is ultraman nexus any good?

[Toku Prime]

Basically, it does for Ultraman what Kuuga and Agito did for Kamen Rider.

NOOO!!! I wanna watch a toku, not a boring J-Drama that gives lip service to toku! Not even the actress who played Makai Priest Jabi being in this show can prevent it from sinking to the bottom of my backlog pile now. :bawling: Somebody call Haruto before a Phantom comes out of me! (can you tell I had a horrendous experience of watching Agito?)

 

[Kamen Rider IXA]

Agito is kinda boring in the first half, but overally it had a very solid story.

 

[Toku Prime]

Agito is kinda boring in the first half, but overally it had a very solid story.

Well, comedic overreactions aside, I didn't enjoy Agito, but it's probably not the show's fault. The lack of action in the early Heisei shows is always something of a black mark against them in my eyes. I watched Agito straight after I finished Faiz (a show that made me completely sick of Inoue's favourite tropes), never really bought into most of the main cast, and about halfway through burned out on toku completely. So my main memory of the show is of sitting bored out of my skull wishing they'd stop the chitter chatter and just go fight a monster already. I keep thinking one day I should go back and see the show again with fresh eyes, but I tried to watch the first episode a couple of months ago and was straight back into the "I don't care just get to the fight" mentality, so it'll be a while yet before I give it that re-watch.

How does the Ultraman '04 film fit in with Nexus? I heard it's a prequel or something? Is it best to watch it before the actual series or is it like Double's "Begins Night" where they fit it into a spot in the show's run?

 

[Nyarley]

How does the Ultraman '04 film fit in with Nexus? I heard it's a prequel or something? Is it best to watch it before the actual series or is it like Double's "Begins Night" where they fit it into a spot in the show's run?

It does not have strong connection to the series' plot. Events of the movie were mentioned a couple of times in the series, that's all. But I'd recommend to watch it before Nexus.

 

[DaikaijuSokogeki!]

It does not have strong connection to the series' plot. Events of the movie were mentioned a couple of times in the series, that's all. But I'd recommend to watch it before Nexus.

Yeah, that's what I did. Ultraman: The Next came out in December 2004, so well into Nexus's run but it'll be nice to have the knowledge of that film before the last few episodes of the series, since they start to tie it in around then.

 

[Jacky392000]

although I've seen bits of Taro and Great as a kid, Nexus is the only Ultra series (besides Ultraseven X) that I've completed. it has definitely introduced a lot of interesting stuffs: multiple Ultraman hosts, elite group of soldiers who have to make sure there are no witnesses during their battles at the same time, memory erasing police to help the traumatized victims, Nexus could create a field to prevent damage to the real world etc.

but of course, every good series have their own flaws. Komon and Riko, anyone? I just couldn't stand their side story during the Himeya Jun arc. also... Nagi, just Nagi. that woman wouldn't stop whining and bitching about the Space Beasts killing her family.

 

[Ivanhobe]

Well, comedic overreactions aside, I didn't enjoy Agito, but it's probably not the show's fault.

I am with you on this one.

I have been watching Agito and while i can tell that it is a good show and there are some really cool things in it, i simply do not enjoy it a all that much.

This is probably due to the fact that after years and years of watching Toku i have developed an immunity to Toshiki Inoue´s writing, so whenever i detect his writing style my brain goes into off mode and just rolls with it without really caring.

That is not to say that Agito is bad, as i said, i can see exactly what people love about it; i had the very same problem with Jetman, logically i can tell that it is a very good show, but it is hard for me to get invested into a dramatic show when my brain literally filters all the tropes that i have come to expect of this autor.

That said, you should rest easy since Nexus is a completely different kind of show.

It is very dramatic, yes, and it is certainly a darker take on Ultraman that introduces some very realistic spins to the franchise, but the drama itself is actually very well handled and it doesn´t rely on absurd coincidences like Inoue´s shows do, not to mention that it actually maintains the themes of Hope and Belief in the Future that characterize the Ultraman Franchise.

Basically, Nexus is an adult and realistic take on Ultraman that keeps the heart of the franchise and treats its audience with respect.

As for Ultraman The Next, while it is true that you do not need to watch it in order to enjoy Nexus, the events of that movie are actually fundamental for a really clever plot twist during the final arc, though most people don´t realize of that since you really need to think about it to get it.

Still, it is a cool movie and it really does complements the Nexus experience.

 

[Toku Prime]

That is not to say that Agito is bad, as i said, i can see exactly what people love about it; i had the very same problem with Jetman, logically i can tell that it is a very good show, but it is hard for me to get invested into a dramatic show when my brain literally filters all the tropes that i have come to expect of this autor.

I did enjoy Jetman, though the thing that made it for me wasn't Gai (yeah, the actor is charismatic, but the character is all bluster and overreacting to everything) so much as Ryu. I can't think of another Sentai series where the over-arching story is all about the red ranger's ongoing mental health issues. I'm sure it's not medically accurate, but it made for an interesting hook for the series.

That said, you should rest easy since Nexus is a completely different kind of show.

Well that's good to hear. I'll probably track down the movie at some point, at the very least. I was a little worried that it was one of those shows that tries to be serious and deep for the sake of being serious and deep (which usually results in the show being pretentious or dull), and the idea that they pass the power to become Nexus around seems a little weird (I'm guessing he's not an alien as usual then?). But sometimes the shows you're not excited about end up becoming the ones you like the most. Maybe it'll happen here too. :anime:

 

[Goty]

As for Ultraman The Next, while it is true that you do not need to watch it in order to enjoy Nexus, the events of that movie are actually fundamental for a really clever plot twist during the final arc, though most people don´t realize of that since you really need to think about it to get it.

Can you spoiler-tag me what that is? I didn't watch the movie, so it got me curious.

 

[Scissors]

the idea that they pass the power to become Nexus around seems a little weird (I'm guessing he's not an alien as usual then?).

He is an alien, although more similar to Tiga, Dyna and Gaia as you only get to see his powers through the human hosts. He is not given a personality or speaking role. It is heavily implied that he is some kind of angel. As I said in an earlier post, the show has some major religious undertones, and the evil Ultramen are more like demons than aliens.

The reason for the power being passed around is because the human body can't handle it for very long.
Transforming into Nexus is pretty much a gamble, and eventually it will kill you.

However, it is not really a big problem with this show, because the main character is not Nexus. So pretty much anyone can take that role as the show goes on.