[This weeks Promoted Story story is full of SPOILERS for the ending of Macross Frontier. Normally I wouldn't include something like this, but it really gets to what I like about Macross in general, as well as the appeal it has on the general anime fan base. Note that the first Macross Frontier movie just came out in Japan, so keep an eye out for more delicious idols and lovely planes exploding across the tubes in the near future!

Also, SPOILERS!!!!

                                                                                                                                           ~Pedro]

[Head's up, spoilers below!]

When was the last time you got choked up over a TV show? It's rare for me to get that emotional about entertainment. When I started up the final episode of Macross Frontier, I figured I knew what to expect. Ranka was a traitor to her species and a prisoner of both the vajira and her own heartbreak, Sheryl was finally going into battle with something to prove to the universe, the rogue SMS unit was searching for evidence to the Frontier government conspiracy and Alto was as confused and pretty as ever. Somehow, they'd all find the strength to overcome the obstacles before them and kick the Big Bad's ass so hard their grandchildren's deculture would feel it. They'd all find the resolution they wanted, but Alto still wouldn't choose who he was gonna kiss.

This all did happen in the course of the episode, but along the way I became far more than entertained. I became emotionally invested. Completely, totally, edge-of-my-seat, fist-pumping invested. And when it was over, I did something I hadn't done in over ten years and shed tears over a TV show. Why? It started with a trip down memory lane.



Do You Remember Love (Ai Oboete Imasu ka if you're nasty) is a song that always puts me in a certain mood and I could write about it for days. It brings nostalgia for my younger days watching anime during summer vacation, it reminds me of heartbreak from college, it always leaves me feeling hopeful and happy that I could experience what I have in life. Yoko Kanno takes that song, made it even more epic with her Bless the Little Queen version... and uses it a herald for the entire human race's doom at the hands of the Vajira. Macross Frontier, you now have my attention.



As the Macross Quarter comes onto the scene, three things occured that put me further into the moment this show wanted me in. With Battle Frontier's bacon saved, I went immediately into "root for the underdog" mode. Even more than I love seeing characters go through hell, I love seeing them fight out from under that hell and overcome. Seeing the human race mount its comeback was boosted by watching two parties at odds join together against the common threat, another thing I always love to see and a common theme in the Macross saga, thrills me to no end. Finally, the SMS outed Mishima's conspiracy with the enemy, the former president's murder and his takeover of the government. Seeing jerks get what they deserve always gets my blood pumping.

With this taken care of, the final battle is joined. Sheryl begins to sing, Alto gets over himself, Ranka begins to battle her conflicted emotions (go underdog, go!) and we come down to some good ol' dogfighting. Still, the human race seems to be a half-step behind their enemy and things start taking turns for the worse. For someone whose seen as many space operas and actions shows as I have this wouldn't be a big deal, but I am hooked. The Queen of the Vajira just entered the battle, reinforced her soldiers and we (not they, we) might lose everything. Just as things look the darkest, our main characters finally come together and we enter, in my opinion, the most epic sequence in recent anime: the Nyan Nyan Service Medley.



The underdogs beat the odds. Enemies, family, rivals, lovers all come together. Jerks get what they deserve. All this set to beautiful, high energy pop-music and drool-worthy visuals. When Bobby Margot screams "HERE WE GO!!!", I'm right there next to him. Everything kicks into gar-high-gear as more blasts from the past continue to geek me out. (pinpoint barrier! MotherFocking MACROSS ATTACK!). Ranka takes her stage and the final offensive, the last, best hope for our (our, I say!) survival, is unleashed. Nothing, not giant energy blasts from the giant behemoth or Battle Galaxy, not despair or broken hearts, nothing can stop us. The human race is here, Grace O'Connor, and you. are. screwed. Alto leads the charge and everyone opens the path to final victory. The music reaches it's crescendo, Grace gives up the ghost, Alto blows the Queen's head clean off and a final explosion signals the end. We've won!

As the final explosions dissipate and the medley ends, we finally learn what "Aimo", the song Ranka has sung since the first episode, is all about and I begin to crack. The song isn't a lullaby or a rallying cry, it's a love song. A song made to bring together two distant tribes of Vajira to create their next generation. Much like it is for the humans on Macross Frontier and in in real life, love is more powerful than any firepower to the Vajira. Love can conquer all.

*sniff * *hic*. Oh, sorry. I've just... I've got something in my eye. *sniff*.



Like I said, I rarely get this emotional over entertainment. I watch that episode still every now and then and when the medley begins, I get giddy every time. As the fleet descends to their new home world and the credits roll, I'm glad that something like this can effect me so powerfully. As naïve as it feels coming from my own mouth, when I watch this I believe that happy endings can happen to those who fight hard enough against the hardships and setbacks in life, internal and external alike. I remember love. That's worth shedding a few joyful tears over.