Macross 7 Part 3 Episodes 11-15

In a surprise attack, the Aliens pursuing the Macross 7 manage to separate the Battle and City sections through an emergency space fold.  As Max and Diamond Squadron desperately search for their missing civilian population, Millia must try to keep the peace with few unaware of what has actually transpired.  Luckily, Fire Bomber is there to support her with their increasingly popular music but is enough to repel more Alien attacks?

It’s amazing that even when something pretty big happens in Macross 7…it’s still Macross 7.  It’ll probably just say “eh, no biggie” and just get on with life.  While that can be a positive in favor of the situation some of the characters find themselves in, Basara and Fire Bomber still exist so that means any semblance of urgency and drama is going out the window because Basara just wants to be lazy and jam when he wants to.  Anyway, onto Part 3 of 10 (dammit I need to stop reminding myself of how long this entire series is going to be).
 
Today on the Basara S*** List we once again turn to his “I don’t wanna do it cause you guys don’t get it”.  What is IT? What the heck is he talking about and why does it dictate whatever he does?  Twice in this set of episodes, Basara is presented with the very real reality of just how deep in trouble the Macross 7 is and both times, he acts like it just doesn’t matter.  The first time is when Ray is trying to reason with Basara when the lazy rocker refuses to do a film about the history of Lynn Minmei cause he just sees it as Military propaganda when really it’s something to ease peoples minds about the real danger the aliens pose.  The second is during a fight scene when Mylene takes control of her Mom’s Valkyrie and attacks the Aliens while Basara just plays the same damn song (AGAIN!!!) and bemoans Mylene for actually helping when he “had it under control”.  Mylene points out just how destructive Basara’s antics really are when the festival is on fire and civilians are terrified.  Again, I have an idea why Basara has the VF19 and why he’s pushing so hard on his “logic”, but he’s still a selfish idiot and wont listen to the needs of others unless they’re listening to him play the same song that I’m really, really getting sick of.
 
Anyway, the real meat of the set was the start of a kind of “Lost in Space” arc for Macross 7.  Now if this were a more serious Macross, there’s a lot of drama and opportunity to be mined from this scenario.  This goes double for Millia, who finds herself having to keep the true scope of City 7’s current situation under wraps while trying to find a way to defend the civilians without the full military to assist her.  And, to be fair, Millia does suit up (looking damn good as always) and ride into battle once again.  This did make me smile seeing a classic Macross Vet back in action and presenting some of the best action in the show so far, seriously it puts everything else to shame.  It was also fun to see piloting runs in the family as Mylene showed she’s got the chops to be a great pilot herself, even her mother was impressed.
 
As good as that stuff is, it still doesn’t mask the stink Macross 7 has in abundance and what time could be dedicated to getting the Macross whole again or tracking down the Aliens who caused this whole mess still hiding in City 7, we’re still sitting around with Fire Bomber and their usual band antics.  Clearly this show wants to be more musically focused than other Macross entries but that ruins the near perfect balance OG Macross and Macross Plus had when it came to their storytelling.  Macross had its three main characters but we an ensemble piece while Macross Plus had a smaller cast that had a more personal tale to tell.  Macross 7 is just Fire Bomber this and Fire Bomber that.  How about we spend an episode with just Millia and Mylene or with Max and Gamlin and Diamond Squad.  Point is, Fire Bomber could use a break so we can focus on more important Macross matters…but this is Macross 7, the likelihood of that happening is just as high as Fire Bomber no longer playing Planet F’ing Dance for the millionth time.  Honestly, the scene where Dr. Chiba subjects Gamlin to Planet Dance mirrors my misery watching this show.
 
Some other odds and ends to touch on.  We still don’t know the name of the Alien antagonists but a major clue was dropped after Millia manages to capture one: they’re human.  That’s definitely something that could shock the populace if they knew they were battling other Human beings.  That said, we still don’t know much about these guys or what their interest in “Spiritia” is or what Spiritia even is.  I feel like we knew a lot more about the Zentradi 15 episodes into OG Macross.  Speaking of OG Macross, I’ll admit, the film project about the life and times of Minmei around the First Zentradi War does feel like a classic Macross premise.  It even comes with more classic Minmei tracks and even some tunes from Macross Plus, both of which are very welcome in this Fire Bomber heavy torture fest (I cant believe I missed hearing “My Boyfriend is a Pilot).  Lastly, more OG Macross shout outs.  While I feel like Max and Millia individually are being constantly character assassinated for being hollow shells of their former selves and seem at times really incompetent or bad at their jobs, when they share the screen together, the old Max and Millia are back.  Max letting his guard down and admitting to his former wife that he’s got a bad feeling about what’s coming feels like a scene a proper Macross sequel should have.  Too bad this isnt a longer scene, we need more of them please.
 
Macross 7 actually tried to progress its plot beyond the holding pattern its been in since the first episode.  And while this set did have stuff to legit enjoy, it’s not enough to pull Macross 7 out of the continuous nosedive it still finds itself in thanks to Basara and the one song he wants to play over and over and over again, which robs the current Macross separation arc of much of its urgency and drama.  I mean it’s no biggie right?  One part of the ship in one part of the galaxy and another elsewhere?  Whatever, who wants to hear Planet Dance again…NOT ME!!!!!  Ugh, Macross 7 continues on Friday right here at the Gundam Anime Corner…ugh.