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--- Gatchaman episode 30: "Kamisoral, the Guillotine Iron Beast" (http://www.gatchamania.net/threadid.php?threadid=2600)
Posted by lborgia88 on 16-07-2009 at 20:11:
Gatchaman episode 30: "Kamisoral, the Guillotine Iron Beast"
Gatchaman Episode 30: “Kamisoral, the Guillotine Iron Beastâ€
BOTP Episode: “The Ghostly Grasshopperâ€
This is an episode that I believe that I, until very recently, had only ever watched once. Looking at the title stirred no memories, and even watching it, the mecha was vaguely familiar but that was about it. It was almost like watching an episode for the first time –I did not know what was going to happen.
This episode begins in a similar fashion to others, in that we are shown a location that appears safe and quiet, until…
In this case, the location in question is some kind of industrial complex, at night. No one is in sight. But, suddenly an explosion rips through the night’s tranquility! Some sort of dark liquid is pouring from sliced-up pipes.
Is it oil? It definitely seems to be flammable!
But now, a new explosion erupts, and this time we’re somewhere else and it’s a bridge over a harbour that’s being destroyed, and cars are falling into the water below.
Yet another explosion occurs, but this time at some other industrial complex, and now water is spraying from pipes there.
Large ships docked at a port, somewhere else, now also explode into balls of flame.
Another explosion elsewhere, and more industrial pipes are broken and spraying water.
“An invisible monster is on the prowl,†the narrator informs us as we see frightened people fleeing some kind of office building (in flames), “Turning Earth into a living hell.â€
As we see a parched desert, the narrator continues, “At the same time, the planet is suffering from severe water shortages.†Now we’re shown a destroyed dam, and the reservoir that it once held in place is nearly all gone.
More scenes of devastation follow, as the narrator explains that the mysterious explosions are causing serious wildfires, and that drinking water is becoming scarce.
Now, Berg Katse is watching one of the wildfires on a screen.
“Never underestimate Galactor’s power!†he laughs. The Captain of the Week appears on his screen next. He’s blue and sort of grimly robotic looking, but the yellow collar of his cape rises up high behind his head, rather making him look as if he has big, blond hair. He informs Katse that his creation is a success, and Katse then gloats that he will obliterate the Earth with “Kamisoral, the iron guillotine beast.â€
That’s a pretty grim name, but fortunately the previous scenes of destruction didn’t feature bloody decapitations, so I will assume the name refers merely to the mecha’s ability to slice up industrial machinery. “We are preparing to attack the nuclear power plant,†announces the Captain.
We’re shown the nuclear power plant now.
But suddenly the view on Katse’s screen cuts out momentarily. He demands to know what’s happening, and the Captain (presumably inside Kamisoral itself) falls to the floor as everything shakes around him.
A whirlwind seems to be forming in the air over the power plant.
“That area, it’s too dangerous! Get out right away!†orders Berg Katse, “Retreat for today!†So, the nuclear power plant is spared, at least temporarily.
Now, Ken (in civvies) is staring at an airfield filled with rockets as the narrator informs us that the ISO is planning to launch them tomorrow to generate an artificial storm.
Just at that moment, Dr. Nambu contacts Ken and announces there’s an emergency. “Gather the Team, and launch the God Phoenix!â€
Ken does just that, and now the God Phoenix is cruising through the sky. On screen, Dr. Nambu tells Ken that “There are mysterious explosions occurring all around the world at important locations,†and that “several chemical refineries, dams and essential trading ports have all come under fire.â€
However, he adds that whatever is causing all this must be invisible, as no one “has been able to spot it throughout its entire rampage.â€
“Invisible enemy, huh?†says Ken, “Well, this should be easy.†I assume he’s being sarcastic, but maybe after defeating the invisible snail tanks in episode 28, he’s decided it’s not that hard after all. At any rate, Dr. Nambu wants the Team to discover the culprit’s true form and capabilities. Now we see the whole Team on the bridge, as they all say “Roger!†as one.
One might think that it would be hard to find this mysterious, invisible foe, but as the God Phoenix flies along through the sky, something is detected on a radar screen and Jun says “Something freaky just flew in front of the ship, Ken!â€
Joe quickly comes up to the main view screen, behind Ken, to get a look too. I guess it won’t be too hard after all…
Something’s definitely out there, but it just looks like wispy clouds, mostly.
Ken instructs Ryu to get them a closer look at it.
Now we cut to the flying wispy cloud formation that is Kamisoral, and on its bridge, the Captain of the Week is watching the God Phoenix on screen. “Amateurs… Now, let’s kill the Science Ninja Team while we have the chance,†he says, as nearby goons run to carry out his orders.
What results is a game of chicken, as the God Phoenix and Kamisoral fly straight at each other. Now, however, the forms of two scythe-like appendages can be seen in the wispy cloud formation that is Kamisoral.
“They’re going to crash into us!†yells Jinpei.
Jun clutches her helmet with her hands and cries out in fear (Yeah, not one of her better moments.) Now, Kamisoral, looking more flaming than cloudy, swoops in front of the God Phoenix’s main screen, and then the entire God Phoenix starts shaking violently.
We see Jinpei fall out of his chair, and Ken’s G-1 jet shaking in its docking bay.
As Kamisoral flies off, Jun stares at something on her console and cries “Ken, it’s terrible, the ship’s gotten a crack in its tail!â€
Sure enough, we see the God Phoenix’s tail (which is partly Ken’s G-1 jet) and it’s full of cracks.
Now Ryu is saying that he can’t keep the (still shaking) God Phoenix balanced, because of the damage it’s just sustained.
Posted by lborgia88 on 16-07-2009 at 20:12:
But, Kamisoral is now coming up behind the wavering God Phoenix, and Jinpei notices and yells out a warning to the others. This time, Kamisoral takes the form of a whirling wind.
The God Phoenix pitches and lurches (and Jinpei falls out of his chair, again.)
Ryu is trying desperately to stabilize the God Phoenix, and Kamisoral (in flaming appearance again) is swooping in on them yet again.
Ken smashes the glass cover over the bird missile button, and fires about three or four of them at Kamisoral. Hey, isn’t that Joe’s job, Ken?
We briefly see curved metal blades swinging, cutting the BMs into pieces.
“The bird missiles aren’t working,†mutters Ken anxiously.
This time when Kamisoral passes by the God Phoenix, the end of one of its wings is targeted, and becomes riddled with cracks.
Now the God Phoenix is really shaking, and plunging downward.
“Ken, something’s wrong! The controls won’t work!†cries Ryu. Now we’re shown the blue sea below, with a couple islands, rapidly approaching as the God Phoenix continues to plummet. “Forget about it! Just take us straight into the ocean, Ryu!†cries Ken.
In a ship full of cracks, Ken? Is that wise?
But, Ryu closes the God Phoenix’s vents at least, and they hit the surface and go under.
They’re still falling, except now underwater. One wing strikes some rocks, causing the entire God Phoenix to pitch, and this time everyone goes sprawling, not just Jinpei (and Joe, who hasn’t been shown since he first came up behind Ken to look at Kamisoral, crashes into one of the bridge’s walls).
The God Phoenix finally makes an ungraceful landing on its belly, on the sea floor.
The “camera angle†at which we now view everyone recovering from the impact features (to me, at least) an unnecessarily prurient view of Jun’s panties.
“How did that happen? How did we lose control? We’ve got to find out what that thing really is!†says Ken, angrily.
So now we’re at the Crescent Base –with the exterior view of the schools of fish swimming by. Inside, the Team’s all in their civvies and meeting with Dr. Nambu. Dr. Nambu is certain the Team just faced Galactor’s new weapon, “But what kind of weapon is it?†he wonders, holding his chin with one hand. He asks Ken to play a video, and on screen we see footage of one of Kamisoral’s attacks on an industrial complex, with an explosion erupting into the air.
Next, it’s another industrial complex but then the screen is dark except for something slicing, rapidly. Next, it shows that industrial complex again, spraying water from broken pipes. Dr. Nambu yells “Wait!â€
Jinpei asks what’s going on, and Dr. Nambu says “That’s it! The enemy is moving fast than mach 10!â€
He then explains that that’s why it’s hard to see it with the naked eye, and he also thinks they’re using a “slipstream†effect to their advantage as well. Ryu doesn’t understand what he means by “slipstream,†so Dr. Nambu adds that “It creates a vacuum to slash through things. Look.†Now he points to an image on screen of severed water pipes at an industrial complex attacked by Kamisoral. “Those slices are characteristic of a slipstream cut.â€
Suddenly, the screen they’ve been watching all this video footage on changes to Berg Katse’s face, flickering as if on a channel with very poor reception.
“So, we meet again, my dear friends!†he gloats, “I hereby announce that tomorrow is mankind’s final day. Resistance is futile but don’t worry, you’ll all receive a wonderful parting gift from Galactor, with love!â€
No one is pleased at all to hear from Katse.
Ken angrily denounces him as a coward for only facing them remotely, on a screen. “So he’s warning us?†says Joe, “What makes him so confident?â€
Dr. Nambu seems to have an idea though, and he wants Ken to play the video again. It’s the footage of a burning industrial complex, and Dr. Nambu is wondering if the fires it caused somehow helped Kamisoral escape. He points out that the intense heat of the fire they’re seeing on screen is causing a vortex in the air above it. He and Jun then conclude that this could even result in a typhoon, especially if the soil is also dehydrated.
Then Dr. Nambu has an “Aha!†moment. “We know that the enemy uses a slipstream vacuum to attack,†he declares, “That means its speed is its weapon. Therefore it must be weak to any sort of turbulent air or vacuum. If we could trap it inside the eye of a typhoon, we could destroy the enemy easily,†he concludes as everyone listens gravely.
He and Ken then discuss conditions inside the eye of a typhoon, and Dr. Nambu believes that only the eye of a small typhoon would be turbulent enough to affect Galactor’s latest mecha.
Dr. Nambu then asks Ken if the rocket-created artificial storm is still scheduled for tomorrow. (Oh yeah, I’d forgotten all about that…) Ken says they’re working on the final preparations –and he should know, as he was there watching. Dr. Nambu, however, says that’s not good and could be dangerous. Quickly, he moves to leave. Jinpei wants to know where he’s going, but all he does is remind them that Katse had said he had a parting gift for all of them, and then he tells them to launch the God Phoenix as he disappears from sight. Everyone salutes and cries “Roger!â€
So now we’re at the control room for the airfield where the rockets are going to be launched to generate an artificial storm.
“You want to cancel the artificial rain project?†one of the men is asking Dr. Nambu. The man isn’t happy about this at all. Dr. Nambu isn’t offering any explanation, though –he’s just insisting that it be cancelled. “Are you intending to allow all the Earth’s citizens who are suffering in this drought to die?†demands the man, pointing a finger at Dr. Nambu’s chest as all the other men in the room mutter angrily against Dr. Nambu.
But, Dr. Nambu then explains that what he wants is a heavier downpour than what was originally scheduled. The catch is that they’ll need twice the number of rockets to achieve this. Dr. Nambu then tells the man, (calling him “Captainâ€) that, if they don’t do this, the Earth could be destroyed tomorrow.
Oh, well when you put it that way…
Actually, the Captain points out that what Dr. Nambu is asking for might very well cause a typhoon –which he doesn’t regard as a good thing. Dr. Nambu, however, thinks that would be a very good thing. When the Captain, quite aggrievedly, notes that a typhoon will cause a lot of damage, Dr. Nambu is prepared to accept that damage as an unavoidable consequence. Again, everyone is muttering angrily against Dr. Nambu.
So at last he explains the real situation –that they have to defeat Galactor before Galactor destroys something like their nuclear power plant! Well, that gets everyone there reconsidering…
“If they did,†says Dr. Nambu, walking over to the window overlooking the airfield and its rockets, “it would cause radiation to spread across the globe.â€
The Captain still can’t quite believe that they need to cause a typhoon to save the Earth, but he’s in line with Dr. Nambu now. “Yes, exactly!†says the Doctor,†We don’t have much time before the Earth is destroyed!â€
With that, the music tones dramatically.
Commercial break!
Posted by lborgia88 on 16-07-2009 at 20:25:
[Thank you, Saturn, for the screencaps!]
What we’re seeing now is actually a peaceful forest of trees. However, a thing that resembles a giant pray mantis now rising from the ground. Kamisoral!
In its control room, the Captain of the Week is listening to Berg Katse’s on-screen instructions.
Katse wants to turn the Earth “into a fiery hell,†and he informs the Captain that their next target is, just as Dr. Nambu had feared, the nuclear power plant. Kamisoral rises into the air (still all visible).
Next, we cut to the Team at the Crescent Base, running down the corridor to the God Phoenix’s docking bay and we see the rest of the stock footage of them board the God Phoenix via its dome, and the God Phoenix leaving the Crescent Base.
On the bridge of the God Phoenix, Dr. Nambu is telling the Team that he’s sure Galactor will try to attack the ISO’s nuclear power plant, but he wants them to lure the mecha into the rain project area.
And he prays for their success.
Elsewhere, Kamisoral is flying through the sky, once again in its wispy cloud-like appearance. On board the God Phoenix, they realize its approaching them. Ken tells Ryu to activate the special viewscreen filter that Dr. Nambu made for them, and orders everyone else to their stations. With the special filter going, they all get a clear view of Kamisoral.
Jinpei (the bug-lover) cries out “A giant praying mantis!†as everyone else merely goes “Oh!†Ken, however, then orders their operation to begin.
Meanwhile in Kamisoral’s control room, the Captain of the Week says he can’t believe the Science Ninja Team is “back for seconds,†but he wants them all dead.
So, the God Phoenix flies straight up in the air and Kamisoral follows.
Kamisoral swoops past the God Phoenix, with its “slipsteam†effect, and on the God Phoenix, Ryu cries out but keeps the God Phoenix steady.
Jun sees that it’s coming back at them, though.
They’re headed straight at each other. At the last second, Ryu veers the God Phoenix, but nevertheless Kamisoral is able to swipe a gash in the God Phoenix’s tail (and Jinpei falls out of his chair, again).
The God Phoenix is in a dive, towards an island in the sea below.
But Ryu is able to pull the God Phoenix up in time and soar over the trees (well, actually the ends of the wings are whacking into a lot of trees and making for a bumpy ride). On the bridge, everyone recovers from their (literal) brush with disaster.
“Damn it, how long to we have to keep doing stupid assignments like this?†demands Joe, who really hasn’t had enough lines in this episode. “Isn’t the Science Ninja Team supposed to accomplish something? This crap is just a big waste of time, Ken!â€
Ken remains firm though, that they have to be patient.
Meanwhile, at the ISO airfield where the rockets are stationed, the Captain there is able to inform Dr. Nambu that preparations are nearly complete.
Now, Dr. Nambu asks about the preparations for protecting people from the typhoon. “The evacuation of citizens in the typhoon’s path has been taken care of by the UN Troops†the Captain is able to inform him. Aww! Zark would be so proud! Dr. Nambu, however, receives this information while stubbing out a cigarette butt in an ashtray filled with many others. Not sure if Zark would be so impressed with that.
He orders the rocket operation to commence, and as the Captain salutes, we see the rockets firing up their engines in preparation for taking off from the airfield.
We quickly cut to the bridge of the God Phoenix, which has just dodged another swipe from Kamiserol (and Jinpei has fallen out of his chair –again!!) As we hear the countdown for the rockets, the God Phoenix and Kamiserol are flying at each other yet again. It takes another swipe (and Jinpei goes tumbling into Jun –someone make that kid wear a seatbelt!) But now all the rockets have launched, and Jun confirms they’re all “coming this way!â€
As Ryu says they’ll have to hold out a little longer, Kamisoral manages to grab hold of the God Phoenix with one of its claws, even as Dr. Nambu (seeing his view screen go all static) asks Ken anxiously what’s going on.
In Kamisoral’s control room, the Captain of the Week is so confident of victory, he’s leisurely resting his feet on his console with his legs crossed.
He gives the final order for the God Phoenix to be smashed, and with that, Kamisoral grabs hold of the God Phoenix with both claws now, and makes to cut it to pieces.
“Damn it! We’re all going to be dead soon!†yells Joe, seeing cracks appear in the ceiling of the bridge. He shoves his way past Ryu and begins firing bird missiles at Kamisoral.
They explode on impact, but they don’t do any damage. “Man, it’s just toying with us,†says Joe wearily.
Kamisoral’s claws continue to cut deeper into the God Phoenix’s hull, as Ken stands in the shaking bridge and yells “Just die!†at the view of Kamisoral on the view screen. The ISO rockets are now getting close though, to Ken’s relief. On Kamisoral, a goon asks the Captain of the Week what they should do about the rockets, but he’s still lounging, and thinks the rockets are merely an ISO attempt to distract them. But now all the rockets start spraying some sort of yellow substance into the air all around them.
The narrator informs us that these chemicals sprayed by the rockets react with the cold air to form rain clouds, which then develop into an “enormous tropical cyclone.â€
“Look!†cries Ken, pointing at the big storm of whirling wind and lightning forming in the sky.
“The experiment was a success!†The narrator now informs us that the tropical cyclone doesn’t take long to become a gigantic typhoon. Lightning now flashes all around Kamisoral, causing it to lurch (and now the Captain of the Week is the one falling out of his chair!) He immediately speaks to a goon, on screen, and learns there’s a typhoon. “Impossible!†he says, but he orders Kamisoral to withdraw. “Kill the Science Ninja Team and get out of there now!†He pulls a lever, and Kamisoral now begins moving away from the typhoon but it’s still gripping the God Phoenix and trying to cut it apart with its claws.
A claw is starting to cut through the ceiling of the bridge, and everyone is greatly alarmed, but the typhoon continues to rage outside.
Jun notes with alarm that they’re getting pulled into the eye of the typhoon, along with Kamisoral. Jinpei is asking Ken if there’s something they can do. “I’m not afraid of dying in the line of duty, but there’s no way I’m dying with Galactor,†snarls Joe. Ken isn’t responding, and he has his eyes closed. As the storms rages further, goons are tumbling around inside Kamisoral, and everyone on the bridge of the God Phoenix are being shaken around too.
Posted by lborgia88 on 16-07-2009 at 20:29:
Suddenly, explosions start breaking out on a control panel inside Kamisoral, as a goon cries “Aughh!!†One claw releases the God Phoenix, and Ken orders Ryu to “Power up, now!†However, Kamisoral is still keeping its grip on the God Phoenix, even with one claw, and the Captain of the Week is ordering the goons “Don’t let go!â€
On the God Phoenix, Ryu cries “It’s no use, we’re getting pulled in!†The eye of the typhoon is nearly upon them, and a screen is cracking to pieces before one of the goons on board Kamisoral, and other goons cry out as they see cracks forming in the ceiling over their heads. Kamisoral’s one-claw grip on the God Phoenix seems to be slipping…
At last the God Phoenix breaks free of Kamisoral’s grip and begins to fight its way out of the eye of the typhoon, even as Kamisoral is pulled further in. Ryu and Joe are both pulling hard on the control levers, as Ken urges them to keep at it, but it’s clear that the God Phoenix is straining.
But inside the typhoon, Kamisoral is finally pulled to pieces by the intense wind.
It explodes into flames as more goons go “Aughh!!†The God Phoenix, however, clears the storm and makes it to calmer skies. On board, everyone is relieved and exhausted, slumped forward in their chairs.
As rain continues to fall from the typhoon, pieces of the destroyed Kamisoral also rain into the sea. “Team, we won,†says Ken, more wearily than victoriously. Somewhere else, Katse yells “How can this be!†and smashes his fist down. Watching the God Phoenix flying through the sky, on a screen (Is he on board some kind of escape rocket from Kamisoral? Where is his on-screen footage coming from?) Katse vows that he will yet destroy the Science Ninja Team.
In case anyone was concerned (or because he was feeling Zark-like), the narrator tells us that the blast from Kamisoral’s explosion turned the dangerous typhoon into a “normal atmospheric depression†and we’re shown scenes of gentle rain falling, replenishing those places that had suffered water loss because of Kamisoral
The final shot is of the God Phoenix soaring past a rainbow in the sky.
The End.
Posted by Springie on 16-07-2009 at 20:42:
I'm with you. LB...this is usually one of the eps I skim past...pretty uneventful...mecha comes, team gathers on the GP and takes it out...the end. But, there were definitely things I missed...Nambu was a smoker??!? 
Another fabulous episode review! Thanks for all of your hard work!!
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Posted by clouddancer on 16-07-2009 at 21:44:
Thank you LB for the recap write up and Saturn for the images.
Some thing I have never understood, it happens a few times during the series, and maybe I have something wrong here, but if the Phoenix is being held this way....
How is Joe able to hit the mecha when the bird missiles are on top of the Phoenix and the Phoenix is perpendicular to the mecha?
At least I have always assumed the missiles are shot from the top of the God Phoenix based on this pic....
Am I wrong in that assumption?
__________________
Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.
Posted by Transmute Jun on 16-07-2009 at 23:02:
Maybe they have a missile launching pad on the bottom of the God Phoenix too? 
Great recap, LB!
I think what always bothered me about this episode was the way Kamisoral was totally destroyed by the typhoon, but the God Phoenix is relatively unscathed. Okay, I know these things aren't absolutes but basically what we have is:
Kamisoral is capable of destroying the god Phoenix
A typhoon is capable of destroying Kamisoral
Therefore a typhoon should be capable of destroying the God Phoenix?
Well, anyhow, I think I might have appreciated even a throwaway line on this from the narrator, to explain the apparent discrepancy.
And LB, I'm with you... what is with the word Guillotine? I wouldn't put it past Galactor to make a guillotine mecha, but this isn't it!
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Posted by lborgia88 on 17-07-2009 at 02:38:
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Joe is infinitely talented -that's my explanation!
No really, um, maybe they're heat seeking missiles, or... or the artists overlooked that little detail when they drew the images of Kamisoral clutching the God Phoenix. Heh, this is probably one of those things that we're not supposed to think about too much...
Posted by lborgia88 on 17-07-2009 at 02:53:
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You're right -all the plot elements in this episode had already been used before, and perhaps better, in previous episodes. Granted, most episodes have some repetition (that's the nature of a series of this genre) but this episode didn't really add anything that stood out -no especially humorous snippets of dialogue, interesting intra-Team interactions or character development, tidbits of background information, angst or forwarding of any big story arcs. I guess that's why, unlike most episodes, I never gave this episode a re-watch (until now).
It surprised me that Dr. Nambu was smoking -but then, he was under a lot of stress. I guess now if Joe does turn out to be a smoker in the upcoming Gatchaman movie, I will assume that Dr. Nambu's example is to blame!
Posted by lborgia88 on 17-07-2009 at 03:09:
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I can only think that Kamisoral's vulnerability to intense storms, despite the power of its attacks against the God Phoenix, was meant to be a quirky but fatal flaw. Now that I think about it, I guess another reason that this episode seemed a bit bland to me is because none of the Team really do anything in this episode that's particularly daring or clever and they don't really get to save the day. They never actually face the Captain of the Week or any goons, there's no big fight scene, and the plan that defeats Kamisoral is entirely devised by Dr. Nambu and carried out by unmanned rockets.
For all the violence in Gatchaman, there's really very little blood. I guess that's why the "guillotine" mecha wasn't really a true guillotine.
(I just remembered this smilie -how appropriate for this thread!)
Posted by UnpublishedWriter on 06-03-2010 at 03:02:
The Ghostly Grasshopper
Battle of the Planets, Episode Twenty-Two
Gatchaman Episode #30, Kamisoral, the Guillotine Iron Beast
DVD and Veoh episode #25
Review/Summary: Establishing shot of Center Neptune, and Zark in VO: “Our primary duty, here at Center Neptune, is to monitor and detect any activity by alien invaders from outer space in their never-ending attempts to conquer Earth and its resources.â€
And we have Zark at his usual console. “Uh-oh: there’s something mighty disturbing coming at us right now. But what is it? My first read-out indicates a destructive storm.†He pokes at it a couple of times. “7-Zark-7 to Weather Control. Red Alert. A typhoon-like storm is approaching.†[Since when does Weather Control need to be warned of approaching storms?] My sensors indicate its velocity is four times greater than any ever recorded. Evacuate all personnel at Water Storage Unit #5.†[I’ll accept that fudge. It’s not like the scriptwriters had a way to find those numbers right away – and even then, they could end up watching a real-life storm beat the old record.] He requests that they provide data via ‘magnacomp.’
He comments that it’s sometimes difficult to tell if suspicious weather patterns are natural or artificial. He’s interrupted by 1-Rover-1 yarping its mechanical heart out. Seems Rover likes to run out into the rain and come back in covered in rust. [Quanto Tobor too cheap to pony up for some Rust-Oleam?]
As he was saying, he has to play it safe. The current storm could be caused by aliens. He’s receiving video even now.
The destruction has been severe in the vicinity of Cosmic City. [‘Cosmic City’? Sounds like a theme park.]
Gatchaman animation. Of a desert. Zark in VO tells us the world’s largest water reserve center is nearby. [So the desert is what’s left of Cosmic City?]
As the scene shifts to a broken dam, Zark tells us the center provides water desalination and storage to 1/20th of the world’s population. [Anyone care to do the math and thus figure out the most likely location of Cosmic City?] The situation will be critical if it’s hit.
[Really, all that dry desert is not consistent with what Zark is saying. The scriptwriters must have been desperate.]
And now we have some place that does look like some sort of facility with storage tanks and smokestacks. Is this the ‘Cosmic City’ previously mentioned?
Sharp-sounding slashes, and water-pipes are cleanly cut, draining of their contents. Explosions destroy others.
Cut to Zoltar looking at a screen. Apparently, Spectra uses some cut-rate electronics, because there’s a lot of wavy lines before the screen clears and shows the Captain of the Week.
Who is sort of greenish, with a black widow’s peak painted on his head, a yellow-lined black cape with upright collar, reddish pectorals, and what looks like a pink abdomen.
“Dahmbo,†Zoltar says, “you are not disappointing me. The devastation is beautiful to see, even though the attack is not yet completed. Your robot people are good.â€
“Will we have our independence, as you promised?†Dahmbo asks.
“If the attack succeeds.†As a firestorm rages, “When Earth surrenders, your robots shall be free.â€
[I would be motivated to succeed, under those circumstances. How about you?]
Now Mark’s looking at ranks of rockets. We can’t see his face, but hear his voice as he says (or thinks) that these weather-control missiles were ready to launch and might have deflected the storm. Why weren’t they used? [Ooh, thought-provoking lines! My heart quickens with anticipation.]
Anderson calls him. Get everyone aboard the Phoenix. Instructions will follow. Mark acknowledges.
And now for the transmutation of Mark in his plane.
Cut to aboard the Phoenix. Anderson, on the monitor, says that Zark has no leads, but he himself is convinced the catastrophe was man-made. When Mark asks why the missiles weren’t used, Anderson says they were activated, but electrical interference in the storm’s eye made their use impossible. That’s why he’s sending them to Sector D-10. He needs evidence that the storm was artificial.
Mark notes that D-10 is a long way from the storm site. Anderson tells him that Zark detected unusual activity in the area. He suspects that Zoltar is somewhere around.
An indeterminate period of time later, and Zark calls. He has the location of the unusual activity pinpointed on their radar. Princess looks at the data, and says they’re right in the middle of it.
Everyone looks out the front. A translucent, pale shape appears. It looks sort of like an insect.
Mark figures they’re safer above it. Tiny takes the Phoenix up.
Dahmbo, watching on his monitor, is determined to give them a chase they’ll never forget.
It isn’t a chase: it’s a game of chicken. I can’t tell who blinks first, but the alien ship just misses the Phoenix (or vice versa). The G-Force command ship shakes badly. Princess reports the stress factor gauge is pushing tolerance.
A quick shot of the ship’s tail. All three upper fins (including the rudder of Mark’s plane) are badly cracked.
Then Tiny says they’re flying upside-down. Oh, sh*@.
He gets them straightened out just long enough for the enemy to knock them around again. And again.
And Dahmbo is sitting in his/its chair, arms and legs crossed, as if this is all an annoying waste of time, rather than a battle.
Mark fires missiles. Which are all cut in two. Cleanly.
One last buzz by the enemy, and the Phoenix is going down.
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Benefits, not features; benefits, not features
Posted by UnpublishedWriter on 06-03-2010 at 03:07:
It hits the water and sinks like a stone. Mark says they’re limping home. The ship needs a major overhaul.
At Center Neptune, Anderson says that what they’ve told him points to Zoltar or one of his henchmen. Run the video of the firestorm again.
Mark does, and Anderson orders him to stop it when the pipes are cut. According to Anderson, in the next few frames, they will see what looks like a whirlwind. It has a destructive force beyond that of a regular storm. That ghostly shape they reported must be the key.
What now? Mark wants to know.
They need a new generation of weather-control missiles to replace the ones immobilized earlier. Professor Kenton at Weather Control has exactly what they’re looking for. He’s also the most stubborn man on Earth. Then Anderson leaves, presumably to speak to Kenton.
Cut to a control room, with technicians looking at monitors.
A heavy-set man, apparently Kenton, says, “Anderson, I’m a busy man. Let’s not go over old ground.â€
Anderson starts to say he’ll only take as long as he needs to convince Kenton, but the other says his rocket is only in the experimental stage. [Which means that he doesn’t have very many. And there may be other problems with them.]
When Anderson says this is the perfect test, Kenton replies that he won’t let anyone tell him what to do. Anderson’s putting on a show for the press. [What press? Those guys standing around the background?]
Rather calmly, Anderson says Kenton knows better than that. A meeting between department heads is hardly the time to hold a press conference. [So, Chief of Security is the title of a department head?] They’re old friends. Can’t they work this out without an audience?
Kenton says his views are on the record. And he’s rather skeptical of the claim that the storm was artificial.
It turns out that Zoltar did contact Earth. [When? Between the debriefing at Center Neptune and Anderson’s arrival at Kenton’s facility?] Spectra is dying, drying up. The big Z has threatened to dismantle the water resource centers and take them to Spectra. [Which wouldn’t do him any good. Even if he took the water in them along for the ride. There’s a reason the planet’s dying, and it isn’t just lack of water.]
At the big window, looking out at the disabled missiles, Anderson notes that Keaton’s rockets are more powerful than the old ones. They can generate a ‘counter-whirlwind’. [Which I assume is a good thing.]
Keaton relents. He’ll try to provide what Anderson wants, but he won’t make any promises.
Commercial break.
And Zark. Who tells us that they’re working around the clock on the missiles. But who knows if they’ll work?
He extends legs, and wipes again at the upper right of his favorite four monitors. It’s always clouding up or going black. He needs to repair it. And when he tried to watch the Milky Way, it gave him a rerun of Gilligan’s Island. He’s set his sensors to help search for the alien invaders.
And now he’s getting a signal from a powerful energy field.
A stand of pines. Into the shot erupts a – giant preying mantis. [More bad biology on the part of the Sandy Frank people.]
On Dahmbo’s ship, Zoltar is on screen and unhappy at the continued resistance of Terrans. Time for Plan B.
The ‘ghostly grasshopper’ [preying mantis!] flies off.
G-Force rushes to the Phoenix and boards. Stock launch footage.
Anderson tells the team that water storage facilities have been under surveillance since the first attack. Zark thinks that Center Nine will be the next hit.
The Phoenix meets up with the Spectra ship again. Now something happens on the viewscreen, and they can see their enemy. Keyop calls it a grasshopper.
Tiny gets them out of the way.
Dahmbo, still in the ‘This is a waste of time’ pose, sounds more upset this time. He orders Spectra soldiers to their posts. [Are they supposed to be his fellow robots?]
The two ships play tag. The Phoenix is struck with turbulence as the Spectra craft passes by. Those super-sharp front limbs still miss the command ship.
Spoke too soon. One clips the stern, right on the hatch enclosing G1.
Jason hopes Anderson’s having better luck.
On the ground, Weather Control has managed to construct enough rockets for Anderson’s plan.
Kenton has everything ready to go. He warns Anderson that this still might not work.
The rockets fire.
Phoenix and mecha are still chasing each other around.
Then the mecha catches them in its claws. The blades stab through the hull.
Jason pushes past Tiny and fires the missiles. Which have no effect.
The weather control rockets pass by.
Inside the Spectra ship, Dahmbo has his/its feet up. A goon reports they’re surrounded by strange rockets. Dahmbo is certain they won’t be activated as long the mecha holds the Phoenix.
Vapor spews from nozzles on the rockets.
And Zark in VO. “Dahmbo has made a very grave error. Because he doesn’t realize that the missiles contain no explosives, but have a far more powerful potential.†[How does he know what happened aboard the Spectra ship, never mind Dahmbo’s name?]
The atmosphere churns. Dark clouds and lightning. Mark announces a typhoon. Zark informs us that the missiles have created ‘a seething maelstrom, from which nothing can escape.’
The storm strikes the Spectra ship, knocking Dahmbo from his chair. A soldier says they must release the Phoenix. Dahmbo refuses. When they go, they’ll take G-Force with them. The soldier protests that they might survive if they let go of the Phoenix. Dahmbo is equally determined that they keep hold of the ship. [Considering the prize for success, can you blame him/it?]
They clamp down on the G-Force command ship, and try to leave the area. It doesn’t occur to Tiny that he could seriously mess up their plans if he starts up the engines. He’s a bit distracted at that moment.
The tornado gets hold of the Spectra mecha and pulls it in. Unfortunately, the Phoenix is still in its grasp. Princess says the storm could tear them both apart. Jason thinks the mecha might release its hold if it’s struck by lightning.
Someone’s listening, because lightning does strike the mecha. It lets go one claw. Tiny turns on the engines.
For some reason, this is bad news for Dahmbo. “We can’t win. Prepare to abandon ship.†Why not simply let go and make a strategic withdrawal? Come back another day?
Apparently, there’s no letting go. The claw is stuck into the Phoenix.
And the storm isn’t letting up.
Then, finally, the claw slides free. The Phoenix escapes, struggling through the typhoon. The mecha is torn apart.
Finally, our heroes hit clear air. Mark comments that Zoltar may have lost this one, but he’s still free.
As bits of mecha fall into the ocean, Zark tells us that Zoltar’s men bailed out, but were captured. [So, there were none of Dahmbo’s fellow robots aboard the mecha?] While the machine was destroyed, Spectra is still in business.
Zoltar himself is angry. Why did he think a robot could destroy G-Force? That’s a job he must do himself, and do it he shall. He makes that promise.
And because we can never end an episode where it should end, we’re subjected to Zark VO as it rains. Earth’s water supply is safe from the selfish grasp of Spectra. “But for how long? That’s the question that haunts both man and robot alike.†[Oh, that doesn’t bode well for our intestinal equilibrium.] And there’s a nice view of a rainbow with the Phoenix flying through it.
Oh, yes, we are subjected to more Zark. Now that peace and sanity are restored, he can take a 10-second oil break. [Funny, but a crisis has never stopped him before.] As soon as he turns off his monitors and transfers all signals to his ready room.
Oh, dear. He does that thing with the sonic boomerang again. Will someone please take it away from him? And he chirps that he thinks he uses it almost as well as Mark. But then, he invented it. [Bleargh.]
Fic Alert: The origins of Dahmbo and his/its fellow robots?
What happens to them now? Was Dahmbo captured? Are his/its fellow robots still slaves of Spectra?
Science question: Could storm-generated electrical interference render missiles unsafe or inoperable?
Bizarreness alert: A prawn is a preying mantis, a crawfish is a squid, orcas are sharks, a preying mantis is a grasshopper….
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Benefits, not features; benefits, not features
Posted by green on 06-03-2010 at 07:31:
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Nah - it's a case of paper, scissors, rock.
Kamisoral beats GodPhoenix.
Typhoon beats Kamisoral.
GodPhoenix beats Typhoon.
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Exaggeration misleads the credulous and offends the perceptive. ~Eliza Cook
Posted by UnpublishedWriter on 27-04-2010 at 13:41:
In order again.
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Benefits, not features; benefits, not features
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