Earth in Desperation
Episode 23 of Star Fleet
It’s been a busy few weeks for Star Fleet news! First and foremost, I learned between reviewing Episode 22 and 23 that writer Michael Sloan passed away. In addition to creating The Equalizer and his many other achievements, Michael was given the Herculean task of making the roughly translated script for X Bomber into a workable dubbing script called Star Fleet. By all accounts, he had very little time to accomplish this. While we could definitely fault some of the finer points of individual lines of dialogue, I think it’s fair to say that without his talents none of us English speakers could have ever fallen in love with this amazing puppet show. Rest in peace, Michael, and thank you.
In happier news, one of X Bomber’s creators, manga and anime legend Go Nagai, was welcomed into the Order of the Rising Sun, 4th Class. This honor is similar to the British MBE awarded to Gerry Anderson, so I think it’s more than fitting that Go Nagai, whose other works include Cutie Honey, Devilman, Getter Robo, and Mazinger Z, be recognized in a similar fashion. Congratulations to Go Nagai and his team!
Now, on to the show… If you’re joining us for the first time, be warned that we are deep into spoiler territory!
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Shiro and company have defeated Makara… but at what cost? Now they are totally unable to catch up with the Imperial fortress hurtling towards Earth and they are about to encounter an entirely different problem…
The sky is filled with light. “Real weird,” Shiro calls it.
Lee compares it to flying through “the gate of heaven” and PPA cryptically reminds him that “all will become clear” in the New Year.
His vague explanations only serve to infuriate Hercules, which in turn results in the robot bouncing up and down on his afro while cartoon sound effects play. It’s meant to be a bit of comic relief, but it doesn’t quite stick. We know they’re really the best of friends by now.
Shiro thinks there is some connection to Lamia. After all, Halley said the closer we get to the new millennium, the more Lamia’s powers would increase. But does this extraterrestrial phenomenon have anything to do with Lamia?
Yes. Yes it does.
As Professor Hagen shows off his rod, Lamia complains that she has a powerful and unusual headache. Hagen counsels her to keep calm as changes begin to unfold in her body. Naturally, this is not the most comforting advice. She has no idea what is happening to her and is very afraid. He soothes her with the knowledge that “Halley and Shiro” will remain by her side. Kirara lurks in this scene without so much as a grunt. His limited role in the show is becoming even more sidelined.
Aboard the Imperial Fortress, the big boss demands an update. They are 100,000 militons from Earth. He is very concerned that they reach the planet before the new century… which they will according to the flunkies. Two or three days beforehand, approximately.1
He also asks for a report on X Bomber. They report that it is traveling twice as fast as they are, but will still be unable to reach Earth first. The Imperial Master again breaks the fourth wall by looking directly down the lens and warning the people of the Earth that he will be the doom of us all.
As Imperial strategies go, I can’t say I totally get this one. At this point, the Master must be confident that Lamia is the F-01. Put yourself in his robes– an all-powerful enemy is prophesied to come from Earth. Destroying the Earth would have been a good safety precaution at the beginning of the show, but surely now destroying X Bomber and Lamia should be his primary concern?
While the Imperial Master frets over his calendar, Star Fleet Command is blissfully unaware of everything that’s been happening out in deep space. X Bomber has been gone for awhile and it’s doubtful anyone has warned them of the oncoming storm.
Our old pals, Number One (ginger) and Number Two (gray hair) are getting reports and they speculate it could be a QSO. In ham radio parlance, this means a contact between two operators but can also refer to a Quasi-Stellar Object or Quasar.2
Quasars don’t generally move about, so One and Two are a bit flummoxed by this interstellar object moving closer to the Earth at incredible speed. One even makes comments about how it isn’t displaying the effects of the doppler shift, which doesn’t quite jive with what I know about astrophysics (not a lot) but indicates that someone (probably Michael Sloan) put a surprising amount of effort into making the technobabble sound vaguely plausible and up to date.
In a beat-by-beat echo of the invasion sequences seen at the beginning of Star Fleet, General Kyle sneaks up on his subordiantes only to join in the technical discussion. Clearly, they think they are facing an astrological phenomenon not an alien threat, which reminds me of how the Star Wars franchise dealt with the Death Star in the original film.
No communications have arrived at all, including from X Bomber which Number Two takes to mean that our heroes have packed it in.
Kyle condemns his lack of faith. As two stammers his apologies, Kyle insists on an explanation of the approaching UFO, but so far, his staff have nothing to offer him.
X Bomber is trying to get through, but so far no luck. If only their communications tech was up to the standards of their weaponry.
As Shiro bemoans their inability to track the Alliance, his father explains they have reduced the capacity of their navigation computer in order to maximize their speed. Is that like turning off the AC in your car in order to improve fuel economy?3
But before Shiro can get into the finer points of astro-racing, X Bomber is hit by more of the strange light storm and Lamia screams and clutches her head. She flees the bridge and Hagen goes after her, telling Shiro to take his place.
Reader, I hope you have never experienced any kind of anxiety disorder, but if you have, you know that a small physical trigger like a headache can sometimes lead to a full blown anxiety attack. If that happens, it is important to stay grounded and remember to breathe. If possible, it is great to have people like Kirara and Professor Hagen around who can be there to remind you that this too shall pass.
But what Lamia has is neither anxiety nor a run-of-the-mill headache. It is the next phase of what can only be described as an awakening.
As Hagen tries to comfort her, he asks her if she can see him. Suddenly, Lamia’s demeanor changes. She becomes calm. Laser focused.
“It’s like a vision.”
Slowly, her view of the porthole fades away and is replaced with another angle…
Lamia’s persepctive shifts to that of someone floating in space. She watches as the Imperial planetoid bears down overhead. Like X Bomber, the fortress is drenched in strange, swirling patterns of light.
His two henchman hide in terror from this unexplained phenomena but the Master is unflinching. Calmly, he greets her as she appears on his bridge as a semi-transparent ghostly apparition.
Lamia regally decrees that the Imperial Master will leave the Earth alone and cease advancing his ship. The delivery from Liza Ross is great– it’s as if all of a sudden Lamia was to the palace born.
If he’s surprised by Lamia’s increasing power, the Imperial Master doesn’t show it. He flatly declares himself the ruler of the universe.
Now appearing solid. Lamia not only tells him that aggression will not succeed, she also tells him to abandon his pride. I find this personal appeal to be the most remarkable part of her entreaty. It would seem to suggest that she is offering him a chance at repentance and redemption– an unlikely scenario for a Saturday morning villain and a contemporary of Skeletor and Cobra Commander.
As the Imperial Master rages and throws sparks around, his associates murmur that they’ve never seen him so angry. It’s a throwaway line that falls a bit flat since we’ve definitely seen the Imperial Master far more angry than this at various points in the series.
With a wave of his hand and a promise to “destroy you personally”, the Master somehow casts Lamia out. She disappears in a haze of lightning, fading out as swiftly as she faded in. The tone of these scenes is much more magical and unsettling than is typical for Star Fleet. What mysterious powers do Lamia and the Imperial Master possess to communicate in such a way over such long distances? How are they able to both intrude upon and repel each other? At this late stage, all of the mystical underpinnings of the narrative are now front and center in a spectacular and nearly supernatural battle of good and evil.
Back on X Bomber, Lamia is thrown screaming back into her body. Her great powers are obviously not at their full strength yet. Meanwhile, Professor Hagen and even Kirara seem to be completely in the dark about exactly what just happened and Lamia is in too much of a state to explain.
X Bomber is somehow only 20,000 militons away.4 The Master orders a salvo of laser torpedoes to the surprise of his henchmen. Somehow, there is still waffling in the Imperial court about whether or not it is best to kill or capture Lamia. I would think at this point it would be obvious to the baddies that Lamia needs to die for them to be victorious.
Improbably, the laser torpedoes in this case are literal torpedoes.
Aboard X Bomber, Lamia is now sleeping. In one of their best scenes together, Shiro questions his father on the need for Lamia to suffer5– even to save the universe. In a highly transcendental tone, Professor Hagen posits his belief that Lamia’s transformation is caused by the movements of the planets themselves. How this astrological fate functions in scientific terms is left completely mysterious but Shiro seems to understand intuitively.
As Shiro is called to the bridge, he entrusts Professor Hagen with Lamia’s safety– a huge step given Hagen’s track record.
Lee spotted the laser torpedoes but no one has identified them. It’s PPA who figures out what the incoming objects must be and orders the appropriate evasive maneuvers.
And just in time too!
When one torpedo gets through, PPA gives a spirited “OW” and Shiro calmly tells him that he’s OK. It’s very charming.
The torpedoes that missed before have some sort of homing technology so a different form of counter measure is needed.
Hercules stops a few, but they can’t all miss the target…
Some puppeteer has great fun dumping Hercules out of his chair. The rapid camera movement helps sell the action.
He gets right back up, but is soon tossed down again. PPA can’t locate the source of the attack and he also informs the crew that they can’t raise shields– this would mean reactivating the ship’s computer with a resulting loss of speed as established previously.
Apparently, Shiro’s heartfelt request for his father to stay by Lamia’s side had no impact whatsoever because the putz waltzes right back onto the bridge like he had nothing else to do. Despite Lee’s protestations that shields are the only thing that can save them from being blown to “astro dust,” Hagen stubbornly refuses because it would cost “precious time.” They should have called him Professor Obvious.
Just when it seems like Professor Hagen is going to get them all killed, the missiles start blowing up of their own accord and Hercules makes his best ever surprised face.
After PPA fails to provide a real explanation, Captain Halley calls in. Yes indeed, he’s come to save the day. This continues the pattern of X Bomber and the Skull saving each other’s bacon but it has some disturbing implications. Nevermind that Halley was reluctant to put himself in danger earlier, the fact the Skull is fast enough to catch up with X Bomber (which in and of itself was traveling twice as fast as the Imperials) when it can’t even run a computer implies that the Skull could have reached the Earth before the Imperial Planetoid with relative ease. X Bomber could have followed as heavy artillery.
Probably best not to think about it too hard.
This guy wants to make a report… probably his book report on The Catcher in the Rye.
Huh? Where’s the Imperial Master?
Somehow, the Imperial Master appears on his own bridge like a flickering hologram. When Makara and Orion were on trial, their overlord also seemed to fade in and out and even to change size. Makara’s comments about Earth being a planet of trust seem to reflect the fact that on her own planet seeing is not believing– a problem which is becoming relevant to humanity at the time of this writing.
Failing to twig that the Skull is helping X Bomber, the Master reasons that if X Bomber can’t be beaten in a straight fight than he will have to delay it even further.
Although the final boss makes a big show of dominance, the actual plan comes from the red eyed officer (sometimes known as the Imperial Councilman) who suggests laying down an electric net. The Imperial Master says something like “to catch an iron fish, we’ll use the electric solar energy net” which must have sounded more poetic in Japanese. It’s as if he starts using an old proverb but gives up halfway through.
The net in question is a great set piece– highly inventive in concept and cheap in execution. The neon orange colour is a great choice too. I love the way it flings out and covers the camera with an electronic whir.
After some checks of their systems and some pointless speculation, the X Bomber crew try again to call Earth.
General Kyle’s computer can’t figure out if the approaching space object is dangerous or not and headphone hair cannot seem to reach X Bomber. So they call the UFO again.
The termoids are receiving the call but are ordered to let it go to voicemail. The Imperial Master wants to give all Earthlings the ultimate nightmare-come-true experience– which is similar language to that used to promote the local haunted house last Halloween.
Meanwhile, the space net is looking spacey and nety.
The X Bomber family have no idea what they’re in for.
As PPA tells Shiro all the dials are in the red zone, Lee says they are a mere one thousand militons from Earth but still too far for Hercules’ taste.
Oh bother.
As the net approaches undetected, the ship’s systems all go haywire.
And with that, X Bomber is bagged up like a bunch of tangerines.
The net scrambles all the electronics– including PPA who launches into a lovely rendition of “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary.”
Shiro is still determined to go full speed. He won’t raise the shields even as the comms systems go out. Surely the propulsion system would be next?
Ever had a day that felt like this?
As Shiro and company lose control, the Skull tries out something they like to call the magnetic beam. Frankly, I don’t know why they don’t prioritize aiding the defenseless Earth. The resourceful X Bomber squad always pull through just fine– eventually.
But the beam has no effect. Hercules really wants to activate the computer now.
Halley has another unexpected trick up his sleeve.
A hatch aboard the Skull opens and the liberty bell shoots out.
It clamps onto the stricken vessel– can this unnamed grappling hook save the day?
Guess not.
Well, that escalated quickly.
While Halley goes flying after trying to untangle a space fishnet, the Imperial Alliance has entered Earth orbit.
That is a very unpleasant sight.
It doesn’t quite have the impact of Makara’s Battlecruiser back in episode 2, but it is theoretically much bigger and more powerful.
This guy reckons it’s some sort of planet. He’s been reading Flash Gordon in the loo.
As the three most powerful military men in Star Fleet wonder what their colleague from Nebraska is on about, a bizarre computer voice speaks from nowhere to say the computer banks have stopped working, solar flare-style.6 If the computer is down, why is the computer voice working?
This time the Imperial Alliance answers when Star Fleet calls. He feels like bragging, gloating, and being a nuisance.
Fortunately, our old pal the iron-willed General Kyle has no time for bullies. His Churchill-coded bravado won’t put up with any nincompoop calling himself a saviour and an Imperial Master.
The Imperial Master doesn’t waste any time getting to the point. He says he will roast them all alive unless they submit to his will.
Fortunately, General Kyle doesn’t waste time either. Insisting on “no bargaining” he throws all his defenses against the assault. It’s a tough stand, especially given what happened last time.
Since we last visited Earth’s Defense Force General Head Quarters, some new structures and missiles have been built along with the expected stock footage.
The above banks have been rebuilt since Makara blew them up.
The Master knows he has superior weapons and he plans to use them.
So far, every action the termoids have taken on the Imperial bridge involves this bluish greenish light.
Just as the attack on Earth is commencing, we cut back to the struggling space cadets. Sadly, it is Professor Hagen, not Shiro, who makes the final decision to cut the computer on and divert power to the main shield. I think it would be great character development to put the focus on the helmeted hero.
And just like that, the Alliance deadly net is blown apart. It’s a bit of a weak ending to the plot device, but this episode is jam packed and already running out of runtime.
Quick as lightning, Shiro has them back on course. Really wasn’t much of a delay was it? Apparently the net that flummoxed Halley is easy to remove from the inside.
Hagen has Lamia sleeping under sedation and Halley approves. The latter also knows that the attack on Earth has begun, though how he came by that information is a big mystery. Shiro calls out “heads up, guys!” and they blast off full speed towards their destiny.
I hope you didn’t grow too attached to the EDF models because they are smithereens now.
The casualties include eight bases and fifty fighters with the latter unfortunately offscreen. General Kyle uncharacteristically calls up the Imperial Master. Is he going to concede?
Hardly. He swears to go down fighting. To the last man. What a guy.
Interestingly, the Imperial Master labels this human arrogance, just as Makara did. The Alliance’ belief in their natural superiority is so strong that any resistance at all strikes them as obstinate impudence.
As he gives us an echoing, maniacal cackle, we get a repeat montage of the reliefs displayed around the throne room/battle bridge. Jacob Witkin hasn’t quite mastered the evil laugh here. It’s a bit forced.
With his bases in flames, General Kyle has no option but to launch all his fighters and keep trying to reach X Bomber.
As if to make up for all those earlier unseen space battles, we now get a real honey of an astrofighter launch sequence. It’s pure tokusatsu gloriousness. By this point in the series, the special effects crew had really honed their skills to maximum to create some truly impressive shots.
Ooo yeah. It’s on!
Not to be out done by the Ocean Fleet Astrofighters, a squadron of the spherical Pluto Defenders launch too. I bet they stand a pretty good chance!
Uh oh.
These little turrets are perfect. I love how they look super powerful but they also have a bit of a fantasy look. The Imperial Fortress as a whole wouldn’t feel out of place in something like He-Man and Masters of the Universe
Once again it is an absolute blood bath for the forces of our solar system… but the cavalry is nearly here.
They are so close that Lee finally makes contact! Before he brings them up to speed on the dire plight of Earth, he very kindly asks about their health. Nobody remembers to mention that Benn is dead.
“A fortress planet?!?” Although we have seen the Imperial Planet, Hercules hasn’t– this is the first encounter for our heroes.
Shiro spills the beans on F-01. Spoiler alert: Lamia and F-01 are one and the same.
Kyle is shocked, but takes the news in stride. “Now I’m beginning to see.”
The next bit of news hits harder. Dr. Benn is dead. Even worse?
Here’s his Aldi brand replacement.
But there’s no time to reconnect with delinquent fathers. Planet Earth is about to be history.
And so ends the final cliffhanger of Star Fleet! The Imperial Alliance has brought their entire arsenal to bear on our homeworld and X Bomber, Dai-X, and the Skull are still hundreds of militons away. The miracle of F-01, the narrator reminds us, has yet to happen.
The penultimate episode is memorable for being so intensely packed with activity. Dramatically, we get to preview Lamia’s powers although I wish her plight was given a bit more screen time. In terms of action, there are several fun Imperial booby traps and some great space battle scenes.
There are some places where the seams are showing through– the production is running out of steam after many long days (and possibly sleepless nights) creating X Bomber. But for the most part, the fun and the jeopardy are reaching a fever pitch. I can’t wait for the ultimate conclusion!
This is a massive issue I’ve mentioned in passing previously– a year is a relative amount of time determined on Earth by our planet’s orbit around the sun. The idea that all of the galaxies use some sort of standard measurement of time throws all of Einstein’s theories plus everything we know about physics and time out the window. Of course, this is fantasy and it’s fun to imagine what a kind of universal interstellar time would be like.
This astrological phenomenon made headline news in 1979 when it was observed offering proof for Einstein’s theory of relativity. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quasar
These kinds of questions are guaranteed to spark Reddit discussion: https://www.reddit.com/r/Cartalk/comments/16h6jwb/does_turning_off_your_ac_actually_give_you_more/
Have Lamia’s powers boosted their speed?
The problem of suffering, or the problem of evil, is a central discussion in Christian theology. Shintoism on the other hand embraces suffering as a part of the natural order. https://www.patheos.com/library/shinto/beliefs/suffering-and-the-problem-of-evil
Yes, a solar flare could knock out power grids and electronics on the Earth– but the effects would be largely predictable and therefore mitigated. https://www.sciencefocus.com/science/could-a-solar-storm-take-down-the-internet
I loved the episode recap and the finale is coming soon, I can't wait to read it!
Love this breakdown of episode 23! That electric solar net trap is sucha brilliant low-budget solution. What makes it work so well is how the neon orange color sells the danger even though it's basically yarn and lights. Honestly reminds me of old practical effects I tried in a college film project where constraints forced better creative problem-solving than any CGI would've allowed.