Episode 01
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: It’s the year 0079 of the Universal Century era and a unit of the Earth Federation engages an amputee unit of the Principality Zeon in the remains of space colony section Side 4. The backdrop is a dangerous debris field that gives off electric discharges as if in a lightning storm. Devil-may-care ace Fed pilot Io Flemming is more than happy to throw away his life in combat, finding himself a new enemy in the enemy sniper Daryl Lorenz.
If the shocking ending from last episode isn’t enough to elicit emotions, this show goes out of its way to make sure Masahiro is only crushed enough to live and say goodbye to Akihiro. Then it puts on top an allusion to the conversation the Brewers’s Human Debris had about life after death. What a big one-two punch follow-up after that turnabout ending when it seemed like Akihiro would die. Then the deal is sweetened by having Kudel finally killed off by Mika, but not before he pulls a “You enjoy this killing!?” card on him, and the deaths of Tekkadan members who were part of the infiltration force. This show…
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
Episode 2, “Artesia’s Sorrow”
Synopsis: The year is Universal Century 0071 and the Zabi regime grows more powerful in the group of space colonies at Side 3. The children of the deceased Zeon Zum Deikun grow up on Earth, but are thrown back into danger when Jimba Ral’s plans make them a target. Now called Edward and Sayla Mass, the two find themselves enduring further tragedies and narrowly dodging death. All the while, the Zabis oversee the development of mobile suits, which a reluctant Ramba Ral participates in. What do the orphans once called Casval and Artesia have to do to position themselves out of danger? Volume 2 of this OVA sees Casval developing into the man who would become Char Aznable, the Red Comet.
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.
