Planetes Season 1 Episode 12 A Modest Request

In the twelfth episode of Planetes, titled 'A Modest Request', the series continues to follow the lives of the Debris Section, but this time the focus is on one of the crew members, Tanabe. In this episode, Tanabe decides to visit her parents, who have moved to the moon, and she takes Hachimaki with her. Upon their arrival, they discover that Tanabe's father has become severely ill and needs a costly operation to survive.

Tanabe's father had decided to move to the moon to start a new life, but he never expected the cost of living to be so high. With a depleted bank account and no way to pay for the operation, he has resigned himself to his fate. Tanabe, however, is determined to save her father's life and makes a modest request to the rest of the Debris Section crew. She asks them to donate a small portion of their salaries towards paying for her father's operation.

This request brings out the best in the crew. They all willingly donate their money, understand the gravity of the situation and want to help Tanabe's father out. The crew also understands Tanabe's position and respect her determination in trying to save her father’s life. With their help, Tanabe can finally afford to save her father.

The episode also delves into the reality of living on a space station and how it affects people's lives. It's apparent that money is scarce, and the cost of living is much higher than on Earth. This makes it difficult to save money, even for emergencies. In addition, there are certain things that are not available on the space station, such as fresh produce, which can only be found on Earth. This shows the sacrifices that the characters of the show make in order to live their lives in space.

Overall, 'A Modest Request' is a touching episode that shows how the Debris Section crew has formed a close bond and understands the impact of a friend's request. It highlights the characters' willingness to help those around them, as well as the reality of living in space and the difficulties that come with it. The episode showcases the sense of community that has developed among the members of the Debris Section, which is a central theme throughout the series. With its heartfelt story and emotional impact, this episode definitely stands out in the first season of Planetes.