This episode represents everything I love and hate about Macross Frontier.
Things I love:
Overdramatics
The back and forth between these three rivals any daytime soap opera. Ranka getting Minmay-slapped back into shape by (a dying, least we forget that detail) Sheryl was just icing on the cake. I fully expect one of the girls to announce a pregnancy in the upcoming episodes.
Music
Just with the addition of the background music and Grace’s lyrics Aimo turned from a beautiful, soothing song into a very menacing one. I want them to do the same thing with Nyan Nyan or the carrot song. Sheryl’s song was great too, Diamond Crevasse is one of her best.
Sheryl Nome
Somebody make this woman an honorary Gurren member.
Cathy and Ozma
If these two teamed up with Chiko from Daugher of 20 Faces they’d be unstoppable but even without her they’re turning into an impressive spy/cop duo. The only thing they need to go pro is a theme song (I’m thinking Mission Impossible meets Lupin III) and some fake mustaches.
Things I love to hate
Camp
There was a surprising lack of camp this episode but that’s okay because the new OP more than makes up for it. There’s so much flashing neon I really think they should have a warning for epileptics beforehand.
They just did… what? moments
There were two major “they just did… what?” moments this episode, both involving Klan and Michael. The first was naked micro Klan confessing her love and the second was naked Klan being trapped in the macronization tank as Michael died. Both were totally ridiculous and cheesy even for Macross standards.
Things I hate
Killing off good characters
I knew he was going to die but it was still annoying. Michael had a lot of potential for character development, I hate how all that was thrown away just to raise the stakes for the rest of the cast. If Alto wasn’t already a ball of adolescent anger he sure is going to be now.
Lack of Space Battles
It seems that they’ve replaced dynamic VF combat with handheld guns and random “pew pew” lasers from off screen. Where are my space battles? Remember how great that Vajra fight in episode one was? I wish we could return to that.
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The cheese was delicious and emotional.
“Where are my space battles?”
That’s the same thing I’m thinking about Code Geass.
~SIGH~ that’s the LAST STRAW!
Evey episode all I hear is Ranka whining, whimpering and dear GOD why oh WHY doesn’t she toughen up a bit!? I mean look, the Frontier is constantly under attack, people are “dieing” everywhere and the survivors are facing “their” issues, why cant she? Anyway I Just LOVED the stupid look on her face when she said ‘no way!’ priceless. always jump to conclusions and cause indirect chaos! the whole “concept” of “love” goes WAY over that little girl’s head, I’m sure a lot of people will try to justify that the damage was not Rank’s fault BUT LOOK! even when her best friend and supporter was injured and was left with Sheryl all she did was ’space out’ as Alto pointed out NOT because of the death and carnage around OR that fact that her close friend may be dead but because her crush (for I can not believe her misguided feelings after the whole hold hand and think of her “brother” scene as anything near actual LOVE) may hug someone, sure its Sheryl that’s understandable at least confront them to be sure what their relationship really is, not run away squealing like a pig that got thrown onto a electric fence.
Sheryl’s emotional maturity was really obvious in this ep, wasn’t it? iirc there’s only one year age gap between them but Ranka really has to do a lot of development character-wise to make fans warm to her now. That slap was thoroughly deserved…if only it had worked.
The stars of this ep have to be Klan and Mikhail though. Yeah, the scene was a bit cheesy but it reminded me a bit of Roy’s death in Do You Remember Love? and really made me wish Mikhail had made it out alive. I guess we should expect an angstier Klan after this, then.
That and a remote-controlled plane of Brera’s that make Guld’s brain interface in Macross Plus look primitive.
omisyth: Yeah, watching Code Geass for the mecha fights is also a recipe for disappointment.
FantomOmega: So I take it you won’t be voting for Ranka in the next Miss Macross contest?
concretebadger: Agreed, Sheryl is much more mature than Ranka right now. I strongly suspect this is because her character development is intricately linked to the series climax.
I was also reminded of Roy’s death in DYRL. Except now I’m imagining what it would’ve been like if Claudia had been there, perhaps trapped in a shower stall at the time. Can’t believe they didn’t think of it.
But uh if it isn’t obvious, I’m making fun of Michael’s death not because I don’t like the cheesiness but because I love it. I wouldn’t be a Macross fan if I didn’t.