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♫Kyun, kyun, kyun, kyun, Falselogic wa pairotto!♫ LTTP Super Dimensional Fortress Macross

WisteriaHysteria

WisteriaHysteria

Like I said, I guess it’s a thing! It’s definitely really happening. And it happens enough in Frontier it’s not just some disposable gag squeezed in by an episode director or something, but something intentional. I do not remember it happening more than just Ranka though. Maybe Klan too but I forget. I like to think though that the Windermere sparkle runes are somehow related. Like Protoculture genetics influenced the creation of both. At the very least, it *feels* like it’s a natural evolution of the same idea into something more meaningful in Delta.
 
Yimothy

Yimothy

Red Plane
(he/him)
I’ve reached the end of the original series. After kind of meandering for a while they certainly wrapped it up quickly. The final scene was a bit odd - Hayase just walked out of the Macross after it got rammed by the enemy ship? And is she back with Ichijo now? She deserves better after how he’s treated her. What else in the franchise is worth a look?
 
Egarwaen

Egarwaen

(He/Him)
Most of it! There’s few duds, though some shows (Macross 7) require some suspension of disbelief and accepting quirks of the format of the time. Macross Plus is probably the friendliest to the viewer.

As a warning, though, Harmony Gold’s licensing policies around Macross material make it all very difficult to find outside of Japan.
 
Falselogic

Falselogic

Lapsed Threadcromancer
(they/them)
Season 1, Episode 14 - Global Report (get it?)

Oh this is a re-cap episode. The one you told me about. Nothing new here.
 
Egarwaen

Egarwaen

(He/Him)
Falselogic said:
Season 1, Episode 14 - Global Report (get it?)

Oh this is a re-cap episode. The one you told me about. Nothing new here.
Click to expand...

There's a little bit of Global's perspective on things, but it's mainly of interest when you're already pretty deep in the series.
 
Falselogic

Falselogic

Lapsed Threadcromancer
(they/them)
Season 1, Episode 15 - China Town

You thought I forgot about this! I didn't! Just busy. But, now seems like the perfect time for a distraction!

Episode starts w/ Capt. Global heading off to the UN headquarters in Alaska (Global Warming?) Time to party for the civilians on the ship. Why would they want to leave? This is going to come back and bite them in the ass isn't it? (I know because there are like 17 more episodes to this series...)

OMG, did they really put that giant bump in Focker's sheets? Lady of the fucking Lake?! Minmay and Hikaru get some alone time on his plane for some reason. I thought maybe it was an air show as part of the celebration but they just seem to be flying around and then she fell asleep (she's a very overworked teen idol.)

Short scene between the captain and Hayase about how he knew her dad and a very large cannon.

Cut back to Hikaru and Minmay, they flew to Japan. Nice shots of Mt. Fuji, then it's back to Alaska. A conference room where for some reason none of the counselors are physically in it. Just these big wall sized screens. I mean if they were just going to have a Zoom call why bother having them physically come all the way to Alaska from the Macross? Wait, what? How could they think Minmay was dead? In wars that happened a long time ago? Also, I thought the part of town her house was in was transferred into space when the Macross used it's jump thing? What is going on? back to UN HQ and how are they refugees? These people arguably had a country/ies before they left. They could go back to those, couldn't they? Minmay fights with parents, handsome man re-enters Minmay's life. Oh, it's her cousin.

Ah, grand conspiracy. This new unified government is off to a great start... We can't just let people go home! We lied and told everyone they were dead. What, and they're still making them the Captain's problem? I mean isn't that what internment camps are for? Hard to run a giant spaceship and take car of 56k civilians... What a stupid mess!

Is cousin marrying a thing in Japanese culture? Hikaru seems bummed about the news of Kaifun joining them. Oh, and considering all the civilians are "dead" its weird how UN command didn't bother to put the entire Macross on lockdown, just let people leave if they wanted to/had a plane...

Hayase and her relationship with her dad don't seem great.
 
WisteriaHysteria

WisteriaHysteria

Falselogic said:
UN headquarters in Alaska (Global Warming?)
Click to expand...
Maybe? IMO it's more likely that Earth was completely devastated in WW3, and that they wanted to build their military HQ in somewhere safe and remote and hadn't been bombed into ground already.

Falselogic said:
I mean if they were just going to have a Zoom call why bother having them physically come all the way to Alaska from the Macross?
Click to expand...
It's been a while since I saw the show, but I'm pretty sure a large part of it is because Misa's dad wanted to get his daughter off of the ship.

Falselogic said:
Ah, grand conspiracy. This new unified government is off to a great start... We can't just let people go home! We lied and told everyone they were dead. What, and they're still making them the Captain's problem? I mean isn't that what internment camps are for? Hard to run a giant spaceship and take car of 56k civilians... What a stupid mess!
Click to expand...
They might explain it better in later episodes, but what's going on here is the UN is offering up the Macross up as a sacrificial lamb to the Zentradi. They noticed that the Zentradi's attention seems centered on the Macross, so they think that if they disassociate themselves from the Macross and its crew, that the Zentradi will leave Earth alone. It's complete nonsense of course, but that's in character for how the show views/respects military/political leadership. And this isn't the last time something like this happens in the franchise. In Macross 7, the NUN hangs the Macross 7 and her entire civilian population out to dry and orders them on a suicide mission in hopes that the Protodevilin just magically go away and don't bother the rest of the galaxy after the Macross 7 Fleet is destroyed. A similar situation happens in Macross Frontier as well, and in Delta, the NUN straight up thinks the Macross Elysium and its refugees are expendable/acceptable collateral damage.

Falselogic said:
Is cousin marrying a thing in Japanese culture?
Click to expand...
IIRC it is, and it's legal, but it's still broadly frowned upon/considered taboo by most people.
 
Falselogic

Falselogic

Lapsed Threadcromancer
(they/them)
And now it seems Amazon Video no longer has rights to SDFM. So, I'm not sure when or if I'll be finishing this. Do I get to blame whatever that latest clusterfuck deal was between all these orgs?
 
Egarwaen

Egarwaen

(He/Him)
Falselogic said:
And now it seems Amazon Video no longer has rights to SDFM. So, I'm not sure when or if I'll be finishing this. Do I get to blame whatever that latest clusterfuck deal was between all these orgs?
Click to expand...

The latest clusterfuck deal was un-clusterfucking the clusterfuck.

So you can still blame it, but it's the kind of thing that means everything will eventually be much better.
 
WisteriaHysteria

WisteriaHysteria

It's "currently unavailable" on Amazon Prime, but that youtube channel is shockingly still mostly intact right now so you could keep watching it there.
 
Falselogic

Falselogic

Lapsed Threadcromancer
(they/them)
Oh, boy it got dusty around here. Let me just wipe this thing off... Where were we?

Season 1, Episode 16 - Kung Fu Dandy

The Episode opens w/ the bridge crew complaining about the UN's decision. And well they should! Not every keen on how the show seems to show them as harpies annoying the Captain though...

How easy would it have been for Hikaru to just not fly Kaifun back with them? Seemed that would have solved his, and Minmay's, problem right there. A touching homecoming. Then we cut to the mini Zentradi who don't know how they feel about food. And are breaking into a shop to get some plastic food. Its going to be funny when they dont have any money to pay for all the food they're about to order and eat...

Cut back to the bridge crew who are going to Minmay's restaurant, which is bumping cause all of Kaifun's friends are celebrating his return. No one on the bridge seems to think this is a big break in the security they were just told about by the Captain. Just that Kaifun is cute. Oh and I guess Kaifun is giving Misa PTSD, maybe because he looks like her ex?

Kaifun is a pacifist? Now his decision to maroon himself on a military base makes even less sense! I guess, he doesn't know yet though? Security on this base really sucks. Then Minmay puts her foots right in her mouth saying "why arent you happy this military hating stranger came here" right before asking the TV be turned on so that she can watch herself on it. But its interrupted by what Im guessing is the news that no one can leave. Yup. And now everyone is real angry again. Quick, Minmay sing something to make everything better again. Nope, the folks are now attacking the bridge crew and Hikaru. This isn't going to go well, is it? bet Capt. Global wishes he had just left everyone in space now, doesn't he? Yup, it's a riot. And despite Kaifun being a pacifist he seems pretty capable in a fight, with his own friends who came to this party to see him again? Who needs enemies when you have friends like that?

Oh he knows "Chinese Kung Fu" everyone seems very impressed. Hikaru mostly seems upset that Minmay thinks it was amazing. Fuck the way Minmay just says so cheerily that Kaifun hates military people. Are any of these people real? Are they just robots?

Hardcut to the Zentradi fleet with Kamijun being as unruly as ever. Global calls an Alert and wants Misa back. The regular defense forces of Earth... Don't really do anything? Just complain about Macross. As if the Earth forces weren't the ones to put it back together and activate it? Misa is having trouble focusing on her job thinking about Kaifun or maybe her ex? Anyway it is having a negative effect on her ability to do her duties. (A side note this show is not great on the portrayal of women front. Ive said that before but man its real bad in this episode.) Oh the UN launched some missiles. They had no effect. But Kamijun isn't going to attack the planet so this must be a run on the Macross only. Valkyries launch. They also had no effect. Ah, Kamijun's plan is to get the Macross back into space. They've boarded it and now Hikaru is distracted from his job because Minmay likes her cousin so much.

A lot of Valkyrie pilots are dying. And now a second Zentradi force has arrived. And they're only targetting Kamijun and his forces. These are the Lady Zentradi. And then he retreats but not before dropping off something. And then doing a suicide run on the Macross? Hikaru starts chasing one of the Lady Zentradi fighters. The Macross prepares a Daedulus attack that punches through the enemy ship, and then releasing hordes of missiles. Some of which hit Hikaru's valkyrie. What what a cluster this whole operation is, for everyone it seems. The Zentradi ship is destroyed. Oh the something he dropped off was his ship. Still a cluster. They're no retreating on some pods they had prepared beforehand.

Misa gets confined to quarters for being bad at her job. And really needs some therapy. Some serious PTSD it seems. Hikaru is located floating in the ocean and is rushed to a hospital.

End Episode.

Seems like a lot was happening in this episode! Minmay is awful but then aren't all teenagers? Misa has some serious issues that I doubt will get worked through at all. And the Zentradi don't seem to care about operational costs!
 
Egarwaen

Egarwaen

(He/Him)
The Zentradi are bad at:

- culture
- romance
- maintenance
- accounting

Principally good at:

- being enthusiastic
- blowing things up
 
WisteriaHysteria

WisteriaHysteria

The Zentradi are basically like the Jem'Hadar, if the Founders/Vorta had managed to die out/disappear and they were just left to their own devices to ravage the galaxy for hundreds of thousands of years.

You're *almost* halfway. You just finished episode 16 of 36. Next episode is a clip episode, so you could skip it in theory if you're just really adverse to clip episodes. But I actually kinda like it because the whole thing is staged like a fever dream which makes for some hilarious results.
 
Falselogic

Falselogic

Lapsed Threadcromancer
(they/them)
Season 1, Episode 17 - Phantasm

I do love the way the singer says 'macross' in the intro song, have I said that before? Show opens with a recap of last episode's ending of Hikaru having been shot down. As Wisteria said above this is clip episode with the framing mechanism being that Hikaru is having fever dreams while in treatment for the 'multiple contusions.'

The first memory is Minmay's concert and it seems like the nth time I've had to listen to 'My Boyfriend is a Pilot.' But in this memory the concert is interrupted by one of the Zentradi abducting Minmay. Then we transition to the first time Hikaru flew one of the Valkyries, fighting with Misa, and crashing. It's been so long since I watched these earlier episodes that I can't recall if this stuff about him being a civilian trying to rescue his gf and failing really happened or if they've created a new scenario just using clips from earlier episodes and changing the dialogue. I don't have the energy to read back through my old posts to find out. Anyway, Misa not impressed with Hikaru's decision to enlist. Then we get a montage of training. Then Hikaru going on his mission to save Minmay (and we hear the intro song again here.) before failing again and someones laughing at him? Guessing these are the voices in his head because we cut back to him in the hospital, unconscious. Then he tries again in an armored Valkyrie and fails. Okay, now this is new for sure because he tries cycling into space to save Minmay, he now has a nickname of 'Crash King' seems our hero has some real insecurities about his abilities and his relationship with Minmay.

His next attempt he is accompanied by his squadmates (I had to look up their names again) and Misa. They somehow make it on to a Zentradi Ship and disguise one of the Valkyries as a Zentradi. They are discovered, abandon the Valkyrie and start to make their way on foot through the ship looking for Minmay. This is clearly a dream as a new Valkyrie materializes for Hikaru to take him to where Minmay is on the Zentradi vessel. When he finally reaches her Minmay says he cannot save her because Kaifun says she can't date soldiers. The Zentradi holding Minmay then transforms into Kaifun. Hikaru pledges to give up being a soldier. This destroy giant Kaifun and Hikaru escapes with Minmay to the tune of Zero-G Love, which I believe is a new song. There are some shenanigans. The Valkyrie then transforms into what looks like Hikaru's old plane from the first episodes. They crash on some ship? I'm not sure if this is a Zentradi or Human vessel.

Then we see Hikaru in two places at once? With Minmay in one location and with Misa in another. This is going to be a fucked up love triangle, isn't it. Talk of vast armadas and large battles. Then we get some pretty gross fan service of Minmay showering and Hikaru peeping. For fuck's sake she's 16 years old in this show. They've been stowaways for a month, there are some paparazzi taking pictures of them. This dream is going places... Another song. I vaguely recall where this footage is from. Did they really have a discussion where all Minmay wanted to be was a pop idol or a bride?! And then they playacted that they got married? It goes about as well as expected. They can't even get through a fake wedding without fighting. They kiss but then its Hikaru and Misa kissing and getting the Zentradi all excited about it.

The episode ends with Hikaru waking up and complaining about the dream. Same buddy, same =)
 
Kirin

Kirin

Summon for hire
(he/him)
I did always appreciate that Macross took an obligatory recap episode and made it into a *literal* fever dream. It's certainly not essential but it's at least way more interesting than a played-straight recap.
 
Falselogic

Falselogic

Lapsed Threadcromancer
(they/them)
Back on my bullshit again. I'm going to finish this.

Season 1, Episode 18 - Pineapple Salad

Hikaru is still in the hospital recovering from the battle where he was shot down (Episode 16). Due to the nature of his injuries the doctors want him to stay longer (head wounds) Misa shows up with flowers. I can only assume to apologize for nearly getting him killed. She does! Hikaru at first doesnt believe it and then says its really his fault for not being a better pilot. Which is insane, must be the head wounds. She then leaves abruptly because she's not allowed to be away from the bridge unsupervised. Hiakru thanks her for the flowers. She seems equally as stunned at his saying "thank you" as he was when she said "I'm sorry."

Misa returns to the bridge where her co-worker, Claudia, asks how the "boy" is doing and tells her to stop moping since the injuries aren't that bad. She also talks about how when she first met Focker she also was smitten and couldn't stop thinking about him. Misa tries to deny that is what is going on. Hikaru is visited by his wingmates and Focker. They give him a gift. Tease him some and then leave. Hikaru sulks about how big a star Minmay is. Focker schemes with Claudia to get Minmay to see Hikaru. The titular pineapple salad is mentioned.

Cut to a street market stand where walking, singing Minmay dolls are being premiered. There is a rush on them. Our three Zentradi in disguise manage to steal one and flee. Into the arms of three young ladies complaining about the quality of men found at discos. And then get dragged to said Disco (where they lied and said they worked). Quick cut to Zentradi space where the Ace Male pilot and the Ace Female pilot are bickering. It mostly seems like his ego is bruised from having to be saved by her. And we cut to Focker finding Minmay on a movie set. He asks her to see Hikaru she agrees her cousin spouts some anti-soldier rubbish. A scramble is called. Hikaru is not told. His team flies with Focker's. The assault on the Macross is merely so Milia, the Zentradi ace pilot can take on Max, who I didn't realize was the Macross's Ace Pilot (I would have thought it was Focker or Hikaru. Once they realize Max is being targeted he is ordered to retreat

Cut to Hikaru in the hospital. Minmay walks in. Apologizes that she didnt have time to get a gift and tells Hikaru that Focker told her about Hikaru being injured. Minmay complains about how busy she is before passing out on Hikaru's bed. He seems mostly concerned whether Kaifun is around. Back to the skirmish. Focker is shot. And an enemy Zentradi approaches the Macross with Max in pursuit. Alarms on the Macross are scrambled as they close off entrances. Hikaru hears the sirens and tries to get up. Milia gets into the Macross followed by Max. Hikaru can only watch from his hospital bed room. Max repels Milia, who vows revenge. Something seems wrong with Focker. Minmay's manager finds her on the hospital bed and complains about how she ruined the whole schedule and drags her away.

We see Focker's ship pull in. The crew says its real beat up. When they look in the cockpit they just gasp. We cut to Claudia's place, Focker is playing guitar while she prepares the pineapple salad. He talks up Max. Then collapses. Three bloody red holes are revealed in his back. Next we see him in a hospital bed with Claudia crying over him. Misa bursts into Hikaru's room to tell him Focker is dead. The model plane Hikaur was playing with is dropped and breaks. I think this is the gift that Focker brought him earlier that day?

Damn, this episode had a lot happen in it! It certainly was more enjoyable then the couple before it. I wasn't expecting Focker's death at all. UI feel that Minmay is being abused by her Manager maybe they dont have child protection laws in the space future. I can only imagine what "culture" the three Zentradi spies are going to find at a discotheque

Guess I'll find out when I tune in next time!
 
Kirin

Kirin

Summon for hire
(he/him)
And thus, “pine salad” became Otaku-ese for sudden major character death.
 
Falselogic

Falselogic

Lapsed Threadcromancer
(they/them)
I was feeling good going into this weekend was planning to pick this up again and power through.

Except it appears that the series doesn't appear to be streaming any where anymore?! Come on!
 
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