Ultra Q Episode 11 "Balloonga" Review | Godzilla Island Archive

Note: This article was originally published in 2017 on Godzilla Island all views and opinions may have since changed.

This episode begins with a space shuttle returning from an exploratory mission crashing to Earth, bringing with it a strange creature called Balloonga. The shuttle ran out of fuel because Balloonga feeds on all forms of energy. As it continued feeding, the creature grew larger and larger. Tokyo was brought to a standstill as all energy was absorbed planes crashed when passing nearby, and hospitals and infrastructure shut down due to the lack of power.

Research by a newspaper revealed that this was not Balloonga’s first appearance on Earth. Years earlier, a doctor had reported on the creature but was ridiculed by colleagues for lack of proof and subsequently retired. Once tracked down, the doctor suggested creating a missile that would produce artificial energy to attract Balloonga and lure it away from Earth. Japan mobilized its resources, launched the missile, and successfully drew Balloonga into space. The creature now remains in orbit, feeding on energy and glowing. The episode concludes with a theory that all stars may actually be Balloongas that have absorbed immense amounts of energy.

This was a really good episode. The story was simple and easy to follow, and the design of Balloonga was strange but memorable like a floating brain with small tentacles. Even without destroying buildings or leveling cities, Balloonga caused massive chaos simply by feeding on energy, affecting hospitals, airplanes, and the city itself. Despite the simpler story, this episode still delivered a great kaiju experience. Ultra Q continues to impress, and I’m excited to see what the next episode brings.