Members of the TDF who achieved excellent results in the shooting competition are assigned to guard Dr. Richter, the chief director of the artificial sun project.
However, one of the members, Hirota, an elite from the headquarters staff and also Soga's rival, is revealed to be a sniper acting on the orders of the invader, Alien Pega. Soga tries to persuade Hirota, but his efforts are in vain...
This episode was actually the 33rd in the series' production order, created simultaneously with episode 32, "The Strolling Planet," but due to scheduling reasons, it aired a month later.
Reportedly, this change was made to avoid overlapping with the events of episode 29, "The Earthling All Alone," which highlighted Soga's active role and imprisonment, as well as episode 30 Glory for Whom?," which focused on portraying the image of the TDF.[1]
The script cover titled "A Lethal 0.1 Seconds!"
In the final draft, the title was "A Lethal 0.1 Seconds!"(必殺の0.1秒！, Hissatsu no Rei-ten-ichi Byō!).[2] However, the exclamation mark was removed in the final broadcast version.
The opening shooting competition illustrates a notable difference between the draft script and the final script. In the draft, Soga emerges as the winner, highlighting his prowess as a marksman. In contrast, the final script shows Hirota winning the competition by using a reflective mirror to distract his opponents[3]
In the draft, the plot centers on Soga's efforts to stop Hirota's violent actions. When Soga shouts, "Stop it! You can't keep doing this!" Hirota suddenly turns and fires at him. Soga narrowly dodges the bullet as Hirota continues to shoot. Desperately evading, Soga finally draws his laser gun and returns fire. A single shot strikes Hirota. Panicked, Soga rushes to Hirota, cradling him while calling out his name.
Hirota, his vision fading, weakly utters, "Soga… I guess I lost after all. The outcome is clear now..." With those words, he breathes his last. Stricken with grief, Soga bites his lip and removes the shattered championship medal from his pocket, gently placing it in Hirota's hand. Tears glisten in Soga's eyes as he turns away, leaving behind a lonely silhouette.
The final script version, however, opts for a more tense and dramatic duel between the two. Hirota refuses to relent, telling Soga, "If you really want to save Dr. Richter, duel me!" He sets the terms himself: "I'll count to five, and after that, we'll draw and fire!" Placing his gun back in its holster, Hirota begins counting: "One…" Soga hesitates but ultimately steels himself for the challenge. "Two…" Hirota continues, as Soga clenches his teeth, locking eyes with his opponent. When the count reaches "five," both draw their weapons almost simultaneously. A bullet grazes Soga's right cheek, leaving a bloody scratch, while Hirota is hit and collapses. With a stoic expression, Soga lifts Hirota's fallen body and walks away alone. The camera captures swirling dust and sand enveloping Soga's retreating figure.
The two endings diverge in tone. The draft emphasizes reconciliation through the tragedy of Hirota's death, resolving the misunderstandings between the characters. In contrast, the final version highlights Soga's resolute.
In the script, a detail was included where Franz Liszt's piano concerto plays in Hirota's dormitory. This may reflect screenwriter Hiroyasu Yamaura's personal passion for classical music. However, this element was ultimately omitted from the final version of the episode.[4]
Notably, while Alien Pega serves as a background element in this episode, the script devotes little attention to its actions. Even its battle scene with Ultraseven is understated.
