Monday
Sep082008
Macross Frontier 21 - Long, Long, Goodbye
Monday, September 8, 2008 at 09:44PM
Entering the post 20s of a series like this is going to get maudlin, hence my realtivly angsty title for this post. The unique thing is that for once, a show has been slowly sneaking up on the drama so that when it hits in full force, it feels natural. So excuse me while I take a more somber tone with this review, the start of the home strech.
But first, s**t blows the f**k up.
God hates hills
The battle from last week continues, minus one Michael. Ranka, Alto and Luca are still trying to get somewhere that seems important. and the new plan is to essentially blast their way in. This is where Klan comes in.
Yea, she's ready.
She skipped denial and went right to anger
One refreshing event is that Luca needs to get his plan approved through the new president. Usually, the plucky kids just save the day without all that red tape.
Does it involve the second floor? (yes, I'm going to use that joke forEVER)
And finally, we have a plan - draw in all the Vajra using Ranka, and take them out with this bomb.
Why would anyone think this was a good idea in the first place?
As suspected, Luca has pretty much checked out thanks to his abandonment of Nanase earlier in the battle. So he doesn't care when Alto expresses his disgusted in this plan by trying to knock his block off. He is none too happy that that Luca would use Ranka as bait. On a personal note, this proves Alto didn't have a clue what the plan was, so I feel somewhat justified. But Ranka pulls it together, and sings one "for the team". And you can see why she would be reluctant to sign, give the crowd she has to work with.
Usually the performer crashes and burns
In short - it works.
Um, boom?
We even get a bit of foreshadowing (pre-shadowing?) just to remind us that Grace is capital e Evil.
We get it, you were there, you caused all this, you're going to die painfully (we hope)
After the battle, we cover the aftermath. Nanase remains messed up, and per the official line, the president was killed in the battle and Ranka's brother is MIA. Reality isn't much better, as Ozma and Kathy remain on the run from the new regime. Ranka can't take the pressure anymore, and cuts and runs from the official memorial swearing never to sing again. This one somber image sums it up.
In war, this is winning
After all this, Ranka discovers her little Ai-kun is all grown up.
This is probably bad
Late that night, Alto gets a mysterious phone call asking him meet Ranka at the usually spot. Once he gets there, she has an unusual request.
Late night origami?
The girls get talking about boys, make-up tips, hair styles - Alto's mom and his motivation to become a pilot, actually. It's a cute scene, but you know it's leading up to something, which starts with the launch of Ranka's plane.
If you love something, set it free...
And almost ends when it comes back.
...if it comes back, kill it!
With this, Ranka reveals her plans to return to the Vajra homeland with Ai and Brera using the excuse that she wants to return Ai home. This probably is the real reason, but we all know there is some connection between the "Little Queen" and the Vajra, something Ranka may not even be aware of. But she is seeing bits of memory return, so maybe she knows more than she lets on. As usual, I don't know. I do know this is not a safe way to travel.
No helmet laws on the Frontier?
This is obviously the beginning of the end, as Ranka will finally confront her past while the members of the SMS deal with the new administration. It's too early to make the call, but for now, I'm guessing a not so happy ending. And I have to friggin clue what Sheryl's up to in all this...
But first, s**t blows the f**k up.
God hates hills
The battle from last week continues, minus one Michael. Ranka, Alto and Luca are still trying to get somewhere that seems important. and the new plan is to essentially blast their way in. This is where Klan comes in.
Yea, she's ready.
She skipped denial and went right to anger
One refreshing event is that Luca needs to get his plan approved through the new president. Usually, the plucky kids just save the day without all that red tape.
Does it involve the second floor? (yes, I'm going to use that joke forEVER)
And finally, we have a plan - draw in all the Vajra using Ranka, and take them out with this bomb.
Why would anyone think this was a good idea in the first place?
As suspected, Luca has pretty much checked out thanks to his abandonment of Nanase earlier in the battle. So he doesn't care when Alto expresses his disgusted in this plan by trying to knock his block off. He is none too happy that that Luca would use Ranka as bait. On a personal note, this proves Alto didn't have a clue what the plan was, so I feel somewhat justified. But Ranka pulls it together, and sings one "for the team". And you can see why she would be reluctant to sign, give the crowd she has to work with.
Usually the performer crashes and burns
In short - it works.
Um, boom?
We even get a bit of foreshadowing (pre-shadowing?) just to remind us that Grace is capital e Evil.
We get it, you were there, you caused all this, you're going to die painfully (we hope)
After the battle, we cover the aftermath. Nanase remains messed up, and per the official line, the president was killed in the battle and Ranka's brother is MIA. Reality isn't much better, as Ozma and Kathy remain on the run from the new regime. Ranka can't take the pressure anymore, and cuts and runs from the official memorial swearing never to sing again. This one somber image sums it up.
In war, this is winning
After all this, Ranka discovers her little Ai-kun is all grown up.
This is probably bad
Late that night, Alto gets a mysterious phone call asking him meet Ranka at the usually spot. Once he gets there, she has an unusual request.
Late night origami?
The girls get talking about boys, make-up tips, hair styles - Alto's mom and his motivation to become a pilot, actually. It's a cute scene, but you know it's leading up to something, which starts with the launch of Ranka's plane.
If you love something, set it free...
And almost ends when it comes back.
...if it comes back, kill it!
With this, Ranka reveals her plans to return to the Vajra homeland with Ai and Brera using the excuse that she wants to return Ai home. This probably is the real reason, but we all know there is some connection between the "Little Queen" and the Vajra, something Ranka may not even be aware of. But she is seeing bits of memory return, so maybe she knows more than she lets on. As usual, I don't know. I do know this is not a safe way to travel.
No helmet laws on the Frontier?
This is obviously the beginning of the end, as Ranka will finally confront her past while the members of the SMS deal with the new administration. It's too early to make the call, but for now, I'm guessing a not so happy ending. And I have to friggin clue what Sheryl's up to in all this...
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