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Macross Ep. 31: Satan’s Dolls

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Summary

A Star Goose shuttle carrying Global and Claudia launches from Earth and docks at the factory satellite. Following its capture, U.N. Spacy has begun mass production of Regults and battleships. However, at least half of the factory’s systems were damaged by Supervision Army attacks, and the other half is failing due to poor maintenance. Global watches as Regult production ceases due to malfunctioning equipment. He asks Exsedol what’s going on, and Exsedol says he has bad news. It seems that much of the remaining equipment is malfunctioning following the fold to Earth. On the Macross, Vanessa, Kim and Shammy gossip about news from Loli that Minmay and Kaifun are fighting. Misa is informed of a Zentradi disturbance in Trad City, and she has a patrol sent out. As Skull Squadron approaches Trad City, one of the pilots asks Hikaru if their Valkyries are enough against a city that is at least half Zentradi. On the ground, a group of full-sized Zentradi steal a micloning device and destroy the defense systems surrounding it. As they drive out of Trad City, Skull Squadron attacks and forces them to surrender. In the frozen tundra, Kamjin is angry when Oigul reports that they failed to capture the micloning device. Laplamiz calls Oigul weak-willed, and they begin to argue. She then tries to touch Kamjin, but he fends off her advances and decides to attack personally. Hikaru supervises the retrieval of the micloning chamber and puts it under guard in Trad City. The mayor drives up in a car with Kaifun and Minmay and asks what’s going on. Hikaru says he has to put the miclone device in U.N. Spacy custody because it’s dangerous in the hands of the wrong people. Kaifun interrupts and tells Hikaru that the military has no right to take something that belongs to the Zentradi citizens. Hikaru tries to explain his position, but the crowd begins to agree with Kaifun. Kaifun tells Hikaru he’d better leave, and the crowd starts shouting for him to get out. Elsewhere, Kamjin and his Nousjadeul-Ger squad launch and head for Trad City.

At Trad City, Valkyries and Destroid Spartans move the micloning chamber into a safe room. The mayor wonders if what he did was right, and Kaifun tells him that the military can’t have its way all the time. The mayor shows Kaifun and Minmay the concert hall that has been reserved for her performance. Minmay isn’t too pleased, and she tells Kaifun that she knows the Zentradi will attack again. Just then, the building quakes due to nearby explosions. Kamjin’s Nousjadeul-Ger forces attack from the sky and almost immediately overwhelm the city’s Destroid forces. Kamjin orders his men to destroy the communications center so that the civilians can’t contact the military. On the Macross, Hikaru gives his report on Trad City to Global and the senior staff. Exsedol also explains his findings on his research of the origin of Zentradi. He says that they were created for fighting by the Protoculture, and Global takes over. He says that over 500,000 years ago a great civilization called the Protoculture existed and founded the Stellar Republic. Over time, the Protoculture split into two warring factions and used genetic engineering to create the giants that eventually became the Zentradi and Supervision Army. After a long war, the Protoculture was destroyed by their own creation, and the Zentradi have been fighting ever since then. Global and Exsedol thinks that the Protoculture had some effect on Earth’s evolution, but they’re not sure. Elsewhere, Kamjin’s forces destroy the remaining Valkyries and Destroids, and they escape with the micloning device. Hikaru and Misa stand outside, and Claudia informs them of the news of the attack on Trad City. Hikaru immediately has Skull Squadron launch, and he blames himself for not securing the micloning device. In the frozen tundra, Kamjin and Laplamiz rejoice in victory as more and more micloned Zentradi revert to their giant forms. Hikaru arrives at Trad City and finds whole blocks in ruins from the battle. He lands and tries to speak to Minmay, but Kaifun drives off with her.

Commentary

Well, Kamjin is back in action, and for once he actually gets to win. Without superiors ordering him around, it seems he can be rather effective. Conflict between Hikaru and Kaifun returns when Kaifun gets involved in military business and ends up allowing Kamjin to steal it. He doesn’t seem to care much afterwards, which makes me wonder about the sincerity of his big speech before in front of the people. Minmay seems to be longing for Hikaru, but the constant presence of Kaifun puts an end to any ideas she has. Of course, he’s oblivious to her too.

Original Review: May 1, 2000

Overall Rating
4/5
Macross Info


Director:
Noboru Ishiguro

Writer(s):
Hiroshi Ohnogi
Shoji Kawamori
Noboru Ishiguro
Sukehiro Tomita
Kenichi Matsuzaki

Mechanical Designer(s):
Shoji Kawamori
Kazutaka Miyatake

Character Designer:
Haruhiko Mikimoto

Musical Composer:
Kentaroh Haneda

Format:
36 episodes

Airdates:
Japan 10.03.1982 – 06.26.1983

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