Return of Ultraman: Terror of the Waterspout Monsters1971

81/100 The second two-parter of this particular show, and a very good one. It's very cinematic in nature, and I can see why it got a theatrical release, feeling very much like a cinema story, with a high budget allowing for more spectacle. Much like the previous two-parter from this show, the monsters here are a pair, though unlike Gudon and Twin Tail, they remain allies throughout. The monsters actually come off as pretty sympathetic here, with main character Goh questioning if they really need to be destroyed. The first half is primarily spent proving the legend of the two monsters is true, and while this has been tedious before, I feel it works well here with a satisfying payoff. There's also a subplot here with the daughter of a captain whose ship has been wrecked by the monster trying to reach him. The captain is played by series regular Akiji Kobayashi, and his performance adds a lot to a character with relatively few lines, spending most of the two-parter in shock. The special effects are also great here, as they really work to make this two-parter great. The highlight is Seagorath's tsunami in the first part, though Ultraman stopping it admittedly looks a little comical. I also like how both Kaiju are spared by the end. The dilemma of sparing the Kaiju is represented throughout through MAT's debates with a businessman and the higherups, another similarity with the previous two-parter. The Sakatas, some of my favourite characters, are weirdly absent here, but at least their appearance here moves the plot forward. It's a good scene and moves the plot forward. Overall, the episode is action-packed and energetic. It may not be as good as the previous two-parter in my opinion, but it gets very close. It works very well with both good action work and characters to deliver one of the show's better episodes so far.