Ninth Yells About Tekketsu Episodes 1 & 2

[ninthfeather]

 Watched the first episode of Gundam Tekketsu/Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans last night, and the second over lunch.  

 

So far I am thrilled, albeit with some reservations.  Spoilery observations under the cut.
 

 

Favorite Characters

Mikazuki: Illiterate child-soldier who’s been experimented on and yet retained unbreakable trust in his childhood friend?  He basically makes me want to hide him in a blanket fort and very carefully offer him hugs.  

 

Orga: I was gone the first time he smirked.  He’s Hannibal Smith from dystopia and that is beautiful.  And then, when he insisted that he was going to be the only one who would be getting beat up for their plan?  Yes, yes, good.

 

Crank Zent: I love it when they’re actually pissed off about the child soldiers, like they should be.  I hope he gets to die with honor (I’d hope he lives but this is Gundam, let’s be real).

 

Nady Yukinojo Kassapa: AKA the Old Man, the mechanic guy.  He was so sweet with Mika, the entire time.  Yay for at least one adult on Mars who isn’t a jerk.

 

What I loved most

Mika and Orga’s relationship: Okay, on one hand, unthinking trust normally worries me, but on the other hand, it’s very clear that these kids have no other constants in their lives and the fact that they have this, and it’s so natural to them, just hurts me.  These two are going to hurt me more in the future, too, I can see ways for the writers to do it, and I am just bracing myself.

 

How they showed that Mika couldn’t read: Nady handing him the manual, and him just sort of smiling kind of awkwardly, and Nady being, like, ‘Oh, right’ and talking about Mika being uneducated right afterward…it was so subtle, and so good.

 

Kudelia’s arc so far: Episode two and she’s already interrogating her stance on things based on what she’s seen.  As opposed to most of the Gundam “princesses” (ladies with pretty clothes and political power/actual titles) who are usually still stuck at the “I’m right and you should listen” or “Oh gosh this is all too awful it can’t really be this bad” stage at this point in the series.  May she keep moving forward!

 

The social commentary: Child soldiers!  Oppression!  Painfully skinny kids dressed in dull rags while the other side swans around in dress-uniforms with half-capes in case you missed the income inequality!  So many corrupt officers!  This is what Gundam Wing was trying to do before all the backstory episodes got cut; this is what Gundam 00 did, too, but not to the same extent because its focus was different.  Please, please do not let up. 

 

What I didn’t love
 

Where are all the ladies?  Yes, there were six of them.  Kudelia, her mom Tomomi, Atra, Fumitan, Cookie and Cracker. Only one is in any kind of leadership role, unless you count Tomomi who is unlikely to recur. All of Atra’s characterization was centered around her crush on Mika, Fumitan barely talks, and Cookie and Cracker are basically mascot-kids.  I came into this franchise on Seed and stayed for 00, I am expecting at least one lady ship captain and preferably some lady pilots.  I love the boys but there are too many and the girls are not getting to do enough.

 

Hey, the weird hair’s back!  I was pampered by Gundam 00.  I liked when most of the characters had either normal hair or weird hair that could be explained (Feldt dyes hers, other characters with weird hair aren’t completely human).  Unless Kudelia’s a Newtype, I’m thinking Gundam Tekketsu’s not gonna follow that.  I don’t know what the heck’s up with Gaelio’s hair but I think it’s gonna eat someone.  

 

The ending theme: Only bit of the music I didn’t like.  Just not sold on it yet, maybe–but I watched Magic Kaito the whole way through and I will never like “White of Crime.”