MF Marathon time!!!

[Gubaba]

Yeah. Pretty funny how most of us pretty much ignored Grace for the first few episodes, until it became clearer that she was deeply involved in what was going on.

A nice bit of subtle characterisation that is rare in any dramatic entertainment. Usually villains get the sort of first screen appearance that Vader had in A New Hope with DA DA DA! music blaring in the background.

You have to wonder if Grace was always going to turn out to be the baddie when they started scripting the series.

Taksraven

Of course she was...that's not the kind of decision you make after you've started producing a series...I'm sure that bfore the first cel was painted they knew exactly what role everyone was to play.

[taksraven]

Of course she was...that's not the kind of decision you make after you've started producing a series...I'm sure that bfore the first cel was painted they knew exactly what role everyone was to play.

Of course she was by the time the first cel was painted, but I know from experience that when you are at the VERY early stages of writing, the final direction of a lot of the plot and/or characters is not always so clear.

Taksraven

[Major Focker]

Of course she was by the time the first cel was painted, but I know from experience that when you are at the VERY early stages of writing, the final direction of a lot of the plot and/or characters is not always so clear.

some writers actually opt to write that way. build a solid character, place him/her in a basic plot/premise, and just take it from there, letting the character lead the way. this can backfire pretty badly though, but when done right, it's just amazing to behold a character take on a life of its own.

i don't know if the rumors are true that sheryl was initially planned as a minor character (supposedly the triangle was 2 males + ranka), nor if the writers subscribe to this style of writing, but whatever the circumstances, i'm thankful to have seen how sheryl and grace developed the way they did, and between the two of them basically stole the MF show.

[dreamweaver13]

i don't know if the rumors are true that sheryl was initially planned as a minor character (supposedly the triangle was 2 males + ranka), nor if the writers subscribe to this style of writing, but whatever the circumstances, i'm thankful to have seen how sheryl and grace developed the way they did, and between the two of them basically stole the MF show.

Hmmm... now i'm beginning to think that Ranka-Alto-Nanase was the original triangle (with Ranka as the focal point, of course!).

thank god sheryl wasn't just a minor character.

[Sumdumgai]

I'm glad it wasn't Alto-Ranka-Nanase. Nanase's pretty much big boobs and not much else. Although it would have given a reason for Lucca to have his ghosts have a malfunction that would have caused them to attempt to shoot down Alto, after which Alto kicks Lucca's butt.

I forgot was it apples that Klan Klan was feeding an injured Michel? Or was it pineapple salad?

[RichterX]

Hmmm... now i'm beginning to think that Ranka-Alto-Nanase was the original triangle (with Ranka as the focal point, of course!).

thank god sheryl wasn't just a minor character.

was i think there is still a chance of a big love going on

Sheryl <-> Alto <-> Ranka <-? Nanase <-x Luca

[dreamweaver13]

Ok, here's a question about episode 5 (Star Date):

When Sheryl and Alto got to the train after running, and sheryl sat down, alto suddenly came close to Sheryl (much to the surprise of Sheryl) and told her, "I want to take you somewhere."

my question is, why so serious? why was alto suddenly so serious, to the point of having to go face-to-face with sheryl?

Is it because Alto suddenly had an inexplicable passion to show sheryl the zentraedi island?

or is it because he found out in the previous scene that Ranka and Michael were headed the same way?

[Major Focker]

Ok, here's a question about episode 5 (Star Date):

When Sheryl and Alto got to the train after running, and sheryl sat down, alto suddenly came close to Sheryl (much to the surprise of Sheryl) and told her, "I want to take you somewhere."

my question is, why so serious? why was alto suddenly so serious, to the point of having to go face-to-face with sheryl?

Is it because Alto suddenly had an inexplicable passion to show sheryl the zentraedi island?

or is it because he found out in the previous scene that Ranka and Michael were headed the same way?

from the way he looked, i thought he had zentradi-sized crap on the way, and had to go to folmo.

[RedWolf]

Ok, here's a question about episode 5 (Star Date):

When Sheryl and Alto got to the train after running, and sheryl sat down, alto suddenly came close to Sheryl (much to the surprise of Sheryl) and told her, "I want to take you somewhere."

my question is, why so serious? why was alto suddenly so serious, to the point of having to go face-to-face with sheryl?

Is it because Alto suddenly had an inexplicable passion to show sheryl the zentraedi island?

or is it because he found out in the previous scene that Ranka and Michael were headed the same way?

Likely the later.

Besides would you trust a girl like Ranka to a guy whose Rep is a womanizer?

[DeeBot]

my question is, why so serious? why was alto suddenly so serious, to the point of having to go face-to-face with sheryl?

Is it because Alto suddenly had an inexplicable passion to show sheryl the zentraedi island?

or is it because he found out in the previous scene that Ranka and Michael were headed the same way?

I always figured it was just because he saw something out the window that made him think, after she mentioned how she'd never gotten much exposure to the bio-plant ships, "She's got to see this!" I think it's telling that the first place they visit is a hippocow farm, not the mall. I think that was more of an accident.

[Gubaba]

I'm glad it wasn't Alto-Ranka-Nanase. Nanase's pretty much big boobs and not much else.

Not true. She's also a cute pair of glasses, nice hair, and a fine artist.

Not that I'm, y'know, biased or anything...

[d3v]

Of course she was...that's not the kind of decision you make after you've started producing a series...I'm sure that bfore the first cel was painted they knew exactly what role everyone was to play.

Agreed! You don't cast Kikuko Inoue, someone who's range goes from A!MG's Belldandy to MGS3's the Boss if you don't plan to use her to the fullest.

Not true. She's also a cute pair of glasses, nice hair, and a fine artist.

Not that I'm, y'know, biased or anything...

I am of the opinion that you need to change your username to Luca-kun or something.

Edited October 6, 2008 by d3v

[dreamweaver13]

Likely the later.

Besides would you trust a girl like Ranka to a guy whose Rep is a womanizer?

That's what i was thinking too. it would make sense because he was also concerned about ranka (he knows that she was suspended). and he tried to call her but couldn't reach her.

but it's completely inconsistent with his behavior when he got to Folmo. he didn't seem to be looking for anyone in particular, and he was more surprised than sheryl was when he heard ranka singing.

[Kai]

Not true. She's also a cute pair of glasses, nice hair, and a fine artist.

Not that I'm, y'know, biased or anything...

All true save for one small detail: instead of the glasses she could get away with a pirate style eyepatch and a monocle now

[Shaka_Z]

well... I have just now gotten through ep 5 on my own marathon.

honestly, I dont think alto was really concerned about ranka when he decided to take sheryl to island 3. What I DO beleive is that having seen that michel had managed to find her, and given that he knows what ozma would do to anyone who took advantage of ranka (ESPECIALLY if that unfortunate soul were one of his subordinates), alto decided that he was free to actually enjoy himself by showing sheryl around, which he did quite well if I must say so. their running into ranka and michel at formo was simple coincidence, as ranka was deliberately wandering the islands as randomly as possible just for the sake of being a PITA to michel whenever he brought up the idea of going back to ozma. the only way he even got her to stop at formo was to buy her ice cream.

I must also note that this is the episode where klan and sheryl identified that they could be friends btw - klan thought she was weird at first for scribbling on a pair of macro-panties, but as soon as sheryl voiced the line 'because they can't stand not to' to finish klan's reply to alto's question, they looked at each other and the look that passed between them just screamed you're kool in my book, we gotta hang out sometime.

some have taken sheryl's look at the end when she invited alto to her farewell concert as disappointment that he seemed to take the offer as a bribe to keep him on the lookout for the earring or something. frankly, I dont see it. the way alto toned his response struck me as 'I was going to keep looking for it anyway, but since you want to see me again, I'll make sure I find it by then'. that tone in his response touched her so much that she launched the first of what we would come to know as the 'sheryl nome liplock attack' , although she intentionally hit his cheek this first time. note that alto did not suffer a BSOD this first time, and the look he gave her as she walked away struck me as speaking volumes about his developing romantic interest in her. not ONCE in the entire series did he look at ranka in even a remotely similar fashion.

ok shipping done lol. couldnt help myself. dammit I need to find a girl that can make me suffer a BSOD when she kisses me - thankfully most of my higher brain systems run linux only the speech centers run windows atm, so I wouldnt have any problem reciprocating hehe.

[whispo]

One funny thing in episode 1. When SMS gets their launch orders, Ozma send Gilliam out to go get Michel and Luca then screams up at the microphone to Canaria that they're heading out ..... but in the shot before that you can clearly see that she's just standing on the other side of the table . That Ozma always has to scream ^^

[RichterX]

One funny thing in episode 1. When SMS gets their launch orders, Ozma send Gilliam out to go get Michel and Luca then screams up at the microphone to Canaria that they're heading out ..... but in the shot before that you can clearly see that she's just standing on the other side of the table . That Ozma always has to scream ^^

you have to scream at the women to do what you want them to do...

[Gubaba]

I am of the opinion that you need to change your username to Luca-kun or something.

I prefer the term "Nanasist," thank you very much.

[dreamweaver13]

I prefer the term "Nanasist," thank you very much.

If at any point in the series, Ai-Kun had rested on or between Nanase's bossom, Gubaba would have changed his name right there and then.

oh well, there's still the movie. who knows?

[Major Focker]

If at any point in the series, Ai-Kun had rested on or between Nanase's bossom, Gubaba would have changed his name right there and then.

oh well, there's still the movie. who knows?

and ai-kun did. nanase was hugging ranka and ai-kun squeezes/wiggles between their bossoms. lucky critter..

[dreamweaver13]

and ai-kun did. nanase was hugging ranka and ai-kun squeezes/wiggles between their bossoms. lucky critter..

yeah but that was just a split second. i was thinking more along the lines of gurren lagann and Boota consistently playing around in yoko's boobies.

[DeeBot]

Up to episode 11. Noticed a few things here and there in earlier episodes, but a couple of things jumped out at me this episode that I didn't catch before.

First, the exact moment Sheryl decides on Alto's birthday present is after she collapses and is talking to Grace. She mentions how they still haven't settled on security for the trip to Gallia-4. That's when she lights up with an idea--she obviously just thought of asking Alto to be her escort. This also clearly establishes that Sheryl didn't think of this until after she ran into Ranka.

Second, Ranka gets the recipe for the cookies from Nanase--it's the first time she's ever used that recipe. We're led to believe that Ranka is a decent cook, I think, so the bitterness may be all Nanase's fault--maybe Nanase isn't as good a cook as she is an artist.

A few things I'm pretty sure were mentioned before, but I only really noticed this time: Hydras all over the Folmo mall in episode 5. Zentradi seem to treat them like pet cats. That the hydra population would then be culled... it'd be like exterminating all the pet dogs/cats in a city, because of a rabies outbreak. People would probably be upset.

It really gets me thinking about the threads of racism in Frontier. We see a bit of it in SDF:M (understandably), relatively little of it in Macross 7 (where the Zentradi seem fully integrated), but it seems to be a very conscious element in Frontier. I have to keep wondering if it's laying the groundwork for something, or maybe Kawamori's just making a commentary on xenophobia in Japanese society.

Klan mentions in episode 9, and again in episode 11, about how her (and Nene's) ancestors were part of the Zentradi that sided with humanity at the very beginning (Britai's cultured fleet, pretty much). The 33rd Marines are from the part of the Zentradi that only sided with humanity after the war, because they didn't have a choice (Kamjin and his ilk, presumably). I wonder why she doesn't include Raramia in that; maybe she's not as close to her as she is to Nene. Klan and Nene are probably very good friends, Raramia might just be someone who fills out the squadron.

Episode 9, we definitely see the first indications of Brera's physical form within the virtual cockpit. It's much briefer than the look we get later, but you can definitely make out the outlines of his helmet and such when he gets shot at by Klan.

Interesting combat sequence in episode 9: It goes by so fast, but Brera shoots down all of Alto's missile swarm. However, the explosions leave a smoke screen so thick that Alto is able to punch through and take out Brera's leg by surprise. Rather clever on Alto's part, if intentional, or even improvised.

Rewatching these episodes, I feel like I'm getting a handle on Alto's character. His basic personality is that he's a loner; the only person he ever seemed close to was his mother. He doesn't really have any friends as of the start of the series, even though everyone seems to know and like him. He's that inexplicably popular guy that would rather just be left alone. He only starts changing his loner tendencies once Ranka (and then Sheryl) arrive in his life and start shaking things up. A lot of his awkwardness makes sense when viewed through this lens. The arc of his character development in the series is all about learning to rely on others (not flying alone).

Edited October 7, 2008 by DeeBot

[RedWolf]

Klan mentions in episode 9, and again in episode 11, about how her (and Nene's) ancestors were part of the Zentradi that sided with humanity at the very beginning (Britai's cultured fleet, pretty much). The 33rd Marines are from the part of the Zentradi that only sided with humanity after the war, because they didn't have a choice (Kamjin and his ilk, presumably). I wonder why she doesn't include Raramia in that; maybe she's not as close to her as she is to Nene. Klan and Nene are probably very good friends, Raramia might just be someone who fills out the squadron.

Ever so quiet Raramia seems to me a homage to two full blooded Meltrans.

Veffidas Feaze who doesn't talk much except when parting words of wisdom and asking Mylene once who does she really like. Veffidas was a recently cultured Zentradi. The same may be true of Raramia thus the tomboy look.

In terms of the name and character design Raramia resembles a grown up Moaramia if she kept her boyish hair and had red hair instead of purple. They even have the same skin tone.

Too bad they killed her.

[Prime]

Going to burn the series to DVD tonight and start the marathon. I'm sure there are so many things I have forgotten over the weeks. I have the lower end Lunar subs. What are the best ones for burning?

[dreamweaver13]

Klan mentions in episode 9, and again in episode 11, about how her (and Nene's) ancestors were part of the Zentradi that sided with humanity at the very beginning (Britai's cultured fleet, pretty much). The 33rd Marines are from the part of the Zentradi that only sided with humanity after the war, because they didn't have a choice (Kamjin and his ilk, presumably). I wonder why she doesn't include Raramia in that; maybe she's not as close to her as she is to Nene. Klan and Nene are probably very good friends, Raramia might just be someone who fills out the squadron.

actually just finished re-watching ep11 last night and this is also something i wanted to discuss; you beat me to it.

i presumed that the entire pixie squadron are zentraedi, but after realizing in ep11 that klan only makes mention of the zentraedi as ancestors in reference to herself and Nene only; and that Nene is the only one who seems close enough to Klan to call her nee-san, is it possible that Raramia is not actually a zentraedi? could she be a zolan? (for the M7 experts out there, can zolans be macronized in the first place?) (or for those who have finished their marathons, have we ever seen raramia in macro size in the first place?)

[Gubaba]

actually just finished re-watching ep11 last night and this is also something i wanted to discuss; you beat me to it.

i presumed that the entire pixie squadron are zentraedi, but after realizing in ep11 that klan only makes mention of the zentraedi as ancestors in reference to herself and Nene only; and that Nene is the only one who seems close enough to Klan to call her nee-san, is it possible that Raramia is not actually a zentraedi? could she be a zolan? (for the M7 experts out there, can zolans be macronized in the first place?) (or for those who have finished their marathons, have we ever seen raramia in macro size in the first place?)

Yes, Zolans can be macronized, but Raramia seems to be lacking the two-tone hair that is the mark of a Zolan. Still, according to the first Frontier novel, Michael is part Zolan, even though they established in D7 that Zolans can't mate with humans (and presumably Zentradi).

In other words, who knows? Anything seems possible...

[d3v]

Yes, Zolans can be macronized, but Raramia seems to be lacking the two-tone hair that is the mark of a Zolan. Still, according to the first Frontier novel, Michael is part Zolan, even though they established in D7 that Zolans can't mate with humans (and presumably Zentradi).

Wait, was that bit about Michel ever considered canon in the actual TV series?

[Gubaba]

Wait, was that bit about Michel ever considered canon in the actual TV series?

No clue.

To quote E. R. Eddison: "Who knows? And who shall say he knows?"

[dreamweaver13]

To quote E. R. Eddison: "Who knows? And who shall say he knows?"

a lot. and I ain't naming names. haha.

[dreamweaver13]

1) Ok after watching ep 12:

remember that scene before WTF-1, where alto was flying, with ranka in the backseat? there was this moment where i thought they looked at each other, caught each other looking at him/her, and both blushed and laughed about it. i thought this was actually one instance that alto showed some interest towards ranka.

i apparently got that wrong. right before that moment, alto was looking to his left, saying "sky". he was looking longingly at the sky. Ranka, on the other hand, was also looking to her left, but presumably she was thinking about being alone with alto. two entirely different things. they caught themselves daydreaming about two different things (well, i don't know if ranka knows what alto was thinking about).

2) In ep 11, when the ranka gang found out about the uprising in Galia 4 (and in fact even saw sheryl fall sick from the plane), all she could think of was "Alto..."

In Ep 12, when Michael said that ranka and alto could have been affected by the d-pulse (and at worst, both of them could have crashed), all sheryl could think about was "Alto..."

Are these 2 really friends, or what?

[Sumdumgai]

Yes, Zolans can be macronized, but Raramia seems to be lacking the two-tone hair that is the mark of a Zolan. Still, according to the first Frontier novel, Michael is part Zolan, even though they established in D7 that Zolans can't mate with humans (and presumably Zentradi).

In other words, who knows? Anything seems possible...

In addition to what Gubaba mentions, we saw Raramia macronized at the end of Episode 4 when Klan Klan got out of her Q-rea and sauntered over to her teammates.

[dreamweaver13]

In addition to what Gubaba mentions, we saw Raramia macronized at the end of Episode 4 when Klan Klan got out of her Q-rea and sauntered over to her teammates.

at least that's one question down. on the other hand, if zolans can macronize, then it's still possible. looking at her, she does have pointy ears, moreso than a regular zentraedi. maybe a half-zolan/zentraedi? oh well, who knows?

[wolfx]

at least that's one question down. on the other hand, if zolans can macronize, then it's still possible. looking at her, she does have pointy ears, moreso than a regular zentraedi. maybe a half-zolan/zentraedi? oh well, who knows?

I don't get how ppl are hypothesizing that Ramaria isn't meltran? Did Klan gave her the shaft somewhere in the series?

And i doubt she's Zolan. She lacks the pouch in those belly-showing lineart.

[dreamweaver13]

I don't get how ppl are hypothesizing that Ramaria isn't meltran? Did Klan gave her the shaft somewhere in the series?

And i doubt she's Zolan. She lacks the pouch in those belly-showing lineart.

not really hypothesising, just wondering. klan did sort of exclude her when it came to discussing the zentraedis as their ancestors.

[Sumdumgai]

I don't get how ppl are hypothesizing that Ramaria isn't meltran? Did Klan gave her the shaft somewhere in the series?

And i doubt she's Zolan. She lacks the pouch in those belly-showing lineart.

Huh, have we seen a Zolan's bare belly before to see what the pouch looks like? Did Michel have a pouch or psuedo pouch?