This is the episode where the resistance gets a major boost. Emeraldas's arrival is a huge deal for anyone who knows the Matsumoto universe she's a legend, and she's fighting for the same cause as Nazca. The Space Panzers are a real threat, and the chase sequence is a reminder that the mechanized forces aren't going to let the rebels go quietly. Nazca's pitch to Maetel is the emotional core of the episode he's not just fighting for revenge anymore.