1-30. Viva Maria/Viva Miriya.

Milia brings her infant daughter along on a mission.

Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Viva Maria

Original Air Date - Macross: May 15, 1983.
Written by: Hiroshi Ônogi. Directed by: Noboru Ishiguro.

Robotech: Viva Miriya

Original Air Date - Robotech: Apr. 12, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.


PLOT - MACROSS:

Hikaru, Misa, Max, Milia, and Claudia find themselves working under the command of their former enemy, Lord Britai, on a mission to claim a Zentradi factory. If successful, this operation will reduce the threat of Zentradi attack and increase Earth's ability to defend itself, allowing the human/Zentradi forces to rapidly manufacture ships capable of repelling a new assault.

Max and Milia have brought their baby, Komilia, along. Misa is critical of them bringing an infant into a warzone... at least, until she gets a chance to hold the child, at which point her focus turns toward the future she would like with Hikaru. The couple has brought their child for a reason, however, and young Komilia will become a critical part of the battle ahead!


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

Rick Hunter, Lisa Hayes, Max, Miriya, and Claudia find themselves working under the command of their former enemy, Lord Bree'tai, on a mission to claim the last remaining Robotech factory. If successful, this operation will reduce the threat posed by the Zentradi and the Robotech Masters, and will also increase Earth's ability to defend itself.

On Bree'tai's request, Max and Miria have brought their baby, Dana, on the mission. This isn't mere whim, with little Dana forming a critical part of Breetai's plan.

Meanwhile, the Robotech Masters begin their journey to Earth - but when a critical experiment fails, they also start becoming desperate...

The humans and Britai work together to prevent a new invasion.

CHARACTERS:

Though many of the Zentradi on Earth are chafing against their new existence, Britai seems happier than he's ever been. He's all smiles as he greets Exsedol and the humans, and he takes pride in his newly developed conversational skills. Even when the mission is underway, he seems more relaxed than before, including when he's interrupting the humans' conversations to steer them back to the task at hand. The dynamic of the mixed human/Zentradi crew is enjoyable throughout the episode, and I wouldn't mind seeing more of it - though with only a few episodes left, I doubt there will be much opportunity for that.

Advantage: None.


NARRATION:

The Robotech episode opens with an internal monologue from Rick in place of the usual opening narration. This actually works well, becasue there's a rather nice bit in which he muses about feeling "homesick for space." It rings true for the character and is just enough for me to give a rare nod to the American version in this one category.

Advantage: Robotech.

The Robotech Masters' experiment fails, making them more desperate.

CUTS AND ALTERATIONS:

The Robotech Regulars Don't Know What the Mission Is: In Macross, everyone knows the basics of the mission before it begins. Some last-minute aspects of Britai's plan surprise them, but they at least know what their goal is. In Robotech, Bree'tai's plan has been kept a complete secret - which doesn't make a lot of sense, as springing surprises on people in the heat of battle is a very fine way to lead to avoidable errors.

The Baby's Name and the Episode's Title: In Macross, Max and Milia's baby is named Komilia Maria Fallyna Jenius, and the title of the episode (Viva Maria) applies to her. In Robotech, the baby is named Dana, with the adjusted title (Viva Miriya) instead applying to her mother.

The Baby's Presence: Macross's Milia and Max chose to bring Komilia, with Milia defending her decision by declaring that she is more than capable of protecting her daughter. The way the baby is used in the final battle is portrayed as an idea that Max and Milia came up with. In Robotech, young Dana is part of Bree'tai's plan from the start, and she's there because he asked for her to be brought.

The Return of the Robotech Masters: More Southern Cross footage is cut in to continue the setup for the next arc. This time, we see the Masters conducting an experiment to clone "Zor Prime." When the experiment fails, it becomes clear that they are desperate and have no choice but to recover the protoculture from Earth. 

A Dinner Party: In Macross, Max and Milia host a party, with Hikaru, Misa, and Claudia visiting. Misa fusses over the baby to a degree that makes Hikaru nervous, because he's not quite as clueless about Misa's feelings as he likes to pretend. Robotech removes all of this to make way for the "Robotech Masters" scene... which is a bit jarring, given that the following scene has been retained, complete with references to Lisa's enthusiasm for the baby.

The Derelict: Midway through the episode, Britai's ship encounters a derelict vessel. He and Exsedol identify it as a warship from the Supervision Army, their old enemies and the creators of the Macross. In Robotech, they instead state that it is an old Zentraedi ship. This renders the scene narratively pointless, meaning that this would have been a better scene for Robotech to cut than the dinner party.

A Better Edited Kiss: As part of Britai's plan, Hikaru and Misa kiss while one of Minmay's songs plays, all to throw the enemy Zentradi into disarray. This is basically the same in both shows, but Robotech cuts the scene a bit tighter, and it works slightly better as a result. It's not enough to make up for all the other changes for the worse, mind you... particularly since This Is My Time to Be a Star is playing during the scene, making me think that the Zentraedi are plugging their ears for a different reason than the writers intended...

Advantage: Macross


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

This is an area where Macross has grown steadily stronger throughout its run. Though Robotech's music is perfectly fine here, I think the parent show uses its score to stronger effect - particularly when an instrumental version of one of Minmay's songs plays toward the end.

Advantage: Macross.

Hikaru gets a thumbs-up from a Zentradi.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE: MACROSS:

Once again, squeezing Southern Cross footage into the episode weakens a decent episode, though not nearly as badly this time. As with the previous episode, I understand the reasoning. The first "generation change" was bound to be the hardest one for viewers to get past, and original animation was beyond the limits of the schedule and budget. I'm not going to argue that the Robotech producers needed to do whatever they could to at least try to keep it feeling like a single story.

Still, even if you don't know that this scene was taken from a different show, I think you'd know something was up: the differences in visual style and character art just stick out too much. Also, the cuts made to accommodate the new scene were not well judged. The scene with the derelict is a "spare part" in the new Robotech context, and it would have been a much more invisible removal than the one the producers selected.


OTHER MUSINGS:

Both versions of Viva Maria are entertaining and briskly paced, mixing just the right amount of humor into the now-familiar space action shenanigans. I'd argue that the battle is won a bit too easily. I also think there's a lot of untapped dramatic potential involving how strange it must feel for both sides of this joint mission to be working together; after all, it wasn't that long ago that each race was regularly trying to kill the other. But to actually mine that vein would have required a lot more than a single 25-minute episode.

The whole thing is played with a pretty light touch, honestly a bit too light for my tastes. But I had fun watching it, I laughed in the places I was meant to laugh, and I found the finale to be satisfying. It's not a "great" episode - but on its own terms, I think it manages to be a good one.


Overall Rating - Macross: 7/10.

Overall Rating - Robotech: 6/10.

Previous Episode: Lonely Song/The Robotech Masters
Next Episode: Satan's Dolls/Khyron's Revenge

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1-27. Love Drifts Away/Force of Arms.

The Macross engages in a desperate fight for planet Earth!

Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Love Drifts Away

Original Air Date - Macross: Apr. 24, 1983.
Written by: Ken'ichi Matsuzaki. Directed by: Noboru Ishiguro, Tatsuya Kasahara.

Robotech: Force of Arms

Original Air Date - Robotech: Apr. 9, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.


PLOT - MACROSS:

The Zentradi fleet has surrounded Earth, with Lord Boldozaa intending to personally oversee the destruction of the humans and their dangerous protoculture. Even with Britai's forces joining the Macross, sheer numbers seem to make any defense hopeless.

Hikaru has an idea, however: asking Minmay to sing. It's a request that Capt. Global decides to use in the exact way Exsedol previously accused him of. The Macross will broadcast Minmay's songs to the enemy as a psychological weapon.

The tactic is effective, with Minmay holding a full concert throughout the fight. Even so, the Zentradi ships number in the millions, making this a desperate fight that could all too easily be humanity's last stand!


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

The Zentraedi has surrounded Earth, with Lord Dolza intending to personally oversee the destruction of the humans. Even with Breetai's forces joining the SDF-1, sheer numbers seem to make any defense hopeless.

Rick has an idea, however: asking Minmay to sing. It's request that Capt. Gloval decides to use in the exact way Exedore accused him of. The SDF-1 will broadcast her songs to the enemy as a psychological weapon.

The tactic is effective, with Minmei singing an extended ballad throughout the fight. Even so, the Zentraedi ships number in the millions, making this a desperate fight that could all too easily be humanity's last stand!

A confession at the end of the world: Hikaru confesses his
feelings to Minmay before making an important request.

CHARACTERS:

Hikaru finally tells Minmay that he loved her - and that is his exact phrasing, using the past tense. Telling her this frees him to finally let her go, and he even wishes her happiness with Kaifun. He is also relaxed in his late episode interactions with Misa. He rescues her against her orders, joking with her about disobeying her yet again. In effect, in this episode he's a grown-up, possibly for the first time in the series. The comparison between this Hikaru and the arrogant teen of the first few episodes is striking.

For all that Hikaru's feelings have seemed obvious to us, we learn that Minmay really was clueless. She doesn't seem entirely sure how to process Hikaru's declaration. She says, "I guess I like Kaifun," but neither that phrasing nor her tone make her sound particularly convinced. When she agrees to sing, she tells Hikaru that she's singing for him.

Robotech takes this all a step further by having Rick and Minmei say, "I love you," to each other (no past tense in the American version) before letting each other go. But in either variant, this episode sees both characters behaving more maturely than at any previous point.

Advantage: None.


NARRATION:

Robotech remains terrified of silence. The Japanese version of this episode features multiple dialogue-free stretches. Robotech fills every one of these gaps with narration. This steps on some effective moments by not allowing story beats and images to sink in. Macross lets us properly absorb events. Robotech's narrator keeps "helpfully" chiming in to either tell us what to think or to move us on to the next plot point.

Advantage: Macross.

Minmay's most important concert. For the first time ever,
the Robotech version of her singing is also good!

CUTS AND ALTERATIONS:

A Farewell to Max: Hikaru makes a point of telling Max and Milia, "Don't get yourselves killed." Robotech doesn't want us to focus on the overall hopelessness of the situation, so Max and Rick just say that they'll see each other later.

Additional Flashback: Hikaru and Minmay watch when the Zentradi attack. Macross allows us to silently absorb the attack with them. Robotech doesn't trust the audience to recognize that their home is at stake, and adds flashbacks to Rick and Minmei's visit to Japan with To Be in Love playing over the scene.

Minmay's Concert vs. Minmei's Song: In Macross, Minmay sings a full concert during the battle. She runs through most of her repertoire, starting with My Boyfriend Is a Pilot as the ships take off, then moving to Shao Pao Long as the battle intensifies, and finally to Silver Moon as Hikaru descends to Earth.

Robotech's Minmei sings only one piece... but, for a change, it's a good one. The producers must have realized that this moment needed a genuinely strong song. So rather than just telling an overworked staff writer to "bang out something by lunch," they must have opened their wallets to hire an actual songwriter. The result, We Will Win, proves to be an excellent accompaniment to the Robotech version of the battle: stirring and exciting, with a timber that lends itself to action while not forgetting the human themes.

Advantage: Macross. But not by much.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

Macross uses Minmay's songs as incidental music for the second half of the episode. This works well, particularly the juxtaposition of the energetic Shao Pao Long against the most exciting part of the battle.

Robotech follows suit to a point, with We Will Win punctuating the fight, but it also mixes in its own incidental score. The closing minutes see the music moving back and forth between song and incidentals. This is also very well done, with well-chosen transition points and effective bridges between song and incidental tracks. It's actually rather artful, and that's not a word I use to describe Robotech's variations.

Advantage: Robotech.

Misa's father finally gets to fire the Big Gun. It lives up to its name.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE: MACROSS:

A close call. We Will Win is Robotech's first song triumph. Even acknowledging a couple of lip sync mismatches, it's a great song that's extremely well used. I also quite liked the Macross version of the battle, with Macross Minmay's more versatile repertoire serving the scene well and giving more of an impression of a concert set against a potential apocalypse.

Both versions of the episode are outstanding, with it clear that the writers and producers of both versions recognized this as a key (maybe the key) episode. I would probably award a tie save for one aspect: the narration. Macross avoids the voiceover during the main body of the episode, allowing the story to unfold in its own way. Robotech can't seem bear all the moments of silence (which are there for a reason!), and so unneeded and frankly intrusive narration is slathered over these pauses, which is to the episode's detriment.


OTHER MUSINGS:

Love Drifts Away/Force of Arms is the series' biggest episode to date, and it very well may be the series' best. Though there are nine installments left, this feels like the real climax to Macross, with the culture clash that's run through the series finally deliberately used as a weapon to devastating effect.

The script is densely packed, with enough set pieces for a two-hour movie. I don't want to say too much for the sake of anyone reading this who hasn't seen the episode. I will say that Misa's father finally gets to fire his Grand Cannon, and the big gun lives up to its hype. Pretty much all the series' major elements are used here: Hikaru's not-quite relationships with both Minmay and Misa; the Zentradi/human culture clash; the conflict that's been building throughout the series. When I think about all that happens in this episode, I'm amazed how neatly it all fits into a mere 25 minutes... though that's the benefit of an episode that gets to pull the triggers that have been put in place over the course of the entire series!

The animation problems that have occasionally harmed other episodes are absent here. The battle is spectacular, exciting and devastating in equal parts. The choice to go to, essentially, an animatic when Hikaru and Misa reunite emphasizes the emotion, and their reunion is followed by final images that are simultaneously gorgeous and haunting.

In either version, this episode is a triumph. Forget that it's animated, or anime... I would rate this as legitimately very good science fiction television by the standards of any format.


Overall Rating: 10/10.

Previous Episode: Messenger/The Messenger
Next Episode: My Album/Reconstruction Blues

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1-26. Messenger/The Messenger

A chance for peace: Exsedol meets with Capt. Global.

Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Messenger

Original Air Date - Macross: Apr. 17, 1983.
Written by: Ken'ichi Matsuzaki. Directed by: Katsuhito Akiyama, Noboru Ishiguro.

Robotech: The Messenger

Original Air Date - Robotech: Apr. 8, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.


PLOT - MACROSS:

After Lord Britai orders a cease-fire, Archivist Exsedol travels to the Macross as a peace envoy. He meets with Capt. Global, the other leaders on the ship, and the Zentradi defectors, and all of those present try to figure out what happens next. However, even if the cease-fire holds, there is still the issue of the Zentradi main fleet: more than 4 million ships, enough to overwhelm the Macross, Britai's fleet, and even Earth through sheer force of numbers!


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

After Lord Bree'tai is convinced to order a cease-fire, Exedore travels to the SDF-1 as a peace envoy. He meets with Capt. Gloval, the other leaders on the ship, and the Zentraedi defectors, and all of those present try to figure out what happens next. However, even if the cease-fire holds, there is still the issue of the Zentraedi main fleet: more than 4 million ships, enough to overwhelm the SDF-1, Bree'tai's fleet, and even Earth through sheer force of numbers!

The Zentradi defectors react to seeing Exsedol.

CHARACTERS:

One element of this episode that I appreciated in both versions: the captain is realistic in his reaction to the Zentradi peace overture. He is hopeful that the cease-fire is authentic, but he remains ready for a trap. When he leaves to meet with Exsedol, he orders Claudia to fire on the enemy if they do anything aggressive.

Several amusing moments are wrung from Exsedol's confusion about human culture. He fully believes that Kaifun actually possesses the superpowers seen in the martial arts movie. He also refers to Minmay's singing as a psychological attack; when the Macross command staff doesn't understand what he's talking about, he entertainingly performs a few lyrics from My Boyfriend Is a Pilot, complete with falsetto voice and exaggerated twisting motions.

Though these moments are funny, the episode never reduces him to a comedy figure. He's the perfect representative to the humans, reasonable and intelligent, but capable of being firm. The response of the renegade Zentradi to him is telling. Milia provides an instant salute, responding automatically to a superior officer. The three defectors quake in terror until he assures them that he isn't here to harm them. Given that this show was a product of the '80s, it's fair to compare this to the reactions of a Soviet defector arriving at a meeting only to find that the head of the KGB is the guest of honor.

Advantage: None.


NARRATION:

Robotech (again) doesn't trust its audience to keep up with the plot turns. Narration is layered over the entire scene in which Bree'tai's flagship shoots down Khyron's fighters to stop an attack on the humans, all to make sure that even the dumbest child will understand what's happening.

Macross lets the same scene play out without narration, because those writers did trust the viewers to comprehend. Besides, there's a Britai/Kamujin scene immediately after it that provides a full explanation. As a result, the Macross version of the scene is more dramatically effective... and it feels nice to be respected as a viewer rather than to be talked down to.

Advantage: Macross.

Exsedol has a plan - and it's a lot more detailed in Macross.

CUTS AND ALTERATIONS:

Britai Acts Alone; Bree'tai Follows Orders: For some reason, the Robotech episode insists that the cease-fire was ordered by Lord Dolza, meaning that Bree'tai is just doing as he's been told. Macross makes it clear that Britai is acting alone, improvising to try to control the disorder within his fleet... which is the version that makes sense, given that in both episodes the crisis point comes when the main Zentradi fleet learns what is happening. I suspect this was a product of a very rushed translation/script writing process.

Animation Error Removed: Probably the only change that's for the better, and it's purely cosmetic: In the Macross episode, while Col. Maistroff drives Exsedol through the city, a red car randomly flashes onto the screen before blinking away again. Robotech snips away that shot, deleting the error.

Exsedol Encounters an Additional "Military Secret": Exsedol is stunned by a poster showing a woman in a skimpy swimsuit. The colonel, embarrassed, allows him to believe this is a "military secret." Robotech ends the scene there. Macross continues, with Exedole then noticing a brassiere in a shop window and asking for clarification of this "armor's" purpose, showing him - just like Milia - viewing everything through the lens of a fully militarized culture.

Robotech's Exedore Thinks Max Was a Zentraedi Prisoner: Another continuity error. In Macross, Exsedol recalls Hikaru from his time as a Zentradi prisoner, but he only recognizes Max from the wedding broadcast. In Robotech, Exedore seems to believe that Max was also a prisoner, even though he was the one who evaded capture and ended up breaking the others out. Oopsie.

Misa's Father Actually Has Two Brain Cells; Lisa's Does Not: Misa's father does not expect the cease-fire to hold. In Macross, he reasons that the cease-fire is only with the small portion of the Zentradi that are already here, and he predicts (accurately) that it won't apply to their main fleet. In Robotech, because Lisa's father is ambecile, his only justification is to huff that "the Zentraedi cannot be trusted."

Protoculture: For Macross's Zentradi, "protoculture" is human culture, with the threat being the disruption caused by exposure to such a different way of life. In Robotech, "protoculture" has been re-imagined as a MacGuffin to be chased, and so dialogue adjustments make clear that the Zentraedi want to recover the "protoculture factory" on the SDF-1. Bree'tai also informs Azonia that their fleet needs that factory because the Zentraedi supplies of protoculture have run out.

Exedole's Plan: Though Exsedol presents the same plan for dealing with the main fleet in both versions, the Macross episode allows him to share substantially more detail. The Robotech version skims over these same details, presumably on the theory that kids will find strategy boring.

Advantage: Macross


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

Both episodes use their incidental scores to perfectly fine effect. The Robotech episode might get a slight edge from the music buildup near the end, when we see the main fleet, but it's not enough of one for me to give the nod to either version this time.

Advantage: None.


OVERALL ADVANTAGE: MACROSS:

This is an excellent episode. That said, the changes made slightly weaken the Robotech version. Some elements are simplified, such as Exsedol's plan. Others are dumbed down: Misa's father (Macross) responds to the peace talks with intelligent skepticism, while Lisa's father (Robotech) is just a warmongering idiot. Other changes introduce small but noticeable continuity errors. None of these are enough to remotely ruin the episode, but they do diminish it.

Britai explains their situation to Lap Lamiz. In Robotech,
Bree'tai also tells Azonia that their protoculture is running out.

OTHER MUSINGS:

Even in its Robotech version, Messenger is a terrific installment. It's a "calm before the storm" entry, made up mainly of characters sitting in rooms talking... but the characters not named Kaifun or Kyle (or, in Robotech, Lisa's father) are intelligent, the things they say are interesting, and the larger situational context makes it gripping even before the crisis point is reached.

The series continues to reinforce the theme about the power of culture. Exsedol expands on previous hints that Zentradi have been exposed to culture shock before, with results that were considered undesirable. The Zentradi defectors insist upon - and are, in fact, evidence of - the power of Minmay's songs. Exsedol outright admits that without her music, the fragile alliance being forged would not be possible.

It's also an episode that significantly raises the stakes, with the main fleet now a specter of oncoming doom. The final shots of the Zentradi main fleet filling the sky make for such a strong cliffhanger that it took an act of will for me to stop and write this review before moving on to the next installment.


Overall Rating: 9/10.

Previous Episode: Virgin Road/Wedding Bells
Next Episode: Love Drifts Away/Force of Arms

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1-25. Virgin Road/Wedding Bells.

The first inter-species romance: Max and Milia marry.

Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Virgin Road

Original Air Date - Macross: Apr. 10, 1983.
Written by: Sukehiro Tomita. Directed by: Noboru Ishiguro, Hiroshi Yoshida.

Robotech: Wedding Bells

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


PLOT - MACROSS:

Max meets Milia for their date, only for her to immediately attack him. He manages to disarm her and, while she is weeping and begging him to kill her to end her shame, he declares his love for her. The new couple immediately announces a desire to marry.

Hikaru sees the potential for their union to act as a bridge between the warring races. Capt. Global agrees, broadcasting the wedding not only within the ship but also to both Earth and the Zentradi fleet. But the festivities spark fear and outrage in Lord Boldozaa, who orders Lord Britai to launch an all-out assault to destroy the Macross!


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

Max meets Miriya for their date, only for her to immediately attack him. He manages to disarm her and, while she is weeping and begging him to kill her to end her shame, he impulsively proposes marriage.

Rick is flabbergasted... until he sees Miriya and is overwhelmed by her beauty. Capt. Gloval sees the potential for the union to act as a bridge between the warring species, broadcasting the wedding not only within the ship but also to Earth and the Zentraedi fleet. But the festivities spark fear and outrage in Lord Dolza, who orders Bree'tai to launch an all-out assault to destroy the SDF-1!

Britai and Exsedol react to the wedding.

CHARACTERS:

In the wake of the desertion of several soldiers, Macross's Britai expresses sympathy with their reasons for defecting. It's also Britai who calls off the attack when the dissatisfaction in the ranks becomes clear. By contrast, Robotech's Bree'tai insists that there can be no excuse for disobeying orders, and he has to be persuaded by Exedore to call off the assault.

I think the marriage is a bit too sudden to be fully dramatically satisfying. Even so, I actually would consider Max and Milia to be a good couple. In Max, Milia has met the one rival she cannot defeat; in Milia, Max has met someone who is almost his equal. I have some objections to how rushed it all feels in this episode, but I like them as a couple just fine.

Advantage: None.


NARRATION:

This episode is a rare case: The Robotech narration is better written than the Macross voice over! The Macross opener has that sense that I sometimes get from its Americanized counterpart: That it's trying to squeeze too much exposition in. The Robotech narration flows better into the main action, and is even used to paper over some of the rushed pacing.

Advantage: Robotech.

Max and Milia duel. Amazingly, the Robotech
version of this scene is better written.

CUTS AND ALTERATIONS:

The Duel: Robotech's Max is genuinely confused when Miriya attacks, while Macross's Max recovers from the surprise a little too quickly. The Robotech fight also ends with Max making his proposal while acknowledging that it is crazy. It doesn't make the events less rushed, but at least it serves to lampshade it.

Hikaru Sees a Chance for Peace; Rick Just Ogles a Hot Chick: One of the few Robotech changes that's definitely for the worse. Both Hikaru and Rick argue with Max that it's too soon to marry a woman he's just met. Hikaru recovers from his shock and recognizes the opportunity to lay groundwork for peace. By contrast, once Miriya arrives, Rick just drools over her. Hikaru tells Max to take her to see the captain; Rick just says something about wanting to kiss the bride. In short, Rick is made horny, dumb, and honestly a little creepy.

The Captain's Speech: In both versions, the captain starts by recounting the aggressions of the Zentradi before making a heartfelt plea for forgiveness and peace. Amazingly, it's the Robotech version that is better-scripted, with Gloval's pivot to peace coming across as more natural and his words seeming more persuasive.

The Idol Sings: Macross's Minmay sings a version of Runner, the end credits song, only with more optimistic lyrics to suit a couple just getting married. It's a lovely piece, beautifully sung... unlike Robotech Minmei's The Man in My Life. I was all set to say that at least Robotech gave Minmei a new song. The song is too short to cover the full scene, though, leaving her switching to her old standby, To Be in Love, to make up the difference.

The Sobbing Maitre'd: A comedy moment in Macross, as the venue employee collapses to his knees to sob over the damage, demanding to know why the Zentradi had to attack now. Robotech turns this into a dramatic moment, with the man instead terrified and praying. Both versions work - but I think I prefer the moment of comedy in Macross.

Ending Contemplation: Both Hikaru and Rick think of Misa/Lisa. In Hikaru's case, he's thinking of how they might actually be moving toward the peace wanted by both him and "Captain Hayase." Notably, Hikaru does not refer to her by her first name even in inner monologue. Robotech's Rick seems to be mainly wishing for Lisa's return. He reflects on Roy's (offscreen) advice that before you can love somebody, you first have to like them - and he observes that he likes Lisa. Again, both versions work... but this time, I prefer the Robotech scene.

Advantage: Robotech. Though it's closer than it would have been, because of that one very misjudged scene of Rick the Idiot Horndog.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

Robotech uses the track that sounds like a march during the wedding scene. This proves to be a perfect match of music and visuals, and is enough on its own to win the category this time.

Advantage: Robotech.

A wedding in space.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE: ROBOTECH:

This particular Macross script feels as if it was churned out in a hurry, with the Max/Milia relationship skipping a step or several. It's impossible for Robotech to completely correct that, but the writers do what they can to minimize the problem. The whole thing still feels a bit rushed, with a sense that an extra episode was really needed to get the couple from duel to nuptials, but it plays out just that little bit better in the American version.


OTHER MUSINGS:

Virgin Road/Wedding Bells is important in terms of the overall arc. Max and Milia go from rivals to a couple. Their marriage, broadcast to the Zentradi fleet, adds further fuel to the unrest among the aliens, which from the "next time" blurb seems likely to be the focus of the next episode.

Unfortunately, it's not one of the series' better offerings.

Prior episodes haven't done enough to build the Max/Milia dynamic. The two didn't even share screen time until last episode's arcade scene. I think it would have played better had Milia been arrested, with Max going to talk to her afterward and then proposing. Just one more conversation, but it would have made the difference between it feeling insanely rushed and feeling like a more natural plot turn.

Other aspects of the episode feel equally rushed. The captain, Hikaru, and Misa all hope this marriage will become a bridge between species, while Lord Boldozaa and Misa's father both see it as a potential threat to their plans... but since there is so much plot for the episode to get through, their viewpoints receive barely any exploration.

So that this review doesn't come across as a complete bashing, I'll end by talking about something that was well-executed: The spreading chaos within the Zentradi forces, with some soldiers refusing to join in the attack. Because the foundation was carefully laid in previous episodes, this crisis for the Zentradi feels like a natural next stage in the story. I just wish the rest of it worked as well.


OVERALL:

I have the same opinion of this episode that I remember having of too many installments of Star Trek: The Animated Series - namely, that this should have been a two-parter. There are good ideas, but they get no room to breathe because there's too little time and too much story. As a result, the entire 25 minutes feels like a mad dash to the next plot point.

It's far from my least favorite episode, and the Robotech version does improve on the worst of the rushing. But the events here really needed a little more time to play out.


Overall Rating - Macross: 4/10.

Overall Rating - Robotech: 5/10.

Previous Episode: Goodbye Girl/Showdown
Next Episode: Messenger/The Messenger

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1-22. Love Concert/Battle Hymn.

Defectors: The Zentradi spies plan their return to the Macross.

Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Love Concert

Original Air Date - Macross: Mar. 20, 1983.
Written by: Hiroshi Ônogi. Directed by: Noboru Ishiguro, Tatsuya Kasahara.

Robotech: Battle Hymn

Original Air Date - Robotech: Apr. 2, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.


PLOT - MACROSS:

Unrest is spreading among the Zentradi battle fleet. Spies Loli, Warera, and Conda returned from the Macross with information for their superiors, as planned... but they also brought back stories and objects that tantalize the other Zentradi, with a singing Minmay doll particularly catching the soldiers' attention. The spies persuade many of the others that life is better aboard the human ship, and they hatch a plan to defect during the next attack.

Their wait is not a long one. Lord Boldozaa has ordered Britai to capture a "miclone" for study as a prelude to a final assault. Britai decides to take it a step further, plotting to lure the Macross into performing a Daedalus attack and then turning it against them by sending in a boarding party.

The attack comes in the middle of Minmay's latest concert. With destruction surrounding her, and with no chance for either her or her audience to reach any kind of shelter, she does the only thing she can: Keeps singing.


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

Unrest is spreading among the Zentraedi battle fleet. Spies Rico, Bron, and Konda returned from the SDF-1 with information for their superiors, as planned... but they also brought back stories and objects that tantalize the other Zentraedi, with a singing Minmei doll particularly catching the soldiers' attention. The spies persuade many of the others that life is better aboard the human ship, and they decide to defect during the next attack.

Their wait is not a long one. Lord Dolza has ordered Breetai to capture a "micronian" for study as a prelude to a final assault. Breetai is delighted when Exedore hatches a plan to lure the human ship into performing a Daedalus attack and then turning it against them by sending in a boarding party.

The attack comes in the middle of Minmei's latest concert. With destruction surrounding her, and with no chance for either her or her audience to reach any kind of shelter, she does the only thing she can: Keeps singing, even as the battle rages.

Hikaru decides on his reason to fight: protecting Minmay.

CHARACTERS:

In the first half of the episode, Macross's Kaifun and Robotech's Kyle come across as more than a little creepy, but in different ways. Kaifun is fixated on Minmay in a clearly romantic way. Kyle is also attracted to his cousin... but in an inner monologue just before the Act break, he expresses frustration at people paying attention to her instead of to the war. This adds an extra element to an already disturbing character, indicating that he resents Minmei even as he feels drawn to her. The close-up on his eyes just before the fade-out does nothing to make him seem less malevolent.

Both versions of the episode show Hikaru/Rick succumbing to fatalism. Surprisingly, this is more blatant in Robotech, as Rick wonders if he's going to "go out fighting" the way Roy and Ben did. He seizes on fighting to protect Minmei, and is shouting her name as a battle cry in the episode's closing moments.

Meanwhile, Minmay receives another good episode. Unsurprisingly, Macross handles her concert heroism better. When she resumes singing during the attack, her voice catches and falters for several seconds as she battles her own fear. In Robotech, someone basically just starts the record playing, with Minmei singing at full voice from the very start. Robotech also features a small gaffe here, with the "singing" animation starting a second or two before the actual music cuts in.

Advantage: None. Minmay is better in Macross, as usual, but I prefer Rick's more outright fatalism in Robotech, making this one a wash.


NARRATION:

Robotech's opening recap feels unusually strained and awkward. It's as if the translators/scriptwriters couldn't quite decide which bits of exposition to focus on, and it becomes labored as they try to squeeze in too much.

Advantage: Macross.

Lord Bodolzaa fears what the humans might be capable of.

CUTS AND ALTERATIONS:

The Nature of Protoculture: This is an ongoing issue, given that the Robotech writers seized on "protoculture" as a way to combine all three series. In Macross, Lord Boldazaa states that the humans are protoculture, and he wants them destroyed because of the inevitable effect they will have on the Zentradi. Robotech's Dolza believes that the humans have protoculture, which in this version is a type of technology, and that makes them dangerous. As ever, the Macross version of "protoculture" directly connects to the show's themes, while Robotech diminishes it to an undefined MacGuffin.

Britai's Plan Becomes Exedore's: The plan to board the Macross is entirely Britai's in the original version. Robotech has Exedore come up with the plan, with Breetai's contribution amounting to smiling and nodding.

One Song vs. Two: In Macross, the spies use a wire to flip a switch on the singing Minmay doll, which makes it start into a second song. This part of the scene has been trimmed out of Robotech, with a line added in which the spies let the others know that there is a second song.

Added Flashbacks: While Rick leans next to Minmei's poster, the Robotech episode adds flashbacks to The Long Wait. The Robotech episode also extends an existing flashback while Lisa is thinking of Kyle, adding dialogue to it. All of this is fine, if a little hamfisted - but then Lisa has an internal monologue indicating that Kyle's words are making sense to her, even though both Macross's Misa and Robotech's Lisa have previously firmly (and, given the overall situation, quite correctly) rejected his stance.

Advantage: Macross.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

This is an action-heavy episode, which would usually tip this category in Robotech's favor. However, this episode frames itself around Minmay's concert - and by this point, it goes without saying that the Macross version of the concert is better in general, along with the Macross songs making an effective complement to the action.

Advantage: Macross.

Kaifun urges Minmay to keep singing during the attack.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE: MACROSS:

This one's a closer call than the last, as both versions of the episode work well. The deciding factors are ongoing issues: by turning "protoculture" into a plot device, Robotech harms it own thematic depth; and... well, in an episode framed around a Minmay concert, there's no getting around how much better a singer Macross's Minmay is.


OTHER MUSINGS:

In both versions, this is a good episode. I found the most interesting thread to be the three spies and their effect on the fleet. Knowing that they risk execution if they're caught, they and their fellow soldiers still resolve to defect in order to enjoy a life they'll never be able to have among their own people. The Cold War parallels in this 1980s show are obvious, but there's also something universal in their craving for music, culture, and romance.

The episode advances multiple threads. During the attack, Milia/Miriya finally identifies Max as the enemy she's been stalking. The Zentradi decide on a new plan for the humans, with it becoming clear that the impasse Hikaru and Misa discussed is now breaking, and not in humanity's favor. The show is headed toward another Act change, and I look forward to seeing what happens next.

Though some of the character art is less detailed than in other installments, I'd make a fair guess as to why: The end battle scenes have many moving elements at work, from the combat animations to the flames to the destruction in the city. I'd wager all of those elements took a lot of time and effort to complete, and I can't blame the animators for taking a few short cuts elsewhere.


Overall Rating: 7/10.

Previous Episode: Micro Cosmos/A New Dawn
Next Episode: Drop Out/Reckless

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1-20. Paradise Lost.

Return to duty: Britai is ordered to reclaim
command of the operation to reclaim the Macross.

Original Air Date - Macross: Mar. 6, 1983.
Written by: Ken'ichi Matsuzaki. Directed by: Noboru Ishiguro, Hiroshi Yoshida.

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


PLOT - MACROSS:

In the wake of the disaster caused by the Macross's experimental barrier system, the Canadian government has withdrawn its offer to accept the ship's civilians as refugees. Capt. Global is given an ultimatum: launch the ship into space at once, or face attack by Earth's own defense forces!

Meanwhile, Britai retakes command of the Zentradi fleet, adding a large number of reinforcements to their total numbers. He doesn't rush to action, however, instead waiting to hear the report of Loli, Warera, and Condi, who have returned from their time as spies among the humans with a range of interesting artifacts...


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

In the wake of the disaster caused by the SDF-1's experimental barrier system, Capt. Gloval is given an ultimatum: launch ship into space, complete with its civilian population, or face attack by Earth's own defense forces!

Meanwhile, Lord Breetai retakes command of the Zentraedi fleet, adding a large number of reinforcements to their total numbers. He doesn't rush to action, however, instead waiting to hear the report of Rico, Bron, and Kondo, who have returned from their time as spies among the humans with a range of interesting artifacts...

Capt. Global delivers bad news. Somehow, Kaifun
manages to react like a halfway decent human being.

CHARACTERS:

In Macross, there are additional layers to Britai's resumption of command. After he receives his orders from Lord Bodolzaa, he reunites with Exsedol and tells his old friend: "I understand exactly what his Excellency Bodolzaa intends." There's a sense that he's carefully choosing every word, and that his return to command is less a vote of confidence than a way to potentially dispose of him. All of this is sadly missing from Robotech, which just plays the scenes as straightforward. 

Oh, and just because I'm a big believer in being fair to characters I dislike: This episode sees Minmay's cousin Kaifun having a moment of actual compassion. When a distraught Capt. Global makes his grim announcement to Macross's population, Kaifun actually consoles him (Robotech's Kyle gets an extra line as well). I actually like this, as it shows that Kaifun has a sliver of humanity underneath the layers of "jackass" that have defined him thus far.

Advantage: Macross.


NARRATION:

Once again, Macross uses narration to skim over a scene of characters making a report, in this case the three spies summarizing their findings for Britai. The narrator talks over them, only allowing a small section of the scene to play out. This eventually happens in Robotech, as well, but the narrator allows much more of the report to be given by the characters. As with other examples in the series, this just plays much more smoothly.

Advantage: Robotech.

The new veterans: Hikaru and Max discuss their
new promotions as they enjoy one last Earth sunset.

CUTS AND ALTERATIONS:

Return to Command: In Robotech, Breetai is entirely respectful to Lord Dolza as he's ordered to retake command, and the scene itself is entirely straightforward. The exchange plays differently in Macross. Britai is terse, outright demanding additional ships. His manner does not go unnoticed by Lord Bodolzaa, who observes that the officer's "speech has become impolite." A close-up shows Britai clenching his fist even as he assures his superior that he must be imagining it.

Macrossians: In Macross, a young boy and girl watch the supply trucks drive through the city, and they speculate that the rumors must be true that they won't be allowed to leave. As children who have spent more than a year on the ship, they aren't too bothered by this, deciding that they're "Macrossians" now. It's a nice little moment, one that's been sadly removed from Robotech.

The New Veterans: One of the better character moments sees Hikaru/Rick and Max going up on deck to enjoy a last sunset. In both versions, they discuss their changing situation, with both having received multiple rapid promotions. Macross makes the grim subtext clearer: Max is being given his own team, while Hikaru is being made squadron commander. With the deaths of so many of the more experienced pilots, the squadron dynamics have changed: Hikaru has replaced Roy; Max is replacing Hikaru; and these characters, who were rookies not all that long ago, are now the ship's veterans.

The UN's Plan: A bit of watering-down for the US kiddie audience. In Robotech, Capt. Gloval says that Earth government wants the ship to draw the aliens away from Earth. In Macross, he's more blunt, speculating that the government hopes that if the Zentradi destroy the ship, it will pave the way for peace talks. In Robotech, they're expendable; in Macross, they are a sacrificial offering.

Minmay's Song: The episode ends with Minmay singing over the final set of visuals. This works a lot better in Macross, with Mari Iijima's singing of My Beautiful Place a perfect complement to both the context and the visuals. Meanwhile, Robotech's Minmei just sings This Is My Time to Be a Star. Macross's Minmay sings a lament for a lost home; Robotech's Minmei might as well be singing that this works for her, since she's a bigger star on the ship than she would ever be on Earth.

Advantage: Macross.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

Both shows apply their incidental music well, so there is no clear advantage this time.

Advantage: None.

The Zentradi spies enjoy one last meal on
the Macross before returning to the fleet.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE: MACROSS:

This is a transitional episode, but also one that puts a lot of emphasis on character moments. As such, it's little surprise that Macross, which has tended to show more layers and subtlety in its presentation of its characters, makes a stronger impression. The Robotech adaptation is fine as far as it goes, with a few good exchanges of its own... but it definitely feels shallower overall.


OTHER MUSINGS:

After a couple of episodes with big action and big emotional beats, Paradise Lost is a moment of quiet. It's an important episode, as it sees the ship finally forced to leave Earth again and returns Britai to command of the Zentradi fleet.

The focus is very much on the character interactions: The three spies are anything but delighted to return home, enjoying a last meal on the Macross before returning, then clinging to the treasures they've collected, trying to hold onto a way of life they preferred to their own. The captain all but breaks down over his failure to help the civilians under his care. Hikaru struggles to write a letter to Kakizaki's parents as he realizes that he's now in Roy's old position, whether he's ready to be or not. Minmay uses the influence of her stardom in just the right way at just the right time, seemingly without even thinking about it. Even Kaifun shows a hitherto-unglimpsed bit of decency. All of this gives the story added weight. The plot mechanics may be transitional, but each scene exists to reinforce the characters and increase our emotional investment in them.

Ther's also a nice touch with regard to Britai's ship. Earlier episodes saw Hikaru and Misa observing how poorly maintained the Zentradi ships were. In this episode, despite all the time that's passed since the humans' escape, Britai steps onto his bridge... and we see that all the damage Max inflicted remains unrepaired. Points to the artists and animators!


Overall Rating: 7/10.

Previous Episode: Burst Point/Bursting Point
Next Episode: Micro Cosmos/A New Dawn

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1-17. Phantasm.

Minmay is kidnapped. In a nightmare, hence the giant hand.

Original Air Date - Macross: Feb. 13, 1983.
Directed by: Noboru Ishiguro.

Original Air Date - Robotech: Mar. 26, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.


PLOT - MACROSS:

Hikaru has been seriously injured in battle with the Zentradi. Now he lies unconscious in a hospital bed, his subconscious trying to stitch together the events of the past year.

In his dream, he is still a civilian, watching Minmay's latest concert. Mid-performance, Zentradi leader Britai appears and kidnaps her. Hikaru is determined to rescue the woman he loves... but every time he begins, he ends up being shot down. And when he finally reaches Minmay, she seems less than excited at the rescue...


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

Rick has been seriously injured in battle with the Zentraedi. Now he lies unconscious in a hospital bed, machines monitoring both his physical condition and his delusions as his subconscious tries to stitch together the events of the past year.

In his dream, he is still a civilian, watching Minmei's latest concert. Mid-performance, Zentraedi leader Breetai appears and kidnaps her. Rick is determined to rescue the woman he loves... but every time he begins, he ends up being shot down. And when he finally reaches Minmei, she seems less than excited at the rescue...

Even unconscious, Hikaru can't stop chasing Minmay.

CHARACTERS:

This episode focuses on Hikaru's would-be relationship with Minmay. He has spent the first half of the series obsessed with her. For her part, she's vacillated between periods in which she's encouraged his interest and ones in which she's treated him as practically a stranger. He believes her attitude toward him changed after she became famous. If you actually rewatch a couple of the early episodes, however, her hot/cold behavior started before that point.

The script does a good job of layering elements of Hikaru's character. He's still very young, so it's not surprising that his subconscious stitches together a juvenile hero fantasy in which he proves himself by rescuing the girl. For the most part, however, the Zentradi become a substitute for all the forces he blames for keeping him and Minmay apart: her career, her schedule, and - most specifically - her cousin. And yes, all the things he blames are entirely to do with her and not him.

Despite this, even in a dream he isn't able to blot out the level of the threat posed by the Zentradi. Not very many episodes ago, he watched their fleet destroy a planet. That memory is too vivid, and it and other anxieties break through into the Hero Story his brain wants to create.

Another interesting element is that, every time Hikaru tries to rescue Minmay, he ends up crashing. "Whenever I fly, I get shot down," he laments, his injury appearing to have shaken his confidence. His subconscious attempts to circumvent this by having him fly a "magic bicycle" - but that ends just as badly.

Advantage: None.


NARRATION:

Macross starts by reading out the details of Hikaru's crash and condition, as if from an official report. After that, there is no narration at all until the "Next Time" blurb.

Robotech has the traditional opening recap. It also ends with the narrator responding to Rick's, "It was just a dream," statement at the end. In between, the only narration is the typical Act Break mini-recap. However, every cut back to Rick's hospital bed is accompanied by the medical machines informing us of his physical and mental state, which serves basically the same purpose - and is as overdone as many of Robotech's expository voice-overs have been.

I prefer the Macross approach, which helps to boost the atmosphere by just taking us through the nightmare. By breaking away from the dream for multiple bits of quasi-narration, the Robotech episode undercuts the dreamlike atmosphere that is one of the episode's biggest assets.

Advantage: Macross.

Hikaru hallucinates a bit of the opening credits.
In Macross, this is accompanied by the theme song.

CUTS AND ALTERATIONS:

Minmay's Music: The Macross version of this episode gives Minmay at least three songs, one of which ("Zero-G Love") is quite catchy. Robotech sticks Minmei with, "To Be in Love," a track so treacly that it did the impossible and made me actually miss "This Is My Time to Be a Star."

Opening Titles Takeoff: Both versions see the hero going through the takeoff procedure from the opening credits. Macross makes this into a meta joke, playing the theme song over Hikaru's launch - then cutting the music off when he gets shot down. Robotech drops the self-referential gag, playing the visuals out with launch chatter over Rick's takeoff. Pity - It was a good gag, one that would have been easy to recreate with the Robotech theme.

Hikaru Suffers a Lot More Humiliation than Rick: Within the dream, both Hikaru and Rick keep getting shot down when they attempt to rescue Minmay. In Macross, each of Hikaru's failures is punctuated by the laughter of onlookers, with the shipwide announcer dubbing him "The Crash King." In Robotech, Rick is only actively mocked once, while the women on the bridge crew express admiration for his refusal to give up.

Rick Becomes More Aware of Reality: As the episode nears its end, the Robotech writers have Rick become more aware of reality. I actually think this is the one change that's for the better, as it indicates that his consciousness is reasserting itself. When he relives the events of Episode Four, in which he and Minmei were trapped in an isolated section of the ship, he calmly tells her that they will be found in two weeks. He also complains about Minmei falling asleep every time he tries to discuss anything important and even comments on his growing affection for Lisa.

Advantage: Macross. One change for the better doesn't make up for the other changes being for the worse.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

Both episodes use their scores to good effect. Macross is more artful, using Minmay's songs as incidental music. Robotech doesn't have that luxury (the less we have to hear of Minmei's songs, the better), but it makes up for it courtesy of its more dynamic soundtrack.

Advantage: None.

Hikaru attempts to fly a bicycle into space. It doesn't go well.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE: MACROSS:

By immersing the viewer in Hikaru's dream, Macross manages to be more effective overall. It also helps that Macross's Minmay can sing, and that this episode gives her some new songs. That said, I did like some of the changes to Robotech's ending - just not enough to consider it the stronger overall version.


OTHER MUSINGS:

The second clip show in a span of four episodes. Dramatically speaking, that's at least one too many; but I'm inclined to give it a pass, since I'm pretty sure the first clip show at least was a response to production realities.

Phantasm makes considerably more creative use of the clip show format than Global Report did. Instead of just a straight retelling, the clips are used to explore Hikaru's emotional state. Small bits of new footage are intercut to strong effect, particularly the use of Kaifun. As a bonus, any minor visual discontinuities can be shrugged off as confusion from Hikaru's dream state.

Overall, this was an engaging and interesting story, and one of the better clip shows I can recall watching.


Overall Rating: 7/10.

Previous Episode: Kung Fu Dandy/Battle Cry
Next Episode: Pineapple Salad/Farewell Big Brother

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