Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Captain Harlock (1978) 1.03

A Woman Who Burns Like Paper

Almost no one pays any attention to the giant black sphere that crash landed on Earth. Most people are too wrapped up in their own lives to pay it any attention. There are just four people who suspect that it might be dangerous: Dr. Daiba, his son Tadashi, Professor Kusko, and Captain Harlock. Tadashi spots someone spying on his father's lab while he and his father are analyzing the great sphere. He tries chasing them but they get away. Dr. Daiba tries talking the Prime Minister into doing something about the giant black sphere but the PM lacks the desire to do anything.

Dr. Daiba tries taking his findings to the Central Researh Division but a tall lady with green hair comes out of the shadows and attacks him, before he can talk to anyone. She came to Earth in the black sphere. She has orders to kill anyone who suspects that the giant black sphere might be dangerous. The green haired lady shoots Dr. Daiba with a gun. Tadashi comes running after his father but he arrives too late. His father is already dead. The green-haired lady attacks him but Captain Harlock shows up and shoots her. She immediately catches fire and quickly burns until she is nothing but ash.

Captain Harlock and Tadashi examine the findings his father brought with him. They show that the black sphere came from a very distant and mysterious region of outer space. Captain Harlock tells Tadashi to meet him at the airport the next day. Tadashi is greeted at the airport by Kei Yuki, Captain Harlock's first officer. She shows him around the Arcadia and introduces him to other members of the crew including Yattaran, Miime, and Aunt Masu. They head for the bridge where they learn that the Mazone are getting ready to attack Earth.

Tadashi learns that the woman who killed his father was Mazone and that the Mazone are aliens who only look like human women. The forces of Captain Harlock are able to repel the invaders. Captain Harlock encourages Tadashi to stay aboard the Arcadia and join them in their fight to defend the Earth from the forces of the Mazone.

Thoughts

The opening theme is played during the space battle with the Mazone. The translation of the words of the song are shown in the subtitles, which is not the case during the opening credits. 

Things are starting to come together and coalesce. This wasn't Tadashi's first appearance but it was his most significant one. It was a pretty important episode because it basically introduces the Mazone, who have been defeated for now but who will be back.

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