episode. He even steals Arashi's special 'spider shot' gun to try and kill it. It doesn't exactly go how Hoshino plans it because Neronga is wrecking all sorts of model sets. He even drops a boat!

Hoshino finally gets a good shot on Neronga and destroys one of his eyes. It's too bad Neronga doesn't survive the episode or else I would have enjoyed pirate Neronga. Hoshino then gets hurt after a Neronga eyeless rampage and asks Arashi and Hayata for Ultraman. Hayata then runs towards where Neronga is and transforms into Ultraman. How nobody knows Hayata is Ultraman is a mystery to me. 

The Ultraman vs. Neronga fight is pretty good. We get Neronga falling through power lines, Ultraman tackling him and tossing him to the ground. I love the knee to the face Ultraman delivers to Neronga. Ultraman eventually lifts Neronga over his head and tosses him. He then uses his hand laser to blow Neronga up. My only disappointment was that he didn't grab him by the tail and swing him around. 




The episode concludes with the team celebrating the defeat of Neronga. Ide does find something fishy about Ultraman. I mean he suspected Hayata in the last episode so he's on the right track. I don't think this episode was as good as the first two episodes. However, I did love the end fight. It was the best fight the show has had so far. That knee to the face would make KENTA proud. 

Episode 4 of Ultraman is titled "Five Seconds Before the Explosion" which sounds like a race against time type of episode. I look forward to watching and reviewing that episode. 

Until next time, you can follow me on Twitter @TokuTomFoolery where I frustratingly use Twitter threads to live tweet the episodes. 

 

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