Gatchaman II episode recaps - Episode 7

Disclaimer: Gatchaman belongs to Tatsunoko, no infringement is intended.

Screencaps: Reboekah has graciously given me access to Gatchaman II screencaps for inclusion in the recaps, thank you! : )

Episode 7:

A green liquid bubbles in a big glass bowl. Galactor goons and scientists watch as the liquid solidifies into some kind of cell-based organism.



Sosai X speaks to Gel Sadra and a plan of action is decided upon. Cut to a jeep riding through an open field with trees in the distance. The jeep comes to a halt and Galactor goons and a red-headed leader-type (looks a little like a butterfly) disembark. The goons bring out a small glass container with a spore in it. It opens and the wind picks the spore up and carries it away. Oops, looks like this wasn't supposed to happen, the goons chase the spore.



They are unsuccessful. The leader says something like "Gel Sadra's going to be pissed."



Cut to Jun and a group of children walking through the forest. There's lots of happy giggling and sounds of contentment. Jinpei trails behind. He's not having as much fun as the beast of burden and is carrying packs, water bottles and a butterfly net. He stumbles and falls and he discovers that he has a blister.



Another boy, about the same age as Jinpei but drawn to be much more handsome arrives. He's carrying similar gear to Jinpei. He asks Jinpei what's wrong and Jinpei points out his blister. The other boy (let's call him nature boy) runs out into the field and grabs some flowers. He brings them back to Jinpei and puts them on his blister before covering it with a bandaid. Jinpei is surprised and maybe a little impressed. The boys introduce themselves (Bukari?).



Jinpei notices that nature boy has a glass jar with what looks to be the Galactor spore in it.



Cut to Gel Sadra who is telling Sosai X about the stuff up. Sosai X doesn't seem too worried.



We see an apartment building and zoom in to an upper level apartment's flower bed. A giant green vine erupts from the flower bed, smashes a fish tank and greedily drinks all the water. On the way it breaks open a suitcase full of caterpillars who make a slow undulating escape. The vine grows very quickly and appears to be sneaking up on nature boy.



The doorbell rings, it's Jinpei. The vine doesn't show itself. Jinpei's brought nature boy a present. Nature boy puts on the kettle. There's a noise of breaking glass from the other room. The boys go to investigate. The vine attacks. Jinpei grabs a knife and attacks the vine but the knife is either blunt or the vine is too tough.



The boys are about to be strangled when the vine makes a wailing noise and collapses, like it's run out of energy. It turns out that the caterpillars have gone on the attack and are consuming the vine leaves.



The vine shrivels up, turns brown, and dies. The caterpillars have become encased in cocoons. In a matter of seconds the cocoons split open, revealing cat sized butterflies. They escape through a broken window. Jinpei and nature boy look on amazed.



Later, Jinpei has explained the story to the team who appear to be sitting in the Snack J. RYu and Jun laugh at him (you'd think that they'd been through enough weird stuff that this wouldn't seem too far-fetched)



Jinpei is incensed. Jinpei asks Joe to back him up, who does by saying it sounds like Galactor. Jun and Ryu are surprised. It sounds like they're saying "How would you know, Joe?". Ken says something to Jinpei who walks off muttering. Jun and Ryu laugh at him.



Joe says something serious. Ken says "Joe" wistfully.



A church bell tolls in a mountainous region filled with chalet style houses as the narrator narrates. Three hot air balloons glide through the night. They carry glass globes with spores and release them as they pass over the town.



A police car runs into a giant vine. a second vine attacks the car from below, picking it up and throwing it through the air. It lands heavily, flips upside down and explodes.



Commercial break.

I wonder if the scriptwriters found out that kudzu has taken over the Southeastern US?

CM, you'd be surprised how many times the team disbelieves something that they should find all too possible. Communications, vehicle speed, and brainpower are all plot-dependent.

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Benefits, not features; benefits, not features

TJ, hush! We're not supposed to know that yet.

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Benefits, not features; benefits, not features

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Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.

You're right, UW, that in Eagle Riders they cut out a lot of Mallanox's transformation, casting more doubt upon the gender. It's my understanding that they intended to write Mallanox as a male (and did, for the first half of the series) but then when they discovered the whole 'little girl' storyline they did some quick re-writing and fixes to try to smooth it out.

In Gatchaman, it's very obvious that Gel Sadra is female. In the first episode she definitely grows a womanly figure, albeit with a Barbie doll genitalia-less bent.

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Glad you liked them, CM!

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