{"id":27745,"date":"2019-12-07T15:44:25","date_gmt":"2019-12-07T23:44:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/?p=27745"},"modified":"2023-02-14T13:55:50","modified_gmt":"2023-02-14T21:55:50","slug":"432a","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/432a\/","title":{"rendered":"Yamato 2202<\/em> Episode 6 commentary"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"1912icon\"<\/p>\n

An advance Gatlantis unit has invaded the 11th planet where Ryu Hijikata and Hajime Saito’s Space Cavalry are stationed. Nagakura, a Space Cavalry member who escaped in search of help, is taken aboard Yamato<\/em>. Kodai, who is rushing to Telezart, must make a difficult decision whether to attempt rescue.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

by Kathy Clarkson<\/span>, Anton Mei Brandt<\/span>, and Daniel George<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Episode 6: Desperate Struggle \u2013 the Eleventh Planet!<\/h2>\n

Floating in a cluster of asteroids is a lone shuttlecraft carrying the unconscious and bleeding Space Cavalry member Shiori Nagakura, who we last saw responding to Gatlantis\u2019 attack on the 11th planet. Woken up by what appears to be a cutting tool, her mind flashes to a ravaged city center, strewn with human corpses. All of them failed to reach an evacuation shuttle, their bodies skewered by large protruding poles, as if crucified. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

[AMB]: We\u2019re off to a somber start. Those familiar with the original work knew the one-sided bout on the 11th planet was bound to happen soon enough, but this is brutal. The BG art for 2202<\/em> has been excellent so far, but Episode 6 ups the ante a bit wouldn\u2019t you say? The coloring in this episode is visually gorgeous, the sunrise bleeding through every part of the planet\u2019s rocky Mars-like texture. Breathtakingly grim.<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: There is a brief mention in the original Series 2 of Gatlantis\/The Comet Empire doing an incredible amount of damage to the base on the 11th planet, named Brumis in the Star Blazers<\/em> dub. They never mention its name in this new series, which is odd since the reboot seems to pay a lot more attention to details. But I’ll still take this new version, with its colony of Earthlings and Garmillans living there together.<\/span><\/p>\n

[AMB]: Maybe “11th planet” is just a placeholder name in-universe? It’s name being yet undecided. Anyhow, in episode 6 of Yamato 2<\/em> we see the destruction play itself out. Speaking of those aforementioned crucifixion poles, anyone who recognized them from a previous episode gets bonus points from me.<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: I will collect those points, thank you. This is not the first time we have seen what the Needle Slaves of Gatlantis can do to a person.<\/span><\/p>\n

A young Garmillas girl is sobbing next to the corpses. She\u2019s confronted by the searchlight of a familiar mechanical being, towering at easily 5 times her size. Before it can fire off a barrage of its piercing weapons though, Nagakura swoops in and saves the girl after delivering some suppressive fire. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

[AMB]: Compared to 5 episodes ago, it finally struck me how large and imposing these Needle Slaves are. On another note, the 2202<\/em> character guide names the little girl Irii.<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: And she is adorable. But we still have the Garmillas\/Garmillas\/Garmillan spelling dilemma. If I recall correctly, it was romanized to Gamilas from the original series, which they then dubbed into Gamilon for Star Blazers<\/em>, and now it was romanized again to Garmillas in Yamato 2199<\/em>. Now it’s back to Garmillas again. I expect that I will continue to use all three depending on which series I am discussing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Successfully evading pursuit, Nagakura checks to see if the child\u2019s all right. It turns out that she\u2019s been separated from her family following Gatlantis\u2019 invasion. Nagakura comforts the lost child, promising to help search for her family if they\u2019re not already at the shelter. They join hands for a short walk past the rubble, most signs of civilization burnt down by the invaders.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

[AMB]: Based on these introductory scenes, we seem to be getting a Nagakura-centric episode, which is well-earned. Not only is she a badass space marine, she\u2019s also capable of dealing with kids in a calm and appropriate manner. I\u2019d like to stress that the way the camera pans around the Needle Slave in order to convey the sheer size of it works wonders, and Irii\u2019s small steps barely being able to keep up with Nagakura is a cute animation detail, taking her stature into account.<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: It’s worth noting that there were no female space marines in the original series; all of the other marines were nearly indistinguishable from Saito himself.<\/span><\/p>\n

[AMB]: One of the pros of having Yamato<\/em>\u2019s new productions being made in the form of movies (rather than debuting on TV) is that they\u2019re not forced to hold back on the severity of the conflicts. In this case, we see the full extent of the annihilation brought forth by Gatlantis without needing to appease broadcast standards.<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: Back in the days when Yamato<\/em> was shared on VHS tapes by non-Japanese fans, the general consensus was that the American dub edited out the violence and death for the kiddies. While this updated version is not as gratuitous as some anime can be, it certainly doesn\u2019t pull any punches.<\/span><\/p>\n

[DG]: It had to be kid-friendly back in the 70s and 80s for the distributors to sell it. There was no way in those days that TV stations could market animated shows to anyone but kids. The idea of adults being able to find real entertainment in an animated series was just something that never entered the minds of the TV executives of the day. How times have changed. Still, I’m amazed to this day that Captain Avatar was allowed to die on screen in Star Blazers<\/em>. Still, Star Blazers<\/em> wasn’t cut quite as badly as Battle of the Planets<\/em> was – but from what I’ve seen of Gatchaman<\/em>, it had more violence and death on-screen than Yamato<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

At the end of the road, Irii spots a familiar toy model of Yamato<\/em>, next to the buried corpse of her brother (in what MUST be a nod to the past, its third bridge is broken off). Shiori embraces the orphan in a show of empathy as the camera pans to the sunset, informing us that at least a day of defensive combat has passed.<\/p>\n

[KC]: We saw this poor boy in an earlier episode, alive and well, decorating the tree with his little sister. He had his toy model of Yamato<\/em> then, too. Just another subtle reminder that we are more alike than we are different.<\/p>\n

[AMB]: A bittersweet moment. That embrace between her and Nagakura isn\u2019t just a soldier comforting an orphan, she shares in her pain. Her responsibility as a soldier was to protect settlers like Irii\u2019s brother and whether or not they\u2019re Earthlings or Garmillans doesn\u2019t matter. These three years have really helped smooth out the strained relationship between the former enemies. On another note, I really hope Santa made it out okay.<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: Oh, those Gatlanteans better not have killed Santa!<\/span><\/p>\n

In another part of the cityscape turned battlefield we see Needle Slaves massacring innocents by the dozens. A lone cosmo marine enters the fray with a jetpack, yelling at the civilians to head for \u201cthe bridge.” The man then brushes off three sword-wielding Gatlantean soldiers as he proceeds to nail the rampaging Needle Slave to the ground, shutting it down with a full clip from his assault rifle. He then gets a moment of relief, since all the Gatlanteans are immobilized and the civilians well on their way to rescue.<\/p>\n

[AMB]: The heroics of the Cosmo Marines are really brought to light here. Not as a collective, but on an individual level. This guy who we don\u2019t even know (in a moment we’ll get his name – Furuhashi) just risked his life against a relentless group of invaders and successfully helped defend most of the refugees. Hero material, wouldn\u2019t you say?<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: Yes, much like we saw in 2199<\/em>, cool scenes and heroic moments are not exclusive to the main characters. As I mentioned above, the space marines used to be rather homogeneous, so it’s nice to see them being given some individuality.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

[AMB]: And Gatlanteans with swords? While their technology (so far) seems advanced beyond the scope of our imagination, the weapons their soldiers carry are archaic and old-fashioned. Makes me believe their technology is most likely inherited, rather than built by them. Similar to Dagarm\u2019s group in Ark of the Stars<\/em> where they forced Garmillan \u201cscience slaves\u201d to construct the Megaluda<\/em> (and also carried swords in accordance with their traditions).<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: A more \u2026 elegant weapon. From a more civilized age. Heh, heh. Swords, WWII battleships and other anachronistic items are always making their way into space opera; the aesthetics are too good to pass up.<\/span><\/p>\n

[AMB]: Someone should keep a tally on our Star Wars<\/em> references. Anyhow, we have yet to see if the Needle Slaves are commissioned in a similar manner to the Megaluda<\/em>, but we\u2019ll get a suitable answer. Patience is key with Fukui\u2019s writing.<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: Indeed; these visuals are not always explained, but this series has already put significant effort into providing logical reasons for things we simply took for granted before.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Suddenly the dead enemy soldiers rise up, ganging up on our lone hero. His bullets do nothing, as if their bodies were bullet sponges. With scorching heat emanating from their skin, their eyes grow large and strained. Furuhashi contacts Hajime Saito and tries to warn him of what\u2019s about to happen. The reanimated corpses blow themselves up along with him, cutting off the transmission. Saito salutes the fallen soldier from afar.<\/span><\/p>\n

[AMB]: This was not something I expected and it spooked me quite a bit the first time. There\u2019s something eerily fascinating with a supposedly dead soldier burning up from inside as he reaches out to Furuhashi (and by extension, our own screens) in an attempt to take the marine with him to the grave. God rest his soul. And hopefully mine if the Gatlantean The Ring<\/em>s his way out of my screen!<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

[KC]: We know from the hospital scene in Episode 2 that Gatlantean soldiers are willing and able to self destruct, but this is a new aspect of their race and the fact that they can not only trigger it posthumously but also be mobile after death is terrifying.<\/span><\/p>\n

[AMB]: This tells us a lot about the Gatlanteans. They\u2019re fierce, unafraid to die, relentless and totally into inflicting pain on their adversaries, be they children, adults or soldiers. And now they\u2019re capable of blowing up at will after death? The fear factor would make me want to surrender immediately. Speaking of which\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: Gatlantis is not done exploring this new zombie angle, but more on that later. On to one of their more blatant displays of villainy.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In what appears to be the 11th planet\u2019s military HQ, base commander Ryu Hijikata attempts to surrender to the Gatlantean invaders in response to the great losses on both sides. Commander Cosmodart Nazca responds in a simple yet chilling manner. \u201cSurrender? What does that mean?\u201d <\/p>\n

[AMB]: Great. Not only is Nazca relentless in his crusade, he\u2019s completely without mercy. If the man even comprehends the meaning of such a concept, we don\u2019t know. Glad to see Hijikata shares my opinion of the most sensible course of action; surrendering.<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: We see a Garmillas version of this in their 2199<\/em> mantra; \u201cVictory or Death!\u201d Also, I believe Abelt Dessler himself points out that there is no word for \u201cretreat\u201d in their language. Not sure if the parallel is intended, but I would not put it past Fukui to have done it on purpose, as these concepts both appear in Episode 6 of their respective series. Or it could just be a coincidence. Garmillas seems to be just fine with surrender, so long as they are the ones being surrendered to.<\/p>\n

[AMB]: Garmillas folk don\u2019t retreat, it\u2019s dishonorable to their culture. But the Gatlanteans\u2026 they don\u2019t even seem to grasp the concept. It\u2019s so alien to them, as if we\u2019re the weird ones.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Hijikata tries to explain what “surrender” means, but Nazca cuts him off, telling him that if he wants to end the battle he has to fight and die. \u201cThat will bring true peace to this planet\u201d he concludes. Hijikata then murmurs a single thought to himself. \u201cThey truly are demons.\u201d The building of HQ collapses, the fate of those inside left ambiguous. <\/p>\n

[AMB]: This is my favorite moment this episode. Out of all the pretty visuals and tragic beauty, this is what stuck with me the most. Gatlantis\u2019 entire military philosophy is based on unapologetic destruction, with their right to rule proven through force. They do not yield. Not out of spite, but because their ways are “correct.” Concepts like surrender are made by weak individuals incapable of dying for their own cause, who therefore deserve to be slaughtered without mercy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nazca doesn\u2019t even revel in the destruction of the 11th planet, it seems. To him, this is just the natural order of things. Gatlantis is a unique enemy, different at their core from both Garmillas and Earth. As the mysterious brooding theme of the white comet comes to a close, the ceiling collapses on Okita\u2019s old friend as he curses the enemy\u2019s inhumanity. At this point I was completely invested in Gatlantis for this show and my curiosity was overwhelming.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

[KC]: I feel like this might be a good place to bring up another glaring difference between the original and current version of this tale; fans of the first Comet Empire series will recall that in the very first episode, Zordar has already picked up the intergalactic hitchhiker and failed tyrant, Leader Desslok, and enlisted his aide in conquering Earth.<\/span> <\/p>\n

Zordar\u2019s generals aren\u2019t happy about this, naturally, since they don\u2019t think they need any help, especially from a washed-up dictator who still walks around talking like he\u2019s all that. Nazca is no exception, and the old Episode 6 has him randomly insulting Desslok out loud for failing to deal with the Earthlings effectively. His sneering disdain is not far off from this Nazca\u2019s level of arrogance, but the previous Nazca is nowhere near as intimidating as he is here.<\/span><\/p>\n

[AMB]: Nazca\u2019s insults in the original Series 2 do come back to bite him though! After trying to grab the glory of defeating Yamato<\/em> ahead of Dessler, he ends up terrified on his ship\u2019s bridge, radioing the former fuhrer for help, only to be denied. Keep this scene in mind as we go forward.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The battle rages on as Saito, in a makeshift shelter, scornfully accepts the challenge to \u201cfight and die.” But he refuses to involve the civilians, preferring to let them escape with a spacecraft docked nearby. Professor Redrowz and Touko Katsuragi are shown to have both survived the onslaught, with the former motioning to the Space Cavalry commander that the shuttle just isn\u2019t big enough for everyone (indicating Irii). Cosmo marines Kurata and Amagi briefly support Redrowz’ opinion, noting that advanced maneuvers in such a craft would be cumbersome with kids on board.<\/p>\n

[AMB]: He may be a gruff looking giant, but he sure knows where his responsibilities lie. And seeing Touko cradling Irii is quite wholesome. She may have seemed mysterious back in Episode 3, but here she\u2019s just\u2026 taking care of a kid. Trust me, she\u2019ll be harder to read the further we go!<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: She\u2019s just a harmless archaeological assistant, hoping to check out the Akerius ruins for purely intellectual reasons. Isn’t she?<\/span><\/p>\n

[AMB]: Yes. And her voice doesn\u2019t sound uncannily familiar to ANYONE else\u2019s.<\/span><\/p>\n

[DG]: And she’s not voiced by the same actress as one of the main characters, is she?<\/span><\/p>\n

[AMB]: On another note, the shuttle’s name is “Seabolt”. It’s an experimental wave-engine space boat equipped with a warp unit. A precautionary measure for use during emergencies such as this.<\/span><\/p>\n

Saito concocts a new plan; Nagakura will leave with the shuttle, radioing for help along the way. In the meantime, her co-workers will protect what\u2019s left of the planet\u2019s population. Nagakura is taken aback at first, believing her task is given simply because of her womanhood. But her commander reassures his subordinate with a content smile.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cBringing a rescue ship out of the pits of hell? Only you can do it.” <\/p>\n

She turns and starts walking away, a labored sigh leaving her body. \u201cYou owe me one, commander.\u201d<\/p>\n

[AMB]: This bait and switch is really cute. For one moment you think the showrunners are just gonna be meta about Saito\u2019s white-knight-ing and allow it to happen. But Saito happily puts into words the difficulty of the mission, assuring Nagakura that she was chosen for her merits rather than gender. And what does she see in the eyes of the rest of her comrades? No pity, only respect. The new Cosmo Marines rock, and I love them.<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: Agreed; it is a great scene and it not only had us fooled; in the English dub even Nagakura herself asks point blank if Saito is only sending her because she\u2019s a woman and he tells her it\u2019s because she\u2019s the best pilot they\u2019ve got. After the ponderous macho bravado from Sergeant Knox, this is a refreshing change. Still \u2026 this show is so subtle. Maybe it is just because of the way space opera usually works, or because I myself am somewhat of a hopeless romantic, but I feel like there might be more there, with the look that Saito gives as Nagakura walks off.<\/span><\/p>\n

[AMB]: Romantic in nature or not, it\u2019s a clear visual indication that he\u2019s got her back at all times.<\/span> <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The mountain they\u2019re holed up in is under constant duress, missiles raining down on the shuttle hangar. Nagakura\u2019s inside the shuttle, preparing for takeoff. Telling herself over and over that she\u2019s not running away, she resolves her spirit and takes off. Her commander bravely defends her, fending off multiple spacecraft to ensure her safe departure. As her shuttle warps, the spot where we last saw Saito is blown to hell. Shiori wakes up right where the episode started, being picked up by Yamato<\/em>. Flashback over.<\/p>\n

[AMB]: With both Ark<\/em> and 2202<\/em> in mind, this Saito really is an immense improvement. In Farewell<\/em> he was mostly relegated to shorter scenes where he accompanied others and acted heroically, and in Yamato 2<\/em> he was a very frustrating (and almost meta) character who knew how ridiculous his antics were. But here? He\u2019s got his Farewell<\/em> attributes but also carries a heart of gold. He respects his subordinates regardless of gender or race, and genuinely cares about the people he\u2019s protecting. His dynamic with Nagakura, a competent and relatable woman trying her best to meet his expectations, is charming!<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

[KC]: Exactly. I’m not going to harp on it, but like so much else in this series, Saito and the rest of his marines have gotten a serious upgrade.<\/span><\/p>\n

[AMB]: Back to the original work again, an element of camaraderie within the Cosmo Marines was of course always present, allegorical to the Shinsengumi<\/a> of Japan\u2019s Edo Period. But the arc where he loses his fellow soldiers and decorates their graves with rifles and helmets as crosses? That happened on the moon in Ark<\/em>. So the writers have to find something more for his character to do now, and I\u2019m very excited to see what that may be! Aside from a budding relationship of any kind with best girl Nagakura. That is, if he survived that blast of course\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: Oh, am I not alone in reading something in that look he gave her?<\/span><\/p>\n

[AMB]: I\u2019m innocent of shipping these two until proven guilty. But the way he screamed Nakagura\u2019s name as she departed? I felt it all the way inside my heart roots.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

On Yamato<\/em>\u2019s bridge, the crew confirms the invaders to be Gatlanteans, sizing up their fleet. Keyman delivers some nuggets of information about the 11th planet: it was “terraformed” by Garmillas, powered by an artificial sun set up three years ago. The battle began over 40 hours ago, communications are cut off, and it houses a mixture of civilians and military personnel as we\u2019ve seen prior to this.<\/p>\n

[AMB]: A 40-hour long battle unfortunately spells bad odds for our guys.<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: In English they say it has been 40 hours since the Gatlantis ambush; we already know the situation is dire, but I don\u2019t think the battle itself went on for all that time.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

[AMB]: Hopefully not, but I wouldn\u2019t put it past these Gatlanteans! In the original, the 11th planet contained a recently explored ruin of a former civilization, an aspect carried over to the planet called Stravase starting next episode. This time around its purpose more closely resembles that of the Jupiter base in 2199<\/em>, a waystation to expand the Garmillas Empire in the Milky Way. Now it’s a symbol of unity. Though we know, just like Kodai and Keyman, that this planet was only gifted (among other unknown territories) to Earth in exchange for access to the Time Fault.<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: I have so many questions that are not germane to this story arc. I can only hope that the writers are seeding the plot for future series.<\/span><\/p>\n

[AMB]: It would come as no surprise if they are, considering that\u2019s what 2199<\/em> did with a lot of the Garmillas side of the story! But the artificial sun… Is it set up because the 11th planet is too far away from Earth\u2019s Sun to function? Or is there something inherent to it that sustains Garmillan citizens? Similar to the intended effect of the 2199<\/em> Garmillas plants or the Jupiter base, where it was a cut out piece of their home environment?<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: It is reasonable to assume that a planet this remote wouldn’t support human life. In the original it was revealed that Dessler needed Earth as a new home for his people, but according to 2199<\/em>, Garmillas was out fighting Gatlantis when an Earth vessel happened along and chose hostilities over first contact. Now Dessler is gone and they are a democracy, or transitioning to one, so whether that will still be a factor remains to be seen … <\/span><\/p>\n

[AMB]: We don’t know when hostillities first began between Garmillas and Dagarm’s group, but seeing as most skirmishes happened in the outer rims of Great Garmillas and Sabera telling the brute (Dagarm) that he’s been sent out to search for the Ark of the Stars, it’s reasonable to assume that it began recently as of 2199<\/em>. They just happened to find Garmillas and Yamato on the way, improving their own tech with Garmillan science slaves.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

After Ohta asks about the possibility of survivors, a dissatisfied grimace forms on Keyman\u2019s face. They\u2019re radioed by EDF HQ, where Commander Todo apologizes for his conservative estimation of the untimely Gatlantean invasion. Despite this, he wishes for Yamato<\/em> to continue their trek to Telezart. (It’s rendered on screen as both “Telezart” and “Terezart” in this series, so we’re sticking to the older spelling here.) Todo argues that Yamato<\/em> can\u2019t and shouldn\u2019t have to deal with an enemy fleet of that size on its own. The closing word comes from Serizawa, who vows to move out the military once the political side of things is settled with Garmillas.<\/p>\n

[AMB]: In other words, since the planet housed citizens from both nations, the EDF can\u2019t make a move without full consent from Garmillas. Oh, politics and bureaucracy, you never change. It\u2019s a relief to see Serizawa assuming the responsibility of ensuring the 11th planet’s safety though, as well as Todo warming up to this mission, even if he urges Yamato<\/em> to temporarily abandon the 11th planet.<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: Makes sense to me; not only is the planet home to both Garmillas and Earth citizens, but Garmillas could probably get ships there to rescue the survivors faster than the EDF could. I don\u2019t think there’s any hidden agenda here or anything, and I take Serizawa at his word that they will do everything they can, even if it’s impossible for that guy not to look pissed off.<\/span><\/p>\n

One thing that did strike me as somewhat amusing is the double turnaround here; Todo was against Yamato<\/em> going to Telezart and now he’s ordering them to continue on and not get sidetracked. Meanwhile, Kodai was chomping at the bit to answer Teresa\u2019s call and now he\u2019s angry that he can\u2019t go on this detour mission. Certainly not a criticism on my part; I absolutely adore this version of Kodai and I love how he just wants to get in there and save everyone, everywhere, all the time.<\/span> <\/p>\n

[AMB]: Some Garmillan officials are probably against open armed conflict with Gatlantis over this planet too, especially since it\u2019s not their concern anymore. Ownership is with Earth, but if Earth isn\u2019t allowed to respond thanks to Garmillas, it\u2019s a bureaucratic stalemate. Let\u2019s hope to God this isn\u2019t the case. I share your view on Kodai. He\u2019s good to a fault, and that\u2019s what makes him so endearing.<\/span> <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Their new orders aren\u2019t well-received. Ace pilots Shinohara and Kato wonder how much influence Garmillas has on Yamato<\/em>\u2019s current expedition and whether or not this helped cause the current line of events. Keyman\u2019s ambiguous role is quietly questioned by Saburo.<\/p>\n

[KC]: There\u2019s that damn slur again. And Keyman overheard him say it. Yeah, I get it, Kato. Your kid is real sick because of the war with Garmillas, and now you\u2019re pissed that Earth is all buddy-buddy with them and Yamato<\/em> has one of their representatives on board, walking around like he owns the place. But from my vantage point, let me be the first to say; \u201cF you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

[AMB]: Casual racism after years of conflict and genocide cmomitted against your own people is to be expected, but it\u2019s still disheartening. We\u2019ve seen parts of this \u201cGarmillan conspiracy\u201d littered throughout the story so far, but just like these pilots, we have no clue what Keyman or Burrel\u2019s agenda is. I\u2019m currently in the camp of \u201cI want to believe\u201d(in them), but I\u2019m not happy with the slow bureaucratic measures following this 11th planet incident.<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: I don’t think anyone is happy with slow bureaucratic measures of any kind, especially if they\u2019ve ever had to stand in line at a Registry of Motor Vehicles in the United States, heh. Seriously, though, I have complete faith in the Great Garmillas \u2026 whatever it is now. While I understand the suspicion, I believe Burrel may be good at playing politics but isn’t doing what he\u2019s doing for political reasons.<\/span><\/p>\n

My favorite blue folks have always been portrayed as oddly superstitious considering their advanced technology and military mindset, and the Garmillas we have met in 2202<\/em> are no different. Burrel did not impress on Kodai the importance of finding Teresa because they are looking to stab Earth in the back. Then again, I have the advantage of hindsight and I can\u2019t say for sure that I wouldn\u2019t speculate otherwise if we were writing this commentary while watching for the first time.<\/span> <\/p>\n

[AMB]: Maybe I\u2019m just impatient because Yamato<\/em>\u2019s crew is. For all we know, the negotiations could take an hour or a week, and then the EDF and Garmillas would have to send a joint group to confront the threat. In any case, it\u2019s clear that if anyone\u2019s still alive down there, they\u2019re doomed if Yamato<\/em> departs. And if they don\u2019t depart it would add a nice contrast to how Yamato<\/em> had to bypass Saito\u2019s group on the moon in 2199<\/em> to fulfill THAT mission.<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: It is a powerful tool in this genre\u2019s arsenal; the concept of sacrificing an individual or a small group of individuals to save a larger group or stop a bigger threat. Just because I’m willing to embrace my blind trust for Garmillas doesn’t mean I don\u2019t feel the tension in these scenes. Those survivors could easily be left to die.<\/span><\/p>\n

[AMB]: Quick thoughts about Burrel before we move on; I don\u2019t believe Kodai has a negative opinion of the man. Last time they spoke, Kodai grasped the horrors about to be unleashed on the galaxy. But Keyman\u2026 he\u2019s so unambiguously ambiguous to our new Acting Captain that it would be strange NOT to distrust him.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Inside Yamato<\/em>\u2019s briefing room, Shima lays out their planned route. If they warp once every 16 hours, they\u2019ll reach the source of the mysterious signal in 29 days. (The blocks depicted along their path could either represent warps or normal travel, the dialogue does not specify.) Keyman coldly adds that the 11th planet is way off-course, which would add a substantial amount of travel time to an already urgent mission. Interrupting the Garmillan emissary, Akira argues that Yamato<\/em>\u2019s mission is to reach the source of the signal in order to save lives, finding it contradictory to abandon dying people for the sake of that end goal. Kato tries to calm her down but ultimately fails.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

[AMB]: She\u2019s still got some grade A willpower, that girl. Despite having been saved by the ambassador last episode, she doesn\u2019t back down when she feels her integrity as a soldier and a human being is being denied. I like that.<\/span> <\/p>\n

[KC]: I feel like I keep repeating myself, but maybe it bears repeating? Anyway, I do joke a lot about how space opera often ignores the real world military ramifications that would result from some of the dramatic choices that characters make, but boy howdy does it make for good storytelling if you’re not distracted by that stuff.<\/span><\/p>\n

I know this show is beloved by many in the military, so I’m guessing it’s not a problem for those who serve to see folks disobeying orders and shooting their mouths off. Perhaps a bit cathartic. In any event, I love that she gets up in Keyman\u2019s face about this, even if I do think that some of his seemingly callous disregard for the possibility of survivors is feigned. Maybe even a test?<\/span><\/p>\n

[AMB]: You have to suspend some disbelief, definitely. But in this case I think it\u2019s meant to be an allegorical action fitting to what Yamato<\/em>\u2019s crew believes in. The cold rationality and stale rigidness of the military is not compatible with Yamato<\/em>, it\u2019s why Yamato<\/em> left Earth and why Akira can partake in this briefing despite her lack of clearance. It\u2019s why Yamato<\/em> can and will attempt a rescue mission despite the clear setbacks to their main mission. Akira doesn\u2019t wait for this briefing to end unfavorably, so she attempts to force justice. And I think we\u2019ll see a similar reaction from Kodai in response to this potential detour…<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Recognizing Akira to be the one he saved, Klaus questions why she\u2019s here despite her lack of clearance, to which she calmly asks if there\u2019s any difference between Garmillans and Earthlings when it comes to the desire to save their own people. Klaus believes it\u2019s been too long for there to be any survivors. Akira needs to see this with her own eyes before passing judgement, using Nagakura\u2019s survival as a basis for her argument. Keyman argues that, rescue mission or not, it\u2019s ultimately Captain Kodai\u2019s decision.<\/span><\/p>\n

[AMB]: Both parties convey good points, but they\u2019re clearly stuck too far in their own mindsets to reach one another. Klaus has an almost defeatist attitude toward the settlers, rooted in the urgency of Yamato<\/em>\u2019s mission. Akira refuses to give up before getting a chance to try, opting for a more optimistic outlook. <\/p>\n

[KC]: I’m going to give Keyman more credit and suggest that he looks to Kodai for a decision, knowing full well what he will choose.<\/span><\/p>\n

[AMB]: Same here, it\u2019s clearly a test as you said earlier. There\u2019s also Keyman\u2019s facial expressions in the previous scene hinting at some feeling of loss upon hearing of the low possibility of survivors, as seen by Shima. So while professing one set of beliefs, he could very well be closer to Akira at heart than we are led to believe.<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: Yes, Keyman is presented in a similar way to Sanada, I think; dealing more in practical logic than emotion. But there are Garmillans on Planet 11, too, and I think we’re getting some subtle hints here that he cares about what happens to those people.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Despite Yamato<\/em>\u2019s bad odds, Kodai chooses to pursue the rescue mission. Just like at Planet Balan in the last war, they\u2019ll employ Okita\u2019s gutsy insertion tactics by warping as close to the planet\u2019s surface as possible, even if it temporarily disables their Wave-Motion Engine. Sanada surmises that it will due to the gravity damage. Tokugawa weighs in with what this means in practical terms; No Wave-Motion Shield, no shock cannons and no warping capabilities for at least two hours. <\/p>\n

[AMB]: Kodai is far easier to read emotionally than Okita ever was. In this scene it\u2019s clear to me that he\u2019s wondering what his former mentor would do rather than figuring out an answer for himself, an answer suited to his style of leadership. This is because he\u2019s still new to all this and scared of finding his own path. Then again, with Yamato<\/em>, sometimes you just gotta have faith. But I\u2019m not sure if Kodai\u2019s even too sure of his ability to pull this off as brilliantly as Okita would.<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: Exactly this. Kodai has proven himself in many ways up to this point, but now it\u2019s time for him to really step up, and those are some big shoes to fill. It will be a struggle for him throughout this series.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Keyman shows a modicum of respect for Kodai\u2019s mettle, comparing it to Okita\u2019s. He then asks if the risk of finding nothing but corpses upon arrival is worth it, to which Susumu responds with as much resolve as he can muster, turning his gaze toward a patched up Nagakura. \u201cShe escaped the battlefield against all odds. We can only repay that favor by believing there to still be survivors.\u201d<\/p>\n

Klaus seems distraught over this decision, but accepts it regardless. Yamato<\/em> switches to Class-1 battle stations and prepares to warp. And with that, the rescue mission is a go!<\/p>\n

[AMB]: Having Klaus here to bounce ideas off Kodai as a sort of devil on his shoulder is a smart move. It not only forces the new Captain to think twice about his ideas, but compells him to justify his own decisions. It\u2019s a unique element to 2202<\/em>, and an enriching dynamic between those two which I\u2019ve thoroughly enjoyed.<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: Yes. It certainly fits with my theory that Keyman is there to observe if not test the character of these Earthlings that have heard Teresa\u2019s call. As much as I still miss the original Leader Dessler chewing up the scenery, having a different blond-haired, blue-skinned counterpoint to Kodai is making for a good story!<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

[AMB]: Just imagine if Keyman\u2019s spot was filled in by Talan. It would be out of place, but you\u2019d adore it. Speaking of the surviving Talan brother, I wonder how he\u2019s doing?<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: Yeah, whatever happened to that guy? Since we did not do the commentary for 2199<\/em>, I don\u2019t know if I have mentioned how much I appreciate the mystery of my Imaginary Space Husba -uh- the original character of General Talan, going from David Niven to Stacy Keach from one series to the next, being solved by making them two completely separate General Talans. (I just dated myself with those actors, didn\u2019t I?)<\/span><\/p>\n

Anyway, in 2199<\/em> the nerdy one gets stuck with Abelt Von Crazypants and caught in the final battle with Yamato<\/em>, much like General Talan does toward the end of Farewell to Yamato<\/em>. We see him face down in the smoking wreck of the flagship, and they only need one Talan, so I’m going to presume he\u2019s dead. As for the younger one we see back on Garmillas in the final episodes of 2199<\/em>? Hopefully he\u2019s off looking for his brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Following the announcement, Kodai and Klaus engage in a short discussion inside the ship\u2019s elevator on their way from the briefing. They have different perspectives on the meaning behind Yamamoto\u2019s impassioned speech. From Kodai\u2019s perspective, Akira argued that if Yamato<\/em> chose to not help those in need in order to \u201csave the universe,” then Yamato<\/em>\u2019s mission would be hypocritical in nature. The Garmillan liaison, however, doesn\u2019t share this interpretation of her words, implying that Akira\u2019s argument was nothing but blind pride caused by Teresa\u2019s vision. <\/p>\n

\u201cSo whoever sees Teresa\u2019s vision becomes deaf?\u201d Keyman asks.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps. Or maybe it\u2019s just because we\u2019re aboard Yamato<\/em>,\u201d Kodai responds with a nostalgic smile.<\/p>\n

[AMB]: Kodai has grown a lot since 2199<\/em>. Before, he was a fragmented and broken individual who passively joined the conflict, lost and alone following the death of his brother. But now he\u2019s grown to love and understand the beauty of what Yamato<\/em> stands for, what his crew is fighting for. But he\u2019s still not entirely his own individual, living in the shadow of his former Captain. I believe it\u2019s what ultimately made him choose to take this new journey instead of staying behind with Yuki. Self-guilt.<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: If I’m wrong about Keyman\u2019s motivations, he has some damn nerve voicing that implication. The very reason Burrel and he were observing Yamato<\/em>\u2019s crew is because they already demonstrated a willingness to sacrifice all to save others. They both know that Teresa doesn\u2019t call just anyone, either. Of course, being my own devil\u2019s advocate for a second, Burrel and Keyman could well be terrified of the prospect of Zordar finding Teresa first and simply unwilling to risk any delay that could assist Gatlantis.<\/span><\/p>\n

[AMB]: Maybe he\u2019s a reluctant actor in Burrel\u2019s game? A man with a certain set of morals, forced to join an impossible mission with a bunch of reckless Earthlings on their way to meet the personification of ancient space magic? This is just one of many valid interpretations. My personal take is that his mean-spirited comment wasn\u2019t malicious, but a reactionary one meant to release some of his own pent up frustrations. Whether it’s his reluctance to join the fight or his inability to show his true emotions, it\u2019s an enigma to say the least!<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The good mood is then broken by a grim proclamation from Klaus. Yamato<\/em> has a weakness this time around, different from the previous journey. This leaves Yamato<\/em>\u2019s Captain speechless, making both him and the audience wonder what Keyman meant. As the Garmillan man steps out of the elevator, he provocatively states that \u201cYou should know what it is.\u201d <\/p>\n

[AMB]: We\u2019ve already seen all of this, so we have the answer, but I feel as if the previous episodes have given enough hints already for us to know precisely what Keyman meant, namely Okita’s absence. Do you remember what your thoughts were on your first viewing, Kathy?<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: I’m not 100% sure I picked up on exactly what he meant. At the time I thought he was just being arrogant, possibly making a dig at the competency of his prior government, but then you know I try to bring everything back to Dessler. Once you’ve seen all of the episodes and gone back, however, the clues jump out.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In a surprise move, Keyman joins up with the Cosmo Tigers for this mission, aiming to help mediate the risks. At first stunned, Kato orders his comrades to re-enter the call signs to keep Klaus from accidentally getting hit. Akira questions Keyman\u2019s agenda, but he brushes her off. On Yamato<\/em>\u2019s bridge a ten-second warp countdown has begun. Nagakura ponders her intentions to save her commander, thus fulfilling their promise. And then, they warp.<\/p>\n

[AMB]: Keyman is full of surprises! He may have been openly against the idea of Yamato<\/em> involving itself with the 11th planet, but his actions here speak louder than words.<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: Told you he cares.<\/span><\/p>\n

[AMB]: Akira wanting to prevent the creation of more war orphans is obvious if we look at her past, her only family being her brother (until he passed away). Maybe Klaus shares some similar sympathetic feelings toward the people they\u2019re about to rescue? Also, Nagakura should be in bed, but she\u2019s stubborn enough to get herself a front row seat on the bridge for the warp sequence.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Lying on a dilapidated bridge across a chasm on the 11th planet, Space Cavalry commander Saito wakes up seemingly unscathed from his last action. Questioning his own survival, he\u2019s interrupted by Touko Katsuragi running to him with Irii in her arms, requiring Hajime\u2019s assistance against half a dozen Needle Slaves. They get quickly pinned down (but thankfully not in a literal sense). <\/p>\n

[AMB]: That was a mighty long fall from where we last saw Saito. Cosmo Marine armor must be made of some top notch material. Or Flex Tape.<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: It is refreshing to see a main character questioning their survival after something like that, because I am questioning it, too.<\/span><\/p>\n

[AMB]: And that brings us to<\/span> Spoiler Country!<\/span> The show\u2019s been finished for over almost a year as of this writing, and we all know the score at this point. In the same episode in which we were reintroduced to the exploding living dead Gatlanteans, we see the creation of a human one: Hajime Saito has died and risen again thanks to forces that have yet to be formally introduced in the story. Upon revisiting this episode, the strange feeling of \u201che should be dead!\u201d was right on the money.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

[KC]: Not gonna lie; at the time I dismissed his survival as a contrivance of the genre and didn\u2019t start considering that Saito is now a Gatlantean plant until a few more clues dropped and I saw other fans discussing it online. The introduction of this angle is terrifying.<\/span><\/p>\n

[AMB]: Good to see Irii is still in alive, though!<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: Much like Baby Yoda, that little girl is too adorable to die. Oh, did you not think I wouldn’t find a way to work more Star Wars<\/em> into my Yamato<\/em>? They’ve gone hand in hand since I was Irii\u2019s age.<\/span><\/p>\n

[AMB]: Adorable.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

With the Needle Slaves slowly surrounding them and growing larger in numbers, the young child asks Saito where Yamato<\/em> is, yelling at him that her brother believed Yamato<\/em> was capable of easily beating these guys. As if agreeing with her sentiment, he reassures her that Yamato<\/em> will definitely come save them. And almost as if Yamato<\/em> responds to that will, it warps in just above them! The Garmillan child beams with joy!<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

[AMB]: Most relatable feeling this episode goes to Irii. Yamato<\/em>\u2019s entrance was so corny, but it felt wonderful seeing the encapsulation of human will and hope breaking away the sorrow inflicted on these people. The BGM timing is on-point as well!<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: I do not care one iota about how contrived that setup was. There were definitely feels.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nazca is immediately informed of the warpout from orbit, troubled since the Gatlantean 8th Task fleet has yet to arrive with assistance. The abnormal nature of the warpout being so close to the planet also means they can\u2019t track where exactly it occurred, causing Cosmodart to order an expanded search range in a fit of annoyance. (Incidentally, the full name “Cosmodart Nazca” comes directly from the original story; it was not expanded for 2202<\/em> as all the Garmillas names were for 2199<\/em>. In Star Blazers<\/em> we knew him simply as “Naska.”)<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

[AMB]: 8th task fleet? If they\u2019re anywhere near the limited size of Dagarm\u2019s expeditionary fleet from Ark<\/em> they\u2019ll be small fry. But Nazca does seem to value its assistance, so we\u2019ll have to wait and see what they\u2019re worth. Speaking of Nazca, he doesn\u2019t have a chair, a visual hint at their (the Gatlanteans) true nature as humanoids. The only one we\u2019ve seen with a chair is Zordar, the rest are always standing.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Back on the surface, Akira jumps headfirst into the fray, blowing the Needle Slaves surrounding Saito\u2019s little group to pieces. She confirms that there are indeed survivors. Following her are the rest of the Cosmo Tigers pursuing enemy fighters. An overjoyed Irii and a pleased Saito revel in Yamato<\/em>\u2019s timely rescue.
\n\u201cIt came. It really came!\u201d<\/p>\n

[AMB]: Saito you beautiful space bear, I feel you. Akira\u2019s discovery of survivors must have felt great, her goodwill paying off. All we\u2019re missing now is an acknowledgement from Keyman and some fun action. Direction-wise it\u2019s a fitting choice to show this from the perspective of the survivors. We are with them.<\/p>\n

[KC]: I don\u2019t really have anything to add here, except that from now on I am probably going to be referring to Saito as Space Bear.<\/span><\/p>\n

[AMB]: After episodes of internal pains and sorrow across the board, this one act makes it feel like the start of great things for Yamato<\/em>\u2019s crew. They have to wear their ideals on their sleeve if they\u2019re to truly save the universe this time around.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Yamato<\/em> proceeds to hover over the bridge in the narrow chasm. The air current is too strong to land without support, so Shima launches the rocket anchors to keep the ship steady. Kodai orders Nanbu to help the stranded marine with rescuing survivors. Everything works out perfectly until Miki notices the enemy fleet approaching. Kato is sent to intercept the Gatlantean Destroyers, telling his subordinates to \u201cignore the horseshoe crabs.” <\/p>\n

[KC]: I don\u2019t know how the hell I missed them referring to those ships as horseshoe crabs. It\u2019s hilarious because it\u2019s true.<\/span><\/p>\n

[AMB]: In the official sub they\u2019re referred to by Kato as \u201csmall crabs,” but the translation \u201chorseshoe crab\u201d is much better as it alludes to what they were conceptually designed to look like. But yes, it\u2019s hilarious.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

All survivors seen earlier are taken aboard, including professor Redrowz, Touko Katsuragi, and Irii, with Nagakura out in the field aiding the rescue effort. Meanwhile, the Cosmo Tigers have taken out the small fry and are now keeping the capital ships at bay. For the first time, we get a good look at the unique capabilities of Yamamoto’s Cosmo Tiger 1. Background materials explain that the craft was judged too complex to be adopted as the standard Cosmo Navy fighter, and now we see what that means; it is basically a conglomeration of weapons mounts wrapped around a thrusting body that rotates around a steady cockpit section. In other words, the only “unmoving” portion of the fuselage is the mostly-glass (?) encasement for the pilot. Yamamoto can therefore keep a steady lock on a target and rotate whatever weapon she likes into a firing position she likes. We must assume that Yamato<\/em>‘s armory has plenty of spares in stock, because she isn’t stingy about using them up – including entire missile magazines that get ejected after they empty out. (And which look like they’d produce a serious amount of drag in atmospheric flight.)<\/p>\n

[DG]: The Cosmo Tiger I of this incarnation of Yamato<\/em> became necessary when the Cosmo Tiger I of the original saga was replaced by the Hayabusa\/Cosmo Falcon. In order for the Cosmo Tiger II we all know and love to remain the Cosmo Tiger II, there had to be a Cosmo Tiger I. Makoto Kobayashi, kitbasher extraordinaire and series assistant director assembled the first rendition of the Cosmo Tiger I out of what I recall to have been the engine blocks of the 1\/72 Cosmo Zero model kit (apologies if that’s not the case, but it’s been a long time since I saw that model, and it struck me as noticeable at the time).<\/p>\n

The backstory that the Cosmo Tiger I became too expensive an option for mass production makes a lot of sense. At 26.3 meters long, it absolutely dwarfs the Cosmo Zero and the Cosmo Tiger II, and would only have been able to operate from the Andromeda<\/em> carrier variants from the top of the upper flight deck, being way too big for any of its quick-launch bays. The technologies used on the fighter would have been hugely expensive to produce in comparison to smaller, more conventional fighters.<\/span><\/p>\n

While I’m no fan of forward-swept wings, I am a great fan of the Cosmo Tiger I. With the huge number of weapon hardpoints, a rotating cockpit that was almost certainly inspired by the B-Wing heavy starfighter in the Star Wars<\/em> universe, and those two huge beam cannons, it may be an expensive plane, but you certainly get bang for buck. The weapons layout, between the two heavy beam cannons and the large number of hardpoints for mounting weapons like the missile pods we see make it the Yamato<\/em> equivalent of an A-10 Warthog on steroids. I’m still disappointed that there has been no 1\/72 kit release of this nor of the Cosmo Tiger II. I’m not saying I don’t understand why there isn’t, but it’s a damn shame regardless.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Keyman manages to impress Kato by taking down one of the three incoming Gatlantean destroyers all on his own. Kato moves to take down the second one, but Akira jumps the gun and tries blowing it up from underneath, as if attempting to one-up Keyman. The upper part of the Gatlantean ship dislodges from the destroyed bottom half, now on a collision course with Yamato<\/em>.<\/p>\n

[AMB]: Before writing this commentary I didn\u2019t care much for the battle taking place here, but now I see it as a fun skirmish. The pilots all partake in defending Yamato<\/em>, but Akira\u2019s frustrations with Keyman drives her to make an error, and Keyman can be quite reckless in actual battle.<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: In the original series the fight was over pretty quickly. This is a great cinematic dogfight, improved by a second viewing.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Nanbu confirms the safety of all refugees. Yamato<\/em> takes off and narrowly avoids complete destruction at the hands of the tenacious Gatlantean battleship as it crashes into the old bridge. Only one enemy destroyer remains, and it\u2019s tailing Yamato<\/em> from above, raining hellfire with its rotating guns. The Cosmo Tigers are hopeless to stop it as turbulence throws the refugees around inside the ship. Thankfully Saito and Nagakura are there to cushion young Irii from damage. What is taking damage however is Yamato<\/em> itself and Hajime questions why they\u2019re running away from the enemy.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

[AMB]: Just like the super battleship in Episode 1, even the destroyer commanders seem desperate to follow their orders. Fight and die, was it? And the facelessness of the Gatlantean soldiers onboard really helps to dehumanize them, a topic we\u2019ll get into when it becomes more relevant. I\u2019ve always loved the practical design of those round Gatlantean turrets. There\u2019s never a time when you can\u2019t fire them off!<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: We already know that Gatlanteans are made, not born. It is reinforced again here and will become increasingly relevant. This is actually what I thought Keyman was referring to earlier, when he tells Kodai that this mission is not like their last one. Garmillas had been their enemy, but the races wound up realizing that they were more alike than different. Not so with Gatlantis.<\/span><\/p>\n

[AMB]: It wasn’t a bad guess. Anyway, when this episode screened in Japan, a barrage of Saito\/Nagakura\/Irii fan art appeared on Twitter. Speaking of Saito, his attitude toward Yamato<\/em>\u2019s escape isn\u2019t that surprising. Why would such a legendary ship choose to flee?<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Without any Wave-Motion capabilities, Kodai opts to deliver a heavy payload with Yamato<\/em>\u2019s SAM (Surface-to-Air-Missile) launcher, followed by some Round-3 shells straight into the Gatlantean destroyer’s belly. This knocks out the enemy\u2019s firing capabilities and engines, and it starts descending toward a fleeing Yamato<\/em>. Once again, they narrowly escape the clutches of death as explosive fire from the crashing enemy ship fills the canyon.<\/p>\n

[AMB]: Commander Todo was right, these guys might be too much for Yamato<\/em> to handle on their own. The ship BARELY managed to escape death twice here, and they’ve only encountered a small interception force! This is a far cry from the one-sided bout in Yamato 2<\/em>, where the ship easily pummeled Nazca\u2019s fleet to submission. Viewers must have been surprised to see Yamato<\/em>\u2019s difficulty here. You saw Star Blazers<\/em> first, didn\u2019t you? Do you remember your reaction?<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: Well, keep in mind that I was a smartass kid who rooted for the bad guys, but honestly not much has changed. I always kind of rolled my eyes a bit at the concept that of course the battleship would be awesome in a show that was about the battleship. These days I am at least wise enough to appreciate that is part of the tapestry of a space opera, but here in 2202<\/em> it is nice to feel a little genuine concern for Yamato<\/em>\u2019s plight.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Gatlantean 8th Task Force fleet arrives in orbit above the planet, confirmed by Gatlantean Admiral Goenitz right from Zordar\u2019s throne room. Yamato<\/em>\u2019s crew detect this anomaly in space, unsure of how to respond. Six ships of the Kalaklum class begin charging up their red rings of destruction, interspersed with dread-inducing low-angle shots of Emperor Zordar on his throne, the White Comet pipe organ theme booming in the background. (It’s worth pointing out here that animator Tomonori Kogawa, who directed animation in Farewell to Yamato<\/em>, was called back into service specifically for the Zordar scenes in these early episodes. He always loved upshots, and you can’t get more upshotty than this!)<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

[AMB]: Now this is an original element. The Kalaklums were always meant to be used more actively in the original Series 2, so to older fans this is a welcome treat. I\u2019ve only seen the Japanese dub of Episode 6 so I can\u2019t speak for the English dub, but Goenitz’ voice in 2202<\/em> is very intimidating. He seems to be Zordar\u2019s spokesperson this time around, conveying his orders with all the fearsome flowery rhetoric afforded to his role. Hearing Goenitz calmly delivering orders of mass destruction in an ASMR tone of voice is both comforting and frightening. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The six ships unite into a single arrow of doom as their power combines to create an absurdly huge beam, the red rings of light growing larger and larger. They aim for the planet and fire as Zordar\u2019s eyes flash open. The leading edge of the beam resembles the White Comet itself, spiraling toward its target: Yamato<\/em>. A tremor of shock is felt by both Akira and Keyman, with him recognizing this destructive weapon. <\/p>\n

[AMB]: What this tells us is that Zordar can set a planet ablaze with the blink of an eye. Whether or not this is literally what it means doesn\u2019t matter, as we feel his power and authority piercing us with an intense green light of doom. He doesn\u2019t need to speak, he doesn\u2019t need to move a muscle, he only needs to open his eyes and voila! This is the face of Yamato<\/em>\u2019s current enemy, a mysterious and merciless ruler.<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: Have I said this Zordar is scary? The other Zordar is like an arrogant grandpa. This Zordar is scary.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

As the powerful beam spreads its destruction across the planet\u2019s surface, Yamato<\/em> is caught right in it. Cosmo Tiger leader Saburo Kato is stunned as he witnesses a red cross of lava forming in the wake of the Gatlantean superweapon. Yamato<\/em> is buried underneath, its fate unknown as the pipe organ theme plays out its final notes. <\/p>\n

[AMB]: That giant beam literally blew past our expectations of a standard remake by nailing Yamato<\/em> to the floor of the 11th planet. My initial reaction was dread creeping up my back, telling me that my beloved cast of characters aren’t safe at all.<\/em> And the way the beam formed a cross of lava definitely leaves a lasting impression.<\/span><\/p>\n

[KC]: Things look genuinely dire.<\/span><\/p>\n

[AMB]: Capping off Chapter 2: Departure<\/em> with Yamato<\/em>\u2019s departure being forcibly denied wasn\u2019t what I expected at all, and it leaves us with a lot of anticipation for the next episode! Loss, trauma, the cosmo marines fighting a losing war and the true face of our new enemy\u2026 followed up by an exciting rescue mission, allusions to Okita\u2019s tactics and a riveting cliffhanger\u2026 elements of Yamato<\/em> resonate through all viewers young and old!<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

[KC]: Now that we’re wrapping up, I’ll return to a reference that I made earlier. In the original version of this story, after Nazca talks trash about Desslok\u2019s apparent inability to handle the Earthlings, Yamato<\/em> appears with the Cosmo Tigers and they make short work of him and his fleet. This prompts Nazca to call for help from none other than Leader Desslok. He admits that he never should have doubted the deposed ruler and begs his forgiveness, imploring Desslok to put in a good word with his buddy Zordar. Desslok tells Nazca that he\u2019s sure he did his best, but of course he says it in a way that makes it clear that he knows “Nazca\u2019s best” isn\u2019t great – and Nazca should know that just as well. Before His Majesty is even finished throwing shade, he cuts off communication. I really, really, really miss that Dessler.<\/span><\/p>\n

[AMB]: A similar moment isn\u2019t too far off, as you already know. (Now that you mention it, that moment might have been a big inspiration for Dessler’s confrontation with Herm Zoellik in 2199<\/em>…) <\/span> <\/p>\n

[KC]: I am gonna save my fangirling for when it actually happens.<\/span><\/p>\n

[AMB]: A final note about the end title sequence for Episodes 3-6; it features the voice of Teresa singing about the connections people share, the way she sees the world and us, the people inside it. Like the \u201cMirror of the Moon,” we reflect our feelings whether we want to or not. And she sees through all of our hidden feelings. This was the first song arranged and composed for 2202<\/em> by S.E.N.S. Project. Their musical cohesion is definitely going to be a strong point going forward.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Coda<\/h3>\n

Theatrical release: Space Battleship Yamato 2202, Soldiers of Love<\/em> Chapter 2: Launch Chapter<\/em> contained episodes 3-6. It premiered in Japanese theaters June 24, 2017.<\/p>\n

Japanese video: Theater-exclusive Blu-ray June 24, 2017. Standard Blu-ray & DVD July 28, 2017<\/p>\n

First Japanese TV broadcast: November 9, 2018<\/p>\n

American debut: June 13, 2018 (streaming) March 15, 2019 (home video)<\/p>\n

The end title Mirror of the Moon<\/em> is performed by Teresa’s voice actor Sayaka Kanda.<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> for a complete BGM collection for Episode 6.<\/p>\n

Episode credits<\/em>
\nStoryboard: Akihiro Enomoto
\nEpisode Director: Makoto Hoshino
\nAnimation Director: Chizuru Kobayashi<\/p>\n

Series credits<\/em>
\nWriter: Harutoshi Fukui
\nScriptwriter: Hideki Oka
\nDirector: Nobuyoshi Habara, Xebec Studio
\nAssistant Director: Makoto Kobayashi
\nArt Director: Yoshio Tanioka
\nCG Animation Director: Yuuto Uwabo, Sublimation Studio
\nMusic: Akira Miyagawa, Hiroshi Miyagawa
\nExecutive Producer: Shoji Nishizaki<\/p>\n

Continue to Episode 7<\/a>
\nReturn to the index<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[123,137],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27745","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-yamato-2202","category-yamato-2202-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27745","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27745"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27745\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33840,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27745\/revisions\/33840"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27745"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27745"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27745"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}