Macross Frontier 05, Sheryl overload
May 4th, 2008 by Shirukii
:3
I had to start with a Ranka cap because the ratio of Ranka:Sheryl in this episode was criminally low.
However! That being said, this episode took what little dislike for Sheryl I had left, tossed it out the window and then tried to brainwash me into leaving the Ranka camp. I’m sitting on the metaphorical fence right now, with Ranka’s cute smile and dog-like ears perked up on one side and Sheryl’s all natural alluring body and confident grin on the other.
The inevitable happens and Ozma finds out about Ranka participating in the Miss Macross Frontier competition, and what’s more, she even gets suspended because of it. Ranka can deal with Ozma getting mad over her getting suspended and participating in the contest behind his back, but when he tells her that she’s too shy a person to become a singer, Ranka gets about as angry as she can and runs out of the house. Ozma panics and orders the members of the SMS to track her down and bring her home, Ranka messaging Alto soon after telling him about her suspension and the fight with her brother and asking him for advice, but when Alto calls her, he can’t get through.
Alto has bigger problems to worry about anyways, he gets a surprise visit from Sheryl, still on her quest to find her missing earring. However, when they can’t find it at Alto’s school and SMS hq is closed, she seems all to happy to discard the search and drag Alto on a date instead. The two wander around Frontier while being chased down by Sheryl’s fans, Sheryl revealing the very reason that she’s so interested in Alto is because he doesn’t treat her like she’s the superstar Sheryl, but rather just like any other person.
Alto takes Sheryl to the Zentradi sector of Frontier, since she’s never seen Zentradi in their macro forms, only microned. The novelty of seeing everything supersized amuses Sheryl greatly, but she suddenly goes into SERIOUS BUSINESS mode when inspiration for some lyrics hits. Pulling down the nearest pair of Zentradi pantsu to use as paper, she begins writing furiously, a macronized Klein passing by stops to take a look.
Meanwhile, throughout all this, Mikhail has found Ranka and has been spending the entire day trying to convince her to go home since Ozma is worried about her. Ranka counters that if her brother gets to be selfish and hide the fact that he was piloting all this time, she has every right to do the same. Mikhail then calls her singing into question, wondering if she really can sing in front of a crowd, not just a crowd like the one at the Miss Macross Frontier contest, but any random crowd, offering her a microphone and telling her to sing in front of the people before her. Nervous at first, Ranka once again turns to Alto for confidence, seeing one of his paper airplanes fly by.
Her solo singing quickly escalates into a mini concert as the crowd gathers around her, Sheryl and Alto within an earshot as well, Sheryl amazed that Ranka finally came out of her shell, now singing because it’s what she’s meant to do, similar to Alto flying because that’s what he was meant to do. After the mini live is over, Mikhail gives in and submits himself to Ranka’s talent, the two then notice Sheryl and Alto off in the distance, just as Sheryl gives Alto a goodbye kiss and a promise to invite him to her farewell concert. Poor Ranka ;_;
Elsewhere, the Vajra plot is being fleshed out as well, Ozma having been summoned by Leon, who is gathering everyone with knowledge about the Vajra for a special presentation. The Vajra that the SMS shot down in the first attack was captured and preserved by the Frontier Government Special Security Council for dissection. They found out that its shell is made of a similar material to their own Valkyries, it automaticall generates firearms and most importantly, it lacks what you would call a brain. This has the very crucial implication that Vajra do not act of their own will, that they are being controlled by someone.
As the presentation continues, the Vajra goes berserk and tries to break out of its containment cell in response to Ranka’s concert in the Zentradi sector, forcing Leon to hit the failsafe, vaporizing the Vajra. However, with no idea that Ranka was performing, they can’t draw the link and remain clueless to the reason behind the provocation.
The episode ends with a Valkyrie from the Galaxy colony, bringing word that they have been attacked by Vajra and require assistance. The Galaxy colony, conveniently enough, also happens to be Sheryl’s homeworld of sorts.
Thoughts
Really, this isn’t fair, they threw a bunch of character archetypes into Sheryl, so much so that it’s one of those “there’s something for everyone” packages that you can’t really say no to. In addition to the whole superstar diva thing she has going with the voluptuous body, soft, supple curves, hair that runs down her slender shoulder to…shit, where was I going with this again?
Oh right! Given how bitchy and self-centered she was portrayed at the beginning, it’s unfair that Sheryl pulls a 180 and shows a very down to earth side of her that is almost as endearing as Ranka’s latent cuteness. Not to mention she had that tsundere moment, tsundere is like…the kryptonite of anime fans, most of us fall to its whims.
Yet I wouldn’t call her perfect, she’s still got that inherently selfish attitude and “the world revolves around me” mindset, although in this case it’s quite justified since everyone and their baby sister this side of the universe knows and reveres her like a goddess. Yet it’s perhaps that imperfection that makes her so lovable, to know that you have a serious, career driven woman who can also display a sort of childlike persona, as depicted above, where Sheryl is trying to catch a butterfly, a moment which made me let out a great big “D’AWWWWW”.
On the other vertex of this triangle, Ranka’s brattyness this episode brought her down a notch in my books, I felt bad for Mikhail having to deal with her stubbornness. One particular aspect of Ranka which I’m not too fond of is her reliance on Alto. She continually says that she has the confidence to sing on her own accord, but really it’s the backing of Alto that lets her get over her nerves and come through. Relationships are meant to be supportive, not dependent, Alto’s love of flying is certainly enhanced by knowing that Ranka is behind him, but he doesn’t fly for her sake alone. While the same may be true for Ranka, that is that she signs for her own reasons, it’s clear she has some trouble doing so when Alto isn’t holding her hand so to speak.
Then again, she managed fine in the Miss Macross Frontier competition when Alto wasn’t there, so maybe I’m being a little too hard on her. I’d say she still has a slight edge up on Sheryl, for being my original favourite. Also, looks like she’s about to be scouted or something, by that pedophile looking guy who was instantly captivated by the ‘deculture’. What is deculture anyways? Seems like Sheryl is a bit intimidated by the competition as well, scowling a little when she saw Ranka’s ability to draw a crowd.
As far as plot goes, we now know that the Vajra are only cannon fodder and that there’s someone behind the scenes controlling them. Perhaps it has something to do with the newly introduced character, shrouded in mystery and heavy shadow, Mr. Bilrer.
Also, with the Galaxy colony having been attacked, next episode’s title “Bye Bye Sheryl” may be a bit misleading, as she may not have a home to return to. Plus, how is she going to duke it out with Ranka if she leaves Macross?
On a closing note, I’ve left this alone for far too long. That thing creeps me out. Cell phone designers in the Macross universe have some weird design sense, Ranka’s being the weirdest by far. Is it alive? Is it sentient? At the very least it seems to be somewhat organic, changing colors in response to being squished and often showing distinct signs of life when Ranka is dialing.
Speaking of cell phones, glad to see the vibrate function has kept its uses throughout the times. Sheryl sure is sensitive.
~ Shirukii ~
Post Script: Microned Klein > Macroned Klein. An infallible statement made of truth, win and loli.
22 Responses to “Macross Frontier 05, Sheryl overload”
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That last screen cap makes me want to watch the series? How is it so far?
>>”Speaking of cell phones, glad to see the vibrate function has kept its uses throughout the times. Sheryl sure is sensitive.”
LOL I was wonder is she really get to the climax there? :D
>>”Is it alive? Is it sentient?”
LOL so what would you answer for you own question?
from a thread over at anime suki
4Tran: “Deculture” is a Zentradi phrase to refer to anything to do with the Protoculture (presumably excluding things that the Zentradi themselves are familiar with), who in turn, were their progenitors. This would include things like music, art and interaction between men and women.
glyph: Since things of the Protoculture were taboo to the Zentradi, the phrase originally meant something like “unbelievable” or “amazing”, with implied feelings of disgust and horror. However, it seems the phrase can also be used in a favourable sense now, from the Nyan-nyan ad, and “Kanteran de Basara de culture!” from Macross 7.
That being said, this episode took what little dislike for Sheryl I had left, tossed it out the window and then tried to brainwash me into leaving the Ranka camp. I’m sitting on the metaphorical fence right now, with Ranka’s cute smile and dog-like ears perked up on one side and Sheryl’s all natural alluring body and confident grin on the other.
Comrade, do not let the seductive nature of Sheryl fool you. Instead look to that really silly looking hair design/color she has, and how much of a bitch she was in the past. Remember that Alto needs a more down-to-earth girl, and Ranka is really really moe. I mean green haired and genki?! I pray for you my comrade, that you will be able to resist the evil temptress and maintain your membership in our Ranka Club.
Post Script: Microned Klein > Macroned Klein. An infallible statement made of truth, win and loli.
Yes indeed. Although the way Sheryl was looking at the Zentradi made them more like animals in the zoo than sentient beings.
This episode slammed me into the fence, I know not who to support any more. I would not say that it was a complete 180 on Sheryl’s part because after all she is chasing Alto-hime whose prowess at breaking people is formidable.
I agree that Ranka came off rather dependent on Alto-hime, while Sheryl seems to have better chemistry. Good Grief there were times when I almost forgot Alto-hime was a guy. Very convincing ersatz yuri dayto.
Why is it always “genki = green hair”? Hell the only one I love is in Yotsuba&!
Anyway I foresee atleast 5 doujinshi about that scene Sheryl putting Alto’s tag in dress and teasing him to get it…..you see where I’m going.
Michel tolerating Ranka’s stuborness is funny because it’s very funny to imagine Nozomu from Zetsubo Sensei in the same situation (both are voiced by Hiroshi Kamiya)
Shirukii: I agree. Sheryl’s personality was very nice this episode. Pulling the pantsu was so random and great.
“Given how bitchy and self-centered she was portrayed at the beginning,”
I find this confusing. I wonder if the series will elaborate anymore on it.
I think my only huge complaint on this episode would be the very small attempt to move the main plot along. All we got was “The Vajra are being controlled by someone else”
And so then I’m here thinking “Great…..what else is new about crazy organic robots?”
I’m interested in how much they will focus on Alto’s past for the remainder of the series. He’s a kabuki performer (and we got that awesome scene where it flashes the robot’s pose to his kabuki pose), he looks feminine, he has a bad relationship with his father. I hope it’s not too predictable.
All natural? I thought Sheryl’s bust was like the maguro-man: man-made and with artificial coloring and sweeteners. ;)
And it looks like my guess about why Sheryl likes to hang around Alto is indeed correct - she finds his irreverence a nice change from her usual ‘yes, ma’am!’ response she gets from just about anyone else. Of course, the fact he’s also from an entertainment background probably helps this lack of worship from his side… since she may remind him of his dad.
BTW: It’s ‘kryptonite’ - and she’s not QUITE a stereotypical tsundere - she melts too quickly for that, but she has some of the same traits, like being able to change moods on whim… and look good doing so. This behavior she’s displaying now is probably more her ‘real’ self than the diva she’s grown into… perhaps how she was before she became a star, which makes this the same side that makes her want to encourage Ranka to follow her own dreams.
But yes, Macronized Klein is love, especially when she seems to have noticed Mikhail… and gave him that glare, while wearing a Haruka-neesama like outfit. A pity we don’t get to see more of Pixie, though - I’d love to see the three of them in civvies, the way we got to see the original Bridge Bunnies in them way back when.
As for looking at things like they were in a zoo… well, it was like Alice in Wonderland for Sheryl, looking around at things like she’d drunk the ‘drink me’ tea which did the shrinking (IIRC). That, and the hippo-cow was worth staring at…
By the way, anyone else think that Ozma’s Focker-like qualities rose with this interaction between him and Cathy? The whole “I wish you’d given me the same sort of attention” comment? It’s like they’re a Claudia and Roy who failed… which means that Ozma’s odds of survival have taken a big hit. Now he just needs to reveal that pineapple salad is his favorite, and we’re going to be starting the “Ozma Death Countdown” timer.
I currently have it set for Episode 19.
Avisch: You have to imagine the “Zetsubou shita! Green haired genki girls leave me in despair!” Then imagine Leon pulling a Kyon-type line…
I thought Microned Klein was the genki loli.
Also moar of her. It’s so low it’s almost CRIMINAL.
PS: A Macroned Klein is fine too. Also moar Kabuki Alto-hime.
PPS: ”de culture” or to be more precise, “de culcha”, is akin to the human expression, “WHAT THE HELL/FSCK/CRAP”. so basically, when you are saying DE CULTURE, what you really mean is WHAT THE CRAP!
To put it in Macross F terms, when The SuperDimensional Restaurant Nyan Nyan sings it’s jingle, it’s basically saying “WTF IT IS DELICIOUS FOODINGS YOU MUST OMNOMNOMNOMNOM IT”
I must say this episode also put me on the fence. The chemistry of Alto and fun Sheryl (as opposed to bitchy one) was very appealing. I guess the downside of just showing episode 1 in the beginning and having a 4 month gap to the next episode made everyone jump on the bandwagon that Sheryl is a bitch, which I am guilty of. I did a little research on the web and looked at chapter 5 of the manga… the manga’s a little off but if chapter 5 is any indication of the next episode then Sheryl Nome just won me over. SPOILER
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@ PyrrhusOnline: It’s pretty good, as long as you have a stomach for pseudo mecha and singing animu.
@ Siva: Don’t think she climaxed, but she sure seemed to have been enjoying herself, lol.
@ square: Ah, ok, so essentially it means something along the lines of “awesome”, fair enough. Though, why they felt the needed a separate word for that is perplexing.
@ Calawain: I’m trying! The enemy is a powerful seductress, the battle is hard ;_;
@ Crusader: Mmm, Alto-himeXSheryl pseudo yuri, awesome.
Wait, no. NO! Bad Shirukii. Ranka forever, all hail Nyan Nyan!
@ Avisch: It just works that way. Ranka, Midori, Yotsuba, Multi, etc.
ZETSUBO DESHITA, ENERGETIC GREEN HAIRED GIRLS HAVE LEFT ME IN DESPAIR.
And yea, the random plot tag ons were pretty lame, we didn’t get much out of this episode.
@ Haesslich: >> It’s ‘kryptonite’
Right…fix’d
True enough, Sheryl’s not exactly tsundere in that she doesn’t have a distinct tsuntsun side to her. It’s more that she has a constant battle between her inner, true, self and the persona she has to wear for the rest of the world.
I’m guessing your last paragraph was referencing past Macross series, or some other series I’m not familiar with.
Might want to scale your death time back a bit though, Macross F is only 13 episodes.
Haha, oh wow, you stole the words right out of my mouth.
@ DrmChsr0: Microned Klein is windmill loli.
I’d OM NOM NOM Ranka’s tuna buns, if you know what I mean.
@ chizwhiz: Yea, that four month gap definitely didn’t do her character much justice, meanwhile Ranka and her Nyan Nyan dance caused her popularity to explode.
Hmm…I’ll dodge that spoiler.
It’s interesting how in the future, cellphones have not gotten smaller… in fact, they have gotten much larger. Sure they look cool as hell, but it looks kinda annoying to lug them around now.
Also, I think Sheryl being kinda uppity in the first episodes was a result of Galaxy. She’s got dudes trying to upload vision shots of her and use her all the time, and it seems to have had an adverse effect on her personality. Out in the country/Frontier, it seems like she’s gone back to her normal self, especially since it’s easy to be relaxed around Alto.
You have to remember that the Zentradi were originally a different “culture” from humans, and as such would probaly have their own language. Just think of De culture as word in Zentradian or something….
As for the living cellphone….I’d guess it’s something similar to a reactive skin of some sort, like….well, we don’t exactly have a system today that would compare to it, but it’d probaly be something like a really, REALLY advanced color changing cell phone of some sort in the near future.
thank god for Galaxy blowing up, now we get more of Sheryl
@Shirukii: LOL i think she did it since we saw the strange reaction of Alto which is the possibility that he feel something strange with his leg ^_^
BTW, who do you think about the long hair girl at the end of ED song?
>>”Comrade, do not let the seductive nature of Sheryl fool you. Instead look to that really silly looking hair design/color she has, and how much of a bitch she was in the past. Remember that Alto needs a more down-to-earth girl, and Ranka is really really moe. I mean green haired and genki?! I pray for you my comrade, that you will be able to resist the evil temptress and maintain your membership in our Ranka Club.”
LOL eh, what? You can say that I like Ranka more than Sheryl BUT what is wrong for being fool by Sheryl?
And wasn’t C.C. is also a green hair girl?
Sheryl>Ranka any day…
Shirukii: Given ANN has it listed for 25 episodes (which fits the whole 25th Anniversary thing), although we’ve only got 13 titles so far, I’ll set it AROUND the time that Focker died the first time… although story-wise, we’re farther in than they were at Episode 5 of the first series.
Kabitzin: I find current smaller cell phones are easy to lose and a bit hard to use. If the phone included Internet access with a full-fledged browser, video viewer, and everything else I needed from a PDA… I’d probably accept the larger size, which these seem to provide.
@ Kabitzin: True, they are a little big, but technology scales not only in size but in power, given what the things can do, it’s not surprising that they have to be a bit bigger. Plus, overly small cell phones are a pain to use.
I suppose Sheryl having to get used to being able to be herself is a plausible explanation, but they gave no precedent for it, so the transition was kinda clunky.
@ Alias: Lies. All species and colonies in the universe speak perfect and unflinching Japanese, lol.
@ Ruki: Yeap. It was pretty much a given that she was going to stick around. I would have thought that it would have been an attack on Frontier that forced her to stay, but this works just as well.
@ Siva: That’s Sheryl on stage. Or…at least that’s what it looks like.
There’s nothing wrong with Sheryl, it’s just you can’t subscribe to more than one fancamp at the same time, it’s just wrong. Pick your loyalties!
@ Fuzzims: I’m beginning to see why you’d think that way, but i just can’t agree with you yet. I’m thinking this decision is going to come down to the wire for me, I won’t know until the series is over.
@ Haesslich: Ah…well then. Thanks for the correction. That puts me in an interesting bind, I was planning on carrying two series over to my summer blogging schedule and picking up two new ones. I’m definitely not dropping Macross as a blog project though. Seems like Soul Eater is in trouble of being ditched, haha.
I don’t think Sheryl did a 180 at all. In the beginning she showed how excited she was to see Frontier, but then soon after put on her diva superstar mask. Even in this episode she basically bossed Alto around and got her way. She just got caught up in the excitement and the fact that Alto treats her like a person and not a star. She basically dropped her mask completely and was just able to be the person she really is. I think as if right now S x A are the better couple, even if people are still clinging to Ranka. Alto and Sheryl seem more equal. On the other hand, Alto seems like Ranka’s babysitter.
Ranka is way too dependent on Alto, and I agree about her bratty attitude. She’s childish. Sheryl is an adult who knows what she wants.
I would say that’s Sheryl too if we compare it to the Preview but I think they are advertising Sheryl too much or was it supposed to be that way?
>>”There’s nothing wrong with Sheryl, it’s just you can’t subscribe to more than one fancamp at the same time, it’s just wrong. Pick your loyalties!”
Ahh! I never subscribe to more than one fancamp at the same time and I usually never had more than one fav character in one series and sometime is none. As for Macross F, I haven’t had any fav character in this series yet but if I were to chose a side between Ranka and Sheryl then it would be Ranka just for some reason.
The reason I said “what is wrong for being fool by Sheryl?” because I think Sheryl is likable in this episode and nothing else.
One interesting thing to me is that the cow-hippo critters very strongly resemble similar critters seen in Avatar: The Last Airbender.
As for the cellphones, well, they do have to be a certain minimum size for the screen to be big enough to read. And Ranka’s seems to be a children’s model—a cross between a phone and the stuffed toys that are worn on one’s shoulder as a fashion accessory. Alto’s is much smaller.
awww, poor ranka :[
and, what do you mean brattyness!?
her brother dosen’t believe she can achieve her dream at all, that must put her down, not to mention that he was all mad when he found out she kept miss macross frontier from him, when he hid the fact that he was still a pilot.
luca x ranka? hehehe :]
although luca seems to be into nanase….
ranka was getting kicked all over this episode, until in the end she finally came through and knocked everyone off their feet! I’ll admit she does need to be a little less dependent on alto, but hey, she really likes him apparently. and she did do okay without him there for miss macross frontier, she can do it again.
although, as much as I like ranka, I have to agree that her and alto don’t make a good couple, as cute as it is that she likes him. shes too short for him lol….
luca x ranka? hehehe :]
although luca seems to like nanase…..