Macross Frontier: Continuing the BS
What happened to you, Macross? You used to be cool.
I’m quite certain that there are loads of people in the ani-blogosphere who are still complaining about what a total disaster the finale of Macross Frontier was. I felt that the last episode had been rushed and too much drastic changes took place. For example, after everyone finally found out that Grace had been their true enemy from the very beginning, they all seemed to accept the betrayal pretty easily and the Vajra suddenly became one of the good guys. Despite Brera and Alto’s conflict throughout the series, they worked really well together in order to destroy Grace and for a split second, although I’m aware half of you probably didn’t take notice, Alto touched his stomach when he was informed that the Vajra’s heart was located in its stomach. I mean, you’re in a middle of a crisis—-the last thing you’d want to do is lose focus.
Yes, Alto, THAT is your stomach
I know Ranka’s orange outfit made her extremely cute, but how the hell did her clothes change from the white dress she was originally wearing? She was supposed to be the Little Queen, but I don’t remember anyone signing up for the role of a magician. When she slapped Sheryl across the face, it was terribly weak. Also, Alto should have blown up and died instead if he wasn’t going to make a final decision between Sheryl and Ranka in the end anyway. I was hoping that if not death, at least one of them would get over him and move on. Near the end of the last episode, Ranka explained the meaning of the lullaby, but even in knowing what Aimo meant, it held little significance because there was hardly any time to sink it in before something else happened. I was fond of Ranka ever since the first episode, but she proved to be somewhat annoying as time passed; in the final episode, it was like watching the same child grow up all over again, but the excitement just wasn’t there anymore. At times, her depression and confusion made me less sympathetic and more irritated; she was so dependent on others like Brera and Alto that she was abruptly okay whenever they were present. Sheryl’s flirtatious behaviour made me never take her seriously, but she was more mature and confident than Ranka, so I came to find Sheryl likable. Plus her slapping ability was more epic.
Overall, the main reason I followed Macross Frontier was because I loved the quality of the animation and the characters. I wasn’t exactly entirely captivated every second, but it was a really good series—-just not the best. Perhaps if the last episode was better, my opinion on the whole series would hold less negativity. Like a book, the beginning and end need to be good, while the events in between make the story an interesting story. In this case, it was quite the reverse: I didn’t really like the start since it wasn’t enough to draw me in, but I kept with Macross Frontier anyway because people were telling me how good it was. The ending was just horrible, and although a few seconds of watching some of the fight scenes were thrilling, what I really enjoyed most of the series was how Alto, Ranka and Sheryl’s relationship unfolded, and how mysterious the Vajra initially were. When we found out that the Vajra were just like humans—-bemused by how different they were to each other that they fought—-it was like listening to a totally crappier version of Ranka conveying Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream”.
PS. I was planning on drawing a comic, but I haven’t used the tablet in a while so up there was the best I could do.
Well Kawamori did send out a subtle signal with the sight of Battle Galaxy that mecha action would dominate the last episode, which effectively made episode 24 the last serious episode before things got ham fisted and cheesy. Prior to there never was a Macross on Macross fight and when it came it was the fulfillment of every Macross Vet’s dreams.
Macross is still very much a mecha series that more often or not defies most anime conventions, hence why all the shippers were trolled and trolled hard. I think that given how much Sheryl and Alto-hime bonded together that they did end up together. Ranka on the other hand had it far worse and seemed to suffer more from the budget cuts than most. I elaborated this in a tl;dr post, but perhaps Ranka was intended as a criticism of moe. It just seems too odd for the neglect of Ranka to have been a mistake and since Kawamori has been doing this for a long time and can certainly make a good character, I am inclined to belive that Ranka deliberately got the shaft.
As a mecha series Macross Frontier is still one of the best. As shipping fodder it sucks because Kawamori isn’t playing that game and will troll because he can. He had ozma raise oh so many death flags only to rub our faces in his survival, that alone should have been a sign to all that Kawamori is nuts.
Perhaps its a difference of opinion, I personally thought the last episode was pretty good
Cokematics last blog post..Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu – her secret is safe with me
I think you are being overly critical of the series
. It is in essence a mecha anime so you shouldn’t expect too much from the love triangle. However, i could understand that the triangle needs to be solved sooner rather than later. Maybe they would do that in the upcoming movie? Anyway, the mecha battles in the final episode was amazing 
, though a little more emphasis on Battle Frontier destroying Battle Galaxy would have been welcome 
.
Setsuna-sans last blog post..Love and Anime
at least we got a cartoon out of it! I’m for the return of these cartoons.
“What happened to you, Macross? You used to be cool.”
(._.’) My thoughts exactly. Yurgh, hopefully the new fall season?
And I think that drawing’s cute. Of course, comics are always welcomed, welcomed.
Hoshis last blog post..Toradora
Oh, that is it. I was expecting carnage, and mecha fights, and death, and all I get from Macross Frontier is groans instead of lulz.
How are anime bloggers supposed to provoke discussion if the ending of an anime is hardly worth discussing? I feel gypped, so I’m going to watch Starship Operators with IKnight instead of trudging through this liquidy cheese. At least we’ll get a sort of David and Margaret kind of review going:
“But DAVID! I thought we saw a different film!” is a rare but humorous remark that occasionally happens on that At the Movies show, and when it happens, it’s worth sitting through weeks since it happened last time on another episode…
newgeekphilosophers last blog post..Macross Frontier: Continuing the BS
It’s nothing but a cop-out that the love triangle wasn’t made more conclusive. I mean, come on, the first lyric sung from episode one was asking who he is gonna kiss—some girl or the other; and so, it’s only natural that we expect this question be fully answered instead of the ambiguous ending of Alto stretching his hand toward both of them. It was just pathetic to see the two girls accepting each other’s challenge for more of Alto’s love and saying this is just the beginning.
It does not show that Kawamori was being original; it only shows how greedy they are in trying to lure us to see the movie.
One thing I have loved so much about another anime True Tears was that it was a bold show willing to make a bold conclusion. No cop-out there. The male lead chose one girl over the other definitively—he went up to one girl and told her unequivocally that he had truly and completely fallen in love with the other girl and that he could not be with the first girl anymore. Then they parted way.
Twenty five years has past, but yet still same old plotline. Even the Vajra evolved far more than that in 25 episodes.
bakanekos last blog post..Five more days—gundam 00 ss
@Setsuna-san: True, but Macross and Code Geass are about the only two shows I’ve ever seen and finished that had mecha in it lols, so I was more into the relationships and characters rather than the actual plot itself. Besides, I didn’t understand half of what was going on besides a war against the Vajra.
@bakaneko: true tears :3
I liked the ending, the song medley was great. I did hate that Alto didn’t pick a girl, but maybe with the movie coming we’ll get that resolution. I do agree that the end was rushed, and that all of the important developments were glossed over. I loved episode 21, but I think Ranka’s development needed more than one episode and a lot more explication. She still remained my favorite character throughout the series, and I love that she’s the only woman whose flown shotgun with Alto.
Character relationships? Love triangles? Haha, I don’t care about those. All I want is MISSILE SPAM.
Omisyths last blog post..Macross Frontier: Continuing the BS
“…it was a really good series—-just not the best.”
My thoughts exactly. I thought the ending was really epic, but it wasn’t a very character-driven final episode, which would be a disappointment if that’s what you were hoping for. I found the constant homage and referencing to older Macross shows got in the way at times – it never seemed to completely escape the shadow of what went before. Excellent soundtrack though – I’m looking forward to the second CD as and when it comes out.
Despite the small criticisms I outlined in my own tl;dr post, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy it. Because it’s Macross, which is reason enough for me to say I loved it. Oh yeah, although it wasn’t outlined explicitly (it was more implied I think) we got a Sheryl End. ^_^
Martins last blog post..Allison to Lillia and the Nice Flying Boat arc: why am I still watching this?
My mind was blown in the last episode; Never have I experienced watching a final battle which was one huge karaoke session.
Leave your response!
Navigation
Comments
Categories
Poll
Authors
Links
Meta
Affiliates
Recent Posts
Most Commented
Most Viewed