Kita ze Inbou! - キタぜ陰謀!

[ Episode 25: Setsuna ]

[Enjoyment Value: 10/10] (It was awesome!)

[First season series review: 95/100]

The last time I used the EV system was back when episodes 24-25 of Code Geass aired last summer. Yeah. I really liked this finale and the overall final episodes that much to do it for Gundam 00 as well. This has been one wonderful ride through space and back and to think it has only been half the journey. Of all the times they chose to split a Gundam series in half it just had to be this one! Especially after so many exciting, tragic, and intriguing things occurred. We’re left with a four-years later epilogue as a teaser and cliffhanger and it was certainly eye-widening. Join me in my thoughts and review for the first half after the jump!

The first half of Gundam 00 has come to a close and was it awesome? Yes it was. Over the past few episodes a feeling that’s difficult to describe has been washing over me constantly whenever I sat down to get pulled into Gundam 00. It was a feeling reminiscent of when I watched the final episodes of the first season of Code Geass and it’s something that doesn’t come easily. That said, I really enjoyed this episode from beginning to end. Setsuna managed to best Alejandro, proving that he was just a foolish man which Ribbon’s backed up. I thought that it was rather stupid of him to go on the front lines on his own but I suppose his obsession with becoming the guidance of the new world got to his head as well as being put to shame by a dead man. I must say though, the fight thereafter with Graham felt a bit out of place. It was almost like he was put there for the sole purpose of losing which would set him up as the masked character as seen in the four-years later epilogue.

The production team did a marvelous job and really set up the second half in the epilogue rather perfectly. Tieria seems to be alive and was seen with Louise. Well, that person might be Tieria but their speech is more feminine and is sporting a haircut similar to Lockon’s. Apparently this person is very likely to be the person labeled in the credits as Regene Regetta who is voiced by Paku Romi. It’s hard to tell what any of that means right now but it was one of the more intriguing things to look forward to in the second half as well as the question as to why Louise is with this person. Allelujah wasn’t shown in the epilogue but I’m sure he’s alive somewhere. This is especially likely because we were just shown hat Soma is actually Marie, the girl who is of great importance to him. I want to see more of that relationship in the second half as well. Patrick and that bastard Ali are still alive. It’s good that Patrick is alive at least since I think he and Kathy make a great couple. Speaking of couples, will Setsuna/Marina perhaps bloom in the next season? After having written Marina such a letter and being the name he called out to after nearly dying…I would love to see where their relationship goes.

Nena is shown in the epilogue looking as good as ever and is now tagging along with Wang Liu Mei. It seems CB has been in rebuild mode for quite some time as they are working on restoring the Gundams. We get to see two of them up-close: 0 Gundam and Gundam 00. There is another that was flying around in space but only the GN particles could be seen. Needless to say I can’t help but wonder just how powerful these new Gundams are and who their pilots will be. Setsuna has to be around somewhere, especially since Exia was mentioned. Perhaps he’s still with CB? Is Nena going to be one of the pilots for the new Gundams? Or will she still be using her Throne Gundam? These are just many of the numerous questions I have.

So yes, I really enjoyed the first half of Gundam 00 and probably much more than many others. I’m really excited for the second half that will air in October and can hardly wait for it. Until then, I’ll have Code Geass R2 and Macross FRONTIER to entertain me (mecha-wise like G00).