Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn Part 2-Episode 3 & 4

The search for Laplace’s Box takes Banagher and Audrey, revealed to be the sole heir to the Zabi family, Mineva Zabi, into the very history of the Universal Century itself.  Supported by the crew of the Nahel Argama and pursued by Neo Zeon, the two youngsters ponder the secrets of the box and who’s hands it would be better off in.  Soon, Banagher falls to Earth with a Neo Zeon crew.  As Banagher learns more about his “enemy”, the Earth bound remnants of Zeon begin to rise again under Full Frontal’s banner of revenge.  As new players enter the stage and the plot thickens, Banagher and Mineva must discover for themselves what they are fighting for. 

Reaching the mid point of Gundam Unicorn, I can say im both loving this series but also finding a lot of things that are just driving me crazy with frustration about it.  The production quality is there and the scope is definitely worthy of a Gundam title. But the characters and their motivations are just plain infuriating at times.

The animation keeps getting better and better with each new episode.  I can see why episodes were coming out six months to almost a year in between entries.  The action scenes in the Laplace Colony and the Battle of Torrington are some of the best looking Gundam battles I have ever seen.  There’s hardly even a bad fusion of the 3D and 2 D drawing styles.

These middle episodes were littered with call backs and shout outs to previous Gundam entries.  Last time we got the revelation that Audrey is Mineva Zabi.  This time we find out that Marita is actually a long lost clone of Puru from Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ with one of the most tragic histories of any character.  This was a sad toned but still fun reveal that helps tie this universe together.  We also got to revisit some familiar places on Earth such as Dakar, also from ZZ and Zeta, and we had an all out war in Torrington, the starting point of Gundam 0083.  In both episodes we visited two locations key to opening Lapalace’s Box.  The Laplace Colony is where it all started and Torrington is where the Colony drop that helped define the atrocities of the One Year War took place.  Guess the throw backs are meant to be here for a reason and I’m sure we’ll see more of them before the end.  The call backs were strongest in two points.  First, there was the call to arms amongst Zeon’s Earth trapped troops.  Seeing all of those ancient mecha rise up from their long time hiding places, some looking as old as the One Year War mobile suits, was a mecha fans dream come true.  It’s also great they could still kick a little ass. 

Second, we got the long awaited and welcome return of Bright Noa.  For those who don’t know, Bright has been around since the original series.  He’s fought in four different wars up til this point and in each has commanded that conflicts premiere Gundam pilots (Amuro Ray in the One Year War and Second Neo Zeon War, Kamille Bidan in the Titans War and Judau Ashita in the First Neo Zeon War).  Therefore, this guy knows a thing or two about battle and about Gundams.  We didn’t get to see much of his reaction to Banagher’s Unicorn Gundam (though like Episode 2, everyone freaked out when the new Gundam appeared) but I’m looking forward to Bright possibly mentoring another young Newtype Gundam pilot (let’s face it, Banagher might as well be a Newtype by this point).  I especially love that Bright has a picture of Amuro in his office.  As of this point, it’s unclear what truly happened to Amuro and Char at the end of Char’s Counterattack but it’s safe to assume they’re more or less dead.  It’s smile worthy seeing that photo, knowing where Bright and Amuro started in the original series with an antagonistic relationship.  Also, cudos to Bright for calling Riddhe out on his “special treatment” bs…yeah let me just get into that right now.

Riddhe is my Graham Acker of Gundam Unicorn.  He’s mind is swayed way too easily and he basically throws himself at Mineva just seconds after calling her out on her heritage to Zeon. He’s even asked her to marry him?  I think by this point Mineva is 16 (?) call me crazy but im sure Riddhe is a bit older and therefore, this is way too creepy.  I wont say I disagreed with Riddhe in that Loney needed to be stopped in her (METAL GEAR?!!!!) mobile armor even if Banagher got through to her at the last second.  But that doesn’t excuse that Riddhe has no direction, zero likeability, and seems like he is only getting worse with every moment he shows up on screen.  “The only person giving you special treatment here is you,” Words by Bright Noa, get over yourself Riddhe.  At least he doesn’t want to f*** a Gundam like Graham did…ewww.  Speaking of Mineva, she got some good moments in Episode 4.  Her diner chat with an old Earther was well done and sold Mineva as the leader Zeon deserves, more than Char, more than her previous generation Zabi family.  I can see why everyone is so taken with her…just not sure why theyre willing to throw everything away without a second thought like Banagher and Riddhe…l’amour I guess?

Banagher id say is getting a little better and I cant help but wonder if Amuro was as whiny and indecisive at this point in his early Gundam career.  I get that the Gundam is meant to be a symbol or peace and hope for whichever side has it.  But it’s also got a helluva lot of power to it.  Banagher could have easily crippled the Metal Gear Mobile Armor without killing Loney when it was OBVIOUS she was way too gone to be talked down.  Banageher’s been in a couple of fights already with casualties.  You’d think he’d be dealing with that better considering he bounced back between Otto and Daguza in on the Nahel Argama and then to Zimmerman on Earth.  He’s got a ton of positive idealists to listen too.  My thoughts of Zimmerman being the Ramba Ral of this series aren’t too far off.  He’s a soldier who follows order but not without remorse or resentment in what he knows isn’t right.  His and Banagher’s mini scuffle was fun, especially when Zimmerman’s crew just sat there and watched it happen.  Who knows maybe it opened the eyes of both men a bit. 

And so we close 2015 out with Banagher at his new low point, unable to save a cursed Zeon pilot and with a Black and Gold Gundam Unicorn descending upon him.  Did the Laplace program kick in with a new clue amongst the chaos of the Torrington fight or did I miss it?  Either way, we’re left at one helluva cliffhanger until early February when I return with the second half of the series.

Thanks all for understanding this little break in Gundam and Ghost in the Shell Arise reviews.  2015’s been a great year for this little blog, but I’ll get more into that in a little while.  See ya in 2016 everyone.