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| Hikaru and Minmay hold a make-believe wedding. |
Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Lynn Minmay
Original Air Date: Oct. 31, 1982.
Written by: Noboru Ishiguro. Directed by: Noboru Ishiguro, Fumihiko Takayama.
Robotech: The Long Wait
Original Air Date: Mar. 7, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Directed by: Robert V. Barron.
PLOT - MACROSS:
Capt. Global and his crew scramble to bring not only the island's survivors on board, but also the remains of the carriers, whose weapons and fighters might prove invaluable. When Roy asks for permission to search for Hikaru, Global denies the request, refusing to compromise the safety of more than 50,000 civilians to search for one man.
Meanwhile, Hikaru and Minmay are trapped in a sealed off section of the ship. Fortunately, the ship's internal pipes provide plenty of water and Hikaru had some rations stored on his plane. But as the days pass with no sign of rescue, the rations grow thin, leaving the two to ponder a fate as grim as it is seemingly inevitable...
PLOT - ROBOTECH:
Capt. Gloval and his crew scramble to bring not only the island's survivors on board, but also the remains of the carriers, whose weapons and fighters might prove invaluable. When Roy asks for permission to search for Rick, Gloval denies the request, refusing to compromise the safety of more than 70,000 civilians for the sake of one man.
Meanwhile, Rick and Minmei are trapped in a sealed off section of the ship. Fortunately, the ship's internal pipes provide plenty of water and Rick had some rations stored on his plane. But as the days pass with no sign of rescue, the rations grow thin, leaving the two to ponder a fate as grim as it is seemingly inevitable...
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| Staring out at the wreckage of the city, now floating in space. |
CHARACTERS:
Both versions see Claudia continuing to gripe about the captain's space fold order. "The captain had to use that hyperspace fold," she snits - and despite Capt. Gloval berating himself in the Robotech episode... Yes, he pretty much did have to! Misa/Lisa is more professional, focusing on logistics involving contact with Earth. When a crew member reminds her that standard communication still works, she counters that they can't use it, as it would potentially give away their position.
Advantage: None.
NARRATION:
Robotech's narrator still chimes in mid-episode while Macross limits its narration to a brief recap at the start and a teaser at the end. Still, I found the Robotech narrator to be considerably less intrusive than in previous episodes (maybe I'm getting used to him?), leaving this one more or less a wash.
Advantage: None.
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| Minmay enjoys a shower that's a bit more modest in Robotech. |
CUTS AND ALTERATIONS:
Acknowledging the Dead: In Macross, Capt. Global and Misa talk openly about the dead from the two carriers they retrieve, acknowledging that there won't be any survivors. Robotech dances around the deaths with this gem of an exchange:
Lisa Hayes: Captain, I can't seem to raise the Daedalus or the Prometheus... It doesn't look good.
Capt. Gloval: I see. That's bad.
It's a good thing I wasn't eating, or I would likely have choked from laughing.
Minmay's Shower: Hikaru pulls a pipe loose so that he and Minmay will have water, and she proceeds to enjoy a shower while the spray lasts. Macross provides the expected anime fanservice shot of the young girl's butt; Robotech cuts around it so that we see her legs, then cut straight to her head and shoulders.
Minmay's Goals: There are several conversations that are altered; and, since Robotech is deathly afraid of silence, even more chatter is added over previously quiet moments. Most of these make no real difference to the episode, but there is one change that I find significant. In Macross, Minmay indicates that her main goal in life is to get married, and she expresses admiration for Hikaru's focus on flying. In Robotech, Minmei tells Rick that she badly wants to be an entertainer and has taken acting and singing classes to make that happen. In this one case, I actually prefer the Robotech scene; by having both of them intently focused on something, it makes them feel more plausible as a potential couple.
Macross Minmay Gets Dramatic - and a Bit Dark: In Macross, Minmay loses hope at the end and suggests that she and Hikaru throw themselves out the airlock to die together in space. When Hikaru refuses, she becomes angry, spitting that he's "pathetic" for waiting to starve. Obviously, an American cartoon aimed at a younger audience was not about to go to such a dark place, so Minmei has a more generic breakdown instead.
Advantage: Macross.
INCIDENTAL MUSIC:
This is a character-focused episode. The closest it comes to an action beat is when the two castaways spot a giant tuna floating in space. Hikaru/Rick improvises a space suit using his flight jacket and helmet and makes a brief spacewalk to try to catch it. The scene is good in both versions - but the Robotech incidental score really works, accentuating just how much danger he's putting himself in.
Advantage: Robotech.
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| A tuna in outer space! |
OVERALL ADVANTAGE: MACROSS:
Both versions of this episode have merit, and I even liked some of the alternate Rick/Minmei exchanges in Robotech. However, Robotech has a serious problem with quiet moments. In Macross, there are several bits that see Hikaru and Minmay silently absorbing their situation; in Robotech, they chatter nonstop - which gradually diminishes the effectiveness of the situation.
OTHER MUSINGS:
I'm impressed that both series were willing, this early in the run, to feature an action-free episode entirely focused on two characters and their evolving relationship. It wouldn't have been hard for Robotech to have skipped over it; a few judicious trims to the previous episode and some likely later references would have done the job.
Instead, the writers made a sincere effort to adapt an episode that most would judge as challenging for younger audiences. They didn't even do a bad job of it. It helps that the Robotech voice cast is so good - I have to give Harmony Gold credit for casting actors capable of carrying the material.
In the end, however, the Robotech version's refusal to allow the characters to just shut up please, along with some unavoidable changes for US audiences, leaves it feeling less authentically emotional than the original version. The Macross episode is very good; the Robotech episode is one that I respect more than enjoy.
Overall Rating for Macross - Lynn Minmay: 7/10.
Overall Rating for Robotech - The Long Wait: 6/10.
Previous Episode: Space Fold
Next Episode: Transformation
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