Mobile Suit Gundam AGE

[reeoyuy]

Didn't watch G-Saviour, Gundam is anime, not a live-action B-movie.

But it's UC (at least it was back then). My point is, just because it is UC doesn't mean it always good. First half of ZZ is another example. I bet many people will suddenly interested in AGE if Sunrise confirmed that AGE takes place in late UC, just because it's UC .

I can't get over the aesthetic choices they made for this and it's all very tired, hero sees loved one get killed, boy hero gets in mech, see where I'm going with this? 00 appealed to me somewhat, but I didn't watch more than a few episodes.

I see you are describing Gundam Unicorn there, with Banagher saw his long separated dad killed and he get into the Gundam. So a cliche is forgiven if it's UC then ?

Yes, it's the same with AGE, but 7 years passed after Flit saw his mom dead in front of him. And he made the Gundam himself not accidentally stumbled upon it like many UC protagonists. Plus he took initiative to pilot it since the original pilot got injured. Not forced or anything. Again, unlike most UC protagonists.

[Macross_Fanboy]

But it's UC (at least it was back then). My point is, just because it is UC doesn't mean it always good. First half of ZZ is another example. I bet many people will suddenly interested in AGE if Sunrise confirmed that AGE takes place in late UC, just because it's UC .

I see you are describing Gundam Unicorn there, with Banagher saw his long separated dad killed and he get into the Gundam. So a cliche is forgiven if it's UC then ?

Yes, it's the same with AGE, but 7 years passed after Flit saw his mom dead in front of him. And he made the Gundam himself not accidentally stumbled upon it like many UC protagonists. Plus he took initiative to pilot it since the original pilot got injured. Not forced or anything. Again, unlike most UC protagonists.

Yes, ZZ sucked at the beginning, and Banagher's dad wasn't much of a dad unlike the wide-eyed kid in AGE who's motive is more clear in that regard. Banagher isn't fighting to avenge his dad. Regardless, I can't watch AU very much at all.

[azrael]

Stick to topic kids.

Unicorn talk? -> http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?showtopic=29042

Every show before Gundam AGE talk? -> http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?showtopic=18457

Search is your friend.

[VF-15 Banshee]

A Flash of Sorrow

We're almost to the end of the first arc now, and in typical Gundam fashion, we finish out with a dose of tragedy.

But before we get to that, some explanation is once again needed. I’m partly behind once again, considering that episode 15 just broadcast a few days ago. However, they were really slow in getting the English subs up, so I actually have only seen the episode raw. So, I’ll get caught up with 14 and do 15 later and then it’ll be time for my Gundam AGE half-time report… even though this is supposed to be the first third of this series…

In any case, on with the show! As I said, episode 14 delivers a tragedy that we saw coming from at least the previous couple of episodes. Some said Yurin was doomed the second she appeared on screen, and I guess they were right. The set-up is that the battle against the UE continues, and Flit has a Newtype moment (no X-Rounders here!) and goes off from the main battle. Here he runs into none other than Desil Galette, everyone’s favorite pocket-sized psychopath. Now, I gotta take a moment here and talk about Desil. When he first appeared all the way back in episode 5, I really hated this kid, mostly because he was this annoying little kid. But now I hate him for a whole different reason: he’s completely certifiable! This kid is the kind of kid that fries ants with a magnifying glass and enjoys it. No, that’s not quite right. This is the kind of kid that has deep and complex mental problems that result in him flaying the family cat alive. Desil is in the battle with Flit purely to have fun, blow things up and prove he’s better than Flit. And his secret weapon turns out to be none other than Yurin in her own customized pink mecha. ‘Cause, girls would totally pilot pink mobile suits… ‘cause they’re pink… and pink is for girls. Riiiiiigggghhhhhtttt.

Anyway, the Farsia is kind of neat because it’s the first AG mobiles suit we’ve seen with bits/funnels. And they do remind me somewhat of George DeSand’s rose bits from Mobile Fighter G Gundam. The kicker here is that either Yurin has no control over the Farsia or she does but is getting constantly overridden by Desil. The only reason she’s here is because apparently when two AG Newtypes are close to each other, their powers resonate. So basically she’s just a 1-Up mushroom for Desil. The fight itself is actually pretty well done, with Flit getting kicked around some but just when Desil is about to get the drop on him, Yurin breaks control and puts the Farsia between the two and gets her suit stabbed through the torso.

We then get to have a Flit/Yurin Newtype moment, but thankfully they do something fairly unique instead of weird naked Newtype space. Considering its Flit and Yurin, that’d be pretty pedo. What we get is Flit and Yurin in a forest, which gradually fades away as Yurin dies. Not too shabby, I would say. We shift back to reality where Yurin has a last line and then her helmet visor cracks and the Farsia ‘splodes. This of course, was Desil’s Big Mistake, and bragging about it doesn’t help as Flit goes into Gundam RAGE mode and absolutely decimates him. Remember future villains; don’t EVER kill the protagonist’s Newtype girlfriend.

Here, Desil’s childishness is reemphasized as he starts to lose, he begins to have a serious freak out, especially when the Age-1 does its glowing-eyes-rape-face-look. But instead of killing Desil, Flit tosses him off into space. I really don’t know why he did that besides the obvious answer to have Desil come back in the next arc.

All in all, even though the Newtype girlfriend death is one of the oldest tropes in Gundam, AGE manages to make it still tug at your heartstrings, especially when you consider that Flit has been ignoring Emily for quite a few episodes now. Really makes you wonder how their relationship in the next arc is going to be, but I’ll talk more about that in my “half-time show.” Also, even though this was the main focus of the episode, you still get some more moments with other characters here. Wuulf and Largan still cheat death even though I was kind of expecting at least Largan to die at this point. The Titus armor for the Gundam Age-1 makes a return appearance and gets trashed just like the Sparrow armor but at least it gets to awesomely ‘splode UE mechas and pulls a Superman.

The Diva has landed and the crew, led by the fearless DAT BEARD/Cool Hand Grodek, prepares to charge into battle, which may or may not be a good idea. And at the last, Yark Dole or whatever-the-crap-his-name-is, boards a monstrous looking mobile suit called the Defurze or something, which was apparently made for combat on Earth. Guess it’s time for the last hurrah.

[ron5864]

_{So in Episode 15, everyone realizes that the UE is not an alien race but decendents from the failed Mars Colonization Plan. And the Earth Federation cannot be trusted due to the colonization coverup. Time for members of the Diva to form their own group, like the Celestrial Being in Gundam 00.}

[Hikuro]

Dammit! You know I suddenly realized that about 10 years ago I created a fanfiction where there was a mars colonization and a rebelion and all that stuff. I should sue Bandai under the SOPA........oh wait it didn't pass nnnneeeevvvvveeeeerrrrrrmind.

"season 2" was a good intro. I can see where there could be a movie taking place between 15 and 16 maybe?

[Beltane70]

I'd say that Flit grew up pretty damn well! I also like the fact that Flit's son is a few years older than Flit was at the start of the series.

[VF-15 Banshee]

Regarding Flit's surprise daughter, do i even want to know what an "imouto fetish" is?

[anime52k8]

Regarding Flit's surprise daughter, do i even want to know what an "imouto fetish" is?

imouto = younger sister. see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ore_no_Im%C5%8Dto_ga_Konna_ni_Kawaii_Wake_ga_Nai

also, somehow I think this is related... to something...

[VF-15 Banshee]

Well, i was pretty sure I knew what imouto meant, but someone mentioned the fetish part as a joke, so I was wondering.

Also... THAT PICTURE!!! MAKE THE BURNING GO AWAY!!!

Gundam AGE Episode 15:

Those Tears Fall in Space

It's been a somewhat long journey from October 9, 2011 to this, the last episode of Flit's arc. It is here that we finally learn who the mysterious Unknown Enemy are... they're martians. No not the ones from War of the Worlds or Mars Attacks or any of that other stuff, but humans who had emigrated to a group of colonies which had been built in the Mars Sphere, which is a fairly new term for Gundam as we usually just deal with the Earth Sphere.

For those who might be kind WTF on what a Mars or Earth Sphere is, it is basically everything orbiting Earth and its five Lagrange Points, or in Mars' case, the martian Lagrange points. As for what a Lagrange point is, go look it up on Wikipedia, I aint your papa!

These martian colonists, who call themselves the Vegans, were abandoned out at Mars by the Federation (why are we not surprised?), or so explains Yark Dole, when the Diva crew confronts him inside Ambat's control center.

It seems that some kinda cosmic rays produced by Mars' electromagnetic field or something caused a disease amongst the martian colonist's population. The Federation then abandoned them and they were forced to survive on their own. Now they have returned to the Earthsphere to claim Earth for themselves. How spending 14 years blowing up colonies and such is supposed to help them achieve such a goal is a little confusing at this point but it's nice to know who the UE finally are, even though I think it's a tad early for that revelation. Maybe if this was a more linear show, but AGE's nature seems to be playing this off well enough for now.

Other things in this episode: Flit's palpable rage is nice, giving the character a bit of an edge that he's been lacking. Would he have really shot Yark if Grodek hadn't done it first? Well , earlier he did try to beam saber the guy

so I'm thinking he might actually have done it. But Grodek technically had the prior claim so he saves Flit the burden.

I also like how immediately afterward, Yark's son comes in and sees his murdered father and Grodek just gets up in his face and is like, "Yeah, I'm the motherfrakker who shot your dad for revenge. Welcome to my world."

I'm sure Grodek knew that with this kid seeing what he's done, that he'll have to accept the consequences of his actions as the UE have been made to feel theirs.

Flit's fight against Yark's Defurze mobile suit aka T-Rex Arms was a little disappointing but also goes to show how pumped up Flit is on anger.

Largan Drace actually not dying was pleasantly surprising. I'm glad AGE is avoiding at least a few tropes. Wuulf also isn't dead but there's yet another arc, so we'll see.

Also, the mention of this Sir Ezelcant, who's supposed to be the leader of the Vegans, has me a bit intrigued, as I want to know what this master plan of his is that's still kind of vague.

Emily and Flit also miss an opportunity to talk but I'm pretty sure she heard him mention Yurin. I have to wonder how this is going to affect their marriage in the future?

And now, the finale. In the aftermath of the Ambat operation, Grodek finally lets himself be arrested. During his court martial, he states emphatically that he threatened the Diva crew into going along with his plan and basically puts all the blame on himself. He's sentenced as a traitor and locked up and the Feddies take all the credit for Operation: Ambat Capture and it becomes know as the War of Bat Extermination. Um, what? WTF? The frak kinda name is that? Lastly Millais comments that this attitude of the Feddies' is what has caused this situation in the first place.

We close the episode with a shot of some Vegan superstructure in Mars orbit and a new Vegan ship heading to the earthsphere with two new Vegan characters that comment about Ezelcant's plan.

All in all, this was definitely one of the best episodes of AGE so far, following on from the last episode and keeping the pace going. And having just watched episode 16, I can now say that I'm extremely confident in AGE's future. So to all the haters and trolls: STFU (shut the frak up) and peace out!

[VF-15 Banshee]

Episode 17 was kinda ho-hum this week. Hopefully they ramp it up next time. And who here is sick of montages?

[ps99042]

I think I'm losing interest in AGE. The second story arc just started off as another play of the 1st story arc (though, granted I haven't seen ep 17). Animation is still good and I'm sure I'll keep watching it but they really gotta throw some twists in to get me hooked.

[reeoyuy]

Episode 17 was kinda ho-hum this week. Hopefully they ramp it up next time. And who here is sick of montages?

It is necessary to have an episode dedicated to Asem-Zeheart-Romary relationship. That's the focus of this gen. Since next week will be about graduation, and episode 19 will have Asem enlists to the Federation, episode 17 is the only moment it can do such thing. It will be strange if the ED clip shows the trio having fun together but we never saw those happy times in the actual show itself. I don't really mind montage either.

On Macross-related note, Emily now sounds a lot like Sheryl. Aya Endo must be relieved that she doesn't have to strain her voice anymore.

[Archer]

Speaking of all this, does anyone notice that zeheart(spelling?) seems to look a LOT like Wolf? I wonder if there is some hidden relation between the two characters...

[miles316]

Speaking of all this, does anyone notice that zeheart(spelling?) seems to look a LOT like Wolf? I wonder if there is some hidden relation between the two characters...

I thought wolf and zeheart poping out of a freezer was suspicious.

[VF-15 Banshee]

Speaking of all this, does anyone notice that zeheart(spelling?) seems to look a LOT like Wolf? I wonder if there is some hidden relation between the two characters...

I'm not sure, since his last name is Galette, same as Decil.

[azrael]

AGE-3 Normal

Not quite the whole ZZ-ish look that the preview image had us believe.

[electric indigo]

Say what you want about the show, but the MG AGE's box illustration is great

Considering how the MS designs got more complex in season 2, I was expecting something wilder for AGE-3.

[Archer]

I hate to say it, but it looks a LOT like the RX-78-2 --> Zeta --> ZZ Gundam progression, down the gimmicks....

[azrael]

Wear A and B seem to follow the ZZ-ish look more than the Normal look.

[wolfx]

After 3 eps i'm not impressed. Should i continue?

[VF-15 Banshee]

Do you mean the first three eps?

[wolfx]

Yeap.

[azrael]

After 3 eps i'm not impressed. Should i continue?

That I can't answer. After 15...or are we on 16...I can't remember...It's not bad. It's standard Gundam-fare. I'm interested in the multi-generational aspect of the story.

[Keith]

Somewhat interesting news. Bandai Visual just announced that they're including English subs with the AGE blurays. I'm still hoping for a surprise announcement about subs on the Macross & Gunbuster blurays...

[VF-15 Banshee]

If you still aren't impressed by episode 4... maybe skip ahead and watch 14. If that doesn't grab you then this show is not for you.

[ps99042]

Somewhat interesting news. Bandai Visual just announced that they're including English subs with the AGE blurays. I'm still hoping for a surprise announcement about subs on the Macross & Gunbuster blurays...

Wow, that's great news even though I'm not liking the show enough to buy it on imported Blu-Ray. Hopefully, it's a trend Bandai Visual continues...

[grss1982]

I hate to say it, but it looks a LOT like the RX-78-2 --> Zeta --> ZZ Gundam progression, down the gimmicks....

I was actually hoping for RX-78-2 ==> Zeta ==> Rx-93 or RX-0 especially with the X-Rounder abilities starting to be featured prominently.

[VF-15 Banshee]

Actually this episode was a lot better than the last one. This one had some actual character drama in it, capped off by Zeheart's big reveal. Looking forward to the next ep and what the spawn of Dique will be doing. Ah, that's probably too harsh, I'm sure she's going to be doing better than Dique did.

Oh and if Zeheart really is Decil's kid... how is he so well adjusted?!

[VF-15 Banshee]

So, Gundam AGE episode 20 and...y'know, I am getting just a little tired with the "The Red MS Goes 3x Faster" schtick.

[azrael]

So, Gundam AGE episode 20 and...y'know, I am getting just a little tired with the "The Red MS Goes 3x Faster" schtick.

Don't you know? In Gundam, red makes everything go faster.

[VF-15 Banshee]

Yes but most of the masked aces from the last twenty years haven't needed a red suit.

A little speculation:

Decil is absolutely chomping at the bit to get revenge but thinks Zehart's methods are too slow. So he arranges to have Emily and Unoa kidnapped and tells Flit that to get them back, he has to hand over the AGE System core. While a rescue is mounted, Decil goes to see Emily and Unoa to rub the proverbial salt into the wound. He tells them all about Yurin and speculates nastily that Emily was probably just second-best and that everything Flit is doing now is an elaborate scheme to get revenge for Yurin's death. And just to twist the knife a little, he tells Unoa she'd look much prettier with violet hair. Oh and tells them that Flit and Asemu will get to watch them die just like Yurin did.

[ps99042]

With the pregnant wife fully engaged in Final Fantasy 13-2, I finally got caught up on this series and I'm definitely losing interest. Characterization seems pretty minimal and things just seem to happen without really knowing why or what causes the event. I think the concepts and overall idea of the show are promising but I think the show would have been better if each generation lasted a full season of 26 episodes. Stil, I've already gone through 20 episodes so I guess I'm in it for the long haul.

[David Hingtgen]

Weltall-ID appears!

http://hobbynotoriko.yumenogotoshi.com/hg-zeydra-i.html

[ron5864]

First time I saw Zeheart with the yellowish glowing eyes, I thought Innovator. Then I heard him speak with Tieria Erde's voice and I thought....definitely Innovator.