Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX

Episode 11

Looks like we no longer have to pretend we don't know who Shirozu is: He is a Char. Even better, we got a magical girl transformation to drive the point home. It's all going down on Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, where “Alphacide” brought us a little bit of everything except a clear explanation of its title. (When I Googled it, I found only a teat-cleaning solution for dairy cows by that name, but anyway...) Juicy reveals, electric action scenes, and an homage to one of Zeta Gundam's most unforgettable moments made this episode feel all too brief.

I wasn't sure what to expect when Nyaan and Machu had their reunion. Still, it wasn't for Nyaan to immediately begin firing on the GQuuuuuuX without so much as considering whether her estranged friend was inside. Luckily, Machu has become an even more adept pilot under the tutelage of Challia Bull, so there was never any need to worry about her. The fight scene is dynamic, but there's altogether too much combat when what's called for is just communication. When Machu asks Nyaan why she became a Zeon pilot, Nyaan effectively shrugs and says it just happened. Feels like par for the course for a Gundam character—one thing leads to another, and suddenly you're an ace pilot. Nyaan may have chosen the wrong side, but at least she still has a conscience. Though she's convinced firing the Yomagn'tho is necessary to return her beloved space hobo Shuji, Nyaan's sudden illness kicks up because there's some part of her that instinctively realizes Kycilia's orders are wrong. It's the same later when Nyaan shoots Kycilia, almost despite herself. Even Nyaan can't believe she's pulled the trigger! But when it came time to choose between Machu and her mentor, her gut decided for her.

Notably, both girls used the handguns they received in episode ten just one episode later. It speaks to the ramped-up pace at which this all-too-short season is concluding. Machu's handgun was for a far less dramatic purpose than Nyaan's. It was to access or perhaps activate four tools she required for her mission. Remember that weird Challia Bull wall-slam when he told Machu to destroy the limiter device for the Omega Psycommu? She attempted to do just that, but even the GQuuuuuuX is as yet unable to pierce the pocket of frozen time around the Lalah asleep in the Elmeth, AKA Rose of Sharon. Machu's consolation prize, however, is that this maneuver piqued the attention of Force Ghost (Minovsky Particle Ghost?) Shuji, who points her down the corridor at a pivotal moment, just in time to interrupt Char and Kycilia's climactic reunion—and these drama queens made it doubly theatrical by deciding to confront one another on a literal stage. Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam fans will recognize this setting distinctly; the showdown in episode 50 also took place in a theater.

This is where the episode starts to feel like fanfiction—and I mean this positively, because I love fanfiction! First, there are two prominent characters whose pedigrees go way back to 1979's original Mobile Suit Gundam, engrossed in a serious discussion—and then a comedic beat when Machu crashes between them. Then another beat of chaos when Nyaan follows in close pursuit, smashing the GFreD through from backstage. Isn't this how all of Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX has gone, in a nutshell? Established characters attempt elaborate schemes, only to be foiled again and again by Kazuya Tsurumaki's brand-new OCs. Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX can be viewed as Gundam in 2025 in conversation with Gundam in 1985 (when Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam aired). Throughout the decades, Gundam has only grown bigger and bigger until it has contained multiverses. In a meta sense, the Gundam franchise encompasses many timelines, from Universal Century to After Colony. Now, we even have a Gundam series that contains multitudes all in a single cour.

Char is the real star of this episode. He's slicking back his hair to show us the peepers that got him the nickname Blue-eyed Casval. He's glowing pink and transforming into Sailor Red Comet. He's casually seductive without even trying, so when he asks if Machu has feelings for Shuji, even Haro blushes. Char may be magnetic, but Machu needs to stay away from him because I still remember what happened to every teenage girl who goes near him—not only Lalah, but Quess (and when people tell you Suletta from Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury is the first female Gundam protagonist, don't forget that Quess was a mess so Suletta could forgetta). There's hardly time for Machu to process her discovery of Challia Bull's long-lost Mav, because then came the Shuji reveal. Not the reveal that Char met Shuji, though that's interesting, too. But Shuji is from the other side?? Who is this weird sewer-dwelling homeless man? He's got the same hair color as Kamille, but the similarities end there. I should be speculating that he's Amuro because after the credits, we got the RX-78-2 (the very first protagonist Gundam suit), not even souped up in Ikuto Yamashita's signature style—just the regular old RX-78-2. Combined with the extremely significant decision to play “Beyond The Time” as the closing song (yes, the theme from Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack), this wild ride is far from over. I hope the show can maintain its polish while wrapping up its massively accelerating plot next week.

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Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video on Tuesdays.

Lauren writes about model kits at Gunpla 101. She spends her days teaching her two small Newtypes to bring peace to the space colonies.