Macross Frontier Episode 14 Talkback Thread *READ 1st Post*

[mike_s_6]

I tried to warp the episode 15 preview with the Sheryl concert image where she looks like a drag queen to remove the screen distortions and it looked better:

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/5240/ma...14largepmy7.jpg

(Nah, nothing to do today... tum dee dum)

Edited July 12, 2008 by mike_s_6

[TCracker]

Just finish watching ep 14 and I can't say that I am completely satisfied. While it is good to see VF-171 kicking asses, but I can't believe how fast the pace of this episode went. Many questions still left unanswered but my biggest beef is "WHAT the F*CK are those cells that are swimming under the microscope? Some Vajra / Zentran / Human hybrid?!"

My money is on Ranka being a hybrid of 3 races.

Edited July 12, 2008 by TCracker

[Sumdumgai]

I'm guessing V-virus (vajra virus), or some virus that has to do with the formation of purple crystals. Either that or midichlorians.

[mike_s_6]

poor luca, i mean he is a good pilot, but after this battle, he must have lost some confidence, poor him!

Perhaps, but the latter part of his flight was disrupted by Sheryl and Michael, he was immobilized because if he dodged, those two would be exposed to the Vajra. He did quite a brave job of staying put.

[USCOLMRNE]

Well, one of two things is going to happen: Either its not going to happen at all, or they are saving it for the big climatic battle. I'm outting my money on it happening during a slugfest between the Frontier and Galaxy fleets.

Probably in episode 24, Howard Glass will order Battle 25 to come out in the last minute. Episode 25, Battle 25 will go and defend the fleet from the distance while SMS Macross Quarter will loose its limbs in close combat, we all know how Bobby likes to engage the enemy

[Mr March]

I tried to warp the episode 15 preview with the Sheryl concert image where she looks like a drag queen to remove the screen distortions and it looked better:

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/5240/ma...14largepmy7.jpg

(Nah, nothing to do today... tum dee dum)

I got such a strong Sharon Apple-vibe from the projected image of Sheryl. It's not just the scan lines, but also twisted look on her face

[mike_s_6]

I got such a strong Sharon Apple-vibe from the projected image of Sheryl. It's not just the scan lines, but also twisted look on her face

If Sheryl suddenly sings a Sharon Apple song, I'll be in heaven...

[taksraven]

If Sheryl suddenly sings a Sharon Apple song, I'll be in heaven...

YES, that would be FANTASTIC!!!

But then the next question. WHICH ONE!!

(Is Macross Plus the only series we haven't heard any songs from?? Oh, probably Macross Zero as well....)

Taksraven

[VF5SS]

We get to see Battle 25 as soon as they finish making the CG model.

[David Hingtgen]

I don't know how anyone could want a *non-armored* VF-25 toy after this ep...

Anyways, regarding Quarter and Battle 25----if Battle 25 is attached to Island 1, where does Quarter attach to? (Until people here started discussing it, I didn't think there was a Battle 25, and that the Quarter was in its place as "the main gunship attached to the front of the main colony dome ship")

[d3v]

I don't know how anyone could want a *non-armored* VF-25 toy after this ep...

Anyways, regarding Quarter and Battle 25----if Battle 25 is attached to Island 1, where does Quarter attach to? (Until people here started discussing it, I didn't think there was a Battle 25, and that the Quarter was in its place as "the main gunship attached to the front of the main colony dome ship")

Quarter has it's own docking bay somewhere alongside Island 1.

[Shaka_Z]

like others here I too felt the ep should have been spread out over 2 episodes... it just didnt flow right. at the end of 13 I honestly expected Sheryl and Michael to be sneaking around the MS looking for Ranka - kind of similar to Max's masquerading as a zentran in the original SDFM. of course, that would mean they get first crack at the rescue, but botch it, and end up having to be resued themselves. it would have played into the brera angle quite nicely, as Alto would have been forced to decide wether to pursue Ranka (Brera would still have gotten to her first) or save sheryl and Michael... only for ALL of them to need saving once they get out of the mothership to find themselves in the middle of the big battle (cue episode 2 or the mini-arc).

that scenario would have been much better than what we got for both character development AND mecha porn.

[Master Dex]

Just finish watching ep 14 and I can't say that I am completely satisfied. While it is good to see VF-171 kicking asses, but I can't believe how fast the pace of this episode went. Many questions still left unanswered but my biggest beef is "WHAT the F*CK are those cells that are swimming under the microscope? Some Vajra / Zentran / Human hybrid?!"

My money is on Ranka being a hybrid of 3 races.

Many of us have already concluding that Ranka is most likely a hybrid Zentran/Human/Vajra/Fast pack.

As for Battle 25, I expect we'll see it, but probably last episode or something. Saving the best for last ya know?

I was saying in another thread wouldn't it be awesome if in the last episode the Macross 7 battle fleet showed up to support Frontier fleet and Battle 7 and Battle 25 fought side by side, and we got Max and Millia in CG VF-22s. This of course without Basara and Sound Force, even though the Vajra are affected by song in some form I have serious doubts the Vajra will be the main enemy in the final battle.

Of course that will never happen but I can dream.

[d3v]

I have a feeling that they probably could have spread it out to two eps. but are at this point trying to downplay the Vajra and point us along to a more sinister villain.

[Master Dex]

Perhaps a giant Grace mecha!!!

[USCOLMRNE]

Ranka's mom version of aimo is the best. I hope it comes out in the next cd

[s-girl]

Yeah, the pacing was a bit off here. A lot of dramatic tension points were blown because of the quick resolution to various things. Like I would have vastly preferred that this whole planetary arc have been extended a bit, but maybe (just maybe) there will be another excuse to have a "special edition dvd" down the line with more inserted scenes X-3

Back to the music bits.... Were the slightly "techno" versions of various songs all that different from the original soundtrack? It almost sounded like they just dumped in a beat in a separate line under the original tracks, and didn't really recut/repace any of the music.

(Need to go back and relisten.)

[junior]

Perhaps he's detecting whatever power source is creating that glow inside Ranka. The Macross Galaxy Fleet seems to know a lot more about the Vajra than the NUNS, so they might have a method for detecting wahtever power source is unique to Vajra and humans with similar critters in their cells

Or maybe Brera himself is detecting it?

From the pictures in episode 13 it appears that the two are siblings, and since Ranka has a link to the Vajra it's possible that Brera does as well. Given that the Vajra clearly react to Ranka's singing, if Brera had some sort of link with the Vajra then he might very well be capable of detecting the song by himself (i.e. without any technological help) as well.

[MisaForever]

No, the techno-type music was not on the soundtrack. I have a good ear for things like that

[Kai]

Perhaps, but the latter part of his flight was disrupted by Sheryl and Michael, he was immobilized because if he dodged, those two would be exposed to the Vajra. He did quite a brave job of staying put.

That works for the first time, what about the second time when he's just spacing out watching Alto in action? Or maybe vajra specifically pick on green mechs .

[MisaForever]

By the way, it's no doubt that the reaction missles are ZOMG powerful, but what makes you think they are nukes??? They don't mention anything about them being "nuclear".

[David Hingtgen]

Their symbol is a stylized version of the international "radiation hazard" symbol, plus later on the tactical status displays show "warning" plus that symbol around any area where one was detonated---and frankly, no other type of weapon leaves behind a "hazard zone" after its use.

IIRC, "reaction" has been used since the original TV series simply because of the bad connotations of the word "nuclear" in Japan, since they are the only ones such weapons have ever actually been used against. Heck, they won't let any nuclear-powered US ship dock there. (though I believe just recently that policy has changed).

Reaction missiles and reaction furnaces are just politically-correct ways of saying nukes and nuclear reactors. (plus allowing for a bit of overtechnology/sci-fi, trademarking, etc)

[MisaForever]

Their symbol is a stylized version of the international "radiation hazard" symbol, plus later on the tactical status displays show "warning" plus that symbol around any area where one was detonated---and frankly, no other type of weapon leaves behind a "hazard zone" after its use.

IIRC, "reaction" has been used since the original TV series simply because of the bad connotations of the word "nuclear" in Japan, since they are the only ones such weapons have ever actually been used against. Heck, they won't let any nuclear-powered US ship dock there. (though I believe just recently that policy has changed).

Reaction missiles and reaction furnaces are just politically-correct ways of saying nukes and nuclear reactors. (plus allowing for a bit of overtechnology/sci-fi, trademarking, etc)

ahhh sou, ok thanks. That helps

[Chief Guld Goa Bowman]

Major Brera Sterne of Macross Galaxy Antares Squadron went into a gun fight with a knife and left his gunpod behind when he went to save Ranka, maybe it would have gotten in the way and batteries probably needed recharging. Major Sterne better not let Klan meet up with him or she'll probably kick his ever loving cyborg arse all the way back to galaxy.

[blackronin]

Major Brera Sterne of Macross Galaxy Antares Squadron went into a gun fight with a knife and left his gunpod behind when he went to save Ranka, maybe it would have gotten in the way and batteries probably needed recharging. Major Sterne better not let Klan meet up with him or she'll probably kick his ever loving cyborg arse all the way back to galaxy.

His gunpod was blown up in the last ep, remember?

[taksraven]

His gunpod was blown up in the last ep, remember?

You mean his magical gunpod that reappeared a few shots later??

Taksraven

[Major Focker]

Not really. Go to the "Who is going ti die in Macross Frontier" thread and you will see that plenty of us were picking up on the vibe that ONE of the characters was going to die in this episode. The unexpected part was who died, we didn't really pick that.

Taksraven

oh, there were a few who did, citing klan's expression in the preview. though the way that thread was going, not even elmo could be considered safe

[Chief Guld Goa Bowman]

You mean his magical gunpod that reappeared a few shots later??

Taksraven

What Taksraven said.

[HMP_Goose]

Major Brera Sterne of Macross Galaxy Antares Squadron went into a gun fight with a knife and left his gunpod behind when he went to save Ranka, maybe it would have gotten in the way and batteries probably needed recharging. Major Sterne better not let Klan meet up with him or she'll probably kick his ever loving cyborg arse all the way back to galaxy.

[has vision of Brera stumbling into Klan]

[Chibi-Klan]

[Smiley424]

I'm sorry to say that I gave this episode a neutral vote as i felt the good parts cancelled out the bad parts. Alto arrived on the scene way too quickly for my tastes. He was using the prototype fold pack but arrived before the Valjra baseship and flanking force even though he left after the Vajra folded (though I guess the Vajra could have been waiting for the right moment to defold behind the Frontier fleet). I assume the battle was going on for a while (couple hours) before Alto arrived, but you couldn't tell from the way the episode flowed. I was expecting the battle to be epic but their was no Monster action, Pixie Squadron action, or Ozma action to be had. I was hoping to see Luca finally do something with his Ghosts, but again he's taken down (I don't want him to be Kakizaki-lite but that looks like how he's gonna be portrayed).

The real bright spot in the episode was NUNS Diamond Squadron showing the NUNS are not all canon fodder. I've been waiting for NUNS to show that they can do something against the Vajra. That was a nice sequence with Machida and the barrier fist punch. Hey Bandai, where's my VF-171?

I did like the bits and pieces of the larger conspiracy/future conflict given in the episode. Sheryl is going to be used/manipulated somehow to further Grace-Leon-Brera's plans. I hope more is revealed about Sheryl and how she is involved in all of this. I think she is a failed Vajra-Human hybrid while Ranka is what Grace's group has been searching for.

[ChronoReverse]

I don't see how Alto arriving doesn't make sense. The Varja jumped ignoring the fold distortions and arrived. Alto jumped maybe an hour after the Varja jumped using the prototype booster that ignores fold distortion.

Anyway, while we got plenty of awesome, this episode felt a little bit packed and rushed. But who knows, maybe they have a lot for the second half of Macross F. It's not a terrible flaw though and it was nice how even though the Frontier Fleet was winning at the end, it didn't feel much like a victory.

Edited July 12, 2008 by ChronoReverse

[Kronnang Dunn]

even though the Frontier Fleet was winning at the end, it didn't feel much like a victory.

Of course, since by now we all know that all the events so far have been Grace's doing. The President didn't want war... Now is too late...

Reminds me of... "Victory? No victory... Begun the Clone War has...".

[stray]

So like...

Did Brera turn on Leon/Grace?

All we see is Leon squinting... that's so not telling enough...

[junior]

I'm sorry to say that I gave this episode a neutral vote as i felt the good parts cancelled out the bad parts. Alto arrived on the scene way too quickly for my tastes. He was using the prototype fold pack but arrived before the Valjra baseship and flanking force even though he left after the Vajra folded (though I guess the Vajra could have been waiting for the right moment to defold behind the Frontier fleet).

Alto wouldn't have left that long after the Vajra did. The Vajra left when the Dimension Eater was activated. Alto went into orbit when the Dimension Eater was activated. There wouldn't have been much for him to do other than re-equip Michael's Fold Booster and leave for Frontier. All told, I don't think he could have been there for more than 15 minutes after the Vajra left. There's nothing that would explain him staying at Gallia 4 any longer than that.

I'm also inclined to believe that what was shown with Alto at Gallia 4 actually happened before the Vajra arrived at the Frontier fleet. Or in other words, the bits that are shown of Alto at the ruined planet take place before the Vajra arrival that's shown before and after Alto's departure from Gallia 4. It's a dramatic device that's seen in stories from time to time in order to keep the flow of the story moving properly. Alto's attitude during the scene when he retrieves the fold booster fits better with the mood evoked by the battle than it does with the relative quiet time during the earlier part of the episode. Additionally, showing Alto's departure from Gallia 4 much later helps to keep the audience from anticipating his arrival in the fight. If we saw him fold out immediately after the OP, then we would have been wondering the entire time when he was going to arrive in the battle, and possibly anticipated that he was going to be the one to save to save Luca, Michael, and Sheryl (I figured it was going to be Ozma that did so). Instead, by delaying showing his departure, they kept the audience in the dark about his impending arrival.

Of course it is possible that Alto literally left at that point in the battle. If that's the case then the fold booster was able to allow him to travel near instantaneously between Gallia 4 and Frontier. But the important thing is that either way he arrived after roughly just as much time had passed since the battle started as passed between when the Vajra left and Alto left Gallia 4. As I said earlier, I don't think that it could possibly be more than ten to fifteen minutes difference.

So like...

Did Brera turn on Leon/Grace?

All we see is Leon squinting... that's so not telling enough...

It's possible that Grace kept Leon somewhat in the dark on the true purpose of the Gallia trip.

Though I'm also wondering if Brera has at least partially turned on Grace. Somehow I don't think "Await further orders" includes "Reveal yourself to Frontier in a public announcement". Guess we'll find out soon.

I'm also guessing that the SMS group has a lot of questions that they'd like to ask him...

Edited July 12, 2008 by junior

[Isamu Starkiller]

Of course, since by now we all know that all the events so far have been Grace's doing. The President didn't want war... Now is too late...

Reminds me of... "Victory? No victory... Begun the Clone War has...".

Victory? No victory... Begun the Hax War has...". >O.o<