If you haven’t really come to the realization by now, I should remind you, Mobile Fighter G Gundam is not your average Gundam series. Gundams can do Martial Arts, come in a variety of styles both wacky and stylistic, and the fate of the world is being decided in the most epic game of Rock Em, Sock Em Robots. However, while not your typical Gundam foray, G Gundam is still managing to deliver a ton of drama and continuous twists and turns you’d find in any Universal Century story and this latest set of episodes definitely proves that.
At the top of the sets to do list was Domon’s showdowns with his remaining three Shuffle Alliance teammates: George, Sai Saici and Argo. All three battles were amazing in their own way. George defied national orders to fight a battle strictly for himself. Sai Saici, in what’s probably his best episode to date, discovered the last wish of his long dead father and stepped up his game to give Domon the best fight he’s ever given him. And Argo put aside dealing with unfinished business with a man who wants to kill him to finally have his throwdown with Domon. Different reasons for fighting but, like Chibodee, Domon manages to bring out the absolute best and more in all three of these guys. The Sai Saici duel was my favorite because his Dragon Gundam got utterly demolished and even without its arms or it’s head tail, Sai Saici still kept going until he couldn’t. Next to Chibodee, Domon has the closest friendship with this kid who thinks of him as a big brother. He should be proud of the spirit Sai Saici showed.
We didn’t even take a breather as once the Shuffle Alliance was sorted out, we moved right into the next plotline. Allenby’s disappearance would definitely put a lot of stress on Domon. However, his lashing out at Rain and her immediate reaction to said lashing was bothersome. Yes, these two care about each other but cant admit it cause they don’t know how. But after all they’ve been through, for Domon to just be so cold seems like a step backwards for him. And Rain has proven she’s tougher than anyone gives her credit for. Quitting the Neo Japan Support Team feels like an overreaction. Issues aside, it almost seems worth it for the payoff at the conclusion of the spectacular Domon vs. Schwarz battle. Yeah, Rain looked a little silly sporting a Schwarz mask of her own when she joined his team. But thanks to her, Domon managed to pull off a near impossible win (though that was partly helped by an exploding arena courtesy of Douchebag Minister Wong). We also got to learn that it was a young Rain that took the infamous family photo that Domon was showing to everyone he could meet in the first half of the series. Is it going to be smooth sailing for Domon and Rain now that theyre reunited and teamed up again? My guess is no cause we still have nine episodes left and we haven’t even gotten to the biggest shake ups of this set.
Speaking of, Domon and Rain realizing how they feel (even if they aren’t saying those big three words yet) seemed kind of small compared to the other bombshells that exploded around them. Yep, Schwarz is Kyoji…so who the heck is the mad man riding the Devil Gundam’s shoulder that Domon’s been chasing; the guy who is also currently strung up more than half dead in the regenerating Devil Gundam’s cockpit? In retrospect, the signs that Schwarz and Kyoji were one and the same were everywhere, right down to his strange overly obsessive interest in Domon and his well being (and his love life too apparently). But how did this split or cloning or whatever come to pass? Guess that’s a question to be answered later. Then there’s Domon’s other mentor: Master Asia. It would seem that he and Minister Wong aren’t on the same page anymore, or were they ever? Master Asia seems fixated on making sure Domon makes it to the forthcoming Battle Royale and has been continuously defending Domon from the sidelines against Wong’s skeptisism. Wong, meanwhile, has been looking for the “ultimate fighter”. At first he wanted it to be Domon but he’s changed his mind and gone with Allenby because of her susceptibility to the Berserker System in her Gundam. Does Wong want her to be the Devil Gundam’s new pilot as part of his world conquest plan? Between these conflicts of interest, Ulube heading back into space and Dr. Mikamura nearly cursing the Kasshu family name after Rain temporarily resigned, it’s clear there’s still a lot of pieces to this puzzle that aren’t lining up.
Few other little bits to cover before we wrap up, G Gundam continues the crazy Mobile Suit ideas…by giving a Horse Gundam to Master Asia’s horse, Funnsaiki…it, and Funnsaiki being dressed in the same Mobile Trace suit must be seen to be believed. It was also nice to see Argo’s sexy warden Nastasha back again and this time rocking a beautiful red Chinese dress…wow, wow, wow. It was nice of her to admit she’s been a bit harsh to Argo and is really rooting for him to save his crew. It shows she isn’t quite the cold Russian commander we saw when we first met and seeing her and Argo share an agreement similar to Domon and Rain, that Argo’s victory would be a shared one with her, was nice. On the Neo Japan side, they’re building a THIRD Gundam? It’s called the Rising Gundam and…well I don’t know why it’s being made. Considering Domon has trounced the competition with the God Gundam, giving him the Rising Gundam seems like a step backwards in power. Maybe they just want a third unit ready to face the Devil Gundam? Lastly, despite his motivations being shrouded in mystery, it was good to see Master Asia team up with Domon once again and actually act like his teacher. Maybe some time out of the cockpit and seeing Domon fight in the ring has cleared up the Masters craziness from the midpoint of the series. Or it could just be he really is dying and doesn’t want things to end badly between him and Domon…on an emotional level, I doubt he’s going to survive the tournament or the end of the series, whichever comes first.
At last, we’ve come to the Battle Royale. But between Kyoji’s big reveal and Wongs plans for Allenby and the Devi Gundam, an all out war of Gundams on a small island, fighting for control of the Earth and Space, might be a secondary concern. Next Monday the end begins and next Friday we’ll be headed into the Series Finale of Mobile Fighter G Gundam. The pressure is on, for the show to deliver and Domon and his friends to triumph. Go for it guys.
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