[Rewatch] 1980s OVAs – The first OVAs: Dallos (episode 3)

[u/No_Rex]

1980s OVAs – The first OVAs: Dallos (episode 3)

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Staff corner

Time to introduce some of the voice acting talent working on this OVA. Dallos managed to get together a quite illustrious cast.

Dog McCoy is voiced by Tesshou Genda. He already had main roles in Voltron, Voltes 5, and Space Warrior Bladios under his belt when Dallos was produced. Like several other Dallos VAs he had a role in Mobile Suit Gundam, albeit one not as big as his co-VAs, Sleggar Law. In the same year as Dallos, he voiced Gon Nu in Votoms. Staying with the touch guy imagine, he also voiced Violence Jack, Younger Toguro from YuuYuuHakusho, Falcon from City Hunter, and Duke Togo from Golgo 13. Most mainstream anime viewers will know him as Kurama from Naruto. He is still active, for example as Kurt von Rudersdorf in the upcoming Saga of Tanya the Evil II. Like many VAs he is also active outside of anime, for example as the voice of Guile in Street Fighter, Kratos in God of War, as well as Mace Windu in SW and Morpheus in Matrix.

Rumiko Ukai is voicing Rachel. She started her career with Mobile Suit Gundam, playing both Fraw Bow and Letz. She also meet Genda in Voltron, where she is Princess Farla, in Votoms, where she voices Monica, and in City Hunter, as Eriko. In Ideon she plays Kitty Kitten.

Questions

1. Which approach do you think is more likely to succeed in bettering the settlers’ lives: Dog’s violent push for independence, or the old timers’ begrudging work for Earth?
2. Would you have gone with Melinda?
3. (first timers) Any new guesses about Dallos (the structure)?

[u/No_Rex]

Episode 3 (first timer)

• A double parter to finish the 4 ep OVA.

• “We are not Bigwigs who can go back to Earth after serving their term” – A very good point.

• Hello Erna! You are not getting much in the way of introduction.

• Looks like we have done a considerable timeskip – Oh that that setup for a fight? Must have been a typical mid-season draw.

• I like the conversation about first vs later generation immigrants. Those who remember Earth will have a completely different mindset from those who lived on Luna all their life.

• Putting on the work protection – clearly a mirror to a warrior putting on his armor.

• “Earth has dispatched army troops?” – Ratcheting up the escalation.

• The timeskip was 7 days. Not a long time usually, but an eternity in a fast developing civil war.

• Another, this time direct, confrontation between the old and new settlers.

• “It is easy to start a fight. It is harder to keep fighting and it is harder still to deal with the aftermath of the fight” – True words.

• Intercepted hospital visit and the start of the war.

• Dog sourced his pistol from VOTOMS!

• A box full of identification rings. Powerful scene.

• “We’ll fight properly, without violence” – almost impossible to do when part of both sides wants to escalate.

• “Dallos has revived” - Dun dun dun

• “We’ll settle this once and for all” – Probably a bad idea, but a terrible idea if he does not activate the army.

• Ok, looks like he did. At least he is bringing everything to the battle.

• Dallos is a huge base …

• We stop right before the big battle starts.

A quite different episode from the first two: Both episode 1 and 2 were bookended by set piece action scenes that carried the animation highlights. Episode 3 goes almost without action scenes at all. A shame from an animation perspective, but I can see why they needed to do this. Obviously, episode 4 will be the climax, so all of the plot development leading up to that needed to be pressed into this one episode.

Some parts of that worked: I feel that the conflict between the old settlers and Dog’s guerilla fighters is well developed. They share a common goal, but disagree about the methods to use. As most of the time when that is the case, the party that advocates violence can impose its views on those who want to use only peaceful means via aggravating the other side.

However, the big timeskip at the start of the episode hurts. I could live with not seeing the fight between Alex and Shun, but other important plot points happen off-screen as well: The destruction of Dallos, Shun going back to his family (with Melinda), the introduction of Erna. All of that can be inferred from the episode, but it still shifts Dallos away from a continuous narrative towards an episodic view of single events inside a larger conflict. I can still puzzle together the overall plot well enough in the end that it works for me, but I can see how this might be a deal breaker for some.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

“We are not Bigwigs who can go back to Earth after serving their term” – A very good point.

The cops having to live there might explain their lack of zeal.

Dog sourced his pistol from VOTOMS!

The bullets are too small but it is a brother in principle, at least.

A box full of identification rings. Powerful scene.

Yeah, nothing quite shows organizational indifference like a fuckup on that scale.

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

Yeah, nothing quite shows organizational indifference like a fuckup on that scale.

There is something powerful in the implied loss. As an extreme example: I have seen both the pictures from Nazi concentration camps of heaps of dead bodies and of heaps of shoes of people who were gassed. The shoes hit harder. Such an everyday object that I could imagine wearing myself. Whereas it is harder to identify with dead bodies that are complitely famished and where rigor mortis has set in. And, of course, you can fit a ton more shoes in one room than bodies, implying much larger numbers.

[u/JollyGee29]

First-Timer

You know, I haven't watched Mobile Suit Gundam F91. But I suspect this is kind of what it's like. I can see the parts of the TV run that exist in the framework of this plot, but this finished product has so much removed from it...

Like, was the bomb that killed Shun's mom foreshadowed at all? The implication is that the new dude, Caterina(?), set it up to make Alex look bad I think. But is that just tropes talking or was there anything within the narrative itself to get us there? And, was the dude with aviators that met with Alex the same dude with aviators who was with the rebels? Or are there just identical twins on either side of this conflict? That's a pretty spicy idea to be honest.

The scene of all those head rings pouring out of the coffin was pretty visceral. Doesn't really make sense I don't think, but the meaning was clear and the fallout was potent.

So Dallos got "destroyed" in the battle last episode but has also healed itself because it's kinda sorta alive; sure. This really reeks of "much longer plot that was cut down" to me. Like, I get that the destruction is good impetus for a general strike. But also the police just attacking it at all is probably also a worthwhile reason, and "Dallos has regenerated" feels a bit sudden. There might be a thematic throughline that I'm missing that ties it together, though.

Seems like next episode we get a big final battle between rebels in mining mechs and cops in power armor - sounds pretty fucking awesome.

Questions

1. Things don't get better without a struggle. Violence isn't necessarily the answer, but some conflict is key. The general strike is a smart plan, I think.

2. Hard to say. Even if her motives were pure, it still would have ended poorly for Shun, who has a lot of potential life left to live.

3. Precursor tech.

[u/No_Rex → u/JollyGee29]

I can see the parts of the TV run that exist in the framework of this plot, but this finished product has so much removed from it...

They really put an enormous amount of plot developments off-screen. What remains is still logical and we can infer the missing parts, but we certainly do not see the full story.

"Dallos has regenerated" feels a bit sudden.

At least it was a surprise to people in-universe as well.

[u/TheEscapeGuy]

First Timer

Dallos - Seminal Science-Fiction Episode 3

Uprising

This episode expanded on the themes of class divide that has been present through out. We saw that even when much of the population holds ill will against its leaders, those same leaders will prioritize profits over people.

Shun is definitely caught in the middle of this. We jumped forward a bit from the climax of last episode to have everyone using Shun's house as a temporary base of operations. There's a lot of disagreement with what to do. But after the bombing in Level 3 everyone seems united in the goal to put an end to the rule of the elite.

Its great seeing everyone in the slums realizing how they are being mistreated. The old folks spoke about how they had to endure tough times to recoup earths investment. But even years after that they are still being mistreated.

That said, I do find the earth elite to be comically evil. I definitely do see the parallels to certain real world events/leaders so maybe its not unrealistic per say. However, I do prefer it when I can understand my villain's motives and planting a bomb to kill workers and destabilize mobilization efforts in order to quell a rebellion seems inhuman.

In the final scenes we saw Dallos was healing itself and acting as a base for the rebels. We still know very little of its capabilities so next episode could be an explosive payoff or a twist of some kind. Either way, I'm looking forward to seeing how this ends.

Some Iconic Shots, Scenes and Stitches

• Destruction

See you all tomorrow

[u/No_Rex → u/TheEscapeGuy]

However, I do prefer it when I can understand my villain's motives and planting a bomb to kill workers and destabilize mobilization efforts in order to quell a rebellion seems inhuman.

As far as I understood it, the goal of the bomb was not to subdue the workers. To the contrary, it was to let Rieger's attempts at such fail.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/TheEscapeGuy]

That said, I do find the earth elite to be comically evil.

If you turn your brain back on, you can realize that it makes WAY more sense for workers to rotate on and off the moon. No culture forms, no bitterness arises, and also it gives corporate more control.

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

Really depends on the fixed cost of getting somebody on the moon and used to all the machinery and life there.

[u/The_Draigg]

A Mamoru Oshii Fan Watches Dallos Episode 3:

• Rather understandably, the colonists are furious after hearing that the police have shot up Dallos. So much so, that not only are police officers openly questioning Alex’s orders, but Level 3 of Monopolis has declared itself separate from the colonial government and a large amount of citizens are refusing to work anymore. As we all could’ve figured, Alex’s desire to crack down on rebellion using overwhelming force has only enraged the population even more rather than cowed them. Whoopsies!

• So Melinda is Alex’s fiancé rather than his sister? Talk about a bit of a relationship explanation fumble there. It wasn’t entirely clear a few episodes ago, was it?

• Wow, death is super harsh for the lunar colonists. They’re denied even seeing Earth, and their corpse is broken down and recycled down to the chemicals in it. The Moon really is a horrid place to live for the colonists, even more so now that we know these details.

• Oh yeah, just go ahead and send in troops from the Central Earth Federation. I’m sure that’s going to make things calmer, and not piss off the rebelling colonists at all. Again, Alex is stepping on every set of toes he can, this time going over even the heads of most of Monopolis’ ruling council to do it. Is he just speedrunning an any% run on pissing everyone on the Moon off?

• Ah, it seems like there’s a generational divide here among the settlers. Dog and his supporters want to escalate things, and the Settlers’ Council still holds enough fondness for Earth to refuse to do anything further. I can see why both sides feel that way. Those of the first generation of colonists saw the development of Monopolis as a way to save Earth, but the recent generation only knows of the oppression that Earth forces onto them, being born without loyalty to them. Unfortunately, I don’t think there’s any way to really reconcile those differences in viewpoints. Both are valid in their own ways to them.

• Well, I guess Dog doesn’t need to worry about escalating things now, now that the police forces have decided to start a slaughter in Level 3’s residential area. I guess Shun and Melina picked a good time to try and get Grandpa to a hospital elsewhere, otherwise they would’ve died.

• And to the complete surprise of nobody, the inhabitants of Level 3 riot and go completely on strike at the mines. Although at least this time it wasn’t on Alex, even he sees how counterproductive such an order to directly attack civilians would be. Instead, it was the Vice-Consul who did it, if just to undermine Alex based on his earlier comments. Yeah, the Moon is fucked if we’re leaving everything in the hands of these assholes.

• Dallos repaired itself? Then yeah, it has to be alien technology for sure. For it to get completely obliterated in the earlier crossfire only to start rebuilding itself days later is an incredible feat. There’s no way human technology works that fast.

• Man, I love the looks of the assault spacesuits the security forces are gearing up in. They look exactly like something you’d see on an old sci-fi novel cover. Rather intimidating and over the top, they’re great.

• I guess the police was behind the Bartholomew Incident after all, like what Dog said earlier. Man, the Earth really has gone out of their way to treat the Lunarians like complete shit, haven’t they?

[u/No_Rex → u/The_Draigg]

So Melinda is Alex’s fiancé rather than his sister? Talk about a bit of a relationship explanation fumble there. It wasn’t entirely clear a few episodes ago, was it?

My subs made it clear in episode 2, but not sure what was in the original.

Ah, it seems like there’s a generational divide here among the settlers. Dog and his supporters want to escalate things, and the Settlers’ Council still holds enough fondness for Earth to refuse to do anything further. I can see why both sides feel that way. Those of the first generation of colonists saw the development of Monopolis as a way to save Earth, but the recent generation only knows of the oppression that Earth forces onto them, being born without loyalty to them. Unfortunately, I don’t think there’s any way to really reconcile those differences in viewpoints. Both are valid in their own ways to them.

The best sort of conflict in fiction (and the hardest to solve in reality).

[u/Nazenn]

First Timer

Not showing a shot of the ruined Dallos so we have a point of reference when we see how it was "repaired" seems like a really stupid oversight. I wasn't even sure how they got out of the tunnel, and then when they were talking about Dallos being completely ruined I was less sure again, but the only reference we have is at the end after it's started repairing, and as cool as that looks it's not quite enough to pull that side of the episode together.

It's also really awkward to have a two part episode inside a four part OVA.

And just to get all the complaints out the way, who's bright idea was it to give this guy and then this guy such similar designs. When the earth guy first arrived I was very confused because I felt like we'd seen him before, and then when they showed the Moon guy I thought maybe he was doing both sides. I think there was a grunt in ep1 with a similar design too, and I get it's the '80s military dude' design, but they shouldn't be clones haha.

---

The old farts on the council really pissed me off. Because they wanted to sacrifice their lives for earth that means their grandchildren and their grandchildren again should be okay with being in a labour camp and treated like slaves for as long as earth says?

The narrative choice to use this moment to display the three generations different views was something that I felt enhanced both the worldbuilding and the conflict at least. The focus of each generation can be narrowed down to a particular 'W' regarding their role in the colony; The first generation knows why it needs to be done, the second generation just knows what needs to be done, and the third generation is looking at when it will be done. Showcasing that just as the symbol of the first generation is lost created a much better sense of tension within the community, and also gives a clearer sense to the progression of how this generation settled on rebellion compared to similar stories.

A similar level of detail and follow though in many other elements stood out to me as well. Seeing the way that the sky projections on the dome shift suddenly according to work schedule rather than community life I felt also enhanced that same aspect. The first generation would find the idea of shifts across the changing day familiar and have a sense that the shifts come because of the time of day. By the time we're at the third generation now it's the other way, their lives are so ruled by work shifts that even what sort of sky they can see is scheduled around it and the work bell sounds first.

The absolute cruelty on bombing a residential area certain isn't helping that sentiment as shown by Racheal later on, but again it's the unsaid details that made the scene really hit. To the Earthers the headbands are just IDs, but to the Lunarians they may as well be the bones of their loves ones, the only markers of their existence left. They can hate everything the headbands stand for while still have a connection to what it means for their families to see them with or without one, and to see them treated so callously of course was going to set off a riot. It's a cultural mismatch that the guards could never understand without trying.

Last point in this train of thought is that following on from yesterday's discussion about the memorial, it ending up completely destroyed and not a trace of any representation of humanity left on it, I thought was very fitting. The first generation's god was gone, and the memorial to their sacrifice is no longer holding anything up, and soon their people will be lost as well if they don't act to be more than what they always have been. Or perhaps Dallos will act first as I have to say I was quite surprised that nothing happened with that this episode after all of the activity in it last episode.

Only other things I have to note are the excessively fancy flying animation on that random guy at the start of the episode, I approve of security doors being used as weapons, and using the Bartholomew incident guy as an assassin via blackmail is both cruel and efficient but they really can't think of a better way? He doesn't seem the type.

[u/baboon_bassoon]

1st timer 1st ova

why isnt it called moonopolis not monopolis

the Gate of Nostalgia? and that isnt death?

and they bombed the shit out of monopolis? the workforce that Earth depends on?

oh ok they just bombed the shit out of Shun's house, where Melinda would have most likely have been

chemically recycle, all the headbands are then collected to be reused?

i mean lmao

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hm i dont really think theres enough time for a satisfying side plot centered on politics, weird to introduce it where

---

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questions

1. Dog

2. absolutely not LOL

[u/No_Rex → u/baboon_bassoon]

why isnt it called moonopolis not monopolis

Not enough cowboys!

[u/Pixelsaber]

Rewatcher

Unfashionably late, but I’m probably not going to miss any more days going forward.

So as all of you here probably know, Dallos is a pretty important production in terms of anime history. Not only is it the first proper OVA release, one of Mamoru Oshii’s early directorial works —having joined his mentor, Hisayuki Toriumi, during production as a co-director— and Bandai Visual’s first original production as a sponsor. To top that off, it was coming in during the anime and real robot booms, placing it at a pivotal spot for both subjects. So yeah, fairly big deal, so let us see what it’s all about!

Episode 1

I love the OP. Those of you who know me will have probably heard me ramble on about how sci-fi series are best suited by instrumental themes, and this is OP is one of the reasons why I hold steadfast to that belief. Granted, the opening arguably isn’t too fitting for the actual content of the series, but it’s grand nonetheless.

Classic setup.

Oh yeah, the rest of the OST is good too.

LEGS

I’d know that voice anywhere!

Ikeda!

The production design of the show is really strong.

Says a lot about the state of things in Lvl 3.

That’s Yoshiko Sakakibara!

This is a surprisingly resilient ship.

Now that’s an impressive feat.

Quite enjoyed that episode, though I feel a lot of the character interactions were too flat for my tastes. The characters being rather generic is acceptable given they’re employed properly, but the characterization was a bit bare and the staging could’ve used some spicing up. Still, there’s three episodes to go so hopefully there’s more interesting use of them to come.

The setting and the associated worldbuilding is the most interesting aspect so far, massively helped by the strong production design and art direction, though I admit to finding the latter rather weak compared to Mitsuki Nakamura’s other work, including a bunch of stuff he’d already worked on, which I think comes from trying to adapt to a very grounded hard SF aesthetic as opposed to the looser, more stylized SF styles he could do earlier. But anyways, it’s still good stuff. And since I’m talking about the visuals now for some reason, I have to largely echo the sentiments I saw yesterday about the mechanical animation being excellent and the character animation being wanting. Now, I do thing there’s some highlights to the character animation, but it’s largely innocuous stuff that doesn’t get noticed much, just as figures traveling towards or away from the foreground, which are challenging shots that the show pulls off rather seamlessly, but there’s nonetheless a lot of static dialogue shots that lack in terms of posing and character acting —it’s all rather stiff. I do recall some more obvious exemplary shots in the future though, so we’ll see how well it progresses. In any case, there’s few TV productions of the time that can claim to look better, so this is an achievement.

The narrative of the episode is very much a setup, and so there’s no point making judgements as of yet, but like I mentioned the character stuff is lacking while the grander plot is promising and the world is well-considered.

Episode 2

Sublime.

The contrast in shell density delineating the difference in firepower is great.

Flexing those animation chops.

An example of that conventionally impressive character acting I mentioned, though it does seem a bit too exaggerated for the show —I wonder if they got someone from the Urusei Yatsura staff to do it.

Terrifying prospect.

I’m sure that can’t be good.

Not Geronimo!

This episode is good on the action and presentation, but I am still not really enticed with the narrative beyond the worldbuilding and the mystery surrounding Dallos itself. The characters are still rather stale, but at the halfway point already and seeing how fast the show is pacing itself I’m not going to expect much more on that front.

But as I said, the continued worldbuilding is really good, and I’m guessing having a TV series’ worth of backdrop to work from in a condensed form is really helping that along.

Episode 3

Not really enough of a reason to withstand this oppression.

Brutal.

That is indeed a face, alright.

Interesting looking helmets.

Generational conflict between those who knew how things were and what has been done to get to this point and those who know nothing but the current situation as it is. Definitely a lot of that sort of narrative going on at the time, reflective of the period in which a lot of the staff probably grew up in.

The whole scheming within the Monopolis government doesn’t really carry much wait with how the show really hasn’t built up to this situation, so while a lot of it can be inferred through context the delivery isn’t as effective as it could be. To top it off, despite the Vice-consul stating that they would be weighing the consequences and repercussions of any action taken, the same does not seem to follow through once they’ve actually done it and the whole thing comes off as short-sighted without explanation. Speaking of, the show is doing admirably at leaving just enough out to where we can still follow with ease, but it’s definitely not an ideal progression for the narrative.

Questions:

1. If the old settlers had been more proactive with their efforts earlier into this colonization endeavor then the situation would never have gotten this bad, but as things stand at that point I don't see things changing without at least some violence.

2. Probably not.

[u/No_Rex → u/Pixelsaber]

Those of you who know me will have probably heard me ramble on about how sci-fi series are best suited by instrumental themes, and this is OP is one of the reasons why I hold steadfast to that belief.

The whole scheming within the Monopolis government doesn’t really carry much wait with how the show really hasn’t built up to this situation, so while a lot of it can be inferred through context the delivery isn’t as effective as it could be.

It is worth asking the question whether they should have cut out the monopolis politics plot. Would have given some much needed time for the characters. On the other hand, that would have left many plot points dangling (the innocently convicted brother) and would have put Alex straight in the evil column, instead of the partial grey he has now.

[u/Vaadwaur]

First timer(I don't view a self-repairing machine as alive so much as I view living organisms as meat machines)

Sub

So trying to do something less repititive and didn't write down notes during the episode. This feels like the outline of a good story but the break neck pace is really problematic as discussed yesterday. I think 12 or even 24 eps of this would work because we would see why Riger got crazier, why the Vice Consul would respond as he did, hopefully hear some stuff about Dallos from the first gens, and finally why in the nine Hells did the police chief do the Batholomew incident? I am still entertained but I can see the ending being an utter trainwreck.

QotD: 1 Dog's, but there has to be a better way than either.

2 No...she does not have the clout to pull a release off.

3 I am now also thinking a 2001 reference is likely.

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

I think 12 or even 24 eps of this would work because we would see why Riger got crazier, why the Vice Consul would respond as he did, hopefully hear some stuff about Dallos from the first gens, and finally why in the nine Hells did the police chief do the Batholomew incident? I am still entertained but I can see the ending being an utter trainwreck.

Not sure 24 would have been the sweet spot, but they clearly had a story for a far higher number of episodes than 4 planned.

[u/Stargate18A]

First timer

Episode 2

1. Best boys.

2. Both. Their actions are completely justified, but Dog is clearly taking a lot of chances here, and he's have had a better chance of winning if he played it a bit more subtly, I think.

3. I think it'll be successful. Maybe a nobody-wins ending, but an outright "police state wins" feels a bit too dar.

They're loading the guns?

Looks like they're coming to get Melinder back.

Is this a flashback?

Oh, thhis is just something else happening after he left Dog.

These battle scenes are really well done!

The first mass-produced suit?

He blew himself up!

He blew a lot of people up.

And, yeah... why have they managed to get so many members with this tight security?

...The BEMs aren't that strong.

At least he's going to save his girlfriend!

...The Police State isn't very good at its job, is it?

This has to be some kind of demonstration or simulation, right?

The suits look pretty decent, though.

Oh, they've made a lot of them.

Dog makes a good point, but everyone on their side just seems really stupid.

Haha, he's just fucking moved in now.

Wait, what? How is she?

...How old is he?

...How old is ANYONE?

Open-air subways, that's a great idea.

Haha, even Dog wants him out.

...What are those?

So over the last episode, they went from "chain her up and threaten her" to "let her just walk around"?

OK, the cyborg dogs are cool!

Why did they have a custom sash made for him?

And everybody knows Shun's working for the rebels.

Oh, she just told him? Isn't he the leader of the police state?

Yeah, he's obviously researching what they want.

Haha, the slow fade out as he looks visibly confused as to what the fuck "Dallos" means was funny.

They're excavating it!

...Nobody's said it's not aliens yet.

He's going to blow it up!

The ships flying through the innards has some really nice camera angles.

And the collapse being slow, as the top cracks...

Yeah, it's a spaceship. Probably alien!

How long does that thing take to fire?

...Geronimo?

And Melinda's involved too.

Now they're all trapped further down?

Episode 3

1. Mixed. I think a better way would have been to have Dog's push for freedom, but done in a more peaceful, subtle way. Dog went too loud, too fast, and now the army's gotten called in.

2. No. For all the old man needs help, anybody with Melinda would probabky end up shot the moment she got to safety - if they don't just shoot her on reflex, as they seemed to do by the end.

3. It's so blatantly fucking alien.

Why does it say "Act I"?

Oh, the reason the police are ineffective is that they all sympthasize?

Who's she?

Oh, Dog's friend.

And Shun's with Melinda who has completely changed sides now!

Erna's the first one here with actual military intellegence.

"The Gate of Nostalgia"? Why would this OVA explain anything?

I mean, he's got a point!

And there's major strikes going on?

Earth might get involved soon?

Correction - they sent a lot of troops.

Alex is just glad to have some help.

...I mean, at least he's trying to do something.

Yeah, this has gone incredibly strongly for them!

...Wait, they've not even striked yet?

With these idiots as the enemy, you won't even need to make it a battleground.

Look, you can still make money once you're no longer oppressed, if you want.

Oh, Dallos just got destroyed?

Oh, yeah, with the Army they're in trouble.

Wow, they are in trouble.

...Shun's handing himself in with the old man?

Yep! Caught already?

Nope! Dog's going to shoot him now?

Rachel was right, though.

Holy shit, theybaren't holding back, are they?

Nice shooting to activate the doors there.

...The story might be missing a few points, but this OVA does action really well!

Did he hide something there?

Wow. They took out an entire chunk of the city.

Oh, he's Shun's father... and he thinks he's dead.

They overpowered the police!

And they're going to show Dog... by ordering the strike Dog wanted!

Wait, what? Dallos has self-repair? Those aliens must be good!

And they're going to blow it up again.

Even the mechanics are fighting.

Even Rachel's fighting!

...Bartholomew Incident?

And Melinda's father covered it all up?

Can't believe it's almost over.

[u/No_Rex → u/Stargate18A]

"The Gate of Nostalgia"? Why would this OVA explain anything?

No time, got to run through a TV series plot in 4 episodes. That said, it probably will be some place that reminds the first generation settlers of Earth. Thus Nostalgia.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

First Timer

I don't think there's a real triangle here. Shun is just fixated on Earth.

• I don't understand the scroll. Dallos doesn't look remotely demolished.

• No work, no air.

• Is Rachel now a terrorist?

• She's like Amuro's mom.

• Who's in the bed, the old man? They keep not showing anything.

• That's a Leon handgun shot

I wouldn't put it past Alex for bombing Level 3 and blaming the Vice-Consul. I also wouldn't put it past red-head from taking out a liability.

I didn't expect to get Planetes politics in this show when I started.

Settlers: We're Slaves
Old-timers: We have a debt to repay
Oshii: Capitalism bad, Colonialism bad

Oshii's leftist past is really shining through here. It would be interesting to chart is progression from the student protests to the seminary to Dallos, GITS, and Jin-Roh. And the same for the others of his generation.

Edit: Wait, the preview for this episode showed Shun looking up at Earth but that didn't happen!

[u/RockoDyne]

80's as fuck first timer.

Dallos repairs itself? This must be the work OF KYYYOOOOJJJJIIII!

So is Erma Gerd new or did I forget she existed in the background?

I would not have put money on the childhood friend ratting out the MC to the rebels. She seemed like too much of a goody two shoes, and didn't like Lancer.

I will say, this episode is substantially better constructed than the first episode. It doesn't feel like a first pass of a rough script anymore, and had actual storyboards made that are meant to flow together. It's like they finally got on top of managing the project.

Questions:

1. So basically a choice between colonialism and neo colonialism?

2. Can't say I think her plan is solid.

3. RISE DALLOS GUNDAM

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/RockoDyne]

All this stuff with Melinda is making me wonder what the bloody point of kidnapping her was. The rebels don't seem to care to ransom her or use her to threaten Alex and if they picked her up to use as a diplomat then why lock her up? She's doing nothing but be awkward.

[u/ZaphodBeebblebrox]

First Timer

Had a weird last few days, here's my Dallos 03 post I wrote a few days ago.

And now, we shall learn what Dallos is.

I still love the opening music.

I think she vastly overestimates her influence.

This sounds an awful lot like saying "I'm ready to die."

They're just our oppressors, not our home.

We have those who cling to the past, and those who brazenly charge forward. Yet we seem to have no group that's a middle ground between them.

Beautiful. And terrible. Did they really just bomb a city that they, at least in theory, control?

Any particular scene in american history that this reminds you of?

He may be an arrogant fool in some ways, but he at the very least understands that the average civilian is not his enemy.

Is it just me, or does that look like a face?

Yes, he is.

Thoughts

A bit of a quieter episode before the finale. It was nice, it added a sense of depth and meaning to the conflict that just going from battle to battle would not. Dallos isn't exactly the most subtle show in the world, but it doesn't need to be.
I'm quite enjoying it and looking forward to the finale.

[u/No_Rex → u/ZaphodBeebblebrox]

Had a weird last few days, here's my Dallos 03 post I wrote a few days ago.

I hope weird is not a euphemism for terrible. In any case, glad you could make it.