*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: After getting ejected from the military, former officers Gaia and Ortega of the once famous Black Tri-stars are now Clan Battle fighters who want revenge on the Gundams. Machu is still wondering about her relationship with Shuji, who she witnessed killing during the last Clan Battle, but still intends to join him to go to Earth. After an encounter with the immigration police, Machu and Nyaan split and Machu is cornered by Lt. Xavier Olivette from the Sodon. Nyaan takes over for Machu in the GQuuuuuux in the next match, but is disadvantaged at first because Shuji is sick. However, during the battle, Nyaan sees the “kira-kira” and is able to defeat (and kill) Gaia and Ortega. A jealous Machu is astonished to find that Nyaan was the pilot in the match.
Comments:
And after she helped you with the police? Such a betrayal, Nyaan.
Seriously though, besides Machu being a G-Cuuuuuuck, this was a pretty good episode. Not quite as heart-rending as last time, but still well done.
We see that because Char dominated in the Red Gundam during the war, a lot of famous aces were let go because they were no longer needed. You’d think they’d keep them around after Char disappeared, but by then the war was over, so I guess they didn’t really need them too badly. Poor Gaia and Ortega were forced to make a living doing Clan Battle while Mash managed to go into politics, albeit scandal-ridden politics. There’s a lot in this series about past grudges. We had a Feddie ace aiming for the Gundam last week, now the Black Two-Stars (Binary?). The One Year War resolved very little for plenty of people.
After seeing Shuji kill Shiiko Sugai last episode, Machu reflects a little on her relationship with Shuji, but as soon as it’s time to go visit him again, she’s quick to want to gain his favor and seems just as dazzled by his mysteriousness (and neck bones). Apparently a little fanservice goes a long way for Machu, because she’s back onto wanting to go to Earth with her enigmatic hobo friend, regardless of his kill count.
But the character that really gets the spotlight in this episode is Nyaan, who suits up in the GQuuuuuux and fights both enemies practically on her own in a stunning display of competence and “kira-kira” (is everyone a Newtype?). I mean, she really, really gets into it, intensely, like it’s a drug to her. She seems a lot less hesitant and awkward in combat than Machu. I wonder if she’s going to want to pilot the GQuuuuuux more often, now.
But Machu, being a bit of a spoiled brat, is devastated that somebody else did “kira-kira” with Shuji. And she’s especially not happy about it being Nyaan. I’m looking forward to seeing how their relationship dynamics are about to work now.
Looks like Kyclia Zabi is in the next episode. That should be interesting.
