Gamera Rebirth – Season 1 Episode 5 Recap & Review

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress

Episode 5 of Gamera Rebirth opens with Boco making contact with the crystal. The contract gives the kids a vision of the creation of the kaiju by the board with the intention to wipe out humanity and start all over again. They also see the vision of a few chosen children being lowered to feed Viras. The vision explains the evil intentions of the Foundation. Just then, the captain and his assistants walk in.

Meanwhile, the board discusses the procedure for cleansing humanity from the moon. Later that night, James realizes Dario is stuck under the rubble and helps by removing the rubble above him. Emiko finds the two and inquires about the children. Just then, she receives a message from the captain stating the children have been found and heads over to check on them.

Emiko and James reach the container where the kids lay unconscious. Emiko goes around very familiarly, talking to the staff about the proceeds. James is astonished by her behavior and wonders why the kids are being treated so meaninglessly. He realizes there is a bigger plan, and Emiko is hand in glove with the Foundation.

On the way out, Emiko talks to the staff about taking a few of them along with them during the purification process. James gets the staff ready to continue working on the station. He has a word with Dario and learns about the shuttle that will be taking off and that he will have to follow orders if he wants to earn a seat on the shuttle.

Joe has a dream where it is the last day before Boco leaves for his education, and they manage to set up the communication system and finally teach him to ride a bike. Joe quickly awakens and wakes up the others.

Just then, James walks in to check up on the kids. The kids tell him about the vision they saw and request his help, but he turns the request down. He tells Junichi that Emiko already knows the plan and is, in fact, heading it. James leaves the kids in the container, locks it, and leaves.

Emiko has the staff prepare the shuttle for launch before initiating the revival of Viras. James, Emiko, and the staff initiate the procedure by lowering the Orylium over the Viras. James also tosses the remaining kaiju samples onto Viras for them to be absorbed. Emiko then gets on a call with her board member aunt on the moon to claim her revenge.

Less than an hour before the completion of the revival, James handcuffs the kids and brings them over to Emiko. Junichi requests Emiko to stop the plan, however, Emiko refuses to. Boco tells her that she won’t be successful and that Gamera will win.

Joe proceeds to stab the guard in the foot, and the kids attempt to flee. Emiko sends the rest of the staff behind the kids to capture them, but James and Dario help the kids escape into the elevator and run. James then takes the kids to the shuttle.

Back in the basement, Emiko sends Dawson to fetch Erkki. Erkki is unable to climb over the rubble with his injured foot. Suddenly, a huge tentacle comes in and crushes him. Dawson makes a run for it; however, seeing the tentacle approaching, Emiko orders Luwig to leave the others behind and let the elevator leave.

James and the kids prepare for takeoff in the space shuttle. Dario initiates the launch sequence, initiating a 100-second timer. They notice Emiko and Luwig in the control room and fear the possibility of an emergency shut-down, despite sabotaging the controls.

Just then, Viras emerges from the Craven and looks directly at the space shuttle. It reaches out its tentacles to stop the space shuttle, but liftoff happens seconds before the tentacles reach it. In an attempt to stop the shuttle, Viras fires an energy beam at it, but Gamera arrives and fires a fireball at Viras. This puts the aim off but still manages to graze the space shuttle, thus bowing up the controls and losing propulsion.

Gamera engages in combat with Viras but is unable to overcome it. Viras wraps its tentacles around Gamera to deliver a shock, rendering Gamera unconscious. Viras manipulates gravity and takes flight to pursue the free-falling shuttle. Gamera regains consciousness and takes off after Viras. In mid-flight, Viras tries to shoot down Gamera, but Gamera’s force field deflects all attacks. Gamera speeds through and slices Viras in half.

On the shuttle, the kids figure out a way to use the escape pods along with James. Upon boarding, they realize there is a malfunction in the ejection of the pod. Joe decides to step outside and use the manual ejection lever. The kids try their best to stop Joe, but Joe bids them goodbye and pulls the lever.

The remains of Viras fall crashing down on the control room.

As the pod freefalls to earth they realize the parachute had also malfunctioned and they would crash land and perish. Just then Boco feels the pod slow down and sees Gamera’s claws outside the shuttle. The same night, the kids regain consciousness and exit the pod to find themselves on a beach with Gamera lying unconscious beside the pod.

The Episode Review

Episode 5 of Gamera Rebirth finally unveils everything that has been transpiring behind the scenes at the Foundation, exposing the façade orchestrated by the executives and Emiko. It all culminates in the resurrection of Viras, the most powerful kaiju of them all.

The chapter throws viewers several curveballs, such as Emiko’s deception, James’s make-believe act, and ultimately Joe’s tragic demise, which proves to be utterly devastating for most viewers and adds a lot of depth to the storyline.

Viras is portrayed magnificently during the fight; however, the showdown between Viras and Gamera doesn’t live up to the buildup and hype. Gamera isn’t given a clearly defined set of attributes.

In the battle against Guiron, Gamera employs rotation and sharp blades, executing an overpowering move. Strangely, Gamera refrains from using this move, which could undeniably have shredded Viras to pieces. All in all, the combat sequences in most episodes were not well thought out and executed.