SDF Macross episodes 34 to 36 – The Long, Long Goodbye

Parting is such sweet sorrow, and I’m going to miss this series that I’ve enjoyed and come to love over the past four months or so. There was so much to enjoy in the 36 episodes, from the aerial combat to the love triangle, to the memories of those lost and the little technical touches in the background. In these last episodes we see the conclusion of the Kanjin Insurgency and of the love triangle between Misa, Hikaru, and Minmay, as well as hints of what is to come in the future of the Terrans (both human and Zentradi.) So here’s to the original Super Dimensional Fortress Macross! Following the regular recap I’ll be sending off what has become one of my favorite series with a massive image/commentary spam of my favorite moments from all the episodes. It’s my long, long goodbye to a series I’ve had tons of fun with. Thank you to everyone who’s watched along with me or remembered a favorite series alongside my posts, from the old veterans to the relative Macross newbies like myself.

A Quick Announcement: I will be out of town next Wednesday, but the week after that I will watch and blog ‘Macross: Do You Remember Love?’ and attempt to make the Macross Meal that I mentioned once way back in an earlier post to accompany it. As for future retroblogging, my plans are this: while I would love to do the entirety of the Macross series as retroblogging posts, I don’t want it to monopolize all my blogging of old series so I won’t go on and do Macross 7. However, after DYRL I will be blogging Macross Zero and Macross Plus since those are both shorter, and because I feel a responsibility to try and help my fellow mecha fans through this Winter of Our Discontent (more like year, but anyway…) I plan on watching the remaining series in the Macross saga in in-universe chronological order, so after I watch/blog those I will move on to Macross 7. Maybe I’ll make one post every few episodes or something like that, but I plan to blog a non-Macross series after the OVAs. I’m open to suggestions on what that future series should be, if you have a recommendation.

Cooking moe done right.

There can be only one!

He remembers what he should be doing, yet fails anyway.

No, it’s not.

Hikaru and Misa have a date planned, suggested by Hikaru, to go to the forest area park and have a picnic when Minmay calls Hikaru out of the blue. She wants him to come right away to see her in Highlander City, and Hikaru reluctantly agrees to go as Minmay prods him to forsake his promise to meet up with Misa. Naturally I raged at his continued spinelessness, but I calmed myself, resolute in the belief that my OTP, possessing righteousness and True Love, would eventually win the day. Nothing like trolling your audience close to the last episode, right Kawamori? RIGHT?! Once Hikaru flies out to the city he meets a disguised Minmay and the two head to a café. They talk for a while, but then Kaifun comes in, apparently sober now, and says that work for Minmay has suddenly come up and forces her to leave, though not before she gives him an extra long scarf as a gift, intending him to share it with her when it’s worn. Misa, meanwhile, is still waiting at an outdoor café for Hikaru, that indecisive son of a…

The sideline commentary continues, and this guy takes a different, but still wrong approach. You can’t win at their teasing game, same as you don’t fight the US in straight up battle and expect to win.

Everybody in the café gettin tipsy (everybody in the café getting tipsy).

Kaifun’s douchebaggery is useful, for once.

Timing man, timing. Use this line a little later in the story after they’re a confirmed couple.

Hikaru starts driving back to the airport when he finds a UN truck blocking the road. Apparently there has been a Zentradi attack at the airport, and despite the soldier’s protests Hikaru drives straight for the scene. Once there, he talks to the local forces and manages to get a Destroid for himself, leading the counterattack. Tear gas is fired into the Zentradi forces while their battlepods are disabled and the unarmored troops knocked out with fists and rifle butts. Once the incident is under control, Hikaru races back to Macross City, now in full guilt-mode for abandoning his promise with Misa. As he should be.

Making a mess of things again, though Hikaru managed to prevent his plane from being destroyed.

Hikaru cobbled together a team from the local defense forces to put an end to things, with only a few Destroids and one wayward Valkyrie.

The infamous Destroid Spank attack.

They need some giant-sized cuffs.

You’re pushing your luck with me too, Hikaru.

After arriving back and running to meet Misa, who is still waiting, Hikaru gets back and apologizes, and Misa in her nearly limitless forgiveness accepts the apology. But I did say nearly limitless, because when they’re walking together and sharing the scarf that Minmay intended for herself, a booby trap is discovered. Much as the Supervision Army booby trapped the Macross when it fell to Earth, Minmay has added a diabolical feature to the scarf: her and Hikaru’s initials embroidered into the middle of the scarf with a heart between them. Misa is rightly pissed and leaves Hikaru to stand in the falling snow, hopefully reflecting on his actions. It’s a classic mistake in romance fiction, really, trying to use the gift or object from one love interest with another. Meanwhile Minmay is about to perform a concert, but when she gets on stage she won’t sing, even as the crowd tries to cheer her up by chanting. The concert cancelled, Minmay sits on the edge of the water when Kaifun comes over and has one of I think two moments of decency in the entire series. He questions what she’s singing for and tells her that she still doesn’t care about other people’s feelings. Even he’s had enough of her in her present state, and says that he’s going to leave, at least for now.

And it would’ve been if you had just ditched that scarf.

Ah, so that’s the scarf that Der Langrisser wanted to strangle Hikaru with.

Just not in her anymore.

Minmay needs some tough love if she’s ever going to get herself together again.

Sorry Kaifun, going out on a high note in no way undoes all the BS you’ve caused.

While everyone in more northern climes is preparing for Christmas, Kamjin and his forces are preparing for their own sort of celebrations, repairing a crashed Zentradi gunboat somewhere in near Jaburo (seriously, what a homage/reference to the original Gundam, there was even the lingering shots of the wildlife.) The Genshiken Team have moved onto a more appropriate, if less profitable, job selling model kits, and on their way home they spot Minmay sitting on a swing in a park alone. They try to say hello, but she runs off, turning up later at Hikaru’s door. Even if he wasn’t so indecisive lately, he can’t be blamed for inviting her inside given how cold, snow covered, and obviously distraught she is. There they have something warm to drink while she warms up, but it bodes ill for the future.

Maybe it’s a Gaw?

Their perfect job.

These were two really nice shots, I do love the falling snow background. Also note the contrast in the colors worn. Coincidence? I think not!

It’s already bothering me.

The bridge bunnies, and Misa? How do I get invited to this party?

Christmas Eve is not all carols and celebrations though. Kamjin needs components for the engine of his ship and has found out where they’re being stored. He personally leads several ships to find and seize the parts, and adding some strategy to his usual ‘guns blazing’ way of doing things, the UN team going out to intercept them is ambushed by Laplamiz’s forces who were waiting in the wreckage of a crashed ship. Millia and Max are leading the effort and engage in aerial combat with the Queadluuns, Millia and her old CO recognizing each other in the middle of it all. Eventually Kamjin finds the parts, and to prevent his forces from being pursued he orders the detonation of several incendiary bombs that were prepositioned in the city, forcing Hikaru and the others to return and help with firefighting and evacuations.

I’m not sure how any of those insurgents managed to survive a fight with Max AND Millia fighting against them.

I wish they had done more with Laplamiz and Millia in this scene apart from just the quick recognition of each other.

YES! Make the pineapple salad of your love, for its end is at hand!

The Apsalus?

Damn Kamjin and his micloned supporters. Large areas of the city ended up being destroyed by the fires he started.

Even through all of this, the residents of the city managed to keep their spirits up through Christmas Eve night. Carolers and then masses of people began singing Christmas carols, and friends and families still spent the night together in relative calm and happiness. Minmay ambushes Hikaru this night too, preparing dinner and cake for the two at his home. By the time he returns its all ready, and he falls for her ploy, even responding to her moving in for a kiss. Unacceptable!

I NEED a Macross Christmas ornament!

Still together as the oddest couples in this show.

Cuteness.

I can’t stand it, I know she planned it!

WWHHHHYYYYYYY!?

The next day Misa is standing, looking out at the city and despairing over having overheard Minmay asking Hikaru if she could stay at his place when once again Claudia, Savior of True Love appears before her and consoles her. Also helping to turn the day around for Misa is Captain Global calling her in to offer her command of a ship that will be built as the first of many to take humanity to the stars. With the Zentradi and the Supervision Army still out there, Earth cannot be the only place where humanity exists. Even though she had been contemplating leaving the military since she is having a hard time seeing Hikaru all the time, this changes her mind. On her way home she stops at Hikaru’s and makes a confession covering pretty much everything in the love triangle. She tells Minmay that she likes her songs, and while she can’t contribute to culture like Minmay, she can at least protect it. And then she comes out and tells Hikaru that she loves him before she leaves, and Hikaru starts to chase after her even with Minmay shouting at him not to go.

Claudia will not let this outrage stand! And ‘steal’ is the correct word.

I request assignment to this ship.

“Earth is the cradle of mankind, but one cannot stay in the cradle forever.” – Konstantin Tsiolkovsky.

He needed it spelled out for him.

Can’t stop the love Minmay!

Just as this happens Kamjin’s repaired ship finishes sneaking its way into Macross City and launches a barrage of missiles. With explosions going on all around them, Hikaru runs after Misa with Minmay chasing him and begging him to go with her to the shelters. At this point Hikaru seems to finally shake off the remnants of his on-again-off-again thing for Minmay amid the reality of the situation and realizes that when things get real and infatuation fades, Misa is the one he really wants by his side. That she’s the one who he shares his ideals and way of thinking with, and that she’s the one who will be there for him. The two make their way to their stations, and not long after that Kamjin’s ship fires its main cannon at the Macross, scoring a direct, but not crippling, hit. Capt. Global orders the bridge crew back to the old bridge and orders the Macross up for one last flight in defense of the city.

The moment of truth.

Hikaru leaves Minmay for the good, though he tells her that she’s never alone if she has her music.

Nice, realistic aerial shot from Hikaru’s VF-1S. .

“These are the old days, the bad days, the all-or-nothing days. They’re back!”

The Macross rises once more to defend humanity and its Zentradi allies! In one of the most badass scenes possibly ever the bridge crew reunites with their Captain on the bridge of the old ship and prepares to launch. The Valkyrie squadrons too are doing their part, with Hikaru making a daring strafing run on the enemy ship. All the while the opening theme plays in the background. Words can not adequately describe the pure win of this scene. I had to turn my speakers way up and watch it twice myself.

The gang’s back together.

HELL YEAH!

Makura no sora wo tsuranuite…

MAKUROSU! MAKUROSU!!!

The main cannon is then fired after the last Valkyries get out of the line of fire, but it’s not a direct, head-on hit. The ship survives intact enough to continue heading towards the Macross, with Kamjin and Laplamiz dead set on ramming it. The two have a surprisingly touching last few moments together, at first promising each other to survive and ‘make culture’ afterwards, though knowing that they’re on a one way trip. It’s probably the best way for things to have ended for the two of them, so completely unable to adapt to a peaceful life. While they killed a lot of people and caused a lot of problems, I can’t help but feel impressed with the purity and dignity of the manner in which they went out. Their ship doesn’t hit the Macross in the center like they had hoped, but their ship takes a good portion of the upper right part of the ship out before it crashes to the ground. Kamjin and Laplamiz, you were bastards, but I still tip my hat to you.

The last word of the Macross.

Almost enough.

Going out like a badass.

As deserved as it was, it’s still kind of noble and sad.

With the threat eliminated, Hikaru lands and meets Misa and as Minmay approaches we’re given closure on the love triangle. Hikaru has chosen Misa definitively by this point, and Minmay makes her future intentions clear: she’s going to move to a city somewhere far from him to try and rediscover why she sings and for whose sake. Misa offers to take her with them when the first colony ship departs for the Earth, so that her songs can be heard wherever humanity goes, and the two shake hands and reconcile their differences. Minmay gives Hikaru a goodbye kiss on the cheek, and walks away singing, leaving my OTP victorious the happy couple to start their lives together. Minmay goes out with class and determination to make her own future, and I respect that.

Someone to come back to.

A wise decision, especially considering what happened to Minmay when she lost sight of her goals.

Misa, gracious in victory.

And thus ends one of the greatest rivalries of all time.

I’ll allow it.

SUPER DIMENSIONAL DDAAAAWWWWW!

What a satisfying ending to such a great show! I’m at a loss for words to describe how much I enjoyed this.

This verse has ended. The Macross completed its final mission, its last fiery breath securing the future of all Terrans. Many were the conflicts ended on that day. And thus did Minmay return to her passion and Hikaru and Misa begin their lives together. Let the next verse begin.

Final Thoughts: – What a ride! Macross now takes its place with a select few science fiction anime in my list of favorites. As much of a Gundam fan as I am, it was a much better viewing than the original Gundam series, only falling behind it in one or two areas. While I wouldn’t say that I’m a convert to Macross over Gundam, this show is definitely on par with my favorite Gundam series (0083 and 08^th MS Team.)

- I enjoyed the almost contradictory featuring of the idea of returning to past times in the last episodes. Minmay used the idea to try and push Hikaru into leaving the military and attempting to recapture their early days, even after so much has changed. And the theme is used differently by Misa and the other members of the Macross crew in their one last fight at the controls of the Macross. In both it was a simultaneous remembrance of what was good about the past and the futility of trying to go back to how things were. In the latter case it was acknowledged, the crew knew the Macross wouldn’t stay in the air long and stoically fought their last fight, while with Minmay it was a delusional and unrealistic attempt to revive and maintain past qualities. With the final fight of the Macross (and the idea of the last, exhausting fight in general) it’s almost a celebration of the temporary nature of reviving the past.

- My gripes about the love triangle being stretched out a few too many episodes after it probably should have been resolved, it did have a very satisfying and complete ending to it. And oh yeah: both of my favorite couples got together in the end!

- MISA INVICTUS!

- It’s interesting to see two different approaches to the technology and mechanical design between this and the original Gundam. While the level of technological detail in later Gundams certainly beats that in this series, it’s too early for me to say that one does it better than the other because I have yet to watch everything between the original series and Frontier. But Macross definitely took a more holistic approach to its technology and equipment. The Macross operated like an aircraft carrier with shuttles and radar planes in addition to its compliment of Valkyrie fighters and Destroid ground units. There was more attention paid to the ground crew and maintenance areas as well. What the original Gundam does have over Macross is the attention to mechanical detail and the explanation thereof. These things might have occurred in the background of Macross, but in Gundam things like the magnetic coating upgrade and discussion of mass production plans were told to the audience.

- Despite the series being shortened and then lengthened during its run, there were very few throw away episodes. Only two, if I remember correctly, actually felt non-relevant. Everything else fit the story and was enjoyable to watch.

- Thank you again to everyone who had read these posts and to those who have commented. Having other people go through the show with me had made it that much more enjoyable, and the comments were interesting, entertaining, and exercised excellent spoiler discipline. Thank you one and all!

SDF Macross: Favorite Moments and Shots Image-spam

Hanging out with lecherous Roy.

Hikaru’s first flight.

Misa, master of teasing from the start.

Fish heads, fish heads.

Heading off to the ambush in the ring zone.

Misa and Hikaru after the Mars Base skirmish. Simply amazing, even if the animation is old.

The new recruits.

The Armored Valkyrie, the sexiest Valkyrie without a FAST pack.

The start of Minmay’s career.

Indeed.

Max throwing Britai out into space. Probably his most badass fight.

Britai and his wrench to the head move.

The Zentradi are introduced to culture: Misa and Hikaru’s first kiss.

Showing that she cares. This moment went a  long way towards making Hikaru realize that she cares about him, and for Misa to be able to admit to caring.

The beginning of great things for her and her target.

Roy downing another enemy craft while going right into the DANGER ZONE.

A man of many talents, and GAR right till the end.

On that day a great man was lost to all, and most importantly to Claudia.

The misfortunes of war struck down veteran and rookie alike.

The Omni-Directional Barrier overload explosion above Ontario.

Returning to base after losing Kakizaki and the city below. Something about the lighting and colors just communicates the feeling of emptiness even out of context.

Another moment of win for my OTP.

My favorite of Minmay’s songs, being sung for the first time.

Memories of better times for Claudia. Though she spent her time afterwards making sure that Misa and Hikaru wouldn’t repeat the mistakes that caused her and Roy to only come together near the end.

A smart enemy is an interesting enemy.

Hikaru in berserker mode after seeing Kaifun and Minmay together after the reversed Daedalus Attack.

A great use of a visual portrayal of past events as they’re being recounted by Misa.

My favorite sequence from the series, concluding a great scene. Visually, narratively, emotionally, and thematically it was among the best I’ve ever seen.

The game of love.

Claudia speaks the truth.

Max, smooth mofo that he is, turns a fight to the death into a chance for love.

Ranks right up their with the Colasaur-Mannequin wedding.

How could I not include this one?

A kiss at the end of the world.

Misa at her reunion with and rescue by Hikaru during the climactic battle of the Earth-Zentradi Conflict.

A new day rises.

At the war’s end.

Two years later there is still hope amidst the devastation.

A Misa masterstroke.

And then she outdoes herself again with her envelope full of pictures to compete with those of Minmay.

Peace isn’t easy, nor is it the end of things.

Oh Millia…

Misa didn’t hesitate on this one, she went right in for the kill.

Another couple ‘making culture’.

Misa tells Hikaru to do his damn job, and if that helps her out, then so much the better.

One of the ground crew shots that made the whole mechanical aspect of the show so much more complete than it would have been without.

Most men wouldn’t object.

Roy’s drunken confession, remembered and retold by Claudia to Misa.

Claudia’s plan realized.