Macross Frontier Season 1 Episode 4 Miss Macross

As humanity searches for a new planet to call home, they come across a problem - a hostile alien race known as the Vajra. Macross Frontier, a giant spaceship carrying a whole city of people, is tasked with finding a way to both avoid the Vajra and defend themselves when necessary. In season 1 episode 4, titled "Miss Macross," we follow the crew as they prepare for a Miss Macross beauty pageant that is sure to entertain both the citizens onboard the ship and the viewers back on Earth.

The episode begins with a training session for the newly formed idol group, Ranka Lee and the Miss Macross Contestants. Ranka, who is excitable and adorable, struggles to keep up with the other girls. Suddenly, the alarms blare as a Vajra attack is detected. The ship's pilots spring into action, ready to fight off any attackers. We get a glimpse of the mecha suits that the pilots use to fight and explore some of their unique features.

After the threat is dealt with, we are introduced to the pageant judges - one of whom, Bobby, is an openly flirtatious pilot with an eye for the ladies. He is joined by two very accomplished women who are more focused on the contestants' talents and abilities rather than their looks. After some comical introductions of the contestants, the pageant finally begins.

We see the girls perform a variety of impressive and entertaining acts. Among them, Ranka sings a moving rendition of "Aimo," a song that holds a special place in the Macross universe and is sure to tug at the heartstrings of viewers. As the competition heats up, we can see the tension between the contestants mounting.

Meanwhile, a subplot delves into the ongoing rivalry between the bridge bunnies, the female pilots who support the main pilots by operating the ship's systems. In particular, we see two of the bunnies vying for the attention of a pilot named Alto, who seems oblivious to their advances. This tension adds an extra layer of humor to the episode, and the antics of the bunnies provide some much-needed levity to the overall serious tone of the show.

The pageant eventually comes to a close, and the winner is announced. Without spoiling anything, the way the contest ends is sure to delight viewers, and the anticipation leading up to it is well-done. The ending of the episode sets up some new plot threads to follow in future episodes and leaves all of the characters in an intriguing and precarious position.

Overall, "Miss Macross" is an excellent episode of Macross Frontier. It balances humor, action, and drama with impressive ease, and the pacing is spot-on. The character development is impressive for such a short episode, with all of the contestants being fleshed out and given unique personalities. The Vajra attack serves as a reminder of the dangers that the Macross Frontier crew faces, but it never feels like a needless distraction from the pageant itself.

The animation quality is top-notch, with smooth movements and vibrant colors. The mecha suit designs are impressive, and the transformation sequences are a joy to watch. The music is also fantastic, with the aforementioned "Aimo" standing out as a particular highlight.

In summary, "Miss Macross" is a standout episode of Macross Frontier that showcases the show's strengths. It's an excellent entry point for new viewers while still being enjoyable for existing fans, and it ends on a high note that invites you to continue watching.