A series of bodies with abnormal brain shrinkage have been discovered. All the victims were homeless individuals known as "Hopeless", yet strangely, they had improved financial situations just before their deaths. Jin and the others become suspicious of a man named Tamaru, who had approached them saying, "I have a good job for you," and they begin an undercover investigation of Tamaru's secret factory.
Fukuda's involvement in the series came at the request of Takeshi Yagi. Fukuda had previously worked as a writer on Ultraman Max for episodes 18, "Bright World," and 36, "Alternate Dimension World." For this episode, he decided to create a story with a completely different style. However, Alien Markind, featured in this episode, still shares similarities with Alien Shamer, such as disguising themselves as humans and handing business cards to the protagonist. This led to some playful criticism, with people joking, "What's with the business card handing aliens again?"
When Yagi first explained the world concept for the show, he discussed the basic plot outline. It was during this early phase that Fukuda was told he would be responsible for episode 3. This meant that his episode wouldn't necessarily carry the burden of the "main storyline." Fukuda chose to focus on the theme of "the protagonist questioning their existence while fighting against aliens."
The name "Alien Markind" was inspired by the term "akindo" (the Japanese word for "merchant"), with an added layer from the concept of "merchandising." Fukuda explained that for these aliens, business is the only reason for their existence. Thus, they cannot comprehend why Seven X would continue to fight for Earth without accepting any reward from the humans. Moreover, Jin is unsure of his own identity, so it is impossible for him to answer Alien Markind's question.
The central theme of this episode, Fukuda reflects, revolves around "people who have lost hope for the future" — in the words of the show, "HOPELESS." This concept became the foundation for the episode. Fukuda pondered whether he could portray a group of people who can't see the purpose of their labor, and connect this to Jin's inner turmoil about "Why must I keep fighting?"
Fukuda further explained that in the world depicted in this episode, "HOPELESS" refers to a group of people who are essentially invisible in society. With information being manipulated, the goal of "0% unemployment" is quickly achieved, leaving these marginalized individuals to seek immediate gratification. Even if high-paying jobs come with the risk of shortening their lifespans, they still choose to accept them. This mirrors the real world, where some people give up on planning for their old age because they can't access pensions. Similarly, if someone is stuck in a job they despise, it can lead to a "HOPELESS" mindset — even if it involves manufacturing dangerous weapons, they are willing to do anything as long as the money is good.
Regarding the identity of the "human" who commissions the Alien Markind to create weapons, viewers may speculate, especially after the series' conclusion, that "this human may not necessarily be a bad person." Fukuda mentioned that in a managed society, the possibility of rebellion exists. Some individuals might have ambitions to invade another planet. If the series were to continue, Fukuda hinted that a future episode could explore a storyline involving "the consequences of one's own actions," which could be linked to episode 3 in some way.
This episode aired in the United States on TOKU on June 6, 2017.
