Some Thoughts on Robotech: The New Generation.

The series' regulars, as seen in the titles of Genesis Climber
Mospeada (Robotech flips this image for reasons unknown).

The third Robotech arc, "The New Generation," tends to land in the middle of fan rankings: better than "The Masters," not as good as "The Macross Saga." Personally, I think... that's actually about right. It takes just shy of a third of the series for it to find itself. Once it does, however, it improves immediately and keeps on improving until the end.

Closely adapted from source series, Genesis Climber Mospeada, this was the series that was least changed for Robotech. Because of this, I'm going to refer to Mospeada and its character names as the default, save for when I am specifically mentioning the Robotech version.


A WEAK FIRST ACT:

Mospeada doesn't get off to the best start. The first three episodes do their job of establishing the premise and introducing the core ensemble. Once that's done, the series delivers a steady diet of standalones that could mostly be shown in any order.

The goal of this phase of the series is clearly to build up the characters. Stig meets his childhood hero; Jim goes in search of the father of a dead war buddy; Houquet returns to her childhood home. All three of the aforementioned episodes - and two of the three series-establishing ones - boast the '80s stock plot that I've dubbed "The Evil Town Episode," with the regulars visiting isolated towns that are either under the control of a malicious figure or that hide dark secrets.

It's a stock plot for a reason. It's a reliable way to build tension, and some of these episodes are good ones. The problem is the repetition. Even The A-Team and Knight Rider didn't repeat this setup five times in nine episodes! By the time it was Jim's turn to be shunned in an insular little town, I started wondering if the group shouldn't just forget about the Inbit and declare war on their true enemy: small towns.

Around the series' one-third mark, I started to wonder why this repetitive series was considered to be better than Southern Cross. For all of its faults, the adventures of Jeanne and her squad at least had energy, a quality that seemed sorely lacking here.

Then, in Episode 10, the series found itself in a big way...

The mysterious Aisha (Marlene in Robotech)
joins the group just in time for an Inbit attack.

ENTER MARLENE - AND SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT:

Requiem of the Battlefield, the series' tenth episode, brings Mospeada to life. More prosaically titled Enter Marlene in Robotech, it is by any name the first "great" episode of this arc. It's expertly paced, and it manages to work in terms of story, characterization, and theme.

The episode sees Stig fall into a depression after he discovers the force of soldiers he meant to join has been wiped out. Jim and Yellow leave him to sulk and go to work cannibalizing the battlefield, upgrading the group's abilities with several new mechs, which helps to make the group's later victories more plausible. Most notably, Houquet and Ray discover Aisha in the nearby town wiped out by the Inbit. This amnesiac girl reminds Stig of his late fiancée, Marlene, who was killed by the Inbit... so Robotech, which has always tended to be more on the nose than its origin series, renames her as Marlene to make sure no viewer can miss the connection.

Aisha's introduction creates new dynamics among the group: Houquet and Yellow are protective of her, she becomes a friend to Mint, and the mutual attraction between her and Stig helps to humanize the previously stoic soldier. There's also a bit of added tension; we know right away that she's an Inbit in human form, but the group doesn't know this and neither does she.

Episode 11 goes right back to the "Evil Town" format, as the group seeks passage through a mountain range that is home to an Inbit fortress. Even here, though, there seems to be a sense of direction and energy that wasn't there before. Instead of the episode-specific conflict existing in isolation, it's actually followed up in Episode 12, in which the characters must find a way past the fortress to continue their journey. This begins creating the sense of the episodes building toward something, which thankfully continues from this point on.

It helps that this marks the point at which the series stops relying on small towns with secrets. There are still plenty of trope-filled plots, but Episode 11 stands as the series' final "Evil Town" episode (though Robotech arguably reformats Episode 21, Hired Gun, into one).

The introduction of Aisha helps to humanize Stig.

CHARACTERS:

Mospeada initially has a problem with its lead. Stig is a mostly stoic protagonist, and he's particularly closed off in the early episodes. The writers seem to struggle with making such a person, who is inclined to neither chat nor joke, as the lead. As a result, early scripts show preference to the more outgoing Ray, with him taking either the lead or primary supporting role in most of the early episodes.

There are two episodes in which I specifically felt that Ray was favored at the expense of other characters. Ray takes the primary supporting role in the Jim-centric Fallen Hero's Ragtime, which revolves around the fate of a fellow soldier's father. I felt this role should have instead gone to Yellow; not only was he underused at that point in the series, as a former soldier, he might have had a more interesting reaction than Ray.

A handful of episodes later, Sandstorm Playback sees an unconscious Ray have an episode-long dream that is influenced by Aisha. Given that Aisha was already being paired with Stig at this point, I felt this should have been a Stig-centric installment. This might have strengthened the bond between Stig and Aisha, while the dream adventure might have pushed Stig to start confronting both his anger and his hostility toward civilians, both of which are shown in the episode's opening scene. But no - Ray's easier to write for, so the episode goes to Ray.

Thankfully, this tendency evens out in later episodes. Stig thaws as he bonds with Aisha, and I suspect the writers had fewer problems writing for this less reserved version of the character. At this point, he actually emerges as the lead, rather than just being identified as such. The full ensemble is generally better balanced after this. Jim gets good character moments in The Ballad of Breaking Up and Trap Reggae; Yellow, underused in the series' first half, receives increasing focus in his interactions with humanoid Inbit Sorji; and even comedy sidekick Mint gets a handful of decent moments.

Arpeggio of Murder: The only Mospeada episode
that was significantly rewritten for Robotech.

THE LEAST CHANGED ROBOTECH SERIES:

Here's where I'd usually talk about the ways in which Robotech changed the characters... except this time, the American show really didn't much change them.

"The Macross Saga" sanitized Roy and performed all-out character assassination on Minmei; "The Masters" eliminated the already weak character arc that Southern Cross had created for Jeanne, in which she went from treating the war like a game to realizing that there were real consequences worth taking seriously... by pretty much presenting Dana Sterling as taking the conflict seriously from the very start. Even more aggravating was the way "The Masters" reduced Jeanne's well-written second-in-command, Andrzej, into generic meathead Angelo.

"The New Generation" maintains the characters as originally presented. Robotech moderately tones down Mint's obsession with matrimony, and Scott has more of a tendency to make '80s action movie quips than Stig, but the characters are basically the same in the American series as in the Japanese original.

This applies on a story level, as well. Genesis Climber Mospeada is easily the least changed of the three series, with most of its alterations being a question of matching the general Robotech continuity. The only individual episode that was substantially rewritten was Hired Gun, likely because Mospeada's Arpeggio of Murder tried to make sympathetic a guest character who was murdering dozens of men for entirely selfish reasons. Hired Gun rewrites this as revenge - which, while not admirable, at least makes his victims culpable for their own fates. Outside of this one episode, the remaining chapters are close matches in content, if not always in quality.

Lt. Commander Jonathan betrays his men...
but he feels really bad about it.

A LITTLE TOO MUCH SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL:

The case of Arpeggio of Murder/Hired Gun does draw attention to one of Mospeada's more bizarre tendencies. This is a series that, in three separate episodes, asks us to sympathize with characters who are guilty of terrible things: Jonathan's Elegy's Lt. Commander Jonathan, Lullaby of Distant Hope's Dogarbo; and Arpeggio of Murder's Rainy Boy.

Jonathan's Elegy is the least objectionable example, because Lt. Commander Jonathan actually has an argument for his actions. Giving the most dangerous soldiers to the Inbit allowed the rest of the population of the town to survive - and any doubt that his deal protected the town is dispelled by the fate for the town that the episode's closing shots heavily imply. Even so, Jonathan remains a man who sold out soldiers who trusted him, and yet the regulars end up memorializing him with a respect that's denied to any of his victims.

Arpeggio of Murder is worse - so much so that it became the one episode that Robotech significantly changed. In the original, Rainy Boy murders soldiers because the Inbit have promised to make his body whole if he manages to eliminate 100 of his fellow troops. What happened to Rainy is horrific, and his desire to be whole again is understandable - but his mass murder of innocents nullifies any chance of me sympathizing with him. Robotech changes his motives to vengeance, with his victims being the comrades who abandoned him. This makes it less repellent when he's framed as a tragic figure. Even so, I found it laughable when the regulars labeled him as a "hero." He's still a murderer in this version - He just has a better motive.

The most egregious example comes in an otherwise very good episode, Lullaby of Distant Hope. This episode's town is located at the base of a mountain that's home to an Inbit base. Little surprise, then, that people and families want to get past the mountain to settle someplace safer, a desire that wealthy and unscrupulous Dogarbo preys upon. He takes people's life savings in exchange for maps of a safe route. The maps are fake, and he's actually sending his victims straight into the hands of the Inbit.

At least Lt. Commander Jonathan and Rainy end up paying for their crimes, losing their lives while saving the series' heroes. Dogarbo also saves the series' heroes, at the cost of... some nifty unmanned fighters that he uses to fool the Inbit into thinking they killed their targets. The loss of those fighters is his only punishment. His crimes are not exposed, and he continues to subsist on the giant hoard of cash he's fleeced from desperate people that he sent off to die. He even gets to marry the woman he loves. I can't be alone in thinking: What the ****?

A single example could be put down to spotty writing. Three times indicates that the series thinks these monsters in human form deserve forgiveness, even heroes' burials, even as their victims remain unheralded. I was able to overlook it to enjoy the series itself - but it's fair to say that I was not on board with this aspect.

The Inbit attack civilians in New York Bebop.

OVERALL:

Though I thought it had a weak start, I ended up enjoying Genesis Climber Mospeada. I liked the characters (for the most part; I never really warmed to Mint), and I think the show found a good balance of character material and action as it went along.

Unsurprisingly, I found myself generally preferring Mospeada over its Robotech version. The characterization seemed just a little bit sharper, the music was usually better integrated with the action, and I almost always prefer an unnarrated drama to a narrated one. Still, the viewing experience in total was largely the same between the two series.

"The Macross Saga" remains the strongest of the three Robotech arcs, simply because Superdimension Fortress Macross is a better show than the other two source series. Still, Mospeada is an enjoyable mix of '80s action tropes with some decent character writing, and it gets better as it goes. Of the three series, Macross is the only one that I'm likely to revisit, but I'm glad to have taken the time to watch them.


Previous: The Masters
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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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3-21. Arpeggio of Murder/Hired Gun.

A murderous outlaw hunts soldiers every time it rains.

Genesis Climber Mospeada: Arpeggio of Murder.

Original Air Date - Genesis Climber Mospeada: Feb. 26, 1984. Writer: Kenji Terada. Director: Tatsuya Kasahara.

Robotech: Hired Gun.

Original Air Date - Robotech: June 24, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.


PLOT - MOSPEADA:

Stig's group arrives at a small desert town populated by ex-soldiers living under a constant threat: "Rainy Boy," an outlaw who hunts them every time it rains. Stig immediately agrees to help, and Houquet and Ray ride out to scout the area.

"Rainy Boy" isn't the only danger in the desert, as they realize when thye come under fire from Inbit. The situation looks bleak... until a mysterious figure appears and drives the aliens off before collapsing. Houqet rushes to tend the man's wounds, ignoring Ray's suspicions that their benefactor may be working for the enemy.

When they return to town, they learn that "Rainy Boy's" last victim was able to take a photograph of him. Houquet glances at the picture and gasps. The murderous outlaw they've been pursuing is the same man who rescued them in the desert!


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

Scott's group arrives at a small desert town populated by a group of ex-soldiers living under a constant threat: Dusty Ayres, an outlaw who hunts them every time it rains. Scott is hesitant to get involved, but he reluctantly agrees to help.

Soon, Rook and Rand ride out to scout the area. But Dusty isn't the only danger in the desert, and the two soon come under fire from Invid. The situation looks bleak... until a mysterious figure appears and drives the aliens off before collapsing. Rook rushes to tend the man's wounds, ignoring Rand's suspicions that their benefactor may be working for the enemy.

When they return to town, they learn that the killer's last victim was able to take a photograph of him. Rook glances at the picture and gasps. The man who rescued them in the desert was Dusty Ayres himself!

Houquet finds herself drawn to the mysterious "Rainy Boy."

CHARACTERS:

Houquet is instantly drawn to Rainy, and it's an open question as to whether Ray actually thinks that he's working for the Inbit or is acting on jealousy. Ray isn't wrong to be wary, in any case. Houquet is shocked to discover that the man in the desert is the killer they're seeking, but Ray is noticeably less surprised.

This episode really isn't about the regulars at all. They are basically supporting characters, there to bear witness to the story of "Rainy Boy," with even Houqet's material centered entirely around him. I suspect one's reaction to this episode will depend greatly on an ability to connect with Rainy. I didn't - and when his backstory was unveiled in Mospeada, I found myself sympathizing with him even less. This is someone who, by any measure, is guilty of all but indiscriminate mass murder.

Robotech adjusts his motives, which makes Dusty more sympathetic. It then oversells this advantage by trying to label him a "hero" at the end, which is ludicrous. Yes, Dusty's reasons for killing are easier to empathize with than Rainy's - but he's still guilty of murder on a large scale. Dusty might be a tragic figure (while Rainy is, in my opinion, just a villain in western duds), but he doesn't come remotely close to qualifying as a hero.


NARRATION:

As if trying to match the rain in the scene, the Robotech narrator drenches the opening with voice over. One part of it is good - the narrator makes sure to let us know that the encounter we're witnessing will connect to the regulars. The rest is verbal overkill, particularly when the narrator all but tells us the ending before we've even gotten to know what's going on.

Advantage: Mospeada.

Aisha tries to advise Houquet, who isn't particularly receptive.
Robotech's Marlene and Rook have a completely different conversation.

CUTS AND ALTERATION:

Scott Doesn't Want to Get Involved: Mospeada's Stig doesn't hesitate to join in tracking down Rainy, particularly after he learns that the outlaw targets soldiers. Robotech's Scott is more hesitant, wanting to learn more before agreeing to act.

Annie Is Mad About Being Treated Like a Kid: When Houquet and Ray ride off to scout for Rainy, Mint throws a mini-tantrum at being left behind. Aisha points out that they're just trying to keep them safe, and Annie sniffs that they could at least let her come along to watch. In Robotech, Annie is instead upset that she's so often dismissed when she believes she could be of more help.

Ray and Houquet Banter About Their "Date": While driving through the desert, Houquet and Ray share some amusing banter about whether or not this qualifies as a date. Robotech inexplicably drops this in favor of some generic dialogue about whether or not they should split up to cover more ground.

Lakeside Conversation: Rainy and Houquet have a conversation about loneliness by a lakeside, with Houquet stating that she feels a need for friends. Robotech changes this to something more plot-focused, with Dusty revealing himself to be a victim of Invid experimentation.

Rook and Marlene Have a Completely Different Conversation Than Houquet and Aisha: Aisha notices Houquet's reaction to the photo and goes outside to sit with her, urging her to talk to Stig. Houquet refuses, stating that she might be too "cowardly" to become involved in others' problems, but she also doesn't want others to interfere with hers. Robotech replaces this with a more on-the-nose conversation, with Rook telling Marlene that the man she and Rand helped was Dusty - something that Rand has presumably already volunteered. The original scene is far better.

Dusty's Motives: Mospeada's Rainy is motivated by a deal he made with the Inbit in exchange for being made whole again... which ironically makes him far more of a "hired gun" than Robotech's Dusty, who is taking revenge on specific individuals for deeply personal reasons. This changes the impact of the episode, and decidedly in Robotech's favor.

Rook Dubs Dusty a "Hero": Which... (shakes head, laughs). Sorry, no. Dusty's revenge killings may be easier to identify with than Rainy's hunt, but he's still ultimately a murderer. Mospeada has the regulars stand over the site while Blue Rain plays, which works a whole lot better.

Advantage: None. The change in the killer's motivation is a massive improvement, but it's balanced out by virtually all of the small changes being for the worse.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

Mospeada does very well with its music here, applying its incidentals well and also using multiple songs to strong dramatic effect. Robotech just uses the same tracks the same way as always. It doesn't do a bad job of it, but Mospeada definitely uses music more artfully.

Advantage: Mospeada.

Rainy stalks his prey.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE - ROBOTECH:

The change to Dusty's motivations may be the only actual improvement... but it's a massive improvement. Mospeada really wanted me to feel something for a character who, once all was revealed, was essentially loathesome (and remarkably, this is the third time that Mospeada has wanted me to care about a guest character who's guilty of horrible misdeeds). By adjusting the backstory just enough so that there's a personal reason for Dusty's killings, rather than just a hope of payment, it makes him into the tragic character that Mospeada's Rainy failed to be.


OTHER MUSINGS:

What's interesting about this episode is that it's visually quite strong, successfully pulling off a sci-fi western effect, but it's narratively pretty weak. It's entirely about a guest character. With the exception of Houquet, the regulars are merely "present," and Houquet's attachment to Rainy seems to exist mainly so that he'll have someone to impart his backstory to.

It's perfectly watchable, and I could see some enjoying it purely for its visual aesthetic and (in Mospeada) its use of music. But I didn't feel invested. While I think the Robotech episode works better overall, I also think that in either version, this is the weakest episode in a while.

Overall Rating - Mospeada: 4/10.

Overall Rating - Robotech: 5/10.

Previous Episode: Birthday Song of the Night Sky/Birthday Blues
Next Episode: New York Bebop/The Big Apple

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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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3-17. White Night Serenade/The Midnight Sun.

Ambushed by the Inbit!

Genesis Climber Mospeada: White Night Serenade.

Original Air Date - Genesis Climber Mospeada: Jan. 29, 1984. Writer: Ryo Yasumura. Director: Masakazu Yasumura.

Robotech: The Midnight Sun.

Original Air Date - Robotech: June 18, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.


PLOT - MOSPEADA:

The group advances toward Reflex Point, moving through a snowy mountain range. They believe themselves safe as they gather around a fire, eating and laughing. They are anything but.

Sorji, the female humanoid Inbit, attacks when their guard is down. Stig and the others are forced to flee, sliding down the mountainside, with the Inbit in pursuit. Only two things save them: an avalanche triggered by the exchange of fire; and Sorji's own hesitation to kill Yellow.

The humans split into three groups. Ray, Houquet, and Mint draw an Inbit Grab into one trap; Stig and Jim set another trap for the two Grabs that follow them. Meanwhile, Yellow and Aisha are caught on the edge of a cliff, with Sorji lying in wait!


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

The group advances toward Reflex Point, moving through a snowy mountain range. They believe themselves safe as they gather around a fire, eating and laughing. They are anything but.

Sera, the Invid princess, attacks when their guard is down. Scott and the others are forced to flee, sliding down the mountainside, with the Invid in pursuit. Only two things save the humans: an avalanche triggered by the exchange of fire; and Sera's own hesitation to kill Lancer.

The humans split into three groups. Rand, Rook, and Annie draw an Invid trooper into one trap; Scott and Lunk set another trap for the two that follow them. Meanwhile, Lancer and Marlene are caught on the edge of a cliff, with Sera lying in wait!

Aisha is startled as her memories awaken...

CHARACTERS:

The choice to split the characters up is a good one, allowing all the regulars a chance to show their resourcefulness. Ray and Houquet exchange quips while preparing their trap. Houquet acidly states that she won't rescue him if things go wrong - but when things do go wrong, she rushes to save him, firing wildly at the Grab, while Mint distracts it by flinging snowballs. Stig and Jim devise their own trap, one which relies on Jim's physical strength. Yellow shows his courage when he shields Aisha from Sorji, offering his own life while pleading for Aisha to be set free.

The most notable developments center around Aisha. Early in the episode, when she clutches her head and cries out, the others instantly look about for Inbit. Even if they're not talking about it yet, they have made the connection between her breakdowns and enemy attacks. At the end of the episode, seeing Sorji seems to revive Aisha's memories, or at least her consciousness of being an Inbit and not a human. Robotech's Marlene has a different immediate response to this than Mospeada's Aisha; but either way, I'm interested to see what this leads to.

Advantage: None.


NARRATION:

The Robotech episode uses its narration both sparingly and unobtrusively. It also uses the opening recap to slip in a transition between the summer ocean setting of the previous episode and the winter snowscape of this one. Mospeada has the characters comment on the change from just a few days ago as well, so the writers of both series apparently felt that the change in setting was jarring enough to at least lampshade it.

Advantage: None.

Sorji wrestles with conflicting emotions.
Robotech's Sera narrates the conflict for our benefit.

CUTS AND ALTERATION:

Sera's Internal Monologue: Mospeada shows Sorji as she reflects on meeting Yellow. Robotech adds an internal monologue for Princess Sera, in which she berates herself for wanting to see Lancer again - which is "not the Invid way" - because the viewer can't be trusted to understand her internal conflict.

Lancer Makes a Speech: After Aisha senses the Inbit and breaks down, the group goes on alert but sees nothing. Yellow then soothes Aisha by singing Love Pebbles, which carries over into the attack. Robotech isn't about to come up with a new Lancer song, so Lancer instead gives a pep talk about getting through difficult moments. Given Robotech's limitations, it's a fair compromise - and while Love Pebbles is a nice enough song, it doesn't mesh with the battle, which makes the Robotech scene a marginal improvement.

Sera Directs the Attack: The Regess gives Sera command, making it clear that she's responsible for the outcome. Sera then gives orders throughout the battle. I think this slightly helps the scene, as it makes the action feel a bit more ordered than in Mospeada, particularly when the humans split into pairs and Sera directs her forces to split up to follow.

Rand Adds "Injured Noises" to His Trap: Ray lures the Inbit Grab chasing him, Houquet, and Mint into a trap by making sure his footprints lead straight to the trigger. Robotech adds dialogue to make clear that Rand is springing a trap, with Rand making fake "injured" noises to further draw in the pursuing Invid.

The Regess Calls Out to Marlene: Near the end, Mospeada's Sorji meets Aisha's eyes, and the two humanoid Inbit share a moment of recognition that seems to restore at least some of Aisha's memories. Robotech adds the Regess to this scene, with her voice calling out to "Ariel" (Marlene), reminding her of who she really is and demanding that she return to them. Though this underscores Robotech's need to spell things out, it's still an effective scene, with the Regess's voice over a good match for the visuals.

Scott Tries to Pass Off the Incident as a Plan: In Mospeada, Ray briefly tries to pretend that the successful rescue of Yellow and Aisha was his plan, though he quickly admits that he's joking. Robotech sees the same claim made, only this time by Scott - which, given Scott's generally serious demeanor, feels a bit out of character.

Scott Does Not Refer to the Invid as "Monsters": The group wonders why Sorji didn't shoot Yellow and Aisha, and Stig responds that there's no way to know what goes on inside the head of the alien monsters. This reminds us of Stig's deep personal hatred of the Inbit - and it reminds Aisha of the same just as she's becoming aware of her true nature. Robotech changes this, with Scott shrugging Sera's inaction off as confusion caused by the group's cover fire. In this altered context, Marlene isn't reacting to his words but is instead still processing her encounter with Sera and the revelations from the Regess. Both versions work, though I find the Mospeada version of the scene more interesting.

Lancer and Marlene Talk: At the end of Mospeada, Yellow offers his hand to Aisha as the group moves off. She doesn't take it, a sign of rejection in the face of Stig's harsh words. Robotech completely changes the context by dubbing in a conversation between Marlene and Lancer, with her worried about bringing trouble to the group and him reassuring her.

Advantage: Robotech. Though I prefer a couple of Mospeada's late episode moments, those are outweighed by Robotech's improvements to the first half.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

Mospeada's normal score is applied in a heavy-handed way early in this episode, particularly the loud march when the Inbit appear. There's an attempt to do something interesting with the initial attack, with Yellow's song to soothe Aisha carried over into the early stages of the fight. Unfortunately, as I mentioned earlier, I don't think the song works either to accent or contrast with the battle, making it just an extra chaotic element in a weak opening Act. A reprise of the song at the end works better, but this is overall one of Mospeada's weaker episodes with regard to its score.

Robotech uses its tracks better, from the vaguely otherworldly music that accompanies the opening visuals of the snowy mountains to the various tracks backing the action scenes. Notably, Robotech uses a different "action/suspense" track for each of the character groups in the second half. The track for Scott and Lunk is a bit more intense than the one for Rand, Rook, and Annie; the track as Lancer and Marlene find themselves trapped raises the intensity still more.

Advantage: Robotech.

Ray, Houquet, and Mint struggle through the snowstorm.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE - ROBOTECH:

The first half is the weakest part of both versions, but Robotech's added dialogue for both the human and Invid characters lends a bit more sense of direction to the early going, making it more engaging.

I prefer the final Yellow/Aisha scene in Mospeada to the Lancer/Marlene conversation in Robotech... but except for that, I think the second half is about equal in both versions. Given the improvements to the first part of the episode, this ends up being the first time in a while that I've preferred Robotech over the original version.


OTHER MUSINGS:

I struggled with the first half of Mospeada here, finding it difficult to connect with the characters' situation. Weaker-than-usual musical choices further harm the opening Act, but there's also a lack of energy and focus. Robotech improves on that, presenting a more clearly structured and more immediately engaging opening.

The episode gets better as it goes. I enjoyed watching each group of characters deal with the enemies chasing them in their own ways. I'm also glad to get some follow-up to the previous episode, with Sorji continuing to struggle with her emotional reaction to Yellow.

By far the most interesting part is Aisha's encounter with Sorji. Mospeada visualizes her reaction rather than spelling it out with voice over, so there's some question as to whether she remembers her past or just has more of a sense of her true identity. Either way, it should lead to something interesting... and with only seven episodes to go, I'm guessing further follow-up won't be too long in coming.


Overall Rating - Mospeada: 6/10. A strong second half partially redeems a weak first half.

Overall Rating - Robotech: 7/10. Improvements to the first half make it more immediately engaging.

Previous Episode: Trap Reggae/Metamorphosis
Next Episode: Old Soldiers' Polka/Ghost Town

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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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