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As many, I grew up in the early-90s watching re-runs of Robotech, which eventually led me to now the original source of it's first generation: Super Dimension Fortress Macross. I watched (on pirated VHSs, of course) Macross Plus, II, DYRL and Flashback 2012, but I never got into myself to watch Macross 7. Why? Easy. I found it too cheesy for my liking, too "Super Robot". The first image I had from 7 was the robotic humanoid face of Basara's Valkyrie after transforming which inspired me to NOT watch this series until this day, twenty years later.

And what can I say about Macross 7? Well, ... it's a solid... 7. It's enjoyable if silly. The characters can be funny, even if they're also very flat. And the story is...well, passable. Honestly, don't watch Macross 7 waiting for something as serious as the original Macross or Macross Plus; or even as interesting as Frontier. Macross 7 is to the Macross franchise what ZZ was to Gundam: a slow-starting, funny mess you can enjoy if you shot down your expectations.

And honestly, I don't regret watching it, even if I'm sure I'm not watching it again in the future. It's a 'good' series, but not memorable. The character desings are passable: Basara is the shonen archetype, while Mylene is your typical Japanese, tsundere, eye-candy, anime-girl. The mecha? Not that passable. The enemies? Laughable. But the series can be enjoyed nonetheless. Why?

Because, Oh, My God, this series must have the BEST soundtrack in the whole franchise. It's not a secrete Fire Bomber's rock songs are good, but I never expected falling in love with this band after watching this series. Since the moment I started watching the first episode I haven't stopped listening to its soundtrack at home, in the car, at my job or even by humming it to myself. The soundtrack alone made this series worth watching. Sorry Minmay, Sheryl and even you, my beloved Sharon Apple, but nothing surpasses some good 90s JRock (by the way, as I wrote this I'm yet to watch Macross Delta, but I don't think it has a better soundtrack, especially because I'm not a fan of the Japanese Idol culture).

So, in the end, do I recommend this series? Yes... and no. Yes if you have the patience to watch a very slow-starting series which will give you some memorable moments. And No if you want to watch an outstanding mecha anime based on Macross. If you are in latter, go watch something else from this franchise. Though, I don't know, maybe 7 will surprise you.

Fire!