Gundam 00 Season 2 - Ep. 1 & 2

Synopses and Fansub group listings/ratings at:
AniDB & ANN

So this will be the first in a hopefully semi-regular series of updates about anime. To start us off, is the second season of Gundam 00. Inevitably, we must bring to mind Code Geass R2, however, it is safe to say that Sunrise takes much better care of its flagship franchise. The show picks up from where it left, and pretty competently sets things back and going at full speed, without wasting any time on exposition (the convenience of having the same audience, I surmise).

So, at the start of the first episode, you're instantly thrown into some mecha action, with some very unfamiliar mecha. The only thing that suggests what you're even watching is 00, is the presence of the false GN reactors and their pretty, red shinies. You're quickly introduced to the fact that the world is now united in an Earth Federation, very much in the style of many Gundams in the past (most prominently in the Universal Century Gundam Timeline shows). Additionally, you're shown the cruel suppression of anti-government groups (any armed countries that have refused to join the Federation and non-government rebel groups, most prominently Kataron) by a new force of "peacekeepers" called the A-Laws (I've seen it translated as Arrows too). From the attitude taken towards the A-Laws that almost all the characters from last season have taken, the general impression is bad and evil, much in the style of The Titans from Z Gundam (second entry to the Universal Century Timeline)

Overall, however, the show will no doubt take a different direction from previous Gundam. Blending the politick of the UC Gundams and the monopoly of force by a few, main-character-mecha far beyond the common mook that's so fashionable lately, I would draw the line of similarities as mere throwbacks to the old classic Gundams.

Much like Z Gundam, the second season to the original Gundam, however, is the introduction of possibly a new main character, Saji Crossroad. Up until now, Saji (who was featured in season 1) has played almost a non-role, and seemed to only exist to focus the suffering of the common civilian in the hectic era of armed interventions by Celestial Being. However, it would seem with the new season, he is to eventually play a greater role, once he's sorted out what he believes exactly. I may be wrong, though; it's quite possible he'll remain a bystander, and this could just be a feint by the storywriters. But if not, he may play a very important role in the action, and could then, continuing the Z Gundam comparison, make a very rough equivalent for Camille Bidan. Saji even looks a bit girly, and they both shriek a lot.

Additionally, Saji's girlfriend from S1, Louise Halevy, makes a return, now with hair cut military length (for her gender, and within presentable anime standards, anyhow) and just a few strokes crazier. The immediate response of me was "lol Four", and for those who don't know, Four Murasame was one of the main romantic interests for Camille during the run of Z Gundam, and she, being a cyber Newtype, was similarly crazy and unstable. She met a rather tragic end. It'll be interesting seeing her probable confrontation with Saji, whether it's on a street or with two mecha frames between them.

With the following episode 3, it seems the main cast will be finally assembled, with the rescue of Allelujah Haptism, whom we've been shown chained up a couple of times now, in the last two episode. Aside from that, Sumeragi has been recruited again, and the late Lockon Stratos will be succeeded by his younger brother, Lyle Dylandy, who'll also take up the same codename. From then, I figure it'll be a matter of them getting together a full team of Gundam again, rather than just the two they have for use at the moment. The pieces will be set, and I'm sure the show will charge on without remorse, while mercilessly applying a constant stream of cliffhangers all the way through.

Anyhow, of note is that, after the credits, there is always an extra excerpt or scene that are very much worth watching. So make sure to stick with it until at least the beginning of the previews. And now, without further ado, stupid stuff:

To employ a 14 year old, drill-haired, Suiseiseki-style desu yapper
as their comm officer, Celestial Being must be in tough times.

Hi there, Rollo.

The show's definitely shaping up to be fairly satisfying. I'm unsure as to what to expect for the time being, but my interest has definitely been piqued.

As a final note, should there somehow be someone who has no idea how to get anime as they air in Japan, they may find a very useful resource towards this end in my link section, if only by coincidence. Otherwise, it is at the usual places: "illegally" on youtube, crunchyroll, and Veoh too, most likely. Not that I condone streaming anime at all.