EndSky
@end-sky.bsky.social
Wannabe self-taught academic living perpetually on adult cynicism and an unquenchable thirst for milk.
And we get our first full look at Jiro's powers! Given his assertion of being a "regular human", the superhuman abilities he's demonstrated in the flashforwards make it clear there's much more to that. And this in-turn reveals there's more to *Emi* as well - an appropriately open-ended closer.
December 2, 2025 at 10:58 AM
And we get our first full look at Jiro's powers! Given his assertion of being a "regular human", the superhuman abilities he's demonstrated in the flashforwards make it clear there's much more to that. And this in-turn reveals there's more to *Emi* as well - an appropriately open-ended closer.
A lot of this episode is dedicated to lore and worldbuilding, and this is a *very* important part of that. In one fell swoop, we learn of the other side of the story, a world of high-concept SF in the midst of Cold War geopolitics. It's all super-dense, but compelling if you keep track of it all.
December 2, 2025 at 10:37 AM
A lot of this episode is dedicated to lore and worldbuilding, and this is a *very* important part of that. In one fell swoop, we learn of the other side of the story, a world of high-concept SF in the midst of Cold War geopolitics. It's all super-dense, but compelling if you keep track of it all.
Seeing Jiro being flustered by a young woman is a surprisingly humanizing little bit for such a seriously minded character, enhanced by Kikko's clear irritation at it. Poor girl.
December 2, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Seeing Jiro being flustered by a young woman is a surprisingly humanizing little bit for such a seriously minded character, enhanced by Kikko's clear irritation at it. Poor girl.
The Jiro/Raito rivalry is already one of the most compelling parts of the entire story. Every scene between the two of them is bubbling with the tension of two men who are just a few steps away from trying to kill each other for what they believe in.
December 2, 2025 at 9:34 AM
The Jiro/Raito rivalry is already one of the most compelling parts of the entire story. Every scene between the two of them is bubbling with the tension of two men who are just a few steps away from trying to kill each other for what they believe in.
Trying to puzzle out the implications of the Precure equivalent in Umamusume's world prominently featuring Uma/Trainer romance.
December 2, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Trying to puzzle out the implications of the Precure equivalent in Umamusume's world prominently featuring Uma/Trainer romance.
.......This is going to hurt, isn't it?
December 2, 2025 at 8:51 AM
.......This is going to hurt, isn't it?
This exchange is difficult to capture without showing every line, but this really captures why Kaiju are such a uniquely Japanese genre creation that allows it to be elevated beyond simple pulp.
December 2, 2025 at 8:08 AM
This exchange is difficult to capture without showing every line, but this really captures why Kaiju are such a uniquely Japanese genre creation that allows it to be elevated beyond simple pulp.
Adapting the IRL Kaiju fandom associated with Ultraman into a fictional setting is a genuinely fascinating concept, especially when melded with the fractured politics of 60s Japan.
December 2, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Adapting the IRL Kaiju fandom associated with Ultraman into a fictional setting is a genuinely fascinating concept, especially when melded with the fractured politics of 60s Japan.
It's a common trope, but having a bunch of kids befriending an infant kaiju is a very easy way to humanize them. Though, unfortunately, I don't think Gamera will be here to save 'em.
Incidentally, Hiroyuki, Fuurouta's friend, *seems* like a mangaka reference, but I can't name who. Any help?
Incidentally, Hiroyuki, Fuurouta's friend, *seems* like a mangaka reference, but I can't name who. Any help?
December 2, 2025 at 6:53 AM
It's a common trope, but having a bunch of kids befriending an infant kaiju is a very easy way to humanize them. Though, unfortunately, I don't think Gamera will be here to save 'em.
Incidentally, Hiroyuki, Fuurouta's friend, *seems* like a mangaka reference, but I can't name who. Any help?
Incidentally, Hiroyuki, Fuurouta's friend, *seems* like a mangaka reference, but I can't name who. Any help?
We get a few smart teases here for other heroes in the setting, showing how the loss of Grosse Augen has led to a gap which is now being filled. Stuff like this really helps the world feel alive above all else.
December 2, 2025 at 6:46 AM
We get a few smart teases here for other heroes in the setting, showing how the loss of Grosse Augen has led to a gap which is now being filled. Stuff like this really helps the world feel alive above all else.
It's easy to forget due to how rarely it's called out in media, but mainstream news really is that tightly controlled in Japan. That tabloids would be the only source of information to the public about Choujin is thus a really logical bit of worldbuilding, with a lot of strong threads from there.
December 2, 2025 at 6:42 AM
It's easy to forget due to how rarely it's called out in media, but mainstream news really is that tightly controlled in Japan. That tabloids would be the only source of information to the public about Choujin is thus a really logical bit of worldbuilding, with a lot of strong threads from there.
And now, the great introduction of Earth-chan! Her introduction is brief, but her influence is fairly clearly meant to lean on the "first" generation of mangaka such as Tezuka. Wisely, none of her motifs seem to be directly drawn from them, she's just a funny kid meant to allude to a specific point.
December 2, 2025 at 6:17 AM
And now, the great introduction of Earth-chan! Her introduction is brief, but her influence is fairly clearly meant to lean on the "first" generation of mangaka such as Tezuka. Wisely, none of her motifs seem to be directly drawn from them, she's just a funny kid meant to allude to a specific point.
So we get our first argument from Jiro - That Kaiju can't be allowed to live, because their very existence is a danger to others. This, as Kikko observes, is in essence comparing them to natural disasters, facets of natural we recognize as inherently terrible and must be fought against.
December 2, 2025 at 6:06 AM
So we get our first argument from Jiro - That Kaiju can't be allowed to live, because their very existence is a danger to others. This, as Kikko observes, is in essence comparing them to natural disasters, facets of natural we recognize as inherently terrible and must be fought against.
Ah yes, this classic question - Why Kaiju must be killed when they are usually depicted as animals reacting to the contamination of their natural habitat. Many works have given their own interpretations to this, so it'll be interesting to see how ConRevo tackles the subject.
December 2, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Ah yes, this classic question - Why Kaiju must be killed when they are usually depicted as animals reacting to the contamination of their natural habitat. Many works have given their own interpretations to this, so it'll be interesting to see how ConRevo tackles the subject.
Note Akita's insistence on the Bureau having genuinely noble goals, in stark contrast to Hyouma's blunt assertion of them as just government dogs. That speaks volumes about how both men view their roles.
December 2, 2025 at 5:31 AM
Note Akita's insistence on the Bureau having genuinely noble goals, in stark contrast to Hyouma's blunt assertion of them as just government dogs. That speaks volumes about how both men view their roles.
And now we get a basic question out of the first episode - What happens to Earth now that Ultraman is gone? This was something the original of course asked, but in the setting of CR, there is no noble Science Patrol. And humanity is sure a lot less kind at that....
December 2, 2025 at 5:27 AM
And now we get a basic question out of the first episode - What happens to Earth now that Ultraman is gone? This was something the original of course asked, but in the setting of CR, there is no noble Science Patrol. And humanity is sure a lot less kind at that....
Grosse Augen! This is another clever bit of the time-jumps, taking a character we previously saw die, and incorporating him into prior events in the timeline. We even get to see Hyouma giving Jiro the explanation later given to Kikko, fitting given his insight into quantum mechanics.
December 2, 2025 at 5:20 AM
Grosse Augen! This is another clever bit of the time-jumps, taking a character we previously saw die, and incorporating him into prior events in the timeline. We even get to see Hyouma giving Jiro the explanation later given to Kikko, fitting given his insight into quantum mechanics.
We get a surprisingly extreme perspective on Jiro in regards to the subject of Kaiju, outright regarding them are purely evil that needs to be destroyed. This is a pretty sharp contrast to the man Kikko meets, an advantage of the non-linier format.
Also, Emi is *really* coming off like a groomer.
Also, Emi is *really* coming off like a groomer.
December 2, 2025 at 5:05 AM
We get a surprisingly extreme perspective on Jiro in regards to the subject of Kaiju, outright regarding them are purely evil that needs to be destroyed. This is a pretty sharp contrast to the man Kikko meets, an advantage of the non-linier format.
Also, Emi is *really* coming off like a groomer.
Also, Emi is *really* coming off like a groomer.
And now we get to first-hand that Gojira '54 more or less *actually happened* in this world, which is amazing on multiple levels. More importantly, we also get some glimpses into the backstory of Jiro and Emi, with some intriguing hints that Emi is more than she appears...
December 2, 2025 at 4:54 AM
And now we get to first-hand that Gojira '54 more or less *actually happened* in this world, which is amazing on multiple levels. More importantly, we also get some glimpses into the backstory of Jiro and Emi, with some intriguing hints that Emi is more than she appears...
More wartime worldbuilding! We get to see first-hand here that Western-style pulp heroes exist in this world too, which is a very neat added dimension, and also shows how they were involved in the fighting.
The way the Americans talk is also very funny.
The way the Americans talk is also very funny.
December 2, 2025 at 4:50 AM
More wartime worldbuilding! We get to see first-hand here that Western-style pulp heroes exist in this world too, which is a very neat added dimension, and also shows how they were involved in the fighting.
The way the Americans talk is also very funny.
The way the Americans talk is also very funny.
Seriously, what an episode, man.
December 2, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Seriously, what an episode, man.
And so the episode ends on the big twist: That Android Megasshin, the ultimate weapon, was designed not for destruction, but justice. Raito's humanity, ironically, becomes proof that he is "evil", as much as justice itself can exist. And in becoming evil, he discards the proof that he is human.
December 2, 2025 at 4:39 AM
And so the episode ends on the big twist: That Android Megasshin, the ultimate weapon, was designed not for destruction, but justice. Raito's humanity, ironically, becomes proof that he is "evil", as much as justice itself can exist. And in becoming evil, he discards the proof that he is human.
And so we see what Raito's current drive is. Disillusioned with the justice he served, he now lives as a terrorist seeking to save the country from itself. A man who is willing to kill thousands to save millions, a man willing to kill the innocent to slay evil.
Of course, that is why he isn't Jiro.
Of course, that is why he isn't Jiro.
December 2, 2025 at 4:31 AM
And so we see what Raito's current drive is. Disillusioned with the justice he served, he now lives as a terrorist seeking to save the country from itself. A man who is willing to kill thousands to save millions, a man willing to kill the innocent to slay evil.
Of course, that is why he isn't Jiro.
Of course, that is why he isn't Jiro.
Oh boy, I sure hope *this* doesn't allude to something bad happening!
December 2, 2025 at 4:26 AM
Oh boy, I sure hope *this* doesn't allude to something bad happening!