Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam Part 2 Episodes 6-10

Thrust into the middle of a brutal war between the Titans and the AEUG, Kamille Bidan has already lost more than he could have imagined.  To strengthen the young mans resolve, Quattro Bajina shows Kamille the true extent of the destructive powers of the Titans.  Elsewhere, two generations of heroes begin to meet on Earth and in Space as the Titans and AEUG prepare for their next rounds of engagement.  The battle for the future of the Earth Sphere is only just getting started.

The arguably darkest era of the Universal Century continues and, as a result, Zeta Gundam is only getting stronger. The sense of pacing and build up is incredible.  While we have to wait til tomorrow for the Battle of Jaburo, the way things are going, it’s shaping up to be something major, though I agree with Char that the AEUG is putting all their eggs in one basket on this operation.  But I’m getting ahead of myself.  Let’s see what went down in todays set of episodes.

One of the major plot points was a trip to 30 Bunch, an important site for the orientation of any new AEUG members.  Here, we got to see what the Titans are truly capable of.  In response to a peaceful protest against their actions, the detestable Federation Elitists used a poison gas similar to the stuff Zeon used on the Colony they dropped on Australia during the One Year War.  Unlike Zeon, however, the Titans left the colony alone, letting the world believe there was some kind of disaster that befell it.  Once inside, we saw two years worth of neglect and imagery is some of the darkest in all of Gundam.  Deserted cities inhabited by dust storms and mummified women and children.  The sight of Kamille kneeling next to a long dead mother clutching her infant is truly heartbreaking to see.  If it wasn’t any clearer by this point, THE TITANS ARE THE BAD GUYS!!!  Thankfully, this only strengthens Kamille and Emma’s decisions to sign up.  God only knows what else could happen to the colonies with the Titans in charge.
 
Since Kamille continues to be an arrogant SOB at the start of every single episode, he required a more…aggressive approach to getting straightened out.  Bright Noa might’ve slapped Amuro Ray around a few times, but Kamille is getting the bejezzus beaten out of him on an almost regular basis just so he can shape up into a proper fighter.  Char argues that the Argama’s crew’s been too soft on him because they aren’t a regular military.  I know Kamille deserves a punch or two but the thorough beating he took from AEUG benefactor Wong Lee seemed a bit excessive.  I guess it’s luck that Kamille is actually showing signs of development, both as a person and as a Newtype (which he continues to deny that he is).  His friendship with Emma is becoming genuine and Char can be stern but he is on Kamille’s side, even trusting his Newtype instincts when Kamille senses Emma and the Argama are in danger.  There’s hope for Kamille yet…but maybe lighten up on the punches he’s taking guys. 
 
This set of episodes featured the return of more familiar faces from Mobile Suit Gundam.  We saw Char had a photo of himself and his sister Sayla when they were kids.  Kai Shiden made a welcome return helping Reccoa recon Jaburo on Earth.  And Emma revealed she actually met Amuro Ray a couple of years prior to the series…and we also saw Amuro in person, sensing a disturbance all the way on Earth.  Probably the biggest one is everyones favorite mascot HARO!!!!  Yep, Kamille stumbled across the deactivated little guy when it took a bullet meant for him in a battle.  What’s strange is that this is the same Haro that belonged to Amuro Ray, it even calls Kamille by his name when Kamille is repairing him.  How did Amuro lose him?  You’d think that if Amuro couldn’t hold onto him, Haro would’ve gone to Katz, Letz or Kika (and where the heck are they anyway?).  Anyway, with Bright now on the Argama just in time for the Jaburo operation, I think we’re gonna see more generational crossovers between the Mobile Suit Gundam and Zeta Gundam casts.  Also, does Bright know that Quattro is Char (I don’t remember them ever meeting in the original series)?
 
The action continued to impress on Zeta Gundam in this set.  Most of it took place on the Moon as the Titans and AEUG fought a secret mini war while waiting for weapons resupply and new Mobile Suits from Anaheim Electronics.  If that name sounds familiar, they’ve been around in other Gundam entries like Gundam 0083 and Char’s Counterattack.  This means we got a slew of new models rolled out.  Char got the golden plated Hyaku Shiki.  It might not sport his traditional colors but damn does it look like an impressive suit.  Jerrid and the Titans got to test out the red painted Marasai units that look like a slimmed down version of Char’s future Sazabi from Char’s Counterattack.  Jerrid and Kamille got a couple of excellent fights with each other.  Jerrid now has a bone to pick with Kamille for killing his love interest, Lyla, who slowly started to get Jerrid to quit being an entitled baby and start being an actual soldier worthy of command.  Jerrid still whines a lot and I feel it is pure luck he’s survived this long just to claim he’s got Kamille on the ropes before being blasted off again like Team Rocket.  As far as rivals go, that mystery man who took on Kamille and Char while they were rescuing Bright and Kamille’s friend Fa in space might be someone to watch out for.
 
Looks like the Battle of Jaburo is up next but there’s way more beyond that to look forward to.  Char got intel from an old comrade that the asteroid Axis is on the move.  Anyone with greater Gundam knowledge knows that place will have a huge roll to play in coming events.  And Kamille is actually designing the forthcoming Zeta Gundam himself, combining parts from the Gundam Mark II and the Rick Dias…not bad kid.  But first, Jaburo and hopefully a chance for Kamille to start meeting more of the living legends from the One Year War.  See ya tomorrow for more Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam.