Since it’s a bank holiday weekend, there are two inescapable facts. One: it’s raining. Two: I have an extra day when I’m not at work. Since I’ve not written much on this blog lately I might as well say something about the main thing that’s kept my interest in recent weeks…namely Macross 7.

It’s the last part of the franchise I’ve watched but as clunky and cheap-looking as Macross 7 is, it’s a hell of a lot of fun. Basara Nekki is an interesting hero, Mylene Jenius is a worthy female lead and I’m generally having a blast with the music of Fire Bomber and working through the intimidating forty-nine instalments. But for now, fourteen episodes in, I ought to stop for a moment to mention two important details in its appeal: the coolest anime parents ever.

Looking at the likes of Mikhail Blanc who followed, and remembering his illustrious superior officer Roy Foker, Max Jenius is the typical Valkyrie hero and, as the commander of the Macross 7 fleet, commands one heck of a lot of respect. It was a clever move to retain an original character in the timeline in that it gives a sense of continuity, but it feels as though Max is The Daddy…not just to the first ever human/Zentradi family, but he also looks after the whole fleet. Which is very cool indeed.

As much as I admire Max as one of the great Macross characters, his wife manages to outshine him during the course of this series; so far, anyway. Milia Fallyna was the only one who could match Max’s skills in battle, and in the end I guess their elite status meant that they were the perfect match in peacetime on a personal level as well. Appropriately enough she herself has a similar role as that of mayor of City 7: a maternal figure who ensures that the people of the colony are safe and well.

The Milia of Macross 7 has a new hairstyle, a more important job to do and is less impulsive than her younger self: she’s older, wiser…and sexier. Seriously.

I’ve heard from numerous reliable sources that parenthood takes its toll. Not just through the sleepless nights, school runs and stressful family holidays, although I’m sure Max and Milia had their fair share of those. Get this: apparently Mylene is the youngest of SEVEN siblings (is this figure connected to the title of the fleet that the Jenius family are in charge of? I’d be interested to find out)! If you think about it for a minute, Milia has raised seven children and is three and a half decades older than she was when we saw her for the first time. To my shame, I DID stop to think about that for a moment.

She still looks good in a flight suit. That says a lot about Zentradi genetics, doesn’t it?

I have to admit that the moment where Milia initiates her backup plan when City 7 is invaded was a highlight of the story so far. It was such fun to see her apply those old battle skills to saving the people whose lives she was responsible for…and when she saw that her own daughter’s life was in danger we got to see what happens when maternal instinct meets Zentradi fury. It was badass. And beautiful.

Many parents are prepared to make huge sacrifices and commit admirable acts of selflessness…even put their lives on the line for their kids. I think another one of the moments of Macross 7 that will stay with me is when Milia powers up her Valkyrie again, flies through the skyline of City 7 taking out the invaders, offers piloting advice to Basara before making a conscious effort to spare the life of an enemy and taking a laser hit for her trouble.

You know those moments when you stop thinking and instead sit there with a gleeful, shit-eating grin and just enjoy the moment? Macross 7 has them in spades.

So, Milia Fallyna: I salute you. Mother, mayor, warrior. Max was a fool to let you go.