T5W#102-Top 5 Dumbest Things Relena Does in the Beginning of Gundam Wing

Relena Peacecraft.  For many of us, she was the first Gundam girl we ever saw.  And back then, some of us might have tolerated her.  During my recent rewatch of Gundam Wing (currently being reviewed), ive come across a horrifying revelation…Relena is an idiot in the first half of this series.  And I’m not talking innocent mistakes, no im talking she’s full blown psychotic to the max.  Everytime she’s on screen, it’s not a matter of “if” she’ll do something stupid, it’s a matter of “what” and “when”.  What do I mean by this?  Well enjoy todays comedy filled Top 5 as I detail the Top 5 Dumbest Things Relena Does in the Beginning of Gundam Wing.  This covers the first 25 episodes of the show, just FYI so there might not be a lot of spoilers ahead for the episodes to come, we’ll see though.

 

#5-Kicking the OZ/Romafeller Hornet’s Nest (Episode 11 & Episode 14)

Following the death of her father, Relena seems to develop a more rebellious streak.  When she isn’t stalking her dream boy, Heero, she’s secretly plotting revenge against the organization that killed her dad.  Which is all well and good…but Relena is far from killer material.  Twice she tries to piss off OZ, not knowing she’s in a room full of OZ supporters who could probably mow her down…and do us all a favor in the process.  The first time is when she has Lady Une dead to rights and proves she’s good at hitting roses off people’s chests but not killing them in the process, smooth.  Then there’s the Romafeller event Noin takes Relena to.  After an epic speech from Duke Dermail, Relena goes on stage and pulls a Kanye, saying Romafeller sucks and the Gundams are the real winners.  Had this come from anyone elses mouth, Id be fine with it.  But it’s Relena and, at this point, her mini speech comes off as more of a true teenage angst filled rant.  Had Treize not been there to intervene, Relena might not have survived her visit to the room of aristocratic old farts.  Also that outfit she wears to the event is criminal.  She’s got nice legs and she’s not doing her looks any favors dressing like a dude, unless she’s trying to crossplay Heero and I wouldn’t put that past her.

 

#4-Would the Post Office Hire Her…Maybe? (Episode 16)

When Relena receives a letter from Field Marshall Noventa’s wife meant for Heero, youd better believe Relena’s gonna make sure her man gets his mail.  Now, there are many ways to deliver important messages to people: email, text, hell pick up the phone and call them.  FLYING INTO THE MIDDLE OF A MOBILE SUIT DUEL (and just narrowly avoiding being hit by a beam saber btw) is not the way to accomplish your mission.  Heck, what about her butler?  Is he getting paid enough to get his ass burned to death just so Relena can make Heero listen to a letter?  I think Heero’s reaction to Relena’s arrival says it all, “YOURE IN THE WAY. GET LOST!!!”

 

#3-Stalker Mode Activate (Episode 9)

When Relena does this the first time, it freaked me out.  Just how the freaking hell did she find out which school Heero had transferred to following his ditching (and kind of destroying) their old school?  Granted we find out she has a super butler later on but still, this is beyond just damn creepy and stupid.  “She’s not your average chick, tracking down the guy who wants to kill her,” Duo says to Heero.  EXACTLY and we haven’t even gotten to that bit yet (guess what #1 probably is). 

 

#2-Running around with a pocket sized bomb (Episode 5)

Ok, ok, this one’s a little unfair.  Relena didn’t know that the locket Lady Une left outside her fathers meeting room was housing a powerful explosive.  Still, she was running around with the thing well into it’s ten minute countdown.  I guess my issue is that if Relena had just waited innocently a bit longer, she could have rid the show of a key villain and herself in one, unintended swing…l know Heero would have laughed.

 

#1-“Ill Kill You” “I love you”

I said in my first review that Relena’s character seems like the archtype for everyone favorite end joke of Young Adult literature, Bella Swann from Twilight.  Much like YA’s dumbest dumb ass “heroine” Relena encounters a boy of immense mystery and flawless charm (Tearing up notes and wipping away tears, Heero Swag OVER 9000!!!).  But, one Heero (and therefore Edward, if we want to keep this comparison going), informs Relena/Bella that he’s going to kill her/he’s a vampire…RELENA IS IMMEDIATLEY TURNED ON!!!  She doesn’t go to the cops, try to talk to her friends or her father about this.  Nope, she becomes obsessed with Heero’s every move: What’s his next mission?  What’s he doing right now?  Is he ever going to come and kill her?  Only those with some seriously messed up psyches fall for a man who wishes to bring about their demise.  For Relena Peacecraft, that’s just foreplay.  I bet if she ever does get together with Heero, she’ll ask him to bring a loaded gun with them to bed…and ill let that little train of thought stop right there.

And despite all of this, as hard as it is to believe, Relena does get better as a character as the second of the series gets going.  How is this possible and how much will I lighten up on her?  You’ll have to check back on Friday for a new review of Gundam Wing to find out.