3-20. Birthday Song of the Night Sky/Birthday Blues.

Aisha tries to comfort Mint, who is depressed at the thought
of another birthday going uncelebrated.

Genesis Climber Mospeada: Birthday Song of the Night Sky.

Original Air Date - Genesis Climber Mospeada: Feb. 19, 1984. Writer: Sukehiro Tomita. Director: Mari Kobayashi.

Robotech: Birthday Blues.

Original Air Date - Robotech: June 21, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.


PLOT - MOSPEADA:

It's Mint's birthday, but it looks like celebrating will have to wait. The group's route has put them in close proximity to an Inbit fort. Stig decides they should move through an abandoned town to try to avoid the alien patrols - and because the enemy can detect HBT emissions, they are forced to go on foot.

Ray leads Mint and Aisha to a house. Mint enters, terrified that Inbit may be lurking... only to be greeted with a surprise party. She's overjoyed, and they all spend a happy evening indulging a girl who has never gotten to properly enjoy a birthday before.

But the Inbit are closing in, and humanoid Inbit Batra is already eagerly anticipating the coming battle...


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

It's Annie's birthday, but it looks like celebrating will have to wait. The group's route has put them in close proximity to an Invid hive. Scott decides they should move through an abandoned town to try to avoid the alien patrols - and because the enemy can detect protoculture emissions, they are forced to go on foot.

Rand leads Annie and Marlene to a house. Annie enters, terrified that Invid may be lurking...only to be greeted with a surprise party. She's overjoyed, and they all spend a happy evening indulging a girl who has never gotten to properly enjoy a birthday before.

But the Invid are closing in, and Invid Prince Corg is already eagerly anticipating the coming battle...

A younger Mint shares a miserable birthday with no one but her cat.

CHARACTERS:

Flashbacks show Mint coming home on a past birthday to a note from her mother, telling her to celebrate alone. This explains her behavior in the first Act, with her calling out to everyone about it being her birthday and (in Mospeada) throwing a mini-tantrum when it seems the group won't celebrate it. When the others spring the surprise party, she is overcome with emotion, fleeing from the house before literally jumping for joy.

Stig started to wonder at the end of the last episode if Aisha might be a humanoid Inbit like Batra and Sorji. He's now secretly keeping watch on her, which doesn't go unnoticed by Yellow. He advises Stig to leave the situation be: "She's an innocent girl. That's all. Don't dig any deeper."

It seems that almost the entire group has at least silently absorbed the possibility. Aisha is clearly wondering about her own origins, expressing doubts about whether she should stay with the group. Houquet stops that train of thought, advising her not to think about it. Sadly, Robotech removes that conversation, leaving only Rook, Annie, and Marlene talking about men.

Advantage: Mospeada. Mostly because of the removal of the Aisha/Houquet exchange.


NARRATION:

Robotech adds a recap of the previous episode, along with some quick transitional narration when cutting between the humans and the Invid. None of it seems particularly necessary, but at least it doesn't intrude. The same can't be said for the end of episode narration, however, which overeggs the final scene when the visuals and music alone were more than adequate.

Advantage: Mospeada.

In Mospeada, the group sings Happy Birthday.
Because of copyright, the Robotech group doesn't sing.

CUTS AND ALTERATION:

The Regess Gives Orders: In Mospeada, the shots of the Inbit outpost are silent. In Robotech, the voice of the Invid Regess gives orders as she anticipates the arrival of Scott's group of rebels.

Annie Doesn't Throw a Tantrum: After Stig and Yellow spot the Inbit fort, they inform the others that they'll have to take a different route, with Stig telling Mint that this is "not a good time" for a birthday party. Mint throws a brief tantrum about her birthday being ignored. Robotech removes this, cutting to the next scene right after Scott states that they'll have to take the mountain road. I actually think this is an improvement. There are still several moments establishing the emotional importance of Annie's birthday, so no information is lost; and this bit in Mospeada pushes Mint over the edge into obnoxiousness.

"I'm Not Mint": As Ray and Mint ride along the mountain road, she urges him to go faster. Robotech changes this, with Rand telling Annie that he's going to go faster and referring to her as Mint - her unwelcome nickname - with her furiously responding that her name is Annie, not Mint. I'm pretty sure this was done to set up her nickname for the sake of the lettering at the end... though the need would have been avoided had the series simply kept her name the same in the first place.

Lancer Does Not Speak Directly to His Device: When Yellow plants the device to attract the Inbit, he addresses it like a person on a suicide mission, telling it that it may save their lives. Lancer does not talk to the machine, instead just remarking that he hopes it fools the Invid.

"Happy Birthday": In Mospeada, the group sings Happy Birthday to Mint. But as of 1985, Happy Birthday was still under copyright in the United States, so Robotech replaces it with a bunch of royalty-free "happy birthday" chatter.

Annie Doesn't Sing (nor does she flash Scott): During her birthday party, a happy Mint sings a song for the group, faux-flirting with each of the men. When she moves to Stig, she closes his eyes and then flashes him. That shot is thankfully removed. The song is also replaced by Annie playacting an interview during an imaginary beauty contest.

The Bathtub Scene Is Almost Entirely Cut: Houquet, Aisha, and Mint share a bath in a lengthy scene in which Mint asks Aisha if she has feelings for Stig, and Houquet comforts Aisha and tells her not to think about her self-doubts. It's a good scene... but the three are nude for virtually all of it. Robotech keeps the bath, but just enough for a quick bit with Rand attempting to peep, followed by a very small exchange as they talk about men. I don't think there was an easy way around this - the heavily cropped and zoomed shots are glaringly obvious as it stands - but it's a shame that a genuinely good scene had to be effectively removed.

The Regess Suspects a Trap: Mospeada shows Batra and his squad of Inbit falling into the trap Stig and the others set. Robotech has the Invid Regess, in voice over, suspecting a trap, a warning that Prince Corg ignores. This adds a last moment of suspense... though since it requires Corg behaving like an imbecile, I'm not sure it's worth the tradeoff. After this, it will strain credibility for the Regess to continue trusting his judgment.

Advantage: Mospeada.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

Both episodes do well with their respective scores. Robotech edges this one out for me thanks to the ending, which is elevated by an arrangement of We Will Win that's sung by Michael Bradley. The song fits the visuals and tone of the final scene perfectly.

Advantage: Robotech.

Houquet, Mint, and Aisha enjoy some fireworks.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE - MOSPEADA:

For most of its running time, I'd have labeled this as a tie. But a good scene from the original also featured sustained nudity, meaning that most of it had to be cut, chopping away one of the more interesting exchanges and character moments. I don't think there was a good solution available to the Robotech producers, particularly given the tight turnaround time; even what they kept features shots that are distractingly obvious in the zooming and cropping. But the loss of that scene weakens the interesting secondary thread surrounding Aisha.


OTHER MUSINGS:

This is another solid episode in what's shaping up to be a strong final run for Genesis Climber Mospeada. I had a few issues early on as Mint carried on about her birthday, but these were addressed as the episode revealed how bad her previous birthdays had been. Her emotional swings in the second half, from joy to tears to exhaustion, ring true.

A light tone is maintained throughout, even (arguably especially) in the ending action scene, but some serious moments surrounding Aisha give it enough substance to avoid seeming expendable. After having run into humanoid Inbit, Stig, Yellow, and Houquet are all at least considering the possibility that Aisha might be one, too. Yellow and Houquet prefer not to pursue that, as they're fond of her and are certain that both her innocence and her amnesia are genuine. Whether Stig, who has a more directly personal hatred of their enemies, will reach the same conclusion remains to be seen.


Overall Rating - Mospeada: 7/10.

Overall Rating - Robotech: 6/10.

Previous Episode: Forte of the Glacier City/Frostbite
Next Episode: Arpeggio of Murder/Hired Gun

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3-18. Old Soldiers' Polka/Ghost Town.

Yellow and Aisha encounter veterans
of the first Earth Reclamation mission.

Genesis Climber Mospeada: Old Soldiers' Polka.

Original Air Date - Genesis Climber Mospeada: Feb. 5, 1984. Writer: Kenji Terada. Director: Mari Kobayashi.

Robotech: Ghost Town.

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


PLOT - MOSPEADA:

Stig's group has reached a desert in the American southwest. Stig, Ray, and Mint scout ahead, visiting a small town in hopes of purchasing supplies. They are instead ambushed by the locals, who mistake them for a gang that has been raiding supplies. While the three are in the town jail, the raiders strike again, snatching their Mospeadas.

Meanwhile, Aisha has another of her headaches. By now, the group understands that they are caused by proximity to the Inbit. Yellow decides to take her out to try to identify where the enemy is. They end up captured by the raiders instead, who remove their masks to reveal... old men.

The men take them back to their trading outpost, where they sell the supplies they have stolen. Yellow is shocked to find that they operate out of a disused Mars ship. They are veterans of the first Earth Reclamation Force, survivors of a failed assault on Reflex Point who have decided to put the war behind them. When Stig catches up with them, he is outraged, but Yellow points out that the old men did their duty at the time and that their war is now over.

But when the ship's receiver picks up orders from a third Mars force, asking any survivors to attack Inbit relay towers to clear the way for them, Stig decides that he has to do what he can to make sure this new expedition doesn't meet the same fate as his own...


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

Scott's group has reached a desert in the American southwest. Scott, Rand, and Annie scout ahead, visiting a small town in hopes of purchasing supplies. They are instead ambushed by the locals, who mistake them for a gang that has been raiding supplies. While the three are in the town jail, the raiders strike again, snatching their Cyclones.

Meanwhile, Marlene has another of her headaches. By now, the group understands that they are caused by proximity to the Invid. Lancer decides to take her out to try to identify where the enemy is. They end up captured by the raiders instead, who remove their masks to reveal... old men.

The men take them back to their trading outpost, where they sell the supplies they have stolen. Yellow is shocked to find that they operate out of a disused battle fortress. These men are veterans of the war against the Robotech Masters, but they have now decided to put war behind them. When Scott catches up with them, he is outraged by what he sees as desertion, but Lancer points out that these old men are in no fit state to assault anyone.

When the ship's receiver picks up orders from a new assault force, asking any survivors to attack Invid military targets to clear the way for them, Scott decides that he has to do what he can to make sure this new expedition doesn't meet the same fate as his own...

Yellow convinces Aisha to help track the Inbit.

CHARACTERS:

Yellow, having seen both the humanoid Inbit, Sorji, and Aisha's reaction at coming face-to-face with her, is at least considering that Aisha might be connected to the aliens. The others don't seem to be there yet, probably because of their sense of protectiveness of her, but they now take on faith that the "headaches" mean Inbit are nearby.

I had thought that the ending of the previous episode had restored Aisha's consciousness of herself as Inbit, but that appears not to have been the case. She does participate more directly than in earlier entries, showing a willingness to go along with Yellow's plan to detect the enemy even though she knows it will be painful. She's also more relaxed in her interactions. When Yellow tries to probe for her memories, he asks about her birth, prompting her to ask if he can remember when he was born.

The other regulars are mostly backgrounded, though there are a pair of good scenes involving Stig. At the start of the episode, Ray and Mint tease him for his seriousness, telling him that he should take off his battle armor and enjoy the feel of riding in the open air. When Stig meets the old men, they are even more dismissive of his severity, outright laughing at the notion that "the silly old men" should do battle with the Inbit.

All of this is largely consistent between the two versions, though Robotech makes the old soldiers' dismissiveness of Scott even more blatant when their leader, Frank (Franky in Mospeada), tells him that they aren't interested in his orders.

Advantage: None.


NARRATION:

Robotech's narration is restrained: an opening recap, a quick bit of voice-over when the episode cuts from Stig, Ray, and Mint to Yellow and Aisha, and a slight bit near the end. It's not intrusive, nor is any of it overly melodramatic as has happened in some episodes, making this category a wash.

Advantage: None.

The old mens' "trading post." In Robotech, this is the SDF-3.

CUTS AND ALTERATION:

The Origin of the Craters: As Stig, Ray, and Mint ride through the desert, Mint notices all the craters surrounding them. Stig explains that this was the site of a fierce battle between the Inbit and the first Reclamation force. Robotech alters this, with the craters now caused by the war against the Masters. This isn't just to tie previous arcs into this one; in Robotech's more compressed timeline, the veterans they meet would be far too old to have fought the Invid, who were established as coming to Earth only ten years previously.

Annie Can't Wait to Meet a Real Cowboy: Mospeada's Mint is excited at the prospect of meeting a "macho man" who might sweep her off her feet. Robotech's Annie is just carried away with enthusiasm at being in an area that's such a close match to old westerns, enthusing about meeting a "real cowboy" when they get to the town they're approaching.

Scott Anticipates the Ambush: When Stig, Ray, and Mint reach the town, they remark on it being a ghost town. Stig calls out to anyone who might be listening, saying that they're looking to purchase supplies, only to be ambushed by the townspeople. In Robotech, Scott is instantly uneasy, saying, "I don't like this," mere seconds before they are ambushed and then sighing that he was afraid that was going to happen.

The Old Men's "Trading Post" Is a Disused Battle Fortress: In Mospeada, the old men are living out of an old Mars spaceship. When I first reviewed this, the dialogue confused me into thinking this was the SDF-3. Later references to the SDF-3 make clear that it isn't, but the exchange is a bit confusing. I retain the feeling that their "battle fortress" is a bit on the small side. Apparently, the humans started downsizing their battle fortresses.

Lancer Snaps that the Old Men Are Cowards: In Robotech, Lancer disgustedly exclaims that the old men are cowards and deserters... which makes it a little odd that they would continue dealing with him, let alone inviting him and Marlene to share their supper. Mospeada makes more sense, with Yellow listening to their remarks about being well out of the war and mildly remarking that they're lucky Stig isn't there to hear them.

"Gabby Ain't Too Fond of Shorty": Pierrot and Donald, the final two ex-soldiers, arrive on the Mospeadas stolen from Stig and Ray, Franky warns them to turn them off so that the HBT doesn't draw the Inbit. When Pierrot ignores the warning, mute soldier Darjeeling throws hot soup on his hands. Robotech changes this entirely, with Gabby (Darjeeling's Robotech counterpart) tossing the soup not to enforce safety precautions, but simply because he "ain't too fond of Shorty" (Pierrot's counterpart). Given that Robotech kept the plot device of the Invid detecting protoculture, I have no idea why this was changed - particularly when this scene explains the alien attack later.

Frank Wants to Go After the Invid: In Mospeada, Franky tries to destroy the ship's receiver when it picks up orders to attack Inbit relay towers to clear the way for a third human invasion force. Robotech's Frank instead wants to go on the attack against the Invid - which makes a bit of a hash of the animation, which shows him drawing a gun on the receiver while Scott restrains him.

Annie Whines about the Cowboys Not Being "the Good Guys": As Stig, Ray, Houquet, and Yellow prepare to attack the Inbit relay towers, Mospeada's Mint grouses about being left out of the action again. Robotech's Annie is instead put out about "the cowboys" (the old men) not joining in the attack, because cowboys are supposed to be "the good guys."

Advantage: Mospeada.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

Both episodes apply their scores well, with the series' respective action tracks nicely supporting the ending set piece.

Advantage: None.

Stig, Ray, and Mint get a different welcome than expected...

OVERALL ADVANTAGE - MOSPEADA:

Both versions are quite good, with most of the changes being minor. Unfortunately, a couple of Robotech's changes are not only pointless, but slightly disrupt the flow of the episode - notably the scene in which Darjeeling/Gabby burns the hand of Pierrot/Shorty, which is done for tangible reasons in Mospeada and which is just a pointless bit of "comedy" in Robotech. That moment and a couple of others make Mospeada the better variant, albeit only slightly.


OTHER MUSINGS:

The preview at the end of the last episode had me expecting that this would be a throwaway along the lines of many of Mospeada's early episodes. Instead, Old Soldiers' Polka ends up being surprisingly good.

The script follows up on the developments involving Aisha from the previous episode, giving both her and Yellow strong roles. It also continues the growing sense that the group is nearing its destination, with the old soldiers' previous failure a harbinger that Stig and his group are going to find the going a bit tougher the closer they get to Reflex Point.

In artwork and initial presentation, the old ex-soldiers deliberately evoke the old western trope of the aging outlaw gang. However, their backstory ties them to Stig's journey, with this group acting as a reflection of what the regulars might become if they fail but survive - living an existence that's as pointless as it is hopeless. None of the old men is characterized in anything other than broad strokes, but that's all that's truly needed, and the finale ends up being particularly effective.

Overall, this episode exceeded my expectations at every turn. I expected a mediocre throwaway. Instead, I think this ranks among my favorites of the series.


Overall Rating: 9/10.

Previous Episode: White Night Serenade/The Midnight Sun
Next Episode: Forte of the Glacier City/Frostbite

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3-14. Mint's Wedding March/Annie's Wedding.

Mint sets her sights on a young tribal prince.

Genesis Climber Mospeada: Mint's Wedding March.

Original Air Date - Genesis Climber Mospeada: Jan. 8, 1984. Writer: Kenji Terada. Director: Mari Kobayashi.

Robotech: Annie's Wedding.

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


PLOT - MOSPEADA:

Running low on HBT, Stig and his group land in a forest, where they decide to construct a giant raft to take them and their mechs down the river. They've only just started work when they're captured by a primitive tribe who are determined to sacrifice them to appease their god.

The nearby dam has begun releasing water, which the tribesmen believe is a sign of their god's anger. Stig persuades the tribe's leader to allow him and Jim to fix the problem. Once they succeed, they go from prisoners to honored guests.

Meanwhile, Machuda, the leader's son, has taken Yellow prisoner, declaring that he has claimed a wife... which earns raucous laughter when it's revealed that his "wife" is actually a man. When the Inbit attack again, the headstrong youth puts himself in danger in an ill-advised attempt to prove himself. Mint then comes up with a plan to make him a man in the eyes of the tribe - and to maybe snag herself a position as tribal princess in the process!


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

Running low on protoculture, Scott and his group land in a forest, where they decide to construct a giant raft to take them and their mechs down the river. They've only just started work when they're captured by a primitive tribe who are determined to sacrifice them to appease their god.

The nearby dam has begun releasing water, which the tribesmen believe is a sign of their god's anger. Scott persuades the tribe's leader to allow him and Lunk to fix the problem. Once they succeed, they go from prisoners to honored guests.

Meanwhile, McGruder, the leader's son, has taken Lancer prisoner, declaring that he has claimed a wife... which earns raucous laughter when it's revealed that his "wife" is actually a man. When the Inbit attack again, the headstrong youth puts himself in danger in an ill-advised attempt to prove himself. Annie then comes up with a plan to make him a man in the eyes of the tribe - and to maybe snag herself a position as tribal princess in the process!

Prisoners of the tribe - and possible sacrifices!

CHARACTERS:

I've often found Mint annoying, but she's actually fairly likable in this episode. Yes, an internal voice over lets us know that she recognizes the advantages of marrying the tribe's future leader: housing, servants, authority. But she first notices Machuda when the tribe is laughing at him, and she seems driven as much by compassion as greed. Also, her plan works with Scott's overall strategy against the Inbit, rather than disrupting it. On the whole, a rather good showing for someone who's generally my least favorite character.

Also welcome is that Ray is kept entirely as a supporting figure. I like Ray - but so do the writers, often at the expense of the other characters, so I actually find it a relief to see him in the background for a change.

Advantage: None.


NARRATION:

Robotech's introductory narration is fairly good this time, drawing a direct line between the revelations of last episode about the Invid experiments with evolution and the aliens' creation of a new form in this episode. The narrator mostly stays out of the way once the episode starts, which means that the voice over never feels intrusive.

Advantage: None.

An Inbit "Grab" prepares for a transformation.
In Robotech, this involves a lot more technobabble.

CUTS AND ALTERATION:

Lancer Takes Watch to Slack Off: Mospeada's Yellow volunteers to take watch as a matter of procedure. Robotech's Lancer does it in order to avoid the physical labor of building the raft, prompting grumbling from Lunk and Rand.

Rand and Annie Don't Try to Get Out of Working: Ray and Mint both declare their lack of interest in building the raft, prompting Houquet to ask if they'd prefer to be left in the jungle to "play Tarzan" instead. Outside of a quip from Annie offering to "supervise," neither she nor Rand tries to get out of working in Robotech.

Added Technobabble as the Invid Soldier is Transformed: In the first half of the episode, there's a cutaway to the nearby Inbit fortress. Here, an Inbit "Grab" is transformed into a new form, while the Inbit leader talks about the need to evolve into an ultimate form in order to survive. This is largely the same in Robotech, with the Invid soldier transformed into an "Enforcer." The Regess indulges in considerably more technobabble before the transmutation, though, presumably to make things more "sci fi."

Peekaboo Nudity Removed: When Mint goes to talk with Machuda, there's a moment when one the straps of her dress falls away, revealing one breast. Robotech removed this shot for broadcast - and, probably because of Annie's portrayal as underage, it has not been put back in for the remaster.

The Invid Are "Overlords": Machuda tells Mint that the Inbit have made changes that have harmed the valley. Robotech makes the tribe's understanding of the Invid more primitive, with them referring to the aliens as "overlords" and hating them for driving the livestock away. In fairness to the Robotech writers, this is at least consistent with the tribe somehow mistaking a dam malfunction for a god's anger.

Rand Wants to Rescue the Tribe: In Mospeada, Ray observes the tribesmen preparing to fight the Inbit and proposes to Stig that they should engage in a joint operation. Robotech's Rand instead puts it in terms of them rescuing the primitive tribesmen from a battle they can't win.

The Regess Narrates All Invid Actions (Again): As per usual, all the movements of the Invid have voice over from the Regess, ordering them to perform each action that occurs. Mospeada leaves the Inbit actions silent, trusting the viewer to follow along.

Lancer Quips About the River God's Anger: After they defeat the Inbit, Mospeada's Yellow remarks that they will need to convince the tribe that their god smited the aliens in anger. Robotech changes this, with Lancer instead making a quip about the river god's anger being understandable, since the Invid would annoy anybody.

Advantage: None. None of these changes has much impact on the viewing experience.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

Both scores are used well. This is an episode with a significant amount of action, though, and I found that the Robotech incidentals boosted the action scenes more than the Mospeada score did.

Advantage: Robotech.

Stig and Ray watch as the tribe prepares for battle.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE - NONE:

Changes are minor, as usual; and in this case, none of the changes annoyed me. I'd rate the viewing experience of this one as being essentially the same in either version.


OTHER MUSINGS:

I have an issue with the tribe's intent to sacrifice Stig's group. The Inbit only invaded a little over thirty years ago (Robotech's Invid, only a little over a decade ago). Even assuming that the tribe lived a primitive life before the invasion, they should still recognize the dam as manmade technology. Them mistaking a technical fault for their god's anger may pay tribute to old jungle adventures, but it doesn't ring true.

That aside, this is a generally enjoyable episode. It's silly at its core, but it moves along at a rapid pace. It also features a rare, good characterization of Mint, and the action scenes are well-animated and sharply edited.

It's definitely not a highlight, but it's fun to watch. A solid effort overall.


Overall Rating: 6/10.

Previous Episode: Sandstorm Playback/Sandstorm
Next Episode: The Ballad of Breaking Up/Separate Ways

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3-12. Fortress Breakthrough Boogie/The Fortress.

Ray and Mint infiltrate an Inbit fortress!

Genesis Climber Mospeada: Fortress Breakthrough Boogie.

Original Air Date - Genesis Climber Mospeada: Dec. 18, 1983. Writer: Kenji Terada. Director: Mari Kobayashi.

Robotech: The Fortress.

Original Air Date - Robotech: June 11, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.


PLOT - MOSPEADA:

Stig and his team have made it to the mountains, but they can't progress unless they get past an Inbit fortress. They know that the Inbit have the ability to detect HBT emissions. This means that if they so much as turn on any of their mechs, their enemies will descend in force.

Ray comes up with a plan. He and Mint will ski to the fort, allowing them to reach it without detection. They will make their way inside while the bulk of the alien forces are on patrol, then find and destroy the HBT radar.

The first part of the plan goes smoothly. But neither Ray nor Mint knows what the detection device looks like - an increasing problem, with their window before the patrols return closing rapidly!


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

Scott and his team have made it to the mountains, but they can't progress unless they get past a one-time Earth outpost that's been repurposed into an Invid fortress. The group knows that the Invid have the ability to detect protoculture emissions. This means that if they so much as turn on any of their mechs, their enemies will descend in force.

Rand comes up with a plan. He will ski to the fort, allowing him to reach it without detection. While the bulk of the alien forces are on patrol, he will find and destroy the protoculture radar. After some wheedling from Annie, he agrees to let her come to help.

The first part of the plan goes smoothly, with Rand and Annie making it inside. But neither one of them knows what the detection device looks like - an increasing problem, as their window before the patrols return is closing rapidly!

Ray and Mint evade detection by skiing to the fortress.

CHARACTERS:

Ray's ingenuity is shown again, with him coming up with the plan. He jokes with Mint during the mission and makes exaggerated faces at her - but once she isn't looking, his expression turns serious, showing that he realizes the seriousness of the situation.

Houquet bickers with him the night before the infiltration. When he runs into trouble, however, she rushes to volunteer to act as a distraction. In Mospeada, this appears to be entirely spur of the moment, with her not even pausing to make sure the others agree, something Robotech changes.

Though this is a Ray-heavy episode, it manages not to forget about Stig. The climax is centered entirely around him, as he stays behind to keep the Inbit occupied so the others can escape. Mospeada casts a grimmer tone here than Robotech, with Stig clearly aware that he could die doing this; Robotech's Scott, by contrast, makes light-hearted quips throughout the sequence, which undermines much of the tension.

Advantage: Mospeada.


NARRATION:

Robotech's narrator just sets the scene at the start of the episode and then stays out of the way for the rest of it. I'd gripe that after the narrator finishes, Scott essentially re-narrates the episode setup - but the narration itself is minimal, so I'll be generous and chalk this one up as a wash.

Advantage: None.

An Inbit mech is lifted from a row of dormant ones.
Robotech narrates all this, making it less atmospheric.

CUTS AND ALTERATION:

The Invid Converted an Earth Fortress: In Mospeada, it's clear that the fortress is an Inbit fortress, built by them. Not so in Robotech, with Scott filling in that the Invid converted an Earth outpost from the war against the Masters - because this is the same show, honest. Neither is inherently better than the other, but Mospeada's version is a far better fit for how alien the inside of the fortress is.

Scott Explains the Need to Take Out the Fortress: The episode opens with Stig observing the fortress through binoculars, noting that they'll be detected before they get close to the structure. Robotech has Scott more or less narrate that the fortress stands in their way and that they have to "take it out" in order to get past it - something that I suspect the group would have already known before reaching it.

Rand Cut the Second Pair of Skis for Rook: In Mospeada, Ray is happy to have Mint come along from the start, observing that the "boys from Mars" (Stig, Yellow, Jim) won't know how to ski. He also specifically dismisses Houqet, the "pretend tough girl." In Robotech, Rand states that the second pair of skis is for Rook, and he only agrees to have Annie accompany him after Rook refuses. I do not like this change at all. It feels out of character for Rook to refuse to help, doubly so when that refusal puts Annie in danger.

Mint's Panties Become Annie's Bikini: While skiing, Mint's pack comes undone. A bomb falls out, with a pair of her panties tangled in them. The bomb ends up buried in snow, but an Inbit scout scrutinizes the underwear while Ray and Mint hide. Apparently, women's undergarments are too scandalous for a mid-1980s American cartoon, so Annie wails about her "bikini" - though the shots of the Invid picking them up are clearly panties.

The Invid Regess Narrates: In Mospeada, all the movements of the Inbit are wordless, observed by Ray and Mint but kept mysterious except for what can be inferred. Since Robotech is as terrified of silence as of leaving things up to viewer interpretation, the Invid Regess effectively narrates every move the aliens make.

Rook's Distraction Was Planned: When Ray and Mint signal the need for a distraction, Houquet all but leaps onto her Mospeada to catch the Inbit's attention. This plays as her acting on impulse, not even waiting for the others to agree before she acts to save Ray and Mint. Robotech adds a few lines, with Scott and Rand making clear that her distraction has been fully planned out. In strategic terms, it makes more sense... but in both dramatic and character terms, the Mospeada scene is better.

Scott "Will Be Fine:" When Mospeada's Stig stays behind to draw the Inbit off while the others escape, it's made clear that he is putting himself at great risk, and his line deliveries and general attitude in are terse. Robotech de-emphasizes the danger. Scott adopts a lighter tone, and Lancer tells Rand that Scott will be fine. Lest any actual tension still manage to creep in, Scott proceeds to make several quips during his fight-and-flight against the Invid.

Peekaboo Nudity: The episode ends with Mint and Houquet splashing each other in a lake. They call for Aisha to join them. She strips off all her clothes, with the final image being a freeze frame of the naked Aisha diving into the water. In Robotech's original broadcast, the nudity is carefully cut around, with the final shot being Lancer grabbing Rand by the ear to keep him from looking. Fear not, though, because the original nudity has been restored for the "New Generation" remastered release.

Advantage: Mospeada.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

Both versions use their respective scores well, with no tracks that distracted or that seemed ill suited to a particular scene.

Advantage: None.

Inbit cluster around what looks suspiciously like a giant brain.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE - MOSPEADA:

This is another case in which changes are minor, and the two episodes are mostly close together in quality. However, Robotech makes changes that I think reduce the effectiveness. The Invid Regess narrating the aliens' actions robs the episode of some of its atmosphere. Even more significant is the lighter tone of the climax: Mospeada's Stig is grim and stoic, far from certain that he will survive buying time for the others' escape. Robotech's Scott is more relaxed, quipping his way through the battle in a way that obliterates dramatic tension.


OTHER MUSINGS:

It really does feel as if the show has gained focus and energy in the wake of Requiem of the Battlefield. The individual installments continue to have self-contained stories, but there's a sense of forward motion now. Fingers crossed that this continues for the remaining episodes!

Fortress Breakthrough Boogie is another entertaining installment. The Mospeada version offers up tension and atmosphere, and there are some decent visual moments during the fortress infiltration: Ray looking out at rows of dormant Inbit mechs, Ray and Mint observing the Inbit, and one room that has what looks very much like a giant brain at its center. Several images are a bit static - but since the most static images also tend to be the most eye-catching, it evens out.

The Robotech version is slightly weaker thanks to choices that soften the tone, but it remains enjoyable. I felt fairly neutral toward Mospeada/New Geenration during its first nine episodes, but I'm starting to actually get invested now.


Overall Rating - Mospeada: 8/10.

Overall Rating - Robotech: 7/10.

Previous Episode: Lullaby of Distant Hope/The Secret Route
Next Episode: Sandstorm Playback/Sandstorm

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3-11. Lullaby of Distant Hope/The Secret Route.

Yellow Belmont is reunited with an old flame.

Genesis Climber Mospeada: Lullaby of Distant Hope.

Original Air Date - Genesis Climber Mospeada: Dec. 11, 1983. Writer: Satoshi Namiki. Director: Katsuhito Akiyama.

Robotech: The Secret Route.

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


PLOT - MOSPEADA:

With a mountain range blocking their path, Stig and his group stop at a nearby town to get supplies and to find a way through. They learn that the Inbit have control over the mountains, but that a map showing a safe route through can be purchased from town boss Dogarbo.

While the others search for temporary work, Yellow adopts his female rock star persona to visit Dogarbo and set up a concert. Yellow is shocked to discover that Dogarbo's girlfriend is Carla, the woman who saved him after the failure of the previous attempt to take back Earth. Carla set him up with his disguise in order to evade "soldier hunts," and they were briefly happy - until he left her in order to continue fighting the Inbit.

Meanwhile, Mint falls for a local boy whose family is soon to follow Dogarbo's route - a path that Yellow suspects may lead directly into a trap!


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

With a mountain range blocking their path, Scott and his group stop at a nearby town to get supplies and to find a way through. They learn that the Invid have control over the mountains, but that a map showing a safe route through can be purchased from town mayor Donald Maxwell.

While the others search for temporary work, Lancer adopts his Yellow Dancer persona to visit Maxwell and set up a concert. He is shocked to discover that the mayor's girlfriend is Carla, the woman who saved him after the failure of the previous attempt to take back Earth. Carla set him up with his disguise when the locals began rounding up soldiers to give to the Invid. The two were briefly happy - until he left her in order to continue fighting the aliens.

Meanwhile, Annie falls for a local boy whose family is soon to follow Maxwell's route - a path that Lancer suspects may lead directly into a trap!

The heroes arrive in another town - one with a secret (again).

CHARACTERS:

This episode sketches in a lot of Yellow's backstory, including the origins of his female disguise. Flashbacks are efficient, showing enough of Yellow's relationship with Carla for us to believe in their romance in only a few minutes of screen time. Yellow observes Carla's strained interactions with Dogarbo, and he quickly realizes that there is likely a problem with the rich man's map.

The young woman they found in the last episode gets a name. In response to remarks about her being a "queen" because her condition precludes her from working, Yellow dubs her "Aisha," meaning queen. The episode also shows her connection to the Inbit, as she picks up their presence and some of their thoughts.

Characters other than Yellow are mostly backgrounded this time. Mint gets a "B" plot centered around her falling for a local boy. I've disliked this element of her character in previous episodes, but it actually works OK here. The boy seems to be pretty close to Mint's own age, which sidesteps the distasteful undertones present in her introductory episode. I still find Mint more annoying than endearing, but her subplot isn't bad this time.

All of this is roughly the same in Robotech, whose changes are - as usual, in Mospeada - quite minor.

Advantage: None.


NARRATION:

The Robotech narration is mainly limited to some quick scene-setting at the start. The narrator does pop up to make sure that we understand a plot turn at the end - which would annoy me, except that I found that moment in Mospeada to be momentarily confusing, so it probably is warranted. Outside of that, the episode is mostly allowed to play out for itself.

Advantage: None.

The newest member of the group gets a name:
Aisha in Mospeada, Marlene in Robotech.

CUTS AND ALTERATION:

Mint Looks for Work: After the group is told that they will need to buy an expensive map to get through the mountains, they go looking for ways to earn money. Mint is trying to find some sort of work when she runs into Eddie. Robotech's Annie is just wandering around, complaining about the town.

Yellow Names Aisha; Scott Names Marlene: In both versions, Rand and Houquet snark about how the amnesiac young woman they found doesn't have to worry about things like work. This prompts the group to decide they need something to call her other than, "Hey, you." In Mospeada, Yellow provides the name, Aisha," playing on Houquet's comparison of her to a queen. In Robotech, Scott suggests "Marlene," after his late fiancée, a shift that reminds the viewer of his own personal loss.

Donald's Dialogue Is More Overtly Villainous: By either name, the corrupt town mayor is despicable. But near the end, when he and his men intercept the regulars, Dogarbo's manner is that of someone who's protecting himself, while Donald seems to genuinely enjoy his villainy, even sneering that since he's rich and the others aren't, he "must be doing something right."

Advantage: None.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

Mospeada makes excellent use of Yellow's songs to set and sustain an emotional atmosphere. Robotech also uses its music well, utilizing both of the Robotech Yellow songs and a piano version of Minmei's It's You. Had this been earlier in the series, I'd probably rate it as "No Advantage." By this point, however, Robotech's music has a bit of a canned feel to it, so I'm going to give the edge to the original version.

Advantage: Mospeada.

Carla and her new boyfriend, the villainous Dogarbo.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE - NONE:

Mospeada has, thus far, been the series that's by far the least changed for Robotech, and the two versions of this episode are close to identical. I like the use of Mospeada's music - both incidentals and songs - slightly better. Overall, though, the viewing experience is basically the same.


OTHER MUSINGS:

...And we're back to the "town with a secret" template, though at least this is a pretty good one. The plot may cover overly familiar ground, but the story is well-structured and nicely paced. The episode also provides a heap of backstory for Yellow/Lancer, whose characterization proves strong enough to carry an episode in which the other regulars are mostly left to the background.

Though it returns to a familiar template, Lullaby of Distant Hope manages to maintain the sense of the previous episode that the show is now building to something. Aisha/Marlene receives a name, and we see her actively picking up on the aliens' presence, thoughts, and movements.

This, combined with the indication that the group is starting to get geographically closer to its goal even if they don't have any particular plan as yet, lends a sense of direction and energy that often wasn't there in the early episodes. Hopefully, this means the show has turned a corner.

In any event, this is enjoyable... even if I personally feel that one character is far too easily forgiven for actions that I would label as unforgivable.


Overall Rating: 7/10.

Previous Episode: Requiem of the Battlefield/Enter Marlene
Next Episode: Fortress Breakthrough Boogie/The Fortress

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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

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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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