novelcrest Chapter 103: A Masterpiece Review – How Did Humanity Achieve Glory?
Chapter 103: A Masterpiece Review – How Did Humanity Achieve Glory?
(Thank you so much to the two gift kings from the amazing user Lanqian! I'm so grateful, words can't express it!!! This is the first time I've ever received such a big gift! Also, thank you to the amazing users 14729469, Kowloon Island Sword Saint, and Luo Mi who loves longan and red date tea for their certification! Love you all!)
After Ultraman Tiga ended, Old Tang's livestream...
Old Tang is currently livestreaming his third viewing of Ultraman Tiga's final episodes, 50-52...
As the background music of "Ultraman Forever" gradually faded away in the live stream, Lao Tang and the audience finished watching Ultraman Tiga for the third time.
The screen went black, leaving only the line "To those who have achieved greatness" etched on the retinas of countless viewers.
Old Tang sat in the chair. Although he had watched it three times already, the shock it brought him was no less than the first time.
Each time, new, previously unnoticed details are discovered.
Moreover, whenever the chant of "Ultraman Forever" begins and everyone transforms into light, Old Tang still gets goosebumps.
Tens of thousands of people were still online in the live stream, but they were unusually quiet.
Only a few scattered comments were still floating by, mostly short phrases like "I want to cry," "I can't get over it," and "Daigo...hero."
Everyone was still reeling from the shock.
Old Tang took a deep breath, grabbed the soda next to him, and gulped down a large mouthful. The icy liquid flowed down his throat, seemingly bringing him back to a sense of reality.
"Brothers."
Old Tang's voice was a little hoarse. He casually tossed his glasses aside and rubbed his face vigorously with both hands, as if that would help him clear his head.
"I know you're all feeling really bad right now, really sad. Me too. I feel empty inside, like I've just broken up with someone, or like I've said goodbye to my best friend."
"but!"
Old Tang slammed his hand on the table, his voice suddenly rising in pitch, making the microphone buzz.
"Stop crying! Stop being so moved! I know your minds are all muddled right now, filled with that golden light and tears. But we need to calm down and take a good look back."
"Next, as content creators who provide film analysis and commentary, we still have to stick to our old ways!"
Let's analyze in depth what Gu Nan was trying to express in the finale!
As he spoke, he skillfully manipulated the mouse, dragging the progress bar back to the beginning of episode 50.
"Let me, Old Tang, put it this way: these last three episodes—'Fly Higher,' 'The Ruler of Darkness,' and the final 'To the Glorious Ones'—together represent not only a tokusatsu drama… but also the pinnacle of domestic science fiction and fantasy genres in history. They even surpass 90% of so-called 'art films'!"
"That old scoundrel Gu Nan... no, Director Gu, God Gu!"
Old Tang pointed at the screen, his face filled with a fanatical adoration.
"What he planted in these last three episodes is much deeper than what we've seen! Come on, wipe away your tears, and follow my rhythm, Old Tang, we're not sleeping tonight, let's stay up all night and do a summary of this masterpiece... ugh! In-depth analysis!"
The comments section finally started to get active.
[Old Tang, don't scare me! Is there anything else I don't understand?]
[Isn't it just that everyone becomes light and wins?]
[Does this even need analysis? Just keep it exciting! Long live Tiga!]
[Quiet down, everyone! Let's see just how much Old Tang is bragging!]
Old Tang sneered: "Burn? Superficial! If it were just for the sake of burning, why would Gu Nan have arranged for the magic light stick to shatter?"
Why did they make Daigo say the line "I am human too"?
Why is the final title "To the Glorious Man" instead of "To the Glorious God"?
Brothers, there's a lot to learn here!
Seeing the countless "???" comments on the screen, Lao Tang smiled and continued his analysis.
"I can say that Gu Nan used at least four layers of logical and philosophical progression in this finale to depict humanity's transition from a comfortable childhood to adulthood, as well as Daigo's personal development..."
"First, the first layer: the necessity of desperation!"
Old Tang froze the scene in episode 51, where Tiga was pierced by Gatanothor's beam and turned into a stone statue, sinking into the sea.
The visuals are dark and oppressive; the suffocating sense of despair remains even after watching it again.
"First, let's talk about the first point—despair."
Old Tang pointed at the enormous evil god Gatanothor.
"Look at this boss, Gatanothor. It's different from all the monsters we've seen before. The monsters of the past, whether they were Golza or Kirieloids, no matter how strong they were, were still 'living beings' and could be hurt by punches and kicks."
"But what about Gatanothor? It's not just about its setting; just looking at its expressiveness, it stands there like a mountain, an ocean, an inviolable law of nature."
The screen displayed Gatanothor's enormous, terrifying image, covered in tentacles and black holes.
Even through the screen, the audience still felt a sense of physical discomfort.
"To be honest, when I first saw this thing, my hair stood on end," Old Tang said, rubbing his arms.
"Moreover, I clearly felt Gu Nan's design philosophy. Gatanothor's design has a very strong 'Cthulhu metaphor'."
Cthulhu? That indescribable horror?
[So that's it! No wonder this monster looks so sanity-draining!]
"Yes, it's indescribable."
Old Tang asserted, "Everyone, look closely. Gatanothor isn't like the previous monsters; its face is even upside down, and it doesn't seem to have any fighting techniques. Against the backdrop of the black mist, it looks like a... a huge, dark, incomprehensible entity."
"It symbolizes not just a powerful enemy, but an 'existential fear'."
Old Tang's voice seemed to possess a certain magic, transporting the audience back to that despairing underwater world.
"It represents humanity's instinctive fear of the unknown, of nothingness, and of nature. It doesn't need to do anything complicated; it only needs to release black mist to engulf the entire world."
"This fear is rooted in human genes—faced with the vast universe and irresistible disasters, human civilization is so insignificant, as if it is destined to perish."
"Gu Nan has embodied this sense of 'the inevitability of civilization's annihilation.' That black fog is not merely a physical obstruction, but also a kind of spiritual despair. It is asking humanity: You are so weak, what is the point of your struggle?"
Why did Gu Nan design such an almost invincible enemy? Was it to torment the protagonist? Was it to gain sympathy?
Old Tang shook his head and held up one finger.
"No. It's to bring 'God' down from his pedestal."
"In the previous fifty episodes, what was Ultraman Tiga? In the eyes of ordinary people, he was a guardian deity, an omnipotent savior."
No matter how hard the GUTS team tries, no matter how desperately Daigo fights, in the subconscious of the common people, as long as a monster appears, Tiga will appear, and then everything will be fine.
"This kind of dependence, this kind of blind worship, is actually a disease."
"Therefore, Gu Nan must make Ultraman Tiga lose. And he must lose completely, in front of billions of people worldwide!"
Old Tang switched the camera to the shelter, showing the desperate crowds, the crying children, and the chaos caused by the loss of order.
"Look here. When the guardian spirit falls, what is humanity's first reaction?"
The scene shows a close-up of the people in the shelter during Ultraman Tiga's defeat.
"It's despair, it's waiting to die. That's what Gu Nan wants to criticize—when humanity places all its hopes on external things, once those 'things' collapse, the human spirit collapses as well."
"Tiga's petrification is not merely a collapse of combat power, but also a collapse of humanity's 'theocracy.' Gu Nan's blow was ruthless, yet incredibly precise!"
"but!"
Old Tang slammed his hand on the table, jolting the audience awake from their fear.
"It is precisely because the enemy presents such 'absolute despair' that humanity's counterattack shines so brightly!"
"Faced with this indescribable terror, humanity did not choose to kneel, but instead chose to become light and break through it! This is the most amazing thing about Ultraman Tiga—it acknowledges the insignificance of humanity, but it also celebrates its greatness!"
The comments section erupted in uproar.
[Holy crap, now that you mention it, Old Tang...it actually seems to be true.]
When I saw Ultraman Tiga lose, I felt like the sky was falling, and I never even considered relying on myself.
Is that old scoundrel Gu insulting us?
[It wasn't scolding, it was more like a feeling of disappointment and frustration.]
"Then we gradually delve into the second layer, which I call: From God to Man, Daigo's Self-Redemption!"
Old Tang took a sip of water and spoke faster.
"Next is the second point, which is also the most crucial turning point in the entire series..."
However, Old Tang kept everyone in suspense for a moment, waving his hand to signal everyone to calm down.
"Next, I'm going to talk about a more poignant and profound topic."
He turned his gaze to the screen. "What do you all think was the biggest dilemma Daigo faced in the final moments?"
After a moment of silence, many people began to reply.
[Is Daigo simply unable to defeat him?]
I think... it's about "reconciliation between humanity and divinity."
[Daigo has worked so hard.]
As the human form of both a human and a giant of light, he constantly struggles between being a 'protector' and an 'ordinary person'.
Old Tang dragged the progress bar to the Snow White, to the scene where Daigo and Rena confessed their identities.
Faced with Lina's aggrieved question.
In the scene, Daigo's eyes were resolute as he uttered that resounding line:
"This isn't an obligation, because I'm human. I'm just doing what I can!"
Old Tang pressed the pause button and excitedly slapped his thigh.
"Brothers! Memorize the whole thing! This sentence must be memorized in its entirety!"
"Why did Daigo have to confess at this point? According to the usual tropes, shouldn't the protagonist hide their identity until the end and silently protect everyone? Wouldn't that be so cool? So tragic?"
"But Daigo didn't. He said he was just a human being."
Old Tang's voice lowered, trembling slightly.
"That's what makes Ultraman Tiga so amazing. It's not just about a hero fighting monsters; it's about how a person can shoulder the responsibilities of a god while still retaining a human heart."
"Isn't Daigo exhausted after all these fifty-plus episodes? Absolutely! He has to go to work, patrol, get into a plane crash… oh wait, scratch that, and he also has to sneak around transforming, and pretend he's fine when he's injured. He's only human, after all!"
When he said, "I am just a human being," he was actually telling Lina, and us watching on screen: It's not because I'm a god that I fight; it's because I'm human, because I love you all, that I chose to fight, even knowing I would lose, even knowing I would die!
"What is this? This is humanity's hymn! To do what is impossible, to stand shoulder to shoulder with gods with a mortal body! At this moment, Daigo is even greater than when he transformed into Ultraman Tiga!"
Countless viewers were ignited by Lao Tang's words, and when they recalled Da Gu's resolute gaze at that time, they got goosebumps all over.
"Then, having understood these, we come into contact with the third layer, which I call: exploring the nature of light, the logical closed loop of the idealistic outburst."
"Alright, here comes the main event."
Old Tang took a deep breath and dragged the progress bar to the climax of the finale.
Children from all over the world turned into light, gathered in the stone statue, and Tiga made his dazzling debut.
"I know that, putting aside our feelings about the story and analyzing it from a plot perspective, some critics will definitely say: 'Oh, this is too idealistic,' 'This is not scientific,' 'This is a deus ex machina.'"
"Pah!"
Old Tang spat fiercely at the camera.
"The person who said that clearly didn't understand what the first fifty-one episodes were foreshadowing!"
"Gu Nan spent a whole year telling us through a series of episodes: What is light? Light is not a laser, not an energy bar, not a finishing move."
"The light was the tears of that girl who cried to protect the monster;"
"It was the unwavering determination of that astronaut striving to return home."
"Light is that phoenix that rose from the ashes to protect its master!"
Old Tang's voice grew increasingly impassioned, as if it could pierce through the screen.
"In Gu Nan's writing, light represents hope, courage, and love in the human heart!"
"Therefore, when all of humanity is plunged into darkness, only the children—only these children who haven't been corrupted by society and still retain the purest dreams—believe that Ultraman Tiga can rise again. This 'belief' itself is the most powerful energy!"
"This isn't a deus ex machina; it's a concrete manifestation of 'human determination can conquer nature'!"
"The 'light' here transcends the realm of 'energy' or 'supernatural power.' It is—the embodiment of the collective will of humanity!"
Old Tang pointed to the image of Ultraman Tiga's birth flashing on the screen.
"Think about it, in the myths of the past, the gods were high above, and people had to offer sacrifices and pray in order to gain the gods' mercy. The existence of the gods was the premise, and people's faith was subordinate."
"But Ultraman Tiga did it the other way around!"
"Tiga fell and turned to stone. At that moment, God disappeared."
"It is humanity! It is humanity's indomitable will, humanity's strong desire to live and protect those they love, that brought together to rebuild the body of 'Tiga'!"
"This is like a metaphor: the continuation of human civilization must rely on its own beliefs and unity, not on external forces. Why did the ancient civilization perish? Because they fought amongst themselves, because they were obsessed with the dream of the giants, and because they placed their hopes on the giants while giving up on thinking for themselves."
"But modern humans have chosen unity and resistance."
"This isn't just a victory for the plot; it's Gu Nan's reflection on the philosophical question of 'the cycle of civilization'—can humanity break free from the cycle of self-destruction? The answer is: Yes! As long as we ourselves become light!"
"The light shining on Ultraman Tiga isn't Ultraman's light; it's the light lent to him by all of humanity! It's humanity itself that saved itself! Daigo was merely a vessel, a fist that unleashed this will!"
"Do you understand? This isn't idealism at all; it's the most romantic expression of materialism—the power of the masses is boundless!"
The barrage of comments exploded instantly, with everyone exclaiming in realization.
The power of the people is boundless! Old Tang, you've set your sights too high!
No wonder I felt so excited while watching it; it turns out I was also involved in saving the world!
Indeed, at first, it was thought that Tiga's resurrection was due to a miracle, or the descent of a god like the King of Ultra. But Gu Nan didn't do that. He turned all the children in the world, and those adults who still held light in their hearts, into light.
This is the vast ocean of the people's war!
[Gu Nan's move is in the atmosphere!]
I'm speechless! So that's what it meant!
[I knew it! That's why only children can become light—because adults have already knelt down!]
Long live the people!
Yes! Human determination can overcome nature!
This interpretation is convincing!
……
Old Tang took a sip of water to moisten his throat, and his eyes became deep.
"Ultimately, what helps humanity complete its overall growth is the fourth layer: the shattering of the Spark Lens, humanity's rite of passage into adulthood..."
"Finally, and most importantly."
Old Tang's expression turned serious, even solemn.
He froze the image at the very end, at the moment when Daigo's Spark Lens turned to ashes and scattered in the wind.
"He is both light and humanity. I almost cried when I heard that. Does humanity need to rely on giants to save itself? Must Daigo sacrifice his happiness as a 'human' to become that high and mighty 'god'?"
The ending provides the answer—divinity must give way to humanity.
Old Tang kept an eye on the live chat while providing commentary.
"Many people feel that this is a regret, but in my opinion, it is Daigo's 'self-redemption'."
"Giants are merely bridges, just guides. When humanity learns to shine on its own, the gods can step aside."
"Daigo stepped down from his pedestal and returned to being an ordinary person. This was not a weakening, but rather an elevation! True salvation does not come from the gifts of gods, but from humanity itself!"
"Moreover, this is the best ending for Daigo personally. He can finally stop carrying the weight of the whole world and go to Alina as an ordinary person, to laugh heartily with his teammates."
"This 'return to the ordinary' approach is a million times warmer than the kind of ending where the protagonist becomes a god and departs!"
[Indeed! Daigo is human too; he also longs for a peaceful life with a wife, kids, and a warm bed!]
Gu Nan's swordsmanship is both ruthless and gentle.
But... it's still a shame to lose the Spark Lens... we could have kept that power, right?
Gift effects started flooding the screen in the live stream.
"During this scene, I saw people crying and shouting 'No!' in the comments. It's a pity that Daigo won't be able to transform anymore."
"But I'm telling you, this scene is the final touch that cemented Ultraman Tiga's legendary status!"
"Without this scene, the show would be a 99 at most; with this scene, it's off the charts, a whopping 120!"
Old Tang leaned closer to the camera, lowered his voice, as if he were telling a shocking secret.
"Brothers, have you ever thought about this? If the Spark Lens hadn't broken, and Daigo was still Ultraman Tiga, what would have happened to humanity?"
"Humans will continue to depend on him. Whenever something happens, they'll shout, 'Daigo, transform!' Daigo will become a babysitter who can never retire, while humans will forever remain a bunch of overgrown babies."
"Gu Nan shattered the magic wand to convey an extremely cruel yet extremely warm message: the god has completed his mission, and now it is humanity's turn to leave."
"Just as parents will eventually let go of their children's hands, just as teachers will eventually send off their graduating students."
"Tiga's departure is humanity's 'rite of passage'."
"Do you remember what Daigo said at the end? 'Actually, everyone can become light through their own power.'"
Old Tang's eyes were slightly red, and his voice choked with emotion.
"This was said to Lina, and also to us."
"Gu Nan is telling us: Don't wait anymore. No Ultraman will come to save you. But it's okay, because you yourself can be Ultraman."
"The difficulties you encounter in life, whether it's setbacks at work or pressures in life, are your 'Gatanothor.' You don't need a Spark Lens; as long as you have light in your heart and an indomitable spirit, you are your own Ultraman Tiga!"
"The light stick shattered because the light within our hearts had already been ignited. Since there is light within, what need is there for that stone medium?"
"This is the true meaning of 'Honoring those who shine!'"
"The glory doesn't belong to Tiga, nor to the ancient warriors, but to every single human being who fell and got back up, who still believed in hope even in despair!"
After saying these last words, Old Tang seemed to have exhausted all his strength, slumped into his chair, and gasped for breath.
The deathly silence in the live stream lasted for a full ten seconds.
Immediately afterwards, the barrage of comments poured down like a flash flood.
It's no longer about joking and cursing, no longer about playing with memes.
The screen is filled with only three identical characters:
[To the Glory!]
[To the Glory!]
[To the Glory!]
[Thanks, Lao Tang! I understand now!]
I'm going to fight life to the very end!
I'm going to repeat a year of high school! I want to become light too!
I will work hard! I will get into my dream school!
Long live humanity! Long live courage!
Looking at the screen full of comments, Old Tang finally showed a relieved smile on his tired face.
He picked up another pair of sunglasses and put them on, covering his slightly moist eyes, reverting to his unserious anchor persona.
"Alright, alright, stop getting sentimental. You're making me sound like a pyramid scheme boss."
"It's time to end today's live stream. Gu Nan, that old scoundrel, can be quite despicable at times, but this show... really..."
"Brothers, to be honest, I couldn't write this copy several times when I was preparing it. The more I analyzed it, the more terrifying Gu Nan seemed."
"He's not just making a TV series; he's building a philosophical system and conveying a set of values."
"Finally, let's end today's live stream with the ultimate answer to the hidden ending."
Old Tang stood up, faced the camera, and gave a victory salute.
The background music, "Ultraman Forever," started playing at just the right moment.
Old Tang's voice was full of passion and power:
"The ending of Ultraman Tiga ultimately conveys an existential question—"
"Human beings may be fragile, but when they confront fear and choose hope, they themselves are the most dazzling light in the universe!"
"This light is not a supernatural miracle, but the core of civilization's survival!"
"That is—human courage, empathy, and the ability to connect!"
"Even though Daigo has lost the Spark Lens, and even though Tiga may never appear again, this core spirit will forever be passed down in the hearts of each of us as a bond!"
Finally, he sang in a slightly off-key, straight voice.
"We will cross the boundaries of time and space hand in hand."
"Break through the darkness"
He sang along with the audience.
"YOU ARE ALWAYS MY HERO."
[To those who have achieved greatness!]
[To those who have achieved greatness!]
[To those who have achieved greatness!]
The live stream slowly came to an end amidst a screen full of golden bullet comments.