36. Farewell to Tenderness/To the Stars.

Hikaru is torn between the life he once
wanted and the one he's come to know.

Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Farewell to Tenderness

Original Air Date: June 26, 1983.
Written by: Shôji Kawamori. Directed by: Noboru Ishiguro, Ryô Yasumura.

Robotech: To the Stars

Original Air Date: Apr. 22, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.


PLOT - MACROSS:

Minmay, now living with Hikaru, presses him to resign from the military. Misa is also considering resigning, unable to bear the thought of seeing Hikaru every day while he forges a life with Minmay. Then Admiral Global offers Misa a new assignment: To take command of a new battle fortress that's currently under construction. Her remit will be to spread human culture among the stars, so that civilization will survive even if another attack comes.

Meanwhile, Kamujin has completed repairs to his ship. He takes off with a very specific target in mind: The Macross!


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

Minmei, now living with Rick, presses him to resign from the military, but he clearly doesn't want to; as Roy once told him, "this Robotech stuff gets in your blood." He finds himself reflecting on Lisa, musing that she would understand...

Lisa is also considering resigning, unable to bear the thought of seeing Rick every day and feeling that she is in no condition for duty in her current state. Then Admiral Gloval offers her a new assignment: To take command of a new battle fortress that's already been constructed. Her remit will be to find the Robotech Masters and destroy their capacity to make war, in order to preserve the future of humanity - and she leaves tomorrow!

Meanwhile, Khyron has completed repairs to his ship. He takes off, planning to head to deep space and rejoin the Robotech Masters. Before he leaves, however, he plans to take his revenge by destroying a very specific target: The SDF-1!

The three leads air their viewpoints in the midst of battle.
But in Robotech, Minmay doesn't seem to have a point.

CHARACTERS:

To the Stars continues the trend of Robotech's epilogue arc: It engages in yet more character assassination of Minmay. Macross's Minmay is going through a personal crisis, but she also is generally maturing. By the end of the series, she is ready to find her "real songs" on her own, without her family, Kaifun, or even Hikaru shielding or controlling her. In Robotech... Minmei is a petulant child pretty much the whole way through.

It is understandable that the writers wanted to push the audience toward the Rick/Lisa relationship. But I suspect most Macross viewers already preferred the Hikaru/Misa pairing (I certainly did). Misa comes across as better for Hikaru not because Minmay is a spoiled child, but because life has taken him in a direction where Minmay is no longer a good fit for him as a partner. And, yes, there certainly are Macross viewers who prefer Minmay; but allowing for discussion, debate, and differing audience opinions is not a bad thing. Regressing one of the main characters to the point that she's actually less mature in the series' final episodes than she was in the early ones? That is a bad thing.

Advantage: Macross.


NARRATION:

The Macross episode plays out without narration, while the Robotech episode leans heavily on that crutch. In Robotech's defense, story changes to accommodate the next two series make some of this necessary. But there are also several points at which the narrator literally tells us what is happening on screen, with the usual internal voice overs added for good measure. In the final episode of "The Macross Saga," Robotech continues with its most annoying trend: being terrified of any moment of silence.

Advantage: Macross.

Kamujin attacks for the sake of attacking.
Robotech's Khyron actually has a goal.

CUTS AND ALTERATIONS:

Hikaru and Minmay vs. Rick and Minmei: In Macross, Minmay is disappointed that Hikaru hasn't made up his mind yet about leaving the military. She talks about how much she wishes they could go back to how things were when they first met, before she was a singer and he was a soldier. This reinforces one of the episode's major themes, of the futility of wishing for a past that's already gone. Robotech simplifies the scene by having her push him to quit, then asking him to marry her and pressing for an immediate answer. It more or less accomplishes the same narrative task, but there's no thematic resonance - and this interaction makes Robotech's Minmei come off far worse than Macross's version.

Khyron Wants to Join the Robotech Masters: It's been several episodes since the Robotech Masters were last mentioned, and the show is literally one episode from starting the "Masters Saga." Thus, while Macross's Kamujin just wants to attack the Macross to lash out destructively, Robotech's Khyron has a larger goal - destroy the SDF-1, then take the ship to space to rejoin the Masters. Thus reminding viewers that the Masters exist and are still coming.

The Admiral's Plan: In Macross, Admiral Global wants humanity to spread out to the stars in part as a survival plan: Should the Zentradi or another alien menace appear, humanity simply could not survive another blow if it's all gathered on one world, so he wants to seed the galaxy to make sure that doesn't happen. In Robotech, his plan is more militaristic. He wants to track "the Robotech forces" back to their home world and destroy "their capacity for making war." This seems rather aggressive and likely to bring down the very attack he fears. It's also overambitious, given that humanity would certainly be both heavily outnumbered and technologically outmatched.

Misa/Lisa's New Assignment: Global wants Misa to command a ship that's under construction. Robotech's Gloval is putting Lisa in charge of a ship that's already been completed, with orders to "leave tomorrow." That change is as senseless as it is unintentionally hilarious. Given the scale of the mission, she needs months of prep time to: (a) make both short-term and long-term mission plans; (b) select crew members and assign them to their best roles; (c) familiarize herself with the specs of the new ship and take it for a couple test flights; (d) make sure all logistics regarding supplies are taken care of, with suitable backups in case of emergencies... and probably about a hundred other things that I don't even know to think of. Misa has time for all that, since her ship is still being built. Lisa leaves tomorrow on a long-term, complex mission on a ship she didn't even previously know existed. Frankly, Lisa should refuse on the spot; "Sir, if you want to kill me, wouldn't it be a lot more efficient to just shoot me here and dump my body in the water?"

Misa Describes Her Assignment to Hikaru: A small but critical difference occurs in the scene in which Misa tells Hikaru about her assignment. In Robotech, Lisa just talks about the strategic value of finding the Robotech Masters. In Macross, Misa discusses Global's deep space settlement plan and notes that the mission is to spread culture, "not to kill" - which strikes a chord with Hikaru, who has struggled with his affinity for military life vs. his distaste for killing. The Macross line is so effective, both on a character and thematic level, that this change really harms the American version.

Arguing in the Midst of Battle: Also changed is the scene in which Hikaru and Misa talk with Minmay. In the original, when Minmay tries to stop Hikaru from joining the battle, Misa stops her by asking who she sings for, and then adding that she and Hikaru fight for the same reason that Minmay sings. After Minmay protests again, Hikaru announces that he is a soldier and has to "protect you... and the city." Robotech completely changes this. Now Minmei now spouts off about "war, devastation, and battle after battle," all to set up Rick and Lisa lecturing her like a small child. In the process, an extremely good scene is transformed into a rather bad one.

The SDF-2: In Macross, there is only the one battle fortress, with Misa's ship something that's only starting construction. In Robotech, the SDF-2 is already finished, which is folded into the climax. While Kamujin only has one ship to attack, Khyron's first assault is on the SDF-2, which he destroys before the SDF-1 is able to fight back. I actually think this is a good change. Given how devastating the first attack appears to be, it seems odd that the Macross doesn't seem to be particularly damaged by it, something that's addressed by Robotech's new context. However, the effectiveness of this change has one big limitation: the actual artwork and animation, which only ever shows a single battle fortress.

Lisa Survives Because of an Ejection Module: In Macross, Misa survives the battle, with the fates of the rest of the bridge crew left unresolved (sequels would later clarify that everyone survived). Robotech is actually bleaker here. Admiral Gloval pushes Lisa into an ejection module, allowing her to survive... while a bunch of other characters we've followed over the past 36 episodes died.

The Final Conversation with Minmay: In Macross, Minmay declares that she will start over and create new songs that will be more meaningful than her old ones. She then asks Misa for permission to join her when her ship takes off on its mission to bring human culture to the stars. In Robotech, Minmei puts on a brave face when Rick chooses Lisa and promises to have new songs ready when they return to Earth - which means that unlike her Japanese counterpart, Robotech's Minmei does not intend to join them in their voyage.

Advantage: Macross


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

Though the Robotech score is well applied in the final battle scene, overall I thought Macross made more effective use of its music. This is particularly true of the emotional confrontation among Hikaru, Misa, and Minmay. Macross's score underlines this as a character-focused scene, drawing the viewer's attention to the mindsets of the three principals. Above all, it is an emotional moment, as all three get to say their piece eloquently.

Robotech scores the same scene with its signature "tense music." This shifts viewer attention away from the emotion of the conversation (which has been dumbed down anyway). The music basically tells us that what matters is the battle, so Minmei delaying Rick and Lisa is an annoyance. Instead of drawing us into the characters in this moment, the score instead has us mentally telling them to hurry up and get to the fighting.

To say that I found the Robotech version of the scene to be less memorable would be an understatement. Yes, a lot of that has to do with the writing - but the way the music is applied also takes away from the moment.

Advantage: Macross.

The Super Dimension Fortress Macross makes its final stand.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE: MACROSS:

As with many elements across the two series, the most significant thing about the changes is the way they shift the focus. The Macross episode is heavily centered around the characters of Hikaru, Misa, and Minmay. The Robotech episode focuses far more on Plot... and to give credit where it's due, many of the actual plot changes are for the better.

I genuinely prefer Khyron's subplot in Robotech, because Khyron actually has a goal while Kamujin is just lashing out for the sake of it. I also think the destruction of the SDF-2 during Khyron's first pass makes clear how devastating the attack is. In both of these instances, the Robotech changes strengthen the plot.

Unfortunately, everything else is much weaker. Farewell to Tenderness has a strong sense of thematic unity, with a script that is very much about bringing the series full circle. Minmay wants to return to the way things were when she first met Hikaru at the series' start, but Hikaru just isn't the same person (really, neither of them are). Misa pitches the space mission to Hikaru as having a goal to spread culture and not kill, which speaks to his series-long dilemma of wanting to protect while at the same time hating violence. The episode's final Act sees the Macross crew back on the original bridge - during an attack that bears more than a passing resemblance to the one in the opening episodes. There's a strong sense throughout of the series' finale echoing its premiere, with the echoes showing the ways the characters have changed in the intervening years.

Much of this is lost in Robotech. Minmei no longer talks about wanting things to be the way they used to be. Lisa doesn't say anything about the mission being one of peace... not least because the writers have changed the mission from a peaceful one to a hyper-aggressive pre-emptive strike. Hikaru resolves his dilemma when he announces that he's a soldier and has to protect Minmay and the city. Rick has already made his decision before the episode even opens, with him musing about preferring Lisa to Minmei in his very first scene. Some of the themes are still present for those who want to search for them - but they are considerably weaker and pushed to the background, and they don't resonate the same way as a result.

Snowfall or ash? Hikaru and Misa stand in the wake of the battle.

OTHER MUSINGS:

In the first episode of Super Dimension Fortress Macross, Hikaru scorned Roy's pride in being "a killer." Throughout the series, he has wrestled with a distaste for violence. Here, he finds an answer - in Misa's promise of a mission whose goal is peaceful, and in his own realization that he finds meaning in protecting those he cares about. Like the series itself, it's rich in both theme and character... though like much of the epilogue arc, the actual episodic story feels a bit thin.

Robotech has largely been a series more focused on plot mechanics than on the characters. This shows in its adaptation of the finale, which loses much of thematic strength and flattens out the layered characterizations... but at the same time, also makes the standalone plot a bit stronger by giving Khyron an actual long-term goal. While the wholesale creation of an SDF-2 is a bit strained, its destruction means that Khyron's assault does tangible damage, and Rick's and Lisa's determination to rebuild manages to be a pretty good thematic fit with the entire epilogue arc.

In short, each finale ends up being appropriate to its series. Each version's strengths reflect the strengths and priorities of the series as a whole - Macross with character and thematic depth, Robotech with plot. Since themes and characters tend to stick with me long after plot mechanics have been forgotten, I prefer Macross - but it's still interesting to see how differently the same story plays out with just a handful of shifts in focus. 


Overall Rating - Macross: 8/10.

Overall Rating - Robotech: 7/10.


Macross/Macross Saga Overview (not yet posted)

Previous Episode: Romanesque/Season's Greetings
Next Episode: Dana's Story (not yet reviewed)

Review Index

To receive new review updates, follow me:

On Twitter:

Follow @RandomMusings09

On Threads:

Follow@randommusings09 on Threads

35. Romanesque/Season's Greetings.

A depressed Minmay shows up at Hikaru's door.

Original Air Date: June 19, 1983.
Written by: Sukehiro Tomita. Directed by: Noboru Ishiguro, Fumihiko Takayama.

Robotech: Season's Greetings

Original Air Date: Apr. 19, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.


PLOT - MACROSS:

It's almost Christmas, and Minmay is depressed. In the wake of Kaifun's departure, she no longer wants to sing, and she flees from the recognition of her fans. With nowhere else to go, she shows up at Hikaru's door, begging him to let her stay - an interaction observed by Misa, who is heartbroken that her rival is now moving in with the man she loves.

Meanwhile, Kamujin and his renegade Zentradi are in the process of repairing his battle cruiser, using the skills taught to them by the humans. They are able to get many of the ship's systems working, but they will need a new reflex engine to get it fully operational. Kamujin orders an attack on the city, not only to steal what he needs, but also to deliver the humans a Christmas they will never forget!


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

It's almost Christmas, and Minmei is depressed. In the wake of Kyle's departure, she no longer wants to sing, and she flees from the recognition of her fans. With nowhere else to go, she shows up at Rick's door, begging him to let her stay - an interaction observed by Lisa, who is heartbroken that her rival is now moving in with the man she loves.

Meanwhile, Khyron and his renegade Zentraedi are in the process of repairing his battle cruiser. Much to Khyron's displeasure, his men report that they won't be able to complete the repairs unless they obtain more protoculture. Khyron orders an attack on the city, not only to steal what he needs, but also to deliver the humans a Christmas they will never forget!

It's hard work being the villain. Fortunately, Kamujin
enjoys his job... and Khyron really loves it.

CHARACTERS:

After the mess that was the last episode, the characters are thankfully back to being themselves. The episode focuses heavily on the same romantic triangle, but at least Hikaru, Misa, and Minmay are back to being likable - all of them flawed in their own ways, but all of them also fundamentally decent human beings.

The three leads are all characterized similarly in both Macross and Robotech. As usual, however, there are noticeable differences between the characterizations of Macross's Kamujin and Robotech's Khyron. Kamujin is intent on his goals, and he is absolutely the villain; but he also is an experienced commander who trusts what his men tell him. By contrast, when one of Khyron's subordinates gives him bad news about needing protoculture for the ship's engines, he goes full movie maniac, instantly threatening the man's life. When Macross's Kamujin breaks off the end attack, he simply radios instructions to his men. Not Khyron, though! He breaks off the attack to send a transmission to the city, gloating.

Simply put: Kamujin is a villain because of the things he does. Khyron actively pursues being visibly evil, and he seems to need to remind us of how evil he is every time he so much as breathes. I actually find Khyron to be fun - but while Kamujin is a fully realized character, Khyron is Batman's Joker if he was an alien.

Advantage: Macross.


NARRATION:

As with the past several installments, the Macross episode features no narration. The Robotech episode has quite a bit, with some internal monologues added on top of that. As with other character-focused episodes, it's clear that there was nervousness about some of the younger members of the audience following all of the emotional arcs.

Advantage: Macross.

Misa consoles herself by getting drunk at a bar,
something that's de-emphasized in Robotech.

CUTS AND ALTERATIONS:

Khyron Needs "Protoculture" Instead of an Engine: In Macross, a reflex engine is required for the renegade Zentradi to complete repairs on their ship. When his engineer tells him that he cannot complete repairs as is, Kamujin accepts this without argument, because he knows that his subordinate is simply telling him the situation. In Robotech, the Zentraedi require "protoculture" - aka, the all-purpose MacGuffin that powers literally everything. Oh, and when Khyron is told that repairs are impossible without it, he snaps that this simple reality is "not good enough." Because unlike Kamujin, Khyron is an idiot.

Rick Thinks About Lisa: When the snowfall starts while he's leaving the base, Rick begins musing about how he was with Lisa the last time it snowed. This internal monologue does not appear in Macross, and I suspect it was added to push Rick's connection with Lisa in an episode that otherwise focuses on his relationship with Minmei.

Rick Accuses Minmei of Self-Pity: The first conversation between Hikaru and Minmay is mostly the same in both versions... with one notable exception. In Macross, Hikaru listens to Minmay and tries to comfort her as best he can. In Robotech, Rick calls Minmei out on her self-pity. This is a change that I like. Rick is 100% correct (and Macross Minmay is just as guilty of self-pity), and he's actually being a better friend by making her confront that. Score one for Robotech.

Misa Is Hungover; Lisa Is "Not Feeling Well": A minor change that I suspect comes down to mid-'80s US broadcast standards and practices. The Macross episode makes references to Misa being hungover after seeing Hikaru and Minmay together. Robotech deletes all references to a hangover. This has the effect of making Kim and Sammie's furtive conversation incoherent, and I'm not sure why it wasn't just removed.

Kamujin Orders His Men to Deliver His "Christmas Present," While Khyron Personally Gloats to the City: In both versions, Kamujin/Khyron leaves the city with a particularly nasty "Christmas present." In Macross, he radios his men to deliver it. In Robotech, he does the gloating villain thing by announcing it to the city before he leaves.

Advantage: Macross


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

Both series use their scores to good effect. Robotech probably has the edge in the late episode action scenes, but Macross's score is better for the earlier character material. Neither has any musical moments that feel misjudged, so it works out to a wash.

Advantage: None.

Just in case you forgot this was a Christmas episode...

OVERALL ADVANTAGE: MACROSS:

This time it's a close call, as both versions are good. Macross wins out mainly because of the villain. Robotech's Khyron has always been more overt in his villainy than Macross's Kamujin... and readers of these reviews know that there have been several times that I've found Khyron's camp to be more fun than Kamujin's grim determination. This time, however, Khyron is pushed too far into silent movie villain territory. Yes, by all means threaten the man who's telling you what is required to get your ship working, because that will make the engine all better.

Also, the Robotech episode loses the irony of this situation. Kamujin and his men are repairing the ship using the very skills taught to them by the humans... in order to wage war against the humans. I can't possibly think of any real-world situations this might parallel. It's an effective moment in the Macross episode, one that Robotech completely overwrites in favor of more Technobabble about protoculture.


OTHER MUSINGS:

Romanesque is a nice recovery from the abysmal episode-long character assassination that was Private Time. Hikaru, Misa, and Minmay are back to being themselves; and while the love triangle has never been my favorite part of the show, the script does a fine job of juggling that and the action story without ever losing focus on either strand.

It also represents a moment of truth for Hikaru. In the first part of the series, he disdained the military and desperately wanted to be with Minmay. By the end of this episode, Minmay has come to him, clearly wanting to be with him, and is asking him to quit the military. In short, his dream has been delivered - and in the next episode, I suspect he will conclude that he no longer wants what he once yearned for.


Overall Rating: 7/10.

Previous Episode: Private Time
Next Episode: Farewell to Tenderness/To the Stars

Review Index

To receive new review updates, follow me:

On Twitter:

Follow @RandomMusings09

On Threads:

Follow@randommusings09 on Threads

34. Private Time.

Misa waits for Hikaru, who is late for very stupid reasons...

Original Air Date - Super Dimension Fortress Macross: June 12, 1983.
Written by: Hiroshi Ônogi. Directed by: Noboru Ishiguro.

Original Air Date - Robotech: Apr. 18, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.


PLOT - MACROSS:

When Hikaru asks her out on a picnic date, Misa is so excited that she rushes early to the coffee shop that is their meeting place and settles in to wait patiently. But Hikaru is an imbecile. When Minmay calls him up out of the blue to ask him to meet her, he agrees - leaving Misa to continue waiting at the coffee shop and wonder what happened to him.

As fair reward for his stupidity, Hikaru has a truly terrible time. His date with Minmay is interrupted by Kaifun. He has arranged a last-minute concert appearance specifically to break them up, and he isn't above being an abusive lout to make sure he gets his way. When Hikaru tries to get back to Misa, he is stymied by an attack by Zentradi rebels. Breaking that up is no problem, but it makes him even later than he is already.

But at least Minmay gifted him with a nifty scarf...


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

Lisa is thrilled when Rick asks her out on a picnic date, so much so that she waits patiently when she arrives on time to their coffee shop meeting place, with him nowhere to be seen. Rick is late for a very simple reason: He's an idiot. Minmei called him out of the blue to ask him to meet her, and he agreed - leaving Lisa alone at the coffee shop, wondering what might have happened to him.

As fair reward for his stupidity, Rick has a truly terrible time. His date with Minmei is interrupted by Kyle - and while he may be an abusive jerk, he isn't wrong to wonder why she has blown off the press conference he had gone to so much trouble to set up. After Kyle drags her out to meet her professional obligations, Rick runs into more trouble: an attack by Zentraedi rebels. Breaking that up is no problem, but it makes him even later than he is already.

Still, at least Minmei gifted him with a nifty scarf...

Hikaru meets Minmay and proceeds to have a really lousy time.

CHARACTERS:

In this episode, Hikaru - our hero - comes across as almost as much of a lout as Kaifun. All he has to do is to politely but firmly tell Minmay that he's already made a commitment for the day, and to offer to meet her the next day. But Hikaru has somehow missed every '80s sitcom episode that shows what a bad idea it is to try to have two dates simultaneously, with predictable results.

This is made even worse in Robotech, as Rick tells Minmei that he was meeting a male friend who was fine by changing plans. Hikaru's behavior was already bad enough; why make Rick's even worse? Voice actor Tony Oliver tries to offset this by adopting an air of affable cluelessness... but honestly, in this episode, Rick is just a jerk (and Hikaru, in the original, is barely any better).

The single biggest difference in characterization is Minmay. She's finally decided that she does love Hikaru and wants to make up for lost time. Sure, she should have called in advance rather than expecting him to drop everything and come to her. Still, given the limits of what she actually knows (which does not include Hikaru's budding relationship with Misa), none of her behavior is actively unreasonable - just a little self-centered and thoughtless, in a way that's entirely consistent with how she's been characterized in other episodes.

Robotech does everything short of inserting shots of Minmei drowning kittens to make sure that she comes across as badly as possible. She is whiny and petulant, complaining about her fame and the annoyance of being recognized. She is rude to the waiter at the restaurant (in Macross, the same interaction comes across as teasing and good-humored; in Robotech, she's borderline belligerent). Then Kyle arrives, and the entire context of him pulling her away from the date is changed to make her seem selfish and irresponsible.

Yes, I know the writers were putting their thumbs on the scale to make sure viewers were invested in Rick/Lisa and not Rick/Minmei. But this is nothing short of deliberate character assassination, and it's not even the first time Robotech has done this.

Advantage: Macross.


NARRATION:

The Robotech version adds narration to several sequences and also adds extra internal monologues. I'm not entirely sure why. This episode has so little plot, kids would be more likely to fall asleep than to get confused by anything.

Advantage: Macross.

Kaifun breaks up the date. In Robotech, he's arguably in the right.

CUTS AND ALTERATIONS:

Misa Is Early to the Date; Lisa Isn't: In Macross, Misa thinks nothing of it when Hikaru isn't at the coffee shop, given that she arrived early. In Robotech, Lisa is instantly concerned because Rick is already late. Macross allows Misa's concern and frustration to build, while her early arrival also emphasizes how much this date means to her. The alterations mean that Lisa's worry begins to early, leaving little room for it to build in the rest of the episode. There's also an unintended side effect: Since Rick is already late when Lisa arrives, that implies that she is also late!

Minmay and the Waiter: A serious conversation between Minmay and Hikaru is interrupted by the waiter serving their wine. In Macross, Minmay wonders why he's serving them so early, and he responds that young people are always in a hurry. This exchange comes across as good-natured, sort of half-grousing/half-joking. In Robotech, Minmei is genuinely annoyed by the interruption, with the waiter snarking back about how "movie stars always complain."

Kaifun vs. Kyle: In Macross, Kaifun arrives to break up the date with a last-minute concert that he's drummed up, and it's obvious to all that he's done this specifically to separate Minmay and Hikaru. When Minmay balks, Kaifun becomes abusive, splashing water in her face and all but dragging her out. There is no reading of the scene in which he's anything but horrible, or in which she's anything but a victim.

But Robotech is so laser-focused on making us hate Minmei, the context is changed so that the abusive cousin/boyfriend now comes off as better than his victim. Kyle has already arranged, in advance, a press conference which she has blown off. Now she really is ignoring her professional obligations; and in this new context, her responses are those of a sulky child. It's bad enough as a scene in its own right; when viewed side-by-side with the Macross scene, the changes are nothing short of jaw-dropping.

The Bridge Crew Responds Differently to Misa's Phone Call: After Hikaru continues to not show, Misa calls the ship to find out if he has an official reason for missing their date. In Macross, this leads to an argument among the bridge crew, with Kim and Shammy bullying their male co-worker (again) until he finally snaps back at them. Disgusted by all of this, Misa hangs up. In Robotech, the bridge crew grows incensed about Rick standing Lisa up, and she hangs up in embarrassment.

Hikaru Gets Betrayed By His New Scarf: Hikaru finally reaches Misa in time to walk her home. It's cold, so he wraps the scarf around her - only for her to discover a couple's monogram for Hikaru and Minmay. Robotech has to cut the shot, since "H. I." doesn't exactly match up with "Rick Hunter," so in this version Lisa recognizes Minmei's perfume instead. My thanks to Gubaba Blog for pointing this out, as I missed it when first posting this review.

Kaifun's Farewell Speech is Better-Written than Kyle's: The episode ends with Kaifun saying farewell to Minmay. In Macross, he gives a speech about wanting to hear a song from her that has real kindness. In Robotech, he complains about her wasting her gifts. Kaifun's speech is better written... but in either version, who cares? The entire epilogue arc has painted him as a selfish, abusive lout, and allowing him even an inch of moral high ground feels incredibly wrong in both variants. Ah, well - At least he finally seems to be gone for good.

Advantage: Macross


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

Macross again uses incidental versions of Minmay's songs as counterpoints to the (would-be) emotional moments, while Robotech recycles its standard cues. Both are fine, and honestly even a compositional masterpiece wouldn't have saved this episode. I'm going to give the nod to Robotech this time thanks to the episode's one action scene, which at least allows the American version to break out the bombast for a few entertaining minutes.

Advantage: Robotech.

Misa meets the episode's only well-written character.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE: MACROSS:

I found this to be a bad episode in either version. Macross is slightly better, mainly because the Robotech episode performs an all-out character assassination on Minmei. Still, it's only better in the way that being punched in the stomach is preferable to being kicked in the groin. Both are painful experiences best avoided - one just hurts a little bit more than the other.


OTHER MUSINGS:

A Rainy Night was a fine character episode that advanced the central relationship while also being consistently enjoyable. Private Time seems to want to answer the question: "What if we do that again, but this time make all the characters stupid and obnoxious?"

This episode's sole purpose seems to be to pad out the episode count. By the end of its 25 minutes, the only things that have changed are: (1) the progress in the Hikaru/Misa relationship from the last episode has been undone; and (2) Kaifun is gone. And while that second item is cause for celebration, it can't make up for how irritating the rest is.

The script treats its characters horribly. Hikaru has never come across worse, being not only indecisive but inconsiderate to both of his potential love interests. First he stands up Misa, then he just sits there like a useless lump as Kaifun roughly grabs Minmay's wrist and thows a drink in her face. Misa has been possessed by the spirit of a hapless doormat. Even in the Macross version, Minmay is heedless of others, and in Robotech she's rude on top of that. Oh, and Kaifun is given a farewell speech that seems to want to make him sympathetic. Because what terrible episode could be complete without granting an abuser the moral high ground?

I had previously regarded Global Report as the series' weakest installment, and that had the excuse of being a standard clip show. Well, Private Time is worse, using a tedious sitcom plot as a vehicle to make the main characters as unlikable as possible.


Overall Rating: 1/10.

Previous Episode: A Rainy Night
Next Episode: Romanesque/Season's Greetings

Review Index

To receive new review updates, follow me:

On Twitter:

Follow @RandomMusings09

On Threads:

Follow@randommusings09 on Threads

33. A Rainy Night.

Claudia recalls the turning point in her relationship with Roy.

Original Air Date - Super Dimension Fortress Macross: June 5, 1983.
Written by: Hiroyuki Hoshiyama. Directed by: Noboru Ishiguro, Tatsuya Kasahara.

Original Air Date - Robotech: Apr. 17, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.


PLOT - MACROSS:

Misa feels guilty after using her rank to separate Hikaru and Minmay. When she attempts to apologize, Hikaru responds with scorn that borders on open hostility. That night, during a rainstorm, a miserable Misa finds her way to Claudia's house, where her friend fills her in on the start of her own relationship with Roy, which was a lot rockier than Misa had believed...


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

Lisa feels guilty after using her authority as mission commander to separate Rick and Minmei. When she attempts to apologize, Rick responds with scorn that borders on open hostility. That night, during a rainstorm, a miserable Lisa finds her way to Claudia's house, where her friend fills her in on the start of her own relationship with Roy, which was a lot rockier than Lisa had believed...

Claudia shares her story with Misa.

CHARACTERS:

The episode draws heavy parallels between Claudia's relationship with Roy and Misa's would-be relationship with Hikaru. The connection between past Claudia and present Misa works quite well. In flashbacks, we see Claudia responding to Roy's flirtations with protests about appropriate behavior while on duty, which seems very much like the Misa of the present. Roy and Hikaru are less obviously alike; Roy actively pursued Claudia, while Hikaru mainly seems willfully oblivious to Misa's feelings. Still, some similarities become apparent in the final scene of the flashback. When Roy drops his playboy facade and honestly discusses his insecurities, it isn't hard to imagine Hikaru saying (or at least feeling) the same things.

Advantage: None.


NARRATION:

The Macross version is narration-free, and Claudia narrates only as much of the flashback as is necessary for viewers to reliably follow along.

Sadly, the same cannot be said of Robotech. Action-light episodes always seems to make the Robotech writers extra nervous, and the narrator just won't shut up. Worse, some of the narration sounds as if it's been ripped out of a Harlequin romance. In Macross, it's enough to see a distraught Misa running in the rain. In Robotech, the narrator has to tell us that she is "no longer able to distinguish between the rain and her tears."

When narrating the flashback, Robotech Claudia also gets in on the act, telling Lisa that because she was meeting Roy, the "heavy rain outside became a light spring shower." And I go from being genuinely involved in the character story to rolling my eyes at the purple prose. The Macross episode stays out of the way of the story and trusts the viewers to feel the emotions; the Robotech version overeggs the major emotional beats, which actually gets in the way of what we're meant to be feeling.

Advantage: Macross.

Hikaru and Misa walk in the rain. Their conversation
is a lot more on-the-nose in Robotech.

CUTS AND ALTERATIONS:

The Tea: The episode begins with Claudia giving Misa a container of herbal tea to reconcile with Hikaru. Macross uses this to do some subtle world building, with both of them noting how rare this kind of tea is after the devastation of the final battle and Claudia admitting to having used her connections to stockpile it. This makes the tea into its own thread in the Macross episode, while the Robotech episode makes it seem like something that can just be purchased at the local grocery.

Rick Complains About His Patrol: Hikaru/Rick is first seen landing at the end of a patrol. In Macross, all indications are that this was a standard patrol, increasing Hikaru's annoyance when Misa asks him to report to her. In Robotech, Rick complains about this having been a "grueling" patrol. Perhaps the Robotech writers were trying to half-excuse his spiteful behavior by emphasizing his exhaustion.

The Bridge Crew Bullies Their Male Co-Worker: In Macross, Vanessa, Kim, and Shammy bully their male co-worker when he dares to laugh at their banter. This is meant to be comical, but it mainly makes them horribly unlikable; call me crazy, but workplace harassment isn't any funnier when it's woman-to-man than when it's the other way around. Robotech changes the scene, which should be a good thing... except that the replacement dialogue doesn't remotely fit with the young man's reactions. Really, this bit should have just been removed entirely.

Misa Gulps Down Wine: Both versions see her asking Claudia for "something stronger" than tea. In Macross, we see Misa gulp down two glasses in a matter of seconds. Robotech de-emphasizes this, I suspect because of the after-school weekday timeslot.

Roy's Banter with Claudia: In Macross, Roy first asks Claudia on a date during a mission, rattling her. Robotech inexplicably replaces this with some generic bravado about how "fun" combat is, with Roy dedicating his last kill to her.

Hikaru and Misa Talk About Tea: Macross circles back to the tea at the end. Misa suggests she and Hikaru share it. When Hikaru expresses regret at having no sugar. she assures him that all they need is hot water. Robotech eliminates this, instead having Lisa bluntly say that they need to talk seriously, because young audiences can't possibly be trusted to intuit what the entire last half hour has been about.

Advantage: Macross


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

Macross's incidentals, some of which are instrumental versions of Minmay songs, are extremely effective and fit the low-key nature of this episode. By contrast, Robotech's more bombastic score, which often boosts action heavy installments, is badly out of place in this quiet little character piece.

Advantage: Macross.

An angry Hikaru berates Misa.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE: MACROSS:

A Rainy Night is a fine episode in either version. Though the narration in Robotech stifles a few moments, the actual dialogue is pretty good. I suspect the staff writers recognized that: (a) this was a good episode whose adaptation deserved more attention; and (b) that as a purely character-based episode, the dialogue needed to flow well for it to work. As a result, the Rick/Lisa story in Robotech works almost as well as the Hikaru/Misa one in Macross. It helps that all four main voice actors seem to be enjoying the more substantial script, delivering excellent performances.

That said, the American show still sands away several interesting details, notably the little sub-thread about the tea. The Macross episode ends with Hikaru and Misa walking through the rain, talking a little too earnestly about tea, one senses very specifically doing so to avoid talking about other things. This is in character (these are somewhat emotionally closed off characters) and it's rather charming. Meanwhile, the Robotech version replaces the tea discussion with Lisa telling Rick they have to talk seriously. It's fine as a scene in itself... but it feels very on the nose, and it isn't charming at all.

The Robotech version is still a good character piece. But as usual, particularly with character-based episode, the Macross version is simply better.

Roy parties with young female officers,
leaving Claudia feeling humiliated.

OTHER MUSINGS:

The flashbacks not only allow us to spend more time with Roy, one of the series' better supporting characters; they also add new layers to his personality, which recolor some of his actions and statements in the early episodes.

While viewers likely remember this as "the flashback episode," it actually takes a full nine minutes (in Macross at least) before the flashback starts. That's just shy of half the running time, and there are also several present-day scenes at the end. This means that, even with the prominence of the flashbacks, the script firmly establishes itself around the Hikaru/Misa relationship. That makes this principally about the main characters, with the Claudia/Roy story granting insight into their problems.

With sharp character writing, a well-balanced script, and (particularly in Macross) a terrific ending, A Rainy Night emerges as a rare gem in what's been an extremely uneven epilogue arc.


Overall Rating - Macross: 9/10.

Overall Rating - Robotech: 8/10.

Previous Episode: Broken Heart
Next Episode: Private Time

Review Index

To receive new review updates, follow me:

On Twitter:

Follow @RandomMusings09

On Threads:

Follow@randommusings09 on Threads

32. Broken Heart.

Kamujin takes Minmay and Kaifun prisoner!

Original Air Date - Super Dimension Fortress Macross: May 29, 1983.
Written by: Hiroshi Ônogi. Directed by: Noboru Ishiguro, Hiroshi Yoshida.

Original Air Date - Robotech: Apr. 16, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.


PLOT - MACROSS:

Kamujin and his renegade Zentradi stage a raid on Minmay's latest concert, kidnapping her and Kaifun. Kamujin threatens to kill the two celebrities unless he is given a battleship. He's confident his terms will be met. After all, the new Earth government is fragile, and Minmay is a symbol for much of Earth's Zentradi population.

Hikaru and Misa are put in charge of a rescue mission, one that relies on Kamujin falling for a deception that Misa worries might be too obvious. Both are fully ready for the actual operation. However, Hikaru's desire to rescue Minmay and Misa's jealousy quickly create tension...


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

Khyron and his renegade Zentraedi stage a raid on Minmei's latest concert, kidnapping her and Kyle. Khyron threatens to kill the two celebrities unless he is given the ultimate prize: the SDF-1 itself!

Of course, there's zero chance that Admiral Gloval and the Earth government will agree to such a request. Instead, it's agreed to send Rick Hunter on "Operation Star Saver," with Lisa coordinating the mission. However, Lisa worries that Rick won't be able to maintain the objectivity needed to complete the operation...

Minmay defends Misa from Kaifun's anger.

CHARACTERS:

There is roughly a full galaxy of difference between the demand made by Kamujin in Macross and the one made by Khyron in Robotech. Kamujin makes a demand that he has reason to believe the humans will grant. Khyron's demand in crazy on the face of it, and I'm surprised that neither Azonia nor his lieutenant, Grel, point this out. Basically, Khyron is made to look stupid and unbalanced in comparison to his Macross counterpart.

The characterization of Lisa in Robotech also differs from that of Misa in the Macross original. Misa is fiercely jealous almost from the start of the mission, reacting badly every time Hikaru even mentions Minmay's name. Robotech's Lisa behaves more professionally. Sure, there's an element of jealousy in her reactions, particularly at the end, but most of her behavior is filtered through a concern that Rick won't be able to keep his perspective for the mission. Given that nothing in the episode pays this off (since it wasn't a factor in the original version's script), it's a strand that goes nowhere.

Finally, while both Kaifun and Kyle are unbearable as always, Kyle is portrayed more negatively. Kaifun makes a valid, if futile, attempt to reach the Zentradi holding him and Minmay captive; Kyle just insults them and seems surprised when that doesn't work. Kaifun complains that Misa's operation endangered him and Minmay. This makes him a jerk, since he's yelling at someone who saved his life... but not as much of a jerk as Kyle, who shamelessly lies about Rick's conduct.

Basically, take it as read that every character behaves more simplistically - not to mention stupidly - in Robotech.

Advantage: Macross.


NARRATION:

There's no in-episode narration in either version.

Advantage: None.

Debating Kamujin's demands. In Macross, this is
actually interesting. Not so much in Robotech.

CUTS AND ALTERATIONS:

The Abandoned Weapons: The episode opens with Hikaru and Misa finding a missile base recently abandoned by the Zentradi rebels, with a large weapons cache left behind. In Macross, the weapons are real and their abandonment sets up that Kamujin's ammo suppply is limited - something that pays off at the end. In Robotech, the weapons are counterfeit, the whole operation amounting to the humans falling for Khyron's distraction while he kidnaps Minmei.

Demands for the Hostages: Kamujin demands a battleship, a request that might conceivably be granted given Minmay's importance to the Zentradi who haven't rebelled. By contrast, Khyron's demand for the SDF-1 is ludicrous, and Khyron and Azonia simply aren't (or, at least, shouldn't be) either stupid or deluded enough to think otherwise.

The Admiral Discusses Options: In Macross, Admiral Global observes that Kamujin's hostage taking is very human, and that it appears that the rebel Zentradi are learning from humanity in all the wrong ways. There's also some discussion about Minmay's celebrity and how it complicates matters, particularly given the fragility of the new Earth government. All of this has been removed from Robotech, to the point that I'm not even sure why any of the scene was retained. Gloval and the others still talk for a bit; they just no longer actually say anything.

Misa and Hikaru Argue: In Macross, it's extremely clear that the arguments between Misa and Hikaru are driven by her jealousy. She also worries about the plan, which counts on Kamujin falling for what she sees as a pretty obvious ploy. Hikaru argues that the only alternative is a violent assault that will almost certainly get the hostages killed. In Robotech, no "Plan B" seems to exist, with neither Rick nor Lisa showing any doubts about the main plan working. This, and Lisa's fretting about Rick keeping his perspective during the fight, has the effect of making him more responsible for the tension between them - a complete reversal.

Kaifun Tries to Persuade the Zentradi, While Kyle Just Antagonizes Them: Kaifun urges the Zentradi to let them go, reminding them of the power of culture that led them to defect in the first place. It doesn't work, but at least it feels like a real effort. Robotech's Kyle... um... yells at the Zentraedi, calling them "baboons" and "cowards." Yes, insult the giants who are bred for war, that should go well.

Advantage: Macross


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

Robotech has one thing going for it: the music. As usual, the Robotech score boosts the action scenes to a degree that the Macross score doesn't. There's also a strong moment that sees Khyron responding to Kyle's jibes about the Zentraedi's lack of culture by demonstrating a kiss with Azonia. The scene in similar in context in both versions - but the Robotech version uses the series' "alien/eerie" music, which emphasizes the wrongness of this moment from the usual Zentraedi viewpoint.

Advantage: Robotech.

Kaifun and Lap Lamiz kiss. In an otherwise woeful 
Robotech, the music in this scene is very well applied.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE: MACROSS:

To be clear, I think this is a pretty weak episode in either version. The whole thing feels rushed, oddly paced, and strangely unfinished. Even so, the Robotech is not only worse - it's much worse. The Macross episode at least touches on potentially interesting elements: the fragile government, Minmay's symbolic importance to the Zentradi, Misa's jealousy. The script doesn't quite know what to do with these elements, but at least they exist. Robotech sands them down to almost nothing when it doesn't jettison them entirely, leaving nothing beyond a thin cartoon story about cartoon heroes foiling a cartoon villain for the umpteenth time.

Robotech has an ongoing problem with awkward dialogue. This episode's dialogue is particularly bad. Conversations are clunky and downright juvenile, from Lisa's childlike wail about how "it isn't fair" for Rick to be sent on every mission, to Gloval entirely unironically apologizing to Khyron for his rudeness while the latter is making his hostage demands. It's as if the American writers, not only rushed but conscious that this episode was a bad one anyway, just shrugged their shoulders and churned out a single draft before moving to the next one - which, come to think of it, may not be entirely unlikely!

Like children playing at war:
The renegade Zentradi on the rampage.

OTHER MUSINGS:

The overall role of the last two episodes has been to refocus the final arc around the threat posed by Kamujin. The last episode saw him achieving a victory and attracting yet more Zentradi to his cause. This episode sees him failing, but only after making a bold attempt that rattles the entire Earth government.

In terms of the arc, this is structurally sound. Each episode's plot is relatively self-contained, but together they advance the threat of the rebel Zentradi in preparation for the big finale.

Unfortunately, while the last episode was better than this one, both share similar problems. The stakes just don't feel as high as they need to, and the characters seem a lot less clever than they should be, certainly less clever than they have been in the past.

The further along this final arc goes, the clearer it becomes that it's not quite working. Which is a shame. From a conceptual standpoint, I love what the writers are trying to do. The end of the war is not the end of the story. Between cultural differences and ongoing dissatisfaction with postwar life, a successful peace keeps slipping further and further away. The ideas are all there, and they're very strong ideas. They just don't seem to be coming together properly. I've read reports that the epilogue was a last minute addition to Super Dimension Fortress Macross when the episode count was raised from 27 to 36. If that is the case, I'm afraid it shows.

There are good moments, at least in Macross. Kamujin's rebels ride into battle at the start of the episode, but they behave less like soldiers than like children playing at war. This demonstrates not only that the rebel Zentradi are giving into their warlike tendencies, but also that they've lost their previous military discipline. There's another small moment late in the episode, in which a human uses a flamethrower to light the cigarette of a Zentradi ally. This reminds us that most of the Zentradi have remained with the humans, and that peaceful coexistence remains possible.

I also like the observation that Kamujin's plan here is very human, albeit one that mirrors humanity's worst traits. This echoes in his kiss with Lap Lamiz and his riding into battle in a way that reminds his soldiers of a western movie he has been watching. It's not that he's immune to cultural influence; he's just being influenced in the wrong ways.

These moments aren't enough to save even the Macross version from falling below the series' usual standards. They do, however, show the same frustrating issue as the epilogue arc itself: interesting ideas are present, but they aren't being developed to their potential.

As for the Robotech version? It doesn't even have interesting ideas. The only thing that keeps the Robotech episode above a "1" is good handling of the action climax. In all other respects, it's woeful.


Overall Rating - Macross: 4/10.

Overall Rating - Robotech: 2/10.

Previous Episode: Satan's Dolls/Khyron's Revenge
Next Episode: A Rainy Night

Review Index

To receive new review updates, follow me:

On Twitter:

Follow @RandomMusings09

On Threads:

Follow@randommusings09 on Threads

31. Satan's Dolls/Khyron's Revenge.

Kaifun whips up a mob to chase Hikaru out of town.
To no one's surprise, this backfires spectacularly.

Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Satan's Dolls

Original Air Date - Macross: May 21, 1983.
Written by: Sukehiro Tomita. Directed by: Katsuhito Akiyama, Noboru Ishiguro.

Robotech: Khyron's Revenge

Original Air Date - Robotech: Apr. 15, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.


PLOT - MACROSS:

Renegade Zentradi Kamujin attempts to keep his word to the other rebels to restore them to full size, ordering the theft of the miclone device in Trad City. Hikaru is able to stop the theft from this community, which is more than fifty percent Zentradi. But when he suggests placing the device in military custody to prevent further attacks, Minmay's cousin Kaifun whips up the crowd into a frenzy until Hikaru just leaves without the machine.

This means there's nothing to stop Kamujin from a second attack. This time, he leads it himself and takes time to target the communication towers so that the city can't call for reinforcements again. Thanks, Kaifun - I'm sure the residents will feel great about their freedom from the military while they're cleaning up rubble and burying the dead!

Meanwhile, Exsedol and Admiral Global share the results of their research into the Zentradi's origins...


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

Renegade Zentraedi Khyron attempts to keep his word to the other rebels to restore them to full size, ordering the theft of the protoculture device in New Detroit, a city whose population is more than half Zentraedi. After stopping the theft, Rick Hunter plans to assign a full-time military guard to prevent more trouble. The town's mayor is about to agree... until Kyle shows up and practically starts a riot to force the soldiers to leave the city.

This means there's nothing to stop Khyron from a second attack. This time, he leads it himself and takes time to target the communication towers so that the city can't call for reinforcements again. Thanks, Kyle - I'm sure the residents will feel great about their freedom from the military while they're cleaning up rubble and burying the dead!

Meanwhile, with their protoculture reserves dangerously low, the Robotech Masters prepare for their journey. It will take decades for them to reach Earth - but when they do, they will be ready to lay claim to the protoculture factory!

Minmay disapproves of Kaifun's actions,
but she does not act to stop him.

CHARACTERS:

Minmay observes the confrontation between Hikaru and Kaifun from inside a car. She actually agrees with Hikaru, which is later affirmed by her certainty that the city is going to be attacked (Minmei's agreement with Rick is made even clearer in Robotech). Still, she does not intervene - something she berates herself for at the end.

Exsedol is distraught by discoveries about the Zentradi's origins. Few viewers will be surprised by his findings, which trade in pretty stock sci-fi concepts. Still, it's a shock for Exsedol, and the title of the Macross episode comes from his reaction to this discovery.

Advantage: None.


NARRATION:

Neither episode's narration is intrusive. That said, typical of the series, Robotech lays voice over atop several scenes that don't need it.

Advantage: Macross.

Lap Lamiz manipulates Kamujin into taking action.
Robotech's Azonia just stands there admiring him.

CUTS AND ALTERATIONS:

The Robotech Masters: Yet another cutaway to the Masters, as Carl Macek's Americanized show uses the epilogue arc to create a prologue for the next generation's conflict. It works better here than in the previous two episodes. The scene follows directly on from their failed experiment in Viva Miriya, which helps it to feel like part of the overall story. It also helps that the cuts that make room for this scene are better chosen than in the previous episodes.

Vanessa, Kim, and Shammy Gossip: The big cut that makes room for the Masters' appearance? A moment of these three gossiping about Minmay's love life, which is abruptly cut off by a glare from Misa. This scene contributes nothing to characterization, theme, or story; it isn't particularly amusing; and I didn't miss it at all in the Robotech version.

The Reason for the Near-Riot: Hikaru plans to take the machine away from the city. Yes, he promises that it will be available for the city's Zentradi to use on request; but when you have to travel an unspecified but likely significant distance for a service, that effectively denies that service to a lot of people. In Robotech, Rick merely proposes putting a guard on the machine - the one that had just been targeted. In Macross, it makes sense that there would be resistance to Hikaru's proposal, so it makes sense that the crowd would go along with Kaifun. In Robotech, that makes a lot less sense. The machine is staying here, fully accessible to the public, just with some added security - which doesn't seem like something that people who just weathered an attack would object to. As presented in Robotech, I'd expect most of the crowd to tell Kyle to shut up and go away.

Hikaru and Minmay Share an Acid Trip: Well, that's what it looks like, anyway. At the tail end of Kaifun's protest, Hikaru and Minmay lock eyes, and we get a psychedelic dream/vision of them embracing against, um, swirls. This was removed from Robotech - and I wholeheartedly endorse its removal.

Lap Lamiz Manipulates Kamujin; Azonia Is Smitten with Khyron: After learning of the failed theft, Kamujin initially assigns the next attempt to his deputy. Lap Lamiz touches his shoulder and softly coos that he's the only Zentradi who hasn't become soft, which prompts him to take command himself. Robotech simplifies this, with Khyron already intending to oversee the operation personally while Azonia beams in approval.

Advantage: Macross. Though the actual cuts are well chosen, other interactions are simplified to bad effect.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

I'm giving Macross the nod mainly because of the ending. It's narratively identical in both versions: Hikaru/Rick arrives at the battle-scarred city just in time to watch Kaifun and Minmay drive away, while Exsedol's musings about his people are layered over it. Macross's presentation is much stronger, however, thanks to the use of one of Mari Iijima's songs, which makes an effective counterpoint to the scene. The Robotech version just doesn't carry the same weight.

Advantage: Macross.

Exsedol is shaken by a discovery about his people's origins.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE: MACROSS:

Robotech does a pretty good job this time integrating Southern Cross footage, certainly compared to the previous two installments. This marks the first time that the "Masters Prologue Arc" hasn't harmed the main episode. This is helped by the one major cut (the gossip scene) having been a pretty poor scene in the original, meaning that it was not missed in Robotech.

What does harm the episode are changes to two interactions. In Macross, there are legitimate reasons for the townspeople to resist Hikaru; Robotech, by changing this so that Rick is blameless, makes the townspeople seem irrational to even listen to Kyle. Another change to the interactions of Kamujin and Lap Lamiz strip away intriguing character dynamics, flattening what had been interesting moments into mere "villain scenes."

All of which leaves the Macross version clearly the superior one. As usual.


OTHER MUSINGS:

Despite the dramatic title, this episode is mostly setup. Kamujin's plans are advanced by his successful operation, but the "revenge" promised by the Robotech title never really materializes. The other major strand cements the Zentradi's origins, and in Macross is used to give backstory to the war between them and the Supervision Army. Ramifications from this, however, are left to future episodes (or possibly the Macross sequels, as there is very little of this show left).

Overall, this forms a necessary step in the show's epilogue arc, and it's a perfectly fine episode as far as it goes... but it's not one of the series' highlights.


Overall Rating: 6/10.

Previous Episode: Viva Maria/Viva Miriya
Next Episode: Broken Heart

Review Index

To receive new review updates, follow me:

On Twitter:

Follow @RandomMusings09

On Threads:

Follow@randommusings09 on Threads