About two years have passed since the end of the UN-Zentradi conflict and the survivors of its final battle have been rebuilding on Earth as best as they can. A few cities have been rebuilt, the survivors settled, and life goes on for the remnants of humanity and the Zentradi fleets. However not all is well both in the personal lives of some of the characters and in the wider human-Zentradi society. Chafing under the constraints of a peaceful life, several Zentradi lash out at the world around them, while others leave the settlements to either die or become bandits. Not only does this cause social friction and immediate destruction, it’s also leaving a substantial segment of the population disaffected and susceptible to being influenced by demagogues. War is the easy part, now the survivors have to create and manage the peace.

Hikaru patrols the wasteland with his flight, checking for survivors or signs of trouble.

The Zentradi bombardment pretty much sanitized Earth’s surface, but life has a way of hanging on.

Look who’s hiding out here. Durable little things, one survived the bombardment while another managed to survive a colony’s impact on the moon in Zeta Gundam.

The remnants of the war are scattered about all around the Earth.

After Hikaru takes some time looking around on the ground, he thinks back to what Roy told him about the job of being a pilot. For Roy it was about protecting the woman he loved, and Hikaru gets some pangs of guilt about not being into Minmay as much as he thinks he should be and flies off to the city where she is having a concert. Back in (New) Macross City, Misa is cleaning out Hikaru’s prefab house and comes across his photo album. It’s filled with old pictures of Minmay from around the start of the war, and she’s a little indignant about this seeming obsession with a failed love. So before leaving she turns the Minmay poster on his wall upside down! Misa, you’re my hero! Sitting at a café outside she sees Millia and Max with their child and for a second imagines herself and Hikaru in the same position. She leaves after a noisy pair of soldiers show up listening to Minmay on a boombox, but the gears in her head start turning.

Two of the new settlements are built around the largest capital ships that managed to make it to Earth roughly intact. A good idea since building materials are right there, but I’d be kind of afraid to live in Grante under that Zentradi battleship, it looks like it could fall over eventually.

Make him pay you with kisses.

Stop living in the past Hikaru. The future is bright and even cleans up your mess.

Masterstroke!

The Jenius family and their eventual ace-of-aces child makes Misa think about the future.

Over in Grante City Hikaru arrives looking for Minmay and comes upon her and Kaifun talking so he hangs back for the moment. Kaifun is drinking heavily like the pathetic scum that he is, complaining about the meager pay they’re getting for Minmay’s concerts. To which Minmay replies that they shouldn’t even need to be paid when everyone is just scraping by, much less demand more. That spine Minmay’s been starting to grow finally kicks in and she tells Kaifun that they shouldn’t see each other for awhile, and she walks off worried about her situation, Kaifun, and Hikaru. As this happens Hikaru gets an emergency call from Misa in the command center. Three Zentradi have stolen Regults and are attacking a civilian area. She chastises him heavily for going off to meet Minmay while on patrol, her anger at his irresponsibility heightened by the fact that it was Minmay he went to see. Hikaru’s current flight members aren’t the best pilots, but eventually Hikaru shows up and quickly deals with the Zentradi, disabling their Regults. The last image is that of the Zentradi in Hikaru’s gunsight running away from his VF-1S. I have to wonder if he shot them, pursued and apprehended them, or just let them go. I think the last one is unlikely.

Keep drinking Kaifun, maybe you’ll pass out and choke on your own vomit and then we can be rid of you.

You tell that punk ass lush!

Kaifun dumbstruck, though I’d rather he just be struck…by the backhand of a Valkyrie.

Rioting Zentradi began firing indiscriminately, though Hikaru’s flight managed to lure them away from the city.

Wondering why she hasn’t been promoted, she goes on to say she also has better looks than Vanessa. Oh Shammy, we love you but you’re just not the brightest bulb in the box.

Hikaru deals with the Regults Millia style by shooting off their legs. I liked how the fight was in the rain.

After returning to base Hikaru runs into Misa who asks about whether he got to see the person that he went to see. While she’s probably happy that he didn’t talk to Minmay, this is merely a ploy to put him off balance before her true love attack begins. She runs up from behind him and gives him a pink envelope and then walks off smiling. Inside are three ri-god-damn-diculously adorable photos of her to add to his photo album and increase the album’s win levels by over 9000%. There’s a reason why she’s in charge of the Valkyries instead of just in one, for her grasp of strategy and tactics is both broad and deep, in love and in war.

Oh Hikaru, stop your stalking and see the true love that is stalking you!

At first I thought this was one of those high school love letter things. Misa, forgive me for ever doubting that you would stoop to such immature levels. Your direct attack on Minmay’s place in Hikaru’s photo album is both bold and inspiring!

I wonder if it’s Shammy’s pet?

CUTE OVERLOAD!!!

And one serious one to round out the three.

While episode 28 deals primarily with the human characters and what they are doing after the war, episode 29 tells us a lot about the challenges of integrating the Zentradi and how they are trying to deal with living in peace. The opening scene is a skeletal Zentradi corpse propped up against a piece of wreckage. As the winds continue their constant howling its hand falls off, revealing that it was clutching a box with a Minmay doll in it. It’s an amazing sequence, telling you everything about the current Zentradi situation in just a few shots. The deaths from the war and of those who leave the cities, the desperation that comes through from the positioning of the skeleton, and the sad worship of and frustration with human culture seen in the way the soldier was clutching the doll; it’s pretty powerful. Elsewhere the singer who inspired such adoration is having troubles of her own, being unaccustomed to singing before a tiny audience in an exclusive club. Kaifun arranged this gig because the smaller crowd could pay more, but Minmay isn’t even sure what she’s singing for anymore.

Pictures worth thousands of words.

How do you get people who only know war to adjust to a peaceful life? Macross is dealing with some interesting DDR (disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration) issues.

It may be an exclusive club, but it has to be more than a little demoralizing for Minmay to perform before such a small crowd.

So Kaifun, so far you’ve got: Lust for your cousin, Envy of Hikaru, Pride for encouraging people who need it not to take military assistance, Gluttony for alcohol, and now Greed when trying to get even more out of people who have little. Just need some Sloth and Wrath and your damnation will be complete.

Minmay had enough of Kaifun’s douchebaggery and goes back to Nyan Nyan in Macross City to stay the night with her relatives. She’s glad to see them, but afterwards she goes into her room where the repaired walls remind her of Hikaru. She takes out the medal he gave her and for a moment thinks that he’s calling for her, only to find an empty street outside her window. The next day she runs into the Genshiken Team, who have now taken up jobs as laundry cleaners. They’re overjoyed to see her and this cheers her up a bit. Though shortly afterwards she sees Hikaru and Misa walking together and chatting. When he stops to tell Misa that he added the pictures of her to the album he turns just enough to make eye contact with Minmay, who breaks out in tears and runs away. Hikaru and Misa then chase after her, but she doesn’t stop.

At least some of the Zentradi have managed to make new lives for themselves.

Maybe it’s the way she’s dressing lately, but Minmay is certainly looking more like an adult lately.

Sucks to be you.

While I’m not on Minmay’s side or anything, I think Noe would consider these to be True Tears. They are however, futile.

Minmay and the pursuing Misa and Hikaru then run right into another incident with Zentradi that are unable to adjust to life in peacetime. Two Zentradi have started smashing cars and are arguing with the mayor and his wife. Another Zentradi tries to calm them down, but he’s pushed to the street by one of the rioters. Hikaru tries to defuse the situation, just as four Destroids show up to enforce the peace. But despite getting flicked by the finger of one of the Zentradi, Hikaru calls for the Destroids to hold their fire. His act of bravery seems to get through to one of the Zentradi, but with something of a regretful look in his eyes he just says ‘so long’ to Hikaru and starts leaving town with his accomplice.

Amuro Rey Zentradi is not adjusting well to peace.

Why are the missile pods on opposite sides with these two? Cost cutting or actual reason?

Looking down the barrel of a gun, son of a gun.

Hikaru being GAR for peace.

It seems my fears about the Zentradi’s unrealistic expectations were right.

It is in this set of circumstances that two plans are being set in motion. Kamjin and Laplamiz meet in Kamjin’s command ship buried under snow near one of the poles. There, they discuss a plan to recruit all the disaffected Zentradi into a force and then probably make trouble for the rest of the humans and Terran Zentradi. Meanwhile in Macross City Archivist Exedol and Commander in Chief Global brief Hikaru, Misa, Millia, and Max on a plan to seize a Zentradi manufacturing satellite. The extent of the entire Zentradi force is unknown, and Earth will need the ability to build more ships should another Zentradi fleet arrive to try and determine what happened to the last one.

Always the hothead.

For shame Laplamiz. What would Millia think if she knew you were involved in this?

He couldn’t have picked a more able team.

The episode ends with the same corpse from the start. This problem isn’t going away any time soon.

Final Thoughts: – Having the show deal in such detail with the reconstruction and reintegration of both sides is very interesting and a welcome change from most anime series. It’s also personally interesting to me since so much of what I study is post-conflict situations.

- I’m wondering where Captain Britai is. Unless I missed something I don’t believe they showed his death during episode 27. I hope he’s still around, he needs to Brght-slap some sense into Laplamiz and the other malcontents.

- The threat of future Zentradi attacks hasn’t gone away, and I’m wondering what the rest of the Zentradi are thinking at this point.

- Minmay is redeeming herself and is something of a tragic figure. Hopefully things turn out well for her in the end…just not with Hikaru!

- I absolutely love time skips in series, such as the one in Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, because it gives you a much more complete view of the world and the characters. However I was a little surprised that little progress seemed to be made on the love story aspect of Macross during the past years.

This post is a bit late but I’ve decided that’s okay since I won Nanowrimo meaning I’ve finished the first draft of my fifth book! I promise from now on to attempt more than one update per week. In the words of Kobato, Mabdese will do her best!

This episode was too fun. It features Kohaku and Shuichiro from Wish (a lesser loved CLAMP mini-series). This episode made me gush over all these characters again and I had to stop what I was doing, run into the other room, find my Wish manga, and read the manga to the end before I could write this. In this episode Kobato cheers herself on with more “ganbare!” then ever, condones child labor, nurtures her stalking fetish, learns a little bit about love and is given a time limit to collect “candy” by the scariest bunny ever.

Trees make me sad too, or something.

Kobato starts off her morning with a walk around the neighborhood. She does all the stereotypical things one should do including smelling the roses. She stops when she sees a woman in the distance starring at a tree with tears running down her face.

Are you really asking your stuffed animal that?

Ioryogi starts talking to the woman when Kobato approaches her and and Kobato tells him he has to act like a stuffed animal. But this isn’t just any woman, it’s Kohaku – an angel from heaven. Ioryogi tries to show off by asking Kohaku if she knows him.

“Uh, Spot?”

Turns out that Kohaku kind of knows him, but really only his name and really actually only his other name, Iorogi. Kohaku has to run off and water the flowers and Kobato has to get to her job so they part ways.

That’s probably a good sign.

Kobato is her usual space cadet self and spends probably most of the morning starring at this tree in different ways trying to make herself cry like Kohaku.

He’s just sad he can’t explode her with mind lasers.

Kobato: Child Labor Supporter!

Since she hasn’t done a lick of work all the children come and help Kobato clean up the leaves while no doubt she ponders how to heal Kohaku’s broken heart. After work she does the thing she loves to do most…

Secret Agent Kobato doesn’t actually know how to conceal herself!

She goes spying. Is there going to be an episode where she doesn’t sneak around and spy on people? It’s kind of a dubious way to heal hearts. I’m sure even I could figure out your innermost secrets by stalking you for two days.

The happy couple <3

Not only is she spying on them but she also follows them back to their house. While that shows a certain degree of dedication it also falls in the “things my creepy ex did” category. Kohaku is watering the plants when Kobato walks into her yard. Which is creepier still!

This is my favorite moment. It’s the way he just SAYS it.

Kohaku not only forgives Kobato for wandering into her house and spying on her but also apologies for getting them wet like it’s her fault. Angels are way too nice! She apologies so much they have a big long girl talk about Kohaku’s boyfriend, Shuichiro. Kohaku explains that anytime she is happy and thinking about him she cries. I think that’s a red flag in relationships…

+10 points for best explanation to Ioroyogi!

Kobato wants to heal Kohaku’s heart. Kohaku mentions that Shuichiro doesn’t have time to go on dates in amusement parks and Kobato take this a sign of how to fix their love.

Impossible! No one reads newspapers!

Kobato goes and consults said newspaper for more information.

$30 is not that much money.

Luckily after leaving the store she sees a place where they’re raffling off amusement park tickets (it’s the third place prize) but Kobato doesn’t have a lotto ticket to enter the raffle. When she walks away one flies by and she reaches out to grab it…

♪ I believe I can fly ♪

With the ticket in hand (and a complimentary swim in the river) Kobato is ready to play the raffle game. She spins the wheel and out pops a red ball! A winner is her!

I was not aware there were prizes this crappy.

Bummed out Kobato heads home but bumps into Fujimoto-san on the way who is delivering newspapers. Kobato asks him if he works in the pizza place too and he says he does.

Thank you Captain Obvious.

Kobato notices that Fujimoto-san was carrying some amusement park tickets and she kind of freaks out.

“Uh, dude, that’s mine” says Fujimoto.

This is not an equivalent exchange.

Fujimoto lets her deliver all the papers for the amusement park tickets since she really seems to want them and he doesn’t care. I wonder if he also took the crocodile since it doesn’t appear Kobato’s room later.

Stop being polite and take the damn ticket!

Kohaku apologizes and keeps saying she can’t take the ticket even though Kobato is delivering papers for her to have the tickets. Luckily our hero steps in.

This is possibly THE MOST Japanese sentiment ever.

And they lived happily ever after!

Kobato is still spying on them after they get their tickets and go to the amusement park. One of these days someone is going to arrest her. As she leave the bunny from the eyecatch floats down from the sky.

Usagi-san speaks in pink bubbles of psychic energy and GIGGLES the whole time. I’m a little freaked out.

Usagi-san reveals that Kobato only has four seasons (one year for those of you who were having trouble at home) to fill her bottle or her wish won’t be granted! Then he floats into the sky giggling like the Mad Hatter.

You ain’t never gettin’ that wish sister.

Kobato is surprised to see there isn’t a new “candy” in the jar but she didn’t heal Kohaku’s heart she just helped her go on a date. Kohaku was already happy which does not qualify for heart healing status apparently.

Today’s grade: MINUS 100 points!

He might as well add “also you suck at this!” after everything he says.

Final Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this episode because I loved Wish and I don’t remember them showing up in Tsubasa. I’m starting to think either Kobato doesn’t need to eat OR she’s just been eating out of trash cans since she doesn’t get paid. I’m also going to be angry if that giant stuffed crocodile doesn’t show up in subsequent episodes. Speaking of that I learned a new word today! わに (wani) means crocodile. I guess I somehow missed that when we were doing our animal unit.

Now that Kobato only has a year to fill up her bottle I’m hoping she can heal multipule hearts at once in the next episode. Or perhaps the size of the candy can be bigger if the person is really broken hearted! Also of note Kobato has a habit of saying “Kobato will do her best!” at an alarming rate. She said it at least five time in this episode I feel like she’s beginning to suffer from self-esteem issues.

Keep on fighting Kobato, I’m cheering for you!

Well that certainly is a different kind of R&R…

So my sorry ass has been put under the tender loving care of JMB and that means I have less time to fanboy Sawako and her first SATURDAY NIGHT of her high school years. So after the glorious defeat of Vichy-tan’s Girl bully thrust it was time for Sawako take a bit of R&R after doing a “backhand blow” of her very own. Yosiada wants to have a Ramen Revenge and seems to have a penchant for ranting about ramen. Sawako seems to like rants and it was a fairly innocent night though it seems Yoshida and Ryuu have a very complicated relationship and history. I hope that it will come out more later, but for now it seems Yano had her own fun trolling Kazehaya while feeling up Sawako and making the “gentlemen” fume with indignation. Kazehaya gets the honor of escorting her home. Fortunately it seems that Mii-chan smiles upon them and gifts them with a gorgeous DELICIOUS DECULTCHA night sky to admire. The forboding continues however as Kazehaya start feeling unjustified hatred towards Yano and Yoshida for building up skinship with Sawako. At least for now Ryuu demonstrates proper manly behavior in his dealings with Yoshida whom he sent off blushing…

At any rate since I am stuck doing training for a long time I’ll leave it to EO to carry on this series while I take the secondary role. With any luck I will have more down time later so it’s not too much of a rush.

EO’s Unadulterated Adoration of Sawako

After the intense conflict of the past few episodes, this time we get a well deserved break. Seriously, the past few weeks have really put me on edge, expecting the next attack to follow quickly on the heels of the first. But it’s alright cause it’s Saturday night. This episode there are so many happy Sawako moments as she hangs out with her friends that it almost made be forget the trauma of recent events. Still, we must remain ever vigilant to those who would seek to harm our Sawako and her refreshing way of life. We also got to know Ryuu better this time, and I have to say he’s a man after my own heart. Witty commentary and comebacks, joking yet subtly honest hints to Chizu, and he even saves time and hassle with his choice of hairstyle. And by looking through old yearbooks, a fine form of open source intelligence (OSINT), the allies finally have a name to put to the face of the Vichy-tan threat: Kurumi. But thoughts of future confrontations recede into the background as we get some Sawayakyaaaa-worthy moments of Kazehaya and Sawako walking home together, Kazehaya’s flimsy pretense for walking with Sawako only serving to make the couple even cuter.

No ‘cooking moe’ for our Sawako! Her skills are many and varied.

The red telephone just rang! This is it people, this is the day we’ve trained for! Go to FRIENDCON level 1!

OH GODS THE CUTE!

Precisely! Even Miyamoto Musashi only went through 60 duels. 99 has got him beat by more than 50%.

Now with a name and a proper mugshot the manhunt can begin! Last episodes’ defeated were merely her pawns!

Ryuu’s commentary is propelling him to ‘great secondary character’ status.

Good man! I too rock the ‘bozu’/buzzcut for its simplicity and lack of maintenance.

EO’s DAAAWWWW of the week: the subtle smile as Kazehaya enters.

Getting along so well now that they have the chance.

Practicing her Gendo pose.

Beautiful shot of the cute couple set against the Milky Way.

Watercolor effect backgrounds, astronomy, and lots of empty space. It’s like they made this shot just for me!

EO’s Scramble to Finish the Post

Things being hectic for Crusader lately, I’ll be taking over primary duty for Kimi ni Todoke until further notice. Hopefully things will settle down for him and he can return to lead the posts, but until then I’ll do my utmost to bring you continued coverage, dramatic military-historical interpretations, and undying adoration of Sawako. With that said, I’d like to get this post out the door tonight so it doesn’t get too far behind schedule. As such my extra coverage will be a little brief this time (basically just expanding on my secondary comments/screencaps section.) So here’s a quick recap in images.

Sawako’s mom has perfected her teasing face.

Sawako already sees their potential and wishes the future happy couple well.

Sawako’s fear is certainly understandable, but once she conquers it she shall be all the stronger for it.

Kazehaya was in such a hurry to get to hang out with Sawako he started to see time.

Doing some MGS-style avoidance of Pin.

Inside Kazehaya finds himself attacked on two fronts.

Short people got no reason…

Hmm, expert level tease-hint combo, or Ryuu being tsundere?

Kazehaya is still working on his Tytania contemplation pose, but with time he may get there.

]]> http://that.animeblogger.net/2009/11/24/kimi-ni-todoke-07-saturday/feed/ 12 http://that.animeblogger.net/2009/11/21/aniblogging-crossover-special-two-different-views-on-honey-and-clover/ http://that.animeblogger.net/2009/11/21/aniblogging-crossover-special-two-different-views-on-honey-and-clover/#comments Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:20:11 +0000 ExecutiveOtaku http://that.animeblogger.net/?p=24692

ExecutiveOtaku’s Intro: Honey and Clover is a series that has been written about fairly extensively in the anime blogging community. It’s also a favorite of many. So when, as a brand new blogger, I found out that Scamp from Bokutachi no Blog was currently working his way through the series, I proposed that once he was done that we make a post comparing how two different people viewed the series. Having just recently finished it, he and I ended up having fairly different opinions on it. From my viewpoint as a huge fan of Honey and Clover, and he as someone more mixed in his opinion, we have collaborated to bring you this post displaying and contrasting our opinions on such a widely well regarded show. While the series ended three years ago now, I feel that it is rich enough to be worth a (semi) retro-editorial especially given our different opinions on it. I’ve also just always wanted to write more about it despite joining the blogging community a few years late, heh. We both hope you’ll enjoy this inter-blog, international collaboration between Scamp and myself and our differing opinions. We also invite your own comments and opinions in the comments section whether they agree with one of us, with neither of us, or with both of us (somehow…).

Just a word: it should go without saying that this will contain some amount of spoilers.

Overall impressions

The growth and experiences of the characters as they go through this time in their lives is so well done that someone who is also at that point in their life can identify with all of the characters at different moments. Sometimes Takemoto’s feeling of emptiness is something you experience, other times you’re in Yamada’s shoes, or at a particular moment you might feel more like Mayama trying to pursue your dreams but still confused or clumsy in doing so. Maybe you know a Morita (or are one), or are under pressure like Hagu, or stuck between trying to be cool and trying to be genuine as Nomiya was. At different times you are, or you know people who are, all of these characters. And even with so much else to love about this series, this ability to identify with the genuine emotions being conveyed through the screen is the true strength of the series.

Analysis

Conclusion

Says the Level 5 who has destroyed a few city blocks…

IED Ishii continues his reign of terror as he targets Judgment instead of the people who kick the crap out of him. So far he is the most retarded villain to date and it suits him for he doesn’t know who his enemy is. How he could have failed to attack soft targets like his tormentors is quite beyond me he see’s them in school he sees their faces and yet nothing he sits idly by blaming Judgment while listening to Ali Project all damn day. It’s like blaming the cops when your dumb ass gets jacked because you were too sissy and prickish to earn the privilege of conceal and carry. The Hikko scum bag aside it was nice to see Biribiri praising Kuroko for all the hard work she does, and considering Kuroko’s workaholic tendencies it seems the love child of Alphard and Liang-Qi has inherited their work ethic. I sense that Kuroko will be a great leader one day. Biribiri on the other hand seems to have been the love child of Alphard and Canaan as she has super powers, is an onee-sama, but has childish tendencies and tastes. I make no secret of my dislike for Spikey-kun and today he was showing off his pedo preferences and had the audacity to whine and complain when he lost his loli to some hikkomori. At least his presence was brief and he didn’t ramble on for an episode.

While I do like Biribiri and her tomboyish behavior I can still use a lot more Kuroko who seems to possess the more likable traits of her parents. In the end IED Ishii was thrown out along with the trash and I was all the more happier for it. I have no small dislike for would be rebels with shallow ideologies and I do sincerely hope that Kuroko killed him in a manner that would make Liang Qi proud. The story seems to be moving along thogh we have yet to see the two Anti-skills featured in the OP. While there seems to be an new enemy next ep I wonder if Saten will achieve a night that goes on forever and ever with Uiharu…

Calawain’s Adoration of Railguns

This episode featured an excessively lame bad guy of the week, although I suppose his power was somewhat interesting. What a whiner with a really irritating set of headphones. Inferior set of headphones and music to the MC from Persona 3.

Touma taking a loli out to go shopping was kinda creepy and pedobear like. Not sure I get where all of that came from, maybe I missed something. He did have his badass moment sliding in front of Biribiri to block the explosion. Though the excuse they used to put him in there (dropping her coin) was pretty silly. All in a day’s work for Touma, saving some girls and making Biribiri even more tsundere for him.

Crusader’s Record of Kuroko’s Love

What’s this Kuroko is actually hearing praise?! The rabu rabyu assault is finally paying dividends…

But of course she does, Biribiri is just going through a phase of confusion is all…

Could? You SHOULD!

See Kuroko is feeling better already!

Well at least they aren’t going before a BIG FIGHT.

And that you were keeping a lookout for IEDs…

LOAN SHARK FAIL

Sometimes you just have to smell the flowers…

Ah an onee-sama meeting.

Kuroko has a long list of items she wants her onee-sama to have…

Sadly Saten and Uiharu were underage…

IED Ishii not only has shit taste in stuffed animals but music as well…

Developing Kuroko-like tastes are we?

You never know until you try…

Marilyn Monroe had a subway grate, Uiharu has Saten.

…

Kuroko was hoping that was code for lingerie…

Rather excessive…the skirt serves no purpose at all…

So all Kuroko has to do is wear that…

Are you trying to make her blind?

There is another…

To be fair no one likes the idea of growing old…

Patience, calm…

Strike while the iron is hot!

I have no idea, but me thinks Spikey-kun be stalking…

And he went straight for the underwear section…the damned pedo.

Let me guess he offered you candy if you went in his van…?

So Biribiri likes them young…

Sadly Spikey-kun was the one to hide behind civilians.

Well on the bright side, you have yet to master CQC.

Praise this loli for dragging away Spikey-kun before he could give a speech.

Her only other true love is Gekotan…

More like Fakotan.

Yes counterfeit merchandise is the bane of her existence…

OH SHI- Spikey-kun killed her dumped the body…

Never hear that much do ya Uiharu…

Such low tactics IED Ishii uses…

Thus does his arrogance and stupidity increase…

And yet he has attacked zero assholes…

I think he means he’s giving out blow jobs too…

I didn’t know they stacked garbage that high.

A major fault of IED Ishii was that he liked to brag…to himself.

Your insignificant powers are no match for the Yuri-side of the Force…

You will pay the price for your lack of vision…

Now Bomber-san…you will die.

For Almighty Zeus hates you that much.

Says the guy who attacked none of his oppressors and used a loli as a suicide bomber…

Says the one without the wit to use his power constructively or productively…

You know if he bled out from his mouth that would have ensured the he’d shut the fuck up for once in is miserable life…

Sad to see that it was not as devastating as a ROCKET PUNCH.

I see that the love child of Alphard and Liang Qi has some special trolling in store for him.

Kuroko is very detail oriented.

Indeed.

Yes she did.

I just thought this was cute.

Hooray for skinship.

ANYTHING…

Consent is not required…

To be fair it was a plot contrivance on the level of TRANS-GRAHAM.

You know she really must stop stealing from the same vending machine.

I completely agree, the fucking tosser.

Saten…and what might you be up to…

Given the grand scale of the events of episode 27, I felt it would be best to just do a one episode post this week. Preparations began among the Macross-Britai fleet last time as the main Zentradi force began to defold into Sol system, and now the battle begins. All the various resources of the Macross, Britai fleet, and UN Spacy are at the ready, but the scale of the incursion is massive. Bodolzza even brings the entire headquarters fortress WITH HIM for the battle along with millions of ships and countless soldiers. With the stage set, events occur on both civilizational and personal levels that will forever change the lives of everyone involved.

Ready for the fight.

Before getting into the cockpit himself, Hikaru tells Minmay that he always loved her and wishes her well with Kaifun. No regrets before battle.

Everyone aboard the Macross-Britai fleet ships prepares. For the first time we get to see a little bit of the inside of the Destroids. I wasn’t even positive that they were piloted before now.

UN HQ is preparing as well, with Misa directing the deployment of Earth-based Valkyrie squadrons.

The UN Space Cartography Department leaves something to be desired unless there were massive sealevel increases that somehow didn’t touch Japan. They’re also not the only powerful international organization to forget about Africa (Australia and most of SE Asia is noticeably missing too).

As Hikaru gets into his flightsuit and prepares to launch, Minmay comes to see him again. She still wants to talk about what Hikaru said to her, starting to say that she just thought of him as a friend but trailing off like she has more to say. But Hikaru calmly and without any sign of emotional distress, tells her that it wouldn’t have worked out. Even in the confines of one ship, they’ve been living completely different lives. Minmay seems shocked by this, though one would think that she would have noticed by now. But just then the Bodolzza fleet begins its planetary bombardment of the Earth, shooting through the orbiting UN ARMD-class ships, wiping out most of the inhabited areas and effectively destroying human civilization there. This is done from such a long range that the Macross-Britai fleet didn’t even have a chance to engage them before they fired.

Very nice use of the helmet in the scene. Why doesn’t more anime try to be creative with its cinematography like this?! Such an old series puts so many more recent ones to shame.

The final killing blow to the Minmay X Hikaru ship. Though as much as she was the enemy of my preferences, at the end I feel more like moving on and letting her be than savoring her shock. She screwed up big time in the middle, but towards the end she at least went out with dignity.

The Zentradi reduce the surface of the Earth to ruins as they did to another planet when Hikaru, Misa, and Kakizaki were captured. Despite planetary bombardment being outlawed by every civilized world.

The second shot from Battlestar Galactica reminded me of the original, though I would doubt it was an intentional homage to Macross.

The Earth is now devastated, but the Grand Cannon at Alaska Base is still operational, and the UN HQ fires back at the Zentradi fleet, surprising Bodolzza with its power. The forcefulness and totality of the Zentradi attack seems to have vindicated Admiral Hayase’s plan to shoot first and seek negotiation later as the Zentradi didn’t even think twice about trying to destroy the Earth. Hikaru came up with an idea for Minmay to sing and distract the enemy Zentradi by exposing them to ‘culture’, and on the bridge of the Macross Capt. Global, Archivist Exedol, and Capt. Britai finalize the coordination of this jamming by other means. Minmay then readies herself and begins going through her repertoire of songs, with a kiss between her and Kaifun in the middle to heighten the effect on the enemy. At that moment she says goodbye to Hikaru in her thoughts.

You may fire when ready. BA-BOOM Big laser! PA-PEWWW! Zentradi chunks EVERYWHERE!

She never looked so mature or introspective.

Some of the Zentradi are watching, though it’s too late for Earth.

The bombardment of Earth will not go unanswered. The Macross-Britai fleet capital ships begin attacking the enemy command ships while the Macross’ Valkyries, loaded with reaction warhead equipped missiles, keep the mecha busy and take out several capital ships of their own. Millia now joins the fray in her own VF-1, painted red because real aces have custom paintjobs. Down on the surface the Grand Cannon’s firing made it a target for the orbiting fleet which quickly devastates the base. Misa is still trying to contact any units that may be out there when she gets a message from her father telling her to leave. Everyone else in the base is either dead or has fled, and the transmission ends with Adm. Hayase’s death as well when the control room explodes.

The Macross-Britai fleet flagships begin their attack, while another variant of Zentradi battlepod is engaged by the Valkyries.

All the Valkyries deployed seem to be equipped with the new FAST Pack equipment.

Given recent events I imagine Millia is less hesitant to deal killing blows.

Zentradi counterbattery fire quickly reduces the Grand Cannon to rubble. Such is the disadvantage of stationary superweapons.

Misa may be the only one left alive in the entire base.

Hikaru is good, but not good enough to get away unscathed and his Valkyrie takes enough damage to prevent him from escaping the Earth’s gravity and returning to base. He realizes that there’s nothing more he can do and prepares his VF-1S for reentry. During this he remembers the rest of his conversation with Minmay. As they saw the Earth being bombarded, staring in shocked silence, Minmay tells him that she will sing just for him and gives him a parting kiss. In his mind, Hikaru also says goodbye to Minmay as he descends to Earth. There he radios to the UN HQ and finds Misa on the radio, overjoyed to hear from him. Up in orbit the battle continues, and Kamjin watches events and is persuaded by Minmay’s song to join the Macross-Britai fleet, which is currently engaged in fierce combat as it works its way towards the fortress.

Similar to my love for the ‘point of no return’ part of Gundam 0083, the scene in Hikaru’s nearly disabled Valkyrie and the final part of the conversation between him and Minmay featured great use of silence. It really says more than words could at such times.

At least it ended well, I’ll give Minmay credit for that.

I agree, ‘Love Flows By’ has been the best of Minmay’s work so far.

Apparently Captain Harlock has also joined the fleet.

Hikaru flies into the remains of Alaska Base looking for Misa, and finally cuts his way into the flight operations center. There the two meet again, both overjoyed to see each other and to have a real human connection amidst the devastation that is all around them. It was a very sweet moment and nicely done, some parts in time to the music of ‘Love Flows By’ that was still playing in the background. A paragraph just to talk about this one short scene? Yes.

Their reunion is one small thing to be happy about on such a dark day.

Set to the drum beat from ‘Love Flows By’, I loved the snapshot style of this sequence. Not saying that the destruction of most of humanity was worth it for these Misa smiles, but it’s not a bad consolation prize.

Though I wasn’t as keen on the black and white sketch style of the embrace part. Reminds me of the video for ‘Take on Me’ and that’s NOT A GOOD THING. Argh, there’s so much to hate about 1980’s pop culture and yet my generation has this odd obsession with it. WE WERE BORN IN THE 80’S, HOW MUCH NOSTALGIA CAN YOU HAVE HAD FOR SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED WHEN YOU MAY NOT HAVE EVEN BEEN BORN YET? AND FOR A POP CULTURE THAT SUCKED ANYWAY! GAHHH! *raeg rant*. Sorry, it kind of hit a nerve with me. At least there’s Macross and Operation Ivy to remind me that the 1980’s weren’t a complete disaster.

Now the Macross begins the final phase of its attack. Making its way to the command fortress, the Macross focuses the Pinpoint Barriers on the bow, punches through the outside of the asteroid, and fires all its weapons and reaction warhead anti-ship missiles into the interior and then raising the ODB to protect itself from the explosion. Supreme Commander Bodolzza is killed and a large portion of his fleet it also destroyed, leaving the rest of the Zentradi leaderless. Back on Earth Misa and Hikaru observe the explosion and take the time to tell each other how much they appreciate being together at a time like this. While the explosion so near Earth of a massive object would probably lead to an Endor Holocaust scenario, the Earth is already pretty screwed.

The Macross Attack utilized the entire ship in a manner similar to the Daedalus Attack invented earlier.

Bodolzza meets the face of Death, and it is a singing idol.

I had figured they were going to intentionally overload the ODB to destroy the fortress, but the reaction weapons seemed to be enough.

Quite a sight.

She never lost faith, and indeed Hikaru has grown over the months to deserve such faith.

Sitting at the end, and beginning, of all things.

Stuck on the Earth the  happy-given-the-circumstances couple is worried about what happened to the Macross, but soon their fears are alleviated when they see the heavily damaged ship float down to the surface as the sun rises of the ruins of Alaska Base. Surprisingly after so much death and destruction they manage to remain upbeat for now, holding onto each other and returning to their friends and comrades. Soon it will be time to reorganize and make sense of the new situation. The human and Zentradi have both lost their chain of command, the Earth is destroyed, and there will likely be aftereffects of the Zentradi being exposed to culture. But for now, Hikaru and Misa enjoy their flight back towards the Macross.

No need to narrate this image, just including it because I liked it.

The Macross is one tough ship.

More great use of objects in the foreground as occurred earlier with the helmet. The broken cockpit almost seems to reflect the losses of the day, while the rest of the Valkyrie is still mostly intact and able to move forward just as the fleet and survivors must.

Into the newly uncertain future.

Final Thoughts: – This really changes everything. With the Earth devastated and the remnants of a massive fleet still in-system, the future is uncertain as never before.

- I could see how the series could have ended here, on a pretty big downer but with a hopeful spirit for recovering in the future. However I’m a big fan of ‘what now?’, post-war stuff so I’m looking forward to what happens in the rest of the series. Way too often series just cover the war and somehow things are just back to normal and rebuilt by the time of a sequel series. I know a lot of people hated the show, but one of the good things about Gundam SEED Destiny is that it did address the immediate aftermath of war and the lingering animosities. I’m excited to see what’s to come and how Macross handles it.

- The end of the Minmay/Hikaru thing was well done on both characters’ parts. Even though Minmay annoyed me a lot through most of the series, she has started to wise up and mature a fair amount lately. And at least she didn’t take her unreciprocated feelings and run off into an abyss of treachery and selfishness like another loser in Macross love.

- I’ve started to notice the budget constraints coming into play somewhat. There were some obviously recycled sequences from other episodes, such as the Zentradi recon ship getting destroyed by the Macross’ main cannon from the first episode, and Hikaru getting jerked back and forth by his harness when he decelerated using the FAST Pack for the first time.

It is with great relief that we accept your return.

The glorious return of Mikoto was most welcome as not only is she genki but she also fulfills the role of osana-najimi for both Natsuru Girl-type and Akane so already she has a decided advantage when it comes to yuri bliss when compared to Sakura. The Quasi Maid Cafe was so much fun as the exploitation of Natusur Girl-type continued, oh sure there was some idiot boy (must have been Shin in disguise) who ordered a low priced coffee like some cheap bastard. Thankfully the class VP is about as underhanded as Dick Cheney (though so much HAWTER and better) and she gave him a concoction which I suspect was anti-freeze laced with turpentine. Shizuku and Sakura pool their money to get the super expensive escort service though Zeus was most furious that Sakura was trying to go on a date behind Akane’s back. I was most relieved when Mikoto decided to intervene decisively and had Natsuru Girl-type chase her around the school. The fight was fun as Mikoto showed her Yandere side, though it was wrong war, at the wrong place, at the wrong time, and with the wrong enemy. Nevertheless it was a chance for Akane to come to the rescue and she did so marvelously as she grabbed Natsuru Girl-type at the waist and dropped her once the BIG FIGHT started. Mikoto subsequent shock was understandable as Natsuru Boy-type’s meido cosplay was disturbing to say the least…

Sakura wants to have a night that goes on forever and ever but Shizuku got wind of it and brought Akane along to sabotage the whole affair. The Packy game was excellent as Shizuku took Akane’s first kissu and left Akane overawed. Zeus granted Akane an opportunity to be first to steal Natsuru Girl-type’s lips but alas it was not to be. Still unlike Zyl Almighty Zeus has not abandoned Akane and made sure that no matter what Sakura would not win even a single chance. Considering the amount of Packy Shizuku must have kissed Akane numerous times I just hope that the special edition DVD will have a close up of Akane’s first kissu. Zeus even guided Mikoto to the location of Sakura’s stuffed animal fortress to ensure that Sakura would not emerge victorious so early on. I am certain that the Lord of Awesome Type Rocket Punches is going for the anyone but Sakura pairing, so Sakura better start playing by the rules. Sadly Sakura seeks to have an unfair advantage, and in flagrant disregard for the Rules of Courtship as written by Patrick, Sakura steals into Natusru’s bed in the dead of night like some devious Jihad-kun. Thankfully Zeus’ rage was infinite and from Bardos Island reverted Natsuru back to being a Boy-type as to give Sakura a most unwelcome surprise. Akane sensed a disturbance in the Yuri and sallied forth to challenge Sakura and blew out part of ceiling to announce her anger and frustration. In a bit of dere dere Kampfer Akane tries to confess her feelings of true love for Natsuru and her willingness to tolerate the existence of the Boy-type. Instead of a full confession it seems that the last lot of recipients of Sakura’s babies were fated to form the White Team. Rika-chan is the first to attack Fortress Sakura, though she is quickly bested by Shizuku.

I have my doubts that this story is going to be complex but for the most part things do seem to follow some modicum of logical progression as four Entrails Animals were tossed out by the Slug Queen Sakura in episode 5, Rika was the pink haired loli which leaves the remaining three. Poor Akane can’t seem to get a clean hit on anyone these days though I suppose that, like me, she just needs to focus on her target instead of be consumed by frustration that Natsuru- Girl-type is SUGOI thick. Still I guess Shizuku will remain the strongest though perhaps like a fighting game Schwert beats Gewehr, Gewehr beats Zauber, and Zauber beats Schwert in a rock-paper-scissors set up. If that is the case things look bad for Akane as Schwert seems to be very popular in the metagame, in fact it is almost as bad as 40K where everyone plays Space Marines. Still I really felt bad for Akane when she mustered up all her courage to try and confess, only to be interrupted. Seven eps in and I am still having so much fun, though next week is going to be a love song to Shizuku, I expect Calawain to be left twitching on the floor when it gets subbed. Mikoto has proved to be a rather light addition as her strategy seems predicated on setting up Natsuru Boy-type for failure and then swooping in to claim her prize once the official rejection from Sakura is given. Still I guess in small doses Mikoto is fairly awesome as she too has some Yandere tendencies and if things go bad for my OTP I can ship AkanexMikoto as the osana-jimi pair. While I acknowledge Shizuku as a great kisser I do not see her as a one woman kind of gal, nothing short of being a mistress of her own yuri harem would suffice for a woman of her stature, but we shall see. With the arrival of the White Team I wonder if we are going to get more fighting or more yuri, I am hoping for both. Also I noticed how they tweaked the OP to edit out Sakura kissing wieners and put in Mikoto, Zeus be praised for this change!

Calawain’s Crossdressing Corner

Akane failed to channel her inner Matoi, she can’t run away when confronted with a rival. She must be relentless in her stalking and assertiveness. Meanwhile, at the Maid Cafe, once again Shizuku comes through with the entertaining torment of Natsuru. And if Sakura knows something about the Kampfer she’s got a great poker face. Finally, Akane has the most horrible aim with her guns, for being someone who specializes in it. Think of all the bullets she’s fired in 7 episodes and how few have hit anything of importance.

The Pocky game was interesting, if a bit eye-rolling and uncreative. There are much steamier ways to introduce that kind of material, I guess they decided on the easy route. Shizuku on the other hand, always brings the awesome with the “accidental” spilling of curry to create a stimulating bath scene. Not as stimulating as the futon spooning, though that would have been a lot more interesting had they let it run its course rather than some random idiot new Kampfer popping out of nowhere to introduce herself. Plus she interrupted Akane’s confession (somewhat forgiven by being voiced by Kana Ueda).

Yes, as Crusader has foreseen I am looking forward to next week’s dayto episode with Shizuku.

Crusader’s Chronicle of the Kampfer Conflict

Oh ho…so you two have gotten FRIENDLY in the past eh?

Technically Mikoto counts as osana-jimi for the both of you…

Sadly yes.

Patrick is most disappointed in this one, though it would be a losing battle anyway.

Indeed kick kiss her when she is down.

Is this the part where I over pay for water and soba?

To confuse and sexually frustrate Zyl and Shin.

For supply cannot possibly meet demand…

Go to Starbucks then you bastard.

VP is just as under handed as Cheny…

Tastes great doesn’t it…that mixture of Anti-Freeze and Turpentine.

To Get Rich Is Glorious.

…

Now THAT is customer service.

Is that Akane?

For once I can agree with this girl.

I suppose the accountant has a photographic memory.

…

Oddly enough I feel a sense of camaraderie with these three.

Indeed.

Looks like some one is really going to get an earful…

But Natsuru Girl-type really likes you…

Hey that looks sharp you should be careful…

Wait isn’t that you?

That is a delightfully blunt battlecry.

Only Akane is allowed to bully Natsuru Girl-type.

Still it was a magnificent rescue.

She has no time for patience you know…

I would have liked it more if she went in single handed with her arm around Natsuru Girl-type’s waist.

That’s Solidus to you?

…

Mein eyes!

That is not he boy-type she wanted to see…

He’ll push it to the limit past the point of no return…

Good Going Solid Snake…

Now these two would make for great Negotiators…though something is missing.

…

And Akane was like “what’s up bitch?”

She’s got to win at least one right?

Zeus approves…

We gotta get closer!

…

Shizuku is smooth…

YESSS!

HELL YESSS!

The Winner of ep 7.

Who says losing is bad?

Outta the way bitch Zeus has decided…

…

Patrick Approves of this Packy Strategem…

We need to create the mood…

I scoff at your narrow minded hetero thinking.

Indeed she is.

For Zeus does not approve of you or your methods…

Sakura is the Slug Queen!

It was the most fortuitous industrial accident of the century.

Zeus guided Mikoto to Natsuru Girl-type, he guided Sakura half a league away…I sense a bit favoritism.

You can’t cook can ya?

I like this better than the swim suit…

The problem is…YOU.

…

Mikoto doesn’t talk, she just does…

Mikoto is a smart one through optimal positioning she gets to sleep next to Natsuru Girl-type…sadly they put her in Sakura’s stuffed animals mausoleum.

Patrick only approves of consensually advances! Only Jihad-kuns steal into bedrooms in the dead of night!

O RLY…

She’s pissing me off too.

Well stated.

OH SHIT SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE!

I can live with that loss.

…

Ganbatte!

Say it LOUD SAY IT PROUD!

Yo you are interrupting a confession…

What didn’t Kaede do…

Nah you just feel superior…

I await this most glorious of wake up calls.

Oh wow a choker…

No individual post for episode 05 due to not much happening during the episode. There wasn’t much to talk about and I also had some fairly pressing constraints on my time, so I decided it would be better to combine episode post. You could call it an executive decision. Now that I’ve gotten in my required groan-inducing pun, let’s recap. In episode 05 Inuyasha meets with Tottosai to discuss the problems with the Tessaiga that have been occurring ever since it integrated the youki-absorbing scales with the blade. Going to see a master recommended by Tottosai, the gang goes to a small town to seek his counsel. After going through this, the next episode is all about Goryoumaru/Mouryomaru and Naraku.  Sprinkled throughout are various weapons upgrades as the development of new weapons and new countermeasure continues at a pace rivaling that of The One Year War or the Operation Stardust incident.

Episode 05: Starting out two snake-like youkai are fighting their eternal battle against each other when Goryoumaru appears intent on absorbing their power. They briefly unite and are easily beating their foe when one turns on the other in front of their mutual enemy, a move that would make Chiang Kai-Shek proud. Exploiting this Goryoumaru absorbs them just in time for Sesshomaru to show up and attack him. Though once again he’s bailed out and allowed to escape by Byakuya’s intervention. The rest of the episode involves Inuyasha and his group going to the town where the old master lives and seeking his help. His guts where absorbed by a passing youkai, and he tasks Inuyasha with retrieving them without using the Tessaiga. After fighting a disguised youkai, he learns how to detect and attack the vortexes of youki that all youkai possess.

Episode 06: At the opening Naraku comes to absorb a youkai and human eating tree that was sealed long ago by Kikiyo. It’s becoming active again as the barrier fades from age and Kikiyo’s weakening, and Naraku tricks it into attacking him, consuming it himself and taking its youki piercing vines. Kouga briefly encounters Kikiyo who explains to him why his Shikon shards have been slowing him down at times. She tells him that she’ll take them peacefully or by force, but he refuses and runs off to continue his pursuit of Goryoumaru. Kouga’s quarry flies to confront Naraku, considering himself sufficiently powerful to meet him in battle. They fight as Kouga, Kikiyo, and Inuyasha’s groups converge on the area. There they witness Goryoumaru seemingly defeat and absorb Naraku, combining their Shikon shards. Inuyasha and Kouga attempt to slow him down, using the terrain to their advantage, but the Infant’s anti-youki barrier is preventing Inuyasha from finding the vertiexes in his energy. Kikiyo then informs Kagome and Sango of her plan, and despite Sango’s objections Kohaku is willing to sacrifice himself to the plan.

Naraku is a magnificent bastard though, and all is not as it seems. The Shikon shards have no combined and as Goryoumaru attempts to absorb Kouga, Inuyasha guesses correctly that the point of absorption is a vortex and has Kouga fire the Goraishi at the Tessaiga and then strikes this point. Making things worse for Goryoumaru inside his armored form Naraku has endured despite the attempt to consume him. And now inside the shell, normally unable to be pierced, he makes his move. The seemingly random acquisition of the youkai tree is now revealed to be integral to Naraku’s plan. The tree would consume youkai by penetrating their youki field and in the close quarters of Goryoumaru’s interior the vines easily work their way through the infant’s barrier. The tables are now turned and Goryoumaru is destroyed, the infant now a hostage to Naraku in his new form. At this point Miroku sees a chance to destroy him, heart and form now in the same place and vulnerable, and opens his wind tunnel. But this takes time and Miroku strains himself, the curse spreading through him as he draws Naraku in. He’s determined to end things here and not even blood pouring out from his eyes and mouth. In the end, only Inuyasha’s intervention prevents him from taking both himself and Naraku out, though his wounds are still grievous. Kikiyo offers to heal what she can, but notes that a body that has taken that kind of damage will never be fully restored.

Sorry if I’m a bit at a loss for commentary for these episodes. Episode 06 was significant in terms of storyline, but it didn’t give me much to speculate on as things were left up in the air on many fronts. Though Naraku reaffirmed himself as a worthy antagonist by his skillful use of specialized weaponry and deception to strike at the heart of Goryoumaru and the infant, reversing his seeming decline vis a vis Goryoumaru. Naraku was the original Big Bad, and he proved that he still holds the crown in this series.

Crusader’s Song of Sango and Other Observations

Filler aside Sango didn’t do terribly much while the monument to stupidity that that annoying baby created was powering up. Naraku wins yet again but so it was written. Miroku made Sango cry and I do lament how the lowly monk’s hand did not glow with an AWESOME POWER WHOSE LOUD ROAR TELLS HIM TO DEFEAT NARAKU. Oddly enough for once I am starting to like Kikyo more since she isn’t just a cold Miko anymore now that Kohaku is following her around. Wolf boy is starting to get on my nerves he can’t control the shards yet hopes to abuse their power… As fights go it was pretty meh Wolf Boy’s weapon was pretty much a non factor against the Mobile Armor more over Inuyahsa and Wolf boy are no 8th Team nor Immortal 4th Team and Mouryoumaru is no Norris Packard. Indeed  Mobile Armor-san did chicken out and beat a brave retreat when the Lord of the West showed up to field test his newly reforged Narsil Tenseiga. Still the annoying baby is gone the Mobile Armor is now a pile of scrap and all that is left is Naraku and his new boy toy origami otaku. I guess that makes it a net plus before ep seven.

ExecutiveOtaku’s Screencap Commentary, References, and Bad Puns

Kohaku swears his loyalty unto death to the One True Priestess.

Demonstrating that power is useless without wisdom.

My liege would have ended things now if it weren’t for that meddling kid.

Under the bridge downtown…

Apparently a secondary effect of the scales is that it can allow Inuyasha to detect the vertexes and strike at them.

The dangers of mating a new and different technology to an old delivery system.

Out shopping.

Oh Inuyasha, you and your spoiler episode titles.

We can do this the easy way or the hard way Kouga.

Naraku unleashes some of his old chemical weapons to clean out the battlefield.

Upgraded Goryoumaru vs Naraku in something that looks like a cross between a sea anemone and the Neue Ziel.

One step closer to the realization of Kikiyo’s plan, but one more source of power to the enemy.

He’s only really useful as a living I-Field.

Hitting the weak spot.

Hi thar, usurper.

Naraku is in your body, killing your chances of freedom.

Kagome tries to make an opening in Naraku’s armor before he can adjust to his new form.

Miroku may have the most powerful weapon of them all…

…but at great cost.

Sango is so dignified, even now she uses titles of respect.

Despite assured victory, Inuyasha finds that a friend’s life is too high a price to pay.

It’s good to see Kikiyo interacting with the main group, even if it may only be for a time.

So I’m doing a little catch up since I joined the team mid-season. I really wanted this to be a Samurai High School post but some unfortunate things that made me feel a bit like I had Kobato’s common sense happened and I won’t be able to post it until tomorrow at least.

Moving on! Kobato 2 and 3 gave us a better look at Kobato’s inability to understand anything ever, showed us some love-love magic and also showcased some characters from CLAMP’s other works. Kobato takes to the streets looking for hearts to mend in her nonsense-only fashion only to find that it’s a bit more difficult than that. Kobato becomes employed but not for any money and we don’t find anything out about the backstory of Fujimoto-san at all. Luckily it’s not all failures as Kobato is able to mend her first heart, gains an apartment (and bed), and finds some unlikely friends….

Kobato’s first mission is to heal hearts so that she can fill up her bottle to get her wish. She apparently has no memories or sense which also explain her lack of sense. Learning that makes me wonder if she isn’t an angel. Though maybe she’s just a girl who has hit her head hard enough that small animals are sending her on missions.

She completely misinterprets what healing a heart might entail and tries to help people out in superficial ways like taking all of this mans tissues. I guess it’s a good start and she seems to be learning a little from last episode. I’m not gaining any second hand embarrassment from her actions this time around. Maybe I just got used to it though?

What would you even do with this many tissues? I don’t want to know.

She runs after Fujimoto-san after he knocks all her tissues onto the street and ends up at the nursery where he works. She comes on a bit strong to Sayaka-sensei who likes it rough her anyway. Thus she joins the two of them taking care of children which is easy since she’s basically a child herself.

Kobato interprets her feelings into dance.

Since Iroyogi has to pretend he’s a stuffed animal Kobato has forgotten him somewhere and she freaks out. I don’t really understand how you lose track of a blue, talking stuffed dog but if anyone could find a way it’d be Kobato. Before she goes to look Sayaka-sensei has one thing to say to her…

Not in this economy at least!

Turns out Iroyogi is good at pretending to be a stuffed animal so he’s exactly where she left him but now Kobato has to have deep, meaninful thoughts before the story can continue. I’m glad to see her brain isn’t made of mush but I also have some doubt that she would consider the feelings of others so deeply when she tried to give crows trash just the other day. Just sayin’. She meets a little boy from her nursery in the park who is having some trouble because others tease him about his mother picking him up late. Adults tease him. That’s a pretty harsh life for being like 5.

Pretty much that exact phrase causes complexes in children everyday. Good job uncaring woman, you’re way more of a jerk than his hard-working mother. Your child will probably resent you in a few years, enjoy!

Kobato understands though. I wibbled a little at this scene and wondered if I was being too hard on Kobato, she’s obvious got a big heart.

And thus she got her first Star Bit for healing his heart.

Leading me to believe we should eat each others hearts: nom nom nom

Something that’s been bugging me this whole time is that Kobato has pretty much been living in a park. Sayaka-sensei also seems to have noticed and arranges an apartment for her.

As they were walking up the door I thought I recognized the apartment complex from Chobits and then laughed at myself until…

FROM CHOBITS! I feel sufficiently validated in saying CLAMP has run out of characters.

Kobato introduces herself by bowing so low that Iroyogi drops of her bag without her paying attention.

HOW COULD YOU FORGET ME!?

He manages to climb back up the balcony and scare the ever living daylights out of everyone. They should just make horror movies around Iroyogi-san. Since it’s Kobato’s day off she goes around town looking for hearts to mend.

On the way they meet Mitsuru who is very concerned that she made Iroyogi dirty when she bumped into Kobato.  She seems to be a young school girl with nothing too special about her. Kobato forgets her umbrella at home, gets one from a man at a cake shop and then it’s stolen when she’s outside a place called “Piffle Princess” which if you’re familiar with CLAMP is something they use often.

Mitsuru lends Kobato her umbrella and then runs off after a boy walks by with a girl under his umbrella. Kobato stares on in confusion but decides she needs to return this umbrella to Mitsuru the next day.

Looking at this picture makes me glad I’m not 14 anymore.

Kobato sees Mitsuru starring at the boy they saw the other day and can’t seem to put these things together. She also realizes she’s late for work and runs the whole way there.

He’s kind of an anal retentive jerk.

I can’t get it out of my head that Sayaka is kind of a dom…

After work Kobato sees Mitsuru again and wants quite badly to help her. She goes back to her house to think about what to do to help. While she’s pondering she hears a knock on the door and some squeaky voices which I assumed would be children from her school. But they weren’t!

Instead we’re greeted by Chii and Freya now with new more adorable names. Actually they’re really cute! It almost makes you want to watch Chobits again? They brought her a matress since she’d been sleeping on the floor until then but seriously kawaiiiii~

Kobato ponders Mitsuru’s love-love issues while enjoying her mattress incorrectly. I hope she didn’t try to sleep on it this way but I’d pretend to be surprised if she did. The next day she confronts the boy Mitsuru likes by giving him an umbrella so that he can stand under it with Mitsuru. After the awkwardness of two young kids we are finally treated to an adorable scene:

This actually good deed results in another “candy” in the jar…

And somehow causes Kohaku and Shuichiro Kudo (from Wish) to appear on a bridge.

At the end of the day Kobato gets a zero for dropping Iroyogi in the mud too many times!

Last Thoughts

I really enjoyed these episodes and I’m starting to feel more for Kobato instead of just being embarrassed or frustrated at her actions. I have no idea what CLAMP is doing or why they need to include so many characters from their other series. I loved Wish and Chobits as much as the next person but they already did the crossover with Tsubasa and I can actually feel their new ideas running out of them as I watch. It’s really fun to see Fujimoto-san and Kobato interact because he obviously really dislikes her but I’m dying to know what horrible thing scaled him as a child to make him so prissy. High hopes for the next two episodes!

Also I love the ending. Love.  I listened to the ending after both of these episodes even though I didn’t have to and definitely skipped the opening both times. Win some, lose some.

When Sawako was loli she was able to play with all the other kids…

T’was a most glorious episode as the first of Sawako’s foe’s felt the sting of defeat and were SMASHED INTO ATOMS by their own pride and subsequent inferiority to Yoshida. After being battered and bloodied for their infantile assault on Sawako Kazehaya delivered the coup de grace and voiced his disdain for rumor mongering bitches. While Hirano and Endo have no combat ability they mounted a successful PR campaigned that reaffirmed Sawako as the Zashiki Warashi of the school. All is well as misunderstandings are cleared up and oaths of friendship are taken openly and in a manner most straightforward with the lavatory. The venue mattered little and Yuuka the insolent bully was decisively crushed and she ended up in a manner most fitting. I was over come with glee as Yuuka was forced to beat a brave retreat and after escaping with no wounds begins to weep delicious False Tears that Noe dislikes. Ah that alone was the high point as her hopes and dreams of being with Kazehaya were SMASHED INTO ATOMS it was glorious to have Yuuka feel the revenge of reality despite being spared by Sawako. Long may Yuuko weep and long may she cry hot False Tears of lamentation and deplore her own folly!

On a more pleasant front Sawako seems to have had a colorful childhood, but it turns out that poor Shino-san was the one who got the ball rolling though I hold her blameless for it was the ignorant masses that created all the subsequent falsehoods. At least Sawako did not experience undue pain from her ostracism. Now she has some reliable friends and Shino-chan decides to conform to Yano and Yosida’s movements and relinquishes the mantle of Sawako’s only friend. Kazehaya is in a way glad but having been denied the chance to be the hero and with Yano and Yoshida’s monopolizing of Sawako’s time he is becoming increasingly jealous. I can only hope he keeps it in check… Meanwhile the original instigator seems to have started another rumor passing off blame to Team Yuuko, but while idiots may believe Vichy-tan and hope that it was not her, all suspects are guilty, otherwise they wouldn’t be suspects…  Yuuka may have cried a river, but when Vichy-tan gets what is coming to her Almighty Zeus shall ensure that that she will be hit with the force of a BIG BANG PUNCH. I look forward to the day that Vichy-tan’s fate is sealed.

ExecutiveOtaku’s Unadulterated Adoration of Sawako

Rejoice! For the crisis is over and we get many sweet moments of Sawako and her comrades coming closer together! This time justice is done upon the perpetrators of the cowardly bathroom attack. Apparently the head of this faction is called Yuuka, one who was led to the Dark Side by her unworthy jealousy of Sawako. After showing what a barbarian she is by pushing Sawako down, she is still unmoved by Sawako’s heartfelt and sincere declaration of the truth. Outside Kazehaya is restrained from intervening due to the cowardly choice of ambush location, but Yano and Yoshida show up to save the day. After routing their enemy they talk to Sawako and all are moved by the intensity of their bonds of trust and friendship in each other. As the Yuuka Faction flees in disarray before the might of Sawako, Yano, and Yoshida, Kazehaya waits outside to deliver the killing blow. Declaring loudly that he hates such vile rumors and those who spread them, his words pierce the heart of Yuuka as fatally as if they had been arrows. The consolidation of the Sawako Alliance continues for the remainder of the episode, with Kazehaya cutely worried that Yano and Yoshida are going to steal Sawako away from him. And in the end Vichy-tan reveals herself once more, dismissing the Yuuka Faction as mere children. Whether she is allied with them, manipulated them into their rumor offensive, or is (unlikely) just misunderstood as being an enemy, she obviously does not think much of them.

EO’s DAAAWWWW of the week.

ALPHA GO!

TANGO DOWN! Hostage has been secured.

The three shoujo-teers.

All for one, and one for AAWWW.

And Kazehaya was filled with the righteous fury of the just. For the ground itself shook as if frightened underfoot, and friend and foe alike trembled before his angry visage!

To quote Dr. Cox from Scrubs: “I love this moment so much, I want to have sex with it.”

True Tears of happiness.

Another radiant smile. May there be many more.

Kneel before your refreshing and compassionate goddess! Sawayakyaa!

No worries Kazehaya, this isn’t a yuri series.

See, she’s already looking back at you and smiling.

CRY SOME MORE YUUKA, YOUR TEARS ARE DELICIOUS TO ME!!!

Were they mere pawns in her larger war?

Dispatches of the Second Kazehaya War

Oh Shino-chan it was you?!

Yeah you fucked up…

That’s not that great of a silver lining.

Class A War Criminals! We must hunt them down and destroy them!

She already is, you on the other hand…

Note that this will be a most fatal mistake…

NO YOU!

I say we butcher the lot of them…

Leave it to Moi…

Which is why they fail at school…

They only know of jealousy Sawako…

I know…

Bravely bold Miss Yuuka rolled forth from Class A
She was not afraid to die, O brave Miss Yuuka
She was not at all afraid to be killed in nasty ways
Brave, brave, brave, brave Miss Yuuka…

She was not in the least bit scared to be mashed into a pulp
Or to have her eyes gouged out and her elbows broken
To have her kneecaps split and her body burned away
And her limbs all hacked and mangled, brave Miss Yuuka…

Her head smashed in and her heart cut out
And her liver removed and her bowels unplugged
And her nostrils raped and her bottom burnt off
And her penis…

Well that’s enough music for now, ladies…

…For second after second Brave Miss Yuuka held her own, but scarcely was her shirt damp…then she suddenly… dramatically changed tactics…

Brave Miss Yuuka ran away – No!
Bravely ran away, away – I didn’t!
When danger reared its ugly head
She bravely turned her tail and fled – No!
Yes, brave Miss Yuuka turned about
And gallantly she chickened out
Bravely taking to her feet
She beat a very brave retreat
Bravest of the brave, Miss Yuuka…

Yuuka buggerd off…

Your hate will make you powerful…

Those words homed in and found their mark…

When Sawako was loli she was able to play with all the other kids…

At least the Ferengi know to hear all and trust nothing…

You’re doing something now…

Yes so begins the Sawako Propaganda offensive which is armed with the truth, Vichy-tan’s lies are no match…

Can I get a Bro-fist?

You will remove all obstacles…

Love has a funny way of sneaking up on you…

You have history…

You can…

Bah Spiky-kun returns to ruin another moment…

Spiky-kun sucks at everything…

As I have said time and time again Spikey-kun is the enemy of women everywhere…

This one is on the slow side…

…

Weak in the knees is it…?

You know it’s not too late to take responsibility and be part of their little group Shino-chan…

If only you walked down the aisle before the handoff…

Yes I wish to hear it again…

Oh you can’t hurry love I guess…

Look you all of you vermin cowering the lockers thinking what…? That you might escape the coming fire?! Your class will burn and not even you Yuuka will be able to slither from the blackened and charred remains to mar the continuation of Sawako’s friendships.

Indeed it makes the obliteration of her hopes all the more satisfying…what was nursed over years was undone in mere seconds.

No that mole doesn’t help you! I curse you with a Gendo Ikari for a love interest…

Packing it in and packing it up…

Slinking away and buggering off…

Chickening out and pissing off home…

Yes, bravely she is throwing in the sponge…

And don’t come back!

Vichy-tan is most devious…

Great we have kindling for the FIRE!

The coward was making IEDs…

So after much lamentation of the lack of Biribiri goodness last episode Kuroko’s onee-sama infiltrates judgment in an attempt to flush out IED Ishii as the no good terrorist has been planing his bombs in children’s toys in a bid to be a jackass. The Electroshock Princess is quite haughty and dismisses the hard work thatKuroko puts into Judgment. Biribiri thinks that it is all action but sadly there is a harsh disconnect on the level of that betwee Modern Warfare 2 and actually being int he USMC. Turns out Judgment has to do the crap things in garrison too and deal with a shitty public that causes more problems that make you question whether or not they are even worth defending. Even if zapping civilians is bad, littering is worse as it pollutes the Earth, but these days students are as lazy as they were in the Cultural Revolution days, cutting class, vandalizing everything, etc. Bullying has taken a turn for shitty as Mr. Hippie with his long hippie hair was punchingIED Ishii while dancing like a white guy with no rhythm. Good to see that stupidity and evil feeds upon itself, though Biribiri held back her terrible vengeance. IED Ishii was most unappreciative as he wanted preemptive arrests, I think he should GTFO and move to the PRC. So Biribiri goes about with Mii-chan to look for a pink hand bag, and gets some delicious thigh meat, but in the end Biribiri sees no combat action and gets found out by Kuroko. Having a new found respect for the crap job Kuroko volunteered for Biribiri confesses her admiration of Kuroko. Kuroko then takes it, rightfully so, as a confession and goes nuts in a yuri powered hurricane, which is sadly cut short. In the mean time IED Ishii continues his reign of terror by placing bombs under chips display at the local 7/11 knock off.

Over all a rather fillery episode and not the yuri powered Kuroko and onee-sama fest I wanted. However I did enjoy how Kuroko was listing Misaka’s faults and attempts as raising awareness of how un-ladylike her onee-sama was. Kuroko just can read Misaka like a book though sadly Kuroko’s fanfiction segments have yet to become reality. Konori Mii-san was delightful and I am glad she got plenty of screen time and was thrilled that she rode atop Biribiri for a while though the latter was more worried about bugs than relishing the experience. I did very much enjoy Kuroko’s betime assault after hearing her onee-sama’s praise, and I am sure that is how Liang Qi would have reacted to Alphard’s praise. I am sure Calawain found it to be a little “meh” but i do very much enjoy watching Kuroko’s antics as a substitute for the Alphard onee-sama and Liang Qi, Canaan spin-off that will never see the light of day. I like Biribiri just fine but I simply adore how Kuroko is aggressive, refined, elegant, skilled in CQC, and essential is the love child of Alphard and Liang Qi as she displays traits of both, good to see that Misaka thinks of Kuroko too. Next week some terrorist gets his comeuppance I hope it will be particularly painful for him.

Crusader’s Chronicle of Kuroko’s Love

This Kampfer is a Level 4…

Well fighting crime is interesting stuff…

It’s not that bad to want a BIG FIGHT…

And she does it every day…

Yeah it requires sound judgment.

FUCK YEAH PINKY SWEAR!

Says the most egregious offender…

Kuroko wants to watch your back, literally…

This a personal request…

Oh it means everything…to Kuroko.

Man the imouto is lecturing the onee-sama…

Kuroko wants Biribiri to be an ojou-sama from a distinguished family that has been continued for a thousand years, skilled in both literary and military arts,  with wit and beauty, the intensity of summer, the grace of autumn, the pride of winter, and the gentleness of spring …

Please do not interrupt Kuroko’s fantasies…

Man why is the onee-sama more childish than the imouto?

Be a Lady.

Kuroko has seen them all!

Yeah when will you level up?

No but Kuroko is Alphard and Liang Qi’s love child, so she has a bit of onee-sama in her.

That sounds like al Qaida to me…

How could you order a Parfait without her?!

Kuroko thinks this is some sort of date…

Someday Kuroko will be pelting Uiharu with airsoft pellets…

It does look yummy…

For Biribiri goes three times faster…

You have been conscripted…

…

CHANCE GET!

Show me you dedication…

Arrows?

Hey even US Marines clean latrines…

Your littering…

Your pushing it…

Worry not for while your head will heal the shock you gave him should have caused permanent damge…

More apology letters…?

Loli spotted…

We also use fists…

She has none…

Kuruko was right…

You will require better map reading skills than that…

Alert Heterosexual activity detected…

Cease embarrassment and initiate combat protocols…

Yes take the girl…

To the yuri side with you!

I guess she was too stupid to be saved…

Yeah I know you wanted to have a bit of fun with her first…

Indeed but take heart you still have Kuroko.

Now do you see how well Kuroko knows you?

Fondly remembering Kuroko eh?

Seriously keep looking…

Well right now it seems that Biribiri is on the bottom even when it comes to Kuroko…

You know that is a most enviable position…

That only see onee-sama…

Yo Shin this one’s gone yuri

What’s that?

Take that al Qiada!

Why you sneaky little terrorist…

That one was most suspicous…

O RLY?

Note how the lolis go the closest.

Kuroko asks that question everyday…

Kuroko has them…

No Panties onee-sama…

She always gets her handbags…

Who would have thought she liked such things…

Wait it’s coming together now…

Kuroko found her onee-sama all wet…

Kuroko knew…

DAWWWW…

Not used to being thanked are we?

That is exactly how it happened.

Just look at her list of activities and you will know…

Now you know and knowing is half the battle.

…

Oh ho…

Shocked and awed…

Too long…

Yes!

And she means EVERY nook and cranny…

There is no escape now…

…

Ouch…

Time for punishment…

So GTFO!

Like every stupid chick she just has to break a leg now…

Amateurs, look high and look low…

Captain Judgment has a invincible shield…can’t wait for the FINAL JUSTICE attack

I bet your leg wasn’t even in any pain…

Man they should make body armor out of those armbands not so much as a tear…

Ever since I became an anime fan I knew that CLAMP was the bandwagon for me. Is it the pointy faces? The impossibly wide shoulders? Or is it the strange undercurrent of bisexuality in all of their works? I may never know, but one thing I do know is that CLAMP is a team of four super-genius women who know exactly how to catch my attention again and again.

CLAMP’s newest manga turned anime has once again achieved instant success in my heart due to overwhelming cute. You see this time, in the city of Townsville Tokyo, there is some girl who in the opening floated down from space…

This is the star of the show, Kobato Hanato herself. Note the wide-eyed innocence, the far-off blank stare and the cherry blossoms everywhere. Honestly the only way this could be cuter is to add a mascot.

Uh, not quite like that. This blue dog-like stuffed animal is Ioryogi – a somewhat mean spirited instructor for Kobato. Kobato is trying to fulfill her own wish by creating a flask and filling it with mended hearts. Unfortunately, she must past Ioryogi’s test before she can even have the flask. The test? Pass as a normal human for the entire day in the park using human common sense.

At least it’s normal for homeless people.

Her second test involves a woman who dropped her trash. Kobato must dispose of it correctly. The image above is horrifying and will haunt me in my dreams for nights to come.

Needless to say, she fails. Though Ioryogi seems to think she needs “human common sense” I’m getting the feeling any type of common sense will do. After enacting a scene from The Birds, Kobato is approached by some men who want to have a drink with her.

Kobato is sufficiently in awe of these possibly raping thugs.

No! It’s a trap Kobato! Use your alien common sense! (For those guessing along at home she does not actually use common sense in the next scene.)

Of course it’s the first episode so there’s no horrific rape scene as Syaoran-kun this guy comes to her rescue. He’s pretty angry in general and runs off too quickly to even leave us his name. I’m sure we’ll never see him…

…again. We learn that his name is Fujimoto-san and he’s very busy working a part time job at this food stand during the cherry blossom festival. His phone rings and he leaves quickly for an emergency at a nursery.

Beautiful scenic la-la land.

Meanwhile, Kobato is enjoying the cherry blossoms. When she sees a bunch of children who’ve lost their ball she throws it to them and I’m not sure what. It happens off screen but I assume she really stuck it to some guy.

Is there anyone in need of cute sir? It’s all I have left…

She apologizes to the owner of the shop and offers to help him because she’s mortally wounded someone.

Soon after a man asks her to put the ingredients in his hot pot and she freaks out. Apparently this is very stressful for Kobato even though I’ve done it many times myself and have never seen the difficulty in sliding food into a pot.

Let’s just say there was no common sense to be had.Natto is so gross. Seriously.

And the thing she makes is so horrific that at least a half-dozen people gather to be grossed out by it. When consumed, it’s delicious much to everyone else’s surprise.

After her job is over, Kobato sees an old woman with a baby. This baby to crying at a volume so loud I had to mute my speakers for a minute.

Since the woman says the baby cries unless its mother sings for the first time all episode Kobato finally puts two and two together correctly and sings.

Somehow Fujimoto-san also hears her and is impressed and/or annoyed.

After she’s done everyone is overjoyed but not me. The song is plain and she struggles really badly on the high notes but yes, let’s all clap anyway because she’s the main character.

Going back to the park they started in Kobato is upset that Ioryogi decided she failed the day. He determines that the only thing she did that was okay was her singing as everything else was a mess.

Old woman comes to thank Kobato for her singing. Considering I think this is only a short while after the park incident I assume the old woman ditched the baby nearby since it’s nowhere to be seen.

Ioryogi decides that because the old woman thanked her that means Kobato should pass the test. I got excited for what I assumed was going to be a magical girl transformation….

And am totally disappointed with the fact that it’s just the flask Kobato wanted. The angry dog thing reminds her to fill the flask with mended hearts to get her wish.

Kobato loves it and hugs it and names it George.

END EPISODE 1.

Final Thoughts:

Opening: A familiar voice, Maaya Sakamoto sings the opening theme “Magic Number”.  I can tell it’s not composed by Yoko Kanno though making it at best a 5 out of 10. It’s there. I probably won’t be listening to it again as Sakamoto’s voice is soothing but boring sometimes. The animation in the opening is minimal and forgettable as well.

Closing: The closing is about as interesting to watch (it’s just a bottle spinning around with credits) as the opening and reminded me very much of the Tsubasa 1^st closing “Loop”. The song is called “Jellyfish’s Confession” and is sung by Megumi Nakajima who you may know from Macross Frontier as Ranka. The song is interesting lyrically and may need a second listen before I decide if I just like it or love it.

Overall: If you already liked the Kobato manga, you’ll probably like this show. The first episode was painstakingly slow but depending where it goes I could see myself really getting into it. The voice acting seemed pretty strong and the animation was clean. I found myself inadvertently smiling as Kobato did everything wrong. I can’t help but cheer for the idiot characters, I blame Sailor Moon and give it a solid 3 out of 5 stars.

Big things are happening in the UN and Zentradi forces, changes that will fundamentally alter the nature of the rest of this conflict and the future of the two peoples. Millia tracks down Max to settle her duel, only to have the two of them fall for each other and proceed all ahead full into marriage not long afterwards. Max seeks Hikaru’s advice and blessing, and then the ceremony takes place, the first between a human and a Zentradi. This is broadcast onboard the Macross, to UN HQ, and is intercepted by the Zentradi fleet, further spreading human culture to their current enemy. With the effects of ‘culture’ being felt more strongly, Britai decides to send a peace envoy rather than have his fleet tear itself apart, further encouraged to do so by the distinct possibility that Bodolzza will annihilate his contaminated fleet along with the Macross and Earth.

Millia puts on her Chiri face for the fight, throwing Max a knife and challenging him to fight.

Love counter!

YES!

Max and Millia will kick reason to the curb and make the impossible possible! MAX WO OMAE DARE DA TO OMOTE YAGARU?!

The wedding proceeds quickly thereafter, with most of the characters in attendance and Max and Millia making a grand entrance via Valkyrie. The ship and its fighters create a brilliant display for this flight outside as Max’s VF-1J approaches the ship. After their arrival and vows Captain Global gives a speech that initially touches on the conflict and reasons for mistrust between the humans and Zentradi, but then continues into his main point about how this moment is the first step forward towards ending the fighting and living together in peace. The happy couple is presented with the coolest wedding cake ever and the guests erupt in cheers at their joining.

So that’s the real reason Max got upgraded to a VF-1J: so he could have a backseat.

The Macross spared no expense in celebrating this most worthy union.

They’re so cute. But badass. But cute. But badass. But cute.

The inspiring sight even gives hope to the Genshiken nerds. Bridge bunnies like otaku I guess?

By far the sweetest wedding cake in the history of mankind.

Their offspring will be invincible!

Not everyone is so happy about this. But who could possibly stand against the power of both mecha and love?

At the ceremony Minmay also sings for everyone there and watching at home, and in a sign of her improving skills as a singer her song once again touches those who hear it. Even Misa, far away at UN HQ, hears it and thinks of Hikaru fondly. Though increasingly she’s feeling isolated from him and the rest of her friends as the Alaska Base continues preparations to use the Grand Cannon. Captain Britai was also watching the broadcast, and reluctantly determines that he must follow his orders and destroy the Macross. The order to launch and attack is given. Fighting breaks out between the fighters and Millia advises Max of a weakpoint in the Regults that allows them to be disabled with one shot. Despite siding with the humans, she doesn’t wish to see more of her fellow Zentradi destroyed. Hikaru notices Max’s attacks and does the same, disabling most of the Regults that they encounter. Onboard Zentradi ships followers of the Cult of Minmay threaten violence if the attack is not called off, a large portion of the fleet now under the sway of human culture. Britai then calls off the attack and both sides consider their next moves.

Minmay’s songs brings forth many memories and emotions.

They probably wanted a Klingon wedding ceremony but couldn’t find any Batleths.

The Valkyries scramble to intercept the attack as Global wonders about the future of the conflict.

Britai is now disobeying the orders of his superiors.

At home after the fight indulges in some ‘can’t cook’ moe.

While next door Hikaru just misses Misa more after seeing the happy couple.

Some time after a Zentradi capital ship approaches the Macross, broadcasting a message that it wishes to send an envoy aboard to negotiate a cease fire. Kamjin tries again to disrupt any attempt at peace, to which Britai forcefully responds by shooting down several of Kamjin’s fighters. Onboard a Regult, Archivist Exedol is brought to the Macross in Miclone form to conduct the negotiation. Captain Global, his senior officers, Max, Millia, and Hikaru are all assembled for the meeting. Exedol also requests the presence of Minmay and the superhuman he saw in the martial arts movie, having mistaken Kaifun’s special effects for actual abilities. There he informs them of the threat to both Earth and the Britai fleet now that the main force under Bodolzza has been mobilized. After some further negotiation, it is decided that the forces under Britai’s command will join with the Macross against the main Zentradi forces. This is fortuitous timing for Laplamiz has just informed Bodolzza of recent events and the fleet is preparing to fold in as soon as it can. While Kaifun surrenders to despair, everyone else is ready for the fight, and with Exedol’s information on the main fleet’s command structure they may well stand a chance. Britai speaks with his other commanders, and Laplamiz joins with him while Kamjin decides to make a break for it. Though I suspect we haven’t seen the last of him. I’m betting he’ll return to the stage at an opportune moment later in the story.

Britai has had quite enough of your antics Kamjin.

…

LOL.

Back on Earth, Misa tries unsuccessfully to convince her father to approve her transfer back to the Macross to join her comrades in the coming battle. Somehow I think she’ll make it back soon, orders or no orders.

I suppose she was just following orders, but given her later decision to join Britai you’d think she might have waited before deciding to inform Bodolzza.

We now need Max to sing his Minmay cover/remake,  ”Ore no waifu mo piloto.”

An historic moment.

Minmay does one last song before the fight to ready the troops.

Well they are pretty sweet planes.

If the Bodolzza’s ships block out the sun then the Macross shall fight in the shade!

Final Thoughts: – The Millia/Max wedding was very sudden, but they make such a both sweet and awesome couple that I don’t care. They just better not get any of that dying together that they keep talking about!

- Some of the Zentradi joining with the humans has seemed like a strong possibility for a while now. Now with a common enemy and still many episodes left to go, I wonder where this conflict will end. There seems to be far too much time remaining for the issue to be resolved in the space around Earth where most of the fighting has taken place. The UN HQ’s response to all this could also throw things into disarray unless they coordinate with the Macross-Britai fleet.

Welcome to blogging Mabdese! (added by ExecutiveOtaku)

Dearest readers, friends, and hangers-on of THAT!  ExecutiveOtaku here, and it is my pleasure to introduce to you the newest member of our blogging team/family/international hikkikomori conspiracy: Mabdese! She has impressed us with the breadth of her interests and experience in the fandom, and we hope you will welcome her to the blog and enjoy her entries. Ah, to think that only a few months ago I was the newbie and now I’m introducing our newest writer. Oh the transience of blogging youth! Without further ado, I hand the remainder of this post over to my good friend Mabdese.  Welcome to the team!

Hello all you readers out there in THAT land! It is I your newest addition to the blogging crew, Mabdese. I’ve come to you from a distant land to save you from the mediocrity that plagues all of our lives. For my first series I’ll be reviewing Kobato and probably doing recaps of this seasons hot new j-drama Samurai High School. I’m sure you must be wondering what anyone could add to this wonderful blog but I’ll do my best to do the following things:

- Adding my unique feminine/old school insight into anime in weekly editions of reviews/recaps.

- Review some j-drama, stage plays, albums, and other tangential aspects of anime.

- Keep a keen eye out for overlooked animes.

- Have a wonderful sense of humor about otakudom.

Now I know you, you’re thinking hold up, who is this? so I’ll introduce myself properly. I’ve been in anime fandom for nearly 11 years now ever since attending a sci-fi convention and accidentally watching Eva.  I am an avid (sometime rapid) fan of 90’s anime and probably one of the last people to hop the bandwagon before for the internet. In case you are wondering about my street cred, I watched Macross  7 in my friends basement on third generation VHS with the subtitles nearly unreadable back in ‘99.

I’ve been involved in the behind the scenes for a few conventions, been the head of panels, written fanfics and done some cosplay. I have shaken the hands of many seiyuus I admire and connected with some really great friends through anime. By day I’m your average 20-something with a full time desk job. I  live Seattle, WA currently but grew up in NYC and double majored in linguistics and communications with a minor of Japanese. I love to cook and write and play video games. My anime interests are usually more girly with some my favorite series being Saikano, Earth Girl Arjuna, Paradise Kiss, and Blue Sub 6. I happen to like ecchi series a lot as well especially ones like Oku-sama wa Joshi Kosei, GreenGreen, and REC. My favorite anime might just be Record of Lodoss War. I own nearly all the merchandise produced for the series from wall scrolls to little action figures.

If you’re still not convinced I’m clearly awesome I submit this to you:

This is my soap dish. Yes, this is actually my soap dish.

I look forward to my time blogging here at THAT and hopefully forging more friendships through anime! Please support me~

In Benevolent Retribution for the unfair treatment of Sawako by Vichy-tan and her collaborators Lord Zeus has commanded that there be one test for every false rumor…

As the vicious rumor assault continues Sawko is forced to do some soul searching as to what she wants and how much Yano, Yoshida, and Kazehaya mean to her. Sawako concludes correctly that she can never go back to being alone and with Kazhaya’s prodding decides that her friends are worth it and the rumors be damned. In the mean time Yano and Yoshida do a bit of soul searching of their own and realize just how much Sawako meant to them and how they had overestimated themselves. Ryuu tries to work his charms on Yoshida and I get the feeling he’ll be winning ground on that front even if it measured in inches. Sadly Vichy-tan is not the only worthless bitch in the joint as Toilet-san is also a belligerent bitch who likes to talk shit about people based on silly rumors. Rumor has it she does donkey shows…
With that hopefully the antsy phase has passed as all parties come to grips with how to define what they mean to each other. Poor Sawako’s selflessness is at least moderated by the fact that Kazehaya assured her that a ruined reputation was worth her companionship and in the case of Yoshida at least the rumors were rehashed ones. Yoshida wants to trust Sawako but seeing Shino-san led to doubts, still I am sure all will be well once they meet face to face. I think animation quality dipped in places and most notably when Ryuu was trying to charm Yoshida, I understand that these aren’t the most well funded episodes in existence but it could have been better since it was supposed to be a sweet little moment of just the two of them. Ah well I assume that Ryuu will be a little more persistent in the future so not a total loss. What irks me is the unruly mob that now threatens Sawako with physical harm. I don’t pretend to understand women especially high school chicks but I would meet such belligerency with a head butt and a good knee before breaking out the concealed pistol and getting them all down on the ground and crying for mommy as they wonder if their miserable existences will survive so much as another minute. With any luck Yoshida will beat them all up with a roll of toilet paper. I can’t wait for the healing to begin and I have to say that the whining wasn’t so bad, though mostly because of Yoshida’s SD moments. Kazehaya came out fighting from the outset and didn’t even undergo much doubt at all, though I am getting an increasing sense of “bad feeling have I” when he grabbed Sawako’s hands.

ExecutiveOtaku’s Unadulterated Adoration of Sawako

Vichy-tan’s vile slander continues to do damage, but its effects are rapidly dissipating as the shock has worn off with Sawako’s friends. Using such terrible and illegal weapons in her unprovoked attack the Sawako Alliance, Vichy-tan has violated many treaties including the Geneva Protocol on Shoujo Warfare and as such has forfeited any of the protections of civilized love warfare. Armis bella non venenis geri, Vichy-tan, or in this case “Shoujo war is fought with love, not with poisonous slander”. As the members of the Sawako Alliance begin to reflect further on the falsehoods spread throughout the school, they develop more as characters in their own rights, which is one of the things that’s really setting the series apart from most shoujo.

Sawako reaches her nadir of despair, wondering if it’s possible to go back to not being happy, but quickly rebounds and after a talk with Kazehaya redoubles her efforts. Kazehaya in particular shined in this episode, taking a firm stance against the lies and boldly encouraging Sawako to rise above the rumors and to believe in her friends’ affection for her. Inspired, she sets out to dispel the rumors and clearly express herself to Yano and Yoshida, and in the course of this happens upon some lowlife girls talking about the rumors in the bathroom. While trying to set their degenerate minds straight she’s cornered by a particularly aggressive one. But clenching her fist in what I hope is the windup to a Gekigan Punch to the face of said girl, we see the determination evident in the eyes of our beloved heroine. Physically threatening postures will not be tolerated, and should Sawako currently lack the resolve hopefully Yano and Yoshida will arrange an appropriately unpleasant day for said belligerent girl that will not be quick and will not be enjoyable. I look forward to the next episode when things look set to be cleared up within the Alliance and perhaps Vichy-tan will show her cowardly face for once. May the mistress of the dark lands come forth, and have justice done upon her!

DAAAWWWW of the week. My head nearly exploded from the cute overload.

Kazehaya also hurts from Vichy-tan’s dishonorable lies. But he seems the most resolute member of the Alliance, and will walk through fire and shadow for his love.

At least loneliness even looks beautiful in this series. I like how there’s just barely a little bit of color for the floor directly beneath the desk, but that it is without much detail.

Believe in the Kazehaya who believes in you! KAZEHAYA IS SHOUJO GAR!

Lelangir put it this way on Twitter: “OH KAZEHAYA-KUN YOU’RE SO FORCEFUL TAKE ME TO BED! щ(ﾟДﾟщ)”

Ever so humble Sawako, you must learn to accept that which is freely given.

Double cute combo!

Ryu went from completely in the background to having his own personality in this scene. And Yoshida freaking out to him about Sawako was great. Heh, the guy who comes off as gruff and silent and the violent tomboy; they kind of have a Ryuuji/Taiga thing going there.

Good to know the previously silent guy has a sense of humor.

Reminds me a little (visually) of a favorite scene from FLCL episode 01.

Loved the crazy Sawako eyes, loved the pan up then reverse and pan down transition to this shot from the previous scene.

The face of determination.

Crusader’s Photographic Record of Kazehaya War II

A friend that intents to prove that the seat is blessed and lucky by acing this test.

All that is left is for you all to be on a first name basis.

They will be there no matter what, or at least I will hold them to that.

Beware the agents of Vichy-tan though they may be fair in appearance they are utterly alien to civility.

Why not?

I fear something terrible has happened…

Your denial makes me wish that you will soon feel the revenge of reality though in your case you might actually benefit from it.

Dreams do come true for those who earn the blessings of Almighty Zeus.

The agents of Vichy-tan deserve no help from you, your mere existence is anathema to them for it reminds them of how much they suck.

To fix this problem you will need a wrench…to fix Vichy-tan good.

So long as you don’t half ass it then you were of significant help.

The face of epiphany…

By Zeus she cannot even tell a lie!

In retribution for the unfair treatment of Sawako by Vichy-tan and her collaborators Zeus has commanded that there be one test for every false rumor…

The only reputation worth keeping is the one that make your enemies cower in fear…

It’s not that she cared she was just overly aware is all…

When you make a stand and draw the battle lines…

Oh but it is…

It’s a mutual agreement otherwise that stalking…

This looks rather…disconcerting…

You have yet to control your fear…

Fuck what the rumors say.

Quit being cheap and get her a Starbucks Double Shot.

Sawako is most fiscally responsible for it would be bad if Kazehaya held a lot of her debt…

You know what would make you feel even better? Reaffirmation of your friendship with Yano and Yoshida.

The one who started these rumors must also be silenced…

The feeling is mutual…

Why do I get the sense that Kazehaya has been doing some stalking of hiw own…

You’d be invincible as Alphard onee-sama given the low power levels in this student body.

:3

If only this led to a BIG FIGHT…

And Pin is quite stupid because of his Spiky-kun apperance…

But it will make you feel better…

The root of all evil…

I’d rather Yano fix you…

Indeed she should throw in some science fiction too…

Ah is see…

Yes you seem destined for an osana-jimi pairing…

I agree with the former, but not the latter…

Beating up rumor generating  bitches is not a bad thing…

With a lawn chair and a shotgun right?

And he ran…

Were it so easy…

Vichy-tan can’t get under Yoshida’s skin in a direct assault, but her target is Sawako…

You aren’t stupid, you’re just blunt and direct.

The confusion will pass…

Then I suppose these will be some rough times you have before you…

Their numbers are negligible and they are stupid.

Good point…

Well until now…

You would have gotten it eventually…

And HOW!

You will meet eventually…

…she didn’t finish her sentence…

Still waters run deep.

There are many reasons for evasive action, like avoidance of catastrophic collisions.

I bet…

Oh ho…so some one has been bitten b the love bug too.

We shall see about that…

Sneaky diction I bet like “conflicts other than war”…

Sawako should not go into manga that is for certain…

At least it is awesomely bad…

Noe finds these to be True Tears.

It makes me rather mad…

Just goes to show how the average person is a total douche bag.

Now at the end do you understand?

…

So was I if you remember.

Why does everyone assume Yano doesn’t think?

I say let the spice True Tears flow.

Your knowledge is a but a fraction and small one at that, but it can be increased…

The fun is finding out.

In a way not being newtype now is rather bothersome, but so long as we don;t get funnels and beam spam we should be good…

Again the fun is in finding out…

As it should be.

How about now?

Love is a beautiful thing.

…

I just got a dirty thought in my head when I saw complicated…

So LET’S BE FRIENDLY eh?

Clear your mind of thoughts…

That one in the middle farted…

They are part of your fire team.

Amen Sister!

Laugh it up bitches, but you should see what Zeus will do to your face. He’ll show you his true feelings for you…

How about you face her one on one?

Unless you plan on kissing her I insist you back off…

I like this parting shot.