SDF Macross Episodes 19 and 20 – Now I am Become Death, The Destroyer of Worlds.

Several members of the crew are still dealing with the death of Roy as the Macross descends to low altitude in an attempt to force the UN HQ to allow the civilians off the ship. While the UN’s intentions aren’t clear, they will not permit the civilians to be offloaded and Global hopes that an independent region will hear the signal and bring them in. The Zentradi fleets are waiting in orbit, some more patiently than others, as their high command deliberates on the next course of action. And a new defensive system, the Omni-Directional Barrier (ODB) has been readied for use.

Captain Global tries to pull a stunt to get the UN to allow the civilians to disembark.

Claudia is continuing on with her duties, but in private is still grieving.

Hikaru as well, as Misa tries to talk to him.

Elsewhere Minmay has collapsed from overwork.

It seems like they just put the script into romanji and displayed it as the message. The text is basically: Shammy gets message on console, Global enters, turn the page, Global stands and says to head to where it came from. They didn’t even name it Ontario, just nantoka (something).

After receiving the message offering to take in the civilians from Ontario, the Macross departs for Canada.

In orbit Kamjin is once again impatient with his orders to standby, and after yet another argument with Laplamiz he decides that he’s going to take action without orders once more. Millia then enters the bridge and asks to be assigned as a Miclone spy onboard the Macross. Her commander is reluctant, but eventually acquiesces. After her duel with Max Millia has become unsettled in her defeat and now wants to meet this ace, the only one from scores of battles who ever bested her.

This guy makes Bull Halsey look patient.

Though who the Supervision Army is still remains unknown to us.

I have a good feeling about this.

In the Macross fighter bay Hikaru is readying Roy’s VF-1S for use again, taking over piloting of the plane in memory of his friend. He’s then met by Max and Kakizaki, who suggest that they have a night out to relax. Onboard Kamjin’s flagship preparations are completed for the raid, which will employ EMC jamming to enable the capital ships to move in on the Macross undetected. The battle begins with a dogfight over a town after sunset, and unbeknownst to both sides Millia is being flown into position to infiltrate the Macross.

The black tails and Jolly Roger will continue to spread fear through the skies to all enemies of the UN, Zentradi and Celestial Being alike.

Kamjin prepares for launch with some sort of Dendrobium-like craft attachment.

*drools* reminds me of Pepper Lunch. I used to go to the one in Akihabara fairly frequently with my friends when on study abroad. Nothing like a sizzling platter of meat and veggies after a long day of playing Gundam Cardbuilder and nerding out. Or before going into battle, in this case. If you’re in one of the countries that has then (pretty much only Japan and SE Asia) go there and enjoy it for me, it’s pretty cheap too.

The VF-1S takes to the skies again.

She worries about her precious Millia-chan.

After a few minutes of air to air combat the Zentradi capital ships descend to the area, rising over a mountain and opening fire on the Macross. The ODB is deployed in time and the Macross is able to withstand the intense fire from the Zentradi warships. Hikaru and his team are dispatched to attack the capital ships as they stand off away from the Macross, the ODB not allowing the Macross to use its own weapons. As they begin their attack the ODB starts overloading and the operators lose control of it. The ship appears doomed as Misa orders all Valkyries away from the ship. Hikaru’s team moves away from the Zentradi ships as they are consumed in the explosion, but Kakizaki lags behind and is killed as he attempts to escape. After the explosion the Macross remains intact, but the Zentradi ships, several Valkyries, and the town below have been destroyed.

The Zentradi capital ships spring their trap. There’s a lot of wear and tear as well as non-standard repairs visible on the Zentradi ships.

The ODB holds under intense fire…

…but overloads either from absorbing the incoming fire or from prolonged use.

Kakizaki is killed in the line of duty. He may not have been an exceptional pilot, but he served his team, ship, and planet well until the end.

The explosion must have moved outwards from the sphere of the ODB, leaving the Macross intact.

Afterwards the remaining members of Skull Squadron return to base, the area around them devastated and Ontario now canceling the agreement to take in the civilians. Back onboard Minmay has been taken to the hospital, and Kaifun hijacks a statement about her condition to spout his nonsense before the cameras. Minmay then calls Hikaru, oblivious to the damage caused by the explosion and Kakizaki’s death. She asks Hikaru to visit her, as she did when he was injured, but he’s too numbed by her lack of regard for the more important issues at hand and hangs up on her.

Macross is just full of cool shot sequences, even for something so old. This one for example has a cool moving, zoom-out through the Valkyrie transition as the two survivors return to base. This show just has way more attention to cool cinematography than its contemporaries like Mobile Suit Gundam and Armored Trooper Votoms.

Yes Kaifun, the hostile alien fleet will just leave you alone.

Even the rabbit is kind of ‘WTF Minmay?’ at her lack of awareness.

Oh snap! Though I generally find her insufferable, I thought that was a little harsh since she did visit Hikaru before. If she was reminded of what just happened and then still talked about herself then I wouldn’t really mind the hanging up.

Some time later the Macross receives supplies, new pilots, and new orders. After resupply is complete the Macross is to leave Earth space. The UN HQ does not say why this is the case, and although Global speculates that they want the Macross destroyed as part of a bid to open negotiations, I find this illogical and unconvincing. But who knows, this is anime and outside of Legend of the Galactic Heroes there is rarely a political move that actually makes sense. Hikaru attempts to write a letter to Kakizaki’s family informing them of his death, but starts crying and can’t bring himself to write it at the moment. He then learns from Max that Max is being promoted to 1^st Lieutenant and given subordinates of his own, as the two are now some of the most senior pilots left onboard. Down in the bowels of the ship, the Genshiken Team has a last meal before departing the Macross, their spy mission now coming to a close.

I hope they have grills that stamp a little UN Spacy logo onto the hamburgers.

Not what Hikaru would like to be doing right now, especially so quickly after Roy’s death as well.

This is something else Macross does better than Gundam: a sense of advancement and leadership/responsibility for the characters.

The trio discusses their favorite bridge bunnies over dinner.

The two senior officers share a drink and a meaningful glance, both knowing that their ship is really on its own now.

At the Zentradi HQ Britai is assigned a new fleet to return to Earth with, and the newly extracted Genshiken Team makes their report to their higher ups. They show tokens of the Miclone culture that they studied as well, somehow managing to obtain and load onto the Regult a variety of objects including a grand piano. After their report they all smile to each other when the topic comes up of anything that they’ve kept, which turns out to be a huge pile of stuff much larger than what they showed to their commanders. Even though they could be executed if they’re found out, they decide to show some of their friends what they’ve brought back. The group samples candy, and sits amazed by the singing Minmay doll.

Laplamiz seems to have some reason to distrust Britai, and his new orders make her suspicious.

Dramatic conference room is dramatic.

Perfect for that dollhouse they’ve been building!

And thus was the Cult of Minmay founded.

The Macross’s orders now received, Global makes the broadcast he had been dreading. Informing the civilians and crew of their new orders, he almost breaks down when he has to tell the civilians that they’re being intentionally put in harm’s way. He’s joined by Minmay, Kaifun, and Misa, and Minmay goes out in front of the camera to encourage everyone to stick together and hold on to hope that they can return. Following this she sings a new song while Kaifun, in a rare moment of decency, tries to comfort Capt. Global. Misa heads to the bridge, and the Macross departs again for the stars.

My fellow Macrossians…

A rare moment of responsibility and usefulness for Minmay.

Even lowlife Kaifun is acting decent for once.

Sarabaaaa Chikuu yoooo

Final Thoughts: - As mentioned, I’m continually impressed by the visuals in this show, compared to others of its time and modern shows. Even the more modern Frontier lacked the kind of creativity seen in many of the action and dramatic shots seen in this show.

- That explosion from the Omni-Directional Barrier was much more massive than a nuclear weapon. It was reported to Global that the destruction reached 50km, while the largest US nuclear bomb ever made was the B53 with a destructive radius of 4-5km.

- Millia as a Miclone spy? This can only lead to great things.

- It’ll be interesting to see if Hikaru and Max’s subordinates will be full characters or just red shirts.

- UN HQ is not making a lot of sense right now, and while it’s the crew’s job to follow their orders without necessarily being given the bigger picture, it’s rather puzzling right now.