Ultra Q Episode 2 "Goro and Goroh" Review | Godzilla Island Archive

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

The Plot:

In this episode of Ultra Q, a peaceful cable car tour is suddenly interrupted when a giant monkey begins shaking the cables and frightening the passengers. The creature doesn’t appear to be intentionally violent rather, it seems to be playing, unaware of its own immense strength.

We soon learn that this enormous ape wasn’t always a monster. The giant monkey, named Goro, once lived in a quiet mountain village alongside many other monkeys. Goro was raised by a kind, mute man named Goroh, who worked cleaning a local science laboratory. One day, while Goroh was away, Goro broke into the lab and ate hundreds of special walnuts that contained an experimental chemical designed to strengthen soldiers during World War II. The strange compound caused Goro to grow to gigantic proportions.

When the lab was later found destroyed, Goroh was blamed and stormed off into the woods—where he discovered that his beloved monkey had become a towering giant. Determined to care for him, Goroh began stealing crops and livestock to feed the enormous creature. Eventually, Goroh was caught and arrested, taken away to the city to stand trial.

Days later, a hungry and lonely Goro wandered into the city searching for his caretaker. Mistaking his confusion for aggression, the military and press labeled him a monster as he inadvertently caused destruction. A newspaper editor devised a plan to sedate Goro and transport him to an isolated island where another giant ape was rumored to live.

Goroh was released from jail to help calm his companion, bringing him a massive jug of milk laced with a sedative. Overjoyed to see his caretaker again, Goro happily drank the milk, unaware of what it contained. When Goroh realized, he had unknowingly helped capture his only friend, he broke down in tears as Goro was taken away possibly never to be seen again.

My Thoughts

This was a surprisingly emotional episode of Ultra Q. The bond between Goro and Goroh adds real heart to the story, showing that Goro was never a villain just a confused, oversized creature who loved his caretaker.

From a production standpoint, the Goro suit is actually a modified King Kong suit from King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962). The face was reshaped, and a tail was added, giving Goro a slightly different look almost reminiscent of the Great Apes from Dragon Ball Z.

Goro’s story is both tragic and touching. He’s one of those kaiju who means no harm but ends up a victim of circumstance. It would have been great to see a follow-up episode exploring his life on the island with the other giant apes, but sadly, Goro never returned in the Ultraman universe.