The BEST episodes of Robotech

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

Robotech is the critically acclaimed animated series about mankind's first contact with warring alien races, and the use of alien technology to defend Earth. The series was broken into three chapters, The Macross Saga, The Robotech Masters, and The New Generation. Released in 1985, Robotech was the first anime (Japanese animation) series that many fans had seen, and is often accredited as the cause of the anime fandom that continues to grow today in the United States.

Last Updated: 1/10/2024Network: Status: Ended
Share:
To the Stars
star
8.30
33 votes

#1 - To the Stars

Season 1 - Episode 36 - Aired 4/22/1985

Khyron plans his ultimate revenge, targeting the SDF-1, and the currently under-construction SDF-2.

Watch Now:Amazon
A Rainy Night
star
8.05
21 votes

#2 - A Rainy Night

Season 1 - Episode 33 - Aired 4/17/1985

Claudia gives Lisa Hayes a lesson in perseverance, as she recalls the first time she met the charismatic fighter pilot, Roy Fokker.

Watch Now:Amazon
Viva Miriya
star
8.04
24 votes

#3 - Viva Miriya

Season 1 - Episode 30 - Aired 4/12/1985

A liaison is established between Breetai and the survivors of the SDF-1, to convince the remaining Zentraedi warriors, stationed at a Robotech Factory, to join in an alliance for peace.

Watch Now:Amazon
Countdown
star
7.97
103 votes

#4 - Countdown

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/5/1985

The aliens strike in full force, and the desperate battle for the planet Earth reaches the very streets of Macross City. Human courage and skill are tested to the limit, against the superior weapons of the Zentraedi. A heroic rescue attempt (by Rick Hunter, to save Lynn Minmei) turns into a nightmare experience.

Watch Now:Amazon
Southern Cross
star
7.90
21 votes

#5 - Southern Cross

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/25/1985

The Robotech Masters bring the war to Earth, as they attempt to reclaim their lost Protoculture. The 15th Tactical Armored Corp is put to the test.

Watch Now:Amazon
Showdown
star
7.90
29 votes

#6 - Showdown

Season 1 - Episode 24 - Aired 4/4/1985

Lisa Hayes makes a rash decision to return to Earth, to try for a final time to convince the heads of the United Earth Government to negotiate with the Zentraedi armada. The journey back to Earth is not without incident, as Rick & Max cut a path through the enemy lines.

Watch Now:Amazon
Force of Arms
star
7.90
29 votes

#7 - Force of Arms

Season 1 - Episode 27 - Aired 4/9/1985

The Earth is surrounded by Dolza's armada of over four million vessels, sent to destroy the Earth & the SDF-1. It's a time for final reflections, and a last attempt to defeat the vastly superior forces of the Zentraedi by Earth's Robotech Defenders!

Watch Now:Amazon
Blitzkrieg
star
7.83
76 votes

#8 - Blitzkrieg

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 3/11/1985

The Zentraedi are still puzzled by the actions of the SDF-1. However, Breetai, their Commander, is beginning to enjoy the challenge. Captain Gloval plans a trap for the marauding aliens, only to have it backfire among the incredible rings of Saturn. And Rick is trapped inside a Zentraedi warship!

Watch Now:Amazon
The Long Wait
star
7.82
79 votes

#9 - The Long Wait

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/7/1985

Rick & Minmei learn they have landed in a closed-off and forgotten section of the SDF-1. Try as they may, they can find no way out, and no one aboard the ship has any idea where they are! Time passes slowly and cruelly for the imprisoned pair, as what started out to be a fun adventure, turns into a deadly nightmare of hunger and exhaustion, driving them to the edge of hysteria.

Watch Now:Amazon
Boobytrap
star
7.81
166 votes

#10 - Boobytrap

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 3/4/1985

In the year 1999, an abandoned alien battle fortress crash-lands on the planet Earth. Our most brilliant scientists and engineers spend the next ten years reconstructing the damaged ship, and studying its highly advanced technology, known as Robotech! A race of warriors from deep space, the Zentraedi, enter the scene, bent on recovering the lost ship and destroying Earth's civilization. A battle for our planet's survival is on, and young Rick Hunter finds himself caught up in the war, piloting an unfamiliar fighter plane, with sophisticated engineering he can't begin to understand!

Directors: Robert V. Barron
Writer: Steve Kramer
Watch Now:Amazon
Space Fold
star
7.78
96 votes

#11 - Space Fold

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 3/6/1985

The Zentraedi invaders continue to close in, and the battle for planet Earth becomes even more intense. Attempting to escape the superior alien forces, Rick & Minmei become stranded in space, while trying to rejoin the others. Captain Gloval makes a desperate decision to execute a hyperspace jump, which may take his ship to safety, or which might mean the end for everyone!

Watch Now:Amazon
False Start
star
7.77
22 votes

#12 - False Start

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/24/1985

A new threat has surfaced, for the next generation of Robotech Defenders, who have grown up in the wake of Earth's first victory over their alien invaders. Calling themselves the 'Robotech Masters', this ancient race of techno-voyagers has come to the Earth to claim the mysterious substance known as Protoculture.

Watch Now:Amazon
Transformation
star
7.77
79 votes

#13 - Transformation

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/8/1985

The citizens of Macross Island attempt to normalize their life aboard the giant battle fortress. Human drama is played out against the backdrop of interplanetary war, as the Zentraedi forces follow after the SDF-1, and continue the war begun back on Earth. Captain Gloval must make a life-or-death decision, which will determine the fate of nearly 70,000 refugees!

Watch Now:Amazon
Outsiders
star
7.76
17 votes

#14 - Outsiders

Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 5/7/1985

An advanced recon vessel blasts into the vicinity of Earth from hyperspace, only to find their home planet surrounded by an armada of gigantic alien warships! Unable to make contact with Earth, and remembering what happened to their planet in the past when it was invaded by the Zentraedi, the crew of this heavily armed starship make a desperate decision, to meet the alien armada with a surprise attack. The outcome of their effort is uncertain.

Watch Now:Amazon
Reckless
star
7.76
33 votes

#15 - Reckless

Season 1 - Episode 23 - Aired 4/3/1985

Confused by the actions of the orbiting SDF-1, the Zentraedi attack in full force! Captain Gloval's army stands off the attack, as the stage is set for an ultimate showdown between Earth's displaced heroes and the misguided Zentraedi led by Khyron.

Watch Now:Amazon
Bye-Bye Mars
star
7.75
72 votes

#16 - Bye-Bye Mars

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 3/12/1985

The planet Mars is the setting, as Breetai calls for reinforcements in order to capture the SDF-1. Captain Gloval drives his grew to the brink of exhaustion, as he attempts to keep the overwhelming Zentraedi forces at bay.

Watch Now:Amazon
Half Moon
star
7.75
16 votes

#17 - Half Moon

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 4/29/1985

The Robotech Masters try to establish a base on Earth, near the vicinity of the fallen SDF-1. Once here, under the direction of Zor Prime, the alien force hopes to extract the Earth's remaining supply of Protoculture. A routine patrol for Dana & Bowie turns into a nightmare.

Watch Now:Amazon
Sweet Sixteen
star
7.72
69 votes

#18 - Sweet Sixteen

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 3/13/1985

As Minmei's 16th birthday approaches, Rick finds himself constantly on duty, defending the hard-pressed battle fortress from attacks by the relentless Zentraedi armada. Rick's thoughts are torn between his duty to the SDF-1, and his waning love for Minmei.

Watch Now:Amazon
Paradise Lost
star
7.72
58 votes

#19 - Paradise Lost

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/29/1985

The Zentraedi monitor the activity of the SDF-1, as Captain Gloval prepares to relocate the refugees of Macross City. But everyone's hopes for returning to a normal life back on Earth are dashed forever, as the Zentraedi attack without warning!

Watch Now:Amazon
First Contact
star
7.72
67 votes

#20 - First Contact

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 3/18/1985

Rick Hunter, Lisa Hayes, and Ben Dixon are captured, and brought before the Supreme Leader of the Zentraedi civilization. Helpless prisoners, they witness the awesome power and destructive capability of their alien adversaries.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Miss Macross
star
7.68
66 votes

#21 - Miss Macross

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 3/14/1985

The charming Minmei prepares herself for a different sort of battle; a battle to determine the most beautiful girl in Macross City! While the beauty contest rages, Rick Hunter is called into action by his superiors, to defend the giant space battle fortress.

Watch Now:Amazon
Blind Game
star
7.67
64 votes

#22 - Blind Game

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 3/15/1985

The crew of the SDF-1 maintain constant vigil against the threat of attack by the ever-present Zentraedi armada. An unauthorized assault by the evil Khyron damages the main radar tower of the space battle fortress.

Watch Now:Amazon
The Big Escape
star
7.67
60 votes

#23 - The Big Escape

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 3/19/1985

Held captive in a Zentraedi prison cell, Rick, Lisa, and Ben try to figure a way off the massive alien ship, and report their findings to Captain Gloval & the crew of the SDF-1. Breetai & Dolza also begin to make plans to recapture their lost battle fortress.

Watch Now:Amazon
Bursting Point
star
7.67
63 votes

#24 - Bursting Point

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/28/1985

Captain Gloval begins a journey, which he believes will end with the resettlement of the nearly 70,000 refugees stranded on the SDF-1. Meanwhile, Khyron's flotilla responds to the developments with an attack on the battle fortress. Captain Gloval is torn between saving the citizens of Macross City, and his oath to protect the Earth.

Watch Now:Amazon
Reconstruction Blues
star
7.65
23 votes

#25 - Reconstruction Blues

Season 1 - Episode 28 - Aired 4/10/1985

The crew of the SDF-1 assess the damage that has been dealt to the Earth. It's a time for reflection and reevaluation, in the wake of the near-total destruction of one alien culture, and the catastrophic remains of their once beautiful planet.

Watch Now:Amazon