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Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Episode 21 – Sun, Sand, and Shellshock

 

SPOILERS AHOY!

It seems wholly fitting I named the title of my article last week as the “Wrong Kind of Soggy Biscuit.” Cuz it turns out the reason it was all soggy was because of all the blood.

Now we are at the major flashpoint for Tekkadan, and like Fumitan’s death for Kudelia, Biscuit’s death for our wayward heroes will shake the foundation to their very core and (most definitely) renew their conviction. It’s a remarkably well-done death and uses the old cadences of how important characters in Gundam die to great effect. You know the one, either last episode or episodes before the character is at a physical or moral impasse regarding current events, then the episode spends its time focusing on the character, showing him eager  to set things right and help his comrades. Then the moment happens, and they’re revealed to be in a position of great distress, the shock comes and you’re wondering if that person will survive. Biscuit takes a blow from Carta Issue in order to defend Orga, and his final scenes are him pinned to the wreck of a mobile worker. I’m thinking, “Nooooo, it can’t be. But at least it’s only his legs. Maybe he’ll be in a wheelchair—“ read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
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Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Episode 20 – A Wrong Kind of Soggy Biscuit

Gotta give this show some credit. Immediately after landing on Earth (and on an island paradise no less), the episode thrusts Tekkadan into more political intrigue, with a bit of character friction as a topping. Pretty darn nice of the show to do so, given after this we’ve only five episodes left and we needn’t spend an ENTIRE episode stranded on said island navel gazing about life and/or whether to fight.

This week we’re introduced to the strange Japanese man who appeared a couple of episodes back: Maganai Todonosuke, a former Arbrau prime minister in exile. While the talks with Kudelia and him go nowhere (predictably thanks to the exile part), we do learn more about Earth. Gjallarhorn seems not to have as much jurisdiction on Earth if this episode’s any indication. Unless you have some pull like that Carta lady in the last episode, or you’re the Oceanic Federation (IngSoc saves Tekkadan’s hide!), they sometimes will stay out of things. A neat, if short-lived, development as said Carta lady pulls some strings to set the stage for an island battle next episode. Other than that, hard to feel much about this part of the episode, since we don’t truly know if Todonosuke will be a boon or a burden to Tekkadan, either here or when he and Kudelia attend an important plenary session a few episodes down the line. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
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Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Episode 18 – Conspirators’ Medley

As I predicted last time, Kudelia’s speech was effective enough to halt the WDoJ/Arianrhod’s impending assault. Mika’s reaction was also shown, and while still maintaining his usual stoic self, continues to be impressed by Kudelia’s resolve.

I was initially wary of this episode thanks to Daisuki’s rather unpromising preview synopsis:

“Tekkadan’s members attempt to leave the colonies behind and descend to Earth at last, but they miss their chance due to one last item of business in the colonies. They are contacted by someone who claims to be their supporter.” (emphasis mine) read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
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Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Episode 17 – Gjallarhorn Confirmed For Top-Tier Troll

 

I wonder if the true head of Earth and the main director of Gjallarhorn operations is a Lelouch-type figure, because what happens early in this episode is one big troll to nascent revolutionaries. You have these revolting union workers arming themselves with mobile suits, ready to take on the WDoJ (White Dick of Justice/Arianrhod), but it turns out all their weapons and systems, despite being shown the contrary, are inoperative. Thus it gives any and all WDoJ Mobile Suits suitable grounds for destroying them without hesitation. Shame we don’t have a Yazan-like madman pilot in the show (and the closest one, Kudel Kadel is dead), since he’d be kekking til he’s breathless. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
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Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Episode 16 – Revolutionary Girl Kudelia

Sad, innit? All Kudelia wants to do is go to Earth and have her idea of a revolutionary time, but instead of that she’s feeling so honestly attacked right now. What could’ve been a Velvet Revolution for her turned out to be more a Tiananmen Square with armed unions. We’re also exposed to how entrenched Gjallarhorn is in controlling the flow of information. While not as all encompassing as Veda is in Gundam 00 Season 2, they do a well enough job (if this episode is any indication) of fabricating terrorist events of their own doing and pinning it on anybody that stands in their way. Obviously, this means by episode’s end we’ve got a bunch of dead union members out on the streets, and due to last week’s episode and the fact this episode is named after here, Fumitan croaks after defending Kudelia from a sniper’s bullet. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
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Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Episode 15 – 鉄血のアトラ

 

Predictably, Biscuit and his brother do not have a happy reunion. As per usual with the show, the complexities of the world continue to seep into everything, as Savarin’s motivations are driven by said complexities. Unions want a revolution, Tekkadan is unsure of that, and Savarin (who is more than likely a part of the upper crust) definitely does not want an uprising. Now after the primer that was last episode, it’s becoming a bit more of a convergence since everyone’s in the know and finally on the move. Thankfully this episode doesn’t allow them to waffle and gets the lot of Tekkadan to reunite by episode’s end but not without many great revelations inbetween. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
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Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Episode 14 – The Revolting Colony Affair

Are you guys alright? Had a nice week off not thinking about Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans? Ready to get back to watching this show that’s been filled with a lot of great things but you feel like it’s taking too much of its sweet time getting to Earth?

Well good, cuz it looks like it is all downhill from here.

One would not be wrong to think the proximity of the colonies to Earth means they are just as affluent as the very planet they orbit. Yes, to some extent. Turns out even if you’re within eyeshot of Earth (and the show thankfully lets our heroes see it for the first time here), you might be just as marginalized as a Martian citizen. The conversation between Orga and the dock workers initially starts off as somewhat pleasant. Yeah something’s wrong but there is empathy between those who have a bad lot in life. Then to our surprise (and Tekkadan’s), the dock workers think of them as knights and Kudelia as their savior. Turns out Nobliss’s plans are more sinister than thought. It is not enough to make Kudelia a martyr on her home turf, but a martyr to every marginalized group aside from Earth. It’s a striking divide between how Tekkadan and the dock workers operate. Despite their similar upbringings, Tekkadan does not seek revolutionary change, but just a place in the cosmos for them. These guys want to bring the revolution home and take up arms for it. Guess when the haves are within eye and earshot, resentment can probably be a bit more pronounced than if you’re in the boonies and don’t know anything else. 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 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

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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•