*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: As Nyaan prepares to fire the Yomagn’tho again, she’s confronted by Machu in the GQuuuuuuX and the two do battle. Meanwhile, Chalia Bull reluctantly battles Kycilia’s Newtype forces. Kycilia confronts “Shirouzu” – a resurfaced Char Aznable- who refuses to join her side. He escapes with Machu towards the Rose of Sharon. Char reveals how he met Shuji and warns Machu not to act on feelings for him. Char activates the Red Gundam, determined to rid the world of the Rose. When Kycilia almost shoots Machu, Nyaan shoots her mentor. Another Zeknova begins to occur, in which Char communicates with Shuji. Char is once again determined to get rid of the Rose, but Shuji reveals he’s from “the other side” and he’s there to end the world Lalah created. Another Gundam appears.
Comments:
A lot of things happen in this penultimate episode of the series!
Nyaan, not satisfied with having killed hundreds of thousands of Zeon soldiers (though it’s not clear she’s entirely aware of it), aims the kira-kira weapon at Earth, but is stopped by Machu. She seems to snap out of her obsession and admit that she doesn’t really know how she got where she is now, but that seems like a pretty poor excuse. Nobody forced her to join Zeon, or help Kyciilia, or pilot the GFreD, or fire the Yaomagn’tho. And her decision to save Machu from Kycilia is too little to make up for the lives she’s taken. I hope Nyaan at least comes to realize the gravity of the actions she’s taken in the end.
Chalia Bull is probably the best character in the series. You really understand his determination to create a new and better world for Newtypes, so that they don’t all just get used as weapons. Kycilia only cares about Newtypes insofar as they’re useful to her, but Chalia is a true believer in Char’s ideals. This brings him in conflict with Xavier, who’s loyal to Kycilia. I wonder if either of their lives will be lost in the finale. Personally, while Xavier is likable and all, I prefer Chalia come out on top. I can also see Chalia sacrificing his life and passing the torch to the next generation of Newtypes.
As we all expected, “Shirouzu” was Char Aznable the entire time. The scene of his reveal is intentionally referencing the final episode of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, where he’s on stage, in this case with Kycilia. Apparently he entrusted his Red Gundam to Shuji at some point, for some reason, probably because he was a young Newtype. But now he’s locked in on using it to destroy the Rose of Sharon aka Lalah from “beyond” because it warps the universe. I can’t say that I disagree with this goal. Lalah is too dangerous a weapon to be used. Kycilia only sees a useful weapon, Char sees an immiinent danger, and Shuji sees Lalah herself.
It was interesting to see Machu knocked around, coming face-to-face with the famous Red Comet, being a witness to historical events as they happen. But once again, her character development takes a back seat to her obsession with Shuji and intention to protect Lalah on his behalf. As Char warned, it’s not healthy to get attached to Newtypes like Shuji, because she’ll just end up in a situation like the one in the original 0079 UC universe, with Amuro, Char, and Lalah. What I want to know is, how did Machu end up in the theater after leaving Char who was right near the Rose? Wasn’t she also headed for the Rose? Did she get turned around at some point? It was weird.
The big shocking moment came at the end, when it was revealed that Shuji himself is from “beyond” the kira-kira, the original universe Lalah from the Rose is from. That somewhat explains his total devotion to her. But also he’s come to this universe to destroy it, perhaps in an attempt to return her home and her proper fate. But that’s a little sad, isn’t it? I mean, besides the fact he wants to destroy the universe we’ve been following, he wants to return Lalah to a place where she inevitably dies so young, like in the original series?
Beyond the Time, indeed.
Anyway, the RX-78-2 Gundam emerges from some kind of kira-kira “portal”, perhaps there to aid Shuji in his desire. But I don’t WANT to see the alternate universe to go away. Why can’t it also exist alongside the original? Maybe they’re trying to say something about AU Gundam itself.
The final episode is next!
