>ACCESS CODE: s̵͙̈́͜Ā̷͔͘v̸͈͈͊E̷̱̞̓ ̵̛̻̈́Ụ̵͗Ś̸̓͜”
This episode of SSSS was a lot lighter in terms of its usual foreshadow meta game. Nonetheless, it harkened back to some of the Ultra Series’ most iconic episodes while delivering some of the most emotionally heavy moments to date. This is your last spoiler warning: we’re going to go deep.
RIGHT OFF THE BAT, this episode invoked another classic tokusatsu trope: the revived monster attack. This is pretty much standard order of the day when it comes to Kamen Rider or Super Sentai. Often invoked for budgetary reasons to fill up an episode slot, story-wise it is utilized to drive home a bigger threat or ramp up the tension. Most modern Kamen Rider movies abuse this to hell and back by way of bringing back series monsters and even cannon-fodder grunts to fill villain slots for group battles.
However, many fans have noticed the similarities between the setup for Episode 11 of SS & fan-favorite ULTRAMAN episode, “The Forbidden Phrase”. In it, an alien from the planet Mefilas manifests past kaiju and aliens. The whole evil plan is to provoke a child to ask Mefilas to take over the Earth.
Another reason fans mentioned this is due to the most notable kaiju created by Mephilas: a giant version of Fuji from the Science Patrol. Considering how this week’s SSSS ended, you can understand why “Forbidden Phrase” jumps to mind.
A QUICK ASIDE before we get into the meat of this episode: someone over a PA calls out for Yuichiro Kanesue during one of the Inoue Hospital scenes. Though subtle, this another deep reference that references another deep cut from earlier in the series.
Yuichiro Kanesue is the name of a character from KINPACHI-SENSEI, played by actor Koichi Sudo. If he looks familiar, it’s because he played Team EYES member Koji Doigaki from ULTRAMAN COSMOS!
If you remember from the Episode 8 recap, KINPACHI-SENSEI was referenced by way of two of the teachers from the series showing up in the background. Also that Akane’s house in SSSS was actually shown in a KINPACHI-SENSEI episode. On top of that, it’s another callback to ULTRAMAN COSMOS. Which, again, considering how this episode ended up, it’s kind of a warning sign.
When the team attempts to repair Junk back at the shop, there are several throwbacks to Episode 1 of GRIDMAN THE HYPER AGENT. The brief montage uses several of the same shots from the assembly/reassembly of Junk, along with some choice lines — namely the 3D Graphics Card and the fact that they found it in the trash.
Most importantly, Junk’s startup screen in SSSS harkens back to the 3D card installation in HYPER AGENT. Only with a notable, teasing difference…
NOW FOR THE MAIN ATTRACTION: As mentioned, this week’s SSSS references two classic Ultra Series episodes. Both of them play into the reveal of Yuta’s true identity.
As it turns out, Yuta is not just merging with Gridman, he is Gridman. Specifically, Gridman has been in control of Yuta’s body the whole time while the “real” Yuta is sleeping.
Yuta’s twist plays into one of the classic plot points of the Ultra Series: The secret identity. To talk about it properly, we have to go all the way back to the original ULTRAMAN TV series.
We as an audience believe that Hayata merged with Ultraman as a result of the accident in “Ultra Operation #1”, the series’ first episode. For 38 episodes, the show has you believe that he’s the one in control, assuming Ultraman’s abilities whenever needed. This gets tossed on its head in the series finale.
In Episode 39, “Farewell, Ultraman” after being saved on the brink of death by Zoffy, Ultraman separates from Hayata. As Man and Zoffy take off, Hayata suddenly points out that the red sphere is the one he crashed into…and that he has no memory of anything after the accident. We are then left with the shocking truth that the whole time, all of Hayata’s actions throughout the series were in fact not his, but Ultraman himself!
Over the years, the origin stories of the Ultra Series have varied. Ultras such as Jack or Ace merged with their hosts over time to totally to become one being. Or, in the cases of Leo, 80, and Mebius, they were simply Ultras who assumed a human form to operate on Earth. But the plot device of an Ultra merging and taking over a body to heal has mostly been specific to one hero as of late — Ultraman Zero. He brought this back firstly in ULTRAMAN ZERO: THE MOVIE, where he took over Ran’s body to heal and complete his mission in Another Space.
Zero would do this again (to some extent) in ULTRAMAN GEED. In the series, he merged with Leito, a salaryman who died trying to save a child. While Leito was still himself, Zero could assume control to protect the both of them in times of crisis and transform.
For a fun spin on the origin of an Ultra Hero, check out the first episode of ULTRAMAN X. It’s one of the first times that a hero ends up having constant interaction with the Ultraman they’re merged with, and it’s honestly kind of adorable.
GETTING BACK TO SSSS, following Yuta’s discovery, we’re witness to a tear-jerker of a scene between him and Utsumi. This moment is a prolonged shout out to one of the most homaged and memorable scenes in Ultra Series history: Dan Moroboshi’s farewell to Anne Yuri in ULTRASEVEN.
Hailing from ULTRASEVEN Episode 49, Part 2 of “The Greatest Invasion In History”, Dan’s farewell is the emotional climax of one of the most intense storylines. In it, aliens from the planet Ghos launch one of the bloodiest attacks of the series. New York, Paris, London, and Moscow are all wiped out. The Ultra Garrison is just barely holding the line. And Dan is on the brink of death.
In Part 1, Dan is told by his superior that his battles on Earth as Ultraseven have taken their toll on him. If Dan continues to fight, he is guaranteed to die in the process. In Part 2, Dan, on the run from the UG as any medical attention would reveal his alien origins, learns of something horrible.
His teammate Amagi has been captured by the Ghos and being used as a translator/leverage against the Terrestrial Defense Force. However, the higher-ups have orchestrated a plan to ram the Magmariser drill tank, rigged with explosives, into the Ghos underground base. Amagi is “an acceptable loss”.
Dan knows he has no choice. He has to turn into Ultraseven and risk death to save his teammate and friend.
And that’s when he encounters Anne.
Anne: A boy named Akio called and told me that you were here, Dan. Why did you do something like running away? Hey, please answer… Dan…”
Dan: “Anne… I am, you see… I am not a human. From the Nebula M78, I am Ultraseven!”
[ Piano music, with theatrical lights that put Anne in silhouette as the wind blows her hair around. ]
Dan: “You’re surprised, aren’t you?”
Anne: “No… whether human or alien, Dan is Dan. There is no difference, is there? Even if you are Ultraseven.”
Dan: “Thank you, Anne…”
[ Action interlude where Captain Kiriyama orders the Magmariser to launch. It drills toward the underground Ghos base and Amagi, accompanied by piano and orchestral music. ]
[ Tears stream down Anne’s cheeks. ]
Dan: “… As I have just told you, I must return to the Nebula M78. When the Morning Star (Venus) shines in the western sky one light will fly toward space. That would be me. Goodbye, Anne!”
Anne: “Wait! Dan, Don’t go!!”
[ Dan casts Anne aside. ]
Dan: “Agent Amagi is in danger. DUA!!”
[ Dan raises the Ultra Eye to his face and transforms into Ultraseven and takes off... ]
Remember how I was saying ULTRASEVEN is one of the most iconic entries of the Ultra Series? This scene is largely the reason why. It’s a total tear-jerker that is brilliantly acted and reinforces the stakes of Part 2’s climax. Much like Dan’s farewell, the shout out scene in this week’s SSSS further drives home how we are really at the all-or-nothing moment. Not just for Yuta who knows he has to save Akane, but also for Utsumi who realizes this is not a game or a fan dream come true anymore.
Once again, this was foreshadowed early on in the episode. The hospital PA calls out for a “Doctor Amagi”. (The Funimation subs incorrectly spell it as Doctor Amaji.) With reference to Internal Medicine, this could also be a nod to the underground base attack that almost killed him.
However, SSSS’ nod to the finale of ULTRASEVEN doesn’t end here. Find out how next time.
This is part eleven of my twelve-part SSSS.GRIDMAN Reference Recap. To go back to the master page, click here, or click here to go to Part Twelve.
If you liked this recap and want to help support more articles (and soon, video essays like it), consider donating to my Ko-fi page!
NOTE: Dan’s farewell translation comes from the archive of ABSOLUTE ULTRAMAN, one of my favorite Ultra Series information resources growing up. Go check out the archived site here! Additionally, if you want to check out ULTRASEVEN after reading this, Shout! Factory still has an R1 DVD set available!
