Episode Nine: Miracle Operation: Kiss?

Basic Plot
Now that the Nadesico is part of the military, they must do whatever is asked of them, even if they are rather idiotic orders.  Their orders are to go to the Artic Circle to retrieve an ambassador stuck in a blizzard as quietly as possible, but, considering the love-love moods three of them have been in lately, things may not turn out the way they want them to...

Loony Scenes
-Everyone worrying about Akito's safety, to which Munetake replies, "I hope the ambassador's alright."
-Finding out the ambassador was a scientific guinea pig with a lot of expensive stuff on it.
-Akito's dream about Yurika's "cheer up charm".
-Akito, Megumi, and Yurika getting way too into their cosplay roles in the VR room.
-Hikaru and Izumi encouraging Ryoko to try to nab Akito while Megumi and Yurika are upset with him.
-When the emergency lights when on, Akito asks, innocently, "Oh, did they find us?"

Scenes to Remember
-It seems to little triangle of love is having a few troubles.  Akito, during the briefing, tried to catch Yurika's eye, but she blushed away.  Megumi tries to seduce Akito in the VR room, but he chickens out, as she unhappily pointed out.  Yurika, because of her worrying about what Akito and Mag were doing, accidentally used the Gravity Blast, giving their location.  Akito tries to concole Yurika with her own "cheer up charm" in the VR room after her mistake, but she refuses, saying that he should kiss her when he loved her.  Finally, although Megumi rushed up to greet him when he returned from the mission, he politely left her for a moment, so that he report to the Captain first.  Megumi was rather pissed at that.
-Erina is being rather pushy towards the rest of the crew.  Like Jun commented to Prospector in whispers, "She's really bossy despite being a helmsman."  She especially yells at Yurika a lot.  Very strict about the rules, isn't she?
-Munetake seems a pit loonier and not as evil as he did in the beginning of the series, but do not be fooled.  He is still being underhanded and crafty.  He lied to the crew so that they would be willing to risk their lives for a guinea pig and some high tech gadgets.  Most people in their right minds would not go after his "ambassador" if they knew what he meant.
-It's nice to see (most of) the crew worry about Akito's safety.  He is an idiot, you know, and one that tends to bring a lot of trouble to himself, thus making others worry about his silly ass.  I guess that's one of the perks of being the hero.
-Ooh, Ruri was sticking up for the captain after that little gravity blast incident.  Could the cold little girl feel sorry for the captain?  Maybe it's because Erina was being too harsh, or maybe because she really does feel guilty for leaving her post?

Episode Ten: Femininity is Scary

Basic Plot
The Nadesico is sent out on another silly mission.  This time, they must deal with a Tulip that landed on a remote tropical island and destroy it.  Unfortunately, the love-love moods going around last time are still in the air and a whacked-out girl on the island isn't going to help the assignment or the love-birds in any way...

Loony Scenes
-How about loony people- Aqua Crimson and her obsession with becoming a tragic heroine?
-The constant food battles for Akito's heart.
-The fact that none of the combatants can cook.
-The Beach!  Yay!
-Burying Munetake in the sand.
-Seiya the sea-side ramen chef!

Scenes to Remember
-Everyone, please join me in greeting Ryoko to the chase for Akito's heart!  Sure, we all knew she liked him from the way she just loves to wail his name, but did she really attempt to do something about her feelings until now?  No.  This episode is the start of her chase.  Good luck, Ryoko-kun.

Episode Eleven: Mediocre Ending

Basic Plot
On yet another solo mission for the ship, the Nadesico and its crew must take out "Nanafusi", which is, pretty much, a giant rail gun.  After finding that out the hard way, the pilots are sent out on a ground attack.  Of course, Akito, Meg and Yurika are still affected by those love-love moods, so Akito better get back to the ship in good condition.

Loony Scenes
-Akito trying to deal with two lovesick girls on hold while How Mei and Ryoko try to get his attention.
-The marching song (here in English).
-The (in my opinion) cosplaying bridge, with Seiya's help of course.
-Nagare asking Akito out.
-Seiya and his men wishing Akito good luck.

Scenes to Remember
-Nagare once again critizies Akito for his love of anime.  His jealousy is obviously showing.  Akito has both Megumi and Yurika following him around like dogs, and now Ryoko showed her true colors too.  Good thing they reconcile after the big battle against the Nanafusi, but what was that about a new fanzine, Hikaru?  It's not that kind of reconciliation!

Basic Plot
Finally, after the longest time doing all sorts of silly, confusing, and dangerous solo missions, the Nadesico finally joins the Earth Forces in battle.  Unfortunately, it went rather badly.  Omoikane, the ship's computer, somehow had established that both the Jovian Lizards' unmanned weapons and the Earth Forces are the enemy and, through it's own weapons and the weapons on the Aestivalises (god, I think that's the plural), attack both sides.  Because of this, Negral has allowed the Earth Forces to wipe out all the memory of Omoikane and replace it with Earth Force-friendly software.  Ruri, fearing that not only will Omoikane's vital information on the Jovian Lizards (which was learned from traveling to Mars), but also the very essence of the computer who she considers to be a friend will be lost, she asks Akito, Seiya, and Yurika to help stop the erasing program and save Omoikane.

Loony Scenes
-The pilots counting up all their kills and direct hits, while realizing in embarassment that they were mostly EF personnel and supplies.
-Jun's decision to fight and the sad result.
-Seiya's room and all it holds, like, a Mac, a whole bunch of modeling kits, and a very unappealing stench.
-Yurika looking over a little doll of herself in the bunny suit.
-Akito the SD Aestivalis with a SD Ruri-chan riding on his shoulder.
-Akito doing the Genkigander thing against Genkigander, costume and all.
-Omoikane's self is represented by a nadeshiko?

Scenes to Remember
-After breaking through the EF lines when it tried to escape the Earth's atmosphere and head to Mars, the Omoikane learned that the Earth Forces were an enemy.  (In Gundam Wing, one of the five pilots, Heero, stated that your enemy is the one trying to take your life.  The one that's trying to kill you is your enemy, and that, no matter the situation, or how the war has evolved, your enemy will always be the person trying to kill you.)  Both the Jovian Lizards and the Earth Forces have tried to destroy the Nadesico.  Because of this, Omoikane have designated them both as the enemy, and, without orders and despite Ruri's pleading to stop, the computer attacked both sides.  Amazingly, the Nadesico itself was undamaged and the battle ended early due to confusion.
-This is the second episode in the series that had focused on Ruri in particular.  The recap, the first part of the Ruri-Ruri Saga was Ruri-chan's Logbook.  The next one will be her back story episode, The Sound of Water is the Sound of Me.
-Speaking of Ruri (and who doesn't), is she developing feeling for Akito?  She obviously believed that his devotiong to Genkigander III will save the day.  She was also more than grateful for his help.  There goes another girl blushing after Akito's heart.
-Akito's devotion to Genkigander III was indeed the key to saving Omoikane.  In order to defend itself, Omoikane created a defender of justice to protect it.  Think for a second.  Who do you know is a "defender of justice"?  Not Gai.  F'king Genkigander.  As Ruri put it, even though Akito didn't know it, Omoikane was watching Genkigander with him all this time and designated it a defender of justice and the innocent.  That was why Akito had to fight Genkigander, but even though they both saw the show and knew all the moves shown, Akito's fandom saved him.  Recalling just an idea illustrated in a Genkigander artbook, he transformed into Dragon Gander and defeated the ship with more powerful attacks.
-The Nadesico is physically based on Star Trek.  The uniforms are based on the "dark bottom" designs in Star Trek: The Next Generation.  Seiya's room has Star Trek models inside.  Coincidence?

More to come....