The Marked Town

is the eighth episode of Ultraseven.
==Plot==
In the town of Kitagawa, a string of perplexingly fatal accidents have claimed the lives of hundreds of people. Furuhashi and Soga attempt to find answers regarding this seemingly cursed town. While patrolling the town, a crazed man with a rifle runs through the street shooting at people. Not long after, Dan is intercepted by a gravel truck. Discovering the truck has no driver, he is suddenly confronted by a disembodied voice telling him to leave the town. Later, both Furuhashi and Soga go on a rampage and have to be detained. It's finally learned that space seeds hidden within cigarettes by the evil Alien Metron drive smokers insane, turning them into violent, potentially deadly killers.
==Cast==
*: 
*: 
*: 
*: 
*: 
*: 
===Guest Actors===
*: 
*: 
*: 
*: 
*: 
*: 
===Voice Actors===
*: 
*: 
===Suit Actors===
*: 
*: 
==Appearances==
===Ultras===
*Ultraseven
===Kaiju===
*Alien Metron
==Home Media==
*Ultraseven Volume 2 features episodes 5-8.
4177DHV9Q6L._SX230_.jpg|1999 release
Item1_(1).jpg|2009 release
==Trivia==
*This episode has a sequel episode in the series Ultraman Max, called "The Untargeted Town".
*In the final version of the episode, some of the script content was cut. The initial plot included Anne's uncle's funeral at a church after a plane crash, reportedly removed due to concerns about several plane crashes occurring around Japan at the time. Additionally, in the second draft, the plot changed from a plane crash to an attempted assault by a taxi driver on a woman.https://twitter.com/PL34zxXkAWJScz7/status/1596713021816320001
*In the first draft, both the "young man" and Furuhashi more clearly demonstrate their delusions of persecution and launch attacks on those around them. Additionally, the scene where Anne disputes the report of the captain's abnormal behavior was also removed.
*In the second draft of the script, there was originally a scene where Anne murmurs, "With this, Kitagawa Town can finally breathe a sigh of relief," while witnessing the wreckage of the UFO burning and synchronizing with the sunset. However, this part ultimately did not make it into the final cut of the episode.
*In this episode, the filming location for Anne's uncle's house is actually the residence of the novelist Eiji Yoshikawa located in Ome City, Tokyo, Japan.https://twitter.com/ichikawakon/status/1362109713639383046
*The cynical narration played at the end of the episode was not part of the original script written by the screenwriter Tetsuo Kinjo, but was added by the director Akio Jissoji. Some accounts suggest that it was written by Mamoru Sasaki at the request of Jissoji.https://magmix.jp/post/70150
*The classical music featured in the series was all composed by Toru Fuyuki. The music played during the scene with the small table is titled "SEVEN'S CHAMBER MUSIC".
*At the time, TBS was considering exporting Ultraseven overseas and had set a policy of avoiding Japanese elements as much as possible. Therefore, it was emphasized to the staff at the beginning of production to strictly adhere to this policy. However, the director of this episode, Akio Jissoji, deliberately ignored this, leading to attention from the producers due to the scene where the Dan and the Alien Metron sit on opposite ends of the small table on tatami mats in an old apartment. After the episode aired, Jissoji faced criticism from the producers. This led to Jissoji temporarily stepping away from directing Ultraseven and instead taking on directing duties for period dramas in Kyoto.Akio Jissoji "Ultraman's Tokyo" pg 177-178http://www2.u-netsurf.ne.jp/~okhr/sight7/page08.htm
*Jissoji later used this story as the basis for writing the novel "Ultraseven: The Targeted Star".
*In 2023, in commemoration of the 55th anniversary of the Ultraseven series and to attract a broader audience to appreciate the charm of this classic series, TSUBURAYA IMAGINATION selected this episode and created a trailer named the "55th Anniversary Edition." The narration for this trailer was provided by Hiroki Tochi.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWgSp6ptmjc
==References==
Category:Ultraseven Episodes
Category:Episodes
Category:Ultraseven