Macross Frontier 19: Space Opera like Woah!

Just recently, I picked up this series again. Marathoned the entire 18 episodes released so far on Crunchyroll (yes, I labored through pixelated streaming video, if you can believe that). Then, after I finished with those, the adorable people fansubbing the series came up with Episode 19 and now I can't remember why I didn't follow up this series sooner. It is that good.
Episode 19: Triangler
More Screencaps from Macross Frontier 19

The episode opens with a young Ranka, crying because her mother is gone. A blond-haired boy tries to comfort her. Back to the present, Ranka is crying in her sleep and she is watched over by her pet, Ai-kun. All of a sudden, Ai-kun's body glows. The critter then leaves Ranka's bed and slips into an airvent. Outside, Brera is playing "Aimo" on the harmonica when he notices something slip out in the dark.

The next day, as everyone prepares for Ranka's debut concert, Alto reluctantly returns to the Saotome Mansion in order to see Sheryl. He is met at the garden by his brother. He then finds Sheryl in a room and mistakes her for his mother because she is wearing his mother's kimono.

Meanwhile, Ranka does not attend the parade as she and Brera search around the city for Ai-kun.
good to see these two get together even if it's just a cover (cathy makes a most convincing airhead)

As for the others, Cathy and Ozma take the day off and join in the festivities. But their "date" only turns out to be a cover as they try to investigate more about the workings behind Ranka's sudden ascension to stardom.
this is illegal in some states (i've stopped trying to understand klan klan's hairdo)

Mikhail also finds himself forced to go on a date with Klan Klan, who claims that it his payment for helping him research the medicine that he found in Sheryl's possession.

Back in the Saotome Mansion, Sheryl tells Alto that she has decided to stop singing. This inexplicably makes Alto angry and he lashes out at her. Sheryl reacts the same way, claiming that she is still who she is even if she doesn't sing. Alto angrily stalks out, saying only that he is going to provide stunt-flying for Ranka's concert and that Sheryl better be there to watch. (?)

Meanwhile, Luca is trying to comfort Nanase, who seems distraught over the loss of Ai-kun. He offers to help her find the creature, then asks her tomake him a portrait of it. While Nanase works on the drawing, Luca gets called by Mikhail and the rest of the guys.
meanwhile, evil plans afoot (nanao and shinji...what an unlikely pairing)

Meanwhile, Leon and Grace are again up to no good. Apparently, they have been secretly building miniature reaction bombs but they are planning something bigger. It looks like Ranka is somehow directly linked to the Vajra as their 'queen,' whatever that means. Only time can tell.

In the Saotome Mansion, Sherly is still mooning over her declining career and her decision to give up singing. Alto's brother talks to her, first about Alto's mother and about the joys of being onstage. He then adds that Sheryl, of all people, should know how it feels.

Back with Cathy and Ozma, the two have decided that they have enough evidence to pinpoint Leon as the mastermind behind a plot against the government. Ozma asks if Cathy is willing to go this far against her fiance but Cathy has already made up her mind.
that's a really revealing suit, mister (doesn't it feel a bit breezy though?)

Ranka and Brera still don't find Ai-kun. They end up in the place where they first met. As Brera tries to comfort her, Ranka suddenly reveals that she feels like Brera is her older brother. Brera only says that he has no memories of his childhood. Ranka then says that they are the same as she too does not remember anything from when she was a child, except the song "Aimo." Brera asks her why she is frequently sad now, even when she is singing. The question makes Ranka think and slowly she realizes that even though she once declared to Alto that she wants to sing for everybody, the one person she really wants to sing to is him. This though somehow encourages her.

At Ranka's concert, Alto, Mikhail and Luca wow the crowd with their stunt-flying. Mikhail then makes a comment about Luca going off by himself without telling anyone. This somewhat discomfits Luca a bit but Mikhail does not pursue the subject. The three sky-write Ranka's name with a heart and an arrow in it. The sight evokes strong emotions in Ranka and only increases her resolve to tell Alto how she feels.

Unknow to anyone, Sheryl watches the concert from afar. As she attempts to leave, she is stopped by Klan Klan, who asks her pointedly if she is running away.
i kind of saw this coming ever since the "Zero" episode

Backstage, Mikhail confronts Alto about Ranka and Sheryl. He says that as dense as Alto is, even he would notice that Ranka is singing only for Alto. He adds that Sheryl is the same as well. Alto refuses to believe what he says, leading Mikhail to almost reveal Sheryl's illness. Catching his drift, Alto presses him for details but at that moment, Sheryl arrives. Mikhail is as surprised as Alto about her sudden appearance but then he catches a glimpse of blue hair and suspects correctly that it is Klan Klan's work to get the two together. He then smoothly leaves Alto to deal with Sheryl alone.

Meanwhile, Luca finds Nanase's sketch of Ai-kun and is shocked to discover that the creature is actually a Vajra larva. At about the same time that he makes this discovery, a Vajra egg starts to hatch and a fully-grown Vajra appears.
i've been hearing a lot of Ranka-bashing in some quarters. i say 'meh, to each his own.' personally, i like ranka's character. whether or not she should be paired with whom is something that is better aired out in fanfiction

After the concert, Mikhail and Klan Klan are standing behind a building when Mikhail says something odd: "Everyone deserves to be loved."

Ozma and Cathy march into Leon's office, dumps their evidence against him on his lap and accuses him to his face of coup d'etat. Instead of reacting in horror at his being discovered, Leon just smiles and says that they are too late. At that moment, a sniper gazes at the President through his scope. As he squeezes the trigger, the concert ends and Ranka is seen running up the stairs to the rooftop. She rehearses in her mind the words she is going to say to Alto. However, when she opens the door and bursts into the rooftop, all she sees is Alto with Sheryl's in his arms.

COMMENTS:

New OP, called "Lion" performed by both Sheryl Nome starring May'n and Megumi Nakajima = Ranka Lee. The opening sequence has only the three main characters in it so I'm guessing the next following episodes are going to focus more on the love triangle.

Speaking of which, OMG. No, seriously, I mean, OMFGWTFNOODLES! Poor, poor, poor Ranka. Although I kind of saw it coming, it doesn't make this scene less awkward or less painful. Nooooooooo! Personally though, I prefer Alto with Sheryl. They have more chemistry together. But Ranka! She is too cute to get all sad and mopey for the rest of the series. I hope she gets with someone soon. I don't think Brera is the guy since he is most likely her brother.

Also, OMG! The President is going to get dead! Nooooo! Stupid Cathy and Ozma. What the hell are they thinking going over to Leon and accusing him of coup d'etat before even filing a charge against him? Exactly what good does that do? Other than warn him that they are on to him and thus make a clean getaway. Of all the less stupid things that they could have done. They could have gone to Cathy's father and told him about it first before charging in there like a couple of excited kids who found an easter egg. Ugh!

Ah yes, this series is beautiful. I'll keep on following it in this blog.