Anybody read Ender’s Game? For some reason all of this reminded me on that book. You know, in that book, humanity is in an all out space war with a hive-minded bug species. One thing that kept being said was, it’s survival instinct. Humanity’s survival is beyond anything. The universe isn’t big enough for two species yadda yadda. In the end humanity win by doing a genocide to the bug species, wiping them out from the universe for good.

But in the end, we found out that maybe, it’s just a misunderstanding. Humanity and the bug can’t communicate with each other (the bug use telepathy to communicate with each other. Maybe they’re just as confounded as humanity, why these pinkish creatures wont answer our telepathic hail) . THey have different way of thinking (The bug thought that killing human isn’t ‘murder’ Because they’re a hive-mind species, killing a few individual is just like trimming your nail or at most losing an arm) and so on.

And thousands years later, the hero from the war is written in history book as a war criminal, because he kill an entire intelligent species.

At least from the subs I’ve watched, it seems that Ranka, despite finally confessing, seems to deem finding out about her past and her conenction to the Vajra more important than a relationship with Alto-hime.

Also, Klan launching EVA-style was sheer and utter AWESOME!

@Faris
The whole Enders Game thing was actually discussed quite a bit over at the Macrossworld Forums.

@Crusader
That upgraded VF-171 has been unofficially dubebd the Stampede Nightmare by some fans since it reminds them of the SDP-1 Stampede Valkyrie from the PC Engine game.

@Martin
I’m pretty much surprised that Luca didn’t give the mini dimention eater a cute boys name like he does most of his toys. And yes, “Little Girl” might as well be a reference to the A-bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

@rollchan

And Ai-kun definitely loooovesss Ranka back, no doubt about that as shown below:

http://i35.tinypic.com/a2tehi.jpg

The last week I thought it was a bit harsh but really well written because it was a pretty ironic way to say the truth.
But this week I have to say this is the contrary. Not that I criticize you, I will not dare to do it since you take some of your time to write such a long post on Macross Frontier
But you deny the fact that Ranka seemed to find more important, to find more about her past which she knows is linked to the vajra than staying with Alto.
For her, she will never see him again and he was her first love. You can’t say that: “…and running away with Brera is the best way to accomplish this.” under the picture where she says I wanted to be with you forever.

She understood Alto really hates the vajra and Brera was the one who understood why she had to leave. Alto at this time is blinded by the hatred of the vajra, this is understandable after Mickhail’s death. How can you say “if Alto-hime was going to confess that was the time to do it for love of Fleet and Ranka. It didn’t happen though…” Did you see how shocked he was when she confessed him ? You didn’t put the picture on your blog but he was pretty open mouthed. It’s clear that until this episode, he didn’t know she loved him. Remember how indifferent he was when Mikhail said him Ranka and Sheryl loves him. It was as if he didn’t really buy it. When Ranka saw him with Sheryl on the rooftop, the one thing he said to her was to sing Aimo for the vajra. He doesn’t think that much of who loves who but more about the vajra.
So why would he tell her he loves her even though he didn’t even think about it once ? He was shocked because didn’t thought she loved him. I don’t know why you said that” if Alto-hime was going to confess that was the time to do it for love of Fleet and Ranka” or “Right now since Alto-hime called Ranka stupid for running away I doubt “I love you Ranka” was in the cards. ” ???

As for the confession at knife you’re talking about “Brera hold Alto-hime at knife point while Ranka told hime everything” “A confession at knife point it seems…” , she didn’t confessed at that time…. she confessed when she landed on Brera’s VF saying she loved him.

And finally for the “While there wasn’t much Sheryl this time it seems that Sheryl has decided to stay at the Saotome home and Alto-hime has actually returned home for real for her sake.”
We see him in the preview upside down, certainly thinking about Ranka’s departure and last words. The only one who remains his friend,except Luca is Sheryl.
You said “Alto-hime has actually returned home for real for her sake.”, I think if it was the case, he would have done so in episode 21 instead of staying in his bed…

I don’t want to be rude but when I read your post today, I didn’t laught like always. Not that I’m so biased toward Ranka to deny the truth when it’s obvious. I even was disappointed with her since episode 19.
But saying “This time the only nice thing I really have to say about Ranka was that Aoi no Ether was a fine song” without saying she finally made a decision on her own, finally confessed her love to Alto instead of acting the role of the little girl who doesn’t want to heard the answer, she at last wants to know more about her past and the vajra, she acted and looked her age at the end of the episode… Miss out all of this is not that fair…

u know what? i love ur blog on macross

Klein ;_;

Mikhail’s sacrifice was far too great a price to pay just to prod along the triangle. Why couldn’t it have been some lesser character like Nanase or Ozma D=

@Crusader : Nice entry.Now get back to writing Code Geass :p .

@shinz: “But you deny the fact that Ranka seemed to find more important, to find more about her past which she knows is linked to the vajra than staying with Alto.”
See the scene again.She did it for herself , AS ALWAYS.

“Alto at this time is blinded by the hatred of the vajra ”
Fair enough but can’t someone say that Ranka is blinded by her gross naiveness ?
Can’t see why the blame game can’t be played both ways…

“she didn’t confessed at that time…. she confessed when she landed on Brera’s VF saying she loved him. ”
See anything wrong here ?

“I think if it was the case, he would have done so in episode 21 instead of staying in his bed ”
Did you miss the part where he went back home for her despite having sworn otherwise or are you ignoring it on purpose ?

“Not that I’m so biased toward Ranka to deny the truth when it’s obvious”
YES YOU ARE ! That reminds me of what happens when someone starts a convo with “I’m not a racist but… ” followed by statements that you would expect from a neo-nazi ….

“But saying “This time the only nice thing I really have to say about Ranka was that Aoi no Ether was a fine song” without saying she finally made a decision on her own, finally confessed her love to Alto instead of acting the role of the little girl who doesn’t want to heard the answer, she at last wants to know more about her past and the vajra, she acted and looked her age at the end of the episode… Miss out all of this is not that fair…”
Good point.Ranka behaved like a woman in love instead of a self-centered brat and also did her confesion with courage instead of running away from all of her responsibilities , not to mention taking her part of the blame for herself instead of putting it all on Alto …. oh,wait….

PS: Fuck yeah @ the flamethrower mechs.Fire makes everything better.Can anyone say fried cockroaches ?

Following that naming convention the next fold bomb will be called Fat Lady.

When She sings, Its all over

@Lyi

You make a valid point, but with all of the problems the Frontier Fleet is going through this was a bad time for Ranka to abandon everything to find herself. I like Ranka as a character, but with this she jeopardizes the safety of the whole fleet. Really don’t know if there can be a AltoXRanka pairing after this; their relationship could end the same way as Escaflowne or Macross Zero turned out. To Ranka’s credit, at least she confessed to Alto before leaving. IIRC even Minmay didn’t say that to Hikaru until it was way too late in the story and movie.

As for Klein, she should have made a Fold Quartz memorial for Mikhail from all her kills this day. Screw SMS traditions, he totally deserves it.

@Martin
Tori no Hito Aimo was probably the best IMO. I am sure the next OST will be awesome every time I think that they are out of music them introduce new ones, Aoi no Ether was a great song that for me was unexpected.

I think the Little Girl was a double reference to Ranka as a WMD, and to the actual Little Boy only this time the question is presented the fleet was saved using a WMD, but at what cost?

Using children as fighter si not unprecedented and it happens when the adult population is all but gone and kids start getting drafted. I am sure it would have been preferable to let Ranka off on her own, but since the Fleet is in dire straights in a struggle for survival they simply had no choice but to rely on Ranka if they were to survive. Desire did not enter into it it was done out of necessity.

@Faris
I haven’t but the way things are going it might end up being somewhat similar.

@forgottendiary
Thanks, I can’t wait for the next episode.

Kudos for finding the gif.

@d3v
Thanks for the info on the Stampede Nightmare. Thing is though Ranka not only ran away from Alto-hime, but she abandoned the whole fleet to the mercy of the Vajra. That to me is hardly forgivable.

@grss1982
Ah Starship Troopers t’was silly movie. XD

@rollchan
Ai-kun wins out in the end I guess.

@shinz
Ranka was abandoning her responbsibilities by flying off. She wanted Alto-hime to go with her to some place far away just the two of them, that to me is sickening because in doing so Ranka leaves the whole fleet including Nanase and Ozma to the mercy of the Vajra. She knows that they are connected but she is not doing it for the sake of the fleet or any one but herself. She needed to know and was willing to leave Frontier defenseless while she searched.

Much of Ranka’s heartfelt confession was los because she did not declare them on her own she needed Brera and Ai-kun to be there to reassure her that what she was doing was right.

When Ranka went to the park she understood nothing only when Alto-hime was about to shoot Ai-kun did Ranka realize that Alto-hime was not so forgiving of Mikhail’s murderers. Perhaps it was not all at knife point but what do you suppose would have happened to Alto-hime had he rejected Ranka while Brera was in his VF-27 and Ai-kun was on the prowl? Since Ranka’s pain killed of a good chunk of the fleet how much damage could she inflict if hime told her “I am sorry…It’s me not you…”?

I don’t think that it was so much as shock over that Ranka loved hime, but rather that Ranka was doing this out of heartbreak and hime is some what responsible for how it turned out. If Hime loved Ranka he would have gone after her at the roof top, if hime goes after Ranka in the next ep I can see it as a possibility that Alto-hime loves Ranka. But if Hime’s affection for Ranka was not enough to spare Ai-kun it at least indicates that Alto-hime doesn’t love Ranka that much or at least enough to spare her pet Ai-kun. Ranka’s affection for Alto-hime was not deep enough to warrant even a cry of concern when Brera kicked hime to the curb again.

First time hime went home it was through he hedge rows if hime uses the front door it will really be for reals. Sheryl is no longer sick so there is no reason to go back home to see her, he could always arrange for a visit on the outside.

Ranka decided to runaway at a real bad time, the fleet was in shambles and if there was another attack the Frontier would have a hard time coping iof not be massacred entirely as Ranka takes some off time. It was great she decided to do something but abandoning the fleet at a time of crisis is not being responsible or even likable. Ranka confessed, but what was hime’s answer, she did not stay to find out she simply flew off with Brera. It might have been a yes, but Ranka seemed for fixated on escaping the possible no.

Thing is while Ranka did grow up a bit her abandonment of Frontier other Vajra was simply unforgivable given how the fleet was in no condition to repel another attack. Ranka left every one behind to find herself and put them all in danger as a result. That was not an adult thing to do it was a move that was again worthy of Minmay because it was so selfish when you break it down. Ranka has a right to be sad, but I can’t say she has a right to put the whole fleet in danger.

@Cherubium
I hope when Ranka comes back she will be a bit more mature, but given how little progress she has made I don’t have much hope for her.

@indr0008
Thanks.

@Shirukii
Well if it had been Luca or Ozma (it must be from the schwarm/vic) then Kawamori would be retreading old ground. Mikhail is gone but his death at least has ridden us of shoutaro boy Luca for Knight Templar Luca who will protect Nanase.

@Lyi
I don’t think that the decision was mature because it put so many people at risk so that Ranka could find herself. this was abandonment in every sense of the word. She wanted to take Alto-hime with her but in the end chose her own wish over the safety of the Fleet and all those who care about her. Frontier is a mess there is little hope that they can fight off another Vajra attack without Ranka. This decision benefited only Ranka and no one else. It is great she stopped wallowing but this is hardly that great of an improvement on Ranka’s part to leave every one at the mercy of the bugs as she finds herself.

Grace referred to Brera as her prince, given how Grace is the shadow queen I bet she has been using Brera to manipulate Ranka. Moreover Ranka has been relying more on Brera than she ever did any one else. By running off with Brera Ranka might not be in love with hime, but we know that because Brera is willing to do anything for Ranka that she will accept him. Brera has been spoiling Ranka with honeyed words to retreat from her responsibilities. Right now since they are together we will be getting plenty of RanakxBrera development. Ranka may not love Brera but so far Ranka has had a history of attaching herself to people who she thinks understand her, listen, to her, and indulge her. It would be great if Ranka was not fooled by it, but I have my doubts.

@Zentari
I am on it but good grief that blasted beta couple has returned.

@vjean
Agreed Ranka settling for Brera as a substitute companion does bring into question how much Ranka does love Alto-hime. She was shocked when Alto-hime was willing to kill Ai-kun, and did seem to care much when Brera was kicking hime’s ass. Ranka’s own definition of love is rather strange but we shall see what she thinks is love in time.

@Anon
You called it.

@Claricandyxd
It may have been understandable, but ultimately Ranka’s decision to runaway was not responsible. I had hoped that Ranka would have been able to shoulder some responsibility, but it was not the case. If hime was blinded by his hate and lis love of sky then Ranka is blinded by her own pain and her own immaturity to see why things turned out the way they did.

@Einherjar
The Fold Quartz Statue of Mikahil can still be made, but it seems that Mikhail’s body might not have been recovered…

@Myssa Rei
It was the first time Battle Frontier left her dock, let us hope comrade that we shall see Battle Frontier vs Battle Galaxy. XD

@shinz
I’d be surprised if Ranka comes back a full fledged woman after her little trip with Brera, but at this point it might be too late and a full transformation might end looking like an ass pull. We shall see if Alto-hime sneaks back home to talk to Sheryl about Ranka.

just a quick comment about Crusaders picture comments..I LOVE them..never seen so many G Gundam references from one person besides me in my whole life, carry on crusader, carry on.

You say that Ranka abandoned the fleet at a crucial time, but I’m not so sure about that. I do think her exit was a little rushed (there was definitely an element of escapism there… she was kind of a tool to poor Nanase and Ozma.) but I don’t really think she felt there was a right time. As far as she’s concerned, all the Vajra have been sent somewhere far, far away so the fleet is safe. Her singing is no longer life-or-death. She sang like a pro in this ep when they needed her (even after Brera tried to give her a way out) and Leon’s request was obviously neither cleared previously with Ranka nor life-or-death. Ranka was grieving too and missing her reason for singing. She’s experienced trauma and I find it reasonable not to sing considering the need for it is lacking.

I don’t think this is Ranka’s best move on the Alto-hime/Ranka front, but I do think it’s a good move anyway. We don’t know what Ranka has been remembering, or how crucial it is that she figure out what it is. You say “oh no not again” when Ranka starts hurting, but don’t you think if every time someone hit a Vajra you felt the pain you might want to check that out? And I felt like her confession was NOT to provoke an “I love you” from Alto-hime, but more of a “so you know.” I also don’t think she “needed Brera and Ai-kun to be there to reassure her that what she was doing was right” considering she started her proposal (and possibly her confession) before Ai-kum showed up. And just because she won’t let Alto-hime kill something that she is considering to maybe be family doesn’t mean she doesn’t love Alto-hime or that she is selfish.

Finally, I felt like Ranka’s request for Alto-hime to join her was indeed misguided but not immature. He wanted to see the sky and Ranka, like Sheryl before her, thought Alto-hime might be happy going with her. Her crucial mistake, of course, was assuming he would abandon the fleet. I would say that was based more on a lack of knowledge of Alto-hime (you mentioned how she’s only just now asking about his love of flying) than selfishness. Again, as a 16-year-old civilian, I’m not sure she understands how much danger the frontier is still in and how much work and help it needs.

That may just be my reading of it, of course. I still think SherylxAlto would be a much better matched pair, but I think this ep did add to Ranka’s credibility. I think this ep showcased that she is growing as a character (finally!) and not currently well-suited to Alto-hime but I also think this is Kawamori’s attempt to make Sheryl’s last episode slaughter of Ranka triangle-wise a little less brutal.

@Crusader
Her “abandoning” the fleet to the Vajra is up for debate, as I believe she’s started to notice that her singing has something to do with them and maybe even jumped to the conclusion that it’s what attracts them in the first place.

@Anynymous
It pretty much seems that she’s letting go of Alto so to speak, at least based on GG’s subs where she refers to her feeling for him in past tense.

@Anon : She didn’t do the proposal alone , she did the private wish “plz go away with me to meet the bugs plz “.AFTER that had happened and she was going away with Brera she remembered that she should confess before leaving.

PS: Lol @ Ranka for saying her songs didn’t reach him.Girl didn’t know WHY she sang herself and she expects Alto to know ?

@Anon
I diagree that Ranka’s actions were merely misguided and not immature. Ranka was drafted as the savior of the fleet but never did care enough to try and ask about how it functioned. Ranka saw the damage that her pet Vajra wrought and the whole skyline of her specail place was a reminder of how dire the situation is for Frontier. Nevertheless Ranka did not want to sing one last time for the people who needed to be reassured that there still is hope that they might survive. Ranka could not do that that was unprofessional even if Leon was the one who asked her.

Ranka confessed but the atmosphere was more conductive of pity than any thing else. Since Ranka needed Brera and Ai-kun to reassure that what she was doing was right she is still very much dependent on the support of others. She made a decision, yes, but she needed some one to hold her hand and grant it. Perhaps it was a way to blunt the possibility of a Sheryl confession given how Ranka was faffing about for 21 episodes.

@d3v
I don’t think the safety of the fleet ever crossed Ranka’s mind at all Luca already said that the Colony ship was in ruins, if Ranka could not comprehend why Island 3 was sacrificed then I doubt she would have drawn the conclusion that her singing attract bugs. Ranka was not thinking at any point about during the episode.

@Einherjar
Don’t ever mention that name again, but yes.

@Zentari
Ranka it seems expected a lot From Alto-hime, her aversion to finding out about who hime really was, was partly due any real information would have tarnished her image which was some how absolute and correct.

@Kilroy0097
…and then spoil my Battle Frontier vs. Battle Galaxy? You bloody right I’d be pissed if Ranka showed up befor they got into the swing of things.

I’m proud of Ranka. ^_^ She did what she had to do even if a lot of people don’t get it. She would probably get misunderstood by the people of Frontier. I knew this day was coming after Leon’s prediction in 11. This is also the perfect scenario I’ve been waiting for since ep 14. Ranka/Vajra friends vs Alto/Frontier lol

I’m aware that Ranka left and let Alto go, but I see the events in this episode as a strong indication that Alto won’t let things end like this. With the amount of feelings that were portrayed in the last scene, and how dramatic it was made to look at, this really bodes well for a happy ending between the two. I can see Alto getting confused, hating the Vajra, wallowing around, getting info, supporting dying friends and all that, but I can’t see Alto letting Ranka hang out in Vajra planet forever after that bittersweet parting. It would be out of character.

As soon as Alto finds out that the Vajra are not the real enemy, or Brera’s real identity, or the real truth, he’ll understand why Ranka did what she had to and he’ll inevitably act on it. Besides, I have a feeling this is orchestrated by Galaxy in order to obtain the Little Queen. I don’t think Ranka is going to be safe no matter how chevalierized Brera is–so long as Grace has that force mode on him.

@skoll
Well, Ranka left because her memories are coming back and to return Aimo. She defended Ai-kun because Ai-kun REALLY didn’t do anything wrong. She stopped singing because singing to the Vajra and making Frontier kill them is not what she’s supposed to do in the story. This confirmed that she’s not going to be merely a flat singing tool. Sheryl singing in the midst of despair was portrayed perfectly–with her heart and mind in it–because that’s where she belongs. Ranka’s calling is different so naturally, she won’t feel right doing what she’s doing right now.

People are hating Ranka for doing something so selfish–for stopping to be a “singing tool”. I think it’s a waste of breath because she’s not going to sit there following what everyone tells her to do forever. Vajra isn’t the enemy–that’s what her gut feeling is telling her now that she found out what Ai-kun is. She’s merely following her own instinct now. She’s been hated for not having an opinion in 17, and now that she did this, she’s still being hated. I’m starting to think that people are just trying to find something to fault Ranka with because this episode is clearly a comeback from her behavior last episode. I can NOT find any reason to hate Ranka for what she did. The people of Frontier who’s in the dark about the Vajra has a lot of reasons to hate her, but as a viewer who can see almost everything from a bird’s eyeview, there should be no reason. She even left a letter to Ozma and Nanase telling how important they are to her. Sorry, but the reasons that I see for hating on Ranka is just so shallow and very narrow-minded.

Ranka probably expected that her attempt to make Alto come with her will be futile, but she still tried. She’s not telling him to go after her, she resigned and bid him goodbye in person. No matter how much she loves Alto, she has more stuffs to deal with and that’s how it is. =/ We don’t crucify people for doing things for themselves. It’s worth commending.

@Crusader
I think we, the viewers, are starting to notice now that the Vajra isn’t the enemy. Ranka can feel this now with how her abdomen kept glowing. I’m pretty sure she’s starting to get aware. Her reluctance to sing to the Vajra was because she would be killing the Vajra and it also doesn’t feel right to her, not because she doesn’t care that people are dying. “For everyone’s sake” she agreed to kill the creatures that she felt were also innocent. I mean, just WHO put those Vajras in Frontier in the first place, anyway?

“Ranka did not have to run to find herself, Ranka could have asked for help from Nanase, Luca, Bobby, Alto-hime, and Canaria.”

How? She’s the only living survivor from the research fleet. Noone can tell her what really happened but herself.

“Ranka was supposed to be a pro about this, but when she was asked to sing for the sake of the dead and the bereaved Ranka did the unprofessional thing and ran off stage.”

She said sorry first lol That’s important. Well, maybe Ranka just isn’t cut out to be a professional singer like Sheryl. She has another role to play other than being the ’songstress of hope’. That was like an official declaration that she’s not going to sing just because people tell her to. She makes her own rules. ^_^

@ani_d
Ozma was there as were other survivors that Leon gathered on Island 3 when they were examining the Vajra Corpse that Ozma made. Ranka did even bother, she just made her decision after Brera said that he would grant it. Ranka was not the onlyu survivor the problem is that she waited too long to start asking questions.

Perhaps you are one to shit on the dead, but I don’t. Ranka wanted to be a professional, but now that she finds that she isn’t cut out for it, this was hardly the polite way to telling people. After such a disaster the people need and relied on Ranka to provide hope, Ranka could not be a pro one last time for them. She could not even sing for Mikhail who she saw skewered in person.

Making you own rules in not a sign of maturity, fulfilling one’s obligations adn responsibilities are. Ranka signed up for this perhaps she did it in error but snubbing the dead is hardly the right way to do it.

@BLEACHOD
You yourself are biased in making your comment, I see little point in flinging accusations and being rude. Question is because of your little out burst how old are you? Clearly not enough to value duty and responsibility… Since you were hardly polite about this and this is your firs comment I can see why you were banned. Don’t jump the gun think before you post.

Ranka asked the right question, but in the end she waited 21 episodes to ask about it when it was evident that Alto-hime loved the sky.

Ranka has hardly been brave or courageous she still needs some one or something to support her. Had Ranka made the decision to leave Frontier on her own without Ai-kun or Brera I would have said she made a step in the right direction, but she relied on Ai-kun and Brera’s assurances. Ranka has still yet to make a decision wholly on her own. She’s honest to a point, but right now she hasn’t grown up much at this point.

Sheryl stopped being a high strung diva bitch a while ago, but Ranka is still a scared little girl who needs others to rescue her and help her make decisions. Alto-hime went to Ranka because she was clearly in need of help after the incident at the funeral it was the right thing to do. To say that Sheryl has no chance in hell is presumptuous and arrogant. You presume to know Kawamori, I doubt there can be anyone who thinks like Kawamori.

I accept that Ranka is well meaning, but she remains immature and has chosen some rather bad times to do things. If Alto-hime was a cold-hearted hime then we would all wonder why both Sheryl and Ranka love him. I have ignored nothing, but you seem to be able to ignore the fact that Sheryl has become a better person from the prima donna that she was and habitually give Ranka a pass for putting herself over the good of the fleet. Ranka has her good points, but right now telling the dead and the fleet that she won’t sing in their hour of need was hardly selfless even if understandable. Leaving the fleet when they are still trying to rebuild and repair for the next attack, while simultaneously robbing them of her much needed singing talent to fend off the Vajra is not the most selfless thing in the world. All of Ranka’s actions are understandable but now that she should be an adult these things are no longer excusable. We have waited eagerly for Ranka to grow up these past two episodes has proven that Ranka has not matured that she still is the same old Ranka, but that is no longer enough after she became the songstress of hope voluntarily. Ranka had responsibilities and to run away from them because she was heart broken is not the adult thing to do.

@crusader
You seem to be thinking that Ranka had no respect for the dead JUST BECAUSE she refused to sing for the people in the cemetery. Is this a very solid hint to conclude that Ranka didn’t care one bit for all the people who died? This was like when people kept biting her for not shouting Nanase’s name (equating to not caring) when she got injured, and was proven wrong later on. If you can see Ranka behind Leon praying for the departed, you can tell she cares. Ranka isn’t that demented. What she doesn’t want was for all those cameras to be looking at her, expecting more from her, and a mushroom head telling her to sing even if her heart wasn’t in it. For someone who’s always listening to others, this was the second time she went against the flow and I hope she does so from now on.

Vajra isn’t the enemy. Ranka is not running from her responsibilites. The people of Frontier will think she is, but we as the viewers should know better. Ranka is stepping out of the dark to be able to look at the whole picture because she feels that Vajra may not be the enemy that Frontier thinks it is and her lost memory is the key. Her real responsibility lies within herself. Though Ozma was there when her fleet was attacked, he doesn’t know everything. Does he know that Ranka has that glowing thing in her abdomen? No. Nor does he know the secret of Aimo, her ability to communicate with the Vajra queen. Even Grace knows MORE than Ozma. If not, then how come Ozma has to investigate Grace and Leon’s motives?

Anyway, the discussion here is getting a little heated and I don’t want to jump on the wagon. ^^ Feel free to hate on Ranka, but like I said, I have yet to see a more reasonable reason from anyone to criticize this big decision she made for herself.

@ani_d : “You seem to be thinking that Ranka had no respect for the dead JUST BECAUSE she refused to sing for the people in the cemetery. ”
It wasn’t the first time she refused to do so….

“Vajra isn’t the enemy. Ranka is not running from her responsibilites. The people of Frontier will think she is, but we as the viewers should know better. Ranka is stepping out of the dark to be able to look at the whole picture because she feels that Vajra may not be the enemy that Frontier thinks it is and her lost memory is the key. Her real responsibility lies within herself. Though Ozma was there when her fleet was attacked, he doesn’t know everything. Does he know that Ranka has that glowing thing in her abdomen? No. Nor does he know the secret of Aimo, her ability to communicate with the Vajra queen. Even Grace knows MORE than Ozma. If not, then how come Ozma has to investigate Grace and Leon’s motives?”
Vajira aren’t the enemy ?…a race of space bugs that adapt to weaponry and tactics as well as having huge numbers isn’t a warrior race ? They are as harmless as a nuke.
Besides even IF they are SOMEHOW manipulated it doesn’t change the fact that they are a big threat.Guns don’t kill people, people kill people…but people who like to kill sure like guns an awful lot .

“Anyway, the discussion here is getting a little heated and I don’t want to jump on the wagon. ^^ Feel free to hate on Ranka, but like I said, I have yet to see a more reasonable reason from anyone to criticize this big decision she made for herself.”
Want me to tell you what’s the weak link in there ? “Reasonable ” is entirely subjective , just because it doesn’t support your beliefs doesn’t mean you can disregard it.

Haha, can’t believe Ai-kun took the paper airplane with him. I wonder how Klan Klein is going to feel when they tell her everyone has to be nice to the Vajra now.

I love how the Ranka shippers keep giving her a free pass on everything she does. They have absolutely NO concept about responsibility. None, zero, zilch. Thousands of people died in the latest attack, including a friend, her best friend is injured, her acting brother is missing, and she can’t sing for the dead at their funeral? All she could do, was cry,”why me, why me?”. Yeah, we wonder why you were chosen too.

Another thing that chaps my hide, these same people(ani_d, BleachOD, diva, and others), don’t take into account, that the characters don’t KNOW what we know. Ranka doesn’t know she’s being used by Leon and Grace. Alto doesn’t know that Ai-kun isn’t like the other Vajra, and that they too are being used by Galaxy. Alto and Ranka don’t know Sheryl is dying. There’s so many things they don’t know. Yet you act like they do.

Ranka didn’t leave Frontier for the good of the fleet or the people. She left because she A) wants to bring Ai-kun back to his own kind, B) Wants to learn more about her own past, and C) heart-broken that Alto hasn’t returned her feelings.

She’s the main weapon they have against the Vajra, and she is taking away the best fighter with her(Brera), and tried to take Alto away(one of the best). What if she came back from her soul searching, and Frontier was wiped out? Would she give a crap then? She certainly hasn’t shown empathy towards people through 21 episodes. Unless it suits her interest.

This is why Sheryl is a better match for Alto. She understands other people, can relate, and puts them above her own needs and wants. She puts herself in other peoples’ shoes as best as she can. Ranka, can’t see their perspectives to save her life.

Well said cheesie. I couldn’t agree with you more. She would have not gotten half the criticism I feel, if she had said or mentioned something of that nature before leaving. Unfortunately, she didn’t. We are left with what the story writers and director have given us, and what we’ve been shown, is nothing OOC for her.

You had me worried there for a minute when you said you replied after me on here, in the irc chat. Don’t scare me like that.