Sheryl spends the day with Altoh when she tells him that she’s lost one of her earrings and he may have it.
Impressions:
I thought this episode was incredible. It had some serious bits of the plot addressed but also focused on many different character yet gave them all really interesting development. It didn’t feel like they were trying to do too much while at the same time they did a lot. I have to say I like Sheryl a lot more now. Before I kind of hated her. She seemed like a total bitch but this episode made me like her a lot more. Now, I still think Altoh should end up with Ranka. In fact I’m positive I’ll like the show a LOT less if he ends up with Sheryl, but at least I don’t hate her as much now. Either way though, this episode had a lot of romantic development. Sheryl getting closer with Altoh and even giving him that kiss on the cheek and Ranka being able to be brave enough to sing when she saw that Altoh was around. I feel so sorry for her seeing him with Sheryl as I’m sure she has no self confidence when seeing something like that, but I hope for the best because she deserves to end up with him.
There was also a lot of Ranka development despite the romance. Although the romance ended up playing a large part, it wasn’t all. I thought the bit about her wanting to be a singer was interesting and the bit about being able to sing even when people haven’t come to see her sing was interesting. He romance of course comes in because she was only able to sing when seeing Altoh there, but the entire topic about following her dream was interesting.
I’m quite surprised at the bit with the Vajra. It seemed like Ranka’s singing somehow brought it back to life or activated it. The only thing that seems special about her is that she says she’s part Zentradi. Obviously not enough to make her big though, but I wouldn’t think that would mean anything. The Zentradi are living like normal people in the fleet and so on. Asides from that, the only thing Ranka has going is that she’s seen one before kill her family, but I think she’s repressed the memory. I wouldn’t think a repressed memory would give her the ability like that. However it could be just a coincidence that this happened but it still seems odd. Either way, they are developing the action side of the plot along with the romance too.
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Well at least through this episode did end up liking Sheryl more than before. Guess before you could see a possible result for someone who ends up in that kind of industry. They can certainly change a person for better or worse. At least here we got to see a more positive Sheryl maybe more like she was before her singing career took off. Do still want Altoh to end up with Ranka that hasn’t changed. But at least now I could be fairly ok with it if he ended up with Sheryl. To make this kind of triangle good has to be good reasons for him to end up with either. So both will get their developments along the way.
This was an important episode for Ranka as well. Yes she took part in the contest, but has to increase her confidence out there. It is something else to perform when people are there expecting it. Another to just stand and do what you love to do. Know it wouldn’t be easy to pick up an instrument and just start playing, that’s a pretty nervous thing. Of course remembering Altoh (not sure if she knew the paper airplane was his or just the sight of it reminded her) helped her to gain the confidence to just do what she was meant to do. Did a fine job of it as well.
Remember hearing something about certain singers in the Macross universe having special properties with their songs. Don’t know much about it myself, but Ranka could be one of those people. Somehow at least her voice has the ability to affect those things. Someone is controlling them and it seems her singing causes a reaction that makes them move around. Sadly she has no control over what they end up doing. Will be tough times ahead.
Knew that somehow they had to keep Sheryl around. She is a star and would have to move on eventually. But with the apparent attack on where she was from it may result in her staying a lot longer. At any rate looks like good times are ahead of us.
Flareknight: This WAS Sheryl’s episode, since we get the pure, unalloyed (and unspoiled) girl who wanted to sing, and then worked to be successful enough to make a living at it. This is probably the same girl that Sheryl sees in Ranka, which is perhaps why she’s been so supportive of our green-haired quarter-Zentran in the first place. It also gives Sheryl and Alto some time together to talk, when he doesn’t have to see her as a demanding bitch, and gives Ranka time to talk to someone OTHER than Alto about why she wants to pursue a career as a singer. Sheryl’s also made the first move in setting up the triangle, one which she will end up exploiting later.
And song in the Macross universe has been linked to power - power over biological systems, as a form of energy which can damage or destroy creatures which are non-physical; power over emotions, by creating the cultural contamination by which the Zentran were both destroyed and revived as a society. I also liked how they revealed the reason Cathy and Ozma keep sparring… and at the same time, she was the one who was panicking when she’d heard he had been wounded in episode 3. Which makes her and Ozma the Claudia LaSalle and Roy Focker of this series (older couple, albeit one that broke up)…. and which makes it less likely that Ozma will survive.
Between that and letting Alto crystalize his reasons for wanting to be a pilot (because that’s what he feels he was meant to do, rather than something everyone expected him to do)… well, it’s progress, and setup for later story changes.