File # 21: Return of the Armed Intervention in Thirty

This is hands down my favorite one-sided fight.
Ali, you're magnificent. I just wanted you to know that.

Thirty Days.

After a very long wait In Thirty short days, the Second Season premier of Mobile Suit Gundam 00 will hit the airwaves (in Japan, anyways)* on Sunday October 5, at 5:00.

While I've been gladly enjoying Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 (and Macross Frontier, now that its finally starting not to suck), I'm in a fever pitch for my V-Fin Fix and I need it now.

It's time for the return of the armed intervention.

It's time for more Gundam.

While I'm generally a big fan of the franchise (the UC series, in particular), I've been pretty fond of 00 not because its the New Kid on the Block, but for the way 00 has been able to deconstruct many of the tropes established in the Gundam Franchise while telling a more seinen style story that fits in our post 911 culture. While the protagonists are presented as well intentioned and heroic, they're still terrorists.

To elucidate, Celestial Being's goal are not to destroy the world (really, they're not), but to influence the political landscape to bring peace to the world under one big frikkin' gun... dam. However their goal, though altruistic, actually bring terror to the world, instead of peace.

While this type of "Lawful evil" has been presented before (See New Mobile Report Gundam Wing or Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY for similarities) it's the way this story is handled that makes me quite fond of it. Setsuna and company are quite aware what they are doing is hypocritical, yet they believe in they're own will that they are doing the right thing. To compare it to Geass, its kind of like Lelouch's original intentions for destroying Britannia, without the heaping amounts of FABULOUS.

Another point of interest is the civilian aspect. While many of the fanbase have their own opinions about Saji Crossroad, I'm glad his role was included. So many series that focus on war usually cast their perspective from the solider and/or the civilian turned pilot. When non combatants who aren't interacting with the cast are featured, its usually a three second reaction shot to some event on screen. With Saji, you get to see his life and experiences pre and post destruction from the conflict of Celestial Being vs. The World. Best of all, he doesn't even know his neighbor is a Gundam Meister! His scenes, while brief, were snapshots of how life is affected by events out its reach. Its going to be interesting to see where Season 2's conflict takes him and how that will affect Setsuna. Will he be influenced to see the good in Celestial Being and possibly aid them in their cause? Or will he let his hate consume him and try to lend a hand to destroy it?

Okay, I'm rambling, but I'm excited.

So yeah, Thirty more days. WHO'S READY?

*For you viewers who refuse to look at subs or don't speak Moon, Season one of Gundam 00 will air on Sci-Fi Channel, Monday, November 17.