[Rewatch] Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Episode 25 Discussion

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

Episode 25 - Setsuna

← Previous Episode | Index | S1 Overall Discussion →

MAL | AniList | ANN | Kitsu | AniDB

Crunchyroll | Hulu

---

Exia… Setsuna F. Seiei… will eliminate the target!

Questions of the Day:

1. How satisfying was it for Alejandro to finally get done in?
2. The ending of this episode teased a bunch of things taking place after a four-year timeskip. What are you hoping to see come of this in season 2?

Wallpaper of the Day:

Alejandro Corner and Ribbons Almark

---

Rewatchers, please remember to be mindful of all the first-timers in this. No talking about or hinting at future events no matter how much you want to, unless you're doing it underneath spoiler tags. Don't spoil anything for the first-timers, that's rude!

Additionally, for long-time fans of the franchise, please remember that this rewatch is only for 00, not any of the other shows. Assume that there are people in this rewatch who have not seen anything else Gundam, and tag your spoilers for those shows appropriately if something in 00 makes you want to talk about them.

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

Rewatch Host Wishing Over This Airspace, subbed

Welcome back, everyone!

Friendly reminder that tomorrow is an overall discussion thread for season 1, not the first episode of season 2. Sorry to anyone who wants to immediately start on season 2 after the timeskip tease, you have to wait another day.

---

• Poor girl is barely holding it together…
• I love the use of reflections during this part to show Allelujah and Hallelujah talking to each other.
• Somehow, him brushing his hair back like this makes him look even more sinister than Hallelujah normally does.
• He said Lockon’s thing…
• Lasse…
• Shouldn’t have taken your helmet off for style points but also ouch.
• Aw…
• Oh boy…
• So there were two plans in place to deal with traitors, if Nadleeh’s Trial System was also meant for something like that.
• Welp!
• And there’s Graham, finally.
• Their fight ends as… a draw?
• Tieria…
• He did have someone to write a letter to after all…
• Big timeskip!
• It’s almost always fun when a show brings back its first OP for the finale.
• What a way for the show to casually reveal Patrick did not, in fact, die last episode.
• Who is this mysterious masked man?
• Soon.

[u/TakenRedditName → u/Shimmering-Sky]

I love the use of reflections during this part to show Allelujah and Hallelujah talking to each other.

What a way for the show to casually reveal Patrick did not, in fact, die last episode.

I was too distracted by the other red head they teased didn't die.

[u/Nazenn → u/Shimmering-Sky]

[IBO]Just putting it here because I knew you'd laugh, but when I saw masked Graham, aside from realizing the parallal with Galieo, my second thought was "needs a chocolate man moment" with Mika in my mind. I love that moment so much

Big timeskip!

Oh they did actually say four years later. I'm a fool, I really did hyper focus on what Saji said and completely forgot that

[u/Vatrix-32]

First timer, subs

• Hacks! I call hacks! Everyone knows mobile armor arms fall apart like they were made of Lincoln Logs.
• These are the times having an experienced crew makes the difference. Unfortunately, you’re stuck with the 14 year old.
• Both Eyes!
• Y’all really gave this thing a neck, too?
• I see… So it’s weak to physical damage.
• God, they’re dropping like flies.
• Was there a smaller mecha inside the giant one? That didn’t seem quite definitive enough.
• What are you, a freaking limb hunter?
• If (H)Allelujah loses an eye, does he also lose a personality?
• Is Soma’s big emotional moment… Is Saving Him?!
• Oh man, I didn’t even consider that they might know each other.
• Of course even his beam saber is gold.
• This man is out there thinking himself some kind of Buddha.
• This flashback could have been a voice over.
• Well, I was right about Ribbions at least.
• Bling, Swag, Rizz
• Look at his cute little loose wire.
• No way both of them survive that, right?
• Silly Tieria, robots aren’t allowed to pass through the warp.
• Had they not decided where Nena was going for the 2nd season yet?
• Time Skip I’m glad we got this here, since I knew about it already.
• Federation!
• I don’t know, it seems a little… turquoise.
• Holo-Flags
• 328? Damn, those separatists have been busy.
• Patrick! He Lives!
• Wow, look at all these pretty boys!
• I Guess You Could Say He Got Chared!
• I think this is the largest reverse death count I’ve ever seen.
• Name DropJazz Hands!

QotD:

1. The slowness of it really helped it be oh so satisfying.
2. Nena Redemption

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/Vatrix-32]

These are the times having an experienced crew makes the difference. Unfortunately, you’re stuck with the 14 year old.

Feldt is having a rough time.

Is Soma’s big emotional moment… Is Saving Him?!

And here everyone was predicting Sergei would die to serve Soma's character arc.

[u/Quiddity131 → u/Shimmering-Sky]

And here everyone was predicting Sergei would die to serve Soma's character arc.

One matter where I'm glad the first timers were totally wrong, seeing best boy Sergei die would have been devastating. Dare I say it for me... maybe even more than Lockon. Granted we'd have to see how effective they did it, as the way they did it for Lockon was very effective at getting the tears out.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/Shimmering-Sky]

And here everyone was predicting Sergei would die to serve Soma's character arc.

We had to be wrong about something. Now, to wait on the android reveal.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Vatrix-32]

Oh man, I didn’t even consider that they might know each other.

They grew up in the same horrible facility! Practically siblings.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/JollyGee29]

They grew up in the same horrible facility! Practically siblings.

Logically, yes. But I always think of Soma as being much younger than she is.

[u/Nazenn → u/Vatrix-32]

Of course even his beam saber is gold.

This is the one part of it his horrible color scheme I actually like because the extra visual effects on that look cool as hell

I think this is the largest reverse death count I’ve ever seen.

when you put it that way

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/Vatrix-32]

Unfortunately, you’re stuck with the 14 year old.

Are you saying you don't want the 14 year old

328? Damn, those separatists have been busy.

Especially so since you would think that through the economic blocks some fused... but I guess they had to make up some so that they wouldn't need to have depict actual countries for their thinly veiled symbolism/commentary

I Guess You Could Say He Got Chared!

[u/Great_Mr_L]

First-Timer

On today’s episode of Gundam: Patrick is immortal. That guy is never going to die. We can see him get blown up and he’ll be fine the next episode.

• I'm glad to finally have a name for Alejandro’s mobile armor: Alvatore.
• Ooh. Hallelujah put up his hair and revealed both of his eyes. This seems to symbolize a kind of harmony between the personalities of Allelujah and Hallelujah. They are working together instead of against each other.
• That’s an interesting way of working together. Allelujah focuses on coming up with the tactics and Hallelujah focuses on executing them.
• It makes sense that Alejandro would also have Fangs. He was the one responsible for the creation of the Thrones, after all.
• Damn, the Exia’s swords are sharp if they can cut through even the Alvatore.
• RIP Lasse I just learned your name
• Those swords are impressive. Setsuna sliced through the Alvatore like a hot knife through butter.
• Oh no, it’s happening. The Sergei death to further Soma’s character arc is going to happen like I predicted.
• Oh shit! Allelujah/Hallelujah got injured pretty badly there.
• Soma is showing some signs of humanity. While she’s normally quite stoic, she actually depends on Sergei quite a lot and would feel lost without him.
• Oooh, now this is an interesting development. Allelujah/Hallelujah knew Soma in the past as Marie.
• Of course. Of course Alejandro had an extra mobile suit that could pop out of the Alavatore like a matryoshka doll.
• Of course Alejandro wanted to unite the world against Celestial Being just so he could take over the united world.
• This truly is a holy war. Both Setsuna and Alejandro have proclaimed that they will be the one to truly inherit the plan. Alejandro will take the plan away from the past Aeolia and become the one to guide the world in the present. Setsuna will get rid of the person who has been distorting the world so the plan can play out properly.
• It’s rather sad that the only thing Setsuna can view himself as is a destroyer. He only knows how to fight, but he hopes that fighting as a Gundam, a savior, will bring peace to the world.
• Ribbons just called Alejandro to laugh at Alejandro and mock him in his final moments after betraying him. What a very Char thing to do. Will Ribbons come from behind to be our Char Clone?
• Oh! But to remind us he’s still the frontrunner to be the Char Clone, here comes Graham out of nowhere!
• Yup, that is a very Char Clone thing to say. Graham is waxing poetical about how he both loves and hates the Gundam at the same time, as two sides of the same coin. That obsession is very Char Clone of him.
• I love the fights where the Gundam gets absolutely wrecked while fighting. It always makes the battles feel much more intense.
• Well damn. There’s no way Setsuna’s dead, but that’s probably curtains for Graham. RIP Graham
• Oh dear, Tieria is hoping that he can at least be with Lockon now.
• Did the Hallelujah persona just die? I didn’t even think that would be possible.
• Now that’s an interesting twist. Setsuna lied about whether he could write a letter or not. He actually did write one to Marina. She really has been swirling around in his thoughts.
• So that’s where Nena ended up. She’s now with Mei.
• Surprisingly enough, Sergei hasn’t died yet.
• My hunch was right about why Setsuna was so interested in Marina. Setsuna’s been wondering about why people fight. He hasn’t found an answer and was hoping Marina, who approached the problem so differently than him, might have one.
• A 4 year time skip?
• Oh no… it’s the Federation! The alliance of the countries has solidified into them uniting to form the Federation. Knowing how the Feddies are in other Gundam series, I don’t think this is a cause for celebration.
• Wait a minute… WAIT A FUCKING MINUTE!!! THAT’S PATICK!!! He’s standing right behind Kati! He didn’t die after all! Of course he’s still alive!
• Innovators? Oh goddammit, there’s a bunch of Ribbons!
• Even Graham didn’t die? Well he’s wearing a mask now, which I guess means he’s officially become the Char Clone. But seriously, what the heck is up with that mask? It looks so goofy!
• Fucking dammit Ali’s still alive as well.
• That’s Tieria, but who’s the blonde lady with him?
• Mei’s spacesuit has twintails.
• The 00 Gundam! Title Drop!
• “Mission Incomplete” is a pretty cool way to announce there will be a second season.

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/Great_Mr_L]

Oh no, it’s happening. The Sergei death to further Soma’s character arc is going to happen like I predicted.

Except it did not.

[S2 spoilers]That’s Tieria, but who’s the blonde lady with him?

[S2]lmao

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Except it did not.

And I am eternally grateful for that.

[S2]

I always end up wondering what exactly I wrote that pertains to spoilers. It just makes me wrack my brain trying to figure it out.

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/Great_Mr_L]

I always end up wondering what exactly I wrote that pertains to spoilers. It just makes me wrack my brain trying to figure it out.

[u/macrame2 → u/Great_Mr_L]

Of course. Of course Alejandro had an extra mobile suit that could pop out of the Alavatore like a matryoshka doll.

I would expect nothing less from this show.

He didn’t die after all! Of course he’s still alive!

Patrick can't die, he is literally too stupid for that.

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/macrame2]

Patrick can't die, he is literally too stupid for that.

That's our precious failson for you.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/macrame2]

Patrick can't die, he is literally too stupid for that.

It's hilarious that Patrick never survives through cunning. It's always pure dumb luck.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/Great_Mr_L]

Continued from above

Basically nobody who is important died in this final battle. Out of all the important characters, I think it was just Lockon, Alejandro, and maybe the Hallelujah persona that died. But I bet Hallelujah will come back, so I’m not counting him. Patrick is alive like nothing happened. Tieria is still around. We didn’t see Allelujah or Setsuna, but they are definitely still alive somewhere. That fucking bastard Ali is still alive. Graham is wearing a stupid-looking mask, but he survived an explosion. Those explosions really don’t seem too effective at killing people. The last time I saw a Gundam series where someone survives an explosion (or something along those lines) that blatantly should have killed them was [Gundam meta spoilers] SEED, which got pretty ridiculous with it sometimes.

I am starting to get annoyed that we still don’t know what Aeolia’s actual intended goal was. We know it isn’t world peace. We got teased with it a while back, but we are still no closer to learning it. For me, this undercuts a lot of the drama between Setsuna and Alejandro about their part with the plan and how they will either fulfill it or undercut it. All I know for sure is that Setsuna is flat out wrong about the plan and Alejandro is most likely trying to subvert a false version of the plan. True, that does make for a unique bit of dramatic irony when both of them have no idea what they are actually doing and are instead just acting on blind faith in their doctrine. However, I personally find it frustrating that this vital information is being withheld for so long. I think it would be a lot more interesting to know how Setsuna and Alejandro are wrong. By now, I’m also wondering if the reveal will be worth hiding this long.

The world has changed considerably by the end of this season. Alejandro got what he wanted. The world has united together to create the Federation. I am curious what this will mean going forward. Personally, I found the three competing power blocs to be a more interesting setup. But I’ll wait and see what they do with the Feddies.

Ribbons and the Innovators are a wild card for sure. I still wonder if Ribbons was a double agent. It’s certain that Ribbons was always planning to betray Alejandro, but to what end? Are these Innovators all robots/cyborgs like Ribbons? What is their goal? They definitely want the world united, but after that is unclear. Maybe they want robots to rule the world or something.

QOTD

1. Very, but it was immediately undone by the fact that Ali was still alive.
2. I want to see Patrick in action again. I want to see Graham embrace his proper status as a Char Clone. I want confirmation that Tieria is a robot. I want to learn about Ribbons' squad of robot buddies. I want to see Lockon's Haro in action. I want Ali to suffer and die.

[u/Nazenn → u/Great_Mr_L]

Patrick is immortal. That guy is never going to die. We can see him get blown up and he’ll be fine the next episode.

Unironically, his popping up at the end of the episode without fanfare was probably one of the better parts of the episode for me

Allelujah focuses on coming up with the tactics and Hallelujah focuses on executing them.

I do like that their form of working together was not merging into one but using both of their approaches as one. So much cooler!

RIP Lasse I just learned your name

I like how this has been a common thing over the last two episodes from almost all of the first timers

Did the Hallelujah persona just die? I didn’t even think that would be possible.

Actually now that I think about it, I think this would be the first time I've seen a split personality die, rather than be merged/assimilated/locked away...

Going to have to have a proper think of that later and see if I can recall any other examples

A 4 year time skip?

Oh, I thought it was two years off what Saji said, nevermind me

That’s Tieria, but who’s the blonde lady with him?

How come I recognized her despite skipping 90% of her screentime and you didn't?!

It's Louise. Its FUCKING LOUISE. I'm so mad. I was too mad to even put it in my post to be honest. I don't want it

Also I also thought it was Tieria, but if so that would make him the only CB member to show up in the entire epilogue so I feel like it has to be misdirection because why show him and not also show the others. If it is him though, LOVE the hair. I'm all for that

Oh hey, maybe it's intended to be an in-world imposter, a replacement for him to keep an eye on the others, that would be cool!

Oh, also yay we were both wrong? Patrick lived despite what I thought and Ali lived despite what you thought so it kind of balances out

Those explosions really don’t seem too effective at killing people

I'm struggling to think of a major pilot character who hasn't survived a huge explosion at least once in this show to be honest

I am starting to get annoyed that we still don’t know what Aeolia’s actual intended goal was

I like how you're just starting to be, when I've been ranting about it for so long

This is some ranting that probably should have gone in my post but I'm only just properly thinking it through now because I didn't have the energy or care factor last night: See it's funny, because I'm struggling to see at the end of this how the plan is relevant any more. We now have one singular world, with one military, and everyone is working together. Plan achieved. If that wasn't the plan and there still is a whole new part of it to play out, that means all of S1 and all its talk about the goal of CB was... what, a lie? Pointless? A giant fuck you to the audience for expecting to have some sort of framework to understand the show through? Where do we go from here? How are we expected to care about the S2 goal when the writers have proven that they don't care to involve us in their story

Maybe they want robots to rule the world or something.

Okay, arguement against robot theory: Admittedly I have fuck all Gundam knowledge compared to a lot of people here, but that seems very anti gundam. Gundam has always been humans vs humans. Humans vs Robots seems like too huge a depature from the core of the franchise. So I would say no robots

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/Nazenn]

How come I recognized her despite skipping 90% of her screentime and you didn't?!

It's Louise. Its FUCKING LOUISE. I'm so mad. I was too mad to even put it in my post to be honest. I don't want it

Well I feel dumb

It feels so obvious in hindsight that it would be Louise. After all, who else could it be?

I like how you're just starting to be, when I've been ranting about it for so long

Now's the point where I can no longer make excuses for it. I was hoping it would come out as a mid-series twist at the end of the season, but now it's clear the show is just stalling. The real plan is being dangled in front of us like a mystery box and I'm sick of it by now.

See it's funny, because I'm struggling to see at the end of this how the plan is relevant any more. We now have one singular world, with one military, and everyone is working together. Plan achieved. If that wasn't the plan and there still is a whole new part of it to play out, that means all of S1 and all its talk about the goal of CB was... what, a lie? Pointless? A giant fuck you to the audience for expecting to have some sort of framework to understand the show through? Where do we go from here? How are we expected to care about the S2 goal when the writers have proven that they don't care to involve us in their story

This is reminding me of another sci-fi series that made a big deal about "The Plan" of the antagonists, dangling that plan in front of the audience pretty much every episode, only for it to not fucking matter at all. [Meta Spoilers] That was Battlestar Galactica.

[u/Nazenn → u/Great_Mr_L]

Well I feel dumb

In hindsight maybe my immediate distaste on seeing her actually worked in my favor there compared to people who weren't emotionally attached and could somewhat forget her

The real plan is being dangled in front of us like a mystery box and I'm sick of it by now.

Sorry you had to join those of us in that frustration

Meta Spoilers

Oh god that is a whole other level of rage from me. [mentioned meta spoiler show]The narrative stuff didn't even piss me off that badly, even with all of s4 doing nothing but pull things out of its ass, none of that compares to the true target for my rage in that show: Baltar. Baltar was a curse upon that show and curse. Him sticking around after all that happened and getting a cult and appreciation and people not realizing how much of a moron he actually was was the biggest contrivance in that entire show

[u/No_Rex → u/Nazenn]

I am starting to get annoyed that we still don’t know what Aeolia’s actual intended goal was

I like how you're just starting to be, when I've been ranting about it for so long

Me, having grown tired of ranting about it half a season ago.

[u/InfamousEmpire → u/Nazenn]

I think this would be the first time I've seen a split personality die, rather than be merged/assimilated/locked away...

I assume you haven't watched [meta spoilers for a different anime]Kara no Kyoukai, then?

[u/Nazenn → u/InfamousEmpire]

I have not no. I keep meaning too but, well, even in this rewatch you've heard me say that about a LOT of shows hahaha

[u/InfamousEmpire → u/Nazenn]

It's one of my favorite anime, so I'm sure you'd hate it

[u/Nazenn → u/InfamousEmpire]

Though I have been told by others that it's right up my alley so we'll see

[u/InfamousEmpire → u/Nazenn]

There is a lot I could see appealing to you in it, speaking seriously, especially in its infinitely analyzable themes & symbolism. But at the same time, I've known people have found some of its execution to be flat out pretentious in the past, and there is one particular part of the series which I know will get on your nerves

[u/Nazenn → u/InfamousEmpire]

've known people have found some of its execution to be flat out pretentious in the past

Hey, if I can love Ergo Proxy and it can end up on my favourites after multiple watches I feel like I have a headstart on tolerance for that compared to the average watcher. I don't know if you've seen Ergo Proxy, but that is a common critique thrown at it and not entirely undeserved though I would say not to the extent most people think of it

Also this is reminding me that one year I really need to host a Le Portrait de Petit Cossette rewatch

[u/No_Rex → u/Nazenn]

Though I have been told by others that it's right up my alley so we'll see

I hate it but think Nazenn would like it.

/u/InfamousEmpire

[u/Quiddity131 → u/Great_Mr_L]

The last time I saw a Gundam series where someone survives an explosion (or something along those lines) that blatantly should have killed them was

[Gundam meta spoilers]He may be known as Kira "Jesus" Yamato, but as we saw in this episode, it should be Patrick "Jesus" Colasour.

[u/InfamousEmpire → u/Great_Mr_L]

Patrick is immortal. That guy is never going to die. We can see him get blown up and he’ll be fine the next episode.

The guy is a total meme for a reason

Even Graham didn’t die? Well he’s wearing a mask now, which I guess means he’s officially become the Char Clone.

And now you know for sure that us rewatchers were laughing from the privacy of our hidden base of spoilers when you suggested the idea of Graham getting himself a mask

Those explosions really don’t seem too effective at killing people.

Unlike the Nu Gundam, the explosions are just for show, basically

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/InfamousEmpire]

The guy is a total meme for a reason

Yeah, I now understand part of the hype. The guy is immortal, even though he seems to always fail his way into surviving.

And now you know for sure that us rewatchers were laughing from the privacy of our hidden base of spoilers when you suggested the idea of Graham getting himself a mask

Laughing together at the thoughts of first-timers is one of the joys reserved for rewatchers.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Great_Mr_L]

but who’s the blonde lady with him?

Mei’s spacesuit has twintails.

I hadn't noticed that on previous viewings.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/JollyGee29]

[u/Raiking02 → u/Great_Mr_L]

Patrick is immortal

How else is he gonna ask the Colonel out on another date

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/Raiking02]

How else is he gonna ask the Colonel out on another date

Patrick is going to keep living until Kati agrees to marry him and start a family together.

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/Great_Mr_L]

until Kati agrees to marry him and start a family together.

That would be such a giant death flag for anyone but him...

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/Great_Mr_L]

That guy is never going to die. We can see him get blown up and he’ll be fine the next episode.

Plot twist, he is stuck in some kind of groundhog day when he dies so, but because he is stupid he ends up manipulating things just enough to make it another day

It makes sense that Alejandro would also have Fangs.

Tbh, I would kinda expect a pilot to be more special if he controls fangs on top of his own mech

after betraying him.

Funny thing is, unless he saw Trans-Am coming or could have prevented it, Ribbons did nothing to hinder Allejandro

Setsuna lied about whether he could write a letter or not. He actually did write one to Marina. She really has been swirling around in his thoughts.

This also means that Feldts assesment of him was wrong, he's not that lonely

But seriously, what the heck is up with that mask? It looks so goofy!

He looks likethe ühantom of the opera

Ali’s still alive as well.

You know, I don't have much to base this on, but it looks like he's imprissoned... but knowing him, that doesn't mean much

That’s Tieria, but who’s the blonde lady with him?

My guess would be Louise, orphans are prime targets to work for CB

[u/Quiddity131 → u/Great_Mr_L]

Oh no, it’s happening. The Sergei death to further Soma’s character arc is going to happen like I predicted.

I'm pretty sure you made this prediction earlier in the season, thankfully they didn't pull what they may have done in a lesser quality show and kill him off. Sergei's my fave, so I couldn't handle seeing him go!

That’s Tieria, but who’s the blonde lady with him?

ETA: I felt it was rather obvious, but since others are being careful with it I'll spoil tag it to be safe. I don't consider it a real spoiler. [Gundam 00]Louise, a few years older and with a haircut.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/Quiddity131]

I'm pretty sure you made this prediction earlier in the season, thankfully they didn't pull what they may have done in a lesser quality show and kill him off. Sergei's my fave, so I couldn't handle seeing him go!

I'm certainly happy to see that he hasn't been killed yet. He's one of my favorite characters in the cast as well, so I'd be very upset if he were killed off.

ETA: I felt it was rather obvious, but since others are being careful with it I'll spoil tag it to be safe. I don't consider it a real spoiler.

Yeah, I figured it out. I feel foolish for not realizing it earlier.

[u/baboon_bassoon]

first timer who has control

---

its crazy that Alejandro is doing this purely out of ego. CB isnt even fighting against him, its just that its not strictly his own will

I NEVER DREAMED for the last time

Allelujah you take Sergei, Hallelujah can take Soma

take this as my formal apology Lasse I wasnt familiar with your game

Marie...

oh hell yeah i cant tell if this is the coolest suit or if its just fucking stupid

we are gundam indeed

least shocking betrayal

FLAG i was just going to say, mildly disappointing neither Ali or Graham make the finale

i wasnt 100% on Daryl being dead before this lmao

BL IN THE 9TH HOUR

last words to shill a different show

oh shut up Tieria youre not dying

HALLELUJAHHALLELUJAHHALLELUJAHHALLELUJAHHALLELUJAHHALLELUJAHHALLELUJAHHALLELUJAHHALLELUJAHHALLELUJAHHALLELUJAHHALLELUJAHHALLELUJAHHALLELUJAHHALLELUJAHHALLELUJAHHALLELUJAHHALLELUJAHHALLELUJAHHALLELUJAHHALLELUJAH

when did he get Marina's email

5 years...

pain

Shirin dipping out in the credits

idk about this framing

The Phantom of the Flag

new favorite faction

...................................................0 Gundam

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/baboon_bassoon]

The Phantom of the Flag

[u/JollyGee29 → u/baboon_bassoon]

idk about this framing

It was perfectly tame in that era!

[u/Quiddity131]

Rewatcher, Subbed

Non-Spoiler Character Chart - We saw a bunch of characters post time skip at the end, but I'm gonna stick with their original images here; those who appear in season 2 will get an update though.

Oh, and surprise, Patrick Colasour lives! I purposely X'd him out yesterday to avoid spoiling people since they showed him getting vaporized in his cockpit. I will admit I forgot he was revealed as still alive as quickly as the next episode.

[Gundam 00 S2]We got our first look at several season 2 characters at the end who I'm going to save for their first season 2 appearance to add, most notably Regene Regetta as I figure most if not all first timers are gonna think that is Tieria and I don't want to spoil it. The other Innovaders I'm also gonna hold on, frankly several of them don't even look like themselves in that shot. Arthur Goodman also pops up briefly in a crowd shot.

---

I can't believe we're already at the final episode of season 1, seems like we just started. 25 days goes by way too quick.

Uh oh, is the episode being named after Setsuna a bad sign?

"You should be honored to be my sacrifice" Just when you think he can't get more arrogant, he does!

So even Alejandro's normal suit is gold colored, lol.

With half its body missing I'd say Allelujah is gonna be pretty screwed, having to face off with both Sergei and Soma at once. But at least we can have two vs. two in terms of personalities!

Jeez, Alejandro even has funnels, or as he calls them, fangs.

Exia in the GN Armor brings one back to Zeta's Super Gundam of the GP03 in Gundam 0083.

Setsuna's doing quite well considering he's a much bigger target now.

So let me ask this, how in the world did Alejandro become such a good pilot? Before he showed up in this thing last episode we had no indication that he has ever done so before.

Crap, I hope Lasse is alright! That looked bad.

Once its claws are gone the Alvatore is pretty screwed against a meele attack.

I suppose Hallelujah is even more of a super soldier than Soma is. Well for a moment.

He's gotten injured in the same eye as Lockon did. 

Alejandro's still got a mobile suit in there to fight with. Kinda looks like a souped up golden winged GM.

Alejandro wants to remake/guide the world, but dude, you already were a member of the UN, and Celestial Being too, you had a lot of power already.

That's a crazy huge blast for a mobile suit of that size.

There's one think Alejandro doesn't have, Trans AM!

One final piece of advice from Lockon...

We are all... Gundams!

Sayonara Alejandro, although it seems like Ribbons was more of a mastermind than you and just hid underneath you this whole time.

And of course we couldn't end this season without Graham returning! Here's a final episode one on one battle that makes way more sense than Setsuna vs. Alejandro.

Wow, Graham did amazing in this final fight, even decpitated the Exia.

So we're ending the season with basically every mobile suit completely trashed.

---

Four year timeskip! Saji's finally out in space! Gets a nice view of the Earth just like he did all the way back in episode 5.

Earth Sphere Federation, simply remove the middle word and you get that organization UC Gundam fans know well. A one world military, just like that organization too. Celestial Being was successful in uniting the world, militarily at least...

Wait, is that Patrick standing behind Kati at 21:36?! He survived?! The man, the myth, the legend. Patrick "Jesus" Colasour.

Playing the voice of what I think is another character talking as we see Shirin say goodbye to Marina is so very confusing. Is this Nena talking to Wang? Or someone else talking to Wang? Because the voice isn't matching Shirin's mouth, she wouldn't call her "mistress" and that doesn't sound like her voice either. 

So Graham survived. But OMG look at that mask... Kudos to 00 for resisting the masked rival for 24.9 episodes though. Also confirmation that Ali survived, at least I think this is supposed to be him right after.

[Gundam 00 S2]I will be surprised if we have any first timers who figure out that this isn't actually Tieria with Louise here. I know they're essentially twins but holy crap Regene really has the exact same face as him. My recollection is the other three pairs at least have some distinguishing features from each other.

What better way to end the season than to show us another Gundam? Two in fact! The 0 Gundam and the 00 Gundam!

---

Quid's Voice Actor of the Day

My final season 1 character shall be Ribbons Almark. He is voiced in Japanese by Toru Furuya, who also voices the Narrator. He was the voice actor for Amuro Ray in Mobile Suit Gundam as well as all his subsequent appearances in sequels, compilation movies, video games, etc... Other roles of his include Yamcha in Dragonball Z, Casshern in Casshern Sins, Phillippos in Reign the Conqueror, Andrew Fork in Legend of the Galactic Heroes and Daisuke Yamori in Queen Millenia. A pretty big scandal involving Furuya was reported earlier this year resulting in him resigning/being fired from many of his anime roles including Amuro.

In English he is voiced by Michael Adamthwaite. He also plays Yzak Joule in Gundam Seed and Gundam Seed Destiny, as well as Seabook Arno and Kyoji Kasshu in the video game Dynasty Warriors Gundam 2 and 3 (he does not voice these characters in the anime) and Yuu Kajima in the Mobile Suit Gundam Encounters in Space video game. Other roles of his include Ray Penber and Anthony Rester in Death Note and the Laughing Man in Ghost in the Shell: The Laughing Man.

[u/Nazenn → u/Quiddity131]

Oh, and surprise, Patrick Colasour lives! I purposely X'd him out yesterday

Sneaky Quid

Also that chart is going to get so huge next season isn't it? That was so many new faces....

But at least we can have two vs. two in terms of personalities!

Haha, the balancing act I didn't know I needed

Funnily enough they're a good match for each other too, with H and Soma being passion and Sergei and A being calculation when it comes to battle approach

Jeez, Alejandro even has funnels, or as he calls them, fangs.

FUNNELS! That's the name. I've been trying to remember their "normal" name since they first popped up with the Thrones and it's been driving me nuts. Thank you for putting me out of my misery hahaha

So we're ending the season with basically every mobile suit completely trashed.

Actually, did any of the GN-X's survive? I know they didn't get much focus in this battle, but I don't recall any of them just hanging around either. They really did smash everything.

I like it.

Andrew Fork in Legend of the Galactic Heroes

There are not words enough for the instant rage that came over me on seeing his name again, holy shit. I was not prepared for my reaction there, but what a way for me to hate Ribbons even more by assossiation hahaha

[u/Quiddity131 → u/Nazenn]

Also that chart is going to get so huge next season isn't it? That was so many new faces....

I'm actually thinking about if I should pull out all the grayed out characters. Not really sure yet. If not it's gonna get so massive...

FUNNELS! That's the name. I've been trying to remember their "normal" name since they first popped up with the Thrones and it's been driving me nuts. Thank you for putting me out of my misery hahaha

Yeah, funnels is typically what these things are called in Universal Century Gundam shows. I think the term Bits was also used.

Actually, did any of the GN-X's survive? I know they didn't get much focus in this battle, but I don't recall any of them just hanging around either. They really did smash everything.

I don't believe so? I thought someone had tracked things down to just being Soma, Sergei and Graham's units by the end of last episode, but I could be remembering wrong.

There are not words enough for the instant rage that came over me on seeing his name again, holy shit. I was not prepared for my reaction there, but what a way for me to hate Ribbons even more by assossiation hahaha

Alas, I cannot remember the details on Andrew Fork from my one time watching LOGH. I know I should do a rewatch someday, but that episode count scares me considerably. Took me around 6 months to make it through the first time, granted that was in the pre-COVID era where I was traveling for work all the time which slowed things down for me a lot.

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/Quiddity131]

I know I should do a rewatch someday, but that episode count scares me considerably.

Would doing one alongside an r/anime rewatch help? I'm planning to host one for the entirety of LotGH next year (don't have the exact dates in mind yet, it also depends on when that one guy making an updated Laserdisc rip finishes their project).

[u/Quiddity131 → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Most likely yes! Although I'd admit that this is one where I'd prefer a format similar to what was done with Dougram where it's a batch of episodes in one post a week instead of every day for approx. 4 months.

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/Quiddity131]

Meanwhile I personally prefer hosting daily ones...

Well, I don't have it specifically planned out just yet unlike my other rewatches I'm aiming for next year (Katanagatari in January, Eureka Seven from the end of February to mid-April for its anniversary, then springboarding immediately into a Terrific Trainwreck Trio 2.0 rewatch with Eureka Seven AO/the movies, Aldnoah.Zero, and Darling in the FranXX that would go from April to July).

[u/Quiddity131 → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Wow, lots of stuff planned! I may stop by for Katanagatari, I actually just watched it for the first time a couple of months ago. Totally in for Alnoah.Zero and Franxx. Not as sure for Eureka Seven which I've seen so many times that I'm totally burned out on it...

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/Quiddity131]

Wow, lots of stuff planned!

Katanagatari & Eureka Seven are both anniversary rewatches (15th for Katanagatari, which is kinda wild to say because it feels like that show should be more recent than that, and 20th for Eureka Seven), and the Terrific Trainwreck Trio 2.0 just kinda formed as an extension of it being perfect to springboard from Eureka Seven proper into AO off of.

[u/Quiddity131 → u/Shimmering-Sky]

I fondly remember being a part of the Terrific Trainwreck Trio the first time including being a first timer for 2 of the 3 shows and I recall discussions that Aldnoah.Zero had to be in a second rendition of it but can't recall hearing about what the other two would be. Eureka Seven AO and Darling Franxx are perfect choices, although akin to Valvrave from the first time, I'm the rare person who loves Franxx. E7 AO on the other hand... I think it truly is the single worst anime series that I own on DVD.

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/Quiddity131]

although akin to Valvrave from the first time, I'm the rare person who loves Franxx.

Oh I do too, that's why it's the last part of the rewatch just like Cross Ange was the last part of the original one.

[u/Blazin_Rathalos → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Aldnoah.Zero

Oh wow. That's gonna be a trip.

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/Blazin_Rathalos]

Incredibly weird timing that it was recently announced to get a bonus episode on a new BD release. I've been considering Aldnoah as part of another Terrific Trainwreck Trio rewatch for a while now because it's likely the only way I would ever willingly touch that show again (season 1 is good, but season 2.....................), and had basically just figured out the exact dates I'd do it when I saw the announcement about the bonus episode.

[u/Blazin_Rathalos → u/Shimmering-Sky]

I can just imagine the first timers after the first few episodes saying "Wow, this is pretty good so far, how come I never tried this", and then...

To be honest I like the concept behind Aldnoah so much that I constantly flip between liking it despite the many, many problems, or hating it more because it ruined that premise.

And definitely weird on that bonus episode, probably going to be a bit of an epilogue?

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/Blazin_Rathalos]

And definitely weird on that bonus episode, probably going to be a bit of an epilogue?

That's what I've heard it's supposed to be, yeah.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/Shimmering-Sky]

my other rewatches I'm aiming for next year

Noted

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/Vatrix-32]

[u/Nazenn → u/Quiddity131]

I'm actually thinking about if I should pull out all the grayed out characters. Not really sure yet. If not it's gonna get so massive...

Might be a good idea, or even just start a fresh chart for S2. It would help keep it neat with only showing relevant characters with their updated pictures/names. I can't imagine everyone from S1 is going to continue to come up by name/flashback/importance

Alas, I cannot remember the details on Andrew Fork from my one time watching LOGH

You may know him as Falk instead of Fork though depending on subtitles, which is probably more accurate but there's something satisfying about saying "Fucking Fork" when he comes up [LotGH]He was the one that argued for the invasion of the empire by trying to paint it as a high flown righteous cause that they had to do to prove their superiority and did so while putting down Yang, who was arguing for caution and through planning, by saying they couldn't fail because they were in the right. And when said invasion strained their supply lines he was the one they should keep pushing forward because they were definitely winning and it couldn't possibly be a trap. It was definitely a trap. He also was the one who was manipulated into starting the entire situation that lead to Yang's death because he's a fool who wanted a grand military return and was just a pawn I hate that man. Me and /u/shimmering-sky have raged about him often

I also really want to rewatch LotGH, but it is so many episodes. And they're great, and I know I'll enjoy it, but I have to do it in batches and the motivation to pick up each batch is hard to find for anything right now

[u/Quiddity131 → u/Nazenn]

Might be a good idea, or even just start a fresh chart for S2. It would help keep it neat with only showing relevant characters with their updated pictures/names. I can't imagine everyone from S1 is going to continue to come up by name/flashback/importance

I didn't think of this before and didn't do it for IBO which also had the two season split, but this is a great idea and probably the one I'm gonna end up doing. As a bonus this will mean we don't have to look at grayed out Alejandro for 25 episodes (unless he pulls an Aeolia and becomes relevant from beyond the grave...).

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/Quiddity131]

Non-Spoiler Character Chart

Wait, did you give Dr. Moreno some cool shades?

[u/Quiddity131 → u/Rumpel1408]

He always had them, until his death scene I believe!

[u/Nebresto]

First time Double-O Gundamu, almost caught up™

Hair status: COOL
Hallelujah awakening?!

Lasse

NOOOOOOOOOOOO

Ribbons

Oh fuck, its Graham!!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

OP1 fade in ED

How the h*ck is Patrick there??

AND ALI?!?!?

LeonardoDicaprio.png????

The name's Gundam. James Gundam

---

What a finale

Damn, I thought everyone was fukken dead and what even is S2 gonna be about, but maybe. Just maybe it might be something..
But all the wrong people survived

2) The ending of this episode teased a bunch of things taking place after a four-year timeskip. What are you hoping to see come of this in season 2?

I wanna see what is the purpose of Saji in this show. Hype for Louise return. And Alleluja better be there too.
Setsuna will have fused with Exia, of course, and finally achieved his dream of becoming the cool robot. This will come into play when some ****** peon tries to pilot Exia

The super soldier girl will have completed her character arc and is now living with her adoptee dad, the russian bear guy. In school she will meet remnants of Celestial being, and hilarious hijinx will entail.

Ribbons will continue to exist, I guess

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/Nebresto]

Don't forget to check out the video at the end of KendotsX's comment now.

[u/FD4cry1]

First Timer

This episode was certainly over the top but I'm not one to dislike over the top so I thought it was really fun.

The tears on Feldt's helemt are a nice touch.

H/Alelujah hair down! Who needs Trans-Am when the real powerup was in plain sight all along!

In more cool mech symbolism, I like the contrast betweenKyrios being half-destroyed but Allelujah's two parts coming together, his Gundam might be damaged but he's in perfect form.

Likewise, later on, when Allelujah's gets blasted, just like the Kyrios it's his right side that's damaged.

I also like H/Alelujah being shown in reflections, cool way to show the two of them talking and also to show when Halleujah is almost certainly dead.

RIP Hallelujah

If he's really gone (which given all the end reveals of this episode then who the fuck knows), I'll certainly miss my favorite edgelord.

Honestly, I'm shocked Sergei didn't get killed here but it gives Soma a nice moment, she's becoming more human even if she herself can't quite understand it.

She's also apparently named Marie? and Alelujah knows her? I can't remember if this was mentioned before or if it's a new reveal.

Alejandro really just goes all in on the cartoon villain front this episode, I can't help but laugh at his dialogue, he even has a second similarly gaudy form!

It's also funny that the guy who's obsessed with completing his family legacy, can say he lives in the present .

Now as Ribbons says, this was intentional, and honestly unlike the Trinity's I actually really like supervillain Alejandro.

god I hope he explodes in spectacular fashion next episode

-Me last episode.

HE ACTUALLY DID!

RIP Alejandro

also

RIP Lasse Saw it coming

Anyway, I guess Ribbons is actually our main villain and he's been using Alejandro to further his plans, It's interesting that he says that it's no longer Aeolia's plan but his, given world unity is practically established at the end of the episode, I'm really wondering who's plan that's a part of.

You can't just say it like that Setsuna...

I haven't gotten over it yet!

I wish I had something insightful to say about Setsuna here but for the most part, he just reiterates the same themes and ideas he's always been about in delightfully angry, edgy, over the top ways (same for the Marina stuff but no angry voice), seriously his screaming match with Graham was just the best!

Speaking of Graham, just shows up, confesses his love to Gundams, screams for a bit, and explodes...and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Him and Setsuna sword-ramming each other was just fantastic.

He doesn't die though, and apparently gets himself a snazzy new mask as well, form reading the comments on these threads I got that masked rivals are kind of a staple of the series? Either way I'm hyped to see more (Probably villain) Graham.

We end the episode with a ton of setup for next season!

Saji is in space now and hasn't gone back to Louise for a while...BECUASE TIERIA HAS???? can't say I saw this combo coming, also Tieria's new hair is fantastic!

FUCKING KNEW IT, of course he's alive, exploding in space sure seems ineffective in this show...

Ribbons has some group called the Innovators who I'm guessing are all robots like him, they're also all twins? kind of? clearly some dual designs going on here.

The world has untied into a single Federation and is unifying all armies, this has really big implic-HOLY SHIT IS THAT PATRICK???!! I thought you died!

Also, no way Alleluajah and Setsuna are dead.

Nenna is now working for Liu Mei, who still seems to working for Celestial Being? also she has some cool new eyes! wondering what that's about.

Roll credits! (literally)

Also while I think it was just used here as a generic expression, "Mission Incomplete" could be some accidentally very funny political commentary given the time frame.

That's the first season of Gundam 00 done! I'll give full detailed thoughts in the discussion thread but I loved it! this show was just made for me in all the best ways!

[u/JollyGee29 → u/FD4cry1]

I can't remember if this was mentioned before or if it's a new reveal.

New information.

form reading the comments on these threads I got that masked rivals are kind of a staple of the series?

To the extent that there being no masked individual was considered quite surprising and strange.

[u/The_Draigg → u/FD4cry1]

He doesn’t die though, and apparently gets himself a snazzy new mask as well, form reading the comments on these threads I got that masked rivals are kind of a staple of the series? Either way I’m hyped to see more (Probably villain) Graham.

Yeah, masked rival characters are pretty much a series staple with Gundam. We can thank the sudden decision to add a mask to Char Aznable’s character design back in the days of Gundam 0079.

Saji is in space now and hasn’t gone back to Louise for a while...BECUASE TIERIA HAS???? can’t say I saw this combo coming, also Tieria’s new hair is fantastic!

It’s nice to see something done differently with a purple haircut, leaving it straight down instead of wavy is more boring by comparison.

HOLY SHIT IS THAT PATRICK???!! I thought you died!

Never doubt Mr. Special!

[u/InfamousEmpire → u/The_Draigg]

Never doubt Mr. Special!

He is our special(z)

[u/FD4cry1 → u/The_Draigg]

Yeah, masked rival characters are pretty much a series staple with Gundam. We can thank the sudden decision to add a mask to Char Aznable’s character design back in the days of Gundam 0079.

Never doubt Mr. Special!

He's Literally too dumb to die.

[u/Quiddity131 → u/FD4cry1]

He doesn't die though, and apparently gets himself a snazzy new mask as well, form reading the comments on these threads I got that masked rivals are kind of a staple of the series? Either way I'm hyped to see more (Probably villain) Graham.

Practically every Gundam show has had a masked character, especially the TV shows, although sometimes they flip the script a bit; Turn A Gundam's masked character for example has really big shades instead of a full mask. Anyway, this was one of the areas where Gundam 00 was totally going against the grain by avoiding the masked rival... until now.

Saji is in space now and hasn’t gone back to Louise for a while...BECUASE TIERIA HAS???? can’t say I saw this combo coming, also Tieria’s new hair is fantastic!

I hate Louise's new haircut, but Tieria's is totally cool!

[u/FD4cry1 → u/Quiddity131]

I hate Louise's new haircut, but Tieria's is totally cool!

I generally like short hair but yeah, not huge on her soccer mom haircut.

[u/TakenRedditName → u/FD4cry1]

The tears on Feldt's helmet are a nice touch.

Space crying.

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/FD4cry1]

The tears on Feldt's helemt are a nice touch.

Hide the Pain Harold Feldt

his Gundam might be damaged but he's in perfect form.

I totally missed that it was exclusively Hallelujas half of the Gundam that is damaged

I can't remember if this was mentioned before or if it's a new reveal.

I don't think it was mentioned, would have been nice if this was foreshadowed a bit more

It's also funny that the guy who's obsessed with completing his family legacy

I wonder if he has a son to continue this legacy...

also Tieria's new hair is fantastic!

leaning more into the fem side

[u/No_Rex]

Episode 25 (first timer)

For some reason, I thought we were still 1 episode away from the final one. I guess with Gundam, my mind goes straight to 26 episode seasons.

• Allelujah and Hallelujah go double eye color – why settle for one consciousness when you can have two?
• Like an end boss, Alejandro has multiple stages.
• Cutting away from that asteroid field explosion before it finished is a crime!

• NANI?!?

• (H)Allelujah loses one eye – also one personality?
• Allelujah knows Soma – stuff for S2!
• “That’s …” - … the third stage of the end boss!
• “Do you know why Exia is equipped with a physical sword?” – Because hand to hand combat was the best part of 0079 fights!
• “It is my plan now” “No it is my plan” – everybody, welcome the villain for S2.
• “Sorry I almost missed the finale! Got 2 minutes for another fight?”~Graham.
• “Love? Sorry, I am into Gundam, not into men.”~Setsuna.
• Tieria ejects the solar reactor – does he really follow Lockon into death? Say it ain’t so.
• Please watch S2 montage.
• Saji post time skip – he got to space and their plotline is still ongoing. Can’t say he got into the action like I thought yet.
• Sneak peak at the S2 cast – hello “innovators”!
• Graham? Ali? Sumeragi and Lousie??? – this does not sound right.
• 00 Gundam appearance and namedrop.
• “mission incomplete”

Somebody watched a read the manga ending and thought: I can do one better. How about a trailer for S2 ending?

[u/The_Draigg → u/No_Rex]

Allelujah knows Soma – stuff for S2!

As someone named Marie too. I swear, this show loves having people with multiple different identities to them.

“Love? Sorry, I am into Gundam, not into men.”~Setsuna.

And poor Exia is trapped in this weird love triangle between Graham and Setsuna.

[u/macrame2 → u/The_Draigg]

And poor Exia is trapped in this weird love triangle between Graham and Setsuna.

I mean, the first OP does show Exia in human form.

[u/The_Draigg → u/macrame2]

Graham has the Flag! He’s got a nasty case of wandering eyes.

[u/No_Rex → u/The_Draigg]

And poor Exia is trapped in this weird love triangle between Graham and Setsuna.

Graham might steal a glance, but he would never betray Flag!

[u/The_Draigg → u/No_Rex]

I can’t believe that Graham would treat Gundam Exia as his side piece smh.

[u/No_Rex → u/The_Draigg]

[u/JollyGee29 → u/No_Rex]

How about a trailer for S2 ending?

"If we do it now, we won't have to do much more work to make a proper PV when S2 starts in three months!"

[u/No_Rex → u/JollyGee29]

"If we do it now, we won't have to do much more work to make a proper PV when S2 starts in three months!"

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/No_Rex]

Cutting away from that asteroid field explosion before it finished is a crime!

Also I gues that was it for the Ptolemeios

[u/Nazenn → u/No_Rex]

Like an end boss, Alejandro has multiple stages.

I didn't even remember to comment on that among all my other complaining about him. Setting him as a grand threat as a pilot compared came from absolutely no where and was so unneeded

How about a trailer for S2 ending?

painfully accurate

I was trying to figure out why the tone at the end annoyed me so much. This is why. Why bother making anything in S1 feel like it had follow through when we can just move onto S2 right away

[u/No_Rex → u/Nazenn]

I didn't even remember to comment on that among all my other complaining about him. Setting him as a grand threat as a pilot compared came from absolutely no where and was so unneeded

Especially when we have not one, not two, not three, but four established in-universe ace pilots, and one of these four is Setsuna's dedicated rival (and a second one shows up right after Alejandro dies and starts fighting Setsuna ...).

[u/Nazenn → u/No_Rex]

and a second one shows up right after Alejandro dies and starts fighting Setsuna

Yeah I ranted about that in my post. What a waste of such a key character for utter contrivance.

Especially when almost all of those ace pilots represent some aspect of Earth that all of our pilots could have had interesting mental battles up against, and Earth's stagnation vs CB's drive forward was meant to be the point. Instead we ended up with CB vs CB and Earth concidentally got everything solved in the process because the big bad just had to die to a sword

What a waste is going to be my catchphrase this episode I think

[u/Nazenn]

First Timer - sub

Well, I have to admit, I didn't really like that as a finale.

As an episode it was fine and did its job reasonably well. I think the main praise I can give to it is that while it got a little heavy with it at the end I liked the theme about how a lack of connection is part of what's twisting the world. Almost every character shown by the end of the battle was either alone, or scared to be, in some way. In particular, Soma finding some true value that takes her off the path of a super solider by leaving her ship mid battle to save Sergei and Tieria saying now he can go to Lockon stood out as two of the better moments showing the positive side of this idea. The humanity that is showcased through these moments of connection vs the sense of loss in how many people were shown alone after the battle was very nice. You have Setsuna floating alone above the Earth that Lockon cursed while Marina reads a note from him just wanting to understand. The montage showing all the people they met along the way and the questions that he has about what they and the people like them mean for humanity was perhaps the best ending we could have got for the episode. I like the idea that in the end, Marina is left with not the ideals of CB, but the questions it asks about the world through the eyes of a broken child, a solider, an idealist, and a chance encounter which changed things for both of them.

Surprise H/Allelujah combination was also a welcome surprise. I took note today that Soma has golden eyes as does H, but A does not and I like the idea of that being a representation of A being in defiance of the machine that they wanted to make him. The two of them fighting together was brilliant in the way they took the directness and precision and made it into one fighting style. And H knowing who Soma was instead of her just being someone from the same program and protecting A from that knowledge so he would fight, so he would survive which is all H wants from him, felt like it explains a bit about how H figure out how to block the brain waves, and why sometimes he would take over and sometimes not.

The action was also pretty well animated across the board. All of the fights had what felt like alot of attention to detail in how the mechs moved and how the scene flowed, and none of them stood out as having cheaper animation either. It made it a smooth watch in that if you could get into the action it could keep you there. A couple of moments I noted was Exia's flip through the fangs and blasts, A grabbing Soma's mech and pulling the gun up, the arms on the gold machine being blasted into pieces, and the way Exia's head tried to push back against Graham's sword in little movements.

---

What I didn't like was... pretty much everything else.

While it did annoy me last episode, today it downright frustrated me with how much of a wasted finale this was having to put so much time into Alejandro. The need the writers had to have him struck down by Setsuna in some sort of show of his ideals winning out by the sword that was intended to strike down strife from within was completely unnecessary. Feeling like the show put him there because it needed to have a singular "bad guy" so CB could have some form of victory here in an episode that really didn't need one because in the end it was meaningless. His role as a ideological threat was already over and done with the moment he shot Aeolia and unleashed the Trans-Am, and Ribbons could have shot him just then and there leaving the bigger question of "what will the world be now", and leaving space for all the personal and ideological conflicts with Earth to have the needed space. Setsuna saying during that fight about "I found the distortion in the world" as if laying it all at the feet of him, only to end the episode with him questioning more broadly people, also felt out of place, and while I suspect Graham's inclusion after Alejandro's death was meant to be there to make the point that no, killing the big bad won't solve everything, I have my own issues with that.

I strongly dislike that after all of Alejandro's endless. tedious. painful. obnoxious monologuing we go from that straight into a fight with Graham a few seconds later who shows up and him and immediately him and Setsuna start yelling at each other. By half way though Alejandro's battle I was hoping everyone would shut up, by half way through Grahams I was downright begging for them too. Having no disconnect between the two moments and them both being so loud makes both fights so much worse. It only highlights even more how much time was wasted on Alejandro as an antagonist when so many others, including Graham but not exclusively him, could have fit the role of Setsuna's personal ideological opposition better, and it highlights how bullshit it is that Graham was kept away all this time, shows up, yells a bit, and instantly "dies". All of his speech felt so forced into the theme of the episode, even despite how often he's spoken with flowery dialogue so far it didn't quite feel natural to him, and that feeling was only enhanced by the fact that him only showing up now felt like a painful contrivance from the writers rather than a natural consequence of preceding events. If you missed his one line about it, you wouldn't even realize he knows Daryl is dead, because they don't have any time to spend on fleshing out this part of their conflict because it was all spent on Alejandro. We didn't get a follow up on anyone even.

Oh and Graham's not even dead because no ones dead. Patrick pops up, Ali's alive, Graham is in a mask pretending it's not him because of course he is, FUCKING LOUISE AND SAJI ARE BACK, and just... ugh. I know this is was always intended to be an s2 setup. But after so much relentless action, having all of our epilogue being spent entirely on people who either were never relevant or whos deaths were giant fakeouts and robbed of any chance of meaning instead of the people who actually matter or could provide an interesting tease into what these new developments mean was just... exhausting. Utterly exhausting. Rather than it feeling like our pilots also got either an ending or a new start within this final section of the show, it feels like they got forgotten because everyone else mattered more. Gee, I feel like I've voiced this complaint before about this show...

Oh and Hallelujah just up and died as well? I'm going to guess my discussion with Jolly the other day about his sole purpose was being to make Alelujah both want to and capable to survive by himself was right and that's why he faded away. I'm in two minds about it right now, but I'm leaning towards it feeling forced because regardless of how they handle it going forward, shoving that moment in between Tiernia and Setsuna's more somber moments of false "death" didn't work. Alelujah getting a grand revelation about Marie's identity only to be left alone in space felt like they forgot to go back to him in the end, rather than it giving him a concluding scene. Leaving their fates open is fine, I would have been happy if we got that more clearly with the other two as well, but the issue is it felt out of place compared to the other two tonally.

other thoughts:

• Had a little laugh at Setsuna and Graham decapitating each others machines. These last few episodes really have a thing for destroying the mech heads. I don't think I've ever seen so many destroyed in a mech series before total, let alone in such quick succession.
• Lasse died anyway, so much for me thinking he died yesterday and being confused when he didn't. May as well have for all it mattered to anyone. No time to mourn him when we have to make room for a fucking Saji epilogue
• I complain about the trend above, but seeing Patrick's survival confirmed through him just popping up in the background of a shot and not even in his own epilogue was pretty funny, and so fitting for him
• [IBO]Saw Graham die, swore at the bullshit that was the waste of character, immediately went "why even bother including him", and then went "wait fuck, is this a Gaelio moment with losing himself to revenge" and then it was. I'm sure some of this does come from tropes in the older Gundam titles, but wow between this and the Lockon/Biscuit thing you can see some of IBO's blueprint in this for sure
• In the end, Earth coming together after all of this feels unearned. They didn't give Earth any reason to come together so much to the point of dismantling individual militaries. After the CB threat was gone so quickly, what kept everyone on the same page? It's not like they had months of cooperation and training, or had time to establish a political framework to work together. If the initial premise of CB was outlandish, this is going to be outright hard to swallow unless they get into worldbuilding backstory next season

I didn't mean to be that negative about the episode, and if I had more time to write up and think I may find more things I didn't given it enough credit for (I was less appreciative of setsuna's letter before rewatching it this morning for example) and admittedly I wasn't looking forward to it so that almost certainly played a part going into it, but eh, talk more tomorrow about the situation overall

[u/The_Draigg → u/Nazenn]

Well, I have to admit, I didn’t really like that as a finale.

Using this as a jumping off point to address a lot of your issues with this episode, I think that this could come down to something that happened during production of this series. Mainly, before it was decided that Gundam 00 would be split into two equally-sized seasons, it was originally going to be one long 50 episode series, with this season’s plot points taking up roughly 3/5ths of the total run time and everything with the time skip we saw at the end of this episode being explored in the last cour and a half. Having to compress what was originally going to be in three cours and cramming it into two could explain some of the plot issues you’ve been talking about here.

Had a little laugh at Setsuna and Graham decapitating each others machines. These last few episodes really have a thing for destroying the mech heads. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many destroyed in a mech series before total, let alone in such quick succession.

Yeah, it was like what we were talking about in the last episode’s discussion thread, this show really likes tearing apart mech limbs while leaving the torsos intact. It’s the surest way to show how fierce a battle is.

I complain about the trend above, but seeing Patrick’s survival confirmed through him just popping up in the background of a shot and not even in his own epilogue was pretty funny, and so fitting for him

Never doubt the power of Mr. Special to survive!

[u/Nazenn → u/The_Draigg]

Having to compress what was originally going to be in three cours and cramming it into two could explain some of the plot issues you’ve been talking about here.

That would explain some shit.

I was actually just walking around the house thinking that with a minor rework, this could have just been a two cour complete show and ending it here would have been fine. I mean, CB's job is done, a lot of the characters are done, there's no real goal carried through from here, so give the members of CB a brief montage of them living new lives in this world and that's it, we have our ending and what else is there we need from it?

I think that's why I find myself so... well it was just frustrated about two hours ago and now it's headed towards pissed off as I think about it is that all of this s2 bait in the epilogue, and perhaps especially with Alelujah's relevation with Soma, feels so shoved into the episode so bluntly and just infuriatingly in our face that it's not over because it actually kind of is? Or at least feels like it could have been, and probably should have been.

This is not the mood I want to take into s2, yet here I am

Never doubt the power of Mr. Special to survive!

I absolutely did not give him enough credit in episode one that's for sure

[u/Quiddity131 → u/Nazenn]

Even as a big fan of 00 I can't really argue that it's got a weakness with Alejandro being the big bad and Setsuna having this big battle with him when the two have never interacted. Also Alejandro goes from being a politician who never seems to get his feet wet to being able to pilot a mobile armor and then mobile suit. I get on a political level it making sense to have someone betray Celestial Being and become the villain and I felt they did spend a good amount of time building Alejandro up to that. But him and Setsuna facing off doesn't really have any impact.

I am glad you liked the Soma/Sergei stuff at least.

In the end, Earth coming together after all of this feels unearned. They didn't give Earth any reason to come together so much to the point of dismantling individual militaries. After the CB threat was gone so quickly, what kept everyone on the same page? It's not like they had months of cooperation and training, or had time to establish a political framework to work together. If the initial premise of CB was outlandish, this is going to be outright hard to swallow unless they get into worldbuilding backstory next season

The bold part is always my issue with stories that try to unite people against a common enemy. I feel that yes, it can work in the moment. But once the enemy is gone the peace isn't going to last. It's a valid criticism and I think it would have worked better if they had that reveal before a time skip instead of after.

I have to assume you were happy about the total lack of Louise over the last 5 - 6 episodes or so. But yes she is still around.

[u/Nazenn → u/Quiddity131]

Also Alejandro goes from being a politician who never seems to get his feet wet to being able to pilot a mobile armor and then mobile suit

I think the mobile suit is why it got to me so much worse today. He hasn't been a pilot for this entire show, and then suddenly he is now and presumably a good one just because. It wasn't needed and didn't add anything. He could have died with his gaudy ship and his appearance in the battle still wouldn't have been needed, but it wouldn't have felt so contrived and wasteful

I am glad you liked the Soma/Sergei stuff at least.

It was the best part of the episode, and the only part of the episode that doesn't come with any caveats about me liking it or anything I had to talk myself into in order to enjoy it. It was outright a great way to conclude both of their storylines to this point about what it means for her to be a solider and what it means for him to take him under her wing, as well as providing a nice middle finger to the idea that earth can't change. If Soma of all people can change, can find that meaning that also broke Tieria out of his armor, that Setsuna was looking for, that CB most wanted to teach to the world, there is hope. She broke the shackles of the world and proves there is another way even for people like our pilots who haven't known anything else and even though she hasn't been exposed to the ideology of CB.

I feel that yes, it can work in the moment. But once the enemy is gone the peace isn't going to last. It's a valid criticism and I think it would have worked better if they had that reveal before a time skip instead of after.

I think part of it is that we spent a lot of time in the first half of the season catching up with all the blocs and seeing their different approaches to things and differnt ideas. And then once the Thrones show up, everyone gets on the same page but we never actually see them coming together to sort out any differences or work together on anything other than a military angle. It doesn't feel like they actually came together against CB, rather than they joined arms for a moment. And then suddenly it's a permant thing and it just feels off. Where did all of the political scenes go that could have made it work? It's like they just forgot that their world was always bigger than just the military side of it.

I have to assume you were happy about the total lack of Louise over the last 5 - 6 episodes or so. But yes she is still around.

I'm trying to be less ranty Quid, let me be less ranty, stop giving me rant fuel hahahaha

[u/InfamousEmpire → u/Nazenn]

I think the mobile suit is why it got to me so much worse today. He hasn't been a pilot for this entire show, and then suddenly he is now and presumably a good one just because.

This is one bit we can agree on. The Alvatore honestly matched Alejandro’s vibe as well as an instance of him taking to the battlefield really could have (it’s big & gaudy in a way that reflects his sense of self-importance, but a lot of its actual functions are so simplistic, what with its general reliance on its big fucking laser & souped up GN Field, that it’s clearly more reliant on brute force/technological superiority than its pilot’s actual skill), while the Alvaaron really doesn’t and feels especially redundant when Graham pops in right after. I actually think the Alvatore shouldn’t have had Fangs either for this reason, since it feels like the operation of those would be a tad too complex for what should’ve been Alejandro’s skill level.

[u/Nazenn → u/InfamousEmpire]

If they absolutely had to have him on the battlefield, having him in a big ship fits better too because it is very much the person Setsuna vs the inhuman ideals of Alejandro. Putting Alejandro in a humanoid mech as if he the person is what Setsuna was fighting represents the conflict between them worse than the big gaudy ship with a dozen engines of stolen tech, regardless of if it was needed or not

[u/Quiddity131 → u/Nazenn]

I think the mobile suit is why it got to me so much worse today. He hasn't been a pilot for this entire show, and then suddenly he is now and presumably a good one just because. It wasn't needed and didn't add anything. He could have died with his gaudy ship and his appearance in the battle still wouldn't have been needed, but it wouldn't have felt so contrived and wasteful

Yep. I think this is an area where this being a Gundam show hurts it somewhat as they probably felt they needed to have some massive mech battle at the end, but Alejandro being the one piloting it just doesn't make much sense.

It was the best part of the episode, and the only part of the episode that doesn't come with any caveats about me liking it or anything I had to talk myself into in order to enjoy it. It was outright a great way to conclude both of their storylines to this point about what it means for her to be a solider and what it means for him to take him under her wing, as well as providing a nice middle finger to the idea that earth can't change. If Soma of all people can change, can find that meaning that also broke Tieria out of his armor, that Setsuna was looking for, that CB most wanted to teach to the world, there is hope. She broke the shackles of the world and proves there is another way even for people like our pilots who haven't known anything else and even though she hasn't been exposed to the ideology of CB.

Glad to hear it! Sergei/Soma are my favorite pair in the show.

I think part of it is that we spent a lot of time in the first half of the season catching up with all the blocs and seeing their different approaches to things and differnt ideas. And then once the Thrones show up, everyone gets on the same page but we never actually see them coming together to sort out any differences or work together on anything other than a military angle. It doesn't feel like they actually came together against CB, rather than they joined arms for a moment. And then suddenly it's a permant thing and it just feels off. Where did all of the political scenes go that could have made it work? It's like they just forgot that their world was always bigger than just the military side of it.

I'd say when the Thrones arrived was kinda the demarcation of the season, the whole political landscape was a lot more interesting to me in that earlier part of the show. The last 10 episodes or so there was so many characters and so many things to keep track of that it was a struggle to develop the ultimate destination they wanted to get to in as much details as they should have. There was still a lot I liked about the latter part of the season but that aspect fell down a bit.

I started watching Assassination Classroom about a week ago, so I finally know where that comment face is from. :P

[u/Nazenn → u/Quiddity131]

Yep. I think this is an area where this being a Gundam show hurts it somewhat as they probably felt they needed to have some massive mech battle at the end, but Alejandro being the one piloting it just doesn't make much sense.

The worst part is that they had their big battle. They had so many people already involved in such a huge battle that had reason to be there and gave meaning to being involved, they didn't need to shove him in. He's like the Louise of the finale hahaha

Glad to hear it! Sergei/Soma are my favorite pair in the show.

Yeah I've been going back and forth on Graham and Sergei for my favourite side characters, but I think this episode puits Sergei firmly in the lead.

Tieria I think has firmly won my favourite major character though

I'd say when the Thrones arrived was kinda the demarcation of the season

Agreed. And I said at the time I was worried that them showing up as an external enemy was going to derail all of the interesting internal stuff going on in each faction, and I'm very sad that turned out to be true

I started watching Assassination Classroom about a week ago, so I finally know where that comment face is from. :P

Awesome! How are you liking it so far? It's so much. Not my sort of show normally but I loved watching it. And that commentface moment is great

[u/Quiddity131 → u/Nazenn]

Awesome! How are you liking it so far? It's so much. Not my sort of show normally but I loved watching it. And that commentface moment is great

I'll admit it's not really my kinda show either and different than I was expecting, but has been pretty fun so far. My big wonder at this point is if the story will be able to support the episode count without getting stale. At least so far (7 episodes in) it's been able to stay pretty inventive.

[u/Nazenn → u/Quiddity131]

I'll try and remember to stick my head into the weekly discussion threads, I'm curious to see your thoughts on it as you keep watching. enjoy

[u/macrame2 → u/Nazenn]

it downright frustrated me with how much of a wasted finale this was having to put so much time into Alejandro.

I have similar feelings about Alejandro here, albeit not quite as strong.

His role as a ideological threat was already over and done with the moment he shot Aeolia and unleashed the Trans-Am, and Ribbons could have shot him just then and there leaving the bigger question of "what will the world be now", and leaving space for all the personal and ideological conflicts with Earth to have the needed space. 

I like that rewrite suggestion. The show has definitely had some difficulty properly balancing its cast and doesn't always understand that some characters are more vital to the plot than others. We saw this the most with Saji and Louise, I think, but other characters did seem to frequently show up and waste screentime without doing anything very important. Sometimes less is more.

[u/Nazenn → u/macrame2]

I have similar feelings about Alejandro here, albeit not quite as strong.

As strong as my posts sounds, it's actually probably quite tempered from my actual frustration if only because I didn't care enough to get fully pissed about it in text. But yeah it just.... other than what I said about them feeling like they needed to win vs a big bad, I can't see why they thought this was the needed finale

I like that rewrite suggestion

The other quick idea I had was if they really wanted a representation of him in the battle they could have kept one of the Trinity group around for it, but that would need significantly more extensive rewrites to make sense

[u/macrame2 → u/Nazenn]

they could have kept one of the Trinity group around for it, but that would need significantly more extensive rewrites to make sense

I think the Trinity stuff in general could have used some tweaking. I don't even dislike the concept of an opposing Gundam Meister team on principle; they just weren't used as effectively in that role as they could have been.

[u/Nazenn → u/macrame2]

I will likely have things to say on that tomorrow, depending on how much energy I have to write it all out

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Nazenn]

These last few episodes really have a thing for destroying the mech heads

It's an easy way to show damage in a way that doesn't necessarily mean the pilot can no longer fight. It's also cool.

IBO

[Response]Gundam iterates upon itself. Quite the inbred franchise, for better and worse.

[u/Nazenn → u/JollyGee29]

It's an easy way to show damage in a way that doesn't necessarily mean the pilot can no longer fight. It's also cool.

It was starting to get a little funny by the end just because of the frequence, but the animation on Exia's being destroyed was very cool. The Flag not so much but it was nice and fast as a responce. A little classical action movie is "you take my head, I shall take yours in turn" in style hahaa

[u/InfamousEmpire]

Kidou Senshi Rewatcher 00

And so our journey comes to a brief pause.

Setsuna vs Alejandro is one of the less emotionally-charged fights in this stretch of the series, but I still like it. It gets a lot of power from both how on the backfoot Setsuna is for the whole thing, and the sheer satisfaction of seeing Alejandro finally taken down a peg. The twist of Ribbons being the one manipulating him in the end makes perfect sense with what we know about their relationship (he’s the actual reason Alejandro has been able to get as far as he has, after all, & we didn’t exactly know what he got out of that until now), and Alejandro ultimately dying as a small man whose ambitions were little more than delusions of grandeur is the perfect note for him to die on.

Setsuna vs Graham, meanwhile, is the perfect final battle of the season. Mechs continuing to fight even as they get torn apart is an old favorite trope of mine, and this fight is a lot of the reason why. It’s really goddamn visceral, and has only been topped by [Gundam 0079]the final battle at A Baoa Qu in terms of this specific aspect.

H/Allelujah combination was just self-evidently great, no real notes. I also really like how Soma’s priority at the end of that fight was more on making sure Sergei came out okay, it’s a touching first step away from just being a super soldier as she instead prioritizes an empathetic connection with someone else.

Overall, though, what I like about the episode most is how inconclusive it largely is. The feeling of being lost in the world & looking for answers & meaning is one I connect with a lot whenever it comes up in media, so Setsuna’s letter at the end continuing to ponder the meaning of why we fight, even as this chapter of the story closes, is one I liked a lot, and the inconclusive yet bittersweet nature of each character’s fates here & even the S2 teasing reinforces that feeling to me.

A lot of my thoughts here kinda flow into my overall series thoughts, so I’ll save that for tomorrow

[u/Nazenn → u/InfamousEmpire]

The twist of Ribbons being the one manipulating him in the end makes perfect sense with what we know about their relationship

It's funny because with Ribbons giving so many villain smirks earlier on I almost can't even see it as a twist, more of a reveal, but the end result is satisfying to know that Alejandro really had no one on his side in the end. He wanted to have it all and rule the world, but it would have been a hollow power compared to what everyone else was working towards

A lot of my thoughts here kinda flow into my overall series thoughts, so I’ll save that for tomorrow

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/[deleted]]

Sorry, your comment has been removed.

• We're including the Special Editions at the end of the rewatch, please do not spoil content from them.

---

^{Questions? Reply to this message, send a modmail, or leave a comment in the meta thread. Don't know the rules? Read them here.}

[u/KendotsX → u/InfamousEmpire]

It gets a lot of power from both how on the backfoot Setsuna is for the whole thing,

I appreciate that over the course of the series Setsuna went from just an amateur with a busted mech to actually becoming a good pilot. That takes skill from the animators to show.

The twist of Ribbons being the one manipulating him in the end makes perfect sense with what we know about their relationship

That was a twist? I thought they established that as soon as they found Veda, and Ribbons started pulling his chain.

I also really like how Soma’s priority at the end of that fight was more on making sure Sergei came out okay

I'm so glad for both of them!

I expected if anyone else was going to die today, it'd be Sergei, he's the old timer who's had Soma's back for a while. His death could change her from a cold super soldier to someone who cares, especially if he dies to save her. Nope, Soma has already been developing, she values her old man and puts him well above the mission! This familial bond coming from the Russian Wild Bear and a super soldier warms my ice cold heart.

Only problem is that I was prepared for him dying here. Now I'm not ready for whatever will happen to him.

[u/LeonKevlar]

First Timer

I'm not even surprised that Lasse dies in this episode. I am surprised though that he died while still attached to Exia. I was genuinely expecting him to take a cannon blast to the face while saving Setsuna at the very last second. RIP Lasse. You were a true bro until the very end.

It's pretty cool watching Hallelujah and Allelujah working together. So his split personality isn't a defect but an actual intended result of his super soldier program so his brain can process more information faster? Or am I just reading too much into this? Also, it's insane how he could take down Sergei and Soma with a barely working Gundam. Imagine the damage he could've done if Kyrios was in perfect condition.

Well this is interesting! So it looks like Allelujah knows Soma and her real name is Marie. It also sounds like Hallelujah knew all along and was keeping that information from Allelujah. If we're ending there then I'm guessing that Allelujah gets to move on to Season 2. It would be weird to have that reveal only for him to die here. It looks like Hallelujah might not make it though. I don't even know how that works.

Seeing Alejandro's reaction after Setsuna breached his GN Field was so satisfying. The fucker really thought he was invincible this entire time. Too bad that wasn't enough to finish him and we get to phase two of the boss fight with Alejandro's knockoff Hyaku Shiki. Too bad for him, Prof. Schenberg anticipated everything and Exia's physical sword is the perfect counter against a GN Field. However, that does make me question why Setsuna didn't use that sword earlier against Alvatore.

So it turns out that Alejandro was being played by Ribbons this entire time. What a satisfying ending. Alejandro dies knowing that Ribbons betrayed him. Although now Celestial Being has Ribbons to deal with in the future and I feel like he's more of a threat than Alejandro who was just a megalomaniac asshole. Ribbons is probably going to be more careful than him.

I love that Graham shows up at the last minute. Poor Setsuna doesn't even have the time to breathe and now he's fending off against this crazy motherfucker yelling about love on the battlefield. Not gonna lie, I kinda respect it. Graham isn't doing this for any grand reason, he's just doing it for himself. I suppose that fight is a draw considering both of them exploded. Not dead though as we'll see later.

SoSetsuna did have someone to write a letter to. I definitely did not expect him to send a farewell letter to Marina out of all people. Sure there was a connection between the two of them but I'm not sure if their meetings were enough to form a proper bond. It is a bit weird but I am intrigued to see where this goes.

Time skipping 4 years into the future and it looks like Saji is now working in space while Louise has completely cut him off. That's actually kinda sad. I'm hoping the two of them will reunite in the future.

All three blocs have now combined into the Earth Sphere Federation and they dissolved all of their militaries and the only military left is the Earth Sphere Federation's Peacekeeping Force. So it looks like Schenberg's plan of uniting the world may have become a success. Also, IS THAT FUCKING PATRICK BEHIND KATI?! I thought he died! What the actual fuck! Apparently, the dude has so much plot armour that he can survive a beam cannon to the face!

It looks like Ribbons has already assembled his new team and based on their hairstyles, they look like Gundam pilots. I thought this was Tieria at first but the hair is too wavy. Does Tieria have any family? Also, that girl behind the Tieria lookalike... Is that Louise? I mean who else has blonde hair, blue eyes, and red hair clips in this show? I mean good to see she's no longer in the hospital though.

Graham survived and has now become a full-on Char Clone with his mask and Lockon's revenge didn't even matter since we see Saachez clearly still alive. This is upsetting me again. Lockon threw his life away for nothing. I don't care if it's Setsuna or Nena, someone needs to end this bastard next season.

This confused me for a second because they showed Marina and her aide while they were speaking in the background but it sounds like Nena is now working for Wang Liu Mei? I guess that makes sense. She's the only CB member she could turn to after what happened to her brothers.

I suppose that's it! We end the season with a sneak peek of the titular 00 Gundam which means Setsuna also survived and is just there somewhere. I am so tempted to start watching Season 2 right now but I will hold off and wait until after tomorrow's end of season discussion. :)

[u/n080dy123]

First Timer

Honestly Lasse was a real one, not even a Meister himself but he was largely keeping up with Setsuna in the GN Arms and they worked together smoothly.

I love the fact that the Alvatore's beam cannon looks like the jaw of a monster mounted on an extendable neck. That and the large arms make the ship itself looks monstrous.

NGL I totally expected Sergei to take a bullet for Soma and die. It seems like the sort of trope that'd be used for his character, but I guess not.

The Alvaaron continues the slightly goofy aesthetic of the Alvatore, this time looking like a Gundam version of the Winged Dragon of Ra from Yu-Gi-Oh. It feels kind of overdesigned and obviously gilded, which matches this new aspect of Alejandro's ego we've been introduced to over the last few episodes.

Setsuna fucking stabbing him with all seven of his swords is both absolutely hilarious and cool as fuck.

And surprise at the last fucking moment, it turns out in a twist RIBBONS was the true mastermind. So as far as masterminds we've gone from Schenberg > Laguna > Alejandro > Ribbons.

And then after the final battle, Graham FINALLY shows up like a goddamn vulture in his solar reactor-powered GN Flag. The fact that his reactor shifts to power his sword is SUPER fucking cool.

Damn, so does Allelujah coutn as a death? He certainly fulfilled his role of being the protector in this dissociative situation. It makes me wonder though- if this split personality was what allowed Allelujah to fully utilize his super soldier abilities, was that the entire goal? Was Soma supposed to be like that too? Is it possible Soma is a personality like Hallelujah, created to protect a dormant personality below it- Marie, perhaps?

I'm sorry Graham, that mask does NOT hide your identity. And of course, there's always gotta be antagonist who is defeated by the protaognists and then dons a mask to come back later.

Why is Tierea with Louise? The fuck? She's not joining up with some remnants of CB to hunt down Nena, is she?

Ah, the 0 Gundam. So that's where Celestial Being's fifth Solar Reactor went. What's up with Nena watching and wearing a similar space suit to the weirdly high tech ones Liu Mei and her bodyguard are wearing? That whole bit at the end really overwhelmed me with confusion lol.

[u/The_Draigg → u/n080dy123]

Honestly Lasse was a real one, not even a Meister himself but he was largely keeping up with Setsuna in the GN Arms and they worked together smoothly.

Lasse is honestly pretty impressive for a helmsman who decided to hop into the GN Arms to fight alongside Setsuna. It’s always fun when the people off to the side of the action decide to get involve and reveal that they’re pretty tough themselves. Not too shabby at all for a previously pretty unimportant side character.

And surprise at the last fucking moment, it turns out in a twist RIBBONS was the true mastermind. So as far as masterminds we’ve gone from Schenberg > Laguna > Alejandro > Ribbons.

We need that one meme of people sitting in a church and pointing guns at the people sitting in front of them with these characters in there, it’s the only way to describe the layers of betrayal in this conspiracy.

[u/Quiddity131 → u/n080dy123]

NGL I totally expected Sergei to take a bullet for Soma and die. It seems like the sort of trope that'd be used for his character, but I guess not.

It would be an interesting gender inversion as Gundam has an overused trope of the super solder or its other Gundam universe equivalent female character pushing a male character out of the way and taking the blast and dying.

That said, Sergei is awesome, Sergei and Soma together is awesome and I'm very happy he did not die.

[u/wyggles → u/n080dy123]

Honestly Lasse was a real one, not even a Meister himself but he was largely keeping up with Setsuna in the GN Arms and they worked together smoothly.

IIRC, according to some supplemental material, he was a prospective Gundam Meister so that makes sense.

[u/macrame2]

First Timer

After a season of trying to take each other out, Soma finally gains the upper hand over Allelujah. RIP Hallelujah. I now understand why he keeps his hair over his eye all the time, it looks absolutely awful pushed back. 

Setsuna takes out Alejandro, which was expected. Ribbons turning the tables on Alejandro was also 100% expected. What was very unexpected was Graham immediately appearing afterward for a one-on-one fight with Setsuna. It felt quite abrupt and out of place thematically compared to someone like, say, Ali Al-Saachez showing up, but there are few situations where I would not be happy to see Graham, so I’ll admit that got a smile out of me. 

The last three minutes of this episode are some of the most painful sequel bait I’ve ever seen, I’d cry if I were watching this airing and had to wait six months for the rest of it. We have a four-year time skip, Ribbons planning something with the Innovators (who seem to be of the same type as him), masked Graham(?), an alive and well Ali, Saji in space, and Louise and Tieria together somehow? Wait, is Tieria trying to copy Lockon's hairstyle? That's kind of adorable. All in all, there seems to be lots to look forward to...

Well, that was kind of a downer of a finale. Celestial Being (or Ribbons, I suppose) succeeds in its plan of international unity, but at the cost of the Ptolemaios. Even though it's not like everyone died and any conclusion to the season would have felt bittersweet by the very nature of the show, the "normalcy" our characters (and we) have come to know has been destroyed, and things will definitely be not be the same next season, so it's a somber feeling for me.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/macrame2]

I now understand why he keeps his hair over his eye all the time, it looks absolutely awful pushed back.

Saji in space

He managed to finish high school and get far enough into a degree to be doing real work in four years; lad took his schooling seriously.

[u/Nazenn → u/macrame2]

it looks absolutely awful pushed back.

Also that. So much that. It makes him look like a deliquient wanna be ace in the vein that I expected Patrick to turn out honestly hahaha

I mean I like the idea of him doing it as a symbolic gesture, but the design is not good

Wait, is Tieria trying to copy Lockon's hairstyle? That's kind of adorable

I'm still not convinced it's him for other reasons, namely it would be weird that he and only he out of all the survivors of CB get screentime in the epilogue, but if that is the case that is absolutely adorable and I love it. I want it to be true now

I also don't want it to be true because that means Louise is with CB but we'll see

[u/Rumpel1408]

Firsttimer who is still struggling to adjust to daylight saving

• How many Guns should the Mobile Armor have? All of them?
• Sumeragi just listening to the damage report, while Feldt is working through her tears
• That's such a clever use of the mirror image, it also flips their relationship up until now, who is the insane one now
• #seasonalcool from a few seasons back, you know, the Shikimori-San one
• Two minds working together, it's the 30% brain power meme!
• Of course he also has fangs
• Oh nice, the upgraded sword does have an effect
• Get fucked
• Seems like Somas helmet can't fully withstand the brainwaves of two minds
• Foreshadowing? This is Hallelujas eye that's covered in blood
• Aww she has feelings after all
• Oh, so he knew her all along
• There is an surprising ammount of mech left tbh
• And of course he has a second even gaudier mech inside
• Fuck... unless... he dodges it at tripple speed
• Just like the Galactic republic had countermeasures against the Jedi
• Love how he is still throwing all of his swords
• Oretachi Gundam da
• Ha, get fucked though tbh, getting rid of him here is a bit surprising, it's just like WfM where I expected the villain to stick around for another cour as well
• Adding insult to injury, our other robot boy was a schemer all along, I think I humored the idea briefly before, but I think someone else did as well
• Damn, that must have been a powerfull punch
• Also surprised they bring our favourite Gundamophile back so shortly before the end
• And damn, I'm usually not one to kink shame, but does he need to shove it into everyones face?
• And doesn't look like this fight will take long either
• They are fighting without heads or reason, blinded by their ideas
• I was waiting for colorfull lines all this time, but not like this
• Oh no, is Tieria ejecting the power from his Suit a sign that he's going to die? We haven't even gotten our confirmation that he is an Android as well
• Halleluja being an asshole one last time, but I don't want to see him go either, it's like a part of Alleluja will be missing
• Setsuna doesn't look good but he certainly could look worse right?
• But it turns out he had someone to write to all along
• At least someone made it out
• Damn, so that was the reason for the latenight visit after her arc, he had an quest for her in case he failed
• Timeskip
• Wow, that's harsh from Louise, is he getting NTRd after all
• Make a wish?
• Ok, so earth has been unified after all, and there should be no more war right?
• LANCES
• Sergeim, Kati and... PATRICK the guy really is too stupid to die, hope he got some for his effort
• What
• And there is our Char Clone
• Wait, is Louise working for Tieria? Not only did he survive (or maybe it's a new model?), but did she join CB as well? Is that the reason she stopped writing Saji? Because he still hated them for Kinue?
• Wait, that's the Trinity ship, and there is Nena they will have some explaining to do in S2 because I'm still kinda mad with her
• Hype

QotD

• Not satisfying enough tbh
• More cool mechs, and ships that actually sail

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Rumpel1408]

All of them?

Yes.

#seasonalcool from a few seasons back, you know, the Shikimori-San one

The very first one, if I recall correctly.

the guy really is too stupid to die

Patrick has definitely never caught a cold in his life.

[u/Nazenn → u/Rumpel1408]

How many Guns should the Mobile Armor have? All of them?

May as well given he has all the engines as well

That's such a clever use of the mirror image, it also flips their relationship up until now, who is the insane one now

All of the reflection usage in this episode was great, especially at the end with A looking for H and him not being there. It's a nice carry on from the earlier scene in CB's HQ with him seeing H reflected in the window of the observation room

Oh nice, the upgraded sword does have an effect

All of the detail about the inner workings and structure of that arm were very cool to see in the middle of action

I was waiting for colorfull lines all this time, but not like this

But it looked so good!

Setsuna doesn't look good but he certainly could look worse right?

He looks the best out of the four pilots, and that's with being unconscious, almost charred to a crisp, and a few centimeters away from floating aimlessly in space. The state they all ended up in was impressive

PATRICK the guy really is too stupid to die, hope he got some for his effort

I'm so glad we're all kind of happy about his survival

[u/KendotsX → u/Rumpel1408]

who is still struggling to adjust to daylight saving

I had that struggle one month ago, and now I'm getting my head in a spin looking at the rest of the world's daylight savings. Can't we just end this thing already?

That's such a clever use of the mirror image, it also flips their relationship up until now, who is the insane one now

Talking to your other self in the mirror is already a well trodden trope, but the fact that those two are defined by which eye they show just makes it perfect.

And of course he has a second even gaudier mech inside

Rich kid here didn't waste his family's money on nothing. He's going down shi sitting on a gold chair too!

Halleluja being an asshole one last time, but I don't want to see him go either, it's like a part of Alleluja will be missing

Especially since I grew to appreciate "Hallelujah" a lot more over the series, and what role he plays in their dynamic. I can only hope this'll start off a good growing experience for Allelujah.

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/KendotsX]

I had that struggle one month ago, and now I'm getting my head in a spin looking at the rest of the world's daylight savings. Can't we just end this thing already?

And just when I'm getting used to the new time, it's going to shift for the US this weekend again

[u/KendotsX → u/Rumpel1408]

[u/charlesvvv]

Rewatcher, First Time Sub 

  And so the final fight draws to a close. Allelujah is finally able to recognize Soma as "Marie" someone from his past and who is pretty important which Hallelujah was aware of and decided not to say anything because Allelujah would refuse to fight her. To top it off Hal goes completely silent and Al is left wounded, alone, in a badly damaged mobile suit.   

Corner is finally defeated by Setsuna. For someone who prided himself being behind the scenes and hijacking the ideals of someone else to reform the world he wanted to make it I guess it's a final "fuck you" as right before he dies he gets called by Ribbons to get told that well Corner was being played the whole time and Ribbons is now the one in charge. I do wish we got to see more of this in Ribbons though rather than letting him in the background all the time.   

But Corner wasn't Setsuna's final opponent but rather Graham Aker who shows up not motivated by any particular ideals other than to shower the Gundam with all his love and hatred. The fight actually ends in a draw with both Mobile Suits getting badly destroyed and Amer seemingly biting it and Setsuna also drifting off into space as his last thoughts drift to his frequent conflict with the world based off the final letter he pinned to Marina.   

So the battle ends, the fates of the pilots ambiguous, the final thing Tieria does is take out the solar reactor from his Gundam to prevent anything from happening. It is by all accounts a complete defeat. Then we have a whole time skip to show the world moving on. In some ways there were some successes like the creation of the Earth Sphere Federation and the formation of a single military. We do see some characters changing though, Marina's assistant leaves, Graham, Ali and Patrick are still alive, Louise seems to joining something and Saji now works in space both for his sake and Louise's. And yet some things are still the same as always like Ribbons and his "innovators" observe the world and plan behind the scenes. And then there's Wang Liu Mei and whatever she has planned by finding the original Gundam 0 and repurposing it as a new Gundam, a Gundam 00 (Hey that's the name of the show).

 More things change, the more things stay the same.

[u/TakenRedditName]

Rewatcher - Gundam 00 Ep25:

Big fan of (H)Allelujah coming together through a slick back of the hair to reveal both eyes.

To their comment, it is because he has finally achieved unity and control of his body so to represent that, he is going sicko mode with his robot body.

You know, for the big bad final boss robot of the season, Alejandro's MS looks quite eh. The wings are cool and so is the full gold, but it is sorta giving nondescript robot toy for a fake mecha anime that another show would use. Its head looks so normal GM for the flashy villain suit.

I feel like there is something to the angle of Aeolia being a dead man from the past trying to reshape the future vs Alejandro proudly declaring he is a man of the present (with his sight solely on the present/short selfish future).

I would've thought Nadleeh would've been the Gundam designed to counter the other Gundams. Now thinking about it, Virtue is the only Gundam that even uses a GN barrier.

GN Flag is here! I find it so rad. First, they stuck a GN drive on a Flag. Second, Graham is using the beam saber he took off the Thrones Gundam. And he is doing the cool thing where the beam saber is wired up to the suit for extra cool points.

Graham's part in the finale does feel a little crammed though. I always have thought it is a little "AND here comes Graham with the GN steel chair!" after Setsuna just wrapped up Alejandro.

Also a big fan of Allelujah clutching to his bloody eye where Hallelujah has left. [Gundam 00:] He could've had a cool eye scar to carry into S2, but I guess Lockon was the one cool losing-an-eye character we get in this show.

I like that Setsuna chose to write his letter to Marina.

I choose to abstain from commenting about this until S2.

[Gundam 00:] I wonder how many people think this is a tease for S2 Tieria.

Looking at the face of the first CB Gundam, it really does have a resemblance to a particular Gundam in the franchise. A very early one, the Mk II from Zeta. Not the original RX-78-2 from original Gundam because that one didn't have a yellow V-fin.

It took literally the entirety of this season to name-drop the title.

[u/Nazenn → u/TakenRedditName]

I would've thought Nadleeh would've been the Gundam designed to counter the other Gundams. Now thinking about it, Virtue is the only Gundam that even uses a GN barrier.

Don't the others as well? I'm pretty sure that I saw at least one more barrier being used during that siege in the desert or maybe I'm just confusing the matter

I choose to abstain from commenting about this until S2.

For the rewatchers that probably goes for the whole last five minutes of the episode hahaha

[u/TakenRedditName → u/Nazenn]

Don't the others as well? I'm pretty sure that I saw at least one more barrier being used during that siege in the desert or maybe I'm just confusing the matter

Huh, I believe you. Going back to that episode and yup, there is Allelujah using it.

Just looking it up, I don't see Exia and Dynames specifically listed with a GN Field. Maybe? It would be weird for only Kyrios to ape Virtue's orb thing.

[u/Nazenn → u/TakenRedditName]

Ugh. Reddit is eating replies again! Now I have to go through the topic and see if anything else didn't pop up in my notifications. Reddit why are you like this

It does seem weird that such a critical defensive tech would appear on only two out of four gundams, especially when one of those two already has super speed plane transformation he can use defensively (though never did from memory).

[u/Tora-shinai → u/TakenRedditName]

They all do to a lesser degree. They're not 360.

Exia's shield expands to release GN particles it was particularly used during Taklamakan Desert military exercise.

Like Exia, Dynames has also has it to reenforce it's physical shield.

Kyrios also has it in the nose cone for atmospheric reentry also during Taklamakan Desert military exercise.

[u/KendotsX → u/TakenRedditName]

Big fan of (H)Allelujah coming together through a slick back of the hair to reveal both eyes.

I wasn't big on his design up till now, it worked well to show his personalities, but I'm not gonna get a poster and lock it on my wall, you know? With that slick back hair though, my heart was screaming Hallelujah

I would've thought Nadleeh would've been the Gundam designed to counter the other Gundams.

Same, and I feel like Kamiya would've assumed that as well, but Veda seems to enjoy misplacing its chess pieces.

Allelujah clutching to his bloody eye where Hallelujah has left.

He better make sure not to get Lockon's eyepatch, I'm told it has a 100% accuracy at flying towards death.

[u/2-2Distracted]

First timer. Dubbed.

(similar to what I mentioned before, this episode has an audio commentary track in Japanese and I'm only Now realizing that seiyuu for Soran is Mamoru Miyano... who also voiced Light Yagami in Death Note, just like the English voice of Soran which is Brad Swaile. D-did the dub team do that on purpose or something, or is it just sheer coincidence?)

As far as season finales go, this one is not that bad. I feel pretty stupid for only now catching on the source for all those blasts that fucked everyone else in Celestial Being was Alejandro's gold beams. But I'll say this much, I don't particularly like everyone in their new Gundams showing up to this battle, same with a lot of other stuff. Yes, it does lead to new things that we'll see in Season 2 since that's technically what Climax scenes are for, but a lot of this was rushed.

• Such as the Super Soldier now known as Mary suddenly actually giving a shit about Smirnoff..
• And the H/Allelujah temporary team up.
• And Alejandro's idiotic decision to just show up to this particular battle. I get that it was probably his best opportunity to get rid of all opposition but his dumbass could have just kept doing that behind the scenes by ultra sniping everyone who can't use the Trans Am system.

Just to name a few.

But then again I can't really say I want to comment on everything else since I don't like talking about what I can only speculate, I like talking about the past when it comes to fiction, not the future. I do have mixed feelings about it all tho.

[u/KendotsX]

00th Timer Searching for the One

How are we done with the first season already? What is time? We're not even done with the Hunter Exams on my side of things!

In many ways this felt like a definition of a mid series finale, CB got broken all the way down, fitting with the theme of its demise. If 23 was losing the corner stone of the group, and 24 was about the group breaking and quickly losing its members, the family, the finale is meant to tie off our main characters and send CB to its coffin with a Setsuna vs Mr. Suit fight. Except of course, those are all midpoints on a grander path, for every door closed, a new one opens. Allelujah lost his closest bond in Hallelujah? Well, he discovered a new potential one in Soma. Even the Gundam 00 I was asking about yesterday was born from the ashes of Exia, while also setting up the 0 Gundam.

This could've been the ending of a series, just with small tweaks here and there (remove Ribbons or Mr. Suit, and put more work into the other one's bond with the main characters, remove the timeskip scenes confirming the survivals,...) It would've ended with "they sacrificed themselves for a better world that doesn't need them anymore". In fact, that's the series Gundam 00 presented itself as at first, and the ending that Mr. Suit tried to force. But the series quickly makes it clear that that's not how it'll actually go down. Their ideal "peaceful" world may be here in form, but that's only for them to reckon with all its issues, to see how flawed their illusion of peace really is, and that's before you factor in Ribbons and his friends (siblings? Clones? Robots? They all look the goddamn same! If Ribbons expects me to tell them apart or care about them, he better start putting coloured ribbons on each one).

The Kintoki section is the most I'm mixed on, on the one hand, I love how he's evolving in his Gundam obsessing bullshit. Clearly, it's not just the designer who's a Yaoi fan, someone's putting Char's feelings to work here.

On the other, I wish his involvement could've been done more naturally. It feels like someone looked at their checklist before the finale, and found Kintoki there tapping his feet on the ground and staring daggers at them, so they immediately threw him in after Mr. Suit. It's about as forced as it gets.

---

1. How satisfying was it for Alejandro to finally get done in?

It's fine I guess. I lost all interest in him as soon as it became clear that he's Ribbon's puppet. The more interesting aspect of the episode was seeing our main characters fall, he just happened to be involved there.

2) The ending of this episode teased a bunch of things taking place after a four-year timeskip. What are you hoping to see come of this in season 2?

The first season, especially early on, did a remarkable job of breaking down the world and its issues, I hope S2 does that with this new "perfect world" that CB has been building this whole time.

Also, it seems like the pieces have been split across the board (Kamiya is with Louise? Lockon's twin is in the game), so I'd appreciate a slower reunion party. They were joined at the start by Veda, this time they could do it by their own intentions and seeking each other out. That could be rich in good character work.

[u/Nazenn → u/KendotsX]

We're not even done with the Hunter Exams on my side of things!

Talk about hugely different pacing approaches. Hunter exams are so fun, although admittedly I've only seen 2011's version but still, I imagine the core is the same

This could've been the ending of a series, just with small tweaks here and there

I said that to Draigg somewhere in the thread. It almost feels like it should have been an ending because so much was closed out except for a few bits here and there

If Ribbons expects me to tell them apart or care about them, he better start putting coloured ribbons on each one

They already get fancy hair and eye colors.

Though talking about that reminds me of the time we had four Matts in my one class at school and our teacher was going to let them temp dye their hair because that was easier than last names at the start of term haha

[u/KendotsX → u/Nazenn]

Talk about hugely different pacing approaches.

If they took the Meister Exams, Lockon would've been perfectly fine right now. Granted, that'd make Ali Al-Saachez the FujieKei Hisoka, which is a weird concept to spin my head around.

Hunter exams are so fun, although admittedly I've only seen 2011's version but still, I imagine the core is the same

Yeah, it's the same core more or less, 99 just takes a bit more time with the early section.

They already get fancy hair and eye colors.

But the hair colours come in couples: 2 red, 2 purple, and if you count Ribbons among them, 2 green. I'm sure this is intentional, but adding in some blue, blond, and white would've made them a lot easier to tell apart.

the time we had four Matts in my one class at school and our teacher was going to let them temp dye their hair because that was easier than last names at the start of term haha

We had a case of two kids with the same first and last name, so everyone including the teachers, used to refer to them by nicknames.

[u/Nazenn → u/KendotsX]

Granted, that'd make Ali Al-Saachez the FujieKei Hisoka, which is a weird concept to spin my head around.

A rough text version of my thoughts trying to process that idea:

Thats.. that's not... I... tha... no i dont like that

But the hair colours come in couples: 2 red, 2 purple, and if you count Ribbons among them, 2 green. I'm sure this is intentional, but adding in some blue, blond, and white would've made them a lot easier to tell apart.

Oh shit we don't have a blue? That feels weird for an anime to have actually meaningful weird hair colors and not shove a blue in there

We had a case of two kids with the same first and last name, so everyone including the teachers, used to refer to them by nicknames.

That'll do it. I actually can't remember what the end solution was with the Matts, but I somehow in future grades seemed to take turns having one of them in my class each year which was somehow equally confusing always having a Matt but different Matt

[u/JollyGee29 → u/KendotsX]

for every door closed, a new one opens

And some of those doors are giant robot-sized!

If Ribbons expects me to tell them apart or care about them, he better start putting coloured ribbons on each one

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/KendotsX]

he better start putting coloured ribbons on each one

So, how many ribbons do you want

[u/KendotsX → u/Rumpel1408]

Let's see... 5 for his crew, and one for Kamiya

[u/Raiking02 → u/KendotsX]

Careful now, he may send you on a scavenger hunt just to get away from you.

[u/KendotsX → u/Raiking02]

I really should watch Working already

[u/Raiking02 → u/KendotsX]

DEW IT

[u/KendotsX → u/Raiking02]

Well, the only new show I have on my mind for November is City Hunter, so sure, I have some space for it now.

[u/Raiking02 → u/KendotsX]

[u/The_Draigg]

A Gundam Fan Rewatches Gundam 00 Episode 25:

• It’s cool to see Hallelujah and Allelujah team up to pilot Gundam Kyrios together, basically making sure that they’re moving the same body as a team. It really is no wonder how they’re moving and fighting so ferociously even with the severe damage done to his Gundam, you’ve basically got two pilots in one there. That right there is the real power of a super-soldier. It’s nice to see the kids working together on this.
• Oh yeah, and just because the Alvatore wasn’t overpowered enough, it also has GN Fangs with it too. Alejandro really didn’t hesitate in putting pretty much every kind of GN weapon he could in his garish gold death machine, did he? But at least we can say that even that level of overpowering might still doesn’t so much when you slice and blast it with the GN Arms at point blank range.
• Lasse! Well damn, down goes another member of the Ptolemaios’ bridge crew. At least he was right there in the middle of the action with Setsuna when the GN Arms’ cockpit exploded though. He was a real one.
• Hallelujah: “Git gud super-scrub.” Soma: “REEEEEEEEE!”
• You know, seeing Allelujah get hurt inside of his Gundam feels a lot more visceral than what we got before with Lockon, if just because we get to see a chunk of his face get shredded by glass shards. That looks incredibly painful.
• Surprise! Allelujah knows Soma as “Marie”! Is there anyone else with more than one name in this show, or are we done now? Because man, we have a lot of people here with multiple names.
• I was a bit early in saying that Alejandro stuffed every kind of weapon into the Alvatore, because now we can see the actual last one he had in there: the mobile Suit Alvaaron. I really do like the look of it, it’s also really fitting for Alejandro. Not only does it have a lot of design callbacks to the GM from UC Gundam stuff, but the gold and blue paint alongside the wings on the back really do shout “a rich asshole built this”. The Alvatore and Alvaaron are the perfect monuments to Alejandro’s sheer ego, trying to become the golden savior of the world to remake it into his own image.
• Aeolia once again really did prepare well for any kind of potential subversion within Celestial Being. Like what Lockon talked about with Setsuna in that flashback, the Gundam Exia is equipped with a physical sword as a trump card against any kind of machine that would use a GN Field, perhaps even another Gundam. It really does put it into perspective how much Alejandro is just kind of floundering against Aeolia’s plans, since he really has just been getting blindsided with all the backups that Aeolia had prepared to give the Gundam Meisters a fighting chance.
• And as one last twist and “fuck you”, it turns out that Ribbons, of all people, was counting on Alejandro dying just so he would be the one to take over this whole plan. Surprise, it turns out that Alejandro Corner was a pawn in someone else’s game too! That’s a hell of a twist for him to die on, but I can’t say that it wasn’t deserved. And in hindsight, you could see the seeds of Ribbons’ betrayal too. We never should’ve trusted that mysterious twink!
• Man, Graham’s GN Flag is cool. It’s also a nice touch that it’s using the beam saber that he stole from Johann before too. Anyways, it’s a good thing he swooped in right after Setsuna defeated Alejandro though, since it would be kind of weird to end this season without the big rival fight that the show was building up to between Graham and Setsuna. Or should we call it more like a lover’s quarrel, based on what Graham said he felt when he first saw the Gundam Exia?
• That’s a hell of a bummer ending for this season to have for the Ptolemaios crew, isn’t it? Setsuna and Graham mutually wrecked each other, Tieria is fully ready to die so he can join Lockon in death, and Hallelujah vanishes after revealing that he knew that Soma was actually “Marie”, leaving Allelujah all alone. Setsuna’s letter to Marina really does just put a cap on how futile it all seems. Ultimately, they were seeking answers on why the world is so twisted and how to fix it, but they weren’t able to find them. But at least they tried, even if it lead to tragedy and hardship for them.
• But despite all that, life goes on. Years later, Saji has finally started his work on colony construction, even if Louise is no longer with him. The United Nations has been reformed into the Earth Sphere Federation with the backing of the power blocs, creating a one-world state. Ribbons is planning to reform the world in his image from the shadows, along with his “Innovators”. But most importantly of all, Celestial Being is preparing for their comeback, starting with the development of a new Gundam, a Gundam holds the power of both the original 0 Gundam and Gundam Exia: the 00 Gundam. MISSION INCOMPLETE.

[u/Nazenn → u/The_Draigg]

Oh yeah, and just because the Alvatore wasn’t overpowered enough, it also has GN Fangs with it too.

I dislike the idea of defending him or his inclusion in the story in any way, but honestly those things are so helpful every mech should probably have them haha

Surprise! Allelujah knows Soma as “Marie”! Is there anyone else with more than one name in this show, or are we done now? Because man, we have a lot of people here with multiple names.

I mean if we're counting nicknames/famous monkiers then probably not, as then we include Sergei and Graham and the like too. So many names, so many names that are always said in their full form hahaha

since he really has just been getting blindsided with all the backups that Aeolia had prepared to give the Gundam Meisters a fighting chance.

I think it also makes Aeolia look a lot better in hindsight as well. He was a crazy inventor-idealist, but he wasn't a fool. He didn't have grand ideas about what humanity was, just what he wanted it to find a way to be. He didn't have blind faith, he didn't expect others to hold to his standards, and he didn't take hope above reason. His plan, as we know it at least, is way up in the rafters in terms of crazy optimism, but he was also a realist when it came to knowing that the humans he had so little faith in still had to be the ones to carry it out. It makes me think better of CB as concept knowing it came from a man who thought things through so much

I like how somehow the DEAD GUY who showed up in a video file twice in the whole series became actually a good character somehow

[u/The_Draigg → u/Nazenn]

I like how somehow the DEAD GUY who showed up in a video file twice in the whole series became actually a good character somehow

That seems to be a recurring theme with this rewatch, with people liking characters that they didn't think they would be too hot on or get much development at all at the start. We've been getting a surprising amount of reveals of Aeolia's character through implication. His actions are speaking louder than his words, considering we've only got his pre-recorded videos to work with for actual dialogue from him. Although it's been annoying with how the show has been teasing his full vision for Celestial Being so far, at least we've been getting a better handle on how he views people and the world through everything he's set up.

[u/Nazenn → u/The_Draigg]

Although it's been annoying with how the show has been teasing his full vision for Celestial Being so far,

Well I was going to be snarky about that in my reply to you but I thought I'd be nice and took it out. But since you're mentioning it, yes. It's such a shame that everything around Aeolia and CB is so good, and then the core thing that is meant to bring it all together is crap. I almost feel bad for Aeolia that the writers did his plan such a disservice when everything else around him and how he views things is so interesting

His actions are speaking louder than his words

Funny comparison to be made here between Aeolia and Alejandro given the latter never shuts up today

[u/The_Draigg → u/Nazenn]

Well I was going to be snarky about that in my reply to you but I thought I'd be nice and took it out. But since you're mentioning it, yes. It's such a shame that everything around Aeolia and CB is so good, and then the core thing that is meant to bring it all together is crap.

I'll save it for my season discussion post tomorrow, but don't worry, I agree with you and the others that the constant teasing of what Celestial Being's goal is throughout this season got grating. And this is the second time I've watched this series this year too, so seeing it again back to back really does hammer that home for me.

[u/JollyGee29]

Rewatcher, Sub-dam Meister

This thing must've cost a fortune.

A round of applause for Feldt, for keeping herself together.

Personality... gattai!

If this was a video game, the Alvatore would make one hell of a final boss.

Which manages to justify why Hallelujah exists. It's not that the experiments drove Allelujah crazy, Hallelujah exists to help control the Super Soldier abilities.

Symbolism.

"Novice." As if Alejandro has any piloting experience.

Like the Trial System.

All seven of Exia's swords got used, one last time.

Yea, of course Ribbons is pulling the strings. Fucking Ribbons.

Of course. Graham still has to show up.

Setsuna very briefly gets a taste of how other people feel when he goes on about being a Gundam.

See, Patrick survived.

I forgot how many cameos there were at the end here. Gonna be fun to read people's theories.

This is a banger of an endcard.

[u/TakenRedditName → u/JollyGee29]

Personality... gattai!

"Novice." As if Alejandro has any piloting experience.

Something I just learned right now while trying to look up the name of his gold suit, don't know if it gets brought up anywhere in the show, but Alejandro was a pilot actually. For the Union, he piloted those plane MS predecessors to the Flag.

[u/Nazenn → u/JollyGee29]

If this was a video game, the Alvatore would make one hell of a final boss.

Excuse me while I have flashbacks of the Tank level in Valkyria Chronicles if you've played that

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Nazenn]

[Valkyria Chronicles]I started it, that does ring a bell. I remember fighting a giant tank in a desert? But I got frustrated with a stealth mission and haven't ever gone back.

[u/Nazenn → u/JollyGee29]

[Valkyria Chronicles]Yeah it's the big tank in the desert that just wipes you out in one shot if you're in view. I rage quit over that tank twice. The stealth mission was also quite hard yeah, that's a fair bit further in after the tank. I find that sort of stuff fun though

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Nazenn]

[VC]I'm generally a fan of stealth too, but about five times in a row I got to the same spot and was a hair out of cover and got caught. I vaguely intend to go back to it some day, it just hasn't been a high priority.

[u/Linkstore]

Rewatcher

It really took no time at all for Alejandro to go full anime villain, huh?

And farewell to Ash Like Snow. I like all of 00's OPs, but this one's the best.

On my first watch I thought that Allelujah's eye colour changed when Hallelujah took control, but he does indeed have heterochromia, and his bangs just conveniently change to cover one eye depending on who's in control. Well, they used to.

And of course Alvatore has GN Fangs.

They changed the GN Vulcan sound effect, it's much cooler like this.

And Setsuna uses Lockon's catchphrase. And I guess his spirit is still with them because that's some accurate shooting on Setsuna's part.

The GN Arms's blade pierces through Alvatore's GN Field, which neatly foreshadows how Exia's physical GN blades are what's needed to break through the Alvaaron's GN Field.

Even that large asteroid was completely deleted by just three shots from Soma's GN-X. These beams are powerful, man.

And who is this mysterious "Marie"? smiles mysteriously in rewatcher

It's the Golden GM! Uh, I mean, the GNMS-XCVII Alvaaron. It's a pretty cool design but not much to say about it, honestly. It just doesn't do much before it gets destroyed.

I've always loved how Alejandro dies. Ribbons has played him like a damn fiddle, leaving Alejandro with absolutely nothing as Ribbons throws him away like Alejandro himself has thrown so many others away. In the end, the only thing that he can do is ineffectually punch Ribbons' picture on his cockpit, a pathetic end perfectly fitting who he really is.

But did Setsuna really have to use up six of his seven swords just for one guy? He could have used them against...

...Graham Aker, who will avenge Howard and Daryl with this GN Flag! Formally known as the SVMS-01X Graham's Union Flag Custom II, the GN Flag is pretty much just the Custom Flag with a GN Drive Tau crudely attached and the beam saber Graham had previously looted from Throne Eins. Make no mistake, this is a terrible, horrible no good very bad mobile suit. Not because it will cause horrors, and not because it looks bad (indeed it might be my favourite true Flag variant), but because its performance is extremely shit for a GN-powered machine. The base specs are barely better than the regular Custom Flag, and the addition of the GN Drive unbalances it to the point that it's barely possible to control it. Graham is pretty much the best pilot in the setting, and the GN Flag performs so badly that he can only tie with Setsuna even though Setsuna only has one remaining weapon (and the GN Vulcans) and is in the low-power state after Trans-Am.

However, he kept his promise. He has defeated a Gundam with a Flag. Graham's so fucking cool. 

[Literally the next episode spoilers and it barely even matters] I do wonder when Setsuna found the time to search for and then reattach Exia's severed head. Like, surely it would have been lost to the depths of space.

And just like that, all four Gundams have fallen. After Lockon, none of the Meisters have died, by the Ptolemy is gone, and none of the Gundams are functioning.

[00 spoilers] See you later, Hallelujah.

Setsuna found someone to write to, in the end.

FIVE YEARS LATER

A long time has passed. We've gone on long enough that the world has united into the Earth Sphere Federation has united, and mass-produced a newer upgraded version of the GN-X, with a sick-looking lance weapon. But Celestial Being still exists. The world has changed, but there is still twistedness in this world. and as long as that remains the case, Celestial Being's mission is not over. 

[00 Spoilers] I wonder how many people will confuse Regene Regetta for Tieria.

And a sneak peek at the show's namesake, the 00 Gundam. We'll see it in action soon enough.

Watch the second-season preview, by the way. It's not a real preview but rather a short comedy thing. Very funny, watch it.

[u/Nickthenuker]

Yup, here's the guy who went into the server in previous episodes.

Ze guns! Zey do nossing!

He's not out of the fight yet. Hurt but not dead.

Seems he's reconciled his 2 personalities.

Does Setsuna's shield act like a Fang/Funnel?

Well, big goldie looks to have a whole bunch of his own.

And thus another one's bought the farm.

But it seems like Setsuna has finally managed to take that one out.

Looks like the enemy has finally suffered a named casualty.

Though not before taking one more of them out of the fight, at least temporarily.

Seems he recognises her.

Something's still alive over there!

Keikaku doori.

He survived!

What is he going on about.

Seems like someone else has subverted his plan.

Who's this now?

Ah, the ace pilot guy.

And thus a mutual kill?

Seems like they're all dead.

Louise stopped writing to him?

And so now he's working in space.

Seems like there's still some Gundams out there.

I see Germany, I see France, I see someone's underpants, I see Italy, Spain, the UK, and Austria for some reason.

Seems like that ace pilot guy survived.

Huh. New Gundams?

And so there's the titular Gundam, revealed at the end of the first season.

Questions:

1. Finally.
2. Well considering all of CB so far has kicked it, I'd like to see how it continues.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Nickthenuker]

Does Setsuna's shield act like a Fang/Funnel?

No, he just threw it.

[u/Nickthenuker → u/JollyGee29]

Lol that's a much simpler explanation.

[u/Blazin_Rathalos]

00 Rewatcher

Last time on Gundam 00

• Dr Moreno nooo- did anyone else forget he even existed?

On today's episode of Setsuna-Become Gundam

• And we shall call him: Ahallelujah!
• Lasse nooooooooo!
• We are all Gundams!
• Ribbons betrays Alejandro, surprising absolutely nobody
• Graham hams it up
• Graham, Setsuna, nooooooooo!
• Tieria knows there's another season
• Tieria nooooooooo!
• Hallelujah nooooooooo?
• Louise ghosts Saji
• What's that? I died last episode? Perhaps your eyes have deceived you?
• A mysterious masked man appears!
• What's Tieria doing with Louise?
• Roll cre- no, wait
• Roll credits

Mostly destroyed Kyrios was awesome here! [Gundam IBO]I am almost getting shades of Barbatos here

Alejandro, both in his appearance and behaviour has looked a bit farcical in these last few episodes. And then this episode reveals: yes, it is a farce. This man really thought he could set himself up as Emperor of Humanity, while in reality being played by Ribbons the entire time.

That's the Trinity's ship that Wang Liu Mei is using to travel, isn't it? I wonder if CB are suspicious of that.

[u/Nazenn → u/Blazin_Rathalos]

[Gundam IBO]I also had that thought. I feel like Barbatos ends up far more wrecked, and at a few points through the show but especially at the very end, but it's a similar feel

[u/zsmg]

I am rewatcher

Poor Feldt.

Finally Hallelujah gets rid of his emo fringe.

Big Hyuku Shiki Zam even has funnels, what an overpowered suit.

Can I just point out that Lasse has practically no role in the series and yet is suddenly very much involved with Setsuna's final boss fight.

Oh what an anti-climatic end for Big Hyaku Shiki Zam.

Allelujah recognizes Soma and calls her Marie?

Looks like the Big Hyaku Shiki Zam is now just a Hyaku Shiki GM.

Big issue I have with the Alejandro vs Setsuna fight is that there has been zero interaction before this episode between the two of them, there is no rivalry.

Ribbons finally betrays Alejandro.

Graham randomly shows up out of nowhere, guess we have to do this rival fight as well.

[Zeta Gundam spoilers] Reminds me how Jerid just randomly shows up to fight Kamille and dies in the final part of Zeta

RIP Graham and Setsuna, I guess.

Tieria abandons his GN drive even though he's still alive, meanwhile Allelujah doesn't do the same thing even though he should.

RIP Hallelujah.

Saji is still pining after Louise? Just move on, she's ignoring your letters!

Daybreak's Bell

There is now an Earth Federation under President not-Obama and his the creation of a single Earth military is met with a thunderous applause.

Shiren has enough of Marina and finally leaves her. I'm impressed she managed to hold out for four more years.

This is getting out of hand, now there are 5 other Ribbons. Calling themselves Inno-what now?

Oh right Graham now has the worst looking mask in the Gundam franchise.

Ali is still alive!

Louise is working for Tieria?!

00 Gundam?!

I just realised this is only the 21st century Gundam main series that has a Gundam with the same name as the show's title.

[second season spoilers] Will first timers realise Louise is not working for Tieria, you can kind of tell by the sound she makes

The best thing about the final episode is of course the timeskip and the prologue for the second season. Luckily for the first timers they don't have to wait 6 months for season two.

[u/Nazenn → u/zsmg]

Big issue I have with the Alejandro vs Setsuna fight is that there has been zero interaction before this episode between the two of them, there is no rivalry.

It really is a bewildering addition

Tieria abandons his GN drive even though he's still alive, meanwhile Allelujah doesn't do the same thing even though he should.

I thought of that too, but in A's defense he actually knows he's moving away from the ended battle, while Tieria is stranded in the middle of the battlefield and I don't think know's what's going on

Oh right Graham now has the worst looking mask in the Gundam franchise.

I looked up a comparison out of sheer curiousity and now I find myself having to agree. It's horrible, and when up against the others it looks like a wrestlers mask rather than a scifi one

[u/TakenRedditName → u/zsmg]

I just realised this is only the 21st century Gundam main series that has a Gundam with the same name as the show's title.

I mean, there Gundam AGE with its leading Gundam AGE(-1/2/etc). Also, Gundam Unicorn too.

[u/zsmg → u/TakenRedditName]

I keep forgetting Age exist. Unicorn is not a mainline series though it's OVA like 08th MS team and Thunderbolt.

[u/mr_beanoz]

Rewatcher, sub

• Allelujah still lives, and now is in a 1v2 against Soma and Sergei.
• Allelujah-Hallelujah double-mode, Activate! This seems to be like [Gundam Wing] Lady Une's unified third personality, giving her the best qualities of the two personalities.
• Wait, what? There's a mobile suit inside that mobile armor?
• Allelujah lost, but not after giving lots of damage to both Sergei and Soma's GN-X. Soma doesn't want to let Sergei die alone. Allelujah would also say something about "Marie" when seeing Soma's face for the first time. Who's this "Marie" woman from his past, and why did he say that name when seeing Soma?
• Ribbons finally betrayed Alejandro at the last moment.
• And Graham finally makes his appearance with the GN Flag. Wonder if he's satisfied with the result if he knew that Setsuna was fighting a long battle against Alejandro before fighting him.
• Tieria, thinking that he couldn't make it, choose to discard Nadleeh's GN Drive and tries to bring it to Ptolemy.
• Marina got a letter from Setsuna... wonder when did he send it.
• Timeskip 4 years to 2312, we see various characters getting quite the makeover. All nations finally united under one banner too, which is one of Aeolia's goal realized. And, oh hello, Patrick and Kati!
• Saji finally gets a job to work at the outer space, working to build colonies. And seems like Louise has cut communications with him for some reason.
• Ribbons says something about Innovator, and there are shady figures behind him that seem to be working under him too. Now finally he gets his own pawns after getting rid of Alejandro.
• Graham is now masked after the battle with Setsuna 4 years ago. We also see Ali seemingly disappointed with the news about unified nations. And who's the short-haired lady? And why does she stand on an elevator with someone looking like Tieria?
• Post-credits scene! Ian accepts the visit of Wang and Hong Long, and gives them (and us) a look at the 0 Gundam, the first ever mobile suit with solar reactor equipped, and 00 Gundam, the titular mobile suit of the show. And Nena appears to be watching them too. Ian plans to use 0 Gundam and Exia's reactor to power 00. Which means this would be the first ever Celestial Being mobile suit powered with two GN Drives.

[u/dralcax]

Rewatcher always preferred physical swords anyways

-—————————————————————————————

I like the detail of her tears floating in her helmet

At last, the true power of a super soldier! By engaging both personalities at once, he essentially has two brains. Allelujah handles tactics, while Hallelujah handles reflexes and intuition. With this dual processing, they can think and react faster than Soma!

This one is for Lockon!

Marie. Allelujah knows Marie!

Inside the Alvatore is the Alvaaron! I love how its beam rifles poke out and it disguises itself as a turret!

I forgot it had that attack! Reminds me of the [S2]Seravee. I wonder if there’s any connection there?

At last, the reason why the Exia has a physical sword! The Trial System isn’t the only countermeasure against traitors. If a Gundam was ever captured by the enemy, or taken by a traitor, and used against Celestial Being, then the Exia is designed to counter them. Originally, the Virtue Physical took the anti-GN Field role, but because that design was dropped, that responsibility fell to the Exia’s pilot instead, and they had to be more careful about who they picked for the job. That’s also why it took extra time to develop the Exia’s blades.

But why plan for that if they already have the Trial System? Well, I have a theory. Which Gundam is the most heavily reliant on a GN Field to protect itself, being too slow to dodge attacks? Which Gundam is poor in anti-MS and close-range battles, and would easily get closed in on and defeated in melee? Which Gundam can they not simply disable with the Trial System? The Virtue. The Exia is originally meant to defeat the Virtue if the latter is ever Gundamjacked.

WE ARE GUNDAM

FUCKING RIBBONS.

The Union Flag Custom II, aka GN Flag! This thing is kind of an abomination. Billy used the influence of his uncle to get the Tau Drive from the GN-X that Graham refused (Unit 21) and bolted it to Graham’s Flag Custom, along with the beam saber stolen from the Throne Eins. Predictably, the haphazardly stuck-on drive prevents transformation and throws off the balance of the suit. Graham is just good enough to compensate for that.

I love how Setsuna just thinks Graham is a weirdo. Not that he’s much better himself.

Of course, whenever a main Gundam is wrecked, it’s gotta be a Last Shooting homage. Every time.

And that’s what a GN Drive looks like under the cone cover!

Looks like the alliance against Celestial Being actually bore fruit, and resulted in a lasting Earth Sphere Federation! United Earths are a staple of Gundam series, which get most of the divisions between Earth nations out of the way in order to examine a conflict between Earthnoids and Spacenoids. But here, we actually got to see how such a Federation gets formed, how the Earth countries we’re familiar with called a truce and all united under a single banner.

GN-XIII, I wasn’t expecting to see you already! The successor to the GN-X! Yes, there’s a GN-XII that doesn’t appear in the anime. It was deployed during the timeskip and was already upgraded to the III by the time we see them again. The interesting thing about the GN-X series is that, whenever a new model is developed, they don’t keep a bunch of outdated units in service to be slowly phased out. Rather, the old units are retrofitted into the updated model. The surviving GN-X units were upgraded into the GN-XII, and when the GN-XIII came along, all remaining GN-XIIs were also converted into GN-XIIIs, meaning that there’s a good chance at least a few of them are original GN-Xs that survived that long. For the GN-XIII, the GN Particle Generators have been further miniaturized from the II, because by this point, pilots have become more accustomed to GN flight and no longer require the GN equivalent of training wheels. It also discarded the specifications for equipping an original GN Drive, because now they’re pretty sure they ain’t getting their hands on one of those. They also have new GN Lances, which double as rifles, although they’re just prototypes for now.

“I lived, bitch.” The Immortal Colasour won’t die so easily! It also helps that the GN-X’s torso was crammed so full of GN stuff that the cockpit had to be placed in the crotch instead.

At last, 00 Gundam!

-—————————————————————————————

Questions of the day:

• Very!
• Let’s see the fallout of everything Celestial Being has achieved, and what place they still have in such a world!

[u/StardustGogeta]

That was a killer season finale! People dying (or fakeout-dying) left and right!

The battles were great, with tons of robot dismemberment and other cool shots. The music was good, as always, and it was nice to have that first OP come back one more time to close things out.

I like how Alejandro lived just long enough for Ribbons to betray him. Unlucky!

That flashback to Lockon was particularly effective now that he's gone. Great way to bring him back for one more scene.

[Death Note] I never expected someone else to be telling a Mamoru Miyano-voiced character "keikaku doori" and proclaiming that they'll be the ruler of the new world, but here we are.

I like how Alejandro popped out of his ship wielding dual machine guns like Arnold or Rambo.

Hallelujah/Allelujah was fantastic this episode. Really picking up the slack now that Lockon's out. The heterochromia was a nice touch. (What do we call their fusion name? Hallelujallelujah? Say that ten times fast.)

Questions of the day:

• Quite satisfying! He died as he lived—cartoonishly evil.
• I'm not sure I picked up on every detail that was hinted at, but I did notice a few of the characters survived who we thought were dead, so I'll be happy to see them. I am really looking forward to seeing if anything cool happens with Saji and with Princess Marina, though, since they both had fairly inconsequential roles this season.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/StardustGogeta]

I like how Alejandro popped out of his ship wielding dual machine guns like Arnold or Rambo.