Author: Juu-kuchi

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Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Episode 12 – Dropping Emotional Ballast

 

Before we get to the meat of this episode, I want to dedicate a part of the analsis to more fawning of Atra and Kudelia’s friendship. Near the midpoint of the episode, Mika heads off to take part in another daring assault. Kudelia sits with Atra and Merribit at the cafeteria, beside herself with worry about the next battle. Her hands are on the table, clasped together. Then without any visual cue that she was going to do that, Atra reaches out and comforts Kudelia to not worry, all the while smiling that sincere smile of hers. It’s such an exceptional subversion of the usual rivalries that vie for another’s affection. Atra can tell Kudelia has a thing for Mika, but she never lets her uncertainty and jealousy alter the way she treats the latter. Always nice, always supportive, always there for a soul lost in a world she’s trying to come to terms with; that’s Atra for ya. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
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Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Episode 11 – UGUPs strike again.

On this week’s episode, we’re introduced to the Gundam Gusion. While still not recognized as a Gundam by our motley crew, it shows that despite the bulky build it’s a force to be reckoned with, easily outmaneuvering and withstanding any form of punishment dealt by the Barbatos. Impressive as those action sequences are, they pale (not really, but work with me here) in comparison to the continuation of what I just recently dubbed: UGUP. What is UGUP? It’s an acronym: Ugly Gundams for Ugly People. Take a look at the pilot of the Gusion: Kudel Cadel. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
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Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Episode 10 – Tekkadan confirmed for Famsexual

Sadly, when those two ships ventured off into the distance last time, it is revealed in this week’s opening scenes that Mika stayed behind on Saisei so he can help with finishing the Barbatos’s repairs. The result is that most of the character development is relegated to Orga and the supporting cast for the duration. However, after the coldness of the last episode, the emotional core that beats throughout this week’s adventure is more than welcome.

And boy does it beat heavily. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
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Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Episode 9 – Pit Stop on the Road to Renewed Strength and Promise

No more ouzo for Orga.

To our eternal benefit the episode lingers at Saisei for the entire runtime. To our eternal detriment the episode… quite frankly it is not known yet how detrimental the plot development will be to our heroes. This is rather exciting territory for a Gundam series, as the criminal underworld in a show about giant aesthetically pleasing robots is an idea that has been flirted with but never expanded upon. Now, the show is no longer just about war as seen from the underclass, but war as seen from the underworld. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
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Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Episode 8 – Turbine Hitsuyo!

 

Naze Turbine ain’t no mere playa. He not only has his own harem, but instead of wacky hijinks and personal crises on who does he love, polygamy is the name of his game. We know not yet why he does it, but somehow given the very copacetic atmosphere of his vessel and having kids with many different women, it works. All I could do though is wonder if, based on this new OP addition, they’re all gonna die. That’d be cruel, and given the fact that they have kids, that’d be VERY cruel. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
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Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Episode 7 – Got It By Their Hands

Cold cuts just got hot.

“Oh boy!”, in a jaded tone was the disposition of the time last week when it was found out Tekkadan would put their trip to Earth on hold a bit longer. Maruba, the previous owner of CGS is mad at their absconding of his vessel, and is utilizing another set of individuals to bring it back for him at any cost. As much as well-animated mobile suit combat is nice, plot had to start moving and they need to get to Earth tout suite.

Then the action starts to happen and then all that trepidation melts away like snow under a summer sun, because holy shit you guys, there this: read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
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Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Episode 6 – The Long Transit

 

Just like that, within one episode, the impression of Orga being a Griffith-type (or Harry McDowell-type) of leader swings back into a role more akin to Kamina again. If that doesn’t raise any red flags about his inevitable demise (never mind being unaware of ANOTHER mole on the ship as far as we know), I don’t know what will. Still, like every minute character moment during downtime it helps to illustrate what kind of person he is. When he observes dear Mika and others learning from Kudelia how to read and write, he doesn’t see it as a threat to his authority, but something beneficial to them as individuals. Then there is the revealing conversation he has with Biscuit regarding why he’s moving directly towards a potential backer, Teiwaz, when they could do something less risky. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
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Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Episode 5 – All about the atmosphere.

 

…Since well… the show has a lot of it in terms of its world building and theming plus… y’know… the action in this week’s episode takes place just above Mars atmosphere but anyway…

Now that the show has gone through four episodes of establishing foundations (or the ‘frame’ if we want to be nerds and connect it to the show), it’s time to start moving upwards and build upon it. As a result we do not get the nice character moments in previous episodes that lets us linger in idiosyncrasies of the world. However, that’s okay since we’ve got enough for right now and we REALLY need to get going with the plot. Still, there’s a lot to like even if it is little things like Mika instantly offering his blanket to Kudelia moments after he notices her visiting him, to McGillis’s reaction to Tekkadan’s ‘present’ to him by episode’s end. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
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Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Episode 4 – Martian Corn Futures

Contrary to earlier predictions, there is no loss of human life in this episode. There is a close call, but with an episode title like “The Price of Life”, one would think there’d be another casualty. No, it’s just Okada being smart and instead focusing on making all plot and character elements endure a slow burn before Tekkadan heads off into the stars. This is fine. This is absolutely fine.

While Orga is busy discussing logistics and dealing with Martian bureaucracy for Tekkadan’s Earth venture, the show shifts its focus toward Gjallarhorn and Martian civilian life. It is high time the audience had longer moments with Fareed and Bauduin, and it doesn’t disappoint. There’s still an ominous feeling that emanates from them (especially since we haven’t seen them in battle or pushed to their limit), but their demeanour and disposition is so… unique so to speak. They don’t seem to be much for ideology but they’re very dedicated to their job. They won’t take a bribe, and will personally go down planet-side to investigate even further. Then there’s how they treat Biscuit’s sisters when that ‘close call’ mentioned earlier occurs. Normally at this juncture some hoity-toity high class type would probably treat them as something below his contempt. However, the entire scene is dealt tastefully. One can see and sense the divide between them, but it spares us from some humdrum verbal expressions of snobbery and resentment from either side. What is this? Get this shit out of my robot cartoon I want Gjallarhorn to gas an entire city and all the Martians to be like… “nooo we will fight and defeat you!” read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
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Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Episode 3 – War in the Pocketbook

 

I never realized how much I needed this kind of scene in a Gundam series. Around the midway point of the episode, a small cadre of our heroes is busy crunching numbers of any and all remaining assets after their… corporate takeover. What was initially a good, pleasant; number dwindles to a pittance after factoring in expenses like severance pay, maintenance, and supplies. In a franchise where protagonists are always backed by some well-moneyed source (be it businessmen, military, or weird scientist guy), I never would expect this kind of scene to ever be shown. Granted I’m not sure if it will come up again during the series run (thanks to Kudelia), but the thought of including it is quite appreciated. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•