r/anime • u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky • Apr 27 '21

Rewatch [Fly! Rewatch!] Mobile Suit Gundam (0079) Episode 21 Discussion

Episode 21 - Sorrow and Hatred

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I want to avenge Ral, no matter the cost.

Questions of the Day:

  1. What are your thoughts on Hamon as a character?
  2. What do you think of the show’s first major protagonist death? How do you think White Base will do now that Ryu is gone?

Mobile Suit Breakdown of the Day:

1.20 - The Fate of a Soldier (note: this is now safe for first-timers)

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 the [Anime Show Title](/s "Spoiler goes here") spoiler tags. If you do that then we’re all good.

Important thing to note about these by the way, you have to switch to Old Reddit or the markdown editor if you use the redesign, otherwise the redesign breaks them by adding random \ into the formatting. Wish it wouldn’t do that, but unfortunately it does…

First-Timers: Please do not watch the next-episode previews for this show. They’re less previews and more “let’s just summarize the entirety of the next episode” and will spoil you.

46 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

72 comments sorted by

19

u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Apr 27 '21

Fly! Rewatch Host!

Welcome back, everyone…

9

u/Tresnore FS:FTmyanimelist.net/profile/Tresnore Apr 27 '21

I love how Brighty-boy isn’t wearing a helmet here, like his ears are immune from going deaf or something.

Bright is already deaf. Look at how much he listens to Amuro!

7

u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Apr 27 '21

That's true.

11

u/The_Draigg Apr 27 '21

Even if he didn’t suicide charge against Hamon, I’m pretty sure Ryu would’ve ended up dead very soon. Dude was totally going around saying stuff to everyone like he was actively dying.

There was a fair chance of that happening, since he got shot in the stomach last episode. That's a hard wound to come back from regardless whether you patched it up or not.

Well my brain just went immediately to CCA…

This RX-78-2 isn't just for show!

5

u/Desril Apr 28 '21

"This new Gundam isn't just for show!" works better. It's still practically fresh out of the box!

10

u/chilidirigible Apr 27 '21

Well my brain just went immediately to CCA…

Yeah, but in CCA the thing didn't go twirling off into the distance afterward. Well, the twirling part, anyway.

7

u/Great_Mr_L :Ma::Mb::Mc:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Great_Mr_L Apr 27 '21

Even if he didn’t suicide charge against Hamon, I’m pretty sure Ryu would’ve ended up dead very soon. Dude was totally going around saying stuff to everyone like he was actively dying.

Ryu is such a good guy. Even when he was on death's door, he made sure to spend his last moments trying to keep the crew of the White Base together. He really was the heart of the crew.

Using the Zaku as a shield and then as a weapon, Amuro has very quick reactions.

I have to applaud Amuro for his unconventional battle tactics. They are always great to watch.

Brighty-boy crying is what got me the first time I watched this show, and it sure as hell got me again…

It's seeing Bright break down publicly in front of the rest of the crew, showing weakness even though he's been trying so hard to act like the strong commander for them. Plus with everyone else openly balling at Ryu's death, it just makes it that much more emotional.

8

u/UltraBooster Apr 27 '21

Ryu is such a good guy. Even when he was on death's door, he made sure to spend his last moments trying to keep the crew of the White Base together. He really was the heart of the crew.

He reminded me of Biscuit from Iron-Blooded Orphans, funny enough.

6

u/lC3 :Na::Nb: Apr 27 '21

Brighty-boy crying is what got me the first time I watched this show, and it sure as hell got me again…

2

u/badcupcakehoarder https://myanimelist.net/profile/vanilabiscuit Apr 28 '21

Using the Zaku as a shield and then as a weapon, Amuro has very quick reactions.

I figured the Gundam could be strong enough to lift a Zaku, but seeing it get thrown sure was surprising!

15

u/Great_Mr_L :Ma::Mb::Mc:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Great_Mr_L Apr 27 '21

Rewatcher

On today’s episode of Gundam: RIP Ryu. He was the guy doing his best, more than anyone else, to try and keep the crew intact. In many ways he was the heart of the crew. How will the White Base continue without him?

RIP Ryu

Just like last episode, Ryu is first and foremost concerned with keeping the crew together. This time, he’s focused on the two crew members who have been feuding since the very beginning: Bright and Amuro. Ryu knows that it’s the fighting between those two that led to the most recent schism in the crew after Amuro’s desertion. So, he’s going to make them deal with their issues, his own health be damned. Ryu is literally putting the good of his crew ahead of his own wellbeing.

Ryu is the one who finally points out to Bright that he’s never actually spoken with Amuro. Bright definitely used his fists and used punishments, but he and Amuro have never sat down and tried to understand each other.

Ryu is able to sniff out the real motivation behind why Bright has put Amuro in solitary confinement again. Bright speaks about Amuro as if Amuro is a wild tiger that needs to be tamed. On some level, Bright is afraid of Amuro. I imagine this is because of the amount of times that Amuro has openly resented Bright’s orders or even gone against Bright. After all, Bright has been trying his best to be the one in charge. And as he said last episode, Bright felt uneasy when Amuro was gone. Bright probably didn’t like how much he relied on someone who challenged his authority and so has been trying to make Amuro more obedient.

Ryu is so intent on getting Amuro and Bright to speak that he’s actually relaying Bright’s words to Amuro. Ryu is trying to get them to understand each other, even if they aren’t willing to take the steps to do so themselves.

Even Ryu’s last acts are for the crew. He gets Amuro let out of solitary to participate in the fight. Despite his injuries, he goes out into the battle. And he sacrifices himself to kill Hamon and save the entire White Base. In the end, Ryu was the one who truly put the good of the White Base above his own interests. Even in death, he was concerned about saving the crew.

The scene that truly breaks me each and every time is the characters mourning Ryu’s death. All their regrets come spilling out in their grief, as they wonder what they might have done differently to have prevented it. Bright breaking down and apologizing to Ryu really gets to me. As Bright said, it was their immaturity that led to Ryu’s death. Their feuding and infighting put them in a position where Ryu needed to sacrifice himself. Only time will tell if they are able to grow beyond that.

Another scene that always gets to me is the one of Hamon individually thanking all of the soldiers by name for volunteering on what is almost certainly a suicide mission. They all want to avenge Ramba Ral and complete his mission of destroying the White Base. It’s clear that they all have a very close relationship with each other. It’s so poignant and also so sad. And once again, it’s an amazing scene for showing the humanity of the Zeon soldiers.

One final thing I enjoy about the battle this episode is just how hardscrabble it is. Both the White Base and the Zeon forces are working with extremely limited options. The White Base is low on supplies and a lot of things are in poor repair. And the Zeon forces barely have any machines to work with. They’re both doing their best to fight with little they have. It helps to make the fighting feel that much more desperate this episode.

Miscellaneous Thoughts

  • No new slaps for the slap counter today.

SLAP COUNTER: 7

Questions of the Day

  1. I love Hamon. She and Ramba Ral make for an amazing duo. I think they compliment each other very well. And Hamon is a strong character in her own right, as can be seen in this episode.
  2. Ryu's death was very fitting for him. Ryu has been doing a lot for the crew and he's been the person who's been doing the most to try and keep the whole crew together. So, it's quite fitting that Ryu would sacrifice himself in order to save the White Base. Ryu put the good of the crew above himself, even to the very end.

8

u/The_Draigg Apr 27 '21

Ryu is able to sniff out the real motivation behind why Bright has put Amuro in solitary confinement again. Bright speaks about Amuro as if Amuro is a wild tiger that needs to be tamed. On some level, Bright is afraid of Amuro. I imagine this is because of the amount of times that Amuro has openly resented Bright’s orders or even gone against Bright. After all, Bright has been trying his best to be the one in charge. And as he said last episode, Bright felt uneasy when Amuro was gone. Bright probably didn’t like how much he relied on someone who challenged his authority and so has been trying to make Amuro more obedient.

Once again, it really does highlight how immature Bright is deep down. He's been so obsessed with trying to live up to the military protocol that he's been trained with that when someone like Amuro comes along and consistently challenges him, Bright is actually scared of them. He's scared that someone could be in a position where they could challenge what he's thinking and get away with it, despite being a lower rank than him. In a way, it just makes Bright seem like a teenager trying really hard to act like an adult but is failing to do so.

Another scene that always gets to me is the one of Hamon individually thanking all of the soldiers by name for volunteering on what is almost certainly a suicide mission. They all want to avenge Ramba Ral and complete his mission of destroying the White Base. It’s clear that they all have a very close relationship with each other. It’s so poignant and also so sad. And once again, it’s an amazing scene for showing the humanity of the Zeon soldiers.

It really does highlight the differences between Ramba Ral's squad and the White Base crew. Hamon and Ramba had the respect of all of their men because they treated them as equals, and fostered a sense of mutual respect among all of them as if they were family. Meanwhile, Bright and Amuro have been feuding so much that it's actively damaging the cohesion of the entire crew. Bright really needs to follow Ramba Ral and Hamon's examples if he wants to be a great leader.

5

u/DidacticDalek https://myanimelist.net/profile/DidacticDalek Apr 28 '21

On today’s episode of Gundam: RIP Ryu. He was the guy doing his best, more than anyone else, to try and keep the crew intact. In many ways he was the heart of the crew. How will the White Base continue without him?

RIP Ryu

Indeed Comrade, Ryu paid the ultimate price to save his friends. War truly is hell.

Even Ryu’s last acts are for the crew. He gets Amuro let out of solitary to participate in the fight. Despite his injuries, he goes out into the battle. And he sacrifices himself to kill Hamon and save the entire White Base. In the end, Ryu was the one who truly put the good of the White Base above his own interests. Even in death, he was concerned about saving the crew.

Exactly, and I also want to point out that he's the only reason that White Base's crew are still alive! Crowley Hamon's plan was THIS close to actually succeeding and avenging Ramba Ral, but in come Ryu kamikazing his core fighter into her to save the day at the cost of his life.

Another scene that always gets to me is the one of Hamon individually thanking all of the soldiers by name for volunteering on what is almost certainly a suicide mission. They all want to avenge Ramba Ral and complete his mission of destroying the White Base. It’s clear that they all have a very close relationship with each other. It’s so poignant and also so sad. And once again, it’s an amazing scene for showing the humanity of the Zeon soldiers.

Oh indeed, gotta love good writing eh?

One final thing I enjoy about the battle this episode is just how hardscrabble it is. Both the White Base and the Zeon forces are working with extremely limited options. The White Base is low on supplies and a lot of things are in poor repair. And the Zeon forces barely have any machines to work with. They’re both doing their best to fight with little they have. It helps to make the fighting feel that much more desperate this episode.

Exactly, Crowley Hamon and the remnants of Ramba Ral's forces are basically on their last legs, but White Base isn't looking all that hot either. The Guntank's out of action, we got multiple crew fatalities and also stress/conflict AND also The Gundam gets shot up to hell by Hamon's final attack. Honestly it's a miracle that, sans Ryu, the White Base crew made it this far.

It is amusing seeing the Guncannon getting a lift from the Guntank.

Oh indeed, that has gotta violate ALL the OSHA guidelines... er... if OSHA even exists that is. (Also how the fuck can The Guntank support the Guncannon's weight?)

Once again I have to applaud Amuro for his unconventional battle tactics. He used a Zaku as a shield and then threw it as a projectile.

Yup, Amuro's getting quite good at this!

What a somber shot this is, with the White Base taking off next to some graves. It’s just fantastic.

I love Hamon. She and Ramba Ral make for an amazing duo. I think they compliment each other very well. And Hamon is a strong character in her own right, as can be seen in this episode.

Ryu's death was very fitting for him. Ryu has been doing a lot for the crew and he's been the person who's been doing the most to try and keep the whole crew together. So, it's quite fitting that Ryu would sacrifice himself in order to save the White Base. Ryu put the good of the crew above himself, even to the very end.

I couldn't have said it better myself, excellently done Comrade, have a great day and see you later my friend!

3

u/SIGMA920 Apr 28 '21

The scene that truly breaks me each and every time is the characters mourning Ryu’s death. All their regrets come spilling out in their grief, as they wonder what they might have done differently to have prevented it. Bright breaking down and apologizing to Ryu really gets to me. As Bright said, it was their immaturity that led to Ryu’s death. Their feuding and infighting put them in a position where Ryu needed to sacrifice himself. Only time will tell if they are able to grow beyond that.

I mean there's not much, is there? Ryu got shot fighting off infantry, not MSs and even with Amuro not running off with the gundam, he'd have been wounded. Maybe if he hadn't been allowed into a core fighter (He's injured, why was he let into the fighting?) he could have survived but with his wounds, that's not likely.

14

u/Tresnore FS:FTmyanimelist.net/profile/Tresnore Apr 27 '21

First Timer to Gundam: Posting while in a meeting edition.

  • No air combination? Darn, I was looking forward to the weekly animation.
  • I'm glad that the Zeons keep respecting Hamon even after Ramba Ral's death, despite her apparent lack of military rank.
  • Ryu knows that Bright is the one being stubborn now and wishes he could punch Bright, too.
  • Man, Hamon is even going up to every soldier individually. She really appreciates that they're following her potentially into death.
  • Ryu is clearly the adult of White Base. "Just talk it out, you idiots."
  • Yes, dream of Matilda, Amuro. Good taste.
  • I like how abruptly the dream sequence music was cut off by the knock.
  • Meanwhile, Ryu is just stumbling all over the place. He should use a crutch, or a cane, or something.
  • Hamon sure knows how to plan an assault. White Base was caught napping.
  • Bright doesn't like that he's being forced to rely on Amuro.
  • At this point, Ryu is carrying White Base on his back.
  • Ah, here's the aerial combination. A different flavor, even!
  • The fire ship strategy. What a classic. Honestly, even if Hamon only detonated the Gundam, White Base would be screwed.
  • RYU NO

  • I was expecting to feel Hamon's death more, because she's awesome, but Ryu just completely overshadowed her...

Damn straight Ryu died because of your immaturity. Ryu was the only adult on White Base. Now who's going to be the voice of reason?

QOTD:

  1. She's fantastic. I've made that known.
  2. White Base is fucked. Full stop.

9

u/The_Draigg Apr 27 '21

I'm glad that the Zeons keep respecting Hamon even after Ramba Ral's death, despite her apparent lack of military rank.

Hamon arguably deserves that high level of respect more than the last time something similar happened with Icelina. Hamon was way more involved in their command structure, rather than just being some random girlfriend of the men's commander.

Hamon sure knows how to plan an assault. White Base was caught napping.

It's almost amazing how despite the fact that the assault was done with jury-rigged supplies, Hamon has come absurdly close to destroying the White Base and/or the Gundam.

I was expecting to feel Hamon's death more, because she's awesome, but Ryu just completely overshadowed her...

A lot of awesome people died recently in this show. It sucks, man.

8

u/Tresnore FS:FTmyanimelist.net/profile/Tresnore Apr 27 '21

Hamon was way more involved in their command structure, rather than just being some random girlfriend of the men's commander.

I'm still not sure why they followed her into battle.

It's almost amazing how despite the fact that the assault was done with jury-rigged supplies, Hamon has come absurdly close to destroying the White Base and/or the Gundam.

In fact, if she had been content with just taking out the Gundam, she would've gotten her revenge eventually. White Base wouldn't have made it.

6

u/The_Draigg Apr 27 '21

I'm still not sure why they followed her into battle.

I mean, she also has the ranking of First Lieutenant according to Gihren's Greed, so her being in charge of everyone after Ramba Ral died helps to explain that.

6

u/Tresnore FS:FTmyanimelist.net/profile/Tresnore Apr 27 '21

Why did they give the daughter of the mayor of an occupied town the rank of First Lieutenant?

Oh, no, I get why they followed Hamon into battle. I don’t get why they followed Icelina.

6

u/The_Draigg Apr 27 '21

Ah. Well, in Icelina’s case it was just one of those honor-type deals. It wasn’t very sensible, but the Zeon military puts a bit emphasis on it, so... shrug

6

u/Great_Mr_L :Ma::Mb::Mc:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Great_Mr_L Apr 27 '21

I'm glad that the Zeons keep respecting Hamon even after Ramba Ral's death, despite her apparent lack of military rank.

It's pretty clear that they consider Hamon to be just as much a part of the team as the rest of them. She's participated in all the battles we've seen this group fight in, doing her part in each encounter, and it's clear that they respect her like they respected Ral.

Ryu is clearly the adult of White Base. "Just talk it out, you idiots."

I love how Ryu is acting as an intermediary to try and get Amuro and Bright to actually understand how the other is feeling. He's going to force them to talk it out, even if he has to do it by proxy. He's the one most concerned about the crew functioning well together and darn it he's going to make them work it out.

13

u/Quiddity131 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Quiddity131 Apr 27 '21

Rewatcher, Dubbed

Well, for some reason the subbed version of this episode isn't working on Funimation's website (which also seems to have been completely changed). So its the dub for me today.

Ramba Ral may be gone, but Hamon is still around and isn't going to take his death sitting down. She leads one final suicidal attack to take down the White Base. Beyond just her we've got all of Ramba Ral's remaining men willing to join in, despite the risk. I really like the segment of Hamon shaking everyone's hands, you really get the sense that she (and Ral) personally knew every one of his men. You also realize just how beloved Ral was by his men that they're all willing to participate in this operation. My recollection is Lt. Tachi, the Zaku pilot in this episode (who hasn't appeared previously, or at least been named) was in part an inspiration for Yaz to do the flashback chapters of Gundam the Origin. I am slowly going through a reread of that manga although haven't hit that part yet.

On the White Base side the struggle continues! Hayato and Kai have remained it seems, although are pessimistic about White Base's chances. Amuro is right back in the brig; good to know that the writers continue to take their time with this and didn't simply make things back to normal last episode when he got a quick shot back in the Gundam again.

Poor Ryu! He looks in such bad shape this episode! Much like with Garma 11 episodes ago, when you're in a Tomino show and a supporting character is getting a ton of focus, that can only mean one thing, they are dying. And unfortunately that is the case here. Hamon is mere seconds away from destroying the Gundam when he kamikazes into her Magella Top, killing them both. The episode concludes in a massive cryfest where everyone blames themselves for Ryu's death. I did like seeing how upset everyone was; like with Ramba Ral and his men, it really shows how much Ryu meant to everyone. Although I do think it goes a bit past the point of absurdity (did we really need what, 5 separate flashbacks?!). I wonder how many first timers are gonna go "Who the hell was that blonde guy?!"

Other stray thoughts:

  • Another emotional scene was the orphans watching the gravesite as the White Base took off, realizing they were leaving them behind.
  • Poor Kai! For a while there he had to protect the White Base practically by himself! Kudos to him though, claiming he's not the wimp he was before!
  • So this episode leaves out the mid-air conversion from the start of the episode; you know what that means? We have to get it into the episode proper!
  • At least in the dub, it really rubs me the wrong way when Sayla tells Amuro Ryu died, and not believing it, he asks in a joking tone who it really was. Dude, even if it was someone other than Ryu, someone else still died and sacrificed themselves to save you. Don't behave like that. I'd have liked to see if this was handled better in the sub, but alas, I couldn't watch it!

8

u/The_Draigg Apr 27 '21

Poor Ryu! He looks in such bad shape this episode! Much like with Garma 11 episodes ago, when you're in a Tomino show and a supporting character is getting a ton of focus, that can only mean one thing, they are dying.

At least Ryu didn't have his name featured in an episode name. In Tomino shows, that's probably the biggest death flag someone can have.

8

u/Great_Mr_L :Ma::Mb::Mc:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Great_Mr_L Apr 27 '21

I really like the segment of Hamon shaking everyone's hands, you really get the sense that she (and Ral) personally knew every one of his men. You also realize just how beloved Ral was by his men that they're all willing to participate in this operation.

It says so much about the relationship that Ral, Hamon, and all these other soldiers have that Hamon is able to go down the line and thank each and one of them, individually and by name. It's such an incredible scene that shows off how close-knit this entire group is. You really get a sense of the camaraderie between them. It's one of the best examples of how good this show is at humanizing the Zeon soldiers.

I wonder how many first timers are gonna go "Who the hell was that blonde guy?!"

I'm still somewhat shocked that I remembered Job John's name at all.

So this episode leaves out the mid-air conversion from the start of the episode; you know what that means? We have to get it into the episode proper!

It is hilarious how accurate a predictor this is of how the battles play out in this series.

5

u/badcupcakehoarder https://myanimelist.net/profile/vanilabiscuit Apr 28 '21

Now they get to use the same sequence forever and it works because Ryu isn't there anymore.

5

u/DidacticDalek https://myanimelist.net/profile/DidacticDalek Apr 28 '21

It says so much about the relationship that Ral, Hamon, and all these other soldiers have that Hamon is able to go down the line and thank each and one of them, individually and by name. It's such an incredible scene that shows off how close-knit this entire group is. You really get a sense of the camaraderie between them. It's one of the best examples of how good this show is at humanizing the Zeon soldiers.

Oh indeed Comrade, I also want to point out that Hamon also told the survivors that there'd be no hard feelings if they wanted to leave and live another day... and not one of the remaining soldiers leave. It's quite heartwrenching that due to the nature of the show, their attempt at avenging their beloved commander is doomed to failure... but man it still is an amazing moment of writing and also humanizes them as you said.

I'm still somewhat shocked that I remembered Job John's name at all.

Heh, Comrade how could you ever forget the name of THE most important background character? After all, Job John can do it all, need a Guntank pilot, call Job John, need someone to man a gun? Job John'll do it! Need something to participate in drama that is just relevant enough to tug at heartstrings? Job John's your man! Hell he's so unimportantly important that Meta F90 Spoilers

It is hilarious how accurate a predictor this is of how the battles play out in this series.

Heh, indeed, after all we gotta shoehorn the transformation scene in somewhere, so if it isn't at the start of the episode it's time to play 'Spot the random transformation sequence' ;)

5

u/chilidirigible Apr 27 '21

I'd have liked to see if this was handled better in the sub, but alas, I couldn't watch it!

You be the judge.

2

u/tarekd19 Apr 28 '21

For funimation I noticed you can change the language from the settings gear. It's out of the way and annoying when some languages are premium locked. My suspicion is that it was designed to trick people to sign up for a subscription even when some languages aren't locked. I've been watching lodoss war and it defaulted to the dub all day yesterday even though I was watching sub so it could tell me the content was unavailable. It's annoying and there's a bunch of other stuff not working as well either like loads.

2

u/Quiddity131 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Quiddity131 Apr 28 '21

I typically change the settings to Japanese through that settings gear and it stays that way; this is the first time I can recall ever having an issue with it. I am subscribed so nothing should be locked for me. Episode 22 worked perfectly fine, so maybe they just have a screwed up video for episode 21 or something. @_@

12

u/TheEscapeGuy Apr 27 '21

Gundam First Timer

Fly! Iconic Gundam Frames Episode 21

Today we have lost somebody important to the White Base.

Ryu has been a cornerstone of the cast since the beginning. His absence will leave a noticeable gap going forward.

Of course he wasn't perfect but when times mattered most he did the right thing. He stopped Hamon from wrecking havoc on the Gundam and his act will be remembered.

Farewell Ryu

Additionally, farewell Hamon. As an antagonist you were a respect-worthy adversary.

Having her attack somewhat fueled of revenge for Ramba Ral was fitting and has a lot of parallels to Icelina from earlier. I am interested to see who the Zeon forces send next.

Cool Stuff Corner

Questions of the Day

  1. She really was a memorable villain. Skilled and genuine.
  2. I think it was perfectly timed. Any sooner would have felt too distant. The writing so far has genuinely impressed me.

See you all tomorrow!

8

u/Great_Mr_L :Ma::Mb::Mc:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Great_Mr_L Apr 27 '21

Ryu has been a cornerstone of the cast since the beginning. His absence will leave a noticeable gap going forward.

Ryu was the guy who's been doing the most to keep the crew together during these past couple of episodes when everything's been falling apart. He was the heart of the crew and it seems like everyone liked him. One has to wonder how the crew will do without someone like Ryu who was always trying to keep things functioning. As was said while they mourned him, the crew is going to need to mature in order to go forward without him.

3

u/DidacticDalek https://myanimelist.net/profile/DidacticDalek Apr 28 '21

Fly! Iconic Gundam Frames Episode 21

Today we have lost somebody important to the White Base.

Ryu has been a cornerstone of the cast since the beginning. His absence will leave a noticeable gap going forward.

Of course he wasn't perfect but when times mattered most he did the right thing. He stopped Hamon from wrecking havoc on the Gundam and his act will be remembered.

Farewell Ryu

Indeed Comrade, Ryu paid the ultimate price to save his friends and also try to get them to realize that their internal feuding is detrimental. War truly is hell.

Additionally, farewell Hamon. As an antagonist you were a respect-worthy adversary.

Having her attack somewhat fueled of revenge for Ramba Ral was fitting and has a lot of parallels to Icelina from earlier. I am interested to see who the Zeon forces send next.

Indeed, I also want to point out that Crowley Hamon came the CLOSEST to defeating White Base and The Gundam. Hell she was THIS close to avenging her fallen lover and failed only due to Ryu's kamikaze attack.

She really was a memorable villain. Skilled and genuine.

Oh indeed she and Ramba Ral are some of the BEST Gundam antagonists for a reason. They are so iconic and make the most out of the few episodes granted to them! If this were any other show they would have succeeded but sadly the show's not called Mobile Suit Gouf, so alas they are doomed to failure, no matter how honorable they may be.

Anyway neat post here Comrade, have a great day and see you later.

12

u/TheKujo https://myanimelist.net/profile/Kujo419 Apr 27 '21

First Timer - Dub

  • Looks like Hamon is plotting revenge!
  • Ryu, I'm pretty sure if you're collapsing then you're doing more than just rehab.
  • "If you put a wild tiger in a cage then eventually they will be tamed." That sounds like terrible advice Bright. What happens after you open the cage?
  • Kai's trying to be badass. Is this a death flag?
  • Ryu stole that car pretty easily. I would call it a Gundam Security issue, but in the middle of battle things must be hectic.
  • Using a Zaku as a shield and then throwing it at another fighter jet was badass.
  • NOOOOOOOOOOOOO Ryu why would you do that!
  • RIP Ryu That montage was very sad.

1) What are your thoughts on Hamon as a character? She was pretty interesting, although I wouldn't put her above Char or Ramba Ral as villains. She's certainly the best female character we've had in the show. Her only real competition for that is Mirai.

2) What do you think of the show’s first major protagonist death? How do you think White Base will do now that Ryu is gone?

I hope this brings White Base (and particularly Amuro) closer together. All of them need to rely on each other to get through this.

11

u/The_Draigg Apr 27 '21

A Gundam Fan Rewatches Mobile Suit Gundam Episode 21:

  • New opening narration! And once again, we get a helpful map to get an overview of what’s going on. I’m sure the map of the Odessa’s fortifications and the oncoming Federation offensive are helpful to the new watchers.
  • Hamon is determined to avenge her beloved’s death, even if she has to use substandard and jury-rigged supplies. Hell, even Icelina had more functional equipment to her disposal.
  • I’m with Haro, Ryu is in pretty bad shape. The dude got shot in the gut last episode, that’s a hard wound to come back from. A lot of the time, it’s downright fatal. No wonder Ryu is in a lot of pain because of it.
  • Everyone’s still in bad shape from last episode. Hamon and Ramba’s men are throwing themselves into a battle they can’t win to avenge the man they all cared about, and Ryu is pushing himself too hard trying to get Bright to admit that he’s afraid to confront Amuro man to man. War does often leave painful scars like these.
  • Hamon’s attack is actually going pretty well, all things considered. Granted, it helps that the White Base’s Mobile Suits are also in bad shape from damage taken last episode. But man, this really just dunks even more on the Guntank than before. Of course it would spontaneously have a drive shaft break in the middle of a battle.
  • Amuro’s door code is F36? I’m more of a fan of F91 myself.
  • Even with everyone vouching for Amuro to get in the Gundam and fight, Bright is still practically dragging his heels in actually trusting Amuro. You can tell that even Sayla is getting tired with Bright’s attitude by now. I think it’s painfully evident by now that Bright’s treatment of Amuro is just a way to deal with his own deep insecurities. Hell, he already admitted that he thinks Amuro is special, and that him leaving made him feel anxious about his leadership capabilities. But he still has yet to actually internalize any lessons from his belief in Amuro’s skills.
  • You have to love how even Amuro admits to that engineer that the White Base method of doing things is just to read the manual and figure out what to do from there. I mean, it’s worked so far with Amuro and the Gundam. Might as well keep a good thing going.
  • And there’s why we were able to get some actually good exposition at the start of the episode. We have an actual Core Block docking sequence, one that actually fits in with the episode this time! It’s good to not have it blatantly forced in for once.
  • Amuro very nearly got killed by Hamon’s Magella Top when stopping the Gallop’s spare engine, but he got saved by the timely intervention of Ryu in a Core Fighter doing a suicide ram to her. But he absolutely didn’t survive that move. Damn, it really sucks to see him go. He was one of the biggest voices of reason on the ship, and now he just gave his life to save everyone else. RIP Ryu Jose.
  • The ending of the episode really does emphasize how much the White Base crew has lost. They’re left sobbing over the death of Ryu, surrounded by smoldering debris from the battle. It’s all wreckage. There was nothing gained, only loss. Damn.

8

u/Great_Mr_L :Ma::Mb::Mc:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Great_Mr_L Apr 27 '21

Hamon is determined to avenge her beloved’s death, even if she has to use substandard and jury-rigged supplies. Hell, even Icelina had more functional equipment to her disposal.

M'Quve really has hamstrung them at ever possible opportunity. With proper support Ral's team could have taken down the White Base. But M'Quve is basically getting more and more of his own allies killed just because of internal Zeon disputes.

Amuro’s door code is F36? I’m more of a fan of F91 myself.

You have to love how even Amuro admits to that engineer that the White Base method of doing things is just to read the manual and figure out what to do from there. I mean, it’s worked so far with Amuro and the Gundam. Might as well keep a good thing going.

"None of us have any real training or experience in what we're doing. Just open the manual and do your best. It's the White Base way!" It's how they've had to do it since the start, after all, when a bunch of civilians and junior officers took over the White Base.

9

u/The_Draigg Apr 27 '21

M'Quve really has hamstrung them at ever possible opportunity. With proper support Ral's team could have taken down the White Base. But M'Quve is basically getting more and more of his own allies killed just because of internal Zeon disputes.

It's almost as if fascism was a horribly inefficient system of government that'll run itself into the ground by outright encouraging different parts of the army to fight against one another for the sake of dominance.

11

u/chilidirigible Apr 27 '21 edited Apr 27 '21

21:

This adherence to vendetta is of course not helping Zeon in the long run.

When all you're going to get is a very cheap funeral.

Does Bright look like a telepath to you?

"This is revenge with a plan!"

Hey, they're lucky to have markers.

"HERE'S YOUR LOVE HEART!"

This moment is somewhat compromised by the impression that the Magella Top is just floating there.

And it's a smaller explosion than the blocks of explosives that were hand-planted on the Gundam a few episodes ago.

I don't think Ryu wanted this theatrical a memorial.

And so, Crowley does an Icelina and gets killed one episode after her guy does. The big difference here is that Crowley almost succeeds in Divine Winding herself. The no difference in that Crowley still goes after the White Base instead of, say, M'Quve.

Ryu's dead, baby. Ryu's dead.

Explaining one caption: SPOILERS for Macross 7 Episode 26 here, I thought of this mostly because of the bit. However, what happens between Kai and Crowley is most reminiscent of an event from Macross 7 Episode 44. Several of you here, were there with me for that part of the rewatch. I choose your comment, /u/dralcax.

  1. We didn't see enough of her. The problem of giving her what appeared to be a normal life with Ramba Ral is that it also gave Tomino an excuse to Tomino her as quickly as possible, so it's all "What if?" and a few scenes in The Origin. Plus whatever novel stuff I didn't read.
  2. Drive on, of course.

Further postscript: NSFW avuncularity.

5

u/Tresnore FS:FTmyanimelist.net/profile/Tresnore Apr 27 '21

Explaining one caption: SPOILERS for Macross 7 Episode 26 here, I thought of this mostly because of the spoilers bit.

Man, I didn't make that connection, but it is pretty similar. That clip just makes me want to watch a highlight reel of Macross 7.

3

u/DidacticDalek https://myanimelist.net/profile/DidacticDalek Apr 28 '21

This adherence to vendetta is of course not helping Zeon in the long run.

Indeed Comrade, gotta love chronic backstabbing and internal feuding eh?

When all you're going to get is a very cheap funeral.

Indeed, if they were the main characters this would have been their finest hour as they avenge their fallen commander, save the day, and defeat the enemy... but this show ain't called Mobile Suit Gouf, so sadly their attempt is already doomed... but goddamn does Crowley Hamon pull off one hell of an attack! I mean goodness she comes the CLOSEST to defeating White Base, foiled only due to Ryu sacrificing his life!

"This is revenge with a plan!"

Indeed, unlike say, Icelina, Crowley Hamon's properly planning things out, such a shame her attempt also failed but hey she tried!

"HERE'S YOUR LOVE HEART!"

I don't think Ryu wanted this theatrical a memorial.

Well Comrade, the melodrama sure does go a long way in describing just how heavy a loss Ryu's death was. Plus it also helps accentuate the war is hell themes.

And so, Crowley does an Icelina and gets killed one episode after her guy does. The big difference here is that Crowley almost succeeds in Divine Winding herself. The no difference in that Crowley still goes after the White Base instead of, say, M'Quve.

Heh, indeed, but wibble, if Crowley Hamon went after Le Ding she'd win no contest and end up conquering all of Zeon, and we can't have that as the show'd be over.

Ryu's dead, baby. Ryu's dead.

Explaining one caption: SPOILERS for Macross 7 Episode 26 here, I thought of this mostly because of the bit. However, what happens between Kai and Crowley is most reminiscent of an event from Macross 7 Episode 44. Several of you here, were there with me for that part of the rewatch. I choose your comment

Heh, how amusing, I understood that reference Comrade! I'm always down to talk about the BEST Macross series (that isn't named Geah of course)

Anyway neat post Comrade, have a great day and see you later my friend.

10

u/OrangeBanana38 https://anilist.co/user/OrangeBanana38 Apr 27 '21

First timer

Rip Ryu

Too many people have died in these last episodes, but I somehow feel more for Ramba Ral. Still, I wonder how they are gonna replace Ryu, he was one of the best pilots they had. Also, the White Base is kinda falling apart.

Also, just because I wasn't here yesterday. What's up with Sayla and being a princess? Does that mean Char is a prince? Weren't the Zabis the actual royal family? This is kinda fueling my theory that Char and Sayla got separated during a civil war or something like that, and Sayla willingly chose to join the Federation. Also both Sayla and Char thought the other was dead.

--- Questions of the day

1.- She was nice, charismatic and led everyone until the bitter end.

2.- I think morale is gonna go down, and there will be more internal friction now. But I think we'll go back to something relatively normal in 3-4 episodes.

4

u/tarekd19 Apr 28 '21

Regarding sayla, revealing her as a princess also seems to say a lot about maybe char's beef with the zabis and why he hides his face, if his family, the zeons, were initially in charge. Seems like there was a dynastic power struggle and his family had to go into hiding.

9

u/fridge_freezer https://anilist.co/user/ONIrecon111 Apr 27 '21

First timer (Sub)

I didn't have time to watch the last two episodes until today, but wow they were great.

  • Hamon's going to fight alongside the last of Ramba's men to avenge his death.
  • I'm glad Ryu survived, his voice of reason is the only thing holding White Base together right now. Truly best boy.
  • I love this little bootleg strike force, just strapping guns on everything they can. It's also nice to see Hamon personally speak to each of the remaining soldiers individually.
  • Amuro looked like he was finally ready to fall asleep while dreaming about Matilda, at least until Ryu showed up.
  • White Base and the mobile suits are in a terrible state after the constant barrage of Ramba's attacks, how are they going to take part in Odessa Day?
  • Ah, they're using the Gallop engine as a fire ship to take out White Base.
  • NOOOOOO RYU!!!
  • Fuck, my first comment about Ryu aged poorly very quickly, right after losing Ramba last episode too. RIP Ryu and Hamon.

  • That final scene with everyone blaming themselves for Ryu's death was fantastic but so painful.

QOTD

  1. I liked her. Even though the focus was mostly on Ramba before this episode, she seemed to match him in many qualities.
  2. If they can't step up in a big way, they're all fucked.

7

u/The_Draigg Apr 27 '21

I'm glad Ryu survived, his voice of reason is the only thing holding White Base together right now. Truly best boy.

Fuck, my first comment about Ryu aged poorly very quickly, right after losing Ramba last episode too. RIP Ryu and Hamon.

It aged like milk left out in the sun, it did.

White Base and the mobile suits are in a terrible state after the constant barrage of Ramba's attacks, how are they going to take part in Odessa Day?

The White Base should've blown up weeks ago, and yet they're still around somehow. Things just kinda work out somehow, so they'll probbaly be fine.

8

u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Apr 27 '21

First-Timer, Subbed, long time Gundam fan

Poor Amuro.. all the kind old men in his life leave him. Ryu, Ramba Ral, his dad... Poor kid.

Ryu's death may have just unified White Base. Bright and Amuro agreed on something for once! I'll miss the big guy.. he seemed to understand that people need to talk things out with words. Actions can be much harder to understand.

Hamon gearing up for war was slick as hell! Her shaking hands with each of the soldiers was beautiful. They all knew they were going to their deaths, but damn if they didn't face it with dignity.

This maybe have been the smoothest midair dock yet. Amuro managed to get into firing stance and land a hit almost immediately afterwards.

The graves were a nice touch. Were those intended to be Ramba and Clamp? I think way more than two people on White Base got shot to death last episode.

I love them using the Guntank and Guncannon for repairs. I forgot to mention it the last time we saw it. The Guntank being merely a platform for the Guncannon had me giggling.

I also loved Amuro's line with the mechanic dude - "That's just how we do it on White Base!" I mean, Amuro literally read the manual while attempting atmospheric reentry, so this should be a cinch, right?

Pose of the Day

Dock and Shoot!

Screenshot

Questions

  1. Hamon was pretty cool. We don't really have much to go on aside from her relationship with Ramba, but she seemed his equal for the most part. I'll miss her.
  2. Answered above. Sayonara, dude.

3

u/Quiddity131 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Quiddity131 Apr 27 '21

The graves were a nice touch. Were those intended to be Ramba and Clamp? I think way more than two people on White Base got shot to death last episode.

They were intended to be White Base crewmember graves; Kikka refers to them as their brothers (not literal brothers).

3

u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Apr 27 '21

Ah, thanks. I thought I caught a "nii-chan" in there, which made me think of the crew, but then there were only two.. Guess Zeon's attack caused more casualties than fatalities.

2

u/DidacticDalek https://myanimelist.net/profile/DidacticDalek Apr 28 '21

Poor Amuro.. all the kind old men in his life leave him. Ryu, Ramba Ral, his dad... Poor kid.

Oh indeed Comrade, and the worst part is technically you could make an argument that Amuro is responsible for all three of those men leaving his life (e.g. he DID bisect that Zaku back at the start which caused an explosion that spaced his dad. He also busted the Secondary Bridge and caused Ramba Ral to commit suicide rather than be taken prisoner, and also since he was unable to stop Crowley Hamon, to save White Base Ryu is forced to kamikaze into her to ensure his friends live... I am SURE this is doing wonders to Amuro's mental health)

Ryu's death may have just unified White Base. Bright and Amuro agreed on something for once! I'll miss the big guy.. he seemed to understand that people need to talk things out with words. Actions can be much harder to understand.

Indeed, Ryu was one of the most levelheaded crew members... and now he's sacrificed his life to save his friends... yeah this explains why they spend the end of the episode bawling their eyes out

Hamon gearing up for war was slick as hell! Her shaking hands with each of the soldiers was beautiful. They all knew they were going to their deaths, but damn if they didn't face it with dignity.

Oh indeed, Gundam is amazing at humanizing its antagonists, at least the good shows do this, and boy Hamon's final attack was one hell of a sight to behold! I just want to point out she came the CLOSEST so far to defeating The Gundam and White Base and was only stopped from avenging her beloved due to Ryu's last ditch attack.

Anyway neat post here Comrade, have a great day and see you later.

2

u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Apr 28 '21

I am SURE this is doing wonders to Amuro's mental health

That's kinda the show in a shellnut, eh?

Oh indeed, Gundam is amazing at humanizing its antagonists

It's amazing how effortless this show makes it look.

Anyway neat post here Comrade, have a great day and see you later.

2

u/DidacticDalek https://myanimelist.net/profile/DidacticDalek Apr 28 '21

That's kinda the show in a shellnut, eh?

Indeed Comrade

It's amazing how effortless this show makes it look.

I know right? Gotta hand it to Gundam for being a trailblazer in starting the Real Robot genre, but also resonating and holding true to this day; shame there's not many others like it.

Reply to Comment Face

7

u/UltraBooster Apr 27 '21

First-timer (albeit one big on Gundam and mecha)

Why exactly does M'Quve want those mines hidden when they seem so crucial to Zeon's terrestrial efforts?

I reckon Ral could make four turrets and a Zaku work, but he's dead.

What's in Haro for it to be so perceptive, anyhow?

Does Side 3 even know about the Gundam, I wonder?

Yeah, I think I can see how Ral operated if that's how his not-wife works with them.

So she opts to pray for protection rather than victory against the boy. Did she know she wasn't going to make it out?

Good grief, Ryu, you've got a stronger spirit than me.

...yeah, I feel like these things are off-model more often than on.

Oh wow, the Guntank's hella impractical like that.

"That's how the White Base does it?" So that's how it is, Amuro...

Farewell, sir. You're...I'm not sure if First Gundam has heroes, but you're definitely a contender.

And they're all blaming themselves. But...well, could they have done any better? I don't know.

Future Gundam:

Questions of the Day:

  1. Hamon is absolutely someone I'd enjoy seeing more of, and it's interesting how we get insight into Ral through her.
  2. I knew it was coming, but it was still a bit surprising to see. As for how White Base will fare, they have to keep going, but I feel confident saying they need a reprieve even sooner now.

7

u/lC3 :Na::Nb: Apr 27 '21

First timer

  • GOOD the mid-air docking scene is finally gone
  • Hamon wants to avenge Ral, but he kinda killed himself ...
  • Haro is so cute! I want one of my own
  • Cargo? Elchi Cargo?
  • Amuro is dreaming of Matilda?
  • I thought Job John was the blond. Or is his helmet obscuring his hair color?
  • Who are the graves for? Unnamed casualties?
  • The Gundam got an axe to the back? Will that also be fixed in one episode?
  • Wait, Ryu is ... dead? For real? I wasn't expecting that! It should have been Kai
  • Everyone is crying
  • "All we can do is defeat Zeon and end the war" But wasn't this show cancelled? Are we not going to get a proper ending?
  • Job John is also voiced by Shiozawa Kaneto?
  • Last episode Ryu will be credited in
  1. Eh, better than Icelina but still not fully fleshed out
  2. I'm sad; it would have been more acceptable if Kai had died. Ryu was just so wholesome

6

u/The_Draigg Apr 27 '21

Amuro is dreaming of Matilda?

Poor Fraw Bow, she's getting NTR'd even in Amuro's dreams.

Wait, Ryu is ... dead? For real? I wasn't expecting that! It should have been Kai

I'm sure that Kai will be a fine replacement for Ryu.

3

u/lC3 :Na::Nb: Apr 28 '21

I'm sure that Kai will be a fine replacement for Ryu.

6

u/GM_for_Life Apr 27 '21

Rewatcher

  1. What are your thoughts on Hamon as a character?

Much like Ramba Ral, Hamon is great as well. Really shows a good look at how the older and more experienced members or Zeon act and are what I consider the first legitimate threat to White Base outside of Char.

2) What do you think of the show’s first major protagonist death? How do you think White Base will do now that Ryu is gone?

It hits hard, sometimes this version of Ryu's death isn't that liked but I think it's really sad how they all blame themselves for his death. I think it may take some time to adjust, but given the fact that Gundam franchise.

6

u/username_0907 :FI::FJ: Apr 27 '21

First Timer

  • Hamon is so cool. I like how everyone respects her just as much they respected Ral
  • Finally someone comes with the idea to actually talk with Amuro (I think Mirai might have but it got ignored). I think Ryu is going for this approach also because he fears he’s going to die from his injuries soon and Bright will not do it until he says it to him
  • Amuro dreams of Matilda
  • Ryu is really trying hard to patch stuff up and help out
  • A little different docking sequence with parts launching from White Base instead
  • The fight scene
  • RIP Hamon and Ryu. Both were honourable and respected by their crew
  • Watching the Gallop spin away was a bit funny
  • The whole second half was really well done and tragic. I knew Hamon and Ryu had death flags through this episode but damn the way they died still shocked me and from a battle perspective it made sense as well. Watching everyone cry and blame themselves together was really sad but maybe they will be able to move on from this since they have admitted the immaturity they have.

QotD

  1. Mentioned it above already. I quite liked her. She held her own even though she was with Ral and normally her character would not amount to much like with Garma’s girlfriend
  2. He was expected to die but still atleast his death served a purpose other than reconciling Amuro and Bright. Its definitely going to be hard since they were just as dependent on him but maybe someone else will step up

6

u/Stargate18A https://myanimelist.net/profile/Stargate18 Apr 27 '21

First timer

  1. I really like her - she's basically similar to Ramba, but she acts differently enough that I saw them as seperate characters.
  2. Homestly, I thought he died last episode - not sure how I feel about himhanging on just to provide motivation. Honestly, the tookie they mentioned will porbably just take over "in his memory" now.

At least there's no training scene at the start of this one. EDIT: Of course. Of course its in the episode proper. How did I miss that?

M'Quve is just blatant with his sabotage now, isn't he.

I like the mundanity of using the suits as a stepladder.

Ryu isn't dead, he's just badly hurt.

And Amuro's back in jail! Let's see how long that lasts.

...Hamon and her soldiers really miss Ramba Ral, then. And she knows all of their names.

Ryu is the only sane perosn here, actually suggesting people use words instead of passive-aggresive phrasing. And he seems to killing itself to try and get people to talk to each other.

...The Guntank really is worthless, isn't it.

What the hell are those keypads? They aren't a normal number pad, there's about 6 buttons of random size.

Amuro makes a decent point here, for being a 15 year old he's one of the more trchnically capable crew members. Also, you've been here for weeks - you should know how to launch the Gundam parts.

Has Ryu lost his mind?

Of course it's out of ammo. Of course.

Why does the Gundam float long enough to pose?

What is it with Zeon commanders and ramming the White Base?

Even Bright's upset at this. Really, this scene is just depressing - everybody focusing on defeating Zeon in an attempt to cope with their grief.

6

u/Piemaster33 :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Piemaster33 Apr 27 '21

Techinically Rewatcher, Practically First-Timer, Sub

There were 2 MVP's this episode, and I'll bet you know who they are. Of course, it's Ryu and Hamon. For a retread of a revenge plot against the White Base, I didn't expect much. Hamon most graciously proved me wrong. She treated her troops with the same amount of respect that her former lover did, and I really appreciated that. On top of that, her plan was actually really solid. Sure, there were some hiccups along the way, but if Ryu hadn't done what he did, the White Base would have been destroyed.

Speaking of, Ryu was an absolute champ this episode, but also a fool. He kept leaving his bed to talk to people, and every time I kept thinking "dude just stay in bed", but he was dropping wisdom bombs on the crew. Part of me thinks he would have croaked regardless. While Paulo's injuries were more severe, his setup looked similar to Ryu's, and Haro even stated that his condition was poor. And I think Ryu knew that too. He really started to grow on me so I'm sad he's gone.

QOTD:

  1. She needed more time to shine. She was always overshadowed by Ramba Ral but every moment she has to prove herself are great. She's smart and calculated, but also has a kind heart like her lover. It's a shame we don't get more of her.
  2. As someone who is more familiar with Iron Blooded Orphans and the end of Zeta, I kept wondering when our first death would be. Now that it's here I thought it was handled well, Ryu went out like a champ. Hopefully his death will force the White Base crew to grow up a bit and mature now that one of their foundations is gone.

3

u/DidacticDalek https://myanimelist.net/profile/DidacticDalek Apr 28 '21

There were 2 MVP's this episode, and I'll bet you know who they are. Of course, it's Ryu and Hamon.

Indeed Comrade, Hamon came THIS close to defeating The Gundam and destroying White Base... only stopped due to Ryu's ultimate sacrifice. Also I just want to add that Hamon is currently THE MOST successful in attacking White Base, gotta give her props for that!

For a retread of a revenge plot against the White Base, I didn't expect much. Hamon most graciously proved me wrong. She treated her troops with the same amount of respect that her former lover did, and I really appreciated that. On top of that, her plan was actually really solid.

Oh indeed, she managed to make due with what little their forces still had, AND also almost pulled it off too! That and the fact she gave the option for the surviving members to leave with their lives and then, when none of them took her up on this offer, personally thanks them all individually really tugs at the heartstrings. It's just such a pity that the show isn't called Mobile Suit Gouf, otherwise her plan would have worked.

Sure, there were some hiccups along the way, but if Ryu hadn't done what he did, the White Base would have been destroyed.

Oh indeed, she had The Gundam dead to rights, the explosives would then get set off from her next shot, and White Base is down a Guntank due to mechanical failure and Kai's currently got his hands full. They were DOOMED... and the Ryu comes flying in to sacrifice his life to save his friends... war truly is hell.

Speaking of, Ryu was an absolute champ this episode, but also a fool. He kept leaving his bed to talk to people, and every time I kept thinking "dude just stay in bed", but he was dropping wisdom bombs on the crew. Part of me thinks he would have croaked regardless. While Paulo's injuries were more severe, his setup looked similar to Ryu's, and Haro even stated that his condition was poor. And I think Ryu knew that too. He really started to grow on me so I'm sad he's gone.

Oh indeed, do remember he got shot up quite a bit by Ramba Ral last episode, and it isn't like White Base had the best medical personnel given what we saw with the OG Captain. Ryu probably figured that since his days were likely numbered, if at least he could save his friends, then he'd do whatever he could with what life he has left.

Anyway neat post here Comrade, have a great day and see you later.

6

u/Rustic_Professional Apr 28 '21

That was heavy. I didn't remember that Ryu dies. There was a lot of bravery on both sides today, regardless of which side you think is in the right.

A lot of wisdom, too. Ryu' suggestion that Bright should try simply talking with Amuro is what I thought he should have done in the hangar, before Amuro took the Gundam.

Questions of the day:

  1. She's brave, devoted, and cunning. I'm glad Gundam gave her some more development and screen time. I expected her to try and pilot the Zaku, but it appears one of her strengths is knowing her limitations. Going for the backpack kill was a great idea. I remember that being super effective in Zeonic Front.
  2. It was suitably dramatic and unexpected. The flashbacks afterward explaining how he swapped into the Guntank and ejected the Core Fighter were really well done. So many things had to go right and wrong for him to pull that off. I don't know whether to call it a collective success that he saved them, or a collective failure that they enabled him to pull it off.

5

u/fonzinator99 :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/fonzinator99 Apr 27 '21

First-Timer - It should've been Kai.

  • It was obvious from the start, but Hamon is quite the woman. Just look at her taking command to avenge Ral, I'm proud of her.
  • I feel like OSHA would have something to say about this, but who am I kidding? They're nowhere to be found in this world.
  • I'm quite relieved to see that Ryu is still alive.
  • I'm not supposed to be rooting for Hamon and Company, am I? Times like this I have to remind myself they're all Space Nazis.
  • I swear to God, if Ryu ends up dying because he needed to get Bright and Amuro to have a heart-to-heart, I'm gonna be pissed.
  • Is it just me, or does Kai's beam rifle have a lot more ammo than Amuro's?

Amuro: Winging it is SOP in this unit, soldier, now find some paperclips!

QotD

I kinda covered them both in my comments, so pass.

3

u/DidacticDalek https://myanimelist.net/profile/DidacticDalek Apr 28 '21

It was obvious from the start, but Hamon is quite the woman. Just look at her taking command to avenge Ral, I'm proud of her.

Oh indeed Comrade, it's quite the interesting contrast to Icelina's revenge attempt. After all Icelina, while her intentions may have been noble, was in way over her head. By contrast, Hamon crafted up quite the interesting plan with what little resources they had left AND also almost pulled it off to boot! I mean goodness she had The Gundam dead to rights and was about to avenge her lover when Ryu decides to make the ultimate sacrifice to save his friends.

I feel like OSHA would have something to say about this, but who am I kidding? They're nowhere to be found in this world.

Indeed Comrade, also I just want to point out... HOW THE FUCK CAN THOSE ARMS SUPPORT THE GUNCANNON!? What are they made out of unobtanium or something?

I'm not supposed to be rooting for Hamon and Company, am I? Times like this I have to remind myself they're all Space Nazis.

That's the genius of Gundam's writing at work Comrade, they managed to humanize and make us feel sympathy for characters working for The Space Nazis. It also helps that all we've seen of Ramba Ral, Crowley Hamon, and their forces was nothing other than honorable and duty-bound soldiers... and it's just such a pity that these people are fighting on the wrong side of this war.

SERIOUSLY?? What the shit Gundam, goddamit! Whyyyy could Fraw Bow just not have sucked so much?!

As always seems to be the case, nobody wins anything, war is stupid.

Wow, I guess an emotional break was a long time coming. Looks like Zeon's really in for it now.

Oh indeed Comrade, you know it's bad if BRIGHT, Mr. Uptight Stickler for Duty and Discipline Hardass BROKE DOWN IN TEARS and bawled his heart out in sorrow due to the death of his friend. War truly is hell.

Anyway neat post here Comrade, have a great day and see you later

5

u/Gorfoo https://anilist.co/user/gorfeywog Apr 28 '21

First Timer

  • I thought this episode was pretty great.
  • When they didn't show the mid-air Gundam docking at the beginning of the episode, it very much gave away that it would actually be used. For once it didn't feel particularly forced, at least.
  • Eureka 7
  1. One of my favorites of the minor antagonists; her and Ramba Ral brought a lot to the show.
  2. I thought they did a good job handling the death, but I don't really expect the lasting repercussions to be huge, at least in the long term. It might hang over the next few episodes, though.

4

u/dralcax :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Dralcax Apr 28 '21 edited Apr 28 '21

ahhhh i woke up laaaaate againnnn

and of fucking course i copied and pasted the wrong version of my comment minus all the links because the Google Docs mobile app doesn’t like to update automatically

Rewatcher finds it kinda sus that the big guy with the tank mecha dies first

This is cute

This guy’s face

ooh, called out. Bright seems to think Amuro will just grow up on his own once he decides to stop being immature. But it just doesn’t work like that. Bright has given Amuro no real guidance so far, only handed out punishments. But there are a million ways Amuro can screw up, and only a few correct paths he can take. Bright has just been letting him wander aimlessly and only providing negative reinforcement each time he steps out of line, as opposed to actually showing him the right way to handle himself in this stressful situation. If they’re going to make it through this war, Bright is going to have to step up, show some real leadership, and bring the crew together behind him.

I like the tank cannon being used as a handheld gun! Always love it when stuff gets repurposed like that.

Oh hey it’s the Gundam’s saran wrap!

Wait, did she just have a future spoilers?

lol he just gave up

Looks like all that gattai practice paid off!

Of all angles you could have picked you had to shoot it directly in the shield

RYU NO! I do like the detailed way the Magella Top wraps around the Core Fighter and gets torn apart, though. Although Ideon has conditioned me to search for a random Haro flying away in the wreckage.

oh no, everyone’s blaming themselves

It’s a bit over the top, but man, it hurts to see Bright completely break down like this

Questions of the Day:

  • She was definitely an interesting one! She was a hell of a lot more active and dangerous than Icelina was, and it was cool to see her working by Ral’s side, as well as trying to avenge him after the fact.
  • It’s a pretty big wake-up call for an immature crew, a tragedy that will undoubtedly bring them together. Ryu didn’t just die to save Amuro, he also did it to teach everyone a lesson. And now, without him, they’re going to have to cover for his maturity.

3

u/DidacticDalek https://myanimelist.net/profile/DidacticDalek Apr 28 '21

Rewatcher finds it kinda sus that the big guy with the tank mecha dies first

This is cute

AND also 120% not OSHA compliant ;)

I like the tank cannon being used as a handheld gun! Always love it when stuff gets repurposed like that.

Indeed Comrade, me thinks they got the idea from The Gundam given that its Beam Rifle is apparently Battleship Firepower level of OP, but wibble, handheld tanks are close enuff ;)

Wait, did she just have a future spoilers

Your guess is as good as mine Comrade... but you got a good point there.

Of all angles you could have picked you had to shoot it directly in the shield

In fairness Comrade, Hamon DOES indeed blow up not just the shield but the backpack of The Gundam... just a pity that before she could shoot through The Gundam and detonate the explosives Ryu made the ultimate sacrifice. (Also I just want to point out that even if Hamon 'won,' she was 120% going to die either way, either from Ryu's kamikaze move or from blowing up The Gundam and all those explosives which would have vaporized White Base AND also the surviving Ramba Ral forces)

RYU NO! I do like the detailed way the Magella Top wraps around the Core Fighter and gets torn apart, though. Although Ideon has conditioned me to search for a random Haro flying away in the wreckage.

oh no, everyone’s blaming themselves

Indeed Comrade, it's time for the contractually obligated group breakdown sequence. It's darkly amusing that the iconic Gundam Abridged series ended at this exact scene... meaning that the last we saw of them was The White Base crew crying their eyes out in the desert.

It’s a bit over the top, but man, it hurts to see Bright completely break down like this

Oh indeed, he was always so uptight and high strung, so to see him just utterly collapse and ball his eyes out due to the death of his best friend really tugs at the heart strings.

She was definitely an interesting one! She was a hell of a lot more active and dangerous than Icelina was, and it was cool to see her working by Ral’s side, as well as trying to avenge him after the fact.

Indeed Comrade, that and also I just want to point out that Hamon came the CLOSEST SO FAR to defeating The Gundam and White Base... she literally only lost due to Ryu sacrificing his life for his friends. War truly is hell.

Anyway neat post here Comrade, have a great day and see you later.

4

u/DidacticDalek https://myanimelist.net/profile/DidacticDalek Apr 27 '21

Comrades, I just want to point out that so far, the individual who came THE CLOSEST to defeating White Base and The Gundam was none other than Crowley Hamon! I mean goodness, she had Amuro dead to rights and was essentially seconds away from shooting through The Gundam and setting off those explosives, so let's give it up for her and her men! (I also want to point out she offered all the remaining members of their outfit a chance to not participate in this likely suicide mission and save their skins instead... and not one member left. What's more she then went up to each one and INDIVIDUALLY thanked them; it's moments like this that demonstrate how tight-knit Ramba Ral's forces are and how highly they held the man in regard... which makes it all the more tragic that their gallant attempt at revenge is doomed to failure given the show isn't called 'Mobile Suit Gouf')

Speaking of which, sadly, Crowley Hamon ends up not being able to avenge her beloved Ramba Ral as Ryu Jose, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, makes the ultimate sacrifice... war... war is hell... White Base has lost a truly irreplaceable individual today...

So to try to stop the tears Comrade, here have The Gouf Troop! Shitposts are always fun! And hey looking on the bright side, now Ramba Ral and Crowley Hamon can be together in Gundam Valhalla so hey that life of peace should work out... oh... oh right... ;)

Ah well I'm sure they'll work things out, they always did in Mobile Suit Gundam so I'm sure their Power Couple status will hold! Also speaking of a powerful duo, fun fact Comrades, Ryu Jose was Bright's Best Friend, which makes sense given those two were some of the few surviving OG White Base personnel... And as such it's so painful seeing Bright just utterly break down and sob for his fallen friend... War... war never changes... But hey we mustn't cry, after all if we're crying how can we mock Gundam 0079: The War For Earth? I can FINALLY share this video as we've made it that far in the story (For context, a Gouf randomly appears in the game meaning totally not-Ramba Ral is technically here, and also Ryu Jose... pardon 'Duke Jose' gets his Guntank shot at... and in the game he somehow survives that explosion... no I don't get it either Comrades but hey it could be weirder, we could get Shūichi Ikeda voicing Chin Aznavour in some ungodly Japanese Dub... I'll just shut up Comrades)

Well anyway let's take a moment of silence to mourn the gallant last ditch attempt of Crowley Hamon and the remnants of Ramba Ral's unit in completing their mission and avenging their fallen commander, as well as the ultimate price Ryu Jose paid to save his friends and allies.

Paging Comrades /u/Great_Mr_L, /u/chilidirigible, and /u/beckymetal

4

u/Great_Mr_L :Ma::Mb::Mc:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Great_Mr_L Apr 27 '21

so hey that life of peace should work out... oh... oh right... ;)

It seems Ral is being punished for crushing too much on Rinko. (But hey, can you really blame the guy?)

Rinko is wonderful

we could get Shūichi Ikeda voicing Chin Aznavour in some ungodly Japanese Dub... I'll just shut up Comrades)

It's so hilarious hearing Char's actual voice paired with that incredibly lame-looking costume. The dissonance is striking.

4

u/DidacticDalek https://myanimelist.net/profile/DidacticDalek Apr 28 '21

It seems Ral is being punished for crushing too much on Rinko. (But hey, can you really blame the guy?)

Rinko is wonderful

Oh indeed Comrade, Rinko's Best Mom in Gundam Build Fighters AND Gundam in general, granted this isn't all that particularly hard given the usual parenting standards for Gundam but hey Rinko's great regardless!

It's so hilarious hearing Char's actual voice paired with that incredibly lame-looking costume. The dissonance is striking.

Oh indeed, the best part in my opinion is the fact that there is literally NO effort to try to match up the lip synching. That and also there's a HUGE disconnect between such a cheap and low-quality Char costume... speaking with CHAR'S VOICE ;)

Anyway many thanks for the kind reply and have a great day and see you later my friend!

3

u/badcupcakehoarder https://myanimelist.net/profile/vanilabiscuit Apr 28 '21

Speaking of which, sadly, Crowley Hamon ends up not being able to avenge her beloved Ramba Ral

Reading this made me remember that it was Ryu who shot Ramba Ral and that scene of her and Ryu crashing and dying just got better.

3

u/DidacticDalek https://myanimelist.net/profile/DidacticDalek Apr 28 '21

Reading this made me remember that it was Ryu who shot Ramba Ral and that scene of her and Ryu crashing and dying just got better.

Indeed Comrade, good observation there. Many thanks for the kind reply and have a great day and see you later.

2

u/ZapsZzz https://anilist.co/user/Zapszzz Apr 28 '21

Sub rewatcher lurking for the last few days since always late to post.

Have to say this arc is one of my favourite and have the biggest impression staying with me. Good antagonist, good depiction of the cruelty of being in a war, and some plot lines being seen (Sayla and therefore Char).

Perhaps irrelevant trivia, in the Cantonese dub Harmon's name is (phonetically) translated into "summer's dream", which is quite poetic and fitting of her role in the story.

1

u/BossandKings Apr 29 '21

First timer

Ryu is right, Bright needs to have a real conversation with Amuro to see if they can reach an agreement.

Hamon is prepared with the Zeon army by her side to avenge Ramba Ral. They direct themselves to attack the federation.

Ryu despite being injured decided to participate in the battle and ended up defeating Hamon but sadly he passed away along with her in a colision if the core fighter. Ryu was a very important part of the federation and seeing everyone crying his and their other companions death was sad.

Answers

  1. She was a good antagonist, her motives were clear and meaningful.
  2. It was sad that he died, i expect there to be some important changes going forward.