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!

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[ Episode 24: The Never-Ending Song ]

Oh man, the death count just keeps on rising. Christina and Lichty’s death scene were pretty emotional though not as much as Lockon’s. Even Dr. Moreno got taken out because of the particle beam blast from Alejandro. I’m not sure about Patrick yet though. His mobile suit was cut in half but I don’t think it exploded. So he might still be alive. Come on, would he really go out just saying “Eh?”? Maybe. Maybe not. Tieria doesn’t seem to be dead since him and the Nadleeh just drifted off into space. H/Allelujah is still alive but is barely able to fight and Sumeragi, Feldt, and Ian are safe for the moment. Meanwhile Setsuna is about to face off against the jackass Alejandro. Everything at this point looks bleak for CB, especially since pretty much half of the crew is dead and Ptolemaios has been destroyed. I imagine that the next episode is going to end with cliffhanger of some sort whether it be in battle or otherwise. Whatever lies ahead, I’m looking forward to seeing what unfolds in the finale.

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[ Episode 23: Stop the World ]

Wow. Holy shit. Um, wow. I just can’t believe what happened in this episode. The surprise that I was hoping didn’t happen actually happened. As of this episode, Lockon has died. The scenes leading up to his demise were all saddening and the impact was immensely strong with Haro constantly calling out Lockon’s name. The realisation of his death though hit really hard once everyone on the Ptolemaios found out simultaneously and their reactions were perfectly executed, from Sumeragi to Setsuna. The creators did an excellent job with those scenes and so far with the entire series as well. I think they should be applauded for their efforts thus far and I hope the last two episodes of the season are just as powerful, if not more.

At this point, I’m hoping Setsuna kills Ali before the season is over. I think the guy has long overstayed his welcome. Or do they plan to let him survive for revenge to be one of the reasons for Setsuna to continue fighting? Who the hell knows at this point.

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[ Episode 22: Trans-Am ]

Oh man, I really enjoyed all of the content of this episode! I had wondered what the title had meant but it was not until the very end that it was revealed. Though it was just one of the many surprises that the second half had up its sleeve. Both Johann and Michael were killed by Ali which was something I didn’t expect at all. Every time I see that guy I end up hating his character more and more. Something needs to be done about him and I hope it happens before or during the finale. As for Saji, that guy looks to be losing some part of his mind though I really don’t expect his issues to be fully explored until the second season.

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[ Episode 21: Path of Destruction ]

This was a pretty damn intense episode. It is officially revealed that Kinue is dead and it pretty much marked that hard times for CB has arrived. The fight was obviously not in CB’s favor this time around because of the great number of the enemy and Veda’s backup being taken away from them thanks to Alejandro. The biggest surprise is that Lockon was injured really badly and nearly died. He’s one of the coolest Meisters in the entire team and to see him go would be really full of suck.

Setsuna’s state of mind is also a point of interest. Are his dreams suggesting that Marina is the embodiment of his ’silent’ desire to stop fighting? It sure seems to be and I was pretty surprised that she showed up in his dreams though when you think about it she’s really the only person that has impacted his life since the series began. It’s rather interesting that such thoughts decided to surface during this time of hardship. What will Setsuna do from now until the end of this season?

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[ Episode 20: The Blades of Change ]

Okay. If anyone is starting to weird me out, it is Wang Liu Mei. What is her deal exactly? She claims that she follows the ideals of CB’s creator and doesn’t lean toward either the main CB or the Trinity Gundams. Yet, she is willing to lend her support to the Trinity Gundam Meisters because they brought about the current change in the world (that is, uniting to fight against CB). Why exactly does she hate the world so much? Does it have something to do with her family or friends? Or is it something else? I’m guessing that won’t be explored until the second season later this year but we could get a tiny glimpse before the first season ends.

It’s great that all three world factions now have GN Drives. Now we’ll be seeing battles that are dependent upon skill rather than technology which we got a glimpse of in this episode. The Trinity siblings were pushed back quite effectively but I’d rather see a 3-on-3 fight rather than a 10-on-3 fight where the odds of winning are closer to zero than one can calculate. Kinue seems to have been fatally wounded by the cruel douchebag Ali. I’m guessing her status will be known in the next episode. Lastly, I would have never thought that Veda was located on the Moon. I can only wonder what plans Alejandro and his ‘angel’ have up their sleeves though…

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[ Episode 19: Bonds ]

The whole issue between Setsuna and Lockon had me worried for a while. There was no telling what Lockon was going to do but I’m glad that Setsuna said what he had and got his message across. I’m guessing now that Lockon knows who Ali is he too will probably be on the lookout for him since he was the leader of the organization that killed his parents and sister. Still though, that has to be the first time I’ve seen Setsuna smile in this entire series. I was pretty damn shocked to see him like that. Though I’m glad to see that he and Lockon are buddies (or something like that).

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[ Episode 18: Spearhead of Evil ]

Nena is a bit touched in the head isn’t she? o_o Good lord, what was she thinking when she attacked those civilians? “Nothing” would seem to be the natural response but…I was kind of speechless when the whole thing went down. No matter how you look at it that was just absolutely unnecessary. Her reckless actions practically wiped out an entire family and nearly fatally injured Louise. I guess that’s what happens when you give a child power of such magnitude. Though I can’t help but think that she was raised this way and that the person who gave her a Gundam to begin with is to blame as well.

Anyway, that being said, that scene between Louise and Saji was pretty heartbreaking to watch. I don’t usually get shocked but seeing Louise missing part of her left arm really took me off guard. That just adds upon the tons of emotional tragedy that she has to endure and the same goes for Saji. Now I’m wondering if Saji in his shocked state will do something like join the military.

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[ Episode 17: Throne Onslaught ]

Those new Meisters are something else. Nena is super cute but seems rather childish, Michael is an idiot and Johann is cool I guess as he is at the moment the is the most respectable and mature. I’m wondering about their purpose though since we are told nothing about why they exist. I also don’t understand why they attacked that base aside from that professor discovering information about the possibility of the Gundams originating from Jupiter though the amount of force used seem to be beyond excessive.

Anyway, I really loved the way Nena kissed Setsuna and him shoving her away. I LOL’ed so hard. No matter how cute the girl may be she still violated his personal space after all. The Haro reunion was freaking hilarious as well. The older brother Haro telling the younger one to “Go to hell! Go to hell!” had me rolling though I must say it was kind of random especially given the mood at the time.

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[ Episode 16: Trinity ]

Despite being partly a recap episode I really enjoyed it. The Thrones made some pretty awesome entrances and I can’t wait to see what effect Nena, Johann, and Michael have on the story. I particularly like Nena as she is so cute and her Gundam is pretty slick. All of the Thrones have some pretty neat abilities though and those fangs were impressive. I couldn’t tell what they were at first but I knew that they were laying down the ownage. Still, I can only imagine what Setsuna and the other Meisters are thinking right now. They had no idea another three Gundams existed. I’m not sure but Sumeragi either didn’t know of their existence or didn’t expect them to show up but I’m guessing that’ll be cleared up in the next episode.

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