Macross 7 Part 4 Episodes 16-20

Hope is on the rise for the Macross 7 as both of its separate halves are on the verge of a reunion.  But when the Aliens unleash a new weapon against Battle 7’s defenses, everything goes horribly wrong.  Against an enemy faster, smaller and more deadly than anything the Macross 7 has faced before, all eyes turn to Fire Bomber, specifically Basara, who’s music is beginning to have an effect on the enemy.  But is this really what Basara wants from his music?

It might be kind of hard to believe but after 15 episodes of predominant nonsense, Macross 7 actually decided to try taking things a bit more seriously, emphasis on “a bit”.  The action ramps up, the stakes are raised and…of course Basara isnt taking anything seriously unless it has something to do with music (and even then he’s still not taking it seriously, you know we’ll talk about that more in a second).  Still, it cant be ignored that Macross 7 did try to be something more than what it has been.  How did it do so and yet still continues to fall flat on its face?  Let’s start with the obvious.
 
Time once again for the Basara BS List.  His ego has reached a new high now that’s he’s seen his music is having a genuine effect on the “Aliens” (more on those quotes in a bit).  While he’s not quite “I’m invincible” he’s still in his “I’m always right and you don’t get it mode”.   As we continue to see, unless it’s playing actual music, Basara doesn’t want to be bothered with virtually anything.  It’s a wonder he’s even got a band when he refuses to promote it or do anything to get the word out like Mylene would want (Ray’s his enabler and Veffidas isnt doing much to be honest).  But my biggest gripe of all? I’M SICK AND FREAKING TIRED OF PLANET DANCE!!!!!  Seriously, I’ve started muting the show whenever the song comes on.  I’m watching with subtitles so I’m not missing much but my ears actively hate that song.  Ray can be happy the songs Number One on the Macross Charts but it’s hard not to accomplish that when it’s THE ONLY SONG THEY EVER PLAY!!! (well that and Totsugeki Love Heart).  You know Mylene hit the nail on the head with one line to sum up Basara, “Basara’s never gonna change until he dies.”  Why do I get the feeling he’s gonna have zero character growth in 49 episodes?
 
Well last time we saw Macross get split in half with City 7 and Battle 7 getting separated by a space fold.  While the show didn’t really acknowledge just how big of a deal this really is, todays set of episodes did provide us decent action and a raising of the stakes with the introduction of Sivil.  She may look like a hot alien girl straight out of Tenchi Muyo but Sivil’s able to do worse on her own than any of the Aliens have thus far (and they’ve done plenty but that’s more on how really bad at their job the Battle 7 defense forces are at this point).  Seeing her singlehandedly wipe out Battle 7’s advance fleet and tear Diamond Force to shreds was chilling.  Poor Gamlin had to watch one of his co pilots die followed by Sivil stealing his commanding officers Spiritia and leaving him a helpless scared wreck.  As a menace, Sivil is an improvement but she isnt perfect, not when she’s totally getting all hot and bothered by Basara’s music (I’m not kidding, they aren’t shameful about how it turns her on).
 
Like I hinted above, Battle 7’s doing a terrible job at their actual jobs.  Even if the advanced force was wiped out by Sivil, why is Max taking his sweet time getting the rest of the fleet to City 7?  The only working Valkyrie in City 7 is Basara’s (Fare the well Millia’s classic Valkyrie, unless you’re Basara’s mech everything else is on borrowed time).  It’s no wonder City 7 got snatched away again cause Max waited til it was too late to do anything about it.  It almost completely undoes the bad assness of seeing Battle 7’s transformation sequence, complete with a really big gun.  There should be more urgency to get the two halves of Macross 7 back together but Max seems more annoyed and tired in his command than anything. 
 
Things aren’t much better in City 7 thanks to Sivil’s arrival.  Zentradi are going stir crazy (even Millia felt the bloodlust).  Super hot side characters are being possessed and being forced to try and seduce Basara.  Worst of all, EVERYONES SINGING PLANET DANCE WHYYYY!!!????  On the bright side, the Hostage Situation episode got to show Millia and Gamlin being total bad asses.  As a seasoned Zentradi warrior Goddess, Milia was barely affected by Zentradi pointing guns in her face.  And Gamlin, dude went full action hero showing he’s just as effective out of a mech as he is in one.  I also like that he’s warming to Mylene’s musical talents.  He still hates Basara (but everyone who doesn’t live in City 7 does) but he will support Mylene when she plays.  Also, he had a good scene with Ray, who tried to sort of explain why he studies music as thoroughly as he does.  He still enables Basara’s nonsensical childish behavior but at least he’s making more sense than Basara’s “You don’t get it man”.
 
Macross 7 did make some strides to be somewhat good with better action and a sense of actual dread and tension surrounding the split vessels dilemma.  But this is still Macross 7.  It’s always gonna be ruined by cutting back to Basara at any time and having more stupid schenanigans and promising alien threats being ruined by being horny and turned on by Basara’s music (gross).  At the very least, when we return Next Monday, we’ll be at the mid point of this long and grueling journey….which is still a long way from being done.  See ya Next Week for more Macross 7 right here at the Gundam Anime Corner.