The story is of a divided world engaged in heavy fighting. A secret organization called Celestial Being, armed with 4 Gundams, begin "armed intervention" - to "eradicate war from the world through force." They have a noble cause, but draw the ire of all of Earth's military groups.
The story starts off a bit far-fetched and similar Gundam Wing. I was surprised to find that Wikipedia agreed with me on this as well, haha. But after you get used to it and start to get a grasp of the characters, you (read: I) get really into it. The story seriously picks up after the midway point. This can be shown by the fact that I just watched the last 8-9 episodes today when i started 5 days ago.
In the words of Griz from 30 Rock, "It's like a rollercoaster ride of emotions in here." And what a ride! What really sucks though is that I can't even say I'm satisfied. The finale was intense, don't get me wrong. But...why did they turn out like this for everyone?!
There's no way I can fully restrain myself from telling spoilers, so if you plan to watch it stop now.
SPOILER ALERT
1. First and foremost, the characters (and young lovers), Saji and Louise (girl). I thought that they were so irrelevant. And indeed, they still were up until the end. But their story is shown more as the innocent civilian who is forced to live through, and survive, the "war" with the Gundams. Louise is an annoying girl who comes from an affluent family. She's a very needy girl who pushes Saji around, but I admit they make a pretty fun couple.
As the story progresses, Louise leaves for home to attend a family wedding. During the wedding, an enemy Gundam opens fire on the ceremony on a whim - killing the whole family and everyone in attendance, except for Louise (go figure). Upon hearing the news, Saji flies to Louise, who is hospitalized. Saji remembers that Louise once asked him to buy her an expensive ring, which Saji could not afford - but worked his ass off to buy it and bring it to her. At the hospital, Louise tells Saji, "The ring is so beautiful, but I cannot wear it." and starts to cry. When Saji asks why not, Louise reveals to him that her left hand has been blown off as a result of the attack.
After several more heart-wrenching scenes, Louise tells Saji to return to home and go back to school. It was Saji's dream to work in space and that he should work towards that dream for the both of them. Saji reluctantly returns. In the epilogue, it is revealed that Saji does indeed end up working in space, but also that Louise stopped keeping in contact with Saji. Her story is not known, but she is shown later with one of the surviving Gundam pilots. Their love story is very sad indeed.
2. The "relationship" between the Gundam pilot Lockon (guy) and Felt (girl) is one of those...unspoken loves...the would've could'ves that never were because...Lockon dies in battle. With the intention of avenging his family, who died in a terrorist attack in Europe, Lockon gives chase to his target (who was responsible for his family's death).
Lockon, who specializes in sniping and recently lost his sniping eye in a previous battle, is outgunned but puts up an outstanding fight. After his Gundam is blown up, he sends his robotic companion, Haro, to return to the mothership with the Gundam remains. Meanwhile, Lockon decides to take out the enemy mobile suit without having one himself, and with an amazing display of resourcefulness, severely damages his enemy, forcing him to retreat. However, Lockon dies in the ensuing explosions as a result.
Meanwhile, everyone on the mothership receives transmission that Lockon's mobile suit is returning. For a moment, they think that everyone is safe, not knowing that Lockon is not inside. However, Haro begins transmission, saying only, "Lockon! Lockon! Lockon!" Knowing something was amiss, everyone realizes that Lockon has died, being the first of the pilots to die. Lockon was my favorite pilot, too.
3. Another Gundam pilot, Allelujah (peaceful), with split personality Hallelujah (violent), was created to be a "supersoldier" on earth. As a result, he ends up with an alter ego. (You can tell who is who by the way his hair is parted.) As a kid, Hallelujah took over and goes on a murder spree at the facility he was created in, and is rejected as a failed experiment.
Throughout the series, Allelujah often engages in battle with another supersoldier just like him by the codename Soma. Whenever he comes into contact with her, however, Hallelujah appears. The two personalities often fight with each other, but in the finale, they both come to terms and agree that they must fight together to live. In a final display of cooperation, H/Allelujah throws his hair back so that you cannot tell who is who anymore. They end up "defeating" his supersoldier rival, but also finds out that Soma is in fact someone from his past, but is never revealed who exactly.
Badly injured and floating in space, Hallelujah tells Allelujah, in Full Metal Alchemist-fashion, "I'm going first." It is unclear what happens to Allelujah, but it appears as though he survives.
4. There's a lot more, but it would be too difficult to tell all the backstory. Plus I'm now put at ease, having written all of that. Phew. Great anime...great anime. *salute*
Mission Incomplete! Get ready for season 2 in Oct 2008!
1 comment:
That's a lot of anime!
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