Wednesday, April 19, 2017

T5W#88-Top 5 Non Gundam Pilots


Everyone should know that when it comes to Mobile Suits, the suits themselves may look cool.  However it’s the man (or woman) behind the controls who can really make it dance.  While there are plenty of Gundam pilots out there, todays Top 5 is dedicated to the people who can make normal Mobile Suits stand out on the battlefield.  For criteria purposes, none of the following characters have ever stepped inside a Gundam.  They have to have piloted a mass produced model on either side of the conflict to qualify.  That means some favs like Zechs Merquise from Gundam Wing wont make the cut, cause even though he’s awesome for piloting the Tallgeese, Zechs did get his own Gundam towards the end of the show.  So on we go, my Top 5 Non Gundam Pilots.

 

#5-Sergei Smirnov (Mobile Suit Gundam 00)
The Wild Bear of Russia, so he has two cool names.  Be it his cool voice or his air of veterancy, or the cool scar on his face, Sergei stood out immediately when he popped up in Gundam 00.  He seemed a bit too kind hearted at times.  But that never stopped him from entering the fray and even challenging the Gundams themselves if the need did arise.  Outside of the cockpit is where he shinned the most, especially when it came to caring for his surrogate daughter, Soma Pierres.  Even in the worst of times, Sergei can see the humanity in children made to be weapons and help them rediscover their humanity…screw what his son Andre thinks, this guy is a great dad.

 

#4-South Burning (Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory)
If 0083 is the “Top Gun” of Gundam, then Burning is easily the Viper of the show, well maybe a combination of Viper and Jester.  This guys got a lifetimes worth of Mobile Suit experience and, while his training may seem a bit severe, it does pay off…God only know how Kou got any skill but I guess that’s thanks to this guy.  I could easily see Burning piloting a Gundam way back in the day.  Instead he settled for one of the sweet new GMs of the 0083 era.  And man is he a bad ass in it.  He can dance circles around Uraki (even with his GP01 Full Vernian) and he can even take on Cima Garahau on equal footing.  As it stands now, Burning is probably the best Federation character on Gundam 0083 and that is far from a bad thing.

 

#3-Treize Kushrenada (Mobile Suit Gundam Wing)
It’s hard to think of this guy as a villain but he’s done some pretty terrible things in his rise to power.  Still, Treize is one incredible leader and has the charisma to bring a planet together to defend itself.  Oh and he takes on remote control Mobile Dolls with only a Leo to prove a point…and he survives (granted that Leo had more armor on it than normal or maybe…idk it’s a cool but strange scene).  But for all his speeches and philosophys, Treize isn’t one to totally sit on the sidelines.  His Tallgeese II may not be as cool as the OG Tallgeese (or the Tallgeese III he was apparently building that got used in Endless Waltz) but cudos to the guy who actually lead the world into battle against a former friend and his Skynet drones.  Plus he has a cape…girls love the cape.

 

#2-Norris Packard (Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team)
“Not bad for a Feddy…BUT I BET YOURE NOT READY FOR THIS!!!”
Norris makes it so high on this list because, while he was seen in brief action a couple of times prior, his biggest claim to fame is at the tail end of 08th MS Team.  With minimal ammo and the knowledge he wont be coming back alive, he heads out to take on the 08th Team and the Guntanks they’re guarding single handidly…and he kicks everyones ass six ways to Sunday.  He may gloat every once in a while but Norris never comes off as a jerk.  He is 100% dedicated to Aina and her mission to evacuate her base.  To that end, he shows the 08th Team the true meaning of the term “Ace Pilot” and gives us one of the greatest battle in all of Gundam history. 

 

#1-Char Aznable (Mobile Suit Gundam)
Was it going to be anyone else?  So much of Gundam’s amazing history, especially in the villains department, is owed to this Darth Vader mask wearing king of the badasses.  He can take on armies all on his own with one red sporting suit.  He can inspire loyalty through sheer charisma.  He can make women of all ages swoon (some of inappropriate age butttttttt that’s not here or there).  Oh and he’s been piloting Mobile Suits since he was a kid.  The history of Char from The Origin, through Mobile Suit Gundam, Zeta Gundam and Char’s Counterattack is one of the most complete character arcs across the nearly 40 year franchise and he has yet to be topped in the villains department.  What’s more, you know he’s the bad guy but you will still root for him.  Few can match his popularity and man CANNOT match his skill in a Mobile Suit.  Just imagine if he did get behind the controls of a Gundam…and yes I know the suit he pilots in Zeta was meant to be a Gundam but, much like Cima’s Gebera Tetra in 0083, it never made it that far so it doesn’t count for me.

Huh, guess I should close it out with Top 5 Gundam Pilots next week…we’ll see.

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