Well, I guess these episodes prove even a series as good as Macross stumbles sometimes. Not much content in episode 13, and episode 14 was a recap, but not one of those cool reinventions of the recap that gives you new information or a different character’s perspective. When I finished watching them I noticed I barely even took any screenshots compared to how many I take and then sift through normally. So short post is short, let’s hope for some better episodes next week.
Humans normally wear moo moos, right guys? INTEL FAIL!
I think the Cold War camo, rotting meat outfit, and croc head camo would have been better choices.
Misa playing some Commodore 64.
The Zentradi Genshiken special forces team has infiltrated the Macross and takes the first steps towards trying to blend in. After seeing some of the bridge bunnies go into a locker room to change they surmise that there are ‘civilian uniforms’ there and proceed to choose a terrible selection of clothing for themselves. Elsewhere the four survivors from the captured Cats Eye recon mission are briefing the senior UN officers on what they encountered. While most of them laugh at what they’re being told, Captain Global believes them, and dismisses them to attend a ceremony celebrating their safe return. Additionally they’ve all been promoted one rank due to their daring escape and the information they brought back. At the ceremony Minmay gives them all a bouquet of roses, and then kisses Hikaru on the cheek. But to crush all thoughts that Minmay might actually have genuine feelings and doesn’t just like to torment Hikaru, she also kisses the cheek of the other guys (what no kiss for Misa!?). This is followed by a short concert where the Zentradi infiltrators Listen to Her Song.
So they went for Little Bo Peep, fugly Trowa Barton, and mustache-less Mario?
Crossplay?
Indeed.
At least Minmay does her part for morale at ceremonies, unlike that contemptible Ranka Lee.
And now in honor of our heroes I’d like to use this occasion to self-promote. Now available on CD only $19.99.
While being given lead, the escapee four start returning to their duties. Misa takes up her spot on the bridge, feeling most comfortable in service to humanity. While she acts sarcastic about how her fellows expect her to react when she returns, she is genuinely happy to be back. Hikaru, Max, and Kakizaki head back to the base, but Roy intercepts them along the way. Giving a great speech while driving and occasionally letting go of the steering wheel Roy tells them to enjoy their time off and to kindly go the hell home and rest for a while. The Macross is nearing Earth finally with the Zentradi in pursuit, so soon they will be called up from their leave anyway.
Claudia and the two Macross equivalents of red shirts welcome back their Misa.
Yeah, Roy needs more screentime Hikaru!
B5? I’m pretty sure a Starfury would be a downgrade from a Valkyrie in this universe.
Earthbound.
One of the few interesting things from these episodes happens next involving the Zentradi. Having three different commanders on scene has produced some complications as the ships near Earth. Though under orders to capture and not destroy the Macross, Kamjin Kravshera decides he can’t take the insult of letting it get away and once again pulls away from the rest of the encircling fleet to engage. After trading main cannon fire with the Macross and taking some losses Commander Laplamiz has had enough and moves her ships in front of Kamjin’s to force him to stop the attack. This breaks the encirclement of the Macross however, and it’s now free to begin descending to Earth, headed for the UN base in Alaska.
Hotheaded, though at least he’s skilled enough to back it up most of the time.
The combination of various commanders and their personalities makes for an interesting and more realistic enemy.
Heading to Alaska base. Hopefully not the one from Gundam SEED.
The Macross has some issues with damaged thrusters as it descends into the Pacific Ocean, but otherwise arrives safely and recovers its Valkyries. The crew and civilians are overjoyed to be back on Earth and scramble to the exterior of the ship for a look. Captain Global then makes his report to UN HQ, which is the recap episode. And I’m not recapping a recap episode, heh.
Back with no loses.
Just keep your eyes open for Z’Goks.
Watching these episodes felt like a defeat, so this is appropriate by Tytanian standards.
Final Thoughts: – Not the greatest set of episodes ever. Only really significant things were the Genshiken team’s first attempt at blending in, Macross arriving on Earth, and the lack of coordination among the Zentradi commanders.
- Glad I wasn’t yet born when this when it originally broadcast, I’d have been quite annoyed waiting two weeks total for these two episodes.
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9 Comments
u would probably finish this series in December or even January 10 if keep that pace =.=;
Hmm…I understand the annoyance with the clip show (and there’s another one coming up quite soon, but it’s done in a much smarter way), but I didn’t think there was much wrong with episode 13. Sure the art looked crappy (seeing Minmay come out onto the stage still gives me the creeps), but it always seemed like a perfectly appropriate finale for the first main story arc of the series, getting the ship back to earth while setting up some of the drama (mostly, as you perceptively noted, among the Zentradi) that will play out over the next big story arc.
As such, I really have no problems with episode 13. Episode, though, is, as you intimate, a snore.
I think the end of it, though, is where the “Is there something going on between Glabal and Misa?” rumblings started.
Oh, and you have now officially passed my fansubs of the 2008 Remastered DVD set.
But I guess that’s to be expected…since I’m doing an episode every two weeks, and you’re doing two episodes every week…
Yeah, recap episodes are always poor (and I’m afraid there’s another one later – they added two recap episodes in addition to the final arc to make up the numbers when they expanded the series to 36 episodes). Isn’t there a non-recap scene with Misa and her father in 14, though? Or is that not till 15? Your comment linking the Alaska base with the one from Gundam Seed is prescient…sort of.
Addendum: The scene I was thinking of is indeed in 15, and episode 16 sees the introduction of the most annoying character in the series.
@XIX
That may be true (I haven’t done the numbers), but there will be more retroblogging once I’m finished with Macross.
@Yot-chan
Episode 13 had some worthwhile stuff (and I don’t really care too much about the animation glitches given its age), but I felt that there was maybe 10 minutes worth of actual significant material stretched out over a whole episode. First Zentradi infiltration effort, short debriefing, bit of returning home, and then the Zentradi commanders’ spat. The return to Earth set things up, but overall I was left pretty unsatisfied compared to all the other episodes so far.
I could see the basis for the Misa and Global speculation, but I don’t think anything’s there myself.
@ Keith
That’ll be interesting to see what sort of link with the Gundam SEED Alaska base has, now that’s got me thinking…
I love those three dolts. A source of comedy and unlikely pathos as the show goes on.
Also, SDF-1 TV version > SDF-1 DYRL? version. Just sayin’
Don’t worry so much about the next clip show episode that’s coming up in a couple of weeks – although it recycles and remixes cells with passion and fury, it is one of the most creative reuses of animation ever and it is also a great character episode for Hikaru.
And even if you don’t like that, the two episodes after that will blow you the frak away ^^
@ghostlightning
Oooh, unlikely pathos? That’ll be interesting to see develop.
Just got my hands on DYRL yesterday, so I’ll blog that at the conclusion of the TV series.
@Lindem
Good, that sounds like the right kind of recap episode.