SDF Macross Episodes 30 and 31 – Children of the Protoculture
December 6th, 2009
There continue to be reasons for both hope and pessimism for the future of the Terran Zentradi with integration and alienation both continuing in their separate ways. The mission to capture the Zentradi weapons factory satellite is launched, another joint operation between humans and Terran Zentradi under the New United Nations government. But while this exemplary instance of cooperation is going on in space, back on Earth Zentradi rioters continue to spring up and are now being organized by Kamjin and Laplamiz. Further complicating the situation is the discovery by Exedol of the true origins of the Zentradi, the Supervision Army, and how humans fit into all of this. Everyone is certainly living in interesting times.
The scene reminds me very much of the Cyclop Team attack on the EFSF base in Gundam 0080. This shuttle also manages to launch without incident. (thanks Chinese subtitled version for getting around the Youtube copyright material ban.)
An excellent example of how the human-Zentradi partnership can work.
My man is back! And he’s learned the very typical, somewhat formal Japanese greeting routine. He must have studied from JSL.
They brought their baby in a hardpoint mounted cargo container? The VF-1S does have a back seat you know.
Misa, Claudia, Exedol, Max, Hikaru, and Millia launch from Macross City and meet up with Britai’s command ship for the factory takeover operation. Happily Britai survived the final battle against Bodolzza’s fleet and transports the Valkyrie teams in his ship. Along the way the human officers assigned to the ship have a get together where Max and Millia’s child Komillia (which reminds me of the Musai/Komusai naming convention of the Zeon cruiser from the original Gundam) quickly becomes the center of attention. At first Millia is guarded when Misa asks to hold the baby, but then agrees and throws Komillia at Misa, not worried since she’s build Zentradi tough. Max and Hikaru then have a side conversation about how Misa looks like she wants to have a baby of her own, Max once more prodding Hikaru towards her.
B-dog is back and looking cool as ever!
Ace pilot, skilled cook, cunning conversationalist. Max is truly a renaissance man.
LOL. Yes, go make one. It’s like baking a cake or building a model if you take Millia’s word for it.
It doesn’t even phase Max anymore.
I’m not even sure what to say Max. Devotion? Control by your wife? Going for a kawaii maid look?
Walking back from the party Claudia, Hikaru, and Misa talk for a bit and Misa invites them in for tea. Claudia decides to turn in for the night and like the great friend that she is gives Hikaru the heads up that she’s trying to give him and Misa some time together. Back in her own room she rests and is still missing Roy a great deal, while Hikaru awaits Misa’s return in her quarters. Apparently he’s not the only one still holding on too tightly to the past and he sees a picture of Misa and Ribal there. When she returns she notices him looking at the picture, but then goes on to the tea and chatting. But before she can tell Hikaru something important an alarm sounds. The ship has encountered a derelict Supervision Army ship. While Misa wants to investigate Britai is firmly against taking any risks while they’re en route to their objective.
How thick to Claudia and Max have to lay it on for you to get it Hikaru? At least he’s lucky to have such good friends looking out for him.
Poor Claudia, still so affected even years later.
Hikaru needs to learn from Misa’s tactics and respond to this with his own Photo Attack!
They are wretched little things.
Seriously, bad timing.
After folding again the ship defolds into the area near the factory satellite. Britai hails the commander, and the two seem to know each other from the past. While he demands the factory’s surrender, its commander scoffs at the idea until a rapid fire culture attack is unleashed upon them. First ‘Zero G Love’ is broadcast into their ships, followed by Misa ordering Hikaru to kiss her on screen for the Zentradi to see. Hikaru is reluctant for some bizarre reason but Misa goes in for the kill without hesitation. Go Misa! Following up these attacks are Max and Millia bursting into the command room of the factory and showing off their child to the soldiers, further confusing the Zentradi forces and making them unable to effectively respond. Then N.U.N. Valkyries, Battlepods, and Fighters are launched to lay waste to the fleet defending the factory. While folding the factory is tricky, the team manages to make it back to Earth with their prize.
More great teamwork.
Give up now before Britai comes over there and jumps down from the ceiling with a lead pipe to your face!
By the power vested in me by the NUN Spacy, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Hey, Captain Picard performed weddings.
Misa has a determined look to her. No hesitation this time.
Misa, you may now kiss your bride.
Oh if only Minmay could see this.
After returning to Earth with the factory, production begins but quickly encounters problems. Most of the machinery was damaged by Supervision Army attacks and even cannibalizing the broken machines doesn’t leave enough spare parts to keep the rest functional for very long. There are other Zentradi fleets out there, and the Terran Zentradi also warn of the Supervision Army as a possible threat. Internal threats exist as well in the form of continued Zentradi rioters. Not long after returning Hikaru is dispatched to stop a group of Zentradi from stealing a Miclonization/Maclonization machine. While this could just be looting, this act is part of a wider plan orchestrated by Kamjin.
Seems like it can only build Regults, but they’re better than nothing.
Word of Kaifun’s douchebaggery towards Minmay has traveled far.
Misa will not tolerate word of that wench in her command room.
You’d think that by watching modern anime series. Seriously, that guy that just spoke to her couldn’t relay information on his own?
Having commandeered several flatbed trucks a mix of miclonized and full sized Zentradi attempt to steal the miclonizing device and shoot up the town on their way out.
Even the VF-1S looks like it’s tired of this crap.
In his hideout in the disused Santa’s Workshop, Kamjin makes it a priority to seize the miclonization device that was recaptured by Hikaru’s team. His promise to other Zentradi was to allow them to return to normal size if they joined him, and his position would be undermined if he can’t deliver on that promise. His nascent insurgency is depending on this credibility, so he decides to go secure the device himself. But it appears that Laplamiz may be the real one in charge, manipulating Kamjin with words and displays of affection. Though one must wonder about the extent to which they’ve been affected by culture if physical affection is something that Laplamiz seems to be able to use to sway Kamjin. Back in that same city Hikaru and his team are trying to bring the miclonizing device to a more secure location when Kaifun shows up to ruin everything. He starts inciting the crowd behind him to resist the NUN from moving the device, saying that it’s their right to have it and that they can defend themselves. Minmay meanwhile sits in the car and doesn’t do anything, disappointed in herself for failing to act as she daydreams about Hikaru.
Escalating things is not a concern for Kamjin.
A prisoner of her own indecisiveness.
A less lenient man might have arrested him for attempting to incite a riot. That’s pretty balsy of Hikaru to stand up to the crowd like that outside his Valkyrie, things could have turned ugly very quickly.
Minmay’s wishful thinking.
Hikaru and his team leave the city since they’re so dead set on fending for themselves, but just as he told them another force, larger and better equipped, descends on the city to seize the device. It was moved underground, but that and the small amount of older Destroids only manage to slow down Kamjin’s forces. Before long the device is taken and Kamjin begins allowing miclonized Zentradi to use, swelling his ranks. At NUN HQ Exedol gathers the senior characters to tell them that he has found the link between the protoculture, the Zentradi, and the humans. Terran humans are apparently not the Protoculture, but have been affected by their genetic manipulation to some unknown degree. The Protoculture itself used genetic engineering to create the Zentradi (and apparently the Supervision Army too) for use as soldiers, denying them culture so they would not threaten their creators. It didn’t exactly work out that way. The Protoculture was destroyed by the Zentradi, beginning their untold years of constant warring against the Supervision Army and themselves. This fact is rather discouraging for the Zentradi, who have to face the fact that they were created only to be warriors.
Oh yes, look more cheerful Minmay. Your career is just on the edge of failure, Hikaru has eluded you, and Kaifun is treating you like crap. But other than that there’s plenty to be happy about.
Again, the Tytania rule: wine is for good news and victories, coffee for defeats.
As Exedol put it, the Zentradi now feel as if they are just the ‘dolls of the devil’, their very existence a manipulation.
Destroid PUNCH! The outnumbered and outclassed Destroids still put up a good fight.
The few Valkyries in the city were below ground guarding the device where their mobility was of little use. Kamjin has some impressive new units too. They look like a cross between a Valkyrie, a Queadluun Rae, and certain models of Armored Cores.
As the raid is going on Hikaru and Misa almost have another heart to heart talk and are once again interrupted by outside events. Word comes in of the attack and Hikaru rushes off to his Valkyrie and heads back to the city. There he sees the destruction and blames himself for not forcing the issue and taking the device regardless of the mob that Kaifun stirred up. Kamjin meanwhile plans his next move with Laplamiz lurking in the background. And Minmay gets a quick look at Hikaru before being driven off by Kaifun, wondering to herself why she didn’t try to help him earlier.
Only to the Minmay fans. Otherwise you’re lovely.
Let the hate flow through you Hikaru! The ignorant masses don’t know what’s best for them.
Very nice detail on the half-destroyed Destroid.
US Army? Must have been an early model left over from the Metal Gear program. Also, that’s one fugly car.
Pretty simpleminded, no wonder Laplamiz has him in the palm of her hand.
Final Thoughts: – The thought has crossed my mind before, but the more I watch this two years later arc the more parallels I keep drawing between Macross and Battlestar Galactica, specifically the last 1-2 seasons of BSG. Attempting to integrate the two sides, the remainder of the former enemy that’s not willing to change their ways, there’s a lot in common and I enjoy how it’s done in both series.
- I understand that this is anime and all, but it’s been years now and there still hasn’t been much more than tiny, incremental steps in the relationship aspect of the show, excepting Max and Millia who went the complete opposite route. Hikaru, Misa, and Minmay are still moving very, very slowly.
- Seems like in the next episodes Kamjin’s forces will start attacking. I tend to think that he has less appeal with the content Zentradi, but it could still be awkward asking them to fight their fellow Zentradi.
- I’m kind of hoping that Hikaru indulges in the Dark Side for awhile and starts punching Kaifun in the face when he stirs up trouble again. And as for the rioters, can Valkyries be equipped with rubber bullets and tear gas?
- Speaking of BSG parallels, Kaifun reminds me an awful lot of Tom Zarrick just without the political ambition (so far anyway.)
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