Of all of the Shōwa Ultras, Ultraseven is the one typically talked about in the highest regard and, honestly, it's not hard to see why. Often stated to be not so subtly influenced by Gerry Anderson's Thunderbirds, Ultraseven takes elements from that and its earlier Ultra incarnations by striking a balance between the mystery of Ultra Q and action-orientated Ultraman. However, it equally heavily contrasts Ultraman before it as Ultraseven expands much more on the concepts of alien invasions and militarism. It's a magnificent series through and through pretty much setting the standard for the Ultra series to follow. It can be viewed standalone as originally conceived or as part of the larger franchise as a whole thanks to the series to follow…

Also, you can't talk about this show without mentioning the banned Episode 12, From Another Planet with Love. Yeah, the Aiken Spell is pretty yikes in the same vein as those mutated humans at the end of Prophecies of Nostradamus but like Prophecies the story and surrounding elements are pretty darn good.

I'll probably end up watching Heisei Ultraseven one day, same with Ultraseven X but I haven't heard the best of things surrounding them.