Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans

Episode 20

Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans is a cerebral show with a complex, socio-political plot. While that amplifies and provides meaning to every moment and interpersonal exchange, it also requires a lot of regular upkeep. As a result, there's an unevenness to this series, with entire episodes dedicated to plot-building and character drama, and less frequent (but more impactful and rewarding) Gundam battle episodes. I've been honest from the beginning: I'm here to watch Gundams fight, and there's none of that in this episode. On the other hand, this episode artfully illustrates a turning point for two of my favorite characters, Biscuit and Orga. The payoff will come, but it's not here yet.

Earth is a funny place. The water is salty, people eat weird slippery ocean residents, and the hallmark whiskers of Alaya-Vijnana recipients are met with grimaces and stares. But the Tekkadan members' minds are really occupied by what's going on back up in familiar space. Despite the chaotic way we left it, the Dort revolution went off without a hitch and brought Earth standards to colony workers. As a result, Tekkadan is received by the Oceanian Federation as heroes, guaranteeing their safety from Gjallarhorn.

Or so it seems, at first. Mr. Makanai doesn't actually have enough power to help Tekkadan, only enough to threaten them. He plans on turning them over to Gjallarhorn if they don't help him out. On top of that, the successful revolution didn't go swimmingly for everyone. We already know Navona died in the demonstration; now it seems Savarin has taken his own life in remorse—but not before sending a rather guilt-inducing final missive to his little brother. “I'm sure we can choose a calmer path,” Biscuit says, rejecting Orga's more assertive plan to help Makanai. They're both looking at the same equation—weighing glory vs. safety for Tekkadan, and for the first time, they're not on the same page. This episode's title, “Brother,” refers not only to Savarin, but to the tie between Biscuit and Orga as they debate what's best for their family.

Of course, this conflict is too easily resolved, because we have to get back to battles next episode. Biscuit talks to mechanic Nadi while Orga confides in his frenemy/future love interest Merribit. (Wow, I missed watching these two and their barbed sparring interactions!) It's too obvious that Orga and Biscuit won't experience a permanent friendship rift, so I found myself far more interested in the smaller interpersonal conflict of the episode, where McGillis and Bauduin debate whether to give Ein his life back, but with undesirable cybernetic parts. It's clear from the way Earthlings look at Mikazuki's back and Nabi's metal legs (side note: did NOT know he had metal legs until this episode) with disgust that enhancements are seen as lower class and taboo, an intentional belief Gjallarhorn seeded to keep people from using their heightened robotic abilities in an uprising against Gjallarhorn. It's clever, and it makes me wonder how Ein is going to take it when he wakes up? He's already accused of being a space rat; what will his life be like when he's cybernetically enhanced like one?

In the end, Tekkadan has decided that they're either going to aim “bigger than Teiwaz” or go out in a blaze of glory trying. Now that this turning point is neatly resolved, it's time to look at next week's preview—and it's what I'm here for, a Gundam battle. This show is getting smarter all the time, but I still think that action is what it does best.

Rating: B

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

Lauren writes about anime and journalism at Otaku Journalist.