3-25. Symphony of Light.

The Inbit decide the future of Earth - if it gets to have one!

Original Air Date - Genesis Climber Mospeada: Mar. 25, 1984. Writer: Sukehiro Tomita. Director: Tatsuya Kasahara.

Original Air Date - Robotech: June 28, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.


PLOT - MOSPEADA:

The Third Earth Liberation Force has arrived - just in time to destroy the fragile chance at peace with the Inbit. While Stig battles Batra and Yellow continues to try to reason with the Inbit leader, the aliens commit their forces to battle, determined to wipe out the attacking humans just as they did with the two previous fleets.

But this attempt to reclaim Earth is different from the previous two. The fleet has been equipped with electrically charged particle missiles, to be used as a last resort if the fight goes badly. These missiles will ensure the destruction of the Inbit - but at the cost of Earth itself!


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

Though Admiral Rick Hunter is missing, his fleet has arrived - just in time to destroy the fragile chance at peace with the Invid. While Scott battles Prince Corg and Lancer tries to reason with the Invid Regess, the aliens commit their forces to battle, determined to wipe out the human attackers.

But this attempt to reclaim Earth is different from the previous one. The fleet has been equipped with neutron missiles, to be used as a last resort if the fight goes badly. These missiles will ensure the destruction of the enemy - but at the cost of Earth itself!

Aisha tends to an injured Stig.

CHARACTERS:

The last two relationships that were left unresolved by Dark Finale get their moments here. Yellow assists Sorji, and their interactions indicate at least the potential for a future relationship. Stig has too much anger against the Inbit, though. Even when Aisha tends to his injuries after his first, unsuccessful fight with Batra, Stig rebuffs her: "I can only hate the Inbit."

The episode does a good job of balancing the ensemble, with each set of characters getting some follow-up in a well-scripted epilogue. Jim/Lunk is more or less just "present," but all the others receive at least one moment - and given that Jim's character arc was pretty well resolved in the previous episode, I can't fault this one for focusing elsewhere.

Advantage: None.


NARRATION:

Because Robotech is desperate to try to stitch everything together in its finale, the opening narration takes pains to squeeze in Rick Hunter's name. After that, the rest of the narration largely covers transitions, save for an ending bit that's unnecessary but is also unobjectionable.

Advantage: None.

The Inbit leader directs the battle. Robotech's Invid
Regess refuses to leave because of protoculture.

CUTS AND ALTERATION:

Gen. Reinhart Believes in a "Scorched Earth Policy": In both versions, the commander of the human forces is prepared to launch a devastating attack, one that will destroy the Inbit but take the Earth along with them. In Mospeada, he's clearly reluctant to employ this, reassuring his First Officer that it will be a last resort. Robotech's Gen. Reinhart is more willing to pull this trigger, all but boasting his belief that death would be preferable to being ruled by the Invid - something that I suspect most of the people we've seen in the show's various towns would argue against.

The Regess Declares that the Invid Will Never Leave: Yellow spends much of the episode trying to persuade the Inbit leader that, whatever the result, this battle is too destructive to continue. Robotech's Invid Regess is more defiant than her Mospeada counterpart, and not without reason: In Robotech's context, Earth is the last remaining source of protoculture, which the Invid rely on.

"Action Movie" Quips as Scott Fights Corg: When Stig battles Batra, he doesn't quip, reserving all of his focus for finding a way to defeat this formidable enemy. In Robotech, both Scott and Prince Corg exchange barbs throughout the fight, with Scott tossing off an '80s action movie style one-liner when he wins.

Rand Points Out that Humans Have an Instinct for War: After Stig rejects Aisha, Ray and Houquet confront him. Houquet says that she suspects his late fiancée would probably be happy that he found love again, and Ray insists that both sides are to blame for the fighting. This is similar in both versions, but Robotech's Rand takes it further, pointing out humanity's instinct for war. "There were wars before we even heard of the Invid, or the Robotech Masters, or the Zentraedi. You might have lost your girl fighting other humans!" It's a bit heavy-handed in both versions, but I think I slightly prefer the Robotech scene.

The Influence of the Masters: In Mospeada, the Inbit leader decides to stop fighting and leave Earth because no matter who wins, "the hatred will create a new hatred. The fighting will be passed from children to grandchildren." Robotech changes this realization to continuity points, with the Regess complaining that the influence of the Robotech Masters remains too strong on Earth... which doesn't seem to actually have anything to do with the current conflict, but I guess the writers really wanted to throw in a reference to the series' second arc.

The Regess Uses Protoculture: In both versions, the Inbit leave Earth by transforming into a noncorporeal form, sending a message to the humans and humanoid Inbit as they go. Mospeada doesn't explain how this is done, while Robotech makes clear that the Regess is using all of the Invids' remaining protoculture to do this.

Scott Is Leaving to Find Admiral Hunter: Stig is returning to Mars because, as he observes, Earth truly isn't his home. Scott has a more specific reason for leaving, wanting to find the missing Admiral Hunter.

Aisha Reveals that Other Inbit Are on Earth: In an internal monologue, Aisha reveals to the audience that other humanoid Inbit are staying on Earth to live among the humans. Robotech removes this revelation, leaving its viewers with the impression that Marlene and Sera are the only humanoid Invid remaining.

Scott Vows to Return to Earth: Stig flies off in silence, backed by Yellow's performance of Lonely Soldier Boy. He thinks of each of his companions in turn, with Aisha being the last one he thinks of before the final shot, implying that he might return for her. In Robotech, Scott vows to return once his mission is done, making that indication more explicit.

Advantage: None. A few changes are slight improvements; a few are slightly for the worse; and they largely balance out.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

Mospeada makes excellent use of its score, notably when it chooses lower-key music over the later battle scenes as a counterpart. Robotech goes "full bombast" during its fight scenes. The tracks are well applied, and it does work, but it's a lot less interesting. I also prefer Mospeada's final music choice, a version of series theme song Lonely Soldier Boy, over Robotech's ending song.

Advantage: Mospeada.

The show's heroes witness the end of the war.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE - ROBOTECH:

I've taken a couple swipes at Robotech's attempts to namedrop bits of the previous arcs to attempt to tie everything together. Even so, I think those efforts lead to me preferring the Robotech finale to the Mospeada one. As with the mentions of the Invid throughout the "Masters" arc, it adds an extra layer, from the Invid's resentment of the Robotech Masters to Scott's decision to go off in search of Admiral Hunter (which I assume would have eventually tied into Season Two's story had production not fallen apart). It just helps to make the scope feel larger.


OTHER MUSINGS:

Symphony of Light is a solid episode, and it's a much better finale than Southern Cross's rushed and jumbled Genesis. If I feel slightly disappointed, it's only in comparison to the previous installment, which was so good that it actually surprised me when it ended so soon. This episode is fine, addressing all the plot points that it needs to address and giving all the characters something to do, but it doesn't land quite as strongly as I'd like.

I love some of the ideas, particularly that the Inbit arrived on Earth and found it "filthy," and that they restored the land that the humans had ruined (this is less the humans' fault in Robotech, given that the planet had suffered two devastating wars in rather short order). I also think it's appropriate to the series that the conflict is ultimately resolved through persuasion. The actual battle is poised to wreak destruction for both sides, and it's Yellow's appeal for reason that results in a better solution.

I like all of this on paper, but I can't help but feel that the rhythms of the story seem off. The first half, which focuses mainly on Stig's battle with Batra, works well... but between it and the epilogue, too little time is given to Yellow talking to the Inbit leader, which makes her choice seem a little too easily reached. I think it might have been better to have trimmed the Batra fight so that Stig only faces him once, which would have freed a few extra minutes for Yellow and the Inbit to properly debate.

The ending is quite good. The Inbit withdrawal is beautifully animated, and the character-focused epilogue makes sure that every thread gets just enough follow-up. The final shot is particularly well-judged, showing Stig at least starting to move past some of his major personal issues.

It's a good final installment on its own terms - but after Dark Finale, I was hoping for a great episode, and it falls short of that mark.


Overall Rating: 7/10.

Genesis Climber Mospeada/The New Generation Overview

Previous Episode: Dark Finale
Next: Codename - Robotech

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3-24. Dark Finale.

Stig's team reaches the center of Reflex Point.

Original Air Date - Genesis Climber Mospeada: Mar. 18, 1984. Writer: Sukehiro Tomita. Director: Mari Kobayashi.

Original Air Date - Robotech: June 27, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.


PLOT - MOSPEADA:

Stig and the others have finally made it to Reflex Point, where they have joined forces with other survivors of the Second Liberation Force. The humans and Inbit soon enter into a pitched battle... but the fighting is disrupted when Aisha projects herself to her friends, guiding them through the Inbit defenses.

Aisha hopes to find a peaceful solution, and when Sorji offers her support, there appears to be at least a chance of discussion. Batra, the warlike male humanoid Inbit, rejects any talk of peace, setting out to annihilate all the humans on the battlefield. Even as Stig takes off to stop him, an even bigger threat appears:

The Third Earth Liberation Force, arriving with such military might that its commander is confident of victory - even if that means the destruction of the Earth...


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

Scott and the others have finally made it to Reflex Point, where they have joined forces with ground forces sent by Admiral Rick Hunter. The humans and Invid soon enter into a pitched battle... but the fighting is disrupted when Marlene projects herself to her friends, guiding them through the enemy defenses to the center of the Hive.

Marlene hopes to find a peaceful solution, which the Invid Regess utterly rejects. When Princess Sera offers her support for Marlene, there at least appears to be a chance of discussion. Then Prince Corg, the warlike male humanoid Invid, denounces the idea of peace and sets out to annihilate all the humans on the battlefield.

Even as Scott takes off to stop him, an even bigger threat appears: Admiral Hunter's fleet, with orders to drive out the aliens - or, failing that, to destroy the Earth!

Houquet, Mint, and Ray react to being left behind.

CHARACTERS:

When Stig orders the three civilians to stay behind, each responds according to their character: Ray is angry, Mint is upset at "breaking up," and Houquet understands... which doesn't stop her from joining Ray when he decides that he's going anyway. Since this is the first half of the two-part finale, various character threads are tidied up. Jim, who once considered himself a coward (he really wasn't), joins the fray and expresses defiance even in the presence of the Inbit leader, while Houquet and Ray finally recognize their feelings for each other.

There are also good moments for the Inbit characters. Aisha has fully regained her memories, and she returns to Reflex Point determined to try to get the two sides to talk to each other. Batra ignores her, declaring, "Battles are what build the future!" After some wavering, Sorji sides with Aisha, rescuing Yellow from the battlefield so that he can join the others.

All of this is largely consistent between the two versions, making this a rare episode that's equally good at action and characterization in both Mospeada and Robotech.

Advantage: None.


NARRATION:

Robotech adds only a small amount of narration, establishing Admiral Hunter's fleet at the beginning and covering a couple of transitions later in the episode. For the most part, the action is allowed to play out without interruption.

Advantage: None.

Stig and his friends confront the Inbit leader.
Robotech's Regess is more directly villainous.

CUTS AND ALTERATION:

Admiral Hunter Is Missing: Because Robotech has made such a big point about the Earth forces being under the command of Admiral Hunter, and because there was neither time nor budget for original animation, the writing staff had to come up with a reason for him not to make an appearance. Thus, the SDF-3 fails to materialize at the rendezvous point.

Civilian Reactions to Being Left Behind: In Mospeada, Ray is resentful when Stig orders him, Houquet, and Mint to stay behind during the attack, while Houquet understands his reasons. In Robotech, this is all but reversed: Rook is snide in responding to the order, while Ray shrugs that he's just as happy not to get killed.

Mint Hopes to Find a Good Man Among the Inbit: Mint's tiresome, season-long running (limping?) gag about wanting a husband gets a punchline, as she jumps into Jim's jeep and announces that she's given up on human men and will hopefully find a good man among the Inbit. I've mostly hated this aspect of the character, but this made me laugh thanks to a good voice performance and funny reactions from Jim. Robotech replaces this with some bland dialogue about how Annie refuses to allow Lunk and the others to abandon her.

The "Cloud Effect" Around Marlene (Further) Obscures Nudity: When Aisha appears to the group in Mospeada, they can clearly recognize that it's her despite the shimmering effect surrounding her. However, even though the effect masks any details, you can tell that Aisha is nude in this form. Robotech increases the effect so that Marlene is only recognizable in a few facial close-ups, with the group seeing her mostly as a shimmering cloud.

The Regess Is More Overtly Villainous: The Inbit leader is a threatening figure, but she acts less out of malice than out of a belief that the humans are both less important and more corrupt than her own people. Robotech changes her lines into a villain monologue, with her sneering at the group and labeling "Ariel" (Marlene) as a traitor for having allowed them inside.

Admiral Hunter Ordered the Destruction of Earth: In Mospeada, the commander of the Earth forces is excited that they have the military power to win this battle, and he dismisses the potential destruction of Earth as a "worst case," collateral damage that he's clearly willing to live with. This is already chilling, but Robotech decides to push it further, telling us that Admiral Hunter has ordered the destruction of Earth if they can't dislodge the Invid... which doesn't seem very in-character for the person we followed across Robotech's first 36 episodes.

Advantage: Mospeada. Though only by a hair.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

Robotech uses its incidentals well, but the "otherworldly" track gets played a bit too much and becomes repetitive. Mospeada makes excellent (and restrained!) use of its music. It also delivers a highly effective, Act break-spanning rendition of Love Pebbles against the battle that, unlike the attempt to use it in White Night Serenade, actually fits the context and enriches the scenes (Robotech just uses standard "battle music" over the same action).

Advantage: Mospeada.

The human fleet reaches Earth. This is not a good thing.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE - MOSPEADA:

...But not by much. Robotech's changes are mostly minor, primarily existing for the sake of standards and practices or to fit that series' larger context. It's an excellent episode either way. However, one dumb change (Rick Hunter, Destroyer of Worlds!) and Mospeada's use of music helps the original version to ever-so-slightly outshine the Americanized one.


OTHER MUSINGS:

One of Mospeada's consistent strengths has been its action. Of the three series that made up Robotech, Mospeada has offered the most consistently well-animated and coherent battles. That remains true here, with the action scenes being visually exciting and well-edited.

There are memorable visuals throughout this episode. Flowers blow through the battlefield after the humans penetrate the Inbit force field. The spectral Aisha guides her friends on separate paths through the Inbit defenses. Jim drives his jeep into the vaguely surreal passage that separates the inside of the base from the battlefield, replicating Mospeada's mid-episode bumper in the moment. One scene after another provides something that makes a basic sensory impact. In combination with excellent characterization and generally strong production credits, it helps the episode go by quickly. So quickly that I was genuinely startled when the end credits started to roll.

The confrontation inside Reflex Point dominates the second half, and it's an excellent scene. Aisha initiates the conversation/confrontation as she appeals for peace while talking about the similarities between the humans and Inbit, but each character gets a moment to either support or lash out at her. The human and Inbit characters parallel each other. Her desire for peace is echoed by both Sorji and Yellow. Stig's anger is directly reflected by Batra's. Batra's delight in battle is equaled by the commander of the human fleet, who all but declares Earth's destruction as acceptable collateral damage. In both good ways and bad, we see that Aisha is right in her claim that the two sides are far more alike than not.

The episode ends on an excellent cliffhanger, one that subverts general expectation. Even one episode ago, Stig would have looked on the arrival of the human fleet as a boon, the proverbial cavalry arriving to save the day. Here, the cavalry arrives - but that's not something to celebrate...


Overall Rating: 10/10.

Previous Episode: Black Hair's Partita/Reflex Point
Next Episode: Symphony of Light

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3-22. New York Bebop/The Big Apple.

Yellow gives the performance of a lifetime.

Genesis Climber Mospeada: New York Bebop.

Original Air Date - Genesis Climber Mospeada: Mar. 4, 1984. Writer: Kenji Terada. Director: Mari Kobayashi.

Robotech: The Big Apple.

Original Air Date - Robotech: June 25, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.


PLOT - MOSPEADA:

Stig's group deviates to New York City to replenish supplies of HBT before the assault on Reflex Point. The city is under the control of Sorji, the female humanoid Inbit. She wants to observe the humans, so she allows them to live in peace as long as they don't rebel.

Yellow, Ray, and Mint find a large supply of HBT in Carnegie Hall, which the aliens have turned into a makeshift warehouse. While evading the Inbit, they meet George, a boy with dreams of being a musical stage star. He takes them to Simon, a choreographer who is preparing for a performance and who is overjoyed at meeting the famous Yellow Belmont.

The human fighters aren't the only new arrivals. Batra, the male humanoid Inbit, has come to implement his own plan: destruction of every living thing in the city. He launches a devastating attack, leaving Yellow and Simon to stage an impromptu concert to raise the morale of the survivors and to bring Stig and the others to their rescue.


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

Scott's group deviates to New York City to replenish supplies of protoculture before the assault on Reflex Point. The city is under the control of Sera, the humanoid Invid princess. She wants to observe the humans as scientific specimens, so she allows them to live in peace.

Lancer, Rand, and Annie find a large supply of protoculture in Carnegie Hall, which the aliens have turned into a makeshift warehouse. While evading the Invid, they meet George, a boy with dreams of being a musical stage star. He takes them to Simon, a choreographer who is preparing for a performance - and an old friend of Lancer's.

The human fighters aren't the only new arrivals. Corg, the humanoid Inbit prince, has come to implement his own plan: destruction of every living thing in the city. He launches a devastating attack, leaving Lancer and Simon to stage an impromptu concert to raise the morale of the survivors and to bring Scott and the others to their rescue.

Sorji is conflicted as her "brother" prepares for a massacre.

CHARACTERS:

Even on Mars, Yellow dreamed about his music being performed at Carnegie Hall. This is even more direct in Robotech, with Lancer having visited Carnegie Hall in the past and vowing not to give up on his dream of performing there someday.

This is an excellent character episode for Sorji, who is becoming increasingly conflicted. She finds the humans "beautiful" and is distressed when Batra launches his attack on the civilians. She continues to feel drawn to Yellow. When she sees that he and the others are in the city, she takes the opportunity to directly confront Aisha - not to berate her for betraying their race, but to demand to know why the humans allow her to live among them.

Unfortunately, Robotech's Princess Sera does exactly what Mospeada's Sorji does not: Demands an explanation for Marlene's betrayal. Robotech also changes Marlene's response. In Mospeada, Aisha takes the confirmation that she's an Inbit with calm resignation, having already pretty well figured it out over the past few episodes. In Robotech, Marlene gasps that this can't be true - a more stereotypical reaction and thus a less interesting one.

Advantage: Mospeada.


NARRATION:

Robotech's opening narration reframes the Invid presence in New York as being specifically targeted at Scott's team, with the enemy expecting them to come here to collect protoculture. The narration then segues into the Invid Regess, directing her troops as they patrol the streets, looking for signs of the rebels. The narrator also chimes in to cover several scene transitions, which is mostly unnecessary but at least isn't intrusive.

Advantage: Mospeada.

Sorji confronts Aisha. Their conversation
is a lot more generic in Robotech.

CUTS AND ALTERATION:

The Invid Are Searching for Scott's Group: In Mospeada, it's pretty clear that the Inbit occupation of New York City is ongoing, with the residents seeming accustomed to living their lives around the aliens. In Robotech, the Invid are specifically laying a trap for Scott and his team.

Rand and Lancer Confirm That George Mimicked a Cat: Yellow, Ray, and Mint are almost caught by the Inbit at Carnegie Hall when they're rescued by George, a theater kid who mimics a cat to convince the Inbit nobody is present. Ray and Lancer congratulate him on his impression. Because Robotech assumes that the after-school children are too dumb to follow along, Rand and Lancer ask if the "cat" was George. Yeah, writers - I'm pretty sure the kids caught that without the extra help.

Sera Is Determined to Speak with Ariel: Sorji and Batra argue about the humans in New York, with Sorji finding them "beautiful" and wanting to study them and Batra calling them "parasitic" and wanting to destroy them. Though the overall scene is similar, the argument between Sera and Corg in Robotech feels more slapdash. Batra's "anything living is my enemy" is replaced with a generic sneer about how Sera lacks "the stomach" for extermination. There is a notable change at the scene's end, though, with Sera deciding that she needs to find and talk with Ariel (Marlene), which sets up the later scene between them.

Corg Gloats: Mospeada's Batra laughs as he targets civilians, reveling in the destruction. Robotech's Corg is even pettier than that, mocking Sera as his forces attack: "There, princess, observe your lifeforms now!"

Sera Demands to Know Why Marlene Betrayed The Invid: When Sorji confronts Aisha, she confirms Aisha's fears about being an Inbit and demands to know why the humans have allowed her to survive among them. In Robotech, Princess Sera instead reveals that Marlene is an Invid, which Marlene cries can't be true. Sera barks about how "Ariel" betrayed them, demanding to know why she hasn't reported in. It's a pointless change that not only alters the meaning of the original scene - It takes an interesting interaction and makes it into dull cliché.

The Others Hesitate When Scott Decides to Attack the Invid Hive: Mospeada's Stig decides to use the enemy's HBT against them by attacking one of the pipes inside the Inbit fort, a plan that the others enthusiastically endorse. When Robotech's Scott announces that he wants to attack the Invid hive, the others are understandably hesitant, because he doesn't explain his plan. The plan doesn't really get explained in Robotech at all, and an action climax that already feels rushed in the original version seems even more so as a result.

Advantage: Mospeada.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

Both shows use their regular tracks to good effect. Both also use their songs well, with Mospeada's Yellow singing Blue Rain and Love Pebbles, while Robotech's Lancer sings Lonely Soldier Boy and Look Up, the Sky Is Falling... the latter of which is actually a better fit for the action/performance intercutting than in the original version.

Music ends up being a big strength for both versions of the episode - which is only appropriate, with a story that centers its action/sci-fi plot around musical theatre.

Advantage: None.

Batra and his Inbit target New York's civilians.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE - MOSPEADA:

I like both versions of this episode, but Mospeada's scenes with Sorji - both her argument with Batra and her confrontation with Aisha - are simply better-written than the corresponding bits in Robotech.


OTHER MUSINGS:

There's one glaring issue with this episode: Geography.

The regulars were last seen in the vicinity of the Rocky Mountains. Before this episode begins, they apparently traveled to New York (roughly 2,000 miles). They also engage in a pitched battle across the episode's second half. Now, Reflex Point's location hasn't been specifically identified, but we have seen it pointed to on maps, and it looks like it's somewhere in the north/central part of the United States.

There's no place it could be that wouldn't involve the team bypassing Reflex Point by anywhere from several hundred to a thousand miles to get to New York... meaning that if they have enough fuel to reach New York and fight while they're there, then they already have the fuel they need to attack Reflex Point. In short, it's clear enough that someone on Mospeada's writing staff really wanted a Broadway-themed episode set in New York City, whether it made any sense or not.

Still, when the resulting episode is this much fun, who really cares?

New York Bebop is energetic. It zips through its story, it includes action set pieces and dance numbers, and it still finds room for some pretty good character moments for Sorji, Yellow, and Aisha. Between the action and the dancing, the animation is ambitious for the rapid pace of mid-'80s television, and a few seams show - notably, the white outlines separating the dancers from the background. Still, sheer momentum makes it all but impossible not to have a good time.

My only reservation is that I think it is a bit rushed, and it might have worked even better as a two-parter. That aside, this is thoroughly entertaining.


Overall Rating: 8/10.

Previous Episode: Arpeggio of Murder/Hired Gun
Next Episode: Black Hair's Partita/Reflex Point

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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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3-19. Forte of the Glacier City/Frostbite.

Stig and Aisha enjoy an idyllic day out in an abandoned city.

Genesis Climber Mospeada: Forte of the Glacier City.

Original Air Date - Genesis Climber Mospeada: Feb. 12, 1984. Writer: Satoshi Namiki. Director: Yusaku Saotome.

Robotech: Frostbite.

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


PLOT - MOSPEADA:

The team is making its way through another set of icy mountains when they discover a city buried under the ice. Stig wants to just keep moving, while Ray wants to raid it for supplies. The argument is rendered moot when the ice gives way, with the Legioss falling onto the top of a building, damaging one of the legs.

While Jim and Yellow make repairs, the rest of the group explores. They stock up on supplies, but also goof off and enjoy themselves, sampling pleasures that they haven't known under the Inbit: chocolate, canned meat, soda, and even a video game. Stig disapproves at first. Then, after catching sight of a wedding dress in a store window, he softens, deciding to enjoy the city in Aisha's company.

It's an idyllic day and a much-needed break. But it's not destined to last, as Inbit forces led by the humanoid male, Batra, locate their position and move in to attack...


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

The team is making its way through the ice-covered Rocky Mountains when they discover a city buried under the ice. Scott wants to just keep moving, while Rand wants to raid it for supplies. The argument is rendered moot when the ice gives way, with the Alpha fighter falling onto the top of a building, damaging the landing gear.

While Lunk and Lancer make repairs, the rest of the group explores. They stock up on supplies, but also goof off and enjoy themselves, sampling pleasures such as soda, food, music, and video games. Scott disapproves at first. Then, after catching sight of a wedding dress in a store window, he softens, deciding to enjoy the city in Marlene's company.

It's an idyllic day and a much-needed break. But it's not destined to last, as Invid forces led by Prince Corg locate their position and move in to attack...

A shop window's wedding dress reminds Stig of his late fiancée.

CHARACTERS:

Stig's day out with Aisha allows the show to present a different side of the normally stoic soldier. He blushes when she tries on a dress, and he's amusingly awkward in zipping up her back. In Robotech, actor Gregory Snegoff delivers an amusing "voice break," a nice touch. Stig also keeps envisioning his late fiancée, Marlene, in Aisha's place, which feels more than a little unhealthy... particularly in Robotech, where he's gone so far as to name her as Marlene. Before he slides too far in the direction of James Stewart in Vertigo, though, he asks Aisha about love and is disappointed when she doesn't seem to understand the concept - though for her part, she smiles warmly while thinking about it.

Ray, Mint, and - with a little coaxing - Houquet have fun sampling canned delicacies. Mint also grabs a wedding dress for herself, something which ends up playing a role in the climax. Only Jim and Yellow keep working - Jim because he's the one with the skills to repair the damaged Legioss, and Yellow presumably because Jim needs an extra pair of hands and he's less carried away by the city than the others are.

Robotech wisely doesn't change the basic character beats, meaning that all of this material works about equally well in both versions.

Advantage: None.


NARRATION:

Robotech's opening narration specifically places this in the Rocky Mountains. The narrator specifies that the mechs are being pulled in a caravan rather than flying is to evade the Invid's protoculture detection, which is a nice added detail. I'm less fond of a later insertion, when the narrator tells us exactly what Marlene is thinking as she walks through a toy shop. I prefer Mopeada's version, with Aisha silently staring at the toys and the audience left to interpret her reactions.

Advantage: Mospeada.

Aisha and Mint enjoy some chocolate. Robotech
changes a lot of the dialogue in this scene. 

CUTS AND ALTERATION:

The Alpha's Landing Gear Is Broken: A minor difference that makes no difference. Mospeada's Legioss has one of its legs broken when it crashes through the ice to the town below. In Robotech, the Alpha instead has its landing gear broken.

The City's Generator Will Last Forever: In Mospeada, Jim is impressed when he finds the city's generator and remarks that it has enough power stored to keep running for another ten years. That apparently wasn't impressive enough for Robotech, with Scott remarking that the generator will last for 100 thousand years, which takes what was already remarkable and makes it... well, impossible. Oh, and the city is identified as Denver.

Annie Obsesses About Peppermint: There are minor dialogue changes throughout the scene with Ray, Mint, and Aisha in the grocery store. Mint introduces Aisha to chocolate, then is thrilled when she finds a bag of soft marshmallows, while Ray remarks on how sweet a can of soda tastes, observing that he forgot that any food could taste this sweet. In Robotech, Annie is obsessive about peppermint, with her specifically biting into peppermint chocolate, and with the marshmallows changed to peppermints. Ray's musing about how sweet the soda tastes has been changed to Rand generically wondering if he's in heaven. I prefer the original dialogue, though none of these changes really harm anything.

Added Dialogue and Quips During the Battle: Scott remarks that he was expecting Korg; Lunk and Annie ride into the battle on Lunk's jeep, with Annie calling out that they'll save him; and a few other one-liners are thrown in. It's nothing that either adds to or takes away from the scene - It's just an example of Robotech's bizarre need for constant dialogue, even in action scenes that don't require it.

Advantage: None. Changes are tiny and don't particularly alter the viewing experience.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

Robotech uses an instrumental version of It's You during the scene in which Scott takes Marlene to a shoe store and a dress shop. The music nicely suits the scene's mood, and for a moment I thought Robotech might win this category because of this bit.

Then, after the Act break, my ears were assaulted by a recording of Minmei's This Is My Time to Be a Star. You know, the hackneyed ditty that Robotech's "Macross Saga" played roughly a hundred times across its 36 episodes? I suppose there is a certain twisted logic to it: Much like the cockroach, of course that particular song would be the one to survive the apocalypse...

Outside of that, both versions use their scores well. But I feel duty-bound to penalize Robotech for bringing back that song.

Advantage: Mospeada.

Aisha is at the mercy of the Inbit, Batra.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE - NONE:

...which genuinely surprises me, given that character pieces don't tend to play to Robotech's strengths. This time, the Robotech writers wisely change very little of the original version. Additionally, the series' signature clunky dialogue is mostly absent, with most of the conversations remaining pretty well written. As a result, the viewing experience is all but identical - a good thing, since this is a good episode.


OTHER MUSINGS:

This is an enjoyable character piece. There are several amusing moments and also significant developments in the evolving relationship between Stig and Aisha. It's also just plain pleasant to see the regulars relaxing and enjoying themselves.

The Inbit are brought in at just the right point. They enter late enough for the bulk of the show to be given over to character development, arriving at the point that the group's enjoyment seems to be winding down. The final action scene is creative, with the regulars using the city itself and the ice above to their advantage.

It ends with a potentially important plot element, as at least one of the regulars begins actively speculating about Aisha's origins - and given how close we are to the end, it's probably time for the show to start exploring that, as leaving it for the finale would likely overload the ending.


Overall Rating: 8/10.

Previous Episode: Old Soldiers' Polka/Ghost Town
Next Episode: Birthday Song of the Night/Birthday Blues

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3-16. Trap Reggae/Metamorphosis.

Yellow encounters a mysterious woman.

Genesis Climber Mospeada: Trap Reggae.

Original Air Date - Genesis Climber Mospeada: Jan. 22, 1984. Writer: Satoshi Namiki. Director: Mari Kobayashi.

Robotech: Metamorphosis.

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


PLOT - MOSPEADA:

Inbit patrols are growing heavier as the group nears Reflex Point. They find an abandoned naval base, which gives Stig a plan to get across the water. They set to work repairing three frigates. Jim, Mint, and Aisha transport their equipment in the ships, while the others draw the Inbits' attention.

The plan works, but Houquet is injured. They set down in the ruins of a beach resort so that she can recover while Jim repairs her fighter. Meanwhile, the rest of the group enjoys a much-needed beachside rest.

They are not alone, however. Yellow is enjoying an isolated bath in the river when he senses that he's being watched. He draws back, then jumps his attacker - only to find a beautiful young woman in a strange looking flight suit. When he tries to question her, she breaks free and runs. He pursues her to her ship: an Inbit mech.

By the time he reaches the group, they have realized that the Inbit are coming. Stig prepares a trap using the frigates, depending on the Inbit's usual response to HBT. But with these new, human Inbit pilots, Yellow knows that Stig's plan is doomed to fail!


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

Invid patrols are growing heavier as the group nears Reflex Point. They find an abandoned base from the Second Robotech War, which gives Scott a plan to get past the enemy. They set to work repairing three frigates. Lunk, Annie, and Marlene transport their equipment in the ships, while the others draw the Invids' attention.

The plan works, but Rook is injured. They set down in the ruins of a beach resort so that she can recover while Lunk repairs her fighter. Meanwhile, the rest of the group enjoys a much-needed beachside rest.

They are not alone, however. Lancer is enjoying an isolated bath in the river when he senses that he's being watched. He draws back, then jumps his attacker - only to find a beautiful young woman in a strange looking flight suit. When he tries to question her, she breaks free and runs. He pursues her to her ship: an Invid Commander mech.

By the time he reaches the group, they have realized that the Invid are coming. Scott prepares a trap using the frigates, depending on the aliens' usual response to protoculture. But with these new, human Invid pilots, Lancer knows that the plan is doomed to fail!

Ray and Houquet relax, and flirt/argue, on the beach.

CHARACTERS:

This episode is basically an ensemble piece. Yellow gets slightly more attention than the others when he meets Sorji, the female Inbit pilot, but his screen time isn't much greater than Stig's, Ray's, or Houquet's. The usually stoic Stig gets a chance to laugh and to be awkwardly uncomfortable in the water, and it's genuinely nice to see the characters enjoying themselves.

Aisha is more fully a part of the group than in earlier episodes. She helps out with the frigates, and she enjoys herself at the beach. Once again, she ends up sensing the Inbit. Since this has happened in fully half of the episodes since her introduction, I can only assume that the group's fondness for her is making them willfully block out the obviousness of a connection between her and the aliens.

This episode introduces two more humanoid Inbit: one male, Batra; and one female, Sorji. It's clear enough that both characters will recur as Mospeada moves into its final stretch, with Sorji emotionally torn after her encounter with Yellow and Batra staring disapprovingly at her in their final scene.

No character material is much changed for Robotech, so this all works equally well in both versions.

Advantage: None.


NARRATION:

Robotech starts without narration, jumping straight into the Invid Regess presiding over the metamorphosis. The narrator comes in after that scene to cover the introduction of the regulars, but this and the mid-episode recap are unobtrusive.

I wish I could say the same for the end of the episode. As transformed Invid Sera struggles with her emotions, the voice over helpfully tells us that she's... um, struggling with her emotions. Thanks for the heads up, Mr. Narrator. Then we get an overly dramatic closing bit informing us that the success of Scott's group will determine the fate of the world - which feels a bit melodramatic on the heels of a mostly relaxed outing.

Advantage: Mospeada.

The group discovers an abandoned base. Robotech identifies
it as dating from the war with the Masters.

CUTS AND ALTERATION:

The Invid Regess Names the New Humanoids as Royalty: Both versions open with the transformation of two aliens into humanoids. In Mospeada, the Inbit consciousness names the male Batra and the female Sorji, telling them that they are "proof of superior life." This isn't sufficient for Robotech. After naming them Corg and Sera, the Regess makes clear that they will be a prince and princess within the Invid society.

The Assignment: Batra and Sorji are sent to a fort, with religious terms invoked in their assignment ("May the holy place be protected by your power"). In Robotech, the religious wording is removed, and the assignment is made more specific: The Regess wants them to find Ariel (whom the protagonists know as Marlene) and find out why she has stopped communicating. Though I regret the loss of the religious overtones, I actually like the Robotech version of the assignment, as it links the metamorphosis to the regulars up front and creates some tension.

Scott's Group Is Relaxing: Stig and the Mospeada regulars are preparing to cross into North America, with Stig and Yellow both wary of Inbit patrols. In Robotech, the group is already relaxing and exploring the island, though Scott continues to keep an eye out for the enemy since they're nearing Reflex Point.

The Abandoned Base Is from the Second Robotech War: The abandoned naval base is now leftover from the war with the Masters. Because this is the same show, honest.

The Regess Orders Her Forces to Destroy Marlene: Mospeada has the approach of the transformed Inbit play out with no dialogue. As usual, Robotech adds voice over of the Invid Regess giving orders. She repeats her order to make contact with Ariel (Marlene) and discover why communication has failed. She then adds a new order - If they can't contact her and/or fix the malfunction, they are to destroy her.

Removal of Nudity: Sorji, the transformed female Inbit, sees Yellow bathing in a river. He notices that he's being watched and hides, jumping her when she gets near. At the Act break, her struggles result in both of them going over a small waterfall - with Yellow seen nude as they fall. Robotech removes the waterfall, which makes for an oddly abrupt Act break but also makes use of the commercial break to completely cut around the nudity.

Lancer Is Flirtatious: Yellow is startled that Sorji is a woman, but he focuses on questions such as where she came from and the strange suit she's wearing. Lancer has the same questions, but he pauses to flirt about how "beauty is (her) weapon."

Rand Teases Scott with a "Swimming Lesson": Ray pulls a reluctant Stig into the water, only to realize that life on Mars has left him with no idea how to swim or even enjoy being in water. Robotech develops this further, with Rand teasing Scott by giving him an impromptu swimming lesson, with rules such as not trying to breathe underwater and watching out for waves. The dubbed over dialogue suits the animation well, and the bit is actually amusing, improving an already pretty good scene.

The Regess Directs the Battle: Mospeada only shows the Inbit manuevers, with the audience trusted to be able to interpret why the aliens take each action during the battle. Robotech adds the Regess's voice over, so that it's the Regess who detects Scott's trap - which takes away from the idea that the transformed aliens are more capable than their more primitive counterparts.

"A Beautiful Man": After the humans' escape, Sorji stares after them, feeling conflicting emotions. She recalls her run-in with Yellow and sighs that he's "a beautiful man." Robotech drops this line in favor of narration telling us that she's experiencing emotions. This is definitely not an improvement.

Annie Is Excited about Finishing the Mission: The final scene has the group approaching the coast of North America. Mint exults at the prospect of meeting "Yankee boys." Since Robotech has pulled back on the boy-chasing side of the character, Annie is instead excited at the prospect that they'll soon finish the mission.

Advantage: None. A few minor improvements are canceled out by a few minor annoyances.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

Both scores work, with the Robotech tracks well-chosen both for the light character interactions and for the big action set piece.

Advantage: None.

Two Inbit prepare for a metamorphosis.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE - NONE:

I like the idea of having the Invid specifically search for Marlene. It adds a bit of extra tension and makes her feel more important in the Robotech episode. I also found the Rand/Scott interactions in Robotech to be more amusing than the Ray/Stig ones in Mospeada.

These tiny improvements are offset by tiny annoyances: too much added chatter because Robotech can never be silent; the Regess detailing every move of the battle so that we don't have to actually follow it too closely; and the narrator breaking the atmosphere of the final scene with the female Invid. It all ends up canceling out, leaving the two episodes more or less equal.


OTHER MUSINGS:

In either version, this is an engaging ensemble piece. Good action bits at the beginning and end bookend amusing character moments, and every regular gets at least something to do. After the cracks revealed in the previous episode, it's nice to have the next installment show the heroes working well together and having some fun in each other's company.

I have no doubt that the two transformed Inbit, Batra and Sorji, will play a major role in the series' final third. I also wonder how much longer the series can keep the group oblivious to Aisha being linked to the Inbit. By now, she's anticipated their appearances and/or movements often enough that at least a few of them should be starting to ask questions - doubly so now that they know there are human looking Inbit. This is something that I hope happens sooner than later.

Overall, a good episode - and one that's equally good in either version.


Overall Rating: 7/10.

Previous Episode: The Ballad of Breaking Up/Separate Ways
Next Episode: White Night Serenade/The Midnight Sun

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