Gundam GQuuuuuuX Ep 3 Review: The First Battle
Back from the One Year War, we return to the present day with Machu and Nyyan as our precious tomato gremlin plunge into her first Clan Battle. But to participate, you gotta have a partner – your Mav – so to speak. And Machu’s opponent never expected that for their Mobile Suit Fight Club, they have to go up against not one…but TWO Gundams!
After the shenanigans last episode, Machu brought the GQuuuuuuX back for the Pomeranians to inspect. And here we get a pretty interesting details (not sure if it’s just a fun throwaway joke but…) where one of the guys commented on the GQuuuuuuX having “teeth”. Well, it could be simple metal “protrusion” orrrrrrr it could be some pretty funky plot gimmick down the line. As we saw in the OP, the GQuuuuuuX mouth might hide more than it shows *wink*. And if the GQuuuuuuX actually has a Crossbone Gundam or Devil Gundam gimmick, it’s gonna bring us one step closer to the Eva-02 Beast Mode expy. But hey, time will tell.
The leader of the Pomes – Anki – asked Machu if she wanted to do Clan Battle. Machu was perplexed about the idea but Anki seems pretty sure that Machu will accept down the line. Anki – being a captain and mother-figure expy from Nadia (Captain Grandis), seems to have an eye for people and knows more than what she let on. She definitely knows Machu has the potential to become a great pilot. Although I’m not sure if she’s just here for the Clan Bat to make money, or something larger down the line.
Machu returned home and we met her mother for the first time. This is probably one of the few times where we met a parents of a protagonist who isn’t immediately got put in danger or some other screwed-up situations. I guess Kira’s adoptive parents count but they are extremely irrelevant to the story, while Machu’s mom might not. She works in the administration under *drum rolls* Cameron Bloom – our favorite cuckboi from Gundam 0079. Well he looks good here but still has the same sniveling attitude. I wonder if he got together with Mirai in this timeline. But eh, there’s a better daddy we can focus on.
The leader of the Pomes – Anki – asked Machu if she wanted to do Clan Battle. Machu was perplexed about the idea but Anki seems pretty sure that Machu will accept down the line. Anki – being a captain and mother-figure expy from Nadia (Captain Grandis), seems to have an eye for people and knows more than what she let on. She definitely knows Machu has the potential to become a great pilot. Although I’m not sure if she’s just here for the Clan Bat to make money, or something larger down the line.
Machu returned home and we met her mother for the first time. This is probably one of the few times where we met a parents of a protagonist who isn’t immediately got put in danger or some other screwed-up situations. I guess Kira’s adoptive parents count but they are extremely irrelevant to the story, while Machu’s mom might not. She works in the administration under *drum rolls* Cameron Bloom – our favorite cuckboi from Gundam 0079. Well he looks good here but still has the same sniveling attitude. I wonder if he got together with Mirai in this timeline. But eh, there’s a better daddy we can focus on.
Aside from the main cast, this episode also put quite heavy focus on Challia Bull – our Zeon commander with insane drips. Dude just took the White Base – now called Sodon – and smashed the gate into the Colony – and parked it in the sky (It’s free real estate!). While his subordinates freak out at every decision he made, he went ahead and did everything BY THE BOOK to bail out Xavier. And looks extremely good while doing so. I can appreciate all the middle-aged men fashionistas in Gundam. Speaking of Xavier, dude must be absolutely crushed right now, since his first sortie under the renown Challia Bull was a complete failure. He’s a trained military pilot, but he got trounced by kids – twice in a row. We can certainly blame it on his inexperience but this would sting him quite a bit. Let’s see if Challia can get his confidence level up again.
Episode 3 also complete the the introduction of our trio protagonist(s). This episode shows us Shuji – the boy who pilot the Red Gundam. Shuji is basically the Banksy of the series, going around painting graffiti of the Kira-Kira Newtype space that Machu saw previously. It is a mystery how he got his hands on the Gundam 6 years later after Char’s disappearance. Furthermore, he seems to be a very quirky boy with some sociopathic traits. Well, just barely. He doesn’t have any money (since his graffiti probably doesn’t pay that well), so he got nothing to pay DeliEats I mean Nyyan’s smuggling service. However, he seems to be able to “communicate” with the Red Gundam, and it’s highly likely that he is a Newtype as well. His behaviour is pretty erratic but in a deadpan way. I burst out laughing when he just basically did the Apollo move on Machu – sniffing her and patting her head. And Machu wasn’t even that against it. Well she was surprised as hell but she didn’t kick Shuji’s butts or go crazy like another certain girl from Khara. I’d say Machu’s reaction towards him is pretty cute, and might be a stroke of heart-throb for sure. With both of their ability to enter the mind’s space of Newtype, I expect them to be very closely intertwined in the upcoming episode – like Char and Amuro, or Haman and Judau, etc… for those kinds of Newtype couple.
Episode 3 also complete the the introduction of our trio protagonist(s). This episode shows us Shuji – the boy who pilot the Red Gundam. Shuji is basically the Banksy of the series, going around painting graffiti of the Kira-Kira Newtype space that Machu saw previously. It is a mystery how he got his hands on the Gundam 6 years later after Char’s disappearance. Furthermore, he seems to be a very quirky boy with some sociopathic traits. Well, just barely. He doesn’t have any money (since his graffiti probably doesn’t pay that well), so he got nothing to pay DeliEats I mean Nyyan’s smuggling service. However, he seems to be able to “communicate” with the Red Gundam, and it’s highly likely that he is a Newtype as well. His behaviour is pretty erratic but in a deadpan way. I burst out laughing when he just basically did the Apollo move on Machu – sniffing her and patting her head. And Machu wasn’t even that against it. Well she was surprised as hell but she didn’t kick Shuji’s butts or go crazy like another certain girl from Khara. I’d say Machu’s reaction towards him is pretty cute, and might be a stroke of heart-throb for sure. With both of their ability to enter the mind’s space of Newtype, I expect them to be very closely intertwined in the upcoming episode – like Char and Amuro, or Haman and Judau, etc… for those kinds of Newtype couple.
Then we finally came to the Clan Bat. Of course Machu would return to the Pomeranians and participate. And her Mav is none other than Shuji in his Red Gundam. I really like that they put some emphasis on actual fighter tactics in the series – introducing the Wingman-style MAV system. In case you didn’t know, MAV in Japanese is pronounce ‘Mabu’ – which is from the word “Mabudachi” meaning “true friends”. It is a duo system where a team of two watch each other’s back. This tactic is pretty common in military settings, and in Gundam as well, but this is the first time we see it introduced as a major concept and have some heavy emphasis on it. Furthermore, if you know Muv-Luv (Mabu-Rabu), this series also has a very prominent “Mav” system – called the Element. Two units working in tandem, watching out for each other’s six and support one another. I don’t know if it’s where they got the name from, but it would be cool if it is.
Well, Mav system is cool and all, and the other side’s pilot is pretty good with their coordination and tactics, and it seems they are experienced pilot. However, nothing can trump the power of literal plot-armor of Newtype-shenanigans. We did see Machu and Shuji struggle at first because this is the first time they have fought together in a proper battle. Shuji seems to have much more experience piloting the Gundam, but Machu has the GQuuuuuuX’s omega psycommu system so it moves exactly how she wants it to. The only issue is they have no concept of Mav tactics etc… But thanks to the brief Kira-Kira Ultraspace. Machu and Shuji was able to turn the fight in their favor by using some pretty insane tactics. Machu really reminds me of Ryouma here with how she swing the Heat Hawk lol. And her demeanor while freaking out and when she’s determined also remind me of the infamous tsundere Asuka from Evangelion.
And also, another big surprise from this episode. We got a new insert song – by none other than Horimachi Suisei! Suisei has got TWO songs for the series now, the first is the ending song “I don’t care anymore” and this time it’s “Bloom in the Night” and they are both bangers! It’s kinda funny too since she’s the “Blue Comet” and Shuji’s hair is blue and he’s piloting the “Red Comet” Gundam. I’m looking forward to more bangers from the series.
=Aaron=
Well, Mav system is cool and all, and the other side’s pilot is pretty good with their coordination and tactics, and it seems they are experienced pilot. However, nothing can trump the power of literal plot-armor of Newtype-shenanigans. We did see Machu and Shuji struggle at first because this is the first time they have fought together in a proper battle. Shuji seems to have much more experience piloting the Gundam, but Machu has the GQuuuuuuX’s omega psycommu system so it moves exactly how she wants it to. The only issue is they have no concept of Mav tactics etc… But thanks to the brief Kira-Kira Ultraspace. Machu and Shuji was able to turn the fight in their favor by using some pretty insane tactics. Machu really reminds me of Ryouma here with how she swing the Heat Hawk lol. And her demeanor while freaking out and when she’s determined also remind me of the infamous tsundere Asuka from Evangelion.
And also, another big surprise from this episode. We got a new insert song – by none other than Horimachi Suisei! Suisei has got TWO songs for the series now, the first is the ending song “I don’t care anymore” and this time it’s “Bloom in the Night” and they are both bangers! It’s kinda funny too since she’s the “Blue Comet” and Shuji’s hair is blue and he’s piloting the “Red Comet” Gundam. I’m looking forward to more bangers from the series.
=Aaron=
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