Kidou Senshi Gundam: Suisei no Majo

Mcsuper

This was my first time watching a Gundam anime, and I feel like I have been bamboozled. Why, you ask? Because the prologue showed quite the dark space story that had me quite excited for what the series would bring. Instead, this show took place in an academy, and had all your academia tropes in there, which felt like a complete 360 from what I expected, which was more of a political show. Does that mean that The Witch From Mercury was bad? Not exactly, but I did have my fair share of issues with it. Now, I am quite aware that this was just the first cour, and I am quite certain that this will be the weakest cour of this show. There was still some intrigue here, with the politics and character interactions, and I look forward to where that goes. As I said earlier, this show took place mostly in an academy so far, which, for more seasoned Gundam veterans, must have felt a bit surprising and perhaps a bit underwhelming. For me, it also felt a bit shocking considering the prologue, but the production looked pretty good early on that made it quite enjoyable. The things that I took more issue with in the plot was that the students seemed to hold so much power, and there were no higher authorities to speak of, other than the parents, but it’s not like the parents controlled the academy or anything. The students could just do as they pleased, harming each other like no one’s business. The duels were also quite a convenient plot device to settle disputes, and I felt that took away some of the potential this show had to show how good it could be. It didn’t allow for the characters to shine in ways outside of battle enough, and while the duels are cool to look at, it does get a bit predictable and repetitive. It’s not all negative though, as the political themes were still interesting enough to keep me watching. The mind games surrounding the ethics of Gundam suits, the war between the companies, Prospera’s role in all of this, it felt quite intriguing, but it’s still too early to know where the plot will go from here. Overall, quite a mixed bag, story-wise. As for the technical aspects of the show, it’s definitely the least of this series’ worries. Both the animation and music were well done, and the OP and ED were both quite the good songs. I just hope the production can stay afloat for the second cour, as we’ve already had some production issues this cour. The characters of this show are definitely the biggest source of intrigue in this show, and I’ll go over my thoughts on some of them. First, Suletta, the new Bocchi of the Gundam Franchise, just without the comedic aspect. She’s a dunce, plain and simple, and sometimes, I did get a little frustrated by how gullible she was, but as with most protagonists, she had her time to shine, but sadly there just wasn’t enough development this cour for her. She just needs more moments that rely on her skills more, and not getting bailed out by others. Her performance in the promotional video for the company was pretty cool though, I’m not gonna lie. Miorine, the other half to this relationship, could have been a great character, and when she shows her prowess, she’s quite awesome, but too much of her screen time was centred around meaningless things, such as yelling at Suletta, which was a bit repetitive. Luckily she had more meaningful moments toward the end of the cour. Shaddiq was a good side character, as I never really got a handle on his motives, though I was suspicious of what he would do. It made the climaxes a bit more shocking for sure. As for other interesting characters, Chuchu, Elan, and Nika come to mind, but it’s still quite early for me to formulate a firm opinion on them. Overall, this was a series filled with solid ideas, with middling execution at times. I enjoyed watching the characters and the politics enough, and the production quality was solid. I’d imagine the future cours will get me more interested in what this series has to offer, so if you’re interested in a more unique Gundam story that’s a slow burn, this could be the Gundam for you. This was my first Gundam show, so I can’t compare this to other parts of the franchise, but all I can say is, the GUND-ARM promotional video was the best part of all.

vampirevore

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This review contains a Discord mod’s favourite kind of spoilers - minor spoilers. If you want to avoid those, or just don’t want to have to read the entire thing, then skip to the last paragraph right at the bottom of the review, after the last rainbow breaker. __img(https://vamposts.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/rainbow.gif)__

_Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury_ has, for me at least, been a surprise that capped off a year of surprises. A lot happened in 2022 that changed my life for better or worse, and in the middle of everything - as has always been the case - I turned towards fiction in various formats from books to games to movies and anime to get my mind off of things or just give me the room to process things. I even watched all the _Evangelion_ rebuild movies and in the process ended up with a new appreciation for a franchise I once completely hated, and like _Evangelion_ before it, the _Gundam_ franchise was one that I had little if any love for. So when I watched this anime’s prologue episode, even after a glowing review from someone who has Good Opinions, I did so with the expectation that I would be mostly unimpressed and uninterested. Yet 12 episodes and a few months later, I’ve just seen the end of the first season of undoubtedly one of my favourite anime from 2022. There’s a lot that this anime does well, but there were really two key areas that _Witch from Mercury_ excelled at which made it such a great viewing experience, that being its character writing and the immersive quality of the writers' approach.

On the first count, Suletta and Miorine are probably my absolute favourite main duo from any anime I saw in 2022. More than just their relationship with each other, I really appreciated how authentic both characters felt. In lesser anime and more poorly written stories in general, the relationships that characters have tend to be controlled by the needs of the plot, almost as if there’s a quota for how many fights a couple should have before they make up in time for the season finale. For some reason the first thing that came to mind in terms of examples of that kind of writing was _Titans_, the live action Teen(?) Titans adaptation, but it doesn’t matter as long as you get the idea, it’s extraordinarily lazy writing with very little internal logic behind why characters behave in certain ways, and it gets frustrating. _Witch from Mercury_ doesn’t have this issue at all, because the state of a given relationship or dynamic in this anime is determined by the mindset and particular outlooks of the characters involved.

When Miorine and Suletta have a disagreement, it’s not difficult to understand why, it’s not a betrayal of either character or a comically funny breakdown in communication, it’s a misalignment born from their particular perspectives in that moment, and those perspectives themselves are the result of their wildly different upbringings and personalities. Speaking of which, Suletta’s entire personality made her endlessly endearing right from the start. She’s socially awkward and nervous but always able to confront challenges head-on whether or not she’s scared. You could say that outline is fairly common among anime protagonists but the dialogue and voice acting probably go a long way towards really selling it here, the stuttering, long silences and bad jokes make it all feel much more genuine. We’re presented with a relatable character just trying to find her way in the world and choosing to persevere no matter what comes, and since that made me care about Suletta, I cared about the story going on around her. Miorine, the emotionally neglected heiress of an interplanetary conglomerate, is also a deeply sympathetic character through her continuous battles to assert herself and gain control over her own life after having everything dictated to her by people and institutions who only cared for what she could do for them rather than caring about her as a person. These are distinct characters who work well together, but that I would just as readily watch as protagonists of their own separate stories.

A lot of stories tend to throw you in head-first and not give you the space to take in or process a lot of the information or events you’re being presented with, and considering how short people’s collective attention spans are and how quick studios can be to kill projects off if they don’t get enough traction, it’s easy to understand why. The prologue of Witch From Mercury does do that to an extent, and it also serves the dual purpose of building a degree of mystery to Delling’s intentions as well as Suletta’s background in the main story, but the anime takes things a fair bit slower after that point and I personally appreciate that quite a lot. That way, when we do get back to the levels of high octane action in the prologue, it carries much more impact. We spend most of this first season in a relatively low-stakes school setting and through that we become immersed in the relationships and motivations of the characters, and the conflicts in the world of the story brewing under the surface with the references to discrimination, oppression and distant wars that we get throughout. I love knowing exactly what’s at stake before things get turned upside down, and this anime is able to create a relatively calm status quo to upend without having it necessarily feel mundane or uneventful, especially with the action of the prologue serving as a portent of things to come whenever this world’s conflicts inevitably bubble back up to the surface. It’s structurally similar to _Attack on Titan’s_ first episode, where you get the shot of the Colossal Titan right at the start and spend the rest of that episode building up to it. Once a viewer is immersed in the story and looking at things from the perspective of the characters in that story, all of the violence suddenly becomes much more horrifying than it is cool to look at.

It does bear mentioning though that this anime is in fact very well drawn and animated, which shouldn’t come as a surprise since Sunrise always does a good job with the various _Gundam_ anime iterations, this is their most prominent franchise after all. The characters are expressive, animated fluidly and really well designed. I saw people online mentioning the range of body types on display with the characters as well, which is something I didn’t personally pick up on at first but is definitely a welcome departure from the more typical designs that anime characters tend to have. This being a new instalment of the _Gundam_ franchise, I’m sure there’s probably a lot of discussion on some corners of the internet about how the mechs looked this time around, and while I don’t generally get into that sort of thing and therefore can’t comment much on the different designs, I felt like they all had a certain weight to the way they were animated that really emphasised the scale of these machines at points. The final episode had my favourite example of that in the post-credits scene, with the Aerial’s hand alone being this massive presence when we get that shot of it from a more human scale. Also goes without saying that the action is incredible, and never without purpose, which made each duel between mecha pilots over the course of the anime feel engaging in its own right, I mean for heaven’s sake this anime made me care about a fight involving a guy named __Guel Jeturk__ by the end of the final episode. __img(https://vamposts.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/rainbow.gif)__

With all that said, _Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury_ was a really fun anime to watch weekly, and is still more than worth a recommendation, especially if you’re a fan of stories that take their time to build character-focused stakes and tension while also delivering expertly animated and high impact action. It very easily earns a score of __85 out 100__ for this first season and could realistically go even higher with future seasons as it explores more of the ideas that this season introduced. ~~~

Erroratu

Gundam has to be one of the more reliable shows for me to fall back on. Rarely do you ever get get disappointed by what it offers, and the few times that you do you still have something positive to take away from it. Stardust Memory, Wing and Build Divers have so far been the only ones to let me down, and even those still had something to offer, from good action, beautiful animation, great music, fun designs etc. Complete misses are quite rare, which is why I had pretty high expectations of Witch From Mercury, which I can safely say it met. This review will incorporate my thoughts and feelings about both Witch From Mercury Season 1 and the Prologue episode. It will contain spoilers for both of these. You have been warned. __The HOOK, LINE AND SINKER__ Witch from Mercury's prologue is a short, 1 episode long intro to the series, which sets up the world of Witch from Mercury and its current state. G-Witch is a standalone Gundam show that takes place in its own little universe, so setting this universe up beforehand was very much welcome. The prologue also introduces some of our cast members, the soon to be Lady Prospera, and Eri, her cute little daughter. After a visceral and thrilling action sequence that ends in an absolute massacre and the 2 of them being out in space on their own, we are hit with a time skip that kickstarts the main show. Eri, now renamed Suletta, is now our main character, and she has to incorporate herself into this new Sci Fi school. After two or so friendly duels between characters and slight plot advancement, we are hit with a pretty big reveal. The years __don't match.__ If the prologue happened 20 years ago as the character's are stating, Suletta could not possibly be Eri. Or at least SOME type of f*ckery is happening. And that's where Witch from Mercury picks up pace and doesn't slow down. A lot of not so subtle hints are constantly dropped in the show, with it becoming more and more apparent that Eri is likely in the Aerial. The fortune teller lady asking Suletta if she has any siblings, Prospera referring to them both as daughters, Suletta referring to Aerial as family and to her G-Bits as "Everyone!". I found myself sitting there and nitpicking every mention of the Aerial like a madman. There's a popular theory that every G-Bit is a different kid or Eri clone but I highly doubt that. It would be a tad bit too cruel, even if it technically fits with the "Witch" moniker. Going online after each episode to see what other conspiracy theories people are forming about the situation and how the plot will advance was a lot of fun, and i'm going to miss it. img(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/796531787563663361/1039182692857688104/SPOILER_unknown.png) __The actual plot, with the crazy hat _off___ Even before the crazy theories, it was up to a really strong start. Suletta being sent off right into the jaws of the enemy without any real knowledge of what has occured years ago and that she's being used as a pawn by her vengeful mother - bumbling and stumbling her way into success was pretty great. Her growth from being someone that just wants to fit in to being someone who's wanted and relied on by her friends was great. Her anxiety doesn't get any better and can still be triggered by very minor things, but she's still taken great steps and i'm very happy about it. She, as the main character, is a big focus of the show, and the show uses it to get you used to how quirky, silly and innocent she is, which makes the episode 12 scene hit much harder. Seeing this innocent goofball who looks like she couldn't hurt a fly even if she tried just absolutely obliterate some poor sod was a big gutpunch. It happened before, in the prologue, but you don't really need to do much of anything to build up a little kid's innocence, and even then it wasn't as visceral of a scene. With the anime, they were taking their time, and went all out. I respect that. img(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fl81RrQX0AAq9WG.png) Seeing the machinations of Prospera's revenge plot unfold over the course of the season and wondering if she really planned all of that or if she's just winging it was great. My biggest worry at the start was that Delling would be a boring main antagonist, but it became quickly apparent that he's not the main antagonist at all. Who is? After 12 whole episodes, I'm still not sure. There's like 4 different characters who could easily step up and take that mantle and that's exactly what makes it interesting. Lady Prospera is obviously talking her kid into doing her vengeance for her while also caring more about the Gundam than her own supposed daughter, Shaddiq's dad is vying for power while Shaddiq is seemingly also in the market for himself, the terrorists from earth trying to take down Spacians as vengeance for mistreatment, or maybe even some of the other corporations? The deck is pretty stacked. One very interesting thing about Witch from Mercury's world is also how, unlike in other Gundam worlds, it's the people on Earth that are oppressed rather than the people in space. What started off as a seemingly pointless switch of roles has a lot of potential going forward, and i'm excited to see what they do with it. __How much Gundam would you like in your Gundam sir?__ img(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/796531787563663361/1061618626609815663/image.png) One of the biggest complaints that I have seen about G-Witch is that its not "Gundamy" enough. While I can kinda understand it , I can safely assure you that the crux of Gundam is very much in G-Witch. Gundam's main points have almost always been empathy, love and understanding. Whether its for one's enemy, parents, planet or home changes with each show, as do the additional themes of family, ecology and political ideologies. G-Witch handles these very well in its first season. The Suletta x Mio romance, different characters handling losses of their loved ones, the late-capitalist hell of G-Witch's world, the "Earth House" family, the Duels of the academy, all is present. To claim it's not Gundam because of its Romance focus? X Gundam, G Gundam, Zeta, and many others disagree. Because the setting is a school setting, in a series whose settings vary greatly from show to show? I would greatly disagree. G-Witch is as Gundam as Gundam gets and the series trying something newish should __NOT__ be panned. After all, if the series refused to change, we would never get G Gundam, or Turn A Gundam, or Wing, or any of the other alternate universe series. Gundam constantly pushes the definitions of what Gundam is, and that should honestly be celebrated. tldr; Good stuff. See you all in a few months. Apologies for the ranty nature of the review.

RebelPanda

Queerbaiting criticism of anime often gets backlash from people who have had anime with complete representation for their whole lives. Heroes, supporting characters, romances, sexual relationships. You can live vicariously the fantasies of heroism, power, violence, love, harems, and much more. Film, tv, and anime have been that way for over a century. The latest Gundam spin-off series, Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury, appears to challenge the status quo of gender roles in the long-running mecha franchise and anime as a medium. The female leads, G-Witch, Suletta Mercury and Miorine Rembran, are engaged to marry. Suletta assumes the traditional role of a man, piloting the Gundam, and Miorine is her handler, frequently placed in the role of damsel in distress. The twist is that they're women and challenging the patriarchy. Suletta's fiery red hair and anxious personality are a nice departure from the standard high-school-aged male anime protagonist—stoic, monotone, and overpowered. I don't buy the criticism that she is a gender-swapped overpowered protagonist because, despite her aptitude with her mobile suit Ariel, she's relatively weak, bad at communicating and doesn't magically draw people to her. Other students treat Suletta like a naive country bumpkin because she's from Mercury—her struggle to prove them would make compelling character development if it wasn’t ignored until the 11th episode. Suletta’s unlikely companion Miorine reluctantly accepts her help to avoid becoming a bride to some misogynistic asshole. The real villain of Gundam Witch is the patriarchy, big, scary, evil men and their evil sons making life harder for women at the Asticassia School of Technology. The first male chauvinist pig is Guel Jeturk, which sounds like a repugnant name, and he tears apart Miorine's greenhouse because she doesn't obey his orders as a fiance should. Suletta challenges him to a duel for Miorine's sake, and in doing so, she clashes with a high-class faction. Like a real patriarchal system, a more powerful misogynistic man behind Guel stands in the way of Miorine's dream—to escape to Earth. Miorine's character consists of misfortune caused by men; her father forces her to attend a school she dislikes, makes her quit piano, and arranges a marriage she doesn't want. Men, or the patriarchy, are the closest thing G-Witch has to an antagonist. Hell, it's no wonder Miorine’s miserable. Her relationship with Suletta is entirely transactional. She only wants her to pose as her fiance until she can escape to Earth, and breaking out of an oppressive system is an admirable goal. However, jeopardizing this girl's school career for her dream is transparently selfish and inconsiderate. She makes no attempts to hide her motivations—privileged, opportunistic, victim of misogyny—what you see is what you get, and there's nothing original here. Other characters criticize her prideful behavior, despite maintaining a status quo. She is like a wealthy upper-middle-class liberal who rejects her upbringing despite benefitting from it. Her affection for Suletta is non-existent, and their continuous misunderstandings don't equal romantic tension. Besides the urge to protect Morine and their marriage pact, Suletta does not need to stick with her. No wonder she has far more chemistry with another pilot, Elan Ceres. Nothing regarding Suletta's characterization signaled that she is queer. My attempts at searching for queer coding that isn't baked into the stolen premise are like grasping at straws. The stolen premise, yes, stolen, comes from my favorite anime of all time Revolutionary Girl Utena—an explicitly queer deconstruction of how the patriarchy controls stories. There's a difference between a homage and copying. G-Witch isn't a homage to Utena because it doesn't emulate any of what made that series great. There are no references, no symbolism honored, no inspired framing, or even a wink to fans of the show it ripped off. I doubt the creators have even seen Utena. Pairing two girls together in a patriarchal school doesn't equal homage. It's just plagiarizing a good premise. Not to belabor this point, but Utena understood how to subvert the classic damsel in distress trope. Prince saves princess stereotypes and marriage as a plot device. Marriage is a result of patriarchy, and Sulleta and Miorine's engagement only adds a candy-coated prison cell. Their marriage is not a revolution until they become equals, leave the system, or dismantle it. There's a second cour coming, so those more hopeful than I might see some progress. I'm not staking anything on it. Since Suletta is a transfer student, we learn about the school's politics, social hierarchies, and cohorts through her eyes. The exposition for these parts in the first couple of episodes is woven neatly into dialogue and visual storytelling to keep you engaged. The less successful parts are the over-scripted political rhetoric, the conversations between the Mobile Suit Development Council and the many corporations within the Benerit Group faction—that run the Asticassia School. There's Grassley Defense Systems, Jeturk Heavy Machinery, Peil Technologies, Shin Sei Development Corporation, and more for anyone keeping track. Angsty bureaucrats deliver exposition; they lack character development or unique traits. Suletta's mother and Miorine's father play a significant role behind the scenes at the school. Suletta's relationship with her mother brings some genuine pathos to her character, especially towards the end of the cour. The megacorporation drama serves as a b-plot to the students' A plot. It's a lot to keep track of unless you're very engaged with the story and enjoy seeing ultra-wealthy people yell at one another. It would be best to watch the prologue to understand what's happening. The animation in G-Witch is of high quality, barely noticeable CGI, with good use of color and lighting to create a believable futuristic setting. The character designs are refreshingly unique, beyond just hair color. The action scenes are well-choreographed, and although less plentiful in the second half, they're consistently well-animated. Hopefully the final episode's consistent action sets a new tone for part 2. The voice acting is also solid, with the two leads delivering the most convincing performances possible. Orchestral background music during the action scenes enhances them significantly. I can't say the same for the opening, which is overly auto-tuned like a bad remix and barely fits the visuals. Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury certainly is an entry in the Gundam franchise. Around the second half of this cour, the pacing slows, and dry dialogue replaces mobile suit fights. It's exhausting in the company arc when the anime abandons logic and transitions into slice-of-life—like sci-fi Shirobako with wealthy capitalists in space. By the end, there's just enough queerbait and explosive set pieces to reel in more viewers for the second cour. The animation and visual design are good despite the story. The themes of friendship, sacrifice, and patriarchy are straightforward, and the second cour may subvert the generic setup. At the moment, there's not enough here worth recommending to anyone but diehard Gundam fans.

SpiritChaser

Though the finale of this anime took a violent turn that exploded on the internet, it is normal to those of us who have watched Tomino's Gundam entries. It's clear why this anime attracted a lot of people, and why discussing this anime online is almost unbearable. For one, it took from Revolutionary Girl Utena with it's duels, though it does nothing with the concept of two women getting married for most of the cour, and barely tries to touch upon it towards the end. I've watched everything available to me from Tomino's Gundam works, and this fails in comparison to touch any of them. I went in optimistically, but having watched what made Gundam great can feel like a curse at times when you see where it is going now through that scope. I am being fair, and sizing these up to where the original, Zeta, ZZ, Victory, Turn A, and G Reconguista were around this time in regards to the episode count at this time. One can say this isn't fair because anime back then was done a lot differently. I'd say that is too bad, and that newer anime should catch up and get better, which seems unlikely for the most part anyways due to the dollar ruining the industry. The fighting in this felt strangely disappointing to me. Aerial fights like a shooter video game ship with overpowered powerups. Witch of Mercury doesn't explore it's characters and story enough. Miorine was miles ahead of Sulettas character, and among the few characters who were actually bothered to be developed and go anywhere with her political struggles, unlike the majority of the cast. Prospera is the second most interesting character to me, and the one being referred to as the "Char clone." Characters that appear to be smart and always planning ahead tend to have this problem, such as in that terrible and recent mecha series Kyoukai Senki, where these "know it all" characters stand there smugly, having it all figured out, but do nothing in the actual anime to show for it besides just standing there. Other than that, I came to appreciate Guel's struggle with redemption, and Shaddiq's twisted scheming. Other characters hardly contributed, or played off of boring tropes such as the "angry" girl that does nothing else. Suletta annoyed me to no end. Her Bocchi/Komi/Zenitsu/Kobeni type of character has 0 appeal to me. Constantly screaming, screeching, apologizing, and acting like a fool got on my nerves, and stopped being funny long ago. Her character was going nowhere for too long. It would not be until the last episode where she even begins to get interesting. She is like Laura from Turn a Gundam, if he has a coward, and written horribly. Speaking of Turn A Gundam, the pacing in Witch of Mercury so terrible that even the first episode of Turn A Gundam alone is significantly better than this. If someone is interested in getting into Gundam, I would recommend staying away from this and watching the Tomino entries in order from start to finish. This means avoiding the movie versions, since watching the movie versions of a TV anime series leads to rushed garbage that leaves the viewers confused most of the time. I've rarely run into anime that can successfully make movie versions of it's TV series such as in Galaxy Express 999, or in Macross Frontier's case where the movies managed to actually be better overall. And if you want to see what real brutality in anime can be, check out Tomino again in Space Runaway Ideon. Even if I was to talk about more recent mecha, Gundam Unicorn, Hathaway's Flash, and Gundam G in Reconguista are much better. And of course, I'll keep standing up for Megaton-kyuu Musashi, which is, in my opinion, the best current airing non-Gundam mecha.

scottcj

Please actually read this before downvoting me, thank you Ah yes, Gundam. The greatest franchise nobody wants to watch. The mythical and distant "generic mecha" anime that everyone scapegoats on Twitter and Reddit. I absolutely love this franchise for all it's worth. I initially didn't think I would however. I only got into this franchise about two years ago, in the beginning of January 2021, the middle of the COVID pandemic that we're still locked into to this very day. Having been effectively severed from my high school friends due to the sudden declaration of quarantine, I had suffered for the rest of 11th grade and most of 12th grade. Sometime during the pandemic I had become attached to sci-fi anime and thought that seeing sci-fi aesthetic applied to a shonen anime or some other action series was an ingenious idea. This is what led me to watching Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn, an entry I still consider to be one of the greatest anime ever created, both in looks and the actual content of the anime itself. It was like a huge bank vault door swung wide open for me to dig into its riches. The deep and fleshed out geopolitics of the Universal Century, the attention to detail on all of the mechanical aspects regarding mobile suits, the realism when it comes to skill level of pilots and the tactical decisions they're able to make on the fly, as well as the very anime concept of Newtypism that pervaded the very fabric of the storytelling with its ideals of "mankind's possibility", all of it felt way too good to be true. But it wasn't. Revealed to me upon finishing Unicorn and digging through this large and storied franchise was a multitude of AU stories as well as other stories also set within the Universal Century. Yoshiyuki Tomino's works. All of the other Universal Century works (besides Stardust Memory) were like goldmines of perfection, while the AU works had way more highs (SEED, 00, Gundam X, G Gundam) than lows (Wing, SEED Destiny, Iron Blooded Orphans), and I'm STILL not done combing through everything Gundam has to offer. As of this review I still have to watch the Build series, as well as Turn A Gundam, the latter of which I hear absolute high praises about, being the chronological end to every single AU while also capping off Universal Century. Which is why I waited for the Witch from Mercury to come out. The first female-led Gundam ever, it was stated by many sources that it marked an evolution of the series for a new generation of people. Every single aspect of this new entry was star-studded, headlined by many rockstars in the anime industry, most notably the director Ichiro Okouchi, the man behind many different anime, including Code Geass, the unfortunate Studio 4℃ Berserk Golden Age adaptations, Sk8 the Infinity, Valrave, and many more. It was absolutely shaping up to be a groundbreaking event for the Gundam community, especially after the prologue aired to almost universal acclaim. So did it live up to the hype? Yes and no. It is undeniably a good anime in it's own right, especially compared to the trainwreck AU that came before it, Iron Blooded Orphans. While Iron Blooded Orphans was like a sparkling pile of dung, the Witch from Mercury was an actual luxury full course meal, easy on the eyes and the stomach alike. It's soundtrack, animation, as well as the progression of the plot itself were all top-notch. The soundtrack was done by a relative newcomer to the franchise, Takashi Ohmama, whose only other track record is the unfortunate Twilight Axis ONA/PV hybrids, but despite his greenhorn status he's able to encapsulate a sound not too dissimilar to that of Hiroyuki Sawano (responsible for the absolutely stellar Unicorn and Hathaway soundtracks) with remarkable accuracy. The animation has also been given deliberate care, which is as plain as day even back when the prologue aired, or rather, especially in the prologue. Every emotion comes out with the characters' subtle movements and gestures, and the mobile suit fights are also top notch, especially when Aerial comes out with its Shield Funnels. The characterization for everyone (besides SuleMio somehow) feels like its fleshed out at a natural pace. The more we watch the more dimensionality we get to experience for most of the characters, even for the antagonists, like Delling, Shaddiq, Sarius, Prospera, Guel, Vim, etc., who all get their moments to shine in the latter half of the story, especially with Guel, who makes basically a 180 by the final episode of season 1. Suletta and Miorine, on the other hand, the fucking main couple of the show, manage to not grow at all until the final episode when Suletta manages to revert to her prologue personality after managing to work up the courage to be friends with everyone in the Earth House, and their relationship ends up basically shattered when Suletta naively flattens a dude while protecting Miorine. This doesn't necessarily detract from Suletta's character though, since this display of character regression adds more dimensionality to Prospera, and displays her manipulative undertones in the grand scheme of things, as well as her unwavering and frankly dangerous control over Suletta. Miorine has no excuse though, since she stays the same generic and boring damsel-in-distress tsundere from beginning to end, which is disappointing considering the amount of women in other Gundam series with actual dimensionality to their writing, such as Sayla Mass in the original series, Four Murasame, Emma Sheen, Reccoa Londe, and Haman Karn in Zeta, Marbet Fingerhat and Junko Jenko in Victory, Allenby Beardsley in G Gundam, Cima Garahau in Stardust, Christina Mackenzie in War in the Pocket, Mineva Zabi in Unicorn (who is Miorine but better in every way possible), and even fucking Lacus Clyne in SEED, and its especially disappointing when all of these anime are hetero and not "patriarcy-breaking" yuri like G-Witch is trying to be. Honestly Suletta deserves Mineva or Lacus over Miorine. Banagher and Kira are lucky. You probably understand by now, but I'm going to ask the question anyways so I can elaborate: Why doesn't it live up to the hype if it's actually good? This is because the Witch from Mercury doesn't actually feel Gundam-y. Not even in the final episode with the dick flattening. Over the course of watching there was this nagging feeling in the back of my head. "Why does this feel so off? Yuri Gundam should be an easy fucking cakewalk, considering Okouchi likes Tomino works." After rewatching the series and comparing it to other recent Gundams, such as 00 and Hathaway, the Witch from Mercury gives me the feeling that it's trying to be like an original series with the Gundam label slapped on. A lot of the initial premise surrounding the Witch From Mercury feels like it's riffing off of Revolutionary Girl Utena (Which Okouchi did a novel adaptation of btw), instead of riffing off of the rich supply of content at its disposal by proxy of it being a Gundam. But even though it was riffing off of Utena, it didn't even bother to riff off of the biggest unique factor that made Utena stand apart from other yuri, which is its examination of queers and patriarchy. Most if not all Gundams share a common theme, which is a focus on a specific aspect of our current geopolitics to center its worldbuilding around. 0079 was based on Vietnam and World War 2, Zeta and ZZ were focused on the Cold War and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, SEED was focused on racism and the ethics of eugenics, 00 was focused on Bush's lackluster counter-terrrorism initiative post-9/11, G Gundam and Hathaway brought climate change to light. Even Wing had drone warfare commentary and IBO had allegory about child soldiers in third world countries. All of these aspects were driving forces behind the worldbuilding for each series, and were done in a way to bring to light for audiences the injustices occurring in our society. What does the Witch from Mercury have? Generic cyberpunk tropes like cybernetics and hyper-capitalism. YAAAAAAAAAAY! YOU HAD LGBT RELATIONSHIPS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU OKOUCHI. THE ONE THING HE DIDN'T RIFF OFF OF UTENA WAS THE LGBT DISCRIMINATION. That shit would have been the PERFECT political issue to focus dead-center on for worldbuilding. Every other Gundam series was focused on an aspect of geo-politics related to war. The Witch From Mercury would have been the perfect entry to pivot the series focus away from that and towards social injustices experienced in our society, like racism, patriarchy, homophobia and transphobia. But the series decides to do duel of the week and cyberpunk slice of life instead. So yeah. The Witch from Mercury has a lot of potential as an original series, but is yet another step backwards for the Gundam franchise as a whole. If the Witch from Mercury didn't feel so insecure about its identity as a Gundam, it could have been a huge revolution for the franchise. But instead, Mobile Fighter G Gundam keeps its crown as the best AU. If you want to watch a good original mecha then the Witch from Mercury is good. 2D mecha is something we need more of in this day and age. But I can't help but feel let down at how much more it could have been if it tapped into the latent potential of its predecessors.

Niico

~~~Kidou Senshi Gundam, being one of the oldest franchises in the anime industry, is frequently overlooked by a lot of anime viewers, especially new ones who are getting into anime, as they don't want to watch it because of how wide the franchise is or they don't know where to start from, which is understandable, but just jump in to a series which catches your attention loll as I believe the Gundam franchise is one of the best out there for people who like SciFi, Space, Robots, Wars, and Politics! img520(https://pm1.narvii.com/5617/207393076d1f8a58a6d0273bd5d48959bb299ebf_hq.jpg) Fans who have been following GUNDAM for a long time were overjoyed to hear that it was returning, and after it released its prologue, we all kinda knew what to expect from the GUNDAM franchise, but GUNDAM took all of us by surprise by announcing that it will be based on a school setting this time around. So I'm bringing this up because I believe a lot of people are confused about why this had a school setting that is polar opposites to what we saw in the PROLUGE. So here's some context, so I believe yall remember how there was a week's delay before for episode 7 so instead of the episode we got the full version of the opening and there was also a special programme held in which we had VA's of both Suelltea(Ichinose Kana) and Miorine(Lynn) participating where it was mentioned that it was due to attract new people/help people to get into the gundam franchise as the duel school setting is popular these days which really worked considering the views on YouTube,the number of fanarts we received and how it trended #1 in Japan every Sunday (not #1 globally), but it was in the trending section, but was that really the main reason why people decided to watch this anime? I'd say NO, not because it was set in a school, but because it revolved around two female characters and, most importantly its YURI. So not really in the way they wanted to but they primiarly achieved their objective. img520(https://media0.giphy.com/media/Io0F4jTsQDmGm2uwq3/giphy.gif?cid=790b76114cb984da7e4c48aa358afe414fee258aa9b124ca&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g) That's enough of my rambling, Ig loll Moving on to the anime, as I've already stated, this is not your typical Gundam series, but what distinguishes it from others is how the Gundams are portrayed in this anime; in most cases, Gundams are meant to be saviours/heroes to the people of the world, but that is not the case in this world, so this anime already gives itself a foundation to build upon but completely fails in capitalising on it and yeah it is just as you guessed it's beacuse of the duel-school setting and they comepletely make a mockery out of the word _duel_ here. The anime goes to great lengths to demonstrate the corruption of this world, even having anyone manipulate the duel behind the scenes, so you get a sense of how important power is in this world which wasn't really needed. The first few episodes are so duel-centered that they serve as convenient plot devies to solve any problems the characters encounter, which doesn't really help in building a connection/dynamics between the characters. Speaking of duels, it reminds me of the duel wielding coucil or whatever they are, they usually have a lot of power in this school, which I'm very upset about because it makes the other events less effective because it is so focused on duels and Suletta, they don't put much effort into developing other characters, making them far less engaging to the audience than the MC's. To summarise, the anime is constrained by stupid typical academy tropes and gags. With that said, it's not all about duels because we have all the political stuff, conflict between the companies, mind games against each other, and space-eathian war stuff going on in the background, so it's really interesting to see where this goes, and it's also the part that I'm most concerned about. Now that the seeds have been planted, I'm curious how they will handle it, as the shocking revelations and developments could have a much greater impact, but they may feel rushed, which could really ruin the potential that these setups have. So I would have preferred that they focus on the major plot points rather than the stupid school tropes because we have a lot of unknowns or vagueness. However, this also allows the audience to do a lot of theory crafting, which Gundam excels at because it keeps them anticipating/interested, resulting in a lot of discussions, which promotes the anime and keeps the community engaged, which is always a plus. So, depending on how the second cour handles things, this anime could drastically change, so it's a double-edged sword, so I really hope the buildup of this cour pays off. When it comes to gundam fights, the most important aspects are the Gundam designs and the power system employed by the anime, both of which I must say I find extremely impressive. Talking about the Gudam designs, they look so clean and detailed, and I love the colours that represent each of the companies that made them, but the most important thing is the number of weapons they have equipped in a single machine that is insane, which allows them to have a variety of battle situations and allows the animators to use their creativity in the fights in various ways. But one thing that stands out in this anime is the use of Gund-bits because they have multiple uses. Not having those or having those might decide your victory in battles for the most part, but it's not guaranteed that you'll win, so it builds up a good suspense for the fights so we can expect the unexpected. img320(https://media.giphy.com/media/JJR5dguffyYCrd3RZX/giphy.gif) img320(https://media.giphy.com/media/4dqT6JoDm8GgRxzhoR/giphy.gif) img320(https://media.giphy.com/media/4CzDvXHCURqhQna9Fu/giphy.gif) img320(https://media.giphy.com/media/JyXRDcjxRXeZZltblR/giphy.gif) In terms of power system, it is kinda similar to the Alaya - Vijnana system from IBO. So, what makes these systems so unique? It allows people to pilot Gundams as if they were themselves, with powers based on both their emotions and physical condition, causing them to fight as a unit rather than the person piloting it as a tool to meet their demands, as well as building an emotional relationship between the pilot and the machine, which creates a lot of tension in the battles and opens up many possibilities for how they can go either way. As a result, I find systems like these quite impressive, as a machine responding to the pilot's emotions can have an emotional impact if used correctly. The power system of this anime is also at the centre of why this anime exists, which also adds a lot of weight to my previously stated point about why gundams are despised in this anime. img520(https://media.giphy.com/media/fxsmoBakNLFqnyigjb/giphy.gif) The main issue with most Gundam animes is the production quality, which doesn't always hold up or is inconsistent at times, resulting in a delay of episodes. Keep in mind that this one was not delayed due to production issues loll. This looked too good right from the Prolouge, which was one of the best anime to air last year in terms of visuals. It had everything, including music, animation, voice acting, colour choices, sound designs, cinematography, character acting and expressions, and how well the fight scenes were directed, complimenting the scenarios in a wonderful manner so let's hope the production quality remains the same! img320(https://media.giphy.com/media/skVskwLjPdViPyZVUF/giphy.gif) img320(https://media.giphy.com/media/302qFoZuIj6pJmjcXc/giphy.gif) img320(https://media.giphy.com/media/dI6T1V4RdGlHYb3j5Z/giphy.gif) img320(https://media.giphy.com/media/8gZYcjS7roDklwWEQY/giphy.gif) img320(https://media.giphy.com/media/eXV4ZISRpI1htq2bmf/giphy.gif) Nevertheless, watching Episode 12(Everything went so well that I couldn't help but be disappointed that they didn't start with their usual style :sighs:) reminded me of why I enjoy Gundam anime, and it was most likely a glimpse of what we can expect in the upcoming season. What Gundam does best is have the perfect pacing probably the best I've seen the epsiode starts off with a lot a lot of things happening all around at a normal pace and before you know it things get so intense that you don't have time to catch a breather or take your eyes off the screen lmfaoo at least that's how it feels to me and of course it's not possible if there are a lot of things missing which I stated in the above paragraph, Gundam expertly depicts the calm before the storm metaphor. Spoilers ahead because I'm going to talk about the post-credit scene I've heard people complain about how suletta is perfectly fine with killing, but I find it perfectly natural. If you read my previous review of Lycoreco, I mentioned how Chisato would've been a different character if words were used wisely. Suletta exemplifies what chisato could've been because she is literally brainwashed by her mother and the word If you move forward, you gain two has such a large impact on her that it is at the centre of her actions, so squashing the man like an inscet had no effect on her because she was able to save Mio Mio by doing so, she loses sight of everything once she decides something, for better or worse. img320(https://media.giphy.com/media/QM78W7bzVPAvA1j69c/giphy.gif) img320(https://media.giphy.com/media/sykGqGxnEjksMAx4Gb/giphy.gif) img320(https://media.giphy.com/media/yeh1RSX55GW0gHbshF/giphy.gif) Miorine, standing there, is more surprised/shocked/terrified by her smile than by the fact that she killed a person like any other normal person would, and the visual shots are similar to those seen in the final scenes of the first episode, and I loved it because of the colour representation of how bright it was in that first episode to how dark it has become. Now I'm more concerned about their relationship than I am about the rest of the show because that is what made it so enjoyable for me, and with this scene, they have a solid substance to help their relationship bloom in the best way possible. img320(https://i.imgur.com/1ZvTpBY.jpg) img320(https://i.imgur.com/qTFn1Fd.jpg) If you ask me how things will turn out, I hope they don't drag it out too long considering the kind of person Miorine is. She was quite shocked because it was her first time experiencing something as distressing as this, but we have seen that she didn't overreact like we see in many other animes, and I believe that once she grasps the situation they are in, she will accept Suleta for who she is and save her from her messed up thinking! Finally, we still don't know who the series' antagonist will be, which makes me eager for the second season, which feels so far away. Until then, goodbye. ~~~

cbritannia

#Subtitle _Amazing action scenes. If only Sunrise stuck to serious shows instead of trying to make trashy characters and plot that "appeal to current anime fans"._ #Subtitle 2 _I might enjoy this if I didn't have any expectations. But after the prologue and first episode, I was expecting yuri and intense gundam and I got neither._ #Main Characters Suletta and Miorine characters are very one-note and do not act logically. Not to mention Suletta can’t form a sentence. However, their characters are not enough for me to dislike the show. Although their friendship being filled with stupid comments, boring scenes, and queerbait is a big contributor to my dislike. An action show should not devote so much time to two characters, especially if all they talk about is plants and friendship bracelets. Yes, I said "queerbait". I need to amend two of my previous statements on this topic: >~~Gundam witch from mercury is starting to piss me off. They’re considering introducing romance between the girls but they just haven’t.~~ I don't think they were ever considering introducing romance. No character suggests that they have feelings for another, except for Guel having unclear platonic admiration for Suletta. >~~I don't blame Sunrise for the queer ship. I think most of it came from the fanbase because the script never comes close to mentioning romance. The premise for the ship is that Suletta wins a duel that makes her the heir to the school and thus Miorine's fiance. Also Suletta gives her a friendship keychain toy.~~ Thinking back to the scene at the end of the first episode and the (supposed) allusions to Utena, I now blame Sunrise for the ship. While the ship has much less context than many non-canon ships, I don't doubt its existence. I am generally a huge fan of non-canon ships, especially homosexual, but their personalities and interaction are not shippable for me. Suletta expects Miorine to ask to be friends and is upset when Miorine ignores her. A logical character would ask Miorine if she wants to hang out and then try to find a different friend if Miorine is mean to her. Their conversations are repetitive and create drama where none exists. I prefer fun ships that have lively conversations (I usually point to Deku and Bakugo as an ideal generic ship, but that's a different anime). #Cast I think the side cast is lacking much more than the main cast. There are zero characters with backstories or agendas. Everyone seems to be conspiring for no reason, with no explanation and no results. Many characters are briefly mentioned with promise of becoming interesting (like Elan, Shaddiq, Nika) and then completely forgotten about in future episodes. Gundam is known for amazing side characters that all have different purposes, even if they don't interact with the main character or contribute to the main storyline. Besides Suletta, Guel, and Elan, are there any other mecha pilots? Most of the cast seems to be classmates that haven't contributed individually. The only funny character is cotton candy pom pom hair since she insults the other characters for being stupid. #Plot? Each episode starts with a completely unrelated scene to where the last one left off and they are never tied together. Between the school for duels, friendly mecha startup, Earthian terrorists, and business power struggle, no plot point stands a chance of making sense since they explain each idea for at most 30 seconds at a time before moving back to slice-of-life depictions of dating, gardening, and dorm life. The show takes action scenes very flippantly since everyone is happy to fight without stating what they're trying to do. The duels usually have no consequences depending on who wins. And since there is only one main mecha fighter, you already know who is going to win. When people besides students get involved, they are never given an objective or plan. They just show up wanting to kill Miorine’s father, for no specific reason other than the implied reason that he’s powerful and anyone who defeats him will gain power. The lack of intention makes the top-tier animated scenes lose all impact. When they cut from showing the mechas to showing faces, they spend a conspicuously long time on the faces which usually have zero or one facial expressions and no meaningful dialogue. The aciton animation is so awesome, especially in the last episode. But the mecha fight was mainly between the unnamed guards and the Earthian girl that never had a dedicated introduction. ~!The end credit scene wasn't for me. I don't think it's funny to just splat blood while smiling. Although if they stopped trying to make it humorous, becoming a stone-cold killer could be a good way to add a second dimension to our notoriously one-note protagonist.!~ #EDIT ADDITION - I think the mixed feelings and general confusion over this anime is demonstrated by the tags. About 80% do not apply and I have been watching as the mods have been taking off the yuri tag and then allowing it to be added again. - The prologue is amazing. I think if the series had tied the atmosphere or plot elements from the prologue it would have been much better. - I forgot to mention the commercial. As if they're trying to make the show a joke. - The show's big moments fail to be cliffhangers since they don't foreshadow what could happen next. They move on to other characters without flow between events. I never know what characters/scenes are going to come back (spoiler: most don't). #Gundam Franchise To those of you who watched this show and now have a bad impression of Gundam: img(https://media.tenor.com/08PgLF3sr1oAAAAC/suletta-mercury.gif) Does this show deserve the name "Gundam"? Yes. Sunrise has consistently shown that any style and quality of anime can use the Gundam name as long as it has a mecha with similar design. Shows like Gundam Build Fighters (kids-focused isekai) and Turn A Gundam (dramatic, anachronistic, uplifting) are drastically different from original Gundam and the similarly war-focused spinoffs. What is my favorite Gundam? Iron Blooded Orphans, another spinoff series unrelated to the original Gundam. And one that contains homosexuality for a moving 1 episode. #Comments on my review - New disclaimer: I am not a lesbian, but then again nothing about this production is lesbian either. - New new disclaimer: I do think my homosexual identity gives me a bias. I am biased. I expect media to be straightforward about sexuality. I would feel better if they used words such as "I like her". I'm not sure if it's a reasonable expectation. My review is just a gut feeling, which I think anyone is entitled to. If you're lesbian (or not) you can disagree with me. - I only "dislike" 2 anime that I have completed. The other is Darling in the FRANXX, which is a very similar show that I would recommend if you disagree with my review. The primary difference is the FRANXX actually has romance and a homosexual character (although I think most elements, even this, in FRANXX are done poorly). - I am watching season 2. I'm still optimistic that some sort of plot or character development will exist. Hopefully even some yuri content is added. - Please public message me to discuss the review.

Pockeyramune919

~~~**Prior to the airing of the show proper, a prologue was released. I’ve decided to review the show and prologue separately. [My review](https://anilist.co/review/18388) of the prologue will make my thoughts on the show clearer**~~~ ~~~*This review contains spoilers for Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury*~~~ ~~~img5220(https://i.imgur.com/MP4sPTI.jpg)~~~ After I watched the prologue of *Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury*, or simply *G-Witch* my jaw was on the floor. Months later, I still haven’t quite picked it up. The beginning of any story should succinctly yet decisively hook you into the world and make you beg for more. It’s not that Gundam shows failed to do this — I’ve completed 13 other Gundam shows, after all — but none did it nearly as well as *G-Witch*. The animation was breathtaking and the music was stunning. *G-Witch* **felt** urgent and dire despite me only having 23 odd minutes with the story. It was emotionally poignant in a way that other Gundam shows aren’t until at least a third through, if ever. The worldbuilding was appropriately fantastical but grounded in questions borne out of the real world. I cannot exaggerate how much I loved this prologue. Thanks to the prologue *G-Witch* was shaping up to be one of the best Gundam shows ever made. I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but I’m not reviewing the prologue. Naturally, the question I’m tasked with answering is “does the show properly sufficiently fill the [brachiosaur-sized shoes](https://media.tenor.com/djD3rH0eVBkAAAAd/what-are-those-jurassic-park.gif) of its prologue?” It took a while for it to get to this point, but I can happily say that it does, or at least that it’s *starting* to. How long did it take, you may be asking? Well, dear reader, prior to watching the final episode, I envisioned this review going in *quite* a different direction. My feelings towards the show were constantly in flux. ~~~img5220(https://i.imgur.com/R7VgWJL.jpg)~~~ The show proper begins a number of ill-defined years after a prologue, following a teenage girl by the name of Suletta Mercury who enrolls in the Asticassia School of Technology with her Mobile Suit, Aerial. Asticassia is a school ruled by the Benerit Group — a coalition of several mobile suit corporations. Leading this group with an iron fist is the stern Delling Rembran, the very same we saw during the prologue. In Asticassia, disagreements are settled via mobile suit duels. The best duelist is known as the “Holder” who is granted Delling’s daughter Miorine’s hand in marriage. Suletta ends up in a duel with the current Holder, Guel, and promptly wins with [her mobile suit](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AceCustom), both inadvertently becoming Miorine’s fiance and revealing Aerial to be an accursed Gundam. All the while, Suletta is screaming and stuttering in nervousness. If you watched the prologue, then *G-Witch’s* first episode is, in a word, jarring. Now, to be fair, there’s a way to make the above summary work with what was established prior. You could use the dueling system and Miorine’s forced marriage as a way to show just how far people will take the concept of “might makes right,” how the lust for profit and power turns people into mere pawns. It’s all a question of *tone* and the first episode’s tone is distinctly ~~~img5220(https://i.imgur.com/055hQXm.jpg) ~~~ It’s dumb. The first episode is pretty fucking dumb. I’m sorry, but it is. It just feels so cliche and generic — the nonsensical duels in a school setting with Miorine as a “prize” made my eyes roll so far back they could see my braincells escaping my skull. Guel might as well be the school bully out of an 80s teen movie. Delling is cartoonishly evil. While the two leads ultimately are given some depth that I’ll get into, the first impression you get of them is simply Tsundere/Ice Queen and Nervous Girl. Even the good, such as an instance of a possible lesbian relationship is sandwiched with the bad — said relationship is accidental and the result of what’s essentially an arranged marriage. A lot of my feelings are due to my absolute love for the prologue and I think my disappointment is valid. This wasn’t what I signed up for. Yet, I had to believe the writers understood this. The prologue made me disappointed with the first episode. Paradoxically, the prologue also tempered my disappointment. The prologue does a helluva good job cushioning my perception of the show from my criticism. I certainly think the first episode is *dumb*, but I still can’t bring myself to hate it. I was apprehensive, sure, but never out-and-out angry. To be fair, not every episode is like this. In fact, in the second episode, Suletta is essentially interrogated over her use of Aerial and we’re treated to a much more grounded episode. There are some genuinely great episodes here, the second best probably being episode six, a certified [Wham Episode](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WhamEpisode) in which we see the extent of Peil Technologies’ callous disregard for life. As Elan, a character we’ve just started to warm up to, awaits his execution, he sings “happy birthday.” If you’ve watched the prologue, it naturally sends chills down your spine. Elan’s existence as a body double is off the books, so Suletta is none the wiser when her new friend is exterminated and replaced with someone else. This episode isn’t just tragic, it’s downright *insidious* in a way few Gundam episodes manage to be. ~~~img5220(https://i.imgur.com/4M5nMhX.jpg)~~~ No episode annoyed me quite like the first, that said, there are only two that approach the heights of the prologue. There’s definitely interesting worldbuilding here, but I have to acknowledge a lot of my thoughts towards *G-Witch* during the first half relied on faith — a sort of trust fall exercise between me and the writers. This is also seen in the copious copious amount of theorycrafting associated with the show. Not only is episode six a great episode when it comes to the show proper, but it also opened a Pandora’s Box in regards to the audience’s understanding of the prologue’s relation to said show. The audio-visual framing of Prospera changes, increasingly moving from a positive portrayal to one that’s either ambiguous at best or downright sinister. The timeframe was always murky but it’s thrown for a complete loop when it’s heavily implied that the events of the prologue took place 21 years prior to the events of the show. Eri was 4 and would be 21. Suletta is herself 17. Suletta being a mere pseudonym for Eri now seems unlikely. I won’t delve into the various theories as that could be an entire post in-and-of-itself, but it suffices to say that discussion of the show became a much more lively affair. Theories are part of any show, but to have them so encouraged makes for a unique viewing experience. One of the theories, if true, would make the show as a whole as sinister as the ending of episode six. But the operative words here are “if true.” Because there could be a more pedestrian answer to all of this, one explained by cheap red herrings at best, shoddy writing and directing at worst. With how heavily theories play a part in the discussion of *G-Witch*, I can’t help but think of 2021’s *Wandavision*. Discussion of that show was *also* rampant with theories, ones that made *Wandavision* much more exciting than the texts suggested. Some were pretty out there while others were more reasonable. *Wandavision* took the most pedestrian route possible, pretty much [jossing](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Jossed)every theory thought of. The finale of the show is disappointing in its own right but with how ambitious we *thought* it would be, we viewers couldn’t help but be a bit bitter. That’s the problem with tying a show’s quality to your theory — it’s a gamble where, if you bet wrong, the entire show could be tainted. ~~~webm(https://www.sakugabooru.com/data/af415c56cf21e3f4f3c13043971b903c.mp4)~~~ The final episode makes the exciting theory I hinted at very probable, but prior, things were up in the air. I enjoyed G-Witcht, but for someone who was hooked by the tense atmosphere of the prologue, said prologue was practically required viewing. It felt like everything I liked about the show was thanks to the prologue. Though, looking back, that’s not quite fair. The show has several things going for it beyond that. The animation remains nice throughout. Aerial’s fights are particularly stunning and I’m glad that Sunrise continues to show how awesome mobile suits are in motion. Of course, that’s to be expected — nothing pushes gunpla sales than seeing a particular figure in action. Even when Sunrise isn’t pulling all the stops, the animation and character models never look distractingly bad. There’s maybe one instance and ~~~img5220(https://i.imgur.com/DoxlcUJ.png)~~~ that’s the point of the scene. Perhaps *G-Witch’s* biggest and most surprising draw for me was its characters. Even if my thoughts on the predominant tone of the show are decidedly mixed, I have to admit that it allows us room to get to know these characters in a way we wouldn’t in another show. The school setting lets us see these characters in a relatable manner while said school is cutthroat enough and the political backdrop is cutthroat enough that we see how these characters act when they’re put through the wringer. Most of the focus is given to our main duo — Suletta and Miorine. Admittedly, I like Miorine more than Suletta, which is an endorsement of the show in-and-of-itself. As I said before, she makes a fairly cliche first impression but I ended up really liking her. Her disposition is a *facet* of her personality while not her entire personality. And unlike a tsundere, her sweetness isn’t sudden and exaggerated. She gradually comes to warm up to Suletta and even then, she can still be a bit aloof because, again, it’s her personality and not something that can just be handwaved away through the Power of Love. I’m a bit more frosty towards Suletta, but even I flip-flop on *how much* I dislike her and *why*. Ultimately, I just find her nervousness a bit grating. Fresh as far as Gundam protagonists go and I appreciate that they didn’t just make her “Amuro or Kira Yamato but girl,” but it doesn’t make her fun to watch for me. When she’s not stuttering like a beater car on a winter morning over the most basic of social interactions, she’s screaming at the top of her lungs. Sometimes at the same time. IDK, there’s an argument to be made that she’s a positive example of neurodivergence, but that could be a whole different post entirely and I much prefer stanning [Kamille “Autistic Child” Bidan](https://i.imgur.com/t6hR1lY.png) as the Gundam neurodivergent rep. I can stand her a bit more when she’s simply happy and energetic. Sure, it’s a bit more basic, but it gets the job done while still feeling distinct from most of the brooding Gundam protagonists of yore and it’s used to great effect during the final episode. Beyond their characters as individuals, much buzz is made about the duo’s relationship. I’m pleased to say that I enjoyed their dynamic and evolution as the series progressed. Sure, I think some might exaggerate how effectively they communicate compared to other shows (while you can say their argument arc is resolved quickly, it’s still given two episodes to fester), I do think they’re cute together. It’s understandable if you wish they were more overt, but I consider their relative understatedness so far to be an effect of their relationship being built up. If executed properly down the line, this has the potential to be *the* most developed romance in all of Gundam. And if they *don’t* get together, I’ll go on record to say that I’ll throw the burning trashcan to start the riot. ~~~img5220(https://i.imgur.com/LbF3R41.jpg)~~~ More surprising than my thoughts about Miorine are my thoughts about the supporting cast — i.e. getting anything at all out of them. If Miorine and Suletta were “cookie-cutter” during the first episode, the others might as well have been “bread pan” in how exciting and derivative they were. Yet, as the show went on, I couldn’t help but be interested in them. Yes, Guel and Delling are introduced as basic bullies and jerks. Yet I was genuinely invested in seeing Guel humbled and Delling show a softer side. Shaddiq is a fuckboi. He’s fairly basic, but what can I say, it’s different when he’s not a main character and the show communicates his character in a way that I can *feel*. It’s one thing to dislike a character, it’s another to say “this is a fuckboi and I better not run into him in an alley after dark” and *mean it with every fiber of your being*. Chuchu is best girl — her temper and attitude are memetic and shine in a relatively chill school setting in a way that wouldn’t if we were thrust into a brutal war out the gate. ~~~img5220(https://i.imgur.com/CAO1LMS.jpg)~~~ And that’s the rub here. As much as I can moan about why the first episode is cliche, I’m ultimately drawn to some of those elements, whether as-is or flipped on their heads. Guel as the reforming bully, Shaddiq as the popular fuckboi, Chuchu as the girl with no chill, Delling as the asshole father with hidden depths, Elan as the quiet kid, Prospera as the seemingly caring mother with an agenda and disquieting aura, Miorine as the melting ice queen, Suletta as the Genki girl. They can be described in a very basic manner but they play off each other well and there’s just enough to justify their behavior or evolve it so that it doesn’t feel *too* basic. Your mileage will of course vary depending on what you signed up for, but I have to admit that they *did* keep me coming back in addition to the prologue. If we ended the show with a light tone, focusing on the school, I think I’d ultimately still enjoy this. It wouldn’t be great and it would be overshadowed by its amazing prologue, but it would be a good enough watch. But then the final episode hits. ~~~webm(https://www.sakugabooru.com/data/a381796e1535bdabc25d01c276a1755d.mp4)~~~ If you haven’t watched the prologue, it’s a shocking yet entertaining swerve that feels like a natural conclusion to all that was hinted at and built up. If you *have* watched the prologue and loved it as much as I did then *G-Witch’s* final episode is, in a word, relieving. The final episode has its own unique set of positives — for one, since we’ve been following these characters for 12 episodes now, it feels much more impactful when they’re put through the fire and flames compared to the cast of the prologue. Where the final episode returns to form is in its tone. We get breathtakingly animated Gundam fights, ones that have actual weight to them and don’t feel a bit goofy because points and marriages aren’t on the line — lives are. The music is on point in a way that it hasn’t been since the prologue. As everything falls to shit, the characters make explicit what was implicit. This is war. The gloves are off. The trauma that Guel is inflicted by inadvertently killing his father is like a gut punch and it doesn’t feel shocking just for the sake of it. Suletta’s anxiety at seeing her mom shoot her would-be killer, the ways her eyes are constantly shaking, feels disturbing and is fit to give *you* anxiety — yet, somehow, it isn’t as unnerving as what’s to come. By the time the credits roll Suletta starts looking for her Miorine. We’re under the assumption that this is what will take us to the next cour. It’s a heck of a cliffhanger. Then the after-credits scene plays. ~~~img5220(https://i.imgur.com/Y1OgCXa.jpg)~~~ Suletta finds Miorine with her wounded father. As she does, an assassin comes, aiming his gun at the two. Without flinching, Suletta uses her mobile suit to squash him like a bug and we see the *blood splatter*. It’s quick, but in case you missed it, it’s replayed and focused on as Miorine watches in horror. The only thing left of the man is an arm that floats on by. The scene is gory in a way we haven’t seen in *G-Witch*. It shows off the mass and size of mobile suits in a way we seldom see in *Gundam as a whole*. Then Suletta hops out of her cockpit, smiling. She falls into the gory remains of the assassin, laughing and calling herself a clutz. With a smile, she holds out her blood-stained hand to Miorine, not knowing why her bride is calling her a monster. ~~~img5220(https://i.imgur.com/Kqyw8xJ.png)~~~ It’s a *hell* of a cliffhanger. The tone, the scale of the conflict, realizing that Suletta’s catchphrase was used as a trigger word by Prospera to make all her doubts fade away as she becomes an unflinching soldier. My reaction was thus: ~~~webm(https://i.imgur.com/5AE8Beo.mp4)~~~ The last episode isn’t a bow nor a cherry on top. It fundamentally changes the show and makes everything that came before worth it. It’s good no more. It’s great. *Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury* is finally as great as I hoped it would be. The lull moments I experienced before were now proper buildup. Sure, at 12 episodes and another cour confirmed, things could change drastically for the worst. At 24 episodes, I fear there’s too much ground to cover. Yet if we get the 48-50 I hope for, there’s more room to go wrong. But I’m really happy with where we are now. ~~~img5220(https://i.imgur.com/mena7sn.png)~~~ I want to end by linking to an [interview ](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2022-10-12/gundam-the-witch-from-mercury-producer-modern-teens-think-gundam-is-for-old-people/.190729)from *G-Witch* producer Takuya Okamoto, who essentially states that many teenagers write off Gundam as being “for old people.” As such, *G-Witch* was specifically aimed at a newer generation. All Gundam AU ostensibly are, but this feels like the first where *making* people into Gundam fans is the goal instead of capturing the very people who would have been Gundam fans anyway. You see it in the school setting, you see it in the tone, you see it in the characters. Drawing in new fans while keeping the ones you had, managing a lighthearted tone with a more serious one that defines Gundam is certainly a balancing act. And it’s one that I feel, for all of its stumbles, *G-Witch* manages to pull off. ~~~img200(https://i.imgur.com/13WQ2QD.png)~~~ ~~~img5220(https://i.imgur.com/arXbKnE.jpg)~~~

pixel9

~~~_This review contains spoilers for Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury_~~~ ~~~img70%(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/736153911521574982/1090739439837384776/visual_main3.png) ~~~ Sunrise has released their new Gundam series that is featured by female protagonist for the first time ever, Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury. As a newcomer, I am happy to watch their new Gundam series since it's lead by the female protagonist and I am looking forward immersing myself in this new world, discovering the character's strengths and struggles, and gaining a deeper appreciation for the Gundam franchise. Let's see what I got from watching this new Gundam series ^^ ! __PLOT AND STORY (8/10)__ Suletta Mercury is a transfer student from planet Mercury came to Asticassia School of Technology that is managed by Benerit Group. On her way to school, Suletta encountered Miorine Rembran, who was in the run away mission to Earth because of her father’s dueling system and Suletta decided to interfere her mission. Miorine was very angry and demanded Suletta to take responsibility to help her to go back to Earth. In Asticassia School of Technology, they are three departments which is Pilot, Mechanical and Strategy which trains student to work in the mobile suit industry. The school also holds duel to solve important matters such as money and personal affairs through stake duel that is conducted by Duelling Club Commitee. The winner is will become the holder and automatically engaged to the daughter of Benerit Group president, Miorine Rembran, and that’s where Suletta won and Miorine welcome her as a groom. While being Miorine’s groom, Suletta faced the challenges as the three largest company branches had evil intentions toward Miorine Rembran due to her father political power. This new Gundam series is set up in a school setting. The main reason why Sunrise make new Gundam series is too attract newcomers to the Gundam franchise. Of course, the previous Gundam series has already been made in school setting but making a child soldier with heavy politic at the start makes the newcomers felt unrelatable, not because the newcomers are lighthearted or less violent. This series has slow burning pace where we can see the truth behind Gundam to be revealed gradually as each episode unfolds. This series shows how various objects are linked to one another. This show is not going to tell everything with straightforward explanation and have to figure it out on our own. There are few of examples that would be: 1. Suletta and Miorine relationship is being forced and nonsensical, or develops naturally over time. 2. Lady Prospera sent her own “daughter”, Suletta Mercury so she can make Mercury a prosperous planet, or uses her for revenge. 3. Episode 1 – Episode 11 was typical high school tropes with slice of life and romcom vibe, but they actually focused on significant participants in the Earthian and Spacian cold wars as seen through the eyes of military business students. 4. Gundam was banned because it’s unethical and harmful to pilots, or because it was a powerful weapon and that could upset the balance in weaponry power. Basically, the first season of the new Gundam series is a mystery thriller combined with an anti-corporate revenge plot, set in a slice of life schools drama with duels. Each episode will get me wanted to know what is coming next and it keeps me hooked and invested in storyline. Miorine had always been looking for a way to escape from the problems that arose due to the school duels and her own father. However, after Suletta helped her, she gained a new perspective on how to handle the challenges. Suletta’s wise words and actions proven instrumental in not only saving Suletta and Aerial but also helping Miorine grow as a person. It was fun with romcom, slice of life and duels until Episode 12, where the post-credit scene is the masterful example of misdirection character development. Suletta at first was an innocent and adorkable character became a ruthless machine killer without any remorse and I got chills after that while Miorine was terrified by Suletta’s sudden shift in behavior as her eyes reflect the trauma she has experienced. __CHARACTERS(9/10)__ I really admire how every character is well-designed and has a unique personality. Suletta Mercury is the main protagonist of the story. There’s a wisdom quote saying “_If you can’t beat the fear, do it scared_”. Even though she is timid, she adheres to the moral principles where she accepted the duel from Guel for Miorine’s justice. Suletta is confident in her piloting skills and demanded to Miorine to trust in her capabilities and took the responsibility to defeat Guel’s winning streak to save Miorine. Not only that, Suletta respects and acknowledged her opponent’s courage and strength. Suletta is a hard-working person, even though she has a problem with catching up the class lessons, she made effort to improve herself by seeking help to anybody that is willing to help her. Suletta is an ambitious person, she goes to school to study so she can make Mercury a prosperous planet. She’s friendly with everyone at school, regardless of their origin. Since she is a naive person, she trusts people too easily without considering potential consequences. However, Miorine’s personality is vastly different from Suletta, as different as night and day, cat and dog, North and South and sun and moon lol. Miorine Rembran is the deuteragonist of the story. She is rebellious against her father, Delling Rembran, who is the president of Benerit Group. She does not like how the school rules system are made, where all of matters, right and wrong are decided through duels and if someone wins, the winner will be automatically become the head of Dueling Committee, the reigning Holder, the heir to one of the three branches of Benerit Group and become Miorine’s groom and that was what make Miorine wanted to run away mission to Earth without caring her own physical condition. Miorine is cold and aloof towards people in that school since she thinks everyone has selfish motives with her, plus, treating her like a trophy because she is the one and only daughter of the president Benerit group and that leads Miorine has trust issues with all of people in that school. Despite this, she shows her selflessness by helping Suletta in trouble and created a company to save Suletta and Aerial. She is also an intelligent person, she is the top 1 best student in Strategy Department. Miorine has a sharp personality and she can tell if someone has hidden bad intentions towards her. Miorine has interest in gardening and planting tomato in the greenhouse during her leisure time. Suletta is known to be a kind person, she expressed her gratitude to Miorine for saving her from being crushed by Guel during his duel and Miorine assumed it was just a small matter. Suletta was the one who against Guel’s abusive behavior towards Miorine when everyone was not cared about it. That moment when Miorine felt being treated like a human being, from there she found the act of kindness and courage from Suletta, who had been always guarded and distrustful towards others. Because of Suletta’s wisdom words “_If you runaway, you gain one. If you move forward, you gain two._”, Miorine gained a new perspective on how she saw life that hits on her. With Suletta’s support and encouragement, Miorine was able to find the strength to help Suletta from getting expelled from the school and Aerial being scraped. Since Miorine is known to be cold and aloof towards others, Miorine is suddenly showing her true feelings toward Suletta, which I am very surprised because she is rarely show any kind of emotions excepts anger is typically the only emotion she feels comfortable showing. Both of them developed bond of mutual respect and love that went beyond their differences. In Episode 12, there was an unexpected shocking scene that left me speechless and the relationship between them changed. This turning point story will add new challenges to their relationship. The future of their relationship is uncertain and this brought new level of complexity of the story. __ANIMATION (9/10)__ The animation in this anime is focused on the color hue to deliver important moments and themes. Several times throughout the episodes, the environment’s color scheme is altered to represent the tone and mood of the scene because it creates emotional reaction in the viewers. Whether it’s a victory, defeat, mystery, hope or a moment of reflections, the environment changes color. Not only that, there are also many parallels occurred throughout the series. The parallels highlight the story themes and patterns and help to establish the sense of coherence and continuity. These connections contribute more to the character development. This is an effective technique to make the viewers went deep to the story and increase the sense of empathy for the characters. Here are some of examples of the color hue environment delivery and parallelism. ~~~img50%(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/736153911521574982/1090721736812658789/image.png) The environment around the scene shifted to a warm golden hue and the sky was glowing with a radiant light. The golden coloration symbolized success and shining sky represents hope and triumph.~~~ ~~~img50%(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/736153911521574982/1090721774267797554/image.png) The atmosphere of the scene became gloomy and the lighting became dimmer. Using dark mood tone build tension and indicate something bad is about to happen. ~~~ Even it’s just a tomato that has a little bit relation with the story, I am blown away how can tomato is actually represents a hint to deliver meaning beyond its literal interpretation throughout the series. ~~~img50%(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/736153911521574982/1090721799957925968/image.png) Suletta is the first one to eat Miorine’s tomato symbolized Suletta is the one who is sincere to help her since the beginning~~~ ~~~img50%(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/736153911521574982/1090721828680507512/image.png) The duel battle prediction between Grassley House and Earth House ~~~ ~~~img50%(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/736153911521574982/1090721894665310208/image.png) Cutting green tomato symbolized unmatured relationship~~~ I want to start with a big disclaimer that Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury is my first mecha anime and it’s also the first Gundam series I have watched. As a newcomer, my knowledge about mecha animation may be limited as I share my thoughts and opinion on the anime. The mecha fights animation is truly marvelous. The Episode 1 already gave me a big impression on how the movement of the mecha fights are beautifully animated. Another thing to mention is the sound design. The sound effects are absolutely top-notch. The explosions, laser blasts and the Gund-bits shield impact resonating with a satisfying weight. The use of soundtrack in duel scenes which is “The Witch from Mercury” is an absolute standout. When paired with stunning animation and a banger soundtrack, it’s enough to give me goosebumps. __MUSIC (10/10)__ First of all, I want to say that was astounding job by Sunrise for investing such a masterpiece music. The soundtrack was fantastic and incredible. It made me goosebumps for the first time watching Aerial debut in Episode 1 and it makes me want it more and more duels and Episode 12, a new soundtrack for rebuild Aerial which is foreshadowing dark and ominous vibes that awaits them in 2nd cour. Then, OP song. Yoasobi - Shukufuku (The Blessing) is such a refreshing, catchy and anthemic vibes from other of their songs. I also got the 8-bit theme in that song that matches with the space vibes. I really love listening to their OP song that I streamed it for 138 times the day it got released to Spotify. Plus, their source of inspiration of writing that song is from the Light Novel Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury titled Craddle Planet and the lyrics give good message about one-self journey to follow your dream and never give up. Then, The ED song. This song is sung by Shiyuui, a rookie singer and I can say the song gave somber mood but in hopeful way and after the first cour ended, I listen to the ED for many times. ~~~img40%(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/736153911521574982/1090733324655411220/photo6134362902975591638.jpg)~~~ __OVERALL ENJOYMENT__ I found the story is very engaging and entertaining by the schools drama until I realized I am actually watching Gundam series. I am investing in their relationship between Suletta and Miorine. I also found myself having a deep connection to the characters, which I have relatable emotions and experience. As a newcomer, I found the animation and soundtrack was such a masterpiece and a banger to me. I am also having a lot of strong emotions when watching the anime. I am truly enjoying this new Gundam series and excited for Season 2! ^^

Juliko25

(This review covers seasons one and two) Gundam has never been high on my priority list when it comes to anime. To date, I've only seen _Gundam X, War In The Pocket_, and both seasons of 00 (Excluding the movie), though as of today, I'm adding _Gundam: The Witch From Mercury_ to this list. The reason I haven't watched many Gundam shows is that...well, I have a hard time keeping up with and comprehending hard sci-fi stuff and the technobabble they try to throw at you. Because of this, I originally had no interest in G-Witch at all, even when it was first announced. But then I heard my online circles talking about it and praising it up the wazoo...and hearing the news that it apparently became so popular that accompanying merchandise outsold pretty much every other Gundam property EVER. The first episode made a gigantic splash across the world, bringing in a huge influx of new fans. Learning that G-Witch also took place in a school and would tone down the technobabble is what convinced me to finally sit down and watch it, and I'm glad to say I don't regret it. But while I do genuinely enjoy G-Witch as a show, there are things it could have improved upon. In the year Ad Stella 122, a young girl by the name of Suletta Mercury transfers from her home planet of...well, Mercury, to the prestigious Asticassia School of Technology, a planetary academic institute run by the megacorporation known as the Benerit Group. While on her way there, she encounters another girl, Miorine Rembran, trying to escape the institute and head to Earth in order to free herself from her controlling father and his plans for her. Asticassia is known for letting students engage in staged mecha duels to decide on everything, no matter how petty, from apologies to marriage arrangements, and duelists all over constantly battle each other for the right to marry Miorine for their own gains. Miorine really wants to take her life in her own hands and is sick of being treated like little more than a prize to be won. Through a series of events, Suletta winds up winning a duel against a bully, which results in her being set to be Miorine's...betrothed? But this is just the beginning of Suletta and Miorine's complicated life together at the academy, and only one piece of a much larger agenda tying into the origins of Suletta's beloved mobile suit, the Gundam Aerial. Compared to the few Gundam series' I've seen, G-Witch's overall look leans more on the overtly cartoony side of animation rather than the more rugged, rustic, realistic designs from series' past, even compared to the very first Gundam anime. The female characters look more cutesy and moe, most of the guys are pretty boys with multi-colored hair, and some of the adult characters have designs that border on being kind of ridiculous, namely that quintet of old ladies who run Peil Technologies. Other than some off-model moments scattered throughout the show, the animation is fairly consistent throughout. The backgrounds are all well-made, and the series has no small amount of fluid giant robot action, especially near the end of the series. Plus, the actual mobile suit designs, even the ones for each company in-series, are all visually distinct, helped by the fact that Sunrise hired four mechanical designers to design them for each in-series corporation, all of whom worked on previous Gundam series before G-Witch. Though...I have to admit, I like the general soundtrack, but I admit I wasn't a fan of the openings and endings save for the second opening. Seriously, the singer's voice for the second ending makes my ears bleed. The overall storyline tends to be all over the place, though in the beginning, this isn't a bad thing. At first, G-Witch seemed to be going the really cheesy route of "Kids good, adults bad!" "Down with the patriarchy!" message, what with having several of their villains be abusive parents shouting stuff like "Children should obey their parents without question!" without a hint of subtlety, though thankfully that got toned down as the series went on. I know some people had issues with the slow pacing of the earliest episodes, but I personally didn't, as I felt they did a fair enough job of not only easing us into the setting, but fleshing out the cast of characters, especially Suletta and Miorine. I hate this idea that a show has to be nothing but non-stop action and story progression, because if all you do is go fast, fast, fast, without taking the time to develop your characters and show what they're like outside the main conflict, how can we, the audience, be expected to care about them? And as far as the characters go, the main trio—Suletta, Miorine, and Guel—carry the show wonderfully. Not every character gets the screen time needed to really flesh them and their backgrounds out beyond the main conflict (Shaddiq's cohorts are especially hit hard with this, as we literally know nothing about them besides that they work for him), but the ones that do fulfill their roles in the story pretty well. In my opinion, Guel is the best developed character in the whole series, and G-Witch did an amazing job at showing his growth from entitled, arrogant jackass to a more humbler, calmer, and more intelligent man. But as much as I hate to say it, as you can tell by the rating I gave it, G-Witch isn't without its issues, all of which culminate in one thing: G-Witch feels like it should have received way more episodes than it wound up getting. Previously, Gundam series used to be able to receive 40-50 something episodes, even if circumstances mandated that they be cut short. The very first _Mobile Suit Gundam_ series was planned to have 52 episodes but was cut down to 43 due to low ratings upon its initial airing. _Gundam X_ was planned to have 49 episodes but was cut down to 39, though it was able to finish its story on its own terms, so it wasn't outright cancelled. G-Witch is the first mainline Gundam series that I know of to have only been given 24 episodes, barring the Prologue episode (Do correct me if I'm wrong)...and I think this episode length wound up working against it. The last half of part two really bum rushes through its story at a rapid pace, introducing new concepts, characters, and conflicts out of nowhere with absolutely no foreshadowing or explanation whatsoever, discarding other subplots wholesale, and writing themselves in a corner to the point where they pull random Deus Ex Machinas out of their ass just to be able to resolve everything. Even the finale is loaded to the brim with random resolutions to the entire conflict that have absolutely ZERO explanation for how they happen, especially in regards to one character, and only raise more questions than they answer. I like happy endings as much as the next person, but the road to getting to said ending needs to make sense, and G-Witch wasn't given the time to smooth that road out. You'd think G-Witch's popularity would have allowed Sunrise to give it more episodes so it could actually flesh all these things out rather than cram them all into a quarter of the series. Plus, as a result of this, several important plot points just seem to get thrown to the wayside. Like, the series and the characters in it seems to flat-out forget that Guel's father was a complete jackass who berated his son over every little thing, but when the guy dies, everyone talks about his death like it was the worst thing ever when the guy did nothing to deserve any lick of sympathy from anyone. There are even points where G-Witch flat-out contradicts or retcons previous plot threads it established, even as far as one of the prologue novels. So yeah, as far as G-Witch's flaws go, all of them are the result of not having more episodes to work with. But with all that said, I still enjoyed G-Witch as a show. Granted, I do like _Gundam X_ and _War In The Pocket_ a little more, but that's not to say G-Witch doesn't have anything of value to offer. The fact that it managed to rekindle Gundam's overall popularity, especially overseas, proved that the franchise is here to stay, and to me, reigniting new life into a franchise is the best thing that _Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury_ can do.

Scheveningen

Witch From Mercury attempts to depart from Gundam's usual plot and themes about fighting a war to focus on the relationship between war and capitalism. Sadly, Mobile Suit Gundam: Military Industrial Complex this is not. While there are attempts to integrate themes subtly and organically beneath the veneer of a rather incoherent corporate high school, they instead end up falling by the wayside. The show's more juvenile elements concerning its school and its contrived plot around exaggerated corporate politics overwhelm any semblance of exploring its ideas. What is left still has strong visuals and actions, as befitting a Gundam series done by Sunrise, but there is little more. The interesting ideas WfM does have are left as nothing more than potential or window dressing. While this might bean acceptable or even above average standard for most sci-fi, anime or otherwise, it is simply not living up to what many other Gundam series have done before. The central issue of WfM is that its wider conflict, whether between the Spacians and Earthians or within the Benerit Group itself, is all kept ancillary for the entire run of the show. While there is some merit in keeping this all in the background, allowing these conflicts to feel organic to the setting, it reaches the point where it feels like nothing more than window dressing. Conflict between people living on Earth and those that have moved into space is a core part of Gundam. While it seems to be a central point of political tension in WfM, it is never delved into. All we get to see is the frankly petty discrimination perpetrated by the students at Asticassia while the greater economic and political ramifications sit in the background. There are some interesting moments when Chuchu receives a call from her home that goes into the conditions the working class on Earth faces, but these end up being mere fragments. They add flavour to the world but not any substance since we still lack explanations for anything or see it tied into to any larger idea. Without exploring or even detailing the bare outlines of this conflict beyond arbitrary hate, all the tension between the students from Earth and those from the space colonies feels like juvenile bullying instead of an extension of a broader class conflict. The only explanation for this tension is that the Spacians polluted the Earth and exploited her resources before leaving for the haven of space. Now they continue to exploit the people of Earth while holding a vast majority of economic and political power. This premise runs contradictory to most science fiction, and even most Gundam series, since it is clear that any near future expansion into the Solar System will still leave Earth as the central cradle for humanity. Aside from Earth having the benefit of being an established political entity, there is an insurmountable advantage to living in a terrestrial environment. Even rudimentary functions like creating breathable air and cycling water become costly in space. It is almost inconceivable how any space-based civilisation with near-future technology would hope to match up to this and close the population, resource, and production gap with the Earth. There simply needs to be an explanation for what structures allow the Spacian minority to hold on to so much power over a much larger entity from such a remote distance. Whether these structures are based on traditional political organisation or some megacorporate structure matters since this affects the themes and nature of the story WfM is trying to tell. The lack of explanation first frustrates the viewer since they are missing a broader context for the happenings in Astacassia that affect or reflect on the world. There is no explanation for this illogical power dynamic, and nothing interesting is done with this inversion to justify it which steadily erodes suspension of disbelief at the internal coherence of this world. All Gundam series before this has pitted more or less traditional political entities against each other. From the Earth Federation and Zeon, OMNI and ZAFT, and even the Titans and the AEUG, which are essentially armed political movements, their organisational structure and goals can all be taken for granted. However, WfM seems to suggest a megacorporation controlled future. While this is a staple in the cyberpunk genre, it has been noted in many science-fiction works that corporate entities are simply unequipped and frankly uninterested in governance. While they will exert control over traditional governmental entities for their benefit, there is little interest in totally supplanting them. This interaction is infinitely more interesting to explore than the caricature of a megacorporation running the world. Gundam has skirted around this in the past, with corporations in the series like Anaheim Electronics, Zeonic and Morgenrote all benefitting immensely from wars and even pulling the strings to an extent. Anaheim Electronics is probably the biggest offender in past series since they decided to arm the rebel AEUG, thereby involving themselves as a political player. By changing the perspective from a national entity to a corporate one, WfM was poised to explore other themes like war profiteering, the ethics of arms manufacturing and even the use of force by corporate entities. There are significant consequences of traditional political entities losing their monopoly on violence since it allows business disputes to be settled via combat. WfM disappointingly goes nowhere with this setup and only pays lip service to this idea. There are some concerns from the Earthian students about developing weapons that will be used against their own people, but nothing more is done with it. We are never even told where, who and how they will be used, a necessary piece of information for the audience to grasp the gravity of the situation that is also a natural piece of exposition to learn at that juncture. This is a distinct pattern in WfM in that it suggests itself to have a greater depth by inserting its conflict in the background and bringing it up in smaller moments. However, nothing is ever done with this, and it is always just a touch-and-go affair. This is fundamentally WfM shooting itself in the foot. The premise is not left merely as window dressing because it is constantly brought up by the narrative, but it is also not explored enough to meet the expectations it sets up as being a core pillar of the show. This extends to even the more fleshed-out elements of WfM's politics in the Benerit Group. It is frustratingly unclear how the group interacts with the wider world and despite all the talk of corporate exploitation, none of their corporate activities are ever explained or shown. Not even something as simple and surface level as Earthians being forced to work grueling hours in a mine or factor are even mentioned to actually give some form to all the nebulous talk of there being an underclass. Within the Benerit Group, the different companies and vague competing factions interact in an absurd death game-esque circus where the company with the lowest profits gets ejected from the group. Someone at Bandai Namco, and probably Sunrise as well, knows better than this since they are an actual corporation. So why this is dumbed down and caricatured cannot be the result of ignorance. As a deliberate choice, it may make WfM's corporate politics more digestible or dramatic, but it does undermine any more serious points they can make when one of their main organisations is so cartoonishly evil and incoherent. Everything else from their status as a corporate entity with a private military or if they are a quasi-governmental group is unclear. The same can be said about Cathedra and all the other institutions in the series that seem to be involved in governance. It is desperately unclear whether they are some semblance of a traditional political entity that a corporation has hijacked or if they are a capitalist entity through and through. WfM expects you to take this all for granted even though this vagueness undermines the coherence of the world and any greater thematic points it tries to make about megacorporations. This all results in the setting of WfM feeling disjointed as its more cerebral and heavy themes have the depth of window dressing but are constantly paraded as being, or at least potentially being, a core pillar of the series that is the source for all conflict in the Ad Stella timeline. All this is not helped by how the geography between different locations in the series is not well defined. While there are a few named locations like Earth and Mercury, where all the space installations like Asticassia are in the solar system are unclear. Are they at one of the Earth Lagrange points? Or somewhere further out. This lack of spatial relationships between the show's locations leaves it feeling even more floaty, as if it exists in a vacuum, creating a disjointed impression. As if all these places only exist as locations for the plot to happen instead of being actual installations that relate to each other beyond that. All this would still be adequate for some other sci-fi series, but Gundam sets a high bar for itself, and WfM is no exception. The premise of WfM, or perhaps its lack thereof, begins to compound the issues of the series when it clashes with the plot. On a conceptual level, the Asticassia school is an interesting place for a Gundam series to take place. As a school meant to train mechanics, pilots, designers and anyone else required to develop and utilise mobile suits, it is a ripe setting for something new in Gundam. While the school setting can seem a little trite and juvenile, given how it is handled in so many other anime, there is no reason to write it off. Other shows have used the lighthearted school environment to introduce the viewer to microcosms of larger problems in the series, easing them as the show steadily builds up towards a powerful dramatic moment of juxtaposing the safety of the school environment to the harsh realities of the outsider world. There is no reason why this setup could not be made to complement and support the heavier themes of the show while at the same time helping to endear the viewer to the characters. However, the main stumbling block is that it is unclear what the function of Asticassia school is. The students in the piloting department train as if they are going to be sent into combat. A vital part of the premise that would support this is the presence of a conflict, or at least a potential one, that they are training for. None of this is even remotely established at any point in WfM since all its mention of conflict has been devoid of any specifics. The school is positioned to be a training ground for the children of members of the Benerit Group, with even the top leadership participating. It is hard to see how these heirs to companies would be expected to act as soldiers or even commanders in some kind of private military. This created the feeling that the school setting has no real justification in the broader premise of WfM and is just there for the entertainment factor. This impression is only compounded by the school using mobile suit duels to not only settle disputes but create apparently legally binding agreements from the wager. This appears as nothing but absurdity when it is juxtaposed with how a corporation would conduct its dealings. The idea that a duel between teenagers could overturn business dealings or agreements made by companies is laughable. The school's internal organisation makes little sense since the students are apparently divided into "houses". However, these seemed to be formed at students' whims instead of being regulated by the institution. Furthermore, they seemed to be formed along any lines that can exist, be it the students collective place of origin or their affiliation with one of the companies. While students having an unjust disparity in resources based on their connections is quite thematically on point for a school run by a megacorporation, it does make for an incredibly incoherent school system. While this could be made to work, it requires a great deal more focus and explanation. Again, WfM does not dedicate enough time to explain this element of its setting, given how convoluted it makes it. Much of the run time is focused on name-dropping company rivalries but little of how any of it actually functions beyond duelling and sabotaging each other in exams. To what ends is never so much as discussed. With how convoluted it all appears to be, the only option to make this coherent would be to commit to the premise of this being Mobile Suit Gundam: The High School. While nothing is wrong with that premise, it is certainly not what the show bills itself to be given that it focuses an extensive amount of time on its corporate narrative. The dual premises of a dystopian megacorp future and a Gundam high school end up in severe tension with each other since the latter appears so incoherent that the only reason left to explain its inclusion is for sheer juvenile entertainment. In essence, WfM attempts to have it both ways and succeeds at neither since its run time and narrative resources were not concentrated. The greatest failing of this is that the prologue compounds this idea by setting up WfM as a relatively serious story in the vein of most other Gundam series about corporate warfare. Even if WfM wishes to abrogate its Gundam legacy regarding the expectations it wants viewers to have, its own prologue does it no favours. In addition, with the amount of tropes and ideas it borrows from the wider Gundam series, such as having its own Char clone, it is hypocritical to let the show benefit from such inclusions while saying it needs to do nothing to address the expectations that come with it. The most obvious answer would have been to highlight some ongoing conflict that would explain all the issues listed above, even if just a low-intensity insurgency. It would clarify the nature of the Benerit Group's relationship with Earthians, establish what political organisation the solar system has in WfM, and give a reason for the school to focus on combat training. Yet WfM leaves everything painfully vague and ill-defined, seeming to attempt to have its cake and eat it too with how it can hint at serious themes but never bother to explain any of them. Perhaps this is what WfM is preparing the groundwork for, but given that we are 13 episodes in and none of this has been clarified, it is hard to give them a great deal of leeway. While an argument can be made that there is still a second season of WfM and that they are meant to be viewed as a whole, that is simply too charitable. At this point, it is 13 episodes worth of questions, few answers and no clear idea of the details of the central conflict. Most of it is merely implied, or worse, just left up to the viewers' assumption. That is far too long for so many elements to be held up as intriguing mysteries and dips into an unclear mess. Coming finally to the characters, they only add to this lack of clarity. They can be more or less split between childish students and almost cartoonishly evil corporate leaders. A vast majority of the supporting cast end up as stereotypical portrayals or, at worst, caricatures of rich snobby students or school bullies. This is perfectly serviceable but nothing noteworthy that helps to prop up the weaker elements of the show. While there is depth in some of them, or at least a hint of it, they are almost all built up on mysteries in their backstory. Similarly to the questions regarding WfM's setting, none of these have been clarified or answered, even at the 13 episode mark. At this juncture, Chuchu is probably the most fleshed-out character since she also has the most straightforward motivations. While her behaviour is quite rough, it does make perfect sense. Growing up in an environment economically exploited by the Spacians would naturally foster a great animosity in her. It is a pity when are left to infer what it is like instead it being used as an opportunity to show or explain how Earthians are actually being exploited so we can sympathise with their plight. Similarly, Guel is straightforward to understand, being raised as the heir to a large successful company, it is natural he would develop into an arrogant bully due to his privileged position. It is only after he has lost everything that he is in a position to grow as a character and prove himself. What the two of them have in common is that they are two of the few characters whose behaviour and development do not hinge on some mystery or unknown in their backstory. While this should be and often is the standard in most shows, it is stunning that they are in the minority for WfM. Most other characters have their development hinge on gaps or mysteries in their background. Ranging from Elan, Shaddiq, to Nika and even Suletta, their characters are made compelling because there is more to reveal about their current situation as opposed to places their character has to grow. While there are interesting ideas to explore in these mysteries that do link back to and support the greater themes of WfM, there are simply too many unknowns this far into the series. It gets to the point where the viewer has to go beyond inferring character motivations to outright guessing and assuming. While this can be interesting for one or a few of them, having so many members of the cast be mystery boxes gives the impression of chaos in the plot. It frustrates engaged viewers since there is little concrete they can dig into for more insight or hints to their motivations. They are reduced to watching a spectacle and waiting for the writer's hand to reveal itself in an arbitrary explanation for the chain of events instead of being drawn in by understanding the situation. While Suletta and Minorine are charmingly portrayed and voiced acted, much of the mystery behind Suletta's origins bogs down much of their relationship dynamic. They perhaps connect on an intuitive level in seeing the chemistry they begin to develop, but there always feels like there should be more to the relationship or that it is incomplete because Suletta does not know or is not telling Minorine about her own past. This leads to WfM feeling like it is being crushed under the weight of all the mysteries and vaguenness. After its 13-episode run, there are only questions, multitudes of moving pieces and no answers. While that could indicate an interesting show built on intricate planning, the impression WfM gives is that this is more down to attempting to do too many things simultaneously. The premise of WfM, while fresh for Gundam, is nothing exceptional in the wider sci-fi genre. There have been and will be many works that discuss corporate excess and economic inequality. While that does not mean that it is not worth exploring or having a Gundam riff on it, it does mean that having so many of the core conflicts kept off the board as secrets oversells how impactful they will be as reveals that retroactively contextualise things or escalate the situation. Anyone familiar with Gundam and/or science fiction can probably guess where the plot is going and the missing elements behind the premise. That in itself is not a strike against any show. The problem is that viewers are making these not as inferences but as guesses. It uses genre savviness and knowledge of science fiction concepts to make these conclusions instead of using information supplied by the show. That is either a failure to communicate ideas effectively or a lack of effort and attention paid to them. Even if WfM handles everything smoothly in its second season, expanding the information it provides about its setting, finally digging down into its themes and properly resolving all its character mystery boxes, it will simply have taken too long. At the very least, it would indicate that WfM suffers severe construction and pacing issues if it requires the viewer to go more than half its run in this state of seeing things unfold but not comprehending a majority of the causation. Even if it does develop the conflict between Earthians and Spacians to the depth and quality we have come to expect from Gundam and other long-running sci-fi series, the damage has been done to how cartoonishly the Benerit Group is shown to operate and how incoherent the school is. And all that is contingent on the series doing damage control instead of this being a strong foundation to work from. Witch From Mercury does have the foundation for interesting ideas and a story. However, it tries to do too many things and makes them needlessly convoluted. While there is some merit to how it handles its core conflicts and tries to integrate them organically, the lack of details or emphasis on it makes them feel like window dressing to its juvenile school elements. The setting feels at this juncture to be incoherent, bordering on convoluted or even nonsensical. Carried mainly by its visuals, it is hard to give it more credit since the complexities in its ideas and characters remain only as possibilities for the second season to pick up on. It is hard to rate it more than a 6 out of 10, which is being generous and including the potential it has built instead of actually executing any of it. As harsh as I have been, I do hope that season 2 picks up the ball and at least benefits from this preparation, even if that will not retroactively improve the structural elements of these initial episodes.

MC45436G

Thanks to my experience with both the franchise and other anime in general, I’ll be talking from hopefully a different perspective from most people and even fans. WFM is the most recent alternate universe entry in one of anime’s most integral franchises. Suffice to say, it carries on the legacy of this legendary series in more ways than one. An interesting note is that the reception it garnered when it aired almost mirrors the pattern of previous entries before it. I’ll be the one to say that the pattern WFM follows is one that has existed with Gundam from the very beginning. Many of the criticisms it got after it aired were also made to previous entries, and you’d think fans would get used to it but alas. That being it is still a great show that is in line with what the franchise is known for. This is the pattern that led to certain reactions in the fandom: The start was strong with brand new concepts that weren’t explored in previous entries and everyone was the most excited. Then near the halfway point, the show shifted focus and went in a different direction from what was in the beginning. Finally the ending left many people unsatisfied and they thought it was “rushed”. I’ll tell you right now that this sequence of events for nearly every mainline Gundam. Right from beginning with 0079, to Zeta and ZZ, Char’s Counterattack, Victory, G, Wing, X, Turn A, Seed and Destiny, 00, Build fighters and Try, and finally Iron-Blooded Orphans that preceded Witch from Mercury. Whether you like it or not, this pattern happens to almost every single Gundam. Therefore WFM is just carrying the torch and knowing that this sequence of events will come is going to help appreciating what each one does differently. The common stereotype about Gundam is that it is the same show over and over again. Yes, there are tropes and similar archetypes that are common amongst the shows but they are NOT the same. These similarities are just what makes a Gundam anime, a Gundam, and they help distinguish the series from other mecha. Each new alternate universe Gundam goes in very different directions in the way one tackles the overarching themes of the franchise and WFM isn’t an exception. Compared to other series, the conflict is a lot smaller and the beginning is unlike any other entry. But eventually its Gundam traits become more apparent as it goes on. The trademark themes of the horrors of war and the importance of understanding are present and as potent as they were in every other Gundam. From the beginning the franchise always strived to push the boundaries and make unique works that break conventions. Every new entry will always be different compared to not only its predecessors, but other mecha of their respective eras. Unlike many Gundams before it, WFM puts a great focus on the development of the main characters. Many entries have great character development even with their large casts, but the reduced population allows the ones in this show to have a bigger spotlight on them. WFMs greatest strength is the relationship of the main duo. Romance in Gundam is usually very shaky and underbaked compared to other elements, but this is where the show’s writing is at its best. Beyond Suletta and Miorine every major character gets growth over the course of the story. This where the theme of understanding and changing to become better people to create peace comes in and WFM delivers that message beautifully. Beyond the great story, characters and their development and themes, the show inherits the trait of Gundams being some of the best in mecha in terms of production. The animation is gorgeous when it comes to mecha battles. Everything in this world is presented in a way that makes sense as the setting is expertly crafted. One element that has been consistently great among every Gundam is the music. WFM is, yet again, not a slacker as the OST is top tier. The mecha designs are also great and very diverse. The differences between how the mechs look and operate are even integral to the plot and world of the show. Character designs are great and distinct from one another. An under-talked about element, across Gundam in general, is the amazing sound design. They give every action the mechs take a lot of impact and they are just satisfying to listen to. WFM is an amazing production all around as Gundams given their importance and legacy. Is the show perfect? Absolutely not. Every Gundam has flaws in some areas and WFM is no exception. However it is still a great anime nonetheless. It carries on the Gundam lineage by doing things differently but still keeping the traits that make the franchise great. While it would have benefited from a larger episode count to explore the world in more depth, for it does provide, it does great job at it. The aspects that could’ve been fleshed have already been tackled in other Gundams before. This allows WFM to handle other themes and subjects that other entries have not given as much priority. Which the show does to great success. Witch from Mercury is as Gundam as you can get despite what others would have you believe. It accomplishes its mission to both bring the timeless messages of the series to a new generation and provide a unique experience for longtime fans.