Recap

Domon finally finds Rain in the heart of the Devil Gundam. The pair are confronted with their feelings and finally become honest with each other.

This was it, the culmination of so much effort, and I have to say the long wait was worth it. Domon’s final charge on the Devil Gundam was inspiring to watch. All this emotion built up over his experiences the last year came through and he was able to persevere all the way into the core. The Burning finger has been used a lot in this show, but it’s still inspiring to hear him shout it every time in pursuit of his goals. Every wall he pushed through was a barrier keeping him from the only thing that mattered to him, and the Burning Finger has drilled a hole towards his dreams throughout the entire tournament. I do wish the Shuffle Alliance didn’t get dispatched so easily, but from the Tournament it has always been obvious that they’ve been a little under Domon’s power level.

Outside, though, was where things got much more bleak. Despite the inspiring spirit the united federation’s leap into space had, they only had setback after setback as they tried in vain to stop the Devil Gundam. Allenby’s power was great, but it seems like nothing can stop the Devil Gundam at full power. Not even Kyral could stand against such terrific power. As I saw parts of earth get ravaged, I was reminded of just how real the human toll of this Gundam Fight had been. Speaking of Allenby, it was tough to see her have to give that final push to Domon. They’d grown so close over the Gundam Fight that they really did make a cute pair. You could tell she was trying her hardest not to cry and focus on fighting the battle on the outside.

I’ll have to admit, I shed some tears at the romantic reunion between Domon and Rain. Rain’s apprehension due to the pain her family had caused Domon, that misunderstanding leading to her shutting herself away. It’s such a tragic scene that really brings this final arc together. The subtle undertones that had been coursing through this story since the very onset finally burst into life as Domon bore his heart for all to see. Never since the Rose of Versailles had I seen such passion from a japanimation. The sekiha love love tenkyoken will be an indelible image that will last the test of time in anime. As Domon rides off into tomorrow, we know a better future will await them as long as they tackle it together.

Final Thoughts

G Gundam was the greatest show I have ever seen. So much passion, so much drive, it is the culmination of everything the UC isn’t and I couldn’t be happier. For once, Gundam has tried something new and branched into ostensibly a Super Robot show, and the experiment passed with flying colors. G Gundam is such a spectacle to watch because, with the limitless power the Shining and Burning Gundam held, every episode could deliver a new surprise and a heightened feeling of action. If only we could get more shows devoted just to close quarters Gundam fights, that would be awesome.

I think one of the most impressive things about G Gundam was its colorful interpretation of world cultures and national symbols. So many nations were on display, and each of them was given a particular flair that brought the show to life. From the awesome Neo America with its star shaped colony and football player robot to the creative India colony based on mythology, it was like seeing a new exhibit at Epcot every week. We even had a Canadian lumberjack piloting a lumberjack Gundam, is that fun or what? That’s not to say every design was for the best. While I absolutely loved its sombrero and poncho, I feel the Tequila Gundam lacked some cultural sensitivity in naming. My friend Juan would be proud to be represented by something with such national pride, but I feel like something like Cactus Gundam would have been much more fitting.

Another thing that came with such exotic locales was a great ensemble cast of characters from around the world. The Shuffle Alliance were by far the biggest part of the story, and for the most part they did well as Domon’s rivals and friends. My only complaint is in the character of George. He has much less of a stake in the Gundam Fight as the other Shuffle members, and he always seemed the most demonstrably weak of the bunch. Next to Chibodee and Saisaishi and their dreams or Argo and his crew, fighting for honor and country seems paltry. Still, they do work off each other well. Even the tertiary gundam pilots usually had distinctive styles that made them stand out from the pack. The only one I never quite got was Neo Portugal, as an evil clown just seemed out of nowhere even for a goofy series like this.

Of course, talk of this show would be nothing without the Undefeated of the East, Master Asia. From the very beginning he was such a dominating force in this show. I really love how he illustrated the departure from more realistic Gundams as his entrance saw him taking out three mobile suits single handedly. In the beginning he seems like just a token villain, but it’s through the gundam tournament that we see the suffering man under his villainous facade. He truly cared for the earth, and only saw the Gundam Fight as a destructive force towards people who had already seen so much suffering. While his aims were admirable, he was corrupted by his own pride. By siding with the Dark Gundam, he was participating in an even more heinous act of destruction than the Gundam Fight could ever create. By the end, he was swayed back to the right side, and even still found it in his heart to make sure Domon became stronger.

Beyond the supporting characters, we had a great main pair in Domon and Rain. While it just seemed like they were work associates in the beginning, we slowly were teased both about their shared past and also their budding feelings as they spent time together in the Gundam Fight. I was surprised to see such a strong romance in an otherwise manly show. I’m glad I got to scratch my itch for engaging romance while also watching awesome robot battles. The end was a touching reunion, showing that the power of love can overcome any obstacle.

G Gundam should be a series remembered for a long time. It had such an unbridled sense of fun to its action and plot. You could tell that first and foremost, the writers wanted to tell a story that would connect with children and adults alike. I knew that every week, I was going to get a show that would make me smile. In an age of gritty sci-fi with its head up its ass trying to tell “complicated narratives”, sometimes you just want a show that you can enjoy with all your heart. With any luck, the success of G Gundam will usher in a new age of fun, dynamic Gundams that put visual flair above obtuse storytelling.