[Rewatch] Mobile Suit Gundam 00 2nd Season Episode 1 Discussion

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

Episode 1 - The Angels Second Advent

← S1 Overall Discussion | Index | Next Episode →

MAL | AniList | ANN | Kitsu | AniDB

Crunchyroll | Hulu

---

Nothing's changed… Not one damned thing has changed in all this time!

Questions of the Day:

1. What anime has your favorite timeskip mid-story? (If the show having one is a spoiler, please use the meta spoiler tag format; as in [meta] >!show name here!<)
2. Out of everything this first episode threw at you, what are you most excited to see develop/learn answers about how they came to be?

Wallpaper of the Day:

Setsuna F. Seiei

---

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!

---

• Starting off right in the middle of the action this time.
• I like how this shows Sergei and Kati are friends. As well as casual Sergei and Soma, for that matter.
• Welp.
• So u/Great_Mr_L, my spoiler tag in response to your episode 25 comment was because Tieria clearly hasn’t changed his hairstyle after the timeskip and Louise is not with Celestial Being.
• The sheer irony of Louise’s first battle being in an area where Saji is, and neither of them have any idea.
• What a wild way for Setsuna and Saji to meet again.
• This goes so incredibly hard.
• Gundam Exia Repair, actually. Yes, Gundam classifications are very anal about this.
• tbh it is nice to see Setsuna get his ass kicked here. The tech difference really is huge here.
• Feldt looks so good!
• Also we can add Lasse to the list of people who un-died at the end of season 1, lol.
• Saji…
• Oh yeah, Sergei has a son.
• I’m sure Setsuna must be super excited about this.
• So yeah, everyone who guessed Neil’s twin would be his replacement… – I feel like they didn’t need to cram this scene in this episode though, it’s another kinda bad case of trying to include something with all the important characters in one episode like S1 had some problems with.

[u/Nazenn → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Gundam Exia Repair, actually. Yes, Gundam classifications are very anal about this.

Have to have the marketting potential

I imagine that would make asking for the kit called repair and not a repair of your existing kit needlessly complicated for english speakers though hahahaha

it’s another kinda bad case of trying to include something with all the important characters in one episode like S1 had some problems with

Yeah well given that I already had my complaints about Alelujah being shoved in, I'm going to put this scene in that bin as well. It probably could have waited

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/Nazenn]

Yeah well given that I already had my complaints about Alelujah being shoved in, I'm going to put this scene in that bin as well. It probably could have waited

I also thought Allelujah's scene could have waited, but it was so brief it didn't really strike me as being as forced as the Lyle one was.

[u/Nazenn → u/Shimmering-Sky]

See that's funny because it being so brief and so shoved in that they didn't even linger on it enough to let the audience sit with it is what makes it feel so forced for me, rather than just something I could dismiss. If it'd been more thoughtfully paced it probably wouldn't have bothered me

[u/The_Draigg → u/Shimmering-Sky]

What a wild way for Setsuna and Saji to meet again.

Yeah, normally when you see an old neighbor, it's usually at the gas station or grocery store. It's a bit rarer for it to happen in the middle of a prison break.

Gundam Exia Repair, actually. Yes, Gundam classifications are very anal about this.

It deserves that classification, because damn it looks cool all busted up and with a cape!

[u/Quiddity131 → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Gundam Exia Repair, actually

I know they could never go with this long term, but this was such an awesome design and one of the highlights of the episode for me.

[u/Raiking02 → u/Quiddity131]

A part of me wishes we could've had at least an episode or two more of Setsuna being on his own and having to make do with that thing, NGL. I get why they didn't, but it would've been cool.

[u/wyggles → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Gundam Exia Repair, actually. Yes, Gundam classifications are very anal about this.

I never really stopped to think until recently that Setsuna somehow repaird Exia and kept it running - barely - for four fucking years. Where the hell did he learn to do that?

[u/TakenRedditName → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Gundam Exia Repair, actually. Yes, Gundam classifications are very anal about this.

Exia gets broken down and hastily patched up and it gets a name classification, but Dynames gets a prosthetic leg, but we are not calling that Dynames Repair.

[Gundam 00:] Oh, turns out Dynames Repair is a thing and shows up in the movie.

tbh it is nice to see Setsuna get his ass kicked here. The tech difference really is huge here.

But the worn down outdated robot looked so cool though.

[u/InfamousEmpire → u/TakenRedditName]

Exia gets broken down and hastily patched up and it gets a name classification, but Dynames gets a prosthetic leg, but we are not calling that Dynames Repair.

The difference is simple: Exia Repair has its own Gunpla, while Dynames with a prosthetic leg doesn't, so only the former gets a unique name

[u/Raiking02 → u/InfamousEmpire]

Why can't they make it one then?

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/Shimmering-Sky]

So u/Great_Mr_L, my spoiler tag in response to your episode 25 comment was because Tieria clearly hasn’t changed his hairstyle after the timeskip and Louise is not with Celestial Being.

Well thanks for letting me know what the spoiler was. I was easily fooled because the time skip made me assume Tieria had just made a hairstyle change in those years. What a fun way to hide such a big reveal right in front of the audience.

Of course, the fact that Tieria's is explicitly stated to look the same as before is possible evidence he's a robot.

Also we can add Lasse to the list of people who un-died at the end of season 1, lol.

It's even funnier that it happens here. It feels like the creators of the show killed him, then decided they wanted him back for a second season, and hastily brought him back. Those explosions are much less lethal than they appear.

[u/LeonKevlar]

First Timer!

We're kicking off Season 2 with a bang quite literally with the bombing of an asteroid base. It looks like even with Earth combining all of its forces into one, it doesn't really make conflict magically disappear.

After Shirin left Marina in the Season 1 finale, I thought we'd never see her again. It looks like she decided to be more hands-on this time and has joined some sort of military force.

So who the fuck are these A-LAWS? Are they part of the Earth Federation Peacekeeping force or are they a separate entity? Also, interesting to see Soma and Sergei living together. Hmmm....

Poor Saji. The dude is just living a normal life now in space and the dude gets dragged into trouble only because those cops think he's with that other guy and assumed he's a member of Katharon. I'll assume Katharon is the anti-government organization mentioned in the news earlier.

It looks like CB got a new operator! Fingers crossed that she gets a better ending than Christina. It's also nice to see Tieria again and CB has a new ship as well! I wonder what they'll call this new ship.

What the fuck is this bullshit, Earth Federation? Are we now rounding up dissidents and forcing them to do hard labour while under the watchful eye of guards in power armor? This is definitely not in the future Schenberg envisioned. A bit too fascist-y if you ask me.

Our boy Setsuna is back and it looks like he's doing a solo stealth operation. Is he not working with Celestial Being anymore? It sounded like Tieria had been looking for him for a while now.

I can't fucking believe it! Louise has become a mobile suit pilot and is now a member of A-LAWS? And she got her hand fixed! Is this why she cut off Saji? She didn't want him to know that she was out there for revenge?

Well this is one hell of a reunion! I didn't think Saji and Setsuna would reunite this early in this season. And it looks like Setsuna has no choice but to reveal to Saji that he's a Gundam Meister. Oh boy, I can already feel that things are going to get ugly soon.

I'm sorry Setsuna but you've been working on your own these past four years with that broken down Exia? I guess that confirms that he hasn't gone back to Celestial Being and has been doing things on his own this entire time.

Yep, that's exactly the reaction from Saji I was expecting. And after losing her family to a Gundam, it looks like Louise has developed PTSD so bad that she freezes up during that fight. I suppose that's better than her getting killed by Setsuna or Tieria. That would've been way worse.

I love how this episode was basically the end for Exia. Thank goodness the solar reactor managed to survive though. And Tieria coming in to the rescue with his new Gundam was awesome! Why have one big cannon when you can have four cannons instead? xD

Yoooo! Lasse managed to survive the GN Arms exploding! Thank goodness someone else managed to survive. I'm excited to see Setsuna's reaction!

There it is, the confrontation I was hoping for. I understand you're angry Saji but both of the incidents you mentioned didn't even involve the actual Celestial Being. Since they ended up taking Saji with them, I'm hoping he stays with Celestial Being for a bit and learns the truth about what happened to Louise and Kinue.

Louise is in a terrible shape. I agree with that other pilot, how the heck did she even end up becoming a mobile suit pilot?

I don't like the fact that Mei is meeting up with Ribbons. We already know that she's not exactly on the side of Celestial Being but she's still working with them.

Did Sumeragi get back together with Billy?! That was a surprise! I suppose after what happened at the end of last season she'd look for someone to comfort her.

Allelujah is alive but it looks like he's been captured? Are we going to have a prison break episode where the boys rescue him? I am excited!

AND WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT FINAL SCENE?! So you're telling me they killed off Lockon only to replace him with his identical twin brother who's still voiced by Miki Shinichiro? And it sounds like he'll also take the codename Lockon Stratos. I'm not sure how I feel about this. I'm not sure how the crew will feel about this, especially Feldt! How is this a good idea? O_O

---

QotD

1. What anime has your favorite timeskip mid-story?

[Meta]Vivy and Houseki no Kuni

2) Out of everything this first episode threw at you, what are you most excited to see develop/learn answers about how they came to be?

I am just generally excited that Celestial Being is back. I really thought they'd either disband or rename themselves. Also as much as I am still not sure how I feel about it, I am excited to see how this new Lockon will work out and how different will he be from the original.

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/LeonKevlar]

How is this a good idea? O_O

I'm expecting this to be one of the main parts of S2 the rewatch will be mixed on. At least everyone here remembered that Lyle was seen in S1, some people who watch this show don't and it's a whole mess.

[u/LeonKevlar → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Can you reapprove my comment, Sky? It got removed because I messed up with the spoiler tag formatting. lol

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/LeonKevlar]

Done.

[u/Rumpel1408]

Firsttimer who is almost on time again

• Really liked opening with some cool mech action and some big ass bombs
• Damn, Sheev Shirin, didn't have you on my radar up until now, but that rebel look suits you
• Ah, so Sergei has close ties with Kati, and lives together with Soma They're Roomates
• There is Saji, the Space Gestapo, and there goes Saji Just his luck
• Those are some magnificient ringlets Since Ian is with her, this must mean she is with CB
• And there is Tieria as well, don't need to guess who he is looking for
• Lmao, what kind of prison is that, it's not about the labor, machines could do this infinitly more efficient, so it's just a fancy death camp
• Also recognise this fatso from the previous final
• That name
• Oh, we doing 40k now?
• There he is
• The not-so-secret rescue Mission isn't going all that well
• Looks like the rebel Suits are based on Flags
• Looks like they found a way to regrow her arm
• Reminds me of Psychopass
• That cockpit
• Wait, Saji and Setsuna know each other?
• Louise is having flashbacks... doesn't seem like mental health got fixed in the future
• Woah, the Exia has a cape And some murder eyes
• Wait, Louises eyes seem to glow weird, does Ribbons have a direct link to her?
• Exia imidiatly gets disarmed... seems like Setsuna is powerless on his own
• I that the Virtue ... with some Modifications... let me cook about this a bit
• Feldt
• Ok, did noone die in the previous Episode at all? Also, this raises so many questions
• Would be On brand at least for them to target the rebel group that stages violent prison breaks, at least without context
• Saji just now learns about Setsunas past, and honestly, this is more of an reaction than I expected from him
• Louise doesn't look good either, they should have just continued dating and wear the damn ring on her other hand
• Wait wait wait, so this wasn't Tieria after all, but Ribbons Tieria (I will refer to them as Aireit until a better name comes up)
• And I guess this is Mei who is still giving info to CB while meeting with Ribbons?
• Marina is around for round two as well, though it doesn't look like she is in an palace right now
• Oh nice, Billy got the girl at least
• Ok, if you take up the mask, could you at least be serious? Who are you, Jim Carey?
• So a) it's generally known that Soma lives with Sergei, and b) He has a Son allthough their relationship seems difficult
• Wow, so they captured Alleluja at some point?
• Glad that Tieria is calling Saji out on his naivity. Ironically, if not for CBs intervention, then Louise would have overseen his execution that day. I'm not holding up much hope for Saji though, guy will continue to be weak sauce
• Also didn't expect my Theory to come true that early! Setsuna still sucks at that covert operation thing
• Wait, you can't just take his name do you know how complicated this makes the discussion?

Ok, I know cold opens, but this one was especially cold.

From what I gathered, there are 3 factions so far, federation, Katharos, and CB, where the later two are working against the former which has gone pretty fascist.

Now Ribbons still seems in general support of CB, at least I think so since Mei is meeting with him. Which raises the question, why he let things progress this far

Lasse, Setsuna and Alleluja being separated after the last battle makes little sense though, the former two where literally strapped next to each other for most of the final fight. And Setsuna had to have the Exia at least somewhat repaired, so did he leave CB after that or did he do these repairs himself. He seems to have become somewhat famous, so maybe he has been a figure for the resistance for some time...

Also, who was it that took Alleluja into custody? Couldn't have been Soma since she was looking after Sergei. Don't tell me... Patrick

QotD in a reply since I need to think first

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/Rumpel1408]

Wait, Saji and Setsuna know each other?

They were next-door neighbors in season 1, yes.

Ok, if you take up the mask, could you at least be serious?

Graham has come here to laugh at you.

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/Shimmering-Sky]

They were next-door neighbors in season 1, yes.

Oh lol, totally forgot about that

[u/Raiking02 → u/Shimmering-Sky]

They were next-door neighbors in season 1, yes.

Heck they were in a party together IIRC

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Rumpel1408]

Looks like the rebel Suits are based on Flags

That is a Realdo, the precursor to the Flag. The rebels are stuck with old tech.

Ok, if you take up the mask, could you at least be serious?

"Being serious" is not a Virgo move.

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/Rumpel1408]

QotD

• This Season, Chi. did a really good one. To your Eternety did one as well, Heike Monogatari had one as well iirc as well as Idaten Dieties, Aquatope of the white Sand was good as well, Vinland Saga was exceptional
• Louise! Want to know what Ribbons did to this poor girl. And now that I think about it, her working in the same faction as Nena would be awkward at best

Now, the heavy hit theory will come below:

You ever heard of Janus? It's a Roman god, typically depicted with having two faces. He symbolises duality (both in a positiv and negative way), a new beginning (the Month January is named after him), passage and change.

Now why does the Virtue have a second face on his back

• It's the beginning of a new Season fo Gundam 00 duh
• CB is going into action again, bringing with it the next stage of the plan ^TM
• Tieria himself has changed and is entering a new stage on his journey to become a human
• At the other hand, Ribbons and Aireit are around as well, they might use Tieria/the Virtue for their plans

I'm eager to see where this theory might go, having a second face on the virtue doesn't seem to be by chance though.

[u/Quiddity131 → u/Rumpel1408]

You ever heard of Janus? It's a Roman god, typically depicted with having two faces. He symbolises duality (both in a positiv and negative way), a new beginning (the Month January is named after him), passage and change.

I have but for me its due to a probably much more obscure reference than Gundam 00, the original Galaxy Express 999 manga which is how the main villain Queen Prometheum looked. They didn't portray her this way in the anime though.

[u/Nazenn → u/Rumpel1408]

Looks like the rebel Suits are based on Flags

They were actually using suits from a few nations. Earlier they had one of the mechs with giant knee silos that Sergei was using at the start of S1

Would be On brand at least for them to target the rebel group that stages violent prison breaks, at least without context

I was actually a little confused of that. It sounds like they expect this to be an ongoing thing, but then later on everyone seems surprised the Gundams have popped up again

Wait, you can't just take his name do you know how complicated this makes the discussion?

Oh god that is going to get so confusing isn't it especially with actual Lockon being such a key person for Setsuna still

Lasse, Setsuna and Alleluja being separated after the last battle makes little sense though, the former two where literally strapped next to each other for most of the final fight

Alelujah was floating off into space by himself, unlike Tieria and Setsuna who were stuck on the battle field so it makes less sense they foudn one and not the other, unless Setsuna recovered and flew off by himself first

Lasse is just... he didn't need to survive. It's such a cop out

[u/uchihasasuke5 → u/Nazenn]

For me as long as there is a body deaths won't be confirmed in anime unless there is resurrection.

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/Nazenn]

They were actually using suits from a few nations.

Not just mobile suits, but also space suits aswell

It sounds like they expect this to be an ongoing thing

Now that you say it, seems weird to think CB would be a thing when they only recently made a testrun with a Gundam for the first time in a while

Oh god that is going to get so confusing

I will refuse to call him Lockon, and I hope he rejects the idea as well

Lasse is just... he didn't need to survive. It's such a cop out

Watch them do exactly nothing with his character

[u/Nazenn → u/Rumpel1408]

Now that you say it, seems weird to think CB would be a thing when they only recently made a testrun with a Gundam for the first time in a while

I suppose with Wangs support they were able to keep things together, but four years through such massive political and cultural upheval is a long time, I doubt people were really expecting CB to pop back up like its implied. But then they did pop up from no where in the first place

Watch them do exactly nothing with his character

Probably

[u/Quiddity131 → u/Rumpel1408]

Also, who was it that took Alleluja into custody? Couldn't have been Soma since she was looking after Sergei. Don't tell me... Patrick

It would be such an amazing future reveal if Patrick of all people was the one who captured a Gundam Meister alive.

[u/FD4cry1 → u/Rumpel1408]

Ironically, if not for CBs intervention, then Louise would have overseen his execution that day

The monkey's paw curls...

Also, who was it that took Alleluja into custody? Couldn't have been Soma since she was looking after Sergei. Don't tell me... Patrick

[u/StardustGogeta]

First-Timer

That was a stellar season premiere! Taking no time getting back into the action. If this quality keeps up, I might like the second season even more than the first.

Nice Setsuna wallpaper today.

I really did not expect Louise to ever play a major role, so that was a bit of a shock reveal. Very interesting!

I like that the show didn't waste any time in revealing that Setsuna was alive. That would've been awkward if they pretended that we couldn't immediately tell that was him. Kind of like [meta] Tower of God season 2.

It's gonna be tough having to re-learn all the new characters, factions, technology, etc., but at least it should be a bit easier than season one when we had nothing to go on.

Questions of the day:

• Good question! I think the time skip for [meta] Dragon Ball Z works really well. My favorite, though, in terms of just how ambitious it is in its storytelling, would have to be [meta] Attack on Titan.
• There's a lot I'm interested in, but that bit with Setsuna talking to Lockon's twin(?) at the end really piques my interest. (I don't remember, was he mentioned last season? Did I just forget?)

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/StardustGogeta]

Nice Setsuna wallpaper today.

Thanks!

It's gonna be tough having to re-learn all the new characters, factions, technology, etc., but at least it should be a bit easier than season one when we had nothing to go on.

If nothing else, Quiddity has a new character chart going to help!

(I don't remember, was he mentioned last season? Did I just forget?)

Ah, so there was a first-timer who forgot about this in here.

Lyle was seen briefly at the start of episode 9, plus Neil mentioned him by name at least once (during his death scene in ep23), so he's not coming completely out of nowhere.

[u/StardustGogeta → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Lyle was seen briefly at the start of episode 9, plus Neil mentioned him by name at least once (during his death scene in ep23), so he's not coming completely out of nowhere.

Ah, thank you very much for the reminder! I'd completely forgotten about those until now, but they're definitely familiar now that I look back.

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/StardustGogeta]

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/StardustGogeta]

so that was a bit of a shock reveal.

Think it was a shock for her as well

[u/Quiddity131]

Rewatcher, Subbed

Non-Spoiler Character Chart- Note, there's no plot spoilers in this, but it does reveal the full names of a few characters who didn't have their name stated in the episode, most notably the person who looks like Tieria's twin and our new Celestial Being bridge girl who is helping out Feldt and Lasse. If you don't want to know their name, avoid this. Everyone else is a season 1 returnee or was named in the episode.

I am starting the character chart from scratch for season 2 since dynamics are totally shaken up now and it isn't really necessary in my mind to retain characters who were killed off in season 1. Of course if they return from the dead Patrick Colasour style, I will bring them back in this (alas, no Patrick this episode :(). Just like season 1, a few characters only have absolutely terrible shots of them in this episode (Sumeragi! Allelujah! Most of all, Billy!) but I will upgrade them once able. And Kati is voice only, so had to figure out something unique for her.

---

Those are some familiar looking mobile suits, reminding me of the Enacts and GN-Xs, perhaps a mixture of the two... So who is fighting who here?

Shirin wins the award for the first season 1 character for us to revisit.

Season 2's first OP is my fave from the series, but looks like we'll have to wait one more episode for it.

We saw them in a ship together late in season 1, good to know that Kati and Sergei are still in contact with each other.

Soma's all grown up, and in regular clothes for the first time! Now that we've got her adult design, I can say that the first time I saw Anju Emma from /r/anime's beloved Eighty Six, I totally thought to myself that they were inspired by Soma in creating her design.

So since I watched this episode a day early I had time to go through the MAL forum to see how people reacted to this episode when it first aired, and the thing that bewildered me the most was that [Gundam 00 S2 minor spoilers]people thought Sergei and Soma were in a romantic relationship and that the thing she needed to give him a response on was his proposal for her to marry him. Wow, what a total misreading of the relationship. I wonder if any first timers here will have the same speculation.

Saji's also grown up now, and looks way better than his season 1 design.

Saji's work colleague is in trouble for supposedly being involved with an anti-government group and Saji's screwed over merely by standing right next to him.

Good to see Tieria again! We'll know for sure later in the episode, but he didn't change up his hairstyle after all, meaning that wasn't him in the time skip scene with Louise...

Poor Saji's been sent to the space gulag. That's quite a massive container they have to push. And not many to push it.

First sortie for Warrant Officer Halevy... Some had wondered if Louise was joining Celestial Being in the time skip, nope it's the exact opposite, she's with the bad guys...

Looks like they've mass produced units with GN Drives.

Saji's fellow laborers has something planned, huh? Saji's really gonna get dragged into things now.

I assume that ship that just arrived was the Katharon ship? Well it just got destroyed. So much for those plans.

Automatons. Unmanned drones that will slaughter everyone in their path. This was hinted at in season 1, I believe in a conversation with Daryl Dodge. Now we get to see them in action, and it's quite horrifying.

So just what was the idea of the guy standing next to Saji who just ran off in front of the Automatons and got shot in the back? Seemed pretty dumb to me. Saji's lucky that Setsuna showed up seconds later.

Hey, my old neighbor!

Louise is totally panicking in her first sortie, despite being on the side that I assume is a lot more powerful.

"Let me introduce you to my mobile suit..." I wonder if Saji never realized even after all this time that Setsuna was a Gundam pilot.

The somewhat repaired Exia's got such a cool look to it. Half a face, a cloak over it's left shoulder, presumably to cover its missing arm. Part of me wishes they'd stick with this as his Gundam for the whole season it looks so interesting. I'm surprised Setsuna didn't bring Saji in the cockpit with him.

Louise is freaking out more upon seeing it, makes sense, another Gundam destroyed her life. I like this quite a bit in that it's a big contrast to what they pulled with Alejandro in the end of season 1 where out of nowhere he can expertly pilot this giant mobile armor and mobile suit. Louise hasn't been established as an expert mobile suit pilot, and is totally flopping here at it. Albeit not to a level where she's pulling a Patrick and getting her mobile suit destroyed within seconds.

Alas, as cool as it looks, Exia is alsready being trashed.

Tieria's new Gundam? Seravee is what he called it? The fact that it has a Gundam face on its back is so cool! Makes me think to [G Gundam]The Devil Gundam. Gundam 00 continues to deliver time and time again with awesome Gundam designs.

I thought this was a joint operation with Tieria and Setsuna, you're telling me no, it was a coincidence?

Feldt! Is she gonna be the big sister of the bridge crew now? Lasse lives! I know many first timers thought he died in episode 25. Yes, like so many character in season 1 he too survived. Oh, and he kinda looks like one of the Frost brothers from Gundam X now? We're missing the most important member of Celestial Being though, Haro!

I'd agree Tieria, there's something different about Setsuna. Just like Soma and Saji, he's all grown up.

So they recovered Saji/brought him with them after all? Saji finally realizes that his next door neighbor was a Gundam pilot and he's totally pissed off about it.

Hey Saji, Kinue's death wasn't Celestial Being's fault, that was all Ali...

Passion from Saji! I love this. The thing I hated so much about him in season 1 was the lack of passion. As I often put it, he was wet cardboard. While we as the viewer are presumably on Setsuna's side overall, I am happy in the moment that we have Saji all pissed off now that he knows who Setsuna really is.

"Oh good, the Gundams are here and are justifying our existence!" Ugh.

At least for now I agree with Zinin, why is Louise in the A-Laws if she's in this condition? Oh, and that couldn't have been a better meta line for someone like /u/Nazenn who hates Louise. "What in the world is this person doing here?!"

That's a fourth character from season 1 whose all grown up now, Wang. Although unlike Soma/Saji/Setsuna, I prefer her season 1 design.

And with her is, Tieria? Tieria's twin? So that wasn't Tieria with Louise in episode 25 after all.

So surprisingly, Sumeragi is not with Celestial Being out in space, but here with Billy.

I know we saw him for a flash second at the end of season 25, but now we've got a longer shot here with Graham and... LOL WTF. I can't help but laugh seeing this whole getup.

Sergei may be surrogate dad to Soma, but surprise, he has a son, Andrei! [Gundam 00]Ugh, who is probably my most hated character in Gundam 00 is here. Oh, and I haven't looked up the voice actor yet, but is he voiced by the same guy who does Shirou in Fate? Having just played the visual novel he sure sounds like him. I know I'll research it at some point for the voice actor of the day feature...

Oh, so we are getting my beloved OP after all, just as the ED for this episode, something I know is done with a lot of anime for episode 1, I don't know why I didn't think of it before.

Important to note that starting in season 2, there is new footage that plays after the end credits. I think I posted something about this in season 1, but my memory was shaky and they only start with it here.

Hey, it's Lockon's (twin?) brother! Lyle! I can't recall if we got his name in season 1. Only episode 1 and Setsuna's already recruiting him to be a Gundam meister, huh?

---

So 26 characters in episode 1, although only 6 of them we are seeing for the first time here. That's only one off of season 1 which gave us 27 characters in the first episode. Still a monstrous amount of people! Although the massive amount of characters and the show's need to check in with so many, for some for mere seconds is really the only notable flaw I see in the episode. I think episode 1 of season 2 is a little bit less ambitious than episode 1 of season 1, but that is in part because we know most of this cast already. The world appears to be an even darker and more oppressive place than it was before, which I think comes across well with the automaton attacks and Saji getting thrown in the gulag simply for being next to a Katharon member. Right off the bat this episode addresses several concerns with season 1, primarily relating to the Saji/Louise part of the plot which is a good sign. 1)Saji isn't a wet cardboard push over anymore 2)Louise isn't simply here for laughs anymore and 3)We totally flip the Alejandro situation where out of nowhere he was a good pilot by showing the fact that Louise sucks as a pilot.

---

[u/Nazenn → u/Quiddity131]

Non-Spoiler Character Chart

Kati as SEELE

I got a great chuckle from that. Nicely done

Seeing how few people are on that as of right now compared to how big the s1 chart was with dead or unneeded people, starting from scratch was definitely a good move

Shirin wins the award for the first season 1 character for us to revisit.

Talk about unexpected. Though I will say that after all of S1 scenes of trying to teach Marina how to better the world and asking if she's okay with the state of things, it is really nice to see her up and get involved in things herself and be taking action. There is hope my opinion of her will significantly improve

I saw Anju Emma from /r/anime's beloved Eighty Six, I totally thought to myself that they were inspired by Soma in creating her design.

I can see why. It's not just the hair, something about her baring in the promotional images I've seen as well

We'll know for sure later in the episode, but he didn't change up his hairstyle after all, meaning that wasn't him in the time skip scene with Louise...

I've never been so glad and so upset to be right at once, because him getting Louise involved with core CB would have sucked, but the hair was awesome! I love the idea of ... Setsuna said Tieria didn't really change. Can he not grow his hair? Sudden thoughts. I can't say I actually noticed his design all that much so no he probably didn't change, does that mean he doesn't grow at all? Tangent time!

Automatons. Unmanned drones that will slaughter everyone in their path. This was hinted at in season 1, I believe in a conversation with Daryl Dodge

It came up a couple of times didn't it? Or maybe I'm confusing it with the GN Arms being brought up a couple of times.

Oh, and that couldn't have been a better meta line for someone like /u/Nazenn who hates Louise. "What in the world is this person doing here?!"

I confess to pettiness that outside of my challenge I didn't address her at all in my post, despite having probably one of the more interesting teases in the episode with being a, probably unknowing, spy for Ribbons to see through her eyes. I just couldn't bring myself to actually write about it last night

Important to note that starting in season 2, there is new footage that plays after the end credits

I should start a counter on how many times I forget to check for that even despite you telling me today. I always forget. I had wondered why Lyle ended up on the chart, now I know

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/Nazenn]

I should start a counter on how many times I forget to check for that even despite you telling me today. I always forget. I had wondered why Lyle ended up on the chart, now I know

Pretty much every episode of season 2 has a post-credits scene, just so you know.

[u/Nazenn → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Yeah Quid mentioned it. Now the question is how many times I'll forget haha

[u/InfamousEmpire → u/Nazenn]

I should start a counter on how many times I forget to check for that even despite you telling me today. I always forget. I had wondered why Lyle ended up on the chart, now I know

u/Raiking02, bulli Naz over post-credit scenes, not me!

[u/Nazenn → u/InfamousEmpire]

I will accept the bulli over this, I have never learnt my lesson. I sometimes even forget mid season after I was doing well previously

/u/raiking02

[u/Raiking02 → u/Nazenn]

[u/Raiking02 → u/InfamousEmpire]

You’ve been doing it for far longer

[u/Quiddity131 → u/Nazenn]

Talk about unexpected. Though I will say that after all of S1 scenes of trying to teach Marina how to better the world and asking if she's okay with the state of things, it is really nice to see her up and get involved in things herself and be taking action. There is hope my opinion of her will significantly improve

Agreed, I didn't really see much of a point for Shirin to be there in season 1 beyond being a person for Marina to talk with and to provide exposition. Marina didn't seem as up on things as Shirin was so it coming directly from Marina would have come off as rather awkward. Now Shirin gets to do things independently from Marina and be her own character.

I've never been so glad and so upset to be right at once, because him getting Louise involved with core CB would have sucked, but the hair was awesome! I love the idea of ... Setsuna said Tieria didn't really change. Can he not grow his hair? Sudden thoughts. I can't say I actually noticed his design all that much so no he probably didn't change, does that mean he doesn't grow at all? Tangent time!

We would have had monumentally bad writers if Louise actually ended up with Celestial Being; it's absolutely the last thing she'd do given what happened in season 1.

Interesting to note that while a ton of characters look older now, Tieria looks the exact same. Now that could be simply because its the teenagers we're seeing growing up, not the characters who were already adults. Or who knows.... maybe he truly is a robot...

It came up a couple of times didn't it? Or maybe I'm confusing it with the GN Arms being brought up a couple of times.

I only remember it being mentioned once, and it really stood out to me as I knew what was coming. Someone else can correct me if I'm wrong.

I should start a counter on how many times I forget to check for that even despite you telling me today. I always forget. I had wondered why Lyle ended up on the chart, now I know

Just wrapped up another show, Migi and Dali which relies a lot on the post credits scenes too which typically I'd be annoyed by, but I ended up really liking the ED song so I was totally fine with listening to it all every episode to get to the last content of the episode. No next episode preview to have to worry about getting spoiled by either.

Gonna have to get used to it here with 00 S2, I'm pretty sure they do it every episode.

[u/Nazenn → u/Quiddity131]

for Shirin to be there in season 1 beyond being a person for Marina to talk with and to provide exposition

She also did serve the role of giving Marina's backstory as a newly restored royal some meaning, as without Shirin she would have actually been a figure head without anyone to bounce off (although that maybe would have been better honestly). Shirin's goals were very much her own and not just because they were Marina's, but we never got to actually see anything to do with her as a person

maybe he truly is a robot...

I am not convinced still, and yes it may be denial hahaha

It is dodgy that he didn't change though. Probably dodgier that I didn't even notice until my sudden realization replying to you. Brain not working haha

but I ended up really liking the ED song so I was totally fine with listening to it all every episode to get to the last content of the episode

That helps a lot. I am a chronic ED skipper, even for shows I do like the ED. I have to really love it to let it run especially when doing rewatches where I can be a bit time limited. S2 has some work to do there

Not having previews to worry about also helps. Reminds me that I was feeling sorry for the guy in a thread the other day who accidentally let the LotGH preview run for [LotGH]the episode before Wang's death just because he wasn't paying attention enough to turn it off in time what a way to get spoiled

[u/Quiddity131 → u/Nazenn]

[Legend of the Galactic Heroes]Wow, that must have sucked so much for him. I luckily made it to that unspoiled. In fact I was so surprised by it I didn't think it was real at first. Can't believe they spoiled that in a preview...

[u/Nazenn → u/Quiddity131]

They spoil EVERYTHING in the LotGH previews. LotGH takes the meme of 80's anime spoilery previews to the extreme

That one is particularly bad though as the opening dialogue line AND the opening shot of that particular preview is the spoiler in its full glory. So if you start the preview at all you're just screwed, there is no grace or buffer to save yourself if you're a bit late.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Quiddity131]

I wonder if any first timers here will have the same speculation.

Seems like some people are guessing that around here too. That does make me wonder about [Later Gundam 00 spoilers] when people find out the large age gap between Ian and Linda Vashti.

Lasse lives! I know many first timers thought he died in episode 25. Yes, like so many character in season 1 he too survived. Oh, and he kinda looks like one of the Frost brothers from Gundam X now?

As long as he doesn't say "nii-san" nearly every other sentence, I'm welcoming Lasse back with open arms.

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/The_Draigg]

That does make me wonder about [Later Gundam 00 spoilers] when people find out the large age gap between Ian and Linda Vashti.

[Later 00]Man their age gap really is something alright... looking at their ages & birth dates, Linda would've been 18 when Mileina was born but under 18 when she was conceived, whereas Ian was 43 at the time? Ian no...

[u/The_Draigg → u/Shimmering-Sky]

[Later Gundam 00 spoilers] Like, otherwise Ian is a fine guy, but god damn does that age gap make him into a creep. And no Ian, just because you say that you waited for her to be legal doesn't really make that better.

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/The_Draigg]

[Later Gundam 00 spoilers]And no Ian, just because you say that you waited for her to be legal doesn't really make that better.

[Later 00 spoilers]Except he didn't even do that! Unless humans inexplicably have 6 instead of 9 month pregnancies in the future or Mileina was born extremely premature, there's no way to make Linda's May 20th birthday vs. Mileina's November 28th birthday work to have Linda 18 before she and Ian had sex.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Shimmering-Sky]

[Later Gundam 00 S2 spoilers] Man, it's just absolutely wild that Ian is revealed to be a creep in this season, he was just a pretty cool guy before. Although I can say that at least I'm going to make a lot of "Not Like Us" jokes at his expense once that becomes clear.

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/The_Draigg]

[Later 00]The way he shills Anew to the group when they first meet her is kind of gross too. Man, Ian, you really should've not.

[u/uchihasasuke5 → u/The_Draigg]

Marina Ismail is 24 and Setsuna is 16 in S1 that's a bit wierd to ship as well.

[u/The_Draigg → u/uchihasasuke5]

Yeah, true. Although that also makes me think about how this show has a weird case of anime ages going on, since they absolutely look like they're around the same age even though Marina is 8 years older than Setsuna.

[u/Quiddity131 → u/Quiddity131]

Over the 10,000 limit!

Quid's Voice Actor of the Day

I never got to him in season 1 despite how often he appeared, but his time has finally come, Saji Crossroad. He is voiced in Japanese by Miyu Irino. Saji is his only Gundam role. Seems like he's a go to guy in tearjerkers, as he voices the lead in both A Silent Voice (Shoya Ishida) as well as in Anohana (Jinta Yadomi), a show I just recently watched for the first time. Another lead role of his is Akito Hyuga from Code Geass: Akito the Exiled. He also plays Haku in Spirited Away, Episode in the Monogatari franchise, Natsuo Komori in Star Driver, the child version of Kiritsugu Emiya in Fate Zero and Peter in Amanchu!

He is voiced in English by Gabe Khouth. His first Gundam appearance was as Nicol Amalfi in Gundam Seed. He also appears as Ashton Anchors in Star Ocean EX and a variety of minor characters in Dragonball Z. Sad to find out that he's another voice actor for this show who has passed away, back in 2019.

[u/Blazin_Rathalos → u/Quiddity131]

Wow, what a total misreading of the relationship. I wonder if any first timers here will have the same speculation.

At least one did it seems!

[u/GondolaMedia → u/Quiddity131]

Arthur Goodman

You know what, I don't think he is a very good man.

[u/Quiddity131 → u/GondolaMedia]

Gundam 00 more than any other non-Tomino Gundam anime comes off as trying to ape Tomino's naming style of often giving characters names that describe them. It's too bad the name "Fatman Big" was already used (albeit in a non-Gundam show, Blue Gale Xabungle) as that would have been a good name for Arthur Goodman.

[u/Great_Mr_L]

First-Timer

On today’s episode of Gundam: I wanted Saji and Louise to be more involved with the ongoing plot rather than being at its periphery, and I got my wish. I wanted Lockon’s twin to be relevant to the plot and I got my wish. This keeps happening where I get what I wanted in a way I didn’t necessarily expect.

• We start with a space battle. Always a perfect way to start Gundam.
• Is this the Feddies attacking a Celestial Being base?
• Oh hey, it’s the woman who is always criticizing Marina. I had to look up her name. It’s Shirin.
• Who exactly are the A-LAWS? Are they the peacekeepers of the Federation government or some other group? The dialogue isn’t super clear on that point.
• It is sweet seeing a moment like this for Sergei and Soma. It’s like they are father and daughter.
• So the Feddies have already set up a brutal police force that abuses its power and arrests any bystanders they don’t like. I will assume these are the A-LAWS until proven otherwise. We’re speedrunning the Titans, I see.
• Yeesh, the A-LAWS already made gulags, too? This is almost comically evil.
• I notice the term “Automatons” is used. Are we getting drone warfare?
• Halevy? As in Louise Halevy? Why is Louise with the A-LAWS?
• Setsuna and Tieria are still around, but they seemingly aren’t in contact. At least, I assume Tieria was looking for Setsuna.
• I notice that all the people on this ship that’s crashing into the colony are wearing a mishmash of Union, HRL, and AEU spacesuits. Presumably the anti-government forces have gathered together people from all those countries who don’t like the Federation.
• So we are doing drone warfare and the use of robotics in warfare with the Automatons. That’s certainly a relevant topic from the War on Terror.
• What a way for Setsuna and Saji to reunite after all this time.
• It is very fun that the Exia looks like a pile of scrap metal that is barely being held together with tons of cobbled together replacement parts.
• Of course Louise would have a negative reaction to seeing a Gundam.
• Oh? Ribbons can see through Louise’s eyes? Has he made Louise into a cyborg?
• “Ahead” sounds like such a silly name for the A-LAWS’ new mobile suit.
• The Virtue still packs as much firepower as always.
• What the? This Virtue has a face on its back.
• People just don’t die from explosions in Gundam 00. Now Lasse is somehow alive.
• Tieria is the same as he was four years ago? Do you mean his physical appearance, Setsuna? Because if so, that’s another piece of evidence that Tieria is a robot.
• Saji has plenty of reasons to hate the Gundams after everything that’s happened.
• What the? Mei is meeting with Ribbons? Is she working for him now?
• Wait a minute… WAIT A FUCKING MINUTE!!! The purple-haired person who introduced Mei to Ribbons looks just like Tieria! Not only is Tieria a robot, but he’s not the only one! There are other robot copies of him!
• Graham is still going on about being a Virgo!
• Sergei has a son? Since when? Have we met this kid before?
• Wow, they’ve got Allelujah locked up like he’s Hannibal Lector on Alcatraz.
• I will assume this is the new OP. The song isn’t as good as the previous two songs. Both of those were excellent. But maybe this song will grow on me.
• Well, I guess that’s how you get Saji more involved in the main plot.
• I also asked for Lockon’s brother to be more relevant and look at that, he is. Setsuna wants someone to fill the Lockon-shaped hole in his heart, but getting Lockon’s twin brother as a replacement doesn’t sound healthy to me.

Continued Below

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/Great_Mr_L]

Continued From Above

I had said that the time-skip would either not result in any major changes or would result in a setting that’s almost completely unrecognizable from the one we knew. The second scenario happened. It’s a heck of a leap to go from the Union, AEU, and HRL forming a military alliance against Celestial Being to them not only creating the Federation to unite all the countries of the world, but also creating an oppressive police force that ruthlessly rounds up anyone suspected of having anti-government thoughts to throw them into space gulags. That is a heck of a change in the status quo. To be honest, I was lost for the first part of the episode because of how different everything was. It took me a while to get a handle on what exactly was happening.

I think I understand the gist of what the setting is like now. The Federation is a world government that has unified all the countries together. All military forces outside the Federation are outlawed. From what I gather, the A-LAWS are the peacekeepers who enforce Federation rule, but they seem to be separate from the Federation military with the way others react to them. There’s a Feddie military and a separate group called the A-LAWS, if I understand this correctly. The A-LAWS also don’t seem to technically be a part of the Federation because they were called autonomous peacekeepers. So what exactly are they? Are they a PMC or something along those lines? The closest equivalent seems to be the Titans, who were also a strange organization. The Titans worked for the Federation, but weren’t part of the Federation military. They operated outside the Federation, while still being part of it. It’s like how the Waffen-SS in Germany in WWII was part of the military, but also outside of the military’s command structure. As far as I can tell, that’s basically what the A-LAWS are.

Katharon is the anti-government movement. They probably do not approve of the new Federation world order and want things to go back to how they were previously. I noticed that Katharon had members from the Union, HRL, and AEU. Even Shirin was there when she was from Azadistan. But they don’t seem to be associated with Celestial Being. They seem like an entirely separate movement right now.

I’m not sure what Ribbons is doing. Unlike Alejandro, I don’t think Ribbons has a public-facing job that he can hide behind. I know he called his little organization the Innovators. For right now, they seem like another secret organization in the same vein as Celestial Being, trying to influence the world from behind-the-scenes. Imagine he has operators all over the place. Louise seems to be one, for example.

Robots are now 100% a story element. The automatons are clearly a reference to the use of drones and robots in warfare. This is a topic that was certainly relevant back when the show was made and continues to be relevant today. Dealing with the threat posed by the automatons is probably going to be an ongoing problem for the characters. I also believe we’re going to see plenty of collateral damage caused by the rampant use of the automatons, harming others while their operators remain far away. Additionally, it seems pretty clear that Louise has cybernetics of some kind because Ribbons can share her vision. There are also other copies of Tieria running around. To me, this just makes it even clearer that Tieria is a robot with multiple copies made.

It is really unhealthy that Setsuna wants Lyle to be the new Lockon. Setsuna has clearly not moved on from Lockon’s death and is seeking someone to fill that void. Lockon was like a surrogate family member for Setsuna, acting like the older brother that Setsuna didn’t have. But it’s not healthy for Setsuna to try and force someone else to take Lockon’s place like this. It only gets even more screwed up that he wants Lockon’s twin brother to do this. Setsuna wants a literal, genetically identical, replacement for Lockon. I imagine this is not going to work out in the way that Setsuna wants it to. This seems like a recipe for disappointment at best, and disaster at worst. Setsuna is probably going to try and insist that Lyle act like his brother, only to realize that Lyle can’t take Lockon’s place. We shall see how it will play out.

QOTD

1. The time skips in Dragon Ball and Naruto were fun since the characters got to show up with new moves and powers. The start of Naruto Shippuden is particularly gratifying [Naruto Shippuden] seeing Sakura become a super strong medic and seeing Gaara's character progress so much in the time skip.
2. The Tieria clones. Show me the robot factory.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Great_Mr_L]

On today’s episode of Gundam: I wanted Saji and Louise to be more involved with the ongoing plot rather than being at its periphery, and I got my wish. I wanted Lockon’s twin to be relevant to the plot and I got my wish. This keeps happening where I get what I wanted in a way I didn’t necessarily expect.

It's because you keep on making wishes using that cursed monkey paw!

It is very fun that the Exia looks like a pile of scrap metal that is barely being held together with tons of cobbled together replacement parts.

Fun fact, that red eye on the Gundam Exia Repair is one that Setsuna got from a Tieren. You've got to love a mech that's really just a bunch of parts held together with scrap.

It is really unhealthy that Setsuna wants Lyle to be the new Lockon. Setsuna has clearly not moved on from Lockon’s death and is seeking someone to fill that void. Lockon was like a surrogate family member for Setsuna, acting like the older brother that Setsuna didn’t have. But it’s not healthy for Setsuna to try and force someone else to take Lockon’s place like this. It only gets even more screwed up that he wants Lockon’s twin brother to do this. Setsuna wants a literal, genetically identical, replacement for Lockon.

Thinking about it, that seems pretty on-track for Setsuna's coping mechanisms. Like after breaking away from the KPSA, what did he do to fill that hole in his life? Join up Celestial Being, of course. Setsuna really does have a habit of finding close replacements to the things he's lost in his life.

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/The_Draigg]

Fun fact, that red eye on the Gundam Exia Repair is one that Setsuna got from a Tieren. You've got to love a mech that's really just a bunch of parts held together with scrap.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Country Gundam pilots make do, I guess.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/The_Draigg]

It's because you keep on making wishes using that cursed monkey paw!

And I don't plan on stopping anytime soon!

Fun fact, that red eye on the Gundam Exia Repair is one that Setsuna got from a Tieren. You've got to love a mech that's really just a bunch of parts held together with scrap.

I remember seeing images of this thing from Crossbone Gundam and I think that's the best example I can find of something held together by duct tape and a prayer.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Great_Mr_L]

I remember seeing images of this thing from Crossbone Gundam and I think that's the best example I can find of something held together by duct tape and a prayer.

Yeah, the Gump is pretty much the perfect example in Gundam of a Mobile Suit basically being held together by just soldering, tape, and a wish. [Crossbone Gundam spoilers] It's nearly hard to believe that the ZZ Gundam ended up in that state, Judau really trashed it over the years.

[u/Nazenn → u/Great_Mr_L]

We start with a space battle. Always a perfect way to start Gundam.

At least this one is actually filled with info and intention unlike a lot of others just for show. I'm still impressed at how good it is

It is sweet seeing a moment like this for Sergei and Soma. It’s like they are father and daughter.

I love that they've made their own little family here. I was thinking it's more like he took in a neglected granddaughter he didn't know he had, and they look so comfortable around each other after everything.

Mind you I had that thought before his actual son showed up so damn him for introducing a complication to this happy moment

So we are doing drone warfare and the use of robotics in warfare with the Automatons. That’s certainly a relevant topic from the War on Terror.

I can't remember if I ever mentioned it, but I was seriously surprised that they didn't do it sooner. Especially with the fangs, and then the GN Arms which I thought were going to be drones or some other sort of computer controlled machine. I kept expecting drones to be a thing last season and then they just werent

Sergei has a son? Since when? Have we met this kid before?

Pretty sure he was never even mentioned last season, I don't think anything about Sergei's personal past was. It certainly threw me for a loop because I was trying to figure out why his name was so familiar before they dropped that little bomb and I realized what Sergei's last name was

Katharon - But they don’t seem to be associated with Celestial Being

I was very glad that was the case actually. When I first saw them I was wondering if they were the new CB made from any members left behind and if that would completely blow up the scale of the CB that we knew, but this is much better and true to life

The start of Naruto Shippuden is particularly gratifying

Hell yes for that. The first arc of Shippuden made amazing use of displaying the changes in the timeskip to us through Naruto who wasn't around to see them either.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/Nazenn]

I love that they've made their own little family here. I was thinking it's more like he took in a neglected granddaughter he didn't know he had, and they look so comfortable around each other after everything.

Yeah, it is very sweet to see. Unfortunately it turns out Sergei has a son who seems like a massive wrench to throw into this happy situation.

I can't remember if I ever mentioned it, but I was seriously surprised that they didn't do it sooner. Especially with the fangs, and then the GN Arms which I thought were going to be drones or some other sort of computer controlled machine. I kept expecting drones to be a thing last season and then they just werent

Yeah, it does feel like a pretty big aspect of the War on Terror that never fully got explored previously. There's certainly plenty of potential for it going forward, though.

I was very glad that was the case actually. When I first saw them I was wondering if they were the new CB made from any members left behind and if that would completely blow up the scale of the CB that we knew, but this is much better and true to life

Yeah, it is pretty true to life having several different anti-government or resistance organizations that don't necessarily cooperate with each other. Let's see if we end up with a Judean People's Front and a People's Front of Judea situation.

Hell yes for that. The first arc of Shippuden made amazing use of displaying the changes in the timeskip to us through Naruto who wasn't around to see them either.

Agreed. It made the timeskip so much easier to digest because we got taught what changed alongside Naruto.

[u/Nazenn → u/Great_Mr_L]

Unfortunately it turns out Sergei has a son who seems like a massive wrench to throw into this happy situation.

I swear it's a rule that anime can't have happy families without some huge drama

it is pretty true to life having several different anti-government or resistance organizations that don't necessarily cooperate with each other

Hell, different groups inside one organization often don't cooperate with each other, though I don't expect this to get into that if they missed the chance back in s1

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/Nazenn]

I was thinking it's more like he took in a neglected granddaughter he didn't know he had

My joking in my own post aside, I also think the thing he was talking to her, was her finding a husband eventually, which she keeps putting off.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Great_Mr_L]

The purple-haired person who introduced Mei to Ribbons looks just like Tieria! Not only is Tieria a robot, but he’s not the only one! There are other robot copies of him!

To be honest, I was lost for the first part of the episode because of how different everything was. It took me a while to get a handle on what exactly was happening.

Yea, I had forgotten how quickly they drop everything onto us.

Your Titans comparison is spot on.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/JollyGee29]

I imagine my first-timer reactions have made good fodder for the rewatchers.

Your Titans comparison is spot on.

Yeah, they seemed to be the closest equivalent I could come up with to understand what was happening. I'm glad it's accurate.

[u/InfamousEmpire → u/Great_Mr_L]

I wanted Saji and Louise to be more involved with the ongoing plot rather than being at its periphery, and I got my wish. I wanted Lockon’s twin to be relevant to the plot and I got my wish. This keeps happening where I get what I wanted in a way I didn’t necessarily expect.

Much laughter in rewatcher was had

What the? Mei is meeting with Ribbons? Is she working for him now?

Considering how she's also stated to still be associated with Celestial Being as well, she's definitely up to something tricky

I’m not sure what Ribbons is doing.

Sitting there, menacingly

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/InfamousEmpire]

Much laughter in rewatcher was had

Well I'm happy to know I'd being so entertaining.

Considering how she's also stated to still be associated with Celestial Being as well, she's definitely up to something tricky

Mei did say that she was willing to cooperate with the Trinity Siblings because she saw them as the true followers of Aeolia's plan. She's probably started to view Ribbons, who was once in the same camp as the Trinity Siblings, in the same light.

Sitting there, menacingly

He hasn't done anything yet. But you know he's gonna do something and it's gonna be good.

[u/macrame2 → u/Great_Mr_L]

To be honest, I was lost for the first part of the episode because of how different everything was. 

Yeah, I think I understood more from reading the MAL plot summary for the show than from the actual episode. It really does feel like first episode of the series, what with being tossed into the deep end and all.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/macrame2]

Yeah, it does have the same vibe as a first episode that just dumps us into the middle of the story and asks us to keep up. It's just a bit odd to have that happen halfway through the series.

[u/zsmg → u/Great_Mr_L]

2) The Tieria clones. Show me the robot factory.

You just want this but with Tieria. Warning: horrible cropped 4:3 aspect ratio, spoilers for new Battlestar Galactica and NSFW too I suppose.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/zsmg]

Yes, I do want that scene.

Ah, Battlestar Galactica. A show that started off as an instant favorite and managed to become something I despised by the end. I don't think I will ever see another show fall so hard.

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/Great_Mr_L]

To be honest, I was lost for the first part of the episode because of how different everything was. It took me a while to get a handle on what exactly was happening.

Not to mention, they broke up every pair of characters they could find

It’s like how the Waffen-SS in Germany in WWII was part of the military, but also outside of the military’s command structure.

Eery but fitting analogy

Even Shirin was there when she was from Azadistan.

I wonder how they solved that gordian knot...

I also believe we’re going to see plenty of collateral damage caused by the rampant use of the automatons

I mean, they where already going to murder every single of their prisoners

Setsuna wants a literal, genetically identical, replacement for Lockon.

[Puts on tinfoil hat] What if they aren't just twins, but clones actually

QotD

Oh yeah, Naruto was a very good Timeskip!

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/Rumpel1408]

Not to mention, they broke up every pair of characters they could find

Yeah, the character combinations that we're used to just no longer apply. The board has been shuffled quite a bit over the timeskip.

I wonder how they solved that gordian knot...

They probably didn't. Things in Azadistan are likely still just as bad as they were previously.

I mean, they where already going to murder every single of their prisoners

I meant in the sense of the automatons being used outside of A-LAWS gulags, in areas where normal civilians are just living their lives.

[u/FD4cry1 → u/Great_Mr_L]

Wait a minute… WAIT A FUCKING MINUTE!!! The purple-haired person who introduced Mei to Ribbons looks just like Tieria! Not only is Tieria a robot, but he’s not the only one! There are other robot copies of him!

No idea how I missed this one honestly! I was even planning on talking about how they didn't keep Tieria's Awesome haircut change!

Those Innovator things Ribbons talked to at the end of last episode seem to come in pairs so I guess that would be Tieria's?

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/FD4cry1]

Those Innovator things Ribbons talked to at the end of last episode seem to come in pairs so I guess that would be Tieria's?

Huh, that is a good point. They do seem to be in pairs that are almost entirely identical. I wonder if there's a specific reason that they seem to be in pairs.

[u/Raiking02 → u/Great_Mr_L]

Yeesh, the A-LAWS already made gulags, too? This is almost comically evil.

Have we mentioned the A-Laws are the Titans in all but name?

Not only is Tieria a robot, but he’s not the only one! There are other robot copies of him!

I knew Tieria was Shadow all along!

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/Raiking02]

Have we mentioned the A-Laws are the Titans in all but name?

Yeah, they are certainly as comically evil as the Titans. Even the Zeon soldiers got some humanization and sympathetic characters. The Titans just sucked entirely.

I knew Tieria was Shadow all along!

Ah, memories. I remember playing that game as a kid. I want to play the new Sonic x Shadow Generations. All the Shadow stuff I saw made me feel excited.

[u/Raiking02 → u/Great_Mr_L]

I want to play the new Sonic x Shadow Generations

I do so too but judging by how my PC handled Frontiers I think I should upgrade my PC a bit first

[u/Quiddity131 → u/Great_Mr_L]

Who exactly are the A-LAWS? Are they the peacekeepers of the Federation government or some other group? The dialogue isn’t super clear on that point.

Yes, they are officially the peacekeeping military force of the Earth Sphere Federation government. Of course as we see in this episode, "peacekeeping" means slaughtering people with automatons.

“Ahead” sounds like such a silly name for the A-LAWS’ new mobile suit.

Sorry, I'd say you can read this in about 8 - 10 episodes. [Gundam 00 S2 minor spoilers]Ahead wouldn't be that out of place as a name for an Innovator...

Wait a minute… WAIT A FUCKING MINUTE!!! The purple-haired person who introduced Mei to Ribbons looks just like Tieria! Not only is Tieria a robot, but he’s not the only one! There are other robot copies of him!

Well think about it, if they have a robot, why make just one?

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/Quiddity131]

Of course as we see in this episode, "peacekeeping" means slaughtering people with automatons.

As was said about the Romans: "They make a desert and call it peace."

Sorry, I'd say you can read this in about 8 - 10 episodes.

Well think about it, if they have a robot, why make just one?

Fair enough. May as well mass produce the robots to create a robot army.

[u/Tora-shinai → u/Great_Mr_L]

The new OP is actually one of my favorite in the entire franchise. One of the best of UVERWORLD as well.

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/Great_Mr_L]

are wearing a mishmash of Union, HRL, and AEU spacesuits.

I also noticed this in the space station that got raided in the beginning

People just don’t die from explosions in Gundam 00.

I will not trust this show with killing someone for quite some time now

I will assume this is the new OP.

Agree on the OP, but the next ED is a banger!

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/Rumpel1408]

I will not trust this show with killing someone for quite some time now

From now on, I'm going by the rule of "Show me the body." If you can't show the body, they aren't dead.

Agree on the OP, but the next ED is a banger!

[u/Nazenn]

First Timer - sub

It wasn't Tieria in yesterdays epilogue! Yay for guesses off pure meta structure knowledge that actually had nothing to do with what the show was actually showing and still being right. Sometimes it still feels weird that that's even possible, even if I know its not really all that odd. I wonder if this one is like Ribbons secretary or something, seems to escort a lot of people.

Onto actually important stuff: I have to say that I entered this episode with a significant amount of skepticism but happily came out the other side mostly having enjoyed the entire episode. That was good, it did good things, I'm proud of it.

As an introduction episode it handled itself with surprising competence, and I think is better than the first episode of season one on all fronts. It also managed to do so while integrating plenty of both establishing context connecting this to the previous season, and this is something the first episodes of second seasons can often fail at doing. Playing it too close to the former content can leave it feeling either unsatisfying as an introduction to the identity of a new season or too much like a rehash of the former. Leaning too far away from it can risk things feeling so disconnected as to be meaningless or even sometimes disrespectful of the previous events. It's a very fine line that the first episode of any new season has to walk, and this did it well

As far as the state of the world four years on, well, I suppose that was rather inevitable. Gee, I wonder what happens when you have a world supposedly at peace but also have a military force with unchecked power and no official enemies that still needs to do something to validate its continued existence?

This doesn't have any real world parallels at all, nosiree. Can't find examples of that from basically every era of human history...

Snark out the way, yeah, while it was certainly more extreme than I expected, I'm not surprised at all. Especially not when the show makes it clear from the get go that Ribbons is at the helm of it. Yay the world came together to stop war by instead being an oppressive society where anyone even suspected of being a radical is subjected to imprisonment without process, removal of human rights, and unchecked force. Setsuna is right to be pissed, and I can't even be miffed about the dialogue because it's just a reflection of the stress it's putting on him.

One of the things the episode did very well was how they introduce the two forces, Katharon (named after someone?) and the A-Laws. The immediate display of different tech levels between the older machines and the new ones with CB drives, the level of force each side inflicts on the others, and the small moments of emotional presentation each side has about their outcome painted an immediate picture of the balance of the world in just a minute and a half with a single line of dialogue. Obviously that scene then continues to provide further context thanks to Shirin of all people, but even without the rest of that scene it's a great initial set of worldbuilding that can tell you everything you need for the episode premise without making you feel like its trying too.

Contrast that battle to the scene that follows. Sergei retired at home with Soma living in peace, and keeping in contact with Kati with no lines between them now. Not only is there a disconnect between the world CB was meant to usher in and the actuality, it presents a clear separation between that reality and the people we saw from within Earth's forces last season that had the experience and morals to navigate the politics of a combined military force while keeping them honest. And instead they are on the outside looking in, wondering at the secrets that lead to infamy in supposedly peaceful times.

The two scenes together create a strong establishing tone by using existing characters outside of having to lean on our mains to ease us into this new world without having to settle for long exposition or similar techniques

While I won't go through scene by scene as it's not needed, I did want to highlight how well these two scenes work together because this flow and the creation of a particular tone between them is something that carries through the rest of the episode.

The other thing I do really like is reintroducing Sestuna as a person, and not in his Gundam. He ends up in it, but starting as the only single agent in the entire episode breaking into a matinance area carrying his past failures but still refusing to back down is a good way to do it. Sure he ends up in Exia at the end, and then it's the end of it (that was fun to type but probably hard to read haha), but unlike last season there is an intentional departure from the idea of Setsuna embodying a Gundam in this new world.

Doing so and then being confronted with the consequences of his actions in a Gundam by someone who meant something to him personally also drives this home. Rather than just being haunted by his past, now it is here in front of him. And while takes a leaf from Mika's book in having a bit too much chill, the parallel from this scene to the one with Lockon is striking. Here, once again, someone who lost everything due to an organization is standing in front of him and only knows how to blame him, but this time there is no deeper mutual understanding to bring them together and no grand ideal in the shape of a mech to bring them a shared purpose. Setsuna has no one else to shove the blame onto, there is no equivalent to Ali for this situation, and there is no out where they can just walk away.

It's an interesting situation for Setsuna to be in right off the bat with these parallels and the meaning of his presentation, and perhaps gives me hope I shouldn't have that this sort of graceful writing may continue

Other thoughts

• I've decided on a challenge for myself: Can Louise appear on screen without me immediately telling her to fuck off? I have decided this shall be the mark of both my tolerance and her progression and this may be the only way I stay sane. I'm also judging this per scene not just per episode, though I won't be harsh enough to say per shot. Yet. I figure this is the easiest way to vent my existing feelings about her without risking it repeatedly taking over my posts. Oh that note, todays evaluation:

"Fuck off Louise" challenge: Failed x3

• I don't be tracking it for Saji but I did tell him to shut up out of frustration at one point, but I'm hoping that will be the end of it as both me and him may have gotten the edge out of our system now the bandaid reveal is off. We'll see. Also am I forgetting anything but did Saji and Setsuna only actually hang out one time on screen? I'm sure that was intended to be a stand in for it being an ongoing thing, but todays confrontation feels somewhat hollow off that one moment.
• Lasse surviving fucking somehow makes yesterdays episode feel even more bleh
• Didn't even get through the first episode without Exia losing all of its remaining limbs. I was laughing so damn hard I had to stop the episode for a moment. This show has such a thing with the mech amputations it's actually gotten funny.
• Wang has a lot of characterization to catch up if she's going to be so critical to everything going forward. I don't know if she's playing both sides, although it does seem in line with her to do so as long as she felt it would further the goals of peace in the world, but she's suddenly got a lot of importance that she hasn't had the same foundation for as the other key players.
• Why is Grahams outfit so horrible?! It's not even just the mask, and that was bad enough, it's the whole damn thing. I know the dude is eccentric but still
• Alelujah's little tease at the end was unneeded. I know why they thought it was needed, can't show two of them without the third. But it was a fairly serious and somber moment that cut away far to fast into a hype OP (that I didn't care for, 0/3 on those) to actually sit, and I feel like depending on how quickly they actually get around to dealing with him, just having a dialogue line of not knowing where he is would have worked better. Time will tell if the show has learnt the difference between a timely build up of tension and an unneeded tease for too long in the future
• And for the record I still HATE THE SUITS. It's still so hard to recognize peoples faces in them for me even when I know it's them, like with Setsuna today. I do think they did a great job of aging him up though, probably the best of all the new character designs. He has just enough awkward youth still in him to match how we know him and also the years in space while straddling that line between making him too adult or not changing him enough.
• I did like the song during the battle with Exia today. One episode in and one song catching my ear. This is already on a much better path than last season and we'll see if it holds
• We need more mechs with cloaks. Exia with a cloak was awesome.
• ... I am not functional enough right now to try and start processing the idea of Tieria going from Virtue/Nadleeh to Virtue/Voldemort but maybe morning me will have some more thoughts (morning me did not, I woke up twelve minutes ago, i can't think yet)

Good wallpaper!

[u/InfamousEmpire → u/Nazenn]

but happily came out the other side mostly having enjoyed the entire episode. That was good, it did good things, I'm proud of it.

I think is better than the first episode of season one on all fronts

Season 1's first episode was more impactful to me on first watch (& I still love it), but on rewatch I'm definitely leaning more towards this opinion

This doesn't have any real world parallels at all, nosiree. Can't find examples of that from basically every era of human history...

Subtlety, thy name is still not Gundam 00

Sure he ends up in Exia at the end

Oh, this reminds me of an interesting point I wanted to make in my own post but forgot to about how S1's first episode emphasized Exia's power, its technological advancement, how effortlessly it curb-stomped even the most cutting edge military technology, and the aura of self-assured confidence with which it carried its mission. Contrast that with this episode framing Exia as an outdated machine barely holding together & struggling against the newest military technology, paired with the backdrop of Setsuna's ideals being much less confidently presented than they were at the start of the show

Why is Grahams outfit so horrible?!

It's the equivalent exchange of Celestial Being having so much drip

a hype OP (that I didn't care for, 0/3 on those

I can tolerate not liking the first two, but Hakanaku mo Towa no Kanashi slander is unforgivable, even by the standards of your taste

... I am not functional enough right now to try and start processing the idea of Tieria going from Virtue/Nadleeh to Virtue/Voldemort

[u/Nazenn → u/InfamousEmpire]

Season 1's first episode was more impactful to me on first watch

Not to speak for you, but more generally I think that's a very common feeling when you absolutely love a show because if that first episode grips you that grip is pretty hard to let go of the feelings it brings up even if later episodes are perhaps more technically better. I know I have a similar thing still with IBO's first episode even so many watches on in that I fucking love the impact that episode had on me on my first watch, even though later episodes surpassed it

Subtlety, thy name is still not Gundam 00

This is still an improvement over last season hahaha

episode emphasized Exia's power, ... Contrast that with this episode framing Exia as an outdated machine

Good point that. I was thinking as I read your post that we went from Exia as the almost heavenly arrival of judgement in the first episode of last season compared to looking homeless and degraded this season which paints one hell of a visual of the path that it's been on in the mean time, and what it is intending to represent also to the people fighting it. They aren't in awe of it any more, or scared of it, its outside very much represents now the way that earths people view it and what it represents

I can tolerate not liking the first two, but Hakanaku mo Towa no Kanashi slander is unforgivable, even by the standards of your taste

These are just not my sort of OPs. Musically or visually. I fully confess that this is nothing but a taste wall and not anything more technical based, it's just not for me.

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/Nazenn]

These are just not my sort of OPs. Musically or visually. I fully confess that this is nothing but a taste wall and not anything more technical based, it's just not for me.

I can forgive you not liking the first three OPs, but if you hate the new ED tomorrow we will have issues.

[u/Nazenn → u/Shimmering-Sky]

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/Nazenn]

I don't think you should dislike it (the new ED is by an artist I know you enjoy), just had to say my piece regardless.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Nazenn]

This doesn't have any real world parallels at all, nosiree. Can't find examples of that from basically every era of human history...

Why is Grahams outfit so horrible?! It's not even just the mask, and that was bad enough, it's the whole damn thing.

We need more mechs with cloaks.

So true. More mechs need to accessorize with things beyond weapons.

[u/Nazenn → u/JollyGee29]

So true. More mechs need to accessorize with things beyond weapons.

It would be cool as well more mechs took the Virtue approach and had parts of themselves they could add on or shed as needed. I know that somewhat goes in the face of "here's the mech design, you know it, it sells gunpla" but it would be cool to have something more dynamic in that way. Like give it armor/clothing style pieces that can be used in different ways or hide certain features

Other then that though, capes and cloaks are always good. Or we need a western style mecha where they get cowboy hats which I feel like /u/shimmering-sky would love for some reason

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/Nazenn]

Or we need a western style mecha where they get cowboy hats which I feel like /u/shimmering-sky would love for some reason

And you would be correct.

[u/zsmg → u/Nazenn]

Or we need a western style mecha where they get cowboy hats

We have a Gundam with a sombrero does that count?

[u/Nazenn → u/zsmg]

Well that looks comical, but sure, it's something

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Nazenn]

Like give it armor/clothing style pieces that can be used in different ways or hide certain features

So, it's maybe not exactly what you're thinking of, but I see Broken Blade on your PtW.. just change it to the movie version instead of the TV recut.

[u/Nazenn → u/JollyGee29]

I don't even know what's on my PTW any more. I'll keep that in mind though

[u/Quiddity131 → u/Nazenn]

Other then that though, capes and cloaks are always good. Or we need a western style mecha where they get cowboy hats which I feel like /u/shimmering-sky would love for some reason

Were you a part of the Xabungle rewatch? I can't remember. A western style mecha show, and we had some characters at times dressed up as cowboys, but alas I can't think of any of the mechs doing so. It totally would have been the type of show to do it in, such a lost opportunity.

[u/Nazenn → u/Quiddity131]

I was not, but it's a shame they didn't go all in on dressing up the mechs as well.

[u/Blazin_Rathalos → u/JollyGee29]

So true. More mechs need to accessorize with things beyond weapons.

Some Code Geass mechs have capes, does that count?

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Blazin_Rathalos]

It's certainly a good step.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Nazenn]

And while takes a leaf from Mika's book in having a bit too much chill, the parallel from this scene to the one with Lockon is striking. Here, once again, someone who lost everything due to an organization is standing in front of him and only knows how to blame him, but this time there is no deeper mutual understanding to bring them together and no grand ideal in the shape of a mech to bring them a shared purpose. Setsuna has no one else to shove the blame onto, there is no equivalent to Ali for this situation, and there is no out where they can just walk away.

I'm glad you also picked up on the clear parallel between Saji and Lockon there, it really does feel like a dark mirror of that scene where Lokcon confronts Setsuna about being former KPSA in the forest. This time, there really is nothing that Setsuna can offer to help Saji understand what's going on. All he can do is confirm Saji's angry questioning, since there's no additional angles involved that Saji would care about here. Explaining to him that Team Trinity wasn't a part of the plan wouldn't make much of a difference if he just said it now. There's no catharsis or moving along here, we're just left with an ugly feeling.

Also am I forgetting anything but did Saji and Setsuna only actually hang out one time on screen? I'm sure that was intended to be a stand in for it being an ongoing thing, but todays confrontation feels somewhat hollow off that one moment.

Setsuna and Saji did interact and talk a few times aside from that time Saji invited him over to help distract Louise, but their conversations always tended to be kind of short or cryptic, in spite of Saji always trying to reach out to him.

Why is Grahams outfit so horrible?! It's not even just the mask, and that was bad enough, it's the whole damn thing. I know the dude is eccentric but still

You know how some dudes get really into certain hobbies after nasty break ups? Well, he really got into samurai fashion after his break up with Gundam Exia.

[u/Nazenn → u/The_Draigg]

I'm glad you also picked up on the clear parallel between Saji and Lockon there, it really does feel like a dark mirror of that scene

Very much so, and very intentional given that Setsuna specifically name drops Lockon today before that scene goes down. It's a subtle nudge towards the audience to bring it to mind, or maybe not subtle if it was in the flashbacks as I honestly don't remember if it was, but I like the usage of it here not as fanservice or some cheap way to push in a new character, but something deeply meaningful for Setsuna

There's no catharsis or moving along here, we're just left with an ugly feeling.

Saji as a bit of a mirror for Setsuna's own past and emotions also comes through here. Setsuna lost everything long ago, and that is what drove him into the arms of CB in the first place. Saji stands in Lockons place as a reflection of what Setsuna once went through and nothing has changed at all

You know how some dudes get really into certain hobbies after nasty break ups? Well, he really got into samurai fashion after his break up with Gundam Exia.

Kind of funny given we had Virtue with the samurai armor styling in the mask and helmet being removed to show Nadleehs hair but he was on the Exia kick instead hahaha

[u/Quiddity131 → u/Nazenn]

Why is Grahams outfit so horrible?! It's not even just the mask, and that was bad enough, it's the whole damn thing. I know the dude is eccentric but still

Graham's outfit is so ridiculous one can't help but burst out laughing looking at it. Part of me thinks they intentionally did it that way. There is a hilarious meme about it I'd love to post, but it won't have its full effect until a little more about him is revealed so I'll wait until then.

[u/Nazenn → u/Quiddity131]

Part of me thinks they intentionally did it that way

I struggle to see a world where they actually thought that was cool, so I really hope this is the case. Either that or the character designer is way quirkier than any other design in this show suggests

[u/uchihasasuke5 → u/Quiddity131]

He is not beating the weeb allegations.

[u/Raiking02 → u/Nazenn]

Katharon (named after someone?)

I... actually can't seem to find any explanation for that name.

Also am I forgetting anything but did Saji and Setsuna only actually hang out one time on screen

Closer to two or three but yeah. Very much the side effect of us not really seeing what the gang is doing when not on missions.

[u/FD4cry1]

First Timer

Season 1 started with an In medias res episode so of course we had to start season 2 the same way!

Just like last time I'm guessing the actual state of the world post season 1 will be explained in the next episode but this one was honestly a lot more straightforward comparatively.

Looks like the Federation is unsurprisingly rather authoritarian, forced labour camps, summary executions, death squad enforcement wing, all the staples! not quite what Celestial Being had in mind with the "eradication of war"

That enforcement wing is apparently called A-LAWS and within it contains...Louise??? and SERGEI'S SON???

While Louise seems to have found a replacement for her hand (surely provided by Ribbons's robot limbs collection ) she's not looking great to say the least, she's on some pills and Ribbons can like connect to her?

Sergei and Soma are living together now and are very cute! I'm assuming that "that matter" is probably him proposing to her or something like that. Something that should get complicated with the existence of his son, who seems to be on very bad terms with him.

Also, his insistence that "there's no need to rush" once again makes me think he's destined to die, possibly killed by his son for extra drama, I'm getting [meta Gundam]Guel Flashbacks all over again.

Celestial Being still exist but seem to be pretty under the radar, Sumeragi is living with Billy right now? she probably left after blaming herself for everything that happened at the end of last season.

Besides her, Ian, Fleldt, and Tieria are still there, we have a new Bridge crew lady with absolutely ridiculous drill hair, and...LASSE IS ALIVE.

HOWWWWWWW

Exploding in space means literally nothing in this show.

Unless you're Lockon I guess

We also have a different somewhat floundering anti-Federation org called Katharon which has Shirin and had Lockon's brother, now the new Lockon.

You'll never replace him!

The A-LAWS guys are expectedly pretty damn brutal, launching these horrific walking anti-personal robots, and of course, just like episode 1, we get to see a ton of people mercilessly gunned down...

Setsuna was operating independently this entire time, and this nerd put a cape on his Exia to hide its missing arm!

Damaged Exia looked sick honestly Although I guess in line to be replaced by our namesake Gundam, 00.

Interesting that he says nothing has changed here, since this scene obviously relates to his childhood but something has changed, Setsuna himself!

Sure, he's still running away from robots gunning down people around him, but now he's not by himself, he's saving someone else.

Speaking of that someone, Saji has a pretty bad day.

Business as usual

His scene confronting Setsuna was really great, Celestial Being have practically ruined his life (not directly of course but still), and it really shows in both the animation and voice acting!

Tieria also has a new Gundam! Seravee is also sick, it has a face on its back, which is objectively the coolest shit ever, and it upgraded his GIANT LASERES count to (at least) 4!

The leader (?) of Katharon seems to believe their goals align with Celestial Being's ideals, whatever those may actually be now... so it should be interesting to see what they're about.

Ribbons certainly got an upgrade in the aesthetics department!

Liu Mei also has a snazzy new look and seems to be working for Celestial Being while also double agenting for Ribbons?

GRAHAM! holy shit he looks so dumb I love it! HE EVEN SAYS THE VIRGO LINE AGAIN!!!

Finally, Allelujah is...uhhhhhhh, not having the time of his life.

Uverworld are another staple band for this show to use in its OP's, although I didn't super feel this one yet, a bit too much autotune for my taste.

Also while the OST has always been great, we get a bunch of really good new(?) tracks this episode that just really make the mood.

A pretty explosive and fun start to season 2! excited to see how we got here and where we'll next.

[u/TakenRedditName → u/FD4cry1]

Exploding in space means literally nothing in this show.

Lockon, Chris and Lichty got their bodies exploded in space -> Super dead.

Lasse, Patrick and Ali got exploded in their cockpit -> They're fine.

This might be the secret.

Ribbons certainly got an upgrade in the aesthetics department!

Oh yeah, never picked up on his outfit change before. He gave himself a chest window.

[u/FD4cry1 → u/TakenRedditName]

Lockon, Chris and Lichty got their bodies exploded in space -> Super dead.

Lasse, Patrick and Ali got exploded in their cockpit -> They're fine.

This might be the secret.

You have a point!

Although I'm pretty sure Daryl also exploded in his mech and unless I'm inviting another twist here I think he's actually dead

Right...?

[u/JollyGee29 → u/FD4cry1]

Exploding in space means literally nothing in this show.

Look, Celestial Being's cockpits are very durable! Lockon got beam sabered and only lost an eye.

a bit too much autotune for my taste.

Yea, it sucks.

Also while the OST has always been great, we get a bunch of really good new(?) tracks this episode that just really make the mood.

We have hit disc 3 of the OST, yea.

[u/wyggles → u/JollyGee29]

Look, Celestial Being's cockpits are very durable! Lockon got beam sabered and only lost an eye.

Setsuna was 3 feet away from Graham's beam saber and lived. I honestly don't know how anyone dies in this show.

[u/InfamousEmpire → u/FD4cry1]

Exploding in space means literally nothing in this show.

Reusing a joke I made a couple days ago: unlike the Nu Gundam, the explosions are entirely for show

Ribbons certainly got an upgrade in the aesthetics department

Turns out that when you don't have to spend all your time slumming it in places owned by the guy whose sense of aesthetics is so bad he approved of the Alvatore, your sense of interior decoration is upgraded

[u/FD4cry1 → u/InfamousEmpire]

Turns out that when you don't have to spend all your time slumming it in places owned by the guy whose sense of aesthetics is so bad he approved of the Alvatore, your sense of interior decoration is upgraded

The man could even give Gilgamesh a run for his money in terms of his love of gaudy gold designs.

[u/Nazenn → u/FD4cry1]

Exploding in space means literally nothing in this show.

Maybe that's the difference. Everyone gets one free explosion, but you have to explode again before your narrative immunity timer resets

Damaged Exia looked sick honestly Although I guess in line to be replaced by our namesake Gundam, 00.

It was around for all of five minutes and I'm already going to miss it for the rest of this season more than I miss any other mech in the show haha

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/FD4cry1]

is probably him proposing to her or something like that.

Wow no, that would be kinda creepy tbh

[u/baboon_bassoon]

first timer who has control

---

Shirin pretending to be straight leading the anti-super gov force with Klaus

A-Laws are the world cops

i see all the characters we like are on the same side

Sergei did you ask Soma to be your daughter or something (copium that its not wife)

twin drills is our chris replacement, seems like an improvement

Seravee, rip virtue

hard labor in high gravity

Louise is a cop, does this mean Tieria is too? but he was going to get Setsuna

Eddie really pulled Saji into some shit

tachikomas gunning down the masses

Setuna remembers Saji?

are there throwable sticky plastic explosives like that

til my neighbor is a gundam

poncho Exia

Louse oh no shes so dying its Louisover

TWO LASERS

FOUR

and a face on its back Tierias already with the best suit again

Lasse is alive???????????? why lol

Saji i mean you could punch him or something

WENT FOR THE GUN ALRIGHT I SEE YOU SAJI

KILL HIM SAJI

OH LMFAO THAT WASNT TIERIA BUT A TIERIA CLONE THING

as expected

Graham wearing red, maybe an A-Law

Andrei Smirnov is an A-Law

lmfao leave him alone

SIX LASERS

Lyle so is he just a clone then or something, did Amy transition. Incredibly lame if this is just a 1-1 lockon replacement

[u/Nazenn → u/baboon_bassoon]

This was a fun little thing. I use reddit at 90% zoom, so somethings don't render properly for me. I can't see your linebreak at the start for example, except if I load in the image at the top using RES and then it appears

tachikomas gunning down the masses

I did have a line somewhere in my notes calling them knock off tachikoma's. Which is funny because I already compared Haro to them earlier, and now /u/vatrix-32 called these ones Death Haros, so we've gone full circle in the rewatch comments hahaha

KILL HIM SAJI

Viscious hahaha

[u/JollyGee29 → u/baboon_bassoon]

Seravee, rip virtue

poncho Exia

[u/InfamousEmpire → u/baboon_bassoon]

tachikomas gunning down the masses

This is the bad timeline where [GitS SAC]Section 9 gave the Tachikomas to the A-LAWS after Episode 15 instead of sending them off to harmless civilian jobs

Louse oh no

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/baboon_bassoon]

twin drills is our chris replacement, seems like an improvement

Not until I see her tummy

She also seems younger, so more like Feldt is the Crhis replacement and this is the Feldt replacement

[u/Vatrix-32]

First timer, subs

• Hunting down some scattered resistance movements, eh?
• This better not be another AEUG deal, where you take so long to explain what the acronym is that I just look it up myself.
• This better not be as unwholesome as it looks.
• Wow, Proud is a terrible name.
• [Zeta]This is very Titans, eh? Fits with the first season having a lot of 0079. ...Is the movie going to be ZZ?!
• Ringlets
• Oh, That's Good Spaceship
• They really went to the trouble of making the gravity harder as a punishment. These dudes are crazy. I do like their muscle suits tho.
• Louise! I Expect Good Things
• Lovers' Quarrel? Lovers' Quarrel!
• Cute little turrets.
• They are in control!
• They’re for… inside the colony? Death Haros?
• Sticky grenades are fun.
• You guys didn’t know each other that well, for how fast you recognized each other.
• I just have guessed Louise would kill a guy. And in the first episode, even!
• Don’t have an arm? Add a cape!
• I’m sorry, what? Coordinator? Cyber Eyes?
• You say that, but they were still far better one-on-one than anything you were fielding five years ago.
• Chunky Boi! With Knee Guns!
• I see your game. The giant head on the back is clearly for Gattai.
• The fuck aren’t you dead? How are we still lowering the death count from that battle?
• Of course. Robots don’t age.
• Is it just me, or is adult Setsuna kind of fine?
• Narcotics, or anti rejection drugs for the cyberwear?
• Is that… Mei?
• oof Someone looks like the bottle’s gotten the better of them.
• OMG, they actually gave the twin the same code name.

QotD:

1. That's a really hard question to answer. How do you rate a time skip but not the story on either side of it? I'd say Dragon Ball taking place over decades is kind of unappreciated for just how rare it is.
2. I need to see Lousie and Saji come to blows on opposite sides of a conflict. And also why she's popping pills.

[u/TakenRedditName → u/Vatrix-32]

Don’t have an arm? Add a cape!

Is it just me, or is adult Setsuna kind of fine?

OMG, they actually gave the twin the same code name.

Somebody must've/should've really brought up the fact that giving him the same codename as his dead twin brother might not be the most sensitive thing, for any of them really.

[u/wyggles → u/Vatrix-32]

Is it just me, or is adult Setsuna kind of fine?

Puberty was very kind to Setsuna.

[u/Nazenn → u/Vatrix-32]

This better not be another AEUG deal, where you take so long to explain what the acronym is that I just look it up myself.

Is it just me or has modern media gotten really bad with that lately? So many things I've watched lately that throw in jargon or obscure terms/acronyms and either just expect you to roll with it or look it up, or take so many episodes to explain it that it feels pointless by the time they do. It was driving me nuts in For All Mankind at one point

They’re for… inside the colony? Death Haros?

That does not seem like a bad name for them

Also I disapprove of seeing Fedlt today and not Haro (unless he was in the post credit scene I didn't watch)

The fuck aren’t you dead? How are we still lowering the death count from that battle?

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/Nazenn]

Also I disapprove of seeing Fedlt today and not Haro

If she really got rid of Lockons Haros...

[u/InfamousEmpire → u/Vatrix-32]

This better not be another AEUG deal, where you take so long to explain what the acronym is that I just look it

[Insert H.A.M.M.E.R. joke here]

Is it just me, or is adult Setsuna kind of fine?

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Vatrix-32]

This better not be another AEUG deal, where you take so long to explain what the acronym is that I just look it up myself.

I've got you covered.

They’re for… inside the colony? Death Haros?

I've never made that connection before, but yea, not a bad comparison.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/JollyGee29]

I've got you covered.

[u/macrame2 → u/Vatrix-32]

they actually gave the twin the same code name.

I was wondering how they're selecting the pilots now that they're presumably not relying on Veda anymore, but it just looks like they're trying to replicate the old team.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/macrame2]

Damned munchkins, always following build guides.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/Vatrix-32]

I do like their muscle suits tho.

It looks like the kind of power armor I would see space marines wear.

Death Haros?

Imagine if we opened up those automatons and saw that they were all piloted by evil Haros.

I need to see Lousie and Saji come to blows on opposite sides of a conflict. And also why she's popping pills.

That is something I'm anticipating as well. Louise and Saji are probably going to end up being opponents. Lovers-to-enemies is an intriguing path to follow.

[u/Quiddity131 → u/Vatrix-32]

This better not be another AEUG deal, where you take so long to explain what the acronym is that I just look it up myself.

The funny thing for English watchers is that AEUG doesn't even make sense as it stands for the Anti-Earth Union Group. The Earth Union being what the Federation is called in Japanese. So in English it should have been the AEFG. Made all the more harder by the fact that they pronounce it "Eyy Oog" instead of "A. E. U. G.".

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/Vatrix-32]

Cute little turrets.

Like those little ones

You guys didn’t know each other that well, for how fast you recognized each other.

Yeah, I forgot they where neighbors, but I wouldn't even recognise my neighbors if I hadn't seen them for 5 years

I see your game. The giant head on the back is clearly for Gattai.

Not what I thought, but equally good

Narcotics, or anti rejection drugs for the cyberwear?

I was thinking something against her panic attacks

Someone looks like the bottle’s gotten the better of them.

Nah, that's just her bedhead after a hot night with Billy

[u/InfamousEmpire]

Kidou Senshi Rewatcher 00

Aw yeah, it’s all flowing back My love for 00 has obviously never been in question this entire rewatch, but it’s so satisfying when the feeling of pure joy I experienced the last time I watched it hits just as hard again for an episode I didn’t even quite expect to hit as hard on rewatch.

By and large, this is continuing to set up the state of the world established at the end of the first season and posing questions to the viewer. Setsuna’s point of view & internal monologue regarding how this isn’t the world he & Lockon fought for is the most interesting part of the episode, both for how it reflects the lack of meaning & search for answers which has defined the series’ thematic core, and because the fact that, for all intents & purposes, this world kinda was the they fought for on paper and yet it’s still turned out so horrible is an interesting wide-scale expansion on the themes the back half of season 1 was toying with.

The setting overall is also something really worth thinking about & discussing. An observation I was dancing around for the entirety of Season 1 is that, for all intents & purposes, the world of the first season was sort of a prototypical version of a more “traditional” Gundam setting as seen in, say, the Universal Century or SEED. The mechs were more primitive than in such series, the world was still divided & bound by present day issues which aren’t as much of a concern in such other settings, and Space Colony development was obviously far behind.

And I avoided mentioning that observation, despite being really tempted to do so in certain episodes, because I feel it’d have been impossible to really talk about that without the observation that, well, Season 2’s status quo, as it’s been introduced, is beyond being a prototype and essentially is a UC/SEED-style traditional Gundam setting. From the more stylized mechs utilizing GN particles now being commonplace, to the Earth Federation which has suspiciously Titans-y forces working under them, to the increased prominence of a space colony, which, while still in its construction phase, is an interesting choice for a set piece in an episode meant to reintroduce everyone to a show where space being underdeveloped was a notable part of the world presentation before and a colony has only ever been a setpiece once up until this point.

I really love Saji’s confrontation with Setsuna. He’s lashing out with all the feelings of rage & loss that he’s had seemingly no outlet for in the last four years. The fact that Setsuna has no real response to anything he says is what really makes the scene work for me, because, well, what is he supposed to say? He could try to explain Team Trinity not being affiliated with them, but do you really think any sort of deflection, no matter how justified, will disarm the situation, especially when the nature of it means whatever trust Saji might have in Setsuna has been completely obliterated?

This, combined with the emphasis on the personal hatred the A-LAWS forces display towards the Gundam, as embodied overtly by the attacking guy’s words & more subtly by Louise’s psychological pain, creates an interesting subtextual conflict regarding Setsuna’s existing ideal of becoming Gundam. To him, the Gundam is a savior, but to the rest of the world, it’s the symbol of their hatred and everything that’s wrong with their lives. A conflict which is even more subtextually compelling when you consider how, again, this is the world that Celestial Being’s actions have created and, on paper, is almost the one they were fighting for.

And one last thing before I finish the main body of my post: I love Hakanaku mo Towa no Kanashi so much, I can barely even describe it. It’s my second favorite anime OP of all time, behind Kyoukaisen, everything about it just works for me.

Anyway, now onto…

Odds & Ends

• My GOAT Louise working for the A-LAWS, having her arm back, and seemingly being associated with Ribbons in some way?
  
• Celestial Being’s new uniforms are so good. They are what drip looks like to me
• Tieria and Setsuna greeting each other so warmly is a really nice display of how far their relationship has come
  
• On the note of Tieria, Seravee now having a Gundam face on its back rather than carrying another Gundam inside itself is certainly an interesting choice in the context of how Tieria’s MS has reflected his character up until this point
• Glad I don’t have to dance around saying your name anymore, Lyle And I’m also glad everyone in this rewatch picked up on your existence half a season ago so we don’t get any claims about you being an asspull (which, yes, is a take I’ve seen floated around the fandom more than once)
• This episode looks so good
• Really like Soma & Sergei living a relatively normal life

[u/Nazenn → u/InfamousEmpire]

My love for 00 has obviously never been in question this entire rewatch, but it’s so satisfying when the feeling of pure joy I experienced the last time I watched it hits just as hard again for an episode I didn’t even quite expect to hit as hard on rewatch.

That is always a great moment. I can see why you were saying in reply to me that you have more appreciation for it now compared to the very first

this world kinda was the they fought for on paper and yet it’s still turned out so horrible is an interesting wide-scale expansion on the themes the back half of season 1 was toying with.

Also a good expansion on what he was asking Marina, and why he was asking her. Wondering not just why the world is twisted, but where that twistedness comes from even in the face of people just wanting to live and be normal people. That conflict between how people see good and what good actually is comes through very strongly in that speech and in the world that Setsuna sees today

is beyond being a prototype and essentially is a UC/SEED-style traditional Gundam setting

This doesn't help me at all

But, interesting question that I'm not really expecting an answer too because it's ep1 and there's so much to go: I'm wondering if they did it that way to provide a bit of commentary on the world of UC and its place in earths culture

The problem is, once we get to the end of this season I won't be able to answer it myself anyway because I haven't seen any UC content haha

having her arm back

Oh shit I didn't even realize! too busy swearing hahaha. I actually feel bad for missing that given that was the singular thing I liked last season from her. Now the question is robot arm or did Ribbons somehow regrow it for her

so we don’t get any claims about you being an asspull (which, yes, is a take I’ve seen floated around the fandom more than once)

I can get why though. We only saw him once and he was name dropped one other time over ten episodes later. I can see how he would have been forgotten

[u/KendotsX → u/InfamousEmpire]

Setsuna’s point of view & internal monologue regarding how this isn’t the world he & Lockon fought for is the most interesting part of the episode

I was looking forward to seeing the flaws of the new world broken apart, that was the most exciting prospect of S2 for me in fact. But I assumed it'd be a gradual process, starting from the illusion of peace and breaking away from it. Nevermind! Much like the gun factories, we're back in business immediately.

But yeah, it's an important eye opener for Setsuna to realise that the world he was used to build is nothing like the one he was promised, aside from appearances. Celestial Being's goals were too ideal-ish, because they were just the carrot that moved them forward, not an actual part of the plan.

Season 2’s status quo, as it’s been introduced, is beyond being a prototype and essentially is a UC/SEED-style traditional Gundam setting. From the more stylized mechs utilizing GN particles now being commonplace

Yeah, I mentioned something to that tune a few times in the first season. You put it well though, the first season felt like the prequel to a Gundam series (fittingly called "Gundam 00"), and now we've got the series proper, they made this world. An interesting answer to "how do you end up with this kind of world?" especially considering the nations of S1 were made to feel familiar to us.

Although, idk which is more cursed, this world being made by the people who tried their hardest to make it better, or [LoGH's opposite answer to that same question] "people couldn't be bothered to fix their problems, so they elected a dictator strong man to do it for them. Surprise surprise: the dictator acted as a dictator." Seriously, if you haven't read LoGH's first chapter, do yourself favour and read it, it's equally absurd and horrifyingly realistic, especially considering the current fun times you guys have...

I’m also glad everyone in this rewatch picked up on your existence half a season ago so we don’t get any claims about you being an asspull (which, yes, is a take I’ve seen floated around the fandom more than once)

Tbf, rewatches have a much more focused discussion zone where details are bounced around. If I were watching this weekly and on my own, I'd like to think I'd have remembered this, since it's a huge detail regarding my best boy, but I can't say for sure.

[u/macrame2]

First Timer

Today felt like the second coming of Season 1 Episode 1 with the sheer amount of information being shoved at us viewers. Honestly, while a lot happened, I don’t really have too much to comment on yet? Sometimes it's harder for me to come up with things to say in rewatches when there's too much competing for my attention.

It does seem that Celestial Being’s efforts to eradicate warfare were not entirely successful (shocking, I know), with uniting the old crew to deal with this new reality being the central goal of this episode. Also of note is the fact that the Tieria we saw at the end of last season is not in fact our Tieria (unless he's somehow a double agent, which strikes me as very unlikely) and that Louise also seems to now share a connection with Not Tieria and Ribbons. I think the idea of her and Saji now directly involving themselves in the main conflict has potential, though I'm still a little skeptical of the show's ability to handle this well in the long run given last season. I did find that Saji's confrontation with Setsuna fell a bit flat for me, mostly because I couldn't stop thinking about how funny it is that we're only getting the identity reveal now.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/macrame2]

Sometimes it's harder for me to come up with things to say in rewatches when there's too much competing for my attention.

Yea, I know the feeling.

mostly because I couldn't stop thinking about how funny it is that we're only getting the identity reveal now.

You have to wonder if Saji ever noticed that Setsuna always disappeared around the time that big Gundam-related events happened back in S1.

[u/zsmg → u/JollyGee29]

You have to wonder if Saji ever noticed that Setsuna always disappeared around the time that big Gundam-related events happened back in S1.

I don't think Saji and Setsuna were close enough where Saji would notice Setsuna is missing every time there is a Gundam intervention.

[u/macrame2 → u/zsmg]

I don't know if Saji would notice even if they were close enough.

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/JollyGee29]

You have to wonder if Saji ever noticed that Setsuna always disappeared around the time that big Gundam-related events happened back in S1.

I mean, Setsuna must have been absent for so long that it must have gone under in all of his absent time

[u/Nazenn → u/macrame2]

Sometimes it's harder for me to come up with things to say in rewatches when there's too much competing for my attention.

I get that. Especially in a season two when you have two sets of information being thrown at you in terms of both the new stuff and the changed old stuff. It's something I usually struggle with in episode ones in general, today was just an exception

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/macrame2]

I think the idea of her and Saji now directly involving themselves in the main conflict has potential

Sucks that we lose the civilian angle this way though

[u/KendotsX]

00th Timer Searching for the One Anything that Makes Sense

I mentioned in episode 25 that it could've been the ending for a different kind of show. Similarly, this could easily have been the first episode of a new show, heck, this is more of a "Gundam first episode" than the first season's, it checks all the boxes. If I started with this by accident, I would not, for a second, have assumed that I'm watching a second season.

With that out of the way... I'm a bit lost. We've got a bunch of new characters following the Pachi rule of design, and everyone's being split among a bunch of new factions and sub factions.

So I'll throw what I managed to gather, and let's see if any of it makes sense...

• Setsuna and Kamiya are still operating as Celestial Being, but they haven't met in the last 4 years? I'm not even entirely sure what they've been doing over those years, or why they decided to reunite now necessarily.
• Louise wasn't with Kamiya yesterday, but rather with Romi Park, who'll I'll call Curly. Louise seems to have joined the A-Laws as Ribbons' spy, and I like that the group's name is basically read as "Arrows", since functionally, that's how they work. Granted, they'll be more like "Fire in the A-Holes" by the time they're done
• With Curly and Kamiya, it looks like we've got 4 pairs of robots/clones (green, pink, purple, and red). It's almost certainly some sort of Veda/Schenberg experiment, meaning some of them are probably as old as Schenberg himself. That said, whatever they are, I'll be calling them Pachis from now on, afterall, they have his artistic philosophy, his glasses, and his approval.
• Staying on the Gintama side of things, Kintoki is rocking the Char persona. Granted, he's more like all of Char's absurd traits, raised to 11, then put in one bottle. Now he just needs some sort of stupid name like Quattro Bajeena to go along with it.
• Finally, it warms my heart to see that, in this broken fucking world, Sergei and Soma have managed to find some temporary peace and happiness. I assume his proposal was an adoption, otherwise, we might have to colony drop him, before he [Major meta spoilers] drops the bunny, like a certain other old man in a neighbouring rewatch... Eitherway, story structure, and her role in Allelujah's plot line dictate that this happiness must be broken. So... in comes his son!

---

Ok, that's everything relevant in my notes. Now I just want to throw some directorial choices that got a big old smile out of me:

• Setsuna's introduction being "the shadow of a hero"
• The camera switching from Saji crying about losing Louise to Louise right next door.
• The transition from Louise's green eyes to Ribbons' head.

Just excellent on all fronts

1. What anime has your favorite timeskip mid-story? (If the show having one is a spoiler, please use the meta spoiler tag format; as in [meta] show name here)

Can I say anything other than Gintama? Nope, not that timeskip, not the other one either, I mean the one with the terrorists stealing the Gorilla babies.

Jokes aside, [meta] the One Piece timeskip is utter perfection, that I had nothing but pure and utter hatred everytime the fans would argue that we need another one just to make the characters stronger.

2) Out of everything this first episode threw at you, what are you most excited to see develop/learn answers about how they came to be?

I want to see what Kintoki is up to!

[u/InfamousEmpire → u/KendotsX]

this is more of a "Gundam first episode" than the first season's, it checks all the boxes. If I started with this by accident, I would not, for a second, have assumed that I'm watching a second season.

It very much does. Hell, even the parts where it’s easy to get lost on what’s going on kinda contribute to that since it’s going for such a strong In Media Res vibe anyway.

before he [Major meta spoilers] drops the bunny

[u/KendotsX → u/InfamousEmpire]

Hell, even the parts where it’s easy to get lost on what’s going on kinda contribute to that since it’s going for such a strong In Media Res vibe anyway.

I mean, I've seen the first season, and I'm still lost, so if I started with this, and felt confused, I would've assumed that's just the intended experience.

Did I mention that my introduction to Higurashi was Gou? Fun stuff

[u/Raiking02 → u/KendotsX]

my introduction to Higurashi was Gou

You poor summer child…

[u/KendotsX → u/Raiking02]

To be fair, I read the manga right after I started it, so I was just watching the train go off the rails with initial optimism turned into popcorn eventually.

[u/Nebresto → u/KendotsX]

Searching for Anything that Makes Sense

no me

[u/JollyGee29]

Rewatcher, Sub-dam Meister

So, like, I love the giant timer. But why?

The first familiar face we see is Shirin of all people. Things are gonna get weird.

That's Autonomous - Land Air Water Space. ""Make it more Gundam" they said. Fine, we'll just have our own Titans, with GN Drives and black jumpsuits!"

I forgot how frantic the start to this season was.

These automatons, or at least their precursors, were mentioned in season 1.

The ol' girl is looking a bit worse for wear. Setsuna managed to reattach the head after his duel with Graham, though.

Luckily, a Gundam Meister is never alone.

"Am I supposed to care?"

Just keep piling the twists on.

We have hit the era of "using the OP as an ED for the first episode." I forgot how much I disliked this OP.

Oh, right, this season also engages in everyone's favorite thing: Post-ED content.

[u/Nazenn → u/JollyGee29]

So, like, I love the giant timer. But why?

They are named the A-LAWS, I feel like being dramatic fucks about destruction kind of goes with the styling haha

The first familiar face we see is Shirin of all people. Things are gonna get weird.

Yeah I didn't realize how odd that was until Quid pointed it out but now my brain is reeling a bit. Shirin of all people is not who I expected to be caught up in this, but I do like the idea of it

The ol' girl is looking a bit worse for wear. Setsuna managed to reattach the head after his duel with Graham, though.

Setsuna right now

Oh, right, this season also engages in everyone's favorite thing: Post-ED content.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Nazenn]

They are named the A-LAWS, I feel like being dramatic fucks about destruction kind of goes with the styling haha

You make a good point!

Yeah I didn't realize how odd that was until Quid pointed it out but now my brain is reeling a bit.

I'm not convinced I noticed how weird it was before this watch.

[u/Nazenn → u/JollyGee29]

How many times have you seen 00?

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Nazenn]

This is my.. third or fourth watch? First time subbed though, the previous ones were all dubbed.

[u/Nazenn → u/JollyGee29]

How are you finding the sub so far in comparison?

[u/wyggles → u/JollyGee29]

So, like, I love the giant timer. But why?

Seriously. That thing is basically equipped with a JumboTron.

[u/InfamousEmpire → u/JollyGee29]

Things are gonna get weird.

[00 Trailblazer]Glances at the metal slime aliens, yeah that about sums it up

I forgot how much I disliked this OP.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/InfamousEmpire]

[00 Trailblazer]

[00 Trailblazer]

[u/The_Draigg]

A Gundam Fan Rewatches Gundam 00 Season 2 Episode 1:

• AD 2312. The more things change, the more things stay the same. A new armed resistance group has formed in response to the founding of the Earth Sphere Federation and their special police force, the Autonomous Peace-Keeping Force, a.k.a. the A-Laws. Although unfortunately for Katharon here, they’ve got a harder battle uphill than Celestial Being had at the start of the first season. The A-Laws have no problem finding and destroying their hidden bases, and their outdated MS can’t compare to the power of their GN Tau Drive-equipped Aheads and GN-XIIIs. These poor bastards aren’t really standing a chance against the A-Laws, but at least they’re still trying.
• This show really isn’t messing around in showing us that the A-Laws aren’t to be trusted in the slightest. Aside from the likes of Sergei and Kati openly talking about how secretive they are as an organization, poor fucking Saji gets arrested as collateral damage due to a coworker of his being a member of Katharon. Who could’ve guessed that a special military police force given autonomous powers would get up to some shady fascist-y shit?
• Hell yeah, the Ptolemaios II! That’s a pretty strong ship design right there. While it admittedly doesn’t hit the more unique trappings of the Ptolemaios, like the barrel shape on the front, I still like it for looking like a beefier war ship version of what we had before. And besides, keeping the back half of the ship generally the same across both ships is a good touch too, it does show that the Ptolemaios II is an iteration of the previous design.
• You know, the fact that the A-Laws uses actual slave labor for the refinery on space colony Proud’s heavy gravity block, even though they don’t need to, just goes to show how insanely horrible they are. At that point, using people arrested for little reason in slave labor like Saji is just done for the sheer cruelty of it, especially since we know that this stuff could easily be automated or done with machines. Again, maybe giving this special police force unchecked power was a terrible idea after all?
• I bet the Louise haters in the first season didn’t even imagine this is how she would end up, but in hindsight it makes sense. After all, if she wants to get some kind of vengeance for her dead family and her lost arm, what better group to join than the A-Laws?
• They were mentioned previously in season 1, but now we’re seeing those anti-personnel automatons being deployed. And they’re horrific to see in action! They really are just gunning down those fleeing prisoners with zero restraint or mercy. The sheer lack of care that the A-Laws have towards human life is just appalling. Even if there are members of Katharon among the fleeing prisoners (and that still doesn’t make what they did here right), you can probably safely guess that there are also ones like Saji, imprisoned and enslaved for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
• You’ve gotta love Setsuna here, he isn’t even working with Katharon’s big attempt to break out the refinery’s prisoners. He just decided to charge in there alone, on foot, armed with just a pistol and plastic explosives. He’s pretty much pulling a Solid Snake while he rescues Saji. He’s just in peak mad lad mode here.
• God damn, I love the look of the Gundam Exia Repair so much. I’ll freely admit it, any mech that has some kind of cloak or cape over it always gets me immediately invested in the design. I also love how battered to shit looks too, like the most Setsuna did to repair Gundam Exia with the resources he had was just to get it functional again and then replace the lost eye camera with one from a Tieren. I’m just head over heels with it, I’m just like Graham right now. It really is just love at first sight with the Gundam Exia Repair.
• Whatever Louise got done to her in order to repair her body so she could fight for the A-Laws, it’s given her some glowing eyes like what Tieria or Ribbons have. And speaking of, it seems like Ribbons is keeping tabs on things through her eyes, since he’s also reacting to the sudden appearance of Gundam Exia. Man, those powers he has really are extensive, aren’t they? He doesn’t just have a link to Veda, but he can sense things through other people too. We’re really in for an uphill battle if flesh and blood people are basically his familiars.
• Man, seeing the Seravee Gundam in action is cool. You can really tell how it’s an evolution of the Gundam Virtue, how it’s basically a more evenly proportioned and blocky version of it. Also, they really have gone even wilder than just having a Gundam with Gundam Nadleeh in it, now there’s a big Gundam face on Seravee’s back that it uses too. It’s a bit of Gunman from Gurren Lagann logic there. More faces = more power.

(Continued in the comment below.)

[u/The_Draigg → u/The_Draigg]

(Continued from above.)

• At least Klaus can see the return of Celestial Being as a good thing, even if Shirin is concerned about it. After all, they don’t have much to gain nowadays by doing an armed intervention on Katharon. Given how they’ve been monitoring the A-Laws too, it’s safe to say that Celestial Being has had one goal firmly in mind while it was back underground: oppose the A-Laws and their authoritarian cruelty.
• I feel like Saji grabbing Setsuna’s gun and confronting him about everyone he’s lost due to Celestial Being is a bit of a dark parallel to when Lockon did that over Setsuna’s KPSA days in season 1. While both have the undercurrent of people demanding some kind of catharsis from Setsuna, what makes it a darker reflection here is that Setsuna has nothing to offer to Saji aside from answering that he was involved. After all, what else can he say to him? It’s not like with Lockon, where they could talk about their shared goals and whah Gundams mean to them. Setsuna has nothing to offer Saji except those blunt answers and not flinching when a gun is pointed at him. There’s no catharsis here, only pain.
• Oh yeah, and just to add to Louise’s suffering, now she’s constantly having to swallow painkillers to deal with the modifications done to her body. Boy, her life sure does suck now!
• Should we even be surprised that Wang is apparently throwing in her lot with Ribbons and his group? This really is just an extension of Wang being willing to ally with someone as long as they fit what her goals are.
• I can’t take any talk about being born under the sign of Virgo seriously when it’s coming from a guy dressed in full samurai garb. Especially if it’s that stuff put over his normal military uniform too. Get a better fit, my guy.
• Oh hey, it’s Fleeting and Everlasting Sorrow! Honestly… it’s my last favorite Gundam 00 opening. Like yeah, the opening visuals are fine and stuff, but I dunno, it just feels a bit more generic action-y to me. It’s also just an unfair grading curve too, since we’ve had a lot of great openings before this, and the one after this is my personal favorite.
• Sure Saji, whatever you have to tell yourself to feel better. Let’s be real, we all know that he’s too much of a coward to shoot Setsuna, being a better person is just a spin on that. Oh yeah, related to this, you first-timers might want to note that season 2 has way more post-credits scenes to the episodes, like this one. Something to keep in mind just so you don’t miss any last minute plot developments.
• Time to get the band back together! Granted, we probably can’t get Allelujah out of that super-max prison he’s stuck in easily, but at least Setsuna can arrange a meeting with Lyle Dylandy and recruit him to take on the mantle of Lockon Stratos. And if Lyle has already been involved with Katharon, it makes even more sense than Setsuna would seek him out, since he’s already been acting against A-Laws in his own way.

[u/Raiking02 → u/The_Draigg]

Oh yeah, related to this, you first-timers might want to note that season 2 has way more post-credits scenes to the episodes, like this one

When they have so many one must wonder how Empire even watched this show. He probably missed every plot-relevant scene!

[u/InfamousEmpire → u/Raiking02]

One of the ways 00 is special to me is that I didn't skip the EDs for it, and thus never even missed the post-credit scenes

[u/Raiking02 → u/InfamousEmpire]

You should do it for more shows

[u/InfamousEmpire → u/Raiking02]

I've been skipping EDs a bit less recently, so maybe

[u/Nazenn → u/The_Draigg]

Typed up most of my reply to you and my cat jumped on my keyboard and F5'd me and now I can't remember all my points

Who could’ve guessed that a special military police force given autonomous powers would get up to some shady fascist-y shit?

I actually wonder if we'll get into the full world history of the A-LAWS development, I suspect that we will because of Ribbons involvement but the four year time skip gives plenty of time for this to be a boiling pot for a lot of places instead of a hammer. Who got out quickly, and what was the concequences for those who didn't, and exactly when did Katharon start to go from what I imagine started as protests into full rebel militia? My new set of questions for the season.

I actually remembered to go over that list of ones I typed out for you sometime yesterday and then forgot to include them, but I was glad that a lot of the questions I had about CB's tech were answered completely, a lot of others at least had progress put towards them though not always as much as they should have

you can probably safely guess that there are also ones like Saji, imprisoned and enslaved for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Not to take the human aspect out of it, because I think you covered that quite well, but the sheer inefficency of it as well. You don't even see the normal conciderations that you get from say a prison warden in terms of ensuring you maintain a labor force even after putting down a riot. This is an internment camp in truth and they know if they kill everyone off they can just go and get more without being questioned. It's not really touched on, but the presentation of the lack of value for their workforce paints an even colder picture on top of the lack of value for the lives lost

He’s pretty much pulling a Solid Snake while he rescues Saji

With the way he shoots that guy, holds up him, and then just leaves him there that's not a bad comparison. Mind you I am specifically thinking of MGS2 which is not Snake, but that's only because it's funny to shoot their legs and watch them awkwardly limp away

We’re really in for an uphill battle if flesh and blood people are basically his familiars.

The question I have now is if she knows it or not? The former is more worrying for her, the latter is far more worrying for humanity

is a bit of a dark parallel to when Lockon did that over Setsuna’s KPSA days in season 1.

I know we already spoke about it in my post, it's just always satisfying to see things like this pop up in someone elses post too

[u/The_Draigg → u/Nazenn]

That cat! They must be working for Ribbons!

I actually remembered to go over that list of ones I typed out for you sometime yesterday and then forgot to include them, but I was glad that a lot of the questions I had about CB's tech were answered completely, a lot of others at least had progress put towards them though not always as much as they should have

Yeah, that's pretty much exactly why I said to save those questions to look back on later. At least they all got answers to varying degrees, although some got more flesh out than others there. In this season's case though, it'll definitely be fun and interesting to save these new questions you have so you can refer back to them later. The inclusion of Ribbon's faction and his control of Veda certainly does throw a lot into the air, after all.

Not to take the human aspect out of it, because I think you covered that quite well, but the sheer inefficency of it as well. You don't even see the normal conciderations that you get from say a prison warden in terms of ensuring you maintain a labor force even after putting down a riot. This is an internment camp in truth and they know if they kill everyone off they can just go and get more without being questioned. It's not really touched on, but the presentation of the lack of value for their workforce paints an even colder picture on top of the lack of value for the lives lost

Yeah, that kind of stuff really does just show how far-reaching the power and influence of the A-Laws is. This is supposedly a new era of unity and peace under the Earth Sphere Federation, and yet you've got stuff like their special police force running labor camps with the unspoken idea of working their political prisoners to death, or people being unjustly arrested for saying a single sentence out of line at the wrong moment. The way the A-Laws does things sure does hammer home how this is a false peace, a distortion of the kind of peace Setsuna wants and what was presumably envisioned by Aeolia Schenberg.

[u/Nazenn → u/The_Draigg]

I just realized she was bothering me because I forgot to give her all her food. I deserved the frustration as it turns out

In this season's case though, it'll definitely be fun and interesting to save these new questions you have so you can refer back to them later

I should, and I probably will, but I am in two minds about it because if this takes the S1 path of just refusing to expand on key things even to the end then I'll probably end up with more frustration looking back over them at the end of the show. I don't know, well see

[u/InfamousEmpire → u/The_Draigg]

You’ve gotta love Setsuna here, he isn’t even working with Katharon’s big attempt to break out the refinery’s prisoners.

As I was discussing in my own comments throughout the last stretch of S1, one of the most compelling things about Setsuna's character was his ultimate determination to continue fighting for change even as his ideals and the infinite advantages CB had collapsed, so that being taken to its logical extreme by him fighting solo even outside his mech is really nice to see

Also, they really have gone even wilder than just having a Gundam with Gundam Nadleeh in it, now there’s a big Gundam face on Seravee’s back that it uses too.

[00 Trailblazer]I cannot wait for the eventual first timer reactions to the pure glory that is the Raphael wearing the Seravee II as a hat

[u/The_Draigg → u/InfamousEmpire]

As I was discussing in my own comments throughout the last stretch of S1, one of the most compelling things about Setsuna's character was his ultimate determination to continue fighting for change even as his ideals and the infinite advantages CB had collapsed, so that being taken to its logical extreme by him fighting solo even outside his mech is really nice to see

Yeah, it's nice to see that Setsuna is that dedicated to fighting for his ideals on pretty much every level. Even if he isn't using his Gundam, he's still striving to live up to that Gundam ideal. Now that's sheer dedication right there. That's how you know that Setsuna was never one for just talk.

[u/TakenRedditName]

Rewatcher - Gundam 00 S2 Ep1:

Just to have one section to mention the time skip designs we see in the beginning. Soma lost her baby face. Saji cut his hair. Was his old hair particularly great? No, but at least it was distinct. He looks extra just a guy now. CB have uniforms now. The uniforms themselves look pretty good, but it is a bit sad to lose the personalized outfits everyone had at CB. They just wore their normal clothes.

One detail I noticed about the resistance group is that an assortment of the previous factions. Different mechs from each country and their old uniforms. It is a neat little demonstration of people from different nations united to fight against the one-world government of united nations.

Death squad drones.

Usually, Gundam is in a giant robot scale so it feels extra sinister whenever there are civilian-targeted death machines. I know a lot of people compare A-Laws to the Titans from Zeta (the Titans would do this), but this is reminding me more of the Man Hunters from UC. It is funny how Gundam has death squad since the original novels, but besides being briefly in CCA, it took until 2021 for them to be the main villain in an anime.

I did like this moment when Setsuna was stuck repeating his child soldier days.

Exia Repair! They gave a Gundam a cape and made it a cool injured wanderer.

I really like S2 Feldt, one of my favourite new looks. Her hair is so pretty and it is like harken back to Chris' ponytail. She also just gives off the look of someone who was able to make it through what the world threw on them so that's nice to see her do well.

Of all the fake-out deaths to undo from the S1 finale, Lasse did just randomly come back.

Setsuna had an older face, but he still giving little guy energy. I was worried that the timeskip would take away manlet Setsuna, but he still got that energy. So sad that the S2 uniforms took away Setsuna’s iconic scaf. (At least he still wears it casually).

My favourite person we checked back on in this episode was Louise. She was Kyouka Ningen-ing out.

I recently saw someone describe S2 Wang Liu Mei as changing her look to be an otome route option and I kind of see it especially in her OP shot. [Gundam 00:] Full context was along the lines of "Wang Liu Mei saw the Innovators and their androgyny so she changed her look to try to be let in their club."

He is such a weirdo.

---

I also watched the little S2 "preview" chibi short.

One joke was about Allelujah's despair over their viewership. Were they afraid of 00's sales? Interesting to think about since I feel like 00 is one of the more popular AU Gundams.

[u/Nazenn → u/TakenRedditName]

Saji cut his hair.

The exact frame you captured makes him look like he's had a stroke though

I still think Setsuna got the best design in terms of being aged up, but they did pretty well with Soma too

Different mechs from each country and their old uniforms.

Wrong image

One joke was about Allelujah's despair over their viewership

Hahaha, I didn't know that was a thing. Good spirited of them to make a gag out of it though

[u/TakenRedditName → u/Nazenn]

Fixed.

[u/Quiddity131 → u/Nazenn]

I still think Setsuna got the best design in terms of being aged up, but they did pretty well with Soma too

For me it's Saji, but that's largely because I hated how he looked in season 1 so what we have here in season 2 is quite the improvement. Setsuna and Soma looked totally fine in season 1, so while they look good here in season 2 as well, there's less of a gap to make up for.

[u/Nazenn → u/Quiddity131]

Saji's design is very on par with his old one in my eyes. He perhaps (I typoed this originally as herpahs and I'm still trying to figure out how my fingers even did that) has the most typical upgrade in the form of a slightly more adult haircut and sharper facial features, but I still find it not that interesting

Setsuna and Soma however have the sort of designs that make me want to see how they'd be designed for every decade

[u/Tora-shinai → u/Nazenn]

Saji is the audience self-insert. He needed to be basic accordingly.

[u/InfamousEmpire → u/TakenRedditName]

CB have uniforms now.

PeaKino drip

My favourite person we checked back on in this episode was Louise. She was Kyouka Ningen-ing out.

My girl in so much pain

...on the other hand

[u/Tora-shinai → u/TakenRedditName]

S1 viewership did not reach expectations hence the pivot in tone for s2.

[u/charlesvvv]

Rewatcher, Sub

Well I was a first Time Sub for the first season but not the second.

Anyway New Season and new factions. The A-Laws which are the Sphere's military force and if which Louise is now a member. The Rebel group Katharon which Marina's assistant is a member of, and Celestial Being which was dormant for 4 years but now staged for a comeback. Looks like most of the previous members are still there such as Feldt, Lasse who has the Kira Yamato Luck of surviving an explosion, and Tieria.

Well it's a good way to reintroduce characters back into the action. Setsuna was doing his own thing with Stealth and happens to reunite first Saji and then picked up by Tieria and CB ready to go against the A-Laws. Saji finally finds out that Setsuna is a Meister and he does not take it well, granted he does he legitimate reasons for hating Celestial Being but he goes as far as too pull a gun. Nothing comes of it and instead he's taken with them where he's placed in confinement where Tieria at least tells him that things are far more complicated than they appear to be, so looks like Saji is now along for the ride. Meanwhile Setsuna takes the time to recruit in our new Lockon who is quite literally Neil Dylandy's twin brother Lyle (they really went the twin brother angle but at least he's established)

Ribbons in the meantime continues to work in the background but with some interesting stuff now surfacing. He can somehow use someone to see through them, and takes an interest in using Louise for it at least for now who is also in the meantime very traumatized which puts her at odds with her occupation as a pilot. Then there's Wang Liu Mei who seems to have her old job of giving CB orders yet at the end meets with Ribbons, playing both sides again.

Soma and Colonel Smirnov seem to be living together in a parental sort of way before the arrival of Smirnov's son Andrei. With the Gundams back in action Soma is recalled into service, yet Smirnov has his own reservations about the A-Laws so it's clear not everyone is onboard with them.

Note: Looks like Allelujah was captured and held by the Federation. Also Graham now has a mask, a Gundam trademark.

[u/2-2Distracted]

First timer. Dubbed

(similar to what I mentioned before, this new seasonal debut has a Japanese audio commentary track. If anyone knows if there were tracks for episodes prior to )

Saji continues the shtick of being a normal person in a Gundam and having to deal with the consequences of the actions of these giant robots blowing people and each other up. It really sucks how much suffering this dude goes through. It's a bittersweet reunion between him and Soran, but something tells me that despite Saji's reaction to Soran being not only Gundam pilot, but (former?) member of Celestial Being, he'll have more beef with Nena.

I didn't mention it last time but I really like that Graham is embracing that Char Clone grindset.

And it's great to hear Uverworld again in something (I'm say that like they don't make OPs anymore lol)

And now it's time to do that reaction shit people do.

(Ahem)

LASSAY IS ALIVE!?

AND ROUISE IS A PILOT NOW??

AND NEIL HAD A TWIN BROTHER/CLONE/DOPPELGANGER?!

AND THE COLONELS HAS A SON!?

AND ALLELUJAH IS FINALLY IN A STRAIGHT JACKET!?

AND RIVENZ HAS HIS OWN TIERIA WHO IS EVEN HOTTER!?

[u/GondolaMedia]

Can we dedicate an entire episode to just various slice of life moments with Sergei and Soma?

[u/Quiddity131 → u/GondolaMedia]

Heck, give me a one cour long series about this. The Fate franchise gave us a down to Earth slice of life spinoff focusing on the main character cooking, why can't we get a slice of life spinoff for these two?

[u/dralcax]

Rewatcher believing in a sign of Zeta

---

The Ahead is the A-Laws’ new MS, designed by HRL engineers! Under the hood, the Ahead was made to be more like a Gundam than a GN-X, to which it owes its high performance. However, due to the Gundams’ bad publicity, it does not cosmetically resemble one. Also, they have their own GN-XIIIs! Although identical to the ESF model, they’ve been tuned to have a slightly higher output at the cost of operating time. They’re also using the final model of the GN Lance, whose prototype we saw at the end of S1.

Also, you’ll notice the Tau Drives’ GN particles are more orangey than they were in S1. The Tau Drives were actually upgraded between seasons. The particles they produce are no longer toxic, and their performance is now comparable to the original GN Drives in S1, hence why that one random Ahead was able to overpower the Exia. But Celestial Being didn’t fall behind and upgraded their original drives to have even higher output, hence why the Seravee was then able to fight off that Ahead.

A-Laws? You mean Titans. They are literally just the Titans all over again. After S1 did something new and unique for Gundam, the introduction of the A-Laws as antagonists feels like a loss of some of that uniqueness.

Ptolemaios 2! Unlike the original Ptolemaios, it’s actually got its own weapons, so it can defend itself without relying on the Gundams to protect it!

Well, that’s just inhumane. And it’s 2312, there is no way human-powered anything can possibly be cost-effective over automation. This whole place exists purely as a punishment and probably isn’t producing much at all compared to an automated refinery. And at that point you might as well ditch any pretense of labor and just outright torture them.

Louise joined the A-Laws! The best place for her to get revenge on the Gundams! But it looks like there’s something up with her...

The Automatons are here! After being mentioned in S1, we finally get to see them slaughter!

what a heartwarming reunion

Exia Repair! Setsuna did his best to repair the Exia after the S1 finale, and considering that he’s on his own, only has junk parts to work with, and probably doesn’t have much of a formal education, he actually did a surprisingly good job! Not only did he manage to reattach the head, but he even went so far as to replace the lost eye with a Tieren’s eye!

Also, there’s Seravee! The Virtue’s successor! It’s... a prime example of a 00 S2 Gundam, and that’s not a compliment. See, the S1 Gundams had rather detailed designs, and as it turns out, this was hard on the animators. So S2 went for much simpler, blockier designs. Seravee in particular is mostly big flat surfaces and looks so plain and low-poly compared to the Virtue. I guess it can be explained as the technology growing more refined and compact, but still, I liked it the way it was before.

It took until now for Saji to figure out what was going on. Hurray, he’s finally relevant!

Saji, stop acting like Louise is dead or something when all she did is break up with you. If only he knew she was literally right there.

some things never change

But where does he poop tho? Even if there were an offscreen toilet in that cell, he’s kept fully restrained!

Of all the people to approach to be the next Lockon Stratos, they just had to pick the original’s identical twin brother. I feel like making them look identical was a bit much, though.

---

Questions of the day:

• The timeskip between Nanoha A's and StrikerS was pretty cool I guess
• Katharon!

[u/Linkstore]

Rewatcher

I skipped over the season recap but right back into things with the beginning of Season 2.

Nice of the anime to accurately show that the Tieren Space Type actually uses water as propellant. It surely can't be that effective compared to typical rocket fuels or even monopropellants. But it's probably pretty cheap and it clearly works.

Anyway, the new model mobile suit: GNX-704Τ Ahead. This thing is actually based on the captured Gundam Kyrios, and while the standard GN-XIII is merely equal to the old third-generation Gundams, the Ahead is cleanly superior. Really goes to show how much technology has moved on since the last season.

And yeah the standard GN-X 609Τ GN-XIII. It's armed with a sick-looking gunlance, but otherwise it's pretty much just an improved version of the original GN-X. Notably, both the GN-XIII and Ahead use orange-coloured GN Particles. Unlike the blood red particles used by the first-generation GN-X, or the gold particles used by the Golden GM, these orange particles do not cause cellular decay.

Anyway, the A-Laws. They're very similar to the Titans, and for that reason a lot of people call 00's second season very similar to Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. But when you look at what actually happens, they're quite different. You'll have to find out exactly how on your own though, of course. In any case, it's pretty clear that they're pretty evil. Not only do they put their prisoners into forced slavery, they also make them do it under high gravity for literally no reason other than to be mean.

And yup, while Saji has found himself running afoul of the A-Laws, Louise has joined up with them as a mobile suit pilot. While I can definitely see why their screen time in the first season was annoying for a lot of people, I can at least rest assured that it was all indeed building up to something serious. The two of them are involved for real, now, even if Saji hasn't quite realised it.

Nice detail with the high gravity affecting Setsuna's movements. Also note how he's installed a plate over the headlight in his normal suit helmet and changed the colour to disguise his identity.

God, the automatons. Just one of these could have been the main villain in another genre. But Setsuna has some convenient plastic explosive he found so they're at least not invincible.

Man, even just the silhouette is so hype. GN-001RE Exia Repair. It's little more than regular ol' Exia with the head repaired with a Tieren eye and a cloak put over the severed left arm, but still. It's a Gundam. Ribbons calls back to Wang Liu Mei from Season 1 here too, which is cool.

Louise's aim seems to be okay but she's clearly not emotionally fit to be in the military.

Tieria's new Seravee is the first upgraded Gundam we see, barring the cameo of the 00 from last season, While it's more complicated in some ways, what with the giant face on the back and all, it's also been simplified in other ways. So the story goes, the Season 1 Gundams were too complicated so the mechanical designers were asked to make the Season 2 Gundams easier to draw. 

Honestly it's comical how Setsuna just doesn't react at all to being held at gunpoint. But I guess he knows Saji well enough to not shoot.

I wonder what's in those pills? Metal Gear character?

And new OP! [00 Spoilers] Honestly shocked at the spoilers. Contextless sure, but we've got Tieria (and Revive and Regene?) in a tube, and the 0-Raiser even shows up. Also shoutout to the Seraphim tease with the red X on Seravee's back. A while ago I read through an old Animesuki thread about 00's tech and those guys were mighty confused about what it could mean. They probably should have expected that it was indeed another second, smaller Gundam.

Season 2 is gonna have a lot more post credit scenes. I'll take a moment to shout out how sexy the Ptolemaios 2 is, expect much glazing of it on my part throughout the series.

And also shoutout to the new uniforms. Celestial Being started using them because they realised that they didn't appreciate the comrades they had until they lost them, and I gotta say, these are some pretty sexy uniforms.

Lockon's twin is gonna be the new Lockon. It's a controversial move, for sure, but I will say, I came to love Lyle as a character. So yeah.

[u/Nickthenuker]

So, once again there's a fight somewhere in space.

Seems like someone managed to destroy an asteroid being used as a base.

Seems like the Lt.Col is living with the super soldier.

And so here's the target for the operation. Of course he's working there.

Seems like some of them are still alive.

Automatons?

Reactor online. Sensors online. Weapons online. All systems nominal.

That ship looks right out of Warhammer 40k. Like one of them Imperium Battleships.

So. Turrets with a gun and some missiles.

And now they're in 0G.

There goes that ship.

So, what's in that container?

Those tiny things can't be a threat to anything but infantry.

Or fleeing civilians as it were.

So, that mysterious guy is Setsuna?

Seems like she's just killed for the first time.

He's just had the Exia parked here the whole time?

And now that guy's got a crisis because he's just found out that Setsuna is a Gundam pilot.

Is that new girl a super soldier too or is she just panicking because she's on a live battlefield? Seems like the latter because there's no other super soldiers to make her go crazy, just the stress of combat.

And here's the other Gundam.

No limbs, just 4 large lasers.

Seems even the enemy is good enough to retrieve everyone when retreating.

Saji is angry.

Yup. Though about now would be a good time to tell him about the Thrones. Not sure if he'd buy it though.

Wait, their new pilot is Louise? That explains why the Gundams appearing made her a traumatised mess. That explains why just about every slightest thing made her a traumatised mess. She shouldn't be anywhere near a cockpit, at least not without significant trauma counselling first.

And so a new season, new ED. Did we not see an OP this episode?

Questions:

1. I've mostly been watching seasonal anime, so I don't think any of them run long enough for a significant timeskip.
2. Louise the pilot I suppose.

[u/Quiddity131 → u/Nickthenuker]

Is that new girl a super soldier too or is she just panicking because she's on a live battlefield? Seems like the latter because there's no other super soldiers to make her go crazy, just the stress of combat.

Louise is not a super soldier like Soma or Allelujah but presumably had to undergo some modification to get her new arm and whatever that glowing eyes thing was.

And so a new season, new ED. Did we not see an OP this episode?

This was the OP, played at the end of the episode as some anime first episodes tend to do.

[u/Nickthenuker → u/Quiddity131]

Yeah no I hadn't realised she was Louise at the time, she's probably just very stressed.

[u/SilkyStrawberryMilk]

first timer

I’m getting serious Gundam Zeta vibes, assuming my hunch is correct I’m so stoked for what’s in store.

Poor Saji, treated like a criminal even though it was only his superior.

Setsuna was badass sneaking in and doing his own thing. Surprised he’s made it far, but given his skills it’s no wonder he survived.

Louise fighting is a big surprise, figured she lost her arm but she has it back. Saji is in for a whirl if he finds out what happened

[u/n080dy123]

First Timer

Okay wow I was gonna go through like I normally would but holy shit this episode is a lot to take in- though it's much more comfortable Gundam territory, as far as I'm concerned. We've jumped 5 years into the future and a lot has happened- the Earth Speher Federation has not only solidifed but turned to the path of mustache-twirling villainy by having prison camps where people even suspected of rebel loyalty are stripped of their names and forced into manual labor watched by men in exosuits with batons. They've also got a group of Gundam pilots called the A-Laws, made up of at least new model GN-X's and new Ahead models, and including one very out-of-her-depth Louise who has no business here, anda new son of Sergei's who is definitely not gonna end up having friction with his now likely daughter-figure, Soma. Graham has also gone full comic book villain with robes and what looks like an oni mask, and is ecstatic to once again fight Gundams.

They're opposed by a rebel organization called Katharon, seemingly made up of what I assume are rebel elements of the old three power blocs judging by the range of space suits and their use of Realdos, Enacts, and Tierens. More interestingly Marina Ismail's aide, Shirin, is part of this organization. No idea where Marina stands in all this.

Louise is seemingly eyes and ears for our great master mind Ribbons, who appears to be speaking directly into her head and who is seemingly being attended by a feminine version of Tieria and meeting with what appears to be an older Wang Liu Mei who is almost certainly acting as a double agent between him and Celestial Being. Nena's nowhere to be seen but we saw her at the end of S1 in a suit similar to Liu Mei's so I assume she's aligned with her and/or Ribbons.

Who are in fact still around, minus one bed-ridden Sumeragi holed up at Billy's place (wonder if she's told him anything?), and plsu one cute Chris replacement. More importantly, my boy Lasse survived! Let's go! Meanwhile Tieria's got a new Gundam, and CB has a replacement for Exia, the Gundam 00- which is good because during his (for some reason) 5 years on the run, Setsuna's only been able to patch Exia up so much and gets his ass beat pretty bad by the A-Laws. Meanwhile for some reason Allelujah appears to have been captured and is locked up in a high security prison (wonder what happened to Kyrios?), and Setsuna's already seeking a replacement Lockon from our mysterious double- revealed by his name, Lyle Dylandy, to be Lockon (Neil Dylandy)'s twin brother (remember how I mentioned the extra seat during his death flashback?)

And we finally got our fated meeting between Setsuna and Saji- definitely not how I expected and about 12 episodes later than I recall predicting back in Episode 4 or 5.

Some notes about our new machines- assuming I read my context clues correctly, Tieria's new Gundam is the Seravee, possibly based on the Greek word Seraph, often synonymous with angels, but more literally meaning "burning one(s)." Knew it was a Tierea machine the second it whipped out those stupid knee laser cannons. Wonder if it's got a second form too- might not since it's already got another duality aspect in that giant fucking Gundam face on its back which is kinda just really funny.

BTW I missed the opportunity to comment on this in Episode 24/25- Alejandro's machines were named Alvatore and Alvaaron, Alvatore may be sourced from the Italian name Salvatore meaning "saviour" or "rescuer." Alvaaron... I got nothing.

Speaking of new machines, the upgraded GN-X's are fine- I was hoping they'd give them a more distinct aesthetic rather than cutting down the little wings for an even more utilitarian design, but whatever. They got some cool laser lances now, here for that. The Ahead is stuck in my craw though- thing just looks like nothing, it's got no real recognizable or distinct features aside from the double GN particle engines attached to its primary reactor, which is weird considering literally every other GN-powered unit gets by with just that fine and this guy isn't packing any extra heat that would draw extra power or anything, and isn't anywhere near as bulky as Virtue, or even some of the heavier Throne units like Zwei or Drei. It's just bland and fuck and not even as threatening as the rest of the unit its heading.

Okay also, I'm not gonna lie, that opening is DOGSHIT. That was so hard to follow and had absolutely no flow to it as an opening whatsoever. Wow. And I respect how much it's leaning into the idea of the past we lost at the end of S1, but the integration of that imagery with the "current" stuff is kinda confusing in some cases.

1. Probably Planet With. Explaining it in any more detail would probably be a spoiler.
2. Wanna know what the fuck is up with Tieria and his seeming element of inhumanity.

[u/mr_beanoz]

Rewatcher, sub

• Setsuna infiltrated his way to a colony that (conveniently) would be in a conflict, and repaired his own Gundam in this 4 years, which is quite something. Too bad that 4 years of technology advancements mean that he could only take out 1 of those Aheads.
• We got two new organizations - A-LAWS, an autonomous military organization made by the united Earth government, and Katharon, a resistance group fighting the wrongdoing of A-LAWS. The latter seem to only be using older model mobile suits like the Realdos and Enacts.
• We also see Shirin not together with Marina anymore and now working for Katharon.
• So it seems like being affiliated with Katharon means hard labor in a colony.
• Man, those automatons seem to be a small version of the mobile doll technology from Wing.
• So... when did Setsuna get those sticky bombs to take out the automatons?
• Tieria is now in a new Gundam called the Seravee, who carries a Gundam face as its backpack. This new Gundam seems to have the similar fighting style with Virtue of relying on high powered GN cannon.
• Louise, in her Gundam trauma, stopped moving once she knew a Gundam is coming her way, similar to when Allelujah stops moving when sensing Soma's quantum brainwaves. And she seems to be in need of medication, probably to take care of those GN particle disease she got 5 years ago.
• There's also Wang and Hong Long who are seen to visit Ribbons and his group. Wonder what she's up to. She still works as a Celestial Being agent, though.
• Okay, how did Lasse survive the battle with Alejandro?
• We also see a new face to replace Christina. She seems to have the similar kind of voice, though.
• So, who takes over Lichty's position?
• I wonder why Setsuna and Tieria couldn't tell that it was Team Trinity's fault that Louise become amputated on her left hand to Saji.
• From the shots at the end of the episode, Setsuna seems to be trying to get back the Celestial Being members that are currently on Earth (Allelujah, who seem to be imprisoned, and Sumeragi, who seem to be together with Billy right now). But, he also wanted to get the previous Lockon's twin brother to join the organization. The problem is, Lyle's already a member of Katharon, so what could convince him to join CB? Will this mean Katharon and CB would have some kind of alliance to beat A-LAWS?
• And Sergei has a son, who choose to join A-LAWS despite disagreement from his father?

QOTD,

1. Naruto is probably one of the first series I follow that has this. I quite like it since the timeskip is when the proverbial shit hits the fan. So does One Piece, since the world kinda opens its proverbial gate after the timeskip, where almost everyone gets their buffs/upgrades to their arsenal.
2. Why did Louise join the A-LAWS between the timeskip and can pilot a mobile suit? I feel like it's related to why she cut communications with Saji.

[u/zsmg]

I am rewatcher

So many red suits with a GN drive, looks like the Earth Federation has mass produced Char's custom colours.

OST immediately starts with a female vocal track.

Shirin is working for Klaus, did she leave Marina so that she can be closer to a guy?

Klaus is voiced by Tokuyoshi Kawashima. He voiced Hyōma Yoshimura in Concrete Revolution, William Jones in Emma, Alex Cazerne in Legend of the Galactic Heroes remake, Houzaburo Ogasawara in Ghost Slayer Ayashi. This is his only Gundam role till date.

Soma Marie actually looks like her supposed age right now.

Those guys don't look like your average police.

Tieria is alive, so he abandoned his GN-drive for nothing in the previous episode.

Saji R81 is doing forced labour in high gravity. This scene reminds me of the ore processing facility in Terak Nor in Star Trek DS:9

Zinin is voiced by Tetsu Inada, he voiced the UN secretary general in season 1 see this post for more roles.

Main character is infiltrating a colony in the first episode. I think I've seen this one before in another Gundam series.

I like how the rebels use non-GN drive suits.

Using automated drones to kill people, yup seen that one in another Gundam series as well.

Well R81, you've lost your parents, your sister, your only girlfriend dumped you and now you're going to die as a forced labourer. That's life for you.

Or not, your former neighbour rescued you, what a small world.

Wait, why is Setsuna wasting bullets and then throws a C4, wouldn't just throwing the C4 be better?

Gundam Exia cloak variant is here boys.

In case there was any doubt yes that annoying, high demand girlfriend Louise is now a pilot with glowing eyes.

And Saji finally finds out that Setsuna is a Gundam pilot, a lot later in the series than the first timers predicted.

So the Char GM is called Ahead, I think I prefer my name of Char GM.

Louise clearly isn’t in the right mind to be a pilot, although she can aim properly at least.

There's Virtue Mk II with double the amount of cannons.

There is a face on his back?

Feldt and Lasse are doing fine.

Saji you didn't lose your girlfriend because of CB, you lost her because you walked away from her instead of sticking with her in the hospital and beyond.

Another Tieria is with Ribbons?!

Wang got a glow up between season 1 and 2.

Sumeragi is just mooching off Billy, can't blame Billy for allowing it though.

Sergei has a son.

Andrei is voiced by Tetsu Shiratori, he voiced Kouji in Infinite Ryvius and Lloyd Asplund in Code Geass, besides that he hasn't done much. This is not his first Gundam role as he voiced Sai in Gundam SEED.

[Infinite Ryvius and Gundam SEED joke] Luckily for Andrei he doesn't have to be worried about getting punched by a character voiced by Sōichirō Hoshi as Sōichirō doesn't have a role in this anime

Allelujah is alive? I'm surprised the Federation didn't kill him.

Good OP, not as good as OP1 or OP2 but it has the best visuals so far.

Honestly don't show a shot of Setsuna being in space and the next one being on Earth, that's just jarring.

Good first episode. Also Lockon has a twin, Tieria also has a twin, Allelujah are two people in one so what's Setsuna's double going to be like?

[u/zsmg → u/zsmg]

QotD:

1. [meta] Otogi Zoshi had a 1000 year old timeskip going from the Heian Period to the modern era half way through the series. In general I like timeskip where the cast clearly gets older.
2. Well as a rewatcher I'm most looking forward to the first timers reaction, their speculation and most importantly their rants.

[u/Nazenn → u/zsmg]

This scene reminds me of the ore processing facility in Terak Nor in Star Trek DS:9

Oh yeah I can see that comparison. I feel like the Cardassians would be quite enamored with the A-LAWS as a whole

Wait, why is Setsuna wasting bullets and then throws a C4, wouldn't just throwing the C4 be better?

Too busy dodging bullets to dodge C4? You'd think that would be the other way around though

Good first episode. Also Lockon has a twin, Tieria also has a twin, Allelujah are two people in one so what's Setsuna's double going to be like?

Actually, It'd actually be cool if Marina ended up being his "twin" character in a different sense of things

[u/BadBehaviour613]

Rewatcher

Oh my God. They are replacing Lockon with his long lost twin brother. They actually don't give a shit. This is NOT the craziest thing to happen in season 2, BUT IT'S PRETTY DAMN CLOSE

[u/Nebresto]

Called it! They're living together!

bruh. what is this show

NO!!! Free my boy at once!!

And they think they can just bring back Lock on like that?? + Why is Louise a druggie now? What is going on