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HIKARU MAKIBA: THE FINAL EPISODES (EPS 73-74)
I am not going to rant about the final of Grendizer, but I think we can all agree that, at least, it is strangely managed. Such a long and complicated story ends in 46 minutes with a plot development which can be defined, to be generous, very quick. I won’t bother you with my theory on what happened backstage: the Roman Album does not comment on the matter, so I don’t own any sure production note to elaborate. Anyway, even if I personally dislike the way the Authors managed the probable issues they had from a production perspective, the fact is that Ufo Robot Grendizer ends with these eps 73-74, so, of course, they are the only possible basis for a character analysis.
EPISODE 73
Ep73 is a particular episode from what its staff is concerned. The only “usual” name credited is scriptwriter Tatsuo Tamura – who is entitled to both the final eps – while all the other staff members are unknown people, who are entitled only to this particular episode. This is very strange and an unique case in the whole anime. As an explanation, I would say that, probably, ep72 (Rubina's episode) required the effort of a larger team than the usual, and, given the tight production schedule of the anime, ep73 started its development while ep72 was still progressing, so a “second line” team was asked to take care of ep73. It’s only a personal hypothesis, of course, but I don’t find another explanation to the fact that a “sudden unknown team” has been appointed to work to the second-to-last episode. Anyway, even if the production of ep72 could have required a longer time than the usual schedule, Tamura knew its plot, at least the points about Planet Fleed coming back to life and Rubina, who, while she was dying, communicating the location of the Moon Base. After all, it is what he basically needed to develop his script. Once again, a fundamental question raises up: when ep73 is located in the Grendizer timeline? This question is important, not only for a possible discussion about “technical” details (which is out of the scope of this post) but, mainly, referring to the psychological situation of the characters. I personally tend to believe that ep73 is placed not very far from ep72 – a month at maximum. It’s summer, and we see King Vega desperate for Rubina’s death, but Gandal complaining for his lack of initiative, so the usual “weekly” timeline has to be excluded in my opinion, anyway without thinking to an excessive delay respect to the events of ep72.
 
How long should have Umon take to equip the spy-satellite? I am not a technician, but I suppose that, with Daisuke’ help, he could have succeeded in around one month.
I have done this premises, in order to better evaluate the new personal priorities reassessment process Daisuke has to undertake, after getting the news of Planet Fleed coming back to life. As a matter of fact, in ep73 he seems to have started the process, but he seems still confused (so confirming the possible timeline I talked about).
At least, he seems not considering the idea to return to his native planet as his first priority: here his basic goal is to end the war as soon as possible. He is extremely worried for the possible desperate reaction of King Vega to the death of Rubina, and the perspective to return to his newborn planet and reprising his royal role there appears to be far away from his mind. I would say that he has put his personal life aside in this moment, and all his spirit is concentrated in avoiding the destruction of Earth.
  
After all, even without his wedding with Rubina, Planet Fleed could potentially be still a matter of a sort of diplomatic exchange, but Daisuke knows very well that King Vega is not available to any sort of agreement with him. This time, peace can be sadly reached only through an act of war, without alternatives. The only questionmark is related to the best strategic choice between waiting for vegan attack or acting in anticipation.
Once again, I am talking about Daisuke, because Hikaru’s involvement in this episode is strictly connected to him. The scene of their (potential) goodbye is really moving, and visual aspects are again helpful to try to understand what’s going on between them. Hikaru arrives at the grass near the farm, where Daisuke is reflecting about his decision to attack the Moon Base alone, without waiting for Cosmo Special being finished, and she is surprised to find him there, as he should have known that the moment of the scheduled reconnaissance flight has arrived.
 
We could suppose that he has switched off his radio-clock, otherwise Hikaru would have not needed to go by jeep in search of him (she is already dressed for driving the Marine Spacer, so it means that the Grendizer Team could not find him anywhere, even just before leaving). Daisuke is surprised too, as he didn’t realised that the time for starting the reconnaissance – so the moment of saying goodbye probably for good to Earth and maybe to life – was already approaching. He runs shortly with Hikaru to the jeep, but, suddenly, he asks her something unexpected:
Daisuke: Listen, Hikaru, let’s go back to the Centre riding horses.
She stops surprised.
Hikaru: Eh? Riding horses?
Daisuke repeats his proposal with a smile:
Daisuke: Yes, it’s such a long time we don’t do it.
 
Hikaru is delighted
Hikaru: All right.
They ride happily their horses for a while (see the smiles on their faces) and Hikaru turns to him, gladly:
Hikaru: You know, it was a good idea. I feel different now.
Daisuke’s reply is a total surprise for Grendizer audience:
Daisuke: Yes... and... do you know you are very much nicer this way?
Also Hikaru is astonished: despite their mutual love, their deep link and affection, their planned future together, never before he has told her such a compliment (he could have told her others, but not this one), so she stops her horse.
Hikaru: Eh? What did you say, Daisuke?
 
Daisuke tries to hold his horse, which is nervous, but, anyway, he looks at her smiling:
Daisuke: Well, I say you are beautiful as a horse rider, I like you more this way than with your fighting uniform. Throw it away when it won’t be necessary to fight anymore. I hope the day when you could be free and happy again will come soon.
 
Hikaru is amused for his speech, and she smiles, thinking probably to the fact that, despite all the issues of the war and those troubling his personal life, he still cares for her as a woman: he is still in love for her. Then, they continue the ride up to the Centre.
 
 
Well, I find this “goodbye scenes” as underestimated. Despite all the criticism I could do to this script from various perspectives, I find interesting the fact that Daisuke would have liked to go destroying the Moon Base without greeting anybody at the Centre, but, instead, he decides for that horse riding with Hikaru. He goes to the farm to see for the last time Danbei and Goro (with whom he has another wonderful speech about peace, a real “testament” for the anime),
  
but his original plan was to leave Earth in silence. He does not greet in a special way his sister: apart giving her the royal medal,
 
he does not say a word to Koji, he even goes out the hangar without Umon noticing him.
 
Only Hikaru deserved a “special treatment”, his real goodbye to Earth (riding a horse – his favourite occupation before Vega arrival) is done only with her and for her.
 
But Hikaru does not understand his plan, and this could seem strange, considering how much deeply she knows him. Actually, nobody understands Daisuke’s intentions, including Umon (without talking about Maria Grace, who should have asked herself why he gives her the royal medal, dammit). As a matter of fact, Koji is able to have that insight about Daisuke’s real aim, because he already knew the meaning of the medal, and he saw it at Maria Grace’s neck, otherwise he too would have not suspected anything.
 
 
Well, this is not a Daisuke character analysis, so I won’t bore you with my explanation of his psychology in ep73; anyway, for what Hikaru is concerned, she could not suspect anything about his intentions: he cooperated to build Cosmo Special, he has reassured her about their planned future together, otherwise she would not be so happy and relaxed during the riding (eheh, I cannot resist to a little TTOTC 1 reference, LOL  ), he did not allow himself any little reference to his goal. Without having a crystal ball, really for Hikaru would have been impossible to think to a possible one-way mission intention in Daisuke. A lovestory is a matter of trust, amongst the other thing: for sure Hikaru never broke this rule, it’s Daisuke who both in ep72 and 73 does not respect it with his silence. But Daisuke’ personality would be really an interesting topic to be analysed...
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1 TTOTC: TTOTC (The Trial of The Century) was a sort of role-playing game, in which a trial was performed on the characters. Gerdha had the role of Prosecution, Agnčs was the Defense Counsel, the Judge was Jerome, the Jury were Suzi and all the other members of the forum who wanted to comment on the various posts.
Edited by joe 7 - 24/11/2019, 22:32
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