Bond - Nexus -(絆 - ネクサス -, Kizuna - Nekusasu -) is the thirty-seventh and final episode of Ultraman Nexus, and the first appearance of Nexus' true form Ultraman Noa.
The astonishing true identity of the Unknown Hand has been revealed. As Shiori is shot, danger looms over the Komon. Furthermore, the Unknown Hand transforms back into the dark giant "Dark Zagi". Amidst the destruction of the city, Komon finally inherits the light of Nexus from Nagi, who has become the fourth Dunamist.
Plot[]
The episode opens with a young man from 18 years before the start of the series being possessed by a light blue energy.
Back to the present, TLT was preparing to launch Lethe again when 30,000 populations have learned of the Space Beast, despite doing so would weaken the Visitors' powers and their Potential Barrier. The injured Kaimoto awakened and remember his past of being the Visitors' interpreter in front of several scientists. Meanwhile, Nagi inherited the Evoltruster after a vision in the woods. Ishibori became aware of this and eventually shoot his partner Hiraki out of the blue.
Nagi stopped Ishibori's shooting frenzy with the Blast Shot and discover that the out of control operative was the Unknown Hand all along. While approaching Lethe in the Basement Lowest Level SECTION-0, he was approached by Illustrator and three remaining Night Raider operatives. When Ishibori revealed himself as Zagi, Kaimoto regained his memory of recounting the name and to his shock, Ishibori was none other than the lost scientist Hajime Yamaoka.
"While TLT had maintained the Potential Barrier in place, they were also pushing the development of an antibody to prevent Beasts from appearing. For those reasons, you tried to manage as well as adjust the battles with the Beasts. Its similar to what I've been doing. I predicted that Nagi would receive Ultraman's light. Creating Faust and Mephisto and having you (Ultraman) fight them was to strengthen the power of the light. I used Riko Saida and Mizorogi to plant the darkness in your heart, Nagi. I was in Night Raider because it was convenient for me. It was all a tool for me to return back to my original form. I've been waiting from that night 18 years ago for this moment."
―Mitsuhiko Ishibori/Dark Zagi
Nagi predictably becomes Nexus out of pure hatred, but Zagi had Lethe tangled the giant and absorb his energy, converting into the darkness needed to return to his original form. As Zagi rampages in Shinjuku, the entire globe was alarmed with various reports of Space Beast attacks. Komon was on his own to save Nagi from the darkness and by successfully reaching her, they revived Nexus to escape from the machine. Komon inherited the Evoltruster and transformed into Nexus to save Wakura in the Chrome Chester Delta.
Using his predecessors in mind, Komon has Nexus shuffling into his later forms but none of his attacks prove effective. Witnessing the Ultraman, the population suddenly regain their memories of him fighting in Shinjuku before. The support from the crowd allows Nexus to finally evolved into Ultraman Noa, overpowering Zagi until he was killed in a beam of war in space. Komon received a vision of Riko seeing him as a protector.
A year later, the Space Beasts became public knowledge, but the expanded Night Raiders worked tirelessly to fend the civilians against them.
"We are alive. Even if we've lost the peace we had yesterday, directly encountered a terrifying reality, lost precious things, had our hearts torn apart, and stood transfixed at an unimaginable evil. We will live. Though we've hurt countless times, stood back up countless times, we will live. Because we are not alone. Because you are not alone."
―Kazuki Komon
The episode and the series end with Komon protecting a child from the Space Beasts' attack, while encouraging the child to never give up.
This episode did not include the usual opening theme. Instead, the series' first opening song, "Eiyuu," played during the ending, alongside a montage of scenes from earlier episodes. This marked the first time in a Heisei-era Ultraman TV series that the opening theme was used as the ending.
For the final song, Yuichi Abe, Hiroyasu Shibuya, and special effects director Yuichi Kikuchi considered using "Aoi Kajitsu" to reflect Ren's character. However, they chose "Eiyuu" for its stronger connection to the series' central themes.
In the original script, there were no scenes with Komon and Riko together. Director Abe suggested including one, believing Komon should see Riko again—even as an illusion. Abe felt Riko's fate was tragic and wanted to give her character closure. He also believed her presence still lingered in Komon's heart, making her return fitting for the series' conclusion.
The scene of Captain Wakura entering battle alone was added for greater emotional impact. The script originally had a conversation between Wakura and Administrator Matsunaga before his departure, but Abe removed it. After consulting with actors Yasuharu Ishibashi and Masami Horiuchi, they agreed the silent action carried more weight.
Komon's final monologue was not part of the original script—it was added during post-production. Director Abe felt the series should end with Komon's perspective. He worked with screenwriter Keiichi Hasegawa, who wrote the added lines. As a result, the story both begins and ends with Komon's voice.[1]
There were early plans for a scene showing an unknown person picking up the Evoltruster, hinting at the light being passed on. However, Abe and producer Shibuya agreed to scrap the idea, choosing instead to end the story definitively with Komon.
The final shot—a close-up of a child's eyes—was improvised. The original ending was supposed to be Komon's line, "Never give up," but heavy rain disrupted filming. While waiting, Abe noticed nearby children and felt inspired. During editing, the brightest and most hopeful close-up was chosen.
Abe wanted to show that "children in the world of Ultraman Nexus are watching and understanding." By ending with the child Komon saved, the series emphasizes hope and the passing of light to future generations.
He learned Komon would become the Dunamist only in the final stages of filming. Earlier, when he asked the producers if he would transform, they gave no clear answer. He interpreted that as encouragement to give his best. When the transformation finally happened, it felt like a reward.
On the day of the transformation shoot, bad weather caused a delay before filming began. Kawakubo praised the crew's quick decision to postpone. A few days later, the scene was reshot under clear skies.[5]
As for the line "Bond... Nexus" before transforming, Kawakubo said it held deeper meaning than "Never give up." In that moment, Komon realized that light is formed through bonds, and the word "Nexus" naturally came from his heart. When he saved Nagi and inherited the light, he truly understood its meaning.
The short story Second Coming -Dreams- by Keiichi Hasegawa, included in the complete DVD box set, serves as an epilogue set three years after the series finale.
Originally, before the episode count was cut, episodes 37 and 38 were titled "Visitor" (来訪者 -ビジター-, Raihōsha - Bijitā-) and "Contactee" (交信者 -コンタクティ-, Kōshinsha - Kontakutī-). Both were to be directed by Yuichi Abe with scripts by Sadayuki Murai, but the scripts were never used. Drafts were displayed at a Tsuburaya Productions exhibition.[6][7][8]
This episode aired in the U.S. on TOKU on June 2, 2017.
In 2020, this episode was selected for screening as part of the Ultra Science Fantasy Hour on Ultraman YouTube channel, with its main slogan being Don't give up!(あきらめるな！, Akirameru na!).[9]
