The Last Tsuburaya
Written By: Paul Dini & Stephen Langford
Many centuries ago, Japanese artist Ishiro Tsuburaya (Joseph Stephen Yang) made a name for himself by painting many haunting and gruesome paintings where monsters and ghouls disembowel helpless victims. Tsuburaya was believed to demonstrate a sense of contempt and disdain for mankind in his life, and it is theorized that his paintings (which have since become sought-after by art collectors worldwide) are an allegory for "man's inner cruelty", if not the cruelty of the artist himself. In the present day, Tsuburaya's sole descendant, Best Buy employee Bobby Tanaka (Joe Ando Hirsh), is seated in the office of attorney Mitch Duclon (Kenny Alfonso), being informed of his ancestor's work and legacy. He is accompanied by Dr. Mai Sato (Gina Hiraizumi), curator of the Ōta Museum of Art in Tokyo, whose fellow art historians have uncovered a long lost Tsuburaya piece, locked inside a crate that was discovered in a monastery at the base of Mt. Fuji, seen by no other person but the artist himself. Tsuburaya had it stated in his will that upon the 100th anniversary of his death, the painting would be passed over to his possible descendants, leaving Bobby the sole heir to the mysterious painting.
Before Bobby can finalize his thoughts about his new acquisition, immoral, arrogant, and heartless billionaire Wade Cruise (Brandon Quinn) struts into the meeting, accompanied by his artist girlfriend Gisa (Jane Fernandez). Dr. Sato makes her animosity toward the pair known almost instantly, hating the former for "absconding" with artworks that she wanted for her museum, and the latter for agreeing to create pieces exclusively for a man as monstrous as Wade solely for profit. After taking a look at Bobby and his "Average Joe" appearance, Wade persuades the awkward young man that he could auction off the painting to Dr. Sato's museum, or sell it to him by offering to transfer $20 million to his bank account, a far higher price than Sato or her museum could afford. The only stipulation Cruise gives is that he collects the painting immediately, sight unseen. Mai objects to Wade's terms, stating that the painting is a lost jewel of Japanese culture, and should be hung in her museum for all to see. Wade rebuffs her claims by explaining to Bobby that Tsuburaya was also known for painting butterflies, trees, and landscapes. While lovely, these works are considered worthless by the artist's fanbase, and then proceeds to psych Bobby out by making him consider whether the unseen painting may be either a monstrous visage worth of millions of dollars, or a peaceful sunset that may score him a $100 tax-write off. As Wade gradually lowers his price to $10 million, Bobby finally relents and tells Cruise to take the painting. Before leaving with the piece, Wade does invite the angered Mai to his penthouse apartment for a private unveiling.
That night, during the party, Wade opens the crate and lays eyes on Tsuburaya's long lost painting for the first time, revealing that it depicts a demonic monster devouring a helpless person. After observing the painting's grotesque appearance and describing what it looks like in positive-but-vague terms, Wade proceeds to burn the painting with a blowtorch so that not only will he be the only person who ever gets to see it, but also so he can relish in the shock and horror of all the art-lovers in attendance. The act incites unbridled rage and horror from Mai, who insists the painting was irreplaceable and meant to be displayed in her museum. She furiously rebukes Wade for using his money to destroy everything around him for a sick thrill, comparing his inhumanity to that of Tsuburaya himself before leaving. After the guests leave, Gisa, sharing her disappointment that her boyfriend has once again bought something one-of-a-kind and destroyed it just so no one else can have it, attempts to recreate the painting based on Wade's vague description. As she does, she tells Wade about her very first work of art: a drawing of a cat she made when she was three, which she sold to her father for a quarter. She also mentions that she grew up with four, loud older brothers, who overshadowed her to the point where she didn't think her father knew she existed, and believed that no one would notice her unless she created something they valued.
In a stark contrast, Wade rebuts that he was an only child whose rich parents would shower with whatever he wanted, and he inherited their fortune and their technological empire after they died. Pretty soon, Wade discovered that there was no thrill or substance in being able to buy whatever he wanted simply because he could, but one day, he was looking to purchase a rare $300,000 vase, the owner of which was eager to sell because he needed the money so his daughter could receive a desperately-needed heart transplant. Upon refusing the offer, Wade noticed that the pain and desperation in the man's eyes caused by his money granted him a perverse thrill, and it was there that he experienced a twisted revelation: the joys of sadism. He eventually went back to the store with only $100,000, and the man snapped at it, eager to get anything to give to the doctor. Six months after, Wade mentions that he sold the vase at an auction for $1.3 million, and not giving any cares about the fact that the man's daughter likely died from his little stunt. He then looks over Gisa's illustration, psyching her out by telling her that she may or may not have gotten it wrong.
Later that night, Wade notices one of his paintings staring straight at him with orange, demonic eyes. Upon checking one of his art books to see if the painting accurate, the painting gains pupils and frowns at him. When he looks back in the book, he sees that the painting has transformed into the same one he burned, frightening him into dropping the book. After shrugging off the experience, Wade sees the monster's face in one of his sculptures, which he also shrugs off. He then notices Gisa's illustration of the monster roar at him, viscous liquid pouring from its mouth. When Gisa hears him drop his glass in shock, Wade blames it on the stiffness of his drink. As he gets ready for bed, Wade sees the monster behind him in the mirror, lit by a flash of lightning. After turning around to see nothing there, Wade bears witness as his mirror becomes surrounded by clawed hands trying to grab him. From the bed, Gisa tells Wade about Tsuburaya's similar contempt for humankind, saying that the duo would be best friends. As Wade climbs into bed himself, Gisa transforms into the monster, making Wade recoil. The real Gisa runs in, hearing the commotion, just as Wade sees that the monster is gone and runs out of the room.
He desperately roots through the burned fragments of the painting, explaining to Gisa that the creature from said painting is loose in the penthouse. Gisa believes Wade's ramblings to actually be a result of the guilt from all the atrocities he has ever committed, but Wade scoffs at her, claiming that "guilt is for losers" and "being human is overrated". Incensed by her boyfriend's sheer immorality, Gisa leaves him, vowing to find a place to go. After she leaves, the monster reappears in front of Wade, blocking the front door when tries to escape and forcing him to briefly take shelter in his closet. After escaping his penthouse, Wade spends the night sleeping on Duclon's office floor. Duclon, upon finding Wade, doesn't believe his story about the monster or his claims that the painting was tampered with, leaving to get security. The monster reappears from the ceiling and pounces on Wade, who stabs it with a pointed trophy. The monster screeches in pain and disappears, but Wade notices its blood still on the sculpture, realizing that the creature can be injured and therefore killed as security throws him out.
Returning to his penthouse, Wade arms himself with a sword and gun. When the monster approaches, Wade enters combat with it and manages to shoot it. When the monster shrugs off the bullet, Wade grabs a spear and stabs it in the stomach, pinning it to the window. As the monster slowly dies, Wade watches as it turns into Tsuburaya himself. Tsuburaya weakly explains that upon his death, he was cursed into becoming the very creature he created, a grim symbol of his hatred for mankind, and trapped inside the painting. Tsuburaya tells Wade that in burning the painting and killing him, he has subjected himself to the same fate, just before he disappears into a windswept cloud of ash. Wade then discovers his hands have been replaced by the monster's, just as he begins transforming into the creature himself. In a last-ditch attempt to escape what he has brought upon himself, Wade charges at the spear he impaled Tsuburaya on and impales himself on it, killing himself. Sometime later, the police are investigating the crime scene and interviewing Gisa, but they neglect to notice the monster's bloody outline on the window. The painting that glared at Wade earlier transforms into the last Tsuburaya, revealing that Wade's attempt to escape the curse failed, and he is now doomed to forever remain a monster trapped inside a painting as punishment for his wickedness.
In an animated epilogue, the Creep is seen in a museum, browsing a gallery of Tsuburaya's paintings. He laughs maniacally at one painting, which is cut short when the monster depicted leaps out of the canvas and pounces on him.
This episode contains examples of:
- 0% Approval Rating: Every person in the story detests Wade, even his girlfriend, and they aren't shy about letting him know it. The only exception is Bobby, who is too naïve and awkward to fully realize what's going on.
- The Ace: Gisa is mentioned to be one of the hottest artists of the contemporary scene, having produced works sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars until she decided to create works exclusively for Wade. After Wade burns the titular painting, she tries to recreate it from his vague description, and though it's only half-done and Wade psyched her out as she was painting it, the resulting replica of the monster is dead on.
- Agonizing Stomach Wound: The monster is finally killed when Wade impales it through the stomach with a spear.
- Asshole Victim: Wade, the first protagonist in the series to be one thus far.
- Be Careful What You Wish For: Wade burns the painting after he looks at it so that he'll be the only one who gets to see it. He soon starts seeing the monster from the painting, which is out for his blood, way more than he wants to.
- Better to Die than Be Killed: As he begins transforming into the monster, Wade runs into the spear he used to kill Tsuburaya and impales himself on it. Unfortunately, it doesn't help.
- Bittersweet Ending: Mai fails to acquire the last Tsuburaya, a long-lost cultural treasure of her native land, and is forced to watch it being destroyed before her eyes, but the person responsible for burning it receives karmic justice for his actions, as well as having his girlfriend leave him.
- Said girlfriend is last seen being interviewed by the police about her boyfriend's murder, which may not end well for her considering she was basically a Gold Digger. But on the other hand, Bobby, the naïve descendant of Tsuburaya, is spared from inheriting the cursed painting his ancestor created, and is now living large on the $10 million he has in his bank account.
- Break the Haughty: After torching the last Tsuburaya, Wade is haunted by the monster depicted in it. As the monster continues pursuing him, Wade is gradually converted from a smug, money-drunk, asshole of a billionaire to a nervous wreck fighting for his life. He's even crying genuine tears for the first time in a long time, if not ever, as he hides in the closet.
- Chalk Outline: One of these, in blood, is seen on the window where Wade killed himself... in the shape of the monster.
- Chekhov's Armory: Wade has a wall in his penthouse adorned with vintage swords and pistols, and he uses some of them to tackle the monster head on.
- Comedic Sociopathy: Wade is essentially the term "schadenfreude" given human form, as he uses his money solely to screw with people. It's shown in agonizing detail when he unveils the last Tsuburaya for the very first time, keeps it hidden from everyone else's view, vaguely describes what it looks like (while hyping it up in the process), and then burns it in front of everyone for the sake absorbing the shocked, horrified, and slack-jawed looks on their faces. As Gisa notes, this isn't the first time he's destroyed an incredibly rare treasure just for his own sick pleasure.
- Corrupt Corporate Executive: Wade is stated to be a tech billionaire, but he uses his fortune to ruin peoples' lives and destroy priceless treasures just for his own sick pleasure instead of actually running his business.
- Creepy Changing Painting: This happens quite a few times regarding Wade's paintings, as the monster from the one he burned makes its presence known. At the very end, one of them changes into the last Tsuburaya, revealing that Wade is now cursed to the same fate as its creator.
- Decoy Protagonist: Bobby, the sole descendant of Tsuburaya, is introduced as an "Average Joe" working at a Best Buy who suddenly comes into the possession of a mysterious long-lost painting that is likely cursed. Once Wade is introduced, he ultimately forces Bobby to sell him the painting by offering to transfer $20 million (which he then lowers to $10 million) to his bank account. Once the painting is sold, Bobby disappears from the story completely, though he turned out to get the better deal in the end.
- Dying Curse: Tsuburaya was, for reasons and methods unknown, cursed into becoming the very monster he created upon his death as retribution for his hatred of his fellow man. When Wade kills him, the curse transfers to him, even after he stabs himself to death.
- Earn Your Happy Ending: While it isn't actually proven, it can easily be determined that Bobby is going to be living large on the millions of dollars he now has in his bank account, enough for him to never work at Best Buy again.
- "Eureka!" Moment: When he is ambushed in Mitch's office, Wade stabs the monster in the stomach with a trophy, causing it to disappear. He then discovers the creature's blood still on the trophy, making him realize that the creature can be injured and therefore killed as security throws him out.
- Evil Hand: At one point, Wade's bedroom mirror becomes surrounded by black clawed hands that try to reach out and grab him.
- Evil Wears Black: Wade is never wearing anything other than black clothing to establish how heartless he is.
- Fate Worse than Death: Wade ultimately curses himself into a demonic monster trapped in a painting that's unlikely to be destroyed anytime soon.
- Forced to Watch: The art-lovers at Wade's unveiling are forced to watch in abject horror as he burns the fabled last Tsuburaya in front of them just for the hell of it.
- Foreshadowing: While in bed, Gisa tells Wade that he and Tsuburaya would have been best friends because of their shared disdain for humankind. "Gisa" turns out to be the monster, which itself is later revealed to actually be a cursed Tsuburaya, who ends up released from said curse when Wade kills him and ends up taking his place.
- Wade also grasps and observes a trophy in Mitch's office in the opening scene. He uses the same trophy later on to stab the monster, letting him know that it isn't immune to injury.
- For the Evulz: Wade uses his money specifically to make people miserable. The first victim of his sadism was a man who needed $300,000 so his daughter could get a new heart. He reminisces that the look of pain and desperation on the man's face that his money created was "like fucking crack" to him, and his answer when asked what happened to the girl in question after his stunt is a nonchalant "Not my worry."
- Freudian Excuse: Gisa reveals that she got into art because she grew up with four loud older brothers, who overshadowed her to the point where she thinks her dad didn't even know he had a daughter, and made her believe that the only way people would notice her was if she created something they truly valued.
- Gaslighting: Wade does this to Bobby so he can take his ancestor's long lost painting, psyching him out as to whether the painting could be a monster tearing apart a victim (worth millions) or a pagoda at sunset (worth at most $100).
- Gold Digger: Gisa is a rare good-hearted one, since she actually holds the same amount of contempt for Wade that everyone else does, and only stays with him because he paid for her apartment and hired her to create artwork exclusively for him.
- Guilt Complex: Gisa assumes Wade is experiencing one of these when the monster begins stalking him. He shrugs it off by admitting that he thinks guilt and being human are for losers.
- Hated by All: Wade, and for good reason.
- Hate Sink: Wade, written to be as unlikable and detestable as possible, is actually the first protagonist in the series to be one. He uses his money to destroy irreplaceable treasures just for the hell of it, treats everyone, even his girlfriend, like absolute crap, and is said to have indirectly caused a man's ailing daughter to die. Needless to say, he very much deserves his Fate Worse than Death.
- Tsuburaya himself is mentioned to have been horrifically inhumane in life, so much so that he was cursed to become the very creature he created. It's implied that his monster form was actively seeking out Wade because he was the perfect individual to replace him.
- Humiliation Conga: Wade gets put through a very well deserved one after the monster from his ill-gotten painting comes alive. He loses his girlfriend, his respect, and is forever cursed to be transformed into the monster itself, stuck in his own painting until the end of time.
- Informed Attribute: Wade is mentioned by Bobby to be a "tech mega billionaire", but at no point in the story do we ever see him do anything tech-related.
- Irony: Wade pressures Bobby into selling him the last Tsuburaya by transfering 10 million to his bank account, thinking nothing of it at the time. After he burns the painting in question, Wade finds out that he got a raw deal, since he ends up battling a bloodthirsty monster and is ultimately subjected to a Fate Worse than Death. Bobby, meanwhile, gets to live it up on Wade's millions and quit his mediocre day job.
- It Began with a Twist of Fate: If Wade had just let Bobby keep what was rightfully his to inherit, or just showed the art-lovers at his party the painting itself, Wade would've been spared his horrific fate and would be free to keep ruining peoples' lives with his money.
- It's All About Me: Wade only cares about himself and his money, which he uses to ruin peoples' dreams and destroy irreplaceable artifacts. He even burns the episode's namesake painting solely so he can be the only one who ever gets to see it.
- It Was a Dark and Stormy Night: The monster's hauntings begin on such a night, lit up by flashes of lightning outside.
- Kappa: Two of them appear in one of Tsuburaya's paintings, devouring a helpless man as he screams.
- Karma Houdini Warranty: Wade has been using his money to make people miserable and destroy priceless works of art solely for shits and giggles. The cursed painting he ends up "buying" from Bobby is, thankfully, what ends his reign of terror.
- Kick the Dog: Wade burning the last Tsuburaya in front of all the art lovers he invited to his penthouse, Gisa included, just so he can stare upon the shock and horror on their faces before he throws them out.
- Large Ham: Wade, who goes full-on cartoon billionaire supervillain with how reprehensible he is.
- Let's Get Dangerous!: Wade arms himself with a samurai sword and a vintage pistol when he finally decides to tackle the monster head-on.
- Living Drawing: Tsuburaya is revealed to have been cursed into one of his own monsters because of his unending hatred for humanity. Wade, who expresses a very similar mindset, takes his place at the end of the story.
- Mad Artist: Tsuburaya, who channeled the rage and hatred he felt for his fellow man into a series of monstrous and bloody paintings.
- Misanthrope Supreme: Back when he was alive, Tsuburaya was known to hate humankind with an intense passion. He channeled this passion into a series of gruesome paintings where helpless people are dismembered by demons and monsters.
- Wade also has this mentality, but rather than channel it into an artistic medium like Tsuburaya did, he uses his money to screw with everyone he can, even his girlfriend, because their lack of wealth means that they're beneath him.
- Mythology Gag: The ashtray makes an appearance on Mitch's desk, where he uses it as a cardholder.
- Just as in the original film, the monster present in the episode is originally housed in an old crate.
- Nightmare Fetishist: Art collectors around the world are said to have paid millions for Tsuburaya's bloody and gory paintings, whereas his paintings of butterflies and landscapes are virtually worthless to his fanbase.
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: Wade is a caricature of tech billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos; the kind of men who can easily throw away millions of dollars for their own needs.
- Offscreen Teleportation: The monster is able to appear from absolutely anywhere Wade doesn't look to get the drop on the bastard.
- Oh, No... Not Again!: Mai's reaction to Wade bursting in on her private meeting is the irritated recitation of his name, as well as an equally irritated greeting to Gisa, making it clear that the duo have barged in during these private meetings to snatch up pieces she wants for her museum many times before.
- Only-Child Syndrome: Wade tells Gisa that he was an only child who was given whatever he wanted by his rich parents. Along with him inheriting their fortune when they died, the constant giving gradually turned him into the sadist he is today.
- Only in It for the Money: Even though she acts like Wade's equally-smug girlfriend in public, behind closed doors, Gisa can't stand him and his inhumanity, only staying because he pays her rent, as well as to create artwork exclusively for him. Even before she met him, her pieces have been known to have sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars, just to give an example of how much she loves money, even though she got into painting from her Freudian Excuse.
- Portal Picture: The titular painting seems to have elements of the trope, but the monster only escapes when it's burned.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Mai gives a short one to Wade after he burns the painting, rebuking him for getting his jollies by destroying irreplaceable relics and comparing his inhumanity to Tsuburaya himself.
- Redemption Equals Death: While inside the painting, Tsuburaya apparently had a lot of time to reflect about how his hatred of humankind led to his fate. When Wade kills him, he expresses a sense of relief in knowing that his ordeal is over.
- Reduced to Dust: Once the monster/Tsuburaya finally dies, his body transforms into ash that is promptly blown away by an unseen wind.
- Ridiculously Average Guy: Bobby is a naïve and awkward person who describes himself solely as "some guy working in a Best Buy in Fullerton". Wade takes advantage of his "Average Joe" status to dupe him into selling him his ancestor's long lost painting. Unknown to Wade, Bobby got the better end of the deal, as he now has millions of dollars to ensure he can quit his Best Buy job while Wade himself gets stuck battling a monster out for his blood.
- Sadist: Wade, who outright declares that "guilt is for losers" and that "being human is overrated".
- Screw the Rules, I Have Money!: Wade cites his vast amount of money from his parents' tech empire as the reason for doing whatever he wants with what he buys, mainly destroying it so people can weep over it.
- Sealed Evil in a Can: The monster depicted in the last Tsuburaya manages to escape the painting when Wade burns it, after which it goes after him with intent to kill. Before that, it was housed in an old crate found in a monastery at the base of Mt. Fuji.
- Sell-Out: Gisa is considered one by Mai, who resents her for associating herself with an immoral billionaire who has repeatedly stolen work she wanted for her museum, and being paid to create artwork exclusively for him.
- Shout-Out:
- Ishiro Tsuburaya's name is a mashup of Ishirō Honda and Eiji Tsuburaya, the co-creators of Godzilla and Ultraman. This is alluded to by the fact that the monster looks like, and even moves like, a man in a rubber suit.
- When Gisa offers to tell Wade about her very first sale, he accepts by replying "Thrill me."
- The law firm that Duclon works at his named "King & Shelley."
- One of the Japanese artists Mai namedrops during the opening is named "Yoshi-Doshi".
- Single Line of Descent: Bobby is stated to be the last descendant of Tsuburaya left alive, and this automatically entitles him to his ancestor's long-lost painting. Wade soon swoops in and forces him to sell it to him, which ironically lets Bobby get millions of dollars in his bank account and gives Wade a Fate Worse than Death.
- Smug Smiler: Wade, for the first half of the episode. Gisa acts as one in public, but in private, she's just as disgusted with him as everyone else is.
- Spoiled Brat: Wade says that he was one of these as a kid, since his parents showered him with whatever he wanted.
- Spooky Painting: Tsuburaya specialized in creating these, and the subject of one in particular begins haunting Wade after he burns it.
- Start of Darkness: Wade's story about the vase and its owner's daughter's transplant was the first time he experienced joy through destruction, and it instantly hooked him.
- Supernatural Gold Eyes: They're more orange than gold, but the monster has these eyes. One of Wade's paintings gains the monster's eyes when it first haunts him.
- Trophy Violence: When ambushed in Mitch's office, Wade stabs the monster with a trophy owned by the attorney himself, which causes it to disappear. Wade is clued in that he can kill the monster when he finds its blood still on the trophy.
- The Unreveal: It's never revealed how exactly Tsuburaya was transformed into the monster and trapped in his own painting, nor is there any indication as to who or what was responsible. What is revealed is that killing him prompts the curse to transfer to Wade.
- Villain Has a Point: While his forcing Bobby to sell him the painting for $10,000,000 is frowned upon by everyone present, Wade takes the time to point out that Dr. Sato and her museum couldn't come close to his sum, and it would certainly help Bobby out with his mediocre day job.
- Villain Protagonist: Wade, one of the most vile characters in the series yet.
- Voluntary Shapeshifting: The monster is capable of changing its appearances to get the drop on Wade, such as shifting into Gisa as he nearly climbs into bed.
- Wall of Weapons: Wade has one in his penthouse, decorated with antique swords and vintage guns. He later uses some of these weapons to fight back against the monster.
- What Happened to the Mouse?:
- Bobby disappears after Wade "buys" his ancestor's painting, though he's likely living it up on his new fortune.
- Dr. Sato is last seen angrily leaving Wade's party after his little trick with his blowtorch, but we don't know what happens to her after the failure to gain the painting for her museum.
- Though she dumps him and moves out, Gisa is last seen in Wade's penthouse, being interviewed by a detective over her ex-boyfriend's death. Given that she's established to be a Gold Digger (albeit a good-hearted one), one can only hope that the cops at the scene don't jump to conclusions and slap on the cuffs.
- Would Hurt a Child: Wade tells Gisa a story about how he was looking to buy a $300,000 vase one time, the owner of which desperately needed the money so his daughter could receive a heart transplant. When Wade refused, the pain he saw in the man's eyes gave him a perverse, sadistic thrill. He eventually went back with only $100,000, which the owner eagerly took, hoping for anything to give the doctor. Six months later, Wade sold the vase at an auction for $1.3 million. As the cherry on top, it's made quite clear that he doesn't care that his little stunt very likely caused the girl in question to die.
- Youkai: Tsuburaya painted several of them, all gruesomely mutilating helpless victims.
- You Monster!: Gisa flat out calls Wade a monster while listening to him tell the vase story.
