Gundam 00 2 x 2-3

[rachelmanija]

I am liking this very much. I also appreciate that so far and unlike season 1, this season has zero fanservice, and all the military and paramilitary women are dressed appropriately.



2x2

A good solid episode, but my very favorite bit was the blink-and-you-missed-it shot of Allelujah, imprisoned and wearing a Hannibal Lector mask, muttering, “Marie.” Marie was one of the psychic kids who was killed, right? Or possibly the not-dead Soma’s real name…

Everyone’s reactions to Lyle are breaking my heart. Especially Haro’s. I wonder if there is more to his identity than meets the eye, or if in this universe there are identical little brothers.

So Louise’s arm couldn’t regenerate due to Gundam sparkle exposure. Maybe that’s also why she can be a pilot.

Loving Paku Romi as Ribbons’ very knowing confederate.

Also loved the 00 power-up. What’s better than Gundam sparkles? Glowing sparkly tentacles of light! Setsuna must be a very happy young man right now.

2x3

Allelujah was in a straightjacket for four years?! Yikes. The bruises under his eyes make me want to hug him and pet him. I guess even Tieria felt that way too, because he was shockingly nice. We’ll see how long that lasts. I note that Allelujah now has one gray eye and one gold one. I am not sure we’ve seen the last of his split personality— and Soma/Marie might have one too! Excellent.

I really like what they’re doing with Lyle – the heartbreaking/funny double-takes everyone keeps doing at him and his impatience with yet another one of them, his double life with the rebels, the disconcerting and possibly suspicious ease with which he slips into his brother’s role.

Did anyone really think Sumeragi could walk away from a crew who needed her? Not me, floating beer cans and "woe is me" fainting couch notwithstanding.

Setsuna’s conversations with her and the ever-boring Saji displayed a lot of no doubt hard-won maturity. And good for Setsuna for giving Saji a privilege check. I am sorry Saji’s sister was killed and Louise became a one-handed, drug-addicted, crazy pilot – he certainly has legitimate grievances— but the whole world was not a wonderful peaceful place before Celestial Being showed up, and I’m glad the former child soldier Setsuna pointed that out.

Pilot insanity ratings: Shockingly low! Almost non-existent! It’s like everyone got a sanity-up.

Current candidates for imminent crack-up: Louise (this is your brain on drugs), Soma/Marie (possible split personality, apparent amnesia, migraine-like flashbacks), Allelujah (two-colored eyes may indicate continuing personality split, Marie obsession, and possible PTSD via 4-year imprisonment.)

Crack: The random pastel and pink rainbow during the prison break was pretty good.

Politics: Ribbons is apparently masterminding the Earth Federation faction, which is battling both the Cataron rebels and Celestial Being. The latter two seem to be dancing around an alliance. Lyle is reporting to Cataron while with Celestial Being, and Wang Liu Mei is reporting to Celestial Being. Marina Ismail is still nowhere near as cool as Lacus, but at least not as annoying as Relena.

Comments

[rilina.livejournal.com]

I remember boggling at how nice Tieria was being! Tieria, of all pilots!

Paku Romi is always a treat.

Um, when you get to episode 8, I think we should have a phone call and watch it together. Because it is AWESOMESAUCE.

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

You're on!

Could be pretty soon...

[greenapple2004.livejournal.com]

I feel like the fact that the great mastermind's name is RIBBONS deserves its own special crack category. :-) And that the fansubs I was watching for season 1 refused to acknowledge that fact, and called him "Libbrons," "Livrons," Libones," and other variants for the full series.

But yeah, considering how totally underwhelmed I was by season 1, I thought season 2 of 00 was remarkably grounded and compelling. Good stuff! And Setsuna grows into his voice.

Side note--
Highlights of Anime Expo: 1. Kouga Yun. 2. The dude cosplaying Ali Al-Saarchez REALLY REALLY WELL. 3. Kouga Yun totally fangirling Ali Al-Saarchez.

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

Are there photos???

I would totally agree with you about Ribbons the Big Bad, except that I just hit the reveal of Masked!Insane!Graham's new code name, which is MISTER BUSHIDO.

[greenapple2004.livejournal.com]

True that. :-) I'm not even sure they ever really explain the name, either. Except the obvious CRACK rationale.

Kouga-sensei was getting tons of photos taken, but there was a verbal prohibition during her panel against posting them on the 'net, so they may be hard to come by, but Mr. Al-Saarchez was there because of a cosplay contest Bandai was running: http://www.acparadise.com/acp/contests.php?cid=32