One long 10 minute sequence of "HOLY CRAP!"
Now that I have that out of the way...
Trying to figure out a few things here.
From the copious mentions of at least ONE technical term from Yamato I'm VERY familiar with from the Japanese and the tone of the conversation
between Starsha and Desslok, I presume that Leader Desslok just stepped
over a line (Using Wave Motion Energy tech as a weapon) that the
Iscandarians - and especially Starsha - did not approve of.
(In fact, Yurisha didn't exactly like the fact the -Terrans- had
developed it!)
I have the feeling that part of the reason Desslok has gone that far,
and feels secure enough in doing so - is in part due to the
political/propaganda coup of having "Yurisha" to "approve" of a
political union.
Did that weapon fired at the Yamato COMPLETELY vaporize the planet they
were near? Or just strip all the atmosphere off? It looks like there
might be a core left there, but that's it. From Melda's horrified
reaction (and that of a couple of other Gamilon Officers) I think the
difference may be moot. What once was the equivalent of SATURN (and
probably just as beautiful to Gamilons as Iscandarians through their
history) is GONE.
Yamato is indeed up against the Blue Fleet. But... I get the distinct
impression so far (which might be wrong, given we haven't seen the rest
of the episode) that they're not really -that- elite of a force - or are
just WAY out of practice in fighting somebody who FIGHTS BACK. So far I
don't see any real damage to the Yamato and no Black Tigers have been
killed.
Not to say that's going to stay that way. This battle is already going
places the original never did. I can't predict based on any previous
notions WHAT is going to happen. We're OFF THE MAP here, folks. Hell -
we've BEEN "off the map" for at least 10 episodes or more by now.
(That's something I want to note - through about the first half of the
series, I could -generally- in broad strokes see where things were
going. The makers of this series were hitting most of the original beats
of the original 1974 show. Though there were still surprises in almost
every episode (usually good ones).
About the second half of the series onward, they've been charting
largely new territory. And I find myself becoming less involved as a
veteran fan critiquing in comparison to the original and more and more
on the edge of my seat wondering what the hell is going to happen next?)
Back to analysis - and here's where I'm getting confused - I thought
they wanted to AVOID Gamilon? In the original series they were -dragged-
there against their will. This time the Yamato and crew are diving in
willingly?
My guess is that they figure that Desslok won't fire his "Desslok
Cannon" on his own planet. But... wouldn't that also hold true for
Iscandar? (Melda seems to be directing them straight to the capitol city.)
Also - the Sulfuric Acid Seas and volcanic nature of the original
Gamilon don't seem to exist here in this version. So there's not likely
going to be any underwater firing of the WMG at volcanos.
Is Gamilon even a "dying" planet as in the original?
Perhaps Gamilon itself (and the innocent civilians in the cities) will
fare better at the end of all of this?
Do we YET have a complete explanation as to what started the war in the
first place and what the Gamilons hoped to accomplish with Earth?
Because that whole "we need a new world to migrate to" in the original 74 series seems a moot point in this version. Both because Gamilon is NOT dying
(at least not that's been seen or talked about) and because I'm guessing
that one of Desslok's goals might be with the "unification" to colonize
Iscandar?
One thing for sure - the blue fleet ships are pretty damn indiscriminate
about firing on the Yamato IN THE CAPITAL CITY.
So - they've rammed into Desslok's palace... what was the plan from
here? Are they switching to the "rescue Yuki" option?
Desslok appears to be abandoning his generals in the palace, along with
poor Celestella, who seems devastated that he would do that.
(And there's the "Desslok Cruiser" as part of the palace, as in the
original - sort of. It's more that it was housed in the palace rather
than BEING a palace/ship.)
Is Yuki in that ship? Or in the palace?
And I have NO idea what's up with that pyramidal flying fortress of
theirs, or why a piece of it separated off.
