| Sketchley's Translations Main Index | Macross Portal |
| By AARON SKETCHLEY (aaronsketch@HOTdelete_thisMAIL.com) | Ver 1.1 2014.05.14 |
| Episode: F23A & B: Macross F Eps. 23 "True Beginning" |
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Story
(...)
Commentary
At last, Macross F rushes into the series climax, and it is the episode where the information content is truly abundant. A lot of truth that has been vague up until now, such as Ranka's relationship with Brera, and the true state of the Vajra and their interrelation with Ranka, are revealed to the viewer in an intense density - it's likely that it's difficult for one to grasp all aspects in a single viewing. The feelings of the 3 protagonists are each painful: Ranka, who understands that she was the underlying cause of the past tragedies; Sheryl, who cannot notice Aruto's tender love; and Aruto, who tries to kill Ranka with his own hands before she becomes the target of mankind's hatred. On the one hand, the feeling of the end is once more emphasized with the depiction of the Frontier Fleet, which gradually approaches its limits, facing the final battle with the Vajra, is also impressive with the jeopardy where one cannot know such a near future. On the other hand, the viewer's interest in the next episode is raised with Grace and Mishima once more active behind the scenes, as they try to extend their last hands toward their individual aspirations.
Staff
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Cast
(...)
Song
"Aimo" Ranka Lee (Nakajima Megumi)
Characters and Mechanic that appear
Note: items that appear in colour with a yellow background are indicated with a (y) in the following. Items that don't appear are black and white.
Character
(y) Saotome Aruto / (y) Ranka Lee / (y) Sheryl Nome / (y) Ozuma Lee / (y) Catherine Glass / (y) Michael Braun
(y) Luca Angeloni / (y) Kuran Kuran / Nene / Laramia / Canaria Berstein / (y) Matsuura Nanase / (y) Geoffry Wilder
(y) Bobby Margo / (y) Monika / Miina / Ram / (y) Grace O'conner / (y) Leon Mishima / (y) Brera Stern
(y) Richard Birla / (y) Saotome Ranzou / (y) Saotome Miyo / (y) Saotome Yasaburou / (y) Ranshe Mei / (y) Maruyama / (y) Jun
Mechanic
(y) Macross Frontier / (y) Macross Quarter / VF-25S / (y,N) VF-25F / VF-25G / RVF-25
Koenig Monster / Quadoran-Rhea / Cheyenne II / VF-171 / (y) RVF-171 / (y,A) VF-171EX (Aruto) / (y,N/A) VF-171EX (standard)
RVF-171EX / (y) AIF-7S / (y) VF-27γ / AIF-9V / Macross Galaxy / (y) Vajra (small) / (y) Vajra (large)
(y) VF-27β / (y) Vajra Carrier / (y) Global / (y) Ai-kun (Vajra Second Stage) / (y) Vajra Second Stage / (y) Vajra Semi-Queen / (y) Vajra Queen
N: Normal, S: equipped with Super Parts, A: equipped with Armour Pack
Topics: The Jinx Of Riding A Valkyrie
The young man Maruyama, who became Aruto's subordinate in the New Unified Forces, made fun of Aruto with the joking lie that recently Sheryl and Aruto have had a good relationship. Regarding that, Aruto chided his subordinate and mentioned the jinx where the pilots who tease their comrades with jokes about girls while riding a VF during a mission. That might be due to the anecdote during the movie "Super Dimensional Fortress Do You Remember Love?" where Kakizaki, who committed a similar act, was shot down and killed in action. Aruto may have seen this movie somewhere even in the world of "Macross F".
Caption: [Ai]
Topics: Grace's Compulsion Mode
This time, Grace uses the "Compulsion Mode", which snatched away Brera's freedom of mind and body, and transformed him into her marionette. Even though writing "SLAVE" on the electronic brain screen was in bad taste, Grace mentioned the mode in the 20th episode. When Brera saved Ranka and he ignored her opinions and acted as he wished when the Vajra attacked, she threatened to change him to this Compulsion Mode. Even though the particulars are unknown, Brera is seen flinching from her saying so, and it seems to be a fairly severe system.
Topics: The Paper Airplane That Sheryl Launched
Even though Sheryl launching a paper airplane in the conclusion of this episode was deeply impressive, when looking closely, it becomes clear that that paper airplane is the memo of the new treatment that the doctor who was introduced by Luca had handed over, folded up into the airplane. Even though she was pretending to be tough with her mouth, as far as not throwing away the memo is concerned, in her innermost thoughts, Sheryl entrusts her gleam of hope to the new treatment and she may have wanted to spend even a little time with Aruto. However, when she heard Aruto's resolution to Ranka, Sheryl also shook free from her mind, which still wavered in her own way.
Preview of the Next Episode
The human race and the Vajra clash. The journey of Aruto and the others finally faces its final phase.
Next time, "Last Frontier", the song of the decisive battle resounds in the galaxy.