Captain Harlock (1978) 1.36

The Eve of the Showdown

The Arcadia heads towards Mars where the advance force of the Mazone lies in wait. The main fleet of the Mazone is still outside the solar system. 

Doctor Zero looks after the Arcadia's new passenger, Shizuka Namino. He doesn't know it but she has earrings that are recording everything she sees. the information is sent back to Queen Lafresia. Everyone aboard the Arcadia seems to accept Shizuka without question except for Miime, who suspects that it is a mistake for Doctor Zero to give her a tour of the entire ship.

One of the commanders of the Mazone advance force is ready to order an attack on the Arcadia when they receive orders from Commander Cleo to stand down and retreat. Commander Cleo is just relaying the order from Queen Lafresia.

Namino receives orders from Queen Lafresia to do what she can to find out more about Captain Harlock. She tries to seduce him by making it look like she passed out in the shower. He comes in to help her. She kisses him. He picks her up in his arms, covered in his cape, and takes her through the corridors of the Arcadia and takes her to Doctor Zero.

Namino comes to see him in his room later. He notices her earrings. She asks him about why he is at war with the Mazone. He responds that he has no ideology. He is just looking for him final resting place and the Mazone are in his way. He says that Queen Lafresia is a fool, laughs, and then heads to the bridge.

Queen Lafresia heard what he said and orders the advance force to attack the Arcadia. The Arcadia is damaged. Captain Harlock finds evidence that someone sabotaged the ship. He uses the Arcadia like a battering ran. The command ship of the advance force is destroyed and the rest of the advance force is left in a state of disarray.

Queen Lafresia understands now that the main computer aboard the Arcadia is the ship's secret weapon. It is alive. She understands now what needs to be done in order to defeat the Arcadia.

Thoughts

I was a little surprised and possibly disappointed by how easily the Arcadia dealt with the advance force of the Mazone. They looked very impressive but once the Arcadia charged them and started to destroy some of their ships the bulk of the Mazone advance force turned tail and ran. 

This feels like a pretty important episode. It did not feel predictable to me. It twisted this way and that. It was no masterpiece by today's standards but I thought it was pretty good. I was a little surprised by the shower scene which included a brief bit of naked Shizuka. It also feels a bit incomplete. Shizuka is still free to sabotage the Arcadia again.