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| Shinobu Takeuchi records a battle a little too coolly for Stig's liking. |
Genesis Climber Mospeada: Black Hair's Partita.
Original Air Date - Genesis Climber Mospeada: Mar. 11, 1984. Writer: Sukehiro Tomita. Director: Yusaku Saotome.
Robotech: Reflex Point.
Original Air Date - Robotech: June 26, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.
PLOT - MOSPEADA:
As the team draws near to Reflex Point, they observe a battle between the Inbit and survivors of the Second Earth Liberation Force. They rush to the site, but they are too late. They arrive to find a field of destroyed mechs, with no apparent survivors.
Except one, that is: Shinobu Takeuchi, of the 36th Moon Base Squad's News Group. Her mission is to gather as much information as possible about the enemy and send it to the moon base, where the Third Liberation Force is preparing its assault. In the time since Stig's mission failed, the humans have developed a new weapon: the Dark Legioss, which can hide its HBT signature to avoid detection by the enemy.
Shinobu also reveals the existence of another weapon: the synchrotron cannon. When Stig left Mars, it was still being developed, but now it is a reality - and the Inbit are searching the battlefield for it. Since allowing the enemy to take the cannon is unthinkable, Stig and Shinobu come up with a plan to destroy it and break through the Inbit forces to escape. But the plan is risky, and Stig isn't certain that she can be trusted...
PLOT - ROBOTECH:
As the team draws near to Reflex Point, they observe a battle between the Invid and forces from the Robotech Expeditionary Force. They rush to the site, but they are too late. They arrive to find a field of destroyed mechs, with no apparent survivors.
Except one, that is: Sue Graham, an intelligence officer. Her mission is to gather as much information as possible about the enemy and send it to a moon base to help Admiral Rick Hunter prepare his assault. The Robotech forces have modified their Veritechs into Shadow Fighters, which can hide their protoculture signature to avoid detection by the enemy.
Sue also reveals the existence of another weapon: the Synchro Cannon. The Invid are searching the battlefield for it. Since allowing the enemy to take the cannon is unthinkable, Scott and Sue come up with a plan to destroy it and break through the Invid forces to escape - but the plan is risky, and Scott isn't certain that she can be trusted...
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| Shinobu shares plans for the next attack. |
CHARACTERS:
Ever since the death of his fiancée, Stig has compartmentalized his entire identity into "soldier." This episode confronts him with someone who truly has made "duty" into her entire persona... and he doesn't like what he sees, finding Shinobu to be almost inhuman in her coldness.
The idea is interesting. The actual writing is a bit heavy-handed, though. Stig's anger at Shinobu for continuing to record instead of joining the doomed battle is irrational. Does he think one woman with a camera joining the fray would have resulted in anything other than one more corpse? She is absolutely right to make transmitting information to her superiors (as ordered) into her priority, and Stig should already know this.
A better version would have Stig reluctantly acknowledgement that Shinobu is right while still being disturbed by her callousness. As it stands, his brain seems to basically fall out for the first 2/3 of this episode.
Advantage: None.
NARRATION:
The Robotech narrator and connects the Invid base of operations at Reflex Point to previous series, discussing how the protoculture the Invid have harvested comes from the Flower of Life. The narration is actually well written, with some effective descriptions, and the use of continuity points from the previous "generations" is cleverly done. Later bits of narration covering transitions are unnecessary, but at least they don't annoy.
Advantage: None.
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| The Inbit leader assumes human form. Robotech's Invid Regess does this for the sake of universal domination. |
CUTS AND ALTERATION:
The Invid Goal Is Universal Domination: Mospeada opens with the Inbit revealing how they have worked to improve this planet while seeking the ideal life form to exist upon it. This isn't villainous enough for Robotech, whose Regess all but cackles about "universal domination" as the aliens' ultimate goal.
The Invid Battle Admiral Hunter's Forces: In Mospeada, the opening battle sees the Inbit wiping out survivors of the Second Liberation Force. Robotech changes this so that they are from the Robotech Expeditionary Force sent by Admiral Hunter.
Mint Tries to Surrender to the Inbit: When the Inbit arrive on the battlefield in force, a panicky Mint tries to climb out of hiding to surrender, with Ray restraining her. Robotech wisely changes this misjudged comedy bit, with Annie instead just making panicked noises that Rand muffles.
Admiral Hunter's Forces Are Coming from Deep Space: In Mospeada, Shinobu reveals that the Third Liberation Force is gathered on the far side of the moon, preparing for an attack, with her assignment to gather and relay information to them. This is similar in Robotech, except that Admiral Hunter's forces are gathering by a moon base (presumably Moonbase Aluce) in preparation for the attack.
Scott Accuses Sue of Making the Attack Up: Most of the changes here are sensible enough adjustments to allow for the larger Robotech story - with the exception of this one. Bizarrely, after Sue finishes telling the group about the upcoming assault, Scott accuses her of making the whole thing up. Um... okay?
Rand's Dialogue Emphasizes the Plan: While both versions are basically the same in showing Ray/Rand using the cannon to draw the enemy to him, Robotech takes pains to have several lines in which Rand specifies that this is exactly what was intended. It doesn't hurt the episode, but it is another reminder of Robotech's tendency to clarify plot points that aren't actually in any way confusing.
Advantage: None.
INCIDENTAL MUSIC:
As if often the case with action-heavy episodes, Robotech's tracks inject more energy into the battle scenes. Mospeada does use Mine Matsuki's song, Go Together, to good effect at the end... but episode-wide, I'd still give this category to Robotech.
Advantage: Robotech.
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| Stig's group witnesses the end of a battle, but they are too late to do anything but watch. |
OVERALL ADVANTAGE - NONE:
Save for namedropping "Admiral Hunter" to an almost ridiculous extreme, this is the same episode across both versions, with identical strengths and weaknesses.
OTHER MUSINGS:
This episode offers some excellent action scenes and decent material for Stig. Shinobu is a memorable guest character, both as a reflection of Stig and as a person unto herself. The ending is strong, providing a good "hook" to carry viewers into the final two installments. There are only two problems: Stig's ridiculously over-the-top reactions to Shinobu and some odd continuity.
Yellow first saw a humanoid Inbit in Trap Reggae. Even if he somehow neglected to tell the others, the group has certainly been aware of their existence since White Night Serenade. And yet this episode has the group absolutely shocked to see the alien forces under the command of a humanoid, with Ray wondering why a human would be working with the enemy. Um... Did you hit your head really hard on something and lose your memory of the last several episodes, Ray?
It's still never less than entertaining, and the ending is particularly good. But if the continuity didn't have a bizarre disconnect with other recent episodes, and if Stig's reactions were just a bit more subdued, then I think this good episode might have been a great one.
Overall Rating: 7/10.
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Next Episode: Dark Finale
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