Oh boy, it seems that in 400 years, Allah has died and been replaced by either Kami or God.
Still, I like how this series turned the middle-East into the worst battlefield on the planet. It does make sense somehow, although I would have liked to see a bit more development from the regular citizens. Right now, it seems like the country is full of bloodthirsty hounds. This episode makes a very small attempt to show something beyond these stereotypes when Setsuna walks in the middle of a street of Azadistan, but it’s not enough.
I’m also not sure what Sumeragi is thinking, sending Lockon alone towards the battlefield. The guy is a sniper, but he’s horrible against moving and unpredictable targets, as the past episodes have shown us. Isn’t there some kind of plan for when an enemy gets close enough to him? That’s really a major hole in the strategy of the Gundams, and knowing Tieria, I’m really surprised how nobody seems to notice this.
In any case, this was an Azadistan-episode. Both Marina and Setsuna got a lot of screentime. Marina is getting more helpless by the minute, though, and I just can’t help but compare her to Relena from Gundam Wing. Please don’t let her end up as queen of the world in the future episodes and just stick to her own country. I liked Setsuna, surprisingly. He ends up back at the place where he first saw the Gundams, and tries to recreate that scene for the kids who are now fighting… and fails. I like how he doesn’t go completely emo and is able to reflect on his own actions. But yeah, that doesn’t solve the problem that he’ll probably go back to his old tricks as soon as he meets up either Marina or his long-haired acquaintance.
Oh, and Saji is getting more and more friendlier with Louise’s mother. What the heck this has to do with the main storyline is beyond me, though.
I hear you on Sumeragi’s lack of common sense. That’s two tactical errors she’s made in the last four episodes alone. I know she’s only human, but really, this is a bit ridiculous.
And I’m almost certain now that the Saji and co. storyline is to introduce Louise’s parents – more specifically, her father. First Kinue mentions that she’s looking for people with doctorates who’ve disappeared over the last two centuries, and then Louise and her mother have a little altercation over whether or not Louise’s father is still alive. Yeah, um, definitely a little fishy there.
What I’m kind of annoyed about, though, is that it took so freaking long for them to get to this point! xD
nice theory there irene on the family connection….i didn’t pickup on that possibility…was too busy being annoyed with saji and company… 🙂
this is going to 40+ episodes and we at 12….so i am trying to be patient about how things unfold…enjoying it so far….right now it has a gundam wing vibes (and i still have that series as the best of gundam series to date imho – with more adults and not peppered with kids everywhere)…so hopefully this takes its place…
Erh Sumeragi didn’t send out Lockon and Setsuna in this mission, since the Ptolemaios only recieved word of the situation in Azadistan after the coup had already begun.
Kurik
Just watch Zeta Gundam and you will see what really is an adult plot. Gundam Wing just sucks with his all powerfull gundams and annoying caracters. Nothing compares to the original series, with a climax in Zeta Gundam.
It is so good that recently 3 movies were made, making a resume of the series. I only recomend the movies to the people who already watched the series, as the final is diferent (less interesting) and many things are rushed. Other things are some caracters voices which were changed, giving another feeling to them (and I didnt like it).
Just watch it. You wont be disapointed!
And I recomend it to anyone who wants to see why gundam became such a name in the anime industry.
gundam 00 looks promising. political play, battlefield strategies, multiple perspectives, local problems, action-reaction thingy and other things most of its other franchise failed to mention. it’s all there. it’s not yet great but the base to greatness is there. hope that it wont end with a grand battle like any other mecha series. tired of it.
and the best 3 gundam series for me are still: 08th ms team, war in the pocket and gundam igloo.
I don’t know about zeta gundam (mentioned above), but Mobile Suit Gundam : 008th MS Team and Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket are both extremely good. They’re both far more “adult” and have better orchestrated battles.