Macross 7 Part 2 Episodes 6-10

While the Macross fleet continues to fend off an unknown Alien threat, Fire Bomber continues to gain more traction through concerts and Basara’s antics on the battlefield.  But those same antics and Basara’s attitude also threaten to burn out Fire Bomber’s star before it can even rise.  Meanwhile, Mylene finds herself warming to Gamlin, one of the Macross’ top pilots, who’s determined to put Basara’s music on the battlefield philosophy to the test and discover the secret behind his one of a kind Valkyrie.

Ok, I have to ask: Am I missing something with Macross 7?  Is this show really a beloved entry in the Macross franchise beyond its music?  Because I’m finding it hard to find reasons why anyone actually likes this show.  The lead hero (if you can call him that) is increasingly infuriating.  The action is so dismal and boring and any semblance of the majesty, bad assness and high octane fun found in the original Macross is nowhere to be found 10 episodes in.  Maybe I’m missing the point of Macross 7.  Maybe it’s supposed to be a parody I shouldn’t take to seriously.  Only problem with that is: parodies are supposed to be fun and funny…and Macross 7 is neither of those right now.  Jeez, this is gonna be a very long and painful experience, isnt it?
 
Since I’m sure I’ll be doing this with every review a la Tuxedo Mask or Tamaki Suoh, I’m just gonna go ahead and start each review going forward with a Basara S*** List.  So, what did the manchild do wrong in this set of episodes?  Let’s start with pouting at a music festival because he’s so hung up on having to fire a missile to defend himself and save lives at the end of the Premiere last time (personally though I think he’s also pissed that there’s other music in this Macross show and it sounds both good and arguably better than his).  Basara’s hang up on this extends into a moment that really set me off: when Gamlin’s life and the lives of his band are hanging in the balance…and Basara wont stop singing and actually save them.  This bone headed asshat cant get it through his thick, self absorbed ego that his music isnt swaying anyone and is ticking them off more than anything.  He thinks he’s Gods answer to universal peace when really he’s going to get more people killed than saved because he wants to mope when things don’t go his way.  It’s actually a miracle Basara has a band at all considering how poorly he treats them, especially Mylene, who he berates so badly for “not getting it” that she quits the band temporarily.  This is our hero folks: an overgrown manchild who will let the universe burn because he cant get with the program.  I’d say “and they gave this idiot a mecha” but that’s a discussion for later in the review.
 
Ok before I continue with the things I dislike, how about things I do like?  I like Mylene.  She’s the voice of reason in this dysfunctional cast of idiots, incompetents and enabelers (and that includes her parents btw).  She wants Fire Bomber to succeed on a larger scale even when her bands leader refuses to do so cause “they don’t get it”.  Here’s a hot take: Mylene is the real heroine of Macross 7 and not Basara.  She may have her emotional freak outs but theyre kind of hilarious.  And she’s the one who is saving more people with her voice and music than Basara.  We see this when she manages to restore the lost Spiritia taken from her idol, Alice Holiday, with a song that’s the best Fire Bomber’s done so far.  Mylene has a better voice and presence than Basara (yes beyond her cute character design).  Also, I like her scenes with Gamlin.  Sadly, this is setting up the traditional Macross Love Triangle which probably means Basara will be the one to complete it.  Though, much like Hikaru, Misa and Minmei, the answer is obvious: Gamlin should be the one Mylene chooses but we’ll get more into that in later episodes, I’m sure.
 
Speaking of Gamlin, he’s the closest to a traditional Macross hero we have in Macross 7.  He’s also asking all the right questions everyone else is too dumb to ask: why the hell is Basara piloting a state of the art Valkyrie and why is it top secret?  Considering Basara has constantly show up to cause havoc on the battlefield with his attempts at musical peace, Gamlins got a right to be upset with him.  But why is everyone else, including Max, just ok with Basara doing his thing without consequence?  We learn that Ray is the one who gave the VF19 to Basara but that’s apparently for “field testing”.  Gamlin’s being taken for a fool but at least he isnt gambling with the lives of the entire Macross 7 populace just so Basara can keep making things worse.  I do have a theory about the VF19 and Basara’s “importance” to it but I feel like I should save that for a later review (maybe the next one), once I watch a bit more.  Plus, like I said, Gamlin’s scenes with Mylene are classic Macross, very cute and it’s good to see him less uptight around a cute girl.
 
Everything else that didn’t work with the Premiere of Macross 7 isnt getting any better either.  The action is full of animation that is either subpar or constantly reused.  It’s not like the original Macross isnt guilty of this but at least it looked groundbreaking and amazing at the time.  This is the first Macross TV Sequel since the original in 1982 (Macross II and Macross Plus were both OVA sequels).  You’d think the production would want to make Macross 7’s mecha, action and overall animation look a notch above the rest.  The series is also hitting a similar roadblock as the original: the music.  There’s no denying Fire Bomber’s tracks are solid jams…but even Minmei’s best music fell victim to being constantly repeated.  I like “My Soul For You” but I’m actually getting sick of hearing Basara belt it out when people are in danger and he isnt helping.  Considering how lengthy of a discography Macross 7 has thanks to Fire Bomber, I guess I’ve been expecting a new song every other episode or so.  I just hope Mylene’s debut lead singer single “Sweet Fantasy” doesn’t end up getting overplayed too.  After all, she’s got a better voice than Basara, there I said it.
 
Suffice to say, if Macross 7 has any hype behind it, it’s not even close to meeting it.  Basara continues to be dead weight the show refuses to throw away and even the use of music is beginning to grate.  I didn’t even talk about how repetitive the villain plots have become and how quickly their attacks are over before they even begin.  Sigh, at least Mylene is a shining beacon of hope for my sanity and the Macross 7’s future…honestly if she does end up being the ships savoir and Basara throws a pouty fit over it, that will guarantee this series at least a 7/10.  The journey into the madness of Macross 7 continues Next Monday right here at the Gundam Anime Corner.