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Jan 18, 2021
The Re: Zero anime took the world by storm when it first aired. It had all the ingredients for an exciting anime. There were boobs, lolis, a compelling premise...and more boobs. I thought the original was a trainwreck. There were so many issues on a fundamental level regarding its plot, worldbuilding, and especially its characters. I had to rate the show a four because there were too many problems for me to consider a sound or average show. There were entertaining moments sprinkled throughout, but they were too far and between. Going into the second season, I thought it could not, but worse than the
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first season. This allowed the writers to 'right their wrongs,' so to speak. I am sorry to inform you that Re: Zero season 2 is an unmitigated disaster. Not only does the show double down on the first season problems, but it also adds entirely new ones. Let's dive in.
Season 2 continues from where the first season left off. After defeating Petelgeuse, Subaru and his friends are thrown into a new dilemma after unknown assailants attack Rem. This attack causes everyone to forget who she is, causing Subaru immense despair. He then sets out on his quest to get everyone to remember Rem taking along Emilia, the most useless female protagonist in anime, some lolis, and other irrelevant characters. Re: Zero Season 2 spends a lot of time meandering around, wasting several episodes that could have been used for world or character building. The season revolves around one arc as opposed to the first season, which had several. In theory, this could have been a good thing because it could have given the writers to expand upon all facets of the show. However, this rarely comes to fruition. Although there is some world building where we learn more about the world, it does not feel substantial enough. The world does not feel alive. Although there are characters with grand machinations, the show never seems to reflect that scope. This season also lacks the highs of the first. Although the first season was terrible, in my opinion, it also had some highs. I think everyone who saw the first season remembers that three-episode streak that was just raw suffering and despair, culminating in the fantastic episode 15. There were also moments like the end of the first arc, which were satisfying. Season 2 does not have any moments like that. Almost everything right from the first season was not present in this season. There is no catharsis. There is no emotional payoff when Subaru solves a part of the mystery. We are just left thinking, "that's it?" Even the moments that are supposed to invoke despair are lackluster. Subaru's suffering was arguably the best part of the show. There is not enough agony,misery, and woe to justify spending 13 episodes watching this show.
Another woefully underutilized aspect is the macabre element that was prevalent in the first season. Every arc, Subaru would be gruesomely murdered and would have to discover who is killing him. In season 2, that mystery is gone. We know who is killing Subaru every time. The secret lies in what he has to do to escape death. However, without the mystery of finding out who the killer is, the mystery becomes less compelling. I no longer care about the mystery. I wait for Subaru to die or kill himself. You can tell the show fails when you value the character's death more than the events surrounding it.
Once again, Re: Zero's problems lie with its characters. Simply put, the cast is terrible. But the icing on the cake is Subaru. Oh man, this character drags down the entire show. Subaru got a lot of flak from the first season, and it was much deserved. He behaved in embarrassing ways when talking to female characters. He was selfish, spiteful, and shortsighted. These traits onto themselves do not make a character bad. I prefer it when characters are flaws or are not likable. It usually makes them more compelling to watch. The first season's problem was that all of Subaru's character development came in one episode, making his transition to a "hero" and "savior" contrived. In season 2, Subaru's character arc is redundant. Although we learn more about Subaru's life back in the real world, we are retreading the same ground. Subaru hates himself and feels worthless, and tries to compensate by engaging in reckless and "heroic" behavior. I did not find his reasons for feeling so poorly about himself to be convincing enough for me to believe that is why he engages in that behavior. I just felt disappointed. And the other aspect of his character that he changed because he met Emilia and loves her. This made me think he is a shallow character. There is nothing wrong with a character changing because of love. However, in Re: Zero, Subaru, and Emilia's dynamics leave much to be desired and problematic in many respects. I will talk more about that when I discuss the supporting cast. Subaru is also athletic. He knew martial arts and was a good runner. This conflicted with the Otaku archetype that Subaru tries to fulfill. He is good at many things but hates himself for weak reasons. An otaku character should not be so competent, at least you would think. Part of that archetype is that the character is a loser. Subaru is a loser, but a loser in a superficial way. In many ways, he feels as though he is an idealized otaku. Subaru played video games all day and did nothing with his life but is very smart and talented. Maybe that is the point, but I felt that he is too well equipped to be a "loser." Take a character like Shinji Ikari from Neon Genesis Evangelion. Many people would consider him to be a loser. But he is a loser for reasons that make sense in the context of the narrative. Shinji has legitimate reasons for behaving in pathetic ways. When Subaru acts pathetic, excuse my Reddit speak, but it is "cringe."
Re: Zero's supporting cast is horrible. Simply put, they have no autonomy. They basically cannot exist without Subaru. Emilia is the biggest offender. She continues to be milquetoast, inoffensive, and bland. Emilia has no other personality trait than being a "nice" girl. She is incapable of accomplishing anything without Subaru's help. This caused me to question is Emilia capable of becoming a ruler. The only time she has demonstrated any competency was at the beginning of the first season. Emilia continues to fail this season, accomplishing nothing. Her chemistry with Subaru is also non-existent. Their interactions either involve Subaru ignoring her wishes and saving her or some "cringe" comedy that consists of flirting. Other characters like Rem completely lose all personality and exist to make Subaru look good. Every word that came out of Rem's mouth was how great Subaru is and how he is a hero. It was tough to watch.
This season's biggest disappointment has to be the witches of sin that were hyped up the first season. Good lord, I have never been so disappointed. They were said to be pure evil, malicious, and conniving. The witches are a big joke. First, their character designs are incredibly unfitting for the role they were supposed to serve. The majority of the witches are cute lolis, with two or 3 of them looking like teenagers. They are also beautiful, which betrayed their role. I was expecting them to be adults and evil-looking, but here we get designs straight out of a harem anime. It betrays the horror of the first season. This is what we were supposed to be afraid of? And these witches are not even bad people. All the witches are attracted to Subaru and try to help him through his anguish. I was baffled by this. Why are these witches so invested in helping Subaru through his suffering? This caused me to realize that almost every female character in this show revolves around Subaru. They cannot do anything without him; they all love and adore him. These characters cannot exist without Subaru. It is pathetic wish fulfillment. I was disgusted by this. I do not hate harems, but when a show attempts to be serious, I would instead not be aspects such as wish-fulfillment in the front unless it is subversion.
Isekai continues to prove its worthlessness as a genre. It is funny because I know that there is potential for this genre. Shows and films like Now and Then, Here and There, and Spirited Away show that isekai can be amazing when done correctly. But modern writers care too much about money, too much about appealing to their audience that they fail to create anything interesting. Re: Zero was a horrible experience. I'd recommend you find something else to watch.
Reviewer’s Rating: 3
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Jan 11, 2021
Often times, when someone mentions Gundam SEED many feelings arise. Hatred. Disgust. Dislike. Disappointment. Generally, people strongly dislike this series. Common complaints are that it is too melodramatic, that the MC is a "Gary stu", that there are numerous plot holes and contrivances. But, at the core of Gundam SEED, is there a story worth telling? Is there more to this anime than its flaws and failures? After watching the show twice, I am of the mind that Gundam SEED receives far more hate than it deserves. I may get flak for this, but I think that Gundam SEED is more than the sum of
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its parts. Although it may be critically flawed in many respects, I believe that there is a powerful yet simple narrative told effectively that pays respect to the Gundam Franchise. Let's dive in.
Gundam SEED is a modern reimaging of the original Gundam which aired in 1979. As time goes by, things change. People know longer enjoy the same things, plot points, and styles. If Gundam were to modernize itself, there would have to change many things. Gundam SEED was released during the zeitgeist of Neon Genesis Evangelion. This was a period where mecha anime protagonists in particular were considered "angsty", "whiny" and "losers". Gundam SEED's protagonist, Kira Yamato, certainly fit the bill for what would be a considered a 'Shinji Ikari clone.' Gundam protagonists, although melodramatic at times, were never as emotional as Kira Yamato. With this new type (lol) of character, the entire dynamic of Gundam changed. Although SEED is in many respects a departure from previous Gundam series, it still had the soul of a Gundam anime.
Gundam SEED, at its core, is an anti-war anime. But it is also an anime dealing with topics new to the franchise such as geneticism. This is a concept introduced by Sir Francis Galton that all characteristics of a person is determined by their genetics. And that these differences are reason enough for us to hate one another. Gundam SEED tackles this idea with the right amount of nuance. There are two opposing factions, the self-proclaimed "naturals" who were born without having their genes altered, and the "Coordinators" who are products of genetic splicing. The Naturals and Coordinators are at war to decide the fate of humanity. While the naturals rule and wipe out the Coordinators? Or vice versa? The perspective of this war is shown through the eyes of teenage coordinators and naturals.
Gundam, specifically the original trilogy, has always balanced the perspectives of war with skill and grace. It is a delicate balancing act. There is a deliberate choice to show both sides of the war through a neutral lens. There is no "bad" side, just groups with opposing views. Gundam SEED is no different in this regard. Both the Earth Federation (The Naturals) and ZAFT (Coordinators) are shown to have corrupted individuals perpetuating conflict for ideological or personal reasons. Gundam SEED does well at showing both sides of the conflict and give each side legitimate reasons for fighting, no matter how warped it may seem to the viewer.
Gundam is no slouch when it comes to depicting the horror of war. Although characters, like Lacus Clyne, have a tendency to say “war is bad”, the show also shows us the destructive power of war. Gundam SEED hold no punches and even shows us children being killed during battle. This is probably one of the darker entries in the franchise, standing alongside titles such as Zeta Gundam and Victory Gundam. There is very little humor to be found in this show. Gundam SEED likes to play it straight the majority of the time to the benefit of the show. The humor in Gundam shows have always been hit or miss. Some may miss the moments of levity but I feel that the show is better off focusing on its strengths.
A common critique I would like address is the claim that SEED is melodramatic. Gundam SEED is in fact melodramatic but people fail to understand melodrama in the context of the show. The main cast is composed of mostly a group of adolescents. These are people who are not used to violence, who have never killed a person. Under the circumstances, it is understandable that they would be more “emotional” than others. They are not soldiers, although gradually, they turn into them by the end of the show. We can see that in characters like Kira who eventually learn to accept his duty as a soldier. I can understand why people do not like “melodrama”, people arguing over teenage trivialities, but in the context of the show I thought it was fine. There is nothing wrong with crying in an anime, regardless of what certain western anime may fans would have you believe.
Now SEED is not perfect. There are numerous problems with its story that prevent it from being a great anime. Its biggest offense is plot armor and contrivances. There are moments in the story where characters should have died. For example, a certain character survives an explosion when anyone else would have been obliterated. SEED is full of moments like this. People get annoyed by this and rightfully so. Another issue would be its pacing. The story drags toward the middle, with episodes that seem to go by at a snail’s pace. The combat choreography leaves a lot to be desired as well. All of the battles revolve around shooting beams back and forth, often reusing the same animation.
The biggest point of contention that people have with this show has to be Kira “Jesus” Yamato, the main character. He has been described as a “gary stu” who is overpowered and has no flaws. People also criticize him for crying too much. I have to say, this criticism holds little water to me. Throughout the show, Kira demonstrates that he is a very flawed individual. He is easily manipulated (Flay), he is indecisive, and he cries too damn much. Kira is not some perfect godlike figure that people have conjured up in their heads. He is, however, overpowered in terms of combat ability. If we were to look at all gundam pilots from every series, Kira would undoubtedly come out on top. He is the master of beam spam. The writers should have toned down Kira’s abilities because as it stands, it makes the show hard to take seriously. Take Amuro Ray in the original gundam. He is considered to be an ace pilot but even he fought difficult battles. The level of skill he displayed increased as the show went on. From the beginning of SEED, Kira is killing ace pilots left and right. The crew aboard the archangel do virtually nothing in fights. It is hard to believe he is *this* good. There is a story explanation for his skill but it is too contrived.
SEED’s supporting cast is full of likeable characters aside from *cough* *cough* Flay Allister. Athrun Zalaserves as a nice contrast to Kira’s character. Where Kira is overly emotional, Athrun demonstrates poise and composure. He struggles with his feelings in silence, battles constantly fought within him. Personally, he was my favorite between him and Kira. All cast members each add their own perspective that helps flesh out the world. Each goes through their own personal development and are entirely different from how they were in the beginning of the show. Let’s take Flay Allister. More viewers of the show will find her to be a bigoted and hateful character. And rightfully so, she is one. But as the show progresses, we see views challenged and she eventually reflects on her own beliefs. From a writing perspective, Gundam SEED sees to it that every character is given their time to shine. The show is sprinkled with little moments that develop the supporting cast. Although the cast may not be the most memorable, it is hard to say that their character arcs were left unfinished.
Maybe I have softened up in my older years. I used to have a much harsher opinion on this show. But looking at it in retrospect made me think of Gundam SEED differently. There were definitely flaws in its writing, but its message resonated with me. A simple message of overcoming hate with love. A message that if we just take a moment, we can understand each other. I think Tomino would approve of Gundam SEED. It respects the narrative traditions of Gundam while bringing it to a newer audience. I would say that if you have an open mind to give this show a try. You may not like it, but I think it is still a worthwhile experience all the same.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Dec 12, 2018
The sun shines a crimson glow on the horizon. All we see in front of us are the wastes, the remnants of a world that once was. The effects of war have stained the planet and now all that is left are us and very drops of hope left. Here we go, storing those droplets of hope as we walk towards an uncertain future.
The 1990s is considered by some to be the golden age of the Gundam Franchise. Coming off of successful entries such as 0080 and 08th team, the people at Bandai thought about expanding their property beyond the Universal Century Timeline. The fruits
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of this expansion were G Gundam, Gundam Wing, and After War Gundam X. After War is a reimaging of the One Year War if there was no Amuro or Char who existed. It takes place on a barren Earth, riddled with crime and debris. The damage that the One Year War had done on the planet can be seen from the very first episode. We are introduced to what seems like a young mercenary, Garrod Ran, taking on a mission to rescue a mysterious girl from a band of thugs. Little did he know that the girl was a newtype, a type of human being with psychic(or supernatural powers depending on the situation) and the fate of the world rests in the hands of these newtypes.
The new type portion of all Gundam shows has always been very divisive, starting with its almost random inclusion towards the end of the original Gundam. This both to the show's advantage and detriment. Symbolically, Newtypes have always represented humanity's ability to create meaningful connections on a spiritual level. To look past political differences, skin color and to see what humans are on a fundamental level. However, newtypes are abused and used for immoral purposes throughout the Gundam franchise. After War X is not an exception to this tradition. The major failing of the newtype in X has to be how the psychic abilities of newtypes are exaggerated to a point of disbelief. Say what you will about Tomino but he always made it clear what Newtypes are capable of. In X, Newtypes are essentially gods on this earth. They talk to the dead, communicate with animals(some animals are newtypes apparently) and all sorts of crazy things.
The episodic structure is similar to Gundams of past. They follow a strict formula: idle chatting -> philosophical debates -> mission introduced -> battle -> post battle reflection. If you found other Gundams to be a chore to watch, this won't change your opinion. Where After succeeds, is in the moments of reflection. The characters cast their eyes upon a dying world and try to find the reason why they fight. Some may fight for love, to escape their past, or to fight for a better future. It is in these moments, that After War becomes something special. The show has its flaws but there is a genuine warmth and tenderness lying at the center of each episode that is greatly appreciated. And interestingly this series in conversation with Tomino's prior Gundam entries. Gundam has always been a dialogue between cynicism and hope. Gundam's creator, Yoshiyuki Tomino, often times sided with cynicism and it showed in his story choices and directorial style. X adds a lot to the dialectic, often times directly challenging Gundam's creator in subtle ways. "Why don't you have hope in humanity!?" "There is going to be a better future for us." seemed to be aimed at Mr. Tomino itself. That is one thing I have always loved about Gundam, more specifically the universal century timeline, each entry was in dialogue with each other. That is something that made Gundam head and shoulders above its competition.
We all know the saying, "all that glitters is not gold" and applies to this series as well. It suffers from plodding pacing at certain points, and it was cut short of several episodes. These episodes were direly needed to make the show complete from both a narrative and thematic perspective. Long plot arcs are cut short to unsatisfying conclusions, leaving you with metaphorical blue balls. And the ending is the only seemingly contrived portion of the show due to its length. The warmth and kindness seem hamfisted and rather patronizing here.
There were also some character issues here as well. Our protagonist, Garrod Ran, is a rather underwhelming protagonist. Coming from the Gundam tradition of angsty, psychologically damaged Gundam pilots Garrod is rather milquetoast. There is nothing about him that makes him stand out from your average, run of the mill, good guy protagonist. However, what the show lacks in its protagonist, it more than makes up for in its supporting cast. Characters like the lovable mercenaries turned good guys, Roybea and Witz, is when the Gundam character tradition comes into play. They are both likable but with interesting backstories that affect everything they do. The show would have been much better if Garrod was not the main character and these two became the focus instead. Jamil Neate, the protagonist of the ship is a veteran with PTSD from the one year war. His beliefs and his guilt for his war crimes make him a pretty compelling character in his own right. The show is also lacking in the villain category. The villains, the frost brothers are two of the most boring villains in Gundam history. They lack the sociopathy of Scirocco, the wittiness, and sensuality of Haman. They are just there to seemingly make the plot move forward.
After War Gundam X is a Gundam left to the annals of history. Overshadowed by its more popular and retarded brother, Gundam Wing. It is also a case of missed potential and if it wasn't cut 12 episodes short I know it would have been a good, dare I say great entry in the Gundam franchise.
And now the sun slowly sets upon our world. Our journey was drastically cut short yet we still carry the warmth and heart of the human spirit with us.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Jul 27, 2018
Iron Blooded Orphans season 2 was a chance for the series to make a comeback. The hiatus between both seasons could have allowed the writers to much some necessary changes to the storytelling and writing that could capitalize off of the first season’s potential. Alas, knowing Mari Okada’s track record, season keeps all of the same problems while adding some new ones. But it is not all bad, Iron Blooded Orphans season 2 has the strongest moments in the entire series delivered with a startling amount of emotional resonance.
Continuing from Season 1, Tekkadan, due to their efforts in combating Gjallahorn, have received a great
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level of praise from those the world over. They became known for their unyielding spirit, even in the face of decimation. The resilience became a story that people would tell their children about to inspire them. However, with all this newfound fame comes a new hoist of problems. Where season 1 was relatively light on politics, season 2 brings us deeper into the political machinations of Gjallahorn and their cohorts. We learn about the council of seven, which was conspicuously absent from the first season which causes me to think that they made those characters up on the spot. We learn of Mcgillis’s inspiration and founder of Gjallahorn, Agnika Kaikeru and his role in creating the Gundam Frames. With all this new information, you would think this season would fix the problems from the first but you wouldn’t be more wrong.
Season 2 focuses on the younger characters in Tekkadan, the new recruits and those who never got enough screen time. One of the leaders of the pirate gang, Naze and his harem of beautiful women, the young man Takaki and Akihiro’s adopted younger brothers all receive significant focus. The character centric arcs are easily the highlight of the show. Not only do they highlight the cruelties of war and its effect on human relations, but has some of the most consistent writing. The death scenes for some of these characters are phenomenally done. Sadly, the problem where characters do not receive any follow up or further development after their arcs still persists. One would think that after all of these horrible things happen to some of these characters, eventually we would see how it changes them long term. But alas, that remains a pipe dream and to the detriment of iron blooded orphans. Strong character writing does not consist of bad things happening to characters, it also entails how they survive after the trauma. Mari Okada still does not understand this concept.
This season’s primary antagonist, Rastal Ellion on of the members of the council of seven, is a very flimsy villain. His primary motivations are never clearly defined as the philosophical underpinnings of his beliefs. Ellion only exists as an obstacle to Mcgillis Fareed and Tekkadan. All conflicts between these groups are contrived and lack an emotional punch to get the viewer invested. His henchmen are also just as weak with Qujan being a brainless idiot and Juilet an undefined henchwoman who lives to do Ellion’s bidding. None of these characters are imposing and lack the appearance of a real threat.
Another issue that carries over from the first season is the godawful world building. Seriously, Mari Okada doesn’t have a clue on how to build a fully realized world. By the end of the second season, we still know next to nothing about the calamity war aside from Gundam frames being created to stop these omnipotent A.I. controlled machines. Who created these machines? And what was the goal of war? We never know. We know next to nothing about the philosophical basis for Gjallahorn aside from it was a coalition of people who came together to end the Calamity war. Agnika Kaikeru is so poorly described he might as well be a plot device instead of a character. The writers reveal no information about this character which makes it hard to believe he was such a major influence on Mcgillis Fareed, one of the show’s main characters. This is why the show feels unfinished.
Continuing onto the main cast, the new characters are relatively interesting for the most part. Takaki’s arc dubbed “the silent war” is easily the best part of the entire series. Emotional, brutal and full of heart that made Gundam what it is today, I would say it is Mari Okada’s crowning achievement in anime. This proved to me that there is at least a glimmer of talent within her. Aside from that, the same problems especially with Mikazuki and Orga persist. We never know anything about their backstory which pisses me off to no end. How are you going to write 2 characters and allude to them having a tragic backstory but never showing it? It is insanely incompetent and I will never forgive the writers for wasting my time with all of that teasing.
Lastly, the ending is the most unsatisfying part of the show. It provides us with closure but has a hokey sentimentality that is unbefitting of the series. A show can have a happy end if it doesn’t come off as forced and sadly it came off as forced in this circumstance. Okada was too scared to give the show a dark ending so cowered into a happy ending.
“Where do the shattered dreams of warriors go?” is a lyric from the second ending of iron blooded orphans season 1. We never know the dreams of the warriors, Mika and Orga, and our dreams end up being shattered in the process. Iron Blooded Orphans was an opportunity for Mari Okada to show her writing talents but working on a legendary franchise such as Gundam. It was too great an undertaking for her and she ended up drowning in shards of dreams of both the characters and the viewers. I wish I could have good things to say about this show, but sadly I am lost for words.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Jul 25, 2018
Gundam has always been a franchise that focused on the horrors of war. It is the nightmare of existence, the human race being in a state of perpetual conflict. Throughout the franchise's history, the effects of war have been tackled from a variety of different angles. From those with autism (kamille) to brown skinned traps (Loran) but there has never been a Gundam entry that focused specifically on child warfare. The real world is rife with conflict, and in lesser developed countries, children are on the frontline. There is a saying that in war the truth dies first. This is true but there is another
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important piece missing from that saying, innocence is also the first to die. Mobile Suit Gundam Iron Blooded Orphans is the first in the franchise that focuses on a child army and the effects that war has on children. My initial hype for the premise led me to believe this show was going to be something very special. However, in actuality the gravitas of the subject was much too heavy for famed melodrama/romance writer, Mari Okada, to handle competently. Although this series spans 50 episodes, you leave with the feeling that the show was never finished.
It is 300 years after the calamity war, a conflict that utterly decimated human civilization and led to the death of billions of people. The effects of that war are still seen in the destitute conditions that our protagonists live in. Iron Blooded Orphans focuses on a group of rambunctious youths who work in a mining facility on Mars. These children were either abandoned at a young age or forced to work to pay off their family's debts. The conditions at the mining facility are brutal; the adults verbally abuse the children and beat them if they do not perform adequately. It isn't uncommon for kids to fall dead from exhaustion. The tone is well set in the beginning episodes. This changes when the mining facility is contracted to protect (for some reason) a young politician, Kudelia Aina Bernstein, who seeks to rid both Mars and Earth of economic inequality and exploitation. Unbeknownst to the kids, her life is threatened by forces who want to maintain the status quo. These people are gjallarhorn, a paramilitary organization created to prevent conflict and corrupt politicians. These kids, while mining, find an ancient Gundam frame, a mobile suit model that helped to end the calamity war. After finding the Gundam, the children become embroiled in war much bigger than themselves with their freedom and the fate of humanity rides on the success of the newly formed army, Tekkadan.
Iron Blooded orphans are divided up into several arcs with the overarching conflict of the show holding everything in place. The quality of these arcs is consistent in their mediocrity. Rarely are there any episodes which make good use of the darkness of the subject matter. There is always a feeling of levity in contrast to the direness of their circumstances. The arcs revolve around a conflict that focuses on a specific character. So the quality of the character writing directly impacts the strength of that arc. Sadly, the characters are milquetoast to say the least.
Iron Blooded Orphans has a rather large cast of characters with Tekkadan, the child army, having about 10 or so important characters and Gjallahorn having about 3 or 4. The front men of Tekkadan, Orga and Mika are the weakest protagonists in the Gundam franchise. Orga in particular is a very forgettable character. He is tasked with being the Leader of Tekkadan meaning he has to make difficult decisions that could get him or his comrades killed in battle. Although this is a reoccurring issue throughout IBO, these scenarios seldom leave any emotional impact. Orga is just boring. He can be confident when he has to be, but other than those moments he is so indecisive. IBO fails to delve deeper into the psychology of leader struggling to make decisions. Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt is a show that in merely four episodes, we can see the internal struggle of being a leader where Claudia, a fleet ship captain knowingly has to send untrained children to their deaths for the sake of the Federation. She breakdown and does drugs to cope with her guilt. There are no moments that are as nearly as impactful as that in IBO with Orga. He lacks any defining character traits that put him beyond that mold of characters of the same archetype. Every arc that he is the focal point of struggled to hold me interest merely because he is not compelling enough to be a main character.
His counterpart, Mikazuki Augus is a case of wasted potential. He behaves in a sociopathic manner. Mikazuki has no problem killing entire groups of people if it for his comrades or Orga specifically. However, the relationship that he has with Orga is never sufficiently elaborated upon so I could never understand why their bond is so close. This is especially frustrating when the entire cast get some flashback episode while the faces of Iron Blooded Orphans, Mika and Orga, never do. It feels as though the writers did not know how to making their backstory tragic enough so opted out of trying to explain it.
Despite the breadth of the cast, there are very few characters worth mentioning. We have Akihiro Atland, whom I affectionately call “Space Guts” due to his brooding aura and character design. He would have to be my favorite character out of the bunch. His backstory, where he was given up by his family to slavers to pay off their debts gave him and other like him the title of “human debris”. I would argue that the show would have been a lot better if there was a singular focus on Akihiro and others like him since they have the most interesting backstory and their stories parallel those in the real world. But, like many other characters, after Akihiro’s character arc was finished, he never got any more focus. His character remained unexplored which upset me because they could have taken him down a lot of interesting character routes. Mcgillis Fareed or “The loli lover char” could have been better if he was fleshed out more beyond his initial charm and cunning. And then we have the quintessential loli character, Atra, who is best girl.
This is where the show feeling “not finished” comes in because characters are never explored efficiently. Mari Okada is not talented enough to write a varied cast like Yoshiyuki Tomino is. She does not know how to juggle subplots and can only focus on one thing at a time. This also ties in with the show’s issue with world building. The lore of the world is not sufficiently fleshed out, meaning there are a lot of gaps in the history of the show. For example, we do not know the philosophy of Gjallahorn nor why the calamity war occurred. These things are mere afterthoughts and you know the same amount of information from the beginning to the end. The Gundam franchise, more specifically Tomino’s Gundam, had a big emphasis on political philosophy. The series were a dialogue between fascism, monarchism, and democracy. Iron Blood Orphans is brain dead in this department. The underlying philosophy of the show is literally “muh equality” with no deeper examination of why equality is good or how to realistically achieve it. Apparently, all you need in the world of IBO is naïve idealism and you can accomplish anything.
Iron Blooded Orphans is a show that I was desperately hoping to be good, considering that good entries in the Gundam franchise are far too few and between nowadays. Sadly, Mari Okada was not up to the task of living up to Tomino’s legacy. She should stick to her melodrama and leave war to someone who has the talent to survive it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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May 14, 2018
The mid to late nineties was a dark time for the Gundam franchise. After several flops for once famed director, Yoshiyuki Tomino, he seemed to be on his way out from the anime community. His interesting blend of politics, misanthropy, and cynicism was finally losing its novelty. After the poorly received Mobile Suit Victory Gundam, Tomino entered a several year hiatus. The hiatus seemed to have no end in sight until he came back in 1999 with Turn A Gundam, arguably the strongest written anime Tomino has ever produced.
Turn A Gundam is a rejection of Tomino’s prior Gundam entries in many ways. While
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it retains the anti-war message, it replaces his message of cynicism with a newfound hope in humanity’s future. It seems in his hiatus from the anime world, he was able to channel his feelings into a much more focused vision. Using all the experience from his prior endeavors as both an author and director, Turn A Gundam is the answer to both the Gundam universe and Tomino’s own personal strife. Where Zeta was cruel and bleak, Turn A is optimistic and expresses a hope in people that Tomino never had before.
Turn A Gundam follows Loran Cehack, a young man from the Moon who was sent to Earth to see if it is ready to be colonized. He spends some time with an Earth family after he was found near dead. Loran soon learns to love the Heim family and become enamored with the Earth and its culture. He tells the officials back on the moon that the Earth is ready for settlement, little did he know that this would spark a conflict that threatens the existence of the entire human race. This initial premise is vastly different from previous Gundam entries which focused on the conflict between Earth and space. Here the conflict focuses on colonizers and the colonized which is untouched territory in anime.
Turn A Gundam tackles the subject of colonization with a finesse that most other anime would not be able to pull off. It is divided into several smaller story arcs with the larger narrative of the Moonrace’s colonization of the Earth tying all these arcs together. Loran tries to balance his new love for the people of the Earth with his loyalty to the Moonrace, his birthrace. He encounters the people of Earth, the rural folk separated from society trying to make a living off farming and how colonization has impacted their livelihood. We see the small store owner who has to sacrifice his own business to placate the hostile invaders. We see the strife and pain of farming folk who lived lives untouched by war or technology. There is an intimacy in every encounter, a personal touch that other Gundam entries lack due to their epic scale of the narrative.
Like all prior Gundam entries, there is never a simple black and white dichotomy. There are those who are part of the Moonrace who also desire peace, who do not wish to see bloodshed on either side. It is this commonality that both sides share allow for moments of diplomacy. Gundam has always been highly political and Turn A Gundam is no different. There are a lot of conversations between the leaders of Earth and The Moon that are easily the highlight of the series. Gundam has always, for me, been the best political anime I have seen. It does not preach political philosophy to you; rather it presents a circumstance for its characters that can only be solved through conversation. The dialogue, which is sometimes stilted in its delivery, never ceases to be informative or well written throughout.
The art of Turn A Gundam reminds me of the American Gothic painting by Grant Wood. The color palate is full of light yellows, whites and beiges. It creates this classic Americana feeling and captures the spirit of a mid-1800s America. The art is easily one of the many highlights of the anime. The soundtrack, done by Yoko Kanno, captures both the delicate moments and the darker, tenser ones. Tracks such as Theory of the World’s Edge blends both an industrial beat with bagpipes highlighting the contrast of cultures in the form of sound. It comes together toward the end into a harmonious, luminous track that is more than music, it is an experience. There is also the track, The First Advent – God’s Scorn, which has an orchestral feeling with operatic vocals giving the track a dark, foreboding, tone. Turn A Gundam’s soundtrack ranks among Kanno’s best.
Turn A’s cast is varied in terms of character and their symbolic purpose. The protagonist, Loran Cehack, is simple to understand in terms of personality. He is a pacifist, against violence and believes that both Earthlings and the Moonrace can live in harmony. Not only does he believe that, he represents that. Loran is the bridge between the two worlds and can navigate through them, highlighting the humanity that both sides share yet ignore due animosity and ignorance. This animosity and ignorance is what caused the conflict between Newtypes and Oldtypes in prior Gundam anime. Tomino posed a question to his viewers, ‘Can people get along although they are drastically different.’ Loran is the answer to that question, a resounding yes. He may not be as complex as Kamille or Amuro but he serves a higher symbolic purpose than those characters. Not to say they are bad characters, in terms of personality and character traits I highly prefer Kamille and Amuro to Loran. But Turn A Gundam is a show where ideals supersede reality.
Dianna Soriel, the Queen of the Moonrace and her Earth counterpart, Kihel Heim, are probably the best written characters in Turn A. They switch roles early on in the story, since they are almost identical, and serve as both a way to explore their respective worlds without intrusive exposition and their respective characters. Dianna takes Kihel’s place on Earth while Kihel becomes Queen of the Moonrace. Dianna learns about humanity, interacting with the people of Earth who have had their lives ruined by colonization which Kihel learns the responsibility of a leader. These are the strongest characters in the show, not because they emulate a man’s behavior. They exude a beauty and strength associated with the female gender, the strength of compassion and conviction. The best moment in the show is a speech given by Kihel/Dianna to both the people of Earth and the Moonrace. A plea for peace so moving it nearly brought tears to my eyes. The strength of female characters, especially in the West, is associated with them being as close to a man in behavior and ability as possible, rejecting femininity. Tomino has often been accused of sexism, however, he has written arguably one of the best female characters I have seen in both anime and western fiction that maintains a feminine beauty. Kate Chopin BTFO.
Queen Dianna’s most trusted guard, Harry Ord, is a char clone on par with the Red Comet himself. He takes Char’s best attributes, wit and ambition and rejects the other flaws, arrogance and sociopathy. The flaws are what makes Char a great character but it is loyalty that makes Harry a great one as well. He could be viewed as the answer to Char as character. What Char should have been if he was not hampered by his own flaws, he would be close to what Harry is. The dialogue that is going on between these two characters also serves to tie in the many universes of Gundam.
Turn A Gundam is the answer to the Gundam Franchise, Tomino’s final call for peace. It would have been a magnificent swan song for him, ending on one of the most beautiful pieces of fiction I have seen in some time. Although there were moments that dragged, specifically the beginning, the middle and end more than make up for whatever slumps there were. Turn A Gundam is the ethos of every Gundam series converging into a single point and forming a singular identity, no longer fragmented by doubt or cynicism. I will undoubtedly be screaming “UNIVERSE” from now on.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Dec 18, 2017
The 90s were a great time in a lot of respects. The zeitgeist was different than it is now. People were more carefree and happy. It made sense for Gundam to reflect the spirit of those times. Stardust Memory is the younger, Asian brother of Top Gun, a popular Tom Cruise film which capitalized on booze, babes, planes and Val Kilmer. Stardust Memory tried emulate the best qualities of Top Gun and was relatively successful at first. But due to a change in directors, the story falls apart during the second half.
We are introduced to a young Kou Uraki and his friend, Keith Chuck. Both
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are pilots in training who laze their days away as the one year war comes to close. Gundams are starting to be produced in mass thanks to Amuro Ray’s success in battles during the One Year War. Two prototype Gundams armed with nuclear warheads are shipped to the base where Kou and Chuck are stationed. But in dramatic fashion, one of the mobile suits stole by Zeon! It is up to Kou and Chuck to get them back.
The first thing you notice about Stardust memory is the feeling of levity. The atmosphere is much less heavy than both the original and Zeta Gundam. ZZ does not exist to me. The first few episodes introducing us to the world and characters were probably the best in show. It really captured the cool, Top Gun vibe. However, midway through Stardust Memory, the show turns uncharacteristically dark to its detriment. Gundam is full of serious moments but whoever was directing forgot the feeling that the show was going for. Stardust memory was more in the vein of Mobile Suit Gundam 08th Team than Zeta Gundam. The transition was jarring and created a dissonance that bothered me the whole show. And whoever wrote the ending of the show can honestly rot in hell. The conclusion was memorable in all the wrong ways and stemmed from the characters. But we will get to that later.
The animation was fantastic in Gundam fashion. The movements were fluid and the mobile suits had a tremendous level of detail. The earth setting in Australia is probably the best suited to the Top Gun vibe they were giving off. The music reminded me of cheesy 80s romantic pop songs. The first ending, MAGIC, captured the late 80s early 90s charm. It had sensuality and cheesy but endearing lyrics about falling in love. It is a shame the early atmosphere of the show was contradicted by the show’s latter half.
Woo boy, now let’s talk about the elephant in the room. The characters in Stardust Memory were nothing short of abysmal. Kou Uraki, the protagonist, is probably the most boring character in Gundam history. He has no definable traits that separate him from anyone else. Even his best friend Keith, had a charm to him and cool glasses which made him more interesting Uraki. His character arc ended with him becoming incredibly cynical which I felt betrayed the original spirit of the show. His relationship with the cast of veteran mobile suit pilots could have easily been the best part of the show if it were not for the poor love triangle. Nina Purpleton is easily the bane of this show. Every stereotypically negative thing about a woman is engrained in her character. She is obnoxious, irrational and overemotional. And she is only defined by the men she is in love with as she has no individual traits herself. There is nothing else about her that allows her to be a good character.
Navel Gato, the Zeonic opposite of Kou could have been a great character if not for the show being split between two perspectives. He is haunted by the failures of his past in the One Year War and seeks atonement. If the show were focused on him reconciling his past with his future and trying to regain the honor he lost, Stardust Memory could have possibly been a great show. Gato’s parts we he talks about his loyalty to Zeon and his relationship with other commanders were easily the best portions of the serious side of the show. But, due to the possibly the worst twist in Gundam history, he character will forever be soiled in my mind.
The Gundam franchise has been rather inconsistent in its quality but underneath the flaws, there always was a worthwhile message. Stardust memory has none of those qualities. It is another case of unnecessary romance getting in the way of telling a good story. And there was no Val Kilmer. Mobile Suit Gundam: Stardust memory is a memory best left in the back of your mind.
Reviewer’s Rating: 3
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Jun 13, 2017
Have you ever hated someone with your very existence yet at the same time, respected them as an equal? The Gundam Franchise is a lot of things: a treatise on war, an epic about human inability to truly connect to someone else, and, most importantly, is Kamille a man’s name? But at its core, Gundam is about a rivalry between two men, Char Aznable of the Principality of Zeon and Amuro Ray, of the Earth Federation. A battle of ideals, of clashing wills and a battle for love. This epic rivalry has spanned the decades and has become a defining part of anime culture as
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a whole. Char’s Counterattack is a film where the decade-long grudge between Char and Amuro reach a conclusion. Now is this finale worthy of ending the decade-long rivalry between two of the most iconic characters in anime history?
Char’s Counterattack takes place several years after the Gryps conflict in both Zeta and Double Zeta Gundam. Char Aznable uses his immense political influence garnered in Zeta to take control of the Neo-Zeon movement but make it more in line with his father, Zeon Rem Daikun, ideological vision. In order to counter this insurgency, the Earth Federation creates a task force called Londo Bell with pilot Amuro Ray and former commander of the White Base, Bright Noa, at the helm. The iconic rivalry is sparked once again as Amuro and Char fight for the fate of the Earth.
Unfortunately, the grandiosity of the premise is lost in this two-hour long movie. There are so many problems with the writing, more specifically the pacing. We are introduced to characters at a breakneck speed, not being able to truly learn about their personality and their motivations. Moments that are supposed to be emotionally impactful are merely glossed over as the film callously transitions to the next scene. The editing of this movie is very poor, to say the least. Every scene transitions at something of a frantic pace where it becomes very easy to lose track of events occurring.
A large portion of the movie is dedicated to exposition. I would estimate around 40 to 50 percent of the film is just characters recounting events. As opposed to showing us what happened to Char during his five-year retreat, we are told what happens to him. Anime is a visual medium first and foremost. As opposed to a character telling us what happened, we should be able to see what happens in the form of flashbacks or some imagery associated with the dialogue. The lack of visuals during these sometimes emotional exposition scenes creates an emotional disconnect with the events that preceded the film. This, in turn, makes any changes that the characters go through due to those events lacking gravitas.
The only thing that saves this film from being a total disappoint, has to be the last 20-30 minutes of the film. In typical Tomino fashion, the finale is packed with emotional resonance, drama, tension, and despair. The fight scenes are well choreographed, the music suiting each scene. The finale is arguably the clearest and concise part of the movie. It felt as though it is the only part of the movie that Tomino really got to convey all the themes of Gundam in a grandiose yet poignant conclusion. It is a shame that this level of talent was displayed in the other portions of the film. In the end, this felt like a movie of compromises as opposed to someone’s unfiltered artistic vision.
The animation is beautiful and still holds up remarkably well even today. There were no reused scenes like in most Gundam series and it maintains a very crisp look. I appreciate the character designs even more when compared to how goofy some anime characters look today. The battle scenes were phenomenal and truly captured the chaos of the battlefield.
I would argue that the worst part of this film has to be the inclusion of new characters. None of them are remotely interesting and represent the worst of the archetypes scene in Gundam. Quess being the most flagrant offender in all of this. Her character seems so erratic that everything she does isn’t based on any logic and is rather done on a whim. She has no strong convictions and when the film tries to proclaim she does, it comes off as shallow. She has no moral framework for any of her actions and behaves with reckless abandon for everything and everyone around her. There isn’t enough time for the film to establish her character so she becomes a bland and more revolting outline of Reccoa from Zeta Gundam. A character who, without an in-depth look into her personality would have been the ultimate dramatic contrivance. Quess succumbs to that fate. Gyunei is basically Kamille with all the interesting contradictions and personality removed. He adds nothing to the film and is just a stand in for Kamille.
Some people take issue with how Char has been characterized in this film. Frankly, I think his character is the glue that holds this film together. Nothing Char does is out of character when you look at his past behavior in other series. Char has always been selfish and manipulative. What he does in this film is nothing different from the norm. There are moments in this film where we are able to look closer into Char’s mind than ever before. We get to learn his true feelings on Amuro, Lalah, the war and his responsibility to maintain his father’s legacy and how it weighs down on him. All the series combine and result in the complex layering of Char’s character that is present in this film. It is a shame we do not get enough time with the product of all this development and characterization. I can understand why people have an issue with Char’s seemingly radical change in character. It is because we do not see what led up to him rekindling this conflict. This disconnect is what makes people think that Char’s character was defiled in some way. The tragedy of this is, if there was a build up to him establishing Neo-Zeon there would not have been an issue.
This film is a major disappointment. This is not a worthy send-off to the most iconic rivalry in anime. The only thing saving this film from utter disaster is the finale and even that cannot erase the entirety of this film. If you are a fan of the Gundam Series, more specifically the Universal Century line, you will be immensely disappointed. However, I would still recommend this film so there can be some semblance of closure.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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May 11, 2017
The Gundam franchise continued to gain massive popularity due to the release of zeta Gundam. Its depiction of its heroes as flawed individuals who tried to reconcile their selfish desire with their sense of duty was a potent combination. In order to capitalize on his new found success, Tomino made ZZ Gundam which takes place right after the finale of Zeta Gundam. However, this entry into the franchise has to be the weakest one yet.
Mobile Suit ZZ Gundam follows a group of misfits on a junkyard colony called Shangri-la. The Argama, the battleship which housed Kamille Bidan and Bright Noa from Zeta Gundam, dock the
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ship there to get repairs. However, they brought remnants of the war onto this colony and it disrupts the lives of our protagonists. And there is the ever looming threat of Neo-Zeon led by Haman Karn and her plans to conquest the galaxy.
The first you immediately notice is the glaring change in tone from Zeta Gundam. While Zeta Gundam had a very dense and dark tone, especially toward the end of the show, ZZ Gundam is much more light-hearted than its predecessor. This is much to the detriment of the show. The change of tone, in the beginning, is refreshing but its novelty quickly wears thin as the show progresses. You expect things to become more serious as we learn about the major threat that Haman poses to the galaxy but that tonal shift never truly comes. There are moments where the show becomes serious but quickly returns to that light-hearted tone.
Another thing you may notice is the focus on comedy. Tomino decided he wanted to be a comedian and dedicated every 5 minutes to some slapstick humor. This ends up in a lot of hit or miss jokes, and the jokes mostly miss. The problem with the humor in this show is it is largely the same jokes being repeated without different execution. And the humor revolves around its characters and their personality flaws but if you do not like the characters, which I didn’t, the jokes become very grating as time goes on.
Since this is a show directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, you can expect some character deaths. But the death scenes in the show were so poorly done as well as the scenes leading up to the deaths themselves, you will think ‘what the hell was he thinking?’ There is no emotional buildup to the deaths which makes the scenes themselves lack any impact. And spoilers, the characters you want to die end up living for the whole show. This left a very bad taste in my mouth as Tomino usually knows who to kill off in his anime.
The art for this show remains high quality and very consistent. There are few moments where the animation falters and designs lack detail but those moments are few and between. There are also a lot of reused scenes but they are mostly the transformation scenes with the occasional scene from the Zeta Gundam opening being reused.
Now let us talk characters. Tomino is known for making its cast relatively unlikable to the average viewer. They come off as reckless, hostile and sometimes idiotic. But these traits fall in line with their prior characterization and make a larger point about how immaturity has no place in actual combat. Also, their actions also came with consequences which add a layer of believability to the world and weight to their decisions. Forget about all of that in Double Zeta Gundam. The characters in this show are extremely unlikable, but they are written in such a way that we are supposed to like them. The show focuses on their comical hijinks more often than not and the humor is largely centered on their character. But these characters are so unlikable it becomes infuriating to watch them. And worst of all, with all their selfish decisions, almost everything goes their way. They never have to suffer for their selfish deeds and are often rewarded for it. This throws out everything that made Zeta Gundam so successful. This is especially true of Mondo and Beecha, my two most hated characters in the Gundam series thus far. These characters are spoiled and they never learn anything meaningful throughout the show. The gravity of their circumstances never causes them to have a major realization of life or themselves or their sense of duty. The majority of the cast treats everything so flippantly that you will undoubtedly be angered by almost everything they do.
Another issue is the villains do not seem like believable threats for the most part. For the majority of the show, the villains come off as comical almost like Scooby Doo villains. You can practically hear them saying, “And I would’ve gotten away with it too if it weren’t for those darn kids!” every time their plans are foiled. But what the show does to Haman Karn is very upsetting. She still maintains the elegance, beauty, and intelligence that she had in Zeta Gundam. But the show makes it seem like surrounds herself with idiots on purpose which contradicts her planning nature. But still, she remains the best character in this show.
Next is Judau Ashta, the pilot of the Double Zeta Gundam and the character that is most focused on in the show. All of those traits present in most of the main cast are present in him but to a lesser degree to where he becomes tolerable. One of the major issues I had was the bastardization of Bright Noa. What was a once a proud and valiant leader during the pivotal battles of the Gundam franchise, was now an impotent babysitter. The kids that he has to take care of are constantly ignoring him and humiliating him to a point where it becomes sad to watch.
Is Mobile Suit Double Zeta Gundam Worth a watch? I would say no. It does not add anything substantial to the lore of the universe nor does it have any interesting characters. Watching 47 episodes becomes a test of one’s patience. The best thing for you to do if you are that interested is to read the plot summary on Wikipedia so you know what happens. Tomino, you done messed up now.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Apr 29, 2017
“Kamille’s a man’s name! And I’m a MAN!!!”
Well, that is a way to start a show.
The Gundam Franchise has become a staple of Japanese Culture. It is the anime responsible for making giant robots fighting each other, a thing. By this point, the franchise is nearly 40 years old and today it is still culturally relevant with each new entry selling head and shoulders above its peers. My most recent foray into the past was with the original Mobile Suit Gundam released in 1979. It was a good show but was weighed down by pacing issues and the concept of ‘Newtypes’ that I did
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not feel was sufficiently explained. Going into Zeta Gundam, I have anticipated it being much darker than its predecessor as it is this series where Gundam creator, Yoshiyuki Tomino, gained the nickname ‘Kill’em All Tomino’. Zeta Gundam is dark but I have to say, it is probably one of the strangest anime I have seen thus far.
It is the year 0087 UC, 8 years after the end of Earth Federation’s war the Principality of Zeon. The Earth Federation became corrupted due to their complacency during the aftermath of the war and founded a Group called the Titans, an elite task force whose sole purpose is the decimation of the remnants of the Zeon Empire. They are known for their cruelty and take advantage of their position to attain anything they desire. In response, a rebel group called the AEUG is formed with its sole purpose being the destruction of the Titans and to attain rights for the Spacenoids. The story follows a young man named Kamille Bidan, who is dragged into the AEUG and tries to discover what is principles truly are and his place in this galaxy of war.
A major difference between Zeta Gundam and the original Gundam is its sense of scale. The original Gundam felt much more expensive due to the battles being held with battalions and large numbers of soldiers. Zeta Gundam’s story is told during skirmishes and covert ops which make the sense of scale smaller and allows a much more intimate story. The lack of a singular goal in the narrative may make the plot feel meandering but too much surprise, the story is well told to an extent. Time never feels wasted and nothing drags along like in the original Gundam. But my main issue with the story has to be its pacing. The show moves along so fast, scene transitions come off abrupt and may leave a bad taste in your mouth. The pacing also removes some of the impacts of the deaths of some important characters and how they impact other characters. It felt rather jarring. And there are moments where the execution of more series scenes made me laugh due to the poor visual execution of the scene or the sequence of events leading up to it.
One of the strangest things about Zeta Gundam is, there are some heartfelt moments in here. I never thought Tomino was capable of that kind of sentimentality in his anime. There are at least one or two moments in this show where characters just ruminate on events and you can feel the pathos. These moments are some of the best in the show. And the ending is probably one of the most empty and borderline nihilistic and bleak outlooks I have seen in a show since texhnolyze. Hell, the last 10 episodes are such an insane whirlwind of emotions.
The cast of Zeta Gundam is indeed the crux of the show, more specifically, the main character Kamille Bidan. I have never met a character more selfish, reckless, petty, brash and stupid as him. And yet, I have never been more enamored with a character like this. Although he is all these things, he always maintains a strong sense of self and principle throughout the main experiences he has in the story. He is probably one of the least likable characters in an anime that I had to watch, yet I like him nonetheless.
The cast is just as vain as Kamille which will leave you grating your teeth in rage at any moment. During my first watch through of the show, I hated it. I did not understand why these characters were so selfish and illogical, until I decided to think it over. All the characters in this show are written in a specific way and every action, even illogical, is a byproduct of their own personality. The characters behave in selfish ways because that is who they are; it is not because the plot dictates them to behave that way. By understanding that, it made my appreciation of the show that much greater.
Characters from the original Mobile Suit Gundam make their appearance as well. Char Aznable returns and we are able to get a deeper look into his character than ever before. Behind the man known as the infamous Red Comet, is someone who is strongly principled and wants to live life on his own terms and no one else. His longtime rival, Amuro Ray, makes a return and his character arc is perhaps my favorite in the show. He struggles with PTSD from the One Year War and makes him fearful to pilot a mobile suit. There was a particular scene where he begins trembling as he goes to pilot a mobile. Zeta is sprinkled with little moments like this that add to the depth of its cast.
Zeta Gundam is a show that you need sit on for a while in order to appreciate. The more you think about the relationships, the characters, the relationships and the moments of silence, the more you gain a deeper appreciation for what the show is trying to accomplish as a whole. Yes, there are moments that are patently ridiculous and you will want to laugh out loud but it is offset by the brutally depressing moments that give the show its sense of equilibrium. I can’t guarantee you will like Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam on your first viewing, but if you give it a chance, maybe you will understand that Kamille’s a man’s name and Kamille is, indeed a man.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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