Codename: Robotech.

Zentraedi warships close in on the SDF-1 as the film opens.

Original Air Date: Mar. 1, 1985. Running Time: 74 minutes. Written by: Carl Macek. Directed by: Robert V. Barron.


THE PLOT:

As the converted alien battle fortress SDF-1 rests in the ocean, having returned to Earth after two years away, Capt. Gloval prepares a report on the events that led to this moment. He recounts how the alien ship crash landed on Earth. The discovery of the existence of aliens possessing vastly superior technology led to a focused worldwide effort to reconstruct the battle fortress for human use.

The Zentraedi reached Earth just as the SDF-1 finally became operational. Thanks to the Veritech fighters created from the alien "Robotech," the humans were able to hold the aliens off long enough for the battle fortress to take off. However, a desperate space fold resulted in not only the ship, but also the entirety of Macross City, being transported into deep space.

Gloval recounts how the ship began its return voyage. It would be a long journey - with the Zentraedi chasing them every step of the way!

Rick, Ben, and Lisa are taken prisoner by the Zentraedi!

CHARACTERS:

Codename: Robotech is a heavily abridged version of the first thirteen episodes of the series. As such, the characters are reduced to their most obvious traits. Capt. Gloval and Lt. Commander Lisa Hayes come across most strongly, not least because Gloval is the one preparing the report and a number of scenes are ones showing them on duty on the bridge of the SDF-1. Even with them, we see Lisa as a stern military commander, but we don't see her emotional side at all.

Rick, who is the hero of the series, almost comes across as a supporting character. Since most of the plot-establishing scenes in the early episodes were focused on either the bridge crew or the Zentraedi, many of his scenes are heavily condensed or removed entirely. He comes to the fore in the second half, and we get glimpses of his infatuation with Minmei and his early sniping with Lisa, but there's little indication of him being a character of any depth.

In short, the film fulfills its function of introducing the major characters, but they are only shown in the broadest of strokes.

The heroes engage in a fistfight with
the giant Zentraedi commander, Breetai.

INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

Codename: Robotech makes a couple of misjudgments with regard to music, the biggest of these being the repetition of the same couple of tracks. I hope you like the main theme and the show's primary "battle score," because you are going to hear them a lot.

As I've noted in my episodic reviews, I don't think the Robotech theme works very well as incidental music. It's a superb '80s television theme, setting a tone that suits both this adaptation of Super Dimension Fortress Macross and the American audience that was Robotech's target. However, it's extremely bombastic, drawing attention to itself rather than supporting dramatic scenes. Magnify that issue exponentially here, where the theme is recycled seemingly once per Act, to a point that's somewhere between annoying and comical.


BACKGROUND:

Codename: Robotech was broadcast on March 1, 1985, the Friday before the first episode, Boobytrap, aired. The goal was to introduce the ongoing story and its complex mythology to an American after-school audience that would be made of kids not used to following complex ongoing narratives. The hope was to create a picture of the larger story to prepare them for watching it in single installments.

I think it's better viewed after the series. The first set of episodes are quite well-scripted overall and make a much better introduction to the narrative than this movie does. Still, on its own terms, Codename: Robotech is a decent abridgement of the "Macross Saga's" first Act.

Once it gets past a badly misjudged opening, at least...

Khyron disobeys orders while sneering.
So at least the film captures all of his nuances...

A MISJUDGED OPENING:

The goal may have been to clarify the series, but the 10-minute, context-free opening action sequence seems ready-made to confuse the heck out of series newcomers. Who are these people? Why are they so confident that the attacking aliens won't destroy the ship? What's this "pinpoint barrier" that they keep screaming about? Since nothing has been introduced, none of this means anything - It's just activity.

Not helping is some truly awful editing continuity. The sequence was pieced together from bits of multiple action scenes, and it shows. The SDF-1 transforms into robot mode to fight the Zentraedi. Then it's a ship again for a couple shots. Then it's a robot. Then it's a ship again. Macross offered plenty of action scenes with the ship in both modes, so it should have been possible to put this together with more consistency.

Once that sequence is done and the SDF-1 lands on Earth, things settle down, and then the film actually becomes enjoyable.

Rick battles the Zentraedi as the Miss Macross contest airs.

OTHER MUSINGS:

At its core, Codename: Robotech is basically a feature-length version of the clipshow, Gloval's Report, with the captain detailing the ship's long journey for his superiors. I wasn't a fan of that episode. Within the context of the ongoing series, I was basically watching a rerun of episodes I had just viewed, with the minimal new material adding almost nothing.

As a standalone film, the frame works much better. Thanks to having a couple of years' separation from my viewing of Macross, the action has sufficiently faded in my mind that I can enjoy re-watching the story in this form. Also, the feature-length running time provides breathing room for the flashback narrative. A number of small character interactions that Gloval's Report lacked time to include have been put back into Codename: Robotech, giving viewers a chance to form some level of attachment to the main characters.

Wisely, the editors have focused on just a few incidents from the first 13 episodes. Included are: the opening three-parter; the modular transformation and Lisa's Daedalus Attack, which are edited to be part of a single fight rather than two separate ones; the Miss Macross contest and Rick Hunter's encounter with the three Zentraedi spies; and the three-parter in which Rick, Lisa, and Ben are captured, with Max going to their rescue.

The biggest chunk of running time goes to the initial episodes. The heroes' capture and escape forms the movie's climax, and thus also gets a fair amount of screentime. Other incidents are represented by a couple of scenes each, and between Gloval's narration and (mostly) good editing choices, each bit that's included develops the characters or introduces a piece of information about the overall conflict. Given the restrictions of the running time, it's reasonably well done.

Inevitably, there are a few seams. There are minor continuity issues, such as Gloval reassuring Lisa that the ship's engines will work because they were build on Earth - a reassurance that feels odd, since a previous scene in which the SDF-1's original alien-built engines pulled free of the ship was removed. Khyron and Azonia receive a fair amount of focus in the in media res opener; Khyron is then barely featured in the rest of the movie, and Azonia is never seen again. Most glaringly, the scene in which Rick, Lisa, and Ben are brought before Lord Dolza has been cut for time, with Gloval narrating what happened and the regulars commenting on it.

Most of this could have been reduced or eliminated had the film simply opened with the ship on Earth and Gloval preparing his report. That would have allowed another ten minutes to include at least some of these scenes, notably the one with Dolza.

Capt. Gloval takes in the sunrise for the first time in two years.

OVERALL:

It's a shame about that misjudged opening, because Codename: Robotech is otherwise a decent presentation of Robotech's first 13 episodes. There's enough retained to introduce, or at least tease, many of the series' major themes and character dynamics, from the way Earth's popular culture confuses the Zentraedi to the character interactions among Rick, Lisa, and Minmei.

It's limited by being an abridgement - but it's pretty good for what it is, and it's much better than I expected it to be.


Overall Rating: 6/10.

Next Movie: Robotech - The Movie

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1-36. Farewell to Tenderness/To the Stars.

Hikaru is torn between the life he once
wanted and the one he's come to know.

Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Farewell to Tenderness

Original Air Date: June 26, 1983.
Written by: Shôji Kawamori. Directed by: Noboru Ishiguro, Ryô Yasumura.

Robotech: To the Stars

Original Air Date: Apr. 22, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.


PLOT - MACROSS:

Minmay, now living with Hikaru, presses him to resign from the military. Misa is also considering resigning, unable to bear the thought of seeing Hikaru every day while he forges a life with Minmay. Then Admiral Global offers Misa a new assignment: To take command of a new battle fortress that's currently under construction. Her remit will be to spread human culture among the stars, so that civilization will survive even if another attack comes.

Meanwhile, Kamujin has completed repairs to his ship. He takes off with a very specific target in mind: The Macross!


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

Minmei, now living with Rick, presses him to resign from the military, but he clearly doesn't want to; as Roy once told him, "this Robotech stuff gets in your blood." He finds himself reflecting on Lisa, musing that she would understand...

Lisa is also considering resigning, unable to bear the thought of seeing Rick every day and feeling that she is in no condition for duty in her current state. Then Admiral Gloval offers her a new assignment: To take command of a new battle fortress that's already been constructed. Her remit will be to find the Robotech Masters and destroy their capacity to make war, in order to preserve the future of humanity - and she leaves tomorrow!

Meanwhile, Khyron has completed repairs to his ship. He takes off, planning to head to deep space and rejoin the Robotech Masters. Before he leaves, however, he plans to take his revenge by destroying a very specific target: The SDF-1!

The three leads air their viewpoints in the midst of battle.
But in Robotech, Minmay doesn't seem to have a point.

CHARACTERS:

To the Stars continues the trend of Robotech's epilogue arc: It engages in yet more character assassination of Minmay. Macross's Minmay is going through a personal crisis, but she also is generally maturing. By the end of the series, she is ready to find her "real songs" on her own, without her family, Kaifun, or even Hikaru shielding or controlling her. In Robotech... Minmei is a petulant child pretty much the whole way through.

It is understandable that the writers wanted to push the audience toward the Rick/Lisa relationship. But I suspect most Macross viewers already preferred the Hikaru/Misa pairing (I certainly did). Misa comes across as better for Hikaru not because Minmay is a spoiled child, but because life has taken him in a direction where Minmay is no longer a good fit for him as a partner. And, yes, there certainly are Macross viewers who prefer Minmay; but allowing for discussion, debate, and differing audience opinions is not a bad thing. Regressing one of the main characters to the point that she's actually less mature in the series' final episodes than she was in the early ones? That is a bad thing.

Advantage: Macross.


NARRATION:

The Macross episode plays out without narration, while the Robotech episode leans heavily on that crutch. In Robotech's defense, story changes to accommodate the next two series make some of this necessary. But there are also several points at which the narrator literally tells us what is happening on screen, with the usual internal voice overs added for good measure. In the final episode of "The Macross Saga," Robotech continues with its most annoying trend: being terrified of any moment of silence.

Advantage: Macross.

Kamujin attacks for the sake of attacking.
Robotech's Khyron actually has a goal.

CUTS AND ALTERATIONS:

Hikaru and Minmay vs. Rick and Minmei: In Macross, Minmay is disappointed that Hikaru hasn't made up his mind yet about leaving the military. She talks about how much she wishes they could go back to how things were when they first met, before she was a singer and he was a soldier. This reinforces one of the episode's major themes, of the futility of wishing for a past that's already gone. Robotech simplifies the scene by having her push him to quit, then asking him to marry her and pressing for an immediate answer. It more or less accomplishes the same narrative task, but there's no thematic resonance - and this interaction makes Robotech's Minmei come off far worse than Macross's version.

Khyron Wants to Join the Robotech Masters: It's been several episodes since the Robotech Masters were last mentioned, and the show is literally one episode from starting the "Masters Saga." Thus, while Macross's Kamujin just wants to attack the Macross to lash out destructively, Robotech's Khyron has a larger goal - destroy the SDF-1, then take the ship to space to rejoin the Masters. Thus reminding viewers that the Masters exist and are still coming.

The Admiral's Plan: In Macross, Admiral Global wants humanity to spread out to the stars in part as a survival plan: Should the Zentradi or another alien menace appear, humanity simply could not survive another blow if it's all gathered on one world, so he wants to seed the galaxy to make sure that doesn't happen. In Robotech, his plan is more militaristic. He wants to track "the Robotech forces" back to their home world and destroy "their capacity for making war." This seems rather aggressive and likely to bring down the very attack he fears. It's also overambitious, given that humanity would certainly be both heavily outnumbered and technologically outmatched.

Misa/Lisa's New Assignment: Global wants Misa to command a ship that's under construction. Robotech's Gloval is putting Lisa in charge of a ship that's already been completed, with orders to "leave tomorrow." That change is as senseless as it is unintentionally hilarious. Given the scale of the mission, she needs months of prep time to: (a) make both short-term and long-term mission plans; (b) select crew members and assign them to their best roles; (c) familiarize herself with the specs of the new ship and take it for a couple test flights; (d) make sure all logistics regarding supplies are taken care of, with suitable backups in case of emergencies... and probably about a hundred other things that I don't even know to think of. Misa has time for all that, since her ship is still being built. Lisa leaves tomorrow on a long-term, complex mission on a ship she didn't even previously know existed. Frankly, Lisa should refuse on the spot; "Sir, if you want to kill me, wouldn't it be a lot more efficient to just shoot me here and dump my body in the water?"

Misa Describes Her Assignment to Hikaru: A small but critical difference occurs in the scene in which Misa tells Hikaru about her assignment. In Robotech, Lisa just talks about the strategic value of finding the Robotech Masters. In Macross, Misa discusses Global's deep space settlement plan and notes that the mission is to spread culture, "not to kill" - which strikes a chord with Hikaru, who has struggled with his affinity for military life vs. his distaste for killing. The Macross line is so effective, both on a character and thematic level, that this change really harms the American version.

Arguing in the Midst of Battle: Also changed is the scene in which Hikaru and Misa talk with Minmay. In the original, when Minmay tries to stop Hikaru from joining the battle, Misa stops her by asking who she sings for, and then adding that she and Hikaru fight for the same reason that Minmay sings. After Minmay protests again, Hikaru announces that he is a soldier and has to "protect you... and the city." Robotech completely changes this. Now Minmei now spouts off about "war, devastation, and battle after battle," all to set up Rick and Lisa lecturing her like a small child. In the process, an extremely good scene is transformed into a rather bad one.

The SDF-2: In Macross, there is only the one battle fortress, with Misa's ship something that's only starting construction. In Robotech, the SDF-2 is already finished, which is folded into the climax. While Kamujin only has one ship to attack, Khyron's first assault is on the SDF-2, which he destroys before the SDF-1 is able to fight back. I actually think this is a good change. Given how devastating the first attack appears to be, it seems odd that the Macross doesn't seem to be particularly damaged by it, something that's addressed by Robotech's new context. However, the effectiveness of this change has one big limitation: the actual artwork and animation, which only ever shows a single battle fortress.

Lisa Survives Because of an Ejection Module: In Macross, Misa survives the battle, with the fates of the rest of the bridge crew left unresolved (sequels would later clarify that everyone survived). Robotech is actually bleaker here. Admiral Gloval pushes Lisa into an ejection module, allowing her to survive... while a bunch of other characters we've followed over the past 36 episodes died.

The Final Conversation with Minmay: In Macross, Minmay declares that she will start over and create new songs that will be more meaningful than her old ones. She then asks Misa for permission to join her when her ship takes off on its mission to bring human culture to the stars. In Robotech, Minmei puts on a brave face when Rick chooses Lisa and promises to have new songs ready when they return to Earth - which means that unlike her Japanese counterpart, Robotech's Minmei does not intend to join them in their voyage.

Advantage: Macross


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

Though the Robotech score is well applied in the final battle scene, overall I thought Macross made more effective use of its music. This is particularly true of the emotional confrontation among Hikaru, Misa, and Minmay. Macross's score underlines this as a character-focused scene, drawing the viewer's attention to the mindsets of the three principals. Above all, it is an emotional moment, as all three get to say their piece eloquently.

Robotech scores the same scene with its signature "tense music." This shifts viewer attention away from the emotion of the conversation (which has been dumbed down anyway). The music basically tells us that what matters is the battle, so Minmei delaying Rick and Lisa is an annoyance. Instead of drawing us into the characters in this moment, the score instead has us mentally telling them to hurry up and get to the fighting.

To say that I found the Robotech version of the scene to be less memorable would be an understatement. Yes, a lot of that has to do with the writing - but the way the music is applied also takes away from the moment.

Advantage: Macross.

The Super Dimension Fortress Macross makes its final stand.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE: MACROSS:

As with many elements across the two series, the most significant thing about the changes is the way they shift the focus. The Macross episode is heavily centered around the characters of Hikaru, Misa, and Minmay. The Robotech episode focuses far more on Plot... and to give credit where it's due, many of the actual plot changes are for the better.

I genuinely prefer Khyron's subplot in Robotech, because Khyron actually has a goal while Kamujin is just lashing out for the sake of it. I also think the destruction of the SDF-2 during Khyron's first pass makes clear how devastating the attack is. In both of these instances, the Robotech changes strengthen the plot.

Unfortunately, everything else is much weaker. Farewell to Tenderness has a strong sense of thematic unity, with a script that is very much about bringing the series full circle. Minmay wants to return to the way things were when she first met Hikaru at the series' start, but Hikaru just isn't the same person (really, neither of them are). Misa pitches the space mission to Hikaru as having a goal to spread culture and not kill, which speaks to his series-long dilemma of wanting to protect while at the same time hating violence. The episode's final Act sees the Macross crew back on the original bridge - during an attack that bears more than a passing resemblance to the one in the opening episodes. There's a strong sense throughout of the series' finale echoing its premiere, with the echoes showing the ways the characters have changed in the intervening years.

Much of this is lost in Robotech. Minmei no longer talks about wanting things to be the way they used to be. Lisa doesn't say anything about the mission being one of peace... not least because the writers have changed the mission from a peaceful one to a hyper-aggressive pre-emptive strike. Hikaru resolves his dilemma when he announces that he's a soldier and has to protect Minmay and the city. Rick has already made his decision before the episode even opens, with him musing about preferring Lisa to Minmei in his very first scene. Some of the themes are still present for those who want to search for them - but they are considerably weaker and pushed to the background, and they don't resonate the same way as a result.

Snowfall or ash? Hikaru and Misa stand in the wake of the battle.

OTHER MUSINGS:

In the first episode of Super Dimension Fortress Macross, Hikaru scorned Roy's pride in being "a killer." Throughout the series, he has wrestled with a distaste for violence. Here, he finds an answer - in Misa's promise of a mission whose goal is peaceful, and in his own realization that he finds meaning in protecting those he cares about. Like the series itself, it's rich in both theme and character... though like much of the epilogue arc, the actual episodic story feels a bit thin.

Robotech has largely been a series more focused on plot mechanics than on the characters. This shows in its adaptation of the finale, which loses much of thematic strength and flattens out the layered characterizations... but at the same time, also makes the standalone plot a bit stronger by giving Khyron an actual long-term goal. While the wholesale creation of an SDF-2 is a bit strained, its destruction means that Khyron's assault does tangible damage, and Rick's and Lisa's determination to rebuild manages to be a pretty good thematic fit with the entire epilogue arc.

In short, each finale ends up being appropriate to its series. Each version's strengths reflect the strengths and priorities of the series as a whole - Macross with character and thematic depth, Robotech with plot. Since themes and characters tend to stick with me long after plot mechanics have been forgotten, I prefer Macross - but it's still interesting to see how differently the same story plays out with just a handful of shifts in focus. 


Overall Rating - Macross: 8/10.

Overall Rating - Robotech: 7/10.

Macross/Macross Saga Overview

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1-31. Satan's Dolls/Khyron's Revenge.

Kaifun whips up a mob to chase Hikaru out of town.
To no one's surprise, this backfires spectacularly.

Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Satan's Dolls

Original Air Date - Macross: May 21, 1983.
Written by: Sukehiro Tomita. Directed by: Katsuhito Akiyama, Noboru Ishiguro.

Robotech: Khyron's Revenge

Original Air Date - Robotech: Apr. 15, 1985.
Story Editor: Steve Kramer. Supervising Director: Robert V. Barron.


PLOT - MACROSS:

Renegade Zentradi Kamujin attempts to keep his word to the other rebels to restore them to full size, ordering the theft of the miclone device in Trad City. Hikaru is able to stop the theft from this community, which is more than fifty percent Zentradi. But when he suggests placing the device in military custody to prevent further attacks, Minmay's cousin Kaifun whips up the crowd into a frenzy until Hikaru just leaves without the machine.

This means there's nothing to stop Kamujin from a second attack. This time, he leads it himself and takes time to target the communication towers so that the city can't call for reinforcements again. Thanks, Kaifun - I'm sure the residents will feel great about their freedom from the military while they're cleaning up rubble and burying the dead!

Meanwhile, Exsedol and Admiral Global share the results of their research into the Zentradi's origins...


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

Renegade Zentraedi Khyron attempts to keep his word to the other rebels to restore them to full size, ordering the theft of the protoculture device in New Detroit, a city whose population is more than half Zentraedi. After stopping the theft, Rick Hunter plans to assign a full-time military guard to prevent more trouble. The town's mayor is about to agree... until Kyle shows up and practically starts a riot to force the soldiers to leave the city.

This means there's nothing to stop Khyron from a second attack. This time, he leads it himself and takes time to target the communication towers so that the city can't call for reinforcements again. Thanks, Kyle - I'm sure the residents will feel great about their freedom from the military while they're cleaning up rubble and burying the dead!

Meanwhile, with their protoculture reserves dangerously low, the Robotech Masters prepare for their journey. It will take decades for them to reach Earth - but when they do, they will be ready to lay claim to the protoculture factory!

Minmay disapproves of Kaifun's actions,
but she does not act to stop him.

CHARACTERS:

Minmay observes the confrontation between Hikaru and Kaifun from inside a car. She actually agrees with Hikaru, which is later affirmed by her certainty that the city is going to be attacked (Minmei's agreement with Rick is made even clearer in Robotech). Still, she does not intervene - something she berates herself for at the end.

Exsedol is distraught by discoveries about the Zentradi's origins. Few viewers will be surprised by his findings, which trade in pretty stock sci-fi concepts. Still, it's a shock for Exsedol, and the title of the Macross episode comes from his reaction to this discovery.

Advantage: None.


NARRATION:

Neither episode's narration is intrusive. That said, typical of the series, Robotech lays voice over atop several scenes that don't need it.

Advantage: Macross.

Lap Lamiz manipulates Kamujin into taking action.
Robotech's Azonia just stands there admiring him.

CUTS AND ALTERATIONS:

The Robotech Masters: Yet another cutaway to the Masters, as Carl Macek's Americanized show uses the epilogue arc to create a prologue for the next generation's conflict. It works better here than in the previous two episodes. The scene follows directly on from their failed experiment in Viva Miriya, which helps it to feel like part of the overall story. It also helps that the cuts that make room for this scene are better chosen than in the previous episodes.

Vanessa, Kim, and Shammy Gossip: The big cut that makes room for the Masters' appearance? A moment of these three gossiping about Minmay's love life, which is abruptly cut off by a glare from Misa. This scene contributes nothing to characterization, theme, or story; it isn't particularly amusing; and I didn't miss it at all in the Robotech version.

The Reason for the Near-Riot: Hikaru plans to take the machine away from the city. Yes, he promises that it will be available for the city's Zentradi to use on request; but when you have to travel an unspecified but likely significant distance for a service, that effectively denies that service to a lot of people. In Robotech, Rick merely proposes putting a guard on the machine - the one that had just been targeted. In Macross, it makes sense that there would be resistance to Hikaru's proposal, so it makes sense that the crowd would go along with Kaifun. In Robotech, that makes a lot less sense. The machine is staying here, fully accessible to the public, just with some added security - which doesn't seem like something that people who just weathered an attack would object to. As presented in Robotech, I'd expect most of the crowd to tell Kyle to shut up and go away.

Hikaru and Minmay Share an Acid Trip: Well, that's what it looks like, anyway. At the tail end of Kaifun's protest, Hikaru and Minmay lock eyes, and we get a psychedelic dream/vision of them embracing against, um, swirls. This was removed from Robotech - and I wholeheartedly endorse its removal.

Lap Lamiz Manipulates Kamujin; Azonia Is Smitten with Khyron: After learning of the failed theft, Kamujin initially assigns the next attempt to his deputy. Lap Lamiz touches his shoulder and softly coos that he's the only Zentradi who hasn't become soft, which prompts him to take command himself. Robotech simplifies this, with Khyron already intending to oversee the operation personally while Azonia beams in approval.

Advantage: Macross. Though the actual cuts are well chosen, other interactions are simplified to bad effect.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

I'm giving Macross the nod mainly because of the ending. It's narratively identical in both versions: Hikaru/Rick arrives at the battle-scarred city just in time to watch Kaifun and Minmay drive away, while Exsedol's musings about his people are layered over it. Macross's presentation is much stronger, however, thanks to the use of one of Mari Iijima's songs, which makes an effective counterpoint to the scene. The Robotech version just doesn't carry the same weight.

Advantage: Macross.

Exsedol is shaken by a discovery about his people's origins.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE: MACROSS:

Robotech does a pretty good job this time integrating Southern Cross footage, certainly compared to the previous two installments. This marks the first time that the "Masters Prologue Arc" hasn't harmed the main episode. This is helped by the one major cut (the gossip scene) having been a pretty poor scene in the original, meaning that it was not missed in Robotech.

What does harm the episode are changes to two interactions. In Macross, there are legitimate reasons for the townspeople to resist Hikaru; Robotech, by changing this so that Rick is blameless, makes the townspeople seem irrational to even listen to Kyle. Another change to the interactions of Kamujin and Lap Lamiz strip away intriguing character dynamics, flattening what had been interesting moments into mere "villain scenes."

All of which leaves the Macross version clearly the superior one. As usual.


OTHER MUSINGS:

Despite the dramatic title, this episode is mostly setup. Kamujin's plans are advanced by his successful operation, but the "revenge" promised by the Robotech title never really materializes. The other major strand cements the Zentradi's origins, and in Macross is used to give backstory to the war between them and the Supervision Army. Ramifications from this, however, are left to future episodes (or possibly the Macross sequels, as there is very little of this show left).

Overall, this forms a necessary step in the show's epilogue arc, and it's a perfectly fine episode as far as it goes... but it's not one of the series' highlights.


Overall Rating: 6/10.

Previous Episode: Viva Maria/Viva Miriya
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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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1-29. Lonely Song/The Robotech Masters.

Fossils of war. A Zentradi skeleton lies
with its treasure - a singing Minmay doll.

Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Lonely Song

Original Air Date - Macross: May 9, 1983.
Written by: Sukehiro Tomita. Directed by: Noboru Ishiguro, Ryô Yasumura.

Robotech: The Robotech Masters

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


PLOT - MACROSS:

Minmay feels restless. She's the biggest star on what's left of the Earth, but she is unhappy and confesses to Kaifun that she no longer knows why she sings. After an argument with him, she decides to spend the night with her aunt and uncle at their restaurant, but her trip brings her little peace.

The Zentradi are also growing restless. Bred for war, more and more of them find they cannot adjust to their new lives. A minor incident occurs when two Zentradi walk away from their factory jobs and start trouble downtown. Hikaru tries to defuse the situation - but with no way to offer the aliens what they demand, what chance is there for a lasting peace?


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

The Zentraedi are growing restless. Bred for war, many of them simply cannot adjust to their new lives. An incident occurs when two Zentraedi walk away from their factory jobs and start trouble downtown. Rick tries to defuse the situation - but with no way to offer the aliens what they demand, what chance is there for a lasting peace?

Meanwhile, after an argument with Kyle, Minmei decides to visit her aunt and uncle. She spends the night in her old room at their restaurant, but the trip brings her little peace.

And unbeknownst to all of them, the Robotech Masters have detected the effects of the battle against Lord Dolza. Recognizing the energy signature as belonging to Zor's battle fortress - the site of their lost protoculture factory - the Masters decide they must come to Earth...

Minmay is unhappy in her new life.

CHARACTERS:

It turns out that Hikaru is not completely clueless after all. When he runs into Misa, he lets her know that he added the photos she gave him to his album. He shares with Misa his worries about the growing Zentradi unrest. Hikaru very much wants to keep the peace, I think at least in part to prove Exsedol wrong in his conclusion that humans and Zentradi both enjoy fighting.

Minmay's visit to the restaurant seems to be an attempt to recapture the life she had on the Macross two years earlier. Like any attempt to relive an idealized version of days past, it is utterly doomed to failure. She witnesses Hikaru's standoff with the Zentradi, and she hears the lone Zentradi holdout calling after the others, invoking her as one of the reasons they came to Earth in the first place.

It's hard to say what she takes away from this. She returns to her life as a star, resolving that she will sing better than before. However, she also insists that she is now singing only for herself. This indicates that she's still trying to run away from who she's become, an effort every bit as doomed as hiding in the restaurant was.

Advantage: None.


NARRATION:

The Macross episode is bookended by a haunting visual, In the middle of the desert sits the skeleton of a Zentradi warrior, leaning back against his ship, holding in his hand the thing that convinced him to pursue a different life: a singing Minmay doll. Macross lets this play out with nothing but the sound of the wind, until the doll is dropped and begins to sing.

Naturally, Robotech has to stick narration over all of this, which greatly diminishes the impact.

Advantage: Macross.

The Robotech Masters decide to come to Earth. If this seems
like it's from a different show... Well, that's because it is.

CUTS AND ALTERATIONS:

The Robotech Masters: Robotech's critics have often dubbed it "the Frankenstein series." It mostly hasn't lived down to that pejorative, at least not within "The Macross Saga." However, this episode - for the first time (not counting opening titles) - actually does a bit of Frankenstein-ing, splicing in footage from Super Dimenison Cavalry Southern Cross to create a new scene, one that attempts to prepare viewers for the upcoming transition to "The Masters Saga."

I am sympathetic to the showrunners' dilemma. As of this episode, Robotech was a week and a half away from a massive shift in story, cast, and tone, and creating a connection between the old story and the new would help to keep viewers from switching off. But the scene is dull, the Masters droning on for a couple minutes to give a plot recap and bicker about Zor's fortress and protoculture. Also, the visual style is noticeably different from the surrounding episode. It looks like what it is: Footage dropped in from an entirely different series!

Lots of Little Cuts: Since the Robotech episode opens with the above scene, a lot of small cuts are made to the rest of the episode. Long scenes between Minmay and Kaifun, in particular, are cut to the bone, leaving this entire strand underdeveloped for Robotech's Minmei and Kyle. No individual cut is that substantial on its own... but when you line them all up, they throw the episode's tone and pacing badly off balance.

Hikaru Is Much More Sympathetic to the Zentradi than Rick: Hikaru seems determined to protect the Zentradi. He admits that he can't grant their request to return to the main fleet, but he seems genuine in wanting to hear them out. Robotech's Rick is much colder. At one point, he even berates the Zentraedi for how they're repaying humanity's generosity in taking them in. Yes, Rick, very generous of you; that lopsided battle with Lord Dolza's fleet definitely left you plenty of room to be picky about your allies, didn't it? After that crack, I'm sympathetic to the angry aliens!

Advantage: Macross.


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

Both episodes use their scores to good effect. Even the Robotech Minmei song that closes the episode works reasonably well, its downbeat tone a good match for the context.

Advantage: None.

Hikaru negotiates with two angry Zentradi. It doesn't go well.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE: MACROSS:

One version opens on a haunting bit of visual poetry; the other opens on old men spouting Technobabble. I understand why Robotech used Southern Cross footage to stitch that scene together. I even understand why this episode was chosen, given that it's fairly light on story.

But understanding why these choices were made doesn't change that the Robotech version of this episode is harmed by that scene. The bookends of the Zentradi skeleton are disrupted, throwing off the structure of the episode. In addition, the cuts that make room for this new scene make a hash of the pacing.


OTHER MUSINGS:

I'm going to talk about the bookend just a little more, because the Macross version makes such good use of it. The image is simple yet meaningful: the decaying skeleton in the desert clutching a tiny doll - the symbol of the new and different life he wanted but never actually got... and the life that's failing to satisfy many of the Zentradi who survived to experience it. The episode moves from there to Minmay, botching a performance because, even though she's also survived to experience the life that she always wanted, she has become dissatisfied as well. Each image, character, and strand reflects the others, thematically unifying the episode from the start.

Where there's discontent, there is also going to be someone looking to benefit from it. That's where Kamujin (Khyron) comes in. With the Zentradi castaways at their most vulnerable, he offers the safety of familiarity, of belonging, and of the conflict that they've been conditioned to crave. He even promises to restore any miniaturized Zentradi to their full, giant size.

The war is over, and our heroes won. But two years later, with humanity's survival still in a fragile state, they seem to already be losing the peace...

All of this is effectively conveyed by Macross. But while all of this remains present in the Robotech episode, the added (unrelated) layer of the Masters throws it off balance, making the Americanized version of this episode into a choppy mess.


Overall Rating - Macross: 7/10.

Overall Rating - Robotech: 4/10.

Previous Episode: My Album/Reconstruction Blues
Next Episode: Viva Maria/Viva Miriya

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1-28. My Album/Reconstruction Blues.

Macross City - a metropolis build around
the immobile shell of the Macross.

Super Dimension Fortress Macross: My Album

Original Air Date - Macross: May 1, 1983.
Written by: Hiroyuki Hoshiyama. Directed by: Noboru Ishiguro, Fumihiko Takayama.

Robotech: Reconstruction Blues

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


PLOT - MACROSS:

It has been two years since the decisive battle against Boldazaa's forces, and the surviving humans are struggling to rebuild. Macross City, which sprang up around the now-immobile shell of the Macross, is a thriving metropolis, but the only other communities are small towns struggling to establish a foothold.

Hikaru, now a captain, flies regular patrols searching for other survivors, even though he knows this is a futile effort. On this day, he makes a small deviation when he spots a field of flowers that has sprouted outside the reclamation zone. He makes another detour when he learns that Minmay is singing in Granite City, a tiny community not far from his patrol area.

He has picked a bad day to neglect his duties. Some of the Zentradi have been growing restless, not adjusting well to the change from warriors to people expected to build things. A few of them have stolen weapons and battlepods, and are about to go on a rampage...


PLOT - ROBOTECH:

It has been two years since the decisive battle against Lord Dolza's forces, and the surviving humans are struggling to rebuild. The city that has sprung up around the now-immobile shell of the SDF-1 is a thriving metropolis, but the only other communities are small towns struggling to establish a foothold.

Rick Hunter, now a commander, flies regular patrols searching for signs of trouble. On this day, he makes a small deviation when he spots a field of flowers that has sprouted outside the reclamation zone. He makes another detour when he learns that Minmei is singing in Granite City, a tiny community not far from his patrol area.

He has picked a bad day to neglect his duties. The Zentraedi were bred for war, and some of them have adjusted poorly to peace. In the city of New Portland, a few of the aliens have stolen weapons and battlepods, and are about to go on a rampage...

Minmay seems to have had just about enough of Kaifun.

CHARACTERS:

Hikaru backslides considerably from the previous episode. That episode portrayed him letting Minmay go and moving forward. This episode sees him sleeping under a Minmay poster, with an album of photos of her at his bedside. He even deviates from his mission to take in her latest concert, lingering to spy on her and Kaifun. It's not really out of character; but after the last couple of episodes, it is disappointing.

The two year interval has made Kaifun into even more of a jerk than he was already. At Minmay's concert, he blames the military for their current situation urging the city to refuse the supplies the military provides - which, if the city leaders agree, would almost certainly result in deaths when needed food or medicine just isn't there. Oh, and he's become a drunk who's borderline abusive to Minmay.

At least she seems to finally recognize his shortcomings. When he drunkenly complains about them being paid in a box of supplies (which the community can't really spare), she gives him a much-deserved chewing out for his behavior and threatens to leave him behind. Robotech takes it even further, with Minmei flatly (and accurately) telling Kyle that the military is the only reason why he's even alive. All of which makes this the second episode in a row in which I actually find myself liking her.

Advantage: None.


NARRATION:

As usual, Robotech has more narration than Macross. Most of it's reasonably restrained, though... until the end, when the Robotech narrator goes over-the-top while extolling the heroism of the main characters, particularly Rick - whose behavior in this episode falls pretty far short of heroic.

Advantage: Macross.

Misa discovers Hikaru's album, filled with photos of Minmay.
Robotech makes sure to tell us exactly how she feels about that.

CUTS AND ALTERATIONS:

Hikaru Stands Silently in a Field of Flowers; Rick Monologues: The episode opens with Hikaru, on patrol, coming across an unlikely sight: a field of flowers. He takes in the sight, recalling when as a young boy he chased after Roy's airplane on just such a field. Robotech, ever afraid of silence, puts an extended inner monologue over all of this. There are actually a few nice lines in there, notably Rick's observation about "a reminder of war... in a field of wildflowers" - but I prefer Macross's approach of letting us actually absorb the visuals for ourselves.

Lisa's Inner Monologue: Macross's Misa is first seen on her day off, tidying up Rick's home before stumbling across a photo album filled with pictures of Minmay. Robotech again fills the entire scene with Lisa's thoughts, which actually blunts the effectiveness of her reaction.

Roy: Hikaru imagines Roy berating him for moping, with Hikaru's vision of Roy bragging that he joined the military to attract women. Robotech transforms this into a flashback of when Rick joined the military, with Roy talking to him about duty and about how flying is no longer for fun. Both are appropriate to their respective series' characterization of Roy... though Robotech's version feels like something out of a John Wayne movie.

Conversation on the Bridge: In Macross, Kim asks Shammy why only Vanessa was promoted and not them, a question Shammy answers by rattling on about how much smarter and better looking she considers herself to be, with Kim giving a resigned sigh - perhaps realizing that, of the three of them, Vanessa has been the only one to actually focus on her job while on duty. In Robotech, the conversation is rewritten to be entirely about Lisa's relationship with Rick, because it's apparently unthinkable for the supporting characters to have concerns unrelated to the main cast.

The Conversation with the Admiral: When Hikaru talks to Global in Macross, it's clear they have both been worried about the Zentradi reverting to their warlike tendencies. Hikaru agrees with transferring the Zentradi under his command to inside duties. Which raises issues itself - discriminating against the aliens will hardly make them less likely to rebel - but, at least in the short term, might avoid catastrophe if there is a rebellion. In Robotech, Gloval's side of the conversation is similar, but Rick contributes nothing, simply stating that he will support the admiral's orders.

Advantage: Macross


INCIDENTAL MUSIC:

Macross uses its incidental music to strong effect. This is particularly true when Hikaru stands in the field of flowers, with an instrumental of Minmay's music both accentuating the emotion and subtly linking this moment with Hikaru's decision to divert to her concert.

I think Robotech actually misuses some of its music, specifically the heroic music that kicks in when Rick (finally) arrives at the site of the Zentraedi uprising. Lisa may be motivated by jealousy, but she's still 100% right to call his detour to Granite City a dereliction of duty. He doesn't deserve "big hero" music.

Advantage: Macross.

Hikaru discovers a field of flowers amidst the destruction.

OVERALL ADVANTAGE: MACROSS:

Macross continues to trust its audience to follow along and to absorb the visuals and emotional context, while Robotech continues to fill every silence by telling the viewers what they should think and feel. The excessive internal monologues in the Robotech version of this episode, combined with some inappropriate and intrusive use of background music, makes it the weaker version - though it still offers several good moments, including Minmei being more pointed in telling off Kyle than Macross's Minmay is with Kaifun.


OTHER MUSINGS:

It wouldn't be entirely accurate to label this a transitional episode. This is more a "new pilot," establishing the status quo for Macross's final arc: Humanity rebuilding, with trouble brewing among the Zentradi. There's even a callback to the series' start. Boobytrap established that a city had built up around the Macross while humanity studied and eventually rebuilt it. Now, humanity's first new metropolis has built up around the Macross again.

The bulk of this episode establishes the character relationships as they stand two years on. Just as some Zentradi cannot give up on war, Hikaru cannot make himself move on from Minmay despite his own resolution to do so. In Robotech, Lisa outright observes that Rick "doesn't seem like (he's) trying very hard" to move on from her. Meanwhile, Minmay is growing dissatisfied with her life with Kaifun (and we can probably guess what will happen next). While I won't pretend to be looking forward to eight more episodes of this triangle, all of this feels entirely convincing for these characters.

Even the action climax fits more into "establishing a new normal" than anything. For all its sound and fury, this is really the sci-fi/action equivalent of an angry man getting drunk and smashing windows to vent frustration. Its significance lies not in the incident, but in what it represents - a backlash against a new life that isn't living up to the Zentradi's expectations.

In a way, it's a parallel to what happened to the Zentradi fleet when the soldiers were exposed to human culture. Then, The Zentradi were hobbled by chaos, with their troops not wanting to destroy the source of the music and entertainment they'd fallen in love with. Now it's the humans' turn, with reconstruction hobbled as the Zentradi discover that life is going to be filled not by constant music and kissing beautiful women, but by hard work.

These are all smart and convincing developments. Winning a war is one thing; maintaining a peace, quite another. All of these new developments make sense, and this episode does a fine job of establishing the default situation for the show's final arc.


Overall Rating: 7/10.

Previous Episode: Love Drifts Away/Force of Arms
Next Episode: Lonely Song/The Robotech Masters

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