2-19. Crisis/Crisis Point.

Jeanne and her squadron attempt a desperate escape!

Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross: Crisis.

Original Air Date - Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross: Sept. 2, 1984. Writer: Tadashi Terada. Director: Mikio Suzuki.

Robotech: Crisis Point.

Original Air Date - Robotech: May 20, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.


PLOT - SOUTHERN CROSS

Jeanne and the 15th squadron are prisoners of the Zor - but not for long. After Seifriet leaves his designated area, the Zor decide that the humans are too dangerous to be allowed to live. When Musica discovers this, she stages a daring rescue.

With Musica's help, the squad is able to rescue Seifriet, whose memories have been restored. They make their way back to their mechs. But with the Zor locking down the entire ship, Jeanne isn't sure how she's going to get her squad away and back to the safety of Gloire!


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

Dana and the 15th squadron are prisoners of the Robotech Masters - but not for long. After Zor leaves his designated area, the Masters decide that the humans are too dangerous to be allowed to live. When Musica discovers this, she stages a daring rescue.

With Musica's help, the squad is able to rescue Zor, whose memories of his prior life have been restored. They make their way back to their mechs. But with the Masters locking down the entire ship, Dana isn't sure how she's going to get her squad away and back to the safety of Earth!

Musica helps the humans against her own people.

CHARACTERS:

There's a scene that really captures the difference in characterization between Southern Cross's Andrzej and Robotech's Angelo. Just after escaping confinement, the squad comes to the control center of the ship. Andrzej argues that they should forego rescuing Seifriet and instead complete their mission by destroying the control center. Robotech's Angelo wants the same thing, but changes in dialogue shift the emphasis. Andrzej wants to do his duty; Angelo seems to just want to blow stuff up for the sake of it. Because while Andrzej is a soldier dedicated to duty, Angelo is mostly just an imbecile.

This is a big episode for Musica. Her feelings for Bowie have overwhelmed her, and she tells her sisters that she wishes she could be alone sometimes instead of always with them. When she learns that Bowie and his squad are to be executed, she takes action - passing a point of no return with the Zor, though (at least in Southern Cross) she still wants to save her own people as well.

Advantage: Southern Cross.


NARRATION:

After the recap, Southern Cross has an establishing shot of the aftermath of the battle before the camera moves to the Zor ship. It's an effective opening visual for the viewer to absorb with no words needed... but since Robotech doesn't do silence, the narrator talks over it, telling us about how the wreckage is "a grim reminder of the horrors of war." Yeah, thanks for that, Mr. Narrator. Where would we be if you left us to interpret visuals for ourselves?

Advantage: Southern Cross.

Seifriet has flashes of memory. So does Zor
in Robotech, but the meaning is very different.

CUTS AND ALTERATION:

The Masters Talk About the Invid: While watching the humans bicker in their cell, the Zor leaders are bemused that they don't seem to realize their situation. In Robotech, the Masters talk about the Invid, discussing how their actions are saving the humans from the upcoming invasion just as much as they're saving themselves.

Zor's Memories Are of "the Protoculture Site": As Seifriet wanders in a daze, he sees flashes of memory from his time on Gloire, which Musica confirms when she finds him. In Robotech, Musica focuses on Zor remembering his visit to "the protoculture site" - the cave with the flowers - even though that scene is depicted in exactly none of these flashbacks.

Louis Explains the Plan in More Detail: The squad discovers Seifriet as his memories are being processed. Observing what's happening, Louis advises waiting until all his memories are restored before staging the rescue. This is the same in Robotech, except that Louis is far more detailed as he goes over the plan, to the point that I half-expected Spaceballs' Dark Helmet to appear and ask, "Everybody got that?"

The Alarm Becomes a Barrier Control: In Southern Cross, the control center features an alarm that can be sounded to alert the civilians to flee the ship. Robotech changes this to a "barrier control" that must be deactivated for Dana's squad to break free. This completely changes the context of Musica and Bowie running for that control. In Southern Cross, they want to save the Zor civilians; in Robotech, they're trying to make good their own escape.

Gen. Emerson's Orders: In Southern Cross, Emerson orders his forces to break off their attack in twenty more minutes. Robotech apparently decided this was too slack a deadline, tightening it to five minutes and making Dana's final escape a lot less likely than Jeanne's, which was pretty darn unlikely to start with!

Seifriet's Fate: When Seifriet announces that he'll delay the Zor and catch up, Andrzej clearly recognizes that he has no intention of doing so. As a result, while the others escape, Andrzej goes back to rescue him. Robotech's Angelo is way too dumb for that, so Zor now escapes on his own, and what had been Andrzej's mech is now explained away as Zor having brought "a change of clothes." Thus, a terrific character beat for Andrzej is tossed aside for no readily apparent reason.

Advantage: Southern Cross.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

It's fair to say that many of Robotech's tracks feel overused by this point. It's still good music, so it usually isn't a problem when it's well-applied. But it feels more overused than usual in this episode, a sense that isn't helped by Robotech stuffing every non-dialogue scene with wall-to-wall music. Southern Cross allows several scenes to play without incidentals, which helps to vary the tone and increases the impact of the scenes that do rely on music.

Advantage: Southern Cross.

Zor guards apprehend Seifriet. 

OVERALL ADVANTAGE - SOUTHERN CROSS:

Southern Cross's Andrzej receives some excellent character moments, while Robotech's Angelo mainly comes across as violent and dumb. Robotech also overexplains certain plot elements, while other changes appear to have been made for no reason at all. The episode remains entertaining either way, but I definitely prefer the original version.


OTHER MUSINGS:

Crisis finishes up what has effectively been a three-parter surrounding the infiltration, exploration, and escape from the Zor mothership. Wonderland was the high point, with the characters' exploration of the alien environment being more interesting than the combat-heavy episodes on either side. Still, Crisis remains an entertaining installment. It offers choice character moments for Seifriet, Andrzej, and Musica, with action that is generally well-animated and fun to watch.

Robotech suffers from weaker characterization (as usual) and a few bizarre changes. In Robotech, this is the weakest of the three episodes, while I'd rate the Southern Cross version about even with Bio Psychers.


Overall Rating - Southern Cross: 7/10.

Overall Rating - Robotech: 6/10.

Previous Episode: Wonderland/Dana in Wonderland
Next Episode: Daydream/Daydreamer (not yet reviewed)

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2-18. Wonderland/Dana in Wonderland.

Down the rabbit hole: Jeanne falls into an opening inside
the Zor ship and makes a startling discovery.

Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross: Wonderland.

Original Air Date - Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross: Aug. 26, 1984. Writer: Jinzou Toriumi. Director: Yuusaku Satsukime.

Robotech: Dana in Wonderland.

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


PLOT - SOUTHERN CROSS

The Zor have re-established control of Seifriet, though only partially. He turns on the 15th, but he seems to be struggling. When he fires at them, his aim is wild. This gives the squad time to escape into the Zor ship, where they plan their next move.

They are cut off from any chance of backup, but they still have a mission. Camouflaging their mechs, they make their way into the city inside the ship, searching for a way to reach a control center. Through a series of misadventures and narrow escapes, they get a look at Zor society - one that prizes unity among its trios and that tries to purge all individual will!


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

The Robotech Masters have re-established control of Zor, though only partially. He turns on the 15th, but he seems to be struggling. When he fires at them, his aim is wild. This gives the squad time to escape into the alien ship, where they plan their next move.

They are cut off from any chance of backup, but they still have a mission. They make their way into the city inside the ship, searching for a way to reach a control center. Through a series of misadventures and narrow escapes, they get a look at this alien society - a society that has made individuality into its greatest crime!

Musica tries to protect Bowie from her own people.

CHARACTERS:

This is another episode that does well at balancing the cast. Jeanne gets the most attention, of course, and there's something appropriate about a character who is independent to a fault literally falling into a center that exists to correct the "flaw" of individuality.

The other characters also get their moments, and in ways that showcase who they are. Bowie and Musica reunite, their mutual bond evident as Louis watches over them with a sort of indulgent bemusement. Charles attempts to use his charm on a trio of Zor women and quickly discovers that this was a bad idea. Andrzej remains absolutely focused on the mission, filtering out all distractions. Even Seifriet gets his moment, as he struggles against the Zor control long enough for the others to get away. No character is simply "there" - They all get something to do.

Advantage: None.


NARRATION:

Both episodes open with a recap. Robotech again adds in mention of the Invid, emphasizing that the conflict the Masters and the humans can't have a true winner with this new threat on the way. The narration extends into the opening shot, which helps to cover up the episode cutting to it in mid-pan. On the whole, both the narration and the bridge into the episode proper are well done.

Advantage: Robotech.

Jeanne and her squad try to blend in among the Zor.
They're not very good at it.

CUTS AND ALTERATION:

Gloire's Moons Are Again Removed: The opening shot, after the recap, is of Gloire's two moons, before a pan to Gloire and the Zor ship. Robotech cuts in after the pan starts, with only the one moon shown.

Dana Gives Combat Instructions to Angelo: In Southern Cross, Seifriet wrestles against himself while confronting Jeanne and Andrzej. After firing several wild shots, Jeanne observes that the way he's fighting is strange. In Robotech, Dana instead tells Angelo to change to "battleoid mode" to fight Zor more effectively.

Bowie Wants to Avoid Involving the Zor Civilians: While Jeanne and her team are deciding what to do next, Bowie expresses a desire to keep the civilians out of it. Robotech removes this, cutting straight from Louis advising going to the center of the ship to the next scene.

The Supervisor's Reaction to the Humans' Escape: The squad splits up after a scuffle with some guards, and the episode cuts to a Zor supervisor learning that the humans escaped. In Southern Cross, the supervisor orders that surveillance be intensified. In Robotech, the supervisor threatens punishment for the guards' incompetence. Because he's a sci-fi villain after all, and that's what villains do.

The Chamber Jeanne/Dana Falls Into: Jeanne falls from a vehicle and down a proverbial rabbit hole into a confinement area. In Southern Cross, this area is for Zor who have lost their "identicals" and who are therefore no longer part of a trio. Robotech alters this, with Dana finding herself in a center for "purging and replacement" - basically a re-education camp for clones who have been found guilty of independent thought.

Advantage: None. Though there are a few changes, they don't impact the quality of the episode.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

This is another case where both episodes apply their scores well. No moments particularly stand out, but there are also no moments where the music becomes intrusive or jarring.

Advantage: None.

Louis is ensnared by a Zor trap!

OVERALL ADVANTAGE - NONE:

I can't really give one version a nod over the other. Aside from a few light trims, most of the changes made for Robotech are minor ones that were made to fit that series' continuity. Nothing is particularly disrupted by those changes, leaving the two versions on about equal footing. 


OTHER MUSINGS:

Some of the animation looks a bit blocky, with basic character movements like walking or running occasionally coming across as jagged. However, this is more than made up for by the creative artwork of the ship's interior, from sterile labs to an organic almost-forest. It's a good-looking episode overall, even with those visible problems involving character movement.

Given the title Wonderland, it's unsurprising that there are a few nods to Alice. Jeanne and the others drink substances and, while disguised as Zor, they are given bio-energy to consume (Louis has to stop Jeanne from gulping it up, because Jeanne has the impulse control of a five-year-old). Jeanne even falls through a hole and finds herself in another strange setting.

The pace is rapid, taking the heroes from one misadventure to the next, but it never comes across as rushed. It also gives us a decent look at Zor society - which, for the average civilian, looks like a case of being "comfortably oppressed." The citizens don't seem to want for much, but at the same time simple individual thought (or, in Southern Cross, having the misfortune to lose an "identical") is enough for them to be summarily arrested and confined.

Between the pacing, the glimpses of the alien culture, and the strong balance of the ensemble, I'd rank this as Southern Cross's best episode thus far. By the standards of this series, I think this one merits full marks.


Overall Rating: 10/10.

Previous Episode: Bio Psycher/Mind Games
Next Episode: Crisis/Crisis Point

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2-17. Bio Psycher/Mind Games.

The 15th squadron attempts to infiltrate
an enemy vessel while under heavy fire!

Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross: Bio Psycher.

Original Air Date - Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross: Aug. 19, 1984. Writer: Jinzou Toriumi. Director: Susumu Nagao.

Robotech: The Hunters.

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


PLOT - SOUTHERN CROSS

With Gen. Emerson's forces now established at Aluce Base, it's time for the next phase of the offensive. While Emerson's forces engage the enemy, Jeanne's 15th Squadron is assigned to infiltrate one of the Zor ships.

The plan appears on track for success. Emerson's ships are able to breach the hull of the main enemy ship, creating an opening for Jeanne. But out of that breach come the bio psychers - the new Zor mech designed to channel all the strengths of the Zor trinity!


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

With Gen. Emerson's forces now established at Moonbase Aluce, it's time for the next phase of the offensive against the Robotech Masters. While Emerson's forces engage the Masters, Dana Sterling's 15th Squadron is assigned to infiltrate one of their ships.

The plan appears on track for success. Emerson's ships are able to breach the hull, creating an opening for Dana. But out of that breach comes a new, more powerful mech: the Invid Fighter, designed to channel all the strengths of the Triumverate to counter the powerful foe that the Masters know is on its way.

The Masters believe that this battle will make an ideal test for their new design - and the appearance of these mechs seems poised to turn the tide of battle against the humans!

The eve of the battle gives the squadron
a little too much time to wait. And worry.

CHARACTERS:

Jeanne and Bowie are aligned in not wanting to kill humans who were captured and brainwashed by the Zor. However, once Jeanne realizes that the pilots of the bio psychers are Zor, her hesitance drops away. The Zor are the enemy, and she's trained and willing to kill the enemy.

Probably in part because of meeting Musica and in part because of his own nature, Bowie still wants to avoid killing. Seifriet is also informed by his experiences with the Zor, but those experiences push him in the opposite direction. He doesn't consider the brainwashed Bioroid pilot that he was to have been truly human; though he doesn't outright say so, he views killing those pilots as something almost akin to a kindness.

Robotech simplifies this, particularly for Dana and Bowie. In Southern Cross, Jeanne and Bowie collaborate in turning off the combat links created in the previous episode so that they can avoid killing the Bioroid pilots. This element has been almost entirely removed from Robotech; and though Dana is upset when she sees the enemy pilots are humanoid, she still urges Bowie to fight back, reminding him of their training.

Advantage: Southern Cross.


NARRATION:

The Robotech narrator now identifies the moonbase as "Moonbase Aluce" rather than "Moonbase Luna." I suppose it's nice that they're now using the Southern Cross designation, but it creates a direct continuity error given that previous episodes named the base "Luna."

Advantage: Southern Cross.

The Zor prepare to deploy their new weapon. In Robotech,
their purpose is to test it for when they face the Invid.

CUTS AND ALTERATION:

Shots Showing Two Moons Are Removed: Southern Cross's Gloire has two moons, with Aluce Base on one of them, and the episode has an establishing shot showing both moons. Since Robotech takes place on Earth, the part of this shot that shows two moons has been removed.

Pre-Battle Jitters: Southern Cross's Jeanne and Bowie worry that in the battle ahead, they'll end up killing people who are themselves victims; Seifriet speaks up to tell them that the people under Zor control are currently less than human and to admit that he still doubts himself. Robotech changes this so that they instead worry about not surviving the battle. Zor still makes a speech about being less than human while under the Masters' control, but he no longer expresses any self-doubt.

The Masters Discuss the Invid: With only a handful of episodes left in Southern Cross, Robotech works on building up the next enemy. As the Masters prepare for the human assault, they spend most of their time talking about the threat posed by "the Invid sensor nebula," which they clearly see as a far greater danger than the humans.

Jeanne and Bowie: The pre-battle conversation between Jeanne and Bowie has been completely rewritten for Robotech, and not for the better. The original version sees him fretting about killing captive humans. Jeanne suggests that the two of them turn off the links to the combat program prepared in the previous episode, so that they can carefully avoid fatal blows. Bowie tells her that he loves her (not romantically), and she hugs him before the attack begins. It's a good scene.

The Robotech version... isn't. In Robotech, Bowie's fear is prompted by meeting Zor, with him unable to see Zor's people as enemies. Dana blathers to him about how not actually wanting to kill makes them good soldiers before promising that they will both come back alive - which, given their impenetrable Plot Armor, I'm sure will prove true. With the "avoid killing" plot point removed and most of the emotional resonance, there's no longer any reason for this scene even to be there; they might as well have cut it for more ad time to sell toys.

The Masters Use the Battle to Test Their Invid Fighter: In Southern Cross, the bio psycher has been prepared specifically for the war against the humans. In Robotech, the Masters' real enemy is the Invid, with the humans seeming mainly to be an inconvenience. They decide to use the battle to test the capabilities of their new Invid fighter.

The Bioroid Pilots Receive Detailed Plans: In Southern Cross, after the bioroid pilots receive instructions to prepare for battle, they wordlessly get into their mechs and study their display screens in silence. Robotech doesn't do silence. There's extra chatter scattered throughout the episode, but it's most visible in this scene, as a mechanized voice fills in their battle plan while they watch the display screen. It goes without saying that the original version, without the voice, is more effective.

Jeanne Is Relieved the Pilots Aren't Human; Dana Is Horrified That They're Humanoid: In Southern Cross, Jeanne shoots the face plate off one of the bio-psychers, sending the pilot flying out into space. When she sees that the pilot is a Zor and not a brainwashed human, she is relieved. Robotech's Dana is horrified, though, realizing that the enemy pilots are "like Zor," clones who are under the Masters' control.

Bowie No Longer Reflects on Musica: In Southern Cross, Jeanne turns her combat link back on, telling Bowie that the enemies are Zor and not humans. Bowie starts to do the same, then stops. He thinks of Musica and decides that he doesn't want to kill Zor pilots any more than he wants to kill humans. Since the combat link subplot has been all but removed from Robotech, Bowie no longer has that moment of reflection.

Advantage: Southern Cross.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

This is another action-heavy episode, which automatically favors Robotech. Robotech's tracks have been recycled so much that I find myself half-predicting which one will cue up next. That said, its music is stirring and exciting in a way that Southern Cross's combat music just isn't. Overused or not, Robotech's tracks easily win this category.

Advantage: Robotech.

Jeanne and Andrzej make it onto the enemy ship,
only to make a horrible discovery!

OVERALL ADVANTAGE - SOUTHERN CROSS:

Southern Cross's script offers some excellent character work for Jeanne, Bowie, and Seifriet, while also following up nicely on the combat program established in the previous episode. All of this is made simpler and shallower in Robotech, while the links to the last episode are all but gone.

Robotech's music gives a lift to the action scenes, and I am enjoying the way the Robotech scripts use the Masters' fear of the Invid to set up the next enemy as an "ultimate threat." But that isn't even close to enough to offset how much more interesting the main characters are in Southern Cross.


OTHER MUSINGS:

This episode is very entertaining, with good character moments and a second half that acts as a sustained, well-realized action set piece. The scene in which the 15th Squadron first encounters the Zor bio pyschers is memorable, with the new enemy mechs making an imposing initial impression. Too bad that impression isn't sustained.

After a couple minutes of being pinned down by the bio psychers, Jeanne and her squad not only turn the tide but start blasting through them with ease. I'm reminded of Game of Thrones' Sir Barristan Selmy, telling guards who are suddenly threatening him that "even now, I could cut through the five of you like carving a cake." By the end of the episode, that's about how much effort Jeanne's squad is expending to destroy these new "doomsday mechs."

It's hard to take them at all seriously after that. Even the Robotech episode lampshades this by having the Masters observe that the humans have discovered an inherent weakness (though it doesn't specify what that weakness might be).

It's still an energetic installment, and the characterizations are too well-scripted for me to rate this as anything other than a good episode. But if the bio psychers hadn't been neutered so quickly after their introduction, this would be one of the series' best.


Overall Rating - Southern Cross: 7/10.

Overall Rating - Robotech: 6/10.

Previous Episode: Hunter Killer/The Hunters
Next Episode: Wonderland/Dana in Wonderland

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2-16. Hunter Killer/The Hunters.

Louis beams with pride when he's asked to modify an
invention for training. He doesn't stay proud for long.

Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross: Hunter Killer.

Original Air Date - Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross: Aug. 5, 1984. Writer: Tomoko Kawasaki. Director: Mikio Suzuki.

Robotech: The Hunters.

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


PLOT - SOUTHERN CROSS

To reach Aluce Base, Gen. Emerson's forces must pass near the region of space occupies by the Zor. Emerson hopes to traverse this area without the Zor noticing, and he appears to get his wish - only to find the aliens preparing a trap near their lunar destination.

Meanwhile, Louis has invented a device that vastly improves his performance on a flight simulator game. This attracts the notice of two senior officers, who recruit him to modify his device for use in training simulations. But after completing his work, Louis learns that his invention will be used for more than just training...


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

To reach Moonbase Luna, Gen. Emerson's forces must pass near the edge of a nebula that is uncomfortably close to the Robotech Masters. Emerson hopes to traverse this area without the enemy noticing, and he appears to get his wish - only to find the aliens preparing a trap near their lunar destination.

Meanwhile, Louis has invented a device that vastly improves his performance on a flight simulator game. This attracts the notice of two senior officers, who recruit him to modify his device for use in training simulations. But after completing his work, Louis learns that his invention will be used for more than just training...

Emerson hopes to avoid battle by sneaking past the Zor.

CHARACTERS:

Gen. Emerson shows both prudence and strength as a commander. When the Zor appear not to notice the humans as they pass near their ships, a subordinate urges a surprise attack. Emerson rebuffs this, reminding the younger man that their mission is to reinforce the base. Unspoken but clear is that getting killed in space will make that mission a failure. However, when battle becomes unavoidable, Emerson doesn't hesitate to engage the enemy and is quick to come up with a solution to their dilemma.

At least, all of that is true in Southern Cross. Most of it is still true in Robotech. However, the Robotech episode tacks in some dialogue with a subordinate urging Emerson to action when the Robotech Masters attack, which makes the general look a lot less decisive.

The episode's other strand shines a spotlight on Louis. We already know that he likes to tinker. Here, he explains to Jeanne why he's so interested in machines, talking about how machines are able to offset man's inherent limitations. He dreams of inventing something that will enable humanity to reach its full potential, and Jeanne is impressed at his romantic ideals. It's a key scene, because it shows all the reasons why he's so appalled when he discovers the true purpose for which his invention is being deployed.

Advantage: Southern Cross.


NARRATION:

Southern Cross's opening narration is the usual recap, focusing on Gen. Emerson's mission to expand the human forces at Aluce Base and the Zor's plans to stop him. Robotech's narration shifts focus entirely, placing the emphasis on setting up the Invid Invasion for the third arc. It's an understandable change, but it does mean that relatively little groundwork is laid for those who might have missed the previous episode.

Advantage: Southern Cross.

Jeanne tests Louis's invention.

CUTS AND ALTERATION:

The Nebula: To reach Aluce Base, Gen. Emerson's forces pass through a zone controlled by the Zor. Robotech slightly alters this by having them pass through the edge of a nebula to reach Moonbase Luna.

Added Technobabble: When Louis describes the way the game works in Southern Cross, what he says is technical but still basically straightforward. Robotech decides to go the full Star Trek, with Louis descending into a soup of Technobabble that I suspect is mostly gibberish.

The Odds of Breaking Through the Enemy: When the Zor spring their trap in Southern Cross, Gen. Emerson first tries to just break through without engaging. He asks what the odds are, and is told there's a 51% chance of success. Robotech's writers must have decided that wasn't dramatic enough, as the American show changes this to a 20% chance. This actually hurts Emerson's characterization. In Southern Cross, he has a basically even chance of getting his forces out of danger by just flying through, making it a sensible order to give. In Robotech, his odds are slim, making his order seem desperate.

Sean Has Suspicions: Both episodes come back from commercial to a scene in which Charles/Sean talks about Louis's game. Robotech changes the conversation slightly. Unlike Charles, Sean voices suspicions that Major Cromwell's plans for the device may go beyond a mere training simulation. I actually like this change. Combined with a slight change of emphasis when Cromwell first asked to use the device, it more strongly foreshadows the ending. It also fits with Sean's background, given that he was the 15th squadron's original commander before he was busted back to private; even in peacetime, he would have had some experience dealing with interdepartmental politics, and he'd know to be wary of others' motives.

Lt. Brown's Reasons for Joining the Mission: Lt. Brown announces that he'll be joining the 15th Squadron for the next phase of the Supreme Commander's plan. In Southern Cross, he wants to support Gen. Emerson. Robotech alters the dialogue so that he wants to prove his bravery to the general - which makes it sound less like personal loyalty and more as if he's angling for a promotion. I prefer the Southern Cross version.

Bad Dialogue Ruins a Major Reveal: Robotech continues its ongoing struggle with dialogue that sounds either juvenile or clunky or both. This is particularly noticeable in the dramatic reveal of how Louis's invention is being applied. The Southern Cross scene is quite strong, with effective moments for Jeanne, Louis, Bowie, Seifriet, and Andrzej. In Robotech, almost every line lands with a thud, ruining the episode's major scene.

Advantage: Southern Cross.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

This is an action-heavy episode, and Southern Cross's "battle music" isn't particularly impressive. That makes it little surprise that Robotech wins this category. Most noticeably, Robotech uses one of its tracks to very strong effect when Louis's game is demonstrated just before a cut back to the battle, musically connecting the two scenes more smoothly than the same transition in the original verison.

Advantage: Robotech.

Caught in a Zor trap, Gen. Emerson tries a desperate tactic.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE - SOUTHERN CROSS:

Robotech suffers from some of the clunkiest dialogue the show has delivered in a while, which really harms the episode's most emotional moment. Emerson's character is also made to look weaker, thanks to dialogue from his subordinates making it appear that he's hesitant instead of decisive.


OTHER MUSINGS:

The Southern Cross episode is quite good. The "A" and "B" plots have no immediate impact on each other, but both strands are well-presented and enjoyable. The episode also moves along at a pace that's fast without feeling rushed. The Southern Cross writers know to slow down for a good character scene between Jeanne and Louis, while also finding time to show Bowie worrying about his father (or godfather, in Robotech) while at the same time pretending not to worry.

The Robotech version remains watchable. The fast pace is built into this one, and the Robotech music benefits the action scenes. But the dialogue problems make Robotech noticeably worse in this instance, resulting in one of the weakest episodes of the Americanized show in a while.


Overall Rating - Southern Cross: 7/10.

Overall Rating - Robotech: 5/10.

Previous Episode: Love Story/Love Song
Next Episode: Bio Psycher/Mind Games

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2-15. Love Story/Love Song.

Jeanne creates a secret admirer to woo Lana away from Seifriet.

Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross: Love Story.

Original Air Date - Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross: July 29, 1984. Writer: Tadashi Terada. Director: Noriyasu Kogawa.

Robotech: Love Song.

Original Air Date - Robotech: May 14, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.


PLOT - SOUTHERN CROSS

Supreme Commander Claude Leon has put Gen. Emerson in command of the newly secured Aluce Base - in a single command exiling his archrival to Gloire's moon and putting him at the front line of the war. Leon also assigns all of the officers loyal to Emerson, leaving Gloire staffed entirely with his own followers.

Jeanne has more important things on her mind - namely, romance. Sekishima, a captain assigned to the mission, approaches her to help him talk to Lana before he departs. Jeanne throws herself into this, crafting a plan for him to woo Lana as a secret admirer known as "The Rose of Gloire" - with the benefit to her that, if they succeed, she will be left with no rival for Seifriet's affections. There's only one problem: Lana is convinced that the messages are coming from Seifriet, which makes her extremely uncomfortable.

Meanwhile, Marie prepares for a special night with Charles. But when a woman from Charles's past intercepts him, their evening takes a disastrous turn...


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

Supreme Commander Anatole Leonard has put Gen. Emerson in charge of the next assault - in a single command exiling his archrival to what is likely to be a one-way mission. Leonard also assigns all of the officers loyal to Emerson, leaving Earth's headquarters staffed entirely with his own followers.

Dana has more important things on her mind - namely, romance. Komodo, a captain assigned to the mission, approaches her to help him talk to Nova before he departs. Dana throws herself into this, crafting a plan for him to woo Nova as a secret admirer - with the benefit to her that, if they succeed, she will be left with no rival for Zor's affections. There's only one problem: Nova is convinced that the messages are coming from Zor, which makes her extremely uncomfortable.

Meanwhile, Marie prepares for a special night with Sean. But when a woman from Sean's past intercepts him, their evening takes a disastrous turn...

Marie prepares for her date with Charles.
Things do not go as expected.

CHARACTERS:

Emerson knows exactly what the Supreme Commander is doing, but his sense of duty leaves him with no choice but to follow his orders. Bowie will not express his worry to Jeanne, and Emerson will not come to him. Instead, each shows their feelings silently - Bowie lost in thought as he plays the piano, Emerson stopping his car outside the barracks to listen to him play.

Charles's past promiscuity comes back to haunt him with Marie, who misinterprets his attempts to get away from an old lover. This could come across as sitcom shenanigans - but they never actually resolve the misunderstanding, with it falling to Lana and another officer to intervene on Marie's behalf. Meanwhile, the reactions of both characters show us that their attachment is deeply felt, even as the two are left in turmoil.

Advantage: None.


NARRATION:

Southern Cross's opening narration is more focused than in previous episodes, hitting all the major points that impact the plot of this installment without needless clutter. The Robotech narrator gets a bit overenthusiastic during the recap. Also, the Robotech narrator keeps coming back for scene transitions, particularly in the first half. It's far from the series' worst offender. Still, most of these intrusions are entirely unnecessary.

Advantage: Southern Cross.

Lana receives a letter from "The Rose of Gloire."
In Robotech, it's just from a secret admirer.

CUTS AND ALTERATION:

Manually Processing the Security Checks: An early scene sees Lana manually processing security checks for the task force bound for Aluce Base. In Southern Cross, she and her superior discuss how unusual this is, as normally they would set parameters for the computer to screen. The superior officer is entirely friendly and good-natured. This is not the case in Robotech, which transforms him into a sneering jerk, making it seem all the more bizarre when he's pleasant to her later.

Angelo Is More Talkative than Andrzej: Chalk this one up to Robotech's fear of silence. When Seifriet goes to GMP Headquarters to deliver a book from Aluce Base to Lana, Southern Cross's Andrzej follows him and makes sure that he's seen - but he does not actually speak until Seifriet arrives. In Robotech, Angelo also follows Zor - only this time, he calls out things like, "Hey buddy!" and "I'm watching out for you!" every time he's on screen.

The Secret Admirer: The letters to Lana are from "the Rose of Gloire," with close-ups of that title written in English. But those letters are addressed to "Lana" and not "Nova," and Robotech occurs on Earth and not the colony of Gloire. As a result, the shots in question are removed, and "the Rose of Gloire" becomes a more generic "secret admirer."

The Roman Aspect of the Supreme Commander's Assignment: This is a change I actually like. In both versions, Lt. Brown, who is removed from the mission due to a mistake by Lana/Nova, tells her that he's glad of the error because it will let him keep an eye on the Supreme Commander. He then talks about how all dissenting voices have been methodically assigned to this mission. In Robotech, he compares this to the behavior of Roman emperors, who would "promote" dissenters to become governors of distant provinces to get rid of them, which adds a nice extra layer to the scene.

Marie Waits: While waiting for Charles, Southern Cross's Marie muses that if he takes too much longer, she'll already be drunk by the time he arrives. Robotech de-emphasizes the alcohol by changing her thoughts to impatient worries that Sean might stand her up and leave her with nothing but "cab fare."

"The Triumveroid": There's a single cutaway to the aliens as they test their new secret weapon. Robotech names it "The Triumveroid," with the scientists exulting at how it performs all essential functions of combat. The Robotech scene works just a little bit better than the Southern Cross version, in my opinion, with the description of the new weapon blending effectively with the visuals of the test.

Marie's Departure: When Marie leaves in Southern Cross, Andrzej observes that she specifically asked to join Gen. Emerson in his assignment. Robotech removes this, with Angelo just telling Sean that she has more important things to worry about than him.

Advantage: None.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

The only notable musical moment is Bowie playing on the piano as his father (or, in Robotech, godfather) prepares to leave on a dangerous mission, and that scene is equally effective in both versions. There is a nice use of musical continuity in Robotech, as a piano version of Minmei's It's Me is heard in the background while Marie waits for Sean, but overall both episodes use their scores about equally well.

Advantage: None.

Jeanne watches Lana and misinterprets a serious conversation.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE - NONE:

The episode is equally enjoyable in either version. The changes are relatively minor ones that have no significant impact, leaving a viewing experience that's roughly the same whether you're watching Southern Cross or Robotech.


OTHER MUSINGS:

I had low expectations given this episode's title. The "love story" aspects of Southern Cross have not impressed me. I fully believe in the Marie/Charles romance, but I have yet to be given much reason to care about it. I also have utterly failed to be convinced by the Jeanne/Seifriet relationship. Expecting that to be the focus, I braced myself for an installment that would... well, probably be bad.

Imagine my surprise when this ended up being one of the series' better episodes!

There are some amusing animations to go along with the lighthearted nature of Jeanne's secret admirer plan. When lovesick Sekishima approaches Lana, he does so with the posture of a man who badly needs to go to the bathroom. The script is also well-written, adeptly balancing a humorous "A" plot against the drama of the Supreme Commander's plan and the likely fates of those assigned to accompany Gen. Emerson. The moments of Bowie silently playing the piano express his emotions more effectively than any speech would. Even the one cutaway to the aliens, as they test their new weapon, underscores the likely fates of Emerson and his team.

Love Story ends up working all around: as a character piece, as a building block for the larger story, and as an entertaining episode in its own right - and in this case, the Robotech version works just as well as the original!


Overall Rating: 8/10.

Previous Episode: Iron Lady/Clone Chamber
Next Episode: Hunter Killer/The Hunters

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2-14. Iron Lady/Clone Chamber.

An emotional Musica refuses an arranged marriage.

Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross: Iron Lady.

Original Air Date - Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross: July 22, 1984. Writer: Tadashi Terada. Director: Yoshihito Hata.

Robotech: Clone Chamber.

Original Air Date - Robotech: May 13, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.


PLOT - SOUTHERN CROSS

Supreme Commander Claude Leon's reckless assault has failed, with the survivors retreating to Aluce Base to regroup. Undeterred, Leon orders a new operation to reinforce the moon base, transforming it into a military outpost for future attacks. The plan is to move quickly and stealthily, so that there will be no chance for the Zor to realize what's happening. You know, unless someone who really should know better decides to start freely sharing classified information.

So on a date with Seifriet, the usually strait-laced Lana decides to talk about the operation in public with a man who, until recently, was acting as a Zor bioroid pilot. Fortunately, a jealous Jeanne interrupts before she can reveal every detail. Still, Seifriet reports enough for the Zor to locate and attack the human ships, leaving Marie rushing to save them with the already battered remnants of her squad.

All is not well among the Zor either. Seifriet's returning memories and the accompanying emotions keep interfering with his efficiency as a spy. At the same time, Musica's feelings toward Bowie cause her to refuse an arranged mating. This spurs the Zor leaders to authorize a new weapon from their scientists, in hopes of ending the war quickly and recovering their old home planet!


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

Supreme Commander Anatole Leonard's reckless assault has failed, with the survivors retreating to Moonbase Luna to regroup. Leonard orders a new operation to reinforce the moon base, transforming it into a military outpost for future attacks. The plan is to move quickly and stealthily, so that there will be no chance for the Robotech Masters to realize what's happening. You know, unless someone who really should know better decides to start freely sharing classified information.

So on a date with Zor, the usually strait-laced Nova decides to talk about the operation in public with a man who, until recently, was acting as an enemy bioroid pilot. Fortunately, a jealous Dana interrupts before she can reveal every detail. Still, Zor reports enough to allow the Masters to locate and attack the human ships, leaving Marie rushing to save them with the already battered remnants of her squad.

All is not well among the Masters either. Zor's emotions keep interfering with his efficiency as a spy. At the same time, Musica's feelings toward Bowie cause her to refuse an arranged mating. This spurs the Masters' leading Triumverate to authorize a new weapon from their scientists, one that will not only be effective against the humans, but also against the imminent invasion of the Invid!

Andrzej has a little too good a time
on his enforced "date" with Jeanne.

CHARACTERS:

I hope the writers aren't planning to focus on a love triangle between Jeanne, Lana, and Seifriet - not least because these scenes are by far the most annoying parts of this episode. Jeanne at least gets one fun moment around the midpoint. After Seifriet stands her up, she petulantly orders Andrzej to accompany her to the movie she had bought tickets for. Andrzej ends up having a fantastic time while she doesn't, his raucous laughter irritating her.

That's more than can be said for Lana, who up until now has been characterized as responsible and duty-driven. This episode transforms her into a complete idiot, sharing classified intelligence with Seifriet for seemingly no reason other than to flirt. Never mind Seifriet being a security risk, she's discussing this information in a public restaurant! By all rights, that should earn her a swift court martial.

By contrast, the relationship between Marie and Charles is fairly well played here. I can't claim to be any more invested than I was last episode; but when Marie and Charles are reunited at the end, I believe their reactions in a way that I just don't in the scenes involving Jeanne, Lana, and Seifriet.

Advantage: None.


NARRATION:

Both versions open with narration that recaps the previous episode, including the flowers Jeanne and Seifriet discovered in the cave. This is a surprising detail to include, given that the flowers aren't relevant to this episode. The Southern Cross recap plays like a rushed addition overall.

Robotech's narrator also mentions the flowers in the recap, but this narration provides context to connect them to the episode. We're specifically told that the Robotech Masters know of the flower thanks to their connection with Zor, and that it makes their task more urgent because it's a sign that the Invid are soon to invade. This discovery helps push them to action, making it a motivator for their scenes.

Advantage: Robotech.

Marie and Charles reunite. Robotech adds
dialogue and ruins a good scene.

CUTS AND ALTERATION:

Jeanne Suggest Seifriet Not Force His Memories: When Jeanne asks Seifriet to the movie, he's fretting about his memory. She suggests that trying to force his memories back will just make them slip further away. In Robotech, the scene is shortened so that there's no productive discussion, just Dana asking Zor out.

Jeanne's Happy Dance: After Seifriet indicates that he will accompany Jeanne, she celebrates for a few seconds with a rather cute happy dance. Robotech cut the scene to the bare minimum, and the dance is one of the casualties... though it bizarrely gets put in as a flashback during the later conversation between Zor and Nova.

The Zor Energy Problem Becomes a Protoculture Problem: Southern Cross devotes some focus to a problem with low energy in the newest generation of clones, which heralds problems for the survival of the Zor. Robotech makes this part of the "protoculture shortage" that's been affecting the Masters from their very first appearance.

The Masters Approve an "Invid Fighter": The Zor leaders approve their scientists' suggestion of a more reliable fighter. Robotech keeps the basic idea of creating a unit more completely controlled by the Triumverate - but they develop it mainly to deal with the next threat, the Invid. I think this is a change for the better. The Zor/Masters are clearly winning the war against the humans. Worries about the obviously more formidable Invid give the Masters a stronger motivation to resort to an experimental solution.

Marie's Tears: When Charles comes to meet Marie at the end of Southern Cross, she begins crying as he reassures her. Southern Cross understands that Marie weeping silently is more effective than anything she might say... while Robotech blunts the emotion by having Marie tell Sean that she wasn't sure if he cared. In the first case, she's weeping for everything that's happened since she took off, from the devastating losses, to the fear of the death, to guilt at having survived when so many of her comrades died. With that one added line, Robotech reduces it to Marie focusing on the attentions of her sort-of boyfriend.

Advantage: Southern Cross. Mainly because of that last change, which sabotages a strong emotional moment.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

The Robotech theme kicks in when Marie rescues the relief force from the Masters' surprise attack. This just about fits the context... but apparently the theme doesn't quite match the length of the scene, so there's an extremely noticeable moment when part of the theme repeats itself.

The Southern Cross music is unexceptional, and its recycled tracks are growing about as wearisome as Robotech's by this point. But Southern Cross has the confidence to go silent during parts of the battle, while Robotech covers every second with music.

Advantage: Southern Cross.

Lana shares classified information with Seifriet.
Because in this episode, Lana's an idiot.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE - SOUTHERN CROSS:

This one was on track to being a case of "no advantage." Then Robotech added that one line for its Marie/Sean scene, wrecking one of Southern Cross's best emotional moments. If you take that away, the two versions are very close in both content and quality, with a few changes that even favor Robotech. But that late scene is enough to tip the scales toward the original version.


OTHER MUSINGS:

Iron Lady pushes the plot forward in potentially interesting ways, and it benefits from another pretty good action scene. It also offers one of the better comedic moments, with the art and animation of Andrzej howling in the movie theater as Jeanne scowls making for a genuinely funny moment.

I am really missing the way the Zor were portrayed in the early episodes: Not speaking, just reacting to each other's unheard telepathic communications. Now they're just as chatty in Southern Cross as in Robotech, and they are far less intriguing as a result. I'll allow that this makes it easier for the writers to have the aliens explain their motivations to each other, but I think a lot of atmosphere is lost as a result.

The episode is enjoyable enough. But while it moves the story forward, I can't make myself think it's particularly good. The strained love triangle and particularly the out-of-character behavior of Lana really soured me on this installment.


Overall Rating: 5/10.

Previous Episode: Triple Mirror/Triumvirate
Next Episode: Love Story/Love Song

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2-13. Triple Mirror/Triumvirate.

Jeanne's triple mirror stirs up Seifriet's memories.

Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross: Triple Mirror.

Original Air Date - Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross: July 15, 1984. Writer: Jinzô Toriumi. Director: Yuusaku Satsukime.

Robotech: Triumvirate.

Original Air Date - Robotech: May 10, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.


PLOT - SOUTHERN CROSS

Supreme Commander Claude Leon orders an attack on the Zor fleet. This time, he insists they will succeed because now their Auroran attack chopper is ready to deploy. Marie is assigned to lead the Aurorans, while the Zor watch the humans lift off in disbelief that their enemy could be quite this stupid.

As the Zor engage in easy target practice, inspiration strikes Jeanne about how to recover Seifriet's memories. She takes him to the three mounds, the place where she and Bowie first encountered him. Searching the area, they find a cavern - and deeper inside, they uncover a secret that might just be the key to understanding the Zor!


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

Supreme Commander Anatole Leonard orders an attack on the Robotech Masters. This time, he insists they will succeed because now their AJAX attack chopper is ready to deploy. Marie is assigned to lead the AJAX units. The Masters watch the humans lift off in disbelief that their enemy could be quite this stupid.

As the Robotech Masters engage in easy target practice, inspiration strikes Dana for recovering Zor's memories. She takes him to the three mounds, the site of the battle that destroyed the SDF-1. Searching the area, they find a cavern - and deeper inside, they uncover a secret that leaves Zor in a state of terror!

Claude Leon decides that a frontal assault against a
superior force is a good idea. Because he's an imbecile.

CHARACTERS:

Jeanne is harboring a planet-sized crush on Seifriet. I continue to wish that some of her anger from Déjà Vu lingered, as that was a character beat that was both convincing and interesting. At this point, though, I increasingly doubt the series will follow up on it.

Jeanne impulsiveness continues to be an effective approach with Seifriet. The instant she thinks of taking him to the mounds, she calls up Bowie and simply does it. She later acknowledges defying orders, earning a sigh from Lana. It's clear that Jeanne's philosophy more or less follows the old saying that it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

Charles continues to romantically pursue Marie, and she's thawing in her attitude toward him. I wish I could care, but neither character has received enough attention or been granted enough depth for me to feel at all invested. Oh, and at this point, Claude Leon (and his Robotech counterpart, Anatole) is just an imbecile. One who seems determined to wipe out his own forces a mere three episodes after being told that he'll receive no reinforcements. At this point, Gen. Emerson would save a lot of Gloirian lives, and greatly increase the odds of a successful resolution to the conflict, if he were willing to arrange an "accident" for his superior.

Advantage: None.


NARRATION:

The Robotech episode is restrained in its narration... with one exception. At the midpoint, when Dana decides to take Zor to the ruins of the SDF-1 to jog his memory, the narrator has to tell us why she's doing this. Never mind that she's just said why she's doing it, and never mind that she restates it a minute or so later. I have no idea why the writers felt compelled to add that bit of narration, but it's enough to tip the advantage to the original version.

Advantage: Southern Cross.

A cavern full of flowers. Southern Cross's Seifriet
reacts quite differently than Robotech's Zor.

CUTS AND ALTERATION:

The Supreme Commander's Speech: The episode begins with Supreme Commander Leon making a speech about the upcoming attack. In Southern Cross, he full-throatedly stirs up the troops by promising that they will "crush the Zor." In Robotech, Anatole Leonard is more realistic, talking about the dangers of the upcoming battle.

Nova Has Been Assigned to Zor's Rehabilitation: In Southern Cross, Lana tries to persuade Jeanne that she should be part of the effort to recover Seifriet's memories. Robotech changes the scene so that Nova has been assigned to Zor, with her telling Dana: "It's out of your hands."

Subterranean Flowers: Seifriet, Jeanne, and Bowie find strange flowers in a cavern, which Seifriet knows are in some way important. All of this is the same in both versions. In Southern Cross, no sense of malevolence is attached to this discovery. Robotech has a third arc to set up, though, so Zor talks about the flowers as if they are dangerous, saying that he can sense them calling out to something far away. 

The Supreme Commander's Aide: At the end of the episode, the Supreme Commander's aide reports the results of the attack. In Southern Cross, he's as pig-headed as Claude Leon, scoffing at how pathetically their troops performed. In maybe the only distinct improvement in Robotech, the aide reports the losses and retreat as a normal person would, and he reacts with appropriate surprise when Anatole declares that they'll follow up with yet another frontal assault.

A Telling Final Shot: Not significant, but worth noting. The final shot of Southern Cross has the camera tilting up to show Gloire's two moons. But since Robotech is set on Earth, the shot is cut short - but not so short that the camera doesn't visibly begin moving upward just before the cutaway.

Advantage: Southern Cross.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

I have a basically split verdict on the music in this episode. The first part of the Robotech episode has some odd cues, notably when "adrenaline pumping" music is used right after Dana's conversation with Nova - and then cut short a few seconds later. I also think the Southern Cross music is more generally effective in the pre-battle part of the episode and in the cavern scenes. However, as usual, the Robotech tracks give a substantial lift to the battle scenes, which are a big part of this episode.

Ultimately, I think it works out to being another case of "No Advantage."

Advantage: None.

Jeanne, Seifriet, and Bowie reach the three mounds.
In Robotech, these are also the ruins of the SDF-1.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE - NONE:

In this case, the two versions are very close together. Most of the changes are minor, save for those specifically made for the sake of Robotech's continuity. It's basically the same episode, and each variant is about as good as the other.


OTHER MUSINGS:

This was a definite improvement over the previous installment. The story moves along nicely, cutting back and forth between the threads of Marie and the space battle and Jeanne and Seifriet investigating the mounds. It's well paced, and the plot pays off elements from the last episode - notably Claude Leon's rash decision to attack and the entire thread about Seifriet's lost memory.

There are several arresting images: the triple reflection of Jeanne in her mirror, which prompts Seifriet's memory that "the Zor are Trinities"; the tiny figures of our trinity of Jeanne, Seifriet, and Bowie standing before the trinity of the three mounds; the cavern with the flowers; and a number of individual images during the space battle. I could nitpick about recycled shots... but honestly, what show of this era didn't do that? This is a good-looking episode.

I wasn't as invested in the space battle as I'd have liked. First, it's not like there was any question of the attack working. It's been a whopping three episodes since the Zor devastated the human relief forces. The Supreme Commander's all-out assault just serves to make him look even more incompetent than he did already. Nor is there any suspense about Marie's fate; unlike Macross, the regulars in this series have absolute Plot Armor. Between these issues, I found myself just sitting back to watch the 'splosions, and wait for the inevitable result.

The Jeanne/Seifriet material is more interesting. I enjoyed the cavern exploration, and I look forward to seeing where that is going. I remain annoyed at how readily the squad has accepted Seifriet, which feels emotionally false to me, but at least it's an interesting thread.

Overall, this is a good episode that's effective in advancing the main arc and leaving me interested to see what happens next.


Overall Rating: 7/10.

Previous Episode: Lost Memory/A New Recruit
Next Episode: Iron Lady/Clone Chamber

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