Hello and welcome, Ultraman Connection readers!
You know, for years I have been developing a theory that whenever an episode begins with the Ultra hero already fighting a Kaiju, then something bad is about to happen. Obviously, something needs to happen in the story to kick off the conflict for the week, but it’s always a bad omen when the spectacle of a massive Kaiju brawl is only the prelude for that conflict.
Little did I know when this episode started, how severely heart-wrenching that conflict would become.
By now if you’ve seen the episode (and if you haven’t, go fix that right now), you have seen many questions answered about Omega’s background, and many new questions to take its place. Unfortunately, the “who” and “what” and “how” of how Omega became Sorato Okida is very easily explained. The question of “why” is much more concerning, but has no easy answers.
The resurgence of the aquatic Kaiju Dugrid sparks the KSCT’s investigation following a signal very similar to one which accompanied Zovaras’ attack in episodes 14 and 15. However, when they find the device, Sorato recognizes the figure of a kindly old man who helped him when he first arrived on Earth without his memories. His message fills in much of Sorato’s missing history, and cues him – along with the audience – to his true identity as a “Space Gazer”, a being sent to Earth with a mission to observe life on different planets and prevent others from interfering.
The man also reveals his own identity, as one of the “Geness” Zovaras intended to avenge by attacking Earth, in a bid to exterminate humanity and establish their own civilization on the planet. The alien, Ahdel, admits that he disagreed with that choice, setting himself apart from the rest of the survivors of his planet. Even though he also brings a dire warning to Sorato and Kosei, foretelling a great “awakening” of Kaiju which led to the destruction of the Geness’ home planet, he seems like a benevolent figure at first. Like Sorato – Ultraman Omega, surely he must have been motivated by compassion to reach out to them, to protect humanity on the planet and save them from the disaster they faced, right?
Right?
Of course, things are far more complicated in reality.
Ahdel states that he specifically tried to bring back Omega’s memory so he would not fight on behalf of humanity’s protection. In fact, he claims that any interference in the “natural” course of these events would be unjust and against the “Space Gazers” core mission. A sort of “prime” directive, if you will…
And we have no reason to believe he’s lying, especially not when Omega recalls the fate of the Geness and claims they brought their own fate on their civilization by trying to fight back against the Kaiju!
The kaiju-sized elephant in the room, of course, persists. Only a little while before this scene, Sorato discussed the military’s escalation of weapons research, with the intention of following the Geness’ path as well. Sayuki herself disagrees with that plan, but we also see that there was dissension among the Geness too! Did all of them deserve to die for the mistakes of their leaders? And if so… what is different about humanity’s situation?
In the middle of all this uncertainty, these terrible revelations and fearful accusations, one thing still does give me faith. Kosei never wavered once by his friend’s side, and chose to fight alongside Ultraman Omega, putting his own life on the line to protect him in turn. That willingness to sacrifice himself, to step up and run into danger to save the people in front of him, is what attracted Omega’s attention in the first episode and led him to create a human identity as Sorato.
Hopefully that same courageous kindness will sway him once more. But we’ll have to wait for next week’s episode to find out. Until then, stay tuned right here at Ultraman Connection for more.
