Not even being subtle

Also in the same scene they allude to a coming Zeon civil war (classic fascist infighting), which kinda adds higher stakes to Challia’s quest to find the Red Comet.

Another banger episode, although we just speed ran a whole bunch of UC tropes all at once. Shiiko’s a pretty good antagonist, and the stuff that happens in this episode is really going to push the main cast in interesting directions, so I’m all for what they’re putting down even if it’s a bit familiar- Tsurumaki was really channeling his inner Tomino in that (admittedly very cool) dogfight, right down to the comic panel cut-ins and dialogue.

(Also, something tells me that if they’re in a rush to get through all this kind of story stuff early on, that they’re planning some wild swings later, but that’s just a hunch).

Remember,

  • JoeByeThen [he/him, they/them]@hexbear.net
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    8 days ago

    Idk about it. Obviously, cool fights, pretty pictures, etc. but it feels like they’re not putting enough work into onscreen character development? Machu fawning over Shuji feels forced, perhaps because he’s such an empty shell. NGL i find myself caring much less about Machu than I did Suletta.

    As homework, I finished up the third compilation movie last night. So hopefully I’ve got enough background now, but I’m now realizing SEED was just a beat for beat retelling of that story. 😅

    • LaGG_3 [he/him, comrade/them]@hexbear.net
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      7 days ago

      So hopefully I’ve got enough background now

      I feel like the mandatory watching for Gundam is the original Tomino stuff: Mobile Suit Gundam (TV is better, but compilation movies are OK), Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ, Char’s Counterattack. Everything else is usually working with thematic elements from this “core” bit of the franchise. It’s also all pretty great anime.

      As homework, I finished up the third compilation movie last night. So hopefully I’ve got enough background now, but I’m now realizing SEED was just a beat for beat retelling of that story. 😅

      And SEED Destiny is a shit retelling of Zeta Gundam lol. I haven’t watched that new Freedom movie yet - haven’t wanted to inflict terrible anime on myself recently.

    • CriticalOtaku [he/him]@hexbear.netOP
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      7 days ago

      This is the director of FLCL, so we’re going at a heck of a break neck pace (me personally I’d rather take it slow) and he’s leaving a lot of character work up to interpretation and understated, but imo it’s there. A lot of Machu/Shuji’s relationship is her projecting her own desire for freedom onto him more than anything else (the entire scene with Nyaan by the canal), where even she realizes later this ep that she doesn’t truly know anything about him.

      Yeah you should be good as far as background now, the rest of UC is just gravy, although maybe Char’s Counterattack would be cool if you’re up for it? Idk.

      Seed was a rehash of the original Gundam except they went through the floorboards and removed all the cool leftist subtext and replaced it with techno-liberalism, and I really really hate Seed for that even if objectively it’s a mid show at worst and not really worth the ire.

      • JoeByeThen [he/him, they/them]@hexbear.net
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        7 days ago

        Yeah you should be good as far as background now, the rest of UC is just gravy, although maybe Char’s Counterattack would be cool if you’re up for it? Idk.

        Pretty sure the reason I have it downloaded is because, to me or someone else, you recommended the compilation movies and Char’s counterattack as bare minimum to catch up. stalin-approval

    • CriticalOtaku [he/him]@hexbear.netOP
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      7 days ago

      Hey, at least it’s on brand.

      That said, this seemed more of the classic “Vet with PTSD haunted by the past throws away normal life to find closure on the battlefield in a tragic manner”, it just so happened the character was a woman… which probably is it’s own can of worms I’m not ready to unpack. Hurray for gender equality?

      • LaGG_3 [he/him, comrade/them]@hexbear.net
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        7 days ago
        speculation, possible spoiler adjacent

        I would not be surprised if there’s some kind of Zeta style “ghost parade” involved with the Red Gundam. It’s clearly somehow linked to Lalah’s spirit, and I’m guessing that Shīko may be facing a similar fate.

  • Arahnya [they/them, fae/faer]@hexbear.net
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    7 days ago

    They’re really scratching my brain with all the throwbacks. The sights, the sounds, and now The Witch & how her character played out. I’m enjoying this soo much ☺️