[ Episode 3: Allelujah Retrieval Mission ]

Marie! Marie! Heartwarming and heart-wrenching flashbacks imminent.

For some reason I really love rescue missions, especially when they’re successuflly done. This episode was so good that it left me feeling quite warm inside. Thanks to the interactions of all the characters of course, specifically Setsuna and Marina and Allelujah and Soma (or Marie). Speaking of the latter two, I’m really interested in seeing their pasts revealed now. It appears as if they were the best of friends at one point or possibly even more. I await more revelations involving those two. As for Setsuna and Marina, I hope to see those two interact a bit more in the following episodes. Their relationship has been teased over the entire first season and it’s about damn time they start to do something about it!

Questions that popped up in this episode for me are what exactly are the Innovators? They apparently aren’t fully human or at least that’s what Ribbons says. I’m guessing Tieria must be one of these Innovators as well given that they all seem to have those yellow-ish eyes when they’re interfacing with stuff/Veda. There’s not much else known about them as yet but that will undoubtedly change in a few episodes or so.

[ Episode 2: Twin Drive ]

Who the hell does Graham thinks he’s fooling with that mask?

So everyone is returning bit by bit. This episode saw the return of the hawtness, Sumeragi, and the newest member to Celestial Being, Lockon. Well, the previous Lockon’s younger brother anyway. It’s good to see that Saji seems to know now who is responsible for what happened to Louise four years ago so hopefully that means he won’t be angsting on the ship and trying to shove blame onto Setsuna and the others. As of now, the only Meister not present is Allelujah. I’m guessing he’s going to be picked up pretty soon though (like next episode). It’ll be good to see the team back together again!

Also, I laughed so hard at seeing that blonde guy in the mask. There just had to be one, right? Even though it’s pretty obvious that it is Graham. What the hell is he up to with that kind of appearance? Anyway, Katie has joined up with the A-Laws now which makes me wonder where exactly Patrick is at the moment. I would’ve figured those two would have married during the past four years but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Well, for now anyway.

I wonder what’s up with Marina being kidnapped? Is whoever responsible going to try and use her against Setsuna? I can only see it ending badly for them as a result of doing that. RIP fools. Oh yes, and as usual Wang Liu Mei is up to her weird antics again. She purposely leaked info about CB’s location just to see if they can overcome the threat? That girl needs to find some other ways to confirm such things. Well, at least we got to see 00 Gundam in action thanks to her mischief. 00 is pretty damn cool and I can’t wait to see it in full gear against non-fodder opponents.

[ Episode 1: The Angel's Second Advent ]

Sorry for being late to the party!

Ah~! Oh Gundam, I’ve missed you so! Easily one of my favorite shows of the early part of the year, the second season instantly grabbed me by the hand in the first second and never let it go. It was a great feeling to be reintroduced to a lot of the major characters and to see that most of them are doing well. I say “most” because Saji obviously hasn’t gotten over what happened four years ago, Louise is apart of A-Laws and seems to have frequent nervous breakdowns, and Allelujah is apparently locked away in some mental facility. Ouch, time hasn’t been good to some people obviously…

Setsuna is as awesome as ever too. It’s amazing how he’s been able to survive so long with such an old beat-up Exia. It looks like we’ll be getting a new Lockon as well in the form of the Lyle, the twin brother of the previous Lockon. Cool! Marina is as beautiful as ever, if not moreso. I can’t wait to see where her relationship with Setsuna goes in this season. Soma seems to be doing better though I don’t quite understand her situation as yet. It seems like she’ll be joining the A-Laws. Looking back at relationships, I do want Saji and Louise to reunite but who knows what their fate can be given that it seems Ribbons is up to no good and may be behind why Louise is acting crazy. Wang Liu Mei is acting as strange as ever as well and meeting up with Ribbons doesn’t really help her case of suspicion so early.

Additionally, the OP done by UVERworld is freaking awesome. One of the best of the year in my opinion. The sequence itself is pretty good as well. I’m particularly intrigued by the way Setsuna and Marina were depicted reaching out for each other. I can only wonder what that means…

Anyway, it’s great to have Gundam 00 back even if I am a bit late in getting started. Here’s to hoping I can get caught up before the year ends!

[ 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).

[ 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.

[ 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.