Macross Frontier Final Episode Talkback Thread *READ 1st Post*

[RedWolf]

have to watch it again to be sure.

actually, here's a thought: did all the key girls in macross triangles sing "my boyfriend is a pilot?"

obviously, Minmay did.

Myung did.

can't remember if Mylene did.

Ranka did in the Ms. Macross competition.

And Sheryl found a way to sneak it into her medley.

is this song the standard piece that everyone has to sing at one point or another?

EDIT: OOPS. i forgot. it wasn't Myung who sang it. oh well, that strikes this theory down the drain.

So anyway, let's take this train of thought into another direction. so, why did Sheryl just have to sneak "my boyfriend is a pilot" into her medley?

well.... the answer is quite obvious, if you take the exact timing into consideration. Sheryl sneaked it in at the exact same time that ranka was all-happy about being rescued by Alto.

so basically, it was a message to Ranka that Alto is her boyfriend. sure, i'm helping him rescue you, but here's the real deal... "watashi no kare wa pilot". y'know, just so there's no misunderstanding, ok?.

Mylene did sing My Boyfriend is a pilot as Minmay and Basara as Hikaru of the local Macross 7 meta-TV movie Minmay Video.

[VF-25 Messiah]

so basically, it was a message to Ranka that Alto is her boyfriend. sure, i'm helping him rescue you, but here's the real deal... "watashi no kare wa pilot". y'know, just so there's no misunderstanding, ok?.

Ranka sings it too in the medley. In fact their respective parts go: Sheryl: "kyuun kyuun, watashi no kare wa..." Ranka: "...watashi no kare wa pilot"

[dreamweaver13]

Ranka sings it too in the medley. In fact their respective parts go: Sheryl: "kyuun kyuun, watashi no kare wa..." Ranka: "...watashi no kare wa pilot"

well, like she said, she won't give up.

[Nishi]

I watched gg's sub when it first came out, just didn't get around to posting until now... Overall I was very satisfied with the last episode, though I will still start with complaints first:

• I felt the epilogue was way too quick. It was like LOADS OF AWESOME ORGASMIC ACTION and then O LOOK IT'S OVER. Maybe I'm cheesy for liking epilogues, but it's just that I still hadn't come down from my 'high' and it was already over. I would've liked more ending details!
• The medley -- Before watching this I was already hoping for a Sheryl and Ranka duet, which we got. I admit the medley was a clever idea, but while it started out amazing, with "Lion" flowing seamlessly into "Infinity", most of the rest were off-key transitions that grated on my ears. Some of the songs just did not blend well. Not to mention it was because of the fast transitions that were probably what gave me (and other viewers) the feeling of the episode being more rushed than it was. I barely had time to 'get into' a song before it switched, and my ears being forced to adjust to the new pitches. I didn't necessarily hate the medley, but I would've been happy with just a few songs, whether they are new or not. Seeing Sheryl dance along to "Seikan Hikou" was incredibly cute though.
• Galaxy is still as mysterious as ever... Not to mention how Sheryl ended up in the dumps there.
• Too bad Leon didn't get a more epic death (on screen!).
• Also wanted to see whether Nanase and Luca actually hook up.

Some of my favorites...

• Micro!Klan in Michael's valk! I can't imagine a melee fighter like her (or Alto even) being as good of a shot as Michael was, but it was definitely a good tribute to him. Alto using it at the end was nice too. One shot, one kill, just like with women... aka Grace.
• Ranka fold-slapping Sheryl. Not ship-related, but I found that whole scene incredibly touching. (If anything, it made me want to ship Ranka and Sheryl.) I'm glad they got spotlight together, the two of them singing together on Quarter and Frontier was just awesome.
• Luca unlocking his Ghosts!
• Kanaria's Koenig Monster
• The part where Alto and Brera are fighting together
• Frontier punching Galaxy

Overall really blew me away. Not everything was wrapped up, but all the good overpowered the bad. I also went in expecting way more open ends than there actually were. And with the way they did the last episode, I did not mind the love triangle being unresolved. In fact the episode really changed my view on a lot of things. The mecha porn was epic, I seriously had a hard time sitting still on my first viewing. Everyone else has said this already but I have to agree anyway: It's been a great ride!

[Nishi]

Oh and on thing they never resolved was the idea that Alto was running away from something. I mean really that part of the story almost seemed useless to me.

I might change my mind on a rewatch of the series but can anyone tell me what the purpose of having this in the story was for?

Clearly Alto enjoyed flying. Yet you had this constant message that he is just running away. Michel constantly reminds him at the start. Now if they had removed these parts of the character from the show and put in more mecha porn (something like the destroid monster beating some bugs in robot mode for instance) would you have even noticed it gone? Would it have made much difference? I think that part of the story just went nowhere. "Please come home alto! Be nice to your dad and stop flying stupid valkyries and realise you are an actor not a pilot. Blah blah blah" ....but it got very little development.

-snip-

I felt the same way. Throughout the whole series I got the impression that there was a more than just Alto leaving home because he liked flying more. That there was some huge falling out he had with his dad maybe. They never gave a real conclusion to that, except for in ep.24 when you see his dad comment on Alto's passion while watching the screen... But at the same time, you do have a point... If he always loved flying, he really wasn't "running away", more like he is finally pursuing what he truly loves. That bit really wasn't made clear. I went into ep.25 not expecting everything to be wrapped up, since there's really no way to resolve everything in the series in a regular length episode, but for someone who is the main character of the story it would have been nice if they cleared that up more.

[sketchley]

Maybe it was wrapped up? Maybe it was just lost in translation? (Or worse, the translations made it seem larger than it really was.)

For what we did see, I think it was wrapped up - Aruto got to follow his dream(s) and fly in the wide open skies. His father accepted that that is his son's passion and destiny.

Now, ask yourself - did Frontier need a scene of the two meeting, exchange a few pleasantries, talk about things, start to cry, hug, and accept each other? Can you use your imagination from the given cues and figure out their future relationship on your own?

[Prime]

Wow, what a finish!

I very much enjoyed the final episode, and it gave me an overdose for my childhood love of mecha. But the series and saga is about so much more than that. I've seen a lot of complaining about how the love triangle and other aspects were left open interpretation at best, called active trolling at worst. Personally I think the series was wrapped up pretty well. Kawamori has had some history of leaving some unanswered questions, so I'm not surprised nor put off that it happened in this case. I actually like that aspect of his stories, and it gives lots of topics to speculate about and fodder for future stories.

As for the love triangle that has so many panties in a bunch, it seems to me to be the logical conclusion to the series. I never really got the impression that Alto was actually in love with either Ranka or Sheryl, only that he loved them both (make sense? ). He loves both of them like family, and perhaps there is still some potential there (with Sheryl, if anything), but for now Alto just doesn't seem to share the same feelings as they have for him. He has been accused of being indecisive, but I think he did choose. He chose neither.

Apart from that, the finale was over the top with everything that makes Macross great. Music, mecha, starships, missiles, great characters! I love Macross, and this show is a more than worthy addition to the saga. So congratulations to the Froating Head, I was greatly entertained, and I can't wait to see what happens with the movie...

[Gubaba]

As for the love triangle that has so many panties in a bunch, it seems to me to be the logical conclusion to the series. I never really got the impression that Alto was actually in love with either Ranka or Sheryl, only that he loved them both (make sense? ). He loves both of them like family, and perhaps there is still some potential there (with Sheryl, if anything), but for now Alto just doesn't seem to share the same feelings as they have for him. He has been accused of being indecisive, but I think he did choose. He chose neither.

Bless you, sir.

[crescens]

kinda candy like ending >_< thought more ppl will die ;-] was OK.

[Arthurius]

Wow, what a finish!

I very much enjoyed the final episode, and it gave me an overdose for my childhood love of mecha. But the series and saga is about so much more than that. I've seen a lot of complaining about how the love triangle and other aspects were left open interpretation at best, called active trolling at worst. Personally I think the series was wrapped up pretty well. Kawamori has had some history of leaving some unanswered questions, so I'm not surprised nor put off that it happened in this case. I actually like that aspect of his stories, and it gives lots of topics to speculate about and fodder for future stories.

As for the love triangle that has so many panties in a bunch, it seems to me to be the logical conclusion to the series. I never really got the impression that Alto was actually in love with either Ranka or Sheryl, only that he loved them both (make sense? ). He loves both of them like family, and perhaps there is still some potential there (with Sheryl, if anything), but for now Alto just doesn't seem to share the same feelings as they have for him. He has been accused of being indecisive, but I think he did choose. He chose neither.

Apart from that, the finale was over the top with everything that makes Macross great. Music, mecha, starships, missiles, great characters! I love Macross, and this show is a more than worthy addition to the saga. So congratulations to the Froating Head, I was greatly entertained, and I can't wait to see what happens with the movie...

Amen to that, those are my exact feeling: excellent ending, and i was happy alto didnt make a choice and left it open, cause i love both Ranka and Sheryl!!! MF is my favorate series now!!!

[valkyrie13]

Oh and on thing they never resolved was the idea that Alto was running away from something. I mean really that part of the story almost seemed useless to me.

I might change my mind on a rewatch of the series but can anyone tell me what the purpose of having this in the story was for?

Clearly Alto enjoyed flying. Yet you had this constant message that he is just running away. Michel constantly reminds him at the start. Now if they had removed these parts of the character from the show and put in more mecha porn (something like the destroid monster beating some bugs in robot mode for instance) would you have even noticed it gone? Would it have made much difference? I think that part of the story just went nowhere. "Please come home alto! Be nice to your dad and stop flying stupid valkyries and realise you are an actor not a pilot. Blah blah blah" ....but it got very little development.

I was thinking what was going to happen was his dad gets abducted by a vajra, he must use gerwalk mode to rescue him, and then his dad realises how important his role as a valk pilot was now that he was put in this situation where he didn't really like killing things or abandoning his dad but now there is little choice. Perhaps develop the dad a bit and show him do something like come to a realisation that you can't always get what you want. "You were right son! Your mother and I are proud no matter what you choose!" ...then maybe have him die suddenly from a stray bullet or something. (just like misa's dad died in SDF:M where he releases control over her and apologises)

I actually had a different take on this and perhaps because I was raised in an Asian culture. Alto enjoys flying as a means of an escape from fate, destiny or instincts, etc. Alto clearly was a great actor and was born a true artist. He can touch the hearts of others with his acting (Kabhuki actor - a princess). But some reason, whether it's because of his mother's death or juvenile rage or just puberty, he is discontent and runs off trying to do something else. He's good at flying technically but doesn't get to put his "soul" into it like he did for acting. Towards the end, he realizes his role or his part in the overall scheme of things, and flies his valk not for the fun of it or as a means of escape but to reach out to Ranka who needs his help at man kind's most gravest moment. He is able to elevate his piloting skills to "art" by uniting his artistic mind with his technical abilities, taking it up a notch to a whole new demension. Sort of Alto breaking his own spiritual and mental barrier... if you will.

[sketchley]

Agreed with Valkyrie13.

[frans42000]

Wait, what?!?

Alto was an actor because his parents wanted him to be one.

Even as a child, Alto loved flying things, (paper) planes, and soaring in the sky.

At any given moment, Alto could be seen daydreaming about flying.

When he suits up in Ex-gear and takes off, do you really, I mean REALLY, get the impression hes thinking to himself, "Yea, I really should be acting instead of this."?

The only time he pulled his acting out of the closet, was when he struck a pose in his battroid during his training final exam.

When that actor "brother"/classmate of his took him out to dinner, told him he lying to himself and that he should come back to the family, I soooo wished Alto would have cocked an eyebrow, looked that twit in the face and said "You gotta be shitting me?".

But thats only my opinion.

[sketchley]

Where're you from, frans?

[VF-25S Full Armour]

It seems that I am one of the people here who has some serious and genuine dreams of his own and fully comprehends how it is like to be oppressed and generally hated just because I am who I am and love what I love no matter what those around me try to force on me. I really identify with Alto in a deep level, accept of course for his denseness when it comes to women.

It is easy to say he was running away from his family imposed "destiny" and all that nonsense when one has no dreams like he does. He loves to fly and that's who he is and always will be. His family background of course makes him a very competent actor, but that is more training than anything else. It is no wonder he misses his mother so much, since she must have been the only person in the family that fully understood and appreciated his dream of boundless flight.

All this reminds me of why I'll always love Macross as long as it stays true to what it is. To pursue and live one's dreams as hard as one possibly can, to love and to cherish.

[dreamweaver13]

I actually had a different take on this and perhaps because I was raised in an Asian culture. Alto enjoys flying as a means of an escape from fate, destiny or instincts, etc. Alto clearly was a great actor and was born a true artist. He can touch the hearts of others with his acting (Kabhuki actor - a princess). But some reason, whether it's because of his mother's death or juvenile rage or just puberty, he is discontent and runs off trying to do something else. He's good at flying technically but doesn't get to put his "soul" into it like he did for acting. Towards the end, he realizes his role or his part in the overall scheme of things, and flies his valk not for the fun of it or as a means of escape but to reach out to Ranka who needs his help at man kind's most gravest moment. He is able to elevate his piloting skills to "art" by uniting his artistic mind with his technical abilities, taking it up a notch to a whole new demension. Sort of Alto breaking his own spiritual and mental barrier... if you will.

i agree. i think the moment he applied his "acting" quote ("think not and you will blossom...") to piloting, he finally embraced flying as his new artform. if there was any issue about "running away", it was resolved right there.

[taksraven]

kinda candy like ending >_< thought more ppl will die ;-] was OK.

It was clear that it was meant to be more of a celebration as opposed to death and destruction. I can live with that.

Taksraven

[taksraven]

All this reminds me of why I'll always love Macross as long as it stays true to what it is. To pursue and live one's dreams as hard as one possibly can, to love and to cherish.

*wipes away tears* Yes its so true!

Seriously though, you have expressed the concept of Macross pretty correctly. (Some would disagree, but there are always idiots out there).

I think it has a better message than shows like Star Dreck and Stargate.

Taksraven

[VFTF1]

When he suits up in Ex-gear and takes off, do you really, I mean REALLY, get the impression hes thinking to himself, "Yea, I really should be acting instead of this."?

Yes.

This statement just reminds me of when Ali G interviewed the Dean of some famous Acting School and asked questions like "what is Actin'?" and the Dean got all pissy when Ali G didn't understand and basically demonstrated his ignorance.

Except - the audience realizes the irony - Ali G IS acting.

So the Dean, although he's giving all these high minded definitions of Acting - is demonstrating that he knows NOTHING about it - because he can't even RECOGNIZE an actor when one is in front of him.

The same with Alto.

Remember what Alto's brother said: "Even now, you are acting."

And it's true - Alto just didn't like the traditional kabuke rolls he had to play; but because he was a natural born actor, he dramatized everything - always.

Acting will stay with him for ever.

Umm... and yeah - love that ending...

Pete

[dreamweaver13]

Just realized something...

What Ranka knows (before she left for the Vajra homeworld):

- Sheryl and Alto went out on a date in Folmo mall; and Sheryl kissed him on the cheek

- Sheryl and Alto hang out together a lot (gossip from Nanase)

- Sheryl kissed Alto during the filming of Birdman

- Alto and Sheryl were hugging on the flight deck of Mihoshi

bad enough, right? BUT...

What Ranka doesn't know:

- alto broke his own vow not to go back to Saotome mansion just to see Sheryl

- Alto comforted sheryl (ep22) and more or less promised that he will stay by her side forever

- Alto (may have) decided not to pursue Ranka and join the SMS mutiny because of Sheryl

- Alto (may have) this time initiated kissing Sheryl in her darkes hour

- Alto and Sheryl sort of moved in together

- Most, if not all, of NUNS knows that alto and sheryl were going out

- Alto and sheryl shared another passionate kiss (ok, all the passion may have come from sheryl. but still...) before the final battle

- Alto decided that if he had to, he would kill Ranka

AND all this after Ranka had already told him, in no uncertain terms, that she loved him.

if she found all this out, I wonder if she would have been as optimistic in throwing that challenge to Sheryl at the end.

Edited October 17, 2008 by dreamweaver13

[adrianop]

How could you forget this?!?

Ranka doesn't know:

- Alto pops his cherry care of Bobby.

- Alto and Sheryl slept together.

[grss1982]

It seems that I am one of the people here who has some serious and genuine dreams of his own and fully comprehends how it is like to be oppressed and generally hated just because I am who I am and love what I love no matter what those around me try to force on me. I really identify with Alto in a deep level, accept of course for his denseness when it comes to women.

It is easy to say he was running away from his family imposed "destiny" and all that nonsense when one has no dreams like he does. He loves to fly and that's who he is and always will be. His family background of course makes him a very competent actor, but that is more training than anything else. It is no wonder he misses his mother so much, since she must have been the only person in the family that fully understood and appreciated his dream of boundless flight.

All this reminds me of why I'll always love Macross as long as it stays true to what it is. To pursue and live one's dreams as hard as one possibly can, to love and to cherish.

For some reason I can identify with Alto as well. Except of course for his "wastefulness." At last count it was 2 VF-25F's, 2 Armored Packs & 3 Super Packs.

Geeze....Alto must be the most hated person by SMS's logistics people.

Edited October 17, 2008 by grss1982

[shan]

Just realized something...

What Ranka knows (before she left for the Vajra homeworld):

- Sheryl and Alto went out on a date in Folmo mall; and Sheryl kissed him on the cheek

- Sheryl and Alto hang out together a lot (gossip from Nanase)

- Sheryl kissed Alto during the filming of Birdman

- Alto and Sheryl were hugging on the flight deck of Mihoshi

bad enough, right? BUT...

What Ranka doesn't know:

- alto broke his own vow not to go back to Saotome mansion just to see Sheryl

- Alto comforted sheryl (ep22) and more or less promised that he will stay by her side forever

- Alto (may have) decided not to pursue Ranka and join the SMS mutiny because of Sheryl

- Alto (may have) this time initiated kissing Sheryl in her darkes hour

- Alto and Sheryl sort of moved in together

- Most, if not all, of NUNS knows that alto and sheryl were going out

- Alto and sheryl shared another passionate kiss (ok, all the passion may have come from sheryl. but still...) before the final battle

- Alto decided that if he had to, he would kill Ranka

AND all this after Ranka had already told him, in no uncertain terms, that she loved him.

if she found all this out, I wonder if she would have been as optimistic in throwing that challenge to Sheryl at the end.

Not "may have" Alto didn't leave Frontier BECAUSE of Sheryl. I think he was so happy when Ozma left him. Afterwards, he was always laughing with Sheryl and looking at her like a man in love. Sheryl looked happy too. They both were happy. That was supposed to be happiness. I think.

But but what Ranka doesn't know is....Alto joined SMS to protect her always. And Alto doesn't know that Ranka wanted to sing only for him. When I saw 23, I couldn't believe what I heard that Ranka and Alto have been into each other all this time, but one thinks she doesn't have a chance and one is just pretending to not notice until everything has become twisted. Then when you get to the finale Kawamori chooses to end things in a status quo. I heard he did have a solid resolution in mind and he thinks the triangle is not equal, but he thinks the open ending was for the best so that everyone wins.

Hah, right.

Edited October 17, 2008 by shan

[DarkReaper]

Depends on if Birler gets all the replacement money + markup back from NUNS. Then he could just as well be Birlers favourite pilot. Logistics and maintenance personnel still hate him though.

[dreamweaver13]

How could you forget this?!?

Ranka doesn't know:

- Alto pops his cherry care of Bobby.

- Alto and Sheryl slept together.

i'll just put that under "moving in together". coz if they did it once, they did it every night babee. when alto said, "it can't be helped" after sheryl got sorta drunk, what he actually meant was "sigh. aint gonna get any loving tonight."

as for the other one... oh, ranka knew. in fact, it was ranka made bobby do it. "if someone's gonna pop Alto's cherry and it isn't me, it might as well be my makeup artist rather than Sheryl!"

[VF-25S Full Armour]

... Except of course for his "wastefulness." At last count it was 2 VF-25F's, 2 Armored Packs & 3 Super Packs.

Geeze....Alto must be the most hated person by SMS's logistics people.

ROFL

Totally agree with that too. Though VF-25F Alto custom model replacements might be good for Bilrer's business (might also explain why he's so fond of him...), blowing so many custom built machines in such a short while definitely hits a nerve with the poor folks in charge of building them.

Just another day in the SMS office:

"Just blew another one, damn Alto, how many times do I have to tell him VFs do NOT grow on trees!!!!! Another all nighter, and honey's already screaming her head off about our abysmal marriage....."

Edited October 17, 2008 by VF-25S Full Armour

[d3v]

ROFL

Totally agree with that too. Though VF-25F Alto custom model replacements might be good for Bilrer's business (might also explain why he's so fond of him...), blowing so many custom built machines in such a short while definitely hits a nerve with the poor folks in charge of building them.

Just another day in the SMS office:

"Juts blew another one, damn Alto, how many times do I have to tell him VFs do NOT grow on trees!!!!! Another all nighter, and honey's already screaming her head off about our abysmal marriage....."

Well, I get the impression that the Super Packs are meant to be disposable, however his penchant for losing planes must be legendary. The only reason he doesn't get anymore flak for it is possibly because the repair crew are all fans of Sakura hime and are utterly and irreversibly broken.