3-09. Lost World Fugue/The Genesis Pit.

Stig, Ray, and Mint are menaced by dinosaurs!

Genesis Climber Mospeada: Lost World Fugue.

Original Air Date - Genesis Climber Mospeada: Nov. 27, 1983. Writer: Masakazu Yasumura. Director: Sukehiro Tomita.

Robotech: The Genesis Pit.

Original Air Date - Robotech: June 6, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.


PLOT - MOSPEADA:

Stig, Ray, and Mint are scouting ahead of the others. With the light fading, they decide to make camp in a forest. What they don't realize is that they have stumbled into an Inbit experiment. The ground opens literally beneath their feet, propelling them into an underground world filled with plants and animals from long past eras of history.

The three soon find themselves running from and fighting dinosaurs, pterodactyls, and various giant insects to survive. All the while, Inbit eyes are watching them, evaluating them as the latest specimens in their evolutionary lab...


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

Scott, Rand, and Annie are scouting ahead of the others. With the light fading, they decide to make camp in a forest. What they don't realize is that they have stumbled into an Invid experiment. The ground opens literally beneath their feet, propelling them into an underground world filled with plants and animals from long past eras of history.

The three soon find themselves running from and fighting dinosaurs, pterodactyls, and various giant insects to survive. All the while, Invid eyes are watching them, evaluating them as the latest specimens in their evolutionary lab...

Houquet worries about the missing trio, but she pretends not to.

CHARACTERS:

At this point, I'm half-wondering if Genesis Climber Mospeada was a precursor to Big Trouble in Little China, introducing Stig as the hero when he's actually the sidekick. Nine episodes in, and it's Ray, not Stig, who has gotten the strongest character development and who has on multiple occasions been the one to figure out what's going on in a given episode. The mission may be Stig's, but most of the prime material on an episode-by-episode basis has gone to Ray.

To be clear, I don't think this was done on purpose. I think the issue is that Stig is a stoic character, and it is difficult to dynamically write for someone who doesn't overtly display their emotions. The garrulous Ray is more accessible, and he is therefore easier to write. Still, the writers' clear preference for Ray continues to be obvious.

Robotech counters this by forcing focus onto Scott. He doesn't do particularly more than Mospeada's Stig. However, he gives more orders, notably telling Rand when to fire retro rockets to land safely during two different falls. This reinforces his position both as the series lead and as the group's leader. Unfortunately, some of the extra dialogue continues to come in the form of quips. This fits Rand's character fine, but it feels "off" for Scott.

There are some character beats for the supporting cast, as well. Jim grouses that Houquet behaves as if she's unbothered by the trio's disappearance. In reality, she's every bit as worried as Jim and Yellow, but she refuses to show it. Jim is annoyed, while Yellow understands. It's a good, fairly understated character bit in both versions.

Less good, by a lot, is Mint, who traipses around the deadly primeval lab as if it's a playground. At one point, she scrabbles on top of what's obviously a giant egg, getting herself, Stig, and Ray attacked in the process. She is at the center of the episode's most memorable scene, in which she falls asleep and is possessed by the Inbit, allowing the aliens to explain part of their purpose. The artwork as the possessed Mint stands in front of the campfire is one of the series' stronger images to date. But given that Mint is less annoying and legitimately more useful when possessed, maybe she should just stay that way?

Advantage: None.


NARRATION:

Robotech's narration is minimal, mainly restricted to scene setting. As a result, it doesn't feel intrusive here in the way of other episodes, leaving this category a draw.

Advantage: None.

Mint is possessed by the Inbit.

CUTS AND ALTERATION:

The Invid Regess Wants Power: Both versions open with the Inbit making it clear that their goal is to identify the ultimate life form for the planet Earth. Mospeada's Inbit indicate that they're looking for the form best suited for life on Earth. Robotech's Regess, by contrast, sees finding the apex life form as the path to her race "becoming the true power it is destined to be."

"Don't Call Me Mint": Apparently, the Robotech writers have decided that it's too hard to keep renaming Mint as "Annie." In this episode, for what I'm pretty sure is the first time ever, both Scott and Rand repeatedly refer to her as Mint. The first time, I assumed it was a mistake that slipped by during the rushed translation/scripting process, but it happens at least three different times during the episode.

Rand Narrates the Entire Scene in Which He Figures It Out: Late in the episode, Ray replays all the strange encounters they've had in his head before realizing that they are in an elaborate lab/museum created by the Inbit. For the most part, he goes through events silently, with only a few key moments narrated. This is apparently too subtle for Robotech, so Rand narrates the entire sequence, spelling out every little detail - and robbing the moment of quite a bit of atmosphere in the process.

The Possessed Mint: When the Inbit possess Mint, she overhears Ray putting the pieces together and then rises to provide an explanation. It's a sinister scene, and there is the sense that the Inbit are toying with the humans, but the encounter gives some legitimate insight into the aliens' motives. The Robotech scene is extremely similar, but there's a slight shift in emphasis. The (admittedly sinister) explanation is now punctuated by declarations of power, transforming an intriguing moment into a villain monologue.

The Regess Reflects on the Humans' Will to Survive: In Mospeada, the Inbit are only seen observing Stig, Ray, and Mint. In Robotech, the Invid Regess gives orders while the aliens observe. Near the end of the episode, the Regess watches Scott fending off pterodactyls while Rand and Annie take refuge, prompting her to show appreciation for humanity's survival instinct. In both versions, I'm pretty sure the aliens' conclusion is the same (humans essentially "win" the test), but it's spelled out more in Robotech.

Ray Compares Them to the Inbit: At the end of Mospeada, Ray reflects on how the three of them are similar to the Inbit in that they killed the creatures in the lab to survive. Stig takes offense, and Ray has to calm him down, but Ray's words ring true overall. Robotech changes this, with Annie recalling the Regess's words about time passing humanity by and Scott flaring that they will prove her wrong: "It's the Invid who will be extinct!" In this case, we're obviously meant to side with Scott - more or less the opposite of the original scene.

Advantage: Mospeada.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

Mospeada's score enhances the atmosphere, giving a lift to moments such as the trio's fall into the Inbit wonderland and the ending dinosaur stampede. Robotech just uses its usual tracks in the usual way. Worse, it overuses its music, which disrupts the pacing of several scenes by overpacking them and making them feel "busier" than is actually the case.

Advantage: Mospeada.

Trapped in an impossible world.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE - MOSPEADA:

Differences between the two versions are minor. However, Robotech is hurt by its usual problem: a fear of silence. Mospeada has several moments in which characters wordlessly absorb and react to the strange sights around them. Robotech doesn't inserts a bunch of extra chatter over almost all of these moments. The nonstop talking combines with the overuse of incidental music to make the Robotech episode feel rushed in a way that isn't true of Mospeada.


OTHER MUSINGS:

Mospeada takes a break from recycling 1980s trope plots. Admittedly, it does so by borrowing from Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth instead.

For its first half, this seems mostly like escapist fun with dinosaurs. A brief prologue establishes that the Inbit are experimenting to identify Earth's ultimate life form, contextualizing the story. The rest of the first Act is spent showing Stig, Ray, and Mint going from one close call to the next. At the break, this was on track to be just an entertaining diversion.

The second Act gets more interesting. The scene in which Mint is possessed by the Inbit is particularly effective. The Inbit, through Mint, convey that while humanity sees itself as the culmination of evolution, it is actually just one more link in a chain. "Humans are not immortal... the Earth will have a new era for another evolved organism." Then there's the ending exchange between Ray and Stig, with Stig getting offended when Ray compares humans to the Inbit.

Robotech flattens some of this out, with the "possessed Annie" scene changing from an explanation (albeit a sinister one) to a villain monologue and with Rand no longer comparing their actions to survive underground to those of the Invid. This, plus the general feeling of the Robotech episode being rushed, make it weaker than the original version. Even so, it remains an entertaining installment in either variant.


Overall Rating - Mospeada: 7/10.

Overall Rating - Robotech: 6/10.

Previous Episode: Jonathan's Elegy/Eulogy
Next Episode: Requiem of the Battlefield/Enter Marlene (not yet reviewed)

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3-08. Jonathan's Elegy/Eulogy.

All that remains of a fallen soldier.

Genesis Climber Mospeada: Jonathan's Elegy.

Original Air Date - Genesis Climber Mospeada: Nov. 20, 1983. Writer: Ryo Yasumura. Director: Mari Kobayashi.

Robotech: Eulogy.

Original Air Date - Robotech: June 5, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.


PLOT - MOSPEADA:

Stig and his friends arrive in a town filled with human soldiers, survivors of the previous expedition. This is a town in which soldiers are able to live out in the open, under the legendary Lt. Commander Jonathan. One of Mars's greatest military heroes, Jonathan inspired a young Stig to join the military. He was believed lost in the first attempt to take back Earth, and Stig is overwhelmed to discover his idol alive and well on Earth.

He volunteers to join Jonathan on a raid of a nearby Inbit warehouse. But the warehouse is better defended than expected, and Jonathan orders Stig to flee, promising rescue. When Stig fails to return, Ray goes in search of him - only to make a horrible discovery...


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

Scott and his friends arrive in a town filled with human soldiers. This is a town in which soldiers are able to live out in the open, under the legendary Col. Jonathan Wolfe. One of the Robotech Forces' greatest military heroes, Wolfe inspired a generation of young soldiers. He was believed lost to the Invid, and Scott is overwhelmed to discover his idol alive and well on Earth.

He volunteers to join Wolfe on a raid of a nearby Invid warehouse. But the warehouse is better defended than expected, and Wolfe orders Scott to flee. When Scott fails to return, Rand goes in search of him - only to make a horrible discovery...

Lt. Commander Jonathan, in a moment of contemplation.

CHARACTERS:

After spending the last two episodes on the periphery, Stig returns to the foreground. He is excited to discover that Jonathan is still alive, so much so that he stops asking the questions that he had upon arriving in the town. He hopes to enlist Jonathan for his own mission to Reflex Point, and he seems eager at the thought of surrendering his command (such as it is) to the veteran.

Ray, unsurprisingly, is given the strongest dramatic scene of the episode. Unburdened by Stig's hero worship, he doesn't hesitate to confront Jonathan when Stig fails to return. The relationship between him and Houquet continues to develop in the background. Ray leaves her in the town when he goes to look for Stig, telling her not to worry; she angrily snaps that she isn't worried, only to show up to rescue him a few minutes later.

Advantage: None.


NARRATION:

Robotech is restrained in its direct narration, but it makes up for this with internal monologues. Wolfe basically tells us his motivations through this device, while the Invid Regess distracts viewers from the implications of the final shots by foreshadowing future events. The original version allows events to play out directly, which grants more immediacy - and also makes that ending a lot more memorable.

Advantage: Mospeada.

A young Stig idolizes Jonathan, named a hero for defeating pirates.
In Robotech, Col. Wolfe defeated enemy aliens for Admiral Hunter.

CUTS AND ALTERATION:

The Invid Regess: In Mospeada, the Inbit calls to, "delete the soldiers from Mars base... Delete all the soldiers who are extremely dangerous to us." This is specific foreshadowing for this episode's twist. Robotech changes the scene so that the Invid Regess is instead discussing the aliens' ultimate goal: "(The humans) must not discover the Genesis Pits before our work is completed on this planet and we evolve into our ultimate form.".

Col. Wolfe's Backstory: Lt. Commander Jonathan made his name defeating rebel humans and pirates on Mars. Robotech's Col. Jonathan Wolfe instead became a hero defeating enemies for Admiral Rick Hunter (because this is absolutely the same show as The Macross Saga, honest!) before going to Earth to fight the Robotech Masters. In both series, he's been presumed dead since the first attempt to reclaim Earth (even though prior to this episode, Robotech presented the attempt Scott was part of as the first one. Oopsie).

The Group's Reaction: Mospeada's Stig is lost in hero worship, fully buying into the notion that Lt. Commander Jonathan has been able to keep the Inbit away. The others don't argue, with Yellow and Jim deciding to hold a concert here. Robotech's Scott is more suspicious, stating that the town feels "too relaxed" and that it's ridiculous to think that Col. Wolfe can hold the Invid at bay simply by virtue of his heroic presence. Both are valid approaches: Mospeada emphasizes Stig's hero worship, building up the later plot twist, while Robotech tells us up front that something is "off" in order to create suspense.

Internal Voice Over During the Mission: Robotech adds voice overs to the mission, first with Col. Wolfe reflecting that what he's doing is "rotten" but if he didn't do it, someone else would, and then Scott telling himself to stay calm while working with his personal hero. Mospeada lets all this play out with us just observing events.

The Confrontation with Jonathan: Mospeada's Ray confronts Jonathan with what he's done, telling him that nothing will wash clean the blood on his hands. Robotech's Rand instead harps on how much the soldiers worshipped Col. Wolfe, which diminishes the impact of Wolfe staring at his open palms a few minutes later.

Wolfe Tells Rand to Follow Him Back: Lt. Commander Jonathan leaves Ray to find his own way back to town. His parting shot - wishing him luck in getting through the forest - makes clear that he's deliberately leaving Ray to die. Robotech's Wolfe reacts more immediately with guilt after Rand confronts him and offers to take the young man back to safety.

The Colonel's Motives: Lt. Commander Jonathan explains that he wanted one more chance to defeat the Inbit, and that he hoped to buy time for an opportunity through his actions. By contrast, Robotech's Wolfe has grown tired of war: "There are no winners or losers here, only survivors." His primary motive seems to be to prevent the Invid from attacking the town.

Voice Over Added to Final Shots: Mospeada presents a bleak but effective ending, as a series of well edited final shots point to the town's inevitable fate. Robotech tries to distract from this with voice over from the Invid Regess. She gloats about how the humans may have won this round (they really didn't), but they will certainly be defeated by what's coming next.

Advantage: Mospeada.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

Both versions use their scores in predictable ways. Mospeada gets a few points from Yellow's concert, with Yellow's song making for a good transition to Ray's attempt to rescue Stig. Robotech makes up the difference in the end battle, though, with its combat music lending additional tension to the battle.

Advantage: Robotech.

Stig and Jonathan, under enemy fire.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE - MOSPEADA:

The two versions take different, equally valid, approaches. Mospeada preserves the twist about Jonathan's actions as long as it can, even though it really isn't hard to guess. Robotech apparently agrees with me that this "twist" is obvious, because it chooses to tip its hand early on. The Americanized version instead tries to build suspense by watching the characters grapple with the sense that something's not right.

Robotech's success here is limited because it's stuck following the original episode's structure. I like Scott feeling something is "off" about the town - but since there are no follow up scenes with the team talking to the locals, this doesn't actually lead to anything. While I think the Robotech approach to a fairly transparent reveal is more interesting, the episode has already been built a certain way, and there's only so much the writers can do to change that.

That makes the original version more effective, even with a big reveal that most will see coming right away.

The Inbit warehouse: a harder target than expected.

OTHER MUSINGS:

Jonathan's Elegy is yet another "town with a secret" episode, a setup that Mospeada seems far too fond of. This one is a lot sharper than most, however. It may be easy to guess the broad strokes of Lt. Commander Jonathan's activities. Still, the script does a good job of selling Stig's personal admiration, which lends a bit more weight to the betrayal. Also, Jonathan's actions genuinely have kept the town safe, which lends a hint of gray to the story - something that the final shots bring home.

The episode gets a full point boost from those final shots, by the way. As the story was winding down, I found myself wondering what happens to the town now... and just as I was reflecting on that, the ending addressed it to excellent effect.


Overall Rating - Mospeada: 8/10.

Overall Rating - Robotech: 7/10.

Previous Episode: Fallen Hero's Ragtime/Paper Hero
Next Episode: Lost World Fugue/The Genesis Pit

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3-07. Fallen Hero's Ragtime/Paper Hero.

Jim is determined to find the father of a dead army buddy.

Genesis Climber Mospeada: Fallen Hero's Ragtime.

Original Air Date - Genesis Climber Mospeada: Nov. 13, 1983. Writer: Satoshi Namiki. Director: Yusaku Saotome.

Robotech: Paper Hero.

Original Air Date - Robotech: June 4, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.


PLOT - MOSPEADA:

The group comes to another small town, this time on purpose. Jim wants to deliver a book to Alfred, the father of a friend who was killed during the first attempt to reclaim Earth from the Inbit. The plan is to be in and out before the nearby Inbit patrols pick up on their presence. But when they drive into town, the locals shut themselves away.

José, a restaurant owner, tells them that no one named Alfred lives here. It's obvious that he's lying, as Jim is able to follow his dead buddy's descriptions straight to Alfred's now-destroyed home. But just what dark secret could the locals be hiding?


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

The group comes to another small town, this time on purpose. Lunk wants to deliver a book to Alfred, the father of a friend who was killed during the Invid invasion. The plan is to be in and out - but when they drive into town, the locals shut themselves away.

José, a restaurant owner, tells them that no one named Alfred lives here. It's obvious that he's lying, as Lunk is able to follow his dead buddy's descriptions straight to Alfred's now-destroyed home. But just what dark secret could the locals be hiding?

A flashback shows Jim watching
helplessly as his friend falls to the Inbit.

CHARACTERS:

This time, it's Jim's turn to take the spotlight. Flashbacks show the incident that led to him fleeing during the previous attempt to reclaim Earth. A lot of the anger he shows toward the townspeople is directed at least as much at himself for having left his friend to die. When he tells Mint and Ray about the past incident, he cleans up the story by insisting that he tried to save his friend. Even though he didn't actually do anything, it's evident that there was nothing he could do.

Ray is, once again, in the support role. To be honest, I'd rather it had been someone else - Yellow Belmont, or even Stig. We've gotten a lot of Ray in almost every episode thus far, while some of the other characters have been relegated to the sidelines. Stig is supposedly the series lead, but he's starting to feel like a minor supporting character!

Advantage: None.


NARRATION:

For a change, the Robotech episode follows Mospeada's lead by jumping straight into the episode with only a bare minimum of narration. The episode quickly makes up for that restraint by giving restaurant owner José an internal monologue in which he frets about how the "freedom fighters" will react if they find out what happened to Alfred. Thanks for puncturing any hint of mystery... though it's not as if the plot trajectory wasn't obvious to start with.

Advantage: Mospeada.

Local restaurant owner José is evasive.

CUTS AND ALTERATION:

Lunk Narrates His Flashback: When Ray asks Jim about his friend in Mospeada, Jim has a flashback in which he relives the man's death and his own escape. Robotech has Lunk narrate the entire flashback, while the writers sand down any suggestion of cowardice by having him emphasize that there was no way for him to help his friend. Which there wasn't - but I prefer Mospeada's approach of simply making that obvious to anyone watching, rather than Robotech's of spelling it out to us.

Annie's Peppermint Candy: When Jim talks about Alfred, his late friend's father, Mint hopes that he turns out to be a "nice old man." Then, since a marital obsession is her sole character trait, she declares that she doesn't mind marrying an old man as long as she gets to live in a big house. Robotech has wisely de-emphasized the marital obsession, with Annie instead fantasizing about getting peppermint candy.

The Reason the Restaurant Is Closed: In Mospeada, José tells Jim that the restaurant is closed for a religious observance. Even in the '80s, the US was too secular for that to work for American audiences, so Robotech's José tells Lunk that there is an emergency, leaving no supplies to open the restaurant.

José and Pedro Talk About Alfred's Death: While Mospeada keeps up the illusion of a mystery surrounding Alfred, Robotech apparently finds that too subtle. As a result, José and Pedro nowdirectly discuss the need to conceal the old man's death.

Rand Doesn't Worry About the Invid: As Mospeada's Ray and Jim search for Alfred, Ray reminds him that they need to be in and out fast before the Inbit catch up to them. Robotech removes this, with Rand and Lunk fully focused on the mystery. Even when Rand frets about getting hurt, he's worried not about the aliens but the townspeople.

Quipping: This is an ongoing issue with Robotech, but it's very noticeable in this episode. When Rand and Lunk get surrounded by a mob, they begin exchanging quips about how serious the guy with the knife and the one with the axe look. Mospeada sets a more serious (and less annoying) tone for the same encounter.

The Robotech Regulars Want to Protect the Town: When Pedro refuses to give the regulars access to their mechs, the Mospeada characters argue that Stig will die if the townspeople don't allow them to help. Robotech shifts this, with the regulars now playing on the town's self-interest by insisting that the approaching Invid will destroy them if they aren't repelled.

Pedro Shifts Responsibility to José: José steps forward, urging the others to show the regulars where their machines are hidden. When the mayor snaps at him that he might end up dying, José responds that it's better than "humans killing other humans." Robotech changes the exchange, with Pedro now telling José that he'll be responsible for whatever happens next... which, come to think of it, makes Robotech's Pedro a more realistic politician.

Advantage: Mospeada.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

I'm going to give this category to Robotech. Yes, it's the usual tracks being applied in the usual way. The score is well applied, however, and I think it gives a slight lift to the episode. Mospeada's music is... fine. It doesn't harm any of the scenes - but it also doesn't help any of them.

Advantage: Robotech.

Jim finds Alfred's place - or at least, what's left of it.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE - MOSPEADA:

As usual, Robotech doesn't change much. However, the American writers' insistence on telegraphing every plot turn is extremely irritating. It's a stock plot to start with; I think even the younger after school viewers would be able to keep up. Also, presumably because some of the locals have Hispanic names, the Robotech version insists on giving them all exaggerated accents. I lived in Arizona at the time this was broadcast; even then, there were plenty of people with names like José and Pedro whose voices were indistinguishable from people named John Smith or Mike Young.


OTHER MUSINGS:

Fallen Hero's Ragtime is essentially a post-Apocalyptic Bad Day at Black Rock, and most viewers will figure out where the story is going within the first five minutes. Not that Robotech viewers will even need to wait that long, as the Robotech version spells out the locals covering up Alfred's death from the get-go.

In either version, it's another stock plot from a show that I think has already too freely indulged in such stories. I know that Southern Cross is considered the weakest of the Robotech shows, but at least that series had some ambition. I'm more than a quarter of the way through Mospeada now, and I'm starting to get a bit numbed by the succession of tropey storylines.

On its own terms, this is a perfectly competent episode. I'm just starting to hunger for something... well, more.


Overall Rating: 5/10.

Previous Episode: Support Girl Blues/Hard Times
Next Episode: Jonathan's Elegy/Eulogy

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3-06. Support Girl Blues/Hard Times.

Houquet is reunited with her younger sister.

Genesis Climber Mospeada: Support Girl Blues.

Original Air Date - Genesis Climber Mospeada: Nov. 6, 1983. Writer: Sukehiro Tomita. Director: Mari Kobayashi.

Robotech: Hard Times.

Original Air Date - Robotech: June 3, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.


PLOT - MOSPEADA:

The group's journey takes them very close to Houquet's home town, a city that's hidden inside a canyon. Houquet says nothing, but she can't quite shake memories of the events that led to her leaving home. Her mood does not go unnoticed. That night, she quietly get on her cyclone and drives off - and Ray follows.

Houquet's town is being terrorized by The Red Snakes, a gang of thugs. They used to be kept somewhat in check by the Blue Angels, a gang that was led by her ex-boyfriend, Romy. The night she left, the Angels were meant to duel the Snakes - but only Houquet showed up, and the Snakes made short work of her. Now, she finds Romy working as a baker with her sister, Lily, with no one opposing the Snakes.

Houquet decides on a rematch with the gang, this time on her terms. But the thugs aren't interested in a fair fight...


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

The group's journey takes them very close to Rook's home town, a city that's hidden inside a canyon. Rook says nothing, but she can't quite shake memories of the events that led to her leaving home. Her mood does not go unnoticed. That night, she quietly get on her cyclone and drives off - and Rand follows.

Rook's town is being terrorized by The Red Snakes, a gang of thugs. They used to be kept somewhat in check by the Blue Angels, a gang that was led by her ex-boyfriend, Romy. The night she left, the Angels were meant to duel the Snakes - but only Rook showed up, and the Snakes made short work of her. Now, she finds Romy working as a baker with her sister, Lily, with no one opposing the Snakes.

Rook decides on a rematch with the gang, this time on her terms. But the thugs aren't interested in a fair fight...

Ray enforces a fair contest, but he otherwise
leaves Houquet to fight her own battles.

CHARACTERS:

This is a spotlight episode for Houqet, filling in some of her backstory. She's a protector by nature, probably in part because of years looking after her more innocent younger sister. One of the first things she does on her return home is to rescue two young women from the Snakes, and she refuses to leave the town to the gang's nonexistent mercy.

This episode is also significantly advances the Houquet/Ray relationship that's been developing in the background. Rand responds just about perfectly to her situation. He follows her, but he only steps in when the Snakes try to ambush her. Even then, he does just enough to enforce the terms of her challenge to the gang leader - but he still leaves the contest to her rather than trying to fight her personal battle for her.

Advantage: None.


NARRATION:

The Robotech narrator recaps the previous episode, even though not a single story beat carries over from that installment to this one. The narration goes rather over-the-top, gushing about how perfectly everyone worked together as a team... which is probably meant to draw a contrast with this episode, in which Rook goes off on her own (with Rand following), but it gets laid on so thick that it's unintentionally funny.

Advantage: Mospeada.

Houquet remembers her past. Robotech makes sure
we absolutely understand that this is a flashback.

CUTS AND ALTERATION:

Makeshift Shower: Yellow Belmont creates a makeshift shower with river water and a bucket with holes in it. Jim admires the ingenious invention (though I mainly question how Yellow's shower lasts more than a few seconds), and Yellow jokingly reacts as if the big man is peeping. Robotech removes the final bit, with Lancer calling out Lunk in voice over. Since nothing was shown in the original shot, I'm guessing this was mainly a case of grabbing a couple of seconds toward an extra ad.

Internal Monologues Signpost the Flashbacks: Seeing that she's close to her home town, Mospeada's Houquet has flashbacks to the events that led her to leave, which we see in sepia tones and mostly still images. Robotech decides to make sure that we know that these are flashbacks by adding internal monologues in which Rook directly states that she's remembering her past. Because Robotech thinks that we're morons.

Romy and Lily: Mospeada introduces Romy and Houquet's sister, Lily, in a short scene as Romy prepares to close his bakery for the night. He observes that it's getting late and offers to take her home to her parents. This scene is removed from Robotech, which instead introduces them when Rook finds the bakery and sees them together. I actually think this is a change for the better; the Mospeada scene doesn't do anything storywise, and Robotech using the later moment to introduce them keeps the focus on Rook and her reactions.

The Red Snakes Will Blame the Protoculture Theft on the Angels: A minor change, but a dumb one: In Mospeada, one of the Snakes has stolen some HBT. When another of the gang warns him that the Inbit will come for him, he laughs it off, saying that he'll blame the townspeople. Robotech has him state that he'll blame the stolen protoculture on rival gang The Angels - which makes no sense, as the episode has firmly established that the Angels broke up some time ago.

Rand Tells Rook's Mother to "Get a Job": When Ray takes Houquet to her mother on the way out of town, Houquet flees. Ray follows to let her know that her mother wished her well. All of this still happens in Robotech, but a bizarre "WTF" moment is added in: After Rook flees, Rand quickly snips, "Get a job," at her mother before riding off. Um... what? This is made even more bizarre when, a few seconds later, he's telling Rook that all her mother wants is for her to "be well."

Rook's Ending Internal Monologue: Mospeada's Houquet rides out of town while the song, Motorcycle Freak, plays. She then notices the others waiting for her and responds with delight. This apparently isn't dramatic enough for Robotech, which instead has Rook do a full internal monologue about how much she loves her mother and how she intends to look after the others before the episode ends - made even worse by the internal monologue smothering the shot in which she is visibly speaking.

Advantage: Mospeada.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

In addition to being seriously overfamiliar by this point, Robotech's tracks are somewhat oddly applied, particularly in the climactic action scene. Mospeada doesn't do anything really noteworthy with its incidental music - even the application of a pop song at the end is pretty standard stuff - but at least it all properly fits the episode.

Advantage: Mospeada.

Houquet's nemesis: The Red Snakes.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE - MOSPEADA:

Mospeada has thus far been the least changed of the three Robotech series, and that remains true here. For most of the episode, changes are superficial; one cut actually represents an improvement, as the removed Mospeada scene was pointless and broke away from Houquet's viewpoint.

Alas, any chance for the Robotech episode to be as good as the original version is undone by the final minutes. Mospeada ends well, which means the entire episode works in its original form. Robotech's final minutes, however, are absolutely massacred by the one-two punch of Rand's bizarre, "Get a job," to Rook's mother, followed by Rook's insanely overdone ending monologue.


OTHER MUSINGS:

This is the second Mospeada episode whose conflict revolves around a town being terrorized by a biker gang. Yes, I know that was a pretty standard '80s plot - but even The A-Team or Knight Rider would only trot it out maybe once per season. Twice in six episodes is a bit much.

That aside, I enjoyed this one. It's a good character piece for both Houquet and Ray. I also liked Stig's reaction: noting that Houquet is genuinely bothered but staying completely out of what isn't his affair. I would rather the ending Inbit battle had been removed, with those extra couple of minutes maybe being used to show Ray meeting Houquet's parents or to show more of Houquet seeing her old home. Still, on its own terms, this is a decent little show.

That's mostly true of Robotech, as well. Too bad about the final moments. Still, allow me to extend a friendly Robotech greeting to all by saying:

"Get a job!" ("But I already have one." "So? Get a second one!")


Overall Rating: 7/10.

Previous Episode: Live Inn Plunder Operation/Curtain Call
Next Episode: Fallen Hero's Ragtime/Paper Hero

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3-05. Live Inn Plunder Operation/Curtain Call.

The group uses a concert as cover for a fuel heist!

Genesis Climber Mospeada: Live Inn Plunder Operation.

Original Air Date - Genesis Climber Mospeada: Oct. 30, 1983. Writer: Satoshi Namiki. Director: Yusaku Saotome.

Robotech: Curtain Call.

Original Air Date - Robotech: May 31, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.


PLOT - MOSPEADA:

The group is running low on the HBT they need to fuel their mechs, but Yellow Belmont has a solution: a heist. The nearby town of Belnarda maintains its freedom by collaborating with the Inbit, the security officials guarding HBT inside a medieval fortress. Yellow makes arrangements to hold a concert in the town, while Stig, Ray, and Houquet bypass security to make away with the fuel.

The plan seems to be going off without a hitch, with them easily evading all the modern security. But while using a hidden passage to make their escape, they manage to set off one of the castle's old traps, sealing off the passage. Yellow extends the concert to buy time - but if Stig and the others can't find a way out, then none of them will be going anywhere!


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

The group is running low on the protoculture they need to fuel their mechs. Lancer has a solution: a heist. The nearby town of Norristown maintains its freedom by collaborating with the Inbit, the security officials guarding protoculture stores inside a medieval fortress. Lancer makes arrangements to hold a concert in the town, while Scott, Rand, and Rook bypass security to make away with the fuel.

The plan seems to be going off without a hitch, with them easily evading all the modern security. But while using a hidden passage to make their escape, they manage to set off one of the castle's old traps, sealing off the passage. Lancer extends the concert to buy time - but if Scott and the others can't find a way out, then none of them will be going anywhere!

Stig, Ray, and Houquet disable the security system.

CHARACTERS:

Ray is anxious about stealing the fuel, worried that it will draw attention. Even if the Inbit ignore them, the local authorities will be just as dangerous if they catch them. Once the job is done, he becomes cocky even before they've made good on their escape, which both Stig and Houquet call him out on.

Yellow continues the pop star masquerade, and we see just how popular "Yellow Belmont" is from the crowd that comes to the concert. Yes, Mint stirs up the crowd so that Yellow's manager can persuade the authorities to have a car ready for their escape... but she doesn't need to do much stirring, because the audience is already enthusiastic. We also see that Yellow's manager is fully aware of, and part of, his resistance activities.

None of this gets changed for Robotech, with the episode overall being one of the least altered of the entire Robotech series.

Advantage: None.


NARRATION:

Robotech begins with a recap of the previous episode, which is almost comical given that there's no actual connection between the two episodes. I say "almost," because the writers do use the recap to cannily slip in that Scott and his group are running low on fuel, which sets up the basic problem for this episode.

Advantage: None.

Yellow performs. The disguise is
a lot more convincing in Mospeada.

CUTS AND ALTERATION:

HBT Becomes Protoculture: A simple and predictable change. Mospeada's HBT fuel source becomes "protoculture," Robotech's all-purpose MacGuffin. I find it a bit odd that protoculture has been established as a precious resource, and yet everything runs on it. Surely it would make more sense for most human technology (such as mundane vehicles) to run on gas or electric?

Yellow Belmont Is A More Convincing Woman Than Lancer: In Mospeada, Yellow Belmont's female voice is more convincing... probably because female voice actor Mine Matsuki dubs all of Belmont's dialogue when in costume. In Robotech, "Yellow Dancer" just uses the same "Lancer" voice. No matter how good he looks in that dress, surely someone would notice this lady's masculine baritone?

Jim's Cover vs. Lunk's: After hijacking the soda truck, Mospeada's Jim gets into the fortress by claiming that he's there to inspect the vending machines. After checking the truck and finding only crates of soft drinks, the guards wave him through. Robotech bizarrely changes Lunk's cover story, with him claiming that he's here to repair broken machines. The original version makes more sense with the visual context.

Knocking Out the Police Officer: Jim knocks out an officer to steal his police car as a getaway car. In Mospeada, we hear the officer first expressing confusion and then begging for Jim to "stop it" as the big man administers his beating. Robotech removes that dialogue, with only the sound of Lunk's fists being heard before the car is clear.

Advantage: Mospeada. But only by a hair. Really, the two versions are so close to identical as to make very little difference.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

The caper is done under the cover of Yellow's concert, which makes the music rather important. Fortunately, Robotech doesn't just do its usual and recycle Minmei songs. Instead, Yellow Dancer sings a couple of pretty decent pop numbers, with Look Up (The Sky Is Falling) being legitimately catchy.

The Mospeada version offers a better variety of music overall, making it more believable as a full concert. I'm also finding myself enjoying Mospeada's action music. Robotech uses its music well - but after 65 episodes, there's no way around those tracks having become ludicrously stale by this point.

Advantage: Mospeada.

Caught in a medieval trap.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE - NONE:

Though I can't help but lightly mock Robotech for its overuse of "protoculture" (do they need it to operate the futuristic toilets too?), ultimately the two versions are as close to identical as the series has yet delivered. Mospeada benefits from a better variety of music for its concert and from incidental tracks that haven't received 65 episodes of play... but both variants offer the same overall viewing experience.


OTHER MUSINGS:

In my review of Survival Song Feeling, I said that the episode felt like filler. This episode cements that impression. If you skipped straight from Showdown Concert at High Noon to this, the series wouuld actually be structurally better.

Showdown Concert saw the group pick up more people and mechs. This episode addresses the issue of fuel that comes with that, while also building on Yellow Belmont's popularity as an entertainer. The intervening episode doesn't appear to have done anything but occupy space.

Live Inn Plunder Operation is my favorite Mospeada episode thus far. It's a lighthearted caper that, with its heist in a medieval fortress complete with a centuries-old trap, feels slightly beholden to Lupin III - which is no bad thing. The script is tidily constructed, with every member of the ensemble getting something to do. Mix in a good soundtrack (yes, even in the Robotech version), and this is a lot of fun to watch.


Overall Rating: 8/10.

Previous Episode: Survival Song Feeling/Survival
Next Episode: Support Girl Blues/Hard Times

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3-04. Survival Song Feeling/Survival.

Stig and his group hide from Inbit forces.

Genesis Climber Mospeada: Survival Song Feeling.

Original Air Date - Genesis Climber Mospeada: Oct. 23, 1983. Writer: Ryo Yasumura. Director: Masayuki Kojima.

Robotech: Survival.

Original Air Date - Robotech: May 30, 1985. Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.


PLOT - MOSPEADA:

While Yellow Belmont waits in the group's camp, Stig and the others make a supply run to a nearby town. This does not go well, with them finding themselves on the run from Inbit forces. They make a detour into a forest to hide. No matter what they do, however, the Inbit keep finding them. And in the wild, the aliens aren't the only danger...


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

While Lancer waits in the group's camp, Scott and the others make a supply run to a nearby town. This does not go well, with them finding themselves on the run from Invid forces. They make a detour into a forest to hide. No matter what they do, however, the Invid keep finding them. And in the wild, the aliens aren't the only danger...

Ray and Houquet bicker. Since this is an '80s show,
that probably means they're in love.

CHARACTERS:

This episode offers a chance to see the newly formed group working as a team. Country boy Ray gets to show some competence, first in dealing with leeches and later in catching fish for the group to eat - though he gets lost in his enthusiasm for the latter activity that he nearly gets caught by the Inbit. Ray and Houquet spend much of the episode bickering, which by '80s TV rules means that they will end up becoming a couple, though some of their "fight/flirting" here points to real resentment from Ray. I guess we'll see if that last trait gets developed or forgotten.

Advantage: None.


NARRATION:

Robotech opens with a full recap, consisting of bits from the previous episode with the narrator introducing the new characters and letting us know that Scott and company found a Veritech fighter. The main body of the episode is very restrained in its narration, however, with no moments that irritated me, leaving this category a wash.

Advantage: None.

Ray figures out how the Inbit keep finding them.
Robotech adds voice over to spell it out for us.

CUTS AND ALTERATION:

Scott Admits That He Was Wrong about "Breaking Through": The episode begins with the party surrounded by Inbit fighters. Stig urges the group to break through; Ray dismisses that as suicide and cuts to the side, with the others following. The scene is almost identical in Robotech - except that when Scott looks at the Invid blocking the path he had been urging, he admits that he was wrong in wanting to keep going.

Mint Asks Ray to Marry Her: While fleeing the Inbit, Mospeada's Mint laments that she doesn't want to die without being married and demands that Ray marry her (he refuses). Robotech has dialed back on her marriage obsession, so Annie merely wails that she's too young to die, with the subsequent exchange removed entirely.

Food vs. Protoculture Energy Cells: Jim's jeep is damaged during the escape. He tries to recover the spilled food stores that he got from the town before fleeing. That apparently is too mundane for Robotech, with Lunk instead trying to gather up "Protoculture Energy Cells."

Rook Snaps at Lunk: After evading the Inbit in Mospeada, the group hides in tall grass and wonders exactly how the aliens are managing to follow them. Robotech changes this, with Lunk asking about food and Rook snapping at him. This does introduce the idea of tension within the group a bit earlier, but at the cost of having the main characters actually think about the problem of how they're being tracked.

Internal Monologue When Rand Figures It Out: Ray hides in the trees as the Inbit pass. He begins charging his weapon, at which point the Inbit turn toward him. He swiftly turns the power off, and the aliens move on. Since Robotech doesn't fully trust its audience to follow along, Rand has an internal monologue spelling out his realization. I think my fingers may have gotten bruised from the aggressive handholding.

Rook Is Angrier Than Houquet: File this one under pointless changes. In Mospeada, Houquet wonders exactly why Ray is so reflexively nasty toward her. Robotech changes this so that Rook is every bit as rude to Rand as he is to her.

Advantage: None. A couple of changes that I like are canceled out by changes that I don't like.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

Both scores are well applied, but I think Robotech's is more effective. Surprisingly, the Robotech score works best not in the ending action scene, but in the moments that show the group hiding from and evading the Invid. Mospeada's incidental music is fine, and I appreciate the moments that play out with no music - but I think that Robotech wins this category this time.

Advantage: Robotech.

The Inbit relentlessly search for Stig's group.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE - NONE:

Changes made to this episode are minor: an internal monologue to (over-) clarify one point, a slight change in the attitude of Robotech's Rook vs. Mospeada's Houquet, a bit of extra technobabble involving protoculture. It's basically the same viewing experience in either version.


OTHER MUSINGS:

Aside from a few decent character moments for Ray and Houquet, Survival Song Feeling is entirely unmemorable. There's some initial suspense in watching the group evade the Inbit... but that drains away fast, because there's only so many times you can watch the characters hide behind trees before the thrill is gone.

There just isn't much here. The group hides in the forest, Ray goes fishing, they evade the aliens and a couple of threats from nature, and then they share a meal. There's merit in seeing the newly formed group working together, but not enough to keep this from feeling like filler.

It's watchable enough. Overall, though, this occupies 22 minutes, it passes the time more or less adequately, and then it ends. I strongly suspect that if you accidentally skipped it while watching the series, you'd never even notice it was missing.


Overall Rating: 4/10.

Previous Episode: Showdown Concert at High Noon/Lonely Soldier Boy
Next Episode: Live Inn Plunder Operation/Curtain Call

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3-03. Showdown Concert at High Noon/Lonely Soldier Boy.

Former soldier Jim is targeted by a violent criminal gang!

Genesis Climber Mospeada: Showdown Concert at High Noon.

Original Air Date - Genesis Climber Mospeada: Oct. 16, 1983. Writer: Sukehiro Tomita. Director: Katsuhito Akiyama.

Robotech: Lonely Soldier Boy.

Original Air Date - Robotech: May 29, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.


PLOT - MOSPEADA:

Stig, Ray, and Mint stop at a ramshackle shell of a town. The locals are under the thumb of a vicious criminal gang that hunts soldiers to turn them into the Inbit.

Their current target is Jim, who came to Earth years ago as part of the first liberation force. Jim has survived by keeping his head down and hiding his past. Somehow (never explained), the gang discovered his secret. They kidnap Jim's best friend, holding him hostage if Jim doesn't meet them for a showdown at the K. O. Corral (cue eyeroll).

Stig decides to help, and he receives some unexpected backup: Houquet, the young woman who came to their aid in the last town they visited; and Yellow Belmont, a popular singer who hides more than one secret...


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

Scott, Rand, and Annie stop at a ramshackle shell of a town that is plagued by ruffians who hate soldiers.

The gang's current target is Lunk, a former bio-maintenance engineer for the Robotech Expeditionary Forces. He's been hiding his past, but somehow (never explained), the gang discovered his secret. They kidnap Lunk's best friend, holding him hostage if he doesn't meet them for a showdown outside of town.

Scott decides to help, and he receives some unexpected backup: Rook, the young woman who came to their aid in the last town they visited; and Yellow Dancer, a popular singer who hides more than one secret...

Stig, Ray, and Mint are all unimpressed with the town.

CHARACTERS:

Upon arriving in this dump of a town, Stig instantly blames the state of the place on the Inbit. Ray warns against blaming the aliens for everything, saying that the surrounding mess is mainly because of the humans who live here. This is a good note for both characters. Stig filters all he sees through the military conflict, while Ray - who has lived here all his life - knows that humans are capable of bad behavior with no need of outside intervention.

Advantage: Robotech.


NARRATION:

The Robotech narrator won't shut up. This gets particularly annoying when the writers decide that the themes and parallels are too subtle for us, with narration directly pointing out how Scott riding to the rescue of the kidnapped man is like a Western showdown. We go to commercial with the narrator further talking about how Scott is fighting against lawlessness and anarchy here. I'm still hungry, Mr. Narrator - can you spoon-feed me some more?

Advantage: Mospeada.

Yellow Belmont performs.
In Mospeada, the performance is better.

CUTS AND ALTERATION:

Opening Song: The episode opens with Yellow Belmont/Yellow Dancer singing at the town bar. Mospeada has Yellow Belmont's song evoking images of Earth before the war, with apple trees and fields, creating a sharp contrast when the episode cuts to Stig and Ray arriving in the desert dump that is their reality. Robotech doesn't show the same images, instead recycling close-ups of the instruments the band is playing. Also, Robotech doesn't even try to match the lyrics to the lip movements, which becomes rather distracting.

Mint's Reaction to the Town vs. Annie's: Mint agrees that the town is no place she wants to settle down, stating that she doesn't want to get married here. Robotech continues to wisely de-emphasize the child character's marital obsession, with Annie wondering what the locals do for fun... earning an amusing rejoinder from Rand that they probably sit around and watch their floorboards warp.

The Gang Leader Interrupts: In Mospeada, the gang leader cuts off Yellow Belmont by belligerently demanding who gave the singer permission to perform, an early tipoff to the gang's control over the town. Robotech inexplicably changes this so that the gang leader is snarling about how Yellow Dancer's music "stinks."

The Club Manager Talks About the Gang: When Stig asks about the gang in Mospeada, the club manager tells him that they run the town and will kill anyone who disobeys them. Robotech makes the gang less threatening, with the club manager instead describing them as "riff-raff." Is the riff-raff up to shenanigans, by any chance?

Yellow Dancer Becomes "Lancer": The episode ends with Yellow Belmont overcoming Stig's objections to a woman joining them (as opposed to another woman and a little girl?) by demonstrating that "she" is actually a man in disguise. Robotech decides this isn't enough, with "Yellow Dancer" renaming himself "Lancer" on the grounds that it suits him better. Because men don't dance, or a lance is like a penis, or... whatever.

Advantage: Mospeada.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

For the first time, I find myself quite liking the Mospeada incidentals. The battle scene that takes up most of the second half is accompanied by a score that conveys the right level of excitement, while still being light enough to maintain the general tone. Also, the song by Mospeada's Yellow Belmont is better than the very '80s ballad crooned by Robotech's Yellow Dancer.

Advantage: Mospeada.

A skirmish with the Inbit. Because a biker gang
is hardly much of a challenge for our heroes.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE - MOSPEADA:

After two straight episodes in which I preferred Robotech, Genesis Climber Mospeada finally ends up delivering the better version. Robotech doesn't change much, but its changes make the episode ever-so-slightly less effective. The gang comes across as less powerful and therefore less threatening, and the characters are just a hint flatter. The Robotech episode is still entertaining - but this time, Mospeada is simply better.


OTHER MUSINGS:

Showdown Concert at High Noon is an enjoyable outing. It moves quickly, and it shifts gears in the second half when the heroes, ready to face the gang, find themselves fighting the Inbit instead. As a story, though, this is pretty thin stuff - and yes, I wish it had been something other than a patented '80s "evil town" episode.

This installment is most notable for expanding the character roster: Houquet, the woman who rescued Stig and Ray, reappears and officially joins them; Yellow Belmont and Jim are added to the core group; and the Legioss fighter (which Robotech renames the Alpha) expands their hardware.

Jim is instantly likable, his character art emphasizing him as a "regular guy" and the animation making him noticeably more expressive than Stig and Rand. Yellow Belmont is the more intriguing character, and is clearly still hiding secrets even after the big reveal. Since I didn't actually get very far into "The New Generation" when I watched in the mid-'80s, I look forward to finding out more.

In the end, it's an engaging half hour, and it goes by quickly. I just wish the standalone story didn't feel like reheated A-Team leftovers.


Overall Rating: 7/10.

Previous Episode: The Broken-Hearted Girl's March/The Lost City
Next Episode: Survival Song Feeling/Survival

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