The BEST episodes of Macross

Every episode of Macross ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Macross!

In 1999, an alien ship crashes on South Atalia Island. Humans then know that they are not alone in space. Ten years later the ship has been rebuilt and named the SDF-1 Macross. However, on the day of its take off, a species called the Zentraedi arrive at Earth, beginning the UN Spacy vs. Zentraedi war that forever change the history of these two species.

Last Updated: 3/5/2024Network: MBSStatus: Ended
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Farewell to Tenderness
star
9.59
74 votes

#1 - Farewell to Tenderness

Season 1 - Episode 36 - Aired 6/26/1983

Global informs Misa that the SDF-2, the successor to the Macross, is nearly ready to begin colonizing the galaxy - with her as the captain of the mission. Now that the reaction engine is built into his craft, Quazmin, Laplamiz, and their henchmen attack Macross City with missiles and waves of mecha. Hikaru, Misa and Minmay's love triangle reaches its climax, as Hikaru must decide whether he will go with the pop idol who brushed him aside and now desperately needs him, or the military commander who loves him deeply, but may leave him forever by the line of duty.

Romanesque
star
8.58
43 votes

#2 - Romanesque

Season 1 - Episode 35 - Aired 6/19/1983

It's Christmas Time, and Minmay's life begins to spiral into depression forcing her to seek Hikaru, which further isolates Misa. Quamzin's forces attack Onogi City on Christmas Eve to capture a reaction (Nuclear power) engine power condenser. Max and Milia's squadron is ambushed as they intercept, and Milia faces Laplamiz during the showdown.

Love Concert
star
8.37
43 votes

#3 - Love Concert

Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 3/20/1983

Zentradi soldiers - having experienced and enjoyed some elements of human culture brought back by the three spies - attempt to defect to the Macross. A Daedalus Attack on Britai's ship allows them to pour through. During a concert by Minmay, a confusing three-way battle ensues inside the ship, with Zentradi refugees against Quamzin's forces, and the unwitting UN Spacy on the other side.

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Love Drifts Away
star
8.19
43 votes

#4 - Love Drifts Away

Season 1 - Episode 27 - Aired 4/24/1983

An epic battle for the Earth takes place when Boddole Zer's main fleet of over 4,000,000 warships fold above Earth's atmosphere. Using the power of culture from Lynn Minmay's singing, the Macross, along with its allied Zentradi fleet, attempts a daring last stand to Boddole Zer's forces. Heroes will die, a world may fall, but will love prevail?

My Album
star
8.00
14 votes

#5 - My Album

Season 1 - Episode 28 - Aired 5/1/1983

Two years have passed after the final battle with Boddole Zer. The Macross is now a relic of the conflict known as Space War I, and sits in a large lake in barren Alaska. Earth is still a desolate wasteland, and small towns and forests are located miles around Macross City. The allied Zentradi fleets, along with the citizens from the Macross, maintain a nervous peace. The work to rebuild Earth by both sides is in full swing. Hikaru looks back on the times spent with Roy Focker for advice on what do about his feelings for both Misa and Minmay.

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Viva Maria
star
8.00
14 votes

#6 - Viva Maria

Season 1 - Episode 30 - Aired 5/15/1983

Max, Milia, and their baby daughter, Komilia Maria, play a crucial role in the capture of a Zentradi satellite factory - the source of the overtechnology of which the aliens rely on.

Daedalus Attack
star
7.96
23 votes

#7 - Daedalus Attack

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/14/1982

The Macross crew develops a protective barrier from the energy anomaly left by the fold system disappearance. However, they can only create three small movable shields. As they approach Saturn, the Zentradi send out a ship to keep the Macross from hiding in the planet's ice rings. Little do they know that the Macross doesn't intend to hide. Unfortunately, the crew discovers that the main cannon cannot operate at the same time as the Pin Point Barrier. First Lieutenant Misa Hayase, Macross Bridge Operator, develops a new kind of attack in order to save the Macross.

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Space Fold
star
7.95
55 votes

#8 - Space Fold

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/17/1982

The Captain of the Macross is forced to make a quick decision due to the relentless attacks of the enemy. Using alien technology that humanity has not yet been able to test, the Macross makes a space fold near the Earth's surface, above South Ataria Island. Little do they know the consequences this desperate action will have.

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Burst Point
star
7.80
15 votes

#9 - Burst Point

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/27/1983

Still feeling the effects of a tragic loss from the previous battle, Hikaru is assigned a new Valkyrie fighter. Global wants to test out a barrier defense system against a new attack by Quamzin. But for the Ontario region where the battle takes place, this could end in disaster. And in the female Zentradi fleet, Milia approaches her commander, Moruk Laplamiz, to gain permission to be micronized so she could infiltrate the Macross.

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Lynn Minmay
star
7.78
55 votes

#10 - Lynn Minmay

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/31/1982

The Captain of the Macross is forced to make a quick decision due to the relentless attacks of the enemy. Using alien technology that humanity has not yet been able to test, the Macross makes a space fold near the Earth's surface, above South Ataria Island. Little do they know the consequences this desperate action will have.

Virgin Road
star
7.77
43 votes

#11 - Virgin Road

Season 1 - Episode 25 - Aired 4/10/1983

Max encounters Milia in the park and a knife fight between them ensues when she reveals that she is a Zentradi. Max defeats her for the third time, sparing her life, and the two fall in love. Milia decides to join the Macross and their immediate marriage marks the first union between a human and Zentradi, causing celebrations everywhere along Macross City. Boddole Zer, on the other hand, doesn't like the idea and plans to fix the 'contamination' that is human culture once and for all.

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Blue Wind
star
7.76
17 votes

#12 - Blue Wind

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/9/1983

With Earth only two days away by full speed, Global decides to ram the Macross through a Zentradi blockade. Meanwhile, Rori, Konda and Warera begin to explore human culture up close in micronized form.

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Bye-bye Mars
star
7.75
24 votes

#13 - Bye-bye Mars

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/21/1982

Having discovered an abandoned base on Mars, the Zentradi set up a trap for the Macross. The ship already far off the intended course for Earth, makes a stop on Mars for much needed supplies. Driven by personal considerations, Misa requests permission to inspect the base for the origin of an emergency signal. The Zentradi spring their trap, pinning the Macross to the surface. Misa is forced to blow up the base's underground nuclear reactor to release the Macross. Hikaru is sent to rescue her after she finds Herself trapped in the doomed base.

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Drop Out
star
7.74
43 votes

#14 - Drop Out

Season 1 - Episode 23 - Aired 3/27/1983

The battle within the city comes to a close, with the surviving Zentradi defectors coming to terms with the destruction they caused. Along with Rori, Konda and Warera, the defectors are all given asylum within the Macross. Misa prepares to travel back to Earth to the UN Headquarters, whilst Hikaru begins to further contemplate his feelings for her.

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Big Escape
star
7.71
21 votes

#15 - Big Escape

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/26/1982

As the four miclone prisoners attempt to make their escape, a fearsome female Zentradi pilot, Milia Fallyna, attempts to approach the Macross on her Queadluun-Rau powered armor to help sneak aboard the three Zentradi spies - now micronized to human size.

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Pineapple Salad
star
7.71
14 votes

#16 - Pineapple Salad

Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/20/1983

With Hikaru still recovering, Roy has Max and Kakizaki assigned to his Skull Squadron as his wingmen. Milia attacks the Macross with her Queadluun-Rau squadron, however, she has a personal vendetta against an ace human pilot that Quamzin believes she can't defeat.

Private Time
star
7.69
13 votes

#17 - Private Time

Season 1 - Episode 34 - Aired 6/12/1983

The love triangle between Hikaru, Misa and Minmay intensifies when he decides to skip out on a picnic with the commander, so he could have lunch with the pop idol instead. Giant Zentradi rebellions begin heating up, making matters worse for the humans.

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Satan's Dolls
star
7.62
13 votes

#18 - Satan's Dolls

Season 1 - Episode 31 - Aired 5/22/1983

Exsedol and Global gather the crew of the Macross to reveal the origin of the nomadic Zentradi at last. Meanwhile, Quamzin's forces attempt to steal a macronization chamber.

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Blind Game
star
7.59
17 votes

#19 - Blind Game

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/12/1982

Rori, Konda and Warera - three Zentradi spies who mounted the spy plane in the previous episode - report to Britai and Exsedol on their findings. The Earth refuses to aid the Macross after contact is made for the first time in months. Meanwhile, Quamzin disobeys orders and attacks the Macross radar array, forcing the crew of the ship to send a recon plane to guide them away from the Zentradi.

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Broken Heart
star
7.57
14 votes

#20 - Broken Heart

Season 1 - Episode 32 - Aired 5/29/1983

Quamzin kidnaps Minmay and Kaifun, and holds them for ransom. Hikaru and his squadron prepare a rescue mission.

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Miss Macross
star
7.57
21 votes

#21 - Miss Macross

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/5/1982

A TV station is launched on the Macross, and to celebrate, the first ever 'Miss Macross' beauty pageant takes place. Minmay enters, but by doing so she ends up missing dinner with Hikaru on the same night. A Zentradi spy ship approaches the Macross and with Max and Kakizaki on leave, Hikaru intercepts it alone.

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First Contact
star
7.55
20 votes

#22 - First Contact

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/19/1982

After being captured by the Zentradi, Misa, Hikaru and Kakizaki are 'interviewed' on human culture by Britai, Exsedol, and Supreme Commander of all Zentradi forces, Golg Boddole Zer - marking the first verbal encounter between the two races. They discover that the Zentradi have no sense of culture and fear intimacy between men and women. Max, having been separated from the others, formulates a plan to rescue them. Meanwhile, Minmay begins a singing career on the Macross.

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Rainy Night
star
7.54
13 votes

#23 - Rainy Night

Season 1 - Episode 33 - Aired 6/5/1983

As Misa begins to realize she may be losing Hikaru to Minmay, Claudia helps her friend by recounting her early experiences with Roy Focker.

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Booby Trap
star
7.49
41 votes

#24 - Booby Trap

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/3/1982

In 1999, a giant alien spacecraft crash-lands on South Ataria Island. Humanity proceeds to attempt to rebuild this marvel, but political conflicts centered around the "Macross" result in a global war. After 10 years, the "Unification Wars" are finally over, the new Earth United Nations Government is in power, and work on the Macross is complete. On the day of the launching ceremony, its main cannon fires on its own, destroying an alien spacecraft. This fateful day marks the beginning of the war between the humans on the Macross and the Zentradi, a race of humanoid aliens of giant proportions.

Lonely Song
star
7.38
13 votes

#25 - Lonely Song

Season 1 - Episode 29 - Aired 5/9/1983

As some of the giant Zentradi begin to rebel over their new way of life with the humans, Minmay's fame begins to slip away. Wandering around from tour to tour of the local towns, Minmay contemplates at what could have been a serious relationship with the now distant Hikaru.

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