Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans

Episode 9

Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans isn't just a treat to watch, but also a joy to review. Its concise storytelling ensures that every episode introduces a singular theme that all of the characters can examine in their own ways. This week's theme was responsibility, tying directly to last week's focus on family, as Orga, Kudelia, and the other characters wrestle with how to protect and provide for the families they've found while dealing with The Family AKA this universe's mafia.

This episode begins with Naze and the Orphans paying a visit to the Old Man, who is clearly the mob boss of this universe. He occupies an interesting cultural space, embracing both the traditions of Old Japan, including bonsai and traditional clothing, and the stereotypical hallmarks of the Italian mafia, like cannolis and cigars. Naze wants to take a “Sakazuki blood oath” with Orga to consecrate their business relationship, and Orga is frankly uncomfortable with being elevated to the same esteem as a smooth operator like Naze.

This episode includes the highest concentration of out-of-his-element Orga moments yet. Last episode put Orga in a place of relative confidence, as he all but shouted at Naze about protecting Tekkadan, and Naze observed that Tekkadan is a family. That moment of belonging was short-lived, since this episode he's worried about how he's going to protect that family and keep it together. That means making an alliance with Naze, taking the Orphans out to the bar (and it's no coincidence that the bars are named Pub Someday and Pub Always), attempting to prove his adulthood by drinking way too much, and generally putting everything on his own shoulders. “I do wish Orga could rely on us a bit more,” Biscuit says to Mikazuki as they care for their drunk leader.

Orga's will is echoed in Ride, the leader of the younger orphans. At one point we see him greedily nabbing as much leftover cannoli as he can carry. In the morning, Orga finds out that Ride's true goal was to give to the younger children when they cry. It's a simpler version of what Orga is trying to do for Tekkadan, and it's a great example of this episode's expert storytelling, which conveys the same theme in multiple ways.

In fact, Kudelia's storyline parallels Orga's almost perfectly. After speaking with the Teiwaz boss, Kudelia has a decision to make. She could continue to fight for the rights of the people on Mars, knowing it could very well lead to war, or she could start keeping her head down. I love the decision to put Mikazuki in the room with Kudelia, but have him refuse to help her with this choice at all. “This is probably like the first time I killed someone,” Mikazuki tells her. “Your entire future will depend on this decision.” Of course, at that time, Mikazuki immediately asked Orga what he should do next—but he's not giving Kudelia that option. Kudelia's decision—and her realization that her “hands are already stained with blood”—is played in wry contrast to one little orphan's unfortunate observation that “women are weak” to Naze's Amazonian crew. No matter where Kudelia's choice takes her, she will bear this burden on her shoulders for the rest of her life.

The end of the episode is filled with as much ceremony as the beginning. It even concludes with a literal ceremony—the Sakazuki blood oath. Despite Orga's assurance that nothing will change afterward, the decisions that he and Kudelia made this episode have already set major changes into motion. This episode included too many small moments rife with meaning to count, and altogether this episode felt like the beginning of something. I'm not sure exactly what's going to happen next, but I'm certain that after it happens I'll be able to point back to this episode as the pivotal point of instigation.

Rating: A

Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans is available streaming at Daisuki.net and Funimation.com.

Lauren writes about anime and journalism at Otaku Journalist.