Macross Frontier - 22 September 4
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Summary:
As the new Frontier President, Leon receives a report from the Environmental Sustainability Agency saying that the Macross Frontier has only three more months in the current wartime regulations mode. It’ll be the end for them if they don’t find a solution in that timeframe. Leon thinks that that should be enough, and the problem for him right now is finding a replacement for Ranka. He sees opportunity in all this, and he decides to call up Richard Birla. Alto and Luca meanwhile are out testing out new MDE warheads and new VF-171EX Valkyries with the military. Luca wishes that these weapons had been completed earlier, and that prompts Alto to inquire how Nanase is doing. Luca reveals that she still hasn’t woken up, but he actually feels that it’s okay like this for the time being so that she doesn’t have to find out about Ranka betraying them. In response, Alto suggests that the solution is to bring Ranka back before Nanase wakes up. Sometime later, Kuran and Alto run into each other, and she opens up about her regret of not being more honest with Mikhail sooner. She doesn’t want Alto and Sheryl to become like them, so she tells Alto about Sheryl’s condition.
During all this time, Sheryl has started singing again under the care of Elmo, and the feeling of her songs has changed. The scientists working with Luca detect something in the Fold waveform of her music and report it to Leon, so Sheryl gets summoned to his office. Luca explains to her that she’s been a carrier of the V-type infection since she contracted the disease ten years ago, and it is treatable in its early stages with a serum made from Vajra. Past that time period though, the bacteria get into the victim’s brain and start to create a certain type of toxin, and nothing more can be done for the infected. However, in this case, Sheryl’s voice lets out a small Fold wave, much like Ranka’s voice did. It’s not stronger than Ranka’s, but Luca theorizes that the Fold Quartz in her earring amplifies things, and he thinks Sheryl can do what Ranka did. Leon concludes their meeting by asking Sheryl to sing for the sake of humanity. With this on her mind, Sheryl returns to the Saotome house to find Alto waiting for her, and she collapses at the door.
Cathy and Ozma meanwhile have returned to the Macross Quarter after being found by Bobby, and they tell everyone of the truth about Howard Glass’s death. Ozma’s return allows Canaria to finally give him the letter that Ranka left him, and from it, Ozma realizes that Ranka has now chosen her own path. Since most of the crew is gathered together, Captain Jeffrey Wilder uses the chance to tell them that he had heard from Richard Birla that the S.M.S would be disbanded and then reincorporated into the New United Nations Spacey. He feels that they also have to decide their own future now, and after some deliberation, Cathy sends out a confidential message to the other members of the crew. Alto is one of the people who receives the message, but before he can read it, he hears Sheryl waking up in her room. Sheryl knows that she had said she wouldn’t sing anymore, but she feels that Alto made her realize that that is all she has. She tries to act like her normal self, but Alto doesn’t want her to continue, and this causes her to figure out that he knows. Alto tells her that she doesn’t have to sing, however Sheryl refuses because she feels that that’s the only proof she’s alive. Sheryl starts crying at this point, so Alto hugs her, and when she admits to being scared and lonely, he declares that he’ll stay at her side if she sings. In Alto’s arms, Sheryl asks him to give her courage.
Sometime later, Leon gives a rousing speech about the need to destroy the Vajra, all while he sends his men to execute Grace. By this point, most of the Macross Quarter crew have come back to the ship because of Cathy’s message, and as they prepare to leave the Frontier, Jeffery declares that they are now pirates instead of soldiers and that this ship is their first catch. Kuran is one of those who stayed behind, but she salutes the ship as it launches past her. When they realize what’s happening, Leon and the Frontier military command send a squad of Valkyries in pursuit, and included in this group are Alto and Luca. To counter them, Ozma launches in his Valkyrie, and he challenges his former allies to stop them. He almost takes out Luca with a volley of missiles, but Alto saves Luca and questions why Ozma is doing this. In response, Ozma notes that Alto is incapable of adapting to changing circumstances before explaining that this is the best way for him to protect the women important to him. Alto doesn’t think that this is something an adult should say, so Ozma declares that he’s not an adult - he’s a man. Ozma then questions back what Alto’s wings are for, and the two manage to damage each other’s Valkyries as they fly past each other. The Macross Frontier is now ready to do a Fold jump, so Ozma returns to the ship, but he before he departs, he tells Alto that both he and Ranka have chosen their own path. The question is where Alto is headed.
Meanwhile, far, far away, Ranka and Brera reach Ai-kun’s homeworld. The collective inside Grace is aware of this, and Grace - after taking out everyone sent to kill her - suits up to board her own Valkyrie. She’s ready to go to the planet where the true queen of the Vajra lives, and she calls it their treasure island.
Preview
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Well geez, I think they recaptured a lot of the magic from the original first episode by having Sheryl singing Northern Cross to go along with the Valkyrie battle. That was an awesome scene, and it even gave me a new appreciation for the song. The frustrating thing is that Alto and Luca are on the wrong side of things (Leon’s side), and at least for that battle, Alto was his usual indecisive self. I can understand that he’s staying behind because of his promise to Sheryl (especially since it’s implied that they kissed again or even did something more than that), but I don’t know why he didn’t just tell that to Ozma. Heck, what Ozma said about doing the best thing to protect the women important to him applies to Alto as well. In any case, I hope Alto will take to heart all the stuff about choosing his own path and stick with Sheryl even after Ranka inevitably returns. I suspect at least part of the reason Kuran isn’t with the Macross Quarter was so that she could continue to serve as a sort of mentor to Alto about matters of life and love, and maybe she’ll point him in the right direction again.
As for Ranka and Brera, they’ve have arrived on a planet which looks like Earth except it has three moons and a white ring around it. We’re probably going to hear more about the Protoculture next week, and maybe everything concerning Grace and the Vajra will make more sense. Grace certainly seems pleased about all this at the end of this episode, and the Valkyrie she looks ready to pilot probably means that she’ll be involved in at least one space battle. I currently still don’t hate her nearly as much as I do Leon, probably because she’s so far been portrayed as more mysterious compared to Leon’s outright villainy. That’s likely to change since she’ll have to make her move soon now that there’s only three episodes left.
huh at 10:34 pm on September 4th, 2008
eww VF-171
Chimasternmay at 10:35 pm on September 4th, 2008
wow what a great episode to be when i watch this soon
Agatha at 10:35 pm on September 4th, 2008
Superb! Alto’s going to join the darkside. Sheryl will let him go. Fer sure! Love Sheryl’s new song. Fairy! Sheryl=Galactic Fairy ending, anyone?
honeyblu at 10:35 pm on September 4th, 2008
=) YAY SHERYL
JustinStrife at 10:37 pm on September 4th, 2008
Agatha: Sheryl will let Alto go to where? Not to Ranka.
Alto x Sheryl kiss was hawt.
nycs at 10:38 pm on September 4th, 2008
This episode could also be called: Legend of SEED Destiny (based on mostly personality and some based on circumstances as well) starring:
Ranka Lee as Lacus Clyne the idealist
Sheryl Nome as (I’m really tempted to say Meer Campbell but she is the original) angsty broken-down version of Lacus Clyne the pop singer
Alto Saotome as Shinn Asuka
Luca Angelloni (I find it hard to believe this guy is voiced by the same guy who voices Lelouch) as Rey Za Burrel
Nanase Matsuura as no one really as there is no Sleeping Beauty equivalent (I am not counting dead Meer; since Code Geass was mentioned, Nunnally)
Ozma Lee as GAR-er Mu La Flaga/Athrun Zala
Canaria Berstein as Talia Gladys
Klan Klan as Konata Izumi (I’m drawing blanks on her. She only cried next to Michael’s tomb, urged Alto and saluted the ship as it left) (after some thought) Murrue Ramius
Jeffrey Wilder as Andrew Waltfeld
Bobby Margot as everything Yzak Joule isn’t (in anime — not in fan fiction)
Monica Lange as Meyrin Hawke
Mina Roshan as Haruhi Suzumiya (I give up on this one. I think she only streched and yawned while complaining or commenting about something) (same voice actor)
Ram Hoa as Miriallia Haw
Cathy Glass as Cagalli Yula Athha
Leon Mishima as Gilbert Durandal
Brera Starne as Kira Yamato? (He only played the harmonica and drove the Valkyrie) (same voice actor)
Grace O’Connor as Sarah (Meer’s bodyguard) as a cover but is actually Rau Le Creuset complete with a chorus of Logos-type people in head (more accurate to say the entire SEELE from NGE in head)
Haesslich at 10:38 pm on September 4th, 2008
So, if Luca and Alto are with Leon now, does that make Alto the new Shinn?
Emo screaming pretty-boy pilot on the wrong side of the conflict, and likely to be ordered to shoot
LacusRanka the songstress?Also, that last bit with the breasts was… a bit much, but it’s nice to see Evil Kikuko Inoue voice and fanservice from our favorite cyborg. Now who the hell drew that Ranka art, and is it meant to be a compliment or not?
FF at 10:39 pm on September 4th, 2008
http://randomc.maximum7.net/image/Macross/Macross%20Frontier%20-%2022%20-%20Large%2022.jpg
Can someone explain this expression to me? Why does he look so afraid? He should be repulsed, or angry. Tell me this has nothing to do with the fact that SMS is going to where Ranka is. >(
zalem at 10:46 pm on September 4th, 2008
SherylxAlto scenes were nice, but this episode makes me think Sheryl will be dead by the end of the series. I hope that’s not the case and she gets cured somehow.
linkinstreet at 10:47 pm on September 4th, 2008
@omni: not surprising. See the OP and you’ll find that in one scene Sheryl was also groping her own breast. Sadly you won’t see Ranka do it
nycs at 10:48 pm on September 4th, 2008
@FF
This expression is obtained after Alto receives Ozma’s text message that states his plans of going AWOL because he does not agree with Mishima’s government after his staged coup that only Cathy and Ozma knows about. The entire SMS receives the message but it is only Alto and Luca who opposes them (Klan strangely stays behind).
Drakron at 10:53 pm on September 4th, 2008
Luca have been with Leon for a long time.
Alto is on the “everyone is ditching me” phase … granted he only stays behind because its the most effective way to unravel the story to the audience and allows for him to progress (in case anyone missed it, he still is running away).
Also Klan Klan stayed behind.
We never get to see what is on the message, I do not know how much is about Ranka, the Vajra or even Leon … if there is anything on it at all besides “get aboard, we are leaving”.
honeyblu at 10:56 pm on September 4th, 2008
i think klan stayed behind because of michael. probably hurts her heart to go into another battle after he died like that…
Hister at 11:03 pm on September 4th, 2008
Que buena serie, sigue sorprendiendo como de costumbre. No podía esperarse menos de una serie de Macross, ¿o sí? (por supuesto que ni madres).
lija at 11:04 pm on September 4th, 2008
@Drakron
Agreed. For some reason, Alto is “looking” like he’s running away. Ozma made him look like Alto is doing something wrong by staying in Frontier. He’s asking Alto which path he’ll go when it should be obvious being in Frontier was his path. But then, Alto suddenly looked like he’s pain being left behind. Which really contradicted this. Oh gosh…i’m hearing dokun dokun like the others do.
Haesslich at 11:04 pm on September 4th, 2008
That reminds me - if Sheryl clutching herself brings hopes and dreams, what does Grace clutching herself the same way do?
As for the SMS decision… so, now Alto’s joined Leon, will we be allowed to see Leon ordering Ranka to be bombed to death, and then Alto either struggling with orders or just happily going along? I’m actually almost hoping for the second, just to piss off the shippers who say that Alto’s going to charge in rescuing Ranka. He had his chance here - and refused.
lija at 11:06 pm on September 4th, 2008
Hister, speak english.
Kabitzin at 11:10 pm on September 4th, 2008
Haha, Grace is so evil!
nugundam93 at 11:23 pm on September 4th, 2008
http://randomc.maximum7.net/image/Macross/Macross%20Frontier%20-%2022%20-%20Large%2039.jpg
i ain’t complaining. LOL!
Naru at 11:23 pm on September 4th, 2008
So Alto’s all alone now. Everyone has chosen their (the right) path, but him. He’s still Alto-hime who only wants to fly. The Alto x Sheryl scene was nice and dramatic, but I couldn’t help but think he has an issue with loosing people (especially dieing) because of his mother. Next episode I pray we will find out Ranka’s past.
Klan stayed behind to be a spy I think.