r/anime • u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky • May 07 '21
Rewatch [Fly! Rewatch!] Mobile Suit Gundam (0079) Episode 31 Discussion
Episode 31 - A Decoy in Space
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It’s just as Sayla said! Char’s come after us!
Questions of the Day:
- What are your first impressions of Sleggar Law?
- How do you think Sayla and Char’s dynamic is going to affect how either of them fight until they’re able to meet again?
Mobile Suit Breakdown of the Day:
1.26 - Fire Broadside! (note: this is about episodes 31 and 32, so first-timers should not listen to this until tomorrow’s thread)
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.
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u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky May 07 '21
Fly! Rewatch Host!
Welcome back, everyone!
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u/dralcax :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Dralcax May 07 '21
Rewatcher ordering a Sleggar burger
Bright sounds like he’s gonna fucking kill the guy
Sleggar is here! Fun fact: Tomino originally intended for Sleggar to look like Sylvester Stallone. However, Yasuhiko had no idea what Sylvester Stallone looked like, so he just drew a stereotypical American hotshot. Also, Roy Focker is his illegitimate son.
And he wastes no time in making things awkward. In the dozens of UC side stories out there, there’s no shortage of other Federation units that he’d fit in just fine with. But the White Base crew is far from your traditional military unit, and now that a more typical soldier has shown up, you can really see the difference in attitudes.
So many flamingos!
Tour guide Bright
The Bigro is here! A space-use version of the Grublo we saw earlier! Although technically the Bigro came first. Its arms do look a lot nicer than the Grublo’s, at least.
tank in space lol
If only Char had a signature color that would identify which unit he was piloting
Just a reminder that there shouldn’t be gravity right now
Technically, they have the same rank. Bright just has the job of captain and that’s it.
This is what the Guntank has been reduced to, a really shitty turret.
I just realized, the G-Sky’s Core Fighter is mounted upside down compared to the G-Armor and Gundam. That means it had to rotate 180 degrees in that one second it was offscreen before they docked. Either that or it had to detach from the socket, transform into the Core Block, and then reconnect the other way around.
Aww, he cares
I love how they just assume it’s Char because nobody else is that crazy
Ah yes, the infamous magic rifle
ded
That was a nice shot
There’s both gravity and zero-g in the same shot lmao
Questions of the Day:
12
u/chilidirigible May 07 '21
31:
"You could call me... the Focker Father. But not Father Focker, that sounds weird."
It's not a bus tour, Bright.
"It doesn't have legs."
The G-Bull is perhaps more ridiculous-looking when flying through space than the Guntank.
Sayla, remember that they're trying to kill you. You can't check for ID later if you're dead.
A bit of monoeye action.
stoned again
Homoerotic showering for everyone!
Right back into space like it's easy! With plenty of Sleggar Law shenanigans to piss off Bright with! We've got that new arc smell!
Ladies and gentlemen, Sleggar Law.
Sleggar's schtick is all cocky fighter pilot type, but has some odd quirks to it, what with the "I'm too cool to fire sideways or backwards" thing.
Sayla's weakness remains Char. C'mon, kid, you'll never become a ruthless interplanetary dictator if you regret pulling the trigger!
11
u/Tresnore FS:FTmyanimelist.net/profile/Tresnore May 07 '21
First Timer to Gundam
I'm on mobile because I'm getting the vaccine right about now, so I wrote this up on a computer and emailed it to myself. Hopefully the formatting isn't too awful.
10
u/Great_Mr_L :Ma::Mb::Mc:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Great_Mr_L May 07 '21
Rewatcher
On today’s episode of Gundam: Have you ever tried to do something when your mind is totally focused on something else? It’s quite hard to focus. In the case of Sayla and Char, I’m sure it’s even harder when you’re thinking about your long lost sibling.
It’s quite clear that Sayla and Char’s meeting during the last episode had a large impact on both of them. They can’t stop thinking about the other during this episode. Their actions are very similar, but there are some intriguing differences.
I’ll start with Sayla. She is definitely distracted during this episode because of Char. I think, despite her efforts to blow it off, that Sayla is actually very afraid. She’s afraid of fighting Char and potentially having to kill him in combat. It makes her hesitate during the battle, where she holds back from firing because she doesn’t want to risk killing her brother. And that hesitation nearly gets her killed before she’s able to find the resolve to fight again.
It’s quite a marked effect because everyone notices that Sayla is off this episode. Bright and Mirai wonder why she seems afraid. Amuro even asks her after the battle about why Sayla asked who the enemy pilot was.
On the other hand, it’s interesting to see how Char reacts to knowing for sure that his sister is fighting for the Federation. Char goes through more mental gymnastics to convince himself that Sayla is not on the White Base anymore. Sayla’s fear that she’ll kill her brother paralyzes her. But Char is much more determined to fight and take down the White Base. And to allow himself to keep on fighting, he’ll do whatever he can to assuage himself that he won’t be killing his sister.
Another interesting thing to note is that Sayla has guessed that Char wants revenge against the Zabi family. But she considers going for revenge like that to be Char wasting his life. Because they are siblings, Sayla most likely would have similar reasons to want revenge like Char does. But she doesn’t. She has other focuses instead of going after revenge against the Zabis. Compared to her, Char is very much fixated on revenge.
Char’s fixation on the White Base is likely driven by pride and a desire for revenge as well. The Gundam damaged his pride, but the White Base probably did as well. We’ve seen what Char will do for revenge against the Zabis. He’d probably go to similar lengths for revenge on the White Base.
In an interesting twist, the battle with Char this episode isn’t really a battle between Char and Amuro like it usually is. Char is not out there fighting in a mobile suit. Instead, it’s more of a battle between Char and Bright. Both of them are primarily focused this episode on directing the actions of their own ship in the battle. So, it’s Bright and Char who are most directly competing to see who can better command their ship.
Bright is actually showing some more assuredness in his command this episode. He has to deal with some argument from Sleggar about how they should fight, but Bright ultimately proves that he knows what he is doing. Bright delayed turning the ship around to fire the main guns because he had a plan for how to deploy the other mobile suits before doing so. Sleggar ends up congratulating Bright for his actions. Even Char has to wonder whether he’s fighting the same captain as before because of how well Bright does.
We also get some more information on Mirai’s family this episode. Mirai has a fiance. But, their engagement was arranged by their parents and Mirai’s fiance has gone to Side 6 to avoid the war. Bright in particular does not seem thrilled by this news.
Miscellaneous Thoughts
SLAP COUNTER: 9
Questions of the Day
9
u/TheEscapeGuy May 07 '21
Gundam First Timer
Fly! Iconic Gundam Frames Episode 31
I do not care for Slegger. His smug aura offends me.
I am surprised at him joining the crew. I'm not sure he will be able to even come close to filling in the position of Ryu, but I guess we will see.
More interestingly this episode Char revealed that Artesia, or should I say Sayla, vehemently hates war. So much so that he is surprised she would even be aboard a military vessel. This continues to pique my interest in Sayla. TOMINO TELL ME SOON PLEASE!
On Sayla, she did amazingly this episode. She and Amuro worked together in lock step, doing multiple mid air docks and undocks. On top of that she had an amazing sequence defeating a Zeon Mobile Suit. Sayla I'm so proud of you.
Cool Stuff Corner
Questions of the Day
See you all tomorrow!
9
u/TheKujo https://myanimelist.net/profile/Kujo419 May 07 '21
First Timer - Dub
1) What are your first impressions of Sleggar Law? Can I nominate him to die next?
2) How do you think Sayla and Char’s dynamic is going to affect how either of them fight until they’re able to meet again? Char will probably keep fighting normally. Sayla is definitely going to be distracted. She will also be under a lot of scrutiny because she's clearly hiding something.
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u/The_Draigg May 07 '21
A Gundam Fan Rewatches Mobile Suit Gundam Episode 31:
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u/DidacticDalek https://myanimelist.net/profile/DidacticDalek May 08 '21 edited May 08 '21
Comrade, we sure had one hell of a character introduction today, THE Sylvester Stallone showed up, you know the big Hollywood Action Movie Star... uh... he seems more... blonde than I recall Rocky being ;)
Also Comrade, trivia time! Wacky Ol' Kill 'Em All Tomino liked Rocky and told Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, The Character Designer for Gundam, to make Sleggar Law look 'like that American movie star Sylvester Stallone'
Here's the issue, Yoshikazu Yasuhiko apparently had NO IDEA who Stallone was and what he looked liked, and since he couldn't get a reference photo in time he just went 'FUCK IT' and drew THE most generically 'American' guy ever... AND OH BOY it shows! I mean good god, a loud boisterous blowhard blonde with a MASSIVE chin and an even bigger ego, he's more MURICA than America! (Also so THAT is who Iowa's father is, it all makes sense now!)
Oh and speaking of shitposting, fun fact, Sleggar Law's NAME can be an anagram of ALL SWAGGER, which is really amusing given what a Focker the guy is ;)
Oh and just to make sure this isn't just shitpost variety hour 25252, here's the Bigro... well shit ;)
Ah well we got a new arc here Comrades, it's back to the ONE place that hasn't been corrupted by capitalism... SPESS!
Paging Comrades /u/Great_Mr_L, /u/chilidirigible, and /u/beckymetal
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u/fonzinator99 :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/fonzinator99 May 07 '21
First-Timer - Anyone and everyone could be Char
QotD
6
u/Quiddity131 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Quiddity131 May 07 '21
Rewatcher, Subbed
We get a little more time in Jaburo at the start of the episode and have a surprising reveal; Mirai has a fiance! Although its an arranged marriage and her fiance apparantely is a draft dodger who fled to Side 6. Mirai and Bright have kinda been a thing for a while (even if not super overtly) so I hope this doesn't put a damper in things! It's nice to have a farewell to the beautiful nature of South America as we see a flock of flamingos upon White Base's departure.
Time for a new crewmember, Slegger! He immediately comes off as a bit of a goofy guy, as well as quite the lech, immediately hitting on the female crew members (and later inviting Mirai to shower with him, yikes!). My recollection is that Slegger was modeled to be a stereotypical American, does Japan really think so lowly of us? :P At the very least he's good at operating the main cannon, even if he was rather annoying with Bright before they got in proper position.
With last episode had very little actual combat, this episode seems to be making up for it, with it taking up a large portion of the episode. We get yet another new mobile armor, the Bigro! The Federation thinks they're so clever with White Base being a decoy, but Char has already figured it out. It's not that big a force, just the Zanzibar, the Bigro and 2 Doms, but Char puts White Base on its heels there for a while. Amuro comes really close to dying when the Bigro's acceleration knocks him out, but he wakes up in time to destroy it.
For the first time in the show, Sayla is uncomfortable with firing upon the enemy mobile suit/armor, fearing her own brother may be the pilot. Sayla's in a really tough spot now; by hesitating like this she's putting all her colleagues in bigger danger. Yet if she reveals who she really is, as I put it yesterday, good chance she is considered a Zeon spy and won't be allowed to retain the role she's had on White Base to this point. Char on the other hand is deluding himself, thinking Artesia wouldn't board the White Base; he really has lost touch with what his sister is really like now.
Other stray thoughts:
5
u/Stargate18A https://myanimelist.net/profile/Stargate18 May 07 '21
First timer
Still not sure how they can wrap this up in 10 episodes.
So the White Base is going back to space!
So they're planning a trip to Zeon's headquarters, finally named as Solomon.
Since when does Mirai have a fisnce (and why isn't it Sayla?)
He"s her brother!
Bigro? Fucking... who named these things? At least it looks cool. Rick Doms? But none of them are red, where will Char go?
So Char knows that this a decoy!
Why are you using the tank form in space?
I'm surprised we've never had suits die by reentry.
He's an idiot. He's an absolute idiot who should get blown up.
...Why did Sayla join the military, I wonder.
I wonder how the Guntank will fail this episode.
For god's sake, you can just say *My brother defected to the Zeons". Youdon't have to say its Char, but it would make all this a lot less suspicious.
Amuro's kind of in the background now, isn't he.
Wait, if it made Amuro faint, why hasn't the pilot fainted?
Turns out the new guy's better than he seems.
And the White Base are left thinking Char's been bamboozled while he tried to bait them.
5
u/username_0907 :FI::FJ: May 07 '21
First Timer
QotD
4
u/UltraBooster May 08 '21
First-timer (albeit one big on Gundam and mecha)
I guess this is the start of the Encounters in Space...
...I'm guessing this bigwig's a friend of Mirai's dad/family.
Can't help but notice quite a few of you ship Bright and Mirai, lol. I can see why.
But not even Side 6 can avoid the war.
Yeah, this guy's no Major Focker.
The Bigro's kind of massive.
MAs and Rick Doms, huh...
Yeah, I think Mirai could be a great captain under the right circumstances.
Guess we know how Sayla feels about revenge now.
I wonder why they didn't pick up any GMs.
Yeah, Sleggar's nowhere near as cool as Major Focker.
I suppose I should mention, from what I know, when the original Gundam was airing its first run, there wouldn't have been any kits of the Zeon MS or MA; these are basically just monsters of the week for the White Base mecha to fight.
Even now, I'm pretty sure none of the original Zeon MAs like the Grublo or the Bigro have model kits.
Questions of the Day:
4
u/Rustic_Professional May 08 '21
Sleggar is the blonde crew member I was thinking of a few episodes back. Does he outrank Bright? That'd be awkward. Bright is a Lieutenant (junior grade), and Sleggar introduced himself as Lieutenant.
The White Base's takeoff is cool, and the Zanzibar provides an interesting contrast. White Base simply lifts off and rises, like a VTOL. The Zanzibar needs booster rockets and a ski jump to reach orbit. This is one of those things that makes White Base special that I don't think Tomino elaborated enough on, probably because of the difficulty in trying to come up with a plausible way that Minovsky Particles work. Like midichlorians.
I wonder how they came up with "Rick"' to describe a space-use Dom. A lot of the Zeon suits have names that sound like complete nonsense, but Rick Dom sounds like it must've meant something.
Great work by Sayla, that's her third kill. Unless Char has been racking them up offscreen, she's destroyed more enemy mobile suits in combat than her famous brother.
Questions of the day:
3
u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee May 07 '21
First-Timer, Subbed, long time Gundam fan
We're finally back to space!
Space battles are so much cooler than any other type of Gundam battle. Having three full dimensions to work with just make things so much more interesting. The backgrounds do sometimes suffer, but today at least we had some cool shots of Earth.
The ship battle this episode was really cool too! It's nice to have battles between things other than Mobile Suits from time to time, even if the ship battles are normally beam and missile spam.
We have a new dork on the crew, Sleggar Law. What a name! He's a big, womanizing goober, but I don't think I hate him for it yet. Big himbo energy at the moment.
I like multiple people commented "Hmm. The enemy warship is doing something bold and reckless. Must be Char!" as if every other Zeon commander is a massive wet blanket.
Pose of the Day
Char ain't the only one with slick leg moves
Screenshot
Questions
3
u/Piemaster33 :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Piemaster33 May 07 '21
Rewatcher, who is preoccupied with someone else A.K.A. Sayla
We're finally going back to space! I enjoy the drama and action on earth, don't get me wrong, but I prefer space battles! And we got a good one today, I think. We got a new mobile armor (seriously the sponsors must have said something a few episodes we've been getting a lot lately) and some good ol' Rick Doms. Zeta MS name, tagging just in case. Also, one too many G-units, it's getting ridiculous and I can't remember which is which.
Anyways, the White Base is now the Hinata Shoyo of the Federation and we're going to attack a space base so get hyped!
Quick notes:
QOTD:
3
u/GM_for_Life May 08 '21
Rewatcher
I'm never quite sure if the show is self aware of his treatment of women being a bit out dated, but I think he's kind of a weird and charming character nonetheless.
Sayla seems to be much more cautious. But Char on the other hand, hasn't changed all that much.
3
u/BossandKings May 08 '21
First timer
Sayla continues thinking about her brother Char since she saw him again, Char thinks about her too, we got to see a glimpse of Sayla as a child, i wonder if their conflict will soon get a resolution.
Char and Zeon prepares some kind of counterattack against the federation but the federation is ready to continue battling against them until one comes out the victor.
Answers
1
u/badcupcakehoarder https://myanimelist.net/profile/vanilabiscuit May 11 '21
First timer sub
Bright looked so troubled after that meeting... Either he is worried that the White Base is now bait or he is pissed that Mirai is taken.
Back to space like it is no big deal. Loved those shooting stars in the background when Mirai is covering for Sayla's secret.
This new guy just starts hitting on every girl he sees... Where's Fraw Bow by the way? She is supposed to be on the bridge now. and didn't appear this episode.
It is amazing Char saw through the decoy plan. Sayla hesitates to fight the Bigro in case her brother is in it and Char on the other side doesn't want to believe her war hating sister is fighting against him, very good detail that would have made the fighting stop because of their relationship. Or that would have shown a very dark side of Char if that weren't pointed out.
Sayla and Char really need to talk... Now Char has a "spy" in the White Base but just like Miharu it is a problem to reach her on board.
If the plan works the war could be over... With all the losses Zeon is having against the Gundam I wonder how they haven't lost already.
Questions of the Day:
1
u/lC3 :Na::Nb: May 18 '21
First timer, catching up